The Southerner, Volume 67, Issue 6 by David Winter

the Southerner S I N C E

HENRY W. GRADY HIGH SCHOOL, ATLANTA

1 9 4 7

VOLUME LXVII, NUMBER 6

March 21, 2014

By Archie Kinnane incent Murray, Grady’s principal since 1991, was told he was going to be reassigned at the end of the year, a move which precipitated a large negative response against Superintendent Erroll Davis, who makes personnel decisions. Six other principals are reportedly being removed as well. Davis made the switches just weeks before his scheduled exit; the Superintendent Search Committee has chosen Dr. Meria Carstarphen as the sole finalist for the position.

V WHY?

District 3 APS school board member Matt Westmoreland said principal evaluations are done over a period of many months, and the decision to seek new leadership is made by a group of people, including Davis, regional directors, associate superintendents, deputy superintendents and human resource officers. East Regional Director David White said principals are evaluated using the Leader Keys Evaluation System (LKES). LKES is composed of three sections—leadership effectiveness measure (LEM); leader assessment on performance standards (LAPS); and governance and leadership, and student growth and academic achievement. Within LAPS, there are four sections— school leadership, organizational leadership,

human resources leadership and professionalism and communication. White declined to comment about individual personnel decisions. Much of the vocal response from the community has been pro-Murray. Many of Murray’s advocates appealed to Westmoreland, a 2006 Grady graduate. Despite these concerns, Westmoreland has stood by Davis’s decision. “I joined my colleagues on the board in respecting the administration’s decision in making all administrative decisions, including those around all school leadership,” he said. A CONCERNED COMMUNITY

Quinn Mulholland

PRINCIPAL MURRAY TO BE REMOVED AFTER 23 YEARS

THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKIN’: The JROTC drill team competes in the Area 6 competition on March 8.

JROTC instills members with skills, college opportunities

At the APS board meeting on March 3, dozens spoke during the community input session. Most asked the board to prevent the principal changes proposed by Davis. Two of the over 30 speakers, both affiliated with Washington High School, spoke in favor of Davis’s decision to remove Washington’s principal. After the board heard the speakers and deliberated in executive session, District 8 Representative Cynthia Briscoe Brown reported that the board would not limit Davis’s power to remove principals, and that principal Vincent Murray would be leaving Grady at the end of June.

By Mary Claire Morris hen current senior Titus Zeigler entered Grady his freshman year, he did not envision himself in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps uniform. After grudgingly joining at the will of his father, Zeigler now appreciates the skills and opportunities he has acquired from the program. “It gave me a lot of opportunities,” Zeigler said. “I’ve gotten an offer from West Point which I never would have done without [JROTC]. The best thing about it for me, like after school, [is] if you join ROTC in college it’s the best opportunity for a free education.” The Grady JROTC is 170 students strong and has gained significant recognition in competitions they have participated in throughout the year and in years past. They have also

see REASSIGNMENT, page 5

see JROTC, page 12

Gaming apps Clash reality with fiction, Crush free time By Lucy Lombardo andy Crush Saga, Clash of Clans, Flappy Bird. These became common household names as gaming apps not-so-silently took over the social lives of high schoolers and parents alike. “What makes a good, addicting game is that it’s simple and it gives you instant gratification,” said junior Gilbert Young, whose high score on Flappy Bird is 107. While this is considered a good score, the record is somewhere over 12,000. Other conditions that make an app successful include its intrinsic value, and how much the game makes players want to advance from level to level. Psychologist Linda Klaitz agrees that apps can become addicting. “Anything that is stimulating your reward circuitry has the potential to be addicting,” Klaitz said. “The apps are very accessible and a lot of people that don’t even have a computer have a phone.” Even if most observers agree that video games are addictive, it’s still hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that keeps people coming back to beat their high scores. “Some people say they [play apps] because they were in a group and sort of owed it to the group,” psychologist Daryll Neill said. “They feel they’ll let

Graphic by Ben simonds-malumud and J.d. capelouto

see APP, page 13

news

Students formed the Education Enhancement Club in an effort to clean up the library, start a tutoring program and revamp the recycling program.

a&e

10 lifestyle

As spring rolls around, many teenagers find themselves low on cash. From the BeltLine to free concerts, we’ve set you up with the best, free spring activites.

13 thesoutherneronline.com

A new Clayton County juvenile justice debate team brings fresh opportunities to at-risk students, with the goal of teaching all kids that they have a voice.

In an interview with The Southerner, Dr. Meria Carstarphen, who will become the new APS superintendent this summer, discussed her plans for the district.

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the Southerner

March 21, 2014

Editorial Board J.D. Capelouto Orli Hendler Archie Kinnane Eli Mansbach Quinn Mulholland Ryan Switzer Olivia Volkert Alex Wolfe

At The Southerner, we pride ourselves on producing a newspaper on the same high-caliber standards as any professional organization. With this standard, however, comes the journalistic responsibility to report all news that occurs in our school and school system, the positive and the negative. The role of journalism in society is to deliver information to the community in order to promote a well-informed population. We have written stories about bullying incidents, rape allegations, gun violence and Board of Education candidates accused of monetary theft. And through it all, unlike some other high school publications, we have (thankfully) not been restricted by our administration when it comes to what stories we publish. In 1988, the Supreme Court ruled that school principals can legally prevent the publication of certain articles in a school paper, and that it does not violate the rights of the student journalists for them to do so. Many papers across the country are burdened by “prior review,” a process in which principals can look at an issue before it is published and make changes. This can sometimes involve the mandatory revision or even removal of articles. It is a cruel law that plagues high school journalists who work hard to publish compelling, albeit sometimes controversial, stories. Throughout Dr. Murray’s 23-year tenure at Grady, The Southerner and other Grady publications have never been subject to the pressure and subjection that comes along with prior review. We hope to keep it that way next year in Dr. Murray’s absence. As scholastic journalists, we are all exceedingly grateful for the work he has done in giving us the funding and freedom it takes to succeed on the national stage, and we can only hope that his replacement will do the same. So please, future principal of Henry W. Grady High School, whoever you are, please don’t take away the freedom we enjoy right now as a high school publication—don’t take away something that makes journalism journalism. p

Not all press good

Ever since the first accusation came out on Nov. 8 that there were students playing on our football team that live out of district, Grady has appeared multiple times in news outlets across the state. As we waited with bated breath for the results of the investigation, many changes were made within the football coaching staff, and parents began to voice their opinions vocally and online on our website. When Superintendent Erroll Davis finally announced the results on March 5, saying there have been 14 confirmed cases of students enrolling with falsified documents and that there are 13 more students being investigated, the story was taken up by local news sources. Shortly after the March 6 meeting, the San Francisco Gate posted on its website the article that AP wrote summarizing the facts that Davis told the Grady community. In addition, USA Today posted a story on its website about the community meeting. Grady and APS are no strangers to bad press. When a student shot herself in the leg just over a year ago, our school made national news because of the debate about gun laws. And, before that, APS suffered its CRCT cheating scandal that The Atlanta Journal-Constitution broke in 2009, which was one of the largest school cheating scandals in the history of the United States. All this recent bad press has had us seriously question the adage, “all press is good press.” Despite the fact that we are a newspaper and print stories that sometimes shed a bad light on people, the bad press Grady has received in recent years has had a negative impact on our reputation and our credibility. As a newspaper, credibility is one of the most important things to us. If our paper’s credibility is damaged, our readers cannot trust our paper to report stories accurately. The same can be said about a school or a school system. Though the scandals that occur in our school and school system provide good stories for our reporters to write, we hope Grady and APS can make our jobs a bit harder. p

Alex Wolfe

Prevent prior review

uestion

f the month

What would your prom nightmare be?

“

If I spilled something on my dress or hair, I would cry.”

“

Tiana Worrell, sophomore

No prom date.”

Jovarius Sawyer, junior

“

If I peed on myself.” Jermaine Hosley, freshman

Having a mass murderer be there.”

C O R R E C T I O N S

Maggie Miller, freshman

The story “Actors infuse musical with Thoroughly Modern twists” (Feb. 21, page 13), incorrectly identified the actor who played the role of Trevor Graydon. Ryan Switzer played the role. The story incorrectly stated that Millie was the first Grady play screened for a Shuler Award; the 2011 production Hairspray was also presented for the award.

Southerner Staff 2013-2014 Editor-in-Chief: J.D. Capelouto Managing Editors: Archie Kinnane, Eli Mansbach Associate Managing Editors: Orli Hendler, Quinn Mulholland, Olivia Volkert Design Editors: Ansley Marks, Rebecca Martin News Editors: Allison Rapoport, Josh Weinstock Comment Editors: Ryan Switzer, Alex Wolfe Lifestyle Editor: Caroline Morris Sports Editors: Ryan Bolton, Ben Searles Photo and Social Media Editor: Mary Condolora

Staff: Anna Braxton, Chris Brown, Nick Caamano, Emily Dean, Riley Erickson, Elizabeth Gibbs, Carter Guensler, Ike Hammond, Griffin Kish, Brandon Kleber, Gabe Kovacs, Billie Lavine, Lucy Lombardo, Hannah Martin, Katherine Merritt, Mary Claire Morris, Grace Powers, Maxwell Rabb, Jenni Rogan, Ben Simonds-Malamud, Roderick Smith, Jennifer Steckl, Margo Stockdale, Madeline Veira

An upbeat paper for a downtown school Advisers: Kate Carter, Dave Winter

To our readers,

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 or Ms. Carter's box in the main office. Subscriptions are also available. For more information, please contact Mr. Winter, Ms. Carter or a member of the staff.

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March 21, 2014

Business mindset harmful in education Of the 100 largest school districts in the country, APS and its cross-country counterpart, Hawaii Public Schools, stick out. Though HPS, as the only governing body of public education on the island-state, may have 130,000 more students than our APS, the districts’ superintendents set them apart from the crowd. Ryan Switzer Erroll Davis and Kathryn Matayushi are superintendents initially hired as interim leaders that were given contract extensions and possess zero experience as a teacher or as a principal. They have never controlled unruly students or administered tests. Erroll Davis, specifically, is a member of the board of directors for General Motors with a degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon. Ultimately, he is the prime example of the business sector’s dangerous, nearly inadvertent influence on American education: not through direct funds, but through mindset. Corporations, of course, have the most tangible consequences on schools. Disparities in funding for districts across the country leave convenient, dollar sign-shaped holes. From Bill and Melinda Gates to Mark Zuckerberg, it has become fashionable to throw money at your local, suffering school districts and push your own agenda. The Gates Foundation, in particular, has been incredibly generous in its targeted aid for our own school system. In 2006, the foundation awarded $10.5 million to APS in order to “accelerate and expand its high school transformation initiative.” Thanks to the Microsoft founder, we are a community divided into four academies. Though inconvenient at times, the academies are essentially clutter; a survivable inconvenience

and another layer of bureaucracy. But this direct contribution of funds is ultimately beneficial. It takes money to get students the resources we need to learn like modern thinkers. Modern technology and direct donations from millionaires do not instill this business-tinged brain, though. In APS’s case, the culprit is at the head of the district. Cultural critic and author Henry A Giroux wrote that, “within the language of privatization and market reforms, there is a strong emphasis on standards, measurements of outcomes, and holding teachers and students more accountable.” By even placing one business-minded individual fluent in this “language” over a group of educators, students and administrators, we send the wrong message. The danger doesn’t lie in the money, but rather the business mindset. Unlike children, healthy economies are characterized by routine dives and ascensions. Stability is paramount to most other factors in child-development. Principles are pawns on Davis’s chessboard; they’re shifted around in the middle of school days without warning, creating an unstable environment which is far from optimal for student growth. When we consider students “investments in the future,” we treat them with the same value as a penny stock or a cow. Instead of promoting personal growth through education, we ask ourselves “how will this person make me money one day?” According to Reuters writer Stephanie Simon, “In the venture capital world, transactions in the K-12 education sector soared to a record $389 million last year, up from $13 million in 2005.” Business-minded people are drawn to any high-profit industry, but they have no place in education. Attitudes of profit maximization serve only to hurt students. I urge the board, when appointing the next superintendent, to look to the classroom and not the private sector. p

School can be an extremely painful experience. Don’t get me wrong, in many ways my classes are thought-provoking, but some of my classes make me want to Margo Stockdale scream out in frustration. Assigned reading is a common cause of this agitation. Nothing sucks the fun out of an activity quite like being forced to do it. Slowly reading three chapters a week and then taking quizzes over minute details while listening to everyone complain, “That wasn’t on SparkNotes,” definitely takes all the joy out of literature. While this definitely bothers me, I do appreciate much of the insightful interpretations of the text from my classmates and teachers. It is impossible, however, to overlook the lack of female authors in the classroom. Through the ninth and 10th grades, not a single one of our assigned readings was written by a woman. We read some of the most important works of classical and modern literature, from Shakespeare’s Othello to Alex Haley’s An Autobiography of Malcolm X, but they don’t make up for not hearing a woman’s voice for two years. This lack of representation seems both unfair and glaringly obvious. In 2007, NPR reported that women read more than men. Female authors are also published at around the same frequency as male authors, yet they are missing from our school’s bookshelves. Reading a few poems written by a minister’s wife doesn’t really compensate for this disparity because, as the data suggest, we should be reading just as many works of literature written by women as written by men. VIDA, an organization dedicated to supporting women in the literary arts, publishes an annual count comparing the attention female authors receive compared to males in academic journals and news sources and the results always favor the latter. This disparity indicates an enormous inequality in the literary world: women are writing just as much, reading even more, and yet female authors are still being noticed less than their male counterparts. If

