The Wolverine Volume XV Issue 4

February 2014

Volume XV | Issue 4

The Wolverine

Amid Stormy Weather, Wonder of Walker Shines - Page 3

Visit us online at TWSWolverine.com!

INSIDE

snapshot | 2

news | 3-5, 12

lifestyle | 6-9, 11

sports | 10

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The Wolverine TWSWolverine.com

Welcome to The Wolverine.

Snapshot: February

Journalism Adviser Ms. Kaitlyn Ranney

Here’s a look at what’s coming up in the future.

2013-2014 Staff Editors-In-Chief: Travis King, ‘14 Mary Grace Walsh, ‘14 Sports Editor: Victoria Hudson, ‘14 Layout Editor Coleman Hedden, ‘14

today (2/11) ◊ e day ◊ singer-songwriter rebecca loebe performs at 10:00 a.m. in the auditorium ◊ slc meets in the boardroom during both lunches ◊ varsity boys lacrosse scrimmage at robertson field at 5:30 p.m.

Assistant Editors: Victoria Hudson, ‘14 Alex Brack, ‘15

◊ no school monday ◊ tuesday is a no-homework/no-test day ◊ tamie cook and sage demonstrate ‘The Art of Southern Cooking’ at 10:00 a.m. in the auditorium

◊ this month is arts month! ◊ senior break is Wed, Feb. 26 ◊ dance program presented by the admissions office on Feb. 25 at 10:00 a.m. in the auditorium

Looking for a full Arts Month schedule? Turn to Page 11.

featured photo Courtesy of Brad Brown

Reporters: Hensley Babb, ‘14 Claire Harper, ‘14 Myers Hines, ‘14 Bradley Moore, ‘14 Hunter Robertson, ‘14 Nehal Sanghi, ‘14 Stacey Agadoni, ‘15 Joe Reich, ‘15 Connor Sudderth, ‘15 Ally Chebuhar, ‘17 Ryan Louis, ‘17 Hannah Manning, ‘17 Nicole Simon, ‘17

next week this month

All staff may be reached via email at firstname.lastname@twswolverine. com.

Cover Photo Lower School students play in the snow. Photo: Meghan Stauts/The Walker School

Snow falls on Robertson Field during the snowstorm on January 28, 2014. The storm left over 50 students, parents, and faculty members stranded at the school overnight.

Advertising The Wolverine offers free advertising to eligible businesses. For more information, visit TWSWolverine.com/Advertising.

Community Submissions The Wolverine welcomes submissions from the Walker community, including students, faculty, and staff. For more information, guidelines, and to submit your piece, visit TWSWolverine.com/ Community.

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he Wolverine, founded in 1999, is the newspaper of The Walker School. The Wolverine is published seven times during the school year by the members of the student body. Content contained within these pages does 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, led by adviser Kaitlyn Ranney (‘03).

The Wolverine serves as a voice for the Walker Community.

February 2014

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Amid Stormy Weather, Wonder of Walker Shines

by Travis King editor-in-chief

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anuary 28, 2014 began like any other frigid winter day.

But as the day elapsed, the Walker and Atlanta communities were turned upside down by a mere two inches of snow. Most students were able to leave campus, but as conditions and traffic worsened, a group of 40, ranging from preschoolers to sophomores, reamined. By late afternoon, faculty members and administrators realized that parents weren’t coming and faced the fact that to they would stuck at school. Upper School Principal Bob Murphy said, “I realized it probably about 3 o’clock. There was no traffic moving on 41 and we still had a lot of students here. It just became obvious we had a lot of families who weren’t going to make it. We were in contact with them and listening to their stories told us it was going to be a long night.” Murphy was joined by a large group of other stranded faculty and staff members from all divisions, including Head of School Jack Hall.

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The Walker School has a special teacher in Bob Petersen.”

However, those stuck at school embraced their situation.

Students were allowed to play in the gym, teachers passed out bored games and toys, and Director of Dining Services Christopher Lee cooked snacks, dinner, breakfast, and lunch. Lee, who lives in Rome, Ga., opened up the kitchen and not only fed students, parents, and faculty, but also several commuters who were stuck outside of the school.

Murphy said, “The students that were here were tremendous.

They were very cooperative

and handled things well.” As night fell, Lower and Upper Schoolers were able to sleep in the Lower School Library, and Middle School students slept in classrooms. Preschool Principal Gail Doss said, “I slept by the cottage in the Lower School library. Everything was good until about 2 a.m. when the heater went off, but other than that, it was fine!”

A Facebook group called “SnowedOut Atlanta” began as a place for residents to offer aid to stranded motorists. Though Upper School Art Teacher Bob Petersen was able to make it back to his house in Vinings, he felt he should offer a meal and a place to stay to those who couldn’t.

Stranded motorist Tiffany Butler wrote in a post on the page, “After 10 hours of driving, praying, and watching cars/trucks slide and crash, I finally stopped for gas and decided to head to a friend’s home. Unfortunately, the surface roads were sheets of ice, as I drove onto Paces Ferry Rd in Vinings I saw a group of men pushing cars, feeding and comforting passengers. A man (Bob) approached my car to tell me the road was shut down and after attempting to push my car he told me to stay the night at his home…he then motioned for his wife Ann to come and take me across the street to another house…they allowed me to stay in a beautifully decorated room, gave me pajamas, and just made me feel so comfortable. I THANK GOD for Ann & Bob Peterson [sic]…I have learned a valuable lesson and I will not hesitate to pay it forward. The Walker School has a special teacher in Bob Peterson [sic].”

Though the weather

may have been awful, everyone stranded worked to make the best of a bad situation. Murphy said, “As bad as that day was, it brought out the very good in a lot of people. It was impressive the way everyone came together and was supportive. We had people of all divisions and ages, but nobody got upset or frustrated.

