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Lodge
Vol. 3, Issue 4 May 7, 2019
ABOUT US
The Lodge is dedicated to serving as an authentic voice for the students of St. George’s Independent School. We at the Lodge strive to be an open forum for student expression, to act in the best interests of the student body and to embody the principles of journalistic excellence. The Lodge is affiliated with the Tennessee High School Press Association and the National Scholatic Press Association. The Lodge is funded by advertisers, donors and St. George’s Independent School and is published once every eight weeks during the school year by schoolprinting.com. The Lodge prints and distributes 300 copies of each issue to 600 students and faculty on the St. George’s Collierville campus. Bylines indicate the primary writer(s) of each article, and additional contributors are indicated in the shirttail. The Lodge provides free advertising for student clubs, events and activities and paid advertisements for local businesses. The Lodge welcomes letters to the editors and article submissions. To submit a letter, article or request for advertising, email our staff at thelodge@sgis.org.
STAFF
Editors-in-Chief
Emma Bennett ’19, Evan Dorian ’19 Editors
Laura Beard ‘19, Snowden Farnsworth ‘20, Cary Robbins ‘20 Designers
Kaitlyn Bowman ‘19, Will Brown ‘19, Andrew McDowell ‘19 Illustrators
Crystal Baggett ‘19, Sierra Sellers ‘20 Reporters
Claire Rooney ‘19, Mimi Young ‘19, Spencer Cotham ‘20, Dean Campbell ‘21, Owen Hewitt ‘21, Callie Hollis ‘21, Jack Lange ‘21 Advisor
Dr. Margaret Robertson
The
Cover photoillustration by Laura Beard and Callie Hollis
Lodge
The Student Voice of St. Georges‘ Independent School 18 8 0 Wo lf River Blvd . Collierville, T N. 3801 7 901 - 457- 2000
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BUYING THEIR WAY IN
Committed
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A Cloud Over Tomorrow
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It’s a New Chapter for Softball
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BUYING THEIR WAY IN How a bribery scandal revealed the problems at the heart of college admissions By Mimi Young Illustrations by Crystal Baggett
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unt Becky may be going to jail, and she will not be the only one. Lori Loughlin, the actress who became famous on the sitcom “Full House,” and others including Felicity Huffman and William Singer have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud as part of Operation Varsity Blues, the Justice Department’s largest ever college admissions prosecution. On Mar. 12, 2019, federal prosecutors revealed that they charged 50 people, including parents, coaches, test administrators and employees of the college preparatory business Edge College and Career Network. From 2011 to Feb. 2019, the parents paid William Singer, the founder of the Edge College and Career Network, $25 million to help students cheat on their standardized tests and to bribe college coaches to accept fake athletic credentials. The parents aimed to get their children into prestigious universities including Yale, Stanford, Wake Forest and the University of
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Southern California. Across the nation, reactions to this news ranged from anger to surprise, and those involved in the scandal have drawn heavy criticism from parents and students. “I think that is kind of crazy,” Mrs. Anne Goldberg, a fourthgrade teacher at the Germantown Campus and mother of senior Mary Miller Goldberg, said. “I think that it is unfair to the kids who work really hard to get in the right way to have kids who got stuck into the school the backwards way.” For some St. George’s students, the scandal has highlighted the complicated and sometimes bewildering nature of college admissions today. “I don’t like it,” senior William Wilson, who will be attending Georgia Tech in the fall, said. “I think it just demonstrates what’s wrong with the college admissions process. It does feel so random nowadays, and those parents just wanted to ensure the success of their [children].” Junior Reagan Burford, who
committed to play baseball at the University of Mississippi during his freshman year, sees this situation as unfair for students who tried to get into those colleges the legitimate way. “I think it takes away from the hard work that people put in trying to get into the school, actually put the time into study and prepare for standardized tests,” Burford said. “I think it’s just unfair, and it’s good that these people are getting justice for the bad things that they did.” The scandal didn’t come as much of a surprise for the college
guidance team at St. George’s, considering that wealthy parents across the nation have been donating money to universities to get their children admitted for years. Mr. Gibson, assistant head for educational access, has been working in college admissions for 18 years. He thinks that the bribery scandal is unfortunate, and it shows that even though wealthy people may feel they have an advantage in the college application process, the idea of cheating the system is unnecessary. “It is unfortunate,” Mr. Gibson said. “It shows that there’s
obviously people with a lot of money. If you’re willing to spend $500,000 to get your child into a school, I think that’s unfortunate because it’s unnecessary.” For Mr. Gibson, the scandal reveals the problems with college admissions and the lengths parents will go to get their children admitted to the colleges they want to attend. “I would hope that people realize by watching this scandal unfold that this is another moment where clearly things have gotten out of control,” Mr. Gibson said. “In the end, I understand and respect what people want more than anything is the best for their children, but that’s not the way to do it, obviously, because you’re breaking the law.” The scandal reveals the competitiveness of getting admitted into the most prestigious colleges in the United States and how perception affects where people apply to colleges. Associate Director of College Guidance Ms. Jessica Hardy, who previously worked in admissions for Centre College in Kentucky, lent her perspective to the issues associated with being admitted to one’s college of choice. “The thing about it is that every person is trying to find a way to get into a place, to get beyond the gate keeper, to get to the golden ticket, to get to this thing that could change their entire life,” Associate Director of College Guidance Jessica Hardy said. “Going to a certain college does not change that, but there’s so much focus on it. We spend 80% of our time talking about 20% of the schools in the United States, and we’re obsessed with that.” According to Ms. Hardy, ethics in college admissions has been a topic of discussion for years. “Working in college guidance, we don’t have many big things like that happening, but there are questions in things that we have to talk about ethically,” Mrs. Hardy said. “That’s why the National Association of College Admission Counseling has a statement of principles that we abide by, and colleges, universities and college counselors should abide by them.” Sports in college admissions in particular has been brought to light in the scandal because many of the parents faked athletic credentials
for their children to increase their chances of getting into certain colleges. Athletics were prominent in the efforts of the Edge College and Career Network to get their clients’ children admitted into their requested colleges. The Network created fake athletic profiles for the students due to the lower admission standards for prospective college athletes. The employees of the Network sent these profiles to college admissions departments and unscrupulous coaches listed the students as athletic recruits they want the schools to admit. These profiles consisted of fake achievements, club team participa-
Singer’s clients as a volleyball recruit. Ferguson’s actions surprised the student body and administration at Wake Forest University. “Community wise, people were confused at first,” Wake Forest junior and St. George’s alumna Olivia Rooney said. “Once we found out, the whole story doesn’t really affect anything that much because our president sent an email to everyone saying how that had just been one person who had said that they were a volleyball player to try and get in easier.” Wake Forest took steps to fix this situation by firing Ferguson and appointing a person from outside Wake Forest to fill the newly
tion and photoshopped or staged images of students participating in the sport. Using a design studio and water polo gear purchased by his father, one student was made to look like he was playing water polo to appear as a legitimate college recruit. The Network bribed college coaches to support their claims that a student was an actual participant in a sports club. According to the federal charges, the women’s rowing coach at the University of Southern California accepted a bribe of $500,000 to vouch for Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose Giannulli, the daughters of Lori Loughlin and her fashion-designer husband Mossimo Giannulli, as athletic recruits. Despite not being rowers, Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose posed on rowing machines for photos that were used to show that they supposedly rowed competitively. Wake Forest volleyball coach William Ferguson allegedly accepted $100,000 in bribes to recognize the daughter of one of
created position of Vice President of Admissions. For the many St. George’s students who have pursued a future in college athletics, the scandal seems especially unfair. Junior Annika Thompson committed to play volleyball at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte the summer before this school year. She sees the scandal as unfair to athletes who work so hard to excel in their sport. “Kids should be getting onto a team because they’re able to play at that level,” Thompson said. “The amount of money you have shouldn’t influence what sports teams you can be a part of. It should be about skill level.” Senior Mary Miller Goldberg has been participating in competitive year-round swimming since she was in sixth grade. She is committed to swim for Birmingham-Southern in the fall. Her mother, Mrs. Anne Goldberg, believes this scandal could discredit the efforts of athletes such as her daughter and prevents student
athletes from reaching their full potential. “I don’t think that’s fair. I also think that the kids won’t be as successful as they could have been if they had gone about it the right way,” Mrs. Goldberg said. “That’s one thing to be successful in your sport, and everything to be successful in the academic part.” Other St. George’s committed athletes share Goldberg’s thoughts, and they said they think it is unfair to the academic work student athletes have to do as well. “I think it takes away from the hard work that people put in trying to get into the school, actually put the time into study and prepare for standardized tests and all that,” Burford said. The college guidance team at St. George’s says their focus is on fit rather than just prestige. “Mr. Gibson and I talk about the same three things a lot,” Ms. Hardy said. “We talk about its fit. Its academic fit, social fit and financial fit, and all three of those have to align for a school to be a good school for a student.” Mr. Gibson agreed. “We probably spend 50% of our time talking about 3% of schools, and it’s the schools that are accepting less than 10% of people who apply,” Mr. Gibson said. “In reality, those schools aren’t the best fit schools for lots of people, but that gets lost in this process because we’re so focused on numbers.” The focus on admission to competitive colleges and the measures parents used in the scandal to get their children into these colleges show the problem with the current state of college admissions. These colleges might not be the right choice for the student, but the college that is the best fit for them may not be seen as prestigious enough by their parents. “We’re obsessed with getting into that group of schools, so sometimes people choose different ways to do that,” Ms. Hardy said. “It never surprised me. When people would send that to me, I didn’t have a reaction to it at all. It’s disappointing that people would do that, but it doesn’t surprise me.”
