The Patriot October 2003, Issue 1, Vol 39

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Water Polo makes a splash in fall sports line up.

Seasonal preview highlights fall athu letes.

Entertainment Kill Bill and Freddy vs. Jason reviewed. Yellow brick road makes debut on JC stage in

Wizard of Oz.

Pages 10-11

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October 2003

Editorials The truth behind McDonald's fast food facade exposed from underneath the counter. u

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Volume 39, Issue 1

News Hurricane Isabel leaves Havre de Grace in ruins.

See damage report here. u

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Sports

John Carroll School ö Tradition ö Pride ö Excellence

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Features In the wake of new guidelines, seniors reminisce on bench history. Page 12

Schwarzenegger terminates Davis in recall election Erin O'Brien News co-Editor “Beep, beep, beep!” goes your alarm clock. Startled by the sudden noise, you’re forced back into reality as you sit up in a state of utter confusion. Just before your rude awakening, you had been in a vivid dream world where Mrs. Ryerson was flying through the air dressed as a pink and white striped panda bear, playing the popular Beatles song, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" on a leopard print kazoo, and wearing a shocking pink boa with sparkling fringes around her neck. The eclectic nature of your dream is strikingly similar to the idiosyncratic group of candidates who ran for California State Governor.

The California Constitution states, "Recall is the power of the electors to remove an elective officer."

In order to institute a recall election in the state of California, a petition must first be submitted to the Secretary of State giving a reason for, and requesting the recall election. The petition must be signed by at least twelve percent of the total voters who were represented in the last gubernatorial election.

Although there have been over thirty attempts, the recall election was the first ever implemented in the state.

In this case, the petition needed to have

897,158 signatures to be enacted. The petition actually had more than 1.3 million signatures on it.

It could have possibly taken only five percent of the popular vote for any of the 135 candidates to win the election. According to a statement from Californians Against the Costly Recall, "The more candidates who join, the greater the likelihood that a small minority of voters will be controlling California's future."

This was obviously not how the election turned out; Schwarzenegger won the recall with an 48.7% of the popular vote.

The ballot was set up in a confusing manor. Out of fairness to all who are running, the list of candidates was printed in a "randomized alphabetical order." Through a lottery-style drawing, the State of California randomly changed the order of the alphabet, finally solving the age-old problem of alphabetical discrimination.

Of course, the voter did not know this new alphabet’s order, making finding

their candidate among countless others similar to finding a needle in a haystack.

In order to become a candidate for the election, a person had to meet very simple criteria: 3,500 dollars and sixty-five signatures. Originally, over 300 people had registered, but a "weeding out" process reduced the number to 135. Some candidates qualified for write, which is a place on the ballot where if not listed, a candidates name can be written in.

Very few of the candidates had held office before; most, including Schwarzenegger, had very little political experience. The official list of candidates included their current career, some of the more striking careers were: a sumo wrestler, a porn star, the owner of a porn magazine, a former child star, a pro golfer, a custom denture manufacturer, a retired meat packer, a comedian, and a railroad switchman.

However, Austrian born republican candidate, and winner of the election, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the candidate with the most name recognition.

As the former Mr. Universe-turned actor, Schwarzenegger seemed to be an unlikely candidate for California governor.

He said, "The politicians are fiddling, fumbling and failing ... The man that is failing the people more than anyone is Gray Davis. He is failing them terribly, and this is why he needs to be recalled and this is why I am going to run for governor."

Schwarzenegger has starred in many violent action movies, and ironically, one of the major issues in his platform was to protect children from violence.

Schwarzenegger drew a lot of criticism when he declined to participate in a debate featuring all of the major players in the election. This particular debate did not give the participants the questions beforehand. People accused him of not participating for that reason. Some even questioned his overall seriousness as a candidate.

He announced his candidacy on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. "It was the most difficult decision that I’ve made in my entire life, except the one in 1978 when I decided to get a bikini wax," he joked on the show.

Continued on page 6

Britney prays for career savior, Madonna answers Sam Marll Staff Writer

On August 28, 2003, Madonna and Britney Spears made cultural history.

At the MTV 2003 Music Video Awards, Madonna and Britney kicked the funk in front of millions of live viewers, shocking a nation and mildly irritating Madonna’s husband Guy Ritchie.

At the opening act, semimusicians Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera danced around the stage in wedding gowns while singing Madonna’s "Like a Virgin," in remembrance of Madonna’s 1984 bubble-gum smash hit.

Then, out of nowhere, the Madonna herself came on the stage to join the two rival Mouseketeers in a performance of her latest hit, "Hollywood." Things seemed to be at their usual level of predictability.

Then came the Kiss Heard ‘Round the World. Straight out of left field, Madonna grabbed Britney Spears and open mouthed-kissed her and then Aguilera, creating the largest

controversy ever in humankind’s history, ever.

Obviously, this kiss will be remembered for centuries to come, since the act of two members of the same sex kissing is an act that has never been performed in human history, until now. Step aside Alexander the Great. Nobody cares, Lincoln.

Mahatma Gandhi? Please.

When aliens sift through the rubble of our civilization years from now, the only thing they will deem noteworthy will be this make-out session between two divas. Since Madonna and Spears held the brief kiss just long enough for thousands of cameras to catch them in the act, it will always be remembered.

Senior Trevor "Riddle" McEvoy thought the snog to be most smashing.

"I thought the kiss was hot," he quipped. Indeed, Trevor was one of many students who thought the kiss to be shocking and totally mind-blowing.

However, not everyone at JC believes this lip wrestling was entirely noteworthy. Junior Tom Mattern was skeptical, saying, "I didn’t really think it

was that big of a deal. The media blew it out of proportion."

Senior Ashley Riggs expressed her disdain for the whole thing as well, stating, "I thought it was disgusting. They were slobbering all over the place, and it looked like they hadn’t brushed their teeth."

The ever-innocent Britney Spears defended her actions in an MTV interview claiming, "It was just a kiss, a nice kiss." As nice as a sloppy open-mouth girl-girl kiss performed in front of millions can be.

She also admitted the kiss was not completely improvised, as Madonna had been toying with the idea for about a week before the performance, and they ultimately decided to "feel it out" for the right moment on stage.

Christina Aguilera declared she had numerous kisses with Madonna. "I've kissed her numerous times - because at every rehearsal she wanted to get it right on every time." They rehearsed it so well, it looked like it was completely unrehearsed, some would say.

And to those people who argued that Spears and Aguilera's outrageously outrageous actions might spur 9-year-old children to start having homosexual make outs with each other, Spears responded with "I think I'm still clean living. I mean I don't

go home and have orgies or anything like that."

It's good to know that Spears is still an inspirational role model for us all.

Strangely, the media seemed to completely sidestep the "other" kiss. While the cameras were busy getting Justin Timberlake’s apathetic reaction to his ex-woman getting her freak on with Madonna, very few people noticed that Madonna then kissed Aguilera. Perhaps the cameramen knew that another lesbian moment so soon would overload our fragile systems.

And Madonna's husband Guy Ritichie? He clapped with delight, enraptured by the way Madonna and Britney Spears let loose their hedonistic debauchery.

So with a sharply divided JC, and the legitimacy of the kiss itself in question, perhaps the Madonna-Spears kiss will be remembered.

Editorials Freshmen Class of 2007 besieges hallways 2

What effects will these foreboding statistics have on JC life? For one thing, pep rallies and spirit weeks will call for much more on the part of upperclassmen.

Crowded hallways, confusion in If upperclassmen hope to level out the the stairwells, less seating in the cafeteria. playing field in respect to class spirit, they All signs that a new freshmen class has must put forth double the effort in making joined the JC community. Following the sure that their classes are adequately graduation of the Class of 2003 this past represented. spring, our new freshmen, the extremely I, for one, don’t want to see only large Class of 2007, shuffled into JC. underclassmen-colored flyers all over the Now don’t hallways during get me wrong, it’s not spirit week. In that I have some evil order not to vendetta against the have a school freshman class. Most overrun in white of the people I know and red, the aren’t so egotistical upperclassmen that they hate the will have to freshmen for… just make even more being freshmen. True, blue and green there are times when posters, flyers, certain upperclassmen and whatnot. photo by Lauren Schnupp claim superiority, but Afterschool Swarm: Freshmen meet at School spirit for the most part, we their lockers before going home is not the only all co-exist amicably. aspect of JC life But to set the record straight, it’s nothing that will be affected by the sizeable Class personal freshmen, your class is just too of 2007. It will prove more challenging big. than in previous years for freshmen to For one thing, the Class of 2007 follow the examples of upperclassmen. consists of an unprecedented 248 students.

As the younger classes Combined with the 209 sophomores in undoubtedly look up to the older classes, our school, the underclassmen dominate the freshmen will find that they do not the student population of JC. The have as many older schoolmates to set underclassmen comprise 56% of the a precedent for them. This is due to the population whereas the upperclassmen inequality in class sizes. only account for a meager 44%. It is The lack of peer role models is unfair to everyone in JC to have such a doing the freshmen an injustice. How large group of freshmen. will the younger classes be able to relate

Laura Kirchner Editorials co Editor

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John Carroll School 703 Churchville Road, Bel Air, Maryland 21014 Volume 39, Number 1, October 2003

Editor in Chief.........................................................................Katie Chlada Managing Editor ...................................................................Rachael Kessler Editorials co Editor.................................................................Laura Kirchner Editorials co Editor.....................................................................Billy Hughes News co Editor.......................................................................Courtney Kurtz News co Editor...........................................................................Erin O’Brien Features co Editor....................................................................Laurie Krysiak Features co Editor........................................................................Britt Cramer Entertainment co Editor..............................................................Katie Burton Entertainment co Editor................................................................Sarah Jones Sports co Editor.........................................................................Rose DiPaula Sports co Editor.........................................................................John Vigliotti Photography Editor.......................................................MaryBeth Derbyshire Business Manager....................................................................Pat Harrington Archives Editor................................................................................Cati Horn Moderator.....................................................................................Mr. Ionescu

Staff: Brian Averill, Adam Bell, Liz Burger, Chelsea Eldreth, Aisling

Finck, Cati Horn, Pat Isennock, David Lomonico, Sam Marll, Joe Matarazzo, Grace Matelli, Nina Panageotou, Stephanie Rew, Lauren Schnupp, Jennifer Smith.

The Patriot is a publication of the students of John Carroll School. The views and opinions expressed in The Patriot are not necessarily the views and opinions of the Board or Administration of The John Carroll School.

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

Volume 39, Number 1

The

to what it is like to be juniors and seniors when their classes already outnumber the upperclassmen?

Even though it is going to be tough for the freshmen to pave their own way, many have faith in the zeal of the freshmen to become involved and integrated in the school atmosphere. Whether or not this faith is warranted remains to be seen.

However, it does not go unnoticed that the freshman class is just too large for JC. As a private, Catholic school, JC makes it a priority to keep the number of students per grade limited, so there is a better student/teacher ratio.

“In an effort to keep classroom sizes as small as they are, next year’s incoming class cannot be this large,” said Mrs. Brueggemann. Even though there was a time in JC’s history when the student

population exceeded one thousand, JC does not plan to have this many students in the future. The hallways and cafeteria already seem crowded with our 818 students; it would be hard to imagine having over a thousand.

However crowded JC may be, we must all become accustomed to large underclassman class sizes. So whether or not we willingly accept this change, it is in the hands of the JC administration to maintain the small, private school image on which it prides itself. So as we trudge our way through crowded mod changes and search in vain for open cafeteria tables, we can only hope that future classes will not be so oversized.

Inappropriate dancing irks administration Laurie Krysiak Freatures co Editor

“fun within the guidelines.” There are no specific dance movements that will get the students in trouble, but that also means that there is a lot of subjectivity Walking into the cafeteria on the involved on the part of the teachers. night of September 5 for JC’s annual Back Teachers decide what is inappropriate to School dance, nothing seemed to be out based on their own opinions – a fact of the ordinary. The doors opened at 8 that seems potentially dangerous given o’clock, and five hundred students walked the kind of dancing that most teachers onto the dance floor to have fun with their grew up with.

