The Patriot - December 2011, Issue 3, Vol 47

First winter musical debuts

New changes bring in crowds to “White Christmas” News 2

Dangers of tanning hit home Sue Cathell shares her story about the dangers of tanning

In-Depth 8-9

The John Carroll School 703 E Churchville Rd Bel Air, MD 21014 Volume 47, Issue 3 December 2011

Variety Show 2012

Grace Kim Online Chief The old-time tradition of the Senior Variety Show since 1974 has been cancelled this year.

Senior class President Maria Edwards and Senior Member-at-Large Maggie Cassidy have decided to close the curtains on the show for the class of 2012. Joint discussions between senior class moderators Larry Hensley and Sue Greig, class of ’71, took place before the decision was made.

According to Hensley and Greig, the lack of senior availability and participation in the show spurred joint discussions between the senior class moderators and officers, which ultimately resulted in the formal decision to cancel the show.

According to Hensley, the practice schedule was revised three times in attempts to accommodate many seniors who had schedule conflicts.

“The pressures of kids having to be involved in all kinds of activities to get into colleges are pressures we didn’t have back then. It was just a different time,” Greig said, referring back to the time when she was a student.

“We had a small group of people and then we were told by our moderators and Mrs. Ball that we couldn’t have a show of only fifteen people, and then after chang-

er fundraisers to lower the cost of senior prom tickets.

“We are trying to have a senior coffee house that probably would be held in the Brown Room or cafeteria, a more intimate setting where the definite skits that we had like Chris O’Neil’s Dr. Barker speech or my JC Update skit would be performed there,” Cassidy said.

“We’re going to sell wristbands that you can dress down for the three days for the exam week. It’s probably going to cost $15 . Also, we’re probably going to have another dining out night at Looney’s and

“

Legally, no school can do skits that make fun of people.

“

Though the senior class officers of 2012 cancelled the Variety Show, future classes are offered choices.

Photo illustration by Maggie Cassidy

ing all of the practice times, people still weren’t showing up except for the core group of people we had. We just couldn’t get more people to come,” Cassidy said.

“It’s just been a bad buildup of stuff.

The past few years, Variety Show people made fun of other people and when we were told that there would be no making fun of people in the show, people become uninterested in participating and we lacked the manpower to run the show.”

“Society has changed. It evolves. Things that would fly back in the day would not be politically correct today,” Hensley said.

“The Variety Show became a public forum to ridicule, harass, and abuse others. That can’t be something we support, and by following our mission statement, this is not something we want to do.”

According to Principal Madelyn Ball, the show is not cancelled for all subsequent classes, despite the announcement made by the senior class officers.

“For juniors, if they want to do a show, they can put together a proposal to the administration. It [the Variety Show] can never exist again the way it’s been...anything that makes fun of somebody I will say ‘no’ to,” Ball said.

“They can call it [their major fundraiser show] a ‘Senior Variety Show,’ but I’d encourage them to come up with with something else...They’ll have to make that proposal early. This year it was too little, too late.”

“Legally, no school can do skits that make fun of people. That even goes for when I believe in the past students would ask teachers, ‘Can we do a skit about you?’

Legally, it’s irresponsible. That puts tremendous restrictions on what the show can be.”

The senior class officers of the class of 2012 do have future plans in creating oth-

- Madelyn Ball

Burger King,” Cassidy said.

Alumni discontent that stirred on the JC Facebook page was addressed through a formal letter written by the senior class officers.

“As I wrote in my letter to the alumni, I said that in our [my and Edward’s] hearts it would be a sad decision to make, but our minds said it would be the most logical one and it would be the best decision for us and JC,” Cassidy said.

“That’s what I’m most upset about, how the alumni are acting. A lot of people are bashing our decision and no one knows the whole story behind Maria’s and my decision. The Variety Show was my baby, essentially. I spent so much time on the Va-

riety Show, wrote a lot of skits, recruited a lot of people, organized it, and it’s sad to see that all of the work that me and Maria did not happen…I just wish that the alumni understood,” Cassidy said. “We want Variety Show to be a good memory, we don’t want it to be something bad where people worry and fear about how JC will look with the Variety Show.

The cancellation of this year’s show provoked disappointment among some of the current seniors.

“It’s unfortunate that our class won’t have it [the Senior Variety Show],” senior Emily Ruff said.

In addition to the general class’s dismay, participants of the Show also experienced similar sentiments.

“I think that we had a lot of good material and that we could have made a really good show if people stopped being immature and realized that they can have a funny show without calling out or being directly mean to someone. If they all got involved, they could have understood how great the show could have been and how important it was to raise money for prom,” former Variety Show participant senior Taylor Kline said.

As for juniors, though they have the possibility of a Variety Show, some feel that it has lost its original integrity.

“I feel like the fact that it’s [the Senior Variety Show] changed so much from tradition takes away some of the things we were looking forward to. It’s not variety show anymore and that’s disappointing,” junior Adriana Baker said.

INDEX NEWS..........2 LIFESTYLE.....4 A&E............7

IN-DEPTH...... 8 OPINION.......11 SPORTS........14

2

NEWS

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

“White Christmas” lead roles senior Nick Henninger and junior Thomas Gardner dance along with the festively attired company in the opening number of the show “Happy Holidays/ Let Yourself Go.” The cast performed in a total of six shows over the course of the week. “White Christmas” was JC’s first holiday show.

Photo by Megan Foard

Spotlight shines on first Christmas musical Emily Clarke

Managing Editor With Christmas approaching fast, a white Christmas is on every one’s mind, especially within the JC community.

This year, instead of the usual fall musical, Associate Director of Enrollment and fall musical director Kim Brueggemann decided to put on “White Christmas.”

“I was extremely excited because I knew Mrs. B had wanted to do it [“White Christmas”] for years,” junior Thomas Gardner, one of the male leads, said.

According to Brueggemann, the decision to have the show in December was based on the fact that “White Christmas” was the

chosen play.

“The show dates were chosen strictly for the fact that I decided to produce “White Christmas,” which is a Christmas-time show.

To have produced this show in the fall wouldn’t have had the same impact,” Brueggemann said.

In order to get the word about “White Christmas” out to the community, Brueggemann contacted ABC 2 News anchor and reporter Kelly Swoope.

“The publicity for this show began with a friend of mine giving me a direct contact to ABC Channel 2 News. I contacted Kelly Swoope and everything went from there,” Brueggemann said.

“Mrs. B told the cast that she’d

been trying to get us on television. At the time, it was only an idea, nothing definite or concrete.

But about a week or so before we went to the studio, she told us it was official – we’d be aired on ABC 2 News, both the Good Morning Maryland Show and the 11 o’clock news,” sophomore Lindsey McCumber, one of the female leads, said.

According to producer and head of ticket sales Laura Lang, the theme and later date of the show generated more ticket sales.

“I don’t think we would have gotten the same response [in ticket sales] if we had not done a Christmas-themed show. Not sure what we will plan for next year yet – we’ll let the dust settle

on this one first,” Lang said.

“Every show had extremely full houses,” according to Brueggemann. The final tally of tickets was not completed when The Patriot went to press.

Also new to the play this year was a dinner theater before the Saturday night showing, sponsored by the Patriot Parent Association. The dinner was held in the gym and guests were offered drinks, salad, ziti, and breadsticks. According to Brueggemann, the Saturday night showing sold out.

“It [the Dinner Theater] went well for our first attempt at it. It was a fun thing, but there is room to tweak some things in the future,” Brueggemann said.

JC

INSIDER

Russell searches for new wireless system Director of Technology Greg Russell spearheads the search for new wireless Internet with increased speed and capacity.

Russell is getting bids and proposals from the wireless providers Cisco, Ruckus, SonicWall, and Aerohive to help him decide.

“We want to get the best solution for the lowest price,” Russell said.

One of the problems with the current wireless system is its low capacity, or amount of people who can connect at the same time, in high occupancy areas such as the library and cafeteria. “People are certainly doing far more than they were when we first started using laptops,” Russell said.

“We definitely need to update the router system, because it isn’t as strong at certain points,” freshman Abbey Levee said.

The plan for the new wireless system installation is to replace and reposition access points. The changes made during installation will be minor, because the wiring system is already in place.

“Installation with no one here should take roughly three to five days with students out of school.

That’s if things go smoothly,” Russell said.

Russell plans to use the money from the Need for Speed Raffle, but will need additional funding. “It wasn’t as much as [we] were hoping to get, but it’s a good amount and I’m grateful for it,” Russell said.

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Jesse Switzer was hired as Building Superintendent as of Monday, Dec. 5.

Switzer will be replacing former Building Superintendent Al Avent, who left the position in September.

According to Director of Facilities Stewart Walker, Switzer’s job entails “[the] primary oversight of the JCS physical plant and prioritizing, delegating, and completing work order. In addition, his job will include event support and completion of preventive maintenance and selected projects.”

Switzer recently moved from his native town, Oxford, Miss. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Philosophy from Lambuth University, as well as a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the University of Mississippi, where he recently taught.

Walker said that, in addition to teaching, Switzer worked with his family’s construction and cabinetry business.

According to an email sent to the faculty and staff, Switzer will be working a base schedule of Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

By Emily Clarke

3 Attention focuses on scandals after Penn State NEWS

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

Grace Kim

Online Chief After being charged with 40 counts of sexually abusing male minors spanning over the course of fifteen years, former Pennsylvania State University assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was indicted on Nov. 4, and arrested the day after due to the results of an investigation on him that began in 1998, according to The Huffington Post.

Sandusky has been accused of sexual assault on 10 different young males. He allegedly met his victims through The Second Mile, a charity he founded in 1977 to help “at-risk children,” according to The Associated Press.

“The contact with Sandusky allegedly fit a pattern of ‘grooming’ victims. Beginning with outings to football games and gifts; they later included physical contact that escalated to sexual assaults,” Attorney General Linda Kelly said in a statement.

In March 2002, graduate student Mike McQueary reported seeing Sandusky sexually assault a young boy and called Head

Coach Joe Paterno the next day to report the incident.

Paterno testified to Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley to relate the information. However, the incident was not reported further to any “law enforcement or child protective agency,” according to the Huffington Post.

The charges against Sandusky carry “a combined maximum sentence of 156 years,” according to The Huffington Post. Sandusky was arrested again on Dec. 7 and held a bail of $250,000.

