Vol. 39 Issue #6
The
March 7, 2014
Knightly News
p. 2 Heroin Addiction on Rise in Atlanta
p. 6 Great Online Study Tools
p. 8 Native American Mascots Under Fire
Art Faculty Art Show Inspires Elizabeth Roos Staff Writer Class of 2014
The Art Faculty Art Show, not Faculty Art Show, as clarified by photography and sculpture teacher Mr. Dorman, was on display in the Fine Arts Center Feb. 18 through the end of the month. The art show gave students insight into what exactly their teachers are doing when not in the classroom. Each art faculty member compiled a sampling of their work that emphasized their strong suits. “Beautiful,” “innovative” and “inspiring” are just a few of the words that students used to describe the work in the show. Mr. Dorman showed an assortment of his photography in which he utilized many different techniques. He showed both “straight photography” which he describes as “un-manipulated,” and “composites” which he calls “visual metaphors.” His straight photography included shots of landscapes and animals. Mr.
Dorman finds animals that are not in cages “extremely compelling” and has even traveled to foreign, and in many cases, treacherous countries such as Uganda and Zimbabwe to get the shots. In his highly interpretive composites, Mr. Dorman said that he “brings different ideas together to create a new reality.” He believes that is what artists do best, saying, “Artists create new realities because that’s what makes life interesting.” He hopes that his art will motivate, encourage and inspire students, and he is already getting ready for next year’s Art Faculty Art Show. He plans to buy a hoist to transport his very heavy sculpture to Pace, which is sure to be electrifying. Painting and drawing teacher Donice Bloodworth displayed an array of portraits of students at Pace. “I really like drawing people,” he said, “I like the fact that I use a lot of colors and it’s not really realistic but it captures the person. I love watching people look at my work and say, ‘I know who that it is.’”
Although Donice’s work is not inspired by any particular artist, for this show he painted his portraits on black backgrounds which are reminiscent of the work of Atlanta artist Steven Penley, a favorite of Donice’s. Donice finds inspiration for his art in color. Like the students he teaches, Donice had the opportunity to show the whole school that he, too, experiments with many new techniques. Ceramics teacher Mr. Knott did not pick the pieces he showed specifically for the show. “I’m guilty of picking what I made last because I usually think it’s the best, which is not necessarily the case,” he said. Mr. Knott works in a continuous fashion; he describes it as an “evolutionary process of change.” He makes as many as 200-500 pieces at a time and therefore does not have a strong attachment to individual pieces. He is ecstatic for students to see what he is doing with the rest of his life. “Especially because I don’t come from a teaching background, I have this whole life of making and selling work
Photo: Elizabeth Roos
Mr. Knott shares his vast knowlege of ceramics with sophomore Haley Hartman. and surviving on just that,” he said. The Art Faculty Art Show was immensely successful, and
students agreed that seeing their teacher’s work was both interesting and inspiring.
Pace Students Explore Colleges in Boston John Morrison Staff Writer Class of 2014
On the third weekend of February, 16 Pace students traveled to Boston to visit a number of colleges in the area. The group of sophomores and juniors, led by college counselor Lee Nuck-
olls and sophomore class dean Brooks Fleming, visited Harvard University, Boston University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University, Northeastern University and Emerson College, among others. Pace sponsors a college visit every year, but this year’s trip was put into peril by a snowstorm that hit Atlanta during the days prior to departure.
Photo: Lydia James
Juniors Dylan Abbott and Trevor Cefalu, and sophomore Andy Bainton enjoy the snow in Boston.
Hundreds of flights in and out of Atlanta were delayed or cancelled as a result of winter weather, which forced the students to modify their schedule. “We flew into Boston the day after we were supposed to get there, which meant that we missed Boston College,” said Ms. Nuckolls. The delay also cut into the time that students would have had to work on assignments for school. However, the weather had few other adverse effects, and most of the students enjoyed the snow in Boston. “We got [about] nine inches of snow on Saturday night, and it was unlike anything I’ve ever seen in Atlanta,” said junior Trevor Cefalu, “It made the two recent Snowpocalypses look like flurries.” Junior Rebecca Husk added, “There were piles of snow everywhere. We had so many snowball fights, and I really missed it when I got home.” Students toured a wide variety of colleges, from large universities to small urban colleges, and their preferences varied. “My favorite school we visited had to be MIT… they embraced
all of their little quirks and traditions,” said Rebecca, “I mean, any school where the students put cars on the roof just for fun has got to be pretty incredible.” Trevor favored Harvard: “I love the Cambridge area. I think it’s a really cool city to be in. Also, the academics are obviously incredible.” Although the college tour’s focus is to expose students to different kinds of colleges, many of the students identified colleges that they will likely apply to as seniors. “I’ll definitely apply to Babson and Northeastern,” said junior Dylan Abbot, “[Northeastern] had an interesting psychology program, which I’m looking at.” Sophomore Harrison Ray plans to apply to both MIT and Olin College of Engineering. “I want to go into something with engineering or sciences, and there is no better place for that than MIT,” he said, “Plus, I liked the layout and feel of the campus.” The Pace students were joined in Boston by six girls from an international school
in Switzerland. Although they came from Austria, India, Ukraine, China and Japan, they got along well with the group from Pace. “It was really cool to have some non-Pace kids on the trip and hear about their high school experiences,” said junior Lydia James. “They did seem to be kind of confused with our obsession with snow, though,” said Rebecca. The college trip helped orient students towards the kinds of schools that might be right for them. “The main thing that I took away from this trip was how important it is to actually visit college campuses,” said Lydia, “Every college makes itself look great on paper or on their website, but you only get a realistic picture of how it feels if you visit.” “I learned... that I can find my place wherever I end up going to college,” said Rebecca, “Even at the colleges I thought would be horrible for me, visiting them I realized that I would be able to find lifelong friends and get involved no matter where I go.”
