October 2014

Inside this Issue • Safety- Ferguson, New Rules • Health- Ice Bucket Challenge • Athletics- Concussions, Culture • New (School) Years ResolutionsESL. Engineering, 9/11

O C T. 2 014 VO L . X X I V I S S U E I

The editorials, unless signed, are the consensus opinion of the editorial staff and do not necessarily reflect the views of the adviser or the school administration. The newspaper welcomes letters to the editor. The newspaper reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. All letters must be signed, however, the newspaper will withhold names upon request with good reason. Advertisements in the newspaper are paid.advertisements and are not the opinion of, or the endorsement of, the newspaper or school administration.

•Head Editors: Deirdre Logan, Marie Muir •Editors: Kima Clifton, Jasper Cool, Neo Cruz, Timothy Duke, Sara Falcon, Maya Gacina, Lena Geller, Ben Huffman, Jasmine Lyon, Cy Neff, Nick Strauss, Joelle Trollinger, Morgan Whithaus •Staff: Ranya AlZubaidi, Elizabeth Beyer, Clay Bourguignon, Joel Flores, Pam Gonzalez, Axel Herra-Ramos, Anna James, Dillon Mclntyre, Addison Oliver, Caitlyn Patton, Randy Pena, Ray Starn, Tracy Tran, Naomi Van Horne, Bernice Villa-Rosendo •Video: Mone Jones, Jordan Lovell, Araad Sarrani •Photo Editor: Emmanuel Johnson, Abdur-Rauf Muhammad

www.riverside.dpsnc.net

3218 Rose of Sharon Road Durham, NC 22712

OPINION

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Pirates' Hookok

New school year, new rules The Riverside community has recently been handed several new policies to take order from. Although it is obvious that no one seems to care for them, we still need to follow these policies. In order to have a successful learning environment, this approach is not only necessary but mandatory. We the students of Riverside may not agree with the recent changes we have to endure, but Principal Joel County believes these procedures will help us stay focused on what is important: our education. Maybe if everyone understood why all these new rules were forced onto us this year, we would be more cooperative. The grade assemblies put on by our administrators may have intended to decode the reasoning behind these policy changes, yet we still are having trouble with the new system. It is completely normal to have a few subtle changes every year, but was adding over $30,000 worth of security equipment necessary? We have been told, the locked doors are for our safety because our student body movement is so uncontrolled, and people could randomly come inside if they wanted to.

We think we can all agree that security is necessary but the way we are operating right now is creating more problems than we have had before. The locked doors are making it harder for students to get from place to place. What is the point of lockouts when we can not even open a door to enter the building? We understand some people skip and others wander off campus, but the majority of us do not, so why treat us like we are? Punishing everyone for the actions of a few is cruel and unnecessary. Many people have compared Riverside to a prison. Giving us restricted access to the school and limited cell phone use. We can agree that cellphones are a distraction, but they can also be used for good. With the budget being so low we were able to use our phones to look up definitions, do research, go on educational apps such as Powerschool, memrise, and so on. This year, those privileges have been taken away. Another big issue we have stumbled upon is the bathroom passes. The administration seemed

to believe the main reason students were going to the restroom was to use our phones. This year they have made sure that no cellphones will travel with us in the hallways. Each classroom received a clear magnetic bucket to put our phones into while we do our business. I guess that solves the phone ‘issue’ but did it solve the real problem? In the past, bathrooms have been used as a safe haven to skip. Unless they have people in there Pirates benefit from free breakfast 24/7 keeping guard, people •GRAPHIC BY TRACY TRAN are still going to do it. The passes could be easily copied or stolen. Overall, these changes are proven to be a waste of money, a transpor- helpful, but with the lack of commutation issue, and just completely nication from our administrators, it is unnecessary. We feel that all these obvious that these policies will continue rules could have been positive and to be changed and revised.

Inside this Issue

New year, new rules p. 7 Sleepless at Riverside p. 8 Immigrant students miss homeland p. 12 Boosters, Captains Boost Attendance p. 14

Sports Act As 'Cultural Smoothie' p. 15 Advisement period draws mixed reactions p. 18 Free Breakfast, AP Exams p. 19 Programs Highlight Excellence p. 20

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October 2014

Face-Off

Gossip vs. Compliments: Battle of Social Media

Get Real

By Naomi Van Horn

All of a sudden, you hear people beating on the cafeteria table, students squealing, people laughing, and a student’s face flushes red out of embarrassment for what they did the day before. You know exactly what is happening, there is some juicy gossip spreading fast, and you want a piece of it. The twitter account “RHS compliments” is where students post ‘compliments’ about their fellow classmates. We all know who these people are at Riverside. This page is unreliable because unlike gossip people can post tweets about themselves and students attempt to be funny. Gossip is more realistic. When you are telling another person about someone else, it is less cowardly than tweeting about someone else on the computer. Gossip that is partly true and extremely exaggerated is

“Gossip that is partly true and extremely exaggerated is even more entertaining.” even more entertaining. Gossip is never boring. Almost everyone is guilty of scrolling down social media, laughing every so often, reading some interesting gossip, and possibly posting a tad bit of gossip and a selfie. When people tell you the scoop using facial expressions, hand movements, and full replays of what happened earlier that day, it is a hilarious sight. Gossip not only spreads quickly on social media but is also over dramatic. Gossip in person or on social media sets all of your emotions free. Compliments are

not as interesting to read on Instagram or Twitter, gossip on the other hand captures your attention. The RHS compliments page is an inaccurate interpretation of Riverside. Students do not want our school to become a knock-off version of the show Gossip Girl. On shows like Gossip Girl people get updates from someone they do not know and people can send in tips, like the RHS confessions and compliments pages. Do we really want to sink to that impersonal level here at Riverside? Here at Riverside we need to take a stand now and agree to never be that shallow. We need to learn lessons from these over-the-top TV shows and movies instead of becoming them. Compliments are not real, when people

Be Nice

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ask the question, “Does this make me look By Jasmine Lyon fat?” They want the truth. You would not Everyone likes compliments. It makes want to lie to a family member or friend to you feel good. I think in our world today we cause them even more embarrassment. especially just need a compliment. Gossip is what students want to hear, Our youth has been destroyed by the evil not compliments. and horrific gossip that is put into our brains. There are not any shows that are centered Twitter and InstaGram make it all worse. around compliments because people would That’s the only thing we know and believe. not watch them. TV is successful and makes Some teens probably don’t know what a millions of dollars. If they know gossip is compliment is. We certainly never see one entertaining to people all over the world and in our social media. Our minds have been compliments are not, then they know how mesmerized, filled with lies and stories that to capture people’s attention with what they are almost as fake as the people who tell us want. that the cafeteria food is healthy. Yeah, right. Gossip is the more reliable, and overall Gossip is the root of all evil. There is never better source of information compared to a good outcome that comes from it. Putting compliments. Let’s be real here. gossip on-line does not make it any less gossip. People who sit on a computer and talk junk behind a keyboard are no better than people who talk behind their friends’ backs. I know there is no such thing as a perfect life but it would be a little better if no one gossiped at all. It is time that people start to mind their own business. Be nice to each other. Join hands and become a big happy family. Okay, maybe not a happy family but seriously mind your business! The RHS compliment page shows that being nice to each other is not so hard. Some of the ‘nice’ things are said on that page maybe shouldn’t be posted but that’s a can of worms I just will not open. Most of the posts are simply what it says: compliments. People act like being nice is a toxic poison that will kill you after the words roll off of your tongue. The old saying “If you do not have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all” should be changed to “if you can not post something nice, don’t post anything at all”. Gossip is for little kids, even when it is on-line. •GRAPHIC BY TRACY TRAN

4 Peg Leg-Humor

These stories are as real as a homeroom hall pass

Pirates' Hook k

Orange is the new Purple/Gold By Cy Neff Workers on Sept 17 began taking down the letters reading “Riverside High School” on the front of the school’s gym. “In just a few days it’ll be replaced by three letters: ‘R.C.I.,” Principal Joel County said. “We’re very happy with how the transition’s going.” The transition County is talking about is Riverside’s transition from high school to correctional institute. The changes began last year when County ordered the removal of some of the trees on campus. He recognized the trees as a short-term safety hazard, but the trees posed yet another issue.

“We can’t have inmates making the branches into shivs,” teacher David Norman said. “It’s really just common sense.” This year, County and the administration began restricting movement within the school. All doors are locked during classes to prevent possible escape, and all phones along with sharp objects must be turned in to a supervisor before a student uses the bathroom, both to combat shakedowns and escape. “We want our delinquents, uhh, students, to have as little mobility as possible. For some reason they don’t like it here and keep trying to leave every day at 2:30,” County said.

An even larger precaution against escape that has been taken is the installation of a massive barbed wire fence around the ground’s perimeter. Guard towers are under construction, beginning with one to be placed above the football field’s announcer’s booth. Some of Riverside’s instructors are having difficulty adapting to the new circumstances. “I show up to work one day and they hand me a guard’s uniform,” Sanitarium guard Joye Cordell said. “They gave me a baton and told me beat the kids whenever necessary. I don’t mind that part though.” The dress code that was apparently plaguing the school’s hallways is no longer an issue at

the Riverside Correctional Institute. Orange jumpsuits are now the mandatory dress for all convicts. “We were getting worried when the prisoners began dressing like individuals,” Deputy Warden of Security Lisa Lamb said. “Especially with the females dressing provocatively. Don’t they know they’re responsible for the behavior of the guys around them?” Aside from the dress code improvements, administrators see another improvement: efficiency. Running a correctional institute is far more cost-effective than running a school. Discipline is also much simpler. Don’t turn in your homework? Get two strikes on your record. Skipping your class? Get

•PHOTO BY EMMANUEL JOHNSON

thrown in the hole. Some students have faced unusual treatment, such as the small freshman who is let out of a cage every morning and afternoon to play the trumpet, and then put back inside. “I transferred over here because I heard about the engineering program,” Inmate Number 919 said. “But we just make license plates all day.” Other incarcerated students are having similar difficulties. Physical education has been replaced by various versions of ‘don’t drop the soap,’ macroeconomics has turned into a course on debt collection, and due to the lack of vegetation botany no longer exists.

October 2014

Columns

27 views of Marie By Marie Muir If I close my eyes and reflect on all the beautiful places I have been, I might never open them again. The top of the Eiffel Tower at sunset, a rainforest in Costa Rica, the ceiling of St. Paul’s Cathedral, a crystal blue lake in Switzerland, endless meadows of sunflowers in the South of France. The kind of views people spend their entire lives searching for. If it were not for the opportunities to see these priceless landscapes, I may not have ever realized that each one was missing something crucial. Where were my mom’s “flawless” dance moves at that discotecha on the top of a mountain in Costa Rica? Where was my dad’s steady hand when I stepped fearfully onto the elevator that would take me up to the top of the Eiffel Tower? I would have given anything to have my brother by my side as my plane flew over

a blanket of clouds at sunrise. Without my family, the value of all these places seem to fade. After returning from my recent trip to Europe, my friends showered me with questions about what I saw. But I wanted to tell them about what I had heard. I tried desperately to describe the sound of a sizzling crepe from a street vendor, the voice of an angel singing from a stage in a pub attic, or the rush of wind and wheels on an Underground train. Even as I told them of all my adventures, the sound of my memories suddenly seemed empty without the sound of my friends laughter. I know the feeling of cobblestones under my feet at Oxford will never compare to my gravel driveway, but suddenly I can not decide which I prefer. No where in the South of France did I see a red party barn as inviting as the one in my backyard. Okay, maybe that last one is not true, but to say that London had a better burrito than

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• PHOTO COURTESY OF MARIE MUIR

“Chubby’s Tacos” would be a lie. My eyes still closed - I flashback to a view of my home in Durham. Warm light from a bonfire flickers across the faces of my family and friends. My parents slow dance to an old Fleetwood Mac album while my brother and I sing loudly off key to lyrics we only think

we understand. In the corner my calico cat licks up the remains of a marshmallow someone dropped and forgot. Where one person’s embarrassing childhood story ends, another’s serious life-lesson story begins, and then I can no longer remember whose story it was supposed to be at all.

