the
royalnews
Vol. IX Issue 4 - Prince George High School - 7801 Laurel Spring Rd - Prince George, VA 23875 - www.trnwired.com - 1. 21. 2011
New Texting Guidelines Proposed p. 4-5
A new policy is being put into consideration suggesting that it is unlawful for teachers and students to communicate through texting and social networking sites. Photo by Gabby Whittington.
Religion Series: Buddhism p.7 Doodling During Class p.15 New year, old memories p. 6
Conserving school energy p. 9
Huckleberry Finn censorship
The new year brings new memories. Instead of solely focusing on new memories, some students reflect on sentimental objects that bring back special times in their lives.
Local school systems are putting effort into saving extra money by cutting back on the amount of energy used. Staff members are reminded to unplug electrical devices and are also encouraged to use fluorescent light bulbs.
Huckleberry Finn is a story about racism and discrimination before the Civil War. There is speculation about changing specific words in the classic novel written by Mark Twain.
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the RoyalNews
O
ur mission as the school newspaper for Prince George High School is to provide a form of media that represents all aspects of student life. The goal is to present factual accounts of newsworthy events in a timely manner. Our publication will be informative, entertaining and reflective of the student body’s opinions. It is the desire of the staff to reach every student and tell as many of their stories as possible. We invite your commentary: The Royal News Opinion page is a forum for public discussion and shall be open to all students. The Royal News will print as many letters as space will allow. The Royal News reserves the right not to print a letter. The Royal News publishes a wide variety of opinions. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Royal News, PGHS, 7801 Laurel Spring Road, Prince George, Virginia 23875, or bring them to room A6, or e-mail them to cwaugaman@pgs.k12.va.us We reserve the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, legality, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, address and phone number. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. 500 word maximum. Please submit letters to the editors by January 14th for the upcoming issue. Section Editors Mariah Blystone: News/Online EditorKim Carneal: Op/Ed- Malikah Williams: Features- Ciara Ward: Ampersand-Jessica Marshall: A&E- Wayne Epps: Sports-Colby Eliades: Double Truck- Alison Brown: Photo/ Front Page Editor- Gabby Whittington: Ads Manager- Jake McQuiggan: CirculationSarah Moats: Editorial Cartoonist- Olivia Tritschler: Online Editor- Rachel Waymack: News- Rachel Youmans: Copy Editor Writers Kourtney Galvin-Rachel Karns-Gall Mandy Lockhart-Maggie Smith-Michael Winn-Jessica Demas-Kimberly EdmondsBest-Emily Gray-Kevin Harris-Unique Larry-Carson Stout-Michelle WilliamsRachel Williams-Tasia Faulcon-Amanda Majewski-Ridhi Patel-Cassie Smith-ElizaEditor-in-Chief Jami Davis
Business Manager Janai Cunningham
Managing Editor Colby Eliades
Adviser
Chris Waugaman
Professional affiliations & awards Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Gold Medalist 2010 Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Crown Winner 2010 Virginia High School Association Trophy Class 2010 SIPA All Southern 2009
The Royal News, PGHS
7801 Laurel Spring Road Prince George, Virginia 23875 804-733-2720 The Royal News is printed at The Progress-Index in Petersburg, Virginia
Opinions&Editorials
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Responding to acts of violence
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ometimes I’m very proud of America. After acts of terrorism, we have an unfortunate
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Spring sports conditioning and tryouts begin and student athletes prepare for their seasons.
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New spring line up of television shows series excites viewers to start fresh and possibly discover a new guilty pleasure.
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The end of the second nine weeks is approaching and midterm exams are looming. With so many snow days, teachers are rushing to complete the curriculum.
Editorial
MAKING THE GRADE
Committing to resolutions require year long dedication
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ew Years resolutions come with a reputation of being quickly forgotten and abandoned. People make potentially life-changing commitments when the ball drops, typically just to drop their choices just as quickly. The new year triggers a selfimprovement mechanism in the minds of many different kinds of people. Some vow to get into shape, and become healthier, while others vow to become more involved in charity and community service work. With the promise of positive change, why do people let go of their resolutions so swiftly? The New Years’ resolution rush provides a type of bandwagon feeling. People make resolutions because it is expected, or out of habit, not because they are truly committed to change. Keeping a New Years’ resolution
requires support from those interested in the same goals, motivation to continue on the desired path, determination when things become hard, and redirection when and if sight of the goal is lost. There are, however, success stories where people stick with their goals instead of reverting back to their old ways. When these endeavors and incredibly successful, they are often rewarded by being showcased on television, in a newspaper, or on the front page of a magazine. In a way, the manner in which these accomplishments are handled shows how rare it is for people to stick to their goals, and to actually succeed. Making a New Years resolution for self-improvement is a good choice, but a lot of enthusiasm, perseverance, and devotion is needed to truly stick with the goal.
