The Eagle's Eye; Issue 2; Volume 18; Akins High School

The

EAGLE’S EYE

W. Charles Akins High School Austin, Texas Volume 18 November 12, 2018 “Everything that concerns you.”

@AkinsJournalism

@AkinsEaglesEye

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@AkinsJournalism

Principal Selected

Tina Salazar appointed principal Page 4

In News

Austin sees brief boil water notice Page 6

In opinions

Reckless driving in Akins parking lot Page 8

In sports

Football players on taking a knee Page 21

Upcoming Events S

Akins at Large

Junior Gabriela Lara-Driscoll hugs a dog that has just been groomed. Dogs are groomed

by Green Tech Academy students. Photo by Diego Gutierrez.

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TEASERS

WATER CRISIS Flooding causes boil water notice SAT SCORING Cost of college readiness exams VOTER PARTICIPATION Low teen voter turnout EE COOKS Easy Thanksgiving sides and desserts DIA DE LOS MUERTOS Community celebrates EDITORIAL POLICY

The Eagle’s Eye is the official student newspaper of Akins High School. It is published once per six weeks, for the students, staff and community.

The Eagle’s Eye is an open forum for student expression, not reviewed by school administration prior to distribution, and the advisor will not act as a censor. Content represents the views of the student staff and not school officials.

The Eagle’s Eye will avoid bias and/or favoritism. We will make our content meaningful, timely and interesting.

Our articles will reflect our objective of reporting news and will be held to a high standard of quality.

We will make every effort to avoid printing libel, obscenities, innuendo and material that threatens to disrupt the learning process or is an invasion of privacy. We will avoid electronic manipulation that alters the truth of a photograph. All icons used are from flaticon.com.

Staff editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board arrived at by discussion and will not be bylined.

Bylined articles are the opinion of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Eagle’s Eye staff or administration as a whole.

The Eagle’s Eye welcomes reader input. Please send any letters, articles, comments or corrections to akins. journalism@gmail.com or mail them to 10701 South First Street Austin, Texas 78748 or drop them off in room 223 with advisor David Doerr or an editor. Letters must be signed, and emailed letters will require verification before publication. We will not necessarily publish all letters received and reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.

The Eagle’s Eye does not necessarily endorse the products or services found in advertisements from local businesses.

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15th Alice in Wonderland 15th Thankgiving Break Begins 19th Thanksgiving Break Ends 24th Late Start 29th

Senior Financial Aid Night 6:30 p.m. in the CCC

7 p.m. in the theater

Entire week off

School commences Nov. 26 Classes begin at 10:15 a.m.

HONORS

ILPC/UIL

Bronze Star Award 2007 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

NSPA

All-American - 2013 Nominated for Pacemaker - 2013

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Superior Coverage 2005 2008 2007 - H.M. Sweepstakes 2010 - 2nd Sweepstakes 2011 - H.M. Sweepstakes 2016 - Best In Show

CSPA

2011 - Silver Medal 2012 - Gold Medal 2015 - Gold Medal

The Issue’s Comic

On the Cover New principal selected

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n Oct. 29. the Austin ISD school board voted to appoint former Social Services Academy Assistant Principal Tina Salazar as principal of Akins High School. Tina Salazar served as a head coach, department chair and academy director before accepting this position. In addition to this, she served as interim principal throughout the principal selection process.

Salazar has cited her priorities as principal as educational equity, enhancing community partnerships and campus culture. She said that she was hesitant to make changes as interim principal, and has lots of ideas for the future of the campus. Read the full story on page four. Cover photo by Nathan Martinez.

STAFF LIST

Comic by Phoenix Braly.

Interested in having a comic featured in The Eagle’s Eye? Go to tinyurl.com/akinscomics

Editor-in-Chief* Bethany Bissell News Editor* Mylo Bissell In-Depth Editor* Dee Carreon Sports Editor* James Mendiola Life and Style Editor* Angela Glass Staff Writers Joshua Guerrero Phoenix Braly Anneliese Olivo Gregory Roque David Ridge Justin Wan Jaden Garrion Nathan Martinez Rito Pineda Monserrat Rubi Soto Emily Bellinghausen Angel Mendez Samantha Salazar Aubrey Hill

Opinions Editor* Jennifer Espinoza Entertainment Editor* Andy Clay Photo Editor* Diego Gutierrez Graphics Editor* Ash Catalan Life and Style Editor* Jon Garza Jamie Bain Diego Cedillo Eliana Ramirez Jose Garcia Isaac Villafranca Eli Calderon Zeta Handy Evelyn Moreno Arianna Farner Christian Silva Tania Dominguez Austin Rutledge Brianna Cozzi

Editorial Board* All titles marked wirh an asterisk contribute to the staff editorial Icon Credit:* Some icons from flaticon.com

News

Page 4 - November 12, 2018

Salazar shares vision after selection as Akins principal Monse Rubi SOto

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Staff Writer

fter 10 years of working at Akins on October 29 during a regular school board meeting, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees appointed Tina Salazar to serve as the new principal of Akins High School.

Salazar has been at Akins for the past 10 years, serving as a teacher, instructional coach, department chair, assistant principal, and an academy director. Students did not wait to express their feelings towards our new leader many are delighted that Salazar got chosen to represent Akins Eagles.

Junior Elijah Hernandez wanted Salazar as the new principal and is relieved she’s been chosen because “She’s been at this school and you can tell that she loves all of us, and she actually cares for what she does, she’s really passionate about it.” “ She’s the most experienced and every single time I’ve been with her she hasn’t treated me like a student shes treated me like a son, she’s always told me that too, and I already know that if she’s our principal that means everybody is gonna get that experience with her,” said Junior Greg Borgeson.

As Principal Salazar’s main points of focus are instructional equity, campus-culture building, and enhancing community partnerships. As the new principal Salazar plans to continue growing and protecting what’s important to her and students. For Salazar it’s important that students are allowed to be pushed toward a rigorous curriculum but also accepted, loved and lifted up.

One part of her priorities as the new principal is addressing instructional equity which means giving students what they need, to create fairness in learning. Specifically, the school can improve in how it sup-

ports English Language Learners (ELL), she said.

“If you look at our data we have some gaps that we must address in particular ELL students,” Salazar said.

ELL students who are students who come from another country that may not speak another language such as English are required to pass STAAR in English which can be rigorous for them and teachers that are trying to get them to pass this test.

“We have purposefully put in some strategies to not call people out so teachers are more aware are more intentional in their practices when addressing these students,” Salazar said.

When Salazar was the interim principal she did not want to approve programs that could have created big changes in our school. However, now that she’s is the official principal, she plans on doing everything she can to address the gaps we have concerning instructional equity.

For Salazar apart from instructional equity as her top priorities, there’s also campus culture building which means “continuing to do what we do with students which is SEL, restorative justice.” Salazar’s goal as principal is to not only continue to show restorative strategies and loving talk to students to show them how much they are cared for, but also utilize these with teachers as well.

“I’m trying really hard to appreciate our teachers,” Principal Salazar said “ Our teachers work so hard and I appreciate them so much, and that’s just part of building you know it’s showing them that I appreciate them every single day that I know their job is hard and I appreciate them coming to work. Thank you. Thank you for coming, Thank you for loving our students the way I do and that’s part of that just making sure

Tina Salazar EXPERIENCE

VISION FOR AKINS

• English department chair at akins • Volleyball coach • 6 Years of administrative experience • 21 Years in the classroom

1. Instructional equity 2. Campus culture building 3. Enhancing Community Partnership

FIRST DAY ON THE JOB

Diego Guitierrez

Principal Tina Salazar lead a Campus Leadership Team meeting the morning after The morning after the school board appointed her to fill the top leadership position permanently. Salazar had previously served as the interim principal since June.

that they know that I’m here for them that I am their number one fan.”

Enhancing community, which is also part of her priorities as a principal. By enhancing community she means intensifying partnerships, but specifically further improve the quality of knowledge in parents of the programs that are available at our school.

“When I do grab a parent I’m like we have this and this and they’re like, I just watch their eyes just get bigger and bigger, they didn’t know and so we need to do a better job of marketing for ourselves and letting people know.”

Salazar plans on continuing for students and parents voices to be heard. She doesn’t

make a move without a parent and student feedback. For example, she is wanting a change in student safety. The recent San Antonio Road and the traffic issues after school has been her concern and she’s looking for solutions for them and hopes she can do something about it.

Furthermore, Salazar has many priorities as the new principal, and she plans on addressing all these during her stay.

“I’m most excited about continuing the work that we’ve started here,” Salazar said.

“Akins is like no place I’ve ever been before.”

“This is home. This place is special and it’s my job now to take care of it.”

News

The Eagle’s Eye

ee

Page 5 - November 12, 2018

Why is Manchaca about to Explains: change to Menchaca Road ?

Mylo Bissell

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News Editor

a ny people use Manchaca street everyday, to get to school, to work, or go somewhere to eat. This familiar staple is soon going to be replaced. Recently the Austin City Council has voted to change ‘Manchaca’ to ‘Menchaca’.

This decision was made at a city council meeting on October 4th, and the change will be taking place on November 15th.

Supporters of the change find it disrespectful that the name hasn’t been changed sooner, reasoning that the man the street was named after Jose Antonio Men-

chaca had put his life on the line for Texas, and they misspelled his name. Comparing it to the likes of Bowie and Davy Crockett, saying if it was spelled Davie Croket, that the change would’ve happened in less than a day.

Others argue that the name is accurate and shouldn’t be subject to change. Many of these people have the stance that the name honors Native American tribes that resided in these areas.

These two competing theories have been the source of more debate among Austinites and historical associations since the announcement that the street name would change.

Manchaca: Native American Word

Menchaca: Texan War Hero

The Manchaca-Onion Creek Historical Association (MOCHA) argues that the name is derived from the Choctaw Native American Tribe word “imshaka”. The word is used to describe a shortcut through the Missippi River Delta and is cited as the reason for the name of Bayou Manchac in Louisiana, which predates Jose Menchaca.

