fda limits youth access to plan b

S I N C E
1 9 4 7
www.gradyhighschool.org/
southerner
An upbeat paper
for a downtown school
CROSS
COUNTRY
Team
gets off to a
running start
PERFORMING
ARTS
Music department adds
guitar class, recording
studio p. 13
p. 14
VOLUME LX, NUMBER 1, Sept. 15, 2006
HENRY W. GRADY HIGH SCHOOL, ATLANTA
FDA LIMITS YOUTH
ACCESS TO PLAN B
CURRY ANDREWS
CEREMONY COMMEMORATES MOULDER FAMILY DEATHS
Graduates Matt Westmoreland, Chelsea Cook, Kyla Rentch, Dani Katz and Elissa Koehl plant a tree in honor of
the Moulders at the memorial Aug. 6. “It was exactly what they would have wanted,” Rentch said. “They were
always conscious of the Earth and now they can live on forever.” For more on the Moulder family, see page 11.
BY JANNA KAPLAN
The
Food
and
Drug
Administration’s sole responsibility
is to protect public health by
assuring the safety, efficacy and
security of the foods, drugs and
devices it approves. Along with
its approval of over-the-counter
sales of Plan B emergency
contraception, however, the
FDA placed an age restriction on
the drug for what many view as
political reasons.
Over-the-counter sales of Plan
B were approved last month but
only for women over the age of
18. Since February 2001, women’s
health advocates have been trying
to make emergency contraception
accessible without a prescription
to women of all ages. Right-to-life
organizations have been working
to prevent this availability, while
reproductive rights groups have
supported the effort as a way for
women to gain greater access to
back-up birth control methods.
“There’s not a scientific or
medical rationale for the age
restriction,” said Dr. Susan
Wood, the FDA’s former
Assistant Commissioner for
Women’s Health. “The original
proposal was supported by both
the outside advisory committee
and the internal review staff with
no age restriction.”
Much of this controversy
comes as a result of some
people confusing emergency
contraceptives with abortion. Plan
B, most commonly known as the
see FDA page 6
comment
4
Georgia’s new law requiring
parental permission for
students to join clubs crushes
students’ freedom and gives
parents too much power.
news
7
Airport security has been
tightened after a terrorist
plot was prevented on Aug.
10; possibly preventing over
2,000 deaths.
feature
12
BY REBECCA GITTELSON
Developer Wayne Mason withdrew his
proposal for the construction of two residential
skysrapers at the intersection of 10th Street and
Monroe Drive on Sept. 21. Mason’s proposal
included a 38-story building and a 39-story
building with 1,200 parking spaces on land he
owns next to Park Tavern.
Mason has also rescinded his offer to donate
46 acres of land and $114 million in Tax
Allocation District revenue to the city. TAD
is a property tax on new Beltline developments
that includes re-directing money from schools
to the Beltline.
Mason’s proposed developments were a
part of the Atlanta Beltline development
plan, which would affect 45 neighborhoods
and cover 22 miles. The Beltline plan, which
relies on government cooperation with private
companies, includes residential, economic,
transit and green space development.
The city has already revised the Beltline
plan to include greenspace and less dense
development on some of Mason’s land,
although Mason is not sure if he will sell his
property or not.
There is no agreement over what effect
Mason’s withdrawal will have on the Beltline.
“Without Mason’s development, it is
doubtful that the Beltline will be built,” said
Jane Langley, Mason’s spokesperson.
Mayor Shirley Franklin, however, said that
work on the Beltline will continue on schedule,
according to the Alanta Journal Constitution.
see TOWERS page 7
SCOTT KING
Developer dumps Beltline
ONTENTS
C
KNIGHTS KICK OFF SEASON 2-1
The varsity football team started strong, losing to 5-A
Douglass and beating Therrell and Towers. See page 16.
Middle Eastern conflict highlights tragic misunderstanding
This year, students have the
opportunity to record and
edit their own music using Worldwide comprehension of Israeli-Arab tension incorrect; caused anger and hostility
the same industry-standard BY CURRY ANDREWS
community. This summer’s events, one.
be getting the world to simply
At 8 am on Monday, Aug. 14 however, certainly didn’t constitute
According to an abbreviated understand the Middle Eastern
equipment as the pros.
sports
16
Grady’s football team looks
to build on last year’s success
as they enter the season. This
time around the competition
is tougher.
the latest Middle Eastern conflict
simmered to a cease-fire. The
violence, which was provoked on
July 12 by the Lebanese terrorist
organization Hezbollah, tore up
the border between Israel and
Lebanon and attracted nonstop attention from the global
the first act of terrorism against
Israel. According to the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem,
it was the 161st major act of
terrorism since 1952.
For people in America—and
even students at Grady High
School—the conflict is a distant
survey
conducted
by
The
Southerner, 26 percent of students
wrongly believe that the U.S.
financially backs Iran and 32
percent mistakenly think that
Israel was in a conflict with Al
Qaeda over the summer.
Half the battle, it seems, will
tension. A very brief history of
the conflicts may help to provide
necessary information to those
who don’t understand.
The conflict between Israel and
its neighboring countries can be
see COMPLEX page 10
2
c o m m e nDriver’s
t license disarray inexcusable
THE SOUTHERNER
SINCE 1947
Sept. 15, 2006
EDITORIAL BOARD
CURRY ANDREWS
ASA BEAL
LILY FEINBERG
REBECCA GITTELSON
RAMIKA GOURDINE
JANNA KAPLAN
SARAH BETH MCKAY
SALLY ZINTAK
Theft destroys trust
Do you know the feeling of having something stolen from you? It is a
feeling of blood-rushing panic, loss, and a certain helplessness and sudden
distrust of the people around you. No matter the value of the missing object,
you feel violated and hurt.
Recently, it has become clear that Grady students experience this feeling on
a day-to-day basis. Thieves invade people’s privacy and pocket whatever they
feel like taking. Their victims are then without an iPod, a wallet, a phone and
cash—all stolen.
Crimes like these reached a peak on Wednesday, Sept. 6. A thief or thieves
plundered and ransacked the girl’s locker room in the gym. Bags were
overturned and rummaged through and locks were broken on the lockers.
Hundreds of dollars worth of students’ belongings were taken from their
owners for no reason other than personal greed, but the real loss wasn’t felt for
the items. The real loss was felt when the violated people looked at each of his
or her classmates and wondered, “Was he the thief? Was she?”
There were no professional thieves inside Grady that day. And that’s what
scares us. The person who stole your phone is one of your peers; you might
have held a door for the person who went through your bag. The people
who committed these crimes are not much different from you. They have
to deal with teachers that drive them crazy. They have to deal with the “up”
and “down” staircases. They have to do math problems when they go home
at night.
This must be a wake-up call for the student body and staff. Stealing is a
dishonest, cowardly and malicious act. It is calculated and hurts a surprising
number of students at our school.
We are above this. There is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to trust
each other, to coexist without having to protect ourselves from those who seek
to take advantage of this trust. Stealing is repulsive and disgusting, especially
at a school, and it is disappointing that Grady students don’t have enough
integrity and conscience to keep their hands where they belong.
Plan B sales restricted
Plan B, commonly known as the “morning after pill,” was recently
approved for over-the-counter sales to women ages 18 and older. In the past,
it was strictly a prescription drug available to women of all ages .
This decision, especially the age restriction, poses several problems. There is
a large population of teenagers under the age of 18 who desperately need access
to this emergency contraception. Although birth control and contraceptive
devices are available and widely used by teenagers, these methods are not 100
percent effective. Teenage girls fall into the demographic that needs access to
the emergency contraception the most. Having access to Plan B, therefore, is
extremely necessary.
Some supporters of the age restriction think that offering Plan B to teens
of all ages will increase the number of young people having unprotected sex.
Plan B, however, is truly meant to be used in cases of emergencies, not to
replace regular birth control methods. Young women will not, and have not
been, relying on emergency contraception as their primary source of birth
control.
Even though there is an age limit on Plan B sales, when did age ever
stop anyone from doing anything? Now, just like smoking cigarettes, teens
younger than 18 will be asking their older friends to purchase this product for
them, so the age restriction is trivial.
The restrictions on Plan B contradict the original purpose of the pills. By
refusing the pills to girls younger than 18, it puts more girls at risk of having
children they can’t support. Repealing the restrictions on Plan B would
benefit the majority of the population that needs this back up method of
contraception.
ATTENTION STUDENTS:
The literary magazine staff is looking for your poetry, short stories
and art to be published in The Unmasking.
Submissions accepted in room E-113 & E-215 or
[email protected]
A
few
m o n t h s
ago, I went
outside
to
check
my
mail
and found
a
notice
ANDREW BRACKEN from
the
Department
of Motor Vehicles. The notice
informed me that I had
violated the Teenage and Adult
Responsibility Act and that
my driver’s license had been
temporarily revoked. In order
to get it back, I would have to
wait until January 25, 2007,
my 18th birthday and take the
driver’s test again. The letter
said that students who had been
suspended in the past year or
who had 10 or more unexcused
absences in one semester had
their licenses revoked, but neither
of these applied to me. The notice
bothered me, but I disregarded
it until APS started telling
recipients of the notification that
they should refrain from driving
until the situation had been
corrected. I dutifully obeyed.
A month later, I was still
Q
getting the issue fixed.
As far as I know, they had all
the necessary records to rectify
the situation and I didn’t hear
about any gigantic postal snafus
that might have slowed the
process. I was fortunate in that I
didn’t suffer any serious or longterm consequences, but what
if there had been some kind of
emergency?
What if His Holiness the
Dalai Lama had knocked on my
door with two broken legs and
had needed to be taken to the
hospital? I would have been
completely helpless. Poor Dalai
Lama.
The fact that the clerical error
was made is not what’s upsetting
to me. Mistakes happen. It’s the
fact that the suspension was so
extended and that I didn’t receive
much help from people whom I
attempted to contact.
APS claims to have instated
new policies that will hopefully
prevent this kind of thing from
happening in the future. I just
hope that my driver’s license
won’t ever again be taken from
me. After all, it is my closest
companion. ❐
UESTION
of the month:
How do you feel about Georgia’s new
law restricting sex offenders?
“
Mr. Hill,
teacher
[The laws are] slightly over the line
and unrealistic. They’ll be difficult to
enforce.
Markita
Strozier,
sophomore
“
“
Melanie
Klein,
senior
[It’s a] good idea because
most of the time [they]
are going after kids.
[It’s] good to
protect children.
If sex offenders
aren’t around
kids, they won’t
be tempted.
Staff
Managing editors: Rebecca Gittelson, Sarah Beth Mckay
Design editors: Lily Feinberg, Carson Hale
Copy editors: Curry Andrews, Lily Feinberg, Ramika
Gourdine
News editors: Curry Andrews, Emma Din
Comment editors: Ramika Gourdine, Sally Zintak
Feature editors: Lena Brodsky, Hanna Griffiths
Sports editors: Asa Beal, Travis Jones
Photo editors: Erik Belgum, Sally Zintak
Staff: Leah Bishop, Scottie Bookman, Andrew
without a legal driver’s license
and had discovered that I was
not the only one. Over 160
Grady students had been stripped
of their licenses or learner’s
permits and more than 800
people throughout APS had been
affected. The school system had
gotten into some hot water for not
reporting students to the DMV
who were frequently absent or
who had been suspended during
the school year. A list of absentees
was hastily thrown together and a
small clerical error resulted in a
big fiasco.
After numerous unsuccessful
phone calls to Grady and the
DMV and several empty promises
from both parties, I finally got
my license back. I was, however,
one of the less lucky ones. Some
licenses were reinstated after
a week or two while mine was
withheld for nearly two months.
The DMV could not fix
the problem until the school
provided a list of students whose
licenses were unfairly revoked.
This doesn’t seem like it would
be a very difficult process, so
it’s still unclear to me why the
administration took so long in
Bracken, Scott Chambliss, Charlotte Christopher,
Christopher Collier, Sophie Cox, Grant Coyle,
Stephen Crouse, Arielle D’Avanzo, George
Demeglio, Caroline Denton, Jourdan Devies,
Barbara Dougherty, Kelly Douglas, Michael
Harper, Sean Harrington, Stone Irvin, Kenny
Jones, Janna Kaplan, Jamison Kinnane, Ella Miller,
Julia Oliver, Carson Phillips-Spotts, Alexander
Ritz, Hannah Rosenbaum, Kayci Schoon, Hamp
Watson, Madeline Webb, Michelle Wilco
“
It’s unfair to the sex
offenders, and won’t do
much good. Sex offenders
can still come near schools.
Mr. Hagbe,
teacher
Chris
Goodine,
senior
“
If you are found guilty of wrongdoing, you have to take the
consequences.
An upbeat paper for a downtown school
The Southerner welcomes submissions, which
may be edited for grammar, inappropriate
Photo adviser: Dawn Wadsworth
language and length. Please place submissions
Adviser: Debra Hartsfield
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Subscriptions are also available. For more inMichael Jackson, Adlai McClure, Charlotte
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Napper, Benjamin Shaw
The Southerner, a member of GSPA, SIPA, CSPA member of the staff.
and NSPA, is a monthly student publication of: We can be reached at [email protected]
Henry W. Grady High School
929 Charles Allen Drive NE
Sept. 15, 2006
c o m m e n t
3
Liberals not open-minded
In
the
time of crisis
after 9/11,
our country
“united”
with bumper
stickers and
flags either
HANNAH
to symboliROSENBAUM
cally
fight
terrorism or
to support each other. This tragic
event allowed our nation to come
together regardless of individual
political views. Liberals and
conservatives alike were able to
put their differences aside for a
time. This unity has not entirely
lasted.
According to dictionary.com,
a liberal is someone who is
tolerant of different views and
standards of behavior in others.
Based on this definition, Grady
seems to be a predominantly liberal school; however, when some
students and faculty are not tolerant, Grady’s liberal reputation is
undermined.
I was once told that Grady is like
a microcosm of society; what we
practice in our small community
reflects the direction in which our
country is headed for the future. If
this is the case, America is far from
being united. Grady should work
on its own “liberal” tolerance.
Only 51 percent of the voting
population voted for the winning
candidate in the 2004 presidential
election—our country is extremely
divided in terms of choosing a
leader. In addition to what elections have shown us, American
liberals and students here at Grady
just don’t want to be around or
hear about the views they oppose.
The number of us at Grady
who are liberals seems to be quite
overwhelming. So far, any social
science class that I have taken here
has been from a one-sided liberal
point of view. To my knowledge,
my advisors and teachers have all
been liberal. The few who have
attempted to conceal their political identities have failed slightly in
letting their opinions leak out occasionally during a heated discussion.
I do agree with all of my peers’
opinions, but at the same time, I
wish we could look at all perspectives with equal respect. When we
automatically become so annoyed
and fed up with the direction our
country is headed that we can’t even
take the time to listen to a conservative point of view, we are, like it or
not, the antithesis of liberal.
While participating in the numerous classroom discussions in
my AP Comparative Politics class,
it has dawned on me that liberals can be a pretty close-minded
group. I hear the same things over
and over again as we express our
opinions: The war is stupid. We
are wasting money in Iraq. Bush is
an idiot. Republicans are stupid.
While many of these comments
are elaborated in a very intellectual
manner and backed up with logic,
they are discouraging and unwelcoming to those who do not agree.
It’s disheartening to know that
students at Grady who do not hold
a liberal point of view are not wanted in political discussions. How
can we call ourselves liberals if we
aren’t even willing to sit through a
discussion in which a conservative
perspective is heard? ❐
Journalists abuse their constitutional rights
Joshua
Wolf is a
criminal
and a vile,
unforgivable
traitor
to
the United
States.
STONE IRVIN
He is
these things
because despite shield laws protecting a journalist’s sources in
49 states, on a federal level these
laws are irrelevant. Indeed, Wolf
refused to surrender video footage of a protest in San Francisco
in July 2005 in which a police
cruiser, partially paid for with federal funds, was vandalized. Normally he would be protected by
California state law, but because
it is a case of federal vandalism he
was jailed on Aug. 1 for his crimes
against humanity. How dare Wolf
try to control the audience of his
own video? How dare he exert his
rights as a journalist?
