Notable Articles from the past
The people strike back: a case against Kavanaugh
BY OLIVER WEAVER
2019
Memories can haunt people forever, especially when they are related to other people. Only those with the utmost confidence and courage can share these nightmares with others. One woman, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, was brave enough to share her experience of sexual assault with the whole country.
September has been full of talk about Brett Kavanaugh, a conservative who is under Trump’s wing. He has been hand-picked by the president to run for a position in the Supreme Court. He was already scoffed at by millions, who despised his radical ideas; but when Dr. Christine Blasey Ford stepped up and accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault in high school, the country went wild.
“I think this event affects the overall voice of women in society and even the government. Women who are affected by sexual assault and are sexual assault victims have a fear of speaking out for the very reason of: “well what if they don’t believe me, or if I get fired for saying something?” These type of reasons shouldn’t even come up, but because of the silence that men of higher power have put on women, they have the mentality of the negative outcome of speaking out,” Jamila Rahim , sophomore, explained.
Following the accusations, Kavanaugh gave twenty-two minutes of emotional testimony, denying every accusation thrown his way. He claimed he never sexually assaulted anyone, even though he expressed his love for beer.
“The Kavanaugh case really made me think that there was some peak of hope for our Supreme Court. I, myself, believe that the influence of women in the government is very important, and seeing that the election of a man who even had allegations in the first place with proof of these allegations was confirmed, made me lose all hope I had from the beginning,” Angeluz Morrillo, sophomore, said.
Despite the accusation, poor reputation and unstable temperament, Kavanaugh was still confirmed as the newest Supreme Court Justice. As a result of the vote, Washington D.C. saw hundred of protestors- ranging from sexual abuse survivors to those opposed to the brutal upcoming power grab.
“The protesters in D.C. really inspired me. I wish I could’ve been by their side. The first thing that came to mind for me when I saw the arrests was of course the Civil Rights movement. All that mattered for them was doing the right thing for their people, and that really showed with the protesters in D.C.”, Rahim explained.
This turn of events has left citizens around the country, especially women, shattered. Although the case is over and Kavanaugh is enlisted in the court, the people’s fight is just beginning.
“I think our country needs to wake up and fight for what’s right; we as a people are still in shackles, it’s time for our voices to be heard.” Rahim commented.
September has been full of talk about Brett Kavanaugh, a conservative who is under Trump’s wing. He has been hand-picked by the president to run for a position in the Supreme Court. He was already scoffed at by millions, who despised his radical ideas; but when Dr. Christine Blasey Ford stepped up and accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault in high school, the country went wild.
“I think this event affects the overall voice of women in society and even the government. Women who are affected by sexual assault and are sexual assault victims have a fear of speaking out for the very reason of: “well what if they don’t believe me, or if I get fired for saying something?” These type of reasons shouldn’t even come up, but because of the silence that men of higher power have put on women, they have the mentality of the negative outcome of speaking out,” Jamila Rahim , sophomore, explained.
Following the accusations, Kavanaugh gave twenty-two minutes of emotional testimony, denying every accusation thrown his way. He claimed he never sexually assaulted anyone, even though he expressed his love for beer.
“The Kavanaugh case really made me think that there was some peak of hope for our Supreme Court. I, myself, believe that the influence of women in the government is very important, and seeing that the election of a man who even had allegations in the first place with proof of these allegations was confirmed, made me lose all hope I had from the beginning,” Angeluz Morrillo, sophomore, said.
Despite the accusation, poor reputation and unstable temperament, Kavanaugh was still confirmed as the newest Supreme Court Justice. As a result of the vote, Washington D.C. saw hundred of protestors- ranging from sexual abuse survivors to those opposed to the brutal upcoming power grab.
“The protesters in D.C. really inspired me. I wish I could’ve been by their side. The first thing that came to mind for me when I saw the arrests was of course the Civil Rights movement. All that mattered for them was doing the right thing for their people, and that really showed with the protesters in D.C.”, Rahim explained.
This turn of events has left citizens around the country, especially women, shattered. Although the case is over and Kavanaugh is enlisted in the court, the people’s fight is just beginning.
“I think our country needs to wake up and fight for what’s right; we as a people are still in shackles, it’s time for our voices to be heard.” Rahim commented.
