Merged by DH Conley High School Journalism

Issue XLIII Issue 1

The

November 6, 2013

Shield

D. H. Conley High School 2006 Worthington Road Greenville, N. C. 27858

INSIDE MEET YOUR FEATURE

Everything you need to know about Conley’s crazy, rowdy rivalry. Pages 3 and 4

MAKING HIS MARR-K

Small-town rivalry with big-time intensity heats up By Reid Williams but our feud has been taken to new heights over the past few years. In the first football match-up between In a perfect world, Conley and Rose would the schools this year, Conley pulled out a get along just fine, but I think we all know that’s noteworthy 33-20 victory, performed in front of never going to happen. an estimated crowd of 4,000 people, which filled Separated by a little over 5 miles, D.H. Conley’s stands, and filled the student sections Conley and J.H. Rose share the same county, on both sides. “It’s always a lot of fun when you same school system, and the same athletic have nights like that,” said Conley’s principal classification, Don Marr. but most of “The bitter, decades-old riConley’s the similarities valry varsity football has sparked national seem to end team has debate, and created multiple defeated the there. T h e controversies, especially Rampants in bitter, decadestheir last two over recent years.” old rivalry meetings, after has sparked Rose dominated national debate, for the past decade. The changing of momentum and created multiple controversies, especially on the football field over the past two years has over recent years. resulted in an increase in the energy of Conley The intensity of the rivalry is further students at the games. perpetuated by the ever growing organized In volleyball, Conley’s varsity girls have gone student fan bases: the Conley Crazies and 10-13 against their cross-town counterpart since the Rowdy Rampants. Strong contingencies 2004, including a 2-0 record against them this from both schools line the bleachers of many year. volleyball, basketball, and football games. This year, Conley joined Rose in the 4A The fan groups often show up at these athletic division, the highest high school division in events sporting a common theme, in order to North Carolina. Now that the competitions show unanimity, and occasionally to poke fun at are counted in conference, our rivalry is more the other. intense than ever, knowing that the games will The rivalry might just be between two count on the conference record. high schools, but the electric atmosphere could remind you of a game between professional rivals. Two large schools separated by such short Continued pg. 4 distance would obviously create competition,

Conley

welcomes Principal Don Marr. Page 2

‘BLURRED LINES’ CAUSES CONTROVERSY

‘Blurred

Lines’ some.

crosses

Page 3

TAKING IT TO THE BANK

Conley finally decides not to pass on lax By Kyle Griffin of the Pitt County Schools,” said Butler. “Adding a sport is an individual school’s he battle to secure the ability to decision because they have to fund it,” Butler field a lacrosse team has finally been accomstated. The team has to raise $10,000 by the plished. This spring Conley will have a boys spring, which they will do by holding fundraisand girls team. For the last two years Conley ers. After raising the money, the team will be students have been lobbying to get a team but classified as a club sport because lacrosse does were always met with that it just could not hap- not have any conference affiliation. pen. One of the fundraiser ideas is a Color Junior Ben Ulffers was not satisfied with Run. “A Color Run is a 5k where you wear all that outcome so he took matters into his own white and are sprayed with multi-colored hands to make sure that there would be a team paint,” said junior Olivia Dunn. The runners are at Conley this spring. Ulffers put in many hours charged to participate, and the proceeds will go to secure the team, first meeting with head of towards the lacrosse team. Pitt County Athletics Ron Butler. “Lacrosse is a sport that is growing in Continued pg. 8 popularity, and I would love to see a team at all

T Grand Theft Auto 5 steals 800 million in 24 hours. Page 6

News

The Shield Volume XLIII, Issue 1 November 6, 2013

Marr returns to Conley ‘family’ with hopes for a ‘perfect’ school year By Mariah Thompson

In his free time Marr enjoys attending Conley athletic events, running, and spending r. Don Marr has returned to the time with his children. He also attends a local Conley family as principal, and he couldn’t be church. more pleased. “Conley feels like the right place Marr is expecting a great year from the to be; it was something that happened quickly, Vikings. “Conley has absolutely lived up to my but I’m glad I came here,” he said. “It always expectations,” he said. Marr thought when he felt like home.” returned to Conley there would be unsolved Marr brings 16 years of experience to problems that he would have to take care of, Conley. He began his career at Conley in 1997 as but it was a pleasant surprise. a social studies teacher before becoming an as- “I don’t know if I can improve on trasistant principal. He left the school to become dition. It depends on whether the teachers/ a lead teacher at Gateway Learning Center in students have a good attitude, but we have to 2007. After two years there, Marr moved to JH keep doing what we are doing for great things Rose accepting a position as assistant principal to keep progressing,” said Marr. for one year; he then moved to Greene Central Marr hopes that Conley will continue to accepting a full principalship. come together as a family and make positive The biggest difference between Marr’s decisions. previous school and Conley was the size. Con “I believe Conley can make greater ley’s population is twice as large. things happen. I see the Vikings as a family, and Marr is excited about beginning the I hope it will stay this way to ensure our year year with the faculty and staff at Conley, and he turns out perfect,” he said. hopes it will be one of the best schools in the county.

Submitted photo In this family portrait, Marr is with his wife and four children. Marr’s son Aaron plays football for JH Rose.