Through my eyes, this is the perfect view. The view people go their whole lives trying to find. A view I would not trade for the world. Do not get me wrong, I really do look forward to all the incredible places I have yet to see. But I can honestly say this: A view without the people I love is no view at all.

Overworked and Overcommitted By Deirdre Logan

• PHOTO CREDIT TO LAUREN LOGAN

“I can’t I’m busy,” has become the motto for my life. I pass up hanging out with friends to volunteer. I work three jobs. I play volleyball. Sometimes I sleep. My life can be equated to a puzzle - there are tons of pieces that have to fit together perfectly or else the whole thing falls apart. This summer I worked as a lifeguard at two pools, Duke

Faculty Club and Duke Aquatics. Each place required that I work at least 15 hours per week to fulfill my commitment. That was puzzle piece number one. Religion is important to me. It helps reset the week, no matter how crazy life gets. I am an acolyte at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Hillsboro. Along with other students, I help with the procession of the cross and communion. It is not a major commitment but it takes time. Piece number two. Through the summer, and into September, I am a part of a crew of students ages 14-20 that broadcast Durham Bulls baseball games for live television. We operate the cameras, direct the show, and produce

it on Fox 50. We work from the press box in the stadium, meet the announcers, and sit in the dugouts with the players. Yeah, I think its super cool too. It is the only program of its kind in the entire United States, but it is not a paid position. Piece number three. This past summer, my parents began describing me as a roommate. I would only come home to eat and sleep. My usual schedule was getting up early to acolyte, then off to lifeguard during the morning shift at one pool, followed by the afternoon shift at the other pool, finishing with a Bulls game until 10 pm. It was exhausting, and I wasn’t even in school. I struggled to fit all of the

schedules of my life together, often staying up late to ask co workers to cover my shifts, but somehow I managed. The most important pieces of my life, family and friends, were put to the side while I straightened out everything else. I missed out on dinners, parties, and daily swims at the rock quarry with friends. Although it was overwhelming and exhausting, I would not trade my experiences for anything. Everything I have done has taught me how to effectively manage multiple schedules, prioritize responsibilities, and have fun while doing so. Summer is described as a break from school, but for me, it is just the opposite- school is my break from summer.

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SAFETY

Students remember Ferguson Many citizens point toward race as the reason for police bias. Even at Riverside, some stu-

•GRAPHIC BY TRACY TRAN

By Timothy Duke By the time paramedics reached Canfield Court on Aug 9, 2014 in Ferguson, a suburb in Saint Louis, Missouri, Michael Brown was already dead. The death of the African American teenager incited riots throughout the city, and is reminiscent of protests in Durham following the death of Jesus Huerta, which led to police policy changes [see sidebar].

dents believe that administrators and Student Resource Officers (SRO) target minorities more often than white students. “I feel that there’s a stereotype that black people can cause trouble more often. That’s what society says. [But] it’s unlikely that anyone is looking for trouble just because they are black,” junior Moses Eshiet said. Others share Eshiet’s opinion. “I think that if [minorities] fit into a certain profile that administrators have, they’ll stop them more often,” junior Kamal Deterville said. In 2012-2013, Durham Public Schools (DPS) gave short-term suspensions to nearly 5000 African-American students, 633 to Latino students, and only 291 to Caucasians. While these numbers may be normal if the African-American population far

outweighed the Caucasian population, they do not. Black students make up 49.56% of DPS students, whites make up 18.90% and Hispanic 25.24%. There is a current debate over how to interpret these statistics. Some believe they indicate a bias against minority students. Others, however, argue that the statistics simply reflect patterns of behavior that lead to discipline issues. Principal Joel County declined to give the Pirates’ Hook a racial breakdown of suspensions at Riverside. However, administrators believe that race is not the key factor that determines these suspensions. “Race doesn’t correlate with poor choices,” County said. “I know where students that are skipping class to hang out and smoke pot are, so I’m going to be around there more often.” While race certainly does not decide how one will act, a child’s home environment may. “Socioeconomic status is critical regardless of race, most of these students don’t have the best education, or don’t have the money needed to fund a better education,” Assistant Principal Charles Carter said. Some students agree that growing up in a bad environment makes rising above one’s predecessors challenging. Having an unsupportive home life can result in behavioral problems such as acting out or fighting. “The way someone is brought up defines how they are going to act,” junior Bryce Cunningham said. While disputes over whether racial bias plays a role in punishments will likely continue throughout the country, it is hard to say weather discipline sways from one extreme or the other. Many factors play into the actions of all, regardless of one’s race, which validates the view of the discipliners. However, the large imbalances between minority and white suspensions credits the disciplined.

Pirates' Hookok

Huerta Case Continues

By Timothy Duke Last November, tensions with Durham police over the death of Jesus Huerta while under police custody ignited protests in Durham that made the Durham Police Department (DPD) rethink some of their policies. A final ruling was given regarding Huerta’s death as suicide and that the officers involved committed no criminal offense. Officer Duncan was given 40 hours of unpaid leave for breaking various police policies. Durham Police chief Jose Lopez said that squad car video has been updated to prevent any failure to turn them on, and all officers were required to take a two-hour update class on suspect searches. The Huerta family is still continuing their own investigation, and also have two requests for the DPD. One, all officers should receive specialized mental health and drug training, racial equity training, and hiring more spanish speaking officers. Two, the Huerta Family also requested that a memorial for Jesus be erected across the street, facing the DPD headquarters, a spot near where Huerta died. “The city manager responded that a policy was being proposed for all memorials. That policy, not enacted yet, would only allow memorials for 30 days,” Attorney Alexander Charns said. Some students at Riverside participated in the protests, and are pleased that the police have decided to make changes to their policies. “I think that it’s good that [the police] are making changes to their policies, but I’m sad that we had to lose Chuy [Huerta] for them to realize that changes were needed,” junior Abigal Rivera said. Hopefully these policy changes will prevent further needed protests and citizens can trust their police officers.

October 2014

New year, new rules By Ray Starn and Maya Gacina Bathroom pass in hand, Sophomore William Schmitt bolts out trailer 20 he reaches for the steel door handle only to find that he has reached a dilemma, the door is locked shut. Schmitt goes around to four other entrances finally, after what felt like an eternity. He finds an unlocked door. •PHOTOBY BYABDURRAUF ABDURRAUFMUHAMMAD MUHAMMAD • PHOTO New year, new rules. They are Students crowd the cafeteria during the new Breakfast. bracing themselves for the changes in regulations and restrictions. Along with the security mea- cooperated very well,”counselor “Rules are developed to improve sures, policy changes have also Catherine Sebring said, “Instead the school and to improve school affected cell phone use. Not using of lunch duty every other Friday safety,” Principal Joel County cellphones in class was always a it is now every week.” said. mandatory rule, only now more Along with teachers, seniors Locked doors, restricted cell enforcements are being made. have experienced a difficulty in phone use, and multiple bathroom Students are now required to give cooperating with the updated syspasses. Many disagree on the exces- teachers their cell phones before tem. “New rules have been over sive use of security that has been leaving for the bathroom. The rea- the top for seniors,” SGA member added, due to getting locked out of son for this is to avoid any illegal and senior Drew Dalton said. hallways and having to give up their activity and fights being organized The rules are indeed excessive cell phones. Others believe it is the and communicated out of classes. but positive changes have occurred only solution to solving Riversides’ “It is a security issue. All the throughout the school. Since the security issues. extra doors prevent people from rules have been installed the school Student Government Association coming into the building unan- campus has showed improvements (SGA) members claimed that they nounced, people such as unenrolled of sanitation in the bathrooms. did not have a say in the recent up- students and parents,” police officer “We now have one janitor and dates. “Some rules are overkill, like J Potts said. one administrator check the baththe locked doors,” SGA member Foot traffic during class has rooms during class change, keeping and sophomore Juan Vega said. reached an all time low, giving more them cleaner,” said County. Electronic keys and locks will class time for teachers and student, Designated bathrooms are be installed in the indefinite future, and less time is being spent roaming now in order for all classrooms and making a major impact on daily the hallways. trailers. Instead of students going routines of the students and faculty. “New rules have worked by to other hallways students are now According to administrator Lisa causing less kids to wander in the only allowed to stay in the vicinity Lamb the total cost for the alarm school. When they do, it is with of the classroom. system is around $34,000, money passes and without a cellphone,” “ Locked doors are dumb. Botthat could be used for textbooks, County said. tom doors are open anyway, so it teacher salaries, and new sports Administrators agree that sys- isn’t helping anything,” sophomore equipment. tematically the rules have made William Schmitt said. “The rules will be fully func- progressive results, although the The only people who would be tioning when electronic locks are transition from old to new has able to change the rules would be installed, but that could just be be- proven to be difficult for teachers County or board members. No mating installed when many classes of due to the increase in duties. ter how many students complain students have already graduated,” “The transition has been hard and how many teachers protest, coach Eric Spell said. on some teachers that haven’t the rules are here to stay.

Safety

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Durham adopts new search consent law By Ben Huffman With the drop of a gavel and the movement of a pen, a new rule was put into place in the city of Durham. Police officers will no longer be allowed to search a vehicle without any reason to do so. Starting on Oct 1, the Durham Police Department (DPD) will have to get written consent before conducting a search of a vehicle. The only exception to that rule would be if there was already probable cause or a search warrant in place, which is allowed by the United States Supreme Court. This came about due to an uproar of vehicle searches of different minorities, but mainly black motorists. City Manager Tom Bonfield approved the new changes in the meeting that took place on Tuesday Sept 16. Bonfield sights ‘trust issues’ as a major reason for the new ‘written consent’ law as well as several recommendations from people around the city. Bonfield felt the law should be passed after getting support from members of the city council and the Mayor of Durham. One of the supporters of the new law is Councilman Steve Schewel, who has been on the council since 2011. As well as being a councilman, Schewel was a member of the Durham Public Schools (DPS) Board of Education. Schewel expressed that complaints of racial profiling have led to changes in policy in Durham among the police department. “In Durham, as throughout most of the nation, African-Americans are subject to an extremely disproportionate number of these consent searches given their percentage of the population,” Schewel said. “Consent searches,

however, show that among both whites and African Americans, the ‘hit rate’ for illegal substances or gun for both races is equal.” Schewel also says that the only reason that a person can be searched is if there is reasonable suspicion that a motorist has anything illegal in their car at the time they are pulled over. He sights the Fourth Amendment as a way people can clearly deny a police officer the right to search their vehicle. In an interview published in “The Herald Sun” earlier this month, Schewel explains that the new written consent law will provide more protection that a verbal response. “If I have to sign something, then I am more cognizant of what my rights really are,” Schewel said. During the process of making these changes, Bonfield even considered using video recording to make sure that everything went smoothly and the police did their jobs correctly. The Southern Coalition however countered that statement saying that minorities may become intimidated by the police during the process. The DPD, Bonfield, the City Council, and many more attended a follow-up meeting Thursday Sept 18 to make sure all the grounds are set for the new consent law. The talk was about how often the police must report quarterly, as well as making sure they follow the correct policy to ensure that the new law runs smoothly. The new written consent law will aim to cut down on racial profiling and remove the negative label the DPD has received in recent years. With the new initiative, the city of Durham looks to be heading toward a more positive future for everyone.

