Gilman News April 8, 2013

THE April 8, 2013

Gilman School

NEWS www.GilmanNews.com

Volume CXII No. 5

Ron Charles Delivers 43rd Annual Citron Film Festival Wows Audience Mountcastle Lecture T P “You could tell distinct styles from each by

by

Brian Choo

“My typical print readership is a 56 year-old woman from Rockville, Maryland,” noted Ron Charles as he spoke to a group of Writing Consultants during a fifth period question and answer session. Mr. Charles, Deputy Editor and Fiction Critic at The Washington Post, came to Gilman on Thursday, March 21, as Gilman’s 43rd annual George E.P. Mountcastle Lecturer and spoke with students on the quickly evolving landscape in the publishing industry brought on by new technology and changing literary habits. In addition to delivering the evening lecture, Charles was present in classes throughout the day.

Although Charles is known for his weekly book reviews, his job comprises mainly of performing editorial duties at The Post.

The newsroom at The Post is an expansive, cubicle-filled space; editors work on specific tasks, whether it be writing, copy-editing, or layout. Charles’ main job as an editor for The Post centers around editing colleagues’ articles and producing content; in essence, much of his time is spent writing not his own reviews but those of others.

Thursdays are when Mr. Charles spends the day writing his weekly review, which he will then put aside for a week before further changes are made. Of the nearly 6,000 books published through traditional means each week, around 1,000 make it to The Washington Post. Yet, only twenty of them, or two percent, are ultimately reviewed, which leaves “better chances of getting into Harvard than having your book reviewed,” quipped Charles. “It’s just a staggering flood of books,” said Charles. “There really are no more aspiring writers. They are only writers aspiring for your attention.”

During the lecture, Charles also discussed the way literature is changing today. Minority writers are emerging to make their mark in a field dominated by white men. Today is the golden age of young adult literature, a genre which is accessible beyond the target demographic. The more f luid structure of the genre has given writers additional creative freedom. Indeed, the book is far from moribund.

Mr. Charles provides a unique perspective on book reviewing in his satirical video series entitled The Totally Hip Book Review. “Three minutes of video brought me more fame than fifteen years of book reviewing,” he joked, noting the sheer power of new technology.

The advent of new media, however, has not only swallowed print papers and book critics alive but also forced those that are left to sell themselves and fight for the attention of consumers that have

OPINION

Photo courtesy of Ron Charles. ever-decreasing attention spans. Keeping the attention of readers has become increasingly difficult. Charles offered some pertinent examples, including 50 Shades of Grey and Lil Wayne Seizure to name a few.

Today, the typical online reader is worth around $15 per year. In contrast, a typical print reader is worth roughly $800 over the same time period. The quick introduction of new technology precipitated a bust in the newspaper market. In the olden days of the paper, 40% of revenue came from classified ads. In fact, a third of Sunday paper “readers” only got it for the ads. The rise of Craigslist quickly dried up this market.

The question of how one, in this day and age, can possibly filter the barrage of content which has a value quickly approaching zero is hard if not impossible to answer. Emerging competition from amateur critics on sites such as Goodreads and Amazon severely cannibalize readership. Overall, The Post is one of the last major newspapers to go behind a paywall, a subscription-based service for their online content; it plans to make the transition this summer in order to stay afloat.

Although the inevitable progress of technology may spell disaster for many old ways of life and noble professions, Charles’ closing message will forever ring true. The shortening attention spans of people who demand content that is increasingly instantaneous and nothing but free will be held in check only by one constant: books. Amid the transformation of media, books have held their ground. Books remain one of the few things that a person can focus on for long periods of time, offering, in Charles’ words, a “unique and powerful source of intellectual stimulation.” Whether they be in the virtual or physical form, books will continue to be an integral piece of a human’s educational puzzle.

yler

lack

On March 23, 2013, few seats were available in the Alumni Auditorium as the audience eagerly awaited the start of the Daniel A. Citron Film Festival. As part of its third year, the Film Festival received over four hours of submissions and drew in a crowd of over 350 students. The films, entered from several categories, included animations, documentaries, comedies, music videos, and narratives.

Judges awarded films on criteria of originality, general quality, and plot.

“Halls,” a film about a paranoid teacher, won the category of best narrative, with “iFail” coming second. On the grounds of cinematography, “Death Perception” prevailed, featuring impressive stunt work.

Though the films primarily highlight students’ filmmaking abilities, many of the stories behind the movies were also noteworthy as well.

The quality of films has risen greatly since last year, perhaps as a result of the increased collaboration among other schools. John Chirikjian (‘13) explained,

school. When you watched the Gilman films, they had a unique style.” He added, “It is interesting how the school really impacts the works.” With greatly contrasting films like “Hang Me Up To Dry,” the Grand Jury Prize winner, and “Death Perception,” his idea rings true. A few films left viewers with serious messages.

Chirikjian describes “Self-Addressed” as representing “the kinds of films that should be awarded to ensure that [the filmmaker] should continue his work.”

Overall, the Film Festival was wellreceived by attendees. Cameron Riegel (‘15) describes his favorite film, “Death Perception,” as a “very funny, well-done” film where the “acting was not horrible.” Ben Mendelson (‘15) describes his experience acting in “Castigo” as “really exciting and fun, especially in the high action scenes.” With such great student reception, the Citron Film Festival has undoubtedly become a new Gilman tradition.

Steinway Piano Makes Gilman Debut by

Basil A postolo

As you walk by the Alumni Auditorium on your way towards the Athletic Building or Middle School, you may hear piano music flowing from the windows above.

This beautiful sound is probably coming from the brand new Steinway concert grand piano the school has just acquired.

It all began when Mr. Ariel Dechosa, the school’s music department chair, had a dream to bring a world-class instrument to the community in order to provide a world-class piano where Gilman students, faculty, and alumni could perform and showcase their talent. With the support of Mr. Schmick, Mr. Dechosa and The Gilman Development Office were able to raise the funds required to purchase the piano.

The piano is an 1897 Steinway model, from the same year Gilman was founded.

“I wanted a model from 1897 because that year was significant in our school’s history,” said Dechosa. In the middle of May 2012, the piano was disassembled in London, England, shipped to Piano Craft in Gaithersburg Maryland, and reassembled. Then, it was restored with Steinway’s exact specifications using genuine parts, and delivered to the Gilman School on December 19, 2012.

On Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 5:00 the Steinway Inaugural Concert was held in Gilman’s Alumni Auditorium.

Seven Gilman students performed in the concert joined by one student from Bryn Mawr and two Gilman faculty

members. Highlights from the concert included Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G Minor performed by Tyler Wakefield ’14, and a Liszt Ballade performed by Richard Shin ’14, who is a Young Steinway Artist.

Andrew Park (Violin, ‘14), Andrew Shim (Violoncello, ‘16) and Shin (Piano) also performed Beethoven Ghost Piano Trio.

In addition to more traditional music, Mrs. Elizabeth Sesler-Beckman, the middle school music director, performed a jazz piece entitled Night and Day by Cole Porter. Frédéric Chopin’s Polonaise in A Major, performed by Mr. Dechosa was another highlight of the concert.

