The
Gryphon Gazette The Student Voice of St. George’s Independent School
Monday, October 31, 2016
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Volume XVI, Issue II
1880 Wolf River Blvd. Collierville, TN 38017
• thegryphongazette.org
Kaepernick’s movement 4
I watched two hours of politcal ads 14
How
Agreeing to disagree 8
do we Voting? There’s an app for that 3
choose?
2016
Could you become a citizen? 16
Hate speech is free speech, too 13
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The Gryphon Gazette
Monday, October 31, 2016
The Gryphon Gazette Vol. XV
S TA F F
SPECIAL EDITION
A guide to voting in Tennessee
Issue 2
Co-Editors-in-Chief Miriam Brown ’17 Annie Vento ’17
Advisor
Dr. Margaret Robertson
Layout Editors Katie Boyle ’17 Laura McDowell ’17 Carolyn Lane ’18 Kaitlyn Bowman ’19 William Brown ’19
Kaitlyn Bowman ’19 and Will Brown ’19 Layout Editors
You can register to vote by mail or in person.
1.
If you prefer to do it by mail, you can simply google search “registering to vote in Tennessee” to get the forms you need.
Copy Editors Caroline Zummach ’18 Annie Murff ’18
Photographers Rachel Ducker ’17 Faith Huff ’17 Matthew Blum ’17 Katelyn Grisham ’18
Illustrator Elle Vaughn ’17
Communications News Editor In-depth Editor A&E Editor
Laura McDowell ’17 Merryn Ruthling ’18 Caroline Zummach ’18 Iona Yates ’17
Sports Editor Bayard Anderson ’17
Opinion Editor Web Editors
Annie Murff ’18 Dawson Smith ’17 Carolyn Lane ’18
Reporters Regine Miller ’17 Lauren Purdy ’18 Bart Mueller ’18 Annika Conlee ’18 Emma Bennett ’19
The Gryphon Gazette is dedicated to serving as an authentic voice for the students of St. George’s Independent School. We at the Gryphon Gazette strive to be an open forum for student expression, to act in the best interests of the student body and to embody the principles of journalistic excellence. The Gryphon Gazette is affiliated with the Tennessee High School Press Association and the National Scholatic Press Association. The Gryphon Gazette is published every six weeks throughout the school year by the schoolprinting.com. The Gryphon Gazette is funded by St. George’s Independent School and is published once every six weeks during the school year by schoolprinting.com. The Gryphon Gazette prints and distributes 200 copies of each issue to 700 students and faculty on St. George’s upper school campus. Bylines indicate the primary writer(s) of each article. Additional contributors are indicated in the shirttail. The Gryphon Gazette provides free advertising for student clubs, events, and activities. The Gryphon Gazette welcomes letters to the editor and article submissions. To submit a letter, article or request for advertising, email our staff at gryphongazette@sgis.org. St. George’s Independent School 1880 Wolf River Blvd. Collierville, TN 38017 901-427-2000 October 31, 2016
News
You can also register in person by picking up the form at your county’s election office, wherever that might be. Google Maps, right?
P O L L S
Fill out the form and return it to your county elections office by the designated due date... Procrastination is not advised but will probably happen anyway.
2016
Early voting dates for the election already passed. so head straight to the polls on election day * Election day is November 8. Tenessee polls open at seven a.m. We know that’s early, but it’s worth it. All polls close at eight p.m.
You’ve missed the deadline for this year, but at least you’ll be a registered voter!
2. There are Voting and ID requirements for voters Voting:
ID:
Must be registered to vote in Tennessee.
Tenn. Driver’s license or U.S. passport
Must be a U.S. citizen, duhhh.
Photo ID issued by the Tenn. Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Must be 18 by election day. That means on or before this date... but no later!
ID isn’t required to vote by mail, weird right? You only need to bring one of the three ID’s. You’re just voting for president, not meeting them!
CORRECTIONS AND RETRACTIONS: The St. George’s Gryphon Gazette strives for accuracy in all articles. However, mistakes are sometimes made. When this happens, you will see corrections here. Issue 1, Page 14: We mistakenly left out part of Mr. McCarroll’s quotation. It should read, “Access to a St. George’s education, for those who qualify, tends to level the playing field of life regardless of culture.”
News
The Gryphon Gazette
SPECIAL EDITION
Monday, October 31, 2016
3
Lauren Purdy ’18 Reporter
Y
ou walk into your polling location and head over to the voting machine thinking that you are just voting between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. You then scroll down and see names with positions you have never heard of. What in the world is an alderman? According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, six in 10 intermittent voters said that they know little information about candidates. Regular voters also felt less informed. Because of this, voters, intermittent or regular, may skip over candidates, guess, choose by party or simply not vote at all. However, during a recent visit to St. George’s, alumna Sophie Kennedy shared a possible solution, BallotReady. Ms. Kennedy now spends her days in Chicago working for BallotReady, a company that, according to its website, provides free, nonpartisan background information on each candidate and referendum on a voter’s ballot, ensuring that the voter is informed and prepared to vote. Ms. Kennedy spoke with St. George’s students in upper school government and newspaper classes about the website and how knowing candidates and their policies before voting for them is of utmost importance, given her own
Voting? There’s an app for that BallotReady and GoVoteTN help students prepare to vote
Photo: Faith Huff ‘17
Seniors Robert Grissom and Mimi McCarroll, new voters, prepare for the upcoming election by using GoVote Tennessee. Studies have shown that many voters feel they do not know enough to make an informed choice on election day.
learn more about their district. Knowing the candidates and their policies before voting is nothing new for government teacher Ms. Emily Gunther. Ms. Gunther relied on local sources for the smaller elections in her
“People who are politicians and run for campaigns are signing up to run your community, so you deserve to know who those people are.” experience in campaign work. “I worked for a candidate who I was really supportive of and really excited about, but one of the challenges that we consistently faced, and the reason we lost, was because there was not enough people that knew her name and not enough people that knew where she stood on issues,” Ms. Kennedy said. “So the choice that they made was based on name recognition and not based on where this person stood in relation to [their] beliefs and values.” Ms. Kennedy also recommended that students who are voting should look into the GoVoteTN app, which provides more extensive information about Tennessee voting. According to the GoVoteTN website, the app allows Tennesseans to view their sample ballot, search for polling locations and
area, and she, like Ms. Kennedy, believed that local elections should not go unnoticed. “As controversial as this presidential election is, what really matters is going to be senators who can pass bills and the people in the local levels who actually do interact with you, your city and your county on a day-to-day basis,” Ms. Gunther said. “A state senator isn’t going to necessarily know every part of their constituencies, but a local representative will know more specific residential issues that affect your dayto-day life a lot more than presidential decisions that affect the future of the country and moving forward on those terms.” Students in Ms. Gunther’s classes have discussed the election and voting in depth, covering topics that include demographics, election analysis, lobbying, poll-
ing and interest groups. Sidney Martin, junior and AP United States Politics and Government student, learned from both his class and Ms. Kennedy that voting can make a difference and that all political ideas are necessary. “I learned that it’s good to vote because you can make a very good difference in our election,” Martin said. “We live in a representative government, where we the people are represented by representatives, so we need to tell our representatives what we think. If we don’t do that, we won’t be heard as a people.” Senior Brook Goodman is finally eligible to vote, and she feels like she has stayed somewhat informed about the election. Goodman has been watching debates and feels like the opinions of young people matter just as much as those of adults when it concerns voting. “I watched both of the debates, so I’m a little familiar with each person and their sides. In government, we’ve been talking about how people our age tend to not vote because some may tell them
that they don’t have to or that we don’t know a lot about it,” Goodman said. “But the younger and older population have different perspectives on things, so it’s important to have both of those opinions.” Ms. Kennedy believes voting is critical for political representation, yet actually knowing who you are voting for and what that candidate stands for can ultimately make a difference in the voting habits of many Americans today. The BallotReady website and GoVoteTN app may help. “People who are politicians and run for campaigns are signing up to run your community, so you deserve to know who those people are, where they stand on things and what they’re going to do about problems that are in your community,” Ms. Kennedy said. “Voting is one of the simplest and most direct ways we have of producing meaningful change. If more of us vote informed, we can make our democracy work the way it should.”