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Pirates' Hookok

HEALTH

Students step up to strike out ALS By Ben Huffman Fluorescent lights shine down on Principal Joel County as he stands under an orange cooler and lets gallons of freezing cold water fall onto his head and rush down his back. County chose to do his “Ice Bucket Challenge” in front of a large crowd at the home football game against Chapel Hill. The Internet and its users have become enthralled by a sensation that refuses to slow down, just like the man who inspired it. Pete Frates, a former Boston College baseball star, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, in 2011. The disease is incurable and is caused by a gene mutation and can cause extreme paralysis. His story has claimed several headlines throughout newspapers and gained attention all over the Internet and ESPN. ALS affects two in every 100,000 people in the United States. The disease is not contagious and there is not a known cure for ALS. Most people live five to ten years with the disease. Frates was the inspiration behind the Ice Bucket Challenge, which as of Sept 17 has raised over $114 million. Since hearing his story the Internet has exploded with every major star actor, actress, athlete, political icons, entrepreneurs, and Olympic heroes all filming themselves dumping ice on their heads in the name of spreading awareness.

The rules for the ALS challenge are simple. A person has 24 hours to accept the challenge once nominated by someone else that took the challenge. If that person refuses to accept the challenge, they must donate $100 to the ALS Association. Once they have accepted and taken the challenge, they can nominate three people to take it. Within Riverside, several students, teachers, and Mr. County have all accepted and taken the Ice Bucket Challenge. Many students still fail to see the true meaning of the challenge. Many see it as another Internet sensation that millions will see and will result in fame. But for other students, there is a much deeper meaning. Junior Hannah Rich will admit that she took the challenge because it looked fun, she also understands the real reasons behind the challenge. “I think the challenge is fun and a good idea,” Rich said. “But, I know that this is all for a really good cause.” While Rich decided to take the challenge instead of donate, she still feels that without donating it is a positive message on spreading the word to help find a cure. Sophomore Jordan Wise took the challenge for the fact that if she did not, she would have to donate the $100 to the ALS Association. “One of the biggest reasons people are

• PHOTO • PHOTOBY BYEMMANUEL EMMANUELJOHNSON JOHNSON

Lenny the Pirates is approached by seniors Jasmine Anderson and Kyra Pierce as they attempt to pour water onto his head. Many students and teachers around riverside have accepted the Ice Bucket Challenge to help cure ALS. taking the challenge is that people don’t Gehrig, who the disease is named after, was have the money to pay if they don’t take the diagnosed with it in 1939 and died in 1941. There has been research dedicated to cure challenge,” Wise said. For many students it is harder to donate the disease for decades now with very little the money as opposed to a star athlete or actor results.Efforts are continuing to be made to who has millions to give. For example, actor help the thousands that are diagnosed. No matter how long people are expected Charlie Sheen decided to donate $10,000 to to live after the diagnosis, one fact remains: help fight ALS and find a cure. ALS is a disease that has captivated people will always continue to try to strike millions of people since Yankees legend Lou out ALS.

Start times affecting sleep patterns By Maya Gacina Beep beep, the sound of an alarm clock goes off at six in the morning screaming at sophomore Jumana Mogarabi to get up for another school day. Due to the early school start times, climbing out of the sheets can be the hardest part of starting the day for high school students. “There is too much work teachers assign, I go to bed late and wake up early then the whole cycle starts up again eventually leading to dropouts,” Mogarabi said. Adolescents experience a lack of sleep

at least every week and almost every day during the school year. Although it is hard to assume that the early school start times are the sole reason for lack of sleep, students not receiving enough rest can also result in exhaustion throughout the school day. “There will always be irresponsible students who choose not to sleep enough,” parent Randy Hamilton said. “Frankly, I put the majority of blame on parents who fail to instill good habits of all kinds in their children.” Numerous exhausted students roam the halls on their way to the next class, another

90 minutes of snoozing off and waiting for the dismissal bell. Lack of sleep transforms into an even bigger issue, lack of focus. “Research studies on sleep clearly show that teenagers need more sleep than pre-teenage children, at least eight and half to nine and a half hours per night as recommended by the National Sleep Foundation,” Hamilton said. “With middle and high schools starting at 7:30 a.m., it is nearly impossible for most students to get the necessary amount of sleep each night.” According to NBC News and Dr. Judith Owens, director of sleep medicine at Chil-

dren’s National Medical Center, research shows that adolescents who get enough sleep have a reduced risk of being overweight or depressed are less likely to be involved in automobile accidents, have better grades, and higher standardized test scores. More sleep provides students with an overall better quality of life. Durham Public School (DPS) board members are bombarded by parents complaints and research showing how unhealthy it is to

Cont'd on pg. 11

October 2014

HEALTH

Depression: The Face Behind the Mask

By Nick Strauss Riverside biology teacher Amanda Briscoe was on top of the world. A hilarious childhood actress and comedian, Briscoe won best high school actress at the state level, gained prestigious scholarships for her craft, and earned the high regard of her audiences. However, despite her local fame, very few people knew the real Amanda Briscoe. Depression can envelop the life of anyone in any occupation; it is a disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, with effects spanning loneliness, grief, and deep seeded emotional unrest. One in ten teenagers suffer some form of depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Despite its sad nature, depression is easily concealed by affected individuals by using various forms of outward positive or passionate emotion. This is especially true for those who use comedy as a

Homeland

(Cont from pg. 12)

Many immigrants share that it is not really the country they miss, but their family. Immigrant families are most affected by the disintegration of families. Most of the time a parent comes first to work and raise the funds to later bring their children. Kids at young ages are raised only by one parent or just grandparents. Without the teachings of a father or mother, they grow up with resentment and lack of principles to guide them through the troublesome teenage years. Independent of what country they come from, the hardest things these students face are separation

9

common form of expression. “It starts at very early ages. Comedy and cutting up are used as diversionary tactics. These guys have been sidestepping their whole life,” Riverside Teacher David Rodgers said. “They would do something funny and avoid being the subject of ridicule, or even being physically abused. To them, the answer was clear. [Comedy] is used to compensate for neglect.” For some individuals, the skill of being able to generate a laugh lingers into adulthood, becoming a career. Unfortunately, in these cases it is also common for depression to play a role in the personal life of the individual. “Acting was an escape. I did comedy to make people happy. It let me channel things that could only be acted out,” Briscoe said. “Sophomore year in college, things were really hard, I couldn’t sleep, I felt alone, like no one cared about me. I kept asking what the point was.”

This correlation does not just stop at the local level. Many people were shocked to find that a near universal childhood hero, Robin Williams, committed suicide this past summer. His tragic story of drug and alcohol addiction serves as a testament to the over the top lifestyle of many comedians. “Anybody with a bipolar disorder, when not taking their meds, oscillates between depression and bipolar mania. During this time, reckless behavior and a feeling of invincibility are common,” Rodgers stated. “Combined with the hazards inherent with the business, entertainers are naturally high risk.” Robin Williams’ position was not unique. Many experts find it unsurprising that such a seemingly happy man could have internal issues to such a heavy degree. “From a psychodynamic perspective, it would seem common that comedians would use their

trade as means of coping with per- is not the act of being funny that sonal trauma,” Riverside psychol- can drive a person to end their life, ogy teacher David Norman but rather, a negative past which is often channeled into that humor. “Comedy isn’t even always funny in the traditional sense. Look at Joan Rivers for example,” Rodgers said. “Dark humor can take pain away and turn a messed up situation into something funny and relatable. It’s like therapy said. for some comedians.” “What comes Amanda Briscoe told The Piup, must come down.” It comes as a surprise to many rates Hook that stress was a leading that comedians are at a seemingly factor in her periods of depression. higher risk for depression and She was also bullied at a young age, suicide. Despite the uplifting na- a problem that affects millions of ture of their craft, comedians are youth nationwide. For some comedians, acting or statistically almost twice as likely to commit suicide as the average performing becomes necessary to continue a normal life. person. “A lot of musicians and actors as “One night I downed a whole bottle of extra strength tylenol. I well as comedians use their emoonly survived because my room- tions to fuel their acts,” Rodgers mate came back and took me to said. “You can’t replace the excitement and euphoria of entertaining the ER,” Briscoe said. Still, it should be noted that it with something like Prozac.”

from those they love and the isolation from everyone here due to a language barrier. The most difficult times are at the beginning. Desperation and anxiety come over them when they become submerged into such a different environment, and culture. Not knowing english is very hard, and it is frustrating when they cannot communicate their needs. Many share the goal of learning english, but are discouraged by the difficult task. With the inability to communicate with the teachers, some students wonder how they are going to learn. It is because of that dilemma that many wish they could go back home, unaware of the opportunity that this country holds. “They want to go home but they

know that it is here where they have an opportunity, they would go home if it were safe, but it is not, so their priority here is to learn english,” English as a Second Language teacher Mrs. Julie Farkas said. Every day life becomes a challenge. It is a new language, new culture, new customs, and a complete change of lifestyle. The first weeks are very intimidating. The magnitude of what students go through cannot really be understood by those who are not in that situation. Luckily they are not alone. “They are welcomed by a community of students already in ESL,” Mrs. Farkas said. Students that are experiencing these hardships are able to find refuge in those that are going

through the similar problems as them. Each one understands what the other is going through, and it allows strong bonds of friendship to be formed. It is not easy for

immigrants, and sometimes it takes years to overcome sadness, depression, and fear. Those that succeed become an example of courage, and perseverance.

