October 2012

• New Technology Sweeps Classrooms • Sports Training Takes Support • Students Live With Unique Families • Students Cast Our Votes

Newly renovated Chamber's Court in simulated projection on classroom smartboard

October 2012 Vol. XXII Issue I

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SEE PAGE 5 SEE PAGE 12

Pirate Families

SEE PAGE 20

RIC

Tell us what you think Write a letter to the editor

IS HE

School technology 2012 B.C.

DAV

Ballot 2012

thinks this is a great idea.

BrightLink also allows teachers to use the board and the overhead projector in tandem without blinding themselves. There will be no recent memories of a teacher standing in the light beam with the first three letters of “assignment” floating on their chest.

The teachers all got new laptops as well, for maximum butt kicking. Remember when teachers would use a dinosaur of a computer to run something as simple as a powerpoint, and connecting to the internet would take up as much time as the lesson itself? That’s no longer a problem.

The new technology goes beyond laptops and projectors. Students will soon see new laptops available for our use. New wiring, new network switches, a new file server and new telephones all contribute to a faster and more reliable internet for both students and teachers.

Technology seems to be finding it’s way into Riverside, slowly but surely, and that’s a good thing. With it, we hope teachers can connect with students and engage them in a new and exciting way.

IC BY

SEE PAGE 15

Sports Facilities

It seemed like in middle school we were doomed to have at least one class where we sat next to the projector. Even in mid-Spring, we found ourselves taking notes while a blast of hot air hit in us in the face as it spewed from the data projector.

School “technology” used to mean our chairs, our feet, and our book-bags all tangled in the power cord that was run underneath several desks. Before hanging perilously at a perfect tripping height from the connection to a power outlet a few inches up the wall.

Worse were the overhead projectors that were used during our childhoods that were made of up two magnifying glasses, a light bulb, and an even larger heat vent. Those things sounded like a vacuum, and we’re talking a cheap vacuum, not a Dyson. Teachers had to shout over those things. And, to make matters worse, they ran on smear-happy clear plastic sheets like a car runs on gasoline.

That’s why we are intrigued by the introduction of the BrightLink Projectors to Riverside.

Some of us had no idea that they would be here when we got back and we didn’t even notice them at first. They hang silently over our heads and above the whiteboard like some kind of ninja, the cords tucked inside a tan bracket for trip-free learning.

The money for these projectors was put aside by Durham County to build a new high school to help balance out student capacities at other high schools. It turned out the new high school was unnecessary, so instead, they used the funds to provide new equipment for every school in Durham.

The Pirates’ Hook

APH

The editorials, unless signed, are the consensus opinion of the editorial staff and do not necessarily reflect the views of the adviser or the school administration. The newspaper welcomes letters to the editor. The newspaper reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity.

All letters must be signed, however, the newspaper will withhold names upon request with good reason. Advertisements in the newspaper are paid.advertisements and are not the opinion of, or the endorsement of, the newspaper or school administration.

Pira-tech

BrightLink projectors redefine technology use

• GR

•Head Editors: Ben Harrison, Chris Rice, Jonathan Titus •Editors: Emily Eubanks, Cameron McNeill, Quentin Philpot, Casey Speer, Christina Vurnakes •Staff: Ebony Anderson, Luke Berndt, Casie Bickers, C.J Carpenter, Dajai Cissell, Timothy Duke, Parker Harris, Davis Heric, Nicholas Kelly, Jasmine Lyon, David McSwain, Chris Perez, Benjamin Peters, Joanna Rivas, Elijah Rogers •Photo Editor: Chris Perez

www.riverside.dpsnc.net

3218 Rose of Sharon Road Durham, NC 22712

OPINION

Pirates' Hookok

October 2012

OBAMA

By Cameron McNeill

When it comes to choosing a president, you don’t look for the man who has the coolest personality or the best haircut. You look for a man who can make decisions. A guy who can make the country become a better place and who has a proven track record in doing so.

That man is Barack Obama.

My man Barack is great for our country.

Not only are his speeches ingenious and powerful, his policies and actions are even better.

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell: Gone.

No medical coverage for millions of Americans: Gone.

Deportation of young people who have lived here their whole lives: Gone.

Osama bin Laden: Gone.

Obama made promises and he delivered.

By 2014, 50 million Americans that did not have medical insurance will be insured.

Women are now guaranteed equal pay for equal work, and women still have a choice when it comes to birth control.

Yes, the economy is still in repair and is not where it should be, but it is improving.

Without the stimulus package the country would be in another Great Depression.

Obama brought on that stimulus.

Mitt Romney should be thanking Barack because he bailed out the banks. It cost roughly $500 billion but it was necessary to repair the economy. If not done, the banking system, your credit cards, and ATMs would have stopped working.

My opponent accuses Obama of “out of control” spending, but I think he is guilty of out of control rhetoric.

When spending is adjusted, Obama has an annualized increased spending rate of only 1.4 percent. That is the lowest rate in the past sixty years. With inflation added into the equation, Barack Obama is second in the past sixty years and he has actually decreased spending by 0.1 percent.

Obama inherited a bill and is still paying it off. Bush has almost $2 trillion in tax cuts that Obama had to continue to pay throughout his first year.

Bush started wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

VS

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ROMNEY

By Davis Heric which have cost almost $1.5 trillion, which yes, is still being paid off. Obama’s debt, not including spending from the “The problem is that the way Bush has Bush administration, would be $1.44 done it over the last eight years is to take trillion in 8 years. out a credit card from the Bank of China Barack helps to create jobs. Over 4 milin the name of our children, driving up our lion have been created since he has come national debt from $5 trillion for the first 42 into office and he has created more private presidents...that’s $30,000 for every man, sector jobs than President Bush did during woman and child. That’s irresponsible. It’s both of his terms. He has also saved unpatriotic.” the entire automotive industry The quote with his stimulus package. above is what then That is over 100,000 jobs Presidential canThe military is out didate Barack of Iraq and is being Obama said pulled out of Afghanistan. while Thanks, Barack. c a m He has done more for paignour country than he has ing in gotten credit for and 2008. another four Yet under years of Obama’s Obama watch the would national be great debt has f o r increased Amerito over ca. $16 tril lion.

M i t t The first Romney 43 presiis not a dents, inbad guy cluding the by any “unpatriotmeans. ic” George He has W. Bush, the creaccumulatdentials ed $6.3 trilneeded for lion of debt. a governPresident •GRAPHIC BY DAVIS HERIC m e n t Obama has official, accumulated just not a $6.5 trillion president. in debt by himself and his first term is not He says that he understands being in even over yet. the middle class, but he was born into a Government spending is out of control. If wealthy family and has been wealthy his it is not addressed the United States will be entire life. He has millions of dollars in dealing with a crisis similar to Europe. Mitt foreign accounts to avoid paying taxes and Romney aims to make federal spending pays lower taxes than a school teacher. less than 20 percent of the nation’s annual

gross domestic product by the end of his Continued on pg. 8 first term in 2016. He also has his eyes set

on four percent economic growth every year.

My face off opponent says that the President of the United States needs to be a person who will make the country a better place. I could not agree more.

He also says that President Obama has a “proven track record in doing so.” Once again, I could not agree with him more. Of course, by proven track record he means unemployment staying above 8 percent for over 40 straight months and the number of people on food stamps skyrocketing from 32 million to 47 million Americans.

While many tax discussions revolve around “the 1%” and how they aren’t paying their fair share, those high incomes are earned by utilizing capital gains and dividends. Some people in the middle class rely on those same types of dividends and interest.

Mitt Romney understands this. He will eliminate all taxes on these forms of income for married couples earning under $200,000 as a way to put more money in the pockets of the middle class and stimulate the economy.

Obama’s support for tax hikes on corporations is completely irrational. The U.S. already has the highest corporate tax rate in the world at 35 percent. Mitt Romney will lower the tax rate to 25 percent and so encourage businesses to not outsource jobs to countries where it is cheaper to operate.

Health care is a big issue in this election. First we should clarify that the Romney administration will not change Medicare for seniors. Not only that but Romney, who supposedly “favors the rich” would make sure that seniors with lower net worth receive greater attention from Medicare.

Moreover, Mitt Romney in his first day in office will repeal Obamacare relieving the stress of potential tax hikes on the middle class to support it, and leaving the responsibility to the individual 50 states.

Mitt Romney believes deeply that the education system in the U.S. should be improved. He emphasizes that there is a need for more charter schools so that parents are not forced to send their children to failing schools. While governor of Massachusetts,

Continued on pg. 8

These stories are as real as teacher parties are fun 4 Peg-Leg Pirates' Hookok NCAA finds three violations on Riverside's Martin

By Jonathan Titus Riverside’s clean athletic record has been washed away as sophomore Ian Martin was found guilty of violating three NCAA rule infractions according to an NCAA investigation.

Martin, the #1 ranked forward

by ESPN in the 2015 field hockey recruiting class and only male field hockey player in the PAC-6, and Eastern West Carolina University (EWCU) was found guilty of receiving impermissible benefits over the course of ten years at Riverside.

EWCU has captured 17 Atlantic Sun Conference Championships and 13 of the past 19 field hockey national championships, but now will have to take down all its banners.