“It’s going to take some time to friends. figure out where Once out the line is drawn. in the middle of There’s going the crowd, it was to be some give not unusual to be and take,” said bumped into every Mr. Piercy, “It once in a while by really depends a fellow student. on how graphic But, to the horror the dancing is.” of some, students In the were not the only event that a ones out on the faculty member floor. The bump stops a student and grind patrol, from dancing a.k.a. the teachers, inappropriately, were enforcing the photo by Mary Beth Derbyshire there are several dancing laws with Despite new guidelines, students ensteps that iron fists. joyed themselves at the dance could be taken.

For most Usually, firstof the students, the feeling that they were being watched time offenders will be given a verbal all night was a bit disturbing. After all, it warning or perhaps receive penalty time is a little difficult to relax and have a good off the dance floor. However, if students time when the teachers that you have to see continue to ignore the guidelines, they the next day are scrutinizing your every may be asked to leave the dance.

Although no students were move.

But, as creepy as it was, some sent home for inappropriate behavior, a of the faculty including Dean of Students few seniors were pulled of the floor and Mr. Piercy and Principal Mr. Barker were asked to sit out for ten minutes. Despite indeed walking amongst the mass of this, Mr. Piercy said that the dance was students. Intimidation tactics? Perhaps. an overall success.

“I think that the Back to School The walk around method was part of the administration’s way of enforcing the dance showed some improvement,” guidelines of dancing. These guidelines said Mr. Piercy, “Things went pretty have been in place for a few years but have well from my point of view.”

The administration and the largely been ignored by many students.

The dancing guidelines prohibit students seem to subscribe to different any “freak dancing” or “bumping and definitions of “pretty well,” and only grinding,” which is defined on one of the time will tell whether JC students posted handouts as, “simulated sex, crotch continue to fight the guidelines or to crotch dancing, crotch to rear dancing, decide to “have fun within them.” and inappropriate photo by Mary Beth Derbyshire touching.”

Although these guidelines seem a bit strict, Mr. Piercy said that the rules shouldn’t ruin students’ good time.

The purpose is to allow students to have

Patriot

October 2003

Editorials

Genius musicians attack own fans Joe Matarzzo Staff Writer

You just got out of school, and you hear a new song on the radio that you just have to hear again. So you do the only thing that seems natural—hop online and download it. Watch it now, does that sound illegal to you?

Apparently, it is. But how can downloading music be illegal? You only downloaded some miniscule little file with that one line of lyrics you could not live another second without. Are you really hurting the artist? How can downloading an MP3 be different from recording a song off the radio onto a cassette tape?

There are many different positions and viewpoints taken on this much-debated topic. Local groups like Atticus and Trevor find the Internet to be a quick and easy way to spread their name.

If a friend tells a friend who tells a friend to download their song, such bands could be filling their shows pretty quickly. Up and coming bands like Ra and Thrice caught my attention solely from my discovery of their music on the Internet.

On the opposite side of the spectrum sit groups like Metallica and Marilyn Manson, who feel that the Internet is slowly killing their profits. Forgive me if I’m not very sympathetic. Metallica is one of the most successful bands in history, with money practically coming out of the drywall in their mansions. And as for Marilyn Manson…well, he/she/it is neither here nor there.

Few people seriously abuse downloading music. Who has the time to sit at a computer and download an entire album? The majority of music swappers use online programs to download the latest single that they heard on the radio. If they decide they like the song, many go to the store and pick up the entire album, if they don’t like the song they delete it.

File-sharing is a kind of screening process that helps people find artists they like immediately.

But it’s not just the “beautiful people” that are expressing their opinions.

There are also some major bands that stand

on the side of the file-sharing applications, including Michelle Branch and Sting.

These artists promote the idea of filesharing, but would like a cut to keep their lawyers at bay…just because.

For Apple users, an opportunity to get legal music online has arrived in the form of iTunes, a pay-per-song service

claimed to no avail that he never used the computer, it was simply there for his daughter when she visited. I may be crazy, but I believe this man. I know it’s a long shot, but something tells me Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears don’t mix with his morning coffee at the local Wal-Mart.

Is this fair? Sure, the artists are

www.slickshangout.com

that tries to fix this whole mess. This is a great idea with a massive flaw—only about 8.2% of Americans use Macs at home.

The PC version of iTunes is in the works, but whether it will be successful or not remains to be seen.

The past 4 years of whining from the artists has culminated in the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) finally taking a hard line stance on file-sharing. The RIAA has sent out warning messages to specific users on the popular downloading program KaZaA and highly publicized what it will do to those caught sharing music. Poor little Billy can no longer download his favorite songs off the Internet like his older brother taught him. If he does, the evil RIAA man will come and slap him with a subpoena, and maybe kill his cat!

A little extreme? Maybe. But it hasn’t even begun to hit the fan. Try this.

Recently a 67-year-old grandfather was issued his own court subpoena for illegally sharing music on the KaZaA network. He

Whatcha doin’?

getting what they want, but what about the consumer? Pardon me, but aren’t we the ones that put the artists where they are today? This is how we are paid back.

For example, what happened to the days when CDs used to cost $11.99?

Now, you go into a Virgin Megastore or

The Wall and find that same CD climbing towards twenty bucks. Ridiculous price increases have been driving away CD buyers for years and the music industry has done little to bring those buyers back.

The record industry has lost the loyalty of the consumer. People no longer want to drive 10 or 15 minutes to the store to buy what they can have at home in seconds. I know that I do not stand alone when I say that no matter how hard anyone tries, they can’t stop us now.

More people have downloaded music than voted for George W. Bush.

The RIAA and its Evil Empire can spend the rest of their existence chasing after Napsters and KaZaAs and Gnutellas, but it will not end. People will find a way around any obstacle the RIAA puts up.

Many have already made the switch from Peer-to-Peer networks to Private FTP servers, which run off an individual’s own Internet connection. The only way to stop this would be to cut off home Internet connections around the world, and I don’t foresee that happening anytime soon.

Regardless, it seems that most of the artists have gone off to Never-Never Land in thinking that they can win the battle against file-sharing. I’m sure their fans will want to buy the next album after being sued for everything they are worth.

To these artists, I say good luck. Say hi to MC Hammer for me when you’re living out of that cardboard box.

** Kazaa Lite K++ can protect you from the RIAA. Check it out at http:// www.kazaalite.tk/ ** Americans are teaming up to fight the RIAA’s rampage, and you can help! Sign the file-sharing petition at http://eff.org/share/

“Madonna’s Record Deal Madness?”

I got a new game for my K-station Cubid 2.

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See, you have to get Madonna as many new record deals as possible by putting her onstage with hot, young pop idols.

Yeah, it’s really great.

Wow, whipping that naive, young singer got you thirty-six deals!

YES!!! I AM THE MASTER!

Oh no! Madonna just turned fiftyone!!!

Co

m i c

AAAGH!!!

FRENCH HER!!!

FRENCH HER!!!

s

By Dan October 2003

The

Patriot

Volume 39, Number 1

Editorials Students decry assembly scare-tactics 4

Billy Hughes Editorials co Editor It’s Monday morning and you stumble into school, still half-asleep.

Homeroom flies by and you’re still trying to shake the cobwebs out of your head.

Just as you remember the homework that you forgot to do the night before, the PA announces that your class has to report to the auditorium for an assembly.

“Oh great,” you think, “more rules and regulations, dress code updates, or honors awards.” After you and your friends shuffle into the auditorium and sit down, you quickly notice that this is not a run-of-the-mill assembly.

A man starts talking about abortion. He seems pretty passionate about his subject and seems to be making sense.

Then, after a short disclaimer, a video starts up on the big screen. If you weren’t awake before, you certainly are now.

Pictures and video clips of real abortions flash across the screen—the harsh reality behind the issue in full force. Not tame stuff. Even as your eyes are glued to the screen, your stomach feels like it’s about to explode.

When the assembly ends, you file into the hallways. A message got through to you… but was it the right message?

There has been a rash of “issue” assemblies at JC lately. Last year, in addition to the infamous abortion assembly, students got lectured on drunk

driving, and this year the school had to cope with death is a gradual process the Tuesdays With Morrie / Death talk. and a lot for a teenager to be hit with The methods used in these in fifteen minutes of a school assembly.

Some students like senior Melissa assemblies have resulted in emotional student reactions and raised important Shanty have extremely passionate opinions questions.

Are the assemblies too on this issue. “Not only were the speakers harsh? Many think the administration unsympathetic, but in my opinion what is using scare tactics on the student they were saying was untrue, offensive, body. Is there a better way to handle and inappropriate. I hope that next time, delicate issues like abortion and death? the administration will think twice about The answer is yes. The who they bring in to speak,” she said.

In defense of the assemblies, objects of the “issue” assemblies are to one has to realize make students think that teenagers are about the difference MELISSA SHANTY classically apathetic. between right and The theory is that wrong, to instill hope that next time, if you don’t shock Christian values, students, they’re and to make students the administration not going to listen. more informed – not will think twice about One could to engage their gag make an argument reflex or reduce who they bring in to that the shock parts – them to tears. speak. the vivid descriptions Picture that of drunk driver you have just lost accidents, the video, someone you loved dearly. Would you take offense if some the plastic cup being flicked off the desk - are psychologist from Johns Hopkins told necessary to get students to pay attention.

According to the principal, “We you that “passed away,” “deceased,” and “gone to a better place” were all useless don’t choose speakers to shock the pants off terms imposed upon society? Absolutely. students.” Speakers are generally chosen Who is he to tell you how to deal by endorsements and recommendations, with your grief? What if one of those and the speakers for both the abortion and terms was used in a eulogy at your loved death assemblies are nationally acclaimed.

Mr. Barker continued saying one’s funeral? This is not to say that the psychologist’s opinions and methods that the assemblies on lifestyle issues are are not valid. They are, but learning part of the “full education” at JC. He

maintains that the school, “cannot and will not make an apology [because] this a Catholic School.” His position is that when parents send their children to JC, they know the kind of moral standards the school has, and the kind of positions that the school is going to support.

This is not to say that the administration does not sympathize with student concerns. Mr. Barker concedes that the abortion video was “out of character with the rest of the presentation” and “caught the audience off guard.” He also pointed out that the junior/senior Tuesdays with Morrie assembly was drastically shortened, and the John Hopkins speaker had to make his point within a time limit.

In an April 2003 school survey, 48% of students cited assemblies as the most effective means of presenting information on key issues. Almost half of the student body said that the assemblies were valuable and useful, so scrapping these “issue” assemblies is not the right course of action.

JC needs to concentrate on the assemblies that it does right, namely the cancer assemblies. The talks on breast cancer and testicular cancer presented information and gave a warning to students, but did it without alienating them or grossing them out.

Tough issues like death and abortion have to be dealt with – kids have to be taught how to act, but they don’t have to be made to throw up or cry in the process.

confirm the typical rumors surrounding the fast food industry, but in my particular experience, I found the results to be quite shocking. It was my turn to bake the pies, and being new, I was not prepared for the unsanitary atrocity I was about to see.

I walked down the stairs, which were covered in a slick film of grime and dirt, afraid to grab the paint chipped railing in order to maintain my balance. As I entered the basement, the dim lights buzzed with the sound of dying insects and the stench of cardboard and mold increased the rancid nature of the air. Cups and sandwich wrappers were stacked high, exposed to the pestilence in the air and the eager maternal flies.

Cheeseburger? My point made.

Here is a list of unspoken rules used to gyp the customer at all costs.

Use the oldest made sandwich, despite its hockey puck nature, to complete the order in the most efficient amount of time.

If the customers do not clarify what size value meal they want, charge them for a large. Give them the minimal amount of condiments unless they demand more. If a person over the age of 50 does not ask for a senior discount, charge them full price.

And so on…

Taking advantage of senior citizens draws the line for me. Senility is no excuse to make an extra thirty cents.

However, I remain helpless at this point in my life. It angers me to see the money hungry fiends of the corporate world holding my paycheck like a dangling carrot, but I am but a tool of the deceptive world of marketing. And with this truth finally divulged, I have one last question to ask, “Would you like fries with that?”