tendency to decide that the entire thing was caused by our opponents. For example, almost ten years after the Rachel youmans Sept. 11th attacks on the World Trade Center Americans still blame the entire Islamic faith. But there are also times when we can take a step back and use tragedies to fix our mistakes. When a man shot at least 19 people at a meeting held by Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords, it could have turned into a battle over politics. Some people in the media have already brought up a gun control issue. One side says more restrictions would have prevented the incident from happening and others saying easier access to weapons would have made it easier for somebody at the meeting to stop the killer. It would have been easy for everybody to ignore the tragedy in favor of placing blame. Politicians have been discussing making politics less aggressive and avoiding language that could spark attacks. Nobody knows exactly the reason the shooter attacked the meeting, but we know that his political views directly opposed Senator Giffords. Instead of flinging more hate to avenge the people whom were hurt, we are making positive changes to avoid future incidents. Try to learn from this tragedy yourself. When you get in an argument, be respectful and don’t make threats. If somebody does a hurtful thing, don’t blame every group they could be related to. And most of all, be willing to change when you see that it is necessary.
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Proposed guidelines provoke controversy The proposed Guidelines for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct & Abuse in Virginia Public Schools’ section on electronic communication has received criticism.
Rachel Waymack trn editor
Statistics teacher Jeffery Witt texts his student, senior Caiti Lee her homework. This practice will not be allowed if the Department of Education goes through with its policy change. Photo by: Alison Brown
Should teachers and students and communicate using electronic communication?
Senior Jasmine Hancock “If they need to yes, but not on facebook, because that is personal.”
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text comes in from a teacher to a student reminding them of a meeting after school, under new proposed guidelines, the teacher could get in big trouble for this. The Proposed Guidelines for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct & Abuse in Virginia Public Schools were proposed in the Virginia’s Board of Education’s meeting November 18, 2010. The proposed guidelines were to be voted on January 13, 2011, but final voting has been postponed until February 12, 2011 due to the holidays causing a lack of wide spread public knowledge of the proposed guidelines. The proposed guidelines hope to address problems of sexual inappropriateness between school employees and students. The proposed guidelines’ section of purpose and philosophy states that it hopes that by following the guidelines’ policies “Teachers, principals, and other educators and employees [will] provide a safe and healthy environment for teaching and learning.” Despite the guidelines’ stated purpose, the proposed guidelines have caused much controversy over its section on electronic communication between teachers and students. The guidelines state that electronic communication by teachers with students should be “transparent, accessible to supervisors, and professional in content and tone.” Under the guidelines, which would have to be approved by the Virginia Board of Education and then adopted by the individual school
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districts, teachers could, under most circumstances, email students only using school district provided email. United States History teacher Cynthia Hasley sees the restriction on emailing students as an unnecessary inconvenience. “My problem is that my school e-mail is hard to access from home,” Hasley said, “it is easier for students to get in touch with me at my home e-mail address.” Students who often e-mail their teachers also see possible problems with the proposed guidelines’ policy on teachers e-mailing students. “I email teachers because it helps clear up homework assignments and things I am confused about,” junior Elizabeth Ogunbunmi said, “If I could not I probably would be doing assignments wrong or not get them in on time.” Problems other than convenience have been brought up against the guidelines’ section on communication through e-mail. Frank LoMonte, the execute director of the Student Press Law Center, sites another concern regarding the proposed guidelines’ condition that communication must be transparent and known by the prinicple or school board. “Because teachers themselves cannot publicly complain about conditions at the school without putting their jobs a risk, they sometimes necessarily must blow the whistle to student media,” LoMonte said. “Employees need to be able to have those communications without fear of being tracked.” Another stipulation in the proposed guidelines’ section on electronic communication is that teachers could not text students, except in an emergency situations. This would come as a blow to teachers, such as chemistry teacher and chemistry club sponsor Dr. Kevin Moore, who currently uses texting to communicate with students about upcoming assignments and meetings. “Texting is a common method of communication for students these days and it is perfectly reasonable for teachers to give and receive texts from students,” Moore said. “It is a very easy method of communication.”
