The
Gryphon Gazette
November 2015
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The Student Voice of St. George’s Independent School • Volume XIV, Issue II
Caroline Zummach ’18
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hen walking into a Jenette McKurdy concert, one will find many people dancing until they sweat and singing their hearts out. One will be met with a jam-packed room of fans jumping up and down to the rock music of Jenette McKurdy. Jenette Mckurdy was formed when Harrison Schutt, Joseph Preston, Nicholas Manley, Jerry Oates and Jim Waggoner, members of the youth group worship band of at Christ United Methodist Church, wanted to play other genres’ music alongside their usual worship songs. “We started to sneak into the church at night and tried to play Avett Brothers music, and it was terrible,” Schutt, guitarist of the band and prefect of the arts, said. The name Jenette McKurdy was established simply when the band was throwing out ideas one night while hanging out. “We were throwing out absurd band names and someone said ‘Jenette McKurdy,’” Schutt said. And thus, the band’s name was born. Schutt said it was not originally his favorite name because it was a girl’s name, but he said he now likes it. Schutt said that being in a band while in high school is
Jenette McKurdy sparks excitement with students Senior Harrison Schutt plays with his band, Jenette McKurdy. Last year, the band played at the St. George’s carnival day.
difficult and that he has left exams unstudied for in the past due to long band rehearsals. “We had four to seven hour practices every day during exam week last year, which might be why I didn’t do so well, but it’s worth it, and I’d rather be doing that than school,” Schutt said.
Mr. Tom Link, Director of the St. George’s Modern Music Ensemble, agreed that what Schutt and his band are doing requires a lot of discipline and focus. “To be able to go out and play is really, really hard,” Mr. Link said. “It’s way harder than it looks.”
Buckling up for the new Greenbelt
Mr. Link credits hard work for the band’s success. “They sounded great,” Mr. Link said. “They were fantastic.” Fans can look forward to new music from Jenette McKurdy soon, as the band will be releasing an album later on this
year. “The album should have at least eight songs on it, and for style, I’d say Foam Rock,” Schutt said. The band plans on having a concert near Christmas time as part of the album release celebrations.
Jacob Peeples ’16 Eric DiNicolantonio ’16
the city is required in order for the city to achieve their goal. “We have been awarded a $500,000 grant from the State of Tennessee for Phase I development of the Wolf River Boulevard Greenbelt Trail that will begin at the Claridge Pet Resort and end with a wildlife observation deck in the Halle-Robbins Nature Preserve,” said Greg Clark, Assistant Director of Parks, Recreations and Cultural Arts for Collierville.
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Collierville plans to extend the Greenbelt through St. George’s property Photo: Jacob Peeples ’16 Women ride bikes along the Greenline in Memphis, Tenn. The Greenbelt, a similar trail, could someday come through the St. George’s Collierville Campus.
Photo: Sutton Hewitt ’16
he St. George’s Collierville campus may be expecting a new addition, courtesy of the town of Collierville. Discussions have been taking place about part of the Greenbelt being placed on campus property. The Collierville Greenbelt System is the city’s attempt to connect public places with trails for biking and walking. However, cooperation from all private property holders in
Cont. on Page 2
Top Stories Opinion
Entertainment
• Learning to love yourself
• Pyro’s Pizza fires up new
(p.11)
location (p.8)
News • Making strides with
Samaritan’s Feet (p.3)
Features • True colors (p.6)
Sports • Managing success (p.5)
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STAFF
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Miriam Brown ’17 Annie Vento ’17
Advisor Dr. Margaret Robertson
Layout Editor Katie Boyle ’17 Laura McDowell ’17 Carolyn Lane ’18 Elise Fong ’16
Copy Editors
Kendall LoCascio ’17 Laura McDowell ’17 Rachel Ducker ’17 Annie Murff ’18
Photo Editor Katie Boyle ’17
News Editor Carolyn Lane ’18
Features Editor Kendall LoCascio’17
Entertainment Editor Emma Pounders ’18
Sports Editor Bayard Anderson ’17
Opinion Editor Elise Fong ’16
Web Editor Grant Webb ’16
Staff Writers Sam Hyde ’16 Jacob Peeples ’16 Eric DiNicolantonio ’16 Matthew Blum ’17 Iona Yates ’17 Caroline Zummach ’18 Merryn Ruthling ’18 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.
Do you think we missed anything? Feel free to comment on the stories on thegryphongazette.org St. George’s Independent School 1880 Wolf River Blvd. Collierville, TN 38017
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The Gryphon Gazette
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News
Collierville plans to extend Greenbelt Continued from page 1 Plans for the proposed Greenbelt section are not finalized, so the proposed section could fall through. Administrators at St. George’s have given Collierville the ground plans and are awaiting the town’s proposal plan for where the Greenbelt could be built. However, with the Collierville campus having over 250 acres of property, administrators are unsure about its exact location. Negotiations have not yet began between the city and the school, leaving many concerns unaddressed. Depending on where the Greenbelt is proposed, it may not be possible because of a variety of problems such as foot traffic and river access. Despite the possible negative effects, having the Greenbelt on campus could still be welcomed as a positive addition to the campus, as St. George’s is already focused on the outdoors. Collierville has said that the Greenbelt will be used primarily as another method of transportation, although it will still be a recreational path that connects many parks and public places. “Designed for over 60 miles of trails and sidewalks connecting parks, schools, neighborhoods and commercial districts, the system encourages our citizens to use these easily accessible trails to reach their destination,” Mr. Clark said. The path may be welcomed by many because of how it connects the school to other nearby places. The Greenbelt may even be of use Source: Town of Collierville, used with permission to certain classes and extracurriculars. Senior Richard Kuehn, who runs A map details the master plan for the Greenbelt. varsity cross country, believes that pus, and having a widely used public Will Bladt is hopeful for the project, the Greenbelt may add diversity to pathway running through campus but he expressed concerns about the team’s running routes. would open the campus to unidentithe possible proposed location and “We don’t have many different fied persons, causing security probstudents having access to the Wolf trails here,” Kuehn said. “We always lems. River. run the same trails over and over Mrs. Woods pointed out that our “Do we have a say on where it again.” walkways, tennis courts and pool are goes?” Mr. Bladt said. “Is putting it A school’s resources can often add already shared with the community. right up against the river and keeping to its appeal, and Assistant Director We have outside traffic on our camaccess points for us the best choice? of Admissions Mrs. Sheridan Woods pus every day already, even without I cannot say.” vouches for its ability to attract stuthe Greenbelt. The added flow of traffic is also dents. Whether or not these concerns a pressing concern. At the end of Mrs. Woods said that she thinks are legitimate will be determined by the school day, there is always an the new addition would highlight the increase in traffic, and the Greenbelt Collierville’s proposition. Nothing is Collierville Campus and added that set in stone as of yet, but most seem may cause more traffic depending she would mention it on all of her hopeful that our campus may have on where it crosses the street. There tours. Because her tours stress the part of the Greenbelt to call our own surrounding environment, she thinks are already school zones in place to soon. help with safety, but the added foot having the Greenline would add to traffic could cause additional conthe resources she uses to persuade gestion. students to attend St. George’s. St. George’s is also a private camAssociate Head of School Mr.