“We need to tell our representatives what we think. If we don’t do that, we won’t be heard as a people.”
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The Gryphon Gazette
Monday, October 31, 2016
Sports
SPECIAL EDITION Colin Kaepernick’s lone protest sparks a larger movement
Photo Illustration: Rachel Ducker ‘17 A senior football player walks onto the Ferguson Field. Athletes across the nation, inspired by Colin Kaepernick, have been protesting the national anthem. Emma Bennett ‘19 Reporter
O
n August 14, 2016, Colin Kaepernick started a movement. Since that day, the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers has taken a knee during the national anthem every football game in order to protest the oppression of minorities in the United States. Quickly gaining popularity amongst NFL players, the protests spread to other professional sports, includ-
ing the National Women’s Soccer League and the NBA. First joined by Eric Reid, a fellow 49er, Kaepernick was soon followed by Jeremy Lane, cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks, Brandon Marshall, a Denver Broncos linebacker and Michael Thomas, a Seahawks safety. The NFL is not the only professional league where players have supported Kaepernick’s protests. Megan Rapi-
noe, a player on the US women’s national soccer team, knelt during the national anthem of a NWSL game against the Chicago Red Stars in support of Kaepernick. Rapinoe, who is openly gay, said to SB Nation she knows “what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties.” Unlike the NFL, which released a statement saying “players are encour-
aged but not required to stand during the playing of the national anthem,” the U.S. soccer league asked for players and coaches “to reflect upon the liberties and freedom we all appreciate in this country” during the national anthem. In order to prevent Rapinoe from protesting before the Washington Spirit v. Seattle Reign game, the Spirit moved the national anthem to play
Sept. 1
Sept. 7
Tracking the movement Aug. 14 and Aug. 20
Aug. 28
San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick sits for the national anthem during two NFL preseason games. His actions go unnoticed because he is not in uniform.
Kaepernick says that he will continue to kneel until changes are made.
Kaepernick sits again, this time in uniform, and begins to garner significant social media attention for his actions.
Aug. 26
Jeremy Lane of the Seattle Seahawks sits for the anthem during a football game.
Kaepernick takes a knee instead of sitting during the anthem. He is joined by teammate and free safety Eric Reid.
Sept. 1
The Spirits, Rapinoe’s team, play the national anthem before the players are on the field to avoid player protest.
Soccer player Megan Rapinoe kneels during the anthem before her professional soccer game.
Sept. 4
The Gryphon Gazette
Sports
Monday, October 31, 2016
SPECIAL EDITION
before both teams came onto the field. At first, only professional athletes joined Kaepernick in his protests. Soon after, though, college and high school football players were kneeling
ing Kaepernick’s protests Senior Ben Glass, who is committed to play football at United States Naval Academy next year, said he respects Kaepernick’s opinion but disagrees with how he is protesting. “Football’s a sport to have fun,” Glass said. “I don’t really think it should be political.” Meanwhile, senior Marshall Shanks, who actively supports Black Lives Matter and hosted a teen forum for the movement in August, agrees with Kaepernick’s protests and has no problem with him using his fame as a platform to spread awareness for his movement. “I feel like his protest is right but just because of his name, it’s making him seem like he’s a bad guy,” Shanks said. “It’s because it’s Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback on a big franchise team in the NFL.” Kaepernick repeatedly states that while he is not anti-American, he is not proud of how the United States is treating its minorities. “I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for the people that are oppressed,” Kaepernick said to SB Nation. Senior Noah Pope, a captain of the Gryphons’ football team alongside Glass, was unsure of what would happen if the Gryphons’ football team decided to protest. “I do think there would be a lot of people who would be mad about it, and there would be a lot of people who agree with it, just like there is in the country,” Pope said. Though Kaepernick’s movement is spreading rapidly across the nation, St. George’s policies remain unaffected. “We haven’t really changed anything we’ve done in the past. We trust
“I am not looking for approval.” during the national anthem. On Sept. 16, all football players and coaches at James A. Garfield High School near Seattle knelt during the national anthem. Head coach Joey Thomas said the protests would continue for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, 12 high school football players from Laguna Creek High School near Sacramento knelt during the national anthem and were told by a number of parents to stand up. Unlike Kaepernick, who has the support of his team and several other NFL players, some high schoolers were reprimanded for their protests. Shemar Cooper, a sophomore at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, Ill., was verbally harassed by teachers for sitting while the national anthem played in class. One teacher attempted to physically remove him from his seat in a classroom. The players and coaches for the Beaumont Bulls, a football team of 11 and 12-year-olds from Texas, knelt during the national anthem in support of Kaepernick. Instead of receiving support, the young boys received death threats and were told if they knelt again, they would be kicked off the team. Across the country and even at St. George’s, people are split between support and apprehension concern-
our kids to do what’s right,” Athletic Director Tom Densford said. While St. George’s has taken a hands-off approach concerning the protests, other area schools have responded more directly. “We actually had a talk, maybe the third week, that we weren’t allowed to [protest], and it was more of a school policy. We would’ve been in trouble with the school if we did, but none of us really had any intention to do it anyways,” Briarcrest Christian School quarterback Jackson Walker said. “If we protested, it would be a school punishment. The office would get involved, and we would have to go in there.” Though Houston High School coaches did not directly say it, Mark Conlee, a senior and captain of the Mustangs’ football team, said that it was understood that players were not allowed to protest.
1906 - Peter O’Connor, Irish Olympic long-jumper, scales the flagpole to wave the Irish flag after the British flag is raised for his second-place finish. He only wanted to represent Ireland, not Britain. 1967 - Muhammad Ali refuses to enlist in the Vietnam War, citing his Muslim faith. 1968 - Olympic runners John Carlos and Tommie Smith raise the black power salute after winning bronze and gold medals. 1996 - NBA player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is almost suspended for not standing for the national anthem because of his religion. 2004 - MLB player Carlos Delgado refuses to stand for “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch in protest of the war in Iraq. 2014 - NBA players warm up in shirts bearing the phrase “I can’t breathe” in protest of the death of African-American Eric Garner at the hands of law enforcement.
Sept. 17
Multiple NFL players start to protest the national anthem, including Miami Dolphins player Arian Foster. Meanwhile, cornerback Marcus Peters of the Kansas City Chiefs throws up the black power salute.
Howard University cheerleaders kneel for the national anthem before the football team plays Hampton University.
Denver Broncos player Brandon Marshall kneels for the season opener.
Sept. 8
Sept. 16
“I think there are ways that don’t bring attention to yourself instead of attention to the problem,” Conlee said. “I think, in this situation, he’s put all the attention on himself and on what he’s going to do before games, instead of on the issue. His point is to bring all the attention to the issue, and I don’t think he’s gotten that across.” On the other hand, Pope sees this attention as a good thing, believing the controversy is furthering the movement. “In order for [the protest] to be as effective as Kaepernick wants it to be, there has to be a lot of controversy that needs to happen,” Pope said. The only thing that remains is to see if Kaepernick’s protests will bring about the change he hopes for.
A brief history of athletic protest
Sept. 11
The entire football team of Garfield High School near Seattle kneels for the anthem and gathers a significant social-media response.
