The Patriot March 2013, Issue 5, Vol 48

the

www.jcpatriot.com Issue 5, Volume 48

March 2013

Changing Times

Women have come a long way, from getting the right to vote in 1920 to being allowed in combat in 2013. History is playing out right before our eyes, but are people still passionately invested in politics? Are they aware of the struggles and sacrifices it took to get to where we are today?

See news 2 for more

L i f es t y l es 5

High school romances don’t always end in high school. The Patriot investigates high school relationships and highlights some alumni marriages.

In-Depth 8-9

The Patriot examines the effectiveness of the SAT, the role it plays in college acceptance, and the cost of scoring well.

Sports 15

With new rule changes for men’s lacrosse and an upcoming game against a team from California, the team suits up for another season.

Index News...................................2 Lifestyles...............................4 A&E.....................................7 In-Depth...............................8 Opinion...............................11 Sports................................14 The John Carroll School 703 E Churchville Rd Bel Air, MD 21014

news 2

thepatriot March 2013

JC

INSIDER

Harford County honors Arbor Day Rebecca Driver Copy Editor

Students show political ignorance, intelligence

Photo by Sydney Setree

Emily Clarke Print Chief

One hundred years ago, 5,000 women joined together to march for women’s suffrage, the right to vote, in Washington D.C. Today, 54 percent of JC students cannot identify which amendment granted women’s suffrage.

The Patriot conducted a survey to test JC’s political knowledge, looking at issues like women’s suffrage while also seeking answers to general government-related questions.

Based on a survey of 21 advisories, totaling 206 students, JC follows the national trend of political indifference. Out of the 10 questions, no question was answered correctly by more than 78 percent of students.

When asked who the Vice President of the U.S. was, 78 percent of students answered Joe Biden, the highest percentage of students

19th Amendment

In 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed which allowed women to vote.

Equal pay for women

In the 1960s, a movement called feminism or women’s liberation called for equal pay for women.

to answer correctly.

Conversely, one percent of students correctly named the five first amendment freedoms. Most questions, however, varied between 40 and 60 percent correctly answered.

Less than half of the students identified which amendment gave women the right to vote. When asked “Should the United States end women’s suffrage?” 34 percent of students answered yes. Of that 34 percent, 47 percent were female. Six percent of students didn’t answer the question.

Social studies teacher Brian Powell believes that all people should know the answers to some basic political questions. “There’s a basic red line that if you fall below it, I question if you’re an educated person. To be a well-rounded person, there are certain basic political or government knowledge questions that you should know. It’s the same for basic science,

enough to have a valid opinion.”

According to a 1,000 person study conducted by Newsweek in 2011, 38 percent of the people in the study failed the U.S. citizenship test. The citizenship test is a 100-question test about American government, history, civics, and rights. Immigrants have to pass the test to become citizens. The questions on the citizenship test are very similar to some of those asked on the survey given to JC students.

According to sophomore Brian Holden, he took the citizenship test in social studies teacher Rodney Johnson’s government class and passed.

“He wanted to see how much we cared about politics and what we already knew,” Holden said.

Senior Nick Druelinger said he’s “decently informed … you need to be informed because [the government’s] decisions will affect your life.”

Students’ Political Knowledge In a Patriot survey, students were asked ten questions concerning political knowledge. The graph below represents a portion of the questions students answered with the percentages of wrong answers compared to correct answers.

Percent of Wrong Answers Who is the Vice President of the United States?

22%

How many senators are there per state?

47%

Name one of the Supreme Court justices.

92%

Women How many seats fighting on the are in the House of front lines Representatives?

In January of 2013, the ban on women serving in the front lines was lifted.

math, and language arts,” he said.

JC is following a similar trend to the U.S. of political knowledge being low. In a survey from “Money, Participation, and Votes,” the U.S. was ranked 138 out of 170 countries for voter turnout in elections. The Center for the Study of the American Electorate showed that 57.5 percent of all eligible voters voted in the 2012 election, compared to 62.3 percent who voted in 2008.

According to Powell, people’s belief in whether or not they can make a difference affects their interest in politics. “A lot of it has to do with the belief that you can make a difference.

As people see dysfunction in Washington they tone politics out. Why consider how it functions?”

Junior Kaley Martin echoes Powell’s thoughts. “I think [politics] impact my life, but I can’t do anything to change it . . . I feel like I’m not old

What are the five freedoms promised by the First Amendment?

59% 99% In an survey of the random advisories on March 7, 2013. The Patriot received 206 responses. The margin of error for this survey is +/- 4 percent.

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Harford County will celebrate Arbor Day on March 29 to recognize the tenth year of achieving the Tree City USA award. The National Arbor Day foundation gives this award to “recognize the work of elected officials, staff, and citizens who plant and care for the community,” according to harfordcountymd.gov.

Arbor Day activities will be held at Edgewood Elementary School where volunteers will plant “500 seedlings and 130 balled and burlapped street trees,” according to harfordcountymd. gov.

According to Outreach Coordinator Tony Martin, Arbor Day “is open to the student body and is a great way to give back to the community and environment.”

Teachers convert to new SharePoint Hope Kelly Managing Editor For the next school year, teachers will be required to switch from their current SharePoint sites, where students can view assignments and get course documents, to a more convenient version. According to Director of Technology Greg Russell, the old sites will be shut off in June.

“The person hosting the [original] one is basically retiring and closing up shop,” Russell said.

The teachers will be switching to the new program Office 365, which they currently use for email, but they have never utilized it for SharePoint as well.

This change will allow everything to be conveniently under one username and password, as it is linked to their email accounts.

TV production refines TV News Brianna Glase Online Chief The next time advisories view the JC TV News, they will no longer be watching students at a table reading off the Daily Bulletin.

Instead, TV Production teacher Bob Schick has restructured the class so that students will be able to create more realistic newscasts.

Instead, the usual reading of the Daily Bulletin with weather and sports reports will be varied with “packages” of interviews on a certain topic.

With the implementation of this plan comes an adjustment period. “It takes a while to film and put together, especially since this is their first attempt,” Schick said.

“I think it’s going to be awesome, we just have to get faster so we can produce more content.”

3 news

thepatriot March 2013

Students travel to perform service Caitlin Wolfarth News Editor Junior Kate Rizzieri sat in the blazing sun during her break from hammering nails into wooden boards and listened to the incredible stories of the people she helped during Appalachia Work Camp. While there, she helped families who needed something built or repaired, and gained a life-changing experience as well.

Rizzieri first heard of the Appalachia Work Camp when she saw it advertised in the Daily Bulletin.

“I read the advertisement and thought it sounded cool. I always wanted to do a mission trip, but my parents wouldn’t let me go far away. This seemed like the perfect opportunity,” she said.

The Appalachia Work Camp helps poor, oppressed or marginalized people who need something built but can’t afford it. During her trip last summer, Rizzieri and her group of other volunteers rebuilt a deck with a wheelchair ramp for an elderly couple. “[The Appalachia Work Camp] is a lot of fun,” Rizzieri said. “If you do it once, you have to do it again. It changes your life.”

Rizzieri plans to go again this

summer.

The Appalachia Work Camp is not the only service trip opportunity available for students.

This is the first year JC is offering a service trip to Honduras with social studies teacher Jake Hollin. Fourteen seniors will be going on the week-long service trip towards the end of May as a part of their senior projects.

Students will be staying at Greenfield Children’s home in Roatan, Honduras. While there, each student will be involved in a different project, but they will all be working with children from the children’s home. The students will be doing mini sports camps for the kids, working in the medical clinic, crafting art projects, and tutoring children.

Hollin got the idea of doing service trips through JC two to three years ago. Hollin and his wife worked with the Peace Corps 15 years ago for two years. “[The Peace Corps] was an amazing experience,” Hollin said. “I wanted to give a glimpse of that to students here.”

“I am nervous for the trip because I know it will be very shocking when we get down there and take up the same lifestyle that the

Photo courtesy Kate Rizzieri

Junior Kate Rizzieri and Loyal Blakefield senior Peter Barber add support beams to a house to prevent it from collapsing during the Appalachia Work Camp. In addition to the Appalachia Work Camp, JC is offering a trip to Honduras for seniors to complete their senior projects. people there live. But I am also so, so excited because I know it will be incredible and will change my life,” senior Rebecca Kotula said.

According to Kotula, seniors who are going on the trip have been given bookmarks with photos of the children on them so they can pray for them.

Kotula first heard about this service trip through the Daily Bulletin as well. “I didn’t pay much attention to it for a while.

Then my mom mentioned it to me one day and it sounded interesting, so I looked into it further,” Kotula said.

“When I heard about the trip I was going through a tough time,

and it felt like it would be the perfect thing for me. I have never been on a mission trip before, and it seemed like it would be a trip that would completely change me for the better,” Kotula said.

“Service trips are great because it gets people out of their comfort zone,” Hollin said. “You end up getting as much as you give.”

Operation Rice Bowl raises money for charities Sydney Setree Managing Editor

Photo by Sydney Setree

Junior Sam Foard walks around Religion Department Chair Joseph Gallen’s Medical Ethics class with the rice bowl. The religion department is collecting rice bowl donations from Ash Wednesday to March 27.

Each year during the Lenten season, religion classes initiate Operation Rice Bowl, a chance for students to help the less fortunate by donating money.