CORRECTIONS AND RETRACTIONS: The St. George’s Gryphon Gazette strives for accuracy in all articles. However, sometimes mistakes are made. When this happens, you will see corrections here. Issue 1, page 3: We mistakenly labeled new middle school science teacher Ms. Adeline Brown as Mrs. Issue 1, page 5: We incorrectly named the two members of twenty one pilots, Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, as Tyler and Joseph.
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The Student Voice of St. George’s Independent School
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News
Making strides with Samaritan’s Feet
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Institute for Citizenship begins partnership with non-profit Carolyn Lane ‘17
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mmanuel “Manny” Ohonme wants to live in a “world with zero shoeless children.” The Institute for Citizenship, spearheaded by citizenship teacher Mr. Jason Hills, will help Manny and his organization, Samaritan’s Feet, achieve their goal beginning in January by collecting new athletic footwear for underprivileged children. Since the nonprofit’s founding in 2003, Samaritan’s Feet has collected 6.5 million athletic shoes towards their goal of 10 million. Now, Manny is setting his sights on eliminating this problem globally. At 9 years old, Manny was an underprivileged child living in Nigeria who won athletic shoes in a competition hosted by a missionary. After obtaining a basketball scholarship to Lake Region State College and earning his business degree, Manny gave it all up in order to help provide children with shoes, much like himself. It was the large-scale nature of the project and its lofty goal that caught the attention of Mr. Hills. “I was so impressed by just the massive scale of what [Manny] was doing,” Mr. Hills said. “They don’t just want to put shoes on the feet of people who are bare-
Photo Illustration: Elle Vaughn ’17 and Rachel Ducker ‘17 Emmanuel “Manny” Ohonme and his organization, Samaritan’s Feet, want to live in a “world with zero shoeless children.” Manny began Samaritan’s Feet in 2003, and after, he made an impact on both the national and international world.
foot. They want to give them dignity.” Mr. Hills first noticed Manny’s work while helping a sophomore class at Providence Day School in North Carolina sort and package thousands of illegally
sold shoes that had been confiscated by Homeland Security. Although the St. George’s community is just now becoming involved in Samaritan’s Feet, other local nonprofits have already
done work with them. According to Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club President, Mr. Jeremy Park, his organization has been working with Samaritan’s Feet since 2010 and have hosted two events each year. During these events, hundreds of volunteers sign up to wash feet and put athletic shoes on around 300 children. Mr. Michael Drake, who has participated in these events, values the chance “to sit in front of a young person and serve them.” According to Mr. Drake, Samaritan’s Feet reminds him that “children are children regardless of their socioeconomic background.” The Samaritan’s Feet athletic footwear drive will be open to all members of the St. George’s community, including parents. The athletic footwear must be new, but discounted shoes are highly encouraged. The Institute plans to launch this drive in collaboration with their existing collection of used footwear during the winter months. The shoes can be brought to the dining hall after Christmas break where bins will be placed for collection. Mr. Hills has high hopes for the Samaritan’s Feet athletic footwear drive. “If the school really embraces this effort, I could see us doing even bigger things down the road,” Mr. Hills said.
An Instant look at St. George’s #TakeoverTuesdays lets students, faculty run social media
Photo: Miriam Brown ’17 Different Takeover Tuesday pictures from the St. George’s are displayed on students’ phones. Takeover Tuesdays were initiated at the beginning of this school year.
Emma Pounders ‘18
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tudents and teachers may have seen senior and head prefect Sope Adeleye could be seen on her phone in the hallways and in classrooms on Tuesday, Sept. 8, but did not receive a single referral. She was not texting or making phone calls, but rather she was taking pictures of her daily life at St. George’s for the St. George’s Instagram account. Adeleye was one of the many representatives chosen for the St. George’s Takeover Tuesday initiative that took flight at the beginning of this school year. This gives students, faculty and teachers the opportunity to run the St. George’s Instagram account, @SGISGryphons, for an entire Tuesday. The participant can post photos of whatever
they want as long as it reflects the spirit and atmosphere of the school. “We began this campaign as a way to engage our current students with the school’s social media presence,” Mrs. Sarah Acuff, Coordinator of Development and Associate Director of Communications, said. “The campaign has been so successful, and it has helped spread the St. George’s message to the larger Memphis community as well.” The initiative was inspired in part by other national organizations, such as when various Olympic athletes shared photos of their time at the events on the Olumpic Instagram account. Before the school’s Instagram account began, news and photos were primarily shared via Twitter and Facebook. These tools were beneficial in reaching alumni and parents,
but the communications department felt the need to establish something that current students could relate to. The Gryphon Instagram page was created early last school year in an attempt to involve people with the school and create excitement for upcoming events. Communications admitted they had a difficult time engaging people with the Gryphon Instagram in its first months online, but it increased in popularity with the Takeover Tuesday startup. Now with over 350 followers, the page is more popular than it has ever been. Both students and faculty have shown their enthusiasm pertaining to the school’s revamped Instagram page. “It’s a great way for us to give outsiders an inside view of the school and to do so in a
way that’s free and allows for a lot of really unique perspectives,” Head of the Upper School Mr. Tom Morris said. Mr. Morris took over the Instagram account on Tuesday, Oct. 6, where he shared photos of upper school classes and the junior class gearing up for the annual Ali’s Way event. Sophomore Maggie Vento is excited to see what Takeover Tuesdays will bring in the future as well. “I loved when Sope Adeleye took over the Instagram because she’s a student, and it’s more fun to see what she is doing and to relate,” Vento said. “It’s fun seeing my classmates in posts.” Vento has also expressed interest in possibly taking over the Instagram herself one day and hopes to help prospective St. George’s students “see what being a student here is like.”
