Tom Gazzard<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Daniel Reynolds, a young, bright-eyed Grade 12 NT student once asked me, \u201cTom, don\u2019t you think that the grads need a place to sit? A place to relax, do some homework and maybe muck n\u2019 grind?\u201c Whether Dan needs a grad couch to compensate for his lack of calf strength, or his disproportionately sized arms, Dan Reynolds is right \u2013 the grads need a place in this school to call their own.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For generations North Toronto\u2019s graduating classes have had a place specifically for them, an oasis of sorts. A place where boys become men and where past Grade 11\u2019s can finally call themselves \u201cgrads\u201d. Unfortunately this year, the graduates of 2012 were unjustly stripped of this privilege because of the childish actions of last year\u2019s graduates. \u201cLast year\u2019s couch looked a lot like a gas station bathroom….\u201d said Keenan Crawford, a 2011 graduate of North Toronto, \u201cit was jokes.\u201d Unfortunately, these \u201cjokes\u201d cost us, and future years, our grad couch. This is my plea, to the grads, the future grads, and to Mr. Gorenkoff, for our grad couch back:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To the Graduates: Let\u2019s fight for our grad couch! Rachele Flippini and a few other dedicated civil activists channeled their inner Martin Luther King Jr. and organized a petition. Unfortunately, \u201cthe man\u201d turned it down. So now it\u2019s up to the rest of us. We could organize a protest, have a sit in, maybe even take a niner hostage \u2013 whatever it takes to get our couch, let\u2019s do it, no scare!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To the Grade 9\u2019s, 10\u2019s and 11\u2019s: I am writing this with the hope you won\u2019t have to. Soon enough you will realize the importance of a grad couch. I mean, how else are you supposed to wheel that cute grade 10 girl who looks like Miley Cyrus? Trust me, you\u2019ll want one.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Finally, to Mr. Gorenkoff: You see, a grad couch is more than just a couch. A grad couch is a symbol. It represents what it means to be a graduate and it serves as a badge of honor to be able to kick back on a La-Z-y-Boy during your spare. A grad couch is a place that niners look forward to sitting on, and grads look for niners sitting on. It is a tradition. North Toronto prides itself on our deep-rooted traditions \u2013 so why not keep the most important one?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tom Gazzard \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Daniel Reynolds, a young, bright-eyed Grade 12 NT student once asked me, \u201cTom, don\u2019t you think that the grads need a place to sit? A place to relax, do some homework and maybe muck n\u2019 grind?\u201c … Continue reading