It was a side of this school that everyone knows but we never really get to see, and we got to see it in action.”

Scenes from

The

WALKER

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(Clockwise) Students eating and relaxing in the dining hall; The Courtyard between the First and Second Wing covered in snow; Chef Christopher Lee preparing dinner; The new entranceway still shone through the storm; Preschool and Lower School students watch a movie in the Winship Library.

Photos Courtesy of Megan Nellen and Jack Hall.

The Wolverine TWSWolverine.com Battling the Private School Economy 4

by Joe Reich reporter

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conomic issues are playing a huge roll this admission season as money has become scarce. “Both nationwide and here at Walker we have experienced a dip in applicants throughout all grade levels,” said Director of Admissions Brad Brown. This issue has plagued private schools over the past several years, as money to pay for private schooling is not in a family’s budget as often.

Though all grade levels have recorded a drop in some way, “We have noticed a bigger drop in the lower grade levels than the upper grade levels,” Brown said. Despite the fact Walker has remained full the past decade, even with the drop in economic stability, Brown said, “We have maintained an aggressive marketing and

campaign strategy here, to help offset the drop.” The aggressive marketing program has helped Walker keep a strong student body.

Still, even with this approach to lure in interested families to the school, one of the most common problems surfacing in all independent schools is the ability to maintain the academic excellence in the classroom and still be able to stay afloat financially. Brown said, “Admissions is both enrollment and re-enrollment-that’s crucial.

We spend quite a bit of time as an Admission Office to try to recruit and admit the most mission-appropriate families.

But we also need to work with our division faculty and division heads-anyone who is interacting with the students-to make sure

we have the best experience for our students and that we meet our mission.” The thought of turning down families who do have the financial strength to pay full tuition would be puzzling to most, but according to Brown, “If you lower the standards, you create a situation where a struggling student comes in, and ends up having to leave three years later.”

Combating the economic downturn that is spreading through the independent school industry is one of the biggest challenges schools face. “We have worked hard as a school, to one, roll more conveniences in, and two, to add to the school itself,” Brown said. Conveniences such as financial aid for families who are struggling to make

payments “are a useful way for the school to help see them through the time, and hopefully get their feet back under them.”

This aid aims to keep families in the school instead of having to try to enroll another student when one drops out. Explaining how important reenrollment is, Brown said, “With this deliberate effort, we’ve seen an increase in reenrollment over the last four years. That all stems from the communicating to parents just how much we value them. Part of that value also is us hearing them and implementing online reenrollment, which our current families expressed the need for, and which will be available to them this year. We’re excited, we appreciate them and want to keep them.”

Paying for College: The Facts

by Mary Grace Walsh editor-in-chief

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or all Walker seniors, the coming weeks will be very important in making college decisions and preparing to pay for higher education. An education is often said to be the best gift a parent can give their child. Of course, most parents welcome any financial aid their child can receive based on merit and fiscal need.

A popular option for students is to take advantage of the HOPE scholarship that applies to most institutions in the state of Georgia. To qualify, a student must have a 3.0 or above GPA and must keep it in order to maintain the scholarship.

In the past, the HOPE covered both tuition and books, but it has recently changed to only covering a portion of tuition costs; about 90%. Dean of College Counseling and Guidance Neil Clark said, “The number of people who are using HOPE scholarship has gone up, and the number of people who are

gambling and using the lottery has gone down a bit. So they are tightening it up, and every year or every two years it seems like it gets a little bit lower.”

Rumors have circulated that students can receive in-state tuition at out-of-state schools, but this is not always the case. Some schools may offer incentives to

“

The number of people who are using HOPE scholarship has gone up...”

attract academically strong outof-state students, but they do not always offer complete coverage of tuition. Clark said, “This is something that you should inquire about, but every school can do some discounting to attract students. The problem is, you don’t know what students they’re trying to attract, and that varies every year.” You truly will not know what the final price is going to be until you have applied to the school and

applied for scholarships and financial aid.

Another rumor -- that small jumps in your SAT/ACT score will benefit your chances of scholarship -- is not always true.

Some schools do have a score cutoff that will allow students to receive more money, but with most schools, these small jumps will not have a significant effect on financial aid. Also, being in the Honors College does not always increase your eligibility for financial aid.

If a student is interested in private scholarships, there are opportunities for these, but they often are not much and can only be used one time. Clark said, “If you’re willing to put a lot of effort into it, there are outside scholarships. But for those who may have gotten $25,000, they have really put time into it.

There are private scholarships for those students who are willing to work at it.”

As for living and

dining costs, these can change drastically depending on the school. Private schools may have nicer dorms in an effort to attract students, while some public colleges may not. This reinforces the “Visit, Visit, Visit” idea. Clark said, “You have to be careful because sometimes they’ll take you to one women’s dorm that’s really nice, but there are also dorms that are no bigger than a prison cell.” It is important for students to see all the college has to offer.

Every college does their packaging differently and this packaging often depends on the kind of student they’re looking for. Since students do not know what the college is looking for, it is important to apply if you are at all interested. From there, a student can receive a financial aid package and choose based off of their family’s fiscal need.

February 2014 Spring Semester Starts Strong

by Nehal Sanghi Reporter

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he spring semester brings exciting new activities for all Walker students. Its late start has already thrilled people.

The second semester is actionpacked for all basketball seniors.

The senior boys and girls play their last basketball games against their rivals. However, the second half of the year is special for all seniors as they spend their final days here at Walker.

With the opening of the new session, Walker celebrated World Language Week. These five days were filled with various events. The students watched international videos, played soccer, and participated in trivia.

The soccer game took place between different language teams.

Along with all these events, many students were inducted into different language honor societies.

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Senior Project Allows Students to Design Class

by Stacey Agadoni reporter

The World Language Induction Ceremony invited new members into the groups. The first month came quickly to an end, but next few months bring even more excitement.