The next day, Sandusky posted bail and was released from jail with an electronic monitoring device, according to the Huffington Post.

Since the scandal, Penn State has fired Paterno and accepted President Graham Spanier’s resignation, according to the Associated Press.

“Athletic Director Tim Curley has been placed on administrative leave, and Vice President Gary Schultz, who was in charge of the university’s police department, has stepped down,” according to the Associated Press.

Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times/MCT

Centre Daily Times/MCT

(ABOVE) Jerry Sandusky, before being arrested on charges of involuntary sexual intercourse with young boys, laughs with Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington, Mac Morrison, and Brandon Short. At this time, Sandusky worked with The Second Mile, a charity he founded for youths.

(BELOW) Penn State students Makenzie Rupert, Amanda Lyons, and Lauren Tillburg participate in a candlelight vigil in honor of the victims of the Sandusky sexual abuse scandal.

Paterno’s firing sparked thousands of protests from the University students the following day.

Both Sandusky and his wife, Dottie Sandusky, insist that he is innocent. Sandusky has vowed to fight the cases against him, and has said in interviews with both NBC and The New York Times that he has showered and horsed around with the boys but never sexually abused them, according to the AP. Sandusky was scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 6, but the trial was moved to Dec. 7.

This is but one of the several collegiate scandals that have come to light in recent weeks.

Syracuse University fired associate head coach Bernie Fine “after multiple allegations of

sexually abusing young boys dating back to the 1970s became public,” according to The Boston Herald.

Fine has been on “administrative leave” since Nov. 7 when two former Syracuse ball boys publically accused Fine on ESPN of sexual abuse in the 1980s and 90s.

“Fine’s firing came on the same day the Syracuse Post-Standard reported that a 23-year-old from Lewiston, Maine, recently told police he was molested by Fine in a Pittsburgh hotel room in 2002,” according to Newsday.

In addition to that, former Miami Booster Nevin Shapiro told Yahoo! Sports that he “provided extra benefits to 72 of the university’s football players and other

athletes between 2002 and 2010,” according to The Huffington Post.

The list of such benefits includes “nightclub outings, sex parties, cars . . . yacht trips, jewelry, televisions and other gifts . . . restaurant meals and in one case, an abortion for a woman impregnated by a player,” according to The Huffington Post.

Players that Shapiro illegally gave benefits to include Vince Wilfork, Jon Beason, Antrel Rolle, Devin Hester, Willis McGahee and the late Sean Taylor.

Shapiro has been sentenced 20 years in prison for conducting a $930 million Ponzi scheme. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay $82 million in restitution to investors, according to The Huffington Post.

Naviance program remains useful to students despite glitches sessions to learn the ins and outs of Naviance.

“We felt very good as to what we had accomplished. We were very impressed with the possibilities,” Guidance Counselor Carol

“

With every new computer program, we have discovered a few glitches along the way, but nothing that can’t be worked out.

- Carrie Siemsen

“

Brianna Glase

Managing Editor With classes, college applications, and senioritis setting in, some students find it difficult to keep everything organized.

With the implementation of the online program Naviance, senior Becca Falter is enthusiastic about how much easier it is to keep track of all of her college applications.

“It helped me keep track of when things were submitted. It helped me not to forget anything,” Falter said.

Senior Shawn Pessagno echoes her sentiments. “I like how Naviance tells you the due dates for things. Even colleges don’t tell you that,” Pessagno said.

Despite its helpful nature, there are still imperfections with the new program. “If a guidance counselor forgets to put something in, it would slow down the whole process,” Falter said.

The guidance counselors are the ones responsible for submit ing information into students’ Naviance accounts. This year, after purchasing Naviance for $2,000, the guidance department jumped right into training to use Naviance beginning with the class of 2012. In August, all four guidance counselors attended two four-hour professional training

Heflin-Shupe said.

When it came time for seniors to submit their college applications, guidance counselors found a few problems with the program.

Naviance is tied into the Common Application, which allows students to send one application to any of the 400 schools that accept it. Some schools, in addition to accepting the Common Application, have their own individual college application that students may choose to submit.

According to Heflin-Shupe, the guidance department was under the impression that, if a student

would chose to use the school’s own application, Naviance would allow them to submit that and all of the other required letters of recommendation and transcripts electronically. This was not the case.

“If [a student] applies with the school’s application, you still have to print it out and mail it in.

The [Naviance] trainers didn’t tell us that,” Heflin-Shupe said.

Naviance made guidance secretary Rita Malone’s job easier.

Malone’s job is to send out students’ applications. “The process used to be very hectic. Now [with Naviance], I can just click on a student’s progress and submit their application. Some schools still require you to mail it in, but all I have to do then is print it out,” Malone said. “[Naviance] is helpful because

I’m able to check if they’ve sent my college stuff without asking Mrs. Malone,” senior Olivia Dunbar said.

“With every new computer program, we have discovered glitches along the way, but nothing that can’t be worked out...it has been a very positive step in the right direction for our guidance department,” Guidance Counselor Carrie Siemsen said.

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4

LIFESTYLES

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

“We read ‘The Polar Express’ on Christmas Eve. Then we throw oatmeal and an apple on the front lawn for the reindeer.”

How do you

celebrate?

from junior Mary Kate Luft

“Every Christm as Eve, we go to a Chinese resta urant. We ren t out a room because there are around 30 Harkinses, and we go to a Habachi gri ll where they cook the food in front of you . Our favorite part is shrimp baseball.”

in which s y a w s p ra w n u t io tr The Pa brate the le e c rs e h c a te d n a ts studen of the year. most wonderful time

“My father dresses up as Santa and rides around in a firetruck. My siblings and I follow behind and carol.”

from religion teac

her Rachel Harkin

“Every year we ha ve a Slovak dinner with Oplat ki and honey seeded dough br ead to celebrate the Slovak side of my family.”

from sophomore Mitc

hell Russell

from social studies teacher James Fendryk “Every year for Christmas we set up the menorah too so that we can celebrate Hannukah. Instead of giving us a different present for each day, my dad puts them around the Christmas tree.”

from freshman Emma Klineberg

ar we go “Every other ye ristmas.

Ch to Canada for om’s family We visit my m have a big in Ontario and family dinner.” oe

from senior Talia

Kah

s

“My family does the German tradition of the Christmas pickle.

My parents hide a fake pickle in the Christmas tree, and the person who finds it wins an extra present. One year, it was a Wii.”

from junior Bryan Pussler

Healthy You!

BY STEPHANIE MEADOWCROFT

Be jolly this holiday season Trying to step back and smell the poinsettias during the holiday season seems impossible. Most people are too stressed out about purchasing gifts and holiday planning to enjoy the true spirit of the season.

The holiday season should be a fun time filled with family gatherings, gift giving, and merriment. However, in reality, only children are able to appreciate this holiday spirit in its entirety.

Along with school and extracurricular activities, teens have the added responsibilty of buying gifts for family and friends.

During the holiday season, stress should not be expected.

To fully enjoy the breadth of the holiday season and not become worried over holiday presents, here are some tips.

According to John Santa, M.D. and director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center, it’s important to not “shop until you drop.”

Focus on those people that are most important to you, and make a list of what you absolutely want to buy for those special people in your life. Don’t overextend yourself by agreeing to help out with additional party planning, invites, and gift buying.

Don’t change any normal routines that were already had in place before the holiday season.

Adding in more physical activity can help people “feel better, burn some calories and probably sleep better, too,” according to Dr. Santa. Sleep is a huge part of managing stress, and any steps that can be taken to maximize the amount of sleep each night should be taken.

Although the holidays are a time to show appreciation for the people in your life, be sure to take time for yourself. Constantly interacting with people and rushing from shopping to holiday parties can wear anyone down.

According to Healthkey.com, it is important to “enjoy me time.

Every single day should have at least 30-minutes for you to just relax.” Take time to be alone and watch a favorite holiday movie to get yourself thinking about the true spirit of the holidays, not the stress that often accompanies it.

Above all else, set realistic expectations for the holidays.

Claire Wheeler, the author of “Ten Simple Solutions to Stress,” says that “we set ourselves up for disappointment by expecting everything to be perfect.” If you don’t get the exact gift that your family and friends wanted, it’s all right.

The action of giving them something will still show how much you care. Then, you can truly relax and take a step back and smell the poinsettias in the air.

LIFESTYLES

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

Christie Macdonald

Photo by Sarah Kearby

Senior Christie Macdonald and junior Thomas Gardner rehearse for her senior project. Macdonald’s senior project is singing at elderly homes along with teaching guitar lessons.

artistSPOTLIGHT

Sarah Kearby Lifestyles Editor Senior Christie Macdonald typically contributes to the music during plays as a member of the pit orchestra. But for her senior project, she plans to be onstage, front and center, at homes for the elderly and disabled around the county.

“I decided to play guitar for the elderly and disabled because I want to spread my love of music and bring joy to other people,” Macdonald said. She also invited junior Thomas Gardner to get involved with her senior project.

“He’s just a good singer, and I think together we can provide the elderly and disabled with a good show,” Macdonald said.

Macdonald not only wants to brighten other people’s days with

her own music, but also to inspire and teach others how to play her favorite instrument, the guitar.

“Some of the biggest influences in my life have been guitar teachers. I’ve also had to teach the underclassmen in band about percussion and I genuinely like teaching,” Macdonald said.

Macdonald has been playing guitar for eight years. She got her first electric guitar for her ninth birthday but previously played an old acoustic guitar that her father owned. “I was always a music nerd since as long as I can remember. I would just sit around and listen to his [her dad’s] old records all day when I was kid,” Macdonald said.

Bass guitar, drum set, mandolin, banjitar, and ukulele are a few other instruments Macdonald can play. “I also dabble very lightly in piano.

5

It sounds like a lot, but they’re all related and once you play one, you have the others in the bag,” Macdonald said.

Macdonald has performed in seven different pit orchestras outside of JC and five at school.

Macdonald has played the guitar for “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Seussical the Musical,” “Peter Pan,” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” She also plans to be in the pit for “Cinderella” this upcoming spring.

Though it seems Macdonald has mastered multiple musical aspects, she has faced some challenges in the past learning how to read bass clef and pit music, saying that “it’s completely different than reading jazz or classical music.” However, she is “confident it will all pay off.”