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March 7, 2014
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Heroin Addiction On Rise in Atlanta John Morrison Staff Writer Class of 2014
On the night of April 30, 2011, Zack Elliott left his aunt and uncle’s house after the two went out to dinner. From there, Zack traveled to “the Bluff,” a neighborhood made notorious by its role as the hub of Atlanta’s heroin market. He would not return the next morning. Zack, a former Pace student, began experimenting with drugs in November 2005. (Zack graduated from Grady High School.) By February 2006, he had already begun using heroin. Zack struggled with addiction
over the next several years. He found himself in and out of various halfway houses and rehabilitation programs, but like many other heroin addicts, he was unable to escape the grip of his addiction. “You’re either going to get sober or you’re going to die,” said Zack’s mother, Robin Elliot, “He wanted to get sober, but the lure of it is so mind-boggling.” Zack’s death at the age of 21 is part of an alarming trend: rates of heroin addiction are increasing in Atlanta. In 2011, metro Atlanta saw 31 deaths as a result of heroin overdoses. In 2013, that number grew to over 60. In Fulton County alone, there have been 73 heroin-related deaths since 2011.
The apparent spike in usage could be related to the price of the drug. Doses of heroin can be purchased for $10 to $15, making it much cheaper than illegally obtained prescription opiates. Many people begin using heroin after becoming addicted to opiates such as Oxycodone. When prescriptions or supplies run out, they turn to heroin, a cheaper and more easily accessible alternative with similar effects. Heroin users in Atlanta are increasingly coming from the city’s suburbs. Sales of the drug are spreading to more affluent areas; in the past six months, students from North Atlanta High School and Woodward Academy have died as a result of
overdoses. In response to the growing problem, the Georgia House of Representatives passed HB 965 and 966 on Feb. 25. HB 965 would make drug users who called 911 to report an overdose immune to arrest. HB 966 would increase the availability of opiate-blocking medication, which could save many users from potential overdoses. The recent death by overdose of Philip Seymour Hoffman has shed light on increasing rates of heroin use. Despite his high profile, Hoffman followed a familiar path: he began abusing drugs in college before entering a rehabilitation program at age 22. He remained sober until 2012, when
Photo: France Dorman
Science Lunch ‘n Learns Impress Joe Loughran Staff Writer Class of 2016
Students’ work lines the walls alongside professional photographers’ pieces at Mason Murer Gallery.
Photography Students Show Off Work at Local Gallery Grace Francour Staff Writer Class of 2015
This year, for the first time in the school's history, the work of Pace photography students is on display at Mason Murer Fine Art at a show that opened on Feb. 7. Corinne Adams, the co-founder of Atlanta Celebrates Photography and one of the professional artists whose work was featured in the show, helped make this happen for the students. Twelve students, including
seniors Mackenzie Attridge, Morgan Brewton-Johnson, Arden Carlton, Katie Duval, Lauren Flick, Madison Hoff, Kyle Johnson, Mackenzie Kelly, Olivia Levine and Alex Woods, along with juniors Jeri Brand and Lydia James, submitted their work. All are members of Mr. Dorman's advanced photography classes. "It's pretty cool that we got to have some of our work shown at a prestigious art gallery that not even some professional photographers can get their work into," said Lauren. Their work will be up through March 21 at
the gallery, which is located at 199 Armour Dr. in Atlanta. The snow made getting reading for the show a challenge, with only two weeks to prepare the pieces for the exhibit, but it ended up being worth the effort. Arden even sold one of her pieces the evening of the opening. "It is unprecedented that we are a part of the group show," said Mr. Dorman, who helped make this opportunity a reality, "It has never been done in Pace history that student art work has been in a very well-known, prestigious gallery."
Senioritis Epidemic Spreads Sam Rubenstein News Editor Class of 2014
disease, The Knightly News talked with some of those infected. However, we had to venture out of C trailer all the way to the Senior Cellar in the Inman Center, because so few seniors were actually doing work. The plague has really set in. "It really started after I got into college," said senior Gwynnie LaMastra, "There was no studying for exams, or anything else for that matter. Definitely no homework." Gwynnie was experiencing another common symptom: idleness. Rather than do homework, she just sits around and does nothing at all. Her final comment: "It rocks!" If you know someone who may be suffering from senioritis, contact Ms. Culp or the Senioritis Hotline at 1-800-no-effort.
On Friday, Feb. 7, roughly 30 students crowded into Mr. Day's room during lunch period to eat pizza and listen to a talk about how to get involved in the scientific community. While it can be debated how much the free pizza was a factor in students' eagerness to learn about science, it was still impressive to see how many people turned out to hear Dr. Amy Mininberg. The primary care physician spoke about how she wants to help get Pace students involved in the scientific community through internships and other immersion programs. After the program, Dr. Mininberg talked about why she thinks immersion is important. "We have great students at Pace, and in medicine we need great people with great minds that can problem solve," she said, "We are making great strides in technology, so we need to make sure young people can help us out and continue to cure disease and figure things out." Science department chair Jonathan Day wants to show students that there is a need for more practical applications of science. The Lunch 'n Learn program is just a part of that effort, which also includes the minimesters at the beginning of the second semester and programs like Cancer Week last year and Nanotechnology Day this year,
which also helped broaden students' views of new and different types of sciences. "It was awesome," said Mr. Day about the program on Feb. 7, "The room was full, and there were more in the second session. The response was overwhelming, and we were very, very pleased." Mr. Day echoed Dr. Mininberg's thoughts about the goal of the program, saying, "A lot of times you guys don't know what options are available to you. I hope it at least gets you thinking about what some of your options are outside of the classroom." He also stressed his desire to make science "real and relevant" to the student body. Students who attended the session enjoyed it as well. "I got a better insight into the typical day of a doctor, especially during the early years of medical school and residency," said senior Charlie Burruss, "We all go see doctors, but know little of what they are doing, or what it took to get there. That is what I am trying to get a better idea of, and this Lunch 'n Learn definitely helped to clear that up for me." Junior Maria Grenader, who has aspirations of being a surgeon, also enjoyed the program. "I learned that it doesn't matter if you don't have a propensity for some classes in high school or college," she said, "Either way you can still be a physician." Two Lunch ‘n Learn programs have been held since Feb. 7, with a Georgia Tech professor of computer science and an Emory surgical oncologist.