MOCHA released a statement saying that the name predates written history and changing the name is the erasure of Choctaw history.

This was reinforced when William Pelham, a surveyor from Arkansas, bought land to build a plantation and disliking the Hispanic spelling dropped the “A” at the end of Manchac to be more like the Louisiana bayou.

José Antonio Menchaca was Juan Seguin’s second lieutenant in the decisive Battle of San Jacinto.

After the Texas Revolution Menchaca recieved land grants Bob Perkins, the retired judge who championed renaming the road for years, argues his name was first misspelled to the now-familiar “Manchaca,” during the roll call after San Jacinto then they named the springs after Menchaca using the Anglicized Perkins, the founder of Justice for Menchaca, works to lobby Austin City Council to change the signs, raising the money himself.

Do you think this name change is good or bad?

I think it’s a bad change for Austin and I think we are doing something because of white guilt. People are like oh well they’re Latino so we should do it because Latinos should get recognized. That’s not why we should. That’s not the right reason.

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Ashley Frias Sophomore It’s not relevant because our motto is keep Austin weird and we should keep the abnormality

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Kaylani Hernandez Senior

Diego Cedillo

Diego Cedillo

Ebone Zamarron

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Ebone Zamarron Teacher

I think it’s unnecessary. I like the whole Man-slaughter part of the word, the Manchaca Slaughter combination.

But it just sounds unnecessary.

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News

Page 6 - November 12, 2018

Historic flooding results in boil-water notice in Austin Joshua Guerrero Samantha Salazar kins students and staff adjusted to life without clean water running from the taps for a week after the City of Austin endured a citywide boil-water notice.

Shortly after school began on Monday, Oct. 22, the student body received a shock when they heard Associate Principal Manuel Garcia announce over the intercom that the drinking water on campus wasn’t safe to drink.

The first announcement was short on detail, but Garcia said that the administration was working on a plan to handle the situation. A little after 10 a.m. Garcia came back on and established the plan to keep cases of water bottles in each classroom.

Students expressed confusion to their teachers about why the water was suddenly unsafe, making some teachers have to stop their regularly planned lessons to explain the cause of the situation.

The situation was caused when city officials determined that the Austin water treatment plant was not able to keep up with demand after flooding upstream clogged the system with silt and debris.

Cities typically issue boil-water notices when they worry that the water in the system could have higher levels of bacteria than what they deem to be safe. The impact

Mylo Bissell

LEFT OVER RESOURCES

During the water crisis many people and companies donated water to the district and individual schools. After it was lifted many cases remained in the Akins foyer.

Chavez said she thinks the week-long boil-water notice was mostly a minor inconvenience for Austin residents. She said a positive impact of the water shortage could be to help raise awareness of the conditions that people in other countries without modern water treatment systems endure on a daily basis.

“If you put yourself in someone else’s shoes outside of our country, hey don’t have water like we do every day,” Chavez said.

Green Tech Assistant Principal Ernesto Wallace said he is thankful for the community support Akins received in the form of donations of bottled water. Wallace said the water shortage reminded him of the conditions he experienced in his youth in Panama.

“It wasn’t stressful, because it took me back to where I grew up,” he said. “We had a lot of situations like that since it rained so much there,” Wallace said.

How does a boil water notice occur?

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1 Excess rain causes historic flooding in area 2 Flooding creates silt and solid build-up at water plants 3 Silt build-up slows water treatment process 4 Processing plant cannot provide clean water

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Staff Writers

on students at a school was mostly minor inconveniences: students could not use hallway drinking fountains and were told to use hand sanitizer instead of tap water in the bathrooms.

Some students have actually enjoyed having so much access to free bottled water while on school instead of having to go into the hall to find a drinking fountain.

“I think it’s convenient so kids don’t have to be asking their teachers every (second),” junior Megan Rodriguez said.

It also made other food preparation difficult at restaurants that used water to clean fresh vegetables or make coffee or fountain drinks.

Sophomore Yarina Chavez said that it has been annoying trying to get certain drinks or food at restaurants since the water boil notice because restaurants menus have been limited because of the water notice.

“It’s kind of frustrating. I’ve been wanting to order my favorite drinks and food and sometimes I can’t,” Chavez said.

Besides dealing with water problems at school, some of the more severe effects of the boil-water notice were experienced at home. Families had to buy bottled water or spend time boiling lots of tap water and letting it cool to prepare food, brush their teeth and take care of other basic hygiene tasks.

“I’m smart enough not to drink the water, but sometimes like I forget when I brush my teeth,” Rodriguez said.

Opinions

The Eagle’s Eye

Bethany Editor-in-Chief

Mylo News

Page 7 - November 12, 2018

Jennifer Opinions

Andy Entertainment

Dee In-Depth

Angela Life & Style

Jon Life & Style

Jj Sports

Diego Photo

Ash Graphics

Editorial: Students share priorities with new principal

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n Oct. 29, the Akins community breathed a sigh of relief when Tina Salazar, who previously served as the school’s interim principal, was appointed by the school board to fill the campus’ top leadership post permanently.

Salazar, who has served at Akins for 10 years as a teacher, coach, and assistant principal, before being elevated to be the principal, is well regarded and respected by students, teachers and other administrators.

The announcement helped bring a sense of certainty to the campus, which had been left without a leader with the authority to make big decisions for Akins since former Principal Brandi Hosack worked her last day in early June. Interim principals typically work to keep campuses running on their current courses and do not make big changes because their positions are temporary. Now that Salazar is here to stay, The Eagle’s Eye has made a list of what it deems to be the highest priorities of student concern for her to address.

are just left without a restroom or access to the main building at all.

Another issue of accessibility comes from the gates that keep the main campus safe. With these gates being locked during classes you get passing periods in which the gates remain locked and in an effort to not be late many students climb over or through these gates. This leads to more tardies and during a tardy sweep, it can lead to student injuries.

The locked black gates keep the main campus safe but the portables are left vulnerable. A lot of portable classroom doors open outward making some lockdown procedures obsolete. Not only that, but there is almost direct access to the portables from Old San Antonio Road leaving this part of campus essentially open to the public without the ability to check and vet as is done with any other entry point on campus.

There are many steps that need to be taken to secure this campus: easier controlled-access to the building, a better system to unlock and lock to gates, electronic badges like in the STEM building and a way to block the portables from street access via Old San Antonio Road.

Standards Based Grading

Standards-based grading (SBG)shouldn’t be a system of grading, it should be a system of teaching. Our current system is outdated, the way we do things has stayed relatively the same since the post-depression era.

Standards-based teaching (SBT) is a departure from the workforce cultivating school system we’ve all grown accustomed to.

In order for SBT to work, the notion of student vs teacher needs to be dropped. The idea that moving in this direction would allow students to take advantage of a system that is being designed to cater to them doesn’t make any sense. Students aren’t supposed to kill themselves over these courses and teachers aren’t supposed to pride themselves in making their classes difficult.

This system of specialization and accommodation is what students need to succeed but it requires work from both sides. It is necessary for all teachers and classes to move to SBT. Mistakes, and errors should not define students. Mastery over the material should take precedence. Pacing, workload, and assessments all need to be designed for the students to optimize learning. That’s what SBT/SBG should mean.

Focus on Campus Appearance Ash Catalan

Photo ID Enforcement

With the new security measures, photo IDs are a way to quickly identify whether people on campus are current Akins students or outsiders with ill intent. The campus administration made a strict rule that everyone must wear their IDs at all times while on campus. However, over the past couple weeks, they have not been as strict on students about not having it. They either have the choice to get a temporary one or choose to just not care and stay in ISS all day. There’s an easy solution if someone just happens to forget it one day, they should just be given a temporary one and be given a warning instead. If enforcing helps these students to have their IDs then let’s enforce it more so we don’t leave the campus open

to a dangerous situation.

Portable Building Accessibility

With the large population of students at Akins, we have a necessity for portable classrooms on campus. The portables sit on the edge of campus typically blocked off from the rest of campus by the large black gates which remain locked for safety reasons.

Portable students are required to go to the cafeteria to use the restrooms and an entry point to the campus. This becomes an issue at times the cafeteria doors will be locked leaving the portable students with no way to use the restroom or access the campus and unlike in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math building, where they have passed to swipe students in and out of the building, portable students

We hope that with a new principal there can be something done about the general sanitation from students who believe that they don’t have to worry about cleaning after themselves. It would be appreciated if there would be more enforcement on student recycling and composting to help the environment and keep the school clean.

The amount of litter in the hallways of water bottles, paper, and pencils that can be picked up by the students who dropped them shouldn’t be left there with the idea that another person is going to be cleaning after them. The bathrooms are the worst sometimes with students not flushing toilets and leaving paper towels all over the floor.

Overall, we know that these are hard challenges to face and are not going to be resolved over night, but we would like to bring attention to these topics because we believe that they are one of the highest priorities when it comes to students.

Opinions

Page 8 - November 12, 2018

Reckless driving causes concerns in Akins students’ lot Emily Bellinghausen Staff Writer

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henever I ride with friends or a family member to get to or from school there are always people that drive at an insane rate of speed around the school and into the parking lot. It’s almost every day I see someone driving fast, and honestly, I’m not the only person seeing this happening.

I’ve seen many drivers who have almost caused accidents or have almost clipped the ends of other cars and buses. I’ve also seen drivers swerve around speed bumps, quickly turning away from them like they are drivers in Tokyo Drift. They barely miss the parked cars nearby.

From my experience, drivers do this because they are in too big of a hurry to get out of the parking lot. It’s scary when a driver speeds around the school bus almost clipping us to avoid the speed bump or because the bus is really slow. All of us know that cutting off buses and cars isn’t what’s taught in driving school. Beyond losing a driver’s license, reckless drivers can risk major penalties for dangerous driving in a school zone. It’s also dangerous when they don’t even care to even slow down or stop when the bus is turning into the bus drop off in the morning. Students and parents just slowly crawl up on the bus until it finally goes into the U-drop off.