At age five, the gifts started to pour into the Martin household from EWCU. Head coach Tom Riley stopped by every Christmas,

New England.

“The student body also feels cheated,” senior Tyler Winslow said.

“When he is getting by high school so easily with fake classes, it makes us resent the school.”

Academic advisor for sophomore athletes, Kary Sheller, tried suggesting to Martin and Riley that Martin take combo sports, but Riley turned down the offer, saying Martin should not participate in any sport unless it was field hockey.

During a drug test Ike Martin asks for the ball in a game against East Chapel Hill. Martin was before the SAT in May, receiving impermissible beneifits from ECWU for 10 years.

•PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FBI performance enhancedressed as Santa Claus dropping off to come ment drugs were found in toys and the answer key to elemen- play here. Don’t put that in there.” Martin’s system. tary school End of Grade tests.

Martin was treated to several “The competition is tough out “We’ve noticed something spe- “individual classes” by Riverside. there,” Martin said. “You have to cial in Ike, so we began to treat him His transcript lists APAsian Brazil- do whatever it takes to get to the like family,” Riley said. “By family ian Studies as one of his 8 classes, top, and its always been my dream we mean we wanted to bribe him as well as Art History of Southern to reach the National Field Hockey

League.”

The NFHL, though going through a lockout at the moment, clearly states they are against the use of performance enhancement drugs, and teams have removed all steroid dispensers for locker rooms since 2010.

Students are relieved that the investigation by the NCAA is finally over.

“The German Shepards and metal detectors were a little much, but if the NCAA found the culprit then I guess it was worth it,” junior Caleigh Jones said.

EWCU will be on probation for 5 years and is unable to compete in any national championships.

Riverside has closed its Asian Brazilian and Art Programs. Martin has moved on from field hockey, and is hoping to win a spot on the Carolina Hurricanes roster this winter.

“In retrospect, I’m glad I did it,” Martin said. “If I learned one thing from this experience, it would be that males shouldn’t wear kilts.”

Authorities notified of wild party thrown on campus

By Ben Harrison Sunday, 11:53 pm, SRO Major Fox received an unusual phone call from a Riverside student.

According to sophomore Christine Duponis, the student who made the call, she saw what seemed to be her US history teacher, Andrew Markham, sprinting down Rose of Sharon Road wearing nothing but his purple Riverside t-shirt on his head.

“You never want to see that much of one of your teachers,” Duponis said. “I’ll never be able to listen to one of his Civil War lectures the same way.”

Obviously curious, Duponis proceeded to follow Markham.

It was only a few hundred yards before Markham turned left onto Luther Road and began heading

for the split-level brick house just inside the school’s gates.

“There were a lot of cars lined up outside the house,” Duponis said.

“After a second I recognized just about all of them because of the passes on their mirrors.”

The cars belonged to numerous teachers, and Duponis said she even noticed her calculus teacher Steve Unruhe’s bike parked just outside the front door.

After entering through the back window, Duponis realized that she had stumbled upon something that defied any previous beliefs she had regarding teacher’s lack of social lives.

It was a teacher party.

“I don’t know why Norm wasn’t keeping watch like he was supposed to,” teacher Patrick Roeber said.

“When I saw Christine come in

While Roeber and many other I was mid Hawaiian Punch chug teachers were upstairs chugging and was ready to make a dash for Hawaiian Punch, Andrew Dathe woods.” vidson was in the midst of a very intense Call of Duty tournament in the basement.

“I had just gotten a collateral headshot on Tim and Dave when we saw the lights upstairs come on,” Davidson said. “I could have kept pwning them but we decided to go up and check things out.”

After their COD game was prePat Roeber takes an incriminating maturely stopped, Davidson and selfie. "I wasn't there and know company proceeded to construct nothing about it," Roeber said.

•PHOTO COURTESY OF PAT ROEBER a new staircase to get upstairs.

“Stair construction is childs play for me,” engineering teacher Roeber said that even though Tim Velegol said. “If it weren’t for there would have been no reason Rogers (teacher David Rogers) to run, he worried Duponis was a goofing off with his banjo I could “Fed” (policeman) and figured it have been finished quick enough would be pretty cool to run from to realize something was wrong.” one.

Once the SRO’s arrived on the scene, all attending teachers were charged with breaking and entering along with a slew of other minor charges.

“I guess I should have run,” Roeber said. “But frankly, I haven’t run in ten years.”

Running or not running seemed beside the point as many wonder why the teachers had the party there in the first place.

Assistant Principal Paul Keene said that none of this should have happened, and blamed the entire ordeal on Assistant Principal David Hackney for his last minute change of plans.

“I thought my mom would be out of town, so we'd just party at my crib,” Hackney said. “But when she told me she was staying home, my plans quickly changed.”

October 2012

PIRA-TECH

By Emily Eubanks

Senior Newt Barringer and junior Stephanie Trefzeger present a powerpoint on "Parts of the ear" to David Norman's class using one of the new BrightLink projectors.

According to smallbusiness.chron.com, the BrightLink projectors are capable of projecting images onto any smooth surface, including projection screens, walls, and table tops. The projector system uses a special interactive pen to change the image without any extra equipment. It is platform-agonostic but does need to be connected to a computer of some kind. These devices combine the features of an ordinary digital projector with the locationsensitivity of a digitizing tablet and can sense plot changes based on the activity of the interactive pen.

• PHOTO BY JENNIFER MARTINEZ

Trying to complete work with an outdated laptop is a student’s nightmare. Even an incredibly easy powerpoint assignment is impossible to do with the old and incredibly slow laptops currently owned by Riverside.

By the time the laptop loads, 20 minutes have already passed. Often, when the computer finally logs in to make the powerpoint, it freezes for another 15 minutes. What was supposed to be a 45 minute assignment has turned into a rushed mess thrown together during the remaining 10 minutes the computer actually decides to cooperate.

However, in the near future, having slow and old technology will no longer be an obstacle to getting work completed.

The school has already received 92 new BrightLink projectors and 92 new teacher laptops. Additionally ,a large number of student computers are expected to arrive soon.

“Several hundred new computers have been purchased for student use,” journalism teacher Steven Unruhe said.

“All of the current student laptop carts will be replaced and new computers will be placed in the journalism and yearbook classes and in the media center,” Unruhe said.

Other than computers and projectors, Riverside has received numerous other technology upgrades “In addition to new computers DPS bought new internet telephones for most teachers. Wireless access points have been installed in almost every classroom and hallways, making it easier to get faster and higher quality internet access. Also a new file server for the school, new internet switches, and new internet wiring has been installed,” Unruhe said.

The school was able to receive new equipment through funding from Durham County.

“The money for all the new technology

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that Riverside got this year came from money that was put aside to build an extra high school,” media specialist Kim Mayo said.

“A few years ago Durham Public Schools thought there would be a problem with being over-crowded, but it turned out that the current high schools could fit the number of enrolled students.,” Mayo said The money not spent towards building the new high-school was put to good use.

“The money they saved up for the new high school was spent on buying projectors (BrightLinks) and new computers for schools in Durham,” Mayo said.

Schools were able to qualify for this new technology based on a scorecard system.

Elaine Batten, Director of IT Planning and Operations at DPS, along with her colleagues, went into schools to determine who needed the new technology.

“We had score cards that were either green, yellow, or red. We went into the schools and rated the old technology they used to have,” Batten said. If a school did not meet the requirements to get a green card then that school received new technology.

Many teachers have enjoyed experimenting with the projectors and figuring out what new advantages they offer.

“I just played around with the new programs and tried to see what the new projectors could do. I love reading technical things so it was fun for me to experiment and learn what the bright links are capable of doing,” Davidson said.

Batten and her team are working closely with the schools to make sure other teachers learn how to use the BrightLink boards.

“We’re working with all the schools on learning how to use the new technology.

Every school has a person who knows how to use the programs very well and they can help other teachers who are still learning how to use it.” Batten said.

Continued on pg. 8

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Pirates' Hookok

Pira-Tech

'Technology will keep moving faster than we can keep up with it'

By Christina Vurnakes

may not change schools. However, the way teachers use the technology will.

Teachers, including Anatomy teacher Ron Jones, already admire the new technology given to them.

After a few weeks of learning how to use the new projectors, Jones realized the boards will be of great use.

“Overall the BrightLink projector has helped a lot,” Jones said. “It has great projection, and it helps me draw cells for students to see. It is definitely better with the projector than without.”

Along with the projectors, Jones is appreciative of the new laptops that the faculty has received.

“I have never had a good computer before, and I have been at this school for over 18 years,” Jones said. “My new computer is the best I’ve had yet.”

Elaine Batten, Director of IT Planning and Operations at DPS, wants teachers to take ad-

vantage of every opportunity they can with the new technology.

“This year, teachers received It’s a Tuesday, 10:26 AM, the most pronew laptops,” Batten said. “We ductive day of the week according to Mrs. didn’t want teachers to have any Tobias, and Christy Simpson’s calculus class roadblocks due to the old computis learning about right triangles. While stuers taking so long to access the dents are finding the sine of special angles, internet.”

Simpson is using an electronic pen to work AP Environmental Science the same problems and saving the solutions teacher Emma Refvem agrees for students to see later. Teachers are using with Jones. the new BrightLink boards to add a new and “The BrightLink board makes more interesting way of teaching. kids more interactive,” Refvem Durham Public Schools has gone the extra said.