A New Age of Gaming: Apex Blows Up
BY OLIVER WEAVER & THOMAS MacDOUGALL
2019
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The gas zone closes in on the two squads that remain, forcing them to change location. The two teams fight to the death until one squad is the champion- the Apex Legends. The variety of characters, weapons, and abilities creates a new diverse game that shocked the world.
Video games have become a large attraction in the lives of adolescents. According to National Purchase Diary Inc., 91 percent of U.S. children ages 2-17 play video games (64 million). Even more interesting is that these numbers have increased nearly 13 percent (year), a 2009 study found. Recently a new game called Apex Legends has sprung out of nowhere, and hit very impressive statistics. “I want to say that it got popular because people wanted a break from Fortnite… and then makers of Titanfall introduce a new game… and then they saw streamers playing it…” Xavier Morris, sophomore, stated. The past two years have been full of battle royale games. With the explosion of Fortnite in 2017, battle royale has been hot in the gaming world. Games like Call of Duty have jumped on the bandwagon, as Treyarch released a new battle royale mode. It can be hard to find differences between two completely separate battle royale games, but many believe Apex truly is a diverse game. “Apex Legends is a really good game, and if you guys like [First Person Shooter] games, I really recommend this one when it comes to high movement… it’s way faster than Fortnite,” Morrison said. With the game gaining over 25 million players in a single week after its release, many agree with Morrison’s opinion. Apex’s main rival, Fortnite, took 2 weeks to gain 10 million players, and it had been advertised months before its release. As the days go by, Apex’s statistics keep increasing, and the shadow over Fortnite grows even darker. |
“I think Apex is going to be the end of Fortnite…I also like it much more. All of my friends have moved on from Fortnite- it’s dead. Apex is so much faster and cleaner, even though it’s a different style. I think Fortnite was good while it lasted, but soon it will wither,” Tyler Ladson, sophomore, commented.
Although this new game has received outstanding support, not everyone is pleased with Apex’s gameplay. Many do not want to move on from the infamous Fortnite, as they believe it will be the best game of the century. Some people don’t like battle royale games at all; it is not a genre that everyone enjoys. “I have never really liked battle royale games. I love games that have nice graphics- mind you the graphics on Apex are good considering it’s a free game. Apex lacks a good story, which is essential in my opinion for a game to be good. If the makers of the game don’t add new content regularly I think the game will lose its hype quickly,” Oscar Dessauer, sophomore, explained. Video games have come a long way. A game that might be a stepping stone for future ones has made its mark in the world of fantasy. “I believe Apex has had a great start as it is, and I think it will last a long time,” Morris concluded. |
Underage Voting: Students reflect on the debate
BY EMILY PARKER
2019
The paper slips into the box as another voter steps into the booth. Voters wait in line to cast their votes to see who will help make the community better.
Its that time of year again, voting season, in Durham County North Carolina on November 6, 2018. Adults went out and voted for who is going to make decisions for the future of Durham. The only problem is, not everyone who is affected by those decisions are allowed to vote. All the laws that the Durham Politicians makes not only affects the adults but also greatly affects the student population which is % of the durham population which is currently at 267,743 mainly in high school.
“I think students who are enrolled in high school and have taken Civics and or American History with a passing grade should be aloud to vote regardless of the age,” Michael Neece commented.
Neece now has three kids, one who is a Sophomore in high school, who he thinks should be allowed to vote. He say kids who aren't in high school yet should not be aloud to vote, because they don't know most the information behind Durham Country's history.
“Sometimes kids have a better view than adults, but they are also more vulnerable and may be easily influenced by their parents views,” Chelsea Norman Scott, Freshman at Carolina Friends, asserted.
Chelsea thinks that while kids provide a fresh and new viewpoint, they are sometimes not ready for the voting process. She thinks a good voting age would be 16, when the student is aloud to drive.
“Young people might just vote the way their parents tell them to — but traditionally, the party of your parents has always been the strongest indicator of your voting habits. We don’t seem to mind when voters take cues from their parents once they’re 18, so why do we object when they’re younger? Children voting like their parents doesn’t violate one-person, one vote, it validates it. A child is a person, too,” The Washington Post noted.
The Washington Post talked about how throughout history Durham Country has prohibited many groups from voting like women and people of color, Those groups prevailed and it's no different for kids. They also talked about how some may say that adults are protecting children from the voting process like they do for court trials or finances, but what are they actually protecting kids from, their opinion?
