Vol. 38, Issue 5

Vol. 38 Issue #5

February 1, 2013

The Knightly News Pace Academy 966 West Paces Ferry Road Atlanta, Georgia 30327

p. 2 Mr. & Mrs. Coale

p. 6 Spirit Week Review

p. 8 Couples Quiz

Global Ed Journeys to Germany Photo: Tim Hornor

By: Elizabeth Roos Social Media ‘14 Jan. 12-21, ten students accompanied by Mr. Hornor and Mr. Smith, traveled throughout Germany as part of the third annual Global Education trip to that country. The group explored a wide range of history, seeing everything from the Odeonplatz in Munich, the site of Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch of 1923; to the Schloss Neuschwanstein, the picturesque castle nestled in the Alps that inspired Disney’s Cinderella castle; to Checkpoint Charlie, the crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War; to the magnificent Pergamon Museum in Berlin which houses the Pergamon Altar, the Roman Market Gate of Miletus, and the Ishtar Gate of Babylon.

Mr. Hornor said, “We saw the best of German history and European history, and the worst, at the same time. We saw the astonishing Altar of Pergamon which is Hellenistic and the very origin point of Western culture.

We saw the reformation through the self-portrait of Durer. And we saw many elements of the bloody 20th century, whether we were at Dachau or Checkpoint Charlie. It points to the turmoil of that century which so defines us today.”

Along with history, the stu-

Students pose at the beautiful Schloss Neuschwanstein nestled in the Alps. dents learned a great deal about German culture. The students indulged in traditional German food such as wiener schnitzel, delicious pastries, scrumptious pretzels, and various succulent sausages at the renowned Haufbrauhaus in Munich. All of the students were flabbergasted when they realized that water and bread baskets were not free in Germany like they are here in the United States. Senior Reid Williams said, “My favorite food that we ate in Germany was wiener schnitzel, which is a very thin piece of veal or pork that is surrounded by a fried layer. It is very similar to country fried steak.” Mr. Smith bragged, “I was one of only two people to

finish my entire wiener schnitzel.”

The students spent a lot of time walking from place to place, enduring the sub-arctic temperatures. Reid said, “It got very cold, so we had to prepare for the cold by wearing many layers, or else our trip would have been miserable.” It snowed three or four times during the trip. Mr. Smith said, “Having the snow come down helps you tolerate the cold a little bit better. I would rather have snow and cold than wind and cold any day.” All agreed that the cold and snowy weather while touring Dachau (a concentration camp outside of Munich) was appropriate for the day and made the experience

truly unforgettable.

The group also took full advantage of the incredible train and subway system in Germany.

Reid said, “When we traveled from Munich to Berlin we took an eight and a half hour overnight train ride. The compartments were so small that only one person could stand up in the compartment at a time.” Senior Lauren Schaffer said, “Being in such close quarters was a great team building exercise. I think that all sports teams should have to do it.”

The students also got the opportunity to hear the Berlin Philarmonie, one of the best orchestras in the world, and to see the opera Madame Butterfly at

Pace Shows Artistic Side By: Wylie Heiner Opinion Editor ‘14 Pace Academy has always had a reputation around the Buckhead schools for having more of an “artsy” environment.

All Pace students have walked the halls of the Fine Arts Center in awe of their peers’ hard work and creativity, and some even have their own work displayed proudly on the walls of this prestigious building. For the third year in a row, the “Brush with Fame” competition is being hosted at Pace Academy, through Feb. 3. Donice Bloodworth founded this great program that invites students from public and

private schools across Georgia to enter their artwork. This is the only painting competition that showcases the work of high schoolers in Georgia. Local gallery owner Anne Irwin of Anne Irwin Fine Art is serving as judge for the competition.

“Great talent” is a phrase that not only applies to Pace students, but also to the faculty members who serve as motivation and inspiration every day.

Student Affairs’ Mrs. Culp has a passion for quilting. This is no hobby that one decides to do between collecting buttons and scrapbooking; Mrs. Culp has been a dedicated veteran to this intricate art for over 25 years.

Quilting is a difficult skill to learn, but Mrs. Culp has managed to conquer that feat and win

a number of awards for her hard work in the process. She said, with a laugh, that quilting “feeds her soul.” Mrs. Culp’s work is currently on display in the Upper School library.

Donice Bloodworth also displays his talent throughout the school with his dramatic use of colors and his whimsical style of painting. Ask Mr. Bloodworth for a peek into his studio to see his vast collection of works that he has completed over the years.

Mr. Dorman is not only a highly talented photographer, but he also is a Renaissance man of sorts, taking his sculpting class very seriously. His most recent piece is a trio of sculptures that, according to Mr. Dorman, “have shapes that the world has never seen.” Mr. Knott came on board

the exquisite National Theater in Munich. At the opera, because of ticketing errors, a few students got to sit in the Royal Box accompanying Munich socialites.

Lauren said, “The opera was beautiful, but there were a lot of different cultures involved so it was very hard to follow. The opera was sung in Italian, the subtitles were in German, and the story took place in Japan.”

Mr. Smith said, “The funniest part of the trip was the way [senior] Emily Pair reacted to snow and dogs, and then snow and dogs together. She just dropped down on the ground in the middle of the English gardens in Munich, in her Eskimo gear, so she couldn’t really move in a super strong snowstorm, and started doing snow angels on the ground. Then she chased some woman’s dog for five minutes around the park, while the woman stood there wondering what was going on.”

All of the students agreed that they learned more during their time in Germany than they would have during weeks of classes. Junior Jules Zappone said, “It was amazing to experience the country that we have learned so much about at school. Our textbooks were truly brought to life. It was totally worth missing an entire week of school!” Mr. Hornor said, “Every year the trip has evolved, and keeps getting better. I hope to do this trip every year in January in the future.”

Photo: Wylie Heiner

Mr. Dorman’s sculpture serves as inspiration for his students. this year as Pace Academy’s new ceramics teacher, replacing Mr. Berman. Students describe him as “approachable” and “one of the nicest men I have met.”

These qualities are translated into his beautiful ceramics pieces. All three Upper School

visual arts teachers will be displaying their work at the Pace Art Faculty Exhibit, slated for Feb. 13-Mar. 1. The exhibit will also feature the work of Mrs. Sibley from the Middle School and Mrs. Edwards from the Lower School.

Pace News

February 1, 2013

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Coales Found Love in a Hopeless ‘Pace’ By: Wylie Heiner Opinion Editor ‘14 The Cunninghams, the Sommervilles, and the Halls are all great love stories within the Pace community. Now it’s time to add Jenni and Kevin Coale to that list. You would think that being with your spouse every day, all day long would get old quickly, but eighth grade history teacher Mr. Coale and Mrs. Coale, a member of the Admissions team and AP Art History teacher, manage to make it work.

As I sat down with these two love birds, I couldn’t help but notice the chemistry between them along with their perfectly coordinated outfits. My first inquiry was a cliché question but one that I knew the readers of The Knightly News were very curious to know: how did the two meet? Mr. Coale said that he used to frequent the local University of Virginia campus Mellow Mushroom where Mrs. Coale was a waitress, to check out the pizza along with a certain staff member, but she doesn’t buy this tall tale.

Photo: Wylie Heiner The Coales enjoy a candid moment (we swear) in front of The Knightly News.

The REAL story takes place in the sweeping background of Valencia, Spain -- an exotic location with the power to draw even the most unlikely of pairs together. Mr. Coale said that he went to Spain hoping to find a “Spanish lady” to make him paella all day long but “found better” when he fell in love with Mrs. Coale in a sea of sweaty salsa dancers and blaring music.

It was at baggage claim on their

return trip that the pair decided to “determine the relationship.”

Obviously, the relationship was determined to continue, and on July 10, 2010, the couple got married at Blackberry Farm.

Where can these two be found on the weekends? When they aren’t doing hot yoga together or walking their dog, Rocky, you can find them at Holman and Finch (as opposed to Mrs. Coale’s cooking) enjoying

a nice glass of wine and a shared dish of their gourmet macaroni.

If you were wondering what these two listen to on their way to school, you may be shocked to learn that Mr. Coale listens to Garth Brooks and Tupac, Mrs. Coale enjoys Van Morrison and Widespread, and they both share a love for NPR. As you read this you are probably asking yourself, “Is there anything wrong in this perfect marriage?!” Their

answer? Yes. Mrs. Coale cannot stand it when her husband doesn’t do yard work or his agoraphobia (fear of the world) kicks in, which affects their social calendar quite a bit. Mr. Coale, too, has pet peeves with his wife, one of which is her odd pattern of leaving a freshly brewed espresso long enough for it to get cold and then complain how she can’t drink it anymore, something she does almost every morning. Mrs. Coale also tends to commence household projects at 12:00... at night, making Mr. Coale help her clean the fridge, iron her underwear, and wash the dog.

These sound like problems that all of us face either now or soon will, and the Coales are here to offer you their advice regarding relationships when the going gets tough. Mr. Coale said, “Stop looking for what you’re trying to find [his Spanish lady]” and Mrs. Coale said, “Remember to be nice to each other; we take it for granted.” Advice for Valentines Day? Mr. Coale could not be more adamant about “not forgetting the day. You’re never going to regret overdoing a holiday.” Sound advice from an experienced couple.

