Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
We've Moved!
Thanks for stopping by. If you're looking for the latest and greatest aThEENs content, you'll need to mosey over to our new aThEENs Wordpress site.
A ton of new stories for the Fall 2010 issue are now online over at atheens.wordpress.com. Some neat multimedia features will be added next week and we're just weeks away from publishing our very first PRINT edition of aThEENs.
This site will remain active so that our readers can still enjoy the past year's worth of content. Thanks for reading and following us. We hope you'll check out our new site.
Thank you once again for your past and continued support of the newsmagazine for and about Athens, Georgia teens.
A ton of new stories for the Fall 2010 issue are now online over at atheens.wordpress.com. Some neat multimedia features will be added next week and we're just weeks away from publishing our very first PRINT edition of aThEENs.
This site will remain active so that our readers can still enjoy the past year's worth of content. Thanks for reading and following us. We hope you'll check out our new site.
Thank you once again for your past and continued support of the newsmagazine for and about Athens, Georgia teens.
Friday, July 30, 2010
aThEENs Summer Issue Volume 4
Students in the Media and Message course through Duke TIP at the University of Georgia have taken over aThEENs during the summer. The TIPsters, as the teenage students are known, are 8th-10th graders from all over the country. They worked to write articles, take pictures, and shoot video of stories of interest to Athens, Georgia teenagers. They also designed most of the pages for the print newsmagazine that you see here. Here are the JPEG images of the most recent issue of aThEENs, brought to you by the Term 2 M&M TIPsters. We hope you enjoy!
Photos: Devyn Post, Emily Soroka, Alaina Boyden and Toju Mikie
Soundslides: David Garcia, Emily Soroka and Paxton Swisher
Photographs by Devyn Post, Emily Soroka, Toju Mikie and Alaina Boyden
Soundslides: Nicole Alanko, Suleiky Guerrero, MaLea Berry and Thomas Colantuono
By Thomas Colantuono, M&M TIPster
By: Emily Soroka and Lan’Tiqua Burks, M&M TIPsters
Silly Bandz were invented by 47 year old Robert J. Croak, the founder of Brainchild Products. Silly Bandz started to get popular in summer of 2009, and since then they have gone from shipping out 20 boxes of Silly Bandz a day to 1500. Even though Silly Bandz are very popular, some people still don’t know what they are.
When an employee at Margo Jewelry Store was asked if she knew what Silly Bandz were, the answer was “um, no.”
Many schools in states like Texas, New York, Florida and Massachusetts have banned these silicone bracelets. They are deemed a distraction to students. Students play with Silly Bandz in class instead of paying attention and in some cases their circulation can be cut off from wearing too many.
When Robert Croak made these stretchy bands he never thought they would become this popular. Even though they have been banned in some schools, they are still popular everywhere. New Silly Bandz will be coming out soon, such as UV activated ones. They have made such a great impact because of the cheap price during this economy crisis. At only $5 for a 24 pack, children can have their parents buy them many at a time.
Duke TIP Pharmacology students visited the CDC in Atlanta. Mosquitos, such as this one in the exhibit, transmit malaria.
By Paxton Swisher
M&M TIPster
It is not a common thought when we board a plane. With all the stress of airports we scarcely have time to consider the risk. But what is becoming a new problem is the spread of infectious diseases through international travel.
The Centers for Disease Control recorded more than 3000 cases of infectious diseases in travelers in just the past year. According to USA Today, in the last year, there were 662 reports of tuberculosis, 78 cases of measles, and 56 reports of mumps. Diseases from other countries are carried onto the plane. Then, people who aren’t being very hygienic get the disease because they aren’t immune to it. The disease is then spread to others in the area.
Those in Athens that disregard this information because they don’t travel internationally should consider this: according to cheapflights.com, Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International has been the busiest airport in the world since 1998. This means that hundreds of in
ternational flights come in to Georgia every year. If infectious diseases are being transferred from airport and planes there is a risk for many Athens residents. However, there are ways to combat the spreading of these diseases.
As in any public place, it is always a good idea to wash your hands. Hand sanitizers can be of great help on air planes. General health rules should be followed, such as not sharing any food or drink with others, and covering your face when coughing/sneezing. If you feel the need, germ-masks can also be a good way to protect your mouth and nose from germs. The main way to protect yourself, however, is to be aware of the environment you are in. Know that people from other countries can have diseases you are not immune to. Above all else, wash your hands!
Paxton Swisher, 15, is a sophomore at Parish Episcopal School in Dallas, Texas.
By Alaina Boyden, M&M TIPster
The saying goes “Good things come in small packages.” This time though, the package looks like a giant bull dog.
The "We Let the Dawgs Out" project originated when members of the Athens-Oconee Junior Women's Club learned of the Cow Parade. The Cow Parade is a public art exhibition initially intended to bring publicity or attention to local artists and their work. Now the Cow Parade has visited over fifty cities worldwide, including Paris, Milan, and Tokyo, since it began in the year 1999. The money made from auctioning off the sculptures goes to nonprofit children and arts groups.
In Athens, however, the sculptures are instead bulldogs, which is the mascot for the University of Georgia. Originally, the Junior Women’s Club’s goal was to get enough sponsors and artists to complete twenty-five bulldog statues. Yet the project turned out to be so successful that they ended up with thirty-six instead! The statues’ homes are all around the city and attract attention from tourists and visitors all the time.
“I think everybody who comes here loves them. I can’t even begin to tell you how many people take pictures with them,” says Linda, an employee from Heery’s Clothing Closet, located close to the Bulldog statue called “Bugga,” which has different bugs and leaves painted all over it.
Another example of one of the statues includes “Caesar Dawgustus,” located on 100 College Avenue near Starbucks wearing a red toga, sandals, and a crown.
For many, the statues are symbols of team spirit or even a kind of special trademark. It is said that they are almost like guard dogs watching over the city of Athens.
Alaina Boyden is a 10th grader at Marathon High School in Marathon, Florida.
By Ella Sivertsen and Olivia Baker, M&M TIPsters
By Lan’Tiqua Burks, M&M Tipster
In preparation for his trip, Darius and his friends and family all had to do a lot to get ready for this 7,000 mile cross-country trip. They all sold movie credits, had piggy banks at the stores around Athens, and door-to-door barbeques. Barbara Smalley, director Logan Smalley’s mother, helped organize the stops on the trip. (Picture: Logan Smalley, director of Darius Goes West, at the Darius Goes West Day Carnival)
Two weeks before they left they were a little short on money, but the United Cerebral Palsy contacted them and agreed to give them the rest of the money if they would pass out bracelets for their cause. Darius and all of his friends agreed, helping them meet their goal while assisting another cause.
Darius took eleven of his best friends on the trip with him to go across the country to California to convince MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” to pimp his wheelchair. This was the first time Darius ever left Athens and he was going all the way across the country.
By Nicole Alanko and Kathy Garner, M&M TIPsters
“Accessibility is a bigger challenge than anything.” Darius Weems would know. As a 20-year old with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, the Athens native has traveled the country spreading the word about his disease, and showing people about life in a wheelchair.
“It was random places that were more accessible,” Darius said. “It varies from different places I go to. I like to go to places that aren’t accessible so that if they see me, like a real person, they’ll want to change it. If they see me, they’ll be inspired to change it.”
Darius is one of the more famous people that is trying to change wheelchair accessibility. It’s a fight that picked up momentum in 1932 with the invention of the first folding wheelchair. This wheelchair was called the Everest and Jennings chair. Before this time, wheelchairs had been heavy and it was difficult for people with disabilities to leave their homes, so accessibility to public buildings was not an issue. After the invention of the Everest and Jennings chair, however, disabled people were able to put their chairs in their cars and go anywhere. This was how the Disability Rights Movement began.
With advancements in medicine, more people were living through serious injuries that normally would have caused them to die. Many of these were veterans of the World Wars, who then began to protest in America for more rights and more access to public places.
The Americans with Disabilities Act was originally passed in 1980, with revisions made in 2008. This Act was meant to enforce stronger legislation pertaining to the rights of people with disabilities. It discusses employment, access to buildings and public transportation, and communication devices.
“No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation,” according to the Act.
The full Act itself is very simple, with specific guidelines. Sections 1, 2, and 3 are all general knowledge sections. They detail the purpose as well as general information and vocabulary used in the remainder of the document. Section 4 details the minimum requirements of areas, including but not limited to curbs, stairs, toilet stalls, water fountains, and saunas, to make them handicap accessible, including exceptions. Sections 5 through 15 specify requirements for specific areas, such as restaurants, libraries, and medical care facilities.
This was an extremely important piece of legislation that laid the foundations for new changes to come. While after twenty years, not every building is wheelchair accessible, change and success will come. Darius himself does not advocate for any specific legislation.
“Accessibility is dependent on the owner,” said Amble Johnson, a writer for the Darius Goes West organization. “People will want to change. They’re just ignorant.”
Nicole Alanko, 16, is a Junior at Riverheads High School in Staunton, VA.
Kathy Garner, 15, is a sophomore at Ursuline Academy in Dallas, Texas.
Other Resources:
http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm
http://www.ada.gov/
http://www.ada.gov/adastd94.pdf
By: Suleiky Guerrero
All of the candidates are focused on job growth in the state, education, and resources. Democrat Roy Barnes is basing his campaign on growing jobs in different areas, and education is extremely important. He wants to increase funding to schools and make sure the funds are used well. He also does not want to cut teacher salaries.
Karen Handel is basing her campaign on keeping taxes low to increase jobs and creating a better infrastructure. She is also serious about making it easier for parents to enroll their children in charter schools and is in support of a water plan for the next drought.
Nathan Deal is basing his campaign on promoting the private sector of businesses and supporting the FairTax, and also giving local school systems more power. Nathan Deal also wants to be strong about illegal immigration.
The people of Athens are also talking on the streets, answering the fundamental question: What do the people want in a candidate? Some are looking for candidates’ decisions to be faith based, and others look for them to have a good education. Most said that they just want people to do what they say, have similar views, and to be honest.
By Nicole Alanko, M&M TIPster
As the world rapidly changes, education becomes more important for our future. American eighth graders placed ninth in the world in 2007 for its math and science scores according to the Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS), a study done every four years comparing the average scores with countries around the world. The scores are averages from all of the students that took it in that country. The United States scored 500, which is the TIMSS average.
South Korea placed second in the TIMSS with a score of 597. The South Korean economy is growing rapidly. It’s among the world’s twenty largest economies. Despite the economic problems of the past few years, its economy is growing by 0.2%, while ours is declining by 2.4%, which means that the value of their goods and services is increasing much more than ours.
“In those schools, they minimize the requirements of academic subjects and emphasize programs like vocal training, music, and physical training (or whatever is needed in order to major in those careers),” said Sung He, “The drawback is as soon as one enters those specialized high school or middle school, one will get really hard time to get back to normal high school (because of extremely different requirements of each high school).”
“I think the unique thing is Korean students learn much more stuff in short time period. So, they know more stuff,” says Sung He, and then adds, “In order to fulfill these requirements, they are very persistent and strong.”
For more information on South Korea:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html
http://english.mest.go.kr/main.jsp?idx=0101010101
http://english.mest.go.kr/main.jsp?idx=0401010101
http://english.mest.go.kr/main.jsp?idx=0201010101
For more information about Athens-Clarke County schools, Georgia, and the United States: https://www.georgiastandards.org/standards/Pages/BrowseStandards/GPS_by_Grade_Level_K-8.aspx
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/
http://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html
http://www.ed.gov/
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Multimedia: Darius Goes West Carnival 2
Photos: Devyn Post, Emily Soroka, Alaina Boyden and Toju Mikie
Soundslides: David Garcia, Emily Soroka and Paxton Swisher
Multimedia: Darius Goes West Day Carnival 1
Photographs by Devyn Post, Emily Soroka, Toju Mikie and Alaina Boyden
Soundslides: Nicole Alanko, Suleiky Guerrero, MaLea Berry and Thomas Colantuono
Review: The Last Resort
The Last Resort? I don’t think that’s a very appropriate name for a restaurant this good.