Barber retires after over 30 years

Potts ready for ‘exciting schedule’

By Gray Taylor

By Logan Bagley

school system. I am too active to just sit around and be idle.” During Barber’s career he served as an administrator for over 16 years, a teacher for 17 years, and a coach for nine of those years. He has worked at various high schools such as JH Rose, DH Conley, Farmville Central, Rosewood and North Pitt. Barber spent the last four years of his career working as an administrator at Conley. “Being an administrator carries a lot of responsibility. Not only must you provide an environment that Submitted photo attracts only the best teachers, but you are also obligated to help Assistant principal Lynn Barber used to be quite the daredevil. Here he can be provide the resources to enable seen skydiving with his instructor. He was teachers and staff to do their jobs forced to stop his hobby after an injury to successfully,” stated Barber. “Being his right arm. an administrator can, at times, be stressful. But just like teaching, the rewards are far greater than the fter more than headaches.” three decades of service in public Barber parted with Conley schools, assistant principal Lynn for retirement on a rather fond Barber retired on September 30. note. “The last 4+ years at Conley “I am retiring to enjoy having have been the best of my career. more time with my family. Having The faculty and staff are outstandtaught, coached and served as an ing and have always been supportadministrator, I have worked long ive and nurturing to our students. hours for the past 33+ years. My Their genuine concern for the stufamily has always supported my dents is what makes this school a passions, both as a coach and as great place to be. The students are an administrator. Now it becomes tremendous, being very respectful time for me to share more time and dedicated to learning, and the with my family,” said Barber. “I plan parents have been very supportto continue to work and/or volive to the mission of the school,” unteer in the Pitt County schools/ stated Barber.

Junior Jasmine Cairns Job: Zaxby’s cashier “The hardest part of the job is dealing with complicated customers.”

“If you have homework, after school activities and work, you might have to give and take.”

Disagreements in Syria continue By Ashley Walls

yria. Now the object of a crippling civil war causing two million, over one million of those being children, to flee the country with an estimated 100,000 dead after clashes between rebel forces and President Bashar al-Assad’s government. The trouble began in March of 2011 in Deraa with protests after 15 school children were arrested, and reportedly tortured, for writing By Brooke Harris anti-government graffiti on walls. Peaceful protests for the children’s release and democracy began. On March 18 the Syrian army responded with a shootout between the protesters, killing four people. The following day more shots were fired at the victims’ funerals, killing another. At first, protestors just Senior Dean WIlliams wanted more freedom, but then wanted President Assad to resign since security forces were opening Job: Strickland Mobile fire on peaceful protests. Assad Homes refused with many still supporting “This is a really hard job and it’s his government and offered some changes in how things were run, not that interesting. It’s definitebut protesters didn't believe him. ly not good for someone who Pressure on the internahas a tight schedule.” tional community heightened after allegations surfaced of chemical “(If you’re looking for a weapons being used. Syria has denied using them because use job) wake up early, be hardworking, dress nicely of chemical weapons are banned under international law. In August and be professional.” of 2013, a suspected chemical at-

Students balance school and jobs By Miranda Alexander

fter transferring from Wintergreen Elementary School, Mr.Reid Potts is excited to take over Mr. Barber’s position as assistant principal. A Washington, NC native, Potts was educated at ECU, earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the institute, and his training has equipped him to take over the responsibility of wielding the infamous golf cart. This will be Potts’s second high school administrative job. He is excited to be a part of the Conley family. Potts has always been fascinated with the “exciting, busy, no schedule” chaos of a job in administration. “No two days are the same, and I love it,” he said. Potts is inspired by his father who taught him how to be a hardworker and a level headed decision maker; his two time cancer surviving mother taught him to “take no time for granted.” She inspired him by surviving both breast and esophageal cancer. He and his wife Casey are very excited to be part of the Conley family and will be welcoming a baby girl into their family in January.

tack in Damascus caused strong reactions from America, Britain and France. Syria’s government further denied use of chemical weapons. The British and American governments are working on a plan to help Syria which is unlikely to involve sending over troops. The United Nations have been very critical on the violence but could not agree on anything to help the people of Syria. In order for the UN to send in armed troops all members of the governing body must agree, but China and Russia blocked this from happening by aiding the Syrian government by supplying them with weapons. The French and British governments have pushed for weapons aid for the rebels, saying that supplying them weapons will encourage the government to create a solution. Others have debated that doing so is not the right way to end a war and fear it would cause more damage than good. Since then, Syria has acknowledged that they possess chemical weapons and is willing to hand over their chemical weapons arsenal when the United States calls off any potential attack on the Syrian government; the U.S. has since done so. Syria has committed to getting rid of its stockpiles, and the U.N. Security Council voted on September 27th to do so based on a plan made by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Editorial

The Shield Volume XLIII, Issue 1 November 6, 2013

Riding the bus home may bring the blues

S TA F F Editor-in-Chief Jamison Owens

Web Coordinator Kayla Moye

Photographer Ashley Walls

Section Co-Editors Melissa Alexander Julia Allsbrook Olivia Dunn Ky l e G r i f f i n Zack Matis Kayla Moye Bryant Packard K a t e l y n Po g o d a Ky l e r R o s s G r a y Ta y l o r Reid Williams Matt Williamson