"I think that the age of 18 is a good age to be able to vote, because at 18 you have responsibilities and they have to think fully for themselves, which allows them to make and develop their own decisions,” Ella Bartlett voiced.
Bartlett is a freshman here at DSA, thinks that the current age of 18 should be maintained because while she feels that she is ready to vote now, there are many kids who aren't informed on the candidates and legislation.
“Voting can seem like alot of pressure and it is. I think that most people need more time to mature and decide what kind of person they want to be and what choices they want to make before they move on to voting,” Ella Bartlett expressed.
Its that time of year again, voting season, in Durham County North Carolina on November 6, 2018. Adults went out and voted for who is going to make decisions for the future of Durham. The only problem is, not everyone who is affected by those decisions are allowed to vote. All the laws that the Durham Politicians makes not only affects the adults but also greatly affects the student population which is % of the durham population which is currently at 267,743 mainly in high school.
“I think students who are enrolled in high school and have taken Civics and or American History with a passing grade should be aloud to vote regardless of the age,” Michael Neece commented.
Neece now has three kids, one who is a Sophomore in high school, who he thinks should be allowed to vote. He say kids who aren't in high school yet should not be aloud to vote, because they don't know most the information behind Durham Country's history.
“Sometimes kids have a better view than adults, but they are also more vulnerable and may be easily influenced by their parents views,” Chelsea Norman Scott, Freshman at Carolina Friends, asserted.
Chelsea thinks that while kids provide a fresh and new viewpoint, they are sometimes not ready for the voting process. She thinks a good voting age would be 16, when the student is aloud to drive.
“Young people might just vote the way their parents tell them to — but traditionally, the party of your parents has always been the strongest indicator of your voting habits. We don’t seem to mind when voters take cues from their parents once they’re 18, so why do we object when they’re younger? Children voting like their parents doesn’t violate one-person, one vote, it validates it. A child is a person, too,” The Washington Post noted.
The Washington Post talked about how throughout history Durham Country has prohibited many groups from voting like women and people of color, Those groups prevailed and it's no different for kids. They also talked about how some may say that adults are protecting children from the voting process like they do for court trials or finances, but what are they actually protecting kids from, their opinion?
"I think that the age of 18 is a good age to be able to vote, because at 18 you have responsibilities and they have to think fully for themselves, which allows them to make and develop their own decisions,” Ella Bartlett voiced.
Bartlett is a freshman here at DSA, thinks that the current age of 18 should be maintained because while she feels that she is ready to vote now, there are many kids who aren't informed on the candidates and legislation.
“Voting can seem like alot of pressure and it is. I think that most people need more time to mature and decide what kind of person they want to be and what choices they want to make before they move on to voting,” Ella Bartlett expressed.
FROM ISS TO RPC: RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MAKES ITS WAY TO DPS
BY OYINDA AJASA
2018
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Imagine being in a basement for seven hours, in a room with no windows and minimal social interaction from your peers. While for some this reality is unknown, that's not the case for everyone. This room, formerly known as ISS, is a common punishment here at DSA.
In-school suspension, also known as ISS, is a form of punishment used to discipline cheating, cursing, yelling, skipping, among other minor infractions, as listed in the DSA Code of Conduct. Recently, Durham Public Schools changed the name of ISS to RPC, which stands for Restorative Practice Center. Along with this change, out-of-school suspension, formerly known as OSS, has been changed to ALC, which stands for Alternative Learning Center. Durham Public Schools implemented the change in all middle schools and high schools at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year. This change stems from the idea of restorative practice, which addresses students' conflicts by repairing their relationships with those that were involved in the conflict instead of punishing them. “Restorative practices provide students with opportunities to discuss and mediate the causes of their in-school consequence while serving their consequence. DPS wants to reduce behaviors that lead to out-of-school suspensions and repeat in-school suspensions for students across the district. The restorative practice model is grounded in research that has proven effective in other districts,” Patrick Smith, Assistant Principal, stated. Other districts and schools around the U.S. have found great improvement in implementing restorative justice discipline policy in their schools. After fours years of experimenting with restorative practices, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, of North Carolina, adopted the model for all of its schools. McDougle Middle School, a school in the district, saw major discipline referrals drop nearly 75% the year it started restorative practices techniques. |
“When I was in ISS, I was just placed there. No one talked to me about what I did, and why it was wrong. I wish that an administrator would have took the time, to communicate my wrongdoing to me, but that never happened. I feel good, to know that students now will be able to get that opportunity,” Antonio Farrington, junior, commented.
