The Wolverine Issue 3

December 2012

The Walker School

The

Volume XIV Issue 3

Wolverine

Arts

Students

Diversity

College

ARTIST OF THE MONTH: THE KRAIZE ON PAGE 3

STUDENTS FIGHT FOR SNACKTIME ON PAGE 4

WALKER WELCOMES EXCHANGE STUDENTS ON PAGE 8

SENIORS DISCUSS UNUSUAL COLLEGE APPLICATIONS ON PAGE 11

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The Wolverine The Wolverine, founded in 1999, is the newspaper of The Walker School, 700 Cobb Parkway North, Marietta, Georgia 30062. Telephone: (770) 427 - 2689. E-mail: wolverine@thewalkerschool.org The Wolverine is published seven times during the school year by the members of the student body.

Guest articles and letters to the editor may be submitted. Submissions must include the writer’s name and be hand-delivered or emailed. The meaning of any submission will not be altered, but The Wolverine reserves the right to edit for coherence. Rights are also reserved to postpone or withold publication any letter, article, or advertisement submitted. Final decision on publication rests with the Editor-In-Chief in consultation with the entire Editorial Board and the Journalism Adviser.

Guest articles and letters to the editor do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Walker School, its administration, or employees.

Copyright authority to the material (articles, graphics, etc.) contained in this publication is strictly held under reserve by the Editorial Board. Any reproduction or alteration without written consent is strictly prohibited.

The staff of The Wolverine is comprised of members of the Upper School Journalism Class.

The Wolverine serves as a voice for the Walker Community. (wolverine@thewalkerschool.org)

Journalism Adviser: Kaitlyn Ranney 2012-2013 Staff Editor-In-Chief: Coleman Hedden. ‘14 Managing Editor: Travis King, ‘14 Assistant Editors: Mary Grace Walsh, ‘14 Meredith Wright, ‘13 Photographer: Molly West, ‘13 Reporters: Alex Brack, ‘15 Courtney Cox, ‘14 Victoria Hudson, ‘14 Nicolette Paglioni, ‘15 Cover Photo: Senior Cole Warner competing in a Varsity Basketball game v. Trion.

Courtesy of Mike Mackey

Woodward Begins Random Student Drug Testing

BY Travis King Recently, Woodward Academy decided to implement random, mandatory drug testing of all of its high school students and faculty. This controversial move sparked intense debate throughout the Woodward community about students’ rights and has been put into effect at several other metro Atlanta area independent schools, including Wesleyan.

Though Walker has not implemented and is not currently looking to implement such a program, the question remains: how far is too far when dealing with student use of illicit substances?

Drugs and alcohol are a hot topic in almost every high school across the country, and Walker is no exception.

The school has used several programs in the past to help combat this issue, including presentations from groups like Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD) and Interquest, who was responsible for the drug dogs. The administration decided to introduce a detection dog program after input from the faculty, the Board of Trustees, parents, and the Upper School student body. Though this decision caused a bit of controversy in the community, the administration introduced the program with the goal of protecting students, not “catching” them. This mindset is shared by Woodward President F. Stuart Gulley, saying, “The aim of this program is to prevent drug and alcohol use. We do not wish to punish; rather, we wish to educate and protect our students.”

Under the school’s new substance testing policy, students in grades 9-12 will be randomly selected to complete a mandatory drug test.

An outside firm will then analyze the sample and report the results back to the parents. If a positive result occurs, the student and his/ her parents will have the chance to discuss why the result occurred (e.g. if any medication could have caused a false positive). Once the final result has been confirmed, the

Dean of Students will be notified and will meet with the student and his/her parents. For the first offense, students will be required to undergo substance abuse rehabilitation, and the second offense will result in expulsion from the school.

A policy of random, mandatory drug testing brings up the issue of student’s rights, among others.

Many students believe that the school does not have the right to force a drug test upon them and that what they do outside of school is not the school’s business. An anonymous Upper Schooler, when surveyed about whether or not such a program would violate student’s rights, said, “I think this program violates students’ rights. Students come to Walker to learn. Walker has no business [knowing about] what students do outside of Walker. Drug testing on campus is a violation of student rights and an attempt to find out information about students’ off

that teaches at a school who has instituted such a policy weighed in on the issue, saying, “I do not think the practice violates students› rights, particularly if we are talking about private schools. Parents are free to send there children elsewhere if the are uncomfortable with the practice.

Many businesses drug test; I do not believe rights are being violated, or even that the practice is outrageous.

My only concern with drug testing has to do with what effect, if any, random drug testing will have on the learning environment. What happens to the relationships between students and teachers, students and administrators, teachers and administrators and so on when drug testing is thrown into the mix?”

This is where the controversy comes from. Parents randomly testing their children for drugs or alcohol is one thing, but many believe that schools should remain focused on education, not drug testing. As long as drugs remain a problem in America’s private schools, random drug testing policies will become more and more prevalent.

“We do not wish to punish; rather, we wish to educate and protect our students.” campus life.” Another anonymous Upper Schooler shares a different point of view, saying, “No, I think that if you are on school grounds, the administrators have every right to keep their school safe by making sure everyone is drug free.”

Head of School Jack Hall believes such a program would not violate students’ rights. Hall said, “As a private school, we can say this is part of who we are. Students don’t have to be here. It’s like your locker. We can go into your locker at any time because it’s our property. It doesn’t seem really fair, but that’s the way the law is.” An anonymous teacher

Online Extra: Check out the full list of Walker students’ opinions on this practice and as well as conversations with three anonymous Atlanta-area private school teachers about the practice at... http://twswolverine.com/ drugtesting.

Weigh In: What are your thoughts on random student drug testing? Should it be introduced at Walker? Does it violate students’ rights? Voice your opinion at... http://twswolverine.com.

December 2012

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Artist of the The Wolverine Month: The Kraize Debuts Online

BY Alex Brack

As you walk down the hallways of Walker, you will hear different people talking a variety of things.

Some students are talking about a test, while others are talking about sports or the newest video game.