“I bring them up to use it on mile to supply all wschools in the county with a daily basis for vocabulary. So far CTE teacher Seth Stallings takes advantage of new technology in hopes of improving the it has helped engagement in my the benefits with the new projectors. Students and way students learn material. This includes class, and I’m hoping in the long teachers can easily work together with the new tech. new laptops, BrightLink projectors, and run that the boards will positively wireless internet connectors. affect student’s grades.”

Cathy Davidson, a Ph.D in Digital Knowlyou are learning in class,” senior Charnesia Engineering teacher Adam Davidson Moye said. edge from Duke and author of “Now You thinks smart boards are fantastic, and has See It”; a book about how technology will Batten has high hopes for the new techbecome accustomed to them throughout nology. change schools, says that technology itself the years.

“My hope is that teachers will be able to “I was trained on using them in college integrate common core and the new technoland they are great because it allows you ogy into their lessons,” Batten said. “With the to be very hands on,” Davidson said. new technology teachers can increase engage“I use them for when my students take ment and have the tools to give students the quizzes. Right after my students take opportunity of learning in new ways.” quizzes they can see their test score Davidson believes that new technology immediately.” cannot be updated fast enough to stay new.

Most students agree that the new “Technology will keep moving faster than boards make them more interactive in we keep up with it,” Davidson said. their classes.

Although the new technology is beneficial, “The BrightLink board is brighter some teachers are still adjusting to what it which makes it easier to see,” senior has to offer.

Grace Stevens said. “You can do more “It’s important that you have a designated visual things, and the boards have in- teacher that knows how to use the Brightvolved me a lot more in class.”

Links to help other teachers learn how to use However, senior Ashley James thinks them,” Davidson said. “It’s also helpful for they have not made much of a differ- teachers to get trained on a district level. On ence.

PLC days teachers can go down to the staff “They haven’t made me any more development center and learn all about what interactive in class,” James said. “I think the new technology can do and then apply they are a cool addition, but not really the new programs that they learned about any different than a PowerPoint.” into their lessons.”

While Ashley James does not see the Overall, the new technology has helped benefit of the BrightLink boards, other everyone benefit in numerous ways. The students disagree.

BrightLinks are setting up students for a Engineering teacher Adam Davidson projects a lesson on a smartboard, the predecessor “The new BrightLink boards give brighter future, and now, waiting 30 minutes to new BrightLink projectors. Teachers are enjoying the benefits of the new technology you a great visual perspective on what for a laptop to load is not a problem.

• PHOTOS BY CHRIS PEREZ for their classes.

October 2012

Pira-tech

By Luke Berndt

“The laptops and BrightLinks are to help the teachers, and everything else is to make sure the connection from the classroom to the outside world is as fast as possible,” Calculus teacher and technology facilitator Steven Unruhe said.

Unruhe has also been awarded the position of Technology Champion at Riverside. This puts him in charge of how the teachers use this new technology in class, teaching them how to use it, and solving problems involving the technology.

To ensure that the technology works, Unruhe constantly checks in on all of the devices.

Though it is a costly investment, it is evident that it is paying off.

“There is supposed to be a five year replenishment program, where every five years the computers and equipment will be replaced with brand new equipment,” Librarian Margaret Harrison said.

The changes are the first changes since 2003, when the laptops in the laptop carts were purchased.

The hope is this money that has been given to the school to provide much better technology will be well used wisely to better the education of students for the future.

Thursday 2:13 p.m., student are bored out of their minds and ready to go home. All of a sudden, Shays’ Rebellion is showing in a video on the board. History jumps out of the textbook and is animated for an engaged class.

Almost every student in school loves the new technology and is starting to get accustomed to all of the new and helpful features that it provides.

In 2007 there was a bond referendum for $47,529,087 that was going to go towards a new high school that was going to solve overcrowding at both Jordan and Riverside.

“We decided we did not need a new school, based on the numbers of incoming students and amount of students already in high school,” Durham Public School Board Chair Member Heidi Carter said.

Instead of funding a new high school, $9 million from the bond referendum went to all of the new technology in the elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the district.

“The school board decided to provide the immediate needs of the schools,” Principal Jackie Tobias said.

Around $608,188 was used for all of the technology at Riverside. There were 92 BrightLinks purchased at $1,789 a piece, 92 new teacher laptops teacher computers at $1,300 each, and there will soon be 400 new new projectors student computers purchased that are around $810.

According to Christopher new student laptops Smith, the Information Technolnetwork improvement ogy Manager for Durham Public Schools, $5,956.84 has also been spent on a new file server for the school, $153,497.27 on new internet wiring and wireless access points in almost every classroom, $1,830.60 on high end internet phones, $9,454.08 on new internet switche s , and $192.30 on miscellaneous network equipment.

92 92 400

By The Numbers

$170,000

• PHOTOS BY CHRIS PEREZ

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Pira-tech

What happens to all of the old laptops, projectors, telephones, and televisions?

Pirates' Hookok Romney Face Off continued from page 3 the public schools boasted the nation’s best performing fourth and eighth grades in math and reading.

Romney has had a very successful business career, ranging from his time at the private equity firm Bain Capital where he created countless private sector jobs, to running the 2002 Winter Olympics. Romney’s time at Bain has even been praised by former President Bill Clinton. In 2009 shortly after he took office, Barack Obama said, “If I don’t have this done in three years, then there’s going to be a one-term proposition.”

Once again, I could not agree more.

Obama Face Off continued from page 3 It looks like some students are going to get lucky.

Elaine Batten, head of information technology for Durham Public Schools, has an idea to donate the old laptops that are in good condition to students that do not have access to technology at home.

“The old computers are going to students in Durham to give them a chance to take advantage of the remaining technology,” Batten said. “Old equipment that doesn’t work anymore will be surplused.”

Computers that are surplused have the good parts taken off and parts are used as repairs for other computers.

That’s crazy. He paid a 14 percent tax rate on income, my family pays 35 percent.

Mitt flip-flops more than Rainbow sandals. When he was running for senate in the mid 1990s he said that his plan helped gays more than Ted Kennedy’s. Now he adamantly is against same-sex marriage. Romney should take a stance and stick by it. Talk about not having a backbone. America should look for a president that looks forward and one that is not afraid to make decisions and to stick by them. That man is Barack Obama. I can’t wait for the next four years.

New technology promises brighter future continued from page 5 With all the new technology that has been given to Riverside, the students and teachers will now have modern tools for teaching and learning in the twenty-first century.

Riverside news online www.Riverside.dpsnc.net

October 2012

By Timothy Duke It is a Friday afternoon. Trudi Smith’s English I class is outside reading Lord of the Flies under the October sun. Smith will occasionally ask her students to look up the meanings of the names Piggy and Ralph, characters in the book, using their phones.

This year, the school has decided to issue a new cell phone policy to let students use their mobile devices in the halls and cafeteria.

Overall, most students are happy with the new changes to the policy and have had few complaints.

“It’s less of a distraction because you can take your phone out, use it quickly, and then put it away rather than taking your phone out and taking a long time to try and conceal it,” junior Sam Schoenberger said.

There are some teachers that let students use their phone in class during appropriate times.

AP Environmental Science teacher Emma Refvem had her students use an app on their phones to flip coins to predict population growth.

Senior Dewan Greene’s phone

Pira-tech

usage was not changed much by the new policy.

“I still use my phone in class because teachers don’t care, but now in the hall and cafeteria I can’t get in trouble,” Dewan said.

Some students, however, still want a policy that offers complete freedom. They believe that because they can use their phones in an efficient manner, cell phone use should be allowed in class.

“It would only be a distraction for students with no self control,” freshman Daniel Greene said.

“Kids want to use their phones in class, and they have varying reasons why.”

Greene believes that cell phones could be a great tool in case of an emergency.

“I want to use my phone in class because in class I might need to contact my parents for something,” Greene said. “Also, if I finish my work I can listen to music or something like that.”

Some students have complained about the wi-fi accessibility at school. With the new cell phone policy, Durham Public Schools put a password on the guest network to prevent students from using

their phones and clogging up the network for people trying to get school work done.

“If kids want to connect to the network, a student would have to ask a teacher to type in the password for them,” technology assistant Steve Artley said. “The

teacher would also have to make sure that the student was doing school work.”

As a solution to the problem, many students have proposed that DPS make a wi-fi network specifically for students.

“We didn’t make a separate net-

9

work for students because students might get on websites that they aren’t supposed to be on during school,” Assistant Principal David Hackney said.

“It’s one of those things where you gain one thing but lose another.”

• PHOTO BY STEVEN UNRUHE

Student takes a picture of the teacher's notes on the board. Many students are using technology to make learning easier.

• PHOTO BY CHRIS PEREZ

Junior Eliza Butts uses an app on her phone to simulate coin flips.

Technology can be useful to students in class.

Reality Ministries thanks all the RHS students who come to the Reality Center!

Looking forward to a great year!

Website: realityministries.org

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Columns

Pirates' Hookok

More than a game

By Ben Harrison

buddies call it, Tar Heel blue.

