The Patriot February 2016, Issue 3, Vol 51

2.17.16

Issue 3

Volume 51

www.jcpatriot.com

Identity Crisis Beyond the labels that categorize us, how do we see ourselves?

We are:

Entrepreneurs 3 Minorities 13

Identity Crisis Dreamers 8-9

Athletes 14

Environmentalists 5

2 NEWS

February 2016

Principal Ball announces resignation Kishan Patel Online Chief In an email sent to the family and friends of JC, President Richard O’Hara announced that Principal Madelyn Ball will be resigning at the end of the year.

“This was a family-based decision,” Ball said. “I always told teachers when their spouse or children were sick to keep their priorities straight, and it was time for me to listen to my own advice: God first, family second, and job third.”

Ball, a Baltimore city native, wanted to move near her two daughters and grandchildren who live in Baltimore and Montgomery counties.

This year has been especially difficult for Ball due to challenges throughout the year. In addition, the 60-70 hour work weeks became too much. However, she does not plan to retire and wants to pursue a principal position in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

According to O’Hara’s email, the school will make appropriate arrangements to thank Principal Ball for her service.

O’Hara was not available for comment, but according to his email the school will proceed to transition into new leadership,

and O’Hara plans to give regular updates and involve members of the community in the search.

Five years ago, when Ball came in to interview, the process was rigorous, and she expects the interview process to be the same for the next principal as well.

In her interview process, she spent a day and a half interviewing with people from all different groups at JC, including the entire faculty and members of the student body.

Ball’s career originally started in the public school system. She went on to work at Our Lady of Good Counsel high school as the assistant principal for 20 years.

This tenure ended when her mother fell ill and Ball decided tomoved to Catholic High to be closer to her. She was the principal at Catholic High for a year before coming to JC. “I really missed the co-ed school, and I knew the position at JC was open, so I wrote a letter before the position was even publicized,” Ball said.

Ball believes that she must be fully devoted to the school’s mission or it would be hard for her to be part of the school. “Mrs. Ball is someone who has a deep faith, and she has always treated me with kindness and respect, and

Patriot File Photo

After working as principal for five years, Ball announced her resignation on Feb. 10. She plans on moving to Baltimore where she can live closer to her family and continue to work as a principal at a Catholic school in Baltimore or an archdiocese. that, coupled with a very good sense of humor, has made working with her enjoyable,” Vice Principal of Academics Gary Scholl said.

Now, feeling distant from her family, Ball is again moving. She has been contemplating the move

for the majority of the year. “I didn’t have the same passion as I had before” Ball said.

However, Ball will miss being in the hallways, seeing the students working, and all the advancements the school is making in the FLEX program and the

Mission and Ministry office.

“I’ll miss seeing the students the most, all the tremendous work the students do, how involved they are, and [how] supportive [they are] of the school,” Ball said. For continuing coverage, see jcpatriot.com.

Early voting sets tone for presidential election Grace Mottley News Editor

On Feb. 9, the second presidential primary concluded in New Hampshire.

Presidential candidate Donald Trump won the republican vote, and Vt. Sen. Bernie Sanders won the democratic vote.

According to CNN, presidential candidate John Kasich (R)’s second place win in the republican polls was a surprise.

11 Republicans have

4

dropped out of the race Democrats have dropped out of the race

The race to the White House began with the Iowa caucus on Feb. 1. According to CNN, it sets the tone for the rest of the presidential election. “[Winning the Iowa caucus] can help establish a candidate’s viability. Winning Iowa doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be the nominee, but it’s better to win Iowa than lose Iowa,” social studies teacher Rodney Johnson said.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) and Texas Sen.

Ted Cruz (R) won the Iowa caucus for their respective parties.

Each district receives a certain number of delegates, and whoever wins each district gets the total number of delegates.

Controversy surrounds the Iowa caucus. According to CNN, six different county delegate votes were decided by a coin toss.

As a result of these coin tosses, Clinton won a total of five state delegates and Sanders won one.

Contention has spread to other side of the aisle as well. Presidential candidate Donald Trump (R) has accused Cruz of stealing the Iowa caucus by telling voters that neurosurgeon Ben Carson (R) was dropping his presidential bid.

However, Carson returned to Florida instead of campaigning in New Hampshire. On his official campaign website, Carson issued a release calling these rumors “lies and dirty tricks.” He is not withdrawing his candidacy.

However, after the caucus, many candidates realized they were not viable enough to continue running. According to CNN, after the caucus on Feb. 1, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee dropped out of the race.

On Feb. 3, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and former Pennsylvania

Gov. Rick Santorum also pulled out of the race. After the New Hampshire primary, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former CEO of Hewlett-Packard Carly Fiorina dropped out of the race as well.

The remaining candidates went to New Hampshire for the second primary contest, which took place on Feb. 9. Sanders and (R) won for their respective parties.

Understanding the caucus

state holds a primary election or caucus where registered citizens select candidates to receive the presidential nominations from the respective parties.

Iowa holds a caucus, which is different than regular primary elections. On caucus night, all registered voters arrive at the location by 7 p.m. If voters arrive at 7:01, they are not allowed to participate.

Citizens vote at a variety of locations ranging from churches to restaurants. There may be multiple caucus locations in a precinct, or two precincts may caucus at the same location. A precinct is a small area of voters that may be comprised of a county or two counties, depending on population. There are 1,683 precincts in Iowa for the 99 counties.

Student political affiliation breakdown

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks in Ankeny, Iowa, on Monday, Feb. 1, 2016. Clinton narrowly defeated Sen. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in Monday’s Democratic Iowa caucus (AftonbladetIBL/Zuma Press/ TNS). Clinton’s campaign was criticized for receiving “coin flip” votes.

Once voters arrive, Republicans and Democrats are separated. Representatives for each candidate will speak to their respective party’s voters and urge caucus-goers to vote for their specific candidate.

After hearing these speeches, Republicans participate in a secret ballot where the votes are counted. The Republican candidate that receives the most overall votes wins the state.

Democrats use a different system, however. Once Democrats hear speeches from these representatives, they divide themselves into groups based on which candidate they support. For example, voters split into three groups: a According to a survey conducted group that supported Clinton,

by The Patriot, the student body’s a group that supported Sandand a group that supported political affiliations breaks down to: ers, O’Malley.

The number of people in 38.28% Republican each group are tallied, and 32.81% Independent if a candidate does not have support from at least fifteen 14.84 % Unsure percent of a precinct, then that 10.94% Democratic candidate is deemed “unvi-

able,” and his or her supporters have to join another in order for their vote to be counted.

After the unviable candidates are weeded out, the number of voters in each group is tallied and votes are given to a the candidate.

Once a Democratic candidate wins a precinct, they receive an allotted number of state delegate votes. This number is based off of the number of Democratic voters in previous recent elections. The winner of the state in each party then recieve an allotted number of delegate votes.

The candidate who receives the most delegate votes receives their party’s nomination. According to ABC News, the Democrat candidate who wins Iowa wins 44 delegate votes, while the Republican candidate receives 30.

To win the Democratic nomination, a candidate must receive 2,382 delegate votes, and to win the Republican nomination a candidate must receive 1,237 delegate votes. This makes Iowa a small piece of a huge election.

NEWS 3

February 2016

Trading Spaces FLEX Program All of room 304 will be used for the FLEX program.

The CAD Lab Computers from room 304 will be moved into the darkroom.

Photo by Kelly Foulk

FLEX Program Director Larry Dukes (back) answers seniors Nick Turnbull, Adam Mrowiec and Dean LaPonzina’s questions about their venture concept, a tire that can function while punctured. Entrepreneurial Studies is a part of the new FLEX program, which is designed to prepare students for a career in business.

FLEX program expands Adriana Guidi and Kelly Foulk Entertainment Editor and News Editor Peeking into room 304, you will see a brand new wall dividing the room into two sections, room 304A and room 304B. To those in the FLEX program, this wall is just one step in the long process of expansion.

FLEX stands for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurial Exploration. FLEX is the newest academic program offered.

“It gives students that are interested in business a good opportunity to see kind of what it’s all about,” FLEX Program Director Larry Dukes said.

There are currently three FLEX courses offered to students: Entrepreneurial Studies, Economcis, and Financial Literacy. Dukes hopes to continue expanding the FLEX program by offering a Marketing elective in coming years along with Business Law. Room 304B is already being used by FLEX students this semester, but the other half of the room,

304A, still houses a computer lab used for Computer Aided Design classes.

According to Principal Madelyn Ball, next year the CAD lab will be moved to the current photography lab and darkroom. The darkroom won’t be needed next year due to the removal of the photography

“[FLEX classes are] the most practical thing you’re going to do in high school and college.”

FLEX Program Director Larry Dukes

elective.

“The plan is [for room 304 to be a place for] the Entrepreneurial Studies classes to start developing their projects and prototypes. It will just be a working classroom to really spread out a little bit and have some room to work on their projects,” Dukes said.

The students are currently working on 13 different projects and will soon begin developing prototypes.

According to Director of Facili-

ties Stewart Walker, 304B will be used as a lecture and conference area for the class.

