The Patriot June 2009, Issue 6, Vol 44

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

Volume 44. Issue 6. June 2009

YOUR TEACHER :

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coming to a computer near you

Kate Froehlich

Editor

C

INSIDE

iting low enrollment in classes, JC made the decision to cut Introduction to Theatre, Probability and Statistics, and AP Vergil from senior class options, as well as offering AP French, AP Art History, and Programming online through the Communications Academy.

The poor economy is the driving force behind the decision. Principal Paul Barker said, “In this economy where we’re trying to tighten expenses, we’re doing what makes sense.”

Vice Principal of Academics Gary Scholl added, “The school has to offer quality courses and still keep tuition as low as possible. The sacrifice for keeping the classes would be parents’ checkbooks.”

The administration cut classes with few students registered, such as AP Vergil, where one student signed up to take the class. However, other classes such as Probability and Statistics were cut, even with nine students enrolled in that class.

Math teacher Robert Torres, who taught Probability and Statistics, said, “It’s disappointing, but I understand [the decision to cut the class]. It’s a class I would have liked to build up because it’s helpful in the business field.”

The online option was adopted for AP French, AP Art History, and Programming because, as Barker said, “It makes no sense to offer AP French to three students, but the online academy is known to the Archdiocese.” He added, “The alternative is to not offer them at all.”

Scholl said, “These classes did not have sufficient enrollment and in past circumstances, we would have just cancelled the class. The idea is rather than just eliminates classes, give students the opportunity to take classes that may not be offered here.”

An alertnative to the traditional class room setting is available through Connections. Scholl said, “We try to keep programs alive that are sequential, like foreign

languages.”

Connections Academy is accredited by the Middle States, a committee that evaluates schools, and Sister Mary Helen Beirne, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, chaired the Middle States committee in reviewing the Academy. Dr. Pat Hoge, Vice President of Connections, will join the Board of Trustees. Scholl said, “We have confidence that this program will be credited and give students a good experience.”

The online class will cost the school a few hundred dollars per student, as opposed to the thousands it costs to pay a teacher. Scholl said, “These classes offer a broad program in an economic way.”

Some classes will also require textbooks to be purchased because as Sister Beirne said, the classes are meant to be “multifaceted.”

Students will be registered with the online academy, which will provide their work, credit, and grades. They will use

Visualize JC’s new Master Plan

2

their time in school to complete the workload, which includes a live teacher that connects in real time with the student to electronically return graded work and offer assistance. Field trips are also possibilities for students through Connections.

The administration will provide a mentor to meet with students weekly to ensure they are not getting too far ahead or too far behind, ensuring “proper spacing,” according to Scholl, which is essential for those who are taking an AP test. He adds that the mentor will be “someone with experience in the area to answer any questions” Grading is handled through the Connections Academy, and will show up on transcripts as a credit awarded by Connections. This will be handled the same way that Harford Community College credit or a transfer student’s previous record is handled. It will not affect a student’s QPA, GPA, or class rank.

Student strikes new strings

4

Communications has submitted its AP designation, which College Board has approved, making the school a reliable institution in its ability to prepare students for the AP tests. Scholl said, “AP tests will indicate whether these are rigorous enough for us to support.”

The online school, according to Sister Beirne, does the same thing as a “brick and mortar school.” It is able to offer “broader possibilities for interactions beyond the town the student lives in.”

It also has the ability to eliminate the restrictions posed by small classes, “Three students in school can join with ten others [through the online class] and have a full class. It allows us to engage with people we would never meet, taking us into a global society,” said Sister Beirne.

Connections offers many classes that a Continued on page 3

Del Puppo navigates wilderness expedition

5

News 2i to

Volume 44 . Number 6 . June 2009

The Patriot

The Patriot

The John Carroll School 703 Churchville Road Bel Air, MD 21014 Volume 44, Issue 6, June 2009

Editor in Chief: Daniel Gallen Editors: Kaitlin Bobbin Katie Clarke Katelynn Colgain Kate Froehlich Senior Staff: Emily Burdeshaw Rebecca O’Brien Evan Conley Michelle Cvach Megan Chlada Elly Dannenfelser Leah Goss Dave Hatem Niki Muse Amanda Nguyen Kristen Novak Katie O’Hara Ashley Powers Faith Reilly William Schultz Natalie Shaw Nick Temple Melissa Vinton Staff: Ellen Barker Kiersten Brown Kirby Browning Tiffany Clunie Nicholas Cvach Katie Doherty Julia Earnshaw Jenna Elliott Ryan Etkins Joseph Hoff Collin Hoofnagle Jennifer Hottle Gabbrielle Joseph Ryan Lina Haley Lynch Shannon Lynch Kristin Marzullo Mollyann Pais Taylor Schafer Ryan Selvy Allison Siegel Elizabeth Tauber Allison Walcyzk Hilary Weidner Moderator: Mr. Ionescu

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 or Administration of The John Carroll School.

The editorial staff invites and greatly appreciates comments from readers on any issue.

Please email us at jcpatriot@gmail.com or visit our website: www.jcpatriot.com

Master plans include: a renovated auditorium, a cafeteria patio, and a fine arts garden. The master plan is set to begin in 2012. (Photo courtesy of John Carroll)

JC plans for facelift Daniel Gallen

Editor in Chief As countless alumni opened their mailboxes in early April, they were greeted by a hefty envelope filled with a paper they were not at all expecting to see: the master plan.

The packet contained eight different views of an architect’s rendering of the changes that are coming to JC. Renovations to the athletic fields, landscape, and auditorium are among the areas to be renovated.

Accompanying the master plan was a letter from President Rick O’Hara outlining what needs to be done for this plan to take shape.

The letter detailed a plan to fundraise the renovations by September 1, 2009, and to have the “initial portion” of the plan completed in time for the school’s 50th anniversary in 2014.

The idea for the master plan was outlined in the Strategic Plan released in 2005 that has the goal of improving all areas of the school, but the actual plan for the changes to the campus were approved by the Board of Trustees in October 2008. The Board voted to enter the Advance Gifts phase of the fundraising by this coming September.

During the Advance Gifts phase, the school will collect large sums from donors to build a base for the fundraising.

Some members of the community have been pushing for change in the school for years, after witnessing the building of the Science and Math Academy at Aberdeen High School, Patterson Mill Middle-High School, and the new Bel Air High School. Even without the changes to local schools, O’Hara

had been hoping for renovations to campus. The newer building “added impetus” to the master plan.

Principal Paul Barker said, “If it gets accomplished, people will see a school that’s got a plan and is looking forward.”

This “looking forward” ideal has led to the aforementioned changes, the most prominent of which will be the moving of the chapel. Other planned changes are a cafeteria patio and a fine arts garden. One of the most notable absences on the master plan is the familiar mitreshape of the chapel on the Route 22 side of school. The shape of the chapel, which can be seen on school documents and class rings, has been a symbol of the school ever since it was founded.

The tentative location for the new chapel is at the front of the school. This placement is desirable because it will be more easily visible to visitors.

“People wax nostalgic about the chapel as an important place,” Barker said. He wants the chapel to be a larger welcoming place, and he added, “If they do it right, it could be a very cool building.”

Campus minister Patti MurphyDohn said, “Moving the chapel front and center will give more exposure to our parents and guests to the spiritual life of the school.”

The move enhances the idea of the school’s “Catholic identity,” moving it from a back hallway to “out front, literally,” as O’Hara put it.

However, there is some opposition to the moving of the chapel.

As the reactions of the alumni remain to be seen. Murphy-Dohn said, “Our chapel has always had a lot of meaning to JC grads, particularly related to our school ring.”

O’Hara did say that the mitreshape will be preserved in the new chapel.

Another big change proposed in the master plan is to the library.

O’Hara would rather the new area be thought of as a “learning center” as oppose to a library, and to give the area a feel of a more “flexible space.” Librarian Anne Baker feels this change in the library would be for the better. She envisions the space as a place where guest speakers with crowds too small for the auditorium could come and speak to their audience, and also a place where there could be musical acts or screenings of new movies.

“I just want [the new library] to work,” she said.

Baker does not know what to think of the master plan. She said, “It’s hard to formulate an opinion because I’m a person that would like to see it executed.”

The school is looking for money through parents, alumni, foundations, and donators. The target for fundraising is to have 50% of the required funds by September 1, 2010. There, the master plan will be, as O’Hara said, either “a go or no-go.”

