Vol. 39 Issue #1
The
September 13, 2013
Knightly News
p. 2 Pace’s Changing Social Dynamic
p. 5 Student Council Misrepresents
p. 7 Kenny Selmon Shocks the World
Seniors Welcome New Year with Style Photo: Caitlin Goodrich
Morgan Palmerton Staff Writer Class of 2015
The Class of 2014 bounded into the FAC on their last, first day of school with whistles blasting and toilet paper raining down onto the stage and seats. It is hard for some to believe the time has come for this class to be graduating from Pace Academy. “It still feels like we are juniors,” said senior Mary Liles Fiveash. Although not everyone may have fully comprehended their new status, these students have already begun to make their mark on the Academy. Class dean Ms. Riley said of the seniors, “They are spirited, creative and very diverse.” The Class of 2014 will be the first and only graduating class to experience the academic village. Some classes would be bummed to spend their last year at Pace in trailers, but the Class of 2014 has embraced it, showing their easygoing natures and positive attitudes. Their “Trailer Trash” theme was controversial, but when asked if the Class of 2014 was indeed trashy, senior Riley Muse responded, “Not trashy at all, but very classy.”
The Class of 2014 brings excitement to the one and only year in trailers at Pace. Not only does the Class of 2014 have a positive attitude towards the major change in their learning environment, they are changing life at Pace itself. Seniors Kameron Uter and Osei Avril began a tradition last year called “Free-Style Fridays.” The tradition began with Osei spicing up Friday morning assemblies with a freestyle rap. The two continue to offer up raps nearly every Friday, and Kameron and
Osei encourage any brave soul to join in. Senior Kenny Selmon is the founder of TMV (Thursday Morning Volleyball), now rivaling PAPUBA, some would say, in status and popularity. Another innovative senior, Nathan Sokolic, initiated the Pace Academy Board of Diversity last year. The Class of 2014 is characterized by exceptional athletes as well. Standouts can be found in practically every sport. Denzel
Franklin committed to play football at Stanford, Jared Datoc will play baseball at Georgia Tech, and Kenny is competing in hurdles internationally, to name a few. Seniors also excel in the arts. Many received Scholastic Arts Awards for their art and writing last year, including Gold Key winners Jason Malik and Sarah Sukin. These are just a handful of the many talented students the
Class of 2014 brings to the Pace community. All classes that graduate from Pace are original in their own way, but the Class of 2014 has the whole package, from athletics to the arts and service. Although the year has just begun, the senior class is already showing signs of being the most well rounded and memorable grade to go through the Academy in recent history.
final year at Pace, a year which would be spent not in a building but in removable classrooms, “trailer trash” seemed like a trademark too witty to pass up. On the morning of Aug. 14, 107 seniors stormed into the Fine Arts Center, sporting camouflage T-shirts, cut-off jeans, and overalls. Their goal was nothing more than to welcome the new school year with a bit of flair while shedding some humor on a major construction project that left the entire high school with-
out a building. But the “trailer trash” theme chosen by the class is raising eyebrows throughout the Pace community. Rick Holifield came to Pace this summer to fill the vacant Director of Diversity position. Immediately, he was alarmed by the seniors’ choice. “There were those red flags for me,” said Mr. Holifield, “and it behooves me to say something to someone about what my thoughts are around this topic.” Mr. Holifield was certainly not the first to
notice the potential implications of the theme. Head of Upper School Mike Gannon allowed the senior class to use the term “trailer trash,” but advised them to proceed with caution. “We go to school in a pretty privileged environment, and we do a pretty good job, I think, of acknowledging that as a community. But we have to be sensitive and aware of the fact that not everybody gets to go to school in a privileged environment like this,” he said. Many people within the community share his sentiments, believing that “trailer trash” is an acceptable and humorous theme so long as it is not used in a derogatory manner. But others believe that a line has already been crossed. Latin teacher Elizabeth Kann became uneasy when she heard “trailer trash” used by rising seniors last year, and her opinion has not changed. “I don’t like any term that demeans or disparages others, and to me, the use of the word ‘trash’ just does,” said
Mrs. Kann. Mr. Holifield agreed: “In the case of the term ‘trailer trash,’ the implication is that those who live in trailers have been referred to as trash by those who don’t, usually of a higher socioeconomic background. So the term ‘trailer trash’ is actually a derogatory term.” For most students, the theme raises little concern. Senior class president Wylie Heiner, who was instrumental in the selection, was excited, saying, “I love the theme. I think it’s awesome, so I feel so lucky that we got such an easy theme, because the trailers are so easy to play off of.” A majority of seniors are equally fond of the theme because of its relation to the mobile classrooms. “I thought it was great for our class because we’re in trailers,” said Mary Liles Fiveash. At the same time, a group of students recognize a need for sensitivity. “It makes Pace kids come off as kind of snobby,” said senior Tommy Burruss. “I don’t think
Trailer Trash Theme Sparks Controversy John Morrison Staff Writer Class of 2014
A senior year at Pace Academy seems incomplete without a theme. The graduating Class of 2012 was able to strike a rare gem when they took advantage of rumors about the imminent end of the world by proclaiming, “They saved the best for last!” So, when the Class of 2014 selected a theme to define their
Photo: Fred Assaf Many members of the Pace community had reservations about the seniors’ theme.