Margo stockdale

Female authors shelved in classrooms

Grady is in any way contributing to this discrimination, we need to fix that immediately, because it’s not proper for educators to endorse any kind of marginalization. It’s not like women are just now entering into literature, either. Authors like Emily Brontë, Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath penned some of the most celebrated works of literature in their time. Harper Lee and Zora Neale Hurston gave a voice to Americans who couldn’t speak. Literary powerhouses like J.K. Rowling and Suzanne Collins inspired generations with their fiction. But it seems strange, given all of her success, that Rowling had to go by her ini-

tials to sell Harry Potter to boys. It seems even stranger, though, that so few of these amazing women have been recognized in the literature classes I’ve taken at Grady. I’m not sure if I will ever completely embrace assigned reading, and I certainly will not unless the hard work of female writers is represented in the classroom. I appreciate Ms. Willoughby because she is the first literature teacher I’ve had at Grady who has assigned class readings written by women. Despite what I’ve heard about it, I’m actually excited to read Toni Morrison’s Beloved. A female’s perspective is long overdue. p

Athletes coming out tackle enmity and homophobia Gay marriage is now lawful in 17 states. Ellen Degeneres, Ellen Page, Neil Patrick Harris and Anderson Cooper are openly gay celebrities. And according to Gallup polls, more than Griffin Kish half of America favors legalizing gay marriage. The last part of society to tolerate homosexuality is sports. For some reason, unbeknownst to me, athletes who publicly announce that they are gay or lesbian are looked down upon by their sports communities. Jason Collins, a 13-year veteran player in the NBA, came out as gay. Even though public response to his announcement was positive, he was not invited to any training camps that season. Michael Sam, a young college football player from Missouri, is expected by NFL executives to drop in rank in the NFL draft after he announced that he was gay. When former first-ranked women’s tennis player Billie Jean King came out as a lesbian in the midst of a lawsuit against her, her sponsors immediately dropped her. These instances make me question the relationship between one’s sexuality and one’s athleticism. I don’t think that loving someone of the same sex has anything to do with the drive, confidence, strength and talent that make successful athletes. After these athletes announced their homosexuality, other athletes must think that they have somehow lost their talent, drive, speed or strength. What I hear a lot in the news are petty complaints that homosexual players make the other players uncomfortable in places like the locker room. I am appalled that professional athletes, whom I assume want to better themselves and the teams they play for, would pass up talented players simply because they are uncomfortable with them. Sexuality doesn’t play a role on the field, and it shouldn’t play a role in the locker room. The worst part is that after these athletes announce their sexual orientation, it becomes the only news about them. Very seldom is there any mention of the person’s other accomplishments. After Sam announced his homosexuality, countless magazines, newspapers and websites published only the fact that he was gay and how it would affect his rank in the NFL draft. What was not published was that Sam grew up without many of the privileges we take for granted. Media outlets cared more about Sam’s sexual orientation than the fact that Sam’s older sister died as a baby, that one of his older brothers has been missing since 1988, that he was homeless for part of his childhood or that he witnessed his older brother being shot to death. The real news here is that Sam is to be commended for managing to make it to the top ranks of the NFL draft despite an incredibly difficult and violent childhood. NFL executives say that the NFL is not ready for an openly gay player. But apparently, the NFL is OK with accused rapists, dog fighters and murderers. I would expect the NFL to be more uncomfortable with accused felons than homosexuals, but maybe I’m just weird. America is placing too much weight on a players’ sexual orientation. It doesn’t affect their ability as athletes, and therefore, it has no place in the discussion about any athlete’s merit. p

EXCLUSIVELY @ theSoutherneronline.com APS Board member, Matt Westmoreland: personnel changes a “gut-wrenching process”

Award shows give inside glimpse into the world of stars

Dear Grady High Community, The past several days have been extremely difficult for all of us. Last week’s news that Grady will have new leadership next year came as a shock to many. As someone who graduated from Grady eight years ago and for whom Dr. Murray served as principal ...

I look forward to watching the Academy Awards all year long. Not only to root for my favorite movies, actors and actresses and obsess over their red carpet looks but also to see them all as real people, not just the characters they portray. I think one of the most revealing aspects of an actor’s personality is his or her speech ...

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March 21, 2014

Major update needed for SAT test standards

Changing SAT fulfills no useful purpose

By chloe prendergast

by kitty wright The SAT is a rite of passage for high school students, just like prom or getting dragged. Although it is a rite of passage, I, for one, find it to be completely useless. This month, there have been some changes made to the test; the highest possible score has been lowered, and the essay has been made optional. These are only a few of the many changes SAT officials are making to make the test easier and more “accessible to everyone.” These changes, however, just make me really confused as to the point of taking the test in the first place. It seems impractical to take a test that you have to pay for, that you can easily make a good score on and that doesn’t truly put you in competition with anyone. Before these changes were made, the test was designed like a competency test, whose purpose is to weed out the dumb students and give colleges an indicator on which to base their acceptances. Public universities such as the University of Georgia or Georgia State University require us to take the test, then don’t use our scores as a primary factor in determining whether or not we are accepted. Unless we are applying to prestigious colleges like Harvard or Stanford, the SAT is a fruitless endeavor, full of stress and fury but ultimately signifying nothing. By making the SAT easier, the range of scores will be c u r v e d , which will most likely raise the average score. This score inflation will harm students who would have previously had impressive scores. Now those scores will not seem as high. Yes, maybe some of the lower-scoring students will benefit from the changes, but the upper range of students will not. And if not everyone who takes the test will benefit from the changes, then what is the point? One of the major reasons behind these changes is that the ACT is becoming more popular than SAT. The SAT isn’t being changed to benefit us; it’s being changed so it’s more competitive with the ACT. With the changes, I guess a few more people will be able to get into college more easily, which is a positive aspect of these changes. Updating a useless test, however, will not help every test taker in the long run. p

The SAT has been a major contributor to teen stress across the nation since 1926. The test has been through many changes in the last century, but recently it has been in desperate need of a makeover. The test currently assesses students on irrelevant abilities or tasks. Several regard the essay portion of the test and a good number of the vocabulary words as wholly incapable of measuring a test taker’s intelligence or college readiness. The essay requires no critical thinking, analysis or factual information. According to Les Perelman, a creator of the MIT writing placement test, “there is no other writing situation in the world where people have to write on a topic that they’ve never thought about, on demand, in 25 minutes.” The revamped essay section of the SAT is optional, so those students who don’t wish to take it don’t have to. The essay will also be based on analysis of the evidence in a passage, which better exemplifies the type of writing colleges and careers require. Another major issue the SAT faces is the vocabulary used on the test. The test requires students to review obscure words to fill obscure sentences, which even the College Board itself admits are irrelevant to test takers’ lives. Words such as “anachronistic” fill the reading section of the SAT, which ironically better describes the test than identifies the scholarly aptitude of students across the nation. The changes to the vocabulary of the SAT will allow for a better measurement of reading comprehension and the grasp of words a student might actually encounter in the real world. The current test is rife with individual issues, all of which contribute to one major problem – family income is a large determinant of the SAT scores of students; The Washington Post explains that, “The SAT benefits families who can provide their kids with a better education and more test prep.” The external changes to the test are more important than the changes to the test itself. The Kahn Academy is considering offering free online test preparation to take place, and the College Board will offer fee waivers for low-income students. The SAT’s changes are vital if we hope to make the test representative of the intellect and college-readiness of students from all backgrounds. p

e h T

STUDENT Should the format of the SAT change?

Stan

Pranks all fun and games until credibility gets hurt

ansley Marks

olfe W

punchline that the whole thing had been faked. As a member of a news outlet myself, I can honestly say that the staffers of The Southerner strive to report truthfully on every topic we cover. Even we, however, are not altogether immune to the pranking disease spreading around the country. When an Atlanta radio station The Regular Guys recently staged a fake rally to protest Justin Bieber moving into Buckhead, we tweeted a picture and a post of the event. We quickly took down the tweet and tweeted a correction once we discovered the mistake, but the damage had been done. This is not to say that Kimmel and others should simply stop creating humorous content. They are obviously not responsible for the actions of the news media. And the fact that dozens of outlets spent extended periods of time discussing a twerking malfunction is another issue entirely. Kimmel is, however, responsible for the backlash that his prank caused. After the video of the wolf was posted, officials in Sochi were forced to confront the possibility that security in the athlete’s village had been breached; the video actually perpetuated the inaccurate belief in a safety hazard that never occurred. Additionally, when multiple news networks contacted Hansen to try and confirm the video, she blatantly

Upon closer inspection, however, I realized that this seemingly harmless prank could have severe and harmful consequences. Every organization that reports the news, be it a high school newspaper or a national broadcast station, has the great responsibility of reporting on all topics fairly and accurately. When they fail to do so, they lose their viewers’ trust, a fate worse than death for any journalist. By pranking the news outlets, Kimmel effectively was diminishing the value of the news shows, sparking a downward spiral of distrust and despair. This is not even Kimmel’s first transgression. In September 2013, he played a short video on his show of a girl attempting to twerk, only to break a table and catch on fire. As before, news outlets jumped on the story, before Kimmel supplied the

ale

Multiple news shows were abuzz with chatter on the morning of Feb. 20 about the latest crazy escapade to occur at the Olympics. What was this crazy escapade, you ask? Networks like Alex Wolfe CNN and NBC were reporting that a wolf was recorded wandering around the athletes’ village in Sochi. U.S. luger Kate Hansen captured the wolf on film and posted the video under the title “#SochiFail: Wolf in my hall” on Twitter and YouTube, inspiring rousing discussions among newscasters about its origins as well as a lively debate about whether the beast was a full-blooded wolf or a common husky. These discussions would all have been well and good, except for one thing: the whole thing had been staged. Jimmy Kimmel admitted that night on his show Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he and his staff had constructed an exact replica of the athletes’ hotel hallways, had filmed a trained wolf wandering the corridor and had posted the video on Hansen’s social media outlets. He also revealed the extended clip, which featured him skiing down the hallway as he called out for “Garfield” the wolf. As Kimmel explained the hoax, he derisively poked fun at the news outlets that reported on the story. Now, I will admit to laughing along with everybody else when the joke was revealed, and I too initially scoffed at the news shows.

lied to them. Believing they had verified the truth, these news outlets felt confident in airing the video on their show; are they really the ones to blame here? In any successful comedic venture, the comedian must walk the line between right and wrong or appropriate and inappropriate. Sometimes the gamble pays off, and sometimes it does not. But if the gamble harms the integrity of any organization dedicated to promoting the truth, is it really worth the occasional laugh? p

Medical marijuana fails despite support On Wednesday, Feb. 26, the last day in the General Assembly’s session (sine die), a bill which would allow medicinal marijuana oil for those suffering from seizures failed to pass both houses. One version of the bill, referred to as “Haleigh’s Hope,” passed the Senate, and another version passed the House, but time ran out before the same version could pass both.

Senior artists sweep local art throwdown

Juan Montoya, Surayya Nkosi and Kira Carter won this year’s art competition at SCAD. Students from five regional high schools competed in the timed figure-drawing competitions. Carter and Nkosi each won first place. “So many champions in our school,” fine arts chair John Brandhorst emailed. “Business as usual.”

Debate team keeps up state win streak The Grady Jesters were crowned state champions in both speech events and debate events in early March. The tournament was held at Stratford Academy. With the Jesters placing first in dramatic interpretation, prose and poetry, impromptu and extemporaneous speaking, Grady brought home the most trophies and won sweepstakes (an award given to the team with the highest point total).

the Southerner

March 21, 2014

Student group gathers to get rid of grime By Emily Dean Inspired by broken clocks, foul bathroom conditions and a lack of school spirit, sophomore Isabel Olson spearheaded the Education Enhancement Club, which held its first interest meeting this month. This club, which is Grady’s newest, aims to improve the academics, resources and facilities at Grady through student-faculty cooperation. Olson launched the Education Enhancement Club with sophomores Reilly Blum and Jordan Schuster. The club is sponsored by astronomy teacher Ben Sellers and literature teacher Nalin Needham. Right now, those goals include improving the school’s academics, facilities and resources. The club hopes to encourage students to take advantage of the College and Career Center so that they may better prepare for their futures. “While a lot of us might know what is happening with college in our future, a lot of students in the school don’t,” Olson said. Club members also hope to set up a tutoring program, which sophomore Chloe Prendergast is leading. The club is considering asking teachers to volunteer for tutoring times about once a week, in addition to having student tutors. The club hopes that the program will be up and running by the start of next school year. Tutoring would take place after school in the CCC. Additionally, club members hope to deal with textbook shortages facing some classes, to help clean up the library, to push administration to fix leaking ceilings, to reduce racial divisions among the academies and to lessen the school’s environmental footprint. “The club has a lot of things that it wants to happen, but realistically we have a few things that we actually want to do,” Prendergast said. “There are things like ‘cure the racial divide’ that we have no ability of controlling; that’s much deeper root-

