The Eagle's Eye; Issue 3, Volume 15; Akins High School

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Christmas is usually the time for joy, but not with this new movie! Read about a new twist on Christmas, Krampus, on page 9.

How much do you really know about cancer? Flip to page 5 to read all about it.

Check in on your wrestling team’s progress this season, on page 11.

gston

a Livin

EAGLE’S EYE Amanda Livingston

The

Amand

W. Charles Akins High School

Austin, Texas “Everything that Concerns You”

Volume 15

Issue 3 December 16, 2015

Students finish early Nic Sokolowski News Editor

Graduating early is something many students say they would love to do, but only a few actually go through with it.

Finishing high school in three years instead of four may sound nice, but it presents a series of additional hurdles that some students do not realize.

College and Career Counselor Sarah Simmons said she typically discourages students who say they want to graduate “This comes from personal experience, as someone who graduated early myself, and also from personal experience here in the CCC; I can honestly say that maybe one out of 10 students that I’ve worked with has been successful,” Simmons said.

“I had a couple of students this year who would have been in the top 10 percent of their class had they graduated with the cohort of 2017, and now they won’t be in that top 10 percent.”

Simmons said students who graduate early can also hurt themselves because ing. ”Your ranking does impact how schools see where you fall with your class, and where your test scores need to be,” she said.

Rosa Lucas, who was supposed to graduate in 2017, is one of the few students who is currently on course to graduate this year, ahead of schedule. She began the work of graduating Rosa Lucas early during her sophomore year by taking Twilight courses and doubling up on core classes to get ahead in her credits. but she thinks that everyone has the capacity to graduate early. about being smart, it’s just about putting in the effort,” Lucas said.

SEE AKINSEAGLESEYE.COM FOR THE FULL STORY SCHOOL HEALTH

Ricardo Villegas

Recycling Questions

There are three containers for trucks to pick up recycling at Akins. Recycling advocates have expressed concern about what is being recycled and how efforts can be improved on campus.

Confusion surrounds Akins recycling Bradley barto Staff Writer

The act of recycling represents a small but important effort aimed at improving the environment to its supporters.

However, recently some recycling advocates at Akins have questioned whether a coordinated recycling effort currently exists on campus. The head custodian who was in charge of recycling efforts resigned in October.

The campus Green Teens group is disbanded. And the assistant principal in charge of the custodial staff is new to the campus.

Those with questions about campus recycling have said they don’t know where to turn for answers.

Meanwhile, empty or misused blue recycle bins are evidence to some teachers and students that many on campus are either confused or are not thinking about the environmental impact of their actions.

In some areas there aren’t any recycling bins. Often, the recycling dumpsters are nearly empty and the dumpsters

and cardboard boxes.

Junior Issie Luna said she is disappointed about the lack of clear recycling guidelines and efforts at Akins.

“It seems like people have tried to take initiative over it but it never really got carried through,” she said.

Biology teacher Kristen Aal-

We are in the 21st Century here... we need to be doing more (recycling).

— Bill Creel tion is needed to help students and staff know how to properly dispose of recyclable materials.

“There’s a lot of confusion, students don’t know what to recycle or if recycling is actually taking place,” she said.

In 2011, blue recycle bins were placed in classrooms across campus. Today, teachers and students said they are confused on what is allowed to go in the bins.

Jennifer Cregar, the school district’s sustainability coordinator, said that anything that is recyclable should be allowed in the bins. However, assistant principal Bill Creel said he would prefer that only paper and cardboard be allowed in the bins until a coordinated plan and education effort can be implemented.

The recycling program is a part of the Austin school district’s effort to support the city of Austin’s goal of producing zero waste by the year 2040. In 2010, the school board passed a resolution in support of this goal, and in 2011 it passed an environmental sustainability policy to help make this become a reality.

Monica Loera Sanchez is an Austin ISD parent concerned with recycling issues. She said she supports recycling efforts because the environment and sustaining it, is one of her top three priorities in life.

See “ENVIRONMENT” pg. 4

INFESTATION

All food banned in Fine Arts wing after rats found inside Eliana Gutierrez Staff Writer

Holes in the walls, stained uniforms and ban all food in the Fine Arts building this fall.

Mid semester, AHA assistant principal no food should be allowed in the building.

Bill Creel, New Tech assistant principal and interim head custodian, said the building manager had found evidence of a rodents in the Fine Arts wing.

The food ban is quite literal — no food or sugary drinks are to be stored or consumed inside the Fine Arts building.

“There was a lot of food coming into the Fine Arts building in many different areas on a regular basis,” Creel said. “So I think that’s what originally attracted (the rats) to the Fine Arts building and because of that they did create problems.”

Creel also stated he believes the only way to solve the infestation is to keep food out of the building.

Sophomore Alyssa Pasaol said orchestra has begun efforts to end the problem.

“There have been rats in (the orchestra said. “We had to put rat traps in there and there’s a bunch of holes in our walls all over the place.”

Fine Arts programs often require students to spend time before and after school.

Sometimes students stay to rehearse or practice as late as 8 p.m. In the past, students often ate in the building before heading into food wrappers.

Students now must eat outside of the building and dispose of their food before entering, which has become an inconvenience for some as cooler temperatures have arrived.

Sophomore Nevaeh O’Neal said it’s a

challenge for her because she is in the Fine Arts building all the time.

Band director Tate Fincher said he arts programs can move forward. By this Fincher means that by taking out the rat’s food source they will go elsewhere.

In October, the band program was practicing their marching show after school to late hours everyday. The physical rehearsal outside required students to obtain nutrition prior. They are thankful this problem did not arise earlier as it would have been a challenge.

“I absolutely support (the ban) I think it’s what needs to happen. I hope that it students) to feel at home here. The band kids spend more time in here than they do at home.” Fincher said.

Currently, the ban remains in effect.

Keep Out

Ricardo Villegas

Fliers are posted on the doors of the Fine Arts wing, warning students not bring food inside.

INSIDE... Opinions - pAge 2-3 News - page 4 InDepth - page 5 Life and Style - page 6-7 Entertainment - page 8-9 SPORTS - page 10 -11 PHOTO ESSAY- page 12

OPINIONS

page 2

The Eagle’s Eye

Wednesday – December 16, 2015

Trustees devise opportunites for Red Cups are not advanced classes in South Austin HOLIDAYS

RELIGIOUS DISPUTE

anti-religious

EDITORIAL

Amanda Livingston Editor-in-Chief

Another “War on Christmas” Controversy has ridden in on Santa’s sleigh this Holiday season, and it’s tag is addressed to Starbucks.

Gabriel Robles & Ricardo Villegas

different solutions for introduction

W

hy do so many people want to attend the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in North Austin? Only reason is because there is no magnet program for advanced academics existing in the southern district.

Approximately 400 students attending LASA live in the southern area of Austin ISD. There many more who wish to attend LASA who can’t because the campus is at its capacity limit. In addition, transportation and general distance away from students’ homes present problems.

This has caused a discussion downtown within the board of trustees to help combat this issue.

Five proposals to expand the advanced opportunities in South Austin were discussed at a board meeting in early November. One proposal that has gained some support from trustees would be to implement an advanced academic magnet program at Crockett High School.

Some trustees believe this is the best choice because it would provide an advanced academic program in South Austin, closing the gap currently existing between students and the LASA, which is located in North Austin at the LBJ High School campus.

In addition, this would balance out the current differences in enrollments between schools in the district. According to the Texas Education Agency, last year Bowie had approximately 2,871 students, Akins had 2,667, and Crockett had 1,487.