“The room will also be able to be utilized by any other group. So if there’s not a class in there or after school, it can be just a general meeting space. [It can be used] if there’s a department meeting or an administration meeting,” Walker said.

Eventually, Dukes hopes to open the incubator classroom up not only to entrepreneurial studies students, but also to anyone who wants to work on developing a business idea.

“75 percent of students will end up working in a business. Every one of the people in the class has a parent who works in a small business. Since that’s where we’re headed and what we do best, this is the most practical thing you’re going to do in high school and college,” Dukes said.

According to Dukes, most colleges already have FLEX spaces, so it’s only natural that JC follows suit. “This is a great opportunity.

I think we’ll be the first school in Maryland at the high school level [with a FLEX space],” Dukes said.

The Darkroom The photography darkroom will be shut down over the summer.

Student Innovators Seniors in Entrepreneurial Studies are developing 13 business ideas, formally known as venture concepts, for competition in the Diamond Challenge for Young Entrepreneurs. Here are a few highlights:

The Crabby Truck Innovators:

Evan Moore & Preston Thomson Concept:

A food truck serving Maryland Seafood as its primary selection for lunch and dinner. Truck will be deployed throughout the State at events and tournaments.

Sock Compartment Bag Innovators:

Parker Day, Michael Imbierowicz & Wilson Pais Concept:

A mesh bag for the washer and dryer with compartments to put two socks in so the pairs don’t get switched. The rest of the bag will be an open mesh bag.

4 COMMUNITY

February 2016

HIDDEN TREASURE

X

for those willing to find it...

Claire Grunewald and Pia Scotto Print Chief and Community Editor High school students live busy lives, and time is often considered a gift. With school, sports, clubs, and trying to squeeze in a social life, adding a job into the mix can seem impossible.

Senior Kristen Flanigan agrees that highschoolers have little time to make money. “My friends complain about saving for college and how it has impacted their spending a little,” Flanigan said.

Flanigan works as a lifeguard at the Arena Club in order to save money for college and pay for her phone bill, but she admits that the choice to work

Students find creative ways to make money despite their busy schedules

makes balancing time difficult. “I think it’s hard to balance a job and school. It’s really difficult sometimes,” Flanigan said.

Junior Caleb Olsen also feels the burden of being a highschooler without money. “Sometimes I feel like I’m just broke,” he said. Olsen works as a sacristan at St. Margaret Church in Bel Air. If there isn’t enough time in your life to get an actual job, there are still ways for you to earn money. From seasonal jobs such as shoveling or being a camp counselor to spending five hours a weekend babysitting, making money is a possibility.

Here are a few ways students decide to make money in easy, different ways.

A job for every season:

Each time of year brings new job opportunities. Try out some of these low-comittment jobs that pay fairly good wages.

Landscaping: $10/hour Another good option to make money is land-

scaping. You could try free-lance work for neighbors, or work for a company like junior Franco Caltabiano, who works for Greenscapes. “I mulch, lay down sod, plant plants, make patios, put hay down, set up irrigation, and work on decks,” Caltabiano said.

Camp Counseling: $12/hour

Senior Preston Thomson is a camp counselor at Woodbury Crossing in Parkton, Maryland. It is a day camp from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and pays $12 per hour. According to Thomson, the camp runs for six weeks, but hours and weeks are flexible.

Shoveling Snow: $50/driveway

Senior Alex Nyce shoveled snow during the recent blizzard for approximately $50 for a driveway. Fellow senior Austin Ross has been plowing snow for four years. During the recent blizzard, Ross plowed for 32 hours straight and made over $800.

Refereeing: $20-40/game Want an easy way to make $50 in just two hours on a Saturday morning? Referee soccer games! Freshman Shannon King started refereeing soccer games this fall for Churchville Recreation Center for $25 dollars per game.

“It was really fun and not very stressful,” King said.

After-school jobs: Babysitting: $10/hour Being a sitter is a simple way to make money, especially if you are responsible. Opportunities can range from babysitting, housesitting, or even pet-sitting. Junior Heather Lanphar spends most of her time babysitting children in her neighborhood. “I like it because it’s easy and a lot of fun,” Lanphar said.

Tutoring: $10/hour Ever thought of tutoring? Junior Kat Pelosi will ocassionally tutor her next-door neighbors for $10 per hour. “I would just go over after school and help them with their homework, especially math,” Pelosi said. Another option is being an online tutor. Sites such as WyzAnt, allow you to choose your own hourly rate and get paid through direct deposit or check.

Sell your body Do you want to use everything at your disposal to make money? How about your body? Check out these fairly easy but unusal ways to earn a little extra cash.

SELLING PLASMA: $15-50

Selling plasma is one unusual way to make money. The way it works is pretty simple: your blood is drawn, drained of the plasma, and then returned back to your system. This process takes about an hour and 15 minutes, and can be done every 28 days, but you must be at least 18 years old.

SELLING HAIR: $75-150 If you have healthy hair that you haven’t dyed, and it’s six or more inches, you can sell it to make money. You can do this at sites like The Hair Sellon, which allows the buying and selling of hair. The reward depends on length, thickness, color, and overall health.

You could recieve up to $150.

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TASTE-TESTING: $60-75 Want to make money by eating free food? If so, being a taste-tester sounds like the job for you! Big name companies hire people to taste-test in panels. Participants can get paid or rewarded in t-shirts, food, and gift cards. One company may sound familiar: McCormick in Hunt Valley, Md.

February 2016

COMMUNITY 5

Join the

green side Eco-friendly minds are implementing ideas to help make our school a more enviromentally conscious place Kishan Patel Online Chief It’s almost midnight, you’ve gone through a day of stress in school, and you really just need a nap. You fall asleep for an hour, leaving on your laptop, the light, and the HDTV playing your favorite show. We’ve all been there, but so what?

According to CNet, you’ve just wasted about 523 watts of energy.

“We only have one planet, and we are using it faster than it can take,” physics teacher Anthony Davidson said. “So far, we have no way to colonize another planet. If it runs out before we do, we’ll run out too.”

As an effort to reduce the en-

ergy waste, senior Min Kim has dedicated her senior project to finding different methods of saving energy at school. According to Kim, the key to conserving energy is finding and trying different things that might help conserve energy.

The goal of Kim’s project is to reduce the energy used at school.

“I still have to figure out ways to conserve energy and test it out, but I know there will be obstacles, and I’ll have to try different things,” Kim said.

Conserving energy is a part of becoming a more environmentally friendly school, which is Davidson’s goal. To enact on this goal, he plans to enhance the greenhouse by building hydroponic systems and helping senior

Claire Grunewald with her senior project of implementing solar panels in the school. According to Davidson, he is trying to coordinate with environmental science

“So far, we have no way to colonize another planet. If it runs out before we do, we’ll run out too.”

Physics teacher Anthony Davidson

teacher Gray Switalski to find different projects besides recycling.

Kim hopes to make a lasting impact with her project. “We cannot live without energy,” Kim said. “If we don’t use it wisely,

Making a splash

Changes proposed to reduce bottle waste Caroline Cooney In-Focus Editor Within the next year, juniors Edward Benner, Zach Miller, and Kat Pelosi plan on moving JC one step closer to becoming a green community. By raising awareness of reducing, reusing, and recycling, they aspire to minimize the school’s “ecological footprint.”

There are three parts to their mission: an interactive assembly, informational pamphlets, and selling reusable water bottles at the school store.

The idea originated as an AP English 3 project that revolved around “The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make A Difference” by Malcolm Gladwell, which explains the phenomena of trends and their effects on society.

1,500 plastic

bottles end up in the ocean every second

Information from theworldcounts.com

The object of the project was to focus on an issue and propose a solution using the techniques explored by Gladwell. “At the beginning, we didn’t really think anything was actually going to happen with it, but then we got responses and were like ‘OK, let’s actually do this’,” Pelosi said.

According to Pelosi, they have met with Principal Madelyn Ball to discuss an assembly next year to kickstart their movement.

This assembly will contain a variety of

elements such as videos, songs, and skits to promote recycling.

The pamphlet will be filled with information about recycling as well as a map pointing out where all the recycling bins are located throughout the school. According to Gladwell, having a clear map can provide a constant reminder of where to go.

According to Pelosi, reusable water bottles with the school logo branded on them will be available to purchase next year in the school store. “John Carroll wants to spend a lot of money on different facility type things, and we felt that they overlooked something simple like the water fountains,” Miller said.

The money made from the water bottles will go towards other school improvements such as upgrading the water fountains with bottle filling stations.

Although they have not decided on a specific design, they plan on finding a brand that is high quality, such as Camelbak, that will make a profit without being too expensive.

“Not only will they have these nice water bottles with the school logo [...] but it’s going to save money for students because you’re not going to be wasting 1.25 [on plastic bottles],” Miller said.

According to Pelosi, they want to create a club that they will be able to leave for other students who share the same interest.

Overall, according to Benner, their goal is to make JC a sustainable community. By promoting recycling and selling water bottles, the student body will have an incentive to participate in environmental activities.

“I think it would just make the student body a lot healthier and that would make me extremely happy,” Miller said.

we will cause many problems to our planet.”

With a similar approach to Kim, Davidson hopes to impact and improve the school in the long run. He hopes some of the financial benefits can be used to revamp the school and buy green technology.