Staff Writers Miranda Alexander Logan Bagley David Buck Windy Bullock Hope Calkins Brooke Harris Dylan Johnson Christian Lancaster Courtney Manning Mariah Thompson

lem during the morning ride. Some buses have gotten so full that they have to have three to a seat. Do you want to know what it feels like to be pressed up against the window-side of the bus with two students sitting beside you, with one just coming from gym class and drenched in sweat? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Riding the bus home wasn’t an issue before, but now it is. Because of the influx of new students, some buses have students sitting three to a seat, and some students having to sit on the floor. It should never have to come to that. Having so many people on the bus ride By Katelyn Pogoda home is makes everything uncomfortable, from the lack of personal space to the noise level. There is nothing that makes me more magine being compressed in a small irritated than being surrounded by a bunch space that’s hot, cramped, and rowdy. With the of noisy children. To make things worse, how start of the school year, a horde of freshman about being confined in a small space with a have filled the hallways. Additionally, the buses bunch of ‘em to the point where you feel like have students packed like sardines, which you’re slowly being crushed to death. makes going home less enjoyable than how it These rugrats are too young to be driving home already was. Welcome to afternoon bus rides from school, so they are forced to ride the bus 2013. home if they are unable to get a ride. If you don’t know me at all, then let me This is absolutely ridiculous. give myself an extremely trivial, informal, brief There should never be bus overcrowding. It’s introduction; I am a senior and do not have just inconvenient for everyone; the students my own means of transportation for myself. and the bus drivers included. This problem will Therefore, I have to ride the bus home. Sweet be tolerated, but hopefully things will change Lord Jesus, what a strenuous fifteen minutes it by the time the next few weeks roll by. I mean, is for me. All these gosh darned children taking the student population isn’t gonna decrease up the seats. There are literally no empty seats overnight. after everyone gets on the bus in the afternoon; I highly doubt that the buses have this prob-

School lunch needs some improvement

Editorial Polic y The Shield welcomes comments, suggestions, and inquiries from anyone as a letter to the editor. We require that the letter be signed by the author and edited thoroughly and for proper grammar, spelling, and length. The editorial staff reserves the right to reject any letter. Letters may be turned in by e-mail. Opinions presented in these letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the administation, The Shield, or the general public. The Shield is a student forum involving the topics of school wide, local, state, national, and international concern. The Shield is written, edited, and published by the students of journalism classes at DH Conley. Members of the staff strive to provide acurate coverage of the school community.

By David Buck

onley is the best school in Pitt County hands down. So when our students and our teachers are hungry, I can’t imagine any viable reason for us to have the worst food in the county. I’m not blaming Pitt County and I’m not blaming D.H. Conley, I’m just wondering why we don’t deserve better lunch. Somebody is at fault, but playing the blame game doesn’t matter. What does matter is our students and their concerns. All four years that I have been in high

school the food has been sub-par. It really dawned on me the first day that I walked into the cafeteria and they were serving sticks of cheese for lunch. We have boxes of chicken that are decent sometimes, but most of the time though they stick to the bottom of the box and you are subjected to eating pieces of the box it sticks to. There are quesadillas that contain “mystery meat” and square pizzas that the cafeteria serves way too much. All of the food just gives the impression that it’s just been merely heated up and slopped together. A lot of kids bring their own lunch but for students like me who want a cooked meal and don’t have time to make their lunch are forced to eat the school’s low quality alternative. Ask any student at Conley and they will confirm that the food just isn’t acceptable. Again, the point is not to blame but to highlight something that the students at D.H. Conley and the students across Pitt County have to go through every day. I don’t know if Pitt County realizes that our lunches are low quality, but the important thing is getting the message out to everyone and maybe we will get a change. I feel like the students at Conley are important and I feel like we are deserving of a decent meal. There needs to be a solution.

Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’ are made clear By Jamison Owens

ver the summer, Robin Thicke’s hit song “Blurred Lines” could be heard on television and nearly anywhere people spend their time, but the song has been the subject of controversy for lyrics glamorizing sexual violence, and objectifying women as a whole. “Blurred Lines” is in blatant disregard of the basic rules of consent and promotes sexual violence.

In real life there are no “blurred lines” between consent and non-consent, regardless of what someone is wearing, how someone looks, how great you think you are, or if alcohol has been involved. The music video for the song features scantily clad women doing a variety of suggestive activities, which at this point is not necessarily an oddity, but even in one viewing, it is clear that the line has been crossed (or “blurred” if you prefer). Mr. Thicke, in response to the video controversy, said in an interview with GQ, “We tried to do everything that was taboo… and everything that is completely derogatory towards women. Because all three of us are happily married with children, we were like, ‘“We’re the perfect guys to make fun of this,”’ which is to say that Thicke

and the other artists featured on the song, T.I. and Pharrell, seem to believe that it’s okay to degrade women because they’re married to women. Thicke went on to say that, ‘“People say, “Hey, do you think this is degrading to women?” I’m like, “Of course it is. What a pleasure it is to degrade a woman. I’ve never gotten to do that before. I’ve always respected women.”’ So basically he says it’s okay for him to degrade women because he’s never done it before. Which would be exactly like saying, “Well, I’ve never robbed a bank, so I think I’m entitled to rob one just this once because I’ve never done it before.” See if that holds up in a court of law. Later, Thicke put his foot straight back into his mouth yet again, when he said on the Today

show, “If you listen to the lyrics, it says, ‘That man is not your maker.’ It’s actually a feminist movement within itself.” I would like to explain to him what “feminist” means, because while a man might not be my maker, I certainly do not need one to “liberate” me as he requests to do later in the chorus. And to top it all off, the song is so overplayed that every time it comes on the radio I want to tear my radio out of the dashboard. As if making my skin crawl wasn’t enough. If you need me, I’ll be waiting for Mr. Thicke to crawl into the hole of late-night television infomercials and Dancing With the Stars episodes that all this world’s other truly great one-hit-wonders end up in.

fEATURE

D.H Conley What you need to know

D Homeroom

(RAP period) - 25 minutes long

Homeroom is where we can get help in any of our classes, make up work, study, finish projects and etc. Many a student however, use this time to socialize with peers. In order to have RAP period the time the tardy bell rang was pushed back from 8:25 to 8:20, and time out of first and second period were scrounged up for a total of 25 minutes to use to our benefit. This time was created to help students who were falling behind in classes or those who needed to finish homework , etc.