Emily Dean

News Briefs

news

AMPLIFYING ACADEMICS: Education Enhancement Club members discuss the club’s goals and write plans for a survey of students to figure out which issues they are most passionate or concerned about. ed in socioeconomics and history and parents and teachers ... although we hope that by helping with schooling and making Grady more of a community, that might be a little bit of an aftereffect.” The group is considering working with the janitorial staff to work out a new schedule for cleaning, so that each bathroom gets cleaned every day or two. Physics teacher Jeff Cramer suggested that the club improve teacher performance by having students evaluate them at some point in the school year and give them feedback. “Trying to change the culture of two things [is important],” Cramer said. “One of them is the way students perceive their school and how well they take care of it, but also trying to find a way that we can effectively change the teachers’ culture.” Olson’s main goal is to make the school, specifi-

cally the cafeteria, more environmentally friendly. She hopes to set up an efficient recycling system and educate students about how to recycle. The club will be offering community service hours to students who volunteer for it. “It’s not just like you’re doing community service hours for other people; it’s like, you’re helping yourself by doing these hours because you’re helping everyone in your own school, which is pretty cool,” Olson said. “It’s not an opportunity that a lot of people get very often, so I think that’s a fun part of the club.” EEC members remain optimistic, hoping that the club can have an impact on the school. “I’d say a big goal would just be to leave a legacy for the club so that even once we’re gone, students and teachers will still be working together to make the school better,” Schuster said. p

REASSIGNMENT creates outcry from community In response to those who wished the board to limit Davis’s hiring power, Westmoreland said the board does not have that authority. “The only person [the board hires] is the superintendent, and then the superintendent is either responsible for hiring, or hiring people that hire the other 5,500 employees,” he said. “The board has never and does not have a role in making personnel decisions, including who’s going to run schools and who’s not going to run schools.” Speech and debate teacher Mario Herrera was one of several teachers who spoke at the meeting. “We can’t understand, as a group of teachers, why when something needs to be worked on, everything needs to be worked on,” Herrera said. “When a doctor determines the symptoms that someone needs an operation on, they don’t do it simply because an arm is numb, and they don’t go and amputate the head.” Social studies teacher James Campbell highlighted statistics showing that Grady has the highest graduation rate for economically disadvantaged students of any school in APS. “This achievement is not an accident,” he said. “It is a top-down leadership culture ... a culture that is led by a leader at our school.” Campbell said that, by advising a homeroom of students who were held back a grade, Murray inspired him and sent the staff two messages. “First, every student in our school is important,” he said. “Second, we should not be afraid to be innovative with students who are [in danger of] falling through the cracks.” Senior Zoe Schneider told the board that the changes were an overreaction. “These vast, sweeping changes aren’t the

Archie Kinnane

continued from front page

MURRAY MATTERS: Teacher Mario Herrera advocated for Murray at the APS board meeting on March 30. solution to [problems in the system],” SchLansing suggested that the new superintenneider said. “The solution ... is meeting dent should choose whether to retain the prinwith principals on an individual level and cipals, a proposal which drew cheers from the perhaps changing out one or two princi- crowded room. pals if you really deem that necessary, not Westmoreland responded to the concern that replacing seven principals at once.” Davis, a lame-duck superintendent, should not Alum Kenny Cochran defended Murray. be allowed to change school leadership. “Why Dr. Murray?” he said. “Your answer: “Superintendent Davis is the superintendent tabula rasa, blank slate. But what are you wip- until he finishes his term in office,” Westmoreing clean? Are you forgetting about the other land said. “But I hear those concerns and am details that matter on the slate? … Is new bet- hopeful that the incoming superintendent can ter than the impeccable experience and track play a big role in any major decisions.” record of a true leader?” Grady and Inman parent Duggan Lansing Eighth-grader Elizabeth Lansing, who at- said that this issue was a chance for the board tended Inman Middle and Morningside El- to earn its constituents’ trust. ementary Schools, argued that she has lacked “I trust that you will recognize the danger of stability due to principal switches. removing a large number of principals as SuAfter listing the principals Lansing’s had, she perintendent Davis has initiated,” she said. said, “That’s six principals for me, and seven for my friends who went to [Springdale Park]. NOT ALL UNHAPPY Remember, we’re only in eighth grade … Let Though supporters of Murray have been our class start ninth grade with Dr. Murray, the most outspoken, there are those who someone our community knows, values, trusts stand in shadowy support of Davis’s conand respects. The class of 2018 needs stability. troversial decision. An open records request Grady needs stability.” for emails about the principal switches filed

by The Southerner revealed several emails by Grady parents sent to Davis expressing approval of his actions. “The assumption that all Grady parents are not in support of a leadership change is not accurate,” wrote one parent who asked her name be withheld. “I would even venture to say that a not-so-vocal majority of current Grady parents are in favor of new leadership at our school.” Two parents who also requested anonymity sent an email to Davis supporting him. “We applaud Dr. Murray’s years of service to Grady High School and sincerely wish him the best in his future endeavors … We are concerned that the current lack of strong leadership is jeopardizing the ability of Grady High School to build on its past successes,” the email reads. NOT JUST GRADY APS reportedly told a total of seven principals that they are being removed, including Mays High School principal Tyronne Smith and Morris Brandon Elementary School principal Karen Evans. A large student walkout followed the announcement that Smith would be removed from Mays. In a community letter, Evans wrote that the only given reason for the decision was that “the district is ‘moving in a new direction.’” “At no time have any concerns about my performance or that of Brandon been communicated to me by superiors or anyone else in the district,” Evans wrote. Davis denied the language “moving in a new direction” was used. In a March 3 email obtained through the request, Davis wrote, “No such message was conveyed to the principals and no new direction is being contemplated by the system.” p

news

March 21, 2014

Sexual violence on the rise across college campuses

Illustration by Anna Braxton

By Anna Braxton and Margo Stockdale have a responsibility Colleges and Universities Under Federal Investigation A rape was reported at Emory Univerto help foster a colPenn State University For Mishandling Sexual Violence Cases sity at 11:15 p.m. on Feb. 11. Two hours lege culture where Dartmouth College later, a campus-wide email was sent out people are treatHarvard Law School informing the Emory community about ed with respect. Princeton University the incident. According to police reports, Nobody deserves UNC at Chapel Hill Amherst College the alleged rapist may be connected to to be victimized.” Vanderbilt University several other instances of sexual assault Not only is University of California, Berkeley in the Atlanta and Decatur area. This sexual assault a University of Southern California incident is but one instance of a probgrowing problem Occidental College lem many college students are facing on campuses, but many University of Colorado Boulder across the country. colleges and universities Swarthmore College Sexual assault, including rape, have come under criticism Hanover College University of Connecticut has reached an extremely high level for mishandling the cases Cedarville University on colleges and university campuses. brought to them. AccordEmerson College Nearly one in five women will experiing to a poll conducted by University of Virginia ence some form of sexual violence while the Huffington Post, 12 perCarnegie Mellon University in college, and 84 percent of those women cent of those polled believe The University of Akron said the incident happened within the first schools do a good job in handling The University of Texas-Pan American four semesters on campus, according to polls sexual assault cases, while 42 perHobart and William Smith Colleges University of Chicago conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice and a cent believe schools do a poor job. University of Michigan study entitled “An Examination of Sexual Violence Federal complaints were filed on the Michigan State University Against College Women.” Only around 12 percent of mishandling of sexual assault cases these cases, however, are reported. at several schools including HarInformation provided by Huffington Post sexual assault than women The alleged assailant was not reported to be an Emory vard, Dartmouth and Princeton. University student, but many instances of sexual violence oc- living in on-campus dormitoThe alarming number of sexual cur on campus often at college fraternities and sororities. In ries, and up to three times more assaults on college campuses was the February 2014 Atlantic article entitled “The Dark Power likely than students living off campus. A report by the Univer- brought to the attention of President Barack Obama, who, of Fraternities,” author Caitlin Flanagan stated that 15 per- sity of Nebraska, Lincoln, entitled “Coercive Sexual Strategies,” on Jan. 22, mobilized a task force to protect students from cent of fraternity insurance liability claims are from sexual as- claims that men belonging to fraternities are more likely to per- sexual violence. sault. For comparison, hazing-related liability claims amount petrate sexual assault or sexual violence than men who do not In response to President Obama’s compiled task force, the belong to a fraternity. to only 7 percent. U.S. Education Department’s chief enforcer of civil rights reThe University of Georgia reported 17 incidents of sex- ported that her office plans to begin working more efficiently “College brings with it a new sense of independence, and many students are experimenting for the first time with dat- ual violence in its 2012 crime statistics report, which was to ensure colleges abide by federal law in handling cases of ing, intimate relationships, and their sexual identities,” Mi- the second highest amount of reported violent crimes at reported sexual violence. chele Passonno, Relationship and Sexual Violence Coordina- UGA that year. The university started the Relationship and Georgia Tech Health Educator Lee Helmken expressed Sexual Violence Prevention program to assist students who optimism about colleges’ and universities’ recent efforts to tor from UGA, said in an email interview. According to a report by the Harvard School of Public Health have experienced relationship or sexual violence as well as prevent sexual violence. entitled “Correlates of Rape while Intoxicated in a National lead a peer educator student group aimed to help co-facili"I think colleges are coming a long way,” she said. “All Sample of College Women,” university-aged women who live tate outreach efforts. these things are moving forward to a point where universities “Sexual violence impacts all of us,” Passonno said. “We all have no choice but to take it seriously and to handle it.” p in sorority housing are 1.6 times more likely to be victims of

2 more plead guilty, plea deadline passes By Allison Rapoport The last day to enter a negotiated plea to Judge Jerry Baxter was Feb. 21. Christopher Waller and Sandra Ward pleaded guilty that day, bringing the final tally to 21 with 13 defendants remaining. Unless Baxter accepts more pleas, the 13 will be tried. Waller is the former principal of Parks Middle School. He pleaded to a HALL MONITOR: felony charge of making false statements, but he APS Trial will not go to jail because Update he is a first-time offender. He will serve five years of probation, pay back $50,000 in restitution and complete 1,000 hours of community service. Waller and Millicent Few, the former head of human resources for APS, will play a key role in the prosecution’s case against the remaining defendants. Similarly, Ward, an administrator at Parks Middle School, will testify for the prosecution in the trial. Attorney Bob Rubin is one of few attorneys to file motions since the last day to enter negotiated pleas. Rubin filed a motion to sever on behalf of his client, Dana Evans (the former principal of Dobbs Elementary School). He suspected that several of the other defendants will jump in on the motion. Filing a motion to sever means that he is requesting that his client (and whichever other defendants join the motion) be tried separately from the other defendants. However, in a March 18 hearing, Baxter denied Rubin’s motion to sever. Baxter also did not rule on a motion that Hall’s attorney made to exclude the erasure analysis from evidence. Now that the original group of 34 defendants has been whittled down to 13, the number of witnesses is small enough for the trial to take place in the Fulton County Courthouse. It will begin on May 6 in courtroom 1C and jury selection starts on April 28. p Sixth in a series H A L L

M O N I T O R

Nurse steps down, faculty assists

By Olivia Volkert Propst and Superintendent of Student Services John Since Grady’s nurse Krishna Rainey left on Jan. 27, the O’Connor said the district will soon train two employees school has had no nurse in place for almost 10 weeks. at each school to administer epinephrine, a hormone used Assistant Principal David Propst said he has been serv- to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, and insulin, a horing as an unofficial nurse, administering medication to the mone used to control blood sugar in people who have diabethree students who have registered medical conditions and tes. McNeil said the idea of administrators providing insulin attempting to help any students who come to him with to students makes her very uncomfortable and the liability medical issues. to the system is too great. Propst said the reason nurse Rainey left was because she O’Connor said in an e-mail that some doctor-prescribed was not receiving benefits. activities can in fact be conducted by non-nurses. “I feel like we should have [a nurse] because the adAccording to the APS website, “school-based nursing ministration can’t do what nurses can,” freshman Day- service allocations are data-driven based on the numlin Denis said. ber of students with Many of our nurses serve more documented health Both health sciences teacher Leola McNeil and world history teacher than one school as we have fewer conditions, required Sara Looman think there are many istherapeutic physician nurses than we have schools.” sues teenagers have that a only a nurse ordered treatments for could help alleviate. Looman said she individual students durthinks it would be ideal for students to John O’Connor ing school hours, and be able to have a rapport with someSuperintendent of Student Services school enrollment.” one who is medically-trained. “Many of our nurses “We send conflicting messages,” serve more than one Looman said. “We advocate eating healthily, getting exer- school as we have fewer nurses than we have schools,” cise, things like that, yet we don’t have a nurse.” O’Connor said. Additionally, while roaming the halls looking for a nurse’s O’Connor explained that every APS school receives nursassistance, senior Charlee Gallasey told The Southerner she ing support for some portion of the school week, ranging thinks high school students especially need a nurse. from less than a day a week to every day each week. “High schoolers have the most accidents,” Gallasey said. “Across the district, there are some nursing vacancies, in “We play rough, and stuff happens.” part, because there is a shortage in the supply of available Propst is not the only one who has had to take up some nurses while there is a wide variety of employers who are of the slack because of the absence of a nurse. McNeil said seeking nurses,” O’Connor said. that both before and after Rainey’s departure in late January, O’Connor said the district has been working with the students have come to her with medical problems. Although Human Resources Department and private nurse contractshe is a registered nurse, McNeil stressed that she was hired ing agencies to hire another nurse. In the meantime, the first and foremost as a teacher and that it is outside the scope system has hired a temporary one who will serve Grady unof her job to treat students. til a permanent nurse can be hired. The temporary nurse McNeil said since Rainey’s departure, there have been is scheduled to start on March 24 and will work at Grady some students who have had actively bleeding lacerations, High School for up to 29 hours a week. puncture wounds from an assault, cuts, abrasions and symp“ ... We realized that the district needs to build more eftoms that looked like chicken pox. McNeil also recounted a fective transition processes when a school nurse resigns,” time in the past two months when a student was sent to the O’Connor said. “We have built those more effective transiemergency room. tion processes.” p “With the presence of a nurse, this incident would’ve For an extended version of this story, go to www.thebeen handled better,” McNeil said. southerneronline.com

“

education legislation

Quinn Mulholland

March 21, 2014

EDUCATION DELIBERATION: The Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee discusses HB 897, which has several charter-related provisions, including creating a nonprofit foundation to collect donations for charter schools.