The enrollment difference between Crockett and the other South Austin schools is staggering, with a difference of approximately 1,180 students between Crockett and Akins.

Enhancing programs in South Austin and centralizing it at Crockett would bring students to their campus, and take some of the load off of other schools like Bowie and

The Eagle’s Eye is an open forum for student expression. The Eagle’s Eye is 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 work to avoid bias and/ or favoritism. We will strive to make our coverage and content meaningful, timely and interesting to our readers. Our articles will reflect our genuine 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

Eagle’s Eye Staff Editor-in-Chief

Amanda Livingston*

Opinions Editor

Gabe Robles*

News Editor

Nicolas Sokolowski*

Entertainment Editor Jose Salazar*

Akins, but our sister schools in South Austin as well.

Sadie Adams Bradley Barto Luis Canales Chelsea Cuevas Yasmine Dakar

or is an invasion of privacy. We will avoid electronic manipulation that alters the truth of a photograph.

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.

Larry Durden Mary Griffis Eliana Gutierrez Caitlin Nickles Matthew Rocha Ashley Sanchez

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.

Lavel Deckard Gabrielle Silva Katrina Stewart Namiah Wright Raidy Zanjeel

Editorial Board*

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

Gabriel Robles

The Eagle’s Eye

Staff Writers

Editorial Policy

Akins. Although there was some consensus in support of this proposal, school administrators have informed us that the board of trustees have gone back to the drawing board and formed a new committee charged with making a decision.

While it is unclear why the board had started the process over, at least we have more time to propose our own solution.

Currently, Akins and other schools in South Austin have advanced classes like Advanced Placement, OnRamps, and Career Tech classes. While advanced to us, ty that the district truly considers advanced.

What the district is really looking for is a step above what we currently have to offer. One example of what they prefer are programs like International Baccalaureate courses.

We agree that there needs to be a program of the same caliber in South Austin. Centralizing these special courses in north Austin is very inconvenient for students of Austin ISD because the admission rate is limited and everyone in the district deserves the opportunity to take the hardest classes available and challenge themselves.

However, we do not believe adding onto Crockett alone is the best idea.

If the courses we consider advanced are not truly what they need to be, then introducing a new set of classes to meet that standard will completely void what we already have and have been working toward creating at Akins.

So instead, we propose to revamp our current classes to the level the district requires and to do this at all campuses. This will also help prevent the so-called “Brain Drain” that happens with magnet programs that concentrate the brightest students at one campus and pull them away from neighborhood schools.

We as the Editorial Board of the Eagle’s Eye want to have the opportunities more available that are now restricted to north Austin. We urge the board of trustees to consider our proposal while ironing out plans, because we

subject of controversy, with the last one taking place earlier in 2015 with their “Race Together” campaign. The company meant to encourage conversations about racial tensions coming from events like that of Ferguson. Despite the good intentions, criticism erupted with claims that Starbucks had no right to comment on the situation, due their lack in diversity in their staff.

Now, Starbucks is embroiled in the latest “War on Christmas” complaints with critics arguing it took Christ out of Christmas with its latest coffee cup design.

Every year Starbucks switches up their classic white cup with a red one featuring holiday designs. In past years the red cup has pictured snowmen, tree ornaments, reindeer, and various other symbols of the holiday season.

This year however, Starbucks decided to take a minimal approach and release their red cup as is, without any decorative designs.

This has brewed up a heated discussion between conservative Christians like Joshua Feuerstein, who started the conversation with his Facebook video, claiming Starbucks “removed Christmas from their cups because they hate Jesus.”

Then he claimed they actually cared that he “pranked” them because he told them his name was “Merry Christmas” to force them to acknowledge the Christian holiday. But the fact of the matter is: Starbucks doesn’t care. tion on their cups. To say that they’re attacking Christmas is ridiculous. Starbucks is a company than spans over 67 countries around the world with over 22,000 locations. They serve people of many different religions. The employees can’t wish every customer a Merry Christmas, because not everyone follows the Christian religion, especially in the boiling pot that is the United States.

Wake up and smell the pine trees people! Nobody is trying to take the Christ out of Christmas.

Nobody is attacking Christianity. It’s a coffee cup that is eventually going to end up in the trash.

Those who are obsessed with calling out businesses and individuals for not recognizing Christianity as the most important religion during the winter holidays neglect to remember that this country was founded off the principle of freedom of and from religion.

Ruling Christianity as the default of the country defeats that founding idea.

If you’re going to let a silly cup determine whether you have a good day because it doesn’t wish you Merry Christmas, then maybe you need to reevaluate what the holiday spirit is all about.

* The members of the Editorial Board who contributed to the Staff Editorial are marked in asterisks.

Graphics Editors

Web Editors

In-Depth Editors

Life & Style Editor

Photo Editor

Sports Editor

Blake Barto* Jesse Farquhar-Greth*

Maheen Anjum*

Thomas Cross* Luis Correa* Ricardo Villegas*

Stephanie Valle* Brenda Amaya* Cassie Obi*

Honors ILPC/UIL

TAJE

Superior Bronze Star Award Coverage 2007 2005 2011 2008 2012 2007 - H.M. Sweepstakes 2013 2010 - 2nd Sweepstakes 2014 2011 - H.M. Sweepstakes

NSPA

All-American 2013 Nominated for Pacemaker -2013

CSPA

2011 - Silver Medal 2012 - Gold Medal

The Eagle’s Eye

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

TERRORISM

page 3

Opinions

INJUSTICES

Syrian immigrants require help, not fear of ISIS Gabe Robles

Opinions Editor With the war on terrorism resulting in ISIS outspoken attack of countries like France and Kenya, terror has reached an all time high, and despite the fight that we’ve put up, when the Syrian refugees need us most, we, among others, back out of Middle Eastern affairs. band of terrorists. Texas Agriculture commissioner Sid Miller made the mistake of comparing the refugees to a horde of rattlesnakes on Twitter. “Can you tell me which of these rattlers won’t bite you?

Sure some of them won’t, but tell me which ones so we can bring them into the house,” he said.

This mentality is toxic. We have a purpose in granting refugees sanctum, and it’s being undermined by this fear that we’re endangering ourselves by letting people in.

Governor Greg Abbott also seems to think that “American humanitarian compassion could be exploited.” Why would 15 million people want to risk their safety? If there is a terrorist among their ranks, we could be certain that the people actually seeking help would rat them out.

This fear of ISIS — this poison we present to ourselves — is keeping us from doing the job that we set out to do since 9-11. If we take one look at France and succumb to the fear that we’re the next country to be attacked by the next set of suicidal radical Islamists, then we’re giving ISIS just what they want. Not only do the Syrian refugees need us to get our act together, we need to get our act together so that we don’t give terrorists the joy of winning and having their way.

Furthermore, for all the selfish reasons, what good does it do us to keep Syrian refugees out?

It doesn’t help the conscious, and the only reason we can do without getting frowns and winces from other countries is because every other country is doing it. For those of you that hate it for what it is, imagine the way that we take the Syrian crisis in like Donald Trump feels about Mexican immiWe did this in World War I, in World War II, and we’re doing it, again. We need to pull ourselves out of this cycle of intervening in things if we aren’t prepared to do so. And when we do, we need to take responsibility for the things to come. We need to overcome this fear and welcome the refugees.

It’s the justice the world owes them.