The section of the proposed guidelines that prohibits one-on-one interaction between students and teachers on personal social networking sites has also caused debate. Kelly Furnas, director of the Journalism Education Association (JEA), not only sees the value of communication using these sites but also fears adverse effects if these communications were to be banned. “Creating a model policy that would forbid teachers from viewing or commenting on student work is not only creating a poor learning environment for students, but also potentially making your teachers out-of-date as educators,” Furnas said in a letter to the Virginia Department of Education. Despite the views of those like Kelly, who see parts of the proposed guidelines as a hazard for teachers and students, others believe that there is a real need for the proposed guidelines. “[There is a need for the guidelines because of] the three areas which the proposed guidelines offer additional insight [into],” Superintendent Dr. Bobby Browder said. “Communication between students and employees… physical contact…permissible and unacceptable social interactions and relationships between students and employees.” Since Prince George County Public Schools is a member of the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) it would receive guidance from this body about the adoption of these proposed guidelines. “Prince George County School Board would review the proposed policy by VSBA on [the proposed guidelines] for one month suggesting any change to the written policy before consideration for adoption,” Browder said. While the opponents of the guidelines’ section on electronic communication recognize the need for the students’ protection, they argue that it is overreaching. “I admire the efforts to keep students safe,” Furnas said in a letter to the Department of Education. “However, I think for students/teachers as a whole, and scholastic journalism in particular, elements of this policy are a classic example of overreaction and
Sophomore Lindsay Snead “No i think that is exceding the limit of teacher-student relationships.”
misplaced blame.” Despite the views of those like Kelly, who see parts of the proposed guidelines as a hazard for teachers and students, others believe that there is a real need for the proposed guidelines. “[There is a need for the guidelines because of] the three areas which the proposed guidelines offer additional insight [into],” Superintendent Dr. Bobby Browder said. “Policies governing communication between students and employees…polices governing physical contact…policies governing permissible and unacceptable social interactions and relationships between students and employees.” If the proposed guidelines were to be approved they would still need to be adopted by the individual school districts in order to go into effect. Since Prince George County Public Schools is a member of the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) it would receive guidance from this body about the adoption of these proposed guidelines, if the Virginia Board of Education passes the guidelines. “Prince George County School Board would review the proposed policy by VSBA on [the proposed guidelines] for one month suggesting any change to the written policy before consideration for adoption,” Browder said. Postponement was done in order to allow the public more time to comment on the proposed guidelines, including the much-debated section on technological communication. LoMonte and the Student Press Law Center was among those groups asking for this delay of the decision. “The comment period fell during the holidays and during the final exam period, and it was very difficult for the public to become informed about the significance of what the Board was considering,” LoMonte said. “We hoped the Board would agree to an extension to let the public be heard.”
Statistics teacher Jeffrey Witt “If i know the family personally, but I do not text with any of my current students “
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FEATURES
Treasured items hold high sentimental value New Year brings time to reflect upon the old memories
W Amanda Majewski trn writer
h e n the New Ye a r kicks off everyone has a new beginning. To start off the New Year most people are thinking about brand new memories, but some do not ever want to let go of the old memories. Little treasures that they have kept remind them of big memories and the best of times. Treasures can be found in many places, and some are found out in the open. “I have my treasures all around my room so everyone can see what means the most to me and what I am all about,” junior Christina Pack said. As for others they are hidden away for safekeeping. In sophomore Abria Humphries’ closet you can find her dance treasures. “I got a medal for dance when I was little. I also really treasure my dance outfits, they are so pretty and remind me of when I used to dance,” Humphries said. Then there are some people that do not ever want to throw their treasures away. “I have a bunch of Hess cars and trucks that are a little used and run down from when I was younger, but they bring back great memories,” senior Autrey Jackson said. Another type of treasure keeper is the collector, the one who collects a certain thing and just always adds on to the collection. “I have lots of different treasures, but my favorites are my Atlanta Braves hats that I started collecting when I was nine. I have 37 different ones and I am still adding more to my collection. And I am still adding more to my collection, but I favor two hats out of them all, my
very first one and the World Series brave win of ‘95,” Monica Curtis attendance secretary said. Each and every treasure that is special has a memory to go along with it that makes it so memorable. “My favorite treasure with a very memorable moment is a picture of me and my best friend Sierra right before she moved to New York. We are hugging each other crying as we think about all of our good times together,” Pack said. Humphries memories are of when she was younger and used to dance. “The dance medal was one of the few memories of dance that I enjoy. It was also one of my first medals so it means a lot,” Humphries said. The collector, Curtis, has Atlanta Braves hats that each hold their own memory. “The best memory I have is getting my first hat for Easter from my dad. This is where my collection first started,” Curtis said. “It always brings joy to me when I can find a new hat to add to my collection.” Everyone has a keepsake or a treasure that is special to them, but might not mean anything to anyone else. It is something sentimental that if lost, it would be like losing a part of themselves. “If my treasure were destroyed I would be upset. All those memories I could never get back, but what I have left in my head that will eventually be forgotten,” Pack said. Losing things that mean so much is hard to even think about. It is like a memory that would be lost forever. “I would feel heartbroken. It would be like someone taking a very happy memory away from me that I could never get back,” Humphries said. Collecting is an investment in time and effort. Losing the collection would be a collector’s worst nightmare. “I would probably cry. I would have to put in a lot more work especially since some designs might not be made anymore,” Curtis said. Everyone should clean out their closet to discover the little treasures that bring back memories of the great times they had in the past. The treasures and memories that everyone wants to have more of to remember the future experiences.
