I II I"” P"”
II I I
I _ I I I
Is it really Love?
So many types of
love: Which one
are you feeling?
pages 6-7
Volume 86 No. 6
Grimsley High School
801 Westover Terrace
Greensboro, NC 27408
February 28, 2011
mghLIFE
44
True
super-
stars
d o m i -
nate at
11
any
level, so there is no
reason to hold them
back by mandating
they remain in school
for a substantial
amount of time.
55
Page 4
News
IB teachers attempt to
include Theory of
Knowledge concepts
into all of their classes.
page 2
Opinion
“Skins,” the American
remake of the original
UK show, enthralls
teens but disturbs
parents and guardians.
page 4
Features
Media sources send
mixed messages
regarding changes
among astrological
signs. page 9
Sports
Athletes in winter
sports earn chances to
compete at conference,
regional, and state
levels. page 11
Index
News
2-3
Opinion
4-5
Spread
6-7
Features
8-10
Sports
11-12
TWIRP dance delights crowd
BY MARY CLAIRE HURLEY
Reporter
Making their way to the
Empire Room in downtown
Greensboro, on the windy
night of Saturday, February 12,
were approximately 340 stu
dents dressed to the nines for
the annual TWIRP dance. The
elegant ballroom on the second
floor of the Elm Street Center
provided the setting of this
gala event, for which "The
Woman Is Required to Pay."
Unlike the traditional home
coming and prom affairs
for which the men invite the
ladies and pay for dinner and
expenses, TWIRP requires
women to ask dates, and it is
customary for the females to
pay for dinner as well.
"I didn't go to TWIRP last
year, but I did my sophomore
year. This year's dance was
better because the decor was
prettier, and I loved going with
my best friend, Kevin
Simmons. He even had the
perfect tie to match my dress!"
said senior Jada Powell.
Tickets went on sale a
week prior to the dance for $15
each. Students could invite
dates from multiple schools
aroimd the city, including Page,
Bishop McGuiness, Greensboro
Day School, and others. In or
der to do so, however, they
first had to fill out permission
slips for administrative ap
proval that required the fol
lowing: name and address of
the guest, signed permission
from the inviter's parents
along with their phone num
bers, and signed permission
from an administrator from
the guest's school. Although
this may seem like a lot of work
for a date, it is necessary to
make sure no one at the dance
is a threat to students.
Numerous students chose to
eat dinner in downtown res
taurants, which made the
dance location easily accessible
by foot. Doors opened at 8:00
pm, and no students were ad
mitted after 9:30 pm.
Teachers, administrators, and
PTSA representatives made
tlremselves visible in the lobby
to welcome couples, to check
pockets for prohibited sub
stances, and to take coats,
purses, and uncomfortably high
heels. Multiple security guards
and policemen were also
present to ensure safety. Because
there were behavior issues last
year, added security helped
maintain appropriate behavior,
so there were no problems.
Attending his first TWIRP
was sophomore Tyler Hooker,
who was fairly satisfied with
the evening.
'It was fun, but could've been bet
ter. The mirsic was er^oyable, so I
had a pretty good time," said Hooker.
When people were not
boogying to the hip hop playlist
of the lively DJ, they were ei
ther at the refreshment table
enjoying punch/water and
pastries or sitting down and
chatting around the many
tables in the spacious room.
"I had fun with my friends,
and I enjoyed the ambiance of
the event. However, many of
my classmates felt that the
music was 'wack' for lack of a
better word, and they left
early. I really wasn't im
pressed with the attitudes of
some of the other students.
You came to the dance to have
fun, not to sit down at the
tables the entire time. I guess
you cannot make people have
fun or change their attitudes,"
said junior Ryan Oakley.
During the middle of the
dance, the music stopped for
the announcement of the
2011 TWIRP King, Ali Ali,
whose evening date was
Anna Nash. Ali Ali is also the
student body president.
Senior Soroush Shahbazi earns
recognition as Poet Laureate
BY ALINA GABITOV
Reporter
Laurels, wreaths of honor
awarded to poets and heroes
in Ancient Greece, were con
sidered sacred to Apollo, the
god of prophecy, music, heal
ing, and later the sun. Eventu
ally, the word entered the En
glish language as Laureate, re
ferring to a person recognized
for progressing in a particu
lar field or for earning a degree
from a prestigious European
university, as in baccalaure
ate. Poet Laureate, a royal de
gree in rhetoric, was awarded
at European universities as far
back as the Middle Ages.
Poet Laureates have existed
since the time of King Charles
II, referencing a title for the
official poet of the monarch.
Now the title infers an offi
cially appointed poet ex
pected to compose poems for
State occasions and other
government events. In some
cases, he or she merely orga
nizes poetry readings and
promotes poetry in general.
Poets Laureate are still ap
pointed in different countries
for various lengths of time.
Whereas they once held life
long terms, the average term
now is for two years, depend
ing upon the country.
I Growing Cheers
jf
■ 4
For the past seven years, me
dia specialist Kate Cummings
has encouraged students to
participate in the High School
Poet Laureate competition.
Any student in high school can
submit three original poems to
be judged in the first stage.
Three English English teachers,
Christina Adams, Elyse
Topkins, and Douglas Greene,
assumed the responsibility.
They chose the work of three
poets to send to published
poet, Joellen Craft, who teaches
at UNC-G, and will judge the
literary pieces from high
school students across the
county. This year's contenders
were freshman Helen Ni and
seniors Soroush Shahbazi, and
Stephanie Cedeno.
Honored with a reception,
winner Soroush Shahbazi
earned the title of Grimsley's
Poet Laureate. As one of his
duties, he will initiate a
project to celebrate National
Poetry Month in April, as well
as write a poem to recite at
the graduation ceremony
on June 12.
Shahbazi has written po
etry for a year and a half, and
How soon is soon
When there is a midnight moon
Who sings a song
of an old friend's tune?
Wandering about.
Do you have a clue
Of what comes next,
of what comes of you
Playing catcher in the rye.
Meet a friend coming soon.
Home is where the pitcher is:
The water is poured for you.
-Soroush Shahbazi
Media Specialist Kate
Cummings presents Soroush
Shahbazi with a certificate
of recognition as Poet Lau
reate. His poem above was
one of three he submitted for
the competition
he also enjoys writing movie
scripts. The subject of his
three poems were about his
grandfather, a girl, and
growing up. "The people I
meet, the things I see, and
what I feel" are what inspire
Shahbazi to write poetry.
He usually expresses his
thoughts about people he
cares about and nature.
"I hope to write some
thing that reflects on the
good times we had a Grim
sley," said Shahbazi regard
ing the poem he will present
upon graduation.