Mayoral Candidates Speak About MLWGS

Four of Richmond's 2008 Mayoral Candidates* Spoke with Danny Yates During a Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce Forum on October 7.

The Candidates Spoke On the Question of Diversity and the MLWGS Admissions/Hiring Process.

Question: Currently the number of African American Governor’s School students from Richmond is disproportional to the percentage of African American students in RPS.

This past June, the Maggie Walker Regional School Board voted to spend $70,000 to hire a consulting firm to assess the level of diversity in the school and to propose methods for increasing minority representation.

The question is this - would you support a race-based affirmative action program in the school’s admissions and hiring procedures to increase minority students and faculty?

Their responses are listed below (in the order which they spoke)

Councilman William Pantele, Local Attorney and Richmond City Council President:

“...in that case there would certainly be something that would merit review and study, of course, I think it also illustrates one of the issues with charter schools...one of the risks is, charter schools tend to gravitate towards cherry-picking students … The Governor’s School is a great facility it has to be accessible to all of our students who qualify where there is a slot available. I’m glad the school is looking into the diversity. issue and I will be interested, in fact, I will insist on a copy of the results. “

Lawrence Williams, Local Architect and Richmond Public Schools Parent:

“I don’t think you need to waste money on a consultant. Many of these things, people of good common sense work out over time … Robert and I are from John Marshall when it was being integrated and because of that we had some major opportunities. I was able to go to the University of Virginia and Harvard University from there….Very frankly, once you have those opportunities, you have a different perspective and you care about where you came from. Pantele will not go to Fairfield court and fight to the death to make sure that that community changes. I will, and that is just a fact of life.”

Robert Grey, Local Attorney and Former President of the American Bar Association:

“I don’t think you have to hire anybody for $70,000 to figure this out. This is a community that has always had difficulty with race, and we have got to start getting a handle on this by making sure that we provide equal opportunity to all students to attend whatever school we have, and I mean that throughout the city. ...There is no perfect system to do any of this. It requires people of good will, good conscience, and it requires people of commitment to a city that will grow through the strong diversity of its neighborhoods…”

Delegate Dwight Jones, Local Pastor and Member of the Virginia House of Representatives:

“I didn’t know that there was a 70,000 dollar contract out there to just bring diversity to the Maggie Walker high school. If I had known, I would have put a bid in. That’s an easy job. And I probably would have done it for 35 (thousand). The question is easily answered. We have got to have the leadership that requires that there is diversity in all places, and that requires intentionality, somebody who is going to push the envelope and have these conversations that are somewhat difficult to have.”

Four Richmond mayoral candidates spoke at a recent forum. From left they are Bill Pantele, Robert Grey, Lawrence Williams, and Dwight Jones. Photo by Danny Yates

*Candidate Paul Goldman did not attend the forum due to a religious commitment. On repeated attempts for contact, Goldman was unavailable for comment.

Pep Rallies Serve Purpose

by Logan Ferrell

As the week draws to a close, and the events of Wednesday become purely memory, the school finds itself again in an unsettled post pep-rally frame of mind. This year, as almost every year before, when the cheering fades, the grumblings of a dissatisfied few begin to grow louder and more unanimous. So, what is there to say to this group, who feels that pep rallies in their current state, may be either unnecessary or detrimental to the school and student body? That response must surely be the decision of each individual. As for myself, the idealistic goal of pep rallies, to bond the school in a common and competitive spirit, remains a symbol of tradition for the school itself.

The pep rally, as it is today, remains one of the few outlets for raw emotion in our hectic, academic environment; it harnesses that emotion as support for a common interest. What may seem like just an hour of cheering and chanting, in reality is the fulfillment of the students’ role in the sports arena. Even if one doesn’t play for the team, for this one moment, he is a part of their success, cheering them to an eventual victory.

This opportunity, to provide support and acknowledge the achievements of our athletes, forms the inherent link between player and athlete. It unites the two under a common banner; not some athletes and some not, but rather all proud Green Dragons.