The Doctor Is In for Winter Show, ‘The Good Doctor’ By: Riley Muse Staff Writer ‘14

On Jan. 24 and 26, Pace Academy Theatre staged their first production of the New Year, “The Good Doctor.” The show was actually performed at Pace twice before, winning the Act Competition State Championship in 1978. “It’s an easy show to do because it doesn’t require a large set and there is so much great variety to it,” co-director Dr. Mengert said, “When a school performs it they can pick and choose which scenes they’d like to perform, so it’s a different experience each time.”

“The Good Doctor” is a culmination of a number of humorous newspaper articles originally written in the 1800s

by Russian Anton Chekov and adapted for the stage by Neil Simon. The six short stories included in the play are a guaranteed laugh-out-loud time, filled with absurd characters, dry humor, ridiculous slapstick, and surprise endings. A character known as “The Writer,” played by senior Ben Hirsch, is meant to represent Chekhov who himself was a “good doctor.”

Ben’s character elegantly weaves the separate episodes together as he narrates between scenes.

“The Good Doctor is ultimately a show about the challenges of being a writer constantly looking for new material,” Dr. Mengert said, making the character of the writer and his opening monologue key ingredients to the play.

The first three scenes of the show followed: “The Governess,” where an employer named

Photo: Diane Duval

(L-R) Junior Sam Downey, sophomore Cooper Drose, and senior Alex Paré appeared in the hilarious scene entitled ‘A Defenseless Creature.’

Julia (played by sophomore Rebecca Husk) tricks an unknowing governess (sophomore Caillin Cooke) out of her pay; “The Arrangement,” where a father (senior Evan Young) takes his introverted, 16-year-old son (sophomore Peter Hurley) to a brothel to complete a rite of passage; and “The Seduction,” that follows a flamboyant bachelor (senior Joe Capelouto) as he instructs the audience on how to seduce a married woman (senior Megan McCurry) away from her husband (senior David Weiner).

Evan said before the opening of the show, “My scene is so inappropriate to the point where everyone, including the

directors, breaks out in laughter at any given moment.” Pace Theatre alum and current Director of Communications Caitlin Goodrich (Class of 2000) staged and directed these three scenes.

Ms. Goodrich said, “Back in 2011, Dr. Mengert asked me to help with the winter show ‘Noises Off.’ I had actually been in the show myself when I was at Pace; it was weird to be on the other side! Working up in the Castle you don’t get to see a lot of students, and this show has been such a great way to get to know the kids and have a lot of fun at the same time.”

The next three scenes of the show were just as wild and as

unpredictable as the first three.

“The Drowned Man” depicted a neurotic sailor (sophomore Sam Nail) who makes a living by drowning himself for a small negotiable fee, while in the scene “A Defenseless Creature,” a clever woman (senior Alex Paré) attempted to extort money from an injured banker (junior Sam Downey).

The show concluded with the scene “The Audition,” considered one of the most challenging scenes, which depicted an actress (senior Claire Wiskind) who has walked for four days from another city in order to audition for a play. The actress played the parts of all three sis-

ters from Chekov’s “The Three Sisters,” each sister having her own distinct personality. “This monologue was really difficult because I played a character playing three characters,” Claire said, “It’s sort of an actinginception!”

All in all, the show was a huge success. The comedic timing was superb, constantly sending the audience into fits of laughter. Underlying emotions within the joking were also revealed, giving the play a sense of depth. The connection and chemistry between the cast members, who also included sophomore Cooper Drose and juniors Baiza Cherinet and Alexandra McCorkle, was definitely visible to the audience. Caillin said, “My favorite part of this show was how small it is and how close you get with the cast, especially the people in your scene.” “It’s such a great show and everyone was so great in it,” Ms. Goodrich said, “Short, sweet, and filled with laughter!”

Photo: Diane Duval

Sophomore Rebecca Husk was excellent in ‘The Governess.’

Pace News

Vol. 38 Issue #5

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Five Minutes with Riley and Sam By: Suzanne Monyak Editor in Chief ‘13 Knightly News: How long have you guys been dating?

Riley Muse: It will be a year on February 14th.

KN: It’s so cute that your anniversary is Valentine’s Day! Do you have any big plans?

Sam Downey: I do!

RM: Like a pony, or a hot air balloon ride.

SD: I’m gonna drive down Buford Highway. I’m gonna go bowling, we’re gonna blow up balloons, and we’re just gonna watch people.

KN: How did you guys first meet?

SD: We knew each other back in elementary school, but I was weird and fat.

RM: Before elementary school, like pre-kindergarten.

SD: Yeah, like really young.

RM: But I was fatter than him.

SD: We went through our chubby phases, and then, when I got friends, I wooed her with my eyebrows.

KN: How do you do that?

SD: (wiggles eyebrows) KN: Interesting! Do you remember Sam back then?

RM: Apparently, I was not very nice to him.

SD: I hated her. She wouldn’t give me her crayons, and she told me that I didn’t use enough paper when I did my coloring.

KN: So now you’re both involved in theater. What’s it like being in theater together as a couple? Do you act all couple-y in front of everybody?

SD and RM: No (in unison)

Photo: Suzanne Monyak

Riley and Sam take a romantic stroll through the Gardens.

SD: Theater’s not the best for relationships. That’s why actors never stay married to each other.

RM: Well, it’s funny because theater breeds all of these relationships. People meet in theater, but once you’re in the relationship, and then you go back, it’s different.

KN: OK, so what’s your favorite trait about each, like character trait?

RM: Umm, sense of humor SD: Her eyelashes. They’re long and voluptuous.

KN: OK, can we come up with a personality trait? (laughs) RM: How about everything?

SD: Yeah, that’s good. Kiss!

KN: What was your first date like?

SD: It was like a really lazy first date. I was just like, “Hey, wanna go to Waffle House?”

RM: We went after a basketball game.

SD: She was like, “yeah” and that was it.

RM: That was it! And then he asked me out on Valentine’s Day. Somebody brought me up to the castle and he was waiting in the Castle Board Room with flowers and balloons.

KN: That’s the story you should tell - not the Waffle House.

RM: Well that’s our first date!

SD: It was really funny because right before she walked into the Castle Board Room, and I was about to ask her to be my girlfriend, she’s like, “This is really sketchy.”

RM: No, because he had gotten my friends to bring me up there.

They were like, “Oh yeah, we need to grab a bag from the Castle or something,” and he’s like waiting in the Board Room with all the flowers and stuff. It was cute. But you were grounded at the time, so we had to wait.

Knights Show Their Spirit By: Sam Rubenstein Staff Writer ‘14 Quiet crowds and empty student sections have characterized many of the games for the past few seasons of Pace Academy basketball. The Pace Knights have lacked fan support not only at away matchups but even at home. These shortcomings by the Pace Academy students are what prompted senior Miles Sheft to take action and create the Knights of the Round Table Fan Club.

Miles had served as the official voice of Knights basketball for the past two years, but for the 2012-2013 season, he resigned from this post to take on a new task, heading the Knights of the Round Table. When asked, Miles explained that it was clear that the Knights fans needed more intensity during the games. As a result, he came up with the idea of an organized fan club to take cheering and fan support to the next level at Pace.

Through group meetings and as a coordinated effort, the KOTRT have revolutionized the atmosphere of the Inman Center.

SD: Yeah, the relationship started out in punishment.

KN: What did you do?

RM: We broke curfew. I was so upset.

SD: Our parents were like “CRUCIFIED!” RM: And he was grounded for like a month, and I thought he was just not gonna like me. I thought he’d be like, this isn’t worth it, like, I’m done.

KN: I guess you were worth the punishment! So, what’s the funniest thing one of you - probably Sam - has ever done on a date?

RM: He usually just boos my jokes. Like he literally goes “Boooooo!” to me whenever I say a joke.

SD: One thing about our dates is that we usually get really funny waiters. And Sam always likes to say funny things to the waiters, like “I’m having a food-gasm” or “Can I have a Coke on the rocks?”

KN: OK, what’s the best date you’ve ever been on with each other?

SD: My best date was in my dreams.

RM: Awww...

SD: No, we went to La Grotta for Christmas presents, and we were the only people under 20 probably. No, under 60. The place was old.

KN: What did you guys get each other for Christmas?

SD: She got me this T-shirt. I make really good guacamole, so she got me a T-shirt [with guacamole ingredients on it]. And she got me a really cool Georgia fleece.

RM: And then he got me, um, some records - Abbey Road and the Beirut record, and some awe-

KN Listens In on Pace Classes By: Hayley Silverstein News Editor ‘14

Photo: Adam Ellender Knights of the Round Table support the varsity basketball team, Hawaiian Style.

They have developed new chants and cheers, while improving old ones. Freshmen beware; sitting quietly in the back of the fan section will suffice no longer. The KOTRT strive to get the entire section loud and on their feet.