More astonishing than this failed
and villainous attempt to protect his
sources from review is the knowledge that he is not alone. Not one,
but two more journalists are facing
charges of contempt of court and
subsequent jail time if they refuse
to name the source of a leak relating
to the Barry Bonds doping case, in
which they used false information
to dope the public. Although Lance
Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada
sparked further investigation of
steroid use in all levels of sports,
the United States would have been
better off if its sports heroes were
left to further slant the playing
field in their favor by using massive
amounts of steroids. Besides, sports
superstars usually deny the charges,
despite the positive drug tests cited
by specialists. Perhaps scientific
data is wrong this time.
It is hard to believe that California lawmakers are uniting to
protect these obstructors of federal
justice. A press that is free to withhold its sources is dangerous, because if a government doesn’t know
everything, it can’t punish every
possible infraction and control the
details of our daily lives. California
knows this, but apparently free
press and free speech are more important to its people than the price
of freedom.
Do not protect the journalist;
instead reaveal his or her sources
so that the people of this repugnant confidentialit are thrown to
the wolves. In the history of this
nation, the practice of journalism
has mainly led to the disclosure
of scandal, the presentation of fact
and the vessel by which unpleasant
truth reaches an ignorant populace.
This is unacceptable. I draw a line
here in the dust and toss the gauntlet at the feet of tyranny. I say ignorance now, ignorance tomorrow,
ignorance forever. ❐
Sean
Harrington
“If you want blood, you got it.”-AC/DC
Israelis undeserving of world outcry
The 34 bloody days following purpose would be to kill AmeriHezbollah’s soldier-capturing raid cans—in and out with ease? No,
into Israel have been some of the that’s preposterous. Yet Israel, who
most important in the modern war is beset on all sides by countries
on terrorism. For the first time, hostile towards it, is condemned for
a country from the eastern world taking actions to ensure the safety of
has attacked its neighbor in its own its men-at-arms.
war on terrorism. The result of this
What alternative did they really
short-lived war and the internation- have? The idea that Lebanon will
al response to it are major indicators cleanse itself of terrorists and free its
as to how any future incidents like government of corruption is highly
this will play out.
unlikely, despite all their promises
The accusations against Israel and to the contrary. If the leader of Heits invasion of Lebanon have been zbollah can go on national televinumerous, though many of them sion for an interview, obviously
are ill-founded or exaggerated. something is very wrong with the
Many international humanitarian law enforcement system. Hopefully,
groups, such as Amnesty Interna- the United Nations peacekeeping
tional and Human Rights Watch, force will be able to help, but with
have accused Israel of attacks on countries like Syria on the border,
Lebanese civilians and of carelessly the outlook isn’t very bright.
damaging civilian areas with missile
Syria’s aggression towards the inattacks.
ternational community, the United
Hezbollah, the terrorists, have Nations and United States in parescaped relatively unscathed com- ticular, is just absurd. An organizapared to the criticism with which tion that is made up of some of the
Israel has been hit. Just because most powerful nations in the world
Israel is an established country and should not be remotely worried
can be held accountable for their ac- about the pompous threats from the
tions far more easily than the Hez- leader of a nation whose threat to us
bollah, they have received the brunt is far, far outweighed by the damage
of the accusations from parties com- we could inflict upon them. Syrian
pletely uninvolved with the conflict. President Bashar Assad has clearly
Perhaps these critics are taking out stated that any occupation force in
their anger towards the United Sates southern Lebanon would be seen
on Israel, whose actions in Lebanon as hostile. What is the reasoning
mirror ours in the war on terror. behind this? I’ll give you two. One,
Unfortunately for Israel, it doesn’t terrorists are an influential group.
have the power to casually dismiss Two, the United Nation’s track rethese accusations.
cord has been very spotty as of late.
Apparently international orga- Remember Darfur? People are still
nizations don’t seem to realize the dying down there.
difficulty involved with attacking
However, this time the possibilan enemy that has no country. The ity exists that they may actually
Israeli army cannot just roll up and get past the talking stage. After the
meet the Hezbollah fighters in open initial peace resolution was passed,
battle. Instead, Hezbollah soldiers the United Nations fell back into
hide and hit the Israeli troops its usual routine of responsibility
when they can to avoid any kind dodging and filibustering, asking
of straight-up battle. It is true that for “a clearer definition” of what the
Lebanese civilians have died, but peacekeeping force would be doing
what choice does the Israeli army in Lebanon. Unexpectedly, France
have? Any civilian could easily be a was the nation to bite the bullet and
Hezbollah member in disguise, and commit a large amount of troops,
if Israel avoided all potential harm and other European nations are
to civilians, major centers of Hez- expected to follow suit, providing
bollah activthe backbone
The result of this short-lived of the peaceity
would
be left unkeeping force.
war and the international
touched. By
Until the
response to it are major
accepting,
peacekeeping
indicators as to how any
and
even
force assemsupporting
future incidents like this will bles (assuming
the presence
it does), Israel
play out.
of Hezbolwill continue
lah within
to be caught
their country, the Lebanese have in the catch-22 of keeping its forces
forfeited all claims of “unwarranted in southern Lebanon. Withdrawing
attack.” If a major terrorist network means Hezbollah can re-supply
was entrenched throughout Canada and dig in for another conflict, but
and launched attacks on the U.S., staying means appearing to be the
would you expect us to bypass all aggressor even more so, a position
the homes that could potentially that rarely garners sympathy. Hopehouse enemies of our country? Do fully, the conflict will be resolved
you think the military would leave relatively peacefully and our generamajor roads in and out of cities tion won’t have to bear witness to
intact so that terrorists could move any more preventable bloodletting
weapons and men—whose sole in the Middle East. ❐
“
4
California law
hurts pit bulls
From 1979 to
1996, there were 279
reported dog attacks
in the United States.
Pit bulls were responsible for one-fourth
of those attacks. As a
result of these high atBARBARA DOUGHERTY
tack rates, recent laws
have been passed in
California that are breed-specific, requiring
all pit bulls to be spayed or neutered.
From 1991 to 2002 there were only seven
dog attacks in Australia, four of which were
caused by pit bulls. So why are pit bull attacks so much more common in America
than in other countries?
Eight breeds of dogs, including the American bull dog and the boxer, are categorized
as pit bulls. That means that eight breeds of
dogs are piled into one category and blamed
for eight times as much damage as they actually have done.
In a study done by Dr. Brady Barr of
National Geographic, when the bite force
of pit bulls, German Shepherds and Rottweilers were tested, the pit bull was shown
to have the least powerful bite force of the
three—the breed of dogs under attack isn’t
even the most powerful out there.
The bottom line is that pit bulls are responsible for so many attacks in the United
States not because of their violent nature,
but because they are raised by negligent and
irresponsible owners. Pit bulls are seen as ferocious dogs, so they are raised that way.
In Australia, on the other hand, pit bulls
are raised as farmhands. They are given
jobs, proper freedom and restrictions. This
treatment lowers the pit bull attack rate in
Australia.
The government, and society as a whole,
needs to pay better attention to whom pit
bulls are sold and not simply try to wipe out
the entire breed. If we’re going to make laws
about dog control, they should not be breedspecific. One dog isn’t born more likely to
attack someone than another.
Perhaps we should take a leaf out of
Germany’s book and pass a law that says all
dogs over 40 pounds must be muzzled and
leashed in public areas. We should also offer dog-training classes for owners of attack
dogs.
Who is it that we blame when a minor
goes to jail? The parents. Why is it any different for pets?
Our pets are our responsibility, and if they
are to be considered such, shouldn’t we be
held accountable for their actions? ❐
c o m m e n t
Sept. 15, 2006
Approval to join clubs restricts freedom
RAMIKA GOURDINE
Senior year. In my
mind it was all about
freedom,
maturity,
independence and getting out of here. I
understood that there
would be hard work:
college applications,
AP classes and high
expectations, but I was
up for the challenge.
I walked into the gym that August morning, looking forward to the first day. For the
first time I would be one of the ones in charge.
Everyone would look up to us; everyone
would finally start treating us as though we
were growing up and deserved more respect
and responsibility. All that, however, started
to change during homeroom that morning.
Inside that same stack of forms that have to be
signed every year was a new one. It required a
parent or guardian’s signature indicating which
extracurricular activities a student is or isn’t
given permission to join.
I’m within a year of going off to college. I’m
in the middle of getting teacher recommendations and writing essays. I recently finished
finalizing the list of schools to which I will
apply; yet I can’t even join an after-school club
without permission.
Isn’t high school supposed to be a forum
for students to learn and grow? Aren’t we
supposed to be able to explore our options
in order to discover who we are? Shouldn’t we
be able to make decisions for ourselves, unless
those choices are dangerous? Why, then, must
I have parental permission before I can join an
extracurricular activity?
The answer to the latter question is easy:
because the state of Georgia said so. Our state
legislature has officially decided that if a parent opposes his or her child participating in a
specific activity, then the parent can block the
student’s participation.
So what’s the big deal? The underlying
reason for the law provides some insight.
The law was designed to keep students of
conservative families from joining the GayStraight Alliances at their individual schools.
Well, it’s done its job.
I’m a senior in high school. I can decide
where I want to go to college almost all by myself. I can organize and be in control of when
I want to go to forensic tournaments or tutorials, when I want to babysit or stay at home
sick. Despite all that, I can’t make the choice
to join the Gay-Straight Alliance because my
parents don’t approve.
I’m not the only one affected by this new
regulation. In a way all of us are, even if we
don’t realize it. The first few times anyone
makes an attempt at independence, breaking
away from his or her parents and doing things
alone, they are bound to trip up. High school
is supposed to be an environment where
young adults can stretch their wings without
the consequences of real life, but thanks to this
new law, even safe mistakes that we can learn
from aren’t an option. ❐
Lost values restored in unexpected locations
W h a t
happens in
Mexico stays
in Mexico.
While this
may be what
most visitors
hope for after
LEAH BISHOP
their tequilaf u e l e d
nights, what happened when my
youth group crossed the border
will stay with me for the rest of my
life. This June my youth group
from Central Presbyterian Church
spent 10 days on a mission trip in
Merida, Mexico. Our mission was
to work with the children and do
maintenance and repairs at Hogar
Mana, a home for the abused and
exploited youth of the community.
None of us really knew what to
expect from our accommodations, so
we were politely quiet when our host
showed us the un-air-conditioned,
two-bathroom, six-room home of
Hogar Mana where all 30 of us
would be staying; but it didn’t take
long before we broke the silence
doing what we do best, complaining
to our advisors. We whined about
the heat, the bugs, the sleeping
arrangements, and everything
we missed from our comfortable
lifestyles at home.
Fortunately for our advisors, in the
following days our focus turned from
our own concerns to the childrens’.
Our complaints ceased once we
realized that Hogar Mana was a nicer
home than most of these kids would
ever have.
Initially we were hesitant to cross
culture lines since most of us couldn’t
speak Spanish. It’s amazing, however,
how something as small as a soccer
ball can break a barrier as large a
language difference. The kids played
with us for hours. After our first day
together, the children clung to us and
begged us to stay longer.
For the next couple days, we
stayed in their small village. When
we would turn the corner to their
street, I would feel like a celebrity
on a tour bus because of the way the
75 children, our groupies, crowded
around and chased after our bus.
We were their Six Flags and their
Chuck E. Cheese’s. Unlike so many
American kids who think having fun
is impossible without the newest
X-Box, these children reminded me
how entertaining a bucket of chalk
and a jump rope can be.
Even though we were on the
mission trip to provide our time
and love to these children, I started
to realize that we were receiving just
as much as we were giving. They
not only reciprocated the laughter
and games, but also presented me
with the much-needed realization of
how many things in our lives we take
for granted. Eleven-year-old José, in
particular, provided me with a reality
check when I learned that the huge
scar on his arm came from working
an eight-hour construction job to
pay for his own food. When I was
11, my only scars came from falling
off a bike and my biggest financial
concern was whether or not I had
enough allowance to buy glitter
lip-gloss.
The hammock and the Mexican
trinkets I brought back serve as
material reminders of my trip,
though the most valuable souvenir
is the appreciation for what’s really
important in life. It was difficult
not to feel guilty about what I had
back home in America when, to
the children of Hogar Mana, clean
water, bathrooms, three meals a day
and a comfortable bed are luxuries.
Yet my childhood of Barbies and
battery-operated toys was no happier
than these kids’ unadorned lifestyles.
In the grand scheme of things,
all the superfluities that Americans
possess only distract us from
cherishing our family, friends and
quality of life. Ironic how much can
be learned from 5-year-olds. ❐
c o m m e n t
Sept. 15, 2006
Airport stress reveals terror’s effect
Although crying is usually associated extensiveness is doubtfully necessary. Most recently, airport
with sadness, it’s also understood that officials have initiated the practice of examining facial
people can cry when they’re happy. expressions when screening for terrorists. They look for fear,
And as I stood laughing inside one of disgust, anger and determination—typical signs of a terrorist.
the new security devices at an airport They are, however, also typical emotions of any traveler.
in Washington, D.C., I discovered Consequently, we must all be careful to keep that smile
that people are also capable of feeling plastered on our faces as we walk through airport security, free
the exact opposite: amusement in sad of metal and liquid and preferably barefoot.
SCOTTIE BOOKMAN situations.
I can handle these inconveniences. If security really needs
I was inside a small cubicle holding to take away my water, I’ll be fine. But the real fault of this
my arms out as tiny jets shot air across my body, and I couldn’t security is that, contrary to its purpose, it allows terrorism to
suppress a laugh. Despite how ridiculous
have a perpetual underlying presence.
it was, the necessity of this safety measure
Until we can make airport As a part of my nation’s civilian
was depressing. I can’t just hop on a
population, I have no way of knowing
security less frivolous and when we’re really on the brink of an
plane because, as far as airport security
is concerned, I might be a terrorist. No,
demeaning, [the terrorists’] attack. But for anyone, today’s airport
that’s not lotion; that’s liquid nitrogen.
security system brings back dismal
efforts will continue to
When I was younger, I remember
memories. It’s a constant reminder
make us feel victimized.
getting excessive enjoyment from simply
of a day we’d all opt out of having to
being in an airport—trains, planes,
remember.
escalators and huge hallways were exhilarating. Today,
That’s not to say we’ll ever be able forget it. Sept. 11, a
airports are stressful and chaotic. Maybe I only see this change short five years behind us, has left an obviously pervasive
because I am no longer a child; but I can’t ignore the effects scar on our country. And this is the exact brand those angry
of Sept. 11 and the resulting security measures that have only men intended to leave with us— the airport system has been
intensified since the thwarted attacks we learned about on terrorized. Until we can make airport security less frivolous
Aug. 10, 2006.
and demeaning, their effects will continue to make us feel
Security has heightened to a degrading level and its victimized. ❐
“
Humor inappropriate for kids
“I pooted.”
Some
people
might
recognize this quote as
one of the seven phrases
that appear on billboards
and commercials recently
released
by
Cartoon
Network. The other sayings
MICHELLE WILCO
include, “My boogers itch,”
“Look! I have a meat beard”
and “I’m a hot toe picker.”
Excuse me? Apparently these ads are meant to
promote Cartoon Network’s shows by plastering
catch phrases from some of their most popular
shows across town that only make sense to 7year-olds.
My question is why? Why do writers for kids
movies and television shows seem to feel the
need to fill their programs with nonsensical,
unnecessary, for lack of a better description,
“potty language?”
Why is it now accepted that almost all kids’
movies have such crude humor? I don’t think
lines such as, “If there’s a poop fairy, I can make
a lot of money,” said by Robin Williams in RV,
are funny. If a child actually said something like
that, most parents would be shocked. Yet these
same adults don’t even bat an eye when watching
PG movies with their kids and characters say even
worse things.
While it’s true that there have been crude
children’s shows and movies for a long time,
such as Ren and Stimpy, it seems like that kind
of humor is becoming increasingly common in
more recent programming. What happened to
the wholesome TV shows that were aired when
I was younger such as Boy Meets World or the
ever-popular Clarissa Explains It All? Both of
those shows taught kids good morals, a concept
I rarely find in the shows that are popular among
elementary-school children today, with the
exception of Disney Channel shows.