10 Health

Pirates' Hookok

Former pirate affected by Ebola quarantines

By Morgan Whithaus

The guy sitting at the front of the class coughs but does not cover his mouth. The girl in the other bathroom stall does not wash her hands as she leaves the bathroom. Germs are spreading everywhere in every direction. Contagious diseases do not discriminate against their victims. The Ebola epidemic has spread rapidly in Western Africa. One former student, Elizabeth Kamara, class of 2014, has been directly affected. Moving from Liberia in the

summer of 2013, Kamara and her mother moved to Durham so that her mother could study at Duke University while Kamara started her first and final year at Riverside. After a great year at Riverside and serving on the Pirates’ Hook staff, Kamara and her mother moved back to Liberia over the summer of 2014. When they arrived, Ebola, the infectious disease that has been destroying West Africa, was running rampant. “The virus first started in February and up to date it has claimed the lives of over one thousand

Liberians,” Kamara described in an email to the Pirates’ Hook. “The disease does not kill just one person within a family. It takes everyone.” The World Health Organization estimates that 20,000 Ebola cases could occur by the time the virus is contained. With a 40 percent chance of survival, Liberians and citizens in other affected West African countries are told to stay in their homes for fear of catching this deadly disease, according to Kamara. Borders have been closed and incoming and outgoing flights from Ebola infected countries have been

Obama responds to Ebola outbreak Ebola is centered in West Africa, but President Obama made clear in a recent speech that the disease threatens America as well. Obama discussed the severity of the disease and what the United States is doing to help those affected by Ebola in addition to how America is prepared to fight the outbreak now inside the country’s borders. “In West Africa, Ebola is now an epidemic of the likes that we have not seen before. It’s spiraling out of control...Today, thousands of people in West Africa are infected,” Obama explained. “And if the outbreak is not stopped now, we could be looking at hundreds of thousands of people infected.” Obama spoke to four goals for America: control the outbreak, address the ripple effects of local economies to prevent a truly massive humanitarian disaster, to coordinate a broader global response, and to urgently build up a public health system in these countries for the future.

2014 Riverside graduate (center) Elizabeth Kamara poses with grandmother and mother right after graduation. Kamara attended Riverside for her senior year but now lives in Liberia where Ebola • PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH KAMARA is running rampant.

cancelled. Schools are no longer open, public gatherings have been banned, and a curfew has been placed while Liberia is under a state of emergency. Even though the epidemic is not airborne, it can be easily spread through handshaking, hugging, kissing, exchange of bodily fluids, and eating of bushmeat which includes monkey and deer. Many West Africans have a tradition where they bathe dead bodies, which has been a major contributor in the spreading of Ebola, according to Kamara. “To prevent the epidemic from spreading any further, Liberians are asked to wash their hands with chlorine, cholera and dettol, to always wear sweaters or jackets in order

to prevent rubbing off on someone who might be Ebola positive, and to stop hugging, shaking hands and attending public gatherings,” Kamara explains. While West African countries are on lockdown, such as Liberia, the people of these countries are suffering. Many West Africans are in the grieving process after losing family members or friends to Ebola. Others fear leaving their homes because of the risk of coming into contact with an Ebola victim. “Living in my country is very difficult, a lot of people are grieving because of the number of deaths. The economy is working at a decimal level, Liberians are mainly Continued on pg. 11

October 2014

Health

At your service: The people behind school programs By Elizabeth Beyer

to her. In fact, part of her job is to be a sports psychologist to students in need of her advice. Durham Public Schools requires a nurse to be made available one day of the week. This means that students depend on Riverside’s own nurse, Wilhelmenia Jordan, as well as Bell for when Jordan is not present. However, Bell’s work schedule does not bring her on campus until the third period, and therefore, she is unavailable during the first two class periods. Bell has questions about students getting proper care. She often wonders where students can go and what they can do if they get hurt during the first two periods and Jordan is not available. “I want to give you good care,” Bell said. Health services at Riverside surpass physical well being. The official “Student Services” department of RHS is located in the main office and includes six counselors, each dedicated to providing students with the assistance that they need in the areas of academics, personal/social, and career. According to the Riverside 2014-2015 school year planner, this includes relationships, scholastic

difficulty, study habits, educational and career planning, scholarships and financial aid, test preparation and interpretation, as well as course selection and graduation requirements. Students can make an appointment with their counselor before school, after school and during lunch in the Student Services department of the main office. “We try to help you develop, solidify, and create a vision for yourself to go to the next part of your life.” Counselor Renee Hango said. Hango stresses that many people see counselors as keys to registrations, college applications, testing, and parent-teacher conferences, but they don’t see counselors as caring people who try to take a whole person and get that person to the next level of his or her social, personal and academic development. “We’re so much more than that,” Hango said. Another person who helps maintain the health of students at Riverside is psychologist Miranda Phillips. Much of what Phillips does is related to supporting students in the Exceptional Children’s

Teacher Sara Bell stands outside of her classroom door, watching students pass through the hallways and calling out to some with inside jokes and a laugh. Counselors sit in their offices, swamped with piles of paperwork that they are eager to do, if it means helping their students. The school keeps growing, all with the help of these people and many more to move it along. When a student hears the words ‘School Services,’ often they think of a counselor who helps with college applications or class changes. But at Riverside High School, ‘School Services’ extends far beyond that. This year, a lot of new programs have been put into place. Free breakfast for all students and free AP exams are just a few of the new things to come to RHS. Besides these, counseling, sports medicine, psychology and many more services have and always will be a large part of this school. The people who provide these services are what make them so successful. In a lot of cases, these people are front runners of the programs themselves, helping students firsthand. Sarah Bell is well known throughout the school for not only being a great Sports Medicine teacher, but also the athletic trainer. “Half of my job is to teach, half of my job is to be an athletic trainer,” Bell said. Bell estimates that she sees roughly 30 students a day for injury related problems. Soccer, football, field hockey players and more come to her for assistance when they get hurt during and after school. Because Bell isn’t their coach, Counselor Renee Hango completes paperwork in her office located at many athletes find it easier to talk Sudent Services. • PHOTO BY JORDAN LOVELL

program. However, Phillips supports all students in need through consultations with teachers, school staff and parents or even directly with students. “I am trained to offer general counseling to students who are having difficulties at school, but generally serve as a point of contact to provide resources that students and their parents can access within and outside of the school,” Phillips said. Much like school nurse Jordan, Phillips is at Riverside on Tuesdays, but students can arrange an appointment with her through parent or teacher referral or by letting the front office know. If a student is interested in a career in school psychology, Phillips is more than happy to talk with him or her. A big concern is that many students, specifically freshmen, don’t know how to access services like these, or even that they exist. When a freshman World History Honors class was polled, out of 33 students, only 12 said they know where Student Services is located. While that number seems small, it doesn’t compare to the mere nine percent that have spoken to their counselor or 12 percent know who their counselor is. No students in the freshman World History class know who the school nurse is, but about 61 percent of students know where Bell and the Sports Medicine services are located. For now, Bell, Phillips and the counselors will continue their contributions of their talents and try to be as accessible as possible to all students. The work of these people supports Riverside’s health as a student-friendly learning environment that supports more than just academics.

Sleepless

11

(Cont. from pg. 8)

start school at such an unreasonable time. Students and parents wonder why all of this data is not making a bigger impact on their changes. “Move the elementary kids, whose sleep cycles have them waking up earlier in the day, to a 7:30 start time and move the teens to later,” parent Leigh Wynkoop said. According to USA Today and a National Sleep Foundation poll, only one in five adolescents receive an optimal of nine hours of sleep on a school night. Over the course of the week, high school seniors miss nearly 12 hours of needed sleep. “For vice chair Minnie ForteBrown to dismiss the need to change start times, because some students choose to stay up later instead of getting additional sleep, is idiotic,” Hamilton said. Recently there was a delay on changing school start times for DPS from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.. According to the News Observer this plan was deferred by Forte-Brown and other DPS school board members, including head chair Heidi Carter.

Ebola

(Cont. from pg. 10)

buying food and household necessities. People are afraid to leave their homes, for fear of getting into contact with an Ebola victim,” Kamara describes. “The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Liberia has released a press statement saying that everyone in the country is considered to be Ebola suspects until they are tested and proven negative.” As of August 2014, Liberia has been under a state of emergency but the citizens are ready for their lives to return back to normal once the epidemic ends. “According to the Center for Disease Control, the situation is going to get a lot worse before it gets better,” Kamara pointed out.

The Pirates' Hook October 2014

12

Araad

* PHOTO BY ABDURRAUF MUHAMMAD

Immigrant students miss homeland By Axel Herrera After being torn apart from parents, brothers or sisters students who immigrate to this country face isolation, sadness, depression, anxiety, and fear. At four years old, Diana Solis’ father left Mexico with the purpose of finding new opportunities in America to give his family a better life. At that age it was hard growing up without the presence and affection of her father. She remembers asking her mother about her father, and feeling the pain of not having seen him for years. At the age of nine her father sent for her to be brought to the United States, and after five years she finally saw him but it came with a price.

To come here she had to leave her mother, and other family behind. “While I was in Mexico I felt sadness, I would cry and ask my mom for my dad. Now that I am here it has been six years of sadness for not seeing my mother,” sophomore Diana Solis said. Not only was she faced with the hardship of being away from her family in Mexico, but there were numerous challenges and problems that she faced here. Solis was having a tough time at school. She did not know the language and in the midst of everyone felt alone, and isolated. Solis also faced bullying during the fourth grade. Some students might resort to the help of a parent for

comfort and advice, but that was not easy for her to do. After being away from her father for so many years, it was hard to once again build that closeness and confidence between a father and daughter. Even after six years of living with her father, she barely gets to see him from Monday through Friday because he is working hard to sustain his family here, and those still in Mexico. When depression and sadness overwhelm Solis, the desire to succeed and hope for a better life are what fire the motivation to keep working hard. Every student has a story. Students that have immigrated to the United States have gone through hard

times. Those who immigrate to this country do it out of necessity. Their lives are filled with problems, hardships, crime, poverty, and some suffer abuse. The United States is seen as a symbol of hope and freedom from the oppressions that they have suffered in their country. The United States Customs and Border Protection reports that in Fiscal Year 2014, 66,127 unaccompanied alien children (0-17 years old) were apprehended at the border. The majority of these kids come from some of the most dangerous cities of the Central American countries.

Most teenage boys in 1976 Iran were into sports or reading, but my dad was no ordinary boy. At the age of 14 he got involved in a revolution to overthrow Iran’s government. At the insistence of a teacher who said he could get executed, his parents shipped him off to America to live with his older brother. Leaving his home and friends was not easy for my dad as he was very resistant. He wanted to be in Iran and witness the history that was to take place with the Revolution over the next few years. “My parents had to force him to get on the plane - he was crying, begging them to let him stay,” my aunt remembered of my father’s departure. The very next day after he left, the Iranian government shut down all borders to prevent people from leaving.

Maya A country brimmed with damaged homes, ruptured windows and crumbled grounds, Croatia was not the place to be during the early 1990’s. Igor Gacina, or as I like to call him, dad, believed that the United States of America was the only solution for a better future. “ I knew it was time to leave my coun- try after the war ended,” Gacina said. “It destroyed the hope and spirit in our people and provided me no real opportunity.” On my fathers’ first night in America he stayed in a luxurious hotel where Sylvester Stallone and Sharon Stone were filming a movie.

13

We are Riverside

Berenice When my mom walked across the border of Sonora with my older brother Carlos it was raining constantly. The ground was so muddy and slippery, and their shoes would slide off so often, that they ended up leaving the shoes behind because they were not useful anymore. Carlos was only six years old, but the thought that he had to travel by foot somewhere far away did not scare him. It was difficult to get across the border. The coyote was not careful, so they got caught by immigration patrol and ended up in jail for one day. Mom said that she was not scared. “When you’re planning on doing something you know is going be dangerous, you have an idea of the consequences,” my mom said. Immigration patrol sent her back to Mexico. Two or three days later she began to cross again.

