katrina forces student exodus
Transcription
katrina forces student exodus
S I N C E 1 9 4 7 www.gradyhighschool.org/ southerner.html An upbeat paper for a downtown school HEALTH ACADEMY A New Home for HOSA p. 12 NEWS Grady meets NCLB Standards PIEBAR Diverse food draws diverse crowd p. 16 p. 8 VOLUME LIX, NUMBER 1, SEPT. 15, 2005 HENRY W. GRADY HIGH SCHOOL, ATLANTA KATRINA FORCES STUDENT EXODUS A Israelis pull out of Gaza in peace attempt I See ISRAEL page 7 NEWS BRIEFS Grady’s SAT verbal score 5th in the state Junior John Helsel published in journal Grady junior John Helsel, in collaboration with Georgia State University professor Douglas Gies, was published in the June issue of Astrophysical Journal. The duo studied the movement of the sun. A BLESSED FIELD GOAL FOILS BLESSED TRINITY Junior running back Dexter Barnett blows by a Blessed Trinity defender, for a 25-yard reception of a fourth-quarter screen pass during the Sept. 3 game. Because neither team could score in regulation, the game went into overtime, giving each team one possession to score. Grady won the game 3-0 after a booming 29-yard field goal by sophomore Noah Shaye, who had missed an earlier field goal attempt. The Knights, currently undefeated, are hoping for a season to remember. See story page 20. BY EMMA DIN & HANNA GRIFFITHS lina Maleski had just finished unpacking. It was sunny and the sky was beautiful. It was her first day at Tulane University. So, when she was told by an administrator that she had to evacuate, Maleski thought it was a joke. Maleski graduated from Grady last spring and is a Tulane freshman. Tulane officials, alerted of impending Hurricane Katrina, mandated that all students evacuate the campus by 6 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 27. “Literally, as I sat down my minifridge, the head of the dorm came and told me that the school would be evacuated,” said Sean Corley, also a freshman at Tulane and a 2005 Grady graduate. “Within 15 minutes we had left the campus. … We picked one [of my friends] up, then my brother, and I left.” As Tulane students fled, just a block away Dr. Ray Rampolla of the ICU at Charity Hospital was gearing up for what would be many days of mental and physical exhaustion. With just two teams of nurses at hand, 12-hour shifts would soon be required. Meanwhile, mass evacuations led to major traffic jams on the Louisiana highways. A combination of slow movement HOW YOU CAN HELP The Grady community is collecting funds during firstperiod classes and at the gates of Grady football games. Donations can be made out the Red Cross and dropped off at Mr. Legagneur’s room, C407, or Mr. Pilson’s room, E212. For more information, contact Mr. Legagneur at [email protected] . and urgency forced the conversion of several major interstates into one-way routes out of New Orleans. Even so, Lori Fisher, Maleski’s mother, said cars were bumper-to-bumper. “All of a sudden, it went from an ‘it’s-not-a-big-deal hurricane’ to a mandatory evacuation of the city,” Maleski said. Though Tulane students were already leaving town Saturday afternoon, Loyola students were settling into the college life. Matthew Baughman, another former Grady student, had just arrived in town. As the storm closed in, Baughman partied at a frat house. “We had no idea it would be See KATRINA page 14 MacBrien adds fresh enthusiasm to magnet program BY MATT WESTMORELAND hroughout the franticness and commotion surrounding the scheduling process during the first weeks of school, the warm, welcoming face of Carrie MacBrien served as an inviting presence for magnet students at every turn. The hiker, dog owner, and film lover whom students met stood prepared to help everyone as best she could. Ms. MacBrien, former freshman journalism teacher, succeeded Naomi Grishman as coordinator of the school’s magnet program in July, eight months following Ms. Grishman’s appointment as assistant principal. Although Ms. MacBrien took hold of the reigns just over two months ago, she approaches her new position full of vision and ideas for the magnet program. “I look forward to building on Ms. Grishman’s record of the last 11 years T CURRY ANDREWS Grady’s 2004-2005 senior class boasted a combined average SAT of 1100. The class’s verbal score was fifth among state public schools. SCOTT KING BY REBECCA GITTELSON srael pulled out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank in midAugust, marking the first time Israel has ever given up territory that is part of the biblical land of Israel. The areas had a majority Palestinian population before the disengagement, with Gaza home to approximately 1.5 million Palestinians and about 9,000 Jewish settlers, who are Israeli citizens. Gaza will become a large part of a potential Palestinian state as Israel grants the Palestinians immediate civil and criminal control over the area, which includes the nowdeserted Jewish settlements. The Israeli government is now in the process of demolishing the Jewish settlers’ former homes, schools and synagogues. “[Because of the] amount of money that they [the Israelis] have been spending protecting such a small number of people [and] the terrible toll it takes on the soldiers that have to defend the settlers, it [the disengagement] is definitely a good thing for the Israelis,” said Alta Schwartz, senior program associate for the Middle-East Peace Education Program in Atlanta. MACMAGNET: Ms. MacBrien finds time to talk with junior Hanna Griffiths in spite of her multiple responsiblities. and strengthening ties with members of communication industries and bringing them into the school,” she said. After growing up on a small farm in rural Connecticut, Ms. MacBrien left New England in search of “new experiences.” She earned a B.A. in English and an M.Ed. from Emory University. After graduating, Ms. MacBrien taught at Crim High School for six years, then moved to Harper Archer High School in 2001 where she taught and served as chair of the English department. The following year she went to Carver High School, where she also taught and served as chair of the English department before coming to Grady in the fall of 2004. After all of her teaching experience, Ms. MacBrien believes she’s found her home. “I love Grady,” she said. “It has such a thriving education program, and I was happier last year than I’ve ever been.” Ms. MacBrien feels her new position combines all of her interests and love of education into one job. “I have toyed with the idea of being a guidance counselor or being involved with curriculum See MACBRIEN page 13 c o m m e n t 2 Sept. 15, 2005 THE SOUTHERNER SINCE 1947 EDITORIAL BOARD CHELSEA COOK ALLISON FARNHAM SARAH MARRINER ELIZABETH SCHENCK MICAH WEISS MATT WESTMORELAND Announcement abuse The new school year has brought with it many revised policy changes to Grady in attempt to make the school the efficient, timely, disciplined atmosphere the administration wants it to be. Unfortunately, a good learning environment has suffered with the installation of these new changes. Most of the controversy stems from the new tardy policy, which promises to the late student a Saturday Work Detention on the first offense. What’s worse, if a student is even a few seconds late, they now have to wait upwards of 45 minutes for a class for a pass. Shouldn’t this time be better spent in class learning? Timeliness is a virtue, but to deprive students of class time for a slipup, especially one that may be beyond their control, is ridiculous. And once class begins, we need to all work together to ensure teachers and students can interact for a class period free from announcements and other disruptions. While there are certainly times during the school day with announcements are warranted, minimizing these interruptions should be the goal of administrators, teachers, and students. We understand that discipline is important for a strong learning environment and a productive school, but the current situation is creating the opposite affect. Continuing educational success should be and is the main goal of all Knights. We all just need to ensure we work together to make the school year run smoothly. ❐ Detectors a mere ruse Safety in our schools is touted as a main priority for the Atlanta Public School System. The metal detectors at the official entrances to the school in the morning are supposed to make our school safer. It is widely known, however, that these detectors are more for decoration than practical use. Two metal detectors are placed at either side of the cafeteria. In theory, teachers are assigned the additional responsibility of thoroughly checking each bag as it comes into the school and checking students if they set off the alarm. In reality, the detectors have been unplugged several times this year. Many days have passed when students walk, unchecked, underneath the powerless arches. Other days the detector has worked, but no teachers are in sight. On days when the system is semi-functional, students enter the school through one of three open entrances from the courtyard, escaping detection all together. The school building can never be 100 percent secure. There will always be loopholes in the system and ways around the detectors and checkers. But there must be a better way for Grady’s students to enter the building every day than under the watchful eye of metal detectors, bag checkers, and body searchers. Grady’s students shouldn’t be subjected to criminal-like treatment every morning as they come into school to receive an education. Teachers, no longer required to fulfill additional obligations having nothing to to with teaching, could ues the their “duty” time to prepare for the day’s classes. Either give new meaning to the term “lockdown” or do away with it for good. ❐ On May 8, 2005, the Southerner received its Columbia Scholastic Press Association evaluation of its performance for the 2003-2004 school year. Even though the staff received a Gold Medal, CSPA’s highest rating, the evaluator suspected plagiarism in many of our stories, particularly Kimberly Hagan’s November 2003 article, “An Army of One.” The anonymous judge wrote: “I have a hard time believing any HS student uses phrases like, ‘...an ill-fated precedent,’ let alone do research on the laws of the Geneva Convention!” In response to these accusations, managing editor David Suitts wrote a letter of protest to CSPA. AJC editor Cynthia Tucker wrote a column praising Hagan’s work and admonishing the judge for his/her false allegations (“Scooped by students? Believe it,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 18). CSPA President Edmund Sullivan responded to Tucker’s column in a letter published on May 23. Sullivan characterized Hagan’s story as a “piece of enterprising journalism that deserved the praise it has received.” Hagan and advisor Dave Winter appeared on CNN Live Saturday on May 28. The series of events generated the following letters to the Southerner: Southerner staffers to go far in journalism careers Dear Editors, Please give my warmest regards to David Suitts and Kimberly Hagan. I recently read Cynthia Tucker's excellent editorial regarding the ridiculous comments by an obviously bigoted judge. When I was their age, I faced similarly ageist prejudices. The good news is that your writers have a rare and highly marketable skill that will only improve with time. Someday they will look back with amusement on the ignorance of an arrogant judge and go back to counting their royalty checks. You are all to be commended, and I hope that none of you ever lose your love of the power of language. The Rev. C. Joshua Villines Ph.D. Student Vanderbilt University Judge’s allegations an indirect form of praise Dear Editors, I have long admired your paper, but this thing I read about in today's AJC is your finest hour. I agree with Suitt's take: this judge's suspicion is in truth a twisted kind of praise. Congratulations to your staff on being implausibly brilliant! Jim Veal Newspaper Adviser Peachtree Ridge High School Suwanee Staff Managing editors: Chelsea Cook, Matt Westmoreland Design editors: Alex Daniels, Duy Lam Copy editor: Chelsea Spencer News editors: Allana Neely, Robert Sanders Comment editors: Sarah Marriner, Elizabeth Schenck People editors: Allison Farnham, Shearlon White Sports editors: Patrick McGlynn, Woody Morgan Special Section editor: William VanDerKloot Photo editor: Chelsea Spencer Nexus managing editor: Micah Weiss Hagan defies common “microwave” reporting Dear Editors, I read Cynthia Tucker’s Op/Ed piece today and was somewhat surprised. I think the judge’s sentiments reflect something that’s happening in journalism, something I like to call “nuked journalism,” by which I mean microwaving old stories. It reflects a general laziness to do anything interesting or that requires effort to investigate. Too many editors and educators encourage a “rock star school of journalism” but no actual journalistic WORK. No digging, no prodding, no interviewing, or asking tough questions. It’s all personality profiles or reheating of national stories with B roll (for us broadcast kids). Commend your reporter who wrote the piece and encourage her to continue her dedication to tell the stories for which other people simply don’t have the marrow. Ben Mayer University of Georgia An upbeat paper for a downtown school Staff: Lee Allen, Curry Andrews, Jessica Baer, Asa Beal, Max Beeching, Erik Belgum, Leah Bishop, Chloe Blalock, Andrew Bracken, Lena Brodsky, Jeffrey Carpenter, Alastair Carter-Boff, George Demeglio, Emma Din, Lily Feinberg, Rebecca Gittelson, Ramika Gourdine, Hanna Griffiths, Carson Hale, Sean Harrington, Stone Irvin, Sam Johnson, Travis Jones, Kenny Jones, Robinson Levin, Sarah Beth McKay, Greg O’Donnell, Julia Oliver, Carson Phillips-Spotts, Madeline Webb, Sally Zintak Photo adviser: Dawn Wadsworth Adviser: Dave Winter Print staff: Alvin Hambrick, Harlon Heard, Michael Jackson, Adlai McClure, Charlotte Napper, Benjamin Shaw The Southerner, a member of GSPA, SIPA, CSPA and NSPA, is a monthly student publication of: Henry W. Grady High School 929 Charles Allen Drive. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 The Southerner welcomes submissions, which may be edited for grammar, inappropriate language and length. Please place submissions in Mr. Winter's box in the main office. Subscriptions are also available. For more information, please contact Mr. Winter or a member of the staff. We can be reached at [email protected]. ga.us THE SOUTHERNER c o m m e n t Sept. 15, 2005 3 Local stores come up short with IKEA, Target opening This summer I tried to get a job at the Home Store Futon Gallery in Little Five Points. The hours were perfect, the location was convenient, and what teenager wouldn’t kill for a summer job in an air-conditioned room with a bunch of beds? Sadly, however, my dreams of spending the summer in MADELEINE WEBB such a relaxing fashion were squandered when I was told that my help wouldn’t be needed at the store. After moving through every rejectee’s initial stages of self pity and doubt, I finally moved into the phase of shifting the blame onto a third party. The culprit, you ask? There are actually two sources of my resentment: the newly opened IKEA and the Super Target on Moreland. Both new, enormous, overstocked, and underpriced, the two mega-stores were opened in locations lacking a chain retail store. IKEA at Atlantic Station, a multi–story mini-mall of furniture and home décor, is the first IKEA in the Southeast and the third largest in North America. Known for its modern and often unusual design, IKEA furniture is dubbed the “affordable Pottery Barn.” Consumers flock to IKEA from out of state for the Swedish shopping experience. The first person in line at the new Atlanta location had been there a week. IKEA has raised the bar of retail shopping to an unparalleled level – the IKEA catalogue is supposedly the second most widely distributed book after the Bible: They print a hundred million copies of the catalogue annually. IKEA also has a Swedish café inside the store where one can sit and enjoy a hot plate of Swedish meatballs while they admire their acquired bounty. And the Target on Moreland is following suit, featuring a Starbucks and a food center. One could practically lock themselves in either mega-store and survive. Intowners from Inman Park to Oakhurst are reveling in the convenience factor of both chains. Wendall Rob used to drive as far as Marietta to find a decent Target, gushing that the one on Moreland “has been a great shopping experience, and it’s here in the city!” But what about local businesses? Small independent stores throughout Atlanta are feeling the effects of the Big-Chain Massacre, including The Home Store Futon Gallery. Most of their business this time of year comes from college students who are setting up camp in dorms or apartments. The store has seen a large drop-off in this demographic this year as the young and budget-conscious shoppers head to where the grass is greener…and the prices cheaper. “The response we’ve gotten from a lot of people who were former customers or new customers is that they (Target and IKEA) have a lot of things that we don’t,” says Chris Beuchner, who owns the Gallery with his four brothers and nephew. Anyone who hasn’t stepped into the Gallery in over a month will be shocked to see the interior of the trendy Little Five Points store. The floor is packed with almost twice as many futons folded out in response to the competition, and Beuchner says that they plan on implementing more effective marketing and advertising. The Gallery will have to adjust to keep bringing in Atlanta futon-buyers in the face of such economic predation. “In a small retail business there’s constantly modes of adaptation,” Beuchner said. “So whether it’s dealing with the economy or another store or trends in furniture, you’re always changing.” While Beuchner may be right, a change in the Gallery is exactly what some of us Little Five Pointers fear. The Gallery as been a central spot in L5P for 21 years and is a crucial staple establishment of the square. The hip family-owned-andoperated Gallery is more than a futon store– it is an oasis, a fresh urban outlook on new-age style and peaceful surroundings. It is a marker of L5P’s diversity and independence as a strong standing area for independent business. But all this may change as the Gallery swings into the defensive, modifying based on consumers’ needs. “If you stay the same you’ll get buried,” Beuchner says, gazing around the showroom. “This is just another challenge for us to create our niche.” ❐ Scheduling flaws create frenzy among freshmen It was like kindergarten all over again, only this time I was the one holding the camera RAMIKA GOURDINE and talking about how fast time flies. It was my twin brothers’ first day of high school, and as much as I tease the two of them I still have a serious bigsister complex. For that reason I was enraged when I heard that they didn’t have schedules come Monday morning. It made matters even worse when I learned that they were not the only ones. Reasons ranging from a lack of know-how on the computer to lost files forced more than 30 freshmen to go without schedules for the first week of the school year. Grady was prepared to neither accommodate all the incoming students, nor explain why they were still in the gym. The affected students sat in the gym for half of the day before they were informed of their situation. Left to their own devices, fear of wrongdoing and thoughts of having to go back to middle school filled their heads. I understand that the 20052006 school year will be one of change and struggle for Grady. We’ve gone from a school with empty classrooms to one necessitating floating teachers. I know that Ms. McClain was ill over the summer. At the same time, couldn’t the rushed and unfinished scheduling have been handled better if it had been started earlier? Several students attempted to register or check on files sent from middle schools two to three weeks before school began; they were turned away, told to return the last week of summer. If the administration knew Crim was coming in addition to the usual newcomers, why didn’t they give themselves the extra time they needed? It seems that Grady was ready to welcome new students who had attended Crim, but overlooked those who have been headed to Grady for years. “My happy level just went from 10 to zero,” my brother, Earl, said when asked about his first day. He was not alone in his sentiments. A number of affected freshmen exhibited a feeling of insignificance. They expressed that being forgotten made them feel unwanted. The school was so worried about not allowing some to be left out, that they left out others. As cliché as it sounds, first impressions really do last the longest. Memories of that first day of being herded into the practice gym, or of the days that followed, shadowing sophomores, will stick with these students for a while. Many share thoughts that Grady is unorganized. “I’m just going to be a nobody,” Earl said. “I can’t get help if I need to be helped.” Although it may be unconscious, these students have a different view of Grady’s administration. A certain respect and pride will be missing. This decreased morale will worsen an already bad situation. As if they weren’t frustrated enough, these freshmen have ventured into class a week behind. Some wouldn’t have expected it, but the first week held homework and quizzes in numerous classes. Many of those students have returned to the anxious state of that Monday morning, only now they wonder if they can succeed. The time and stress involved in Grady’s transformation can’t compare to that of the students it overlooked. Like many others, they have awaited schedule changes. There is but one difference—these