Attendance secretary Monica Curtis displays her extensive collection of Atlanta Braves hats. She holds some of the hats that hold fond memories. Photo by Malikah Williams.
features
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Buddhism Symbols
Endless Knot: It continues without a beginning or end, which expresses the endless wisdom and compassion Buddha.
Buddhism teaches discipline, peace Student practices popular Eastern religion although raised under Christianity
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Elizabeth Nerdig trn writer
yes closed and totally relaxed, junior Tyler Mace looks like any other student taking a nap in class. However, Mace is focusing his concentration on his breathing, and keeping inner peace. Mace, a practicing Buddhist, is meditating. Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in Northern India in the sixth century BCE. Buddhism has several main forms. However, Zen Buddhism is becoming increasingly popular in the west. “Honestly, I don’t know the types of Buddhism,” Mace said. “I just know what I believe.” Buddhists believe in Karma, the total of a person’s actions (whether in body, mind, or speech) taken in all their lives, Dharma, a person’s path to enlightenment and the fundamental principles that order the universe, and Reincarnation, or rebirth of someone after
death into a new body. “I personally believe in reincarnation,” Mace said. “Not to the point where you are reincarnated to another animal; but to where you are reincarnated into another life of the same being.” Reincarnation is one of the biggest beliefs of Buddhism. If after so many cycles of life, death, and rebirth, a person lets go of their attachment to desire and self, they can achieve Nirvana. Nirvana is the final state free from suffering. “[Nirvana] is kind of hard to explain,” Mace said. Buddhism has Five Precepts, or rules to live by, similar to the second half of the ten commandments of Judaism and Christianity. They are taught not to kill, steal, lie, misuse sex, or to consume alcohol or other drugs. “[It is about] thinking before acting,” Mace said. Some Buddhists believe in the power of prayer, while others do not. “[I don’t believe] so much [in the power of prayer],” Mace said. “I believe in the power of your own self, instead of a higher being. I believe God to be someone who is watching, not someone who is going to change something for you.” Despite the low numbers of practicing Buddhists at PGHS, it is the 4th largest religion in the world. “They are not as small in
numbers as people think,” Mace said. However, Mace has still received some disrespect for his beliefs. “I just blow it off,” Mace said. “I still respect other people’s beliefs. Mace has been practicing since he was nine years old, using a book to help guide him. He has a brother who practices it too, but his parents are Christian. “My parents support it; they support everything I do,” Mace said. Mace’s practice does not affect how he celebrates typically Christian holidays, though. “I love Christmas. [I don’t celebrate it] for the religious beliefs, it is just another holiday to me,” Mace said. “Easter is a big celebration in my house.” Buddhism is mainly just a lifestyle for Mace though, instead of a hard-and-fast religion. “It is all about thinking before you act, thinking while you act, and taking respect in everything you do and everything that you have,” Mace said.
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Lotus (padma): The lotus roots reach through the mud, while the stem pushes through the ware and the flower is seen in the sun. This pattern of growth signifies the progress of the soul through materialism, to experience, and enlightenment. Wheel (chakra or’khor lo): The wheel represents the teachings of Buddha and rapid spiritual change. The eight spokes symbolize the Noble Eightfold Path set by Buddha in his lesson. Information about symbols gathered from: http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/symbols
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Ads
The days are winding down to order the Prince George High School 2011 yearbook. A limited number will be printed, so order a copy by going to www.jostensyearbooks. com. The current cost is $55 plus any additional personalization. The deadline to order a book with personalization is January 24, 2011. After Februrary 4, 2011 the price of the yearbook will increase to $75. Order your copy now. Please call Alison Heath at Get your school’sext. limited edition 804.733.2720, 2141, for furtheryearbook information.now.