Davidson found this interest while working in solar research.

He was inspired by the knowledge gained from classes and work experiences. Davidson hopes students will also be inspired if they are taught more and exposed to green technology as he was.

“We can use the greenhouse and the technology to teach the students and have them improve the world around them as well,” Davidson said.

Digging Deeper As a part of his senior project, Wilson Pais will be working with the town of Bel Air to build a garden for the local community. The garden, which will be at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, will provide fruit and vegetables for the homeless.

Here’s what you can do Plant an ecofriendly garden and refrain from the use of fertilizers.

For an added supplement to soil, you can add fruit scraps for more nourishing plants.

Information from wikiHow

Keep it Real

Kelly Foulk

Teaching novices, nosegrabs It’s Saturday morning, and I’m up before the sun. I grab breakfast and run out the door before the clock hits 7 a.m. Work is the one thing I try not to be late for.

I love my job with a passion.

I drive two-and-a-half hours each weekend to get to the Poconos, in Pennsylvania, where I am a children’s ski and snowboard instructor. My hours are long, and the pay is terrible, but working at the mountain is amazing. Instructors at Jack Frost Resort get a free season pass, free clinics, and free passes for friends to use.

Because I’m part time, I’ll only work about half of the ten or so hours that I’m at the mountain. I spend the rest of the time snowboarding and skiing with other instructors. We’ll teach each other tricks and just goof off by doing flat-ground 360s down double black diamonds.

Sadly, I’m only paid when I’m actually working on a lesson.

Lessons can be lots of fun, especially when people are excited and ready to learn.

On a normal day, I teach kids from ages 3 to 11. This comes with many difficulties and frustrations. Imagine teaching 15 people how to ski. Now, imagine that they’re all less than four years old and two of the kids don’t know English.

That’s an example of one particularly tough class of “wees” (3-to-5-year-old, beginner skiers). Their gloves don’t stay on, they have to go to the bathroom, and they miss mommy. Not much actual skiing is happening. We don’t even get to go down a real slope. We stay on a tiny hill at the top of the mountain near the lodge called “the Bowl.”

The best lessons are when I get to teach snowboarders. Snowboarding is notoriously difficult to learn, so many people get frustrated right off the bat. As an instructor, we have a list of tips and tricks that we can use to help the newbies. Sometimes, all someone needs is a simple little trick like pointing where they’re going and then, bam! They’ve got it.

It’s an amazing feeling to be able to transform a snowboarder who can’t go five feet without falling into one who can go down an entire slope with no problem.

I love my job because I get to teach people about my passion.

Plus, I get a free lift ticket, but mainly because it’s my passion.

6 COMMUNITY

February 2016

ARE

PSYCHICS IN YOUR

FUTURE?

Photo

by E li

z a beth

Ha rm

ison

Students visit a local pyschic and reveal their experiences and beliefs Pia Scotto and Erin McCloskey Community and Copy Editors Sophomore Paige Alban gazes around an unfamiliar room. Potion bottles, purple walls, and a crystal ball fill the room with a mysterious aura. Although she is skeptical, Alban anticipates her first psychic reading.

The psychic performs her palm and card reading along with three questions. As pieces of Alban’s future are revealed, the large group of friends she came there with, including junior Franklen Lockhart, stand witnessing the ordeal.

Psychic Tricia is a local psychic on Belair Road and discovered her psychic ability at only five years old. Her gift traces back to both her mother and father’s side of the family. Many JC students have visited Tricia lately.

According to Tricia, the right psychic can make a believer out of anyone. “A lot of psychics ask a lot of questions. I don’t ask questions. I tell you what I see,” Tricia said.

Alban had the opportunity to ask three questions of her choice at the reading: “Will I go out of state for college? What will my future job be? Will I ever get a serious disease?” To Alban’s sur-

prise, Tricia predicted she would go into the medical field, which has always been an interest to Alban. “It was strange, but I wasn’t really creeped out,” Alban said.

Tricia carried on with Alban’s reading as Lockhart watched and formed conclusions. He, too, was skeptical going in but later changed his mind. “After some of the stuff she said to the people I went with, and after she nailed really specific stuff that no one else would know, or things she couldn’t know, I was really im-

“I think it was really weird because she told me really private stuff, and it kind of made me believe.”

Junior Daphne Karas

pressed and freaked out. It was really scary, so I probably wouldn’t go back. Never again,” Lockhart said.

Junior Daphne Karas also visited Tricia. Karas went with junior Hana Patrick, who had previously been. Karas sat and watched as Tricia spread cards out across the table. “I was kind of skeptical at first, and I was pretty nervous,” Karas said.

After listening, Karas was sur-

prised by what she was told. “I think it was really weird because she told me really private stuff, and it kind of made me believe.

It’s really crazy, weird, and creepy that she knew that stuff. I’m just creeped out thinking about it now,” Karas said.

As a psychic, Tricia is used to skeptics coming into her business.

According to Tricia, she likes to tell people about their past to help her break down the wall of skepticism. “Anyone can tell you about the future, because you don’t know your future. But to make it believable, you need to know something about the person to give them confirmation,” Tricia said.

After reflecting on her experiences Alban vacillated between believing and skepticism. As Tricia closed up Alban’s reading, Tricia told Alban a few questionable things, causing her to become skeptical.

“Towards the end, I didn’t believe it because she told me three things I could never see happening,” Alban said.

Whether you take the side of a skeptic or a true believer, psychics provide you with an experience that you will never forget and one that will leave you pondering about your life, and what’s to come.

Teachers share their thoughts on those who see the future I

m lieve in the “I don’t be ientist. I’ve c s a m I’ e becaus e hair on th h it w y d seen the la ium.’ She’s d e M d n la ‘Long Is er interesting.” r Julie Bak e h c a te e c -Scien

NTIST THE SCIE

II

“I am a non-b if they w eliever because ere re make m al they would oney by -Math te betting.” acher R obert To rres

III

THE D OUBTE R elief is that “My personal b rified fortune pyschics are glo chics, what tellers. With psy n are the hits,” people focus o teacher -Social Studies n Rodney Johnso

THE SKEPTIC

Dance it out

ENTERTAINMENT 7

February 2016

Ph ot ob yC lai re Gr

Freshman Caitlin Kerrigan has been dancing ever since she was little. She estimates that she dances 18 hours a week.

un ew ald

Student dancers share their experiences and why dancing is important to them

Freshman dances to discover herself Dance Center, in Forest Hill.

and more intense. There’s more of

and just being up there. And I en-

a week.

She started dancing as a child.

“I wasn’t good at any other sport, so dance was something that I was leaning towards,” Kerrigan said.

“Usually we walk in and warm up, then we do some stuff across the floor and work on technique, maybe we will do a combination, and then we work on our dance,” she said.

Her favorite style of dance is lyrical. “Lyrical is toned down,

in a lyrical piece titled “Wolves” as well as other dances at every performance that her dance company performs in.

Through dance, Kerrigan has bonded with people who enjoy expressing themselves in similar ways. “I’ve formed lots of friendships, and it was just a good experience because you learn from others too,” Kerrigan said.

Her favorite memories have been on stage. “It feels good sharing your talent with everyone,

[is positive]. I enjoy being with everyone and the experience.”

Kerrigan’s journey has been a journey of self-discovery and self-love. “It’s definitely made me find myself and be happier. When you’re sad you can just dance it out, and it all works,” Kerrigan said.

“It’s a different way of letting things go. It changes your perspective, and you find out a lot about yourself in dance,” Kerrigan said.

Adriana Guidi and Nick She has practice on Mondays, a feeling or a scene behind it, and joy it, it’s a positive experience,” Miller Wednesdays, and Thursdays there’s more of a purpose,” Ker- Kerrigan said. “Just performing which adds up to about 18 hours rigan said. She will be performing and being on stage at competition Entertainment Editors Freshman Caitlin Kerrigan has learned a lot from dance and uses the art form as a way to discover herself and to explore her feelings. She says that dance turned her into the person she is today. “I think it defines people who struggle. It escapes a lot of feelings, and gets your mind off things,” she said.

Kerrigan is in the most advanced level at her dance studio, The Rage Box Contemporary

Non-competitive dance provides comfort Kishan Patel Online Chief

Patriot File Photo

Dancing during Senior Variety Show practice, senior Morgan Johnson does a ballet version of a dance called Jumpman. “Dancing is a fun way to lose weight, feel yourself, and express your freedom,” Johnson said.

10 a.m. on a Saturday morning, mentally drained, senior Morgan Johnson bawls her eyes out in the midst of embarrassment. Standing in front of three fellow dancers, her dance instructor forces Johnson to Fouetté turn for the first time. Fearful of judgement, Johnson wishes she never danced competitively.

“It was when I realized dancing [competitively] became an issue for my [mental] health,” Johnson said. Two years later, she quit dancing competitively due to the stress.

Johnson first learned to dance when she was two years old. Initially watching older dancers, she found a passion in the ballet, modern, and jazz styles. For 13 years, Johnson dedicated her life to dance and, eventually, competitive dancing.

