Our mission: to enlighten and to entertain
Dulaney High School Timonium, Maryland
Volume 56, Issue 1 EVALUATING
the griffin
Visit us at http://dulaneygriffin.org
October 20, 2016
Election 2016: seniors to vote in historical race
see page 4
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TO KNOW
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number of new teachers see page 12 TRIUMPHING
art by jane peterson
see page 7
# TO KNOW
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the percentage of decline in this year’s PARCC scores for algebra see page 2 SATISFYING
meera rothman and julie chotivatanapong, editors-in-chief enior Zach Swanson doesn’t mince words. “I don’t like either candidate, but I think Trump is the lesser of two evils,” Swanson said. “I don’t want Hillary in the White House with the scandals she has been a part of.” Senior Drew Bossi, who interns for Congressman Ruppersberger, agrees. “If you look at Hillary’s scandals, from Benghazi to the emails to lying to Congress, I have a personal problem with that,” Bossi said. “Trump really stands out for his trustworthiness.” But slightly more students support Clinton than Trump, according to an unscientific spot survey conducted during all lunch periods Oct. 10. “Clinton has repeatedly shown outstanding moral character through the Clinton foundation, one of the best non-profit charities, and through admission of her mistakes,” senior Collin Stiers said. “Trump has shown a severe lack of morals, insulting every group of people, from racial
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minorities to women to the poor.” Given the polarized nature of this election, some choose to remain anonymous over who they’re supporting and why. “I’m voting for Hillary, because she seems like a much more responsible candidate, both in the media and to serve as a face for the country,” an anonymous senior said. “But I feel like there’s a
WHO WOULD YOU VOTE FOR? CLINTON: 25% TRUMP: 23% NEITHER: 52% This unscientific spot survey was conducted during all lunches Oct. 10. A total of 428 students were asked the above question.
stigma against voting for either candidate, and I have friends on both sides.” As an alternative to the major parties, senior Donovan McCrodden opts for third party candi-
date Gary Johnson. “The other two candidates are known as being very dishonest and that’s not the type of person I want as a president,” McCroddan said. “Johnson is an honest guy.” McCroddan acknolwedged that he appreciates the power that comes with voting. He has also enjoyed the memes this election has supplied. Though they can’t vote, underclassmen also have a stake in this election. “Trump cares about our country and the direction that it’s going,” junior Spencer Kerns said. “His heart is in the right place, but people are misinterpreting him.” History teacher Sean Bowmaster has been integrating election news into his lesson plans. “This election is unique because you have an established personality, Hillary Clinton, and one that has no political background and is really acting as a disruptor in the whole process.” see HISTORICAL RACE, page 2
SOPHOMORES Joanne Jeong and Joanna Song paint the Key Club Homecoming Parade banner after school Oct. 6. Alum Jiayang Shi started the work last year but didn’t finish it, Jeong said.
see page 11
INDEX 2-3 news 4-5 opinion 6-7 sports 8-12 features
SATURDAY’S HOMECOMING LINEUP Parade
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. - senior parking lot
Football Game
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. - stadium
Dance
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. - gym
photo by sophie bates
FYI: ACT
Oct. 22 8 a.m. Report to auditorium lobby
Fall Choir and Orchestra Concert Oct. 25 7:30 auditorium
Instrumental Concert Oct. 26 7:30 p.m. auditorium
Kiss the Bride
Oct. 27 7:30 p.m. satellite Cafeteria
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First Quarter Ends Oct. 28
National Honor Society annual wreath sale ends Nov. 4
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the griffin
news
October 20, 2016
Staff, students divided on color-coded zones
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NEWS LINE SCORES DROP
tude of defects the policy brings. Freshman Nick Lange respects the policy’s purpose, but notes that the concept of zones limits student access to better facilities. “I don’t think they are necessary. I understand it combats wandering, but I mean it’s stopping me from getting water so I don’t think it always does its intended purpose,” Lange said. Another debate among students is the cleanliness factor of the clipboards. Junior Lydia Naughton is not in favor of the policy for that reason. “It’s disgusting, honestly. These are on the floor and it’s not clean at all,” Naughton said. Principal Sam Wynkoop respects student and teacher opinions alike, but sticks behind the policy for safety reasons and the trust he hopes to build with parents. “What it boils down to is knowing where our kids are all the time,” he said. “For six and a half hours a day parents say, ‘We’re giving our most precious resource to you. Now take care of them.’”
sophie bates, editor-in-chief he zone policy instituted this year has sparked mixed reactions from students and teachers. Physics teacher Peter Sykes notes that the policy encourages students to do what is expected of them and gains a level of trust. “I trust when somebody grabs the pass to go to the bathroom they’ll come back quickly because the colored clipboard restricts where they are able to go,” Sykes said. While teachers have responded positively to the discipline factor of the clipboards, some have noted flaws in the policy. Advanced Placement United States History teacher Julie Marx approves of hallway discipline, but doesn’t enjoy the disruptions in her planning period. “The halls seem somewhat better. It’s just frustrating that I have my planning period broken up one day and the possibility of a duty the next day,” Marx said. Students have sparked interest in a multi-
“What it boils down to is knowing where our kids are all the time,”
photo by meher hans
A Clinton campaign sticker appears in the lower lot.
Historical race
continued from page 1 History and government teacher Julie Marx also noted the distinct nature of this election. “It’s hard to say right now, but it seems like there are a lot of Republicans who are saying, ‘This is not my party any more,’” Marx said. “In AP Government, we talked about dealignment, which has happened over time as parties have become less powerful.” Regardless of who they support, those who can vote look forward to having a voice in this election. “The person who gets elected is going to be president for the first part of our adulthood when we are going to start paying taxes and be members of society,” Stiers said. “I’m glad I’ll be able to vote.” Staff writers Olivia Summons, Anna Yan, Vinny Arciaga, Grace Schneider, Perry Harrington, Will Behm and Grace Gary contributed to this story.
Football team responds to Kaepernick
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doria diacogiannis, editor-in-chief arsity football quarterback and junior Ty Woodard, is behind San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during pre-game national anthems. “He’s standing with his own color, and he’s going further than football, further than life,” the National Student Athlete of the Week said. “And he’s thinking more about the people and how African Americans are living these days,” Woodard said. Kaepernick’s knee-drops started Aug. 26 and are intended to raise awareness for civil rights and the oppression of black Americans. Teammates, fellow NFL players, professional women basketball players and high school athletes have followed suit. Opponents say his gesture is disrespectful. Despite the controversy his protest has caused, Kaepernick is taking advantage of his stage to “project his voice,” punter senior Casey Dreschler said. Head coach Daron Reid supports Kaepernick’s controversial manner of protest. “The action doesn’t feel too disrespectful to the flag or the country. It is bringing change, or at least conversation to foster
change, rather than just him sitting out and not communicating,” Reid said. Dreschler and Woodard agree that the NFL quarterback’s attempt to make a point is effective, especially since he, like other professional athletes, are looked up to as famous athletes and leaders. “If a non-NFL player, someone from the street, stood up and did it, it wouldn’t count,” Woodard said. “But if Colin Kaepernick, Cam Newton or any NFL player is doing it, something is really serious.” Although there has not been much reaction to Kaepernick’s movement amongst the football teams here, other high schools have taken action, according to ublished reports. But Lions left tackle Gianluca Parrotta still takes issue. “This is high school football, and you don’t have the national stage that Colin Kaepernick has,” Parrotta said. “You’re not drawing eyes like that,” But he understands the principle. “I agree with what they’re fighting for,” Parrotta said. “Black Lives Matter, I’m 100 percent with them. I just don’t agree with the way they’re doing it. Kneeling during our anthem is pretty disrespectful.”