However, it seems as if there is one central norm that is spreading like a wild fire. As many students may already know, an artist known as The Kraize is an up and coming hip hop artist. Freshman Ben Kraieski is the talented musician behind the entire operation.

Kraieski’s passion began early on.

“I started writing rock and roll lyrics between the summers of fourth and fifth grade,” said Kraieski, “I started writing rap lyrics in seventh grade.”

From this point, Kraieski continued to delegate lots of time towards making his music. According to Kraieski, making music is an extremely involved process. In fact, Kraieski said, “I write all my own lyrics and download my beats off of the internet.” Kraieski continued and said, “Sometimes the lyrics come before the beat, and sometimes vice versa, but I always have an idea for what I’m going to do once I start.” Once this process is done, Kraieski records his final song in his in-home studio. The result is one song of which will

BY Travis King appear on his corresponding mix tape or album. These songs are available on YouTube, Facebook and other various music websites.

In fact, Kraieski has announced the release of his next album which became available on December 12, 2012.

Before Kraieski’s career as a rapper, he despised the genre of rap. Kraieski said, “I hated rap. It wasn’t until fifth grade that I heard the Drake song “Forever” and realized that rap had a good side.”

This marked the point when rap began to have such a great influence on Kraieski’s life. He would continuously loop Eminem’s verse in “Forever,” attempting to mimic the style of the song. Eminem as well as another rapper by the name of Chris Webby are some of Kraieski’s greatest inspirations. The style of these rappers both personally and in the industry has guided Kraieski into and through his career as a rapper. Additionally, Kraieski’s parents have been supportive of his interest in creating music, telling him to follow his dreams and make it happen. Kraieski has received an incredible amount of support from his friends and fans.

As the publishing industry moves away from print, many newspapers are being forced to move much of their content online. Students get much of their news from the Internet, as well as social media sites like Twitter or Facebook, and

may go on a several-game winning streak, or a special visitor may come to an assembly. In the print edition, we could write articles about these events, but by the time the issue was released to the community these topics would seem like

The homepage of The Wolverine’s new online edition.

Photo Courtesy of Travis King

traditional newspapers often take the back burner to Internet sources.

The Wolverine realizes this trend, and that is why we are announcing a new online edition: The Wolverine Online. Our new website, which can be accessed from both desktop computers and your mobile phone, is located at TWSWolverine.com.

Continued on Page 4 On our new site, students, staff, and parents can view the latest headlines from our print edition, enjoy exclusive web-only articles (published more freqently than our print edition), submit questions to Daisy, The Wolverine’s advice columnist, weigh in and voice opinions about the latest stories, send in guest articles and editorials, view additional photos and other interactive graphics, and more!

It is important to note that this new online edition in no way replaces the print edition -- we are going to continue publishing a hard copy of the paper approximately every month. However, the online edition allows us to publish more frequent, timely articles that engage more The ablum cover of the Kraize’s first album, “Join the Kraize.” members of the Walker community.

Photo Courtesy of Ben Kraieski For example, the Basketball team

“old news.” With our new online edition, however, we are able to instantly publish articles, allowing us to feature the latest news, timely events, and more.

Our new online edition also makes it much easier for members of the Walker community to submit guest articles or editorials. We welcome contributions from the community, and our website features a dedicated area discussing all the requirements for article submission, as well as a submission form for both editorials and guest articles.

Additionally, we have teamed up with Walker’s Communications Department to place PDF copies of our past print editions online. These are located on Walker’s Issuu page (issuu.com/thewalkerschool), as well as in the Archive section of our website.

Today, you will find the majority of articles from both Issues 1 and 2 of the print edition online. We are going to begin writing web-only content during the second semester, so check back frequently for more updates.

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Tattoos Gain Popularity

BY Victoria Hudson

In 2008, 14% of Americans ages 18-25 had at least one tattoo.

In 2012, that number has risen to 36%. Tattoos are rapidly gaining popularity among the young generation of Americans. This sudden rise in interest begs the question: why do young Americans want tattoos? Could it be personal conviction, teenage rebellion, or simply curiosity? All of these are valid possibilities as to why young adults are choosing to get tattoos.

It is possible that the idea of a tattoo has been over romanticized by the American media. Public figures, celebrities, and athletes all seem to be sporting ink representing their personal journey in life. Whether it’s a religious symbol, a song lyric, or quotes from books or movies, each tattoo is different. People often display their tattoos as sources of pride; the idea that tattoos are “cool” has been magnified by media coverage. This is not meant to scare

anyone out of getting a tattoo.

These are simply facts to inform students about the risks of getting a tattoo.

Some Walker Upper School students Psycho Tattoo, a local tattoo parlor in Marietta. have tattoos and most Photo Courtesy of psychotats.com people who get tattoos do not have health lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency complications.

Syndrome (AIDS). Herpes can also Tattoos, however, come with risks. be acquired from getting a tattoo.

Bacterial skin infections, such as The best way to ensure that a Streptococcus and Staphylococcus tattoo does not cause serious health can be contracted from contact with problems is to take the proper needles. Viral infections, which can precautions and adhere to postcause permanent damage, are also tattooing care tips. These tips are a risk. Hepatitis B and C, Human from a 2011 article released by Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), can The Mayo Clinic. One of the most

important safety tips is to make sure the tattoo artist is properly trained and licensed. Licensing standards and Health Department regulations vary from state to state so checking up on the artist and their studio could save you some serious health issues.

In conjunction with health codes, ensuring that the artist wears gloves and sterilizes equipment is essential.

After the tattoo has been completed, it is important to properly care for your tattoo. Removing the bandage and cleaning the area every 24 hours is recommended. Wearing clothes that cover the area or could possibly stick to the tattoo could lead to problems. The easiest thing to do is watch the tattooed area and look for possible allergic reactions or infections. If any discoloration begins, immediately contact your dermatologist in order to catch the problem before it escalates.