UNC to me is like the Catholic Church to Pope Benedict XVI. Most people assume that I’m the typical Carolina fan that simply pulls for UNC basketball because of their tradition of dominance. They are completely wrong.

I was bred to love Tar Heel football - basketball season is just an extra bit of entertainment during the off season.

However, as a child I resisted.

I hated football games more than anything.

All I cared about was basketball, in-season and out.

But no matter how much I hated it, my dad would drag me to Chapel Hill five or six times every fall. We would sit in the grueling sun for three and a half hours and watch a game of football I could care less about.

However, all that changed with the 2001 Peach Bowl. After UNC defeated Auburn 16-10 in Atlanta, I was instantly in love with anything Carolina football.

The following five seasons were

rough, as any Tar Heel would agree.

Coach John Bunting was taking the program into a downward spiral. My dad, my brother, and I sat through numerous single-win seasons (thank goodness for Duke).

I began to lose faith in the future.

But as Dark Knight District Attorney Harvey Dent said, “The night is darkest just before the dawn.”

And so it was.

It was October 7, 2006 and the number three ranked Miami Hurricanes were coming to Chapel Hill.

Everyone knew UNC was going to get stomped. Still, for some reason, the stands were filled.

I could recite every detail of the game, but it seems that I’m running out of space. So to make a long story short, UNC’s place kicker Connor Barth kicked a 42 yard field goal to win the game 31-28 and everyone in Kenan Stadium (Including me) stormed the field and started a near riot throughout Chapel Hill.

From then on, my family’s love for UNC football became my obsession. I hope it never breaks.

As any pop psychologist will tell you, the first step to losing an obsession is admitting you have one, which I gladly will do. But overcoming it isn’t on my agenda.

The origin of my emotional obsession seems to come from my parents and grandparents. It runs in my blood.

My obsession has brought mesome of the best times so far in my life, and just as many of the Senior Jonathan Titus poses with his family at New York University. All worst. From crying and throwing but one of the Titus family attended UNC-Chapel Hill, but Titus is in the tantrums to avoid the taunts of process of finding a school that's the perfect fit for him. classmates, to travelling hundreds • PHOTO COURTESY JONATHAN TITUS of miles for a few hours of daunting suspense, I can’t ignore it.

It’s like a haunting shadow that is constantly cast over me.

For many years I fought against it, but now I’ve completely embraced it.

My obsession is not that of a white powder, but it does have a

By Jonathan Titus westward. My search for a large, color: blue. four-year University lead me Not just any shade or variation My main duties in life as a northwest to schools from Chicago of your basic blue. Beautiful sky man are to find a woman, build a to Ohio State. blue, or as many fellow obsessed Wisconsin, where my sister Krishouse, eat steak, make babies, and fight guys staring at my wife. Left ten attended, has the big campus out of this important equation of feel with a mix of cheese and great masculinity, my greatest challenge: athletics, yet the 16 hour car ride finding a college suitable for me. would prevent me from coming The University of North Carolina home for mom’s delicious spaghetti has been and will continue to be dinner.

There is too much pressure when my number one, but my “average” grades have led me astray from my choosing a college: urban or rural, dreams. Still, breaking up with that private or public, big or small. The thought of being a Tarheel born and college process should be easier but in choosing one college out of dead scares me.

Right now, I’m in a distraught almost 8,000, it is impossible to be stage. My pair of Adidas sneakers 100 percent sure that one attends have touched almost every college the perfect university.

When my trophy wife and I are campus on the east coast, yet I still can’t decide where to apply. My sitting in our 5 story mansion, eatfamily has been die hard UNC fans ing raw filet mignon, I’ll look back since well...forever, with four out and remember the good times I had in college and the many friends I of five attending UNC. Close to home, Universities made. In the end, I may have to pick such as Davidson and NC State a name out of a hat, but my love for Senior Ben Harrison poses with his two siblings and Carolina cornerback Dre Bly. Harrison's love for never grabbed my eye, so I looked Carolina will never peel away.

UNC football has developed throughout his entire life.

• PHOTO COURTESY BEN HARRISON

Finding right fit leads to national search

October 2012

Columns

11

Kicking it into second gear

By Chris Rice I think it is safe to say that I am not known for being the serious type. I have a desire to try to make everything fun and a joke, which becomes a problem when I’m expected to be a leader on the soccer field and on the newspaper staff.

When my coach first came up to me after Phasor Camp (Riverside’s annual soccer camp) and asked me to be captain my first thought was “Uh oh, I’m actually going to have to be serious this year.”

The last three years that I have played soccer at Riverside I have been the one to crack jokes and not take practice seriously. I mean, when it comes to games I have always focused on playing well but in practice I cut up and mess around.

The problem is that I want my senior year of soccer to be a good one. I want to have fun but I also want to have a good record and go far in the playoffs. That becomes an issue when the team practices are disrupted by people messing around.

As they say, you practice how

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you play.

Maybe that’s why my team is already off to a bad start this season.

To have a legitimate practice, I need to be the one to get my fellow player’s minds in the right place and take practice seriously.

For me, that is hard. Extremely hard.

I love to make jokes and goof off, and to start the season that is what I have done. Now that I am realizing that I want to actually play good soccer, no one on the team will listen to me when I try to keep practice serious. They just take it as another joke.

It is hard to play the bad guy. No one likes the guy on the team that is constantly yelling and trying to get people in check.

When there is running going on where the coach isn’t there, everyone gets pissed at the guy who wants to do the actual amount of running instead of cutting it short.

To be a good team, I have to be that guy.

Even in school I have had to change my attitude and how I approach my work. Being a head editor for journalism I have to make

sure other’s in the class are taking their work seriously. If they don’t, their stories don’t get written.

Riverside has always been known for having a great student produced paper. I want to make sure that tradition sticks through my senior year.

Making that happen is harder than it used to seem to me. I have a lot more responsibility as a head editor. My workload is already piling up in front of me: assigning stories, talking to new students, finding photographs, writing this column.

In order to keep producing a an award-winning paper, I need to be the one to tell everyone else to take their work seriously and show them how to do that by taking mine seriously.

Even after high school my previous mindset is not go- Senior Chris Rice dribbles the ball through defenders. Rice has been ing to cut it. I have wanted to playing soccer for nearly 12 years.

• PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HELM go into pre-med for a while now. I have always known jokes and puts in minimal effort. a jerk who sucks the fun out of evthe amount of work involved, I’m going to need to buckle down erything. I can still joke around and but never really understood how I and start working hard. have fun, but when the time comes would need to approach it. Nobody Despite wanting to get more to be serious I’m going to have to wants a doctor who just makes serious, nobody likes being around put forth effort and work hard.

The Pirates' Hook October 2012

12 Fields REQUIRE time

By David McSwain As people drive past Riverside on a hot day in the middle of summer, there’s a good chance that they will see a sweaty softball coach weeding the outfield, or a determined football coach riding a mower through the grass preparing his field for the next fall.

Softball coaches Tony Mangum, Lisa Mangum, and Mac Merritt are hard at work all year long to keep the softball field in the best condition they can.

“During the season, Tony and Mac are constantly dragging the infield, mowing the grass and maintaining or fixing the equipment,” Lisa Mangum said.

The softball team had a successful year last season including a PAC-6 championship, but even after the season is over, the coaches are still hard at work.

“During the off-season, they still mow the grass on a regular basis (maybe twice a month or as needed) as well as weedeat, plant grass seed, etc.,” Lisa Mangum said. “During the fall, we put fertilizer on the outfield.”

On the men’s side of the diamond, Doug Blowe took charge of tending to the

baseball field, but with his departure from Riverside last year, some of the player’s parents have decided to pitch in and help out in taking care of the field.

“Since we’re in a transition, the parents are doing more to help out and they do a good job,” football coach David Hackney said.

Hackney also said it is a very time consuming and difficult job as well.

“I keep up with all the fields, mow, aerate, and maintain them,” Hackney said. “I spend ten hours a week working on them plus the weekends.”

Most fields around the school are well maintained, a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the people that make them this way. The volunteered labor of these people allows Riverside athletes to take advantage of the fields and further their sports progression.

SIDELINE

PERSPECTIVE

13

Parents give boost to sports

By Elijah Rogers

It is 3rd and 7. At the snap the entire front line surges forward. Coming the other direction at full force is a 250 pound nose tackle, along with another thousand pounds of linemen. As they hit, almost all the force is absorbed by $11,000 worth of helmets.

Athletics takes dedication, discipline - and money. Funding to meet athletic team’s financial needs require more work than most people realize.

From ticket sales to booster club dinners, Riverside works continuously to find the money needed for its many sports programs.

Each team has its own expenses.

Some sports need more funding than others. For example, football pads and other gear are much more expensive than soccer cleats and jerseys.

“The money from all sports goes into one budget. It pays for food, transportation, gear, field, and officials,” Athletic Director Margatha Chambers said.

The simple economic truth is that if a sport makes more money, then it will have more funds to spend. Football has Pirate athletes compete on well maintained fields and courts across the campus. These sports are included in a school wide ahtletic budget. From left to right, Junior Schuyler Wright fends off the opponent in field hockey. Sophomore Enrique Reconco prepares pass his defender. in a soccer match Junior Casey Speer makes a save the largest crowds that go to the games in a volleyball game. Junior Caitlin Woods poses with the Pizza Inn mascot at a football game. Sophomore Kenric Cromartie prepares for a snap during a football game. and fill the stands, bringing in the most

Sports

demand

SUPPORT

• PHOTO COURTESY OF CAITLIN WOODS

revenue for the school’s sports programs.