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Sept. 21
NBA player Iman Shumpert says that for every steal he makes during the 2016-2017 season, he will donate money to organizations that seek to improve the relationship between people and the police.
Four Philadelphia Eagles players raise their fists for the anthem.
Sept. 19
In NBA preseason, the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks stand to show unity during the national anthem. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics stand with their heads down and arms crossed for the national anthem.
Oct. 4
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Monday, October 31, 2016
The Gryphon Gazette
SPECIAL EDITION
News
It’s not just Trump and Hillary on the ballot Merryn Ruthling ’18 News Editor
W
hen you go to vote on Nov. 8, you might be surprised to find that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are not the only ones on the ballot. There are 18 people running for mayor, alderman and the school boards in Germantown and Collierville. These are the people who create and modify laws, pass the budget and are responsible for public education in our community. Get to know them below. Stan Joyner: Running for a third term as Collierville Mayor Mr. Joyner is a Collierville native who has been involved with town government since 1980. While serving as mayor, Mr. Joyner has centered his work around four areas of strategic focus: stewardship, safety, service and schools. In an interview with The Gryphon Gazette, Mr. Joyner said that being involved with government is something that is important to him. “It’s something I really enjoy doing,” Mr. Joyner said. “Collierville is my hometown. I grew up here, and I just really have a love for the town and want to see us do well. And I really think we are.”
Running for Germantown Alderman, pos. 3: Dean Massey Mr. Massey has been a resident of Germantown since 2002. Before graduating, Mr. Massey was recruited by the Police Corps, a program placing trained police officers in areas of social need. After working with this program, he became an insurance agent and now owns his own business, Massey Insurance, with his wife. His inspiration for running was his strong sense of duty to his country and his city. “I have always had a strong sense of duty to my country, which translates into a duty to my city,” Mr. Massey said. “[Those who asked me to serve] felt like my character combined with my background in business, criminal justice and fraud examination made me a good candidate.” David Nishwitz: Running for Germantown Alderman, pos. 5 David Nishwitz currently works for Fogelman Properties. He is married and is a proud father of twins. He has also been an active member of Hope Presbyterian Church for over 15 years, where he holds the position of ordained Deacon. “I truly believe that Germantown is on the cusp of stimulating change, even as we maintain our deep-seated Germantown roots,” Mr. Nishwitz said. “I am willing to serve in this role as alderman in order to take our city to the next level. I plan for Germantown to be current and progressive with a deeply, committed community that works together.” Running for Germantown School Board, pos. 1: Linda Fisher Mrs. Fisher and her husband have lived in Germantown for 15 years. She plays an active role in the lives of her two children, from being a cub scout leader to teaching Sunday school. Her favorite part about her position is going to schools and watching children participate in various activities. “Whether it’s a book competition like Battle of the Books or it’s a Veterans Day program or a band concert, I really enjoy going to their events,” Mrs. Fisher said.
Running for Collierville Mayor: Tom Allen The most important issue to Mr. Allen is safety. He believes that the Town of Collierville needs more police and firemen, and he is proudest of his advocating for police and fireman pay raise, which he believes has been neglected for the past five years. Additionally, he is proud of reducing water and sewer rates for Collierville taxpayers. He believes that more people should be running for positions in their local government and that his own campaign will provide competition and prevent corruption from those who stay in office uncontested.
Dave Klevan: Running for Germantown Alderman, pos. 3 According to his website, Mr. Klevan is a U.S. army veteran who has lived in Germantown with his wife for over 30 years. He is the principal/owner of Corporate Benefits Mangagement Group, and he has been involved with Leadership Germantown as a past board chairman and member of the LGAA Alumni Association. Mr. Klevan writes on his website, “I sincerely feel that my commitment to our community, businesss background, and leadership skills qualify me to serve on your behalf as Alderman Position 3.”
Running for Germantown Alderman, pos. 5: Rocky Janda Mr. Janda was born in Memphis and graduated from Germantown High School and the University of Memphis. Mr. Janda and his wife are active members of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. He has three children and five grandchildren. According to his website, his love for Germantown is what motivated him to run for his position. “I love this city and will do everything to make sure we are at the top of our game,” Mr. Janda said. “My business is based here. We live here, we shop here, play here and pray here. All three of my children own homes here. We are truly invested in Germantown, and I am ready to continue to serve as your Alderman.” Laura Meanwell: Running for Germantown School Board, pos. 1 Mrs. Meanwell is married and has two children who attend Houston High School. When she is not journeying around the world to fulfill her love of travel, she is busy working on various programs around Memphis and attending Germantown United Methodist Church. Mrs. Meanwell feels that she is equipped for her position. “My college degree is in electrical engineering, and I’m a problem-solver by nature and training,” Mrs. Meanwell said. “When I see an opportunity to improve something, I automatically roll up my sleeves and want to be involved in developing solutions. In this case, the challenge is ‘How does the school district meet and Photo: Marci Lambert exceed its motto, Excellence. Always?’”
Suzanne Jones: Running for Germantown School Board, pos. 3
Running for Germantown School Board, pos. 3: Natalie Williams
Mrs. Jones has lived in Germantown since 2012 with her husband and three sons. She has taken an active role in her sons’ schools by being a leader in PTAs and an advocate with school administration. If elected, she hopes that she would bring a strength to the school board. “We have a lot that has to be accomplished over the next three to five years including building new schools since our numbers are increasing annually, more than we’d even thought,” Mrs. Jones said. “I have 20 years in business. I can bring that business and financial background to truly analyze and look at where we are going to try and get them to a proactive role versus a reactive role.”
Mrs. Williams is married and has two children who are in public education. Mrs. Williams considers starting a new school district from scratch the biggest challenge she’s faced, and she is proud of what has been accomplished. When asked what message she would have for high school students, Mrs. Williams replied that students should try as many things as possible to find what they are passionate about, and she is grateful for the opportunity to have found her passion. “My parents were very supportive and they let me try out a lot of different things,” Mrs. Williams said. “I found that teaching and education was something that I really enjoy. It is something that is challenging, but it is something that I love to do.”
Running for Germantown School Board, pos. 5: Amy Eoff Mrs. Eoff was raised in Germantown and graduated from Briarcrest Christian School. Though she and her husband moved to Maryland for a time, she has since returned and has been living in Germantown since 2005 with her husband and three children. She has maintained an active role in her children’s schools by serving as room parent, grade captain, membership chair, room parent chair and PTA president. According to her campaign Facebook page, she believes that “her passion for education, love for her community, [and] experience as a teacher, PTA leader and parent creates a unique perspective that would be a strong addition to the Germantown Board of Education.” Forrest Owens: Running uncontested for Germantown Alderman, pos. 4 Mr. Owens attended St. George’s from second to sixth grade. He, his wife and his three daughters live in Germantown and attend Germantown Presbyterian Church. Mr. Owens is an active fitness enthusiast and has two marathons under his belt. In his spare time, he is part of the Los Locos Triathlon team. He believes that service is important. “I just try to help people where I can,” Mr. Owens said. “Like if someone has an issue with their garbage service or if someone needs to get someone to respond to fix a pothole, I can help out with that. It sounds kind of corny, but I really enjoy helping people, and with my background and knowledge, I can better contribute to that.”
Mindy Fischer: Running for Germantown School Board, pos. 5 Mrs. Fischer is married and has two children who attend Houston High School and Houston Middle School. She was born and raised in Memphis and has been a resident of Germantown for a total of 18 years. According to her website, her “commitment to Germantown Municipal Schools is long term and personal” which is shown through the fact that her children attend Germantown Municipal Schools. Additionally, she considers her main goal to be “[educating] students and [preparing] them to be the next generation of leaders.”
Want to know what it was like getting to know your local candidates? For the story behind the story, visit thegryphongazette.org.