Sports

Football, Volleyball, Mens’ and Womens’ Soccer, Mens’ and Womens’ Tennis, Cross Country, Mens’ and Womens’ Golf, Mens’ and Womens’ Basketball, Wrestling, Swimming, Baseball, Softball, Track and Field, and Cheerleading

Clubs

38 Clubs (10 of which are Honor Clubs)that range from: Link Crew, Chess Club, Battle of the Books, Mu Alpha Theta, Rachel’s Challenge, Skills USA, Bible Club, Foreign Language Honor Societies, International Thespian Society, Choices, National Art Honor Society, and many more.

Scholarships

Many scholarships including: NAACP Scholarship, NC Blueberry Assoc, HOSA(NC) King’s College Scholarship, Jackie Robinson Scholarship Program, Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year(SAMMY), and many more

C “Not Senior Project”

A paper with a 3d model of a museum on British lit for AP English, not sure for regular English

The Shield Volume XLIII, Issue 1 November 6, 2013

In a Conley Crazy world with a side of Rowdie Rampants By Julia Allsbrook

ll is fair in love and….. school pride. As a senior volleyball and softball player I have been familiar with the rivalry for four years. The Conley Crazies and the Rowdie Rampants have done a phenomenal job at keeping this rivalry rich. Being an athlete in a gym full of dedicated fans is exciting but playing against Rose and their fans, stands out above the rest. From the second Rose is placed on the schedule there is an immediate feeling of hype that sets in within the team. This particular rivalry stands out because each school produces a solid team every year. The athletes are familiar with each other through outside club teams and other activities. This fa-

miliarity plays a vital role in the games only making them more competitive. The Rowdie Rampants create an atmosphere that makes me feel as if I’m playing two games at once. The first game is the actual physical one while the second is simply a mental battle I am having between myself and the Rowdie Rampants. The constant yelling of appropriate and inappropriate chants always keeps me on my toes. I find it amusing and entertaining that the students have such a large amount of school spirit and competitiveness. The excitement level when playing Rose elevates quicker on the court and the overall emotion of the game is greater than most because of the bragging rights that are at stake. A lot of people feel as if the Crazies and the Rampants go too far in their efforts to distract the opposing team. I simply disagree with them, the students are definitely the 7th man in the stands when it comes to our volleyball matches. They affect the intensity of the matches and and create an exciting atmosphere. This rivalry is definitely at its peak because of the Crazy students that do not mind getting a little Rowdie.

Continued fr By: Reid Williams

changing of momentum past two years has resu Conley students at the In volleyball, Co 10-13 against their cros including a 2-0 record a Despite the fact that friends that attend Ros petition between the s gotten and only passion When you look drive, and our lives are hate to admit it, we sha and we may not be tha when it comes to our v our perspectives couldn “I think it benefits. I community, too, and I said, when asked about This cross-town fully, it will continue t athletic events, where Even with the negative of a rivalry, they can al a rivalry, they can alwa valry, they can always i

Conley gets crazy

he meets with the Crazies during RAP period on game days to discuss what the theme for that night is Both Hardin and Moses agreed that the Crazies need f you’ve ever watched a Conley vs. Rose game, you’ve wit- more students at games. “We want everyone involved, especially the people in the back. Freshman can nessed the madness that is caused by the two rival student be just as loud,” said Moses. sections, the Conley Crazies and the Rowdie Rampants. The two student sections may be opponents, but they have the same goal; they “get players hyped,” said senior Hunter Moses. In a rivalry game, fans and players can hear both positive and negative cheers from either side of the stands. “[The Crazies] help raise our level of play,” said athletic director and varsity boys’ basketball coach Rob Maloney. Even the “booing” from the Rowdie Rampants, Rose’s student section, fires up Maloney’s players. He added that both schools go too far when they make personal comments about athletes. “But it’s a good, healthy rivalry,” he said. According to Maloney, the Crazies can have an effect on not only the athletes, but the officials as well. In a girls’ varsity basketball game versus Jacksonville, the Conley Crazies had such a harsh reaction to a bad officiating call that the referee changed it; the Lady Vikings ended up winning and advancing in the tournament. When it comes to the Rampants and the Vikings, there is an obvious athletic rivalry, as well as a struggle to be the better student section. “The Crazies are louder, and we have better chants,” said sophomore Eric Hardin. Moses added that “(the Rowdie Rampants) are a downplayed version of us.” While the students at Conley “run the show” as far as planning for big games, Maloney said that

By Olivia Dunn

Alumni carry the rivalry fire outside of graduation By Missy Alexander

ince we can remember, Vikings and Rampants have been rivals. Even before we were in the same school districts, this cross-town rivalry has been raging, and through the years, some Vikings have kept their pride! “Ew, we don’t know what a Rampant is,” said Theresa Daniels, Conley graduate of ‘88. “Viking to the bone!” Daniels isn’t the only one who kept her Viking spirit. Conley’s very own Eric Sawyer, graduate of ’83, thinks back on his years at Conley. Having graduated and then returning to Conley as a teacher and coach, Sawyer has always been a proud Viking. “Conley’s come a long way, and is equally as good as any school, anywhere, and I wouldn’t leave unless they forced me to.” Growing up, Sawyer had friends who attended Rose, but the tension from the rivalry didn’t interfere with their friendship. He said they were always competitive, but never had any hostility towards each other. Some former rememEric Sawyer - Conley gradute of ‘88 graduates bered things a bit dif-