Source: UNHCR

Islam is faith, not a deadly ideology Maheen Anjum

Life & Styles Editor (top)

Yasmine Daher

Guest Writer (bottom) In February, a Muslim woman wearing a hijab (headscarf) named Darlene Hider said she was discriminated against by a fellow traveler and Delta Air Lines staff because of Islamophobia.

If only the woman who threw out the insults knew that Islam teaches its followers to be peaceful, kind and honest. Unfortunately, the hijab and other signs of Islamic faith become targets for stereotypes by those who know nothing about these tenets of our religion.

Muslim women all around the world have felt discrimination of some sort for wearing the hijab which represents a Muslim women’s Islamic identity and her respect for the religion. Many people are mistaken by the purpose of the hijab and what is the actual meaning behind it.

A Muslim woman who wears the hijab not only follows the path of Islam by wearing it, it also helps cover their physical beauty and bring out their inner beauty within themselves. It is the principle of modesty and it’s

LIFE & STYLE

I often use the WWII Iwo Jima picture in my class preI want them to tell me how it makes them feel. I get very diverse and mostly positive responses. raisers would say about the current generation. I think the answer lies in the photo of Akins JROTC and Criminal JusAs I marched down Congress with my cadets for the anand cheering and standing when “Old Glory” passed by. ly stand if it passes by.

I am also reminded of a famous quote “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to necessary for our great land and its symbol if called upon.

THE

Sincerely, Colonel Ronald Oliverio

“Pretty smart idea, but they might need a whole other school.”

–Kaylani Hernandez Freshman

in different ways, bringing us closer to our religion and helping us discover our true identity of who we are as Muslim girls.

Some people have done horrid and offensive acts towards the Mosque (holy place of worship). An incident ized by having feces and ripped pages from the Quran thrown on its front door. This act of discrimination has shocked many Muslims, including us. It has been heart-breaking for many Muslims to process and understand why inhumane acts are being caused towards the Muslim community. In Chicago’s downtown Islamic center, a couple of Hijabi volunteers had stood out in front of the Mosque giving out donuts and hugs to people who came up to them. They were inviting individuals to come in and experience a heartwarming environment of peace, love, and prayer. These actions have shown through love and compassion out in the open that are false accusations.

As Muslim students at Akins, we are speaking for everyone. Stereotypes are spread by those who discriminate against us.

Once rude comments were yelled across the hall about us and our religion.

We started wearing the hijab at the beginning of our freshman year in high school. It has impacted our lives

Letter to the Editors

EAGLE VIEW

Gabriel Robles

SEE AKINSEAGLESEYE.COM FOR THE FULL STORY

IMPOSITIONS

Shaving a terrible social normality Jesse Farquhar-Greth Co-Graphics Editor

“You are so lucky to have light arm hair!” says the girl sitting next to me in class, black hair falling from her head over shoulders.

I notice her arms, barren of any hair, folded in vexation. I ask if she shaves her arms. She says she does, explaining how her body hair makes her feel incredibly disgusting.

Why do people, particularly young girls, feel inadequate with hair on their bodies? Why is it only socially acceptable for women to shave their body hair, and not men as well? Historically, there is a relationship between shaving and worldly events. It has ended up as a pointless, expensive process, that has people needlessly hating themselves.

In 1915, Bazaar Magazine publishes a picture of

a model with her under arms barren of body hair. Razor companies found that they now had a new demographic group to target. They could now double their target audience by peddling their wares to women.

During World War I and II, razor companies legs as the next area of the female body that should be shorn clean of hair. After a wartime advertising blitz against hairy legs, it was at this point that the shaved legs trend became a mainstream norm. Leg hair became seen as unfeminine, and today women are expected to be hairless creatures.

So, the only reason people have been shaving in the last century is basically the result of a manipulative ploy by razor and fashion magazine industries making us hate ourselves and thus consume more.

The sleekness of the human physique will always be appealing, and by all means, shave. But don’t condemn yourself to shave because the media advertises humans as required to be like prepubescent hairless beings.

Question: How do you feel about the school district making a LASA south location?

“It’ll give more kids a special chance. Provides a new challenge.”

–William Banda Sophomore

“Build another school. Mixing two school cultures is bad.”

–Victoria Rangel Junior

“People down south now have more options and paths.”

–Michael Medrano Senior

“Kids here start to lose opportunities... all going to LASA South.”

–Hannah Spitzfaden Math Teacher

NEWS

page 4

The Eagle’s Eye

Wednesday – December 16, 2015

FUNDRAISER

DONATIONS

Wheelchair challenge raised money, awareness Event misses $30,000 goal, but district still installing 4 out of 5 door openers Matthew rocha Staff Writer

dez said she couldn’t believe how

hundreds of students and staff who participated in the Wheelchair Challenge that was conducted between Nov. 3 – 20 at awareness of the challenge of Students and staff paid $10 to challenge others to spend an challenges brought in $2,578.

Online donations brought in an-

sible to get to the $30,000 goal based on challenges alone.

a wheelchair,” said SEL teacher said. “We are hopeful the district is going to help support us -

there are wheelchairs around in school.”

pus.” the district to be installed during the spring, assistant principal Bill Creel said. In addition, a concrete slab will be added behind dents board on and off buses.

Despite not reaching the $30,000 goal, organizers of successful in raising awareness

$30,000 goal.

around the school for accessibili-

participating in this challenge, and heard a lot about their struggles in being in a wheelchair and ness of this challenge. dents who had done the challenge, that their friends had Gabrielle Silva

Campus Cruiser “A lot of people haven’t thought about the challenges of being in a wheelchair.”

Principal Brandi Hosack enjoys her time participating in

Cont. from “Environment” pg. 1

Students, staff say guidelines for recycling need clarity -

efforts.

-

Recycling totals in pounds for 2014-15

-

-

pen,” he said.

Creel said he hopes the new head custodian

students and teachers can do to reduce waste at

-

chez said.

other sustainable practices.”

-

Creagar said all Austin schools should be striving toward reducing their waste creation -

-

Nicolas Sokolowski

Monthly Totals

Numbers provided by TDS (Texas Disposal Systems) by their Green School Solutions program, which tracks recycle and compost infor-

the custodial and waste-reduction coordination

CURRICULUM

NEW CLASSES

OnRamps brings in dual credit courses in various subjects jesse farquhar-Greth Co-Graphics Editor

-

college professors have hard and fast rules about not acinstructor of record at UT or a teacher’s assistant at the -

offers students.

-

tics, pre-calculus, English and geoscience. Students ening for several reasons.

able to earn the college credit. The ones that haven’t will it for the high school portion of the course.

-

College Level

Nohemi Perez

brief

Junior Jailene Tapia takes notes in her new and

world class.” college course.

Online donations still open after Wheelchair Challenge ends Even though the fundraiser is over, people can still donate and support the Wheelchair Challenge online at: goo.gl/NvpzaQ. In total, the challenges brought in $2,578. Online donations brought in another $206, ending in $2,784 all together.

to be installed in the spring.

Online donations will help go straight to getting the last of the

The original goal was to about a tenth of that was ac-

5th: School Starts 14th: Late Start 29th: Coffee With Principal 30th: Orchestra & Guitar

Upcoming Events S M T W T 1 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 29

F 2 9 16 23 30

S 3 10 17 24 31

IN DEPTH

The Eagle’s Eye

page 5

Wednesday - December 16, 2015

Cancer taboo Diagnosed Cases in 2012

Other Cancers

13%

Kidney Leukemia

11.9% 61.8 %

Pancreas

5.6%

Liver

2.7% 2.6%

Breast

2.4%

Lung

In 2012 more than 210,828 people were diagnosed with Lung cancer and 76,828 people were living with stomach cancer as reported by the Centers of Disease Control and The National Cancer Institute

Silence about cancer limits help for victims Gabe Robles

Opinions Editor

T

housands of high school students across the United States take a health course every year, and in it, they learn about various diseases, ranging anywhere from drug-related health issues to STDs. But, for a health class, it seems so limited.

to this basic lack of knowledge of the situation.