Even the players can see a difference. Freshman Zach Kaminsky, playing in his first year on varsity, said that the spirit is “really pretty good” and that “Hawaiian Night was especially crazy.” Junior Armani Lashley, who is now in his second year on varsity exclaimed, “The spirit is way better! It definitely helps the players. It gives us something to

play for.” The KOTRT uniquely interact with the players with their elaborate pre-game rituals that include “parting the sea,” “dropping the bomb,” and the classic salute.

In addition to Hawaiian Night, the club has already hosted a Black-Out and even a holiday-themed night over at Holy Innocents. Now, after a long break, the KOTRT are back and ready to go, with spiffy new T-shirts and several upcoming themed nights. So expect to see (and hear) the Knights of the Round Table at the next basketball game.

some jewelry.

SD: For her birthday, I bought her a record player, and now every holiday I’m just gonna keep buying her records.

RM: That was my favorite gift.

It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

KN: Very thoughtful. So, what would be a typical weekend for you two? Like a day in the life of Riley and Sam. SD: She’s typically mad at me because she’s like, “Sam, how come we’re not hanging out?” and I have some bad excuse. We typically end up hanging out last-minute. Having dates.

RM: Yeah, we watch a lot of movies! We like movie night.

SD: And “Modern Family!” And Chinese food.

KN: What’s your favorite movie that you’ve seen together?

RM: “How to Train Your Dragon.”

SD: “Mansome.” It’s a movie about men’s beards and how they groom themselves. It’s a documentary about men’s hair.

KN: How did you end up watching that?

RM: Cruising the OnDemand selection.

SD: The first picture was a man with a really hairy chest, and I was like, “That’s interesting.”

RM: It’s all about male grooming! And bearding competitions!

KN: Did you watch the whole movie?

RM: Yeah, we finished it! It was funny. Zach Galifianakis was in it, talking about his beard.

KN: Very romantic!

RM: I like “How to Train Your Dragon” better.

SD: I like men’s hair.

KN: OK, well on that note, thanks for talking to me!

While many students slip into the monotony of high school, every now and again a comment is made in class that can make you smile on those seemingly never-ending days.

The following is a compilation of some of those special one-liners said in various classes. While taken out of context, their amusing randomness and ludicrous implications can make you laugh at the absurd goings-on in Pace classes. You can only wonder what touring families think when they walk past a classroom and hear what is said: “I’m about to go Garden of Eden on this.”

“We are talking about vans and skin suits. What else would I be referencing?”

“North Korea discovered unicorns.”

“His papers always smell like maple syrup and cigars.”

“God created Google!”

“I came in second place twice.

I’m a winner.”

“How was I supposed to know Mary was Madonna? I’m Jewish.”

“What did the acorn say when it grew up?” -- “Gee-I’m-a-tree” “Don’t bring Newman into this!”

“We do not surrender; we are not the French.”

“Back-to-back World War champions, U.S.A.!”

“We always knew Lovett was evil; they took it from Amerindians.”

“You all just don’t appreciate my humor.”

“Never underestimate an Irishman in a fight.”

“Can I get my name on a plaque for beating Kal?” “I forgot to jump off the log.”

“I want everyone to recognize the stupid person in the room.

Look, it’s the stupid person.”

“He is no chain yanker.”

“Well, how many Ivy League students are in your math class?”

“That’s like saying, you should murder someone because you don’t want to be murdered, so start murdering.”

Pace News

February 1, 2013

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Nathan Sokolic Launches PABD By: Natalie Camrud Editor in Chief ‘13 Junior Nathan Sokolic has been working on the launch of a new student partnership with Pace faculty, administration, and businesses that focuses on diversity issues. Tentatively called the Pace Academy Board of Diversity, Nathan expects the group to be up and running by the beginning of February. The Knightly News sat down with Nathan to learn more about this new organization and what he hopes to accomplish through its formation.

Knightly News: So Nathan, what is the role of the Pace Academy Board of Diversity (PABD) at Pace?

Nathan Sokolic: To encourage awareness and understanding of diversity -pretty much to bring faculty, students, and administration together to promote diversity in the community. We’ll be working to lay a foundation for the new director of diversity and will be working with the director to connect with corporate sponsors outside of Pace to help as well.

PABD is going to try and bring in speakers and musicians and try to use assemblies to do small things to promote diversity.

KN: Would you speak at assemblies?

NS: Yeah, I would and members of our group, and also we have a faculty diversity committee that

would be really involved as well.

KN: How did you come up with the idea of the PABD? NS: Basically, I had to write a paper for Mr. McAdoo to apply to attend the Student Diversity Leadership Conference [held in Houston, Texas in December], and that’s how I thought of the idea. I

Photo: Natalie Camrud Junior Nathan Sokolic has high hopes for PABD. thought about it again over the break, and when I got back, I proposed it to Mr. Assaf and he loved it.

KN: That’s awesome. So, how are you getting all these big corporate sponsors?

NS: Through the connections of the new director of diversity, along with people that I know -- I actually recently ran into a lady named Lisa Ashby and she is one of the VP’s for SunTrust

Photo Illustration: Annie Armstrong

bank and her son was in my class in elementary school. I ran into her for the first time in years while I was working on this and it [PABD] came up somehow, and she connected me with some people in SunTrust and other corporations.

KN: What will the sponsors’ role be?

NS: Well, to help find speakers, like bigger and more known speakers, and bring them to Pace and to come up with ways to foster diversity in the outside community, not just at Pace.

KN: Who are the members of the PABD right now?

NS: We have a committed core group of students, plus the support of other student groups in the community, for example Student Council.

There is also a group of faculty members who are ready and committed to helping support and work with these students collaboratively to promote diversity issues.

KN: What are you hoping to accomplish, big picture?

NS: Inside the Pace community, I’d like to see more awareness of diversity and how it’s more than having to do with just race, and that it’s thought and experiences and cultural backgrounds.

KN: Can anyone come to the meetings?

NS: Yes, anyone can attend, and we will also have a set group of students. We will also have faculty members there to help lead the meetings.

KN: OK, great. Thank you!

Photo: Elise Bradshaw Senior Amber Easley and junior Alexandra Garton enjoy some well-deserved fun in the sun.

Band Hops Aboard By: David Martos Sports Editor ‘14 Jan. 17-21, Pace band students embarked on a unique and awesome school trip, a trip that sent them on a cruise to the Bahamas. In the two years that Dr. Doyle has been band director, the band has gone on a fun trip, but never a trip as jaw dropping and envy-inducing as this one.

In anticipation of the trip, it was safe to say that everyone in band was pumped for a long weekend to relax and enjoy the warm climate, while everyone else at Pace had to suffer through the brutal school curriculum and winter weather. “The trip is going to be mind blowing. Who gets to say they went on a cruise for a school trip?” said junior and first chair trumpeter Charlie Burruss before their departure.

When they arrived onboard the ship, everybody was assigned to a group. The groups, after adjusting to the ship, played

a lot of basketball, explored the ship, and ate as much as they wanted for free. The best part of the trip for many of the students was the day they got to go to the island of Coco Cay. They all got to spend a relaxing day on the private island, participating in various activities such as snorkeling, playing beach volleyball, or just relaxing on the soft sand.

Of course the group didn’t just relax on the trip; they also had to perform music as part of the deal. The group performed in a public square in Nassau in front of many supportive tourists and natives. “Everybody there loved us; we are all famous now!” said junior and trombone player Kameron Uter.

After the dream trip was finally over, band members returned to Atlanta ready to gloat to friends and family. Said junior and saxophonist Tommy Burruss, “The best part of the trip is the reaction you get from your friends after telling them you got to go on a cruise to the Bahamas for a school trip.”

Blake Gets On Point By: Suzanne Monyak Editor in Chief ‘13 Sophomore Blake Murphy began fencing at age 10 after a coach at his sleepaway camp, Camp Carolina, suggested that he pursue the sport outside of camp. Now six years later, he fences at Nellya Fencing Club under the coaching of two-time Olympian Arkady Burdan and competes in tournaments across the globe. Blake ranks 18th in America, 24th in Poland, and 64th in the Euro cadet circuit.

He invests an immense number of hours a week fencing, with practices four days a week, three to four hours daily.

For those who are unfamiliar with the sport, fencing is divided into three types of sparring, defined by the weapon used: Foil, Épée, and Sabre. In Foil, the fencer aims to jab the opponent’s torso, and in Épée, the fencer targets the opponent’s whole body. Blake competes in Sabre, where the fencer aims to slash, rather than jab, the opponent anywhere from the torso upward. Fencing is different from other sports because it depends on both physical and mental strength, with a lot of strategy involved. “You can’t

just win if you don’t know what you’re doing -- you have to know what to do to beat someone,” Blake explained. Blake’s favorite fencing move, called false trap, involves deceiving his opponent in the classic “fake out” move. In this move, Blake takes two steps forward and then a quick step back, causing his opponent to miss him.

Blake has traveled to Poland and Hungary for fencing tournaments, and over Thanksgiving break he competed in Moscow with three other members of his team who qualified. However, Blake said that his most memorable win was at a competition a couple of years ago in Detroit during which he won his first major national tournament after an impressive comeback. “They announced my name [over the loud speaker]. It was really awesome because the bout before I was down pretty far at the break, and then I came down to win it,” Blake said.

