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Ravenscroft School
7409 Falls of Neuse Road
April 2011
Fine Arts ensemble groups hit a high note at Heritage Festival competition SAVANNAH STORY
STAFF WRITER
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avenscroft’s Upper School ensembles won the Festival Sweepstakes at the Heritage Music Festival by receiving a gold in every division and gaining the closest score to 300 out of the 10 schools in attendance. As well as receiving the highest total score, the band and orchestra received the highest scores in their respective groups. The competition took place on the weekend of March 25th when Ravenscroft’s orchestra, band and choir groups traveled to
Senior Sarah Heilman
Atlanta, Georgia. Eighty-eight Ravenscroft students competed in their respective divisions. Heritage Music Festivals have been taking place for more than thirty years and are highly respected. These competitions are extremely challenging and are internationally-renowned; Ravenscroft being in the top in all three competitions is a huge accomplishment. Out of the 600 students in the competition, two Ravenscroft students also received individual awards. Seniors Oscar Turner won the best cello soloist and Sarah Heilman won best soprano soloist. “As a department, we were thrilled that we were able to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves as we planned and
then executed on the trip,” said Dr. David McChesney, the director of Ravenscroft’s Fine Arts program. “Our students earned recognition from a very professional and experienced panel of judges who reinforced all the positive things that we do with our students everyday while giving them input and encouragement on the importance of musical performance as part of a complete education,” said McChesney. “I was so pleased that both Sarah and Oscar distinguished themselves through their solo performances at the competition.” The entire trip was not just work, however. The students had some time to play. The performers celebrated their hard work with a trip to Six Flags in the pouring rain while they anxiously waited to hear the results that they did not receive until later that evening. They also toured Coca-Cola facilities. “We were equally as pleased with the [conduct] of our students in the hotel, at restaurants and during our tours of the Coke facility and the incredible CNN complex,” said McChesney. The success of the trip displays Ravenscroft Fine Arts’ abilities and sets high standards for Ravenscroft’s Fine Arts programs in the future. “Truly a great trip for our students and a great accomplishment for Fine Arts at Ravenscroft!”
The Upper School ensemble groups proudly display their awards won in Atlanta at the Heritage Festival competition. Photos provided by the Fine Arts Department
INSIDE... Face-Off Bojangles Page 8
Ravenscroft's reaction to tragedy in Japan
Prom? Page 15 Pages 10 & 11
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(Mostly Inter)National News In a Nutshell
The news you need to know while you’re on the go.
ANDIE PARK
STAFF WRITER
All photos CC-BY License
Hollywood Legend Elizabeth Taylor dies at age 79
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Dr. Newman speaking with Patrick Bailey, ‘11. Photo by Egan Hart
JUST THINK FIRST Dr. Newman shares a potentially life-saving message
MADELINE LOUDEN
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
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he words “JUST THINK FIRST” rest on the wrists of many Ravenscroft students today, inscribed in neon green on a dark black band and gifted to them by Dr. Rosemarie Newsman after she spoke to the student body in March, sharing with them the story of her son’s death at the hands of a drunk driver; her words gave everyone a reason to think. There has been much hubbub recently about the school’s statements on underage drinking. Students have complained about the school reportedly “getting into their business” and “overstepping boundaries.” Dr. Newman’s pleading message to make good choices in the interest of self-preservation is one that Ravenscroft School clearly agrees with and attempts enlighten students in a clear and concrete manner. Students have the choice to interpret Dr. Newman’s visit as yet another lecture from the Ravenscroft Administration, or they can take it as an opportunity Ravenscroft gave them to hear a story and a message that they may desperately need to hear. Sadiki Ayize Young died on January 14th at 18 years old in a car accident in which he was the passenger. He left an unsupervised house party and was driving with two other young men, one of which had consumed alcohol that night and was driving. Going 70 miles per hour, the car ran off the road and tumbled 400 feet down an embankment. Young was the only one killed. Many in the Ravenscroft community remember hearing about this incident in the news, and many, recent alumnae included, knew Young and his family personally, or still know the other men who were involved in the crash along with their families. Though this heartbreaking incident did not directly involve any Ravenscroft students, it did involve students who spend each of their days just a few miles up the road at Wakefield High School. These students are no different than anyone at Ravenscroft. Young was the sixth student in one year from Wakefield High School to die as a result of a car wreck. With his story and the stories of each of
the other crashes, people, teachers included, must be reminded of the possible consequences associated with our actions. Newman stressed to us the importance of choices. She detailed what her son did on the evening he died, the choices he made and how they ultimately led to his unfortunate ending. Young chose to attend an unsupervised party, he chose to remain there even though there was alcohol, and he chose to stay instead of leaving with trusted friends who, like Young, had not been drinking. He made the decision to get into a car that he was not driving, thereby putting his safety in the hands of another. He made this decision with the knowledge that driver may have alcohol in his system. It was visibly difficult for Dr. Newman to speak so frankly about what happened – she spoke slowly, choking up and pausing often to regain her voice – but it was also clear that she knew how important her frankness was in telling her story. No one wants to say that Young’s death was his own fault. The tragedy of losing a wonderful young man described by his mother as a “gracious, polite, sweet” soul at such an young age is for most of us an unimaginable degree of grief. When his death comes up in conversation, even those who have no connection to him frown and furrow their eyebrows. However, as unfortunate and gut-wrenching as it is, the fact that he could have prevented his own death cannot be ignored. If Young had made different decisions that night, he very likely would still be here. He’d be a student in college. He’d be back in Raleigh from time to time on breaks. He’d be able to further develop and share with others that kind, gracious soul. Understanding that fact is the lesson that everyone has been taught over and over, the lesson that everyone must learn in order to keep themselves alive and well – actions have consequences. More than that, people cannot live as if those consequences are simply “risks” that could “possibly” come of actions, but that those consequences are more than just possibilities. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 10,839 people will die in drunk-driving crashes this year. No one is exempt from the possibility of being one of those 10,839 people.
e might know her by those striking violet eyes, her infamous marriages, her love of jewelry, or, of course, her life’s work of over fifty films. Whatever you might remember her for, Dame Elizabeth Taylor was a legend to us all. On March 23, 2011, Taylor passed away due to heart failure—her four children were at her side. Since her breakout role in Father of the Elizabeth Taylor at the Bride (1950), Taylor blossomed into Hollywood 1957 Academy Awards. stardom, praised for her talent and stunning features. When she graced the cover of Time Magazine in 1949, the article described her as “a jewel of great price, a true star sapphire.” She became was an early arrival of a generation of classic movie stars such as Kirk Douglas and Ava Gardner. With films such as Cleopatra, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Taylor amazed the public with her theatric versatility and allure. Her highly publicized marriages from a Hilton Hotel heir, Conrad “Nicky” Hilton to a U.S. Senator, John Warner, and most famously, to movie star Richard Burton (whom she married twice) made international headlines. But these were not the only men in her life—she married a total of eight times, to seven different men, marrying Burton twice. Her humanitarian work and devotion to establishing HIV and AIDSrelated projects earned her an Honorary Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, in 1992. After a close friendship with Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, her several addictions and near-death experiences, Taylor made her name a ubiquitous topic discussed all over the world. But whatever you may know her for, there is no denying that she was a legend—of many sorts—and will be remembered.
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NASA Probe reaches Mercury
or the first time in global history, NASA’s probe Messenger became the first spacecraft to reach Mercury, the planet closest to the sun. “Despite its proximity to Earth, the planet Mercury has for decades been comparatively unexplored,” said Sean Solomon, Messenger principal investigator. This is an enormous feat—considering that the very thought of trying to reach Mercury would fry our brains because of its proximity to that scorching Sun. I wonder what year it will be when we can get astronauts to play football on Mercury…
President Obama giving his address on the crisis in Libya on national television
Crisis in Libya ensues... with U.S. military intervention... yay?
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resident Barack Obama had a slight drop in views for his speech about military action in Libya--only a meager 25.6 million views. On March 28, President Obama addressed the military crisis in Libya by declaring that U.S. military forces will be intervening in the international conflict. President Obama is adamant in restoring peaceful relations with the Middle Eastern world. He stated that Libyan and American values were threatened and that it was our national responsibility to take some sort of military action in Libya. He referenced back to the Americans of Lockerbie bombing, in which 189 Americans were killed— and how we should not repeat history by merely observing this crisis. After a bipartisan agreement in Congress, military action was a necessary action to counter the continuous attacks that Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi launched against his own people, with bombs and destruction of buildings. So, it’s up to us to stop an autocratic leader—no biggie.
Not National…But Still Important! Tr a g e d y i n J a p a n
In the Tōhoku region off the coast of Japan, an 8.9 earthquake triggered a
massive tsunami with waves that reached nearly 33 feet. The Tōhoku earthquake is reported to be the most powerful one in the history of Japan and one of the five most powerful earthquakes in the world. The tsunami was far most destructive than the earthquake and the Japanese National Police Agency has officially confirmed over 10,000 deaths and 10,692 people missing, as well as over 100,000 buildings destroyed and an estimated $310 A boat was wiped to shore billion in damage. The disasters have also caused the automatic shutdown of a total of 11 in the city of Otsuchi, Iwate nuclear reactors, including the Fukushima I and II, Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant Prefecture, resting on office and Tōkai nuclear power stations. The toppling waves of the tsunami destroyed buildings and debris. the diesel power systems of the Fukushima I and II power plants, which led to two nuclear explosions and leakage of radiation. The nuclear crisis led to the evacuation of over 200,000 people. The Fukushima power plant is so hot that helicopters have dumped water to cool the plants. This is an national disaster that is an international tragedy in which we can all pray for safety of the people of Japan.
B-T-DUBS!
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We got a Little Situation…
o keep our minds at ease from the international turmoil, focus on some more trivial news: THE SITUATION IS PLANNING ON LEAVING “JERSEY SHORE!” I don’t know whether to express joy that we will never witness his inconsiderate, arrogant, and primitive acts, or sadness for the exact same reason. In 2010, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino earned over $30 million and even waltzed his way into
an embarrassing stint on “Dancing with the Stars.” But don’t worry, he has some more ambitious and laughable goals in mind. “Hopefully by the end of the year I’ll be in a movie,” said the Sit. It will most likely be a sequel to his hit MTV reality series in movie form. AHHHH YEAH! Talk about a no-win situation!
Need a Blessing? There’s an app for that.
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or those of you who do not want to walk to church and make your awkward confession to a priest, you can just go to the Confession Program on your iPhone. Available for $1.99, the Confession Program allows people to keep track of their sins and allow church officials to examine their confessions along with other factors such as age, sex, and marital status.
Don’t underestimate its “phony” tactics because church officials in the United States and the United Kingdom approved of the program. A spokesperson from the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of England stated that the “church believes in embracing new technology and this creative app will hopefully help people to make a good confession.” The Catholic church gave the app its blessing as well. Ahhh, a sign of the times.