Students focus on Native American culture Sarah Kearby

Lifestyles Editor Anthropology teacher Gary Scholl attempted to pick up a fish with a line and paper clip hook in the Brown Room on Wednesday, Nov. 30 when the Culture Shock Club held the first Native American Culture Fair.

Culture Shock tried “to spread awareness of the Native American culture and most importantly get students involved and see different cultures,” senior and President of Culture Shock Monique Romain said.

Scholl lent Native American artifacts, which are sold each year at the Annual Benefit PowWow, to the Culture Shock Club to display. Participants at the fair were also offered various Native American foods.

Culture Shock is planning to have events similar to the Native American Culture Fair every month. According to Romain, the goal of having these Culture Shock events is so that the “student body can have fun and be informed [of a culture] each month.”

However, in January, JC will focus on Native American cul-

ture again during the 12th Annual Benefit Pow-Wow. The Pow-Wow will take place on Saturday, Jan. 14. All the proceeds made will benefit St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, Montana. According to Scholl this year’s goal is to “raise $5,000 in one day.”

St. Labre Indian School is the main school on the Crow Reservation, offering grades prekindergarten through twelfth. St. Labre runs St. Charles Mission School and Pretty Eagle Catholic Academy, two other schools on the reservation.

It took Scholl a total of 21 years to connect with St. Labre Indian School. He initially made contact with the Cheyenne culture in college when he decided to do service on a reservation in Oklahoma.

“I came away after two years with the feeling I hadn’t really helped a whole lot of people, but that they helped me a great deal,” Scholl said.

Scoll decided he wanted to visit a Northern Cheyenne reservation in Montana after the Northern Cheyenne Breakout, when the Cheyenne tribe separated because the Northern Cheyenne people

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could not stand the southern heat.

“I went up to a house and knocked on the door. A little kid opened the door a crack and yelled ‘Mom, Grandma, there’s a white man at the door,’ I bought some barrettes and some of their bead work and that was my in,” Scholl said.

Starting with that initial connection, he attended a Pow-Wow and noticed St. Labre Indian School. While there, Scholl recognized people from Oklahoma that he previously knew and he kept making connections with others until he met people from the school.

The connection with St. Labre has blossomed since, and this year for the JC Pow-Wow they are sending in students, vendors, and a “good drum group who should make people want to dance,” Scholl said.

Since the inception of the PowWow, JC has sent over $50,000 to St. Labre. This money not only included the proceeds from the Pow-Wow but generous donations from anonymous donors.

“The Pow-Wow is just an authentic cultural experience to help students get a taste of Native American culture,” Scholl said.

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Emil Hermanyhorses (center) participates in the Grand Entry of the seventh Benefit Pow-Wow. Hermanyhorses is the curator of National Museum of American Indians in Washington, D.C.

6

LIFESTYLES

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

Advisories reach out during holidays Sarah Kearby Lifestyles Editor Everyone knows the holidays are about more than just presents, lights, and cookies. The holiday season is the time for giving, and certain advisories have taken the true spirit of the holidays to heart by serving others this season.

Social studies teacher Jake Hollin and his advisory not only contribute to school wide charities but also volunteer outside of school to help the community.

They collected cans for the Harford County Food Drive and donated toys and food to a needy family in Baltimore City.

“Right now we are doing the Adopt-a-Troop Campaign for Christmas, gathering items to send to our brave military men and women – trying to give back a little something to those who have given so much to us,” Hollin said.

Last year, his advisory also volunteered at Sharing Table, a soup kitchen in Edgewood. They also collected Christmas gifts for

an adopted family through the Mason Dixon program.

“It just feels really good to give back,” senior and member of Hollin’s advisory Megan Cunningham said.

Not only does Hollin “believe it is important to give and serve others,” but he has also noticed that because “we [his advisory] serve together, we have gotten closer as a group.”

English teacher Eric Sutton and math teacher Jean Willan’s advisories have also teamed up for the past two years to Adopt-a-Family around the Christmas season.

Willan has adopted families for 16 years both in and outside of school.

“I just feel that it’s important and I encourage my students to take part each year,” Willan said.

“I love shopping for little kids and I still love receiving presents on Christmas, so to be able to share that excitement around the holidays is a great opportunity,” junior and member of Sutton’s advisory Joe Novak said.

Sutton’s advisory has already

gotten a bike for the little girl in their Adopt-a-Family this year.

Enhance teacher Ann Drummey’s advisory also gives back by supporting Anna’s House.

Anna’s House is a shelter for women and children in Harford County. Last year, Drummey’s advisory made and filled stockings for the residents of Anna’s House, but this year, they are changing it up by making blankets for the playrooms.

Freshman Morgan Broman’s favorite part of making the blankets “is just knowing I am helping someone else.”

Drummey tries to include every member of her advisory in supporting Anna’s House.

“I think it is important for students to realize that others may not have some of the advantages that they do. Sometimes it is a simple gesture that can have an enormous impact on someone else,” Drummey said.

Hollin also mentioned that with busy schedules, finding time for charity can be a difficult task.

“Everyone is so busy nowa-

Photo by Megan Battaglia

Social studies teacher Jake Hollin and his advisees sort products that they collected to donate to the troops for the Adopt-a-Troop Campaign.

Hollin’s advisory also donated food and toys to a family in Baltimore. days that it is hard to get together and to organize stuff for everyone. You just have to be flexible and try to have as many people as you can be involved,” Hollin said.

Even though it is difficult to get 100 percent participation from all of the advisees, Sutton says that “giving is what this time of year is really about.”

Bolden to play with Ravens marching band Martha Schick Managing Editor Instead of cheering for the Ravens in the stands, music teacher Marc Bolden is going to be on the field blaring his trumpet. Bolden has joined the Baltimore Raven’s marching band as a trumpet player and could be playing at his first game as soon as Christmas Eve. “It seemed like a fun opportunity, and when I saw the audition requirements I thought, ‘I could do that,’” Bolden said.

As a member of the band, Bolden will receive free admission for all the games in which he will play. “I’m excited about having another performing opportunity. As a football fan, I’m also excited about attending the games,” Bolden said.

Bolden graduated with the class of ‘03 and was an active

band member as a student, playing the trumpet all four years in concert band and marching band.

Bolden is currently in charge of the music department. He teaches band, chorus, orchestra, and digital audio, and runs extracurricular activities such as Pep Band, Jazz Band, and Belle Voce.

“At the end of last year he wasn’t sure if he’d still be teaching here, but then he got a full time job here, got married, found out he’s going to have a baby, and now he’s going to be in the Raven’s marching band,” junior Mary Kate Luft said.

“This year band has been so much fun and I feel like our peers respect us [the band] more as a group as far as football games are concerned. He’s taken on a lot this year between running Bella Voce, chorus, band, orchestra and Jazz Band, and he’s doing a really

great job balancing it all,” senior Erin Cullinan said.

“Bolden deserves such a good opportunity because he works so hard and a lot of his work goes unrecognized,” junior Jimmy Knell said.

With Bolden playing for the Ravens, this opportunity could benefit the music department.

“I’ve been told that there could be some help with music that they could pass on to us, as well as help with music prices,” Bolden said.

According to Bolden, there were also “talks about something happening with uniforms in the future . . . that could be very beneficial,” although Bolden is unsure of the details.

“Mr. Bolden said that he might be able to get the band new uniforms. This is wonderful, as we’ve had the same uniforms for

Photo by Martha Schick

Music teacher Marc Bolden practices playing the trumpet in preparation for marching with the Baltimore Raven’s band. Bolden’s first game could be as early as Christmas Eve. years,” sophomore Travis Nelson said.

Besides the tangible benefits, the attention could be good for the school, as well as the music

department.

“The music department goes unappreciated a lot, and this could help put us on the map at John Carroll,” Knell said.

teacherSPOTLIGHT Martha Schick Managing Editor

Tony Del Puppo Photo from Patriot Archive

Social Studies teacher Del Puppo poses with students from the class of ‘10 after the 2009 Powderpuff game.

For a man who once made a black bear run away in terror, Tony Del Puppo spends much of his time in pursuit of academic glory.

Del Puppo is busy studying for his degree in Applied Economics to add to his master’s in history.

Along with being a full-time history teacher, he is also writing a book and raising his daughter, Maria, with his wife Jamie.

However, Del Puppo also has outdoorsy interests, like hiking.

Since 2006, Del Puppo has taken students on over 20 camping trips.

“I began this program to make students aware of the beauty of the environment. We, as humans, have

the power to conserve and protect the environment, or to destroy it.

But if people don’t understand the beauty of nature, then how can you expect them to protect it against those that would exploit it?” Del Puppo said.

He remembers one camping experience particularly well. “In May of 2009 on the Appalacian Trail in Virginia, with the Senior Project, I was hiking alone and came across a large black bear. We looked at each other and before I even had a chance to be afraid, it took off running in the other direction,” he said.

Despite his current occupation, Del Puppo was once on a very different path. He originally wanted to be a lawyer, but later decided that he wanted to change professions.

He cites his personality as a reason for not pursuing law. “It’s very easy to lose your principles as a lawyer, and I am a very principled person,” Del Puppo said.

These same principles have found their way into the pages of his book.

“On the surface it is a story about two friends from Georgetown College that find themselves on opposite sides during the Civil War. But at its core, it is the story of a young man’s journey into adulthood in the midst of the greatest tragedy in American history,” he said.

While he’s not sure if his book will ever be published, Del Puppo will continue to write. He has written about 250 pages so far but, according to Del Puppo, it is “not even close to being done.”

A&E

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

iPhone 4s

Novel Ideas

33.7% of students want an iPhone The iPhone is the most wanted gift this Christmas season, especially with the new upgrade of the magnificent iPhone 4S. This upgraded iPhone gives advice whenever customers need it, and its most notable features are Siri, iCloud, and FaceTime. iCloud allows users to save all of their data from their phone onto any gadget, while FaceTime allows them to talk face to face with their closest friends. To operate Siri, this year’s latest technological breakthrough, all users have to do is ask the phone a question, and they will receive an answer within seconds. Wondering what the meaning of life is? Just ask Siri. The iPhone 4S is definitely the “it” gift this season. The price for a 32 GB iPhone 4S is $299.99.