I

McDisgusting: summer employee spills all Katie Chlada Editor-in-Chief I always thought my ultimate epiphany would occur in my late thirties during a mid-life crisis, but summer, like life, has a peculiar way of painting reality beneath the lids of your eyes. I never pictured the most enlightening experience of my life transpiring within the depths of a deep fat fryer. I do not seek to sound like a philosopher or Upton Sinclair in The Jungle, however, I hope to convey truth; the truth I found “in the real world.”

What is Truth? This is by far the most sought out yet intangible question each individual struggles to answer, but I found it in the most unlikely of places where the “smiles are always free” and a cheeseburger is $1.15. McDonald’s.

It all began on June 16, 2003. I walked into the Jacksonville McDonald’s with my apprehension gathering upon my face in beads of saturated grease and sweat. I had just entered the microcosm of actuality to which I had been sheltered from by naiveté.

The grim realization of my first job hit me when someone exclaimed, “The new girl’s here!” I met my co-workers, the typical array of penniless high school students struggling to make a few dollars for the summer. Disgruntled, I began my work as another puppet of American capitalism. And so the lesson began.

I realized after my first week of employment that nothing in life could be taken at face value, not even a Big Mac. Every corporation has layers, some good and some bad. Yet, it seems the most effective marketing tactic for each is deception. However, the truth lies hidden under the corporate monster in a place as simple as the McDonald’s basement. Yes, I was shocked to learn McDonald’s had a basement as well.

I do not want to be the one to

Volume 39, Number 1

The ominous door of the freezer stood across the basement. The bacteria infested room soon tainted the soft clouds of frozen air as I opened the door. Boxes of hamburger meat and hash browns lay opened, inviting the microscopic scavengers of the floor. Unrecognizable “food” cluttered the corner crusted with a green substance.

Daring to see no more, I closed my eyes and grabbed the needed amount of apple pies before running back up the stairs.

However, you do not need to travel to the basement to find the truth. Just look behind the counter in the areas strategically hidden from customer’s view. Just look where your scrumptious, lard induced, greasecovered burger is made

The

“hot and fresh just for you.” I don’t want to be facetious, but McDonald’s can take the sole credit for the invention of the fivesecond rule.

The next area of critique is the bathroom. To be blunt, I would rather get a urinary tract infection than relieve myself in there. A few months before I started working, a pregnant woman had an aneurysm in the stall and died. That bathroom is forever tainted with the smell of death and hand-sanitizer.

I would elaborate further, but I think your imagination is deep enough to create your own picture.

Anyway, I do not want to influence a cut in pay due to poor sales or lose the chance of gaining my nickel bonus in five years. All I ask for really is truth. I feel that two grease monkeys doing a pagan dance over a deep fryer would be more truthful than the commercials seen on TV. But one must take into consideration the American economic system, the complete exploitation of the consumer.

By the way, isn’t ironic that a Double Cheeseburger costs ten cents less than a regular

Patriot

October 2003

News

Lions, tigers, freshmen...oh my Courtney Kurtz News co-editor Five seconds until the end of your first class… four… three… two… and with the sound of the tone, they’re off. The students race to the doors of their classrooms, scurry down the halls, dodging freshmen left and right, all in attempt to beat them down the middle staircase.

You fly by Mr. Johnson’s room, race around the corner, and, uhoh… the freshmen and their mountainous stack of books have beat you to it.

Crowded hallways and jam-packed free mods are due to the enormous size of JC’s current freshmen class: the class of 2007.

This year’s freshmen class, with a grand total of 249 students, is the third largest in the history of JC. The largest class was the class of 1985, which had

286 students. The second largest was the class of 1984, which had 276 students.

“We admitted more students last year because the economy was struggling,” said vice principal, Mr. Scholl. “It looked like we were going to war, and tuition at that point was going to be raised to over $9,000.”

Admission expected more students to decline acceptance to JC due to such recent world events.

Since so many students decided to attend JC, “we obviously must be doing something right,” said Mr. Scholl. One of the many appealing aspects of JC is the small classroom sizes, which allow for more oneon-one time between students and teachers.

Mr. Scholl claims that the average classroom sizes have actually declined school wide. Eight new teachers have been added in order to keep class sizes down, yet the number of guidance counselors has stayed the same.

Most public schools have an average of one guidance counselor for

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every 500 students, so some of JC’s freshmen are accustomed to large classes. Freshman Meghan Dibley attended Fallston Middle School, and referring to the size of her current class she said, “It’s not that big compared to my middle school.”

However, fellow freshman Stephanie Ward disagrees. “It feels photo by Lauren Schnupp like I’ve met a lot The bottle-necked hallway on the first floor is now packed with more freshmen than ever. of people, but then I see the whole class together bers of admittance, the traditional Ring and it feels like I’ve only met a few.” Day Ceremony held in the auditorium This year’s may come to freshmen outan end. There number our are 600 seats in STEPHANIE WARD seniors by 44%. the auditorium, JC has 207 which may not sophomores, be enough to 189 juniors, accommodate and only 173 the freshmen seniors. “[The class and their freshmen] alfamilies on most double their Ring Day. us,” said se“That could be nior Lauren a problem,” said Mooney.

Mr. Scholl, “but Mr. Johnwe have other opson adds, tions. If we need “They’re large to, we can move it in number, not in stature.”

Many to the gym. We’ll just have to wait and see.” people have also taken notice of Also, large class sizes could affect: the vertically challenged freshmen. graduation day, mass in the gymnasium, Sophomore Bill Fehrnann said, “There’s pep rallies, sports teams, and parking. nothing but little freshmen around,” It seems as if many things in JC’s future with ‘little’ being the operative word. have yet to be determined. In any event, Moreover, junior Andrew Cranford said, one thing is for sure: like it or not, the “[The freshmen] are an army of 2’6” kids.” freshmen class is here to stay. “It’s fanHowever, the freshmen’s lack of height does tastic to see so many young faces,” said not compensate for their colossal quantity. Mrs. Howshall, “and I hope they all graduIf JC continues the trend of high num- ate from JC; they’re a part of our home.”

I

t feels like I’ve met a lot of people, but then I see the whole class together and it feels like I’ve only met a few.”

photo by Lauren Schnupp

After school, freshmen congregate underneath the newly renovated canopy.

photo by Erin O’Brien

M

y biggest pet peeve is when people don’t come and see me about their injuries.”

To accommodate the large size of the freshmen class, and because there is an extra gym this year, a new gym teacher has been brought on board. Mr. Fabriziani is not an unfamiliar face here at JC; many athletes may recognize him as the athletic trainer. He has extensive high school sport experience, having played soccer and baseball at Havre de Grace High School. Having attended a public high school, the atmosphere at JC is noticeably different to him. He said, “I really like the fact that religion is a big part of JC. It brings a sense of community… I feel that people care about each other.”

During college, Mr. Fabriziani interned at JC under the former athletic trainer. Coincidently, as he was finishing college, that same position opened up and he was hired. While in college he attended Salisbury University where he earned a bachelors of science and a degree in physical education with a concentration on athletic training.

He later attended Auburn University where he earned a masters degree in education and minored in sports management. This year, in addition to his job as a trainer, Mr. Fabriziani will be teaching freshmen gym class. At first, the thought of this new job made him a little anxious. “I was really nervous about it because I never taught before, but it’s been really fun,” he said.

Mr. Fabriziani’s biggest pet peeve, however, is not related to teaching at JC. It is related to his job as JC’s athletic trainer. “My biggest pet peeve is when people don’t come to see me about their injuries,” he said.

It is frustrating to him because when left unchecked, some injuries will become worse. He wants athletes to know that he is not here to keep them off of the playing field, but to keep them on the playing field..

October 2003

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NE WS Fla sh

FAMILIAR FACES: MR. FABRIZIANI

On Friday, October 10th, JC hosted its annual blood drive. This year, teachers and students who were sixteen and above were given the opportunity to give blood to the American Red Cross. photo by Erin O’Brien

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T S A TS

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FAC

photos courtesy of www.isweb13.infoseek.co.jp/.../kurozuka/pant/panflist_i_ ta.html and www.liberty-belles.org/resources/hallofshame.html

RECA::

Cruz Bustemante: • Democrat, Lieutenant Governor of California.

• Runnerup with 31.6% of the popular vote. photo courtesy of www.laprensa-sandiego.org

Mary Carey:

Continued from front page

photo courtesy of www.marycarey.com

Larry Flynt: • Owner of Hustler magazine, which publishes porn.

“I think that I would be Gray Davis’ and the Californian Republican Party’s worst nightmare come true if I got elected.” photo courtesy of http://www.bbc.co.uk/

Gary Coleman: • Former Child Star, starred on the sitcom Different Strokes “I thought (the recall) was a joke. They thought it was a joke. And I thought, hey, why not.” photo courtesy of www.inthevoid.com

Leo Gallagher:

• Former comedian and watermelon smasher “If the world is going to be so silly to consider celebrities as viable candidates, then why shouldn’t I run? Of course they’re not going to make me governor, but it allows me to promote my ideas. I’m 100 percent serious about my platform.”

photo courtesy of www.thegrooveofanaheim.com

RECALL CANDIDATES

photo courtesy of www.fisiculturismo.com

Some republicans were saying that because of Schwarzenegger’s somewhat liberal ideals he was the only viable republican candidate for governor, citing California’s overall liberal voting tendency. Supporters of Schwarzenegger say that he has what it takes to tackle the position of governor. L.A. Mayor Michael Huffington said, "Arnold is a charismatic leader who would be able to work with all segments of the California political spectrum, and our state needs a uniter right now."

However, some republicans, such as running mate Tom McClintock said that Arnold is too liberal, citing his plateform, which included supporting gay adoption.

Other candidates included: former child star Gary Coleman, porn star Mary Carey, owner of Hustler magazine, Larry Flint, watermelon-smashing comedian Leo Gallagher, and many other off the wall characters. The candidates with the most political credentials were republican Tom McClintock and democrat Cruz Bustemante. McClintock is considered to be extremely conservative. Because both Arnold and McClintock were running, some republicans worried that the republican vote would be spread out between the two of them thus limiting the Republican Party’s chances of success.

Current Lieutenant governor Bustemante had the support of the Latino community, but also the name association with Davis (although apparently they do not like each other), which proved to take away some votes. Former candidate, Ariana Huffington dropped out of the election to ensure widespread democratic support for Bustemante.

Schwarzenegger ran a strong campaign: he used his public notoriety to win himself votes, he had seemingly endless funds, and he had the strong support

of the republican party. Obviously he did something right because he won the election with 48% of the popular vote.

The attempts of the democrats to take away votes came too late in the election to do any real damage to his popularity. Late in the election, several women surfaced who said that Schwarzenegger had groped them (allegedly). For the most part, he did not deny these charges, and was quick to apologize for them.

The first project that Arnold is planning to tackle is the deficit problem that California is so deeply entangled in.

The deficit of California adds up to an estimated $38.2 billion dollars. This is more than the deficit of all the other fortynine states combined. He plans on getting a team together to go over every minutia of the budget to see what adjustments can be made to limit the deficit. He said they will be, " [making] spending cuts, streamlining government and constitutional amendments to get control of the budget."

Some democrats have been flirting with the idea of attempting to have another election, which will recall the recall. Davis himself is against this idea.

Former President Bill Clinton’s chief of staff, Leon Panetta, suggested that now is the time for California to put aside its political differences and move ahead. He said that a second recall is, “a bad idea ... it’s time to move on. ... The voters have spoken here, I think we ought to give the new governor a chance to be able to govern the state.”

The State of California has spoken.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is the newest governor.

With the apparent rally and support for the balancing of California’s budget, he seems to be on the right track. Hopefully this change will do them good.

• Porn star, said she was only in the election for fun.

• Came in tenth place in the election.

“I expected to have fun...I love cameras and am getting in front of them without getting naked and having sex.”

