2014-15 Volume 5: March

The Sword & Shield

→ The Rooster on Montevallo, page 4→ Foreign exchange students, pages 8 and 9→ Binge-watching at MBHS, page 10→ “Better Call Saul” for some quality entertainment, page 15→ Locked side doors: yay or nay? page 16IN

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Vol. XLIX No. 5 Mountain Brook High School March 27, 2015

Now Available Online

News: 2-4 Features: 5-10 Sports: 11-13 Reviews: 14-15 Opinions: 16

By SCOTT LEPLEYStaff Writer

Some of Mountain Brook’s best musicians won’t be playing in the next band competition. Instead, they’ll be writing songs, covering rock albums, and performing gigs. Popular MBHS bands such as Apollo, Stoopid Kat and Driftwood are some of the most talented mu-sicians in recent history at MBHS. While many great musicians have passed through the ranks of Moun-tain Brook, this generation of musi-cians bring the best vibes yet. Apollo, formed by sophomores Chase Robinett and Sam Nichols in their 5th grade year, plays a soul-ful combination of blues of south-ern rock influenced by classic rock. Apollo consists of sophomores Robinett (guitar), Nichols (guitar, vocals), Clay Higginbotham (bass, vocals) and junior Cole Summer-sell (drums). Apollo has made appearances in over 10 gigs, including Birming-ham’s premier venue, Workplay. The band covers a range of rock and roll, spanning from Eric Clap-

ton to The Black Keys as well as writing a handful of original tracks. Robinett said, “The best part about being in a band like Apollo is hitting the road with the dudes and doing what we love. We all love feeling the music flow through our veins.” The new group on the block is junior band Stoopid Kat and Friends, known for their vibrant onstage presence and creative outfits. After a hiatus of over a year, Stoopid Kat is returning to the stage and adding guitarist Charlie Cope to their lineup. Cope joins leader James Franklin (guitar) Connor Lantz (bass) and David Gardner (drums). Franklin said, “We are by the people and for the people. We put on a show that the people want to see: popular songs, colorful outfits, and good entertainment.” Stoopid Kat covers all types of music, or as Franklin describes it, “a modge podge of music” but focuses primarily on classic artists such as Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones.

Another talented group, Driftwood, is a band of seniors headed by keyboardist Andrew King, who likes to describe the group as “more than the music”. King, along with Stephen Little (vocals, guitar), Scott Britton (bass), Tucker Deaton (guitar) and Cain Poynor (drums) cover a wide variety of music ranging from popular bands such as Phish and Sublime as well as artists of other genres such as Bruno Mars and Marc Ronson along with a few origi-nal songs. On March 13, both Apollo and Stoopid Kat put on a per-formance at Spring Street Firehouse in Avondale. Over 75 music fans came out to enjoy Apollo and Stoopid Kat play clas-sic jam songs such as “All Along

the Watchtower” and “Hey Ya” as well as each band’s newest original tracks.

MBHS student bands bring back the vibes

Photo by Scott LepleyStoopid Kat plays live at Spring Street Firehouse.

By COKE MATTHEWSOpinions Editor

In the next few years, walk-ing into the high school will feel a whole lot different. Thanks to the 22 juniors and seniors in this year’s class of Leadership Moun-tain Brook (LMB), the mall is going to be remodeled over the summer. A small preview of things to come includes the new water bot-tle filling fountain by the coffee bar and the new clock in the mall – both of which were included in the redesign proposal that LMB presented to the Board of Educa-tion last summer. Mrs. Amber Benson, the sponsor of LMB, explains that “the current LMB group has been meeting with Dekalb Furniture and Business Interiors to work on designs. We are also current-

ly working with Principal Amanda Hood and other school leaders on a cap-ital campaign to help raise funds for the remodel-ing of the mall, lunchroom and library.” Though the drawings of the proposed rede-sign of the new mall are prelim-inary, they offer insight into the prospects and potential. The key to the new design is the separa-tion between two spaces: social and study. Larger tables featuring charging outlets will provide flat surfaces for studying and working while making the mall a more convenient hangout spot for stu-

dents. The tables will also be reshaped to seat more people. According to Benjamin Rosenthal, a junior in LMB, “The new design will allow for 50 students to find a place to sit. It’s really exciting because we have such trouble finding a place to sit for lunch in the mall, and

this will help solve that issue.” This remodeling will not only take place in the mall, as plans are being considered for redesigning the lunchroom and library as

Mulling over proposed school remodeling for 2016-2017 school year

Photo courtesy of Amber BensonThis rendering of the proposed lunchroom features long booth seats and a variety of tables. Places like the lunchroom and the mall are the targets of the new remodeling that is due to come in 2016 and 2017.

Please see “Remodeling”Continued on page 3 for more

information about the new school redesigns.

Letter from the editors

The Sword & ShieldCo-Editor-in-Chief: Claire DavisCo-Editor-in-Chief: John SissonManaging Editor: Chandler Gory

Art & Photography Editor: Mathilde SharmanNews Editor: Madeline Mitchell

Sports Editor: Alec LewisFeatures Editor: Margaret HeathOpinions Editor: Coke Matthews

Reviews Editor: Natalie JonesBusiness Manager: Sarah Beth Daniel

Staff Writers

Sponsors: Ms. Catherine Lowe and Mr. Peter Perez

Letters to the Editors PolicyThe Sword & Shield welcomes Letters to the Editors from its readers. We re-serve the right to edit any letters for grammar, length, or libel; however, the meaning will be preserved. Whenever possible, changes made with a letter will be discussed with the author prior to publication. All letters must be signed, but

names may be withheld upon request. Email letters to [email protected].

The Sword & ShieldMountain Brook High School

3650 Bethune DriveMountain Brook, AL 35223Telephone: (205) 414-3800

Fax: (205) 969-8113

Printing made possible byAlabama Web Press

1793 Eva RoadCullman, AL 35055

Telephone: (256) 734-5104

The birds are chirping, the tempera-ture is (finally) heating up and senior-itis is infecting hundreds of thousands of high school seniors across the country. Yep, it’s finally spring. With spring comes a hectic sched-ule for everyone, especially here at The Sword & Shield. After shedding blood, sweat and tears, the staff has finally compiled our March issue. For those of you interested in the new kids on the block, our Features section is the place for you. Our staff writers and editors sat down with Luis Desvalls and Jason Dai to get the inside scoop on these two foreign ex-change students and their experiences at Mountain Brook so far.