ferently. George Langley, Conley graduate of ’85 said, “After football and basketball games, if you were from Conley left [to be picked up] at Rose, you got jumped.” Conley’s very own principal, Don Marr, has two sons who attend and play sports at Rose. During games, Marr said he roots for his sons individually but pulls for the Vikes. Marr also thinks the rivalry is great, and brings a lot of fun and hype to the games. “[The] Conley Crazies [are] awesome. They’re the 11th man on the court.” Many others also see the rivalry as a great thing. “[It’s] always great to have a rivalry with Rose. It gives you something to root for,” said Conley graduate of ’97, Jana Bullard. Being a volunteer coach for volleyball, Bullard said she wants Rose to have a strong program, because putting two good teams up against each other makes the games better. Conley baseball coach, Jason Mills, has another idea. “I wouldn’t say we were rivals. If you’re getting beat for 15 years straight that’s no kind of rivalry,” said Mills. “See, if you win one, then they win one and it’s a back and forth kind of deal, now that, that right there, is what you call a rivalry!” Jana Bullard - Conley graduate of ‘94

fEATURE

rom cover

m on the football field over the ulted in an increase of energy of games. onley’s varsity girls have gone ss-town counterpart since 2004, against them this year. many of our fellow Vikings have se, when it comes down to comschools, all friendships are forn remains. closely, our excitement, our n’t that diverse. As much as we are our town with the Rampants, at different after all. However, iews of which schools is better, n’t be more conflicting. t’s just a lot of fun. It helps the I know our fans love it,” Marr t the rivalry. rivalry may never cease. Hopeto create electric and dramatic energetic fans fill the stands. e side effects that can come out lways inspire us to do our best. ays inspire us to do our best. riinspire us to do our best.

The Shield Volume XLIII, Issue 1 November 6, 2013

Anonymous Rose Student Speaks out By anonymous

very high school game brings the familiar nervous butterflies and the heart pounding adrenaline that athletes crave. As a high school athlete I play all out for the name on the front of my jersey. There are some games when the stakes are raised even higher and the will to win is pushed past the limit. These are the games that you sweat for all summer. When you are ready to quit during the never ending sprints, the coach screams about games like these to push you to finish that run. It all comes down to the rivalry games. I am a big UNC fan, so I get to enjoy one of the most heated and historical rivalries in all of sports between UNC and Duke basketball. I also am a Rose athlete, so I get to participate in the most heated rivalry in Pitt County

and I’d like to think our state. The rivalry divides Greenville, between Conley and Rose and recently South Central. The history goes between Conley and Rose however. When my legs can’t take anymore running, I think about Conley. The rivalry pushes me to do my best in every practice, so that when the time comes I am ready. The great thing about rivalry is all the extra adrenaline. Everything against a rival means so much more than against any other opponent. One great thing about the Rose/Conley rivalry is the fans. The Rowdie Rampants and the Conley Crazies elevate the atmosphere of the game. There is nothing as powerful as a group of loud, obnoxious students willing their team to win through chants and screams. I think it has a huge impact on the game’s outcome. In football, soccer, and volleyball, the team with the louder section usually comes out on top. I always look forward to the games against Conley and all the intensity they bring.

Rampants get rowdie

said 2012 Rose alumni AJ Parker. Guided by fellow student Tayloe Hill, the By Olivia Dunn Rowdie Rampants were started during Parker’s seWhile there is obvious animosity between the Rose Ramnior year. According to Parker, there had already pants and the Conley Vikings, “We’re not very different; we have the same priorities[when it comes to the student been a student fanbase at games for years; it was made official when Hill made a Facebook page. sections]” “We wanted to have a fanbase at as many sporting events as we could,” said Parker. The Rampants went to more than just football games- they wanted supporters at events like track, soccer and basketball. One of Parker’s favorite rivalry memories was beating Conley in football in 2011. “We didn’t really even care about the game. It’s more than a rivalry; it’s about having as much fun as possible on a Friday night,” he said. According to a current Rose junior, the Rowdie Rampants go to more diverse sporting events than the Conley Crazies such as soccer, lacrosse and baseball. “We theme for almost everything,” said the Junior. “I believe that more students would participate in the Conley Crazies if they themed more,” said Conley junior Jessica Bland. At the Conley vs. Rose game on September 27th, the Rowdie Rampants dressed in “country” attire while the Crazies showed Conley pride with a blackout. “The blackout really unified our section as a whole,” said junior Meghan Lower. Parker also said that the presence of the student section gives the athletes motivation to play better. “They represent our school. They think, ‘we have to win it for them,’” he said.

Student’s of Rose’s past remember the rivalry

By Kayla moye

eing at Rose, you can’t help but have a grudge towards Conley when playing them. After the games though, that’s another story! Conley and Rose are “cross-town rivals.” For years we’ve gone back and forth about who was the best. If you go to Rose, then you think you’re the best, the same for Conley. Along with Rose and Conley going back forth about who was the best, there was also talk about the battle between us. There had been many occasions where we had “fought.” “I vaguely recall the concern for violence. Conley was known for rednecks and Rose were the preppy [jerks],” said ‘94 Rose graduate Tess Jolley. “JH Rose High School was the ‘It School’ in Pitt County when I was there,” said ‘06 Rose graduate, William Brewington II. “We had a great administration in place there. Academics were off the charts, and in athletics,

Roshawn Anderson - Rose gradute of ‘91

we were winners!” But with the Rose alumni, the have a dedication that goes beyond who’s the best; it’s their love for Rose.”I can never not be a Rampant, it is in my blood,” said Conley’s Parenting and Child Development teacher, Roshawn Anderson. “But, not I have a second family and that is my Vikings.” According to Anderson, the rivalry is just as intense, but is structure differently. “The rivalry is just as big as it is now,” said Anderson. “When I was in school, Rose was hated by all because at that time we [were] in a class by ourselves because we were Greenville City Schools and everyone else was Pitt County Schools.” But to others like Brewington, they feel stronger about Rose. “At JH Rose, you [carried] yourself to a different standard. We knew we were the best and acted like we had some sense. Being a Rampant is in my blood... I was born a Rampant.”