RPC was just implemented in the beginning of the school year, but administrators have reported seeing changes with the new system, already. But like with anything new, there are some kinks that still need to be worked out. “The only drawback to the change that we have noticed is that students and parents aren’t always familiar with the new acronyms (i.e. RPC instead of ISS), so an additional explanation must be given to clarify the nature of the consequence,” Smith clarified. It looks like RPC is here to stay, and DPS along with DSA hopes to see continued change with this new model of punishment. By the year 2023, DPS hopes to have suspensions at 4%, a change from the 8.44% of suspensions that were calculated at the end of the 2016-2017 school year. “We hope to continue seeing students making better choices about their education and learning the appropriate skills that help them follow the Student Code of Conduct. As a result, we would like to see fewer and fewer students with repeat infractions that cause them to receive multiple assignments to RPC or multiple referrals to ALCs,” Smith concluded. |
Mind the gap: the state of the student lot
BY CAROLINE BATTEN
2018
Cracking and crumbling asphalt, littered with potholes that range from the size of a textbook to the width of one the blue doors on DSA’s campus. This is the state of the student parking lot.
The most recent renovations to DSA’s aging gym was completed by the HM Kern Corporation, which has also worked on smaller-scale projects to parts Hillside, Jordan, Riverside and Southern High School. Since the Academy and Main buildings are next on the DSA renovation list, the likelihood of a lot replacement is small.
“There’s only so much students can do to get things in motion. I’ve had meetings with Mr. Hawks frequently and he’s been a huge help with the process…unfortunately, adults don’t tend to listen to students and their needs, especially when there are more important things to fund. Mr. Hawks has informed me that the parking lot is most likely going to be repaved completely this summer, so juniors should have something to look forward to,” Meredith McMillen, senior and Student Council president explained.
Student Council held a ticket raffle, which raised money for fixing potholes. Students such as Anagha Jandhyala, junior and member of Student Council, are concerned about the state of it, student safety, and the timeline.
“Initially when we had the fundraiser, it was going well, and Meredith was talking to the PTSA and they said that we were not responsible for that, they would be responsible and the school; they would have to go through DPS to get that fixed - it wasn’t a student’s job...,” Jandhyala explained.
These potholes in the lot are formed when water rests in pavement it cracks and freezes, making existing rifts larger. According to usclimatedata.com, the average precipitation in the months of January, February, and December are all above 3.5 inches. Ice persists during this period, increasing the size of existing potholes. On February 20th, the day of the ACT, school was delayed for two hours due to the threat of ice, an ever-present reminder.
“It’s a huge safety hazard and cars have gotten stuck more than once,” McMillen said.
Potential methods to fix deteriorated asphalt in the lot include removing and resurfacing sections, but based on the condition of the parking lot, a full resurfacing overlay will be required. A quick, temporary solution was patching up potholes with sand and gravel, as was done at the lot entrance near the stairs by the tennis courts.
“Asphalt parking lots need to be coated with liquid asphalt every few years and be completely resurfaced every 10 years or less, causing interruptions of use of the parking lot for the business,” the Concrete Network stated on their website.
However, projects such as renovating the Main Building, currently over 90 years old, come first as they pose a potential health and safety concern to students and staff. This pushes sprucing up or even repaving the student parking lot down on the list of projects.
“Well its not getting done anytime soon, so good luck to next year’s seniors,” D. Hothi, senior, said.
The most recent renovations to DSA’s aging gym was completed by the HM Kern Corporation, which has also worked on smaller-scale projects to parts Hillside, Jordan, Riverside and Southern High School. Since the Academy and Main buildings are next on the DSA renovation list, the likelihood of a lot replacement is small.
“There’s only so much students can do to get things in motion. I’ve had meetings with Mr. Hawks frequently and he’s been a huge help with the process…unfortunately, adults don’t tend to listen to students and their needs, especially when there are more important things to fund. Mr. Hawks has informed me that the parking lot is most likely going to be repaved completely this summer, so juniors should have something to look forward to,” Meredith McMillen, senior and Student Council president explained.