The Gryphon Gazette
News
SPECIAL EDITION
John Worley: Running uncontested for Collierville Alderman, pos. 3
Monday, October 31, 2016
7
Mr. Worley serves as Liaison for the Town of Collierville Planning Commission. He and his wife attend Collierville United Methodist Church and are parents of six and grandparents of five. According to his bio, he believes he is well qualified to be an alderman. “I believe that my family and work experience combined with my service on the Collierville Planning Commission uniquely positions me to serve as an alderman.” John E. Stamps: Running uncontested for Collierville Alderman, pos. 5 Mr. Stamps’ family has lived in Collierville for four generations. Mr. Stamps and his wife currently live in Collierville with their two children and attend Central Church. According to his website, he loves being a part of the Collierville community. “I am proud to have been raised in the Collierville area and to call Collierville my home,” Mr. Stamps said on his campaign website. “With my career, I have lived in Boston, Detroit, Colorado and Hawaii. I have traveled throughout Europe, Australia, Korea, Japan and Africa. I have always felt most at home in Collierville, Tennessee, and there is truly no place like home!” Wright Cox: Running uncontested for Collierville School Board, pos. 5 Mr. Cox is a lifelong resident of Collierville and has been an active participant in his community and church. He and his wife have three children and are active members of Hope Presbyterian Church. According The Commercial Appeal, his inspiration for running is to make a difference in the Collierville community. “I want to do what I can to help the community that has been my home for the past 54 years,” Mr Cox said. “The future of Collierville depends on the education our children receive today.” Kevin Vaughan: Running uncontested for Collierville. School Board, pos. 1 In the four years that Mr. Vaughan has been involved with Collierville School Board, he convinced the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to invest in a new high school and introduced an initiative to supply tablets for all Collierville students. The creation of a new school district was one of the primary reasons he ran for his position. “I knew that it was going to be a very important role in establishing a school district,” Mr. Vaughan said in an interview with The Gryphon Gazette. “My background is one of service, and the school system is very important to my career. I wanted to make sure there was good leadership involved and so I was willing to step up.” Mark Hansen: Running uncontested for Collierville School Board, pos.3 Mr. Hansen, who has been a resident of Collierville since 1992, is a nationally-known aviation attorney who currently works for FedEx. Mr. Hansen has served on the Administrative Board, Board of Trustees, Building Committee and the Staff-Parish Relations Committee of Collierville Methodist Church. Mr. Hansen considers being on the School Board one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. “It is extremely rare that one has the opportunity to create a school system from scratch,” Mr. Hansen said in an interview with The Gryphon Gazette. “I simply could not ask for a better group of school board members with whom to serve, or a more wonderful Superintendent and staff and teachers.”
Photo: Faith Huff ‘17 Eighth-grader Joy Huff and her mother act out their disagreement regarding the current election cycle. For generations, young people have been more likely to share the beliefs of their parents than disagree.
FAMILY FEUDS
Political views can divide or unite a family
Annika Conlee ’18 Reporter
W
ith the 2016 election fast approaching, politics have been coming to the dinner table all around the nation. “I talk with my family about politics every once and awhile,” junior Fe Novoa said. “Since my brother and I have different opinions, we would fight a lot, so now the conversation has been banned from the dinner table.” As America is left with two presidential candidates with historically high negative ratings, healthy political debate is harder to find now than in the past. Tensions around the topic of the election have increased so much that few students were willing to talk about politics for this article. More than 15 students refused to be interviewed. Experts say that the relationship between the parent and child is crucial in relation to politics. “The biggest factor of political socialization, which is how one acquires their beliefs, is the family because parents have influence over you in your developmental years since there’s a bond, and you want your family to love and approve of you,” Ms. Emily Gunther, who teaches AP United States Government and Politics, said. As predicted by Ms. Gunther, many students agree with their parents on political issues. “My political opinions match my parents’ opinions,” sophomore Annie Bran said. “Although I don’t think of myself as someone who just goes with whatever their parents say, I actually think my parents are smart and know what they are talking about. Sometimes I disagree, but for the most part, my
beliefs are based off of theirs.” A factor that can influence these political beliefs is religion. In some cases, it can be used to unify a family’s mindset. “My ideology tends to follow my parents,” senior Becca Chandler said. “I don’t think that they intentionally formed them, but they are very religious and did encourage me to participate in religion as well, which ended up shaping my political beliefs.”
Paige Marotta believe that education is key, as well as always addressing the topic rather than attacking the person. “I think that people should educate themselves before they go and take a stand either way,” Marotta said. Another way to help diffuse the situation is to become aware of what influences political opinions. “Last week in AP government, we discussed how the main influences of political beliefs are parents, peers,
As America is left with two presidential candidates with historically high negative ratings, healthy political debate is harder to find now than in the past.
On the other hand, religion can also leave a family divided. Novoa sometimes finds herself disagreeing with the political views of her family members whose Christian views inform their opinions. “When we disagree, there’s usually a lot of yelling. I’ll say my point and why I think it’s correct, and then my mom will usually disagree because of religious reasoning,” Novoa said. “It makes it difficult to argue with her about politics because it’s a topic that people have opinions on depending on their religion.” One way to reduce tension, whether you are discussing politics with parents or peers, is to learn how to appropriately tackle the topic. Students like senior
school and media,” Chandler said. “I think media is definitely playing a larger role with our generation than it ever has before.” Understanding where our peers’ political views come from helps to restore respect in political discussions. Acknowledging that these opinions are formed from countless interactions and information helps one to realize the complexity of humans and their ideas. “I think political discussion should be more open and common than how people perceive it today,” sophomore William Wilson said. “Now, it is currently deemed socially unacceptable to talk about.”
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Monday, October 31, 2016
The Gryphon Gazette
SPECIAL EDITION
In-depth
Agreeing to disagree
In a time of political turmoil, some call for civility Laura McDowell ’17 Communications Editor
I
n junior Emily O’Connell’s household, an addendum might be made to the common phrase “Don’t bring politics to the dinner table” — or out in public. During what started as a pleasant dinner out, the O’Connells’ night ended after some uninvited guests made themselves known. The topic of the night was the recent release of a 2005 Access Hollywood video, in which Donald Trump describes his own behavior towards women in terms that reminded many of sexual assault. “We were talking about how, in a male-dominated society, people really need to understand when no means no,” O’Connell said. They were reminded that no conversation is private when a group of college boys sitting nearby overheard them and chimed in by making loud rape jokes and obscene gestures at their family. “It was really uncomfortable, so we left. That kind of ruined the night for us,” O’Connell said.
The Silent Treatment This wasn’t an isolated incident. Since moving from the famously
democratic state of New York to the historically more conservative Mid-South three years ago, O’Connell has been exposed to a drastically different political climate than she was used to. “When I mention women’s rights and racial equality, I’ll get eyerolls,” O’Connell said. “I learned that I couldn’t speak as openly about my beliefs as I could in New York because I would get backlash or some kind of verbal
disagreement.” Since moving to Tennessee, O’Connell, a self-described liberal, has found that people don’t share her same beliefs. “It makes me feel like I want to shrink back into a persona where I don’t speak at all,” O’Connell said. “I don’t really voice my opinions as much anymore.” Even in places like school, civility is not guaranteed when it comes to ex-
“There’s this atmosphere that you shouldn’t speak out and that you should keep your opinions to yourself.”
pressing seemingly controversial opinions. Students are a part of a climate that sometimes makes them unwilling to express any opinions that are outside of the norm. They are not alone. According to Pew Research Center, 38 percent of Democrats and 43 percent of Republicans view the opposing party negatively, and those who have more unfavorable views of the opposite party are more likely to be politically engaged. As these numbers continue to grow, this climate will likely continue to worsen. Google “avoiding political discussions,” and it returns over 34 million results. That’s over 34 million options for people who are actively trying to avoid speaking about politics. “People are oppressed when they speak about their beliefs and forward their agendas,” O’Connell said. “There’s this atmosphere that you shouldn’t speak out and that you should keep your opinions to yourself.” With the November election right around the corner, this has become more true than ever. Both candidates have polarized their audiences in a way
Photo: Rachel Ducker ‘17
Junior Emily O’Connell supports her political beleifs in a Bernie Sanders’ shirt. O’Connell has felt politically isolated since she moved from New York.