Because of the current state of the economy, raising enough funds to complete the master plan all at

once will be difficult. To combat this, different aspects of the plan will be phased in throughout the construction. After the 2010 financial goal date, the target date where O’Hara wants to start construction and have “shovels in the ground” is 2012, with some parts of the construction ready for the 2014 school year.

The idea of having students come to school in a construction zone presents some logistical problems. Barker does not want to see a repeat of “the North Harford High School experience” of going to school during a time of construction.

O’Hara said, “We don’t want students wearing hard hats and dodging construction zones.”

However, neither Barker nor O’Hara feel it will be hard to attract prospective students, seeing as the ends of the project will be beneficial to all who set foot in the school.

Complete plans and concepts can be seen on the school website under Parents’ News & Bulletins.

Despite the extensive amount of planning and work that has gone into the master plan, a question is still raised on the plausibility of the plan. “A lot of things are great in concept, but I want to see the execution,” said Baker.

3i News

Volume 44 . Number 6 . June 2009

The Patriot

Administration adapts to PC crisis Students Kate Froehlich

Editor

F

our years into JC’s plan to modernize the school through Tablet PCs, the administration made the decision to continue to find parts for upperclassmen laptops and look for alternative routes to handle the problem. However, the incoming freshmen will purchase their own laptops.

Upperclassmen face a less promising future with their laptops. The plan, according to Russell, is to do whatever it takes to keep students’ machines working by increasing the amount of loaners and parts, as well as investigating new avenues to find a “grander solution” to the laptop issue. The specific focus is on how cost effective it is to continue purchasing parts or replacing the old machines.

Vitucci said that research is being done to find more parts, from eBay to local supply houses. However, the conflict arises as businesses fight for parts to fix their Gateway machines and suppliers charge up to four times the usual cost for the parts.

The current plan is to supply students with faculty members’ laptops that are rarely used when students’ machines are beyond repair. Russell added that attempts are being made to increase the loaner pool, by employing a differ-

ent brand of laptops if necessary classmen $600 per year, will be to ensure that each student has a lowered to $95 to pay for the necworking Tablet PC. essary software for the computers.

The members of the technolThe decision to allow students ogy office, according to Vitucci, to purchase their own laptops are “working nights and weekends “gives students some flexibility” to get the Tablets back out, doing according to Director of Technoleverything possible to see students ogy Greg Russell. The administrasupplied with laptops.” tion has recommended that incomAccording to Help Desk Assis- ing students to buy one of the three tant Jane Fogarty, the reaction to laptop models offered through the plan has been “very positive,” DSR. The models, one of which is and some have been “gracious, the current freshmen’s laptop, are saying to keep very similar, the money for although the technology” for processors As the world is school. A decision differ slightturning, I wonder what has not been made ly in speed about keeping the and price. smaller faster, more credi plan for next The derobust looks like year. cision was because that’s where Even though made beprogress is being cause “Gatewe are going to go. made in fixing the way ma- Paul Barker tablets, students, chines are such as junior no longer in Elisabeth Kearby, existence,” believe that the situation has “been said Russell. handled poorly and nothing is ever Help Desk Coordinator Joe Vitaken care of, and we’re still ex- tucci said that the incoming freshpected to use the computers.” men laptops are smaller, cheaper, For the 2009-2010 school year, and lighter. “To this day, [the Lethe freshmen will buy their laptops novos] have not had one hinge fail, as oppose to leasing, or borrowing, or one motherboard crash,” said laptops from the school. They will Vitucci. be able to either buy a Lenovo lapTechnology support, if students top through DSR Computer Tech- purchase a four year warranty nology Specialists, or buy one of through DSR, will not be done on a different brand. The technology campus. The laptops will instead fee, famously costing the upper- be shipped out to a tech center to

“

,,

be repaired. However, if students purchase laptops outside of DSR, they could potentially be without machine for long periods of time depending on how quickly their provider could fix the machine.

Even with concerns looming about the availability of parts, the administration has made a concerted effort to pay back students who have had their machines in the technology office for long periods of time. Students whose laptops have been in the technology office and have been without a loaner for over five days are eligible for credit towards their John Carroll Business Office account.

Current juniors can get $3.53 per day back, and sophomores can get $3.68 back per day.

Some even question the decision to continue the laptop program in light of all of the difficulties that have resulted. Sophomore Bridget Heneghan said, “[The laptops] got a lot of people to come to this school. Depending on the teacher, the laptops are not that useful.”

Regardless of concerns about what will be done with the Tablets in the future, the administration is content to continue in this more modern direction. “As the world is turning, I wonder what smaller, faster, more robust looks like because that’s where we are going to go,” said Barker.

(Additional reporting by Daniel Gallen)

adjust to online courses Continued from front page

school can not feasibly offer because of small staff sizes. . “It provides an opportunity for more class options than a school could offer,” said Beirne.

Although classes such as AP US History regularly have classes with fewer than ten students in them, a “core class” like that, according to Barker, would not be cut. Scholl said, “I don’t ever see online learning replacing the core curriculum.”

There is the chance that certain classes may function more effectively online. Barker said, “Down the road, online courses will likely become a requirement to graduate here because it incorporates different types of education that are necessary in the professional world.”

He stresses that the school wishes to “use the tools of today” to help students progress.

However, Scholl said, “Online education should not replace the traditional classroom setting.

There is so much to benefit from human interactions of the traditional class setting.”

The reaction to the online classes has proved strong, especially fearing the absence of a “flesh and blood” teacher. “I’m afraid that without regular classes and a teacher to make sure I’m doing my work on time, I’ll procrastinate and get behind,” said Junior Charlotte Hagerman, who plans to take AP French.

“It seems to me it would be boring and most people wouldn’t keep up with their work,” said Nicky Hatzidimitriou, who is going to take AP French as a senior.

French teacher Regina Ferry, who previously taught the AP French class, added, “A teacher can react to everything a student presents with an infinite number of suggestions and corrections.

I’m concerned that they won’t get enough of the verbal help they need [for the AP test].”

Barker speaks against the concern. “The fear is you diminish the human aspect of education, but if we use resources properly, we’ll be able to serve students in the flesh and blood better because we won’t be stretching out resources,” he said.

Sister Beirne said, “Education is about going beyond what we can imagine today. The online classes can challenge us to think more broadly about all the ways people can learn.”

Barker cautions that these classes will not become a pattern. “It’s not the way of the future for John Carroll. We won’t sell you a $400 course for $12,000 tuition, it’s silly,” he said. He assures that this will not be a trickledown effect: “There won’t be English I online.”

(Additional reporting by Daniel Gallen)

Features 4i to

Volume 44 . Number 6 . June 2009

The Patriot

Ashley Powers plays the 36 string harp, practicing for her part in the orchestra. The chorus, concert band, freshman orchestra and advanced orchestras work hard to conquer the fourth and fifth movements of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony, another name for his second symphony. (photo by Katie Macdonald)

POWERS OF THE

HARP Some music students faced the challenge of learning how to play continuously for almost 900 measures of music, but one senior pushed herself to the limit by learning an entirely new instrument.

Ashley Powers

Senior Staff

W

hen I was 10 years old, I walked into a church in Frederick at Christmas time and saw a group of harpists performing Christmas music on the altar.

Right there, well, that’s where it all began.

I had already learned how to play the flute and the trumpet by then, but I knew at that very moment that I wanted, at some point in my life, to play the harp.

Seven years later, on December 31, 2008, I turned 17. And on the day that I became able to legally watch rated R movies, my dad gave me a 36 stringed lever harp. My immediate reaction: “OH MY GOD!” I then pulled out my cell phone and immediately texted Mr. Briggs to tell him to sign me up for “dorkestra.”

I already knew that we were going to tackle Gustav Mahler’s Second Symphony

this year, and I had been planning on playing trumpet for it. I was upset that the beautiful harp piece of the music was not going to be played. So when that stringed instrument that is larger than me became mine, Mr. Briggs gave me the music and I began a war.

Okay, so it wasn’t quite a war, but it was a battle.

To put things in perspective, The New York Philharmonic plays Mahler’s Second.

The BSO may tackle it. Sometimes, a college symphony orchestra goes for it. High school bands, well that just doesn’t happen.

Granted, we did only play the fourth and fifth movements, but we only started it second semester and this undertaking was a great enough challenge.