The Walker School sets aside the month of February for celebration of the arts. This month is most awaited by all students as professional dancers, musicians, and actors perform at special assemblies. The tradition of making February a month for pursuits of the arts has deep history. Among other activities, the students will be watching the play You Can’t Take It With You. Above all, Spring 2014 has plenty of holidays to offer, that is, winter and spring breaks. This semester has many upcoming events so get ready to explore them.

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or seniors who are interested in pursuing a topic that is not normally explored in the typical Walker curriculum, the Senior Project Program provides a chance to partake in an ambitious, individualized one-person class.

Senior projects can include taking on work like research in scientific labs or internships with offices and organizations, and they can even include spending time in a different state or country. Not only does this allow students to delve into subjects that interest them, but it also helps them to transition into the adult world as graduation approaches.

The goal of completing a project is to prepare for future careers and further develop strong talents and passions. Students have the opportunity to express themselves individually while

improving important skills such as critical thinking, working independently, and synthesizing lessons learned in school.

To get a project started, the Senior Project committee must approve the idea, and a faculty supervisor needs to agree to oversee the project. The next phases include planning out details and carrying out the necessary work and investigations. Seniors can complete successful projects if they have the dedication, self-reliance, and responsibility required to take on such a task. For more information on participating in a Senior Project, contact Jama Branham or visit her website.

Eating Disorders: The Silent Killers

by Hensley Babb reporter

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f all the mental diseases in society today, eating disorders are very misunderstood. Unless you have actually had a real life experience with an eating disorder, you might think it is just a form of extreme diet and exercise.

However, eating disorders are so much more complex than that.

Most people do not realize that there are three types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Eating disorders are extremely serious and have the highest mortality rate of any mental disease, claiming more lives than breast cancer.

Eating disorders are not all about vanity and “looking skinny.” Because of this “myth” Anna Kennedy, the Upper School Guidance Counselor, said, “People tend to judge and make assumptions about a person.” Although eating disorder patients suffer with

severe body image issues and body dissatisfaction, the behaviors utilized in eating disorders are used to cope with real inner issues regarding selfhate, traumatizing experiences, failure, or any other problem the patient tries to avoid.

Individuals with eating disorders are highly sensitive and have specific personality traits that subject them to a higher likelihood of developing an eating disorder. Walter Kaye, director of the eating disorder program at the University of California, San Diego said, “There have been a number of studies showing that people who develop anorexia nervosa have certain traits in childhood that put them at risk, such as anxiety and perfectionism. If people do not have those traits, they are probably less likely to develop an eating disorder.”

An individual’s environment plays a crucial role

in developing an eating disorder.

Society today constantly flashes images of glamorized men and women with the “perfect” body, and if someone does not look like them, they are an outcast.

It’s hard to avoid print ads, TV shows, and social networking that teenagers are constantly exposed to everyday. However, one’s home life can greatly influence the likelihood of having and eating disorder.

Mark Wolever, psychotherapist at Veritas Collaborative in Durham, N.C., said, “A parent may say, ‘do you really think you need that cookie?’ Perhaps not to intend to send a message or do harm, but the child receiving the message hears thinness is great and don’t eat so much.”

RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE! Recovery is a long and involved process that requires a very skilled group of doctors. These doctors tailor the patient’s recovery to his or her

individual needs and the severity of the illness. The treatment the patient undergoes involves hours of intense psychotherapy as well as nutritional counseling to eliminate the patient’s preconceived ideas involving food. Therapy addresses the underlying problems and allows a safe space for the patient to express his or her feelings.

Recovery becomes a part of the patient’s everyday life and, like any skill, needs to be practiced.

Through the recovery process, there is always hope.

If you feel that you or someone you love is suffering from an eating disorder, tell a parent or your primary care doctor or visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org for more information on the topic. Eating disorders are serious medical conditions that should not be avoided.

L: Lifestyle the top five funniest YouTube videos

by Hensley Babb 5. Charlie Bit My Finger

3. Scarlet Takes A Tumble

In 5th place is the forever famous “Charlie Bit Me.” This classic exhibits the wonders of sibling bonding and love. It gets even cuter because they are toddlers AND they are British! What’s cuter than that?

Coming in 3rd place: the noteworthy “Scarlet Takes a Tumble.” A lady begins to belt out some notes, most likely in hopes that someone will see her video and sign her to a record label. The drama in her performance becomes so intense it causes an embarrassing tumble that makes her video reach millions of YouTube hits.

Watch it at wlvrine.tk/1lBz7jb

4. Taylor Swift Goat Remix In 4th place: “I Knew You Were Trouble Goat Remix.” So it starts out as typical Taylor Swift doing her thing, and it gets to the chorus and this goat appears and outshines the country/pop sensation.

This goat clearly gained star status from his stellar performance in this video.

Watch it at wlvrine.tk/1erPP0F

Watch it at wlvrine.tk/1lBznih

1. Atlanta Grape Lady And the winner is: “Atlanta Grape Lady.” For the first few seconds, the ladies are just stomping grapes to make wine. They are stomping along when one of them falls out of her tub of grapes. The video is too amusing to even describe. This one will NOT disappoint!

Watch it at wlvrine.tk/1bws2tC

best and worst valentine’s day gifts

by Hannah Manning

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ebruary 14th is considered to be the most romantic day of the year, so you’ve probably come up with an over-thetop way to show your sweetheart or your crush how much you care, right? Well...if you haven’t gotten to it yet, don’t panic. Just remember that the best presents are not always the really expensive ones.

Sometimes it’s the sweet, simple, spontaneous ones that matter.

Something as simple as flowers and a card can go a long way. But, if you’re someone who doesn’t want to go with the stereotypical gifts, here are some ideas to help.