Tess Jolley - Rosem graduate of ‘94

Williams Brewington II - Rose graduate of ‘93

J.H Rose

What you need to know SMART Block

80 minutes long

SMART Block is and 80 minutes time period between 11:26 and 12:38, where students can use their time to eat for 40 minutes and participate in an “activity”. Activities range from club meetings, hanging out in the courtyard, intramural activities, makeup work, or help in a class. This time is allotted in an attempt to encourage smart choices from Rose students. To use their time to further their educative experience.

Sports

Sports indlude: Baseball, Mens’ and Womens’ Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Football Mens’ and Womens’ Golf, Indoor Track, Mens’ and Womens’ Lacrosse, Mens’ and Womens’ Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Mens’ and Womens’ Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball, and Wrestling.

H Honor Clubs

19 Honors Clubs including: Link Crew, Career and Technical Society, Marshals, Mu Alpha Theta, Foreign Language societies, Quill and Scroll, N.C. Scholars, International Thespian, Tri-M Music Honor Society, National Art Honor Society. and more.

Scholarship programs

13 scholarship programs which include: NCAE Multicultural Arts, Martin Luther King scholarship, Ron Brown’s Scholars program, and more.

Project connect

Project connect is an extensive array of papers, videos, and multimedia texts, all with the intent of connecting seniors to the community. “The Contribution” is what you as a senior contribute back to the learning community from which you have been under for the past twelve years. It can be a team effort or a solo act, but whatever it is their focus is for you to learn.

Entertainment

The Shield Volume XLIII, Issue 1 November 6, 2013

Grand Theft Auto V steals the world’s attention People make their living on By Matt Williamson

hat do you get when you combine immersive gameplay, a beautiful open world, and a creative plot? Grand Theft Auto V. With a game as well developed as this, it’s no wonder how it became the fastest selling entertainment product in history, making $800 million within the first 24 hours. The game has the player playing as three different protagonists: Michael (a rich but bored ex-criminal who now lives in a mansion with his family), Franklin (a gangster who wants to do something more than petty gang banging), and Trevor (a crazy redneck with a short temper). While wandering the fictional city of Los Santos, and at certain points during missions, players can switch between control of the three protagonists. While this creates fun gameplay and helps to keep the player in the heart of the action, what interested me most was its

By Melissa Alexander

use as a storytelling technique. It takes three separate points of view and weaves them into one storyline to create an immersive storytelling experience. Getting to see the story from multiple perspectives changes not only how you see things, but how you feel and act in the game. I would often find myself being

more careful and precise while playing as Franklin, while being more impulsive and reckless as Trevor. Grand Theft Auto V is like nothing I have ever played before. It is completely original, and I believe it will be the example for other games in the future.

ver wanted to sit at home, and make loads of money just being yourself? Well, some people are living the dream. You may not realize it, but some of your favorite youtubers may be making millions each year. How? For this, we thank those things called ads. When a youtuber becomes very popular, they get to be a partner with Youtube. For every thousand times an ad is watched, Youtube earns between $20 and $25. If a youtuber is part of the program, then that youtuber will get a cut of that income; typically around $7 for every thousand views. In reality, this is only a good deal if you’re a big time Youtuber shot with millions of views. The highest paid youtuber, BlueXephos, brings in an estimated $6.7 million each year. That’s not bad for sitting at home, playing video games!

Slenderman wins Something Awful By Zack Matis

Slenderman is normally seen lurking through the woods.

f you are walking through the woods, lost, and you see a seemingly peaceful-looking person, chances are it is Slenderman, and you should run away. Slenderman is a legend that has existed since 2009, and started out in a photoshop contest on the Something Awful forums. There were two pictures submitted by username Victor Surge, each in black and white, that were unnamed children, but in the background there was a tall human-like creature, who was described as “Slender Man.” To enhance the credibility of these photos, Surge posted a false doctors account on the forum. A day later, another user that goes by the name of LeechCode5, posted a photograph of a burning building that had a Slenderman backstory. Over time, many users started to use Slenderman in their own stories, and soon it spread all throughout the internet, becoming

the grounds for creepypastas, or stories on the internet that their sole purpose is to scare or to give people the creeps. There have been countless sightings of Slenderman around the world. Sightings have mostly been in the woods, at night. He is described as a tall, thin figure wearing a black suit and a blank face. According to the legend, he can stretch or shorten his arms at will and has tentacle-like appendages protruding from his back. Slender was originally seen in the video game Trilby’s Notes, but he eventually made his way into his own flash video game, Slender. The game has you stranded in the woods and the main objective of the game is to find all of the seven notebook pages scattered all around, without getting caught. For anyone who wants to know more about Slenderman or read the articles that have been collected over the years, the original thread is still active and spans over 46 pages as of June 2011.