Football also has the most expenses.

“The football helmets are the most expensive equipment used in sports. Every five years $11,000 is used to renew the helmets,” Chambers said.

Other schools have the same system, with their athletic department’s budget compiled out of many different sport’s profits.

“Both the entry fee and concessions go to the athletic program, along with money from the booster club,” Jordan High School Athletic Director David Davis said.

Booster clubs are a large part of a school’s athletic program. Parents, and

contributing patrons will raise money for the school’s athletics by selling clothes, donations, and events. Riverside, like most schools, needs the assistance.

“The Booster Club’s main purpose is to raise funds to help improve athletics in schools,” President of the Booster Club Richard Burton said.

Last year alone, the Riverside Booster Club raised over $23,000 for athletics.

The money helps give extra equipment, food, and better fields for all the teams.

Though concessions and tickets gain money for a sport, the Booster Club exists to make sure there is no threat that a school will not have the money to support a sport’s needs.

“Many schools have trouble providing the money needed for the sports,” Burton said. “ It is important for me to help out the athletics. Sports help improve overall physical conditions, help others be social, and boosts overall school spirit.”

Additional financial help comes through the use of sponsors. This year Pizza Inn renewed their sponsorship for Riverside.

Their banner is hung in front of the football field and the Pizza Inn mascot makes appearances at the games. Other businesses sponsor the school as well, such as ChickFil-A and Coca-Cola.

Football players will get food, usually Chick-Fil-A, before a game, but many other sports do not. Some think it is unfair,

but the amount of money football makes compared to other sports explains this.

“Football makes a larger revenue because most people like football,” Chambers said.

The more people that go to a sport, the more money is made, and the more money is given to make that sport even better, thus making more money by attracting more people.

This creates a circle of cash flow in the school. Along with help from the Booster Club and support from the parents, controlling this cash flow and making sure the right departments get the right amount of money is easier.

• PHOTOS BY CHRIS PEREZ

14

Pirates' Hookok

Sports Facilities

Women lift, press for equal opportunity

By Casey Speer Getting to the top level of competitive sports requires more than just pure skill. To get better, faster, and stronger means being in shape, and staying that way.

Well there’s good and bad news: the good is that we have a facility sponsored by the Carolina Panthers for this purpose. The bad is that not all teams, especially women’s teams, are using it.

The football, men’s basketball, and baseball teams are the main teams to use the new weight room, and use it the most often.

“The men’s teams definitely take advantage of the weight room the

Weight room use uneven

most, but it’s open for any team and every player with supervision,” Athletic Director Margaretha Chambers said.

There are up to 30 sports teams at this school, all of which would benefit from strength training.

However, only several take advantage of the equipment that the school was lucky enough to receive from the Panthers.

The importance of using the equipment is evident. Teams that use the new weight room benefit greatly from it.

Junior Patrick Volt and his fellow teammates use the equipment during football preseason, and he believes this type of training is

• PHOTOS BY CHRIS PEREZ

Senior Bajon Aatnite prepares to deadlift. This equipment is part of a new gym given to Riverside by the Carolina Panthers. Some wonder if all students have equal opportunity to this weight room.

necessary for all teams to improve their performance.

“The new gym really helps us a lot, every team should use it because every player needs to be strong in order to succeed in their sport,” Volk said. “Pure talent only gets an athlete so far.”

Senior Taylor King, a member of the baseball team, sees many benefits of using the weight room.

“The weight room definitely helps our team be a lot stronger,” King said. “Using it makes us run faster, throw farther, and hit harder.”

Junior Kolby Snipes agrees with Volk that every team needs to work out and get in shape. Snipes understands the importance of being in shape, a knowledge that motivated her to join the weight lifting class.

“I know working out helps me for my sport, so the weight lifting class made sense,” Snipes said. “If you’re serious about a sport, working out is necessary to advance.”

Snipes, a varsity basketball player, believes that both genders need rigorous training to succeed in their sports.

“Women’s sports are just as demanding as men’s sports,” Snipes said. “If anything the girl athletes at this school should take advantage of the new weight room more, because we’re not as naturally strong as the guys.”

Personal Trainer Amy Franks from the Downtown Durham YMCA offers an expert opinion and agrees with Snipes’ belief that women need more strength training than men because of the differences in their body compositions.

“Girls generally need more training because a man’s body responds better and more quickly to strength training,” Franks said.

“Of course it depends on the goal

and desired end result, but in some respects women have to be worked harder and more often than men.”

The women’s basketball team and the softball team are generally the only two women’s teams using the weight room.

redone facilities, and that it poses a threat to the safety of the team.

With a nonexistent level of traction on the gym floor, players are more prone to injury.

“Something needed to be fixed,” Jones said. “There was a high risk of injury for our players.”

The court was assured to be fixed, but only right before basketball season.

“We were overlooked and had to fight for our court,” Jones said.

“Maybe it was because we’re a women’s sport, but we use the gym and we deserve it.”

After numerous emails and calls from parents and players addressing the risks of the court on the players, the floor was finally redone.

“We got the new court in the end, but it was ridiculous how Senior Camry Stanfod spots fellow weight hard we had to work lifting classmate senior Zakyia Smith. Women for it,” Jones said. are encouraged to use this weight room to get Chambers agreed stronger and excel in sports. with Jones that the court With this in mind, some believe needed to be redone because it that women’s teams are not given was too slippery and posed too the chance to take advantage of the many risks. new equipment to the degree of the “The court got to the point where men’s teams. it absolutely needed to be redone,” “I hope more women’s teams Chambers said. use the weight room, every sport Chambers said the court was needs that extra push to get better,” originally scheduled to be redone Chambers said. “The women are for basketball, but the company certainly welcome to use it.” had the opportunity to fix the court Skepticism of sexism in the before volleyball season. athletic department exists, whether “We went on and fixed it the first regarding the use of the athletic chance we got,” Chambers said. equipment, or getting equal op- “The sooner the better.” portunities to receiving the perks The weight room use and facilof improved facilities. ity access are said to be of equal Assistant volleyball Coach She- opportunity to all athletes. Howrai Jones believes that her team ever, the push to include women doesn’t get equal exposure to these is becoming more evident.

October 2012

Families

Battles of being in the military by

Quentin Philpot

Rick Privette, a 21 year Air Force veteran, was stationed in South Korea when his father passed away.

Being on the other side of the world when tragedy strikes is just one of the constant fears servicemen have to face.

There are over 15 million people (out of 315 million registered US citizens) that are children of current or former military personnel. Out of these 15 million, 2 million have had their mom or dad shipped to Afghanistan on at least one occasion. Nearly half of those kids have seen their parent leave multiple times to serve.

The military offers opportunities and niches for nearly anyone who joins it’s ranks, and this diverse consistency has birthed one of the most obscure and unique subcultures in American society today.

The life of a military brat, the child of a full-time member of the armed forces, is one that is rich in history, culture, travel and adventure. But these benefits often come with a multitude of drawbacks. A full-time United States military service member will often find themselves stationed in hotspots of the world for years at a time.

Often separated from their families during life events (birthdays, holidays, etc.).

“I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan for two and a half years. It was Captain Rick Privette standing on base in South Korea. He was the commander here in 1993. As the year always particularly hard around the continued, he and other soliders realized how hard it would be away from their families. holidays, being away from your • PHOTO COURTESY OF RICK PRIVETTE family,” Master Sergeant Reginald

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15

Anderson said. “The best you can really do is make as many friends as possible and celebrate the best you can.”

On the contrary, for many kids and parents, being stationed around the world is one of the biggest perks of being in the military.

“I think me and my children are both more tolerable to different cultures and different ways of life because of living in another country for an extended period,” Anderson said. While stationed abroad, members of the military are treated to a level of comfort only Americans have come to expect.

From grocery stores that are stocked with every name brand of food you could find at your local Harris Teeter to schools that have tested far beyond our public education system, the government certainly bars no expense in the construction and supply of bases.

“My father was stationed on Langley Air Force Base [located near Hampton, VA] and the base was always extremely safe,” senior Courtney Privette said. “At the commissary you could buy all of your groceries, free of charge, and at the base exchange you could buy clothes, purses, paintings..they have everything.”

Many Americans tend to distance themselves from the conflicts in the Middle East and don’t see our soldiers on a personal level. But, the veterans and current members of our military will testify to the tender mindstate of a soldier deployed onto foreign soil.

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16

Pirate Families

Pirates' Hookok

Like ‘peas in a pod’

By Dajai Cissell

Traffic Violation?

Take us to court with you.

Kenneth Duke

Sophomore Daniel Chapman’s mother has taught him everything from tying his shoes to how to cook.

Chapman is one of several students at Riverside High School that lives in a single parent home. There are 13.6 million single parents in the United States today and those parents are responsible for raising 21.2 million children.

Students live in a single family home for many reasons. Some of these include divorce, or having parents that have never been involved in their life.

Even though Chapman and his mother have a good relationship,

he sometimes feels as if they need time apart.