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ATHLETES IN ACTION By Dean Campbell, Spencer Cothham, Evan Dorian, Owen Hewitt, Callie Hollis, Jack Lange, Andrew McDowell, Cary Robbins Design by Andrew McDowell
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unior Reagan Burford hits a ball during batting practice. With five seniors committed to college athletics, the baseball team has enjoyed spending this last year together and training through spring break and competition. Junior Nick Seward said he is sad the seniors are leaving but knows that this year’s team has gotten very close. “The best part of being on the team is really being able to get to be yourself around each other,” Seward said. “You just need to go and play baseball and have fun.” The team is looking forward to finishing strong and having a great end to the season.
Photograph by Andrew McDowell
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unior Kelan Parsons tracks down the ball in a match against Harding. The soccer team has seen mixed results this year, as they look to pick up form late in the season. At the time of writing, they are one game into the regional playoffs, securing a win against Westminster. Senior Jack Apple attributes the team’s recent successes to a joint leadership by the team’s seniors. “Being a senior changes a lot of stuff for the soccer season,” Apple said. “You’re like a captain, even if you’re not technically the captain.”
Photograph by Callie Hollis
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unior Hayden Hodges works on her skills during practice. This season in girls lacrosse, the players are training harder, playing better and becoming more unified as a team thanks to new head coach Ms. Kayleigh Pearson. The lacrosse team appreciates Coach Pearson’s emphasis on team unity and making the team feel like family. “Being inclusive and being a good learning experience for everyone is really important,” Hodges said. “Having fun with the rest of the team is the most important part, though.”
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Photograph by Dean Campell
ighth grader Charlie Stevens prepares to throw the ball in the game against Arlington. The water polo team, composed of St. George’s and homeschooled athletes alike, finished the season by winning the state championship. With a undefeated record, the team put together a flawless championship run. “Winning the state championship is a huge honor and it took a lot of hard work,” junior Silas Rhodes said. “We really united quickly and that was crucial for our success. It was great to be able to play as a team and see the fruit of our labor. It was an amazing season.”
Photograph by Ms. Molly Stevens
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S
ophomore Maddie Bishop sprints off the starting block in a 100 meter race. The track team is off to the races this year. For sophomore Allison Newman, the team’s unity is one of the best parts of the season. “This is probably one of the stronger teams that we’ve had; we are just a bigger group of people,” Newman said. “We had our first big meet...and everybody ran really, really well. Everybody’s dropping time. So you can’t really complain with that.”
S Photograph by Andrew McDowell
Photograph by Jack Lange
enior Jack Graddy serves to an opponent during a match against Northpoint. With 11 senior leaders on the team, the tennis team is hoping to make a run in the team regional tournament after celebrating success in the individual regional tournament. Most of the seniors have been a part of the team for the past four years and have acted as mentors for the underclassmen. They are ready to hand over the leadership of the team to the juniors even though there are only four of them. “[The seniors] are motivators and mentors,” senior Tim Turcotte said.
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eniors stand ready for a drill in practice. The boys lacrosse team reached the playoffs after not making them last season. “We want to make a statement in our league and our division to show that we are here, and we are present,” senior Cameron Head, who started playing lacrosse in eighth grade said. “We work out every day. We really match up against our team and scout them and try to be the most prepared we can before we go into a game,” Head said.
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Photograph by Snowden Farnsworth
unior Mae Vann stands ready at bat in a game against Harding. The varsity softball team is becoming a more serious sport this year thanks to the efforts of their new coach Dr. Kyle Capstick and the seniors on the team. “In the past, our warm ups were really simplistic, and we, more or less, got to the field before a game,” senior Maria Sallee said. “Now, we’re actually using the full hour before the game, actually warm up our batting and our whole bodies and taking time to really get ourselves into the right mindset for the game.” The team is hoping to build the middle school program to make the overall program better. “We’re working on getting more people interested in softball, so the program continues after we graduate because senior classes has carried the softball team for as long as we’ve been here,” Sallee said.
Photograph by Jack Lange
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Committed GRYPHONS AT THE NEXT LEVEL
By Emma Bennett, Spencer Cotham, Evan Dorian, Owen Hewitt, Cary Robbins and Mimi Young Photography by Laura Beard, Emma Bennett, Evan Dorian, Snowden Farnsworth and Owen Hewitt Design by Owen Hewitt
Wil
Zach
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WOOD
il Wood will be continuing his baseball career at Millsaps College in Mississippi this fall. Though finding the right school wasn’t an easy process, Wood is looking forward to the opportunity he’ll have. “There’s just so many schools and just having to go visit so many and pick which one you like more is pretty hard,” Wood said. “Having a chance to start freshman year is a pretty big deal to me, so I’m really excited about that.” Wood expects that getting on the field early in his career will be beneficial. “I think playing four years will be a lot of experience,” he said. “That will help me grow.”
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WILLIAMS ach Williams had an unorthodox journey to run cross country at High Point University. “I didn’t really know about it until this year,” Williams said. Injuries made him doubt that he would be able to run in college. “I was actually planning on not running,” Williams said. “I wanted to originally. Then I decided not to after I got hurt, and I was fine with it. But then once I got an offer, things changed, and I decided that if I had this opportunity I might as well take it.” Williams is looking ahead to a healthy and successful career. “A full season without injury is what I’m going for,” Williams said.
Spencer
Andy
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SMITH
pencer Smith will continue his football career as a preferred walk-on at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville this fall. “My dream has always been to play for UT. It’s everyone’s dream,” Smith said. “[I] had a visit with Coach Pruitt, talked to the quarterbacks coach at length and they’re turning stuff around up there so I was just really excited to get up there.” Smith says he’s had great appreciation for his time at St. George’s. “I love St. George’s,” Smith said. “Everybody was super close, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything really. I mean we had a 25-person team beat a 60-person ECS team. You can’t make that up.”
Mary Miller
GOLDBERG
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ary Miller Goldberg has been swimming for over 10 years and will continue at Birmingham-Southern College. “I discovered Birmingham-Southern through Will Barton, who went there to swim also.” Goldberg said. Goldberg visited Birmingham-Southern and committed the next weekend. She’s very excited to have the opportunity to expand on her talents and has some advice for future college athletes. “Be sure to know your worth. If some schools aren’t offering you a lot of money or the spot you want, look other places and focus on colleges that value you.”