“I stopped because the studio I practiced at closed down and I needed to focus on school,” Johnson said. “It was just stressful and caused anxiety.”

However, not everything about competitive dance was bad to Johnson. “I miss being in the dance world and all the costumes

and make up,” she said.

Through experiences, dancing has made a major impact on Johnson’s life. Dance taught her how to be tough and deal with stress.

Even though she quit dancing, Johnson still enjoys dancing in her room. According to Johnson, competitive dancing and having people judge her was too much for her mentally, and she couldn’t handle the anxiety.

“I love to dance, I just didn’t like being judged by other people,” Johnson said. “I don’t think dancing was for me because I don’t like other people watching me.”

Johnson loves to dance because of the chance she has to express herself. According to Johnson, dancing is a fun way to lose weight, feel yourself, and feel your freedom.

Though Johnson doesn’t plan on dancing competitively, she will continue to do freestyle. She expresses herself through random moves to songs in her bedroom on random days of the week for fun.

“It [dancing] feels very nice now, I feel better,” Johnson said.

“Dancing for fun gives me a chance to express myself in a way that’s not verbal, I love it.”

The Next Bite

Pia Scotto

Rusty Scupper put me on a ‘see-food’ diet Want a fun night dining out?

Need a place to go that has delicious food and is beautiful inside and out? Look no further.

Rusty Scupper is located in the Inner Harbor Marina in Baltimore, where you get fine dining on the water with a stellar view of the city. On the inside, it is spacious with clear windows so you can look at the ships passing by, and above you hang small, paper, cone lights, giving it a modern look.

Rusty Scupper has been open for over 30 years, and it’s obvious why. The food is great. They offer a wide variety from pasta to chicken to items on their kids menu, but being so close to the water, they obviously specialize in seafood dishes.

For people who like seafood but aren’t crazy about it, I would definitely recommend the cocktail shrimp as an appetizer because it’s refreshing, and the cocktail and horseradish mix gives the flavor an extra kick. For your entree, the crab cake sandwich is simple but tasty, and really light, so you’ll still have room for dessert (which is always a good thing).

If you are crazy about seafood, I would definitely suggest starting your meal off with some fresh oysters. You can tell they are straight from the sea, especially when eaten with cocktail sauce or horseradish mix. The Delaware Bay Oysters are worth a try because they are tasty and super salty. As an entree I would recommend the cedar plank salmon with crab. The salmon is prepared nicely and every bite or so you have a crab chunk which is delicious, and vegetables on the side.

The location of Rusty Scupper is very nice and convenient because although you’re close to the city, it still gives off a peaceful, more relaxed, and isolated vibe.

I went at night, but right before I left they told me that I should come for brunch, which they offer every Sunday. I went online and saw an insane variety of food ranging from traditional breakfast foods, a make your own omelette with crab or shrimp, mussels, Old Bay Home Fries, chocolate covered strawberries, and so much more. It all sounded so good.

While on their website, I also noticed they had a separate Valentine’s Day menu that looked amazing, so if you were thinking of taking out that special someone, I can promise you Rusty Scupper won’t disappoint.

8 IN-FOCUS

February 2016

Is this the real life, or is this just fantasy?

Open your eyes, look up to the skies, and reme

By In-Focus Editors Caroline Cooney, Lilly Stannard, and Katie Sulliva Daydreaming Occuring when the mind drifts from reality, daydreaming creates fantasies in your head while you are half asleep.

According to Psychology Today, these kind of dreams are made up of stimulus independent thoughts that cause the mind to wander.

Although daydreaming can be perceived as negative, it is actually beneficial and it can act as a source of relaxation.

According to WebMD, it can help control anxiety and phobias, and can help distract you from thinking about negative things.

Daydreamers, according to The Smithsonian, are capable of focusing on one topic while creating other scenarios in their head. In a study conducted by researchers from the University of Wisconsin and the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science, “working memory is closely tied to our tendency to think beyond our immediate surroundings at any give time.”

This wandering that occurs correlates with the brain’s ability to remember information despite distractions, hence making those who daydream better at remembering things.

Nightmares

The sleeper is disturbed by nightmares that cause them to wake up anxious and in fear of what they were dreaming about. According to MedicalDaily, not only can these be triggered by watching scary movies, but they can also be caused by poor eating habits or stressful experiences from the day.

“The nightmare is when we are thinking about difficult issues during REM and trying to sort them out,” author and professional dream analyst Lauri Quinn Loewenberg said in an interview with MedicalDaily. “We often try to ignore our difficult issues with distractions during the day, but when we are asleep and are forced to be alone in our own heads, these difficult issues will be addressed.”

Sophomore Megan Sheehan usually wakes up every two weeks overwhelmed from a nightmare. “I had just watched ‘The Conjuring’ that week, and I never watch scary movies. I had a nightmare where I was locked in a big shopping mall by myself and the ghost thing from ‘The Conjuring’ was trying to kill me,” Sheehan said. “It was so scary. I remember it so clearly after two years.”

According to sophomore Sarah Zoll, she dreams almost every night about random things. She had the exact same terrifying dream every night when she was in kindergarten. “I [would dream] that I fell asleep, and then I would

wake up in a cartoon world as a giant. Thes men would come and capture me and tie me do ropes,” Zoll said.

However, after her brother gave her a red a dreamcatcher that was covered in shells and she never had that dream again. “I’ve never thought about [dreamcatchers working], [b worked for me when I was younger, and it’s hanging in my room,” Zoll said.

Recurring Dreams

If the similar theme of being chased or stu appears multiple times, this is known as a recu ring dream. Schofield’s dream has the recurrin theme of her falling off of a cliff and breakin her back. “I was at [Taylor Swift’s] house, and vividly remember this scene: it was like a dark sky and balcony,” Schofield said. “I looked over the balcony and said person pushed me off, and I fell to my death, and I remember hitting five different rocks.”

According to Psychology Today, “recurrent dreams are assumed to reveal the presence of unresolved conflicts or stressors in an individual’s life.” These dreams can begin at a young age and can come back at any time in your life.

“When you die in your dreams, apparently, something new is about to happen in your life, but I’ve been dying in my dreams since I was three years old, so that new thing isn’t really coming,” Schofield said.

According to Schofield, most nights her dreams end with her dying and waking up only to find herself on the floor with no recollection of getting out of bed. When she dies in her dreams, she hears music and can see her body laying on the ground as if she was looking down on i “I think people just dream about what they’ Schofield said. “I’m not afraid of heights, I’m being up high. I don’t trust myself, I feel like I balance and fall off.”

Even though you may be asleep, your mi ly piecing together images to create a seque events. Whether it is a normal dream or nig thing can happen.

IN-FOCUS 9

February 2016

The world of dreams Junior Carly Schofield wakes up trembling on her floor in confusion. She’s unable to remember how or why she’s there, but all she can focus on are the events that she woke up from.

Once again, Schofield had a recurring dream that ended with her death. “[In my dreams] all my friends will get kidnapped, and the person will be like, ‘Okay, I’m going to kill you all’ and then kills me first. I don’t really knows what happens to the rest of them, but I end up dead first every single time,” Schofield said.

Nightmares, such as Schofield’s, are one of the many types of dreams that you can have. These different types can be interpreted in various ways. “[Dreams] are something that you did, kind of like a reflection on what you did [in the past],” junior Alex Marlow said.

According to DreamDictionary, Carl Jung, one of the famous psychiatrists who studied the meaning of dreams, believed that we are able to interpret our dreams ourselves.

“I dream stuff about me being in television shows sometimes,” Marlow said. Usually, he is in the television show “The Office” and is just sitting there watching it. However, each time the dream is an improv and is a new episode each time.

So, how exactly do these vivid scenarios happen each night?

According to Psychology Today, humans dream for at least two hours per night. When you are asleep, your body continuously goes through a five-stage sleep cycle. This allows your body to relax and recover from the day while your mind is at work.

Stage five, also known as rapid eye movement, or REM, lasts for about 90 minutes.

During this stage, the person’s heart rate and blood pressure increase while the eyes move back and forth under the eyelids.

The sleeper is deeply asleep and is in a state of paralysis. Researchers believe dreams occur most frequently during this stage.

According to Sleep.org, humans dream at least four to six times a night, and those dreams are important for your health and well-being. According to National Sleep Foundation, it is important that all phases of the sleep cycle are completed so that the proper “muscle repair, memory consolidation, and release of hormones regulating growth and appetite” can occur.

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10 ENTERTAINMENT

February 2016

It’s all

downhill from here Skiing and snowboarding draw students to the slopes for entertainment

vey, around 57% of the student body either skis, snowboards, or does both. “[My favorite part of snowboarding] is Carving down the mountains of Vail just going down the mountain, cruising. It’s Colo., senior Dean LaPonzina hits every just fun,” junior Alex Wroe said. big jump or boulder he can to reach that Other students do it because it enables level of adrenaline that comes with skiing. them to challenge themselves. “I like it “It’s a really fun way for me to let out [snowboarding] because it is an extreme some energy, and it’s also a really big thrill sport that involves adrenaline,” junior Lauto hit big jumps and do rails,” LaPonzina ren Christensen said. said.

