December Edition 2018

Our mission: to enlighten and to entertain

the griffin

December 21, 2018

Dulaney High School Timonium, Maryland

Volume 58, Issue 2 INVOLVED

Visit us at http://dulaneygriffin.org

Laptops: necessity or accessory?

In-class Usage

BCPS DEVICES

Have you experienced technological issues?

Non-Academic Usage Yes 65%

see pages 6-7 # TO KNOW

56

Frequency Almost Never

the number of gifts donated by AVID to families in need for the holidays

Rarely No 52%

Occasionally Frequently

HONORED

Very Frequently

Do you use your device at home?

F see page 11 # TO KNOW

4

the number of stars Dulaney earned in the new Maryland Report Card rating system SPIRITED

see page 12

INDEX

2-3 news 4-5 opinion 6-7 sports 8-12 features

anna mason, editor-in-chief ollowing the Baltimore County school board’s approval of a $140 million technology contract with Daly Computers in April 2018, laptops were issued to the student body, in its entirety, approximately three weeks after the start of the school year. The program seeks to expand a pre-existing four-year-old technology proposal into high schools through rolling out 133,000 devices. The device contract was implemented this year because if it had not been, the county’s lease would have expired. According to the county, the new devices will “open up a world of learning opportunities.”

Students and teachers alike have been transitioning to the initiative, with teachers in particular taking a variety of approaches to supplement devices previous long-standing lesson plans with devices.

English teacher Britta Schaffmeyer believes that technology is essential for preparing students for college and future careers, and has enjoyed the guarantee that students will have access to online materials, a guarantee that laptop carts

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specific funds for each department. He urges department heads to be frugal when making their requests.

English department chair Jason Bowman is considerate of the tightening budget.

“I tend to be really thoughtful of what I order, because I know we have limited resources,” Bowman said.

While Bowman generally considers the English department’s expenses accounted for, there are instances in which lack of funding is evident.

“It would be awesome to have money for National English Honor Society to do more and to send teachers to conferences and things like that…I don’t even ask because I know it’s not available,” Bowman said.

Student activity funds, such as paid admissions at sporting events and selling advertisements in The Griffin, also aid in financing programs at Dulaney. But the Parent Teacher Student Association and booster club fundraising is critical

“...the computer is no more and no less a tool to be used to learn and interact.” could previously not provide.

“I’ve been trying to infuse technology in my teaching since we’ve had the laptop carts,” Schaffmeyer said. “Otherwise, I’m just making my students ill-prepared for college anyway.”

Nevertheless, the introduction of laptops has not changed the teaching style of computer sci-

graphic by summer sheldon

ence teacher Nathanial Cool, who still prefers to use desktops. On the other hand, statistics teacher Victoria Bracken cited the opportunities created by the laptops during class and at home.

“On a snow day, to put a quiz on Schoology and grade it quickly--you could’ve done that before on Engrade, but you couldn’t expect every student to have a computer to complete it,” Bracken said.

Despite not currently utilizing devices in his classes, Cool acknowledged the benefits devices could provide both now and in the future.

“Having laptops opens up a sea of digital resources for teachers to use,” Cool said.

In particular, teachers, including Schaffmeyer, praised the equitability provided by the devices. see LAPTOPS, page 2

Departments cope with decreasing budget

maria eberhart, editor-in-chief ulaney’s operating budget has steadily declined since the 2015-16 school year despite consistent enrollment and increasing structural issues.

The operating budget, which is specifically apportioned for supplies, materials and other various services, is determined by Baltimore County Public Schools using a per pupil allocation formula based on student enrollment. Dulaney’s population has remained around 1800 students, but the operating allocation for the 2018-19 school year is $215,000 compared to $330,000 three years ago for fiscal year 2015-16.

BCPS attributes this decrease partially to the fact that schools no longer need to purchase computers and printers due to the new, expansive technology initiative. Principal Sam Wynkoop, who is responsible for managing the budget, has handled the cutbacks by making department chairs request materials instead of allotting

FYI:

Holiday Break Dec. 22 - Jan 2 No School

Model United Nations Conference

Jan. 4 - Jan. 6 Hershey, Pennsylvania

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 21 No School

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

Second Marking Period Ends Jan. 25

in supporting most school activities, especially athletics.

Director of Athletics Richard Reed is wary of the decreasing budget considering Dulaney’s large population of 1300 student athletes. He has also observed noticeable changes as a result of insufficient funding.

“When I first got here there were 20 JV baseball games allocated for the season, now we are down to 14. They [students] don’t see that games cost money. So, the county reduces some games and that really hurts,” Reed said.

Reed credits careful management and successful fundraising as methods of coping.

“We are very fortunate to have an amazing booster club… and we manage our money better than most,” Reed said. “Our teams are very good with regulating revenue, getting what they need, and having goals.”

Staff writer Nick Lange contributed to this report

Report Cards Distributed Feb. 7 Homeroom

Winter Formal Feb. 9 7 - 10 p.m.

Gymnasium

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news

December 21, 2018

Laptops: necessity or accessory? continued from page 1 “Baltimore County Public Schools is setting up a situation where all students will have equitable access to computers and online learning,” she said. “And I think that that is a responsibility of a public school system--to make sure that all students do have accessibility to what they need in order to learn.”

In a county where 44 percent of students who eat school meals qualify for free or reduced lunches, technology liaison Matthew Lovett says that laptops can help level the playing field and bridge the gap between those who can and cannot afford technology.

Senior tech intern Ridhi Kamboj says that despite her initial reluctance over the costs of the laptops, she now recognizes the role they play in the lives of students.

“It’s a resource to many kids who don’t have what they need to be successful in school,” said Kamboj.

However, persistent technological issues ranging from the school’s Wi-Fi to battery failures have plagued faculty and students. According to a survey administered to English classes, 65 percent of students have experienced some form of technological difficulties with their devices.

“The internet reliability issues caused by the influx of laptops was definitely a problem,”

Cool said while citing the drawbacks his computer science classes have faced.

In addition to concerns about technological issues, senior Cindy Shou believed that the county did not take into account the opinions of the student body while creating the initiative and that the price tag does not justify their use.

olivia summons, editor-in-chief or an anonymous junior, feeling consumed by personal body image issues has compromised their ability to perform both in school and in life.

“Some people I know just don’t like themselves and they can’t cope with that,” the anonymous student said.

Kate Clemmer, licensed clinical social worker and Community Outreach Coordinator for The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, says that high school can contribute significantly to the development of eating disorders due to added pressure and stress from academics or interpersonal relationships.

Clemmer reports that an estimated 11 percent of high school students have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, and many more struggle with body image concerns.

In an interview, the anonymous student expressed that, based on anecdotal evidence, this statistic is not surprising.

“I know a bunch of people who have [struggled with body image concerns], including myself,” they said.

According to the most recent Maryland wide youth survey, over 20 percent of high school girls and nearly 10 percent of high school boys in Maryland are going to extreme lengths in an attempt to lose weight.

Sophomore Nick Schiefelbein, a member of the Junior Varsity wrestling team, concurs that he is often required to lose weight to compete.

“Basically you have to control what you eat.

It’s not that hard to maintain weight, but for some people that are really close to it [reaching the weight limit for a certain weight class] have

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to work harder than others,” Schiefelbein said.

And this mentality is not limited to those who must meet athletic requirements. In a 2014 survey recorded by The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, 42 percent and 44 percent of middle school students in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, respectively, were trying to lose weight.

Junior Alexa Silao, a judo fighter, describes her

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for the future of “Growing Up Digital”, BCPS’s initiative for implementing technology in classrooms.

“I have a feeling the ban will be lifted and hopefully, the blocked content on Google will

“The internet reliability issues caused by the influx of laptops was definitely a problem.”

According to the aforementioned survey, despite 84 percent of students claiming to regularly bring their device to school, just 28 percent described their in-school laptop use as “very frequent.” Additonally, just 12 percent of students claim to use the devices for activities not related to schoolwork. Regarding the overall usefulness of devices, the majority (56 percent) are indifferent.

At the end of this school year, students will return their laptops, cases and chargers, and next year, the devices will be scanned back out. De-

spite the county choosing to distribute 11 inch HP ProBooks due to their relative durability, students and faculty raised concerns about their sustainability.

“In a year or two it’ll be outdated—it’s already outdated because the core processor isn’t as advanced as the one in my home computer,” Shou said.

Bracken agreed, describing concerns that may arise in the years to come.

“I think it’s great this year, because everybody’s got their brand-new device,” she said.

“How are students going to feel next year when they’ve taken good care of theirs but they get back a device that wasn’t well cared for?”

Regarding the future of devices, faculty members cautioned that laptops cannot provide across-the-board solutions for any one particular issue and cannot replace the value of teacher retention.

“We must always remember, the computer is no more and no less a tool to be used to learn and interact,” Assistant Principal Christopher Parker said. “It is not a single answer to all things.”

Staff writers Anna Boland and Owen Campbell contributed to this report.

Eating disorders rates amongst teens escalate

The percentage of high school students diagnosed with an eating disorder 11%

experience with dieting as a trying one.

“It constantly gets in the way of me being able to go out with friends, but that’s less of the fact that I’m making weight and more of me not trusting myself to have enough discipline to hold myself back from eating unhealthy food or over-eating while I’m out,” Silao said.

According to Clemmer, girls who engaged in strict dieting practices were 18 times more

likely to develop an eating disorder within six months than non-dieters. Even girls who dieted moderately were five times more likely to develop an eating disorder within six months than non-dieters.

Students report that the increasing trend of teens with eating disorders and body image concerns is rooted in the ideals portrayed on social media.

