Vol. 2 No. 3 February 2014 issue by Cougar Media

Catamount

the

Vol. 2 No. 3 Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

College Station High School

4002 Victoria Ave. College Station, Texas 77845

Junior Kourtlen Freeman displays his style with a ffloral shirt, army pants and combat boots. Freeman dresses to differentiate himself from his peers. See more on page 12.

Recyling in school reduces damage from waste by Zoë de Beurs Staff Reporter

Trash, recycling and saving the world. At College Station High School, Interact Club helps recycle white paper to reduce the amount of trash that goes to the landfill. Recycling involves students, teachers, and many people in our community but can affect the lives of the entire state, country, and even planet. “Recycling is important because it is our opportunity to reduce the damage we leave on the planet,” said junior Julie Potrykus, president of Interact Club. “We might not give back as much as we take, but we still make an impact. We aren’t saving the world by recycling like superheroes, but we are making a difference on the world as people.” Potrykus and other members of the Interact Club recycle white paper every Thursday with Vanita Vance, Interact Club sponsor, and Justin Grimes, assistant principal. “In a school setting, you go through a tremendous amount of paper,” Grimes said, “and rather than just throwing that in the trash can, I think it is great that we recycle because we are a valuable resource for recycling, especially [for] paper.” Vance agrees that our biggest waste is paper. Keeping this waste out of the landfill is important to the inhabitants of College Station because it will affect all of us since landfill space is valuable and expensive. “The more we add to the landfill, the more dangerous it is. We are not going to get any more land, we are just going to get more people,” Vance said. “We need to try.”

continued on page 3

Index News

pages 2-5

Opinions

pages 6-8

People

pages 9-13

Sports

pages 14-17

Entertainment

pages 18-20

Sophomore Lauren Brammer paints a girl falling into water. Brammer hopes to enter her work in Visual Arts Scholastic Event. See more on page 20.

Photo by Zoë de Beurs

Freshman Claire Adams shoots during a warm-up drill. Adams practices with other students at Spirit Ice Arena twice a week. See more on page 13.

2 News ● The Catamount

Cougar News

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

Junior receives highest possible score on ACT

Junior Jiatao Liang earned a top composite score of 36 on a recent ACT test. Nationally, the actual number of students earning a composite score of 36 varies from year to year, but on average less than one-tenth of one percent of students who take the ACT earn the top score. Among test takers in the high school graduating class of 2013, only 1,162 of 1.8 million students earned a composite score of 36.●

Business Professionals of America advance to state

BPA competed in their regional competiton on Jan. 11, snagging multiple advancements to state. State qualiﬁers include Collin Lawson, placing ﬁrst in Banking and Finance, and Devyn McBride, who placed second in Presentation Management. Individual state alternates include Phoebe Fu for Extemporaneous Speech, Victoria Evans for Accounting, the Global Marketing team comprised of Samana Askari, Lawson, Blake Dorsett and Ethan Desai and the Adminisrtative Support Team represented by Victoria Evans, Lillian Ford, Dorothy Hudson and Lisa Liu.●

English student places second in essay contest ▲ Sophomore Marcus Neeley as Sky Masterson finishes his solo “Luck be a Lady” during the Jan. 25

performance of "Guys and Dolls." The young actors took on the roles of New York gangsters and showgirls in the 1940s in the musical. This event brought students together from all areas of the school including band, orchestra, choir, football, the Strutters and track. Pictured above from left to right is Israel Martinez, Dakota Faucett, Jonathan Beikirch, Brandon Henry, Brandon Fortner, CJ Johnson, Corey Barron, Marcus Neeley, Dylan Flsowski, Mitchell Bradford, Peter Cahill, Johnathan Armstrong and Alexander Sanchez. Photo by Chase Zamalinski ●

Sophomore Meera Vadali placed second in the 9th-12th grade category of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta sorority and the Brazos Valley African American Museum. Vadali was recognized at a ceremony on Jan. 20 at the museum. She is enrolled in English II Pre-AP with Dr. Courtney Wellmann.●

UIL redistricting announced for 2014-16 school years

UIL distict realignment has been announced for next year. Beginning in the fall CSHS will be a part of District 18-5A. The other schools in the district will be Bryan, A&M Consolidated, Caney Creek, Huntsville, Livingston, Willis and Rudder.●

Petal Patch Florist 3808 S. Texas Ave. Ste. A Bryan, Texas 77802 979-696-6713 petalpatchflorist@gmail.com “Let us help you make someone smile!”

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

The Catamount

● News 3

Students care for environment by recycling continued from page 1 Heather Woolwine, Recycling Coordinator at the city of College Station, and Vance agree that turning recycling into a habit is key to an effective recycling program. “Recycling doesn’t necessarily stop at home or at school,” Woolwine said. “It should be in every element of your life. Not necessarily like a fad or an effort, but just something you do.” Another crucial factoor in the recycling process is manpower. We mainly need more help from students, said Diane Dahm, the director of child nutritional services at the CSISD. If more students would volunteer their time to help with recycling at school, these dreams of expansion could be made reality. Currently, the school recycling is not ideal because Texas Commercial Waste is not always reliable about picking the white paper up, Vance said. Vance explained how it has been an issue for a long time. The Energy and Environment

committee of Student Council has been dealing with similar issues. “[Recycling bins have] always been something we wanted to get done, but we never knew who to contact and what to do,” said sophomore Yara Mohamed, committee head of Energy and Environment. Besides this issue with the company, there are other areas for improvement in recycling at our school. There are several materials that commonly end up in our landﬁll that should be recycled. “I would love to

extend recycling at our school beyond white paper,” Potrykus said. “For example, in the cafeteria, we throw away everything: the styrofoam trays, aluminum cans and biodegradable food.” All these items travel from our trashcans to the local landﬁll, where they will take years and years to decompose. If these same items were recycled, they may travel places many of us will never see. “Some of our items may make it as far as China,” Woolwine said. “[Recycling]

doesn’t just stop at the College Station city limits.” By recycling, students can impact their community, but it extends much further than that; recycling impacts the world and the entire future of the species. “We need to try and take care of what we have, so we maintain diversity as much as we can and not endanger species and other people,” Vance said. Although the school is currently on the right track, Vance hopes the help from more students can create an ideal recycling program. Dahm said our school district is willing to help an organization with recycling if there was anything they could do. “It is not your mom’s responsibility to tell you to recycle,” Woolwine said. “It is not the city’s responsibility to tell you to recycle. It is your own. It is your Earth, your home and your environment. Wouldn’t you want to protect it and preserve it in every element you can? It is your way of life that you are preserving. It is you.” ●

4 News ● The Catamount

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

The Road to College

Four steps for juniors to begin the admissions process

SAT dates

It costs $51 to take the SAT. Subject tests typically cost $24.50 but may vary depending on subject. Check online to see if colleges that you are interested in require subject tests. Fee waivers are available for qualifying students. You can obtain a fee waiver at the counselor’s ofﬁce. The late registration fee is $27.50. Register at http://sat.collegeboard.org. You can also view sample questions and more information about the test. You can take it more than once.

March 8, 2014 SAT only

Late registration Feb. 21 for mailed registrations or Feb. 24 for online or phone registration. A late fee applies.