When I was a kid, movies such as Pocahontas
and The Little Mermaid came out, and nothing I
watched showed people slipping and landing in
vomit, as in Cheaper By the Dozen.
Not only are these newer movies teaching
children that crude humor is okay, they’re also
insulting kids’ intelligence. Do writers and
producers really believe that scatological humor
is the only thing that will keep kids interested
in and entertained by their shows? If writers and
producers are actually under this impression,
shouldn’t they be focusing on the lack of creativity
in the plot instead?
I think that elementary-school kids, the
targeted age group for these movies and shows,
are much smarter than they’re given credit for. I
can carry on an intelligent conversation with my
eight-year-old brother and most of the kids in his
3rd grade class, and I’ve found that he and most of
his peers have a pretty advanced vocabulary, but
the TV they watch is, if anything, decreasing their
brainpower. That just makes things like the new
Cartoon Network ads seem even more insulting,
especially the fact that Cartoon Network’s theory
in creating these signs was that kids would
recognize the sayings as commonly-said phrases
from the network’s shows. Do they really want
these sayings to become part of our common
culture like Joey’s famous pick-up line, “How
you doin?’” from Friends has become known by
adults? In my opinion, their goal could be a bit
more ambitious. ❐
5
Electoral College system
disregards minority voters
When I turned 16, I got my license.
When I turn 21, I will be able to
drink and on the morning of my 18th
birthday, I will finally be able to vote.
But how much of an impact will my
vote have?
Back when our founding fathers
were still planning out the country,
CHARLOTTE
they settled on a system known as the
CHRISTOPHER
Electoral College. Under this system,
states select representatives to formally
elect the president. Each state’s number of electors is based
on its population, and the electors vote for whoever garners
the majority of thier state’s vote. The candidate with the most
electoral votes wins the presidency.
In 1787, the founding fathers believed that the American
people were not fit to directly elect their own president because
they had no previous political experience. In today’s world,
however, one would be hard-pressed to find someone who has
not encountered politics at some point in his or her life.
Through the years, the Electoral College has had a huge
influence on the American political system, but this longstanding institution is no longer a functional or accurate way
to elect our nation’s leaders. With the current system, many
states are simply ignored by candidates. Those states that have
a history of voting in a specific manner are simply cast aside
as candidates work to win over the votes of the undecided
states. As a result, national elections become just like local
elections, catering to the needs of certain states and ignoring
more important national issues in efforts to win those crucial
swing states.
Most importantly, not all votes carry the same weight.
Because of the Electoral College, rural areas are highly overrepresented. A small county in rural Georgia could have an
effect almost equal to that of Atlanta. As a result, all of Atlanta’s
votes are counteracted because the majority of the state
disagrees. Small counties’ votes are important too, but every
single democratic vote in this state shouldn’t be left uncounted
just because most of Georgia votes Republican.This reality
applies in all areas where there are minority voters. Minority
votes are cast aside because the majority votes around them
dictate the results of the electoral votes awarded to each state.
In less than two years, I will be able to voice my opinions
in political elections. Although this prospect definitely excites
me, I can’t help but feel that my vote won’t make an impact.
Does that sound like democracy to you? ❐
n
e
w
s
Mayor leads fight against global warming
6
THE SOUTHERNER
What can you do to reduce global warming?
• Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a • Be sure you’re recycling at home.
compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL).
You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon
CFLs use 60 percent less energy than a
dioxide a year by recycling half of the
regular bulb. This simple switch will save
waste your household generates.
about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a
• Start a carpool with your coworkers or
year.
classmates.
• Unplug electronics from the wall when you’re not Sharing a ride with someone just two
using them.
days a week will reduce your carbon
Even when turned off, things like
dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds a
hairdryers, cell phone chargers and
year.
televisions use energy. The energy used to • Plant a tree.
keep display clocks lit and memory chips
A single tree will absorb one ton of
working accounts for 5 percent of total
carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
domestic energy consumption and spews
18 million tons of carbon into the
SOURCE: WWW.CLIMATECRISIS.NET
HAMP WATSON AND LILY FEINBERG
BY HAMP WATSON
Suffering in the summer heat?
Al Gore wouldn’t be surprised. The former
Vice President launched a new phase in his
war on global warming this summer, with the
unveiling of his film, An Inconvenient Truth. In
the documentary, he argues that global warming
is a threat caused by human activity.
Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin was among
the many who previewed the film this summer.
“She’s very anxious for everyone to see that
movie,” said Susan McCray, an environmental
initiatives project manager for the mayor.
As a member of the U.S. Conference of
Mayors, Franklin signed the 2005 U.S. Mayors’
Climate Protection Agreement, which pledges to
reduce pollution to 7 percent below 1990 levels
by 2012.
The goal of emission reduction was first
proposed by the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, which created
a treaty called the Kyoto Accords in 1997. It
assigns countries an emission management goal,
as a percentage of reduction or addition to their
1990 level of emissions.
When the United States decided not to sign
it, the U.S. Conference of Mayors took matters
into its own hands.
“[If ] the White House isn’t going to make
it happen from the top down, America’s cities
can and will make it happen from the ground
up,” Seattle mayor Greg Nickels told Rolling
Stone magazine last year. Nickels was one of the
creators of the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection
Agreement, which, according to his website, has
Sept. 15, 2006
been signed by 284 mayors in 44 states.
Atlanta is becoming more involved in the fight
against global warming. In October, Franklin
will host the U.S. Conference of Mayors for the
National Energy and Environment Summit,
where she will speak about Atlanta’s progress
with environmentally friendly construction.
“It’s so important that buildings and homes be
built ‘green’ because 48 percent of all the energy
that we use is from buildings,” McCray said.
McCray credits many of Atlanta’s building
projects with improving air quality.
“Connecting neighborhoods, encouraging
pedestrian-friendly mixed-use type development
and dense urban growth, versus sprawling out
and taking more land all help keep cars off the
road,” she said. “If you provide the opportunity
for people to have sidewalks, jogging trails and
bike paths, they will use [them].” Atlanta has
not yet created a way to measure its pollution
levels.
McCray believes, however, that Atlantans can
still do a lot to reduce pollution.
“Instead of getting into your car and just
driving a mile, you can get on your bicycle or
you can walk,” she said. “It’s getting people out
of their cars and into a new mode of thought for
‘How do I get from Point A to B?’” ❐
PLAN B pill prescription for political controversy
from page 1
“morning-after pill,” is a set of
two tablets with higher doses of
hormones than daily birth control
pills. Plan B can prevent ovulation,
fertilization or implantation of a
fertilized egg.
The last of these three uses has
caused political conflict. Some
people think of interference
with implantation as abortion,
although most medical authorities
see conception as a process that is
complete only after implantation.
“If a woman is already pregnant,
[Plan B] will not interrupt or prevent
the pregnancy,” Wood said.
Dr. David Levine, Chief of the
Division of Predoctoral Education
and Associate Professor of Clinical
Pediatrics at Morehouse School
of Medicine, believes that Plan B
should be available over-the-counter
to women of all ages.
“Both [FDA] advisory panels of
scientists decided that [Plan B] was
safe for all women, but that decision
was overruled by the FDA for
political reasons,” he said.
Heather Branham, Public Policy
Manager at Planned Parenthood of
Georgia, believes that the decision
to restrict teen access to Plan B is
“scientifically baseless.”
“This is the first time the
FDA has approved a drug with a
restriction based on age for reasons
other than science,” Branham said.
“Hopefully, teenage girls will at
least be encouraged to fight for their
rights to the tools they need to make
healthy decisions and the access to
birth control they need to prevent
unintended pregnancies.”
Chris Gacek, Senior Fellow for
Regulatory Affairs at the Family
Research Council, believes that
women will start using this pill as a
way to “bail them out of situations
they didn’t plan for.” He thinks that
pregnancy rates will increase once
Plan B is sold over-the-counter.
“People will start relying on
[emergency contraception], but this
pill only works if you take it right
after having sex,” Gacek said. “If
people rely on this and don’t use
other birth control, the pregnancy
rates will go up.”
Barr Pharmaceuticals, the maker
of Plan B, agrees that the pill should
be a secondary option. In a news
release published the day Plan B
was approved, the company stated
that the drug should be available
to women of all ages, but that it
“should not be used as routine
contraception.”
Dr. Wood believes misinformation
is leading people to the wrong
opinions about Plan B.
“This is just contraception,”
she said. “There shouldn’t be a
controversy at all. This could actually
prevent abortion, which we’re all on
the same side about.” ❐
BY CHRIS COLLIER
An armed robbery on May 29 quickly turned
sour, leaving one of the attackers dead. Former
Grady student Amy Martin, 17, was killed after
the failed robbery attempt on Penn Avenue.
Suspects Christopher Hayes, 18, Kendall
Barksdale, 18, Christopher Daniel, 19 and
Keyunta “KK” Dowell, 16, all received bond and
are awaiting court dates.
The teens attempted to rob Midtown resident
Thomas Autry, a former Marine, as he walked
home from work at Jock’s and Jill’s Sports Grill.
They allegedly confronted him armed with a
shotgun, a pistol and a pair of brass knuckles.
After attempting to escape, Autry, 36, decided to
face the group.
Autry kicked the shotgun from the hands of
a male attacker and stabbed two of the five teens.
Martin received fatal wounds to the chest, while
Daniel was critically injured.
Martin’s friends never suspected that she had
become involved with a bad crowd or that she
would participate in a criminal incident.
“She really never changed,” Martin’s close
friend Marquita Rouser said. “She was still the
COURTESY OF MARQUITA ROUSER
Former Grady student killed; local teenagers charged in robbery attempt
IN LOVING MEMORY: “[She] was my buddy,” sophomore
Alexandria Davis said, pictured above with Martin (left).
same—she stayed smiling.” Rouser described
Martin as “easy to get along with and laid back.”
“I never expected that,” sophomore Alexandria
Davis said. She was trying to get to her books and
do better than she was doing in school.”
Loved ones were devastated by the news of
Martin’s death.
“I just remember screaming and dropping on
the ground,” Rouser said. “I cried the whole day.
That wasn’t supposed to happen to her. She just
got caught up in a bad situation.”
“She liked to see other people laugh and she
liked to have fun,” junior Corinthia Hayes
said. “She was the kind of person who liked to
entertain people, but not by making fun of other
people.”
“She liked to write poems [about] different
things about her day,” Rouser said. “She
expressed herself through poetry.”
Autry, although sustaining only minor injuries
from wielding the small knife, has stated that
he has “a nervous condition because of this
incident.” According to the Atlanta JournalConstitution, he was even confronted on a
second occasion at his home by several teens who
were resentful of his actions in May. However,
he has been receiving help in the form of gifts
from sympathizers all over the country, and was
even offered a DeKalb County job counseling
teens on their futures, which he “respectfully
declined.” ❐
NEWS BRIEFS
Claims of voter fraud
mar Mexican election
On Sept. 5, Mexico’s highest court
ruled that conservative Felipe Calderon won the contested presidenial
election. Leftist challenger Andres
Manuel Lopez Obrador, however, claims that election results were
skewed by massive voter fraud.
“Crocodile Hunter”
killed while filming
Steve Irwin, a world-famous
naturalist known as the “Crocodile
Hunter,” was killed by a large
stingray on Sept. 4. While filming
a show for the series “Ocean’s
Deadliest” near the Great Barrier
Reef, Irwin, 44, was fatally stung
in the chest by a stingray’s tail barb.
Irwin is survived by his wife and
two daughters.
Astronomers change
Pluto’s planet status
The International Astronomical
Union approved a new definition
of the term “planet” on Aug. 23.
The resolution changes Pluto’s status
from “planet” to “dwarf planet.”
Some scientists complained that the
resolution’s wording was too vague.
Taylor victorious in
Democratic primary
Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor defeated
Secretary of State Cathy Cox in the
Georgia Democratic Party’s primary
gubernatorial elections on July 18.
Taylor will face Republican incumbent Gov. Sonny Perdue in the Nov.
7 general election.
HPV vaccine now
available to public
The Advisory Committee
on Immunization Practices
recently announced the arrival
of Gardasil®, the first genital
human papillomavirus (HPV)
vaccine to be available to the
public. The vaccine will allow
for greater protection against
cervical cancer in sexually active
women.
District Court rules
against wiretapping
U.S. District Court Judge Anna
Diggs Taylor ruled on Aug. 18 that
the National Security Agency’s surveillance program is unconstitutional. The ruling prohibits wiretapping
phone lines and monitoring e-mails
without a warrant.
Pro-war Lieberman
defeated in primary
In the Aug. 8 senatorial primary
election, a majority of Connecticut Democrats voted for anti-war
candidate Ned Lamont. Pro-war
incumbent Joe Lieberman lost his
party’s nomination and will run as
an independent in the upcoming
general election. Lamont and Lieberman will face Republican Alan
Schlesinger in the general election.
n e w s
Sept. 15, 2006
7
BY SCOTT CHAMBLISS
Shocking. Devastating. Stunning.
These are just some of the words that the inhabitants
of the Virginia-Highland neighborhood used to describe
the scene that greeted their eyes on June 30 as they
drove through the popular shopping destination at the
intersection of Highland and Virginia avenues.
“I knew it was coming and even I was shocked,” said
Liz Coyle, Vice-Chair of local Neighborhood Planning
Unit F.
The 18 Bradford Pear trees, which had graced the busy
intersection with their shade for almost half a century,
were removed in June as the first step in the VirginiaHighland Streetscape Improvement Project. While local
funds are providing most of the projected $550,000 cost
of the project, federal funds from an air-quality act are
covering the remaining $100,000.
The next step in the project is to replace the aging pear
trees with new Chinese Elm, a hardier breed, which will
grow to a maximum of 60 feet tall. The replacement of the
original trees, however, is only the first step in the process
of making Virginia-Highland a more pleasant locale.
The long-term plans, which place the completion date
sometime in December, call for a complete overhaul
of the street front. This will include expanding the
sidewalks to 12 feet with room for a furniture zone,
adding ornamental streetlights, rebuilding the curbs and
installing underground power and telephone lines.
Coyle, who believes that more effort should have been
put into alerting the public, said that plans to give prior
notice were not put into action. One such plan involved
stringing a banner across Highland before work started,
“It’s always better to let the public know beforehand,”
she said.
Mike McLear, an employee of Highland Gifts for Men,
said that the removal of the trees has had a definite impact
on business.
“There has been a huge drop-off,” he said. “It’s not
going be convenient at all.”
The short-term negative effect is not lost on anyone.
“I feel for the shopkeepers,” Coyle said. “It is a much
less desirable place and not as easy to shop there.”
For some of the older establishments of the area,
however, this is no new problem. Moe’s and Joe’s, a bar
on Highland, was established in 1947 before the Bradford
Pears were planted.
“If you look on the wall on the left side [of Moe’s and
Joe’s], there is a picture of [the building] without any trees
in front,” said Rick Adams, the owner of the bar. Adams
believes that the picture, which was taken in the early
1950s, looks just like the face of the building today.
Currently, the removal of the trees stifles business.
“Summers and the holidays are our busiest times,” said
Scott Hall, who has worked at 20th Century Antiques on
Highland for 12 years. “It will be great once it is done,
but they should have done this another time.”
Coyle is very optimistic about the long-term
improvements to the area.
“I think that people realize that this is just the first phase
in making the area much more pedestrian friendly.” ❐
LEAH BISHOP
Virginia-Highland renovation shocks neighborhood
VA-HI FACE LIFT: Temporary restrictions, like this torn-up sidewalk on Highland
Avenue, are just the start of ongoing improvements to the historic intersection.
TOWERS proposal withdrawn,
future of Beltline in question
JANNA KAPLAN
NATIONAL SECURITY: Frustrated travelers wait for several hours at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport the night the terrorist
threat was announced in the United Kingdom. After many delays and a lot of confusion, most went home without their luggage.