When we walked into the restaurant the first thing I noticed was the friendly, cozy atmosphere. The grill is very small, quaint, and dimly lit with very artistic light fixtures. It combines regular walls and brick walls, and has a very old fashioned bar with antique liquor bottles for decorations. The tables are small, and seat two or four, so to accommodate our large group we had to push several tables together. The un-uniformed waiters and local artwork on the walls gave the restaurant a cool, artistic feel. Our very kind waiter, Derrick, was very conversational and polite. When we walked in at 11 in the morning the restaurant was not very crowded, but by 12 it got to be bustling.
There was a small wait for our food, but it was definitely worth it. I ordered the salmon bruschetta for $6.75, and it was delicious. It consisted of grilled Atlantic salmon on toasted sourdough with chopped tomatoes and basil atop a black bean puree and cilantro crème fraiche. A mixed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette was on the side. I ate every last bit. The salmon might have been the best I’ve ever tasted, but I wish there would have been more of it. It was only a small portion. I was a bit wary of the black bean puree and cilantro crème fraiche at first, but it was surprisingly good. The portions of food were not very large, but I was still sufficiently filled up.
And now onto the dessert. The Last Resort Grill has a very large array of layer cakes and cheesecakes. Different kinds include a raspberry cake, German chocolate cake, vanilla bean cheesecake, and many more. They even have a special “Last Resort” cheesecake, and that is just what I ordered.
The Last Resort cheesecake has a mix if Bailey’s, Kahlua, and Frangelica with a chocolate graham crust and whipped cream. The cheesecake was extremely rich and perfectly whipped. It has a very deep coffee flavor accented perfectly by the chocolate in the crust and drizzled on top. I think it tasted perfect with a little bit of whipped cream in every bite to tone down the coffee flavor.
I got the chance to taste different cakes as well. Classmate Alaina Boyden chose the German chocolate cake, which was huge. It was a deep chocolately cake with coconut-pecan frosting. I found that I did not like that German chocolate cake as much as others that I’ve tasted, but it was still very good.
Next I got to taste classmate Kathy Garner's red velvet cake. I consider myself a red velvet cake expert because it’s my favorite kind, and I have tasted many. This one was not the best I’ve ever tasted, but was still very good. I just wish there could have been more cream cheese frosting. The presentation of the cake itself was beautiful, and Kathy even said, “This cake is gorgeous.” The last cake I got to try was instructor Geoffrey Graybeal's lemon spice pound cake with marshmallow frosting, which was delicious. It was very light and fruity and the marshmallow frosting was the perfect touch.
So in conclusion, The Last Resort Grill is neither lacking in food nor in atmosphere, and I highly recommend visiting it if you have the chance. I, myself, will be returning as soon possible to try some more of their wide array of dishes.
Olivia Baker, 15, is a sophomore at the University School of Jackson in Jackson, TN.
When we walked into the restaurant the first thing I noticed was the friendly, cozy atmosphere. The grill is very small, quaint, and dimly lit with very artistic light fixtures. It combines regular walls and brick walls, and has a very old fashioned bar with antique liquor bottles for decorations. The tables are small, and seat two or four, so to accommodate our large group we had to push several tables together. The un-uniformed waiters and local artwork on the walls gave the restaurant a cool, artistic feel. Our very kind waiter, Derrick, was very conversational and polite. When we walked in at 11 in the morning the restaurant was not very crowded, but by 12 it got to be bustling.There was a small wait for our food, but it was definitely worth it. I ordered the salmon bruschetta for $6.75, and it was delicious. It consisted of grilled Atlantic salmon on toasted sourdough with chopped tomatoes and basil atop a black bean puree and cilantro crème fraiche. A mixed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette was on the side. I ate every last bit. The salmon might have been the best I’ve ever tasted, but I wish there would have been more of it. It was only a small portion. I was a bit wary of the black bean puree and cilantro crème fraiche at first, but it was surprisingly good. The portions of food were not very large, but I was still sufficiently filled up.
And now onto the dessert. The Last Resort Grill has a very large array of layer cakes and cheesecakes. Different kinds include a raspberry cake, German chocolate cake, vanilla bean cheesecake, and many more. They even have a special “Last Resort” cheesecake, and that is just what I ordered.
The Last Resort cheesecake has a mix if Bailey’s, Kahlua, and Frangelica with a chocolate graham crust and whipped cream. The cheesecake was extremely rich and perfectly whipped. It has a very deep coffee flavor accented perfectly by the chocolate in the crust and drizzled on top. I think it tasted perfect with a little bit of whipped cream in every bite to tone down the coffee flavor.
I got the chance to taste different cakes as well. Classmate Alaina Boyden chose the German chocolate cake, which was huge. It was a deep chocolately cake with coconut-pecan frosting. I found that I did not like that German chocolate cake as much as others that I’ve tasted, but it was still very good.
Next I got to taste classmate Kathy Garner's red velvet cake. I consider myself a red velvet cake expert because it’s my favorite kind, and I have tasted many. This one was not the best I’ve ever tasted, but was still very good. I just wish there could have been more cream cheese frosting. The presentation of the cake itself was beautiful, and Kathy even said, “This cake is gorgeous.” The last cake I got to try was instructor Geoffrey Graybeal's lemon spice pound cake with marshmallow frosting, which was delicious. It was very light and fruity and the marshmallow frosting was the perfect touch.
So in conclusion, The Last Resort Grill is neither lacking in food nor in atmosphere, and I highly recommend visiting it if you have the chance. I, myself, will be returning as soon possible to try some more of their wide array of dishes.
Olivia Baker, 15, is a sophomore at the University School of Jackson in Jackson, TN.
Big Daddy Weems
By: Olivia Baker & Ella Sivertsen, M&M TIPsters
Darius Weems. A man on a mission: raise awareness about his condition. The 20-year-old Athens resident with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy wants the world to know about the number one genetic killer of children in America. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, or DMD, is a disease that deteriorates the muscles in the body, taking the ability to walk, do basic physical activities, and eventually, the victim’s life. Darius lost his brother Mario to DMD when Mario was nineteen. For this reason, in 2005 when he was fifteen, Darius and his friends created the film Darius Goes West about his journey from Georgia to California to get his wheelchair pimped on MTV’s "Pimp My Ride."
Mario was the most significant inspiration for Darius to make the trip to California. Darius says that Mario never let DMD stop him from being joyful and moving forward. “When life got hard and my brother was still happy, and he still kept the smile on his face, it kinda makes me want to keep on living and not think about the bad things and just be happy for what I’ve got," he said. This encouragement motivates Darius to get out there and make some good out of what he has. It’s certain that Darius aspires to be like his big brother and to carry on Mario’s legacy. Now, with DGW, Darius can carry it on in a much larger impact than he thought.
“We took this trip and thought it was a silly trip for me to get out of the house and stuff and we became, like, big movie stars,” Darius said. “None of us expected it to get this big.”
Since the movie, Darius finds that he is very busy with interviews and appearances. Whether it’s a Skype chat or a TV show, Darius is constantly spreading the word. To those who want to make a difference like he does, he said, “If you have something you’re passionate about, bring it to the people. Without the people you have nothing.”
His wit and positive outlook on life help everyone, healthy and disabled, young and old, to look to the future with hope, live in the moment, and smile.
Obviously, Darius is more famous than ever. “It just feels good that I’m famous for a reason,” hesaid. “People recognize me for all the things that I’ve done.”
Darius now has many opportunities to continue the domino effect. Last year, he traveled to forty-seven out of the fifty states. He’s appeared on several television shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and has met celebrities including Kanye West, William H. Macy, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck; he’s even received a letter from Beyonce Knowles. Fame hasn’t changed him; he uses it to further DMD awareness.
Soon, in fact, he hopes to develop a rap career, using his music to earn funds for a cure. Darius started rapping at age 15 before filming Darius Goes West. Over the past five years, he has written about five studio raps, including “On a Mission” and “Momma I Made It.” His songs are inspirational because of how they pertain to what he’s been through. He has been working with a producer and has some recording equipment at home. He hopes to release an album once he has enough songs out there.
Being a rapper, Darius himself appears to have a certain swagger. On the day of the interview, he wore black jeans, a black shirt, a black hat, and a cross necklace. On a new diet plan, he’s slimmed down over the past few years. He seemed rather quiet, but conversational, and still had that good humor about him and laughed on several occasions. Darius has definitely matured even more in wisdom since he began publicizing his message on the big scale; nevertheless he is friendly and likes to smile.
About the documentary: When Darius was young and his mother told him of his condition, he didn’t understand fully at first. What it meant to him was simply that he easily suffered from fatigue and was slowly losing his ability to walk and to do strenuous activities. It didn’t get Darius down. Being confined to a wheelchair from the age of ten years didn’t change his charismatic, social personality. He enjoyed making friends in school and at his camp for those with disabilities. At camp, he was so loved by all of them that he considered himself more of a counselor than a camper. He befriends almost everyone he meets, including his “brothers”, Andrew “Corn Rows” Carson, Ben “Darius’ Little Do-boy” Smalley, Collin “Diaper Baby” Shepley, Daniel “the Crazy Driver” Epting, Dylan “the Eye” Wilson, John “T-Barn” Hadden, John “Lawn Chair” Harmon, Jason, “that Other Big Scary Guy with Long Hair” Hees, Kevin “Weird” Weir, Logan “the Boss” Smalley, and Sam “Doesn’t Have a Cool Nickname” Johnson, who went with Darius “Big Daddy” Weems on the journey of a lifetime.
Then he and his friends set off, and Darius was excited. He had never been out of his county, and now he was embarking on a trip across the country with his closest friends, to experience things and see sites he never had before. Athens let them out with style, declaring that day, July 22, the official Darius Goes West Day. Darius was fueled by his anticipation to try new things, and even when there were problems with the bus, wheelchair accessibility, and the wheelchair, he kept an open mind at all times, always with good humor and joy. He loved every event of the trip, especially the Grand Canyon. “Coming from home all the way to the Grand Canyon… it was, like, pretty emotional,” Darius says. Although MTV refused to “pimp” his wheelchair, Darius still made and makes an impact by showing the world that DMD can’t stop him from changing it.
Darius at a Glance:
Favorite city: New York City
Favorite video games: NBA2K, Call of Duty, Modern Warfare
Favorite basketball player: LeBron James
Favorite team(s): Cavaliers, but is going to change to Miami next year.
Favorite rapper: Nas
Favorite place he’s visited: Grand Canyon
Favorite food: Meat Lover’s Pizza (definitely not wasabi!)
Favorite color: Black
Favorite film: Darius Goes West!
Darius Weems. A man on a mission: raise awareness about his condition. The 20-year-old Athens resident with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy wants the world to know about the number one genetic killer of children in America. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, or DMD, is a disease that deteriorates the muscles in the body, taking the ability to walk, do basic physical activities, and eventually, the victim’s life. Darius lost his brother Mario to DMD when Mario was nineteen. For this reason, in 2005 when he was fifteen, Darius and his friends created the film Darius Goes West about his journey from Georgia to California to get his wheelchair pimped on MTV’s "Pimp My Ride."