The anonymous junior described their trouble reconciling perfect body images on Instagram with the reality that most pictures are edited.

“In the moment, I can’t help but to compare myself to it. I constantly have to remind myself that what I see is not always real…there’s always Photoshop,” the student said.

Senior Audrey Bartholomew suggests that addressing the lack of representation on social media platforms could make a significant difference for the upcoming generation of teenagers in a digital world.

“Diversity is everything. If I had seen models when I was younger who looked like me, it could have changed everything about my own perception,” Bartholomew said.

In an attempt to combat the increasing trend of body image concerns and health issues amongst today’s teens, Silao says that a shift in focus is necessary.

“There should be more emphasis on the importance of eating healthy, staying active, and less on the number on the scale,” Silao said.

Staff writer Faizah Saadmim contributed to this report.

Google ban detrimental to productivity geoffrey dochat and morgan pierce, staff writers altimore County Public School’s recent decision to block popular search engine Google has left students like junior Phuong Nguyen struggling to efficiently access reliable and relevant information.

“It makes it [challenging] for me to do research, and it takes longer to use other sites like Bing,” Nguyen said.

On the contrary, computer science teacher Nathanial Cool explained why the banning of Google was necessary for a conducive learning environment.

“BCPS has a responsibility to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate material online.

Parents put trust in the school to keep their students safe. It is a careful balancing act between security and user-friendliness,” Cool said.

The key argument for the ban was due to students abusing Google Images. Graphics deemed inappropriate were easily accessible and subsequently disruptive. The quickest way for BCPS to promote and ensure safety was to block the system in its entirety.

Marketing teacher Jamie Bare’s is optimistic

“Google is acces-

sible in all facets of our lives, except for school.” be targeted instead of just generally blocking everything,” Bare said.

Chinese teacher and technology liaison, Matthew Lovett, echoes Bare’s thoughts.

“It’s ridiculous that Google was banned in the first place. It’s the most popular and reliable search engine and the best browser. The vulnerability should not call for such drastic measures. [Luckily], last I heard, they were working towards lifting the ban,” he said.

Despite his frustrations, Lovett empathizes with the theory behind the ban.

“I get it to an extent. But kids are smart. They always find a way around it,” Lovett said.

Junior Alex Kim echoes Lovett’s thoughts on the fault in the ban.

“It’s way too easy to work around the [Google] blockage. It’s not a viable solution to the bigger issue that is at hand here,” he said.

Teachers in the building are not the only ones who have struggled with accepting the recent technological ban.

“Punishing everybody for the fault of a few is unfair,” senior Frank Ruggiero said. “Google is accessible in all facets of our lives, except for school.”

Due to inconsistencies in the blockage, a portion of the student body is still able to use and access Google and Google images. The remainder will continue to cooperate with the ban and rely on alternative search engine methods.

Staff writer Anna Boland and associate editor Emma Shannon contributed to this report.

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

NEWS LINE GAME EDUCATES The Future Business Leaders of America club’s mock stock market game came to a close before winter break. Over 80 students participated in the digital simulation of the real world stock market for three months in attempt to make the most money, compete with classmates, and climb the leaderboard. Incentives to motivate students included a free graduation stole for seniors and a Bluetooth speaker. Many students acknowledged the added benefit of real world applications and money management strategies they have developed in the process.

PRESS HONORED Time magazine Dec. 11 named a group of journalists, including Jamal Khashoggi and the staff of the Capital Gazette newspaper, as its person of the year. Collectively known as “the Guardians,” these individuals were honored for their pursuit of the truth despite enormous obstacles and an avalanche of misinformation in the media. This marks the first occasion Time magazine has honored someone who has died. Jamal Khashoggi was killed while reporting in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

The five members honored from the Capital Gazette newspaper were killed in a mass shooting in June.

AVID GIVES BACK

AVID students wrapped presents for an underprivileged family Dec. 21. The event took place in the Satellite Cafeteria during first period. As in previous years, AVID adopted a family and accepted donations for items such as clothes and other essentials. A tree was placed in the main office with specific requests from the family, and anybody willing to donate took an ornament off the tree with the request.

PTSA SUPPORTS

The Parent Teacher Student Association have created a Closet of Support located in the office.

Students in need will have access to a variety of toiletries, clothes, coats, and school supplies anytime during the school day. The PTSA are open to suggestions and will try their best to accommodate if a particular item is not available.

CONCERTS EXCITE The performing arts department at Dulaney hosted its annual winter concerts Dec. 6 and 13 at 7:00 p.m. The concerts were held in the auditorium and encompassed performances from the wind ensemble, choir, orchestra and dance team.

The students and faculty have refined their talents, practicing holiday themed performances since the fall concert Oct.

December 21, 2018

Zeroes foster motivation ethan samels and dylan mccabe, staff writers hanges to Baltimore County Public School’s mastery grading policy have culminated in significant ramifications for students and teachers alike. Previously, incomplete assignments received a low score code (LS), indicating a 50 percent in the gradebook, even if the work was never attempted. The policy, instituted during the 201617 school year, has since evolved, now allowing teachers to input a missing code (M), or a zero, for unattempted work.

While this alteration poses the potential to hurt students’ grades, most recognize the direct impact on work ethic.

“It motivates me to get all of my classwork and homework finished and turned in on time,” junior Finn Drew said. “I want to get good grades, and it’s hard to do that with a zero in the gradebook.”

Senior Matt Lodge also credits the change with encouraging motivation despite “senioritis.”

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“As a procrastinator, it’s scary to see a zero instead of an LS, so it motivates me to turn my work in quicker,” Lodge said.

English teacher Alicia Drechsler also agrees with the change, adamant that students need a zero to encourage turning in work.

“As a teacher of standard classes, I believe the reason for adding M back in is to really press the importance of turning in all of your work,” Drechsler said. “If you get an LS for turning in nothing, what is the motivation to do much at all if all you need to pass is a 60 percent?”

Drechsler also appreci-

3 news

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Extended day debated N

ates how the policy lessens the end of quarter frenzy. rochelle shubinsky and mad“I really like the new cut- die essig, staff writers offs- both interims and a ext year, the school week before the quarter day will be extended ends. It dramatically cut by 15 minutes, a decidown on the number of sion made by county officials students I had trying to in response to a school-wide give me excessively late failure to meet the required work,” Drechsler said. amount of county-mandated Teachers across the hours of instruction. country who work in Baltimore County Pubdistricts with mastery lic Schools faculty and staff grading policies have gathered Nov. 27 to discuss disagreed with the im- implementation. Currently plementation of the LS. under consideration are three In southern Florida, a options to extend the school teacher was even fired day: adding ten minutes to for refusing to give a the beginning of the day and student a 50 percent for five minutes to the end, addnot turning in home- ing five minutes to the beginwork. ning of the day and ten minBut math teacher Hen- utes to the end, or adding 15 ry McVeigh is hesitant to minutes to the end of the day. input zeroes.

This year, the school day “I only give students was extended by five more a missing grade if they minutes of instruction time, don’t apply any effort. but teachers are not compenAn honest effort is the sated for the extra 25 minutes basis of rewarding my spent working per week. students,” McVeigh With next year’s increase of said. over an hour per week, it is The only complaint still unclear whether teachers Drechsler has for the new policy is communication.

She proposes more frequent reminders schoolwide, preferably from administration, about the cutoff dates for late work, considering a significant number of students still receive zeroes on assignments.

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

will remain uncompensated.

Spanish teacher Maureen Burke is hesitant to start the school day earlier, mentioning that students and teachers already wake up very early to attend school.

“As a high school teacher, I absolutely do not want to start school earlier. I would prefer to have [the extension] added in the end of the day,” said Burke.

However, she might be more enthusiastic about the added instruction time if it lengthened spring break, which was cut in the 20172018 school year in another attempt to meet the required hours of instruction set by the county.

“If the extension allowed for our spring break back…

I definitely very much want my spring break back, that’s for sure,” said Burke.

Business education teacher and golf coach Jamie Bare explained that extending the school day could be problematic for sports practices.

“Especially for golf, when the day starts getting shorter and it gets darker earlier, we’re already on a time crunch. Come October, we’re always fighting daylight to be able to play,” said Bare.

Other concerns include balancing school work and afterschool activities. With the current redo policy in place, students often seek help after school, prior to athletics and clubs. The extended school day could potentially decrease the amount of available time for these opportunities before after-school activities begin.

However, Bare is optimistic that the 15 minute extension could be used to benefit students and teachers if it was turned into a free period.

“I would like to see if we could take these 15 minutes and find time to pull from other classes to turn into a half hour tutoring period,” Bare said.

the griffin

4 opinion

December 21, 2018 month ##, year

The pitfalls of modern education

Are you looking forward to family dinners this holiday season?

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fanglin ding, staff writer s per the norm of a modern western society, education is heralded as the crux of civilization. We romanticize the nature of our education system, and continue to spread the mantra that more education is simply a necessary thing.

However, what do we notice when we actually take a much needed and serious look at our schools? We notice the amount of students who are falling behind. We observe the toxic culture spawned by grade competition. We take heed to the overall apathy of students to truly learn.

Let’s face it. Our education system is not tailored to student needs. Some might not even be cut out to be a student. Yet, we still lump everyone into the same system and give them com-

parible, high expectations with a onesize-fits-all approach. Everyone must succeed. If you don’t, the problem is with you, or your teacher, and not the system. Never the system.

The reality is that there will never be a

time when all will succeed equally. Individuals might have talent in various areas, but that shouldn’t mean those people get left behind.