Maybe this warm weather has you itching to go outside and support our countless spring sports. If so, our Sports section has all the information you need. Or, maybe you want to learn the secrets behind the strange History teacher who occasionally wears a kilt. The Just a Chat with Mr. Shane Martin will surely answer your questions. It is definitely worth the read. Well, now you’re on the downhill slide to summer, so stay safe over Spring Break and come back ready to finish the year strong. As always, stay classy Mountain Brook. Thanks for reading, Claire and John

Thomas CooneyWill Davis

Carter EnnisCasey Fan

Scott Lepley

Leigh LewisCaroline Lowe

Jonathan McWaneLily Smith

Brooke Tucker

2news Friday, March 27, 2015 The Sword & Shield

By THOMAS COONEYStaff Writer

Mountain Brook has two boys high school aged lacrosse teams, two boys U15 teams, and a girls high school team, all associated with GBYLA (Greater Birmingham Youth Lacrosse Association.) With all of this popu-larity, it’s reasonable to wonder, why is there no school-sanctioned lacrosse team? Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation with over 750,000 people playing nation-wide and growing according to a 2013 participation survey conducted by U.S. Lacrosse. GBYLA players compete with local teams like Briarwood, Hoover, Oak Mountain and Vestavia. Players also travel to play in tournaments across the country in cities like New Orleans, Peachtree and Baltimore.

Starting defense Hays Vogtle, soph-omore, said, “It’s a lot of fun traveling with the team and getting to compete with teams from different regions.” Many GBYLA players do not want school-sanctioned lacrosse because they fear losing their coaches. “Things are great the way they are now. I would rather not risk losing my coaches just to be associated with the school,” said starting mid-fielder Sims Herron. Due to the lack of participation in rural areas, Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) has voted down the sanctioning of lacrosse as a sport, making the future of a sanctioned team at Mountain Brook bleaker. With all the obstacles in the way, it seems that a school-sanctioned lacrosse team won't be in Mountain Brook for the foreseeable future.

No lacrosse, no problem

Photo courtesy of Patrick DoudMountain Brook lacrosse team captains Mac Campbell, Zachary Carroll, Keller Briley, Carter Dukes and Patrick Doud pose before a game.

3newsFriday, March 27, 2015The Sword & Shield

well. While the plans are con-stantly changing, you can expect to see more versatile seating options and use of space. Like with any remodeling proj-ect, one of the largest obstacles is the cost of the remodeling. When asked about this challenge, LMB junior Wells Thomas said, “The PTO is going to help raise funds for the mall, lunchroom and li-brary through a capital campaign. This lets the community get involved and help.” Currently, the fundraising goal is a whopping $350,000. However, Mrs. Benson is optimistic that the efforts to involve parents, administration, faculty, students and the com-munity will make this lofty goal a reality. These proposed changes will be a step in the right direction in increasing convenience and modernizing our mall and other areas. While the changes won’t be quick and simple, they will surely be worth the wait.

Remodeling, continued from page 1

What is your favorite thing to do over spring break?

“I like to snorkle for sea urchins.” - Kennedy Schwefler, junior

“I like to be by myself out-side and enjoy nature.” - Taylor Lolly, senior

“I like to wear sunglass-es and put on sandals.” - Mary Claire Ritchey, junior

4news Friday, March 27, 2015 The Sword & Shield

By CLAIRE DAVISCo-Editor-In-Chief

Chickens are big in Mountain Brook. Growing chickens, keeping chickens, eating chickens … chick-ens are the biggest fad Mountain Brook has. But the grandest chick-en of all of our Tiny Kingdom isn’t clucking away in someone’s back-yard; it’s standing dressed up in

Mrs. Sharon Graham’s front yard. The Montevallo Rooster has be-come a landmark in Mrs. Graham’s neighborhood, and almost every day you can drive by and see the concrete rooster representing the latest holiday or community event. It has stood in everything from bright neon to celebrate our Spar-tan Swag to a garlanded lamp shade on its head for New Year’s Eve.

It’s such a big deal that “I get in trouble when I leave it naked for too long,” Mrs. Graham says. “I’ll be in the grocery store and someone will come up to me and say ‘We drove by especially to see the rooster, and he’s bare!’” Mrs. Graham started her tradition when she and her husband moved back into Mountain Brook 14 years ago after living in Shelby Coun-ty for a time. Out at her old house, she had concrete cows and pigs in addition to her rooster. But the cows were too heavy to move without a tractor, so only the two guard pigs by her front door and the rooster made the trip. She

says, “One day, I just thought, ‘The rooster looks bare. It doesn’t look right.’ So I put something on it and haven’t stopped since.” Mrs. Graham usually dresses it for the holidays, but sometimes life events get a turn as well: “I dress it up for my family’s birthdays, and once, when a tree fell on our house, he wore a hard hat for a few weeks.” He has also worn shirts supporting members of the community, most recently for Slade, a young boy at Crestline Elementary with can-cer. The rooster has been such a suc-cess that it often gets handwritten letters from children nearby saying they love the outfits. But the best response she has gotten is from a woman who used to drive past her house on the way to the nursing home. “That woman told me that it would always make her smile, es-pecially if it had been a rough day,” Mrs. Graham said. “And that’s what I like to do, I like to make people smile. I didn’t mean to do a good thing, but I did.” When asked if she’ll ever stop, Mrs. Graham laughed. “If I ever stop, something is wrong! You need

to check on me! Because it’s fun and it makes other people happy if they’re stuck in traffic or just driving by.” She added, “You know, first you’re so-and-so’s wife. Then you’re so-and-so’s mother. Then you’re so-and-so’s grandmother. Now I’m the rooster lady, and it’s the best name yet.”

Party poultry on Montevallo Road: the story behind the bird

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Sharon GrahamThe rooster dons a rubber rooster head and holds a balloon in solidarity for Sid Ortis, a Mountain Brook Junior High student battling cancer.

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Sharon GrahamThe Montevallo Rooster sported a green beard and hat for St. Patrick’s Day a few weeks ago. Mrs. Graham gets her costumes for the rooster from costume stores and yard sales in the area.