Students Fight for Snacktime

BY Courtney Cox

The issue of eating in class has OFTEN been on the minds of many students and faculty and the present is no difference. Although it is technically against the Walker handbook, many teachers allow students to snack on certain types of foods during class periods. Jackie Porbiansky, who is in charge of the facilities at Walker, said, “The main concern of eating in class is the messiness. We don’t want certain foods to become stuck in the carpet.”

One of the negatives of eating in class is the possibility of a spill.

Not only foods, but liquids like Junior Karmin Shute snacks on a Gatorade and coffee are especially Chick-Fil-A biscuit in her history class. messy. Red and blue dyes are the most difficult to get out and likely Photo Courtesy of Courtney Cox to stain, ruin, and destroy the carpet and other classroom decor. Insects crumbs off of desks and onto the and rats could also become a serious floor continues to be a habit of problem if the habit of sweeping many students.

Peppermints are a good alternative if the teacher is strict about the “no food policy.” They aren’t as bad because if a candy is dropped onto the floor, it can simply be picked up and the disaster of a million tiny pieces ingrained in the carpet is averted. Upper School History teacher Cindy Schafer said she does not mind the snacking as long as it is not a distraction to the rest of the class. Junior Megan Turner said, “Sometimes being hungry is more of a distraction than eating in class.” Many teachers will not let snacking on small foods slide but, Schafer says, “I don’t mind when students snack on small foods or hard candies during my class as long as they ask for permission.”

Peppermints and other minty gums are a great idea to keep in the cars for long road trips or in the book bag to pull out for a long

test or quiz. Because all teachers’ opinions about food and candy are different, a student may be able to chew on a mint during class to keep focused on the material. According to a recent study by Baylor College of Medicine, chewing gum can help boost the ability to concentrate during class. Even though chewing gum is against the rules, there are other ways to stimulate the brain if there is a lack of focus. Highlight the textbook along with the notes, because the constant moving and thinking can help, also, a stress ball or even doodles can help the mind from wandering.

Eating or snacking in class has many negatives, but also many positives that can be discussed with teachers. Most of them are understanding and are willing to bend the rules for occasional matters.

December 2012

Sandy Continues to Affect the United States

BY Courtney Cox Hurricane Sandy, which hit the U.S. in October, may be off the local news, but the families who were caught in the storm still continue to deal with the devastation that it has caused. Many lives will never be the same and many towns will take years to rebuild. The northeast will once again return to its formal glory, but it may take some time because of the mess the vast storm left.

According to IHS Global Insight, it is estimated that 25 billion dollars’ worth of business was lost due to the storm. This is including the cancellation of 49 Broadway shows for three days straight, resulting in the loss of eight million dollars in ticket sales. Brad Cox, who lives in Greenville, Conn., suffered what seemed like a direct hit. Cox said, “We lost power for about a week and the only thing that kept the hope for rebuilding alive was our neighborhood.” The storm had one positive: unity, but it was overshadowed by shock. One of the most shocking events was the New York Stock Exchange being forced to shut down for two consecutive days. The shock element to that story is the fact that the Stock Exchange has not been shut down in 124 years since the Blizzard of 1888.

The money lost is one of the most overwhelming issues, but deeper problems lie within each home.

According to Time, 8.1 million homes lost all power. Not only did

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A father and daughter embrace amongst the wreckage of Hurricane Sandy.

Photo Courtesy of New York Times

it affect the direct hits of Sandy, but also 17 states that stretched out as far west as Michigan. The power outages did not stop the population from using their smart phones though. It was reported that on October 29, there was ten Sandyrelated photos sent in to Instagram, a social networking cite, every second. Also, Twitter was bursting at the seams with 20 million tweets sent out between October 27 and November 1.

Charities have all lined up their efforts to help in any way that they find possible. To help with the power issue, 57,000 utility workers came to New York to help restore power to those still in the dark. These workers did not only come from the United States, but Canada made an effort as well after hearing the tragic news of Hurricane Sandy›s destruction. Many local funds have also been set up for easy access to help including the American Red Cross and Save the Children, both organizations now aimed to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Students at Walker also gave blood to contribute to the effort. Junior Hannah Clifford said, “The storm affected a lot of people, so I think that we should all do everything we can to help out those in need.” No matter how near or far away, the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy is not an easy issue to deal with, but with years of recovery, the northeast will return to its former glory.

Dear Daisy... advice I’ve received concerning exams is not to panic. Keep in mind that exams are basically a review of things you’ve already learned, and they’re meant to test your ability and not freak you out. Start early so you can avoid cramming in the end.

For more study tips, you can take a look at Meredith Wright’s and Dear Daisy, How do you organize your Molly West’s articles. Going crazy over studying will stress you out, binder before exams? and you may not do as well as you Sincerely, could. Relax, trust your knowledge, Stressed and take some time to study prior Before exams, it’s best to organize to the night before. You’ll do great! your notes, homework, and tests into sections that focus on a certain Dear Daisy, Will we ever find out who you topic. For example, in math you may have covered 4 chapters in actually are? your textbook since the beginning Sincerely, Curious of the school year. Take what you have from each chapter and put it Good question, but you probably together so you’re looking at one section at a time. It’s too much to won’t hear the answer you would try to study everything at once. If prefer. By keeping the questions your teacher keeps your tests and anonymous, it would only make doesn’t let you take them out of sense to keep Daisy anonymous. the classroom, it may be a good Students who are looking for idea to go in after school one day advice may rather not know who and look through them. Tests are Daisy is and vice versa. It makes an indication of what the teacher asking and answering questions found important in the chapter, and much easier when the advice-giver that information will most likely is not emotionally involved. All my be tested on the exam. But the best advice is straight from the heart.

For each issue of The Wolverine, “Daisy” will give her advice to some of your questions. You can submit your questions by e-mailing dear.daisy@thewalkerschool.org.

Those who ask these questions will remain anonymous.