BEAN
ndy Bean, set to continue his baseball career at Belmont University this fall, is excited about what the future holds. After pitching a game not knowing the Bruins’ scouts were in attendance, Bean quickly saw the opportunity arise. “It was a pretty quick initiation of the relationship, but after I talked with the coach I got a lot of time to research and figure out exactly what Belmont was about,” Bean said. He anticipates a major time commitment, but is prepared for what is to come. “I think college is going to be a great experience,” Bean said. “I’m happy that I get to do.”
Justin
BRAY
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ustin Bray is set to continue his football career at Mercer University in the fall. For Bray, the decision to play at Mercer came down to proximity to home. “It’s a smaller school, but it’s closer to home, and it has really good academics, so it’s also a place that really felt homey to me,” Bray said. His motivation for continuing to play college is closely tied to his love for the game “I really just love football.” Bray said. “I talk to my high school teammates all the time about how much we miss being out there. I really just want that feeling again, of playing football.”
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Hunter SCHWARTZ
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unter Schwartz has always wanted to play college baseball, and he will fulfill that dream at the University of Alabama at Huntsville after committing at the end of last school year. “The baseball team seemed like a good fit for me,” Schwartz said. He met members of the baseball team during his visit there last year. “I saw the dorms that they stayed in and saw the routine they went through on a daily basis,” Schwartz said. The University of Alabama at Huntsville also suited the academic interests that he wants to pursue beyond high school. “They have a really good engineering school, Schwartz said. “That’s what I want to study in college.”
Sara WASHINGTON
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ara Washington spent four years cheering on Gryphon athletics on the sidelines, and now she’s taking her talents out west to compete in Texas Christian University’s cheer program. “I always knew I wanted to go there, but I didn’t know if I wanted to cheer or not,” Washington said. “So I knew if I went to TCU, I could try out.” Washington tried out and made the team in April. “It’s really taught me a lot about discipline and just always pushing myself to be the best and never giving up in [difficult] situations,” Washington said. “It’s really worth it in the end, going to nationals, and putting all that work onto the floor at the very end of the season.”
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Timber
KING
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hough people typically spend hours searching to find the right college, Timber King’s college found him. “I was drifting and waiting to see where I was going to go, and all of sudden Pikeville [University] popped up,” King said. King was not just looking for a school with a good football program but with a good arts program as well. King’s relationship with football has been tested, but it seems that his hard work and commitment have finally paid off. “It means a lot to know that I didn’t give up even after all the injuries, wrist, knees, all the surgeries. It finally paid off.”
Kyle
GASAWAY
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or third-generation football player Kyle Gasaway, playing college football was both a childhood dream and a family tradition. “Just the fact that I can live that out and follow the footsteps of my dad who played college football, and my grandfather, it just means a lot that I can carry on the tradition of my family,” Gasaway said. Gasaway officially committed to Ouachita Baptist University on National Signing Day in February, but he knew he wanted to attend the university from his first visit there. “From every visit I’ve taken down there, it just felt like home from the start,” Gasaway said.
Carter
PARK
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arter Park has played baseball all his life, and he plans to continue his baseball career at Belmont University in Nashville. Playing sports in college is also a family tradition for Park. “My dad and my cousin played at Ole Miss, and I wanted to play [in] college too,” Park said. Belmont University approached Park this past fall, and he committed the next day. Park had visited Belmont before, and he liked the overall atmosphere of the university. “I pictured myself being at Ole Miss when I was young, and it reminded me a lot of it,” Park said.
Cole SCHIRMER
C
ole Schirmer will be joining the Savannah State University baseball program this year. After playing baseball all four years of high school, he’s excited to continue pitching in college. Schirmer was given the opportunity to combine sports and service at Savannah State. “They offered me in-state tuition…because I was a pitcher, and I want to do the military training so it was almost immediate that I wanted to go there,” Schirmer said. Schirmer will have the chance to play baseball as well as spend time in the military. “I’m just very thankful to go there,” Schirmer said. “I’ve always wanted to go play baseball in college.”
Jacquavious
PRYOR
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his fall, Jacquavious Pryor will be attending Lindenwood University in Missouri. Pryor has been playing football since he was five years old, and he is now proud to say that he has committed and will be playing college football. “I finally get to fill out my dreams to go play college football,” Pryor said, “and eventually make it to the next level.” Pryor wants to thank his dad for all of his support. “He’s the one that pushed me,” Pryor said. “He’s the one that got me recruited, and he did everything for me and got me to where I am now.”
Kate
MURPHY
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ate Murphy will be playing lacrosse at Vanderbilt University next year. Having committed nearly three years ago, she’s had plenty of time to get ready for her college experience. “Vanderbilt has been my dream school since I was a child,” Murphy said. “After attending an academic tour and a lacrosse camp my freshman year, I knew that was where I wanted to study and play if given the opportunity.” Murphy hopes to balance lacrosse, studying and service and to build community within the team. “Being a part of a team that is working towards a common goal builds the strongest relationships,” Murphy said. “It is an honor and an incredible opportunity that I plan to take seriously.”
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Despite the science, astrology remains popular By Snowden Farnsworth
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oes the fault lie with the stars, as Shakespeare wondered, or does it lie with ourselves because we trust them? Though we have known for millennia that the orientation of constellations in the night sky has no influence on individual human lives, horoscopes remain enduringly popular. A survey completed by the National Science Board in 2006 found that 73% of respondents admitted to having read a horoscope, and 44% said that they did so fairly often. Derived from the Greek word “asteri,” meaning star, astrology has been around for thousands of years. That same root was used to create the word “astronomy.” At the time of its creation, though, astrology and astronomy were essentially the same because humans lacked the scientific foundation to debunk astrology. We now know that in order
“Calling it science? I think that’s just ignorance really.” 12 The Lodge
for a theory to be scientific, it must be verified or falsified, but astrology is neither. Because astrology is not testable, it is by definition not scientific, but astronomy is. Astronomy teacher Mr. Mike Smothers said that the two are fundamentally different. “The differences come about when we start to look at an explanation of what’s happening in the sky.” Mr. Smothers said. “[Astronomy] is looking at the structure of the universe, the structure of the solar system… whereas astrology was: how do these patterns we see influence the events on Earth and the lives of people on Earth?” Despite it having no scientific backing, a casual interest in astrology is still common. Most people can name their sign, for instance, but only 6% of those surveyed by the National Science Board said they took the horoscope seriously. For those people in that 6%, Mr. Smothers thinks the appeal may be that astrology offers a source of comfort. “If I understand why things are happening to me, I get more comfort than feeling it’s just random,” Mr. Smothers explained. “They see it as psychologically comforting in some way… Humans have a need for structure. We are comfortable when we know what’s going on.” So it makes sense that horoscopes become more popular in times of crisis. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 1973 tracked a significant increase in astrology’s popularity during the Great Depression and at times of war. There was another spike in popu-
larity corresponding with the 2016 election season, which caused division among Americans. It is also possible that many people just enjoy reading them. Freshman McKenzie Knight has enjoyed horoscopes since she was introduced to them by her mother. “The idea that there’s a way to know more about your future and who you are has made me really interested in astrology,” Knight said. Although she finds astrology fun, she acknowledges its flaws. “I think people over-elaborate,” Knight said. “At the end of the day, what used to be this simple idea turns into an overly complicated ball of nonsense.” Junior Aiden Curran, on the other hand, doesn’t see any redeeming qualities to astrology no matter how it’s approached. “I think it’s a waste of time because I just don’t think that when you are born dictates your personality,” Curran said. “Your life experiences do.” Curran argues that horoscopes are not only pointless but also potentially toxic. “You can blame bad attributes of your personality on your sign,” Curran said. “I think you are rationalizing not being nice or just bad parts of yourself with this fake science.” Senior Rachel Umansky thinks that believing in astrology is caused by lack of knowledge. “I’d say astrology is just a product of society looking for meaning in things,” Umansky said. “Calling it science? I think that’s just ignorance really.” For Umansky, who will be
pursuing a degree in astrophysics at Cornell University in the fall, a deeper understanding of astronomy means that astrology does not make sense. “[Astrology] is based off of stars and constellations and what we can see in the night sky, but if you time lapse years and years into the future, stars die,” Umansky said. “They live out their lives and go in their orbits on their own galaxies. We’re no longer going to have the same constellations that we have today, so it doesn’t make any sense to put meaning into [something that’s] temporary.” Mr. Smothers believes that studying astronomy can satisfy some of the same longings that astrology attempts to fill. “I wonder if [astrology believers] studied a course in astronomy,” Mr. Smothers said. “If they started to learn about these really awe-inspiring things in our galaxy – that we’re literally made from the ashes of dying stars. [They could see that] we have this connection to the universe. It’s not just something out there, but something in here. Could [studying astronomy] also give them that sense of calmness? That sense of peace? That sense of oneness?” But ultimately, Mr. Smothers doesn’t see too much harm in astrology. “If [astrology] is something that brings them a sense of happiness in some way,” Mr. Smothers said. “You’ve got to ask, well what’s the big harm there?”
