The Catamount - February 2018 - Vol. 6 No. 4

the CATAMOUNT

College Station High School

4002 Victoria Ave. College Station, Texas 77845

Vol. 6 No. 4

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

Shatter silence THE

National movements inspire victims to share stories of sexual violations Dru Peacock Executive Editor

As the list of men and women accused of sexual assault grows longer, including high profilers such as Larry Nassar, Harvey Weinstein and Roy Moore, many feel that the time has come for a response and a societal change to how America responds to sexual misconduct.

“I think it’s definitely something that needed to come to light because obviously it’s been happening for a long time,” junior Halle Fouch said. “Hopefully, it’ll inspire change and teach younger generations that sexual violence is not okay.”

Movements such as Me Too and Time’s Up have sprung up to combat sexual violence, and with an average of 321,500 women experiencing either rape or sexual assault in the United States per year, it’s not hard to see why these movements have gone viral.

“I think lots of people don’t understand why people might not have come forward before. They don’t understand the shame people feel or the embarrassment they feel, so with Me Too, since someone has started this, more women feel comfortable coming forward,” psychology and government teacher Jessica Kouba said.

continued on page 3

INDEX

News Opinions People Sports Entertainment Etc.

2-5 6-9 10-16 17-20 21-23 24

11 Vegetarianism allows meatless diet for those with restrictions. PAGE 11

12 Hair creativity offers freedom of expression for students. PAGE 12

14 Plants bring comfort, sense of purpose to owners. PAGE 14

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News

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

Cougar NEWS BPA students compete in state conference At the regional Business Professionals of America competition, 13 students competed who qualified for the state conference. Students include Joseph Liu, Ashika Verma, Sam Crockett, Kylar Thornton, Gage Dikes, Taha Rahman, Kathy Ding, Judy Zhou, Akash Patel, Kersten Hester, Reo Matsuda and Jianna Cunningham. The State BPA Conference will be held in Corpus Christi Feb. 28 through March 3.•

Wind ensemble student advances in national event Junior Taryn Hairston advanced to the quarterfinals of the High School Solo Division of the 2018 National Trumpet Competition, which is the largest instrument competition in the world. Her solo competition will take place on March 9.•

Robotics team earns victory at robotics competition Team Atlas2 advanced to the State VEX Robotics Competition recently after winning the Montgomery VEX Tournament.•

Cougar UIL Academics team sweeps invitational The football team was honored at the Parade of Champions on Saturday, Feb. 3 to celebrate their win against Aledo in the state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 23. In attendance was state representative Kyle Kacal, along with city council member Linda Harvell and mayor Karl Mooney. After the parade, head coach Steve Huff honored the student section and Strutters, band and cheer. PHOTO BY COURTNEY WELLMANN •

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The UIL team competed at the Magnolia invitational on Feb. 10 in multiple events. Kalindi Desai and Susan Nam placed first in their events, Tiffany Ha and Robert Dohrman placed second and Madison Guye placed third.•

Freshman placed first in math team project Freshman Ben Howard won first place for Math Team Project at the University of Houston Mathematics Contest on Jan. 27. Howard entered the contest as a team of one and walked away with the highest award.•

The Catamount

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

News

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Allegations of sexual misconduct increased resolve for solutions continued from page 1 Banding together is something many people have taken in both a positive and negative way. Some people have come to assume that fighting sexual misconduct not only entails women coming together to support one another, but has also come to mean a battle between women and men, which is simply not the case.

“I feel like a lot of people are turning this into a gender fight between men and women, and I don’t agree with that,” junior Hunter Abdallah said. “The main focus of this issue is to combat rape culture, and this shouldn’t be focused on gender. This should be a war between all genders together on one side fighting against rape culture to end it.”

This isn’t to imply that men aren’t directly affected by this as well. According to a National Crime Victimization Survey, out of 40,000 households, 38 percent of the incidents involving sexual violence were against men.

“It affects everybody. There can be women and men who are sexually violated, and there can be both genders doing the assault, so that’s why it’s important because it affects everybody,” Fouch said. “Maybe it doesn’t affect you right now, but it could in the future, and even if it doesn’t affect you in your lifetime, it could still affect someone who you care about.”

The resulting effects from an attack will most likely be intense and long-term. They can range anywhere on the spectrum, from anxiety to shame and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“It can lead to depression. If it’s sexual assault or

rape, it can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We tend to think something like military experience [causes that], but lots of women experiencing rape [have] PTSD,” Kouba said. “Anxiety [occurs], like worried that it could happen again, especially if you work with someone and now you could be fearful to go to work. Feelings of shame is [also] a huge problem.”

Furthermore, some people automatically resort to asking what the victim did to “cause” an assault. This not only results in victims questioning or minimizing their experience but also leads to the continuation of normalizing sexual violence.

“A huge problem, which is actually a term in our psychology book, is victim blaming. I think that’s a huge problem in society, that people will say, ‘Well what did she do?’ or, ‘Did she wear something inappropriate?’ ‘Was she drinking too much, staying out at a party?’ Asking those questions is really offensive because no matter what someone is wearing or where they’re at, no assault is ever justified,” Kouba said. “It’s never okay.”

Though there will still be many obstacles to overcome in order to procure justice and to prevent this from happening to future people, we are slowly making progress.

The important thing to remember is that momentum is picking up, and sexual violence is never merited.•

*To speak with someone who is trained to help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat online at online.rainn.org

Cases by the number 82% of all victims under 18 are female •

Females ages 16-19 are four times more likely than •

the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault

One in 9 girls and one in 53 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or

•

assault at the hands of an adult Victims are about four times more likely to experience PTSD as adults

•

Source: rainn.com

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News

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

Partner program helps new students integrate into school Jaycie Robinson Assistant Editor New school, new classes, new faces: all challenges braved by incoming transfer students.

This problem was personally faced by junior Kim Namyoon, and the idea of S2S was born.

S2S, meaning student to student, is a program where student leaders are able to take time and help new students become acquainted not only with the school, but with the people as well.

Namyoon had an S2S program at her old school, and while she wished she could have had something like it to help her, it especially helps other students now. She, as well as others, are very proud of the work and the friends they have made being student leaders, she said.

“Students who transition into new schools are challenged, because when I came here, I felt like the friend groups were already established, so S2S is perfect for fixing that problem,” Namyoon said.

Not only does the program help the new students, but it also encourages student leaders to step up and help others.

Sophomore Sean Dudo feels as if it grows both sides of the program. Although it may have been difficult during the process of helping others

while keeping up with his own studies, Dudo said he was able to see the benefits in the long run for both the new students and himself.

“I would see these students in the halls, and I wanted so badly to help them, but I didn’t really know how to approach them and talk to them,” Dudo said. “Being in the program has helped me step out of my comfort zone and converse with more people.”

S2S sponsor and English teacher Virginia Babcock is very involved and passionate about this cause.

“Integrating into the school as well as the community is the most important part for the new students,” Babcock said. “We also try to create out of school hangouts. The new students will also get to see where the popular restaurants are and where the rest of the school acclimates.”

Because of the S2S program, many students feel welcomed and immediately a part of the community, which is the long term goal of the organization.