(Continued on page 2)
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Pace News
September 13, 2013
Trailer Trash Theme (Continued from page 1)
Trailer Leisure Spaces May Bring New Social Dynamics Wilson Alexander
Co-Editor In Chief Class of 2014
Ever since its construction in 2004, the Inman Center has been the student hotspot for spending free periods. It’s an unwritten law that freshmen sit near the entrance, and as students progress through high school, they move farther away from the doors until reaching the pinnacle: the senior cellar. However, with the demolition of the old Upper School and the installation of the temporary trailers, this social system faces possible changes. Though many students have continued to make the trek to the Inman Center, a new area is now available: the Academic Village and its accompanying green space. Complete with Adirondack chairs and picnic tables, the new outdoor space is up for the taking, along with the new indoor study areas in C trailer. Even the freshmen can claim a chunk. Wait! They’re freshmen. That can’t happen. Nevertheless, the new study and leisure areas do
open up the opportunity for a more egalitarian social structure rather than one based on seniority. This change excites Head of Upper School Mr. Gannon: “I’ve never loved our territorial benches based on class. I admire the seniors for bringing that communal ethic, at least to the green space. It shouldn’t be a class’s ‘particular space.’” Although many students continue to search for their niche, some students have settled in to the new spaces. “I really enjoy the new setup better than Inman; it’s less crowded and quieter. It’s nice to be able to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air,” said senior Arden Carlton. “It gives us more freedom to be where we want. If it’s pretty outside, we can sit outside, but there’s also plenty of places to be inside. We’re not as restricted,” said sophomore Mackenzie Greenbaum. Mr. Gannon might get his wish, but it’s too early to tell for sure. The study rooms in C trailer are at times segregated by class. At the beginning of the year, when walking to her desk in room C-8, Ms. Wilson witnessed several sophomore
Photo: Wilson Alexander
that it’s the end of the world, but there could’ve been another theme.” Some seniors, however, are hostile to the idea that there is anything wrong with the term “trailer trash.” One of these students echoed the opinions of many, saying, “People are too sensitive.” Senior Maddie Wanzer believes that the intent of the theme is innocent, and therefore, there is no need for concern: “We’re not saying it in an offensive way like people are thinking. It’s not meant in an actual making-fun-of-people way.” Mr. Holifield would disagree with statements like these. “I would say it doesn’t preclude us from trying not to offend someone. We have to think not about intent. We have to think about impact,” he said. “When you are speaking about anyone or anything and the word ‘trash’ is used, that should be a red flag in and of itself.” The issue is not foreign. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 400,000 residents of Georgia live in mobile homes. So the question remains as to how students and faculty will approach this topic going forward. “It’s important for us to be able to see the world through different lenses. We have to have dialogue to understand one another,” said Mr. Holifield. “This could be a teachable moment.”
The Knightly News - Page 2
Freshman Michael Chen enjoys spending his free periods in the green space in front of the trailers. students hesitating outside of a doorway: “They were all standing around it debating whether or not to go in. One of them said,
‘We can’t go in there, that’s a junior room!’” Incidents such as this may signal the continued separation of grades.
Josh Blank Staff Writer Class of 2015
The building of the new Upper School will lead to great new opportunities, but in the meantime, problems with carpool and parking have risen. Traffic has dramatically increased on W. Paces Ferry Rd. since school began. As expected, the first few days of carpool presented problems, but with this new sys-
tem, these issues could remain throughout the year. “So far, carpool and parking have gone as well as expected given what we can manage. We have one thousand cars arriving in a half hour window with one entrance and one exit. Hopefully, the problems will work themselves out,” said Head of Upper School Mr. Gannon. It will be vital for students and parents to be patient and follow the new route for the system to work. With so many people driving
Photo: Josh Blank Cars back up in the mornings all the way to Castlegate Dr.
to school, school administrators are encouraging students to look at alternative ways to get to Pace. Options like carpooling, parking at friends’ houses, walking and taking the shuttle from St. Anne’s will help traffic flow. Half of the junior class can park on campus first semester, with the other half parking second semester. Juniors are annoyed at not being able to park yearround, but they are finding new ways to get to school. “I park at a friend’s house close to Pace and walk to school,” said junior Scott Eisenberg. All seniors are able to park on campus, but getting into parking spots can be difficult with carpool. “I hate how we have to wait in the carpool line for a parking spot in the middle. The only positive is it gives me more listening time for the Backstreet Boys,” said senior Anshuman Parikh. Getting in and out of parking spots is a challenge and students run the risk of hitting other cars or people. “I get really scared that people are going to get hurt when the seniors and juniors back out,” said sophomore Lindsey Sample. “Overall, everyone is doing well with carpool and, hopefully, as the year goes on, carpool and parking will get better. Everyone should have a positive attitude,” said senior Evelyn Hobbs. With a positive attitude and cooperation, the Pace community can drive right past these issues.
Photo: Gus Whyte
Carpool, Parking Challenges Increase Pace students, whether beginners or experts, enjoyed paddling on an impromptu kayaking trip.
Students Have a Blast Kayaking With Teachers Joe Loughran Staff Writer Class of 2016
Mr. Day, Mr. Whyte and Mr. Ballard decided late on a Thursday afternoon to propose a kayaking trip to upper school students the next day during morning announcements, hoping to get a few kids to join them. However, they got way more than they were expecting. Thirteen kids showed up at 8:30 on Sunday morning, Aug. 25 to travel to the Cartecay River in Ellijay, Ga. Students spent all day on the river, kayaking and enjoying themselves with fellow students. Mr. Day deemed the day a
success, saying, “I think it went really well...The kids did great, it was a pretty day and everybody enjoyed it.” The students concurred. “It was really, really fun, even though I’d never kayaked before in my life,” said sophomore Mary Stuart Gray. “My favorite part of the trip was one really big rapid that was a big drop and we all got to go on it. Because it was next to rocks we could take our kayak back up the rocks and do it again and again,” said sophomore Lauren Archer. The last part of the trip was the best for many students. They enjoyed a mid-afternoon meal at one of three restaurants -- Waffle House, Zaxby’s or Subway -- wrapping up a fun Sunday for both students and teachers.