Students enter school as unique in-

dividuals, and then leave as mindless drones seeking their next A. Anyone who doesn’t fall into that category gets dropped off on a curve, their prospects for the future dimming.

The few who do end up truly enriched from our education system are the exception, not the rule.

Students are trained not to be excellent leaders, but to be excellent followers. If you abide by your directives well enough, you’ll receive a good grade. If you don’t, it becomes much harder to succeed.

What should ultimately happen is a real educational reformation. One that changes the very dynamic and goal of education. We need to allow students to embrace their differences and become their own bosses because we cannot continue on our current path.

noah wilkens, staff writer An increased presence and importance of the press and media worldwide has skyrocketed in recent years. In conjunction with the increased magnitude of stories, the stigma surrounding them has followed suit. The world of politics is often provoked by the suffocating amount and type of content administered by media sources. With a deficit of legitimate and relevant news, networks have taken to a different school of reporting, including digging into the past of powerful and potentially powerful figures.

There is no arguing that the media has targeted politicians, specifically Donald Trump, for their past. Not to say that evidence has not prompted the speculation, but the question debating the extent of impact someone’s

past has on their present and future life is raised.

The American Law partially takes this into consideration in regards to felons. Lawmakers decided that breaking a federal law should disqualify the felon from exercising a handful of basic rights and privileges such as bearing arms, traveling abroad, jury duty, and certain employment.

Of course, this concept of long term punishment is something directly applicable to the lives of everyone. However, the American legal system is not going to micromanage the lives of all of its citizens for obvious ethical and monetary limitations.

From the perspective of a young adult, it can be frustrating knowing that actions in the present will without a doubt effect the future. It is irrational

to expect the positive experiences of the past to continue to carry us through time and simultaneously expect the negative experiences of the past to be forgotten. In the modern day there is an appalling double standard of people wishing to be remembered for their triumphs but remain unpunished for their shortcomings.

Everyone does things that they do not wish to be aired as public knowledge. It is impossible to be perfect but crucial to understand, especially for the adolescent demographic, that with social media, privacy is becoming nonexistent. Although this is unfortunate, the fact of the matter is that there is no absolute way for someone’s past to not affect their future and the sooner we become cogniscent of that, the better off we will be.

“Our education system is not tailored to everyone’s needs as a student.”

Past actions cause detrimental effects

EDITORIAL:

Dear Santa: here’s our holiday wish list ...STAFF WRITER RJ FEERICK EXPOSES THE MYTH OF EVIL LUNCH LADIES

...STAFF WRITER ANKITH HIREMATH CONDEMNS TRYHARDS AT THE GYM

No need to wrap these, Santa, just hurry: ...STAFF WRITER MORGAN PIERCE ON EARTH’S OBJECTIVELY WORST CREATURE: THE SLUG

1. Sell all the Dulaney laptops to buy one big laptop 2. Nationally televised Dulaney Chess Club matches 3. Consistent exposure to Google 4. The designated JUUL room (just kidding there are already two on every floor) 5. Bring back superlatives

6. Unlimited access to Mr. Skelton and /or Mrs. Hopkins’s wardrobe 7. Hallway Slip n Slides (fun way to use faulty plumbing) 8. Bigger lockers to cram freshmen into 9. Get rid of zones 10. In-school Dunkin 11. Access to the library 12. Less hair in the sinks 13. Ban mirror selfies in Dulaney restrooms 14. School leprechaun to bring joy and luck to hallowed halls (Bowman on

art by audrey houghton

limerick day year round) 15. Bring back Dulaney snap story 16. Never-ending supply of water cups 17. Free the snake (again) 18. Hire cameramen to film all fights and show in the morning during theannouncements 19. Quarterly student evaluation of teachers 20. More activities that require glue 22. Consistent internet and Schoology 21. More people to read the Griffin website: dulaneygriffin.org

Dulaney High School, 255 E. Padonia Rd. Timonium, MD 21093 editors-in-chief maria eberhart, anna mason, olivia summons The Griffin welcomes story ideas, commentaries and letters associate editors audrey houghton, emma shannon dulaneygriffin@bcps.org (410) 887-7633 to the editor. These may be brought to room 303, placed business manager emma shannon

in Brittany Jackson’s mailbox in the office or emailed to sports editors johnny carroll, giorgio gayleard Student population: 1,806 Staff population: 107 dulaneygriffin@bcps.org. All submissions are subject to The Griffin prints 1,500 to 2,000 copies of each edition. These are dis-adviser brittany jackson editing and must be signed. The Griffin Editorial Board makes tributed during homeroom on the third Friday of November, January, all final decisions regarding content.

March and May. Extras may be found in the library or room 303.

The staff editorial reflects the thoughts of the Griffin staff, but all other opinon pieces reflect individuals’ views, not the A Columbia Scholastic Press Association member paper’s.

The Griffin’s mission is to enlighten and entertain.

Interested in advertising in The Griffin or purchasing any December 21, 2018 Volume 58, Issue 2 http://dulaneygriffin.org photos seen in this issue? Use the same contact information.

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December 21, 2018

5 opinion

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American reaction condones Saudi actions rushil byatnal and laura hennawi, staff writers hen news came out Oct. 2 that Jamal Khashoggi, an overt critic of the Saudi Arabian government and a prominent Washington Post journalist, was murdered by the Saudi government after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, the public outrage was immense. Khashoggi was a figure of free speech in the Middle East, and his murder symbolizes the pervasive political suppression in the Arab world. Despite the blatant transgression, the United States has not and will not do anything to fix it. The Trump administration should quickly change their policy on the issue, and tarnish their strong relationship with Saudi Arabia.

For two weeks in October, Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince, denied any involvement in Khashoggi’s death, claiming it wasn’t a murder. But later, when a state television broadcast claimed his death was a murderous “rogue operation,” bin Salman and the government promised to find and punish those responsible. However, according to The Washington Post, the Central Intelligence Agency used intercepted phone calls to confirm in November that bin Salman directly ordered the killing, proving all of Saudi Arabia’s past claims to be false. What does this mean for the

strong economic and political relations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia?

This is not Saudi Arabia’s first instance of human rights violations. The country has a long and recent history of oppression. A well-known example is the egregious living situation for women, living under male guardianship, where all decisions are made by a male family member or spouse. Although a law in June permitted women to drive cars for the first time, they can not do so without

ankith hiremath, staff writer t’s the most wonderful time of the year: spending time with family, relaxation from work and most importantly, empty wallets. Society has embarked on a materialistic frenzy to acquire all of the newest fad items that will inevitably go out of style as the next year rolls around. The holiday season has transformed into an outlet for people to rationalize their ridiculous purchases. With 2018 wrapping up, the holiday mentality has struck prematurely as “super early can’t miss blockbuster deals” have slid their way into stores before Thanksgiving. What’s wrong with society’s fixation on shopping?

Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the new and notorious “early savings deals” are at the root of our increasingly superficial culture. Thanksgiving, a time that used to be spent getting together with family, sharing stories, and eating until stomachs ache, is now utilized as the gate to the long awaited “doorbuster bargains” on Black Friday. Stores cater to society’s cravings for savings, with major companies such as Target, Best Buy and Sears opening as early as 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Economists joked, that November should be renamed to “Black Month” with the end-

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less teeter-totter of companies trying to outdo one another with their enticing deals. Clearly saving up to 25 percent on a 40 inch television has transcended the value of spending time with family.

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one trait that I would consider paramount for someone giving feedback to other’s work and that is honesty.

Fletcher’s reasoning is that when someone hears that they’ve done a “good job” they will stop making progress and slowly decline. I strongly believe this to be the dividing line between effective

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“Economic benefit should not be placed on a level higher than human rights.” male authority. Saudi Arabia’s injustice was also displayed when the state of Israel was founded in 1948, banning any Jewish people from entering the country, including diplomats and workers, simply because of religious belief.

Saudi Arabia is notorious for its human rights violations, but what has the Trump administration done about Khashoggi’s murder? According to a statement made by President Donald Trump on Nov. 20, the U.S. will not pursue any action against bin Salman

or the country. Saudi Arabia’s strong oil-dependent economy is crucial to this country. If the U.S. were to impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia, they would likely export less oil to America. This would severely raise gas prices, along with the costs of all products that travel by road.

Trump’s decision shows a fallacy in the country’s ideals. Economic benefit should not be placed on a level higher than human rights. It is purely immoral.

The U.S. assisted in the formation of the United Nations, and has always held a belief in democracy and humanitarianism. But these beliefs, founded on American exceptionalism, are abandoned when money is dangled in front of politicians’ eyes. According to the New York Times, in the ongoing Yemen war, often termed as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, Saudi Arabia has been using American bombs to harm rebel groups, frequently targeting innocent civilians as well.

Jamal Khashoggi’s murder was different than Saudi Arabia’s other various transgressions; the public response worldwide sent tidal waves of criticism towards the United States for its immoral inaction. The U.S. should avoid such blatant incongruity by imposing sanctions on Saudi Arabia and condemning them for their cruel behavior towards American ideals.

Materialism detracts from holidays

To be fair, I can’t blame society for wanting to save money. I remember spending Thanksgiving Day scouting out Black Friday deals, methodically planning my purchases and mapping out the attack route of what stores to go to first. It is serious business. One mistake could prove fatal. Target could sell out of Beats headphones, on sale for the low price of just 100 dollars, so you’d be forced to spend 125 dollars for them at Walmart. Holiday season makes mathematicians out of the ordinary man. Materialism has

percolated into untamable greed and superficiality,to the point where someone’s ears spring up when they hear the word “savings.”