Student Council held a ticket raffle, which raised money for fixing potholes. Students such as Anagha Jandhyala, junior and member of Student Council, are concerned about the state of it, student safety, and the timeline.
“Initially when we had the fundraiser, it was going well, and Meredith was talking to the PTSA and they said that we were not responsible for that, they would be responsible and the school; they would have to go through DPS to get that fixed - it wasn’t a student’s job...,” Jandhyala explained.
These potholes in the lot are formed when water rests in pavement it cracks and freezes, making existing rifts larger. According to usclimatedata.com, the average precipitation in the months of January, February, and December are all above 3.5 inches. Ice persists during this period, increasing the size of existing potholes. On February 20th, the day of the ACT, school was delayed for two hours due to the threat of ice, an ever-present reminder.
“It’s a huge safety hazard and cars have gotten stuck more than once,” McMillen said.
Potential methods to fix deteriorated asphalt in the lot include removing and resurfacing sections, but based on the condition of the parking lot, a full resurfacing overlay will be required. A quick, temporary solution was patching up potholes with sand and gravel, as was done at the lot entrance near the stairs by the tennis courts.
“Asphalt parking lots need to be coated with liquid asphalt every few years and be completely resurfaced every 10 years or less, causing interruptions of use of the parking lot for the business,” the Concrete Network stated on their website.
However, projects such as renovating the Main Building, currently over 90 years old, come first as they pose a potential health and safety concern to students and staff. This pushes sprucing up or even repaving the student parking lot down on the list of projects.
“Well its not getting done anytime soon, so good luck to next year’s seniors,” D. Hothi, senior, said.
Chorus sings a message of gender inclusivity for all
BY OYINDA AJASA
2018
The sound of voices of various pitches ring through the air. Harmonies and melodies blend together. The soft but resolute playing of a piano is heard underneath it all. Chorus, a pathway here at Durham School of the Arts, has undergone a major change.
DSA Chorus recently made the decision to change the names of Women’s and Men’s Ensemble to Cantabile and Bass Ensemble. The names of the other classes will remain the same because they are already inclusive. The decision stemmed from students who identify as genderqueer and non-binary, and did not identify with the previous labels. These students felt that a change needed to be made. The goal is that with the renaming, students will feel more comfortable enrolling, and staying in these courses.
“The decision to rename the classes was lead by the choir teachers and the administration. The changes were made to more accurately define who could take each class. We removed the artificial barrier of gender and made the class requirements based exclusively on voice type,” Jeremy Nabors, chorus teacher, stated.
Being one of the largest pathways here at DSA, Chorus has many students who have opinions about this renaming. Although this decision speaks to the inclusivity of DSA, its change has been met with acceptance and dismissal, primarily associated with the sound of the new names themselves.
“The renaming of the chorus classes is not something I was expecting but it is in accord with what the school stands for. Although the names are inclusive, I think they sound weird and off putting. I think that they could have chosen names that sound better, and I think that a lot of students would agree with that. I hope people can get used to them, but I think it's going to take some time,” Ella Kromm, junior, explained.
Before Chorus made the decision to change the name of their courses, they made sure that their students were aware of it. Although their approval wasn’t the end all or be all, they made sure that they understood the decision and that was explained the best way possible. They also reached out to parents about this change.
“The teachers had several discussions with other Durham County chorus teachers as well as teachers from other states to find ensemble names that reflected the single voice parts that make up each choir. The students were surprised by the change, but once they learned why it was happening and what the names meant, they seemed very supportive,” Nabors said.
With the number of people who identify as non-binary, and genderqueer expanding its important that there be measures taken to make sure that everyone feels included. Hopefully other schools in the district and the community of Durham in general, can take inspiration from DSA.
“I hope that other school districts can look, and evaluate the names of their courses, and this can hopefully spur a spark around other schools in our district, and other school districts,” Kromm concluded.
DSA Chorus recently made the decision to change the names of Women’s and Men’s Ensemble to Cantabile and Bass Ensemble. The names of the other classes will remain the same because they are already inclusive. The decision stemmed from students who identify as genderqueer and non-binary, and did not identify with the previous labels. These students felt that a change needed to be made. The goal is that with the renaming, students will feel more comfortable enrolling, and staying in these courses.