TYLER WOODARD:
“He’s going further than football and thinking more about how African Americans are living these days.”
DARON REID: “The action doesn’t
feel disrespectful to the country, it’s bringing conversation to foster change.”
CASEY DRESCHLER: “Under this
flag, he has the right to protest. If he had done it any other way, it wouldn’t get this much attention.”
GIANLUCA PARROTTA: “Kneeling
during our anthem is pretty disrespectful, but what they’re fighting for makes sense.” photos by sophie bates and drew persinger
2003 grad, editor mourned
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photo by meher hans
Puddle poses problem?
A duck waddles in a large puddle resulting from purposeful flooding of the courtyard Sept. 27. Horticulture teacher John Enders raised concerns about the standing water, saying it may form a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Sources report inconsistencies in care for the ducks and the courtyard this year. See our website for the full story.
greg zapas, staff writer diligent student and aggressive journalist. These are words teachers use to describe 2016 alumnus “Sia” Georgandis, who died of cardiac arrest July 31 while on a business trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, according to the Baltimore Sun. “She was almost destined to be a journalist,” Advanced Placement U.S. History teacher John Wagner said. “She was very observant and had a knack for finding the right people to interview, whatever the story.” Former Griffin sponsor Donna Lund remembered Georgandis as versatile. “She wrote about anti-war protests, drug addiction prevention and the importance of the arts in high school,” Lund said. “These were just a few of the topics she explored in the Griffin.” When Lund spoke about Georgandis at the memorial service Oct. 9 she spoke on behalf of her determination and news savvy. “I asked everyone to think back to late 2002, early 2003,” Lund said. “The president had just said he was ready to invade Iraq. Sia’s response? She published an article titled ‘Anti War Protest Held in D.C.’ She always wanted to be where the action was and
was very involved with politics.” Wagner, too, was impressed by Georgandis’ drive in journalism during her time here. “She also wasn’t afraid for the paper to take controversial stances, including po- photo from montage used at memorial sitions in opposition to the administration,” Wagner said. “She had real grit and determination, and was driven to get the story right.” Georgandis was a dedicated journalist both during and after her time at the school. “She was enthusiastic, curious and always on the lookout for a good story,” Lund said. “She spent a lot of time in the computer lab editing the Griffin.” In the winter of 2003, Georgandis braved the 26-inch snow storm to take the perfect picture for the front page, Lund said. Georgandis pursued journalism beyond high school and was employed as a senior managing editor for Stansberry Research, LLC of Baltimore, MD, according to the Baltimore Sun.
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The school’s results from the 2016 PARCC tests declined in passing scores in both English 10 and Algebra I from 2015. A passing standard is a 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale. Passing English scores decreased from 68 percent last year to 66 percent this year. Passing algebra scores decreased from 13 percent to 8 percent, according to the Maryland Report Card website.
CLEANUP LAUNCHED The PTSA launched Adopta-Plot, a program to recruit people to help beautify the school. “We are asking all clubs, sports teams, teachers, neighbors, friends and family to join us,” committee chairman Angela CarbonellMulligan said, adding that the program will permit groups and individuals to sign up for a zone of the grounds to keep weeded and free of trash. The committee has a small budget to fund projects, Carbonell-Mulligan said. For information, email mandamulligan59@gmail. com.
PLAYER HONORED Senior Sean Herrin was named Unsung Hero of Baltimore County. Herrin is a helper and athlete for Allied soccer and was nominated by coach Anita Shaw.
SEQUEL SOLICITS Sequel, the school’s literary magazine, invites writers to submit work for this year’s magazine. To be considered, students write poetry or prose on any of six inspirational words – discover, bizarre, naïve, serenity, finite or immoral. Email submissions to sequelmagazine@ bcps.org by Nov. 11.
PRICE HIKE TO COME Yearbook prices will increase from the current $80 to $90 Feb. 3, sponsor Kristi Korrow said. Yearbooks can be purchased through the Jostens website, jostens.com.
FUNDRAISER SET OneLove will host its first fundraiser, Yards for Yeardley, here Oct. 22 and 23. Students and parents are invited to make groups and march a million yards on the track, raising money to help college and high school students avoid abusive relationships. The $15 entry fee benefits the cause and includes a t-shirt.
DEBATERS WIN
A pair of public debate teams have earned medals in early season Baltimore County Forensic League (BCFL) competition. Junior Harshil Patel and senior Avakash Bhat won a gold medal during the Oct. 1 tournament at Catonsville High School. Sophomores Olivia Summons and David Chen won a silver medal. Six of the school’s teams are slated to compete at the Oct. 22.
3 news
the griffin
October 20, 2016
Writers, actors team for dinner theater premiere
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audrey bartholomew, staff writer
wice a week this summer, five members of Sequel, the school’s literary magazine, perched at the Cockeysville branch of the county library and set to work on their murder mystery. What they wrote became the script for the school’s first dinner theater production “Kiss the Bride,” set for Oct. 27 through Oct. 29. Sequel literary editor Jason Fontelieu, who wrote with seniors Jen Medrano (another Sequel lit editor), Christina Panousos and Amanda Campoverde and junior Amanda Molino, said the project took more than 60 hours of work. “Nothing that we’ve done in Sequel before has been near the caliber of what we did over the summer,” Fontelieu said. The murder mystery genre presented a unique challenge, he said. “We knew what was going to happen at the very beginning and the very end, but the middle to the end? We just didn’t know,” Fontelieu said. The idea for two fall plays
came late last year when theater director Tami Moon approached Sequel advisor Meekah Hopkins asking her class to create a murder mystery for this fall. Now Moon is running rehearsals for “Kiss the Bride” even as she leads a troupe preparing for “Pride and Prejudice,” the drama set to run Dec. 1 through Dec. 3. Junior Bella Martin, who plays drunken Aunt Fiona, said rehearsals for the murder mystery - also a comedy – have been challenging because of limited access to the satellite cafeteria, which is used by other groups. Actors have been flexible, she said. “We’ve been having to go there around 3:15 p.m.,” Martin said. “But that already cuts about an hour of rehearsal time.” The actors are ready for the challenge of improvising with an interactive audience, she said. And the audience should be prepared to laugh. “There are some times where I’m trying so hard not to break character because it’s just hilarious,” she said.
photo by grace knotts
Holt wins state title
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photo by audrey bartholomew
photo from meekah hopkins
Top: Junior Bella Martin (drunken Aunt Fiona) and sophomore Shannon Trageser (Detective Meyers) rehearse for the dinner theater production “Kiss the Bride” Oct. 6. The play opens Oct. 27 and runs until Oct. 29. Tickets are $20, presale only. Bottom: (left to right) Seniors Christina Panousos, Jen Medrano, junior Amanda Molino, senior Jason Fontelieu and drama teacher Tami Moon conduct a final read-through and editing Aug. 23.
