Newspapers / Grimsley High School Student … / Feb. 14, 1977, edition 1 / Page 3
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Page 3 HIGH LIFE February 14, 1977 Council’s Abilities Scrutinized The core of Grimsley’s student government is the Executive Council, an organization that would remain shrounded in mystery without the regular reporting of HIGH LIFE. One current Council member has called the name Executive Council “an ego trip” and stated that “they (the administration) override anything controversial.” Closer examination reveals that the purpose of the Executive Council is not to serve as a true legislative body whose duties include making decisions concer ning the government of the student body. Speaking on the Executive Council, Junior Class Chairperson Kendall Suh said, “It’s not involved in legislative decisions. It is involved in essential student activities.” The difference between “legislative decisions” and “essential stu dent activities” must now be determined in order to better understand Grimsley’s student government. Because students do not elect their representatives to the positions they eventually fill, they are often unaware of the duties of each Executive Council members. When asked about the Council, several students responded that they were unable to speak intelligently on it because they were unaware of what it did. Since Pep Board is an integral part of the lives of Grimsley students, most are aware of its activities. Chaired by sophomore, Linda Byrd, junior, Amanda Stephens, and senior, Carolina Johnson, Pep Board can be classified as an essential student activity. Ms. Johnson directs the sale of ribbons, plans caravans and buses to go to away games, and designates spirit days and pep rallies. Barred from the spotlight commanded by the spirited Ms. Johnson, Ms. Stephens’ exuberant personality is wasted on vain attempts to rally unenthusiastic students for clean up days. Yet, what is left for Ms. Byrd? As a sophomore, who is supposedly unaware of the actions of the Council because she has not served on it before, perhaps Ms. Byrd is expected to assist her colleagues. According to the Grimsley Constitution, Grimsley is supposed to have a tutoring program. Perhaps Ms. Byrd’s activities should include the formulation of this presently nonexistent program. Students are aware of the activities of the Youth Recreation Council, also. Co-chairpersons Kemp Clendenin, Ruth Katzen- stein, and Linda Simon are to assist with Homecoming activities and plan dances as their main duties. Yet, whenever one asks about their projects, such as the by Carol Eddy upcoming twirp dance, he is directed to the senior, Ms. Simon, Mr. Clendenin and Ms. Katzen- stein are rarely mentioned. Since specific duties are not assigned to each of the co-chairpersons, the more experienced senior can again overshadow oth,-, i_aCCU” tive Council members. The Executive Council contains three Student Affairs co-chairper sons also, but co-chairpersons Scott Toben, Beverly Waddell, and Chakelia Lewis have not conducted any activities making them stand out as individuals. Yet, if a single reason for the lack of individuality among the Student Affairs leaders had to be named, it might be traced to the lack of regular meetings. The Student Affairs Committee only convenes for occasional projects and because of the nature of the projects, most students associate the collection of money and food with it. As Sophomore Class Chairper son, Diane Clark is definitely known by the sophomore homeroom presidents. It can be assumed that the junior and senior class presidents know their class chairpersons Kendall Suh and Tom Essa, also. But what about the rest of the student body? Many students are not aware of their representatives and the activities of these representatives. Students do not seem to realize that they can submit ideas to these representatives for our student government. Ideas and suggestions submitted to home room presidents will be brought to the attention of the Council, also. The students discussed thus far are not the only ones serving Grimsley students on the Executive Council. Richard Spur- lin keeps track of the riches hidden in the Council’s bank account as the treasurer. At any given time Mr. Spurlin should know what funds are available for suggested projects. April McNeill fulfills another essential position. As secretary she is to keep the minutes of each of the weekly Executive Council meeting, so they will be preserved for years to come. Last of the officials elected to the Executive Council is perhaps its most important member, chairperson John Hepler (or, as Mr. Heplr prefers, chairman). A more appropriate title for the position Mr. Hepler fills is student body president, but this term cannot be used because he was elected by only the senior class. Mr. Hepler is the guiding force behind the Council who appears at all meetings and is always available for consultation with members of the student Student of the Month Herman Gist... An Unusual Combination It can never be said that Herman Gist did not get involved. Although is main interest is in music his activities have a diversity that would make anyone proud. Herman has been a member of more symphonies, bands, and committees than most people knew existed. Because of his civic mindedness and multi-variedness Herman Gist is the High Life. Primarily Herman is a musician who is affiated with organizations such as the Symphony Band, Pep Band, Marching Band. Greens boro Youth Symphony, and All-State Band. Herman played in the percussion section of the various musical groups. One honor bestowed upon Herman was being named as a nominee for McDonalds' All-American Band as Assistant Drum Major. Herman is also involved at his church where he is in the United Methodist Youth Fellowship, the Youth Choir, and is a Junior Steward. He has worked on the Student Affairs Committee, Band Council, Greensboro Youth Council, Family Life Council, and Title IX Committee. To round out his activities Herman is a Bus Driver and Tennis Team member. At the first of the year President Carter sent out 300,000 invitations to his Inaugual Ball. One of those was sent to Herman. Invitations were sent to those who helped him get elected. Herman traveled to Washington to see the Inauguration January 20. He had an unforgettable time in the Capitol city during his visit. by David Bulla ' body. He is a much recognized student who insists on remaining modest. Mr. Hepler stated that the Executive Council has recognized the faults in our student government and hopes the Constitution Committee will find “a better system.” He believes that this “will take a great deal of time, effort, and especially student participation, which, by the way, has been poor so far.” Mr. Hepler suggests the main problem of Grimsley’s present student government; that