In-depth
The Gryphon Gazette
SPECIAL EDITION
Monday, October 31, 2016
9
that others haven’t in the past, causing turmoil in discussions in Washington and at home. As a result, many students have made the choice to keep their political beliefs to themselves. Senior Mimi McCarroll is one of those students. “I don’t like to share my political beliefs because I feel that, once I say something, people are immediately going to tag that on me,” McCarroll said. “I’ve seen it happen to other people in our grade, and I think it negatively impacts them. Everyone pins them to this certain stereotype, and I don’t want that to happen to me.” Senior Britney Pepper has chosen to stay silent as well. While proud of her own beliefs, she does not express them outside of her house unless directly asked, in order to avoid conflict. Pepper, like many others, associates political discussions with polarization and yelling. She has found that silence is often the easiest solution to maintaining a sense of civility. “At school there are people who are more outspoken than me, so I prefer not to talk about it,” Pepper said. “Let’s just agree to disagree.”
Speaking Up Photo: Rachel Ducker ‘17
Teenagers struggling with feeling comfortable politically might do well to heed the advice of their elders. Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner Jr. has been involved with local government since 1999, when he was elected to the Collierville Board of Mayor and Alderman. He has been involved in politics as long as the class of 2017 has been alive. He is currently serving his second term as mayor and campaigning for a third. While Mr. Joyner’s position is nonpartisan, meaning that he is not aligned with any political party, he recognizes that being politically active often leads to turmoil. “Anytime you’re making decisions for residents, neighborhoods, neighbors, somebody is going to be happy and somebody is not going to be happy,” Mr. Joyner said. “I’m sure I’ve been criticized because I’ve voted for something that this person was against, but I’ve never taken it personally, unless the attack was personal.” His method of dealing with criticism is to remember that he is remaining true to himself and his beliefs. “You have to be true to yourself, first and foremost. That person you get up to and look in the mirror at every morn-
ing,” Mr. Joyner said. “You’ve got to say, ‘I’m staring at somebody who is genuine, somebody who is not putting on an act, somebody who is the way they are today, tomorrow, yesterday.’” Born in the 1950s and growing up in the 1960s has made Mr. Joyner more than familiar with political movements and the changes they can bring, but he recognizes that the current climate can make difficult for young people to speak up. “I see what young folks are facing today. It’s a never-ending battle,” Mr. Joyner said. “It’s not easy, but it’s something that you have to do. But, there are ways that you can do it, and I think one of the best ways is to be informed about the issues.” In addition to making sure they are well-versed on the issues of the day, Mr. Joyner encourages students to register to vote as soon as they are able. “Like the old saying says, if you’re going to complain, you’ve got to go vote. If you’re not going to vote, don’t complain,” Mr. Joyner said. “We don’t live in a utopia where we are all going to be happy. That’s the reason why you have to get involved.”
“We don’t live in a utopia where we are all going to be happy. That’s the reason why you have to get involved.”
Photo: Rachel Ducker ‘17
Senior Britney Pepper works on her laptop during class. Pepper has found the election season stressful. Senior Mimi McCarroll works with senior Grady Cotham in the senior lounge. McCarroll has tended to keep her political opinions to herself this election. Junior Emily O’Connell’s laptop bears a Hillary Clinton sticker. O’Connell has sometimes found that her liberal beliefs do not fit in with those of her classmates.
Photo: Rachel Ducker ‘17
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Monday, October 31, 2016
The Gryphon Gazette
SPECIAL EDITION
Opinion
Why Trump Why Clinton
Illustrations: Elle Vaughn ’17
Jacob Saripkin ‘17 Contributor
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es, I support Donald Trump. I guess that makes me a deplorable, huh? How can I support someone who has been called racist, sexist, xenophobic and whatever description the mainstream media (MSM) can come up with? Well, to understand this, you need to look past the narrative MSM tells us. We live in an uncertain world. That’s just a fact. I have seen this through the real threat of radical Islamic terrorism, evident with the attack in Orlando and other attacks all over the world, and an influx of illegal immigration that has been hurting the lives of innocent Americans, such as Kate Steinle, who was murdered by an illegal immigrant. A conservative policy towards immigration, such as closed borders and extreme vetting, is what our great nation needs. I am in no way against immigration, but a country without borders is no country at all. Trump has never been against legal immigration. He is only against illegal immigration. He will change Obama’s failed policy on defeating ISIS and will swiftly crush this threat. His position on increasing our defense is what we desperately need in such an unsure world. He will “Make America Safe Again.” Under the current administration, our small businesses are being crushed by regulation and heavy taxes, but Trump will cut these burdensome taxes and regulations. With the end of heavy regulations and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), small businesses will be able to flourish. NAFTA and TPP have allowed our companies to leave us, resulting in the loss of
Connor Lambert ‘18 Contributor
American jobs. With this renegotiation, our jobs will stay in America, improve our economy and lower unemployment. He will “Make America Work Again” and “Put America First Again.” I could continue to talk about how the policies of the GOP platform are best for what our country needs, but this election is not just about policy. This election will not only decide who fills Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat but possibly three more as well. It is important that the next president will elect justices who will be steadfast in upholding our constitutional rights. We need justices who have no political agenda. I believe Trump will appoint these types of people, unlike his opponent who has a history of payfor-play and whose agenda will destroy what we take for granted today. I am truly terrified of a Hillary Clinton presidency. Clinton has a history of failed leadership and policies, as seen by her record as Secretary of State and failure to do anything for New York as their senator. Trump is not tied down by big donors. Instead, he is an outsider who will shake up Washington, D.C., and make our government work again. Trump has built one of the greatest real estate empires. Yes, he has gone through failures, but it has not deterred him. He continued to pursue his dream and has flourished as a result. Trump will “Make America Great Again!”
O
ne of the major questions of this election cycle is not of policy or substance, but rather “How did we end up here?” A majority of people seem appalled at the choice of candidates, yet many of them will not participate in the political process besides fuming on Facebook. Nine percent of the American population voted in the primaries, meaning nine percent of Americans decided on the choice of the major parties’ candidates. This meager minority means that we as the majority do not get to grumble and complain about the hand we were dealt when we did not even show up to the poker table. So, like it or not, America – we are stuck with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as the nominees for president. I believe that Hillary Clinton is the only candidate with the temperament and experience to be President of the United States. Yes, I agree with most of the points that Hillary supports concerning policy, but sadly, real debate over policy has taken a backseat in this election. The fact is that Donald Trump doesn’t possess the demeanor, knowledge, capability or plain civility to be President of the United States. Trump has suggested America leave NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, called Mexicans rapists, demeaned women on numerous occasions, questioned President Obama’s birthplace, advocated war crimes, applauded the use of torture and praised Vladimir Putin, Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong Un. These horrific comments are made all the more worrisome when Trump
then blatantly lies to the public about ever having said any of them. To be fair, lying is something both candidates have trouble with, yet Hillary, for all her faults, at least admits that using a private email server was wrong. Another issue that moves me to Hillary’s side is that of policy. Clinton has a clear outline of the policies she wishes to enact, yet Trump’s only definitive stance is that of his tax plan. Trump has managed to flip-flop on most of the stances he has proposed, from his ban on Muslim immigrants to the deportation of the supposedly “rapist” Mexicans. Trump’s inability to defend or even stick with his policies shows how ineffective he will be to implement the slightest change. Yes, there are third-party options, but neither of their candidates have proven themselves to be worthy of office, either, with Libertarian Gary Johnson failing to identify Aleppo, the largest city in Syria, and being unable to name a single foreign leader whom he admires. Jill Stein also seems inept when we look at her proposed plan to pay off student loans. She wants to enact a new law and pay for this debt by printing new money, but this would do tremendous damage to our economy. Clinton does have faults, and she is the face of old, stagnant politics, but when it comes to running the most powerful nation in the world, I want someone with experience, a proven record of effective policies and the basic decency of a civilized person, not someone who can be launched into a Twitter tirade about the nonexistent sex tape of a pageant contestant.