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grace knotts, editor-in-chief is students maintain business teacher Pat Holt was a natural to be named Future Business Leaders of America Adviser of the Year, an honor he received at the group’s national convention last summer. “He’s willing to sacrifice hours of his own time to ensure student’s success,” FBLA State President senior Sophie Sun said. Holt indicated the honor made an impact. “It is almost like an underline or an exclamation point on the efforts of the last 12 years,” Holt said. Holt was officially given the title at the Maryland State Convention last April and recognized at the National Convention in Atlanta, Ga. along with other advisors from around the world. FBLA’s Regional Competition will be held here in Jan. since three students here are on the State Officer Board and senior Luke Sturiale is the Regional Vice President. Qualifiers from the Regional Competition will advance to the State Competition, and qualifiers from States will go on to the National Competition in Calif., Holt said. Holt has high expectations for our FBLA. “It continues to explode,” Holt said. “The students here are just so phenomenal that if you build an environment where they can lead and engage they’re going to do it.” Staff writer Grace Gary contributed to this report.
the griffin
4 opinion
october 20, 2016
Defending mastery grading I it’s like this Surviving restroom treks: clipboard speaks out dorrie gaeng, staff writer
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ear diary, They told me that I’d be a delicate asset, cherished by every student for years to come. Their witty deception has zapped me. Huffs and puffs and exasperated exhales create an aura around me. Stomps and eye rolls approach me, as if this passive-aggressive form of protest could culminate the power to take me away. At first I was held tightly, firmly grasped like a young executive shaking the hand of a potential boss. Now I hang limp, dangled between the thumb and index finger as if they’re afraid to touch me. Sometimes, I’m tucked under a smelly teenage armpit. It’s nothing short of repulsive. Others have told me I had it good. I’m pink and hey, that’s a nice color. But I reside in 303. Sometimes I peer down the hall and sneak a glance at my orange-adorned comrade who lives in the cool, shady part of town. “Lucky guy!” On this side the students are sweatier. Stench, slipperiness and swelter overtake me every afternoon. Smacked down hard against the unforgiving floor.
sophie bates, editor-in-chief bombed my first reading check in Advanced Placement Psychology. But good news came quickly when my teacher, Tom Maranville, informed the class that we would be able to redo these note based checks. What set his class apart from others was his grading policy. His technique aimed to encourage students to understand and learn their material by allowing them to redo their assignments. I owe much of the knowledge I gained to the grading policy that allowed failure. Now, two years later, mastery grading is in full effect. When this was first announced, my friends and I thought this would mean an easy A for everyone. Although I had taken a mastery grading class before, my senioritis-infected ears perceived that I could now slack on homework. Nuh-uh, honey. After initially neglecting my homework, I quickly realized the error in my ways. Without practice, I failed my summative assessments, which killed my grade. Quickly, I got my act together and did my homework. In preparation for a redo assignment, students are required not only to study for the quiz but also to complete a form to demonstrate proof of effort to master the material for a redo. Who wants to go back, fill out a form, and make changes to their notes
just to redo a 5-point reading check? I do. I’ve been able to experience mastery grading in a variety of classes and on a variety of levels. Overall, this method has had a beneficial effect on both my grade and stress level. In Advanced Placement European History, I have redone reading checks. This style of grading has prevented my usual copy-down-a-couple-ofsentences-from-the-book method, and
“I owe much of the knowledge I gained to the grading policy that allowed failure.” actually encouraged me to study on a deeper level. On the other hand, in my Honors Calculus class, there are no grades other than actual summative assessments and quizzes that take place every two weeks. Although this is a different type of class, mastery grading techniques have improved my study habits here as well. I’ve been so caught up in my new learning experience that it’s been easy
to forget that this is also a pilot year for teachers. In an anonymous paper survey distributed in teacher mailboxes earlier this month, teachers were asked to rate their approval of the mastery grading on a scale of one to five. Out of 40 teachers, 13 percent disapproved, 37 percent were ambivalent and 13 percent approved of the policy. The remainder had views that didn’t fit in any one category. While I understand why many teachers are hesitant to adopt this new policy, I believe that over time, it will be advantageous for all. A common concern was that classwork would not be graded. But classwork is not completely obsolete with mastery grading. The new policy qualifies that classwork can be graded as long as it is a “summative assignment” of the material learned in class. In addition, I do think quizzes and tests should be graded with more weight than classwork. Classwork can often be busy work. Rather, grading students on true learning incentivizes students to understand the material below the surface. I take higher level classes to prepare for college. I won’t have completion grades in college and I want to be ready for that type of environment. Given the improvement in my study habits and learning, mastery grading is going well in my book.
Critics seek mastery grading redo
“Creases outline my borders like hair that’s crimped for prom.” Haphazardly tossed onto the paper towel rack. Teetering back and forth atop the stall, precariously positioned at best. Where will I fall next? Scratches and scars decorate my exterior. I don’t blame anyone. Battle wounds are part of the job description. Sometimes, late at night, I think about the pen that used to accompany me. What a good fellow, always loyal. One day he disappeared. He could have been displaced, or maybe stolen. I hear pens are a hot commodity. But maybe he left willingly. Perhaps my love for him was unrequited. Maybe that’s why no one writes on me anymore? My pages have seen better days. Watermarks scale my edges, creases outline my borders like hair that’s crimped for prom. Who knows if I’ll even make it ‘til prom? When I reflect on my life thus far, I can move past the incessant drops. I don’t even mind being disliked, I’ve always identified as more of an introvert anyway. But the thing that erodes my self-dignity is the incessant proliferation of germs. They coat and cover me, trying to extinguish my flamboyant, pink shine. I can’t count how many times I have narrowly missed an encounter with the flushing machine. It’s all very cyclic. I’m on 50 first dates, but the dates are arduous and unpleasant. I’m sure next year I’ll join the storage rooms filled with plans for the satellite cafeteria, homework grades and BCPS card scanners.
the griffin Dulaney High School, 255 E. Padonia Rd. Timonium, MD 21093 dulaneygriffin@bcps.org (410) 887-7633 Student population: 1,851 Staff population: 150 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. 20, 2016 Volume 56, Issue 1 http://dulaneygriffin.org
art by hanna bewley
EDITORIAL:
Coralling students saps efficiency, irks students
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mong new policy changes this year was the decision to limit student access into the building in the mornings. Only given 15 minutes to attend to their morning activities, students feel inconvenienced. Athletes must drop their bags off in the excessively-crowded locker room and students who need to meet with teachers are pressed for time. While passes are given out to students for morning reviews, they do not cover situations where a student may need to see a teacher. It is also difficult to study or do homework in the morning surrounded by people in a loud, crowded lobby or cafeteria. We recognize this is privilege, but we have to wonder: what happened last year in the morning to prompt such a drastic change? “In a matter of safety, I can’t have
unsupervised students in the building without having someone to watch them. It goes back to [the fact] I’m being trusted to know where they are,” principal Sam Wynkoop said. Everyone cannot fit inside the cafeteria and auditorium lobby, forcing students to congregate in the senior parking lot. It will be interesting to see how this policy holds up as the weather gets colder and these students are exposed to the elements. What’s more, homeroom has been pushed to the end of first period and students no longer have a buffer before their class to settle down or do homework. Teachers are not technically on duty before 7:30 a.m., and only five administrators are available before hand to watch 1300 kids, Wynkoop said.
editors-in-chief sophie bates, meher hans, grace knotts, julie chotivatanapong, doria diacogiannis, amanda musolf, meera rothman managing editors emma walz, tirzah khan deputy editors jason fontelieu, randhika aturaliya associate editors matilde cascella, drew persinger, matt ellis, grace schneider adviser maria hiaasen sports editors patrick fitzgerald, daniel krugman photography editor hanna bewley
Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.
“Also I don’t want someone being able to just walk off the street and being able to come in. It’s scary,” Wynkoop said, concerning the restriction on entrances. Despite students’ widespread discontent, teachers appear to be overwhelmingly approving, according to an anonymous spot survey conducted Sept. 21. Even skeptics are beginning appreciate having calm mornings to get their work done. “I thought I would hate it, but the peace and quiet is lovely,” an anonymous teacher said. But as students, we can agree that the mornings are not peaceful. Returning homeroom to its place before first period will give both teachers and students their time to work before school.