Also included was the brother/sister duet of Diabelli’s Two Melodious Pieces performed by Meredith and Thomas Broadus. (Class of 2021 at Bryn Mawr, and Class of 2020 at Gilman, respectively.)

“It was tremendous,” commented Peter McIntyre ’15 of the concert. “It is always great to see the talents of your classmates beyond the classroom.”

“This Steinway in our community enables each one of us to present and pursue our best work as musicians… I think that it is really our ultimate goal,” said Mr. Dechosa. “I would love every boy at Gilman to explore his musical and artistic passions. This world class instrument is a true inspiration. I feel the school always supports the music department’s endeavors, and this piano is a great display of the school’s commitment to the arts.”

Kuzcynski & Locke weigh in on North Korea (page 2); Williams’ Voter ID (page 3)

EXCLUSIVES

A look into Student Government (page 3); A profile of Coach Sheets (page 7)

page

2

April 8, 2013

Gilman School

www.GilmanNews.com

Nuclear Lunacy

by John

Locke

On Tuesday, February 12, 2013, North Korea conducted its third nuclear weapons test in just seven years. In doing so, the small nation violated the United Nations’ nuclear non-proliferation treaty and incited angry responses from countries across the world including China, a major ally. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the test “a clear and grave violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.” North Korea has blatantly disobeyed U.N. regulations many times before. Two successful nuclear tests were previously conducted in 2006 and 2009, both of which also sparked international controversy. The February 12 weapon test, however, shook the earth at a seismic reading of 5.1 magnitude and produced up to seven kilotons of energy, which is much greater than the first two tests. To put this in perspective, one kiloton of energy is about the same yielded from the explosion of one thousand tons of TNT. The timing of the event is also significant.

The nuclear test was conducted on February 12, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, whether or not planned, and also the scheduled date for President Obama’s State of the Union Address. In fact, North Korea claimed that the test was in response to hostile United States policies and sanctions, and used its government run official KCNA news agency to put out this message: “If the United States continues to come out with hostility and complicates the situation, we will be forced to take stronger, second and third responses in consecutive steps.”

The Nuclear test falls very close to the annual birthday celebrations for Kim

Jong-Il on February 16. Furthermore, it occurs at a time of government transition in China, Japan, and South Korea.

It also was held during the same month that South Korea lead the UN. Security Council. South Korea commented on the nuclear test, saying it presented “an unforgivable threat to the Korean peninsula’s peace and safety.”

North Korea seems to revel in fostering mayhem as it blindly barrels towards a militaristic dystopia. Its goal of developing nuclear weapons and technology is highly ambitious for a country that cannot even feed its own citizens. One is forced to wonder whether North Korea’s disregard of international policy and sanctions is calculated to gain international attention at a time of transition and new aid from other countries. But why North Korea would want to anger its allies as well is beyond the understanding of the international community. This nuclear test shows how little control China has over the events transpiring in North Korea, as China was openly displeased at the recent incident.

As the world ponders how to react to this calamity, China responds most intriguingly as it tries to mend relations with North Korea and the rest of the world. Mike Chinoy, a senior fellow at the University of Southern California’s U.S.-China Institute claims, “The Chinese don’t like the idea of international sanctions and coercing other countries. They still have a strategic interest in maintaining a viable separate North Korea as a buffer against a pro-U.S. South Korea, and that has only become more important continued on page 5

Nuclear Hypocrisy by

K evin Kuczynski

Nuclear weapons have only been used once in aggression. However, their destructive nature has allowed the possession of these weapons to become a leading topic in international relations.

All Cold War policy stemmed from the fear of a “nuclear winter” and mutually assured destruction (MAD). In the 21st century, the possession of atomic weapons is once again the leading topic of international relations because of North Korea and Iran’s interest in obtaining these destructive weapons.

But in reality, these nations and their tyrannical governments are not solely to blame for their interest in obtaining nuclear weapons. The United States’ successful use of the atomic bomb on Japan in World War II proved that destructive power can make an incredibly effective weapon. In the process of becoming the most powerful nation on almost all militaristic fronts, we have made enemies, and it is only natural that our enemies want to possess the same destructive weapons. Tactics of MAD are extremely effective in the short term because of their ability to keep power in check without firing a bullet. While engaging in MAD with North Korea, for instance, it would be suicidal for the United States to attack North Korea, if they possessed nuclear weapons. In addition, the international community’s distaste for nuclear warfare would certainly question the United States’ ability to possess nuclear weapons responsibly. Likewise, a smaller nation with fewer warheads such as North Korea

NEWS

(410) 323–3800 ext. 448 www.GilmanNews.com The News reserves the right to edit letters for length and grammar.

Send correspondence to thenews@gilmannews.com, or to: The Gilman News Gilman School 5407 Roland Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21210

E ditor i a l Sta ff : B r i a n C hoo E t h a n Pa r k B a si l A postolo Ty l er P l ac k Da l e Wat er s S pe nc er M or r is R ic k y R oebuc k Wol fi e D r a k e J onat h a n Yu e R i l ey S ecor

E di tor - i n -C h i ef M a nagi ng E di tor M a nagi ng E di tor O n l i n e E di tor Pol i t ic a l E di tor F e at u r es E di tor S ports E di tor C u lt u r e E di tor P hoto E di tor C opy E di tor

Facult y A dv isors: D i a n e F u l l er , Wi l l P er k i ns , M i k e K el ly, C esa r e C icc a n t i

C ontr ibutors: A l e x B roc ato , Tobi n B rombe rg , S i mon E v e r e d , A a ron G ok a sl a n , M ic h a e l H ol m e s , K e v i n K uc z y nsk i , J oh n L oc k e , G us M e n y, R ya n Pa r k , K y l e T a r a n t i no , J oe W h i t e , H u n t i ngton W i l l i a m s , B e n W i l l i a m s , Ja k e Woh l

would be foolish to use its nuclear weapons, as a more nuclear capable nation would be able to overpower North Korea in a nuclear counterattack.

In the long term, however, tactics of MAD are, as the name implies, destructive. Tactics of MAD will, over time, cause strain on the international community and weaken trust as they did during the Cold War. All the progress made through globalization could be lost to mistrust, segregation, and xenophobia. If we continue to build ever more powerful weapons against nations whose governments we do not care for, we are at risk of unjustly isolating these nations under the rule of tyrants. In reality, the freedom that we seek to spread throughout the world cannot be implemented through the use of nuclear weapons because extraordinary power demands total obedience.

It is said that great power requires great responsibility. But all too often our noble ideals fall to the desire to maintain power. In the 21st century, certain strength derives from the possession of a strong nuclear armory. The United States knows this. Its enemies know this. They arm themselves in power to keep power in check. Ideally, all nations would to come to a collective agreement to relinquish all nuclear weapons to achieve a greater state of peace. If we strive for healthy diplomatic relationships with other nations, tyrannical leaders can fall and more just societies can be created.