Mario was the most significant inspiration for Darius to make the trip to California. Darius says that Mario never let DMD stop him from being joyful and moving forward. “When life got hard and my brother was still happy, and he still kept the smile on his face, it kinda makes me want to keep on living and not think about the bad things and just be happy for what I’ve got," he said. This encouragement motivates Darius to get out there and make some good out of what he has. It’s certain that Darius aspires to be like his big brother and to carry on Mario’s legacy. Now, with DGW, Darius can carry it on in a much larger impact than he thought.
“We took this trip and thought it was a silly trip for me to get out of the house and stuff and we became, like, big movie stars,” Darius said. “None of us expected it to get this big.”
Since the movie, Darius finds that he is very busy with interviews and appearances. Whether it’s a Skype chat or a TV show, Darius is constantly spreading the word. To those who want to make a difference like he does, he said, “If you have something you’re passionate about, bring it to the people. Without the people you have nothing.”
His wit and positive outlook on life help everyone, healthy and disabled, young and old, to look to the future with hope, live in the moment, and smile.
Obviously, Darius is more famous than ever. “It just feels good that I’m famous for a reason,” hesaid. “People recognize me for all the things that I’ve done.”
Darius now has many opportunities to continue the domino effect. Last year, he traveled to forty-seven out of the fifty states. He’s appeared on several television shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and has met celebrities including Kanye West, William H. Macy, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck; he’s even received a letter from Beyonce Knowles. Fame hasn’t changed him; he uses it to further DMD awareness.
Soon, in fact, he hopes to develop a rap career, using his music to earn funds for a cure. Darius started rapping at age 15 before filming Darius Goes West. Over the past five years, he has written about five studio raps, including “On a Mission” and “Momma I Made It.” His songs are inspirational because of how they pertain to what he’s been through. He has been working with a producer and has some recording equipment at home. He hopes to release an album once he has enough songs out there.
Being a rapper, Darius himself appears to have a certain swagger. On the day of the interview, he wore black jeans, a black shirt, a black hat, and a cross necklace. On a new diet plan, he’s slimmed down over the past few years. He seemed rather quiet, but conversational, and still had that good humor about him and laughed on several occasions. Darius has definitely matured even more in wisdom since he began publicizing his message on the big scale; nevertheless he is friendly and likes to smile.
About the documentary: When Darius was young and his mother told him of his condition, he didn’t understand fully at first. What it meant to him was simply that he easily suffered from fatigue and was slowly losing his ability to walk and to do strenuous activities. It didn’t get Darius down. Being confined to a wheelchair from the age of ten years didn’t change his charismatic, social personality. He enjoyed making friends in school and at his camp for those with disabilities. At camp, he was so loved by all of them that he considered himself more of a counselor than a camper. He befriends almost everyone he meets, including his “brothers”, Andrew “Corn Rows” Carson, Ben “Darius’ Little Do-boy” Smalley, Collin “Diaper Baby” Shepley, Daniel “the Crazy Driver” Epting, Dylan “the Eye” Wilson, John “T-Barn” Hadden, John “Lawn Chair” Harmon, Jason, “that Other Big Scary Guy with Long Hair” Hees, Kevin “Weird” Weir, Logan “the Boss” Smalley, and Sam “Doesn’t Have a Cool Nickname” Johnson, who went with Darius “Big Daddy” Weems on the journey of a lifetime.
Then he and his friends set off, and Darius was excited. He had never been out of his county, and now he was embarking on a trip across the country with his closest friends, to experience things and see sites he never had before. Athens let them out with style, declaring that day, July 22, the official Darius Goes West Day. Darius was fueled by his anticipation to try new things, and even when there were problems with the bus, wheelchair accessibility, and the wheelchair, he kept an open mind at all times, always with good humor and joy. He loved every event of the trip, especially the Grand Canyon. “Coming from home all the way to the Grand Canyon… it was, like, pretty emotional,” Darius says. Although MTV refused to “pimp” his wheelchair, Darius still made and makes an impact by showing the world that DMD can’t stop him from changing it.
Darius at a Glance:
Favorite city: New York City
Favorite video games: NBA2K, Call of Duty, Modern Warfare
Favorite basketball player: LeBron James
Favorite team(s): Cavaliers, but is going to change to Miami next year.
Favorite rapper: Nas
Favorite place he’s visited: Grand Canyon
Favorite food: Meat Lover’s Pizza (definitely not wasabi!)
Favorite color: Black
Favorite film: Darius Goes West!
A Life with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
By MaLea Berry, Paxton Swisher, and Kathy Garner
M&M TIPsters
Judging by the look on his face, it is apparent that Darius Weems does not let his disability get in his way. Even in the face of the number one genetic killer of kids, this 20-year-old Georgian still lives his life to the fullest. Darius has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, or DMD. To the amazement of those watching, however, Darius--who had never left Athens before--went on a cross-country quest with eleven of his best friends to get his wheelchair pimped on MTV’s "Pimp My Ride." A documentary was made about the trip and the movie was dubbed “Darius Goes West.” The main purpose of this trip, however, was to raise awareness about DMD.
According to Medline Plus, symptoms of the disease usually focus on the loss and degeneration of muscle function. Those diagnosed usually lose the ability to walk by age 12. However, immobility such as bed rest is not recommended, as it can make the disease worse. Other symptoms include an abnormal heart muscle (known formally as cardiomyopathy), enlarged calf muscles that are eventually replaced by fat and connective tissue (known formally as psuedohypertrophy), deformities of the chest or back such as scoliosis, and respiratory disorders such as pneumonia in later stages of DMD. Less common, but still present in some cases, are varying degrees of mental retardation, congestive heart failure, and irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias). There is no known cure, but gene therapy may become available in the future.
There's more to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy than just the physical component. Yes, you lose your ability to pick up your favorite toys, or hold your new puppy, or even turn a doorknob by yourself, but there's also an emotional aspect of the disorder that makes the life of a person with DMD much more complicated. Imagine having your mind set on doing an action as simple as grasping something with your hand and picking it up. Now imagine the frustration that would rise up through you if you couldn't get your hand to clamp your fingers on it.
In the documentary Darius Goes West, Darius tries to hold the phone up to his ear while talking to his mom, but when it falls to the floor, he can't bend down to get it and has to ask his friend to do it for him. When he goes to take a drink, he holds the glass in his mouth and has to 'throw em back' in order to drink it. Even then Darius remains upbeat.
“It really didn’t get me down,” he said. “I felt like I couldn’t let it beat me down or I could just live. I felt like just living with it and not thinking about the bad parts of it would help me get through everyday life.”
Anna, a blogger in an anonymous DMD support group on Experience Project, explained in a blog post about having Duchenne, "The biggest way the DMD has affected my life is my relationships with others. It has made me not very confident and afraid of what people will think of me if they found out I have DMD.”
Dealing with the disorder causes people to have to grow up just as rapidly as their disorder attacks them, and life becomes more precious when you know you don't have a good chance of living for long. The average life expectancy for a person with DMD is somewhere between their late teens/early 20s to around age 30.
Some people, though, don't let their disorder dictate what they do with their life. Josh Winheld, author of Worth the Ride, was diagnosed at age 4 and by the age of 10 he was wheelchair bound. In his book, he wrote, “I believe society often underestimates the complexity of living with a disability-the joys, the challenges, the ordinary, the extraordinary..." and went on to explain how he wanted to thank his family and friends for helping him without rendering him useless.
Anna, who experienced the rarity of being diagnosed as an adolescent, said that she looks to God for guidance and strength. She may not have much in her arms and legs, but "the strength of her faith" she said, really helps her get through her bad days, when she feels afraid of "not being able to have any independence".
Kathy Garner, 15, is a sophomore at Ursuline Academy in Dallas, Texas.
Paxton Swisher, 15 years old, is a sophomore at Parish Episcopal School in Dallas, Texas.
MaLea Berry, 15, is a sophomore at Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia
M&M TIPsters
Judging by the look on his face, it is apparent that Darius Weems does not let his disability get in his way. Even in the face of the number one genetic killer of kids, this 20-year-old Georgian still lives his life to the fullest. Darius has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, or DMD. To the amazement of those watching, however, Darius--who had never left Athens before--went on a cross-country quest with eleven of his best friends to get his wheelchair pimped on MTV’s "Pimp My Ride." A documentary was made about the trip and the movie was dubbed “Darius Goes West.” The main purpose of this trip, however, was to raise awareness about DMD.
According to Medline Plus, symptoms of the disease usually focus on the loss and degeneration of muscle function. Those diagnosed usually lose the ability to walk by age 12. However, immobility such as bed rest is not recommended, as it can make the disease worse. Other symptoms include an abnormal heart muscle (known formally as cardiomyopathy), enlarged calf muscles that are eventually replaced by fat and connective tissue (known formally as psuedohypertrophy), deformities of the chest or back such as scoliosis, and respiratory disorders such as pneumonia in later stages of DMD. Less common, but still present in some cases, are varying degrees of mental retardation, congestive heart failure, and irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias). There is no known cure, but gene therapy may become available in the future.
There's more to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy than just the physical component. Yes, you lose your ability to pick up your favorite toys, or hold your new puppy, or even turn a doorknob by yourself, but there's also an emotional aspect of the disorder that makes the life of a person with DMD much more complicated. Imagine having your mind set on doing an action as simple as grasping something with your hand and picking it up. Now imagine the frustration that would rise up through you if you couldn't get your hand to clamp your fingers on it.
In the documentary Darius Goes West, Darius tries to hold the phone up to his ear while talking to his mom, but when it falls to the floor, he can't bend down to get it and has to ask his friend to do it for him. When he goes to take a drink, he holds the glass in his mouth and has to 'throw em back' in order to drink it. Even then Darius remains upbeat.
“It really didn’t get me down,” he said. “I felt like I couldn’t let it beat me down or I could just live. I felt like just living with it and not thinking about the bad parts of it would help me get through everyday life.”
Anna, a blogger in an anonymous DMD support group on Experience Project, explained in a blog post about having Duchenne, "The biggest way the DMD has affected my life is my relationships with others. It has made me not very confident and afraid of what people will think of me if they found out I have DMD.”
Dealing with the disorder causes people to have to grow up just as rapidly as their disorder attacks them, and life becomes more precious when you know you don't have a good chance of living for long. The average life expectancy for a person with DMD is somewhere between their late teens/early 20s to around age 30.
Some people, though, don't let their disorder dictate what they do with their life. Josh Winheld, author of Worth the Ride, was diagnosed at age 4 and by the age of 10 he was wheelchair bound. In his book, he wrote, “I believe society often underestimates the complexity of living with a disability-the joys, the challenges, the ordinary, the extraordinary..." and went on to explain how he wanted to thank his family and friends for helping him without rendering him useless.
Anna, who experienced the rarity of being diagnosed as an adolescent, said that she looks to God for guidance and strength. She may not have much in her arms and legs, but "the strength of her faith" she said, really helps her get through her bad days, when she feels afraid of "not being able to have any independence".
Kathy Garner, 15, is a sophomore at Ursuline Academy in Dallas, Texas.
Paxton Swisher, 15 years old, is a sophomore at Parish Episcopal School in Dallas, Texas.
MaLea Berry, 15, is a sophomore at Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia
Growing Up a Paideian
By MaLea Berry, M&M TIPster
"You don't wear uniforms?!"
"You get to call your teachers by their first names?!"
"You don't have a cafeteria?!"
These are the questions that I constantly have to nod my head and smile to when I'm explaining to people what my school is and how we operate. Since kindergarten, I've gone to this place that now feels like home. This school where you see just as many students with shoes as those without them. This school where a group of 5th graders could cover politics and the election, the stock market, the Biggie-Tupac rivalry, and take out the recycling and compost bins all within one class period. This school where the World Civ teacher is also the bowling coach and the guy who plays Buddy Holly albums over the speakers at basketball games. This place I love; Paideia School.