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Artist of the Month: The Kraize

Continued from Page 3

The Join the Kraize Facebook page is flooded with positive remarks from fans throughout the community. Sophomore and fan of “The Kraize”, Zach Mudge, said “Kraize is very adept at creating lines that rhyme and his lyrics have deeper meanings than what you

initially perceive.” Kraieski said, “You don’t have to like my music, just respect what I do and the effort I put forth. Also, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something, I’ve been told that my whole life.

It just gives me more motivation. I love being told you can’t.”

How to Relieve Exam Stress

BY Molly West As midterms are approaching, student’s stress levels are getting higher and higher. But no matter what time of year it is, school is always stressful. The amount of homework and studying is overwhelming. The stress becomes hard to handle and the nights of studying seem to get longer as time goes on. What many students do not know is that it is okay to take a break from all that stress and relax!

Junior Lucy Rittenberg said, “When I am stressed I like to lie down on my bed, put my headphones in and listen to my music and focus on my breathing.” Here are some additional ideas to help put students at ease.

1. Exercise. The movement helps boost your brain’s “feel good” neurotransmitters called endorphins.

Also, exercising on a regular basis helps reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Any type of physical activity helps whether it is

yoga or football practice.

2. Sleep. A main cause of stress is sleep deprivation. The stress can make you hormonally off balance which throws off your body’s natural sleep process.

3. Eat healthy. Studies show that unhealthy foods can make people depressed so by eating healthier you are able to improve your mood and have the energy you need to get through the day. Also, too much caffeine can cause anxiety and eventually lead to a crash in energy

your head. You will feel relieved writing everything about your day and be ready to move forward.

5. Go do something fun and laugh. It is obvious that putting your mind at ease is the best way to feel better. Hanging out with your friends or doing something you’ve always wanted to do will help you get through those stressful days of studying. Your friends and family all have something they’re stressed about, so relaxing together is always fun.

“A 24-ounce can of Monster Energy Drink, supposedly has 240 mg of caffeine, approximately equivalent to seven cups of coffee.”

Life is always busy and filled soon thereafter. with stressful events, but dealing 4. Write. Writing down what you’re thinking and feeling helps get out all with stress properly can make some the crazy thoughts running through days a little bit easier.. Caffeine is

the number one choice of students who are in need of a pick-me-up in order to stay up to study for a test or recover from a late night, but too much of it can lead to serious health issues. The article “Can Energy Drinks Kill?” from the October 2012 issue of Forbes magazine said, “A 24-ounce can of Monster Energy Drink supposedly has 240 mg of caffeine, approximately equivalent to seven cups of coffee. But health experts have voiced concerns about energy drinks over the past few years, saying the caffeine content can be as high as 550 mg.” It is much better to close the books for the night and get to sleep early.

Cramming the night before can make you incapable of learning new information so save yourself some stress and spread out your studying a few days in advance. In the end, regardless of what is going on always be smart about dealing with stress management.

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The Wolverine’s Guide to Exam Preparation

BY Meredith Wright

Alternate Study Spaces: Sometimes studying in the library may not be the most successful.

Switching rooms or spaces can allow your brain to recharge and associate the environment with a new subject.

Try highlighting material on the floor or doing flashcards outside!

Breaks: It is better to take breaks amidst studying periods rather than trying to strain your brain and study for longer periods of time. Taking a break can allow you to recharge and relax. This is the best time to put down one topic and get started on another.

Caffeine: Turning to energy drinks and too much coffee can seem like a good idea, but too much of the sugars in these drinks can hurt you! Try studying when you are most awake, so too much caffeine isn’t needed to help you out. For more information, see Molly West’s article in this issue.

Don’t Procrastinate: “The more you study the better, rather than how intense you study,” said senior Austin Newsome. “Quantitatively t not qualitatively.” Beginning to do short study sessions ahead of time will ultimately help you feel less overwhelmed as the week of midterms approaches.

Exercise: Going for a run, walking the dog, or doing yoga are all ways t you can easily clear your mind to begin studying. Whether you are t indoors or outside, exercising the body can relax the brain and lead to t a no stress study session.

Flashcards: When you have a list of terms to learn for the exam, a very effective way to study for that section is reviewing through flashcards. It is a portable and easy form of studying, which can allow for consistent results.

Goals: Setting goals for yourself towards a day or a week of studying is a great way to organize your schedule. This also can allow you to stay more concentrated and focused so you can complete the goals that you have set.

Help Out: Studying or reviewing with friends can increase the amount you know about a certain topic. Explaining the life cycle of a plant to your classmate can help you learn the process better, which can result in more knowledge on the topic!

No Distractions: Finding the ideal place to study can be easy, but making sure there are no distractions can be more difficult.

Ensuring there are no loud noises or traffic from family members can allow for an effective study session.

Organize: “Have a schedule for when you going to study each topic,” said Senior Daniel Sosnovsky. By having an organized schedule of when to study each subject, this can decrease stress level, because your mind is not worrying about the excessive amounts of material you have to review.

Podcasts: Recording your study notes or lectures from class and listening to these podcasts over again can you learn most material.

Performing simple tasks, like cleaning your room, while listening to your podcast can turn anything Jam Out to Some Music: into an effective study period.

Listening to music can be a very Questions: Make sure to ask relaxing and encouraging way to study. Putting on your favorite questions on the things you don’t CD or a Pandora station can be understand. Studying ahead of time beneficial. Just make sure not to get and going to your teachers to ask questions is a great way to cover distracted! the things you are unsure of. “Do Kitten Cuddling: Everyone loves some prep work before asking the kittens, so take a visit to Petland questions,” said Upper School and visit some cute animals. Even teacher David Yarborough. “Don’t cuddling with your own kitten can just go in to learn all the material.” help relieve some stress!

Rest: Upper School Counselor Learning Styles: Everyone learns Anna Kennedy suggests “lots of differently, which means everyone sleep, a good dinner, and put down studies differently. Catering to the studying at a reasonable hour.” way you learn while you review is Staying up until midnight cramming ultimately the most successful way will generally lead to sleepy eyes, to study. There are multiple ways to rather than A’s and B’s. figure out your learning style, and Snack: When a productive being aware of this can help you studying day is needed, your find better ways to study. stomach will somehow find a way to Mnemonics: Making up lists stray you from your books. Having or sayings can help the material a snack or two next to you can keep sink in to help you remember it. your hunger aside, which allows for Categorizing your periodic elements fewer distractions. Make sure you or singing your presidents can allow grab brain food! for a more memorable way to help you recall a lot of information for the test.