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s m r Sto

l e b a s I e n a c i e c a Hurr r G e d e r v Ha

“To visito p of th e Ba r it as s to th y e bo ,” the it sa ardw ice t am cream alk, ongs h t a a newl d a tid store th y fo e rmed flowin at greet g th s lake of fl rough oodi ng.

hat ion t . t a t s a ev alk and d e boardw g n i h flood int: t much al po c o o f s aused ut its rm c ow witho o t s The is n own the t Boards pile up along the shorelin e as the boardwalk washes away.

The area around the gazebo was completely flooded.

A w floa aywa rd ts j ice u p crea st offs iece o hor m s hop e, w f the hil bo sits in t e the ardwa he l bac floode k kgro d und .

The land around the famous completely was lighthouse flooded, leaving houses destroyed and cars under water.

Outs id store e of , a fallen Bomboy’ s i tree ce lays cre on t he f am ence.

After the storm, the boardwalk was swaying, and eventually washed away completely.

The Ritz, a popular Havre de Grace restaraunt, boarded up thier windows as a safety precaution. “Go away Izzy,” adorned the plywood with spraypaint.

A fallen tree covers the house of a downtown resident. photos and spread by Erin O’Brien

October 2003

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Volume 39, Number 1

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New lot, oval create student parking spaces first serve,” said junior Andrew O’Hara.

However, others, like senior Ryan Hamill, had no objection to the traditional way of assigning spots. Hamill was one The long and strenuous hike of the few students who actually benefited from Upper Rockfield to JC is no more. from the raffle last year. He didn’t have a Well… for now at least. With new park- car until late September as a result of an ing methods and more parking spots, this accident but still managed to get one of could finally be the year that JC got it right. the best parking spots in the faculty lot.

Also, with the construction In the past, parking has always been assigned by a raffle, but this year parking was of the new gym finally completed, assigned on a first come first serve basis. the oval is now reopened to the senior The new method of assign- class for parking. The new method ing spots worked in favor of many of parking for the oval requires no juniors, who otherwise may have not spot numbers and no parallel parking.

Select seniors received a pass gotten a spot. “It should be first come with “oval” written on it, so they are not designated to a specific spot. Since they are not assigned spots, when seniors arrive in the morning, they simply pull up to the first available spot.

There is also a new parking lot next to the Conservatory of Music. This lot was built photo courtesy of Patriot file folder last year to make up for A student parks their car in front of the school. the spots lost in the oval.

Pat Isennock Staff Writer

With only about 240 total student

parking spots, 173 seniors, and 189 juniors, there will be about 146 people in those classes without a parking spot.

Due to the combined effects of smaller senior and junior classes and the additional parking lot, both seniors and juniors are allowed to purchase on campus parking spots for twenty-five dollars. For the time being, there is even a surplus of about thirty spots, but the few seniors and juniors that will be acquiring their licenses later this school year will fill them.

Only upperclassmen are allowed to park on campus.

According to Mrs. Gauthier, sophomores are generally not given parking spots on campus.

Sophomore Dave Schmidt, who will be getting his license this spring said, “It’s not fair.”

A few seniors also won’t receive parking spots because they will not be getting their licenses until later this year. There are parking spots that are saved for these seniors, but they will only be saved until about Christmas.

“I’m really mad about it,” said senior Maria Iannatuono.

She will most likely get her license this academic year, however, she may not get it until after Christmas, which will be too late to buy one of the saved spots.

Although many people still find some aspects of JC parking objectionable, this year has been a gigantic improvement on both the methods and availability of parking.

Students have steller time at Back to School Dance Chelsea Eldereth Staff Writer

The Back to School Dance, which was held on September 5th, has the reputation for being the best dance of the school year. This year a new set of rules was introduced regulating student behavior at school dances. This dance was the first opportunity for the rules to be implemented. Overall students had mixed feelings about the rules, although the rules are still guidelines until they have been tweaked to perfection.

With over 500 students present, all displaying an array of fashion, the canopy entrance resembled the red carpet at the VMA’s.

Junior Molly Housman stated that she planned her outfit a week in advance. Students are known to be liberal with their outfit choices for this dance. Mr. Piercy

reported that overall he wasn’t offended by the outfits. “Some were questionable, but in large part it didn’t bother me.”

In past years, students have complained about the DJ playing strange songs that no one likes or has heard before. This year was different; the DJ played different types of music that appealed to most students. Sophomore Chelsea Ford said that the DJ, “was rockin’ the tunes! It was totally stellar!”

Several other activities were offered besides dancing. Students were allowed to be in the gym, where music was being played.

Basketball hoops, volleyball nets, and badminton nets were set up for students to use.

Of course, the major attraction to the gym was the fact that it was air-conditioned.

Gym chaperone, Mrs. Gauthier said, “Having other activities besides dancing allows students to enjoy coming, but not having

photo by MaryBeth Derbyshire

Sam Primrose, Nina Panageotou, Caroline Munley, Lauren Bradley, and Katie Chlada show off their senior class pride.

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to face the pressure or fear with the dancing aspect.”

Another new part of the dance was the Smoothie King table run by SAC officers.

Many JC students bought smoothies to keep themphoto by MaryBeth Derbyshire selves cool.

Mr. Piercy scolds senior Greg Brown for dancing inappropriately.

However, due to the limited supply of smoothies, they the enforcement of the new rules went well, sold out and students were forced to resort some students had other opinions. Senior to the soda machines for refreshments. Nick Johnson said that the dance “sucked” Due to such a large freshmen class, the because students couldn’t have any fun. usual privilege of bringing non-JC stu- Several others reported that the chaperones dents to the dance was taken away. Some were being annoying and crowding them. students were counting on bringing outside The general consensus was that they were friends. Ford said, “It was ridiculous; always in the students’ business. Many I really wanted to bring some people.” left early because they were not enjoying One of the major controversies with this themselves. Mr. Piercy said that since year’s dance was the new code of conduct, these rules are still being adjusted, students which was strictly enforced. Posters and and faculty will have to find a balance fliers displaying guidelines and conse- between what each deems as appropriate. quences were hung throughout the halls and classrooms. “We saw a great deal of improvement. However, we still have a ways to go,” said Mr. Piercy.

In order to enforce the guidelines, chaperones had to pay close attention to the students. “I just stuck my nose right in the middle. I stayed active and didn’t stay standing around. I asked those who were being inappropriate to stop or to even leave the dance floor in some cases,” said Mr. Piercy. photo by MaryBeth Derbyshire Though a majority of A group of freshmen boys relax in the courtyard, taking the teachers thought that a break from the heat of the dance floor.

Patriot

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Counterclockwise from top left: Peter

All photos by Marybeth Derbyshire

O’Hara shares an intimate moment with friend P.J. Ireton. Senior girls show off their creative attire. Senior Virgilia Garland strikes a pose. Sophomores feel as strong as superheroes once they are reenergized by the drinks from the vending machines. Friends Ashley Melott and Erika Horn take a break from dancing long enough to get their picture taken.

Junior girls groove to the music in the conga line. The Spanish exchange students enjoy American culture at our first dance of the school year.

October 2003

The

Patriot

Volume 39, Number 1

Entertainment Titans of horror duke it out on big screen 10

The horror starts as Jason starts his killing spree. Eventually Jason starts horning in on Freddy’s kills, and the It’s hard to believe that the monster-on-monster action commences same species that gave us Citizen Kane as they battle to see who gets to kill the and Star Wars has created this debacle rest of the town. Soon, the horny teenagcalled Freddy vs. Jason. I knew the movie ers can only stand by, numb with terror was going to be bad, but I was not pre- (and horniness) as Jason and Freddy do pared for the atrocity it turned out to be. what they do best: Making things die.

The “plot” (and The “actors” are horI use that term loosely) rible at spewing profanity, revolves around the rescreaming in horror, and runturn of Freddy Krueger. ning slowly from the monHe’s decided to make sters. Monica Keena, of the a comeback on Elm Fox show “Undeclared,” is Street. But since people passable as Lori, and Jason no longer fear him, he’s Ritter as her dopey boyfriend too weak to do his dirty Will is almost tolerable. work. So he resurrects Kelly Rowland makes her Jason Voorhees to kill his “acting” debut as the mouthy courtesy of www.msnicon.com victims until he is strong Kia in this movie. Like most Freddy Krueger frightens other musicians who try enough.

Meanwhile, the many in their dreams. to cross over to the silver local horny teens have screen, overacting and tersex, drink beer, and wanrible dialogue are never far away when der out into the forest alone at night for fun. she graces the screen with her presence.

Meanwhile, hordes of nameless The special effects in this film, victims pass across the screen, getting surprisingly, are top-notch. The blood maimed or murdered by Freddy and Jason. and guts look unexpectedly real, The movie even and the fight scenes between Jason shamelessly rips and Freddy that take place in conoff the character struction sites, abandoned wareJay of Jay and houses and Camp Crystal Lake, Silent Bob are mildly entertaining when the Strike Back. The movie isn’t trying to be a soap opera idea of characby depicting Lori and Will’s shalter development low and sophomoric relationship. or emotion is The best parts of the movie are completely when Mr. Krueger and Mr. Voorforeign to direchees utterly demolish the scenery tor Ronny Yu. and each other in a vain attempt courtesy of www.msnicon.com The entire Jason returns in this movie to destroy each other, as the teens movie plays with his trademark chainsaw. cower in fear. Ronny Yu may out like one be a terrible slasher-film direcbig music video. tor, but he makes excellent fight scenes.

Quick cuts and bright flashing Except for the battle scenes, the lights blare across the screen often, so much whole movie feels tired and strung-out. that the audience had no idea what was hap- If Director Ronny Yu made a 1-hour pening. Loud pumping hard rock exploded 45-minute movie about construction my eardrums when Freddy and Jason start- materials duking it out called “Brick ed whaling on each other, further deterio- vs. Cinder-block,” it would be more corating what little coherency the movie had. herent and entertaining than this trash.

Kill Bill slices through big screen

Freshies sport side ponytail

Sam Marll Staff Writer

Billy Hughes Editorials co-Editor

in sight, including her sleazy male nurse.

Our heroine then turns into a bounQuentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. ty hunter for the rest of the movie and starts 1 is without a doubt the goriest movie tracking down her former Vipers, killing I have ever seen in my life. From the them one by one in her quest for revenge. minute the film’s anonymous heroine (the Aside from the basic premise, movie never reveals her name) walks on there are a few sub-plots - they include the screen to Kill Bill’s cliffhanger end- our heroine getting a special sword, the ing, someone on screen is dying, losing background behind the other Vipers, a limb, or spouting blood like a geyser. and scattered flashbacks - but most Remember that scene in Gladia- aren’t important.

What is important tor when Russell Crowe sticks two swords are the scantily clad women beating in his enemy, then pulls them out and the crap out of each other for a solid decapitates him? That scene is child’s two hours. High-quality entertainment. play compared to the kind of horrible In the audience you cringe as stunts that Tarantino pulls in Kill Bill. Thurman takes out a Viper-turned-stayThe flood of blood overshadows at-home-mom in front her child, you grithe plot of the movie, and you find your- mace as Thurman decapitates an enemy self preoccupied by the carnage. If you and the fallen head starts spewing blood can get past the gore, the plot of Kill Bill everywhere, you feel sick as Thurman is actually entertaining in its own right. scalps the second Viper and leaves her to Uma Thurman plays the heroine, die brain-exposed…but you continue to a former member of the Deadly Viper watch out of morbid fascination. There Assassination Squad. When you want is something about the way that Tarantino someone dead quickly, efficiently, and presents a gruesome massacre that makes cleanly, you call the Viper Squad to per- 80 people lying on the ground in pools form the “hit”. But when Thurman tries of their own blood OK, even humorous. to get out of the assassination business and Maybe it’s the cliché Jamesstart a family, the rest of the squad takes Bond quips, maybe it’s the overly-choher down. The leader Bill actually shoots reographed fight scenes, maybe it’s her in the head, but somehow Thurman’s the fact that everything dead sort of character survives. Four years after be- resembles your neighbor’s “Haunted ing shot, Thurman wakes up from her House” from last Halloween… whatcoma and immediately kills everything ever it is, the violence just isn’t offensive.