You know you want to read them. GO ON. (Mr. Smothers says it’s okay.) By Will Brown, Spencer Cotham, Snowden Farnsworth, Owen Hewitt and Claire Rooney Design by Will Brown, Snowden Farnsworth and Cary Robbins Illustrations by Spencer Cotham
Aries (March 21 - April 19) Aries, you are as hot as the blazing Memphis sun. You’re killing it. When you walk into a room, all eyes are on you. As long as you’re careful not to burn others, your summer will be perfect.
Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Baby steps, Taurus. Let’s go one hoof at a time to get to your goals. Always remember that fortune favors the bull-d (Nice one right! I thought it was pretty good.) Anyway, if you like something, you’d better put a ring on it this summer.
Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Let’s be real, Gemini, you should probably update your wardrobe. It’s getting a bit “last season.” And just think of how good you’ll look sporting some new threads this summer while having the best break of your life.
Cancer (June 21 - July 22) So Cancer, you’ve become a crab this past year, with your hard shell. But now’s the time to break free! Go buck wild! Eat all the chocolate!
Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) Let’s go somewhere, Libra! It’s summertime, aka vacation time. You’ve got three months to go globe-trotting, it’ll be a total blast.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) Okay Scorpio, real talk, it’s time. You’ve got to talk to people this summer! *gasp* I know, but it’ll be okay. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet your soulmate… or maybe just someone with a really chill dog.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) Hey Sagittarius, it’s ya boy. So, you’re done with school. I know you just want to lie down and sleep, but that grind never stops! So get up and go out there and do some charity work or something!
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) Chill out, Capricorn! You’ve been going at 100% for a while, but it’s time to sit down with a nice glass of cold sweet tea by the pool and work on finding your zen. Ohm…, Ohm…
Leo (July 23 - August 22)
Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)
Okay control freak, this is your time to shine and let loose a little bit. Come on, stop being so uptight this summer. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Aquarius, you got this. I know you’re going to crush your summer goals. Maybe “this” is getting that sun-kissed look, or maybe “this” is binging every season of “The Office.”
Virgo (August 23 - Sept. 22)
Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20)
Virgo, it’s about time you treat yo’ self! You’ve spent all year taking care of others. Stop it. Get some help for yourself. You deserve that pint of ice cream. Go for it.
While there’s no place like home, you’ve got to come out of your bubble, Pisces. Make some new friends, get a pet rock, just do something. Please, we’re getting worried about you.
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Branching Out str
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Whether you’re joining the tenth grade or heading off to college, we’re all branching out. Take a mo
If you get these pages signed and drawn on, send a picture to gryphnation@sgis.org for house poin
oment to sign your name or draw yourself into your house.
nts! Also, send those pictures to us on Instagram at newsgryphs and we’ll post them on our story.
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ver Tomor O d u row o l C
Photoillustration by Laura Beard and Snowden Farnsworth. Vaping was originated as a means of quitting smoking, but now millions of teens are expiramenting with nicotine products.
Vaping has put a new face on addiction, and it’s not going anywhere
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By Laura Beard and Evan Dorian
here there’s smoke, there’s fire. And these days, where there’s a cloud, there’s a vape pen. In its earliest stages over a decade ago, vaping was marketed as a means to ease the process of quitting smoking cigarettes but now threatens to make a new generation addicted to nicotine. Vape pens and JUUL pods are the new metaphorical poster children of teenage addiction, and the controversial, nicotine-packed products found in the pockets of millions of teenagers can take a serious toll on the health of young people. These products use various flavors infused with water vapor to give users a high. Many students were understandably wary of speaking to the Lodge, as vaping remains illegal for minors and against school rules, but one student was willing to discuss their past use of vaping products on the condition that we
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protect their identity. “I used nicotine products to help myself deal with stress mainly,” the anonymous source told the Lodge. “I never used it much, but I definitely used it.” This source has since quit vaping, but for a time, struggled with a minor addiction. “I was introduced to these products by a friend of mine that goes to another school,” the source said. “We’d been good friends for a while, and he could tell that I was super stressed out and he was like, ‘here, this might take some of the stress away.’ And then it kind of worked a little, but then I started researching how bad it was for me and I was like, ‘hey, that’s not a good idea.’ But since it worked for the stress, I kind of kept doing it. Fortunately, I was able to stop pretty easily.” The cost of this person’s addiction may not have extended too far into their academic and social lives, but the issue of losing their
family’s trust has left a mark on them. “There was a greater cost in my family life because they kind of know about it, and they don’t really trust me anymore,” the source said. “They did trust me, and now they don’t really. But they also know that I’ve stopped completely, and they’re monitoring me to make sure that I’ve stopped.” Some addictions are shortlived, as in the case of this source. Others, however, can last longer and be more detrimental to the physical and mental health of users. Teenagers may not grasp how easily a young person can fall prey to addiction or that establishing a pattern of reliance on some substances can introduce risk of succumbing to the pressure of trying others. Senior Aiden Tanzer has seen how such substances can harm young people, both among his friends and, on a smaller scale, in himself.
“I have become reliant on sleep aids and stuff, caffeine in the morning, but I’m able to function without that,” Tanzer said. “I’ve had imbalances of stuff in my body, and I took some stuff to get [balance]. I really felt weird if I didn’t take it but nothing too serious.” Tanzer’s continued experience has seldom extended beyond mainstream remedies for insomnia or lack of energy, but his proximity to peers who have experimented with nicotine has given him insight into what that means for young people. “I don’t anymore, but I used to hang out with a bunch of people who would do that stuff,” Tanzer said. “Of course I tried some, just because my friends were doing it... I didn’t want to be left out. Vaping, some other stuff. I didn’t like the way it made me feel. And so I was like, ‘this isn’t my thing. I’ll hang out with you guys but just not with that.’”