Balms away: terror plot halted
BY JOURDAN DEVIES
After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks,
people nationwide wondered when
it would be safe to fly again. The
newly created Department of
Homeland Security heightened the
threat level to a red alert, and items
like nail clippers, scissors, razors and
knitting needles were banned from
carry-on luggage. Random searches
and checks became more frequent,
and all airport personnel were on the
lookout for suspicious characters.
Although there were some
exceptions,
many
Americans
cancelled flights in the weeks
following 9/11.
Ed Naylor, an engineer at Northrop
Gromman, flies internationally on a
regular basis. He was one out of a
small group of Americans who felt
safe flying after the attack.
“It is actually in this heightened
sense of awareness that airports are
at their most secure,” said Naylor,
who flew out of the country a week
after 9/11.
During the 2004 Thanksgiving
week, airline travel exceeded pre-9/11
levels for the first time. Even though
it took three years for travelers to feel
safe flying, things were returning to
normal. In the past year, many of
the previously banned items were
allowed again in carry-on luggage.
“I flew to Colorado last year and
I felt very safe,” junior Sarah Smith
said. “Everything went fine except
that I set the security sensors off.”
According to CNN.com, on
Aug. 10 a plot to blow up as many
as 10 planes flying from Britain to
the United States was thwarted,
and 21 people were arrested. Using
an electronic device, they planned
to detonate a mixture of a sports
drink and an explosive, gel-like
substance.
After this incident, a chain of
events unfolded similar to those
that occurred after 9/11. Airport
security in Britain and in the U.S.
was increased and new rules were
established. Britain’s threat level
was set at critical and the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security
raised the threat level of flights
coming from Britain to red.
A wallet in a plastic bag was
the only carry-on allowed for
international flights. Liquids, gels,
and aerosols were strictly prohibited
from both international and
domestic flights; the only exceptions
were baby formula and prescription
medication.
Elise Zeiger, a senior producer at
CNN and mother of a 2-year-old
son, decided not to fly a week after
the bombing plot.
“We weren’t scared of terrorists,”
Zeiger said. “But the really long lines
and not being able to bring drinks
would make it difficult to travel with
our son.”
The long list of prohibited items
caused travelers to throw out items
from their carry-on luggage. Airports
had huge trash bins for items like
lotions, eye drops, lip balms and
liquid makeup. As of Sept. 7, drinks
and items bought in the terminal
must still be thrown away before
boarding an airplane.
Naylor tried to fly home from
London on Aug. 21 but was flown
to Frankfurt first and then back to
the U.S.
“They had a whole wing for flights
to the United States that would every
so often shut down for a complete
search of every person,” Naylor said.
“They even confiscated my bottle of
contact solution.”
Despite airport security’s best
efforts, Naylor thinks that carry-on
restrictions always seem to be a step
behind terrorist plots.
“There are still too many holes,”
Naylor said. “One hundred percent
inspection doesn’t give you 100
percent assurance.” ❑
from page 1
Elizabeth Coyle, the citizen
member of Atlanta Beltline Inc.
and a founding member of the
Beltline Neighbors Coalition said
that although “the Beltline structure
will be paid for through economic
development,” the city can build the
Beltline without Mason’s additional
money.
“We have made $200 million
off of projects already in the works
for TAD, without Mason’s projects
in the first bond issuance [for the
Beltline],” Coyle said. “We thought
that in the first five years, there
would be about $250 million.”
Langley also said that Mason
hoped his development would make
Atlanta become more like other
internationally-renowned
cities,
“like Boston or New York,” which
have “housing along the park.”
Opponents of the construction,
however, say that Atlanta does not
need the towers to thrive.
“[The towers] would not be a
good thing for Atlanta [or] a good
thing for the park,” said Jennifer
Keenan, leader of the No Towers
Grassroots Campaign. “[The towers]
would be an eyesore; other cities will
look down on us for this.”
Since Mason first proposed the
tower construction a year ago,
tensions have increasingly flared
over the balance between green space
and development, with emotions
running high over the placement of
the towers next to Piedmont Park.
Jane
Langley,
Mason’s
spokesperson, said that the height
of the 450-foot tall buildings would
have actually helped “maximize
green space,” because the towers
would have been tall, rather than
wide.
“Atlanta is going to grow,”
Langley said. “We can either
grow out or we can grow up.”
The Piedmont Park Conservancy,
however, expressed concern about
the development blocking sunlight
to the park. Although the PPC
“understands that development
surrounding Piedmont Park will
occur over time” and has not directly
addressed the skyscraper proposal, it
is against, “Any development… or
structures surrounding Piedmont
Park” that cause “major interruptions
of sunlight.”
Residents of Cresthill Avenue,
where the main entrance to the
towers’ parking lot would have
been located, believe that the towers
would have encroached on the
neighborhood’s unique charm.
“In this case, there are a lot of
single-family homes [near the
proposed towers],” said Scott Kaye, a
resident of Cresthill Avenue. “There
are other areas that are better for
development.”
Langley and former Gov. Roy
Barnes, now one of Mason’s
attorneys, both cite this strong
opposition as the cause of Mason’s
withdrawal.
“The folks inside City Hall
or the Atlanta Development
Authority decided to be very
hostile to [Mason],” Barnes said,
as reported by the Atlanta Journal
Constitution. “They made the
process impossible.”
Langley believes that critics
refused to compromise when given
the chance to work with developers.
“[Mason’s team] tried to work
with {opponents] and compromise
with them,” Langley said. “We
[tried] to give them a say in their
own destiny.”
Many opponents to the proposal,
however, support parts of the Beltline
plan and believe that they attempted
to compromise with the developers.
“Most of us aren’t against the
Beltline,” said Dan Denoon, a
resident of Cresthill Avenue. “We
love the Beltline.” ❐
Lee Pope grew up in
Jacksonville, Alabama where
he later attended Jacksonville
State University. Rushing
through college in three
years, he flew to New York
to start an acting career. After
learning the hard way that
acting involves long hours
and less-than-satisfactory pay,
he returned home to pursue
teaching.
Before teaching at Grady,
Mr. Pope worked at Banneker
High School in south Fulton
County. He has found the
Grady environment to be just
what he was seeking. Teaching
U.S. history is his passion,
and he is determined to share
it with all of his students.
“If [history] is taught
like a story, [students] tend
to remember it,” Mr. Pope
said. “My mission is to
show people how interesting
history can be.”
In addition to teaching
history, Mr. Pope plans to
start a club based on the
Anti-Defamation
League,
which will advocate the
idea that all humans are
guaranteed rights, no matter
who they are.
He is delighted with his
job and is already amazed at
how intelligent his students
are, noting that even students
with disciplinary problems
are very perceptive.
“I feel like I have reached
nirvana,” Mr. Pope said.
“I am where I want to be,
when I want to be, doing
what I love to do at the
best school in the
Atlanta area.” ❐
Mr. John Rives’ journey to Grady has been a long and varied one. After
growing up in San Antonio, he attended the University of Louisiana and
then entered the petroleum business as an oil and gas geologist. During
the recession and oil-scare of the 1980s it became especially hard for him
to find a job.
“The department of education in Louisiana offered free tuition to any
former petroleum workers who wanted to go back to school and major in
either math or science education,” Mr. Reeves said.
An Atlanta job in environmental geology later, Mr. Rives found himself
teaching again. He taught at Pope High School and Southside High School
before coming to Grady.
So far, his experience at Grady has been well worth the difficulty of
sorting out all of the paperwork.
“Grady has a wonderfully diversified student body and
faculty,” he said. “I like that.” ❐
Although Mr. Vinton Wolfe wasn’t officially on the Grady faculty
list until this year, he has been instructing the robotics team for much
longer. Mr. Wolfe, who now teaches physical science and chemistry,
helped found and secure funding for the robotics team two years ago
and has since played an instrumental part in their success.
Originally a Georgia Tech-trained research engineer, Mr. Wolfe
has always been inspired by his high school math teacher. So, after
leaving Atlanta Gas Light, he took a teaching job at North Atlanta
High School.
“I went to North Atlanta because, first off they had an opening, but
[also because] my daughter had graduated from there and my son was
still going to school there at the time,” Mr. Wolfe said. “Surprisingly,
though, my son refused to take any of my classes.”
Mr. Wolfe left North Atlanta to begin a master’s degree
in secondary science education from Clark Atlanta
University. He hopes to finish the degree within the next
year. ❐
Ms. Kim Norman-Carr
With all of this year’s new faculty
members, some students should be able
to recognize at least one face. Before
coming to Grady, Ms. Kim Carr, the new
school nurse, worked at Inman Middle
School for seven years.
“It’s really been good to see all of my
Inman babies,” she said. “The kids that
I used to take care of years ago are now
juniors and seniors.”
Ms. Carr was born in Lexington,
North Carolina and has lived in Atlanta
for the past 20 years. She received both
her undergraduate degree and nursing
education from Emory University.
“I like being a school nurse because of
the flexibility and the schedule,” said Ms.
Carr, who also worked part time at Grady
Memorial Hospital before coming to
Grady. “I love having so much vacation
time.”
Despite the confusing bell schedule,
Ms. Carr’s first weeks at Grady have given
her a lot to smile about.
“Grady has such a friendly
atmosphere,” she said. “I’ve felt
right at home since my
first day here.” ❐
Dr. Jim Dunton
Sold on Grady’s reputation, Dr. Jim
Dunton, the new marketing teacher,
has decided to invest in a future at
Grady.
“I came to Grady because I heard
it was the best school in Atlanta,” Dr.
Dunton said.
A seasoned traveler and fitness
guru, he switched paths from sports
marketing to teaching after speaking
to a high school class. Converted
by the experience, he obtained two
education degrees and has spent the
last ten years teaching.
Having already delved into the
marketing business, Dr. Dunton uses
his real world experience to teach
with an application-oriented style.
He provides explanations of concepts
with real-world examples and gives
students the opportunity to apply
what they learn.
“It’s been great so far,” Dr.
Dunton said of his experience.
“I love the diversity of the
student body.” 
Ms. Millicent Greene, Grady’s new
geography and citizenship teacher, works with
teenagers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Besides instructing students on a day to day
basis—in itself a daunting task—she has two
children of her own, a 16-year-old and a 5year-old.
“I like adolescents, and I like sharing my
knowledge and experiences,” said Ms. Greene.
Ms. Greene’s transfer to Grady from
Therrell, where she taught for the past two
years, came as a complete surprise.
“I actually didn’t have a choice to come to
Grady, but it worked out perfectly because I
live in this neighborhood and I had always
wanted to come here,” she said.
So far, Ms. Greene’s favorite aspects about
Grady are the students.
“The kids are great—[they are] so
cooperative and they work hard,” Ms.
Greene said. “The laid-back culture of
the school fits my personality.” ❐
Ms. Debra Hartsfield
She may be new to Grady, but Ms. Demetria Kendrick is certainly
not new to teaching. Having served as a teacher and administrator for
many years, she now brings her unique teaching methods to Grady.
“I am a facilitator—I present the information and provide the
opportunities for students to use it authentically,” Ms. Kendrick
said.
An avid reader and traveler, Ms. Kendrick has visited many
countries including Spain, Germany, Jamaica, Amsterdam, England
and France. Whenever she travels to a different place, she reads
another book.
Even though she has traveled the world, Ms. Kendricks decided to
settle down to Grady because of its students.
“I heard that the brightest and the best were here
at Grady High School,” Ms. Kendricks said. “Grady’s
history, reputation and wonderful learning experience
are bar-none.” ❐
Mr. John Rives
Mr. Jacob Hacket
Although she is the newest addition to the
English Department, Ms. Deedee Abbott has
already assimilated seamlessly in to the chaos of
life at Grady. Her favorite things about it so far?
The vegetarian lunch line, the marching band
and, of course, her freshman homeroom.
“[Grady is] lively,” Ms. Abbott said. “I loved
the first day and the drum core. It reminds me a
lot of where I went to high school.”
Born and raised in eastern Tennessee, Ms.
Abbott received her undergraduate degree from
the University of Tennessee. She has since lived in
both Chicago and New York, but settled with her
husband and two children in Atlanta.
Once back in the South, Ms. Abbott pursued a
career in education.
“I love literature and reading, and the things
that you can learn by studying literature and by
reading, like human nature, can help you for the
rest of your life,” said Ms. Abbott, who received
her master’s in education from Georgia State
University.
While at Georgia State, Ms. Abbott student
taught at Grady.
“I did my internship here with Mr.
McCurdy, so I pursued this [teaching]
job,” Ms. Abbott said. “I’m really
glad I got it.” ❐
Ms. Demetria Kendrick
Ms. Millicent Green
Mr. Lee Pope
pharmaceuticals, Mr. Hackett was inspired
by his experiences as a counselor and then
camp director for kids with special needs.
After finding joy in successfully helping
others, he decided to teach.
“This is my first year ever [teaching],”
Mr. Hackett said. “I’m just trying to
feel my way through this; everyday is an
adventure.”
Despite his lack of previous teaching
experience, he still has high hopes for the
year. In addition to sponsoring Anime
Club, he’s starting a reading curriculum
that goes back to the basics for kids who
need it.
“Reading is the most accurate corollary
to how successful someone is going
to be in life,” Mr. Hackett said.
“As a high school teacher,
you’re the last safety
net.” ❐
Mr. Vinton Wolfe
Grady’s award-winning music department hit the right note with the
latest addition to its faculty. Ms. Jennifer Hutton, who was Mr. Hill’s student
teacher last semester, is a multi-talented musician. She sings and plays the
guitar, viola, piano and drums.
Ms. Hutton was first attracted to Grady when she applied to be a student
teacher.
“Grady has a top-notch faculty, students from diverse backgrounds and is
an all-around great place to be,” Ms. Hutton said. “I think I have the best job
in Atlanta—there’s no school [at which] I would rather teach.”
At Grady, Ms. Hutton teaches two orchestra classes, music appreciation
and two classes that are new to the curriculum: piano and guitar.
“I’ve known since I was a junior in high school that I wanted to be
a teacher,” Ms. Hutton said. “I’ve always been certain that that’s what I
want.”
Although she was originally hired as a social studies teacher after she
graduated from Amherst College, Ms. Hutton quickly found her calling
teaching music classes.
“Being a music teacher is the best thing in the world,” Ms.
Hutton said. “I don’t have the same pressure to prepare kids
for standardized tests. I get to make music, perform as a
conductor, be expressive during the school day and teach
young musicians.” ❐
Mr. Jacob Hackett had no intention of
ever becoming a teacher.
“If you had told me in high school that
I would be a high school teacher, I would
have laughed in your face,” he said.
Yet this year, Mr. Hackett became a
new member of the Grady staff, teaching
as part of the Program for Exceptional
Children.
A recent graduate of Ohio State
University and a devoted Buckeye fan,
Mr. Hackett decided to come to Grady
after unexpectedly discovering the school
website at a time when he was desperate
to leave Ohio. With a master’s degree in
special education with a focus on learning
disabilities and reading instruction, he
was immediately offered a job after his
interview with Mr. Marin, the school’s
former PEC director.
Though he originally worked in
Mr. Christian Hagbe-Nguidtol
Every school year, teachers come and teachers go. With a double-digit turnover last May, Grady welcomes an unusually high number of new
staff members into the faculty. From mathematics to foreign language, new faces and methods of teaching have entered Grady’s classrooms.
Ms. Jennifer Hutton
From 14 years of competitive figure
skating to studying in France and England,
Grady’s newest chemistry teacher, Ms.
Alissa Berg, has a wealth of experiences.
She graduated from McGill University in
Canada with a bachelor’s in chemistry
and math then earned her graduate degree
in secondary education from Emory
University. Ms. Berg, who always had a
desire to teach, was attracted to Grady
because of its good reputation, culturally
diverse student body and location. So far,
it has not let her down.
“[It has been a] great experience so far,”
Ms. Berg said. “The staff is very supportive
and my students come to class enthusiastic
about the material and full of questions.”
Her teaching style is a mix of hands-on
and inquiry-based activities to prepare
her students for the real world. She gives
college-style lectures and group work in
order to produce both individual and
group experiences.