If you go into this movie with the mindset that you’re just going to sit back and enjoy gratuitous violence, you’ll be fine.

If you expect more than that, you’ll be frustrated. An elderly couple was sitting next to me in the theater and I swear I thought the older woman was going to lose her lunch. This movie is not for them. It’s for the matrix lovers, the former mortal combat photo courtesy of art.com addicts, and the doom Uma Thurman, as the star of the movie, steals yet another junkies. It is definitely scene with her amazing acting skills in an action senot a date movie. quence.

Volume 39, Number 1

The

Katie Burton Entertainment co Editor

have grown accustomed to these girls and look forward to seeing them in their ponyAt first we all thought it was a tails. Senior Meghan Jacques is always joke, but slowly this fad has taken over excited to see a girl nicknamed “Veronica” because of her the girls at JC. unique style.

The underclassPeople respect men have taken a them for their jump back in time boldness and to the 1980s in the confidence. land of side ponySophomore tails.

Mary Etting said, There “I wouldn’t do it, are many verbut it shows their sions of this individuality.” ponytail. Some However, these girls wear the celebrities only ponytails on the remain famous very middle of for a short their head, while while. It seems others opt for that wearing the a loose style at sideways ponythe base of their tail has an age necks.

Some limit. It is most even french-braid popular with a ponytail on the sophomores the side. And, and freshmen. yet, there are Last year’s still girls who photo by Aisling Finck sophomores are undecided. Jacqueline Mitchell struts her stuff while took this fad They look as proudly showing off the side ponytail. to the extreme. if they tried to Everywhere have a regular ponytail, but it fell and is left slightly one looked, there was a side poAs upperclassmen though, off-centered and flopping to the side. nytail.

Sophomore Delia Pais, although barely any of the girls rock this trend.

Not all students are open to the she does not sport this fad herself, said that it was “sort of cute” and “different”. idea of a new trend though. Senior Sam Senior Nina Panageotou attrib- Primrose said, “Side ponytails rock...when uted this new craze to the girls who go Madonna wore them 20 years ago!”

One may be worried that this to Notre Dame Preparatory. According to Nina, those girls resurrected this trend. trend is dying out. They should not Somewhere, sometime, The media also contributes to the in- fear though. spiration for wearing this hairdo. there will always be a side ponytail.

Occasionally, this fashion statement even appears in movies. In the blockbuster hit Never Been Kissed, Drew Barrymore was sporting this style during a flashback shot to her awkward teenage years.

But this is no longer a hairdo for the awkward teenagers. Oh no, it is much more. Students

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October 2003

Entertainment

11

Somewhere over the rainbow...

a ticket is waiting for you if you dare to dream

Senior Jimmy Biernatowski plays the Scarecrow. Biernatowski describes the Scarecrow as “a very free, This fall, JC will have one of the inquisitive, and lovable character.”

In her fifth show at JC, senior largest fall productions in history the weekend of October 31, 2003 when one of the Lauren Volpe plays Glinda, the Good most beloved fairytales, The Wizard of Oz, Witch of the North. Glinda is a very happy-go-lucky person and comes to life in the auditorium. is optimistic,” said Volpe.

For those that do not Other characters in the know the story of The Wizard of play include, senior Evan Oz, it begins in Kansas. Young Pitts as the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy is taken from her farm sophomore Paul Harne as along with her dog, Toto by the Tin-man, junior Kelly a terrible twister. She finds Navin as the Wicked Witch, herself in an incredible world and junior Joseph Murof witches and wizards. While phy as the Wizard of Oz. there, she becomes friends Students from local with the residents of Munchmiddle and elementary kinland and learns that if she schools have been recruitwants to return home, she courtesy of www.effect_net.GIF ed to play the Munchkins. needs to follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City, home of the Volpe said, “It’s a good show because it marvelous and powerful Wizard of Oz. can get a lot of students involved in it from Starring in her first lead role both inside and outside of the school.”

Mrs. Brueggemann, director and at JC, junior McKenzie Walsh plays Dorothy a small town girl from Kansas choreographer of The Wizard of Oz, said, who hasn’t seen the world. Walsh said, “I have always wanted to do this show. It “This is the first show I have starred has such wonderful characters. This is the in, and it’s a different experience be- largest cast for a fall production and the cause I have to be here all the time.” first musical I have produced in my seven Sarah Jones Enterainment co Editor

years

here.”

Compared to most productions in the past, The Wizard of Oz is a very technical production.

Mr. Schick and senior Joe Nash are in charge of the technical aspects of the show as well as lights and sound.

Senior Brian Averill undertook the task as Set Crew Chief this year photo by MaryBeth Derbyshire and is respon- Rachel Dawson paints props from the set in preperation for the sible for build- fall drama, The Wizard of Oz. ing the sets.

Mrs. Brueggemann further said, the performance, the cast members are “Alumni are also joining us this fall. confident that it will be a great show and Marty Coffman, a 2003 graduate, will be extremely successful. On a final note, Bierthe accompanist to the musical scores in natowski said, “It’s going to be a knock out the production. Also, Amanda Bertram, production and better than any other fall a 2002 graduate, is our stage manager.” production.”

With less than a month before .

Jarflys swarm Inner Harbor’s ESPN Zone Brian Averill Staff Writer Amidst the hustle and bustle that is contemporary pop culture, where Good Charlotte is considered “music” and CEOs produce top ten hits, it is reassuring to see that an honest few remain true to the music.

One of these humble few goes by the name of The Jarflys.

This collection of Annapolis indie (independent) giants was originally the brainchild of Jimmi Davies (a.k.a. Jimmi HAHA), front man of Jimmies Chicken Shack. Originally formed as a poetic and experimental outlet for Jimmi, The Jarflys began with a mere seventy songs and over twenty “flys”, or collaborating musicians. Now with an innumerable amount of songs to their name, and over twenty online albums followed by their first studio release “Anonymous”, The Jarflys have established themselves as Maryland’s underground music gods.

“Anonymous” is the aptly named freshman release by this band. The eclectically influenced album draws inspiration from numerous genres ranging from contemporary jazz to jam band to Indie rock. The lyrics of the entire album were constructed by Jimmi HAHA and consist of lighthearted melodies, upbeat tunes of vengeance, and classic ballads. The album has been met with widespread success in the Maryland area and has also been sold throughout the world. The album is accredited to Jimmie’s record label, Fowl records.

October 2003

The Jarflys are certainly not one of your stereotypical studio bands, which are confined to the tricks of vocalized distortion or computerized instrumentation.

To truly experience the Jarflys, you must witness the band in action.

On August 28, 2003, I attended the Jarflys’ ESPN photo by Brian Averill Zone Party Barge The Jarflys perform enthusiastically before their fans at their show in Baltimore, ESPN Zone party.

Maryland.

The requests from the more familiar fans. lineup consisted of “So what is next for the JarJr. B. on the saxophone, Bryan Edwald flys?” you may ask yourself. Presently on lead guitar, Larry Melton on Bass, Jon the Jarflys remain dedicated to their roots Gillespie on keyboards, Noel White on in “Naptowne” (Annapolis) Maryland, Drums, and of course Jimmi HAHA on consistently playing at their favorite bar lead vocals and rhythm guitar. The intiArmadillo’s every Tuesday night.

Since mately set show provided the Jarflys’ fans with an opportunity to get up close and the party barge show, they have opened personal with the band for no fee, while for the widely renowned Crosby, Stills, still maintaining the same vivacious enthu- and Nash, and remain in the process of siasm and phenomenal acoustics that the recording there follow up album “Too”, Jarflys are renowned for. In addition, the but remember the words of Dan Mollen show’s social atmosphere gave Jimmi and of Chesapeake Music Guide, “Enjoy them the band an opportunity to let loose and in small venues while you can - we will socialize with the audience. They made not have them all to ourselves for long.” random wise cracks and even accepted

The

Patriot

Brian Averill Staff Writer

Thursday “War All the Time” Emo-core Thursday’s “War All the Time” once again proves Thursday has a truly blood and sweat collection of emotional lyrics and passionate rhythms not easily matched by a collection of today’s artists.

The album’s three singles: “For the Workforce,” “Drowning,” and “Signals Over the Air” will more than likely take Thursday from underground nobility to mainstream sell-outs, and ultimately be rejected by the music community. Despite this, the album should maintain appropriate sales, while collecting a wider fan base. In comparison to Full Collapse, Thursday’s previous full release, the new album does display musical growth, but still falls slightly short of the previous release and lacks any experimentation or new stylistic offerings.

MC Hawking Experimental Rap-Hip Hop Yo what up fools? You looking for a gangsta that ain’t no prankster? Then you’ve come to the right place. MC Hawking is a fusion of the paraplegic genius that is Stephen Hawking and pure musical bliss.

With three albums to date and now most music placed free on the web, MC Hawking still continues to find himself mingling within the underground rap scene. His smoothly educated rhymes and monotone electronically programmed voice effortlessly parallel his sidekick DJ Doomsday.

For more information regarding MC Hawking visit www.MCHAWKING.com

Volume 39, Number 1

Features

12

Bench bears weight of senior history Erin O’Brien News co-Editor

trashcan? “Throw some candy in there,” senior Nina Panageotou suggested.

Other Traditions

“What would happen if I just…”

This is a question that burns in the mind of every freshman. What is this four-legged, rectangular oddity? As intriguing as it may be, freshmen avoid it like zebras avoid a waterhole. Unfortunately, like that waterhole, it is inevitably unavoidable. “Okay,” they tell themselves, “eyes straight ahead.”

This is one of those times in life where it is every man for himself or maybe, every freshman for himself. Senior Bench: a lounge, a zoo, a baseball diamond, a freshman’s worst nightmare, a sorry excuse for a senior privilege, or a JC pop culture icon? Whatever “bench” is to you, it has become deep-seated into life at JC. A Brief History of Senior Bench

Now, seniors have a knack for turning the hallway into a war zone. “Hey man, let’s turn the hallway into a war zone,” a delirious senior may suggest.

As a favor to the social studies department, upperclassmen have been known to run Vietnam-like trip wires across the hallway, demonstrating to students of, say, U.S. History, exactly what a war situation may be like.

Another major tradition at senior bench is to hang mistletoe up at Christmas time. Every year around Christmas, a spirited senior might suggest, “Hey man, let’s put some mistletoe up, and get the freshmen girls to kiss us.”

What could be more giggleproducing to a bunch of freshmen girls than to have their best friend’s, friend’s, friend’s, locker mate’s seat mate in scrip-

race around the school with another senior.

Brian practically coined the term “intimidation” last year through all of the antics he pulled to scare the little freshmen.

“They got scared when I did my Britney Spears impersonation with a chair dance, and they didn’t know what to think when I put a JC swim cap on and “swam” on the ground during a mod change...I would pretend to have seizures at senior bench...We even pulled the old dollar on a string trick.

We had full scale, full contact baseball games and we stopped traffic with them.

Kids were late to their classes,” he said.

Freshman Fears One anonymous senior admits to having been locked in Mrs. Gauthier’s former office by a senior when she was a freshman. It’s no wonder underclassmen, especially freshmen, are scared of senior bench. Brian said that when he was a freshmen he was, “deathly afraid...but I knew it was the spot. Our seniors sucked,

For years seniors have been plaguing the trophy room corridor, preying upon freshman and causing an overall ruckus. Nobody seems to know for sure, but it appears as if the bench phenomenon popped up sometime in the late seventies or the early eighties.

Several teachers have cited a precursor to the bench; there was a senior lounge area during the sixties, which doubled as a smoke room. This room was located near the bookstore, and seniors, for at least part of the lounge’s life, were allowed to smoke in it. Mr. Ward said that 1970, his senior year, was the lounge’s last year of existence.

It would appear as if senior lounge evolved into senior bench. Because seniors were no longer in a room segregated from the underclassmen, they were now free to wreck havoc on the school. Games and tricks such as fishing for freshmen, bowling with freshmen, full scale, full contact baseball, hallway Vietnam, student hurtles, photo by Britt Cramer and mistletoe mayhem have since beFor last minute studying or sleeping seniors congregate at senior bench during come traditional parts of bench life. their off mods.