is the lack of a system affecting the entire student body and the apathy of the students who could create and support a system to fill this need. Careful examination has revealed that overbearing seniors do not cause a breakdown in student government. The problem rests on the shoulders of the homeroom presidents and the remainder of the individuals who comprise the Grimsley studnet body. Everyone needs to be involved! This article began by suggesting that the activities of the Executive Council are shrouded in mystery and they are. But, by asking questions of the correct people individuals can dispel this mystery. Until a more appropriate form of student government is devised, students should take advantage of the power suggested by Grimsley’s present constitution. There is another important facet of student participation. As stated earlier, the Council concerns itself with the ambi guous essential student activities. Complete student support behind any feasible idea could result in its passage, whether it fits the heading of essential student activities are not. It has been said by many students that Grimsley’s student government has no real power, but is must be remembered that power rests with the masses. Summarizing, it is the duty of each student to understand the duties and composition of the student government at Grimsley and 1 can promicc that not even ' half of them have been presented in this article. Then, each individual must make sure that hs representatives understand the composition of the Executive Council and serve him well. We need to avoid blunders such as Kendall Suh’s statement that the “Executive Council is a group of fifteen students” (for uninformed students. Gene Sanders, Inter- Club Council Chairperson is an . ex-officio member of the Council). We must become involved in what Mr. Hepler called “a full schedule” during this final semester of the 1976-77 school year. Sports In America by: James A. Michener Ramdom House 466 pages There are three themes throughout this book which denote Mr. Michener’s ideas about the conduction of sports; they are accomplishing fitness, having fun, and not going to extremes to accomplish either. Thus, success is great, but don’t kill yourself. The book could be called “Volence, Prejudice, and Suc cess in America.” The book is filled with gross disparities that exist in the gym and on the field. But Michener also tells us of those exquisite stories which come so often in sports - that is compared to real life, where heroes are hard to find. Often we see this story book utopia that sports is made to be. But when we greet the athlete, we are alarmed at reality. The Jimmy Foxx story relates best to this. There are three chapters that 1 recommend highly: “The Ath lete,” “The Inescapable Prob lem,” and “Government Con trol.” The chapters dealing with health and women’s participation bring out some very interesting facts. For example, did you know that digestion and assimilation are improved greatly by exerci sing? Or did you know that though women make up over half our population, they are unequal in every sense of the word when it comes to sports. Athletic women generally find that the post natal period of inactivity is shorter. The question of the exploitation of the black athlete is explored in detail. He looks at the black from all sides - from the playground to the arena, Jabbar to Minigault, St. Judes to the university of Texas at El Paso. Mr. Michener’s points on the black athlete are concise. The young black really has little chance to “make it to the big leagues;” the black athlete faces great difficulties at the end of his career; the highly successful black athlete, though, runs the chance of ruining a whole generation of black youth who could never attain similar success; highly publicized salar ies are often “fake”; “Sports are the opiate of the black masses.” And the media? how they make or break a whole franchise. The media question is, well, outrag eous. In this highly meritable book, Michener connotes sports as a means of physical and mental security through fitness. This is the theses of the book. 234567 Mitchell Tells You ABout 'Southern' by Cindy Ward How to Speak Southern. By Steve Mitchell. Bantam Books Inc. Hey! Jevver hear of a book called How to Speak Southern? Ratcheer is the chance of a lahftahm for you Nawthuners (and Suthuners too!) to find out just what zackly some of those quare words used by Suthuners mean. In effort to poke good-natured fun at Southern idioms, contrac tions, and phrases, the writer, Steve Mitchell, compiled a mini-dictionary containing sever al of the terms and word usages peculiar to Southerners. Each word is complete with a definition, a sentence in which the word is included, and an occasional illustration by SCRAWLS (Sam C. Rawls) thrown in for good nature. This comical little book by Southerners, about Southerers, and for Southerners, is dedicated to all Yankees with high hopes fo teaching them to “tawk raht.” Here is a quick preview of words that most certainly should be included in a Northerner’s vocabulary: AH: The things you see with, and the personal pronoun denoting individuality. “Ah think Ah’ve got somethin' in mah ah.” ZAT: Is that. “Zat yo dawg?” IDINIT: Term employed by genteel Southerners who wish to avoid saying “Ain’t.” “Mighty hot today, idinit?” If yawl want to larn smore, a body might could find a copy of How to Speak Southern, if ye run ♦ I the nearest bookstow toreckly. Will You Be Remembered As a Banana? by David Bolton For about five-hundred of us. high school is strolling to its end. Sounds pretty good. 1 don’t know how much longer 1 can explain what a Whirlie is. Or why he holds that plunger. Beautiful. With blue and white streamers around the handle. No more pep rallies. No more swift cheers from those ladies in blue, the someones who brought you “Elevate your mind.” It’s really just like a big kick in the pants. Get out there and cash in on the real world. Some say high school isn’t worth anything. Don’t believe it for a minute. Just ask any senior Geometry student. They'll tell you how valuable it is. Of course it’s valuable, but how will you be remembered? Like a guy who was carved from a banana? Lots of us will, but who cares? Unless you plan on being a president or a horrible criminal, no one will ever know. If you plan on doing something big to be remembered, do it with class and do it quick - you don’t have much time. We don’t mean to encourage any warped acts of violence or anything. No lynchings, drownings, suicide attempts or murders. Just a nice peaceful scene. Something, to remember you by. How else will we remember you in twenty years?
Grimsley High School Student Newspaper
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Feb. 14, 1977, edition 1
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