Donations are contributed to four different charities. Since Catholic Relief Services (CRS) controls the program, some funds are given to this international organization. Other charities that receive donations are Smile Train, Hands Together, and Big Laurel Learning Center.

“The [Rice Bowl program] experience has been helpful to all of us to make us more aware of where we spend our money and how that money could better serve our local and global community,” religion teacher

Elise Gower said.

Students share the same outlook about the spirit of giving to those in need. “It makes me feel grateful for what I have and how lucky I am,” junior Jordan Flagler said.

“The rice bowls help us improve our kindness towards others, and it gives us a more special meaning to the Lenten season,” sophomore Lauren Wenig said.

“It helps me to be more generous and not think about myself,” freshman Nick Moscati said.

According to Religion Department Chair Joseph Gallen, the rice bowl has been passed around for as long as he can remember. He began running the Operation Rice Bowl at JC in 1997.

“It inspires me that these [students] are willing to throw in their lunch

money,” Gallen said.

In comparison to previous years, the donation money has been a “greater turnout,” according to Gallen. “I never receive this much money, but this year two of my sections are already past $100,” he said. So far, the religion department has raised over $450.

Gallen always holds a competition to encourage his classes to raise more money. However, some classes are not as competitive as others.

Either way, the main purpose of the donations is almsgiving, not competition, according to religion teacher Christopher Yeung.

“By giving, we understand Christ’s gift to us which is his sacrificial love made most manifest,” Yeung said.

Operation Rice Bowl will end March 27.

Students donate blood during spring Blood Drive Meredith Haggerty In-Depth Editor Blood was oozing through the tube. Ounce by ounce senior Andrew Beain began to feel more and more faint. Right after he finished giving blood, he began to lose his vision. “I feel kind of light-headed,” he said to the nurse. Before she could react, he was already falling backwards.

“I did not eat breakfast, and it was my first time giving blood,” Beain said. Even though Beain fainted, he still plans on donating more blood in the future.

Beain, as well as other JC students, participated in the blood drive, held all day on March 14 in the upper gym.

Social studies teacher Rodney Johnson coordinates two blood

drives a year, once in the fall and once in the spring.

In order to give blood, students must have parents’ consent, be 16 years old and weigh 110 pounds, and be moderately healthy. Additionally, athletes in season could not participate in the donation.

“I thought giving blood was really cool. All people, even those who didn’t go to our school were able to come and donate to a great cause,” junior April Moscati said.

The blood donation process involves registration, medical history and mini-physical, donation, and refreshments.

“You show up [to the blood drive], and they do a personal history check to make sure you do not have any records of anything that could disqualify you from giving blood. Once they get your personal

history, they give you a basic examination and take a sample of your blood. Once you do that, they get you to a chair and the donation itself takes 20 to 30 minutes,” Johnson said.

According to redcross.org, “every blood donor is given a miniphysical, checking the donor’s temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and hemoglobin to ensure it is safe for the donor to give blood.” “[The blood drive blood] goes all over the Baltimore metro area and beyond if there is a crisis such as a hurricane or earthquake, but most of the time it stays in the Baltimore metro area,” Johnson said.

According to Moscati, “I found the donation very rewarding because everyone needs blood, and so by donating I am helping to save a life.”

Photo by Shannon Vinton

Senior Jay Etkins gives blood during the Spring Blood Drive, hosted by the American Red Cross. In order to give blood, students must be 16 years old and weigh 110 pounds, along with having their parents’ consent.

thepatriot March 2013

27.4%

15.3%

of students frequently don’t have enough time to eat due to work

lifestyles 4 of students have pulled one or two all-nighters to finish homework

Overachievers struggle in search of perfection The Patriot uncovers the busy lives of overachievers outside of school and at JC

37.3% of students have three to four hours of homework each night

24% of students

15.7%

have to finish homework during of students have to choose between activities that school frequently meet at the same time frequently of students are involved in one to three of students are involved in extracurricular activities ten or more extracurricular activities

72.8%

Brianna Glase, Hope Kelly Online Chief, Managing Editor Junior Margaret McGuirk stares at the huge pile of homework looming over her. With an essay and part of a novel to read for AP English, homework problems for Honors Pre-Calculus, a worksheet for Honors Physics, and a presentation for AP French, she takes a deep breath and realizes it will be a long night.

McGuirk is an overachiever.

According to merriam-webster. com, an overachiever is “one who achieves success over and above the standard or expected level especially at an early age.”

In particular, McGuirk excels at academics. She is ranked number one in the junior class. “I think that I am incredibly blessed to be ranked first, and I put a lot of hard work into it,” McGuirk said.

This year McGuirk is taking three AP weighted classes and three honors classes. Next year, she will take four AP weighted

classes and one honors class. McGuirk does not waste her time inside or outside of school, instead she involves herself in extracurriculars. Not only is she in Speech and Debate and the Romero Club, she also manages the field hockey team in the fall and participated in the most recent spring musical.

“Outside of school, I own a horse and ride at least five days a week. I also volunteer at Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding and am currently attending training sessions for the Student Summer Program at the National Aquarium,” she said.

Being involved has given McGuirk the opportunity to “try different things ... I am involved in my clubs and activities because I genuinely enjoy them and the people in them, not just to get them on my college transcript or show off how many things I can do,” McGuirk said.

Like McGuirk, junior Alex Gromacki enjoys being labeled as an overachiever because all of her

2.8%

classes and activities “help me create relationships and connect with people,” she said.

Through her five AP or honors level courses, four sports teams, and involvement in Girl Scouts, Gromacki believes that participating in all of these activities “sets me up for opportunities in the future.”

“

There are times when I just want to do nothing for an hour ... and I can’t because I have too much work.

Junior Margaret McGuirk

”

Not all students are overachievers, however. “I am, by no means, an overachiever, and when I see those who fall under that category, I’m glad to see that our school isn’t totally made of unmotivated morons,” senior

Andy Beain said.

Sophomore Jake Kahoe is an overachiever, though, taking five honors classes this year, and three AP classes and two honors classes next year. In addition, he participates in football, indoor track, a club rugby team, SAC, and the Respect Life Club.

Though being an overachiever may seem like a good thing, there are drawbacks. “I have little free time and don’t get enough sleep a lot of the time,” Kahoe said.

“The biggest challenge is managing time. There are times when I just want to do nothing for an hour, or take a nap, or even read a book, and I can’t because I have too much work,” McGuirk said.

In addition, the pressure of a heavy work load can become a lot to handle. “I have a lot of anxiety, pretty much all the time. Even though I love being involved in all my activities and I enjoy my classes, sometimes the work load can be really overwhelming,” McGuirk said.

According to psychology teacher Dr. Paul Lazor, “some people are overachievers because they think they need to be perfect, which is unhealthy because no one is perfect.”

Overachieving is not normally “for external purposes ... They seem to be driven by intrinsic things, not necessarily external rewards,” Lazor said.

Kahoe overachieves because he “wants to be better than everyone else.” According to him, “teachers like me more, and it’ll give me more opportunities.”

For McGuirk, “being a perfectionist” motivates her. She often holds herself “to very high standards” and hates “letting myself or others down.”

Gromacki enjoys overachieving because “it shows that I’m working hard and I’m determined to be successful,” she said.

In the end, McGuirk has found “being an overachiever is exhausting, yet strangely rewarding.”

5 lifestyles

thepatriot March 2013

Editor runs marathon for senior project Mary Kate Luft A&E Editor Every Saturday since Dec. 15 I have woken up at 6:30 a.m.

I’m sure you’re wondering what could possibly prompt me to get up that early on one of my only days to sleep in. The answer is running.

I have been training for the Washington D.C. Rock ‘n’ Roll half-marathon, which took place on March 16, through Charm City Run. I knew I would never be able to push myself to run 13.1 miles on my own. I needed a program that would motivate me to not give up.

All Charm City Run stores have training programs throughout the year for half-marathons, marathons, and 5K and 10K races.

I did my training through the Bel Air store because it is only about a mile away from my house.

My training group was led by a woman named Kelly Machala and it consisted of about 20 to 25 people. We met at the store every Saturday at 7:00 a.m. for our long run and every Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. for either a track workout at Bel Air High School or hill workout.

Machala loves hills. She would make sure there were plenty worked into our long runs and hill workouts. I hate running hills, but I appreciate the strength I have gained from running them. Run-

Photo courtesy Neal Sonnenberg

Editor Mary Kate Luft (center) running at the tenth mile in the half marathon on Sat. March 16. Luft trained since Dec. 15, 2012 for this half marathon and finished at two hours, 34 minutes, and 26 seconds.

tired until mile ten. My feet were aching and my leg muscles felt tight, so I stopped to drink water and eat some energy chews. The next three and one-tenth miles were challenging, but I finished the race in two hours, 34 minutes, and 26 seconds.

After crossing the finish line, all I could think of was “I need water.” The fact that I had run a half-marathon didn’t sink in until I met up with my family and they told me how proud they were of me. I felt proud of myself too.

Three months ago, to run a half-marathon seemed like an impossible goal. But now that I’ve completed one half-marathon, I want to run another.

Running has become a lifestyle for me. It is something that I think about every day and do almost every day. I also think about how my other decisions, such as what I eat and what activities I schedule, will affect my ability to run. Running has helped me to be healthier and live happier.

Without the Charm City Run program, I would have never even known how to train for a half-marathon, and I know that I would have given up on my goal easily.