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.
October 20, 2016
5 opinion
the griffin
Lewd remarks trump all meher hans and meera rothman, editorsin-chief his was Republican nominee Donald Trump’s response to Jessica Leed’s accusation of sexual assault: “She would not be my first choice.” Even if Trump didn’t assault Leed or the 14 other women who have come forward with reports of assault, his response says enough about how he sees women. “Nobody has more respect for women than I do,” he repeatedly claims. He’s right, he does respect women - as entertainment, objects for his own viewing and sexual pleasure. Supporters acknowledge Trump’s wrongdoings yet still support him. They claim his comments have no bearing on his ability to lead. Their thinking goes like this: “Trump is caught on tape bragging about his sexual conquests? Well, those are just words. Trump threatens to put Clinton in jail? That was just a quip, he got caught up in the debate. Trump says Clinton can’t satisfy America because she can’t satisfy her husband? I mean, it was just a tweet.” But Trump’s words translate directly to his actions. Where Trump has had the opportunity and power to turn his words into actions, he has.
Trump has made countless comments assessing the beauty of women, calling some “beautiful pieces of a**” and others “Miss Piggy.” He has directly acted on these words through the Miss Universe pageants he sponsors. Trump has reportedly broken into girls’ dressing rooms, forcibly kissed women and also expelled women from pageants when he didn’t find them attractive.
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contradictory. Statistics have proven that transgender people are more at risk of being assaulted. A public policy scholar reported to NPR that 70 percent of transgender people have been harassed while going to the bathroom. A bill passed in North Carolina on March 23 was the first bill banning transgender people from using restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity. This bill is in no way just. It forces transgender people to break the law to use the correct restroom. Some even limit how much they eat and drink to avoid using public bathrooms. While the battle for transgender equality has been a rocky road, there have been advancements. President Barack Obama issued a federal directive on May 13 ordering public schools to allow transgender students to use restrooms that correspond with their gender identity. This is a massive leap for transgender rights. As well, gender neutral restrooms have emerged as another option. College campuses have gender neutral bathrooms among them are American University, Ithaca College and Yale University. It’s one of the few options that truly allows for transgender students to feel accepted. Member of Spectrum, member of the LGBT+ club and Griffin deputy editor Emma Walz said that Spectrum made a proposal last year to install a private
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art by randhika aturaliya
Responding to the issue of sexual assault in the military, Trump argued that sexual assault is inevitable when we “put men and women together.” We live in a society, a world, in which men and women live and work together. By acting on his words and possibly assaulting women, Trump makes his stance on rape clear: acceptance. For Trump defectors, there is a tipping point, a line in the sand. A point where
after months of support they turn their backs on Trump, realizing that he will act on the ridiculous words he speaks if given enough power. For Senator John McCain that was Oct. 8 after the 2005 Access Hollywood tape was leaked. But if Trump is elected, for many Americans that tipping point will come too late. Many won’t vote for Trump because they’re girls, because they have a daughters, because they have a wife. Rather, we, as Americans, shouldn’t vote for Trump because we have a basic sense of morality. We know that Trump’s views towards women are only symptoms of a sickeningly misguided world-view that motivates him to perceive nearly every group and every person as inferior to him. Trump has an insatiable hunger for power. Power over businesses — yes — but mainly power over people. “When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything,” Trump said in the 2005 leaked tape. You can “just start kissing them.” You can “move on her like a b!%*h.” You can “try and f#@k her.” Donald Trump is applying for the position of most powerful person on this planet: the leader of the free world. What will he do with this power? Anything.
School needs transgender restrooms
randhika aturaliya, deputy editor oing to the restroom is a simple process. You do your business and wash your hands. But for transgender people going restroom with their identified gender has been a losing battle until recently. The Webster dictionary defines “gender” as the cultural traits typically associated with one sex. Antithetically, “sex” is defined as the state of being male or female. There is a stark difference between the definitions of these words. Sex deals with the biology of our bodies while gender deals with societal implications. Transgender people face being discriminated by having their identity invalidated; it is a punch in the gut to not to be able to use the restroom that they are comfortable in. Invalidating transgender people’s identity is dangerous. Reported in August 2015 in USA Today, 41 percent of transgender individuals have attempted suicide at some point of their lives, compared to the 5 percent of the population. Statistics for transgender youth are even more staggering. A 2011 survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality revealed that 50 percent of transgender youth will attempt suicide before their 20th birthday. Many Republicans are opposed to transgender restrooms. They argue women may be sexually assaulted by transwomen but evidence has been
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doesn’t have kids that can get transportation to their practices, then no one else can practice, and I think that makes it seem more fair.” Student athletes from AC schools will improve at practice, while student athletes from non-AC schools simply won’t have the opportunity. Students at AC schools will get key instruction in preparation for finals, while students at non-AC schools will be forced to do extra work on their days off. BCPS Superintendent Dallas Dance is known for striving for equal education throughout BCPS schools. But how will this happen when nonAC are missing key days of teacher instruction? BCPS must take initiative. Instead of missing the school day entirely due
Rethink the post Labor Day start policy tirzah khan, deputy editor
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ov. Larry Hogan signed a second executive order Aug. 31 mandating that schools start after Labor Day and end by June 15. “Yay!” you must be thinking. “Longer summer!” Oh, young grasshopper. Let me educate you. First off, the logistics don’t line up as nicely as you may have expected. There still have to be 180 days in the school calendar, but now they must fall between Labor Day and June 15. With religious holidays, professional days and breaks, that will quickly become difficult.The easiest solution would be to simply chop a few days off breaks and leave what is legally mandated, but for a lot of students (myself included) those days are a welcome pause from our stress and exhaustion from school. Many high school students use breaks to visit colleges and work on college applications without trying to minimize the amount of time we miss from class. They also use breaks to just take a chill pill and relax with friends and family. We’ve settled into a comfortable annual routine, and Hogan is seriously messing it up. Furthermore, he neglected to cite any data proving that students themselves benefit from the later start, which should be the main concern here. Shocking, I know! Who on earth would consider that maybe students’ educations would be impacted by the change? Hogan’s rationale is that the late start will increase
“Hogan’s decision was based on the best interests of fortunate families....” art by grace knotts
restroom in the school. The only current option is a private restroom in the nurse’s office. Spectrum surveyed 17 homerooms and found that 43 percent of students thought gender neutral restrooms were a good idea. I believe that gender neutral restroom options are a blissful solution. Students who are beginning to question their gender identity will be able to use the restroomroom without worrying about people yelling at them or assaulting them. All because they don’t fit society’s expectations of a girl or a boy. We can’t make strides in equality for transgender people if they are forced to go to the restrooms where they. Going to the restroom shouldn’t be a privilege. It should be a right.
Guaranteed: more heated debate over new policy matt walters and will behm, staff writers t’s cool now, but we all know the heat will return. If you told me that the heat index would be 90 degrees that early in the morning on any given day, I wouldn’t believe you. Until it happened. Not one day, but two, creating the five-day-weekend of children’s dreams and a nightmare for non-AC schools’ sports teams. More than a dozen players on our teams went to speak with Baltimore County Chief of Staff Michele Prumo, who assured them that other teams across the county will also be unable to practice. “The best explanation we got from her,” senior varsity field hockey player Emma Klein said, “was that it’s like a full system of schools, so if one school
on the better side of average
to the policy, non- AC schools should have a half day, with athletic practices permitted after. In Annapolis, Gov. Larry Hogan, State Comptroller Peter Franchot and county exectuive Kevin Kamenetz are butting heads over what the state should do mitigate overheating. Hogan and Franchot argue for temporary portable AC units, while Kamenetz and Superintendent Dallas Dance stand by the the plan to install centralized AC in all schools by 2019. With the gubinatorial elections coming up in 2018, AC in schools is sure to be a hot topic, expecially since both Franchot and Kamenetz will fight for the Democratic nomination. As the debate heats up, stay tuned.
