Newspapers / Grimsley High School Student … / April 25, 1986, edition 1 / Page 2
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P^e 2 High Life Volume LV, No. 8, April 25,1986 News Band on the run by Lee Canipe Paradise. The word conjured visions of white beaches, sparkl ing, clear blue water, a lazy breeze rolling through warm tropical air, photogenic palm trees laden with coconuts and sunshine, lots of sunshine. That was the destination: paradise in the form of the Bahamas, more specifically Nassau. Around 150 sturdy inter national travellers embarked for a rendezvous with paradise April 10 aboard four chartered buses that smelled like orange-flavored Children’s Tylenol. These voyagers included members of the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Flag Corps and 14 chaperones. Around 2:30 that afternoon, the buses pulled out of Whirlie Ter ritory amidst high jubilation. This was due in part to the ob vious fact that paradise lay in waiting, but also that some lucky sophomores were approaching euphoria after the experience of legally going out to lunch. The first stop was dinner at the fabulous Thunderbird Inn in Florence, S.C. The buffet was a culinary extravaganza with plen ty of entrees such as fried chicken and spiced weenies for everyone. By the time dinner was over, the sun over Florence had begim to set so many people broke out the Walkmen. With the realization that 16 more hours of road lay ahead they started to settle in. Sleep slowly descended upon the bus although most peo ple’s rest was constantly inter rupted by stops. But even that didn’t phase the travellers, for paradise lay in waiting. Eventually, Miami, the end of the bus journey, was at hand. As the bus crossed a long bridge near the Miami waterfront, strains of “Miami Vice” could be heard eminating from numerous boxes. By an unofficial count, four actual “vice” landmarks were seen and about 15 ones that looked right. Also, as in any big city, the usual weirdos were pre sent. One was known as Tarzan, because, strolling through a supermarket parking lot, he favored the loin-cloth look. Reaching the harbor where the S.S. Galileo- gem of the ocean - was docked, the band looked as it for an hour before they finally boarded the ship and set up to play for other oncoming passengers. As Mr. Rooker said, this was the first time he had directed the GHS Alma Mater aboard a boat. The rest of the afternoon was spent becoming acquainted with the maze of rooms in the bowels of the Galileo. Dinner was a page out of the “Love Boat.” Dozens of blue- jacketed waiters scurried around, taking orders from a for mally dressed crowd awaiting their five course meal. After din ner, the band enjoyed life aboard a cruise ship - a theatre (showing Spies Like Us and Rocky IV), a casino, a disco (featuring Ernest the D.J.), and a welcome aboard show in the ballroom. The show starred the Rex Grey Dancers; the Derricks, an English couple who wowed the crowd with their xylophone rendi tion of the theme to Star Wars; and Georgie Guy, a second-rate Eddie Murphy who did send-ups of just about everyone in show business, including a little Spr ingsteen action, pulling Melody Badgett out of the crowd to twist with him. The next morning, the Galileo docked in Nassau and the group left the boat to take a short walk ing tour in Bahamian sites, in cluding the Governor’s pink house and the straw market where the prized Bahamas t-shirt were purchased. After returning to the boat to lunch; the band got a taste of paradise, hitting the beach. Although it was partly A The S.S. GaUleo cloudy, the sun peeked out to give the travelling Whirlies a bit of tropical tan. Returning to the ship for dm- ner, red roses and cheeks are evi dent, but no one seemed to care, for they had seen paradise. That night, the show featured the jazz band, and they delivered the best entertainment seen on the ship in a long time, even stealing Georgia’s thunder. Sunday morning the band said goodbye to those on the Galileo who could understand them, for the crew had only basic concepts of the English language and com municating was an adventure. Loading the buses again in Miami, the Whirlies settled in for the ride home, paradise being lost for the time being. After travellmg 2,060 miles in only four days by boat and bus, these Whirlies certainly deserved to be called the “band on the run” and what they saw during their run, paradise, will certainly be a lasting memory. Minority involvement at low level by Wilson Winchester Bursting through the concrete barriers of racial segregation, prominent minority leaders have carved a path of opportunity that