New Tech Counselor Christine Kesling

realize that it just changes the future you

husband both died of cancer. Her father

likely to be contracted by the everyday

age of 64, and her husband the victim of

a single bit of information regarding some

cancer that attacks the immune system via the liver and white blood cells.

cancer.

family member of someone who

and is associated with frequent coughing

umbrella

of

diseases

that

includes

throughout the body and destroy bodily tissue. According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2012 alone, 8.2 million of them resulted in death.

The disease is categorized by tumorous growths that are malignant (very deadly or infectious: malevolent) in any

coaster,” Kesling said.

It doesn’t always end in death.

— Colleen Arnold

its toll on everyone very quickly, and the uncertainty and the stress involved with the situation are terrible. For Kesling, is knowing when the end is, and going through it with your loved ones.

Other major cancers include: stomach cancer, the sixth most common cancer (6.8 bloating, indigestion, and the loss of

cancer is no joke, and it affects more

your lifestyle suddenly changes.”

Kesling said she is somewhat comforted

leukemia, 10th and 11th most common

Walk down the hall, and it is statistically infections, fatigue, easy bleeding or had or have been affected by cancer in some way.

-Christine Kesling According to the American Cancer Society, every one in two males and every one in

It changes your entire life.

Social Worker Colleen Arnold, as the head of the

concerning cancer. It would be better

at Akins, is accustomed to and know that they always have some kind

who have cancer or who have had family members who have had cancer. seems to have a social taboo surrounding

esig Page D By

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editors depth Co-In lle and nie Va Stepha a Amaya Brend

a bit more educated and aware and more

Graph i Desig cs ned By Co-G raph Blake ics Editor B Opinio arto and ns Gabe Editor Roble s

LIFE & STYLE

page 6

The Eagle’s Eye

Wednesday – December 16, 2015

TRAVEL

EXPERIENCE

Foreign Exchange students enjoy their stay at Akins High Students from various countries learn about new education style from experience Chelsea cuevas Staff Writers

It’s not easy going away from home for six months to a year and staying with a host family to go to school in a foreign place.

It’s a shared experience for the four exchange students currently attending Akins.

They come from diverse places and cultures, but the challenge of adjusting to living in a new place brings them together.

Mathilde Gerrer comes from Colmar, France, which is near the border with Germany. She said it is small town rooted in history and surrounded by old houses, old churches and museums.

“I was nervous at the start but I talked to my host family and they were very nice to me,” Greer said. “It’s really interesting because there’s so many people from different cultures and a lot of people don’t care if you’re French or not.”

Gerrer said school is harder in France than here. She has learned many languages where she grew up, including German, English, Spanish and, of course, French.

However, she enjoys that she has more options in the courses she takes at Akins.

“We’re always with the same students in every class,” she said. “We don’t have the choice to choose are classes. We have school from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. so it’s long days.”

Angela Nathaniel comes from a city

ENGLISH

called Tacloban in the Philippines. Last year, it was hit by the strongest storm ever recorded on land, which destroyed almost 90 percent of the city.

Nathaniel said all she knew about the United States came from the movies she watched.

“I imagined American technically from the movies so I didn’t know what to expect,” Nathaniel said. “But then when I came here it is actually normal.”

Carolina Boppre Dos Santos comes from a small island south of Brazil.

“I love to live there. We have things to do everyday. There is a lot of beaches and after school we would go there and stay there all day,” Boppre Dos Santos said.

She said she had researched the exchange program and how she later on convinced her mother to let her participate in the program.

“I talk to her everyday and she talks to my host family everyday,” Boppre Dos Santos said.

Boppre Dos Santos said that she will miss cheer leading, the pep rallies and the football games that Akins has. She also mentions how she will miss the fact that she won’t be able to choose the clothes she would like to wear to school since Brazil requires their students to wear a uniforms to school.

Isabel Vinalay, who is from Mexico City, is actually staying with her aunt

Capturing Different Experiences

Ricardo Villegas

Carolina Boppre Dos Santos, Angela Nathaniel, Isabel Vinalay and Mathilde Gerrer pose while they show off their style and different personalities coming together from all around the world. while attending Akins. She said she loves and seeing new places. getting to know a new city.

Nathaniel said she enjoyed going to the “I love it here. In downtown the city Austin Film Festival, going to the House is like really pretty and the fact that I can walk around the city like to get to know it Thanksgiving. it’s awesome,” she said.

Boppre Dos Santos enjoyed traveling Even though they sometimes miss their to Dallas, Houston and Boston. She said families and friends they have had fun she got to meet an astronaut in Houston. making new friends, forming relationships

LEARNING

Students compare life in America to their lives back home While learning English, immigrants discuss challenges and hopes for the future Thomas Cross & Raidy Zanjeel Staff Writers

As thousands of people to move to Austin each year from different parts of the country, new students are also attracted to move here from different parts of the world.

Some of them have found themselves at Akins after recently immigrating from another country. It’s not an easy transition for many of these students who have not only left behind their friends and family, but often must learn a new language in a hurry just to understand basic things.

Akins provides an English Language Learners program for these students to help them ease their transition and support their unique academic needs. ELL reading teacher Sarah Barrentine said, “Sheltered Instruction for English Language Learners offers a comfortable learning environment where students can learn subject matter and English without feeling judged if they guage yet.”

Barrentine’s reading class has given many of these students a chance to share stories about how different school life is at Akins compared to what it was like in their home countries.

Junior Alejandro Sandres Quiroz, who

Practicing Skills

Nohemi Perez

Senior Karina Contreras corrects errors found in passage in preparation for STAAR exam during reading class.

is from Honduras, said he was very nerspeak English and all the students spoke English and I was so embarrassed,” he said.

One advantage of U.S. schools is that discipline problems are handled without

resorting to corporal punishment such as teachers hitting students even for minor infractions. Junior Ngan Ha, who is from Vietnam, said that she has seen students left bleeding after being hit by a teacher in her home country.

“The rule in my school home country is very bad. They hit the students. Some-

Drawings & Design by Jesse Farquhar- Greth

times the student has blood,”said Ngan Ha, who is from Vietnam.

Sandres Quiroz said teachers in Honduras were also physically rough there.

“The teachers are different here, because in my country, the teachers are mean and they can hit you,” he said.

Another perk that school here has to offer is the fact that the students do not have to be afraid of violence while making their way to school.

“In Honduras, when you go to school, in the back of the school there’s a lot of gangsters waiting for the people because they want to hit the people and rob them,” Sandres Quiroz said.

Coming to America has given new hopes to these students.

“When we lived in Vietnam, my home country, we feel good, but the future was bad,” Ha said. “The country is very poor and need more money so that’s why we came to America.”

Sandres Quiroz said that when he was in Honduras he didn’t have hopes for his future besides working in a menial job tinting car windows.