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revenue for Ocean City. He showed where his priorities lie when he made his announcement right in the middle of the Ocean city boardwalk. This is just another infuriating example of lawmakers not thinking about the future of children and instead focusing on money and business. By implementing a later start to school and an earlier ending, Hogan fails to consider the 84 percent of Baltimore City students who, according to the Baltimore Sun, are qualified to receive subsidized meals and many more who rely on the school to provide them with two meals a day. Another major concern is the large amount of learning loss that happens during summer break, especially for under-performing and underprivileged students who may not have access to camps and jobs during the time off. Hogan’s decision was based on the best interests of fortunate families, families who will now be able to take extended vacations in Ocean City. Unfortunately, for the majority of people, that’s simply not the case. Instead of trying to make sure that students have access to opportunities that will open doors for them in the future, he’s adding another chapter to the now familiar narrative: politicians enacting policies that favor wealthier and more privileged students at the expense of the rest of us. To make it worse, Hogan openly scoffed at politicians hoping to reverse his order, saying that those who did “would probably lose their jobs,” which is just petty and childish of him to say. They’re not the ones blatantly ignoring the needs of students in favor of business. I think he should lose his job! Okay, not really. Hogan is a decent dude, but he does need to rethink his decision, and maybe this time—just for funsies!—he can try considering the large percentage of Maryland students who will be jeopardized by this policy.
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6 sports
athletes
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VARSITY
October 20, 2016
Varsity quarterback sets s
Grit, congeniality abound
matt ellis, associate editor Senior and girls golf captain Sam Lannon’s dedication and mental strength have allowed her to jump to the number one ranked spot on the team. “Golf is mentally one of the most challenging sports. It will test your character and expose your weaknesses. Sam not only faces these challenges head on, but alphoto by meher hans SAMANTHA LANNON ways does so honorably and with unwavering character,” varsity coach Jamie Bare said. After learning how to play with her grandparents the summer before her freshman year, LanTop 3 Pump up non tried out for the team and has grown Songs ever since, finishing second at the county 1. “The Climb” by Miley championships this Cyrus year after shooting 91. “Overall I was happy with my performance 2. “Sorry” by Beyonce in counties,” Lannon said. “It was a good 3. “Closer” by the Chain- experience to play against really strong smokers ft. Halsey competitors.” Her positive attitude goes unmatched, senior and co-captain Abby Shimanek said. “Even when she’s having a bad day, she’s always saying, ‘Come on guys, keep your heads up,’” Shimanek said, “I tell her to be negative sometimes because she’s always so positive.” As a captain, Lannon has embraced her role as a leader, helping younger players who are new to the game. “She is willing to help others, sharing techniques that she has learned throughout her time playing golf. Her goal is to make everyone else better,” Bare said. Staff writer Olivia Summons contributed to this report.
p
Above: Junior Ty Woodard (1) sidesteps B
senior Devin Adams (4) in an effort to run first down during the Sept. 3 game at Bel
School, with Lions senior Isiah Stanford ( Air senior Sam Queen (52) trying to keep photo by alli hill
Above: Junior Ty Woodard (1) evades pressure from Catonsville senior Don Johnson (1) as he prepares to make a throw downfield during the Sept. 17 home game, which the Lions won 48-35. This recordsetting performance by Woodard included six passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.
JUNIOR VARSITY
lions notebook:
Freshman propels team
This information was gathered Oct. 17.
hyunsung ko and grace gary, staff writers or freshman junior varsity field hockey player Becca Puente, motivation is the key to her success.
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“She gives us 110 percent each and every day,” junior
varsity field hockey head coach Brittany Jackson said. “Becca constantly looks for feedback and always wants to improve her game.” photo by meher hans Puente has loved field BECCA PUENTE hockey since she was 7 years old. Now, starting at attack for the girls’ junior varsity team, Puente is producing results, leading the team in goals and propelling them to a 8-0-1 record in county play. “I think being more of finesse player helps me out. I use more skill than big hits and it really helps on the field,” she said. Top 3 Pump up Freshmen teamSongs mates Lucy and Mae Jung couldn’t agree more. 1. “Lose Yourself” by “Whenever I’m bringing up the ball, Eminem Becca’s always open and cutting to me,” 2. “Big Rings” by Drake Lucy Jung said. “I know when Becca has the ball I can trust her 3. “Closer” by the with it.” Chainsmokers featuring On and off the field, Halsey Puente demonstrates great leadership “She sets a high standard of what a prepared, organized student-athlete should look like by excelling in the classroom,” Jackson said. “On the field, Becca constantly motivates all the girls. Her vibrant, positive attitude keeps everyone invested and excited.”
Lions lost 42-28.
photo from debbi persinger
Motivated to win
JUNIOR MATT OWENS runs in the Spike Shoe Invitational at Stevenson University Sept. 24. Owens finished eighth with a time of 16:18, leading the boys varsity team to a first place finish. He credited last year’s seniors with teaching him to race without fear and commended the team’s motivation. “We got to uphold the legacy, and winning is fun,” Owens said. The cross country team is preparing for the Baltimore County Championships, which will be run here Oct. 22. The varsity boys will vie for their fourth consecutive county title. Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org
Eight alumni and one team will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame Oct. 21 at Hunt Valley Country Club. Inductees include Kevin Albright ’74, Kara Burke ’11, James Crowley ’87, Edward Farver ’65, Alex Leanos ’95, Danielle Parker-Gumbs ’08, Deborah Walters ’77, Dianne Taylor Wenczkowski ’87 and the 1999 boys soccer team. Varsity football (3-3): The team fell short against Perry Hall in a 4136 defeat Oct. 15. They will next play Oct. 22 against Towson in the homecoming game. Varsity field hockey (10-3): The team’s 9-0 defeat of Loch Raven Oct. 14 in their senior game extended their winning streak to five games. They travel to North Harford Oct. 19 in their last regular season game. Varsity cross country: The teams are preparing for the county championship meet at home Oct. 22. They are led by juniors Matt Owens and Dorrie Gaeng, whose personal bests in the 5000m are 16:12 and 19:44, respectively. Boys varsity soccer (7-4-2): The team defeated Pikesville 4-1 in their senior game Oct. 13 to end the regular season. Girls varsity soccer (8-3): The girls beat Catonsville Oct. 14, marking a third consecutive win. They travel to South River Oct. 20 to finish out their regular season. Boys golf (4-0): A second place finish at the county championships marked an end to the season for the team. Sophomore Chan Park’s score of 80 at the District VI Championships qualified him for the state competition beginning Oct. 24. Girls golf (5-0): The girls also finished second at county championships. Senior Sam Lannon led the team with a second place finish. Varsity volleyball (8-4): The team lost 3-0 to Hereford Oct. 14. They next play at Milford Mill Oct. 18. Varsity badminton (8-0): The team has run their streak of consecutive victories to eight after their 7-4 defeat of Hereford to remain perfect on the season. They host Towson Oct. 20 in their final regular season match. Allied soccer (2-0-2): The team defeated Oakland Mills in their most recent match Oct. 8, boosting their season record to 2-0-2. They next travel to Hereford Oct. 18.