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Top dog uses number generator to win chaotic tournament
CHARLIE HIRSCH
STAFF WRITER
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s the esteemed History Instructor, Phillip Kielty, often says, “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.” This phrase can be used to sum-up the NCAA tournament this year as well as the first annual Nevarmore Online NCAA bracket competition. In the end, History Instructor Mark Laskowski’s has bragging rights. Laskowski, the squirrel, found a nut after he openly pronounced that he used a random number generator app for his bracket submission. Laskowski made a huge run to overtake Allison McAdams, ’13, who was in tied for first place after the first two rounds. McAdams used her own
version of “logic” as demonstrated in the video clips posted to Nevarmore Online. However, she did not score another point after the sweet sixteen which allowed Laskowski to seize victory. McAdams was not the only one to struggle down the stretch. Laskowski was the only person in the Nevermore Online challenge to choose two of the actual final four teams that competed for the NCAA title this year. Only eight Nevarmore participants had one team in the final four. Laskowski used a complex system which included a random number generator app to pick every game and in the end, the machine came out victorious. This year’s final four was a true example of why the term March Madness is used to describe the tournament. It was so bizarre that
only two people out of the 6 million that filled out a bracket on ESPN.com correctly picked the final four. VCU, the most surprising final four teams, was the third eleven seed to ever reach the final four. By reaching these great heights, VCU defeated teams in the Pac 10, Big East, Big 10, ACC and the Big 12. This was even more astonishing considering that VCU was one of the “last four in” and many considered them unworthy of a bid. Many believed that Colorado or Virginia Tech and even other schools should have been given the chance to compete in the NCAA Tournament over VCU. However, with the blessings of the selection committee, VCU made the most of their opportunity. VCU was not the only feel good story of this tournament. The Butler Bulldogs returned to the final
Mark Laskowski explains to Allison McAdams how to pick a winning bracket. Photo by Charlie Hirsch
four and championship game for the second consecutive year only to fall short of the title. Last year, they made is it to the championship game only to come up inches short to Duke on a last second heave. After several gritty performances against Old Dominion, Pittsburgh and Florida, the Bulldogs defeated the VCU Rams to try to write the fairy-tale ending to the story. However, it was not meant to be as they shot a dismal 18% in the championship game and Uconn proved to be the top dog. Butler was not expected to make another tournament run however they drooled on skeptics by proving them w r o n g for the second straight year.
Laskowski wins The Nevermmore NCAA Challenge with the above bracket.
Maybe even more remarkable than either VCU or Butler, is U c o n n ’s season. Unranked in the preseason polls with relatively low expectations, they were not even invited to the 2010 NCAA tournament. Nevertheless, Uconn stormed onto the scene in the Maui Invitational by beating Kentucky and Michigan State easily and taking home a tournament championship. Uconn again turned heads during the Big East Tournament by winning five games in five days to bring home the Big East title. This momentum carried into the NCAA Tournament and they were able to take home their third national championship since 1999.
Seniors strive to make a difference in the world PEYTON BURGESS
EDITOR
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n Mimi Lieberman’s AP Environmental Science class, students learn about water crises that plague many nations across the world. Sitting at a desk in a classroom, many Ravenscroft Upper Schoolers feel helpless and as if they can’t do anything to help. Seniors Colby Virtue and Charlie Killian, however, are doing
Seniors Charlie Killian (above) and Colby Virtue (right) want to help with the distribution of LifeStraws to African nations. Photos by Peyton Burgess
something to a make difference. As students in Mary Beth Immediata’s Global Issues class, they are required to complete a culminating project that shows some sort of initiative outside the classroom. Whether its entering an essay competition with a piece written on the hardships in Libya or a push for an international news segment to be played in Rhonda’s called “Bird’s Eye View,” students are forced to take what they’ve learned and apply it to real life issues. Virtue and Killian didn’t want to justwrite a paper, however. They decided they wanted to actually help people and know that their efforts changed someone’s life. One global issue that needs to be taken into control: clean drinking water. “A LifeStraw is a device that, through microbial filters, takes any source of water and takes out any kind of bacteria or disease,” said Virtue. “The actual LifeStraw itself lasts 3 to 5 years and can provide
any person with clean drinking water. There was actually a person that was able to suck the water out of cow manure.” Virtue and Killian have decided to try to strike deals with companies like Coca Cola to see if they would be willing to help back their cause. An example would be that if a certain amount of money was spent on their products, they would endorse and send a certain amount of LifeStraws to African nations. “It would be market based advertising where it’s for a good cause,” said Virtue. “Instead of just picking this drink over this drink, I’m helping this child in Africa or this person will live another year without malaria because of me.” In late March, Virtue and Killian had their meeting with a local Coca Cola representative in Moore County, North Carolina. At this meeting, they learned more about the logistics of their project. “We’re not going to be able to use this idea in grocery stores because there’s not enough margin of profit per case of Coke and because of how competitive it is,” said Virtue. “But there is a huge margin of profit in convenient stores so we will be
A man demonstrates one of the many places that a LifeStraw can be used to drink water. Photo by Edyta Materka
able to do it there.” At the local meeting, their ideas were met with praise and encouragement to continue their project. “We have a meeting planned with Coke Consolidated,” said Killian. “They’re located in Charlotte and the second largest distributor in
America.” If Virtue and Killian succeed in their marketing strategy, they could potentially be saving the lives of hundreds of people less fortunate than those living in the United States with clean drinking water. “It’s people helping people,” said Virtue.
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Service
In Sam’s Name Skate-A-Thon Support the foundation on April 23rd at the RecZone
SARAH COLLINS STAFF WRITER
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Biedermann started playing hockey at a young age. Photos from In Sam’s Name foundation website
n Sam’s Name, a part of the Triangle Community Foundation, is a fund that was created in memory of Sam Biedermann, ‘10, who passed away on February 17, 2011, at the age of nineteen. He was not only involved in the hockey community, but he was a Raven. His family has created a fund to help others who are facing problems in life. With the fund, they intend to help youth in the Triangle area find their talents and pursue their dreams under whatever circumstances they may face. The Biedermann family will donate the proceeds raised by the fund to charities to help achieve this goal. The Biedermann family has scheduled to hold a “Skate-A-Thon” at the RecZone on Saturday, April 23rd. Hockey players, figure skaters, recreational skaters, friends and family are encouraged to attend and share in their love of ice sports. All skill levels are welcome. The skating will begin at 12 pm and run through 2 pm, but arrive early because registration will begin at 11:30 am. Skate rental is free. The event will consist of laps around the rink to try to meet a “lap goal” of thirty-five laps. Donation sheets can be obtained by visiting the RecZone’s website, www.reczone.net, and they should be turned in during registration for the event at 11:30 am on April 23rd. If you would like more information, please contact event coordinator Stephanie Bardykine. There will also be a Peewee (ages 11-12) House All Star Memorial Tournament in late May. All proceeds from this event will go to In Sam’s Name as well.
Ravenscroft students went skating with Key Club for community service during the winter. Photos by Elise Thrash
Presidential Community Service Awards
Bronze 100-174 hours
Garrett Anderson, ‘14 Kyla Babson, ‘13 Lexy Bader, ‘12 Haley Barefoot, ‘11 Angelika Barth, ’12 Mary Grady Bell, ‘14 Chris Brajer, ‘13 Caroline Browning, ‘12 Chris Cornelius, ‘11 Dane Clair, ‘12 Bryant Dowd, ‘13 Alex Finley, ‘12 Cailtin Given, ‘14 Lauren Grady, ‘12 Davis Heric, ‘13 Sarah Heilman, ‘11 Caroline Hirl, ‘12 Charlie, Hirsch, ‘12 Winston Holloway, ‘12 Kyle Kittelberger, ‘12 Spencer Knudsen, ‘13 Emily Martin, ‘11 Corinne May, ‘12
Calley Mangum, ‘13 Allison McAdams, ‘13 Claudia Meyer, ‘13 Rebecca Miller, ‘13 Eryn Murphy, ‘14 Lauren Norris, ‘13 Cathleen Pruden, ‘12 Abby Quirk-Royal, ‘13 Dillon Ragusa, ‘13 Emily Ratliff, ‘14 Michael Rim, ‘12 Thomas Sigmon, ‘13 Caroline Spence, ‘11 Morgan Stafford, ‘12 Lewis Stocks, ‘12 Lindsay Thompson, ‘14 Parker Troutman, ‘12 Colby Virtue, ‘11 Andrew Yochem, ‘13 Connor Whitaker, ‘11 Mariel Ziperski, ‘13
Silver
250 + hours
175-249 hours Will Barefoot, ‘13 Mitchell Cook, ‘12 Mollie Ducoste Cameron Litcher, ‘12 Jordan Jeter, ‘12 Josh Silver, ‘12 Shannon Strong, ‘14 Sean Watson, ‘11 Olivia Wu, ‘11
GOLD Laura Beacham, ‘12 William Carter, ‘12 Virginia Douglas, ‘14 Krissi Fajgenbaum, ‘11 Sara Kasbekar, ‘14 Katie Kumbar, ‘11 Jay Hirl, ‘14 Sarah Pupa, ‘13 Sabrina Ramusevic, ‘14 Elisabeth Schricker, ‘13 Benjamin Suh, ‘12 Andrew Watters, ‘11 Alfre Wimberly, ‘13
President Barack Obama is continuing the volunteer recognition program initiated
in his 2002 during the State of the Union address by President George W. Bush as he challenged all Americans to make time in their lives to assist their neighbors, communities, the nation, and the world through service. As a result of this challenge, The Presidential Volunteer Service Award program was developed to thank and honor citizens who met President Bush’s challenge. The council believes that recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for others and encourages them to answer the President’s call to service.
Lifetime Recognition Baker Mills, Class of 2011 For over 4,000 hours of community service from January to December 2010
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The latest on global political and humanitarian turbulence, and what’s being done about it.
Tunisia
Libya
Rioters in Libya surround cars of government officials to show their anger.
On March 17th, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1973 which gives the “green light to protect civilians and civilian areas that are under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, but excludes the use of a foreign occupation force,” said French President Sarkozy. The purpose of the mission is “to stop the murderous madness of Gaddafi.” Nicknamed “Odyssey Dawn,” this operation is being led by the French, the American and the British, with Spanish naval support and active participation of two Arab countries, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
NATO took control of
operations in Libya for the protection of civilians. 28 members of the alliance closed a deal which handed NATO control. To complete the transition from the coalition led by France, Britain and the United States, NATO changed operation name to Operation Unified Protector
Protesters outside of the government buildings in Tunisia
The latest news is that, on
The Tunisians were the first to success-
April 1st, Gaddafi might have sent an emissary to London to negotiate his departure from the Libyan government. Furthermore, on March 4th, the Libyan government declared that they will be open to elections and to reforming their political system. Only the Libyan people can decide whether Gaddafi will stay or leave, without any interference from other countries.
fully ignite the fuse of their insurrection. They took to the streets to challenge and defeat authoritarian rule, opening the door to a new era. The revolution is being led by Bouazizi Mohammed, a young unemployed 26-year-old who burned himself to demonstrate his lack of opportunities. His gesture made him a Tunisian hero and gave way to a popular revolt that overthrew dictator Ben Ali after 23 years of tyranny.
Syria
Tunisian Islamist leader Rachid Ghanuchi returned to the country after 22 years of exile. The leader was greeted by thousands of people at the airport in the capital. Prime Minister Mohammed Ghanuchi, who took office with the promise of a democratic transition and economic aid for the country did not provide support for this event. On February 28th, the Prime Minister resigned after a weekend of mass raids and violent uprisings. His replacement Caid Beji Essebsi announced that he will be running in elections set for July 24.
Egypt
Egyptians were some of the first people to protest for their rights.
Syria, although not highly publicized, is up in arms as well.
On February 11th, Egyptian President Mubarak resigned. Theologian Yusuf Qaradawi
The Syrians followed the wave of protests that began in Tunisia and Egypt by revolting against their
gave his first sermon after 30 years of exile. Days later, when women called for inclusion in the democratic transition, this manifestation was dispersed by a group of men. On March 19th, Egyptians voted on amendments to the Constitution - over 77% were in favor of constitutional reforms - while Mubarak and his family were under house arrest somewhere in Egypt.
own government leader, Bashar Al Asad. Organizations such as Human Rights Watch have reported that in his 10 years in office, opponents, journalists and human rights defenders have been imprisoned for demanding the end of his imposed state of emergency (in force since 1963) and greater political pluralism. Internet censorship has also been an issue, even though it has become the communication path of anti-government activists.
Understanding the crises: 1. Differences and similarities From the Atlantic to the Persian Gulf, the Arab world is undoubtedly very complex and plural. And yet, these countries have deep common identity roots related to the history, language, culture and religion.
2. Demographic change
3. Humanitarian tragedy
Their populations mainly consist of youth. Children and teenagers make up for one half to two-thirds of their inhabitants. They live in cities, already have some form of education and, most importantly, know what is happening in the world thanks to the media from the television, mobile phones and the Internet. Their desire to have a similar type of lifestyle to their European neighbors across the Mediterranean contrasts with their current lifestyle.