However, there’s more than just trying to avoid speed bumps. When students and parents are arriving and leaving they quickly turn into or out of the parking lot, not yielding for a student running or biking across the sidewalk or street. I’ve seen cars pulling into the parking lot after A and B lunches swinging right into the parking lot barely missing students walking to class or when they are coming to school and leaving school. Often, kids who are late for school or maybe late from lunch, are most likely to speed down Old San Antonio Road and not look both ways for cars or students.

When parents are dropping off their kids they just speed into the entrance way for Akins, cutting off people trying to leave and others needing to park in the visitor area. When they try to leave the entranceway, they oftentimes cut the car off that is trying to get to the main parking area. I’ve seen students who are in the crosswalk, with the right of way almost hit by parents who don’t seem to care. It’s really scary when I’m trying to get to my Aunt’s car across the drive-thru and, a parent just comes past speeding by not even looking for me or other kids walking. Sometimes it’s not always the driver that makes the mistake not looking or stopping. The students that walk also have a responsibility as well. They need to start looking for the cars that are coming into the Akins parking lot. When it comes to a person and a car, the car is always going to win.

I’ve noticed when I’m on the bus, there are some administrators and AISD police officers that are standing at the crosswalks near Old San Antonio Road and near the portables. I’m very glad that they started doing that because of the last two incidents where students were hit by cars that have happened back there. That’s where the

Emily Bellinghausen

buses go and where most of the students come to and from school. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured or killed in those two incidents. With the new crossing guards at the Old San Antonio Road, I think this is a great start to the control of reckless driving in the Akins parking lot. It’s a step forward to keep everyone safe. But

also, it’s everybody’s responsibility to look out for others when they are either driving or walking. It’s dangerous when people really don’t pay attention and someone gets really injured from just one person not paying attention to where they are going on the road or are too distracted by doing another activity besides driving responsibly.

Opinions

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 9 - November 12, 2018

Dispute between the State and Austin ISD about tests Zeta handy Staff Writer

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hen some students hear words like SAT and ACT they think “stressful” and “expensive.”

The cost to take the SAT exam in 2018 is $47.50 without the essay and $64.50 with the essay, which is required for most students looking to major in certain fields of study. It might seem like a minor expense for those with lots of financial support from parents, but for those that don’t have that, it can be one more obstacle.

However, that could all soon change this year for the current junior class.

Current seniors who have not taken the SAT will still have to pay for the exam if they did not receive a fee waiver this year. However, current juniors might be spared this expense this year because Austin ISD has announced the entire junior class will take the SAT during the school day on April 9, 2019. The school district will cover the cost of all the juniors to take the test. However, as of press time of this edition, there is a question about whether it will be the version of the exam with the essay.

Christine Kesling, college and career readiness counselor, said there are a couple of reasons the school district is doing this. One is to make sure every student has an equal opportunity to graduate college and be career ready. The other is that federal education law now requires students who completed high-level state math and reading tests before entering high school to take another assessment while they are in high school to measure their achievement.

Students that are eligible for fee waivers do not have to use one of their waivers for this test, students can save those waivers for subsequent testing, Kesling said.

With the new federal mandate for an advanced level math and reading exam, the expense for who should pay for the exam will fall on either Austin ISD or the state of Texas. With Austin ISD sending more than half of the property taxes it collects back to the state because of Texas’ broken school finance system, many in Austin ISD believe the state should be ponying up the funds to pay for the tests.

Austin ISD’s financial situation is so bad that it is relying on reserved funds to fund the current year’s budget.

It has also created a budget stabilization task force that is searching for ways to cut expenses.

“The Legislature puts aside over $78 million for student testing each year, and I believe the money should come from that. The district and our school should not bear the burden of state-required testing,” Kesling said.

I for one, I believe that the state should pay for the test. The school districts shouldn’t be responsible to pay for something that the federal government requires.

Imagine two wallets one being the state and the other the school districts. The state’s wallet is full to the max with money is falling out while Austin ISD’s wallet is empty.

Juniors could be a lucky bunch if they don’t have to worry about shelling out their own cash or coming to

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school on a weekend to take the SAT or ACT. They won’t have to worry about having to make sure they have a ride or missing work to take the test. The district is doing the right thing to offer it to all students.

This will be a major benefit to students who struggle with paying for these tests and those who struggle with taking test in general. Some students who suffer from learning disabilities will benefit from having at least one testing attempt that they don’t have to pay for, giving them a second chance to do better.

The SAT and ACT are college readiness indicators that let the students know how ready they are in math and reading/writing skills as they begin to make college and career choices. Because students who are college bound will have to take these tests anyway, it’s a good idea to use these exams as the advanced-level test to meet the new federal standard.

It’s unfair, however, that a single test can have such a major impact on a students chances to get into college, but at least students won’t be burdened by this expense

anymore. The district is already trying to find funds to pay for many other things such as school repairs and security improvements. The state doesn’t fairly give money to schools in the first place, which leads to schools not being repaired or increased class sizes.

Our school district should not have to shoulder this burden considering it’s dire financial situation. The district had to create a 31-member Budget Stabilization Task Force composed of Austin ISD parents, staff and community members to examine ways to keep the school doors open.

The task force may have to look at more drastic ways to cut the budget if the state doesn’t provide its fair share of funding to pay for essential things like the SAT and ACT exams.

At the time this publication was sent to press, whether or not the district will fund the essay portion of the SAT was unknown. If the district does not fund this part of the test, I believe that the state should fund both parts of the exam.

LocAL Entertainment Page 10 - November 12, 2018

Students form metal band, work toward debut album Austin Rutledge

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Staff Writer

uilding a band is hard work.

For senior Ben Dobbs, it’s taken almost three years for him to realize his dream of creating his own metal band called Jaded Black.

After years of listening to hard rock bands like Three Days Grace, and Downstait. Dobbs decided in January 2015 that he was ready to start a band. He said it wasn’t hard to find other kids who were into metal, but it was hard to find people with enough musical skill.

“The tough part was finding people who can play instruments who like to play metal,” Dobbs said.

Before he started the band he began learning to play guitar in October 2015. He then started scouting for potential bandmates. Recruiting a bass player was easy because his brother sophomore Sam Dobbs was interested in playing in a band since he was in the fifth grade.

The next member to join was junior Dee Carreon, who initially thought about being a solo musician. However, Carreon, Jaded Black’s main guitarist, decided to join up with Sam because he thought it would be beneficial to play music with like-minded musicians.

One of the band’s biggest challenges has

been finding a drummer. Ben Dobbs, who plays rhythm guitar and is a vocalist, said they thought they had a drummer lined up in October, but complications prevented that from happening. However, he said they won’t let personal problems stop their dream of making their band a reality.

“We really just to have to march forward we have a lot of work to do with our album and all that,” Ben Dobbs said.

The band also doesn’t let lack of training get in their way.

“For the band, I didn’t have any experience playing music,” Ben Dobbs said.

After only a brief time of the band being formed, the band already plans to release their first album in March or April.

Jaded Black has a diverse unique style of music that they play.

“The band plays different types of music we call ourselves technical death metal, death metal, prog metal, and a little bit of thrash metal,” Ben Dobbs said.

Ben said playing metal is a great way to express frustrations.

“Currently it’s just a way to release anger and be creative in the sense that it captures our mental state,” Ben Dobbs said.

While Ben Dobbs is the singer for the band, but he also enjoys the challenge of being a guitarist.

“I decided learning the guitar would be an interesting challenge because I’ve heard

Jennifer Arriaga

METAL TRIO

Junior Dee Carreon, sophomore Sam Dobbs and senior Ben Dobbs don masks as part of their look for their metal band Jaded Black.

The band is working to produce their first album scheduled to be realeased around April of 2019.

so many people have tried and failed so I thought let’s go for it,” Ben Dobbs said.

Sam said Black Metal resonates more with him while death metal is more like Ben’s style. Sam said Burzum was the band that first got him into black metal.

“It was January 2017. I remember hear-

ing a song called “Hibiscus” and just being completely blown away because I didn’t know what I was hearing,” Sam Dobbs said. “At the moment, I do this just for fun though I wish the band will eventually go further than what I envision at the moment,” Ben Dobbs said.

Upcoming releases and events for November 2018 MOVIES Fantastic Beasts 2 Nov. 16

Widows Nov. 16

Robin Hood Nov. 21

Creed II Nov. 21

MUSIC Mumford & Sons Nov. 16

Mariah Carey Nov. 16

Smashing Pumpkins Nov. 16

Kanye West Nov. 23

EVENTS

VIDEO GAMES

A Christmas Affair

Hitman 2

Austin Jazz Fest

Fallout 76

Turkey Trot

Battlefield 5

Chuy’s Parade

Darksiders 3

Nov. 14-18

Nov. 24

Nov. 22

Nov. 24

Nov. 13

Nov. 14

Nov. 20 Nov. 27

LOCAL Entertainment

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 11 - November 12, 2018

Transmedia storytelling becomes entertainment fad Arianna Farner Staff Writer

S

Bethany Bissell

torylines updated in real time. Characters that interact with viewers. Content accessed solely on social media. The phenomenon of transmedia storytelling is a growing trend that focuses on interaction and realism like no other.

The idea of producing television shows through transmedia storytelling is not a new concept; it’s existed in different mediums in the past. Television shows such as Pokemon have had video game counterparts and films such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer have been converted into television programs. The introduction of social media is only the latest addition to this type of crossover storytelling. Maggie Jung is the head of the Buzzfeed experimental team and produced the web series “Romeo Likes Juliet.” The series took place solely on Instagram and was updated in real time.

“I just think it’s a really exciting time to be creating and constantly pushing the envelope,” Jung said. “I think it’s something that makes the landscape of the media and entertainment industry that much more dynamic.”