Some questioned Mr. Briggs’ sanity for actually assigning this. After looking at the music, I could see where the critics were coming from. I lost sleep at night as I tried

t e a c h e r Katie Clarke

Features Editor

O

n June 10, the last day of exams, John Low will slowly glance around the biology classroom for his final look at the black lab tables. He will grab his bag, lock his door, and take his final stroll down the second floor hallway, which has been his JC home for the past 10 years. Low is retiring and is off to new adventures and relaxing endeavors.

Some make elaborate plans for exciting getaways or take up a new hobby, but Low is taking it easy and is not exactly sure what he’ll be doing. “I’ve been going to school since I was five years old; it’s going to be an extended summer. Maybe I’ll learn to play golf,” said Low. If you ever see Low driving a motorcycle down the highway on a beautiful, sunny day, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. Low does enjoy the occasional fairweather ride on his black and chrome Harley Davidson. Yes, our own Mr. Low is a HOG (Harley Owners Group). Low and his wife used to ride together but now since his wife sold her bike, he says that it’s just not the same riding alone.

to figure out how exactly to play 28 notes in one and a half beats and 11 notes at once with only ten fingers.

When I arrived at my first harp lesson, I was told that you only use eight of your fingers to play the harp anyway.

I couldn’t play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on the harp if you asked me to, but I can play Mahler’s Second Symphony.

I dove into music that was normally for professional harpists, knowing nothing and learning everything about technique, a crucial part of playing the harp.

But I didn’t give up. Such was the attitude of those who played this piece. While no one else learned a totally new instrument for Mahler like I did, everyone had to push themselves way past their limits.

I have to say it paid off. Minutes before the performance, I hauled my harp on stage in a formal dress (not such an easy feat, let me tell you), sat down, and began to tune all

Profile :

When Low says he has been going to school nonstop since he was a youngster, he’s not kidding. Low has been teaching for 45 years. After high school, Low attended Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmetsburg where he was originally a pre-med until he switched to education. “It was the math [in pre-med] that did me in,” said Low. In high school, Low enjoyed being involved in sports. He participated in track and field and ran long distance. In college, however, Low was too busy to continue playing.

After college, when Low started teaching, he started coaching. His favorite memories include his track and cross country championships with several individual champion athletes. However, winning is not the most important thing to Low, “The main thing [I enjoy] is when anyone does his or her personal best,” said Low. This spring, Low is finishing his final season with the track team. Low has been involved in many aspects of life on campus but most importantly, Low has loved teaching here. “Teaching here is not just a job,” said Low. As a biology teacher, Low teaches over a dozen labs with his students each year.

36 strings, one by one. I was nervous, so it took longer than usual.

In the end, I had no need to be. While I played, it felt just as it did when there wasn’t a packed audience in front of me.

The thing about grand pieces of music, like Mahler’s Second Symphony, is that when you’re playing it, you really become part of the music. Everything else is forgotten but the notes on the page.

Exhilaration doesn’t quite describe it, but it comes close. By the time the final note was played, I was grinning, and the energy on stage was tangible.

Now that it’s all over, we’re sad to see it go, but already looking forward to the next musical experience. The new challenge is to top that, to take things to a new level. Maybe next year the music department will play all five movements.

As for me? Well, I’m learning “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

Mr. Low

His favorite of these? “Personally, I like the [bacterial] transformation lab; it’s the most work for me, but when the bacteria turn all those colors, I think it’s really cool.”

Classroom activities are often interactive and Low will always explain and re-explain a concept until the class understands. “I like when a student has that light bulb effect where I can just see ‘Hey, she got it!’” Low said, “That’s what we’re here for.”

One of Low’s defining moments at JC was the first time he asked Dr. Fredrick Walker to dissect a hand for the class. “I could already envision 20 students passed out on the floor,” said Low with a smile.

Many of Low’s fondest memories have yet to hit him. “It’s hard to describe them because you don’t know a defining moment until it’s over,” he said.

Low breaks down his life philosophy into three parts: “Success in this life is a journey, not a destination. The rewards of the journey are influenced by three factors: ability, motivation, and attitude. Ability is what you are capable of doing, motivation determines what you do, and attitude determines how well you do it.”

He expands upon life as being a journey, leaving this piece of advice, “The highway

John Low sits on his 2002 black and chrome Harley Davidson.

Low has been riding motorcycles since the 1970s. (photo by Katie Clarke) of this adventure is littered with defining moments that if missed are forever forgotten. My responsibility was to help guide students to recognize, accept, and not fear these factors as they travel toward their goals. It was an honor and a pleasure to be part of and perhaps a memory in a defining moment in their life’s journey.”

5 Features

Volume 44 . Number 6 . June 2009

The Patriot

Senior girls, Del Puppo venture into wilderness Faith Reilly

Senior Staff

I

Seniors Chloe Ey and Madeline Schiminger add their names to a notebook that they found in a rock sculpture. (photo by Tony Del Puppo)

woke up at 8 a.m. on a Saturday with butterflies in my stomach. I was terrified to go on my first ever camping trip where I would climb the 1,500 foot Massanutten Mountain in Virginia.

What was I doing? Everyone else who was going on the trip had gone camping before, owned tents, knew how to pack for the trip, and was a complete camping pro. Oh yeah, I was one of the obnoxious juniors who begged Tony Del Puppo, otherwise known as DP, to take a group of girls from our Honors U.S. History class on his camping trip when we were seniors.

After psyching myself up, I rolled out of bed. I trudged down-

stairs and attempted to put on my 45-pound camping pack. It contained clothes, a pot and utensils for meals, a sleeping bag, five bottles of water, and tons of snacks.

I was way out of my league with my borrowed equipment.

Senior Chloe Ey brought her own knife and her camping-savvy mom to help on the trip. Senior Carrie Michael, the only other beginner, brought a Hydrapack.

As we waved goodbye to our parents, I hung onto my mom a little longer than usual.

Our fearless leader promised that our adrenaline would kick in and the trip wouldn’t be so difficult.

At our half-mile stop, Del Puppo proceeded to tell us, “This trail is longer, therefore more intense,

than the one I took the guys on.”

There were so many rocks. We had to choose our steps carefully and walk “rapid fire” to keep up with him.

We were extremely sore by the time we got a glimpse of camp. We quickly set up, and I learned how to pitch a tent. Del Puppo offered us a “quick” hike to see some great views. An hour later, we arrived at a beautiful spot where we could see rivers and millions of trees.

We found a rock sculpture where there was a notebook filled with names, to which we added Senior Girls 2009 and DP. The evening back at camp was relaxing. We cooked and ate delicacies such as meat lasagna, chicken a la King, pork and beans, and vegetarian lasagna. Then came the

best part: sleep.

It was pouring the next morning, but we groggily packed up our wet things and headed back down the mountain. We faced the same hazards that we did on our climb up, now enhanced by the rain. We walked at a much slower pace, and people tripped, slipped and fell.

As the mini bus came into sight three and a half hours later, we started running as if we had never seen a more beautiful sight.

As we rode home to Bel Air, I reflected on the trip. I had never felt more physically challenged, but it was satisfying to overcome those challenges with my classmates.

I arrived home in one piece with some strengthened friendships and a new appreciation for nature and the art of camping.

Issue six strikes back Evan Conley

Senior Staff

I

f for no other reason, this issue of “The Patriot” stands out in history because of one thing: There’s no article about how great the country fair was.

Even in 1976, when the fair was already a six-year-running tradition, editors couldn’t think of better news to report than “Volunteers and donations are always essentials to the success of the Fair.” In the 39 years that the fair has been a John Carroll tradition, it has made headlines at least 15 times.

But starting on a bad note is unbecoming of both me and the hardworking journalists that came before me. Issue six has always been interesting, to say the least.

Back in the seventies, some students were allowed to smoke on campus. In 1975, the smoking lounge was voted down by the SAC. Seniors could no longer smoke on campus. Fair article titles this issue: “Where is everybody? At the fair of course” and “Country Fair a success.”

“The Patriot” knows how to use irony. Has anyone here ever heard of a ‘Patriette?’ In a 1977 issue and years afterward, the newspaper differentiated boys’ and girls’ teams as such. Ironically, this was done right beside an article about the Equal Rights Amendment. Fair article title: None. The Patriot staff

must have been ambitious that year because issue six was released in March, before the fair could be considered breaking news.

The 1981 issue six of “The Patriot” introduced new-fangled electronic games. “Space Invaders” was formally labeled a “New Temptation” by “Patriot” staffers.

The drinking age was still 18, and an extensive article was written on “recent” attempts to raise it. This issue’s fair article title was dubbed “J.C. Fair: Smiling Faces.”