There’s no break from November to December. Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals slowly evolve and trickle into “holiday deals.” Companies create an endless façade of savings, which only serve to solidify their profits. Research from InsiderSales reveals that companies make more profit at the end of the year, outnumbering the rest of the year by 11.43 percent. Companies constantly try to battle for the lowest prices, creating a cycle in which major corporations are struggling to outdo one another and provide the lowest price possible. They have planted this materialistic seed in society, watering it with enticing deals so that it overruns society.

It’s in society’s hands to swim out of the pool of materialism. People need to spend time with their families and revive the ancient value of togetherness.

People need to rethink their buying habits, preventing superfluous spending on products they purchase for the mere fact that it’s on sale. Spend this holiday season with your family and resist the urge to overindulge in the “hottest deals of the year.”

The value of constructive criticism

geoffrey dochat, staff writer eedback is one of the most important elements of growth and improvement in adolescents. I know firsthand how much a simple piece of feedback regarding my performance in athletics or school can help me improve.

The catch is that those who praise you or provide you with criticism have to do so in such a way that is beneficial to your growth, rather than simply feeding your head with jargon to make you feel better.

In the movie Whiplash, a young man aspiring to be a professional jazz drummer attends a highly prestigious school for jazz musicians. J.K. Simmons’ Terence Fletcher, the band’s director, is a foul-mouthed psychopath who antagonizes his students to the point where they either quit the band, or in one terrible case, commit suicide. The movie is a narrative of how a student strives for acceptance and acknowledgement from a person who he genuinely respects. Although Fletcher is a maniac, he shows

“...those who praise you or give you criticism have to do so in such a way that is beneficial to your growth...” and non-effective teachers and coaches.

If you’re like me, you have the upmost respect for your coaches. They work hard so that athletes have an opportunity for success, but that hard work requires them to give feedback in regards to your performance. If a lacrosse player catches all the passes thrown to him

and the coach tells him, “good job,” the player won’t practice catching anymore because he thinks that he has mastered that skill. Soon enough, however, the refinement of that skill will be lost since itis no longer being practiced.

If a teacher writes “good job” on an assignment you receive a B+ on, you begin to think that a B+ is all that the teacher expects out of you. You did a good job.

Be happy. Settle.

According to PsychTests, 29 percent of the population believe that people criticize others in order to hurt, not help. In order to truly move forward and grow as an individual, one must accept their shortcomings, realize they are not infallible and learn how to receive criticism without remarks.

Criticism and feedback are invaluable tools that should leave you wanting to improve-to prove others wrong. I don’t want to know that I did a good job, I want to know that I did the best job.

And if not, how can I get there?

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

it’s debatable

Normalizing environmental apathy

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olivia summons, editor-in-chief limate change is the new 2018 conspiracy!

Do you believe in aliens, ghosts, an afterlife? Well what about climate change? Let’s consult our soon-to-be president in his early years as the Republican presidential candidate.

“I am not a believer. Unless somebody can prove something to me, I believe there’s weather,” Trump said.

97 percent of climate scientists insist climate change is real and caused by human actions, while 56 percent of Republicans in Congress deny these atmospheric changes.

This disparity suggests that the topic of climate change is now another partisan issue. With the majority of Republican representatives denying the existence of climate change, this paves the way for a dangerous mental precedent.

Social scientists find that there is a psychology behind the popularity of denying climate change – people seek out information that confirms their

“Just because there is always an option to indulge in apathy does not warrant that option as acceptable.” beliefs while ignoring information that challenges them.

This delves into a more complex question – is it more dangerous to entirely deny the existence of climate change or to just dismiss it as insignificant for the present individual?

The classic dilemma: ignorance versus apathy.

If statistics, projections and analyzed trends are not enough to convince someone that global warming is more than a mere extrapolated myth perpetuated by liberals, then perhaps mass natural disasters will spark a change in thought.

The recent California wildfires resulted in the displacement of over 1000 individuals. While data and research indicate that these fires resulted from shifting rain and wind patterns, record high temperatures and drier land and soil, President Trump tweeted that forest mismanagement is to blame.

Trump later met with Finland’s president to relay the message that in order to prevent fires we should all dedicate more time towards raking and cleaning forest floors.

If only those hundreds of family homes could have been saved with a few dozen four-dollar rakes from Walmart.

Yet, those who vehemently decide that their role in the global warming crisis is to brush it (or perhaps rake it) under the rug for the subsequent generations have a crippling mentality.

Indulging in apathy. Not a unique route to take for any number of political or social topics. Gun control, partisanship, immigration, climate change.

Just because there is always an option to indulge in apathy does not warrant that option as acceptable.

It shouldn’t have to be your house that gets burned to the ground, or flooded, or destroyed in an earthquake to relate to the struggles others have already experienced.

What’s striking is that I have heard “who cares?

I won’t be around to see it” uttered from older and younger generations alike.

There’s only so much wiggle room in the mindset of an 80 year old who’s stuck in their ways, but why is apathy regarding the environment so prevalent amongst youth?

With the average American lifespan estimating at slightly over 78 years, it’s a bit too early in the game for a teenager to introduce a lifetime of indifference.

the griffin

6 sports

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VARSITY

Senior sparks success

Returning quarter opens sea

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johnny carroll, sports editor ith vast talent comes high exbrian ellis, staff writer pectations, which is the exn preschool, senior cheer captain actly the case for the varsity Kyra Mahoney found her passion basketball team. The quartet of returnand genuine love for cheerleading starters have opened the season as ing. the No. 5 team in the Baltimore metro “My daycare mom was a cheerarea, and with two dominant victories. leading coach and she used to teach The ranking is the highest preseason me cheers and take me to football ranking Head Coach Matt Lochte has games, I cheered at Towson when received in his 15 years at Dulaney, but I was 4 years old. I was a really he’s not focused on it. spunky kid and liked to scream,” “We haven’t even talked about [the Mahoney said. ranking] as a staff or as a team. We photo by Bian Ellis Mahoney has used her leading have just been focused on getting betnature and committed mindset in both the cheer competitions ter,” Lochte said. and on the sideline of games for the last 13 years.

After graduating Captain Josh Cornish Senior teammate Anna D’aleo notes that Mahoney is the perlast year, leadership will be the coachfect bridge between the coach and the team. ing staff’s main priority as the season “Kyra is always vocal about her ideas and concerns. During progresses. the fall while we were preparing for pep rally she was very “Right now, [leadership] is my main good at listening to everyone’s ideas to make sure it made as concern. Someone needs to emerge as many people as happy as possible,” D’aleo said. a leader. And it might not be a single To go along with her strong mindset and to symbolize what person, it might be a group of guys,” she means to the team, Mahoney’s position in the routine is the Lochte said. middle of the pyramid. According to Mahoney the pyramid The quartet of returning starters instunt is the epitome of the competitive routine and the middle cludes sophomores Ryan Conway and pyramid features some of the team’s strongest bases and flyers Ike Cornish, junior Che Evans, and sewhich is usually the seniors. nior Cameron Amoruso.

Head cheer coach, Kim Bettencourt, continues with the theme - attributing much of her success to her leadership.

“Kyra is a great leader and role model. She always puts the team first and consistently looking to include everyone on the team and make them feel like family,” Bettencourt said. owen campbell, staff writer Mahoney is known to always put the team first Bettencourt Football: Jeremiah Wynn ended the said. season with accoldaes including sec“She never blames others and always encourages her peers to ond team All-County, first team Alltry one more time when they encounter failure.”

Division, Baltimore County All-Star Mahoney also has another agenda. selection and most valuable player in She says, “I would love to mitigate sexist thoughts about the the Maryland Crab Bowl game. Jevon sport to reveal that it can be empowering for all women” Hawkins, Devin Gilliam and Terrance Aside from cheer Mahoney sings in the school choir and loves Anderson were also participants in to go to Ravens’ games and shop. In college she hopes to conthe Baltimore County Senior All Star tinue her habits and join a pep squad in order to keep her love game. for school spirit alive.

Womens Soccer: Caroline Sharun, “I really just love the Dulaney community and I think every- Anna Dimitriades and Sarah Brandt one is kind of a cheerleader because by going to the games, were named All-Divison plaers while there’s just a lot of good support and spirit here and I really Dimitriades was also named first team All-County and Sharun was second love that,” Mahoney said. team All-County.

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December 21, 2018

Expect Conway and Cornish to make major improvements, as they have a year under their belts. Amoruso will continue his role as a tough defender and a great role player.

Conway has already turned heads in his first two outings, after putting up 34 points in the home-opener blowout win against Catonsville. Not only was Conway shooting exceptionally well from three-point range, but he also got to the rim with ease.

“I think we’re playing great right now, we’re 2-0 to start. We’ve had some ups and downs, but we’re playing great as a team. It’ll be nice if we can keep the energy up,” Conway said.

Historically, Lochte has had major success with transfers. This year, junior transfer Cam Byers will make a big impact on the team. “[Byers] can be a great teammate, be a force on the boards, and work super hard every day, as he has. He’s a true power forward at the high school level.

He fills a void that we haven’t had in a few years,” Lochte said.

The addition of a true big man will allow Evans to play in his natural po-

sition, something he has not been able to do in his time at Dulaney. Evans’ ability to get to the basket and finish around the rim is one of the best on the team, and it has shown as he has scored double digits in his first two games.

In his first two showings, Cornish has proved that he can play at the varsity level. Last year, he showed his potential, but the game seemed a little fast for him. In the Lions’ 92-37 victory Dec. 12, Cornish dropped a stellar 23 points and grabbed a handful of rebounds.