Charm City Run gave me the inspiration, education, and motivation I needed to be able to complete a half-marathon, and it changed my lifestyle for the better.

ning hills and flatter routes has become easier for me because of the hills I was forced to run.

If I had not joined the program, I would have avoided hills at all costs. The program taught me how to train and it kept me on track.

Running with other people also made a difference in my motivation. On the worst days when the wind was howling outside and shaking my house and I didn’t feel like getting out of my warm bed, I would remember that other people were heading to the store and braving the wind and cold.

This motivated me to get myself up too.

I also found myself being inspired by the other people in the group, especially Machala. She was already a few months pregnant by the time the program began, yet she ran with us during all of our training sessions until about mid-February when she was eight months pregnant. I imagine that pregnancy can be uncomfortable, especially for physical activity, so I found it amazing that Machala kept running.

Although Machala couldn’t be at the half-marathon due to her pregnancy, she had a runner read a speech that she had written at dinner the night before the race.

I was nervous about the race the

Brian and Beth started dating May 6, 1988, and on December 17, 1994, after dating for over seven years, they married.

They have been married for 18 years and now have five children.

They include Shannon, the oldest, triplets Iain, Caleb, and Mary, and Emma the youngest.

Over the past 18 years, the pair has created many memories together, but their favorite memory was during the summer of 2002.

Every year, they drive the 12 hours up to Maine for two weeks, and while they were on vacation in 2002, they decided to take their family to Freeport for the day.

They realized that they were not going to shop. Brian found a map and located a beach that was about five minutes from town.

They spent the day at the beach.

“I found Popham Beach on the map. We spent the afternoon walking in the water and collecting seashells with the kids. It was the perfect day,” Brian said.

They alsohave humorous memories like when “the triplets decided to bring the Elmo sprinkler into my parents’ basement and turn it on in the house.”

Brian and Beth were not the only JC high school couple with a happy ending.

Social studies teacher Photo courtesy Beth Olsen Jake Hollin Alumni Brian and Bethany Harris Olsen, class of ‘90, pose for a picture at the top of Bald and his wife Mountain while on vacation in Rangeley, Maine. Beth and Brian began dating their sophomore Amy Saba- year and have been married for 18 years. tino Hollin, both class of ’92, were also high wine at Boordy Vineyard. one of his favorite memories durschool sweethearts.

According to Jake, “My wife is ing high school was when Mary Jake and Amy were close the most intelligent, caring, beau- Ellen “used to come watch me friends their sophomore and ju- tiful woman I have ever met and play soccer.” nior year, and began dating their she surprises me all the time with The Kellys have been married senior year. how hard she works, how fun she for 37 years, and some of their faWhile in college, they separat- is, and how kind she can be. I am vorite memories since they have ed, but got back together during even more head over heels for her been married include their twentheir senior year in college. Right now than 23 years ago when I first ty-fifth anniversary to Alaska and after college, they got married met her, which is hard to believe. a family trip to Disney World in and began their life together.

She is everything to me and I am the summer of 2012.

“Literally within four months grateful to God for bringing us Hollin believes that some rewe graduated college, got mar- and keeping us together. We re- lationships can fizzle out, but for ried and moved to the other side ally have been given the gift of an some, the person they date in high of the world for a few years ... We epic love story.” school becomes the person they worked for the Peace Corps in the Dave Kelly and Mary Ellen spend the rest of their life with.

Solomon Islands for the first two Carpenter Kelly, class of ‘72, also According to Hollin, “Some years of our marriage,” Jake said. got their fairytale ending. They high school sweethearts work Now, after being together for started dating summer between out, some don’t ... we are blessed 23 years, they have had many their junior and senior year and to have our wonderful daughters experiences together from hik- got married in 1975. and to be celebrating 17 years of ing the Grand Canyon to sipping Dave Kelly remembers that marriage in a few months.”

next day, but her jokes and words of encouragement, and the advice from the other runners at dinner helped to relax me.

The next morning, I took the metro over to the race. The race began at 7:30 a.m., but I didn’t actually start until about 8:10 a.m. because I was in corral 24.

There were multiple corrals, each comprised of 1,000 people. Each corral started a few minutes after each other to space the runners out and avoid any trampling.

The race didn’t get too tough until mile ten. I had to walk a bit of the hill at mile six and I stopped at mile seven for some Gatorade, but I didn’t really get

Student romances endure past JC Shannon Olsen Lifestyles Editor Finally reaching the peak of the mountain, Brian Olsen looked over at his girlfriend Bethany Harris. He was impressed by the fact that she was the only girl on the trip who hiked the mountain.

He knew in that moment that he was in love with her.

Alumni Brian Olsen and Bethany Harris Olsen, both class of ’90, went on Vice Principal of Academics Gary Scholl and English teacher Dick Paaby’s A.W.E. trip to Monongahela National Park, WV during their junior year.

At Freshman Orientation, incoming freshmen are told that they could potentially be sitting next to the person they will marry.

There are approximately 8,000 alumni that graduated from JC, and five percent, about 400 alumni are married to other JC alumni.

Brian and Beth are one of the couples included in this statistic.

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thepatriot March 2013

“

I don’t think cheating is a good idea, but as long as they don’t take my answers ... then it’s their decision.

G

The Patriot catches cheating students redhanded and uncovers the truth behind dishonesty.

An anonymous survery was sent to students to evaluate their cheating habits and attentiveness to other students’ deceit.

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Anonymous Survey Response

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r e gi h

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Lo

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lifestyles 6

“

”

I cheat when the subject isn’t interesting.

Anonymous Survey Response

”

44.6%

of students admitted to cheating.

Math & Religion are tied as classes where students see the most cheating occur. 34.6 percent voted each of them the highest.

85.6% Photo by Shannon Olsen

of students who admitted to cheating say that they cheated to get a better grade.

This survey was conducted by the Patriot using surveymonkey.com. 202 students answered the survey. This survey has a +/- 4 percent accuracy rate.

Teacher Spotlight:

Ashleigh Stall, German Teacher Stats

Lauren Fabiszak In-Depth Editor

Subject: Honors German I, II, III, IV; AP German Years teaching: Two years Interesting fact: “I’m really into zombies right now, like ‘The Walking Dead,’ and playing zombie dice games. I’m also a big college basketball fan.”

Pet Peeves: Students coming to class without a book.

Looking out of her window, all that German teacher Ashleigh Stall could see was darkness.

The sun wasn’t up yet, because the ride to Berchtesgaden, Germany was six hours long, and she and her group of four friends had to wake up at five a.m. to catch their train.

“We only had three and a half hours of sleep,” Stall said. Her group planned the trip to Berchtesgaden to visit Hitler’s Eagle Nest on their last day in Germany. “We missed our bus to get up there, and we could only be there for three hours. We tried to take a taxi, but they could only take four [out of the five] of us,” she said.

When they finally got there, her group only had 30 minutes in the nest, but “it was the most incredible feeling in my life. It was an eerie yet beautiful place,” Stall said. “It started to rain, but we were so high up we were in the rain cloud. I really felt the presence of God.” “That was the first time I really got to put my German skills to good use too, because all of my friends were beginners [in speaking German],” Stall said. Stall has been teaching German for two years now. She was born in Germany and is fluent in the language, although she and her family moved to the U.S. when she was six months old.

“My ancestors are from Germany, but I don’t have any relatives that live there anymore,” Stall said. As a college student, Stall studied in Ger-

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German teacher Ashleigh Stall sits on Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden, Germany. Stall was born in Germany and moved to the U.S. at a young age. many twice. Once was for an entire summer, which was Stall recalls as her “best memory of Germany.” The other was on her school’s German exchange program. Stall is actively working on the JC German exchange and will go back to the country with students in 2014.

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Caveman diet challenges modern dieters

Healthy you

By Ashley Beyer The paleolithic diet may have been so easy a caveman could do it, but the diet is not quite as easy for the current Homo sapiens that walk the earth, eating their fried Twinkies and fudge cakes.

The paleolithic diet, or paleo diet as it is more commonly known, is the diet that cavemen adhered to in the hunter-gatherer era of food. In simpler terms, if you couldn’t pick it off of a plant or throw a spear at it while it ran, you didn’t eat it.

In the modern day, this diet includes fruits and vegetables, fish, grass-produced meats, nuts, and seeds. Basically, all foods that are not processed.

Some items banned from this regimen are dairy, grains, or legumes, because these items were not available before or during the paleolithic era. It may seem odd that dairy is on the list of things to avoid, but that’s because milk was not always intended for human consumption, other than as an infant. Humans are currently the only species that drink milk after infancy.

While it seems easy to eat fruits, veggies, and unprocessed meats, the challenge comes when you get tired of the sparse menu.

Almost every item in my pantry, from peanut butter to pasta, was off limits, so for two days my meals consisted of fruit and meat.

Although I was craving other foods that are just as healthy and beneficial, I held out through Monday and Tuesday, but had to deviate slightly on Wednesday because I had gotten sick. Because of my sore throat, congestion, runny nose, and frequent headaches, I decided it would be best to have some chicken noodle soup for lunch and then resume the diet.

On Thursday night and Friday during Senior Retreat, I ran into challenges because there were not a lot of options for me at dinner and no meat on Friday at all during Lent, so while I tried to stick to the paleo diet, I did have to eat some foods that were prohibited.