That said, there remains some who would argue; that the pep rally event is not a unifying event at all, but rather a widening of the rift between classes. Sadly, there will always be a select few who indeed take their grade spirit too far, and use it in inappropriate ways; but the tradition cannot be spoiled by a destructive handful. Indeed, the competition between classes is always aimed at producing more positive spirit that hurt feelings.

While the freshmen and sophomores may squabble over the assigned colors of their shirt, at the end of the day, they are cheering for the same team, regardless of who cheers louder.

These healthy rivalries, when exposed, act not only as an outlet for spirit but also as an equalizing factor. Where else in day-to-day school life, does a freshmen have the power to challenge the superiority of a senior? So, to answer those already disgruntled, the class competition of pep rallies, is simply another way to unify the student body in a common spirit and goal.

In the days after a rally, the spirit begins to wear off somewhat, it is true. Some may return to a disinterested ignorance of sports, and many will return to bickering for personal interests.

However, we must not forget, that for one hour, on one day; those personal qualms were shed for the spirit, which unifies us as students. That is what a pep rally is truly about.

Pep Rallies Are Pointless

By Mitch Caudill

I don’t expect to be very popular for this opinion, but I’ll write it in hopes that somewhere out there in the school there are fellow non-supporters like me. Mainly, I find the idea of pep-rallies to be absurd. Acting crazy, shouting and screaming over something as uncontrollable and as unimportant as grade level strikes me as particularly illogical.

In fact, I did homework during parts of it. Furthermore, many of problems the administration cited with the pep rally come from the very fact we are divided into classes.

When you are asked to call up energy and support for something which has no controllable basis, to claim something is good, one instead must point out that something else is bad. I hardly doubt the administration would allow distinctions on controllable and truly important things. “Let’s go A students!”

Furthermore, if students could gather up even half the energy they put into preparing and acting at the pep rally, there is no doubt in my mind we could double our GPA and club activities.

I realize and agree that it’s nice to get a break from class every once in awhile, but why can’t we instead find spirit in things which do not divide us, and are productive. If not, I suggest at the next pep rally, we organize ourselves by height.

A Conversation with MLWGS' Own Mr. Irvin Charles

Maggie Walker Alumnus and MLWGS Head of Security shares his thoughts

Have you found new “marquee attendants?”

We’re still looking for replacement sign changers. Ms. Noe-Payne and Ms. Diakum are still searching. Let me say this, if anyone is interested, they should contact either of those two, or me.

Tell me about your middle school visits…

I did two middle school visits yesterday. We went to Martin Luther King and Boushall. They both went great! Ms. Davis, and two students, Ms. Carter and Ms. Lewis were just great. They gave them [the middle schoolers] the real deal. They poured their hearts out, talking about how in middle school things came so easily, but now how at Maggie Walker you have to work much harder.

What sort of questions did you get?

At every school the students, sixth through eighth grade, were very attentive. We got a couple of questions about sports, band, and there were a lot of questions about foreign languages. One thing I have to say, we are very fortunate to have Mr. Zweerink. He is knowledgeable, patient, and encouraging.

Do you have any overall observations from the visits?

One thing I realize is the school districts need to do a better job of preparing their middle school students to come here, and we need to work harder to tell middle school students about MLWGS. Another reason why I really enjoy doing these visits: At all the city schools, I can share with the kids how I grew up in that area, and how going to a school like this will be a huge benefit in life.

Any major security issues so far this year?

None yet. Well there is one thing. Parents that drop off their kids in the morning need to be mindful from 8:15-8:45 when they are not allowed to drive through the bus lot. Also, when students walk off campus in the afternoon, they need to go together in groups and be observant and aware of their surroundings.

Homecoming Advice?

This is supposed to be a time to promote school spirit, so let’s not have any issues.

*Q&A by Danny Yates on October 14, 2008.

Greek week At Rock Barbershop

by Danny Yates, Jabberwock Staff Reporter

Have you noticed a few more cars parked near the intersection of Leigh and Mozelle Streets recently?

Have you seen a few more customers at the MLWGS corner barbershop lately? Have you ever asked yourself – “what’s going on over there?”