“I am always trying to get away from her, we are around each other too much,” he said.

Men are unlikely to parent a single family as approximately 84 percent of single parents are mothers.

Senior Taylor William is one of many students that lives with her father and enjoys it because of their tight relationship.

“We act alike,” William said.

“We are like two peas in a pod.”

Many kids that live with their mother and father cannot imagine living without one of their parents.

“Appreciate who you have be-

cause there is someone out there with no one at all, “ senior Margarita Balleza said.

More than one million children are raised by grandparents. Sophomore Jonathan Clark lives with his grandmother.

“All she does is go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier and is always trying to make me go to church,” Sophomore Jonathan Clark said.

“Through the good and bad, we still have a good relationship, because that’s my grandmother, and I love her,” Clark said.

Even though these students have ups and downs with their parents they continue to be thankful for their parents and the role they play in their lives.

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Sophomore Daniel Chapman stands beside his mother at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Chapman is one of many students raised by single parents.

• PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIEL CHAPMAN

October 2012

Pirate Families

Students put it all into sports

By Cj carpenter

Swish. The ball bounces a few times on a quiet gym floor in the early hours of the morning. This is a familiar sight for sophomore Mike Hodge. For Hodge, life revolves around basketball.

“I have been playing for twelve years,” Hodge said. “I would say I love basketball, on a scale from 1-10, a 12.”

All year round, Hodge plays basketball with his AAU team, and he spends the remainder of his time either playing or working out with the school basketball team.

“During the summer, I play for Team Loaded NC Elite, I spend just about my whole summer with my AAU team,” Hodge said. “My family’s travel depends on wherever my team’s tournament is for the weekend.”

But Hodge isn’t the only full time athlete at this school. Freshman Sophie McNeill is a swimmer, and her life is also dedicated to practicing her skills.

“I train five days a week all year round,” McNeill said. “It takes up a lot of my time but I love swimming so it is totally worth it.”

With the sport taking so much of athlete’s time during the year, finding a place to take a break is very challenging for some as vacation time isn’t easily acquired.

“When I do get some vacation time,

I have to practice while on vacation,” McNeill said. “I would love to get some down time, but where I want to be as a swimmer, I can’t be taking breaks.”

Freshman Christian Jones plays JV football. The football team practices almost all summer and plays in the fall.

“Two to three times during the week I train during the summer, and fives times a week during football season, I barely get any vacation time with my family. If I do get any vacation at all, it’s usually maybe a week out of the entire year,” Jones said.

17

I was five years old. It’s what I grew up playing, watching, and learning.”

Though he has a strong love for baseball, the cost of the sport is almost too much.

Playing sports year round can also take a major chunk out of a family’s wallet. Sophomore Johnson Carbuccia is a basketball player that plays all year.

“It takes a lot of money to play basketball all year,” Carbuccia said. “You have to pay for the uniforms we get, team shoes we have to buy, and the tournament fee that each player participates in on top of all the money that it takes for transportation to and from practice, and to tournaments.”

Junior Blake Morgan, who plays both varsity soccer and baseball, also finds little down time.

“I literally play the entire summer, every weekend of the summer I am on a field playing baseball,” Morgan said. “It really takes a lot of time from my mom and stepdad. I have been playing baseball since

“The only thing about baseball is that it’s expensive,” Morgan said.

“You need a glove, a bat, and other protective gear depending on which position you play.”

Parents cheer on their kids in the Riverside vs Nothern football game.

For all of Families support kids decison to have their life revolved around these athletes, •PHOTO BY CHRIS PEREZ sports. high school isn’t where they want to end their sports career. medalist at the Olympics,” McNeill said.

No matter what their main goal is in Their goals extend to playing professionally, and even to become hall of famers in their the sport they love, athletes spend countless time and money to succeed and achieve their respective sport.

“My goal main goal is to become a gold goals.

back to the love.

A study by The Urban Institute has shown that somewhere between 14 and 28 percent of American families rely on siblings to provide up to ten hours of child care every week.

Riverside students are no exception.

“Basically I just watch my siblings,” Junior Roman Braga said.

“Sometimes it takes up three to six hours a week for me. I have very little free time.”

Roman is in French Honors Society as well as the Anime Club when he’s not babysitting.

Cooking seems to be a common chore for older siblings.

“I spend about an hour everyday cooking,” sophomore Deja Lunsford said.

Junior Taylor Lowe also cooks, but she has other chores as well. “I spend about three hours a day taking care of my sister. I make her lunch, I take her to play, and I put her down for naps.”

Senior Dewan Greene doesn’t live with his siblings anymore, but he still has responsibilities.

“Back when I lived with them, it took up a lot of my time... Too much. But I don’t live with them anymore. I miss seeing them everyday.”

Greene has six siblings. The youngest two, Isaac and Marvin are 5, and the oldest, Travares, is fifteen and a sophomore at Riverside. “As the oldest, I want to teach

Siblings care for, love one another

By Parker Harris The pot of water starts to boil on the stove as a fork is taken from a teething baby. The baby’s older brother toddles in and asks, for the hundredth time, if dinner is ready. His eyes scream innocence but his hands are holding things that he knows aren’t his.

Siblings can be tough. They can be time consuming, annoying, and exhausting. They can cut into free time.

Most teen-agers would describe their relationship with their sibling as a “love/hate” situation.

Yet, when students talk about caring for their brothers and sisters, they always come

them to follow their own paths in the world and be their own person.”

“I play with them a lot, and I remind them to flush the toilet and stuff like that,” Greene said about his brotherly duties. “I make food and dinner and stuff. I talk about their lives with them.”

Teen-agers have their own lives, with their own joys and problems. Still, as Lowe says of her sister, “I hope that she will be successful in school. I love her and I want her to do her best.”

“As the oldest, I want to teach them to follow their own paths in the world and be their own person.” Greene said. That’s an example all older siblings should follow.

18

News

Pirate Sports Briefs

Men's Soccer The season has gotten off to an up and down start with a record of 5-6 for the men’s soccer team.

“The season has been good so far,” sophomore Enrique Reconco said, who has ten goals on the season so far.

While the season has gone well, it hasn’t quite lived up to previous expectations.

“Our main goal was to go undefeated, but that goal ended the second game of the season, we have made lots of mistakes which has costed us to lose games we should have won,” said sophomore Jose Enamorado One game that has stood out to a lot of the players that they feel like they should’ve won was a 3-2 defeat in overtime to Northern.

“Lack of technical skills have caused us to make costly mistakes,” Enamorado said.

Upcoming Events

O ct . 19: E ngineering Speaker Day Oct. 26: End of Quarter; Teacher Work Day Nov. 1-3: Theater - The Laramie Project Nov. 7: STEM Career Day Nov. 8: Band Concert Nov. 16-17: Chorus Concert

Pirates' Hookok

Women's Tennis

Now that their original goals can’t be reached, the team has new hopes.

“Our goal now is to make it past the first round of the playoffs,” Enamorado said.

With the captains good leadership and helping the team play at their potential, the Pirates are looking forward to an improved second half of the season.

Women's Volleyball The varsity volleyball team is 13-3. Some of the biggest matches this year was against Northwest Guilford and they won in 5 games.

Another big game this year was against Cedar Ridge and they won in 4 games. It was a big game because it was revenge from last year when Cedar Ridge gave the team their first lost.

Junior Megan Pleasants and Senior Christine DeVries both think that the players who contribute the most points are senior Marissa Mayfield and sophomore Mone’ Jones.

“At the beginning of the season it was good, I feel like we could do better. With hard work we can do better,” Senior Christine DeVries said.

DeVries hopes that the girls become more of a team and to win the conference.

After a shaky start, the women’s tennis team has big goals for the rest of the season. The team is 3-4 so far, but plans to get stronger throughout the rest of the season.

“Our team has been very strong considering the talent that we have and how tough our conference is,” coach Mika Hunter said.

“We have a really great group

they play,” Head Coach David Hackney said. “They just haven’t been running the plays like they need to but they are looking forward to the second half of season.”

The pirates are looking forward to the homecoming game on Oct. 14, against the Hillside Hornets.

“They are ready to swat them back to their Hornets nest,” senior of girls. Everybody has been im- Maleake Goldston said. proving throughout the season, Field Hockey and we all get along great,” senior captain Carly Speight said.

With a record of 0-2, the field The tennis team hopes to win hockey team has struggled so far the majority of their remaining this season, but hopes to finish games, and plans on sending mulstrong. tiple players to regionals.

“We have a good chance against [Chapel Hill] because they are at Football about the same skill level as us,” The football team’s record is cur- Sophomore Erin Shiflett said. rently 0-6 (0-2 PAC-6) after losing The team’s best performance so the game to Northern on Sept. 28, far was against East Chapel Hill and they are working hard to over- when they were able to prevent the come the up and down start.

Wildcats from scoring in double “They are into every game digits, a feat they were unable

to achieve last year.

With field hockey not being a PAC-6 sport coach Susan Stone had to estimate the team’s rank, “The team is placed at 6th overall,” Stone said.

Cross Country Riverside Cross Country is off to a great start. Undefeated in the PAC 6 with a 2 and 0 record, the future looks bright for this team.

“The team has grown with the new freshman, adding talent this year.” junior Cole Whetstone said.