“Everyone needs a chance; a chance to feel accepted,” Namyoon said.

Because of S2S, not one student again will feel alone during their transition to College Station High School.•

source: market-

The rundown on S2S Who? • Student leaders work to help new stu-

dents. Teacher sponsors oversee the activities.

What?

The program is a place where new students can become aquainted with people in the community.

•

Why? • A high school needs to be welcoming and inviting to new students.

Source: CSHS counseling cffice

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

News

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District rebrands middle schools to change colors, mascots Emelie Gulde and Jayci Tawney News Editor and Staff Reporter With the opening of a third middle school, the district school board voted on Nov. 14 to rebrand the two current middle schools, which is a two million dollar project.

“The term re-branding means that middle schools are having to adjust their colors, school mascot and fight song to come up with a new identity different from what they have had before,” fine arts director Eric Eaks said.

Many community members spoke out at board meetings and online forums because of the price tag, considering that the district is also in the middle of building a new school. “[If we] put jumbotrons at both high schools, we could charge local businesses for advertisements. The scoreboard at Consol and our school could be a lot better. Plus it is a good way for the schools to bring in some revenue without much effort,” senior Nick Zachria said.

While some students and parents are concerned about the cost of this project, truly these are innovations that would be taking place in the next decade regardless. Purchasing new uniforms, redoing the carpets and repainting the schools would all be actions taking place along the building of Wellborn Middle School in order to make each middle school equal in value.

“Rebranding is probably something they should do to make a more organized school system. They would have to do it at some point,” sophomore Morgan Lem-

ons said.

When it comes to athletic programs and fine arts, the rebranding of the middle schools also means that high school level directors and coaches will not be as involved with the middle school programs as much as in the past. This is because they will all split in different percentages to either CSHS or A&M Consolidated.

“For fine arts it will not have that much of an impact. The bottom line for us is quality instruction and how we teach the students and how the students learn,” Eaks said.

Throughout College Station High School’s first few years, school spirit has consistently been high, with pep rallies that could burst an eardrum and packed stadiums on Friday nights. Without direct feeder schools, there is some room for concern about a drop in school spirit, but the administration has no doubts.

“When I think about what it really means to be a Cougar, you do not really feel that until you are here every day. I expect that our school spirit will remain high,” principal Tiffany Parkerson said.

The administration’s objective of middle schools having their own colors and mascot is to personalize the overall experience of those few pre-high school years.

“It gives each middle school their own identity.

Now each middle school can create their own culture, their own standard of excellence that is truly of their own making,” Eaks said.

The new identity of these middle schools have been voted on by parents, faculty and students this past

month.

“Those colors and mascots will be unveiled to our campus on February 20, and then later that night at the February Board of Trustees Meeting,” A&M Consolidated principal Jeff Mann said. “Our students, faculty and staff are excited about the opportunity to create our own identity as CSISD transitions from two middle schools to three.”•

Estimated Costs of Middle School Rebranding • $305,000 to change sports uniforms • Estimated $1.6 million to replace carpets, woodwork, signage and paint • $53,000 at College Station Middle School • $46,000 at A&M Consolidated Middle School Source: The Eagle

Tony’s Alterations

900 Harvey Road #8 College Station, Tx 77845 (979) 696- 1947

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Opinions

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

Hope triumphs over fear of unknown

THE CAT’S EYE VIEW

staff editorial

Middle school rebranding changes detrimental to students Many underestimate the power of a color. With the addition of a new, third middle school in the district, the feeder pattern of grade schools K-8 is changing. Because of this, the middle schools are being rebranded with new colors and mascots. So, this side of town is no longer exclusively purple, and the future students of CSHS will only experience four years of Cougar pride. We disagree with this change.

In order to be prepared to enter high school, it is important to feel a sense of solidarity and unity among peers and as a student body as a whole. While it is possible to achieve this within the walls of the high school alone, the dynamic is stronger when friendships

Fear is a creep. It leads you down a dark path that makes you feel alone and distant from everyone. On your darkest days, it surrounds you, clouding your judgment Ty’Asia Hubbard and making you feel less than what you are. Fear attracts those who aren’t able to see the unknown. People who find this foreign, people like me, aren’t alone. For example, a girl in my P.E. class specifically said the open sea scares her. She has never experienced open water, but she fears it.

When discussing fear, the thought of hope surfaces. Maya Angelou once said, “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.”

I don’t know about you, but in my life hope always triumphed over fear. I think it’s important to remain hopeful in today’s society especially. We are constantly being exposed to corruption and neg-

are formed in middle school.

View of the Pride: Do you agree or disagree with the rebranding of the middle schools?

Additionally, students who attend the middle schools will inevitably create bonds with their peers during those two years. Once they move on to high school, the populations of the three schools

AGREE

will be split, and many friends will have to part ways. This makes it difficult for long-lasting relationships to prevail.

Because of this rezoning, rebranding is the district’s attempt to create unique identities at each middle school. Though this change allows for lack of bias among middle schools, it does not allow for students to begin connecting with their high shcool through sports, fine arts programs or simply overall school pride.

It is not too late for the district to reconsider rebranding and allow students to maintain confidence in where they are now and where they will go in the future.

•

ativity. Instead of adding to the fuel of fear, we can deflect the issue. I believe that hoping for the best can establish positivity and just willingness to face any challenges. It’s wonderful to see that life doesn’t revolve around fear. Fear will constantly taunt us; however, we can overcome it. In most cases, at least for me, I feel that I need to face fear on my own. On the other hand, I learned that there’s always someone who can help me. My mother is the best person to go to when I’m dealing with fear. She uplifts and encourages me to continue despite my hesitation and fear. Whether it’s a family member or a friend, seek out a person who can help you.

One thing I have feared the absolute most was driving. Being afraid of driving and actually doing it doesn’t mix. This puts many lives in danger.

Something I had to learn was that if I leave my fears behind, then I would be able to accomplish things I couldn’t even see.•

DISAGREE

“I agree because middle school does not determine where one may go to high school. If they are trying to stay neutral, then I don’t have a problem with that.”

-Josiah Dombach, sophomore

“I personally disagree, seeing no actual point in rebranding the middle schools. I think that the money used for this should be more effectively utilized for the schools.”

-Kim Juho, freshman

“I agree because it splits kids into sides early on and creates rivalries when we should be learning and growing as a community.”

-Molly Flynn, sophomore

“I think it’s not worth the money or time. I think the money should be put towards other educational purposes.”

-Lauren Bernshausen, sophomore

2017-2018 Newspaper Staff

The Catamount Newspaper Melanie Evans

Noe Canchola

Katie Guye

High School, 4002 Victoria Ave., College Station, Texas, 77845. The opinions expressed are those of the writers

Executive Editor

Dru Peacock

Jayci Tawney

and are not reflective of the administrators, faculty or staff of the College Station Independent School District.

Senior Editor

Tiffany Ha

Ayden Woods

News Editor

Emelie Gulde

Graphic Artist

Susan Nam

reserves the right to edit submissions in the interest of clarity and length or to not print a letter at all. Letters

Opinions Editor

Grace Costenbader

Cartoonist

Cella Siegelman

containing obscene or libelous material will not be considered. The Editorial Board consists of all staff.