“I just knew that I have to work and help my family. Now my hope is that I go to college and be an airplane mechanic,” Sandres Quiroz said.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

HOLIDAY

The Eagle’s Eye

Life & Style

page 7

ACTIVITIES

Student organizations volunteer for various social events The holiday season encourages students to participate in community service events Brenda Amaya

“I want to volunteer because I think it would be a fun experience for me because I’ve always gone and I see the

Co-In Depth Editor The holiday spirit is in the air at Akins as student From volunteering for the Trail of Lights to helping Both the Diamond Dazzlers and 911 Internship students volunteers at the annual Trail of Lights event in Senior Christina Quintero said she had so much fun volunteering at Trail of Lights that she plans to keep doing it after high school.

This year would be the second year that the Diamond Dazzlers volunteer for the Trail of Lights. Last year the Diamond Dazzlers volunteered at the Candy Land display celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Trail of Lights.

Diamond Dazzlers director Ally Gates said that she hopes her students can understand that they are not just a performance group but they are also focused on supporting the Austin community.

The 911 Internship students have also volunteered at the Trail of Lights this year.

CUSTOMIZED

giveaways with thousands of children receiving toys and gifts. Merry Memories spreads the holiday cheer with games and booths such as a Santa’s Village with arts and crafts and a Lego Holiday Village.

Akins Key Club members signed up to volunteer Recreation Center.

It was the second year that senior Crystal Mendieta said she volunteered for the event. colored and wrapped up candy bags. I made hot dogs for just help anybody who needed help.”

Buck’s Barn is an organization started by a former survivor. Schroeter’s hope was to give back to the Dell Children’s Hospital for the care he had received during his illness. Throughout the year Buck’s Barn collects gifts and toys so that they can help ill children shop for

presents for their family since the children can not leave the hospital due to their illnesses.

Akins National Honor Society students volunteered this year at the Buck’s Barn event at the hospital.

“The years that I have worked there I’ve been a would tell me “My sister likes to play with dolls’ so we would go to the doll table and I would help them pick out Long said.

Criminal Justice teacher Sean Min decided to keep the tradition going of working with the Travis County Brown Santa program. Former Criminal Justice program teacher David Lopez started the collaboration.

“Mr. Lopez was actually the one who started this when he was still here and it has been handed down from him Min said.

Brown Santa depends on receiving donation from others. They accept all sorts of goods such as nonperishable food items and unopened containers. These donations are given to thousands of children and families that are in need in the Austin area.

CREATIONS

Christmas is time for DIY decoration ideas Ashley Sanchez Staff Writer

If you have no idea what or how to do DIY Christmas decorayour home with holiday cheer.

What comes to mind when you think about the holidays? For most of us it’s food and getting the gifts we have always wanted the whole year. But in my mind it’s all about the Do It Yourself Christmas decorations.

Picture Frame ing the peppermints in glue let them dry and then glue them on the think it’s easier you can just buy the red popsicle sticks. Then just glue them together with the hot glue gun to make a frame shape.

The last step is just to glue the peppermints onto the frame with the hot glue gun. And your done a cute and easy picture frame.

Newspaper Ornament The second project is a newspaper inspired ornament. This one is more about hands on so prepare to get sticky and messy. You will mod podge paintbrush and newspaper. First you will cut the newspaper into strands not too long and not too short. Then just with the

mod podge start gluing the newspaper onto the ornament. What I recommend doing is while putting the newspaper and mod podge glue it with the glitter. Then just let it dry and before you know it you will have cute ornament.

Ornament Garland This third project is a ornament garland. This is really easy to make. All you need is some ornaments and some string. Just put the ornaments through the string and arrange them in different patterns. Try not to put them too close to each other. Space them out.

Let It Snow Sign will paint the words LET in white paint and put silver glitter on top. Then the IT in sky blue paint NO GLITTER. Then the SNOW in white paint and then put silver glitter on top also. The last step is from the back of the canvas. Poke holes and put the Christmas lights through the holes and then just plug them in and you got a lit sign to show off your holiday spirit.

Snowman Ornament The last project is a snowman ornament you will need a plain ornament white and black paint and a piece of orange paper. First paint the ornament with the white paint about 3 coats of paint then for the eyes and mouth use the black paint but in the shape of a smile as the mouth. Last thing cut a little piece of orange paper shaoe it as a cone and glue it to the ornament as the nose.

See AkinsEaglesEye.com for full DIY tutorial

Ricardo Villegas

Finding gifts for different age groups presents challenges

Kids • Something You Made(card, poem, drawing) • Clothes-$1-$25 look fashionable • Remote Control Helicopter$20 • Barbie- $12 • Teddy Bear- $15 • Lightsabers- $20 • Wubble Bubble Balls- $20 • Legos- $5-$25 • Socks & underwear- $10 &$15 • Money- $25.01-$400

Teenagers • • • • • • • • • • •

Gift Card- Varies Polaroid Camera- Starting at $80 Hoverboard -$400 PS4- $350 Phone- $150(Verizon, Sprint) $30(AT&T) Beats by Dr. Dre - $300 Make-up Kits - $50 Ugly Christmas Sweater -$50 Phone Case- $15 Kendra Scott earrings - $80 Vera Bradley duffel bags- $85

Adults • • • • • • • • • • •

Wii U- $300 Snow Globe-$30 13 inch MacBook Pro -$1,299 Micheal Kors Watch- Varies Headbands- $13 T(ele)V(ision)-$300 Ugly Christmas Sweater-$50 Naked Makeup Palette- $50 Vacation/ travel ticket- Varies Their favorite book- Varies Starbucks gift card - Varies

Graphics by Jose Salazar

Entertainment

Page 8

CHOIR

The Eagle’s Eye

Wednesday – December 16, 2015

CONCERT

A Capella team performs for annual winter show Showcase allows students a chance to see music groups display talents on stage Gabrielle Silva

choir concert to feature the A Ca-

Staff Writer

Akins held it’s annual choir concert on Dec. 7, featuring the Akins choir, the Paredes choir and the newly formed Akins A Capella team. The theater was full of family and friends of all the performers.

The annual winter choir concert is not just another performance, for some it’s a chance to showcase talents that family and friends only rarely see.

Sophomore Mardi Cade, had family that came from Washington, to see both her Choir and far as coming from out of state, seeing their students perform is still a big deal, and sentimental moment, especially during the holidays. excited too,” said Cade when she found out her mom was coming to see the A Capella team and Choir perform. Cade was really expectations, and talk of the group’s recent successes.

HYPE

group. The team was originally, formed by senior Maheen Anjum. They were featured as the opening act of the concert. The group sang “Run to You,” by Pentatonix, who are known as a famous A Capella group.

Choir teacher Cathy Ballard hopes that the A Capella team will help to increase participation for the Akins Choir, by both drawing younger middle school students, and also creating a new form of interest in current high school students as well. that wouldn’t normally be super interested in choir an outlet for that, and helps to build our program,” she said.

Next year, A Capella stuif they hope to be a part of the outlet to use their talents in.

Ballard uses concerts as an ual talent, by allowing solos to be performed by students who audition to perform.

Many students performed

Ricardo Villegas

Getting In Tune

The A capella team preforms for the second time this year and the performs on stage with

and progress. Saru Chigubu and Taylor Fish performed solos at the concert, singing and playing “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley Kasey Craig performed a duet to “Where are you, Christmas?”

Performing at concerts allows students to become true peras stage fright. form, but when I’m performing, it’s really comfortable and cool

Fish said.

Gaining the experience choir students obtain from performing solos at Winter and Spring concerts, “makes you more willing to attend music contests and competitions,” soloist Saru Chigubu said. to perform in front of an audiize how much others enjoy their performance. This helps build the Many students said they looked forward to the concert on

Dec. 7. Senior Demmi Alcantar said she was excited about the concert “because Christmas conmances and because the Akins A Capella was going to perform for Both the Akins Choir students and the A Capella team talent, for their friends, family and other school faculty members to see. Concerts are a way for both the Choir, and A Capella to share their passion for singing and making music with their school community.