Whenever I tell people about my school they either raise their eyebrows with a look of doubt in their eyes or tell me how lucky I am and that they wished they went there too. The school is located in a part of Atlanta that is bustling with all types of people, religions, ethnicities, and activities, so of course the school reflects on its area. Our dress code is: Wear clothes...that fit...and don't show too much. The majority of the school is made up of "lifers" (those of us who have been there since pre-k or kindergarten), and almost none of them have ever opened a cafeteria milk carton in their lives. We call our headmaster Paul, because that's his name.
In the school's description it says, "Paideia's philosophy is based on the belief that schools can be informal and individualized yet still educate well. The school offers a challenging curriculum that emphasizes individual achievement...," and that's exactly what we do. Paideia, as far as I can tell, focuses on students as people, instead of just focusing on having us get worksheets done. They focus on helping us to mold ourselves into our own individuals.
In jr. high, I was put in a class that did a lot of writing. I love writing fiction, so I was excited and couldn’t wait to start writing stories. The first day, however, I walked in and my teacher, Jennifer said "We don't do any creative writing in this class. It's all personal. We want you to talk about life experiences and grow from them."
Those two years of jr. high did not only consisted of regular classes like grammar and lit. We also had classes like Time Management and Organization, Race, Class, and Gender, and GOALS, a 45 minute emotional check-in where we addressed personal or general issues and made long-term and short-term goals for ourselves.
My favorite time in school—other than Zoo Day in kindergarten, where Zoo Atlanta would come to the school and bring animals—was Jr. High because I saw so many of my peers make positive changes and they taught us how to be people. We learned about each other and our society.12 and 13-year-old students made realizations that some adults still haven't made about the world we live in, and the people in it. Those two years were key years for me, because I think I needed to be able to understand my peers in order to gain stronger relationships with them.7th and 8th grade is where those relationships blossomed.
What I like the most about Paideia is just how the student-to-student and student-to-teacher relationships are so strong and the people really begin to feel like family. As cliché as that sounds, it's so true for those of us there. Paideia is a small school, with around only 900 people for the whole school (pre-k through 12th grade). For sports, we’re a 1A school (the smallest possible sizing category), but after a while you realize that you pretty much know everyone, and everyone knows you. People there, students, parents and teachers alike, love the closeness and communal feel that comes with being a Paideian.
This past year I was a freshman. I feared the jump from jr. high to high school because of how high school has always been portrayed in movies and books. I expected to be ignored and buried under my school work, but now realize how crazy it was for me to feel that way. I met more people that I thought I'd never talk to, like juniors and seniors, and learned things about peers that I would have never known if I had been afraid of exploring it.
Generally, class sizes range from 20 to maybe 26 students, so for the semester, you really have time to get to know the people in your class. A lot of the time, when we do activities or assignments in class, they are group or partner activities, which lead to conversation amongst all types of students.
Our school does things a little differently than other private schools. Instead of having one block schedule that we follow for the whole year we have two long term semesters and two short term semesters. This means up until Holiday Break (the week before Christmas-New Years) we have six classes a day ranging from 40-50 minutes. Some people have orchestra/band or art/photography during a period, while others have study hall. Some students take seminars or AP classes later on in their high school career. When we get back from the break, however, we don't have our regular classes. We have "short term" which lasts for a month where we take "alternative learning" classes. All types of classes are offered.
Many people looking in have the misconception that we just sit around doing nothing for a month. However, even with all the cool alternative class offerings, we all still take our required core classes during both long and short term. For example, freshman are required to take Making Healthy Life Decisions at some point during their 2nd short term, and Algebra II students have to take geometry during either short term. My first short term I had classes like Poetry, Chess, and Word Games, and the 2nd short term I had classes like Race and Ethnicity and The Science of the Brain. In those courses I made friends with people throughout all class years, and I still actually learned something. Describing our short term and long term to strangers or to other private schools is never easy, because they assume we just cut off school for 4 weeks. They question what goes on during the month where we’re not taking regular classes like specifically Algebra II or biology and they think two months of our learning isn’t worth much. Much to their chagrin, however, that's not the case at all. Paideians believe just as much in learning about social interactions as they do in learning about math and science.
Like I stated earlier, our school is focused on helping us grow not only as students, but as people, too. When discussing our framework of values and attitude towards learning, our website says, “We should teach our students to use reason and logic and to apply these tools to engage with the world. Schools often err on the side of stressing the competitive and private nature of learning. We should impart the value that learning can often be a cooperative effort in which shared ideas enhance each student's experience and understanding.”
So far, in my 10 years here, I’ve experienced every aspect of what separates Paideia from other private schools, in Atlanta, and just in general.
“We hope that our students will be prepared not only to live in the world but to improve it.”-The Paideia School Framework of Values.
If that doesn’t accurately embody what Paideia hopes to represent, I don’t know what does.
MaLea Berry, 15, is a sophomore at The Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia.
"You don't wear uniforms?!"
"You get to call your teachers by their first names?!"
"You don't have a cafeteria?!"
These are the questions that I constantly have to nod my head and smile to when I'm explaining to people what my school is and how we operate. Since kindergarten, I've gone to this place that now feels like home. This school where you see just as many students with shoes as those without them. This school where a group of 5th graders could cover politics and the election, the stock market, the Biggie-Tupac rivalry, and take out the recycling and compost bins all within one class period. This school where the World Civ teacher is also the bowling coach and the guy who plays Buddy Holly albums over the speakers at basketball games. This place I love; Paideia School.
Whenever I tell people about my school they either raise their eyebrows with a look of doubt in their eyes or tell me how lucky I am and that they wished they went there too. The school is located in a part of Atlanta that is bustling with all types of people, religions, ethnicities, and activities, so of course the school reflects on its area. Our dress code is: Wear clothes...that fit...and don't show too much. The majority of the school is made up of "lifers" (those of us who have been there since pre-k or kindergarten), and almost none of them have ever opened a cafeteria milk carton in their lives. We call our headmaster Paul, because that's his name.
In the school's description it says, "Paideia's philosophy is based on the belief that schools can be informal and individualized yet still educate well. The school offers a challenging curriculum that emphasizes individual achievement...," and that's exactly what we do. Paideia, as far as I can tell, focuses on students as people, instead of just focusing on having us get worksheets done. They focus on helping us to mold ourselves into our own individuals.
In jr. high, I was put in a class that did a lot of writing. I love writing fiction, so I was excited and couldn’t wait to start writing stories. The first day, however, I walked in and my teacher, Jennifer said "We don't do any creative writing in this class. It's all personal. We want you to talk about life experiences and grow from them."
Those two years of jr. high did not only consisted of regular classes like grammar and lit. We also had classes like Time Management and Organization, Race, Class, and Gender, and GOALS, a 45 minute emotional check-in where we addressed personal or general issues and made long-term and short-term goals for ourselves.
My favorite time in school—other than Zoo Day in kindergarten, where Zoo Atlanta would come to the school and bring animals—was Jr. High because I saw so many of my peers make positive changes and they taught us how to be people. We learned about each other and our society.12 and 13-year-old students made realizations that some adults still haven't made about the world we live in, and the people in it. Those two years were key years for me, because I think I needed to be able to understand my peers in order to gain stronger relationships with them.7th and 8th grade is where those relationships blossomed.
What I like the most about Paideia is just how the student-to-student and student-to-teacher relationships are so strong and the people really begin to feel like family. As cliché as that sounds, it's so true for those of us there. Paideia is a small school, with around only 900 people for the whole school (pre-k through 12th grade). For sports, we’re a 1A school (the smallest possible sizing category), but after a while you realize that you pretty much know everyone, and everyone knows you. People there, students, parents and teachers alike, love the closeness and communal feel that comes with being a Paideian.
This past year I was a freshman. I feared the jump from jr. high to high school because of how high school has always been portrayed in movies and books. I expected to be ignored and buried under my school work, but now realize how crazy it was for me to feel that way. I met more people that I thought I'd never talk to, like juniors and seniors, and learned things about peers that I would have never known if I had been afraid of exploring it.
Generally, class sizes range from 20 to maybe 26 students, so for the semester, you really have time to get to know the people in your class. A lot of the time, when we do activities or assignments in class, they are group or partner activities, which lead to conversation amongst all types of students.
Our school does things a little differently than other private schools. Instead of having one block schedule that we follow for the whole year we have two long term semesters and two short term semesters. This means up until Holiday Break (the week before Christmas-New Years) we have six classes a day ranging from 40-50 minutes. Some people have orchestra/band or art/photography during a period, while others have study hall. Some students take seminars or AP classes later on in their high school career. When we get back from the break, however, we don't have our regular classes. We have "short term" which lasts for a month where we take "alternative learning" classes. All types of classes are offered.
Many people looking in have the misconception that we just sit around doing nothing for a month. However, even with all the cool alternative class offerings, we all still take our required core classes during both long and short term. For example, freshman are required to take Making Healthy Life Decisions at some point during their 2nd short term, and Algebra II students have to take geometry during either short term. My first short term I had classes like Poetry, Chess, and Word Games, and the 2nd short term I had classes like Race and Ethnicity and The Science of the Brain. In those courses I made friends with people throughout all class years, and I still actually learned something. Describing our short term and long term to strangers or to other private schools is never easy, because they assume we just cut off school for 4 weeks. They question what goes on during the month where we’re not taking regular classes like specifically Algebra II or biology and they think two months of our learning isn’t worth much. Much to their chagrin, however, that's not the case at all. Paideians believe just as much in learning about social interactions as they do in learning about math and science.
Like I stated earlier, our school is focused on helping us grow not only as students, but as people, too. When discussing our framework of values and attitude towards learning, our website says, “We should teach our students to use reason and logic and to apply these tools to engage with the world. Schools often err on the side of stressing the competitive and private nature of learning. We should impart the value that learning can often be a cooperative effort in which shared ideas enhance each student's experience and understanding.”
So far, in my 10 years here, I’ve experienced every aspect of what separates Paideia from other private schools, in Atlanta, and just in general.
“We hope that our students will be prepared not only to live in the world but to improve it.”-The Paideia School Framework of Values.
If that doesn’t accurately embody what Paideia hopes to represent, I don’t know what does.
MaLea Berry, 15, is a sophomore at The Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia.
Day in the Life of Darius Weems
By Emily Soroka, Lan'Tiqua Burks, and Damarcio McCoy, M&M TIPsters
Taking life one day at a time and never taking a day for granted, Darius Weems, a 20-year-old living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), struggles with everyday tasks and depends on others.
"You can't stop yourself from coming to Earth; you can't stop yourself from leaving the Earth," Weems said.
An African-American male who is confined to his red and black power wheelchair, Weems’ most noticeable traits are his smile and happy attitude. Having a conversation with Darius you would never think that there’s anything wrong with him, but his disease takes a toll on him and the people around him. Darius tries to do some things in his own special way to be independent but he still depends on other people for a large part of his day.
Darius has a positive attitude toward life although he is living with DMD. He was diagnosed at age 5, and his brother Mario died of the same disease at 19 years old. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the number one genetic killer of children and one in every 3500 has the disease. Victims typically lose the ability to walk by the age of 10 and the disease is 100 percent fatal.
According to Darius, wheelchair accessibility, or lack thereof, is his “biggest challenge.”One of the many things Darius has to deal with on a daily basis is non-accessible locations. He goes to places that are not wheelchair accessible to try to raise awareness of the situation.
“I like to go to places that are not accessible, so maybe if they see me, like a person in a situation, they would change it, if they see me come there and I can’t get in there and my friends can. Maybe they would just try to change the place,” Darius said.
“Accessibility is dependent on the owner,” says Amble Johnson, who helps Darius and deals with press.