Entertainment Editor

Ty’Asia Hubbard

Faculty Adviser

Courtney Wellmann

Sports Editor

Ethan Cohen

Assistant Adviser

Teresa Laffin

Bronze Star award in 2014, 2015 and 2016, as well as their Silver Star Award in 2017.

Photography Editor

Sophia North

Assitant Editors

John Clendenin

in providing education services. Monica James, Director of Human Resources, 1812 Welsh, College Station, Texas

Makayla Fox

77840 (979-764-5412) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements

Jaycie Robinson

of Title IX. Molley Perry, Director of Special Services, 1812 Welsh, Suite 120, College Station, Texas 77840 (979-

Catie Sikes

764-5433) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination. requirements of Section

Kylie Vernon

504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Editor-in-Chief

Kalindi Desai

Managing Editor

Staff Reporters

The newspaper is produced by the Advanced Journalism: Newspaper Production class at College Station

Submissions to the editors are welcomed but must be signed and should not exceed 300 words. The editor

The newspaper is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC) and a winner of their College Station ISD does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex or handicap

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

Opinions

7

Society moves to end deflection of sexual assault cases It started a few years ago when I heard that the notorious Stanford rapist, Brock Turner, had slithered by with a sentence of only 3 months for blatantly raping an unconscious woman back in 2015.

It was then that I realized we had a big problem with holding sexual predators responsible and that too many women Dru Peacock were not getting justice. From there, things have both escalated to a horrifying number of sexual assault allegations but have also taken a positive turn with the creation of Times Up and #MeToo. We tend, as a society, to do things in order to make ourselves feel better. We justify eating a slice of cake on a diet, we blame the fact we got a bad grade in a class to how busy we are and in doing all of this, we also dehumanize others in order to make ourselves feel better. It makes us uncomfortable Art to imagine someone starving in another country, so we unconsciously tell ourselves they’re less than human. It makes us uneasy to see homeless people on the streets, so we tell ourselves they didn’t do anything to help their situation. It makes us uncomfortable when we picture someone who’s been raped or molested or been forced to do something, so we start telling ourselves that they must have done something to bring it on. We deflect.

The thing is, though, by asking questions like “what was she or he wearing” or “why were they out that late anyway,” we minimize the situation a victim had to

experience, and in the long run, we continue to allow things like this to happen. By asking these questions, we are justifying what the attacker did, we are saying that what they did wasn’t a problem and that it wasn’t entirely their fault. We are isolating an already despondent victim. By continually asking these questions, we are normalizing sexual assault.

We don’t want to face these problems because we don’t want to think about what these people had to go through or picture it happening to ourselves or a loved one. But instead of avoiding the problem, we need to face it head on, so that no other child or high schooler or college student or adult in the workplace has to experience what that girl at Stanford went through. Or the more than 140 girls molested by Larry Nassar. Or the women abused by Harvey Weinstein. So no other person has to wake up in pain and confusion and feel ashamed or unworthy.

by Susan Nam So victims feel valued and listened to, not blamed and ostracized.

We have to open our minds and stop letting the fact that we don’t want to be uncomfortable get in the way of us preventing further assault or helping those that have already experienced it.

We need to support victims and help change the culture surrounding sexual allegations; we have to bring justice to those who violate others and end the justification of sexual violence. •

? QUESTION issue OF THE ??

Have you ever been vegan or vegetarian?

84% no

16% yes

131 people polled

COUGAR UNVEILED by cella siegelman

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Opinions

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

Staffer faces sexual harrasment, holds others accountable for actions What did you say? What were you wearing?

What were you doing? These are questions freJaycie Robinson quently asked by those trying to comfort others who have been sexually assaulted and harassed. This is wrong- all of it is wrong. Being a seventeen-year-old woman in America, I have had my share of harassment more then I should have.

I frequently get asked these questions as if it was my fault I got sexually harassed.

It doesn’t matter if I was wearing a mini skirt or sweatpants, it doesn’t matter whether I was sitting reading a book or

talking with friends or even walking up stairs. Nothing, and I mean nothing,

“Boys will be boys”No, boys should be held accountaBle for their actions.

circumstances. “Boys will be boys”- no, boys should be held accountable for their actions. The thing that irritates me the most is that I’m over here trying to figure out how to change myself to keep from getting harassed when I am definitely not the problem at all. Even then I’m considered the problem when I reach out for some comfort. How about instead of making it the woman’s problem, make it everyone’s problem. When you waste time asking me what I was doing, what did I say, or what was I wearing, you could have had that time to speak up for not only me but others as well. When you stay quiet you’re helping him, but when you speak up you’re helping her.•

should make a man entitled to sexually assault or harass a woman, under any

Academic pressure leads to reflection on future plans

Makayla Fox

It’s challenging to think my whole future can be coded into a computer.

Five years of my life on a piece of card stock.

One-three-three-zero, two-fivetwo-zero, three-six-one-zero, fourtwo-two-zero, eight-zero-three-zero, four-five-one-three, foursix-one-three,

one-five-two-zero.

A whole school year of my life consists of thirty two numbers. In between the crevasses of the codes lay the most important and most challenging school year of my high school years.

The one that colleges I’ll be applying to in the future will look at the most: junior year.

It has always been a struggle for me to live in the present.

I focus on the past to make decisions and am too frightened to glance into the future. The fear of the unknown takes over my ability to take chances.

My teachers, friends and family know my strengths and suggested that I strive for good grades in more de-

Art by

manding classes, so I did. Every class that I applied for seems harder than the next.

Knowing that my junior year will be most critical to opening the doors of my college education daunts me. I’ve earned all A’s this year, but I feel as if I’ve set myself up for failure or the biggest challenge of my education.

My junior friends around me this year seem to stumble, but they’re all still standing with good grades. I’ve noticed that they have the same doubts of themselves as I do.

They share the same panic of earning subpar grades.

I am still uncertain of the career choice I will pursue (the fear of unknown comes to haunt me once again), but I am certain that my performance in school and outside in my extracurriculars will lead to a well earned path for a successful future.

My goal is for good to come out of all of the worry that fills my head currently and grasp the ability to live in the moment, enjoying my time Makayla Fox while striving to do the best that I can.•

Voices

What has your high school dating experience been like?

“My pencil, my textbook and my phone.”

Megan Nelson, sophomore

“Its had its ups and downs, but I think it has shown me what it’s really like to be with someone and give them that type of commitment.

Callie Boyd, junior “I have not dated anyone. I was voted most likley to marry latest in life by some of my friends.”

Natalie Lancaster, junior

“I mean...it’s there.”

Maddie Abdalla, junior

“It’s been a lot of ups and downs, but I’m trucking along.”

Ryu Fujii, senior

“I was a nerd in high school. In the late 80’s being a nerd was NOT cool. As a result the girls avoided me.

It’s all good though.

I’ve been married for over 21 years now.”

Jeffrey Skaggs, substitute teacher

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

Past relationships provide insight on dating myths “I can change him.”