“I majored in chemistry, but I could
not picture myself working in a lab,”
Ms. Berg said. “I find working with
people much more interesting
than working primarily with
chemicals.” ❐
NEW TEACHERS BY THE BUSLOAD
Ms. Deedee Abbot
Ms. Alissa Berg
Originally from Edea, Cameroon,
in central Africa, Mr. Christian HagbeNguidjol brings higher standards and
a fresh perspective to Grady’s math
department. A strong believer in the
importance of education, Mr. Hagbe
hopes to raise Grady’s level of excellence
to international standards and improve
the American educational system.
“I have something to say about the
American educational system and
that’s why I’m here,” Mr. Hagbe said.
“I’m not saying the students are stupid,
but the system is poor.”
With an interest in math since
middle school and extensive tutoring
experience, he plans on using this
opportunity to increase the students’
math proficiency and improve their
performance level on standardized
tests.
“What we do at home is very
different from what we do here,”
said Mr. Hagbe, who hopes to
raise the intensity of his classes.
“What I did in high school is
what I did here in college.”
Though she’s been a bartender, fly-fisher and world
traveler, this new teacher will never forget her roots. Smalltown born and bred, this Alabama native grew up in a
football-crazed family. A graduate of Auburn University,
this hard-core Tigers fan buried her mother, by request,
in the same cemetery as Shug Jordan, a legendary Auburn
football coach.
Ms. Debra Hartsfield, Grady’s new journalism teacher,
not only loves NCAA Division I college football, but she
also loves English. With a master’s degree in English and a
great love of literature, she decided to come back to teaching
after having spent the last nine years in administration.
She’s happy to be back among students who are enthusiastic
about learning, and teaching at Grady has been a wonderful
opportunity.
“I’m learning as I go,” she said. “Journalism’s not my
background, but teaching and English are.
Writing is writing. The format is different,
but good writing is still good writing.” ❐
Mr. George Darden
Partying at the White House, running along Pennsylvania Avenue
with President Bill Clinton, working as a bailiff and sighting a leopard in
South Africa as a 2004 Fulbright Scholar aren’t normally the experiences
expected from a teacher. One of Grady’s new staff members, however,
has done all this and more. Mr. George Darden, the new World History
teacher, has plenty of stories to tell his students.
Unlike most of this year’s new teachers, Mr. Darden is very familiar
with Grady. He taught here from 2001-2003, and has returned after
having completed the initial stages of his Ph.D. in education at the
University of Georgia. With a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs
from Georgia Tech, Mr. Darden, the son of a former U.S. congressman,
truly loves social studies, politics and teaching.
“I thought [teaching] was something I would be good at, [something]
I would enjoy and [something that] would be important,” Mr. Darden
said about his career choice. “I was a tour guide for the U.S. Capitol
while in college, and in the back of my mind, I naively thought teaching
would be like giving tours.”
To reconnect with the Grady community, Mr. Darden volunteered
to coach the boys’ cross country team in addition to teaching six history
classes.
“I used to run 95 miles a week,” said Mr. Darden, who was the
captain of his college’s track and cross country teams. “I beat up my
body so much that I can’t really run anymore.”
Mr. Darden is glad to be back at Grady and is looking forward to
teaching the subject he’s passionate about and helping
students out.
“In college, a professor is supposed to be a walking
encyclopedia,” he said. “As a high school teacher, you’re
supposed to establish an environment where students
can get to things beyond you.” ❐
Photos by Emma Din
Stories by Emma Din, George DeMeglio, Sarah Beth McKay, Kayci Schoon
n e w s
10
Sept. 15, 2006
COMPLEX Middle Eastern history clouds current issues
Student Knowledge of the Mideast
(based on survey of 81 students)
What religion do most Israelis practice?
A. Judaism
students said... 51%
B. Hinduism
C. Islam
D. Buddhism
12%
36%
1%
What religion do most Palestinians practice?
A. Judaism
B. Hinduism
C. Islam
D. Buddhism
19%
17%
60%
4%
students said...
Which country does the U.S. financially
support in the Middle East?
A. Palestine
students said...
12%
B. Egypt
C. Israel
14%
48%
D. Iran
26%
What is the name of the fundamentalist group
that fought with Israel this summer? (circle one)
A. Hezbollah B. Al Qaeda
LILY FEINBERG
from page 1
dated back thousands of years, or
more recently to 1882. According
to Roni Eshel, assistant director
of Emory’s Institute for the Study
of Modern Israel, this was the
first of 25 Jewish immigration
waves into the area now called
Israel, although some Jews
already resided in the area.
“Jews were subjected to riots
and anti-Semitism in Eastern
Europe and decided to move
out of their ghettos and back to
Zion,” Eshel said. “It was a group
of about 50 people who were
very idealistic, and when they
arrived they found a very sparsely
populated country, but they
purchased the land legitimately
from absentee landlords.”
In 1892, Theodor Herzl began
another movement of Jewish
immigration, but this time a
social movement accompanied
the physical movement. Hertzl’s
Zionist one, along with the
immigration of 1882 fixed the
idea of a new Jewish nation. This
sentiment was expressed to the
British government, which owned
the land due to the 1916 SykesPicot Agreement with France, in
the Balfour Declaration of 1917.
After multiple separations
of land and petitions, Israel
finally became a nation on May
14, 1948, based on the United
Nations partition plan approved
by Israel, but rejected by Arabs.
Prior to Israel’s independence,
violence broke out. The War of
Independence, which started in
late 1947, left many Palestinians
displaced and homeless. This
war, along with many others like
the Six Day War in 1967, the
Yom Kippur War in 1973 and
the War of 1982 fuel claims of
Palestinian injustice by certain
local groups.
students said...
49%
32%
“Since 1948, Israel has
practiced massive ethnic cleansing
of Palestinians,” said Nate Jones,
a member of Atlanta Anarchists.
“[Israel] is in violation of the
Geneva Convention as well.
They even went on record for
putting people in internment
camps.”
While claims of victimization
exist on both sides, the U.S.
has more often sided with
Israel. America has backed Israel
financially and politically since it
was founded.
Currently,
Israel
receives
“approximately one third of
the entire U.S. foreign aid
C. Hamas
D. Insurgency
United
12%
6%
budget, while it has one of the
highest per capita incomes in
the world,” wrote Dr. Stephen
Zunes, assistant professor in the
Department of Politics at the
University of San Francisco, in
his speech “U.S. Aid to Israel:
Interpreting
the
‘Strategic
Relationship.’”
According to the Washington
Report on Middle Eastern
Affairs, this aid has totaled $8.5
billion since 1949 and is given
for good reasons.
“The U.S. supports Israel’s
dominance so it can serve
as a surrogate for American
interests in this vital strategic
region,” Zunes said. “Israel has peace agreements have also been
helped defeat radical nationalist attempted. The Oslo Accords in
movements and has been a 1992, between the Palestinian
testing ground for U.S.-made Liberation Movement and thenweaponry.”
Israel Prime Minister, Itzhak
Others are not so keen on U.S. Rabin, but were stopped when
interest in Israel.
extremist Israelis assassinated
“Israel is conducting nuclear Rabin.
weapons testing,” Jones said.
In 2005, President Bush and
“We should not send them any Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
more money. No one would sit Sharon decided to unilaterally
idle if we sent $3 million to create a “road map to peace”
North Korea.”
which included evacuating the
Unlike North Korea, however, Gaza Strip and giving it back to
Israel is a democracy and has Palestine. Acts of terrorism by
found itself inherently linked Hamas led to the failure of that
to America, a country disliked peace plan.
throughout the Middle East.
No one knows when peace will
“Israel is usually considered come, but one thing is for sure:
the burden, but now it seems peace will be extremely difficult
the U.S. is the burden,” Eshel to achieve.
concludes. “With countries like
“It is very important for our
Iran promoting pan-Islamism, generation to stay involved and
Israel
is
becoming
more knowledgeable,” said Hila David,
threatened.”
a 17-year-old dual citizen of the
Pan-Islamism, or government United States and Israel. “I think
based on the values of Islam, when people don’t know the facts
presents a vantage point many [about these conflicts], it’s a big
Americans can’t relate to and problem.”
continues to distance the United
Even educators have noticed
States from seeing the underlying a decline in interest for these
causes of hostility.
conflicts.
“The U.S. is very unrealistic
“Not many universities have
about [conflicts in Middle East],” departments on the Middle
Eshel
said.
in fact
You cannot say, ‘We East;
“You
cannot
the number of
say, ‘We will
departments
will never talk to
never talk to
is decreasing,”
the terrorists.’
the terrorists.’
Eshel
said.
That’s childish.
“The number of
Even terrorist
faculty to teach
professor Roni Eshel modern Middle
groups, when
they
realize
Eastern history
they are part of the power is decreasing as well.”
structure—even they will change
The outcome is unclear,
their ways.”
but day to day Israelis and
Eshel raises a good point, Palestinians both have an
considering both Hezbollah and unyielding resolve to stay.
Hamas are part of their respective
“There are ups and downs,”
governments and were elected.
Eshel said. “But there’s never
With the many violent attacks, giving up.” ❐
“
Israel’s fine line between peace, war defines lifestyles
I was supposed to spend one weekend with
family friends in Haifa but was unable to go
because their house was being shaken by the
falling rockets. So they drove down to Tel Aviv
to meet me, and we had brunch overlooking
the Mediterranean.
Sometimes it was easy to forget that there
was actually a war going on. Israel is a tiny,
tiny country, but at the same time, it has a
huge variety of environments. When we were
walking around ancient cities, riding camels or
camping out in the desert, it was hard to keep
in mind the beautiful mountains and cities
that were under attack in the North, and that
soldiers that were stationed there, working to
protect the country’s border.
I’m not suggesting that the people weren’t
concerned about the war in the North—of
course they were. Every day more soldiers
were called to duty from the reserves, and
they didn’t hesitate to go. Israelis are incredibly
loyal to their country and after finishing their
mandatory two- or three-year service in the ‘L’ IS FOR LEBANON: Senior Lily Feinberg, far right, stands at a lookout on the Israeli-Lebanese border two weeks
Israeli Defense Force, they are honored to be before fighting erupted between the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah and the Israeli government.
called back to duty, should the country need a country and to keep it safe, and they’re more than I bargained for. Along with having
them. Over the course of the summer, in honored to play a role in protecting it. Also, an amazing time with friends and seeing all
fact, five of the Israeli staff members from my they’re not going to let violence interrupt their sorts of beautiful places, I learned that in Israel,
program were called to duty from the reserves. regular, daily lives—if they did, there would be there can be a very fine, fragile line between
Without question, they left the program to nothing regular about their lives.
living in peace and living in a bomb shelter.
serve their country.
Before I left home for Israel, I expected a fun Most importantly, though, I learned about the
Israelis, we learned, are a very determined summer of touring around and having a good will of a people and their determination to live
people. They’ve worked very hard to build time with my friends. Turns out I got a little and ensure the future of Israel.❐
YAELA GARR
Two months ago, I
stood at the border of
Israel and Lebanon.
My friends and I took
a picture with Lebanon
in the background as
we made “L” shapes
with our hands, saying,
LILY FEINBERG
“L is for Lebanon!”
Two weeks later, chills
ran up my spine when I learned that the place
we’d just visited was under attack.
I spent six weeks touring Israel this summer
on a program for American teens. Israel was at
war for four of those weeks. Fortunately for my
group, we had already toured the northern part
of the country and were settled in Jerusalem
when violence broke out along the norther
border. Still, it was disturbing to know that
just two weeks earlier, the sparkling cities
we’d visited and the breathtaking trails we’d
hiked were being bombarded with katyusha
missiles and that the border where I’d made
a lighthearted “L for Lebanon” was the center
of it all.
On the other hand, contrary to the
impression news reports may have given, the
entire country was not a war zone. Israelis in
other parts of the country continued with
their regular lives. They went to the beach and
to the discos; they went on vacations and to
the market as if life couldn’t be more normal.
THE SOUTHERNER
feature
Sept. 15, 2006
11
Tragic helicopter crash kills beloved Grady graduates
Moulder sisters, mother touched Atlanta community,
left behind enduring memories of engaging personalities
energy to the class and kept people on their
toes.”
Bryn spent most of her Friday nights in
high school cheering on the Grady Knights
at football games. Once she graduated from
Grady, Bryn attended Georgia Southern
University for three years and planned on
attending Kennesaw State University for
her senior year.
Bryn loved animals, particularly horses.
One of her favorite pastimes was riding her
horse Hi-Fi, a gift from Arlene and Ross
Crump, her aunt and uncle.
Before Bryn left Atlanta to attend college
in Statesboro, she worked at Intown ACE
Hardware in Virginia-Highland. Following
in her sister’s footsteps, Caroline worked at
the store during her senior year.
When Caroline wasn’t at the hardware
store, she found time both to babysit and
to fulfill her love of culture through a belly
dancing class. Caroline’s close friend, Kate
McGlamry, performed with Caroline in the
Seshambeh Dance Company. Caroline’s
belly dancing teacher of two years, Lisa
Kendrick, known to her students as Saroya,
said Caroline was “part of her [belly dancing] family.”
“I can’t imagine dancing without her;
we were partners,” McGlamry said. “Every
movement was a duet, never a solo.”
During the summer, Bryn and Caroline
took beach vacations with their parents
and dedicated themselves to working with
children. This commitment was inspired
by their mother’s dedication to her job as
a preschool teacher. Darlene poured herself
into her work at Haygood Preschool and
the families she worked with adored her.
This summer, Bryn joined her mother
as an employee of Haygood Preschool,
while Caroline worked as a camp counselor at YMCA High Harbor. Through
their always-positive attitudes and their
encouraging manners, they served as role
models for the campers and staff at their
respective jobs.
“Caroline always had a smile on her
face,” said Aggie Simon, a fellow camp
counselor. “She always gave 110 percent no
matter what she was doing.”
Friends recall Caroline as the one to
1
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KATE MCGLAMRY AND STUART MOULDER
BY JULIA OLIVER AND SALLY ZINTAK
Those who knew Darlene, Bryn and
Caroline Moulder were privileged. If you
were ever around them for even a minute
you noticed Darlene’s kind-hearted manner, Bryn’s wittiness and Caroline’s enthusiastic personality. Both Caroline and Bryn
attended Grady; Bryn graduated in 2003
and Caroline graduated last May.
On July 26, Darlene, Bryn and Caroline
were on their way to visit the girls’ father—
Darlene’s husband—Stuart Moulder, who
was working as a civilian contractor in
Afghanistan. Their plans included seeing
his job site in the city of Khost, traveling
to Kabul for a couple days and concluding
their trip with a week in Istanbul.
After landing in Afghanistan, they
boarded a charter helicopter to transport
them to Stuart’s job site. Sometime during
the 15-minute flight, bad weather caused
the helicopter to crash into the surrounding mountains, leaving no survivors.
The loss that the Grady community has
suffered is indescribable. Both girls loved
Grady and were involved in many activities
and clubs.
Caroline was deeply involved in the fashion program, led by Mr. Vincent Martinez.
“Caroline was the kind of student teachers hope they have in their classes,” Martinez said. “She always came to class, did her
work, took advice and criticism well and
challenged herself to higher standards. Not
only was [she] a wonderful student; she
was an exceptional person. Everything she
did or was involved with was handled with
grace, class, charm and professionalism. A
true star, she was Urban Couture.”
Caroline was involved in other activities
at Grady including Interact Club. WISE—
a mentoring group for young girls—and
prom committee. She was planning on attending the University of Georgia.
Caroline and Bryn were both staff members of the Grady News Network, taught
by Mr. Thaddeus Roberts. They spent their
time in GNN working behind the scenes
and in front of the camera.
“Bryn was a feisty individual; she always
spoke her mind, but she still had a kind
heart,” Roberts said. “She always brought
2
3
5
4
MOULDER MEMORIES: (1) Bryn, left, and Caroline on a family vacation; (2) Bryn, right, and Caroline at dinner
with their father; (3) Bryn rides Hi-Fi alongside her parents and sister; (4) Caroline, right, with friend Kate
McGlamry before a bellydancing performance; (5) Caroline and Bryn with their mother at Haygood Preschool.
whom they all went for insightful advice.