Also, a survey was given asking both boys and girls for the best and worst Valentine’s Day gifts that they have received. he majority of people said that chocolate and flowers are the best gifts that they have ever received. But, if you want to think outside of the box, find a hobby that your sweetheart enjoys and plan a date or gift around that hobby. For example, if your sweetheart or crush likes country artist Luke Bryan, buy them a ticket to his concert. However, if you

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don’t want to do something expensive like concert tickets, take your sweetheart out to dinner and then to a movie that you think they will enjoy. Just show your crush or sweetheart that you care and take an interest in the things that they like. en percent of people said that there was no such thing as a bad gift: “It’s the thought that counts.” But, there are some cases where people don’t put any thought into their gifts. 20% of people said that the worst gift they have ever received was a “crappy card and gas station candy.” This present sends the message that you either forgot to get a Valentine’s Day present or you just didn’t put any thought into what your sweetheart might like for a gift. But, 40% of people said that the absolute worst Valentine’s Day present that you could give your sweetheart is breaking up with them. No one wants to be broken up with on Valentine’s Day. If you’re going to break up with someone at least do it a couples weeks before or a couple weeks after the holiday; not the day of.

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2. GloZell Cinnamon Challenge First of all, who is more hysterical than GloZell? Everyone knows the cinnamon challenge was the rage a few years ago. Well, the incredible GloZell takes on this task and goes not as she expects. In classic GloZell fashion, the reaction is beyond worth watching, so check it out.

Watch it at wlvrine.tk/1fw8y7D

February 2014

dear daisy

Q:

Q: A:

Dear Daisy, Why am I not pretty?

Sincerely, Losing Confidence

Dear Daisy, If I have one dog and you Dear Losing have three, what would Confidence, I have to do to get you to How could you say stop sending me these that about yourself?! emails?

Beauty is in the eye of Sincerely, the beholder. It all starts Bitter with having confidence in yourself and loving who you are. You may not always Dear Bitter, feel the best dressed or most put I’m sorry that you feel together; everyone else has those days, this way. It would have too. Your face may have imperfections; taken you less time to everyone else’s does too. Don’t hold delete the email that yourself to impossible standards. Love was sent to you than the features you like about yourself, to write this one. I would suggest you embrace your imperfections because rethink your time management skills. they make you human, and soon enough your confidence will truly make you beautiful. And remember that, as cliché as it sounds, beauty comes from the inside.

A:

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Q: A:

Dear Daisy, How do you survive high school?

Sincerely, Freshman

Dear Freshman, It may seem like you have a long 4 years up ahead, but they will go a lot faster than you think. Personally, each year of high school has improved a bit, and looking back, I wish I could do it all over again. If you’re struggling right now, there are some things you can do. Having friends that genuinely care about you and make you feel good about yourself is key to being happy, not only in high school but for the rest of your life. As far as academics go, keep up with your classes and don’t overload yourself with APs or after school activities. Keep a good balance and leave time for doing the things you enjoy. By senior year, you’ll look back and realize high school wasn’t that bad, and one day you’re going to miss it.

Want to submit your own question to Daisy? It’s easy! Just visit TWSWolverine.com/Daisy or email daisy@twswolverine.com. Your question will be completely anonymous!

valentine’s day survival guide

Ahhhhhh, Valentine’s Day. No holiday is so universally hated and loved at the same time. Unfortunately, for those without a significant other, the day can seem tortorous.

Assistant Editor Victoria Hudson has worked hard to compile a list of tips for those taking on Valentine’s Day alone.

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s Valentine’s Day sneaks up on Walker students, it can cause unnecessary stress.

Whether one finds themselves blissfully in love or single on February 14, there are some easy tips to try that will keep the stress away. or those who have a significant other, it is important to find out how seriously, as a couple, you plan to celebrate Valentine’s. Is it acceptable to bring just a card, or a card and candy, or do you need to just bite the bullet and buy the Volkswagen sized teddy bear? The answer will obviously depend on personality and how long couples have been together, but better to be sure than to risk it, and be taken by surprise. Junior Rae Syrop said, “It’s nice to have some-

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one to celebrate Valentine’s Day with, and I don’t think you can ever really overdo it.” Another simple tip, that might seem obvious, is to not always go for the cliches. Stuffed animals, chocolates and other candies are nice, but remember exactly who it is you are with. What is a thoughtful gift that will show you know them? It can be something inexpensive or even homemade, but it will mean more than any overpriced, stock gift. owever, everyone is not coupled up in love this winter, but have no fear!

There are plenty of ways to enjoy Valentine’s Day without a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Typically, single people see Valentine’s as a reminder of their relationship status, but it does not have to be this way. Since Walker has been

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so gracious as to give the students Valentine’s Day off school, the best thing to do is avoid all friends who are in a relationship. Treat the day like any other day off school: the best day ever.

Do whatever it is that makes you happy. Watch Netflix, go for a run, enjoy the fact that all candy will be on sale and Chick-fil-A biscuits will be heart shaped. These are the things to focus on. unior Kirsten Siler said, “Having a boyfriend isn’t important. I care more about the food and my Netflix subscription.” Nevertheless, if you find yourself wanting to embrace the single life and have no shame about your lack of relationship, then you might want to check out the Limited Edition Nicholas Sparks DVD Collection. The

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collection features the hit films “A Walk to Remember,” “Dear John,” “Message in a Bottle,” “Nights in Rodanthe,” “The Lucky One,” and of course, “The Notebook.” The collection is available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. Remember, Valentine’s is not exclusive to only couples, celebrating with your family is completely acceptable so do not be too cool to spend some quality time with your siblings and parents on this special day.

by Victoria Hudson

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The Wolverine TWSWolverine.com

Is American Idol Past Its Expiration Date?

by Myers Hines reporter

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n Wednesday, January 15, “American Idol” Season 13 kicked off with auditions in Boston, Mass. and Austin, Texas to a myriad of aspiring superstars hoping to dive right into the music industry alongside the greats like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jordin Sparks.

