The Nevarmore, November 2011 by Ravenscroft

Post-Season

Fair Face-Off

Page 15

Page 5

Wall Street Protests

winter Sports

al davis

Page 14

Page 13

Pages 8 & 9

The

Nevarmore Homecoming Protests Taylor Letts & LaylaTanik

STAFF WRITERs

s the freshman boys and girls got all spiffed up for the 2011 Homecoming Dance, they didn’t quite know what to expect of their first high school dance. They likely expected it to be a lot different than the Middle School dances that they were accustomed to, and it certainly was different as the students demonstrated their frustration and outrage in the form of a sit-down strike in the middle of the dance floor. This year, the popular, yet controversial grinding style of dancing was not permitted. Bill Pruden, Head of Upper School, clearly stated the guidelines for student behavior prior to the dance in an email addressed to all Upper School students. “Obviously, attendance at the dance is not required but if you do choose to come, you should do so with a full understanding of the rules. Too, we seek, as we have in recent past, to have the dancing be appropriate. We have talked with the DJ about the type of music that will be played, “I have never and as we did at the end of last year and we want to disleft a courage the grinding style of dancing. Growing numbers dance at the of schools are eliminating dances from their programs amidst continuing concern about this issue, and in an efearliest fort to avoid this step, we are asking you to dance in a time possible.” way--face to face--that more accurately reflects the mutual respect that is a part of our school culture.” Pruden said that the DJ was not given a play list Thomas Sigmon, ’13

Students sit in protest at Homecoming Dance Photo by Nat Park

Winter Formal?

but was asked not to play an abundance of songs that were likely to elicit grinding on the dance floor. When the DJ did play music that students were anxious to dance to, the grinding would start, and the DJ was asked to stop the song immediately. That’s when the songs began to play that caused the dance floor to empty. Students described the type of music played as southern or eighties type rock from artists such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and AC/DC. While some of the students like this music, they reported that they do not know how to dance to it. Shagging was the most popular style of dancing at Homecoming and although there were a lot of beach music songs played, those who did not know how to shag were left out of that part of the dance. “I’d rather be at a Middle School dance. They had a better DJ,” said John Bailey, ‘15. Last year, grinding was permitted at Homecoming, but after the dance, some parents requested a meeting to talk about this style of dance in hopes of eliminating it from future Ravenscroft dances. The Nevarmore conducted a survey to collect student opinion about this idea and 234 students responded; 189 of which were in attendance. The results showed that 183 students, 78%, did not feel uncomfortable at the dance. Of the 51 students, 22%, that did feel uncomfortable, only 39 students, 17%, said the reason for their discomfort was the style of dancing. The survey also asked, “Would you attend a Ravenscroft dance that featured a band and shag style of dancing?” 49% said they would not attend, 24% were undecided, and 28% said they would attend. About one third of the students in attendance left as soon as they were permitted to do so at the 10:15 p.m. mark, according to Kevin Billerman, Assistant Head of Upper School. Most ninth grade students expected it to be a lot different than what the dances were like in their Middle School days. “Middle school dances were more intense,” said McLean Voelkel, ‘15. More protests occurred throughout the night in the form of chants. The majority of the students thought the music selection could “The goal of the have been more suitable dance was to have us for the age group and atmosphere. Some students dance face to face; made it clear that they but they weren’t playing felt like they had a blast shag-worthy music.” from the past having to dance to 80s music. - James Turner, ’13

Will you attend the Winter Formal Dance if grinding is permitted?

Maybe

Yes

Will you attend the Winter Formal Dance if the rules remain the same as the Homecoming Dance?

Maybe No

Yes

Nevarmore Homecoming Survey: 141 Total Responses No

Same

What did you think of the enforcement of rules at the 2011 Homecoming Dance?

Not Strict Enough Too Strict

Fair

On a scale of 1 - 5, how would you rate this year’s Homecoming Dance? 65

1 = Poor 5 = Awesome

Yes 39 No

Freshmen, did you enjoy the Homecoming Dance more than the Middle School dances?

Yes

After reading Mr. Pruden’s email about Homecome Dance rules, was the dance what you expected?

26 13 0

2 Table of Contents Page 1 Homecoming Taylor Letts & Layla Tanik Page 2 Steve Jobs Kenda Revis-Nixon Page 2 Canstruct Eric Iseley Page 3 College Admissions Kate Sweeney

News Steve Jobs Lived Life to the “Macs” The

Nevarmore

kenda REVIS-nixon

STAFF WRITER

teve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple, passed away on October 5th, 2011, due to complications from pancreatic cancer. Many saw him as a legendary inventor, but he was much more than that. Jobs was a visionary; a man of great imagination which lead to the technological advances of many products that countless people use in everyday life. Juanita Perdomo, Jobs’ death effected different people in a variety ‘14, holds her of ways. While his death was clearly a tragedy to many, it impacted some in a positive way by inspiring them iPhone 4. Photo by Kenda Revis- to be more passionately creative like Jobs himself. Nixon Jobs was known for thinking of unrealistic ideas and bringing them to life by setting virtually impossible deadlines for those who worked with him. Somehow, the combination of his intelligence, leadership, and high expectations propelled them to cross the finish line as expected. Apple has created numerous products that many people across the globe unknowingly incorporate into their everyday lives such as the iPod, iPhone, and the Mac computer. There also applications, commonly called “apps,” that we use all the time. There are applications that report weather forecasts, find great restaurants, and help with taxes. Jobs has changed American innovation in an optimistic way for future generations. Sadly, when Jobs passed away, he left a behind a grieving family.

Page 5 Fair Face-Off Justin Sampere & Michael Fagan Page 6 PDA Brad Ehilegbu Page 6 Homecoming Dance Eric Isely

Pages 8 & 9 Wall Street Protests Ellie Nye Page 10 Jennifer Cohen Lauren Grady Page 11 Awesome Inventions Caroline Scales Page 12 Balance Bands Max Sminkey Page 13 Al Davis Alexus Baldwin Page 14 Winter Sports Madison Jones Page 14 College Basketball Isaac Copeland Page 15 Post Season Sports Catherine Green Page 16 Memorial Catherine Green

(Jim Gensheimer/San Jose Mercury News/MCT)

Although much sorrow followed his death, he was able to raise the standards of the technology industry. Here at Ravenscroft, many people own Apple products. Whether its an iPod or an iPhone, many of us own one. However, most high school students, including the seniors, weren’t alive when Apple released these well-known hi-tech devices. Starting between 1976 and 1980, Jobs and his team created the Apple I, Apple II, Apple 2+, Disc II and the Apple III. It wasn’t until 1984, when the very first Mac computer was invented by Jobs along with his designers and engineers. In 1984, no student currently enrolled was even born yet. Seventeen years later, the first iPod came out in stores. That would make most of the seniors around age seven or eight. The Mac Book/Mac Book Air was released in 2006, making the graduating class of 2012 age thirteen or fourteen. Apple has been around for about forty-five years, almost three times the age of the senior class. A large number of students own Apple Products, whether it’s a MacBook or and iPod Nano. Juanita Perdomo, class of ‘14, owns the MacBook, the iTouch, and the iPhone 4. When asked if she enjoyed these Apple products, she responded, “Yes, I can use them for almost anything. I think it’s really sad that [Steve Jobs] died.” Steve Jobs will always be remembered as a pioneer in the advancement in his industry.

Page 4 Community Service Lauren Grady & Katherine Finney

Page 7 Editorial

Flowers, photos, and apples make up a memorial in front of the home of Steve Jobs in Palo Alto, California, on Saturday, October 8, 2011. A constant stream of people stopped by the home all day with about 50 people there at all times.

Art Project Improves Variety and Quality of Food Donated in Can Drive eric ISeley STAFF WRITER

an sculptures are a good idea for a good cause. Julie Cardillo, Art Instructor, is an active participant in this creative twist to the annual Ravenscroft canned food drive but said that she can’t take all of the credit for the idea. Canstruction is the national organization that gave Cardillo the idea to make figures out of cans. So, she teamed up with Ravenscroft’s Key Club to ask for certain types of canned donations to serve the dual purpose of collecting a wider variety of food that could also be used to create a work of art produced by the students in Cardillo’s Art Ideas and Art Foundations classes. The students assembled white tuna cans The sculptures have created more excitement into the base of a light bulb. for donating cans. Key Club created a contest in which specific cans are worth a certain amount of points. The following cans are worth 5 points: 15 oz. Libby’s Mandarin Oranges or other fruit in a golden can, 28 oz. Bush’s Baked Beans-honey-flavored in an orange can, and 5 oz. Bumble Bee Tuna in a Art Instructor Julie Cardillo white can. supervising. The Welsh advisory has given 1,077 points worth of cans to date. “The quality of the cans is much better than last year,” said Elise Thrash, Key Club Faculty Advisor. Because specific cans were needed for the sculptures, more high quality cans were donated, such as canned tuna and baked beans. “It was a nice break from the usual routine,” said Tracy Winston, ‘12, one of the members of Cardillo’s class. After the project is over, all of the cans will be donated to the North Tracy Winston, ‘12, John Montague, ‘13, Jackson Poon, ‘14, Carolina Food Bank. and Claudia Meyer, ‘13 constructing a can sculpture. One of the sculptures is on display in the lobby of the Jones Theatre Photos taken by Caroline Scales and the other is in the entry way of the Lower School.