Expectations will be high for the remainder of the season for the Lions, but they’ve got their own lofty goals to accomplish.

“Our goals are county, region and state [championships]. And we’re not shying away from those goals. Although those goals are lofty, we believe they’re realistic,” Lochte said.

Not only have the Lions dazzled on the court, but also in the classroom. As a team, they received a total of 40 A’s, equaling a 3.2 GPA during first quarter.

FALL HIGHLIGHTS RECAP

athletes

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JUNIOR VARSITY

Cross Country: First team All-County athletes include Drew Dailey, Sam Merng, Alex Whatley, Zak Audia, Brooke Ruffin and Anna Albergo. Cooper Giesler, Ethan Samels, Marissa Dailey and Kaitlin Robinson were awarded with second team All-County and D. Dailey was also named Baltimore

County Runner of the Year and was included on the first team All-Metro.

Field Hockey: First team All-County selections include Zoe Hermann, Sidney Snyder, Bridget Kelly, Allie Mercer and Emily Mowbray. Second team All-County awards go to mae Dickens and Kate Proefrock. Hermann and Dickens also participated in the Baltimore County Senior All-Star game.

Volleyball: First team All-County and First Team All-Division selections include Rose Vail, Nancy Slaughter and Kathryn Farler. Lisa Liu was awarded with second team All-Division.

Complacency corrupts top athletes

Allied bowler perseveres

sreeja sai and giorgio gayleard, staff writer

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unior Katie Eppler is an allaround, three season athlete. In addition to allied softball in the spring and allied soccer in the fall, she plays allied bowling during the winter and is preparing for another great season.

Eppler will be competing in in her third season of allied bowling this year. Though she hasn’t been playing for long, Eppler has bowled photo by Johnny Carroll up a storm in her last two seasons.

She has a few reasons to participate.

“I enjoy staying in shape and playing the sport I love,” she said.

In addition to her love for the sport and the fitness aspect, Eppler shared that she always enjoys spending time with her friends and teammates. She stated that she likes the program because it brings her closer to others and she has the opportunity to meet new people.

Her teammates also have kind words to share regarding her character.

“I’ve been working with Katie for about two weeks so far, but I know that she’s a kind, charismatic, and lively person.” said teammate Taylor Hetherington.

Head coach Anita Shaw has made it possible for all these athletes to branch out and meet new people as well as grow in their athletic abilities. The program has been beneficial for all parties involved and is changing our school for the better.

Shaw stated that Eppler is a joy to be around for all and is very enthusiastic. She is very eager to get moving and have fun.

“She’s a very dedicated player and is always willing to help out the team” Shaw said.

Eppler has a great time with the game and tries not to let her competitive spirits get the best of her. With her encouraging presence, Eppler doubles as a successful teammate and player.

“It’s fun to be at the lanes surrounded by everyone who is having a good time,” Eppler said.

Eppler proves to be a consistent mentor and friend and is excited for the upcoming season

Men’s Soccer: Giorgio Gayleard, Will Boellner and Greg Borisov earnedfirst team All County selections while Andre Lopez, Kobe Crone and Ashton Brown received second team AllCounty. Gayleard, Boellner, Lopez, Crone, Borisov and Brown were all named to first team All-Division.

from the stands

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johnny carroll, sports editor n today’s world, few things are guaranteed. Off the top of my head, I can think of three. Death, taxes and change.

With such few guarantees in life, it makes it even more frustrating when gifted athletes take their position on a given team for granted.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ running back James Connor has one of the most inspiring stories in sports history. Following a dominant three years at the University of Pittsburgh, Conner suffered a torn MCL in his knee. In December 2015, after getting MRIs for the injury, doctors found Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Conner’s chest.

Forget returning to the football field.

Conner was focused on survival. After 12 brutal sessions of chemotherapy and immense support from surrounding communities, athletes and teammates, Conner was diagnosed cancerfree, and the return to the field began.

Conner was on track to become an National Football League draft pick but with the combination of the MCL tear and cancer, Conner had to return to Pittsburgh for his senior year. However, his demonstration of perseverance and strength was second to none.

During his days between six months of chemo, where was Conner? On the football field or in the weight room.

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org

“So as soon as I got back from my first treatment, I went right into our facility on the South Side, and I got on the treadmill. I didn’t have time to waste.

And I wasn’t about to feel sorry for myself.” Conner said.

That drive that Conner had to get better while going through something so gruesome is what separates great athletes from mediocre athletes.

Conner understood that nothing that he had previously done in his career would help him in the next season.

Nothing about James Conner’s career was guaranteed at this point in time.

Even after he was cancer-free, little was guaranteed. He had to work as hard as the next man to be the starting running back for University of Pittsburgh. Although Conner did not miss any games for Pitt, he still had a lot to prove. He embraced that challenge, ul-

“...don’t take a spot on a team for granted.” timately becoming a third-round draft pick in 2017 and earning the starting position in 2018.

In today’s sports world, too many potential star athletes take their position for granted. Take Anthony Bennett for example. He was a stud forward from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

He was drafted first overall in 2014 by the Cleveland Cavaliers. After playing four years in the National Basketball Association for four different teams and averaging four points per game, he is no longer in the league. Compla-

cency kills athletes’ potential.

And it is very possible that Anthony Bennett worked consistently and diligently, but was just not capable of being a star player. But it is also possible that Bennett was outworked by players that had to earn a spot on the team because he assumed he was good enough.

The problem amongst gifted athletes is the complacency. And it’s not every athlete. The reality is that there are likely more driven athletes than not.

However, there are athletes that peak early because they become spoiled, entitled and content with their position. They figure that because they’ve always been the best player on their team, they don’t have to try as hard in practice or in games. They’re so used to everything being handed to them, that when they must work super hard for something, they struggle.

Here at Dulaney, there are over 1300 student athletes. Every season, a handful of kids, unfortunately, get cut. And some of those kids work incredibly hard to train for the season, to ultimately not make the team. Those kids would do anything to be fortunate enough to be a part of a sport at such a well-respected and dominant school.

So, don’t take a spot in the starting line-up or a spot on a team for granted.

Work harder than the next man and push one another to be great. Don’t be content with being the best player on the team. Work to be the best player in the county. Don’t fall victim to being complacent with mediocrity. With such an attitude, greatness is attainable.

ason with high hopes

photos by John Bowers

(left to right) SOPHOMORE Ryan Conway shoots a lay-up after getting through the defenders in the Lions’ opener at Hopkins. Junior Che Evans shoots a contested three-pointer in the 27 point victory.

SOPHOMORE Latrell Hawkins shoots a jumper with a defender in his face against Archibiship Curley High on Dec. 7.

Spirit steers school towards success

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giorgio gayleard, sports editor chool spirit involves, by definition from the National Federation of State High School Associations, “a student’s pride in his or her school, a student’s propensity to get other students to be active in school events, and a student’s plans to return to his or her school for special events after graduation.” Based on a survey conducted by Harris Poll, which linked a student’s school spirit to their academic achievement to general happiness, a positive relationship was consistently present.

Here, at Dulaney, we tend to promote school spirit in hopes that it does exactly that - accelerates our academic success. Our staff members along with our principal are community oriented and attend many events.

“I’ve gone as far as Orlando, Kentucky, to the city, all around to watch students play and compete. And that’s the best part of my job,” Principal Samuel Wynkoop said.

Our staff also is involved with extracurricular activites.

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December 21, 2018

“We have a lot of coaches on staff, a lot of the directors do things outside are on staff, club sponsors, and everyone gets involved in the school community to make the kids feel great,” Wynkoop said.

It’s great and all that our teachers get involved to promote the commu

(Above) In 2016, hundreds of students gathered at “Dulaneyville”, to cheer on the field hockey team.

nity feel but an underlying result of this is the success it breeds. It results in school spirit from the students, which is the main benefactor.

According to a study by the National Federation of State High School Associations, “High school students

with ‘school spirit’ perform better academically, are more engaged in social and civic matters, and are happier in general than their less-spirited peers.” Although cliché, the “High School Experience” is extremely beneficial to success and achievement.

The community feel and the support provided creates an attitude that would be successful in any environment. Those who feel they have support are more likely to work hard and thrive in difficult environments. Our principal agrees.

“I think it transcends into the classroom- if you feel good and belong when you aren’t in the classroom, it follows you in – it builds that attitude for you,” Wynkoop said.

The support from the staff and principal, along with the peers, the school spirit aspect to it, engenders a community feel which promotes positive attitudes that follows our students everywhere.

“It’s not an accident how performance on the field, on the stage, and in the classroom have come together,” Wynkoop said.

(left to right) DULANEY wrestling team circles up before their match on day two at the Joppatowne Duals at Joppatowne High School Dec. 15.

FRESHMAN Mekhi Dinkins dribbles passed defender against Catonsville Dec. 12.

SOPHOMORE Samantha White dribbles down the sideline on a fast break against Maryvale Prep.

Dec. 6.

SENIOR Jeremiah Wynn lines up on defense during the BTC North Vs. East all- star game at Archbishop Spalding High School before winning game MVP Dec. 8.

SENIOR Riley McWilliams shoots a three against Maryvale Prep. Dec. 8.

athletes

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VARSITY

Newcomer hopes to revitalize team

anna simoes, staff writer eginning his first track season at a new school, junior Jalen Gourrier looks to improve and compete as a top runner this season.

Gourrier came from Centennial High School in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He comes from a “track family”, and started running at four years old with his parents and sister, currently running at Iowa State.

“I hope to make varsity this year and get recognized by colleges. It’s my juphoto by Bian Ellis nior year so this is the most important year for me,” Gourrier said.