Fishing for Freshmen Sitting on bench, a group of seniors becomes bored. The most classic way to ease their boredom? “Hey man, let’s go fishing for freshman. Anyone have a dollar?” a madcap senior may suggest.

Yes, fishing for freshmen, a common cure for senioritis. A group of upperclassman hungry for freshman meat need only a string and a dollar bill to reel in a fresh kill. Tie the bill to the string, and they have a handy fishing line. Of course, everyone knows that: like a moth to a light bulb, a little freshie cannot resist a dollar bill. These reasons are obvious, mommy and daddy forgot to give them their lunch money this morning and their little tummy is growling, or there was a hole in their Barney lunch box and they don’t have enough money to buy their milk. How will they get any taller without their milk?

Bowling with Trashcans Some seniors, needing practice for Mr. Pons’ bowling league, may “recruit” a few freshmen to help them out. Using freshmen as a bowling ball is always a fun way to spend time at bench. All that’s required is a trashcan, a freshman, and a little bit of ingenuity. “Hey man, we have a bowling match this weekend and I really need to practice,” a practical senior might say.

Bowling with freshmen is a sure fire way to ensure a score of three hundred, and to impress Mr. Pons at the next league game. The question is, how do you get the freshie into the

Volume 39, Number 1

ture class, get pulled under the mistletoe? Nothing could! Ahh, senior bench.

Past Pranks Just last year, bench master Brian Loiero orchestrated a whole new kind of senior bench, one where being banned on a weekly basis was not foreign to any of the seniors. “I was there every second that I wasn’t banned from it...so about half the year,” he said.

Brian wasn’t voted to have the worst senioritis for nothing. “I was banned on numerous occasions, there was the saran wrap incident, and the picture incident, and the race incident, and the jumping incident,” he said.

Last year, out of sheer boredom (a dangerous thing for a senior to have), Brian Loiero, Brian Vierheller, and Jason Hardesty (voted always at bench) wrapped Ryan Gauthier up in saran wrap. “He got away so we ran around the school chasing him while classes were in session.”

Even Mr. Piercy (our tight lipped, military-style disciplinarian) had to admit that the saran wrap incident was not lacking in humor, “That was pretty funny,” he said However, the deed was not left unpunished: “They lost bench for three weeks,” Mr. Piercy said.

Other bench-related stunts that Brian pulled to land himself into a wee bit of trouble include taking a picture of a foreign exchange student that was using the bathroom, jumping over a fully upright Brian Vierheller, and having a

The

they weren’t funny. I never avoided it because I wanted to be tough, but I always got afraid and put my head down.”

Freshmen Hugh McAdorey explains his tactics for getting by bench: “I just try to get by fast.” He said.

Another anonymous freshman said that the most effective way for seniors to intimidate the underclassmen is to throw stuff at them. “They did that to a cheerleader last year that I shadowed. It was pretty funny,” she said.

chance to prove ourselves,” she said.

Ryan Hamill, referring to the rule against sitting on one another’s laps, said “If I want to sit on Johnson’s lap, I should be allowed to.”

Jason Lipinski “hollered back” with his feelings, referring to the rule against lying on bench. He said, “If there are fewer people here on the bench, we should be able to lie down.”

It would seem as if the senior class is preparing to riot about the new rules at bench. However, some may question whether these rules are even effective. Mrs. Pyzik said, “I’m sure that the rules were put in for a good reason, yet I haven’t noticed a change in the students’ behavior regarding senior bench.”

A New Future for Bench?

Thanks to a suggestion from Mr. Heubeck, a spark of anarchy had lit among a few members of the senior class. “Hey man, why don’t we convert the old weight room into a senior lounge,” a utopian senior might suggest.

Some seniors thought that it would be nice if the school allowed the class to annex the old weight room and use it as a senior lounge. Fantastical ideas about Ikea furniture and freedom to eat wherever they wanted seem to have come from a distant dream world.

When the suggestion was brought up, it was obvious that the gears in the small group of seniors who were inhabiting bench’s minds turning. As a light bulb went off in the head of Lisa Walker, she suddenly exclaimed, “We could convert the old weight room.” We could even have furniture, “Ones that aren’t from the sixties,” Katie Taibi chimed in.

“We should get them from Ikea,” Nina Panageotou said with excitement.

For that brief minute it seemed as if senior privileges would once again become something worth waiting four years for. Than we remembered: we don’t make the rules. Oh yeah. Mr. Piercy quickly squashed that idea with a firm “No.” You could see the faces of everyone drop as the verdict was delivered that, no, we will not be having a senior lounge area in the weight room with Ikea furniture. It was obvious that they all had been let down down; they looked as though they were all going to cry. Actually the mod tone went off. Well, off to class.

Everyone jumped up and was on their way, but one could tell that they were upset deep down inside.

New Rules This year, partly thanks to the behavior of last year’s seniors, a whole set of rules has been drawn up regarding senior bench.

Mr. Perry said, “the rules are necessary for the safety of the seniors and for everyone else...the fun gags are fun, but when you put safety before that, then yes, they [the rules] are necessary.”

Feelings of animosity and suggestions of unfairness about the rules seem to be ripe among this year’s senior class. Teresa Ward explains the position of many seniors: “They gave them [the rules] to us before we did anything wrong.”

Katie Taibi agrees.

“They should give us a

Patriot

October 2003

Features

13

Student, band rock the armory for HomeAid Stephanie Rew Staff Writer On Friday, September 12, the town of Bel Air was treated to some new entertainment. Four bands, two which included members from JC, performed at the armory on Main Street between 8:30 and 11:30 at night. Many JC students showed up to support their friends in these bands.

Junior Greg Hatem, a member of the band Turquoise Slaughter, turned the idea for the Armory concert into a reality. He explained that the plan came when the band was looking for places to play. “If you do a concert for charity, it costs less money,” explained Hatem.

In order to economize, Turquoise Slaughter chose to do a benefit concert for Habitat for Humanity. Over a period of three months, sponsors were found to support the effort, the Armory was chosen as the location, and the Home Aid concert was created. Hatem asked two other bands, Geckin and Rundown Perish, to perform along with Turquoise Slaughter, and a fourth group, Avarice, filled in at the last moment for a band that had to cancel.

The first band to play was Avarice. Members include Andrew Sacks (a JC senior), Ryan Shannahan, Jessica Schultz, and Roger Torres. Sacks and Shannahan have been playing together for the last four years, and Schultz and Torres joined about the group about five months ago. When the original band had to cancel, Hatem called Shannahan and asked him if Avarice would be interested in filling the slot left available.

Avarice classifies the music they play as rock. They performed two covers of Smashing Pumpkins songs and also four or five songs that they wrote themselves. Sacks said the band felt that they

had given a good performance and were satisfied with their presentation at the Armory. He also stated that he really enjoyed Turquoise Slaughter’s performance, but he was not too impressed with Rundown Perish. “They scream too much in their music, and I just didn’t enjoy it,” he explained.

Right now, Avarice was looking forward to their next performance at C. Milton Wright’s Coffee House on October 11.

Hatem pointed out, band members neglected to take the microphones off of their instruments prior to smashing them, and so ended up breaking $300 worth of equipment that did not belong to the group, and a fight broke out concerning the damage of these drums and the additional equipment, resulting in the arrest of one person.

Turquoise Slaughter was the next band to play at the Armory concert.

spite of some limitations because of the location of the concert. “The stage was really cramped,” they said. Senior Pat McGrath additionally noted that the acoustics were really bad and it was hard to hear those on stage from in the audience. Most of Turquoise Slaughter’s fans, however, agreed that the band gave a good show. “They get better every time I see them,” junior Justin Lake said. Sophomore Rajni Sharma said that the whole concert was really cool and that Turquoise Slaughter was definitely her favorite band that performed.

The last band of the night was Rundown Perish, a group who also has no members from JC. As Sacks pointed out, their music was really loud and full of screaming. “I just loved that last band,” said senior Pete Rollins sarcastically, “They were just so cheerful and happy sounding, and so colorful too.”

After all of the time and effort Turquoise Slaughter put into the Armory concert, band members were glad that everything worked out successfully. About 250 tickets were sold in all, which raised close to $1500 for Home Aid. All in all, Turquoise Slaughter members agree that photo by MaryBeth Derbyshire the concert was a fun event, with a nice Before one of their shows, Turquoise Slaughter practices their songs. The band per- mix of music styles, and that all of the formed both cover songs and original music in their charity concert at the Armory. bands who performed did a great job.

Turquoise Slaughter members The next band to play was Band members Brian McCloskey, Jessica Geckin, a band that does not include any Riefler, and Greg Hatem are JC juniors, want to thank all of the bands that were members from JC. This band was en- but Matt Dewlin and Hillary Glansfield involved in the Armory concert, espetirely instrumental, and in most people’s do not attend JC. The band has been to- cially Avarice for filling in on such short opinion, they were on stage for too long. gether for about a year and classifies their notice. Turquoise Slaughter additionStill, others, such as senior Pete Rollins, music as alternative. “We played four ally thanks the people at the armory thoroughly enjoyed their performance: covers-- two of the Smashing Pumpkins, for providing the space for the concert, “Man, that jam band was sick,” he said. one of Sonic Youth, and one of Velvet and also all the sponsors they found for For most of the audience, Underground-- and we played six songs funding the endeavor. Right now, the Geckin’s performance did not get interest- that we wrote ourselves,” McCloskey said. band is looking forward to future perforing until the end, when group members Turquoise Slaughter was very mances at the Recher Theater on October destroyed their drums. Unfortunately, as happy with their performance as a whole, in 19th, and at the JC Battle of the Bands.

New program cracks down on plagiarizing students college web site… no one would ever know.

Although this example may be an extreme one, some students still believe they can get away with this type You’re a senior in high school of plagiarism. Plagiarism, from printing who is working on your triple-weighted off whole papers to taking bits of mateterm paper for your History class. It’s the rial from other authors without crediting night before the paper is due, and your sub- them, has been a growing problem at JC. ject- the Civil War- is a topic you haven’t A new and stricter Honors code sysresearched as well as you could have. This tem is in place for this school year. paper equals about half of your semester JC principal Mr. Barker exgrade, so you want to make sure you do a plained that this code is in place to great job. If you receive a failing grade on safeguard the integrity of the school. this paper, you would fail the course and “It’s an issue that we are aware of,” he said, “Academic dishonesty is rampant. The temptation is strong; we want to try to diminish the temptation.”

For the most part, plagiarism among students consists of taking material from other sources, usually books or the Internet, and not citing the source. This is reported several times in different classes each year. “Students don’t think that they are cheating,” said Mr. Barker. photo by Rachael Kessler “It’s an issue of education, Three seniors stage one scenario of cheating, which educating the student body.” is also covered in the new honors code.

However, Mr. Barker would have to take summer classes instead had a different view regarding the copyof receiving your diploma at graduation ing of whole term papers or finals. “The with the rest of your friends. really big cheaters, I’m sure there are However, you know of a college some that get away with it, but most web site that offers examples of papers on just overreach,” he said, referring to an this subject. It would be almost too easy to incident in which a student copied and just print a copy of one of these papers and turned in an entire twelve-page term paper. pass it off as your own. After all, it’s just a It is incidents such as these have Laurie Krysiak Features co-Editor

October 2003

The

Teachers have been given the following tips on how to catch cheaters: - Notice individual writing styles: Look for ‘jargon’ that is out of character or more advanced than usual for a particular student - Internal inconsistencies: Abrupt changes in grammar and word usage - Transitions: Look for sentences or paragraphs significantly less sophisticated than surrounding text; this is a sign of ‘patchwork’ plagiarizing - References: check references to tables, graphs, and footnotes that are not included in the paper - Subject matter: Check to see if the student dealt with only part of the assigned topic.

- Prior performance: Keep track of students that have fallen behind or are ‘slacking off’, and typically wait until the last minute to finish an assignment. Studies show that plagiarism is more common among students with poor time management skills or those who are academically weak in a certain area.