school touchdown record: colleges, press take note
sophie bates, editor-in-chief and luke sturiale, staff writer unior quarterback Ty Woodard has been making substantial leaps since he started here this year after transferring from Baltimore City College. Woodard broke the school’s record for number of touchdowns scored in a single game with seven against Catonsville Sept. 17. The Lions won 48-35, the program’s first win over the Comets in 25 years. Woodard recalls that his achievement and the victory meant a lot to not only his team, but his family as well. “I got a text from the coach and the players, I was just happy. I didn’t really have to tell people [about the record] because they knew before I knew. My family was hype, you know, that’s a big deal,” he said. Woodard’s family has been a big part of his life and has helped his photo by alli hill football career get to where it is now. When his mom was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009, he found comBel Air fort in sports. n for a “Times were hard, and I found that Air High sports were my everything.” Wood(6) and Bel ard said. But Woodard doesn’t see his family up. The as just the one at home. “The strongest part of the team is we are all one big family. We are all together. When we need to score, we all get together and go score,” he said. Woodard’s optimism and confi-
J
dence on the field are a great contribution to the team, senior running back Isaiah Stanford said. “I hope to see my quarterback and guy I call my brother continue to play at the next level,” Stanford said. Senior defensive end and linebacker Vernon McBride notes that the team confides in Woodard. “He has brought a sense of comfort. On defense, it’s like we trust the offense to go put points on the board,” McBride said.
“I found that sports were my everything.” Woodard credits his offensive linemen with contributing to his success. “I just trust into my linemen. I know that they’ll block,” Woodard said. “Even if the other guy is bigger, and stronger, and the fastest, I know that they’ll protect me.” Head coach Daron Reid added that Woodard’s work ethic encourage the entire team to grow. “He’s out there early in the morning throwing. We have captain’s practices, he shows up, he’s accountable,” Reid said. “He makes everyone push a little harder.” As for professional role models, Woodard feels a connection with
the Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton as a player, but also as a person. “I can just relate to his game, on and off the field. I wear the no. 1 jersey. And, he smiles on and off the field, he loves kids and I love kids. He just loves the game. The way he runs, I run. He throws, I throw. We’re very similar,” Woodard said. Through it all, Woodard aims to maintain his humility as he works towards his goals. “I’m going to keep it humble,” Woodard said. “I have been playing quarterback basically all my life. This is my dream position.” Sports editors Patrick Fitzgerald and Daniel Krugman, associate editors Matt Ellis and Drew Persinger and staff writer Sam Harsel contributed to this report.
Remaining Football Games JV
Varsity
Towson: Oct.
Towson: Oct.
20 at 4 p.m.
22 at 2 p.m.
Franklin: Oct.
Franklin: Oct
29 at 10 a.m.
29 at 1 p.m.
at Lansdowne:
at Lansdowne:
Nov. 3 at 3:30
Nov. 3 at 6
p.m.
p.m.
Knee-drop launches vital dialogue on race
C
on the mound
patrick fitzgerald, sports editor olin Kaepernick. Love him or hate him, you’re talking about him and what he’s doing, and that’s exactly what he wants you to do. Kaepernick sat during the playing of the national anthem before his San Francisco 49ers’ preseason game Aug. 26. His taking a stand by sitting down inspired a whole lot of debate and even more anger and malice directed at the quarterback, with athletes here like myself largely in support. Those opposed to the protest have mocked Kaepernick as a pampered millionaire professional athlete who doesn’t experience or understand racial struggles. Others blasted him for having no patriotism and a lack of respect for the military. But Kaepernick’s stance hasn’t changed in the face of this criticism, and his reasoning is sound. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said in an exclusive interview with NFL media following that preseason game, NFL. com reported. And Kaepernick has not stood up. He now kneels during the national anthem in an unwavering statement of his values. This unlikely figure has
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October 20, 2016
started a wave of conversations that need to be had, and he ought to be respected and commended for it, not ridiculed. I’m not saying that the now-starting quarterback for a sub-par NFL team is the ideal catalyst for this movement. But, athletes can and should use their platform to gain publicity for a worthy cause, and that’s exactly what Kaepernick has done. As a result of his protest, Kaepernick has gained support and distaste alike from members of the athletic world. His teammates and other players from across the NFL have joined in, with some of them kneeling and others raising a fist in a tribute to the black power salute made by John Carlos and Tommie Smith in the 1968 Olympics. The movement has crossed into other sports as well, with National Women’s Soccer League star Megan Rapinoe taking a knee to represent LGBT athletes and Women’s National Basketball Association players kneeling during the anthem in light of the shootings last month in Charlotte and Tulsa. While there has been quite a bit of support, it seems that the critical voices have been more outspoken. Kaepernick revealed recently that he has received death threats, according to an article on Fox Sports. Fans at the 49ers road game against the Buffalo Bills Oct. 16 started a loud ‘USA’ chant shortly before Kaepernick kneeled for the anthem. Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman James Harrison, another critic, tweeted: “If you [are] on my team and not [standing] for the Anthem [it] better be from a broken leg or I’m [going to] give you one. Others have questioned Kaepernick’s sincerity, labeling the protest as a publicity stunt. But that’s just an ill-informed, hard-
headed point of view. Kaepernick and the athletes that have joined him in taking a stand are intent on generating healthy conversation about the country’s racial issues. Even Kaepernick could not have expected such a severe backlash, but he has remained steadfast. Another objection people have is that Kaepernick is disrespecting the military with his demonstration. But those people don’t understand what’s going on. Kaepernick respects the military. He met with ex-Green Beret and former Seattle Seahawks long snapper Nate Boyer after Boyer wrote Kaepernick an open letter. Kaepernick is speaking out against racial injustice and police violence within the country. The flag stands as a symbol of our country, and he simply doesn’t feel like the country is representing people of color equally. Last month, I was a part of exactly the kind of conversation that Kaepernick is hoping to incite. After the first week of football’s regular season, our varsity baseball team group chat that is usually confined to discussing baseball or posting memes went a little deeper. We talked about Kaepernick’s protest and shared our own opinions about racial injustice in our country. After the conversation, I felt like I had gained perspective on the issue and become more informed and supportive of Kaepernick’s demonstration. The movement spurred by Kaepernick has sprouted great conversation in a place where one might least expect it. That’s how it should be, and it’s something he would love to see.
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VARSITY
Senior’s swagger scores quinn mccabe, staff writer The change in scenery from The St. Paul’s School to here has brought only success for senior varsity soccer player Jordan Brown. “Originally I thought it was going to take a little time to adjust, but the team brought me in and treated me as if I had alphoto by meher hans ready been on the team JORDAN BROWN for years,” Brown said. “He came in the first day acting like a leader, and has become more and more a part of the team and showed what he is capable of on the field,” senior captain Matt Marino said. Brown has 19 goals in 13 games and has Top 3 Pump up been a threat to opSongs posing teams due to his ball control and extraordinary 1.“Fade” by Alan Walker speed. “One of the biggest challenges is to 2.“Infinite Daps” by find a goal scorer, Baauer and RL Grime someone who has that finishing touch, and Jordan definite- 3.“Bliss” by SMIIRK ly provides that,” head coach Danny Skelton said. Brown’s goals have been plentiful as well as timely. He scored the gamewinning goal against Franklin as well as a game-tying goal against C. Milton Wright early in the season. “Explosiveness definitely has to be one of his best qualities. He’s extremely explosive on the field as well as very confident, and it might sound silly, but I have to say swagger. He kind of has this way about him that makes players around him better,” Skelton said. Next year, Brown will continue his career at Division III Stevenson University where he plans to study business.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Reid leads on the field annabel park, bryce frederick and will behm, staff writers Tough, explosive and persistent are how sophomore teammates Jack Shimanek and Jack Reilly described sophomore junior varsity football player Jeffrey Reid. Reid began playing at photo by meher hans five years old and has JEFFREY REID evolved into a key player on the team, stepping into an unofficial leadership role. “When we lost our first game, he got up in front of everyone else and let us know that he was going to work hard at every practice,” Shimanek said. Reid’s speech sparked positivity and focus in the coming practices and games. To improve his Top 3 Pump up performance, Songs Reid worked on his game in the 1. “Cooking” by Fat Joe, offseason. “I worked a lot Remy Ma, and French on strength over Montana the offseason, 2. “Pick Up the Phone” by and I started running a lot more,” Travis Scott and Young he said. Thug “He’s never sat3. “No Problems” by isfied with being Chance the Rapper good, he wants to be the best,” head coach Eric Malecki said. “He’s one of the few that can get what I’m telling him to do and proceed to do it, or work until it gets accomplished.”