He says he is still adjusting to the new people and coaching style but is getting more comfortable each day.

“The coaches here focus more on continuous running, getting farther and farther, but at my old school we lifted more weights and did more speed workouts,” Gourrier said.

Coach Chad Boyle knows Gourrier is still getting used to the school, but can see him having a bigger leadership role as he gets more comfortable with the team.

“It is definitely different here, it is a whole new group of people, but it is cool how different sports come together for track and I’m starting to get to know the team better,” Gourrier said.

He ran cross country in the fall to improve his endurance, but his focus was on the winter season. Even though he just joined the program, teammates can see his commitment and effort he puts into running.

“He works really hard. He was at the track every day after practice, training for the upcoming season,” senior Drew Dailey said.

Having a new face at practice who is working hard has motivated veteran runners like Dailey and returning sophomore Jumar Hines.

“In practice I’ve noticed that when someone passes him, he tries his hardest to get back ahead. He makes me step up my game,” Hines said.

Coach Chad Boyle can see the skills of Gourrier and says he sees him becoming a top contender for races this season. After losing successful seniors, Coach Boyle believes Gourrier can fill some of these voids.

“He has a lot of speed and endurance so he has all the combinations he needs to excel. I think you can expect him to be at the top of a lot of the races,” Boyle said.

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VARSITY Furious start for senior transfer

griffin tunison and rahil talati, staff writer

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ith aspirations to wrestle at the top wrestling school in the nation, Senior Sam Bloch continues his wrestling career at Dulaney following a move from Iowa.

Bloch has been wrestling for nine years after coming into the sport quite coincidentally.

“I did wrestling because I had the right body type to do it. I didn’t like playing football because I didn’t really have the size for it and I wasn’t tall photo by Bian Ellis enough to play basketball. So, I did wrestling, and I was good at it,” he said.

From his warm up to his training habits, Bloch attacks everything extensively. He says he likes to start matches hot so his warm ups are very extensive. He won’t start a match cold.

He talks of how wrestling is a very tough sport and you can’t get good in one year. One of his favorite parts of wrestling is the necessity of total body control.

“You need to extensively train certain muscle parts and get good at certain moves,” he said on the topic.

His teammates also appreciate him and look to him if they have problems.

“If one of the new wrestlers needed help learning a move or something they would ask Sam because he has a lot of wrestling experience, he might teach them how to do a cradle or a pinning combination,” teammate Tyren Hamilton said.

Early on, he has shown his skills. To his teammates, they’re admirable.

“He pinned a kid in 30 seconds. That’s amazing for the first match of the season. He came out and wrestled hard, the kid didn’t know what to do, he’s unbelievably strong,” Hamilton said.

Season highlights thus far include: the fastest takedown of the night against Catonsville and impressive performances against Franklin and Milford Mill.

“He got the first takedown in the first 10 seconds and was able to turn his opponent and pin him in a side headlock in 1:05,” Asher said about his match against Franklin.

His teammates say he has the potential to do big things this season and his statistics engender that.

Bloch is now 3-0 with three pins and none of his opponents have made it past the first period.

photos by John Bowers

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the griffin

December 21, 2018

Hasan minhaj transforms news intake laura hennawi, staff writer

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ew comedic talk show, “Patriot Act”, revolving around politics and current events, was released Oct. 28 by Netflix with host Hasan Minhaj, a renowned comedian and a previous correspondent for “The Daily Show.” Right from the get-go, Minhaj demonstrates his awareness of the US political climate through the title of the show: The Patriot Act was a bill passed by Congress on Oct. 26, 2001 with aims to increase security against terrorism.

Each episode of the show is released on a weekly basis, allowing for relevant and important news pieces to

reproduced with permission by Slash Film

get covered. One episode is about 20 minutes, which is convenient for people who solely want to catch up on current events but don’t have the time to get their information from lengthier news shows. Minhaj covers a specific topic in each episode; from affirmative action to free speech, he covers all different aspects of modern culture.

The idea of the show is for it to seem, as put in Minhaj’s words, like a “woke TED Talk”. All episodes consist of Minhaj standing on a stage with big screens behind him that present images, videos, and data relevant to what he’s talking about. The set-up is ingenious; it makes it feel like you’re watching a comedy special, but you’re actually learning. His ability to display data and visuals enhances his arguments and facts, and overall pulls the show into a unique presentation of news.

Minhaj also does a tremendous job with including an extensive amount of research in each episode. For example, in an episode highlighting the United States’ toxic relationship with Saudi Arabia, Minhaj brought up an official American document that contained racist remarks about the Saudi Arabian people, and according to The Huffington Post, that document wasn’t edited until it was brought into the spotlight by Minhaj. The deep research that goes

reproduced with permission by Variety

into the show ensures credible information.

All that said, the most special aspect of the show is the man himself: Hasan Minhaj. As the son of Muslim, Indian immigrants, he’s appealing to and representing an entire demographic of people that can relate to his cultural humor.

Overall, “Patriot Act” is a complete success on Netflix’s part. In a very media-oriented and fast-paced era, a consistent yet educative show on a platform that is easily accessible is a stellar way of presenting news and current events.

OVERALL RATING:

an artist among us: Historical movie fanatic pursues acting career miranda parrish, staff writer

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rowing up watching old television shows, senior Shannon Trageser has always loved movies and the making of them.

“I started acting because I used to watch ‘I Love Lucy’ when I was little and I was inspired about how she made so many people happy,” Trageser said. “I just thought that was really cool and so I wanted to do that.”

She started acting in fifth grade, starring in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory in elementary school.

“I was Mike Tevee’s mom, and I wanted the part because I was the last girl to be on stage, so I would be in it the entire time but only had like six lines,” she said.

Following her fifth grade debut, she fell in love with acting. Starring in every Dulaney play, she’s played everything from interactive roles to ones on stage, and credits all of the play choices to theater teacher Tammi Moon.

“She always picks a really great play that everyone can enjoy,” Tragesar said. “Even if you’re going into it and are like ‘I don’t know about this.’ It works out great and the

cast is wonderful.”

When asked what performace she most enjoyed Her focus shifted to old Hollywood movies later on, in-

spired by the actress Doris Day. “I saw her in Calamity Jane and she did a bunch of dances on stage in a 1953 movie,” Tragesar said. “She was this really strong woman, doing whatever she wanted in like 1800s, portraying herself as she wanted and I thought that was really cool. I kind of got hooked onto her and I wrote her a letter and she wrote me one back.”

She aims to pursue acting in college, hoping to either study at the University of Kingston or the University of East London, both located in London, to focus on the arts.

“All of them would train you really well in theatre, and they’re all focused on the arts. I’d really love that and appreciate that,” Tragesar said of the two colleges.

Tragesar’s passion for theater was largely inspired by two legendary actresses of the silver screen.

“A quote I live by is ‘If I can act I want out the world to know it, if I can’t act I want to know it’ by Katharine Hepburn,” she said. “Katharine Hepburn and Lauren Becall really inspire me and encourage me to do the thing I love.”

photo by miranda parrish

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the griffin

December 21, 2018

9 features

fashion forward : skater shares timeless style morgan pierce, staff writer

Senior Gabe Godey is a blast from the past. With his vintage wardrobe, Godey enjoys expressing himself through his old school style. Staff writer Morgan Pierce sat down with Godey to learn all about his distinctive sense of fashion.

Q: What and who inspires your style?

A: I wear a lot of older generations of clothing, like the 50’s and 70’s era. Leather jackets are my favorite because they are model of that time. I think people as a whole used to dress better back then and I appreciate that.

Q: Where are your favorite places to shop?

A: I mainly shop online and at Goodwill and Salvation Army because I can find original clothing there. I hardly ever go to department stores because they don’t tend to have the clothes I like and they’re always expensive.

Q: Do you dress to make a statement? Or for personal pleasure?

A: Mainly for personal pleasure, when you look at me you can say, “Oh, he likes rock music.” It also allows me to express my

sense of self. Sometimes I’ll dress to make a statement, but that’s usually just when I have to go out to a place where dressing up is necessary.

Q: What motivates you to dress nicely?

A: Respect— if I see a gentleman that’s dressed nicely something clicks in my head and allows me to feel respect and trust towards them. I want people to feel the same way towards me.

Q: Who are your style icons?

A: The era from Help/Rubber soul albums by the Beatles, and pro-skater Dylan Rieder.

Q: What current fashion trends do you dislike?

A; To put it mildly, I can’t stand any modern fashion trends. Like I said before, I wear a lot of older generations clothing styles. People back then just seemed to care more about their appearence. Today, most people our age just think showing up to school in an all Nike ensemble is fashion.

Survey reveals students’ favorite English novels colman hallinan, staff writer

“It’s a book that can only be written from that perspective.

“It’s interesting and relatable. I think Holden is entertaining and it has a unique message for the time period.”

- SENIOR Dennis Mason

-SENIOR Margot Key

“It’s a good story with powerful message.”

- SENIOR Daniel Olsson

“I was genuinely interested in his personal struggles and his writing was very compelling.”

“The perspective is a lot more genuine.”

-JUNIOR Andre Gartner

- SENIOR Jeff Bowerman

“I just have positive mental associations with it.”

- SENIOR Kyle Knotts

#1

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post: ryan gioffreda aziza cossentino, staff writer Sophomore Ryan Gioffreda treks through high school with dreams of becoming a chemical engineer and confidently sheds the stereotypes tacked on to being a little person. Staff writer Aziza Cossentino sat down with Giofreda to learn firsthand about the positivity and message he has to share.

Q: What do you want to do when you are older? Any career or occupation in mind?