students don’t believe they will ever receive them. ❐ Sheehan forgets price of peace "Mr. President, my name is Cindy Sheehan. On April 4, 2004, my son, Casey was killed in Iraq. He was only 24, and he died in his best friend's arms. Casey was so good…and so honest. Why can't you be honest with us? You were wrong SARAH MARRINER about the weapons of mass destruction. You were wrong about the link between Iraq and Al-Qaeda. You lied to us, and because of your lies, my son died. You said he died for a noble cause. What cause? Mr. President, I want to tell you face to face how much this hurts. I love my country. But how many more of our loved ones need to die in this senseless war? How many more soldiers have to die before we say enough? I know you can't bring Casey back. But it's time to admit mistakes and bring our troops home now." The above is a script for a television ad sponsored by Gold Star Families for Peace, an organization dedicated to bringing America's troops home from Iraq. This advertisement, in protest against President Bush, is one of many things in which Cindy Sheehan, cofounder of GSFP, has become involved to get her message of peace across to the nation. Most of America is familiar with Sheehan due to the recent press coverage of her anti-war demonstration near Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. Her efforts have sent her message across the nation. But just as the ad poses all these questions for Bush, I have a couple questions for Sheehan and Gold Star Families for Peace: "Which is it? Do you want peace or do you want our troops to come home now?" Taking troops out of Iraq right now would only cause chaos and do nothing to create peace between the United States and Iraq. War cannot be resolved by just abandoning what has already been done; peace doesn’t come easy. Sheehan and GSFP know that it's impossible to have peace and bring our troops home on the next flight. I do, however, sympathize with Sheehan. I can't imagine how hard it would be to bury your own child, to have your son killed for a cause whose validity you question. I believe Bush has an obligation to answer her questions. Like Sheehan, I am against this war. I agree we should not have troops in Iraq. I too want this conflict to end quickly so our soldiers can come home. I also realize, however, that the only way to establish a lasting peace is to keep the soldiers in Iraq for now. Though Sheehan and President Bush differ in opinion on many aspects of the war, they agree on more than they disagree. Neither wants any more soldiers to die. Both are striving for peace and want a quick resolution to this conflict. Both want to see our troops come safely home. The only question that remains is how to achieve a lasting peace as quickly as possible. Sheehan believes that by removing the troops now, the war will end. It's not that simple. If she wants our soldiers home now, it will be at the price of peace. If she wants her organization to be taken seriously she needs to decide which is more important to her, American troops coming home or peace in Iraq. ❐ c o m m e n t 4 THE SOUTHERNER Sept. 15, 2005 Amish not as innocent, gentle as thought to be A n n a Slabaugh was born into the Swartze n b u r g A m i s h district. She recounts CHLOE BLALOCK b e i n g beaten with pieces of wood for misbehaving, and when she turned 11, her 19year-old brother started molesting her. Next her 17-year-old brother started raping her. “He would put a lot of pressure on my top so I couldn’t breathe.” Anna finally used an English family’s phone to call a battered women’s shelter, and a social worker came to visit her home, yet she was left defenseless. According to Anna’s statement to Nadya Labi of Legal Affairs magazine, the social workers “say you’ll have to be hurt by them before we’ll do anything about it.” Her parents started locking her in her room after she tried to run away. She was taken to a doctor who found Anna’s eardrum collapsed from blows to the head. When a massage therapist noticed scars on Anna’s legs, Child Youth Services was notified, but they didn’t take her into protective custody. When Anna’s mother found out about the CYS visit, she took Anna to an Amish dentist and had all her teeth pulled out. Anna recalls her mother replying: “I guess you won’t be talking anymore.” Days before her court appearance was scheduled, Anna’s parents threatened her into revoking her accusations. Her parents were never charged. The Amish have typically upheld their reputation as the ideal, god-fearing, hardworking, morally strict and saintly people that originally gained them freedom from the law. Because they have been awarded a closed community, they are mostly ignored by law enforcement and the government. The Amish do not serve jury duty, their kids do not attend school after eighth grade, child labor laws do not apply, and traffic laws become pointless, since they drive in horse-drawn buggies. But this immunity leaves the bigger issues uncontrolled. In the last five years, horrible cases or rape, incest, beatings, and extreme secrecy have brought to light a much darker side of the “gentle people,” but the government has yet to step in. The Amish society is driven by a “forgive and forget” policy, inspired by Jesus on the cross. The idea is to confess your sins, be shunned and forgiven. In the most severe cases, people are excommunicated, cut off completely from anyone in the Amish community. The twisted part is, when John Byler raped his sister for 13 years and then confessed these sins, he was banned from church activity for several weeks and made to publicly ask for forgiveness, “the most severe punishment under Amish tradition.” Once a sinner has confessed and his repentance deemed genuine, every member of the Amish community must forgive him. Any person who refers to a past misdeed after the Amish penalty for it has ended can be equally punished. “My windows were always locked…then they started taking off my door,” Mary Byler told Labi of her brothers John and Eli. When abuse continued, Mary went to her mother, to which she replied, “You don’t fight hard enough and you don’t pray hard enough.” Mary was later excommunicated for threatening to press charges if her younger sister wasn’t protected. The Amish also believe uncompromisingly in women’s submission to males and the sanctity of marriage. Women cannot drive buggies, they do not hold jobs with enough pay to support themselves, and if they leave the community, they do not take their children with them, and they do not come back. I typically believe in the freedoms America’s First Amendment promises. Allowing the government to control what people say, read, or in this case believe, is way too 1984 for me. But when the abusive underside of a supposedly “gentle” society is exposed, where do you draw the line between protecting people and stifling them? Where does religious freedom end? ❐ Bush relaxing on vacation just when America needs him most When student council officers neglect class work, beat up foreign exchange students, and manage to lose all the funds in the treasury, they get the axe. When World leaders, do the same, however, they go on vacation. With our president on STONE IRVIN vacation at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, I would assume that we are not fueling our deficit, no war is being waged, and the Iraqi reconstruction is coming along nicely. Whether Bush sees progress or not, his vacations keep coming. According to CBS broadcast journalist Mark Knoller, since his first year on the job, the president has taken 49 vacations to his Crawford ranch and has accumulated 319 full or partial vacation days, roughly 20 percent of his presidency. He has broken the record for presidential vacations. Some believe President Bush is receiving too much criticism for his trips to Crawford. The pressure of running a country is obviously high, and everyone deserves a break. Strangely enough, however, there was a little-known president by the name of Franklin Delano Roosevelt who managed to pull this country out of the Great Depression, lead us victoriously through the largest war in history, and gain a popularity great enough to win him four presidential elections. With the added pains of polio, it is strange that he took fewer vacations in 12 years than Bush took in less than two. But Bush does not bring to mind images of FDR; he is more like Herbert Hoover. The economy has lost more jobs than it started with in Bush’s first term, the only president since Hoover to hold that dubious honor. Bush has an edge over Hoover, though, with the most bankruptcies in U.S. history. Strangely, Hoover has been demonized by U.S. history as the poster child for political ineptitude, while Bush has gained a popularity that would make many former presidents envious. Even with criticism from protestors, Bush enjoys a solid base of support. Even with the country so closely divided, it is clear after his re-election that Bush is in control of the majority. His ever-changing reasons that the war in Iraq is justified have kept the masses pacified for too long. There were no WMDs, no link to Sept. 11, no uranium from Africa. The hopes for democracy are becoming dimmer while Bush chooses to relax in Texas. With the parts of the Iraqi constitution ensuring women’s rights all but sunk, Bush has come up with a new reason to shed more blood while he vacations: America owes it to the dead veterans to keep on fighting. With every other rationale leading to a dead end, Bush has finally justified death with more death. If we follow such a flawed and unforgiving outlook, then the United States may as well say we owe it to the dead soldiers of the Civil War to keep on killing our neighbors to the north. Whether it’s right or wrong to use the dead to sow the seeds of death is up to you. Perhaps I was even unfair in my comparison of Bush to Hoover… after all, Hoover wasn’t re-elected. ❐ Ban on pranks will fail to stop strong-willed seniors My first day of senior year started out ordinarily enough. After sitting in the stadium, under the hot sun, for a good half an hour, each class was broken ALASTAIR up for “grade-level CARTER-BOFF meetings.” As I filed into the cafeteria with my fellow seniors, an air of nervous excitement around us, I could tell this was going to be a good year, or so I thought. Sure, nothing seemed out of place at first. There were the obligatory lectures on proper attendance, the importance of community service, why the SAT matters, and finally, a particularly amusing section on proper attire. Just as we were getting ready to go to homeroom, Mr. Arnold hit us with it. He told us, the senior class of 2006, that, due to last year’s senior antics, no senior prank would be allowed. While everyone knows that senior pranks are never “allowed,” they are expected. I will admit that last year’s seniors may have gotten a little carried away (OK, so maybe they got more than a little carried away). The administration should have known, however, that by explicitly prohibiting this year’s seniors from conducting a senior prank, it only made the idea of a prank all the more enticing. Senior pranks are a rite of passage for each graduating class. It’s a way of leaving a mark (even if only temporarily) on the school, a way to leave ourselves at the school, even when not physically present. I consider senior pranks to be a somewhat sick, misguided form of affection and admiration for one’s soon-to-be alma mater. It’s a way for seniors to pay Grady back for all those wonderful spring days when Piedmont Park seemed like heaven, but instead of frolicking barefoot through the grass, we were stuck indoors, under cheap fluorescent lighting, watching cheesy ‘80s-era instructional videos about safety in the chemistry lab or learning how the U.S. Supreme Court operates. Yes, that’s what a senior prank is: affection and admiration disguised as petty vandalism. Grady has tried to ban things before; most vivid in my mind was freshman year, when Mr. Foreman tried to outlaw dragging, to little effect. While dragging the freshman may not be as conventional an initiation as being shoved into a locker, and while being dragged may bruise more than an ego, it’s tradition, and, from what I remember, as soon as it was decreed a punishable offense, it only gained more popularity. Mr. Foreman’s ban on senior pranks uses the same general formula that the ban on dragging did, and, thusly, it will have the same end result; although the ban may scare us away for awhile, once we get a really, really good idea (or at least what seems like a good idea at the time), we’ll just come back with more intensity, and, if we time things just right, every senior will graduate. ❐ THE SOUTHERNER c o m m e n t Sept. 15, 2005 5 False American perceptions revealed on trip abroad Thinking back on the past three months of my life, I realize that I was given the most amazing and enjoyable summer I could have ever asked for. ELIZABETH SCHENCK Not only was I fortunate enough to take part in the typical American family vacations that are taken throughout the course of the summer—trips to the beach, weekend stays in the mountains, days spent and dollars wasted at various amusement parks—but I was also handed a passport, spending money, and numerous disposable cameras and ventured out of the country twice, spending the last three weeks of my summer vacation in England with my church choir. The trip was to the colder, more western part of Europe, full of unending fun, oncein-a-lifetime experience, and unforgettable memories and moments. It was also an incredible, enriching cultural experience that served to shock me and the rest of my American comrades, impressing upon me new ideals and viewpoints. I will forever look differently at our country and its interaction with the rest of the world. Lying on my not-quite-twin-sized bed in a small, dorm-sized room shared with three other people at the Baden Powell House in London, trying to get some sleep at 9:30 at night (it had been a long day), I heard what sounded like a gaggle of young teens talking amongst themselves in the hall. Freezing, dressed in my summer pajamas with my wet hair draped on my shoulders, I got my friend, Juliana Strack, to go out into the hall with me and see what all was going on. We, along with five or so other girls from my choir, ended up spending almost two hours talking to a bunch of English boys from the Isles of Man, who were finishing up their school trip in London. Conversation carried on as usual as it does between teens. Then one of the boys asked in all seriousness why we all weren’t extremely obese, if we all had guns in our homes, why we all adore Bush so much, and if the schools in America were really as dangerous as his teachers purported them to be. We were all quiet, not sure of how to respond to this. I was both insulted and surprised by how people around the world perceive Americans and American culture. I might not have given this a second thought if similar comments had not come from other, older, wiser, and more educated people whom I met on this trip. Our tour guide, who remained with us throughout our entire stay in England, informed my friends and I that it was generally felt among local Englanders that Americans are a highly uneducated group of people that go this way and that, making wrong decisions and messing everything up, wholly uniformed about everything. He added that while nearly 90 percent of Europeans travel abroad, only 20 percent of Americans own a passport. He did compliment our group, however, telling us that we were not how he imagined American teenagers to be—we were able to “communicate” our thoughts and ideas effectively and we presented ourselves in a mature and adult manner in public. A member of the head staff at the Marriott Hotel in Bristol, England, where we stayed for a week, had similar feelings. It is no wonder as to why we all tried to be on our best behavior from that point on—we wanted them to begin to view us and our culture in a more positive way. We wanted to leave England feeling that we did the best we possibly could to set forth positive ideals about America, especially American teens. Fortunately, we felt we had accomplished this before the end of our stay. But although we might have changed the minds of some, England is an international hub full of millions and millions of other people. Although I realize that some are not willing to change their views, I feel that it is our duty as Americans to try to present ourselves and our country in a more positive way. At least we know deep down that we are doing everything we can to better our position in the international world and to be held with more respect by other countries. Even though traveling abroad can be expensive, it wouldn’t hurt if more of us had a passport with the possibility of a trip across the ocean in mind. And if this is still not possible for some, we should better inform ourselves on what is happening in our world, whether it be by reading a book about the history of Nigeria or watching the evening news on CNN. Whatever it may be, we need to do something. ❐ Andy Milanokis Show an insult to intelligence Smoking ban ridiculous, unfair Eighteen to vote, 18 to go a strip club, 18 to order OxyClean off infomercials, and now 18 just to get a basket of my favorite chicken fingers? The recently passed Georgia smoking ordinance prohibits me LEAH BISHOP from patronizing my favorite neighborhood establishment, Manuel’s Tavern. For years I’ve accompanied my parents to Manuel’s, or what they jokingly refer to as “National Headquarters,” for soccer-league meetings, Sally Foster fundraisers and even political rallies. A central spot for watching the World Series and World Cup, eating good American bar food with friends, and blowing quarters on pinball and Golden Tee Golf, Manuel’s has been the site of many of my childhood memories. This all changed for me, however, when Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the law which permits restaurants and bars to allow smoking only under the condition that they don’t serve or employ people under the age of 18 unless they have a smoke-removing ventilation system. This law is meant to prevent second-hand smoke and under- age smoking by not giving minors the opportunity to be in a smoked-filled facility. The ban, however, concurrently excludes paying customers who are just as deserving of a hamburger as someone about to light up. While I am a non-smoker and I believe that second-hand smoke is detrimental to a person’s health, I also believe that the government should not micromanage people’s personal habits nor exclude hungry patrons from certain establishments. I am given enough orders by my parents and teachers as it is, so the last thing I need is for Georgia lawmakers to regulate where I can and cannot eat. The ban not only harms minors like myself, but also smokers who now must research beforehand the restaurants in which they are allowed to both grab a bite to eat and smoke at the same time. Instead of this law that affects everyone across Georgia, there was an alternate quick-fix solution that would have been much simpler and less selfish: people opposed to second-hand smoke should avoid frequenting restaurants that are notorious for it. As for now, until my 18th birthday, my hot wings will have to be to-go and my pinball skills will have to be practiced elsewhere. ❐ “I rock peas on my head, but don’t call me a peahead. Bees on my head, but don’t call me SEAN HARRINGTON a beehead.” This is but one part of the offbeat beginning to the MTV’s new show, The Andy Milonakis Show—a seemingly innocent program about a boy in his early teens who somehow doesn’t go to school and instead acts like a complete imbecile, especially when the elderly are around. At first glance this is just a cleaner, more off-the-wall show following in the steps of Jackass and Wild Boyz, featuring people doing comically stupid things to draw an audience. After a few minutes of mindless entertainment, I began to wonder why this little boy was allowed to act like a fool on national television. It turns out, he’s not a little boy at all. Andy Milonakis, although looking and playing the part well, is not an ADHD-afflicted teen. He was born on Jan. 30, 1976 in Queens, New York. So America can’t even watch a show about a crazy 14-year-old; we get to watch one with a grown man playing the part of a 14-year-old. I don’t know who to feel worse for, the duped masses or the man playing a child. At least he gets paid. This isn’t, however, Milonakis’ first time being in front of a national audience. Jimmy Kimmel, the creator of the show, recruited Milonakis to appear on his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, for the 20032004 season. Since that show was aimed towards adults, Milonakis was virtually unknown by his audience when his show debuted on MTV, which temporarily held off the information about his age. As for the plot of the show, there isn’t one. At all. Milonakis just roams around outside his apartment, asking old people ridiculous questions and messing with their heads. Maybe he’ll dress up as a robot and waddle down the street blurting out random comments to the passers-by. Or perhaps he’ll be in his house, playing games with his much-older friend Ralphie, who appears to be quite lacking in the intelligence department. Then again, it could be any random thing, such as “Jesus Cat,” a very short scene in which Milonakis’s cat is dressed up as Jesus and sits at a long table. Occasionally celebrities, such as Lil’ Jon, Fat Joe or the Ying-Yang Twins, will drop randomly into a sketch. It’s always interesting to see how such revered people will act, but these sketches are too few and to have a major impact on the overall effect