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The Gryphon Gazette
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Sports
Ultimate frisbee team flies into St. George’s Merryn Ruthling ‘18
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hat is the right way to throw a frisbee?” you may ask. Thanks to the new ultimate frisbee team, this is a skill that St. George’s students are now learning. Ultimate frisbee, generally referred to as ultimate, was founded this year by seniors Connor Funck and Jared Whitaker and is sponsored by chemistry teacher Mr. Ethan Sullivan. The team began from a mutual love for the game of frisbee. Mr. Sullivan, an enthusiastic ultimate player, has enjoyed playing frisbee for his entire life, particularly in college and graduate school. Funck and Whitaker, also avid ultimate players, decided to create the club after having fun playing during the summer with other St. George’s students. The team currently has an average of 25 players who come out to Friday practices, with a core group of about eight or nine people. The team consists of mostly high school students with one or two
middle schoolers, but it is open to the entire St. George’s community.
“Middle schoolers are totally welcome to come out and play. It’s open to the entire school, [and] it’s open to faculty,” Funck said. “Anyone can come out and play.” The group hopes to continue practicing year-round and possibly begin playing teams from other schools such as Houston, Collierville and White Station. Although they currently have a loose structure of
play by the actual rules and establish some structure in how the game should be played,” Mr. Sullivan said. “Right now they have fun with it, which I think is great, but they also play more of a loose style.” Through this club, St. George’s is expanding its recreational sports clubs, which currently includes clubs such as ping-pong. Ultimate frisbee it is one of the only sports clubs started by students instead of a coach or teacher. The team is a fun-oriented group with a goal of growing as a team. It has grown in size and popularity since the beginning of the year, and captains Whitaker and Funck believe that it will continue to do so as more people see the fun and friendships that are made through the sport. “I love frisbee at St. George’s. All the people there are nice and funny,” seventh-grader Jack Vento said. “Mr. Sullivan really helps everybody become the best frisbee player they can be. It is just a good group of people having a good time.”
''It is just a good group of people having a good time.'' fun games, Mr. Sullivan hopes to teach the team members the formal rules of the game as well as specific plays. “I want to teach them how to
Left: Photo: Iona Yates Sophomore Winston Margaritis jumps to catch a frisbee. This year, students joined the ultimate frisbee team that is sponsored by Mr. Sullivan. Right: Source: Mr. Ethan Sullivan Mr. Ethan Sullivan throws a frisbee to his teammate. Mr. Sullivan played ultimate in high school and college.
SPORTS IN BRIEF Miriam Brown ’17
Football
Cross Country
Cheer
he Gryphon team has been named number eight on the Commercial Appeal’s “Dandy Dozen” list, indicating their standing as one of the top prep football teams in the ShelbyMetro area. With a current record of 8-1, the Gryphons have proved themselves as a team to be reckoned with. Junior Chase Hayden has emerged as an offensive leader of the team and the top rushing leader in Shelby County, averaging 175.8 yards per game. The next Gryphons game will be the first round of the playoffs on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., with the location and opponent to be determined.
This year’s cross country team has been larger and stronger than ever before. After a season of many broken personal records, the boys’ team won the regional championship for the first time in school history, and the girls’ team placed fourth. The boys’ cross country team is lead by senior captain Kyle Mehmed and the girls’ cross country team is lead by senior captain Francesca Healy. The cross country team’s next meet will be at the state championship on Nov. 6 in Percy Warner State Park.
The competitive cheer team continues to practice for nationals, which will take place on Feb. 6, 2016 in Orlando, Fla. The team is hoping to improve upon their record last year, where they made it to the national semi-finals for the first time in school history. The team is also cheering on the sidelines of every football game as the Gryphon football team prepares for the state tournament. The cheer team is led by senior captains Claire McCord, Bailey Apple and Mary Ragan Selberg.
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Photo: Mrs. Mim Brown Junior Dawson Smith carries the ball up the field. The Gryphons have a record of 8-1
For sports commentary, check out the Brocast video series on thegryphongazette.org
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The Gryphon Gazette
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Sports
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Behind the scenes. Out of the spotlight. Team managers form the backbone of any athletic endeavors. They are...
MANAGING SUCCESS Bayard Anderson ’17
Sometimes, the most vital mem-
bers of varsity teams never touch the field or the court. In fact, they don’t even dress out, yet they earn a varsity letter. This may appear strange until the role these individuals play for their respective teams is examined. These individuals are seniors Will Courtney and Heather Stevenson, who act as team managers for the football and volleyball varsity teams. Heather Stevenson has been the manager of the varsity volleyball team since she came to St. George’s as a freshman. She initially declined an invitation to play on the team, but Head Coach Emmy McClain then offered her a spot as a manager, which she accepted. Stevenson had little idea of what was to come. She soon found herself helping out in warm-ups, keeping the books and occasionally making reservations for team meals. Before the hiring of an assistant coach, Stevenson found herself being involved with the team during warmups as well as be-
ing responsible for the equipment when the team traveled. “She is what makes my job easy,” Coach McClain said. “She’s like my wingman.” Now a senior, Stevenson keeps an immaculate book. The bookkeeper is in charge of recording the team’s stats and substitutions. Opposing coaches are welcome to challenge the score during the game, but the bookkeeper’s score is final, and Stevenson always knows she is right. Additionally, Stevenson is now in charge of the music before games, including the national anthem. Stevenson said that the time commitment after school is the most difficult aspect of being a manager. She attends all of the team’s games regardless of location, and she sometimes has to work all day at tournaments. “I’ve learned a lot of lessons,” Stevenson said on the perks of being manager. “I learned commitment, responsibility and dependability. I learned how to laugh at myself, and I made a lot of friends.” Stevenson now leaves shoes to fill, as she will graduate this year as a four-time varsity letter holder. “I’ve had managers, and some have been super, super good, and some have not been as consistent,” Coach McClain said. “But, Heather has been there every time since her freshman year. She’s been there, and that’s been huge.” On the football field, Courtney technically manages the team, but he is more accurately referred to as “a combination of assistant coach, team manager and teammate” by Coach David Carter, the head coach of the varsity football
''She's like my wingman.''