News

The

Nevarmore

College Admissions: Should You Be Worried? SAT scores fall nationwide as colleges become more selective kate sweeney

staff writer

t’s getting harder to be accepted into college. Although colleges are becoming more selective with who they let attend their universities, that national average for SAT scores drops more and more every year. “The SAT is taken by a wide variety of people, and some do not have the money or the time to prepare for it. It is absolutely a problem,” said Angela Connor, College Counselor. The average SAT score for students in the United States is 497/800 on the reading section, 514/800 on the math section and 489/800 on the writing section, according to the College Board website. This is a 6 point drop from last year’s average scores, hinting that American students, on average, grow less and less capable of producing sufficient test scores for acceptance into universities. Columbia University only accepted 6.4% of applicants this

year while the amount of people who applied increased by 32%. This shows that more and more people apply to college each year, creating a larger pool of applicants which increases competition. According to the New York Times, Leigh College has experienced a 50% increase in applicants in the last few years and the average SAT score of accepted students has risen ten points. Since colleges have more applicants to choose from, they can afford to be picky. Harvard University’s acceptance rate dropped to 6.2% this year, according to the Huffington Post. This is the lowest it has ever been due to the increase in competition. The number of applicants is at an all time high of 35,000. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is a well-known local public university, and it is also relatively difficult to gain acceptance. In 2008, the acceptance rate of UNC was 34.8%. In 2010, UNC only admitted 32% of their applicants because so many people applied, according to an article by US News.

The competition created from the high amount of applicants has caused UNC to raise its average GPA requirement from 4.37 in 2007 to 4.5 in 2011. This shows that the college admission board is becoming pickier as to who they accept and who they reject. The school also requires, on average, an SAT score of 580 or above on each section. This is far above the average SAT score for students hoping to enroll in the Class of 2011 in the United States. North Carolina State University in Raleigh is a local school that is also well-known, but has a higher acceptance rate than UNC Chapel Hill. NC State admitted 60.3% of applicants in 2008 compared to 53.9% in 2010 due to the increasing number of applicants. The more people who apply to NC State, the higher the competition becomes. In 2008, the average GPA of accepted applicants was 3.6. While in 2011, it rose to 4.23, following the footsteps of UNC Chapel Hill as far as setting higher standards for applicants. On average, NC State requires

Image from MCT Camupus

an SAT score of 510 or above on each section. While this requirement is quite a bit lower than UNC’s requirement, it is still higher than the average SAT scores earned in reading and writing sections for the members of the 2011 enrollment class. “Not everyone can attend college, but if you can, you should. It enriches you as a person and broadens your perspective or the work world,” says Connor. Someone with a bachelor’s

degree earns an average of $900,000 more than someone who stopped their education after graduating high school. “In this day and age, at least in the business world, going to college is necessary for success,” says Mathias Marchington, ‘12. So, in our current economy’s state, attending college sets you up for success and finding a good job.

Once admitted, students must deal with the tuition costs.

The Nevarmore asked Ravenscroft’s college counselors for tips on paying for college.

“Students need to work with their families to find a college that would meet their needs. There are a lot of scholarship opportunities. When students start their search, they should ask the admission officers what forms they need to get for financial aid.” - Lindsey Ringenbach “It is important for students to not assume that they can’t do it. Although there is a lot of arduous paperwork required for financial aid, it’s worth the effort. If you have to pay for scholarship help, it’s not really help. It’s better to find churches and organizations for grant and scholarship help.” - Bill Pruden “You can get some scholarships through local organizations such as churches. It’s best to seek scholarships through the colleges that you are planning on attending.” - Millie Florio

service

The

Nevarmore

Miracle League: A Field of Dreams lauren grady

STAFF WRITER

Chad Stanback, ‘12, enjoys his time working with his buddy during the Miracle League baseball game. Photo compliments of Key Club

hile passing by Adams Elementary in Cary on a Saturday morning, people may hear loud music and see crowds of fans in the stands around the baseball diamond. But this is not your average baseball game. The Miracle League is out to play ball. The teams are made up of physically and mentally handicapped children, but their disabilities do not limit their excitement and enthusiasm for the game. Each volunteer helps their buddy hit the ball, run the bases, and pass a baseball in the outfield. Miracle League plays not to win, but to have fun and make friends. The games always end tied so that everyone wins. As a volunteer, I can personally say that Miracle League has touched my heart. The players’ excitement to play is inspiring. Last time, I helped Omar, a nineyear old boy. Although he did not speak much, he loved to imitate me, so we made it into a game. While the baseball game was happening, we were in the outfield doing funny dance moves to the music. After the game was over, he gave me a huge smile and a hug. I not only

helped him have fun, but I helped him be himself and feel like a winner. Watching these children go out to the field and play baseball is truly a miracle. The happiness on each player’s face makes it the whole experience completely worth it. Miracle League gives these children a place to overcome their disabilities and have fun.

Corinne May and Davis Teitelbaum run the bases Photo compliments of Key Club

Father~Daughter, Mother~Son Dance Raises Over $6,000 katherine finney Editor

n November 19, Key Club members, Arthur Murray Dance Studios, and Ravenscroft Families raised over $6,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Make-A-Wish Foundation raises money for children ages two to eighteen years old with life-threatening medical conditions. Back in 2005, Ravenscroft senior Angelika Barth wished for a trip to visit Australia. She went snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, and even Paul and Astrid Barth dance the had the chance to celebrate her tenth night away. birthday twice, as she crossed the international dateline. Ever since, Angelika has been involved in any way that she can

Two young lads are all smiles in their formal attire.

with the Foundation. As a former Make-A-Wish recipient and cancer survivor, Angelika’s goal was to raise enough money to grant one child’s wish, which averages around $6,000.00. There were cupcake towers, pink lemonade, a photobooth, and fun swing and shag lessons by Arthur Murray Dance Studios to the tunes of Don’t Stop Believing” and “Carolina Girl.” Strings of Christmas lights lit up the gym - it was a magical night. Towards the end, there was a special candlelight service. Kristen Johnson, the CEO of Make-A-Wish spoke, Angelika told her her story and couples were given a candle to light if they wanted to pledge a donation. After all the candles were lit they blew them out as a symbol of a wish being granted.

Photos by Rachel Landers, Taylor Gordon, Preston Cooper, and Ford Layman.

Angelika Barth, ‘12, addresses the crowd.

“I feel like a fairy godmother!” - Angelika Barth

One-And-Two, Three-AndFour, Five-Six...

Contemplating their wish before blowing out their candles.

Opinion

The

Nevarmore

North Carolina State Fair Face-Off Is the Fair, fair? What’s Fair is Fair

justin sampere

STAFF WRITER

es, the Fair is fair, hence the name FAIR. The Fair is something that I look forward to every fall. Those who attend the Fair control the way they spend their money; not the other way around. So, man-up and stop blaming the “fair” for your lack of self-control. Attending the Fair is one of my favorite annual events. I usually

The Machine Shed was serving the newest food craze at the Wisconsin State Fair, Krispy Kreme cheeseburgers. (Brad Vest/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)

go twice; once with my family and once with my friends. As a tradition, the fair is a great way of having fun with all of your friends. Now a lot of people are saying that the carnies rip you off at the fair by chanting at you as you walk by. But that really isn’t true. Once again, self-control. On those really addicting games like shoot the star out or get the ring around the bottle, it’s your own fault for paying to try again. Not the people who work at the fair. That’s their job; to draw you in and get you to play again. They intentionally made the games addicting, or else you would not even want to pay to play over and over again. Numbers don’t lie. The total amount of people that attended the Fair this year is 1,009,173. The all-time high attendance record is 1,091,887 in 2010. So, that in itself just shows that I am not alone in my belief that the fair is fair. People would not keep going back if they

Nevarmore State Fair Survey Results Did you attend the N.C. State fair?