Pace News
Vol. 39 Issue #1
The Knightly News - Page 3
Hayley Silverstein Co-Editor In Chief Class of 2014
Knightly News: How was your summer? Katherine Merritt: This summer I stayed in Atlanta and volunteered at Hospice in Piedmont Hospital, and I also went to Boston University for a summer program for two weeks. KN: What did you do at BU? KM: It was kind of like a precollege thing. So I got to hang out in Boston while taking classes. KN: How does it feel being Student Body President? KM: It's really cool. I like it a lot. I am very excited to make announcements in the morning, Student Council meetings have been going well, and the KnightCard is going really well. So it's all good! KN: Is there anything special we can expect from Student Body this year? KM: We have a few surprises. I think the trailers make things interesting, because we have to be creative with the activities we
Photo: Hayley Silverstein
Five Minutes with Katherine Merritt
Katherine loves sharing jokes with Pace students. plan. You're just going to have to wait and see what we have planned. KN: You can't tell us anything? KM: There are going to be some food trucks. I know that has gotten out, but there are lots of other things to look forward to. KN: You have been on Student Council for what seems like for-
ever. You started out in Middle School. Why do you like it so much? KM: I just like being involved and I really love Pace. It's a good way to get in touch with the students, and bring the students and faculty together. Yeah, it's just really fun with a great group of people.
KN: You're not trying to hide that you are secretly power mad, right? KM: (Laughs) The power hasn't gone to my head, yet. KN: Is there anything you want the Pace student body to know about you? Seeing as you are our leader... KM: I love jokes.
KN: Do you have a joke for us now? KM: Of course! What do you call a really good farmer? KN: What? KM: A man outstanding in his field (laughs). KN: (Laughs) That's a good one. So, is there anything you are dying to do this year, sort of like a senior bucket list? KM: First day of school was really fun; that was something I was definitely looking forward to. But other than that, I guess we will just have to see. KN: What was the best advice you have gotten in high school? KM: Don't stress! KN: What was the worst? KM: Try to do everything. It's impossible! KN: What advice would you give to the freshmen? KM: Try and do different things, but don't try to do everything. Make sure you don't get too set in your friend groups, and try to talk to different people. And, just enjoy high school, and don't get too stressed out over the little things. KN: Thanks for your time. KM: No problem!
Pace Upper School Welcomes New Faculty Elizabeth Roos Staff Writer Class of 2014
The new school year brings a new learning village and four new faculty members. This year the Pace Upper School welcomes Mr. Ryan Vihlen as creative services manager and yearbook adviser, Mrs. Susan Wallace as chorus director, Mr. Kirk Gibson as an upper school computer science teacher and middle/ upper school debate coach and Mr. Adam Allred as a computer science teacher. A Memphis, Tenn. native, Mr. Vihlen is a man of many talents -- a “Renaissance Man” of sorts. His hobbies include flying sail planes, studying the Civil
War, going to estate sales, metal detecting and building model air planes. When asked what his favorite thing about Pace is so far, he enthusiastically responded, “The students! Students are so dedicated here, especially on my yearbook staff. There is a very strong group of leaders in my class. They are very organized, they know what direction they want to take the yearbook in, they are very professional and I have been very impressed by them. They have made my transition into the position of yearbook adviser very easy.” Although new as a faculty member, Mrs. Wallace has been involved at the school for many years as a rehearsal accompanist for Pace theatre. Mrs. Wallace has continually been impressed
by the students at Pace, particularly those in her chorus class. “I think the students here are top notch. I know they are all really smart and excel, but I think they are all really great people. My students have so much talent and potential.” When not working, Mrs. Wallace is taking care of her five-year-old daughter Joy and playing with her puppy Rosie. If Mr. Gibson were a fruit, he would be a pineapple. He explains: “Everyone’s had a mediocre apple or a dry, seedy orange. No one has had a bad pineapple. It’s the best at what it does.” A graduate of Emory University, Mr. Gibson enjoys watching TV shows such as “Breaking Bad,” “The Walking Dead,” “Parks and Recreation”
and “Homeland.” He also enjoys venturing to new restaurants and working on his vegetable garden, which to his dismay was not very successful this summer because of the rain. Mr. Gibson is most looking forward to the debate season, both in the Middle School and the Upper School. “We have a very enthusiastic and hard working team, who have already received an invitation to compete against some of the best in the country,” he said. Mr. Allred can be found at Georgia Tech as part of the research faculty in the Information Security Center when he is not teaching at Pace. “I mostly sit in front of computers all day and make them do terrible things. My major concentration is mal-
ware analysis (viruses that get on your computer). I get to find out what ‘bad guys’ are and what they are trying to steal. I then make that information available to other researchers, such as anti-virus companies.” In his limited free time, Mr. Allred plays video games (“Duh, I’m a computer science guy.”) and doing house improvement projects. Mr. Allred has been most impressed by the learning atmosphere at Pace. “Everyone cares. The teachers care, the students care. Everyone is here because they know the value of education. Unlike my own high school experience, students are here because they want to be and not because they have to be. It is a fun learning environment to be a part of,” he said.
Social Entrepeneurship Challenge Launches Grace Francour Staff Writer Class of 2015
its traffic. On Aug. 12, six upper school students met with Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx at Atlanta City Hall. Although they didn’t discuss the challenge at Pace specifically, students learned a lot about transportation and jobs in transportation from Mr. Foxx and Keith Parker, CEO of MARTA. At press time, Mr. Hattori estimated that five to ten teams of students will participate in the challenge. The Social Entrepreneurship Challenge is intended to be an annual competition, with the focus changing each year depending on the city’s needs. The mayor will be involved in helping to choose a new focus each year. Mentors from local businesses and the government will help guide each team as
they develop their plan. “The Social Entrepreneurship program seems like an awesome oppor-
tunity to really make an impact on the Atlanta community,” said junior Sarah Lettes.
Photo: Grace Francour
After years of planning, Mr. Hattori and Ms. Anderson have launched a new challenge for Pace upper school students involving social entrepreneurship. Mr. Hattori and Ms. Anderson are encouraging teams of students to develop business plans that provide innovative solutions to an issue that impacts the whole Pace community: transportation. Mr. Hattori defines social entrepreneurship as “the future of philanthropy, taking sustainable business models and applying them to social issues.” By using an entrepreneurial approach to solve social issues affecting the
local community, students are encouraged to think creatively. The challenge began on Sept. 11 and will extend through the school year, giving students time to fully develop their ideas. The business plans that students create are intended to become real ventures. A cash prize of $10,000 will be awarded to the winning team so that they can start their business. Over the summer, Mr. Hattori contacted the mayor’s office to identify a focal point for the program. He wanted to keep the problem local and relatable to Pace students, so they chose something that everyone in the Pace community deals with on a day-to-day basis. Atlanta is known for being one of the worst cities in terms of its lack of public transportation, its environmental footprint, and especially
Mr. Hattori discusses possible business ideas with junior Sarah Lettes.