team. “I get there at 5:30 before the game on Friday, and I set up the headsets, cameras, footballs [and] the fans that blow the water,” Courtney said. Courtney is quick to note that the workload is intense but manageable. He enjoys being with the team and said that the
team gear he receives for his role sweetens up the deal. In fact, Courtney enjoys his work so much that he is looking to continue his role as a manager into college. During the games, Courtney tags the plays for the team. The team uses a program called Hudl that
Photo: Mrs. Mim Brown Football team manager Will Courtney does everything from holding towels to setting up the coaches’ handsets. In five years, Courtney worked his way up from ball boy to manager.
in eighth grade as a ball boy, and the team went on to win state that year. He enjoyed helping out, so he set out to help again during his freshman year. He was slowly given more and more responsibilities, and now, the role he plays on the team is clear. Courtney will graduate from St. George’s this year as a fourtime letterman in football. He is actively looking for a replacement that he would be happy to train. “He’s a lot more than a manager to us,” Coach Carter said. “He does a lot more than a manager ever would.” Soon, Stevenson and Courtney, will leave for college, as they are both seniors, but the legacies they leave will always remain on the fields and courts.
''He's a lot more than a manager to us.'' archives the film, and Courtney is in charge of plugging all of the information into the system. The tags allow for the team to find specific plays when they review the game film. For the tags, Courtney indicates what yard line the team is on, how many yards they gain and what type of play is run. He also holds towels for the players and assists with any equipment problems during halftime. Courtney started helping the team
Photo: Mrs. Andrea Thompson Heather Stevenson serves as the manager for the volleyball team. In her four years, she has done everything from helping out in warmups to taking stats.
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November
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The Gryphon Gazette
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Features
True colors
Changing attitudes towards gay rights affect local community
Photo: Annie Vento ’17 Two teens pose with a pride flag. The Supreme Court ruled on June 26 that gay marriage is legal in all 50 states.
Current gay students at St. George’s said they felt similarly to Leake. One sophomore boy, who came out in eighth grade, felt that he was met with support from the school community, though he wished to remain anonymous for the purposes of this article. “I feel like I’m supported,” he said. “No one says anything to me or looks at me weird. If they do, they keep it to themselves.” Within the last several months, the United States has rapidly changed as groundbreaking stories made news, including Bruce Jenner transitioning to Caitlyn Jenner and Pope Francis’s comments on gay marriage.“There are still those people who don’t really accept [gay marriage], but I feel like it’s just a better time for children to grow up now than it was back then,” the student said. “I feel like children are in a safer environment, and they can come up knowing that they can marry the people that they love without being discriminated against.”
Schools at the Crossroads Annie Vento ’17
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oon to be featured in Martha Stewart Weddings magazine: the wedding of Mr. Dennis Whitehead and Mr. Bryan Darling, which took place in a castle outside Tuscany, Italy. While their wedding would have been difficult to imagine not
to the courthouse and got our marriage license,” Mr. Whitehead, now Mr. Darling, said. “It was just wonderful for us to do that and then, less than a month later, go off and get married.” Mr. Darling has been the director of choral arts since he came to St. George’s in 2011, leading the
“It’s like, overnight, the world changed.” long ago, it was made possible by events that transpired just weeks before. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that same-sex couples have a right to marriage under the Constitution. Thirty-seven states had already legalized same-sex marriage prior to this ruling, and the historic decision has been praised by many, including President Barack Obama who called it a “victory for America.” “When the court decision was handed down in late June on a Friday, that Monday we went down
upper school chorus to victories at national festivals in Chicago and Orlando and inductions into the All-West Tennessee Honor Choir. He first came out in 2000, and he has witnessed the world’s views of gay rights change over the last fifteen years. “You know, we’re not 20, so we’re used to there being some resistance and a little bit of hate, a lot of hate from some,” Mr. Darling said. “But it’s like overnight, the world changed. It’s really been incredible.” While the connection between the Supreme Court decision and
St. George’s may not be immediately apparent, schools everywhere are affected by the changing landscape of gay rights in America. Alumna Zoe Leake, class of 2014, is now a sophomore at the University of Montana. Leake says she was bisexual in high school and dated a woman in eleventh and twelfth grade and that she has a boyfriend now. “Of the schools in Memphis, St. George’s is a welcoming place,” Leake said. “You’re not going to receive ridicule for who you are at St. George’s. They just want you to be yourself, and they want you to rise in an environment where you can be yourself.” When Leake came out to her family and friends, she said that there was no backlash and that it was almost as if she didn’t have to say anything because, when both relationships began, it was “just sort of an understanding.” “I would say that I faced challenges, but what high schooler doesn’t face challenges? You’re going through hell in a handbasket,” Leake said.
St. George’s is a school in the episcopal tradition, and the student handbook outlines that it “welcomes students and families of many different faiths and backgrounds” and that part of its characteristics include “a respect for others’ beliefs.” In July, the United States Episcopal Church approved same-sex marriage, which authorized clergy to officiate same-sex weddings and changed the terminology from “man and woman” to “couple.” “[Episcopalians] are mainly Anglican, mainly English-speaking, mainly Western,… and I think just naturally more inclined to adapt,” school chaplain Mr. Brendan Gorham said. “It’s just more prone to revision and reform when it’s a council rather than a singular influence, like a pope.” While the Episcopal church has been quick to adapt to changing attitudes toward same-sex relationships not all Christian denominations have been as ready to accept this change. In September, Kentucky clerk Kim Davis was jailed and faced
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The Gryphon Gazette afraid to speak for themselves.” In the past, there have been no restrictions against bringing dates of the same gender to school dances at St. George’s. “It’s hard for us to predict exactly how things play out or what’s coming next,” Head of School Mr. Ross Peters said. “What we can trust is who we are as an institution and what’s important to us and it is imperative that we value and respect all the members of our community. Our compass is the valuing of every life and every student, and that will be the compass we need to navigate what comes next.”
The Road Ahead
Source: Mr. Dennis Darling Mr. Dennis Darling and his husband, Mr. Bryan Darling, pose the morning of their wedding in a car with a sign that reads “Just Married” in Italian. Their wedding was held last summer in Italy.