“The decision to rename the classes was lead by the choir teachers and the administration. The changes were made to more accurately define who could take each class. We removed the artificial barrier of gender and made the class requirements based exclusively on voice type,” Jeremy Nabors, chorus teacher, stated.
Being one of the largest pathways here at DSA, Chorus has many students who have opinions about this renaming. Although this decision speaks to the inclusivity of DSA, its change has been met with acceptance and dismissal, primarily associated with the sound of the new names themselves.
“The renaming of the chorus classes is not something I was expecting but it is in accord with what the school stands for. Although the names are inclusive, I think they sound weird and off putting. I think that they could have chosen names that sound better, and I think that a lot of students would agree with that. I hope people can get used to them, but I think it's going to take some time,” Ella Kromm, junior, explained.
Before Chorus made the decision to change the name of their courses, they made sure that their students were aware of it. Although their approval wasn’t the end all or be all, they made sure that they understood the decision and that was explained the best way possible. They also reached out to parents about this change.
“The teachers had several discussions with other Durham County chorus teachers as well as teachers from other states to find ensemble names that reflected the single voice parts that make up each choir. The students were surprised by the change, but once they learned why it was happening and what the names meant, they seemed very supportive,” Nabors said.
With the number of people who identify as non-binary, and genderqueer expanding its important that there be measures taken to make sure that everyone feels included. Hopefully other schools in the district and the community of Durham in general, can take inspiration from DSA.
“I hope that other school districts can look, and evaluate the names of their courses, and this can hopefully spur a spark around other schools in our district, and other school districts,” Kromm concluded.
Carr building sheds its dark past
BY IZZY SALAZAR
2017
 Photo Courtesy of Open Durham
Walking past the building that houses the sixth and seventh grade classes, it may be noticed that the blue DPS sign that announced the building’s name has been removed.
On August 23, the Durham Public Schools school board voted unanimously to remove the name Julian Carr from the middle school building at DSA. This decision was made at the same time as the school board decided to ban symbols representing white supremacy. The building was named the Julian S. Carr Junior High School in 1945, and the name was kept when the school became part of DSA. “Our concern was due to Julian Carr's racist views, particularly graphically described in his speech at the Silent Sam memorial dedication on the UNC Chapel Hill campus. In that speech Carr said he ‘horse-whipped a negro wench until her skirts hung in shreds’. The Superintendent and Board felt that it was important to remove Carr's name as we move forward in a spirit of equity for all students,” Natalie Beyer, DPS school board member, explained. The removal of the name came as some surprise to Mandie Robertson, sixth grade Language Arts teacher, as she was not aware of Carr’s history. “I asked somebody who it was named after, and I was told he was a philanthropist, and I didn’t know any more than that until [the event took place]...then I read and I learned a little bit more about him,” Ms. Robertson explained. Mr. Isaacs, sixth grade Social Studies teacher, did not know much about Julian Carr before the name was removed, either. He has since learned more. “I hate to admit it, as a history teacher, but no I didn’t... do any research. So it came as a surprise. As with many things of this nature, it’s complicated because I also understand that [Carr] apparently was a benefactor of NCCU as well, which seems like a contradiction, but, that’s not uncommon for the time period that we’re talking about,” Mr. Isaacs said. |
Both teachers stated that their students know minimal information about who Carr was. Ms. Robertson is working to remedy that.
“[T]hey will [know] before the year’s over, because we’ll be talking about it. They should know- they’re living and they’re learning the history, and it’s all interrelated to the statue coming down [and] to what’s going on in the world. You all need to be taught to think about things, and question things, and make your own decisions,” Ms. Robertson said. Both teachers agreed that if the building is going to be renamed, there should be some student input in who it is named after. “I want students to have input, but maybe not the final say. I think that would be appropriate to also involve students in that, but they need to take the time to research it, as us faculty should as well,” Mr. Isaacs said. “I think it would be fantastic to name [the building] after McKissick, and the folks who integrated the school. That would be an excellent choice.” However, Ms. Beyer stated that she is not aware of plans to rename the building. “I know the Administration and the Board would be open to thoughts from the school community at Durham School of the Arts. I assume these any recommendations would be discussed at the School Improvement Team at DSA and reflect the wishes of the school community,” Ms. Beyer said. “I assume the DSA community needs to consider if the building needs an official name or can be named more informally.” Regardless of what happens to the middle school building (as it is temporarily being called), Mr. Isaacs believes that people need to do some serious thinking. “It’s very important for all people, not just teachers and children, but for all people to honestly take the time to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. It’s real easy for people of privilege to be like, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t change that, it’s tradition, it’s the way it’s always been, why’re you making such a big deal out of it,’ but it can be a real slap in the face to people who feel deeply about it, and I think everyone... needs to be thoughtful about that and reflective,” Mr. Isaacs finished. |
MR. RITCHIE STEPS IN AS THE GALLERY ADVISOR
BY CECILIA HERNÁNDEZ
2016
 Newspaper advisor and English II teacher, Mr. Ritchie, poses for the camera. He hopes for his students to enjoy reporting but to approach each attempt to share information with integrity and pride.