The rise of the Internet has created many new opportunities for storytelling through mobile entertainment. In recent years, social media platforms such as Snapchat and Facebook have launched their own professionally produced series.

Snapchat has partnered with content curators like Buzzfeed, National Geographic, Food Network and Vox to bring viewers series similar to a television show. Users can subscribe to a series to view the content that is regularly released. Some of the series release content daily, while others release an episode each week or every couple weeks. One show that has gained a following is Snapchat’s crime mystery series called Solve, which encourages viewer engagement. At the end of each episode, users can “swipe up” and vote on who they think committed the crime.

“That is really interesting especially if you trying to go into something like that like as a career,” freshman Emily Chavez said.

In 2017, Facebook launched Facebook Watch, a program that offers video content on demand to users of the app. One of the series that has gained popularity is SKAM Austin, based off the Norwegian web series SKAM. Both

SKAM and SKAM Austin are high school dramas that take place solely through clips and social media posts by the characters in order to create a realistic story.

SKAM Austin came under criticism when news organization Education Week claimed that it blurred the lines between what is real and what is not. Because the series is so realistic and airs in real time, viewers may be confused about whether or not the events in the program are real. In the article, Education Week writer Benjamin Herold said that SKAM Austin could be confusing for viewers because the content appears alongside posts from a user’s actual friends and family. Viewers of the show have to go down a “digital rabbit hole” to follow the storyline and keep up with the characters, he wrote in the article.

“Some experts worry the boundary-blurring new narrative format could further undermine teens’ already-shaky ability to figure out what’s true online,” Herold said.

Jung said their show has received a completely different reaction and that while people are usually confused at first, they get help from more experienced viewers.

“During the production, we noticed that people were getting confused about whether or not it was real,” Jung said. “The great thing was that the community formed around the people following the story and the people, who are following the story and know what’s going on, would then inform the people who are confused.”

These mixed reactions to such a new format of entertainment aren’t surprising. What is interesting and new for some may be a turnoff for others. Although this is nothing new, the inclusion of social media into the mix makes it that much more complicated. Older people tend to be more hesitant to adjust to new forms of media while, as they grew up with it, younger people tend to be more open to new formats. A lot of students at Akins and in general grew up with social media as a normal occurrence in their lives, making it a natural fit for them.

Even growing up in a more and more digital world, Chavez said she finds this new genre strange and worries about the effects of too much technology on the younger generation.

“It’s getting kids too much into artificial things and not what’s really happening in real life,” Chavez said. “They don’t seem very interesting to me. I wouldn’t want to watch it.”

Some students at Akins find this new genre interesting like sophomore Brandon Godoy, who said he was interested in following one of these series after hearing about them. “(The show) sounds interesting and seems pretty cool.

I would like to watch it,” Godoy said. “I think it’s very strange, but in a good way because that way you can interact with modern people. It’s pretty amazing.”

I think the nature of technology and entertainment is that it goes hand-in-hand and because it will always be changing because technology will always be moving forward. And I think it’s important for storytelling to adapt to these new forms because that’s just going to be the next thing that we use to communicate and that will constantly be evolving.

Staff Picks for November: Old Video Game Throwback Scooby-Doo! Unmasked

SSX World Tour

Jet Set Radio

I had a really fun time playing it.

There’s definitely a nostalgia factor that plays into my love for this game, but regardless, it’s a fun experience. I encourage everyone to play this 2005 miracle because it’s engaging and a super fun ride.

I remember being at my grandmother’s house and playing this game on my Xbox. It was the best game at that time for me. People should check it out because you can unlock so many snowboards and the tricks and flips you can do are amazing.

Jet Set Radio is a game where you cruise around on magnetic skates, spray paint landmarks, and complete missions. The game excels in the art and sound design. It’s really fun to play when you just want to brighten your mood.

Elijah Calderon, Staff Writer

Ash Catalan, Graphics Editor

THQ

EA

Phoenix Braly, Staff Writer

Sega

IN-Depth

Page 12 - November 12, 2018

The

Turnout

Students participate in activism, political organizing in place of voter participation Dee Carreon

R

In-Depth Editor

igged system. Lame candidates. Political gridlock.

These are all reasons why young people say they often do not vote. In the past elections voter turnout in Texas was in general and especially among young people, very low.

During the 2012 elections, only 46.9 percent of eligible voters had participated, ranking the state at 48th out of 50 states and D.C. During 2016, only about 51.2 percent of eligible voters participated, leaving the state in the same low ranking. During the 2014 midterm election, about 28.6 percent of Texans participated.

In addition to this, national voter turnout for the 18-24 year old demographic tends to garner similarly low numbers. In 2012, 38 percent of eligible voters in the age group voted. During the 2014 midterm election, the percentage more than halved to 15.9 percent. In the 2016 elections, the turnout rate was 39.4 percent.

Senior Michael Garcia, who is a member of the AustinCorps internship, said that young people tend to not vote because they feel their vote doesn’t matter. “(Students) don’t care because they think that the system is rigged,” Garcia said. “They think that one vote isn’t going to sway anything. They think that even if they do choose, all the candidates suck so it wouldn’t even be worth it and they stop caring.”

Austin Corps is an internship program that takes students from three high schools and teaches them to work in different city offices and how to get citizens involved in politics. Social studies teacher Linda O’Neal, who is the sponsor for Austin Corps, said she wanted to be an example to her students when she decided to run for Austin City Council this year “These (internships) help us to get real life experience working with the government,” said Hailey Matteson, senior and Austin Corps intern.

In October, the organization partnered with the League of Women Voters to register eligible Akins seniors to vote.

In addition to this, Austin Corps organized a mayoral candidate forum for students and community members to learn about the people looking to be the next leaders of city government.

“All of our events that we do are student planned,” Matteson said. “The (mayoral) forum was really cool. We got to have candidates come and have students learn about them.”

Senior Jordan Carlisle is registered to vote. He said that he was reluctant to vote because he felt uninformed, but thinks that it is important to do so.

“Everyone needs to vote because if we don’t then it would cause more problems in the long run,” Carlisle said.

Senior and Austin Corps intern Marissa Lugo said that

being knowledgeable about politics is essential for newly eligible voters. She said that with knowledge comes new interest in involvement and voting.

“You can’t really change (anything) if you don’t have to knowledge to,” Lugo said. ”You begin to get all this knowledge (about) what certain people do, such as the people in city council and the city manager, who actually does more than the mayor.”

This election, Travis County received record-breaking registration numbers. This year’s voter registration numbers were more than double the previous 2014 midterm election. .

“The older generation is just getting older,” Evans said.

“We’re the new phase of politics and I think it’s really important for us to show that. Whoever shows up to the ballot is who will be in charge.”

Garcia said that he advises new voters to vote for individuals who align with their beliefs and not be blinded by party lines. The “D” or “R” by a candidates name can be deceiving.

“Political parties are like a brand name,” Garcia said. “If one of the opposite candidates are better than the other, go for that one. Try to investigate what their actual point of view is.”

Evans said that voting is a vital power for young people to harness because it dictates their life going forward.

“It’s the future,” Evans said. “The future is in their hands and if they don’t vote then the future is not in their hands.”

Although it is the most direct way we can influence our government, voting is not the only way students can get involved in the political process. Many high school students were stirred into taking action in response to the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida in February.

Within the first 21 weeks of 2018, 23 school shootings had occurred which equates to roughly one shooting per week. Calls for new gun control laws were already highly debated but this mass rise of school shootings has pushed students to get involved because of the perceived lack of action by adults to take action to protect them.

All across the United States students walked out of classrooms in 2018 to protest gun violence. Akins was no exception to this. On February 26, Akins students organized a walkout in support of stricter gun control laws. This was only five days after Akins was forced into its own lockdown in response to death threats by a former student spotted on a school bus with ammunition.

Junior Elena Salinas was the lead organizer of the walkout. Salinas’ first encounter with gun violence was a lockdown that happened in 2nd grade. The idea of it had been “pretty tame” until up to the Parkland shooting, she said.

The whole shooting, and the witnesses accounts really affected her, causing her to push for action.

Even two weeks after the Akins lockdown it still caused her such emotional trauma to the point that she felt anxiety from just hearing the intercom beep at unusual times.

However, it also caused her to get more involved with her community.

Salinas’ had even spoken in front of a crowd of protestors at the Capital about gun violence. When asked about her preparation, she said it was very last minute. She had the intention of putting out some kind of message out there, and while knowing it was very irresponsible of her to wait until the last moment to work on it, she felt like the buildup to it was very worth it.

Politically, Salinas feels like our politicians are “lobbied” by special interests and that’s why they don’t do anything about gun violence. She said she believes they do not take action because of the money they receive from these special interest groups.

“We as students have substantially less control over our politicians, and country because (not all of us) can vote,” she said.

She finds the ones who don’t want us to be heard, came up with these laws in the first place.

“If students know about it, they can vote about it,” Salinas said.

Read more online at AkinsEaglesEye.com

IN-Depth

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 13 -November 12, 2018

Winners of 2018 Mid-Term Elections

Senior

Vasquez is a member of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance and advocates for LGBT+ rights. An interview

City of Austin

U.S. Senate

Ted Cruz

Kris Vasquez

with Vasquez follows.

Why are you in the GSA club?

Steve Adler

I helped start up the GSA my freshman year. I felt like I needed to see some representation of the LGBT community at school because I felt uncomfortable and alone.

U.S. Senator: Ted Cruz (R] 51%

How did you find out if you were gay/bi/lesbian/trans?

Austin Mayor: Steve Adler (D) 59%

All this happened around middle school because that (time) was finally my interaction with any LGBT person. I basically already had those feelings of same sex relationships. I already liked girls at the time but during those times I didn’t know I was trans. Middle school was the place where I understood it wasn’t normal.

District 9 City Council: Kathie Tovo (D) 53% State Senator: Donna Campbell (R] 58% State Representative: Vicki Goodwin[D) 52%

What issues would you like to see addressed about the alliance socially, or politically?