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October 20, 2016
post: annaliese collins
Known for her outspoken and dynamic personality, sophomore Annaliese Collins sat down with Editor-in-Chief Julie Chotivatanapong and staff writer Maria Eberhart to discuss Hamilton, human trafficking and battling the haters. She is a peer educator at Planned Parenthood and the treasurer of Girl Up club. READING: I’ve been reading the series Wicked by Gregory Maguire. It’s really good. I think it’s because it combines the fairy tale that everyone’s been exposed to since I feel like everyone’s seen the Wizard of Oz at least once. It kind of shows you the real story of the wicked witch and what’s really happening with her. WATCHING: My friend just showed me this documentary about a famous kidnapping case, called the Johnny Gosch case. I think real life events like these are much more interesting to watch, more than reading the history of something. I also recently watched this documentary on Netflix called Girl Rising, and it talks about how different girls are put into human trafficking to try and obtain an education.
greenhouse gas emissions. And I know people will say you’re such a hypocrite for staying with fish, but I found that I do need that protein and it’s a lot easier to get that living in a house of all meat eaters. It’s easy to have some balance. ENJOYING: I’m a peer educator at Planned Parenthood, which is so much fun. Basically, our job is to help educate all our peers on different things like sexual health and relationships. I found that it really opened my eyes. I’m a huge advocate for women’s health and women’s rights, so I do work a lot towards that, and this helps me have the different information that I can give to other people and have for myself. I also really love to sing, and I sing in GT choir at school. It’s just one of my favorite things because it makes me happy that I can share a message with people and express how I feel about something in a really beautiful art form.
LISTENING: I’m a sucker for musicals. I know it’s kind of basic, but I recently just listened to the entire soundtrack of Hamilton. I find it kind of hard to listen to history and read it in that order, but with Hamilton, they combine the music and storytelling to give it a better aspect so people can listen and understand more information. FOLLOWING: I use my Facebook Messenger a lot to connect with different clubs in school. I’m treasurer of Girl Up so we definitely do a lot of communication on messenger to plan out different meetings. Instagram is kind of the place where I try to show what I stand for a little bit more than on Facebook. I’ll post things about a lot of movements like the A21 campaign which is on human trafficking or different days like National Women’s Day. EATING: I turned pescatarian because I don’t agree with the mistreatment of animals in factory farming. I think that kind of cruelty is absolutely disgusting and also because factory farming and agriculture are contributing so much to global warming as a whole. In South America, there’s so much deforestation because they’re trying to make room for all these different crops and cows, and cows are actually really gassy animals so they’re contributing a lot to the
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ADVOCATING: Intersectional feminism if the belief that classism, sexism, racism, xenophobia, and homophobia are all problems that are linked together, and the only way to really bring equality is to work on those problems and not see them as individual issues. Since middle school, I’ve always seen it as an injustice that people are discriminated against because of these differences, when really, we should be working together to solve this problem. I just try to support this cause because don’t like to see people mistreated or struggling. RESPONDING: A lot of times I find that hate isn’t really face to face, it’s more on the Internet where people can hide. On my Instagram page, I like to say it’s a place of positivity and where people can feel safe. If someone is going to be rude, I’m going to at least try to teach them something to show them that this is what I’m standing for. But in real life, I think that it’s just best to respect the other person’s opinion and remain calm. Like recently, I wore one of my Planned Parenthood tee shirts to school, and I did get some nasty looks, but I decided you know what? This is what I stand for and this is what I believe in so I’m going to wear this.
October 20, 2016
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9 features
the griffin
10 features
October 20, 2016
REVIEWS:
‘Stranger Things’ shocks, scintillates IF YOU LIKED STRANGER THINGS YOU MIGHT LIKE FOLLOWING THE CAST ON TWITTER @Stranger_Things @DavidKHarbour @WinonaROnline @milliebbrown @calebmclaughl1 @GatenM123 @FinnSkata @noah_schnapp
T
reproduced by permission of netflix
grace knotts, editor-in-chief he screen of my laptop flashes with the image of a man sprinting through a hallway lit with fluorescent lights. A cry echoes through the speakers, making my heart beat faster as my thoughts run a mile a minute trying to figure out what is going on. “What is he running from? Why is he the only person there?” He frantically pushes the button for the elevator once he reaches the end of the hall, checking behind him for whatever was chasing him. Finally, thinking he’s safe in the enclosed space of the elevator car, he takes a minute to breathe. But a demonic gurgling sound from above forces him to look up in utter fear.
Then there’s a scream – did that come from my speakers, or me? When I first heard about “Stranger Things,” I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. A show about a bunch of 12-yearolds running around, stealing Eggos and fighting bullies in 1983 Hawkins, Ind.? I could have watched something on Cartoon Network if that’s what I wanted. But when I viewed the first episode, my mind was blown. The first episode includes a game of Dungeons and Dragons, foreshadowing every major event in the show and giving each character their roles. They cope with the incomprehensible situation they are put into. Will Byers could have cast a protection spell on himself instead of throwing a fireball at the monster to deter it from the others. This parallels his real-life capture—in other words, he defended his friends before himself. Mike Wheeler becomes an actual “Dungeon Master,” leading the group in their search for Byers. Eleven, although skewed in her reasoning, calls herself the “Monster.” The most intense moment was when Joyce Byers, played by Winona Ryder, supernaturally communicated with her missing son using Christmas lights, of all things. Her sharpness due to borderline insanity had me on edge. Writing an alphabetical character under each light was ingenious, even if it did resemble a twisted version of a Ouija board that one of Santa’s elves tried to spruce up. I was impatiently keeping along with what Will was spelling out by turning on lights. My breath hitched in my throat as soon as he lit the bulb for the “N” in “RUN.” I ended up watching all eight episodes in one sitting. My justifications? I totally needed an eight-hour break and I wanted to enjoy the show in its entirety without forgetting
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a single detail between episodes. The show is packed full of striking conflict. Instead of a typical tale of a 16-year-old’s journey of self-discovery by struggling against an enemy, it vaults children into the worst situation possible. Between the disappearance of their friend Will, the Demogorgon (a monster from the “Upside-down” with a thirst for blood), secret government experimentation and a socially inept girl with deadly telekinetic powers, it’s surprising that none of these kids ended up in therapy by the end of the season. “Stranger Things” is a must-watch for anyone who wants to feel nostalgic – “Star Wars” references, “E.T.”-era bicycles and classic rock songs make the show reminiscent of 1983. The five main characters are expertly portrayed by their respective actors. They take interpersonal relationships to the next level, even if they are between children. Every episode left me waiting for the little “play next” pop-up in the lower left hand corner of my screen so I could quicken the start of the next one. Don’t even get me started on that last episode. With everything the first season accomplished in just eight hour-long episodes, I eagerly await the new season coming next year, which Netflix announced Aug. 31.