May 3, 2014 SAT and subject tests

Late registration April 18 for mailed registrations or April 21 for online or phone registrations

June 7, 2014 SAT and subject tests

Late registration May 23 for mailed registrations or May 28 for online or phone registrations

1. TAKE THE SAT/ACT

ACT dates

The ACT costs $36.50 without the writing section, and it costs $52.50 to take it with the writing section. The late registration fee is $23. Fee waivers are also available for the ACT. Visit http://www.actstudent.org to register or for more information about the test.

April 12, 2014

Late fee March 8-21

June 14, 2014

Late fee May 10-23

2. FIND YOUR INTERESTS

Take a test to ﬁnd out what majors you are interested in at http://www.thecollegehelper.com/college-major-quiz. Click on the majors it suggests for you to see a list of what you can do with that major. Look online to ﬁnd colleges that interest you and/or have a good program for the major you wish to pursue.

3. APPLY TO COLLEGES

SAT ACT APPLY

• More than 500 colleges and universities use “the Common application.” Check online to see if the colleges you are interested in accept the common application. Visit https://www.commonapp.org/ Login to create an account and complete the application. After you have completed all the components, you can send the common application to the colleges of your choice. • Most colleges require letters of recommendation. Request these letters from your teachers September of your senior year. Give them plenty of time to complete your letters of recommendation. • For some colleges, the early application deadline is in November of your senior year. Regular admission deadlines will be sometime in December or January. • Deadlines for regular admissions at A&M and UT are Oct. 1 of your senior year.

4. APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID Compiled by Megan Paradowksi Editor-in-Chief

Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at http://www.fafsa-application.com. Most colleges accept this application for financial aid. Check the websites of colleges you are applying to in order to find out other ways you can apply for and receive financial aid.

Cougar Media

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The Catamount

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

● News 5

Early graduates mature by balancing responsibilities Graduating early requires dedication, maturity and sacrifice of time, friends, and family. Yet, despite how intimidating this choice may seem, two students have chosen to face the challenge. “I had about five or six credits and just needed one more,” sophomore Kassidy Hopkins said. “I [thought], ‘I’m one credit away. What’s the point in coming senior year?’” Hopkins began the graduating earlywhen she was admitted into a gifted and talented program that allowed her to earn credits for high school. However, although she was on the path from a young age, she did not decide to do so until later. “I didn’t have it in my head like, ‘Hey! I’m going to graduate early,’” Hopkins said. “The idea of kicked in over the summer of eighth grade when I was talking to my counselor.” Although she earned her high school credits early in middle school, the choice to graduate early was a big decision to make, Hopkins had to take into account the maturity, effort, dedication and perseverance needed. “It is [about] finding time to fit everything into my schedule, because there’s things I want to do but can’t do because I

have to balance everything,” Hopkins said. Junior Dakota Brown, who will also be graduating early, can connect with Hopkins about the struggle to have good time-management—an essential skill for the difficultprocess. “Just balancing between extracurricular(s) and school work gets harder,” Brown said. “I know I’m going to be busy working, taking night classes, dealing with the AP classes I have, [and] trying to get ready to apply.” The sacrifices of graduating early also require adjusting the rigor of classes in order to do well and finish all that is needed. “Most of my sacrifices are coming in my senior year,” Brown said. “English IV and Physics I are some classes I have to take regular, whereas normally I would have taken AP.” Hopkins, like Brown, also had to make sacrifices. Over the summer, she decided to test out of courses she would have taken junior year. “Over the summer, all I did was study and read,” Hopkins said. “I tried to teach myself geography, and for English, [I had to read] 12 -13 poems, books and plays. I was terrified afterwards for my results.” The process of testing out of classes, planning, studying and managing time can especially trouble these students. “Going into this year, I’ve had doubts about AP classes,” Brown said, but it didn’t

stop me from taking them. I knew that it was going to be a challenge, but I went for it.” As for Hopkins, she admits that she has never had any real doubts, but is still nervous about her future experiences. “I am going to miss the little things— the things [that] you need help with,” Hopkins said. However daunting the process of transition from home to college may be, both Hopkins and Brown feel mature and ready for starting college early at a younger age. “Am I completely mature? I’m 90% sure, I know is not a full percentage, but I’d rather have that ten percent of regret than 90% of regret because I didn’t do it,” Hopkins said. “I’m ready for it. I’m excited about it.” Brown also feels ready and excited for the upcoming adventure and new chapter in his life. “I feel like I’m ready to go ahead and go, but at the same I’m still nervous because this is something I haven’t done before. It’s all going to come at once,” Brown said. Although her fears about graduating early and leaving her family, but acknowledges that this experience will benefit her. “It’s going to be a learning experience, and I think being away from [my parents] will help with that,” Hopkins said. “Knowing I won’t be able to see them all the time will still be difficult, but it will be beneficial at the same time.” ●

{

Tips for...

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by Brianna Aguilar Staff Reporter

Graduating Early

Enroll in an online high school to complete some of your graduation requirements.

Consider concurrent enrollment at a local community college. Many of them are conveniently available online.

Take the GED test or a similar equivalent

Source: http://everydaylife.globalpost. com/.com

Sadie Hawkins Dance Saturday, March 1, 2014 8 p.m. - midnight The Archery Room - TAMU Rec Center Theme - Hawaiian Luau

Available for catering, private parties, and special events For more information contact Catherine Parsi M. Ed.

phone: 979-694-5800 email: cparsi@csisd.org

6 News ● The Catamount

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

Fresh perspective highlights life’s beauty

THE CAT’S EYE VIEW staff editorial School’s restricted recycling limits opportunities to improve environment The need for people to recycle is currently growing at an extremely fast pace. Recycling is clearly beneﬁcial not only to the environment but also to the entire human race. Protecting the world we live in positively impacts the current generation and all the ones to come. Ultimately, the goal is to be an environmentally-conscious global community, but in order for this dream to become a reality, individual communities, including the school, must move to create an envionmentally friendly atmosphere. Our school currently recycles only white paper. While this does help the environment, we have more to offer. Every day a multitude of plastic bottles, aluminum cans and Styrofoam lunch trays are tossed leisurely into the school’s trashcans. Action needs to be taken. Recyclable items such as bottles and cans can be dropped off at the local recycling center in Bryan off Briarcrest. The school should designate recycling bins for each type of recyclable item and place them around the school. Students would then be able to recycle bottles, cans and trays, and volunteers from various school organizations such as Interact and Leo club could take them to the recycling center. Taking these initiatives would greatly beneﬁt the environment, as well as providing students with an easy opportunity to make a difference. Recycling at school would also inspire students to recycle at home. We strongly urge the student body and administation to consider instituting a more thorough recycling system by making it possible for students and teachers to recycle more than just white paper.●

2013-2014 Newspaper Staff Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Senior Editor Executive Editor Opinions Editor Features Editor Assistant Editors Staff Reporters Graphic Artist Cartoonist Faculty Adviser Assistant Adviser

Megan Paradowski Kayla Kurmaskie Rachel Grant Julie Potrykus Lily Parsi Lisa Liu Brianna Aguilar and Fiona Cohen Alex Miller and Zoe de Beurs Becky Nam David Rambo Courtney Wellmann Teresa Lafﬁn

Kayla Kurmaskie Emily Dickinson once wrote, “I had no time to hate, because the grave would hinder me, and life was not so ample I could ﬁnish enmity.” Before this year I never really understood what Dickinson meant. In fact, I found the idea that she did not have time for hatred preposterous. Last year, I opted for being the new girl that brooded in the corner and occasionally talked to someone, but only when forced. Do not get me wrong, I still made friends, but I still felt slightly unfulﬁlled. At the beginning of this year, it seemed as if I would pick up right where I left off in the corner sulking by myself, making myself seem oh so superior compared to all of my peers. Then I woke up.