Thousands of people have been displaced from the African coast to the island of Lapedusa in Italy, crossing the 62 miles separating the island from Tunisia. Italy has received a total of 15,000 exiles in a few weeks. The number of exiles spilled over to Italian authorities who plan to give about 1,700 euros (2,400 U.S. dollars) to each exile to return to their countries of origin.
Help from other nations
During the international conference on
March 29th, 40 countries and several international organizations (including United Nations and the Arab League) met and agreed on a common goal: to protect civilians and humanitarian aid.
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Opinion
Could the dollar bill be extinct in ten years? KATE SWEENEY STAFF WRITER
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opefully, the dollar bill will be extinct in ten years. The Government Accountability Office has been debating on whether the dollar bill should be replaced by a dollar coin. This change would be extremely beneficial for the United States because it would save the United States 184 million dollars on average a year. Imagine everything the U.S. could be buying with that money. British dollars are in coin form and the British people hate it Dr. Wehrli displays a five dollar bill, which because it causes their coin purses and pockets to be very heavy, would be the lowest denomination of according to Dr. James Wehrli, Economics Instructor. He believes paper money if the dollar bill is replaced that this change is not going to happen any time soon but is a distinct possibility in the future. Simply gaining a little weight in your purse with a coin. Photo by Kate Sweeney would mean a much better economy for America.
Coins have a much longer life span than dollar bills, so this could benefit the United States financially in the long run. We are already several trillion dollars in debt, and this could help with the financial situation of our country. Another thing that does not make cents is the fact that pennies cost around 1.23 cents to make. The same goes for nickels. They cost just over 5 cents to make, but they are worth less. The United States has talked about possibly using cheaper metals to make coins. Cheaper metals such as copper and zinc should be used. This would be a great alternative because it would save us a lot of money. Another idea is to demolish the use of the penny completely. This would mean a large shift in the United States economy and would cause problems for producers who would have to fix their prices so that pennies will not be needed, and is a terrible idea. This is a very popular dilemma and nothing has been decided yet, but the shift of paper money to coin money in the near future is definitely a possibility and is a great idea for future America.
Living in a technology-obsessed world
Technology and what it has done to us WILL MASSEY STAFF WRITER
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ith great power comes great responsibility. Our generation is blessed to bear witness to the rapid advancement of technology. It is up to us, individually and collectively, to decide whether to use it for good or evil. Sadly, many choose to use it in a negative way that causes serious side effects. People tend to focus on what technology does for them and turn their backs on or not notice, how it hurts them. What many are failing to notice is a lack of face-to-face communication skills, an epidemic of laziness throughout our country, and technology being used as a tool for evil. It is a scene that is way too common today and is even used as a marketing tool in commercials as a
good thing. A family sits at the dinner table. The father is reading emails on his Blackberry, the two children are texting or on Facebook, and the mother is reading a book on her Kindle. Not a word is spoken other than a “hello” or a “goodbye.” No laughter, no love, no feelings at all, just the sound of clicking and ringers. Family time is valuable and should remain a priority in our society. Unfortunately, technology’s addictive traits are taking away from traditional family communications. Technology has become a distraction in human interactions in all aspects of life and is limiting people’s ability to develop strong face-to-face communication skills. It is not just in the home that this lack of face-to-face communication is becoming a problem. Technology has become a distraction from human interactions in all as-
Patrick Bailey, ‘11, surrounded by technology, text messages while also using his laptop. Photo by Will Massey
pects of life and is limiting the ability to learn to communicate face-to-face. New devices help save and improve many lives. The problem that we are facing is the downside of these devices. People tend to focus on what technology does for them rather than what it doesn’t. Television, video games, and computers are keeping people on the couch and not outside being active. Sadly 28% of Upper School faculty members and 36% of students said they would rather sit inside and use the computer, television, etc. than go outside and be active. According to WebMD, 63.1% of adults in the U.S. were either overweight or obese in 2009 and the numbers have continued to rise since then. Before video games were created, most kids, when not at school or helping around their home, were running and playing outside. These days you will find many kids sitting on the couch glued to their video games. It is a very sad picture. In our own Upper School, 41% of the students said they spend on average 1-2 hours a day on Facebook. Technology also makes crime and hateful actions much easier. We are building our lives around technology but not worrying about protecting it. According to the FBI, the total dollar loss from all referred cyber crime cases was $559.7 million. Social networking has also become a playground for stalkers, thieves, and sexual predators. People post information and pictures of themselves, not understanding that anyone can see it and use it to stalk and find them. In schools today, many young people are victims of cyber bullying through technology. It is much easier to say something mean to someone through a text or email than it is to say it to their face. 64% of Upper School students said they have
Julia Heffring, ‘11, and Melina Gozzo, ‘11, relax together on the senior study hall couch, but text message or Facebook different people. Photo by Will Massey
said something to someone through a text or email that they would not have said to their face. Cyber bullying has led to depression and, sadly, the suicides of many young people. Dangers are all around us on the roads now thanks to those who choose to text while driving. According to the US department of transportation, in 2009, 5,474 people were killed on U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving. People who are using handheld devices are four times more likely to be in a fatal crash than those who are not. Using our phones or messing with our iPods and GPS’s while driving is something that most all of us are guilty of. What we don’t think about are the consequences of doing so. Using a cell phone while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent or worse. Luckily, of the Upper School faculty members who filled out the survey, only 14% said they text while driving. A bit worse, of the students that answered, 40% said they text while driving. You don’t think much about it until you are personally affected by an accident caused by distracted driving. Many people have lost loved ones due to texting and driving. Its almost worst for those who have taken other peoples lives while texting and driving because they have to live with their mistake for the rest of their lives.
Now I’m not saying technology is bad, because it’s not all bad. It’s just important for us to look at how we use it and what effects it has on our society. Don’t let it hinder or distract you from experiences that are vital to living a happy, healthy life. On the next beautiful day, put down the phone, TV remote, video game controller, or laptop and go outside and work in the yard, go for a walk, play a pickup basketball game with your friends - enjoy this wonderful place in which we live. Be careful of what information you put on the internet about yourself because you do not want a predator stalking you or not getting a job because the employer finds something about you that you did in your past that they do not like. While driving, try to keep your eyes on the road and when you find yourself distracted by your phone or iPod, remember the many people who have lost their lives and taken others due to doing exactly what you are doing. While eating dinner with your family, make a point of leaving your phone somewhere else in order to spend all of your time talking to them about their day, telling stories of old times, laughing, crying, or whatever. But whatever it is - make sure you are making the best of your time with them. Because at the end of your life, its not about what tweet someone made or the text that your friend sends you about what you want to do that weekend, its the face-to-face experiences that you share with your family and those close to you that really matter.
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Editorial
enemies, and classmates close
Students should take Dr. Newman’s words to heart
Better back then? Dream on! ... r o
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ook to your right, look to your left. I’m sure the people you are sitting beside are your friends. Ask yourself: If you were in a bad situation, would they help? The two boys driving the car left my son in there, alone, took his phone and called for someone to pick them up. They didn’t call 911.” The auditorium was silent as Dr. Rose Newman told the story of her son Sadiki Young’s death. A high student just like the rest of us, Sadiki died when he got in the car with a kid behind the wheel who had been drinking at the party they had attended. Newman’s question of “how well do you really know someone?” is one to ponder and of high importance. Anyone could easily be put in Young’s position, assuming that if they were ever stuck in a bind that the other person would help, or at least call someone else to. But, sadly, as in Young’s case, this isn’t always true. Many students laugh and make fun of the organized grade gettogethers that parents or Student Government Association representatives plan. Some think they’re just too cool to attend a school-sponsored event that isn’t a dance, some don’t want to be forced to hang out with people outside of their friend groups, and others just can’t attend due to prior plans. What students don’t consider is the vital bonding that is necessary between classmates and should be easy to accomplish, especially at small schools like Ravenscroft. Ravenscroft students take for granted the fact that they can walk down the hallway and name every person in their grade. Although some people hate it because “everyone’s in their business,” at least they can know that people care. Those class gatherings can lead to new friendships and new people to lean on in tough times. Everyone is going to, at some point or another, be put in a situation and need help. Maybe their closest friends aren’t at school that day or aren’t at the same party when their boyfriend breaks up with them over a text message or when they’re in need of a ride home after having a little too much fun. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that someone is there to look out for you? Class parties allow for the walls of cliques to be broken down. Labels shouldn’t come in to effect during a life or death situation but who knows what could be running through a person’s head. The class of 2011 has had one very successful seniors-only dance, but when the second one was canceled, we needed to still have a class event, maybe to cheer on the girls’ lacrosse team. Students in other grades should also embrace the opportunity to spend time with classmates, too. Always be open to chances to make new friends, and strengthen weaker friendships. Your life might just depend on it.
Sadiki Young would have graduated with the Wakefield Class of 2007. Photo from the Just Think First website
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Wire Service
The Nevarmore subscribes to MCT Campus, which provides photographs, national news & entertainment services to high school newspapers.
Faculty Advisor: Helen Velk
lit
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Letter to Editor
Reality of Ravenscroft School in the 70’s uncovered
Dear Peyton,
I have truly enjoyed reconnecting with my high school newspaper, The Nevarmore, now that it is available online. You & your staff do an incredible job! I am truly amazed at the quality product Ravenscroft Upper Schoolers are putting out. With reference to Will Massey’s wonderfully crafted spread on the 1970’s at Ravenscroft, the professionalization & visual transformation of The Nevarmore is one of the most noticeable changes. However, in all good fun, I must take issue and rebut two comments made in Will’s article:
evarmore This paper serves as a communication link within Ravenscroft School and between the school and the local community. The Nevarmore staff strives to produce a professional-quality publication that follows the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists. Our overall objective is to print the news for and about our students and other members of our school and community in a fair and objective way with the utmost regard for integrity.
ea
Cartoon by Zawadi Mutisya
• “[Butler Building] lunches were homemade and students and faculty alike ate there and loved it”. My only explanation is that Will received this information from Coach Cox-yes, we thought teachers back then had distorted views of reality. I do
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not know a single Ravenscroft Upper School student from the 1970’s who thought the food in the cafeteria tasted good. The only time I remember liking their food was when I was working Coach Cox’s Summer Day Camp in 1976. He brought in food from McDonalds for all the campers that summer. The Book Store within the Butler Building did have a couple of vending machines. I remember buying Krispie Kreme doughnuts out of the vending machine at morning break on a regular basis. So while we were fortunate to get off-campus lunch privileges earlier than students do today, we didn’t have Miss Rhonda’s. So most of the under-classmen brought the proverbial PB&J, Fritos, & Oreos from home.
up against the toughest math class in Upper School today. All I can say is that his class was tougher than any math or science class I had in college. And while we did have “crip” elective options such as Typing and Modern Living, my senior year course load of Physics, Honors English II, Calculus, Economics, & French IV was more difficult than my son’s senior load. The academic competitive environment within our Ravenscroft peer group was very much on everyone’s mind. However, what we did not face was the incredible pressure cooker of the college search process...& our parent’s involvement in it. That, unfortunately for you and your classmates, is something we blissfully did not have • “Classes were much easier to face. and the academically competitive environment that exists today was not Sincerely, something that students faced.” I have to respectfully object. I would put Mr. Tal Hinnant Mangum, ‘77 Reynolds’ Pre-Calculus class in 1976 Mom to Walker, ‘08 and Calley, ‘13
International Reporter
Esther Urios
Editor-in-Chief Peyton Burgess Associate Editors Katie Kumbar & Madeline Louden
The unsigned editorials in this issue are a reflection of the combined opinions of the editorial team. Responses in the form of a letter are welcomed and will be considered for publication.