OPINION POLICY: The Gryphon Gazette opinion section is a venue for the free expression of student views at St. George’s Independent School. The opinions represented in this section are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the Gryphon Gazette staff or of the St. George’s community at large. The Gryphon Gazette strives to be an open forum for the thoughtful and deliberate exchange of comment and criticism, and therefore welcomes letter to the editor. Letters to the editor will be printed in the opinion section of the newspaper, should not exceed 300 words, and must be signed and accompanied by a verifiable email address. These letters will not be printed if the content is judged obscene, violates the privacy of others or encourages physical disruption of school activites.
Opinion
The Gryphon Gazette
SPECIAL EDITION
Monday, October 31, 2016
11
The political makeup of the Gryphon Gazette At the beginning of the school year, all members of the Gryphon Gazette staff took a survey in which they anonymously detailed their gender, grade and self-identified political beliefs. Then, all members took the online ISideWith quiz and reported their results. In an attempt to be more transparent, we are sharing this information with you.
1. We are...
Illustration: Elle Vaughn ’17
Why McMullin
2. We are...
Evan Dorian ‘19 Contributor
R
ecently, more than a few Republican leaders have come out in open opposition of Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s unfortunate nominee for president. It’s a good thing I waited to endorse a candidate for the Gryphon Gazette until now – my initial plan to simply bash Hillary Clinton but never openly admit support for Trump no longer represents my feelings about this election. In early October, Trump came under heavy fire after a video obtained by The Washington Post showed him making lewd remarks about women. This was the nail in the coffin. Republicans can be made to look hypocritical for rescinding their support for Trump over this issue rather than the issue of his crude comments on Muslims, African Americans and other minority groups, but we as the GOP thought this was part of the “character” Trump was portraying in the primaries. The leaked video shows that this character is part of Trump’s personality, and a man with an aura of such crudity is simply unfit to be president. While the radical right and alt-right continue to support the most unpleasant, inexperienced and deplorable candidate in recent history, I encourage voters to #StandUpWithEvan. Evan McMullin is a conservative third-party candidate who, until 2016, self-identified as a Republican. Having served the House of Representatives as an advisor for the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Republican Conference, McMullin is an experienced politician, albeit not fully qualified to run for the presidency. But, in case you hadn’t noticed, neither are the two ma-
jor-party candidates or their Libertarian and Green Party alternatives. So, in an election in which the best America could come up with is a pair of bloviating clowns with insufficient qualification for the office of president, clearly all bets are off, and a write-in candidate like McMullin is worth supporting. McMullin’s campaign slogan states that “it’s never too late to do the right thing.” It would be in the best interest of the American people to stand up for their beliefs, rather than sell out and support a villain like Trump or Clinton because they feel the pressure of partisan loyalty. If you are a Republican considering casting your vote for McMullin but are concerned that he deviates too far from the GOP’s conservative agenda to be successful, rest assured that a vote for a third-party candidate is not a wasted vote. In an election as unpredictable and unpleasant as this one, it’s acceptable to cast a vote with the intention of raising awareness for what is right, rather than choosing the lesser of two evils. McMullin’s stances line up well with those of a reasonable Republican’s: he holds pro-life views, respects the Supreme Court decision to outlaw state-level bans on same-sex marriage and supports the GOP’s plan for tax reform. A sound conservative both fiscally and socially, McMullin is the best alternative to not two, but four (Stein and Johnson included) candidates who have no business vying for the office of president.
3. We self-identify as...
4. According to the ISideWith Quiz, our beliefs most align with...
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Monday, October 31, 2016
The Gryphon Gazette
SPECIAL EDITION
Illustration: Elle Vaughn
Opinion
Illustration: Elle Vaughn
Guns are a responsibility, not a right
Protecting families, preserving lives
Blair Smithwick ’19 Contributor
Samantha Patton ’19 Contributor
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ach year, more than 30,000 people die from guns in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. While the Constitution gives citizens the right to bear arms, this freedom has resulted in terrible bloodshed. Gun owners claim they have the right to carry a gun for protection and self-defense, but what about the protection of those killed by firearms? Shouldn’t their protection matter just as much? In the New York Times article “End the Gun Epidemic in America,” their editorial board argues that “it is a moral outrage and a national disgrace that civilians can legally purchase weapons designed specifically to kill people with brutal speed and efficiency.” The problem is not with responsible gun owners who use guns for hunting. Rather, it is the easy access to handguns that has made the United States so dangerous, since they are the most common weapons used in crime, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. It is time for the government to take action and pass stricter gun control laws to prioritize the protection of society over the right to carry a deadly weapon. The problem with handguns is that almost anybody in America can acquire one easily. In order to purchase a handgun, one must obtain a registered gun license. During this process, the applicant goes through a background check to see if he or she has a clean record and is responsible enough to carry a firearm. However, the FBI doesn’t have thorough background checks for every single person. A licensed dealer could be selling a gun to a person with a serious mental illness or criminal record and not have the slightest idea of the buyer’s ability to be responsible. Even with a clean record, once someone has purchased a gun, they can still use it to harm others after the transaction has taken place. The dealer has no way of knowing the customer’s intentions, specifically whether they will choose to be violent or not. An example that supports this idea
is the Virginia Tech shooting on April 16, 2007. The killer, Seung-Hui Cho, was mentally ill, according to ABC News, and this event proved to be the deadliest mass school shooting in U.S. history. In this tragic event, 32 people were murdered, including the killer himself who committed suicide. Thirty-two families lost loved ones that day, and their deaths could have been avoided if the United States government had stricter gun control laws. In Japan, handguns are prohibited, yet people can own hunting and sport firearms. However, owners must attend classes, pass written and practical exams and undergo psychological assessments to determine if they are fit enough to own a deadly weapon. Police background checks are extensive and even go so far as to review the prospective gun owners’ relatives. The United States needs to adopt the same system to allow people who want to use guns for hunting to have them but make it much harder for those who would harm themselves or others if they owned these deadly weapons. The statistics on gun homicides around the world make the case that easy access to guns in the U.S. makes our country far more dangerous than countries like Japan, which make the ownership of guns a responsibility, not a right. The ownership of guns should not be so prevalent throughout the country. In order to make this a reality, the government should pass a series of stricter laws on these deadly firearms. Handguns should be heavily restricted and harder to purchase. Every applicant should undergo a more extensive background check. Handgun buyers should also be required to take a lengthy course on the use of the weapon. Hopefully, this strenuous process would make the idea of owning a handgun less appealing to the public. By increasing gun control in America, we can create a safer and more promising future for the country.