This ideal of peace, however, cannot continued on page 5

Voter ID in America

by

THE

Volume CXII No. 5

Ben Williams

Leading up to the November election, controversy arose after several Republican-led state legislatures ratified Voter ID laws. Many liberals claim the laws mainly targeted Obama voters, especially poor people and minorities, and some have gone so far as to compare this recent wave of “voter restriction” to that of the Jim Crow era. Conversely, some conservatives have welcomed the new set of laws, assuming that since voter fraud more frequently favors Democrats, the laws will restore fairness to the election process. The problem with both views is that since voting laws have traditionally fallen under the states’ domain, an accurate, well-informed generalization of all the laws is hard to form because it differs state by state.

The most well-known and controversial law, passed in eight states but blocked by court rulings in three, is the “Photo ID Law.” It requires that that when a voter arrives at the poll, he pull out some form of photo-identification, and then submit his ballot before going on his merry way.

However, most states do not require Photo IDs to vote. Instead, they have enacted laws that restrict absentee voting, early voting and/or registration, and the ability for convicted felons to restore their voting rights. Therefore, even if none of these had been repealed or nullified, the Voter ID laws which so many people see as horrendous would only have marginalized voters in a few states. In fairness, the states affected would include Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and to a lesser extent Florida; if the new laws had disenfranchised enough Democratic voters in these states, Mitt Romney could have won the election.

Voter fraud certainly exists in the United States, but it mostly ties to voter registration and absentee voting, which ID laws cannot contest. After the 2012 election, it was discovered that 53,000 dead people were registered to vote in Florida. Illinois, which is notorious for corruption, had a very good turnout of politically sav v y corpses as well.

Absentee voting is legal in both states.

In Nevada, Catherine Masto, a Democratic Attorney General, charged the liberal voter registration group Acorn with fraudulently completing forty-eight percent of its registration forms before the 2008 election. Acorn faced the same scrutiny throughout the country, especially in major cities like Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Philadelphia.

Obviously, the country cannot hold fair elections with voter fraud, especially not in swing states. However, Voter ID laws most affect those who cannot afford state-issued IDs instead of stopping those who actually commit voter fraud. Most of those disenfranchised are honest people who obey the law and the laws which nullify their voting rights do little to combat voter fraud as a whole. Instead, states should look to reform their registration process to be more transparent so that fictitious and deceased people cannot cast ballots. Perhaps states should outlaw absentee voting except for close relatives, but at this point, the Voter ID laws currently in effect threaten the rights of more legitimate voters than false ones and they advocate for state invasion into personal privacy and surveillance. Fighting the real fraud requires little invasive action and it would not take from thousands of Americans one of their most fundamental rights.

April 8, 2013

Gilman School

www.GilmanNews.com

Not Even a Sequestion by

America’s national debt stands at 16.7 trillion dollars. It also increases by about an additional trillion per year . The Sequester, the general cuts in government spending that went into effect on March 1st, is miniscule by comparison, trimming only $85 billion from spending (just 0.5% of the national debt).

The United States has a GDP, or consumer purchasing power, of $15.8 trillion.

We owe $16.7 trillion in debt, which will increase over time with interest. So, like all debts, it makes sense to pay it off as soon as possible.

However, it’s not technically the responsibility of American citizens to pay off our national debt; this responsibility lies with the U.S. Government. The citizen’s responsibility is to pay taxes, which contribute to the Government’s revenue.

Our government’s revenue, however, is only $2.9 trillion per year. Even if the government put all of its annual revenue towards paying off the debt, it would take nearly 6 years.

But even that is not remotely possible, as the government provides expensive social programs, such as Medicare and

Nicholas Kuchar

Thomas Jefferson once said, “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” We all must understand that one of our greatest threats is not beyond our borders but inside our classrooms, that education is the catalyst of a prosperous nation and one that America lacks. The Greeks and Romans flourished under legendary humanitarian and scientific educations (such as the Academy in Athens), and the first societies to leave the Dark Age were the ones that reincorporated science and the humanities through education. Many would conclude education’s value in history is priceless.

Jefferson started the traditional schooling system in America with the University of Virginia. Before that time many elite higher educational institutions existed in New England, yet Jefferson saw

3

Simon Evered

Medicaid, while paying for defense, The fifth annual day of awareness in education, and other necessities. More realistically, it will take roughly 40 years the national campaign “Spread the Word to balance the budge, supposing the to End the Word” to stop people from government pays $400 billion in today’s using the word “retarded” occurred last dollars per year (a little more than 10% month. The campaign encourages people from around the country to sign a pledge of its budget).

Yet, according to the White House, the saying, “I pledge and support the eliminagovernment will borrow an additional tion of the derogatory use of the r-word $901 billion more this year to make ends from everyday speech and promote the meet; raising America’s deficit to $17.6 acceptance and inclusion of people with trillion. If the United States cannot even intellectual disabilities.”

John Franklin Stephens, a man with make ends meet, the deficit will surely continue to skyrocket. Therefore, those Down Syndrome who promotes the Spe40 years mentioned above are not even cial Olympics, said “I can only tell you in America’s near future. And, those 40 what it means to me and people like me years could become 50, 70, or even 100 when we hear it. It means that the rest years if the government continues bor- of you are excluding us from your group.

We are something that is not like you and rowing money at the present rate.

There are many who argue that the something that none of you would ever sequester could hurt the economy because want to be.”

On October 5, 2012, Rosa’s Law rid the it will stifle job growth and severely cut funds from recovery programs. But we have to start somewhere to reduce spending. Otherwise, America’s debt will continue to pile up debt at an alarming rate, which could loom over us and our American education. Instead of going prosperity for decades, even a century to classrooms, the money often goes to to come. unions. The unions no longer aid public school teachers like a big brother aids a little brother but now act like a bully taking lunch money from the defenseless.

Every Governor that has tackled unions has been better for it. This includes Chris Christie of New Jersey and Scott Walker, both Republicans. These two states did not abolish the choice of joining a union, it fit to educate every citizen with cost- but rather they legalized it. The choice effective education to help them earn a offered now will allow for each individual living. Jefferson believed this would help school in those states to decide if unions the United States become prosperous benefit them. There are many other issues quickly. with the public schools that all deal with Education Expenditures by Country, a a lack of competitiveness with other branch of the United Nations, reports that schools. The government has recently America spends more than thirty five per- tried to change this through standardcent per capita than the Organization for ized testing, yet the tests did not fix the Economic Cooperation and Development problem. Therefore the schools pass the (OECD) on secondary school, and more problem of their students to institutions than twice per capita than the OECD on of higher learning. post-secondary school. The United States, Normally college graduates are not however, is only 31st in Science and 24th affected by an economic downturn. in Math. The lack of cost effectiveness However, during this unique recession, is the exact opposite of what Jefferson many college graduates find themselves intended. One might suppose that the unemployed and carrying too much debt. largely Democratic solution of dumping Even with these circumstances, colleges more money into education is a failure have not been hurt by this dysfunctional to successfully diagnose the cancer that chain of events because they have not has stricken the next generation, but the been pressured to change. Recently Dr. Democratic solution only betters their Ronald Dworkin, Senior Fellow of the own agenda instead of the agenda of Hudson Institute, and I discussed the

Letter to the Editor: A Broken Education System by

page

The W“r”ong Word by

Ethan Park

Volume CXII No. 5

terms “mentally retarded” and “mental retardation” from federal health, education, and labor policies. Instead, the policies say that a person or an individual that has an “intellectual disability.” With this change, the federal government attempted to get rid of the label of “retard” that holds a negative connotation due to its misuse. This change may seem small and somewhat insignificant, but perhaps it is necessary. As Mark Twain put it in a letter to George Bainton, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter – it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”

The “R” word will soon become outdated language in not just a clinical context but also in day-to-day conversation.