“Caroline was trustworthy and always
upfront,” said Elissa Koehl, Caroline’s close
friend. “She was the one who would tell
you if you had food in your teeth.”
She was always enthusiastic, even about
the simplest things. She was dedicated to
her friends and would have done anything
for the people she cared about. She constantly made sacrifices so her friends didn’t
have to.
Bryn is remembered by her friends as
someone who could make anyone laugh.
“Whenever you were having a bad day,
Bryn could make you laugh and turn it
into a joke,” said Madison Roarabough,
who graduated with Bryn in 2003.
Bryn’s humor and personality were both
unique. Friends smile when they remember
how she could have a short temper, but also
how she never failed to apologize with a
sweet note or flowers.
Bryn and Caroline were both honest;
you always knew where you stood with
them. Although Bryn seemed fierce on the
outside, she was nothing but sweet on the
inside.
While their time with us was far too
short, they lived every minute of it enthusiastically; their spirits never faltered, and we
can all be inspired by these qualities.
Darlene, Bryn and Caroline were beautiful people who touched the lives of everyone they met. They will be remembered by
the Grady community and will live on in all
of our hearts forever. ❐
BY KAYCI SCHOON
Junior Kieran Maynard spent almost a month of his
summer hopping from one Greek island to the next,
observing jaw-dropping heaps of ruins and experiencing
a culture completely different from his own.
The expedition began when Maynard arrived in Samos
with his grandfather, brother Pace and a few family friends.
The same day they sailed to the island of Marathi.
From there they sailed to Lyros, Lipsi and Tatmos, where
St. John wrote the book of Revelation. They visited St.
John’s monastery and the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse.
Then they traveled to the tiny island of Agathonisi, one
of Greece’s approximately 3,000 islands. Maynard and his
family then returned to Samos to rent a van and explore
the island.
“The roads were crazy, we got stuck so many times. We
would be driving and roads would take us to the tops of
mountains and stop,” Maynard said. “Driving was equally
bad in towns because we couldn’t read the Greek signs.”
After giving up on Greece’s roadways, Maynard’s family
decided to travel by ferry.
“Sometimes we got really nice ferries, sometimes we got
really bad ferries,” Maynard said. “Sometimes we even had
to sleep on the deck of the boat.”
They went to Turkey, where they saw the ruins of
COURTESY OF PACE MAYNARD
Junior Maynard dabbles in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean way of life
BIG FAT GREEK ADVENTURE: Junior Kieran Maynard looks warily over the
cliffs in Meteroa, famous for monasteries hundreds of feet in the air.
Ephesus—an ancient port city no longer on the water’s
edge. They left Turkey within the day, because they did
not have proper visas.
“Turkey was one of my favorite places,” Maynard said.
After returning to Samos, they took the ferry to Mykonos,
which earned the name “the party of Greece,” from its
colorful variety of nude beaches. They went to Delos
to see archeological ruins and the sacred mythological
birthplace of Artemis and Apollo.
Near the end of their trip, they visited Santorini, an island
blown into pieces by a volcano in 1500 B.C. and Naxos.
Maynard and his family then toured the great cities of
the Greek mainland. First, they went to the biggest of them
all—Athens, which accommodates 40 percent of Greece’s
population.
Maynard’s family rented another van in Athens and drove
to Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece.
“What I liked most about Thessaloniki was that the
ancient ruins and architecture were integrated with the
city,” Maynard said. “I saw teenagers hanging out by the
ancient ruins.”
On the way back to Athens, they stopped at Meteroa,
which contains various monasteries held up on pillars of
rock hundreds of feet in the air. No one knows how monks
reached the monasteries.
“Inside the monasteries there were museums, but they
were rotated to give the monks some peace, ” Maynard
said.
After returning to Athens, Maynard and his family
prepared to come home.
“It was a really eye-opening experience,” Maynard said.
“It taught me a lot about European and Middle-Eastern
culture.” ❐ 
f e a t u r e
12
Sept. 15, 2006
Tolerance club hopes to make a ‘World of Difference’
BY LENA BRODSKY
Sometimes things are just
coincidence and sometimes they are
perfectly planned. In the wake of all
the fights, the heightened tension
and the abundant speculation from
last school year, a new opportunity
has opened up for Grady’s student
body.
This opportunity, made possible
by the Anti-Defamation League, is
called The Tolerance Project and its
timing is impeccable.
Before it ever reached Grady, The
Tolerance Project was conducted at
Inman Middle School, under the
watch of the 2005-2006 school year
PTA president, Melissa Klein. Klein,
whose two children attend Grady,
heard about another opportunity at
a PTA training session.
“I met with some AntiDefamation League representatives,
and they had a program called
‘World of Difference’ developed
for middle school and high school
students,” Klein said. “It teaches
tolerance and how to understand
your own biases.”
Klein learned that the ADL had a
grant to finance the program at one
Atlanta high school, so she promptly
contacted Dr. Vincent Murray.
“Grady’s motto suggests that
there would be an interest in it,”
Klein said. “And last year we had
more fights than usual, so I thought
anything to have the kids get along
better.”
The first manifestation of the
‘World of Difference’ program at
Grady is the Social Diversity club,
sponsored by new teacher Mr. R.
Lee Pope.
Pope, who taught at Banneker
High School in south Fulton County
for nine years, attended an ADL
workshop last summer that focused
on Holocaust remembrance. At this
workshop he heard about the World
of Difference program coming to
Grady. He is very enthusiastic about
the social diversity club and the
From the ADL’s ‘World of
‘World of Difference’ initiative.
Difference’ brochure, the workshops
“The club will be like a class in “provide
teachers,
students,
human behavior,” Pope said. “We administrators, parents and other
will look at the diverse groups that school community members with
make up society. As the world gets the knowledge, awareness and skills
larger in size, people come in to to respond to name-calling and
contact more
bullying behaviors,
The workshops have people
with
those
and to create safe
examine their own attitudes,
of
different
and respectful school
and look through their
backgrounds,
environments.”
differences to see what all
and we need
“In
workshops,
people have in common.
to understand
among other things,
each other to
Melissa Klein you learn about role
get along. The
playing in society;
club is going to break down walls [You learn] if you’re an active
and mix it up.”
participant, a bystander, etc.,” Klein
The “World of Difference” said. “If you don’t say anything,
program
traditionally
hosts you are in fact a perpetuator,
workshops at the school, for both because there is no such thing as a
the students and the faculty.
bystander.”
“The workshops have people
Surprisingly,
the
Antiexamine their own attitudes and Defamation League’s ‘World of
look through their differences to see Difference’ opportunity at Grady is
what all people have in common,” funded by Abercrombie and Fitch.
Klein said.
The popular clothing chain store
“
previously funded a similar initiative
at Spellman College, but this year
decided to fund another program at
one lucky Atlanta high school.
Although Grady is the only local
high school scheduled to benefit
from this program, the state of
Georgia has made it a new priority
to focus on diversity awareness.
“The state PTA has added a
diversity chair, which is new this
year,” Klein said. “Diversity is
something people thought the
PTA wasn’t addressing, and having
a chair says that it is something
important.”
Clearly it is important, especially
at Grady where so many different
races, religions and backgrounds
come together. Pope, who was
lured to Grady mostly because
of its reputation, has not noticed
any racial tension in its halls or
classrooms. “There is no race in
the classroom,” he said. “Kids are
kids.” ❐
SOPHIE COX
Military history
shapes Foreman
INTERNATIONAL CONCEPTS: Arundhati Sridhar works closely with Ms. Nadia Goodvin and senior Summer Frost in sociology class. She’s learned that
teacher-student relationships are more casual in America than in India. “Teachers are open to what you think and feel [at Grady],” Sridhar said.
Exchange student brings Indian insights to Grady
BY KELLY DOUGLAS
A last-minute Grady Gram e-mail was sent out at the end
of July. It was a plea for a family to host Arundhati Sridhar, a
16-year-old foreign exchange student from India.
When the family of senior Anjali Gokarn received this email, it seemed like a perfect fit.
“My mom was interested because she’s from India,” Anjali
Gokarn said. “We had to decide quickly; we only had about
two days.”
Even with such a short deadline for a decision that would
shape the whole year, the choice wasn’t a hard one.
“I’m a vegetarian,” said Rajul Gokarn, Anjali’s mother.
“When I saw Arundhati was also a vegetarian, I went for it. I
always hesitated to host a student who wasn’t.”
Sridhar is part of the Youth Exchange and Study Program, a
competitive scholarship program for students from countries
with a large Muslim population. YES aims to send students
to the U.S. for a year to learn about American culture and to
educate Americans about the culture of their own country.
When Sridhar arrived in Atlanta, the first thing that
surprised her was the hot weather.
“I was told Atlanta was hot,” she said. “But I didn’t think it
would be almost as hot as India!”
Though Sridhar was optimistic about the school year,
she still worried that she wouldn’t be accepted or do well at
Grady. Luckily, the hardest thing for her was finding an outfit
to wear to school.
“Back home we have uniforms,” she said. “Thinking of
what to wear in the morning is quite a task.”
The relaxed dress code wasn’t the only thing Sridhar had to
get used to. With only 16 people in her grade in India, Grady
is the complete opposite of what she is used to. Sridhar was
surprised by the unique atmosphere of Grady.
“Student teacher relationships here are friend-to-friend,”
she said. “In India we are much more respectful.”
The Gokarns plan to show Sridhar American culture by
eating out, going to festivals and sightseeing.
“It is nice to have another daughter,” Rajul Gokarn said.
“Anjali is an only child.”
Anjali Gokarn has quickly had to adapt to having a sister.
“I’ve never had to share my room before,” said Anjali
Gokarn. “But, it’s cool.”
Living with the Gokarns is bittersweet for Sridhar. She
comes from a large, close-knit family. Sridhar struggles with
not being able to talk to her father.
“I’m very close to my dad,” she said. “I would talk to him
and all my problems would be resolved.”
There is, however, one family dynamic that is the same in
America and India.
“I see Anjali argue with her mom,” she said. “I used to do
that with my mom. Now I can’t let out my emotions.”
Although Sridhar misses her friends and family immensely,
she can’t help but be invigorated by her new environment.
“In India there are lots of traditions and values and many
restrictions on people,” she said. “Here, it is much more
modern.”
The fast-paced, straightforward attitude of America is so
unlike the long-established morals of India, that she doesn’t
know if it is good or bad.
As Sridhar attempts to delineate between two clashing
cultures, she still feels a great pressure to give India a good
name.
“I am representing my country,” she said. “I always have to
be well-behaved; I have to be somebody else.”
It is not easy to leave behind everything that is familiar.
Sridhar, however, is comforted knowing that she is in the
American “melting pot” of cultures.
“You know you’ll always find someone to relate to,” she
said. “There is always one person who thinks the way you
do.” 
BY ALEX RITZ
Mr. Roosevelt Foreman: the dreaded voice of authority. The
master of discipline and punishment. The warden of the halls
and stairwells. Although students know his mantra well, “If you
skip you will be caught and you will be suspended,” there are
many things about him that remain unknown.
Born in Millen, Ga. in 1950, Mr. Foreman’s father was a
sharecropper. His family, including all 12 of his siblings, left
Millen for Atlanta when he was still a baby.
While attending Luther Judson Price High School, Mr.
Foreman played baseball, football and ran track. Although he
was never suspended, he and some of his friends were paddled
by their school’s principal for confronting a rival football team’s
quarterback.
Morehouse College offered him a football scholarship, but he
chose to attend Fort Valley State University.
Mr. Foreman was drafted by the military in 1969 at the age
of 19, and became part of the 199th light infantry. He was
assigned to Special Forces, performing long-range patrols. He
did his basic training at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga. and his
advanced training at Fort Port in Louisiana.
When Mr. Foreman was deployed in Vietnam, he was sent
to the Mekong Delta, a region in southeast Vietnam. After a
couple of months, he was moved closer to Saigon, the South
Vietnamese capital. This region was a “red zone,” and his task
was to keep the North Vietnamese out of Saigon. Mr. Foreman
mainly went on seek-and-destroy missions; his company blew
up bunkers, tunnels and captured a few enemy soldiers. He
never saw heavy fighting, but his company was ambushed many
times. He fractured his leg and slightly injured his arm when
he jumped out of a helicopter. During the period from 1969
to 1971, he received three Bronze Stars for courage under fire,
three 27 air medals, a combat badge of honor, expert badges in
M-16 rifles, M-60 rifles and 2nd grenade launchers, the combat
infantry badge and various campaign badges. He refused the
Purple Heart because he wasn’t seriously injured.
On returning to the U.S., Mr. Foreman suffered from Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“The hardest thing to adjust to was getting back into the
mainstream of life and forgetting about the war,” Mr. Foreman
said. “I had a lot of nightmares, and am still being treated.
When I first got back any loud noise would make me jump and
try to take cover.”
After he left the military, Mr. Foreman passed the civil service
exams and was offered a FBI position. After an interview with
the FBI director he refused the job.
“I said ‘Forget it, I’m tired of being shot at,’” Mr. Foreman
said.
After a year and a half working at a post office, he was then
offered a job in the Atlanta Public Schools system. He came to
Grady in 1995 and said the school has improved greatly over
the 11 years he has been here.
“Kids have a good learning environment,” Mr. Foreman said.
“We do not tolerate any foolishness.” ❐
Sept. 15, 2006
f e a t u r e
13
Grady’s music department ascends to record heights
BY CARSON HALE
Music teacher Kevin Hill is in
charge of a hidden treasure.
Behind his office, in a small,
locked, soundproof room, Grady’s
music department now has an
industry-standard recording studio,
complete with a 27-inch Mac
G5 equipped with the recording
program ProTools and a Triton
synthesizer.
“Any artist who is recording,
that’s what they’re using on the
professional level,” Hill said of
ProTools, a computer program used
to edit and refine tracks.
To the untrained eye, a session
in ProTools looks like a series of
color-coded stock exchange graphs.
But Mr. Hill explains how each
microphone represents a distinct
layer, recorded from different tracks.
ProTools is equipped with an onscreen mixing board and tools to
change a singer’s pitch and sync
soundtracks to DVDs.
“It’s just kind of endless what you
can do [with ProTools],” he said.
The equipment gives students
the chance to experiment with the
recording process, as well as use some
high-end equipment, without having
to pay expensive hourly studio fees or
go into debt with a record deal.
Senior Forrest Aguar, who plans to
intern with Mr. Hill, realizes what a
special opportunity it is to have such
advanced equipment so conveniently
available.
“The reason why [the studio] is
so exciting is that, as far as music is
concerned, it takes a lot of money [to
record],” Aguar said.
Grady’s recording studio cost
over $20,000 but was covered by
a grant for technology in the new
building. It’s not inexpensive, but
it is improvements in the recording
system has made it possible for
Grady to have a recording studio.
“A decade ago, when you recorded,
you recorded everything onto tape or
some kind of analog form,” Hill said.
“Now, everything is digital. Digital
reduces cost.”
Senior Gabe Klein-Kuhn also
plans to take advantage of the
equipment.
“I eventually want to go into
music production,” Klein-Kuhn
said. “The fact that I’m doing this
in high school means when I get
to college, I’ll be that much more
prepared.”
The other advantage of this
kind of exposure in high school is
that musical careers are specialized.
Here, students will have the chance
to record and edit their own music,
giving them a glimpse into life in the
music industry.
A major reason Mr. Hill, along
with art teacher John Brandhorst,
wanted the studio was to
supplement Grady’s music program.
One of the goals is to work with
musical acts from the talent show
and to produce advanced recordings
of chorus concerts.
Senior John Taylor, a member of
the advanced chorus, has expressed
interest in working with this aspect
of Mr. Hill’s vision.
“When I record the chorus
concerts, I want to be able to work
on them and get a feel for the
editing process,” Taylor said. “You
have to be able to hear small things
and know what you’re listening for,
and be able to balance the different
parts. You have to have a really keen
ear.”
Eventually, there will be a
course offered to give students the
opportunity to learn the equipment.
Many high schools, including a few
in Atlanta Public Schools, now offer
recording studios for student use.