Within the student body of St. George’s, students seem mostly accepting of gay rights. Regarding same-sex dates at school dances, senior Jane Shelby Bragg said that, as long as the school agreed, she would be in
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their rights.” “God says [to] love everyone, so gay people [and] not gay people, they’re all the same,” sophomore
support of all students bringing their dates, regardless of sexual orientation. “I’m Christian, and I believe in God and go to church, but my faith doesn’t affect how I see gay people and what rights they deserve,” Bragg said. “There’s no influence of my faith and my opinion on
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ity to his classmates because of an incident that occurred two years ago. He went to wellness one day and
“My faith doesn’t affect how I see gay people and what rights they deserved.” Mason Williams said. “I think He would be loving to everyone, not just straight people.” Religion and gay rights do often collide. However, many people are beginning to shift their perspectives as the country as a whole becomes more accepting with gay rights, including many Christians who do not agree with particular interpretations of the Bible. Despite the changing views in 2015, the Supreme Court decision only guarantees a right to marriage, and the United States as a whole does not have any anti-
“Children can come up knowing that they can marry the people that they love without being discriminated against.” misconduct charges after she refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because it conflicted with her Apostolic Christian beliefs. Later that month, Lance Sanderson, a senior at all-male Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, was refused permission to bring a male date to the homecoming dance. CBHS cited concerns about male students from other schools causing problems. CBHS students can go in a group of boys from school, but they cannot bring a boy from another school as their date. Although he is currently back at CBHS after he was sent home for the unwanted publicity, Lance’s story reached tens of thousands of people all over the country. Sanderson’s story was covered in Teen Vogue and praised by “Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes via Twitter. He received more than 26,771 signatures on his petition to let him take a male date to homecoming. Sanderson said he was “surprised” and “disappointed” when he was told he was not allowed to bring his date to the dance. Male Sanderson said he is “just looking forward now.” “I was very quiet in most situations before all of this happened,” Sanderson said. “Now, I feel like I have a voice and a platform to speak for people who are too
Features
discrimination laws in place in terms of sexual orientation. Gay students, especially those in middle and high school, may still face discrimination. One sophomore boy, who preferred to remain anonymous for this article, stated that he struggles with being open about his sexual-
someone had written about him in sharpie on the mirror, describing him with a homophobic slur. He stated that he tried to erase it but was not able to, and it remained there for the rest of the school year. The student said that while he doesn’t feel comfortable being completely open to everyone, he feels support and acceptance from his friends. “Test the waters first,” he said, when asked what advice he would give to his younger self. “Ask people what they think about gay marriage and such so you know that they’re okay with it. Make sure that you’re comfortable with it before coming out to everyone else.” Certainly all can agree that the pace of change surrounding the gray rights movement has been dramatic. Mr. Darling is optimistic about the events that have transpired so far and what is to come. “Ultimately, people want to accept who you are, and they want you to be who you are,” Mr. Darling said. “You’ve got one life to live and life is short, and you’ve got to live in your truth.”
Photo: Lance Sanderson Lance Sanderson marches in the Pride Parade on Saturday, Sept. 26. Sanderson was denied bringing his same-sex date to the homecoming dance at Christian Brothers High School.
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The Gryphon Gazette
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Entertainment
Pentatonix album revolutionizes a cappella
Photo: Hauke Musicaloris Pentatonix performs at a concert in Hamburg, Germany. Pentatonix went on a world tour before touring with Kelly Clarkson on her “Piece by Piece” tour.
Miriam Brown ’17
P
entatonix is a musical group of five individuals who are revolutionizing the world of a cappella music through their arrangements and unique sound. Their self-titled album of original music was released on Oct. 16, and it quickly rose to the top of the iTunes charts, where it has been in the top 10 ever since. Pentatonix first formed in 2011 in order to participate in the third season of NBC’s “The Sing-Off.”
Since winning the show, they have released three volumes of covers, gained over 9 million followers on their Youtube channel and won a Grammy for their medley of Daft Punk music. Their recent album is their first attempt at producing an album of original music. A cappella music disallows the use of instruments, so the music instead utilizes beatboxing and harmonies along with snapping, clapping and stomping to develop their
sound. The album opens with “Na Na Na,” an upbeat song that uses clapping as part of their beat and makes you want to get up and dance. While the lyrics are not the most profound, the song is happy and will be stuck in your head all day. “Sing,” similar to “Na Na Na,” is another upbeat song consisting of stomping and clapping and is the type of song that must be belted, not sung softly. The sound on this album ranges from doo-wop to R&B with a mixture of mellow and upbeat songs. “Misbehavin’,” which is inspired by doo-wop, is one of the gems on this album. Its lyrics talk of a person who loves partying and having fun but wants everyone to know that they are continually faithful to their partner back home. “Can’t Sleep Love” was released as a single, and it also mimics the funky doo-wop style seen in “Misbehavin’.” “Ref,” “First Things First,” “Cracked” and “Rose Gold” have more of a R&B sound with techno beats. The beat and background vocals in these songs, particularly in “Ref,” will make you forget that they are only using their voices to create an electronic sound. These four songs not only show Pentatonix’s versatility, but they revolutionize a cappella music and its ability to mimic the sound of a typical song,
showing the possibilities for a cappella music. Not all of the songs on this album are upbeat. “Water,” “Take Me Home,” “New Year’s Day” and “Light in the Hallway” are all mellow yet beautiful songs that feature Pentatonix’s harmonies. “Light in the Hallway” does not use any beat at all, only harmonies, and it creates a hauntingly beautiful melody. “New Year’s Day” is also a simple song, but it builds in an uplifting manner, cleverly mimicking the lighthearted celebrations of New Year’s Day. The deluxe version of the album also features four covers, “If I Ever Fall in Love,” “Where Are Ü Now,” “Cheerleader” and “Lean On.” “If I Ever Fall in Love” is a masterpiece featuring Jason Derulo, who belts out notes so high that they seem impossible. All four covers strip the original song down to the basic rhythms and harmonies, and they gradually gain momentum as the songs progress. You do not need to be a fan of a cappella music to enjoy this album. If you buy it on iTunes or stream it on Spotify, you will find that Pentatonix breaks down the barrier between a cappella and modern music, crossing over into multiple genres. Pentatonix is taking the music world by storm, and you do not want to miss it.
Pyro’s Pizza fires up new location
Photo: Merryn Ruthling ’18 The new pyro’s building stands finished. the new pyro’s location is expected to open near the end of november.