While it’s hard to avoid foods like peanut butter, yogurt, or the occasional chocolate snack, the paleo diet is beneficial for people with a lot of discipline and willpower.

The diet is believed to work well because “our bodies are genetically programmed to eat like our Paleolithic ancestors,” according to webmd.com. The paleo diet doesn’t just make you feel healthier, it also lowers “the risk of cardiovascular disease and blood pressure,” also according to webmd.com.

Though I will not be sticking to the diet, cavemen were definitely on to something for their longterm health.

7 A&E

quick

Picks:

Mindy’s Nails & Tan

804 Conowingo Rd Bel Air, MD 21014 (410) 638-7444

Rating Mindy’s provides welldone manicures and nail designs for a reasonable price.

Mary Kate Luft A&E Editor I can’t stop staring at my nails after having them manicured at Mindy’s Nails & Tan. My nails went from being misshapen, rough, and embarrassing to smooth, neatly filed, and colorful.

Now I’m proud to show them off.

Mindy’s offers a variety of nail services including manicures, french manicures, pedicures, nail

extensions, and gel and acrylic nail treatments. The prices of these treatments range from $7 to just get your nails painted to $55 for a full set of a French gel manicure. in either pink or white.

Mindy’s also has tanning beds.

A one-time tan is $6, a month of tanning is $50, and six tanning sessions with no expiration date are $30. High school students, with their parents’ permission, can tan and receive a discount on the month of tanning.

Mindy’s signature service is nail designs. They have any design imaginable from zebra stripes to the Ravens’ mascot. Designs on two nails cost an additional $5, while designs on every nail cost $15.

I decided to simply get my nails painted light pink. However, I upgraded to get the shellac manicure. At $30, it costs over twice the price for a normal manicure, which is $12, but it is worth it, because the polish is said to not chip for over two weeks. My nails have yet to chip after a few days, even after working at an ice cream shop, where my nails often take a harsh beating.

thepatriot March 2013

The Patriot staff nails down the best nail salons in Harford County

Photo by Mary Kate Luft

The manicurist did a great job with my mangy nails. She gently cut my cuticles without making them bleed and filed, buffed and painted my nails. She didn’t talk much with me, but I didn’t mind at all. “The Millionaire Matchmaker” was on the TV in the sa-

lon, so I was occupied.

The owners and staff of the salon were very friendly, and Mindy’s was clean for the most part.

I noticed some nail dust, but I did not see any large or worrisome amounts of dust, dirt, or any noticeable stains. I felt comfortable

Chic Nails

Town Nails & Spa 10 N Main St Bel Air, MD 21014 (410) 836-8868

692 Baltimore Pike Bel Air, MD 21014 (410) 638-7922

Rating

Rating

Town Nails & Spa is an exceptionally clean nail salon with wonderful service.

Despite high prices, Chic Nails provides tons of options and great service.

Meredith Haggerty

Emily Clarke

In-Depth Editor As the manicurist swept my nails with bright pink polish and wiped away polish that was left on my fingers, I could not help but think of how great of a job Town Nails and Spa does at painting nails.

The place itself was immacuate and well organized when I walked in. I was blown away by how clean it was. There was not one speck of dust on the floor or on the counters. The employees made sure to clean out every pedicure chair after someone sat there, and all of the utensils they used to fix my cuticles and nail beds were immediately put in a sanitation cleansing area to be properly cleaned.

The cleanliness was not the only thing great about this nail salon. There is a vast amount of polish colors to choose from. I went with an OPI bright pink/coral color, and I loved it. It was exactly what I was looking for.

The manicurist was polite, asking me how I was and making small talk. He painted my nails nicely.

The prices are low, $12 for a manicure and $18 for a pedicure. Town Nails and

getting my nails done there, as I’m sure most people would.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Mindy’s Nail & Tan and plan to go back. Keeping up my nails will be made easier with Mindy’s reasonable prices and good service.

Photo by Emily Cassidy

Spa goes further and includes facials, waxing and threading, and massages at reasonable prices as well.

The only downside of my trip to Town Nails and Spa was that it was very busy, which is good for them but bad for me. I sat and waited for at least 25 minutes before I was seated, then 10 minutes passed before my manicurist sat down and started my manicure.

Also, my nails chipped slightly after having them done for a couple of days.

About two days after I got my nails done, some of them were chipping. In the past I got shellac, and it kept my nails from chipping for a much longer time. Shellac is $17 instead of $12, but for this nail salon, the shellac makes a difference on how long your nails will keep from chipping.

They do not have appointments for manicures and pedicures, but for facials and waxing appointments can be made.

Other than the wait, Town Nails and Spa is an exceptional salon that has welltrained employees and a spotless salon to prove it.

I would recommend this salon to anyone who wants to get a manicure.

Print Chief As I walked into Chic Nails, I was met with the smell of nail polish. Being someone who doesn’t normally get their nails done at a nail salon, I was overwhelmed by all of my different options.

There were hundreds of color choices between gel, regular nail polish, and the choice between a French manicure or a colored polish. Thinking I would be adventurous and try something new, I tried the gel nail polish for the first time. I chose a sky blue color.

The lady who did my nails was extremely kind. She talked to me the entire time she did my nails, which was about 30 minutes.

First, she painted a clear bottom coat on. Then came the color layer, followed by a top coat of the clear polish. After each layer I had to stick my hands under a UV light. During my second coat of the colored layer I brushed my hand against the side of the light and messed up the polish. Fortunately, the nail lady was very understanding and fixed it right away for me.

Photo by Emily Clarke

At Chic Nails, it cost me $30 to get the gel polish done. Even though it was a bit pricey, it was worth it. I normally chip my nails within a day of painting them. The gel’s promise of “no chip” polish stood true because within an hour of leaving the salon I banged my hand and should’ve chipped my nail, but the nail polish stayed. So far a week has gone by and the polish hasn’t chipped at all. My nails look smooth, fun, and professionally done without looking fake, just the way I wanted them to look.

I was impressed overall with the cleanliness of Chic Nails. There were sinks and soaps for all customers to clean their hands before their manicures. Most of the employees also wore plastic gloves and surgical masks while giving the manicures and pedicures.

Chic Nails offers manicures, pedicures, gel nails, acrylic nails, and different types of waxes. They had baskets full of nail design choices and shelves filled with hundreds of color choices.

Chic Nails is a great place to get your nails done because they provide tons of options and wonderful service.

in-depth 8

thepatriot March 2013

9 in-depth

Making the

s t n e d u t s f y o e h % t 89.4 aid that iety s d anx The Patriot adds up the facts on standardi z ed testing , e g c n n i e r i and assesses its role in college admission r u e d p , ex before ing a k a t r t e s t e f t or a ardized d n a st Do you think the SATs should be Kailey Tracy Copy Chief

required for college acceptance?

Breakfast is extremely important to keep the mind focused, especially when taking the SAT. Junior Abby Catterton, however, remembers her breakfast on one SAT morning as something else. She had just begun the first section, writing her essay, on Jan. 26, when her breakfast started to become unsettled in her stomach. Throwing up into a trashcan of the C. Milton Wright classroom she was in ended the essay portion for Catterton.

The role test scores play

55.6% of students say that the mathematics section of standardized testing is or will be the most challenging

thepatriot March 2013

“It’s my opinion that colleges should not only require the SAT but also a more difficult test in order to raise the level of intelligence of the next generation.”

“Nobody wants to take SATs, and half of what we are tested on hasn’t even been taught to us. I understand why we take the SATs but I really wish we didn’t have to.”

-Austin Schap ‘14

-Becky Heuer ‘13

What should colleges look for in prospective students?

55.2%

8.3% 12.5%

3.1%

20.8%

Perhaps Catterton, and all other high school students, don’t need to be incredibly nervous for a test that may not define their academic success. More and more colleges are creating a test-optional policy, allowing students to decide whether they wish to submit their standardized test scores. With this said, how much of a role does a perfect score, or a not so perfect score, on the infamous SATs and ACTs factor into college admittance?

According to College Counselor Carrie Siemsen, “SAT and ACT scores are the second most important factor in admissions to most colleges, behind GPA.” Test scores play a 20 percent role in college admission, on average, according to SAT tutor Michael Ionescu. “I’ve seen plenty of instances where colleges accept students with much lower scores than advertised because of other talents the student may possess,” he said.

Senior Matt Henderson believes the SAT and ACT should become multi-dimensional.

“I think one thing wrong with the tests such as the SAT and the ACT are that they do not account for other types of learners,” he said.

Admission consists of more than a standardized test score, whether that score is submitted or not. “According to a recent report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, admission test scores ranked as the third-most important factor in the admission decision,” The College Board Director of Regional Communications Leslie Sepuka said. Grades in college preparatory courses and strength of curriculum are ranked ahead of standardized test scores.

Test-optional polices

Grades

Teacher Recommendations

SAT/ACT

Class Rank Extracurricular Activities/Sports In a online survey of the student body on March 12, The Patriot received 202 responses. The margin of error for this survey is +/- 4

Seventy four percent of Maryland’s class of 2012 took the notorious SAT at least once, 83 percent of which attended public school, according to Sepuka. Of these students, 90 percent took the PSAT/NMSQT and scored 267 points higher, on average, on the SAT. Of the class of 2012, 16 percent received a fee waiver and 32 percent reported a high school diploma or less as their parents’ highest level of education.