5FeaturesFriday, March 27, 2015The Sword & Shield

By CAROLINE LOWEStaff Writer

For the past few years, our basketball team has made it to Jacksonville and beyond in the state tournament. Many students eagerly jump on the buses to go and support the team. But what about those students who stay at school? How does their day go? Why do they stay at school instead of going to the basketball games? Instead of going to support the team, some students say they would rather complete work and get it out of the way, so they won’t have to worry about it later. Junior Austin Monaghan said that he stayed because “It’s a relaxing day at school and you get a lot of work done.” Sophomore Catherine Flake agreed, adding, “The teachers couldn’t make us do much, and I got a lot of work done.” Another advantage for students who stay at school is that they might end up having free periods when not as many students are there. These students have certain classes where their teachers don’t have really much planned for the day. The result is that the students get to work on or do whatever they feel like doing during the period. During the basketball game that was on the Thursday before the E-Day, Junior Eric Voigt said, “I just got a day of free periods where I got a ton of my work done and did all of my E-Days.” It’s not just the students who benefited from having free periods with their low class num-bers and study halls. Teachers managed to grade some of their students’ work and put the grades into STI. More importantly, some teachers also

managed to have some “one on one” time with in-dividual students because classes were smaller. Mrs. Casey Truesdale said, “I was helping the students that were here.” Some teachers also schedule the time so that students that are there can complete an assignment while those who go to the game can do the same assignment on their own. For example, Ms. Cather-ine Lowe said, “I had my students peer edit each other’s research papers. Those students who were not in class were responsi-ble for arranging their peer edits outside of class and completing them on their own. That way, we didn’t really lose class time.” Junior Porter Williamson noticed that with fewer students in his classes, teachers could get more done. He said, “I thought that my teachers could focus more easily when they were work-ing.” So both the teachers and the students who stayed benefited from these basketball days. Another reason students chose to stay at school during the basketball games was because the mall and the hallways are not as congested and crowded with all the other students trying to make it to class on time without being count-ed tardy. Sophomore Eloise Cotten said, “I love it

when there weren’t many students at school because it is easy to get to classes.” However, not all students who stayed at school enjoyed the days when fewer students were at school. Some students just would rather have their friends at school. Junior Benjamin Rosenthal said, “I prefer more people at school because you do not have your friends there.” Regardless of whether students stay at school or go to the game to support the team, they still have assignments and work to do. They just have to figure out which works for them—stay-ing or going.

Should I stay or should I go?

Photo by Mathilde SharmanClassrooms are a whole lot bigger when all your friends are at the game, which makes instruction feel almost like a private tutoring session.

6Features Thrusday, March 27, 2015 The Sword & Shield

By MADELINE MITCHELLNews Editor

While many students have met Mr. Shane Martin through their time in his history class, and even more students recognize him as one the cheerleading coaches, likely few know his favorite memory from high school or how he became a cheerleading coach. The Sword & Shield re-cently sat down with him to find out.The Sword & Shield: Your nickname makes you instantly recognizable. Who gave it to you and why?Mr. Martin: On my father’s side, I have Cherokee history. So people started calling me “Chief ” in college. When I came to Mountain Brook, though, my wife was coaching cheerleading, and she was “Coach Martin.” So when I came on, because of the confusion with the names- two Coach Martins- the kids asked if they could call me something different. Some-how they found out about my college nickname and began calling me “Chief.”S&S: Going back to your wife, how did you two meet?SM: She was an incoming freshman at Samford, and I was an outgoing senior. I met her at a fraternity rush party because my fraternity had asked her to be a rush sweetheart, so I got to know her. And then we were friends for a long time before we started dating.S&S: One of the most noticeable things about you is your emphasis on your heritage. Why do you enjoy sharing so much about it?SM: It provides a very powerful sense of identity, but it’s also such an important part of history because it tells us so much. It’s so revealing of who we are, where our families come from and about where America as a whole comes from. There was a time when my great-grandfather would have never admitted that he had Cherokee blood. Today, the culture is so different now; that isn’t an issue. So I take pride in my heritage as much as for my ancestors as for me. Also, the hardships that both the Irish and the Native Americans had to go through provide a good talking point for history. It’s a good way to bring history onto a personal level so that it’s about people not just about dates and battles and wars.S&S: So if you didn’t teach history, do you think you would put as much emphasis on it?

SM: I probably wouldn’t be as aware of it or put as much emphasis on it. I would still embrace it and be as interested in it as I am, but I wouldn’t explain it as much.S&S: What do you think inspired your love of and interest in history?SM: History- both personal history and “big picture” history- shapes who we are. You can’t escape it and if you try to escape it, you’ll be doomed by it. The growth of a person comes from looking at your past, learning from your mistakes and successes and then applying it in the present to im-prove your future. That’s both a personal process as well as a community one. S&S: Why did you become a teacher?SM: I wanted to be a high school history teacher when I was in high school, but my dad discouraged me from that when I was in college. Later on, I went back to get my Masters of Education so that I could teach. I am so thankful to be working here at Mountain Brook, and I love coming to work.S&S: So how did you get into cheerleading coaching?SM: I broke my back playing soccer in high school, and the doctor said I couldn’t play sports anymore. I struggled with that because I love playing sports. I’ve always been a big fan of sports- either playing them or yell-ing for them. So some pretty girls asked me if I wanted to do Powderpuff cheerleading, and I said yes. After the Powderpuff game, they then asked me if I would try out. I was very reluctant, but I tried out and became a cheerleader in high school.S&S: And did you cheer in college?SM: I did. All my family and friends went to the University of Georgia, but I was too small to cheer there. I ended up falling in love with Samford, so I went there where I could cheer.S&S: What would you say is your favorite memory from this past cheer season?SM: It would have to be the homecoming pep rally routine and how the girls came together to pull that off. Mary Farley Stevens got hurt about 20 seconds in, and she is so important to the routine. Everybody else in the spur of the moment jumped in right then and filled the spot [that she had left]. The crowd never knew that someone was missing. Her parents didn’t even know until afterwards because the transition looked so smooth. The girls just saw the need and were committed to that performance, so they made it work.

Just a Chat with Mr. Shane Martin

Photo by Madeline MitchellMr. Shane Martin shows off his beard with its natural white streak.

Photo by Madeline MitchellAs Mr. Martin teaches his students history, he also teaches them about his own ancestry.

7FeaturesFriday, March 27, 2015The Sword & Shield

By SARAH BETH DANIELBusiness Manager

The Facebook page “What’s Happening in Mountain Brook” (WHIMB) has grown in pop-ularity among Mountain Brook residents. This community forum helps residents keep up with the community as well as entertain themselves, not to mention making the Mountain Brook community smaller and closer as a whole. Mrs. Kim Fasking, a Mountain Brook moth-er and business owner, elaborated on how the community has been impacted by this forum. “We, as a community, have come together to solve [community problems], discuss the new Piggly Wiggly, and find jobs and pets.” Getting information on local events and emergencies has become much easier for Moun-tain Brook parents. “I stay informed, and I am reminded of events for our family and specifi-cally for the kids that I might otherwise forget about,” Mrs. Anne Russell said. WHIMB has not only become a way for resi-dents to stay connected and feel a stronger sense of community, but it has helped in countless other ways. “This forum is an easy way to get information quickly about what’s going on in my neigh-borhood,” Mrs. Fasking said. “It enables me to interact quickly and efficiently with neighbors

about any issue that is of concern to us. We use it to communicate during emergencies and to reunite families with lost pets.” The utility of WHIMB has proved invaluable to some residents. “I can find professionals to help me with tasks I need done, babysitters, restaurant recommendations, and fundraising donors, literally anything I’m looking for. Additionally, it’s where I find a lot of my customers for my business, helping me continue to do the work I love,” Mrs. Russell added. WHIMB allows for our community to be connected in a way it hasn’t been before. In a time where most people have multiple places to be at one time with a “To-do” list a dozen tasks long, WHIMB has given the Mountain Brook community the chance to reconnect. Through this forum, the Mountain Brook community has grown smaller and closer as the forum itself has grown. “With our fast-paced lives and busy sched-ules, the days of walking next door or having a coffee group to keep current are long gone,”