Accessibility can be a big problem for people with DMD. They need help going places if they want to leave the house, and need to get driven around. Darius’s mom is there for him to help with these things. Darius’s wheelchair constantly breaks down, which also temporarily demobilizes him.
Eric Ninden, a victim of DMD who makes YouTube videos, needed help brushing his teeth by time he was out of high school and cannot lift his hands to his ears. Darius and Eric need help from friends and family with everyday tasks that wouldn’t be thought twice about for a person without DMD.
Darius has to take six medicines daily for his heart and is currently on a low sodium diet to stay healthy. He let out a laugh when he mentioned he cheats every once in a while. Taking medicine will not cure DMD, but it will help strengthen his heart and help his body function. Eric Ninden is on a diet like Darius that consists of avoiding sugar, refined food, and dairy products; instead he eats organic food. It’s important for a person living with DMD to stay on a healthy diet so they don’t become obese and cause any more stress on the muscles.
Support from friends and family make a huge difference to the victim. It takes away worry and stress, and helps them stay happy and high in spirits.
Darius had a firsthand account with his brother’s DMD and death, allowing him to cope with his disease easily. “I just like, see my brother, all the stuff he went through made me strong and he showed me you can’t sit in one mode in life. You gotta try to make some moves,” he said.
Darius’s mom and sister are an important part of his life. They help him with daily struggles and doing everyday tasks. They can also provide support for each other. Darius says that the disease made his relationship with his mom closer. Darius works very hard to inform others of DMD and what he has been through. On a weekly basis he makes Skype calls to schools and visits students. When he was on the road traveling last year, he went to 47 states and visited two schools during the day and a venue at night.
The day in the life of Darius Weems might be difficult at times but he still has hope and keeps his spirits high. He has made a big impact and raised awareness to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
“It just feel good I’m famous for a reason,” he said.
Emily Soroka, 14, is a Freshman at West Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia
Lan’Tiqua Burks, 15, is a Sophomore at Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Damarcio McCoy, 15, is a Sophomore at Muscle Shoals High School in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Taking life one day at a time and never taking a day for granted, Darius Weems, a 20-year-old living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), struggles with everyday tasks and depends on others.
"You can't stop yourself from coming to Earth; you can't stop yourself from leaving the Earth," Weems said.
An African-American male who is confined to his red and black power wheelchair, Weems’ most noticeable traits are his smile and happy attitude. Having a conversation with Darius you would never think that there’s anything wrong with him, but his disease takes a toll on him and the people around him. Darius tries to do some things in his own special way to be independent but he still depends on other people for a large part of his day.
Darius has a positive attitude toward life although he is living with DMD. He was diagnosed at age 5, and his brother Mario died of the same disease at 19 years old. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the number one genetic killer of children and one in every 3500 has the disease. Victims typically lose the ability to walk by the age of 10 and the disease is 100 percent fatal.
According to Darius, wheelchair accessibility, or lack thereof, is his “biggest challenge.”One of the many things Darius has to deal with on a daily basis is non-accessible locations. He goes to places that are not wheelchair accessible to try to raise awareness of the situation.
“I like to go to places that are not accessible, so maybe if they see me, like a person in a situation, they would change it, if they see me come there and I can’t get in there and my friends can. Maybe they would just try to change the place,” Darius said.
“Accessibility is dependent on the owner,” says Amble Johnson, who helps Darius and deals with press.
Accessibility can be a big problem for people with DMD. They need help going places if they want to leave the house, and need to get driven around. Darius’s mom is there for him to help with these things. Darius’s wheelchair constantly breaks down, which also temporarily demobilizes him.
Eric Ninden, a victim of DMD who makes YouTube videos, needed help brushing his teeth by time he was out of high school and cannot lift his hands to his ears. Darius and Eric need help from friends and family with everyday tasks that wouldn’t be thought twice about for a person without DMD.
Darius has to take six medicines daily for his heart and is currently on a low sodium diet to stay healthy. He let out a laugh when he mentioned he cheats every once in a while. Taking medicine will not cure DMD, but it will help strengthen his heart and help his body function. Eric Ninden is on a diet like Darius that consists of avoiding sugar, refined food, and dairy products; instead he eats organic food. It’s important for a person living with DMD to stay on a healthy diet so they don’t become obese and cause any more stress on the muscles.
Support from friends and family make a huge difference to the victim. It takes away worry and stress, and helps them stay happy and high in spirits.
Darius had a firsthand account with his brother’s DMD and death, allowing him to cope with his disease easily. “I just like, see my brother, all the stuff he went through made me strong and he showed me you can’t sit in one mode in life. You gotta try to make some moves,” he said.
Darius’s mom and sister are an important part of his life. They help him with daily struggles and doing everyday tasks. They can also provide support for each other. Darius says that the disease made his relationship with his mom closer. Darius works very hard to inform others of DMD and what he has been through. On a weekly basis he makes Skype calls to schools and visits students. When he was on the road traveling last year, he went to 47 states and visited two schools during the day and a venue at night.
The day in the life of Darius Weems might be difficult at times but he still has hope and keeps his spirits high. He has made a big impact and raised awareness to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
“It just feel good I’m famous for a reason,” he said.
Emily Soroka, 14, is a Freshman at West Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia
Lan’Tiqua Burks, 15, is a Sophomore at Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Damarcio McCoy, 15, is a Sophomore at Muscle Shoals High School in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Let's Get Driving
By Olivia Baker, M&M TIPster
In the United States, on most teen’s fifteenth birthday, they are thinking
about one thing; getting their learner’s permit. They are finally
able to start driving the car and are one step closer to driving on
their own.
However, in some states teens can get their permits earlier
and some have to wait even longer. In Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas,
North Dakota, South Dakota, and South Carolina, kids ages fourteen and
up are allowed to get their learner’s permit. Those who are fourteen
and three months are allowed to get their permits in Nebraska. Those
who are fourteen and six months are allowed to get theirs in Idaho,
Montana and Wyoming. And at fourteen years and nine months old, teens
are allowed to get their permit in Michigan.
Some have a little longer to wait. At fifteen and six months teens living in Arizona,
California, Hawaii, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Wisconsin
are allowed to get their permits. Teens in Maryland have to wait nine
months, after their fifteenth birthday. And in Connecticut, New York,
Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Rhode Island teens have to wait until their sixteenth
birthday in order to get their permit. But they shouldn’t be too sad, because leaner’s permits don’t even exist in New Hampshire!
When a group of teens were asked about the age limit for getting a permit,
they replied, “I think fifteen is a good age, because it is not too
young and not too old. The whole reason teenagers have accidents is
because of inexperience, so age is not the most important factor.”
Though sometimes it varies slightly, the process to get your permit is
generally the same across the United States. First you have to go to
a local DMV with a parent or legal guardian. You walk in and tell
them that you’re ready to get your permit. You sit and wait until they
call you, and when they do, it's paperwork time. You have to show
proof of age and identity, your social security number, proof of U.S.
citizenship or legal presence, proof of school attendance, and birth
certificate. The fee to get the learner’s permit is anywhere from $10
to $25.
Next up, its test time. First of a vision test must be
taken. Then the permit test is usually either a written test, or a
test completed on the computer. It consists of about 20-25 questions
about road rules, traffic signs and signals, drugs and alcohol, and
driving responsibly. Once finished with the test, the attendant will
tell you if you have passed or failed. If you fail the test, its
okay. Study up, and in a week you will be able to take it again. If
you do pass, congratulations! You will go over to have your picture
taken and give your signature, which will both appear on your new
permit.
A learner’s permit is an exciting thing to have. You are
finally able to drive! When some teens were interviewed about what
the best part of having your permit is, they responded, “Being able to
drive even though you still have to have an adult in the car.”
There are some rules to having a permit. First of all you have to have a
licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age in the passenger seat.
When asked to comment on whether or not this was necessary, a Duke
TIP camper, Chris Ballinger, answered, “I probably wouldn’t be able to
drive without a parent in the car with me.” Depending on the state,
there is usually a curfew for someone with a permit. For example, in
Tennessee you cannot drive between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. While some
people may disagree with these restrictions, they are designed to keep
new inexperienced drivers out of trouble and out of harm’s way.
Some may think it is unnecessary and some believe it is very
important, but either way a permit is a cool thing to have. It gives
a form of identification, and helps you to learn the important skill
of driving. Many teens greatly enjoy having a permit and being able
to enjoy driving for the first time. Even if it is with a parent.
In the United States, on most teen’s fifteenth birthday, they are thinking
about one thing; getting their learner’s permit. They are finally
able to start driving the car and are one step closer to driving on
their own.
However, in some states teens can get their permits earlier
and some have to wait even longer. In Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas,
North Dakota, South Dakota, and South Carolina, kids ages fourteen and
up are allowed to get their learner’s permit. Those who are fourteen
and three months are allowed to get their permits in Nebraska. Those
who are fourteen and six months are allowed to get theirs in Idaho,
Montana and Wyoming. And at fourteen years and nine months old, teens
are allowed to get their permit in Michigan.
Some have a little longer to wait. At fifteen and six months teens living in Arizona,
California, Hawaii, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Wisconsin
are allowed to get their permits. Teens in Maryland have to wait nine
months, after their fifteenth birthday. And in Connecticut, New York,
Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Rhode Island teens have to wait until their sixteenth
birthday in order to get their permit. But they shouldn’t be too sad, because leaner’s permits don’t even exist in New Hampshire!
When a group of teens were asked about the age limit for getting a permit,
they replied, “I think fifteen is a good age, because it is not too
young and not too old. The whole reason teenagers have accidents is
because of inexperience, so age is not the most important factor.”
Though sometimes it varies slightly, the process to get your permit is
generally the same across the United States. First you have to go to
a local DMV with a parent or legal guardian. You walk in and tell
them that you’re ready to get your permit. You sit and wait until they
call you, and when they do, it's paperwork time. You have to show
proof of age and identity, your social security number, proof of U.S.
citizenship or legal presence, proof of school attendance, and birth
certificate. The fee to get the learner’s permit is anywhere from $10
to $25.
Next up, its test time. First of a vision test must be
taken. Then the permit test is usually either a written test, or a
test completed on the computer. It consists of about 20-25 questions
about road rules, traffic signs and signals, drugs and alcohol, and
driving responsibly. Once finished with the test, the attendant will
tell you if you have passed or failed. If you fail the test, its
okay. Study up, and in a week you will be able to take it again. If
you do pass, congratulations! You will go over to have your picture
taken and give your signature, which will both appear on your new
permit.
A learner’s permit is an exciting thing to have. You are
finally able to drive! When some teens were interviewed about what
the best part of having your permit is, they responded, “Being able to
drive even though you still have to have an adult in the car.”
There are some rules to having a permit. First of all you have to have a
licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age in the passenger seat.
When asked to comment on whether or not this was necessary, a Duke
TIP camper, Chris Ballinger, answered, “I probably wouldn’t be able to
drive without a parent in the car with me.” Depending on the state,
there is usually a curfew for someone with a permit. For example, in
Tennessee you cannot drive between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. While some
people may disagree with these restrictions, they are designed to keep
new inexperienced drivers out of trouble and out of harm’s way.
Some may think it is unnecessary and some believe it is very
important, but either way a permit is a cool thing to have. It gives
a form of identification, and helps you to learn the important skill
of driving. Many teens greatly enjoy having a permit and being able
to enjoy driving for the first time. Even if it is with a parent.
Duke TIP Summer Program vs. Public School
By: Emily Soroka, M&M TIPster
Public school and the Duke TIP summer program are alike and different in many ways. Most would prefer camp over school, but some might not. These are both places for people to come together and build a future together.