We’re in this together.
features
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Financial concerns help improve energy efficiency Limits on use of lamps and other appliances implemented to save money Carson Stout & Jessica Demas trn writers
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pending just over six billion dollars on annual energy use in schools, local schools are trying to save extra money by reducing the amount of energy used. By trying to reduce the amount of energy used, the school in turn becomes energy efficient. “The average school uses 22 kwh per square foot each year, and last year PGHS used 2,000,000 kwh,” Dominion Power employee Johnny Harris said. The high school was the first school to start using energy saving techniques. Soon after, other schools in the county started to use the same techniques to start saving on energy costs. “The high school is like a hub, if one school does it, so will the next, thus reducing the overall cost. I do believe it saves more than people think.,” Vice Principal Joe McDaniels said. In the beginning of every year, teachers are reminded of the little things that can make a big difference in the cost of energy. A few ways to help conserve energy throughout the school would be to turn off lamps, keep the windows closed, and unplugging things that are not in use. “We try to keep a few computers off in the library but there is not much we can do about the lighting,” ITRT Stephanie Poe said. “Otherwise we would be sitting in the dark all day.” Some of the bigger energy wasters are typically the smaller things no body thinks of. “Refrigerators, microwaves, even
coffee machines take a lot of power just to run, that’s why we do not allow teachers, other than a select few, to have them in the classrooms, McDaniels said. Not only are schools trying to save money, but they are trying to make it greener for everyone else as well. “It is mainly due to the growing bills over the past few years, but we try to conserve energy as well because it helps the environment along the way,” McDaniels said. By switching to fluorescent light bulbs, the school has saved over 461 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the air. On average, power plants produce 2.6 billion pounds of carbon per year out into the open air. Trying to help reduce that number, people around
the world, including some at our school make sure to do their part. “I do many things around the house to help conserve energy, like recycle, turning off my laptop and taking 15 minute showers,” sophomore Taylor Uranga said. Although the school tries to help out the growing budget concern, the rules are typically not reinforced. “We do not really need to have the rules enforced much because we have automatic stand-by lights that cut off when no one is in the room, and our computers are typically in sleep mode, but they could do something about the heating,” Poe said. Students often comment on how temperatures vary from classroom to classroom, and believe it should be a constant throughout the school.
“It is always cold in one class then you get to another and your burning up. I bet they would save money if they tried to moderate the temperature,” Uranga said. In the winter it takes nearly 30% more energy to run a school due to the increase in the need for heat. Some classrooms are less ventilated and are typically hotter verses the classrooms that have windows because it allows cold air to seep through. “By help of stand-by monitors, fluorescent lighting, unplugging computers and the lack of coffee makers throughout the school, we have saved thousands in money and reduced environmental damages in just our school alone,” McDaniels said.
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Mental Asylum Filled With History: Central State Hospital includes many old buildings rich with history dating back to the 1800s.
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he fast approaching Black History Month is a time to honor and remember important African Americans from the past and present. Every day people pass by monumental and very historic buildings that are surrounded by African American history, but fail to notice these historic monuments; one of these being Central State Hospital. Central State Hospital, located in Dinwiddie County, has been around since December of 1869 when it was first used strictly as a mental hospital for African Americans who needed special mental help and was called Central Lunatic Asylum. Later, in 1882, a family farm was purchased in Dinwiddie County just outside the city of Petersburg, and a total of 373 patients were the first to reside at the current hospital location. By 1892 the total number of patients had doubled and a almost a century later, Central State had somewhere between 4,000 to 5,000 patients by the end of 1950. One of the reasons for this
Colby Eliades Managing Editor large number of patients was the establishment of a Maximum Security Forensic Unit, as well as the creation of a geriatric treatment center, which was closed down in 1985. Eventually, the number of patients decreased to the number it is today. “The general philosophy of how to take care of the mentally ill changed, and a lot of it can be treated on an out-patient basis. So, instead of being a dumping ground for society’s outcasts, now there is a purpose to hopefully restore them to competency so they can function in society,” Head of Security for Central State Pete Lehman said. Until the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, Central State was strictly used for African American Mentally Retarded, Geriatric and Criminally Insane patients. In 1967, Central State opened to all no matter what their race, sex, etc. One of the oldest buildings, Eastview, was built in two parts; the first built in 1928, the second completed in 1936. Another old building was built in the 1920s and was used to house patients who had
tuberculosis. “Back in 2000, when they were making the movie Hannibal, they took some of the scenery from Eastview and used it as a backdrop for the Psychiatric Institute in Baltimore,” Lehman said. There are some patients at Central State who are extremely dangerous and who are not allowed to leave their buildings. Haiyang Zhu, the 25-yearold doctoral student from Virginia Tech that decapitated a young woman, was admitted to Central State last year for evaluations. “Way back when we had Lorena Bobbitt here,” Lehman said. Bobbitt was famous for cutting off the male reproductive part of her former husband John Wayne Bobbitt and throwing it into a field. While Central State may seem creepy to some, it is filled with history that dates all the way back to before the Civil War.
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Top Left: Newer Eastview building (c. 1936), where parts of Hannibal were filmed. Bottom Left: A breezeway that connects the two Eastview buildings; the bars (left) kept patients from escaping, while an open air courtyard (right) let them have some freedom. Above: A women’s bathroom in an abandoned area of a former patient ward. Photos by Alison Brown and Colby Eliades.