The main (issue) would be the Trump Administration’s (ideas) about gender. Especially because it also affects Title IX, which is the main right that we have. Title IX covers gender expression and (Trump) is also messing with that as well. When it comes to that

Results From Texas Tribune

Voter Turnout by Age Group In Texas: From United States Census 2016

Voter Non-Voter

52%

48%

18-29

34%

29%

45-64

65+ 71%

38%

66%

30-44 62%

Reviews

Page 14 - November 12, 2018

Black Ops 4 integrates change to popular video game jose Garcia

N

Staff Writer

y an

th Be l sel Bis

ot all Call of Duty games are created equal. With the release of Black Ops 4, there have been 15 titles in the Call of Duty franchise.

Depending on the developer and the variety of the game, the franchise can vary a lot depending on who makes the game. My favorite variety of Call of Duty has been the Black Ops series developed by Treyarch so I was excited when Activision announced the release of its fourth installment. I bought the game on PlayStation because PlayStation 4 users get the downloadable content (DLC) early.

Campaign Game Mode: Black Ops 4 does not have a campaign officially; However, what it does have is the Specialist HQ, which is a set of missions that are played for a select operator. These missions have their own cutscenes at the beginning and end of the mission. The games in question are set in which you start off with a tutorial on how to play the operator first then you play a multiplayer game mode with bots. The cutscenes in question are really beautiful looking and it shows they put some time into the cutscenes. I love the little backstory for each of the specialists, giving it some character depth. It also helps you connect with these people you may play as. And I especially like how the last cutscene that plays whenever you beat all 10 specialist missions gives a clue for where to look for in the new battle royale game mode called “blackout.”

Multiplayer Game Mode: Let me start off by saying that I haven’t played a proper, boots-on-the-ground Call of Duty since Modern Warfare Remastered when it released in 2016, and I really like howz fast paced this multiplayer

feels. It made me nostalgic for the feel of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Now I know that I’m not the best Call of Duty player, but I can get a couple kills here and there, and I think I’m doing pretty decent at the game. But my favorite part of the game has to be the specialist abilities and ultimates. One of the problems is the game’s hitboxes because there are times when shots don’t always land and if they do it is not even close to where I shot. Fortunately, this doesn’t happen too often.

Zombies Game Mode: The zombies game mode in Black Ops 4 is something I’m sure a lot of Black Ops players are familiar with and from what I have played so far it has its pros and cons. When I played Black Ops 4 I didn’t really have a squad to team up with so I’ve been a solo player for the entire time I played it. Now, this isn’t a problem

for zombies as you can play solo, but it has been made clear that you do earn more XP the more players you play with.

What most avid Black Ops Zombies fans do in terms of zombies is, of course, the zombies’ easter egg, which, is a series of actions you can do while fighting the final boss of that map and get a special cutscene. Of the four maps that you can play, I would say that only one of them is possible to complete the easter egg. For the others, you’ll need a team to earn this achievement.So from my experience of zombies, it was really just a game mode to play if I got bored of multiplayer or blackout.

Blackout Game Mode: Now let me come out of the minority and say that I really liked Fortnite. It was a fun game to play with friends every now and then even if I didn’t win all the time or play that much either. When I heard that Black Ops 4 was going to have a battle royale mode I was really excited cause I knew while it would probably have the same rules the way it would play out would make it a different game and in my opinion it is.

When I played this mode I was solo so I haven’t been able to play it as “Duo” or “Quads.”I really liked how they handled combining Call of Duty with battle royale by not just being able to pick up guns and throwables but attachments and perks as well. Overall the game feels like Black Ops but with more room to fight.

Verdict: Black Ops 4 isn’t for everyone. The game rewards players for the number of hours they put into the game. So if you really love Call of Duty games or are a hardcore must-play-every-game player, then it’s definitely worth the $60 price tag. With my busy school schedule, I can’t play it a lot, but I still really enjoyed it.

Red Dead Redemption II provides involved gameplay Angel mendez ed Dead Redemption 2 is an open world game made by Rockstar Games where you play the story of Arthur Morgan who is a member of the Van der Linde Gang.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is good for gamers who want to enjoy the story of the game and not feel rushed. There are a lot of cinematic cutscenes in the game to enjoy and tell the story. There are realistic things in the game, for example, your gun can jam if you don’t clean it and your character can get dirty and make people get disgusted of you and avoid you. Red Dead Redemption 2 story mode takes 60 hours to complete and you can still do side quest found throughout the map when you complete it.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, there are times where you can choose your own decision which can change the outcome of the mission. For example, some missions let you choose whether to kill or release hostages which can have an impact later on because if you let the hostages live then you have a risk of them telling the law (police) and have

Courtesy of Rockstar

R

Staff Writer

them find you. Red Dead Redemption 2 encourages you to explore the map in free mode instead of always having to do missions and you can find side quests while exploring the map which can be interesting to do.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to the first Red Dead Redemption so you don’t need to play the first Red Dead Redemption to understand the story. The story is about the Van Der Linde gang and how they are trying to find a safe place to hide from the law and also find a way of getting money either by robbing people or places.

After you finish the story part of the game, you can still do other things in the game so you won’t be tired of playing it over and over again. Some things you can do to have fun in Red Dead Redemption 2 is to hunt animals for their skin and make new satchels or you can do a side quest that appears when you ride in some regions of the map. Also, when you’re done with the story mode, you will have an option to play Red Dead Online, which will be in a public beta stage sometime in November 2018.

The graphics for Red Dead Redemption 2 look realistic, but if you have the new Xbox One X then the game will run in 4K and look more beautiful than the PlayStation 4 Pro. If you’re a fan of games that look beautiful, then this game is for you. The game still looks beautiful on the PlayStation 4.

Overall, I recommend this game to gamers who like story mode games and like slow paced games, and for $60 it’s worth your purchase because the story mode is 60 hours.

You also have other things to do in the game. I would rate this game 4 out of 5 because you have a lot of things to do in the game and the story is so exciting.

REVIEWS

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 15 - November 12, 2018

Students review The Hate U Give’s book EE Compares: and film adaptations, find differences

Movie shows complex characters, issues Book creates conversation about issues Nathan Martinez

Tania dominguez

he Hate U Give is a story about a girl named Starr who is switching between two lives one in the poor, mostly black, the neighborhood where she lives, and the rich mostly white prep school where she attends. The balance between the two worlds is broken when she witnesses a shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil by the hands of a police officer and she is pressured from different sides of her community to stand up for what she believes is right.

This is a movie where it demonstrates the views from the side where it shows the hard truth of how society is facing police brutality and how sometimes the world can be unfair.

In this situation, the police officer doesn’t get charged with murder and the officer ended up winning the case.

The movie helps humanize the young characters beyond what we often read in news stories. Amandla Stenberg, who plays Staar, shows what it is like to be divided

eople most likely know what The Hate U give is from watching the trailer or seeing the movie, but not many are aware that its actually an adaption of Angie Thomas’s bestseller The Hate U Give published in 2017.

In the book, readers follow the life of Starr Carter as she faces the challenges of living a double life — one being her life in Garden Heights, a poor, predominantly black neighborhood and the other being centered at Williamson — the preppy private school she attends across town.

One of the most important parts of the book is “The talk” that Starr’s father has with her, and no it’s not the talk about the birds and the bees. It’s the talk about what to do if a cop stops her. Her father told her to keep her hands visible.

The reason for this talk becomes painfully obvious after she and her friend are Khalil are pulled over on their way home from a party. Things escalate quickly after a misunderstanding with the officer, result-

T

Staff Writer

P

Courtesy of Vulture

Courtesy of Vulture

between two worlds: the prep school where she goes to school and her original neighborhood where her friends and family experience police harassment on a regular basis.

I give this movie a good 4 out of 5. It’s interesting and makes you want to know what the characters are going to do next.

The director does a good job of showing how these types of events actually affect people’s lives.It’s refreshing to see a movie with young people dealing serious issues instead of cliché teenage drama.

Staff Writer

ing in Khalil being shot by the officer.

Sadly, this is not uncommon in America. The book realistically shows the struggles that minorities go through on a regular basis and helps the reader understand what it’s like to constantly live with the fear of facing a dangerous situation. Addressing this issue is what makes this a good read because it makes people more aware of problems they may not be facing themselves. It’s like a call to action, because it could be used as inspiration to peacefully stand up for your rights.

Little-known artist plays intimate show, pleases fans Anneliese Olivo

J

Staff Writer

eremy Zucker is not very well-known in popular music, but has developed a cult following among fans.

Jeremy Zucker, who grew up in New Jersey, started producing music using Garageband software when he was in middle school. Once he got into high school, he became a member of a band that was called “Foreshadows.” He currently has four EPs called Motions, Glisten, Idle, and Summer.

Zucker is currently on tour for his “Summer” and “Glisten” albums.

From an interview Zucker had with AllMusic.com he says that an artist named Blackbear is one of his strongest influences. Coincidentally, Blackbear did a remix of Zucker’s song “Heavy” and was made into a song that Blackbear put out called “Make Daddy Proud.” About a year later, Zucker

made a song in which Blackbear featured called “Talk Is Overrated.”

Zucker has signed with Republic Records and is now getting ready for his major label debut. Being a fan of Zucker, I bought tickets for his show. As soon as I walked into the Parish I felt an instant chill vibe.

The setting was perfect for an Indie-Pop genre type of concert. For Zucker being a not very well known artist, it was a shock to me that there was a room full of people there to see him — a majority of those people had been young adults and older, but some only being teenagers.

Once Zucker stepped onto the stage I could automatically feel the sudden change of feeling traveling around the room.

Throughout the entire show, the lighting and fog went very well with each song that Zucker had performed.