In years past, the audition episodes brought in the most viewers, with everyone dying to see and hear the auditions of the people embarrassing themselves, in either crazy costumes, faulty falsettos, or the annoying attitudes. However the fiasco that ended as Season 12, with the obnoxious feud between rapper Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey, to even a complete sweep of producers and judges, Idol producers tried a different approach, by bringing Idol back to its roots, showcasing the talented contestants and bringing on board individuals who earnestly wanted the contestants, and more importantly the show, to succeed.

While no one, not even the most diehard fans can deny, “American Idol” was heading towards the graveyard with other reality singing shows threatening Idol’s supremacy such as NBC’s “The Voice” and FOX’s “The X Factor,” Idol needed to do something drastic to ring back in the viewers they once had. According to Yahoo TV, “American Idol” has revamped its image, bringing onboard new ideas and resurfacing older ones that worked for the show in the past, with executive producer Trish Kinane explaining that “[We] went back and examined every single element of the show, from the talent search right through to the finale.

It’s still absolutely ‘American Idol,’ but it’s a million tiny decisions and little refreshments that make a fresher whole.”

Along with a myriad of other executives, Kinane becomes Idol’s new executive producer along with others such as MTV veterans Jesse Ignjatovic and Evan Prager (producers of “VH1 Divas,” the CMT Music Awards,

and the VMAs), and Fox Sports’ David Hill to “freshen things up.” Idol’s previous executives, Nigel Lythgoe (2002–08, 2011– 13) and Ken Warwick (2002–13) had produced Idol since its inception in 2002, so it was time for a change of scenery.

Revamping and altering the panel is another change in season 13, with the only returning judge being country singer Keith Urban and season 10 and 11’s Jennifer Lopez, along with award-winning jazz singersongwriter Harry Connick, Jr. Instead of repeating the CareyMinaj debacle of last season, this panel will focus more on

the contestants. However the most major scrap will be the elimination of the bad auditions.

While these were a major temporary bump for ratings, it seemingly became all about the individuals desire for the 15 minutes of fame. “American Idol” is a talent show in search of the next superstar, not the next comedy routine. Although there are numerous smaller changes, these are the ones that would be most evident to the casual viewer. Either way, “American Idol” 13 will be an interesting one, so dim the lights and see you on Fox Wednesday and Thursday nights at 8 p.m!

The host (Ryan Seacrest) and judges (Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick, Jr.) for season 13 of American Idol.

Photo Courtesy of USA Today

The Reality Behind Reality TV

by Connor Sudderth reporter

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eality shows are great to watch because of how they connect with the viewers. Viewers can relate to people on the show because they live real lives just like anyone else. Yet today, reality tv shows such as “Duck Dynasty” are far from reality. Reality shows today are mostly scripted, making them anything but real..

“Duck Dynasty” is a reality tv show, which focuses on the lives of the Robertson family. The Robertsons are multi-billionaires that made their wealth by patenting and franchising duck calls. Phil Robertson was the initial CEO of Duck Commander, but now

his son, Willie Robertson, runs the company. This wealth is what initially landed them a reality tv show. Before the show started, producers made the Robertson men grow out their beards to increase ratings. There is also a fake kitchen used for the family to gather in at the end of every episode. Despite being a misrepresentation of the real Robertson family, the show is still tremendously popular.

Unlike what a reality show claims to be, “Duck Dynasty” is a scripted tv show.

As of 2014, “Duck Dynasty” is the most watched show in America, having more views each week than any other show.

Despite being scripted, rather

than a show about the reality of their lives, Americans still enjoy watching the show as if it was a reality show. The show profits heavily from selling “Duck Dynasty” merchandise, benefitting from the massive following that show has gained.

Duck calls were the initial product of the Robertson family, but now t-shirts, DVDs, mugs, and other fan merchandise are available.

The news of “Duck Dynasty” being scripted has shocked and outraged many of its viewers. Some people have changed their opinion on the show after learning that the show is scripted. Junior Jonny Pfohl said, “I used to think that

the show was awesome, but the show became progressively worse as it became more and more scripted.” Junior James Pittinger said, “I thought it was good show until I learned how staged it was.”

The reality of TV is not always as it seems. Reality shows like “Duck Dynasty” are becoming more and more scripted. The reality behind “Duck Dynasty” and other reality shows is that most reality shows are fake and are scripted.

February 2014

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Freshmen Caught Off Best of the Consumer Guard By Midterms Electronics Show

by Nicole Simon reporter

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tudents hate midterms, especially freshmen who often do not know what to expect. A survey given shows that this year’s freshman particularly struggled with their midterms. Many reported that they had no idea how early to start or how to study all the information. They were also unsure if they should go in and

meet with a teacher or not, if the study guides were worth their time. or whether they should only review what they did in class.

History was the hardest for most freshmen; it was difficult for some students to adjust to their teachers and their tests. When midterms came around, they were struggling to learn the information that was to be on the midterm but was not necessarily taught in depth. Math and science were other subjects a good bit of students struggled with, since science was the last one of the week. Some Honors Analytical Geometry students struggled with the constructions part of their midterm, which they took the Friday before the week of midterms. Even students who were not in honors analytical struggled. Freshman Katie Brack said, “I did spend the most time on math all together.”

Most freshmen also discarded the idea of starting a month in advance, even though their teachers may have advised

by Hunter Robertson reporter them to do so. If there were any study guides, they were given out far in advance in the hopes that some students might get a jump-start. Freshman Aubrey Izurieta said that “not studying long enough in each subject” was the thing she regrets most.

Some did not even start looking at the materials for all of their classes until a week before.