of the show. So why is this show so popular? What is it about this chubby little “teenager” that makes him so endearing to the American public? Is it his torment of the elderly? His ability to instantaneously act the part of a hyperactive teen? Is it the complete absurdity and randomness of the “plot”? Or is it that the show is on MTV, and so many of our teenage brethren will accept whatever comes on that channel as a sacred part of their devotion to pop culture? Whatever the reason, some people do like this show, otherwise it wouldn’t continue to be on MTV’s heralded Sunday Stew. I can’t say I like what that says about what tickles America’s fancy nowadays. In the time of reality shows and pop culture, the Andy Milonakis Show scrapes the bottom of the barrel as far as quality goes. I just hope that it will continue to be the exception and not the rule. ❐ n e w s 6 Sept. 7, 2005 THE SOUTHERNER BY CHELSEA SPENCER The 2005 Georgia Smokefree Air Act, which took effect July 1, has had little impact on the continued success of the restaurant and bar business. Opponents to the new law, however, are concerned about the future of individual liberties and private property rights. The new law prohibits smoking inside most public buildings, including places of employment, but includes a number of exceptions. It permits restaurants and bars to allow smoking if they do not allow persons under the age of 18 to enter the premises. Public and occupation buildings may also provide smokers with a separate, enclosed room with an independent ventilation system. A person found smoking in any area designated as “smoke-free” can be charged with a misdemeanor and fined between $100 and $500. Sponsors of the law, led by Sen. Don Thomas, R-Dalton, designed the new act to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke, especially among children. A recent spike in concern over the dangers of smoking has led legislators to take action in an attempt to create a safer and cleaner life for Georgians. “I think that it will help prevent children’s exposure to secondhand smoke,” said sophomore Caitlin Lemmond, although she has mixed feelings about the new law. Many, including restaurant and bar owners and everyday citizens, however, strongly oppose the law. The Act’s detractors believe that it unfairly restricts individual and private-property liberties. “The government is becoming more and more involved in running private business,” said Patty Canbe, manager of The Vortex Bar and Grill in Midtown. “They have no business in telling you how to run your own business.” In accordance to the Air Act, the Vortex has recently restricted their clientele to those aged 21 and older. Although the law only requires the minimum age to be 18, the restaurant aims to prevent underage drinking as well. “It hasn’t affected us at all. We still have designated smoking and nonsmoking areas,” said Canbe. “Smokers are actually happy that they have somewhere to come.” Canbe felt that The Vortex has received very few negative reactions to the change. “People with families that come to the door [without knowing about the new restriction] are disappointed,” she said, “but people that are still able to come CHELSEA SPENCER New act excludes minors from select restaurants DO NOT ENTER: Signs like the one above at the Vortex in Little Five Points alert restaurant patrons to an age limit where smoking is allowed. Following the Smokefree Air Act, other popular local hangouts have also been closed off to those who aren’t of age. are glad to not have kids running around.” Although The Vortex and other restaurants, such as Manuel’s Tavern, never considered restricting smoking, some restaurants—such as The Majestic, Moe’s and Joe’s Bar and Grill, and Waffle House—have decided to stop allowing patrons to smoke inside their restaurants. Others have compromised. Many restaurants serve minors during daylight hours and do not allow smoking, while at night they refuse to admit minors and allow smoking. Legislators claim that this is not how the law was intended to work, but such a practice is not stipulated in the law. “I think that it’s a smart idea,” sophomore Caitlin Lemmond said, “but if they want to stop [secondhand smoking], they should have forced all restaurants to be nonsmoking.” ❐ Grady enrolls in Georgia’s new Virtual High School CHELSEA SPENCER JUST TO GET BY: Orion Wiliano and David Swank wait to approach a passer-by for any change they are willing to spare. Despite his financial adversity, Wiliano plans to meet an evacuee of New Orleans in Florida. New law limits panhandling BY JESSICA BAER Former Atlanta city councilman Derrick Boazman called it a sad day for Atlanta as he and six fellow protestors were escorted from the city council meeting about the proposed anti-panhandling law. In the face of fierce protest efforts by many homeless advocacy groups, the bill passed and became law with Mayor Shirley Franklin’s signature. Of the 200 people crammed into the council chambers Aug. 16, around 80 spoke, dragging the meeting on for hours. The controversial vote finally came down to a 12-to-3 vote after being delayed at three previous council meetings. The law makes it a crime to ask for food or money around the new Georgia Aquarium, the new World of Coca-Cola, or Centennial Olympic Park. The area around the King Center was added during that meeting. Also included in the bill are restrictions on panhandling anywhere in Atlanta at night or near public phones or ATMs. First offenders of the new panhandling ordinance will be given a warning and will be referred to a city resource center upon the second. The law allows for a punishment of up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for the third offense. The anti-panhandling ordinance requires officers to refer those who appear to have substance abuse or mental health issues to a facility where they can receive help. The anti-panhandling law was proposed to the council by downtown businesses that feel panhandling is a major problem. Reaction by citizens calls the ordinance a superficial solution to the 7,000-to-12,000 homeless people in the city of Atlanta on any given day. Senior Brandon Sheats feels it will only push the homeless into residential areas. Despite protests and the angry response of the homeless, Mayor Shirley Franklin feels the bill can only benefit a downtown which has long been avoided for its reputation of crime and aggressive panhandlers. Sheats, a former downtown resident, is constantly confronted by panhandlers. “Every single time I was downtown for more than an hour this summer some guy would come out asking for food or money,” he said. He fears the vagueness of the bill will cause less aggressive panhandlers to be unfairly punished. “They don’t give a good definition of panhandling.” ❐ BY ROBERT SANDERS With the advent of the Internet and the success of University of Phoenix Online, many traditional brick-and-mortar colleges have added online courses to the their educational repertoire. “Online learning is huge, a lot of teachers here get their degrees online, a lot of teachers in the state of Georgia get their whole degree and never see a teacher,” said Erin Davis, math teacher and online course facilitator. This trend of online education has trickled down from higher education to public school and is now here at Grady. Gov. Sonny Purdue signed legislation that created the Georgia Virtual High School that allows students from anywhere in the state access to more than 60 different online courses, including 12 Advanced Placement courses. Students can take classes that are required to graduate such as 10th-grade literature and economics or study areas of interest such as Introduction to HTML. Not only is the Virtual High School praised for providing students with classes that would otherwise be unavailable in certain parts of the state but also for its flexibility and convenience. “I really like the flexibility of the class and being able to work at my own pace,” said senior Courtenay Riggins, a Virtual High School health student. Since students are not restricted by class availability, many seniors are able to take classes that they have missed or failed that would prevent them from graduating on time. “I’ve always said school shouldn’t be a place to fail students,” Principal Vincent Murray “ said. “Sometimes students don’t get it one way so you have to present it to them another way, and to me this is another way that the material can be presented to students so they can master it and be successful.” Still some raise a doubtful eyebrow to this new technological advancement in learning. Many assume that cheating, especially work duplication and plagiarism, is more undetectable and should be a cause of concern. But Dr. Murray has faith in the new program. “I don’t think that the governor would enroll [schools in] something that almost would be a way for students to go to school without going to school.” Ms. Davis, the local Virtual High School will observe student progress, answer questions and monitor for any cheating. Davis, who volunteered for the position, would like to one day delve deeper into online learning. “I would love to learn the other side of it, too, and be an online teacher so I can understand more of the process,” Davis said. Each participating school in the Georgia Virtual High School is given a certain amount of slots based on enrollment. Five of Grady’s six slots are filled with students taking five different virtual courses. They meet every day in a designated computer lab and log on to their class’s page to receive a posted assignment. Students are required to log on a minimum of six-to-10 hours a week to receive work. Some, like senior Jessica Brandon, hope to get more out of the course then just a good grade: “I feel like the class will be a good experience for college because it’s more independent, and you have to be really diligent to get all the work done on time.” ❐ I’ve always said school shouldn’t be a place to fail students. Dr. Vincent Murray THE SOUTHERNER n e w s Sept. 15, 2005 7 Israel gives up Gaza Strip in attempt to secure peace MAGELLAN GRAPHICS Although many of the settlers left voluntarily after receiving eviction notices from Israeli soldiers on Aug. 17, hundreds in Gaza refused to leave their homes. They were joined by protesters from other parts of Israel, who snuck past the Israeli checkpoints into the settlements over the weeks preceding the disengagement. There was much less violence than expected, but emotional scenes were still common between soldiers and protesters. “I was really afraid of blood,” Wagner said. “Thank God it didn’t happen.” Although the soldiers received POINTS OF CONTENTION: training to help After Israel gave up Gaza and them deal with the parts of the West Bank, some barrage of insults and Palestininans feel that they entreaties expected should be given the holy city from the protesters, of Jerusalem next. many had trouble coping with the pressures of evicting their own countrymen. Rather than lashing out under the attacks of the protesters, many soldiers joined the settlers in prayers, tears and dancing before handing over eviction notices. Later, soldiers and policemen had to carry some of these same protesters out of their former homes. One of the few violent standoffs between protesters and soldiers occurred in Kfar Darom, the oldest settlement in Gaza, as REBECCA GITTELSON from page 1 The disengagement is the most recent attempt for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians since the second intifidah, or uprising, broke out in 2000. Although controversy erupted in Israel over support of the disengagement after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon introduced the plan last year, a majority of Israelis supported the pullout from the settlements. Supporters of the pullout argue that the Israeli government has needlessly spent millions to protect the few thousand settlers who moved to Gaza and West Bank after the six-day 1967 War, in which Israel claimed the territories after defeating enemy Arab countries. The supporters also cite the disproportionately large number of soldiers who have died defending Gaza and West Bank from Palestinians. But some settlers, many of whom are religious Jews, believe that the territories are part of the Land of Israel that God gave to the Jews in the Bible, and should remain part of modern-day Israel. Although the Israeli government is paying the settlers for the value of their houses, some settlers feel that they have a right to the land that has become their home since they were encouraged to move to the territories after the 1967 War. “It is terrible to be driven out of your home by the same government who urged you to settle there 30-odd years ago,” said professor Zipora Wagner, an Israeli-American who teaches Hebrew at Georgia State University. about 160 protesters barricaded a synagogue in the settlement on Aug. 18, The New York Times repoted. The young protesters, most from outside of Gaza, stood on the roof of the building pointing water cannons and caustic liquids at the unarmed soldiers and police on the ground. In the four hours it took to remove most of the protesters from the synagogue, 44 policemen and soldiers were slightly injured. Although the Israeli government did face some hurdles in pulling out of the settlements, the disengagement, which officially ended Aug. 23, took much less time than expected. Israeli officials originally predicted it would take at least a month. Until the Palestinians receive full military power in late October, the Israelis will remain in control of the airspace, borders, and travel restrictions in Gaza and the West Bank. Palestinians, however, will be awarded more freedom of movement and civil control immediately. As the end of the disengagement neared, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spoke over the phone about their mutual hope that the pullout would bring the Palestinians and Israelis closer to peace. It is unclear what will happen next in the peace process. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice recently began pressuring Israel to withdraw from more of the West Bank. The West Bank settlements, however, which are considered illegal by the United Nations, continue to expand. According to Dov Wilker, a representative of the Israeli Consulate in the Southeast United States, Israel has no plans to withdraw further from the West Bank. Everyone, however, agrees that peace between the Israelis and Palestinians is the ultimate goal. “We all know what the end status should look like,” Schwartz said. “[But] we just can’t seem to get there.” ❐ BY GEORGE DEMEGLIO connecting the teacher’s computer The much-anticipated projectors to the screen. The projector can finally arrived at Grady for the show the class anything that beginning of the new school year. the teacher brings up on their With the addition of the new computer, from streaming videos to technology, teachers no longer Power Point presentations. Grady have to borrow televisions to watch students have different opinions on educational videos and editions of the Grady projectors. Some people the Grady News Network. think that the projectors are helpful Many believe the projectors will while others think they won’t make help with the education of students much of a difference. Senior by showing things difficult to Brandon Sheats thinks that these explain. Science teacher, Matt new projectors really enhance the Mihordea, capitalizes on this by learning environment. using the projectors to “display “[The projectors] are being used objects that students find difficult in the math department,” Sheats to visualize like atomic orbitals and said, “but not by many other pi bonds.” He also says that while teachers.” the projectors are very simple to He thinks that the projectors use, they do generate “clutter in will be well worth the wait if the some places.” teachers use them. He has been Many teachers have already pleased with them thus far and begun to use the new projectors. hopes more teachers use them The math department has used in their classes. Some students, the projectors to help with student however, believe the projectors will learning. Math teacher Andrew not help with student learning. Nichols plans to use the projectors “I think the projectors are fun, to show definitions or theorems but that is all that they really are,” that the class will be using yearlong. junior Rafael Velez said. Velez The language arts department has thinks that they will be a hot item found the projectors useful as well. to use every once and a while, but Spanish teacher Richard Buerkle won’t change how teachers conduct plans on using the projectors class. to show assignments and have Grady's administration sees students insert the projectors The whole class can be as a key to the correct answers on continuing participating at once. the computer, success during so they will the school appear right Mr. Richard Buerkle day. Assistant on the screen. principal He also plans to broadcast the news Naomi Grishman believes the and show movies. new technology has already been “There are hundreds of online beneficial to both Grady's staff and activities in Spanish that I can the students. throw on the wall at any time,” Mr. “[The teachers] are using [the Buerkle said. “The whole class can projectors] in a very professional be participating at once.” manner to enhance the classroom,” The projectors work by Grishman said. ❐ “ SALLY ZINTAK Grady projectors installed MARTA GETS “SMARTA”: New safety measures will affect all MARTA passengers, including those on this Arts Center Station bus. MARTA boosts safety measures BY SAM JOHNSON Following the July terrorist bombings in London, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority has implemented new-andimproved security measures. The Department of Homeland Security gave MARTA $6 million in government grants to pay for some of the items and manpower needed for the system to function as safely as possible. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency pledged another $2 million to the cash-strapped public transportation authority. These additional funds will be added to MARTA’s current $24 million security budget. All these new measures, however, haven’t dampened the fears of MARTA passengers. “I think that the whole thing is a scary situation,” said local MARTA rider Cornell Patrick. “Usually we see this kind of stuff on TV, but when you see it in person, then it hits you hard.” The new security measures took effect after four bombings on passenger trains, buses, and stations in London on July 7. The attacks left 37 dead and more than 700 injured. The Department of Homeland Security’s decision to raise the terrorist alert level from code yellow to code orange put MARTA security staff on overtime, costing the system an extra $10,000 a day. Responding to the attacks, MARTA chief executive officer Nathaniel Ford issued a press release saying that they have already put in new safety measures and their police force would be working extra to ensure passenger safety. MARTA has purchased items including bombproof trash cans and Transportation Security Administration trained bombsniffing dogs. These new trash cans should disable bombs similar to the ones set off on the London terminals. The bombsniffing dogs are mainly used around the airport terminal. Other measures have also been implemented. The free parking that MARTA offers to its riders will have stricter regulations against improperly parked cars. Cars parked in a suspicious manner will be towed immediately. Photography is also prohibited. MARTA has also enlarged its police force to more than 300, with new cars and new equipment. These officers, along with 35 support staff, have been working 12-hour days. While MARTA Police Chief Gene Wilson has expressed concern in a recent release that he has been working his men too hard, he promised riders the force was the best line of defense against any suspicious activities. Patrick says he looks forward to the day when he doesn’t have to worry about defense precautions on MARTA. “All of these safety measures don’t make me feel safe,” he said. “Having it all end will make me feel safe.” ❐ n e w s 8 Sept. 15, 2005 Johns Hopkins selects Grady to test literacy program CHELSEA SPENCER BY EMMA DIN A group of caterpillars crawl around the rim of a barrel following a strand of silk. When the strand breaks, they continue circling for three days and starve until one finally leaves the path and they all follow. What does this suggest to you about caterpillars? Though this question may seem pointless, it was important to Grady’s freshmen who took a diagnostic test on the second day of school. Johns Hopkins University selected four APS high schools to participate in a national research study. As a result, the ninthgrade class found themselves in testing early. “This program came about because there’s an awful lot of research now concerning the quality of academic ability,” English teacher Marva Greene said. “The average high school person and below [are] not doing well.” The study is an adolescent literacy project targeted at high school students, to improve reading skills and develop vocabulary. The study aims to implement a program offering two periods of English. The course has already been designed. As a research project, each participating school must use identical teaching methods and materials. “I think it’s a great idea,” said Derek Han, a freshman English teacher new to Grady who is heavily involved in the program. “It seems to be focused and targeted on active reading skills.” The four main faculty members involved in the program are Han, Greene, Betty Foster, and Marian Kelly. Mr. Han and Mrs. Greene