“She will be different with me.”

W o r d s that most of Sophia North us have either thought or said when entering a new relationship, but it’s okay. I admit that I am guilty of thinking the same thing.

Many times, I have convinced myself that despite a man’s past or recent actions, I will be the push he needs to realize his potential. I will be enough to “change him.”

Now approaching my final semester in high school, I have had more than enough experience to tell you that you cannot change someone.

We tend to get caught up in the

idea of someone’s potential and what they could become. But the reality is that everyone has potential. Anyone

Art by Susan Nam can be successful if they work hard.

It is rather the actions and decisions they make to actually become something, rather than anything we can do to make it happen.

However, sometimes in the beginning of a relationship, there are blissful weeks or months where it appears that change has been made or things are so good that the desire for change is ignored.

Humans are guilty of constantly assessing the future though, so once the rush of the relationship and the romance die down, we are left evaluating the truth of whether or not it could work long term.

We ask ourselves: what will he be like as a husband? A father? What will she be like as a wife? A mother?

The answer to these questions is simple, really. She will be the right kind of wife and mother and he will be the right kind of father and husband if you are with the person for who he or she truly is, not who you want him or her to be.•

Opinions

9

HUMANS CSHS of

Enrique “Ricky” Arellano sophomore “My brother is disabled. At first it was a lot. When I was four, we were in a car accident with my dad, which caused a brain injury and left him wheelchair bound. He

Accusations of political correctness divide nation

was in the hospital for so long that it cre-

There is a war going on in today’s society. It is not fought in the deserts of the Middle East, or off the coasts of Africa. It is not a war of weapons and generals, but one of ideals; and it is being fought John Clendenin right here on the homefront. It is a war of freedom vs. censorship, and sadly freedom is losing.

I am not talking about deporting millions of people, or banning travel, or even attacking media outlets. I am talking about the societal detriment known as political correctness.

In case you do not know what PC (an abbreviation for political correctness) is, or you have heard of it but do not know what it means, it is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as,“conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated.” Before I continue, I need to state that I am in no way condoning racism or sexism of any kind. We are all humans, and the only color that matters is red, the color of our blood, something everyone has. It’s what draws us together despite differences in age, race, sex, or religion.

My problems with PC is simple: It is borderline un-American. The first principle that this country was founded on was the freedom of speech. We the people could say something critical of something else without being reprimanded or punished for it. Yet, we now live

him forever. I still have emotional break-

in a society where we seek to eliminate anything slightly upsetting to others.

Many state that free speech rights do not protect hate speech. Those who say this are right, but someone saying something that upsets you is not hate speech.

As a country, we have slowly given in to a PC-mindset, and this can be seen most clearly at institutions of higher education. Places that once stood tall with pride, where students were challenged to think outside the box by professors, and in turn presented those same instructors with new views on society, are now shells of their former selves. They are now places where students run to safe spaces the moment a new idea is presented and call for the firing of the entire administration once these students are offended or told they’re wrong.

America is slowly falling farther and farther behind in world standings. We used to be the country others aspired to be, and now we aspire to be like other countries.

Those who preach tolerance are often times the most intolerant, running around telling people to be quiet before they offend someone. Political correctness must go.

We as a society must learn to accept criticism and not be so easily offended. I am not saying you should simply accept everything. Challenge those who present a new idea to you with your own, but listen to them. Maybe you will hear something you agree with.

It is up to our generation to help bring this divided country together again, and it all starts with you.•

ated distance between us. I felt that I lost downs. Sometimes I dwell on the thought of me being disabled instead of him. The situation, however, affects me in a positive way. If in some way it appears negative, I make it positive. I learned to have an open mind when it comes to people with disabilities. I learned how to communicate with people who have disabilities, and I’ve joined clubs like Cougar Pals that help students with disabilities.

Through this club I am able to see different aspects of life and more appreciation for people. People with disabilities don’t want to be seen as different. They’re just trying to live their life.” •

Check out our Instagram to learn more about the Humans of CSHS @cshscatamountnewspaper

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People

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

Senior student undergoes full recovery after neck injury Kalindi Desai Editor-In-Chief After riding horses and barrel racing for nine years, senior Suzanna Borchgardt suffered a severe accident in March of last year, causing her to endure neck injuries and miss several months of school. Almost a year later, Borchgardt reflects on the impacts of the accident and her recovery process.

“We were just doing our normal routine, and I was loping the barrel pattern,” Borchgardt said. “After I turned the first barrel, my horse started bucking.

I lost my seat on the first buck, and on the second buck I had nothing to hold on to, so I flew over my horse’s neck and landed on my face because I didn’t put my hands out in front of me to catch myself like people would do normally.”

At first, Borchgardt felt fine because she did not realize the severity of her injuries. After going to the emergency room, she found out that her neck was fractured, and her mouth suffered some injuries. In order to recover, Borchgardt initially just needed to rest.

“The first month or so I was really focused on just healing and relaxing,” Borchgardt said. “I would do something very small, like talk to someone and do a coloring page and go to the doctor. After I would do that, I would sleep for two to four hours. It didn’t seem like I should be sleeping that much because I literally did nothing, but my body was fried.”

Being in this condition entails a lot of stress and

worry, but Borchgardt said that not knowing all of the side effects of her injuries was the scariest part.

“The fear of the unknown was the biggest thing, but after I got through that things started to get better,” Borchgardt said.

Academically, Borchgardt was homebound for a majority of the spring semester. She didn’t come back for a full day of school until May, but with the help of the faculty and staff, she was able to catch up and stay on top of her assignments to the best of her abilities.

“I knew that I was going to get behind, and I had so much to do in my classes,” she said. “It took more time to do everything, but all of my teachers and the faculty were super nice about it. Because of my slower pace, I was doing school until the end of June because I missed so much, and I obviously had to catch up.”

Though the aftermath of her accident was difficult, Borchgardt is thankful for her mother’s help and care while she was recovering.

“My mother [was my main support] during the recovery process. She took off work for the whole time, which was about five weeks,” Borchgardt said. “They didn’t want me to be home alone and during the first week especially, I couldn’t do much by myself.” ▲ Senior Suzanna Borchgardt practices barrel Through it all, though, Borchgardt has kept a patterns after her recovery from a neck injupositive attitude and realized how thankful she is for ry, slowly ramping up her practices to include her community of friends and family. loping and drills that require more work and “I learned how being in a supportive community thinking. After several months of recovery, she surrounded by friends, family and even people I didn’t is now back to riding regularly and attends full know that well gives hope during hard times,” Borch- school days. PHOTO PROVIDED BY SUZANNA gardt said.• BORCHGARDT

Suzanna’s Recovery Process

Rest

Slept and listened to music rather than anything that required movement or thinking for the first four weeks after the accident.

Diet

Movement

Began to move her neck slightly every day.

Riding

Began a liquid diet, consisting mostly of smoothies.

Six months after the accident, she started to ride again, but not very advanced riding (only walking and trotting at first).

Added a class period every week or so once she could fully make it through the time she was doing before. The last day of her junior year was her first full day back.

Went to physical therapy two times a week where she worked on building up neck and shoulder muscles from injuries.