A familiary scene for many students, freshmen found the studying process particularly difficult.

Photo Courtesy of Nicole Simon

Others regret not going in and meeting with a teacher when they held study sessions, or when a teacher advised everyone to come in and meet with them. In certain subjects, teachers admitted to only having a handful of students coming in to meet with them for help.

Honors Analytical Geometry teacher Jean Bayer said, “The students that I told ‘you know, you really need to come in,’ they did.” Some students even made a study group that met periodically before the midterms.

The results were good for the most part, but could have been better, had students started studying earlier. Coming in to meet with teachers also would have made understanding the material a lot easier.

C

ES, the Consumer Electronics Show, was held on January 7 – 10 in Las Vegas. This is where designers, traders, and consumers come to a private showing of the most renowned and brand new electronics.

When asked about CES, Shawn Kennerson, the Current Topics teacher, said, “I’d have to say I was most interested in the ones that seem to me to be those that will soon have the greatest impact on our daily lives.” There were a couple of electronics that really shined compared to the rest.

One of the first revealed was called the Onewheel, which was a one-wheeled motorized skateboard. To ride, one would need to step on and go, and since it is self-balancing, little work is required. It can go up to 12 miles an hour and can last for about six miles on a single charge, and is meant for leisurely rides in urbanized places. Along the lines of nifty transportation, the Urb-E electric scooter was unveiled. It’s a foldable electric scooter which compacts to the size of a small roller carry-on bag. It has a top speed of 15 miles per hour and a battery that can last for up to 20 miles. There is another electronic that would be eye candy. It’s a camera created

by Qualcomm that, unlike other

The LG Flex, one of the first mainstream curved and flexible smartphones.

Photo Courtesy of Laptop Magazine

cameras, focuses on more than one thing at a time by taking different photos with different focal points and molding them all together to create a perfect, sharp image. All of this is done within a split second.

A major theme at CES this year was curvature. LG had shown their newest smartphone, the LG G Flex. It’s a curved and “flexible” smartphone.

The advantage of a curved smartphone, like how the screen is virtually unbreakable, the curved action molds to your face for maximum comfort while talking. Another curved gadget is the new curved television.

This can show more screen within your peripheral vision, and can resemble the actual viewing of the real world.

Kennerson commented on other interesting gadgets and said, “There were a lot of the healthcare monitoring technologies that will probably catch on quickly. I think we will also soon see the mobile video devices like GoPro become much more popular as there were a lot of economical competitors on display. With more mobile tech, we will all continue to be amazed by the even crazier videos of anything and everything possible.” One wonders what is in store for the next CES.

10 The Wolverine TWSWolverine.com “The Miser” Brings Back Old Comedy with a Twist

by Stacey Agadoni reporter

C

oming to the Black Box Theater on February 26, “The Miser” is expected to be a hilarious rendition of a well-known Restoration-era comedy. The story features Harpagon, an old man who loves his money more than anything else and wants his children to get married. However, Harpagon fails to realize that his children are both in love with other people, eventually causing a series of crazy twists and love triangles. Senior Matt Zibanejadrad will play the role of Harpagon, and sophomore Connor Barre and freshman Meghan Dresdner will portray the miser’s children, Cleante and Elise.

Katie Arjona, head of the Upper School Drama Department, said that Walker’s

rendition of “The Miser” will have a few differences from the original version, such as using more modern speech instead of the rhyming couplets in the old script. This version also will not take place in France and will take on a “steampunk” style set influenced by Victorian England. The play will feature elements such as slapstick comedy, misunderstandings, and archetype characters, which show the style of comedies from the late 1600s. “There are so many hilarious jokes that the audience is going to love” senior Matt Zibanejadrad said. “This play displays so many different kinds of comedy, and I know this cast can play it perfectly.”

The most distinct element of this production will be the

use of a thrust stage, meaning the audience will sit along three sides of the stage, including up to 75 people. The goal of this setup is to allow the setting to be more intimate and let the audience members see the action up close.

“I’m interested to see how the audience reacts to the round theater,” Arjona said. The many unusual styles and aspects of “The Miser” could be more of a challenge for the Walker Drama Department. Zibanejadrad said, “This is going to be one of the hardest plays we’ve ever done.

There are long monologues for many characters, jokes that can be hard to pull off, and a breaking of the fourth wall with an inthe-round theatre style that not many of us played to before.”

Despite the level of difficulty,

the members are confident that their dedication will allow them to put on another exciting production. Tickets are available in the office for $5 per student, or they can be purchased online at thewalkerschool.ticketleap. com.

US Going For the Gold In Sochi

by Ryan Louis reporter

F

ebruary 6 is the opening day of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

This will be the first time that Russia has hosted the Winter Games, but the country has hosted the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow. US teams will be competing like Luge, Bobsleigh, Bobsleigh Skeleton, Curling, Ice Hockey, Figure skating, Short Track Speed Skating, Speed Skating, and Skiing. This year all of the teams are looking to take home the gold. Some sports in the Winter Games aren’t very common in the US, but the ones that are popular are adding some new additions to the team.

Sports like Ski Jumping, Snowboarding, Ice Hockey, and Figure Skating are pretty well known. In the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games the US men’s ice hockey team faced off with Canada in the finals.

Unfortunately the US men’s team lost. This year Ryan Miller

(GK), Zach (F) Parise (F), Patrick Kane (F), Phil Kessel (F), Ryan Kesler (F), and Bobby Ryan (F), Ryan Suter (D), Erik Johnson (D), Jack Johnson (D), and Brooks Orpik (D) are looking to try taking home the gold for USA. Shaun White is a major hit when it comes to snowboarding.

This year Shawn will be representing the US again along with other men. Even though all you hear is Shaun White when it comes to snowboarding, he is not the only athlete on the team.

