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High Life
Volume LVII, Number 6
Grimsley Senior High School
801 Westover Terrace
Greensboro, N.C. 27408
Friday, February 18, 1983
MADD Or SAPP? jNews Commentary j
Drunk Driving Is ^Socially Accepted’ Murder
By Jay Floyd and Tamera Majors
(Some information was obtained from People Magazine and NewswcekJ
During the past ten years over
250,000 Americans have been killed
by drunk drivers. This number is
five times that of Americans killed
in the Vietnam War. What is being
done to prevent this “sociably ac
cepted form of murder?” Experts
are now saying that one out of
every two Americans will, at some
Americans have become MADD
and SADD over the numerous
time, be victimized by a drunk
driver.
murders and injuries due to the ir
responsibility of drunk drivers.
MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk
Drivers), founded by Candy
Lightner in 1981, is an organization
of women who counsel those people
who have been victimized by drunk
drivers and who fight for stricter
laws against drunk drivers. SADD
(Student’s Against Drunk Drivers)
is an organization of students who
want to educate their peers about
the dangers of driving drunk.
SADD has set up a system in which
students who have been drinking
may receive a ride from their
parent or guardian, no questions
asked.
Several states are now taking
drastic and innovative steps to
stop the current bloddy trend of
drunken vehicular murders. South
Dakota places highway signs
reading “X marks the
spot.. .THINK!” at the almost 600
places where drivers have lost their
lives. A Pennsylvania legislator
proposed a special red license plate
for all drivers convicted for driving
under the influence. The red plate
serves as a modern day “scarlet let
ter.” These forms of abject persua
sion are only a part of the nation
wide attempt to prevent death by
drunk drivers.
American citizens like Candy
Lightner, have given up their nor
mal lives to aid in the prevention of
drunk drivers and the protection of
innocent citizens. The government
An example of sa,fe drinking while driving, as this person's keys are not
in the ignition. (Cheshire photo)
is working to educate people in the each individual American to aid in
dangers, consequences, and pro
blems of drunk drivers. It is up to
the struggle to prevent the
“sociably accepted form of
murder” called drunk driving.
HIGH LIFE Survey Reveals Drinking Habits
A recent High Life survey of
drinking habits of Grimsley High
School students revealed that a
large number of students consume
alcoholic beverages on a regular
basis.
This survey points out that
69.15 percent of the student body
drinks. However, this survey also
showed that 26.3 percent of the stu
dent body does not drink. Declining
to answer was 4.55 percent.
The senior class leads off this
survey with an over-all percentage
of 84.1 that does drink and 15.1
percent for seniors who do not
drink. This survey points out that
85 percent of senior males drink
and 84 percent of senior females
drink. The percentage of males and
females who do not drink are much
lower; 16 percent for females and
15 percent for males.
Of all seniors, both male and
female, the most common type of
alcohol preferred is beer.
“It tastes good,” “to escape pro
blems,” “for the pleasure of getting
drink,” are many of the common
reasons why 78 percent of the
males in the junior class drink
alcoholic beverages. A mere 22 per
cent stated they rarely drank or did
not drink at all. The majority of the
males’ average weekly consump
tion is a six-pack of beer or more,
secondly, a bottle of win, and third
ly, mixed drinks. Since most
juniors are under 18, obtaining
alcohol might be a problem. But ac
cording to the survey 30 percent
buy it themselves, 20 percent get it
from friends and 25 percent have a
friend of legal age buy it. Other
responses included using fake iden
tification or having an employer
get it.
A large number - 65 percent - of
their parents know of their current
drinking habits even though most
of them disapprove. Many males
had little alcohol as a child, but 38
percent began drinking between
the ages of 13-14. The next common
age was 15, which acquired 33 per
cent of the male junior class.
When asked if their drinking
habits would change if someone
they knew was injured due to
drinking, most replied “yes”, but
many who said “no” stated they
already do not mix drinking and
driving.
And finally, with the current
issue of ^yhether or not to add a 5t
tax on gas or alcohol, a common
response was, “gas is a necessity
and alcohol is a luxury -- tax
alcohol.”