Editorial Content:
1) The students on The Nevarmore staff will print articles which have been researched to the best of their ability to obtain the most complete information. 2) The information will be presented in an objective, truthful and fair manner. 3) When personal commentary is given it will be in good taste on issues that have been researched, analyzed and where expert opinion has been sought, and then presented to the best ability of the writer. 4) No material which is obscene, libel or anything that will cause a “material and substantial disruption” of the school day, according to accepted legal definitions, will be printed.
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Good southern cookin’? KATIE KUMBAR
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Face-Off
EDITOR
hen it comes to good cuisine, you’d be hard pressed to find food better than Southern style home cooking. Fluffy biscuits, crispy fried chicken, warm hushpuppies, and ice-cold sweet tea make the mouth water and the senses sing. The strong family culture surrounding traditional Southern cooking only enhances its comfort… but anyone looking for that warm-fuzzy feeling when they eat food from Bojangles’ will be sorely disappointed. For a restaurant boasting a Southern menu of fried chicken and biscuits, Bojangles’ quality is a far cry from its culinary roots. At first, obviously, fast food will never be as good as its home-cooked counterpart. In the name of speed, convenience, and a low price, people accept lower quality meals. The problem with Bojangles’ is its choice to emulate a Southern menu. Burgers and fries can translate to a fast-food setting with drive-thru windows and cardboard containers, but the essence of Southern culture is mutilated beyond recognition by forcing that slow-cooked attention into an on-the-go paper bag. The fast food industry already recognizes that some cooking styles cannot be served in ninety seconds or less. Mexican-style food and “American” burgers can be prepared much more rapidly, stored longer, and if need be, eaten right out of the wrapper. On the other hand, Asian take-out, such as Chinese food, can be cooked and served quickly, but its speed cannot rival the burger and taco restaurants. Southern cooking falls into the same category as Asian take-out. The quality lost by cooking fried chicken and a biscuit too fast is immeasurable. This would not bother me as much as if Bojangles’ did not try to be representative of Southern culture. It sells itself on the image of a warm family dinner, or the party food at classic tailgates, and the mess that Bojangles’ prepares is not worthy for either of those situations. Similar fast food restaurants do not try to sell that image, such as KFC. Though the chicken is supposedly fried in a Kentucky style, KFC sells worldwide, and uses the Fried Chicken part of its name more than the Kentucky. Since Bojangles’ ties itself so closely to the South and Southern hospitality, it tricks people into thinking that it’s four-piece chicken supreme is classic Southern culture, and it’s an insult for the long, rich history of the South be associated with such emotionless fast food. For the arguments that the bonds of family are forged over Bojangles’, family memories can be formed anywhere, around any object that holds significance to the kin assembled. People can bring fondness and happiness to the meal, but underpaid cooks prepare the food way too fast. Bojangles’ holds no meaning in itself, and could easily be replaced with Burger King, Taco Bell, Grand Asia Buffet, or Wishbone dog treats. My own memories of Bojangles’ are a huge let-down. I’ve encountered their “Southern” cooking twice during Ravenscroft Middle School community service days. The first time was with Mr. Yohman’s advisory, and I ordered a sausage biscuit and sat on the bus, chewing rubbery meat and a dry, taste-sapping biscuit. The second time was with Mrs-Dr. Valerio’s advisory, and I picked at a friend’s seasoned fries, and felt sick to my stomach the rest of the day. Since that fateful day, I avoided Bojangles’ like a deadly disease, until deciding to write this article. I knew my opinion would need a recent sample, a taste-test of a Cajun fillet chicken biscuit and a legendary sweet tea, a meal confirmed by my face-off partner, Meka Vallier-Timilic, as a true Bojangles’ experience… When I received my eat-in order, the seasoned fries were strewn all about my tray. I nibbled on some of them first, finding that some loaded with spice and seasoning with other coated in nothing more but a thin dusting of salt. Already disheartened, I moved onto the chicken biscuit. First off, the entire biscuit looked flat, compressed by the wrapping paper, but further investigation revealed the chicken to be thin, anyway. The first bite, I did not even taste that flat chicken breast. The biscuit and breading overpowered the meat’s flavor, and not in a good way. I chewed over the crust and crumbling biscuit, already beginning to feel sick. So, I paused and sampled the individual elements of the biscuit. The lukewarm and quickly cooling biscuit that Bojangles saw fit to put chicken on had a sour taste, like limp sourdough bread. “Buttermilk” biscuits, as in made with butter and milk, are meant to be sweet and warm. It had already soaked up what little moisture the chicken had, but not even that could alleviate the biscuit’s awful texture, like an old, matted cotton ball that’s been passed around an elementary classroom for too many years. The breading itself resembled snake-like scales rather than a breaded skin, and beneath it, the chicken had been baked in a terrifying red I-don’t-evenknow-what, but whatever they had done to the poor bird, it left long red streaks, like blood, along the surface of the meat. Even with a terrible image of tortured poultry in my head, I finish the biscuit, for the sake of good journalism. After the biscuit is gone, I have some of the “seasoned fries” left. At the bottom of the little paper pocket, the fries are obviously overseasoned, coated in red and black granules. I feel like the fries were salted from the bottom up: Bojangles fills a paper-pocket with seasoning, puts the fries in on top, and then in the act of tossing my fries across my tray, hopes that the seasoning distributes equally. It didn’t work like that, and the over-seasoned fries burned my mouth and throat on the way down. Finally, on to the sweet tea. Hoping the cool beverage will calm the fire, I take a few sips. The first few are sweet, sweet, sweet… but there’s no tea. They might as well have given me a glass of sugar with some water in it. Sweet tea in the South is the sweetest in the world, but it’s still sweet TEA, and after such a spicy-sour meal, the saccharine ending to my lunch period drove a final nail in the coffin, and for the third time, Bojangles’ gave me a stomachache. Even if fast food is above—or rather, below—critiques of quality, Bojangles’ failed to make me feel part of a warm, loving family. The whole experience boiled down to a lack of regard for whether or not I enjoyed my meal. A single “dollop of Southern hospitality” would have addressed a thousand complaints about my meal, but no hospitality was to be found. My food, shoved haphazardly onto a tray, did not remind me of home, or friends, or good times. That treatment is acceptable from burger and taco joints because they don’t pretend to care. Selling on the image of unity and family insults the rich Southern tradition. God, I wanna-needta-geta-rida Bojangles.
F A C E O F F
MEKA VALLIER-TIMILIC U
STAFF WRITER
hh Katie, let me just start out by giving you a little background. Bojangles’ is a SOUTHern based franchise, located almost exclusively in the SOUTHeast. “Bojangles’ biscuits are better than mine,” exclaimed my astonished Granny last year when she bit into a warm, buttery Bojangles’ biscuit for the first time. Just so you understand the significance of this statement, my Granny was born, raised and still lives in Opelousas, Louisiana, and cooks three full meals a day, every day,and does not believe in left-overs. I pity the fool who has the nerve to criticize her home cookin’. Well, if Granny herself proclaimed that the biscuits at Bojangles’ are better than hers, that really sums it up. I took her to Bojangles’ so she could get a taste of what we eat down here when we miss her home cooking. So Katie, bless your heart, Bojangles’ is undeniably great southern food. Even though Granny normally cooks soul food, it is still very similar to southern food...minus some specialties. I can get Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, collard greens, pinto beans, mac ‘n cheese, cabbage, corn bread, pork chops, peach cobbler, and pecan pie at Bojangles’. In fact, almost every southern dish I like that my Mom or Granny would cook for dinner is available there. There are, of course, several specialties that only they can make. Bojangles’ for North Carolina is like a Popeye’s for Louisiana: known for their traditions of having the most southern food. The phrase “Its Bo time” to me emphasizes the customer’s cravings for the food; not just any food, but some southern food. “We specialize in a variety of chicken, fixin’s, sandwiches, biscuit sandwiches and snacks. And we serve them up hot and fresh with a healthy dollop of Southern hospitality,” proclaims Bojangles’ on their website. So, in other words Bojangles’ is trying to say that they are not just trying to increase sales by super-sizing or offering a value menu. They are answering a niche craving of their customers who are obviously from the South with a feel of southern values on the side at no extra charge. Since Bojangles’ isn’t found everywhere that just makes it all the more special. It is only franchised in the South for a reason - to offer southern people the option of what the kind of quality, feel-good meals they normally eat at home when they don’t have time to prepare it themselves. You can have a cheeseburger, or turkey sandwich, or even regular order french fries anywhere but how many places can you name that have fried chicken and biscuits on their menu? The correct answer is barely anywhere outside the borders of what can be considered the South. Soo I can’t think of any other reasons why Bojangles’ would EVER not be considered as qualifying as good southern food….to be honest its kinda great! Its always “Bo time” at my house. You should try it sometime, Katie!
Bojangles menu is comprised of a plethora of ALL SOUTHERN food options: BEST Buttermilk Sweet Tea Biscuits EVER!! Cole Slaw Mac & cheese Corn on Mashed the cob potatoes Famous fried chicken
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Don’t mess with Diane
PATRICK BAILEY
Your 2011-2012 Executive Council
STAFF WRITER
C
ommanding control of the classroom requires familiarity with the teacher and a general understanding of the classroom expectations. However, when there is a substitute teacher the guidelines for the students change: get away with as much as you can. This is not necessarily a bad thing, the classroom ambiance becomes lightened in most cases. Take Nick Antonello, ’10, for example. Antonello convinced a substitute that our Macroeconomics class had a fund raiser in which we dropped watermelons from the second level of Murphy Hall into a giant blow up pool. Upon the watermelon’s splattering into the pool, we took Dixie cups and scooped up watermelon juice and then sold it in Rhonda’s Café. There Diane Simmonds enjoying are some subs who would buy this story (and a night in Mexico maybe even buy watermelon juice from RhonPhoto by Diane Simmonds da’s) and then there is Diane Simmonds. Simmonds, born and raised in Michigan, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, her Masters from the University of Michigan, and her Bachelor of Sciences from Meredith College. Having been both a creative writing and an English teacher in Michigan, Simmonds is extremely qualified to give some tough love to whichever students she is assigned to on any given day. However, her experience is not just limited to teaching English. Simmonds used to race and deliver sailboats up and down the east coast, including Florida, the Bahamas, and Nova Scotia. She has worked for, and edited, magazines, and even written for our very own News & Observer. Experience and qualifications are not a worry for Mrs. Simmonds. Simmonds moved here in 1982 upon her husband’s job being transferred from New York City. Being born and raised in Michigan, and living in New York, Raleigh was definitely a different feel for Simmonds. “We lived in NYC, so moving here, especially in the early ‘80s, was quite a big change! Falls of the Neuse was a two lane road and unpaved north of Strick“She’s definitely not land,” reminisces Simmonds. While sending her daughter, Alena afraid to tell you what Simmonds ,‘01, through all twelve years she thinks…but that’s of Ravenscroft, Simmonds became very why we love her.” involved as a parent. Through substitute teaching, driving the school bus for field trips, and joining the Parents’ Association, -Temple Sloan, ’11 Simmonds learned the ins and outs of Ravenscroft. But what separates Mrs. Simmonds from the other substitute teachers we have at Ravenscroft? “She’s definitely not afraid to tell you what she thinks…but that’s why we love her,” says Temple Sloan, ’11. Sloan’s statement is the general consensus on Simmonds, it is just tough love, and she truly wants to see the kids succeed in whatever class she is proctoring that day. This respect and admiration for Simmonds is not unrequited, fortunately. “The kids are great; I really do enjoy being around them as they are friendly, fun and focused… most of the time,” jokes Simmonds, “It’s nice to feel that I help keep students up to speed when their ‘real’ teachers are away”. Substitutes run the gamut from lackadaisical to like Simmonds, it is nice to know that we have the latter.