Some students, like Aguar, have
worked with entry-level programs
on personal computers, but this
studio presents a huge opportunity.
“Technology now-a-days is a key
component of any type of music,”
Mr. Hill said. “Students that use it
will be ahead of the game.” ❐
SOPHIE COX
New recording studio familiarizes students
with modern technology, aids music future
KEY CHANGE: Freshman Luke Maschinot searches for the right chord during his guitar class, one of the new music classes offered as
an elective. Ms. Jennifer Hutton, who teaches the class, emphasizes that the 4th period class is open to students of all ability levels.
Guitar class expands music opportunities, piques student interest
BY SOPHIE COX
A capo, an electronic tuner and
an endless supply of picks: these
are just a few of the supplies for
Grady High School’s newest course
offering. Led by Ms. Jennifer
Hutton, new to Grady staff but
a veteran in music education, the
students in guitar class are striking
all the right chords.
Hutton’s degrees in psychology
and gender studies from Amherst
College are not typical majors for a
music teacher.
“I never thought of teaching
music,” Hutton said.
Now teaching guitar, piano,
music appreciation, in addition to
both intermediate and advanced
orchestra, Hutton is pleased with
her decision.
“I had a lot of bad music teachers,
and I realized that I had the passion
to do it right,” Hutton said.
Hutton
incorporates
the
philosophy of Carl Orff, a German
composer and music educator, into
her own teaching methods. An Orff
music class blends the elements of
music in a group setting furthering
a student’s musical expression. The
method concentrates heavily on
improvisation, an area in which
students will be expected to excel.
“[The Orff method] usually
starts with an echo exercise, playing
things back to me the same way;
that’s ear training,” Hutton said.
“Then we improvise with a few
simple chords, C, D, E, and move
on from there.”
Music teacher Kevin Hill has
advocated a guitar class at Grady for
several years.
“It’s something we’ve been
thinking about for three years
now,” Hill said. “We’ve wanted to
start one, and a full time orchestra
position allowed for it.”
The guitar class will allow
for more of Grady’s talent to be
involved in the music department.
“Talent at Grady is more diverse
than the [typical high school]
ensembles. This is just another
outlet for musical interest,” Hill
said.
The course is not divided by skill
level, and prospective students do
not need any previous experience
to join the class. As part of their
semester projects, students get
to choose the songs they want to
learn. Students don’t have to buy
books or a guitar, though both
are recommended. Hutton’s only
wish for guitar class is to get more
working instruments available to
students. The music department is
currently looking for donations of
acoustic guitars.
Even though the majority of the
donated guitars are used, students
still complain about having to break
the strings in.
“It hurts your fingers; you have to
push through the pain until you get
calluses,” Hutton said.
With plans for her students
to start composing this month,
Hutton holds the class to high
standards.
“I’m teaching them the
traditional music notation. It’s a
music class and [reading music] is
a transferable skill. Anyone who
takes a public music class should
not look at a piece of music and be
confused,” Hutton said.
Though only 18 students gather
during fourth period to play
together, Hutton is confident about
the class’ popularity
“After all,” she said. “Who
doesn’t want to spend their school
day playing guitar?” ❐
For Fat Cats, fun outweighs profit
BY CAROLINE DENTON
Lately, Grady’s Fat Cats have been getting a lot more
attention than they could have expected. Maybe you’ve seen
them skating around town, or maybe you’ve just passed
someone wearing Fat Cat T-shirt in the hallway. Chances
are you’ve heard of them.
Fat Cats is a group of boys whose love of skateboarding
brought them together in 2003. The group’s founding
members were Graem Kinsella, John Manfredi and Grant
Taylor. Seth Berman and Matt Jordan were added to the
group when they came to Grady.
“When you skate together, it helps your skating,” junior
Matt Jordan said. “You motivate each other; it’s like a
team.”
The Fat Cat team’s only concern is having fun.
“It’s a common misconception: a lot of people think that
we skate for others and entertain in some way,” Manfredi
said. “But we’re really just doing it strictly for ourselves and
other skaters.”
Life as a Fat Cat is full of perks, and there’s lots of free
Red Bull involved. Taylor, who skateboards professionally,
is sponsored by Red Bull, Nike, Volcom and Independent.
Taylor’s sponsors have provided the Fat Cats with free
shirts, socks and a photo shoot.
The overnight popularity of Fat Cats is primarily from
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT; IT’S WHAT WE DO: Fat Cats pose for the cover of their their self-produced video Boots. The video is sold at
DVD, Boots. The boys threw a premier party for the movie on July 8.
Stratosphere, a skate shop in Little Five Points owned by
Taylor’s father. Shot by Fat Cats’ own Manfredi, the video
features not only scenes of traditional street skating, but
also gruesome wipeouts, clips of Atlanta’s favorite hobos
and naturally, run-ins with Atlanta police.
The video features a variety of locations, such as Little
Five Points, Freedom Park and Downtown Atlanta,
interesting camera angles and music chosen by the skaters
themselves, so that even stripped of its comical qualities,
the video remains fascinating.
“The first video we did didn’t really make a profit, but
we are actually doing pretty well on this video,” Manfredi
said. “However, money wasn’t our initial priority; at first
we didn’t know whether we were going to make a profit or
not.”
Boots is almost sold out, but the Fat Cats are planning on
coming out with a third video. This video will be different
from the others in that it will focus more on Atlanta as a
city instead of just the Fat Cats. It will feature music from
local artists like No Face, the Good Moods and the Black
Lips.
The Fat Cats also hope to produce T-shirts and other
merchandise with the Fat Cat label for everyone to wear.
“Take it or leave it; it’s what we do,” senior John
Manfredi said about possible future merchandising. “We’re
not trying to rub it in people’s faces; we just want to bring
some attention to it. If you like it that’s cool; if you don’t,
we don’t really care.” ❐
ports
sKnights,
new coach start off on right foot
THE SOUTHERNER
Girls hope
to run the
table in 3A
STEADY AS THEY GO: Sophomore Gus Rick and juniors Daniel Matthews and Scott Chambliss chase a Carver Panther
at the Sept. 6 meet at Grant Park. The boys finished first overall to kick off the season at the first of 7 weekly meets.
the state meet, proving that they are capable of
filling the spaces left by graduated runners.
This season returning runners have to step
up and fill the gaps left by graduated seniors
Collier Johnson and Wes Vernon. Leading the
way are Leonard, senior Stone Irvin and junior
Hamp Watson, all of whom ran and finished
well at the state meet last year. Darden hopes
for a good finish to the season, but realizes that
it’s a long way off and too early to make any
predictions.
“I am more concerned that everyone will
run well and reach their full potential both as
individuals and as a team,” Darden said.
Grady will compete every Wednesday
against other Atlanta Public Schools in Grant
Park. In addition to the Grant Park races, some
of the top runners will be running in weekend
invitationals against schools that they will see
again at the region and state meets, which will
be held the first two weekends in November.
In order to qualify for the state meet, the team
must finish in the top four at the regional
competition.
To prepare for a tough season, the boys work
Erskine “Erk” Russell, former
Grady football coach, died at 80 due
to a stroke. Russell coached Grady to
its only undefeated football season in
1950. He worked for 17 years as the
defensive coordinator under Vince
Dooley at the University of Georgia
and is also known for building Georgia Southern University into a football powerhouse. Russell won three
national championships at Georgia
Southern in eight years. His funeral
was held on Sept. 10.
The softball team’s record stands
at 4-2, already besting last year’s 1-7
effort. Their region record, however,
stands at 0-1 after a 16-0 loss to
Dunwoody on Sept. 12.
Volleyball squad starts
with winning streak
The volleyball team is 6-2. On
Aug. 29 they defeated North Atlanta
2-0 (25-27, 22-25) but fell to Riverwood 2-0 (25-8, 25-8) on Sept. 5.
They have also defeated Southside,
Douglass, Therrell, and South Atlanta but lost to Mays.
Veteran runners lead
sweep of Grant Park
Cross country has received extremely strong showings from its upperclassmen in recent races. At one
of Grady’s weekly Grant Park meets,
senior Leah Bishop finished first out
of all girls, while junior Max Leonard
and senior Stone Irvin finished first
and second, respectively, in the boys
division.
Lady Knights retain veteran players,
hope to find fusion with new talent
more seriously,” Nicolson said.
“[I know] the potential of the
returning veterans [and I was]
able to draft some very skilled
recruits.” Nicolson predicts that
the team will be successful
for the next few years. After
the team’s first matches, his
hopes were reinforced with
outstanding performances
by all of the players.
The team played their
first matches of the
season against Mays
and Southside on
Thursday, Aug. 24
a t Mays High School.
Grady and Mays seemed
evenly
matched. The
game went to a tiebreaker
following a 24-16 loss and
a 25-16 win. After going
down 7-0 in the beginning of
the game, the Knights pulled
together and kept play close
but lost 25-21.
In their following game
against Southside, Grady
won both of their matches
by a considerable gap,
securing the victories 25-8
N
BY STEPHEN CROUSE
Compared to previous
seasons, the Grady
volleyball
program
is gathering much
more interest among
the
underclassmen.
This year, 67 students
expressed interest in
participating, and about
33 students showed up for
tryouts.
Many players had outside
experience, either with club
teams or summer camps.
Despite
the
increased
interest, the team is still
looking for more support
from students and parents.
With the attendance of fans
at home games down from
previous seasons, the team
is looking for a larger fan
base that is able to come and
support them at their away
games.
Coach Paul Nicolson senior
is very excited about Lardycia
the future because of Manns
heightened interest.
“Everyone is taking it
KAPLA
on the season,” coach Jeff Cramer
said. “She will be back before the
region meet, which is all that
really matters.”
D’Avanzo shares Cramer’s
optimism.
“Being down one competitive
runner for a few weeks won’t affect
our season that much,” she said.
Cramer is making sure
D’Avanzo stays in shape while she
recuperates by encouraging her to
ride a stationary bike as well as
perform swimming exercises.
While having good finishes in
the region and state meets are
major goals, the team feels they’re
not the only things that can make
a season successful.
“A top three finish in state is
great,” D’Avanzo said, “but as
long as we’re improving, where we
finish isn’t that big of a deal.”
Practices for the season began
in July, and Cramer says he is
starting to see the positive effects
of the early practices.
“I’m beginning to see who is
eager to improve,” coach Cramer
said. “We just need to have
everybody out there at practice
every day.”
Cramer is optimistic about
this season. “All that matters is
improving,” he said. “If everyone
can improve, we’ve had a
successful year.” ❐
hard at practice every day. One thing Leonard
has noticed about these practices is the different
coaching style Darden employs.
“Mr. Buerkle made us all run together and
slow down when one person slowed down and
we all did workouts at about the same pace,”
Leonard said. “Mr. Darden breaks us into
groups based on our fitness level.”
Freshman Kamua Austin feels that Darden’s
coaching style is working.
“I can already feel the difference in my
running,” Austin said.
Darden attributes the success so far to the
work ethic of the runners.
“These guys are very easy to coach,” Darden
said. “They are self starters.”
The chemistry between the coach and
runners and their collective commitment and
work ethic sets up the team for a successful first
season in AAA.
“I expect the team as a whole to do very well
this year,” senior Kevin Eccles said, “We have
a lot of strong runners who are returning this
year and I feel that we are going to have a great
season.” ❐
JANNA
BY MICHAEL HARPER
After finishing in the top five
at the A/AA state meet for three
years running, the 2006 girls cross
country team hopes to continue
its success as it moves into AAA.
In past years Grady has
dominated its AA region. This
season looks to be a bit more
challenging as their new region
hosts eight of the top ten teams
from the 2005 AAA state meet.
The girls toughest competition
will be Blessed Trinity and
Westminster, who finished first
and second at state last year
respectively.
Despite
the
challenging
new region, the team is not
intimidated.
“I think we can win the region,”
sophomore Lily Muntzing said.
“It is going to be tough, but it’s
nothing we can’t handle.”
The team’s top runner, junior
Arielle D’Avanzo, suffered an
ankle injury early in the season
that will keep her out of practice
for at least two weeks.
“Her injury has no real effect
Former Grady coach
Erk Russel dies at 80
Softball team eclipses
last year’s win total
SALLY ZINTAK
BY JAMISON KINNANE
The boys cross country team has faced many
challenges over the past few years. Every season,
Grady must compete without the previous
year’s stars. This season on top of losing more
talented seniors, they will be competing in a
new region and working with a new coach.
George Darden, former Grady teacher and
boys cross country coach, will be taking over
for Dick Buerkle who left Grady to teach
Spanish at Montgomery Ferry Elementary
School in Dekalb County. Darden returned to
Grady this year after taking three years off to
pursue his Ph.D. at the University of Georgia.
Initially, Darden did not have any intentions of
picking up his old coaching job for the boys
cross country team.
“I was planning on being involved with the
team in some way,” Darden said. “But I thought
I was going to be more of a number one fan. I
would go to the meets and get to know some of
the athletes but not be as involved as I am now.
When Mr. Buerkle left, [the coaching job] kind
of fell back to me since I was doing it before
him.”
Darden led the team to fourth and second
place finishes at the state meet in 2001 and
2002 and is hoping for another reputable finish
this year. In order to do that, the team will first
have to overcome the challenge of advancing
through their region.
“We’re in a tough region,” Darden said.
“Just qualifying for state would be a huge
accomplishment.”
With the increase in school enrollment,
Grady is now a AAA school, meaning new
teams and harder competition. Junior Max
Leonard, who is aiming for a top-five individual
finish at state, is more worried about the team
competition than the individual competition.
“Team-wise, AAA is a much stronger region.
Individual-wise, there are only a few people
running under 17 [minutes] which is what
I’m shooting for, so that part shouldn’t be that
difficult,” Leonard said.
Last season the boys surprised everyone by
finishing first at the region meet and second at
14
Sept. 15, 2006
SPORTS BRIEFS
and 25-14.
Despite the large pool of
interested
participants,
the
program was not able to pull
together a junior varsity team
for this season because of lack of
funds and the difficulty of finding
a coach for the team. As the result
of the absence of a junior varsity
team, Nicolson had to turn away
many interested players.
There are 15 players on the
roster with 10 core players.
Nicolson would like to hold more
players on the team, but having
more players on the roster would
make practices and individual
development more difficult. He
says the team’s biggest challenge
is the fact that there is such a big
squad and that it will be harder to
focus and manage the team.
With the move up to AAA, this
team will compete with last year’s
state champs Westminster and
rival Paideia.
“[Westminster
will
be]
realistically very hard,” Nicolson
said. “But we hope to surprise
them [and to] make a name for a
public school team.” ❐
Sept. 15, 2006
s p o r t s
15
Who
is
Zinedine
Zidane?
Is he the
man
who
viciously
head-butted
M a r c o
ASA BEAL
Materazzi
to the pitch in overtime of the
World Cup Final? Or, is he the
man who has won European
Football player of the Year, the
Golden Ball at the 2006 World
Cup and FIFA World Player of
the Year three times? The truth
is that he is both men: arguably
the greatest football player of
his generation and the man who
viciously attacked an opponent
during the last game of his life.
Playing a sport that the vast
majority of Americans could never
truly appreciate, Zinedine “Zizou”
Zidane has etched his legacy into
the European consciousness.
Scooped off the streets of La
Castellane—an Algerian ghetto
of Marseille, France—he started
his professional soccer career at
age 14.
Now, two decades later, he is
no less immortal than Michael
Jordan. In fact, his status in
France supersedes that of any
American sports hero. Zidane
is not only the most popular
football player in France but
also the country’s most popular
personality, according to a survey
in the French newspaper Le
Journal du Dimanche.
But he’s known in the U.S.
only for headbutting and flooring
Italian defenders in overtime of
the World Cup final. Time for
America to crucify him.
If I had a dime for every time
NCAAF TOP 5
1. Notre Dame
2. West Virginia
3. USC
4. Ohio State
5. Texas
that I’ve heard an American sports
“analyst” say that Zidane’s “swan
song” was ruined by this horrific
act, well, I’d be a rich man. The
real point is that the significance
of an action is determined by
context.