A long forgotten tradition, the faculty play, was a prime topic of the 1983 issue six. The second annual play was called “The Curious Savage,” and proceeds from the event benefited a Senior Scholarship fund to help cut underclassmen tuition. Sadly, only two current teachers lent their talent to this popular show: Mr. Chrismer and Mr. Gaudreau. The fair article title this year was, “J.C. Fair.”

For the spring of the Class of 2009’s freshmen year, 2006, “The Patriot” staff adorned the front page with the vaguely suggestive headline “Prom Pleases.”

Mr. Del Puppo fought off a beaver (to which the beaver replied, “I was jealous of his hair”), and for some reason we had a book review column. This year’s thrilling fair article title: “Country Fair phenomenal.”And if you thought history was boring, well, you can repent now. We forgive you.

Mr. Schick Q: A:Every time I left to go

Amanda Nguyen

Why did you decide to start teaching?

Senior Staff

M

r. Shick is the TV Production teacher and the biggest movie fanatic at our school. Prior to his career at JC, he worked on the sets of various movies and TV shows, so it’s only appropriate to ask about his previous career.

shoot a movie, it meant being away from home anywhere from two to four months, and it was awful. I didn’t want to be the dad who’s never there to see their child grow up. Teaching is something that I’ve always wanted to do; it’s a great vocation. I can make a difference and make the world a better place.

Q: A:I actually went to two dif-

Where did you go to high school?

Q: A:I only teach two classes

What is your favorite class to teach and why?

ferent schools. When I was a freshman, I wanted to be a priest so I went to St. Augustine Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Then I transferred to Oaklawn High and graduated from there.

Q: A:I got pretty good grades.

What were you like in high school?

I was smart and I was the smart aleck. I was a little bit of trouble, but I enjoyed school. I played basketball and ran cross country.

Q: A:Well, if I sat here and

What movies/TV shows have you worked on?

told you all of them, we would be here forever. So I’m going to give you something really modern. Check out www.imdb.com and look me up.

Q: A:I have two favorites. One

Which was your favorite and why?

is “The River Wild” because it was shot in a really beautiful part of Montana and you would see eagles flying by all the time. The second one the “Severed Ties;” it’s a slasher/monster movie and it was so awesome going to

(photo by Nico Cvach) work every day because you never knew what was going to happen next.

Q:

What famous actors/actresses have you worked with?

What was it like?

A:

Again, if I sat here and told you all of them we’d be here forever, so I’ll give you a few names: Keanu Reeves, Meryl Streep, John Candy, Harrison Ford, and Tommy Lee Jones. Harrison Ford was a lot of fun to work with because he is such a great actor, but he’s so normal.

Q:

Why do you like film so much? What sparked your interest?

A:

I majored in Telecommunications and Film in college and film is something that I’ve always wanted to do because it’s so creative.

and I really like them both because each is fun in its own way. TV is my favorite because it’s what I used to do. It is really loose and creative. On the other hand, World History is also my favorite class to teach because I get to teach all freshmen.

Q: A:I love watching movies. I

What is your favorite thing to do and why? love watching thought-provoking movies. My favorite one is “Brazil.” It is an odd, unique film. I think I’ve watched it ten times and still every time I watch it I see something new, something different.

Q: A:There are two:

Who is your all-time favorite actor or actress and why?

David Strathairn [whom] I’m sure no one has heard of, but he was nominated for an Oscar for “Thank You and Goodnight.” He was so much fun to work with and he was really cool. Then John Candy also has to be on this list because he loved films. He was fun, cool, and generous.

In-Depth 6i to “I think a lot of people do it because they don’t feel like paying when they can get it for free.”

-Patrick Baker ’12

Volume 44 . Number 6 . June 2009

The Patriot

“Music piracy is a major issue. It’s a young person’s cultural quest. Not only are they downloading, they are sharing it.”

- Mr. Vierheller

“Once they lab and ge might not They try they t - Kara

Pirat e Talk

By: Ryan Selvy

P2P: The acronym for “peer to peer” meaning sharing files amongst one another. Programs like Limewire, Frostwire, uTorrent, and others similar programs.

Seed: In the process of torrent sharing, the

act of sharing a file to the community. These are the main sources where downloads come from.

Leechers: Commonly known as the “bad

guys” to users trying to download, these are people who download a file but do not share it for longer than 24 hours.

Leaked: When a piece of media is released

prior to it’s original release date due to file sharing.

Crack: File, program, or serial used to “crack” the piracy prevention software on a piece of software.

RAR/ISO: Common file formats that illegal data is held in to make the download size smaller. Similar to a zip file, these make the files extremely small so the user doesn’t have to wait a long time to obtain media. In order to obtain the media once download, they have to be opened through a program which pieces the files back together like a puzzle.

A Look into Sharing and it

W it h Frost ing on Top By: Ryan Selvy

Frostwire is clicked, and any file known to man can be downloaded.

Advertised as one of the fastest peer-to-peer programs, the program attracts a large audience and following. They have managed to achieve more than 16,653,904 downloads on download.com. This number only represents 1 person per computer, meaning this number can easily be doubled or tripled in proportion of people who use the program.

Lawyers and other public figures have brought attention to the fact that the program can be used for illegal purposes. Frostwire does not promote or support that use of their program. In a recent interview, the company confronted the issue.

“We don’t approve of the illegal use

of our application.” Frostwire general inquiry worker Angel Leon said “We actually have several points during the install on this subject, and the user can’t install the application unless he’s accepted to use it only for legal purposes. The same thing applies to your email client, or your internet browser, you can use both to download and share illegal material, in the end it’s up to the user to stay within the legal bounds.”

Frostwire continues to try to improve its user interface and the innovation of sharing files across the Internet. They plan on creating an easier process of uploading files to their database to share.

In an attempt to do so, Frostwire regularly promotes artists free of

charge. They publicize the artist’s free album through their own service as well as Twitter, Facebook, and other public media.

The company enjoys this part of the process. They feel they’d do the same on their free time anyway.

“We don’t charge a dime for the promotion of artists, we’re just focused on helping them become known, the only real requisites are that they’re actually good at what they do, and that they are serious and responsible about their content. In terms of costs, since we distribute over the p2p network, the cost is pretty much our time getting the promotions ready, and this is pretty much like blogging and doing the things we do online for fun anyway.”

Do you believe file sha is morally wrong?

7 In-Depth

Volume 44 . Number 6 . June 2009

The Patriot

y come to the tech et it erased, they t put in on again. to delete it before turn it in.” a Jester ’10

“I think it’s stupid they do it because they know they’ll get caught when they turn their computer in.”

- Alex Dunn ‘10

“I don’t think it’s a problem, people just abuse it too much.

People take what other people work so hard to make, but it’s there so take it.”

- Tyler Condon ‘09

Slowing t he Syst em By: Joey Hoff

Online File ts Consequences

aring

Do you illegally download or obtain media?

It’s gone. All of it. The laptop, the network, and Help Desk Coordinator Joe Vitucci couldn’t take it anymore—the computer had to be wiped clean, a fresh start.

LimeWire and other illegal downloading software have been wasting the time of the tech experts over at the computer help desk for three years now.

When students download these programs, they get more than hours of free music. Viruses tag along too. The problem then falls on the shoulders of those at the technology help desk that have to wipe all the information off of the hard drive and reinstall all of the programs. Those papers that took all night to write, like the viruses, are gone.

But those are not the least of the worries for the school.

JC is accountable for everything on the computers which means illegally downloaded material can cause the school boatloads of legal issues.

“Students don’t understand the ramifications if caught,” says Vitucci.

Students also don’t understand how big the problem is. Vitucci sees one or two laptops per week with illegally downloaded material.

He said, “It’s more often than we want,” he said.

Programs like LimeWire

open a student’s laptop up to the world. Using a peer-topeer network, these programs enable anyone to get almost anything off a student’s computer. They also use more bandwidth, which dramatically slows the school’s network.

According to Vitucci, these programs are a key reason for

“Artists have to realize that music piracy is going to happen.

If they release their music, it’s going to be on the Internet” — Julia Burke JC’s slow network.

But illegal downloading programs do more than violate JC’s acceptable use policy. They also violate most Internet companies’ acceptable use policies as well.

Jaye Linnen, Regional Manager of Public Relations for Comcast, has been working to get the message out about the growing issue of illegal downloading. “It’s all on the website and available to anyone,” she said regarding Comcast’s acceptable use policy, but that isn’t enough to stop most teens.

