Volume 82 No. 3
Grimsley High School
801 Westover Terrace
Greensboro, NC 27408
Friday, November 30, 2005
Council votes
leadership as
top priority
BY DANIEL ARONSON
Reporter
Michael Renn, former Grimsley principal,
rieiii^er of the Center for Creative Leadership,
aftd’Cuilford Coimty Associative Superintendent,
spoke to Student Council on Monday, Oct.
24 about leadership, decision making,
and teamwork.
Renn returned on Thursday, Oct. 27 to speak
in more depth to the executive board of Student
Council. Subject matter included delegating
leadership, the importance of communication,
and the ability to release responsibilities without
micromanaging. Students learned that leaders
must trust fellow members in order to feel
comfortable with project completion and
goal achievements.
Student Body President Neagheen Homaifar
found Renn's presentation helpful.
"Deciding what to delegate to whom and
determining how to put my skills, to the best use
were relevant topics for me," said Homaifar. "To
be able to know how to propose and advocate
student issues effectively is an important aspect
of student leadership."
Sophomore Class President Sam Hyman also
attended the meeting.
"I take leadership very seriously because it is
my job," said Hyman.
Also in attendance was Lauren Stubbs, vice-
president of the junior class.
"After hearing Dr. Renn, I think that we will
be more focused and productive in effective
delegation and how to approach differences of
opinion," said Stubbs.
>5.
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Moore photo
Dr. Michael Renn, Center for Creative Leadership
Student Council Advisor Grady Peace was
pleased with Dr. Renn's visits, as they inspired
the students to take it upon themselves to be
stronger leaders.
"By doing so, students will assume accountability
and motivation to make their ideas realities,"
said Peace.
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i
\
tntvi iiifi phot
\bo\c. a phidographcr captures ihc fear and desperation in the face Of a IHtle Siidanc$e girl. The issue of
Sudanese (fenoeide has oiiis reeenilv captured the attention of tiic United States and other nations.
Sudaneas Genocide
breaking hearts worldwide
M more internaiional media
coverage exposes the issue of
genocide in Sudan, rethgees
relocate to other countries,
including the United States.
Many of the refugees attend
.local high schools.
BYMEUSSAB’tTvD
Reporter
1 Respite Uk* iigning of a peace
agreement on )an. 9. the
violence in Sudan fails to v.edso.
Many Sudanese tn ilians remain
innocenl victims ot theiivil stritc
that has continued for 21 years.
Ihe o current es in Rwanda,
Bosnia, Cambodia, and the
holocaust appear to have had
minimal impact on current IJ.S.
aid and pieue outr(,'ach to people
plaguedb\ genocide, t.onhoversv
exists regarding the response of Uie
United Slates to the horrilic events
taking place in Sudan. While the
L'.S. openly acknowledges the
Sifdanc.se genocide, governmont
officialsha\e taken no action other
than observing the abuse.
A violent division between the
north and south iias continued in
the African nation for over three
decades. Thejanuau signing
of the peace agreement ha.s only
reduced the fighting taking place
betweeii the regions. Hit' accord
equally split the control of oil
beUveen the northern go\ ernrnent
and Uic southern r«'bels
E\ en as many f.imihi's tetiirn to
a more peaceful Sudan, the issues
of child vfldiers, tarnine disease,
and retugees hnger. 'lo fill their
military ranks, the southern rebels
recruit young children into the
armies. .Abducterl children who
had no choice whether or not Ihev
would join the war comprise the
majority of this juvenile force.
Children of elemeirtarv-.school
age, armed with heavy rifles, are
trained to kill.
Two thousand Sudanese
refugees reside ns Guilford
County alone. Many of these
indiv iduals ore child run who ba\ e
bevn thrown into a rsew culture,
forced to adapt to American
societs. Some of those young
people who escaped the violence
of Sudan are now students on
.Mahmoud Mahmoud has been
in Uie United States foi five yeai s
and has not femnd the adjustment
to be dift'icuJt since he had his
family willihim. .Muned.'MlIiaher
arrived in the United Slates three
years ago. Mo messes Sudan and
the people he left behind but
considers himself happ^ to be in
his new home.
Mix It Up Day
creates a stir
at lunchtime
Forty-five minutes each day are allotted to
students to relax, socialize, and just hang
out with theirfriends; however, a new plan
hoped to assist students to meet new people
during this non-academic time.