Ipod: Putting study podcasts onto your iPod or mp3 player can allow you to review almost anywhere.

Using headphones and walking around the park or going for a run can actually help a lot!

Temperature: Being in a room that is too hot or too cold can make studying a challenge and you will be tempted to crawl off to somewhere more comfortable. You don’t want to be too cold that you’re shivering when you start studying but you don’t want to fall asleep!

Upgrade Your Grade: Cool supplies and study materials can encourage you to study. Buying those colorful highlighters will also help you recognize different material and different colors.

Variety: Continuing to review in the same way can combine all the information that you have studied.

Varying the techniques that you use and also the days that you study can help keep the information fresh. So change it up!

Writing and Rewriting: From Yarborough’s personal experience, recopying notes over and over is the most effective way to study. The act of writing out the information that you need to study can help you remember it for a longer period of time.

Xerox: If you are hesitant to write in your books, copying them and highlighting the papers is an easy way to review. Also, copying your friends or classmates notes can give you different perspective on a topic.

YouTube: Online videos can help out a lot to help learn a certain topic.

There are many online videos that have math tutors available which are useful when you have to relearn things that you were taught in class.

Zzz: This is very important, so we’ll repeat it: Get some sleep!

Studying on a tired brain is one of the worst things that you can try to do. Up to 9 hours of sleep is the ideal amount, so make sure you are not falling asleep in your books!

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Walker Welcomes Exchange Students

BY Victoria Hudson The Walker community is extremely proud of its diversity.

Students and teacher from a plethora of races, religions, ethnic backgrounds, and cultures are present at the school. Walker also embraces international students from around the world. Students from South Korea and China are attending Walker this school year.

After being at Walker for at least a semester - some have been here longer - these students share their experiences at The Walker School and in America.

Annie Hwang is a sophomore at Walker. She joined Walker’s Class of 2015 last school year as a freshman. Hwang is originally from China, and now lives in the United States so she can attend Walker.

Hwang said, “America is different [from China] because people are louder.” The students, however, are

not the only difference. “Teachers are more laid back here,” said Hwang, explaining that Chinese Hwang are much more rigid in their teaching styles. Hwang also said she loves being a part of the Walker

many other international students, including his sister, Jessica. Daniel is a junior who joined the Class of 2014 last year. His sister Jessica is a sophomore who also joined Walker last year. Daniel said, “I love being

“America is different from China because people are louder. Teachers are more laid back here.” community. Despite being from a different country, Hwang said she feels comfortable at Walker and has made many new friends.

Daniel Choi is also an international student here at Walker. Choi hails from South Korea, along with

at Walker. People are very friendly and helpful.” Daniel also mentioned that outside of school, he enjoys going to the football and basketball games. “They are a lot of fun. There is nothing like them in Korea.”

Whether it is making new

friends, discovering new teaching styles, or getting involved in a new culture, it is safe to say that Walker’s international students are making a splash here on campus.

Not only are these students learning from Walker’s culture, but Walker students are learning from them.

Junior Molly Hardie was adopted from South Korea as a baby. Hardie said, “It’s been cool getting to know some of them [international students], because some of them are from South Korea, so I can learn about where I’m from, from someone who actually lived there.”

Diversity is a tremendously important part of The Walker School. To see students from all over the world find their place here and for Walker students to learn about different cultures from these students is a win-win situation.

Man on the Street What’s your family’s weirdest holiday tradition?

“We all wear matching ugly sweaters on Christmas day.”

“We wait to put up the Christmas tree until a week before.”

- Madison Priest, ‘15

- Blake Whiting, ‘16

“We always have canned cranberry sauce at dinner. But no one ever eats it.”

“We hide a pickle ornament in the tree and whoever finds it gets a special gift.”

- Cheryl Rogers, Faculty

- Riley Kole, ‘14

December 2012

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Top 6 Most Underrated Bowl Matchups of 2012

BY Coleman Hedden Editorial

Tomorrow the obnoxiously drawn out, month-long college football bowl season begins. To say the least, the 2014 BCS playoffs cannot come soon enough. Thanks to them, the football juggernaut known as Northern Illinois gets to play in a BCS bowl, but the Georgia Bulldogs, who came up five yards short of a National Championship berth have been relegated to the Capital One Bowl to play Nebraska, who was thumped by a five-loss Wisconsin team and lit up for 70 points in the Big Ten Championship. As a die-hard Dawg fan, I am understandably perturbed by the erroneous rules of the outdated BCS system. However, I am not here to talk about my beloved Dawgs or whine about the BCS (but please forgive me if it happens...I’m only human). After looking through the bowl match-ups for the holiday season, there are a good few that should spark interest in football fans. These bowls are the ones I believe will present the most entertainment and competition, yet are also the most underrated by the sports media. Here are my top six most underrated bowl games for 2012 and my predictions.

6. Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl - TCU v. Michigan State; Dec. 29: ESPN, 10:15 p.m., Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.

In their first year in the Big 12, Gary Patterson and the TCU Horned Frogs look to extend their eight year streak of eight-pluswin seasons against the Michigan State Spartans who are hoping to avoid their first losing season since 2009. Michigan State is 10th in the country in scoring defense, but TCU holds impressive wins against West Virginia and Texas. TCU will end the season on a positive note after losing their quarterback Casey Pachall to suspension in October and eke out a close battle with the Spartans.