I realized that maybe the problem was not that my peers were all insufferable, air headed snobs, but that I had not taken the time to let them in to my personal world. I had been so caught up in self-pity and staggering amounts of inexplicable rage, that I was blind to the beauty in the people around me. After this epiphany I began to open up more. I actually talked in class and stopped my superior ways. I was rewarded with actual friends outside of the theatre. Before this year, I did not understand how much the negativity in my mind was polluting the other aspects of my life. Now that I can reﬂect on my times of darkness, I see how foolish I must have looked to my peers, and I am embarrassed. But a greater understanding of life and its glory has come out of my personal transformation. I must say, I agree with the second stanza of the poem when Dickinson says, “Nor had I time to love, but since some industry must be, the little toil of love, I thought, was large enough for me.”● art by Becky Nam

View of the Pride: Is the school making an effort to be environmentally friendly?

YES

“Rather than constructing brick walls to enclose the school like a prison, the school is largely surrounded by glass windows. The natural light from the windows reduces the cost of ﬂuorescent and artiﬁcial lightbulbs.” -Woody Wang, 10

“With all the littering, they could install more trashcans around the campus.” -Sabina Avalos, 10 “Our Interact club is trying, but the school could add many more additions to make it more ecofriendly” -Yara Mohamed, 10

The newspaper is produced by the Advanced Journalism: Newspaper Production class at College Station High School, 4002 Victoria Ave., College Station, Texas, 77845. The opinions expressed are those of the writers and are not reﬂective of the administrators, faculty or staff of the College Station Independent School District. Submissions to the editors are welcomed but must be signed and should not exceed 300 words. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions in the interest of clarity and length or to not print a letter at all. Letters containing obscene or libelous material will not be considered. The Editorial Board consists of all staff. The newspaper is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC), the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA). College Station ISD does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex or handicap in providing education services. Glynn Walker, Director of Human Resources, 1812 Welsh, College Station, Texas 77840 (979-764-5412) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Title IX. Molley Perry, Director of Special Services, 1812 Welsh, Suite 120, College Station, Texas 77840 (979-764-5433) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination. requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

The Catamount

Chick flicks portray romance unrealistically

Brianna Aguilar A handsome, strong, and courageous man rides his valiant steed into the dark and deep forest in order to save the distraught maiden at the top of the tower. He does so with perfect hair, a perfect smile and a perfect kiss to end the brave save. A man with thick brown hair, understanding rich brown eyes and a warm smile walks into his attorney law firm. He’s powerful, charming, confident, and has practically every girl in the universe fawning over him. Sound familiar? Let’s get real—this is in almost every romantic movie. Then, on cue, the love-struck audience wonders, “My, how can any girl catch his attention?” Then, suddenly, a girl of average attractiveness, yet full of a witty, charming and teasing humor, walks into his life. He’s intrigued; she’s not. He’s surprised; she’s indifferent towards him and his looks. He calls; she ignores. But then, she sees him partake in an act of pure selflessness, gets to know him and finds out he isn’t at all what she expected. They fall in love and live happily ever after. How many sappy romantic chick flicks I have watched with this same storyline, I can’t even count.

Yet, I’m still crying halfway through the movies, swooning at the romantic parts, sighing pleasurably at the end, and left hopelessly dreaming about how this romantic dream could become a reality. Sigh. Yes. I’ll admit, I am a hopeless romantic. But, let’s face it, what girl isn’t? What girl doesn’t dream about meeting the “one” in a heart-stoppingly romantic way that would put Taylor Swift’s songs to shame? Now, don’t get me wrong, I love these movies. I love, love, love them. These romantic movies offer the chance to escape our world and enter a world of genuine andheart-wrenching love, and all the challenges that come with it. These romantic movies offer the chance to experience finding the “one”. These romantic movies offer the chance to see the girl feeling loved, even with quirks and flaws. These movies let us feel, for a short time, what we may want our own love lives to be like. These movies fill us with hope that a special someone will whisk us off in love and, when he first sees us, it will be as if life never existed before he came along. These sappy yet wonderful romantic movies offer a glimpse of unreality. But, as I watch these movies over and over, I always seem to wonder if chick flicks evoke a sense of unreality, of perfect men and perfect girls with their perfectly happy endings. Yes, yes, yes. These dreamy romantic movies can give us false hope and an utterly bitter wake up call. Although there is never going to be a world of pure, blissful romance like in the movies, I still watch them for the pure fun of dreaming of an unreal future. ●

QUESTION of the ISSUE: How often do you recycle? Never: 24.5%

Sometimes: 22.5%

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{ Frequently: 37.9%

Rarely: 15.1%

= 50 students 525 students surveyed

● Opinions 7

OVERHEARD What are your Valentine’s Day plans?

“Eating chocolate by myself, probably.” Anna Batson, freshman

“I’m going to get a bunch of ice cream and candy and watch some chick ﬂicks.” Julia Lawrence, sophomore

“Doing homework.”

Arjun Krishnamoorthi, sophomore

“I’m going to dinner and a movie with my boyfriend, I think. If not, I’ll make it happen.” Katherine McDougall, junior

DAILY GRIND

By: David Rambo

8 Opinions ● The Catamount

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

Visit to homeland changes student’s perspective on past

Zoë de Beurs On August 9, I stepped into a plane and left behind the ﬁrst 15 years of my life. I moved to College Station and left behind my friends, my hometown of Leiden in the Netherlands and most importantly my father. After four months of living in College Station, I returned to the Netherlands to visit my father on Christmas Break. Boarding the plane, I felt scared and uncertain. How would everything have changed? How would my friends and family’s lives have changed? Would I still be capable of understanding what they were going through? When I arrived at my father’s house, it seemed as if no time had passed. Everything in this house looked the same. The little ﬁngerprints that resulted from biking through the house were still there. The dreams on my whiteboard were still there. And the painting full of sorrow was still above my bed. Everything looked the same. But after not visiting this room for four months, it felt different. There was a conceivable distance between these objects of the past and me. This trip formed a window to the past. Scared and intrigued by this window, I wanted to simultaneously run towards it

and away from it. Uncertain of what to feel, separated from the others. These strings folwhat to think and what to do, feelings of lowed a timeline. The strings that remained restlessness emerged. intertwined were my friends and the people Putting on a record to calm myself down, I had known since kindergarten. I formed I felt the music disturbed the quiet the room the single string, which no longer played the was filled with for so long. The room was same role in their future. They would follow breathing colors now, colors filled with the route I expected myself to take. When fears. The quiet colors were stripped from we moved, I knew things would change, but the walls. The walls were breathing words I didn’t realize a certain period of time had now. The room awakened from ended. The time of what seemed merely having two para distant leap into my ents live on the memory. This room same continent had started to become ended. And the time real again. of seeing a three-diThe world mensional version this room formed of my father on a seemed alive weekly basis had again, but after ended. I will never seeing a differlive one of those ent world for a long days again. I will time, it seemed as never see my mom if a new dimension waving at me from was added. These that green door dimensions formed with a cat in one a world in which arm and a dog in the art by memories and realiother. That will never Becky Nam ties flow together to form happen again. That life one. Gaining new perspectives had is gone. That line of time changed the way I saw my old world. has been put to a stop. Those moments will It was strange and confusing to know two remain memories. worlds were simultaneously changing and Returning to these places of the past growing, but only being capable of experi- made me realize that not only the environencing one. ment I had walked around in for years had In my mind, I often saw a bunch of changed, but also I had changed. By experistrings that had been intertwined for a long encing separate worlds, my take on life and time and suddenly one single string just reality had changed. ●