Despite his packed practice schedule and injuries, including several jammed fingers and a torn Achilles tendon that put him out for six months, Blake has a passion for fencing and plans to continue the sport in college. He said, “It gets really intense. You get a lot of big adrenaline rushes when you’re fencing, and it makes you focus really well.”

Features

Vol. 38 Issue #5

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‘Django Unchained’: A Bloody Masterpiece By: Annie Armstrong Features Editor ‘13

Cinema guru Quentin Tarantino delivered another visually stunning masterpiece to audiences this Christmas with “Django Unchained.” Not for those with weak stomachs, the ‘D’ is probably the only thing silent in this loud, campy, and poignant romp through pre-Civil-War South.

This movie is one of Tarantino’s best works since “Pulp Fiction,” and the first time he has shot a movie in spaghetti Western style since “Death Proof.”

The movie begins in 1859, deep in the woods of Texas with slave Django (Jamie Foxx) as he is bought by a mysterious traveling dentist named Dr. King Schultz with a German accent and trigger-happy hands (Christophe Waltz). After a bloody altercation, Django becomes legal property of Dr. Schultz, who reveals himself to be a bounty hunter who needs Django’s help to identify and corral Django’s previous owners, the outlawed Brittle brothers. Once the gory task is completed, Dr. Schultz coerces the tracking-savvy Django to join forces as partners in bounty hunting through the winter, under the condition that Dr. Schultz will help Django find his beloved wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washing-

ton). (Django and Broomhilda were separated after being sold to different plantation owners.)

Along the way, they run into an all-too-typical Western town sheriff with a questionable IQ, the KKK (resulting in a hilarious scene about the bags they wear on their heads), and ending with

245 years, and then there’s the violence of Django’s retribution.

And that’s movie violence, and that’s fun and that’s cool, and that’s really enjoyable and kind of what you’re waiting for.”

The film has met with a lot of controversy, mainly from the frequent use of the N-word, Photo: foxnews.com

“I like the way you die, boy.” tyrannical, Francophile plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) who purchased Broomhilda. The character who really takes the cake, though, is Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson), the Uncle Tom-esque slave of Candie, who, without risk of giving anything away, is just as much of a roadblock to Django and Schultz rescuing Broomhilda as Candie is.

Tarantino fans will note that

Comics By Sallie By: Sallie Hays Staff Writer ‘13

this movie is much more violent than any of his other films, and this is not without reason. This movie has its share of classic Tarantino fight scenes with an excessive amount of blood to the point of being cartoonish. However, this film contains scenes of brutal torture, with very real

violence. Tarantino released a statement about these disturbing images, saying, “What happened during slavery times is a thousand times worse than [what] I show...So if I were to show it a thousand times worse, to me, that wouldn’t be exploitative, that would just be how it is. If you can’t take it, you can’t take it...There’s two types of violence in this film. There’s the brutal reality that slaves lived under for

which Tarantino defended, stating, “Personally, I find [the criticism] ridiculous. Because it would be one thing if people are out there saying, ‘You use it much more excessively in this movie than it was used in 1858 in Mississippi.’ Well, nobody’s saying that. And if you’re not saying that, you’re simply saying I should be lying. I should be watering it down. I should be making it more easy to digest.

No, I don’t want it to be easy to digest. I want it to be a big, gigantic boulder, a jagged pill and you have no water.” Slavery is a terribly dark period in American history, and it’s only natural to want to avoid thinking too hard about its atrocities. This is exactly the psychology of denial that Tarantino wanted to crush in this movie. In short, if “Django” disturbs you to the point of your being uncomfortable in your seat, that’s the point. And thankfully, Tarantino makes the movie slightly more palatable through its use of humor.

It is hard to toe the line between being humorous and offensive in a movie with a premise as sensitive as “Django,” but fortunately, Tarantino is a master at this. His 2009 movie “Inglourious Basterds” was set in Nazi Germany, another delicate period in history. Tarantino made this movie with tasteful humor and created an instant, irresistible hit. The humor in “Django” is just as tasteful, and provides some much needed relief.

“Django Unchained” is a masterpiece, and deserves the five Oscar nominations it has received (including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Christophe Waltz, Best Original Screenplay). Here’s a word of warning for those who haven’t seen it yet, though: don’t eat a large meal before you go to the theater.

The Never-Ending Story: Why Are Movies So Long These Days?

By: Sallie Hays Staff Writer ‘13 What do the epic films “The Godfather: Part II,” “Schindler’s List,” “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” “Titanic,” and “Pearl Harbor” all have in common? They are three hours long. Viewers are willing to sit for over 180 minutes to watch these classics because each one of these pictures is, as sophomore Ginny Reynolds said, “so good nobody would like to see a minute cut out.”

Today, motion pictures are undergoing a film revolution that is testing viewers’ endurance for how long they can stay in their seats. In 2012, there was an explosion of never-ending movies, with three-hour-long dramas, and two-and-a-half-hour-long comedies. Epics deserve their renown, but do these recent pictures such as “Skyfall,” “Lincoln,” “Django Unchained,” “Les Miserables,” “This is 40,” and “The Hobbit” deserve the same amount of time on the screen?

The irony is that long movies are generally bad for business because theaters can’t show them as many times throughout the day. Also of note is that accomplished filmmakers with stellar reputations produce

most of the long movies. These creators are successful because of their extraordinary vision.

Once these visionaries earn their reputations, they are put on a pedestal and expected to produce nothing less than extraordinary films in the future. For example, the creators of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy -- Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens -- are praised for their brilliant pictures. However, once they similarly tried to produce “The Hobbit” with the same vision, they lost their audience’s high praise.

Junior Jay Kumar said, “I had been looking forward to ‘The Hobbit’ ever since Mr. Pope’s class back in the eighth grade, and was disappointed when it didn’t stay true to the story.”

Junior Harrison Halberg said, “I was disappointed by the movie because it appeared obvious that the creators were exhausting the book into three parts to try and make as much of a profit as possible from the Lord of the Rings fan club. While the movie was good, they unnecessarily added to the story in order to stretch it out as long as possible, attempting to re-create another trilogy like ‘The Lord of the Rings’ which was so successful.”

This attempt to re-create epic stories was also tested in “Les Miserables.” Sophomore Brittany Allen said, “I have seen the

play twice already and it is one of my favorites. I was looking forward to the movie for months, but when I finally saw it I was disappointed because I couldn’t help comparing it to the play.”

However, it’s important to note that some of these recently released movies are worthy of their running times. Senior James Seaman said, “’Django Unchained’ was three hours long, but it kept me glued to my seat and intrigued the entire time.” Freshman Zach Kaminsky said, “I thought ‘Lincoln’ was great, and I loved how it was designed to be specifically about Abraham Lincoln as a man. Steven Spielberg has done it again.”

Most people were able to endure these tiring, long movies because they were well done.

However, when it comes to making comedies equally long, such as “This is 40,” the audience’s endurance was lost. Senior Lindsey Zwecker said, “’This is 40’ was foul mouthed, and not even partially funny or compelling. I was definitely aware of how long I was in the theater -- too long.”

It ultimately comes down to this question: Which of these movies is worthy of epic treatment, and which should be cut down? As junior Elizabeth Ratcliff said, “The more that epic movies are produced, the less I appreciate them, and their impact is diminished.”

February 1, 2013

Spirit Week

The Knightly News - Page 6

By: Natalie Camrud Editor in Chief ‘13

Freshmen

Typically, not much is expected from the freshmen, who chose “Scooby Doo” as their Spirit Week theme, since it is their first year participating in the annual event. The cardboard Mystery Machine was surprisingly realistic looking, but the chalk drawings of “Scooby Doo where are you?” were on par with the Upper School’s expectations of freshman decorations. Their banner was much more impressive; Scooby and the gang actually looked real and weren’t deformed as freshman banners have been in years past. The freshman dance was better than everybody anticipated, with good choreography and smooth transitions. Overall, the freshmen got their Spirit Week career off to a good start.

Sophomores

The sophomores chose “Monsters Inc.” for their theme this year. The decorations in the Inman Center were bright and colorful, although you couldn’t really distinguish between the different parts of the movie they attempted to portray. The sophomores made the women’s bathroom into Boo’s bedroom, and it was so bright and pink that when I came out, I was seeing green. The sophomore banner was simplistic but what they had was done really well, especially Sully and his fur, which was realistically captured. Their dance started out with Boo and all her little pajama-clad friends dancing. In my opinion, the coolest part of the dance was when the monsters scared the girls and they popped up and screamed in unison.

The sophomores again had a good Spirit Week performance and narrowly finished in third place.