With the concert coming to an end

Zucker had left the stage leaving us all to think that it was over. When suddenly his drummer come back on stage and started to play. Soon after we see Zucker come back on stage and the crowd went wild. He had sung a few more songs before ending the show with his song “Ghosts” that was on his Idle EP. After the show I felt alive; I felt as if I had accomplished something big and I did.

I had got to see one of my favorite musical artists perform live right in front of me.

Seeing him in concert was a dream come true since I had been listening to his music for so long. I know Zucker fans and I are excited to see what music he will release in the future. Once that happens I would love to see Zucker in concert again and see where the road takes him as an artist.

RISING SINGER

Anneliese Olivo

Jeremy Zucker performs his song “Desire” at the Parish music venue in downtown Austin in October. Zucker has signed with Republic Records and is now getting ready for his major label debut.

Life & StylE

Page 16 - November 12, 2018

EE Cooks: Angela glass

T

Life & Style Editor

Mylo bissell News Editor

he holiday season is around the corner this means busy times all around with holiday shopping and cooking big family meals. As high school students there are many ways in which we can contribute around the household and helping in the kitchen is one way.

The Eagle’s Eye shares simple Thanksgiving sides, desserts Confidence in cooking traditional full meals that every family member knows and love can be overwhelming to a beginner. Many recipes are too complex for beginner chefs and take a lot of time to complete.

The Eagle’s Eye picked out four simple recipes that are easy to make and taste amazing. Yuma Rice is a great dish to serve as a side to your meal. Another easy side we chose was Garlic Parmesan Knots, it is an easy way to

upscale regular dinner rolls. For desserts we picked Pecan Pies, a simplified version of your classic holiday tradition.

Also Acorn Donut Holes are quick and cute dessert to get you into the fall mood.

These recipes take little prep time and are cooked in the oven or melted in the microwave. Overall these are just some fun fall recipes to get you into the festive mood and keeps your stomach full.

Acorn Donut Holes

Garlic Parmesan Knots

Ingredients:

Mylo Bissell

¼ cup of unsalted butter 2 tbsp grated parmesan 3/4 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp dried parsley flakes ¼ tsp salt 1 tube of biscuit dough

Ingredients:

Mylo Bissell

1 8-oz tub of sour cream 1 4-oz can of green chilies 1 bag of white cheddar 6 oz of rice

30 Minutes

10 Minutes

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray 2.Whisk butter, Parmesan, garlic powder, oregano, parsley and salt.

3. Halve each of the 8 biscuits, roll each half into 5-inch rope and tie into a knot, tucking the ends.

4. Put knots onto baking sheet, brush each knot with herb butter mixture.

5. Place into oven and bake until golden brown (8-10 minutes) 6. Brush with remainder butter mixture, serve immediately.

Directions: 1. Combine the chocolate and the coconut oil and microwave the combination for one minute. Stir when done then heat at 15-second intervals stirring until smooth 2. Break the pretzels in half 3. Pour sprinkles in a small bowl 4. Dip the top of your donut hole into the chocolate then dip the top in sprinkles 5. Push the pretzel stick into the top of the donut hole 6. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving

Ingredients:

Mylo Bissell

1 tbsp. coconut oil 1 c. melted chocolate Assorted sprinkles 1 dozen glazed donut holes 6 pretzel rods

Yuma Rice

Mini Pecan Pies

45 Minutes

40 Minutes

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. 2. Prepare the rice 3. Mix the rice sour cream and green chilies and put it in the baking sheet then covers it with the cheese 4-Bake it for 25 minutes or until bubbly

Directions: 1. Roll out pie dough, cut out 12 circles from the dough. Place each circle into a muffin tray, making sure each piece comes up the sides a bit.

Refrigerate pan while making the filling.

2. Mix together corn syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract. Distribute the filling into each pie crust (about 1 tbsp per crust).

3. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 25 minutes or until the filling is set.

Let cool.

Ingredients:

Mylo Bissell

Store-bought pie crust 1/3 cup light corn syrup 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter melted 1 egg lightly beaten 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Life & Style

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 17 - November 12, 2018

Curb Austin introduces skateboarding club to campus Isaac Villafranca

S

Staff Writer

kateboarders have a long history of being outsiders at their schools.

This is often because school rules ban the use of skateboards on campus, and riders are often chased off by security and administrators. This situation often creates a negative impression among skateboarders at the schools they attend.

“We are only allowed to skate in specific areas and if we leave the area we get in trouble,” senior Jesse Rios said.

To help combat this problem, costume design teacher Travis Beauchamp decided to create a club just for skateboarders so they would have a safe place that would allow them to enjoy the sport as much as he does. “(It’s) an environment where skateboarders can skate after school that was safe and inclusive,” Travis Beauchamp said. “We are hoping students will get community from the club.”

Skaters at Akins said there aren’t many places here in South Austin where skateboarders can skate without being hassled.

Their favorite spots are typically in the streets or at a skatepark. The club will allow them to stay closer to home.

“I am excited for a place to skate that is local considering I go downtown to skate,” senior Jose Martinez said.

Beauchamp said skateboarders will have the chance to learn new skills outside of skateboarding but can interpret them into skateboarding.

Skateboards will be brought to every club meeting for people who do not have access to one.

The skateboarding club is going to provide lessons to people are inexperienced with skateboarding.

“We will provide lessons to people who do not know how to skate,” Beauchamp said.

The club has built ramps and ledges for members that join the club. Many skaters don’t have many opportunities to skate on these, expanding their skateboarding experiences.

“I will be able to skate ledges and ramps instead of skating flat ground,” Rios said.

The club will provide a place where students can meet people with the same hobby and be around people who share similar interests.

“If people join, it will give me something new to experience,” Martinez said.

Skateboarders have been waiting for this club to open for majority of their high school careers. Many seniors are upset that it took a long time for someone to finally open a club for skateboarding, but they are still excited to have the chance to join a club that they enjoy doing.

“I’m a senior which sucks because I can only do it this year but it’s about time a skate club started,” Rios said.

Skaters at this school finally feel appreciated and a part of the school’s activities.

Skateboarding is a hobby that many students love, and it is no longer an outcast at this school.

“I am happy that they finally opened a club for skateboarders and finally involved skateboarders,” Martinez said.

Although many students are excited for the new skateboarding club to open, some skateboarders believe that skaters should improve on their own. “Skating is an individual sport for a reason,” junior Sebastian Maisonet said. “It’s mostly about learning, practicing, and growing on your own.”

The club has had multiple meetings and members are already benefiting from the club. The club is still young but the members are optimistic that there are going to be major benefits.

“So far the club has given me a chance to hang out with friends,” Rios said. “Other skaters are getting better already.”

Gender & Sexuality Alliance increases its membership Jon Garza

T

Life & Style Editor his school year, the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) has grown from eight to 43 registered mem-

bers.

Paredes Middle School recently introduced a GSA club for its students and it gained popularity on campus. Because many Paredes students came to Akins this school year, previous GSA members arrived seeking the organization out. This increased the GSA membership greatly.

The organization’s increase in size has brought changes, such as a change in name.

The club was previously known as the GayStraight Alliance. Senior Kris Vasquez said that the name change made the group feel more inclusive. “It (allows) more (people) to go,” Vasquez said. “Gender identity and sexuality is put together and makes it the whole LGBT community together within that group and its allies.” In addition to providing a more inclusive safe space for students who are not straight. In order to make members feel more comfortable, the

meetings are confidential unless a member is hurting themselves, someone else, or getting hurt by someone. Vasquez, who has been in GSA since his freshman year, said that the club discussed various topics of current events during their meetings. “(We) talk about how our day is and then we go on to a daily talk,” Vasquez said.

“Because it’s mostly student-led, we get to choose what topics are.”

Junior Leo Britt said that they go to to the club because it is a comfortable space for them. They said that the club allows them to express themselves more freely. “(I like) how open and accepting we are,” Britt said. “Everyone’s welcome no matter what.

Due to the club’s expanded, members expect more changes in the community. Britt said that they think the current political climate will encourage more members to join.

Vasquez said that he thinks they will reach out to the campus community more. “(We) know who our allies are,” Vasquez said. “(I hope) we actually get to do more activities get more involved in like the community, especially around Akins.”

GENDER & SEXUALITY ALLIANCE MEETING

Nathan Martinez

A group of students attending the Gender & Sexuality Alliance meeting and discussing the future of the club.-

Life & Style

Page 18 - November 12, 2018

EE

EXplores:

Christian Silva

A

Staff Writer

ustin, TX is full of stores that sell the styles of clothing that appeal to our generation. One of the biggest styles students aspire to wear is street wear, this style is more or less a kind of casual designer type of

Modern clothing stores in Austin to purchase the newest streetwear

wear. In recent years this type of clothing was very hard to obtain because any time these big brand names drop any new clothes on their website they would sell out in minutes.

But now thanks to these new stores you can buy big brands in person, instead of Online where you have refresh your browser every

second with the chance of not getting any of the clothes you wanted. These stores sell brands like Supreme, The Bathing Ape (Bape), Billionaire Boys Club, Comme des Garcons, and Offwhite. Stores such as, Private Stock, Stax Austin, and Sneaker Politics provide local access to all these popular brands.

Politics Austin Sneaker Politics is located on 221 W 2nd St, Austin and has a very aesthetic appeal. While Private Stock and Stax Austin are known for their clothes, Sneaker Politics is known for its abundance in sneakers. They have the hottest sneakers, from Jordans and Nike to Off White and Adidas. Inside the store, they have a display of the most recent drops lined up on the wall, and on the other side, they have their own merch. Sneaker Politics have their own shirts, hoodies, shoe cleaner, and hats. The store has a very modern-day look and that’s because they primarily

sell new and exclusive shoes. Even though Sneaker Politics is a retail store, none of the shoes they sell have ever been worn.

They also have a website sneakerpolitics.com where you can keep up to date with the most recent releases by the most popular sneaker brands. On this website you can order the shoes and clothes you want, pre-order items, and be the first to show off the hot new releases. For more information follow them on twitter @Sneakerpolitics, and on instagram @sneakerpolitics.