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AMPERSAND 11 Lists Of 2011
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2
Big Gamers
1
Most Anticipated 1. GRADUATION C/O 2011!
1. NBA 2k11 2. Call of Duty: Black Ops
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Social Networks 1. Facebook 2. Tumblr 3. Twitter
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TOP Downloaded Applications
1. Friendly for Facebook 2. Angry Birds 3. Pandora 4. CNN News 5. Bubble Breaker
7 6
Hot Spots to Shop!
Late Night Food Places
1. Denny’s 2. McDonalds 3. Taco Bell 4. Wawa 5. Buffalo Wild Wings 6 Wendys
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The Upcoming Movies of the Year
1. Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn 2. Transformers: Dark of
the Moon 3. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows 2 4. Paranormal Activity 3 5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules 7. The Hangover 2 8. 11/11/11 9. The Green Hornet 10. The Smurfs 11. Final Destination 5
1. Hollister Co. 2. American Eagle 3. Forever 21 4. Foot Locker 5. Body Central 6. Target 7. Macy’s
10
Trendy Fashions Around School
1. Peacoats 2. Scarves 3. Jeggings 4. Ripped Jeans 5. Combat Boots 6. Vans 7. Crossbody Bags 8. Leather jacket 9. Rings 10. Cardigans
4
Controversial Events in Sports
1. Lebron James moves to Miami 2. Miami Dolphin tripped by Jets 3. Michael Vick plays football AGAIN! 4. Brett Farve fined for sexting
8
Must See Celebrities
1. Jaden & Willow Smith 2. Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen) 3. Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne (Young Money) 4. Daniel Radcliff (Harry Potter) 5. Lady Gaga 6. Eminem 7. Kevin Hart 8. Ryan Reynolds (The Proposal)
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Most Addicting TV Shows 1. Pretty Little Liars 2. The Big Bang Theory 3. Make it or Break it 4. Jersey Shore 5. MTV Skins
6. The Game 7. The Real Housewives 8. Glee 9. Bad Girls Club
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page 14 - royalnews - 1.21.2011
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Doodling
A&E
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Long awaited Verizon iPhone now available
Drawing to keep focused
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Senior Erin Ford’s abstract doodling on her physics homework and after tests in Pre Calculus keeps her entertained. She also uses doodling to keep herself focused in lectures. The chess set drawn by junior Xantha Keith-Midgette.
Why do you doodle? “There aren’t enough things going on that catch my attention or I am just really hyper,” senior Erin Ford said.
Below: junior Natalie Zoldork doodles in fifth block to stay awake.
Left: senior Sarah Gray drew junior Matt Branthoover in her third block.
. d e r i trnwcom To see a full gallery of students’ doodles, go to www.trnwired. com.
Photo gallery
uch to all of Verizon’s 93.2 million customers’ surprise and dismay in some cases, a big announcement might have given them reason to celebrate. On January 11, 2011, Verizon announced a “new partnership with a big corporation.” The iPhone 4 will be available starting on Feb. 10, 2011. Jessica Marshall My uncle got an iPhone for Christmas and when my mom and I went up to visit them, she fell in love with it and claimed, “I know what I’m getting when I’m eligible for an upgrade!” But my question is this. Why get an iPhone when Verizon already has quite the big selection of nice Android and other smart phones? I got the HTC Droid Incredible for Christmas and I love it. It does everything I need it to and more. So what’s all the hype about the iPhone for? It’s basically the same thing as an iPod Touch, but it can make calls and send texts. When reading on the Apple web site, the description of the phone makes it seem like it’s something totally new and unheard, “the phone that changed everything!” When I hear people say “I want the iPhone,” I think why? Like I mentioned before, Verizon has various phones to choose from. Getting upset that the news about it coming to Verizon came after Christmas is a little extreme and unnecessary. The phone when compared to a Droid, does the same thing. Yet with the iPhone, you’ll be paying extra for the name and the infamous Apple logo on the back. So to the people at Verizon, I am perfectly happy with your own phones and service. I do not see the point in making my parents spend more money than they have to for one phone that does the same as all of the others just because it has the Apple on the back.
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page 16 - royalnews - 1.21.2011
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Gamer’s Corner
the
page 17 - royalnews - 1.21.2011
Donkey Kong swings back into action I
Upcoming Movies
must admit, I was quite surprised with Donkey Kong Country Returns. To put it lightly, it’s similar to a super Mario brothers style 2D platformers but with monkeys! To put it realistically, it’s one of the most challenging platform styles games I’ve ever played. D K ’s b a c k (with his first appearance on the Wii) and he’s ready Garrett Albright to kick some tail because once again, someone’s stolen his bananas! From the beginning of the game, it’s back to the same story line as you monkey around eight different levels which involve going through the jungle hopping from platform to platform, smashing crabs on the beach, shooting yourself through barrels, the works; all the while visually, looking very, very nice.