Merryn Ruthling ’18
phis, but it will open a new Collierville location at Houston Levee and ever tried pineapple on your Poplar for customer convenience. pizza? Now’s your chance! A new Mr. Kirk Cotham, father of St. Pyro’s Pizza restaurant is coming to George’s junior Grady Cotham and Collierville. eighth-grader Spencer Cotham, creThe restaurant, currently under construction, hopes to open near the ated the popular local chain with Mr. Chad Foreman in an attempt to end of November. Pyro’s Pizza already has multiple locations in Mem- provide a pizza place that was com-
N
pletely tailored to what the customer wanted. For those who have not yet dined at Pyro’s Pizza, Pyro’s serves customizable pizza and salads, which are made from over 40 fresh ingredients. “If you go to Pyro’s, everybody gets what they want, and nobody has to get something that’s not quite what they wanted because everybody gets their own,” Mr. Cotham said. “We wanted everyone to get the pizza exactly the way they wanted it, with the exact ingredients they wanted.” “Pyro’s is basically the Moe’s of pizza where you get to decide what you want on a perfectly-sized personal pizza,” senior Allie Harbert, an avid Pyro’s fan, said. While the date for the new Pyro’s opening is not set in stone yet, Pyro’s anticipates opening sometime around Black Friday. Pyro’s is also expecting to have an opening event for the new restaurant, the details of which will be revealed through social media accounts closer to the opening date. This restaurant, located within the six-mile requirement of St. George’s, will be available to senior students to
visit during lunch on Thursdays and Fridays. Fans can follow Pyro’s Pizza on social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to find out more about the opening events and news involving Pyro’s. “I love Pyro’s because my kids love it,” Spanish teacher Mr. Eugene Tarjan said. “The new Pyro’s is going to be very convenient because we won’t have to drive all the way to East Memphis or Cordova.”
Photo: Merryn Ruthling ’18 Construction workers work on the interior of Pyro’s. Pyro’s Collierville location is anticipated to open around Black Friday.
November
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The Gryphon Gazette
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You won’t escape!
Entertainment
9
NewsGryphs try the Memphis Escape Rooms Kendall LoCascio ’17 Rachel Ducker ’17
“I
got to the parking lot, but I didn’t think it was the right place,” junior Channell Cole said. “When we were walking down those creepy stairs I said, ‘Kendall, where did you take us?’” Memphis Escape Rooms is brandnew to Memphis, as it opened on July 20, 2015. Per request by Memphis Escape rooms, we cannot reveal anything disclosed or discovered in the rooms during our experience. Writers of the Gryphon Gazette, better known as NewsGryphs, went to Memphis Escape Rooms to test these simulations, but all three groups failed. “Origin” was the first escape room, opening in 2005 in Silicon Valley, Calif., and it was inspired by Agatha Christie’s novels. Three years later, Reel Escape Game opened in Japan, and the concept of escape rooms began to rapidly spread all over the world. Escape rooms test brainpower by taking individuals through three different types of tests or rooms ranging from trying to break out of a room to trying to solve a murder mystery. At the Memphis location, each room costs 20 dollars and has a maximum of seven people. Level One is Parallax, which is the newest addition to Memphis Escape Rooms. The ultimate goal is to get out of this room. The scenario is that America is in a war, and the only way to win the war and break out of the Parallax escape room is to figure out the code that disables Parallax, the security system of the enemy. However, there’s a catch. You only have one hour to escape! According to Memphis Escape
Room’s statistics, this simulator has a 40 percent success rate, requires 85 percent teamwork, demands 65 percent brainpower and has 50 percent suspense. “It was really fun once we got going, but we would not have figured it out if we didn’t have the clues,” Cole said. While you are in the room, there is a person watching you via security cameras giving you hints to steer you in the right direction, if needed. In order to advance successfully and in time, all three groups heavily depended upon the clues provided by the computer. Level Two is the Mayflower. The scenario is that there is a dangerous serial killer on the loose, who is dubbed “The Mayflower” because he leaves a shipin-a-bottle next to every victim. The clues in these bottles have led you right to his apartment. You must get into the mind of a serial killer in order to reveal clues to find this murder. However, the catch is that you only have one hour before the serial killer stops you. This Escape Room has a 33 percent success rate, requires 80 percent teamwork, demands 70 percent brainpower and has 40 percent suspense. The NewsGryphs who attempted the Mayflower room advised others to look at the Mayflower room holistically. “We spent a long time trying to solve everything,” Copy and Layout Editor Laura McDowell said. “If you want to succeed, you can’t harp on one detail,” Editor-in-Chief Miriam Brown said. “You have to try to move on even if you can’t figure one part out.”
Why we chose the candidates we did: They either have a chance of winning or are making a large impact in the press. There is a balance between male and female candidates, and there is at least one chosen candidate from the republican, democratic and Independent parties. However, the presidential race is just starting out, so the top candidates could change over the year.
Photos of Carly Fiorina and Donald Trump: Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Katie Boyle ’17 NewsGryphs try Memphis Escape Room’s Mayflower room. They failed and are sad about it because they were so close to passing.
Level Three is the What’s In the Box room. The scenario is that billionaire Reginald Merryweather has recently passed away, leaving all of his fortune to his family and charities. However, there is one thing that the old man did not bequeath in his will, which is his box that holds something very dear to him. Before Mr. Merryweather passed away, he hid some clues, and it is your job to figure them out. This room has a 29 percent success rate, requires 65 percent teamwork, demands 85 percent brainpower and has 30 percent suspense. “I would give it a solid 9.25 out of 10,” web editor Grant Webb said. “It’s not really [that] frustrating.”
However, many would disagree, since no group successfully escaped the room in time. “Have a group of at least four fundamentally different people, a diverse group,” Staff Writer Eric DiNicolantonio said as advice for future groups who want to attempt this room. Overall, the NewsGryphs enjoyed their experience at Memphis Escape Rooms. Even though all of the NewsGryphs failed their rooms, it was an enjoyable, challenging activity to do with friends nonetheless. “I want to go back and do every single room,” Cole said.
Behind the poster: This poster was created as part of an assignment in the new Media, Marketing, and Design class at St. George’s Independent School. Sophomores Margo Valadie and Richard Beason, whose poster is seen to the left, created the winning design.
10 November
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The Gryphon Gazette
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Opinion
Nine schools. Five states. Six days. Looking for a perfect college match 4 p.m.
around for a tour group, but the campus was so huge that by the time we found one, the tour guide was saying her goodbyes. I can say that Boston College is beautiful, but I cannot say much more. If today were any indicator, I am not cut out for the big-city life.