Ranya I was born in Iraq. In November of 2003 my family moved to Jordan. My father angered some Iraqis because he was working with Americans. He got another job. Some people didn’t like working with the American government. He drove American weapons for the Americans from place to place during the war. They (the people who were upset with my dad) were saying the problem was me because I go to school every day. Soldiers stood outside my school and watched me. When I was with my friends, I was safe, but if I was alone, I was not. The Iraqi soldiers posted a paper on our door saying that they would kill me or another family member as punishment for my father’s work with the Americans. My mom’s sister and her daughter were killed because they were related to my father. My father kept me home from school, left the job with the Americans, and said that he didn’t want to stay in Iraq. My father wanted me to move to America so I could get a good job and be safe from the people who were trying to kill us. It took ten years to finally be able to move to America.

cont'd on pg.9 • GRAPHIC BY TRACY TRAN

Naomi Tired of religious oppression in Hoorn, Netherlands, Christian Barentson set sail for the Americas in 1649 in search of freedom. As Barentson left his family and the only world he had ever known behind, he could only hope that the perilous move would be worth the danger he would face. As I listened to my dad tell me the stories of Christian Barentson, I found myself pleasantly surprised. I had never known all the journeys my family had taken searching for religious freedom, negotiating with Native Americans, being apart of the transcontinental railroad, and moving out west. All Christian Barentson could do in the middle of the Atlantic was pray for the safety of his family in Hoorn and for his own life. After weeks aboard a crowded filthy ship he arrived in New Amsterdam, now known as New York. Barentson built himself a house in modern day Manhattan. His wife and children joined him in America a year later. Once in America, “He became known as Christian Barentson Van Horn because he was from the village of Hoorn,” my dad, Brian Van Horn said.

Students come from around the world. Some families arrived in America before we were the United States. Others entered the country within the last year. Still others were brought here against their will. Many families, many stories. All leading us together, here, at Riverside High School, Durham North Carolina, United States of America.

Pam En un día del 1995, Flor, estaba lista para ir a trabajar con cangrejos por primera vez. En las oficinas de la frontera, había un fila con personas como Flor, maletas en una mano y papels en el otro. Todos con una meta: ganar suficiente dinero trabajando en los Estado Unidos, y pronto regresar con sus familias. In the year of 1995, Flor, was ready to go and work. In the government offices on the border between the United States and Mexico, there were lines of people like Flor, all with a suitcase in one hand, and papers in the other. Each person a similar goal: to make enough money working in the United States, and soon return to their families. Esta no es la primera vez que mi mamá me haya contado de cuando ella vino a los EEUU. Desde que yo recuerdo, ella me contaba sobre cómo trabajaba limpiando cangrejo, y su pago depende en cuanta carne ella producía por dia. “Yo viene por una vida mejor, porque donde vivía no habia mucho,” me decia mi mama con su voz llena de orgullo. This is not the first time my mom has told me the story of her coming to the U.S. Ever since I can remember, she would tell me about how she used to work shelling crabs, and her pay depended on how much crab meat produced. “I came for a better life because where I lived we didn’t have much,” my mom said with her voice filled with pride.

14

ATHLETICS

Pirates' Hookok

Student athletes have difficulty balancing sports, grades By Jasper Cool Every year as their respective seasons arrive, student-athletes buckle down in the classroom in an effort to keep their spot on the team as well as keep up their grades. With rigorous practices, family obligations, and other hobbies, it is not easy for student-athletes to succeed in every class. Student-athletes must wake up early for school, work all day in school, with only one break, at lunch, and then go straight to practice or games. With such a loaded schedule, it is hard to maintain good grades and continue to perform equally as well in their sports. Senior goalkeeper Jose Enamorado shares some of the things that he does to help him perform well both on and off the field. “I stay up late, go to tutoring, and I manage my time pretty well,” Enamorado said. Sometimes the pressure of staying on the team can drive student athletes to work harder in the classroom during the season. Although this is not a definite fact, ROTC

teacher Major Bailey believes it is a strong possibility. “I would suspect that they do because coaches have this system where they send a form around to the teachers every week to see how they’re athletes are doing,” Bailey said. All of the pressure and lack of time can be very stressful for student-athletes. But stress is only one of the challenges that athletes deal with. Senior goalkeeper Jose Enamorado explains some of his personal hardships of being a student athlete. “Finding enough time and energy for homework and trying to keep your sleep schedule on track is very challenging,” Enamorado said. Every student-athlete works to make good grades and stay on their team. However, when athletes are not able to meet their coaches expectations in the classroom they are faced with consequences. “If we look at a kid and he’s got a lot of zeros there’s gonna be some physical consequences for it,” wrestling coach Broc Dickerson said. “But if it’s a kid that just

•PHOTO BY ABDURAUFF MUHAMMAD

Senior Gary Whitaker works extremely hard to balance wrestling and his homework. Many student athletes face similar challenges

makes a bad grade because he’s not understanding then we’ll try to get him the help that he needs to get a better grade.” The life of an athlete is tough year round but it gets much tougher in school. Coaches

put pressure on their athletes during practices and games and teachers put pressure on students for homework and tests. Student-athletes must work hard on the field and in the classroom.

Booster Club, Captain's program look to boost attendance Reduced ticket prices and an Instagram contest are among the offerings By Axel Herrera, Caitlyn Patton and Brandon McCartney Stepping on to the field with the pride of wearing your school’s jersey and only hearing the referee’s whistle blow fills the field with silence. The cheers and support of your friends and classmates are absent. School spirit is an important part of every high school and Riverside is in major need of more Pirate pride. The Riverside Booster Club and Captain's Program have taken initiative to help. Some coaches, mostly from the wres-

tling and soccer teams, have desired more student attendance at home games and more support for their teams. The Booster Club is in the process of trying to sell tickets to students for home games at a more affordable price by paying Riverside Athletic Director, Margretha Chambers, to cover the cost of regular priced tickets. This would allow her to sell the tickets at athletic events at an even lower price. The Captain's Program has been working to boost attendance by having themes for every football game. One theme for the game against Apex, where students were clad in American

red, white and blue. The goal of these themes is to promot e school spirit, and most importantly to get freshmen involved in school events The soccer team has been ahead of the game in the Booster Club program as head soccer coach, Jose Santibanez, bought 50 tickets at five dollar each in advance. His managers and varsity players then sell the tickets for two dollars to students. A positive affect can already be seen, as soccer players comment that they have more student fans at home games now. “The idea behind it is that five dollars is

too much for the average student to pay. They do not mind paying two dollars.,” varsity soccer player and junior Philip Jones said. Another proposal for the Booster Club is an Instagram contest.The contest will encourage students to take selfies while attending any Riverside sporting event. Students with the most creative photographs attending the widest variety of sports will be eligible for certain prizes including free tickets and t shirts. In betwen the Captain's Program and the Booster club, attendance at school sporting events looks to be on the rise.

October 2014

'Cultural Smoothie'

Athletics

15

Los deportes mezclan las culturas By Addison Oliver and Joel Flores Ojeda Since the first caveman kicked a rock, sports have evolved and blossomed due to the flow of ideas from people of different cultures and views. Whether it is on the soccer field, the basketball court, the swimming pool, or even the skate park people from different cultures and backgrounds unify to learn new techniques and enjoy life together. The skate park is a place where different local ‘bladers’ and skateboarders can come together, and learn new tricks to add to their repertoire. Junior Hugo Vargas spends his free time rollerblading at the skate park with his friends. “I really like meeting new people at the skate park from different backgrounds as myself, they know different tricks and show me tricks I can use,” Vargas said. Students who are raised with varying cultures often bring different character traits and views when it comes to sports, which can benefit the team as a whole. “Cece, a chinese girl on my swim team, has the most outstanding work ethic. Her hard work pushes me and other swimmers on the team to work our hardest,” junior Sophie McNeil said. Many cultures value different character traits, these traits become apparent during the athletes performance on the field. Soccer is the most widely played sport in the world. Over 3.5 billion people worldwide play and enjoy the game of soccer. “Soccer gives everyone in the world something to talk about and enjoy with one another,” junior Philip Jones said. On the Riverside soccer team there are many students from dif-

ferent cultures who bring different styles of play to the team. “Having a culturally diverse atmosphere spices up the team and changes the play, I think it gives us an advantage over other teams,” freshman Zachary Krause said. On the men’s junior varsity (JV) soccer team there are three players from Africa. Junior Wenceslaus Githiiyi from Kenya and sophomores Wilson Githiiyi from Kenya and Patrick Ukurikuyeyesu from Zambia. People from different nations tend to have different styles of play. “The Githiiyi brothers have lots of stamina and speed and they like to take bigger touches when controlling the ball,” sophomore Joe Heflin said. Soccer has always been a way for people of different cultural upbringings to enjoy each others company. One of the most exciting times in the soccer community is the FIFA World Cup, which took place this past summer. This worldwide soccer competition brings people from different cultures together in a way like no other. “During the world cup the world is more peaceful, countries forget about wars and hatred towards another, and enjoy watching their country play soccer,” junior Wenceslaus Githiiyi said. The benefits of cultural bonding are best described by Senior Varsity soccer captain Jake Macmillan. “Blending culture is wonderful, we will achieve world peace through the blending of cultures in sports.”

En Español Desde que el primer cavernícola que pateó una roca, y en segundo visto pronto mejoró las técnicas de los deportes la cual ha evolucionado y florecido en sus diferentes puntos de vista y culturas. Ya sea en el campo de fútbol, en ​​la cancha de baloncesto, en la piscina, o incluso en el parque de skate diferentes culturas y orígenes que unifican para aprender nuevas técnicas, crecer como seres humanos y disfrutar juntos a lo máximo . Hugo Vargas es un alumno de Riverside High School, el cursa el grado 11th (Junior). El en su tiempo libre después de escuela va a patinar al parque de skate con sus amigos. “Me gusta conocer a mucha gente nueva en el parque de patinaje porque provienen de diferentes orígenes al igual que yo , también hacen diferentes trucos y me enseñan como hacer los trucos para que yo con el tiempo los vaya mejorando” dijo Hugo Vargas. Los estudiantes que han crecido en diferentes culturas tienden a traer diferentes rasgos de caracteres y diferentes puntos de vista cuando se trata de deportes, la cual pueden beneficiar al equipo en su conjunto. “Cece, una chica en mi equipo de natación, ella proviene de China, ella tiene la ética del trabajo más sobresaliente. Su arduo trabajo es motivarnos y apoyarnos para que yo otros nadadores nos empeñemos

hacer lo mejor que podemos , “ Sophie McNeil (junior) dijo Estos rasgos de carácter que Cece y cada persona tienen basados ​​en la forma en la cual fueron fueron criados, sus valores y sus culturas. El deporte más jugado en el mundo es el fútbol. Más de 3,5 mil millones de personas en todo el mundo, juegan y disfrutan del juego del fútbol. “El fútbol nos da a todos en el mundo algo de qué hablar y disfrutar del uno con el otro”, dijo Junior Philip Jones. En el equipo de fútbol en Riverside hay muchos estudiantes de diferentes culturas que traen diferentes estilos de juego al equipo. “Tener un ambiente culturalmente diverso en el equipo que radicalmente cambia el juego, creo que nos da una ventaja sobre los demás equipos”, dijo el estudiante de primer año Zachary Krause. En la junior varsity de los hombres (JV) en el equipo de fútbol hay tres jugadores de África, júnior Wenceslaus Githiiyi de Kenia y estudiantes de segundo año Wilson Githiiyi de Kenia y Patrick Ukurikuyeyesu de Zambia. “Los africanos tienden a tener un estilo d e

•GRAPHIC BY TRACY TRAN

juego diferente. Tienen mucha resistencia y velocidad y les gusta tomar grandes toques al controlar la pelota “, dijo Joe sophomore Heflin. El fútbol siempre ha sido una manera de atraer a personas de diferentes educaciones culturales para disfrutar de la compañía del otro.Uno de los momentos más emocionantes en la comunidad del fútbol es la Copa Mundial de la FIFA que ocurrió el verano pasado. Esta competición de fútbol en todo el mundo ayuda a reunir a la gente de diferentes culturas ,de una manera como ningún otro. “Durante la Copa del Mundo está el mundo más pacífico, la cual más países se olvidan de las guerras y el odio hacia otro y disfrutar viendo su país jugar al fútbol”, dijo Junior Wenceslaus Githiiyi. Los beneficios de la unión cultural, se describe mejor por el capitán de fútbol Jake Macmillan. “La cultural de mezcla es maravillosa, vamos a lograr la paz mundial a través de la mezcla de culturas en deportes .”