Photo: Joe Loughran
After the excitement of Spirit Week ends and students return from the Germany trip with Mr. Hornor and Mr. Smith, reality sets in and the daily grind of schoolwork returns. It's an annual occurrence. It hits hard right around late January and early February. However, for many seniors, this grind means nothing. With many having been accepted into their colleges of choice and others about to hear back from schools, there is little left to do except enjoy the ride. How do you know if somebody has senioritis? If you feel
a friend or loved one may have been infected with the apathetic disease, there are a few symptoms you can look for. The first, and one of the most obvious indicators, is a drop in grades. Many seniors receive interims, usually caused by the failure to turn in homework out of a pure lack of caring. This drop in grades is often accompanied by an increase in Netflix activity and/or iPhone gaming (Flappy Bird, anyone?). A second symptom is frequent tardies to school or absences. This particular impact of the disease is highly visible nowadays, with an array of empty seats, and sometimes an entire empty row, each morning in assembly. To get the scoop on this nasty
he relapsed with both heroin and other prescription medications. Early in 2014, he was found dead in his apartment. While Robin Elliot encourages people who are worried about a friend’s drug use to speak out, she also notes that the burden ultimately falls upon the user. Undoubtedly, overcoming a heroin addiction is a toilsome task. For Mrs. Elliot, the optimal solution is to never use the drug in the first place. “You just cannot ever try it. You cannot ever, ever try it,” said Mrs. Elliot, “There are people that can use alcohol responsibly and there are people that can’t. There is nobody that can use heroin responsibly. It’s not worth the experiment.”
Mr. Day introduces Dr. Mininberg at the Feb. 7 Lunch n’ Learn.
Pace News
Vol. 39 Issue #6
The Knightly News - Page 3
Five Minutes with Julian Alexander Wilson Alexander Co-Editor In Chief Class of 2014
he did in the London Olympics [winning eight gold medals] and that he’s so accomplished. KN: Cool. Well, you were going to share your story at the ADL assembly but didn’t get the chance. Would you like to say what you would’ve shared? JA: Sure. In third grade I rode the bus to school, and there were
a couple of kids who sat behind me and picked on me for having large earlobes [laughs]. I was gonna try to make a point up there to try and make friends with your enemies, and it can make you feel better. KN: What did you think of the ADL assembly as a whole? JA: It was very long.
KN: But did you think it was worthwhile? JA: It sorta helped release tensions here at the Academy. It was good to let people get things off of their chest. KN: What about for the people in the audience? JA: It helped open their eyes to what’s going on here.
Photo: Doug Alexander
KN: You entered Pace in sixth grade and are now a freshman. How has the transition been? JA: It was really easy. All the guys [in our grade] are bros, so that made things easy. KN: Have you enjoyed being a freshman? JA: It’s been pretty awesome. Just being in high school is great. KN: Do you have a favorite class? JA: History with Ms. Stevens. KN: Why? JA: We talk about Peter Weller’s mother’s fat, fuzzy, Persian cat Otis a lot. He’s a boss. Also, having Avery Herman or “Big Poop,” who can sideline us well, is a reason. KN: How’s it been having a senior brother? JA: Uh, well, he’s sort of a freak and I hate him a lot. I can’t wait until he graduates. KN: OK, now tell the truth. JA: [Laughs] It’s been pretty
nice. I’m gonna miss him a lot when he leaves for college next year, and I might take his room. KN: You can’t have my room. JA: OK. I don’t want it anyway, actually; it’s too dark. KN: You do a lot of different extracurriculars. What are they? JA: Well, swimming is the best and soccer is a close follow-up. But, of course, I love acting and singing in the musicals. KN: What was your role in the musical “Peter Pan”? JA: I was Cookson the Pirate. KN: You said swimming is the best, why? JA: The team is a lot of fun to be on. We have a lot of fun in the pool. KN: I wouldn’t say we have a great time in the pool, per say, maybe the area around it. JA: Yeah, on the pool deck. Of course, it was really fun being on the team with you this year and one of my idols is a swimmer. KN: Who’s your idol? JA: Michael Phelps. KN: Why is he your idol? JA: Ignoring the whole pot scandal thing, it’s really cool what
Julian (right) has had a close relationship with his older brother Wilson from an early age.
Photo: Katherine Merritt
‘Machine Gun Butters’ Evolves as Musician David Martos
Sports Editor Class of 2014
Mr. Holifield walked around the latest Pace dance with a roll of cardboard, telling students to “leave room for Jesus.”
Opinions Mixed About Pace Dances Josh Sloan and how can it be fixed? “Pace
Staff Writer Class of 2014 Pace Academy has hosted an array of dances, the most recent one being on Feb. 7, and opinions on the dances differ widely among students. Many students claim that the dances aren’t enjoyable, and tend to either stay away or leave very early. “The dances just aren’t really that fun,” said junior Zachary Kerker, “At the same time they aren’t that bad, but they just aren’t enjoyable enough for me to want to spend my night at one.” That opinion appears to be widespread. At homecoming, the FAC was packed for the homecoming court ceremonies, but less than 15 minutes after the king and queen had been named, many students had already left. When 100 random students were asked if they liked the dances, a large majority said “no.” So, if there’s a problem with the dances, what exactly is it
dances can be awesome, but the student body has to be willing to put in the effort to make them fun,” said senior Evelyn Hobbs. Student Council has initiated improvements in the past, including using student DJs to encourage attendance. In the past couple of years, Pace alumni Miles Sheft ‘13 and Jonathan Webster ‘12 were the DJs who made the dances more exciting, and recently seniors Jake Pokalsky and Jacob St. Amand volunteered for that job. “Student DJs definitely help improve the crowd,” said Jake, “The atmosphere usually isn’t great without student DJs, and the crowd plays a huge part in making the dances fun.” Jake said that the last dance went well. That opinion was shared by freshman Barrett Baker, who said, “My expectations for the dances this year were definitely low, but the last one was an improvement, and I think, in the future, they will definitely continue to get better.”