Yes (60)

Is the Fair a waste of money? No (29)

Yes (47)

(Shawn Rocco/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

The North Carolina State Fair is the largest 11-day event in North Carolina, attracting more than 800,000 attendees. The Fair host many diverse musical acts, numerous food vendors, games booths and carnival rides, commercial and agricultural exhibitors. The Fair is managed and produced by the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

and is consistently ranked among the top 25 fairs in North America. The Fair is a great thing to do in the fall. It’s a southern tradition that everyone enjoys. The food, the rides and even the people you see there is great entertainment for a reasonable price for the average person. So if you are bored and have nothing to do, stop sitting around and go to the Fair!

michael fagan

STAFF WRITER

here can you go to get ripped-off, potentially injured and nauseous? The Fair, of course. Talk about an ironic name. The Fair should be renamed to another four letter word that begins with f…foul…of course. Then, people would know what to expect. It costs $8 for admission to the Fair for an adult; the age range to qualify as an adult is 13-64. That $8 only gets you in the gates. Then, you have to pay for the tickets for the rides, which are a dollar per ticket. Also, you get ripped-off by all the scam artists who charge $10 for parking a convenient five miles away. If you want to actually get a good spot that’s a mere mile away, it costs you double that; $20. This just makes the trip to the fair even more expensive. On top of that, the parking lot owners try to jam as many cars into the lot as possible. More times than not, you come out of the fair completely exhausted only to find that someone dinged your car when they opened their car door. After you buy tickets for $1 each, you realized that the smaller rides use 4 tickets while the larger rides require 6 tickets. Therefore, if you want to ride two small rides, that already adds up to $16 including the adult admission fee. Although these rides may be fun, they are not offering the safety and quality you expect for the price. The rides are set-up quickly and they are the portable sort of rides that you could train a monkey to run. I am assuming the carnies that run the rides don’t actually have professional safety training of any sort. I used the search engine to filter through the site and while individual shows, like the Horse Show, popped up as organizations that require training, the overall employees do not appear on the result page. Then on top of all that if you want to buy some refreshments,

How much money did you spend at the fair? 51-100$ (19) Over 100 (9) 26-50$ (26)

0-25$ (19)

Jacob Humphrey, 12, navigates the crowd with an ice cream cone and his oversized stuffed dog at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday, October 22, 2010.

Over Priced, Over Rated, and Over Populated W

No (18)

considered the Fair a rip-off. The only one that is actually ripping you off is you; either by overspending or skipping this exciting annual event all together. The Fair, like any business, needs to make a profit for it to continue. If the carnies don’t try to increase their sales each year, then they would not make any money, preventing the fair from returning. Another beneficial thing about the fair is that you get to see a lot of agricultural things, things that you usually wouldn’t see in the city. It is educational. You get to see all types of different farm animals; such as cows, pigs, horses, sheep, goats, chickens and more. You can also see tractors and heavy farm machinery that they would never see in the heart of the city. This is great because this gives the public a chance to see what actually built our state. The official NC State Fair website sums it up best by stating its purpose as follows:

Deep-fried butter or fried Oreos or funnel cake. (Jeannine Stein/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

County fairs are a place to throw out the dietary guidelines and indulge in all things fried and sweetened. (Jeannine Stein/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

like lemonade, it sets you back another $5. Then, of course, you are going to want to get some fried food, a Fair tradition, which is not only over-priced but horrible for you, too. For example, one fried Oreos has 80 calories and you get 6 of them in one order. Not to mention the ever so popular Krispy Kreme burger, which is over a 1000 calories. After you eat it you feel bloated and disgusting, probably because you just ate more calories in one bite than you normally do in one entire meal. But after passing by all the other enticing food vendors while inhaling the alluring aromas, you can’t help but BUY MORE!!! You spend more money on food when you are not even hungry and continue to eat even though you know you will feel sick after doing so. Also there are health risks of the fair. This year, there was an outbreak of e-coli. Nine people reportedly have e-coli and eight of them went to the fair. Investigations are being conducted to see if the turkey legs sold at the fair were the root of the outbreak. The fair is just one big money magnet! Everything is overpriced and there are THOUSANDS of people crowding the grounds all sweating and bumping into you. When I spend a lot of money, I expect to have a good time; not a trashy one. All in all, the fair is just not the place to go to spend time and money. You pay for high quality services and food and you get the lowest quality services. This is not “FAIR” as it is ironically named. It’s a ripoff! It steals your money.

The

Opinion

Nevarmore

S i l e n c i n g the Majority Missouri Governor Jay Nixon danced “The Missouri Waltz,” with his wife Georganne at the conclusion of the Grand March and Inaugural Ball at the State Capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri, on Monday, January 12, 2009. (David Eulitt/Kansas City Star/MCT)

Grinding Ban Causes Sit-In at Homecoming Dance ericiSeley

STAFF WRITER

anning grinding caused a lot more problems than it solved, a point proven by this year’s homecoming dance. Students were so incensed by the choice of music and the restrictions on how they were able to dance that they sat on the floor, and about a third of the students left as soon as they were allowed. While it is important to relax and socialize, many are unaware that there is another important reason for Ravenscroft to host dances. The proceeds from the dances provide revenues for school projects such as the RavensBuild, a student led organization created two years ago to build Habitat for Humanity houses. Without the funds raised, it is unclear how this project would be able to continue. Every generation pushes the envelope. Our grandparents had flapper dances. Our parents had disco. We have grinding. Each generation dances in a more promiscuous way than that of the last generation. Most parents accept this reality even if they do not understand or approve; the minority in this case is just much louder than the majority. The vast majority of students are in favor of allowing the grinding style of dance at school dances. According to The Nevarmore survey conducted in October of 2010, 87% of students, who attended the last year’s Homecoming Dance grind and 63% of students in attendance reported that grinding is their favorite style of dance. There is a minority within the Ravenscroft community that has a problem with this popular style of dance. The minority should not rule. A few underclassmen and their parents complain about dances every year, but this time the administration is caving to this minority. Why? No one can argue that grinding is offensive to the majority of students; the numbers simply do not work to support that argument. Instead of banning the style of dance that is most popular among students, why not hold additional dances? If there is enough support to have a dance that does not include the grinding style, that should not be a problem. The problem is that there are not enough students interested in attending a dance that features another style of dance. In The Nevarmore survey mentioned above, of attendees from last year’s Homecoming Dance, only 27.5% said they would attend a dance that featured a band and the Shag style of dance. There would be a very empty dance floor. This has been the way students have danced for eight years. If it has been deemed as acceptable for the last eight years, why ban it now?

Public Display of Affection The Nevarmore asks... What’s your opinion about PDA? “PDA is perfectly fine, so long as is doesn’t get to the point where anyone witnessing the embrace feels uncomfortable.” Garrett Bird, ‘12

The Nevarmore asks... What’s the worst PDA you have seen? “I came out of math one day, and they were sucking face. His hands were down the back of her pants.” Hannah Leahy, ‘12

“I’ve seen a girl grabbing a guy’s butt.” Rachel Landers, ‘12

How much is too much? brad ehilegbu

STAFF WRITER

he rules about PDA should be set in black and white; literally, printed in the Upper School Handbook. There should be no grey area for what is appropriate and inappropriate so that students know if they are breaking the rules or not. If it makes onlooking students feel uncomfortable, then it is not appropriate for a school environment. In order to prevent confusion in the future, there should be a section in the handbook that explains the rules of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. PDA stands for “Public Display of Affection” and it seems to be a problem with some students in the halls of the Upper School. Most students have no problem with people showing affection to one another but there is a certain point when couples go a bit too far and it can be awkward to say the least. Some people have a problem with how intimate couples are getting in the hallways. Bill Pruden, Head of Upper School, provided some thoughtful insight. “PDA has been a problem with some students this year, but it doesn’t seem to be a universal concern,” said Pruden. Although it seems like PDA is more common this year, Pruden reported that it hasn’t gotten progressively worse over the years. The handbook does not address this topic specifically, but it implies that showing mutual respect between students and faculty is required. Last year, some students who were told to stop their excessive PDA, but they continued to break the rules. Pruden said they were forced to eat lunch in the office

John Hittler, left, greets Katie Keefer with a hug before church at Loft Bar and Bistro in San Jose, California, on Sunday, October 30, 2011. (Jim Gensheimer/San Jose Mercury News/MCT)

for an extended period of time because they would not comply with the schools request. Some schools are too extreme in their approach to PDA. For example, a recent article published in Time Magazine claims that an eighth-grader name Megan Coulter was given two detentions for hugging two friends. Apparently, Mascoutah Middle School has a ban on public displays of affection. It seems a little outrageous that a student would have to serve two detentions for hugging other students.