The word has hurt too many people and established too negative a connotation for it to exist anymore.

three bodies that pressure universities which are parents, business, and the government. Parents pressure universities by choosing where to put their money.

After spending $200k on college, many Americans are unemployed. What if those Americans did not go to college, but instead had $200k in your IRA checking account? Unless college graduates can expect to be employed, college seems like an unnecessary expense for many Americans. Previously, businesses looked for two traits above anything else - political correctness and high IQ’s. Colleges promoted these qualities because businesses wanted them, but now businesses are realizing their graduates do not have knowledge in their professional fields, and will not be successful. Businesses requiring different skills and and qualities would lead colleges to make necessary changes in curriculum.

Finally, the government should be concerned with student loans. College costs continue to rise and graduates that cannot find work cannot make payments on their loans. If defaults on student loans increase it could lead to another fiscal collapse, similar to the mortgage crisis.

If we want to be on a better path, change starts with reforming the educational system. This does not include more money, but smarter money.

Student Government Overview by

Gilman prides itself on its holistic approach to educating its students and raising them from boys into fine men. As they grow older, they are held to higher standards and given more responsibilities. However, they also gain respect and more input in the decisions that affect them. One way that this happens is through the student government. Near the end of each school year, the lower three forms vote on who will represent them the following year. They elect representatives both for their respective grades and the student body as a whole.

However, many students are unsure of exactly what their representatives can actually do. Because of this, voting stu-

Dale Waters, Ben Williams, Huntington Williams, & Jake Wohl

dents cannot be sure of how realistic any campaign platforms or promises may be.

To rectify the situation, the Gilman News Political Staff presents a basic guide to the Gilman Student Government.

Each grade is represented by its own class president, vice president, and treasurer. The class president represents his form to the Administration and the Student Council. He is in charge of the direction of the class and often plans class events and themes, though he needs approval from the form chair and the Administration. His planning role often culminates with Prom, which he plans and helps oversee. The most concrete, and perhaps most important, role of the

class president is to sit on the Honor Committee, which holds hearings regarding students who have committed Honor Code Violations. The Committee is able to make recommendations, which are generally accepted, to the Administration, ranging from a formal reprimand to an expulsion. The role of the class vice president and treasurer vary from year to year and largely depend on who fills the positions. Generally, the class vice president supports the class president in his endeavors, taking some of his duties and responsibilities. The class treasurer normally oversees the class fund, planning fundraisers and other ways to earn money, though he often works in tandem

with the class president. Additionally, the class vice president sits on the Judiciary Committee, which holds hearings regarding students who have committed infractions not relating to the Honor Code and functions in a similar manner to the Honor Committee. The senior class vice president also serves on the Honor Committee and two seniors are elected as additional Judiciary Representatives for the Judiciary Committee. The class vice president and treasurer serve as backups on the Honor and Judiciary Committees if the normal representative is unable to attend. Essentially, the Class-level representatives are precisely what their continued on page 7

page

April 8, 2013

4

Gilman School

Bleeding for a Cause

by

Brian Choo

Over 38,000 units of blood donations are required daily in the United States alone. To help meet this important need, Gilman hosted its annual Red Cross blood drive on February 5, 2013. The goal of the drive was to collect 60 units of blood – a small but essential contribution to a national health system that often has shortages of blood. The mission of Gilman’s blood drive is twofold - to give blood to those who need it and it “teaches the students the importance of giving blood,” says Mr. Siwinski, Head of the Science department and the blood drive, who has given blood every one of his 35 years at Gilman.

To educate students on the practice of giving blood, Gilman invited speakers including Dr. Karen King (P ‘16), and James Johnson (‘13) to speak at an assembly. At 450 milliliters (a little over 15 ounces), a unit of blood amounts to about

one twelfth of the average human’s blood supply. Although the drive saw 58 people sign up, only 47 usable units of blood were obtained. Whether it be sickness, iron deficiency, or otherwise, some potential donors had to be turned away. Gilman donated over 21 liters (around 5.5 gallons) of blood. After donation, most units of blood are processed via centrifugation and broken down into their components, namely plasma, platelets, and red blood cells. These specific products are then administered to patients.

There will be a blood drive again next year, which hopefully will not not fall on the day of another Ravens parade, which ate into the morning’s donations.

As always, Mr. Siwinski hopes to reach the goal of 60 units and raise awareness for just how important giving blood is.

Hopefully, you will be sitting in the chair giving your one-twelfth.

House Honorifics

by

Kyle Tarantino

Whether you are a Harry Potter fanatic or not, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin are familiar names. This year, Gilman sorted its students into its very own houses for a school-wide competition. The John E. Schmick House Cup was conceived by school president Zane MacFarlane, who saw it as a means of raising morale during the dreary winter months. The school is split randomly into four houses: Amarok, Tarandus, Caeruleus, and Hufflepuff, each led by a team captain. Michael Schahfer, captain of Amarok, said, “it has been especially rewarding being a captain for the first year of the event. With the hope in mind that this will be carried out by future classes, it will be exciting to look back and say that I was part of its formation.”

Schahfer also added how thrilled he was to see the student body as excited as he was about the competition. The first day saw the distribution of House wristbands, and everything from spirited emails to Facebook groups to team meetings have brought the Houses together.

The entire competition sought to make school a more enjoyable place.

MacFarlane noted, “It adds a whole other dimension to being a student.” During the cold months of winter, it is no surprise that morale decreases and spirit begins to decay. The effects of the House Cup were quickly noticed. Lack of major disciplinary events and underlying spirit have made their way into the typically lifeless winter. The rivalry transcends all

www.GilmanNews.com

Volume CXII No. 5

Opinion: Illegal Immigration by

Tyler Plack

Illegal immigration is an issue receiving increasing attention among GOP members as inner-party controversy begins to erupt. Some representatives including Ken Calvert (R, CA) have described themselves as “wholeheartedly against amnesty” but now believe that illegal immigrants may become legal under “specific conditions”. Other representatives remain vehemently opposed to illegal immigration. Representative Duncan Hunter (R, CA) explains, “You’ve got to secure the border and you’ve got to prove it’s secure. Period. We’ll talk after that”. Differences of opinion among Republicans are beginning to cause questions. As a part of the sequestration, thousands of once-detained illegal immigrants have been released, creating only further problems among Republicans. As a party, we are divided.

Not only are the differing opinions among Republicans concerning, but the facts are unclear. Some claim that illegal immigrants help the United States economy by paying sales and property taxes while others maintain that illegal immigration hurts by taking away jobs that would be fulfilled by American citizens.

An investigation needs to be conducted on the effects of illegal immigration.

Key questions include: How does illegal immigration affect the US economy?