Pace Academy has a plethora of musical talent in every grade, but no student is as ambitious as senior Jake Pokalsky. Jake first began playing music when he was in the sixth grade. Like most middle school boys, Jake was interested in the guitar and strove to learn how to shred the guitar like his favorite band Metallica. Later on in middle school he formed a band (Edge of the Earth) with classmates Jacob St. Amand, Charlie Burruss, Tommy Burruss and Jones Kolbinsky. During his sophomore year, Jake began experimenting with freestyle rapping. He was named “Machine Gun Butters” due to his ability to spit bars at a rapid pace and because he looks similar to the “South Park” character, Butters. “MGB” took his freestyle talents to the Inman Center at Pace where he challenged anyone who challenged him. Jake rarely lost and became a local legend. By the start of his senior year, Jake wanted to become more serious and began producing and recording music. He changed his name to “Leo Stotch” (the real name of Butters from “South Park”) and posted his first song, “Tangential Thoughts,” on Sound Cloud for the entire world to hear. The song contains a catchy beat and chorus, with very deep and thought-provoking lines. Jake
got a lot of feedback from his first song and is using it to improve his music. Jake is also working as a DJ with Jacob in their group “Efflux.” The two of them played at the last Pace dance of the year on Feb. 7 and many came away surprised by how good they were. “My body lost control when I heard Efflux spin those nasty beats,” said senior Riley Muse. Sophomore Aaron Davis also liked Efflux, saying, “Miles Sheft was good but, they [Jake
and Jacob] had a lot more energy and I thought they were better.” The group has also recently been developing dub step and plans on dropping new material very soon on Sound Cloud. Jake has plans to continue making music. “Music will always be a part of my life,” he said, “I don’t see myself ever quitting making music. I can only do math for so long, but I can sit down and make a new track for hours without glancing at the clock.”
Photo: David Martos
Senior Jake Pokalsky mixes a beat for his new song “Check Please.”
Pace News
March 7, 2014
The Knightly News - Page 4
Lower Field To Be Restored After Trailers Aaron Wasserman Online Editor Class of 2014
It's hard to believe that in less than six months Pace students will be finding their way around the brand new Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School. Excitement is building for the move as construction rapidly progresses. With all of the enthusiasm and
attention focused on the new building, the future of the lower field that is currently occupied by the trailers hasn't crossed the minds of many Pace students. Rumors about future plans for the field have ranged from a multi-level parking garage to a turf field complex with a field house. The Knightly News decided to dig deeper and find out what the real plans are. "The lower field will be
rebuilt once the trailers are gone," said Head of Facilities Dave Fortier, "The area will be re-graded, some soils will be replaced with a soil that has a high peat content that makes the soil drain better, a new irrigation system will be installed, the field will be crowned more than it was before to help facilitate rain runoff, and it will be re-sodded with Bermuda grass (the same grass as the Riverview Field)."
According to Mr. Fortier, the administration considered installing a turf field once the trailers were gone but decided against it. Anyone who has played on a turf field during the summer knows that they get much hotter than grass, which was a major reason for choosing natural grass. In addition, Mr. Fortier highlighted the need for the new field to be durable enough for cars to park on dur-
ing events, which artificial turf wouldn't allow. The refurbished fields will also alleviate the after school scramble to the Riverview Road complex for spring sports. According to athletic director Kris Palmerton, there will only be the need for one or two teams to travel over to Riverview Rd. on a daily basis once the fields are completed, as opposed to all of them.
Photo: Caitlin Jones
Photo: Caitlin Jones
Pace Mountain was relatively untouched before the fields were added.
The lower field used to be home to Pace's baseball and softball fields.
Teachers Open Ears to School Gossip News Editor Class of 2014
Surprising as it is, teachers are people too, and what person can resist telling or hearing that juicy rumor? Teachers are no exception to possessing this human trait, so The Knightly News decided to delve further into the gossip world among the Pace faculty. Mr. Smith does not go into the teachers lounge, but reported that if you are sitting next to Mr. Canfield at lunch, then you're sure to get the latest scoop, even though "80% of what he knows he makes up." Sophomore Jared
Goldman confirmed this: "Mr. Canfield knows it all." When asked about his status as the gossip queen of Pace Academy, Mr. Canfield refused to comment, neither denying nor confirming the rumors. "I don't hang out in the workroom anymore," said Mr. Newman, "In the last few years I have removed myself. I do not want to be a part of those conversations." According to Old Man Newman, the teacher gossip can get pretty intense. Apparently there are teachers who claim to know all the "dirt" on students, like who is dating who, and all the latest drama. "They want to appear to be cool, and in the know," he said. Mr. Newman
would not name names. Mr. Hattori had other thoughts: "Teachers don't gossip. We have really important lives outside of school and couldn't bother ourselves with picayune high school gossip." "Most of what I know I hear in the classroom, but that is pretty much it," said Mr. Kates, "I'm amazed how much students don't realize that teachers have ears." Which teacher knows the latest scoop? We may never know for sure, but there is no doubt that teachers know more than we think. Be looking around next time you exchange secrets, because somebody unexpected may be listening in.
Photo: Sam Rubenstein
Sam Rubenstein
Spanish teachers Sra. Agront-Hobbs and Sra. Lewis share a story between classes.
Meet Pace’s New Librarian, Mr. Matt Ball Joe Loughran Staff Writer Class of 2016
ate library at UVA. "I hope that the many years of working with first-year college students and their teachers will help me prepare Pace students as they
Photo: Matt Ball
At the end of the last school year, longtime head librarian Mrs. Patty Smith retired from her position. After a transition year with Ms. Teague as the sole librarian, Pace has hired a new librarian to head the Woodruff Library in the new Upper School, Mr. James "Matt" Ball. Mr. Ball was born and raised in Atlanta, attending Grady High School and Georgia State University. At Georgia State he received a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts and worked at the Oxford Bookstore at the Peachtree Battle Shopping Center, and then the Woodruff Library at Emory University. He abandoned Atlanta in 1999 to move to Boston, where he worked at Harvard while getting his Master's Degree in Library Science. After finishing his studies, he moved back to the
South in 2004 to work for the University of Virginia, holding a variety of different jobs, most recently as media and collections librarian for the undergradu-
Mr. Ball rubs the nose of Il Porcellino in Florence, Italy, a tradition that ensures a return to Florence.
embark on their college careers," said Mr. Ball. Last winter around Christmas, Mr. Ball decided that it was time to come back home and work in Atlanta again. He originally started by looking at jobs at colleges and universities, but the Pace job caught his eye. He liked certain aspects of the Pace community, such as the small student body, the emphasis on character development, and the fact that reading is valued and encouraged here. Mr. Ball also felt that it would be a welcome change to work with middle and high school students, as he loves helping and interacting with students. Mr. Ball believes that this interaction is the basis for all library programs. Last summer he was a librarian on a Semester at Sea voyage. "I like to say about that experience, that it was librarianship distilled down to its purest form, working closely with students and teachers on a day-to-day basis," he said.