Juniors

When it was announced that the juniors had chosen “The Avengers” as their theme, people wondered how they would pull off their decorations, since they had to decorate the entire Upper School, but they managed to succeed. The science hall was a little iffy and nobody was quite sure what it was supposed to be, but the history hall was outstanding. The department heads were well matched to their superhero counterparts, especially Mr. Hornor who was portrayed as Captain America. They depicted the New York City fight scene in the movie in the upper hallway and though some of their decorations had trouble staying up, it was well done. Their banner, which showed the Avengers characters ripping out of a comic strip, got third place, but most people disagree with the judges and think that they should have gotten second. The junior dance, however, should have gotten third place. The transitions were not very smooth, but at least it was a lot better than their dance last year. The juniors faced the difficult task of performing a morning dance and filming a video for the first time in their high school careers. They excelled in both areas, as the morning dance was energetic and well done, and the video generated lots of laughter.

Vol. 38 Issue # 5

Spirit Week

The Knightly News - Page 7

Seniors

The seniors chose the sweetest theme, “Candy Land,” for their last Spirit Week. The decorations in the Upper School and Inman depicted different parts of the board game, such as the lollipop forest, the ice cream sea, and the gumdrop mountains. Everyone’s favorite aspect of the senior decorations was the rainbow pass, which had large, colorful balloon arches going down the stairs to the science hall and clouds painted on the walls. The senior banner, which took gallons of glitter and even more paint, showed all of the “Candy Land” characters behind a bright background and, of course, candy everywhere. Despite being exhausted from decorating all night, they were able to energize themselves in time for their afternoon dance, which was well put together and had exciting choreography. The Class of 2013 finished their Spirit Week career by pulling off an unusual theme and executing it extremely well.

Photos: Suzanne Monyak and Lee Wilson

February 1, 2013

Valentine’s Day

The Knightly News - Page 8

Most Eligible Bachelor: Kumar the Superstar “The Notebook.” “It makes me cry every time,” said Jay. This Valentine’s Day, Jay is planning on passing out twelve roses to his twelve favorite women, but if you are the lucky Looking for a date for this lady that wins Jay’s heart, he upcoming Valentine’s Day, but already has a special night in don’t want to settle for any old mind. “I will pick up my date in fellow? Well ladies, look no a white stretch limo,” said Jay further than Pace Academy’s as he described his dream date. most eligible bachelor: tennis “Then the driver drops us off at phenomenon and Latin wiz, the classiest joint in town: Chuck junior Jay Kumar (also known E. Cheese. After a fantastic as Kumar the Superstar). Want to learn about this perfect catch? evening of skee-ball and partying with Chuck E. the Mouse, I Just look into a few of his hobmake sure to drop her back home bies. before 8 p.m.”

Jay claims that in his free If this date is how you time he likes to “play tennis, dream of spending your V-Day, watch sports, and flirt with the ladies,” and that his favorite sub- or if this quick description of bachelor Jay Kumar makes ject in school is Love and Philosophy, taught by Dr. Brubaker. you swoon, then hurry up and snag him before somebody else This genius/athlete/playboy also has a soft side. Jay’s favorite way does. However, Jay does have one specific requirement for his to spend a Saturday is “working significant other: “If you’re not at the puppy rescue center” and National Merit - forget about it.” his favorite movie of all time is

By: Riley Muse Staff Writer ‘14

Photo: Riley Muse

Bachelor Jay Kumar lounges in Inman waiting for the ladies to flock to him.

How Well Do Couples Know Their Better Half?

By: Suzanne Monyak Editor in Chief ‘13

Adam Ellender & Maddie Wanzer When did you first start dating?

AE: Aug. 25, 2012 MW: Aug. 25, 2012 What was your first date?

AE: Fellini’s MW: Fellini’s and a movie at my house How did he ask you out?

AE: We were at a party, and she was sitting in my lap, and I asked her to be my girlfriend.

MW: He asked me out at a friend’s house.

What is Adam’s favorite movie?

MW: “Old School” or “Step Brothers” AE: “Step Brothers” What is Maddie’s favorite movie?

AE: “The Notebook” MW: “Couple’s Retreat” What does Adam like to do in his free time?

AE: Work out, go off-roading, and hang out with friends MW: Outdoors stuff, fly-fishing, building stuff, and hunting What does Maddie like to do

during her free time?

AE: Hang out with friends, watch TV shows, play with her hamster MW: Watch movies and hang out with my friends What is Adam’s most embarrassing moment?

MW: He doesn’t really get embarrassed easily, so I wouldn’t know.

AE: When I asked my single French teacher, “What is it like to be alone?” in sixth grade What is Maddie’s most embarrassing moment?

AE: When she didn’t know what a democracy was in Hornor’s class MW: In history class when I didn’t know what a democracy was Who is Adam’s favorite singer?

MW: The Lumineers AE: Old Crow Medicine Show or Cory Smith Who is Maddie’s favorite singer?

AE: Josh Turner MW: Jason Aldein What is your favorite date that you have been on together?

AE: We went to the movies at Atlantic Station when it was raining.

MW: We made cookies once together. It was really fun, but they didn’t turn out too good.

If Adam could have any super-

Photo: Maddie Wanzer

Maddie struggles with Adam’s boutonniere at junior PDC.

power, what would it be?

MW: Time traveler AE: Breathe underwater If Maddie could have any superpower, what would it be?

AE: Flying MW: I want to fly.

If Adam were an animal, what would he be?

MW: A goat - he eats so much!

He gets three meals every time we go out to dinner.

AE: A goat If Maddie were an animal, what would she be?

AE: A red panda MW: A red panda - there’s a really funny video of them playing in the snow. And they’re cute.

What is the weirdest thing that has ever happened while on a date together?

AE: We went to the movies and ate like 10,000 calories of food together.

MW: One time when we were in the mall, some random girl stopped Adam and was like, “I think I know you!” and he was like, “I don’t think you do...”

John King & Mary Liles Fiveash When did you first start dating?

JK: Nov. 5 MF: Like, two months ago What was your first date?

JK: Pizza place MF: We got pizza and went to a movie.

How did he ask you out?

JK: I said it in the car.

MF: He just asked me in the car and it was really awkward.

What is John’s favorite movie?

MF: All of the James Bond movies JK: “Shawshank Redemption” What is Mary LiIes’ favorite movie?

JK: “The Notebook” MF: “The Notebook” What does John like to do in his free time?

MF: Watch football, read, or study JK: Watch football What does Mary LiIes like to do

in her free time?

JK: Watch TV MF: Hang out with friends What is John’s most embarrassing moment?

MF: When everyone found his bird watching video. He was on TV when he was little.

JK: I don’t think I have one.

What is Mary LiIes’ most embarrassing moment?

JK: I’m not sure.

MF: In middle school, when I started laughing during a Love Your Body week announcement Who is John’s favorite singer?

MF: Kanye West JK: Kanye West Who is Mary LiIes’ favorite singer?

JK: Taylor Swift MF: Taylor Swift -- he’ll get this one.

What is your favorite date that you have been on together?

JK: The Botanical Gardens MF: We went to the aquarium.

If John could have any superpower, what would it be?

MF: Invisibility JK: Super strength If Mary LiIes could have any superpower, what would it be?

JK: Super strength MF: Be able to fly If John were an animal, what would he be?

MF: Giraffe JK: A tiger If Mary LiIes were an animal, what would she be?

JK: A cat MF: A bunny Weirdest thing that has ever happened while on a date together?

JK: When I got a bloody nose MF: We were coming back from a movie. There was this kid with a sword in his yard who stared at us. It was really creepy.

Taylor Schofield & Jenna Blumenthal When did you first start dating?

TS: July 14 JB: The summer before junior year What was your first date?

TS: Ruby Tuesday’s on the college trip JB: Don’t remember...

How did he ask you out?

TS: I asked her if she ran. She said no, and I said, “Well you’ve been running through my mind all day.”

JB: He kneeled down with a dozen roses -- just kidding.

What is Taylor’s favorite movie?

JB: “Gladiator” TS: “Gladiator” What is Jenna’s favorite movie?

TS: “The Notebook” JB: “The Matrix” What does Taylor like to do in his free time?

JB: Running with the clique TS: Run What does Jenna like to do in her free time?

TS: Paint JB: Hang out with Taylor!

What is Taylor’s most embarrassing moment?

JB: He doesn’t get embarrassed.

TS: I don’t embarrass myself.

What is Jenna’s most embarrassing moment?

TS: She spit tea on me.

JB: The time that I spit sweet tea all over him at Cracker Barrel. Someone said something funny after I’d taken a gulp of sweet tea, and Taylor jokingly said, “Don’t spit that out!” and I laughed and it went all over him!

Who is Taylor’s favorite singer?

JB: Britney Spears and Katy Perry TS: “Shake It Like a Salt Shaker” by Yin Yang Twins Who is Jenna’s favorite singer?

TS: Red Hot Chile Peppers JB: Red Hot Chile Peppers What is your favorite date that you have been on together?

TS: Six Flags JB: Going to the aquarium!

If Taylor could have any superpower, what would it be?

JB: Teleportation -- then he could always see me!

TS: I wish I could experience pressure and hold my breath longer, so I could dive down to the bottom of the ocean and chill with the fish.

Valentine’s Day

Vol. 38 Issue # 5

The Knightly News - Page 9

Most Eligible Bachelorette: Sexy Senior Ellie Weber By: Max Greenberg Staff Writer ‘14 If you are 5’11,” play sports, and never wear cargo shorts, then you may have a shot at winning the heart of senior Ellie Weber, this year’s most eligible bachelorette. This being her final year at Pace, Ellie is taking one more shot at finding love at the Academy. A believer in love at first sight, nobody is more deserving of true love than Ellie.