each teach two English classes, sixth and seventh periods, and third and fourth periods, respectively. Ms. Foster assists both teachers, while Ms. Kelly observes the progress. CHANGE OVER TIME: Freshman Yesica Cuevas, a participant in the Johns Hopkins literacy program, makes a timeline of Malcolm X’s life . Cuevas enjoys taking her two required English classes and hopes to become a teacher. “I’m just so excited that we’re getting to participate in this,” Ms. Kelly said. “I love reading, and it’s really sad that [many] students don’t share that love.” Mr. Han and Ms. Greene represented Grady at two all-day training workshops, and will also attend follow-up sessions later this year. There are three levels of participation for schools in the project. John Hopkins University selects a school’s level at random to ensure valid results. All schools involved receive the first level, teacher training. The second level adds obtaining free reading materials, while the third level sends the school a coach for the project. Grady was selected for level two. As a result, the study has covered the cost of the diagnostic test administered to Grady’s ninth graders, as well as the cost of all reading materials for the program, which arrived at Grady the second week of school. “We will have hard data to show what kind of gains our students made,” Ms. Kelly said. The course is assigned for two semesters. The first semester, called Strategic Reading, will focus on reading comprehension, literature analysis and literature interpretation. “Strategic Reading is highly structured and aims to give students an opportunity to accelerate their reading in an age-appropriate, motivational, and innovative classroom,” Mr. Han said. The second semester will focus on composition, grammar and ninth-grade literature skills, to prepare students for success on the End-of-Course Test. Ms. Greene and Mr. Han will cover Georgia’s standards necessary for succeeding on the test. “I just think it’s going to be genuinely beneficial,” Ms. Kelly said. “I don’t want Confusion over NCLB leads to frustration, fear in schools BY ROBINSON LEVIN Despite the apprehension felt by the Grady community, the consequences of Grady’s performance last year on the No Child Left Behind Act were anything but dire. Grady met all its NCLB targets for 2004-05 and is no longer in danger of landing on the “Needs Improvement” list. Many were worried about Grady’s recent failure in maintaining adequate yearly progress, a status often abbreviated as AYP. “Grady as a whole was not deficient,” social studies teacher Louis Sartor said. “It was just a small subgroup of students who failed on specific questions.” Although the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 was designed to create accountability for the performance of America’s schools, many are left wondering exactly what the act demands of schools, teachers and students. This confusion, combined with the act’s perceived power, has caused people to fear it, resulting in harsh criticism of the act by those who do not fully understand how to interpret the results. Marian Kelly, NCLB coordinator and chair of Grady’s Language Arts department, says the intent of the act is good. “Everybody needs a quality education,” she said. But some in the Grady community question even the ways in which the act judges schools. “I have strong issues with standardized testing,” said Jane Modica, two-year president of the Grady Parent Teacher Student Association. “Schools need some standard to grade students by, but I’m concerned that teachers may choose to teach towards the test and instead of educational material.” No Child Left Behind requires AYP to be made by every school to avoid placement on the “Needs Improvement” list. “Adequate Yearly Progress” consists of three things: participation rate in the exam, performance on the exam, and a “second indicator,” which for Grady is the graduation rate. The test for Georgia is the Enhanced Georgia High School Graduation Test. For evaluation on the exam, Grady is divided into what are known as subgroups, which are assessed individually. Ninety-five percent of each subgroup must take part. A subgroup consists of any school demographic that represents at least 40 people or more than 10 percent of the student body. Grady’s subgroups are whites, blacks and the economically disadvantaged. Of the 95 percent of the subgroup that takes the exam, certain percentages must pass the math and English portions. These percentages vary from year to year. For the 2004-05 school year, they were 62.3 percent for mathematics and 81.6 percent for English. A certain percentage of the graduating class’s size must also receive diplomas, which was 87.2 percent for the class of 2005. To be placed on the “Needs Improvement” list, the same subgroup must fail the same portion of the AYP assessment two years in a row. When a school does go on the “Needs Improvement” list, administrators take several measures to both minimize the failure’s impact on a child’s education and to improve the status. Parents of students will be allowed to decide whether they want their children to remain at the school or to be transferred to another school that met AYP. After a second year on the list, the school must start offering tutorials over the summer and before and after school. If this fails to improve the school’s performance, then a reorganization of the school may occur, in which many teachers can be laid off and new ones hired. Despite the ambiguity of the new law, some at Grady support it. Social studies teacher Mary Carter Van Atta believes the school benefits from this yearly assessment. “Grady, as other schools, has real challenges in some subgroups,” Mrs. Van Atta said. “The NCLB data is useful to help us identify issues we need to work on with these groups.” ❐ anyone to think it’s a remedial course. It was designed for high school students. It’s really a perk.” Because students will have classes for the program everyday, they will receive two years worth of lessons in just one year. “It’s truly block schedule,” Ms. Foster said. “The students won’t miss out on anything.” Grady teachers are not the only ones excited about this program. The freshmen who are involved are optimistic as well. They do not feel isolated from other students or feel they are receiving special treatment from teachers. The goal is for participants to increase two grade-reading levels. “It’s a good opportunity for us to learn things we don’t know yet,” said freshman Te’Erica Richards, who will be participating in the course. Richards added that the program is good because it greatly expands students’ formal English vocabulary. Freshman Yesica Cuevas agreed, but admitted, “I’m a little nervous.” Cuevas is Hispanic, and English is her second language. For her, the program presents a dual challenge: completing the intense academic course, as well as overcoming the language barrier. The students have enjoyed the various activities so far, from the hands-on activities to the guest speakers. They are also enthused about having these classes every day. “I hope that by the end of the class I’ll be volunteering to read aloud,” Cuevas said. The four teachers have similar thoughts and hope that by the end of the course all the students will be comfortable volunteering to read aloud for the class. “I’ll learn more in this class,” freshman DeMarkcus Joiner said, “than I did in all my years of middle school.” ❐ THE SOUTHERNER Sept. 15, 2005 h a b i t a t f o r THE SOUTHERNER h u m a n i t y 9 Grady welcomes new volunteer opportunity BY SARAH BETH MCKAY It isn’t often that Grady students, teachers, and parents find something to agree about. But when they do, amazing things can happen—things like Grady’s own Habitat for Humanity program. This fall, volunteers will work with the Atlanta Habitat for Humanity chapter to raise funds and build a house for a deserving family in the Atlanta area. “What’s really great is that teachers, parents and students will be working together, side by side,” said Mr. Jeff Cramer, the volunteer coordinator for the teachers. “This is a community effort.” For seven weeks starting Nov. 12, Grady will provide 30-35 people 16 years or older to build a house from scratch. Workers will do 95 percent of the construction—everything from roofing to painting to plumbing. “I hammered a whole bunch of nails and painted a whole lot of trim,” said junior Jessica Lambert, who worked on a Habitat for Humanity house with her friends when she lived in North Carolina. “The experience was cool and working for the community with a group of people makes it worth so much more.” Habitat for Humanity makes it easy for anyone to volunteer. “You don’t need to have any technical skills before you come—we’re used to working with volunteers who have never seen a hammer,” said Valarie Smith, who manages house sites. Smith emphasizes that anyone who comes will have something to do. “My goal is to have you tired by the end of the day because your exhaustion means that we accomplished a lot.” Building the house, however, is only part of the Habitat for Humanity experience. “It’s not only a good way to get community service hours, but it’s interesting to meet the families,” junior Helen Peterson said. Peterson worked on a house with her father alongside a family from El Salvador. “It was more fulfilling that they were there and I saw that they were a really deserving family.” The Atlanta Habitat for Humanity chapter, founded in 1983, focuses on giving the people that go through their system the best possible chance of succeeding once they become independent. They are the secondlargest chapter in the United States and have between eight and nine projects running at the same time. “It’s a really great organization that has the interest of the community,” said Susan Muntzing, one of the parent coordinators whose husband got the idea for a chapter at Grady from Clark Howard’s radio program. “Habitat doesn’t just turn houses over— there are in-depth screening processes, the houses are initially rented for a year, and the homeowners learn how to manage a house.” The Habitat for Humanity process is unique and very effective. Before they are chosen, homeowners must prove a steady source of income, have good credit, and be a family of more than two. Once the house is built, the family pays a $500 down payment and leases the home for the first 12 months. If the house passes inspection after the first year, the Atlanta chapter issues the homeowners a no-interest mortgage, at no profit to themselves. There have only been 11 foreclosures out of nearly 800 houses built in the last two decades. DON’T TOUCH THE MERCHANDISE (right): Larrie Del, Curry Andrews, Jeff Cramer and Jill Redman display Habitat for Humanity clothing apparel. More than 30 students, parents, and teachers from the Grady community are expected to volunteer in the program. HOUSE RULES: Junior Curry Andrews stands alongside what will become part of a Habitat for Humanity home. On Nov. 12, Andrews and others will begin construction from the ground up on a house that will aid a needy Atlanta family. BIG JOHN: Grady physics teacher Jeff Cramer looks over a toilet to demonstrate its inner-workings. Volunteers were taught basic skills, such as the fundamentals of plumbing, at the Habitat for Humanity warehouse. HAMMER TIME: At the warehouse, workers construct a pre-fabricated wall that will later be raised at the building site. Habitat for Humanity allows for volunteers that have little or no construction experience to participate. HELPING HEADS: Head of construction Ray Maynard and executive director Larrie Del pause from their busy day to discuss plans for the Grady Habitat program. PHOTOS BY SARAH BETH MCKAY Teachers, families take part in new Habitat for Humanity program that will aid needy family “Most homeowners have never lived in a house, and most of them are single moms,” said Larrie Del, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Atlanta and mother of two Grady graduates. In order to remedy this inexperience, Del and her coworkers offer crash courses on how to take care of their house without the help of other tenants, professionals or the superintendent. The Atlanta Habitat for Humanity’s simulation room gives new owners hands-on experience in working and fixing appliances and plumbing, basic interior and exterior repair, and even changing light bulbs and fire alarm batteries. They also provide every family with a toolbox. Homeowners generally participate in this seminar at the end of a series of required classes on managing a home and improving the areas where they live. Local leaders and experts hear lectures on budgeting, maintaining credit, getting involved in local public schools, landscaping, and cooperating with and helping local police. “Since they are receiving so much, we expect homeowners to take back the community where they are living, because the neighborhoods are usually pretty rough,” Del said. Junior Curry Andrews, who is coordinating student participation, is looking forward to the project. “We don’t know the family, we don’t know the location, but we know there is a lot somewhere and there is a family in need,” Andrews said. Before the Grady program can even be assigned a homeowner, there is a lot of prep work to be done. “We want this project to be funded, organized, and performed by the whole Grady community,” Andrews said. The Grady Habitat for Humanity committee has already raised $35,000, but still has $30,000 to raise before late October. Plans are being made for a community-wide fundraising event, where committee members hope to gain support from both inside and outside the school. Interested students can sign up in their homeroom or see Andrews. “Whoever you are, we all have an obligation to give back,” Andrews said. “Other schools have already participated. And now it’s Grady’s turn.” ❐ SALLY ZINTAK SALLY ZINTAK ‘03 LIVES ON: Members of the Class of 2003 left their legacy along the steps from the student parking lot to the gyms. pranks. Last year, Grady’s Class of 2005 decided to leave their mark on the school by doing a series of pranks over the course of two days. On the evening of May 17 and the morning of May 18, seniors put goldfish in the school’s bathroom sinks, put soap all over the bathroom floors, hung a dead possum from the arch at the school’s entrance, and toiletpapered the courtyard. A second group came later that morning and spray painted “2005” in the newly finished student parking lot On the evening of May 18, a third group of seniors painted over the teacher ID card scanners so that the teachers were unable to enter through the front door, smashed exterior surveillance cameras, put caulk into 15 door locks so that keys would not fit, and spray-painted around campus. Grady’s administration was upset about the scandalous acts committed against the school. One major problem is that the severity of senior pranks has increased in recent years. They have gone from completely harmless pranks were to punishable by law. filmed by the “I think that within the school’s interior past five-to-six years, they’ve surveillance [senior pranks] gotten to be cameras. The misdemeanors and acts of second and third vandalism,” said Principal FLOWER POWER: Remnants of where seniors put groups were never Vincent Murray. “When you flowers marking their class year in the courtyard. detected, in part destroy something, that’s not a because the third prank…it’s a criminal act.” group destroyed the surveillance cameras. The The students who pulled the first set of pranks caused a significant amount of damage WOODY MORGAN topic this year. Seven Jonesboro High students accused of vandalizing their school on May 24 were charged with felonies and ordered to spend a night in jail. The group of boys allegedly spray-painted throughout the building, stuck dead opossums behind vending machines, and damaged a baseball field. Ten students wearing ski masks and dark clothes were arrested at Mount Zion High School for clogging door locks with caulking guns, although no major damage was reported. They were jailed and charged with misdemeanor vandalism. The charges were later dismissed because police failed to show probable cause. Grady has had its share of costly senior BY MICAH WEISS The class of 2005 may well have been one of the best that Grady has ever seen. The best and brightest were among their ranks, winning honor and recognition for Grady throughout their four years. But the class’ established reputation of excellence was tainted by their final legacy to Grady: toilet-papered trees, caulked door locks, spray-painted windows, ripped-up flowers and a dead possum. Because of their senior prank, a select few seniors’ last contribution to Grady was a huge mess and a $371.23 fine apiece. Last year’s graduating ‘06 TAKES THE REIGNS: This year’s seniors adorned the stadium with this banner the first day of school before learning of the new ban. class was not the first class to pull a senior prank, or the first to destroy school property; you can still see faded “2003’s” permanently painted on the stairs between the gyms. But last year’s prank was the most-damaging and least-creative prank in the escalating struggle for each senior class to “outprank” the previous one. But all the class managed to accomplish was a whopping $8,000 in damages. Senior pranks have not always been the norm at Grady. “Senior pranks weren’t really popular until DAMAGED GOODS: Members of the class of 2005 spray-painted the recent years, maybe newly-refurbished student parking lot the night before school ended. the last half decade of so,” said Marian Kelly, who has been working at Grady since 1970, longer than any other Grady staff member, and is an eyewitness authority on the past 35 years of Grady history. “I have no idea why they got so popular all of a sudden,” she said. “Everyone started trying to outdo the last class.” Betty Smith, a retired Grady faculty member, who started working at Grady in the 1950s, also had no recollection of senior pranks while she was at Grady. Senior pranks at Grady began in 1997, when the names of all the seniors were spraypainted onto each of the parking spaces in the parking lot. The seniors knew that the parking lot was being redone, so the prank didn’t do any permanent damage and was a way to leave their mark on the school. The Class of 1999 followed up with one of the most controversial and memorable pranks at Grady. Seniors that year released three chickens into the school labeled one, two, and four with the administrators names SALLY ZINTAK BY ALLANA NEELY For every senior, the end of the school year comes with its perks—the prom, Senior Skip Day and commencement exercises. But one of the most memorable experiences in the last year of high school is the highly anticipated senior prank. After the completion of more than 12 years of school, many seniors feel the need to celebrate their success by leaving a memorable mark on the school. But whether it’s letting wild animals run loose through the school hallways, spray-painting their year of graduation on school property or draping the schools’ trees with toilet paper, all senior pranks come with a price. Senior pranks have seemly become a hot tape out of the player. The perpetrators were not allowed to walk at graduation and were suspended. They weren’t charged with a crime. “Technically it was distribution of porn to minors, a felony,” said an eyewitness who requested anonymity. New rules restricting student access to machines were formed. One senior tradition at Sprayberry High in Marietta led to dire consequences. Some seniors in the class of 1997 wanted to establish their dominance over other classes. For 1997’s Homecoming Week at Sprayberry, it is a traditional prank for students to haze one another. Freshman Sabrina Tonkin was no exception. According to Court TV Library, seniors Ashleigh Best, Jadie Burch, Leslie Caron, and Rachael Ford were caught “rolling” Tonkin’s home with several others. Brett Tonkin, Sabrina’s father, began to follow the car full of girls after they tried to flee. As Mr. Tonkin tried to catch a view of the license plate number, Best lost control of her car, killing three passengers and injuring two others. Best was charged with vehicular homicide and reckless driving. She plead guilty to both and received two years community service and had her drivers license suspended for three years. Mr. Tonkin was charged with vehicular homicide but was accquitted of the charges. He was found guilty of numerous traffic violations and had his licensed suspended for one year. GA v. Tonkin was more than an infamous prank; it helped spark an assault on teen driving laws. The prank prompted the state legislature to pass the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act of 1997, which withheld full diver’s privileges from teens under 18. Like Alexis Yoculan, a senior at Athens Academy, stated to the Associated Press, “If it’s something that’s harmless... it can be funny and cute,” she WRITE IDEA?: Two classes have used the said. “Some things get carried pencil on Charles Allen for their pranks. way of out hand.” ❐ WOODY MORGAN BY CURRY ANDREWS The subject of senior pranks is one about which most school administrators won’t talk. This is not surprising considering that the most infamous senior pranks in Georgia have led to arrests, controversy and, on one occasion, death. Most administrators redirected the interview requests to another hesitant administrator. Chris White was an exception. “Doing pranks of any kind can always lead to consequences,” said White, communications coordinator for Clayton County Schools. Last spring, seven seniors caused $12,000 worth of damage to the school, according to the Clayton County Department