Several teachers met Mr. Ball when he interviewed at Pace, and the impressions were all very positive. "What I care about in librarians is the same thing I care about in hiring teachers," said Mr. Gannon, "They have to love helping children and be passionate about their job, and Mr. Ball was excellent at both. He talked about how he loved helping Virginia first-years with research projects, and his eyes sparkled while talking about it." Ms. Teague called him "very personable" and a "book lover." She is also "excited about working with him to expand the library program," as his help will give her a chance to do more work in the Middle School and enhance its library program. Mr. Ball's hobbies include listening to music, traveling, and watching soccer. He visited FC Barcelona's Camp Nou on a trip to Spain last summer. He will be starting his new job at Pace on May 5, and will welcome any students who want to say hello.
Lifestyle
Vol. 39 Issue #6
The Knightly News - Page 5
Staycations Offer Relaxation Julia Beck
Features Editor Class of 2015
outdoor-oriented or moneysaving activities, other great places to visit in Atlanta are the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Stone Mountain. The Botanical Garden’s tickets only cost $5 if you bring your student ID, and Stone Mountain only costs $10 for parking. They’re a guaranteed fun day in the sun. If you’re feeling artsy, the High Museum is another great experience, and since it always has changing exhibits, there is never an excuse to not go again. Tickets are $16.50 for students. But all in all, even with all Atlanta has to offer, we have to be honest with ourselves. If you are one of those staying home for spring break, you are one of those lucky few who get to sleep all day, watch as many movies as you want and eat everything in sight. With all that, combined with how fun Atlanta can be, maybe everyone should consider staycationing once in a while.
Photo: Wilson Alexander
People often think of spring break as a time for traveling somewhere exotic, going skiing or relaxing on the beach, but there’s another way to have a great spring break: the “staycation,” and Atlanta is a perfect city to do just that. The key ingredient of every staycation is to take time to relax. You’re on a break, and you have a week until school starts back up again. Now is the time to chill, sleep in and catch up on your favorite TV show (instead of the night before your math test). If you’re feeling really cheesy, you could even watch “Spring Breakers” and revel in all the arrests you’re avoiding right now. Of course, Atlanta does
have a surprising number of great touristy activities to do, even during the sometimes iffy weather at the beginning of March. One of the best attractions is the Georgia Aquarium. With its famous whale sharks and moving pathways through tanks, the aquarium is one of the biggest and most exciting aquariums in the country. One of the highlights is the dolphin show, which anyone who visits should definitely take the time to see. If you really want to go all out, there are offerings such as behind-the-scenes tours and “encounters” with some of the animals like beluga whales or penguins. One of the coolest options, though, is snorkeling or scuba diving (if you are certified) with the whale sharks. If you are willing and able to spend the money ($35.95 a ticket), this is definitely an experience worth your time. If you’re looking for more
Mrs. Player speaks in assembly about her first published novel and the publishing process.
Photo: Lacey O’Sullivan
Mrs. Player’s First Published Novel a Worthy Read Julia Beck
Features Editor Class of 2015
Pace students pose after a fun hike up Stone Mountain.
Three Looks with Symone Wylie Heiner
Opinion Editor Class of 2014
As I wait for senior Symone Sommerville to meet me for our interview, the sound of her heels clicking against the linoleum signals that she is on her way.
Symone never fails to throw together the most stylish outfits for school. With the motto, “dress to impress… even if you’re going to the freakin’ mailbox,” one would be surprised to see Symone in sweat pants and a T-shirt on any given day. Using Pinterest as her inspiration and a variety of her “main stores” like Forever 21 and
H&M, Symone creates a style that is sophisticated and unique at Pace Academy. Symone is no stranger to heels and isn’t afraid to pull out her tallest pair for just a normal day at school. Symone offers advice to any frumpy lady looking to freshen up her style: “less is more.”
Photo: Wylie Heiner, Dean Papastrat Senior Symone Sommerville rocks her looks with pizzazz and flair, her usual for every day.
Towards the end of 2013, Mrs. Amber L. Player, wife of Mr. Player and English teacher at Atlanta Girls’ School, published her first novel, “Class of ‘98.” She shared her story of her road to becoming a published author in assembly on Feb. 25, and now KN offers insight into her new e-book. At first glance, “Class of ‘98” appears to be a pretty archetypical back-to-the-future-esque story line. The story begins at a ten-year high school reunion where the two protagonists, Jackie Dunn and Matt Stewart, are caught in a freak storm and whisked back to their senior year. The two commit themselves to recreating their lives exactly as they were the first time around, despite knowing how badly certain events and relationships would turn out. It all turns awry, though, when Matt messes up the timeline by falling in love with Jackie. Admittedly, the story line sounds a little cheesy, but after the first chapter, it becomes clear that Mrs. Player’s book does not fit the stereotype at all. Full of clever plot twists and welldeveloped characters, the reader is immediately emotionally invested in the protagonists. The characters’ feelings are carefully crafted and genuine. They are concerned for their future but also have regret for the past they wished they could redo, and now have the chance to do something about. Mrs. Player does a great job with having her characters reflect on their pasts,
and one can’t help wondering if she draws from her own life experiences and her wonder at the activities high schoolers take part in. One discrepancy in my opinion, though, was that Jackie and Matt seem to handle the whole time-traveling thing surprisingly well, all things considered. The characters evolve wonderfully, going from shock and a wish to return to their own time, segueing into their desire to start fresh, and eventually developing into their back-and-forth love relationship. In addition to the wonderfully lovable characters, one of my favorite parts of “Class of ‘98” was the attention to detail. Every little moment, line and character’s response seemed to fit together seamlessly to create the story. Even the names were carefully thought out, my personal favorite being a cat named Salinger, assumingly named for J. D. Salinger, author of “Catcher in the Rye,” everyone’s favorite freshman year novel. One other aspect I loved was the mystery behind the time travel. The characters never really found an explanation for the storm or their movement into what seemed to be an alternate dimension. I love this because it makes it seem like Jackie and Matt were meant to travel together, so they could rediscover themselves and realize that they were meant to be together. All in all, I loved Mrs. Player’s book. I read it in one night because I just couldn’t put it down. My advice is to not let the slightly cheesy description scare you away, because “Class of ‘98,” as well as any future books by Mrs. Player, are definitely worth your time.