EDUCATION BILLS SEE FIERCE DEBATE AT GA. CAPITOL Some experts see privatization as true motivation

By Quinn Mulholland With the tumult surrounding legislation on the Common Core State Standards and gun rights, the 2014 legislative session got plenty of attention from stakeholders and the media. Several important bills related to charter schools, however, largely escaped the spotlight. In the debate over these bills, a fundamental dispute at the heart of the school choice movement was revealed: whether a free market-based system that encourages competition and choice can be applied in education or whether it leaves certain students behind and goes further down the road to the privatization of the public education system. House Bill 123, or the Parent and Teacher Empowerment Act, was one of the bills that was considered, though it did not pass. It is known as a “parent trigger” bill, meaning it would allow parents, by a majority vote, to “pull the trigger” on a school and either turn it into a charter school or remove the school Last in leadership. Janet Kishbaugh, a lobbyist for the Southern Education Foundation and a Grady parent, said the bill would make it too easy for parents to force radical changes. “It would be parents who show up at a meeting,” Kishbaugh said. “So if you had a meeting and like 50 people came and 26 people voted for it, you would successfully pull the trigger.” HB 897, which also relates to charter schools and didn’t pass, is what is known as a “Title 20 rewrite” bill, meaning it makes many small fixes to the state’s education code. Carolyn Wood, also a Southern Education Foundation lobbyist and Grady parent, thinks this bill goes too far in its charter school provisions.

“It’s not unusual to have a cleanup bill for Title 20,” Wood said. “What’s unusual in [HB] 897 is ... that [it] takes it out of the realm of a pure cleanup bill and it adds any number of substantive provisions for charter schools, some of which are really to the detriment of the traditional public school system.” Kishbaugh said pro-charter lobbyists saw the bill as a way to advance their pro-charter school agenda. “A lot of that is just really fine points and things,” Kishbaugh said, “but the overall tenor of everything is to try and expedite the ability of charters to be created and get approved.” The bill’s author, state Rep. Mike Dudgeon, RJohns Creek, argues that the bill simply makes some necessary clean-ups to the state education code that a wide range of education activists agreed on. “We worked with lots of different parties, different teacher groups, and school administrator groups, and charter groups ... to get language that at least most people agreed on,” Dudgeon said. Another bill considered last session was HB 759, which would expand Georgia’s tax credit system so that it provides students scholarships to attend private school. Though the bill didn’t pass, the program remains controversial, since some don’t think there is enough accountability and oversight to ensure the program actually helps low-income students a series in failing schools. “Georgia is one of the few states that doesn’t require any assessments for students that take advantage of the tax credit scholarship or voucher program, so we don’t really even know how students are doing,” said Matt Jones, the executive director of EmpowerED Georgia. Wood argued the program is a “middle and upperclass boondoggle” because it doesn’t require scholarship recipients to be low-income. Jay Bookman, an opinion writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, sees an even more insidious motivation behind the program. “People want to have their kids in schools with

Charter Schools:

other people like themselves,” Bookman said. Claire Suggs, a senior education policy analyst at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, argued that the state can’t afford to funnel $58 million in tax revenue every year into private schools, when its traditional public schools are reeling from austerity cuts. “These programs defer tax revenue to the state, so revenue that would otherwise be coming to the state is actually going directly into private schools, and at a time when we have cut funding for public education—for the current school year, we have an austerity cut of $1 billion—we can’t afford to lose any dollars from the state revenue,” Suggs said. Wood sees the school choice movement as a step toward the privatization of public education. This movement, Wood argues, doesn’t account for the most disadvantaged students in Georgia. “Who gets left behind [from the school choice movement] are our most vulnerable students, our most difficult to educate, our students who are English language learners, our students with special needs ... our poorest students,” Wood said. “I think it’s our obligation, as a society, to educate our entire population.” Bradford Swann, the state director of the national education advocacy organization StudentsFirst, disagrees, arguing that choice is a positive thing for students, especially those from low-income families. “[The school choice movement] is more about giving choice to everyone, including those who really have no choices currently, than it is about anything else,” Swann said. Jones argues, however, that the choice is not made by the students, since the schools are the ones choosing which students to admit. Jones also sees hypocrisy in the privatization movement and in the education reform movement as a whole. “When we’re looking at the traditional public schools, and quote ‘reform,’ then the same people that tout these private schools as good examples of good schools are pursuing the opposite with public schools.” p

Common Core bill dies in Education Committee ment of the Common Core. “The Common Core framework was handed down from national interests to the states in a manner that contradicts the constitutional principle of federalism,” Ligon said in an email to The Southerner. “A key question should always be, ‘Are local parents and taxpayers able to guide educational decisions in their local school systems?’ and the Common Core doesn’t allow that.” The bill was passed in the state senate 34-16, with six senators abstaining from voting. SB 167’s proponents cited problems with the Common Core mathematics standards and claimed the standards violate students’ privacy. But SB 167 does more than just repeal Common Core standards. The bill also frees the state of any obligations or contracts regarding student testing by third party or out-of-state entities. “Nothing in the language of the bill prohibits norm-referenced testing, such as the SAT, ACT, and PSAT,” Ligon wrote of the portion of the bill

nullifying out-of-state contracts. State Sen. Jason Carter, D-Decatur, has major issues with the bill, however, and thinks that the Common Core should remain in Georgia. “I think that there is troubling language in SB 167,” Carter said. “While I certainly don’t think the Common Core is perfect—there are problems with the implementation of it. I don’t think it is anywhere near bad enough to do away with.” A major complaint against the Common Core is that the mathematics standards only lead to Algebra II. Ligon agrees with these complaints. “At the lower grades, teachers are required to teach math concepts before teaching procedural knowledge and content that would allow mathematical fluency to develop naturally,” Ligon wrote. “Under Common Core, elementary school teachers waste valuable time using confusing methods and must delay the teaching of standards that have stood the test of time.” But Grady calculus teacher Andrew Nichols disagrees.

“The Common Core is a perfectly good curriculum that should not be thrown out,” he said. “It goes all the way up to pre-calculus, and stops before AP classes, just like every curriculum in the past.” Nichols opposes the bill because the Common Core is a nationally developed set of standards that he as a teacher finds universally applicable. “Math is math; there’s no other way to put it,” Nichols said. “There’s been millions of dollars spent on developing this national curriculum. They need to pick one and stick with it. As teachers, giving us a new curriculum every few years makes it impossible for us to advance.” Carter also disagrees with the complaints about the level of the Common Core current curriculum. “The Common Core is a floor, not a ceiling,” Carter said. “This bill is an example of something we need to be careful with. I think that the discussion on this bill has been driven by a lack of understanding about the Common Core.” p

SB 167: Common Core

Would have eliminated the Common Core standards and return Georgia public schools to operating under the Georgia Performance Standards. Passed?

Yes

HB 123: Parent trigger

Would have allowed parents to vote to “pull the trigger” on their schools to convert them into charter schools. Passed?

Yes

Charter

HB 897: Title 20 rewrite

Would have made changes to Title 20, Georgia’s education code, including several provisions about charter school funding and facilities. Passed?

Yes

Private school

HB 759: Vouchers

Would have expanded Georgia’s tax credit scholarship program for private schools. Passed?

Yes

Infograph by quinn mulholland

By Griffin Kish In 2010, the Common Core, a nationally proposed set of educational standards, was adopted by the Georgia State Board of Education. Since the acceptance of the Common Core, schools around the state have worked, with varying degrees of success, to apply these standards to their courses. But on Feb. 25, just four years later, the Georgia State Senate passed Senate Bill 167, a bill eliminating the Common Core standards and returning Georgia public schools to operating under the Georgia Performance Standards that were in place prior to the implementation of the Common Core. An amended version of the bill was voted down 13 to 5 in the House Education Committee on March 12. State Sen. William Ligon, R-Brunswick, the original sponsor of the bill, pushed it through the State Senate, but noted his disapproval of the amended version in a press conference on March 12. Prior to the bill failing in the House, however, Ligon supported the abolish-

BILL FRENZY

~~~social studies teacher Louis Sartor

ndler and Eli Mansba e H i l r ch By O

s in

Savings over time by placing 7 5 0 0 s o l a r p a n e l s o n G r a d y s’ r o o f

Money (in millions)

GRADY

~Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

g n ha

n i s e

life

es t yl

“The past 30 years have been the warmest since 614 A.D.”

i s y t k h S e e L h T nvironment precipitate changimit e e

“We have to hit really bad stuff in a severe way before people will change their daily habits, and we haven’t reached that point.’’

15 10

According to Solar Energy USA, placing 7,500 solar panels on Grady’s’ roof would save 53,789 tons of CO2 emissions. That’s’ equal to:

5 0 -5 -10

the annual CO2 emissions of 6,099 homes

Years after purchase

Original drawing by Theodore Seuss Geisel, Adapted by Ansley Marks and Rebecca martin

~Data taken from Solar Energy USA projection

Madeline Veira

Every time you turn the key in the ignition or flip a light switch on in your room, you contribute a small amount of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. Even though that tiny bit of pollution is insignificant on its own, the combined effects of billions of people performing those actions every day adds up to a lot. According to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, the average global temperature has increased by about 1.53˚F over the past 130 years, and despite initiatives to warn the world population and decrease our carbon footprint, global temperatures have continued to rise. According to the 2013 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, the past 30 years have been the warmest since 614 A.D. To make matters worse for the United States, our country contributed the highest percent of global carbon dioxide emissions in 2007, 21.4 percent, though we are only the third most populous nation in the world. And although there have been international attempts to curb carbon dioxide emissions, like the Kyoto Protocol in 2002, which set goals to lower the carbon dioxide emissions, the United States did not sign it. Rising global temperatures have already had an effect

on the world and can cause even more devastating consequences, according to David Hougton, a professor in the department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences at the University of WisconsinMadison. In response, individuals and businesses in Atlanta have been trying to use alternative, cleaner energy sources to decrease their global footprint and decelerate global warming. LOOKING TO THE SKY In the 1990s, Swedish home retail giant Ikea launched its green initiative in an effort to switch to renewable energy sources and reduce its use of resources, such as water and cotton. One of Ikea’s locations, which is a few miles away from Grady in Atlantic Station, placed solar panels on its roof in July 2012. “We are a company that is very conscious about our imprint and impact on the environment on the global level,” Ikea Atlanta spokeswoman Deidra Cunningham said in an interview with The Southerner. “We have a very ambitious goal. We want to be able to produce 100 percent of the energy we use with renewable energy by 2020.” With that goal in mind, Ikea is turning not only to solar power but also to other programs to decrease its environmental footprint. According to Cunningham, Ikea is also looking into geothermal energy in Colorado and has set up four electric vehicle chargers in front of its store in Atlanta. In addition, Ikea has an “aggressive diversion program,” which tries to keep as much waste as possible out of landfills via recycling and reusing. Cunningham said hundreds of tons of waste each month have been kept out of landfills by this program. Ikea has invested $150 million on solar energy in the United States alone since 2010, and currently, 39 of its 44 U.S. locations have solar panels helping to produce clean energy. Cunningham said that since installing solar panels on the roof of the Atlanta location, the company has seen a decrease of electricity it needed to buy. The excess electricity produced by the solar panels that stores do not use can be sold or given back to the grid. Though the Atlanta location has only been running on solar power for 20 months, Cunningham said that they predict the investment will pay off. “We’ve got to be smart in how we choose to make cost savings when it comes to the energy that we use,” Cunningham said. “We have

learned that over time we will be able to see a return on our investment by 25 percent.” Ikea, however, is not the only local business changing the way it powers itself. Georgia Power has expanded into multiple forms of renewable energy, like solar and hydroelectric power. “As interest has grown in renewable energy and as the cost of renewable energy has come down, we have kept up with developments and decided it was a good time to expand [the company],” Georgia Power spokesman John Kraft told The Southerner. Though Georgia Power does not actually own any solar installations, Kraft said the company buys extra solar energy that individuals or buildings produce through their Solar Buyback Program, which currently gives solar energy producers 17 cents per kilowatt hour. Georgia Power then takes the energy it buys and offers it to homes and businesses throughout the state. Kraft said the number of people subscribing to the program is increasing daily, and the goal is to produce 800 megawatts on the system by 2016, which is the equivalent of providing solar energy for nearly 75,000 average American homes each year. Kraft is concerned, however, that people equate solar energy with free energy. “People think the sunshine is free so they think solar power is free, and that is probably one of the biggest misconceptions in this whole debate,” Kraft said. “Solar power has a lot of benefits, but it’s not free.” Kraft also stressed the importance of not relying completely on solar power. “Nature chooses when solar energy is produced,” Kraft said. “A solar power unit does not replace a traditional power generation unit. If a cloud passes by or a storm comes up ... that solar system is not producing anymore.” SMALL CHANGES, BIG DIFFERENCE? In addition to the changes that businesses are implementing, individuals can also make small contributions that will improve the environment. Grady teachers, administrators and students have altered small aspects of their days in an effort to slow global climate change. World history and current issues teacher Louis Sartor has made a conscious effort to cut driving from his daily routine. “The big thing I do is I ride MARTA everyday so I don’t drive my car, and whenever possible, I ride my bike,” Sartor said, who lives in Brookhaven. Sartor said he wants to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Besides car exhaust, Sartor said airplanes are a huge contributor to air pollution since they emit carbon dioxide directly into the air as they fly. The best way to travel in an environmentally friendly way is by train. Biomedical Science and Engineering Academy leader Raymond

planting 1,253,284 Trees Dawson also cuts back on carbon emissions through conscious transportation decisions. “My biggest contribution right now is through my vehicle,” Dawson said. “I have an electric car, which has zero emissions. Fortunately, I have not bought gas in about nine months.” Dawson was inspired to buy an electric car by former Vice President Al Gore’s advocacy for a cleaner environment. In 2006, Gore released a book and movie both titled An Inconvenient Truth that addressed escalating global temperatures and the negative effects of the trend. Dawson said he started to look for trends Gore presented, such as cooler summers and warmer winters. In addition, Dawson said switching to the new vehicle almost a year and a half ago just seemed like the next step. “When hybrids first came out … I bought a hybrid back then, so it was just kind of a natural progression that once electric cars had made their debut, that that was something that I wanted,” Dawson said. Like Dawson, freshman Phoebe Mason and her family have altered a few aspects of their lives in an effort to lessen their impact on the environment. “We recycle, and we turn the lights off when we leave the room, and we don’t leave the water running when we brush our teeth,” Mason said. “The environment needs help because everyone is using a bunch of energy all the time.” Despite the efforts of individuals, Sartor doesn’t believe he’s having much of an impact. Although he said the small contributions could collectively add up, he has little faith that others will attempt to change their ways. “I would like to think that we as a species will come to our senses and realize that the path we’re on is headed for disaster, but frankly, I think that the way human nature is is…we have to hit really bad stuff in a severe way before people will change their daily habits, and we haven’t reached that point,” Sartor said. Sartor suggested changes for others to try to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb global climate change. He said others could drive less, use public transportation more and turn down household thermostats. Dawson said people should try an electric car because they can get the economic benefits of not paying for gas as well as the satisfaction of knowing they are helping the environment. He also suggested simple actions such as turning off lights and unplugging electrical appliances when not in use. Dawson said these changes are not only good for the environment but economically beneficial as they reduce electrical costs.

5,486,478 gallons of gas

GRADY GOING GREEN One way that Grady can decrease its environmental footprint is to do what Ikea did, switch to solar energy by placing solar panels on the school’s roof. In order to get an estimate of the costs and electricity output that the school might expect from installing solar panels, The Southerner reached out to Solar Energy USA. According to information obtained from an open records request sent by The Southerner, Grady used 3.5 million kilowatt hours during the 2012-2013 school year, which cost the school $321,460. Using Grady’s monthly electrical use during that school year, Solar Energy USA consultant William Zagorski was able to create a cost and electrical output projection for the next 25 years, which is how long he said the panels would last. Despite the $7 million that would be required to buy and install 7,500 solar panels, Zagorski estimated that in the 10th year, Grady would save enough money to break even on its investment and after 25 years, Grady would make just over $17.75 million. That means if Grady decided to buy more solar panels at the end of the 25-year period, the school would still have more than $10 million. Zagorski also projected that we would save 53,789 tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of planting more than 1.2 million trees. While this overhaul may not come soon, the Grady community has other smaller-scale options for improvement. Dawson cited the pressure-controlled faucets in bathrooms and relative consistency of lights being shut off at night as examples of Grady’s current attempts to become more environmentally conscious. He said the school could improve by getting more hand dryers to reduce paper towel use. Although Dawson sees many ways for Grady to change how it uses its resources, Sartor believes that getting people to take action is a whole other thing. “I think people are going to have to one day just wake up and realize that we have to change our lifestyles and stuff and so far it hasn’t happened,” Sartor said. “Maybe [the next] generation can do it.” p