Prediction: TCU 21, Mich St. 17

5. Valero Alamo Bowl - Texas Barkley should lead USC to a tight, v. Oregon State; Dec. 29: ESPN, high-scoring victory.

6:45 p.m., Alamodome, San Prediction: USC 52, GT 48 Antonio, Texas 3. Bridgepoint Education Two teams headed in completely Holiday Bowl - Baylor v. UCLA; opposite directions will meet in the Dec. 27: ESPN, 9:45 p.m., Alamodome two nights before New Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Year’s Eve. After a horrendous 3-9 Calif. campaign in 2011 which included a season-opening loss to FCS Sit back and enjoy the ride as opponent Sacramento State, the two blistering offenses take the Beavers of Oregon State shocked field in San Diego. Before losing the college football world with consecutive games to Stanford their first nine win season since and missing on a Rose Bowl 2008. With an Oregon State team berth, UCLA had won five straight on the rise, the Texas Longhorns, conference games averaging 42.8 three seasons removed from losing points per game. Baylor, postthe National Championship game, RGIII, are somehow even more are trying to salvage a relatively powerful on offense. Though 7-5, disappointing season. The Beavers’ Baylor averaged nearly 40 points in surprisingly impressive offense those five losses. If it were not for against the Longhorns’ horrendous their putrid defense, Baylor could run defense should allow Oregon have contended for a national title State to run away with the game. especially after knocking off the Prediction: Oreg. St. 42, Texas 20 #1 team at the time, the Kansas State Wildcats. With such a potent 4. Hyundai Sun Bowl - USC v. offense and motivation to prove Georgia Tech; Dec. 31: CBS, 2 themselves after their disappointing p.m., Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas finish in the PAC-12, Johnathan Franklin and UCLA should run all After starting the season ranked over Baylor. #1 in the AP poll, USC limps Prediction: UCLA 56, Baylor 35 into the Sun Bowl unranked and relatively unmotivated.

After 2. Outback Bowl - South losing quarterback Matt Barkley Carolina v. Michigan; Jan. 1: for their final game against ESPN, 1 p.m., Raymond James National Championship contender Stadium, Tampa, Fla. and ironically the BCS #1, Notre Dame, Barkley hopes to return and Jadeveon Clowney versus Denard play his final game in the Trojan Robinson: perhaps one of the most uniform. Georgia Tech, who had to intriguing match-ups of the entire receive a waiver to play in a bowl season. Arguably the nation’s top season after falling to 6-7, try to defensive end, Jadeveon Clowney bring the team that smacked 68 of South Carolina, will try to contain points on North Carolina, not the Michigan and the explosive rushing team that was upended 49-28 by a talents of Denard Robinson. After an terrible Middle Tennessee squad. injury in early November, Robinson However, Tech proved in their converted from quarterback to valiant loss to Florida State in the solely running back where he has ACC Championship that they have since thrived. Averaging 7.6 yards the talent to run with the best in the per carry, Robinson faces a South country, and USC, having endured Carolina defense allowing only so much disappointment, could 3.1 yards per rush, good for ninth fall flat once again this year. Yet, in the FBS. Clowney comes into experience will prevail and Matt Tampa after a devastating five

sack performance against in-state rival Clemson. Steve Spurrier has only won one bowl game as the Gamecocks’ skipper, but that number won’t be changing anytime soon as Michigan’s offense will surprise South Carolina’s defense through the air and escape with a victory.

Prediction: Mich. 24, So.Car. 20

1. Chick-Fil-A Bowl - LSU v.

Clemson; Dec. 31: ESPN, 7:30 p.m., Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

In a battle of the Tigers, Clemson and LSU will face off in perhaps the most exciting and least talked about bowl game. The Chick-Fil-A Bowl has traditionally been a blowout with only one game decided by single digits since 2005. Ironically, that game in 2007 was also between Tigers (Auburn and Clemson). This year, however, will be a bitter fight to the end. The electrifying offense of Dabo Swinney and Tajh Boyd will try to overcome the always prepared LSU defense led by defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo (who wins the award for best name for a defender, right above Tulane safety Fudge Van Hooser). LSU appears highly favored in this game as an SEC heavyweight, having lost by a combined twelve points in their two losses (to the current BCS #2 and #3). However, many forget that they struggled mightily against the weak and frankly suckish teams from the Universities of Auburn and Arkansas. Clemson is sixth in the nation in scoring offense and thirteenth in passing yards, which will pose problems for an LSU team that has struggled to score throughout the season. Expect a gritty, nail-biting fight to the end, where both coaches pull out all the stops to gain an advantage. Yet, Clemson will pull off the upset.

Prediction: Clemson 28, LSU 27

10

The

Wolverine

Technology Adds to Gauging Peer Pressure at Walker Increase in Bullying

BY Alex Brack

The fact that millions of teenagers throughout the world are subjected to peer pressure is an unfortunate, but inevitable reality. Anywhere from a school in Munich to Beijing to Atlanta, the average student faces the tormenting struggle between impressing their peers and doing the right thing.

As teens grow older, they must begin to make challenging decisions for themselves. Some may not have a definitive consensus such as whether you should take algebra or geometry next semester.

However, there are other situations where you may be pressured into making serious moral decisions such as whether you should cut class, directly lie to your parents or try a puff of marijuana.

Despite the magnitude of the event, decisions like these are made every day by teens. Unfortunately, the reason the average teen decides to embark on such activities like doing drugs or cutting class is not because it interests them, but because they are persuaded to do so by their peers.

The reason for this being simply that peers are one of the most prominent influences in life. Since the dawn of mankind, we have constantly faced the overwhelming urge to fit in socially. Consequently, we do things that disrupt our own moral values.

The Walker School is no exception to the excellence of peer pressure.

However, in the case of the Walker community, peer pressure is considerably less prevalent than that of a public school. The reason for this being that Walker’s student body is relatively small in comparison to a public school and the disciplinarily committee takes school offences very seriously. Needless to say, peer pressure is still a problem at Walker.

The form of peer pressure at Walker is not necessarily the same as the peer pressure that occurs in other schools. The pressure to do drugs or binge drink are not very prevalent.

On the other hand, the pressure to maintain the appearance as someone

BY Mary Grace Walsh

of a high social status is a moderate issue. Many members of the Walker community come from wealthy families. As a result students feel the need to impress their peers.