The Newspaper sign formerly taped on Ms. McLeod’s door is no longer there. Move upstairs to room T203 and notice it taped to the door’s window. Mr. Ritchie, the ginger-bearded man that’s hard to miss and the new advisor for The Gallery, will be sitting in his chair facing the door with his Mac propped open sifting through his emails. Ms. McLeod, former Gallery advisor for 15+ years and 8th grade Social Studies teacher, retired last year. Now, English II teacher, Mr. Ritchie, takes the baton. “I have always been interested in DSA’s newspaper,” Mr. Ritchie said. “When I heard rumors of Ms. McLeod retiring, I went ahead and told her I was interested in taking over.” Now entering his fourth year at DSA and thirteenth year teaching, Mr. Patrick Ritchie hopes for his students to enjoy reporting but to approach each attempt to share information with integrity and pride. “This summer I attended a journalism workshop at UNC for teachers and advisors,” Mr. Ritchie said. “I also work with Riverside’s former newspaper advisor, Steven Unruhe, to give tips when layout gets stressful, and I text Ms. McLeod every once in a while if I need help on something.” DSA couldn’t afford to place the class in the Social Studies Department. With an additional required course eating into the AP Psychology program this year, taking on another elective would just be impossible without current staffing. The newspaper advisor was required to be a high school English teacher, which knocked out Mr. Ward, who teaches AP European History and Civics and Economics, as a candidate. All academic teachers are told routinely about being “literacy teachers,” so why shouldn’t all academic teachers be eligible? After all, Riverside’s, The Hook, was advised by Mr. Unruhe, who was also an AP Calculus teacher for 20+ years. |
“I understand why someone would pigeon-hole the job in the English department; it is about writing after all,” Mr. Ward explained. “But the newspaper has been called the ‘first rough draft of history,’(Alan Barth, 1943).
Mr. Ward is certain Mr. Ritchie will make an outstanding newspaper advisor. He knows him to be an honest, open minded, and reasonable human being, interested in current events and in students expressing themselves through writing. Mr. Moore, who teaches journalism at Duke Young Writers Camp, also considered the role of advisor, but through an administrative decision, was thought a better prospect for two creative writing classes, which he now leads. “Mr. Ritchie has been talking a lot about updating the look and presentation of the newspaper,” Mr. Moore commented. “I think he’s a great fit because he’s got experience with using social media in his class, and that’s where the newspaper needs to go to reach more readers.” Mr. Ritchie was the copywriter and editor of a musical instrument retail catalog Mars Music for one year but went back to teaching because he missed the classroom. Beginning his first year as The Gallery advisor, Mr. Ritchie hopes to inspire students to understand and appreciate the value of journalism and the immense responsibility of keeping the public intelligently informed. The push toward a stronger online and social media presence is an objective. He also believes that The Gallery should strive for a stronger aesthetic of creativity to reflect the arts. And on top of everything, Mr. Ritchie wants the staff to have a good time while doing so. As head of the newspaper, Mr. Ritchie is set to formulate a diverse, creative, and informative student body and community. “I think Mr. Ritchie is a great fit for advisor,” Ms. McLeod assured. “He is enthusiastic and passionate about what he does and is willing to take on new challenges. He has been planning for this class all summer, and we spent some time together talking about the class because he wanted to make it a smooth transition this year. Not only does he have those qualities, but he’s also very smart and curious about the world of the student. He really likes his students and has high expectations. I would have loved having him as a teacher when I was in high school. He is cool’.” |