Price: $199.99 to $399.99 plus carrier plan Retailer: Apple Inc. Great for: teens and technologically impaired parents

Video Games

12.1% of students want video games

Price: $59.99 Retailer: Target, Gamestop, etc.

Great for: gamers, brothers, and collectors

Fill the stockings of gamer friends with the most popular video games. Games like “Skyrim,” “Modern Warfare 3,” and “Battlefield 3” have hit the shelves and are favorites among video game enthusiasts. For those who keep the gaming to their computers, there are plenty of PC games out there as well. The previously mentioned games are also made for PC gaming but “Batman: Arkham City,” released on Oct. 18, as well as “Sims 3” expansion packs will be great additions to their collection. “Minecraft,” another popular PC game, has been highly acclaimed with very few customer complaints since its release on Nov. 18.

What do you want for

Christmas? courtesy Lauren Friedly

The Patriot conducted a holiday survey to find out what holiday gifts Santa is bringing this season.

Jewelry

Price: varies Retailer: Nordstrom’s, Charlotte Russe Great for: fashionistas, moms, and girlfriends

12.4% of students want cameras The holidays are all about memories, and what better way to capture those memories than with a digital camera? Brands from Nikon to Canon have wonderful cameras to choose from.

Nikon recently came out with the Nikon 1 J1, a pocket sized camera that allows for interchangeable lenses. Beginning at $649.95, it’s a little pricey, but it’s perfect for any photography lover. For customers looking for something less expensive, Canon’s PowerShot cameras start at $76.99. These cameras can be purchased at stores such as hhgregg, Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart.

12.8% of students want jewelry Surprisingly, jewelry is a must-have this Christmas season.

While tech gadgets are popular, simple jewelry would also be a much appreciated gift. The greatest part of jewelry is that it can fit into anyone’s budget. To find unique hipster jewlery, make sure to look for some vintage inspired pieces at Urban Outfitters.

While looking for a classy and slightly more expensive gift for a mom or a girlfriend, check out Nordstrom or any other luxury department store. Nordstrom has a wonderful selection of bright, beaded jewelry such as statement necklaces. In addition, it isn’t necessary to leave the house to shop for jewelry as online stores are accessible through the Internet.

Nikon J1 Price: $599.99 Retailer: Nikon Great for: artists, travelers, and journalists

Gift Cards

Price: varies Retailer: varies Great for: anyone

*Results based on the 282 student responses to the survery

14.2% of students want gift cards Not sure exactly what to get this holiday? Buy a gift card for everyone on the nice list. Gift cards are easy gifts because everyone wins. Most stores have gift cards located right next to the cash register so that they are easily accessible, and most have the option to pick a price or pay for a gift card with a set price. When all else fails, an iTunes gift card is always a safe present for anyone with an iPod or MP3 player.

7

BY CARA REILLY 'The Christmas Wedding' fails with disappointing plot Although James Patterson is known for writing a new murder mystery every month, readers can only hope for bloodshed to liven up the lackluster story “The Christmas Wedding.” However, even then they’re disappointed.

The so-called plot of the story involves widowed Gaby Summerhill being proposed to by three different men at the same time. Instead of saying yes to one of her suitors, she uses the notso-riveting mystery of whom she will marry to lure her four children to her wedding on Christmas day.

There’s quantity and then there’s quality, and Patterson is seriously lacking the latter. As one of his 84 books, “The Christmas Wedding” makes one wonder how he is the most frequented author on the New York Times bestseller list.

The sheer volume of books he writes in such quick succession provokes suspicion if he’s really the one writing everything, or if his ghost writers are just working really hard. At least in this book he gives credit to his co-writer Richard DiLallo. Still, its list of attributes ends there.

“The Christmas Wedding” begins with a transcript of Gaby’s video of herself that she has sent to her children. These narcissistic recordings tell Gaby’s story while the lives of her children are captured through alternate chapters.

However, the characters were all so unmemorable that I had to keep referring back to the “Invitation List” that preceded the first chapter. Even then, I still don’t remember the name of the man whom she married.

While Gaby’s suitors were all equally unremarkable, a few of her family members stand out like sore thumbs. For example, there’s her 14-year-old grandson Gus who teaches his 8-year-old cousin Tallulah how to smoke a joint on Christmas day. He just wants to share his love of weed, which he explains to Gaby after she runs barefoot into the woods to watch Tallulah take a hit. Totally normal behavior.

The weirdness continues as Mike, Gaby’s son-in-law afflicted with a brain tumor, erupts into a seizure as the cake is being cut.

After the seizure has passed, another son-in-law who is a surgical resident in neurology advises Mike to stay rather than be taken to the hospital. Who knew that grand mal seizures can be treated with wedding cake?

Mind-numbingly dull plot aside, the writing was still just as unimpressive with corny dialogue and several noted grammatical errors. Patterson’s attempt at heartfelt sentiment is cliché and unconvincing. He should stick to murder mysteries, where at least there’s potential for a happy ending.

8

IN-DEPTH

Healthy The Patriot explores the effects of tanning and exercise on health

16%

of Americans exercise at least once a day

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

Living

25%

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

of U.S. teenagers exercise for at least 30 minutes a day U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Exercise Ashley Beyer

Lifestyles Editor Though many things seem to interfere with exercise and getting active, junior Sammy Clough finds time to exercise in the weight room five days a week. He has been doing this for three years, beginning as a freshman.

“It has made me a more dedicated person. It has relieved stress for me, improved my self-confidence, and made my body healthy,” Clough said.

Unlike Clough, other teens can be distracted by the Internet, video games, and cell phones. A lack of exercising and eating unhealthy foods can cause health issues that may last the rest of their lives.

In fact, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 14 percent of adolescents are overweight. This means that 14 percent of children ages 6-19 are at risk for heart disease and high cholesterol.

To help avoid these outcomes, fit-

improves quality of life

ness trainer Gina Hormes, class of ’86, advocates exercising regularly.

“I believe that teens and everyone in general need to be active. Choosing activities and sports that one would most enjoy are highly recommended.

Simply walking or jogging out the door always is a great idea,” Hormes said.

Health teacher Tess Gauthier believes that teens eat unhealthily and don’t care about exercising because they don’t realize the effect that it will have on their future.

“I think they know the big picture, but can’t imagine the consequences down the line of not taking care of themselves,” Gauthier said.

Physical Education teacher Eric Fabriziani agrees and believes teens “don’t understand how to eat healthy.”

Fabriziani explained that often students go on diets but fall back into their old routines and eating habits.

Freshman Shannon Fendryk loves exercising, but has also developed

Health Corner

What health issue concerns you the most?

good eating habits to keep her in shape. “I work out because I want to stay fit while I’m in soccer season. I take soccer very seriously and I need to perform my best each game. After I work out, I feel great. I’ve seen differences in my weight, stamina, and endurance while playing in games. To stay fit and healthy is a great lifestyle to live,” Fendryk said.

There are many ways of getting exercise, even at JC. The weight room is open for students and sports and activities, such as yoga club, keep students in shape. JC is also offering food, drinks, and snacks that are more health-conscious, such as salads and diet drinks.

Though teens have many outlets for exercising and eating healthy, some don’t get the amount that they need.

This can lead to weight gain, acne, and future health risks. Due to these risks, the push to get teens exercising is greater, and the results are nothing but beneficial.

66% of JC students exercise daily

All students were polled on Nov. 29 through Surveymonkey. 318

“Skin, because it is the first thing you see on someone.” freshman Chris Muse

Tanning Stephanie Meadowcroft Lifestyles Editor Being a blond-haired, blue-eyed bathing beauty in the 70s was all the rage, and Administrative Registrar Sue Cathell can attest to that.

“When I was a teenager in the 70s, my girlfriends and I would lay out in the sun and fry. Having blond hair and blue eyes, my skin would burn to the point of blistering,” Cathell said.

When Cathell was a teenager, there weren’t any warnings against how damaging UV rays are to the skin.

“I did not see any immediate effects of the tanning on my skin other than the lovely, burnt brown color. However, I was ignorant to what that golden hue on my skin actually was – skin that had sustained an injury,” Cathell said.

On Oct. 31, 2011, Cathell got the phone call confirming that the “thing” her doctor had removed from her face was malignant melanoma. “I remember standing in my living room, listening to the doctor . . . thinking ‘Whoa, no wait a minute, this happens to other people, not me,’” Cathell said.

The American Melanoma Foundation (AMF) states that melanoma is “the most serious form of skin cancer.” Melanoma begins with “the uncontrolled growth of pigment-producing tanning cells.”

In February of 1996, Cathell’s hus-

of skin cancer deaths in the U.S. are from melonoma

don’t tan

8 students responded to the survey. The survey has a +/- 4% accuracy rate

can lead to cancer

band died of brain cancer, so she had “an intense need to ‘look healthy’ in the months following his death. She did so by going to tanning bed salons.

My rationalization back then was ‘Well, I just need to feel good about myself,’ and ‘If I just go for a few months, it won’t have any negative effect on my skin,’” Cathell said.

While there isn’t any diagnostic test that can determine if a person develops melanoma because of UV ray exposure, Cathell is “convinced that since my melanoma was on my face, it was a direct result of burning and tanning.”

Sophomore Lindsey McCumber doesn’t have any desire to go tanning.

“People always compliment me on my fair skin, so I accept that I’m pale. I like being pale because I want to look natural,” McCumber said.

Senior Jackie Mooney feels the opposite about tanning, however. “I personally think I look better tan,” Mooney said.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), “sun and indoor tanning are the leading causes of skin cancer.”

“Research shows that indoor tanning increases a person’s melanoma risk by 75 percent,” according to the AAD. Because Cathell has fair skin and went tanning, her risk was greatly increased.

McCumber is aware of the harm

75%

90% s of JC students

9

IN-DEPTH

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

American Cancer Society

that tanning can cause. “People who go tanning are taking such big risks… people should embrace what they look like naturally, especially since tanning is harmful,” McCumber said.

Mooney also realizes there are risks with tanning. “I have always been worried about the risks, but I also have those risks when I go to the beach or pool. You just have to be careful and always wear protection. I don’t tan my face when I go in a tanning bed, since I know my face is very sensitive,” Mooney said.

“UV ray exposure will definitely cause prematurely wrinkled, leathery skin. Today, the skin on my arms and legs is like leather. Frankly, it’s disgusting. I have a significant number of ‘old age spots’ even though I’m only in my early fifties,” Cathell said.