With her unlimited supply of energy, you will never be able to predict Ellie’s next move.

One thing you need to know about Ellie is that she loves to talk; when interviewed, Ellie had no problem answering questions.

When asked what her perfect date would be, she explained, “I don’t really care about most of the date, as long as at some point we end up in velcro suits

attached to a wall.” For a Valentine’s Day present, Ellie requires the simple gift of a personalized music video professing the man’s love to her.

By far, her favorite food is cheese. She enjoys any kind of cheese. When asked, her friends described her love of cheese as “obsessive” and “weird.” Ellie described her perfect man as being “at least 20% made of cheese.” She also wants a man who is willing to cater to her every need, including painting her nails, massaging her feet, and talking for hours on the phone.

Ellie is looking for a man who will ignore her faults and appreciate her attributes. She wants someone who is willing to have at least three kids, and at least four types of cheese in the house at all times. Loyal, loving, and lively, Ellie is the perfect match for any guy, as long as they meet her standards.

Photo: Max Greenberg

Bachelorette Ellie Weber basks in the Gardens and awaits the arrival of Mr. Perfect.

Couples Quiz (Continued) If Jenna could have any superpower, what would it be?

TS: She wishes she could fly.

JB: Flying!

If Taylor were an animal, what would he be?

JB: A cheetah! No, a tiger. He likes tigers.

TS: Tiger If Jenna were an animal, what would she be?

TS: Horse JB: Zebra What is Taylor’s hidden talent?

JB: His ability to sing the words to every Britney Spears song TS: I can click really loud with my tongue.

What is Jenna’s hidden talent?

TS: She rides horses.

JB: My jammin’ dance moves What is the weirdest thing that has ever happened while on a date together?

TS: When Jenna’s mom made us a romantic lunch with flowers and a check that said “One hug.”

JB: That time Momo was creepin’ on us at the movie theater.

We turned and her face was right there!

Robert Farinella & Rachel Morrisroe When did you first start dating?

RF: September 14th RM: 4 months ago

What was your first date?

RF: Houston’s RM: We watched “Puss in Boots.”

How did he ask you out?

RF: Just asked her.

RM: He just asked me out at my house.

What is Robert’s favorite movie?

RM: I don’t know... “Django?”

RF: “Django” What is Rachel’s favorite movie?

RF: Something stupid.

RM: “Mean Girls” What does Robert like to do in his free time?

RM: Lacrosse RF: Chill with my bros What does Rachel like to do in her free time?

RF: Read “Harry Potter” RM: Hang out with friends What is Robert’s most embarrassing moment?

RM: Getting kicked out of Steak and Shake for accidentally walking into the girl’s bathroom.

RF: I don’t get embarrassed.

Who is Robert’s favorite singer?

RM: Cashing Out RF: R. Kelly Who is Rachel’s favorite singer?

RF: Taylor Swift RM: Rascal Flatts What is your favorite date that you have been on together?

RF: Paintballing RM: We went shopping together

Photo: Jenna Blumenthal

Jenna and Taylor ski in Park City, Utah over winter break 2011.

at Target.

If Robert could have any superpower, what would it be?

RM: To fly RF: The power to have all superpowers If Rachel could have any superpower, what would it be?

RF: The power to be smarter RM: Invisibility If Robert were an animal, what would he be?

RM: A bird RF: Hedgehog If Rachel were an animal, what would she be?

RF: Polar bear RM: A tiger, so I could run fast.

What is Robert’s hidden talent/what he likes most about himself?

RM: His body RF: Juggling What is Rachel’s hidden talent/what she likes most about herself?

RF: She has none.

RM: My eyes

Cuddle Up With Romantic Movies By: David Martos Sports Editor ‘14 Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to catch up on some great movies. There are tons of very different romantic movies to watch, and they are all worth it.

“The Notebook” If you’re looking for a real tearjerker, “The Notebook” is the movie for you. Starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, “The Notebook” will make most viewers cry because of its incredible portrayal of love between a couple during the World War II era. The ending might be the most depressing ending I’ve ever seen, but it’s also one of the best.

“Forgetting Sarah Marshall” For those wanting more humor, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is hysterical. The movie follows Peter, played by Jason Segel, as he is recuperating from his recent breakup with Sarah, played by Kristen Bell. He decides to get away to a resort in Hawaii only to find out that his ex is staying with another man in the room next to him. The movie has a lot of funny scenes, and it’s one of my personal favorites of all time.

“When Harry Met Sally” Another great romantic comedy is “When Harry Met Sally.”

Starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, the movie has countless memorable quotes and is also pretty heartwarming. It’s a great flick for those wanting the best of both worlds.

Single on Valentines Day? Own It. By: Elizabeth Roos Social Media ‘14 Tired of spending your Valentine’s Day curled up on the couch with half a quart of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream and a box of tissues on hand? Tired of watching your collection of Nicholas Sparks movies on repeat while you feel worthless and alone? Well, ladies and gentlemen, the pity party ends here.

Instead of spending your February 14th teeming with jealousy over couples exchanging sappy, loving sentiments punctuated with warm feelings of admiration, affection, and infatuation, do something different.

Junior Jessica Cooper is planning on making purple pa-

per mâché hearts with her mom, while junior Mackenzie Attridge is going to have “a lovely, quiet, candlelit dinner with [her] dogs.”

Sophomore Clyde Shepherd plans on taking a romantic trip to Ireland with fellow sophomore Patrick Moore.

Junior Wilson Crisler, after being rejected by his mother, will “go home and read ‘50 Shades of Gray’ in the bathtub.”

Sophomore Maria Grenader said, “I’m going on a date with [sophomore] Christina Darland, and we are going to watch the movie ‘No Strings Attached’ starring Ashton Kutcher.” Junior Katie Brewster isn’t bothered by not having a man to share her Cupid’s Day. She said, “Valentine’s Day is just a commercial holiday. I don’t think that we should only show affection towards one another one day out of the year. We should treat everyday life like Valentine’s Day.”

Photo: Elizabeth Roos Junior Tess Dillon doesn’t need a man to buy her candy.

February 1, 2013

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: Natalie Camrud Suzanne Monyak Online/Tech Editor: Dean Papastrat News Editor: Hayley Silverstein Opinion Editor: Wylie Heiner Features Editor: Annie Armstrong Sports Editor: David Martos

Social Media: Elizabeth Roos Staff Writers: Wilson Alexander Julia Beck Max Greenberg Sallie Hays Riley Muse Sam Rubenstein Josh Sloan Aaron Wasserman 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.

Opinion

The Knightly News - Page 10

Right to Own Guns an Unneccessary Evil By: Hayley Silverstein News Editor ‘14 The Constitution’s Second Amendment, ratified in 1791, says that it is legal to own a gun for those serving in a militia.

Last time I checked, it isn’t 1791, militias no longer exist, there is no fear of a British invasion, and the only reason to own a gun is to protect yourself from those who own guns. Although a 2008 Supreme Court case protects the rights of individual gun owners outside of service in a militia, the right to own guns is an unnecessary evil.

This topic, made even more relevant by the recent Newtown shooting, is controversial for many reasons. Those who justify gun ownership by saying “guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” think that a simple background check on someone who purchases a gun is suffi-

cient safety. However, someone can acquire a gun illegally or get a friend to buy it, and one can snap and go on a mass shooting after having purchased the gun in the past.

There is nothing stopping someone who owns a gun from killing innocent people. Given that “people kill people,” giving them guns doesn’t help the situation. The simple solution to stop shootings is to stop giving people something to shoot with.

For those who argue that guns are for safety, I believe that pepper spray will suffice, and if not, the police should be called.

By giving someone the right to own a gun, you are giving a person the power to kill, which I believe no ordinary civilian should have. Ownership of guns should be made illegal, because they do more harm than good, and they only inflame the situation.

Those who worry for their safety are threatened by people who can kill them, such as

someone owning a gun, so in response they acquire a gun, which can lead to a much worse situation. To quote “Spiderman,” “With great power comes great responsibility,” and sadly a large percentage of America, and the rest of the world for that matter, are not responsible enough to be entrusted with the power to kill someone. Simply knowing that anyone on the street can have a gun on them and be able to shoot you within the minute only makes the world a scarier place.

There have been numerous programs where the government, in exchange for guns, gives out food, money, or other items. These programs have been successful, because guns are unimportant compared to the things needed to live and support families. Gun control needs to be addressed by the government in order to stop shootings, as seen in Newtown, and the myriad other gun-related deaths that go unnoticed by the public.

NON SEQUITUR © 2013 Wiley Miller Ink, Inc. Used courtesy of the creator and Universal Uclick. All rights reserved.

The Fiscal Cliff Left Us Hanging, But Where?

By: Aaron Wasserman Staff Writer ‘14 At 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2013, while most of us were celebrating the New Year with family and friends, the United States government quietly slipped off of the so-called fiscal cliff, triggering automatic tax increases on most wage earners and massive budget cuts on nearly all government spending, excluding some of the government’s most expensive programs such as Medicaid and Social Security.