Sadie Hawkins dance raises classic gender role, equality questions

Julie Potrykus Sadie Hawkins offers an opportunity to wear matching t-shirts with your date (because the only thing more adorable than one person wearing a tacky t-shirt is two people wearing identical tacky t-shirts) and for girls to take a more assertive role in their relationships by asking the boy to the dance. What most people don’t know is that Sadie Hawkins originates from a 1934 comedic cartoon. Sadie Hawkins was the worst thing a person can be: ugly. After 15 years of being alone, Sadie’s dad instructed all of the eli-

gible bachelors in their town that he would fire his gun once for the men to run and a second time to release Sadie Hawkins who would chase after them. The first man she caught was subjected to marry her. At the sound of the gun, those boys ran as fast and far as they could until Sadie Hawkins finally wore a man down enough for her to capture him. Once all the other women saw how easily Sadie Hawkins found her man, they all thought they could get a man as well. History has remembered Sadie Hawkins for her bold courage to pursue love, but dances where the girl asks the boy for a date aren’t supporting female equality. Since a female is asking a male to the dance, many boys around school say they would go to the Sadie Hawkins dance with a girl just because she asked. No one should go to a dance with someone out of pity because pity creates an uncomfortable experience for both parties. This one-time-only offer grants women

permission to ask the man to a dance, but hurry girls because this deal expires soon! She can be assertive for Sadie Hawkins. Prom and homecoming are for traditional romance for the boys to ask the girls. Despite its ﬂawed principles, Sadie Hawkins dances force girls out of their comfort zones and take assertive approaches in their relationships that they typically wouldn’t take. By pushing out of the social norms, girls can take control of their relationships. I have no intention to attend the Sadie Hawkins dance because of my disagreements with the limitations from the dance’s history and ethics, but I do support its attempt to remove the walls between partners in a relationship. I hope this Valentine’s Day and Sadie Hawkins reminds everyone to pursue the relationship they want. Don’t run away from taking control of your relationships.●

Voices Students share their favorite Starbucks drink “White chocolate mocha.” Steven Smith, junior

“Caramel machiatto.” Jonathan Beikirch, sophomore

“Double chocolate chip frappe.” Natalie Colunga, junior

“Java chip frappuccino.” Catherine Parsi, culinary arts teacher

“Chai latte with extra caramel.” Aidan Parsi, junior

“Vanilla bean frappucino.” Abby Hagen, junior

“Pumpkin spice latte.” Akshay Selvakumarraj, junoir

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

Color Me Happy

Co lor win gua ter rd t gua eam rd comprepa pet res itio for ns

by Rachel Grant Senior Editor

Ten hours a week, four hours during school practices, competitions and football games. These are just a few of the many that a color guard team member completes to be a part of the prestigious group. Since fifth grade, sophomore Jordan Hafer has aspired to become a part of a color guard team. After accomplishing her dream, she is now a captain on the team and participated in winter guard. “When it’s not football season, we are doing winter guard,” Hafer said. “We set up a mat, and we do marching season but to a back track and a show on the floor with a gym. We compete against color guards, not bands. This is just color guard against color guard, and it’s so much fun.” Winter guard competitions take place in the Austin-Houston area, and the CSHS color guard participates in around five competitions per year. “When you’re competing, you’re showing your skills off,” junior Chloe French said. “No one can come out and tell you you’re doing it wrong.” Beforehand the correct preparation and training is necessary to complete the perfect show. Without these mandatory provisions, the shows that the team spends so much time on would not be the perfect set-ups that have won them first places. “You have pieces that you have to put together,” Hafer said. “It’s hard, time consuming and

dious, but once it’s altogether, you just see this big beautiful show that a few people put together for you. You’re in it. That’s your show.” Even though there is a slight difference between color guard and winter guard, French said that the atmosphere is very similar between the two. “Winter guard is a little different,” Hafer said. “There is still an adrenaline rush during marching season, but it’s so different because [everyone is] solely focused on you. They pay attention to your face, your technique. Everything you do is piled into one, and they are staring at you, judging everything you do, and they are not easy on you. It is nerve racking, but it is so much so that my adrenaline is pumping so much that I’ll be shaking, and I kind of forget they’re there because I’m in my character.” The color guard team has spent a lot of time together to make their competitions perfect. After the show atmosphere makes it all worth it to French. “[My favorite part],” French said, “is probably the performacnes because of the rush I get when it’s done.” Similarly to French, Hafer feels that color guard is a get-away from school and a place she can go with peace. “I love dancing, and I’ve always loved the band,” Hafer said. “Im incredibly fond of music. Listening to music takes me to another place. Being in the show, it’s like you’re in another world that someone made for you. It’s more than just dancing and spinning. It’s a performance, and you’re telling a story through it all.” ●

Wh at te-

The Catamount ● People

is W inte rG uar d?

Winter Guard is similar to outdoor color guard, except the performances are indoors on gymnasium floors from January to April. Photo of Maddie Jordan by Julie Potrykus Source: cshsbands.com/articles/color_guard

Photo of Jordan Hafer by Rachel Grant

10 Student Life

The Catamount

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

The Catamount

Student Life

Life on the Road

Juniors explain origin, unique qualities of first cars by Fiona Cohen Staff Reporter A person’s first car is a vehicle he or she never forgets. Make, model, color, customization and every other memorable trait turn an ordinary piece of machinery into a piece of someone’s history. For many high school students, their first car is one they are given with the knowledge that it will eventually see some sort of damage. Junior Jordie Wells drives one such car. “The car was my grandma’s, and my dad and I drove it all the way down from Chicago,” Wells said. Her 1996 Toyota Camry was made before Wells was born. “The word I normally use to describe it is classic.” Wells’s Camry, which she lovingly refers to as “Aggie,” features a number of characteristics that Wells defines as “unique.” “It smells like barbeque when I turn my heater on. There are holes in the dash that I’ve had to cover up, and it’s held together

by zip ties and duct tape,” Wells said But that hasn’t kept her from turning this classic Camry into a typical girl car. The back window features a blue monogram decal of Wells’s initials, her dashboard is covered in Chevron printed tape (to cover the existing holes) and the seats have matching felt covers. Wells’s car is unique to her. However, junior Evan Maraist’ ensured that his ﬁrst car would never see any sort of damage. In three words he described it as “rugged, powerful and enduring.” His 1988 Chevrolet Blazer is the type of vehicle to avoid running into. “It has truck bedding spread all over it, so it can essentially drive through anything,” Maraist said. “It was our hunting truck before I started using it to get to school, so I had to do a lot of cleaning before I drove it here.” Despite an inconsistent steering system, a nonfunctional air conditioning system and a top-heavy build that makes ﬂipping an easy mistake, Maraist still enjoys the truck