“TIP is the greatest thing you will have a chance to experience,” the Duke TIP website states. Duke TIP camp is a place to learn and bond with the people around you. School is a time of learning and bonding too, but you are always stuck with those same people throughout different grade levels.
When you’re at camp you meet many new people from across the country. Sometimes you'll meet your best friend at camp, or maybe develop a “relationTIP.” At camp you get to pick what class you take and they are always interesting classes, not something like English or history. You stay in a college dorm with a roommate, unlike public school, where you don’t live at your school.
Some people would say school is more boring than camp, but this may be because you don’t have fun evening activities every night when you get home, or because your friends aren’t right down the hall from you. At school, you are required to take core academic classes, and we also spend 10 months at school learning, while we are only at camp for three weeks.
At both camp and school we are surrounded by our friends, supportive teachers and class lessons. Camp and school both provide great learning environments. We learn morals and make memories at both camp and school.
Emily Soroka, 14, is a Freshman at West Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia
Public school and the Duke TIP summer program are alike and different in many ways. Most would prefer camp over school, but some might not. These are both places for people to come together and build a future together.
“TIP is the greatest thing you will have a chance to experience,” the Duke TIP website states. Duke TIP camp is a place to learn and bond with the people around you. School is a time of learning and bonding too, but you are always stuck with those same people throughout different grade levels.
When you’re at camp you meet many new people from across the country. Sometimes you'll meet your best friend at camp, or maybe develop a “relationTIP.” At camp you get to pick what class you take and they are always interesting classes, not something like English or history. You stay in a college dorm with a roommate, unlike public school, where you don’t live at your school.
Some people would say school is more boring than camp, but this may be because you don’t have fun evening activities every night when you get home, or because your friends aren’t right down the hall from you. At school, you are required to take core academic classes, and we also spend 10 months at school learning, while we are only at camp for three weeks.
At both camp and school we are surrounded by our friends, supportive teachers and class lessons. Camp and school both provide great learning environments. We learn morals and make memories at both camp and school.
Emily Soroka, 14, is a Freshman at West Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia
Inception Review: Is it a Dream?
By Thomas Colantuono, M&M TIPster Inception was a captivating, but confusing movie. It had my attention the whole time, but unfortunately had me confused the whole time, too. It’s rating (PG-13) fits it perfectly, because there was minimal violence compared to other movies, and the language was rather tame.
The characters were like vivid portraits, and the movie just painted them out perfectly. Everyone had characters that made sense. Unfortunately, there were two problems with the characters. Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Cobb, was very similar to Leonardo’s character in Shutter Island, Teddy Daniels. They were both torn apart from their families and feel extreme guilt. The other problem was Ken Watanabe’s character, Saito. He was very well-played but was hard to understand at points during the movie. In a film where every word counts, that can be a problem. I had to ask my friend in the next seat for translation many times, and sometimes he didn’t catch it, either.
To explain the plot fully and completely, I would have to spoil the movie, which I don’t want to do to the good people of the public. But I will give an overview. Saito blackmails Cobb into helping him take down a major corporation through dreams. Cobb is an expert at this and is the obvious choice.
The original owner is dying, but his son, Robert Fischer, Jr. (Cillian Murphy) will be taking over. They devise a plan to get him into the dream, which the architect, Ariadne (Ellen Page), must first create. Cobb had just recently informed her on how to be an architect, and was teaching her the ways, which also explained much of the movie to viewers.
Once in the dream they must fight to get deeper and deeper into Fischer’s mind. They basically use Fischer, to break into his own mind, and convince him that he must get to the “safe,” which will help them control him to give up the company.
To get the entire story, you must see this captivating, extraordinary, and mind-blowing movie.
Thomas Colantuono, 14, is a Freshman at John T. Hoggard High School in Wilmington, North Carolina
"Collect 'em, Trade 'em, Wear 'em"
By: Emily Soroka and Lan’Tiqua Burks, M&M TIPstersThese animal shaped rubber bands have impacted everyone. They are the new sensation and everyone wants them. You can “Collect ‘em, Trade ‘em, Wear ‘em.” Can you guess what these are?
Silly Bandz were invented by 47 year old Robert J. Croak, the founder of Brainchild Products. Silly Bandz started to get popular in summer of 2009, and since then they have gone from shipping out 20 boxes of Silly Bandz a day to 1500. Even though Silly Bandz are very popular, some people still don’t know what they are.
When an employee at Margo Jewelry Store was asked if she knew what Silly Bandz were, the answer was “um, no.”
Silly Bandz aren’t loved by everyone. They are mostly popular among young children, but they have started to catch hold of teenagers. Kwanzaa Dunbar, a 16 year old from Tennessee said, “I gotta get some of them things.”
Many schools in states like Texas, New York, Florida and Massachusetts have banned these silicone bracelets. They are deemed a distraction to students. Students play with Silly Bandz in class instead of paying attention and in some cases their circulation can be cut off from wearing too many.
When Lisa, 21, from Athens was asked her opinion on Silly Bandz being banned, she said, “I think it’s dumb, I mean, if it’s not Silly Bandz it’s gonna be something else.”
When Robert Croak made these stretchy bands he never thought they would become this popular. Even though they have been banned in some schools, they are still popular everywhere. New Silly Bandz will be coming out soon, such as UV activated ones. They have made such a great impact because of the cheap price during this economy crisis. At only $5 for a 24 pack, children can have their parents buy them many at a time.
Some people love Silly Bandz, and some just hate them, either way these stretchy rubber bands are extremely popular.
Emily Soroka, 14, is a Freshman at West Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia
Lan’Tiqua Burks, 15, is a Sophomore at Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Lan’Tiqua Burks, 15, is a Sophomore at Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Infectious Diseases being spread by International Travel
Duke TIP Pharmacology students visited the CDC in Atlanta. Mosquitos, such as this one in the exhibit, transmit malaria.
By Paxton Swisher
M&M TIPster
It is not a common thought when we board a plane. With all the stress of airports we scarcely have time to consider the risk. But what is becoming a new problem is the spread of infectious diseases through international travel.
The Centers for Disease Control recorded more than 3000 cases of infectious diseases in travelers in just the past year. According to USA Today, in the last year, there were 662 reports of tuberculosis, 78 cases of measles, and 56 reports of mumps. Diseases from other countries are carried onto the plane. Then, people who aren’t being very hygienic get the disease because they aren’t immune to it. The disease is then spread to others in the area.
Those in Athens that disregard this information because they don’t travel internationally should consider this: according to cheapflights.com, Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International has been the busiest airport in the world since 1998. This means that hundreds of in
ternational flights come in to Georgia every year. If infectious diseases are being transferred from airport and planes there is a risk for many Athens residents. However, there are ways to combat the spreading of these diseases.As in any public place, it is always a good idea to wash your hands. Hand sanitizers can be of great help on air planes. General health rules should be followed, such as not sharing any food or drink with others, and covering your face when coughing/sneezing. If you feel the need, germ-masks can also be a good way to protect your mouth and nose from germs. The main way to protect yourself, however, is to be aware of the environment you are in. Know that people from other countries can have diseases you are not immune to. Above all else, wash your hands!
Paxton Swisher, 15, is a sophomore at Parish Episcopal School in Dallas, Texas.
We Let the Dawgs Out
By Alaina Boyden, M&M TIPsterThe saying goes “Good things come in small packages.” This time though, the package looks like a giant bull dog.
The "We Let the Dawgs Out" project originated when members of the Athens-Oconee Junior Women's Club learned of the Cow Parade. The Cow Parade is a public art exhibition initially intended to bring publicity or attention to local artists and their work. Now the Cow Parade has visited over fifty cities worldwide, including Paris, Milan, and Tokyo, since it began in the year 1999. The money made from auctioning off the sculptures goes to nonprofit children and arts groups.
In Athens, however, the sculptures are instead bulldogs, which is the mascot for the University of Georgia. Originally, the Junior Women’s Club’s goal was to get enough sponsors and artists to complete twenty-five bulldog statues. Yet the project turned out to be so successful that they ended up with thirty-six instead! The statues’ homes are all around the city and attract attention from tourists and visitors all the time.
“I think everybody who comes here loves them. I can’t even begin to tell you how many people take pictures with them,” says Linda, an employee from Heery’s Clothing Closet, located close to the Bulldog statue called “Bugga,” which has different bugs and leaves painted all over it.
Another example of one of the statues includes “Caesar Dawgustus,” located on 100 College Avenue near Starbucks wearing a red toga, sandals, and a crown.
For many, the statues are symbols of team spirit or even a kind of special trademark. It is said that they are almost like guard dogs watching over the city of Athens.
Alaina Boyden is a 10th grader at Marathon High School in Marathon, Florida.
The Twilight Epidemic: The Fine Line Between Fantasy and Reality
By Ella Sivertsen and Olivia Baker, M&M TIPstersThere seems to be only one question on the minds of countless teenage girls these days: “Team Edward, or Team Jacob?”
You can always find a Twilight t-shirt at Wal-Mart, thousands of fans rush to the movie theaters at six-o’-clock in the morning to catch the first midnight showing of the latest addition to the saga, and Taylor Lautner probably appears shirtless on the walls of giggling girls more frequently than he would ever care to find out, ever.
But while fans are debating whether Pattinson or Lautner is hotter, there is often something more going on in the minds of true Twilight fans. Thoughts swim around about the definition of love and of protection, the boundary between teenage romance and a darker side to Edward and Bella, and why the knight in shining armor/vampire in shining Volvo can’t come for every girl.
So when does fiction wander too far into the real world?
“[It’s] really annoying [all the attention it’s received]; it’s kinda ruined it for me,” a local Athens teen says. Twilight books have sold around 5.3 million copies, and that’s just in the U.S. The movies have grossed approximately $1.5 billion worldwide! There is now Twilight Saga bedding, clothing, jewelry, makeup, perfume, Barbies, lunch boxes, mugs, board games, and key chains. Someone even prints Twilight toilet paper.
Twilight has become very widely known. Hundreds of thousands of screaming “Twilighters” line up for movie premieres and book signings just to get a glimpse of their favorite stars. While “Twi-hards” take their fan base and posters very seriously, many simply find the craze to be hilarious, and others still have more opinionated, solemn responses to the “epidemic.”
“A lot of the girls who are reading it are really young, like, twelve, thirteen, and fourteen, and that’s a REALLY impressionable age,” says Rose Dasher, a young, working woman in Athens. Miss Dasher has personally read the Twilight Saga and is, to put it kindly, not a big fan. It’s not because fans have ruined her experience or because she doesn’t like the casting for the movie; she opposes the messages portrayed to Twilight’s young readers. “[It] presents some rather skewed messages to younger girls… It’s like there’s a lot of messages I disagree with about love and relationships and about women’s roles in relation to men.”
For all of you who don’t know, Bella is extremely dependent on Edward, Jacob, and all the Cullens. Dasher also says that if this relationship was real, it would be “something for the feds to handle.” Regarding things from female dependency to pre-marital sex, Twilight is highly debated the world over. People don’t sparkle; taking the books too realistically can blur the line between reality and fantasy.
Don’t worry too much about those Twi-hards, though. Most find that, like the Backstreet Boys, Twilight is a passing trend.
“There’s always something teenagers will love,” says an Athens resident, “if it’s Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, or Twilight.”
As for the future, like all other fads, Twilight will be eclipsed by something new, with a breaking dawn to a new era. Pun intended.
Ella Sivertsen, 14, is a ninth grader at Whitewater High School in Fayetteville, GA.
Olivia Baker, 15, is a tenth grader at the University School of Jackson in Jackson, TN.