Applying sunscreen to all exposed skin even on cloudy days is imperative, according to the MRF. To keep skin healthy, wear protective clothing, seek shade between the sun’s peak hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and be aware of medications increasing skin’s sensitivity to sunlight.

“I totally appreciate the desire to have color. I loved how I looked with a tan. Please, please, please, get that color through spray tanning or the much-improved lotion products that are available today. It is not worth the price you pay later in life,” Cathell said.

70% of Americans that tan are teenage girls

18%

Medi-Smart

of American women have tanned in the last year

Huffington Post

“Weight and relationships, because everyone is dieting and girls are insecure.” sophomore Makda Amdetsyon

“Weight, because it is rampant in the United States.” senior Colin Brooks

quick

10

A&E

Bites:

Bertucci’s serves mediocre pasta that pales in comparison to other menu selections Grace Kim

Online Chief I lost it as soon as I heard “limitless rolls.”

My sister warned me not to get “too crazy,” but I could not stop eating those steamy rolls one after one, dipping them each into that yummy olive oil.

Unfortunately, I would come to prefer the rolls over my main course pasta dish.

Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant is located on 12 Bel Air South Parkway in Bel Air. The atmosphere it offers is quaint and pleasant, and the waiters are friendly and polite.

They serve you free, limitless rolls, and now that I’ve eaten

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

The Patriot staff reviews the most popular pasta places in Harford County

there several times, I know those things are traps. If you get full on them, you’ll be packing your entire entrée to go.

I ordered the chicken piccata priced at $14.99 and my sister ordered the shrimp rossini priced at $15.49. After playing with the complementary children’s dough (you have to ask for it, just an insider’s tip) and driving my sister crazy, the food came out in a relatively fast fashion.

After one bite of the chicken with the thin noodles cooked just right, my verdict was that it was too tart. There were lemons all over the dish, so the pasta and chicken tasted like, well, lemons.

There was no clearly defined sauce over the dish. On first glance, the pasta looks like greasy noodles and nothing more.

They say looks can be deceiving, but they were pretty accurate this time around. I thought about

how I could have gotten a nicer pasta anywhere else and it would have been cheaper.

The chicken was tender, despite the soggy breading covering it. The pasta was cooked thoroughly though, which was some comfort to me.

I tried some of my sister’s pasta too, but I didn’t like it either.

Again, the pasta was well cooked, but I didn’t like the taste of the sauce.

The sauce was spicy and slightly tangy. There were little shrimp with the pasta which were good though.

Both dishes came out hot and thoroughly cooked, but those were the food’s only attributes.

The sauces weren’t up to satisfaction, and the overall flavor and taste of both was slightly off.

I know from past experience that the menu is filled with a ton of delicious dishes, but I was

Basta Pasta Basta Pasta offers romantic atmosphere with delicious pasta and pleasant service Chioma Iheoma A&E Editor Basta Pasta, located in Fallston, didn’t seem too special from its outward appearance, but walking into the Italian restaurant’s mellow romantic atmosphere was a delightful surprise.

Arriving at 4 p.m., I entered the empty restaurant hoping that the quality of the food was not the reason for the lack of diners. Of course I was seated quickly and given a menu filled with a wide variety of choices.

This was a pleasant surprise considering that most Italian

Buontempo Brothers provides casual dining with perfect pasta Caroline Spath Copy Editor Referred to as “Bel Air’s Own Little Italy,” Buontempo Brothers, located at 1 South Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, definitely has earned that title.

Just by walking into the restaurant you are guaranteed friendly greetings from the workers as well as a delicious meal.

The atmosphere at Buontempo Brothers is unbeatable. The restaurant is located along Main Street, and the small size contributes to its casual, welcoming en-

Photo by Chioma Iheoma

Basta Pasta’s cheese ravioli, while not as good as the lasanga, was satisfactory. Basta Pasta offers various dishes in addition to pasta. restaurants are limited to pastas, pizzas, and breads. The menu included an array of veal, steaks, seafood, and pizza.

For weeks I’ve been craving

cheese ravioli so although I was tempted by the other delicious looking choices, I went with ravioli. I ordered and sat back to enjoy the drinks, breadsticks, and

vironment. In addition to the ambiance, the employees are helpful, professional, and friendly.

Buontempo’s has a wonderful selection of food on their menu.

They make strombolis, hot and cold subs, tons of pasta dishes, and desserts. They also sell every type of pizza imaginable, including veggie, B.B.Q. chicken, and seafood pizza. With the wide selection of meals, everyone can find something that appeals to their tastebuds.

After contemplating the varied menu, I decided that I could not go wrong with cheese ravioli, my favorite pasta dish. I’m a tough judge when it comes to my favorite dish. Luckily for Buontemp Brothers the cheese ravioli did not dissapoint.

The pasta itself was cooked perfectly. It was not too al dente but it was not too soggy either.

The sauce was sweet, seasoned wonderfully, and the consistency was perfect. The cheese was deliciously melted on top and the entire dish was topped with a garnish of basil.

The meal was huge and after eating just one of the giant raviolis, I was stuffed. The meal was large enough to take home. I was happy to enjoy the meal again the next day.

The meal came with salad and breadand this proved to be the worst part of the meal. The salad was lacking taste due to the watery consistency of the dressing.

The bread did not make up for the salad because it was stale.

Even though the salad and bread were subpar, they did not take away from the entrée. I still enjoyed the meal because the wonderful pasta made up for these disappointments.

Bertucci’s

Photo by Grace Kim

The limitless rolls tasted more appetizing than the mediocre chicken piccata entree. Bertucci’s is one of Bel Air’s Italian restaurants. slightly disappointed with their pasta. Bertucci’s other dishes are to die for, but their pasta did not

reflect that excellence at all. Next time, I’m sticking to the pizza and the strombolis.

salad.

The breadsticks were warm and well-seasoned, and the fresh and crisp salad was even better.

As I waited for the entrée, I admired the nicely decorated restaurant.

Popular music played quietly and glossed pottery pieces showing Italian scenes sat atop the walls that separated the booths.

The outside of the restaurant was definitely deceiving, giving the illusion that the inside was smaller than it was. Inside, tables and booths filled the dining area and a bar sat off to one side of the restaurant.

The cheese ravioli, on a scale of one to 10, was a seven. It wasn’t cold, but the temperature wasn’t quite right. The cheese was a tad grainy but overall smooth, and the ravioli itself was too chewy.

Regardless, it was good overall.

I also sampled the lasagna, which was wonderful. It was sweet but not sugary and the cheese had the perfect gooey consistency.

Earlier in the evening I had noticed a rotating shelf of desserts

in the back of the restaurant. The desserts ranged from cheesecakes to rich chocolate cakes.

I ordered a slice of strawberry shortcake, in which the strawberries tasted fresh, not soggy from being soaked in strawberry sauce.

The cheesecake was rich and not to sweet so that it balanced with the strawberries perfectly.

Aside from the delicious food, the service of the restaurant is what will keep me coming back for more.

My waitress was quick with delivering the food but I’m also taking into account the fact that there were only a few diners. Her genuine smile stayed glued to her face for the entire meal.

She as well as the other waiters were personable and joked with the customers. It’s not that often that someone can be genuinely happy while grating cheese onto your salad.

Basta Pasta, located on 2745 Fallston Road, provided a satisfactory dining experience. The menu covered many bases and the food was up to par with good prices.

Buontempo Brothers

Photo by Caroline Spath

The large cheese ravioli was both delicious and filling. Dining at Buontempo Brothers means dining in a casual and friendly atmosphere.

The restaurant offers specials every Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, an entrée of ravioli, spaghetti, stuffed shells, manicotti, or lasagna is only $5.99. On Tuesday, if a customer buys a large 16inch pizza, the second large pizza

is $2.00.

So the next time you’re in downtown Bel Air drop into Buontempo Brothers, ask for a pasta dish instead of the typical slice of pepperoni pizza. You will not be disappointed.

11

OPINION

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

Scott Novak

tives to prevent STIs, could be deadly. Between 2006 to 2008, 46 percent of male and 33 percent of female American high school students did not receive formal instruction about contraceptives before they had sex , according to the Guttmacher Institute.

In the same year range, about one in four adolescents received abstinence sex education without receiving any instruction about birth control, compared to approximately eight to nine percent in 1995. Even more terrifying is that among teens between 18 and 19 years of age, 41 percent report that they know little or nothing about condoms, and 75 percent say they know little or nothing about the contraceptive pill.

Funding for abstinence-only programs rapidly increased under the Bush Administration, despite the lack of evidence for their effectiveness. Yet America still has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the developed world.

Every year, roughly nine million new cases of STIs occur among teens and young adults in the U.S. The U.S. rates of teens

Opinion Editor Gonorrhea? What’s that?

If you’ve received an abstinence-only sex education, you may know that it’s a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but you wouldn’t know how to protect yourself from it.

There is no evidence that programs that censor information about contraceptives are effective.

A 10-year government evaluation on abstinence-only programs was conducted by Mathematica Policy Research. The evaluation, released in 2007, found that “youth in the program group were no more likely than control group youth to have abstained from sex and, among those who reported having had sex; they had similar numbers of sexual partners and had initiated sex at the same mean age.” This finding negates the misleading notion that students who don’t receive an abstinenceonly sex education are more likely to have sex.

The impact of abstinence-only programs, such as teens not being educated about using contracep-

Sexual

Tension

Con

Artwork by Lauren Friedly

Emily Clarke Managing Editor “Don’t have sex, because you will get pregnant. And die.”

Most people remember this hilarious quote from gym and sex education teacher Coach Carr during the movie Mean Girls. I’m not going to say if you have sex you will die, but I don’t believe

that schools should teach teens about sex education.

By teaching sex education in schools, the schools are encouraging teens to have sex. The classes teach students the nuts and bolts of having sex and are basically saying “If you want to have sex, this is how to do it.”

From 1993 to 2003, the Kaiser

Student Answer Freshman

Sophomore

Nick Lewis “It should be taught to be safe so nothing bad happens.”

Jessie Clingerman “Abstinence is ideal, but that doesn’t work for everyone. Safe sex should be taught, too.”