Although Coulter was aware of the rules and is responsible for breaking them, a middle school ban that includes hugging is a little too harsh. Imagine you’re walking down the hallway and you hug someone but a teacher comes up behind you and says “Go to Mr. Billerman’s office. There is no hugging allowed.” You would be awestruck if a teacher told you that you were in trouble for hugging someone. “I say the whole subject is just awkward,” said Helen Velk, Journalism Instructor.

7 Common Period: A Common Complaint

editorial

The

Nevarmore

It’s Tuesday morning. Your 7

period teacher is cramming in the last five minutes of the lecture, when Mrs. Wessing interupts, announcing the activity scheduled for Common Period. The class lets out a collective groan. Students file into Jones’ Theater skeptically waiting to judge the speaker that’s going to take away their valuable Common Period. These thirty-five minutes could take one of two familiar paths. Students will either be intrigued and engaged, or bored and frustrated as they wait for the end. The ideal speaker should BE engaging, BE relevant, BE clear, BE relatable, and BE timely. th

2 Be or not 2 Be: What Should Common Periods

Be 4?

BE ENGAGING

Elliott Engel, NC State English Professor, speaks at Ravenscroft every fall. Last year,

he lectured on the origin of the English language, while artfully including its curse words. He captivated the student body with his witty humor and overwhelmed us with his intellect. With his impressive presentation style that weaves fast knowledge into an enticing story, he grabs the audience’s attention. Engel is a brilliant story-teller, bringing Edgar Allan Poe and Shakespeare to life as he highlights their works as well as details about their personal lives. Engel’s method of presenting information in a tantalizing fashion has students laughing and teachers captivated.

Inspirational Common Period Speaker Chris Howard, President of Hamden-Sydney College

BE RELATEABLE

ith a clear-cut program, that didn’t leave students guessing, President Chris Howard of Hampden-Sydney College surprised and entertained students with his interactive approach and knowledge of popular culture. His kinetic style kept students involved and alert. Leaving the stage, he took to the audience, putting himself on the same level as the students. His allusion to Drake’s “Over” connected his philosophy of “Be Yourself,” with the artist’s lyric “I’m doing me.” Students howled in appreciation of a speaker with a powerful message that could finally relate to their lives.

BE CLEAR

y, ngl OT i k oc N Sh is is te of th was e!! a tim

a I ca relactualln this te t y guy o !

... Wow d! Goo He’s

ossible? Probable? Unfortunately, it happened. This infamous line from Common Period speaker, Katie Koestner, will stick with the student body. But, the message that she was trying to convey most likely won’t. Koestner spoke too fast. Even when she gave information to help students remove incriminating photos from social media sites, she hurried through her explanation, leaving students with unanswered questions. Her sarcasm was difficult for many to understand and made the presentation even more unclear. Students felt that with every question, they were being lured into a trap, and her message was lost in translation.

One Week Later: Advisory Discussion...

BE RELEVANT

A famed historian, President Ayers of Richmond University, spoke about the Civil

War. Many students found the presentation difficult to follow and waited for him to make a connection to their own lives. While many students currently enrolled in U.S. History benefitted from his lesson, the majority of students were found the lesson to be irrelevant. Had President Ayers connected his knowledgable ideas about the Civil War to the present, or to his own life, his message may have been clearer.

YOU O W RESTI E ME TUTIO N!

Bl o Th ckh e so at w ad! oo as l w ee ast k!

Good f! Grie

WAH wa Wah

BE TIMELY

hile the new advisory program is meant to partner speakers and advisory discussions to encourage closer relationships within our community, the extensive time between the presentation and the advisory discussion leaves those who were eager to share their opinions with only foggy memories of the topics. If the program were designed in a combination with a modified block schedule, the presentations would be conducive to active advisory discussion on the speaker’s key topics. If a common period were extended to one and a half hours, as it is in the modified block schedule, students would be able to hear a presentation and immediately discuss the topics with their advisory without losing the messages of the presentation. The

Nevarmore

Editorial Content:

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.

Wire Service

The Nevarmore subscribes to MCT Campus, which provides photographs, national news & entertainment services to high school newspapers.

Faculty Advisor: Helen Velk

Cartoon by Zawadi Mutisya

Editor-in-Chief

Sarah Collins

Associate Editors Katherine Finney, Caroline Scales, & Garrett Bird 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.

Design Editor Angelika Barth

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.

Wall Stree Know No

Writing o

List Dema

Rey Ramirez, a Temple student with Occupy Philadelphia, and his fellow protesters rally at City Hall before marching to the Market Street Bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Thursday, November 17, 2011. (Michael Bryant/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT)

The Cornerstone:

Contributing factors join together to set the foundation for the protests eLLIE nye STAFF WRITER

What triggered the feelings of fury?

he answer is simple: unemployment. Three years ago, the already fragile economy ‘shattered’. This left thousands of Americans ‘cut’ from their jobs due to costs in “the work place”. Acting on the crumbling credit, President George W. Bush ordered the ‘Bailout Plan’, which was a way to patch- up the holes caused by the debt that the majority of working American’s faced. Foreign companies that had previously worked with the U.S. suddenly realized the toll that the economic crisis had taken on the mortgages managed by powerful bank investors, and realized that their crucial investments were no longer profitable.

What sparked the resentment?

fter the foreign companies abandoned their contracts with the American investors, the U.S. was strapped. Wall Street as a community was changed irreversibly, with CEOs who had been “let go,” leaving their companies with profitable sums of money. As a result, their successors had no option but to ask the government for financial aid. The U.S. then made a desperate decision to beg the foreign companies who had discarded them for no more than 700 billion dollars to climb out of debt.

Knocking down “the wall”

he fight for Wall Street is not only national, but it is turning global. All around the world, demonstrators ranging from peaceful protesters to violent activists are flooding the streets. This may seem confusing after considering that Rome is a far cry from the island of Manhattan. What began as a simple squabble over the American dollar has now caused a wave of anger.

What do protesters want? D

espite the wave of raw emotion, it has been continuously more difficult to pinpoint what the exact goal of the demonstrators is. To prove this point, one shipping box cut-out reads “I’m Angry So I Made a Sign”. It does appear, however, that some protestors do have legitimate claims involving health care, unemployment, etc. and represent hardworking Americans who were genuinely worthy employees. There are also those who seem to have too much free time on their hands. The amounts of drama they display are unbelievable. While those photographed generally have what has been described as the ‘shaggy’ look, these protesters came prepared with their crudely- made signs displaying claims of their long- time suffering. They blame their inability to find work on the ‘corrupt’ businesses of America. Each person who comes to ‘demonstrate’ is really hurting their own cause—the larger a group of people, the greater the impact for room, shelter, food, etc. Drugs have also become a recent issue. There have been public demands for fellow protestors to stop smoking weed, and it has also been noted by the press that the park being employed by the protesters bans all alcohol and drug use.

What is the reaction to the protesters? A

pparently the protesters aren’t the only ones being dramatic. Demonstrators have reportedly been hit with rubber bullets, baseballs, and attacked with tear gas. This aggression from the police force is surprising but supposedly necessary as sources have confirmed that protesters did provoke the officers by propelling numerous objects (of substantial size) at them. In Oakland, California, a war veteran who was protesting suffered a severe head injury after he was hit by an officer. The mother of the veteran stated that her son had never been injured while he was on duty, and she was shocked that he was injured in the United States by fellow Americans. Video footage shows demonstrators carrying the soldier by his limbs to receive medical attention. His eyes were eerily wide open and unblinking, while his hands dangled awkwardly behind his head. At the time, the shocked expression and trickle of dark blood down his forehead were the only evidence of head trauma, but it was later revealed that his skull was fractured.

Who should the protestors be angry with? Chris Kelly, AP Physics Instructor

B.A. Economics and Political Science, Yale University Financial Consultant for Merrill Lynch

elly explains: The "Occupy Wallstreet" protesters may have the best of intentions, but I feel they are directing their anger at the wrong people. While Wall Street deserves its share of criticism, it is government policy that has lead to the group's disenchantment. In a free market, those enterprises that took too much risk (and made poor choices) would fail. By choosing which companies were "too big too fail," the government tried to manipulate a free market, which rarely works effectively.

The protesters are angry at "Wall Street" for making money while others suffer, but business will always use the rules to its advantage and the government makes the rules.