Junior Emily Waite may increase the average of taking the SAT for the class of 2014, as she plans to take it three times.

However, she doesn’t think that the test portrays her well as a student. “Honestly, I hate standardized testing. They don’t reflect my knowledge at all. I get extremely nervous for them and don’t do as well as I can,” she said.

Colleges such as Loyola University of Maryland offer an option for students like Waite who may not want to submit their test scores. Loyola began their “four-year pilot project” in the fall of 2010, and at the end of the four years, they will evaluate the policy’s impact and decide whether or not it should be put into place permanently.

According to Loyola’s policy statement, after researching the connection between standardized test scores and success in college-level work, they came to the consensus that test scores “tell you far less about a person’s talents and potential to succeed in college than course selection, grades earned, personal statements, and extracurricular involvement and achievement.”

Despite this policy pattern, “the overwhelming majority of test-optional schools continue to receive standardized test scores from the majority of applicants, and virtually all of these colleges consider test scores when students submit them,” Sepuka said.

Senior Emily Cashour falls in line with this majority, submitting her SAT scores to provide Loyola with a “very rounded view of what I have to offer.”

Senior Katelyn Wolf, who applied to Loyola as well, chose not to submit her standardized test scores, however. “I did not submit my SAT or ACT scores to Loyola because I’m a terrible test taker and I’m better at writing essays. I think it [test-optional policy] helps their admission process,” she said.

Similar to Loyola, “grades carry the most weight” in the admissions process at Rutgers University, according to Admissions Counselor Brenda Synder. Rutgers, however, has a mandatory test policy, focusing “heavily” on SAT and ACT scores.

Although they place a heavier emphasis on grades, according to Synder, “data has shown us that a student’s success in college has a strong correlation to standardized test scores.” Rutgers University does not plan to change their policy.

Rutgers’ policy didn’t turn senior Jada Williams away from applying, but she believes “that the SATs and ACTs are a good way for deciding on students. For example, I could have excellent grades and I do very well in school, but my SATs may not be where each college wants them to be. I think that colleges are doing the right thing by having a ‘whole-person concept,’” she said.

Preparing for the test Grades may carry more weight, but studying for both the SAT and the ACT is essential, just like playing a sport, according to Ionescu. “The more time one spends preparing, the better the student will do. On aver-

age, my students increase eight to 12 points per hour that I spend with them. I try to tell students to be as relaxed and prepared as possible,” he said.

According to Ionescu, one-on-one tutoring or small groups of two or three work best for studying and teaching “effectively.”

Junior Connor Diday has seen first-hand the value of a tutor. “I have a tutor and I’m doing studying with him to prepare for the SATs and it has been helping a lot,” he said.

Other study methods include the SAT and ACT websites, which are free, and College Board and The Princeton Review’s books with multiple practice tests, among others.

The KAPLAN Test Prep program offers a SAT preparatory class at JC from March 17 to May 1. It’s twice a week for six weeks, according to Siemsen. Waite took the class from January to March, and “honestly, I can say I did not feel like I benefitted from it.” According to KAPLAN’s website, the course offered at JC is $599.

Huntington Learning Center, located in Bel Air, also offers SAT help. Their oneon-one SAT or ACT tutoring 28-hour Program is $2,100, according to their website.

Students’ scores at Huntington increase an average of 200 to 300 points, according to Center Director Lauren Crostic.

Preparation for the tests, along with their actual costs of $50 for the SAT and $50.50 for the ACT, present extra expenses. A “mixture of cost and time” turned Cashour away from taking any preparatory courses.

The SAT cost “offsets the costs associated with developing, administering, and scoring exams. Standardized tests are extremely expensive to create, administer, and score” according to Sepuka. The College Board offers a fee waiver to low-income students, 22 percent of all SAT takers, according to their website.

With SAT season underway, some juniors have already completed the first of the two recommend testing times. Regardless, ideas about preparatory classes, students’ overall disposition, and college policies are things students should study up on.

34.5 % of students plan on taking or have taken the SATs three times

62.9% of students used practice books to prepare for standardized tests

A&E 10

thepatriot March 2013

D.I.Y. Do it yourself. Learn to make a cute striped friendship bracelet and a fun frame made from magazine pages.

Magazine Frame

By Brianna George

Striped Friendship Bracelet

By Caitlin Wolfarth

1.

You 1.

2.

3.

will need: Embroidery floss Scissors Clipboard

Cut two strands of each color to about two to three feet. If you use three colors you will have six pieces of floss in total. You can add more strands if you want the bracelet to be wider. Gripping all of the strands together, tie them with a standard knot at the top. Leave a tail of about two to three inches at the top so you have enough room to tie your bracelet together at the end.

You 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

will need: An empty shoe box Magazine paper Craft glue Tape Scissors

1.

Remove lid from shoe box. Measure two inches from each of the sides of the lid and cut out the inner square. This is where the picture will go after the frame is complete.

2.

Attach your floss to the clipboard and spread out your floss strands. Take the first strand (leftmost strand) and bring it over strand two. It should image the number four.

Then, take the first strand, bring it under strand two, and pull tightly. This is the first step of the forward knot. To finish the forward knot, do the same thing again. The forward knot requires you to do this twice.

3.

Continue down the row, doing the forward knot with the remaining four pieces of floss or however many strands you have in your bracelet. When the first row is finished, the first strand you started with should now be the last in the row. Do the same thing, starting with the new left-most strand.

2.

Tear paper from the magazine and cut each piece in half, hot dog style. Roll each page and secure with tape. Cut each rolled paper into approximately two-inch cylinders.

4.

Repeat this until you feel your bracelet is the right length. When the bracelet is ready, tie the remaining strings together, just like the top. Tie the two ends together so it fits your wrist and wear your bracelet.

Tip: The more strands of floss you use, the wider the bracelet will be.

Cu p c a ke s w i t h C a s s i d y Emily Cassidy A&E Editor All of the dreary weather we’ve been having lately has made me long for summer. These s’mores cupcakes instantly bring back the feeling of sitting by a summer campfire.

INGREDIENTS: Graham Cracker & Milk Chocolate Cupcakes: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups finely crushed graham crackers (about 20 graham crackers) 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1/2 cup (one stick) butter, room temperature 3/4 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 3/4 cup milk 1 cup milk chocolate grated or cut finely

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.

2. Mix together flour, crushed graham crackers, baking powder, and salt. Then set aside.

3. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla. Alternately, add flour mixture and milk. Beat until batter is almost smooth. Fold in chocolate chips.

4. Spoon batter into cupcake papers, filling cups about 2/3 full. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool.

MARSHMALLOW FROSTING 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar 4 egg whites 1-2 tsp vanilla extract (optional) DIRECTIONS: 1. Combine egg whites and sugar in the top of a double boiler or a glass bowl over, but not touching, a pan of simmering water.

each cylinder to the lid of the pre-cut 3. Glue shoe box lid. Let it sit for 30 minutes to dry.

Tip: The more colorful paper you use, the more colorful the finished product will be. Be creative.

S’mores

2. Whisk constantly over medium-high heat until mixtures reaches 160 degrees Farenheit. It usually takes about five minutes.

3. Pour egg white mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high for six minutes or until room temperature. Add optional vanilla extract one teaspoon at a time until desired flavor.

6. Frost cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with grated milk chocolate or graham cracker crumbs.

11 opinion

thepatriot March 2013 The Patriot

Pro

The SAT effectively measures intelligence, but receives a bad reputation because of students who have poor experiences.

Chioma Iheoma Opinion Editor Despite the tons of essays, short answers, and college applications that college-bound seniors and juniors have to go through to get into college, the one thing that is most popularly despised is the SAT. For years, the usefulness and fairness of the SAT has been argued. Some don’t believe it is an accurate measurement of a student’s intelligence. The SAT isn’t meant to serve as a mere test of a student’s intelligence, but as a test of the information that a student has been taught and retained during high school to see how well they’ll do in college.

The SAT is considered to be unfair by some because it mea-

sures book smarts rather than common sense or “street smarts.”

What some people forget is that colleges do not only look at the SAT score to judge a student’s intelligence.

People who score a 2300 on the SAT are probably not going to write application essays at a third grade level or have recommendation letters declaring them to be completely stupid.

Colleges want students who have excelled in challenging classes. The score that a person gets on the SAT reflects that. The SAT is a blanket exam which tests information colleges would hope their applicants have retained.

The students who take challenging courses are exposed to more information than their counterparts, so that if both stu-

The John Carroll School 703 Churchville Road Bel Air, MD 21014 Volume 48, Issue 5, March 2013

Print Chief: Emily Clarke Online Chief: Brianna Glase Multimedia Chief: Martha Schick Copy Chief: Kailey Tracy Artwork by Christine Kim

dents retained all that they have learned, one will still get a higher SAT score.

The College Board conducted research in 2008 and followed high school seniors from their taking of the SAT to the end of their freshman years in college when they received their GPA. Those

who scored highest on their SATs received the highest GPAs. The correlation between intelligence and SAT scores should be taken into account when measuring how well the SAT measures intelligence. While the four-hour test is not favored by those who must take it, it is pretty telling.

Con

Is the SAT an effective measure of college preparedness?

Standardized testing provides an innaccurate judgment of how well collegebound students will do if admitted.