is continually less traveled by to day’s young minorities. Comprising approximately for ty percent of Grimsley’s popula tion, minorities have yet to tap the bounties of opportunities available through the various modes of Grimsley High School’s extra-curricular programs; therefore indirectly closing doors that past bloodsheds have so readily opened. Grimsley’s service club pro gram has long been targeted as an openly segregated institution. Vet, until recently with the in- stallation of the lottery system. minorities have been given an equal chance at winning a memberhip in the service club of his/her choice. However, minorities still make up a minuscule zero to ten percent of each service club’s active membership. “One reason for low minority turnout, said an unidentified Whirlie, “is that the nonminority members gear the club’s activities to cater their needs, thus weeding out potential and existing minority members.” Minority leadership has long been studied as a possible link to the level of minority participa tion in extra-curricular ac tivities. “There is a desperate need for minority leadership,” said a school faculty member, “No one is willing to take the in itiative to boost minority involve ment.” However, minorities do hold several prominent positions throughout Grimsley, with a large percentage holding seats in student government. “The leaders are there,” said one Whirlie, “but they have chosen to subdue themselves, take on false attitudes, and positions that please the majority and forget ting their individual backgrounds.” In this stage of scanty minority leadership, many mmorities have found it difficult to involve themselves without the backing of their fellow minorities. With minority involvment in service clubs and student govern ment at such a low level, other organizations have prided themselves with a larger percen tage of minorities. 'The GHS athletic department has always generated strong minority sup port. “More minorities find time for sports,” said Keith Thomas, a GHS runner, ’“but due to a lack of interest, minorities have no desire to join clubs, etc. But, as I’ve emphasized, sports are dif ferent.” The music department at GHS also benefits from the strong sup port generated by the minority community. “People consider music as a cultural expression,” said Verna Collins, secretary of the Orchestra, “Their musical contribution to GHS is a valuable asset.” “The fact that the school is located several miles from the traditional minority conununity is a factor that is hurting minori ty involvement at GHS” said Lisa Rowell, a senior. “The feeling generated by a strong majority influenced situation is threaten ing to many minorites,” said Rowena Carter. “I know from ex perience.” Plaguing the frail minority community, these discomforts have yet to be remedied. “We must unify,” said Joel Winful, a senior, “Minorities must become active participants and voice their opinions, thus refusing to bow to demeaning ideas. This will prove to the ma jority that we all can become a unified race of achievers, living and working together as a whole.” GHS Jazz Band wins honors by Mark Neerman Grimsley’s jazz ensemble is be ing recognized as an outstanding band across the East Coast. They recently played their way to a victory in the Dean’s Invita tional Jazz Festival at Virginia Commonwealth University. Their qualities of performance, ranging from dynamic ievels to basic skills, were voted superior by the VCU contest judges. This made them the best jazz band on the East Coast. But Grimsley’s jazz ensemble is no stranger to awards. Under the direction of Mr. Forrest Munden they have clenched many superior ratings. On Feb. 15 the group won a superior rating at the State Competition at UNC Chapel Hill. Individual winners for Grimsley include semors Jeff Chandler on drums, trumpet player Paul Poovey, Steve Ganz and Martin Clowse on sax, and Paul Bates playing the bass trombone. Chandler, who has been in the jazz band since his sophomore year is no stranger to music. He, along with Steve Ganz, formed the Generic Band a year and a half ago. Since then the Generic Band has performed at several nightclubs, at parties and at the Depot. Chandler says he plans to continue studying music and possibly make the music business a career. Martin Clowse plays the sax in Grimsley’s ensemble but he doesn’t plan on making it a career. He does, however plan to always be involved with music, but not as a vacation.
Grimsley High School Student Newspaper
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April 25, 1986, edition 1
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