Newer runners will have to get used to the hard training that comes with the sport. After sprinting, 4 or 5 miles will be ran for practice.

Leading the team are junior Cole Whetstone , and senior Caralyn Evans.

“We are undefeated in the PAC 6, our team is doing pretty well this year.” junior Kayla Mitchell said.

October 2012

News

NEWS BRIEFS

Jake Miles and Paulina Perez Otero act out a comedy performance.

The theather department will put on "The Laramie Project" on Nov. 1, 2, and 3.

• PHOTO BY JENNIFER MARTINEZ

Orchestra to play at Duke Gardens Right now, the advanced orchestra is preparing for their upcoming concert at Duke Gardens.

Sophomore Matthew Laird, a violinist that joined the Eastern Regional Orchestra as the only freshman last year, looks forward to playing in the concert.

“The schools new advanced class has been working on harder solos and scales,” Laird said. “We are going to play valses at the concert.”

Riverside’s new advanced orchestra class taught by Sara Moore, offers musicians a chance to sharpen their musical abilities.

“It is really fun and challenging,” Laird said.

SGA students are elected

The winners of the SGA elections were recently announced for this year, and the victorious students are ready to help out.

“I’m looking forward to bringing a positive, more family environment to Riverside,” student body president, senior Simona Jones said.

Jones said the students elected are already hard at work in planning for various activities including homecoming and a school clean up day.

All the student government officials were voted into their positions by their peers.

“It feels pretty amazing that I’m trusted to help lead the school,” Jones said.

Theater to put on "The Laramie Project" The Riverside Theatre department is back at it again with this fall’s production of The Laramie Project. The production is based on the shocking true story of a gay teenager who is severely beaten in Laramie, Wyoming, by two southerners and left tied to a fence to die in the countryside.

The Laramie Project is very controversial. It is picketed regularly, regardless of the fact that it has been performed worldwide for over ten years.

The play was written by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theatre Company. Kaufman has also written Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde and 33 Variations. The first play he directed for Broadway, I Am My Own Wife, won him a Tony Award.

The show will be put on Nov. 2 and 3. Tickets are $5. The twelve cast members will be playing six to eight characters apiece, which is an obvious challenge. They will be rehearsing for the show three to five days a week for eight weeks.

“There’s a lot in the media these days about bullying,” theater teacher Glenn Fox said about her decision to put on such a risque play.

“Whether it’s your weight, color, sexuality, all of it is under attack.

Plays often work as a “mirror” to society, showing the problems it faces. That’s why I chose The Laramie Project.”

FBLA starts homeless drive Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is a student run organization that prepares high school students for the business world. To start off this school year, Riverside’s chapter is participating in a community service project called Drive for the Homeless.

Business teacher Coluette Brown-Hicks first encountered the

19

Meet your Presidents

idea when she heard that NCCU was participating in it. The drive consists of donating clothing and hygienic items to homeless families in Durham.

Any donations that Riverside students make will be separated into kits and taken to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, where on October 11th, nearly 500 homeless families will come to receive the donations.

Captain's Program helps freshmen This year, Riverside started a new program called the Captains Program, where juniors and seniors help freshman with their transition into high school.

“The idea of helping ninth graders came from Mrs. Cordell and my own children and their experience in high school,” AP Government teacher Pat Roeber said. “We saw the program from a parent’s perspective and we saw it as a way to help other freshman. It was a great idea.”

The newcomers are doing well with the switch so far and now understand the changes from middle school to high school.

“It was hard at the beginning, I feel like it’s too much work, but it’s not too difficult,” freshman Tony Garcia said.

Simona Jones- Student Body

Katie Thompson- Senior

Meaghan Pleasants- Junior

Botany enhances parking lot Students at Riverside are clamouring over the cinder blocks forming at the once plain traffic circle in the bus lot. Second and third period botany are working on enhancing the front lot.

“We are making something that was dull into something nice,” senior Rashad Ross said.

Ross and other botany students are working on many cosmetic additions to the circle, including a statue and a variety of flowers.

Alexis Clinton- Sophomore

Robin Jones- Freshman

20

Ballot 2012

SGA,

Ballot 2012

By Davis Heric

I Love Mr Unruhe

Presidential

For the past couple of months while Americans have relaxed in their homes and watched television, maybe enjoying the spectacle the United States was putting on in the Olympics, they were simultaneously bombarded during commercial breaks with ads either promoting or slandering the candidates for the upcoming presidential election.

This year’s presidential election is a special one because it is going on at the same time as our Student Government Association (SGA) elections, an occurrence that happens every four years.

The presidential election will decide which presidential and vice-presidential candidates will run Washington for the next four years.

Unlike the presidential election our SGA elections occur every school year, and there are four different elections at five levels.

The first four levels are for each of the four classes, and the different elections are for class president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary. The last level is for the student body as a whole, where four seniors will be elected to be the student body president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary, just like for the separate classes.

Campaigning is what really sets our SGA elections apart from the Presidential election.

Both Mitt Romney and President Obama have made their case through advertise-

ments, and both have harshly attacked each other in numerous advertisements and campaign speeches.

At Riverside, the only campaigning you will notice for SGA is signs.

“National and district laws limit SGA campaigning so that it doesn’t appear a student is being attacked or possibly favored over another,” SGA advisor Rebecca Stone said.

Before the election, students can walk the halls and see flyers posted everywhere for candidates. Candidates also place signs on the fence at the front of the school, the same fence where as kids drive into school they can always see signs that students put up for birthdays. Even though students will always vote for their friends, the lack of campaigning leaves a lot of students just checking boxes and circling names at random.

“When I voted I just chose at random, I really didn’t know any of the candidates,” senior Amirdeen Khan said.

This is the complete opposite of the presidential campaign this year. With other campaign advertising that has almost been propaganda from accusations that President Obama was not born in the United States to Governor Mitt Romney putting his dog’s cage on top of the family car during a vacation.

The method involving calculated results to find a winner is completely different in our SGA elections compared to the Presidential election. The school votes for the candidates of all 20 positions are just counted up, and whoever has the most votes wins the posi-

elections

Students hang signs around school to try and gain support for SGA elections.

Campaigning is one of the most important parts of any election, whether school or national.

• PHOTO BY DAVIS HERIC tion. It is a true popular vote.

However, in our nation’s Presidential elections there is a popular vote where the votes are just counted up.

There was then the electoral college vote and almost always whoever wins the popular vote in one state will get all of those state’s electoral votes.

The more people in a state, the more electoral votes there are, so that’s why states like Florida are so important for candidates

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to win.

Most famously, the 2000 election’s popular vote was won by Al Gore. However, George W. Bush won Florida which barely carried him to a victory over Gore because of the electoral college vote.

The Presidential election and the SGA elections have many similarities as well as differences, but both systems seem to get the job done.

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October 2012

Third

parties

There are 169 million registered voters in the United States. While most students do not even notice that voters can be something other than Republican or Democrat, some dedicate their voting power to third parties.

While many of these parties take far right or left views, some borrow traits from their two larger counterparts such as the Green movement. Third parties with the largest following include the Libertarian party, the Green party and Constitution Party.

But the future of third parties are romantic at best. Even if third party votes were to increase dramatically, they would still be little more than vote splitters for the two major powerhouses.

“I would identify with green party but voting for a third party can split the vote.” Senior Alan Miller said.

So, should people vote for the party, or the person?

Many voters do not identify with any party, which are called independents. It is widely accepted by many that independents are predominantly younger than voters that belong to parties.

Non-major parties are “very issue oriented,” United States History teacher Craig Carlson said.

It is no secret the parties have to compromise to receive the majority of votes. Non-major

undervalued

in

21

school

3rd Party Matching A• I ran for president in 2000, and was the difference for Bush winning Florida and the nation.

• PHOTO BY NICHOLAS KELLY

Social Studies teacher Craig Carlson (above) shows his photo of one time third party candidate Theodore Roosevelt. parties however, are not obligated to be acceptable by the masses, so they are normally very radical and specific to certain problems.

Third parties make up a significantly smaller portion of votes compared to the two major parties.

In fact, they only make up around 1 to 7 percent of the popular vote.

Many parties fear that the younger generation is growing more apathetic about voting.Thirtyfive percent of Americans are not registered to vote.

Some students have done their own research, and taken the initiative the develop their own views.

“I think both sides have a lot of hypocrisy in them,” Miller said.

Miller is unaffiliated, but not due to a lack of opinion.

“Abolish [the] electoral college, and socialize health care,” Miller said.

Miller is not alone in his opinion.

Senior Nathan Lui identifies as being an Independent.

Lui believes people should keep politics to themselves.

“I believe politics are a private decision,” Lui said.

Like many, Lui has formed his own opinions, but keeps them reserved due to the sensitive nature of politics.

“As Franklin said, the government that governs the least governs the best,” Lui said.

GARY JOHNSON

B• I ran for president in 1992, was famous for my statement, "I'll just check under the hood."

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C• I'm a Libertarian and I'm running for president this year.

ROSS PEROT

ANSWERS 1.C 2.A 3.B

By Nicholas Kelly

Ballot 2012

22

Pirates' Hookok

Ballot 2012

Campaign ads chase down voters

My name is Lenny the Pirate, and I approve this story

By Casie Bickers Candidates take advertising to next level Every time the newest episode of Jersey Shore comes on, it is guaranteed to feature at least one presidential ad during its countless commercials.