Bryan Doherty Opinion Editor The SATs are a horrible misrepresentation of the ability and intelligence of college-bound students. They receive a far greater amount of attention than they deserve.

It’s true that the SAT can pre-

dict a student’s success their freshman year, but in the next three years of college it becomes less and less relevent. Those are the important years that really prepare students for their careers.

There are too many uncontrollable circumstances that can affect a student’s performance on the SATs for it to hold any signifi-

Patriots Answer

cant weight in college decisions.

Test anxiety and students that are bad test takers are real issues that affect the scoring of the SAT. This could potentially hold very gifted students back from getting into their dream school.

Colleges should focus on a student’s academic and extracurricular record to determine a student’s ability, rather than a number from the College Board.

For many colleges, teacher recommendation letters, in addition to a guidance counselor’s, are optional, while SAT scores are mandatory. This is the opposite of what it should be.

Colleges should require a wide variety of recommendation letters from a multitude of teachers.

These wouldn’t just pad a student’s image, but give an accurate

and detailed description of their impression of a student’s academic ability.

This, rather than a test score, would offer colleges a better idea about a student’s attitude and ability to learn. Colleges should also focus on a students’ extracurriculars.

If a student does fairly well in school but is the captain of a team, the leader of student government and clubs, an avid volunteer in the community, a great musician, or all of the above, should that all be nullified because they didn’t get a great SAT score?

Colleges that focus on the SAT are missing out on great candidates. Just because people ace a test doesn’t mean that they are prepared for college or are a good fit for a school.

Do you think the SAT is a good indicator of intelligence?

Damon Lloyd Freshman

Annie Lerch Sophomore

“Yes, it shows colleges what you’re capable of, but some students aren’t good at tests, but they’re good at class.”

“Yes, it reviews all subjects and it reviews things from all grade levels.”

April Moscati Junior “No, because some people are good at taking tests and others aren’t and colleges should focus more on grades.

Nick Druelinger Senior

Eric Sutton English teacher

“No, I believe the “I do as far as SAT is just a piece critical thinking of paper that says and reading, I think how school-smart that’s a great skill you are.” to build.”

News Editors: Sydney Setree Caitlin Wolfarth Lifestyles Editors: Ashley Beyer Shannon Olsen A&E Editors: Emily Cassidy Mary Kate Luft In-Depth Editors: Lauren Fabiszak Meredith Haggerty Hope Kelly Opinion Editors: Bryan Doherty Chioma Iheoma Sports Editors: Cole Alban Haley Kyger Copy Editors: Rebecca Driver Brianna George Multimedia Editors: Brianna George Emma Minnis Shannon Vinton Artists: Brynly Wilson Christine Kim Emily Hennegan Moderators: Mark Ionescu Nick Attanasio The Patriot is a publication of The John Carroll School. The views and opinions expressed in The Patriot are not necessarily the views of the Board of Trustees or the Administration of The John Carroll School.

A copy of each print issue is distributed to each of the 691 students and 121 faculty 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 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

Minimum wage fails to provide livable income

Doherty’s Democracy

By Bryan Doherty

The purpose of minimum wage is to make sure that businesses treat their employees fairly and don’t force them to work long hours for pennies. However, the federal minimum wage, and thus Maryland’s minimum wage, of $7.25 is not nearly enough.

Sure, $7.25 an hour is great for high school kids who only use the money for social spending or unnecessary things that they want to buy. They work two or three shifts a week and get between $100 and $200 a week. Great deal, right?

Well, not for everyone. If kids have to pay for all of their own transportation, meaning the car, the insurance, and the gas, then that deal of $200 doesn’t look as great. And what if students need to pay entirely for their own college? That money is downright pocket change.

At this current minimum wage, a person that works full time, meaning eight hours a day, five days a week, makes a little over $15,000 a year.

This puts just one person hardly over the poverty line, meaning that that salary might provide one person enough shelter, food, and clothing to survive. Forget about saving anything for college or any other large expense.

If that same person must somehow provide for just one other person, like a child or other family member that does not or cannot work, then those people are considered poor by the federal government.

Now, this is not just kids or uneducated and lazy workers. This is the reality for millions of people that were laid off from their jobs during the recession and now have to settle for minimum wage jobs.

If someone was laid off and must provide for a family of four and only had a minimum wage salary as income, that family would be close to $8,000 below the federal poverty guideline for annual income.

There are some states that have much higher minimum wage than the federal mandate. Washington’s minimum wage is $9.19 an hour, and there are eight states, plus the District of Columbia, that have minimum wages above $8.00.

However, Washington isn’t in the top 10 most expensive states to live in 2012, according to CNBC, unlike Maryland.

Maryland needs to take into account the fact that it’s expensive to live here and raise the minimum wage. Not just for the sake of the high school kid bagging groceries, but also for the struggling families.

opinion 12

PATRIOT JC is failing to produce students who have

THE

thepatriot March 2013

PERSPECTIVE Ninety-nine percent of JC students surveyed by The Patriot can’t name the five freedoms promised by the first amendment, some of the most basic rights granted by the government and the basis of our political culture.

Political ignorance and indifference is obviously a serious issue among at least a certain percentage of students. The school could easily take steps to aid in their students’ political education.

Within four years, all current students will be old enough to claim the right to vote. Voting should not be taken lightly, as it can have serious consequences on everyday life.

JC needs to prepare every student for the responsibility that comes with the right to vote. Cur-

adequate knowledge of the political world

rently that challenge is not being met.

Obviously, JC is not meeting the standards of what is needed to prepare someone to involve him or herself politically. When 41 percent of students cannot name the three branches of government, it is apparent that there is a major problem.

One way education about government could be improved is with a current events class in addition to the government class sophomores take.

Many current events are related to political events in the world.

By studying current events, students would learn about how the U.S. government and the governments of other countries work.

They would be better informed

about current political issues.

Another way to educate students about politics is to immerse them in it. Social studies classes should encourage students to volunteer on campaigns or have speakers that work in government come in to talk to students. The social studies teachers don’t have a shortage of connections.

Trips to government buildings such as the Capitol or even the State House are also fun and engaging ways to educate students about the workings of government. Even students who aren’t interested in politics can get something out of the fun and informal setting of a field trip.

Indifference and ignorance only breed more indifference and ignorance. The issue of wide-

spread political indifference starts in teenage students and, once ingrained, is hard to uproot.

If JC made a serious commitment to political education, they would be producing informed and active voters as well as leaders that can help shift the attitude of the nation towards increased political involvement.

The alternative is incomprehensible. JC can’t afford to add to the growing problem of political indifference and ignorance.

Instead of letting students pass through school without attempting to bring these serious issues to the forefront of students’ minds, the school needs to actively instill in them a feeling of responsibility that comes with the ability to vote.

Comparing issues lowers their importance

Artwork by Brynly Wilson

Chioma Iheoma Opinion Editor My laptop is almost dead, but the charger is over there. My fridge is full, but there’s nothing I want. I was given a frappuccino instead of a cappuccino at Starbucks.

If these are the problems that

are thought of when “first world problems” are mentioned, then real problems of first world citizens are diminished.

The problems of people who live in first world countries should not be compared with the problems of those who live in third world countries because the former’s problems are seen as

less important.

When the problems of one society are compared to those of another, then it becomes frowned upon in one society to ever complain.

When the problems are compared between different groups, one set loses importance. Comparing difficulties is wrong be-

cause to one person, his or her problem is the world.

Judging people for the problems that they experience or do not experience is wrong. Those in first world countries are not responsible for the problems of those in the third world. Most people in first world countries did not choose to live where they do, just as most people in third world countries did not choose to live where they do.

Judging those in the first world for their “trivial” problems is like judging a younger generation.

For instance, teens are judged by young adults, young adults by adults, and adults by the elderly.

The problems of one group will always be considered small by the older because they’ve already experienced them. That doesn’t make the problems of the younger generations less important.

The problems that we as individuals experience shouldn’t be diminished by the problems of our neighbors. A problem is a problem no matter how small.

New courses should be publicly announced Brianna Glase Online Chief As a student is sitting down in his guidance counselor’s office ready to lock in his courses for next year, he is handed a list filled with classes like Introduction to Architecture, Robotics, and Introduction to Engineering that he has never heard of. Seeing all these new class options adds unnecessary confusion to what he thought was a clear-cut process.

Each year, new courses, primarily electives, are quietly introduced into the curriculum, leaving students wondering what the new courses could possibly involve. As JC continues to slip in random new courses without better advertising them, students will become confused as they lose the chances to sign up for classes that they would have signed up for if they had more knowledge.

Last year the course Math Analysis was added, but the only thing students knew about it was that it was a math class. For the

2013-2014 school year, a new fine arts class called Music in Your Life was created as a course option, but students didn’t hear in-depth about it until most had already made their schedules.

As brand new courses are introduced into the curriculum, JC should not let them fall by the wayside. They should make an event out of the new electives and try their best to drum up interest about new classes. There is no point in introducing new electives if students are not provided adequate information about them.

At the very least, a portion of the Quarter Two Honors Assembly could be dedicated to a presentation of the new courses that will be offered the next year, giving the whole school the opportunity to hear a blurb on each class and begin planning their schedules knowledgably, instead of being kept in the dark about alternate classes.

