TENTORIAN
VOLUME XXXII ISSUE THREE
The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
stentorian@ncssm.edu
OCTOBER 2011
Junior senators share their
hopes for the year
By; Jay Buchanan
everything worked out.”
He has no specific ideas or
proposals for SG this year, but
instead says, “This year I hope
to accomplish whatever you,
the student, wants done. This
year isn’t about me; it’s about
The NCSSM Junior Senator
Election took place Sept. 15,
2011, upon which the six
junior senators were elected.
After a runoff, Anita Simha,
Corey Su, Natalie Ung,
Sarah Lee, Yu Wang,
and Zane James came
out on top. Each of the
six represents a diverse
background, campaign
trail, and different hopes
for NCSSM this year. ■
Zane James, who
previously attended
The Epiphany School,
has always loved
politics, which he has
fostered through Youth
and Government and
Student Senate. James,
a swimmer, soccer, and
golf player, claims he
knew the campaign
would be difficult.
James says, “I
decided to take the
bull by the horns and This year's Junior Senators.
us and making NCSSM' what
we want it to be.”
Sarah Lee has served
on Student Councils every
year since eighth grade. Lee
attended North Forsyth High
School before making the
Courtesy of Samantha Hartsoe
transition to NCSSM, and as
a self-proclaimed music lover,
made a strong impression
on voters by singing an SG-
adapted rendition of “Part of
Your World” from The Little
Mermaid as her campaign
speech.
She has high hopes
for the 2011-2012 SG
team, and wants to serve
on the Student Affairs
Committee of SG to
implement multiple ini
tiatives. Lee’s personal
goals as a senator are
varied, extendihg from
cafeteria improvements
to improving, the Tardi
ness and Absence Poli
cies, but her primary
hope remains to repre
sent the student body.
She says, “If you guys
have any changes you
wish to see, talk to me
about them!”
Anita Simha, former
Green Hope High
Continued on page 3
France bans
praying in streets
By: Molly Bruce
Islam, the world’s second
largest religion, faces growing
restrictions in one of the
modem era’s most developed
countries: France.
Since 2004, school-aged
children have been prohibited
from wearing the hijab (a
headdress many Islamic
women wear) in government-
operated educational facilities.
This policy interferes with
the steadfast religious beliefs
of many of the five million
French Muslims.
Although this national law
has faced international fire
for discrimination against
Muslims, the law does not
specifically ban the hijab.
Religious symbols in other
faiths also fall under the
context of the law, including
the Christian cmcifix and
the Jewish kippah. Still, the
majority of public dismay over
the law’s induction has been a
result of discrimination toward
Islam.
French politicians passed a
ban on prayer in the streets in
Sept. 2011. As an alternative
to street prayer, several French
cities have appointed public
buildings for Muslims to pray
and worship. The uproar over
the most recent of what are
seemingly anti-Islamic laws
is massive. Protesters have
taken to the streets on several
occasions, vocalizing their
opinions to the local press.
“No system in the imiverse
can control us aside from
Allah,” shouted one young
man.
“There is more dignity
in praying in the grass than
in their false mosque,” said
another. Several of the riots
have even resulted in violence,
with protesters shouting
“Allahu akbar” or God is
great.
The historically secular
French government continues
to enforce its controversial
laws while some citizens
protest the laws they feel
infringe upon their state and
religious rights.
The line between secular
ism and religious censorship
is a contentious issue and only
time will reveal the outcome
of this heated debate on reli
gious freedom and tolerance.
NC to vote on
same-sex marriage
By: Jordan Harrison
Voters in North Carolina
will be able to approve or reject
a constitutional amendment
banning same-sex marriage
next May during primary
elections after the state Senate
voted 30-16 for the referendum
on Sept. 6, 2011.
The NC House of
Representatives approved the
same measure the day before
on Sept. 5. North Carolina is
currently the only state in the
Southeast that does not have a
constitutional ban on same-sex
marriage.
The vote ignited debate
between opponents of the
amendment, such as the civil
rights advocacy group Equality
NC, and supporters, such as
the North Carolina Family
Policy Council. Both groups
held rallies in the capitol in the
week of Sept. 12,2011.
Despite being “inside
the bubble,” some NCSSM
students were up-to-date on
the legislation and expressed
strong , opinions about it,
especially those involved in
Spectrum, the school’s gay-
straight alliance.
“It’s really odd for me
because this summer in New
York, [the legalization of
same-sex marriage] made it
seem like things were moving
forward,” said Spectrum co
president Coraline Badgett.
“You like to think that one
state can represent the entire
country, but then something
like this comes up.”
Same-sex marriage is
already illegal in North
Carolina. If it passes, the
amendment will reinforce the
existing laws and possibly
call into question domestic
partnership benefits, according
to The New York Times.
Said Spectrum co-president
Tyler Kissinger, “As long as
this doesn’t pass, it’ll be a
pretty easy ride getting from
where we are now to marriage
equality, but if it passes it’ll
make that a lot more difficult.”
Spectrum is mobilizing
several responses to the
amendment. Said Badgett,
“We’re encouraging people
to register to vote, especially
because a lot of people [at
Continued on page 3
SG
initiates
plans for
school
year
By: Ashley Jernigan
Student Government, has
implemented plans this year
to improve student life at
NCSSM. SG is active here
and interacts with the school’s
administration to accomplish
pre-set goals. SG is organized
into different branches which
handle various matters.
“Whenever an issue
arises we think we can target
in a small group we form
Subcommittees. Anyone in the
school can get involved and
be a part of the committees,”
commented Senior Senator
Zack Fowler.
SG is open to the ideas
of students and is willing to
commit time and energy to
improve the school and student
life.
“The student government
is so much more proactive
here, and there are a lot
more opportunities to get
involved with SG. Any ideas
or suggestions are welcome,”
stated Student Body President
Krunal Amin.
Students are welcome to
attend SG’s general meetings
which take place every
“The, Student
government is
so much more
proactive
here...”
Thursday during common
lunch from 12:25 p.m. to 12:50
p.m..
SG goals for the year
include making their actions
more transparent throughout
the school and utilizing
Facebook to communicate
with the student body. There
will also be a ‘Let’s Talk’ booth
outside of the cafeteria every
week to gather student input.
“There are few students
that think critically about our
school. If Student Government
is supposed to represent its
constituents—the students—it
needs more students to think
Continued on page 2
»lMg:
Outside the
bubble
page 3
Juniors
anticipate
second trimester
pages
10 Ways to make
Halloween at
NCSSM fun
page 6