MOVIE

Newest installment of Star Wars has fans excited The Force Awakens brings anticipation with opening installment of new trilogy Caitlin Nickles

him, which belies his true agenda, I suppose.”

The new Star Wars has been kept on high secrecy.

-

Staff Writer

The long wait is almost In two days, one of the most eagerly anticipated and eration will be released across the country.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens will pick up where the Return of the Jedi left off when it was released in 1983. Fans

for critics, it’s a sign of weakness but there is nothing normal Star Wars has had a history of being spoiled long before the into theaters. There were many

Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the story is set 30 years after Return of the Jedi and features a cast of new lead characters like Finn, Rey, and Poe Dameron, alongside familiar Star Wars characters like Han Solo and Chewbacca.

Finn, who is played by John Boyega, is a redeemed First OrFinn in incredible danger and they throw him into the Star way. It is said that his character is in possession of the lightsaber

The Phantom Menace, but that ting records.

Anakin before him.

Rey, who is played by Daidesert planet Jakku. It is said that her character is “completely thing for herself, until she meets Poe Dameron, who is played

by Oscar Isaac, is a Resistance on a mission by a certain princess, he comes across Finn and gins their fates come into focus.

In recent clips of The Force Awakens, it focuses on the dark

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Eagle’s Eye Top 10 Songs 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

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Ren, a dark warrior strong with the Force, originally a member of the Knights of Ren and commander of the First Order.

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staff writers Lary Durden and Lavel Deckard

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

GAMES

The Eagle’s Eye

Entertainment

Page 9

REVIEW

Fans have fun playing latest Fallout video game

Fourth installment of popular game franchise gains good ratings from student Mary Griffis Staff Writer

It’s been six years since fans of the Fallout of the most addictive open world games ever made. nally made fans happy with the release of Fallout 4, exceeding sales expectations with more than 12 million copies sold. It outsold Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 ing it the biggest gaming launch of 2015.

With a massive 111,000 hours of potential gameplay, Fallout 4 immersed in the vibrant wasteland without overwhelming them.

By early 2016 the hours of gameplay will continue to grow with the addition of downloadable content. But Bethesda won’t stop there, they will also continue Overview: The Fallout series is set in an alternate timeline where the Cold War never ended and nuclear fusion was developed on a massive scale. “Nearly limitless” energy led the world to the creation of domestic robots, portable computers, laser weaponry, and even power armor.

Although the energy did a lot of good, the world eventually went into turmoil due to the overconsumption of all major resources. In the year, 2066 China invaded the United States and the use of power

MOVIE

armor became a necessity. This war eventually led to the dropping of atomic bombs

by China in 2077.

In the Northeast, Massachusetts, where the story is set, a few fortunate citizens gained access into the protective vault 111. Vaults were supposedly to ensure humanity’s survival, but secretly they were all experiments. Using cryogenic tubes, the vaults put their inhabitants to sleep. Eventually, in the year 2287 you commonwealth. There you see the true destruction of the bombs.

Gameplay: Fallout, Fallout 4 delivers a more vibrant, interactive and almost endless wasteland. The once gloomy and almost green wasteland is now more realistic and full of promise.

With the needed color Fallout 4 is now introducing the creation of settlements. Players are now able to create bris found around the area. Not only can

will need while traveling the wasteland.

Graphics: Although Fallout 4 is a that was released on the PS2. As Forbes magazine writer Jason Evangelho says “every texture in the game seems to be coated in Vaseline and missing a few layers of detail.” With this in mind Evangelho realizes that the Fallout franchise is more than just graphics. I agree with Evangelho’s description of Fallout “digital comfort food.”

“We want that warm embrace of familiarity. We want an experience that diverges from time to time, but always reconnects to that well-traveled road we

Fallout 4 is more than just graphics, it’s about gameplay and because the graphics don’t enjoy the game that Bethesda has created.

Verdict: The highly anticipated Fallout 4 has exceeded many expectations ryline and countless hours of gameplay Even though Fallout 4 isn’t as advanced as Call of Duty or Halo, Bethesda future updates, and additional content, Fallout 4 will be a favorite until the next Fallout in the series.

can also be used to upgrade armor and weapons. Although many new changes have been made to the gameplay, the very iconic enemies and equipment such as Deathclaws, and even the Pip-boy are still featured in the game. character levels up and with each level comes an experience point you can spend in the “SPECIAL menu.” The attributes

Courtesy of Bethesda Gaming Company

REVIEW

New holiday horror film frightens kids to be nice

Krampus separates itself from other Christmas features by bringing legend to life Namiah Wright

good before Christmas.

Staff Writer

The tag line for “You don’t want to be on his list” perfectly sums up the new pus.

It starts out slow at the beginning as an ordinary family enjoys the Christmas season. It’s totally a cliché Christmas movie until a weird blizzard blows in and a strange the family’s house, changing the tone from cheer to fright.

Throughout the rest twisted toys, popping out of nowhere and bringing terror to the holidays. The

the family, in the movie argument causes little Max to tear up his letter to Santa and lose his Christmas spirit.

Little does the famwould cause a very monstrous creature to teach them a lesson. The family did not believe in the tall peared to them. The family a way to protect each other from the creature and his little toy minions. But in order to do that they must there and watching.

on Christmas, showing bad -

movie for horror and comedy. It’s great for horror

presents. The story is based

your ordinary Christmas lover movies.

INTERNET

means “claw,” which is evident in the character’s depiction in the movie. In Germany, people celebrate as the creature and scaring their children, teaching them to be nice and not naughty or their will be consequences. While most other regions do not tell the ing some popularity in the United States. that is half goat and half the children with a whip and scary presents telling before Christmas comes or In a video interview with Dread Central, Director Michael Dough said he -

said he hopes to bring the

SUBSCRIPTION

YouTube Red offers various new options Luis Correa Staff Writer

In the current era of companies time before YouTube, the second most used search engine, entered the fray.

On October 28 YouTube released membership which gives viewers the option to pay $9.99 a month to get rid while you use your phone for other things and download videos for later viewing without Internet connection.

As of now these are the main features you receive when subscribing to Youon bringing exclusive original content in early 2016 from several content creators such as PewDiePie, Fine Brothers Entertainment, Joey Graceffa and many more to those who are paid subscribers.

Starting in early 2016 YouTube will provide funding to big YouTube content creators. With this funding creators will produce original series

and movies. PewDiePie will begin the reality-adventure series, titled “Scare PewDiePie”, with the help from the crePewDiePie will encounter horror filled situations inspired by video games he’s will partner with Full screen Films to create “Lazer Team,” an action-comedy feature film which will follow four small town boys who discover an alien ship which will lead to a battle to save the Earth.

These projects aren’t the only ones being produced, YouTube has also anthese on their blog and will be announcing more, which you can find more code.

Membership isn’t only for YouTube videos but extends to Gaming and Music, which are two recent additions to the YouTube family. If all this isn’t enough to reel you into subscribing, as an added bonus once you subscribe you also gain access to Google Play Music for no extra charge.

more Americans with a movie.

Since, more Americans are getting aware of the tradition many are starting to celebrate it.

Some parents put coals in ing them that next year they better be nice and not naughty. Although the tall idea to him, Dough wanted to get the reactions of a

pressed with the reactions he got from the audience. pus 5 out of 10. It’s really cheesy and slow at the beginning, failing to catch I would follow the PG-13 rating guidelines and not show it to young children. to see the monsters that goes bump at night, might enjoy it.