~~~social studies teacher Louis Sartor

ndler and Eli Mansba e H i l r ch By O

s in

Savings over time by placing 7 5 0 0 s o l a r p a n e l s o n G r a d y s’ r o o f

Money (in millions)

GRADY

~Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

g n ha

n i s e

life

es t yl

“The past 30 years have been the warmest since 614 A.D.”

i s y t k h S e e L h T nvironment precipitate changimit e e

“We have to hit really bad stuff in a severe way before people will change their daily habits, and we haven’t reached that point.’’

15 10

According to Solar Energy USA, placing 7,500 solar panels on Grady’s’ roof would save 53,789 tons of CO2 emissions. That’s’ equal to:

5 0 -5 -10

the annual CO2 emissions of 6,099 homes

Years after purchase

Original drawing by Theodore Seuss Geisel, Adapted by Ansley Marks and Rebecca martin

~Data taken from Solar Energy USA projection

Madeline Veira

5,486,478 gallons of gas

a & e Atlanta fixes up free spring fun for broke teenagers 10

March 21, 2014

By J.D. Capelouto Teenagers love to spend money. It’s a known fact, a common habit. So as 21st century adolescents, we all experience those moments when our wallets are thin, our allowances low. To solve this omnipresent problem, here are four fun, FREE activities all over Atlanta that teenagers, or anyone else, can do when low on cash this spring:

The Atlanta BeltLine, a railroad-turned-walkway which snakes its way around the city, is a great option for any broke teen from nearly any neighborhood. You can make your way over the flat BeltLine paths at whatever pace you prefer while admiring the one-of-a-kind art on the sides of the pavement, which ranges from classic graffiti under tunnels to postmodern metal sculptures. One of the outlets to the BeltLine is located near Grady, at the intersection of Monroe and 10th Street. It’s great for exercising or just a relaxing stroll with friends. Whether you prefer jogging, biking, skateboarding or walking, you’re sure to enjoy any sunny afternoon on the Beltline. 2. Criminal Records in-store concerts For alternative music fans, the famous Little Five Points music and comic book store Criminal Records is the place to go

Photos by J.d. capelouto

1. The BeltLine

IT’S A FREE-FOR-ALL:Walkers, bikers and joggers all find space on the Atlanta BeltLine (above).The pathway also provides views of unique art (below left). when low on dough. They occasionally host bands to play like. Just make sure to bring a photo ID on April 5 to prove free, in-store concerts from their tiny stage in the corner of you live in Fulton County. the shop. The concerts are personal and filled with dedicated fans, creating a more comfortable and intimate atmosphere. 4. 78th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival Afterwards, the band members usually sign records for fans. Criminal Records has hosted bands such as The Fratelli’s, Spring has sprung, and that means the annual Atlanta Quadron, Hellogoodbye, CHVRCHES, Charli XCX and Dogwood Festival is just around the corner. Hosted in The Head and the Heart. Though Criminal Records has not Piedmont Park the second weekend of spring break, April yet scheduled any upcoming concerts, you can check their 11-13, this festival features unique art, eclectic music and Twitter (@criminalrecords) or website (www.criminalatl. classic festival food. Artists come from all over the Southcom) for updates. east to show off and sell their art, and the Dogwood Festival also spotlights an Atlanta high school art exhibition. 3. The High Museum The Dogwood Festival also presents an “international stage,” on which groups, both amateur and professional The famous Atlanta High Museum of Art provides a great and from different nationalities, give performances based deal for broke intown kids: Fulton County residents and stu- on their native cultures. dents get in free from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Saturday The Dogwood Festival is also home to the Disc Dog of each month. That means on Saturday, April 5, the first Southern Nationals Qualifier tournament. On Saturday day of spring break, you don’t have to pay anything to see the and Sunday in the meadow off 10th Street, dogs will fly beautiful art exhibits at the High. The current exhibitions high to catch carefully choreographed tosses that are sure include Go West! which features art and artifacts from Amer- to entice the entire audience. You and your friends can ica's romance with the West in the 20th century; Abelardo even start your own pickup game of ultimate Frisbee on Morell: The Universe Next Door, which presents hundreds of the lawn. And maybe, just maybe, if you manage to scrape photographer Abelardo Morelli’s simple yet powerful pieces; together enough spare change, you can even buy one of the and Civil Rights Photography, which is exactly what it sounds lovely pieces of art (or at least a corndog). p

MODA exhibit transforms ordinary objects into art

BRIGHT IDEA: The Museum of Design Atlanta hosts The Genius of Everyday Things from Feb. 21 to May 11. The gallery is filled with large display cases that hold the Hidden Hero displays (above). A Lego tower sits in the middle of the colorful Lego exhibit (far left). A mannequin models a band-aid in an artistic display of the product (left).The museum combines design with conventional objects.

Photos courtesy of Bethany Legg

As I approached the strikingly modern glass and cement facade of the Museum of Anna Braxton Design Atlanta building located in the heart of Midtown across from the High Museum of Art, I read a sign that asked, “What makes an everyday object a Hidden Hero?” Wanting to find out more, I opened the glass doors and entered the museum. After purchasing a ticket to Hidden Heroes: The Genius of Everyday Things, I walked into the expansive lobby where a 3D printing station was filled with elementary school children. The children were buzzing with anticipation while awaiting a hands-on lesson in 3D modeling and printing. Just beyond the lobby was the small, but sleekly modern exhibit space. The modern design extended to the exhibits on display, which consisted of 36 large hollow wooden boxes each resting on three legs. The first box contained several rul-

ers artistically scattered about in the display case. A sign attached to the box told the history of the folding yard stick and expanded upon the reality that great design is hidden in many of the things we consider common products.

The idea behind the exhibitdisplaying in a creative arrangement everyday objects that we often take for granted is an intriguing one. As I moved through the gallery, I passed by lightbulbs, paper clips, Legos, Post-it notes,

umbrellas and zippers. Even the mundane hanger was called out for its innovative design and utilitarian purpose. Each display combined both historical artifacts and artfully constructed objects that conveyed when and where each

hidden hero was invented. Sound effects added to the visual wonder. As I walked through the gallery, the noise of popping bubbles poured from the bubble wrap display. The sound of traffic and bustling streets accompanied the earplug display, bringing the exhibit to life and emphasizing power of the small modern marvel. Many of the displays housed a small screen that projected videos. A vintage commercial for Teefix played behind the tea bag display and a production video from a factory accompanied the everyday pencil. The exhibit was not your typical museum experience. The museum lived up to its name with the creative design of this exhibit. The intimate setting and odd displays informed and entertained. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Hidden Heroes: The Genius of Everyday Things. So what makes an everyday object a Hidden Hero? The ability to be creatively and artistically displayed in an exceptionally enthralling exhibit at the Museum of Design Atlanta. p

March 21, 2014

dining

Say cheese: quest yields wide variety of cheese dips Spring break is just around the corner, and what better way to spend yours than lounging poolside, getting your tan on and eating chips and queso? With that in mind, J.D. Capelouto and we decided to scour Quinn Mulholland Atlanta for its best queso, inspecting some of Grady students’ usual haunts and some locations whose quesos are not as well known. Our journey began at our local Moe’s Southwest Grill (1544 Piedmont Ave. NE and 863 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE) where $2.75 gets you six ounces of cheese dip, plenty to split between even the most enthusiastic queso fans. Though its appearance and consistency don’t do much to separate it from its competitors, Moe’s queso packs a bit of a punch and was one of the spiciest we tried. Despite the zesty flavor of Moe’s queso, the chips that came with it left a little to be desired. They were not very salty and tasted a little like cardboard. Even so, the added bonus of Moe’s free (albeit mediocre) salsa led us to the conclusion that the restaurant’s cheese dip is a great deal. We definitely recommend it to Grady’s more frugal population. No conversation about Mexican food that includes Moe’s is complete without its main Atlantan rival: Willy’s Mexicana Grill (650 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE and

1071 Piedmont Ave. NE). A regular-size made the queso quite lumpy after a few chip portion costs about the same as Moe’s at scoops. Despite its unpleasant texture, the Taco $2.95 for six ounces. Willy’s queso was just Mac queso still stacked up as better queso than as thin and smooth as Moe’s, but its spices Willy’s and Moe’s. Its chips were only average— set it apart as one of the best cheese dips neither bad nor exceptional. Though Taco Mac we tasted all day. It was tangy, yet not too cost more than expected, its richness and queso spicy, which made it addictive and appetiz- made it a pretty good deal when split between ing. Willy’s chips were quite thin but well- two people. flavored and certainly better than Moe’s. We then ventured to La Fonda Overall, Willy’s queso is a pretty good deal, Latina (923 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE and certainly better than what Moe’s offers and 1639 McLendon Ave. NE), where (if you can spare the extra 20 cents). a cup of queso is a moderate $3.25. Our next stop was Taco Mac Sports Grill Chips, however, cost an extra $2.50, (1006 North Highland Ave. NE and 933 bringing the price up to roughly that Peachtree St. NE). Taco Mac may not be a res- of Taco Mac. After a few scoops, it taurant that immediately comes to mind when quickly became evident that the it comes to queso, but the restaurant’s menu quality of the queso justified the boasts of its “famous spicy cheese dip.” And price. The consistency was excelthough Taco Mac’s lent, and the mildly spicy, moderqueso was certainly ately salty Jack cheese flavor sepacheesy, it was nothing rated it from the rest of the pack. close to spicy. It also was In addition to the queso, the chips were the much more expensive than best we tried, with just the right amount of salt. Willy’s and Moe’s: $5.95 for a The fresh salsa that came with them was also “regular” cup of queso, outstanding, with j.d. capelouto and quinn mulholland tos by o chips, steamed flour an impeccable h p tortillas and salsa. ratio of tomaThe queso itself toes, onions and was incredibly tangy cilantro. thick, creamy, The final locaTACO MAC cheesy and tion we checked LA FONDA filling. It out was Taquewas served ria del Sol (359 with fresh shredded cheese and a jalaMOE’S peño pepTAQUERIA DEL SOL per on top. Though these added ingrediWILLY’S ents decreased the Velveeta quotient of Taco Mac’s dip, they also