Aside from the annual trip, students also LaPonzina is an experienced skier who go for a day trip with friends to local rehas been skiing since the age of three. Last sorts. According to survey results, the most year, LaPonzina made it up to a mountain popular ski resorts amongst students are: almost every weekend, and has gone as Roundtop, Liberty, and Whitetail resorts, much as possible this year Wisp Resort, Seven Springs, if the weather permits it.

“I love the feeling and Big Boulder Mountain.

Skiing and snowboard“My favorite ski resort is ing have always been clas- of speeding down Wisp Resort because it has a sic winter sports that many the mountain as lot of great options for slopes people enjoy doing while to go down,” freshman Shanthe weather is cold, and you fast as possible. I non King said. don’t need to be an expert feel unstoppable For beginners, learning can to have fun. be hard difficult. “The first JC takes an annual ski and reckless, and I time I snowboarded, I found trip to a local mountain, like that.” it hard to pick up but by the and is open to people of all end of the day I got it,” junior Freshman Madelyn Cumpston Brooke Hare said. grades and abilities. This year students went to CamIf you find skiing hard, elback Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania. maybe snowboarding is right for you, or Freshman Madelyn Cumpston went on vice versa. Sometimes, it takes practice to the trip, which was Feb. 5-7, and enjoyed figure out if one, or both, sports suits you the experience. “I enjoyed being with all best. “I tried snowboarding for a year in elmy friends skiing and going to the water ementary school, but it didn’t stick with me park. The trip was a lot of fun,” Cumpston the way skiing did,” LaPonzina said. said.

Winter can seem to go on forever, but Cumpston, like LaPonzina, skis for the there are plenty of activities to keep you octhrill. “I like to ski because I love the feel- cupied, including skiing and snowboarding. ing of speeding down the mountain as fast “You should try snowboarding or skiing as possible. I feel unstoppable and little because even though learning it can be a reckless, and I like that,” Cumpston said. little hard, it’s really fun once you get the These winter sports are popular ways to hang of it. It gives you a reason to like bespend time in the winter for many students. ing outside in the winter and you can also According to student responses from a sur- go on cool trips.” junior Claire Amato said.

Adriana Guidi Entertainment Editor

Photo courtesy Dean LaPonzina

Senior Dean LaPonzina catches air off a boulder in Vail, Colo. LaPonzina has been skiing since he was three years old, and goes out West to ski at least once a year. “Out West [in] like Colorado and Utah, I prefer to ski wood trails and the open mountain because how thick the powder out there is,” LaPonzina said.

Does JC ski or snowboard?

N ei t h

15%

Sk i

11%

Sno wb

B ot

h

oa r

31%

er

d

What do you look for in a ski resort?

44%

What’s JC’s favorite type of terrain?

73%

40% of students prefer to ski on woods trails

28%

of students prefer to go on smooth trails

of students prefer to go on terrain parks

“Nice slopes, nice lodge, and a place where you can do more than just snowboard/ski.”

“Some place to rest with a big resting area and a fireplace with hot chocolate.”

“A sweet terrain park mostly, but also lots of variety in trails.”

“I look for good snow (ice is the bane of skiing), and good food at the lodge.”

Statistices and quoes are from a survey with 178 responses conducted by The Patriot via surveymonkey.com.

February 2016

STEM

STEM prepares students for jobs Joe Kyburz Copy Editor The importance of education in STEM is now receiving more and more attention in American schools and for good reason.

While the state requires a basic level of study in humanities, further education in significant technical fields emphasized in STEM education will allow our society to progress as a whole.

An education at any school should allow a student to become articulate and wellrounded, but only a good school will give the student the environment to thrive in subjects like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The world needs America to take a more thorough approach to STEM education. The world needs a cure for cancer, for AIDS, for heart disease. The world needs action, and STEM education is a plan for action.

With Saudi Arabia and Iran taking control of the oil industry and regulating the prices, the future is bleak for conventional fossil fuels, which indicates an economic need for alternative energy for America and all UN countries. Without a focus on STEM, youth are not pushed towards becoming the world’s future researchers, who can develop the skills and interests to pursue a better tomorrow.

As the generation of Baby Boomers becomes older, they will need medical attention.

Because of this, and a declining interest in the healthcare field, Dr. Richard Cooper from the University of Pennsylvania estimates a shortage of 200,000 physicians between the years 2020 and 2025.

This is terrifying.

Encouraging studies in humanities from a young age is encouraging students a wider field of knowledge, but the job opportunities for those humanities-focused educations are much more narrow than those with expertise in STEM fields.

Thus, it is a no-brainer to encourage students toward a field of opportunity and innovation rather than one of culture.

Not only are the opportunities for STEM majors greater in number, but they are greater in quality. PayScale.com, an organization dedicated to researching and organizing the salaries of careers, puts out a list of the 15 highest paid college majors, all of which happened to be STEM majors. A STEM education sets students up for financial success.

The opportunities for jobs in the humanities pale in comparison. Mastery of complex language can provide a path to legal professions while studies in history or philosophy often lead to teaching history and philosophy.

The problem is not with the humanities themselves, it is that they are not suited towards most professional careers in America.

Humanities should be learned outside of the academic setting and should be an addition to character as opposed to an addition to resumes.

Encouraging STEM education especially for lower-class and lower-middle-class students will help tear down socioeconomic barriers because the young upper-middle-class students and upper-class students often wander into liberal arts school for a well-rounded education.

While it is clear all knowledge is important and should be pursued, our education system must realize that with the limited time we have on Earth, we must put our effort into meeting our societal needs first and foremost.

America should be pushing STEM. America needs nurses.

America needs doctors.

America needs alternative energy. America needs STEM.

PERSPECTIVES 11

Humanities create versatile students

Science technology engineering mathematics

Claire Grunewald Print Chief

Humanities. This word encompasses a broad field of disciplines and can be hard to define, but if we break it down, one word becomes clear: “human.”

The role of education is to make us into well-rounded human beings, and humanities are an integral part of that.

Without them, the “human” aspect is lost.

That is where modern society has gone awry. The current emphasis on STEM is great, but in order to create well-read, understanding, and open-minded global citizens, humanities education must be a large part of the education in America.

According to Stanford University, humanities can be described as “the study of how people process and document the human experience [using] philosophy, literature, religion, art, music, history, and language to understand and record Illustration by Yena Kim our world.” The humanties extend beyond the laboratories and classrooms, and into the interactions between people and the real-life application of these discoveries.

In the diverse society we live in today, we are bound to encounter and work with people from all walks of life.

While science and math may be considered a “universal” language that would allow us to communicate with others around the world, it doesn’t allow us to connect with them. Science and math lack the “human” aspect that creates strong bonds and fosters creativity.

Accord to Ty-

Patriot Debate

Should schools prioritize humanities or STEM?

art music history literature philosophy

humanities

Patriot Answers

ler Cowen, Holbert C. Harris chair of economics at George Mason University, in today’s high-tech economy, expertise in humanities-related subjects is increasingly vital in order to synthesize and humanize new technologies and ensure they are successful and helpful.

The humanities, according to Cowen, is perhaps why Facebook did better than Myspace. “It may have had slightly better technology, but it was more because its [cofounder] Mark Zuckerberg, who majored in psychology, understood the importance of the feed of information, rather than just having a profile,” he said.

Colleges and universities realize the value of the humanities and as a result have implemented “core” classes, or similar systems under other names, that require students to take humanities courses, no matter what their majors are.

At the University of Chicago, for example, students must complete six quarters of humanities including civilization studies, the arts, social sciences, and a foreign language.

Science has acknowledged the importance of the humanities as well. According to Science Magazine, “studying the humanities allows you to become familiar with and use the creative ideas from great minds outside of science.”

A prime example of this is Charles Darwin, who admits that his ideas in “On the Origin of Species” came from reading and understanding Thomas Malthus’s theory on population, a theory not strictly bounded within the STEM category.

Higher institutions see the importance in a humanities education. It helps us interact with others and be more wellrounded in our academic pursuits, but it also provides us with the necessary foundation for exploration and decisions in the future. A humanities education enables students to think beyond formulas and equations and into what makes us human to begin with.

Should JC emphasize humanities or STEM more?

Ryan Poholsky

Marisa DiFonso

Steven Kutcher

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

“STEM, because math and science will get you further.

[They’re] used in a lot of jobs also.”

“Humanities, because not everyone is a STEM student.”

“STEM, because the life skills from those classes are more important in life.”

Caroline Angert

Senior

“STEM, because the technology field is growing.”

Abbey Swift

Faculty

“I think that both are important because you use a little bit of every subject in your day-to-day life.”

12 PERSPECTIVES

February 2016

Bolton’s Bias Will Bolton

Early birds are anomalies

Photo by Mitch Hopkins

The current honor code is too weak to stop the trend of cheating. In order to keep JC more honest, a new, tougher honor code should be adopted.

Current honor code is too lenient to stop cheating With answers scribbled on his palms, a student furtively looks over his shoulder to double check that his teacher won’t catch him cheating. His classmates realize that he’s violating the honor code, but they ignore his blatant cheating and keep taking their tests.

For many students, this is a familiar scene, whether they are the student cheating or the classmate that ignores the chearting. Honor code violations are common at JC, and the student body needs to hold itself accountable to stop cheating.