The issue of young people experimenting with vaping is widespread, and the local community is no exception. In Dec. 2018, Upper School Director Ms. Pam McCarthy directly addressed the issue of vaping one morning after chapel. Ms. McCarthy asked that high school students remain in the gym for a few minutes, and she spoke to them candidly about the pattern of vaping that had swept over the high school. Ms. McCarthy focused on the reality that students need to be helped when they struggle with substances rather than lecturing them. Upper School Dean Mrs. Kalyn Underwood has managed the disciplinary side of vaping at St. George’s, but beyond simply handing out consequences to students who break the honor code, Mrs. Underwood hopes to advise students about the dangers of addiction and equip them with the knowledge to make safe health choices. “When I first started teaching here a few years ago, I knew a few students smoked, but I would never just see a cigarette lying on the floor,” Mrs. Underwood said. “It’s just that this is so much more accessible and concealable, which is why [vaping] is becoming so much of an epidemic.” The progression from smoking nicotine in cigarette form to vaping it in a small pen or pod has made it easier to hide, and it has opened the door for exponentially more young people to use these devices without immediate disciplinary repercussions. “If you were wanting to smoke a cigarette, you could maybe before school, and then you’d have to wait again until after school, or maybe after practice, so you’d go hours [without smoking],” Mrs. Underwood said. “This is something that you can access potentially during the day much more easily, which then makes it so much easier to become addicted, because you can do it more often.” As is the case with any addiction, whether on a small or large scale, recognizing the problem is the first step to solving it. Mrs. Underwood sees that the widespread use of vaping paraphernalia is a problem for the community’s youth, and she expressed how the school hopes to continue working
with the community to solve the problem. “Typically with something like vaping, if someone is found to be using it, especially if it’s found on campus, that is breaking a law,” Mrs. Underwood said. “Students often wind up going home. We talk with families. We move through the disciplinary process which may involve an honor council visit because it is a major school rule.” While being subjected to punishment is never a desirable outcome for high schoolers, Mrs. Underwood insists that addressing this type of issue is in the best interest of students and their families. “I feel very strongly about part-
ly, afterward the body begins to produce less dopamine on its own. The release one feels after vaping will often mean the need for more release later, as the body depends more and more upon nicotine to feel normal. According to the Surgeon General’s website detailing the dangers of vaping, young people who have begun to use nicotine may be more susceptible to future addictions to other substances such as alcohol and harder drugs, as the developing adolescent brain becomes hardwired for dependency. Other risks include inhibited decision-making and lack of mood control. Despite the obvious dangers, teenagers of America have been
“...heart issues, blood vessel constriction, popcorn lung, various other things like that...those happen soon.” nership with parents because the goal is to turn out happy, healthy, prepared kids,” she said. “And if you’re here 40 hours a week, then parents and us need to be working together to ensure that same goal.” Achieving that goal means overcoming dependency. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), addiction is “a brain disease that is manifested as compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence.” “Nicotine addiction worries me tremendously, because it is also shown to have problems with heart issues, blood vessel constriction, popcorn lung, various other things like that, and those happen soon,” Mrs. Underwood said. “We don’t know what all is going to happen with it, because to have nicotine sans tobacco is new.” The physical problems associated with vaping are just one side of the coin. Mood changes, some subtle and some drastic, can define the user during and after the beginning of a vaping addiction. Per Harvard University’s health website, the emotional effects of nicotine can start with the very thing that initially draws users in – a sense of relief, or relaxation. This is due to the rush of dopamine that comes with the use of nicotine, and yet, ironical-
drawn into vaping in recent years. This is in large part due to companies like JUUL marketing their products as being “safe alternatives” to more serious practices such as smoking. In reality, vaping using a JUUL device is addictive in and of itself. Being perceived as less dangerous has made vape pens all the more dangerous. Widespread use of nicotine and other addictive substances can seemingly normalize the idea of addiction. In a world where vaping is seemingly universal and accepted by an uncomfortably high proportion of young people, others can feel unnecessary pressure to cave to the temptation. “I know one person that says it looks cool,” freshman John Miraglia said, in reference to the idea of why so many young people take up vaping. “And most everybody else, if I get into a deeper conversation with them, they say that…‘well, my friends did it, so I did it.’” Peer pressure can apply to students of all ages – Miraglia has seen the trend of peers succumbing to social pressures as a freshman but was able to distance himself from the temptation. “None of my friends have ever pressured me into it because I’m not that close with the people that
[vape],” Miraglia said. “And even that being true, the people that did it, most of them are gone now.” Miraglia faced the pressure of experimenting with vaping products but never succumbed to that pressure. “Just brief thoughts, being around other people, but never really gone farther than that,” Miraglia said. Like Miraglia, the anonymous source faced similar pressure, but did allow the social dynamics to influence their decision to use vaping products. “I wasn’t really forced into it,” the source said. “It was just [a friend and] me one-on-one. I didn’t do it because it was cool, but I know [that’s why] a lot of people do it. But since it was just me and that person one-on-one, it was kind of just like, ‘hey, this could help, and you know what, I’ll try it.’” Mrs. Underwood understands that some students might not have a strong enough will to resist the temptation and could give in to peer pressure. “Maybe they think they know better, or they’re not afraid about getting caught or that’s just what they’re going to do,” Mrs. Underwood said. “And you have kids in the middle who could waffle either direction and I’m hoping that we get a lot of those kids in the middle. I want the other kids to listen too and realize that the school cares.” It’s not just other young people who can present teenagers with temptations and means of pursuing the high of substance use – big companies, like JUUL, actively profit off of teens’ insecurities. JUUL is currently making money off of the addictions of an estimated 2.1 million middle and high schoolers, according to a 2017 study by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company grew to a market value of $10 billion four times faster than Facebook, making it by far the fastest growing company of all time. JUUL’s official website gives a warning to customers upon logging on. “JUUL Labs’ mission is to eliminate cigarettes,” the website reads. “JUUL products are cigarettes. You must be at least 21 years old to purchase products on
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JUUL.com.” JUUL’s target audience may be adults seeking to quit smoking, but by selling products in various flavors, including Mint, Mango, Cucumber, Fruit and Creme, the company appeals to young people as well. In an effort to support the fight against youth use of vaping paraphernalia, the federal government took action against stores that sell
use of their products among youth with a statement on their website: “We support effective legislation and regulation to prevent the purchase and use of our products by minors.” The sincerity of JUUL’s crusade against underage nicotine use has been called into question by public officials as the FDA has brought forth legislation to attempt to lower the rate of usage among
“I don’t think young people need to
push back. I think everyone needs to push back.” JUUL products. According to the official website of the FDA, “the agency issued more than 1,300 warning letters and civil money penalty complaints (fines) to retailers who illegally sold JUUL and other e-cigarette products to minors during a nationwide, undercover blitz of brick-and-mortar and online stores this summer.” JUUL’s website claims they support efforts to eliminate the
youth. A number of states are in the process of either considering or implementing regulations to prohibit underage use of nicotine products – Tennessee, notably, prohibits the sale and distribution of vaping products to those under the age of 18, according to the Public Health Law Center at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. As government officials at the state and federal level attempt to
place legal restrictions on the use of vaping products, Mrs. Underwood shared words of advice for people struggling to stop vaping. “For coming off of it, I really don’t know what you do besides... give your kid a nicotine patch to help them come down,” Mrs. Underwood said. She further explained how she hopes her children will have an excuse to avoid vaping. “And then as a parent...I want you to have an excuse,” Mrs. Underwood said. “I want you to be able to say, ‘sorry, man, my mom’s nuts and she makes me pee in a cup every Friday, so no thanks.’’’ Based on his experiences with peers who have struggled, Tanzer lent advice to young people struggling with substances. “I could tell them not to do it all I want, but ultimately it’s their choice,” Tanzer said. “I’m not gonna make their choices for them. It’s all up to them and what they want to do with their lives. Make good choices.” Beyond simply making good choices, the anonymous source knows that a fight for independence from substances must come to the forefront of our societal
agenda. “I don’t think young people need to push back,” the source said. “I think everyone needs to push back, not just young people. It’s completely illegal for someone under 18 to buy any vape products, cigarettes, anything with nicotine in it.” The source hoped young people would be free from addiction to nicotine in the future, but they understand that adults must play a role in that as well. “It has to be coming from people older than 18, and those people must be held accountable for supplying underage people with drugs,” the source said. “Basically, I think that it should be more monitored by everyone, and [vaping should be] more frowned upon as a society than it already is.” The source gave advice to those considering trying nicotine products. “The lesson I learned is that it’s just not worth it,” the source said. “Risking getting addicted to the most addictive substance, risking all the health issues just to feel a little better for ten, fifteen seconds, it’s not worth it.”
Photoillustration by Laura Beard. The sale and distribution of vaping products by persons under the age of 18 is illegal in Tennessee.
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It’s a New Chapter for Softball Sophomore Kayla Hayes carefully stays her hand as the softball goes above the strike zone while she is up at bat against Harding Academy. Hayes played competitive softball before joining the St. George’s team this season.