Sixth in a series

uest for the Best W. Ponce De Leon Ave. NE and 2165 Cheshire Bridge Road NE). At $3.99 for a relatively small cup of queso, its cost is approximately equivalent to that of Taco Mac and La Fonda per cubic inch of queso. Its taste, however, elevated it above its competition. It was served with jalapeños on top, making it spicier than the other cheese dips. The consistency was perfect, not as thick as Taco Mac’s but not as thin as Willy’s, and the chips were similarly exquisite, with just the right crunch and not too much salt. Furthermore, the service at Taqueria del Sol was almost as quick as that of the fast-food establishments, Moe’s and Willy’s, and the staff was very friendly (and the guacamole is to die for). Moral of the story: you get what you pay for. Though La Fonda, Taco Mac and Taqueria del Sol all cost considerably more that Willy’s and Moe’s, they also taste so much better and make for a much better queso quest. In the end, we crowned Taqueria del Sol the queso champion. In the best queso scenario, the cheese dip there has the perfect flavor and consistency. In queso you’re low on cash, however, and just want the most food for the least amount of money, Willy’s is the place for you. r

Bob serves up disappointment, offensive menu labels

Photos by Allison Rapoport

Though I had never been to Bell Street Burritos, I knew that the restaurant that replaced it had a lot to live up to. Unfortunately, “Bob” did not rise to Allison Rapoport the occasion. According to its menu, Bob (as in kabob) is “a healthy, portable, yummy concept for the people.” All of the food is served on a stick and is designed to be eaten on the go, which makes sense, considering the eatery is located in The Irwin Street Market at the end of the BeltLine. Diners have the option of ordering off the menu consisting of eleven bobs (ranging from $4.50 to $6.50 per bob), creating your own “ThingamaBob” ($6.50) or having a BobDog, a sausage on a stick ($5). Your bob can be accompanied by one of four sides ($1.25 or $2). And while the concept may seem appealing, the food is not. We ordered the “GuidoBob,” an Italianstyle kabob with meatballs, mozzarella and roasted red peppers, and the “CowboyBob,” a Wild West-themed bob with steak, potatoes, cheddar cheese and bacon, topped with homemade ranch dressing. Both the meatballs and steak were dry, and the CowboyBob was so drenched in dressing that I couldn’t taste any other flavors. The sweet potato fries, however, were the one redeeming aspect of the meal. They were perfectly crispy and nicely seasoned. Not only were the bobs messy and unappetizing, some of the names and descrip-

NOT EVEN YOUR AVERAGE BOB: The Cowboy Bob (left) sure had a hitch in its giddy-up. Not only was it dry and chewy, but the ranch sauce poured over it masked any flavor it might have once had. Luckily the sweet potato fries were delicious, redeeming the awkwardly empty restaurant (right) located in the Irwin St. Market. tions were in poor taste. For example, the term “Guido” (as in the GuidoBob) was originally a demeaning term describing Italian-Americans. Also, the “JerkBob” (with Jamaican jerk chicken) is described as a “dreadlock Rasta of a Bob.” Needless to say this depiction of the kabob is neither politically correct nor particularly appealing (who wants to eat dreadlocks?). The layout of the restaurant was also awkward. Most people who walked in were con-

fused as to what they were supposed to do: order at the counter, or sit down and wait to be served? The correct answer was to order at the counter. It was manned by one staff member, whose job it was to take orders, serve the food, bus tables and run into Jake’s (the ice cream store in the other part of the building) to fill up cups with soda, because Bob’s soda machine was out of order (a fact she failed to mention to me until I attempted to a get Coke from it. I ended up spraying soda water

all over myself). This staff deficiency led to an extremely long wait (at least 15 minutes) between when the first kabob was brought to us and the second one was delivered. Personally, I prefer to eat at the same time as my lunch companion, but that wasn’t possible. Luckily, we were able to end our meal on a high note with some “Kenya AA” (coffee flavored) ice cream from Jake’s. Next time I think I’ll skip the meal and move straight to dessert. p

lifestyle

March 21, 2014

JROTC cadets march towards victory, future success gained recognition as a positive influence in the community. Zeigler is now the battalion commander and a cadet lieutenant colonel of the JROTC, making him the highest ranked JROTC member at Grady. Because of the program, Zeigler joined the National Guard when he turned 17 last June and is now a private. The JROTC is divided into four different teams: the color guard, the drill team, the raider team and the rifle team. “Color guard and drill sort of go together,” Zeigler said. “We compete against other schools in APS and around the state, and it’s basically marching. [On the] rifle team, we shoot .177-caliber air rifles in our rifle range. And raider team is a physical competition team.” The curriculum is made up of a sequence of courses which ranges from lessons teaching students military and leadership skills to ones providing SAT prep, help with college applications and guidance for after high school plans. “We just did a class on SAT prep, which helps us,” said Kylah Clark, a senior and major and executive officer in the JROTC. “They teach us actual stuff, and they give us, especially when you’re a senior, time to do applications and stuff. I’m not going to say they specifically helped me, but other people who aren’t as sure what they want to do

Quinn Mulholland

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YOU KNOW THE DRILL: The JROTC male unarmed drill team marches in line while competing in the Area 6 competition on March 8 at Eddie S. Henderson, Sr. Athletic Field. The team’s commitment and constant practice paid off on competition day when it successfully beat out 11 other APS teams to win first place in their event. when they graduate and don’t really know how to do that stuff on their own, they help them.” Lt. Cornell Johnson, a Grady JROTC instructor, said the program teaches students valuable life skills. “We teach them leadership skills,” Johnson said. “We put them in a position where they are responsible for wearing a uniform, for doing their assignments [and] for doing presentations. They work together as a unit; we teach them that the key to success is teamwork. What ROTC is all about is to make young people better citizens.” Many cadets say the program has had a positive impact on their lives.

“It gave me better insight for the military,” Clark said. “A lot of people are really scared of it, but they kind of teach you that it’s not as intense as people think it is. So I do have aspirations to join the military one day, and they prepare us [for that].” The Grady JROTC is also active in the community through various community-service projects. The projects include mentoring elementary school children, collecting money for underprivileged children during the holidays and volunteering with the Special Olympics. “We do things in our community; the students help do things in our

community,” Johnson said. “A lot of them get the 75 service hours that they require ... in ROTC.” Aside from helping the community while simultaneously learning valuable life skills, the team has also brought home the gold. The team has had a lot of success in its annual competitions. Last year it won Best Unit in APS. In addition, the Grady JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl team placed ninth in the country last year, competing against more than 2,000 schools. No other APS academic bowl team has ever gotten that far. This year, the team won first place in two of its big competi-

tions, Saber Day and Annual Federal Inspection. The JROTC unit also has the largest raider team it has ever had. The unit also placed in all seven categories in the Area 6 Drill Team Competition. “We’ve had a lot of, I guess, success stories,” Zeigler said. “People who have come in and were undisciplined didn’t want to be there; but then they actually turned out to really like it. I didn’t want to be there [at] first but I turned out to really like it. A lot of people go and learn something new or find something that they actually like about it. Anyone can join, and it’s really just up to you to apply yourself to it.” p

Ride-sharing service offers Uber-practical solutions By Ben Simonds-Malamud For Fitsum Hailemariam, an Ethiopian immigrant who first arrived in the United States 18 months ago, Uber is the means to a successful future. When he was interviewed, he had only worked one week for Uber, a ridesharing company that pairs drivers with passengers via a smartphone application. Hailemariam works another job at a cafe in Midtown, but when he drives his car for Uber, he uses the downtime to study for his upcoming medical examinations. Uber first launched in San Francisco in 2009, and the company entered the Atlanta market in late 2012. Its drivers undergo criminal background checks and passengers rate them based on performance. “It’s good,” Hailemariam said while driving his car. “I’m my own boss ... the pay is good, so it’s pretty cool.” For freshmen Allie Krasinski and Hannah Stockdale, Uber is just a way to get to and from concerts and parties around Atlanta. “My parents don’t feel comfortable with me, like, going and then not taking [Uber],” Krasinski said. Stockdale said she likes to use the service because “it’s classy.” Many of Uber’s passengers view the company as a designated driver, allowing them to drink alcohol without having to worry about driving under the influence. “A lot of [passengers] are intoxicated,” Hailemariam said. “But people are nice. I’ve never met a rude person so far.” A senior, who estimated that he had used Uber for 12 different events, chose to remain anonymous since he used the service to avoid drunk driving. “You just click it and they come find you … which if you’ve had enough to drink is a real convenience,” the senior said. “If you’re drunk and lost—that’s happened to me— like, ‘I have no idea where I am, come get me please.’” He said that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is prevalent at Grady, and he views Uber as a safe alternative. “Some people are gonna [say] that it’s giving these kids a cheap way to get to these places where they’re drinking and smoking,” he said. “But at the same time, it’s saving lives by keeping these kids off the street for a few bucks.”

PICK ME UP: Uber’s iPhone application shows that on an average weekday morning, an Uber driver could be at Grady in just over 10 minutes. Allie Krasinski’s mother, Mandy Krasinski, appreciates the benefits of Uber the four or five times her daughter has used it. “For me, it’s just the convenience,” she said. “The convenience of having it on my phone, and already paid for.” Though many at Grady decried Uber because of its steep

price tag, the company’s cheapest option, uberX, fared well in a price comparison with traditional taxi companies. According to Uber’s rate formula, a three-mile, 16-minute trip with uberX would cost the passenger $9.71, with no tip expected. The same trip with Atlanta Checker Cab Company would cost $13.85 before the tip. Uber’s relatively low price tag may come from its currently unregulated status, which has caused legal trouble in other cities where its drivers operate. In February, a committee in the Georgia House of Representatives voted favorably on a bill that would expand taxicab regulations to companies like Uber, calling the stability of the company into question. Taylor Walker, a Boston University junior and Grady alum, said she had used Uber about six times because it is convenient and efficient. “I just like the fact that you can pre-determine who’s gonna [drive you, and] what type of vehicle they will be in,” Walker said. “I was in an environment that I wasn’t necessarily accustomed to, so Uber definitely made me feel comfortable.” A few Grady students understood using Uber to avoid dangerous driving but disagreed with the idea of high schoolers using it for day-to-day transportation. “There’s so many other options,” sophomore Skylar Brillante said. “There’s your parents, there’s a bike, there’s a scooter, there’s your feet.” Sophomore Nicolas Lyman extolled the virtues of a bicycle as an alternative to paying for services like Uber. “Everyone should bike, man,” Lyman said. “Everyone should bike. The world would be a better place.” Grady students who use Uber generally use it rarely and for practical reasons. Atlanta riders, however, keep Uber’s drivers busy. Hailemariam, who plans to remain an Uber driver until September, when he will apply for hospital residency programs, gave about 35 rides in his first three days of work. “I get tired a lot, but that’s nothing to complain about,” Hailemariam said. “It’s really awesome, for the customers and for the drivers.” p

lifestyle

March 21, 2014

Juvy to Justice: life lessons taught through rhetoric VALUING THE AFFIRMATIVE: Mark Taylor, a justice debate league student (bottom left) celebrates his first debate award at the Peach State Classic. Two students (top) focus during a LincolnDouglas debate round.The justice debate league (bottom right) poses after a successful debate tournament. In just a year, the team has succeeded in many ways, both in and out of tournaments.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MEGAN HARRISON

