Gryphon Gazette, Issue 3, 2014-15 by The Lodge

The

Gryphon Gazette

February 2015

•

The Student Voice of St. George’s Independent School

• Volume XIII, Issue III

IT’'S HAPPENING!

St. George’s announces new addition

Artist’s rendering of the proposed new building to the school. The new building will house admissions offices and more space for the art department.

Source: Mr. Bill Taylor Photo: Taylor Owens ’15

Annie Vento ’17

ith serious donors on board and plans regarding construction established, a new building, which will be home to creative and collaborative thinking, is now in the works. President William Taylor said that this new addition

has been a goal for a couple of years, but it has just recently gained momentum. “About a year and a half ago, Mr. Taylor and the Board of Trustees convened a committee to look at our site plan, [seeing] what our school and our program needs between now and 10

years from now,” said Director of Advancement Mr. Jay Philpott. Together, they worked with a local architecture firm, Looney Ricks Kiss, to establish a plan that would “create an entry experience,” including groves of trees, the new academic

building entrance and “ultimately, a performing arts center,” according to Mr. Philpott. This new plan could not be approached lightly, since the structure itself would cost about 3 million dollars and the exterior features, such as roadways, park-

ing lots and landscaping, would cost over 1 million dollars. However, the new building can be discussed realistically now because of the donors that have either already donated money or expressed serious interest.

Sports

Entertainment

Opinion

Cont. on Page 2

Top Stories News • Deans demand discipline

Features • A day in the life of a theater kid

• Gryphon wrestling

program on the rise

• Issues surround Yik Yak

• Students react to Amendment 1

February

•

News

•

The Gryphon Gazette

St. George’s announces new addition Continued from page 1 While the status of the building is getting closer to being official as donors continue to provide the necessary funds, plans of what exactly the building would consist of are being finalized. As of now, the plan is to rework the entire front of the school, and the new building itself would facilitate classroom space for the arts, as well as an innovation lab, brainstorming room, and the new location of the admissions office. This renovation would also improve the current parking situation, increasing the number of parking spots from 251 to 580. “The whole campus will start to look different,” said Mr. Taylor. This new addition would also alleviate the Collierville campus’ space crunch issue. “We desperately need classroom space, and students need a place of their own,” said Mr. Philpott. “We have basically four to five teachers in the upper school that aren’t sharing a classroom. The idea is to create basically an eight-classroom addition to campus, affixed or adjoined to the school.” Many teachers who are apart of the fine arts department expressed their excitement for the upcoming building, which will provide space for band, chorus, theater and fine arts. “I think that it’s absolutely fabulous to have a building that’s dedicated to the arts,” said Ms.

This aerial view depicts where the addition will be located in comparison to current buildings. Later additions hopefully include a theater and more parking.

Source: Mr. Bill Taylor Photo: Taylor Owens ’15

Rose, who teaches art to middle and upper school students and is the chair of the fine arts department. “We all know that perception is everything, and when you have a building that’s dedicated to the arts, it’s how [fine arts] will be perceived publicly, and I think that’s an important issue.” Currently, the new building is expected to break ground sometime between this April and commencement, dependent on funds and construction permits. Mr. Dennis Whitehead leads his chorus students in rehearsing a new song during class. The St. George’s chorus has been limited with space, sometimes practicing in the stairwell. Annie Vento ’17

Mission Statement 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.

Newspaper Staff Layout Editor Caroline Cannon Features Editor Katie Boyle & Kai Taylor

Co-Editors-in-Chief Lexie Marotta & Taylor Owens

Advisor

Dr. Margaret Robertson

Copy Editors

Juliana Wall

Sports Editor Juliana Wall

News Editor

Nathan Weinreich

Entertainment Editor

Opinion Editor

Anna Marie Beard, Heather Stevenson, & Annie Vento

Photo Editor

Tatum Nix

Miriam Brown & Annie Vento

Courtney Harshbarger

Staff Writers Zach Obaji, Grant Webb, & Emily Persons

February

•

The Student Voice of St. George’s Independent School

Deans demand discipline

•

News

Gryphons share their passions through YouTube Kathryn Smith ’16

Students are now required to copy literary terms in referral. This change was made to teach students a real lesson of discipline and prevent them from continuously making poor decisions.

Tatum Nix ’15

“Alliteration: The occurrence of

the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words…” Students scribble definition after definition of literary terms on notebook paper as the Collierville sunlight just starts to enter the library windows as a result of the new, stricter protocols for referral as well as work hours. Previously, students were required to meet in the dining hall for referral and do homework or anything school related that promoted a productive working environment. Students who have received referral are now required to meet in the library at 7:30 a.m., and homework, laptops, ear buds, food and cell phones are prohibited. Literary terms and their lengthy definitions are distributed to each student along with a pen and paper. Some of these words include alliteration, allegory and allusion. For the next 25 minutes, students are required to copy these definitions in silence. According to the Dean of Students Jill Reilly, this location change was due to the noise of the middle schoolers in the mornings. The change in protocol, however, was to teach students that referral is meant to teach a lesson and prevent students from making