What type of jobs are occupied by illegal immigrants? Would American citizens perform the same work that the illegal immigrants perform for the same rate?

Perhaps the greater question is, “Why

would someone come to the United States illegally?” The answer seems to always have to do with the cost and paperwork required to become a US citizen. The complex path to becoming a citizen of the United States has made many would-be legal immigrants instead come illegally in desperation. This story is common to several illegal immigrants with whom I have spoken. Instead of focusing on securing the borders and deporting illegal immigrants, we need to provide a path for illegal immigrants to become citizens of the United States.

In the path from being an illegal immigrant to a citizen, I do believe that certain penalties will have to exist for those who did not choose to come legally. But this creates a paradox -- illegal immigrants must have an incentive to become citizens, yet they must still be penalized for having once been illegal immigrants. To keep such a puzzle from occurring, this penalty cannot outweigh the benefits to becoming a citizen.

A scenario like this quickly becomes complicated as this is not a cut-and-dry process, and the many representatives involved in making these policies will each have a different ideology for the proper treatment of illegal immigrants. I believe that, through a simplified, bipartisan policy, becoming a citizen will be streamlined process. One day I expect that citizenship will serve as a viable option for all living in the United States without hurting any particular group.

Until then, further investigation of the subject is needed.

aspects of Gilman life by including events from pie eating to tug of war. President MacFarlane said, “We’re really trying to have them be balanced, a wide variety of things. But the closer we get to the end of the House Cup, the more epic they’ll get.” The student council has done its best to ensure this variety is maintained.

While athletic events may seem the easiest to accomplish, the competition has included literature, treasure hunts and arm wrestling. The competition kicked off well with a treasure hunt. Never before in Gilman history have students followed a bevy of clues around the school in search of Mighty Beanz hidden in peculiar places. A long assembly on Women’s History month, which is usually met with a less than enthusiastic response, was bursting with life due to the incorporation of a House Cup Quiz Bowl competition.

As the school emerges from a time typically marked by hibernation, there is more life and excitement present in the halls than ever before. MacFarlane also added, “It’s the job of the Student Council to foster a community at Gilman and this project has certainly done its part.”

Hufflepuff (24) holds a 7-point lead over Amarok (23) and Caeruleus (20) and Tarandus (14) remain not far behind. The competition will reach its climax on April 26th when the teams compete in a multitude of final events to capture the crown.

Regardless of the winner, and whether or not the tradition is continued, the House Mr. Siwinski, an avid blood giver, prepares to donate to the Red Cross. Photo by Cup will certainly not be forgotten anyDavid Cha (‘13). time soon.

April 8, 2013

Gilman School

www.GilmanNews.com

The Academy Awards Recap by

A lex Brocato

“If there’s one thing that actors know… other than that there weren’t any WMDs… [weapons of mass destruction] it’s that there is no such thing as best in acting,” commented legendary actor Sean Penn on his award during his acceptance speech. Admittedly, choosing a “best” in any category is just a reflection of the Academy’s taste or mood at the time – not an overall best. But it is human nature for people to stack and rate things based on whatever it is that seems to be important at the time. Therefore, movie buffs and casual watchers alike can watch The Academy Awards.

2012 was a year blessed with movies from two of the most influential directors in the history of the movie business, with Django Unchained from Quentin Tarantino and Lincoln from Steven Spielberg.

Best picture went to Argo, directed by Ben Affleck. It is no surprise that Argo won; if it had not won it would have been a crime. Best leading actor went to Daniel Day-Lewis for his role as Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln. This was also a clear win before the ceremony just because he beautifully depicted one of the most influ-

ential men in the history of The United States. Since the Oscar is an American award, it was also more likely to go to a man portraying an American President.

Jennifer Lawrence won best actress as Tiffany in Silver Linings Playbook. The winner of best supporting actor went to Christoph Waltz as Dr. King Shultz from Django Unchained, for one of the greatest movie performances in years. Christoph’s performance was so memorable because of the way that he is able to be witty and pull off Tarantino dialogue, which is not easy for a foreign actor to do and was very impressive overall. Anne Hathaway was given her first Oscar for best supporting actress as Fantine from Les Miserables.

For a completely unique film Ang Lee was given best director for Life of Pi. Finally, best screenplay went to Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained.

Tarantino did it again! Every time that Tarantino has written a movie, it has been a masterpiece. From Reservoir Dogs to Django, they have all been amazing and it is no surprise that it won this year. As a whole this was a great year in the history of film as reflected in the talent displayed by all winners and nominees of this year’s awards.

Klondike Bar Writing Contest Winner

Volume CXII No. 5

page

5

Robotics Club Makes Great Strides in First Competition by

Wolfgang Drake

The Gilman robotics program made a great leap forward on February 9 at Havre de Grace High School after winning the Motivate Award in a semifinal appearance, ending a great first season and setting the stage for future teams. With only fifteen students, our own Gilman robotics team was able to win several matches. Although Gilman may be a new addition to this unique competition, both the innovation and wit of the team were key to the successes that they enjoyed.

Earlier last year, Simon Evered founded the Robotics club along with interested classmates. This year, Gilman Robotics participated in the First Tech Challenge (FTC) competition, which begins every September with a different task to complete each year. Always challenging, this year’s task, dubbed “Ring it Up,” was based around picking up and placing colored rings upon a rack.

Additionally, points were awarded for lifting the robot certain distances off the ground. This unique opportunity for scoring points provided options for strategy, engineering, and piloting skills. Teams also had to put together a notebook to catalogue their journey. Everything was judged at the competition, which left little room for error or slacking.

Hard work was the main component of this year’s team, with members often working through weekends and after school, and it comes as no surprise that this dedication would pay off when the contest came down to the wire. On February 2 the first match occurred, with Gilman placing ninth of nineteen teams.

Students remember being intimidated by the complex designs of their opponents, in addition to their customized team gear.

Though their luck was mixed, the design was changed before the second qualifier rolled around. The first competition left many memories of lifting the robot 18 inches off the ground to secure a definitive match victory, but more importantly their win gave the team a better idea of their strengths and weaknesses.

With five early wins in their second competition at Havre de Grace High School, their sixth and final preliminary match was lost, leaving Gilman at third out of fourteen teams. Although the team pairing looked favorable, Gilman lost the semifinal match. On a positive note, the Motivate prize was awarded to the Gilman Robotics team due to its excellent team spirit. The Gilman Robotics team looks forward to next year’s competition.

“What would you do? Ooh. Ooh.” There once was a man from Peru Who wanted some ice cream. True blue.

He sat thinking wishes for that sweet and nutritious For the Klondike bar, what would he do?

He’d turn down a hoagie He’d beat up Coach Poggi He would go to an indoor track meet.

He’d untuck his shirt He’d put on a skirt For that chocolatey cold tasty treat I ask not what would you do for the Klondike Despite all the things that I’d do, I ask you instead just to think in your head, What would a Klondike Bar do for you.

Simon Evered (‘15), Robotics Club founder, constructs a robot alongside the team. Photo by Jonathan Yue.