By Brandon Kleber Once an activity reserved for wealthier suburban school systems, urban debate leagues popping up in inner-city schools are finding that this old-time activity can help at-risk students turn their lives around. Sean Bennett, a teacher at the Fayette County Alternative School, implemented an idea that he believed would help troubled teens change their lives: at-risk students, who have gone through the juvenile court system, could benefit from being part of a competitive debate league. “I always thought the idea was really just a brilliant concept,” Bennett said. “And I knew from being a debate coach for 13 years that debate had amazing effects on students, especially at-risk students.” Bennett, along with the help of the nonprofit organization Hearts to Nourish Hope, created a debate league to aid at-risk youth in developing conflict-resolution skills. The league formed two Lincoln-Douglas teams from Fayette and Clayton counties. The teams, created in conjunction with the Department of Juvenile Justice, competed in their first Lincoln-Douglas debate at the Warner Robins Debate Tournament last May. Since then, the program has skyrocketed, quickly making a name for itself throughout the state. “I’d like to be able to expand into other areas,” Bennett said. “It would be really good if we had a network of teams because we’ve proven it works. Now it’s just a matter of having other people model that same pattern.” The team meets twice a week to prepare for tournaments. Right now they are preparing for the National Catholic Forensic League’s National Championship. They were invited to the tournament because of their

outstanding performance at the Peach State Classic in November. They continue to learn about persuasive techniques, speaking skills and argumentative strategies. The students who comprise the juvenile justice debate league are all on probation. Some have been to prison, some just to court, but all have been involved in the juvenile justice system of Georgia in some way. Bennett said that from the beginning the program had two goals: to learn the communication skills needed to address their problems and to improve critical-thinking skills. “What we really wanted to do was expose these kids to debate and the environment, and we wanted to help them figure out how to interact

with people in their lives better,” assistant coach Megan Harrison said. “It’s about learning how to present yourself, learning how to use rhetoric in the art of being able to speak in a convincing and established way.” Grady’s own speech and debate coach, Lisa Willoughby, agrees. She believes that one of the greatest successes for coaches is seeing their students engage in the program and use it to help them get through difficult times. “The hope is that participating in the justice league will help kids learn that they can use language and words, rather than physical violence to resolve conflicts,” Willoughby said. “The initiative is an exciting opportunity for the students, and for

the most part, I think the experience that they’ve had is really positive.” Coincidentally, the February Lincoln-Douglas topic was “Resolved: Rehabilitation ought to be valued above retribution in the United States criminal justice system.” Bennett recalls uncontrollably laughing when he heard the topic for the first time in a meeting. “I said on my left-hand side I have rehabilitation, and on my right-hand side I have retribution,” Bennett remembered. “So the department of juvenile justice was on one side and then a nonprofit organization that tries to help kids and rehabilitate them was on my other side.” The final debate round was held in the juvenile court, and the judg-

es were juvenile-court justices. Because the topic was so applicable to many of the students, studying the topic became very personal for many of them. “These kids debated the final round in the courtroom where they were originally convicted in front of the judges that originally convicted them,” Bennett said. “And the topic was rehabilitation versus retribution. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a more ironic moment in my entire life.” Bennett and Harrison say that experiences like these reveal the magnitude of the impact that this debate program has made for many of its students. In fact, a significant number of these students have not only graduated from high school, they have even gone on to return to their original high school and join debate teams. According to research by the Urban Debate League, urban debate prepares students to succeed in school and in life. It creates a significant increase in the graduation rate and the number of students who go to college. In fact, 90 percent of urban debaters graduate on time, and after graduating from high school, 86 percent of urban debaters enroll in college. Harrison believes, however, the most important thing is that urban debate empowers students and teaches them that they have a voice. “That’s why debate is such an empowering tool,” Harrison said. “It gives you the ability to tell your story, in your terms. A lot of these kids don’t really realize how powerful their voice and their opinion is. I want them to know that their viewpoint matters, and that if they can go about it in certain ways, people will listen to them.” p

APP addiction adds to abbreviated attention span continued from front page down their friends if they don’t do this.” This competition is further evidenced by games such as Clash of Clans where players fight against Facebook friends and form alliances. Not all apps, however, must have a competition aspect to be deemed addictive. “It’s challenging but not impossible, and you get a sense of reward when you complete a level,” teacher Sara Looman said about the game Candy Crush. “For the most part it’s not tension-inducing [so] you’re not racing.” Others cite the seemingly limitless levels as the reason they keep playing. “I think that you can always go higher and higher and push yourself,” junior Molly Gray said. “It’s partly psychological.” Game apps such as Flappy Bird rely on easy initial levels and familiar icons and themes. Colorful icons such as Candy Crush’s jelly beans and cookies make these apps identifiable even from a distance. Stylistic appeal and ease of play aren’t the only aspects that make an app addictive. “Gaming and apps are usually fast-paced, and they center their reward system primarily around social reinforcement or by winning,” Klaitz said. “They’re set up to be exciting and Graphic by Caroline Morris stimulating for your brain. The

higher the arousal the more likely you are to be addicted.” Sophomore Keegan Hasson, who plays Clash of Clans and has a high score of 199 in Flappy Bird, has a similar idea. “[When you play] these games, you’re not always getting a high score, but you keep on playing because you know if you do you eventually will beat your high score,” Hasson said. “So it’s an endless cycle of intermittent reinforcement.” These apps have managed to reach people of all ages, dramatically increasing the likelihood that potential customers will see a friend or relative downloading and playing it. “What I think is intriguing about Candy Crush is how it crosses the generations,” Looman said, who is on level 148 in Candy Crush. “For me to be playing it and a student in my class to be playing it is intriguing … This really does appear to be a game for all ages.” Apps such as these manage to capture their audiences by employing a free download. In 2012, the top 10 grossing gaming apps were all free; the makers of Candy Crush, however, King Games, earn more than $2 million a day on its top-grossing app. There are many ways that free apps make money. One of the most effective is in-app purchases, such as paying money to help level up, and another is offering a limited free game and having an enhanced version, with more levels to beat, that gamers must buy to play. While many people take advantage of getting

a free pass out of a tight spot, not everyone is buying it. One of Looman’s rules for herself is that she will never pay money to get out of a difficult level on Candy Crush. “I play every day, but I set very strict rules,” Looman said. “I can’t play it until I finish all my schoolwork, which is usually not until nine or 10 at night.” Others find it difficult to tear themselves away from their phones. “[Clash of Clans] gets in the way of many homework opportunities I could be using to my advantage [as well as] extracurriculars,” Hasson said. “I feel like it’s taking over my life.” Of course, this is the goal of the programmers who make these apps. “[The programmers] have been very clever at making [Candy Crush] challenging but doable,” Looman said. “It’s not so hard that it becomes un-fun.” The competition between players makes these games exciting and adds another addicting element to the apps. “The creator [of Clash of Clans] made it as a social network kind of thing,” Hasson said. “You can donate troops to other people, and in clans, you depend on other people’s activity.” The competition to beat a friend’s high score is itself addictive, but the amount of actual skill involved in

beating a friend’s score is a gray area. “There’s a lot of luck,” Looman said. “And you delude yourself into thinking there’s strategy so you think you’re clever when you really just got lucky.” It’s this perception of skill that may persuade people to keep coming back and playing. “They’re [playing apps] instead of doing homework, or instead of reading their textbook, and they’re compulsively doing it,” Neill said. “It has negative effects on their life but they go ahead and continue doing it.” The color, the ease of play, the competition and the price contribute to a gaming app’s success. But all of these factors don’t have as much of an impact as the drive players feel to keep trying to beat their high score. Hasson compared the need to beat levels to training a dog. “When you train a dog, every time they do something right you give them a treat,” Hasson said. “They keep on doing it because they’re expecting a treat and if you still give them a treat every once in a while they’re trained to do so.” p

Pictures taken from Angry Birds Game

sports

March 21, 2014

INVESTIGATION finds employee involvement in fraud continued from back page

According to the in- the investigation report. vestigation report the reThe report noted that a parent told investigators that some voluntarily withdrew from Grady, while others were asked tired Grady coach’s wife Millen had given a copy of the complaint to multiple parto withdraw. A few parents moved into the Grady attendance explained that there were ents and told them to “get their affairs in order.” Beggs, zone shortly after or in the midst of the investigation. Davis also multiple leases with the however, denied giving Millen the complaint. APS resaid that the students who were found to have lived outside the same address because of ceived a letter from Millen’s attorney stating that Beggs City of Atlanta were sent tuition bills for the time that they atan error on the lease, and had given Millen the anonymous complaint. In a second tended Grady. The superintendent said the district is weighing the other students resided in interview, Beggs admitted that he had in fact given the possible civil as well as criminal actions against parents who another apartment. A review complaint to Millen. submitted fraudulent documents. of enrollment data, however, showed that all six players CONSEQUENCES OF THE INVESTIGATION RECRUITMENT INVESTIGATION “INCONCLUSIVE” used the same players on the football team, apartment numRalph Swearingtin, executive director of The investigation did not find conclusive evidence of ber in their enGHSA, sent a letter to Principal Vincent athletic recruiting. Despite this conclusion, both Davis in rollment documents. Murray outlining the penalties for violations his March 5 press conference and APS athletic director Jeff Beggs told investigaof eligibility regulations on the football team. Beggs in an interview with investigators said that the tors that athlete verificaAccording to a March 18 APS press release, low number of players from Grady’s feeder school, tion, including a review of Grady must forfeit all victories in Inman Middle, should have raised questions. residency and tranthe 2013 season because GHSA Davis said that a third of the players on the footscripts, is a job that were not named in the found that ineligible students ball team came from Inman. Beggs said that six should be completed complaint. Of the 37, played in all of the games that or seven of the football players came from Inman. by the athletic director of the team won. Another penalty Despite the contradiction, both Davis and Beggs each high is a $1,000 fine for agreed that the low number should have transfered from a school. Grady’s athletic “a lack of adminiswere accused in an anonymous complaint prompted concern. director is Kathleen trative oversight in school outside of of living out of district. Of the 21, Washington. regards to the largeEMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT pelouto Georgia . ca “Ms. Washington scale irregularities.” j.d y (though not necessarily indicated that she did GHSA placed the In addition to Davis’s public condemnaguilty of address fraud) not verify any student team on probation tion of the parents guilty of address fraud, information,” the infor next season, so it will be ineligible Davis also said he was shocked by the vestigation report said. extent of APS employee involvement. transfered from a school for playoffs but will play in the regular “She obtains the inAn assistant coach to the football outside of the Grady district season. These penalties also rule out Milteam supplied APS with two differare still being formation from the (though not necessarily guilty of len’s 100th win against North Clayton and submits on Sept. 6. ent addresses to enroll his children investigated. registrar address fraud) the packet to GHSA Superintendent Davis announced on at Young Middle School and were found guilty of [Georgia High School Association].” March 21 that Grady will have a new football coach and athGrady. The investigation conIn interviews with investigators, both Millen and letic director for the 2014-15 school year. Grady alumnus and cluded that the coach com- committing address fraud. Washington claimed they had no knowledge of any stu- former NFL player Earthwind C. Moreland has been assigned mitted address fraud and both dents on the team living out of district. as interim physical education teacher and football coach. of his children have withdrawn from their respective schools. Also outlined in the report of the investigation was how APS “I do believe in winning, I do believe in competition, but I “That disappoints me very much,” Davis said, “because we worked over the last three years very hard to make sure dean of student discipline Chantell Mullen provided a copy strongly believe in winning with integrity,” Davis said. p that we establish an atmosphere where people understood of the anonymous complaint to Beggs on Nov. 11. Mullen instructed Beggs not to provide the complaint or any specific that unethical violations would not be tolerated.” EXCLUSIVELY @ theSoutherneronline.com The address the assistant coach used to enroll his son at Grady details of the complaint to the Grady football coaches when he Community responds to investigation results during March 5 meeting was the same address used by six other football players. In an met with them on Nov. 14. Beggs met with the coaches to ask Parents of football players, teachers, students, alumni, board interview with investigators, the assistant coach denied know- them about their knowledge of football players living out of members and parents of students were in attendance at the March 5 ing that six other players were using that address. According to district or of any possible recruitment. Within days of the meetmeeting revealing the result of the address fraud investigation. Many the investigation report, the property owner of the house was a ing, however, some parents of football players living out of the parents expressed concern that the issue of out-of-district students ... district began moving inside of the Grady district, according to retired Grady coach.

Of the

gr ap hi c

Individual standouts junior in name, senior in game

Matthew Peterson Soccer By Chris Brown Though Matthew Peterson is just a junior on a seniorheavy boys soccer team, he has stood out as a leader and team player during his two years on the varsity squad. Peterson moved up from the junior-varsity team at the end of his freshman year at his coaches’ requests. He now plays left-back, a defensive position that requires skills he said he has been honing since a young age. “I’ve been playing soccer since I was 6,” Peterson said. “My mom didn’t want me to

Favorite athletes: LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, Cristiano Ronaldo

Fantasy teammate: University of North Carolina player Kara Cannizzaro

Favorite pre-game meal: “A Subway sandwich with turkey, lettuce, bacon and spicy mustard.”

Funniest moment on the field: “During one of our games a girl slid on the ground like a seal.”

Favorite pre-game ritual: “Joking and having fun with teammates, and listening to music.”

Hardest thing to do in practice: “Keep my patience. I have high expectations for the girls and know they can reach them.”

Favorite team memory: “When Chandler [Organ] scored the winning goal to beat Paideia 1-0 on Saturday [March 15]. We’re the first team to beat them on their home field in 4 years.” play a contact sport, but I told her I needed to play one. So, I ended up playing soccer.” Peterson now plays soccer almost year-round, playing with club teams like the Gwinnett Soccer Association during the offseason. Following a heartbreaking loss to Northwest Whitfield on penalty kicks in the first round of the state playoffs last year, the team suffered the loss of some key senior players. These losses have made the season much more difficult for the team. “Our coaches have had to

dealwithdifferentpersonalities, and it’s less serious than it was before,” Peterson said. Nevertheless, Peterson has developed into a team leader and a player to watch. “He has the knack for being in the right place at the right time and cutting off pass lanes,” junior captain Parker Maupin said. “His greatest strength on the field is his ability to play both sides of the ball,” Maupin said. “When we need to put pressure on the box, he has the ability and skills needed to help the attack.” p

Lindsay Van Beck Lacrosse

By Chris Brown Junior Lindsay Van Beck is entering her third season as a member of the Grady Ladies’ Lacrosse team. Van Beck is a midfielder, one of the most important positions on the field. Despite her role as a veteran player on the team, Van Beck started playing lacrosse only one year before coming to Grady. “I needed a sport, because I had already done volleyball in the fall,” Van Beck said. “I was going to do track, but then my mom said you get

Favorite thing about lacrosse: “The speed of play. It’s nail-biting and exhilarating.” to hit people in lacrosse so I chose lacrosse instead.” Now, Van Beck participates not only with the Grady team, but also with a year-round club called Thunderbird. Although the team is coming off of an undefeated season, Van Beck believes that the team still has room for improvement. “My expectation for the team is to be better than last year,” Van Beck said. Van Beck works to make herself a better player through personal training outside of the team’s five-day-a-week

practice schedule. “I come to [the] Grady field on my own over the weekends to shoot and condition,” she said. Van Beck’s excitement for the season is only matched by her desire to see her teammates grow. “This season we’re going to be playing varsity teams instead of junior-varsity ones, so I’m looking forward to playing a better caliber of teams,” Van Beck said. “There’s plenty of individual talent on the team and I’m excited to see [the girls] grow as players." p

sports

March 21, 2014

courtesy of Kiran Potula

A CLOSE SHAVE: Varsity ultimate recruits (clockwise from left) Alex Cameli (shaved by junior Vincent James) and John Roorbach show off their new ‘dos; sophomore Kiran Potula recieved his haircut last year as a frehsman. New varsity members of the team have been getting initiation haircuts since the 2011 Frisbee season.