S
ome nights as a child, I would be woken up in the middle of the night by the blaring sound of our house alarm, the machine screaming, “INTRUDER, INTRUDER,” over and over again. I would run to my parents’ room down the hall, and they would pull out their 9-millimeters from the nightstands, their demeanor suddenly serious and protective. My mom and I would hide behind a chair in their bedroom with a gun aimed at the door, while I, shaking and crying, held the telephone ready to answer when the police called. My dad would take his gun, a flashlight and the most bravery I had ever seen into our dark house to see if someone was there, just so he could protect us. Thankfully, no one was ever there – we lived in a house in the country with a fairly old alarm system – but it horrifies me to know that if we did not have guns, and someone who did broke into our house, we all could have died one of those nights. No family should ever have to lose a loved one to gun violence, but families like mine have a right to protect themselves. To fix this issue, we can look to a country like Australia, whose laws have drastically subdued the gun epidemic in the “land down under.” The United States needs to implement gun control laws similar to those of Australia, as it will lower the number of people killed from homicides and suicides. In addition, these laws will also allow responsible people to have a gun, so long as they have a genuine reason. Implementing Australian gun control laws to the United States does not necessarily prohibit one from owning a gun. Rather, it serves as a built-in vetting system to try to stop unstable individuals from obtaining one. One of the main principles in the Australian gun control laws is that people must have a genuine use for owning a gun in order to possess one, such as hunting, collecting or target shooting. These restrictions turn away many suicidal individuals from obtaining a gun, which is crucial considering
most suicides occur from firearms. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, two-thirds of the gun deaths in America are suicides, and this number could be drastically lowered if these people could not access a gun so easily. It is not exactly the same case with criminals. A felon will most likely get their hands on a gun no matter what the laws are. Therefore, adding more laws and regulations will only negatively impact the innocent group of civilians who are now at a loss when it comes to methods of defending themselves against a potential criminal with an AR-15. However, these laws are necessary in order to lower the suicide rate. This is where the specifics of the Australian gun laws are important because there are a various number of exceptions that would allow one to have a gun. For those who take self-defense seriously, all they have to do is simply join a gun range, and they can legally possess a gun due to the allowance of target shooting. These people can abide by the law, while also being able to protect themselves and their families if need be. After implementing their new laws and regulations, Australia’s gun death rate and the rate of suicides and homicides unrelated to guns dropped by a whopping 50 percent. Not only were gun deaths prevented, but the number of suicides completely unrelated to guns dropped as well. If the U.S. implements these laws, so many lives would have the potential to be spared. Each of these people are not just numbers – they are someone’s child or someone’s parent. The United States should implement gun control laws similar to those of Australia so that suicides can be stopped and criminals can be hindered, but devoted, law-abiding citizens can have the opportunity to defend themselves if they ever find themselves in such a dreadful situation.
Opinion
The Gryphon Gazette
Monday, October 31, 2016
SPECIAL EDITION
13
Staff Editorial
Staff editorials are written by the editors-in-chief and agreed upon by the editorial board. The following count represents our editorial board’s stance on the editorial. As always, letters to the editor on the editorial are encouraged. Our policy for letters is located on page 14.
Agree: 11/11 Abstain: 0/11 Disagree: 0/11
Annie Vento ’17 Editor-In-Chief
Illust
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ho do you think supports free speech more, Democrats or Republicans? While Republicans are viewed as supporters of economic freedom, it’s often Democrats who have the reputation as defenders of civil rights. So why is it that Republicans seem to be more in favor of protecting the freedom of speech than Democrats? In their 2016 party platform, the Republican National Committee stated that we should not infringe on freedom of speech in the name of political correctness and that “limits on political speech serve only to protect the powerful and insulate incumbent officeholders.” However, the Democratic National Committee states that while they believe freedom of expression is a “fundamental constitutional principle,” they condemn hate speech that “creates a fertile climate for violence.” According to Pew Research, 83 percent of Trump supporters polled said that they believe too many people are easily offended, compared to the 59 percent of Clinton supporters who think “people need to exercise caution in speaking to avoid offending others” and the 39 percent who said too many are easily offended. In this election, it seems freedom of speech is on everyone’s mind. In the last year alone, we have seen limitations on the freedom of speech in politics, on college campuses and, surprisingly, in Halloween supply stores, all justified in the name of preventing hate speech and avoiding giving offense. Last year, a petition was launched on Change.org against Spirit Halloween’s Caitlyn Jenner costume, calling for the
store to “revoke [their] ideas and production of a Caitlyn Jenner costume for Halloween,” garnering 19,193 supporters. And this year, the University of Florida offered counseling to students who are offended by any costumes they see and urged their students to “think about your choices of costumes and themes.” While political correctness fuels much of the free speech debate, safe spaces and trigger warnings have also been used as excuses to limit freedom of speech. This August, the University of Chicago took a stand against freespeech limitations by sending a letter to incoming freshmen stating their disapproval of trigger warnings in the name of academic freedom. “Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called ‘trigger warnings,’ we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual ‘safe spaces’ where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own,” Dean of Students John Ellison said in the letter. On the other hand, at Northwestern University, which is neighbors with University of Chicago, President Morton Schapiro wrote to the Washington Post explaining “why safe spaces for students are important,” citing that “students don’t fully embrace uncomfortable learning unless they are themselves comfortable.” What these proponents for limiting free speech seem to forget is what a freedom truly is. A freedom is a universal liberty, meaning it cannot be given to some and not to others. Once we start placing limitations on the First
More speech – not less – is the best cure for hateful speech
: Elle
Amendment, we shift from having the freedom to speak to the privilege to speak. If we decide to limit the freedom of speech, we must understand that we may not be the ones who will decide the limitations. That raises the question: Who gets to decide what is offensive or inappropriate or dangerous? Will it be the rich and powerful in government? Will it be the academic elite? Will it be religious
leaders? Free speech is all or nothing – either we decide to limit it, or we decide to give free speech to all. That doesn’t mean you have to like what they say. That doesn’t mean you have to let it define you. If something someone says bothers you and you want to do something about it, don’t try to bend the law and
Vaug h
n ’17
take away their rights because that will only put your same rights at risk, too. Instead, exercise your right to speak and debate. More speech – not less – is the best cure for hateful speech. The Patriot Guard Riders exercise this truth perfectly. The Westboro Baptist Church has infamously disrupted funerals of fallen soldiers, telling their families and friends that their loved one died because God was punishing our country for tolerating homosexuality. While the Patriot Guard Riders understand that Westboro Baptist Church has a right to be present and protest, they also recognize that they share the same right, which is why the Patriot Guard Riders rev up their engines when the church begins to shout or sing patriotic songs if their demonstration gets too loud. If you don’t like the tone of our country – if you disapprove of offensive comments, racism or intolerance – don’t counteract that behavior with the same intolerance. Instead, fight back with your words and exercise your freedom of speech.
Illustration: Elle Vaughn ’17
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Monday, October 31, 2016
The Gryphon Gazette
SPECIAL EDITION
Arts & Entertainment
Photo: Katelyn Grisham ‘18 Junior Annie Murff stares in disbelief as she watches a primary debate. After two hours’ worth of political commercials, murff was fed up with the depressing and aggressive tone of most ads.
The bleak world of political advertising
What I found when I watched two hours’ worth of this year’s ads Annie Murff ’18 Opinion Editor
W
hat kind of person watches hours of political commercials? Apparently my kind does. This election has taken the media by storm in the past months, so I decided to delve deeper into the election’s role in the media to further understand what makes a political campaign successful. After hours of watching 30-second clip after 30-second clip, I thought I couldn’t take anymore of “I approve this message” and “Hillary said this” or “Donald said that.” But I did notice in all the ads that I watched, there were aspects that made me laugh, made me cry and even made me angry. I realize I am one person, and my views on these ads might be completely different from the person sitting right next to me, but these are the things I noticed that made me say, “Hey! If I was voting in November, I might consider them. This ad is really working for me!”