Chas Guldemond, Eric Willett, Seth Wescott, Jonathan Cheever, and Nick Baumgartner are the athletes who make up the rest of the men’s snowboarding team.

They aren’t well known, but some of them have made a stand in X-Games.

The Official US Men’s Ski jumping team said “Our immediate goal is ambitious… to bring home a medal at the

2014 Olympics.” These young, motivated, and talented athletes have the skills and potential to compete against well-funded teams from countries where this sport has a wide base of fans sponsorships, and media.

The athletes this year that will be competing in the Games are Nick Alexander, Nick Fairall, Peter Frenette, Mike Glasder, Anders Johnson, and Chris Lamb.

A big event this year in the Winter Games is Figure Skating.

Three young and talented athletes on the ice are preparing to win the gold this year for the US in Sochi, Russia. Women’s Figure skating team this year is Polina Edmunds, Ashley Wagner, and Gracie Gold. None of these athletes has made an appearance in any Olympic Game, so they have a lot to prove this year. Walker Freshman, Ally Chebuhar competitive figure skater said, “Polina Edmunds

is only 15 years old and a sophomore in high school, this was her senior debut, meaning that was her first year at the senior Olympic level. Last year she placed first at the junior figure skating championships, which is the level below senior.

She is heading to the Olympics with Ashley Wagner and Gracie Gold.” All three of these women are looking to take home the Gold for US.

Inside the Sochi Olympic Hockey Rink.

Photo Courtesy of ria.ru

S: Sports

11 Athlete of the Month: Jake Reini

Spring Sports Preview Page 11

Page 11

Spring Sports coming up Around the Corner today (2/11)

by Alex Brack assistant editor

S

pring sports at Walker are quickly approaching, and athletes and coaches from all parts of the school are in preparation.

The traditional Walker spring sports are soccer, baseball, track and field, lacrosse, golf, and tennis.

The cool, refreshing spring weather is notorious for attracting athletes of a level, making the spring season the most popular for sports. The 2014 spring season features many talent-laden teams, however, they will have to work hard in order to match the triumph of previous years. With that in mind, the Walker Wolverines are looking forward to what this season has in store. Junior and accomplished soccer player Parker Smith said, “I am counting down the days until Walker soccer starts. I can’t wait to see what this season holds for both the soccer team and the other Walker teams.”

The Boys and Girls varsity soccer teams return this season with a lot of new firepower, including the addition of alumni and former soccer player Matthew McKean (‘13), to the Boys coaching staff and Jamie Rubens to the Girls coaching staff. Athletics Director Gary Blohm is the head coach for the Boys Varsity Soccer team.

Blohm has been involved with the Walker soccer program for 32 years. Blohm has high expectations for the soccer teams this year and hopes to see improvement from last season.

The Girls and Boys varsity tennis teams will also be up for a challenge this season. With such a successful previous season – which earned both teams state titles – the tennis program will be trying to revamp their previous accomplishments.

Junior Leigh Norsworthy said, “We were very successful last year and I hope that this season will be the same.”

Walker lacrosse will begin its second season in Walker history this year. Last year, lacrosse was a very popular addition to the Walker athletics – as shown by the many lacrosse sticks found all over the school. Notably, the Walker lacrosse program will be adding a boys varsity team this year which will be coached by John East and Mark Knautz.

Like last year, there will be a Varsity and JV baseball team this year. The varsity team will be coached by Mike Brady, Ray Boyer, and Danny MacDonald. The JV will be coached by John Crowers. As for the golf team, not many people know how truly successful they are. In past seasons, the golf team has won a majority of their matches. Junior Allen Perez is a prominent member of the golf team. Perez said, “The golf team works very hard and I hope that we get some more recognition this season.” Finally, the Upper School track and field team is coming out strong this season. With an immense amount of success in previous seasons, the track team is striving for similar results.

tomorrow (2/12)

w varsity lacrosse season opener (robertson field - 5:30 p.m.)

w varsity baseball season opener (warren field - 5:00 p.m.)

arts month today (2/11)

tuesday (2/18)

tuesday (2/25)

Ê Voice star and singer-songwriter Rebecca Loebe performs in the Auditorium at 10:00 a.m.

Ê Chef Tamie Cook (Culinary Director at Be Square Productions, Alton Brown’s production company) and SAGE present The Art of Southern Cooking in the Auditorium at 10:00 a.m.

Ê The Admissions Office and Diversity Office present a dance program in the Auditorium at 10:00 a.m.

Athlete of the Month: Jake Reini

by Victoria Hudson sports editor

J

unior swimmer Jake Reini has been a member of the Varsity swim team all three years of his high school career.

Reini’s main events are the 100 Butterfly and the 100 Backstroke. Following an impressive season in his sophomore year, he hopes to return to the state meet at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

Reini has already qualified for the state meet in the 100 Fly, and has one more meet to qualify for the 100 Back. Reini said, “To qualify for two events would be awesome, but just going to swim at Georgia Tech at all is something special.”

Reini, however, is not only a competitive swimmer. He is a threesport athlete for Walker.

Participating in Varsity football, Varsity swim and JV soccer keeps him busy year-round. His positive attitude and strong work ethic make him an asset on any team. Varsity Swim coach Bill Schreiner said,

“Jake is a key part of our team. He works hard every day, and will be a major player for us at the state meet.”

Despite his many athletic accolades, Reini also excels in the classroom.

He maintains a 90.0+ grade point average, and is a member of Mu Alpha Theta, National German Honor Society, National Social Studies Honor Society, and National Honor Society.

Membership in National Honor Society is one of the greatest honors that can be bestowed upon a student at the upper school level. There are many students who are not involved in extracurricular activities that do not achieve such outstanding academic success, so these accomplishments should not be taken lightly. Being such a well-rounded member of the Walker community allows for Reini to form friendships with all types of students.