What’s different about this DK game: the difficulty. I honestly admit, there were a few levels I wanted to break my Wii remote, yell loudly, write an angry letter to my congressman, etc. But when I finally managed to get past those difficult moments and finish the level, I felt really accomplished and pleased with myself for sticking with it. For casual gamers though, there is an option for “auto-play” if you should find yourself dying over and over again. Turn this on, and the game will complete the level for you. Though I passed on using it, I promise not to tell if your finger should slip and hit
the button when the option presents itself. A neat feature is shaking the Wii remote to do actions like, ground pounding, rolling; anything a monkey would do. So let’s review: good, solid, challenging
gameplay along with nice visuals results in tons of fun for you and Donkey Kong. Were I you, and you owned a Wii, and that Wii was connected to a TV, and that TV was turned on, I’d buy this game.
No Strings Attached The Roommate Jan. 21st, 2011 Feb. 18th, 2011
I Am Number Four Feb. 4th, 2011
Hall Pass Feb. 25th, 2011
Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) are life long friends. They begin a relationship that is strictly “no strings attached” which means that there is no jealousy, no expectations, and no falling in love. But will their friendship last when one begins to fall in love?
Nine teenage aliens and their guardians escape to Earth with an enemy species on their trail. The catch is that the teen aliens must be killed in sequence. John Smith (Alex Pettyfer), alien number four, hides in Ohio disguised as a high school student.
Rick (Owen Wilson) and Fred (Jason Sudeikis) find themselves stuck in one place within their marriages. In a creative plan to get their husbands interested in them again, Rick and Fred’s wives grant them a “hall pass”. This gives the two friends a week of freedom with no questions asked.
College student Sara (Minka Kelly) becomes friends with her roommate Rebecca (Leighton Meester). Rebecca develops an obsession with trying to become the only person in Sara’s life. Soon none of Sara’s other friends are safe, and Sara’s life is in danger by Rebecca’s deranged nature.
the
page 18 - royalnews - 1.21.2011
Constant basketball
Brittany(top)andDerrick(bottom) haveplayedbasketballsincethey weresmall.Botharenowplaying varsitybasketballfortheRoyals. Photo by Wayne Epps Jr.
Brother and sister have played basketball for several years Wayne Epps, Jr. trn editor
A
t age seven for Brittany and age six for Derrick, the Constants started learning the game of basketball from their mother. She taught them just about everything about how to play. A former Royals basketball player herself, she now gets to see both of her children play varsity basketball. Derrick, a junior, and Brittany, a senior, brother and sister have played basketball since they were little. Now the two get to suit up at the highest high school level The siblings have different things to say in reference to why they started playing. “My parents taught us,” Brittany said. “[I started playing] because it was fun, it was something to do,” Derrick said. Even though Brittany and Derrick both play at the varsity level, they do not practice with each other away from their
respective teams that often. However, they still influence each other’s games by being critical of one another. “We criticize each other, and tell which one is doing wrong,” Brittany said. Enjoyment from the game of basketball comes from different things for the brother and sister. Derrick enjoys winning and Brittany enjoys the defensive aspect of basketball. “I like playing defense more so than offense. My shot came later on while I got older,” Brittany said. These basketball siblings do have similarities in that they are both guards and they both bring the same qualities to their teams “[Derrick] is a team player, he knows how to pass the ball, he’s not a ball hog or anything,” sophomore Alex Turpin said. “[Brittany] is very good, she’s a teammate, she’s not selfish, she’s very caring,” junior Amaya Ray said. “She tries to make our team one…” Basketball is more than just a game for the Constants. What may just be an orange, round ball to some people; it has influenced the relationship between Brittany and Derrick. “[Basketball] brought us closer, because we can talk about more stuff, it’s easier to talk about more stuff than just basketball now,” Brittany said. For Derrick, the best moment in his career came around three years ago when
he made five three-pointers in a game while playing for Petersburg Recreation. The best moment in Brittany’s career came recently when the Royals played Thomas Dale and she guarded Ka’lia Johnson who is going on to play college basketball at Duke University. After high school, Brittany does not plan to continue playing basketball. However, Derrick has aspirations to continue playing much longer. “I want to play after high school and try to go to a college and play and try to make it further than that like Reggie Williams,” Derrick said. Williams, a former Royal, is currently playing in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. For the Constants, the game of basketball is so much more than just a game. Both brother and sister have played the game for several years and it gives a lot back to them. “[Basketball] teaches you a lot; it doesn’t just teach you how to play, but it teaches you how to be a part of getting to know people, showing teamwork,” Brittany said.