Several Walker students, who wished to remain anonymous, have expressed their thoughts of peer pressure. One student said, “Although peer pressure at Walker is not at a concerning level, sometimes I feel as if I must have all of the best electronics and clothes in order to be considered normal.”

The other interviewee said, “My personal experience at Walker has been significantly better in comparison to other schools. The pressure involving drugs, alcohol or sex is seldom. In terms of keeping

Many students envision bullying as a physical problem; repetitive violence against another person.

But in this day and age, bullying has transformed into an even larger issue. The use of Twitter and texting has created a network of constant communication that keeps everyone “in the know” on the personal lives of others. Bullying is no longer simply physical, but it can have a deep emotional impact on its victims. Social networking’s ability to spread word fast has made its mark on Walker, and students and faculty were open to answering some of the toughest questions about how this has impacted them, and what we plan to do about it.

A survey answered by Upper S c h o o l students gave an inside look at how bullying has affected Walker. Half of students believe that bullying is an issue, and half don’t. When there is bullying, 80 percent of students agreed that bullying was more prevalent online and outside of school.

The drama may be on our phones and off campus, but that doesn’t mean it’s irrelevant. Upper School Science Department Chair Emily Adams has been working with her epidemiology students on bullying and it’s prevalence at Walker.

Adams said, “I don’t think that we have much physical bullying and violence, but I do think there are

“At Walker, peer pressure is much less prevalent than at a public school.” up with social trends, I rarely am bothered by other for not having an iPhone or Polo brand clothes, just for example.” Although it is not proven, these students believe that they stand as examples for the majority of Walker students.

In an anonymous survey done, several students agreed with the consensus of peer pressure at Walker. One student said “I honestly haven’t encountered many instances of negative peer pressure at Walker.

It doesn’t strike me as a big problem in our community.” Another student agrees and said, “I haven’t been under much peer pressure, with the exception of being friendly pressured by others to hang out after school or something. I don’t feel pressure around my friends and I can be who I want to be without having to worry about what others think.”

At some point, a student will have to face peer pressure but on the positive note - it does not seem significant enough to cause excessive turmoil.

ignore the problems that exist, or attempt to “not get involved.” By being passive around bullying, the situation will not improve. Adams said, “I think the best thing to do is to create a community of respect.

We need to enforce our policy on bullying, so students who are bullies are dealt with. We also need to work on converting bystanders into allies, so they are empowered to speak out when they witness it.” The survey concluded that only a few students are comfortable standing up for the victim, and the majority admitted to standing by and not doing anything.

Speaking out can be a challenge, but talking to an adult when you witness or experience bullying isn’t. Adams said, “Another thing our survey suggested was that pretty much nobody told an adult when they were bullied or witnessed bullying.

We can’t fix a problem if we don’t know it exists.”

Many anonymous students had ranging opinions on how and why bullying occurs on campus. When discussing the types of bullying that occurs at Walker, students referenced online drama. One anonymous student said, “There’s lots of mean tweets.” Aside from the online bullying, students also see a certain pressure to have more than their classmates. “In a place where kids have a lot of nice things, there’s added pressure to also have nice things,” said an anonymous student. Another student said, “People are so fortunate at Walker that they seem to think that anyone who has less than them IS less

“25 percent of students said they had had been bullied in the Upper School.”

some people bullying face to face. I think the cyber bullying is easier to than them.” In some cases, get away with because it’s not face students believe that these kinds of to face; you can be more cowardly pressures don’t occur at Walker. and still cyber bully.”

The real issue is that students Continued on Page 11

December 2012

BY Meredith Wright

11

Seniors Submit Unique College Applications

As the seniors in the graduating class of 2013 begin their last semester of high school, they’ve all began making critical decisions concerning where they wish to attend college next year. A typical college application seems to be a widely well-known process. A series of informational questions, essays, and teacher recommendations can round out one normal application.

What many students do not know is the existence of unusual applications; the “unique” ways to apply to college.

Generally, if an application falls into this kind of process, the end result is different than others.

Pursuing a sport beyond high school or turning days on the high school stage into those on a bigger one are only a few reasons why these unique application processes exist. Senior Lauren Bobo has been dancing as long as she can remember. When it came time for senior year, the decision to pursue her passion in college was an easy one. Rather than a somewhat simple application, Lauren’s process is much more

complex. “It is longer, and double the time of a regular application,” Bobo said. There are three main steps when it comes to applying for a school’s dance program. First, you apply to the college and specify the dance program. Materials like recommendation letters, essays, and videos all are submitted to add to the application. Second, Lauren will perform a live audition, varying from a ballet class to modern jazz.

And lastly, in front of judges of the college, Lauren will dance a choreographed solo. This process can be very stressful and time consuming, continuing to her last audition in mid-February.

In the fall, Senior Mike Ramsey can always be found on the football field. Verbally committing to Duke University over the summer left Ramsey with a “no stress” senior year. “You don’t have to worry about essays, visiting colleges, or applications,” Ramsey said. Up until Ramsey made his decision, it was an intense process to commit to a college’s football program. Making an effort to contact the college is

Open M-F 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. -

an important one. Attending the football camps and keeping in touch with all the coaches is also important. “Make yourself known,” said Ramsey.

Rachel Novak has been acting since second grade, so the decision to pursue acting in college was an easy one. Recently we saw her up on the stage in Little Women portraying the role of Marmee, but she has gotten starring roles in many productions both in and out of the Walker program. Outside of the Walker musicals, Rachel has

been busy applying and auditioning to many different college theater programs across the country.

Since the summer, Rachel has been practicing a series of separate monologues for the auditions that have been provided by the colleges.

The process can go all the way up to the spring, when she has her last auditions. “I haven’t found anything else that has made me as happy, ever,” said Novak. “I refuse to have a future where it’s like, ‘what if I had gone after what I really love.’”

Technology Adds to Increase in Bullying Continued from Page 10 “Perhaps I’m not in the social groups where it’s most prevalent, but I rarely see evidence of bullying. As a result, I’ve never thought of it as being an issue,” said another anonymous student.