Pace News
September 13, 2013
The Knightly News - Page 4
Pace Students Enjoy a Worldly Summer Aaron Wasserman Online Editor Class of 2014
While many Pace students spent their summer break relaxing and sipping Fresca on the beach, a select group of Pace students were busy exploring Roman ruins, tramping through Spanish markets, learning the importance of personal finance in Cambridge, and bringing AP European History to life in Russia. All of these wonderful trips and experiences were possible because of the hard work of Director of Global Education Ms. Anderson and all of the teachers involved with Pace Global Education. After five successful years, the annual trip to England and
Cambridge led by Mr. Hornor continues to be a staple in Pace’s Global Ed Program. This year, a group of eight rising seniors traveled across the Atlantic to take in the sites in London and participate in a week-long program at Cambridge University that focused on personal fiscal responsibility. Even as fatigue and jet lag set in after a nine hour flight, the group of Pace seniors hit the ground running. Upon arriving in London they saw Buckingham Palace, the Churchill Bunker, the London Eye, and much more. For senior Kal Golde, the personal finance classes at Cambridge were the highlight of the trip. “We learned tips on managing money that we can actually use later in life,” he said. A group of eight Pace stu-
dents got a taste of the high life when they traveled to Italy with chaperones Mr. Bloodworth, Ms. Goodrich, and Mrs. Kann. Because Italian is not offered through Pace’s foreign language program, the sole purpose of this trip was immersion in Italian culture, art and food. First arriving in Milan and later making their way to Rome and Florence, the group was on the move a lot during this trip. Exploring markets in Florence, seeing Michaelangelo’s David, and exploring the Vatican were only a few of the highlights. “Bartering in the markets and chilling in the Italian cafes definitely made the trip for me,” said senior Jake Pokalsky. For the students who went on the Global Education trip to Spain led by Spanish teachers
Ms. Riley and Ms. Bazzel, their goal was simple: improve their proficiency in Spanish and have a lot of fun doing it. In order to fully immerse themselves in the Spanish language and culture, the students stayed with a host family for the duration of the trip. Sophomore Natalie Novellas said, “It was cool to see how their culture differed from ours.” The group was in agreement that the ice cream (or “helado” in Spanish) was a defining part of the trip. Day trips to Cordoba and Sevilla provided the group with breathtaking views and many opportunities to shop in Spanish markets. “With a group of fourteen girls you can only imagine the amount of shopping that went on during a ten day trip in Spain!” said senior Jules Zappone.
The kings and castles of AP Euro came to life for a group of seven students who accompanied Ms. Smith and Mr. Sergeant on the Global Ed trip to Russia. Splitting the time equally on the ten day trip between Moscow and St. Petersburg, the group focused on the historical impact and importance of famous sites such as the Kremlin, Red Square, and Catherine the Great’s breathtaking palace. Despite this specific focus on the history of Russia, the group strived to connect and further understand the current Russian culture that is paramount to today’s international relations. “It was really cool to be able to see and experience all of the places that we studied last year [in AP Euro],” said junior Patrick Moore.
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Photo: Ms. Smith
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omm er (L-R): Seniors Kelly Brown and Amelia Hess take a tour of London. / Students clown around in Russia. / Seniors Jake Pokalsky and Symone Sommerville enjoy Italy.
Should ‘Froshmen’ Fear for Their Lives? Wylie Heiner
Opinion Editor Class of 2014
Another year passes, and Pace welcomes another class of freshmen into the Upper School. Freshmen cannot help
but wonder what is in store for them. Will the gardens become a jungle, full of cat fights and gorilla tears? Or will everyone bake a cake full of love and happiness? The term “froshmen” was given to the ninth graders stemming from long-standing tradition. Eno Reyes, a froshman,
Photo: Wylie Heiner Freshmen enjoy their first day of computer class.
compares his class to “something like an underwater basket weaving; we are all so closely knit into this one great big basket.” Is this class as tightly knit as Eno makes it out to be? Little is known about this grade, as even the freshman dean, Mr. Hattori, could say little about them. “I am excited
to get to know each and every one of them because as of now I know close to nothing,” he said. As the student body gets to know this new grade, one thing is for sure: They are scared. Freshman Tom Phillips said he fears “the overwhelming amount of homework and the upperclassmen,” while freshman Ashley
Estroff is especially scared of “the older boys, because they are so big.” However, the general consensus among the grade is that everyone is excited for this year to begin and what is to come. Peer leadership is always something the freshmen look forward to, along with the seemingly limitless amount of time available to spend at the snack bar. Looking for advice? Sophomore Caroline Hardison said, “Just be yourself; most people are going to like you no matter what.” In fact, among 15 students who were surveyed, more than half of them said that it was flattering for an underclassman to make an effort. A great way to get to know other students is through service learning. Senior Aaron Simon regrets not getting started with a service project his freshman year and encourages everyone to go to at least one project in the next few months. Another piece of advice is to limit yourself on social media outlets. Remember to be safe but also be cautious about what you post. One thing to ask yourself would be, “Would my grandma laugh at this or faint in shock?”