School

Physical Therapy

Source: Suzanna Borchgardt

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

People

11

g ing green Vegans, vegetarians explain motives behind dietary change Melanie Evans and Sophia North Staff Reporter and Photography Editor Motivated by ethical concerns, insightful documentaries and fellow people who are meat and dairy-free, vegetarians and vegans have defied the idea that humans need meat to survive.

“Some may believe that God put animals on this Earth for us to eat, but I don’t think God put animals on this Earth for us to mass produce and slaughter inhumanely,” freshman Lexi Muñoz said.

Muñoz became a vegetarian after her older sister shared her beliefs about the meat industry.

“The meat industry is awful to the animals,” Muñoz said. “They don’t see them as actual living creatures. They just see them as a product.”

But for many, even these horrors are not enough for them to switch to a plant-based diet.

Not only does the diet change require self discipline, it can also be a challenge when families prepare meals.

“It was difficult to be the only one in my family to not eat the meal that they prepared for everyone to eat,” senior Michaela Downs said. “There are certain nights when my mom makes a meal for the whole family but it has meat in it, so I have to make my own meal.”

Another difficulty with being vegan or vegetarian is receiving the proper nutrients, especially if physically active. Senior Rosetta Wang has found a way to eat vegan while also running cross country.

“I track how effective my diet helps me recover from a run so that I am not sore because protein

helps recovery,” Wang said. “I have also begun discovering more wholesome sources of protein rather than just meat or powders.”

Despite these challenges, a new diet allows individuals to explore other food options they may not have otherwise tried.

“Eating vegetarian helped me explore different cuisines and foods, which is lots of fun if you let it be,” Wang said.

Some do believe, though, that the benefits of eating meat outweigh the benefits of vegetarianism.

“I personally don’t enjoy meat product substitutes nearly as much as meat products with the raw nutrients,” se- ▲ This meal is just one of many options available to vegnior Chris Williams said. ans like senior Rosetta Wang. Wang is the president of Williams may not the vegetarian club. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ROSETTA WANG be a vegetarian himself, but he acknowledges that the world is creating many products to help individuals become vegetarian if they choose to do so.

“Nowadays there are enough supplements that you can receive protein and other stuff that you get from eating meat,” Williams said.

With all the available resources explaining how to become vegetarian or vegan, as well as the growing number of products and supplements for protein, the only barrier that remains is the ability to stay focused.

“First, inform yourself as to why you are doing it, as a way to remain motivated,” Muñoz said. “Once that is found, anyone can do it.”•

Eating vegetarian helped me explore different cuisines and food options.

-Rosetta Wang Senior

Common reasons to be vegan or vegetarian

Health: to improve dietary habits Ethics: against the slaughter of animals

Religion: for example, Hindus follow a vegetarian diet Economics: can’t afford meat or other non-vegan foods

Graphics by Grace Costenbader

Source: www.livestrong.com

12

Student Life

The Catamount

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

Student Life

13

properties of different hair types

is in

straight Less prone to knotting

the

B

eth an yB utl e

Doesn’t hold waves or curls very well

r

wavy More likely to frizz

Students find identity through unique hair styles, types Makayla Fox and Ty’Asia Hubbard Assistant Editor and Entertainment Editor

on

t rn o th

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yla rd rap er

lpa tr i ck

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For most youth, hair serves as an element of expression.

“Everyone has this image of curly hair, and not everyone’s hair is like that,” junior Parker Kilpatrick said. “What you typically see is the people with the professional hairdressers. The average curly haired girl doesn’t look like that.”

Hating the texture of her biracial curly hair, Kilpatrick either straightens her hair or wears it up.

“I was debating whether or not I should permanently straighten my hair,” Kilpatrick said. “I honestly felt cursed, but as I got older, I realized [curly hair] was more of a blessing than a curse.”

For most black and biracial kids, the struggle of having unique texture to their hair creates a difference among their peers.

“Free form dreads don’t look like traditional dreads, they’re a unique type nobody really has,” freshman Zain Williams said.

Williams has had the unique hairstyle for almost a year and it has been a learning experience for him.

One of the biggest factors included in having dreads is the process of keeping the hair healthy.

“My hair is mostly carefree,” Williams said. “I wash [my dreads] around twice a week and put olive oil in them to moisturize.”

Walking the halls, senior Bethany Butler’s curly unique hair is the center of focus among peers and teachers.

“When I was really little, I was bald until I was two. My parents thought my curls were a phase because most babies have curls then,” Butler said.

Being the first in her family to own her signature curls, Butler was born with the challenge of facing the contrast she had to her family.

“I didn’t have anyone who knew what to do with curly hair in my family,” Butler said. “I had to learn how to love the texture of my hair.”

Finding the best products for curly hair and a hairdresser who cuts this type of hair can be a challenge.

“I think over time I’ve gotten used to my hair, but it changes all of the time,” Butler said.

Similar to butler, sophomore Skylar Draper is the only person in her immediate family to have distinctly different hair.

[Dying my hair] is how i express myself and boost my confidence -kaylynn scamardo sophomore “Having red hair is unique because not many people have red hair, so I stand out,” Draper said.

Contrasting to her brother who has dark hair, many people don’t recognize them as brother and sister.

“No one realizes [my brother and I] are siblings because of our different looks,” Draper said.

Since a young age, Draper has been involved in

Some types of wavy hair are more resistant to styling

competitive dancing. Strict rules cause her to have to shape her hair a certain way along with all of the dancers around her which can often cause them to look the same.

“It’s helpful to have such a rare hair color because it makes people want to look at you,” Draper said. “If I’m at an audition or competition it will make judges remember me.”

Constant hair dying either knocks confidence or builds it, but for sophomore Kaylynn Scarmardo it flourished. She has bleached and dyed her hair abnormal colors. “[Dying my hair] is how I express myself and boost my confidence,” Scarmardo said.

Cutting hair is a big change, inches can make the biggest difference.

“I shaved my head because from the past couple of years of dying my hair, it had started to die off and become unhealthy,” Scarmardo said.

“At first I felt a little weird not having as much hair, and it was hard to get used to my head shape.

Within a week or so, I got used to it and started to enjoy it,” Scarmardo said.

Going from a one hair color to another alters the view of one’s appearance, and junior Braden Thornton took one for the team and dyed his hair from medium brunette to blonde for the school musical in January.

“Everyone seemed to notice [the change] and said they loved it. I guess the positive feedback was my favorite part,” junior Braden Thornton said.

A change in hair can also result in a change of personality.

“I had to change it for the specific role I got as [Ryan Evans],” Thornton said. “At first I was kind of nervous changing my hair for the musical, but it turned out really well and I love it.”

Hair comes in all shapes and forms, creating a unique persona for every individual to embrace.•

curly Very fragile Full bodied Climate dependent (humidity results in frizz)

kinky Fine Strands of hair are in a zig zag pattern Driest hair type source: curls.com

Graphics by Kalindi Desai

14

People

The Catamount

Budding collection

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

Plants provide tranquility, responsibility for caretakers Tiffany Ha Senior Editor Just as we can bring life to plants by watering them, they can also bring life to us.