The Private Stock Private Stock is located on 516 E 6th St, Austin, TX and is a big attraction for Sixth Street. The Store is always crowded and full of people. Private Stock is known for its easy access to brands like Bape, Supreme. Even though they are hard to get, Private Stock offers sought-after bands such as Supreme and Bape.

While Private Stock is a retail store, don’t expect the prices to be cheap. These brands are heavily sought after, so the price will always be high. Everything they sell has never been used or worn, it’s all new and

exclusive. While they do have a website where you can order clothes and shoes, there is another way to order clothes from them. If you follow them on Instagram where they post all of their clothes and new releases, you can screenshot whatever it is you want, and text it to the number in the bio. They will then give you the option to have them bag it and hold onto it for you to pick up yourself in store, or you can have it shipped to you within two days.

For more information on what they have to sell follow them on Instagram @privatestockatx.

Stax Austin Stax Austin is located on 309 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, and unlike the other two stores, Stax sells very underrated streetwear brands like Primitive, Champion and Tommy Hilfiger. This store also sells the hot new brands that kids look for now, but one unique thing about this store is that they sell vintage streetwear. Stax is one of the only places in Austin where you can buy your favorite brand’s very first releases and for some of the cheapest prices you can find offline. The inside of the store gives off a vibe that can make you feel as if you’re walking into

the late 90’s or early 2000’s, shopping for the hottest trends in streetwear that you just saw your favorite rapper wearing on TV. This store has also caught the attention of an up and coming rapper named Sheck Wes. He posted himself giving the store a shoutout on his Instagram, which brought the attention of hundreds of thousands of people to the store.

For more information on what they sell follow them on Twitter (@staxaustin), Facebook (@staxaustin), and Instagram (@staxaustin).

HOT SHOPS

(Top) The inside of the showroom at Politics Austin. The store sells clothes.

(Middle) The clothing on display at the Private Stock (Bottom) A sale rack at Stax Austin All photos by Christian Silva

sports

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 19 - November 12 , 2018

Varsity QB has a dominating record breaking season JJ Mendiola

T

Sports Editor

he Eagles Football team has had its share of players over the years who have set the bar for future generations of Akins athletes.

One of these players who recently set a school record is Quarterback Nick Cagle, who now holds the record for the most single-season rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. He achieved this record when he scored his 9th rushing touchdown in the game against Hays.

He’s since added another two to make the new record 11.

Cagle said he was surprised he had broken a school record previously held by Teddy Lowery in 2013.

“It’s pretty exciting because I had no idea,” he said. “I can’t take all the credit. My offensive line and receivers gave the blocks I needed to achieve this.”

This season was by far one of Cagle’s best, featuring some strong running game performances. During the game against the Del Valle Cardinals, Cagle had a monster game with a whopping three rushing touchdowns. He was responsible for all of the Akins touchdowns that

night, finishing with a score of 21-14 Akins.

“All I can say is that on both sides of the ball we were doing good on defense we got stops we needed and the offense took advantage, and we were able to score,” he said. “I can’t take all the credit the offensive of line was playing perfectly and my receivers help make miss matches across the field helping me score as I did.”

His two team captains offensive linemen had all nice words to say about it Grey Wagner said”He deserves this more than anyone hes the hardest worker on this team and that record show its. Stephen Kates said “Hes the man he deserves it and with all the hardwork he puts in he 100 percent deserves it.”

Cagle has the most touchdowns on the team with 18 touchdowns .He also leads the team in rushing, which is another first time for a quarterback in the history in Akins history.

With the season not even over is time for him to add on the record and pile the stats on the season with this being the last season he wants to go extra hard to leave his footprint on Akins football forever.

“I’m just really proud of the work we did when people had to step up to the plate and they did I’m blessed to be of this team and Akins history,” he said.

DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES.

Senior Nicholas Cagle runs past a Del Valle Cardinal to get his third rushing touchdown of the game, helping him get closer to breaking a school record for the most single-season touchdowns by a quarterback. This season he scored 11 such touchdowns.

Tennis has a improved season and make it to district Evelyn Moreno

A

Staff Writer

fter a strong performance last year, the Akins tennis team made progress toward to building a strong program with a tradition of making it into district-level competition.

This fall season the tennis team did good things overall. The varsity team beat Del Valle in the Round 1 district match 10-2. The team was later defeated by the Austin High team in Round 2, knocking it out of the tournament and dashing its hopes of matching the team’s arrival in the bi-district-level competition. Even though they didn’t make it through all the way there were some students that showed off their skills and were shining brightly throughout the season.

Ashley Gahan, head Varsity Tennis Coach, said she is very proud to see the team’s improvement this season.

“I’m super proud of them. They’re like my second batch of kids,” Gahan said.

Although the tennis team’s fall season is over, JJ Mendiola the players will get a chance to compete again in SPRING TRAINING IN THE FALL the spring. So players have been working to imJunior Andy Doan practices after the end of the fall season and prove even more after the district game. cleaning up his skills and getting ready for spring season in hopes of Junior Andy Doan has been preparing himself another strong showing in the spring season.

for next season by running and doing physical training other than just playing tennis.

Because last year’s varsity team was made up of mostly seniors, a lot of the new team members are freshman that joined the team this season.

Although the team lost some good players when they graduated,the team is striving for excellence.

Junior Andy Doan also freshman Jacques Carandang were some of the best this season, according to their teammates and their rank.

Team members said they were happy with the individual improvement they made as players this fall and are looking forward to seeing what they can do in the spring.

A lot of training it’s honestly more about running and physical activities rather than just playing tennis and you also get the mindset that you’re going to win,” Doan said.

“Our goal for the season is to get up there and go farther than we did during fall seasoned get better,” junior Connor Harkins said.

They have the mind set to make it farther this up coming spring season they have been doing whatever they can to better themselves.

“I’m working on stopping players from getting in my head during a match and not over think everything I do and doing it for the good for my team,” junior Corine Murray said.

Sports

Page 20 - November 12, 2018

Wrestling making big steps of preparation for season

T

David Ridge Staff Writer

he wrestling team has been preparing for the new season in various ways no matter if it’s them putting in the extra work or its them going extra hard during practice. They’ve been doing whatever they could to prepare for this season which people expect a lot out of them.

Most of these talented wrestlers have been practicing for years Like senior Anthony Montes claims he has heart and that’s what separates him from the rest of the wrestlers “I want to at least try to go to state if I don’t make it there I at least want to do good in regional”.

We asked Anthony how the team has been preparing for the season and he says “High cardio, some muscle movements and just working hard”.

Another person who loves the aggressive sport would be Melonie Kae, she has been wrestling for one and a half years now but she has definitely earned her stripes on the team she says “the team has been focusing on conditioning, they are also cutting weight by working out, dieting and making sure everyone’s mindset is in a good place”.

Sophia Rivera, who everyone on the team thinks is the best wrestler at Akins,

says the goal that she has set for herself and for her team is to go to state she’s been cutting and also working extra hard, Doing lots of cardio work for stamina and strength as well. Such as weight she went from 120s going back down to around 118, she does so by being on a diet. And she really be trying because theres a lot of good foods she be trying to not eat. Every b day she lifts weights the whole time in 8th period. Shes doing this for one goal to beat out the competition and make it to state. “ I want more people to go to state too because last year I was only an alternate and no one went to state, and I want that to change”.

All these wrestlers have been busting their butts to make weight and get stronger they’ve been training extra hard and putting extra hours in on their own time. Every wrestler has the one goal in mind that is to make state and they have the tools to get it done.

Coach Tambunga speaks highly of his wrestlers and even puts them on a pedestal saying “they are more seasoned and a couple of veterans I expect them to all be in the championship and this time I expect them to win ”Wrestling is at a point where they have the tools to succeed have they have done the preparation to win big this year.

Sports Briefs: Queens of the Court This award is a new Akins volleyball tradition that recognizes the Most Valuable Player of a each game. Players receive a bouquet of flowers and a tiara.

• • • •

Shanti Ramdeen Against Lake Travis Zola Moore Against Lehman Annali Rubio Against Del Valle Emily Del La Garza Against Ann Richards • Mah’ki Falkquay Against Hays • Chase Cotter Against Austin High • Isabel Velasquez Against Lake Travis

HARD WORK IS ON THEIR MINDS

JJ Mendiola

Senior Erik Evans holds a 45 pound weight while training for wrestling season, which begins in November. He and other members of the wresting team work to train their bodies and minds for the upcoming wrestling season.

Notable achievements, happenings in Eagles athletics Talon Winners This is a new Varsity Football Team tradition that highlights a player that scored a touchdown on the offensive side. On the defensive side, players can earn it by scoring, intercepting the ball or forcing a fumble.

• Nicholas Cagle Against Del Valle • Davis Ryan Against Del Valle • Nicholas Cagle Against Hays • Jordan Frankin Against Hays • Nicholas Cagle Against Anderson • Greg Borgeson Against Anderson • Justen Arzola Against Bowie • Nicholas Cagle Against Bowie • Antonio Lopez Against Bowie

Volleyball players rack up records Shanti Ramdeen was voted First Team All District. Ramdeen earned this by having the second most points on the team plus also having the most combined kills on the team. Morgan O’Donnell and Mak’hi Falkquay were voted 2nd Team All District. Emily De La Garza and Zola Moore were recognized as honorable mention.

Former football player in need of help Marcus Jones, an Akins alum and former player for the varsity Eagles Football Team was injured late last spring during a practice for the Oklahoma Panhandle State University football team. On May 3, he made a play that would change his life. The accident left Jones severely injured and he is now battling for the ability to walk.

He is in rehab learning to walk, again. His mom started a Go Fund Me page for him to get a surgery to help him walk again. She is asking for anything you can donate, saying that every penny helps.