The Patriot

The John Carroll School 703 Churchville Road Bel Air, MD 21014 Volume 47, Issue 3, December 2011

Print Chief: Maggie Cassidy Online Chief: Grace Kim Copy Chief: Cara Reilly

Pro

Artwork by Lauren Friedly

with chlamydia and gonorrhea are also extremely high when compared to teens in Canada or Western Europe.

Advocates of abstinence-only programs emphasize that contraceptives are not 100 percent effective, either. But how are students expected to know this vital piece of information if all facts about contraceptives is censored?

Abstinence programs work only for people who never want to have sex.

However, humans are sexual beings. Sex education must adapt to this fact instead of working against it.

Teens must be kept informed.

Knowledge will always be the best protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

Should students be taught about safe sex at school?

Family Foundation did research studies on teenage sexual activity in the United States. The study showed that in 1993, 56 percent of male and 50 percent of female high school students have had sex.

From 1994 to 2003, the numbers remained about the same, with 48 percent of high school males and 45 percent of high school females having had sex in 2003.

The same study showed that 98 percent of the teens who reported having sex had used some form of contraceptive. Ninety-four percent of teens used condoms and 61 percent used birth control pills.

Teens already know from the Internet, their parents, or peers that if they don’t want to get pregnant, they should use a contraceptive.

According to a data brief by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2010, two out of three male teenagers and four out of five female teenagers reported having talked about sex education topics with a parent.

So if the teens already know how to protect themselves from other sources, why waste the time teaching it in school?

Junior

Thomas Gardner “It should be taught because people need to be informed about sex if they are having it.”

Sex education doesn’t stop the majority of teens from having sex. According to researcher Douglas Kirby for the National Campaign to End Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 60 percent of teens continued to have sex or started having sex even after receiving formal sex education.

This shows that sex education, for the majority, doesn’t help prevent teens from having sex.

In addition, sex education shouldn’t be encouraged at Catholic high schools. The Catholic Church is against sex before marriage, so if parents are sending their children to a Catholic school, they obviously believe the Church’s teachings and want them to be followed. Parents who send their children to Catholic schools should take on the responsibility of educating their own children about sex. It shouldn’t be encouraged and it definitely shouldn’t be a requirement.

So remember, if you have sex, you will die. No, I’m totally kidding, but sex education isn’t going to stop teens from having sex anymore than the fruitless threats of death from Coach Carr.

Senior

Talia Kahoe “It should be taught because ignorance of the matter won’t prevent students from having sex.”

Managing Editors: Emily Clarke Brianna Glase Martha Schick Section Editors: Elise Adamson Ashley Beyer Eva Bialobrzeski Amanda Graziano Chioma Iheoma Sarah Kearby Adam Kuester Imani Love Stephanie Meadowcroft Scott Novak Miranda Ripken Copy Editors: Linnea Andersen Caroline Spath Kailey Tracy Multimedia Editors: Megan Battaglia Megan Foard Taylor Hooper Ashley Moxley Cartoonist: Lauren Friedly Contributing Staff: Danielle Tiger Jenny Yang Moderators: Mark Ionescu Nick Attanasio

The Patriot is a publication of The John Carroll School.

The views and opinions expressed in The Patriot are not necessarily the views of the Board of Trustees or the Administration of The John Carroll School.

For information regarding our mission statement, editorial policy, number of copies distributed, advertising policy, and corrections, please visit jcpatriot.com/about The editorial staff invites and greatly appreciates comments from readers on any issue.

Please email comments or letters to editor@jcpatriot.com or submit them through our website: www.jcpatriot.com

12

Brain Droppings

BY SCOTT NOVAK

American democracy as fake as Santa Claus The U.S. democracy and Santa Claus have one thing in common– neither is real.

Santa is one of the most beautiful lies ever told. Like any kid, I anticipated Christmas months in advance because of him. I believed in magic back then.

During my early childhood, I also believed the government, like Santa Claus, knew what it was doing. I was taught that I had a voice in the political system and that America was run by the people, for the people. Unfortunately, the more I learn about U.S. politics, the more imaginary these ideas of democracy seem.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the overwhelming majority of Congress members are white males whose dominant professions are law, public service/politics, and business. The median age of current House members is 56.7 years. For the Senate, the median age is 62.2 years.

This is not representative of America at all. Where are the scientists? Shouldn’t they be voting on issues that affect the environment, since they are the ones who are most educated about them?

Where are the waitresses and garbage collectors? Don’t they deserve a chance to have a say on laws that affect whether or not they can afford health care?

And where are all the women?

Though roughly 51 percent of the U.S. population is women, they make up only 16.8 percent of Congress.

Another unfortunate trend is that only the wealthy are represented in America. According to The Center for Responsive Politics, “About 47 percent of Congress, or 249 current members, are millionaires…In 2010, the estimated median net worth of a current U.S. senator stood at an average of $2.56 million.”

No wonder the GOP is against taxing the rich. I’m sorry, Congress members, but the sound of the clinking coins in your bank accounts prevents me from hearing your counter-argument.

Though I don’t believe in Santa anymore, I still believe in the love and social bonds that many cultures emphasize during this time of the year. In the same way, I still believe in the spirit of democracy.

All people should have a voice.

With enough awareness, things can change. Movements like Occupy Wall Street may be a step in the right direction toward exposing the current power imbalance.

As for this holiday season, the government continues to be run by the old, white, rich men, for the old, white, rich men.

STAFF

OPINION

: ED

Seniors, take a good, long look at the ring on your finger. It seems to be the only tradition left.

Variety Show is dead. While some could argue that the show goes against Catholic ethics and morality, graduates still look forward to their unofficial class reunion, and underclassmen look forward to this unofficial senior privilege.

No one person, or even one class, can be accused of bringing down a 40-year tradition. Its cancellation was a culmination of various factors, including hurtful material, administrative intolerance, and student objection.

Reactions to the Variety Show cancellation have ranged from disappointment to anger, especially from recent alumni. Every student who has a Facebook has probably seen the outraged and accusatory comments from alumni blowing up their news feed.

Most of the blame is directed at the class of 2012 for ruining the beloved tradition without considering that alumni also added to the reasons for its cancellation.

Current underclassmen and alumni have misplaced the blame

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

Senior Variety Show tradition dies, class of 2012 not solely to blame

of the cancellation solely on the current senior class, when they don’t know the full story.

There were several seniors that attended every single practice, wrote entertaining scripts instead of doing their homework, and genuinely tried to create a memorable show. However, their efforts were not enough to save the Variety Show. The time they dedicated to the cancelled show was, frankly, wasted.

Other seniors disagreed with the fact that they weren’t allowed to explicitly make fun of other students, past or present. Their disinterest in participating was apparent at every poorly attended practice.

Sure, the date change from November to January was an unwelcome obstacle, but the class of 2012 could’ve still had a Variety Show. Instead, certain students decided to protest the restrictions by not participating.

For Variety Show to be successfully pulled off, everyone must play their part.

For the class of 2013, if you disagree that a 40-year tradition should end so abruptly, don’t let

it. Just because the class of 2012 was unable to uphold the tradition does not mean that it cannot be brought back.

Handle the situation with maturity and dedication. Content cannot be what it was in the past with students being singled out.

However, that doesn’t mean that the show won’t be entertaining.

Take the Variety Show into consideration when you vote for your class officers.

Everyone has something to contribute. There are a variety of talents that students possess, such as singing, acting, or playing an instrument, among others. Choosing three diverse students to lead the senior class will result in drawing a variety of participants to take part in the performance.

Now, to the class of 2012. Regarding the material that was created for the Variety Show, that work doesn’t have to go to waste.

Whether it’s an underground Variety Show or a smaller performance during school, students’ hardwork towards their skits shouldn’t be forgotten.

The senior class still has an opportunity to make a positive

impression with how they choose to raise money for prom. Class officers have fundraising ideas including a blacklight dance, but all seniors need to contribute their ideas and their time to avoid having to pay their prom ticket out in monthly installments.

As for the administration, Variety Show should be treated as more than just a fundraiser for other events that take place during senior year. The tradition of seniors teasing teachers, alumni, and current students is a unique way to create class unity. However, to keep it a true Variety Show, it must be held before Thanksgiving.

In order to achieve this, senior class meetings must begin earlier in the year to ensure that these problems won’t arise again. Starting earlier ensures success.

JC has been recognized for its legacies and traditions, but it has recently gone too far into the new.

There’s no homeroom, no hallway to decorate during Spirit Week, no Powderpuff game during school, and no Country Fair.

Let’s make sure that Variety Show isn’t the next addition to that list.

Debates during holidays are ho, ho, horrible Brianna Glase Managing Editor People always find a reason to start an argument, but the Christmas season should be reserved as a time of joy, a time of togetherness, and most importantly, a time of peace.

The raging debate on the possible replacement of the phrase “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays” around the country in order to further secularize the holiday season arises every December.

This, more than anything, makes me wonder just how far someone will go to nitpick and whine about something entirely unimportant, instead of appreciating the true meaning of the holiday.

During the holiday season, everywhere you look there’s a Santa Claus ringing a bell outside of a store or on a street corner, asking for nothing more than a donation to give to those who are less fortunate than others. Any and all kinds of people dedicate their time to serving in soup kitchens or food pantries to feed someone who wouldn’t have anything to eat if not for their generosity.

The holiday season is a time of goodwill and caring for people of any religion or lack thereof, and petty debates about what to call this time of year shouldn’t get in the way of the compassion that should be spread worldwide.

I could understand if there was a real reason for such debates, but there is really no purpose in such an arbitrary altercation.

Any phrase wishing season’s greetings, “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukah,” “Happy

Artwork by Jenny Yang

Kwanza,” or even “Happy Holidays,” is never said with any wish of ill-intent or with the specific purpose to discriminate.

If an atheist sneezed and a Catholic kindly told them “bless you,” they wouldn’t scoff at the blessing and start a fight about being discriminated against. They would graciously accept the kindhearted blessing and move on, despite the discrepancy in beliefs.

It’s the same with any season’s greeting, whether it has a reli-

gious connotation or not.

When someone uses a religious greeting any time of the year, they’re not trying to convert anyone or impose their beliefs on someone.I’m not saying that “Merry Christmas” is a better option to use during this time of year than “Happy Holidays,” but that both greetings are equally acceptable in any context during this season.