Deman Restoration of the living only be met by ending “F trade tariffs on all impo American market to leve mestic family farming an as most nations that are onto the American mark environmental regulati policy that must be institu wage to twenty

Deman Institute a universal sing te

Deman Guaranteed living wage ploy

Deman Free colleg

Deman Begin a fast track proce economy to an end while alternative energy econo

Dema One trillion dollars in inf Rail, Roads and Bridg spendi

Deman One trillion dollars in ec ing forests, reestablishing flow of river systems and America’s nucle

Deman Racial and gender eq

Deman Open borders migration where to wo

Deman Bring American electi standards of a paper ba recounted in front of an observer

Demand Immediate across the bo all. Debt forgiveness of so loans, home mortgages, card debt, student loans

Demand Outlaw all credit r

Demand Allow all workers to sign ing a union organizing that represents their yeah represent them in collect a un

et Protests o Bounds

on the Wall Where’s Kanye

t of ands

nd One: g wage. This demand can Free trade” by re-imposing orted goods entering the el the playing field for dond domestic manufacturing e dumping cheap products ket have radical wage and ion advantages. Another uted is raise the minimum dollars an hour.

nd Two: gle payer health care sysem.

nd Three: income regardless of emyment.

nd Four: ge education.

nd Five: ess to bring the fossil fuel e at the same bringing the omy up to energy demand.

and Six: frastructure (Water, Sewer, ges and Electrical Grid) ing now.

When You Need Him?

Protesters wave their fists to energize the crowd on Thursday, November 17, 2011, as more than 1,000 from Good Jobs LA, labor unions, unemployed workers, the clergy and OccupyLA took over to protest against the banks and wealthy corporations. (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

elebrities have joined the ‘search for justice’. Roseanne Barr known best for her hit television series Roseanne, has shown support for the Wall Street protests. The idea of any celebrity becoming involved will inevitably create a sort of energy. To add to that, Barr suggested that the guillotine be used to punish the bankers who voted the most greedily. As if the theatrical displays of resentment weren’t enough, these activist notions are spreading like the plague. Foreign activists are demonstrating their dislike of wealthy American institutions, only advocating for a global stereotype that Americans are lazy and selfpitying. Unfortunately, this has never seemed truer. R u s s e l l Simmons and Kanye West made appearances, and have received both positive and negative attention some accused the two performers of using Wall Street as a way to improve their images’. The names of ‘the rich and famous’ continue with Michael Moore Caricatures of Kanye West, and Susan Sarandon, Roseanne Barr and George who have both become Bush from MCT Campus involved.

Former Protestors: Within the Walls of Ravenscroft? Vietnam War

Why? “I was very naïve, idealistic, and egalitarian

in high school, and I felt that it just wasn’t fair that boys without family money or connections seemed to end up drafted while others were able to find a Marcia Jones way out of service... I remember the first funeral of Head of a classmate in high school. It made me sad and then English angry... The loss of young life….just too hard”. Department

Worth It? “My

individual role in protesting the war certainly made no difference. However, I think that those who were opposed to the war did have some impact collectively.”

my son is quick to remind me that we deal with “first world” problems, and he and his generation have a point. We have so much in this country. Dr. Susan While I understand the current protests, the present issues would not Perry lead me to the streets.” US Guidance Jones would like to make it clear that she has the utmost respect for Counselor all veterans.

Walk Again? “No,

I would probably not protest again. Considering my profession, I should remain unbiased.”

Mimi Lieberman

AP Env.Science Instructor

tor... I really believe ‘thou shalt not kill is pretty clear...I believe that everyone should have the right to protest ---guaranteed by the First Amendment.”

believe that the protests did have an effect and led to our pulling out earlier than we would have.”

Tense Tents

Walk Again? “ Ye s .

I believe that everyone should have the right to protest ---guaranteed by the First Amendment.”

Winter chills, sleepless nights W

nd Nine: n. Anyone can travel anyork and live.

nd Ten: ions up to international allot precinct counted and n independent and party rs system.

Thirteen: n a ballot at any time durcampaign or at any time h or nay to having a union tive bargaining or to form nion.

peaceful protest called “Nuclear Frees”during the mid 80s. I am inspired by Martin Luther King on a daily basis.”

Vietnam War Why? “I am a conscientious objec- Worth It? “...I

nd Eight: qual rights amendment.

d Twelve: reporting agencies.

Nuclear Weaponry Why? “I was involved in a

Walk Again? “I might. Depends on the issue.” Wall Street? “When I complain about something,

nd Seven: cological restoration plantg wetlands and the natural decommissioning of all of ear power plants.

d Eleven: oard debt forgiveness for overeign debt, commercial home equity loans, credit and personal loans now!

Marcia Jones in 1972.

Photo provided by Marcia Jones

Crimes on the Streets During Protests

he police are not the only element threatening the demonstrators. There have been reports of sexual assaults on women, some by convicted sex offenders. Tonye Iketubosin, a convicted sex offender, has reportedly raped at least two women, ranging from seventeen to eighteen. Iketubosin apparently offered to help the younger victim pitch her tent, but later snuck back inside without her consent. He then proceeded to abuse her until she forced him away. His older victim was less fortunate, and was not able to free herself from Iketubosin’s grasp. In Dallas, Texas a fourteen-year-old girl was the victim of gang rape, and stated that she was taken advantage of by several different men. The victim originally lied about her age when she decided to protest, and said that she was nineteen. The second victim had was staying in Iketubosin’s tent after she and her boyfriend had fought. Iketubosin told her he was on kitchen duty during the late night hours, and the she was welcome to stay in his tent while he was working. After she had fallen asleep, he came inside of the tent, and proceeded to abuse her

...

ith cold weather beginning to peak, tents are becoming a necessity, however, there are no locks on the zipper of such flimsy shelters. This means that all protesters, especially women, are vulnerable to attack. While all this threatening drama may make the atmosphere frigid, to beat the literal cold, the tents demonstrators are using do pass the military standards. The protesters have sworn that they will not be swayed by any natural disaster, including sleet or hail. The park that the protestors have inhabited is now under fire. The protestors were not allowed to remove any of their tents in advance, but could return to their campsites after the “cleaning crew” is finished. City officials then considered banning the park being used as a place to sleep at night. This act was approved by Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City. Needless to say, protestors did not take to the news lightly...

Dozens of personal tents are set up in Freedom Plaza during the Stop the Machine occupation of the space on Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the U.S. Capitol October 28, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)

Feature

The

Nevarmore

From The Golden State to The Tarheel State: Q & A with Jennifer Cohen lAUREN grADY STAFF WRITER

Everyone knows Jennifer Cohen from her fun classes to her jar-full with candy before each class. Although she’s

a new teacher, she fits right in to the Ravenscroft community with her energetic attitude and cheerfulness. “Being a new teacher is tough,” she says, “but I’m so grateful to be here every day!”

Q:What are the ups and downs of teaching?

Q:Which classes do you teach?

A: The students make teaching fresh, fun, and exciting every day! But, sometimes it’s tough to figure out what each individual needs for the best educational experience. I’m trying to make learning personalized for every student.

A: AP US Government and Politics and Economics (but we all know GoPo is her favorite)

Q:Is this your first time teaching?

Q:What do you hope students take away from your class?

A: No, last spring I taught one semester of Econ for Dr. Wherli

A: I’m hoping students acquire an understanding of how so many big concepts affect your life. There are big things happening that you can get involved in. First, I was students to know that they must be actively involved in their world. Second, I want students to walk out of the classroom happy and confident. That’s kind of why I wanted to be a lawyer; to be involved and influence others.

Q:What was your job before you were a teacher? A: I was a lawyer and a lobbyist. I loved my job, but I’ve wanted to teach students since I graduated from college. I went to UCLA for my BA in English and then Loyola Law School for my JD.

Q:Have you learned anything through your students?

Q:What’s your favorite thing about Ravenscroft?

A: I learn new things every day! They ask questions I don’t even think of all the time.

A: The quality and energy of the Ravenscroft students make me so excited to be here! Ravenscroft is really a community of outstanding individuals.

Q:What was high school like for you?

Q:Funniest Ravenscroft memory so far? A: It was the first week of school and I was really having trouble learning everyone’s name. I was taking role and realized I didn’t see Tyler Fergusson. Unfortunately, I thought his name was Taylor while I was taking roll, so I started asking everyone if they had seen Tyler because I didn’t know who he was. He was literally sitting right in front of me. He kept saying, sarcastically, “Yeah, I’ve seen him around.” But, it didn’t register that he was talking about himself! I felt so bad that I couldn’t remember his name, but now I definitely don’t forget it.

Photo by Lauren Grady

Q:What’s your favorite part about your course? Least favorite part?

A: My favorite is current stuff because it has relevance and students can see the connections between the classroom and real life. My least favorite is the math in Econ. Truthfully, I wish I could teach GoPo all day every day. It’s definitely my favorite class.

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A: High school was great! I loved it so much. I was a cheerleader. Also, I had terrific teachers and loved my classes. I was just so ready to get out of my hometown, Newberry Park, California.