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By Emma Bennett Photography by Jack Lange and Andrew McDowell
t’s the opening game of the season, and it’s a beautiful day for softball. Dr. Kyle Capstick stands on the same field she played on during her time at St. George’s, but instead of a teammate, she is now the head coach. St. George’s is facing off against St. Agnes and hoping to begin their season with a win. St. George’s is up to bat, and the bases are loaded. Sophomore Kayla Hayes steps up to the plate, settles into her batting stance, waits patiently for the pitch, then swings. Players and fans alike watch as the ball sails over the fence, disappearing into the woods behind the field.
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Hayes’ grand-slam was the first in school history to go over the fence (others have occurred inside the park) and heralded a new chapter of St. George’s softball. Dr. Capstick has been crucial in the revival of the St. George’s softball program, and her passion for the sport stems from her connection to the school. “We were very successful when I was here. I had a strong team, strong coaching, and it was a joy to do,” Dr. Capstick said. “When I came back for this role specifically, I was asked if I wanted to take that on, and I said absolutely.” In addition to being a graduate of St. George’s, Dr. Cap-
stick was an ideal hire because her accomplishments. Athletic Director Mr. Tom Densford was involved in her hiring as the varsity head coach of softball. She was additionally hired as the middle school director of learning services. Mr. Densford thought she’d be a good fit for the school since she is both an alumna of the school and of the softball program. “She was a college athlete, and one that had gone back and gotten her doctorate, which I find amazing, to put a great female person in front of females,” Mr. Densford said. Mrs. Leanne Ricketson, sophomore English teacher and assistant varsity softball
coach, has been impressed with the changes Dr. Capstick has already implemented in the program. “She’s brought a tremendous amount of energy and commitment to the program. She’s advocated for the girls and gotten them everything we need, from new helmets to practice kits and field time,” Mrs. Ricketson said. “Her commitment to making the softball program the best it can be is really impressive.” Senior Danielle Chandler has been playing softball since seventh grade and, like Mrs. Ricketson, has also noticed the changes made during Dr. Capstick’s first season with the team.
“She wants us to be good, and she’s pushing for it. She’s gone and talked to leaders,” Chandler said. “She’s actually gotten us new equipment, new uniforms and girls’ helmets [and] made sure everyone has supplies that they need.” Like Chandler, senior Lindsey Pepper has played softball at St. George’s since middle school and has sometimes felt that softball hasn’t received the support it deserves. For the past few years, softball has finished the season with a losing record. Even though Pepper has been the starting pitcher for the team since middle school, she has not always felt comfortable talking about her sport. “I’ve received, not hate, but just not as much respect for this sport, that it just blows over my head now,” Pepper said. “I’m so used to it, and I don’t really talk about softball with other people because, not that I’m embarrassed, but it’s not something to be completely proud about at all times.”
Pepper is not the only player that has noticed a disrespect for the sport in the past. Fellow softball player and junior Malaisyah Vann has felt similarly. “When we’re walking down the hallways and people are laughing about how bad you did in a game, you get to the point when you actually don’t want to invite your friends to a game, and it needs to not be like that,” Vann said. “I think if everyone - and this goes for all sports - if everyone just encouraged each other and came out and supported, I feel like every sport could do better.” In addition to sometimes feeling unsupported by their peers, softball players have also struggled with facilities and equipment issues over the years. Chandler remembers the issues the team had with their previous dugouts. “Until, I think it was two years ago, our dugouts were just chicken wire fences, with no roof, nowhere to put our bags or any of that,” Chandler said “We do have a fairly nice
Senior Lindsey Pepper surges forward to deliver a killer pitch during warm-ups during the game against Harding Academy. St. George’s went on to beat Harding by run ruling them 11-0 by the bottom of the fourth inning.
“If everyone just encouraged each other and came out and supported, I feel like every sport could do better.” field, so it definitely didn’t match with what we did have. Finally [we] got some money raised, I believe, by our own parents. The parents I know really had to advocate for that money to go where they wanted it to go, and that finally ended up being put into our dugout.” Chandler’s mother, Mrs. Robbye Chandler, serves as softball team mom and is in charge of running the gate and concessions. While Mrs. Chandler notes there were definitely issues when her daughter first started playing softball, parents on the team have contributed to make sure the program was improved. “It was not a good situation. There was no tarp for the field to be covered, like there was for the baseball field. There was only one bleacher, at all, for the whole thing,” Mrs. Chandler said. “There’s been support, people want to support it. Honestly going to other fields to play softball, we have the nicest softball field of any of the schools we play against now. It’s very nice, so that’s been a good thing.” Even though the team has faced problems in the past, the players have noted that there is definitely more support for the program this year. Mrs. Ricketson attributes the lack of updated equipment in the past to previous coaches who did not advocate as strongly for
new equipment as Dr. Capstick has. “I don’t think there’s ever been an intentional oversight, or an intentional injustice, or an intentional ‘no,’” Mrs. Ricketson said. “I think there were years where the program was headed by someone who was less passionate than Coach Capstick, who was doing a less able job for advocating for the kids, and we’ve seen the difference. [This year] the second it was asked for it, it was granted.” Dr. Capstick has also felt the support from the school, and just as Mrs. Ricketson pointed out, anything she’s asked for this year, the team has received. “Right now, I feel as a coach I am very well supported across the board, and I think that’s what needs to be known,” Dr. Capstick said. “I can’t speak to the history, but I can tell you right now, they’re all in, which has been really cool to see. And I am also a person that’s going to fight for what we need and what we want, and I’ve been supported with that.” According to Vann, Dr. Capstick addressed the team’s struggles at the beginning of the season and was determined to create change. “Basically, she came in, and from what I understand, she said what needed to be done, what we needed to move on
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“I am also a person that’s going to fight for what we need and what we want, and I’ve been supported with that.” to progress as a program,” Vann said. “She just came in, and she handled her business, and she said, ‘Look, we’re not going to be a joke anymore. We’re going to pick this up.’ And she got her crew together. She said, ‘Let’s go. Softball is not a joke. We have to do it. Prove everybody wrong.’” At the top of her agenda is getting the middle school team up and running. For the past two years, the middle school team has been a few players too short to compete. “She was so close [this year],” Mr. Densford said. “I think she was two girls away from making the middle school softball team.” Dr. Capstick felt the pressure of not having a middle school team, as it adds uncertainty as to what the program will look like in the future. “That’s hard to come back from and to be able to get the players there and especially to move the program forward,” Dr. Capstick said. “That has definitely been a challenge, not having a middle school program, to know what next year holds.” Even though the future of the middle school program is uncertain, Dr. Capstick is making sure to keep middle school players involved this season by
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having them come to practices and games. “[Those girls] still being out there in practice, still being at all the games, reaching out to the elementary kids, I think that will eventually help get that program back up and running,” Mr. Densford said. On top of having middle schoolers participating in
varsity activities, Dr. Capstick is raising support for softball through sponsored events such as Elementary Night. Spanning from first to fourth grade, 16 girls from the elementary school had the chance to play softball on the Collierville campus field. “They got to run the bases,” Dr. Capstick said. “They got their names announced on the loudspeaker by Mr. Ferguson. They got a hotdog after they were on the field. Things like that were really cool to see, just making a connection to the younger campuses, seeing the varsity girls cheer them on, be excited. That was a really beautiful image of both our school community but also just our program as a whole.” It’s ideas like these that give players and coaches hope for the program to continue. “I’m just excited,” Mr. Densford said. “It’s exciting to see the girls excited, and they seem to be having a lot of fun.” And while Dr. Capstick says
winning state is every coach’s dream, her ultimate dream is making sure her players enjoy the game. “I want the girls to have a fun experience, and I’ve told them that since day one,” Dr. Capstick said. “This is such a fun sport, so that’s my biggest goal for them. Have fun while you’re doing this and enjoy it. I hope that they can walk away and say that they loved their softball experience.”
Junior Malaisyah Vann swings at a pitch in the team’s game versus Harding. This was Vann’s third year playing varsity softball for St. George’s, and her first stint as a left fielder.
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Students, faculty break the mold with specialized indepen
“I taught myself how to play the guitar,” senior Maria Sallee said. “I started in May. I started with individual notes, and then I moved to learning basic chords, like the ones most commonly found in songs. Then, I learned mostly Taylor Swift songs. I thought that was super rewarding being able to play ‘All Too Well’ on the guitar. I’ve always loved that song, so being able to play it makes me really proud of myself.”