Tatum Nix ’15

poor decisions repeatedly, not to create a quiet environment in which to do homework. The Assistant Dean of Students responsible for overseeing referral, Kayla Irvin, said, “I often had people who said, ‘I get here this early anyways.’” Nevertheless, students have differing opinions regarding the subject. “I think the new referral makes people take it more seriously,” senior Bowers Cone said. “I think it needs to be changed back to allow us to do school work and not copy down literary terms,” junior Spencer Scofield said. For those who skip referral, changes have been made to work hours as well. Before the reform, students would have to scrape gum off tables, clean boards or provide any other service for the school during work hours. With the change, students are now required to copy “Washington’s Rules of Civility” for an hour on an assigned day after school. “It [work hours] wasn’t as effective of a teaching tool as it could have been,” said Mrs. Reilly. Mrs. Reilly wanted to emphasize that these new rules are to promote discipline, a lesson to students, not to give unbearable punishments without any real reason behind them.

he trend of filming YouTube videos, starring both children and adults, is spreading around the world. This up-andcoming extracurricular has students video blogging, or “vlogging,” about topics ranging from fashion to video games to social justice. YouTubers consider this new hobby to be quite rewarding. Filming videos allows them to showcase their thoughts and opinions while connecting with people all around the world. Sophomore Megan Umansky, who vlogs under the username the17pink with over 40,000 subscribers, is known as a beauty guru within the YouTube community and films videos on fashion and beauty. She feels that her videos help her viewers “feel more confident,” which ultimately makes vlogging a worthwhile hobby for her. Sixth-grader Annelise Griffin, is also a Youtube beauty guru and vlogs as AnniesAnswers with over 840 subscribers. She likes making videos because “they make people happy” and they have made her feel more confident. On the other hand, sophomore Annie Vento, who is known as AnnieBanapple on YouTube with over 330 subscribers, enjoys creating vlogs that share ideas she thinks other people should hear, especially concerning activism. [Full disclosure: Vento is the social media editor for “The Gryphon Gazette.”] “I want to do something [that lets me] spark change and be an activist, specifically for human rights, when I’m older. Those types of videos are incredibly significant,” said Vento. Annie Vento’s younger brother, Jack

Vento, started making videos a few months ago under JVlaxtalkshow, and already has nearly 20 subscribers. He says that his sister’s channel inspired him to film his own videos about gaming, which he feels “make people laugh and have a good time.” He said that it has been beneficial to him because it has made him feel more confident and provided him with a hobby that he is passionate about and hopes to continue. Filming YouTube videos has also offered students an insight into careers they might pursue in the future. While both Griffin and Annie Vento are unsure about continuing to film videos as a career, Annie Vento acknowledges that it has made her realize that “you can turn almost anything you love into a career.” Umansky, however, first discovered her love for filmmaking in 2011 and sees it as something she could pursue farther. “I really enjoy it, so there is a chance it could have a part in my future,” she said. Many YouTubers can have a profound effect on their viewers. After receiving some positive feedback, Annie Vento was nearly brought to tears because she did not realize that something she did for fun on the weekends could have such an impact on someone. Similarly, feedback from Umansky’s subscribers has pushed her “to keep making videos because of the effect it has on all the viewers.” “I hope that they feel like I am helping them with simple tips I share,” said Umansky, “and making them feel like they can do anything that they dream.”

Sophomore Megan Umansky films a YouTube video for her channel, the17pink. Umansky has earned over 40,000 subscribers since she first joined Youtube in 2011.

Annie Vento ’17

4 February

•

The Gryphon Gazette

•

Features

“Fool the flippin’ fates!” the Life of a theater kid Taylor Owens ‘15

In the last 30 minutes before a show be-

great deal of time and effort from the whole gins, students involved in the performance cast and crew before it can come together. gather in the basement of the Germantown However, there are definitely some obstacles campus chapel to “fool the flippin’ fates.” that the students have to overcome during “We all get in a cirthe making of a perforcle in the basement “We all get in a circle mance. and we ‘fool the flip- in the basement and we The Germantown campin’ fates.’ It’s a thing pus is the current location where we all hold ‘fool the flippin’ fates.’” for all of the upper, midhands, jump on our dle and lower school performances. right foot, and we chant ‘1, 2, 3, fool the flip“Sometimes we can’t rehearse because pin fates!’” sophomore Annie Vento said. the elementary school is doing something The theater department has made great or there’s a church service. So we’re kind of strides when it comes to their variety of working off other people’s schedules,” senior performances, whether it be from “To Kill a Allie Buckmaster said. Mockingbird,” “The Putnam County Spelling The Germantown campus stage has posed Bee,” and “Seussical: The Musical.” Student problems for some, whether it is finding a involvement has increased over the last few ride or the current space that they perform years, and plans for the potential building in. of an 800 seat theater have been drawn up. “The fact we have to go all the way to the However, there are a lot of things that hap- Germantown campus is very hard for some pen bepeople,” Vento hind the “There are definitely some obstacles said. “People s c e n e s that the students have to overcome who don’t live t h a t close to the those of during the making of a performance. ” school someus not involved with the theater program do times have difficulties finding rides.” not know about. “The backstage is so crowded all the time Putting on productions and shows takes a and there’s a flimsy little curtain that separates the boy and the girl side,” Buckmaster said. “You have to announce your presence every time because someone could be changing.” A plan for a new theater at the Collierville campus has been created. There is currently not an account that has been opened; however, the plan has been drawn up for an 800 seat, multi-purpose auditorium. “We are in the midst of planning,” Head of School Mr. Bill Taylor said. “We’ve engaged architects in a master plan of half of this campus. We know we need to expand our facilities.” For each show there is a food that is popular amongst the cast and crew. The popular food during the making of “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Seussical: The Musical” was baby carrots, while chocolate covered raisins were the favorite during “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Much like a sports team, each cast of every play grows and bonds through their pracPhoto: Maurine Vihlen tices, performances and funny behind-thescenes traditions. Sophomore Robert Grissom sings a song during the “Putnam County Spelling Bee” performance. This show was performed last year and Grissom played the character Leaf Coneybear.