Opinion
Vol. 39 Issue #1
The Knightly News
966 West Paces Ferry Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 (404) 262-1345 Knightlynews@paceacademy.org Published by students at Pace Academy Member of Georgia Scholastic Press Association Co-Editors in Chief: Wilson Alexander Hayley Silverstein Tech Editor: Dean Papastrat News Editor: Sam Rubenstein Opinion Editor: Wylie Heiner Features Editor: Julia Beck Sports Editor: David Martos
Online Editor: Aaron Wasserman Staff Writers: Josh Blank Grace Francour Max Greenberg Joe Loughran John Morrison Morgan Palmerton Elizabeth Roos Josh Sloan Faculty Adviser: Ms. Lee Wilson Assistant Adviser: Mr. Matt Walker
The Knightly News Editorial Policy The Knightly News is the student-run newspaper of Pace Academy. For over 40 years it has reported the news that affects Pace, as well as the opinions of students. The Knightly News is published by the students of Pace Academy, and approximately 500 copies are printed by Florida Sun Printing. The Knightly News welcomes letters to the editor and
guest opinions, which may be edited for spelling and grammar, as well as space constraints. Neither Knightly News-generated opinion pieces nor guest opinions are reflective of the official policy of Pace Academy. Every effort is made to publish accurate facts, but if you recognize an error or omission, please email knightlynews@ paceacademy.org.
The Knightly News - Page 5
Student Council Misrepresents Students Hayley Silverstein Co-Editor In Chief Class of 2014
In light of some members of Student Council impeding a fellow Knightly News staffer from expressing their opinion, I am here to express my own. The grade Student Councils are composed of great people who work diligently; however, the institutions themselves show a lack of concern for the opinions of others. I know that I am not alone when I express my views on Student Council, in terms of money, representation and fulfillment of promises. The tuition for Pace is a pretty hefty price tag, which does not include the money we are expected to generate for Student Council. There are countless fundraisers each year, and we comply because of what Student Council promises to do with our money. However, Student Council accumulates thousands of dollars and the students see little of it spent for their benefit. It appears as though the budget is only used for Spirit Week. Last year, Student Council promised to buy the juniors new sofas for the Inman Center if everyone sold at least one Knight Card. Student Council did fulfill their promise, but other than that, the students saw little to no use of the money they
raised. This year, many seniors wanted to buy a new TV for the Senior Cellar, and many thought we could use money from our grade’s account. Instead of using existing money, every senior was asked to give more money in order to purchase a new TV. Not enough students felt obligated to pay, so two seniors bought TVs on their own. The students are unaware if there was money to buy a new TV or not, because Student Council is not transparent. I do not know what our bank account looks like, but over the years I have asked different Student Council members and all they have said is that there is a lot less than everyone thinks. All good governments should listen to the people they represent, but Student Council does more telling than listening. Many students have grievances over the Spirit Week voting process, seeing as nominations are only made by Student Council. Last year during Spirit Week voting, my class was presented with themes that were chosen solely by Student Council. There was little agreement between Student Council and the students, so the class staged a coup and the majority wrote in “The Avengers.” Instead of Student Council nominating the themes, students could submit themes to Student Council that can then be voted on by the class.
Before school started this year, I was shocked to hear that our senior theme was “Trailer Trash” because I find the theme rude and offensive. And secondly, who decided our theme, exactly? Many seniors learned about our theme the night before the first day of school, because the grade did not get to nominate or vote on the theme; it was decided by Student Council alone. How many times has Student Council failed to fulfill its promises? Every year Student Council promises to talk to the students and ask for their opinions, when in actuality I have never seen a Student Council member ask for the opinions of a fellow student. The current seniors were promised five extra tardies and Dress Down Fridays. The former has happened, while the latter has been severely underwhelming. Dress Down Fridays has fallen short because seniors can only wear T-shirts and it is going to be a rare occurence. Last year, Student Council promised to provide the students with extra activities during GAP. However, there were no signs of any action taken by Student Council. While Student Council may have the best of intentions, their actions do not match those intentions. I am confident that Student Council can be a truly great institution and I hope to see those on Student Council strive towards improvement.
get around to until our last days of summer. After spending 30 weeks stuck in a classroom, summer is the time to get away from school and the workload it entails. It seems like teachers are infringing on our summer, a time for students to recharge. If summer reading were eliminated by the English department at Pace, the teachers could just include those books considered most important to read during the school year. However, if summer reading were deemed important enough to keep, a time interval system might be implemented as it is during the school year. We might be required to read two chapters a week until we finish the book.
But even if summer reading were on this system, the questions on the book should not be assigned over the summer. These questions are a waste of time and energy, requiring homework before the school year even starts. The teachers already give us a quiz at the beginning of school to test our knowledge of summer reading. Even if the questions are supposed to get us ready for the assessment, they should not have to be done in the summer. Summer reading might not ever be eliminated, but some sort of change is needed. We students simply need to relax for the entirety of the summer, so we can begin the school year energized and refocused.
Students Take a Summer Beating Photo: Joe Loughran Sophomore Jordan Doerr isn’t a big fan of summer reading..
Joe Loughran Staff Writer Class of 2016
Summer reading hangs over every student’s summer break like a dark, menacing cloud. These books are supposed to keep our minds running during the summer months but are actually a heavy burden. Even though many of the books are famous literary works, the reading forces high school students, who are eager to go outside and hang out with their friends, to stay inside and read instead. To make matters worse, we have to answer questions on the books as well, which we do not usually
Teachers Share Opinions on Trailers
Julia Beck
Features Editor Class of 2015
Photo: Julia Beck and Wylie Heiner
Lifestyle
September 13, 2013
The Knightly News - Page 6
Atlanta’s Biggest Music Festival is Back Photo: musicmidtown.com
Sam Rubenstein News Editor Class of 2014
Atlanta’s signature music festival, Music Midtown, is back Sept. 20-21 for its third consecutive year with a whole new range of talent. This year the festival features classic 80’s band Journey, jam band Drivin’ N’ Cryin’, hard rockers Weezer and Queens of the Stone Age, and rap all-stars Kendrick Lamar and 2 Chainz. The festival will climax on Saturday night with Imagine Dragons, who reached near overnight fame after the release of their songs “It’s Time” and “Radioactive.” Imagine Dragons will be followed by none other than the Red Hot Chili Peppers, widely considered the biggest name to play the festival in recent years. Music Midtown began in 1994 as an attempt to mirror the extremely popular New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and it provided a wide variety of acts. The festival garnered instant popularity and was eventually moved to a larger location down-
There is no doubt many Pace students are hiding in this massive crowd at Music Midtown 2012. town. However, Music Midtown went on hiatus in 2005 after bad weather, scheduling mishaps and expensive tickets led to lower attendance. In 2011 the festival returned and was held in Piedmont Park. It was trimmed from three days
to just one, and it featured only two stages. The festival also broke from tradition by featuring acts mostly from the Alternative Rock genre. Nevertheless, the revived Music Midtown was an big success. With tickets costing a
mere $55 dollars, fans were able to rock out to Young the Giant, The Black Keys, and Cage the Elephant. The night was topped off with a stunning performance by Coldplay, who even did a tribute to the recently split Georgia band, REM.