“Throughout this year I made a bunch of art pieces, and I found different places to sell them,” senior Maggie Murphy said. “All of my funds go to an organization in Guatemala called ‘Casa Hallelujah.’ That’s a children’s home that I’m closely connected to. I realized that art is something I love to do, and my SIS is something that I’ve been working on my entire senior year. I decided to do something I love, since it was going to be a lot of my free time.”
“I made ‘The Floor is Lava’ but [as] augmented reality,” senior William Wilson said. “Augmented reality is when you use your phone’s camera, and it projects something into the real world. In my case, it’s like a game board projected onto the ground, and lava starts appearing. If you’re on top of the lava, then you get eliminated. There were a lot of bugs that came up in the process. It took a long time to finally fix them, and it worked. That was the best feeling.”
ndent study
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By Callie Hollis Design by Jack Lange
n the past, SIS stood for ‘Senior Independent Study.’ This meant that once a St. George’s student was a senior, they would embark on the journey of completing a project over the course of their senior year. SIS has always been a rite of passage for seniors. However, starting this upcoming school year, SIS will now stand for ‘Specialized Independent Study’ and extend to juniors. Younger students will be able to complete the project either in their junior year or over the span of two years. SIS adviser Mrs. Kimberly Callaway explained the reasoning behind the change. “This [upcoming] year is the first time it’s open for [rising juniors],” Mrs. Callaway said. “The reason why they’re doing that is for the Institute for Citizenship. That class is heavily involved with community service, and so Mr. Hills thought if they want to do community SIS, why not start it with citizenship? Let’s say you’re in the Institute for Citizenship, you are not required to do an SIS through that though. You are not locked in to that.” The class of 2021 will be the first students with the option of junior year, senior year or both for their SIS. This change in the project has opened up many opportunities for the rising juniors, including Dylan Gorman. “I want to design and convert a cargo van into a tiny house that you’re able to live in and travel on the road with,” Gorman said. “I think I’ll just make a sketch first and then design it and plan it all out. Then [I’ll] start the building process.” The new option to be able to work over the course of two years
is going to give way to more elaborate SIS projects, like Gorman’s. This year’s seniors were just as ambitious. Senior Maria Sallee’s SIS consisted of her teaching herself how to play the guitar, specifically Taylor Swift songs. “I tried to practice four to five times a week for at least half an hour,” Sallee said. “Once I did that, I wrote in my reflection journal. That was some of the requirements of my SIS and is mostly about just building up my calluses and building up my skills.” Fellow senior Maggie Murphy created and sold art locally for her SIS. She then gave all of her proceeds to a children’s home, Casa Hallelujah, in Guatemala. “I make art in my free time anyway, and I communicated with a bunch of people and tried to schedule dates of when I could sell my stuff,” Murphy said. “I did a lot of planning, and then I did a lot of creating. It was a fun process.” For William Wilson’s SIS, he coded an app that uses augmented reality to simulate the game “The Floor is Lava” using a phone’s camera. “I’ve always been interested in computers, and I want to go into computer science for my major,” Wilson said. “I decided to go ahead and try it and make sure that’s actually what I want to do for the rest of my life.” SIS projects do not always go according to plan, and sometimes people procrastinate. In the end, seniors always get it done because it is a graduation requirement. This year’s seniors had advice for rising seniors and juniors. “Definitely do something you love,” Murphy said. “Don’t try to make your SIS about something that will take a lot of time or a lot of effort that you don’t really like
doing.” Murphy was very adamant about students loving what they choose to do for their SIS. However, Sallee had a different take on choosing what to do for the project. “They say choose something that you love,” Sallee said. “I say choose something you like, but something you won’t be heartbroken over if you hate it by the end.” SIS is known to be time-consuming. Wilson had a piece of advice for tackling it. “Manage your time wisely and give yourself extra time,” Wilson said. “What you think is going to take an hour might actually take five hours.” Now that this year’s Senior Independent Studies are over, it’s time for the rising juniors and seniors to start their own. With this newly allotted extra time, students can space out the time they’ll spend working on their projects. Mrs. Callaway enjoyed the connection of this year’s senior projects at the expo. She says she cannot wait to see what next year’s SIS projects hold. “We found that there was a lot of positive energy when [all the seniors] were together [at the SIS expo],” Mrs. Callaway said. “And we loved that part of it, and we were real proud of all the seniors for their supporting each other and for their excitement and conclusion of their projects.”
Find Your
Summer Binge Weekend Binge Layout and Opinion by Dean Campbelll
“Riverdale” Suggested by Claire
Not Great
“Pretty Little Liars” Suggested by Kaitlyn
“Hannah Montana” Suggested by Claire
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“The Office” Suggested by Sierra
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” Suggested by Will
“Glee” Suggested by Claire
“Always A Witch” Suggested by Sierra
“Avatar: The Last Airbender” Suggested by Crystal
“New Girl” Suggested by Callie
“Umbrella Academy” Suggested by Mimi
Long Haul
“Parks And Recreation” Suggested by Emma
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” Suggested by Owen
New Fave
“The Vampire Diaries” Suggested by Claire
“Gossip Girl” Suggested by Claire
“Great British Bake Off” Suggested by Laura
“Stranger Things” Suggested by Snowden
Editorial OPINION POLICY: The Lodge opinion section is a venue for the free expression of the student views at St. George’s Independent School. The opinions represented in this section are those of the authors alone and do not necesarily reflect those of the Lodge staff or of the St. George’s community at large. The Lodge strives to be an open forum for the thoughtful and deliberate exchange of comment and criticism and therefore welcomes letters to the editor. Letters to the editor will be printed in the opinion section of the newspaper, should not exceed 300 words and must be signed and accompanied by a verifiable email address. These letters will not be printed if the content is judged obscene, violates the privacy of others or encourages physical disruption of school activities. STAFF EDITORIALS represent the opinion of the editorial board. The following count represents our editorial board’s stance on this editorial. Letters to the editor in response to the editorial are encouraged. The Editorial Board: Laura Beard, Emma Bennett, Kaitlyn Bowman, Will Brown, Evan Dorian, Snowden Farnsworth, Andrew McDowell and Cary Robbins.
Agree: 8/8 Abstain: 0/8 Disagree: 0/8
Editorial: Venturing Into the Unknown What do we leave behind as we look to the future?
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hen a whole year’s worth of doors close, another year’s worth of doors open. That’s our mindset this time of year. As Co-Editors-inChief Emma Bennett and Evan Dorian depart, next year’s executives Snowden Farnsworth and Owen Hewitt are preparing to step into leadership roles, as are next year’s upcoming editors. The question is: where do we go from here? This year, we’ve produced four issues, covering everything from mental illnesses to future college athletes. We’ve tackled a plethora of topics in the interest of the pursuit of truth, representation in our community and entertainment for our readers. We’re on the cusp of a new school year and a new adventure for next year’s
journalistic leadership. Next year, for the first time ever, our pair of Co-Editorsin-Chief won’t be in the same graduating class. Rising senior Snowden Farnsworth stepped into a leadership role immediately upon joining the staff and was elevated to the editorial board in the winter. Rising junior Owen Hewitt performed exceptionally well as a reporter and social media coordinator, forever changing the game of live-tweeting. Farnsworth and Hewitt entered with expectations to help wherever possible and became the leaders the Lodge needs as we venture into the unknown. From the moment their stories about Ms. McCarthy were chosen to run in the first issue to the moment we revealed next year’s executives in class, they have been developing the skills needed to
step into the leadership roles. Student journalism takes many forms, and at the Lodge, we’re proud of the diverse abilities of our editors, reporters, photographers and illustrators. Even with a staff of just 17 students, we produced our most ambitious project to date – Volume 3, Issue 3: examining the human experience inside and out. Covering mental health and social justice issues is the mark we hope we’ve left on this year of student journalism at St. George’s. And although some of us are graduating, we couldn’t be more proud of the students in whose hands we’re leaving our publication for next year. As Pacemaker finalists, we know what we can achieve, and we’ll be striving to continue producing content of that quality. That being said, we hope
student journalism continues to rise in popularity. Do you have ideas for us? Do you think you have something to bring to the table? Email us. Find one of our staffers. We want to hear your suggestions, corrections and criticism. The Lodge isn’t just about reporting – it’s about opportunity. We’re here to give students a chance to hone their skills not by looking at powerpoints and taking notes but by putting out a publication four times a year. That’s how we learn, and that’s how we prepare ourselves for the future. As long as we remain dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the practice of powerful journalism, we’re prepared to venture into the unknown.