No matter how someone greets you during the holiday season, he

or she is just trying to spread the joy that is Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, or any other holiday celebrated during this time.

If people are too focused on one measly word or phrase said to them, they lose the meaning, the purpose, and the true spirit and intention behind the saying.

If all people focused on the altruistic love behind the holiday season, they would end up having a happy holiday no matter what greeting they were given.

PSU scandal exposes corruption Cara Reilly

Copy Chief Could they have done more?

Penn State University evidently thinks so, as they fired former President Graham Spanier and head football coach Joe Paterno, after the allegations against assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky came to light.

Many fans still remain loyally devoted to Paterno, outraged at his dismissal and supportive of him during his recent diagnosis of lung cancer. However, others question his morality such as Vicky Triponey, former Vice President for Student Affairs at PSU. According to CNN, Triponey accused Paterno of favoring football players who violated school conduct, unfairly reducing or eliminating their punishments.

Paterno’s actions have been questionable. He was legally correct in his decision to report his knowledge of the abuse to his superiors, but not the police was morally wrong. By refusing to take the responsibility to involve law enforcement, he disregarded the safety of any past, present, or future victims. Paterno cowardly washed his hands of the situation with a total disregard for the boys’ mistreatment.

The charges against Sandusky are still considered allegations because he is still denying the 40 accounts of sexual abuse against eight boys over more than 10 years.

Some of the victims were thought to have been from “The Second Mile,” a charity foundation Sandusky established, which worked torwards helping thousands of underprivileged kids.

School Mass should aim for retreatlike setting

Penn State students carry a Joe Paterno cutout on Wednesday, Nov. 9, after the Board of Trustees announced the firing of University President Graham Spanier and head football coach Joe Paterno. Both men were fired surrounding the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal. (Nabil K. Mark/Centre Daily Times/MCT) Sandusky was arrested on Nov. 5 and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 13, when he claims he will eradicate all charges.

This is highly doubtful, as there are currently over four investigations happening at PSU, including an internal investigation done by the university itself. They plan on conducting a “comprehensive investigation” that is “without fear or favor” in order to “leave no stone unturned,” according to Louis Freeh, who is in charge of the investigation. But it’s a little late for that.

Stones were overturned years ago, but what was discovered underneath was so horrifying that it was immediately covered up again.

A mother of one of the victims went to the police in 2008. In 2002, Mike McQueary, a witness of one of the attacks, told Paterno what he saw, who in turn told athletic director Tim Curley. This game of telephone went horribly wrong, as the incident remained unreported to the police.

In addition to PSU’s investigation, the NCAA is also searching for answers they expect by Dec. 16. The NCAA is particularly concerned for the outcome of the inquiry and what that will imply for the value of higher education that is supposed to be the basis of college athletic programs. Instead, athletics have precedence over academics.

This scandal has pointed out fatal flaws in the corrupt athletic

2 011

2 012

Artwork by Lauren Friedly

Opinion Editor Since changing from a children’s museum to a restaurant and video arcade, the senior after-prom party has become much more age-appropriate.

For the 2011 prom after-party, the seniors went to Port Discovery in Baltimore. The general consensus received from prom attendees was that it was alright, but that it grew really boring really fast.

Basically, it was what they

Martha’s Musings

BY MARTHA SCHICK

system, such as the gaping holes in policies, protocol, and ethics .

It is not just the scandal itself that is horrifying, but the coverup as well. PSU’s refusal to own up to the situation exacerbated it instead of eliminating it.

The university’s skewed priorities caused them to value the football program’s reputation more than the safety and care for the young victims.

The NCAA claims to be looking for other “lurking allegations,” according to CNN. In other words, the crumbs swept under the sink won’t be hidden for much longer. Hopefully they uphold their promise of taking a closer look at athletic programs and no longer turn a blind eye to crime for the sake of a game.

Dave and Buster’s after-party looks promising

Amanda Graziano

13

OPINION

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

made of it.

This year, prom will be held at the Baltimore Aquarium and the after-party has been scheduled to be at Dave and Buster’s in Hanover, Maryland. Dave and Buster’s is quite a change from Port Discovery.

For anyone who doesn’t know what Dave and Buster’s is, it’s a restaurant and arcade with a sports bar feel. It’s been compared to the ESPN Zone. This is fitting because before the prom after-party got moved to Port Discovery, it was at the ESPN Zone,

which was located in (downtown) Baltimore, Maryland.

The ESPN Zone was a beloved after-prom spot for students, but it was unfortunately closed in 2010.

Dave and Buster’s has a number of different fun activities for everyone. It has billiards and shuffleboard, and an array of different video games. The video game section of Dave and Busters includes Carismo and Daytona USA (Nascar simulators), Dance Dance Revolution, Nothing But Net (basketball hoops), Super Trivia (a trivia game for six com-

petitors with several different categories), Typhoon (a rollercoaster simulator), and more.

If students are going to be stuck in one place until the early hours of the morning, the place definitey needs to be fully stocked with tons of caffeine and entertainment to keep students awake.

Picking a place where the prom’s after party will be held is a very tricky choice. There will always be the kids that will have a miserable time no matter where it’s located because they would rather celebrate after-prom at their friend’s house. The school just needs to focus on picking a place with a number of different activities to please the majority of the class.

Dave and Buster’s could be a viable option. Some kids who only want to take a nap can sit in the restaurant area while the kids who want to play games and make their night enjoyable can go and play in the arcade.

This is the last real chance for the class of 2012 to gather together and have fun. Everyone gets really excited about prom, but let’s change things.

Let’s get excited about the whole slew of events that is in store on prom night.

As a non-Catholic who had not attended Mass before I came to JC, my best experience by far has been the Mass on junior retreat.

One of the main factors of Mass being so enjoyable was the environment. We sat in comfortable chairs in a small room, and the intimate feeling helped keep my attention.

While I can’t give exact details because of the confidentiality promise that we made on retreat, the O’Dwyer Retreat House was beautiful and had a sense of holiness, especially in the chapel.

This contrasts sharply with the gym, the only space big enough to accommodate the entire student body, as well as faculty, staff, and family members that come to school Masses.

On retreat, one of the best parts that I saw was that the students all around me were participating and treating the Mass with respect. The fact that there were only about 50 people at the mass and that I knew them all made it more personal. The small number of peers ensured that people sang out and took part in the mass unashamedly.

Part of the reverent attitude that everybody adopted on retreat was the fact that we had been immersed in spiritual activities since we got to the retreat house. We had, as Mrs. Murphy-Dohn said, “retreated” from all of the stress of schoolwork, and we didn’t have to worry about anything outside of the retreat house.

Everybody was relaxed, and that made it okay to take part and enjoy Mass fully, without distractions.

There won’t ever be a way to have a purely retreat-like experience during the school day, which is a good thing, because that’s what makes retreat special.

However, some of the best things about retreat might be able to be duplicated to improve our school Mass.

The comfort of the retreat house might be able to inspire a new worship space in the Master Plan. Instead of the cold, uncomfortable, and impersonal gym, we could have a place that exemplifies the holiness of Mass and allows people to focus on the service.

Retreat in general was a wonderful way to get away from all of my stress and get to know my fellow juniors. Even though a lot of my friends were on my retreat, I found that I talked to a lot of people that I ordinarily wouldn’t approach and found out a lot about them. The Mass simply embodied the fantastic experience that I had.

14

SPORTS

New coach takes over baseball team Emily Clarke

Managing Editor The varsity baseball team is swinging into unknown territory this year as new head coach Steve Teter takes over.

Teter will replace former head coach, Joe Stetka, who resigned at the end of the 2011 season.

“I approached Coach Dukes directly about the position. I had heard that Coach Stetka was leaving so I was proactive in trying to join the program,” Teter said.

Teter moved up to the next level by taking this coaching job.

“I have been successful coaching in Baltimore and Harford County and wanted to try to succeed in the MIAA,” Teter said.

Teter has coached at the varsity level for the past 10 years. He last worked as an assistant coach for four years at Fallston High School. Before that, he coached at Franklin High School in Reisterstown, MD. Teter also played one year of college baseball for Towson University.

“I have always had a love of baseball and played my entire life before entering into coaching. I have since found out that I love coaching even more than playing,” Teter said.

In addition to coaching, Teter teaches American Government and AP Psychology at Dundalk High School in Baltimore.

Teter’s goals for the season are to “work hard, hustle, and create an expectation of greatness.”

“I feel that if we work hard every day, then winning will be the natural completion of the cycle.

We will feel that we deserve to win. I want to make sure we are creating the best student athletes that we can and get everyone more prepared for the next step in life, no matter what direction they choose,” Teter said.

“I really like him [Teter], he’s a good guy. He makes us work a lot harder, and he’ll get us in better shape for the season,” junior JC Clayton said.

Teter foresees challenges in the upcoming season, but he’s not discouraged. “Going through the schedule for the first time will be a challenge, but I am looking forward to building a program, not just a team. Laying the foundation of expectations and goals for the long-term will be essential this year,” Teter said.

“I think the new coach is a great guy and is already pushing our team in fall workouts. He has big shoes to fill but is capable of doing it,” senior TJ Centi said.

In his first season, Teter is looking forward to getting to know the players and building on the program.

“It’s always challenging when you start at a new school. Learning how things work and who your players are takes time. I am sure there will be some bumps in the road, but as long as our goals and work ethic are unchanging, then we will be okay,” Teter said.

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

Four seniors sign National Letters of Intent Miranda Ripken Sports Editor

Pens in hand, four lacrosse athletes sign their commitment to colleges in which they choose to further their college career. These

Q

prospective student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent (NLI) are seniors Leah Pace, Erica Bodt, Luke Steibe, and Carlee Ries.

The signing period for lacrosse was between Nov. 9 and Nov. 16.

According to the NCAA official website, a NLI is a binding agreement between a prospective student-athlete and a NLI member institution.

The student must attend the school full-time for one academic

year, for the school to provide athletic financial aid for that year.

The NLI does not last for all four years. The college chooses after one year whether or not they want to renew the student-athlete’s scholarship.

Why did you choose your college?

Leah Pace

Erica Bodt

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“I like the fact that it’s

“I love the city and the nursing program is amazing . . . I felt like I belonged.”

Syracuse University

Carlee Ries

in North Carolina and it’s a D1 school.”