Teachers and department heads should try to increase the hype about classes that have been add-

67.5%

of students are informed by their friends about new electives

In an online survey of the student body on March 5, 2013. The Patriot received 207 responses. The margin of error for this survey is +/4 percent.

8.7%

of students are

extremely knowledgeable of all of the electives

ed to their departments as well.

A more fun alternative to an assembly would be a fair for the new classes during an extended advisory, where each department has their own table with materials provided about new courses.

That way, students who were interested in the science electives, for example, could focus on their

interests and ask specific questions of the teacher that would be teaching the new course.

Even in the classroom a greater emphasis could be put on new courses. If a new social studies class is added for juniors, sophomore social studies teachers should take the time to explain the new course option to students.

13 opinion

thepatriot March 2013

Limited internships hinder students Feminist: it’s not a dirty Emily Clarke

We’re happy to have you intern for our lab!

Print Chief

Programs like senior project are great for helping students prepare for college. But if JC truly wants to prepare its students for the real world, it need to make internships more easily accessible to all students.

Students are only given internship options in the science field.

Besides the science department, only fine arts offers a diploma with distinction. However, the fine arts distinction diploma doesn’t integrate internships into its program.

A key part of the diploma with distinction in science is having an internship over the summer. If no other departments try to get their students internships, then they can’t offer diplomas with distinction. All departments need internship opportunities.

Teachers in the social studies department have connections to political offices and associations

word

Martha’s Musings

By Martha Schick

Artwork by Emily Hennegan

and should set up a program that allows the best students to find internships.

Just as the science department has agreements with companies like Battelle and Aberdeen Proving Ground, other departments could make agreements with local companies in relation to their

field. The English department should make agreements with local newspapers and magazines, like Bel Air Patch and Harford’s Heart.

The religion department could set up internships with local charity organizations, such as Anna’s House or Habitat for Humanity.

Students would love to get internships, and it is a lot easier if those students already have a foot in the door, thanks to their teachers. While internship opportunities might not be feasible for every department, they are certainly possible for more than just the science department.

Students should support class fundraisers Sydney Setree Managing Editor As I wait in line, my ears are overpowered by groans and moans. The common complaint is the cost of Ring Dance tickets.

I look back and realize most of these complainers did not support the junior class at any of the fundraisers.

Whether it be Ring Dance or Prom, some students will always complain about the cost of tickets. The majority of them are the same students who neither show up to any of the fundraising events nor advertise them outside of JC. Most of them don’t realize that

the only way ticket prices will be lowered is if they help fundraise for their class. A bigger turnout at a Looney’s night equals a lower ticket price. It’s a simple causeand-effect relationship.

However, the class, running the fundraiser, should promote the events by making announcements over the intercom and hanging decorative posters throughout the hallways. That way the student body will be aware of the event.

It would be lovely if all the students who are too cool to support their class graced the fundraisers with their presence. I understand if you can’t fit one night into your busy schedule, but at the very least, don’t complain about it.

Photo by Shannon Vinton

The Buontempo’s fundraiser, held by the class of ‘13, was filled with empty booths. Fundraisers are the only way to bring down dance ticket prices.

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

A

We’d like to put a ring on ring events

JC should be proud of the way it conducts ring events. Other schools simply send students their rings in the mail, or have them pick them up in the cafeteria, which fails to get kids excited about their class rings.

During ring festivities, all the attention is on the juniors, a welcome change from the spotlight that normally shines on the seniors. Ring Ceremony is simple and elegant and the breakfast is a fun, cheerful way to promote solidarity.

Ring Dance is a great finish to the festivities. The celebrations of ring are some of the best memories of junior year because of the way they are carried out.

A

I like stocked shelves and I cannot lie

The library is top rate and has an array of helpful and entertaining resources. Students should take advantage of the positive aspects of the library.

Many new, popular books that are well-liked by students are in the library. The library also contains a wealth of non-fiction books and online databases that are helpful for school reports.

Besides books, they have recent copies of a variety of magazines, including teen favorites such as “Seventeen,” that are fun to flip through during off mods. Students don’t always give the library’s variety the credit it deserves, but they should.

C

Rebecca Driver Copy Editor

Where have all the good electives gone?

JC’s freshman electives are cliched and lackluster. Band, art, health, and gym are standard electives in any high school.

JC is supposed to be unique.

Instead of gym, why not have an aerobics or yoga class? Those are more specialized and still achieve the same goal of being in shape. Health class, which is appropriately general, could become unique by having a nutrition aspect or medical seminars.

Not only would JC have bragging rights for being unique, but enrollment would increase if prospective students knew that they had more opportunities in their freshman year.

I am a feminist.

I’d like to address Rush Limbaugh and point out that this doesn’t make me a “feminazi.”

The entire idea of the “feminazi” is actually one of the most pervasive and harmful stereotypes of our time, besides being incredibly insensitive. No feminist has ever committed atrocities on the same plane as the Nazis.

The blatantly disrespectful reference aside, the connotation of “feminazi” is preventing women from gaining the same respect as men. It’s students of both genders who perpetuate this stereotype at JC. I’ve heard students complain about feminists more than one would expect from a younger and more educated generation.

According to CNN, women earn an average of 82 cents for every dollar that a man earns.

Still, independent women fighting for equal treatment are made to seem crazy and unreasonable.

Feminists not only support equal legislation, but an equal image. This includes things like battling slut-shaming. If a woman is raped after going out to a party, there is almost always a “but” in the sentence explaining it. For example, “It’s a shame that he took advantage of her like that, but did you see what she was wearing?”

There shouldn’t be a “but.”

Even JC girls fall victim to this trend. Girls get nothing but grief for wearing revealing clothing, and snarky comments on appearance are made by females and males. Words alluding to a loose sexual past are not out of place in our hallways.

Women shouldn’t be viewed as sex objects for men can use at will, which is part of an equal image. Women make up over half of the country but only 17 percent of Congress. It’s no wonder that women aren’t seen as more powerful when there are so few elected to office.

About 37 percent of working women have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to only 35 percent of working men, according to ABC News. Even women in high ranking jobs with high degrees fall prey to the women-areless-than-men mentality. When talking about a high-ranking female CEO, there’s usually some mention of the fact that she’s the “first woman in the field” or something of that nature. We should appreciate them as people, not as lesser citizens.

Feminists are not only fighting for equal rights under the law, but an equal image in the minds of all. Feminists will be here until slut-shaming is over. Feminists will be here until we don’t have to hear about the first woman in every field. Feminists will be here until women aren’t seen as an interest group, but as people.

sports 14

thepatriot March 2013

Outdoor track strives to replicate indoor success Kailey Tracy Copy Chief With two medals around her neck, senior Kiana Wright walked away from the IAAM ‘A’ indoor track conference championships as the winner of the long jump and the triple jump.

According to track head coach Rob Torres, both the men’s and women’s outdoor track teams will have similar individual successes this season.

Although the women’s team lost a lot of its “talent” from indoor track due to lacrosse, Torres cites Wright as a strong athlete, among others. “Kiana Wright and [senior] Rebecca Driver are two of the top athletes in the league,” Torres said.

Senior Sam Clarke is also a “big contributor.”

“My particular goals [for the season] are to reach at least 5’2” and maybe 5’4” in the high jump,” Clarke said.

The men’s side encompasses strong distance runners such as seniors David Knaide and Derek Alban, according to Torres.

Senior Austin Markley, who competes in multiple field events and sprinting events, also adds to the mix. “[Markley] is the best athlete in the conference,” Torres

said.

“My individual goals are to get first in everything I do, and no matter what try my hardest,” Markley said.

The men’s team as a whole is the two time defending IAAM ‘B’ conference champion.

Despite some “holes to fill” from talent lost from last year, Torres predicts they “have a good shot” of repeating their title.

Markley agrees with this prediction.

“I think that we should easily be able to take the title again and be champions three years in a row,” he said. “We lost some distance people, but we still have strong ones on our team that can easily make up for the others being gone.”

The women, coming out of a second place finish in the IAAM ‘A’ conference indoor track championships, will have difficulty doing as well in outdoor, according to Torres.

He attributes this outlook to the decreasing number of athletes on the team each year.

Despite not being on the indoor team, Clarke sees the team’s finish in indoor as an inspiration.

“It gives us a goal to strive for.

We lost a lot of people from last

Photo credit Emma Minnis

Freshman Kristen Flanigan practices hurdles during the first week of outdoor track practice. The women’s team is coming off a second place finish in the IAAM indoor track championships. year’s team, but we also gained so many who look particularly promising,” she said.

Just as the women have lower numbers than in years’ past, the men are into the same boat.

However, Clarke foresees this as a possible advantage.

“This smaller group makes it

easier to motivate one another and keep everyone focused,” she said.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Markley believes the low numbers mean “we do not have much support.”

Despite this, he feels “with the guys we have on the team, we

can still be defending champs.”

Either way, the smaller turnout will impact both teams, according to Torres.

Sprinting into the outdoor season, the track teams will tackle six more events than in indoor, and hope to maintain their successful streaks.

Russian teacher Ed Miller reflects on decades of coaching Cole Alban Managing Editor Currently, Russian teacher Ed Miller is an assistant coach of women’s JV lacrosse, but he has a history in coaching that stretches back over 40 years.

Miller’s experiences with sports began during his childhood. “I grew up in a sportsminded family and there was not a single sport we didn’t play,” Miller said.