– Tommy Monahan (‘13)

Nuclear Lunacy (cont.) as tensions between the U.S. and China have increased.” However, as of March 7, 2013, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a new round of strict sanctions on North Korea, which was primarily led by the United States and China. It appears that North Korea has worn out the patience of even its closest ally. The new sanctions target the transfer of funds supporting illicit North Korean programs and activities. Upon the announcement of this new treaty, North Korea threatened to nullify the 1953 armistice between North and South that secured a cease-fire after the Korean War. Technically, a truce has never been signed.

Warnings from other countries have not fazed North Korea’s new leader Kim Jong-Un, who appears to be following his father’s footsteps to lead an independent socialist state. In his first year of authority, Kim Jong-Un has already conducted two long range missile tests and one nuclear test. He leads a country in a world of its own, completely disconnected from international affairs except when stirring up turmoil. It seems as if North Korea only recognizes itself as a legitimate nation, and it continues to ignore all other interests and concerns except its own.

Kim Jong-Un therefore wants to forge a seat at the world’s table for North Korea, next to the other countries possessing nuclear weapons.

Members of the team pose around their robot. Photo by Jonathan Yue.

Nuclear Hipocrisy (cont.) be reached while the United States, the most powerful nation on earth, continues to boast an incredible number of nuclear weapons. Until the United States agrees to relinquish its nuclear weapons, it is

only natural and in the best interests of rival nations such as North Korea to uphold a nuclear weapons program to keep power in check.

page

April 8, 2013

6

Gilman School

Museum: A Grand Showcase by

Wolfie Drake

Morgan Doyle (‘15). Photo courtesy of Nat Raum.

slow start. With a simple entrance, it was easy to focus on the language genius of Rishi Bedi (‘13) and Carlie Hruban (BMS ‘13), as their conversation continued with a natural flow and truly funny French stereotyping.

Throughout the play, one thing was clear: the actors were having a great time. Despite the fullness of the stage, it was easy to focus on the main speakers at any time, and was entertaining to see what other people were doing when not in the spotlight. Various plots were intertwined in the single museum room, with technologically impaired couples, lost teenagers, critical art veterans, and a crazy woman convinced there was a secret in each piece of art. Each character had memorable traits, whether it was the rich, irritated speech of the guard, or the speedy, light voice of the crazed observer.

Finalizing the plot was fun for the viewer, especially with the rolling snowball of story intensity, bringing conflicts from permission slips to ravaging an art piece. The crazy ending was, one could argue, a narrative on regular art viewers, and was as odd as it was fulfilling. Our Gilman classmates were refreshing with their talent, and the indeterminate charm was surely impractical without the help of the Gilman community. Whether it was the pulsing nature of the entertainment or the converging finish, Museum was a wonderful play that set the stage for a fantastic spring break.

Tina Howe’s Museum at Bryn Mawr’s spectacular Centennial Hall was a humorous, light-hearted comedy that left the audience satisfied and impressed whether seen at seven o’clock on a lively Saturday night or at two o’clock on a molasses slow Sunday afternoon. Bryn Mawr utilized their facilities admirably, even entertaining prior to the play with an inspiring short film. However, the real pleasure was in the production itself.

Museum takes place, aptly, in a private art museum, with a colorful group of viewers that maintain a fun, humorous, and overall peculiar attitude. There were moments that brought forth bellowing laughs from the audience, along with those that summoned snickers and nods of approval. Surprisingly, beneath the relatively thick layer of humor, Museum mixed in aspects and thought on true art and culture amid the contemporary satire. Too often do high school productions over-compensate for the attention of the audience with gimmicks and slapstick, and Museum deftly maneuvered the line between comedy and philosophy.

As the play began, one could begin to notice the level of art involved in the production, including the professional looking set, and interesting background.

Everything, however, had a purpose, including “old clothespins without the spring in the middle” and a deer antler sculpture. Although the beginning was a bit slow, it truly reflected on a day in a Rishi Bedi (‘13) and Carlie Hruban gallery with a busy day and molasses- (BMS ‘13). Photo courtesy of Nat Raum.

www.GilmanNews.com

Volume CXII No. 5

Anticipation Mounts for Spring Musical by

Tobin Bromberg

Every year, the spring musical is a major success, and so far, Damn Yankees does not look to be any different. Gilman’s theater department has begun rehearsals for Damn Yankees, by George Abbott. Set in 1950s era Washington, D.C, the musical follows the lackluster Washington Senators baseball team, who is beaten at every turn by the New York Yankees.

In an effort to save his team, protagonist Joe Boyd inadvertently makes a deal with the devil, à la Faust, becoming the savior of the team. Calvin Floyd (‘15), who plays Vernon, a player for the Washington Senators, explains, “The musical will be one of the most amazing experiences. It really is a thing that brings people close together in a way like few others, to produce a show that brings smiles and laughs to a crowd.”

Director John Rowell chose Damn Yankees for several reasons. One, it’s a wonderful show, and a musical theater classic. It has an unusual storyline, with winning characters (even the bad ones) and a great score, which features one witty and tuneful song after another. He also pointed out the popularity of the songs from the musical, concluding by calling the musical “a raucous, rambunctious, high-energy musical about baseball and baseball players... ultimately about the enduring power of love; about having faith and confidence in yourself, in the

people you love, and in the things you believe in.”

Coordination with Bryn Mawr and Roland Park is an integral part of the Gilman theater program, with students crossing the bridge to save their Gilman counterparts from donning wigs. Bryn Mawr student Laura Hawes (‘14), who plays Doris, a friend of the female lead, did not seem to mind the differences between theatrical productions at Gilman and at the girls’ schools, saying, “I really love how at Gilman, actors are encouraged to participate in the technical side of theater as well; whereas at Bryn Mawr we tend to have our actors and our techies as separate groups.”

Newcomers are also stepping up to the plate for Damn Yankees, with Calvin Garay (‘13), who plays a reporter named Lynch, looking forward to “the challenge of acting and singing.” When asked how Damn Yankees compares to previous productions, Zane MacFarlane (‘13), who plays Joe Hardy, the main character’s post-Faustian-bargain counterpart, said, “Damn Yankees is a tale of good over evil, love saving the day, whereas How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was very satirical at its heart and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was really bawdy.” With its excellent group of actors, Damn Yankees is looking to be a home run for Gilman’s theater department.

Scott Finney (‘15) and Ellie Grubowski (BMS ‘15) perform in Museum. Photo courtesy of Nat Raum.

Bromberg Reviews: “Dragonbored” by

Tobin Bromberg

After developers at Bethesda released a trailer in early November, Dragonborn, the third DLC for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, was highly anticipated. The trailer showcased long-awaited features such as spears and the ability to ride dragons. This resulted in a sense of excitement over what Bethesda was making, but unfortunately the game did not live up to the hype.

The main quest line starts out with a random encounter with mysterious cultists. They attack the player, and after they are killed, it is revealed that they were ordered to kill the “false dragonborn” and return to Solstheim, a small part of Morrowind, the setting of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. The purpose of killing the player is so that the mysterious entity, known as Miraak, can return. Upon

arriving in Solstheim, the player searches for information about Miraak despite not finding out who or what he is, the character is led to a holy stone, which has recently become corrupted, causing all who go near it to begin chanting strange words and chiselling away at the stone.