Diane Simmonds with her husband, her daughter, Alena,’01, and her son-in-law Photo by Diane Simmonds
President:
Josh Silver, ‘12 Vice President:
Allison McAdams ‘13 Treasurer:
Parker Troutman ‘12 Secretary:
Laura Beacham ‘12 Photos from respective SGA Officers
Where we stand: earthquake, ts
Approximately 1,000 earthquake/tsunami victims are staying at Watanoha Elementary School in Ishinomaki, Japan, after losing their homes to the disaster. They line up to receive food on a very cold Wednesday, March 23, 2011. Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/MCT, All other photos of Japan from MCT Campus
The situation in Japan... AUSTIN HILL O
STAFF WRITER
n Friday, March 11, 2011 one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history occurred in Northern Japan. The largest quake to hit the 1,000 mile archipelago in 140 years measured 8.9 on the Richter scale and triggered a 10 meter tsunami that traveled as much as 4 miles inland, depending on the topography of where the wave hit. As of Tuesday, March 21st, the death toll is at around 8600 with still about 13,200 missing and/or presumed dead. However, that is only from the tsunami. In the aftermath of the quake and subsequent tsunami, power went out across Northern Japan including the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, shutting down reactor cooling systems. Now, Japan faces a toxic radiation disaster fueled by the six individual reactors at the Daiichi Plant. Since the reactors went critical, helicopters have flown over head dumping water to cool the concrete housing boric acid to absorb neutrons thereby slowing the nuclear reaction. That all changed after the third explosion (not nuclear) at the plant due to the immense heat expanding the housing, gases, and nuclear fuel within. This third explosion blew a hole in the roof of reactor 3, so dumping water from a helicopter became especially dangerous due to the risk of irradiated steam. For a while, officials considered burying the entire nuclear complex in gravel, concrete, and sand before a catastrophic leak occurred like the Russian Chernobyl plant back in 1986. However, power was restored to the plant on Tuesday March 22nd, allowing water to be
pumped into the reactors to cool them. Sadly, radioactive Iodine has been detected around the plan. One town, 19 miles Northwest of the plant, has iodine contaminated water that is the equivalent of 1/26th of the radiation in a chest X-ray per liter of water. On an international scale of nuclear disasters (7 being the worst – Chernobyl) the Daiichi Plant disaster has been re-rated as a 5. This puts it on par with the United States’ Three Mile Island. Despite this comparison, the iodine radiation levels recorded at the plant on March 18th as 500 microsieverts (10^-6 Sieverts of radiation). This is comparable to the exposure in a dental x-ray. And Thanks to the concrete casing around the reactor and the core casing, no catastrophic release occurred resulting in no direct loss of life and only one illness from radiation exposure. The person suffering from the exposure to iodine, which will break down, should make a full recovery. On March 21st, the 1,000 residents closest to the plant were moved to a shelter to be kept away from the radiation. After weeks of work, the plant is closer to stabilizing. But on March 28th, it was found that radiation had contaminated some of the sea water surrounding the plant as far as 1 mile north. Fortunately, it is composed of radioactive iodine which will break down in a matter of days. Because the source of the leak could not be detected, it was decided to scrap the plant by removing what nuclear material could be taken out and covering the rest of the plant with a mound of concrete and gravel. However, those unaffected by the radiation still face the grim process of finding the dead and rebuilding the $235 billion in damaged structures and property.
What Rave
Sound Waves organizer, Spencer Cates, ‘11, opens the performance with a heartfelt intro about the fund raising effort and a prayer. All Sound Waves photos by Sharon Bieneke
“Where do we go now?” belts out senior Rhett Johnson accompanied by junior Matt Richards on guitar to the tune, “Sweet Child ‘O Mine,” by Guns & Roses.
The memorial mu Instructor Joyce Fillip’s the lobby of the Fine Arts to write a thought or pray and attac
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AUSTIN H T
he Sunday followin Head of School, emailed the relief effort within the schoo American Red Cross donatio Saturday March 19th Ravens donation of $400. Elise Th stated that the collection at Finley Center on March 26th re Art Instructor, Joyce P work on March 18th on their 2 is now on display in the front Zawadi Mutisya, ‘12, one of a days of work, the class had ta into an entire wave with image But that’s not all. On th of the Ravenscroft community hope, folded into origami onto The Music Performanc Friday, April 8th during morn opening prayer and then play event, dubbed Sound Waves f T-shirt sales and donations. American Red Cross earmarke
Sophomore Mollie Ducoste dazzles the audience with her vio Connor Tung, ‘12, drummer Avi Mundra, ‘12, guitarist Spence
sunami, and meltdown in Japan
ens are doing.... But, are our reactors safe? AUSTIN HILL
A
ural above, created by Art class, is currently displayed in s Center. All Ravens are invited yer on a colorful piece of paper ch it to the mural.
o by Austin Hill
HILL
STAFF WRITER
ng the disaster in Japan, Doreen Kelly, faculty and students about planning a ol. Key Club launched an impromptu on collection for relief in Japan at the Track Invitational which generated a hrash, Key Club Faculty Advisor, also the Caroline Basketball Event in the esulted in a subsequent $200 donation. Phillip’s Art Foundations Class began 2011 Tsunami Memorial Mural, which t of the Fine Arts building according to artist behind the project. After only four aken a blank 8’ x 8’ sheet and turned it es of Japanese culture built into it. he outer edges of the mural, members y are invited to attach small red notes of o the image of the wave. ce Club is planning a memorial concert ning meeting. They will begin with an y four popular classic rock tracks. The for Wave Relief, will promote the $15 All of the proceeds will go to The ed to aid the people of Japan.
English Instructor Kevin Flinn joins the musical effort. Senior Melina Gozzo and freshman English Bernhardt share the spotlight.
olin feature as she joins guitarists Colson Dorfashar, ‘14, er Cates, ‘11, and guitarist/lead singer Matt Richards, ‘12.
STAFF WRITER
s far as the nuclear disaster in Japan and what it means for the rest of the world’s reactors, we’re safe according to Mimi Lieberman, AP Environmental Science Instructor, who says that the treat of future disasters is low. Lieberman shared an article about the risks of nuclear power by William Saletan from Slate Magazine in which he says that comparatively, nuclear power is safer than oil. Accidents in production and consumption of oil killed more than 20,000 people in the past 40 years. Oil is closely followed by coal production which resulted in the deaths of roughly 15,000 people in the same time frame. Meanwhile, nuclear power resulted in 31 direct deaths and around 9,000 indirect deaths from the Chernobyl disaster. Other than Chenobyl, there have been no fatalities due to nuclear power usage. Another interesting fact is that modern reactors have a thick steel or concrete outer casing to prevent massive radiation leaks which the Chernobyl reactor lacked. Along with modern outer casings, sensors covering the entire reactor, and strict regulations, the United States and most modern plants worldwide are at a low risk for a catastrophic meltdown. There is a fear of a repeat of the American Three-Mile Island Disaster. However, Three Mile Island was an accident due to human error, not nature as in Japan. Additionally, the Three Mile Island, like modern reactors, had a reactor building and core housing to lower the risk of a catastrophic release of radiation. Three Mile Island resulted in no loss of life, no sickness, and the material released was largely Iodine-131 which breaks down in a matter of days. Lieberman explained that as a nation, we have learned from our mistakes at Three Mile Island and are better prepared to avert such an accident. As far as nature goes, Japan has taught us that we simply will have to make our reactors a bit tougher.
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Eels,
ice cream & Hogwarts....
gis?
Oh my!
“Is that like Hogwarts? Oh...is it humus?” - Egan Hart, ‘11 “Haggis is a Scottish dish made from sheep guts, and isn’t allowed in America” - Carson Smith, ‘11
The Scottish legend of the Haggis animal
We tell tourists haggis is now endangered, due
to excessive haggis hunting! Haggis is, in fact, made from sheep’s ‘pluck’ (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally simmered in the animal’s stomach. It’s a national favorite, it even has a poem dedicated to it.
ODE TO A HAGGIS - Robert Burns
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face, Great Chieftan o’ the Puddin-race! Aboon them a’ ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy of a grace As lang’s my arm
“H
STAFF WRITER
aggis: a small, mole-like creature from the Scottish hills, which has 3 legs and is ridiculously hideous… It will attack.” Torin Saccoccio ‘12 This is just one of the answers I received when asking Ravenscroft students questions such as “Do you know what haggis is?” and “Have you ever heard of jellied eels?” Unfortunately, Harry Potter doesn’t have any references to the strange foods you can find in the British Isles and therefore they are virtually unheard of in the rest of the world. Although some of our British cuisine could perhaps be described as unusual, all the foods we have are well loved and kept alive in our culture. We even write poems for some! Here are some of the conversations that went on whilst I researched what is known about our favorite delicacies…
Neeps ‘n’ tatties... “Fish ‘n’ chips, definitely fish ‘n’ chips.”
Ye pow’rs wha mak mankind your care, An’ dish them out their bill o’fare, Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware That jaups in luggies; But, if ye wish her gratefu’ pray’r, Gie her a Haggis!
“I don’t know what it is, but is one vanilla and one chocolate?” - Jordan Bednar, ’13 “It’s a blood based breakfast food.” - Carson Smith, ‘11
The truth behind Black and White Pudding
B
lack pudding is a type of sausage made by cooking blood or dried blood with a filler until it is thick enough to congeal when cooled. The difference between the two puddings is the presence or lack of blood. White pudding is the same, but instead of blood there is pork and fat in it. Both are eaten in a full English breakfast and is a main part of a real British breakfast.
Cock o' leeky soup
- Joell Hopkins, ’11
D
“It’s chicken and leek soup” - Torin Saccoccio, ’12
Not really fish ‘n’ chips...
ue to the strong Scottish accent the word “turnip” was pronounced “turneep,” then eventually just shortened to “neep.” Tatties is just a Scottish word for potatoes, similar to the American word “tater“. It’s normally served as a side dish or appetizer, with a main meal such as haggis or beef and is found in most Scottish pubs and restaurants. Although not an unusual dish, the accent has turned it into an unusual name.
Jellied Eels
Poor devil! see him owre his trash, As feckless as a wither’d rash His spindle-shank a guid whip-lash, His nieve a nit; Thro’ bluidy flood or field to dash, O how unfit! But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed, The trembling earth resounds his tread, Clap in his walie nieve a blade, He’ll mak it whissle; An’ legs, an’ arms an’ heads will sned, Like taps o’ thrissle
“Sounds like ice-cream to me!” - Meka Vallier, ’11
ABI FIELD
His knife see Rustic-labour dight, An’ cut you up wi’ ready slight, Trenching your gushing entrails bright Like onie ditch; And then, O what a glorious sight, Warm-reeking, rich!
Is there that owre his French ragout, Or olio that wad staw a sow, Or fricassee wad mak her spew Wi’ perfect sconner, Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ view On sic a dinner?
Black and White Pudding
Egan photo-bombing his version of Haggis...
The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, You pin wad help to mend a mill In time o’need While thro’ your pores the dews distil Like amber bead
Then, horn for horn they stretch an’ strive, Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive, Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve Are bent like drums; Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive Bethankit hums
Features
“Is it jelly beans?” - Charlie Hirsch, ‘12 “I
hope it isn’t what it sounds like!” Joell Hopkins, ’11
Unfortunately Joel, it’s exactly as it sounds:
I
n London’s East End it is delicacies to chop and boil eels in a spiced stock, then allow them to cool and form a jelly. It’s eaten both hot and cold and almost always with pie. If you’re ever in London, the local “Eel and Pie House” is the place to go!
“I’m going to be counter-intuitive and say it’s not soup” - Alex Kumbar, 12
Chicken and leek soup is exactly right!
A
lthough it’s quite an obvious name for those who are NOT trying to be too smart. cock o’ leeky soup, or chicken soup, is a well loved classic in Scotland, made with thick Scottish stock and Winter vegetables such as leek, carrots and potatoes.
But Britain isn’t completely different...
O
f course not all British food is this unusual – fish ‘n’ chips is common all over the world now, English breakfast muffins are part of the traditional continental breakfast and, even though it’s been sweetened beyond recognition, tea’s an everyday drink even here! And if you thought American food was stereotypically unhealthy, try the Scottish deep-fried Mars Bars….