Lifestyle
March 7, 2014
The Knightly News - Page 6
Raise Grades with Great Online Study Tools Web/Tech Editor Class of 2015
In recent years, online study tools have populated the web, making students’ lives easier. However, there are a vast amount of resources, and it can be hard to find some of the hidden gems in the sea of websites. Here are some of our favorites that you may not have heard of: 1. ProProfs For students who enjoy practice tests, ProProfs creates the perfect study tool. Students can make and take their own practice tests and quizzes, all free of charge. Research shows that exposure to course content in a variety of ways helps people absorb the most information, and creating tests may be one of the best ways to do that. Forming multiple choice questions forces students to not only think about
the correct answer, but also incorrect answers, which actually increases their knowledge of both; writing open-ended questions helps with identifying key ideas in the material. 2. Grammarly Grammarly is the best computerized English editor available to students. It surpasses the traditional spell check by analyzing grammar flaws that are typically difficult to find, comparing your work against a massive database of websites and books to check for plagiarism, and it even suggests style edits to improve diction, clarify meaning or enhance flow. Though it’s pretty expensive for monthly use, the free trial gives students a good opportunity to try it out and see how they like it. 3. Zotero Many students find it difficult to keep track of their sources when writing papers, but Zotero makes it extremely
easy. Not only does it store your PDFs, documents and webpages with the click of a button in your browser, but with the newest version, it also automatically creates a bibliography in any format. Zotero is free to download and works on Macs and PCs. 4. Evernote Evernote’s best feature is enabling users to instantly collaborate on large research projects. Share files, snapshots and more in real time to finish up those partner assignments quickly and easily. If one adopts the Evernote platform, it also provides reminders, checklists and citing tools. Evernote is free and can be installed on most desktops and phones. 5. TrackClass Have a hard time keeping up with dates? Then try out TrackClass. TrackClass provides an easy-to-use assignment management system for students and adds a lot of nice functions to the
Photo: Fox Bros Bar-B-Q Instagram
Fox Bros. expanded its brand by selling its sauces in retail outlets.
Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q Lives Up To Its Reputation Josh Blank Staff Writer Class of 2015
bread and Frito pie, along with many other traditional Southern sides. I had two of the traditional options, baked beans and collard greens, both extremely delicious. The baked beans were the best I’ve ever had, and I would go back to the restaurant solely for them. For dessert you can choose between two classic items, homemade banana pudding or a slice of chocolate pecan pie, but I was too full to eat another bite. Here are three interesting tidbits about the restaurant. One, in August 2012, a huge 100-yearold tree fell on top of the restaurant and they were able to reopen within 48 hours. Two, the restaurant caters and allows for people to pick up food. Finally, Fox Bros. sells their barbecue sauces in grocery stores like Whole Foods. This restaurant definitely lives up to its hype, and I would suggest that anyone who loves barbecue or good food in general try Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q. The restaurant is open seven days a week and is located at 1238 DeKalb Ave. in Atlanta.
Strive for those A’s with new online study tools. typical assistant. A student can put in their grade and the date of their tests, assignments and quizzes, and watch the calendar automatically fill up with all of their assignments. This view is extremely helpful for
visual people, as it gives a clear timeline of when things are due. Some extra bells and whistles include an estimate of your class average, email and SMS reminders and a place to store all of your school files.
‘The Lego Movie’: Fun For All Ages beth Banks), Emmet learns new
Max Greenberg things about himself and the Staff Writer Class of 2014
For those thinking about seeing “The Lego Movie,” I have one crucial piece of advice: leave your intelligence at the door. Although cute and at times witty, the movie does not have any sort of depth in the plot or the characters themselves. What it lacks in depth, however, it makes up for in charm and nonstop laughs. “The Lego Movie” will bring out the inner child in even the hardest of hearts and provides entertainment for the entire family. The main plot of the movie is that the evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell) is attempting to take over all of Legoland and only Emmet (Chris Pratt), a simple construction worker, can stop him from achieving his goal. With the help of Vitruvious the Wizard (Morgan Freeman), Batman (Will Arnett), and the mysterious Wildstyle (Eliza-
world around him on his path to victory. Other members of this star-studded cast include Jonah Hill, Liam Neeson, Dave Franco, Charlie Day and Shaquille O’Neal. As a comedy, “The Lego Movie” receives great scores in my book as the whole theater, even the adults, were laughing from the beginning sequence to the closing credits. Watching a movie like this reminds everyone of the power of a child’s imagination along with the damage adults can do when they fail to foster that imagination, or even worse, deter a child from using their imagination. With its laugh-out-loud comedy, amazing cast and incredible animation, “The Lego Movie” is a great movie to take your younger siblings to or the entire family. One of the best parts of the movie is that the comedy is aimed at both younger viewers and older ones, allowing for everyone to have a good time at this heart warming film.
Photo: thelegomovie.com
Driving up DeKalb Ave. in the Candler Park neighborhood of Atlanta, I could smell hickory smoke, roasting meat and sweet barbecue sauce. This aroma filled my nostrils until I found the source of this delectable scent. The origins of the aroma came from an old garage turned restaurant by twin brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox. The Fox brothers, after receiving much praise over their skills cooking BBQ, decided to open up their own restaurant in August 2007. Seven years later, Fox Bros. has built a reputation as one of the best barbecue joints in Georgia and even the Southeast. The difficulty for me of finding the restaurant and the long wait were worth it once I tasted my first bite of their delicious barbecue. When I ventured to the restaurant, I had to wait approximately 45 minutes, which is pretty typical. The place is
always packed with hungry customers, leading this restaurant to become one of the busiest in Atlanta. The atmosphere of the restaurant is vibrant, upbeat and loud. Customers have the option to sit inside or out, with the inside having a bar and a plethora of TVs displaying a variety of sports. The menu has plenty of options for both meat lovers and those who prefer veggies. Menu items like the pulled pork plate, beef brisket and ribs are among the most popular, but one can’t go wrong with any choice. I had the combo plate, an option where you can pick two meats (pulled pork, beef brisket, chicken, ribs and wings) and two sides served with Texas toast. The beef brisket was delicious, packed with a ton of flavor, but was a little fatty. My other choice, the pulled pork, didn’t have as much flavor as the brisket, but was much leaner. Customers have an abundance of options with the side dishes. You can pick from 15 sides, which include Brunswick stew, fried okra, jalapeño corn-
Photo: Dean Papastrat
Dean Papastrat
Everyone can appreciate the fun and humor in ‘The Lego Movie.’