Disclaimer: Annie Vento is a member of the newspaper staff.

Photo: Maurine Vihlen The Whos in the “Seussical: the Musical” sit down in a scene during the performance. The cast had a variety of different students from third grade to twelfth grade.

Photo: Maurine Vihlen Senior Sarah Moon, senior Allie Buckmaster, and alum John Hankes take the stage during the “Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Buckmaster played Olive Ostrovsky during the performance.

Photo: Maurine Vihlen The student actors watch a court scene during a performance. Upper school students participated in the successful play “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

February

•

The Student Voice of St. George’s Independent School

Hoos got your back?

•

Features 5

Photo Illustration: Kai Taylor and Miriam Brown

Journalistic lapses lead to confusion, conflict and criticism at UVA and beyond Miriam Brown ‘17 Kai Taylor ‘17

When the story was written, Jackie had requested sober brothers to have keys that access every room that the reporters not contact her alleged attackers in the fraternity house, guest lists and information n Nov. 19, 2014, Rolling Stone magazine re- or friends she talked about in the article in order to on alcohol being served. leased an article chronicling the experience of a respect her privacy. “The administration remained firm on their female student at the University of Virginia who Phi Kappa Psi, the suspected fraternity, also re- stance to stop campus rape, which I think shows claimed to have been sexually assaulted by fraterni- leased a statement saying that an internal investiga- great integrity,” said Hyde. ty members. People across the country reacted with tion made by the fraternity and This past summer, a student-led horror. Sixteen days later, the story was retracted alumni found many inaccura- “A great sense of awareness campaign, called “Hoos due to inconsistencies in the woman’s story. cies in the article. An article community and family Got Your Back,” was launched at UVA. The detailed story of the student, who was giv- with quotes from close friends UVA students are nicknamed the “Wahas been fostered.” en the pseudonym “Jackie,” gave readers details of Jackie’s who were with her hoos,” or “Hoos” for short. The name of what supposedly occurred that night: she was that night was published by the Washington Post is commonly believed to derive from a “Wah-Hoosexually assaulted by five men for the purpose of about a week after the retraction was released, and Wah” chant used to cheer on the university’s athleta fraternity initiation. The story provoked outrage their story did not match the story that Jackie told. ic teams. The purpose of this program is to prevent at the thought of a young girl being so gorily taken Investigations are still in progress, and people are sexual violence and misconduct. advantage of. now wondering if the entire article was fictitious. “Whenever someone sees another hoo walking “At first, I was horrified. I couldn’t believe that The Columbia Journalism Review named the Roll- home alone at night, someone will always ask if they something so disturbing could happen at my ing Stone article of “the worst journalism of 2014,” need help getting home,” said Hyde. “I have personschool, a place where I felt safe,” said Kayce Hyde, and the Poynter Institute has named the decision to ally experienced this kindness multiple times.” a St. George’s alumna and current UVA freshman. not fact-check the article the “error of the year.” According to UVA’s Cavalier Daily, over 300 stu“When the article came out, word of it spread like “We apologize to anyone who was affected by the dents pledged to take part in this endeavor at the wildfire. Everyone on grounds knew about it within story, and we will continue to investigate the events program’s pledge day. minutes of its publication.” of that evening,” wrote managing editor Will Dana in “In the midst of all the hardship UVA has expeDean Brown, another St. George’s alumnus who the retraction. rienced this semester, a great sense of community attends UVA, reacted similarly (Full disclosure: UVA students have since spoken out against the ar- and family has been fostered,” said Hyde. Dean Brown is the brother of one of the authors). ticle, claiming that it did not portray UVA accurately In addition to affecting the lives of UVA students, “I was horrified at the actions of those individu- and permanently damaged the university’s reputa- this situation also has the potential to affect the als and could not believe how terrible people could tion. lives of sexual assault victims who share their stoact,” said Brown. “I don’t “Once the retraction came ries in the future. “I couldn’t believe that somethink anyone thought out, people rolled their eyes, “It’s already so hard for sexual assault victims to that what happened was thing so disturbing could hap- but everyone still understood come forward, and this will only make it harder,” okay.” pen at my school, a place where that sexual assault at college said Brown. “They’re going to be discredited even Brown said that initially campuses in general is a big more than before because now there’s reason not to there were many protests I felt safe.” deal, regardless of whether believe them.” on campus surrounding the specific frat house, Phi that specific article was true or false,” said Brown. In “This is a shame because most women who claim Kappa Psi, where the suspected rape occurred. spite of the questionability of the article, UVA has to be victims of sexual assault are actually victims,” “There were a lot of emails sent out by the presi- stood by their decision to implement policies to try said Hyde. “When revealing what has happened to dent at first trying to calm everyone down. That to prevent future sexual assault. them, they deserve to be cared for unconditionally week, they suspended all fraternities and sororities Although the ban on Greek organizations at the instead of scrutinized and questioned.” for the remainder of the semester,” said Brown. campus was lifted, policies were still invoked to enAs for eliminating sexual assault in the future, About two weeks later, Rolling Stone released a sure safety. One of the organizations, the Inter-Fra- Hyde said, “Society as a whole needs to teach men retraction citing inconsistencies in Jackie’s story. ternity Council, for example, now at parties requires and women how to better respect one another.”