Donate at tinyurl.com/AkinsMarcus

Sports

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 21 - November 12, 2018

Akins players debate if they have the right to protest

S

JJ Mendiola Sports Editor

ince last year, players in the National Football League have been taking a knee in silent protest of police brutality against unarmed black people.

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the movement when he began taking a knee during the opening ceremony of each game when the National Anthem was sung.

This simple act has created one of the biggest controversies in football history, pitting fans, players, politicians, and team owners in a battle that is still raging today.

This controversy has not only occurred at the national level. Some high school football players have been removed from teams in Texas after taking a knee at their local high school games. Although no Akins players have taken a knee at their games, it’s not that players haven’t discussed it or thought about it.

Senior Bryce Gable said he believes high school players should be allowed to take a knee without fear of being punished for exercising their First Amendment rights.

“We aren’t hurting anybody by doing it,” Gable said. “All we are doing is protesting the killing of unarmed black people. We just want change and willing to make a sacrifice. I would take a knee if I could. It’s my right.”

Some high school students have suffered consequences after protesting before games.

Two players have been kicked off a team in Houston for taking a knee and putting their fist in the air during the National Anthem.

They were both removed from their team

“ Senior Devonte Adamson

Senior Bryce Gable

“

immediately.

These players said they think it was worth taking a stand and sacrificing for what in their eyes is for the greater good.

Senior Devonte Adamson said high school students shouldn’t be punished for exercising their First Amendment rights by protesting.

“Even though we are in high school things that happen affect us, too, and we have voices to protest just as normal people can,” Adamson said. “If I ever that chance to take a knee during a game I would. There are too many problems with minorities be-

ing targeted by police by the color of someone’s skin. I’m not saying it’s the biggest problems we have, but it’s a problem that needs to be heard and protested on.”

Not all of the players on the varsity football team feel the same way. Some players said they agree that students should be able to protest, but they don’t like the way they are going about it.

Junior Juan Liscano said he agrees with the cause but doesn’t like the idea of protesting during a game.

“I 100 percent agree for what they are taking a knee for but at the high school

The Players’ View We should be allowed to speak our mind. We are American citizens. We have a right just like anyone our voice matters .

”

We aint hurting nobody by taking a knee we are just using are right as U.S citizen to protest the killing of unarmed African Americans .

”

Senior Stephen Kates

Junior Juan Liscano

“ “

standpoint, it shouldn’t be done. You are there to play football and win your game, not to be worrying about taking a knee.

People and college and the pros have more of a right to do it because they earned where they are at.”

Some say that high school football players aren’t mature enough yet and maybe aren’t doing for the original idea that Kaepernick did it for.

Senior Stephen Kates said he thinks that some people have strayed away from the original idea what it is supposed to symbolize.

“It was to take a stand against police brutality when players take a knee,” he said.

“It’s not a way of us trying to disrespect our country or the flag or anything like that.

It’s just a way of standing up for what we believe in and when people can’t see that it adds to the many problems in this country.”

Other people have different views on this situation and see the protests as a sign of a disrespect for veterans.

Senior Tripp Ryan said he would never take a knee.

I see it as a disrespect to our soldiers and this country and when you take a knee you disrespect the people that fought for that flag,” he said. “I understand why they do it but I could never do it personally.”As time passes this issue continues to grow in controversy with many views for both sides.

One side is willing to take a stand with Kaepernick and take a knee or the people that see it as they will not disrespect their country.

High School football has now changed for a while and will be a standing point for many important issues.

I feel like people have strayed away from idea what the protest meant and if you are gonna protest do it for a good reason for the vision of justice for those who have been killed by police brutality.

If you in highschool I feel like you shouldn’t be focused on that. You’re there to do your job and play football, not protest. Once you make it big then you can make that adult decision.

” ”

Photo essay

Page 22 - November 12, 2018

Diego Gutierrez

OFFERINGS FOR THE DEAD

Spanish teacher Maria Zavaleta’s classes assembled an ofrenda complete with offerings for their loved ones to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos.

Students brought in pictures and food to guide and feed the spirits of their families.

Austin, Akins community celebrate Dia de los Muertos Diego gutierrez

T

Photo Editor

hat’s Mexican Halloween, right?

This is the question people who celebrate Dia de Los Muertos often get from those who are not familiar with a dearly practiced tradition.

“Dia de Los Muertos isn’t Mexican Halloween,” sophomore Alexandria San Miguel said. “It’s a celebration of life and family.”

This misconception of a holiday and a culture so rich in history and dripping in atmosphere is why this story needs to be told. Dia de Los Muertos may coincide with Halloween, but they are two very different holidays.

Dia de Los Muertos finds its origins in pre-Columbian culture, in which it occupied a whole month on the Aztec calendar. This month-long festival was originally in August and was meant to celebrate and honor their goddess of death La Calavera Catarina and their ancestors with offerings, sacrifices and games. Every part of that month was meant to give thanks to ancestors who came before. When the Spanish arrived and introduced Catholicism to the indigenous people, the festival intertwined with All Hallows Eve, All Souls Day, and All Saints Day, taking on an entirely new meaning. Ofrendas were soon introduced, changing the methodology behind the worship and creating the mythos that we know today.

All Hallows Eve, which falls on Oct. 31, marks the beginning of the three-day festivities.

“We make our altars and put everything together for

the visiting spirits,” San Miguel said. Altars or ofrendas are either constructed in the home or on the grave of the family member and serve as a “landing point” for visiting family.

All Souls Day or Dia de Los Inocentes is the day of the children. The spirits of the children come first and enjoy the offerings left on the altars for them. The day is spent honoring and spending time with Los Angelitos, those aged 13 and younger.

All Saints Day is the finale and the biggest party of the three days, featuring lit candles, marigolds petals scattered around and fireworks. The living and dead alike feast and drink to their heart’s content. The border between the land of the living and the dead drops for one night and the party is like no other. Junior Asusena Cruz said the holiday is important because it makes death easier to process.

“They might be gone, but they live on in our memories,” Cruz said.

This unique take on death is where the importance of this lies culturally. Everything from the ofrendas to the marigolds to the Calaveras (short mocking epitaphs and sugar skulls) and Muertos (the sweet bread of the dead) plays a part.

In Austin, the Mexicarte Museum on Congress Avenue puts on an annual parade and displays a gallery of local Chicano and Tejano art for Dia de Los Muertos. Admission is free and people are encouraged to dress up and participate.

“Dia de Los Muertos is a very important holiday, especially now that a lot more people understand it with the new movie Coco coming out,” sophomore Marissa Almaraz said.

WARRIOR’S WALK

Diego Gutierrez

Mayan warriors dance and walk through the streets in full garb during the parade. They honored their ancient ancestors with ceremonial dances and chants.

Photo essay

The Eagle’s Eye

Page 23 - November 12, 2018

A CLASSROOM OFRENDA

Diego Gutierrez

An ofrenda in Spanish teacher Brook Maudlin’s room features paper marigolds and candles lighting the way for the spirits of loved ones. The Spanish Club put together an ofrenda for Dia de los Muertos honoring their family and friends.

Diego Gutierrez

PAPER MACHE SPIRITS

People dressed in traditional clothes carry giant painted paper skulls as they reach the end of the parade. Extravagant makeup and decorations are an essential part of any Dia de los Muertos celebration.

CELEBRATING WITH COCO

Diego Gutierrez

The Spanish Club watched the film Coco to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. They brought food and drink and discussed the holiday afterwards.

DOWNTOWN FESTIVAL

Diego Gutierrez

Performers in the annual Mexicarte museum’s Dia de los Muertos parade cross fourth street while playing music and dancing. They carried everything from steel drums to flutes.

SKULLS AND MARIGOLDS

Diego Gutierrez

Pictures, skulls and marigolds are all integral to an ofrenda. The decorations help guide the spirits to and from their destinations.

ALEBRIJES Y PICTORAS

Diego Gutierrez

Pictures and Alebrijes are placed towards the center of the ofrenda. The Alebrijes are meant to serve as spirit guides and protectors.

Seasonal

Page 24 - November 12, 2018

Top three Cyber Monday online shops for teen savings Jon Garza

O

Life & Style Editor n Nov. 26, many Americans will participate in Cyber Monday, an event in which online shopping sites provide discounts and deals for

1

consumers.

The holiday started in 2005 and quickly became one of the biggest online shopping days of the year. With online shopping markets have been becoming more popular this holiday is growing. Instead of sitting outside a store for hours you can now sit at your home in comfort and just

2

3

Amazon In typical Amazon fashion, they have a lot of their items on sell this Cyber Monday. All varying in products. From Legos and camping hammocks to Amazon Fire sticks to dresses.

All the things you need to buy as a gift or for yourself.

Best Buy BestBuy is having sells on their electronics, like televisions, gaming consoles, and portal devices. Televisions sales ranging from $50 to $500. You can also save $250 on Samsung products such as, Samsung Galaxy Note9, S9, and S9+.

e e Asks:

$129.95

Eli Calderon

Beats Headphones

Academy is offering sales on brand name sport attire such as Nike, Columbia, Timberland, North Face and Magellan Outdoors. Sales on sports equipment, kids toys, hunting gear and cooking supplies. This sale will last from Nov. 26 - 28, get online and stock up on all your sports and outdoors needs.

Angela Glass

“I would like some brand new Beats Headphones because my dog chewed up my other set.”

Academy

What presents do you want to receive during the holidays?

Eli Calderon

William Walker, Sophomore

order online. Last year, Cyber Monday online sales grew to a record $6.59 billion compared to $2.98 billion in 2015.

The Eagle’s Eye brought you three of the best websites to go to during this shopping holiday. We also provided you with the exclusive sales that they will be offering Cyber Monday.

Jude Byrd, Sophomore “I want a Golf Wang hoodie because I think it matches my style and I like that Golf Wang Hoodie brand.” $40

Julian Soriano, Senior “I really want Red Dead Redemption 2. it looks really fun and I’m a gamer.”

Red Dead Redemption 2 $59.99