OVERALL RATING:
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October 20, 2016
11 features
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Zoë’s dazzles, impresses
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jason fontelieu, deputy editor ith a vibrant aesthetic, open atmosphere and meticulously-prepared meals, Zoe’s Kitchen provides a pleasant fast food alternative. Known for Mediterranean style cuisine, Zoe’s’ menu ranges from lighter options like salads and pita sandwiches to more substantial ones like the Mediterranean Chicken or their wide variety of kebobs. Feeling adventurous, I opted for the steak kebobs. The service was efficient, with several hosts switching off between taking orders at the counter and running plates to tables. The delicate and organized presentation of the plate suggests preparation longer than the 10 minutes it took to reach the table. The meal came with two skewers bearing large hunks of steak and pieces of pepper, atop sides of rice pilaf and a medley of grilled carrots, onions, broccoli and mushrooms. The food itself was tasty, the only flaw being the difficulty of using the silverware to physically get the meat off the skewer. The steak was tender and juicy, easy to cut and full of flavor from an intense, but not overpowering citrusy marinade. Despite the consortium they were in, the individual vegetables each maintained their unique flavor and acted as crisp pallet-cleansers in between the savory bites of beef. My least favorite part of the dish was the rice
photo by jason fontelieu
pilaf, a mushroom-based side that had an awkward mushy texture and taste of strange seasoning. However, this could easily switched out for better sides, like the fresh and light roasted potatoes I tried from my friend’s plate. Zoe’s offers a plethora of desserts baked in-store, and as a Griffin staffer, it was my journalistic duty to get the chocolate chip cookie. Not only was it nearly the size of my head, the chips within it were gigantic yet delectable, the whole thing crumbling and melting in my mouth with every bite. The space itself was cute and comfortable, with a wide-open indoor seating area with long windows and neon décor, there’s also an option to sit in the leisurely outdoor section. Zoe’s maintains a delicate equilibrium between great-tasting meals for relatively cheap prices.
OVERALL RATING:
photo by jason fontelieu
Zoë’s Kitchen 2129-A York Rd Timonium MD 21093 Sun-Sat 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
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photo by doria diacogiannis
dulaney
(left to right) SENIORS ASH BEHRENS, Sajjad Razvi, and Nick Manzoni investigate a fake crime scene as part of Marci Phillips’ Honors Forensics class. This scene, which was set up in the back of room 214, was designed to teach students about crime scene photography. “I set up seven crime scenes around the building, one for each group,” Phillips said. “They had to use the skills we talked about in class to take pictures and turn them in to me via Twitter.” Each group of students was assigned a dossier with documents detailing the context of the crime and the supplies the students would need. They were required to take a whole scene photo, a mid-range photo, and close up photo with a ruler in it. An amalgamation of different crime-related objects were placed at each location. “I have a box that’s like my murder box and it has random stuff in it and I divide it up into seven,” Phillips said. “So it could be a botched drug deal or maybe a suspected homicide. I even have one scene that has a little kid’s shoe in it to represent a kidnapping.”
the griffin
12 features
October 20, 2016
Reptile owner, skateboarder join staff 1
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Match each new teacher to the factoid about them:
photos by meher hans, sophie bates, hanna bewley and julie chotivatanapong
1. Chris Marisco 2. Ashlynn Campbell 3. Sheila Adcock 4. Corey Matlak 5. Dena Fiat 6. Jenna Roberts 7. Denali Sturgeon
8. Noelle Ford 9. Sarah Kingston 10. Ann Marie Rowe 11. Erica Schmuch-Wilson 12. Damon George 13. Cassandra Eppers 14. Hal McVeigh
a. started a design and CD duplication business b. eight time “All Conference Champion” for track and cross country c. played Division 1 volleyball at Coppin State University d. reared maggots while teaching in Anne Arundel County a few years ago e. loves horror movies f. was the sound tech for Cirque du Soleil g. skateboards once a week
h. is a United States Professional Tennis Association certified tennis professional i. has an identical twin named Rose j. has backpacked in eight countries k. loves cooking l. pursuing a graduate degree in humane education m. is a hunter n. owns a snake, bearded dragon and dog as well as multiple fish tanks
Answer Key: 1. g 2. m 3. d 4. f 5. k 6. b 7. c 8. j 9. n 10. i 11. l 12. a 13. e 14. h
an artist among us:
Her voice packs emotion
Left: 2016 grads Bryan Kihara and Sarah Reuhle join Gray and senior Alex Stocksdale in singing “Human Again.” Right: Gray sings Beyonce’s “Listen” at Cabaret in April.
fashion forward Spanish teacher Judy Frumin-Bercik spoke to editorin-chief Julie Chotivatanapong for an interview on her stylish choices for work. Q: What brands are you wearing today? A: “I’m wearing an outfit I purchased from Burlington, definitely a bargain brand. What I really love about this dress is the color blocking and the fact that it’s the type of material that gives your body a nice shape, but not too much. Q: What advice do you have for today’s youth regarding fashion? A: I would say that one needs to dress to impress. If you’re at school, the objective is for students to learn and teachers to teach. And often times, today’s fashion is not allowing that to happen. Like there’s enough material for jeans but somehow, the young men wear them below their buttocks, which is baffling because I’m not sure how they can actually walk. My advice to the young people is not worry about labels, worry about conveying the right impression. See website for full interview.
photos from sarah gray
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grace schneider, associate editor o say she has been singing forever isn’t much of an exaggeration. “I came out of the womb singing pretty much,” junior Sarah Gray said. Choir teacher Christina Senita has taught Sarah for two years in her Gifted and Talented chorus class. “She [sings] with a lot of soul and a lot of heart, and that was something that was really special because it can be really hard to sing with that much vulnerability and be willing to try to be artistic in front of a group of people,” Senita said. Gray has never had a vocal coach apart from Senita. Despite this, her voice is nonetheless fantastic, according to senior Michael Cheng, who performed a duet, “One Man Woman,” with Gray at the September Open Mic Night. “She was the first person I had in mind when I heard the song,” Cheng said. “The song is particularly challenging since it requires a tender voice that, at the same time, needs to be pas-
sionate and driving. And that’s exactly what she gave me.” The harmonies, ad-libs and difficult runs, he said, few could manage, but Gray did them effortlessly. She doesn’t take part in singing groups outside of school, Gray said, because she prefers small groups to large choirs. But she did join a troupe. She was in the spring musical, “Beauty and the Beast,” last year, playing Ba-
GRAY’S FAVORITE SINGERS 1. BEYONCÉ 2. ARIANA GRANDE 3. ADELE bette the feather duster. She fell in love with singing from a young age. Even at age three and four, Gray would comply naturally. “My earliest memory of singing was hearing a commercial on TV, and just thinking it was the best tune in the whole world,” Gray said, “something
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about it made me feel like I just had to sing it. So I did. All the time.” She never stopped, but her horizons have broadened. “She likes to play around with songs a lot. She’s not necessarily a writer, but she can freestyle on pretty much anything,” junior Onani Banda said. “Anyone who’s had the opportunity to sing with her is a very lucky person,” Cheng said. “She is hands down, one of the most talented singers I’ve ever known.” In the past year, Gray said she has had pain from her throat and received a laryngoscopy to determine the problem. The doctor determined that she speaks in a low register, causing her vocal muscles to contract and strain. She will be attending physical therapy to adjust her speaking voice and ensure that her singing technique is healthy. “I have no idea what my life would be without singing,” Gray said. “Sometimes it’s the only thing that can get me through a day.”