CORRECTIONS AND RETRACTIONS: The Lodge strives for accuracy in all articles. However, mistakes are sometimes made. When this happens, you will see corrections here. Issue 3, page 4 (purple side): We mistyped the year 2015 as 2105. Issue 3, page 6 (purple side): We neglected to credit editor Cary Robbins for her reporting on the story “Colors You Can’t Ignore.” Issue 3, both covers: We neglected to credit Laura Beard for photography. FOLLOW US @NewsGryphs on Twitter, NewsGryphs on Intsagram and find us online at www.gryphonlodge.com
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Maria Sallee wills always putting the bases in to Caroline Finch. Mimi Young wills her love for and frustration with VLD to Natalie Murrah.Oscar Higareda wills the title as the Premier Mexican of SG to Luis Higareda.
wills Boo McWaters Mrs. McMullen. Cameron Turner wills never losing to ECS to the entire football team. Alvina Osunde wills her love of raising cranes to Jada Hines.
Wood wills his pick partnership with Burf to Nick Seward. Andrew Joyner wills the men’s side of choir to Joe Walters, Harden Williams and Dade Micheel. Alexis Bourdeau
Ryder Bragg wills his soccer skills to Charlie Hancock.Cannon Faulds wills his love for lax to Luke Robbins. Paulina Hutchison wills having fake ACLs to Ashley Wilson. Wil
Leaving the Lodge
HGH wills the tennis team pranks to Harry Henderson. Audrey Carroll wills everything to her name to Caroline Higley. Grace Jackson wills never coming to school to Griffin Jackson. Jackson Lee wills his amazing lax skills to Madeline Lee.
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to Charlotte Berry. Preston Truelove wills his sick lax skills to Heath Arick. Carter Park wills “Carter” to Carter Shaw.Nacaria Guy wills having the best puff to Jada Hines. Thomas Mann wills Graham Gumbert captainship of the XC team.
tennis drama to Abby Grace Dodson. Steven White wills his hair to Sam Tremaine. Attison Womack wills Gray Nix Room-in-the-Inn-Club. Alex Cervetti wills French Club to Caroline Finch. Anna Margaret Jackson wills looking like herself
Kayla Baker around next year and the chickens to Anna Marie Mayes. Danielle Chandler wills giving advice to Anna Kate Beaudry to Sam Tremaine. Lindsey Pepper wills Whasian (White Asian) to Alyssa Aghabeg. Caroline McDowell wills
les wills her position as organizer for the Art Lounge to the Art Club leaders. William Wilson wills the Wilson legacy to Maggie Wilson. Grace Higley wills the Higley legacy to Caroline Higley. Wield it wisely. Jacqueline Cole wills driving
being himself to Mac Murphy. Kaitlyn Bowman wills being the “auntie” of the friend group to Cary Robbins. Elizabeth Thomas wills the swim team to Maggie Wilson. Justin Bray wills being that alternative kid to Grayson Bolan. Aiva Ria-
ForRob to Claire Epperson. William Irby wills cutting grass to Sam Stamps. Alexis Turner wills being the cutest darkskin at SG to Lauryn Clark. Timber King wills playing hide-and-seek with Mr. Slatery to Isaac Smith. Cameron Head wills
the Big Brother Hugs to Miles Masters. Alec White wills the #2 lax jersey to Griffin Selberg. Beau Land wills his first base skills to Will Crosby. Zach Williams wills the Ultimate Frisbee team to Silas Rhodes. Mary Miller Goldberg wills #DoIt-
to McKenzie Knight. Annie Fogleman wills living in Mrs. Metz’s classroom to Jack Fogelman. Sam Patton wills spontaneous piggy-back rides to Adi Thrasher. Jack Apple wills his crazy climbing techniques to Sam Tremaine. Austin Wall wills
violin solo in Wagon Wheel to Nick Seward and Isaac Smith. AW Scott wills the heart and soul of SG to Charlie Hancock. Emma Bennett wills Morgan Schrum her sass and soccer skills.Kathryn Anderson wills her love for stage managing
Wesley Goodwin his whole heart. Cooper McCreery wills his sunscreen to Carsten Haddad. Jack Simpson wills Mrs. Metz’s next advisory all his tardies. De’Aubranice Garrett wills Mae Vann her mad dance moves. Kyle Gasaway wills the
ings at the Levee to Emma Clayton, Darby Beal, Scottie Brown and Eleanor Kuykendall. Surabhi Singh wills the power of her death glare to Thandie Boudreaux.Jack Beckham wills being the Biloxi Legend to Gray Nix. Colton Turner wills
wills a single grain of salt to Velton Baggett for trying to take her room. Will Johns wills his sick Nike Elite collection to Jack Fogelman. Blair Smithwick wills Dr. Burgess her future PhD in Psychology.Maggie and Morgan will Friday morn-
backs to Eleanor Kuykendall. Evan Dorian wills his live-tweeting skills to Owen Hewitt, but Owen has plenty of skills already. Jaylen Spears wills Josh Taube his wrestling titles: Unstoppable Force and Immovable Object. Crystal Baggett
AR Grissom wills being who Coach Whicker yells at the least to Caroline Finch. Angeline Heger wills the underclassmen she knows a bit of her immeasurable heaping of humor, wit and athletic skill. Jensen Lewis wills cracking everyone’s
to Harry Henderson.
child at SG to Matthew Bran. Molly Whittemore wills being the worst driver at SG to Wilson Whittemore. Laura Beard wills leaving SG after dark to Cary Robbins, Snowden Farnsworth and Callie Hollis. Rachel Crane wills being tennis DJ
protecting the world from The Robot’s glitches to Josie Bishop. Sidney Marr wills leaving school for lunch to Katy Butler. Iris Brashear wills “always being mistaken as a middle schooler” to Mrs. Metz. Annie Bran wills being the best Bran
to Boo McWaters. Katie Schaefer wills “her” wildcat trophy and the Varsity Girls Basketball Team to Caroline Finch. Asia Gibson wills all her old notes to Kirsten Thomas and her love for wings to Kayla Sanford. Sofia Rivera-Peraza wills
Jack Lange. Will Brown wills “X_X” to Maggie Emmendorfer and Snowden Farnsworth. Alfred Johnson wills the strength of the horn to Mae Vann.Spencer Smith wills QB1 to Nick Seward. Camille Harknett wills “Keeping Wesley humble”
the #21 to Livi Tanzer. Jake Hurley wills his speed to Lincoln Johnson. Andrew McDowell wills the sports brief layout to Jack Lange. Jack Graddy wills the co-title on the XC team of “Father Time/Daddy Clock” to Graham Gumbert and
dreaux. Abby Walker wills Maya Ibrahim literally everything she owns. Elianna Hills wills the woman rockstar of MME title to Hanna Gilmore and Eva Claire. Sara Washington wills the L-E-T-S G-O cheer to Allison Evans. Aiden Tanzer wills
dramatic, emotional complainer to Anna Larizza. Ja’ Pryor wills his football stuff to Stuart Young. Cole Schirmer wills nothing to no one, if you want something don’t wait for me to leave. Rachel Umansky wills robot skills to Thandie Bou-
Katie Mullenix wills asking questions in Strength and Conditioning to Chloe Lewis. Connor Longfield wills Velton Baggett the keys to the MME. Claire Rooney wills Henry to Kym Young and Chloe Lewis. Olivia Yukon wills being the most