Sebbi Di francesco

By Ike Hammond Initiation practices are common among school sports as a way for the older and younger players to bond as well as show their commitment to the team. The Grady Ultimate Gauntlet Frisbee team is no exception. Every year before the Deep Freeze tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn., the team gathers for a sleepover at one of the players’ houses. The sleepover began as a fun way for the team to spend the night before making the long ride to the tournament, but things got interesting in 2011 as some members of the team showed up with their heads shaved that morning, much to the surprise of head coach and literature teacher Susie Mercer. The players who get shaved by their teammates are traditionally first-year varsity members. Mercer does not know how the tradition came about, but she made it clear that no player should be forced to shave his head if he doesn’t want to. “It’s cool as long as it’s voluntary,” Mercer said. “As soon as someone is forced I’m going to cancel the sleepover.” While Mercer doesn’t supervise the activity, she relies on her team to respect boundaries. Players can refuse to have their head shaved. One such member, freshman Harrison Tweet, did not want to have his head shaved because he had a golf tournament. “They don’t force you to do it,

Chris Brown

New Frisbee members subject to ultimate tradition

they ask you,” Tweet said. “You are frowned upon for not doing it, though.” While Tweet opted not to have his head shaved before Deep Freeze, he said he was going to get it cut before the team’s next tournament, Terminus. Although a few newbees refused to be shaved. most new members are happy to comply. Oftentimes, older

members will carve designs into the younger members’ hair, as in the case of sophomore Alex Cameli. “I got really lucky because my design was cool,” said Cameli, whose shave made him look like the central character from Avatar: The Last Airbender. “Some of the other ones are pretty bad.” One of those designs belonged to sophomore Kiran Potula, who made

varsity in his freshman year. “I got a double reverse mohawk last year from [then-senior] Rashard Byrd,” Potula said. “Mine is pretty much regarded as the worst of all. I was nervous because I couldn’t see what they were doing, and it was pretty surprising when I got to look.” Despite the haircut he was given, Potula acknowledged that the tradi-

tion serves as a way for the younger and older members to bond. The older members, like the young, also know the value of shaving heads as not only a rite of passage but as a way for the first year varsity members to feel like a part of the team. Senior captain Michael Dillard remembers the first time his head was shaved as a sophomore. “My freshman year we didn’t have an actual razor, just safety scissors, so I decided not to do it,” Dillard said. “I got shaved my second year. It was just a really bad haircut, a buzz cut where the guy went straight across my bangs with clippers. It looked terrible.” While the players may not like their haircuts at first, Dillard still knows the importance of the initiation process. “The younger players are the future of the team, so we have to make sure they come out of every season with the right skills and attitudes,” Dillard said. After the story was reported, Mercer said that she was going to put an end to the head shaving tradition. “I’m all for team bonding, but when kids feel like they have to do it, it’s one step too close to hazing,” she said. “Some parents had already voiced their concerns, and I’ve been debating about it before that. I would never forgive myself if something bad happened so I can’t afford to take that risk.” p

GAMES OF THE MONTH

REVIEWvv

Senior Michael Dillard guards a Chapel Hill High School player in the Deep Freeze Tournament. Grady lost to Chapel Hill in the semifinalgameand placed ninth.

Girls soccer to face Paideia on April 14

KATE DEGIVE

passes the ball in an 8-0 win against Tucker High School on March 19.

Jennifer Steckl

By Nick Caamano The Deep Freeze Youth Ultimate Tournament was a tough yet insightful experience for the Grady Ultimate Frisbee team, which placed ninth out of the 13 teams in the tournament. “Throughout my high school experience, this was the most competitive it has ever been,” senior and co-captain Sebbi DiFrancesco said of the tournament. Deep Freeze always takes place in Chattanooga, Tenn. Grady, along with fellow Georgia representatives The Paideia School and Brookwood High School, played against teams from seven different states. The teams were organized into four pools comprised of four teams, two from each advancing to the championship bracket. Grady’s pool pit them against Cincinnati’s Holy Family Catholic, which DiFrancesco described as one of the best teams he had ever encountered. Holy Family defeated Grady 12-4 and went on to win the entire tournament. “The kids on that team never turned the disc over and caught absolutely everything, and on top of that, their defense was insane,” DiFrancesco said. Although Grady did not advance to the quarterfinals, the Gauntlet rebounded with wins over McCallie High School (13-6) and Blackman High School (10-8) to grasp the ninth place finish. The team’s overall record was 4-3. “It was not our best tournament, but the team learned a lot, especially the younger Sophkids,” DiFrancesco omore said. p Gracie Griffith

Courtesy of Sebbi difrancesco

UItimate team gains new experience

By Nick Caamano The Grady girls varsity soccer team will host archrivals Paideia on April 14 at Grady stadium in their second-to-last game of the season. “The Paideia game is always a big one for us,” Grady girls varsity coach Rodney Thomas said. “Coach Rosenbaum was my coach in high school and I coached his daughter at Grady, so it’s always been a good rivalry, but a friendly rivalry.” Coach Thomas is not the only member of the team who has rooted rivalries with the Pythons. Many of the players from Grady have grown up playing together and against players from the Paideia squad through club soccer. “I’ve known and played with some of them since when I first started playing soccer,” said senior Emily Ferris, a team captain. Last year the Grady girls edged the Pythons 2-1 at home early in the season. It was the first victory against Paideia in the 10 years Thomas had been coaching at Grady. “Their girls tend to want it more,” Thomas said, “Last year for the first time, we came to play.” Because of last year’s victory, Thomas is confident that his team will do what needs to be done to win this year. “I don’t think we’ll play many other teams better than Paideia, even in the state playoffs,” Thomas said. “It’ll be a good gauge for us.” p

ww PREVIEW

the Sports section thesoutherneronline.com

HENRY W. GRADY HIGH SCHOOL, ATLANTA

March 21, 2014

VOLUME LXVIII, NUMBER 6

By Olivia Volkert and Josh Weinstock PS Superintendent Erroll Davis announced that an internal APS investigation had concluded that 14 players on Grady’s football team and their families used false addresses in order to attend Grady. Thirteen other football players remain under investigation. Davis announced the findings at a community meeting in the Grady theater on March 5 and later released personnel changes among Grady employees and coaches. “I am stunningly amazed by the inappropriate behavior of adults involved in this situation,” Davis said to members of the Grady community. “In many instances there was a failure, and, once again, young people get to pay the price.”

FRAUDULENT FINDINGS A document review was conducted for each of the 58 student athletes on the football team. Investigators reviewed student permanent record folders, proof of residency documents, enrollment history, attendance reports, returned mail, address history, athletic certification and property and tax records. At first, the review was limited to the enrollment records of the 21 students identified in the anonymous complaint. “This is quite frankly disturbing—the lengths that parents

went to falsify documents, signed affidavits,” Davis said. “… You had to be impressed, unfortunately, with the masterful job of forgeries and fake documents.” According to the published report of the investigation findings, of the 21 named students 11 were verified as having committed address fraud. Five students named in the complaint are still being investigated. A review of the enrollment records of players not named specifically in the complaint found three to be guilty of address fraud. Among the 14 found guilty of fraudulent enrollment, four students were previously zoned for Westlake High School, a member of the Fulton County School System. The report said that investigators also found that several of these 14 students used the addresses of their grandparents, aunts and uncles, “godparents” and other relatives but did not actually reside at the address they supplied. Most of the parents found guilty of document fraud falsified leases and power/cable bills. Ten parents admitted to committing address fraud or falsifying documents. Three different students’ parents claimed they falsified enrollment documents because they were homeless during the school year. Davis said that of the 14 students found to be out of district,

JENN STECKL

INVESTIGATION FINDS 14 GUILTY OF ADDRESS FRAUD

see INVESTIGATION, page 14

DAVIS ADDRESSES FRAUD: Superintendent Erroll Davis gave the results of a three-month long investigation into the football team on March 5.

Friendly freshmen fire leads t ranking competition F

Ricker, who began playing casually around the age of 5, remembered that Lombardo was as a big competitor in elementary school. “I played on his ALTA (Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association) team from third grade to fourth grade,” Ricker said. “[Lombardo] was the best there, and I couldn’t hit the ball twice in a row.” Lombardo began playing around age 8, but didn’t take it seriously until around 10 or 11. Outside of the Grady and Inman teams, he’s played with ALTA and T2—two Atlanta tennis organizations. Lombardo has also played a number of United States Tennis Association junior tournaments. When asked if he would ever consider playing doubles with Lombardo, Ricker laughed. “Doubles isn’t our thing,” Ricker said. “I would consider [playing doubles],” Lombardo said. “It would be fun actually.” Ricker then laughed, causing Lombardo to backtrack. “We both play singles, so we’ll probably never be able to play for Grady doubles,” Lombardo said as he turned to Ricker.

“But, in a tournament we should play doubles.” Ricker nodded. When asked about their future plans in tennis, the pair had varying opinions. “I plan to go pro,” Ricker said. “And definitely at least get a college scholarship out of it.” Lombardo is more focused on good grades. “If it comes down to it,” Lombardo said, “I would rather go to an academic school that’s a better school than get a full ride to a worse school for tennis. But a [tennis] scholarship to a good school would be optimal.” Lombardo also mentioned what he would be doing if he was preparing to become a professional tennis player. “If I wanted to play professionally,” Lombardo said, “I would be in Florida right now in an academy playing like 10 hours a day.” Ricker chuckled in response. Unlike many high schools in the Atlanta area, where there is a vast difference between the abilities of the top two players, Ricker and Lombardo are constantly competing for the No. 1 spot, as was made apparent by an interaction they had at the beginning of the Grady ten-

nis season. In a practice match, Ricker beat Lombardo 8-6, therefore earning the No. 1 spot on the team. Although Ricker’s triumph over Lombardo was recent, the two have been consistently one-upping one another since they began hitting and practicing together. “For the past three years, Sam and I have been competing against each other,” Ricker said. Before speaking, Lombardo sat up a little straighter. “We’re highly competitive,” Lombardo said. “Who are you highly competitive with?” Ricker asked, teasing. Lombardo shifted back to face Ricker again. “You,” Lombardo said. “What?” Ricker replied, disbelief in his tone. Lombardo, smiling, turned back around. “Yeah, we’re highly competitive,” he repeated. Even with the pair’s competitive nature, they remain close friends. “We walk to school together with a few other friends most days,” Ricker said. “We play video games, hang out with friends, and a lot of our friendship centers around tennis and playing each other. It’s just a normal friendship I guess.” p

Photos by Jenn Steckl

By Jenni Rogan reshman girls tennis player Orly Mansbach offers this description of freshmen Griffin Ricker and Sam Lombardo’s tennis abilities: “Confident. Good, but a tad arrogant.” The two, however, have good reason for their pride. As freshmen, are seeded as the No. 1 and 2 singles players on the Grady boys tennis team. In a game against North Atlanta High School on Feb. 27, Ricker and Lombardo played against the top seeds of North Atlanta. Lombardo won his game 8-2 against a sophomore from North Atlanta. “The kid I played wasn’t that good,” Lombardo said. “Well, he was decent.” Ricker lost his match to a senior at North Atlanta with a tennis scholarship to George Washington University. He lost with a final score of 8-4. Ricker believed he fought hard for the win by keeping up long rallies and serving well. In a match against Chamblee High School on March 4, the two were the only players on the boys team to win their matches. Before joining the varsity team, the duo played singles on Inman’s team. “The team is better at Grady, obviously,” Lombardo said. “Because we’re older, but it was not at all serious [at Inman].” Ricker agrees. “Grady’s team’s better,” Ricker said. “By a lot.” Even before Inman, the two played against each other in outside leagues.

Grady Sports Score Central: February/March Soccer Boys: March 14 Grady 3 Decatur 0 March 8 Grady 1 Paideia 0

Girls: March 14 Grady 2 Decatur 1 March 12 Grady 10 Banneker 0

Lacrosse Boys: March 17 Grady 10 Southwest DeKalb 4 March 14 Northgate 20 Grady 3

Girls: March 10 Grady 14 Dunwoody 2 March 5 Holy Innocents’ 16 Grady 4

Ultimate Frisbee Feb. 8-9: Queen City Wins: 7 Losses: 2 Feb. 22-23: Deep Freeze Wins: 4 Losses: 3

Baseball March 13 Grady 9 North Atlanta 5 March 11 Grady 12 McNair 2

March 11 Stephenson 11 Grady 3 Feb. 28 Grady 16 Jackson 0

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