Most teens don’t see music piracy as a bad thing. “If

music piracy was wrong, it would be harder to do,” said sophomore Julia Burke.

“Artists have to realize that music piracy is going to happen. If they release their music, it’s going to be on the Internet,” said Burke.

Recently, Comcast and other internet providers have had to take more drastic measures. Because illegal downloading requires huge amounts of bandwidth, Comcast is able to identify the customers that have programs using peer-to-peer networks. Comcast then reports their customers with illegal material to the Recording Industry Association of America.

But the recording industry is still suffering. After analyzing global music piracy, an independent research group for the Institute for Policy Innovation found that music piracy causes $12.5 billion of economic loss each year.

It’s affecting everyone from actual artists to sound engineers. It’s even taking a toll on John Carroll students and their patience.

Everything just becomes slower. Besides the Internet connection, the wait for computers to be fixed is slow due to viruses that accompany piracy programs.

At this school, music piracy just means more waiting.

Entertainment 8i to

Volume 44 . Number 6 . June 2009

The Patriot

Baltimore rocks into music scene Ashley Powers

Senior Staff

I

n Nashville, on a visit to Belmont College, I went into a Hard Rock Café gift shop. While checking out, the guy manning the counter asked for, and looked at, my mom’s ID. “You’re from Baltimore, huh? What are you doing out here?”

Well…I responded that I was checking out the college because I wanted to major in music. He then proceeded to ask if I liked country music. Well, no. Actually, I hate country music. A lot.

So, having told him this, he informed me that I was in the wrong

place, and that “Rolling Stone” magazine had named Baltimore the best new music scene, so I should probably go back there.

Wait…when did this happen?

So as soon as we got back to the hotel we were staying in, my mom looked online, and sure enough, it was true. Apparently if you’re into rock music, Baltimore is the place to be.

So being a musician myself who intends on making music my whole life, I was instantly curious.

Have I been living near a city that could be the key to my success and I never even knew it?

Ben Schlehr, singer and guitarist in the band The Aviator Set, thinks

that being near Baltimore is definitely an advantage. The thriving music scene in the area was what inspired him to get into music in the first place. “I first got into music through local shows like the Bel Air Bash. Seeing bands jump around and play got me interested immediately. So both seeing the bands and feeling that I could be up there doing the same thing was my inspiration. After a few concerts, I taught myself to play guitar and sing,” said Schlehr.

While the Bel Air music scene is not totally decrepit, it is nothing compared to the Baltimore scene that Schlehr and his band have had the opportunity to experience.

“The Bel Air music scene pretty much consists of local bands from Bel Air and they are purely audience driven, where the Baltimore music scene is more diverse in style and purpose,” said Schlehr.

The growing music scene in Baltimore has led to the growth of other places, such as Recher Theater, which is a much more popular stop for Harford County bands on their way to Baltimore. Schlehr asserts, “Recher is an incredible way for local bands to grow and get their name known.”

Local bands from Harford County have the advantage of being close to the city, a place where there are opportunities to perform

on almost every street corner. With all the attention Baltimore is getting because of bands such as All Time Low, more bands are flourishing, and Baltimore is becoming a hotspot for local musicians.

So if you’re looking for a respectable music scene, go no further than your own back yard.

Baltimore is enjoying the fruits of having many young artists flock to the city, the current residents are enjoying the new music scene surrounding them, and every little band in Harford County has a place just a county away to look toward as a place to grow as a musician and hopefully achieve every musician’s dream: “Making it.”

Stay close to get ‘Daylight’ puts Matt away this summer & Kim in spotlight Michelle Cvach

Senior Staff

The economy’s tough, but we all still want vacation. Save gas and money by staying close to home but still being far enough away. These five east coast spots are definitely worth your time.

1 2 3 4 5

Ocean City, MD. Is Thrashers worth the three hour drive? You bet it is.

Washington DC. Check out the Arlington National Cemetery.

It is a genuinely moving monument that every American should see.

Hershey Park, PA. See how many punches a minimum-wage mascot can take before crying! Or you can just, you know, ride the rides or something.

Inner Harbor, MD. Can a duck boat really go on land AND in water? It is your obligation, no, your mission to find out!

Philadelphia, PA. Check out the Mural Arts Program, which commissions convicted graffiti artists to create huge city murals. While admiring the art, be sure to get a Pat’s King of Steaks cheese steak. It is THE thing to eat in Philadelphia.

Daniel Gallen

Editor in Chief

T

wo people. Two instruments. One intense, pounding sound.

That is the equation for the indie rock sensation Matt & Kim. From the start of their songs, they, to quote one of their songs, “Don’t Slow Down” until the song or the show ends. At first listen, the listener asks himself, how can a band that sounds so happy have such pounding beats behind it?

The answer lies in the minds of Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino, or Matt & Kim. The Brooklynbased duo raced onto the scene in 2006 with their self-titled debut album. Listeners were enamored by the seemingly stripped down nature of their music: synthesizers and drums. Johnson’s spastic keyboards are ever-present over Schifino’s pulsating drums. Matt & Kim were recognized for songs such as “5K,” its video gaining significant airplay overseas, and “Yea Yeah,” another song with a popular video.

Gaining an Internet following through MySpace and YouTube, Matt & Kim set out on their next adventure, releasing “Grand” early in 2009. The crowning achievement of “Grand” is seen right off the bat with the opening track, “Daylight.” The keyboard part is addictive, and the drums fit in perfectly. Johnson’s vocals contain an infectious ecstasy that is impossible to avoid, even for the gloomiest listener.

The catchy nature continues on “Grand” with tracks such as “I Wanna” and “Good Old Fashioned Nightmare.” Johnson even

Matt and Kim performed at Pearlstone Atrium at Goucher College in April. Live, this duo puts on an unexpectedly punk show. (photo by Daniel Gallen) steps the tempo back to offer some points to mull over, such as on “Lessons Learned” where he sings “Thinking ‘bout tomorrow won’t change how I feel today.”

Both “Matt & Kim” and “Grand” break the tape in under a half-hour, remarkable in today’s music world, where bands seem to be concentrating on assaulting the listener with as much music for as long as they can. Matt & Kim offer short, rigorous punches of noise at the listener in their song.

At first listen, it doesn’t seem as if the music is that intense. However, the recordings don’t give Schifino’s drums the credit they deserve. In real life, she tears at

the drums with reckless abandon, all with a huge smile on her face.

On the record, Matt & Kim sound like a small indie-pop band.

Live, they are a full-fledged punk band. The crowd unites and moves with the drumming. Each song is chaos in the crowd, with hands, elbows, legs, and feet flying everywhere, until the song ends.

And then as soon as the song starts up again, the chaos increases. Their live show brings back memories of the early 1980s American hardcore scene, but with synths instead of guitars.

This band may come in a small package, but it packs a huge punch.

9 Edi-

Volume 44 . Number 6 . June 2009

The Patriot

What do you think about the summer reading book Persepolis?

“I like to read, but some of the novels have been a little boring. I like this book.”

-Kara Jester ’10

“I am looking forward to reading this book because it has a lot of pictures.”

-YuJin Kim ’10

“I don’t like to read at all, but this book will be better because there’s not a lot of reading.”

-Tom Hancock ’12

“It’s not a lot of writing, so it’s good!”

-Becca Falter ’12

Or rather, it is the point.

“Persepolis” is a memoir from a little girl’s perspective about growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, when harsher laws were instituted to conservatively reassert Islamic doctrine, after the dictatorial regime of the Shah (think King Henry VIII incarnate) ended. For females like the main character Marjane, this meant they had to don the hijab, the traditional Islamic dress and veil, to hide their sexuality from male citizens.

You read correctly, feel free to cheer: this book has no relation to teaching typical morals. “Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi is simply the story of her Iranian childhood

before being sent away by her parents to live in Austria for her safety. The purpose of “Persepolis” is not to ethics; rather, it teaches perspective.

Now, let me clarify something before I continue. In case you didn’t know, I am a graduating senior. This means that I in no way was required to read this. I just wanted to. Have any of you ever just wanted to read any of the summer reading books before. No? Not at first? Thought so.