Opinion
Vol. 39 Issue #6
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 Online Editor: Aaron Wasserman
Co-Editors in Chief: Wilson Alexander Hayley Silverstein
Staff Writers: Josh Blank Grace Francour Max Greenberg Joe Loughran John Morrison Elizabeth Roos Josh Sloan
Tech Editor: Dean Papastrat News Editor: Sam Rubenstein Opinion Editor: Wylie Heiner
Faculty Adviser: Ms. Lee Wilson Assistant Adviser: Mr. Matt Walker
Features Editor: Julia Beck Sports Editor: David Martos
The Knightly News Editorial Policy 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.
Honor and Discipline Council Voting Misleads Students Hayley Silverstein Co-Editor In Chief Class of 2014
The Honor and Discipline Council has elections every year, but the elections are not competitive. In eighth grade, students self-nominate themselves to be on the council and the class votes by circling names on a piece of paper, without any type of campaign or speech. Once elected to the council, members invariably serve all four years, despite each term being only one year. Every year before voting the students are told about the importance of electing the incumbents, because they have knowledge of the council. I agree that it is important for the council members to have experience, and the incumbent members are vindicated in maintaining their position all four years. However, the elections give a false hope to the students who want to be elected. If you came to Pace in high school, or were too shy to nominate yourself in eighth grade, or did not win in eighth grade despite being qualified, you will probably never win the elections in future years. Not only are the students encouraged to re-elect the current members, but the incumbents’ names are bolded on the ballot, which shows a
clear bias. Council members are also not held accountable, because of their de-facto guarantee of being re-elected. Teachers are not always aware of students’ actions. If a member of the council breaks school rules, the council member doesn’t have to answer for their actions or be removed from their position, because they are protected by the current system if no teacher sees the misbehavior or other students don’t report it. Experience is an important element to the Honor and Discipline Council and there are better ways for that to be insured without the facade of elections.
Instead of voting based only on the names on the ballot, candidates should be able to give a speech in order to ensure that students make well-informed decisions. I have never known an incumbent to not win reelection; it would just be easier to get rid of the annual elections, because bias towards incumbents from teachers continues to sway votes in their favor. It would also be more fair for the freshmen if elections were held after the first month of high school, because there is a large influx of students that year who do not have the opportunity to serve, because they were unable to run in Middle School.
Photo: Dean Papastrat
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
The Knightly News - Page 7
The ballots for voting strongly favor the incumbents because of their bolded names.
ADL Assembly a Powerful Experience David Martos
Sports Editor Class of 2014
derstanding of others. A number of students, including members of the PABD, did not expect that so many students would be willing to tell their stories when the activity was first introduced.
Photo: Courtney Lundeen
The most powerful anti-bullying assembly ever presented at Pace shocked the Academy on Feb. 5 as members of Pace Academy’s Board of Diversity and the Anti-Defamation League revealed a whole side of the student body previously swept under the rug. Director of Diversity Mr. Holifield first got the idea to hold the assembly after a few students came to him with thoughts and concerns about bullying and issues of exclusion. Mr. Holifield had great success at his previous school in Connecticut with an ADL program that addressed these issues, so he decided to bring it to Pace with the help of the PABD and the ADL. “I ran this program at my old school a couple of times, and I felt it did a great job of opening the transparency in the school’s student culture,” said Mr. Holifield. The assembly was a clear success. Many students and faculty members came away deeply moved by the hour of student testimonials about their experiences with bullying and other painful issues, both current and past. I thought it was the one of best things to happen to Pace in a while. Prior to the
assembly I felt Pace was a place where people could never speak up about bullying. The assembly offered students an outlet where they could speak out and allowed all students to have a better un-
Members of PABD read a motivational essay at the end of the assembly.
“The results were much greater than we expected, but everyone made it one of the most important days Pace has ever had,” said senior Nathan Sokolic. As each student told their
story, more and more walked down to the front until eventually the entire stage was filled to capacity with students sitting and waiting to share. So many students wanted to share their stories that some had to be turned away due to time limitations. All of the testimonials were moving in some way, and what really hit me was how many of my friends had gone through an issue with bullying or self harm. I was completely unaware and wish that they had told me or someone else. After the testimonials, students from PABD paired with faculty members and facilitated group sessions for an hour. While in the sessions, the groups discussed the assembly and the “RESPECT” acronym that the facilitators had created in advance. To end the program, members of PABD read aloud a story written by a teacher about one of her students that was very powerful, and then other members performed a song. I felt the second part of the assembly was not as strong as the first, but still very necessary to sum up the morning. Mr. Holifield plans to make this assembly a tradition at Pace. He hopes that each new freshman class will experience the assembly at least twice during their fours years of high school. I think that’s a great idea.
March 7, 2014
Sports
The Knightly News - Page 8
Tennis Teams Set Sights on State Josh Sloan
Staff Writer Class of 2014
ish the season as state champions and come out on top.” The boys team has high hopes for the season as well. After heartbreaking defeats in the semifinals the past two years, many players can’t wait to start the season and have another chance to win a championship. The team lost very few players and still has a ton of talent on its roster. Returning seniors and star players Jay Kumar, Daniel Gray and David Martos are all determined to push the team to new heights this season. After two close-game losses deep within the playoffs over the past two years, one can expect these seniors to be motivated and passionate about bringing the state championship trophy back home to Pace. The entire team has been working and training hard to
prepare for the regular season, and expectations for the group are running high. “My expectation this year is to bring the state
title home, said Jay, “I know we have a talented team and can definitely produce the result.”