- Investigation: If a students is suspected of plagiarizing, ask him or her to summarize the main ideas of the assignment, or ask questions on a specific part of the work. handout information courtesy of Mr. Scholl

motivated some schools to equip their institution with Turnitin.com, a program that the library licensed. This program scans papers that students turn in, then runs a check on thousands of term paper mills and the Internet to make sure that there is no material that has been plagiarized.

With these new guidelines set into motion, teachers were also instructed on how to recognize the signs of cheating or plagiarism and take appropriate action. They were given a handout titled “Ten Ways to Recognize Academic Dishonesty,” which helps teachers crack down on the sneakier students

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during class work, quizzes and tests.

With the school equipped with new computer programs and well-informed teachers, the hope is that students will now resist the urge to cheat and plagiarize. If students are confused about any aspect of the honors code for cheating and plagiarism, they can check the “Citizenship” section of the student handbook, or direct any questions to Mr. Piercy.

For those students who are aware of these new guidelines and their consequences, and still continue to ignore them, Mr. Barker can only offer this advice: “Cheat at your own peril.”

Volume 39, Number 1

Sports

14

Kobe Bryant dribbles into trouble the neck, bent her over a chair and raped her. He asked her repeatedly “You’re not going to tell anybody about this, right?”

The alleged victim has yet to reveal her identity to the press. One of the In the world of professional victim’s closest friends, Starlene Bray, statsports, image is key. L.A. Laker Kobe ed that at the time of the incident the victim Bryant has learned this valuable lesson the was “emotionally fragile” due to the loss of hard way - by messing up. In July, Brya friend in a car accident earlier in the month ant was charged with sexual assault of a and a break-up with her boyfriend last fall.

19-year-old woman. Although Bryant’s Ashley Scriver, another close preliminary hearing was not scheduled friend of the victim, said, “If you knew her, you’d know that she wouldn’t lie.”

Some believe the victim is just looking to be famous. According to classmate Jessica Willenborg, “She was a drama queen.” The alleged victim also tried out for American Idol last fall, but was unsuccessful.

Junior Mike Brown said, “It’s just some girl making up a story for money.”

On July 19, Bryant held a press conference, with wife Vanessa by his side, claiming that he did engage in sexual relations with this woman, but it was entirely consensual for both parties.

“I made the mistake of adultery.

I have to answer to my wife and my God for my actions that night and I pray that both will forgive me. Nothing that happened June 30 was against the will of the woman who now falsely accuses me,” Bryant stated to the photo by www.espn.com press, as he choked The next MJ: will this new development back tears. Bryant and stain Kobe’s reputation?

Rose DiPaula Sports co Editor

until October 9, judgment of him has been well underway the last four months.

On July 4, Kobe Bryant was arrested in Edwards, Colorado for sexually assaulting an employee at a Colorado hotel he was staying at while in town for knee surgery. The alleged victim, working as a concierge, checked Kobe into the hotel at around 10:00 PM. At approximately 11:15 PM this specific employee visited Bryant’s room and stayed until midnight.

According to ESPN.com, the accuser told authorities that she voluntarily went to Bryant’s hotel room, after giving him a tour of the hotel. She went to his hotel room to show him a tattoo on her ankle, but when he asked her to join him in the hot tub, she declined. When she got up to leave, he hugged her, which led to consensual kissing for about five minutes. Then Bryant grabbed her by

County Judge Frederick Gannett, who will be hearing the case “can’t decide the case in a vacuum. The defense will argue that sex occurred. The whole issue is consent, and the only person who can meaningfully talk is the accuser.”

Hurlbert argued the subpoena, claiming that the accuser is not living in Eagle at the time and that she would have to miss at least one day of work, if not two, due to traveling. Hurlbert also explained to the judge that forcing the woman to testify at the hearing would cause her unnecessary “anxiety and intimidation.”

He suggested the defense talk to investigators instead. Unfortunately for Kobe, the court decided not to force the accuser to testify at the preliminary hearing.

According to ESPN.com, Bryant’s attorneys also asked the court to close the preliminary hearing to the press, stating that “publicity would threaten the NBA’s star the right to a fair trial.” Judge Gannett determined that there would be “a substantial probability that the defendant’s right to a fair trial would be prejudiced.” Gannett considered closing parts of the hearing to the press, but ultimately decided to keep the hearing open.

Bryant’s defense had also asked to view the defendant’s medical

At the preliminary hearing, Eagle County Sheriff Deputy testified that the victim’s blood was found on the inside of Bryant’s T-shirt and there were no marks on the victim’s neck, where she claimed

photo by www.espn.com

In 82 games last season, Kobe averaged 30 PPG and 5.9 APG.

Bryant grabbed her. A rape nurse stated that the accuser’s injuries, including a bruise on her jaw, were “not consistent with consensual sex.” Defense attorney Mackey suggested that the victim’s injuries be “consistent with a person who has had sex with three different men in three days.”

If convicted of a felony charge of sexual assault, Bryant could face up to life in prison.

As for Kobe’s endorsement deals, such as Sprite, wife Vanessa have a sixth Spalding Athletic Equipment and month old daughter.

McDonald’s, none have backed Eagle County out or dropped deals with Bryant.

District Attorney Mark Public judgment of Kobe is Hurlbert told Sports already well in progress, even in Illustrated that the deJC. Out of ten students polled, fense has a videotaped five voted that Kobe is not statement from the vicguilty, three voted guilty, and tim and pictures of her two stated they did not care. injuries. The victim was Junior Shannon Lhotsky treated and examined at stated, “You can tell he’s the Valley View Mediguilty. Just look at his face.” cal Center in Glenwood Fellow junior Matt Hirschhorn photo by google.com Springs, as was Bryant. Kobe Bryant with wife Vanessa by his side at his press confersaid, “He doesn’t have to Bryant’s at- ence July 18. rape people.

Who would torneys, Hal Haddon, say no to Kobe Bryant?”

Pamela Mackey and Bryant pulled out of the Olympic records, but was denied access. Earlier Denver defense attorney Craig Silverman, qualifying tournament in August after his subpoenaed the alleged victim to testify this year she was treated at the Univer- charges were filed. The L.A. Laker star still at the preliminary hearing this October. sity of Northern Colorado and was has plans to play for the United States in the Silverman stated that Eagle determined as a “danger to herself.” 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Tennis team gets turf to host home matches Dave Lomonico Staff Writer

However, exciting new players have emerged. With their strong coaching, this team could be very good in a year or two.

Senior Brittany Cramer and Sophomore Delia Pais are the captains and leaders of the young squad. Freshman Juliana Kunkel has been a pleasant surprise,

Finally JC can hold tennis matches at home. The inferior, concrete courts of past years are gone. They are replaced by a new composite surface that has become the envy of opposing tennis teams.

The girl’s tennis team absolutely loves the new courts and is preparing for a nice rebuilding year under coaches Lorraine Bergkvist and Deb Pasco.

“The courts are spectacular,” said coach Bergkvist. “They should help us in establishing our young team.”

The girl’s tennis team suffered through a major photo by Rachael Kessler overhaul as they lost eight JC’s new tennis courts are the envy of all of seniors to graduation this year. Harford County.

Volume 39, Number 1

The

as she has also become a dominant force. But for the most part, the team has work to do.

“We’re not a very developed squad…we need to work on [the fundamentals] of the game,” said Pais.

Despite the losses the team has endured, the team can’t help but feel optimistic with the brand new courts. “The courts have a springy surface, and are really nice to play on,” said Bergkvist. “They are resilient and don’t hurt your feet like the concrete one’s did,” she added.

“Mr. Barker did a real nice job getting these courts,” said Bergkvist. The courts will be open to student use and for anyone else in the community that wants to play. Hopefully the new courts will provide success for the tennis team and promote tennis popularity throughout JC.

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October 2003

Sports

15

NFL football kicks off new season Since play began, ‘we’ have secutive weeks. He is also the first player Michael Vick out, Jamal Lewis breaking since Denver’s Rick Upchurch in 1976 records, and even the Dallas Cowboys to register four kick-return touchdowns winning a football game. But what we in a season, becoming just the eighth Sometimes people play foot- don’t have is rookie quarterbacks starting NFL player to ever accomplish that feat. ball. Sometimes they’re Randy Moss (Kyle Boller excluded). The Cincinnati The Colts are good and the and decide they only play when they Bengals have approached this season with Cardinals are not. Former Raven Priest feel like it. And then there’s Emmitt a wonderful attitude. They draft the Smith who won’t stop playing foot- top college-quarterback in Carson ball.

But we appreciate it anyway. Palmer, pay him over fifteen million When Sundays roll around we dollars to sign, and then start Jon don’t go to church, we watch football. Or Kitna. Kitna’s poor performance at least we rush to early mass in hopes of and inability to win is the reason being home for pre-game shows at noon. a team drafts a new quarterback.

We microwave hot-pockets and pull out The Jacksonville Jaguars chips, salsa, and fresh beer (well soda in are no different. After drafting the some states) and listen to the comments promising Marshall quarterback made by Terry Bradshaw or Chris Berman Byron Leftwich seventh in the or the most important sports critic, you. We draft, the Jaguars continue to start run rampantly around our homes scream- the aging Mark Brunell. Leftwich ing for our teams and demoralizing their may get a shot at the starting spot opponents. And then it’s time for kickoff. since his Jaguars are not exactly I say ‘we’ because football is Super Bowl contenders and Mark no longer a male sport. Guys aren’t the Brunell isn’t exactly in his prime. only ones running around in our underRookie quarterbacks are wear. Actually, nobody does that. But not the only players sitting the girls are becoming more and more serious bench. There are no rookie running photo by www.espn.com about their “cute” backs in New head coach Bill Parcells has turned the quarterbacks. the starting Cowboys around,.

While guys cheer line-up. about a sack, There is not a Mar- Holmes is good and former Ravens’ girls shout about shall Faulk who quarterback Jeff Blake is still not. Bronit.

Either way, started all sixteen cos’ head coach Mike Shanahan is a ‘we’ are cheering. games as a rookie cheater and Brett Favre is getting old.

The or a Curtis Martin Rich Gannon and Donovan McNabb are 2003-2004 season who started fif- playing bad and Patrick Ramsey is not. naturally has exteen. However, ten The Panthers had a surprisingly great pectations. Sports rookie offensive start and the Bengals had their usual not analysts are always linemen have al- great start. At least they are consistent.

The 2003-2004 season is full of speculating about ready broken into who’s who and the starting ranks. its own characteristics. As fans, we are what did what and The Kansas supposed to pay attention to critics. The who’s going to win City Chiefs began newspaper is supposed to be accurate. this and who’s not. the season 5-0 for However, we are very willing to refuse to Frankly, they’re the first time in accept anything that does not agree with all worthless. But franchise history. our previously formed football convictions. photo by www.espn.com This So gather your big white tthat’s only benonsense cause what will Kick returner Dante Hall is a main reason is largely in part shirts, throw on your Michael Vick happen in Janu- the Chiefs are off to such a great start. to kick-returner jersey, add a headband, some Doritos, ary means nothDante Hall. Hall is and Vanilla Ice (he deserves a comeing now. Football is the week’s relief. the first player in NFL history to be named back) and get ready for some intense gridiron competition.

Therefore, it is taken week by week. conference Player of the Week for four con- hard-hitting John Vigliotti Sports co Editor

FAIR

enough Words from John Vigliotti

Perhaps the most underestimated and unappreciated sport in modern day entertainment, boxing attacks new levels of male and even female physical and psychological experience. As Brad Pitt questioned in ‘Fight Club,’ “How much can you know about yourself if you’ve never been in a fight?” Because let’s be honest, that’s all boxing is - a fight. It’s a sport completely different than baseball or basketball. After all, no one “plays” boxing.

Although television viewers typically avoid the events, no modern sports enthusiast is without knowledge of Muhammad Ali. Ali, a great in his own right, is a household name among others such as George Foreman (whose grills are also a household appliance). Others will mention Mike Tyson. Whether you like him or hate him, Tyson was once the greatest fighter of the decade and currently a public relations god. It was in a recent interview that Tyson said “Maybe in my next life, I’ll have a better life.’’ Sheer brilliance. Besides, he bit a guy’s ear off.