Music Midtown 2012 featured a new expanded lineup ranging from the folk rocking Avett brothers, to mashup genius Girl Talk, to grunge machines the Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam. This represented a return to the traditionally mixed lineup, aided by the addition of a second day. The 2012 festival even featured hometown rapper Ludacris, who was a hit among Pace students. Interestingly, the festival is frequented by Pace teachers in addition to students. Mr. Whyte, who vaguely remembers Music Midtown in its original incarnation, has attended the festival the past two years. “I really love live music, especially festivals, because they give you the chance to see multiple bands in a cost effective way. Plus, you get to hear great new artists that you wouldn’t otherwise have gone to see,” he said. This year’s festival in Piedmont Park will see the addition of a third stage on the south side of the park. General admission tickets are $110 for two days, and $50 and $85 for Friday only and Saturday only, respectively. More information can be found at www.musicmidtown.com.
Wylie Heiner
Opinion Editor Class of 2014
It would make sense that one of the most artistically talented students at Pace is also one of the best dressed on campus. Sophomore Hope Lennox translates her love of art into a love for fashion. Hope draws inspiration from style icons such as Elle Fanning and Tavi Gevinson. When asked what her routine is for picking out an outfit, she responded, “I don’t think about it, actually.” At first glance, it would appear that hours of
preparation and deep thought have gone into her day-to-day outfits, but upon closer inspection, it’s clear that she has fun deciding what to wear. Her use of energetic colors, materials and textures gives this school a breath of fresh air from the usual white jeans-fancy top combination. Hope shops at TopShop, ASOS, and -- like so many others featured in this column -- thrift shops. Look for Hope walking across campus in her signature jelly shoes or hand crafted jewelry. It’s hard to miss such a bubbly style and personality!
Photo: Wylie Heiner
Three Looks with Hope Lennox
Hope loves to mix and match different colors and styles.
Apple Develops New iWork To Rival Google Drive Dean Papastrat Web/Tech Editor Class of 2015
While both are free, Apple only gives you 5GB of storage whereas Google gives you 15GB. Beyond the free limit, Apple’s prices continue to be more expensive. Google Drive also allows the hosting of other files, whereas Apple limits you to Pages, Keynote and Numbers files.
Photo: http://bostinno. streetwise.co
In the near future, Apple will release a new form of iWork that works directly in your browser. With this addition, users will be able to edit and sync presentations, documents and spreadsheets between all of their devices, including their Mac, iPhone and iPad. This service will rival Google’s cloud platform, Google Drive, and is extremely easy to use. After testing, it seems to be relatively reliable and much more feature intensive than other
web-based document editing tools. There are some things, however, that set Google Docs and Apple’s new iWork in iCloud apart. Google Docs supports multiple-user editing. This is a tremendous feature for collaboration and well-loved by teachers and corporations alike. Apple’s system doesn’t allow for this yet, which can lead to syncing conflicts. iCloud is built-in to their reliable iOS and OS X iWork apps, which makes it extremely easy to use. Google Docs, on the other hand, doesn’t have a native editor for desktops or laptops and its mobile apps are flimsy.
Summer Movies Offer Welcome Distraction Max Greenberg
Staff Writer Class of 2014
Staying in Atlanta over the summer, I had a lot of free time on my hands. To beat the heat, I frequently visited the comfy movie theaters of our thriving metropolis. This summer saw a number of excellent blockbusters hit the screen, with lots of variety in genres and good options for all types of movie lovers. "I thought 'We're the Millers' was the funniest movie of the summer," said senior Evelyn Hobbs. Junior Austin Little agreed with Evelyn's pick, but
for a different reason: "I really like Jason Sudeikis, so 'We're The Millers' was my favorite movie over the summer." "This Is The End" was sophomore Jordan Doerr's favorite movie of the summer, while fellow sophomore Jared Goldman's top choice was "Man of Steel." Here are my personal top ten: 1. “This is The End” 2. “Man of Steel” 3. “Star Trek Into Darkness” 4. “The Wolverine” 5. “Pacific Rim” 6. “Iron Man 3” 7. “We’re the Millers” 8. “The Way, Way Back” 9. “After Earth” 10. “Now You See Me”
Sports
Vol. 39 Issue # 1
The Knightly News - Page 7
Kenny Selmon Earns International Recognition David Martos
Sports Editor Class of 2014
we became really close and still keep in touch on group chat,” Kenny said. When it finally came time for Kenny to compete, he was ready. Kenny put on his jersey with “USA” written on the front, and felt very proud: “Wearing USA was like no other experience that I have ever had. It was awesome representing my country.” He did not disappoint, leaping to a bronze finish in the 400 meter hurdle. When he returned to Atlanta, he was showered with praise. The school is still buzzing with the excitement of Kenny’s accomplishments. “I know Kenny put in a lot of hard work and, thankfully, the hard work paid off,” said senior Jay Kumar. “He is such a beast; I am not even surprised he did what he did,” said senior Ally Jones. Pace Academy coaches also had much to say about Kenny. “I am so proud of what he achieved this summer. He put in the work on the field and was able to accomplish his goals of getting
better and making a name for himself,” said track and field coach Mrs. Agront-Hobbs. “It goes without saying that I am extremely proud of Kenny and all that he has achieved. I have been saying for a long time that
Kenny is untapped. He has an amazing amount of potential. I am very excited for Kenny. It will be a lot of fun to watch him to continue to develop over his career,” said Director of Athletics Mr. Palmerton.