The player finds another adventurer who is not corrupted and ventures into a dungeon beneath the stone. At the end of this dungeon Miraak, who is revealed to be the first Dragonborn, appears. The player is pointed to some Dwarven ruins, in where one finds more clues.

This section contains the first major disappointment in The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn. The player must place and remove control cubes from pumps that will raise or lower the water level in the ruins. If it is too low, it becomes impossible to access certain areas, but if it is too high, you cannot place other cubes to

reveal stairways or doors that are essential to be able to continue. As a whole, this was an incredibly tedious quest which felt more like busywork than something that must be done to save the world. This does, however, result in a mysterious artifact that takes your character to the realm of Hermaeus Mora, the Daedric Prince of Knowledge. In this realm, pages swirl around, and the world is encased in dark, black water, from which tentacles occasionally snap up and whip you.

When the player eventually finds Hermaeus Mora, he agrees to reveal the knowledge needed to defeat Miraak, but only if the player obtains the secrets of his rivals. Once this knowledge is obtained, Hermaeus Mora transports the player to another section of his realm containing the fortress of Miraak. After battling through countless enemies, you arrive at a point where the player is required

to tame and ride a dragon. Dragonborn disappoints again at this point, as the dragons can only fly around in predetermined paths attacking targets pointed out by the player, rather than being controlled entirely by the player. The dragon takes the player to Miraak, where the player engages in an epic final battle, defeating Miraak once and for all.

Despite being a fun morsel of gameplay, Dragonborn is overall disappointing. Dragon riding is completely unintuitive, and is more like being taken for a murderous piggyback ride. Some quests seemed to be rather pointless and repetitive, without a clearly defined reason for what you are doing. The game does add some new items and spells, which are fun to play around with, but overall, The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn is disappointing, short, and repetitive.

April 8, 2013

Gilman School

www.GilmanNews.com

Charlie Orlinsky

To some, Larry Sheets, Gilman’s Varsity Baseball Coach, is just a baseball coach, but he once was a major league baseball player. After being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the second round of the 1978 MLB draft, he spent eight years in the majors playing outfield and designated hitter for the Orioles, Detroit Tigers, and the Seattle Mariners.

His best season was in 1987 with the Orioles when he had his career highs in batting average (.316), home runs (31), and runs batted in (94). He also played one year in Japan for the Yokohama Taiyo Whales.

Since taking over the team four years ago, he has completely turned the team around from bottom dwellers to champions. In 2009, the team had their worst year in school history, going 3-16. That season prompted the school to hire Coach Sheets, who in his first season led the team to go 27-5 and win the MIAA “A” Conference. This championship broke Calver Hall’s five-year win streak. In 2011, the team went 17-15 and in 2012, they went 21-9.

Coach Sheets blends together the coaching style of many of the managers he encountered as a player, particularly those of legendary Orioles manager Earl Weaver and former Detroit manager Sparky Anderson, one of the winningest managers in MLB history.

Coach Sheets sees anything less than a run to the championship as a major disappointment for this year’s team. He thinks that hitting will not be the problem, but pitching will really define this team. He added, “We need guys who can get guys out and throw strikes.” The team will need players like Ben Grace, Danny Blair and Joe Smeton to step up as key pitchers this year.

Last year, despite being the number

by

Photo by Ricky Roebuck one seed, the Hounds suffered an unfortunate early postseason exit. With key contributors like Ryan Ripken and Tom O’Neil no longer playing at Gilman, Coach Sheets needs some of last year’s key JV players to step up and contribute to the team. Some players include Joe Smeton, Alex Mardiney, Jason King, and Patrick Gallagher.

Many returning players know what it is like to play in a championship, and Coach Sheets will look for them to lead the way for the younger players. Veterans like Matt Tilley, Ben Grace, Gavin Sheets, and Danny Blair will try step into more of a leadership role this year.

This year’s team looks to build on their success from previous years and go out and achieve the ultimate goal of winning a championship.

page

7

The End of an Era

Sheets Revitalizes Baseball Program by

Volume CXII No. 5

R icky Roebuck

On February 14th during an athletic On February 6, 2013, Mr. Christian assembly, Mr. Holley presented Mr. coached his final game of his 32-year Christian with a plaque that displayed career as a Gilman basketball coach, his record and championships. Along a 55-41 w in over with Mr. Holley, all of Archbishop SpaldMr. Christian’s curi ng , i n f r ont of rent or former playmany former players in at tendance ers wearing their were asked to come signature suits and to the front to help ties. Mr. Christian present the plaque. graduated from St. When asked what it A mbrose College meant to him to be in 1976, and then honored, he replied, immediately began “It was completely teaching and coachunexpected and very ing in a school in t houg ht f u l of t he Northern Illinois. school to have that Next, he coached plaque made up.” in Pennsylvania for He also added that a year before going receiving the plaque back to St. Ambrose from his dear friend a s a n a ssista nt Mr. Holley was “especoach. In 1980 he cially special.” came to Gilman

Besides coachto teach and has ing basketball and Photo by Basil Apostolo. coached basketball teaching, Mr. Chrisin some capacity in every year since then. tian has coached football at the freshThis includes one year as a varsity coach, soph level. Next year he will continue to 20 years as a junior varsity, and 11 years have a role with basketball by remaining as the fresh-soph coach. During this time as the varsity announcer and becoming he won a championship in 1999 and one the official scorer for the junior varsity in 2005. games.

When asked why he decided to step Over the years Mr. Christian has condown he responded, “I’ve been doing it for tributed to Gilman basketball in every 33 years and it was time. There were no capacity, improving the program in a sigmysteries or secret plans.” He also added nificant way. As a community we thank that he came to this decision around this Mr. Christian for his time and dedication time last year and that he was prepared to the school through his coaching and for the reality of the end of his career as lessons learned on the field and the court a coach. in addition to in the classroom.

Student Government (cont.) designation implies: representatives of their respective grades whose normal activities rarely pertain to the overall student body except in the cases of the Honor and Judiciary Committees.

The greater Gilman student community is represented by a school president.

The school president represents the student body to the Administration, but also represents Gilman to parents, alumni, and many others, often speaking in front of groups on behalf of Gilman. Serving on both the Honor and Judiciary Committees, the school president commands a large amount of respect from the Administration and is able to lobby for the other students, though he generally cannot change decisions relating to bad student behavior. He also organizes most Gilman student events, having to coordinate with the Administration, students, grounds crew, and many others. Though limited by time, size, and content restrictions, the school president has largely unfettered control over events. An audible voice and knack for public speaking are a must for any school president, as he must make the announcements at each assembly and lead chants at sporting events. Historically, the School President has collaborated heavily with the Senior Class Representatives. Essentially, everything the Class President is to his class, the School President is to the student body.