One student said, “The sense of family at Walker is so strong, I hardly ever see or encounter b u l l y i n g problems.”

Students aren’t always aware that there is a Walker policy against bullying. When talking about how the epidemiology class had conducted its research, Adams said, “We wanted to address its prevalence; how common does it occur and were 3:30 p.m. students aware

that Walker has a policy for both bullying and cyber bullying. The reality is that most students aren’t aware of it.”

There are also some misconceptions for the term bullying. Adams said, “I think that the word bullying gets overused. One of the key parts of the definition of bullying is that it’s repetitive. I think we see one time offenses more frequently. But, from the study that the epidemiology class did, about 25 percent of students said they had experienced bullying in the Upper School. That indicates that it’s something we need to look at further.” In looking further, Adams wants to focus on cyber bullying. Another misconception concerning bullying is that it can’t be prevented. It can with more support from students who strive to do the right thing. Even if it’s just pulling someone away from a situation and telling an adult, you’re keeping that person out of harm. Adams said, “I think there’s safety in numbers, and if there are three of us witnessing one bully, we have power over that bully. You have to think, what would you want someone to do for you?”

December 2012

12

Walker Celebrates Must-See the Holidays Christmas TV

BY Molly West

BY Nicolette Paglioni The holidays have always been a time of joy—presents, holiday lights, and sales at every shopping center. But one of the best ways to celebrate Christmas this December is to watch a good, old fashioned Christmas movie!

But there are so many to choose from, where to start? Well, the first step to perfect holiday bliss is finding the right time to watch that favorite movie. Which Christmas movie is the absolute best? There

are great for holidays, too. An “oldie but a goodie” is always “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946). Travel with a man named George Bailey, who wishes he’d never been born, and watch as his wish comes true to make him realize how important each person is to the lives around them. This movie has an inspiring message that will really “ring bells” with the old fashioned folk.

What’s the holiday buzz around Walker? Senior Joseph Farrell’s

As the holidays are approaching, everyone is excited to celebrate through each of their traditions.

Walker is a diverse community with students who practice all kinds of religions.

Junior Kian Roshani is of the Baha’i faith. His family celebrates and enjoys Christmas, but his other favorite holiday is Norouz. Norouz is known as the Baha’i New Year.

It falls on the vernal equinox and represents the renewal of the world after winter. Each holiday is celebrated with gifts and large amounts of food.

Junior Lucy Rittenberg practices Judaism and loves the celebration of Hannukah. She said, “My favorite Hannukah memory is when I got my first menorah when I was about six. I loved lighting the candles by myself.” Hannukah is celebrated with a menorah which holds nine candles in total with four on each side of the shamash (a candle in

the middle that is slightly taller than the others). The eight candles represent the eight days and nights the menorah was lit even though there was only enough oil for one day. Each night of the holiday, a new candle is lit. Spinning the dreidel and eating potato latkes are favorite traditions among people of the Jewish faith. These holidays are celebrated with presents and food, while Director of Technology Kerry Bossak does it differently than most families. Bossak said, “Our family celebrates Hannukah. Normally on Hannukah you receive one gift per night for eight nights. Our family does it a little different. We receive gifts on four nights, and on the other four nights we donate used toys to charities or other less fortunate children. Our kids have more toys than they know what to do with, and we find it nice to share with others less fortunate this time of year.”

Senior Hermann Tindjou says that Christmas is his favorite holiday because, Director of Technology Kerry Bossak’s children Hayden and Gavin celebrate Hannukah.

Photo Courtesy of Kerry Bossak

One of the most beloved Christmas specials, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” Photo Courtesy of Chicago Tribune

are a myriad of Christmas movies that will air this season. “Miracle on 34th Street,” (1947/1986) is a warm-hearted movie about the real Santa Claus coming to New York to be the Santa at Macy’s. This movie will get the holiday spirit pumping—perfect with popcorn or eggnog and a favorite blanket.

Another great holiday movie that is almost always on ABC Family or TBS in December is “A Christmas Story” (1983). This movie is about a grown up man narrating one particularly memorable Christmas in his tiny town in Ohio. Don’t let this movie pass by—it may seem dull by description, but by the end, the “major prize” will be a great holiday season. Now, old movies

favorite holiday movie is “Elf,” (2003) with Will Farrell (no relation.) This movie is perfect for a comedy-lover! Farrell loves the “Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer,” (1964) Christmas movie, too. Not the animated ones, absolutely not; according to Farrell, Claymation is the only version worth watching.

“It’s an inspiring story about a reindeer with a red nose who overcomes all obstacles to save Christmas,” said Farrell. For sophomore Shannon Keegan, the holidays begin in September, when she first starts listening to Christmas music. Her favorite Christmas movie is “The Little Drummer Boy: A Christmas Story,” (1968).

“It’s a tradition of ours,” said

Keegan. “My little brother, Kyle, could stay up all night, because they make Christmas and Santa real for him.” Senior Kyle Kimrey agrees that tradition is best when it comes to Christmas. “I watch all the same Christmas movies now that I did when I was a kid,” said Kimrey. “It’s a matter of tradition.”

His favorite Christmas movie is “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” (1965)—it’s a classic, after all.

Sophomore Savannah Wakefield’s favorite movie is “Home Alone,” (1990), about a boy who is left at home for Christmas and gets into some trouble! “My whole family laughs when we watch it,” said Wakefield.

“I am Catholic and it is an important part of our faith.” Senior McClain McKinney is a strong leader and supporter in the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes club. He said, “FCA is very busy prior to the winter break enjoying a Thanksgiving Pancake breakfast, preparing our Chrismukah (Christmas and Hannukah) party, along with always having a part in the Holiday Assembly. It is just something I’ve looked forward to all of high school.”

Walker has always supported students’ diversity and celebration when it comes to the holidays.

This year will be no exception as students are eagerly anticipating Walker’s Holiday Assembly on December 14.