Q: Do you have any advice for people that feel stuck because they face similar obstacles?

A: Advice I would give is keep your head up and look forward. Keep positive thoughts a believe everything you can do is possible with a little bit of thought.

Q: That leads me to ask- what is your opinion on the sort of ‘taboo’ surrounding the topic of being a little person?

A: I have had many different occupations I have looked through, but honestly, I would love to be a chemical engineer. The job is quite promising, and I believe I could have strong accomplishments in that field.

A: I think people shouldn’t worry about it. I’m exactly the same and I’m just a bit shorter. Nothing should be treated differently, the thought of it should just go over people’s heads.

Q: What is motivating you to pursue that career? personal interest, family, an idol?

Q: What are you watching or listening to now?

A Honestly, I’ve wanted to make chemical compounds and something new and make a lot of things in various fields. It’s just a personal interest that I’ve had for a while.

Q: What college do you want to attend?

A: If I were to attend any college at this

ment, I would love to go to MIT. It has the best program for what I want to major in.

mo-

A: I enjoy music and listen to a lot of rock. Specifically Kiss and My Father… I don’t really have a favorite song, I just listen to a variety of music.

As for shows, I like comedy related shows. Right now I am watching Seinfeld.

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

ATTENTION SENIORS: SENIOR QUOTES, BABY PICTURES, AND PERSONAL ADS ARE DUE BY FEBRUARY. DON’T MISS OUT! Jostensyearbooks.com

the griffin

10 features

December 21, 2018

Refusing failure: a guide to New Year’s resolutions

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audrey houghton, associative editor uckle up! The New Year is quickly approaching, and I’m sure you have a long list of resolutions pinned to your bulletin board. But even if you have your goals planned out, following through with them can be a daunting task. In fact, according to a Business Insider article from 2017, 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail

by February. So, in hopes of lowering that percentage, I’ve come up with some simple hacks that will make accomplishing your goals for 2019 a breeze.

A quick Google search of “popular New Year’s resolutions,” shows that weight loss is a top priority for many.

This isn’t surprising, since most people cultivate mass from Thanksgiving and Christmas food binges. However, with the help of a few handy techniques, shedding a few pounds is easy. For starters, you can lose a whole 468 grams of weight per pint of blood donated to the Red Cross. This way, you can save lives and keep those waistbands loose all at the same time. Organ donation is another fool proof way to slenderize your vessel. Kidneys weigh a whopping ¼ of a pound, so it’s in your best (and skinniest) interest to ditch one. If this seems too extreme for you, try donating other smaller, unessential organs.

Another common resolution I found in my Google search is to abide by the motto “save more and spend less.” All you have to do for this one is cut your power lines and steal condiments and plastic silverware from your local

scene

Wendy’s. Doing this will save you hundreds of dollars per year on electricity, and may be around $30 on condiment expenses (in this economy that’s a fortune). But if you insist upon having light and heat in your home, or an actual bottle of ketchup, remember that faking a pregnancy for the tax breaks (may result in an IRS audit) is always a viable option.

cartoon by audrey houghton

Students, however, seem to be more focused on their studies rather than their body mass index and finances.

When I asked my fellow peers what their resolutions are for 2019, I heard a lot of “I want to get straight A’s.” Well,

the secret to achieving that A+ you’ve been striving for is to take advantage of classroom resources. For example, you can use that one really smart kid that sits next to you in class by pressuring them to do your work for you. Another way to guarantee an excellent report card is to scour your teacher’s drawers when they aren’t looking and snatch the answer key for the next big test. If that fails, you can always look up answers during the test on your county issued laptop computer.

My peers also told me that they would like to make more friends this 2019 year. An easy way to make new friends is to tie a string of juicy sirloine steak around your neck, hang out in your nearest alley-way, and wait for the local stray dogs to find you. Hey, anything’s better than being completely and utterly alone!

Lastly, because a majority of both students and adults are plagued by stress and sleep deprivation caused by the endless obligations life may bring, it’s no wonder why another popular resolution is to improve self-care. So in 2019, don’t be afraid to treat yourself to some “me time” by ignoring all of your responsibilities, declining your cell phone calls, and enjoying sweet, blissful silence.

Still feeling intimidated by your resolutions? Scrap them entirely. If you have no goals, you will never face bitter defeat. But for you brave soldiers that made it through this article and are willing to take my expert advice, your 2019 will be a guaranteed success.

dulaney: Poetry Out Loud highlights impassionate recitations Each year seniors participate in Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recital competition.

In their English classes, the students recite sonnets from an author of their choice, paying careful attention to the memorization, composure and delivery of their poems as they perform. Winners of the classroom competitions (usually around 15-20 in total) advance to a school-wide competition, where they are judged by unbiased teachers. This year, senior Shannon Trageser was awarded top honors for her recital, and she will be going to the regional competition in January. English teacher Meekah Hopkins believes Poetry Out Loud is a rewarding experience for students.

“It’s a great way to get students to see poetry as a form of communication, not just something we read and analyze in the classroom” said Hopkins.

photos by maria eberhart and olivia summons

Operation: don’t die at dinner, I dare you emma shannon, associate editor and business manager he minute #spookyszn ends, winter break begins.

As soon as I can date my papers with an “11” instead of a “10,” I go from zero to screaming Mariah Carey in the car (which I will refer to as my sleigh for the next three months) faster than Party City can stock Santa hats.

I love winter break. I love fluffy blankets and mugs of hot chocolate and scaring small children by jumping out of snow banks. I love that I’m not expected to haul myself out of bed at 6:30 a.m. like any neurons in my brain could possibly be firing yet.

Unfortunately, there’s one part of winter break that I don’t love. It goes something like this: Me, sitting down to eat Christmas dinner: “Hey, could you please pass the-” Random family member I’ve never seen before in my life: “So, where are you going to college?”

So that all Dulaney students may enjoy the best parts of winter break, I am here to help navigate the trickier waters known as “spending time with your weird, slightly neurotic family.” With these guidelines, may your holiday be merry, bright and free from familicide.

Your highest priority is finding the brightest, tackiest, most obnoxious holiday sweater possible. Not a cute little thing with reindeer or snowflakes, but an honest-to-God, ugly holiday sweater. I’m talking clashing colors, cheesy quotes, cheetah prints and mismatched patterns and tex-

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tures.

This sweater is your new best friend. The Max to your Grinch, the Hermey the Elf to your Rudolph. It’s the perfect conversation starter, meaning you don’t have to suffer through 20 minutes of talking about the weather (cold and dry with a chance of boredom, thank you very much) with

your third cousin twice removed.

A couple general rules: avoid the drunk aunt at all costs.

She may look fun, but she’s not. Her idea of a good time is trash-talking her boss and yelling at her adorable little toddler, who’s just trying to make new friends.

Speak to the vegan cousin, and her brother- also known Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

as “the Disappointment”-for ten minutes each. Do not speak to their parents. If you do, you’ll only hear about how hard it was for their third child (who’s not even present because she’s too busy saving starving children in Africa) to choose between Yale and Princeton. Guess what, Karen, nobody cares!

There’s one bit of good news: your sweet grandma will be there. The bad news is she’ll spend the entire evening with your other super annoying grandma, discussing sewing techniques and scone recipes. Both of them think they’re the sweet one. And their scones suck.

If you take nothing else from this article, take this: you may not leave the house. You may not hide in your room. You may not scream or curse out your elderly neighbors. …except in the following scenario. While conversing about dropping out of high school with your cool uncle, there will be a knock on the front door. You’ll open it to find a strange man you’ve never seen before.

Your mom will scream and drop her wine glass, because it’s her husband – your father, who’s been absent for the past 17 years. He’ll apologize for being late and make a beeline for the chips. At this point, and this point only, it’s safe to sulk in your room for the next six days before school starts, wishing vehemently for winter break to never happen again. Ever.

Happy holidays.

the griffin

December 21, 2018

11 features

“Boy Erased” illuminates a stifled struggle

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colman hallinan, staff writer he gut-wrenching facts about conversion therapy came to the big screen recently as writer-director Joel Edgerton adapted “Boy Erased” from Garrard Conley’s memoir of the same name. “Boy Erased” follows Garrard Conley (Lucas Hedges), a gay teenager born into a fundamentalist family in Arkansas. Due to egregious circumstances, Jared is outed to his family. His father, Marshall Conley (Russell Crowe) is the pastor of the local Baptist church. When he learns of his son’s sexuality, he gives Garrard an ultimatum: attend conversion therapy, or lose his family and friends forever. Faced with an impossible decision, Garrard agrees to go. At Loving Action, the program that his father has chosen for him, Garrard encounters other people of various ages struggling with their sexuality. Victor Sykes, the leader, viciously attempts to strip Garrard and his peers of everything that makes them who they are.

The film is brutal, it is honest, it is flawed, but it tells a very familiar tale of love and humanity. The picture it paints is a sad truth about conversion therapy in America.

Hedges gives a convincing performance, although his character feels unsure, almost questioning. It isn’t until the end of the film that Garrard feels confident in his sexuality, and even then it feels as though Edgerton dances around it. Conley’s sexuality should have been the centerpiece of the film. It’s a statement about Conley’s conflicts with the values his father preaches, and his personal feelings, but Edgerton never utilizes it enough to infuse the film with more emotional depth. I felt hints and glimmers of Gar-

rard’s inner struggle with faith and sexuality, but I don’t think that struggle reached its full potential. Despite an earnest effort, the journey that Edgerton takes us on often feels clunky and disjointed.