That’s what makes “Persepolis” special (in addition to the occasional swear words and inappropriateness). As far as the book’s actual message goes, though, this

article is about to get a whole lot less shallow. The situation in the Middle East is tense. When it comes to relations with Iran, many Americans would probably share the sentiment of the popular spoof song “Bomb Iran.” For the tune, think “Barbara Ann.” I find that ridiculous when this comes from individuals who lump them in with “Arabs,” since Iranians are actually descendants of the ancient Persians and share an Aryan heritage with Europeans.

As a matter of interest, Islam is not even the native religion of the Iranians.

Satrapi really pushes to accomplish something by pointing these

“I like it because there is a lot of pictures.”

-Tyler Boyd ’11

Provocative ‘Persepolis’ revitalizes summer reading slump Billy Schultz

Senior Staff

I

’m going to be honest with all of you: I sometimes read graphic novels. And I’m not ashamed of it (go ahead, try and stuff me in my locker, but I won’t fit).

So naturally, I was intrigued when I learned that summer reading for next year is a graphic novel. Especially since I had heard of “Persepolis” before, but only in terms of its entertainment value.

Honestly the art isn’t amazing (it’s cartoony and juvenile; think a fourth grade Gabriel Ba), but that’s beside the point.

The once green area surrounding the Wal-Mart in Constant Friendship is being uprooted and replaced by commerical development.

Construction such as this has become a common sight around Harford County. (photo

by Kaitlin Bobbin)

Leah Goss

Senior Staff

J

oni Mitchell said it best: “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”

Now Bel Air, Maryland may not be paradise material, but it sure is becoming quite the paved piece of earth. And, I am missing the green. Apparently, a row of trees lining the highways is just enough green; it’s not like oxygen is necessary or anything.

editor

letter to the DEAR EDITOR,

Construction paves green efforts The good news is there is another blessed Walgreen’s. Obviously, the environment is worth giving up for a convenience store, because six or so in one town is never enough.

The recent construction at Constant Friendship is just as disturbing. One can now see from the town homes to Wal-Mart, and everything in between. Lines of cars, smoking trucks, and, maybe a patch of grass here and there – no, wait, looks like that’s just a green plastic bag.

I guess it was just me who’s

been hearing the relentless efforts of the green movement. Sorry, guys, but it seems your work has been in vain. Sure, someone somewhere recycled for a day, but still destruction, parading as construction, continues.

Now, don’t get me wrong, paved roads are nice. I’m not in favor of returning to horse-drawn carriages and dirt paths (though that does seem quite nostalgic, no?). I simply wish that Harford County could explore an avenue of moderation, of doing the necessary, but still keeping the nice, the green.

facts out in an opening essay before the actual content. There is that little bit of straight reading, but I think you can manage a page and a half. You may even learn something. Like that the USA experiences a level of peace unknown in Iranian society, where they always have had negative forces working on the inside.

In the case of “Persepolis,” it is fundamentalists. But you won’t understand why unless you read.

So honestly, this summer, take the at most two hours to read “Persepolis,” even if you are a senior like me. You can always pretend afterward that you’re still too cool to care.

I would like to address the article in “The Renegade.” Kristin Marzullo bemoaned the last year, calling it the “Worst year ever.”

As an involved faculty member who has served as SAC moderator for ten years and a coach for fourteen years, I can offer a perspective on her article.

Dale Carnegie said, “Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain- and most fools do.” This is an open letter to the student body. If you find that your school lacks school spirit, what have you done about it? Have you joined the SAC? Have you run for class office? This year for the SAC, there was one candidate for President, one for Vice-President. No one ran for Secretary or Treasurer.

There has not been a contested SAC election since 2004. This year, no one ran for Senior Member at Large.

Do you attend athletic events?

Two years ago, the student body packed the Gym for our basketball games. The last two years not so much. We pack the house for our concerts, but how many of those people are family members?

The SAC sponsors Pep Rallies and Spirit week. During the Pep

rallies, the student population is disinterested at best. No one seems interested in building school spirit; individuals and groups would rather shout across the Gym the other classes “suck.” Individuals tear down decorations, write on walls, throw paint, and even fight.

Now, explain why the SAC should even bother organizing events and activities when the community does not support these efforts in the spirit they are intended?

Beyond that, the author opted not to run for a leadership position in her class, or the SAC. Rather, she like so many would rather sit back and grouse as opposed to actually trying to improve the climate. That is the easy way out.

My suggestion is that everyone who thinks this place ‘sucks’; you can criticize, condemn, and complain or you can step up and try to improve the climate of the school.

Even if it is just going to an athletic event, a play, a concert, or helping out with the SAC, your class, or anything pertaining the school; your involvement can make a difference. Do not wait for other people to improve school spirit. My challenge? Put up or shut up.

Mr. Rodney Johnson

Editorials 10i to

Volume 44 . Number 6 . June 2009

The Patriot

Administration buckles down on men’s uniform

over what they wore each morning while the other half lost the last part of the uniform that was still addle shoes, matching open for them to choose. skirts, and uniform white The fact that, in four short polos. Looking around the hall- years, the entire school will have ways, one cannot help but notice a standard uniform may seem disthe discrepancy between the girls’ heartening to next year’s incoming uniform and the boys’ dress code. class, especially the male portion, From freshman to senior year, the but I doubt the skirt-wearing popuboys have a choice of shirts and lation of the school will be comcan wear whatever khakis they plaining. I would like to applaud please. the administration for making the But all that is about to change, decision to equalize the uniform and it is about time. policy.

Standing at the office Now the boys, doors on the Class of just like the girls, I cannot help 2013’s Orientation will have uniform Night, I watched the shoes. The solid but feel a sense parents of male stubrown shoes, like of long-awaited dents emerge from the new uniform satisfaction at this the Brown Room khakis, are availchange. dragging their sons able from Flynn by the hand. and O’Hara. The Half of them were winter uniform borderline outraged: “We have to will also see some changes. Black buy uniforms for next year! Seri- blazers will be required for all ously?” The other boys were just boys. as frustrated. “I was finally getting Matching blazers and uniform away from wearing the same tie shoes are not the end of the world, every day,” I heard one incoming but rather a final step toward unifreshman say. formity at JC. In my time here, the Their feelings are certainly un- uniform has evolved from blue or derstandable, but as a female who white or yellow shirts and blue or has worn the same color skirt ev- black skirts with brown or black ery day for four years and the same shoes and semi-matching polos to shoes for two, I cannot help but the full homogeny that will begin feel a sense of long-awaited satis- next year. faction at this change.

Whether or not you agree with Earlier this year, when “The Pa- the change, the truth is that consistriot” informed the school of the tency looks better, and really, who modification to the girls’ uniform has time to figure out what to wear with the addition of saddle shoes, in the morning when you’re still we expressed our outrage that half trying to finish math homework of the school still had some say over breakfast?

Natalie Shaw

Senior Staff

S

Cartoon by Brooke Basta

Flu frenzy takes flight Elly Dannenfelser

Senior Staff

I

magine walking into your doctor’s office for a normal checkup. Then imagine not being able to fit inside the waiting room because of the grown men and women flooding the front desk demanding their child be seen, because according to their “professional” opinion, their child definitely has the swine flu.

In reality, their kid only has the common cold, but since there has been a whopping total of 643 confirmed cases in the United States, every single cough and sneeze needs to be examined.

The number 643 may seem like a significant daunting number. In reality, that’s only a fraction of a percentage of the number of people who contract influenza in an average year. So why is everyone freaking out about the swine flu?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the swine flu is a hybrid, with genetic ele-

ments from swine, avian and human strains of influenza. Because this strain of the flu is new, seasonal flu shots do not prevent against infection. In other words, it’s the same flu with the same symptoms of the normal flu – but with a newfound resilience.

The main reason this specific strain caused such a massive reaction was due to fears of a repeat of the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak, a disastrous outbreak that killed more than 100 million people in one year.

Think about it this way: in 1918, health care was nowhere near as advanced as it is today. In the United States, you can drive down Route 24 and pass both a hospital and a Patient First. There is a ridiculous amount of health care to find in such a small area. And, if all else fails, there’s a funeral parlor across the street.

Today, we’re prepared for anything: bumps, scrapes, serious injury and even the resulting death.

Just kidding - you’re more likely going to need the latter for a car

accident than the swine flu.

Thus far, only two Americans have died as a result of the swine flu, the first being a 23-monthold child in Texas who traveled to America from Mexico and the second a 33-year-old woman from Texas who suffered a pre-existing condition before she became infected. The people who have died thus far have been people with weak immune systems, not healthy teenagers from Harford County whose parents call their doctor after one sneeze.