he calls “The Beast.” Another stand-out in the school parking lot is junior Kaleb Miears’s bright orange 1963 GMC. “My dad and I split the cost half and half,” Miears said. “I wanted a truck nobody else would have.” Miears’s classic vehicle is not easily missed. The older design and vivid color make the truck one of a kind. But for Miears, the color will be the first thing he changes. “You can’t have an orange truck in College Station,” Miears said. “It’s just not right." Miears’s older truck comes with problems modern drivers rarely worry about. Not only is its color loud, its motor is also. For example, the roar of the engine makes it difficult to have conversations in the front seat. Holding conversations will never be difficult for junior Courtney Sumlin, whose 2013 Ford Escape prohibits her from playing music above a set volume. Sumlin and

her parents picked her car not based solely on appearance but also based on its safety features. “It was number one in its class for safety,” Sumlin said, “and it won’t let me go over 75 miles an hour.” But Sumlin has done her best to add her own personal ﬂair to her somewhat restricted vehicle. “I changed the main screen to Star Wars,” Sumlin said, “so that now I have Luke and a couple of lightsabers ﬂashing around while I drive.” Like her best friend, Sumlin has a blue monogram of her initials on the rear window, linking Sumlin’s brand new car to Wells’s not-so-new one. At the end of the day, each of these four new drivers appreciates the vehicles that take them from place to place. “At least I know it rolls,” Wells said. “It may not always roll when it’s supposed to, but it has four wheels and it rolls.” •

Special Features

Evan Maraist, junior

Courtney Sumlin, junior

1996 Toyota 2013 Ford 1988 Chevrolet 1963 GMC Escape Camry Blazer

Wells

blue monogram decal chevron tape felt seat covers Jordie Wells, junior

Sumlin

75mph speed limit Star Wars screen blue monogram decal

Maraist

truck bedding paint job named "The Beast"

Miears orange color loud motor classic build

Kaleb Miears, junior

12 People

t o the NINES

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

The Catamount

KOURTLEN

FREEMAN

ARIEL

SIMIEN

Inspiration?

My favorite rappers, A$AP Rocky and Wiz Khalifa.

I’ve seen a lot of movies from the ‘60s, the ‘70s, and the ‘90s.

Your style? I try to stand out as much as I can and not wear what everyone else is wearing.

Essentials? I like wearing Chuck Taylors with some skinny jeans, or some 501 Levis. I wear my Timberlands a lot too.

Your style? Anything that’s different is what I like.

Essentials? I wear a lot of dresses. Patterned dresses are my favorite, especially crazy patterns. I’ve worn pants five times this school year.

STYLE PROFILES Inspiration? Inspiration

Inspiration?

There isn’t really a fashion icon I follow. I don’t like to follow trends—it’s not my style.

The West Coast and Hollywood.

Your style? Y I like to dress professionally, corporate casual.

Essentials? Essentials

Your style? I like wearing ties. A lot of people at school wear button-ups, and button-ups are cool, but I wear a tie just to step it up.

Pencil skirts and Mary Jane heels, not necessarily what a teenager might wear.

Skinny jeans, button-up, sweater, tie.

SAMANTHA

DAN

VILLALOBOS

Essentials?

HUNG

Dressing well promotes uniqueness, confidence by Lisa Liu Features Editor Hair neatly curled. Threeinch heels on. Earrings in, makeup perfectly applied, and blouse and pencil skirt carefully coordinated. Yes, Samantha Villalobos is ready…for another day of school. “People do stare at me,” Villalobos said, “but I think that it also gives others a certain perspective of me. It’s a sign of respect that I care enough to make sure I look my best.” The junior is one of a handful of students whose efforts to dress well distinguish them from their peers. Many of these students discovered the beneﬁts of having a unique sense of style after they simply began paying more attention to the way they dressed. “You always see superstars dressed [nicely], but most people can actually dress that way if they want,” said freshman Dan Hung, who, after realizing that he wanted a change, swapped out his jeans and T-shirts for ties and cardigans. “They just don’t choose to do it. I made that choice.” Villalobos, too, began dressing more formally when she became more conscious of what she wore. She found that in ad-

dition to helping her express her individuality, dressing well gave her self-esteem. “I like to dress up for school because it makes me feel confident in myself,” Villalobos said. “When I feel confident, I feel happier and that makes school a little more bearable.” Junior Kourtlen Freeman transformed his sense of style as well, though for slightly different reasons. Only last year, Freeman’s tastes were still those typical of most high school students, but he began dressing in his own style when he found a job and then had the money to buy what he wanted to wear. “That was when I started trying not to be like everybody else,” Freeman said. Uniqueness is also what freshman Ariel Simien strives for when she dresses up for school. Her style, which consists mainly of dresses and a signature braided crown hairstyle, allows her to set herself apart from her classmates. “I get a little tired of seeing the same clothes all the time, and I feel like it doesn’t make you your own person,” Simien said. “Once you get into high school, insecurity’s like a disease. If I can find something that doesn’t make me like everyone else, that makes me feel good, it’s like my own vaccine.” ●

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Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

● People 13

G N I K A BRE E C I E H T Hockey players embrace cold to face off on rink by Fiona Cohen Staff Reporter

Four days a week, freshmen Travis Spangle and Claire Adams, sophomore Woody Wang and junior John Cassler suit up in their uniforms and head─ not to a court or to a field─ but onto the ice. These four students have found a passion for a game many Texas residents are unfamiliar with: hockey. “We’ve got a lot of heart,” said Aubrey Berkowitz, who is head coach of College Station’s high school hockey league “That’s the one thing I’m always impressed with with this team. They never quit.” The team, also known as “the Storm,” practices at the city’s only skating rink, Spirit Ice Arena. Each of the four athletes worked their way up to their current skill level after years of practice. Owning specific skills has helped define their role on the team. On the offensive end of the team are Wang and Cassler. As forward and assistant captain, Wang has stepped up to fill a leadership role on the team. “[Woody] doesn’t just talk the talk and tell other players they need to get better,” Berkowitz said. “He‘s a good example himself of going out there and mak-

ing necessary improvements.” From the start, Wang had to play catch-up with other players on the team. Having only started playing in the seventh grade, his skill level was behind that of other players on the team. “I really looked up to our current captain, Mason Smith, and he really inspired me to get better,” Wang said. “Last year Woody only had a couple goals, and this year he is one of our leading scorers,” Berkowitz said. Also on the offensive end is Cassler, who began playing at age ﬁve. Like Wang, Cassler found his niche on the front lines of the plays. “John is an extremely smart hockey player,” Berkowitz said of Cassler. On the ice, Cassler is a playmaker and strategist with the ability to be in the right place at the right time and understand the plays. “I always like to chase the puck,” Casser said. “When you’re an offensive player you get to chase the puck a lot, so for me being on offense is a lot easier than being a defensive player.” On the other end of the spectrum are defensive players, Adams and Spangle. For Spangle, his position was decided for him. “I got hurt when I was younger, and the only way I could play

again was if I was a goalie,” Spangle said. But shift in position did not hold Spangle back. In addition to playing goalie for the Storm, Spangle also plays for a competitive team in Dallas, splitting his time between the two teams. “I look up to Corey Crawford a lot,” Spangle said, “He’s the goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks.” For Spangle, looking to professional players and teams has helped inspire him to pursue his goals of college-level hockey. Outside the net and on defense is Adams, one of three girls on all of the Storm. But, Adams doesn’t let the fact that hockey is a predominantly male sport hold her back. “Pretty quickly you just feel like one of the guys,” Adams said. After taking a year-long break from the sport, Adams began playing again when she moved from her hometown of McAllen to College Station. “Everyone’s really supportive of one another,” Adams said. “That’s just the sport itself. If you don’t work as a team, you won’t succeed as a team.” Whether ﬁnding support in team captains or in other players, Adams has come to prove not only her individual capacity as a player but also the abilities of her team.●