Crazy bumper stickers, constant TV ads, and catchy slogans are all ways that President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney try to catch our attention.

Unfortunately, many people would agree that the main goal of each candidate’s ads is to cut an opponent down rather than to boost themselves up.

“I think that campaign professionals use negative advertisements because they are effective and they work the best,” civics teacher Craig Carlson said.

Many people, including junior Eliza Butts are tired of all the attack ads. ”I’m sick of seeing all the candidates talking bad about each other instead of talking about themselves,” Butts said.

Attack ads blame their opponents for anything, from the death of Americans to the decline of the United States economy.

Throughout the twentieth and the twenty first century, campaign tactics have changed dramatically.

Up until 100 years ago, candidates were forced to find interesting ways to secure their votes. Rather than focusing on media-based ads, they held public speeches to get their voters attention.

Presidential hopefuls such as Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson would also turn to “whistle stops campaigns”, candidates would board trains and ride them from station to station to educate their supporters about their campaigns.

While on the trains, they would rally the support of their followers by giving inspiring speeches.

Candidates would also give speeches from the back platform of the train to the people waiting at the stations.

Whistle stop campaigns were a unique strategy that started in the early 1940’s and are still, in some

How does Riverside vote?

cases, used today.

While whistle stop campaigns were popular, modern media has taken over the basic idea of campaigning.

Now, the power of televisions, radios, and the internet are prevalent.

Whenever junior Tasmine Hughes is watching tv, she is bombarded by ads.

“Every time I am watching TV I know that I will see some type of ad, no matter what,” Hughes said.

According to the New York Times, close to $2.6 billion was spent on television and radio ads alone in the 2008 election.

Government and politics teacher Patrick Roeber believes that television ads are the best way for the candidates to get attention.

“To me, the largest influence in the campaign is television ads because the candidates are able to pick and choose the time and channel they appear on,” Roeber said.

Besides TV, candidates also use pop up ads on computers, emails, billboards, and the radio to make their voice heard.

Obama, Romney ads flood television and internet music sites, much to dismay of many students. Photos captured from campaign ads.

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October 2012

Kingdon

By Jonathan Titus

After planning her entire week around witnessing President Barack Obama present his acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination, junior Stewart Kingdon was devastated to hear a chance of severe thunderstorms in downtown Charlotte would make her ticket invalid.

Kingdon, born into a political family, volunteers promoting the democratic party and their policies across the country.

“In 2008 my family, especially my mom, did a lot of fundraising and phone banking for the Obama campaign,” Kingdon said. “My mom has already started volunteering this year and because of that and my family’s previous work we were offered an opportunity to get free tickets.”

The Bank of America Stadium, home to the Carolina Panthers, with a capacity of 70,000, was the primary venue of choice but the speech was moved inside to a smaller facility, which held 19,000 persons.

“Because of the weather, they had to move Obama’s speech to a smaller, indoor facility for safety of all the attendees,” Kingdon said.

Devastated that her one chance to see the president was shot down by a couple rain clouds, Kingdon

was given a second chance to hear from the president when Obama spoke to over 50,000 people via conference call.

Sitting in front of her laptop awaiting the president’s address to numerous ticket holders, Kingdon’s face brightened as she heard through the spotty reception the president’s voice spark over the loudspeaker.

“Just the president talking directly to me was kind of cool,” Kingdon said. “It was a lot more informal than I thought.”

Though she did enjoy the conference call, for Kingdon, nothing could be better than listening to the president in person.

“It wasn’t exactly the same as being there but it’s nice they did something for the community credential ticket holders who weren’t able to be there,” Kingdon said.

Filled with apologies and plans for the future, Obama’s conference call ended with a thank you.

Thinking her time to really discover how conventions are run would soon be over, Kingdon received the news of a lifetime: she would get to see first lady Michelle Obama speak at North Carolina Central University.

“Getting to see Michelle Obama was a big deal,” Kingdon said.

“There were so many people there and we had to get there early so we

Students,

By Jasmine Lyon

Four years ago, two out of every three young voters cast their ballot for Barack Obama.

Even though Obama’s support has dropped off this election, there is still a significant difference between Obama’s support from people under 30 versus that of their parents.

Junior Elmer Mejia disagrees completely with his parents who

seeks

insight

23

Stewart Kingdon listens to Michelle Obama speak in Durham. Kingdon's family pushes her to take advantage of political opportunities.

• PHOTO COURTESY STEWART KINGDON could get a good place in line.”

Arriving at NCCU three hours early, Kingdon saw a line that wrapped around the block as people waited to see the first lady.

“Her speech highlighted some of the main points brought up in the election,” Kingdon said. “There was a fair amount about what the administration had done and how she knew her husband had big plans

parents

support Romney.

“His arguments aren’t legit, he accuses Obama about mistakes that Bush made. He also make false promises,” Mejia said.

Alana Posada’s parents support Romney and she disagrees with their decision.

“The things he talks about are not logical, he’s saying that he can fix problems in four years that have been destroyed in eight years by the last president,” Posada said.

political

Ballot 2012

for the next four years. There was also a huge call to get out there and make people come to the polls and emphasis on how much individual efforts matter.”

Kingdon’s family usually answers to such calls.

“My family is a big supporter of representative democracy, and often we are out there just trying to get people to register to vote,”

disagree

“I’d vote for Obama because he is trying to fix what the last president did.”

As for junior Cole Whetstone, he has some similarities.

“My parents voted for Obama, I share the same views with them but I think I’m more moderate. I wouldn’t vote for Romney because he has no policy experience and I don’t like the idea of corporate taxes,” Whetstone said.

According to Mediaite and Gal-

on

Kingdon said. “One of the things that makes our country so great is we all have the right and ability to participate in government.”

Like her parents, Kingdon believes politics is important.

“I don’t care that much about who you support, I care much more about making sure you get out there and vote to show your support for them.”

election

lop polls, 64 percent of voters age 18 to 29 support Obama.

People from 30 to 49 support Obama 49 percent, which is a 15 point drop from the younger voters.

Some kids take the opposite road.

Freshman Cassidy Leovic’s parents voted for Obama.

“I feel that Romney has better qualities, like Romney wouldn’t pay for birth control and I feel that you should pay for it yourself. If a

lot of money went to birth control it could go to more important things,” Leovic said.

Voters from ages 18 to 29 support Romney 29 percent according to Mediaite and Gallop polls, while voters from ages 30 to 49 support Romney 44 percent.

The election is a month away and all the voters and young supporters are anxious for the outcome. Then again there will be some kids that will disagree with the results.

24

Ballot 2012

Pirates' Hookok

Youth vote proves necessary towards elections

By Cameron McNeill With the presidential election quickly approaching, there is a problem with the United States voting system. It is not low voter turnouts or a lack of diversity at the polls. It is America’s youth apathy toward voting.

Forty-six million Americans age eighteen to twenty-nine are eligible to vote, yet only 51 percent of them choose to do so.

Durham County Commissioner Brenda Howerton believes that youth should vote because it can make a big difference for them.

“People they elect have to do with their lives,” Howerton said, “We need to let them understand what it means with their lives.”

Those who are registered to vote understand that the process will affect their lives. About 84 percent of the youth who were registered to vote, voted in the 2008 presidential election. Those not registered are most likely blind to the fact that voting can directly impact them.

Freshman Neo Cruz feels underinformed.

“I don’t have enough information and the ads are too misleading,” Cruz said.

Cruz believes that the whole school could benefit from a program that tells the students about the candidates and the election process.

“Right now, I think voting is useless,” Cruz said.

Whether useless or not, Howerton believes she has a solution to the problem, and claims that it will lead to higher voter turnout for the youth.

“We need to talk to them, let them ask questions and we need to tell them why it is important,” Howerton said.

Recently, the trend in youth voting rates has been on the rise. In 1996, only 37 percent of 18-29 year olds voted, while in 2008 over 50 percent voted for the first time in United States history.

Government and politics teacher Pat Roeber understands the reason for the recent jump at the polls.

“President Obama did a better job connecting with the youth, with energizing them and getting them to the polls,” Roeber said. Roeber also said that it is not entirely the youth’s fault for their lackluster voting record.

“There is a sort of Catch-22 with politicians,” Roeber said. “They tend to ignore or talk about young people’s issues because they thinks kids will not vote, so kids do not care. For politicians to get the youth to the polls, they need to care about young people’s issues.”

County Commissioner candidate Wendy Jacobs thinks that it is a combination between the lack of youth engagement and problems in Washington D.C. “The youth have a feeling of hopelessness and apathy,” Jacobs said. “They do not know whether elected officials can solve a problem or even if elected officials will do anything anyways.”

Jacobs feels that youth should value that the opportunity to participate in government.

“Youth need to realize their personal responsibility and that voting is a precious right,” Jacobs said.

Whether it be the politician’s or youth’s fault, the young need to go to the polls.

Commission candidate Wendy Jacobs and her daughter celebrate gay pride at the pride march. Jacobs encourages youth voting.

•PHOTO COURTESY OF WENDY JACOBS