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Features
Frozen yogurt: The coolest new fad GRAYSON MILLER & SAVANNAH STORY
STAFF WRITERS
T
he new fad of frozen yogurt has quickly taken over Raleigh. The days of “going out for ice cream” are long gone, and have been replaced by the rising social trend of “going out for frozen yogurt”. Not only is frozen yogurt delicious, it is a much healthier alternative to calorie filled ice cream. Though frozen yogurt lacks some of proteins and enzymes that are in ice cream, it generally has less fat and calories. The sugar content is still usually the same between frozen yogurt and ice cream.
Presidents enjoy Yogen Fruz! Photo edited by Grayson Miller, ‘11 & Savannah Story, ‘13
Yogurt Mountain P O O C S A
n advantage of Skinny Dip is that it is slightly cheaper than FreshBerry and Local Yogurt at a cost of 39 cents an ounce. Skinny Dip can get you skinny but keep your wallet nice and fat.
IP” D G I “B
A
nother popular self-serve frozen yogurt bar on Falls of the Neuse Road beside Millbrook Road has two toppings bars. The one on the wall has granola, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, candy, and cereal and the topping bar in the middle has chopped fruit, pound cake pieces, crushed candy bars, and syrups.
PFreshBerry O H” O $ E C S R F “ I
f you want to be “fresh” and cool, make sure to hit up FreshBerry at one of two locations, on Six Forks Road or Hillsborough Street, which makes it convenient for both “ITB-” and “OTB-”goers.
A
visit to FreshBerry always comes with a pleasant surprise because they add a tangy new fruit flavor every week in addition to their traditional Vanilla, Chocolate, Berry, and FreshBerry Tart.
P Local Yogurt O O C ” S O Y O “L O N ot only does Local Yogurt have mouth watering taste, but it has the coolest nickname “LOYO”. Think about it, would you rather go to a place called Baskin Robbins or LOYO? Let’s be real.
n Falls of the Neuse Road in North Raleigh, their yogurts do not contain artificial colors, flavors, or any other preservatives.
P O O SC
” O M “YO
Located on Creedmoor Road in North Raleigh, Yogurt Mountain has the largest selection of toppings out of all most popular yogurt places. Just like FreshBerry and Skinny Dip, the frozen yogurt is sold by the ounce.
I
Yogurt Mountain is great for control freaks like Kevin Billerman.
f you are a control freak, consider climbing Yogurt Mountain to satisfy your sweet tooth. Unlike most yogurt spots, they offer a self-serve bar so you can decide the amount of yogurt as well as the toppings that adorn the peak of your yogurt hill or mountain – it’s up to you.
Photos by Savannah Story
Yogen Fruz
P ” O O O R SC I “YOF Mixing fruit into the base frozen yogurt, Yogen Fruz is conveniently located in North Hills. Its location allows for easy get togethers at the ever-popular North Hills.
Students get excited about their next frozen yogurt get together.
f you like to mix it up, you can cruise over to Yogen Fruz. Unlike the other yogurt places, Yogen Fruz mixes fruit into the base frozen yogurt much like concretes at Goodberry’s. Some of their signature “Mix it” flavors include Key Lime Pie, Piña Colada, and Mint ChocoSeniors Trent West, Charlie Killian and late Chip.
Baker Mills are all fans of YoFro!
What is your favorite place? Nevarmore survey results below:
60
40
20
0 Freshberry
Skinny Dip
Yogen Fruz
Local Yogurt
Yogurt Mountain
Don’t like frozen yogurt
All photos from respective website
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Features
Juniors: Just a little advice EGAN HART
STAFF WRITER
“Stress a lot over grades. Colleges are getting extremely hard to get accepted into.”
H
“Don’t stress out about school it’s not worth it and it’s not healthy. Try your best and work hard, but don’t make school your entire life. There’s so much more to enjoy than good grades. You have to make yourself happy.” -Catherine Colonna, ‘11
igh school is full of pressure. Each year builds on the previous one and leads to the critical junior year – the peak of the stress. But then, there is senior year. Everyone is waiting to be a senior; the coolest and oldest in the Upper School. Most juniors think that senior year will be nothing but fun. The Nevarmore conducted a survey of the members of the Class of 2011 to see if their senior year has met their expectations so far as well as to give them the opportunity to offer advice to the underclassmen. Majority of the members of the Class of 2011, thought senior year was going to a breeze with less work required as 66% of our survey respondents indicated. They mistakenly believed it would be fun and easy. Only 29% stated that senior year has been “fun” and 34% answered that it is “full of busywork.” As for advice to underclassmen, a majority of the seniors recommended that students should chill and relax more during their last year of high school. Most seniors also agreed that their teachers seem to be understanding and try to work with seniors even when they appear to slack more and care less about their school work.
“Learn HOW to study. Don’t worry as much about exactly what grades you get, but learn if you like quiet, music, flashcards, highlighting, whatever. And talk with your teachers! Make friends with them. Soon, you’re going to be an adult, just like them.” -Katie Kumbar, ‘11
“Don’t worry about it -- you win some, you lose some -Patrick Bailey, ’11
“Don’t slack off freshman through first semester of senior year. As a second semester senior, you can.” -Peyton Burgess, ‘11
- Shannon McDonnell, ‘11
“It’s not over. While workload does decrease after the application process, passing you classes is still importantand a lot harder then it sounds.” -Rhett Johnson, ‘11
A novel with a novel purpose: supporting our troops
Student-written novel “Fire At Will” on sale to benefit the Wounded Warriors Project KATIE KUMBAR EDITOR
If you’re looking for an excellent read that benefits a good cause, order a
image from lulu.com
copy (or ten) of the new political thriller by Michael Santos, ’11, “Fire At Will.” The book is available online at Lulu.com, or from a link sent to the entire Upper School on Ravenmail. For the first week, all proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warriors Project, a foundation to help injured veterans and their families. The Wounded Warriors Project is dedicated to working with the federal government and the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop comprehensive and effective government programs to provide for veterans’ medical needs, improve their quality of life after returning from war, and support their families. The WWP has worked closely with veterans, their caregivers, and their families since 2002 to bridge gaps in demands and services provided to wounded soldiers. “Fire At Will” is a novel about lingering tension between the United States and Russia breaking forth, while borrowing heavily from the Ravenscroft community. Protagonists James Sharp and Michelle Moore bear a striking resemblance to The Wounded Warrior Jason Sharp of the Fine Arts department and Nicole Moore, English instructor. Project’s mascot, FILIS, If the exciting plot and charity benefits aren’t reasons enough to buy it, students stands for the WWP’s core values of Fun, Integrity, would love reading for references to Ravenscroft School. Loyalty, Innovation, and In convenient pocket paperback, and with a reduced price, there’s never been Service. Photo from a better time to read for fun, for your country, and for charity. woundedwarriorproject.org
“Several members of Congress are murdered in various locations across the mainland United States. FBI Agents James Sharp and Michelle Moore are charged with the behemoth task of finding the fiendish attackers behind the deaths of these targeted officials. However, there is an insidious scheme hidden beneath the surface of the assassinations, as a ruthless ex-KGB agent plans the destruction of America. Sharp and Moore must find the murderers behind the attacks on the Congressmen and put an end to a lasting Cold War hatred.” Synopsis from lulu.com
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Features
Prama: Some things never change... SARAH STUMPO
Every guy knows that half of the battle of getting a prom date is how you ask the girl. A girl wants to be romanced, surprised, swept off her feet, pampered, hey, maybe even given some goodies. Here are the top best and worst invites to prom.
STAFF WRITER
The Best
The Worst
1. Go all out. Take your girl and your friends to Seattle and take her to the top 1. The Text. “Yo, Prom?” of the Space Needle. While you’re at the top with your tight squeeze, have your friends lie down on the lawn below spelling out “Prom?” 2. The Facebook Chat. “So you are going to Prom?” - “Yep” - “Do you have a date?” - “No, not yet hopefully soon.” - “Soo would you 2. Have a jet plane spell out “Prom?” above her house. go with me?” ...Awkward. 3. Put a stick of butter in her 3. Slip the date information into a fortune cookie. Write in a fortune cookie
locker with a sign that says, “Now that I have buttered you up...” Then place bags of popped popcorn in her car along with a sign that says, “Before I pop the question...” Then the grand finale, on her pillow put a stuffed sheep and another sign that says, “Sleep on it, will you go to prom with me?”
message “You will have fun time in near future,” on one side and “Will you go to the prom with me?” on the other. Just get a small takeout box from a nearby Chinese restaurant and deliver it. You could also take your date out to Chinese food and work it out with the restaurant ahead of time to give your date the “prepared” fortune cookie.
4.
In a fence or bridge, put cups into the holes and spell out “Prom?” and drive Will Massey, ‘11, and Sarah Stumpo, ‘11, pose for pictures before prom. your date under the bridge like Riley Ray, ’10, did for Allie Withers, ’11, last year on the overpass chain link fence on I-540.
Photo by Peyton Burgess
5.
Deliver a Chicken Nugget Tray or a Chicken Fried Rice takeout box to her house with “Prom?” spelled out with the chicken. What girl wouldn’t want to be asked with food? Another option would be to steal The Princess Diaries’ idea of having a pizza delivered with “Prom?” spelled out with Skittles.
6. The traditional invite - sweet, thoughtful and surprises your date! Invite her with her favorite flowers or roses with a note that
asks her to prom. There have been many instances where boys do this. And Egan Hart, ‘11, and Rhett Johnson, ‘11, asked their dates Melina Gozzo, ‘11, and Tammy Dragich, ‘11, by leaving flowers accompanied with a note in their lockers at school. Every variation of the flower surprise is a classic and really make your date smile when she can tell her girlfriends it was all a surprise.
7.
4.
Leave several goldfish in a small aquarium with a note that says “Of all the fish in the sea, will you go to prom with me?” First, she’s left with pets she probably didn’t want if she didn’t buy them in the first place. Second, she has to pay to keep them alive. Third, once they die, that’s just depressing.
5. Go to your local Kroger and buy a container of Kerosene. Then
pour the kerosene on your dates lawn spelling “Don’t let our love burn out…go to prom with me” and then light it on fire. What is more romantic than your date’s dad beating you up in front of your date for destroying his lawn and searing his house?
6.
Deliver an ice bucket with a note inside that says, “Don’t leave me out in the cold, warm me up, and take me to prom.”
Write it out. Spencer Cates, ‘11, invited Angelika Barth, ‘12, to prom by writing in chalk down her street road. This invite is clever and will throughly surprise your date as she is driving home. ,
7. An ad in the newspaper is not
8. Pull the hangman. Challenge the girl of your dreams to a game of hangman…possibly in tutorial? And the answer of the puzzle, you guess it, “Will you go to prom with me?” How romantic.
9. Go to your date’s house and on the driveway draw a chalk outline of yourself with a note
Chris Cornelius, ‘11, leaves Maddie Louden, ‘11, a bouquet of flowers in her Write cute sayings about your date (what you like about them, etc.) then slip them each into balloons. Inflate the balloons and tie them together with ribbon and make a bouquet out car to surprise her with an invitation to prom. of them. Deliver them to your date’s house for a surprise. that says, “I’d die to go to prom with you.”
10.
Photo by Maddie Louden
the way to go. “Good Friend Seeks Other Good Friend for Prom Date: Fun, nice guy would like to find a girl out there with the name of (her name) somewhere in the school that he could escort to his prom. She must have the name (her name) or it just won’t be any fun for him. Please call him at xxx-xxxx.”
Teachers Share Their Prom Stories Susan Heckman Chemisty Instructor 1986
“I was a shy girl growing up and spent a lot of time in the library. Greg, a senior guy from another high school, worked at the library and would check my books out. We would smile and blush but we never would talk to each other. We were too shy! Well one day when I went to the library my friend, Marsha, who also worked in the library, gave me a card that said to check out my favorite author, Dickens, A Christmas Carol. Inside the book was a note from Greg asking me to Prom! The prom was held at the airport looking over the runway and the after party was in downtown Pittsburg. While we were at the prom, Greg disappeared for about an hour! I was all worried because I didn’t think he wanted to dance with me! His friend Ron went into the boys bathroom to find him for me. Greg’s zipper was broken! He was wiring his pants back together, that’s why it took so long. That was an amazing prom and a very fond memory I have held onto.”