February

•

The Gryphon Gazette

•

Sports

HARD AT WORK: Senior Drew Ruffin defends against his opponent. He pinned the other wrestler and won the match.

Stacy Royalty

Heather Stevenson ’16

elephone poles, water jugs, sandbags, oh my! This might seem like unusual sports equipment, but to the St. George’s wrestling team, it’s nothing new. This year has seen one of the strongest wrestling teams in the history of St. George’s. They have experienced great wins against teams such as MUS, Briarcrest and Cordova, and their team has been supported by strong leadership from seniors Griffin Brown, Daniel Hutchison, Owen Miller and Drew Ruffin, who led their team into 3rd place in the state invitational. The team brought home a huge win against Knoxville Webb, 68-11. Some students who aren’t familiar with wrestling are often confused by the specifics, not able to understand the mysterious weight cutting and weight management. Weight classes are crucial when it comes to whom your opponent will be when it comes time for a match. According to junior Jake Lindow, this is the first

year that the St. George’s team is made up of boys in every weight class. In years past, there have been situations when wrestlers went to extreme lengths in order to fall into certain weight classes. These fourteen different weight classes, ranging from 106 pounds to 285 pounds, can make students shy away from the sport. “I think people don’t come out for it because either they are afraid of it or because it’s kind of a different sport,” said Head Wrestling Coach Mr. Jefferson Brant. Many students are curious just what the sport entails, including the work and fitness that play into the sport and how exactly one trains for wrestling. “We do a lot of heavy weightlifting mixed in with conditioning,” said Ruffin on some of the most common wrestling workouts. “Every Thursday, called Thrasher Thursday, we would carry sandbags, telephone poles or water jugs along the beach and, in between the weightlifting, we would

The wrestling team practices over winter break. The boys are doing spin drills.

be running sprints for our break.” “It requires more extreme conditioning than most sports, which is why we try to mix it up,” said Coach Brant. “We go down to the beach a lot, we do track workouts, [and] we have little games we play.” Coach Brant pays special attention to weight management and ensures that his wrestlers maintain healthy habits. He assures that no wrestler is starving himself or restricting himself with personal diets. “There is no more crash dieting, but there is management. Before the season, every single wrestler in the state of Tennessee has to do a hydration test, [which] works out the lowest possible weight you can go that season,” said Coach Brant. “I as a coach have to take those weights and put them into an online system that keeps track and states what your weight can be the next day and the day after day. You can only descend at a gradu-

Mr. Jefferson Brant

February

•

The Student Voice of St. George’s Independent School

GRYPHON WRESTLING ON THE RISE

•

Sports

Editor’s choice: best health and fitness media Taylor Owens ’15

Pbfingers.com

If you are looking for a blog that gives you tips on healthy habits, ideas for nutritious food and valuable workouts that are easy to do in your dayto-day life, then pbfingers.com is the blog for you. This bubbly and light-hearted site is run by Julie Fagan, a certified fitness trainer from Charlotte, N.C. If you want recipes and workouts that are simple and effortless to incorporate into your daily life without spending extra money, her blog is one to check out.

A referee recognizes senior Drew Ruffin as the winner of the match. The wrestlers took third at state this year.

al weight to your lowest class.” Wrestlers go through a number of techniques to drop into a certain weight class. “For breakfast, I would have toast and peanut butter and that’s it, and I would skip lunch and have a light dinner,” said Ruffin. “If you’re up in the light weights, you have to take it really slow because you don’t have a lot of body fat. If you’re in the heavier weights, you can take a more extreme approach because you have a lot more body fat to get rid of.” “As long as you’re eating normal, it’s fine,” said Lindow. “I tend to know how much I am going to lose or going to gain.” Health is the first concern for the wrestling team. “We have to watch the guys and make sure they don’t get too crazy with how far they descend,” said Coach Brant. “I have never made kids cut down. I have had kids decide to descend, and we watch

Marion Folk

them closely. As a coach, I have to watch and make sure kids are not doing it to an unsafe level.” From the outside, wrestling can seem like a demanding sport, as it consists of vastly different aspects compared to sports such as football or basketball, but it can offer so much more than other sports according to the team. “Almost everybody loses in the beginning. It’s a great sport for character development, and it makes you a confident person and a humble person,” said Coach Brant. “There are always points where you are going to have to be mentally tough and, if you don’t push yourself in practice, you’re not going to be physically and mentally capable to win matches.” “We have a Latin motto: Everyday, every way, work hard, get better, gryphon wrestling, head and heart,” said Ruffin. “That is the most important part of wrestling: keeping a good mental state and giving it your all.”