Basic things to know: practice good hygiene. Don’t be a den of filth. Wash your hands more than usual, don’t sneeze or cough in people’s faces, basic things like that. All of this common knowledge is “prescribed” by doctors to stay healthy all year.

So seriously everyone, sit down, calm down and put away the industrial-sized Purell bottle.

If you start to feel the symptoms of the flu, make an appointment with your doctor but please, stop freaking out!

“

,,

The Patriot steps into the future Newspaper meets the Internet Daniel Gallen

Editor in Chief

C

hange.

It affects everything and “The Patriot” is no exception.

“The Patriot” is pleased to announce that it will be going online for the 2009-2010 school year.

The driving force behind this is former Editor in Chief Natalie Shaw, whose Senior Project was to put the paper online. The idea was brought to Shaw’s attention by “The Patriot” Moderator Mark Ionescu as a way to make the content of “The Patriot” more accessible to the general public. On a college visit to the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, Shaw saw that the school wanted to move their newspaper online. Seeing this paper’s change in action, the idea seemed closer to fruition.

After reviewing several host sites, Ionescu and Shaw settled on one that fit the paper’s budget and provided easy navigation for the user. Since settling on the site, Shaw has been posting stories and pictures from “The Patriot” archives to the site, getting a general

feel for the site and its features. dents, parents and alumni before it Moving “The Patriot” online becomes old news. “The Patriot” fits into JC’s longtime motto of can also reach a wider audience “Go Into the New.” Starting in through online publication. While the 2006 school year with laptops, the award-winning writing in the and continuing in newspaper will the years since, the still be distributed school has dived in the print ediSupplementing the tion throughout head first into the print content with the school, it will world of technolthe online content now be available ogy.

From the e-upwill be a great chal- to readers everydates that are sent lenge for the staff, where. to parents to PrinAs Editor in but one that will be Chief, I am excitcipal Paul Barker’s met with enthusiasm ed for this move blog, JC has made and vigor. an effort to include to the online editechnology in evtion. I feel that ery aspect of the supplementing school. the print content with the online It only makes sense that our stu- content will be a great challenge dent-produced publication would for the staff, but one that will be make the change as well. met with enthusiasm and vigor.

This move allows “The Patriot” I hope having the online edition to publish content as soon as it will encourage more students to becomes available, increasing the read and recognize the talents of timeliness of stories. This has the their peers, along with helping greatest effect on sports and news, the students be more informed. as game results and reactions can Content from this issue of be online within hours of a game’s “The Patriot” along with content final whistle, and breaking news from previous issues this year is within the school can reach stu- available at www.jcpatriot.com.

“

,,

Journalism student Allison Walczyk looks over the Patriot website. The Patriot staff is extremely excited to use the internet to reach readers. (Photo by Katie Doherty)

11 Features

Volume 44 . Number 6 . June 2009

The Patriot

Elly Dannenfelser Sports Editor

Dannenfelser is majoring in parks and recreation management with a focus on adventure sports at Frostburg, while also playing first seed for their tennis team. Her stuffed manatee Gary Coleman has been embraced by “The Patriot” staff as their mascot. Her style, highlighted by her neon sweatshirt and duct taped shoes, became a common sight at school athletic events. Dannenfelser has given three years of dedicated service to the staff.

Rebecca O’Brien Business Manager

O’Brien is the unsung hero of the “The Patriot” staff, a three year staff member who coordinated all of the finances, allowing the paper to be financially stable and able to be published. As Business Manager she got “The Patriot” the funds it needed to be self-sufficient. O’Brien will be attending James Madison University to major in either education or business.

Leah Goss Copy Editor

Goss was one of the unsung heroes of the paper, working behind the scenes in order to make each issue the pristine product that it was. Goss was extremely observant of everything that happened on the staff, leading her to know what needed to be changed in the paper. Goss will be furthering her education at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, where she will major in communications.

Nick Temple Copy Editor

Temple made valuable contributions to the staff for three years, such as footing a $150 Chinese food bill for which he was never repaid. His writing skills, specifically his game reviews (the review for “Fallout” won the International Quill and Scroll best review award) and political editorials, will be missed. He will take his talents to Hood College to major in broadcasting.

Michelle Cvach Entertainment Editor

Cvach designed Entertainment’s pages, as well as creating memorable graphics, from the Rubik’s Cube to her reality shows design. After three years on the paper, she is attending Penn State-Hazelton to major in communications and will be a baton twirler for the Penn State Blue Band during her time there.

Evan Conley In-Depth Editor

Conley will be pursuing a double major in biochemistry and Russian at Franklin and Marshall next fall. He is responsible for decorating the Patriot Room with “sea kitten” (more commonly known as fish) signs during his first year on the paper.

Natalie Shaw Editor in Chief

Shaw balanced a hectic academic, athletic, and extracurricular schedule along with being Editor in Chief, but provided firm leadership the whole way. Leading a staff of high school teens, Shaw steered the paper in the direction that she thought would benefit both the readers and the staff.

Shaw’s guidance will be missed as she attends the University of Mary Washington to major in English with plans to go into law school or pursue editing and publishing.

Melissa Vinton Managing Editor

A future Delaware Blue Hen, Vinton was one of the Managing Editors. Her clever front pages were key in making the paper an attractive product. Her Photoshop skills will be missed next year, along with her eye for a big front page story. Vinton helped keep an often unruly staff in line, giving her an experience that was unlike any other class she had been in before. She plans on majoring in Spanish and international business.

Dave Hatem Entertainment Editor

Hatem literally supplied entertainment for the staff. A future communications major at Juniata College in Pennsylvania, Hatem was always ready for a joke or witticism that could help lighten a stressed layout. He eagerly tried new music and helped expose the staff to new genres. Chock full of unusual stories, Hatem felt that the staff was like a second family to him, one that exposed him to many new things.

Billy Schultz In-Depth Editor

Schultz is immortalized, as he says himself, for “charming personality and the comb he always carries around to take care of his fabulous hair.” He will take his cynical attitude and cheesy pickup lines to the University of Maryland where he will major in international business.

Amanda Nguyen Copy Editor

Nguyen was a Copy Editor during her third year on the paper. She wrecked havoc at layouts, from stealing couches left in the art wing to layout photography sessions. She would also engage in battles to secure the most comfortable chair in the Patriot Room and was normally successful in this endeavor. She will be at UMBC in the fall for biochemistry and pre-medicine.

Niki Muse News Editor

As the lone News editor, Muse faced the daunting prospect of putting together a section every layout week. However, she provided the paper with some of its strongest pages. Muse felt a sense of accomplishment after seeing her finished pages. She was a member of the staff for three years and plans to attend Delaware and major in biology.

Kristen Novak Photo-Design Editor

Novak is attending James Madison for business after working as a Photo-Design Editor for Editorials and News this year. Her love for dance, obvious through her Senior Girls’ Dance choreography, was expanded through her advocacy for intense Patriot dance parties. She was a member of the staff for three years.

Faith Reilly Features Editor

Reilly is attending Salisbury to study exercise science and plans to go to school for physical therapy. Her ideas to enhance layout, although rarely put into action, were creative, such as a Mexican fiesta theme or “layou” (luau). Reilly also kept the room alive with music during her three years of service, especially through her beat boxing to Timbaland.

She, along with her co-editor, temporarily abandoned “The Patriot” for the Spanish exchange.

Megan Chlada Photo-Design Editor

Chlada felt that one of the best parts of “The Patriot” experience was interacting with Mr. I, who became “like a second dad.” A Photo-Design Editor, Chlada brought the same intensity from her time on the athletic field into the newspaper, taking to her assignments like she would to an opposing team. She played both field hockey and lacrosse, and will continue her lacrosse career at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.

Emily Burdeshaw Photo-Design Editor

Burdeshaw, affectionately known as Birdie to the staff, did photo and design for In-Depth and Sports during her first year on the paper. Birdie remains the only member of the staff brave enough to walk around the Patriot Room barefoot, regardless of all of the diseases coating the floor.

She will be attending St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Ashley Powers Editorials Editor

Powers revolutionized the section with her bitterly sarcastic attacks on the horrors of school, from the infamous Senior Projects to the saddle shoes articles, which, while addressing the uniform policy, was potentially influential in causing the incoming freshmen boys to take steps towards uniforms. She was a member of “The Patriot” for one year.

Powers is attending Towson University and will bring joy to the music department there.