1. Freshman Travis Spangle blocks a shot from sophomore Woody Wang during their weekly practice. Spangle not only competes with the Storm but also on a traveling team in Dallas. 2. Sophomore Woody Wang passes the puck across the icy rink. Wang is a foward and assistant captain. 3. On the ice, junior John Cassler works hard to help his teammates by understanding the plays and smart strategizing. Photos by Fiona Cohen ●

14 Sports

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

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Left-back excels in leadership, defense, tactics by Megan Paradowski Editor-in-Chief

▲ Junior Ricky Harrison runs out for a pass during seventh period on Jan. 22. Harrison began soccer at the age of five. Photo by Megan Paradowski ● Harrison passes the ball during practice on Jan. 22. Sophomore Diyor Sattarov trailed behind, watching the pass. Photo by Megan Paradowski ●

Keeping his eyes on the ball, junior Ricky Harrison strategically moves away from his opponents and receives a pass from his teammate. With all eyes on him, Harrison hits the post with a 40-yard shot. “[Scoring or hitting the post] is a good feeling of relief,” he said. “Our hard work from practice paid off.” He began playing soccer when he was ﬁve years old. His dad put him in a recreational soccer league, and Harrison has played ever since. Playing left back, Harrison practices with the school soccer team every day during seventh period and after school until about 4:45 p.m. Additionally, the team will play in three tournaments and district games every Tuesday and Friday. Harrison said that he is most excited for the district games this season. His personal goal for the season is not to let anyone score. “Our team goal is to be twice as good as we were last year,” Harrison said. Junior Steven Smith became friends with Harrison while playing on the College Station Middle School soccer team in seventh and eighth grade. “He leads by example,” junior Steven Smith said. “You can count on him, and he is a real team player.”

Head coach Chris Kovacs agrees. “His work rate is outstanding,” Kovacs said. Harrison logged most minutes out of everyone on the team last year and will most likely do the same this year. “That consistency of effort speaks volumes to those around him,” Kovacs said. Smith said that Harrison is not selfish with the ball, and he “does whatever he can to make the team win.” Of course, like any other sport, playing soccer encompasses many challenges. “The hardest part [of soccer] is losing,” Harrison said. “We practice hard, and it’s disappointing to do that and not get the result that we wanted.” Smith said that Harrison is different on and off the field. “On the field he is really serious,” he said. “Off the field he is pretty funny and chill.” Smith added that Harrison has a great work ethic. “He doesn’t take days off,” Kovacs said. Smith also said that Harrison practices as often as he can. According to Kovacs, Harrison has traits that set him apart from other players. “He plays great on the ball defense as well as having good tactical positioning,” he said. “With these two traits he rarely gets beat.” ●

Ricky Ricky Harrison’s Harrison’s Favorite Favorite Things Things

Food: Pizza

Soccer Player: Lionel Messi

Movie: 21 Jump Street

Soccer Team: Barcelona

Music Genre: Country Restaurant: Chili’s

2 4 6

Friday, Feb. 7 2014

Running With It

The Catamount

● Sports 15

Introverted junior leads team in unusual ways with playing multiple positions, she said. Pryor describes Aleman’s flexibility with different positions on the field as a he varsity girls soccer team ad- valuable asset to the team and her “good vanced to the fourth round of play- vision and good anticipation makes her offs last year, and this year they potent everywhere she plays”. won’t settle until they have the state Aleman explains that as she factitle. Through practice every day until es losses in her soccer career, she has 5:30 and tournaments every weekend, learned to address what could have the girls are keeping their eyes on the caused the loss and improve from that prize. point. Girls head soccer coach Stoney “I try and stay strong, but as the day Pryor said other players on the team are goes by I try and figure out what could influenced to improve by junior Court- have prevented the goals,” Aleman says. ney Aleman’s confidence and ability. One of Aleman’s favorite aspects of “Courtbeing on ney leads the varmost by her sity team example,” is all the Pryor said. memo“She is not ries they always voshare cal in her and the approach, bondbut she is ing the very calm team has and sucexpericessful in enced, what she she said. does. She is Hapatient and ley Wagdeliberate, ner, jumethodinior and cal even, center in how she back on defends and team, Coach Stoney Pryor, head soccer coach the attacks.” talked A l e about the man hopes humor that her Aleman shares with the team on overwork ethic will inspire others on the night trips. team to also do well, she said. “I love when we play blind ka“I lead my teammates by working raoke with Courtney on the bus trips,” as hard as I can and giving them that ex- Wagner said. “When you put headample to follow,” Aleman said. “I hope phones on her as loud as you can and that by giving one hundred percent it blindfold her, she can’t hear how obnoxwill influence others too.” ious she sounds and it’s hilarious! It’s Aleman’s second year on varsiAleman’s “calm confidence” makes ty as the team’s center defender or cen- her a valuable player on the field, said ter midfielder. Aleman grew up playing Pryor. in the Houston based club soccer team “She plays difficult situations so known as Challenge soccer. easily it makes me wonder what I was Private training outside of school concerned about,” Pryor said. “When and outside club practices that are more they attack and she just calmly takes focused on the simple techniques in- the ball, I think, ‘I am glad she plays for volved with the positions Aleman plays us!’”● have helped her become comfortable

by Lily Parsi Opinions Editor

“Courtney leads by her example. She is not always vocal in her approach, but she is very calm and successful in what she does.”

▲ During half time, junior Courtney Aleman keeps her muscles

warm by running drills with the ball in order to perform better.

▲ During the Jan. 30 game, against Friendswood, Aleman kicks

Soccer Stats

the corner kick during the second half. ◄ Aleman kicks the ball towards her teammates in order to make an attempt for a goal. This game was played on the Texas A&M soccer field. Photos by Lily Parsi ●

Overall Record College Station Classic Argyle Invitational Brazos Cup

7-3 3-0 2-1 2-1

16 Sports ● The Catamount

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

Family SmackDown

Brothers compete with another to become better at one sport they love by Alex Miller Staff Reporter Some siblings are complete opposites and have no common interests. For brothers Patrick and Carter Clouston though, wrestling is a sport they can enjoy together while competing against one another at the same time. “I think it’s pretty cool [to wrestle with Patrick] because he’s my brother.” Carter said. “[It’s] good because he knows more about wrestling than I do,” Patrick said. “I can go to him to know what to do and learn how to do stuff which I am less experienced in.” For brothers especially, being better than the other can be something that keeps them going, the constant battle to see who can be at the top. The Clouston’s though, each had opposing views on competing and being better than the other. “I always want to do better than him and see if he can do better than me to have a competition going on throughout the year,” Patrick said. Carter does not feel the pressure however, “because we’re in two different weight classes.” They both agreed that Carter is the better wrestler. Carter, a junior, is taller than Patrick, a sophomore, by a few inches and is also more experienced along with being older than his brother. When the two faced off together, however, it was an interesting outcome. “[We’ve gone] in practice, and I don’t like going against him,” Patrick said, “because he’s bigger and taller than I am, and he’s also kind of better.” “I [beat him] about three-fourths of the time,” Carter said, “Sometimes he wins.” The tactics on being a great wrestler take time, from learning the proper holds and moves, to the mental game; it can be a tough sport in many aspects. One must learn from mistakes as well to perfect a game of skill and technique. “I’ve really worked on my technique to get better [this