of Maintenance. The “Jonesboro Seven,” as they came to be known, spray-painted slogans throughout the school, overturned and destroyed picnic tables, and trashed the baseball diamond, costing $5,000 to the parent group that maintains it. One of their most disturbing acts consisted of students hiding dead possums throughout the building after breaking into the school. Jonesboro High School and Clayton County Schools have a strict, no-tolerance policy on pranking. “Some individuals made some bad choices,” White said. “Bad choices that they thought were funny at the time, but had rolls of consequences.” The seven boys spent one night in the county jail, before getting out on bail, and were charged with interference with government property, a felony. Chamblee High School served as the venue for another recent prank. Every morning at Chamblee, the news is broadcasted around the school from a master video player in the media center. On the morning of May 11, 2004, the usual morning news video had been swapped for a graphic porn video. When the video started playing the entire student body got a glimpse at what the vice principal called “a bad feed,” according to the Atlanta JournalConstitution. Teachers turned off the TVs as soon as they noticed, but it took some teachers up to three minutes to figure out what was going on. According to the AJC, classrooms viewed the footage for a few minutes until Becky Chambers, vice principal, took the to the school and those caught were ordered to make restitution. Grady’s administration had adopted new rules to discourage senior pranks in the future. Those who decide to pull a senior prank this year will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony and will be turned over to legal authorities and punished to the fullest extent of the law. “I think that the rule is an OK idea,” senior Brandon Sheats said. “It does make people pay on labels around their necks. Thomas Jones and Roosevelt Foreman loved it, Naomi Grishman and Ms. Kelly hated it. A solid favorite with the Grady faculty was the 2000 prank in which the seniors wrapped the newly-constructed pencil out front in plastic, transforming it into a giant condom. The class of 2001 followed suite by wrapping the pencil in paper, making it into a giant joint that said, “Smoke one for 01.” Two years later seniors brought the first permanently destructive prank to Grady with the painting of the stairs in-between the gyms. In an effort to outdo all before them, the class of 2004 pulled off a number of pranks, including spray-painting handicapped signs in all the parking spaces in the student lot (which was to be replaced again), and hanging a variety of signs from the Grady arch and the stadium light towers. The funniest sign read, “Grady learned us good.” An impressive legacy had been built up in the short span of seven years. We’ll never know what exactly drove 2005 to its actions. Maybe the pressure was too much. But why exactly do seniors do senior pranks, and for that matter, what is a senior prank? Art teacher John Brandhorst has developed a set of criteria for a good senior prank. “A senior prank should have minimal impact on custodians,” Mr. Brandhorst said. “They shouldn’t be forced to clean up your mess. Be poignant. Have humor, because the word prank implies humor, the prank should express the class’s intelligence and appreciation of the school.” Senior Marquis Way doesn’t quite agree with Mr. Brandhorst’s criteria. “A senior prank is something seniors do when they’re trying to get back at the school for all the rigors of hard labor,” Way said. “Seniors do it because it’s fun, and they want to leave their mark.” Mr. Foreman’s definition came with some not-so-subtle advice. “A senior prank is students getting involved in activities that will not damage school property by showing off their graduation year,” Mr. Foreman said. “Students do pranks in order to be remembered for that year.” Ms. Grishman provides the most analytical answer for why seniors do pranks. “Whenever people separate from an environment or go through a transition, they have the idea to leave their mark,” Ms. Grishman said. “Psychologically, people feel like they need to rebel against their current environment to feel that they are ready to move on to the next stage of their life.” Whomever’s definition you look at, the idea of legacy is central. Senior pranks are about leaving a legacy and trying to be remembered. In that snese, the 2005 prank succeeded. Their failure isn’t whether they will be remebered but rather how. ❐ for the stupid things they might do.” Despite the new rules and procedures being taken to prevent senior pranks, some students are still convinced that someone will still try to break the rules. The administration, however, is calling for a total abolition of senior pranks, harmless or not. I really think the best course of action is to eliminate senior pranks altogether,” Dr. Murray said. “There’s always going to be someone that takes it too far.” ❐ h e a l t h 12 a c a d e m y Sept. 15, 2005 THE SOUTHERNER GRADY GETS A CHECKUP But Sanders wasn’t the only Grady student busy this summer. Senior Leronica Lindsey became a patient care technician and wants to some day become a registered nurse. “I really enjoy helping people, making them feel better and helping society,” Lindsey said. The course she took lasted nine weeks. Lindsey learned how to draw blood, start an IV, insert a catheter and care for a patient with a tracheotomy. Sanders attended classes at Therrell High School. She learned how to make a hospital bed, perform CPR and check for vital signs like temperature, respiration, blood pressure and pulse. “We went over everything, and I had some good teachers,” Sanders said. Near the end of the program, Sanders had to take a state certification test. Throughout her time in the course Sanders applied her nursing skills at Sadie G. Mays Nursing Home. “I gave someone a bath, and I fed someone,” Sanders said. Sanders said that the workers at the nursing home were grateful for help. “They [senior citizens] get treated so badly,” she said. She remembered the experience of having to bathe an older lady. “Her scent was so strong, and she was so dirty,” Sanders said. Sanders made friends while working at the nursing home, and particularly remembers a lady by the name of Matilly. “She was so adorable,” Sanders said. “I didn’t want to leave her there.” Senior Xavier Cain took time out of his summer break to become a pharmacy technician. The classes he attended lasted 10 weeks. Cain went to orientation at the CVS training center, attended classes at Atlanta Technical College, and interned at a CVS pharmacy. “We learned the policies of a pharmacy, how to count pills, and we observed the pharmacy and the pharmacy technicians,” he said. While Cain feels that his experience was “exciting and funfilled,” he doesn’t want to become a pharmacist. He does, however, entertain the idea of owning a pharmacy since his career goal is to become an entrepreneur. Though these students lost their free summer, they all feel that they gained invaluable experience, something more worthwhile than a day at the pool. ❐ VITAL EDUCATION: Instructor Sandra Ukah examines a mannequin patient with students during class. The Health Academy has existed at Grady for eight years. SALLY ZINTAK BY SHEARLON WHITE Some of the many joys of getting out of school for the summer include staying up late, relaxing by the swimming pool under the hot sun, having no schoolwork, and for one Grady student, becoming a certified nursing assistant. Senior Khrishawnda Sanders enjoyed becoming a certified nursing assistant even though the program lasted the entire summer. To receive certification, Sanders participated in the Partnership Academy for Technology in Health Science program. According to Ms. Sandra Ukah, director of the Health Academy, PATHS’s purpose is to try and introduce students to the various health-care careers and teach them skills that they can use for postsecondary education as well as the workplace. Ms. Ukah feels that this program will be very helpful to the students even if they don’t pursue health as a career. “It will make them better consumers,” Ms. Ukah said. It takes six months to a year to become a certified nursing assistant, but some students took an accelerated course, allowing them to become certified in nine weeks. CHELSEA SPENCER Health students spend summer gaining medical certification, work experience CHECKING IN: Senior Khrishawnda Sanders checks Maurice Brooks’ spulse and blood pressure. Sanders earned her nursing assistant certification this summer. Grady health department expands with addition of new equipment BY LENA BRODSKY Throughout the Grady Health Academy’s eight-year existence, director Sandra Ukah has been waiting for a lab. With Grady’s recent renovation, the lab finally includes high-tech equipment, including two $7,000 mannequins. “The mannequins simulate real patients with fake heartbeats, breathing sounds, they can hold liquids, such as fake blood, and they allow for students to practice reallife medical methods,” Ms. Ukah said. Ms. Ukah came to Grady in 1997 after a committee had planned the new Health Academy program. With the expectation that she was going to be a teacher in the program, she was handed a box on her arrival and pronounced the director. She was taken by surprise, but in the past eight years she has risen to the job above and beyond all expectations. To purchase equipment for the new Health Academy lab, Ms. Ukah was allotted $55,000 to simulate an actual hospital room. Although $20,000 worth of her purchases has yet to arrive, the new lab includes the mannequins, hospital beds, advanced skeleton models, new computer training programs and much more. “The new mannequins allow us to practice taking care of patients,” senior Taquilla Leaks said. This kind of hands-on training is important, especially for the juniors, because the seniors in the Health Academy perform internships in the medical field. “Seniors take the opportunity of interning at Atlanta Job Corps, doctor’s offices, veterinarians offices, or almost anywhere they want that applies to medical training,” Ms. Ukah said. There are 110 students enrolled in the Academy this year. Those students like Leaks aspire to become surgical technicians, neurologists or pharmacists. To join the Health Academy, students apply in their freshman year. They must obtain teacher recommendations, have a GPA of at least 2.3 and have no suspensions on their record. To help fulfill the graduation requirement of 75 community service hours, the students in the Health Academy sponsor the Health Fair and the blood drives at Grady. They are also involved in volunteer services at St. Jude Hospital. The Academy provides real, hands-on training, which appeals to students that already know their post-high school plans as well as those unsure of them. “A lot of people start not knowing what they want to do, but once they see the different career options, they become interested,” senior Gwen Cummings said. Cummings and other students have looked forward to using the mannequins and other equipment since before they arrived. “In the past we had to improvise and work on each other, so now with the mannequins the lessons and training will be clearer,” she said. Though not as well-known as some of the other programs at Grady, the Health Academy offers opportunities for Grady students to prepare and train for careers as physicians, veterinarians, medical lawyers, and many other positions in the medical field. The new lab simply adds to this expanding and enriching program. ❐ PHOTOS BY CHELSEA SPENCER FACES FROM THE Leronica Lindsey senior Jada Glasby senior Angelica Perez senior Gwen Cummings senior THE SOUTHERNER p e o p l e Sept. 15, 2005 13 THE SOUTHERNER from page 1 essential traits for working in a development,” she said. “I love diverse school.” school, and I enjoy working with Dr. Murray indicated that Ms. students. This position is a way MacBrien’s experience ensures she for me to incorporate all of that.” will be successful. Administrators, teachers and “When she was a teacher before students were quick to praise she came to Grady, she worked in Ms. MacBrien’s record and look challenging communities with forward to working with her for students who had challenging years to come. educational needs, and she “I’m delighted with a capital surmounted those needs,” Dr. ‘D,’” said Assistant principal Murray said. Naomi Grishman, who served He was also impressed with as coordinator for the magnet the reports he received from her from 1994 until Ms. MacBrien students from all her schools. was named as her successor. “It’s “Before she came to Grady, I a relief to have someone of her heard about her from transfer caliber selected for the position.” students who would talk about Students around campus are all they learned from their English impressed following their first teacher,” Dr. Murray said. “Since interactions with their new she came to Grady, I have seen magnet coordinator. students engaged when she taught “She was really helpful in that were not engaged otherwise. figuring out my schedule,” senior To be that effective with that John Watson said. “She showed diverse of a classroom makes you me all of my options and seems a teacher. She is truly an asset willing to do anything she can to and is truly the right person for ensure I have a successful senior the job.” year.” Both Dr. Murray and Ms. Yearbook advisor Carolyn MacBrien share the same joys, McCarthy had only praise for the concerns and vision about the promotion of her fellow educator. magnet. “I was incredibly delighted when Dr. Murray’s primary concern I heard [about the selection],” for the program is reversing the Ms. McCarthy said. “I hope the dropout rate among minority magnet will continue to support males. the yearbook program and make “They either don’t continue for G r a d y academic reasons, She is truly an asset and or they don’t have graduates b e t t e r is truly the right person the opportunity prepared as to connect with for the job. they enter people to serve as the real mentors,” he said. world.” working Dr. Vincent Murray “I’m Principal towards equitable Vincent diversity. They Murray also had positive words for apply and are selected. They can his new administrative colleague. do it. I need to find the key in “Ms. MacBrien’s qualities are helping them to be successful.” universal,” Dr. Murray said. Ms. MacBrien has thought of “She embodies the thinking of some possibilities for tackling the the school and the diversity of issue. the student body. She exhibits “I think pairing students who “ CURRY ANDREWS MACBRIEN replaces Grishman as head of the magnet CALLING THE SHOTS: Settling into to her new office, new magnet coordinator Carrie MacBrien works on schedule changes on Aug. 28. MacBrien was selected from an pool of eight candidates. Each candidate interviewed before a panel of administrators,teachers,parents, students and community members. The Atlanta Board of Education approved the panel’s recommendation at its July meeting. need mentoring with business people from the communication field and members of the Grady community will make them feel welcomed.” Both administrators were quick to dismiss any misunderstandings they believe people have of the program. “The misperception at Grady is that the magnet students get special treatment,” Ms. MacBrien said. “I hope we can dispel that by opening opportunities and by providing rigorous instruction for everyone. I think the Arts Academy is a fantastic start, and I hope there are more academies and other such programs to come. My goal is that there will be something for everyone.” Dr. Murray strongly supports that sentiment. “People think [the magnet] is for one kind of student and it’s not,” he said. “It’s about students who have the work ethic and want to do the work, want to be successful, and are not afraid to ask for help.” Dr. Murray and Ms. MacBrien also look forward to seeing the program grow in the future. “I would like to see the program expand the opportunities it offers as it relates to communication,” Dr. Murray said. “We’ve never done radio journalism. We’ve thought about it a lot, but it’s just an area we haven’t yet explored. We are also looking at other fields of communication. We have already started with set design, and there are still so many other opportunities to explore.” Ms. MacBrien’s plan for the future also consists of incorporating the ever-changing world of communications. “I think the Internet is a great place to showcase student work, and let the web be a vehicle for student expression,” she said. “I think this is something we’ve started thinking about and now is the time to implement it.” Given Ms. MacBrien’s depth of experience, Dr. Murray hopes that one day her role as an educator will extend to the entire school. “In the future, I would like to see her working within our diverse school outside the magnet program,” he said. Ms. MacBrien didn’t waste anytime in showing her interest. “I have a responsibility as coordinator of the magnet to strengthen the school as a whole,” she said. “My job is not just ensuring magnet students advance but ensuring everyone succeeds. I believe that Grady is the model of what public education should be.” ❐ BY ALI FARNHAM Along with the freshman, these fresh faces will be feeling their way while learning the ropes at their new school. “I wanted a change,” said Ms. Nikki Palmore, the new media specialist, “I wanted to work with older students.” Palmore comes to Grady from Dobbs Elementary as a fourth-year media specialist. Ms. Palmore helps students and teachers integrate technology into the classroom. Another new face around campus is that of health-and-fitness teacher Tracy Wilson. “When I parked my car, Grady was the place I knew I needed to be,” she said. Ms. Wilson originally wanted to become an athletic trainer and coach professional boxers, but with the advice of great mentors, she decided to pursue teaching. Four flights of stairs away from Ms. Wilson resides another new teacher. Francis Legagneur, who teaches world history and Individual and the Law, came to Grady after six years at South Atlanta High School. “Doors,”Mr. Legagneur replied when asked why he likes Grady. “I got a door. People keep looking at me like I’m nuts, but South Atlanta has no doors. It was a big thing.” Mr. Legagneur, a self-acknowledged “sports nut,” hopes to get involved with Grady’s DAVE WINTER New teachers with diverse pasts join Grady’s family ALL STAR LINE-UP: Bookended by teacher Diana Porter (far left) and Principal Vincent Murray (far right), 17 of Grady’s new teachers and staff are introduced to students Aug. 15 at the first-day assembly in the stadium. various sports teams. Like Ms. Wilson, Mr. Legagneur gives extra-credit for supporting Grady’s sports teams. Down the hall is fellow world history teacher Amour Alexander. Ms. Alexander has long dreamed of becoming a teacher. She expressed interest in helping people and has found a way to do it through teaching. “Well, when I was five years old,” Ms. Alexander said, “I was looking up at the sky, and I was saying to myself, ‘What did God put me on this Earth for?’ It was to help people.” Mario Herrara, forensics coach and communications teacher, is new to both Grady and teaching. After serving in healthcare for 10 years, Mr. Herrara received his teaching certificate last May. “I particulary like working with the freshmen,” he said. “I like the energy, I like the fact that they tend to be more honest, and I like the fact that they are maybe ready to listen a little bit more.” Mr. Herrara, also a choreographer for a show choir for 18 years, will be involved in Grady’s drama programs and is currently helping with the 2005 talent show. The art department also celebrates a new addition. Photography teacher Dawn Wadsworth comes to Grady after teaching for five years at Morrow High School in Clayton County. “Grady is a lot different,” Ms. Wadsworth said. “You have the Grady environment, and it’s really more than a school because a lot of people who work here live right around here. And so it becomes almost like a lifestyle.” Another addition is Derek Han, who teaches Journalism I, ninth-grade English, and communication skills. Mr. Han is part of Teach for America, subgroup of Americorps, that works with Atlanta Public Schools. A resident of Atlanta for five years, Mr. Han is in his third year of teaching. He became a teacher to follow in the footsteps of his father. “My father’s a teacher,” Mr. Han said. “He’s the head of a math department in West Virginia.” ❐ p e o p l e 14 THE SOUTHERNER Sept. 15, from page 1 this bad,” Baughman said. The next day, Loyola University began their evacuation process. Baughman became separated from his classmates and was sent to the Superdome. On Sunday night there weren’t many people, but lines were everywhere, Baughman said. “It was mostly the lower classes that went to the Superdome,” Baughman said referring to the thousands of impoverished people who would end up filling the stadium. “For most people, the Superdome was a last resort.” Baughman spent one night at the dome before Loyola arranged for him to take one of the last flights out of New Orleans. With only two pairs of pants and three shirts, he arrived in Atlanta hours before the storm hit. Ramika Gourdine, a Grady junior, and many other Grady students have family in the New Orleans area. Gourdine’s cousin, Gerald Mickens, similar to Baughman, also had a narrow escape. When he found out a couple of friends were driving to Atlanta, he made a spur-of-the-moment decision to tag along, taking only the clothes on his back. “I’ve been through a lot of storms,” Mickens said. “Something about this one just told me to leave.” Katrina made its second, and most deadly, landfall on Monday, Aug. 29 in Buras, La., at 145 mph. A Category 4 hurricane, the eye of the storm barely missed New Orleans. The hurricane broke the levees, letting loose catastrophic flood waters from Lake Ponchartrain and the Mississippi River. To complicate matters, the water was unable to drain from the bowlshaped city. While former Grady students were fortunate to get out, many New Orleans residents and Grady students’ family members were not so lucky. “Initially we thought that it wasn’t too big of a deal, just a few days. … We’d be back in school by Sept. 7,” Corley said. “But when the levees broke, I was like ‘Oh crap, this is going to ruin my semester.’” While helicopters began slowly taking patients out of the hospitals, a large portion of Gourdine’s family waited atop their roof for rescue. “I had definitely accepted that they weren’t going to get off that roof,” Gourdine said. “I accepted that they were going to die.” Gourdine’s family was later rescued by the Coast Guard. “I’m disappointed that I can’t go MATT WESTMORELAND KATRINA redirects college paths for Grady graduates FIRST COME, SELF SERVE: Cars crowd the Exxon gas station at Ponce de Leon Avenue and Monroe Drive Sept. 1 in attempts to get gas as prices swelled because of Katrina. Local drivers panicked about whether gas would be available through Labor Day weekend. to Tulane for a semester,” Melanie Wagner, another 2005 Grady graduate said, “but it’s so sad what’s going on down there—people’s houses are destroyed—that I can’t complain.” Luckily, colleges all across the country are opening up late admissions to students unable to attend their college due to Hurricane Katrina. Grady enrolled as many as 10 evacuees from the hurricane-affected area. Most of the Grady graduates plan to continue to return to their Louisiana colleges as soon as possible. “I’m going to take just enough credits [wherever I go] to graduate in four years [at Tulane],” said Corley. Maleski and Wagner are both currently attending the University of Georgia for a semester as fulltime students. Corley is deciding between enrolling at Georgia State University or Georgia Institute of Technology. Baughman is thinking of going to another Jesuit school or Georgia State University. Mickens hopes get a job in Texas and later return to New Orleans to help with cleanup efforts. “I wasn’t planning on staying in New Orleans my whole life,” Mickens said, “but I just wasn’t ready to leave like this.”❐ Remakes dominate summer box office EMMA DIN WONDER FROM DOWN UNDER: “America is interesting, it’s got a history,” Sam Keating said. Keating enjoys Mr. Hatcher’s sociology class and chatting with classmates, juniors Sam Barksdale (top right) and Archie Lister (bottom right) when not working diligently. Foreign students welcomed at Grady BY HANNA GRIFFITHS Many people come to America to see the famous landmarks: the Grand Canyon, the Hollywood sign, and the Statue of Liberty. Veronika Kurdiova, however, came for the language. She humbly admits that she only speaks “a little bit of English.” Her host sister, Elizabeth Schenck, however, is confident in her ability to learn. “It is nice because it is like having a sister my age,” said Schenck. Sam Keating, of Australia, says that he isn’t sure why he came to the United States. “Interesting country, I wanted to travel and get the experience,” said Keating. Kurdiova and Keating are two of many exchange students here at Grady, most of whom didn’t know anyone in the America and were not fluent in English. Even though she is having fun, Kurdiova misses her family quite a lot. “My grandparents live a block away. … I [used to] see them almost every day,” Kurdiova said. Keating agrees that it is hard to be away from his family, but isn’t so homesick because his first week here has gone smoothly. If exchange students are missing their families, host families are missing their elbow room. “It’s so hard to communicate simple things,” Schenck said. “We have a small house, and now six of us have to share one bathroom!” Even though Schenck may be missing her counter space, she is excited about Kurdiova living with her. “It is a really good experience [for me] because I know she is going to have so many new experiences,” she said. Senior John Watson, an exchange student to Spain last year, said that he was supposed to be living with a family. Instead he ended up living with a 60-year-old masseuse who had never been married or had kids, and had been hosting exchange students for about 20 years. “It was great,” Watson says. “It was the single most influential experience of my life.” Kurdiova shares similar opinions and said that if given the chance, everyone should experience being an exchange student. Both Keating and Kurdiova agree that their countries are very similar to the United States. But, Kurdiova says, “Schools are much harder [in Slovakia]; sometimes we have five tests a day.” Keating said that the only sports at his all-boys school are Aussie football and soccer. “[The U.S.] is just like the movies,” Keating said. “Nothing has really surprised me, but I’ve got five months left.” ❐ BY L EE A LLEN Three of the biggest and most-anticipated movie releases of this summer were remakes. The War of the Worlds, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Bad News Bears are remakes of movies from the 1950s and 1970s. Studios are continuing to produce these movies, showing that there must be a market for them. Are Americans craving the comfort of movies they’ve already seen 20 years ago when the originals were first released? Are studios having trouble bringing in audiences? Do remade movies have a built-in audience? Or are filmmakers just not as creative as they used to be? The first and most obvious remakes studios are producing are old American films like Ocean’s Eleven. Many have the same storyline but with bigger explosions, lesser-clad women and rougher language. One thing about originals of recently remade movies is the star actors that were either unknown or up-and-coming at the time. Now it seems studios are casting actors with well-known careers. For example, Alfie (1966) starred a then-unknown Michael Caine; the remade version starred Jude Law, complete with a fan base, in the same role. Along with the standard American remake is the remade foreign film. The Japanese horror film trend is churning out movies like The Ring. Dedicated Japanese horror fans (or J-Horror, as it is commonly called) dislike this trend because the American versions are said to be less scary and made to be more like box-office hits than works of art. Some remade foreign films are not received well at all. Swept Away (2002), starring Madonna, is a remake of an Italian film. The original was well-received by critics. The remake didn’t fare too well. The last main category is the movie remake from a TV show. These are films made just like the sitcom they are portraying, like The Dukes of Hazzard, which is the same premise as the 1970s show, except perhaps a little raunchier. Some studios produce slightly more creative films by expanding the premise of the movie. For example, Bewitched, starring Nicole Kidman, was a remake of the old TV show, but the movie involves a man who is making a sitcom. Another notable remade sitcom is The Brady Bunch Movie. A satirical version of the worldfamous 1960s and 1970s TV show was made in 1995. The story is also set in 1995, and the Brady family is stuck in a timewarp, thinking they are still in the ‘70s. Following their success and in an effort to keep audiences filling theaters nationwide, the recent spike in movie remakes is unlikely to change any time soon. ❐ THE SOUTHERNER p e o p l e Sept. 7, 2005 15 BY JULIA OLIVER John Taylor was singing before he could talk. As Taylor grew up, music became his life. He not only has a natural talent for singing but also a passion for music to back it up. Taylor was born into a musically talented family. “Music is a very big thing to my family,” Taylor said. That is an understatement. An incomplete list of the instruments his family can play includes “the piano, the harmonica, the clarinet, the cello, and the organ.” Then he added, “Oh, and everyone sings, too.” It was almost as if Taylor had no choice but to enter the musical world. Lucky for Taylor, that suited him just fine. “I’ve always enjoyed singing,” Taylor explained. He participated in chorus until third grade, when he switched to the clarinet until eighth grade. While he didn’t take chorus his first semester at Grady, Taylor was placed in chorus teacher Kevin Hill’s homeroom. After Mr. Hill got word of Taylor’s talent, he approached him about singing, and Taylor happily sang for him. “He’s been in chorus ever since,” Mr. Hill said. Taylor’s singing has improved since he came to Grady. Last year he was one of two Atlanta Public Schools JULIA OLIVER John Taylor known for his music in all aspects of life SINGING SENSATION: Junior John Taylor sight reads in Kevin Hill’s Advanced Chorus class. Taylor’s has joined both the Grady chorus and the Grady gospel choir since coming to Grady in fall of 2003, and was Grady’s sole singer in Georgia’s All-State chorus last year. students to make the All-State Chorus. “It’s nice to see him improve,” Mr. Hill said. “He doesn’t limit himself, which is both encouraging and inspiring for a teacher.” Hill believes Taylor is not only an inspiration for teachers but his fellow chorus members as well. “He has a very strong voice,” Mr. Hill said. “He is very bold and confident when he sings, which helps others to sing out.” Besides the chorus at Grady, Taylor also joined the Gospel Choir, directed by Ms. Janet Milton. “He has an ear for music,” Ms. Milton said. “He joined the Gospel Choir in the ninth grade and was a wonderful asset to our choir.” Ms. Milton acknowledges that Taylor has done more than just sing with the group. “He actually has directed the choir in my absence,” she said. “And he plays keyboard parts to assist in Perilous prices at pump pressure Grady drivers The drastic price hike caused by the hurricane obscured an already-inflated price for gas. As the cost of “filling up” climbed higher every day throughout August, many Grady drivers were astonished at how much money it took to keep their cars fueled, especially on a high school budget. “It’s expensive!” said Lambert, even before the hurricane drove gas prices up even further. Lambert added that her parents pay for her daily commute to school but that she has to pay for any non-school-related driving. Senior Sarah Evans also shares the price of gas with her parents. “I baby-sit to help pay for my gas,” Evans said. “Sometimes my mom says, ‘Hey, here’s five bucks, put gas in the car,’ because I take my sister places.” Younger siblings can play a factor in determining who pays for gas. Junior Sarah Muntzing splits the price of gas with her parents. “I pay for half my gas,” she said, “since a lot of the time I’m shuttling around my sister or grocery shopping for my parents or something.” Parents aren’t the only ones who help out with gas money. Senior Marcus Brooks splits the cost of gas with his brother, with whom he also shares a car. To pay for his portion of the gas, Brooks has a job at a Barnes and Noble bookstore. Brooks said that gas has gotten far more expensive since he began driving to school Freshman’s funny puppy wins $100K DUY LAM BY LILY FEINBERG A source of annoyance and frustration before Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, gas prices caused panic for Grady and metro Atlanta drivers alike following the hurricane’s landfall. Grady drivers didn’t realize what an impact the recent hurricane would have on the price of gas. On Wednesday, Aug. 31, flooded refineries and destroyed pipelines caused an enormous surge in gas prices and pandemonium in metro Atlanta. Traffic swelled as drivers rushed to get the cheapest gas because they believed the stations would start running out. “The QT was $2.89, but then they sold out,” junior Jessica Lambert said. “I was driving by a lot [of gas stations] and $3.05 was the cheapest.” Other Grady students didn’t get such a “good” price. Junior Chris Goodine went with his brother that Wednesday afternoon to put some gas in his brother’s Jeep. “Gas prices are a killer.” Goodine said. “Now I have to catch the bus because we’re not going to drive unless we have to.” The exorbitant gas prices are causing drivers to rethink how often they drive and how much gas they can put into their cars. “It cost $80 to fill my brother’s truck,” Goodine said. “Twenty bucks used to fill it up. Now $20 gets you from the ‘E’ to, like, the first bar.” the teaching of songs.” Gospel was nothing new to Taylor; it’s his favorite type of music to sing. “I like gospel music because of its variety,” Taylor explained. He described singing gospel in small groups such as quartets, and in large groups, or as he puts it, “oldschool gospel.” He currently sings in four different gospel choirs at Bethlehem Church of God Holiness, where he and his family attend. One of Taylor’s choir directors at Bethlehem, Yvette Watkins, describes Taylor as “a joy to direct.” “John is very dependable,” Watkins said. “He is always willing to do anything I need, and he is good at anything he does.” Watkins explained that the young people at his church look up to him, and love to see him perform and conduct. Taylor first got into conducting when his youth choir director offered to let him conduct a song the group was learning. “He has a drawing spirit, he really loves his music, and it shows,” Ms. Watkins explained. Although Taylor loves music, he’s not interested in becoming a professional musician. “I enjoy music too much,” he says, “I would never want to be forced to do it.” ❐ two years ago. Some students try to regulate how much gas they put into their cars. “I usually don’t fill up,” senior Tiffany Wilson said. “It costs so much to fill the tank...20 bucks only fills it halfway.” The ever-increasing gas prices also put a limit on how often students can fill up. Evans, Lambert, and Muntzing all said they fill up about every other week, during which time the price of gas can significantly increase. “I’m always surprised at how much [the price] went up,” Evans said. It was an even bigger surprise for Muntzing, who was out of the country for the last three weeks of summer vacation. When she got back to the states, she was shocked at how much the price of a tank of gas had gone up. “If I had to pay for all my gas, I’d have no money,” Muntzing said. “I always just look at the price and think, ‘Oh my gosh!’” Some students, like senior Kristen Childers, do, in fact, pay for all their gas. “I paid for my own car, and I pay for all my gas,” Childers said. “I have a job, so I pay for everything.” In efforts to save money, many students are trying to be gasconscious when they drive. “I try not to take a lot of people places,” Wilson said. “I just try to go home and to school and not other places.” ❐ BY WILLIAM VANDERKLOOT The probability of winning the lottery is approximately 1 in 14 million. You have a better chance of getting struck by lightning: 1 in 600,000. So when Grady freshman Kala Marks’ family won America’s Funniest Home Videos competition, they were more than surprised. America’s Funniest Home Videos is a TV show in which people send in home movies to be judged by a studio audiences for a host of prizes. “My uncle got this dog that would always growl at its bone before it attacked it,” Marks said. “We decided to videotape it and send it in to America’s Funniest Home Videos.” After viewing the film, producers contacted Marks’ mother and asked the family to fly to California to be on the show and have a chance at winning $10,000. Their video won the competition. “Winning the $10,000 competition made us a finalist for the $100,000 grand prize show,” Marks said. “Then we won [the $100,000 competition], too.” Winning the second show qualified them to go to the Grand Prize show, which was taped in Florida. After claiming victory at that competition as well, the Marks family received a trip to every Disney theme park in the world. ❐ p e o p l e 16 Sept. 15. 2005 Brandhorst directs new art program Midtown’s new PieBar a huge hit ROUND AND ROUND: Originally designed as Trust Company Bank in 1962, 2160 Monroe Drive was renovated this past summer and re-opened as PieBar. Patio seating offers a serene contrast to the busy indoor atmosphere (top left and right). The open kitchen is located in the center of the interior, surrounded by a counter for cocktails while you wait(bottom left). PieBar offers complimentary valet parking (bottom right). or passed among friends. This is definitely a place where sharing is encouraged. PieBar also has several “Small Plates” to offer. A selection of salads, pastas, and unique variations on each assume the role of an appetizer, or even a meal, to those who don’t have the guts just yet to try PieBar’s main attraction: Pizza Pie! With several different pizzas to choose from, it’s hard to decide which one to try first. I recommend buying a few halves of different ones and tasting each. The pizza served at PieBar is unlike any Atlanta has seen. You would think it would amount to a round display, after the interesting remodeled architecture, but it in fact, arrives rectangularly, resting on a thin metal sheet. Its crust is thin and crispy, resembling the PHOTOS BY CHELSEA SPENCER BY CHELSEA COOK Once the home of thousanddollar loans, savings bonds for college, and intricate security systems sits a new crowd, and in quite a different atmosphere. Amid busy conversation echoing throughout the cylindrical structure, owner Bob Amick’s new PieBar can truly be named Atlanta’s new “place to be” for urban cuisine. Amick’s name has been making appearances frequently in Atlanta’s restaurant scene, as well as local reviewers. Amick owns both oh-so-hip-and-classy One Midtown Kitchen and sinfully successful Two Urban Licks. When rumors of a third Amick hot spot surfaced, most everyone was anticipating the grand opening of a restaurant named Three. The awaited third, however, has made its debut as PieBar, and its name has all of Atlanta waiting on a thin metal clipboard for up to 90 minutes, just to see what exactly it has in store. From women in conservative business suits to 20-somethingyear-olds sporting dreadlocks, PieBar’s patrons are as diverse and unique as its cuisine. Seated either inside, around a charmingly hectic kitchen and a gigantic sleek oven, or outside, covered by what must be the most tasteful circus tent ever to come to Atlanta, curious customers find menu items that are temptingly do-it-yourself. There are antipastos of threeto-12 items ranging from $6-10 for a plate that can be all yours PieBar Where: 2160 Monroe Drive Hours: Monday - Thursday: 4 p.m. - Midnight. Friday: 4 p.m. - 1 a.m. Saturday: Noon - 1 a.m. Sunday: Noon - 10 p.m. Reservations: Call-ahead seating available. Price Range: $6- $24 The Low Down: This is one pizzeria that will really make some dough. water crackers found at fancy hor d’oeuvre parties. PieBar’s toppings are probably the most notable: shrimp, pineapple, cheddar grits, and coffee—and I’m still talking about the same piece of pizza. Ironic and eclectic, PieBar’s daring creations alone persuade patrons to dig in. As they should, the odd combinations have elicited widespread satisfaction. It can be heard as you spell out your name to the hostess, handing your keys to the complimentary valet, in the gossip spoken between friends, and in big bold letters throughout several local newspapers. PieBar has achieved praises beyond that of a quality pizza place, as have all of Amick’s popular evening hangouts. Amick has shown Atlanta that finding a restaurant worthy of your time and money is easy— easy as pie. ❐ Students opposed to discipline principles BY ALEX DANIELS One strike and you’re in. Saturday work detention, that is. That’s the consequence of showing up to class late just one time. Instead of simply admitting tardy students to class, teachers now practice a mandatory lockout at the ringing of the bell before each period. Unless they receive a late pass from the attendance office, students lingering in the stairwells and slow walkers will be left banging on the door for a late admission to class. After years of rampant tardies and skipped classes, the Grady administration has finally started to crack down on student attendance and behavior. “At Grady we care about academics, and kid’s can’t learn if they aren’t in class,” assistant principal Naomi Grishman said. “It’s as simple as that.” Just after the first week of school ended, many students had already been assigned Saturday work detention. “I think the lockouts are wasting even more class time for the students,” sophomore Callan Wells the new system. said. “Instead of just letting us in “I don’t really mind the lockouts. two minutes late in the morning, we Seven minutes between classes is have to wait 15 minutes just to get a plenty of time to get where you need late pass from the office.” to go,” junior Robinson Levin said. “This is high school, people are The administration has noted going to be late,” senior Salvador a decrease in tardies since the Chavez-Holzman said. “I think the policy began, proving that the administration needs to find a way new enforcement is ameliorating to issue late passes without making the problem by providing stricter students miss more class.” consequences. Wells and Chavez-Holzman “We already saw a decrease in refer to the long lines outside the tardies after the end of the first week, attendance office that can hold and it’s improved even more since students then,” Ms. I think the lockouts are up between Grishman