These painful measures were put into place by Congress

to force themselves to address the massive debt that the U.S. government has built up over the last two presidential administrations. These measures were put in place with the widely held thought that the two sides would reach an agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff. However, due to childish stubbornness on both sides, no agreement was reached and the government plunged over the cliff. But in order to avoid political suicide, the sides agreed on Jan. 2, 2013 to a compromise which brought taxes for most people back to the rate under the Bush-era tax cuts.

Taxes were raised for individuals earning more than $400,000 a year and couples who earn more

than $450,000. The question of spending cuts was largely left unanswered, and will have to be addressed soon as the government nears the legal amount that it can borrow. Cuts will have to be agreed upon if Democrats expect to raise the debt ceiling.

The disagreement over the fiscal cliff arose over how the government should close the massive gap between how much money it takes in and how much money it pays out. The Democrats and President Obama wanted a plan in which taxes would be raised on individuals who make more than $200,000 and on couples who earn more than $250,000. In addition, Obama wanted to cut $400 million from Photo: northjersey.com

President Obama and House Speaker Boehner were key players in the negotiations.

Medicaid and other entitlement

programs. The hypocritical thing about this plan is that Obama has constantly been calling for a “balanced” approach to fix the

deficit, but under his proposal there would be $1.6 trillion in new tax revenues over the next ten years in comparison to only $400 billion in cuts to our massive spending over the same time period. I am pretty confident with my math here to say that this is not quite a “balanced approach” to cutting our deficit.

I believe that the President painfully missed out on an opportunity to truly fix our nation’s debt problem. He had popular support to raise taxes on the top earners, but because of his reluctance to make meaningful cuts in our spending, he failed to reach a deal and thus we will continue the childish bickering in Congress for the foreseeable future.

Now unfortunately, the Republicans are just as hypocritical and illogical in their beliefs about how best to fix the problems that our nation faces.

With many House Republicans voted into office with the promise of not raising a single tax, they were put in a rather precarious situation with the fiscal cliff looming. They did not want to approve any action that would raise tax rates at all, but at the same time they were well aware that taxes would be raised on nearly everyone if no

deal was made. This is where the Republicans denied all logic in their decision making. Instead of working together to make a deal to keep rates lower, they allowed the country to topple over the cliff so then they would have to work from the ground up once all the rates had been raised.

The Republicans had legitimate plans to curb our nation’s enormous spending, but because of their stubborn refusal to raise tax rates at all, their plans went unused. In addition, they had plans to raise additional tax revenue by simplifying the tax code and ending deductions that were disproportionately used by top earners. While this plan would not raise as much new tax revenue as raising tax rates, with meaningful cuts to entitlement programs it would go a long way toward closing the massive gap in spending and income.

Childish politics in Washington are certainly not a new development. However, with this most recent display of extreme partisanship and unwillingness to compromise, many Americans’ confidence in Congress is at an all time low. Now we can only hope that during the debates over the debt ceiling, politicians can be more mature and work together to find a solution that will diminish our massive debt soon. Otherwise, painful consequences are sure to follow.

Vol. 38 Issue # 5

Sports

Chris Slade Era Begins By: Julia Beck Staff Writer ‘15 Some at Pace may have noticed a new face wandering around campus lately, giving tours in the Upper School, sitting with students at lunch, and talking to kids in Inman. Chris Slade is Pace’s newest staff member, working in Admissions and recently named as the new head football coach, or as he put it, “disciplinarian, father figure, role model, friend.”

Coach Slade grew up in Virginia and attended Tabb High School. He had a successful high school football career, only losing three games in his four years. Coach Slade said, “I had great coaches in high school who I’m still really close with... We only had three! Nowadays everyone has nine because people think you’ve got to have more coaches, but you don’t need them. In my opinion, you’ve just got to have a few good ones.” After high school, Coach Slade went to the University of Virginia on an athletic scholarship. He played linebacker for UVA from 1989 to 1992, earning first team All-American his last year. Slade broke and still holds the record for most career sacks in the ACC, holding onto his title for more than 20 years.

Coach Slade then went on to bigger and better things, more commonly known as the NFL. The New York Patriots drafted Coach Slade in 1993 as a second round draft pick, picked number 31. Coach Slade played for the Patriots through 1999 and then played his last year in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers.

In the Pace Admissions office, Coach Slade works on behalf of the lower, middle and upper schools to encourage good students to come to Pace.

Coach Slade focuses especially on bringing more diversity to Pace, working with the A Better Chance Program to help students get the education they deserve and to fully realize their academic potential. Coach Slade said, “I’m kind of like the Renaissance man in the Admissions office... I end up doing a lot of the grunt work... I’ll do basically anything [Admissions] needs me to do up there!” Coach Slade does lots of off campus work, representing Pace at a variety of events.

After turning down many coaching opportunities for NFL teams, Slade has moved on to his biggest and best career option, Pace Academy. “I think I have more of an impact coaching high school football. I like working with young adults,” Coach Slade said. Despite having many coaching opportunities in many

different high schools, Coach Slade still picked Pace out of the bunch. He said, “I wanted to come here because, first off, Mr. Assaf kind of won me over, and I thought this was a good opportunity for me to be part of a school that is on the rise and has a bright future.”

For the upcoming football season, Coach Slade is most looking forward to winning.

He said, “It’s great to be a good student as well as a good athlete and to win football games. Players can’t be scared of success.”

Coach Slade plans on getting his players in shape and focused, preparing to get his best players on the field ready to win games.

He has already started to do this by bonding with his players. He can often be seen in the Inman Center at the junior couches or freshman tables talking to students. All in all, Coach Slade is preparing to put his best foot forward for his first football season as head coach at Pace.

Coach Slade praised the current football program for the players’ energy, enthusiasm and drive to win. But he also said, “What I don’t like about it is some of the work ethics... some of the players can be lazy!

I think they need to be whipped into shape, literally and figuratively. We’ve got to get going.”

Watch out football players; you’re in for a tough pre-season!

Photo: Julia Beck

Coach Slade shares his wisdom with freshman Jack Walsh.

Basketball Shooting for Success By: Josh Sloan Staff Writer‘14 Both the Pace girls and boys basketball teams have made statements in their seasons this winter. The teams look to finish strong as they enter the second half of the basketball season.

Having made improvements, both the girls and boys have developed into better teams, with greater chances of success heading into February. The boys team has increased their potential on the court through team bonding sessions and tough workouts. The team bonding sessions have reportedly increased the players’ chemistry on and off the court, allowing the team to perform much better in games.

Head coach Demetrius Smith said, “We are really playing well and are on a winning streak.

Once we get going as a team we really start to become a great group of players.” Junior Aaron Simon agrees, saying, “We are really starting to click as a team.

I feel like we are reaching our full potential and can continue with the season as a very strong and successful team.” Freshman Jordan Harris said, “So far we have been doing well but we have a lot of things we can work on. There is a tough stretch of games ahead, but we’ve got to keep doing what we’ve been doing all season to really come out on top. I’m confident in our team and in our abilities.”

The girls team is much improved and, like the boys team, is hoping to finish their season

strong. After blowing out the W. D. Mohammed girls team on Jan. 8, the Pace girls have played very well. On Jan. 11, the girls beat a previously undefeated Atlanta International School girls team by one point as the clock ran down in the final seconds of the game. Junior Evelyn Hobbs made some key free throws late in the game to lead Pace to a victory. Evelyn said, “Since the start of the new year we’ve been great. We have really started to play as a team and for the next couple of weeks we need to be focused as we go forth through the rest of the season.”

Both teams have some tough games ahead, and, with the help of their much improved playing skills, both teams look to finish this year with mostly wins, despite their difficult schedules.

The Knightly News - Page 11 Photo: Dr. Mark Moncino

Sophomore Kamran Sadiq competes in the backstroke event.

Swimmers Prep For State By: Julia Beck Staff Writer ‘15

Thinking about trying out for the swim team next year? Most swimmers would encourage it. Senior William Sadlo said, “I like swimming because it’s fun to track your progress and improvement over the season.

Also, there is never any pressure because when you’re in the water, you’re in your own little world.” Freshman Brenner Appel said, “I like everything about it.

The seniors are great leaders.”

But don’t think swimming is an easy sport. Swimmers work hard for the speedy times they earn at competitions, attending morning practices, long meets, and dryland workouts. “We have one of the longest seasons of all sports,” said sophomore Grace Francour. “Practices are super hard, especially at the beginning of the season when you’re out of shape and the coaches are trying to get you in shape. Sometimes for meets Coach Ague will put you in events you haven’t necessarily practiced just to test it out. So I was in the 200 IM, and I can’t even swim butterfly... He didn’t put me in that again.” Sophomore Maria Grenader said, “We never get breaks. Practices can be tedious, and they are super long.” Fortunately, the swim team’s hard work has paid off.