Out of approximately 200
females surveyed, a surprising 158
students drink compared to 42 who
do not. Thirty percent of the girls
stated they drank just to get drunk
and another 10 percent drink to
escape problems. A few “just like
the taste”. Even though most
females do drink, 51 percent stated
they spend little or no money at all
on their beverages. Only 30 percent
said they spend between $1 and $5.
The majority stated that they
had not been arrested for driving
under the influence and most said
their parents would definitely care
if they came home drunk.
Finally, the survey showed 62
percent of the junior females would
prefer the drinking age to stay the
same; 23 percent felt it should be
raised; and a meager 7 peacent
thought it should be lowered.
On the sophomore scene, 63 per
cent of the entire class drinks com
pared to 37 percent who do not.
Thirty-four percent of the male
sophomores drink liquor, wine, and
beer; but only 25 percent of the
females drink just beer. For the
females, 34 percent drink all three,
and 22 percent drink just beer.
When the male and female
responses were combined, 71 per
cent said they drank for the
pleasure of getting drunk, 16 per
cent to escape problems, and 10
percent because of peer pressure.
The average age when their
drinking began was between 13 and
15, and since they are underage to
(Continued on Page 2)
Student Council Sponsors Twirp Dance
By Susan Thaxton and Lisa Freiberg ounorvision of Mrs There has traditionally been a
Twirp Court. It consists of ten
senior boys’ with an announced
Twirp King. The senior class
nominated and voted on the Twirp
This year the Valentine Twirp
Dance, sponsored by the Grimsley
Student Council will be held on
Saturday, February 19. The dance
will be held in the auxilary gym.
Paul Cordtes will be the disc
jocket. He was the disc jockey for
the Homecoming Dance.
Tickets will be $5.00 per couple.
The sales campaign started on
Monday, February 14, a week
before the dance. It is to be held
from 8;00 pm to 12 midnight.
Under the supervision of Mrs.
Lackey, the Student Council will
sponsor the dance. The Student
Council alone will furnish the
refreshments and chaperones. Pro
News Update
fits are estimated to be around two
or three hundred dollars. All of the
profits will go to the Student Coun
cil.
At “twirp” the girls ask, pay for,
and escort their dates to the dance.
This has been going on at Grimsley
for approximately the past five
years.
Court. The senior male who
receives the most votes is crowned
as Twirp King.
This year’s court consists of
Erik Albright, Calvin Boles, J.B.
Baynes, Russ Clegg, Reuben
Davis, Chick Ferrell, Carl-Henry
Geschwind, Chris Hutts, Chris
Poole, and Odell Shoffner.
Sliwas To Speak At GET SET
The Get Set Steering Committee be held at the Aycock Auditorium him.
met on January 11, 1983, 3;30 pm on Tuesday, April 12, 1983. The Get Set Steering Committee
at the Administration Building Curtis Sliwa, founder and presi- will meet again Thursday,
downtown. After a brief wrap-up of dent of the Guardian Angels will be February 17, 1983 at 3;30 pm. The
Ellis Woodard’s program they
discussed the next convocation to
the next Get Set speaker. His wife,
Lisa Sliwa will be accompanying
meeting will be held at Weaver
Center.
Car Accident
Four teenage boys died early
Saturday morning (February 5) in a
car accident on Westridge Road.
The driver survived with minor in
juries, the loss of four friends, and
an indictment on driving under the
influence, exceeding safe speed,
and four counts of involuntary
manslaughter.
Greensboro authorities are ques
tioning the liability of the store at
tendant who sold two cases of beer
to these minors. Governor Hunt
has ordered the accident report to
Raleigh.
Teacher Attacked
Teachers sometimes feel as
though they are being stabbed in
the back by students’ comments,
attitudes, or actions. Hopefully,
none of the students at GHS take
this literally, as did one student at
High Point Central High School.
Mrs. Ann Morris, French
teacher, was leaving HP Central on
the afternoon of February 4 when
she saw a student and commented,
“Thank goodness it’s Friday!” The
student turned and assaulted Mor
ris in the back with a nine-inch
knife!
At last report, Morris was
reported in satisfactory condition.
The student has been apprehended.