So, must we judge Zidane’s
action. In a World Cup that
lacked excitement for many
American fans, our sportscasters
were more than happy to exploit
Zizou’s spectacle to the furthest
extent possible.
Bottom
line,
the
most
accomplished player of the last
two decades screwed up. There’s
no real way around that. What
Marco Materazzi did or didn’t
say is irrelevant; in sports, the
retaliation receives the penalty.
European newspapers reported
that the insult “son of a terrorist
whore”
prompted
Zidane’s
attack.
Although Zidane made a
mistake, his action is defensible.
Being called the son of a terrorist
whore might not make your
blood boil, but it understandably
infuriated the iconic Frenchman
to the point of violence.
Throughout his life, Zidane
has remained fiercely proud of
his North African heritage. Most
people never have and never will
experience the type of hatred and
bigotry that Europeans of African
descent encounter. Coming
from a fair-skinned Italian, the
word “terrorist” carried the same
loathing that the word “nigger”
conveys in this country. But
enough loathing to make him
lose his mind?
Though what he did was
“inexcusable,” as French President
Jacques Chirac put it, we cannot
ignore the situation.
The level at which Zidane
performed and the moves he
continuously makes during a
game require of him the ability
to act and react without stopping
to think about the consequences.
What he does with a soccer ball
is instinct; one can’t play so
masterfully by simply thinking
about doing it.
While reacting violently was
not the right thing to do, it is
impossible and unreasonable for
Americans to criticize Zidane to
the extent that they have. The
red card was penalty enough. The
saint that American sportscasters
claim he should be does not exist.
Never has, never will. It defies the
limits of sport.
So let’s not put France’s national
hero in the same conversation as
American athletes like Maurice
Clarett. Zizou’s head-butt was
not a calculated act, it was far
from cruising around with four
guns and a hatchet after downing
a bottle of vodka as Clarett did.
Fact: he lost his cool. Granted
it was on the world’s biggest stage,
but it was in reaction to one of
the vilest insults that could have
possibly been directed at him.
If you still don’t believe me,
you can side with the American
sportscasters and the evereloquent Materazzi. The latter
spoke to the media in a flustered
response to Zidane’s apology.
“It is absolutely not true,”
Materazzi said. “I did not call
him a terrorist. I’m ignorant. I
don’t even know what the word
means.”
Now there’s an astute hero for
anyone who still doesn’t have any
respect for Zinedine Zidane. ❐
GRANT COYLE
Zidane butts out, remains hero
SWING AWAY: Senior second basemen Caitlin Bradley awaits a pitch in their 26-24
victory against Druid Hills High School on Sept. 12. Bradley grounded out on the play.
New coach Jones brings high
hopes to girls’ softball team
BY GRANT COYLE
With a new coach and a new
region, the 2006 Grady girls’
softball team is feeling very
optimistic.
“The season has been going a lot
better than I thought it would,”
senior second baseman Caitlin
Bradley said.
After a 1-7 record last year, the
team hopes to improve this year.
“I think that we will win more
games this year because we have
an extra coach,” senior shortstop
Tiffany Lowery said, referring to
first year assistant coach Christine
Daniels.
On Sept. 7, the Knights lost
to Dunwoody High School 16-0
and defeated Druid Hills 26-24
on Sept. 12, bringing their record
to 4-2. Last year the Knights
graduated several seniors, leaving
the team with a very young core.
“We lost five seniors last year,
but a lot of freshmen showed up,”
Bradley said. “There is a lot more
charisma this year. Last year the
team divided into two groups that
didn’t mesh, but this year there are
a lot of little sisters on the team.”
This is head coach Shanette
Jones’ first year working with a
softball team. She was a basketball
coach before deciding to coach
softball.
“Coach Jones plays on a softball
team, so she knows a lot about the
game,” Bradley said.
Other team members agree.
“She’s doing well for her first
year coaching softball,” Lowery
said. “She’s positive and helps the
freshmen a lot.”
In training, coach Jones has been
focusing on fundamentals such as
getting the glove on the ground,
bat speed, routine plays and forceouts.
The Knights will have their work
cut out for them. Key games for
the Knights include Druid Hills,
Blessed Trinity and Westminster.
Jones continues to hope for the
best for her team and believes in
their ability to win games.
“I’m very optimistic because I
have such a young group of girls,”
Jones said. “I think we’ll go very
far.” ❐
Pot of gold within reach for Notre Dame
BY TRAVIS JONES
Apparently college football is not familiar
with the philosophy that if something ain’t
broke, then you shouldn’t try and fix it. The
NCAA has instituted a new rule that starts the
play clock as soon as a team gains possession
instead of starting it when the ball is snapped.
Experts predict that this new rule will shorten
the average game by up to 14 plays.
I don’t want less football, and I seriously
doubt that other fans do either. Regardless of
what fans think, however, the NCAA thinks that
game times are running long. The new clock
rule will put undue pressure on the offense,
forcing quicker and less judicious decisions.
This means that it will be a big year for defense
and a rewarding one for the more experienced,
knowledgeable quarterbacks.
The upcoming season presents one of the
most wide-open championship races in recent
memory. The two teams that met in the national
championship last year, USC and Texas, lost
an insane amount of talent to the first round
of the NFL draft. There is no consensus No.
1 team from the “experts” in the media, and
unless a team steps up, this should be the most
competitive season in many years.
Teams that are normally in the championship
hunt tend to come from the “power conferences,”
primarily the SEC, the Big Ten and the ACC.
The problem with playing in these deep
conferences is that all of the strong teams beat
up on each other.
The Big Ten is a perfect example. Ohio State,
the big fish, has several star-caliber players
and a considerable amount of offensive talent
returning, but only two returning starters on
defense. Not many teams are as deep as the
Buckeyes, but having to play conference games
against Michigan, Penn State and Iowa as well as
an extremely talented Texas team is a heck of a
test for such a young team.
The Longhorns boast a mighty defense, but
will be led by an untested quarterback when
they face Ohio State in the second week of the
season. They’ll see how much they miss Vince
Young when they revert to the Texas teams of the
past, losing the games that matter. Ohio State
will beat this club, quelling their back-to-back
championship dreams.
The same rings true around the nation,
whether it be Miami, Florida State and Miami in
the ACC or LSU, Auburn, Georgia and Florida
in the SEC.
Because there is no standout team, it is a
distinct possibility that teams in these tough
conferences will become victims of their
schedules, beating up on each other enough that
a dark horse from a weaker conference could step
up and take the title. Even perennial contender
USC is at a disadvantage, having to play Notre
Dame late in the season.
The Big Ten is not considered a power
conference and for good reason. While it is
a powerhouse of a basketball conference, it
provides little to no depth in football. This
will work wonders for a team all you Bulldog
fans know very well: the Mountaineers of West
Virginia. A ridiculously fast and athletic team,
the Pat-White-led Mountaineers have the easiest
schedule of any top-10 school. They have one
tough game all year when they go on the road
to play Louisville in week nine of the season, but
when they survive this lone test, West Virginia
will be staring an undefeated season straight in
the face, but who will be there to meet them in
the national championship?
Charlie Weis has awakened the echoes of
South Bend, leading Notre Dame alums to sit
back, take a deep breath and take a page out of
Bruce Springsteen’s book by reminiscing about
the “glory days.” This team, led by Heisman
favorite Brady Quinn, has a high-powered and
battle-hardened offense as well as an underrated
defense with seven returning starters. Quinn, an
incredible passing talent, spearheads a team that
must endure an unforgiving schedule that starts
tough and ends tougher, when they close out the
season against the USC Trojans on Nov. 25.
A West Virginia-Notre Dame championship
means a lot of scoring. Both offenses are
extremely deep and talented, boasting weapons
such as the Mountaineer’s super-speedy running
back Steve Slaton and Notre Dame’s freakathlete-of-a-receiver Jeff Samardzija. In the end,
the more experienced Irish will prevail in a 4238 shootout decided in the closing moments.
Hopefully this season will fulfill the nation’s
expectations, and signs point to that being the
case. All I know is that the season needs to
start, and quickly, because the clock is already
running. ❑
s p o r t s
16
Sept. 15, 2006
BY MAX BEECHING
The Knights looked to build on their
2005 fairy tale season when they opened
their 2006 campaign against the Douglass
Astros. Sports forecasters suggested an
Astro blowout, and with a halftime score of
14-0, it appeared that they could be right.
The Knights got off to an inauspicious
start after only managing three completions
in the first half. Grady’s highly touted
running game didn’t have much luck
either. A holding penalty negated a 35yard run by senior Zach Koen on a third
down and 30.
“Our offense did not play up to our own
standards,” senior running back Dexter
Barnett said.
Douglass players demonstrated their
skill, and Grady players slowly started to
lose their composure as frustration set in.
The Knights had a total of four penalties
in the first half including three on a single
drive.
The second quarter ended in an
interception thrown by senior quarterback
Simeon Kelley when he attempted to go
deep with 13 seconds left in the half.
Coach Millen must have put some fire
into the team during his halftime speech.
Senior cornerback Rico Robinson started
the third quarter with a 66-yard kick
return to the Astros 34-yard line.
“Coach told us we weren’t playing well
and that we had to step it up and play our
hearts out,” Robinson said.
The Knights were transformed in the
second half and their stubborn refusal
to give up led to a momentum-changing
scoring drive to start the third quarter.
The Knights offense converted two
fourth down attempts on that drive. The
first fourth down conversion was completed
to junior wide receiver Andrerious Thomas
for an 11-yard gain. The second conversion
was obtained thanks to senior wide receiver
Xavier Shorthouse, who made a 6-yard
catch while being hit in the back by an Astro
defender. Thomas capped the drive with a
trademark circus catch in the corner of the
end zone for the Knights’ first score.
The defense did its job, forcing Douglass
to punt with nine minutes left in the game,
giving the Knights plenty of time to even
the score.
“Our defense kept us in the game,”
Coach Millen said. “If it weren’t for them
the game would have been out of reach
from the beginning.”
Grady
stole the momentum and
exploited the Astros’ weak run defense.
Senior running backs Dexter Barnett,
Zach Koen and Josh Williams were all able
to find running room.
“There wasn’t that much space in the
first half,” Barnett said. “But we picked it
up in the second half and really stuck it to
them.”
With six minutes left in the fourth
quarter, the Knights faced their biggest
challenge of the night. It was fourth and
four with the ball on the 20-yard line
and the Knights had to convert. Kelley
dropped back in the pocket and attempted
a 5-yard pass to Koen, but the pass was
under thrown and the play resulted in a
turnover on downs. The defense yet again
MAX BEECHING
Optimistic Knights lack offense, fall to Douglass 14-7
SHAKE AND BAKE: Senior running back Zach Koen eludes a Douglass defender for a 10-yard gain in the second
quarter. This was the only successful play of the drive; penalties killed the Knights’ momentum, forcing a punt.
made up for the offensive mistakes, forcing
the Astros to punt for a third successive
time.
A comeback seemed inevitable as the
Knights moved the chains and excited the
crowd. Then the unthinkable happened.
Kelley tried to go deep to junior wide
receiver DeMarcus Watts, but the pass got
picked off in the end zone. With 2 minutes
and 40 seconds left, Grady could only
watch in disappointment as the Astros ran
out the clock.
Despite losing, the Knights remain
confident.
“Douglass came into this game thinking
they were going to blow us out,” senior
lineman Chris Smith said. “We gave them
four hard quarters and that was our goal.”
The team isn’t worried about adjusting
to AAA with weak teams like Druid Hills,
Riverwood and North Atlanta in their
region.
“We don’t want to get ahead of
ourselves,” Coach Millen said. “Were
going to take it one game at a time.”
Most of the players share the same goal.
“Our goal is simple,” Smith said. “And
that is to win a state championship.” ❐
Talented U.S. golf team plays for transatlantic bragging rights
BY ERIK BELGUM
This is the first year for a lot of
things at the Ryder Cup. It’s the
first year it will be held at the K
Club in Ireland, the first time for
four of the U.S. team members
and hopefully, the first U.S. win
since 1999.
The Ryder Cup is a series of golf
matches between the United States
and Europe. Points are awarded to
a side when a member of that team
wins a match. Matches consist of
an 18-hole round scored based
on who wins each hole. To win
the cup, a team needs 14 points.
During the first two days, two
different types of matches are
played. Foursomes, in which the
players alternate shots on the hole,
are comprised of two-man teams
from each side. The other matches
played are Four ball matches,
where the best score from each
two-man team is kept. The player
with the lowest score on a hole
wins the hole.
points system was attacked.
On the third day, a lot can Critics said we should adopt a
happen. These matches are more European-style system, in
simpler, between two players from which players earn more points for
opposing teams in match-play top-ten finishes on the PGA Tour
format. Players face off head-to- in the year of the Cup. The United
head, with some of the biggest States introduced this system and
names in golf going up against had four rookies qualify for spots
each other, such as Tiger Woods on points alone.
and Sergio Garcia. In the past,
The four rookies have played
the last day has been good for the well on the tour this year, but
Americans;
have not seen a
If the U.S. squad…can’t continuation of that
many victories
have occurred
win this year, Europe will success of late.
with a final day
Vaughn Taylor is
take its place as the golf
comeback.
playing in his first
capital of the world.
It’s
been
Ryder cup thanks to
a pretty sad run for the United wins at the Reno Tahoe Open
States as of late. The last time the in 2004 and 2005; however, he
teams met, The Americans lost by missed six of his last 10 cuts on
nine points, their worst margin tour. He also missed the cut at the
ever.
PGA Championship.
What have the Americans done
Zach Johnson is a solid player.
to stop the losing trend? Not He’s never won a Tour event, but
much. After the latest drubbing has tied for second at the Bellsouth
the U.S. received in 2004, the tournament and at the prestigious
“
FOOTBALL
Region 5-AAAB Standings
School
Region
W
Blessed Trinity 0
Chamblee
0
North Atlanta 0
Dunwoody
0
Grady
0
Riverwood
0
0
Druid Hills
Westminster
0
L
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Overall
W
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
0
L
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
3
Memorial Tournament hosted by
Jack Nicklaus. He also missed the
cut at PGA.
Brett Wetterich won the EDS
Byron Nelson Championship and
tied for second with Johnson at
the Memorial. He’s made the cut
only 10 out of 28 times in 2005
and missed the cut at the PGA.
J.J. Henry has won once on
tour this year in his home state
of Rhode Island. He hits the ball
a mile and made the cut at the
PGA, finishing tied for 41st.
The captain, Tom Lehman, is
well aware of his team’s lack of
experience. To make up for it,
he took them on a two-day trip
to Ireland to visit the club and
become familiar with the course
on which they would be playing.
The main concern for the
United States is its ability to
play as a team. There is no doubt
that we have better players than
Europe. Tiger Woods has won four
KNIGHT WATCH
PL AYER PROFILES
Anthony Johnson
Schedule
FUTURE GAMES
9/29 Grady v. Dunwoody*
10/6 Grady @Westminster*
10/13 Grady v. North Atlanta*
10/20 Grady v. Chamblee*
10/27 Grady @ Riverwood*
* denotes region game
tournaments in a row, including
the PGA championship. Though
dominant in stroke play, where the
total number of shots are counted,
he boasts a poor record of 7-11-2
in Ryder cup matches.
The European teams of recent
years have been known for
dominating the team play. Huge
egos are the main problem the
U.S. squad faces. Though the
United States looks better on
paper, they are still the underdogs.
Hopefully this position will help
them reach their potential and
win after years of disappointment.
If the U.S. squad, which is
captained by one of the best Ryder
Cup players in history, can’t win
this year, Europe will take it’s place
as the golf capital of the world.
This year’s Ryder Cup has more
meaning than previous ones, and
the United States has to step up to
the challenge or be remembered as
another team that couldn’t win. ❐
senior linebacker
Dexter Barnett
senior running back
RECENT SCORES
Grady lost to Douglass,
14-7 Sept. 1.
Grady beat Therrell 41-8
Sept. 9.
Grady beat Towers 58-6
Sept. 15.
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 200 pounds
Number: 5
Season stats:
Leads team with 10 tackles
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 185 pounds
Number: 12
Season stats:
18 rushes. 192 yds. 3 TDs