Outside of school and athletics, Reini enjoys watching TV, listening to music, and hanging out with his friends and girlfriend. His favorite show is the Walking Dead and he enjoys mostly alternative rock music.

Since he is only junior, he is undecided about his college plans.

Reini leaps off the starting board and into the water at a meet.

Photo Courtesy of Mike Mackey

12

The Wolverine TWSWolverine.com

Later School Starts Proven to Benefit High School Students

by Claire Harper reporter

R

ecently Walker students and parents had the opportunity to hear Dr. JoAnn Deak speak about her knowledge of the brain in regards to children (ages 0-9), adolescents (10-20), as well as adults (20+). Deak visited an Upper School assembly where she talked about stress, parts of the brain, and even kissing. What caught every student’s attention was Deak’s declaration to all faculty that school should start at 9 a.m. The approval was evident throughout the room. Senior Natalie Turner said, “I was most interested when Dr. Deak talked about sleep because I know I, as well as pretty much every other high school student, feel extremely sleep deprived during the week.”

To support her declaration, Deak came with factual evidence to back her point up. Adolescents, who would include all middle and high school students at Walker, experience surges of hormones during these years of their life. These hormones have an amphetamine like effect in the brain that produces serotonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland that affects the modulation of sleep patterns, causing a student to be groggy.

During the adolescent years, the pineal gland is suppressed for several hours during the day which causes the teenager to not be able to fall into good sleep until 11 p.m. Because

Peer Leadership: Program Creates Cliques and Secrets an anonymous guest editorial

of the huge growth adolescents are going through, they need to be able to sleep for about nine hours.

Any time a parent tries to wake up a teenager before 9 a.m. they are going against their neurological clock.

Further research and studies have been done on how later school starts benefit students.

In a CBS news article “Study: Students Benefit from Later Start to School Day,” Hannah Atkin said, “Teens tend to be in their deepest sleep around dawn – when they typically need to get up for school.” Interrupting this sleep leaves teens groggy causing them to perform worse during school.

With all of this research, why are all schools not pushing back their start times? Deak said, “We have been begging schools to do this forever. The problem is the whole world society is centered around waking up early.” Parents need to drop their kids off and get to work, and society feels that pushing back school starts will throw everything off. Also, with later starts means later ends to the school day. With extracurricular activities after school, the average student would not be getting home until 6 or 7 p.m. every night.

Pushing back school starts will help students academically, but society must adapt if this change is going to occur.

Weigh in.

The Wolverine accepts student and faculty submissions, including guest editorials. Have a response to an editorial? Submit it at twswolverine.com/community or email student_submit@twswolverine.com.

Questions? Talk to a member of the staff or email student_submit@twswolverine.com. Guidelines may be found at twswolverine.com/community.

E

very Upper School student has heard of it, and most have been through the program.

Peer Leadership, a weekly program which pairs freshmen advisories with a senior duo to discuss the transition from Middle to Upper School, academics, friends, peer pressure, and more, was created with the goal of giving freshmen at least two senior advisors who are willing and able to discuss any issue with them. On paper, the program sounds great. In reality, however, it’s anything but: it seems the goal is to create an air of secrecy instead of actually helping freshmen.

Due to its secretive nature, the program and its 16 senior Peer Leaders are kept shrouded away from the rest of the school: other students are kept in the dark about the program’s activities, classroom sessions, and goals. This secrecy creates nothing but a new, schoolendorsed clique for the senior class. By design, the 16 students are placed on a pedestal, and some laud their elevated status, ignoring the feelings of those who didn’t make the cut. Though Peer Leaders are rightfully proud of their selection, they often fail to consider the implications of the program. A majority of the class applies to the program, and only 20 percent are chosen. Though life certainly isn’t fair, seeing and hearing constant reminders about how exciting Peer Leadership is only twists the knife in the wound that arises from not being selected.

The lack of transparency begins with the selection process. In April of the preceding school year, the application is released. After a litany of open-ended questions (that seem more appropriate for a college application rather than an application for a leadership program at a high school of 380 students), several interviews and a mock Peer Leadership session are held. The outgoing group of Peer Leaders works with a group of teachers to decide the future Peer Leaders. Instead of simply releasing the names via email, all applicants are called to the Auditorium at 3:15 on a Friday and given envelopes containing the results, with the stipulation they must not be opened inside

the Auditorium. Thus, after the meeting ends, a mass of students forms outside the Auditorium doors tearing open envelopes.

Though this may seem to be the most efficient way, there must be a better method to notify applicants that would spare publicly hurt feelings. Why is there a need for such a dramatic meeting? If every student in the Upper School will know who the chosen ones are in a matter of minutes, why not simply post or announce the selections openly, like every other sport or drama program at the school?

Over the summer, the Peer Leaders meet several times and also attend an overnight retreat in the North Georgia mountains.

Every aspect of this retreat is confidential, which only adds to the clique mentality. After the school year begins, the Peer Leaders meet daily to discuss leadership techniques, activities, and plans for their weekly meeting with freshmen. These weekly meetings with freshmen are truly the only parts of the program that require such a strict level of confidentiality. By keeping what happens in weekly meetings confidential, freshmen can feel free to share their feelings without fear of gossip. However, by keeping everything else confidential as well, an air of superiority is given off. Simply asking what activities there are at the retreat or what games will be played with the freshmen shouldn’t have to be met with an answer of “I can’t tell you– it’s confidential.”

In theory, it’s an excellent program: it’s a great way to help ease the stress of incoming freshmen. However, over the past several years, it seems the program has replaced its goal of guiding freshmen with a shroud of secrecy.

An unnecessarily complicated application process, an overly dramatic notification method, and the sense of a school-endorsed clique contribute to the negative view of the program shared by many. The administration and program leaders should make an effort to return the focus of the program to the most important goal: helping freshmen succeed.