Angela Santucci
Choral/Voice Instructor 1992
“When I was a sophomore, a junior asked me by having a dozen roses delivered to Geometry class (you could do that back then!) with a note asking me to prom. Obviously, I said yes!”
Anne Wessing
Upper School Secretary
“I was bussed to a city catholic high school from the outskirts of the city, and I and the kids I rode the bus with were considered “outsiders”. Well, as seniors, the [regular school] girls decided to reward one of the “outsider” boys by selecting him as king. He had not planned on attending the prom, so about a week prior to the event, when we were discussing it on the bus on the way home from school, he asked me to go with him, since he did not have a date and neither did I. So I got to go to the prom with the King!”
Photos from MCT Campus
Katherine Belk Math Instructor 2002-2010
“I definitely did not have any memorable prom invitations but I have been to the prom 8 times with the same guy.....Mr. Chissoe. He picks me up in a car nicer than the ones I went in during high school. No limos for me.”
Kevin Flinn English Instructor 1996
“When I was a senior, I had a huge crush on a junior volleyball player. I went to all her games and pined away, as I was too timid to even talk to her. When the dance rolled around, I got dressed up for school (I went to a public school with no uniform, but I wore a tie and blazer to impress her), bought her a rose and slipped a note in her locker. When she got to school, I mustered up all my courage and approached her at her locker only to find out that a junior football player had asked her to the dance the night before, after her volleyball game. (She said yes.) That was quite possibly my most embarrassing high school moment.”
Bill Chissoe and Kathrine Belk pose for a candid at prom last year, a tradition for the two. Photo by Katherine Belk
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Entertainment
Spring Forward in
shoes! Shoes! Shoes! CARSON SMITH
STAFF WRITER
Start the season off on the right foot ...or at least while wearing the right shoes.
Boho
Rock the Dollhouse
Get artsy and put on a pair
of tribal-themed shoes. Funky patterns, bold colors, bright beading, and geometric designs combine to make your footwear the new accessory.
RATTLESNAKE T TOMS
Do the
WEDGE The most wearable shoe of
Wetseal
the sprng season! Cute, comfy and workable into any outfit, definitely invest in at least a couple pairs to wear with shorts, skirts or dresses!
Matiko Narissa
ake a walk on the wild side with some snake-skin textured flats or platforms. Perfect for adding a little “venom” to any outfit, you’ll look absolutely killer sporting a pair of these badboys.
Go
NUDE F
lesh-colored tones work best for this spring’s stiletto-sporters. Interchangeable into any outfit, nude heels lengthen the leg to major extremes.
How shoes can make a difference:
TOMS, a shoe brand quickly growing in popularity,
is both a shoe manufacturer and a charity organization. With their “One for One” movement and an ingenious marketing strategy, TOMS shoe provides footwear to children in developing countries while still making a profit. With every pair of TOMS sold, another pair is donated to an impoverished child. Although cheaply made and don’t last as long as most shoe brands, they are durable and over time, mold to shape your individual foot. Purchasing a pair of TOMS is a great, direct way to help a child in need!
How to be: UNfabulous Cutouts floral Did the shoe designers
run out material or decide that the shoe was too ugly to finish, half-way through? That’s the kind of message a peep-toe bootie projects. Vacillating between an open toe pump and a combat boot, these shoes raise the constant question of: “To wear socks or not wear socks?”
W
hat are we? Five? Save the flowers for the first graders and grow up with a pair of boho pumps.
Forever 21
CLOGS
Even the word makes me cringe.
Despite what Marc Jacobs and Chanel have put out on the runway this season, do NOT be fooled by this fashion faux pas. Leather clogs, suede (the horror!) clogs, platform clogs, plaid clogs…no, no, no, and NO. The problem is, clogs do not provide an illusion to lengthen and lean the leg. Opt for a pair nude pumps instead.
Steve Madden
Betseyville
yellow I
’m all for adding in a pinch of sunshine into the day to day but yellow shoes? Might as well walk around with a bunch of lemons on your feet like Meka Timilic-Vallier, ‘11...
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Entertainment
Music:
N evarmore
Dead or alive? SPENCER CATES
STAFF WRITER
W
The 60s I
n the United States, music became noticeably dominant in the 1960s. The 60s generation focused on the ideas of peace, love, and music. It was a rebellious time with the war effort going on, which brought a division between patriotism and hippie dispositions. The hippies demonstrated their beliefs by guaranteeing that “we don’t get fooled again” as The Who blasted into the crowd lyrics that truly embodied the hippy belief system. Woodstock lasted from August 15th to August
18th on Max Yasgur’s 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York. Over 500,000 people attended the free event, and 34 artists performed, some of my favorites including: The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Creedance Clearwater Revival, Santana, The Who, and The Band. Woodstock marked the start of a musical generation in the United States. But who could ever top the last song? The Star Spangled Banner woefully strummed by none other than Jimi Hendrix.
hile music is technically defined as “vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony,” my personal definition is quite different and much less insipid. Music is a creative assortment of sound waves woven into a unique package that often causes a tsunami effect on its audience. I believe that music is like a game with no rules; which is why I dig it. As long as the musician stays in the proper key and on the correct tempo, they are permitted to manipulate their emotional musical forces as they see fit by adding their own style thus claiming ownership of the notes, chords and lyrics. Music cannot be considered dead as it is an ever-changing force that means so much to so many. To understand music, it is important to trace its path and gain a better understanding of the musical milestones of decades past. Our generation is often accused of not understanding noteworthy music and not creating anything that will stand the test of time. We currently have little musical material that will hold a long term respect and credibility. “Go on and take it. Take another little piece of my heart now baby,” belted
Janis Joplin in her trademark raspy slur in the 60s at the infamous Woodstock music festival. This phrase reflects the power of music as it can take a piece of your heart forever and “you know you got it, if it makes you feel good.” I couldn’t explain it any better than that. Now, many believe that music is dead. My answer to this theory is Yes. I think music works in cycles just as nature does. In the 1700’s, classical music was at its finest with composers such as Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. Classical music has not stopped; but its level of creativity or respect from listeners has not reached the same level since these geniuses passed. I think it goes the same for music created between the 60s up to the 21st century. I believe that the creation of music they started will never die; but I consider those bands highlighted on this page as the geniuses of different music in their element. The style of music that I dig hopefully will one day rise again to the level of popularity and appreciation that it once had, however I’m doubtful. In today’s society, the music industry has forced artists to change their musical expression to increase profits causing “artists” such as Justin Bieber and Ke$ha to be highly respected. In my opinion, these mainstream cash cows are doing nothing for music. Music is going through a dip in its infinite cycle. Hopefully, it will peak again one day.
The 70s T
he 1970’s musical movement was unique and driven by different motivations than that of the 1960’s. The 70s was the Rock ’n’ Roll generation that stood up and “stuck it to the man.” Whether it was going against your parents, skipping school, or protesting the government, the 70s gave young adolescents the opportunity to rock out and let loose while simultaneously releasing all of your cares and concerns regarding life in general. It was the time to “rock and roll all night, and party everyday”. Bands such as KISS, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, The Rolling Stones, Blue Oyster Cult, The Eagles, Peter Frampton, Aerosmith, The Allman Brothers, and Boston were all popular and prominent in the 1970s. In my opinion, the 1970s was the mother decade that released the best music to date.
The
80s
T
he grody 80s were an ongoing stretch of the 70s teased with hair, eye liner, and glitter; as well as an attitude that screamed “we’re not gonna take it!” Some bands were notarized for their fashion sense rather than their music; cough-POISON-cough. Clearly deserving in toxic cases (cough) but not in others such as Motley Crue. While the 80s rocked super hard with bands such as Guns ‘N Roses, Twisted Sister, Metallica, Whitesnake, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Van Halen, and Motley Crue, they also had some pretty boy bands like Poison. Personally, I believe the 80s came out with some great music. On the contrary, others (a.k.a. The United States Congress) disagreed. In 1984 the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) was founded by Tipper Gore. The purpose of the PMRC was to attach labels to albums prior to their release that depicted any violent, sexual, or drug referencing material within that artist’s music. Tipper Gore believe that music was “infecting the youth of the world with messages they cannot handle.” Dee Snider of Twisted Sister went before Congress on September 19, 1985 to become the front man for the rights of all artists. He took Congress off their feet with his speech basically communicating that nobody can even begin to interpret the lyrics of an artist or truly depict their intended meeting. I completely agree; music is a form of individual art that sometimes we musicians can’t even begin to comprehend. It was here that music took a big stand against “the man” and the creations being released were free to continue roaming in the atmosphere of art. Despite this victory, I’m really glad that I wasn’t born in the 80’s because I don’t really dig the 80’s culture. Their music is a better representation of that decade rather than their style.
The 90s T
he rad 90s, and my personal generation, was the grand finale and end of the musical train tracks. Several 80’s bands carried into the 90s such as the Chili Peppers and Guns ‘N Roses. But the 90s also launched the Grunge era with bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Punk rock influenced bands also were a big part of the 90s with bands such as Blink-182, Weezer, Rage Against the Machine, and The Offspring. Other popular 90’s bands include Sublime, Creed, Sugar Ray, and Everlast. Some would “say it ain’t so”, but the 90s were the last decade of good music when individuals were inspired to “come as you are”.
Music of the
2000s....
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Sports
Top five teams not in the madness
1
JORDAN BEDNAR
Virginia Tech
STAFF WRITER
I love March madness. Not only be-
cause the games are exciting, but because any team on any given day can win. I love the upsets and when the underdog wins. This year, much like every other year, there were teams who had to watch the big dance at home...after their NIT game. Every year after selection Sunday, there are disappointed phone calls made by college coaches who feel they have been snubbed from the field of now 68. The field was expanded from 64 to 68 teams in the tournament this year and,still these teams could not find a spot in the tournament.
3
2
Alabama
Saint Mary’s T
he 2011 Alabama basketball team had to settle for playing in the NIT after an impressive season with key wins against Kentucky (2 times), Georgia (2 times) and Tennessee, who all made the tournament. They had a regular season record of 21-11 and a conference record of 12-4.
5
Virginia Tech is the number one team that was
snubbed this year. Led by Malcolm Delaney, the Cavaliers finished 22-12 in the regular season. They beat number 1 seeded Duke on February 26th.
Boston College
4
BC
makes this list after being left out of the games this year. They finished with a regular season record of 20-12. Key wins for BC this year include Texas A&M
A
team with important wins against St. John’s, Texas Tech, and Gonzaga. They had a regular season record of 25-8 and a conference record of 11-3.
A team that went 23-7. I don’t know what the selection
committee was thinking when they did not even consider Harvard a bubble team. Maybe they thought there could not be two Ivy League schools in the tournament this year because of Princeton, who captured a 13 seed after beating Harvard on a last second shot in the Ivy League Championship game. One shot is what kept Harvard out this year. Harvard had big wins this year against both Colorado and Boston College who were considered “teams on the bubble,” however, they were also left out.
Top 10 NBA fat cats
Carmelo
Anthony: The best scorer in the league is a fat cat who barely dunks the basketball, just pulls up in your face and knocks the mid range down. He’s always been slightly chubby, even when he was at the University of Syracuse.
Photo by Richard Giles
K
Harvard
evin Love: Cold as ice, he’s the fastest man I’ve ever known that almost has the record for most 20 points and 20 rebounds and is about to have the record for most consecutive double doubles. He was chubby in college at UCLA and is still chubby now while playing in the Photo by Keith Allison NBA.
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ydrunas Ilgauskas : An old fat man that gets dunked on all the time and never gets buckets, he came from overseas. He plays on the team with the best three players in the Photo by Keith Allison NBA.