Darius Goes West Trip Prep
By Lan’Tiqua Burks, M&M TipsterIn preparation for his trip, Darius and his friends and family all had to do a lot to get ready for this 7,000 mile cross-country trip. They all sold movie credits, had piggy banks at the stores around Athens, and door-to-door barbeques. Barbara Smalley, director Logan Smalley’s mother, helped organize the stops on the trip. (Picture: Logan Smalley, director of Darius Goes West, at the Darius Goes West Day Carnival)
Two weeks before they left they were a little short on money, but the United Cerebral Palsy contacted them and agreed to give them the rest of the money if they would pass out bracelets for their cause. Darius and all of his friends agreed, helping them meet their goal while assisting another cause.
Darius took eleven of his best friends on the trip with him to go across the country to California to convince MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” to pimp his wheelchair. This was the first time Darius ever left Athens and he was going all the way across the country.
Darius Goes West was filmed by Darius’s eleven friends, but they didn’t have any filming background. They searched on Google “how to make a documentary” and read as much as possible in preparation for the trip.
“He didn’t have any film making experience,” said Barbara Smalley. He literally taught himself how to edit, and I would watch…the dailies and I would be blown away ‘cause he told the story from his heart. That’s what made it successful.”
While the trip and making the documentary was going on, Darius’s friends were still busy with their own lives, but they devoted a large portion of their time to the trip and the movie.
“He edited while he was a senior in college so it took him a year,” Smalley said.
Barbara planned the itinerary and asked Darius where he wanted to go. She also threw in a few places in that he might not have known about. They got discounts at hotels and at different stops on the trip.
All the preparation and the money donated finally paid off after the movie was released and it raised two million dollars for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research.
Lan’Tiqua Burks, 15, sophomore at Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Lan’Tiqua Burks, 15, sophomore at Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Wheelchair Accesibility Through the Years
By Nicole Alanko and Kathy Garner, M&M TIPsters“Accessibility is a bigger challenge than anything.” Darius Weems would know. As a 20-year old with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, the Athens native has traveled the country spreading the word about his disease, and showing people about life in a wheelchair.
“It was random places that were more accessible,” Darius said. “It varies from different places I go to. I like to go to places that aren’t accessible so that if they see me, like a real person, they’ll want to change it. If they see me, they’ll be inspired to change it.”
Darius is one of the more famous people that is trying to change wheelchair accessibility. It’s a fight that picked up momentum in 1932 with the invention of the first folding wheelchair. This wheelchair was called the Everest and Jennings chair. Before this time, wheelchairs had been heavy and it was difficult for people with disabilities to leave their homes, so accessibility to public buildings was not an issue. After the invention of the Everest and Jennings chair, however, disabled people were able to put their chairs in their cars and go anywhere. This was how the Disability Rights Movement began.
With advancements in medicine, more people were living through serious injuries that normally would have caused them to die. Many of these were veterans of the World Wars, who then began to protest in America for more rights and more access to public places.
The Americans with Disabilities Act was originally passed in 1980, with revisions made in 2008. This Act was meant to enforce stronger legislation pertaining to the rights of people with disabilities. It discusses employment, access to buildings and public transportation, and communication devices.
“No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation,” according to the Act.
The full Act itself is very simple, with specific guidelines. Sections 1, 2, and 3 are all general knowledge sections. They detail the purpose as well as general information and vocabulary used in the remainder of the document. Section 4 details the minimum requirements of areas, including but not limited to curbs, stairs, toilet stalls, water fountains, and saunas, to make them handicap accessible, including exceptions. Sections 5 through 15 specify requirements for specific areas, such as restaurants, libraries, and medical care facilities.
This was an extremely important piece of legislation that laid the foundations for new changes to come. While after twenty years, not every building is wheelchair accessible, change and success will come. Darius himself does not advocate for any specific legislation.
“Accessibility is dependent on the owner,” said Amble Johnson, a writer for the Darius Goes West organization. “People will want to change. They’re just ignorant.”
Nicole Alanko, 16, is a Junior at Riverheads High School in Staunton, VA.
Kathy Garner, 15, is a sophomore at Ursuline Academy in Dallas, Texas.
Other Resources:
http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm
http://www.ada.gov/
http://www.ada.gov/adastd94.pdf
Darius Goes West Carnival Overview
By: Suleiky GuerreroM&M TIPster
Another Annual Darius Goes West Day (DGW) that was as good as expected. This Saturday, July 24, was the Darius Goes West Carnival in Athens, Ga. There was music, face painting, water bounce houses, basketball, the Goslabi Challenge—where contestants swallow a spoon of the sushi spice wasabi—mechanical bull riding, animal petting, horse rides and a dunking booth for the mayoral candidates.
Many people attended the event, including Darius' family, friends, visitors and the mayoral candidates.
“I laughed, I cried, it was great” said Kelly Freeman, a Darius Goes West Day volunteer from Sugar Hill, Ga., about the Darius Goes West movie. “They gave so much to him and he’s giving so much to us and doesn’t even realize it so the least we can do is give back.”
“It really touched me that actually the crew would take upon the cause that they did and decide ‘Hey, we’re going to do something about this,” said Freeman’s mother, Judy.
Dan Johnson who had met Darius before the movie also had a lot to say about him. “The job that he’s done raising money for the cause and that he’s stayed with it so long and really seen it through instead of just taking his trip and staying home after that, he has kept working, trying to fight the disease.” Dan brought his brother Phil Johnson, a spinal meningitis survivor from 1953 who also supports Darius’ cause, to the event on Saturday.
The candidates also had a lot to say. Spencer Frye, who is the director of Athens Area Habitat for Humanity and a mayoral candidate for the Athens elections, said he met Darius when he and his mother were looking for affordable housing. Not being able to build a house for them they sent them over to one of their partnering homing agencies, the Athens Land Trust. Here they were able to find Darius and his mom a home. The only problem was that the house was too small. The hallways were too narrow and wasn’t handicapped accessible, so they put up funds to build additions to the home such as the handicap ramp and widening the doorways.
“What he’s done and what folks have done around him is just inspiring,” Frye said.
Heidi Davison, Athens’s mayor when Darius left for his cross-country trip, was also there Saturday. “It’s a real unifying event that everyone can get on board with and feel like they’re a part of. So when you keep reading the story, folks that have been involved with it from the very beginning say ‘I’m a part of that’ and are proud of that,” she said.
Suleiky Guerrero is a Media and Message TIPster. She is also a rising 9th grader at Westwood MOA in Port St. Lucie, FL.
Gubernatorial Election Coverage
By Nicole Alanko, Lexi Lutsky, and MaLea Berry, M&M TIPsters
The people are speaking their mind at the polls and on the streets. The election for the next governor of Georgia is coming up in November, but a runoff for the two leading Republicans is August 10th. In the primaries on July 20th, Democrat Roy Barnes was a clear leader with 64%. Karen Handel was the leading Republican with 33% and Nathan Deal was a close second with 23%.
The people are speaking their mind at the polls and on the streets. The election for the next governor of Georgia is coming up in November, but a runoff for the two leading Republicans is August 10th. In the primaries on July 20th, Democrat Roy Barnes was a clear leader with 64%. Karen Handel was the leading Republican with 33% and Nathan Deal was a close second with 23%.
All of the candidates are focused on job growth in the state, education, and resources. Democrat Roy Barnes is basing his campaign on growing jobs in different areas, and education is extremely important. He wants to increase funding to schools and make sure the funds are used well. He also does not want to cut teacher salaries.
Karen Handel is basing her campaign on keeping taxes low to increase jobs and creating a better infrastructure. She is also serious about making it easier for parents to enroll their children in charter schools and is in support of a water plan for the next drought.
Nathan Deal is basing his campaign on promoting the private sector of businesses and supporting the FairTax, and also giving local school systems more power. Nathan Deal also wants to be strong about illegal immigration.
The people of Athens are also talking on the streets, answering the fundamental question: What do the people want in a candidate? Some are looking for candidates’ decisions to be faith based, and others look for them to have a good education. Most said that they just want people to do what they say, have similar views, and to be honest.
“I’m looking for someone to improve the economic state of Georgia,” said Rohaid Nanji, a young man in his twenties. “[It’s important that he will] Follow through on his plans, especially for improving the state.”
Ross Daniel said, “I want their decisions to be faith based.”
“I want them to have integrity,” one woman responded.
Ben Pearlman said that he wants his candidate to “just be able to express decent views and not pander to the electorate.”
Nicole Alanko, 16, is a junior at Riverheads High School in Staunton, Virginia.
MaLea Berry, 15, is a sophomore at The Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia.
Lexi Lutsky, 15, is a freshman at Carolina Forest High School in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Nicole Alanko, 16, is a junior at Riverheads High School in Staunton, Virginia.
MaLea Berry, 15, is a sophomore at The Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia.
Lexi Lutsky, 15, is a freshman at Carolina Forest High School in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Spreading awareness for DMD
By Paxton Swisher, M&M TIPster
Most Americans haven’t heard of it. Most people can’t tell you what it is. No, it’s not some new fad. It’s the number one genetic killer of kids.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, or DMD, is becoming more and more common and there is no cure. Before, about 6 years ago there weren’t many fund-raisers for it either. This all changed when a 15 year old Darius Weems, who had never left Athens, Georgia set off on a road-trip with 11 of his friends. Darius has DMD and went on the trip mainly to get his wheelchair pimped on the popular show “Pimp My Ride.” But he also wanted to spread awareness about DMD. The documentary about this trip was entitled “Darius Goes West” or DGW. The movie went viral, fast. Using aspects of social media like Twitter and Facebook, this sparked the raging fire that is the “Darius Goes West” campaign against DMD. Since the movie, the DGW team has taken every opportunity to spread the word and gather donations to fight DMD and hopefully find a cure in our generation.
Since the release of the film, the population helping to fight DMD has greatly increased. More and more people are seeing the film and wanting to make a difference. Darius describes the way the message is mostly spread is by “word of mouth.” The newest development in the campaign against DMD is that the DGW movie is now free on their website. They call this the “Play it Forward” campaign. This was started in the hopes that people will watch the movie for free, and then forward it and send it to all their friends, spreading the message about DMD. But the movie and play it forward campaign is just one aspect of the overall one to fight DMD.
Not only is the campaign meant to spread the word about DMD, but also about having wheelchair accessible buildings. In the film, Derius was often unable to go places because they weren’t wheelchair accessible. Darius said in an interview, “I like to go to places that aren’t accessible so that if they see me, like a real person, they’ll want to change it. If they see me they’ll be inspired to change it.” This is another cause that the campaign to spread awareness can help.
In the film, Darius is bet to eat a spoonful of wasabi, or “goslabi” as he calls it. Being one of the most loved parts of the movie, the DGW team decided to start up the “goslabi challenge.” According to their website, participants are supposed to start a fund-raising page. Once the fund goal is met, they each eat a spoonful of wasabi sauce and record it on film. The proceeds then go to help DMD and the best videos are eligible to win cool prizes. This will both raise funds for finding a cure to DMD and spread awareness about the disease.
From the “goslabi challenge” to Darius being interviewed on news programs to Big Daddy Weems himself visiting schools across the country, it’s obvious that the campaign to find a cure for, and spread awareness of, DMD are going well. However, the fight is not won yet. Donations are still needed, and there are many Americans who still don’t know what Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is. Help the campaign for spreading the message about DMD by donating through the “Darius Goes West” website, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube
Paxton Swisher, 15 years old, is a sophomore at Parish Episcopal school in Dallas,Texas.