This requires more than an individual effort on behalf of the students who care about being honest. Cheating is hard to deal with because it is taken so lightly in many ways. Minor infractions such as copying five-point homeworks pave the way for copying on quizzes and then, in some cases, to copying test and exam answers.

Although the administration has already made it clear that cheating will not be tolerated, and it is punished severely, the culture of dishonesty common in so many high schools and colleges still exists. The problem is that

The Patriot Volume 51, Issue 3, February 2016

Print Chief Claire Grunewald Online Chief Kishan Patel Social Media Manager Alex Rasmussen News Editors Kelly Foulk Grace Mottley

the intense pressure of competing often shape the ways in which against so many future college people act. applicants leaves students feeling The other aspect of this honor understandably desperate. code is that it is absolute. Because In order to combat such an in- of the high level of trust, students grained habit, a massive culture must be held to an equally high shift is necessary. This shift could level of accountability. Any inbe brought on by a much more fraction would result in immedistrict honor code, which displays ate expulsion with no questions trust in student asked. JC needs to character, and This shift could be make it clear to evvastly strengtheryone in the comens the punish- brought on by a munity that cheatment for infrac- much more strict ing or any other tions. Policies form of dishonesty allowing for honor code, which is blatantly unactake home tests desplays trust in ceptable. and unproctored This policy tests would al- student character. would also punlow class time ish those students to be totally devoted towards les- who witnessed cheating but did sons and review. It would also not report it. By protecting disdemonstrate a trust for students, honesty, they have perpetrated it which, in turn, demands respect and should be punished as well, back. although not as severely.

Such honor codes are uncomObviously, instituting a stricter mon, although they do exist at honor code will not be an easy colleges such as Washington and change and cannot be done all at Lee and the University of Virgin- once. The new honor code should ia. By placing trust in students as be phased in slowly. By slowly opposed to monitoring them, the instituting such a large change, assumption is that they will be dishonest students can be given honest. Although that may sound a new chance to stand up to the naive, expectations matter and lofty expectations with which

Community Editors Azanae Barrow Pia Scotto Entertainment Editors Adriana Guidi Nick Miller In-Focus Editors Caroline Cooney Lilly Stannard Katie Sullivan

Perspectives Editor Will Bolton

Artists Yena Kim Cara Wolfarth

Sports Editors Mike Moxley Grant Sharretts

Multimedia Editors Kevin Blandeburgo Katherine Grimm Elizabeth Harmison Mitchell Hopkins

Copy Editors Joe Kyburz Erin McCloskey Daniel Robinson

Moderators Mark Ionescu Nick Attanasio

they are presented.

Another aspect of this code is that it should be created by students. If students are able to create one themselves, it will allow them to be more involved in making the school a place that fits their needs.

Giving input will make the students want to remain loyal to something that they created. Instituting their own rules invokes a sense of moral responsibility to follow and holds their fellow peers accountable.

Not only is a student-made honor code a benefit to the students, it is also a benefit to the administration. They will know what the students find important and value, providing a foundation for administration to build upon.

Following the honor code creates a culture of integrity. It teaches students the lesson that their word means something and that they need to be honest to succeed in life.

The honor code must be respected because a school full of honest students creates an environment where students can take pride in their work and trust that others are giving equal effort.

The John Carroll School 703 Churchville Road Bel Air, MD 21014 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.

A copy of each print issue is distributed to each of the 700 students and 110 faculty and staff members. Some of the remainder are sent out to exchanging schools with a return address. The remaining copies are shared

in the Main Office, Library, Admissions Office, Office of Institutional Advancement, given out when needed, or archived. For more information, please visit jcpatriot.com/about.

The Patriot’s byline policy is available at jcpatriot.com.

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.

It goes without saying that the dull ache of sleep deprivation is an absolutely draining feeling.

It saps you of energy, motivation, and the brain power to use either of them. During numerous first mod math, science, history and English classes throughout high school, I have simply begun dreaming of my pillow, in some cases quite literally because I have fallen back asleep.

Everyone knows that to function, people need sleep. For high schoolers, that means around nine hours, according to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Unfortunately, highschoolers are often too busy to get enough sleep.

The problem is that there is no obvious solution to an issue which faces a wide variety of kids for an even wider variety of supposed reasons. Trying to get every high schooler to bed earlier is akin to trying to get every one up earlier. It’s simply not an option, as lots of parents can attest.

Luckily, the medical field has some answers. In an article by NBC, the American Academy of Pediatrics urged schools to move back start times to 8:30 a.m. or later because, “there is a natural delay in fall-asleep time and wake time. So that the average teenager can’t fall asleep much before 11 o’clock.”

It turns out that high schoolers haven’t just been watching too much Netflix, we are programmed to stay up later. Now that may seem like a small issue, but let’s put it this way: if we could do something to help cure obesity and depression while protecting kids from car accidents, why wouldn’t we?

The answer is that we would, if the problem was understood to be as severe as it is. By moving school start time back just a half hour we could do just that, according to the AAP. A later start time does result in a later end time, but considering a large portion of students can drive, and that there is a huge carpool system in addition to the bus service, the change could be accomplished quite smoothly.

Practices and rehearsals would go later, but weighing the overall benefits in mood and energy, parents might actually enjoy dinner conversations, even if they are pushed back.

Considering the benefits for the health of students, this argument practically writes itself. The only question I can think of is if this can be accomplished before graduation so I can enjoy the benefits.

February 2016

Minorities feel misplaced

PERSPECTIVES 13

Editor reflects on her encounters with racial injustices and inequality Azanae Barrow Community Editor

If you don’t know me or haven’t met me, I happen to be black. It’s not a bad thing, but I am a minority, and I quickly realized that comes with undesired and unexplainable consequences.

The consequences started from a young age: the stares, the pulling of my hair just to make sure it was “natural,” or people asking if I get darker in the summer. I answered those ridiculous questions and let people grab my hair.

I never stopped to think about all those came, but I now I do.

Then come the snide comments. I’ve dealt with a lot of annoying things in my 16 years on this Earth, but nothing makes my blood boil more than when people ask me insane questions such as, “Does it offend you if I say ‘nigga’ around you?”

The fact that someone has the audacity to ask me, a black woman, if it’s okay to say the “N word” around me is extremely inappropriate because of the connotations associated with that word.

That word shouldn’t be said as slang or “terms of endearment.”

I’m sure all minorities have this problem. The stares, the touching or insulting remarks that remind you the world isn’t the friendliest place. It’s not who we are that’s upsetting, it’s the type of people we encounter with their fixed mindset, that make it upsetting.

Unfortunately, there is an alarming amount of ignorant people in society who need to be culturally educated.

We are human beings, we have the same 206 bones that everyone else has. We have two eyes, two arms, and surprisingly, two legs.

We also have a beating heart, the same heart that pumps blood through our body, and the same heart that allows us to feel. We feel your hurtful comments.

People look at you like you’re from a different planet, like the color of your skin reflects who you are based on the stereotypes we have in our society. I don’t play basketball, and people only assume that I do because I’m black, and only 74 percent of NBA players are black, according to racial equality activist, Richard Lapchick.

It’s unnerving that we can’t keep our dismissive comments to

Report Card:

Grace Mottley

Photo by Claire Grunewald

For minorities, racial sterotypes create a feeling of being the odd one out in their own schools and communities. ourselves and just live in peace.

Different minorities should be able to have peace in knowing that their relationships don’t affect what the rest of the world thinks, but it does.

I’ve had people tell me when I was a kid that they couldn’t share their “blankies” with me.

Yes, even at a young age, we are taught not to share our belongings or hang out with people because of their skin color. That translates into something deeper once we hit our teenage years. We start to restrict ourselves on who we associate ourselves with.

Kids hear remarks from adults around them and make them their own. Adults were born in a different time period, and they have

lived through and seen things that we can only read about. Their opinions should not influence our generation’s opinion in any way.

According to NBC News, by the year 2043, the white majority will be gone and America will be known as a “minority-majority” country, where no majority will exist. Everyone needs to read that statement and understand that you will not be alone. You don’t have to accept it, but you have to deal with it because minorities aren’t going anywhere.

It is 2016. We are past slavery, social persecution, and segregation. We should take pride in the chance to be surrounded by a diverse group of people with diverse experiences to learn from.

The Patriot turns the tables by grading the school on today’s issues

By Entertainment Editor Nick Miller

Powwow stuns students I wasn’t able to attend the powwow for the entire day, but from the hour or two I was there, I could tell it was a wonderful display of Native American culture. Just walking around was a unique experience because of the cool merchandise laid out on every table and the extravagant, colorful outfits making their way between the gym and the cafeteria. Everyone who was there had an unforgettable experience, and everyone’s Snapchat stories were littered with videos of dancing, eating, and fun. It was for sure a day to remember, and I’m looking forward to coming back.

Silent library hinders studies Silence is golden, but all that is gold does not glitter. It’s nice that the sound of the library doesn’t compete with those of the cafeteria anymore, but it’s annoying that even whispering is a crime now. You can get asked to leave for doing a group project with two or three people now. Because the library is supposed to be a place of learning, it’s silly that talking is banned. Communication is key in learning. I agree that the library should be quiet, but whispers aren’t going to disrupt other people’s learning. The library should be quiet, but complete silence is going too far.