16 Athletics

Pirates' Hookok

Cross Country Running Hard

Riverside’s cross country team’s meets started on Aug. 16, but their season began long before then. Summer practices are just part of the team’s dedication to their sport. Every teammate works to improve each other. “We always work really hard. We’re working towards Conference and Regionals,” senior Jack McAdams said. The team is led by Coach Brown, as well as four student captains. McAdams is a senior captain along with Leland MacDonald. Cole Barnhill and John Haase are the junior captains. The team has competed in five meets so far. Barnhill is proud of the fact that all team members finished in the races. The team practices every day after school until 4:30 p.m., training different skills on different days. Some days are distance days, some are tempo days, and even others are rest days to prepare for an upcoming meet. “Running with just people in general is a lot more fun than running by yourself. I tend to run better with a pack - we push each other to run better,” McAdams said. The cross country team has beaten Hillside High School but lost to Jordan High School this season. By Jordan Lovell and Elizabeth Beyer

Field Hockey Improving

The referee’s whistle sounds, and the Riverside Field hockey season has begun. The swish of the stick cuts through the air and brings back the the nostalgia of the season in hopes of a better one. The Field Hockey team this season is trying to improve on last season’s winless record. They are optimistic that this season will be better than the last one. “Everyone has improved a lot and we want

PHOTO BY ABDURRAUF MUHAMMAD

Football Struggles Early

One, two, three, hut! Riverside’s football season has finally started. This year great things are expected for the future from the pirates. The varsity team came home heavy-heartedly after losing to Apex Fri. Sept. 19th. “We could be better, it’s 1-4 right now,” senior Dorian Burton said. Even though the team lost, pirate pride was still overwhelmingly present. Students were watching from the bleachers wearing our country’s colors, red, white, and blue. “It was fabulous! So many people dressed up,” sophomore Kristin Iacono said, “I loved the Murica’ theme.” Football is less about winning than coming together as a team and representing the school.“The team is family,” Burton said. So far, Riverside has won one game against Cedar Ridge, and has lost to Apex, Chapel Hill and Orange. By Sara Falcon and Tracy Tran

to do better,” sophomore Kate Ballard said. Despite losing seniors from last year, the team has shown progress coping with their difficult circumstances. This season they have an experienced team of six seniors, ten juniors, four sophomores and only three freshman. “The team is developing,” field hockey coach Suzanne Stone said. “The team is looking good.” It seems like this season’s goal is to improve and so far the team seems be accomplishing this goal. The team’s record is 0-4 but that does not dictate how the season is going. Together the team has put forth impressive effort and is showing improvements. By Ray Starn and Jasper Cool

Soccer Kicking For the Win

Riverside’s Varsity Mens Soccer team is off to a good start. The team is working towards a Pirate win at state championships. “Our season has had a pretty good start to it. We’re winning more than we did at this time last year,” said junior Blake Berry. The team has been playing hard in each one of their games, and practices. The players are coming together to get stronger as a team. They have been communicating better on and off the field. Their record of five wins, three losses, and one tie reflects their determination. The goal is to make it to state finals. “Our team is pretty good this year,” Berry said. Overall the Varsity Mens Soccer

PHOTO BY ABDURRAUF MUHAMMAD

Volleyball Dominates Early Conference Season

Junior Rachel Kallianos jumps up to strike the volleyball; not only does she prevent the opponent from scoring, but she tallies up a point for her team, ending the game in triumph. Kallianos plays outside hitter for the varsity volleyball team and also leads as one of the captains. Thus far in the season, the varsity team has boasted a 10-3 record and remains undefeated in the PAC-6 conference. “[The team] lost five key starters and brought up four players from from junior varsity to fill up primary roles,” Kallianos said. Despite the new additions to the varsity squad, the team is doing well and still has big goals. “We want to win conference and from there go as far into the state tournament as we can,” Kallianos said. “At the rate we’re going, I think we can make a deep playoff run.” By Araad Sarrami and Maya Gacina team is headed in the right direc- Country Club,” Loughton said. tion and continue to work towards The team appreciates the mom making states. stepping in to help them.“The By Anna James and Clay Bour- parent that is helping us is doing guignon a great job,” sophomore Isami McCowan said. “The team has a lot of talented tennis players but they have to work on teamwork.” Even though the women’s tennis The Riverside High School wom- team has a lot of talented players, en’s tennis team is off to a rocky they still have things to improve on. start. Not having a coach is a source “Playing doubles are our weak of these issues. Rebecca Laughton, point,” sophomore Leah Glisson mother of Lauren Loughton, is said. “We really have to improve stepping in to help. on our communication and work “I think it is good that my mom better together.” is coaching,” freshmen Lauren The Lady Pirates are 1-6 for Loughton said. “She coached here the season. three years ago and she is also a By Mone Jones professional player at Croasdaile

Rocky Start for Tennis

October 2014

Athletics

17

Sports Med's Bell counsels, rehabs (36 percent), complete ligament sprains (15 percent) and incomPreventing and evaluating in- plete ligament sprains (14 percent). juries. Acute care. Rehabilitating Commonly fractured body parts athletes back to full play. Athletic include the hand and finger (18 Trainers are a key factor in nursing percent), ankle (14 percent) and injured athletes back stronger than the wrist (11 percent). ever. Not every school has a trainer. Due to the fact that the school “Sports medicine is really im- nurse, Wilhelmenia Jordan is only portant because you do not have at Riverside Tuesdays and Thursto be an actual athletic trainer,” days, the Sports Medicine class has Riverside Athletic Trainer Sarah to learn everything about dealing Bell said. “All it has to be is a with the body whether it is a minor first-response person such as a or major injury. lifeguard.” “I have learned how to access The requirements to become a and rehab injuries,” senior Chriscertified athletic trainer include: tian Evans said. “I want to major a degree from a four year college, in Sports Medicine when I go to pass the national certified test, college, so that is license in the the reason I took state practiced the class.” in, and it must be Despite comrenewed yearly. ing to the school “Each high after hours, enschool in couraging the edDurham Public ucation of sports Schools (DPS) medicine is also has an athletBell’s job. ic trainer, and PHOTO BY JORDAN LOVELL “My job is to the supplies are grow the propaid for by the fession,” Bell athletic department,” Bell said. said. “Every year I make at least Athletic trainers are more ben- 50 kids aware of what an athletic eficial to athletes because they trainer is.” have a different type of training In addition of being a teacher and knowledge on how to handle and athletic trainer, Bell helps serious physical health situations. athletes with things other than just Torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries. (ACL), Medial Collateral Liga “Players actually come and ment (MCL), and broken arms talk to me as if I am a mentor, or legs are all injuries they are because many of them talk about equipped to handle. things they would not feel comfort“It is a law in North Carolina able talking to their coaches about,” that every school must have an Bell said. athletic trainer at every football A hard working athletic trainer and wrestling match,” Bell said. and an influential sports medicine “Until 2014 it was just football by teacher, Sarah Bell has been a it having the highest injury rate.” valuable addition to Riverside for According to the Science Daily the last two years. Student athletes website, the most severe and com- appreciate her presence and dedimon injury diagnoses are fractures cation at Riverside. By Yakima Clifton

PHOTO BY ABDURRAUF MUHAMMED

Riverside Pirates line up against Apex Cougars. Football players are some of the most concussion prone athletes,but students in every sport are at risk of injury.

Concussions, injuries, slow athletes Soccer, basketball, football hardest hit

By Joelle Trollinger During an intense, fast-paced game of soccer, senior Kathryn Thacker was shoulder to shoulder with her opponent as they jumped to head the ball. They collided and the next day Thacker felt dizzy and had pounding headaches. She went to the doctor and was diagnosed with a concussion. For many high school athletes getting a concussion is normal. There are an estimated 1.6 and 3.8 million sports-related concussions in the United States every year. It is not uncommon for athletes to have had multiple concussions throughout their career. The concussion Thacker received during her game was her second one. “It’s my second concussion so everything was worse since I was more vulnerable to injury,” Thacker said. During his football season, senior Derrick Gregory also received two concussions, within a month of each other. “I have a lot of back pain and

neck stiffness but I can play again if I don’t have any more concussion symptoms and I finish rehab,” Gregory said. According to USA Today football, basketball, and soccer players are the most concussion prone athletes. These three sports are also the top sports for injuries. Many athletes are injured playing the sport they love. These injuries not only impact their performance on the field but their performance in the classroom. For students like Gregory and Thacker suffering from concussions, school becomes more of a hassle. Students’ brains are slower to process and think, and their shortterm memory can also be affected. Not only do players with concussions suffer, in school but athlete’s with other injuries have difficulty in the classroom as well. Senior Patrick Ross broke his collarbone during a soccer match, and now, in a sling, and has difficulties doing simple tasks in class. “In class when the teacher says take out your book, everyone else

can just take it out but it’s more of a hassle for me, I’m slower to get things I need, its pretty frustrating,” Ross said. Injured players struggle with being late to class, and stress about falling behind in their classes due to missing school. High school athletes account for an estimated 2 million injuries, 500,00 doctors visits, and 30,000 hospitalizations each year. [USA today] Senior Tyrek Davis tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a football scrimmage and had to have surgery and complete extensive rehab. “I missed a lot of school. I missed 15 days for just my surgery, rehab was hard but Ms. Bell pushed me to get right,” Davis said. While students struggle in the classroom dealing with their injuries and schoolwork, Riverside Sports med works to provide adequate care for students. Injured students complete physical therapy through rehab with Riverside’s trainer Sarah Bell and return to the sport they love to play.