Katie O’Hara Photo-Design Editor

O’Hara went out of her way nearly every issue in order to bring the readers the best photographs, even taking pictures at the Polar Bear Plunge this past winter. Her photos and designs were staples of her sections. She will be attending Nicholls State in Louisiana in the fall where she will be educated in the culinary arts.

Sports 12i to

Volume 44 . Number 6 . June 2009

Boys’ and girls’ track teams finish strong Katelynn Colgain

Editor

Alumni pose with current players after their heated game. The traditionwas postponed due to rainy weather. (Photo courtesy of Sue Greig)

Boys’ lax faces off with alumni Katie O’Hara

Senior Staff

A

lumni students raced around the field, cradled the lacrosse balls and shot them into the goals. Spectators cheered as veterans from the JC community took up the game one last time during the thirty-fifth annual Men’s Alumni Lacrosse Game. However, a slight change was added this year as the game’s name was officially changed to the Ed Miller/Jim Long Old Timers’ Game.

The game, traditionally held on the Sunday of the Country Fair, was postponed to Mother’s Day following poor weather at the fair. “We normally have at least fifty people show up,” said Miller, although a mere crowd of forty attended this year.

“It’s a great tradition,” said Miller, “many of the old timers have been coming for 20 to 25 years.”

Laura Flagler Smith, graduate of the class of ’94,

said her husband Owen, also in the Class of ‘94, has been attending for the past 15 years, “He really gets all excited about playing again.

This is really the only time each year that he does get to play,” said Smith.

The Alumni game consistently attracts fans year after year. “It’s the camaraderie,” said Sue Greig, ‘78, who has organized the event for the past 14 years.

Miller agreed, “It’s all good fun with a little competition thrown in…that can’t be denied.”

The teams are split up according to graduation years, odd years versus even years.

The game was refereed

by Mike Seluski, ’77. “He referees for rec. lacrosse and decided that this year he would rather ref the game than play,” Greig said, laughing.

“This is such a great tradition. And now we’re starting to pick up a whole new generation,” said Greig, “Hopefully it will be one that continues.”

T

he middle of May is the most important time of year for the outdoor track team. The heat, the pressure, and the competition of all the high schools in the MIAA/IAAM Conference come out to challenge each other. Students run the best times of their careers here, and breaking records is not uncommon.

This two-day event is filled with nailbiting moments, frantic parents, and athletes who have worked all season to seek vengeance on their biggest competitors by out-running, out-jumping, or outthrowing them.

The events began Wednesday, May 13 at Calvert Hall College High School, host of the outdoor championships. The girls’ team set the tone early with a second place finish in the 4x800 meter relay behind McDonogh. Sophomore Elizabeth Tauber, part of the 4x800 team, earned her second silver medal of the championships in the 3200 meter run in a time of 11:40.

The second day of the meet on Saturday, May 16 consisted of the 1600 meter run, the 800 meter run, the 4x200 meter relay, and the 4x400 meter relay. Senior Melissa Vinton shocked the competition, finishing second in the 800 meter run with a personal best time of 2:28.

Ian Richardson entered the 800 meter run as one of the favorites, qualifying second overall. During the race on Saturday, Richardson was boxed in early and was unable to make up the lead of first place finisher Phil August of Mt. St. Joseph’s.

Richardson finished with a personal best and a new school record of 1:59.4.

“The one guy who stepped it up the most was Ian Richardson. He worked very hard over the course of the year and it paid off by him becoming one of the best middle distance runners in the MIAA,” said coach Rob Torres.

Richardson was not the only one who stepped up in track this year. “Other guys that made a big impact on the team were Dan Smith in the jumps and hurdles, Brian Hunt and Tyler Boyd in sprints, Ben

Pickett, Chris Kunkel, and Dan Gallen in distance, and Jimmy Schultz in pole vault and throws,” said Torres.

Tauber backed up her 3200 meter performance with an impressive 5:24 1600 meter run, good for fourth place. Freshman Ben Pickett recorded personal bests in both the 1600 and 3200 with times of 4:42 and 10:13, respectively. Fellow freshman Taylor Battaglia joined Pickett in the double, running times of 5:50 and 12:43 for the girls.

One of the biggest surprises of the girls’ team was sophomore Amanda Hudak’s performance in the 800 meters and the 1600 meters. Hudak spent most of the season under the radar, but had her breakout performance at championships qualifying for the 800 finals on Wednesday before setting a personal record on Saturday with a ninth-place finish in 2:34 in the 800. Earlier in the day, Hudak had finished third in her heat of the 1600, good for twelfth place overall in a time of 5:38, also a personal best.

In the girls’ triple jump, junior Alesia Etinoff finished fourth with a length of 32 feet. For the boys’ triple jump, senior Dan Smith placed tenth with a jump of 39 feet.

Etinoff also partook in the long jump and 100 meter hurdles. Smith similarly did the long jump and pole vaulting.

The performance of the girls’ team led to a third place finish behind champion McDonogh and Seton Keough and the boys’ team finished ninth in the 15-team MIAA. During the season, the girls’ team finished with a 5-4 record in the IAAM ‘A’ Conference, and the boys finished 5-3 in the MIAA ‘B’ Conference.

“For the number of guys we had, I’m proud of how the guys did this season.

There was improvement throughout from the veterans, and we had some new guys who showed a lot of potential,” said Torres. The girls similarly impressed their coach. “Like the guys, I’m proud of how the girls did this season. We had an excellent senior class, and the freshmen look like one of the better freshmen classes I’ve ever seen since I’ve been at JC,” said Torres.

of the Month Taylor Zimmerman

Matt Giannelli

Senior Taylor Zimmerman has been playing softball since she was five years old and joined the varsity team when she was a sophomore. Zimmerman controls third base on the field but says that she is happy to play any position, except for pitcher. Zimmerman’s best memory from varsity softball is the year that the team made it to the championship game. “We didn’t win, but it was a great experience,” said Zimmerman. Zimmerman is a two sport athlete, like her fellow Patriot of the Month, playing on the varsity soccer team during the fall. Outside of JC softball, Zimmerman plays for the Forest Hill Heat. She is going to Stevenson University next year and is planning on playing softball for the school team.

Senior Matt Giannelli has been a member of the varsity lacrosse team since his junior year and has been playing since he was 10. On the field, Giannelli plays attack, a position that gives him in a chance to score. Giannelli’s favorite memory from varsity lacrosse comes from last year’s championship game at Towson University. “Even though we lost, just playing in such a large stadium was exciting in itself,” said Giannelli.

He played with a club team, the Harford Renegades, over the summer and an indoor team with many of his teammates during the winter. Off of the lacrosse field, Giannelli was a member of the varsity football team. Giannelli is going to Virginia Tech next year, and is planning on trying out for their lacrosse club team.

The Patriot

Overtime

with Daniel Gallen

Lessons Learned

T

he beginning of the MLB season is a time where hope springs eternal, as the old adage says. Every team is winless and every team has a shot at winning the World Series. The outfield grass is green, the pitching mound is perfectly manicured and the idea that their team will win pervades through the players.

But it doesn’t take long for us to all find how quickly this can disappear.

After the death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart because of a tragic car crash involving a drunk driver that also took the lives of two others and critically injured another, we were reminded how something that seems to be a mainstay can disappear.

The night Adenhart died, he had pitched six scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics in his fourth major league start. Angels fans, and baseball fans everywhere, felt that the 22-year-old was destined to be something special.

It would not be so.

Adenhart showed us a glimpse of greatness. Fans who saw what Adenhart did that night know what they saw. It becomes an “I was there…” moment for those who watched in the stadium, on television, or on the web. They saw his last major league start, hours before his life would be unfairly taken.

This gives a life lesson to all of us, as athletes or as spectators. As athletes, we know we have to give our all every time we step out onto the court, the field, the track or the pitch. A feeling of invincibility can intern itself deep inside us, the thoughts of “I don’t feel like it today, maybe next time” can make us hold back because we don’t feel like performing full out. But there might not be a next time.

It might not be a car crash or a death. It could be a sudden change in team chemistry or horrible weather conditions in the next game. Fact is, things won’t be the same. We need to take advantage of what we have when we have it and give our all when we have the opportunity.

As fans, we can’t take what we’re seeing for granted. A fan watching Adenhart pitch might have thought, “Well, I can change the channel. He’ll do the same thing next week.” But that fan missed out on something special.

That fan missed the best performance of a blossoming career about to be cut short.

It’s our job not to be that fan or that athlete who missed out on something special.