Mrs. Russell said. “But if I can sit in the carpool line and still feel like my questions are getting answered, and I still know who's being honored and who to watch out for, then I feel like I'm succeeding.” Residents of Mountain Brook are capable of extending their reach further in the community to help neighbors and support local projects. “WHIMB was instrumental for communi-cation,” Mrs. Fasking said. Communication between neighbors and community members is essential in bettering the community. “What’s Happening in Mountain Brook” has reconnected the community in a time when everyone seems increasingly busy. It has opened opportunities to improve the community that have not been present before.

Mountain Brook’s popular community forum

Photo courtesy of What’s Happening in Mountain BrookThe popular Facebook page “What’s Happening in Mountain Brook” is a stalwart for many parents active in the community.

The Sword & Shield8Features Friday, March 27, 2015

By JOHN SISSONCo-Editor-in-Chief

A year ago, sophomore Luis Desvalls made a huge life decision: one to completely leave the life he had known in Barcelona, Spain in order to be an exchange student here at Mountain Brook. Being an exchange student runs in the family. Luis’ father lived in Texas for a year as an exchange stu-dent when he was 17. His host fam-ily now lives in Auburn, and they

have a child who is the same age as Luis. Over the years, the family and Luis’ dad kept in touch, and they often talked about Luis going to Camp Mac, a popular summer camp in Mentone, with their son. For two summers, Luis attended Camp Mac with one of his friends from Spain and his new friend from Auburn. While at Camp Mac, Luis befriended senior Peyton Mc-Dougal. The two kept up contact, and McDougal even visited Spain over the summer to stay with the

Desvalls family. Now, Desvalls lives with the McDougals as an exchange student, and they have cared for him like a second son. Desvalls says, “I really wanted to be an exchange student in the US to have a good experience and improve my En-glish.” However, the transition has not been easy. Although he has enjoyed his experi-ence so far, Des-valls misses some parts of his life in Spain including his family, friends, and most impor-

tantly, the food. Desvalls says, “I really miss the Spanish food paella (type of rice with either seafood or meat), but I enjoy most American food.” While life in the United States is drastically different than in Spain, Luis has been able to enjoy some of the same hobbies he had in Spain, one of which is his passion for both playing and watching soccer. Here at MBHS, Luis is a member of the JV soccer team, and he enjoys watching Spanish league soccer in his free time. When he’s not on the pitch or watching a game, Desvalls enjoys golf or tennis with friends. Unfortunately, Desvalls can-not stay for another year; he will

be returning to Spain on June 4. When asked if he has any plans on returning to the U.S., the soft spoken Spaniard said, “I am sure I will come back to the U.S., but I don’t think I will come back for a year again.” While Luis currently plans to attend college in Spain, he has not ruled out the possibility of returning to the U.S. for college programs. For everyone who knows Luis, the opportunity has been great not only for Luis himself, but also for those of us like myself who have become friends with him.

From Spain to Mountain Brook: the journey of Luis Desvalls

Foreign exchange students bring cultural

Photo courtesy of Layne McDougalSophomore Luis Desvalls and seniors Peyton McDougal, Tom Bundy, and Thomas Skinner hang out at Bryant-Denny stadium.

Photo courtesy of Layne McDougalSenior Peyton McDougal and sophomore Luis Desvalls toured Barcelona when Peyton came to visit.

The Sword & Shield 9FeaturesFriday, March 27, 2015

By NATALIE JONES & CASEY FANReviews Editor & Staff Writer

New to MBHS this year, junior Chinese foreign exchange student Jason Dai takes the spotlight. From the city of Nanjing, located southeast of Beijing, Jason arrived at MBHS last fall after first staying with a host family in Talladega. “I came here through a program offered by my high school. At first they sent me to Talladega, but I changed host families when my local co-ordinator found me a family here in Birmingham,” said Jason. As he transitions to life in the U.S., Jason believes the biggest differenc-es between China and the U.S. lie in the pace with which people approach their lives. “The lifestyle is different here. It’s more relaxed, and school is easier. City life is much busier. It’s hard to compare the two, though, because they are so different,” explained Jason. In addition to lifestyle differences, Jason has also noticed several dis-tinctions in the education system in the U.S. as opposed to the one in his hometown, claiming his high school in Nanjing to have a higher intensity level. “My old school went from 8 to 5. We had longer breaks during the day, but classes were longer. Every day my schedule was different.” Whereas most U.S. students attend school from 8-3:20 and take the same classes each day, students in China attend school from 8-5 on a rotational schedule similar to MBJH’s modified schedule. Despite length and schedule differences, however, Jason believes that there are still some major similarities between the two systems. Most noticeably, Jason comments that the classes are similar in terms of content to those of the United States, with Chinese, English, Math, Sci-ence, and Social Studies comprising the core curriculum classes.

“At my old school in China, I took Chinese, English and Spanish for my language credits. For the sciences, we take Chemistry and Physics. The four main subjects are Biology, Geography, History and Economics,” said Jason. Along with his academic classes, Jason’s schedule also included re-quired fine arts credits and physical fitness classes. “We also take a music and fine arts class everyday. I had PE 3 times a week, and we had club classes on Fridays, ” said Jason. Despite the heavy course load, Jason admits that he prefers the block schedule of his high school in Nanjing in comparison to his schedule at MBHS. “It’s a lot of work, but I like having different classes each day. Each day is different,” said Jason. Another change for Jason has been adapting to the suburban setting of Mountain Brook. Coming from a very large, urban and industrialized city, analogous to New York or Los Angeles, Jason believes living in an urban environment to be more convenient. “We have more things to do outside of school. In a big city, it’s easier to travel. I take the subway and don’t need a car. In China, people take the driver’s test at 18 and not 16,” said Jason. Outside of school, the city also offers a variety of different opportuni-ties for students to explore on their free time: museums, historical land-marks and recreational sites. “My high school in China has a large stadium. After school, we play sports in the stadium. I play soccer. We also go to movies and hang out with friends,” said Jason. With the school year coming to an end, Jason will travel back to China, but he hopes to come back to the U.S. next year to finish his secondary education and possibly attend college in the states.