Most Americans haven’t heard of it. Most people can’t tell you what it is. No, it’s not some new fad. It’s the number one genetic killer of kids.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, or DMD, is becoming more and more common and there is no cure. Before, about 6 years ago there weren’t many fund-raisers for it either. This all changed when a 15 year old Darius Weems, who had never left Athens, Georgia set off on a road-trip with 11 of his friends. Darius has DMD and went on the trip mainly to get his wheelchair pimped on the popular show “Pimp My Ride.” But he also wanted to spread awareness about DMD. The documentary about this trip was entitled “Darius Goes West” or DGW. The movie went viral, fast. Using aspects of social media like Twitter and Facebook, this sparked the raging fire that is the “Darius Goes West” campaign against DMD. Since the movie, the DGW team has taken every opportunity to spread the word and gather donations to fight DMD and hopefully find a cure in our generation.
Since the release of the film, the population helping to fight DMD has greatly increased. More and more people are seeing the film and wanting to make a difference. Darius describes the way the message is mostly spread is by “word of mouth.” The newest development in the campaign against DMD is that the DGW movie is now free on their website. They call this the “Play it Forward” campaign. This was started in the hopes that people will watch the movie for free, and then forward it and send it to all their friends, spreading the message about DMD. But the movie and play it forward campaign is just one aspect of the overall one to fight DMD.
Not only is the campaign meant to spread the word about DMD, but also about having wheelchair accessible buildings. In the film, Derius was often unable to go places because they weren’t wheelchair accessible. Darius said in an interview, “I like to go to places that aren’t accessible so that if they see me, like a real person, they’ll want to change it. If they see me they’ll be inspired to change it.” This is another cause that the campaign to spread awareness can help.
In the film, Darius is bet to eat a spoonful of wasabi, or “goslabi” as he calls it. Being one of the most loved parts of the movie, the DGW team decided to start up the “goslabi challenge.” According to their website, participants are supposed to start a fund-raising page. Once the fund goal is met, they each eat a spoonful of wasabi sauce and record it on film. The proceeds then go to help DMD and the best videos are eligible to win cool prizes. This will both raise funds for finding a cure to DMD and spread awareness about the disease.
From the “goslabi challenge” to Darius being interviewed on news programs to Big Daddy Weems himself visiting schools across the country, it’s obvious that the campaign to find a cure for, and spread awareness of, DMD are going well. However, the fight is not won yet. Donations are still needed, and there are many Americans who still don’t know what Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is. Help the campaign for spreading the message about DMD by donating through the “Darius Goes West” website, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube
Paxton Swisher, 15 years old, is a sophomore at Parish Episcopal school in Dallas,Texas.
The Amazing Michael Davenport
By David Garcia, M&M TIPster
"Words can't express it. He still keeps his motivation and faith."
These are the words of Leo Davenport, father of the locally famous Michael Davenport. But if he’s so famous, why doesn’t anyone recognize his name? This is probably because he has a more recognizable appearance, an even more remarkable talent, and has amazing character.
When Michael was only 13, he was in a traumatizing event changing the rest of his life. While playing in his yard with a copper wire, he got tangled in an electrical cord, leaving him injured in the hospital. When he awoke a month later, he found himself in a completely different world: a world without his hands. The accident left him handless on one side and with a prosthetic arm on the other. Michael was faced with the challenge of re-learning everything he could do with hands, but in a different way.
Through the yea
rs, Michael began to make some decisions that weren’t the best: he took up drinking and began to take for granted the life God had given him. But Michael is now living a happy life in Athens. After he saw what he was doing to himself, Michael decided to turn a new leaf and start his life over the right way. By doing this, Michael found his new passion: drawing.
Before his accident, he claimed to be a horrible artist, but once he lost his limbs, that changed. He said he began to draw with his mouth when he was about 15 or 16 and that was when he made his first sketches of the UGA mascot. When he saw that his creation had potential, Michael worked harder and harder at his mouth sketches until they met his standards.
He says his inspiration for drawing came from his artistic grandfather because he had the same go-to attitude and the same perseverance as himself. His paintings are now what keep him living, making most of his income from making drawings along the streets of Athens.
His amazingly accurate mouth drawings are sold for $40-$60 and he sells roughly five or six a day. Mikey, as many call him, gets friendly customers every day, but is most popular during the football season when all the fans want one of his drawings. Over only a decade, Michael has become a celebrity in Athens and is always welcomed by all its residents. He is even scheduled to meet with Oprah in the near future.
But his life after his change wasn’t all that easy. He continued to face many hardships, such as learning to write with his mouth and, recently, dealing with the loss of his sister. He says he continues because God gave him his life for a reason so he’s going to follow his dreams for as long as he can.
After his life changing experiences, Michael said that he became much more friendly and approachable. This is easy to see as ex-customers greet Michael as he draws for the tourists. They make sure he’s doing fine and ask about his family then continue on with their daily lives.
Michael says that if he had anything to say to the young people of today he would tell them “…just don’t ever give up and follow your dreams no matter the obstacles.”
Click here to see Michael making one of his drawings.
David Garcia, 15, is a sophomore at South Grand Prairie HS in Grand Prairie, TX.
Local Music Review
By Kathy Garner, M&M TIPster
In general, I find local music scenes enjoyable. Locals are often very attached to bands hailing from the area, and Athens, Ga., is no exception.
In particular, the Athens music scene has been described as being successful despite a sleepy atmosphere. One of the reasons the scene is so successful may very well be because it is “easy to get [your band] out there,” as said by 16-year-old Alex Blankenship, a participant in Camp Amped. Camp Amped is a camp for local teenage musicians to get their band together and participate in music making. (PICTURE: Alex Blankenship, 16 (left) and Isik Benson, 15 (right), participants in Camp Amped)
With encouragement to musicians such as this, it makes sense that many Athenian bands are successful. Here are three bands that are representative of the Athens area music scene, and in particular, it’s rock heritage:
ham1, “I Wave Back,” The Underground Stream EP: Consisting of Jim Willingham, Eric Harris, Jacob Morris, Jeff Fox, and Charlie Estes, ham1 is classified in the genre of indie-pop. Their song “I Wave Back” fits this description. The lead singer’s a tad monotone, but the rest of the band’s solid instrumentals make up for this fact. It also has decent lyrical content. While it is a catchy song, it won’t be stuck in your head for ages. Definitely worth giving a listen.
Now It’s Overhead, “Walls,” Day light Daybreak: Classified as a melodic-pop band, Now It’s Overhead claims Andy LeMaster, Clay Leverett, Orenda Frink, and Maria Taylor as members. However, melodic wouldn’t be my first choice to describe the bands song “Walls.” It’s closer to a pop-rock blend, with few vocal melodies. The song sounds synthesized together, and is strangely addictive, despite being of average quality. It isn’t really my thing, but if I knew someone I thought would like it, I would recommend it to them.
The Empties, “Don’t Be a Bad Child,” The Empties: A self described rock ‘n’ roll band, Matthew Knutson, Benjamin Wills, Chris Giddens, and Ben Keller make up The Empties. The song “Don’t Be a Bad Child” gives off a feeling of a band from the 60s or 70s, such as earlier Beatles. It’s one of the ones that I’d recommend to random people I barely know, so I choose to give it my thumbs up.
Kathy Garner, 15, is a sophomore at Ursuline Academy in Dallas, Texas.
In general, I find local music scenes enjoyable. Locals are often very attached to bands hailing from the area, and Athens, Ga., is no exception.
In particular, the Athens music scene has been described as being successful despite a sleepy atmosphere. One of the reasons the scene is so successful may very well be because it is “easy to get [your band] out there,” as said by 16-year-old Alex Blankenship, a participant in Camp Amped. Camp Amped is a camp for local teenage musicians to get their band together and participate in music making. (PICTURE: Alex Blankenship, 16 (left) and Isik Benson, 15 (right), participants in Camp Amped)
With encouragement to musicians such as this, it makes sense that many Athenian bands are successful. Here are three bands that are representative of the Athens area music scene, and in particular, it’s rock heritage:
ham1, “I Wave Back,” The Underground Stream EP: Consisting of Jim Willingham, Eric Harris, Jacob Morris, Jeff Fox, and Charlie Estes, ham1 is classified in the genre of indie-pop. Their song “I Wave Back” fits this description. The lead singer’s a tad monotone, but the rest of the band’s solid instrumentals make up for this fact. It also has decent lyrical content. While it is a catchy song, it won’t be stuck in your head for ages. Definitely worth giving a listen.
Now It’s Overhead, “Walls,” Day light Daybreak: Classified as a melodic-pop band, Now It’s Overhead claims Andy LeMaster, Clay Leverett, Orenda Frink, and Maria Taylor as members. However, melodic wouldn’t be my first choice to describe the bands song “Walls.” It’s closer to a pop-rock blend, with few vocal melodies. The song sounds synthesized together, and is strangely addictive, despite being of average quality. It isn’t really my thing, but if I knew someone I thought would like it, I would recommend it to them.
The Empties, “Don’t Be a Bad Child,” The Empties: A self described rock ‘n’ roll band, Matthew Knutson, Benjamin Wills, Chris Giddens, and Ben Keller make up The Empties. The song “Don’t Be a Bad Child” gives off a feeling of a band from the 60s or 70s, such as earlier Beatles. It’s one of the ones that I’d recommend to random people I barely know, so I choose to give it my thumbs up.
Kathy Garner, 15, is a sophomore at Ursuline Academy in Dallas, Texas.
High School in Korea
By Nicole Alanko, M&M TIPsterAs the world rapidly changes, education becomes more important for our future. American eighth graders placed ninth in the world in 2007 for its math and science scores according to the Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS), a study done every four years comparing the average scores with countries around the world. The scores are averages from all of the students that took it in that country. The United States scored 500, which is the TIMSS average.
South Korea placed second in the TIMSS with a score of 597. The South Korean economy is growing rapidly. It’s among the world’s twenty largest economies. Despite the economic problems of the past few years, its economy is growing by 0.2%, while ours is declining by 2.4%, which means that the value of their goods and services is increasing much more than ours.
The vision of the Ministry of Education is outlined on their website, with their goal being “to build a first class advanced country,” and they see education as the way to get there.
“Education is a project that requires long lengths of time and efforts, just like planting and growing a tree,” says Byong Man Ahn, Minister of Education, on the Ministry’s official website.
“This is a sector that requires extensive dialogues, long-term visions, and thorough deliberation. It is most important to look far out to the future when planning and implementing education policies.”
The typical high school in South Korea is similar to those in the United States. Students participate in sports and art and other extracurricular programs, and take many rigorous classes. Sung He “Lauren” Jeon, a Korean teenager studying in America, talked about the school life in Korea. “We have all kinds of clubs and after school activities. However...Korea is intensively concentrated on the academic aspect,” she said in an email.
Students attend specialized high schools if they are interested in the arts or other areas, and curriculum is changed based on the focus of the school. Only 0.2% of high school aged students attend these special schools, according to the Ministry of Education.
“In those schools, they minimize the requirements of academic subjects and emphasize programs like vocal training, music, and physical training (or whatever is needed in order to major in those careers),” said Sung He, “The drawback is as soon as one enters those specialized high school or middle school, one will get really hard time to get back to normal high school (because of extremely different requirements of each high school).”
“I think the unique thing is Korean students learn much more stuff in short time period. So, they know more stuff,” says Sung He, and then adds, “In order to fulfill these requirements, they are very persistent and strong.”
For more information on South Korea:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html
http://english.mest.go.kr/main.jsp?idx=0101010101
http://english.mest.go.kr/main.jsp?idx=0401010101
http://english.mest.go.kr/main.jsp?idx=0201010101
For more information about Athens-Clarke County schools, Georgia, and the United States: https://www.georgiastandards.org/standards/Pages/BrowseStandards/GPS_by_Grade_Level_K-8.aspx
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/
http://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html
http://www.ed.gov/
Nicole Alanko, 16, is a junior at Riverheads High School in Staunton, Virginia.
Many thanks to Sung He Jeon for her input for this article
Many thanks to Sung He Jeon for her input for this article
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)