High Point University

Luke Steibe

A

“My club coaches went there and when I visited, it felt like home.”

Drexel University

A

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15

SPORTS

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

Transfers travel from overseas to basketball court basketball players. People get in touch with us that have kids in their countries, or they know of kids through contacts with other coaches that are looking for opportunities for their kids to come to the U.S. and play and go to school. We probably see 10 to 20 requests a year,” Dukes said.

According to Dukes, typically one or two student-athletes are accepted per year.

“It’s [admission process] no different than any other student, and no different from the other foreign students coming into JC. They have to meet the academic requirements. They’re interviewed and tested by the Admissions office, and a recommendation is made to the principal on whether they should be accepted or not,” Dukes said.

The major components of acceptances are proficiency in English, affordability for the student, and availability of a host family, according to Dukes.

Foreign student-athletes have been present for seven years, since the arrival of Jakub Kusmieruk, class of ’08, from Poland.

Other current student-athletes include juniors Mike Owona and Christian Owona, and their brother, sophomore Lionel Owona.

The brothers came during their freshman year from Cameroon, and already have plans to continue in college.

“There is no difference [between players] on the court. We all speak the same language: bas-

Grace Kim

Online Chief

Changing schools, much less countries, can transform one’s life.

Senior Mihael Maric from Croatia arrived at JC for his senior year, and he was just one of multiple foreign student-athletes who’ve attended JC. “One of my coaches in Croatia told me about JC. He went to high school in Maryland, and he told me a lot of good things about JC,” Maric said.

“I have some friends who came here and they told me that it is possible to go to school and play basketball, which is what I want to do. They also told me that life is beautiful here, and I wanted to experience it.”

Although it’s Maric’s first year on the men’s varsity basketball team, he became team captain.

“I didn’t expect to be team captain, but when coach [Tony Martin] told me, I was happy and proud. It is challenging to be a strong leader and good role model. It is easy to be a leader with this group, because everyone wants to work hard and do their best,” Maric said.

Maric doesn’t know whether he will be attending college in America or in Croatia.

As far as recruiting players from foreign countries, according to Athletic Director Larry Dukes, JC doesn’t enlist the athletes.

“We really don’t recruit the

Patriots Month of the

TJ Centi

20 more seconds, senior TJ Centi is sure he can do this. 15 more seconds, and Centi is doubting what he just thought 5 seconds ago. 10 seconds later, Centi hear people yelling and screaming hisname. The countdown begins: three, two, one. The ref blows his whistle, Centi has made his 30 second pin.

Centi started wrestling his sophomore year, but in just three years, he has made the varsity

team. He is currently the varsity captain.

The reason Centi began wrestling was because of the people on the team. “I wanted to be on the team because the coach is funny and I get along well with a lot of the guys on the team now and in the past,” Centi said.

Centi likes that wrestling is an individual sport, unlike baseball, the other sport he participates in.

“I like the challenge of winning by myself and having no one to blame if I do lose,” Centi said.

Even though Centi is not planning on wrestling in college, he still has formed great memories here.

“I have good memories of last year of joking with all the guys on the team in bleachers at tournaments when we are there all day,” Centi said.

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Senior Mihael Maric prepares to pass the ball to a teammate while trying to keep from it getting to the hands of a player on St. Maria Goretti. Maric is one of several international students who have joined the basketball team in recent years. ketball. Playing basketball here helps [us] get better, to learn a new thing every day, and to learn how to play the game,” Christian said.

After college, Christian wants to become a specialized surgeon and play at basketball at a high level.

His twin, Mike, wants to continue to play basketball after college.

“The way people play basketball is totally different from my country and it [the game] goes faster [here]. I want to continue to play basketball because I like it and want to get a scholarship in

it,” Lionel said.

“Most of the kids that I’m familiar with rarely go back to their home country. I cannot remember one that did not go to college and get a degree. Mihael might go back. I think that his life and his homeland are pretty good, but most stay here,” Dukes said.

“I can’t stop thinking about my family and friends back home [though], I miss them a lot. I keep contact with my family and friends via social networks such as Facebook and Skype,” Christian said.

Additional reporting by Imani Love

Patriots of the Month highlights athletes who deserve recognition for contributions in their chosen sports.

They are selected by the Sports Editors

Mackenzie Reese

Junior Mackenzie Reese’s adrenaline was pumping. Her heart was racing. There were five seconds left in the 2011 IAAM ‘B’ championship game, and the women’s varsity basketball team was down by one point after coming back from a 16 point deficit.

One more basket and they would win the championship.

Ultimately, the team came up short and lost to Notre Dame Preparatory School. Reese, a point

guard, recalls the game as the greatest achievement in her basketball career, a moment when her team worked together for a common goal.

According to Reese, a competitor in the sport for eight years, her favorite aspect of the game is the team itself. “We all are close and we’re always there for each other no matter what,” Reese said.

Although she stopped playing club basketball her sophomore year, Reese believes that basketball is a big commitment. “I honestly think any sport is a huge commitment, but it is a commitment I chose because I love the sport,” she said.

Looking into the future, Reese doesn’t think that she will play basketball in college, but would love to continue to play even if it’s not at a college level.

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Wintertime is arguably the busiest time of the year. The winter musical and concert are in full swing, seniors have application deadlines, and the entire student body must begin to prepare for midterm exams. Winter sports seasons have also begun.

Following an incredible, championship-winning season last year, the men’s varsity basketball team is continuing their momentum with a 7-0 record. In their 25-point win over Annapolis Area Christian School on Dec. 3, four Patriots scored over 10 points. Senior Jarred Jones had two dunks, 17 points, and six rebounds. The team shot 53 percent from the floor and had 18 steals.

The women’s varsity basketball team is starting their season anew after a three-point loss in the championship game against Notre Dame Prep last season. Several tough scrimmages against ‘A’ Conference teams have prepared the team to take on other non-conference teams such as Polytechnic Institute.

With a small turnout for the women’s indoor soccer team roster, other players had to be recruited, some having not played for several years. The team is doing relatively well, with a current 1-1-1 record. The team will have eight regular scheduled games, the next game happening on Jan. 4.

In the first track meets of the season, both the women’s and men’s teams placed in the top five. The men placed fifth and the women placed second, behind McDonogh High School.

Senior Ben Pickett placed first in the two mile run with a time of 10:06.0, junior Austin Markley placed first in the pole vault with a height of 10’ 6”, tying the school record and beating the next highest score by a foot. Junior Ally Kozel and senior Holly Cook placed second in the 55 meter sprint and half mile run, respectively. In the most recent track meet, the women won their first ever invitational.

The men’s swimming team had a rocky start, the team did not have enough members to compete, but after a few weeks of stagnant participation, coach Larry Dukes decided to contend with the numbers they have.

The women’s swimming team has achieved a 2-0 conference record, with blowouts againstCatholic High and the Institute of Notre Dame.

The wrestling team started out well, with their first win against The Boy’s Latin School, 53-19.

They are scheduled to represent JC in tournaments in Maryland and Pennsylvania including the Mule Classic and Boiling Springs Holiday Tournament.

Although winter appears to be the busiest time of the year for most students, that hasn’t stopped them from competing to their highest potential.

16

SPORTS

Ashley Moxley Photo Editor

While most riders have several months to build a relationship with their horses, JC riders only have a few precious seconds to adjust to the feel of the horse before they compete.

As part of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), the equestrian team rides differently from most high school teams. In other horse competitions, the riders are able to bring their own horses.

Bring their own horses makes it easier for the riders because they know their horses and what they are capable of.

However, JC riders cannot bring their own horses and are assigned mounts randomly. They receive only 30 seconds, or less, to familiarize themselves with the horses they are to perform with.

Riders are judged on jumping over fences and their ability to control their horses while judges watch them perform a trot, canter, and gallop.

As captains of the 2011-2012

Volume 47 Issue 3 December 2011

equestrian team, seniors Megan Foard and Kelsey LeBuhn unite the team for meetings before home shows, and help the novice riders prepare for competition.

“Being a team captain is great because it allows me to share knowledge with the underclassmen. Together we all make a great team and are able to show our leadership skills,” LeBuhn said.

“Horseback riding is my life.

It’s not just the riding that is exhilarating, but the atmosphere of the people, the places you go, and getting to know the horses and being involved with nature. I love everything about riding and want to do it the rest of my life,” Foard said.

Along with Foard and LeBuhn, the other top riders are seniors Heather Scampton and Adrienne Clark.

Along with the riders, coach Karen Zinkhan also plays an integral role in the success of the team. Zinkhan examines the horses before the riders compete so that she can give them advice on how to best handle their horses.

Saddle Up

The equestrian team faces new obstacles at every show show by competing on unfamiliar horses.

Photos by Ashley Moxley

Top: Senior Adrienne Clark and her horse jump over the fence. Clark is one of the top riders along with seniors Megan Foard, Kelsey LeBuhn, and Heather Scampton.

Horse care 101

Step 1

The first step to grooming a horse during the winter is to take off the blanket. Blankets help keep the horse warm during the cold months. Not all horses need them, but typically, putting them on a horse is a good thing to do.

The blankets are fastened around their chest, under their stomach, and behind their tail.

Step 2

Even when wearing a blanket, horses can get mud stuck to their coats. This metal scraper has little, sharp edges to help get the mud off of their coat. This brush can only be used on a horse’s body, neck, and the tops of their legs. This brush is too harsh for their face and lower legs.

Above: Scampton participates in the fences part of the show.

Left: Foard and Susan LeBuhn, the mother of Kelsey, work one of the tables at the equestrian Christmas Bazaar. This was one of the biggest fundraisers to pay for the competitions.

Step 3

After removing most of the mud, a groomer will start to curry. During the summer, when horses do not wear blankets and have lighter coats, this is the first step. This brush makes the dirt underneath their coat appear so that it can be brushed away later.

This also helps a horse shed.

Step 4

After the currying is complete, a groomer must brush away the excess dirt and hair. There are three types of brushes: hard, soft, and body. When using a brush, it has to go in the direction that the hair grows or brushing will make the horse uncomfortable.

Step 5

The final and most important step of all is to pick out the horse’s hooves. To do this, the groom uses a hoof pick. The hook removes dirt and occassional rocks. If a horse has a rock in its hoof that is not removed, it could go lame, making the horse unable to be ridden.