10-minute break ended The 10-minute break was something that you either loved or hated, and I’m glad to see that the controversy was finally settled with a school-wide vote. It’s so cool to me that administration sent out a survey to enlist the help of the student body in making this decision to remove the 10-minute break. It’s not often the student body has power in decisions regarding the structure of the school day, and although it was only over a 5-minute time block, I think it’s a huge leap forward for students. I hope to see administration involving students in more decisions in the future.

Cara’s Cartoons: February Activities Helps decide bragging rights Panthers vs. Broncos

Coup de Grace

Helps decide the U.S. president h oorty g Ba m i r P s t io n

in Vo t

E le c

Cartoon by Cara Wolfarth

Athletics are overvalued

Education lasts forever, but we still pay more attention to sports teams and the success of athletes than the success of clubs and academic-focused teams. A football game attracts ten times more spectators than a Speech and Debate meet, but the skills learned from Speech and Debate develops are far more important than any athletic skills.

No one will deny that athletics are important, especially in a society with a disturbing obesity rate.

However, participation in clubs and academic teams impacts the lives of students even more positively, and, as a result, we need to stop prioritizing sports over other extracurricular activities.

Clubs and non-athletic teams often develop public speaking skills, critical thinking skills, and knowledge that will be useful in the students’ futures. These clubs often give members a chance to practice speaking in public, a skill that is necessary in many jobs.

While sports teams may develop important skills, these skills are limited to the sports field. Students who develop these skills on academic teams develop them in a similar situation to which they will be used as adults: in workplace scenarios, not on a field or court. Students in clubs and on non-athletic teams learn how to compromise, how to constructively criticize others’ work, and so much more.

More importantly, clubs, teach students how to work as a group in a non-competitive environment. Club members learn how to exist with diverse people, giving them an experience that will prepare them for the real world, when they have to coexist with a roommate or a co-worker.

Participation in academic teams can help students figure out what profession they want to go into or major in as adults.

Joining clubs or teams, like Mock Trial or Envirothon, give teenagers insight into occupations that they might not have known about otherwise.

A student who joins Envirothon might discover that they really care about the environment and want to become an environmental scientist, for example.

Sports won’t last forever. Once you reach a certain age where you can’t physically compete, your athletic career is over. Clubs and academic teams may end after high school, but the things they teach and instill in you will be useful for the entirety of your life.

14 SPORTS Razz Reports Alex Rasmussen

UMD basketball is just a little too good The University of Maryland men’s basketball program is off to an impressive 19-3 record and is currently ranked highly in the AP Poll.

This year’s team is led by sophomore Melo Trimble; senior Rasheed Sulaimon, a transfer from Duke; and freshman Diamond Stone. This year’s team has definitely met expectations, as the team was predicted to be the front-runner in the Big Ten Conference.

However, this year’s talented players may leave next year’s team with some struggles. Trimble is expected to declare for the NBA draft after this season following two stellar years for the Terps.

Another underclassmen who is expected to declare for the NBA draft following this season is Stone.

Stone, who was a McDonald’s All-American coming out of high school, has impressed at the college level and has serious professional potential.

Both Trimble and Stone are expected to be lottery picks in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Senior Jake Layman will be another player who will be leaving the team following this season.

Layman, who committed in 2011, has provided to the team immensely since. He is a player that didn’t necessarily excel at the college level, but his style of play is much more similar to that of the NBA. These players have spent a majority of the time in this year’s starting lineup and all are possibly leaving next year. So what does that mean for the Terps in the years to come?

College basketball is the only sport that is notorious for having its athletes declare for the draft before their junior year of school.

In my opinion, the NCAA should have some type of regulation for declaring as a professional for basketball.

In some cases, it does make sense for players to declare early, so their stock doesn’t drop. I get that. But for some players who have only played one year of collegiate athletics, moving straight to the pros is somewhat ridiculous.

This year’s Terps team has been exciting to watch. They’re going to have a majority of their core players leaving them next year, which will make the winning tradition hard to uphold.

February 2016

Athletes commit to next level Mike Moxley Sports Editor With fellow football teammates having already committed to a college senior Josh PayneWhite was the odd man out. He was struggling to make a commitment to a school, knowing the implications that go with deciding where he will spend the next four years of his life.

Payne-White finally ended up choosing Bowie State University Feb. 1, and with the weight off his back, signed his National Letter of Intent ending what he called, a “long and hectic” process.

He went to football camps and combines the summer before senior year to give himself as much exposure as possible. “[Head] coach Keith [Rawlings] does a great job advertising us to college coaches. However, it was hard to get a feel for not only what school was the best fit for me, but how much the coaches wanted me,” Payne-White said.

According to Rawlings, “players should play hard all the time and let recruiting fall where it may. They should play for the school, parents, teammates, and themselves. Players try too hard around college coaches.”

For athletes like Payne-White, the recruiting process is initiated in any number of ways.

Some college coaches have scouts that go out and recruit specific types of players, but players have to put themselves out there as well.

For example, senior golf-

Photo by Kishan Patel

Seniors Josh Payne-White, Ky’el Hemby, Damon Lloyd, Kurt Rawlings, and Alex Rasmussen (left to right) officially ended the recruiting process with the help of varsity football head coach Keith Rawlings (back center) after they sign their National Letters of Intent. During this signing period, seven student athletes committed to Division I and Division II colleges. er Taylor Mezzatesta made a “swing video/resume” and sent it to colleges to get his name out there. Soon after, they came and watched Mezzatesta play in golf tournaments.

He was later invited to play a practice round at Chestnut Hill College with the golf team. It was not long after that he was offered an athletic scholarship.

“I was really nervous waiting to hear because Chestnut Hill was my first choice. It had everything I was looking for in a school,” Mezzatesta said.

Recruiting happens all over

Athlete Spotlight

the world for various sports and can take people to new places.

Senior Mantvydas ‘Monty’ Urmilevicius came to JC from Lithuania to pursue his basketball career.

Men’s varsity basketball head coach Tony Martin organizes college showcases with Division I and II coaches to gain exposure for his players.

This kind of recognition gives players opportunities to get an athletic scholarship. “It is in this environment that our players are most comfortable, and we can control showcasing

their strengths and limiting their weaknesses,” Martin said.

Urmilevicius had interest from James Madison, but from the college showcases, he caught the interest from Bryant University.

“Now that I have committed to Bryant University, it makes it that much more special knowing that coming to the United States gave me this opportunity to get a full athletic scholarship for college,” Urmilevicius said.

According to Martin, there are 18 former Patriots competing in men’s college basketball this season alone.

Matt Becker Sport: Track and field Achievements: - All “B” Conference Grade: Senior - Varsity all-county Events: 400, 800, soccer player and 1600 meter “Matt has been one of our top distance runners for the past four years. He has the potential to lead this spring’s team to a championshiop.”

Varsity men’s indoor track head coach Rob Torres

Photo courtesty Michael Monaghan

Senior Matt Becker sprints to the line in the 800 meter race. Becker’s interest in track and field started when he was a freshman in high school, and has continued running throughout his four years.

“Matt Becker is an outstanding runner because of his pristine form and speed.”

Senior long distance runner Rob Flynn

SPORTS 15

February 2016

Playing on the Green

turf would hurt me. I play on turf all the time, more than grass. I’m not really worried,” she said.

Pellets of crumb rubber fly into juMarts is not alone. “I don’t really benior Ellie Marts’s eyes and mouth as she lieve [in the controversy] too much bedives to the save the ball from going into cause I don’t think the school would put the goal. According to Marts, the varsity us in a harmful situation like that,” junior women’s soccer goalie, the turf “literally varsity field hockey player and marching gets everywhere.” band member Anna Smith said.

However, it doesn’t bother her much, Athletes who have played on turf are but maybe it should. used to these bits of turf pouring out of Recent concerns with artificial turf their shoes, sticking to their socks, or, less have led to a nationwide debate about often, being lodged into a mouthguard. what actually goes into these fields. This “[It’s in my] eyes, mouth, and all over debate was sparked by an NBC News in- my clothes after games [and] practices,” vestigation, linking the filling in turf fields Marts said. to cancer.

For some, the turf is just a part of the The NBC investigation featured two game. “Yeah, I mean it [turf] gets evhigh-school female soccer goalies diag- erywhere, but it doesn’t bother me too nosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a much,” senior varsity men’s soccer player hospital where a nurse had treated three Spencer Langbein said. other goalkeepers in the Last year, JC installed same week. two new turf fields. “[It’s in my] eyes, The report highlighted They cost approximately soccer coach Amy Griffin, mouth, and it $1.3 million, one milwho compiled a list of 38 literally gets lion of which was raised American soccer players, through donations.

34 of whom were goalies, everywhere in my So what is in our turf? that had been diagnosed socks and all my The Patriot contacted with cancer.