Thoug h somewhat uninfor med, Gilman students tend to have a fairly accurate and positive view of the student government. An interview of students from each grade showed that students tend to see the class president as a personal representative. He is seen as someone readily available to talk to and as having the class’s best interests at heart. The class president is seen as the honorary voice of the class, whose influence comes from respect as opposed to any explicit powers. He is entrusted with leading the class, representing them in the Honor Committee, planning fun events, and raising money. The school president is well known for his role in assemblies and is viewed by students as their greatest advocate. Students expect him to plan fun events for the entire school as well as lobby the Administration on behalf of the student body. As with real world politics, anyone who is not the president does not enjoy a great deal of popularity. Thus, students’ knowledge of the vice presidents and treasurers greatly varies. Generally, they are seen as the flexible cabinet staff, though students tended to recognize that the title “treasurer” was related to money.

Gilman’s weighted voting system has come under some harsh criticism in the past, with critics calling it everything from unfair to discriminatory. When votes are

Lower

Brendan Shaw (‘15), Sophomore Class President, Zach Ranen (‘14), Junior Class Treasurer, and Zane MacFarlane (‘13), School Preisdent. Photo by Dale Waters. cast for the school president, each ballot is not counted equally. Juniors’ votes count as three votes, sophomores’ as two, and freshmen’s as one. Because of this, the juniors exert the greatest influence over the election while freshmen exert the least. While this has been attacked as unfair, there is logic to the system.

Because the school president is elected while still a junior, it is the junior class that best knows him. Therefore, juniors are more informed about each candidate and can best assess their qualifications.

Moreover, this serves as an opportunity to give rising seniors a greater sense of power and responsibility, helping ease them into their new positions as leaders in the school. However, freshman and sophomores exert just enough influence to ensure that the candidates for School President appeal to the entire body, since in a close election the difference could be decided by lowerclassmen. This encourages the candidates to market themselves

to people that may not know them very well, an important skill in the real world as well. Historically, there has been no record of the juniors choosing candidates at the expense of the other forms.

In conclusion, the student government gives students a voice and an organizational structure to help better their community. The Class Representatives handle each class and the School President and Senior Class Representatives oversee the entire school. Although they are beholden to the Administration, they are given great trust and responsibility, allowing them to operate with a level of autonomy.

The voting system ensures that while all students have a say in school politics, those who are more invested in the school and have more experience exert a greater influence in the system. Clearly, Gilman students are very fortunate to have such an excellent system of representation.

Hopefully, they can now utilize it as fully informed participants and voters.

page

April 8, 2013

8

Gilman School

www.GilmanNews.com

Volume CXII No. 5

Swimming Recap by

Simon Evered

The swimming team didn’t have a great season quanititatively, but they succeeded in terms of teamwork, effort, and dedication and are looking forward to improvement in the future. The team showed consistent effort throughout the winter season. Wolfgang Drake (’16) recalled that, “We put out good effort meet after meet.” In addition, according to Tyler Plack (‘15), “The freshmen brought in some serious talent, spe-

cifically Anderew Blomquist’s 500 and Wolfie Drake’s 200 IM.” Due to the team’s freshmen talent and good dedication, the team is looking forward to improvement in the coming years. Tyler said optimistically, “I expect to see great improvement in the swim team throughout the next few years, as a result of everyone’s dedication.” The swim team took this winter season to improve and get ready for the years to come. The swimmers put in the effort and in Tyler’s opinion, saw some results in their times.

CJ Roebuck (‘14) swims in the 200 meter medley relay against McDonogh.

Photo by Irvin Simon.

Basketball Makes Championship Again by

Ryan Park

The Gilman 2012–2013 varsit y basketball season was an up and down campaign, spanning from some failures to many successes. The team had high hopes for the season, coming off of a championship season last year. After getting off to a rough start on the season, the team was able to turn it around, finishing as the runners-up to the MIAA B conference champions St. Vincent Pallotti, an opponent they had beaten earlier in the season.

Starting out with a lackluster record of 2–10, the team was able to piece together a string of wins. Led by coaches Daly and Tully, senior guard Ben Grace and major contributions from players like sophomore forward Kai Locksley and senior forward Matt Tilley, they were able to finish the regular season with a strong 14-5 run and took that momentum right into the playoffs.

The Greyhounds finished with a

16-15 regular season record, featuring big wins over rivals St. Paul’s and A conference foes McDonogh. In the conference quarterfinals, Gilman defeated St. Paul’s 49–44 in a rematch of the silent night game held on January 11. The team went on to play in the semifinals against Boy’s Latin. Led by Locksley’s 21 points and Grace’s 18, Gilman went on to upset a favored Boy’s Latin game on their home court, winning 60–57. The season culminated at UMBC, where the Greyhounds faced St. Vincent Pallotti in the MIAA B conference finals, a rematch of last year’s finals. Despite a close game throughout, Pallotti was able to pull away from Gilman, claiming a 55–46 victory.

Overall, Gilman basketball enjoyed a great deal of success. Locksley said, “This season was a rollercoaster ride. We started out pretty awful [at 2-10], but we were able to come together and make it to the championship.” Gilman will hope to meet and exceed the successes of this season next year.

Jack King (‘13) dominates his opponent in a match. Photo by Irvin Simon.

6

Straight championships won by the varsity squash team

2 +21

6-2

Poised for Success: Lacrosse Preview by

A lex Brocato

Varsity Lacrosse, coming off of a 12-4 season and an exciting MIAA playoff run, looks to repeat their success this year and even excel past it. Despite losing a fair amount of impactive seniors over this last year such as Jake Matthai (‘12), Robby Haus (‘12), and Gordie Koerber (‘12), the Greyhounds are looking to the future with rising stars from the current seniors and juniors.

The team will quickly be thrown into the fire with a season starting off with four out of league games that will test their strength, skill, and teamwork starting with Dallas Jesuit on March 12. The Hounds will especially be looking to get leadership and good performance out of their seniors.

“There will be a lot of opportunity for returning players to step up and fill roles for this year. They will also be expected to step up and fill more crucial roles that have been left open by the seniors from last year.”

Although the preseason is an important element to the lacrosse season, the

Sports by the Numbers

By Ricky Roebuck

Consecutive appearances in the basketball championship game between Gilman and St. Vincent Palotti

Goal differential over 13 games by varsity hockey

Ben Grace (‘13) dribbles the ball in for a layup. Photo by Jonathan Yue.

2:02.47

Winning time of Jibri McLean’s 800 meter run during the Indoor Track Championships Score of the Hockey Finals where Gilman dethroned the Boys’ Latin, the defending champion

reason they play the preseason is to be prepared for the league. This year the MIAA is going to be extremely tough.

Especially with teams like Loyola, Boys’ Latin and Calvert Hall sporting very good teams. So if the hounds are to be successful they must learn well from their experiences against the best teams in the country. They also have to learn to play well as a team before their first league match up against Archbishop Spalding on April 4th.

“Calvert Hall and Loyola are going to be very good, but going into this year Boys Latin is the best team in the MIAA. Every year there is a chance for anyone to win the league.”

Going back to the point that the Hounds lost a lot of their seniors is an issue that all great high school teams have to deal with. Luckily they have many good rising players and this year should be a good year for the team.

“Every year there is a hope to be the best in the MIAA, and be the best by the end of the year. But in the end the goal is to make it to and win games in the playoffs.”

10-1

0 14-5

Record of JV Squash

Number of League games the JV Basketball team lost this year

Record of varsity basketball after a 2-10 start to the season, on their run to the championship