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

sports

page 10

The Eagle’s Eye

Wednesday - December 16, 2015

Amanda Livingston

All Guards Up The Akins wrestling team faces opponents against Travis High school. Both girls and boys wrestling teams wrestled the day of the match. Representing the team for girls is Brenda Cacino and for the boys, Robert Rodrigez and Daisy Tapia.

SEASON

PROGRESS

Wrestling smacks down competition, beating the odds Cassie Obi

Sports Editor Though the season is just beginning, the wrestling team has kept their reputation strong on the mat.

Since the start of their season in mid-November, both the boys and girls teams are getting into ing.

“We have some pretty great win-loss ratios on both the girls and the boys,” wrestling head coach Roy Tambunga said. “It’s been the case for many years now, especially with the girls; they generally tend to progress faster.”

The team hasn’t moved backwards from last year, but instead feel they have improved since their previous year and can see themselves getting better in their future. Some have plans on applying their wrestling skills be-

GOLF

yond high school.

“I was actually planning on going into the Marines after high school,” Robert Rodriguez, a third year wrestler. “There are actually jobs for wrestling in the Marines and I hope to incorporate what I’m doing now in there.”

In regards to the teams status on a district, regional and state level, the wrestlers agree that it is too early to tell exactly how they’ll perform but are off to a strong start. Team members said they believe the hard work they’ve put in will pay off into their matches and will hopefully earn them a place at regionals.

“Like I said before, the girls generally seem to progress a lot faster than the boys team,” Tambunga said. “I don’t believe that there is a particular reason why but they’ve been to state four times in a row.”

The team as also welcomed two new wrestling coaches to the

team this year. The wrestlers said they appreciate their input toward improvement and supporting the dedication the success of the team.

This next sentence is repetitive, duplicate of what you said before. Need a transition to next quote.

Although going to state isn’t a new goal, the wrestlers also plan to take something new out of this year no matter how many wins they gain. For them, it’s more than just winning.

There is a tournament up in Frisco that tends to be the hardest tournament we face,” Tambunga said. “It’s usually there where we determine the status of our team, but no matter how things turn out, the team does it for themselves.”

The wrestlers have been on a majority win-streak, over half of the team with positive win-loss ratios. Coaches are particularly proud of the team’s performance

out on the mat and proud to to see the veteran wrestlers yearly progression.

“The more veteran wrestlers have shown a dramatic change in their wrestling since their beginning ” Tambunga said. “Just like with any sport, there are always going to be improvements if you practice enough.”

As a whole, the Austin wrestling program has been sponsored the shortest amount of time and therefore they must wrestle against other districts such as the Dallas and Houston districts, who have been in longer standing than others.

“You always have to be at practice to get any better,” senior Brenda Cacino said. “If we want to get any better, I advise all the wrestlers to always be at practice and for them to work on bettering themselves.”

INDIVIDUAL RECORDS Boys Varsity:

Robert Rodriguez 6-5 Tiger Tejero 9-5 Aldo Patino 3-3 Matt Mindieta 2-2 Paul Jarrell 3-7 Nathan Carranza 3-3

Girls Varsity:

Leslie Mejias 16-1 Daisy Tapia 12-3 Leslie Arriaza 9-2 Brenda Cancino 16-2 Kat Pena 18-0

NEW STAFF

New golf commutes to Akins and helps out with our team Coach Thomas Norris, comes from Paredes on school after hours Maheen Anjum

Life & Style Editor When he’s not at home with his family, golf course.

“I don’t want students to feel embarrassed by saying they are going to go play golf. They think golf is just this sport on TV that you fall asleep to,” said Norris, who took over as golf coach this fall when long time golf coach David Lopez moved to become an assistant principal at Martin Middle School.

Norris or a player acknowledges that golf suffers from an image problem. Many young people see it as a sport for the older generation. played on the moon. It is centuries old, enjoyed by millions throughout the world, and golf remains a valued physical activity hybrid of entertainment and patience.

“I use to be one of those people who thought golf was a boring sport because I was a caddy,” said senior Madison Round. your interest will start to grow. You can try so many different angles and views to hit the ball where you want it to go and I fell

in love with golf instantly.”

The Akins Golf Team is in a recovery year after Lopez left. Norris teaches 7th grade Texas History at Paredes Middle School and comes to coach at Akins three to four times a week. He also helps out as a soccer coach for junior varsity “B” boys and girls team.

“Golf is a sport you can play forever.

You can play it when you’re 18 and when you’re 80,” Norris said.

Senior Fabian Vargas was attracted to golf after conversing with Norris about the sport.

“He said it was a sport that was fun to play. It’s a sport that had no pressure and a sport that you only got better in and that sounded nice to me, “Vargas said.

Vargas also mentioned that he is glad to have Coach Norris, knowing he has years of experience in his background with golf.

Norris was on the Hays High School golf team and played golf at the University of Texas. He said hewas excited to become the golf coach, believing he will have an amazing time meeting new students with the same passion as him.

“I would like 20 boys and 20 girls (on the team) I try to involve students who realize they can do something in life to make them better each day,” Norris said.

Maheen Anjum

New Old School ris is a Texas history at Paredes Middle School.

Currently, the Akins golf team has nine boys who are on the team and hopes to recruit more girls next semester.

“We are very new but we have one pretty experienced player — sophomore An-

-

tonio Vela — and beginners who instantly fall in love with it.You just have to give golf a chance and not base it off of what it is on TV,” Norris said.

The Eagles Eye

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

OUTDOORS

Sports

page 11

CULTURE

Hunting, controversy over beloved sport among students Cassie Obi

Sports Editor What makes a sport a sport is sometimes in the eye of the beholder.

Cheerleading, skateboarding and dance have all been subject to hot debates about their athletic merits. But not all sports require a ball and a scoreboard. Some just need a gun and a target.

That is the case for hunting.

Hunting is an activity that is enjoyed by many, but often misunderstood.. This and requires practice to become better.

Akins, but there are several students who actively hunt throughout the year.

“Sometimes I get ‘Buck Fever’ and get nervous when I’m about to shoot,” sophomore Noah McGonagil said. “But when I love the adrenaline rush. It’s really fun.”

Depending on the season, hunters will normally hunt dove, deer, hogs and even bear based on circumstance. Each animal has a season of abundance and usually overlaps in the fall season.

“I consider hunting to be a sport due to the fact that it takes skill, time and practice,” said agriculture teacher Megan Kay. “Also, most hunters are very competitive to have the biggest animal.”

Akins students enjoy hunting and aspire to gain more from the activity. Many students are actually unaware that there is a class here at Akins that teaches the fundamentals of hunting and the skills needed

EDUCATION

to perform properly.

“I teach many subjects that fall into the Park Cadet Practicum strand,” Kay said. ment is where you learn hunters education and laws.”

Hunting is often decried by a population of people who don’t understand its purpose and claim animal cruelty as a result. However, hunters claim that is not the case.

“Sometimes I somewhat feel bad, but at the same time we don’t waste anything,” sophomore Cameron Burns said. “We always eat it or use it for another purpose.”

Students say they involve themselves with certain hunting groups for a larger effort and to build their own characters and even give back to the community.

“I’m in this youth group that teaches kids how to hunt and help out there,” McGonagil said. “It helps kids build a comThere has been talk, politically and socially, that bogs down the athletic credibility of hunting, but these students challenge that. The students who currently hunt have grown up with family members who taught them over the years and reject the negative connotations.