Duck Dynasty makes audiences “happay happay happay” By Reid Williams

uack! Quack! Duck Dynasty might not be your regular reality television show, but that’s why America is eating it up. Duck Dynasty is centered around a family in Louisiana, who made millions from designing and creating duck calls. Phil Robertson, the founder of the company, stars in this show, along with his sons Willie, who runs the company and made it an empire, and Jase, who works for Willie when he’s not off creating chaos with his co-workers. Every Wednesday night at 10, when a new episode comes on, fans can expect to see the workers in the company ditch work to go on a fishing trip, go for a joy ride, or blow something up. The family uses their fortune to entertain themselves, as they never hesitate to attempt some crazy project. The of the show may be ridiculous, but that is what makes it so great. The family is down to Earth and relatable, unlike the people on most reality shows. Despite their fame and fortune, this family lives back in the

woods, running their organization the same way they always have, and every night, they can be found around the dinner table, blessing their food. The show, unlike many shows on television, contains good values, and is safe for all audiences, which makes it immensely popular. My personal opinion of this show, along with the rest of reality television, is that it’s a little too ri-

diculous. I find it somewhat hard to believe that the characters are coming up with everything themselves. There are many examples of the cast going off on adventures that the average man would never even think of. I remember in an early episode, the family blew up an old car, and I doubt that it was truly their idea, or that some producer wasn’t behind the whole thing.

Despite this, I find myself laughing along with the likable family. The show may not be entirely legitimate, but it’s very refreshing. The show’s Season 4 premier broke the cable record for a nonfiction telecast with over 11.8 million viewers, which also made it A&E’s most watched broadcast ever. You can find Duck Dynasty on A&E, and “That’s a fact, Jack!”

Kyler’s Korner

The Shield Volume XLIII, Issue 1 November 6, 2013

The Freshm a n a sk ed, a n d t h e Sen i o rs a n s w e r e d Courtney Manning

Gracie Baker

Hannah Carraway-

Is it tough being a senior? Evan Crowder

What is your favorite senior privilege?

Being a senior is a mix between being really stressed out and really happy for me. Jalen Garnett-

Dress down days. Because I don’t have to wear uniforms every day.

Isis Moore-

Yomira Martinez

If I get a scholarship I’m going to go to Mount Olive college.

What are your plans after you graduate from DHC? Collin Tyson Masters Diving Craig Tyson It all started when Collin was asked by Pat Tyson, his stepmother, if he would like diving lessons for his 13th birthday. Collin jumped at it! At the age of twelve he began his journey to learn scuba diving. A journey that would take three years to attain Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) “Master Diver” the pinnacle of recreational scuba diving for the rising Junior at DH Conley High School. It started with loads of reading, questions to be answered, tests to take and eventually practice in the pool. Collin was lucky enough to complete his Open Water Certification in Aruba at the age of 13. He then returned to Chicod Middle School to begin 8th grade. Little did he know, Jody Paramore, his science teacher, was working with Larry Cox at Blue Region Scuba to start a Diving Club at Chicod. Collin, along with seven other students began diving lessons again. Collin was the only one certified to dive and was every other boy’s choice to be their dive buddy. Collin audited the course and completed every phase again. He was hooked. Collin began looking at what else he could accomplish in his new hobby. Master Diver, the highest recreational certification that can be achieved, was the goal he set. He had to be 16 to be a certified PADI Master Diver. He began the journey, logging dives in various locations and continuing classes and required training. Collin had to complete Rescue Diver, Emergency First Response and five other specialties plus log a minimum of 50 dives. Collin’s Dad, Craig Tyson became his dive buddy and joined him in his quest. Collin chose Underwater Navigation, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Enriched Air Nitrox, Deep Dive and Project Aware as his specialties. Additionally, the dive classes qualify for college credit. Along the way, Collin and his Dad logged dives in Roatan, Honduras, Cozumel, Mexico, St. Thomas Virgin Islands, Aruba, off the coast of Wilmington, NC diving for Megalodon Shark teeth and Atlantic Beach, NC and multiple training dives at Fantasy Lake in Rolesville, NC. Collin’s next big dive adventure will be at Beqa Lagoon, Fiji next summer

Pogoda’s Po l

Collin Tyson preparing for his final dive with dive instructor Larry Cox before acheiving master diver.

for a week of diving. Larry Cox of Blue Region Scuba came up with the idea to present an embroidered jacket for new PADI Master Divers. Collin’s goal was to be the first to receive the prize jacket and to be the youngest PADI Master Diver Larry Cox had ever certified. The challenge was there, Collin was determined and with his final certification dive completed on September 1, 2013, Collin became a PADI Master Diver at the age of 16. When asked what meant the most to him about diving, Collin responded that the initial gift of dive classes from his stepmother started his journey and accomplishments in diving and was what started it all. Collin is now contemplating working towards being an Instructor and Dive Master responsible for training new divers but he says he wants to take a little time off from those studies to concentrate on school and upcoming college choices.