Read our girls basketball profiles on
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Sports
Goal List W
hile doing some research on Royals alum Reggie Williams for my story on the Constant siblings,I came across a story about his goals. Williams is currently Wayne Epps, Jr. playing in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. The piece that I found was on espn.com’s NBA Daily Dime page. In the story, it talks about a list that Williams put together while in college at Virginia Military Institute (VMI). The list was of the goals that Williams wanted to accomplish to help him to stay focused on them and he took the list everywhere he went. Among other things, one of the things on his list was to get an NBA contract. Williams worked hard and had to climb his way up, but he did not give up and finally accomplished his goal. After leaving VMI, Williams was not drafted to the NBA and went to play in France. After spending a year there, he went to play in the NBA’s Development League. Throughout this time, Williams continued to put in lots of work while waiting for his chance to get called to the NBA. He finally was called up to the Golden State Warriors in March of last year. Yet, his quest for a real NBA contract was not over. When he first made it into the NBA, he signed one 10-day contract and then a second 10-day contract before he finally was able to sign a real contract that lasts through the end of this season. Williams fought through years of adversity before he was able to achieve that goal. He is a prime example of the fact that if you work hard enough, you can achieve anything. Sources: http://espn.go.com/nba/ dailydime/_/page/dime-100716/dailydime; http://www.contracostatimes.com/ sports/ci_16939996
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page 19 - royalnews - 1.21.2011
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Sports
Wrestlers defeated Warhill 36-30 and Patrick Henry 40-36 in their tournament on Jan. 14 -15.
Boys Basketball defeated Matoaca 56-49 at home on Tues. Jan. 18.
Girls Basketball loss to Matoaca 70-59 on the road on Tues. Jan. 18 .
briefs Track strategies more than what they seem
I
Kevin Harris trn writer
t may look at first that track is all about speed but that is not the case. While speed is a big part, there is also quite a bit of strategy that goes into running a race. Runners not only have to prepare physically, they have to prepare mentally as well. There is one big strategy that comes into play in some races that others do not have, and that is the baton in relay races. Relay races are important because they earn a lot of points for a team at a track meet. The baton is just a small piece of pipe, but it plays a huge role in races. A dropped baton in a race results in a disqualification for that team. “When exchanging the baton you try to get it to the other person as quick as possible without slowing down,” senior Reggie Love said. “The exchange becomes natural,” senior Brandon Parsons said. The runners work on their exchanges in practice. “We practice it a lot so we get the distance and stuff down like the arm lengths down,” junior Keith Jefferson said. The 4 x 200m relay team of Love, Parsons, Jefferson, and junior DaQuon Chapman will be trying to combine both speed and strategy to break the current Royals indoor track record for the quickest 4 x 200m relay race. The current record that was set in 2004 is currently held by T. Warren, A. Brown, Q. Johnson, and R. Hall. These 4 athletes ran the 4 x 200m in a time of 1:38.1. If Love, Parsons, Jefferson, and Chapman can break this record, they will be put among the top
Can’t miss games in February:
Senior Brandon Parson competes in a race at the Christopher Newport University High School Showcase track meet. The meet was held on Jan. 7 and 8 in Newport News. Photo by Joy Arakelian.
track competitors in school history. Strategy also differs in what kind of runner one is. Sprinters’ strategies differ from those of a long distance runner. “The baton exchange also differs between long distance runners and sprinters. For distance runners it is not too extremely important because you have that time to make it up,” head track coach Mark Tomlin said. “Sprinting is all about speed, it is natural,” Parsons said. When running long distance races, one has more things to focus on when they are running a race. These things can be attributed to the longer length of these races. “Distance running tests your endurance,” Love said ““Distance running has a lot more mental aspects to it then sprinting; you have to decide when you are going to pass somebody or how you are going to prevent someone from passing you,” Tomlin said. So whether one is running a 100m, 200m, 1 mile, 2 mile or even a relay race like the 4 x 200m or the 4 x 400m, each has its own unique strategy that can make or break the relay team or runner. From handing the baton to a teammate or just getting off the block quickly, a runner’s mind and focus come into play in track more than what first meets the eye. “90% of the race is mental, believe it or not, it sounds cheesy but it is real,” Love said.
Boys Basketball vs. Thomas Dale Feb. 1 @ 7:30
Girls Basketball vs. Petersburg Feb. 3 @ 7:30
Boys Basketball vs. Hopewell Feb. 8 @ 7:30
Be sure to check out a track photo gallery on
d. e r i w n tr om c