Health blogs inspire healthy lifestyles.

Annie Vento ’17

@teatannedandtoned

For those who are vegans, health nuts or just in need of some great fitness motivation, the @ teatannedandtoned Instagram account is one to look out for. It follows the life of Karena Thompson, a vegan, health fanatic and California native. Her level of fitness is impressive, as seen by her dedication to the gym and motivating abs. She promotes self-love and shows the benefits of eating well and staying in shape. You can follow her to learn her story and educate yourself on fitness, food tips and how to live a healthy, vegan lifestyle.

www.rachelbrathen.com @yoga_girl @rachel_brathen @rachelbrathen

Senior Daniel Hutchison attempts a headthrow. This match took place at St. George’s.

Stacy Royalty

Freshman Matthew Doucette attempts a cradle. This is his first year on the high school wrestling team.

Sarah Doucette

Rachel Brathen is a well-known member of the yoga community, with her yoga sessions taking place all over the world and more than 1 million followers on Instagram. Brathen currently has an Instagram, blog, Twitter and Snapchat that are updated daily with pictures and videos of herself around the world doing awe-inspiring yoga poses. Every post she writes is supported with either a story about her life or an inspirational quote to encourage others. If you are looking for an account revolving around yoga, stunning destinations, wellness or simply learning to love yourself, @yoga_girl is the account for you.

February

The Gryphon Gazette

•

Entertainment

Courtney Harshbarger ’15

any people ignore classic novels because they do not want to exert too much energy actually thinking about a text when they could be texting instead. I agree; I would much rather spend my time on Tumblr than read through yet another tedious Shakespearean play, but there are many classics that are worth the read. The definition of a “classic novel” has been disputed for ages. No one is completely sure as to what the exact requirements are for dubbing a book a “classic,” but they do have much more substance than the 140 character limit on Twitter. The most widely accepted description of a classic novel is a book that has survived throughout time and somehow still manages to have a message relevant to the current time period. With this definition in mind, the reason for reading classic novels becomes clearer. I will admit that some classics are dull, but history classes do not ignore the people who did bad things, so not all bad classics should be ignored. Refusing to acknowledge the changes made by bad people (or in this case, bad books) would create a huge gap in the knowledge of how literature became what it is today. Despite my intense hatred for “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” I do grudgingly admit that there are some merits to the magic realism and strange writing style of the novel. All classics, even the dull ones, have somehow helped shape the literary world, and are noteworthy in their contributions to formal writing. Unfortunately, somehow students always seem to be forced into reading the worst possible books somehow. Luckily, there are many classic novels that not only contribute to worldwide

On the Importance of Classic Novels Senior Courtney Harshbarger’s collection of classic novels. Harshbarger has read a new classic book each week this year.

literature, but also have a good storyline and writing technique. These can be read not necessarily for learning purposes, but simply for the excellent reading experience. Many of my favorite classics do not have airtight, or even very interesting stories, yet I enjoy them for the beauty of the writing. “Dracula” is filled with plot holes and incongruities, but it has become one of my favorite books solely because of the the way the writing makes me feel. Modern books tend to be written in a colloquial way that weakens the art of writing and puts all the emphasis on

the storyline. I do not necessarily consider modern “writers” to be writers so much as storytellers. When I read modern books, I often feel like I am reading a movie script rather than a novel. The sentence structure and dialogue tends to be extremely simple, and it takes away my favorite part of reading, which is appreciation for the writing itself. Classics are more concerned with tiny details and philosophical thoughts and questions that sometimes take me by surprise. I love the way classics make me question my own ideas and opinions, allow me to appreciate the beautiful writing while simultaneously

Courtney Harshbarger ’15

providing me with a story. Reading modern books and classic books are two completely separate pursuits, and I find that classic are more intellectually stimulating and awe-inspiring. I commend those who find enjoyment in modern books, but I encourage everyone to try reading at least one good classic because it can be an amazing experience. I have recently set out to read one classic novel each week. I will subsequently review a few of these classics, and you can follow my journey through literature at thegryphongazette.org.

Issues surround Yik Yak Zach Obaji ’15

Yik Yak is a new form of social me-

Yik Yak shocks and amuses seniors Maria Kramer, Molly McEwan, and Hannah Dietz. This social media application allows users to anonymously post comments online.