18 Resolutions

Pirates' Hookok

NEW (SCHOOL) YEAR RESOLUTIONS

New advisement period draws mixed reactions Freshmen benefit, but many seniors bored

By Caitlyn Patton

The hands on the clock slowly tick by. Staring at the clock as it goes at a deadly slow pace while sitting in homeroom doing... nothing. Advisement period, or what many call homeroom, was made as a period for students to bond with their teachers. It is also a time where students can meet with counselors and have a study hall. “Activity period creates a place and a time with, basically, a venue to create a relationship with all our students,” Principal Joel County said. County said the establishment of homeroom was a way to give students an opportunity to bond with one specific teacher, in hopes of making students want to show up for class. It was also a way of giving students that are not performing at grade level a time to be checked up on by counselors. The North Carolina Personal Ed-

ucation Plan (PEP) states that any students not performing at grade level or at risk of academically failing will be put in PEP. PEP allows students to have interventions and check ups with counselors, along with accelerated curriculum focused on what specific students need. PEP is a culprit behind the creation of the advisement period. “I hate the activities we do in homeroom and I just listen to music and have free time and don’t do the activities,” junior Caleb Christie said. The curriculum of homeroom is designed to go over core values such as citizenship, literacy, anti-bullying, and character development. A common misconception is about who designs and plans this curriculum. Quite a few people thought it was something Durham Public Schools was conducting. Homeroom is actually run by a group of teachers, counselors, and administrators creating it, empha-

sizing character building. Neither Jordan nor Northern high schools have homeroom for all grades. Jordan runs a program called Freshman Academy and Northern has a program called NStep. Both programs were established to meet state mandates for helping freshmen transition to high school. County said there is flexibility in what activities are done in homeroom, but some activities are expected to be done in the beginning of the year. These include making posters about character traits that people should have, and going over the school expectations, such as Pirate PRIDE, which stands for Persistence, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, and Excellence. “[Homeroom] has the potential to be useful,” American History teacher Drew Markham said. As the year goes on, every grade may branch off to do different things. Advisement period was originally more for freshman, to help them with adjusting to high school and finding their way. The

majority of freshmen surveyed by the Pirates’ Hook reported that homeroom was beneficial to their education and adjustment. “[Homeroom] helps us transitioning from middle school to high school,” freshman Samuel Mejia said. Sophomores may do things such as preparation for the PLAN, or Pre ACT. Meanwhile, juniors might go over preparation for the Pre SAT, as well act the SAT and ACT. Seniors could look over choices for colleges and learn how to fill out college applications. “It’s fun to hang out with friends, you can do homework in there, but it’s a waste of time,” junior Paul Wolf said. In reality, not much is being done during the class, and many students, as well as teachers, agree it is a waste of time. A survey given out to a sample of homerooms in each grade showed that freshmen find homeroom fun and helpful, while all the other grades find it a waste of time. “We just sit there,” senior Anna

Rauch said. Some classes follow the curriculum given to them, but many either do nothing, or do things such as current events, use it as a study hall, or sit there and talk to friends. “It’s a good time to chill and talk to friends and it makes classes shorter,” sophomore Zachary Kim said. Although lots of students find the 30 minute class a waste of time, a few find it enjoyable. It gives students a time to talk to friends or relax in the middle of the day. Not taking into account early release days or late days, and exam days, people are spending 5,400 minutes in the period throughout the year. This is equivalent to 90 hours, which would be 60 regular timed classes in a 90 day semester. “Our time could be used better, it’s a good idea but I feel like we could put our time to better use,” junior Maygan Payne said. Although opinions vary on the subject of advisement period and its uses, there are still changes in the future, and possible improvements to come.

By the Numbers

Is Advisement Helpful?

Students of Watson's homeroom spend their time writing down their goals for the new school year. The advisory period will host activities such as this one for the enitre year. • PHOTO COURTESY OF PAM GONZALEZ

Grade 9: 7 yes Grade 10: 11 yes Grade 11: 20 yes Grade 12: 6 yes

2 no 6 no 5 no 9 no

October 2014

Resolutions

19

Students watch in awe as AP Chemistry teacher, Eric Weiss, demonstrates how ethanol and oxygen reacts to fire. Free AP exams have allowed students to be able to expand their •PHOTO BY ABDURRAUF MUHAMMAD learning and continue to be successful in school.

Free AP exams, breakfast pave way for success By Pam Gonzalez Imagine not being able to take Advanced Placement (AP) English, AP Calculus, or any other AP classes, because you simply cannot afford the exam. This is the case for many students at Riverside. Luckily for them, AP exams are now free. This is not the only financial benefit students will be able to take advantage of this year. High schools all over Durham offer AP classes for students in many subjects. Students are encouraged to take the AP exam for the course taken. If they achieve a grade higher than a three on the exam, the student will get college credit. Originally, AP exams were $89 per exam. Fee waivers provided by College

Board and North Carolina were available to students under certain circumstances. This year, the state of North Carolina will pay for all AP exams. “Thanks to the NC Advanced Placement Partnership(NCAPP) legislation, funded by the General Assembly, all AP and IB exam fees will be covered for all students by the NC Department of Public Instruction for this upcoming year,” State Director of Advance Programs Sneha Shah-Coltrane said. This policy will open doors to a lot of students who will now be able to take AP classes, and won’t have to worry about the cost of the exams. Some students tend to not only take one AP exam but several.

Many students at Riverside think that free AP exams are helpful to the Riverside community even if it does not directly impact them. “[Free AP exams] doesn’t benefit me because my family is fortunate enough to be able to pay for it. But I’m glad it exists because other people don’t have the same luxury as I do,” sophomore Jackie Keul said. But Free AP exams are not the only new thing students will be benefiting from this year. Durham Public School’s (DPS) Universal Free Breakfast program states that students across the district will receive breakfast for free due to a recently earned grant. Last year, 22 schools in DPS district benefited from the Universal Free Breakfast program. This year, the

program expanded to all schools in the district. Students will be able to enjoy a healthy, free breakfast every day for the rest of the school year. “Hunger distracts from learning. With our Universal Free Breakfast program more students have a healthy start to the school day and they are focused when the bell rings,” Jim Keaten, Executive Director for School Nutrition Services, said. In the past, students had to pay for breakfast. Those who could not afford it either applied to the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, or simply chose not to eat breakfast at school. The Free and Reduced Lunch Program determined how much a student had to pay for breakfast, or

lunch, according to family income. Although this program still is available for school lunch, it is no longer needed for breakfast. Students, like Laura Campbel, can now benefit from free breakfast. “[Free breakfast] benefits me because I’m not hungry in the morning anymore,” Campbel said. “I am happy it’s free because it helps people with low income.” Thanks to the free breakfast policy put in place, students can start the day of with a free, healthy breakfast that will help them achieve better grades in school. Also, it can help them study and do better on the free AP exam. Both the free breakfast and free AP exams are great resources to many students here at Riverside.

20 Resolutions

Pirates' Hookok

Three programs highlight excellence

Exceptional EC classes

By Clay Bourguignon

Thomas Booker’s face lights up every time students like Dyson Robinson come in to class to help. Riverside was the first to have a peer helping group class because of teachers like Ben Huffman, Roger Shultz, Mary Althiser, and others. The program has grown over the years to accommodate many eager student helpers. “We come in everyday and tell them a story, and make them interact with the story,” junior Carlie Bickers said. “I take them for a walk around the school and we take them wherever they want to inside and out if it’s a nice day, after that we come back and have group time with the rest of the class.”

Riverside’s peer helping program has been around longer than any other school peer helping program. “I like helping those who need help, it really makes you feel better, and you start to get an attachment to the ones you get to help,” senior Dyson Robinson said. Only nine students are in Shultz’s class, so everyone who is in the class has a peer helper for each class period. The students in Shultz class learn social skills and interactive skills. “I teach them interactive skills such as: social skills, how to respond, and approach people, the best way to seem approachable is to smile more that looking upset. The peer helpers really help not only the students but me with teaching

the students how to talk to someone in their peer group,” Shultz said. The students of this class learn how to better communicate through speech therapist, and teachers. “I work to help students with their ability to communicate with others, and I support them in their academics in the classroom,” speech therapist Althiser said. Students in peer helping learn how to communicate with the students in special education. “Communicating with them really doesn’t differ because they are human beings, the only thing that’s really different is they’re non-verbal and they can’t really have a conversation as well as you and me can,” Robinson said. Not only is peer helping benefi-

• PHOTO BY EMMANUEL JOHNSON

Special Education student Brooke Coffield sits with her peer helper Emma Mcclintock. The Peer Helper Program, unique to Riverside, proves helpful to both parties.

cial to the students with disabilities, it is also beneficial to peer helper students. “I took this class because I have a cousin with special needs, my mom said it would look good for college,

and I just really like working with them,” Bickers said. Students interested in the peer helping program are encouraged to talk to Coach Huffman in Room 240, or Mr. Shultz in Room 135.

First rate English as Second Language department By Lena Geller

• PHOTO BY JORDAN LOVELL

Students in ESL learn to improve their second language daily with the help of teachers and peers in these classes.

A student shuffles into the crowded cafeteria, surrounded by peers who are of a different nationality, practice a different culture, and most importantly, speak a different language. Riverside’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program helps students transition into a predominantly English-speaking environment. “We provide more ESL sheltered classes than any other school in the district,” ESL teacher Alaina Burr said. Burr is a Teacher of the Year for Riverside. This year, the ESL program is helping to educate 220 students speaking seven different languages. This is the biggest the program has ever been.

“We started with the largest population, but I think it is also that they come and live with family members already in Riverside’s district,” Burr said. The community was already large to begin the year. However there is another element to the program that has caused its proliferation over the last few years. “The [ESL] teachers are so passionate,” assistant principal

Charles Carter said, “They really help the students [transition] into society.” Many students participating in the program agree that it is beneficial to them and helps them adapt to an English-speaking school. “[The program] is very good,” junior Ashik Mostafa said, “It helps us because teachers speak Spanish to us, but also help us learn English.” The ESL teachers do their absolute best to utilize the resources that they have, work as a team, and advocate for help at the school and district level, which results in a popular and successful program.

“Out of 220 students there are seven different languages.”

October 2014

Resolutions

21

Inroduction to Engineering and Design (IED) student, Aaron Belleisen builds a rocket from a ballon and plastic cup. Students come from all over Durham to attend Riverside's Engineering programs. • PHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM DAVIDSON

By Dillon McIntyre One thing that sets Riverside apart from the other high schools in the county is its advanced engineering program. Engineering is a big part of what makes Riverside such a desirable school to attend, and it is one of the most popular courses for students to take. Adam Davidson teaches an introductory Engineering class. “I try to teach the kids like college,” Davidson said. It is a very advanced course, so students who are not up to the challenge should be aware of its workload. “Some important questions I would ask a student who is start-

Engineering sets course for future ing to show interest in the field of engineering would be things like ‘do you like science and math?’ and ‘why are you here?’” Davidson Said. “I would also let the student know what he/she is in for by giving them a crash course in what engineering really is,” Davidson said There are currently around 300 students in the program, most of whom enjoy the courses. "I like the engineering program because it helps you learn how to think in a different way that the other classes don't allow you to think," sophomore Margot Gersing said. Students take four concentrated

courses and seven altogether. Three engineering program was relatively are foundational and the other four small. The program has risen in size and popularity amongst the students. Riverside’s engineering program has helped make several of the top students in the school. Three years ago both the valedictorian and salutatorian took engineering all four years of High School. All of the top ten students in 10th and 11th grade were in the engineering program. Margot Gersing, Sophomore The engineering program is a good starting place for a future career. "The reason I enjoy the PLTW are considered electives. Riverside adopted the engineering program Engineering program is because during the 2002-2003 school year. it gives you a headstart in life," Back at its inception, Riverside’s sophomore Leonardo Auilar said.