Positivity (or anything other than ferociously attacking your opponent) In the abundance of ads I watched, I found that the ones where a candidate was attacking their opponent were less appealing. I would much rather watch a 30-second clip of a sweet old veteran telling his story rather than watch Hillary Clinton attack Donald Trump. I felt more inclined
towards a certain candidate when they talked about themselves rather than their opponent. If a majority of these ads are less than a minute long, there is little time to get the point across. The more time the candidate spent talking about the good things they do, the more confident I felt in that candidate. When Donald Trump spent a whole commercial attacking his opponents, it made me think he was insecure and trying to prove that he was the best. The ads that made the candidate seem self-assured and confident in themselves were much more appealing.
Relatability No one likes to feel alone, like their beliefs are completely different from everyone else’s. We all want to feel like we belong and relate to others’ struggles. When we hear in a Trump ad about the woman who feels protected when she has her gun, or the war veteran talking about the sacrifices they have made in a Clinton commercial, we feel a connection. As much as these candidates are trying to take a stab at their opponent, in the end, they are just trying to relate to the American public. And it works. I couldn’t help myself from getting a serious case of “ugly cry” as I watched young girls look in the mirror and listen to comments
Donald Trump has made about women in years past. I felt like I could relate. Not necessarily to the staring into a mirror silently while listening to Donald Trump, but to the fact that those are just regular girls like me. It was understandable that hearing such crude comments would make them feel something.
A comprehensive list of all the techniques that I am sick and tired of seeing in political advertisements • Attack ads! Why can’t we all just be nice to each other? • Crying • Fife and drum music • Clips of dark clouds behind the White House • The menacing voiceover in every attack ad that has ever been put out, ever • More crying • Doomsday ads: Please don’t tell me about how the country will be ruined and life will be horrible if your opponent gets elected. I want to hear about how great the country will be if YOU get elected. • Instilling fear in the audience. I don’t like being scared. • Even more crying In the coming years and elections, I hope to see less of the things on this list and more of a candidate
just stating their beliefs. I often find myself wondering what a candidate is even fighting for. Instead, I see Trump ads calling Hillary Clinton a criminal, Clinton ads calling Donald Trump a liar and so forth. If the candidates spent less time focusing on their opponent and more time focusing on their audience – and let’s face it, that’s who matters – they would make the most of their 30 seconds of airtime. After watching all these ads, there was one that spoke to me the most from Hillary Clinton. I had seen it before in passing, but I never really thought anything of it. The commercial shows a handful of children sitting in front of the TV watching clips of Donald Trump saying “unsavory” things about women, people with disabilities and other minorities. I was moved. You wouldn’t have even known it was a Hillary ad until the end. No gimmicks, no jingles, no attacks – none of the ad techniques we traditionally see. I suppose this is the point of a political ad. Whether you support Hillary, Trump or any other candidate, an ad is powerful. A successful ad moves you.
Arts & Entertainment
The Gryphon Gazette
SPECIAL EDITION
Monday, October 31, 2016
15
Photo: Katelyn Grisham ‘18
Photo: Walt Cisco, Dallas Morning News, Penn Jones Photographs. Public Domain John F. Kennedy rides in a motorcade in this famous photograph. Watching the film “JFK” had a significant impact on reporter Will Brown.
Oliver Stone’s “JFK” is still challenging viewpoints Will Brown ’19 Reporter
T
he assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 has attracted more than its share of conspiracy theories, but before I saw the movie “JFK,” I barely knew any. I knew so little about the assassination that when somebody asked how much I knew about John Fitzgerald Kennedy, I replied, “Who?” While I was joking, of course, I still knew little about the late president. So, I was sent in nearly blind when I was tasked with reviewing Oliver Stone’s “JFK.” The movie takes place three years after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The protagonist, Jim Garrison, obsesses over the government-fabricated explanation to the complicated death of the president. Jim Garrison then realizes that is impossible for one man to shoot a rifle three times in such quick succession at a moving target with a tree in the way, while also injuring two men in multiple parts of their body. This discovery inspires his journey. As he gets closer to the truth, the government and media try to paint him as a conspiracy theorist. The film concludes with our main character attempting to sway the jury with a single speech about how we should not allow our government to be secretive, and we must make sure that the country belongs to its citizens.
I have never been a fan of conspiracy theories – this explains why my least favorite character from “King of the Hill” is Dale Gribble. However, I must admit that this movie made interesting and thought-provoking points. If the government has control over the
After watching this film, I feel less safe. stories we see and hear, what is motivating them to tell the truth? What is stopping them from feeding us propaganda? Have they been feeding us propaganda already? Have they lied to us? Are they still lying to us? My opinions can change, and while normally I try not to take conspiracy theories seriously, this one got to me because of how realistic it was. After watching this film, I feel less safe. The media has a powerful effect on us, as seen in my change from trusting the government to now be-
ing more wary just because of one movie. Their power can be used for good, such as making the audience mourn for the people of Aleppo in order to gather support for aid efforts. However, it can also be used to direct hatred towards a thing, person or place or to gather support for something useless that we are told can help us, like every commercial marketing a household appliance in history. Automatic spinning forks and automatic spinning ice cream cones, I’m looking at you. The experience of watching “JFK” changed my political beliefs. It has made me question my thoughts on my own country. In a way, it is patriotic because it is about standing up to an authoritative and controlling government, even if that government is the United States. I am far more aware about how the government could be possibly lying to us and how it is dangerous to blindly trust a government entity. It’s a good reminder to look up the facts of what you’re told. Don’t believe everything you hear, but also don’t jump to the conclusion that they are lying.
Top flicks for a political binge with freshness ratings from Rotten Tomatoes Faith Huff ’17 Reporter
• “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” - 99% • “Being There” - 96% • “The Candidate” - 95% • “Milk” - 94% • “Election” - 92% • “A Face in a Crowd” 92% • “Lincoln” - 90% • “The American President” - 90% • “Wag the Dog” - 85% • “Bulworth” - 75%
*Some of these films are not appropriate for all audiences.
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Monday, October 31, 2016
The Gryphon Gazette
SPECIAL EDITION
Arts & Entertainment
CAN YOU PASS THE U.S. CITIZENSHIP TEST? These questions were randomly selected from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services online civics practice test, which features real questions from the naturalization test. Take the quiz below and see if you have what it takes to become a U.S. citizen! Six out of 10 is a passing grade.
(2) Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s. (A) World War I (B) Revolutionary War (C) Civil War (D) War of 1812 (3) What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? (A) to vote (B) trial by jury (C) to bear arms (D) speech (4) What movement tried to end racial discrimination? (A) prohibition (B) conservation (C) civil rights movement (D) women’s suffrage (5) What is an amendment? (A) the beginning of the Declaration of Independence (B) an introduction (C) a change (to the Constitution) (D) the Preamble to the Constitution
(6) When must all men register for the Selective Service? (A) between 18 and 26 (B) men do not have to register (C) at age 16 (D) at any age (7) Who signs bills to become laws? (A) the Secretary of State (B) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (C) the Vice President (D) the President (8) The House of Representatives has how many voting members? (A) 100 (B) 441 (C) 200 (D) 435 (9) What happened at the Constitutional Convention? (A) The Virginia Declaration of Rights was written. (B) The Constitution was written. (C) The Emancipation Proclamation was written. (D) The Declaration of Independence was written. (10) We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? (A) 4 (B) 10 (C) 2 (D) 6
(1) C, (2) A, (3) D, (4) C, (5) C, (6) A, (7) D, (8) D, (9) B, (10) D
(1) What is the “rule of law?” (A) All laws must be the same in every state. (B) Everyone but the President must follow the law. (C) Everyone must follow the law. (D) Government does not have to follow the law.