Miller didn’t have a lacrosse team to play on at Loyola Blakefield, where he attended high school. Instead, he had to start a

“

Whether it’s a varsity sport or powderpuff, I believe young people are entitled to the best coaching Russian teacher Ed Miler

”

lacrosse club with his fellow lacrosse enthusiasts. They then played other high schools that had lacrosse teams. “The experience served me well as a player in college,” Miller said.

Miller first started coaching in 1959 at Loyola Blakefield. There, Miller was the first men’s varsity lacrosse coach at the school. The team went right into the ‘A’ conference, but had some trouble.

“Eventually the program evolved into what it is today,” Miller said.

“I started coaching because I loved the sport and I wanted to try and help young players to learn the right way and to get the best possible coaching experience,” Miller said. “I felt like my coaching in college could have been better and I felt a great desire to teach kids the right way.”

Miller came to JC in 1969 to coach the men’s lacrosse team.

After coaching at JC for two years, the team moved up to the ‘A’ conference.

“Just like at Loyola, we didn’t have much experience in the beginning, but a lot of drive,” Miller said.

Miller was the head coach of the men’s team for 10 years. He has helped out with coaching for women’s JV lacrosse since last season.

Miller has had many other coaching experiences. He coached Powder Puff for 30 years beginning in 1970. Miller began because he felt “that, just like any other sport, the girls

Photo courtesy Ed Miller

Russian teacher Ed Miller coaches the JV women’s lacrosse team at practice. Miller also coached men’s varsity lacrosse for ten years starting in 1969. are deserving of good coaching.” Miller enjoyed his time coaching Powder Puff. “I definitely enjoyed it or I would not have done it for those 30 years.”

He also helps with swimming in the winter. Miller has been helping out with swimming for two years but says he has more

of an assistant coach role. “I am more of a right hand man to [head coach] Larry Dukes,” Miller said.

Miller also coaches JV women’s tennis since last season.

Miller said he had been asked to come in and coach. “I had played tennis all my life,” Miller said.

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Miller does not plan to stop coaching anytime soon. “Whether it be a varsity sport or Powder Puff, I believe young people are entitled to the best possible coaching,” Miller said. “I can always expect to be seen somewhere outside with a whistle and a clipboard.”

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15 sports

thepatriot March 2013

Rule, schedule changes come to men’s lacrosse Hope Kelly

Managing Editor The 2013 men’s lacrosse season holds new excitement for players with new rules and procedures being implemented to speed up the game. They also have an upcoming match against a team from California.

According to men’s varsity head coach Matthew Blair, lacrosse had started to “slow down too much” and was becoming “too specialized.” The two major changes include the elimination of the horn and time out for subbing and the addition of a shot clock.

In the past, when the ball went out of bounds, the referees would wait and allow teams to take the time to sub their players, and then they would blow the horn signaling the players to resume play.

Now, the horn and this extra time will be eliminated. Subbing will have to be made on the fly. This means that while they can sub at any point during the game, the referees will not stop play for it.

“Lacrosse had gotten to the point where people were making substitutions left and right every

time the ball went out of bounds,” Blair said.

The addition of the 30 second shot clock will help keep teams from holding the ball without trying to shoot.

It is left up to the referees’ discretion to decide to initiate the shot clock. Therefore, it will not be used every time a team is on offense, but only when they are not attacking the goal.

“It’s going to be hard to adjust.

All the teams are going to have to learn as they go, but it will make the game faster pace,” junior Michael Thomson said.

In addition to the major changes, a few other small changes will be implemented in the upcoming season.

Colored tape will have to be put on the players sticks that face off to help the referees prevent cheating.

According to Blair, “Every team has to have six balls on all four sides of the field.”

Also, every time the ball goes out of bounds there will have to be a quick restart of the ball.

All of these new rules and regulations will create “more possessions” and “more shots” accord-

Photo by Cole Alban

Senior Jake Brown faces off against Dulaney High School on March 12. One of the new rule changes requires the players who face-off to have tape on the top of their sticks. ing to Blair.

“I think it’s good ultimately, but it’s going to be tough for referees to manage all the new responsibility,” he said.

In fact, next year the number of referees needed at a game will have to increase from two to

three for the game to run properly.

Changes like the number of referees and extra balls will cost more money for the school. For each referee, the school pays a fee of $83.

The men’s lacrosse team will also be playing a team Menlo-

“Our conference [IAAM ‘A’ ]is one of the most competitive in the nation, so college coaches come to watch our games as well as recruit our players,” Porcella said.

“I think our team has the potential and talent to make it all the way to the championships.

With the heart to win and leadership brought to the field, our team should be unstoppable,” freshman midfielder Alice Cumpston said.

With the season only now starting, JV coach Ed Miller thinks that “all in all it should be an interesting year. We could be successful if we work hard.”

The women’s lacrosse team defends against North Harford on March 15.

JC won with a score of 15-8.

Atherton High School from California on Good Friday at noon.

According to Blair, because Maryland is a lacrosse area with a better “lacrosse tradition,” they wanted to play JC. How they found JC or why they decided to play JC is unknown to Blair.

Women’s lacrosse looks forward to season with large roster Brianna George Copy Editor After gathering a large amount of players at tryouts, the women’s lacrosse team is looking forward to a successful season.

According to varsity women’s lacrosse coach Krystin Porcella, the team looks for, “any [players] that want to be recruited.”

The team gained a large amount of players in comparison to previous years. Last year, they had 40 girls tryout. This year the number jumped to 57. No one was cut from either team, leaving

the varsity team with 29 players and JV with 28.

Porcella believes that “with a large senior class [that] has plenty of game experience and many underclassmen who have game experience, we should have a nice balance on the field.”

Winning the IAAM ‘A’ Conference is the team’s goal. The team practices five to six times a week. “We could be successful if we work hard,” senior midfielder Caroline Haggerty said.

According to Porcella, “team chemistry” is the team’s potential weakness.

Photo by Kailey Tracy

Athlete Spotlight:

Mark Michael

Stats

Grade: Junior Featured Sport: Men’s varsity baseball Position: Pitcher Accomplishments: Being selected for the Under Armour Baseball Factory National team and the Aberdeen Arsenal Years played: 12 years

“[Michael] is one of the most talented players on the team and does everything for the team.

Head Coach Steve Teter

”

“I love the brotherhood

that comes with [baseball] and the friendships. I love all the strategy and emotion that comes with it.

Junior Mark Michael

”

Photo courtesy Mark Michael

Junior Mark Michael winds up to pitch the ball. Michael has been playing baseball for 12 years and is now the pitcher for the men’s varsity baseball team.

thepatriot March 2013

cost of

the

sports 16 The Patriot investigates how much money students spend on equipment intensive sports , such as equestrian, softball, and golf.

competition

Haley Kyger and Meredith Haggerty

$8,000-9,000

Sports Editor and In-Depth Editor

$20,000-120,000

Total apparel

Per horse

$1,200-3,000

The apparel costs between $8,000 and $9,000. This does not include the general grooming supplies, horse show costs, and lessons. According to senior Beth Eder, her grooming supplies cost about $250, the horse shows she participates in cost about $1,200, including all fees, and her lessons cost $60 per hour.

“If you have the money, it makes it easier. I work hard, so my expenses are cut,” Eder said.

The significant difference between equestrian and other sports is the horse required to participate. According to Eder, some horses are cheap, costing only $20,000, but more competitive horses can be about $120,000. Along with the cost of the horse, it is about $1,200 to $3,000 a month to board the horse. “[The equestrian team] is worth it because it is so rewarding. You put so much time, effort, and money into it so the end result is rewarding,” Eder said.

Boarding/ month

Equestrian

$250

Grooming equipment

Total Cost $2,900 to over $120,000

$100 Putter $300 Iron clubs Wedge and three-wood $200 clubs $400 Driver

Golf

Softball bat

The cost of apparel varies from year to year depending on need

Total Cost $600 to over $1500

Softba ll

For junior Brian Matejevich, golf requires at least five clubs to play, each ranging in price from $100 to $400. He could get lost on the course alone, so he buys a GPS that costs between $200 and $300. He finds these to be the typical prices a golfer pays for their equipment.

“You spend about $100 a year just on balls plus, around $1,000 on all lessons [for a year]. Buying other things like new clubs and clothes depends on the need,” Matejevich said.

Golf balls costs about $30 and $40 per dozen, and lessons costs ,about $180 per hour. This doesn’t include a membership to a club which costs between $200 and $500 a month, according to Matejevich.

“I definitely think that golf is an expensive sport, especially when a cheap set of clubs will set you back about $400 and then you need balls and a place to play. Almost no one who golfs has never had a lesson, so at a minimum to start playing, you are probably looking at around $600,” Matejevich said.

$200

$10 Batting gloves $30 Field gloves According to junior Sarah Ford, the bat is the most expensive piece of equipment, costing from $200 to $400 “if you want a nice one.” Composite bats, bats that have two to three times more metal than aluminum bats, fall into this category and give players “a big advantage.”

Bags also range from $200 to $400, while pitching and batting private lessons average about $35 per half-hour, according to Ford. Cleats cost $70, and gloves cost $50 to $200.

Softball is “definitely” expensive, according to Ford.

“In order to get good equipment for a sport, you have to spend more money, just like anything in life. I feel it’s worth it though,” Ford said.

$20-50

Softball sliding pants

Total Cost $250 to over $300