Q:Favorite class and teacher? Why? A: My favorite class was my English class during senior year. My teacher was cool because he was really laid back, but he was so smart. He helped me write in a way and see themes that I never thought I could. The best part was that he treated us like adults. He reminds me a lot of Mr. Flinn except he was more “granola”. That means hippie. It’s a California word.

Q:Who do you look up to as a role model? Why? A: My father is definitely my role model. I was the best leader and teacher I’ve ever known.

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Feature

11 Ten Awesome Inventions

The

Nevarmore I

n big cities such as New York, the streets are always overcrowded with people and cars. The Shenzhen Huashi Future Parking Equipment is in the makes of creating a massive bus that “straddles” a two-lane street. This bus can carry up to 1,200 people and leaves a space of 7 feet above the street. It will be cheaper to take than the subway, and testing begins in late 2011.

Caroline Scales

Photo credit: http://www.hsfuture.com/

l l the way from Britain’s own Fabrican is a new style of clothing: spray-on fabric! It can be sprayed directly onto a body or onto a dress form and sticks until it is taken off- just like a normal shirt or dress. Goodbye, busted buttons and unzipped zippers!

Photo credit: http://www.fabricanltd.com/

or the photographer in all of us, the Throwable Panoramic Camera takes a complete picture of all your surroundings so you don’t have to miss a second of it!

Photo credit: http://www. reallightsaber.net/

re you a Star Wars fan? Ever dreamed of owning a real lightsaber capable of injury? Welcome to your dream world! http://www. reallightsaber.net/ sells real Photo credit: http://jonalightsabers from the E2 and E3 spfeil.de/ballcamera Series, and the Spider III Arctic.

Driving itself into this

countdown is Google’s own Driverless car. It takes all the work out of driving to ensure safety of the driver. “I think it’s really cool that they can do that,” Reid Scales, ‘12, said. But, as with all new technology, there is a hesitation,“ I would wait until the next generation if I were to buy one Google driverless car operating on a testing just for safety reasons. I feel like the Photo credit: http://gotwind.org/ first generation, you path. orange_power_wellies.htm never know if there’s Photo credit: Steve Jurvetson glitches or not.” “But,” he continued, “that said, I think it would be great at times, say if ver thought it would be you’re tired and really don’t want to drive home. If it looked more awesome to be able to see through like a regular sedan and I had the means, I would totally buy it.” walls? Walleye Technologies have developed an x-ray microwave camera that does just that and costs less than $500. Kevin Billerman, Assistant Head of the Upper School, said it is an “advantage [for the U.S. Military] rom the inspirational words of Dr. Sheldon in detecting bombs as long as the individuals Cooper of CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory,” jetpacks are using it have complete knowledge of the object the number one coolest mode of transportation, folthey’re using it on.” He believes that it wouldn’t lowed by the “hoverboard, transporter, batmobile, and then be very useful for himself in the Upper School, giant ant.” The Martin Jetpack, under nearly 30 years but it “could be beneficial at dances to see flasks in the making, is completely impractical and expenpeople carry in.” sive, running about $100,000, but it sure would meet Dr. Sheldon’s needs. Dr. Nunalee, Science Instructor, says, “I would definitely want one because, as a kid, I watched Star Wars, and Boba Fett had one. He was BA. He was the bad guy you wanted to be. I would use it by accepting money to do the bidding of the Sith Lords.”

7 Photo credit: http://www.walleyetechnologies.com

ave you ever looked at something and thought, “Oh, that’s such a cool invention, I wish I came up with that!” Well, here are the top ten most wanted modern inventions with their (sometimes) uselessness.

new green way to power your electronics has finally arrived! Introducing the new face of green power, Orange Power Wellies. This boot, constructed by Michael Alpine and colleagues from Princeton University, is made of rubber, and whenever the rubber is heated, it converts heat into current strong enough to charge a cell phone (with 12 hours of walking, that is).

Editor

alaria kills one million people each year. Thankfully, The Malaria-Proof Mosquito and The Mosquito Laser help genetically engineer mosquitoes that are immune to the Plasmodium parasite, which is what causes malaria through its bite. Zoe Welsh, Head of Science Department, shared three opinions on it: the opinion the general public will like, and the biologist opinion. General public’s view: “This would be great. It would reduce the number of malaria deaths, and maybe eradicate malaria.” Biologist’s view: “Malaria is a population control issue, as most diseases are, and so it would allow for population to become larger and we already have a problem with human population. We manipulate the environment For protection from catching malaria, so we can live longer. The environment can’t support the increase in human population. Agnes Mukosay, 7, sleeps under netting But the science part is cool.” that is impregnated with insecticide to Future’s view: “The number of different sci- keep mosquitoes from biting threw the ence advances you [the next generation] de- net. Zambia hopes to distribute millions of cide will be ethical will be amazing.” nets this year. Overall, she has no solid answer, but that Steve Ringman/Seattle Times/MCT despite the population control problem, the Malaria-Proof Mosquitoes will probably because humans generally want to help others.

The Hunter and His Prey by Chris Trevas

very little kid dreams of being a superhero. Many of them dream to be Iron Man, and that day has finally arrived. The XOS2 is a real-life Iron Man suit allows even the scrawniest of men to lift 200 lbs. Patrick Monaghan,’13, believes that, “while this machine is expensive, it is well worth the price.” This will be introduced into the military, but the at-home model might still only in be the little kid’s dreams. Monaghan adds, “I don’t think that it should be in the hands of civilians and should only be in the hands of the most experianced military men and should be used only for good and not be put in the bad hands.”

Photo credit: raytheon.com

Feature

The

Nevarmore

Photos from MCT Campus

Balance Bands: Max sminkey STAFF WRITER

ou’ve seen them around— sport bracelets and necklaces, promising to improve balance and performance in sports. But do they really work, or is it just another fad? Several companies in the past few years, including Power Balance in 2006 and EFX Performance in 2007, have manufactured the bands that allegedly make athletes faster, stronger, and more balanced. According to Power Balance, the bands are designed let people “maximize…potential and live [their] live[s] to the fullest.” The wristbands are a kind of “energy bracelet” with a hologram. The holograms, similar to those found on licenses and passports, are

Celebrities promote them, popularity increases, but do they really work?

intended to improve the balance and stability of athletes by manipulating the body’s natural energy field. These claims have not been supported by any scientific evidence. Sales for the bands have steadily increased since they were created, as they have become more popular and trendy. Power Balance’s sales figures from 2010 topped $35 million. The concept, similar to the intended effects of yoga or meditation, is to imitate East Asian spiritual practices and philosophies. The band does not have to be in contact with the user or even worn, a pocket is enough to affect the performance of the person. The question is: do the bands actually improve performance? Most Ravenscroft students don’t think so. In a recent survey, almost 9 in

10 students feel the bands are a scam and would not buy them for their retail price of about $30 because they feel that they are overpriced. Still, nearly half of the respondents have bought a balance bracelet at some point. Junior Arash Kasebi says, “It doesn’t really work at all. It’s as effective as wearing a bracelet. No difference at all.” Even so, 31% of those who bought a balance band saw at least a slight improvement in athletic performance due to the band. Not surprisingly, there has been much criticism surrounding Power Balance, targeted mainly at the credibility of their products. In January of this year, Power Balance was sued for $5 million in damages for consumer fraud, false advertising, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment. As a result,

Power Balance released a public statement on its website saying: “We admit that there is no credible scientific evidence that supports our claims and therefore we engaged in misleading conduct …” That has not stopped many professional athletes from endorsing or wearing the bands, including basketball players Shaquille O’Neal and Lamar Odom, quarterbacks Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford, baseball player Dustin Pedroia, and hockey player Teemu Selanne. Much research has been devoted to determining whether or not the balance bands work for consumers. A study from Cardiff Metropolitan University found after a series of athletic tests that there was no significant difference in performance between athletes who wore a balance band versus a placebo band.

However, even though the bands themselves might not help performance directly, users may benefit from the placebo effect. The placebo effect states that people assume that because they are wearing the band, they will perform better. The mind “tricks” the body into translating these thoughts into results. In that sense, the bands may actually improve the performance of some athletes. Although opinion on the bands is generally tilted towards the negative end of the scale, there is no general consensus on whether or not they are effective. For the most part, the extent to which they work depends on the individual and cannot be summed up into a single answer. Either way, balance bands have emerged as a social and sports phenomenon.

The Nevarmore asks...Do balance bands really work? “They epitomize American stupidity.” Beau Scheier, ‘13

“I thought that it worked because my game performance was improved.”

“I felt like it worked until I showered with it on.”

Shakim McKeithan, ‘13

Isaac Copeland, ‘13

Photos by LifeTouch

“It doesn’t really work at all. It’s as effective as wearing a bracelet. No difference at all.”