Bringing parts of the outside world into their bedrooms and surrounding themselves with life, students find tranquility in taking care of plants.

“I really like bringing life into my room,” senior Taryn Ruiz said. “Having a living plant in my room creates a very peaceful environment for me, and I really enjoy taking care of them.”

Taking care of plants requires consistency to prevent the plants from wilting, creating responsibility plant caretakers believe is not unlike that of taking care of a pet.

“It gives me responsibility to keep them alive, and also they provide me with food, like the ones outside,” freshman Lexi Munoz said. “They provide for me, and I can help provide for them.”

Those who surround themselves with plants find serenity in the process of growing plants and the environment it creates.

“I have to be very responsible because I don’t want them to die since I put so much effort into them,” Ruiz said. “It really gives me a sense of peace. I enjoy being in my room because it feels tranquil and kind of serene.”

As plant caretakers’ skills and green thumbs grew, so did their collection of plants.

“I started collecting plants because I thought they were cute, but as the years have gone on, I enjoy watching them grow and get a sense of accomplishment from being able to keep them alive,” senior Rachel Gracia said.

With maintaining potted plants, nature lovers are able to bring aspects of the outside world indoors.

“I love the Earth, so I feel like I should have a bit of the Earth in my room and places I am,” Munoz said.

Creating a lively environment indoors replicates the refreshing ambience of nature and provides occupants a sense of peace.

“I like how [plants] look, and [how] the air feels. You can even scientifically say plants clean the air because I love the way it smells in my room,” Ruiz said. “It smells like plants. Some people don’t like that, but I really enjoy the look it gives, and I don’t like to have a lot of stuff, so I plants kind of replace that.”

Another benefit of taking care of plants, specifically outdoor gardening, is interacting with other forms of life. Plants also provide sensory satisfaction.

“A lot of my favorite plants are ones that attract bees,” junior Emma Turner said. “I like ones that flower nicely. I like jasmine and honeysuckle because I used to have them on the side of my house, and they smell really good.”

Though Turner finds solace in the physical work required in maintaining plants such as watering or repotting, the patience required when waiting for the ultimate result can be taxing.

“You need a lot of patience to do it because a lot of people’s hobbies produce immediate output and that’s what is calming to people. [They’re] sitting there and making something, but plants require a lot of patience,” Turner said. “You’re helping, but you’re not the one doing the work. That’s probably the hardest thing I had to struggle with. But if your life is super busy, then it’s a break from it. ” Horticulture also brings together individuals who share the same love for plants, serving as a social vessel.

“My mom started gardening with her mom when they were growing up, and everytime we go visit them, we’ll bring them little clippings, and my grandma will give us some and we’ll exchange plants,” Ruiz said.

After tending to plants for a while, plant caretakers grow attached to their presence.

“I like how plants look, and it is calming because it’s life presence,” Turner said. “It’s calming and aesthetic, it’s like company. I feel like rooms are empty if they don’t have something living in them.”•

▲ Junior Emma Turner waters her succulents in the campus greenhouse. PHOTO BY TIFFANY HA

easily manageable houseplants Pepweomia Aloe Vera

Bright light; 65-75°F; moderately dry soil

Low to bright light; 60 -85°F; evenly moist soil

Peace Lily

Anthurium

Low to medium light; 60- Medium to bright light with no di75°F; moderately dry soil rect sun; 65 -80°F; evenly moist soil Graphics by Tiffany Ha Source: midwestliving.com

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

People

clear eyes, full hearts

15

Coaches’ influence on students plays into lives on, off field Kylie Vernon Assistant Editor Coaches are intense. They push you to your limits and they help you test your abilities. But a lesser known quality is the deep care they have for each of their students.

For College Station High School track coach and Environmental Studies teacher Robert Ondrasek, coaching wasn’t always what it is now to him.

“Originally coaching was to win,” Ondrasek said. “As I’ve gotten older that shift has gone from less me to more of the kids. The kids are given the most effort. I don’t measure success in wins anymore.”

Now coaching and teaching alike have become Ondrasek’s passion and goal.

“Originally I didn’t really want to teach. I thought it was all about athletics,” Ondrasek said. “But again, as you start having children and seeing what education does and how teaching has an impact, it completely flips to the other side. I enjoy teaching, probably more than I do coaching.”

To teacher and coach Chance Locklear, coaching has a very special place in his heart.

“I look back on the role models I had, and all the men who impacted my life were all coaches and teachers,” Locklear said, “Now being a coach and 16 years into it, I’ll go into Lowe’s, and I’ll see a kid I taught in Hearne or a kid I taught in Caldwell. Some of them are coaches now and to hear them say ‘Coach, you’re the reason I wanted to get into it’ is really cool.”

gregg Frashure

Powerlifting and football coach, Gregg Frashure, is not only a coach, but also teaches Honors Economics. It is through these classes and extracurriculars that he gets the opportunity to interact with hundreds of kids on a daily basis.

“It’s made me a better person because I know someone’s always looking at me,” said Frashure who considers his students like his own kids.

“I try to look at it as if the kid I was coaching was my son, how would I want him to be coached,” Frashure said. “I would expect any other coach or teacher to squeeze them of every single drop of potential they could possibly get. If not, then they wouldn’t be doing their job to the best of their ability.”

Apart from hard work, there is a plethora of values that the coaches hope they impart to their students.

“Whether it’s what your job is or your family or maybe volunteering or your faith, you’ve got to find something to be passionate about, something that you will put above everything else, something you’ll make sacrifices for because it means so much to you,” said Frashure of the values he hopes to instill in his students. “I think if you can find passion in your life, then everything else kind of falls into place.”

The care each of these coaches shows is genuine and reflected in how they treat and love their students.

“I’m always there for you, whatever you need; a letter of recommendation, somebody to talk to, a shoulder to cry on. Whatever it is, I’ll be there for you,” Locklear said.•

robert ondrasek “He’s a very sympathetic, driven guy. Since freshman year he’s had a very strong formula and he’s stuck to it the whole time and everyithing we’ve done has had a purpose.”

- Ben Wolz

chance Locklear “He motivates us to become better whether it’s as an athlete or as a person.

I’ve become stronger because of him. He also helps us individually become the best we can be.”

- Emmi Wilson

“He will be hard on you to help you learn as best as you can, but will also explain whatever you need help with to make you understand. He makes you feel comfortable.”

- Hannah McCarty

16

People

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

the road less traveled

Students weigh option of attending family alma mater WELCOME TO

AGGIELAND KYLE FIELD

Graphics by Tiffany Ha Kalindi Desai and Tiffany Ha Editor-In-Chief and Senior Editor In a town decked in maroon, some follow their family paths while others stray away from tradition.

Growing up in College Station, many students were born and raised in Aggie culture, eliciting varying interest in attending the hometown university.

“My family would always go to the football games, and since I’ve always lived in College Station, the university has been a big part of my life,” senior Noah Miles said. “You get to see all the traditions and culture when you grow up here, and I guess you either learn to love it or hate it.”