Story and Photos: Miriam Brown ’17
“I
have no idea.” That was my consistent response when asked which colleges I was considering, and it was true. I had not thought about my future schooling at all because I was “trying to get through high school first.” I could barely plan what I would be doing next week, much less two years from now, so searching for colleges was a confusing, overwhelming process. Admitting I had no current plans for my future schooling was daunting. So, because of the anxiety it gave me, I quickly came up with a list of several small liberal arts colleges with college guidance counselors Mr. Timothy Gibson and Ms. Jessica Hardy, all of which emphasized academics and community service, which I value the most. I made the mistake of sharing this list with my parents before fall break, and thus, while my friends headed off on vacation, I was on a plane ready to visit nine 9 a. colleges in five states. m.
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Oct. 7 - Maine 7 a.m. After two delayed flights, confiscated luggage and a car ride until 1 a.m., we drove to the first college of the day. Today was my father’s birthday, so he spent it visiting colleges with me. Happy birthday, Dad! 9 a.m. We first went a small mill town with brutal winters where we visited Colby College. Our tour guide was dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans and stressed aspects of the college such as unlimited food and the napping club. The students exuded warmth and were involved in too many extracurriculars, making me feel at home. Our tour guide told us Iggy Azalea performed there before she was well-known, but she was booed off the stage because they thought she was so bad. I liked these people already. 1 p.m. At Bowdoin College, a school so chilly in winter that they have a polar bear as a mascot, I attended a tour, information session and introductory Philosophy class. The class was discussion-based, and Bowdoin’s slightly greater academic focus seemed to bring a little more competitive atmosphere. The tour guide bragged about the school’s number one ranking in food. Why wouldn’t you? Oct. 8 - Maine & Massachusettes 9 a.m Bates College was the last college of the Maine trifecta, and the visits were starting to sound similar. Every college representative showed off the chemistry lab and acted as if I was a rare species when I said I was from Tennessee. What stuck out about Bates was its competitive eating club, nighttime knitting club, dining hall’s selection of 70 cereals and a Puddle Jump event that mirrored a St. George’s Polar Plunge. Many students were also artistically gifted. If I am not artistic or musically inclined, at all, does appreciating the arts count for something? 1 p.m. We left Maine’s hills for Tufts University in the Boston suburbs. I was already a fan of Tufts for its a capella group, the Beelzebubs, who play the fictional a capella group the Warblers in “Glee.” Tufts has three times as many undergraduates as the Maine schools and a more urban feel. In fact, a subway stop was being built right on campus. Tufts allows its students freedom of expression through a cannon on campus that students traditionally paint messages on at night, and then guard until morning to prevent others from painting over it. 4 p.m. Thanks to standstill Boston traffic, we arrived to Boston College 30 minutes late. We searched
Oct 9. - Vermont & New York
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a.m
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10 a.m. Middlebury College is known for its global studies programs and 40 study abroad programs. It offers a strong support system with upperclassmen, major and freshman advisors for each student. Like St. George’s, it has an honor system, and the administration trusts its students, keeping its buildings open 24 hours a day. Middlebury also owns its own ski area that mid-year graduates ski down in caps and gowns. After some students tried to sled down in a canoe, Middlebury now limits the tradition to only skiing. 3 p.m. St. Lawrence University is in upstate New York near Canada. The school offers all prospective students, like myself, a one-on-one tour, immediately earning my respect. In addition to offering specialized housing for students sharing interests like service and the outdoors, it offers unique study rooms, including a “treehouse” study carrel with a ladder leading to a quiet desk. My tour guide was laid-back and outdoorsy, and other students reflected his relaxed attitude. As I left, my guide handed me a large chocolate chip cookie that read, “Thanks for visiting!” Being a chocolate fanatic, it certainly did not hurt. Oct 10. - New York 10 a.m. The Colgate University information session, with more than 100 people packing an auditorium, was a big contrast with the intimate St. Lawrence visit, but its facilities were incredible. In its student center, a fire is lit in an enormous fireplace on the first snowfall of the year and put out on the last, which was on graduation day one year.
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Oct. 12 - Minnesota & Tennessee
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8 a.m. Carleton College is located in the rural town of Northfield, Minn., but the geographic isolation fosters a non-judgmental, non-competitive atmosphere. Its students value academics and wholesome fun. A house on campus with cookie ingredients for anyone with sudden cravings is open 24 hours a day. In the winter, students have been known to sled down hills on cafeteria trays and have snowball fights with neighboring schools. Carleton also matches roommate applications by hand. A student who wrote, “Just don’t give me an axe murderer” was paired with another student who wrote, “I’m not an axe murderer, I promise.” They are now best friends. 3 p.m. After five plane rides and about 1,000 miles of driving, I still have not chosen a college. However, I now know that what is most important to me isn’t the impressive facilities we toured, but finding schools where I felt at home with the students. Friends make our high school experience special, and they will make our college experience special, too. Now that I have a tentative list of colleges to consider, I finally have an answer for when people ask me about my future. And, if I alter my list, I am going to share it with my parents after the next school break, not before.
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November
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The Gryphon Gazette
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Opinion
Learning to love yourself
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Students weigh in on self-confidence Story and Photos: Elise Fong ’16
W
e learn so much in school, focusing much of our time on subjects like English, science and math, but it is more important to focus on yourself. Feeling confident about yourself and loving what you see in the mirror does not come easily for everyone. For most people, it is difficult to not see every flaw on their body, every piece of fat and every single stretch mark. If we can point out great aspects about others’ appearances, why don’t we point out our own? Everyone has their ups and downs, so the Gryphon Gazette asked students when they feel confident and when they do not feel confident. These are their responses.
In our own voices... From Faith Huff ’17
From Kate Seabrook ’18
From Chris Hollis ’16
From Peyton Smith ’16
It took me a while to find true confidence in myself, mostly with my body. Body positivity has been the hardest thing to attain. When I would put on certain clothes, I didn’t like the way I looked in them. Sometimes I dreaded going shopping and trying on new clothes. I wore baggy clothes to make me feel smaller because I didn’t see myself the way I saw other girls or models wear the clothing. Before I knew it, these thoughts took over, and I struggled with eating. I needed to find confidence in myself. My confidence finally came when I had to go to a swimming party. At first, I did not feel confident in my attire, but my friends and others showered me with compliments. The negative voice in my head faded, and ever since then, my confidence rose. I stopped worrying about the way I looked in clothes and instead worried about how they made me feel. Wearing clothes now are for my enjoyment and confidence. Every now and then, I do not like the way I look, but I look at myself in the mirror, smile and love myself, because it’s what’s on the inside that matters the most.