Photo: Kenny Selmon
Many people would consider representing their country a once in a lifetime opportunity, but for senior Kenny Selmon it is only the beginning. Kenny, after placing second in the national 400 meter hurdles in June at the World Youth qualifying meet in Illinois, was given an opportunity to go to Ukraine this summer to compete with Team U.S.A. The journey was an extraordinary adventure for Kenny, and a third place finish on the international stage was an outstanding starting point for the star athlete’s international career. In order to get to Ukraine, Kenny had to first do well at nationals. The way the team is picked for Ukraine is known as subjective choice, which means every athlete who finishes first gets an automatic bid. Athletes who Team U.S.A. thinks
could score a lot get bids, too. For Kenny, nationals was the most stressful part of the entire experience. “I was more nervous about making the team than competing on the international stage. There were a lot of college coaches watching and all the folks back home really wanted me to succeed, which motivated me, but put lot of stress on me to win,” he said. Kenny finished second in the event and came within milliseconds of finishing first. However, he secured a spot to compete in Ukraine thanks to subjective choice, which thrilled Kenny and all his fans back in Atlanta. Kenny attended a three-day training camp in Chicago with the USA Youth Team. He then traveled to Ukraine in July to pursue his dream of representing his country at the World Youth Championship. When he arrived at his hotel, he was put on a floor with all of his teammates, and he ended up bonding with many of them. “The best part of the entire experience was the friendships;
Kenny Selmon placed third in the 400 hurdles in Ukraine.
Photo: Julia Beck
Volleyball Spikes The Competition David Martos
Sports Editor Class of 2014
Alec and Josh Rogers celebrate the beginning of the cross country season.
Rogers Dominate Cross Country Julia Beck
Features Editor Class of 2015
that’s probably true, and his inspiration leads me to victory.” Either way, Josh and Alec are both zealous runners. “In the off-season we run together 24/7. We do a lot of fun stuff besides running, but seriously, we run a lot,” said Josh. But don’t think cross country is all fun and games; Alec and Josh both work hard to improve. “You can’t measure work...But it’s not just us; the whole team works really hard! You know, if that were measurable,” said Alec. Not many would be brave enough to join the cross country team in hopes of knocking Josh and Alec off their pedestal. Joining, however, is the only way to know what Josh means when he says, “Yeah, the cross country team has rituals, but they’re not disclosable. We don’t have any secrets to give...or should I say that we can give? This is where I wink at you.”
Photo: Anna Bush
The famous running Rogers brothers are back. There are lots of ways to get to know sophomore Alec Rogers and his brother, senior Josh Rogers, whether through soccer, peer leadership, track, Thursday Morning Volleyball or mutual classes. Their claim to fame, however, lies in cross country. Josh and Alec currently hold the one and two spots on the varsity cross country team, a feat foreseen by most of their fans. “Its like the Rogers Cross Country Dynasty,” said Alec. After Josh ran a 17:25 time trial to earn the number one spot and Alec ran an 18:39 for second, it became clear that they would continue to be the two most
dominant runners on campus. Josh said, “It has always been one of my dreams to be one and two on the team with him. So, I’m pretty excited.” Josh and Alec are looking forward to a successful and fun cross country season. “I just really like running. It makes you feel like you’ve done something in the day. It’s always like a mini adventure; that’s how I think of it, at least,” said Alec. Already, the brothers have started the season well, Josh running a 16:49 in their first meet and Alec running an 18:45. Though both readily agreed that Josh is the better runner currently, Alec has been running faster times than Josh did his sophomore year, setting himself up for a successful cross country career. Alec said, “He just has a two year advantage on me. Also, being younger, I get to inspire Josh to work harder,” to which Josh responded, “I think
This season has marked a turning point for the Pace girls volleyball team. In many of the players’ eyes they have turned a corner and have started showing they are capable of much more. After starting the season with two tough losses against two final four teams from last year in Marist and Holy Innocents, the team has rebounded and won four of their last five games. There are numerous reasons for the rapid transformation of the team this season. After last year’s painful season, many of the returning players are hungry to get back to winning games. “We all really want to be successful, and our determination can be seen in our play in our games so far this season,” said senior captain Kandace Thompson. Another change is the leadership of captains Kandace and senior Alex Bussey. The two
have shown great poise in their new roles this season. “Our job is to lift up, push and energize the team even if we are having a bad day,” said Alex. The team cannot stop raving about their captains. “They both have been great! Both lead by example on and off the court, which is vital to being true leaders” said Coach Anna Bush. The team has also been helped a lot by new freshman and sophomore talent. Players have been especially impressed with freshman Summer Brown. Her height has allowed her to dominate the opposition with hard spikes and well placed blocks. The team has set high goals for themselves this year, but if their recent play is any indication, they may make good on their aspiration for the playoffs. “As a team, we want to have a winning record and win some games in the playoffs. I think right now we are feeling good with the way we are playing and we just have to keep it up,” said senior Pate Hardison.
The volleyball team has high hopes for this season.
September 13, 2013
Sports
The Knightly News - Page 8
Denzel Franklin Commits t0 the Cardinal John Morrison
Photo: Fred Assaf
Staff Writer Class of 2014
King’s Ridge running back Connor Henderson remembers the play well. Connor was given a start in the varsity football game against Pace Academy last September, and his coaches gave him the ball early and often. At first, everything was going according to plan for the Tiger offense, which drove the ball all the way down to the Pace three-yard line on its initial possession. On second and goal, Connor received the ball on a sweep play. As he rumbled towards the endzone, a Pace defender collided with him. “He seemed to come out of nowhere,” said Connor, whose body went one way while the football went another. Plays like these are what have drawn some of the nation’s top football programs to Pace safety Denzel Franklin. Currently a senior, Denzel has already cemented his position as one of the top safeties in the country.