classes. wasting even more class said. Newcomers Contrary time for the students. are just as to what some surprised students may as Grady the sophomore Callan Wells think, veterans at the administration system. “The doesn’t plan tardy bell is ridiculous,” freshman to lighten up the new attendance Perri Campis said. “I’m new here, policies as the year progresses. so my first week I was getting lost “Whoever thinks that the system trying to learn my way around will become more lenient over school. I missed a bell the day they time doesn’t know my policy or my started doing lockouts.” personality very well,” Grishman Others don’t have a problem with said. “ Other students are also surprised by a more strict dress code at Grady this year. “All the rules for skirts, tank tops, and everything else…it’s something I don’t want to worry about when I’m trying to get dressed in the morning,” Campis said. The administration has sworn this year that they are serious about things like bare shoulders, exposed stomachs, baggy pants, and short skirts. The senior class was shocked to hear another threat from the administration: that the consequence for pulling a prank this year would be no graduation ceremony. “I guess some people don’t know how to value a little tradition that’s all in good fun,” Chavez-Holzman said. So far the students have tolerated the drastic disciplinary crackdown, but only time will tell how seriously they take it for the rest of the oncoming year. “[The prank] has to happen, no doubt about it,” Chavez-Holzman said. “I’m too lazy to walk in a graduation ceremony, anyway.” ❐ BY CARSON HALE & LAUREN MATICH Grady’s new Arts Academy already seems to be getting positive feedback from all but perhaps one group: those that don’t have the chance to participate. “How come everything good happens when we’re about to leave?” senior Zach Johnson says about the new program. While John Brandhorst, the coordinator of the Academy, assures seniors like Johnson that they were the impetus for the creation of such a program, 16 of this year’s sophomores are actually the first participants. “Everyone has great approval and support for it,” Brandhorst said. Not only does it give the students a chance to get deeper into the arts and participate in exhibitions, the program is also a mode to receive grants, which benefits the entire school. Much like Grady’s communication magnet program, the Arts Academy is for students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher and who are fascinated by the arts. The program offers emphases in music, theater, set design, fashion, visual art, film production, and, in the future, dance. Brandhorst describes this stage in the evolution of the program as the wheels just beginning to turn, but said, “as it goes the next couple years, I think it will really come around,” and that students will appreciate more of what the small branch of Grady has to offer: a small learning community with the opportunity to create a greater support system. Students involved in the Arts Academy have the chance to be more individually driven; there is no set program. “All we can do is suggest a curriculum,” Brandhorst said. Students that express interest in the Arts Academy apply in their freshman year by proving their talent or interest in a certain field, such as music, drama or visual art, either by taking a class at Grady or being able to present their ability in some way. In their sophomore year, students can really “spread their wings a little bit” and take classes in the subject that appeals to them, Brandhorst said. The program allows students to get special opportunities to make their talent known to local artists or organizations through exhibitions, recitals, and presentations. Students get the chance to learn from professionals, perhaps even by shadowing experts in the Atlanta area. Ultimately, students graduate with a workable portfolio, or “senior thesis” that significantly increases the chances of getting a scholarship or job. After five years of planning and discussions about Grady’s first Arts Academy, coordinators, like Brandhorst, are confident that it is about to take flight.❐ THE SOUTHERNER s p o r t s Sept. 7, 2005 17 THE SOUTHERNER New runners expected to uphold winning tradition D’Avanzo win paces girls to first victory SALLY ZINTAK BY ERIK BELGUM After last year’s fourth-place finish at the AA state cross-country meet, the 2005 Grady girls crosscountry team hopes for a similar season. Another top five state finish is well within their sights. Coach Jeff Cramer says the teams to beat are Wesleyan, Lovett, Pace, and Decatur. Cramer, who has been coaching at Grady for eight years and 25 years overall, is pleased with his team. Standouts include junior Leah Bishop, sophomores Jamison Kinnane and Arielle D’Avanzo, and a freshmen group led by Kala Marx and Polly Zintak. This year’s team will miss the senior leadership of Amelia Godfrey, Amanda Haimes, Jane Zamarripa, and Melanie Wagner, who graduated in May. “A lot of freshmen are doing really well and seem like they’re trying really hard,” sophomore Molly Pett said. Pett has not been able to practice with the team for the first three weeks but has still gone to practice to stretch and stay in shape. The first time trials of the season for Grant Park meets were held on Aug. 24. The girls ran a tough twomile course for their time and used them to project their 5K (3.1 miles) times for the Grant Park meet. With temperatures climbing into the low 90s and high humidity, the girls were feeling the heat, but the trials offer good preparation for the Grant Park meets, which are run on one of the toughest tracks the girls see all year. “This year’s team is focused on being competitive,” junior Carson Boy’s cross-country team fills void left by top runners PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Junior Leah Bishop (left) and sophomore Arielle D’Avanzo (center) train in the heat to prepare for conditions they will face at upcoming meets. Hale said. “The team is really focused on doing well in meets.” With these goals ahead of them, the girls head across 10th Street to Piedmont Park to practice every day after school and run about four miles per practice. Cramer and the girls are looking forward to the upcoming season including 10 meets, regionals and hopefully a repeat appearance at state. “We have some strong runners, who could go on to greater things,” junior Rachel Deel said. “The girls cross-country team has the potential to win state.” At the Aug. 31 meet, Grady started the year off with a win at Grant Park. Sophomore Arielle D’Avanzo led the team to victory finishing first with a time of 23:37. She was followed in the top 10 by Ella Miller, Carson Hale, and Polly Zintak who finished fourth, seventh and ninth, respectively. Although the team finished first, Coach Cramer was less than thrilled with his team’s performance. “They ran too fast for a hot day and not having a chance to warm up,” Cramer said. “I wanted them to run in groups. Instead, they got too strung out and tried to race people.” At practice the day after the meet, many runners were sore from competing on the rigorous course. “The Grant Park course is one of the toughest courses in the state,” said Cramer, who first laid out the course seven years ago. “Your home course should be the hardest course you run all year,” Cramer said. “We run these meets to prepare for regional and state.” ❐ only to lead by example, but also as a vocal veteran. “He has a great sense of humor. The kids love him,” Buerkle said. Grady’s seasoned runners may BY TRAVIS JONES also be injected with a shot of As if having to train in the youth due to cross country’s everAtlanta heat wasn’t bad enough, growing popularity. “We have lots the Grady boys cross-country team of new guys that are hungry,” said will have to try and replace two of Coach Buerkle, referring to this the most accomplished runners in year’s freshman class. Grady history, Nick Stephens and The team must also overcome Saji Girvan, during the upcoming scheduling conflicts. season. “Some have soccer in addition “We were definitely hit hard by to schoolwork,” Coach Buerkle graduation,” sophomore runner said. “And some have football. It’s Daniel Matthews said. “But if we tiring, you run seven to eight miles work hard, we can cope.” a day, and it’s tough to balance the Seniors Wes Vernon and Collier schedule.” Johnson, along with junior Stone Grady had a strong showing at Irvin, look to ease the transition their first meet this season, when as the veteran leaders of this year’s the team competed in the 2005 squad. “If they continue to stay APS series. Johnson finished third focused, they could be very behind two Mays runners with a good,” coach Richard time of 19:46. Sophomore Max Buerkle said. “Collier Leonard finished sixth, and Vernon worked hard, and has seventh, both with a time just over a lot of talent. … And 20 minutes. Stone Irvin is another Mays had perhaps the strong runner.” strongest showing at the Vernon’s goal is to be first meet of the year, the state champion in with runners finishing class AA, “As a team, in four of the top five we’d like to finish slots, but according to in the top three coach Jeff Cramer, the in the state,” APS series is always used Vernon added. as a gauge. “We could have Wesleyan and Greater done much better,” junior Atlanta Christian will runner Alex Orlansky said. be Grady’s toughest “We are going to have WOODY MORGAN competition at the to improve to meet state meet. our goals, but I think Coach Buerkle has that we showed the WES high expectations for potential to be great VERNON Vernon this season. “Wes this year.” worked hard all summer,” Now with a race under he said. “He’s in real their belt, Grady runners are good shape.” Vernon ready hit stride, bringing success will be looked on not comparable to last year’s. ❐ New college football season brings back BCS issues BY GREG O’DONNELL There’s an old saying in the South that football is a religion, and for die-hard college football fans, their divine day is Saturday. While all the miracles, pageantry and drama still have to be played out and the final records are yet to be determined, one thing is certain entering the season: the Bowl Championship Series will once again be as accurate as a drunk bowler. It’s funny how Louisville can beat a weak Houston football team and move up three spots in the BCS rankings while Louisiana State can lose by a point to a ranked Auburn team and fall out of the top 10. It just reinforces that the BCS rankings are meaningless. Whether it’s March Madness or the College World Series, there is some way to determine the champion of all major NCAA sports… except football. So every year when the leaves start to fall and the three things on our mind are pumpkin pie, turkey, and footall we begin to wonder which team will fall under the annual BCS curse. Last year it was Auburn, who went undefeated, including a win in the Southeastern Conference title game only to finish third in the BCS ranking system and thus ranked out of the national title game. Until the NCAA committee establishes a tournament to determine college’s gridiron champ, the BCS rankings will continue to shatter dreams year after year. Who will become Auburn of this year, you might ask? Look for Auburn’s heated thing around here.” rival Alabama to turn some heads this But it’s not just Florida who has questions year. Senior quarterback Brodie Croyle to answer. Georgia will be on thin ice for led Alabama to a perfect 3-0 start last year the entire season. In addition to starting an before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament unproven quarterback in D.J. Shockley this and ending his hopes for the Heisman year, Georgia has to play their two toughest Trophy. And don’t even think about games, Tennessee and Florida, away from messing with Bama’s defense. Linebacker the friendly confines of Stanford Stadium. Freddie Roach would The first test of the Southerner’s Preseason Top 5 make my top five of season for the Dawgs people you don’t want to comes on Sept. 10 1. Texas upset; I think the other when ex-Florida coach Vince Young will run wild and beat four were featured on Steve Spurrier brings his USC. America’s Most Wanted. 2. Southern Cal South Carolina team Bush, Leinart should carry a Don’t be surprised if the between the hedges. stacked offense 6-foot-2, 239-pound 3. Virgina Tech This game will answer This will be Marcus Vick’s year Roach wins defensive one important question: 4. UGA player of the year in the has Spurrier got the A senior QB and athletic defense SEC. swagger back? In typical should give UGA 10 wins. Speaking of the SEC, 5. Florida Spurrier fashion he has Don’t be surprised if Chris Leak many questions remain already predicted a win throws for 3 ,000 yards. unanswered. Is new head over Georgia, which ROBERT SANDERS coach Urban Meyer going the Bulldogs turned to be able to turn around an athletic but into motavational material. The other underachieving Florida team? According to SEC power-house, Tennessee, has big Sports Illustrated, yes. SI has ranked them quarterback issues to face after their home third in the nation behind, you guessed it, opener against UAB. Tennessee’s starting Southern California and Texas. But Gator quarterback, Eric Ainge, was taken out of fans, don’t get cocky, because even though the game after a poor first half. Tennessee there are 14 returning starters, there is still will have to fix these problems if they expect doubt regarding the backfield. Coach to win at Florida, a game that could decide Meyer sums it up best, “Right now we’re the SEC East title game. in a bit of a panic situation. We have three Battling USC for the number one spot scholarship tailbacks who haven’t done a all season should be the University of Texas. Senior quarterback Vince Young is another Heisman hopeful. His rare ability to tuck the ball and run or to throw it down the field is enough to drive any defensive coach towards a mental institution. Texas battles eighth-ranked Ohio State in the first morgue game of the season. Although this will be an extremely hard win, the real gut check for Texas will be the annual rivalry game with Oklahoma, a team they haven’t beaten since Young was in high school. The Atlanta Coast Conference looks as tough as Lance Armstrong coming into the season. Miami and Virginia Tech are ranked sixth and eighth respectively, but at the end of the season, it will be no surprise if N.C. State and Georgia Tech crack the Top 25. Tech lost one of their best defensive players on federal marijuana charges in the off-season, but sophomore receiver Calvin Johnson is one of the best players in the nation. If Reggie Ball, a.k.a Mr. Inconsistency, can overcome his ego, then look for Tech to put up some big offensive numbers. I’m not picking USC like 99.9 percent of sports writers, but rather the Texas Longhorns. USC and Texas will both go undefeated and play in this year’s BCS championship game. But the supreme athletic ability of Texas’ quarterback Vince Young will be too much for the Trojan air attack. Look for this game to be an offensive duel with Texas winning 38-31. ❐ s p o r t s 18 Sept. 15, 2005 Patriots’ dynasty will fall to Ravens’ flawless defense DUY LAM BY MAX BEECHING America’s greatest sport is back, and it’s time to know where your team stands; will they make it to glory or fall short? The NFL season kicked off Sept. 8, and it’s well underway. NFC South: The Falcons have the chance to have back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history. This year will offer a good test for quarterback Michael Vick to find out if he can succeed with his second year in the West Coast offense and if he can prove that he is a compete quarterback. The only way the Falcons would be able to make it to the Super Bowl is if they gain home field advantage throughout the playoffs, which won’t happen because of their tough schedule. NFC East: Regardless of Terrell Owens’s actions and the difference of opinion with his head coach and teammates, he will perform when needed and help the Philadelphia Eagles to a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. No other team can match them in the NFC East. NFC West: With new quarterback Kurt Warner, the Cardinals are this year’s upset team. Their defense showed promise last year as they forced 30 takeaways and had 38 sacks. Rookies Antrel Rolle from Miami and Daryl Blackstock from Virginia should help fill the gaps on defense. NFC North: Even though Minnesota traded away the best wide-out in the game, Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper and the Vikings will still win their division. Wide-out Nate Burleson was rock-solid last year as he proved to everyone that he could be the team’s No.1 receiver. Minnesota made key defensive transactions in the off-season by signing safety Darren Sharper from the Packers and corner Fred Smoot from the Redskins. NFC wild-card: If the Seahawks’ wide-outs learn how to catch this off-season they should make it to the playoffs this year. Overall they are a solid team, but most of the players don’t have that mental intensity you need in order to go deep in the postseason. The Carolina Panthers will make it to the playoffs as well. The NFC is a weak conference and the Panthers know how to perform under pressure. Jake Delhomme will continue to prove he knows how to lead a team and that he is a quality quarterback. AFC East: In what has become arguably the best division in football, the Bills have the best chance to come out on top because of their unmerciful defense that led the league in takeaways last year with 39. They have a solid receiving corps in Lee Evans and Eric Moulds, and they have one of the best running backs in the league, Willis McGahee. AFC West: The Chiefs finally have a defense to match their high-powered offense, thanks to the aquisition of linebacker Kendrell Bell Unfair NFL salaries create player disputes PATRICK MCGLYNN Pro player’s death raises heat concerns BY ASA BEAL Immediately following the San Francisco 49ers’ preseason loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Aug. 21, offensive lineman Thomas Herrion collapsed in the locker room and died minutes later. Herrion was just 23 years old, coming into his first full season in the National Football League after playing a season in NFL Europe for the Hamburg Seadogs. Tragedies like this remind all those involved with sports that it’s just a game and that certain precautions must be taken. According to 49ers players, Herrion collapsed right after head coach Mike Nolan had finished his post-game meeting, NFL.com reported. CPR was administered on Herrion as he was rushed to a nearby hospital. Doctors who performed the autopsy could not identify the cause of death, and are still working to uncover the truth about his untimely passing. Teammates remembered Herrion as a fun-loving and humorous person, who was working hard to make the team. According to NFL.com, Herrion was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 15, 1981. After attending Kilgore Junior College, he went to the University of Utah, where he played right tackle and left tackle for the Utes. Last year, after going undrafted out of Utah, he joined the San Francisco and Dallas Cowboys’ practice squads, and then traveled to Germany to play in 10 games for the Hamburg Seadogs. Players and coaches alike expressed deep concern for Herrion and his family. The seriousness and suddenness of this situation shocked not only those affiliated with the 49ers organization but also people across the nation. Many expressed alarm that doctors still have not determined the cause of Herrion’s death. This incident evoked a similar tragedy four years ago when Korey Stringer, an offensive linemen for the Minnesota Vikings, died of heatstroke during training camp. Since that time, the NFL has taken great care to protect its players against dangerous weather conditions. This past summer was an especially hot one, and NFL players and coaches were taking greater measures to defend themselves against heatstroke by monitoring players’ internal body temperature with new health technology. According to NFL.com, one of these new technologies is a pill that players ingest. The pill then relays internal temperature information to a computer. Though these pills can give valuable information, they cannot actually guard against the danger of heatstroke. Heatstroke seems an unlikely cause for Herrion’s death because he spent only 14 downs on the field and the temperature from the Steelers, and safety Sammy Knight and cornerback Patrick Surtain from the Dolphins. The Chiefs could make it to the AFC Championship. AFC South: The best quarterback in the league, Peyton Manning, with his huge new contract, will have an even better season. By re-signing Edgerrin James and by designating him as the franchise player, the Colts will be unstoppable in the regular season. The postseason is a different story. Since defense wins championships, the Colts won’t go past the second round. AFC North: The Ravens managed to make their defense even better by signing cornerback Samari Rolle. With rookie wideout Mark Clayton from Oklahoma and exTitan Derrick Mason, third-year quarterback Kyle Boller will finally step up and play at the next level and lead his team to a Super Bowl XL victory. AFC wild-card: Carson Palmer was born a winner and will get the job done with the help of wide-out Chad Johnson, who led the AFC in receiving yards last year, and running back Rudi Johnson, who set the franchise rushing record. The defending Super Bowl champs have their hands full this year. With their offensive and defensive coordinators leaving for new jobs, the Patriots won’t be as feared as they have been the past