“[I focus on] not getting overwhelmed by who you are facing,” Patrick said, “because you may be 5-8, and he may be 14-0, but he might have faced worse opponents than you, and you go in and win because you are not jittery and prepared to lose, but you are prepared to win.” The two brothers have also put up some impressive performances this season, each doing better at separate meets. Patrick placed first in his class at the Sam Houston Meet going 5-0 while Carter’s best outing was at the Cy-Fair Tournament at the Berry Center. He advanced to the third round of the Consolation Bracket. At College Station High School, the standard is set high in all categories from sports, academics to fine arts, and everything else in between. The Clouston brothers have big dreams as well. “[I want to] get past district and go to regionals,” Carter said. ▲ Patrick and Carter Clouston assume their positions as they pre“I want to try and get to state because last year I went to pare to practice against each other. Photo by Alex Miller ● regionals,” Patrick said. “I also want to get first in district because last year I got fourth.” offseason],” Carter said. Two brothers with a bold passion for one sport they can “I’ve been improving my shots in Period One, which is each enjoy together, and with their minds set on nothing but neutral,” Patrick said. “I’ve been trying to take better shots winning, they have the bar raised to the highest level. There and make better setups.” is only one thing left to do, be the best they can be.● Preparing for an individual match or meet the proper way is vital for a clutch performance. Some athletes do certain exercises or wear special socks, but they each have their own methods of preparation. Four boys and one girl for the Cougars advanced to the “I hang back and wait for my number to be called, I 4A state wrestling tournament, which begins today and will stretch to get loose, I stay quiet and look for my competition conclue tomorrow in Garland, Texas. and just scout him out,” Patrick said. Competing for the Cougars are “I concentrate on what I’m going to do so I can do my Cameron Ward (126) best at it,” Carter said. With many different parts to a sport, each athlete can tend Tell Ward (132) to value a certain pillar of their game. Bri White (138) “[I want to do] the best I can for my parents to impress Patrick Clouston (182) them and also go to regionals or state,” Carter said. Carter Clouston (195)

Five wrestlers advance to State

Cougar baseball team claims top spot in polls to start season

“Our goal is to play to the best of our ability, and if we do that, we will win State.” Photo by Alex MIller

Nick Kennedy, junior

THSBCA Preseason 3A Poll - Jan. 22 1. College Station 2. Caldwell 3. Pleasant Grove 4. Melissa 5. Sinton 6. Silsbee 7. Argyle 8. Carthage 9. Bridge City 10. La Vernia

The CSHS basbeall team is ranked #1 in the THSBCA Preseason Poll. The Cougars are looking to win a state championship. Every starter returns for the team, and with talent everywhere, the odds of accomplishing that goal are high.

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Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

cougar hoops 2014

1/3 1/7 1/10 1/14 1/17 1/21 1/24 1/28 1/31 2/4

Lady Cougars

Madisonville Caldwell @Rockdale Taylor @Navasota @Madisonville @Caldwell Rockdale @Taylor Navasota

L W W L L L W W L L

32-52 58-33 38-37 38-45 33-44 31-48 52-39 35-29 47-54 33-43

COME SEE COUGAR BOYS BASKETBALL TAKE ON THE MUSTANGS TONIGHT AT 6:30 IN MADISONVILLE OR HEAR THE GAME LIVE ON 1150 AM THE ZONE.

The Lady Cougars have faced their second season with determination to top last year’s debut as a new program. They defeated Caldwell, a major victory, and suffered close losses to Navasota and Taylor. They are now preparing to face opponents in newly assigned districts, including Bryan and A&M Consolidated.

Photo by Teresa Laffin

1/10 1/14 1/17 1/21 1/24 1/28 2/1 2/4 2/7 2/11

Cougars

Rockdale @Taylor Navasota Madisonville Caldwell @Rockdale Taylor @Navasota @Madisonville @Caldwell

W L L W W W W W

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68-51 66-69 44-47 78-54 72-64 58-57 98-70 68-65 6:30 6:30

This season marks the first playoff appearance for College Station High School Basketball in school history. On Feb. 1, the Cougars beat the Taylor Ducks, claming a spot in the playoffs in only their second season. On Feb. 4 the team claimed a major win over Navasota, tipping the score with Ryan Johnson’s 3-point shot with only 5.4 seconds remaining.

Photo by Fiona Cohen

Photo by Courtney Wellmann

18 Entertainment ● The Catamount

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

Local coffee shops offer comfy spaces to enjoy drinks, treats

Review by Lisa Liu Sweet Eugene’s House of Java on George Bush East is sandwiched between a beige apartment complex, a beige shopping center and Fuddrucker’s, but don’t judge it by the unassuming exterior. On the inside, it’s a standout amongst coffee shops with a charmingly eccentric atmosphere and a variety of refreshments. The coffeehouse’s most notable quality is its warm mood. Partitioned into a series of open rooms, each with a slightly different vibe, the shop boasts mismatched furniture, eclectic artwork, and ornate mirrors and lamps in each room for an unusual, but welcoming effect. The couches and armchairs tucked in the corners allow for privacy and comfort, and the free Wi-Fi makes it an ideal place to study. Service was fast—especially considering the number of customers in the shop—and the staff was friendly and attentive. The pricing is quite reasonable, with a range of about $1.50$3.00 for drinks and a little less than $2.00 for baked goods such as scones, cinnamon rolls and donuts. A variety of breakfast and lunch options, including crepes, paninis and wraps, are offered as well, for $5.00-$6.00 per dish. Both the food and the coffee were mediocre and the Café Latte was nothing special, and the chocolate chip mufﬁn was bland and rather dull. Overall, Sweet Eugene’s is well worth the visit. Thanks to its impressively unique atmosphere, this local coffee shop sets itself apart from the rest and would be perfect for those who want a place to study or socialize with friends.●

Review by Lily Parsi

Review by Rachel Grant

Muldoon’s is a cozy coffee shop located on Texas Ave.between Los Cucos, a Mexican restaurant and a frozen yogurt joint. Catering mainly to the college crowd, Muldoon's offers a wide selection of iced and hot coffees. Muldoon’s Coffee House's newest menu item is Zhi Tea, from an Austin-owned tea company. These artisan teas are full of flavor, and each bag is good for 2-3 cups. If specialty teas from the far ends of the earth and frothy cappuccinos are not enough, you can get your sweet fix with gourmet cupcakes at the Crush cupcake bar located inside the café. Crush offers cupcakes baked fresh every day with 19 unique flavors ranging from Italian crème to pumpkin spice. Signs beckon you to try the “Crush of the month.” I entered Muldoon’s and was immediately greeted by a hipster barista who was friendly and eager to suggest a warm concoction. I decided on a vanilla and caramel iced coffee. The sweet, creamy brew was well worth the $4.50 it cost. Clusters of couches and bar height café tables and tented spaces lined the wall. The décor was a mix of modern, cozy and exotic, the perfect vibe for late night cramming or a place to surf the Internet. I selected an armchair in the closed off seating area, which is available for rent at select hours for a reasonable price of $10 an hour. Overall, my experience at Muldoon’s was pleasant, and I look forward to returning. Sipping on an exotic hot tea or gourmet hot beverage while lounging in a comfy armchair might make studying a little more enjoyable.●