With four generations of Aggies in senior Sabrina Lancaster’s family, Texas A&M University was a common topic of discussion and activity within her family, leading her to gravitate towards the school when making college decisions. “[I remember A&M being in my life] ever since I was a baby.

We would come to all the games,” Lancaster said. “I would come and visit campus a lot and wear a lot of A&M gear and my dad would talk about it a lot.”

However, the familiarity of A&M draws others away from attending the school.

“I do like A&M, but it’s still in town,” said senior Hannah Pierdolla, who is considering attending Rice University in Houston. “I’ve lived here my whole life. I’ve never even moved houses before, and I feel like I need a change of pace to kind of get out in the world and do things.”

Others remain unaffected by the proximity and plan to continue their family traditions.

“The university being in College Station doesn’t really affect my view of it as a school,” Miles said. “I would want to go to A&M regardless of if it were in College Station or not.”

Although many students were raised as Aggies in College

Station, other families carry their tradition on from different states. “[As a kid] all the hype about A&M just kind of went over my head because I couldn’t relate to that. [I’m excited] because Mizzou isn’t here in College Station,” senior Anna Hoemann said.

“I’ve loved growing up here, but I’m ready for change and obviously going to Mizzou would be a really big change.”

Growing up in a college town has set a standard for other universities. “[Living in College Station] actually formed my perceptions a lot on what college should be like. For example, when I first heard about Rice, I was a little turned off by the small number of students there because it didn’t seem like college to me.

They don’t have rings like A&M, and they don’t have big football events,” Pierdolla said. “At first I couldn’t wrap my mind around it being college because it didn’t feel like the college I thought it was supposed to be.”

Like many others who planned to pursue their family’s tradition, when accepted into the University of Missouri, a seemingly distant but persistent dream, Hoemann finally reached a goal she’s had all her life.

“I had already been accepted into Texas State and UNT, and I was excited about those but getting accepted into Mizzou was different,” Hoemann said. “I was happier, and it was weird thinking ‘Oh, I’ve grown up in this environment my whole life and now it’s actually happening.’”

Though usually supportive of any decision, parents often are proud to see their children follow their paths.

“I think my dad was more excited than me whenever I got accepted, to be honest,” Lancaster said.

On the other hand, people who deviate from tradition see other colleges as an opportunity to open their horizons. “[As a kid,] I thought the Aggies were the best in the entire world, and now I realize that there’s more out there than just A&M,” Pierdolla said. •

colleges most cshs students attend 1.

Texas A&M University

2.

University of Texas at Austin

3.

Blinn College

4.

Sam Houston State University

5.

Baylor University

6.

Texas State University

7.

Texas Tech University

8.

University of Houston

9.

Rice University

10.

Stephen F. Austin State University

Source: niche.com

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

Sports

17

Basketball forward’s defensive prowess shines on court John Clendenin Assistant Editor In an age where high profile shooters are beginning to dominate the game at every level of basketball, it may be easy to overlook someone like Ty Sanders. An elite defender and sneaky scorer, Sanders has quickly developed into one of the Cougars’ most valuable players.

“He’s developed into a great leader for us, and he is one of our better basketball players,” head coach J.D Sullivan said. “When he graduates, we are certainly going to miss him.”

That leadership has been noticed by not only his coach, but his teammates as well, such as senior Mason Pruitt, who transferred into the program over the summer. Pruitt praises Sanders’ tremendous work ethic and overall dedication to Cougar basketball.

“The good thing about Ty is that he never takes a day off. He always helps people learn,” Pruitt said. “He’s always the first one there, and the last one to leave. Leading by example is what he does really well.”

Fellow returning letterman and last year’s district MVP junior Cade Kortan shared much of the same praise when asked about Sanders.

“Ty is someone who always goes to open gym no matter what the day is. He is getting in extra shots,” Kortan said. “I can always count on him because he is reliable.”

Throughout his two-year career with the varsity team, Sanders has consistently been tested by playing against some of the best guards in the entire country. Sanders has even faced off against highly touted Kansas commit Quentin Grimes. His defensive abilities have not only helped limit these dynamic offensive players, but help guide his team to victory many times.

“It’s a good feeling to know that they [coaches] trust me with that role,” Sanders said. “I prepare for it by watching film, trying to figure out their moves and also the physical preparation.”

While Sanders spent most of his time last season primarily as a defensive specialist, his game has slowly developed, making him an overall threat.

“He has become a more complete player. Everybody has strengths and weakness, but he has developed in so many areas,” Sullivan said. “He can shoot the ball, finishes well, he is a great rebounder. There are so many things, and they are all positive.”

Sanders also has seen this change in himself throughout his time on the varsity squad.

“Last year I was primarily a defensive player,” Sanders said. “This year it has changed into more of an offensive weapon as well.”

This transformation can be attributed to Sanders’ overall work ethic both on and off the court. Sanders not only takes pride in his defensive talents, but also his ability to help mentor younger players.

“When he crashes the boards, he always gives 100%, and when he guards his man, he always does it to the best of his abilities,” Kortan said. “He never backs down from a challenge or anything. He always takes it head on.”

When asked which of the four pillars was most important to him, Sanders echoed much of the same.

“Effort, because if you give great effort, you can make something out of yourself,” Sanders said. “In the games if you give great effort, then you give yourself a chance to win at the end of it.”

Sanders’ senior season ended this past Tuesday night after a victory against Waco University high school as the Cougars fell short in reaching the playoffs for the first time in school history. Despite this, Sanders helped the Cougars to an overall record of 25-11, and a district record of 5-7.•

▲ Senior forward Ty Sanders guards an A&M Consoildated player on Dec. 15th. The Cougars fell short to the rival Tigers 60-50 in district play.

PHOTO BY HANNA HART

season in review

•Non-District Record: 20-4 •District Record: 5-7 •Overall Record: 25-11

•Leading Scorer: Cade Kortan (16.9) •Leading Assist per Game: Cade Kortan (4.0) •Leading Rebounder: Ty Sanders (5.7) •Leading Steals per Game: Kortan (1.3) •Leading Blocks per Game: Kortan (1.1) Courtesy of CSHS Boys Basketball

18

Sports

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

Captain shines in role as team leader on soccer field

▲ Senior Kate Hinckley juggles the soccer ball during a practice on Feb. 13. Hinckley and the Cougars defeated the Waco Lions 6-0 at home the next day. PHOTO BY ETHAN COHEN

Ethan Cohen Sports Editor The Four pillars are an integral part of Cougar Athletics. Each team and program sponsored by the school strives to teach the importance of the values of character, commitment, sacrifice and effort. Though it may be difficult to distinguish whether any of these values are more important than the other, to senior midfielder Kate Hinckley, there’s one value that’s always stood out.

“Commitment,” Hinckley said. “It takes time to get to where you want to be. You have to try every single game. It’s not a one-time thing. It’s an accumulation of one-time things.”

And Hinckley’s commitment to the program as well as perfecting her craft have translated into many aspects of her game.

“She’s very talented and has a good head for the game,” head coach Stoney Pryor said. “She understands her teammates, and what’s unique about her is that she’s dangerous with the soccer ball. If she has the ball, she’s got a good chance of breaking you down and getting a shot off.”