two years. ❐ THE MAIN SQUEEZE: Senior wide receiver Antonio Lowe hydrates during halftime of the Sept. 2 game against Blessed Trinity. stayed in the 60s during the game. Experts say, however, that heatstroke can occur even in temperate conditions. Some doctors have suspected some sort of heart condition as the main factor to Herrion’s death. At this point though, any of these theories are mere guesswork. Grady sports teams have also taken precautions regarding the safety of players during the summer heat. Coach Ronnie Millen has some advice for his athletes in terms of staying hydrated: “Every time you pass a water fountain, take a drink.” Coach Simon Hubbard, Grady’s linemen coach, also provided insight into the Knights’ hydration strategies. “As the temperature goes up and the humidity rises, we have to take more time in between drills and take longer water breaks,” Hubbard said. Though both Grady sports teams and professional teams are trying to stay safe and cool, there are obviously still dangers in playing too hard in the heat. Until the cause of Thomas Herrion’s passing is confirmed, there will be much speculation as to what caused the death of this affable lineman. His friends, family, teammates, and even those who did not know him until he passed will remember him and mourn his death. In a postgame press conference, coach Mike Nolan was asked what he though about the 49ers’ 26-21 loss to the Broncos. “There are more important things on our mind than the game,” Nolan told reporters. “Right now, our thoughts and prayers are with Thomas Herrion.” ❐ “ T. O . must G-O.” T h a t’s what fans’ posters read a r o u n d Philadelphia E a g l e s PATRICK MCGLYNN t r a i n i n g camp in the final week of August as superstar wide receiver Terrell Owens returned from his one-week suspension. Head coach Andy Reid asked Owens to take a one-weeklong break from camp because of his behavior and attitude towards the team. Reid reportedly told T.O. to shut up after he disrupted practice, spoke out against teammates, and cursed in front of the strict Mormon head coach. Do you think T.O. is going to take that from a head coach that has led the Eagles to the NFC title game four years in a row? His response: “My name isn’t Reid. My name is Owens. I’m not one of his kids. Don’t tell me to shut up.” So how did this all come to be? It is all because T.O. doesn’t get the respect a hard-working man like himself deserves. Granted, T.O. complains like a baby and makes ridiculous statements comparing himself to Jesus and calling his previous quarterback gay, but I understand his fight for a better contract. National Football League players have the hardest time making a living out of the four major professional sports. Unlike Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and the National Basketball Association, football players have no guarantee that they will make the money they agree on when signing a contract. The only guarantee is the signing bonus received before the player takes a step on the field. If T.O. was hurt in his first game after signing his seven-year, $49-million dollar contract, he would see none of that money. If T.O. was cut to make room for the salary cap, he would see none of that money. NFL players have neither guarantees nor security when it comes to earning a little folding money. They deserve guaranteed contracts because they form the biggest income-producing sport, play the most physical game, and still get the smallest rewards with no financial protection. But fans would pay a high price if players got the money they deserved, a price that has nothing to do with the money: guaranteed salaries would ruin the sport. T.O. would be able to trot around on the field like Barry Bonds does to first base, still knowing that he will get his pay check. Who would want to risk a long-term injury when there is nothing to work towards? Having players go all out every game creates competition, spectacular plays, and the most popular sport in America. The NFL has been treating players unfairly for years, and I have no complaints. The NFL is the closest spectator sport to being perfection. T.O.’s fun can go on as long as he wants it to, just as long as he continues to be one of the most dominant receivers and gives us something to laugh about every Sunday. You have to understand what T.O. is making a stand for even if you don’t agree with how he is doing it. At the end of the day, you must realize that T.O. is just an entertainer that deserves a little more respect and a little more money, which unfortunately for him will never happen. ❐ THE SOUTHERNER s p o r t s Sept. 15, 2005 19 their best setter. Although the team was hit with some tough losses, Coach Nicholson still feels that this year’s team can have a winning season. The team “Lieutenant,” or captain’s assistant, Emma Din, is still optimistic about the upcoming season. “If we stay focused and work hard we’ll make a decent team this year,” Din said. The team had its first official scrimmages on Saturday Aug. 12. The seven girls battled through the five games and although they didn’t walk away with a victory, the day was still encouraging for Coach Nicholson. Other teams called Grady the “Cinderella Team” because they were playing with a skeleton crew of only seven players and only had a few minutes to warm up but still almost won their first competition. It is obvious that Coach Nicholson’s efforts to expand the program have paid off since more than 30 students tried out for this year’s volleyball team, which is the most in Nicholson’s tenure as coach.Through the large amount of new talent joining the team, Coach Nicholson hopes to be both a top contender for next year and also to finally have enough players to field a junior varsity team Jada Glasby for the first time. ❐ SON CAR LE HA BY KENNY JONES After losing four of the six starting team members to graduation, the volleyball team enters what Coach Paul Nicholson calls a rebuilding season. Although Coach Nicholson expects at least seven returning players from last year’s team, his main goal for this year is to build the program and position the team for successful years to come. Coach Nicholson also expanded the team roster from 12 players to 15 this year, which could mean as many as eight new players on the team. The eight new members, or as Nicholson affectionately calls them “newbies,” hope to bring success to this season and beyond. Despite their 1 0 - 1 8 record, C o a c h Nicholson contends that last year’s volleyball squad was one of the top teams in school history. It was the best team that I’ve coached in the four years I’ve been here,” he said. Their record wasn’t as good as years past only because the players asked for a harder schedule to put their talent to the test. Now the team is plagued with the losses of their two-time team most valuable player and MICAH WEISS Volleyball hopes to expand the program ILL-FATED INNING: Senior Elissa Koehl pitches to a Mays opponent at the beginning of a disastrous inning for the Lady Knights on Aug. 31. The night did not get any better for the Lady Knights as they ended up losing the game 19-4 to the Lady Raiders. Team goals in young hands BY CARSON PHILLIPS After a landmark, multi-win season last fall, the Grady girls softball team looks to new faces to carry on the task of earning a state playoff bid. The softball team had five wins last year and barely missed a playoff berth. To add insult to injury, the team bade farewell to one of Grady’s best senior classes in a long time. “We’ll really miss the seniors,” senior second baseman Vivi Chavez said of the departed class of 2005. “They really helped us in our success last year.” Despite the attrition, the outlook is hopeful. “We worked out for three weeks in the summer getting in shape, doing lunges, suicides, and other exercises,” senior left fielder Ann Marie Drolet said. The upperclassmen feel confident in their younger counterparts. “We have a few really solid freshman that will definitely make an impact, and the returning players have matured a lot over the past year,” junior catcher Caitlin Bradley said. “This year will definitely be a learning process,” freshman outfielder Eshe Shakura said. “We [freshman] have been receiving a lot of help from the upperclassman.” The team has been working in the summer heat to achieve a common goal. “Our team goal is definitely to make the playoffs as well as to beat Paideia, the team that knocked us out of the playoff race last year,” Bradley said. The Knights began making steps towards that goal on Wednesday Aug. 24, when they beat Therell by way of forfeit. The Knights took the field again the next day against Paideia, losing 22-12. “We put up a really good fight,” Chavez said after the loss. “We made a really good comeback at the end of the game.” The team was a bit disappointed but no less confident. This confidence was uniform from the players to the coaching staff as the Knights continue to improve. “We hope to improve our record from last season,” Coach Patrick Thomas said. “We just need to get everyone together, and I think we’ll be OK.” ❐ NHL returns with hopes, new rules to foster support BY DUY LAM For almost a calendar year, economics teacher Kurt Phillips had the front page of the sports section of the Sept. 16, 2004 issue of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution hanging in the back of his room. On that front page was the headline “THE NHL LOCKS OUT PLAYERS.” On Aug. 24, 2005, during his first period class Mr. Phillips vehemently ripped down the page just under the 10-by-3-foot Atlanta Flames banner. Like many die-hard hockey fans, Mr. Phillips was glad to hear the lockout was finally over and is joyously anticipating the new the season. But for many fans, however, the game will never be the same again. After about 300 days of stalemate between the two sides, a new collective bargaining agreement was reached between the players’ union and the NHL owners. Arenas were officially opened on July 13. The NHL became the first professional league in the United States ever to lose an entire season due to a lockout or strike. Owners contend lockout was inevitable due to the decrease in popularity of the sport and the big economic loss for the owners in the previous two seasons. With television ratings lower than pro bowling, owners lost more than $200 million in those two seasons and were forced to restructure a new deal with the union to lower players’ salaries. because they all would have the same maximum amount to spend on players. The initial salary cap for the 2005-2006 64 feet 64 feet 50 feet year is $39 million, and each team has to (60) (60) (60) spend at least $21.5 million on players’ salary. 11 feet 11 feet Since the announcement of the end to (13) (13) the lockout there has been a flourish of player movement. With dozens of all-stars, such as the outspoken Jeremy Roenick and Atlanta’s own superstar, Danny Heatley, moving from one team to another, the league experienced as close to a real-life fantasy draft as possible. In the real NHL draft just days after the agreement was signed, however, the Pittsburgh Penguins New Measurements selected 17-year-old phenom, Sidney Source: nhl.com (Old Measurements) Crosby, as the first overall pick. Crosby, who dominated the Quebec Major Junior NEW RINK: Aside from the new deminsions of the rink, the NHL has decided to remove the center line from Hockey League last year, will have the play to allow longer passes without commiting the penalty of the two-line pass to create more breakaways. weight of the league on his shoulders, as he will be expected to bring back the The result of the unprecedented lockout One of the most important changes that excitement that Wayne Gretzky once is a brand-new NHL that promotes faster the NHL will implement is the shootout brought to a ,moribund league. play and higher scoring to try to reach out at the end of a five-minute overtime period Although the long-term future of the to more fans. Some of the new rules include if the game still remains tied. One of the NHL appears promising, the current the permission of the two-line pass, which worst things in sports is watching a three- state of the league is still uncertain. One will allow more breakaways. The new rules hour game end in a tie. of the league’s points of emphasis is to also emphasize a more free-flowing game The NHL has decided to eliminate that attract revenue through television. They by limiting the goalie’s involvement in a possibility by adding a three-on-three have, however rejected ESPN and turned play by limiting the amount of stoppage shootout. The NHL will also adopt the to Comcast’s Outdoor Life Network. But during a game by penalizing players for idea of a salary cap similar to that of the television or not, hockey fans are just “icing a puck” and for interference with NFL. This will allow smaller-market teams happy that the doors are open and skates the game play. to compete with larger-market teams are back on the ice again. ❐ s p o r t s 20 Sept. 15, 2005 BY MAX BEECHING Fans of the football team can’t help but have high expectations this year due to the addition of talented players who played for Crim last year. Their expectations have been met thus far as the team is 3-0 and poised to have one of the best years in school history. Grady players believe they have a chance for great success in the playoffs mainly because the new players from Crim bring depth and talent. Each position carries several strong players that are capable of playing at a high level. ”It really helps to have these guys this year,” junior linebacker Anthony Johnson said. “Last year we really didn’t have a lot of good backups, and we have that this year.” In their season opener Grady dominated in all aspects of the game, beating the Therrell Panthers 43-0. “I’ll give it to them, it was hot,” said head coach Ronnie Millen, when asked about his team’s performance against Therrell. Despite the lopsided victory, the players knew there was work to be done. “We could have put up even more points up on the board and the blocking could have been better,” junior halfback Dexter Barnett said. The passing game struggled as the offense only managed three completions and it seemed like every time junior quarterback Simeon Kelley dropped back there were defenders in his face. On the ground Grady delivered tremendously as senior Cedric Sykes and juniors Zach Cohen, Dexter Barnett, Simeon Kelley and Joshua Williams all produced touchdowns. Along with the running game, the defense shined, forcing four turnovers, two of which were interceptions by junior Xavier Shorthouse. One of the two fumble recoveries was returned for a touchdown by junior Rico Robinson. The defensive onslaught continued as Grady held Therrell scoreless, and Johnson sacked the quaterback for a safety. The defense made up for some of Grady’s mistakes. For instance the special teams gave up a 50-yard kickoff return to the Grady 30-yard line giving Therrell good field position and making fans wonder if the shutout would hold. The Grady defense stopped Therrell’s best chance of scoring by thwarting them on four straight downs. Grady’s second game of the season against North Atlanta came down to the wire with a 21-14 Grady victory. The defense proved how strong it was as they produced four turnovers and a fumble recovery for a sevenyard touchdown to give the Knights their first points of the game. North Atlanta responded with a 15-yard touchdown pass. Even though Kelley came out in the second half with a sprained wrist, Grady still managed to pull away with 14 unanswered points. Kelley was 6 for 14 with 115 yards and a touchdown. The Knights had a 10-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Demarcus WOODY MORGAN New talent, strong defense put Knights on championship pace IT’S GOOD: Sophomore Noah Shaye kicks a 29-yard field goal in overtime to seal a 3-0 win over Blessed Trinity. Watts, and a 27-yard touchdown run by junior Dexter Barnett. North Atlanta scored again late in the fourth quarter with a oneyard touchdown run, but it wasn’t enough, as Grady was able to run out the clock. “The defense was what won it for us and we weren’t physically or mentally ready for this game, and we need to fix that,” Kelley said after the game. Grady’s main goal this year is to finish first in their region, which hasn’t happened in a long time. If they succeed they will gain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and hopefully land in the Georgia Dome, where they will fight for the state championship. ❐ Francoeur frenzy continued from Parkview to pros Four years ago I found myself in a packed stadium. The Big Orange Jungle was WOODY MORGAN rumbling as fans clad in blue and orange were praising their then nationally ranked football team. I was watching the Parkview Panthers from the sidelines. I was watching a team that would go 15-0 for the second straight season. I was watching an all-state defensive back and wide receiver. I was watching Jeff Francoeur. I was amazed as the local Lilburn talent made play after play on the football field in 2001. Now I’m even more stunned after seeing Francoeur make play after play on the baseball diamond at Turner Field. After contributing to back-to-back football state championships and also leading Parkview to back-to-back baseball championships, Francoeur gave up a football scholarship to Clemson University when the Braves drafted him in the first round in 2002. Fast forward three years to his July 7 debut, the day he got his first major-league hit, a game winning three-run homer. You have to have something special in order to get the support of a city that expects a 14th straight division title, a city that already has an icon synonymous with the number 7, a city that has declared the dynasty of the Joneses to be the essence of Braves baseball. But if it’s something special you need, then Francoeur is your man. In 2001 he set Parkview’s singlegame record for most home runs by hitting three against Lassiter, a feat he repeated the very next season. He also tied the school’s single-game RBI record as well, with seven against Centennial. Francoeur hit .443 with 55 home runs and 164 RBI’s during his high school career. He also holds seven school football records. Now that he is big time, Je f f ’s aggressive style of play has not changed one bit. The 6-4, 220-pounder attributes his aggressive play to the football field and has swung on the first pitch thrown his way nearly 50 percent of the time. Francoeur’s free-swinging nature is one reason that he has only walked three times since being called up. He reached the plate 131 times before the *All caps denotes HOME TEAM He puts forth the extra effort rarely seen in modern professional sports. He’ll swing on any pitch just for the chance to get on base. He’s the kind of guy that almost hurls himself face first into the outfield grass when throwing out a base runner. That effort is why he is currently tied for second for outfield assists in the National League and very much in the race for National League Rookie of the Year, even though he has only been playing a little over two months. So, do we love him because he was born and bred in this city and because we have watched him excel in athletics since high school? Or is it because he could be the best youngster in the majors and has put up numbers better than many veterans in such a short time? Well yes, but he captivates fans because he genuinely loves the game and his hometown. Francoeur is still playing the game like a high school kid, but on a much higher level. He is playing for the reason you should play any sport, because he loves it. ❐ Knight Watch FOOTBALL VOLLEYBALL Aug. 23 WESTLAKE def. Grady 19-25, 25-18, 25-11 Pebblebrook def. Grady 25-11, 25-17 Aug. 25 Grady def. North Atlanta 25-19, 25-13 Grady def. DOUGLASS 26-24, 17-25, 25-19 Sept. 5 Washington def. GRADY 25-10, 25-15 Wheeler def. GRADY 25-19, 25-14 Sept. 6 Grady def. South Atlanta 25-20, 21-25, 25-20 MAYS def. Grady 27-25, 25-20 Padres intentionally walked him on Aug. 22. His aggressiveness makes him so fun to watch; you never know what pitch he is going to take a chance on and hit out of the park. It only took him 33 at-bats to hit five home runs, a pace no Braves icon has matched. Andruw Jones went to the plate 55 times before he hit five homers. It took Chipper 75 at-bats and Hank Aaron, the alltime home run leader, 128 trips to the plate. I sat right behind the opposing dugout on Aug. 17 and watched Jeff belt a ball 406 feet against the Dodgers for home run No. 10. As Jeff rounded third base, I stood and proudly thrust my Braves’ No. 7 jersey, that I had just bought for 20 bucks outside the park, into the air. Watching the replay, I just kept reminding myself that he was only 21 years old and that I had seen the very same kid play high school football here in Atlanta. He is truly playing for his town, and he is loving it. GRADY 43, Therrell 0 Grady 21, NORTH ATLANTA 14 GRADY 3, Blessed Trinity 0 (OT) GRADY 31, Southside 6 Region 5-AA Standings Region Walker Decatur Grady Lovett Carver Cross Keys Upcoming games: W 1 0 0 0 0 0 L 0 0 0 0 0 1 SOFTBALL Player Profile: Junior WR/ CB Xavier Shorthouse Grady 7, Therell 0 (forfeit) PAIDEIA 22, Grady 12 MAYS 19, Grady 4 HOLY INNOCENTS’ 15, Grady 0 Overall W 3 4 4 4 1 0 L 1 0 0 0 2 4 Sept. 16 – Miller Grove at Grady Sept. 23 – Decatur at Grady Height: 5’11” Weight: 160 Number: 21 Favorite Food: Chinese Favorite Athlete: Antrel Rolle Stats: 4 INT’s Pace Lovett Holy Innocents’ Paideia Walker Cross Keys Grady Decatur Region Overall W 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 W 7 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 L 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 L 3 2 2 0 4 4 2 3