Athletic Director Steve According to NBC News, clothes after games Teter to find out what while all athletes are ex- [and] practices.” was in the turf. Teter diposed to these turf granules, rected questions to DiJunior soccer goalie Ellie Marts soccer goalies in particular rector of Facilities Steware in constant contact with art Walker. them. Their position requires them to dive According to Walker, the fields are to the ground dozens of times per game, filled with 50 percent sand and 50 percent and with each dive, these granules can en- crumb rubber. This is considered the most ter cuts, mouths, eyes, and other exposed cost-affordable option for multi-sport parts of the body. play.

NBC acknowledged in its report that no Walker states that the school looked into research has linked artificial turf to cancer. the recent concerns before implementing The Synthetic Turf Council responded to the turf fields, and considering there was concerns by saying that: “the evidence no empirical evidence condemning syncollected so far by scientists and state and thetic turf to be harmful, went ahead with federal agencies proves that artificial turf the installation. is safe.”

The company that supplied the turf for Marts has heard of these concerns re- the fields is Field Turf. garding turf, but isn’t too worried. “I love On the company’s crumb rubber inplaying on turf and have never felt like the formation page, a link cites studies from

Claire Grunewald Print Chief

With the recent concerns over artificial turf fields, the real question is: should we be worried what is in our turf?

sources such as the Environmental Protection Agency and various state agencies, all of which affirm the lack of evidence for any health risks associated with crumb rubber.

Head Athletic Trainer Erik Fabriziani is aware of the concerns regarding synthetic turf and cancer and feels it’s just “one of those things where someone has taken their own experience and compiled their own evidence. It’s not scientific.”

Fabriziani feels that without the scientific evidence, the benefits of turf far outweigh the negatives, and he isn’t worried.

“I have no concerns [with synthetic turf] regarding cancer, and would let my kids play on it,” he said.

However, others have raised other concerns with turf besides possibly carcinogenic material: hygiene.

“I play at Du Burns [an indoor sports arena], and just last night, I was watching people spit and blow their nose on the turf like they would grass, but unfortunately there is no natural draining [in turf],” varsity women’s soccer coach Hayley Howe said. “That’s where my concern comes into it, not so much the rubber.”

However, students feel the turf is maintained well. “I think the turf has always been kept nice and clean. It has been perfect for us [in field hockey] and for band camp,” Smith said.

No studies have proven the harmful nature of synthetic turf, though according to Nature Nanostructure at the University of Edinburg/MRC Center for Inflammation Research in Scotland, inhaling “carbon nanotubes” (crumb rubber pieces) could lead to the same cancer and breathing problems that prompted a ban on asbestos as insulation in buildings.

The question remains: should we be concerned? While studies haven’t shown empirical evidence of the cause and effect relationship between crumb rubber and health risks, the correlations and concerns cannot be forgotten as synthetic turf continues to grow in popularity across the world.

In the heat of competition Average temperature of a synthetic turf field 117

degrees

Average temperature of a natural grass field 78

degrees

“The fact that the field can be over 20 degrees hotter than when you’re sitting in the stands, it can be very dangerous when you’re thinking about dehydration [of the players].”

- Women’s varsity soccer head coach Hayley Howe

Photo by Claire Grunewald

Photo by Claire Grunewald

Information from The New York State Department of Health

16 SPORTS

One shot at

February 2016

Senior Michael Tertsea recounts his struggles in Nigeria leading up to the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play basketball in America

success

By Kishan Patel

Adjusting to America

Photo by Kishan Patel

Barefoot, walking home after a pickup soccer match played on a dirt street, nine-year-old Michael Tertsea notices the Looking over a crowd of a couple hunelectricity is out once again in his village. dred students, Tertsea’s first thought was, That night at dinner, he watches his moth- “Wow, so many white people.” er sacrifice her dinner for him so that he After a 28-hour flight, including a laywould not have to go to sleep on an empty over in Qatar, he entered a world he had stomach. never seen.

“Just everyday survival was hard. SeeThat plane ride would be his last from ing my mom go hungry for a day to feed Nigeria, his home, and the last time he me was a big struggle,” Tertsea said. would see his mother for the remainder of It was the cold hard truth of the now high school.

6-foot-10-inch, Division I basketball Life was changing quickly for Tertsea. commit to the University of Rhode Island. No longer could he speak in Tiv, his naAll the burden was put on tive language; no longer Tertsea’s mother, his role- “Just everyday was he taking notes with model and motivation, pen and paper, the norm; while growing up with- survival was hard. and no longer was food out a father. “My mom Seeing my mom go the same he was accusworked very hard for me, tomed to at home. but getting money was hungry for a day to He had entered an enhard,” Tertsea said. feed me was a big tirely new and different Throughout his life, eslife: the life of an Ameripecially before coming to struggle.” can.

America, poverty had a Tertsea came to high Senior Michael Tertsea major impact on Tertsea. school not knowing anyHis home village of Benue, Nigeria went one. He had never even met his coach, through periods with no running water or Tony Martin, until he arrived.They had electricity. only communicated over the phone in nuComing from a family that barely got merous phone calls. by, Tertsea’s mother placed an emphasis “The first time I saw Mike I said, ‘Wow, on his education. “The only way my mom he’s tall,’” varsity basketball head coach bought something for me was if I really Martin said. needed it for my education,” Tertsea said.

Tertsea was in line for a major adjustWhile working at the passport services, ment in life. Everyone noticed the new Tertsea’s mother met a basketball coach “gentle giant,” as Martin refers to him. and arranged for the coach to meet her “My first day was crazy. I had no idea 6-foot-7-inch, 11-year-old son who boast- schools had cafeterias. It was shocking to ed a 7-foot-5-inch wingspan. Impressed, me,” Tertsea said. the coach brought Tertsea out to watch a However, the cafeteria wasn’t the only practice. adjustment he had to make. When Tertsea “I had no clue what [the basketball entered his first class, he couldn’t take a players] were doing. All my life, I was seat. used to soccer and using my feet,” TertInitially, he didn’t know how to sit in sea said. the western style desks. The first day of Tertsea started practicing at a local classes, the experience was mindboggling court, requiring him to walk about the for the freshman. distance from JC to Fallston.

“I wasn’t accustomed to these types of Five years later, Tertsea had drasti- desks. It was just different,” Tertsea said. cally improved and eventually, one day, Additionally, he had never really used received word saying he had received a a computer before, unless it was to play basketball scholarship in America. simple games when he had the opportuThat night, Tertsea was in tears. “[My nity. mother] told me if I wanted to go to AmerAccording to him, typing was never a ica, I would have to find the money my- priority because he thought he would nevself,” Tertsea said. He asked relatives, but er need it. This made for a tough transition no one had extra money available. from a country that rarely had electricity Eventually, his mother gathered enough for 24 consecutive hours to a school that money. According to Tertsea, she told him prides itself on technology in classrooms. this was the last of her money, and if he “[Tertsea] was always capable academdidn’t take advantage of this opportunity ically,” Martin said. “It was just a matter now, she wouldn’t be able to save that of getting used to the academic rigour of much money again.

JC.” “It was hard. It reminds me to stay Tertsea admits adjusting to the new humble and always remember where I lifestyle was hard. came from,” Tertsea said. “It’s taught me “My journey has taught me to take to never take anything for granted.”` nothing for granted in life and no matter

what you’ve been through in life, there’s someone up there watching, God,” Tertsea said.

Taking the court

Flying in the air, catching the ball, and slamming it into the net, Tertsea calmly rushes down to the other end of the court.

A whole crowd yells and chants for him, the students go crazy, the parents are clapping, but Tertsea hears and sees nothing but what’s on the court.

“When I’m playing, all I’m focused on is winning,” Tertsea said.

However, making highlight reel dunks didn’t come easy for Tertsea. Freshman year became a learning curve for Tertsea.

Originally, he thought he’d come in as a freshman scoring 15 points a game.

Reality hit hard. “The first time coach [Martin] yelled at me I got into a shell,” Tertsea said.“I was trying to play not to do anything wrong and wasn’t confident,” Tertsea said.

Eventually, he progressed into a more mature player for the team.

According to Martin, Tertsea has grown both on and off the court as a player and young man. “He’s developed into a mature young man, who has grown from boy to man that is ready to take the next step,” Martin said.

Tertsea remembers his past and to take advantage of the opportunity he has. Although game days are serious, Tertsea has a fun, chill side to him as well.

“I don’t know how many people know these things about Mike, but he is a talented dancer, has a beautiful singing voice, and a passion for art,” Martin said.

Tertsea views dancing as a hobby, and claims if he didn’t have basketball he would pursue a dancing career. He models his dancing after Michael Jackson and Billy Jean.

When he came to America, though, his priorities were clear: academics and basketball. It’s been four years since Tertsea has seen his mom and left Nigeria. During the summers, he plays basketball to improve his skills. Every weekend, Tertsea makes sures to call his mom to tell her he’s okay.

He hopes to make it to the NBA one day and bring his mother over to America.

“I make sure to talk to her at least once a week to tell her I’m okay, but I want to make it to the NBA and bring her here with me,” Tertsea said.

His work ethic combined with his natural talent led to him committing to the University of Rhode Island .

“I’m grateful for everything, and I’ll never forget where I came from and the struggles I grew up with,” Tertsea said.

“JC and the basketball program here have done so much, and I’m thankful.”