Zach Obaji ’15

dia that involves an innovative way to peek around and see what other people in your area have to say. Unlike Twitter or Instagram, all posts are anonymous. With just a smartphone and an Internet connection, individuals can view posts within a 10 mile-radius. New messages can be posted, and users have the option to up-vote other messages, or even down-vote them. If a certain post receives 5 down-votes, Yik Yak automatically removes the post from the public’s view. The application even gives you the opportunity to “peek” at the Yaks of your favorite college campus, although you can only view the posts. This app enables users to post anything from humorous content to more inappropriate content. The choice

is yours, but do not be surprised if you see posts on Yik Yak that are extremely inappropriate. They may contain racial slurs, sexist comments and derogatory statements. Some other posts are harmless, such as “I failed my test tomorrow.” Another Yak said, “My goal in life is to be as optimistic as the people who smile in their mugshots.” In my opinion, Yik Yak is not for the weak-hearted. If extremely offensive language disturbs you, then steer clear of this program. Use Yik Yak if you are looking for a good laugh, but I do not advise that you take the posts seriously. As a reminder, do not use Yik Yak at school, as this is a violation of the responsible use policy signed by all students at the beginning of the year.

February

•

The Gryphon Gazette

•

Entertainment

New Bond movie is underway Annie Vento ’17

fter the three-year hiatus in the James Bond movie franchise, as the last film, “Skyfall,” was released in 2012, director Sam Mendes made an official announcement on Dec. 3, 2014, of the next movie in the series, which will be in theaters beginning Nov. 6, 2015. “Spectre,” the next 007 film, is the 24th movie in the Bond series, and it will not only be directed by “Skyfall’s” Mendes, but Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Rory Kinnear, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw will be returning from “Skyfall.” Along with them, notable newcomer Christopher Waltz will be joining the cast as the character Oberhauser, who the Daily Mail reported was the “son of the late Hans Oberhauser, a ski instructor who acted as a father figure to Bond.” Filming for “Spectre” began in December of 2014, and the cast and crew will be traveling to at least three continents, visiting cities including London, Mexico City, Rome and Morocco for the film As much of the “Skyfall” cast is returning from “Spectre,” it is comforting to know that “Spectre” is in good hands and will hopefully live up to its precedent, as well as possibly surpassing it in quality and ticket sales. Plus, “Spectre” is currently working on a budget of more than 300 million dollars, putting it “on track to [being] one of the most expensive films ever made” and already the most

Photo: Inquisitr

expensive 007 movie, according to CNN. However, “Spectre” does have big shoes to fill. “Skyfall” has made over 1 billion dollars internationally, earned a Rotten Tomatoes score of 92 percent by critics, meaning it is “certified fresh” and won over thirty awards in 2013 among many award shows. Furthermore, it was “named

in the ‘top 10 films of the year’ lists by over 90 globally-renowned film critics,” according to the official 007 website. As I have recently become a 007 aficionada, I cannot contain my excitement for another movie in the series, especially with the return of Craig as James Bond. He has shined in the franchise, particular-

ly “Skyfall,” and his take on James Bond brought many new fans to the franchise, including myself. Additionally, Waltz, who many are speculating will play the classic Bond villain, Blofeld, is a significant contribution that “Skyfall “did not have, and I am looking forward to seeing what he will bring to “Spectre.”

The life unrecognized with Wes Anderson *Disclaimer: Not all films reviewed are appropriate for all ages. These films range from PG-R. Viewer Discretion is advised.

Nathan Weinreich ’15

ith his stop-motion adaptation of “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” his surprise indie hit “Moonrise Kingdom” and his most recent success with “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Wes Anderson has been slowly making the transition from unknown artist to household name. Bolstered by his recent Golden Globe win for “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” and facing a plethora of Oscar nods, Anderson is experiencing the highest point in his career, yet his earlier films remain readily glossed-over.

Anderson’s career started out rocky with “Bottle Rocket,” a film he wrote in college with fellow classmates Owen, Luke and Andrew Wilson. Even after self-producing a short version of the film and pulling strings at Sundance, “Bottle Rocket” was still a box office failure. While Anderson would be met with warmer response to his next film, the independent hit “Rushmore,” it would still lack the credit it deserves among the general population. What’s more,

the Bill Murray-produced film that gave Jason Schwartzman his cinematic beginnings is frequently only recognized for its status as a quintessentially “independent” film. Many of Wes Anderson’s “fans” cite “Rushmore” as their favorite of his films without even watching his other cinematic masterpieces. Anderson’s third film “The Royal Tenenbaums” would win Gene Hackman a Golden Globe for best actor, and thus the film became one of the most recognizable of Anderson’s films, yet the films that followed, “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” and “The Darjeeling Limited” would be left in the dust, never to be given the respect they fully deserve. Anderson’s more recent filmography has garnered a stronger public reaction than his earlier works, yet, in my opinion, his earlier works are more masterful. Wes Anderson’s films contain some of the most beautiful thematic elements of any director’s work, elements any Anderson fan can recognize throughout every one of his films. Anderson’s use of unexpected slowmotion shots set to classic rock music, such as the scene in “Darjeeling” in which the characters throw down their baggage (both symbolically and physically) to catch a train set to The