“If you pay money for it, it reinforces the belief that it will work for you. It’s the placebo effect.”

Arash Kasebi, ‘13

Janet Smith Psychology Instructor “Balance bands are a rip-off, and it was the biggest waste of $25 in my life.” Brad Ehilegbu, ‘12

Feature

The

Nevarmore

Football Great Al Davis Leaves the Sidelines ALEXUS BALDWIN A

STAFF WRITER

l Davis was a big time football figure in the NFL and American Football World, and the field was his home away from home. He had a huge impact on the game that brings together families on Sunday. With a motto of “Just Win, baby,” he and his players had a record of going in and walking out with a win. Since Davis made such an impact in the football world, today’s high school football fans should take a moment to learn about his life and his accomplishments.

Ned Gonet, Varsity Football Head Coach,

Al Davis’ death was a great loss because Davis showed an unparrelled commitment to the game. Gonet said that Davis brought a certain swagger to football and left an ideal and able mark. While all traditional people in football have an impact, Davis was a person that pushed this belief. Gonet said Davis was a maverick and did a lot of things differently. He cared about his players and had an undying goal to build up the Raiders like no other team in the league. Gonet said Davis’ major influence was illustrated by the Raiders’ success which was a direct result of Davis extreme dedication to his goals, his passion to build a program of excellence and his method of pushing players to defend those colors of gray and black they wore with defiance.

Al Davis, owner of the Oakland Raiders, holds a press conference at the team’s headquarters in Alameda, California, on Tuesday, January 21, 2004 (mvw) 2004

evin Billerman, Varsity Football Skill Coach, believes that Al Davis was very important to football. Billerman describes Davis as “a definite power figure that brought the American Football League and the NFL together.” Billerman explained that in you look at Davis’ various job titles, you can easily see who he was and how important his life has been; especially to football. In the past five years, Al Davis became invisible and took a backseat to other football figures. Even so, his death had a big impact on the game.

A fan holds a handmade sign during a tribute to Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California on Sunday, October 16, 2011. (Nhat V. Meyer/San Jose Mercury News/MCT)

Varsity Ravens to Compete in All-Star Game

Photos from MCT Campus

Timeline of Al Davis’ Career Highlights Offensive End Coach for Chargers in 1960-1962

General Manager & Head Coach of Raiders 1962

AFL’s Coach American Football League of the Year 1966 1963 Wins first Commissioner 1966 Super Bowl July 25, 1966, Davis 1977 resigned as commissioner NFL’s Executive of the Year 1977 Wins Third Superbowl 1984

Wins Second Superbowl 1980 Inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame 1992

Oasis Shrine Bowl

November 25th at 1 p.m. at Charlotte Country Day

CONOR FRY

QUINN BILLERMAN

MATT McDOWELL

Oakland Raiders Coach Al Davis is honored at a testimonial luncheon upon his departure to become AFL commissioner. With him are Elmo Mazzera, bottom right, Wayne Valley, standing behind Davis, and Robert Nahas. Davis, who enjoyed a 60-year career in football, died Saturday, October 8, 2011. He was 82. (Howard Erker/Oakland Tribune/MCT)

Sports 14 Nevarmore College Basketball Preview Winter Sports Preview i c The

Raven Alums to watch at the next level

saac

Varsity Wrestling STAFF WRITER

Last years Varsity Wrestling team ended the season with a th

record of 11-13 and finished 10 place in team competition at the NCISAA State Tournament. “Yes, we lost a really key asset to our team in Temple Sloan and also Austin Hill was a solid wrestler for us that will be missed. Some of our team goals for this season are: To beat Cary Academy each time we wrestle them, to beat NRCA’s team in the first year of its program, and also to improve our place in the state tournament from last year.”

Matt Mcdowell pinning his oponent, ‘12. Photo by Susan Washburn

-Matt Mcdowell, ‘12

Boys Varsity Basketball 2

010-2011 Boys Basketball team earned the following titles: TISAC Regular Season Championship; TISAC Conference Tournament Championship and Glaxo Holiday Invitational Tournament Championship and finished the season with a record of 24-4. “We lost one senior last year, Joell “Slab” Hopkins which is a tremendous loss but Issac “Curls” Copeland should fill his role nicely. Win State Championship, Glaxo Championship, Undefeated. Shooting every morning at 6:30 and gettin buckets every tuesday and thursday from 3:45 to 5:30 in the Back gym or Middle School gym” - Quinn Billerman, ‘12

Quinn Billerman, ‘12. Photo by Susan Wasburn

Girls Varisty Basketball L

ast years Varsity Girls Basketball competed in the TISAC Conference Tournament Semifinals and ended their season with a record of 10-17. “The team is going to miss the leadership of the seniors and the intensity they brought to the floor. Our goals are to win the conference tournament and get to at least the second round of states. Our main competition is Cary Academy; [we] have a grudge against them because they knocked us out of the conference tournament at their gym, so it was our last game of the season. …We lost to them twice last year.” -Erin Kelly, ‘15

Erin Kelly, ‘15.

Girls Varsity Swim The Varsity Girls Swim Team ended the year with a record 10-2-1.

“Our goals are to go to States, and to PR. I was on the Cross Country team in the fall. So, I have been running everyday and I am in shape. Even now, I am running before practice to keep my cardio up and to make sure I meet my goals.” - Carole Verdru, ‘12

Boys Varsity Swim The Varsity Boys Swim team finished last year’s season with a record of 3-9. “Yes, this years team is going to be dramatically hurt by the loss of the seniors of last year! The guys’ team more so then the girls’ team. The guys have lost over half of its size and the most of the main scorers. My personal goals for the season is to make States and score in more then one event. The teams goal is to start training and getting better for later years. We were running on the track. I personally have been lifting weights and was on the football team” - Robert Lippitt, ‘14

he NBA lockout is a serious concern for the basketball junkies in America. It leaves them longing for arguably one of the best times of the year; March Madness. Here at Ravenscroft, basketball fans gather to watch the best collegiate athletes compete. Duke, Carolina, and NC State are some of the local favorites but there are several Raven fans of out of state teams. With great players like Kentucky’s Terrence Jones and NC State’s Lorenzo Brown competing on a nightly basis, this season is going to be Sophomore Harison filled with great games. A local team favorite, UNC Tar Heels, Barnes finishing strong at the rim. are the #1 team in the nation. With players Photo from MCT Campus like Harrison Barnes, John Henson, and the lefty Kendall Marshall it’s not hard to see why they have earned this ranking. “UNC deserves this ranking! Whenever you have a beast in the paint, like John Henson, your team can do big things. With the work of Kendall Marshall and Harrison Barnes there’s no question that we deserves this,” said Shakim Mckeithan, ‘13.

EA Sports Maui Invitational MVP Ryan Kelly

Mr. Basketball of Ravenscroft, Kevin Billerman, Varsity Basketball Coach, was a legend in his high school days in both football and basketball. Billerman went on to play college basketball at Duke as a two-time captain for the Blue Devils as well as professional basketball overseas. Billerman has produced several collegiate athletes in the past 10 years such as: Ryan Kelly, Duke, Luke Davis, UNC, and Matt Wilson, UNC at Wilmington. Billerman weighs in on his former players: When Ryan and Luke have success at the next level, I hope the entire Ravenscroft Basketball family feels a sense of pride in their accomplishments. I think if you were Duke’s Ryan Kelly (34) goes to interview them, they would say that up to score two of his game- they wouldn’t be where they are without high 17 points over Presby- the collective work of the teams they terian’s Al’Lonzo Coleman played on at Ravenscroft. As well, many faculty and just the (34) at Cameron. Duke won, entire Ravenscroft Community should 96-55, giving head coach Mike take pride in and follow the young men Krzyzewski his record-tying that have played here and continue to 902nd career victory. (Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Ob- play at the next level. server/MCT)

Photo by Susan Washburn

Carole Verdru, ‘12

STAFF WRITER

MAdison Jones

Photo by Susan Wasburn

opeland

Robert Lippitt, ‘14

Photo by Susan Washburn

We have 9 former students playing college basketball and I’m proud of all of them: Justin Bradley, ‘09, Guilford, Matt Wilson, ‘09, UNC Wilmington, Ryan Kelly, ‘09, Duke, Aru Kok, ‘09, USC Upstate, Sean Billerman, ‘10, Army, Mike Eghilebu, ‘10, Randolph, Stefan Stoyanovich, ‘10, NYU Poly, Luke Davis, ‘10, UNC, and Joell Hopkins, ‘11, Tallahasse Community College. I don’t know if there is another school in the area with 5 players at the Division I level and 9 overall. The fact that they have true Student-Athletes, follow the NCAA rules and still win at a high rate. Coach K recruits players with character that the school Army’s Sean Billerman and Duke guarding a Navy player. c o m m u n i t y Photo provided by Kevin Billercan be proud man of. Talented, but immature in the way they play. They will get better as they mature defensively, both individually and as a team. They must learn to share the ball when other people are open. This will come with film work. Players are learning new roles and they must grow into them. For example, Ryan must think scoring more than he did in the past. So, my thought is that Duke will be better in March than they will be in December. UNC, Carolina’s Luke Davis with Luke on the team, they HAVE to be better drives the ball down than last years team. They have a very talented the court at a recent lineup with size, speed, scoring and rebounding. The question is, “How good will they are on practice. Photo by Jeffrey Camarati defense?” Plus they have Roy Williams, one of the top two coaches in the country.