It was late January when I went to Mugwalls, off of Harvey, with some friends. As soon as I walked in, I noticed the relaxing ambiance and peaceful environment that it provided. Ordering was awkward because of the unclear lines to wait in to order. The menu had limited options, but I chose a Pumpkin Vanilla Chai and an orange cranberry mufﬁn. The pricing was similar to any other coffee shop, but the pastries were a little less than the average price. After I got my drink and mufﬁn, my friends and I sat down at a table. I noticed a loft above the register. Referring to the name, there was a wall of mugs with all different designs on the mugs. Due to the cold temperature in the store I was grateful for my hot drink which was delicious. I would recommend going to Mugwalls except for the fact that it was very crowded, and there are always college students presenwt studying or relaxing. Since it is close to A&M’s campus, it is to be expected that they have an abundance of college students which makes the seating limited. Overall, Mugwalls is a great place to go if you plan to grab a drink or snack and leave, unless you get there at a time before the A&M students.●

and

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Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8-5 Friday 8-12

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Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

The Catamount

● Entertainment 19

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! AVP students ﬁnd their place in the limelight by Kayla Kurmaskie Managing Editor

CGRS News. The Cougar Qualities PSAs. Promotional sports videos. You name the media project, and the AV students can produce it. “If you can plan it, we can make it,” Audio Video Productions teacher Stephen Green said. Beginning with the Digital Interactive and Multimedia course, students have the opportunity to learn all the skills necessary to film and produce movies, music and various other media. When students have completed this introductory, semester-long course, they are then eligible for the more advanced series of Audio Video Productions classes. These are mainly project-based classes Stephen Green, that focus on honing students’ skills. “We go extrememly in depth with a lot of different production concepts and technologies,” Green said. Green said that the class explores the two different facets of film: media for informational purposes and media as a form of artistic expression. “I really would hope that they would be able to produce something in their time in this class that they’re proud of and would want to show off,” Green said. Many of Green’s students, such as junior Bailey Paine, have already decided that they not only want to participate in AVP in high school, but they want to pursue a career in the film making industry. “I had one summer where I watched way too many movies and that summer eventually became my life,” Paine said. However, not all members of the AVP class were as draw to it from the start. “At first I wasn’t sure what I was going

to do throughout high school,” junior Jaclyn Miller said. “I just saw DIM, and I was like, ‘okay, I’ll just try that.’” One of the primary reasons students enjoy AVP so much is the teacher. “He’s really down to earth, and he understands the problems that we go through, the things we have to deal with,” Miller said in her description of Green. Miller attributes the ease with which Green communicates with the students to his youth and fresh perspectives as a new teacher. Like many of his students Green discovered his love of multimedia productions in high school. This personal experience drives Green to encourage his students to explore their passions and abilities. “The things that we learn in AVP director this class are applicable to just about any job,” Green said. Not only do Green and his students share a similar understanding of each other, but also of the work they create. “Whenever I want actual criticism, I get it from him,” Paine said. A passion and love of what they do fuels the AVP class. “I always appreciate that moment when cameras are rolling and people are acting and all excited to be there,” Paine said. “It’s moments like that when I’m glad I’m in AV.” ●

Junior Ariel Palmisano and sophomore Chloe Bell adjust lighting in the media tech room. The two were setting up necessary equipment for filming a project. Photo by Kayla Kurmaskie ●

“If you can plan it, we can make it .”

Follow this link to view one of AVP’s latest productions!

Junior Ariel Palmisano stands in front of the media tech program’s green screen. Palmisano has helped create each of the dozens of videos made by AVP. Photo by Kayla Kurmaskie ●

Sophomore Derrick Lara sets up a spotlight in the production room. Lighting is a key element of the production process and a major concern for AVP students when filming. Photo by Kayla Kurmaskie ●

A Stroke of Genius

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

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Artists wholeheartedly drawn to beauty

tured with reverence when they share their experiences with art. With art, they create what Executive Editor could never be revealed with pretty words. Yet, the beauty of their art may not express A smear of paint around the corner of the their original intention. canvas from the artist traveling to home to “It’s really hard when you see a picture school. The imperfections add beauty because in your head of what you want your piece to they tell the story of the journey of the art and look like and how you want people to feel the artist. The artists in Art III have traveled about it, and it’s not looking what you want it far with their art to reach the talent they have to in your head,” Macha said. “That’s probtoday. ably one of the hardest parts: not getting it to “Through art, [I start] realizing how much look like I think it should [or] how it should work goes into a piece, [and] I start appreciatcome out.” ing everything a lot more from anyone’s art to The technical aspects of art do not make how unique everyone is,” junior Amber Maart great because art is not always meant to cha said. “We are all different, and we are all be seen but experienced. The viewer feels our own piece of art.” emotions through the artist’s passion, but the With so much beauty in the world, the artists struggle with their own emotions as artists hope to capdoubts plague their ture that exquisitethoughts and work. ly through their art. “[I doubt] that it “I often feel isn’t good enough,” that people look sophomore Oriana at the world but Russo said. “I feel don’t see its full like a lot of people spectrum of beauare really talented in ty,” sophomore art, and I want to get Zoë de Beurs said. better at it.” “I think through These artists all forms of art, overcome their this beauty can be doubts through the shown and anyone encouragement of can enter this form their fellow artists. of the world. All Lauren Brammer, sophomore Their friendship people need is an resolves the selfeye-opener.” doubt and prevents These artists see the world for its beauty doubt from jealousy. Envy regarding the othwith its full palette of colors. They notice the er artists’ work dissolves the appreciation for subtle, azure hue in cheeks or the fiery crimtheir creation. son in sunstreaked brown hair. The details “I have to make sure that I don’t comincorporated create beauty that everyone can parew my works to [everyone else’s in my recognize. class], which was difficult for me in the past,” “If people can look at my art, see somejunior Ifeoma Okonkwo said. “I admire their thing beautiful and gain a new perspective on different styles and have come to know them what is beautiful, I would love that,” junior better as people and artists.” Katherine McDougall said. The artists connect through their troubles Of the millions of enchantments in this and triumphs in a community of support and world, they choose what is beautiful to them to admiration. Each artist brings his or her own share. Each layer of paint embellishs a blank unique style to enrich the diverse definition of canvas into art. Even when all the paint is put beauty in art. They each hope to keep pursuaway, stale paint stains their wrists as proof ing art and continuing to create. As the world that they wear their hearts on their sleeves. around them changes, their treasured glimps“The question of ‘will they like my artes of beauty will remain. work’ is sort of like ‘will they like who I am,” “I want to leave my mark on the world junior Becky Nam said. “I am not super good somehow,” sophomore Lauren Brammer said. at verbalizing my thoughts and verbalizing “I want to feel like I can give something back emotions, so doing it visually is a way to get and do something different that no one has myself out there for other people to see.” done before. I want people to feel good and Even though some artists struggle to voknow there are still really lovely things in the calize themselves, their words were enrapworld.”●

by Julie Potrykus

Painting by Becky Nam

◄ Junior Katherine McDougall

“I want to feel like I can give something back and do something different that no one has done before.”

works on painting T. J. Eckleburg’s eyes as a decoration for the English III AP Great Gatsby party that took place on Jan. 31. ▼ Sophomore Zoë de Beurs paints a self portrait using dark and dim colors to express a need for change, she said. Photos by Julie Portykus ●

Chalk drawing by Ifeoma Okonkwo

Painting by Amber Macha

Painting by Oriana Russo