Jason Dai: An Outsider’s Perspective on MBHS

Photo courtesy of Jason Dai Jason visits older Chinese villages near his hometown in Nanjing, China on the left and Vulcan in Birmingham on the right.

diversity to Mountain Brook High

10Features Friday, March 27, 2015 The Sword & Shield

Your next episode will begin in 15 secondsBy MARGARET HEATH

Features Editor

It’s the middle of the week. Your homework is finished, or maybe it’s not. Your computer calls to you as you struggle to finish assignments for various classes. You must resist… well, maybe one episode won’t hurt… Netflix, here I come. The allure of what is now called binge watch-ing has grown rapidly over the past three or four years as video streaming services allow people easier access to the shows they actually care to watch. Binge watching, defined as watching three or more episodes in one sitting, has become a godsend for people as they can watch more TV than they ever thought imaginable without pesky commercials or set air times. Now it has become a thing people brag about or excitedly discuss with friends because of the series they are all currently watching. Out in the field, The Sword & Shield Features Editor got the hard hitting facts from the true faces of binge watching from the Mountain

Brook High School student body. Record for most episodes watched at one time: 40 episodes. Average number of episodes per night: 4 episodes.

And if you are currently between shows and looking for something interesting to watch try these:• GilmoreGirls• TeenWolf• DowntonAbbey• Suits• HartofDixie• TheWalkingDead• EyeCandy• LifeUnexpected• TheX-files• Reign• Outlander• ArrestedDevelopment• ParksandRec• Supernatural• CarrieDiaries• SonsofAnarchy

• TheBlacklist• M*A*S*H• TheOffice• CriminalMinds• BreakingBad• Merlin• Cheers• OrangeistheNewBlack• Grey’sAnatomy• DoctorWho• GossipGirl• GilmoreGirls• UnbreakableKimmySchmidt• Dexter• GameofThrones• Bob’sBurgers• BetterCallSaul• Lost• Chuck• TheITCrowd• MalcolmintheMiddle

27 students were polled for this survey.

11SportsFriday, March 27, 2015The Sword & Shield

By ALEC LEWISSports Editor

At 17-3, this year’s Mountain Brook baseball team has begun this season in the same fashion that last year’s ended—with wins. After losing seniors Davis McDougal, Peter Berryman and Mitch Morrow, the question of who would step up had a simple answer. With 12 seniors, the Spartan coach-es knew they’d be in great hands come opening day this year. This team is led by Auburn signees Jack McPherson and An-drew Autrey, pitchers Alan Hale, Hunter Holcomb, John Sisson and Bailey Shelfer, “the glue guys” in Drew Odum and John David Kubiszyn, the base-running exper-tise of Tucker Ellis and T.J. Beard and sure-handed fielders Parks Shoulders and Mac Harris. With that leadership, they’re gunning for a state championship.

“The thing about this group is that we never give up, whether we are down or up in a game,” says Holcomb. “This group is very special, and hopefully we can complete our goal and make a run at a state championship.” McPherson agreed saying, “Our team goal is to win the state championship, and I’m just here to do whatever I can to help us win.” The question that’s prevalent with teams that boast superior talent is whether their heads on straight, do they care enough about winning? Although these guys experienced a run last year to the final eight, they know that this is it, this is their last hurrah. “Every day in practice we chal-lenge each other to be the best play-ers we can be. I get to face some of the best hitters in the state in our inter-squad. That in itself challeng-es me and helps me prepare for big

time games,” said Holcomb. This time of year, the Spartans are looking to area play as the hope to repeat as area champions is the current goal. After beating Spain Park on Tuesday, the Spartans have

jumped out to a critical early start. It’s a start that is just a stepping stone to achieving their goal.

Mountain Brook baseball’s 12 seniors lead Spartans into area play

Photo courtesy of Pam AutreyJack McPherson and Anndrew Autrey smile after a Little League practice. They have been playing together since elementary school.

By COKE MATTHEWSOpinions Editor

The Lady Spartan softball team is off to a slow start this year with a 2-8 record. Howev-

er, look for improvements as this young team heads into spring. With a young and developing roster composed of one senior, three juniors, five sophomores and four freshmen, the team is working hard to improve and gain experi-ence as the season progresses. As Coach Kaitlin Griffin shares, “Our team motto is ‘the season is not a sprint, it is a marathon.’ We want to be playing our best ball come Area Tournament.” After last season’s 11-16 record, the team lost the valuable “Senior Cinco,” the five seniors who led the Lady Spartans throughout the season. Junior Elizabeth DeAtkine said,

“It’s weird having lost five senior members of our team from last year because they were such a huge chunk of our team. This year we only have one senior on our team, which is almost

more special because we put her up on a pedes-tal.” Caroline Boone, the only senior on the team, has been a standout player as well as a valuable team leader this year. Boone is the team’s start-ing catcher and is currently hitting .343. DeAtkine explains, “I think Boone stands out the most, especially because she had to step up this year and be a leader. I think she has defi-nitely accomplished that.” Coach Griffin agrees, noting that Boone “is the type of player that this team needs. She leads not only by the way she plays on the field but also by her dedication in the classroom.” Boone deflects the attention she receives, as the team’s only senior, explaining that it has been “all of the upper classmen that have stepped up for the younger girls.” On April 13, the Spartans play Homewood on Senior Night. The following home game they play Vestavia, which will be an important area game.

Slow start for Lady Spartan softball

Photo courtesy of ImageArtsSophomore Hollon Skinner tags out an opposing runner.

12Sports Friday, March 27, 2015 The Sword & Shield

By WILL DAVISStaff Writer

When it comes to experience, the Mountain Brook soccer team has an abundance of it. The Spar-tans are led by Angel Reglero, An-drew Frese, Parker Henley, Coo-per Barnes, Ben Rysedorph, Will Freeman, Paul Roth, Sam Morris, Tom Bundy, Reid Grant, Adam Elrefai and Brother Swagler. These 12 seniors make up over 63 percent of the team’s roster. “It’s a large group of seniors for anybody to have on a team of this size,” Spartans coach Joe Webb said. “Several of them have been on the varsity for several years; some of them are new to the varsity this year. They’ve all reached a little bit of success here and there.” The Spartans have caught some tough breaks with injuries to three senior starters. Freeman, Elrefai and Rysedorph are all currently injured, and it is uncertain wheth-er any will return during the 2015 season.