Photo:Anna Hoffman
After devastating losses ended the 2013 seasons for both the boys and girls tennis teams, both Pace squads look to their past defeats to fuel the fire that will spark a championship run in 2014. The girls team looks as strong as ever after only losing two seniors this year while gaining four new players. Senior and junior doubles combo Maria Grenader and Pate Hardison are both returning to the court this year and have three years of experience playing together. “They’re like a well oiled machine at this point... and will be really tough to beat,” said
coach Sara Eden. Sophomore Nicole Shafer and freshman Zoe Weitzner are expected to be powerful singles players this year. The girls team definitely doesn’t lack the motivation and work ethic they believe they need to succeed this upcoming season. “We’ve been training a ton, and the effort will definitely pay off,” said Pate, “I think we’re going to be a really hard team to beat for it.” Junior Anna Hoffman was even more optimistic, saying, “The varsity girls tennis team, in my opinion, is the strongest team at Pace Academy. Not only were we region champions last year, we made it to semifinals at state. Although we ultimately lost at state, our fate will not be the same this year. With new additions and more determined players, we will fin-
(L-R) Juniors Morgan Baker, Anna Hoffman and Maria Grenader are pictured with last year’s regional championship trophy.
Taunting Shows a Player’s True Colors Josh Blank Staff Writer Class of 2015
Richard Sherman, Kevin Garnett, Terrell Owens, Johnny Manziel and Floyd “Money”
Mayweather all share one characteristic: they excel at the art of trash talking. Most recently, Sherman received extreme criticism for his taunting antics during and after the NFC Championship game. According to ESPN, FOX Sports and Richard Sherman himself, after
Photo: espn.com Johnny Manziel’s ‘money sign’ has become a nationwide symbol.
his post game interview Sherman received death threats and was the target of racial slurs via social media. His behavior has led many to question whether taunting and trash talk should be allowed in sports altogether. In order for one to truly understand taunting in sports, one must look at the role of trash talking throughout the years. Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest boxers of all time, is known as the biggest trash talker in sports history. Ali dominated the boxing world during the 1960s and 1970s through skill, heart and intimidation. “Liston is a big ugly bear and even smells like one. After I beat him, I’m going to donate him to the zoo,” said Ali before his fight against heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. Ali’s ability to strike fear in his opponent, before the match even started, helped him gain a competitive advantage in his fights. Many famous athletes, like Manziel and Garnett, have used their on and off-the-field talk to help build their image. Whether
or not the antics are socially acceptable is another story. This past year alone, Johnny Football has been seen taunting opponents on numerous occasions. One can see the true impact of his actions by the increase in taunting in youth sports. Many athletes have thrown up the “Johnny Football Money Sign” in sporting events. Although Garnett’s taunts have had a smaller impact nationally, his impact in the NBA is prominent. Through taunting, KG has developed into one of the most feared and daunting figures in the NBA. His enforcer mentality has helped him develop into the player he is today. Opponents claim that trash talking takes away from the game and athletes, who are role models for kids and should present themselves in the most professional way possible. Treating other competitors poorly or gloating about doing well is not a message many parents or youth sports organizers want kids to see. The biggest emphasis throughout youth sports is
sportsmanship, possibly even more so than player safety. Similarly, and in relation to sportsmanship, racism prevention has also been a major focus. The Barclays Premier league adopted a slogan, “Say no to racism.” This push against racism correlates with taunting, because often racial slurs are used by opposing players and fans to provoke reactions. Taunting is one thing, but using racial slurs and anti-semitic remarks crosses the line. Personally, I believe that taunting should be allowed in sports, and here’s why. Mocking and celebrating is a part of sports and it’s a way for players to express themselves. Some players like Sherman and Mayweather excel in their sports due to their trash-talking capabilities. Their ability to get into other players’ heads helps them compete. Sports are supposed to be entertainment, and actions such as taunting help the industry. Talk shows, news organizations and social media thrive off the drama and these players’ actions.
Backlash Grows Over Native American Mascots, Imagery Wilson Alexander Co-Editor In Chief Class of 2014
Racism has existed in America since the day it was founded, yet racism in sports has only been openly discussed in the past 30 years or so. In that time, many teams have changed their logos or names, such as the University of North Dakota, formerly known as the Fighting Sioux. Other teams, including the Washington Redskins, haven’t caved yet and face increasing criticism. The Redskins hold the spotlight on the issue for many reasons, including being an NFL team, playing in a huge market, team owner Dan Snyder publicly refusing to change the name and, one of the biggest reasons,
playing in the nation’s capital. Now the Redskins are facing more pressure from Congress to change their name. Senator Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Representative Tom Cole, R- Okla., sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asking him to publicly back a Redskins name change. Cantwell is chairwoman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and Cole is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee – and a member of the Chickasaw Nation. “I think a non-political issue has become a political issue,” math and economics teacher Keith Newman said, “People are using it to pander to their constituents and that’s not right.” The Redskins aren’t the only team facing pressure to alter their brand. Until 1986, the Atlanta Braves employed a live
mascot named Chief Noc-AHoma who was housed in a tepee at home games. He cheered and danced after every Braves home run. Fourteen years prior, the Braves’ logo featured a screaming Indian head that was nearly brought back last year for batting practice caps and to be placed on the alternate jerseys. Both ideas were scrapped amid backlash. Pieces of the Braves brand still feature Native American Indian symbols, such as tomahawks on jerseys and the famous ‘tomahawk chop’ performed by fans at games. However, racist slurs or possible offensive imagery are no longer used. While the Braves changed and the Redskins are facing pressure to, the Florida State Seminoles have no reason to change. The Seminoles have been publicly backed and sup-
ported by the Seminole tribe in Florida, which considers its members to be some of the biggest FSU fans in the state. Other schools aren’t as fortunate with support from their local tribes. The University of North Dakota is trying to overhaul its Fighting Sioux mascot for a third time after a statewide vote approved a change. They haven’t chosen a new name yet. Some professional teams haven’t had much, if any tension concerning their name, such as the Chicago Blackhawks. At least on the national level, they are one of the most successful hockey franchises in the last ten years and haven’t faced pressure to change their name. One reason is that the Blackhawks play in a small market sport that doesn’t receive as much recognition. According to a column
written by CBS’ Tim Baffoe, “The Hawks don’t use a caricature or slur that other teams have come under fire for. In fact, there is almost zero Native American ‘stuff’ used by the organization other than just their very famous logo. I don’t mind the Blackhawks Indian head logo. Hell, I’d say it looks pretty badass.” The Redskins, on the other hand, use Native American imagery in almost all of their branding. However, many people see no problem with the logo. Team owner Dan Snyder has insisted that while he is in charge, the name won’t change. An ESPN poll asked, “Should the Redskins change their name?” As of Friday, Feb. 28 at 12:01 p.m., 113,584 people had voted. An overwhelming 78% said “no.”