15 Post Season Recap and Sports Awards

Sports

The

Nevarmore

Girls Varsity Cross Country State Champs Lady Ravens capture the NCISAA 3A title fourtime defending state champs, Charlotte Latin cATHERINE green STAFF WRITER

Captain Grace Fuscoe, ‘12, runs to the finish line. Photo by Susan Washburn

he Varsity Girls Cross Country Team has consistently beaten every opponent with great strides as demonstrated by their 5-0 record this season. They seized the state title with a slim victory over Latin, 71-70. The girls won Conference earlier this year and the state title the first time since 1995. Elisabeth Schricker, ‘13, placed 6th and Claire Fuscoe, ‘14, placed 8th in the state and were also named All-State selections. Senior co-captains Grace Fuscoe and Lexy Bader said that one of their goals was to help ensure that the team was close and ran for their school even though its an individual sport.

Most Valuable: THOMAS SIGMON Most Improved: KEETON GLENN Coaches: JOSH SILVER

Photo by Susan Washburn

ALL CONFERENCE ELISABETH SCHRICKER CLAIRE FUSCOE, LEXY BADER EMILY BEDSOLE

Most Valuable: ELISABETH SCHRICKER Most Improved: CLAIRE FUSCOE Coaches: EMILY BEDSOLE

Varsity Girls Golf State Runner-Up

2011 Field Hockey Awards Most Valuable: MELISSA FUNSTEN Most Improved: RACHEL HIANIK Coaches: CAROLINE MARGOLIS

Photo by Susan Washburn

he Varsity Field Hockey team finished the regular season with the best record in Ravenscroft history, 18-1, as they entered the NCISAA State Championship game in Greensboro as the top seed. This is the second year in-a-row that the team earned the conference title. Hard work on and off the field propelled them towards the ultimate goal of winning the state tournament. They placed 2nd again to the defending state champions, Charlotte Latin, with a score of 4-0.

ALL CONFERENCE MELISSA FUNSTEN, SAVANNAH STORY, TAYLOR EDNIE, CAROLINE MARGOLIS ALL STATE MELISSA FUNSTEN, SAVANNAH STORY

Quinn Billerman, ‘12, passes the ball.

Varsity Football

his is the fourth consecutive year that the Varsity Football team grabbed the Big East Independent Conference title as they ended their regular season with a 8-3 record. They entered the NCISAA Division I State Tournament as the fourth seed but lost to Providence Day in the first round. One highlight of the season was beating Charlotte Christian for the first time in years. Three members of the team were invited to play in the Shrine Bowl on November 25th; Quinn Billerman, ‘12, Matt McDowell, ‘12, and Conor Fry, ‘12. “If we play well, I think we can beat anyone we play...plus we have the most swag in the league,” said senior captain Quinn Billerman.

State Runner-Up

MELISSA FUNSTEN

Photo by Susan Washburn

GIRLS

Varisty Field Hockey

ALL CONFERENCE PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR

Captain Josh Silver, ‘12.

Varsity Cross Country Fall 2011 Awards BOYS

Captain Melissa Funsten, ‘12 sweeps the ball down the field.

“We knew it would be very close but we didn’t know who would take home the trophy. Luckily, it was our day! All of our runners ran really well and several people stepped-up and we won conference. We couldn’t have done it without the boys team. They were our biggest fans; pushed us in practice and believed in us more than we believed in ourselves. We love them!” said Fuscoe. The boys ranked 15th in the competition with junior Thomas Sigmon taking the top spot for the Ravens with a finish of 32nd place. Cocaptains Josh Silver, ‘12, and Thomas Sigmon. ‘13, led the team this year. The last time Ravenscroft won a state championship was in 2009 when the Varsity Boys Golf team took the top spot in the NCISAA 3A competition.

BIG EAST ALL-CONFERENCE Varsity Golf Team: Emily Velk, ‘13, Evie Dole, ‘13, Coach Doug Hodges, Caroline Hanson, ‘14, Jessica Kittleberger, ‘14, Cameron Litcher, ‘12, Mariel Zaperski, ‘13. Photo by Susan Washburn

he Varsity Girls Golf Team went undefeated again this season and entered the NCISAA State Tournament on October 24th in Greensboro with confidence. Evie Dole, ‘13, and Jessica Kittelberger, ‘14, guided the team as co-captains. Dole and Kittelberger led the Ravens shooting 76s to earn the number two spot overall in North Carolina to Cannon School. Dole and Kittelberger were both All-State selections and Dole was named the All Conference Player of the Year. “It was really exciting to win the State Player of the Year Award because I worked really hard on my game this year. But, it was even more exciting that this year was the first state championship for girls golf for independent schools,” said Dole.

2011 Girls Golf Awards ALL CONFERENCE Most Valuable: Most Improved: PLAYER-OFEVIE DOLE MARIEL ZIPERSKI THE-YEAR Coaches: JESSICA KITTELBERGER

EVIE DOLE

All Conference:

EVIE DOLE, JESSICA KITTELBERGER, CAROLINE HANSEN, MARIEL ZIPERSKI

ALL STATE

EVIE DOLE

JESSICA

KITTELBERGER

QUINN BILLERMAN, GARRETT BIRD, MATT MCDOWELL, AVERY EDWARDS, JAKE MORIN, CONOR FRY

HONORABLE MENTION T.R. VERNAL, BRANDON PARK, LEWIS STOCKS

ALL STATE QUINN BILLERMAN, GARRETT BIRD, MATT MCDOWELL, AVERY EDWARDS, JAKE MORIN

2011 Football Awards Most Valuable: QUINN BILLERMAN Most Improved: BENNETT DOTSON Coaches: GARRET BIRD

In Memory of

Ralph Madison Stockton IV R

alph Stockton passed away on November 6th. Ralph had an engaging personality and a true zest for life. He had many friends and he never met a stranger. He was always available for friends or family in need and always wanted to protect his family. His kindness and warm spirit will always be remembered and cherished. He had a natural athletic gift and enjoyed playing many sports all his life. Most recently he and his brother, Daniel, spent many special hours skateboarding and bonding. Ralph is survived by his mother, Tanya Stockton, his younger brother, Daniel Stockton of Raleigh, NC, and preceded in death by his father, Ralph Madison Stockton III (Matt). He is also survived by his maternal grandparents, Faye & Donald Pugh of Camden, NC and Hilary & Kathy Leary of Elizabeth City, NC, maternal aunt and uncle, Wanda Leary and Philip Lee of Beverly, West Virginia and cousins, Miriah, Japheth, Kaya and Aaron. - Excerpt from obituary

In Memory of

Maria Woodson Dann M

aria Woodson Dann passed on Thursday, November 3rd in a fatal car accident. She was a loving mother, vibrant teacher, loyal friend ,and wife. Mrs. Woodson taught at Ravenscroft for twelve years and had a great impact on both the community and students. I will always remember walking into her classroom the first day of second grade, timid and shy. She welcomed us with a loving smile and told us she was so delighted to have us in class. I felt an instant connection and knew it would be a great year. Mrs. Woodson left behind a loving son who she was very close with named Michael, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;08. Mrs. Woodson also left her protective husband, Ted Dann, that loved and cared for her deeply. They were married in June of 2011. Mrs. Woodson enjoyed working with kids and even volunteered at a hospital reading to sick children to help bring joy back into their lives. She will always be remembered by students and teachers at Ravenscroft for her sweet smile and welcoming hug or hello everyday; no matter what she was dealing with inside. Mrs. Woodson made sure to put her students and others first and always had a positive attitude; never allowing everyday life or stress to hinder her teaching in the classroom. Mrs. Woodson also found opportunities to teach her students life lessons. She held her students accountable to high moral standards and taught us to be respectful. Mrs. Woodson will always be remembered and we will miss her greatly.

- Catherine Green, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;12