According to Webb, the most remarkable thing about this group of seniors isn’t their statistics, but their chemistry as a unit. “Statistics don’t always tell the story,” Webb said. “They’re a hard working bunch; they get along so well together which lends itself to the effort that we see on the field.” The players agreed. “It’s meant a lot being able to play for the team,” Roth said. “I’ve gotten to play with my best friends, so it’s been awesome.” “I love being with these guys,” Swagler added. “We’ve played to-gether since third grade.” In talking about his team, Webb drew a comparison to the school’s decorated basketball program. “It’s a lot like the basketball team in that we fight until the bitter end,” Webb said. “And more often than not that has worked for us, but even in some of our losses we’ve come out of the game with the other team knowing that we gave it to them the best we could.”

The Spartans currently have a record of 6-7-2 on the season, including winning the Southern Shootout in Mobile, in February. It was the third straight year that Mountain Brook has won the tour-nament, something that is definite-ly cherished by the team and their coach. “We played very hard down there. It was an exciting tourna-ment,” Webb said. “It was a scrappy situation. We didn’t blow anybody out. We had to fight for some of those results, but we earned that victory. That was really nice for us.” “The Mobile tournament is the best,” Roth said, echoing his coach’s sentiments. In addition to winning the Mo-bile Tournament, these 12 seniors have made the playoffs every year and are hoping to do so again this year. “Hopefully we can make the playoffs again this year and do a little bit better than we’ve done in the past,” Webb said.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries,” Swagler said. “But, I want to end on a high note because we’ve hit a little lull.”

By ALEC LEWISSports Editor

With Tiger Woods hurt, again, and many of the most popular players struggling, the golf season has approached us. For Mountain Brook’s boys golf team, though, the opportunity to win a state championship for the first time in four years has the team ready to go. “Last year we had a big contribution from Taylor Eyster who is playing golf at UAB this year, so not having him is the challenge we have to overcome,” said senior starter Michael

Brown, who has been sidelined for the first three tournaments of the season due to a broken ankle. “We do have a couple guys that are looking to come in and fill his role and hopefully we’re all a year better so we can contend for that state title.” Golf has been a sport for years in which the Spar-tans have excelled. With players in college currently such as the aforementioned Eyster, LSU’s Stewart Jolly, Alabama’s Tom Lovelady among others, Coach Ben-ny Eaves and his team are looking to return to their winning ways.

Competition runs high when it comes to area play for the Spartans. With Spain Park, last year’s state championship winner returning a fair bit of talent, that competition will only intensify as the season progresses. The season began on February 18 and 19 in Fairhope as Mountain Brook took home the Fairhope Invitational. For the Spartans, that bodes well for the goals they want to achieve. “In order for us to get back to that position, we need to continue working hard, and we must make sure that as a team our game is in the right

position when that time comes,” said junior Jonathan Eyster. Other contributing players for this year’s team are senior Wilson Simmons, Alabama commit and sophomore Ben Fuller, juniors Harlan Winn, Hugh Rowe Thomas, and John Gross, and senior Packey Toomey. To open the season both Eyster and Fuller garnered all-tournament team honors, a step in the right direction for this hopeful team. Up next on the schedule as March heads to April is the Tom Bell Memorial at Limestone Springs, the sectional tournament at Riverchase Country Club, sub-state at Huntsville Country Club, and then the state tournament on May 11. “Hopefully we’ll be able to advance through sub-state and all the way to state, and hopefully we can get past Spain Park. I really think this year’s team has a great opportunity to do that and achieve our goal,” Brown said.

Mountain Brook Soccer seniors look to go out with a bang

Mountain Brook’s Boys Golf Team Hopes for First State Title Since 2011

Photo courtesy of Cindy RysedorphCurrent senior Ben Rysedorph poses for his first soccer game ever.

Photo courtesy of Benny EavesHarlan Winn, Wilson Simmons, Michael Brown, Ben Fuller and Jonathan Eyster hold their trophies after their win at the Azalea city invitational

13SportsFriday, March 27, 2015The Sword & Shield

By SCOTT LEPLEYStaff Writer

Coach Scott Flowers took over the girls soccer program in the middle of 2007 as an interim coach. Within a year, in 2008, he led Mountain Brook to an undefeated season and a state championship. Flowers now has two state championships to his name as well as the highest winning percentage of any girls coach in Mountain Brook soccer history. This year’s team is coming off a state cham-pionship appearance last season. Seniors AC Gillespy and Leigh Haynes captain the team and have them off to a division lead this season. Both Haynes and Gillespy made the team their freshmen year and ranked near the top statistically in almost every category. Gillespy al-ready has a state championship under her name from her sophomore season, but Haynes took that season off to play club soccer. Haynes said, “I missed out on one of the best seasons we could have, and this year I want to bring us back to that peak and win another state championship for us.”

Senior Maggie Clemmons has played all over the field since arriving in Mountain Brook last year. Clem-mons has played de-fender, midfielder, and forward. Clemmons has 16 points through the first 12 games, trailing only Leigh Haynes at 24. Flowers said, “Mag-gie has learned how to take over games this year. She can sin-gle-handedly change the outcome of a game.” Next season, Clemmons will play for Vanderbilt and Haynes will play for Wake Forest. Sarah Grace Lindsey, Jess Sirkin, Lowry Neal and Julia Garrison have also played well for the Spartans this year, especially on the defensive side. Flowers said, “We’ve had some

girls play some really good defense this year and it has led us to six shutouts so far.” The girls stand at 9-2-1 on the season and ranked #2 in the state.

Photo courtesy of ImageArtsSenior Maggie Clemmons dribbles the ball away from Vestavia defenders.

Girls soccer seeks 3rd consecutive state title appearance

14Reviews Friday, March 27, 2015 The Sword & Shield

by LEIGH LEWISStaff Writer

As the year goes on and more and more sophomores turn 16, another round of students ask for their dream car. Although not ev-eryone gets exactly what he or she asks for, it is pretty amazing to see the kinds of cars driven by Moun-tain Brook high school students. From Porsches to BMWs to Hondas and Fords, the Mountain Brook High School parking lot has them all. The Sword & Shield staff took a stroll through the parking lot to come up with a list of five of the most popular cars at MBHS, and we spoke with the cars’ owners. A very common car at Moun-tain Brook High School is the