Denzel, along with most of Pace’s starters, saw limited action in the Knights’ scrimmage against Wesleyan. After receiving scholarship offers from the likes of South Carolina, Mississippi State and Boston College, as well as strong interest from a handful of other major programs, Denzel com-
mitted to Stanford University on Aug. 1. Ultimately, it was an easy decision. “The biggest thing for me was having the best balance between education and athletics,” said Denzel. “I wasn’t
going to choose one or the other. It had to be both.” One would be hard-pressed to find a school that balances these two things better than Stanford. The school frequently finds itself atop academic standings, coming in at #6 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2013 National University Rankings, and even reaching #2 in the 2013 GRUP Academic Ranking of World Universities. Stanford’s football program has also achieved recent success; this year’s team entered the season ranked fourth in the country after a victory in the Rose Bowl last January. Although many collegiate athletes must spend substantial time as a backup before cracking the starting rotation, Denzel may not have to wait long to see the field. “Because he fits exactly what [Stanford defensive coordinator] Derek Mason’s defense looks for, I expect Franklin to get on the field early and often, in both their base defense and their nickel packages,” said Brandon Huffman, a national recruiting analyst for Scout.com. “What
helps make Franklin a good fit is that he’s got DB speed, but with linebacker aggression and the ability to run with backs if he matches up against them in the slot or in other aspects of the passing game.” The potential for early action shouldn’t come as a surprise to Denzel, who started as a freshman for Pace. Impressive as it is, the road to this level of success has been a long one. Denzel has been an athlete since age six, but it wasn’t until after he moved to Atlanta from his native Boston seven years ago that he began playing football. The gridiron culture of the South, it seems, had an effect on him. “When I came down here, [football] was the thing to do,” said Denzel. Denzel plans to enroll at Stanford next August and immediately begin practicing with the team. In the meantime, however, his focus is on finishing his senior season on an unprecedented high note. “I think we have a big upside -- huge upside -- and I’m expecting a lot out of us,” said Denzel. “I think we’re a championship bound team.”
Photo: Vicky Sloan
Students Compete in Teen Soccer Nationals Freshman Jessica Haidet and sophomore Johnny Reece traveled with their club soccer teams to U.S. Youth Nationals. Josh Blank Staff Writer Class of 2015
The senior participants of ‘The League’ fantasy football league had an offical offline draft before week three of this year’s preseason.
Fantasy Football Thrives at Pace Josh Sloan
Staff Writer Class of 2014
With the 2013-2014 fantasy football season kicking off, many Pace students are eagerly awaiting the start of the season. One can hear fantasy football banter throughout the halls of the Academy as many students prepare their draft strategies and prospective tips, while getting advice from online articles, reports and from the expert Ms. Stevens. With students preparing months in advance for their fantasy drafts, fantasy football can definitely be called a big deal among the student body at Pace. The beginning of the season means huge expectations and aspirations. “I expect nothing less than a championship at the end of my road to glory,” said
junior Danny Kaplan. “I am going to win. That’s what’s going to happen,” said freshman Will Movsovitz. While there are a slew of fantasy footballers who expect victory, there are also plenty who are either expecting a rebound from disappointment last year or simply hoping to make an impact this year in their leagues. “I’m looking forward to the draft and I’m glad to be in the league. I’m going to work my way up. I do expect to win a little, but I’m taking it slow,” said junior Anna Brown. “I’m going to make a bunch of savvy in-season moves and change to the way the game is. Adapting well is key. I really want to do well his year and rebound from my last year’s performance,” said senior Harrison Halberg. Some students at the Academy don’t look upon the upcoming fantasy season with as much
enthusiasm as others. “The guys talk about it constantly and it gets annoying. I want to be in their league because it would be fun and enjoyable, but I’m bitter about it because the guys won’t include me,” said senior Evelyn Hobbs. “I have always wanted to play some fantasy football, but nobody ever invites me to play,” said senior Osei Avril. Strategies are a big deal and everyone has one. Although not many are willing to give away their insight, junior Hank Assaf offered some advice for newer players this year. “Defenses aren’t important, so don’t overdo it by picking them early. Mobile quarterbacks are the future and picking one of them could end up being a great call. Good luck to everyone playing this year, and if you’re in a league as big as mine (with 20 teams) you’re probably going to need some,” he said.
This past summer, while many Pace students were relaxing on vacation, freshman Jessica Haidet and sophomore Johnny Reece were hard at work at the U.S. Youth National Soccer Championship. The tournament was played in Overland Park, Kan. on July 23-28. To get to Nationals, Johnny and Jessica had to compete at regional and state tournaments with their club teams. Jessica currently plays for Tophat’s Gold U16 team, while Johnny plays for GSA Red 98. Both Johnny and Jessica started their soccer careers at a very young age. Their passion to be the best has stayed with them throughout the years. “My favorite part of soccer is winning and getting the reward for all of your hard work,” said Johnny. Both players have practices three times a week and have at least one or two games on the weekends that can require traveling all over the U.S. The national championship features the eight best teams across the country in a roundrobin tournament and each age group is split into groups with four teams apiece. They play each team in their group once,
and the winners of each group play in the finals. At the tournament, Johnny’s team played in the under-15 age group and Jessica’s participated in the under-14 age group. Johnny’s team ended up finishing eighth while Jessica’s team finished third at the tournament. “It’s awesome seeing teams from all over the country. All of the players were very good and everyone is there to win. It’s competitive,” Jessica said. While the club soccer season is extremely important for both players, Johnny and Jessica still can’t wait to start Pace soccer in the spring. Jessica explains: “I’m excited to play with my sister [senior Kelliann] and it’ll be a lot different from club soccer. Pace soccer is more fun and less pressure.” Jessica will be playing in her first year of high school soccer. Look for her to contribute her defensive skills on the Pace team. Johnny is returning after his first year of Pace varsity soccer and will be playing midfield. Johnny’s reasons may not be the same as Jessica’s, but he’s also very excited to get the season going. “I’m looking forward to playing again with the team, winning every game, winning state and going farther than last year. I want to represent my school,” he said.