“That’s another thing, people who’ve never hunted or even held a gun normally don’t understand why people hunt,” senior Josh Ward said. “I believe people should The topic of hunting brings up some very opposing viewpoints in regards to

Courtesy of Noah McGonagil

Kill Shot

Student hunter, Noah McGonagil, poses with one his kills. McGonagil

gun control and other possible government regulations that affect this competitive sport. These students disagree with such regulations.

“I think we should keep our guns and believe it was put into our rights to bear arms as a form of protection and usefulness,” said senior Shelby Gattis. “And I don’t believe people should hunt if they’re not going to use their game.”

Hunting is a sport that requires time, accuracy and practice in order to become

better. Though the goal is to become better hunters by those who practice the sport, it is more than just to kill animals. Instead it’s to become more resourceful for themselves and others.

“I’ve been hunting for about 7 years and yeah I would say it’s pretty malebased, but it’s because of society,” Gattis said. “I don’t think that it should be looked at as a male sport, but for anybody who can handle a gun correctly.”

OPPORTUNITIES

Baseball players recieve scholarships to colleges Katrina Stewart Staff Writer

After a lot of hard work and dedication, seniors Adam Ivey and Austin McNicholas have both signed with Division 1 universities to play baseball.

Ivey has signed with Texas State University while McNicholas will be headed to the University of Texas.

McNicholas has been under watch by UT since his freshman year and received a scholarship offer during his sophomore year to play for the Longhorns.

Ivey was talked to in the beginning of summer 2015 and, shortly after, was offered to attend Texas State with a baseball scholarship, covering 55 percent of his tuition and books also he will be receiving a monthly stipend upon arrival.

McNicholas signed with

UPDATE

UT, and gave him a scholarship that covers 80 percent of his tuition, which is the highest scholarship anyone can receive. sign with UT because I get to extend my baseball career,” McNicholas said.

McNicholas has been scouted from other colleges such as University of Houston, Arizona state, and Rice. However, he felt like he couldn’t consider them because he has verbally been committed to UT since the summer of 2012-2013.

McNicholas and Ivey both have played baseball since they were young, so being offered a scholarship to play college baseball was an opportunity they couldn’t pass up.

“I was so grateful to have signed with a Division 1 school, I had no idea

David Doerr

Signing Party

Baseball players, Austin McNicholas and Adam Ivey, sign with the college of this was going to happen,” Ivey said.

Every now and then, when Ivey thought he wasn’t performing up to his standard, he would consider quitting but, thanks to

his dad, he kept Ivey motivated in playing baseball.

“Sometimes when I wasn’t playing too well, I thought there was no reason for me to keep playing,” Ivey said. “ But my

dad encouraged me to push on, that it will pay off, and it did.”

Most of the work was done by both Ivey and McNicholas, but they couldn’t have done without

the help of their parents, who have supported them throughout the years.

“My parents have supported me the whole way, paying for everything, taking me everywhere, I honestly don’t think I could have made it this far without them,” Ivey said.

To some baseball is just a side thing, but to these boys it’s everything, its not something they do on the side for fun it’s life.

“Baseball isn’t just a sport, it helped me learn many life lessons that has helped and will help me in the future.” McNicholas said “I’ve been playing baseball my whole life some days were hard but I worked through it, because I knew it would eventually take me somewhere,” Ivey said.

SEASON CHECK IN

Basketball sets goals to finish this season strong The players face challeges but strive to achieve the best out of it Sadie adams Staff Writer

Starting off the season with some very close wins, the basketseason with many accomplishments, including wins and great sportsmanship.

The girls basketball team has had 11 games so far this season.

They are 1-2 in district play. They beat Del Valle 50 – 44 and lost to Bowie and Lehman.

“The team just needs more motivation to push through the rest of the season,” Kaitlyn Egdorf said.

With only one senior remaining on the girls varsity team, Brooklyn Childer said she feels like her job is to lead the team on and follow through with dedication and motivation to keep the team on a path to success.

“I feel like if we just keep pushing each other to do the best we can do and work hard, we will have some successful wins,” Childer said.

Although there have been very

few wins this season, there is still a full season ahead of them and they are prepared to work hard and have good sportsmanship whether it’s a win or a loss.

As for the boys’ season, they have played 11 games as well.

The boys have only had one district game this season with a loss to Anderson but they are 5-6 in preseason and non district games.

“All we can do is motivate each other and try to get some wins out of the season,” Point guard Tre Akers said. Although the boys varsity team has lost a few games, the have evenly won the same amount coming in at 4-4 to start the season off.

The water-damaged basketball court prevents the school from hosting two games at the same time forcing game times to start later than normal. Some B Team games have been rescheduled to Wednesdays and Saturdays because of it.

With varsity games starting at 8 p.m. now it means the players have to wait longer to play and make it back home later.

Luis Correa

Down the Court

Point guard Vincent Prado faces an opponent while playing McCallum High school on Dec.

“It makes it hard because our games are later and we get home later but we can’t let that stop us,” Childer said.

Girls Basketball Head Coach lem is more of an annoyance the teams are having to work around

rather than a major problem.

“It’s very annoying but we have to work with what we’ve got,” Martin said. “It’s not going to stop us from doing our best.”

Freshman A team Coach Marcy Emerick said that the teams are getting stronger every day

have have a lot of potential for achieving success.

“Even though the season has just started, there is still a lot of room for improvement,” Emerrick said “and that is why we practice different strategies to push improvement everyday,”

PHOTO ESSAY

page 12

The Eagle’s Eye

Wednesday – December 16,2015

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Coming Together For Christmas

Ricardo Villegas Photo Editor

Ricardo Villegas

School, telling them not to worry about the Herdmans.

Much like young children motivated to be good before Christmas with the prospect of earning presents from Santa, the Herdman children are inspired to join a church Christmas pageant because of the chance to earn free snacks.

The Herdmans have a bad reputation in Barbara Robinson’s The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever. This band of children is known for bullying kids, stealing their desserts from their lunches and being a scary group of kids. After hearing that the local church provides free food for attending Sunday School they decided to participate, originally for the snacks but end up volunteering for the Christmas pageant to prove they were capable of doing more than just being bad and scary.

That and also Imogene Herdman volunteered herself and her siblings for the parts. That night both the Herdmans and the church group learned something, the Herdmans learned a valuable lesson. They even ended up giving them a ham from their welfare basket.

“The play was great, the turnout was phenomenal, we got a lot of feedback saying it turned out spectacular,” senior and cast member Omar Webb said. “It really got you into the Christmas spirit.”

A Nice Family Dinner

Ricardo Villegas

The Bradley family sits down at the dinner table to talk about the upcoming Christmas pageant at the local church and talks about how they expect it to go.

The Bad Kids On The Block

Ricardo Villegas

An Exciting Conversation

Ricardo Villegas

A group of the Herdmans loiter on the streets as they prepare to bully Charlie Bradley for his desert, as they do every day.

The Voice Of The Angels

Ricardo Villegas

A Holy Birth

Ricardo Villegas

Beth Bradley played by Celina Tijerina talks to the audience right before the Herdmans perform in the pageant. Beth informs those watching about the turnout of the play.

Mary, played by Tyra Williams and Joseph, played by Jonathan Macedo proudly celebrate the birth of their son Jesus in the Christmas what Christmas is all about.

Solis, react to a call by the church women about the Herdmans. In the call Ms. Bradley informs the church women about the Herdmans volunteering.