BMW 328i; this sedan has a styl-ish in and exterior, and has lots of space inside. Sophomore Sarah Chitty, drives this car, and she says, “I love it. It drives fast and takes turns fast.” Sophomore Dean Triantos drives an Audi A4. Similar to the BMW 328i, the Audi A4 is a sedan, and it is also very nice. According to Dean, the Audi A4 drives very well, and he describes his car as “fast, reliable, and safe.” He also said, “it gets good gas mileage.” Sophomore Arthur Barnes drives a Land Rover LR4. This is an SUV, and Arthur says, “it was inexpensive, fits seven people, and has a refrigerator.” The Land Rov-er LR4 is very common at Moun-tain Brook High School, and it has

a really cool, anglular exterior. Sophomore Grace Logan owns a Toyota 4runner, which, like the Land Rover LR4, is an SUV. This is one of the most popular cars for specifically girls (but also boys) at MBHS. Grace said, “I like it be-cause it is cute and has a backup camera.” She added, “It is easy to get around in, and it isn’t too big.” The last car that is extremely popular is the Jeep Wrangler. Soph-omore Lily Smith drives this car,

and she loves it. Her friends hap-pen to love it almost as much as she does. Sophomore Catherine Flake says, “Lily’s car has great character; it’s the flyest car on the block. It is quaint, yet comfortable.” The BMW 328i, Audi A4, Land Rover LR4, Toyota 4runner, and Jeep Wrangler are all very desired cars by many Mountain Brook stu-dents, and the MBHS parking lot is filled with them.

Coolest cars at Mountain Brook

Photo by Leigh LewisSophomore Dean Triantos’s Audi A4 sits in his driveway, basking in its own glory.

Photo by Leigh Lewis The Toyota 4runner is a spacious car that features luxuries like a backup camera and lots of space.

15ReviewsFriday, March 27, 2015The Sword & Shield

By THOMAS COONEYStaff Writer

There is now a new reason to procrasti-nate doing homework: season three of “House of Cards” is finally here. On Feb. 27, the binge-worthy series released 13 more episodes on Netflix. The new season is just as captivating and exciting as the first two. Season one of “House of Cards” received a Golden Globe, Peabody Award, three Emmy Awards and a Webby Award. Season two won an Emmy, Screen Actors Guild Award and another Golden Globe. Needless to say, the expectations for season three are high. Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), America’s favorite power hungry politician, spends most of seasons one and two scheming and manip-ulating others to move himself up the politi-cal ladder. In season three, Frank is now the new leader of the free world and is dead set on strengthening the nation and leaving a legacy as a great president. The international diplomacy and internal struggles of America seen in a broader scope give the show and its characters a new dimen-

sion. Victor Petrov (Lars Mik-kelsen), President of Russia, is the spitting image of Vladimir Putin and is as ruthless and smart as Frank. A new side of the characters is shown in this new season. Frank is no longer indestructible and as clever and quick thinking. He becomes more human and more relatable. The emotional side of Frank is also exposed as the stresses of the office weigh heavily on his shoulders. Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) is no longer the con-tent wife sitting back ready to serve her hus-band. Frank and Claire’s relationship begins to crumble under pressure and a big divide forms between them. Spacey and Wright both show their talent by giving dramatic and jaw dropping scenes, and both are on track for another year of awards and praise. The show is still as captivating and breath taking as ever. Shocking and plot twisting scenes

are abundant, and the show continues to dare itself to go further and further. This season is another round of excitement and drama. The new depth and perspective of the show make it feel refreshing and never repetitive. However, at times the show’s plot can seem to be progressing slowly and can seem boring. The actors continue to perform at the high-est level and never give a subpar performance.

Rating: 8.5/10

“House of Cards” back again for more thrills

Photo by Thomas CooneyThe inverted flag, a symbol of the show, speaks to the discord and distress of Frank Underwood’s term as the conflict grows deeper.

By JONATHAN MCWANEStaff Writer

By now, there is a good chance that you watch, have watched, or know someone who has watched AMC’s “Breaking Bad.” The series ran for 5 wildly successful seasons, yet left a frown on the faces of its viewers once it ended. As a fan of the show for most of its running time, I was extremely excited when the show’s producer, Vince Gilligan, announced that there would be a spin-off series called “Better Call Saul” focusing around one of the show’s most interesting, sly characters In the first series, Bob Odenkirk portrays Saul Goodman, a ques-

tionable lawyer who operates out of a strip mall and represents Walt and Jesse, the two main charac-ters in “Breaking Bad.” Fans of the show, including myself, were frus-trated about how little was revealed about Goodman outside his deal-ings with Walt and Jesse. “Better Call Saul” is an opportunity to gain a different perspective on Saul. “Better Call Saul” premiered on February 8, setting a new record for the highest-rated series premiere in basic cable history with over 6.9 million viewers. The title turned out to be rather misleading since it is quickly revealed that the main character’s name is not Saul Good-man but rather James McGill, more commonly referred to as Jimmy.

While some were likely misled by the change, I viewed it as the first enigma to be solved in a series that will surely be full of them. In fact, the title was not the only aspect of the show that turned out to be misleading; the first episode started and the character I had come to know as Saul was not named either Saul or Jimmy. He was a grumpy middle-aged man named Gene working at a Cinna-bon in Nebraska. This was clarified quickly once I realized that “Breaking Bad” had begun all of its shows with either a flash-forward or a flashback, a method that “Better Caul Saul” had apparently adopted. The series, set in 2002, follows McGill through his many misad-ventures as a crooked lawyer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He rep-resents everyone from mischievous teenagers fighting a robbery case to an elderly couple being investigated for embezzlement. McGill is essen-tially willing to represent anyone who is able to pay him. As I began watching the series, I believed that no one on television would be able to top Bryan Cran-ston’s portrayal of Walter White in “Breaking Bad”, ever. I still feel that way. But that is not to take any credit away from Odenkirk and his performance. In the first few

episodes, Odenkirk has given more depth to the Saul Goodman/Jim-my McGill character than we ever saw in the first series in which he primarily served as comic relief. Odenkirk and the writers have given the protagonist a much dark-er connotation of the same charac-ter from “Breaking Bad” while also still providing viewers with humor-ous one-liners; Odenkirk, I believe, balances these two personas very well. Fans of “Breaking Bad” are bound to enjoy the show’s dark, fast-paced plotline and the mystery that it entails. This being said, the show definitely does not ride on the coattails of its predecessor. It is clear that the show is perfectly balancing its attempt to attract a new audience while also trying to cater to those who were ritualistic viewers of “Breaking Bad.” While spin-offs are usually a tricky type of show to pull off, “Bet-ter Call Saul” does an incredible job of getting the audience on the protagonist’s side while also keep-ing them coming back for more with excruciating cliff-hangers and a plot so dramatic that it is sure to win the hearts of the “Breaking Bad” faithful over time.

Rating: 9/10

“Better Call Saul” achieves success in the wake of “Breaking Bad”

Photo by Ben Leuner/Courtesy of AMC“Better Call Saul,” the spin-off series from the producers of “Breaking Bad,” tells the rivet-ing story of a minor character, Saul Goodman.