So if boxing can produce names like Ali, Foreman, and Tyson, why is the sport so incredibly (and unfairly) unpopular? One could blame media coverage - or lack thereof. It’s quite often you open the sports section of your local newspaper and find yet again no boxing coverage. However, most will blame the nature of the sport. In a world where planes get hijacked, things get blown up, and a certain President interferes yet again in another country’s affair, two honest hard-working men throwing right crosses and left hooks in a ring to decide who is tougher and quicker on that particular day, obviously goes against modern society.

(Sarcasm - wonderful literary device) Now I’m fairly certain I’m not encouraging fighting. My intentions with this article are mysterious even to myself. Nevertheless, such a fearless event such as boxing should be made prominent. If this article does nothing else, allow it to open your eyes simply to the fact that an honest (Don King excluded) sport such as boxing does exist and its participants, though irrelevant to your school life, can provide some serious wholesome family entertainment. And if not, there’s always JC water polo. Sup.

Side Bar: Evander Holyfield (shown above getting knocked out) , although nearing 41, still believes he can competitively fight. His recent loss to James Toney proves his belief wrong. He’s simply embarassing himself and should retire.

October 2003

Cheerleaders jump and tumble away Rose DiPaula Sports co Editor The JC cheerleading squads have been full of activity since their tryouts last spring. Over the summer, the girls held carwashes and summer practices, sold raffle tickets, and attended camp in Ocean City for four days.

At camp, Varsity was awarded the Best Dance award for their energetic dance routine and the Camp Dance award, awarded to the team that caught on the fastest and performed the best overall.

The team, as a whole, was chosen to cheer at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on New Years’ Day. Four girls, including senior Katie Falter, sophomores Mary Etting, Jenn Brown, and Alex Nevel, were chosen to perform in the New Years’ Day parade in London. With Varsity and JV combined, the girls won seven trophies and ten superior ribbons.

Since their return home from camp, the girls on the squad have been hard at work preparing for games, pep rally, homecoming and their upcoming competition schedule.

The team has hired professional

The

choreographers to create their routines.

The team will compete in at least three competitions this year: a regional competition at George Washington University, the Maryland Independent Schools competition, and Nationals in Ocean City.

The cheerleaders were also able to purchase cheerleading mats, a first for the program. In the past, the girls were forced to tumble and stunt on wrestling mats, hardwood, or grass.

Now the girls will be able to perform professionally and safely.

The team is thrilled to be performing in front of the school at the annual pep rally and Homecoming halftime, where Varsity and JV will perform together.

The

Patriot

team has excellent leadership with four-year members and seniors Katie Falter, Ashley Mellot, and Erika Horn as captains. Other seniors on the team include Laurie Lee and Amanda Kessler. Although the team consists of more than half underclassmen, all of the girls show great enthusiasm as they work hard to prepare to take on their competitors.

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Volume 39, Number 1

Sports

16

JC fall sports get in gear Adam Bell and Dave Lomonico Staff Writers

Men’s Soccer With five freshman and four sophomores on Varsity this year, the JC boy’s soccer team is in the middle of a rebuilding stage. Hopefully, all the underclassmen will gain valuable experiences this season and help improve the team in the future.

However, the team is still optimistic about its playoff chances for this season. Senior captains Chris Ports and Bryan Watts are motivating the team to play hard and try to grab one of the final playoff spots.

The leadership of senior striker Nick Johnson has also helped the young players. Seniors have set a strong example. Despite the outcomes of the season, the team remains confident.

Even though it is not a league game, Ports feels that the Patriots’ biggest game this year is against C. Milton Wright.

Other important games include Calvert Hall on Wednesday, October 22nd, and Spalding on Wednesday, October 29th.

Despite the difficult competition in the MIAA, the team is confident that the season will end on a high note.

Women’s Soccer

The Girls Varsity Soccer team is in the middle of yet another fantastic season. Led by senior captains Lauren Ward and Krissy Zerhusen, the team, that is ranked third in the state, has set high goals.

Ward and Zerhusen, the only two seniors on the team, have helped lead the team to a 5-1-1 record so far. Their one loss was to Perry Hall, which was not a league game.

The team feels that this year they have an excellent chance at winning the championship. They played exceptionally well at the beginning of the season with three starters sidelined due to injuries. The biggest games standing in between the team and a chance at the championship are NDP on Friday, October 10, and IND, a game that will be rescheduled. These may prove to be the two most crucial games of the season.

Men’s Cross Country

The Varsity Men’s Cross-Country Team has seen better years. Right now, the team’s goal is to build for the future. Coach Monaghan and Coach Russell have worked to get the best out of the team, but there is plenty of room for improvement.

Despite disappointing losses this year to Loyola and Curley, the team has several promising freshmen including two that made the varsity squad, Josh Pickett and Hugh MaCadory. “I want to be instrumental in helping to develop the underclassmen so they will be a force by the time they are seniors,” said senior captain, Blake Hoedebecke. Seniors Mike Monaghan and J.P. Tress are the other captains.

Although the team does have some experience with three senior leaders, it doesn’t have enough balance from top to bottom to stay competitive with the tougher schools in the A conference such as Archbishop Curley or McDonough.

The team hopes to turn its season

Volume 39, Number 1

around against the likes of rival Archbishop Spalding and Calvert Hall and maybe salvage a sluggish season. “We started off slow, but we’re getting better with each meet,” said junior Tim Adle.

Women’s Cross Country

The Varsity Girl’s Cross-Country team is looking to rebound from a dismal year last year and prove that they belong in a league that traditionally produces strong cross country teams. Led by senior captains Lauren Bradley and Stacie Smialkowski, the team should have a stronger showing this year.

“I expect the team to move up significantly this year,” said Coach Torres. “This year, the team is way ahead of where they were last year,” he added.

This year, the team will have three key home meets against McDonough, NDP, and St. Mary’s early in October. Other important meets include Calvert Hall on Tuesday, October 14th and Mt. St. Joseph on Tuesday, October 21st. These meets should give the team a gauge of where they rank opposed to other cross-country teams.

Last year, the team did not have very good leadership as seniors were not dedicated to the sport, but that has changed as the underclass players have improved with a years more experience according to Torres. “I am excited about this team because of the way they have worked in practice and the dedication they have shown,” said Torres.

Field Hockey The Varsity Girl’s Field Hockey team is very optimistic about this current season. Senior captains Emily Haller, Kelly Pitts, and Teresa Ward lead the veteran squad, full of juniors and seniors.

In their match of the season, the Patriots defeated North Harford 3-1. However, the team’s biggest game of the year, to this point, was a 1-1 tie against Roland

Park. Roland Park, which is one of the best teams in the conference, was ranked fifth in the state at the time. Under Mrs. Gauthier and new coach Mr. Scholl’s leadership, the girls have worked hard. This year will prove to be a learning experience and preparation for the future of JC field hockey.

The squad hopes that they can maintain a high level of competitive play during their key matches.

Important games include Maryvale on October 20th and NDP on October 22nd . With hard work and dedication, the Patriots look

Men’s V-Ball

Undefeated and MIAA Champs: this is the goal set by a Varsity Boy’s Volleyball team that has dominated the league under coach Herb Simon. The team is experienced and determined to grab another MIAA championship.

Simon gets nothing but the best out of his squad that includes senior captains Matt Fritz, Tyler Tilghman, and Brendan Watts. These three and other seniors such as Adam Bell and Seth Beck are the leaders of the team. They set an admirable example for the underclassmen on a team looking to carry on the winning tradition.

“These guys [Fritz, Tilghman, and Watts] are the heart and soul of our team,” said junior setter Larry Hetzel.

The team has targeted Boys Latin and Calvert Hall as the key teams they need to beat in order to win the Championship.

They have already defeated Calvert Hall once, avenging last year’s defeat to the team.

No matter how the season progresses, it is a safe bet that Simon will have his team ready mentally and physically. “We don’t want to be average, we want to be great,” said Simon.

Women’s V-Ball

The Varsity Girl’s Volleyball team is one of the most underrated teams at JC. This will not last. The team has responded to a challenge by Coach Greg Cullison – to keep up strong work ethic and to be the best. This team has risen through the league to become a strong contender for an A conference championship again this year.

Senior captains Kayani Turner and

Brie Williams lead a well-balanced team in their quest to be the best. The team is on a current streak of 23 straight match wins dating back to last season. However, Cullison’s biggest fear is that the team will get too far ahead of itself and become lazy.

“We go into practice to get better… and we practice hard,” said Cullison.

The team has responded to Cullison’s challenge so far with a big win in three matches over Chapelgate on September 16. They have key matches coming up against Seton Keough on October 16, and St. Mary’s on October 23, before the IAAM Finals where they will compete for the A conference Championship.

“This is just the beginning. We’re trying to stay focused because if we get big egos, we won’t play to our potential,” said Turner. The Championship will be played at Villa Julie College.

Football The Varsity Football team feels that they are back to the form that helped them win the conference championship in 2001. Senior captains Casey O’Brien, Chris Inmon, and Jeff Pilarski, and junior captains Dane Frank and Anthony Tapp have the team ready and excited for the season.

Even though the Patriots lost their conference opener to St. John’s, they beat a traditionally strong Joppatowne.

The team can still bounce back in the conference.

Senior Andrew Sacks said that they just have to win the rest of their conference games to win the championship for the second time in three years. Sacks also commented that the two most important conference games are against Pallotti and Boys’ Latin. The Patriots defeated Boys’ Latin 7-6 and will play Friends on Homecoming.

Although the game ended in a loss, there was much fan support for the game against local rival Bel Air. The players are excited about home games and hope to see JC students in attendance for the big games, especially the season finale Loyola on Saturday November 8th.

Water polo swims forward Pat Isennock Staff Writer All that JC students really need to enjoy the game of water polo is a chance to be educated. This fall, they will get that chance. With a fresh team of fifteen, JC is delving into the world of water polo this fall.

Water polo, regardless of what some people think, is not played on horses. It is played in a deep pool that is thirty meters long and twenty meters wide.

The goal of the game is simply to get the ball into the opposing team’s goal. There are, however many of restrictions on how to get it there. Once a player gets the ball, that player’s team must shoot at the goal within thirty-five seconds of getting the ball.

Players may not touch the ball with both hands, take the ball underwater when they are being tackled, splash, push off a player of the opposing team, or block an opponent that does not have the ball. Misconduct and bad sportsmanship are also not allowed, along with some other technicalities.

The

Should a player break one of these rules, his or her team will be penalized with a penalty throw, loss of possession, or a free throw. Although there are only enough players to have one team, they are going into their first season with a positive attitude.

“Our team looks very strong,” said water polo coach Ms. Zavodny.

Since this is the first year that there has been a team at JC, the team is being slowly lowered into the league.

Instead of playing ten games, like a usual team would, JC is only playing five games this year.

“They’re easing us in,” said Coach Zavodny.

If you looked at the schedule for water polo, you would see that all of the games are away. The reason for this, in case you haven’t noticed, is that JC does not have a pool. The only other team in the league that does not have a pool is Mount Saint Joseph High School. The match against that school will be played in the

Patriot

Catonsville Community College pool.

The league is made up of six teams, including JC. The teams JC will be facing include Mount Saint Joe, Gilman, McDonogh, Loyola, and Calvert Hall.

The expectations of some players and coaches are optimistic for playing these teams this season. “The team will learn a lot,” said senior member Marc Rothe.

There are also people that think this season may be a bit sketchy since it is JC’s first Water Polo team. “We might win one or two games. The games we don’t win, we’ll put up a good fight,” said senior Brendan Peters.

The team is 0-4, including a close game against McDonogh.

A lot of the players are setting the scene for the next season, which they hope will be bigger and better.

“I can see [water polo] going really far next year,” said senior polo player Trevor Logan.

The water polo team will grow in the coming years and become a competitive varsity sport. Until then, the team will continue to play their best.

October 2003