BY WILL BAKER
Reporter
Ceiebrated nationally and designed to eliminate
%rriers within schools. Mix It Up at Lunch Day
tdbk' place on Tuesday, Nov. 15. The occasion
challenged students to change their seating
arrangements for a day during lunch and to test
their social comfort zones in different company.
Tolerance.org inspired Mix It Up Day following
a student survey regarding student relations.
Statistics showed that 70% of the students
observed the clearest social boundaries in the
cafeteria, and 40% of the students admitted to
rejecting someone from another group.
More than half of the students described their
schools as "quick to put people into categories."
Faculty and administration encouraged
students to make connections with new people
and to ease the tension that exists within many
high schools across the nationwide.
Principal Rob Gasparello suggested the idea to
junior Michael Betts and sophomore Sam Hyman,
who then presented it to Student Council.
"Any time we can move away from our comfort
zone, even for just a few minutes at lunch, I think
we're better oft for it," said Gasparello.
Early publicity ensured that students understood
the concept of the event. Betts expected a large
number of student participants.
"I really was looking for a large movement from
the seniors and juniors. I realized that we have
very few proactive sophomores and freshmen,
but as far as Mix It Up Day was concerned, if only
three or four people participated, I would know
that at least somebody was touched by it, and I
could push for more participants," said Betts, who
expected it to become an annual event.
"I am hoping and praying that eventually, we
will not need a designated day to change whom
we eat lunch with. I am hoping that it will become
a natural move without the motivation of others,"
said Betts.
Mix It Up at Lunch Day aimed to eradicate
any type of segregation, whether based on
racial, religious, sexual orientation, or social
class distinctions.
The Music Man’ sings in the spring, not in the fall
BY HALEY PHILLIPS
Reporter
Choir director Marshall
Johnson, drama teacher Richard
ZaTuba, and band director Stefan
Stuber, all playing integral roles as
directors in this year's production
of "The Music Man," recently
changed the play's opening from
the first week in November to the
first week in March because of
insufficient rehearsal time.
All three agreed to postpone
rehearsals until after the winter
break. However, some of the choir
members are holding unscheduled
practices on their own to make use
of the otherwise lost time.
"The musical typically has been
the third week of November. This
year school started two weeks
late, and the musical had been
scheduled two weeks earlier
than usual to avoid scheduling
conflicts, so you can see how there
was already a time crunch. We
lost four weeks of rehearsal time,"
said Johnson.
Although the musical's directors
initially believed they would be
able to produce the play on time,
as November drew nearer, they
realized they were wrong.
"We thought we could get
the play ready, but it wasn't
happening. Rather than stress
everyone out and put on a poor
show, we moved the dates. Also,
a lot of people who wanted to do
the play were involved in other
fall activities, so now they will be
able to participate," said Zaruba,
the acting director.
Students taking active roles
in the production, both on and
off-stage, agreed that the amount
of practice time scheduled
was insufficient.
"The choreography for the
play was seldom rehearsed, so
seldom that if the show were to
up on Nov. 2,. the dances would be
performed about as gracefully as
infants performing surgery," said
senior Chris Plott. "From talking
to participants in the musical,
the main problem seemed to be
poor communication between
the directors and the lack of
commitment of everyone to the
quality of the performance."
In addition to the lack of
rehearsal time, students claimed
that not enough students
signed up to make the meet
the high expectations as past
performances.
"We hadn't rehearsed enough,
and more people are needed,"
said junior Liz Fletcher.
Johnson, Zaruba, and Stuber
feel certain that the extra
preparation time will enhance
the production.
"While I hated to postpone,
I think everyone understands
that it is for the best. The stress
level that was being generated
made the play more work than
fun. This way we can ensure a
better production and one that is a
great time as well," said Zaruba.
Because of the new school
calendar, the directors plan to
begin a new tradition of scheduling
the annual musical later in the year
so the situation occuring presently
with the 'Music Man' musical will
will be of no concern.
"In the future, we anticipate
that we'll be doing the musical in
the spring every year instead of in
November," said Johnson.
*The Music Man*
Whon: Oriyiniilly I .M week oF November.
now 1 St week oF March
Where: ( irimsk-y } ligh School
Contact: Mr. Marshall Jolinson. Mr. Richard
Zaruba, or Mr. StcFan Sliiber
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EXTRA!
News 1
Opinion 2
Features ...4
Sports. 8