Kink’s “Powerman,” are a genuinely unique use of the technique. Instead of building tension or showing action shots in slow detail, Anderson’s use of the shot causes a wave of relief to wash over the viewer, as if it were meant to be. The childlike wonder associated with the obviously fake model sets Anderson implements in his films, like his stop-motion marine creatures in “The Life Aquatic,” coupled with the running motif of mature-beyondtheir-years children, as evident in the protagonist of “Rushmore” Max Fischer, provide a beautifully ironic dichotomy that questions what it means to be a child. These model sets help provide the most obvious Anderson trope: his heavily warm, pastel coloration. If all of this has yet to convince you, Bill Murray has been every single Anderson film since “Rushmore.” If that is not inspiration enough to watch his films, what is? “Grand Budapest” is tied with Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “Birdman” for the most Oscar nominations this year, and while I will be cheering it on with all of my heart, Anderson’s earlier films will remain works of art. It is up to you to appreciate them as such.

February

•

The Gryphon Gazette

Photo Illustration: Juliana Wall ’15

Amendment 1 chips away at women’s rights Annie Vento ‘17

n Nov. 6, 2014, voters in Tennessee passed a dangerous measure threatening women’s rights known as Amendment 1, which will give state officials more authority in regulating and restricting abortion.

Amendment 1 starts a conversation Lexie Marotta ‘15

vened for the first time in 2015. They carried signs that included phrases such as “our bodies, our choice!” and “politicians make crappy doctors.” The protesters were rallying specifically against the new measures that have already been proposed by lawmakers following the passage of Amendment 1. A group of representatives presented a measure to make informed consent necessary, which would involve giving women information from lawmakers before getting an abortion. Others, particularly representative Rick Womick, called for women to be required to receive ultrasounds before receiving an abortion. Lawmakers should not be able to make medical decisions about women’s reproductive health, especially when the majority of lawmakers today are men who will never be in the position of having an abortion and are ignorant of what it is like to be a woman. The Constitution grants all citizens

mendment 1 was passed on Nov 6 2014 with a 52.6% approval. The amendment has not changed women’s rights. It has opened the door to discuss certain aspects of abortion, such as regulating the sanitary condition of clinics and enforcing informed consent. Informed consent is when a patient grants permission with knowledge of the possible consequences told to them by a doctor. It provides knowledge of all the possible risks and benefits. Informed consent is already required in other medical facilities. It is a measure that ensures correct liability and prevents medical malpractice. The passage of Amendment 1 does not, in any way, prevent any woman from obtaining an abortion. It is not possible for states to ban abortion. Our Federal Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional in the Roe v. Wade decision. Despite this fact, the “Vote No on 1” campaign still states on their website that “Amendment 1 could even ban abortion without exceptions.” Until the Supreme Court rules otherwise, abortion remains legal. Tennessee will not ban abortion. With the current legislation regarding abortions in Tennessee, a woman could

liberty and specific freedoms, and by restricting a woman’s access to abortion, it is restricting her constitutional rights. Women must stand and speak up in defense of their basic human rights before it is too late. Amendment 1 is a slippery slope to removing all women’s rights regarding their reproductive health and, if this amendment is allowed to stand, women may lose absolute control of their bodies.

hypothetically walk in off the street and have an abortion performed within the same day. The passage of Amendment 1 now introduces the possibility of consideration for a waiting period where a woman can think over the procedure with full knowledge of any risks before having it performed. However, women across Tennessee felt that their reproductive rights were being called into question due to the passage of the amendment. The phrase “my body,

“With more women fleeing to Tennessee to receive an abortion, the South is in need of wider abortion access, not more restrictions.” Amendment 1 was one of the most carefully-watched items on the ballot, as it presented a profound threat to a woman’s fundamental right to abortion. As a result, Tennessee lawmakers will now have the ability to set up barriers for women needing an abortion, including informed consent and additional obstacles one must cross before being allowed to exercise that right. Presently, Tennessee is scurrying to join neighboring states by enacting their rigorous anti-abortion laws. According to the Center for Disease Control, or the CDC, about 25 percent of women who seek abortions in Tennessee do so because they are from states that have allowed passage of these outrageous restrictions. The passage of Amendment 1 is Tennessee is analogous to a metastasizing cancer spreading across the South and across the United States as a whole. In the case of Amendment 1, it will be a slow demise of women’s reproductive rights, as already evidenced by the 25 percent of women who are coming to Tennessee to obtain an abortion. With more women fleeing to Tennessee to receive an abortion, the South is in need of wider abortion access, not more restrictions. Just as women fought for suffrage and equal education, women today are fighting for control over their own bodies. On Tuesday, Jan. 13, this fundamental right was fought for in Nashville, Tenn., when hundreds of women protested in front of the Capitol building as lawmakers recon-

Opinion

•

my choice” is a popular chant heard in the crowds of protests for women’s’ reproductive rights. However, it is still their choice. Amendment 1 seeks to gives women information and time to understand abortions. Abortions can, and do, affect women emotionally and physically. Women who have become pregnant as a result of rape or in situations where the pregnancy is life-threatening may need an abortion. However, about 1% of women who get an abortion are victims of these types of cases. Should a woman follow through with a decision to have the abortion, she can be assured the facility would be clean and have emergency equipment should it be necessary to help her. Amendment 1 allows for sanitation requirements to

“Tennessee will not ban abortion.”