This year’s swim team has reached a new high point. When asked about the qualifiers for the state meet, Head Coach Ague simply said that the names make up “a long list.” So far this year five swimmers have qualified individually for the state meet, as well as four team relay events: the boys 200 free relay, and the girls medley, 200 free and 400 free relays. Coach Ague said, “I am very excited about the state meet. We have over 30 different

state qualifying performances that give us flexibility in our line-ups. I look for those who scored last year to be right in the thick of things and our new qualifiers to do quite well.”

The new swim season brought with it a whole new crop of strong freshman swimmers.

So far this year, freshmen Grace Ferry and Madison Graham have qualified for individual races at state as well as junior Gwynnie LaMastra, senior Jason Weiner, and Brenner. Madison has qualified in the 50, 100, 200, and 500 freestyle; the IM; the 100 butterfly; the 100 backstroke; and the 100 breaststroke. She said, “I am very excited for high school state meet because there is a lot of energy there, and I’ve heard it’s really fun. But I’m still scared since I’m a freshman, and it’s a huge meet.” This year’s girls team has gone beyond most people’s expectations as Grace qualified in the 50, 100, 200 and 500 freestyle; the 200 IM; the 100 butterfly; and the 100 backstroke. Brenner qualified in the 200 and 500 freestyle and the 200 IM; and Gwynnie qualified in the 200 and 500 freestyle, the 100 butterfly, the 100 backstroke, and the 100 breaststroke.

Coach Ague said, “You can see just how strong the girls are this year.”

Over all, the predominate goal for the entire season is individual improvement. Coach Ague said, “Coaches always lead the practices. We expect that [the team is] very self motivated to challenge themselves to do the practice as designed. The coaches are there to help them get better. At swim meets I like to try to look at the meet within the meet. That means while we are doing our best to challenge our opponents to the best of our ability, we also look at what opportunities for improvement each individual has, and how to pursue those.”

Photo: Fred Assaf

Junior Aaron Simon drives against rival Holy Innocents’ team.

February 1, 2013

Sports

The Knightly News - Page 12

Soccer Gears Up By: Josh Sloan Staff Writer ‘14

With the beginning of the spring sports season rapidly approaching, both the boys and girls Pace soccer teams are eagerly preparing for a successful season. Both teams have set high expectations and have honed their work ethic this offseason in order to win more games.

The girls soccer team, coming off an incredible 2012 season in which they made it to the final four of the state tournament, hopes to go even farther this year. Junior Evelyn Hobbs exclaimed, “I know I am excited for the next season and my team is too. I think we all still feel like we came up short last year, and I think we could really do better this season. I’m hoping for the best!” While losing key players like Haley Zwecker and Hayley Kahn may set the team back, players like Evelyn confidently believe the returning and new players can fill the gaps left by last year’s seniors.

The boys soccer team has already begun their offseason conditioning in addition to their ongoing, informal preseason practices. Senior Alex Nash said, “I expect a lot out of our younger players this season. We could have a really great shot at a playoff run this season as a much more high quality, high caliber team.” Sophomore soccer fan Zachary Kerker agreed, saying, “I feel like this is going to be a great year for the soccer team. I know they lost some seniors and all, but I know they can hold their own with a group of outstanding young players.”

With an early start at conditioning this season, many players, like junior William Rushton, are optimistic. He said, “The tough training is really making us a lot better. We really do expect a lot and we expect to be really good this year.”

The girls soccer team will play their first game against Pinecrest Academy on Feb. 6 at Pinecrest while the boys open their season at an away game against Providence Christian Academy on Feb. 5.

Photo: Kelliann Haidet Senior Caroline Smith looks forward to the new season.

Photo: Judi Sloman Junior Michael Sloman (R) is one of three team captains for the Pace wrestling team.

Wrestling Overcomes Odds It is not easy being one of the smallest teams in the area, but the Pace varsity wrestling team has coped well with the challenges that they've faced.

The team began the season with no seniors and only 11 wrestlers. Despite these setbacks, the wrestling team has stepped up and competed well in each meet. Led by junior captains Keith Tremege, Phillip Werner, and Michael Sloman, the young team has battled well individually but has had a tough time in dual meets due to always having to forfeit a number of weight classes, sometimes as many as six.

Scoring is complicated in wrestling, as you get different point totals for taking your opponent down to the mat, escaping from a pin, getting off of the

floor after being taken down, and using different moves. You gain the most points for a pin, which is six. At the end of a meet the points are totaled for each team and the team with the most points wins. There is also an individual winner who is determined by the number of wins they have and their own point total.

As Keith said, "We all know we have to win by pin because it gets us optimum points. Also, we cannot get pinned because that gives the most points to the other team and we are already losing so many points for forfeiting multiple weight classes."

Though it has been difficult, the team still has been able to win a couple of meets. The wrestlers have steadily improved throughout the year by having some of the most rigorous practices of all of the Pace sports.

Michael said, "Because of our size everyone works harder to make sure we can compete as a full team in all of our meets. I

think it's a stronger team than in years past for that very reason."

Phillip leads the team in wins this year with a 21-4 record, Keith is 16-6, and freshman Jack Walsh has a record of 18-2.

"Jack Walsh is doing outstanding. He has the proper attitude to be great and really believes in his ability and he works at it," said Coach Sommerville. Jack and the other four freshmen on this year's team make up nearly half of the varsity squad. Along with the growing middle school program, which currently has 37 members, the varsity team looks poised for possible future success.

For now, the team focuses on the long and complicated process of getting people into the state tournament. On the road to state, Keith said, "It's a really big deal to make it to state simply because it's such a long road...

I think a couple of us have a chance to make it there so that'd be great for our team and the program."

to tie the game and win in stunning double overtime fashion, 38-35. The Ravens went on to demolish the Patriots in the AFC Championship and the 49ers squeaked past the Falcons in the NFC Championship to set up this exciting Super Bowl matchup.

Since adding Kaepernick to the starting lineup, the 49ers have opened up their offense with his strong arm and athleticism. Defenses have to keep an eye on his rushing ability, which allows for mismatches on the outside and wider holes for running backs Frank Gore and LaMichael James (who combined for three touchdowns in the NFC Championship game) to run though. The Falcons were able to stop Kaepernick from using his legs, but inversely were unable to stop James and Gore on the read-option.

The emergence of wide receiver Michael Crabtree and the consistent play in these playoffs by tight end Vernon Davis has provided mismatches on the

outside and big, physical targets for Kaepernick to throw to. This variability and dynamic play on the offensive side of the ball is tough for any defense to defend, but the Ravens match up well with their physical defensive play.

The Ravens are known for their defense, led by retiring linebacker Ray Lewis. After 17 years in the league, Lewis announced his retirement before the playoffs began in order to energize and motivate his team. The ploy worked and the Ravens have stifled offenses, especially on the ground. Led by Lewis, the defense hasn’t allowed a single running back to get over 100 yards rushing over the course of the playoffs.

They’ll face their biggest test against the 49ers, however, in the Super Bowl. The secondary has been ball hawks in these playoffs, picking off five passes over three games. This has set up short fields for their offense to score on and it wears out oppos-

ing teams, which allows for a Ravens onslaught in the second half, as seen against the Patriots, who they shutout in the second half.

These two teams like to run the football and smash the other team in the mouth, setting up what will definitely be a physical football game. The teams match up well against each other on either side of the ball, but the 49ers seem to be more dynamic with Kaepernick. The 49ers stout run defense led by Patrick Willis will force Joe Flacco into third-andlong throws which will allow defensive end Aldon Smith to make a couple of big sacks.

The Ravens will have trouble containing the entire 49ers offense, as they pull out all the stops for the Super Bowl. Ray Lewis’ career will end in a loss, and younger brother Jim Harbaugh will win the ultimate fight against his brother, a Super Bowl title, by a score of 49ers 30, Ravens 20.

By: Wilson Alexander Staff Writer ‘14

Harbaugh Brothers Feuding One More Time By: Wilson Alexander Staff Writer ‘14 Brothers often fight one another, but no brothers have ever fought like this. Jim and John Harbaugh will face off as the head coaches of the 49ers and the Ravens, respectively, dubbing Super Bowl 47 the “Harbaugh Bowl.” The two brothers coach their teams very similarly, stressing defense and running the football. Despite their physical styles of play, both teams have been carried in the postseason by a different position, the quarterbacks.

The 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has taken the football world by storm. He took over the starting job in game seven against the Bears this season after starting quarterback Alex Smith was injured with a concussion the previous week in an overtime tie against St. Louis. The norm

for the NFL is that when a starting player returns from injury, they get their starting job back.

Jim Harbaugh broke that trend, starting Kaepernick even after Smith returned, and was questioned for this decision until the Packers-49ers game in the divisional round. Kaepernick rushed for a NFL record, 181 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to 263 yards passing with another two touchdowns. As Kaepernick leaned down to kiss his tattoocovered bicep for his touchdown ritual, it was official that the Kaepernick age had begun in San Francisco.

On the opposing side, Joe Flacco has had some postseason heroics of his own. With 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter against Denver and down by seven, Flacco launched a pass downfield 70 yards to a surprisingly wide open Jacoby Jones. Safety Rahim Moore lunged to tip the pass but failed, and his broken coverage allowed for Baltimore