The new Rock Barbershop, located just across the street from MLWGS, opened its doors to the Richmond community this month. Beginning last week and continuing through Halloween, Rock Barbershop is hosting Virginia Union University’s Greek Week.

VUU senior Michael Moore, also known as “Mr. Virginia Union University,” is the president of his college’s Apha Fraternity.

VUU’s Gamma chapter of the Alpha Fraternity dates back to 1907, and Moore spoke with pride of his fraternity’s history and its continued community relationships.

“Rock [Eddie Espada] and Guap-O [Angel Maldonado], the owners are very good guys. They’re always reaching out to others” said Moore.

Last week, members of VUU’s Alpha fraternity stopped by Rock Barbershop and made themselves at home.

“Some of our guys [fraternity members] always got their hair cut here. When Rock moved in, they tried to open it up as a community center,” said Moore. “They invited us to be the first to hang out here.”

On Wednesday, October 8, the Alpha’s held an evening barbershop discussion at the Rock. The next day, the students reconvened for a Madden [football video game] tournament and on Friday, October 10, the Alphas sponsored a neighborhood charity cookout.

After Greek Week concludes, owners at Rock Barbershop already have plans for new community events.

“We’re thinking of ways to get Walker [MLWGS] students and people who live around here to feel comfortable coming in,” said Guap-O. “If anyone has an idea, just drop by and share it.”

Political Debates at MLWGS

by Sean Youngstone, Jabberwock Staff Reporter

The first of three planned student political debates took place in the MLWGS auditorium during lunch this past Thursday. The other two are planned for October 23, and October 30.

Each debate features four student representatives from the Young Democrats and Young Republicans.

"We'll be having people from a variety of different classes and backgrounds," said Kaitlan Lawrence ('09), president of the Young Libertarians club, which has taken on sponsorship of the event. The club's leaders hope that the debates will help foster greater student involvement in politics and the democratic process.

Thursday's debate featured oil and energy as the main topic of discussion, and the following two are planned to focus on, respectively, education and health care and foreign policy. The debate was attended by around forty students.

Both sides of the debate made it very clear where their stances were on energy.

"We have to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050," said Young Democrat member Peter Slag (’09).

Meanwhile, the Republicans argued in the defense of clean coal technology, nuclear power, and offshore drilling.

"We have to use the resources we already have,” said Lawrence, filling in for an absent Republican debater.

Before the debate, Lawrence expressed her enthusiasm about the debate.

"We're hoping that everyone will come out for it," said Lawrence. "We're really looking forward to a good time."

Staff Writer Charles Condro contributed to this article

Introducing the Superglue Ghandis

by Elaine Hillgrove, Jabberwock Staff Reporter

Sometimes, people aren’t what they seem. The girl sitting next to you could be a champion badminton player. The boy in the front of the room could be a professional harpist. In the case of Maggie Walker’s own Gene Roland, the facilities manager walking down the hallway across from you is also a guitar player in a band that has recently released an EP.

When I first got the CD from Mr. Roland’s band, The Superglue Gandhis, I was a little apprehensive. I never really associated Gandhi with rock music. Or, for that matter, with Superglue. I was pleasantly surprised, then, when the music turned out to be good.

I’m no music expert, so I can’t determine exactly what type of rock they play or who their major influences would be. What I do know is that they can keep a beat, write lyrics, and keep up a decent melody. On their website, the Superglue Gandhis describe themselves as “a simple band - to the point and uncluttered with processing. No additives and no preservatives.”

Currently, the band has one EP, titled Blast Furnace 14. According to the band’s website, this title is “in honor of our cherished - and hopefully soon to be distant – practice space.”

Blast Furnace 14 has only four songs on it – Snow on the Radio , These Scars, Song Like Diane, and (my personal favorite) Exraordinary.

The band played most recently at Colonial Downs and Alley Katz.

You can learn more about the Superglue Gandhis at www.supergluegandhis.com


Mr. Roland. Photo courtesy of www.superglueghandis.com/.