“The engineering

program helps you learn how to think

in a different way,”

The class is especially helpful for students who would like to pursue a career in engineering. "[Engineering] is a field that I would love to get into and it challenges me in ways that I haven't beem challenged in normal classes," sophomore Connor Thompson said. Many of the skills that engineering teaches students are applicable to many fields than just engineering. "You learn things like, basic life skills, presenting, group work and teamwork.," Gersing said. The challenge and material that students receive in the engineering program is unmatched to what other classes afford students. Engineering prepares students for success.

22 Resolutions

Pirates' Hookok

Policy changes over time shape Riverside Even Walkmans met restricted use

Previous Riverside Principal Jim Key poses with Linny the Pirate. Key worked at Riverside for six years, • PHOTO BY THE PIRATES' HOOK STAFF and put many new policies into place. By Lena Geller

The halls of Riverside were brimming with boys boasting pink skirts complimenting heels and girls clad in baggy jeans, their hair tucked into a cap. It was opposite sex day, spirit week of 2003. Little did the students know, this would be the last year that this day was allowed at Riverside. Jim Key, principal of Riverside from 2004 to 2010, decided upon his arrival to ban it. “I had been told that in the last year or two, [opposite sex day] had gotten out of hand. The guys had gone overboard, it was just a wild day,” Key said, “I didn’t [change the rules] for

any moral reasons, I did it because I heard it could turn into a chaotic free-for-all; students could get into fights. As the new principal, I felt like I could maybe be the bad guy. We still had a great homecoming, and, after they got to know me, they knew that I had their best interest at heart.” Key said that some students will always put up a fight about policy changes, however that is not a bad thing. “I welcomed discussion whenever anyone had concerns,” Key said, “Typically what would happen, if it was a policy to affect everybody, I’d have to have conversations with student government,

the teacher leadership team, and the school improvement team [teachers, staff, students, parents]. Running it through those groups ensures that you’re getting feedback.” Another policy that Key established was limiting students’ use of their Walkmans. Originally, students were allowed to listen to music in the hallways and at lunch. “Teachers felt like students were not doing a good job transitioning from being able to listen to their music in the hallways to putting them away in their classes,” Key said. “It could be detrimental to their grades, and it was creating some negative interactions be-

tween teachers and students. We implemented a new policy that they could only listen to their Walkmans before and after school.” It is a rare occurrence to see anyone with a Walkman these days, as most of America has upgraded to smartphones. This year, administrators implemented several new phone policies, such as leaving phones in a basket before going to the bathroom during class. These were not necessary to enforce a few years ago. Brian Strickland returned to Riverside teach social studies and coach basketball after graduating in 2000. “More has changed this year than in the past six or seven, policy-wise,” Strickland said, “Phones weren’t an issue back then because no one had them! These days, students are constantly on their phones, so the rules are needed.” Strickland added that his senior class was the second to have lunch leave, formerly ‘open lunch.’ “It was nice having open lunch,” Strickland said, “But we really wanted it as juniors. You guys are lucky that you have that now.” This year’s juniors are enthusiastic that they are the first to get lunch leave, but some of the seniors are resentful. “I am a little bitter about the juniors having lunch leave, since I had to wait the extra year,” senior Anne-Marie Barr said. Barr reflected on another major policy change that occurred during her time at Riverside. “Last year, they banned the birthday banners,” Barr said, “I think it really cuts down on the level of school spirit.” The banning of the birthday banners triggered an uproar from the student population last year. This year, students are more focused on the new security policies, such as locking the entrances to the school.

“I understand the safety concerns with locking doors, but it is a huge inconvenience for the whole school, including teachers and administrators,” Barr said. David Malechek, interim principal at Jordan this year, taught social studies at Riverside when it first opened in 1991. “There’s always been an issue with security,” Malechek said, “I think there are close to 70 doors in that building [Riverside]. We never had lockouts or locked doors, though.” It is easy to forget that Riverside did not always have the block schedule. Until 2002, there were seven periods a day. Brandon Palmer graduated from Riverside in 2002, then came back to teach classes for exceptional children. “My class was part of the first block schedule; we were the guinea pigs,” Palmer said, “Second half of my senior year, they gave us four classes instead of seven. At the time, I didn’t like the change, but now I can see how it’s beneficial. It’s necessary to have an hour and a half class in order to retain what you learn.” Palmer’s initial attitude toward the change is one that has been repeated throughout Riverside’s history. Students’ immediate aversion toward change tends to turn to contentment after a few months, and if they are still not happy, a solution can usually be worked out. “The Riverside faculty has always been healthy, civil, and respectful, and doesn’t shy away from asking questions,” Key said, “I think that the students follow suit.” Riverside has gone through an abundance of policy changes since its establishment. Some have caused controversy and some have been met with joyous resonance. Policies will continue to adapt to the ever-changing methods of education and technology.

October 2014

Resolutions

23

Pirate ships that have returned By Anna James

•PHOTO BY ABDAURRAUF MUHAMMAD

Coach Palmer teaches Gary Van Whitaker some wrestling moves he learned when he wrestled at Riverside

Freshman complete SGA By Addison Oliver and Pam Gonzalez

four years at Riverside as a fun experience,” Arnold said. Tyahna and Nala both plan on doing SGA for all four of their Ballots come pouring in to the years in high school. Student Government Association counters. Current SGA members SGA officers (President, Vice Presare anxious to see who will win the race for freshman class office. ident, Secretary, Treasurer) SGA is a student-run orgaStudent Body Officers: nization that helps the students P: Alexis Clinton VP: Steven Powell at Riverside have a voice in the events that go on both inside and S: Atlanta Woodall T: Dyson Robinson outside of school. Freshmen from Senior Class Officers: every homeroom voted for who P: Kristen Lovell VP: Ryan Woods they thought would best represent their class in office. S: Nash Luffman T: Drew Dalton Newly elected officials for Junior Class Officers: the freshman class are: Secretary P: Philip Jones VP: Addison Oliver Lindsay Silvoi, Treasurer Jada Graham, Vice President Nala Terry, S: Mark Gutay T: Hannah Rich and President Tyahna Arnold. Sophomore Class Officers: “I just want to do my part and be P: Jordan Lovell VP: Juan Vega involved,” Terry said. Terry and Arnold have been T: Jason Guo friends since middle school and Freshmen Class Officers: decided to run together for office. P: Tyahna Arnold VP: Nala Terry “I know I have a lot of positive ideas that will help my school. I S: Jada Graham T: Lindsay Silvoi want everyone to remember their

Many students cannot wait to graduate and leave for college. They never think about high school again. However, for some Riverside graduates this is not the case. “I came back because I had the most fun times, and I enjoyed it so much. I also kept up with some of my teachers after graduation,” P.E. and Health teacher Broc Dickerson said. The doors of Riverside High School opened in 1991. Today at Riverside we have six of those who have returned to their alma mater to teach. They are: Andrew Markham, Brian Strickland, Broc Dickerson, Kristin Taylor, Gabriella Faria, and Brandon Palmer. A common favorite among Riverside alumni teachers is Kathie Davidson and her International Relations class that is still being

taught today. Other teachers and classes mentioned were Steven Unruhe who teaches Calculus and Journalism and Jeff Harris, whose Meteorology class was also popular but is no longer being taught. “I liked Elizabeth Clark’s Latin class,” American History teacher Andrew Markham said, “She was a good teacher, energetic and you could tell she cared.” Along with teachers, a positive learning environment can have a great effect on students. Good and bad, the things that happen in high school can shape students’ morals and futures. “Riverside made me realize teaching is not a day to day job. You are teaching for the next level, and showing students how to better themselves,” Exceptional Children teacher and wrestling coach Brandon Palmer said. Not many people return to their

high school to teach, but some find comfort in returning to an environment they are accustomed to. “I liked the whole idea of coming back to my roots,” Social Studies teacher and basketball coach Brian Strickland said. Riverside has become a home for many of its students. It has influenced everyone who has passed through, students and teachers alike. “I want [students] to have the ability to think on a deep level, and the desire to question things, not just accept what they are told,” Markham said. Influence is a very powerful thing to have, especially over the minds of high schoolers. These alumni teachers have chosen to continue Riverside’s cycle of positivity, to mold the minds of their students. Many Alumni hope other Riverside Graduates will continue this cycle.

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24 Resolutions

Torches burn in peace at 9/11 remembrance ceremony By Marie Muir

Jerry Hudson serenaded students, firemen, teachers, and others at the 9/11 remembrance ceremony. The ceremony included speeches, the lighting of three torches, and several music performances. • PHOTO BY DEIRDRE LOGAN

Three torches burn before a crowd; one in remembrance, one for peace, and one for the future. Each a symbol of the three events that took place on 9/11. A crowd filled with students, teachers, parents, veterans, deputies, fireman, and reporters reflect on the lives lost on Sept 11, 2001. The ceremony hosted by Kathie Davidson’s Honors International Relations class included heartfelt speeches, the lighting of three torches, and several musical performances. The Junior ROTC opened up the ceremony with the changing of the colors, and raising the flag at halfmast. Following this, Riverside’s chorus led by Jill Boliek sang the national anthem. American flag ribbons adorned the crowd as elegantly dressed students gave speeches commemorating each event. “The ceremony was moving, and I am proud of everyone who took part in this special event,” senior Joelle Trollinger said. Riverside’s own faculty member, Christopher Meglin, played a flawless rendition of “Taps” on the trumpet. Jerry Anderson ended the memorial service with a haunting of “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. “The fact that the ceremony was led by students made it so much more impactful,” senior Emmanuel Johnson said. “Seeing the deputies and firemen there created such an emotional atmosphere.” After a morning of deep reflection, the participants and guests shared refreshments and stories of gratitude in the lobby.

Senior Zach Balleison, one of the National Merit Scholarship Program semi-finalists, stands with senior Steven Vogel and chemistry teacher Eric Weiss. Balleison is one of Riverside's five semi-finalists. • PHOTO BY ABDURRAUF MUHAMMAD

Five students eligible for scholarships By Lena Geller and Dillon McIntyre The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) is a non-profit organization founded in 1955. The NMSC conducts the National Merit Scholarship Program, an annual competition for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships. Riverside has five students currently in the program; the most in the county. The students are seniors Leah Wuebbens, Zachary Balleison, Leland McDonald, Emily Korest, and Talia Smart. These semi-finalists represent the top one percent of the state’s students. Qualification is based off of PSAT scores. “I’m one of the national merit semi-finalists,” senior Leah

Wubbens said. “They give half of the people who are finalists scholarships.” Wuebbens maintained impressive grades throughout her high school career, and her hard work has resulted in the chance to receive a big reward. Balleison has high hopes for receiving the scholarship. “The application process includes writing an essay and submitting grades,” Balleison said. “You have to submit an SAT score to prove to them that you can do the work required. It’s a lot like applying to college. I'm really hoping to make it to the finals.” The National Merit Scholarship Program helps to pave the way for students to attend a good college and receive recognition for their accomplishments.