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endrick Perkins: A big man who gets easy buckets in the post and gets dunked on he’s definitely a fat cat. He came straight out of high school, skipping to play. Photo by Gary W. Green
BILLY JOYNER T
he name “fat cat” came from Joell Hopkins, ‘11. One day he went to Sean Kelly’s house and saw his cat, and he said it was a fat cat, so he began using the name for Kelly himself, poking fun at his “heavy” friend. When Kelly lost weight, the name no longer fit, so the term “fat cat” evolved to mean a fat basketball player. Most professional athletes are in top physical condition. And then, there are the notorious fat cats in the NBA. Some throw their weight around in an effective way as they get super and score at will. Others, sadly, are featured in other NBA player’s video highlights as they get dunked on, over and over again.
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len “Big Baby” Davis: He wants to be like Shaq but he can’t. Yet another good post player, He came from UCLA with Kevin Love.
Aaron Grey:
Photo by Keith Allison
He is terrible. All he does is rebound. He’s a fat post that went to the University of Pittsburgh.
STAFF WRITER
Photo by Daniel Torres Bonatto
Shaquelle O’Neal: Unstoppable in Paul Pierce: He gets extreme the post, he was really skinny in high school and got huge in the NBA. He went to Louisiana State University. While there, he tried to rap but failed. He was better at playing basketball due to his large size. He still rules the Photo by Charles Troiner Jr. court today.
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die Curry: Fattest of the fat that can’t jump and grabs a lot of rebounds, he played for the Knicks. According to 2k11, I don’t know much about this player but I do know he is pretty chubby and never went to college. He also came straight Photo by Pmandawg88 out of high from Flickr school.
buckets against everybody he plays. He’s starting to get old, but I think he plays like a punk because he acts on all his shots and the refs call fouls for him. He’s always been big, even during his time at the University Photo by George of Kansas. Bridges
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urt Thomas: He just got dunked on the other day and needs to stop jumping and move out of the way when he sees people about to dunk on him! He’s been in the league for years and is starting to get old and chubby. He went to Texas Christian. Photo by Chris Sweda
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1 1 20 NFL Mock Draft
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he Carolina Panthers get to pounce on the first pick the draft off with the first pick. With a disappointing 2-14 finish last year, they are hunting for a new player that they can build a team around. The Panthers quarterback situation is something that definitely needs to be considered when coming into this draft. The Panthers can’t afford to pass on the quarterback situation if Stanford Quarterback, Andrew Luck, were to enter throw his name into the draft, it was clear that he should go first to the Panthers. With Luck’s absence from the draft, the Panthers need to look elsewhere for a fantasy player. Other possible needs include the defensive line positions. That’s why De’Quan Bowers seems like the perfect player to build up the defensive line.
STAFF WRITER
he NFL Draft is one of the most suspenseful events in all of sports, and we all hope that our favorite team picks the next hall of famer. Football fans can’t help but wonder if there will even be a 2011-2012 season considering the controversy between the players association and the league managers. Grid iron junkies like me can’t help but think about the draft ahead prior to Photo by Dr. Watters the official April 28th event as we have football fever. The class of 2011 is a very talented and athletic class with many big names such as Cam Newton, last year’s Heisman winner. The draft also includes local Atlantic Coast Conference talent like De’Quan Bowers from Clemson and Robert Quinn from UNC. Both Players play Defensive end and the highly recruited prospects are both predicted to get selected in the top 20 picks.
1. Panthers De’Quan Bowers Photo GNU
2. Broncos Patrick Peterson
3. Bills Marcell Dareus
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he Denver Broncos ended the 2010 season with an ugly 4-12 finish behind the realm of rookie quarterback Tim Tebow. Ex-Panthers coach, John Fox is now head coach for the Broncos and is looking to draft some players that he can build a team around. The defense is definitely an aspect that needs to be addressed in the draft. Hall of fame bound cornerback, Champ Bailey, is coming to the end of his career and the rest of the defense is young. They need to draft another corner to eventually take over for Bailey, and Patrick Peterson seems like the perfect choice.
4. Bengals Cam Newton One thing’s for certain, the
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he San Francisco 49’ers Photo GNU almost made the playoffs in an ugly NFC West division with a 6-10 record. With Mike Singletary getting fired as head coach and Alex Smith failing to play quarterback, the 49’ers need a quarterback. Unfortunately, there will probably be no quarterbacks left that are worth a number seven pick, so look for a possible trade proposal coming from the 49’ers. With the possibility of a trade, it is kind of hard to project who they will draft. Outside of the quarterback position, the team needs a speedy and athletic outside linebacker that can hold down the edge in a 3-4 defense. Texas A&M player, Von Miller, is a possible defensive rookie of the year candidate.
GNU Free Documentation
5. Cardinals Blaine Gabbert
Cincinnati Bengals face uncertainty on many fronts coming into the 2011 season. The Bengals are coming off a 4-12 season and there are many uncertainties if quarterback Carson Palmer will return to the team. Also, the team does not know if duel personalities Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco will both be back. Even if the two return, they are very inPhoto by Chris Pusateri, CC consistent with their play. Wide Receiver is definitely a position that needs to be considered, but there is one physical specimen that cannot be passed up with the number four pick. That is Heisman Trophy winner, Cam Newton. With Palmer’s digressed play and uncertainty, it is time for the Bengals to go in a different direction and form a team around Newton.
7. 49’ers Von Miller
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he Buffalo Bills are also coming of a 4-12 season. Head coach Chan Gailey needs to turn his program around to have a serious chance at earning a playoff berth. Defense is the most crucial part that needs to be considered when coming into the draft. The Bills are light at the cornerback and defensive line positions. If Peterson goes second to the Broncos, there might not be a corner worth drafting this early in the draft. I think that they will draft a defensive lineman who can play a hybrid tackle and end position in the 3-4 and 4-3 defenses. Marcell Dareus, DT/DE out of Alabama, has exponentially helped his draft status by participating in the NFL combine.
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he Arizona Cardinals had an upsetting 5-11 record, behind head coach Ken Whisenhunt. They had a very weak offense, including their lack of a quarterback. The offensive line has been very weak the past couple years and that has made it hard for the Cardinals to matriculate down the field. Derek Anderson got hot a couple years back in his career, but recently his has been a big dud on the field. The Cardinals need to change Photo by Vagabond by Nature, CC their flight pattern and migrate towards a strong quarterback like Blaine Gabbert. If the Missouri sensation quarterback is still available at this point in the draft, the Cardinals need to seriously think about drafting this potential franchise quarterback.
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he Tennessee Titans did not expect to go 6-10 last year. Sensational running back, Chris Johnson, did not have as well as a season as he had two years ago and their quarterback situation is still in some chaos. With the eight pick in the draft, all their top choices for the positions where they are lacking talent will probably be gone. If Von Miller is still available, that will be the likely choice. They will probably end up bulking up the defensive line by drafting another first round defensive end. Robert Quinn, out of North Carolina, seems to be the next best d-lineman after Bowers and Dareus.
6. Browns AJ Green The 5-11 Cleveland
Browns are granted with the sixth pick of the NFL draft. The Browns have a weak defensive core, starting with the linebackers and defensive ends. They could possibly go in this direction in this draft with picking up Bowers or maybe Dareus if either of them is still available. Photo by Tennesee Journalist, CC Colt McCoy led the Browns as a solid rookie QB. What he needs now is a target like AJ Green. The Georgia receiver is one of the most athletic receivers to come out of the draft in a couple years and could be an excellent target for McCoy. If Green is not available at this point in the draft, Julio Jones could also be a versatile pick at receiver.
9. cowboys Tyron Smith T
he Dallas Cowboys had a very disappointing 2010 seaPhoto by Neon son after hyping themTommy, CC selves up to be the first team to play in a super bowl at their own stadium. Owner, Jerry Jones, finally realized that it was time to fire Bill Parcells and promote Jason Garrett to head coach. The season was destined to fail after star quarterback, Tony Romo, went down with a broken clavicle. When Romo is finally back to playing, the Cowboys need to bulk up the offensive line to protect him. The best offensive tackle in the draft is no doubt, Tyron Smith. This physical specimen out of Southern California is a complete beast on the line of scrimmage and would be a great add for the Cowboys.
10. Redskins JUlio Jones T
he Washington Redskins have the last pick of the top ten and they are Photo by looking to improve a 6-10 Corey. C, CC record. After an Ugly performance by Donavan McNabb, head coach Mike Shanahan is looking to go in another direction. There are some good quarterback options still left in the draft, like Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett. The Redskins need young talent to lead the offensive unit; however, I do not think that the Redskins will draft a quarterback this early in the draft, unless Newton or Gabbert fall this far. Their main source of offensive yardage comes from wide receiver Santana Moss, but they would like to have another athletic wide receiver to take some pressure off Moss. Alabama receiver, Julio Jones, is that athlete. He makes plays that seem impossible.
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QUINN BILLERMAN,SEAN KELLY &JOELL HOPKINS STAFF WRITERS
College basketball has been full of stunning players this year. Al-
though we don’t know who will declare themselves eligible for the draft, these are the top 11 prospects that could entertain the idea of n explosive point guard who can beat anyone with his first entering the draft. Some of these players have carried their teams on step, Irving missed most of the season with a toe injury, but is their backs all season, while others will be drafted on potential. We back for the NCAA tournament. He is considered by many the judged on potential, and the 2010-2011 college basketball season. number one pick.
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Kemba
Jared
Sullinger has been the most effective freshman this year. He helped Ohio State get a number one seed in the NCAA tournament and has proven throughout the year he can score with an array of post moves and rebound.
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Walker can only be described as a pure scorer. He has single handedly helped Uconn become a power house and has consistently hit buzzer beaters and taken down ranked teams all year. Kemba has constantly carried the team on his back and made a deeper push into the NCAA tournament than Jimmer. If Jimmer is described as superhuman, than Kemba can be described as Zeus, a god in the game of basketball
Henson
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is LONG. Although he still needs to add weight to be more effective in the NBA, he can block shots and rebound. He has been the center of UNC’s defense and a major part of their second half surge.
5 errence Jones is a big athletic swing man that has showed he can score in a multitude of ways; the only knock on his game is his jump shot.
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STAFF WRITER
ean Billerman, ’10, has taken his talents to West Point’s Prep School this year as a basketball prospect. Billerman came back Ravenscroft’s campus during his break and is still a man of few words. Next year, he will attend West Point as a scholarship basketball player. Army, who has never made the NCAA tournament, will try to use his reputation as a “shooter” as a way to invited
Harrison Barnes had a rough start to his freshman year
after being named a preseason All American. Carolina fans quickly hopped off his train until he recently started playing well and they jumped back on the band wagon. He can score and is an athletic swing man who can defend.
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Derrick
Williams is post forward combo who can score and has lead Arizona to a NCAA tournament berth.
Jones is a long athlete who at the beginning of the year was considered the number one pick. He’s had an impressive freshman campaign at Baylor until his recent suspension over eligibility issues.
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Kanter is from Turkey and was slated
to play for Kentucky this year until he was suspended for the season for benefits from a Turkish pro team. He is a good big man that can score and play defense, and is still considered a top pick.
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Billerman prepping for West Point SEAN KELLY
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next year. Billerman will join a recruiting class of five other players. Describing his experience as a basketball player at a prep school Billerman said “It’s hard.” As for personal goals Billerman hopes he can “have an immediate impact, and play significant minutes” next year. Going to Army to play basketball is much different than going to another Division 1 school, at Army it’s “more than just basketball, you have a lot of responsibility off the court such as academics and military training.” Billerman averaged 17 points per game and 4 rebounds per game.
eonard is a long, lanky athletic wing player who plays great defense and is one of the best scorers in the nation once he gets in the paint
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seems to have superhuman powers every time he steps on the court. He can score in so many different ways and will likely be a point guard in the NBA. Jimmer hoaned his skills playing basketball in prisons as a teenager, people have even coined the term “Jimmered” for when he kills a team.
Sean Billerman, ‘10, on the court at West Point Prep School. Photo provided by Quinn Billerman