Amendment 1: “Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.”

be enforced in abortion clinics. In the future, they may be required to meet stricter health standards. Regardless of religious beliefs, some premature babies can be born and live outside of the womb, and in the court system, should a woman get stabbed and her child die as well, it is considered a double homicide, regardless of the child’s stage of development. Amendment 1 opens the door for more discussion regarding the nuances of getting an abortion. It means that the state can now consider the possibility of a ban on abortion, but only past a certain stage of development. “We want our constitution to go back to neutral on the issue of abortion, so we can pass some common sense regulations to protect mothers and children” said Leslie Hunse, the education director for Tennessee Right to Life. While it is most definitely not the government’s job to interfere in the personal lives of women, a more cautious approach should be taken when a woman’s choice terminates another potential life. As the famous Dr. Seuss once said in his children’s book “Horton Hears a Who,” “even though you can’t see them or hear them at all, a person’s a person no matter how small.”

February

•

The Gryphon Gazette

Opinion

•

Choosing the 901 a city like no other

The Memphis Bridge’s silhouette stands out against a colorful sunset. The bridge is one of the most recognizable features of Memphis.

Allie Buckmaster ’15

Emily Persons ’17

Growing up in Memphis, I

used to think everything here was normal and assumed Memphian qualities could be found in other cities as well. However, upon venturing outside of the 901, I have since realized that Memphis truly has much to offer that other places do not. We, as locals, often take these certain aspects of Memphis for granted and think of them as “normal”. However, what we see and do commonly as Memphians is a true luxury for tourists and outsiders. One classic item we assume is the “norm” is the magnificent barbecue us Memphians have at our disposal. There is the homey and urban Cozy Corner off of North Parkway along with the countrystyle Commissary in Germantown. Both are staples for our community, and almost everything found on their menus is delicious com-

fort food. For those who have never left the community, it may come as a shock that these great restaurants are nowhere to be found anywhere else. Ask any Memphian and there is a good chance they will agree that our barbeque is amazing. Simultaneously, music is a principle quality for Memphians. There is the obvious Graceland tourist destination devoted to the nearand-dear-to-our-hearts Elvis Presley, along with the infamous Sun Studios where it all began for him. As for modern music, Beale Street is the center of downtown’s wellknown Blues music. It is often flooded with large crowds making their way to a bars or dance clubs, while sometimes hosting parades and musical acts for festivals. It is constantly buzzing with action and energy, which not all areas have to offer. On the contrary, Memphis is also

great for the silent and studious coffee-drinkers who choose not to go out. Numerous non-chain coffee shops can be found like Bluff City Coffee, Otherlands Coffee Bar, Republic Coffee, Square Beans and the newly opened Muddy’s Grindhouse. These are stocked with delicious foods and specialty drinks along with comfy chairs for hanging out. These places truly capture the chill vibe of freelance writers and beanie-wearing coffee-lovers. The true coffee shop experience is something especially rare, and its presence is Memphis is something to be truly grateful for. Among the noteworthy characteristics of Memphis are other things that make our community remarkably unique. Our zoo is among the top of the nation and is one of only thirteen zoos in the country that have pandas. Our well-reviewed Orpheum Theatre performs new

shows monthly, including everything from famous Broadway musicals such as Wicked or The Lion King to symphony orchestras. The FedEx Forum is a fantastic venue that is available for hosting soldout concerts and Memphis Grizzlies basketball games. Outside of the city, there is Shelby Farms Park which, at 4,500 acres, is one of the largest urban parks in the country and is equipped with dozens of lakes for fishing and miles of trails through the woods. Museums are also not lacking for the Pink Palace Museum and the Brooks Museum of Art are excellent places to learn about history and admire artwork. With all of these in mind, I hope we can realize the greatness our city has to offer and how there is still more to be discovered.

OPINION POLICY: The Gryphon Gazette opinion section is a venue for the free expression of student views at St. George’s Indepen-

dent 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 letters 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 activities.

Feburary

•

The Gryphon Gazette

•

Entertainment

What Movie Should You Watch On Valentine’s Day? START: Are you single?

YES: You go! Work it real YES... good! Did you recently break up? Are you still friends? NOPE: never been in YES. Do you a relationship. have a crush? Do you have a crush? NopeNModmf

YES: Zac Efron/ Kate Upton just doesn’t know about us yet. NOPE: I’m all Where will you spend about that single your evening? life. #PLAYA With friends/ familiy. What is your favorite color? Red?

Yellow

Passionate Red

NO: Aww you guys so cute! Do you like receiving flowers? YES: How much chocolate Willy Wonka is will you eat? my sugar daddy. NAH: We avoid Do you cuddle? each other at all costs. A few lil nibblets. What’s your ideal Val- OMG YAS entine’s Day Dinner? STEAK

Home alone with a bucket of ice cream and my cat. Blood Red Black

Sonic

ew ew ew ew ew

No: Flowers scare me. Are you in love?

We are a new couple

MADLY!