The Sword & Shield16Opinions Friday, March 27, 2015

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION: The Mountain Brook School system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or age in any of its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries re-garding nondiscrimination policies: Dr. Dale Wisely—Director of Student Services (Title VI), ([email protected]); Mrs. Sylvia Harper—Personnel Director (Title IX), ([email protected]); Dr. Missy Brooks—Director of Instruction (Title II), ([email protected]); Mrs. Shannon Mundy—Special Education Director (Section 504), ([email protected]). Contact Information: 32 Vine Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213, 205-871-4608.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION: The Mountain Brook School system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or age in any of its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries re-garding nondiscrimination policies: Dr. Dale Wisely—Director of Student Services (Title VI), ([email protected]); Mrs. Sylvia Harper—Personnel Director (Title IX), ([email protected]); Dr. Missy Brooks—Director of Instruction (Title II), ([email protected]); Mrs. Shannon Mundy—Special Education Director (Section 504), ([email protected]). Contact Information: 32 Vine Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213, 205-871-4608.

By BROOKE TUCKERStaff Writer

All of us have experienced the frustrations of having to bang ob-

noxiously on the locked side doors trying to get to class faster, hiding the embarrassment on our faces as someone finally lets us in. Our walk of shame into the building leads us to the question: Are the locked side doors entering every hallway actually protecting us or has it just become a pain? I don’t know about you, but I have been debating this issue for a while now. With the news full of school shootings across the country, it seems like a good idea to provide some extra security to the side-door entries of the school. But then again, walking outside from class to class is what many students rely

on to get to class quickly, bypassing the hallway crowd. Often, the side door is locked when students try to open it, requiring them to flag others down, possibly interrupting class or even making another stu-dent late just for opening the door for them. It may seem like an open-and-shut case or, so to speak, a no-brainer. Locked doors would limit access to unwanted visitors. In my opinion, unwanted visi-tors on school grounds shouldn’t even be an issue in the first place as long as our front and back guards are keeping us secure. If someone sketchy looking tries to enter our

school campus, it is the guard’s job to forbid the intruder from having access to our school. Keeping the doors unlocked so students can voluntarily walk from class to class doesn’t risk students’ safety. We should be able to have the option to easily get to our class-es by walking outside, instead of having to dodge all of the hallway traffic. So once we get to the door, we can freely open it and not rely on someone else to do so.

The locked side doors: protecting or annoying?

Conservative silence and a flimsy tolerance

By MATHILDE SHARMANArt and Photography Editor

Picture yourself in college. No, seriously. Really see yourself in college—at a party, in the library, at the game, in a lecture hall. Cool, smart, funny, attractive: better than ever, and not just on the social scene. You shine in the classroom, too. People look at you and know you’re one of those people—quick on your feet and gifted with that subtle wit. In the right setting, you are winning. Now I burst the bubble. Some-thing that rarely comes up in your high school classroom just became the hour long discussion of your 10 a.m. freshmen class. The topic: sex-ual orientation and all its branch-ing debates. And while you have an opinion, voicing it in a classroom full of people you barely know may lead to confrontation and hostility. No, best save that conversation for later, after you’ve had time to size up your peers. Mountain Brook students are engaging, dynamic, and opinion-ated, yet one of the most debated topics in our nation rarely comes

up in the classroom. We all know why, though. I don’t have to explain the fear of offending someone in a classroom with both conservative and liberal views. But college will come. “Life” is just around the corner. Someone is going to voice his or her views with unparalleled eloquence and passion before you can say a word. Some-one will have had this conversation dozens of times, and their expe-rience will all too painfully show the conservative’s inexperience as the anger and frustation mounts. Without experience and practice in a classroom setting, students aren’t prepared to successfully defend their beliefs. In our attempts at dig-nified intelligence, we are going to look like ignorant, flustered fools. Maybe I’m misjudging you, though, and you wouldn’t hesitate to speak up—even lead—a discus-sion about sexual orientation. You know how to engage in a respect-ful, yet passionate debate, standing by your beliefs without attacking others. Unfortunately, you don’t represent a majority. In February, Conor Friedersdorf of The Atlantic condemned “the suggestion that gay-marriage op-ponents should be kept quiet in the classroom to avoid . . . offending gay classmates,” yet wrote that “so-cial conservatives” shouldn’t be too concerned their voice isn’t really being heard—“they’re losing most of the arguments that are conduct-ed on the merits!” Why is this? Are the arguments of gay marriage opponents resting

on unreasonable, biased founda-tions? Or are they not prepared to defend their beliefs under pressure and scrutiny because they’ve never had to? You may have picked your posi-tion on such issues and really aren’t interested in rehashing the views of your opposition. I know what they think, you say. Communication is not the problem. All that bitterness comes from the fact that we just don’t agree. The reality: Conservative beliefs are only safe if they’re silent. Here’s the problem, and it’s a problem for liberals and conservatives: toler-ance that rest on silence isn’t real tolerance; it doesn’t last. There is no communication, awareness or honesty. If confronted, conservatives might hesitate, fearful of seeming ignorant or hateful. When intelli-gent, engaging minds hesitate, they leave room for the hateful igno-rance of those who misrepresent their beliefs. As a society, we betray our goals of respect and tolerance. So what’s the goal? I bring up gay marriage in third period Monday so that I can practice my debating skills?. Heavens no. The clashes of religion, fact, faith, and opinion that make up debates on sexual orientation don’t fit into a nice little box of respect and toler-ance. Respect and tolerance them-selves aren’t compact concepts we can just whip up. They require time and devotion to their preservation and a show of personal responsibility on us as

students to build the foundation of our beliefs with research and reflection. We must be aware of our settings as well. Programs like Safe Space that promote tolerance in schools call teachers to facilitate classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gay rights. How-ever, since teachers cannot discuss their religion in school, many may not feel comfortable discussing an issue that brings religion into play. The challenges we face in break-ing down the taboo nature of these debates are numerous. However, this is no excuse for neglecting per-sonal responsibility. Silence is not a sound foundation for tolerance, and it leaves room for hatred and ignorance. We must take it upon ourselves to build the foundation of our beliefs and recognize our opposition. Lastly, we must seek to understand how religion, law, sci-ence, personal opinions, and facts play a role in these debates. Education should prepare you to be an informed citizen leader and an engaged member of your com-munity, able to discuss complex issues with intelligence and respect. To become these active members of society, we must show great per-sonal responsibility and the cour-age to run from apathy. Peers, friends, and members of my community: I offer these words in hopes that we will be self-respecting representatives of our communities, our values, and our beliefs, whatever they may be. Thank you.