Confidence has definitely been my biggest struggle as I’ve grown up. A big part of me becoming truly confident in myself was learning to accept my body and the way I look. I’m built differently than a lot of my friends, and that always really bothered me. The main thing that personally gives me confidence is making my appearance look put together. I like to wear makeup and wear cute outfits everyday, which sometimes people make fun of me for, but it is ultimately what makes me feel put together and ready to take on the world. Everyone needs to find their special little thing that gives them confidence and just rock it. Basically, the most important piece of advice I could ever give about confidence is that you can’t depend on anyone else to be your source of confidence. You have to rely on yourself.
I gain my confidence through previous success in past experiences, whether the success is in a social, academic, athletic, moral or even financial capacity. To me, confidence is a person’s belief in themselves that they are capable of accomplishing a task. When I have success in certain aspects of life, I can logically gain confidence in my ability because I know that I can be successful in what I am trying to accomplish and thus trump my naturally unconfident state. As I have more success in a subject, my confidence grows accordingly. Moreover, one of my greatest fears is failure, and this is a fear that motivates me. This motivation can help me succeed in something that I would normally fail, giving me a confidence in that area. I have found that because of this, it is important for me to healthily lack confidence in certain areas while balancing the success that may come with it. However, I do need confidence for my own sanity and for things that I know that I can succeed in, like math and athletics, so that I may do them quickly and improve those skills.
One time when I really struggled with confidence was when I moved to Indiana. It was my first time moving, so it was like I was in a whole new world. I wanted to try and meet people, so I thought I would try out for the musical. I had never sung or acted in front of anyone before, and it was probably the most terrifying thing ever. I was worried that I wasn’t a good singer and that they wouldn’t like my voice. Deciding to audition was a really good decision because it gave me confidence and taught me that it’s okay to express yourself and to show your gifts and talents to other people.
St. George’s for students to strengthen character inside and outside of the classroom. St. George’s students are offered a multitude of extracurricular clubs that present the opportunity to give back to the community while growing as a person at the same time. Varsity and club sports teams, such as ultimate frisbee, allow students to grow and improve in their relationships with others, while service clubs, such as Samaritan’s Feet, seek to increase a civic engagement in the community through the collection of shoes. High school offers the perfect chance to do something good for someone else, which in return, is good for you and your outlook on life.
High school students everywhere have all been told by teachers and parents that high school will be the best time of your life. Even though this may feel impossible when you are drowning in school work and college stress, high school is what you make of it. You choose whether or not you want to pursue a hobby outside of school, you choose if you want to take advantage of volunteer opportunities and field trips offered and you choose whether or not you want to do what makes you happy. Choose to take advantage of every moment because it will be gone before you know it.
Editorial
Life’s what you make it High school is a place where you can
figure out who you are and develop talents outside of the classroom without the fear of judgment. Whether you are participating on a sports team, in a school play, starting a band or traveling the world, St. George’s supports and encourages these endeavours outside of the classroom. Because of this, taking advantage of these opportunities and following your passions is urgent. There is no better time than now to take on these opportunities and do what makes you truly happy. If you are passionate about music, for example, there are a variety of opportunities
you can pursue beyond solely participating in the choir. Whether it’s starting a band like Harrison Schutt of Jenette McKurdy, auditioning for the fall musical, “Bye Bye Birdie,” or making a YouTube channel with song covers, these hobbies are encouraged within the school community. Often, these students who pursue their hobbies outside of school-offered extracurriculars and clubs are honored as artists of the week in chapel, including senior Peyton Smith, who plays Conrad Birdie in “Bye Bye Birdie,” and seniors Courtney Tipton, Caroline Green and Karina Jensen, who place in art competitions outside of school. There are also countless opportunities at
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 other, or encourages physical disruption of school activites.
The Gryphon Gazette
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12 November
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Opinion
Who should you vote for in 2016? Laura McDowell ’17 Miriam Brown ’17 Iona Yates ’17
START: What’s your favorite color? RED
GREEN BLUE
Should obamacare be repealed?
Should we protect the environment?
NO
NO
YES
YES
Should our military budget be cut?
How important is education to you?
VERY!
Do you support capital punishment?
NO
YES
NO
Who needs it?
MEH..
YES
Are you pro-life or pro-choice?
Should we raise the taxes on the wealthy? YES
PRO-LIFE
NO Should the federal minimum wage be increased?
Is it America’s responsibility to be the world police?
YES
NO What’s your stance on gun control? Bye, guns!
PROCHOICE
Should we increase government spending?
NO
Should we build a wall to keep out immigrants?
YES
More limits
YES
NO
WHAT?
YES!
DR. JILL STEIN
BERNIE SANDERS
HILLARY CLINTON
CARLY FIORINA
DONALD TRUMP
Congratulations, you love change, and Jill Stein is just the woman to bring that change to your life. Stein wants to completely shake up the economy and society, which excites you. Also, just like Stein, you love being outside and deeply care about environmental issues. You are ready to fight anyone who says global warming is not real.
Bernie Sanders is the only politician to not pledge a Super Pac, meaning that he does not want large corporations, unions or individuals donating money to his campaign. Sanders is 74 years old, so voting for him means that age is just a number to you. Like Sanders’ nationwide fans, you “feel the Bern” in everything that you do.
You know Hillary Clinton is the person to vote for if, every day when you wake up, you head straight to pant suits, your favorite outfit. The “Saturday Night Live” impersonations of Clinton are the best part of your weekend. If you are not necessarily as intense of a feminist as Annie Vento, but women’s rights do mean a lot to you, you may like Clinton.
If you want to vote for a woman but you are not a democrat, Carly Fiorina is the candidate for you. Being the first woman president would not be the only leading role she has had, as she was the first woman to lead a fortune 50 company. She has also distinguished herself from other candidates with her quick comebacks in debates.
You may like Donald Trump if toupees get you going. He states that his hair is real, but this is open for interpretation. If Trump wins, you would definitely flock to the grand opening of Trump’s wall, which would keep illegal immigrants out of the country. If you are tired of average politicians, Trump may be the candidate for you.