For advertisement information contact: charlec@pitt.k12. nc.us

Sports

The Shield Volume XLIII, Issue 1 November 6, 2013

‘Sports Town USA’ is sending five athletes from Conley off to college By: Bryant Packard

our defending state champions and one standout soccer player are committed to Division one, Division two, and Division three schools. Senior Kori Adams and Junior Rachel Weidner are committed to Division two Wingate University Bulldogs. Senior Jaisa Loch and Senior Julia Allsbrook will be attending Division three Meredith University Angels. Senior Dalton Shaw will be heading to the University of North Carolina. At Wingate Adams will find her sister, Shannen Adams across campus on the softball diamond. “She didn’t affect my decision at all really, but it is a great coincidence that I’m definitely looking forward too,” Adams said. Adams a standout setter, turned down a few colleges because she says she “loves the environment and the coach at Wingate.” Junior Rachel Weidner, last year’s 3A Pitcher of the Year, committed to Wingate University. Weidner pitched in over half of the games for Conley, and won almost every one. When asked what made Wingate stand out from all the others Weidner stated “Well, they have my major, pre-dentistry, I also liked the coach a lot and how they ran things around Wingate.” Weidner turned down scholarships from East Carolina University, Mount Olive, and Winthrop while taking the full-ride from Wingate and is very excited about it. Senior Julia Allsbrook was the starting

Bryant Packard

Meredith commits from the left are Julia Allsbrook and Jaisa Loch, followed by Wingate commits Kori Adams and Rachel Weidner. North Carolina Recruit Dalton Shaw is not pictured.

first baseman on the state championship team last year, also batting clean-up. While also talking with Peace University, Allsbrook is heading to Meredith College, an all girls academy to study her major Mass Communications. The hopeful future journalist is going to play first base at Meredith. Senior Jaisa Loch is also going to play at Meredith. She got interest for soccer from schools like South Carolina, North Carolina, and Peace, and turned down a scholarship from Southern-Wesleyan before she finally chose Meredith. “Meredith is a very good school and

has a very good team. I love the coach there, and I also like that they’re at the top of their division,” Loch said. Senior Dalton Shaw is swimming his way to be a Tarheel. Already taken his official visit, Shaw said “Everyone was great, Carolina is just an overall great fit for me in the academic and athletic aspect of things.” Being a former state champion and current fastest record holder in the two-hundred yard IM, Shaw will be used to competing in large events and having a lot of people at his meets.

Spring sports finish up with a handful of winning seasons for the Vikes By: Dylan Johnson and David Buck

pring sports ended the year with a bang as proven by the Wells Fargo Cup won by D.H Conley. The award is a testament to how well the sports team performed throughout the year. The baseball, softball, cheerleading, girls’ soccer, boys’ golf, and track teams all exceeded expectations through the spring season. The baseball team finished with an overall record of 28-5. The

Vikings won conference for the first time ever going 14-0. They also continued on to win the Eastern finals. “We fell just short of a miraculous comeback in the state championship game” coach Jason Mills said. The golf team finished on a strong note this season. The Vikings won conference while defeating local rivalry schools. Junior golfer Bryce Hendrix finished very high at state competition. The boys’ tennis team

finished with an overall record of 11-3, which placed them second in conference. The team sent thetop 6 players to regionals. The Vikings fell short in the second round of the state playoffs losing to C.B Aycock. The girls’ soccer team finished with an overall record of 21-9. “The girls overcame many obstacles throughout the season,” coach Shannon Mclaughlin said. The lady Vikings also defeated the defending state champions while

advancing to the third round of the playoffs. The cheerleading team finished second in conference and third in the NCCCA competition. “The girls overcame many changes due to injuries and the loss of many Seniors,” coach Jessica Jackson said. The track team finished 8th overall in the conference last year. The teams highlights consisted of senior runner Byron Smith making it to the state finals.

New 3A-4A split conference introduces new competition for athletes By: Matt Williamson

any people have been happy to hear that for the first time since 2005, Conley is a 4A school. Every three years, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) goes to all the high schools in North Carolina, and gathers the student population. “The top 25 schools are then 4A, then the next 25 are 3A, then 2A, then 1A,” said Conley’s athletic director, coach Rob Maloney. “It’s broken up into fourths.” This year, Conley has been moved up to

a 4A school. Conley is now a part of the 3A-4A conference with New Bern (4A), J.H. Rose (4A), South Central (4A), C.B. Aycock (3A), Eastern Wayne (3A) and Southern Wayne (3A). Because of this there will only be four teams in the championship instead of seven. This has created a more competitive atmosphere, but most players and coaches welcome these changes. “I like ‘em,” said girls basketball coach Samein Jones. “We’re always up for a challenge.” Tennis coach Kenneth Weston has mixed feelings about the changes, saying that

they’re “negative for sports in general but good for us.“ He said that “it’s never good to have a split 3A-4A conference, because it creates an imbalance.” “We always strive to be the best we can be,” said Jones. “We’ll treat everyone with the same mindset.” “I think it’s gonna be better than last year,” said football player Maleek Gorham. Overall, most people have been optimistic about these changes, and the new challenges they will bring.

Lacrosse continued from cover By: Kyle Griffin

“I

Contributed Photo

Softball experienced a miraculous season. They were able to plow through the expectations and steamroll their way en route to an impressive 26-4 regular season record. Their success didn’t stop there. Coach Deans was able to march his lady Vikings through the state playoffs and capture a state championship as a three seed. Adding on to the feat the Vikings defeated conference rivals, South Central and Washington who were respectively one and two seeds going into playoffs. The Vikings have appeared twice in the State Championship in the last three years.

expect that we will have a good team this year,” Ulffers said. He also said that the main goal of the team is to beat JH Rose. The boys’ team will be coached by Peter Ganzert, and the girl’s team will be coached by Kelley Houchen. There are 29 boys that have signed up for the team and 31 girls. Anybody who wants to play for the team can play, but they have to pay for their equipment. Because of this they are having to pay to practice at Blount fields and play games MIssy Alexander at North Campus Crossing. The season will consist of eight or nine games. They will be playing schools such as New Bern, Arendell Parrott Academy, JH Rose, and a few other schools.