Even with its flaws, “Boy Erased” has striking performances from Hedges, Crowe and Nicole Kidman, who plays Garrard’s mother, and even Edgerton as Victor Sykes. Kidman especially shines in her role, delivering a heart wrenching performance.

“Boy Erased” is undoubtedly a solid movie. That being said, it is not as particularly joyous or heartwarming

”A brutally honest... yet flawed account of a sadly prevalent issue plaguing America.” as many people would like. The film ambitiously and unapologetically covers controversial subject matter that may deter more sensitive viewers. At times, I had to look away from the screen for a moment. It was difficult to watch, at times even painful, but it gave the movie a raw authenticity that elevated it.

As awards season approaches, the question demands to be asked: where will “Boy Erased” land at the Oscars? It is an emotional film and honest in its intentions, but technically and artistically, “Boy Erased” isn’t all that groundbreaking. Aside from some unique cinematography and

phenomenal performances, “Boy Erased” is a decent film with a strong message. But in an increasingly politicized climate, it is tough to predict whether the Academy will be able to maintain its artistic integrity, and whether films like “Boy Erased” will win on their merits, or on their messages.

“Boy Erased” is a brutally honest and emotional yet flawed account of a sadly prevalent issue plaguing America.

Through a somewhat muddled plot, strong performances and authenticity make “Boy Erased” stand out.

Length: 1 hour and 54 minutes.

Predicted Awards: Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor Nomination

OVERALLL RATING:

Touching novel explores eccentric characters

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maria eberhart, editor-in-chief hen did life get so loud.” Protagonist Will Larkin, in the light-hearted novel “Float Plan,” contemplates this while serving potato bread at a soup kitchen for his court-mandated community service.

Following a series of unfortunate circumstances involving a gazebo attack, a wrestling unitard and a dead basset hound, Will finds himself overwhelmed by life’s loudness. Late journalist Rob Hiaasen finds the humor in the struggles of his quirky, likeable characters in “Float Plan,” a touching story of overcoming life’s mishaps.

Hiaasen, who was killed in the Capital Gazette shooting June 28, tinkered with the novel on and off for three decades, detailed in his wife, English teacher Maria Hiaasen’s foreword. Published posthumously Sept. 15 by Loyola University Maryland’s Apprentice House Press to honor Hiaasen’s dedication to crafting a novel, proceeds are donated to Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit organization that advocates for gun control.

The novel follows Will, an algebra teacher at an Annapolis high school with striking similarities to Dulaney: “floating” teachers, tacky, inspirational posters, mastery grading. These comedic riffs on public education from the viewpoint of a slightly jaded, veteran teacher are a pleasure to read. As a student, it’s interesting to hear the teacher perspective on pervasive Chick-Fil-A lunch outings and helicopter parents. But Will’s seemingly stable life goes awry over the course of one disastrous year when his English teacher wife divorces him, two violent outbursts leave him jobless and on unstable legal ground and his father’s progressing Alzheimer’s sparks painfully awkward, saddening moments. In the face of these hardships, Will crafts

a float plan, typically a guide to help retrieve a missing boat, to recover his life. The heart of this plan: Parker Cool.

Will is immediately captivated by the poetry-loving,

reproduced with permission by Amazon.com

reproduced with permission by Times of India

vet technician Parker Cool. A quirky character herself, Parker, a young mother who has recently left her cheating boyfriend, is similarly charmed by the “left-brainer” Will Larkin. The unlikely love affair sparks sweet, humorous interactions. Will’s relentless pursuit of Parker, despite numerous setbacks, is at times uncomfortable and agonizing to read, but overall engaging due to the subtle wit of Hiaasen’s writing.

My favorite parts of “Float Plan” are undeniably Will’s monthly meet ups with his best high school friends. The hilarious, often crude conversations between Will, Mack, an ex-financial planner, and Kyle, a reporter, are keenly portrayed, reflecting characters I have seen in my own life. Exchanging insults and discussing women, it’s less than “delicate communication” between the trio. And when Mack moves in with Will, his often alcohol-fueled thoughts and decisions lead to the most comical of circumstances, including the impulsive purchase of an exotic pet. Hiaasen’s ability to create such unique yet authentic characters, using years of observational notes scrawled in moleskin notebooks, makes it an incredibly enjoyable novel.

Marylanders are sure to appreciate the countless mentions of state sights. While mostly set in Annapolis, those more familiar with the Baltimore area will recognize references to the Corner Stable, Senator theatre and even Parkview Memorial Gardens. With the lack of Marylandset stories, it’s always exciting to read something warmly portraying your home town.

OVERALL RATING:

Creed II knocks out Thanksgiving competition fights on his way to achieve the heavyweight title. When Drago challenges him to a fight, the true battle faced is whether to protect his own life and keep his title or validate himself as a fighter and avenge his father.

Sylvester Stallone never fails to deliver as the beloved Rocky Balboa, a role he for which he snagged an Academy Award nomination for the first “Creed”. A key aspect of the story revolves around his father-son relationship with Adonis.

”Creed II is packed with emotional twists that bring out the best in its cast.”

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reproduced with permission by Times Now

brian ellis, staff writer irector Steven Caple Jr. adeptly tackles the sequel to the “Rocky” spinoff, “Creed”. The second installment features Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed, who must rebound from his loss in the previous film to win the heavyweight title. The pressure multiplies when Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), son of “Rocky IV” antagonist Ivan Drago, challenges Adonis’ win.

Michael B. Jordan flourishes in scenes that call for vulnerability, and “Creed II” is packed with emotional twists that bring out the best in its cast.

As the movie opens, Adonis is plowing through easy

son. The older Drago embodies power and tragedy as he pins all of his dreams on his son.

In the end, I was left wondering whether there would be another installment in the series. Based on the emotional final scene, a possible third movie would have to break away from the pattern of the previous “Rocky” movies, a change that would certainly be welcome.

Even with all the training montages and intense fight scenes, the true success of “Creed II” stems from the beauty of the relationships built. Rocky fans: prepare for a film that rivals the original series.

Now, what’s a “Rocky” movie without a training montage? Set in the California desert, we witness the physical and mental transformation of Adonis that ultimately brings him closer to Balboa and his final goal.

Where this movie falls short is its predictability. It is formulaic and unoriginal, with a plot that is nearly identical to that of “Rocky Balboa”, the sixth film in the franchise.

Also, the rapid cuts during fight scenes make for a jarring and choppy experience. Aside from this, the movie hits on all angles.

The more interesting story at the heart of “Creed II” belongs to the antagonists. Ivan Drago lost everything after his loss to Balboa, so he dedicates his life to training his OVERALL RATING: Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

reproduced with permission by Essence

the griffin

12 features

December 21, 2018

iPhone screen time data exposes discrepancies ethan samels and anna grace farnum, staff writers

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”onestly, I never quite realized how low my iPhone usage was until this experience. In reflection, I realize I don’t play games or watch YouTube/Netflix all the time, and I usually only check social media one or two times a day. I don’t use social media

homework for a couple hours, so I don’t have a lot of time to use my phone anyway. I still play videogames and watch TV in the evenings and on the weekend, but I definitely do those activities more than using my phone. I also play sports with my friends after practice and on the weekend

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know I am on my phone iPhone usage: a comparison ”quite frequently- sometimes I need my phone between teenage students for imperative tasks such as

GPS to pick up the kids from school who I babysit for. But more frequently I use my phone for less productive apps, most notably social media. According to my screen

However, I spend the majority of my time on Instagram weekly: 18 hours and 3 minutes. According to Pew Research, more teenagers report social media having a largely positive impact rather than a negative one. However comparing my phone usage the national statistics, I would

time in settings, on average, each day I use my phone for 7 hours and 12 minutes. I get According a survey conducted by Pew Reasearch around 475 notifications per Center, “YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat are day. My most frequently used the most popular online platforms among teens. apps in order are: Instagram, Fully 95% of teens have access to a smartphone, Snapchat, Messages, Safari, and 45% say they are online ‘almost constantly’” Maps, Facebook, and photos.

say my phone usage is unhealthy. In fact, I find myself on my phone more than I am doing other activities such as exercising or doing my studies. Even when I work out, I am on my phone.”

- Anna Grace Farnum

95% of teens report they have a smartphone or access to one 31% say social media has had a mostly positive impact 24% describe its effect as mostly negative

much because I don’t feel the need to constantly check it. I believe that technology just fills in the gaps between events. People get bored, they check their phone. I keep busy with cross country and track practice every day after school until 5:00 p.m. and then I do

a lot of the time. I never use my phone late at night, and I don’t take it up to my bedroom. I think keeping up with current events using phones and social media is necessary and useful, but I am strongly against phone obsession.”

- Ethan Samels

Local neighborhoods emanante festive cheer colman hallinan, staff writer

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ince their first introduction outside Thomas Edison’s workshop in 1880, electric Christmas lights have been one of America’s favorite holiday traditions.

Surrounding Dulaney neighborhoods are no exception.

Festivals all over the country celebrate exterior displays of color and light intricately designed by citizens looking to express their festivity. The Miracle on 34th Street

in Baltimore showcases elaborate and eccentric designs put on by residents of a single city block and has become a holiday hot-spot for people all over the state. However, according to studies done by the Electrical Safety Foundation International, America’s most valued tradition is also one of its most dangerous. The foundation reports that approximately 150 home fires per year are caused by exteFind us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

rior Christmas lights and holiday decorations. These fires are responsible for eight deaths, 16 injuries, and almost $9 million dollars each year. Additionally, 5,200 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for accidents related to exterior holiday decorating. Half of these injuries are results of falls from ladders while stringing lights. Only 10 percent of decoration fires are intentional.