Hinckley’s natural ability coupled with her intense work ethic make her a versatile threat on the field, but

her success with the Cougars didn’t come easily.

“Kate was all-district as a freshman, but was not as a sophomore or junior due to injuries,” Pryor said. “She was injured halfway through district play and missed too much of the season to earn that honor, which is really unfortunate because she’s clearly one of the most talented players in our district.”

Hinckley echoed that facing and dealing with injuries has been her biggest challenge while playing for the Cougars.

“I got really sad,” Hinckley said. “It was hard to sit on the sideline and hard to stay in that mindset, but it definitely made me a better teammate. Instead of focusing on what I was doing on the field, I could focus on supporting my teammates, and how they were doing on the field.”

Though the injury was a major setback Hinckley battled back and worked for every opportunity she could to take the field. Her perseverance in the face of adversity is one of the many attributes that contribute to her role as a leader on the team.

“I definitely hold my teammates accountable,” Hinckley said. “Not in a negative way, just telling them ‘Hey this is your job, let’s get this done’, and if someone messes up, I try not to be too hard on them and tell them to try again next time.”

There are few programs with the success and expectations of the Lady Cougar Soccer team, and Hinckley’s coach believes her mindset perfectly fits with these expectations.

“Everybody wants to win,” Pryor said. “Lots of people don’t have an expectation of winning, or don’t have a work rate indicating that they desire to win. They want to win, but they’re not going to do the things that are necessary to win. Through the experiences she has had, we’ve been very blessed that this winning culture has become the expectation.”

Hinckley’s attitude toward practicing reflects why she fits the ideals of such a storied program.

“To be successful I work on fitness to be able to run for [longer] times,” Hinckley said. “I also try to get extra touches on the ball that other people wouldn’t have.

Just going out by yourself and working on it.”

The practice has paid off, and Hinckley has been influtential in helping her team succeed. In a recent game with Waco University, Hinckley assisted on half of the teams four goals in a dominant victory. Though she is talented in helping produce goals, there are other parts of her game that consistently impress.

“She can really bait defenders to beat them,” Pryor said. “You can just see some poor defender from another team is about to get beat, and Kate will let her make the first fatal move and take it in the other direction. As a coach, that’s my favorite characteristic of hers.”

Personal skill is important, but Hinckley is a player who always puts the team first, which will be imperative in achieving the team’s primary goal for the season.

“Our final goal is to win state,” Pryor said. “The key is you have to be talented, and you have to be ready for those situations that aren’t gonna come up a lot of times.”

This will be Hinckley’s final season playing for the Cougars, and the team has quickly returned to their winning ways, jumping to a 12-1-2 record early on, including a 1-0 victory over cross-town rival Consol. Though Hinckley is highly focused on the season at hand, her plans for the future are very clear.

“I’m going to the University of Utah to play soccer,” Hinckley said. “I plan on studying art. I want to be an art teacher and high school soccer coach. I’d like to come back to high school and do what Coach Pryor and Pollard have done for us.”

Catch Hinckley and the rest of the Lady Cougar soccer team at home tonight against Temple at 7:00 p.m.•

Kicking It: Girls soccer team stats vs. Tomball Memorial, 1-5 L vs. Friendswood, 1-0 W vs. Clear Lake, 3-1 W vs. Hardin Jefferson, 5-0 W vs. Barber’s Hill, 2-0 W vs. Port Neches Groves, 1-0 W vs. Dobie, 3-0 W vs. Dripping Springs, 3-3 W vs. Lubbock Monterrey, 3-1 W vs. Aledo, 0-0 T vs. Consol, 1-0 W vs. Waco University, 4-0 W vs. Bryan, 2-1 W

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

Wrestler works to overcome injury Ayden Woods Staff Reporter Weight, position, force, leverage and balance. A few things in a wrestler’s mind before making a move.

After five years in wrestling, senior River Merkel knows these issues so well as he prepares for his last year on the mat.

“He has always worked really hard at wrestling,” coach Dwight Mincher said.

Merkel has a very full schedule for wrestling. His day begins at 4:30 a.m. he works out from 5 to 6 a.m, then has a morning practice. Seventh period he is working out again, and then he goes to mixed martial arts practice from 4 to 6.

“I have been doing mixed martial arts since I was ten years old… and that has a really big wrestling background and that has really helped me,” Merkel said.

Merkel’s commitment to practicing both wrestling and MMA has garnered praise from his coach.

“After all that he goes to a mixed martial arts class from 6:30 to 7:30,” Mincher said.

“I have always wanted to be the best, and I want to take it to the next level,” Merkel said.

Merkel put in the time to be a great wrestler even when he was injured.

“I overcame tearing my lebrums right before district and still wrestling was one of my biggest challenges,” Merkel said.

After Merkel had his surgery, Merkel worked on rehab. Not practicing and having too much downtime was a real setback for him, he said.

“It has given me a different mindset on work ethic,” Merkel said. “It’s really given me a new view on just living my life.”

Merkel said that wrestling has made him want to work a lot harder and put more effort into everything he does. He said he wants his teammates to also experience success.

“I always want to push on my teammates to be the best they can and to work to their full potential and max there capability,” Merkel said.

Merkel works with the younger wrestlers to help them improve. He wants to make sure that he is consistently at his best along with the rest of the team.

“They are like family and everyone just makes everything feel like a brotherhood and a family,” Merkel said.

Merkel emphasized the fact that the team is more like a family than just a team. The team has a big meet ahead of them, as the Regional meet is ongoing at Bryan High School all day today.•

I have always wanted to be the best.

-River Merkel Senior wrestler

Cougar Wrestling District Results: Nash Clouston- 1st

Mason Cox- 3rd

Daisy Eagar- 3rd

Nick Russell- 1st

Patrick Rogers- 4th

Alex Guerra- 3rd

Jacob Laury- 1st

Jacob Halling- 4th

Allison Abby-3rd

Kaleb Kalke- 2nd

Emily Huber- 3rd

Ariana Rodriguez2nd

Kayliegh Johnson4th

Anastasia GuerraQualified Galataya GuerraQualified

* All athletes qualified for the Regional Meet at Bryan High today

Sports

19

The Ivy League and Sports in America When you think of college athletics, prominent programs like Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State and storied ones like Notre Dame or Texas typically come to mind. Though these schools are Ethan Cohen presently the ones associated with dominance, this wasn’t always the case.

College football traces its roots to the late 1800’s in the Northeast, where all eight Ivy League Schools are located. What’s commonly considered the first college football game ever was played on Nov. 6, 1869 between Rutgers and Princeton University of the Ivy League. The eight schools were on the forefront of bringing football to prominence in America.

The Pro-Football Hall of Fame even credits Yale rugby star Walter Camp for “[pioneering] rules changes that slowly transformed rugby into the new game of American Football.” Football would not be what it is today without the profound influences Ivy-League schools and their alumni had on the game.

Looking at college athletics as a whole, Ivy League schools are responsible for the creation of the NCAA, the organization that regulates practically every aspect of college athletics. During the early days of college football, players from several of the schools were so overtly vicious that Columbia abolished the sport, and Harvard threatened to follow suit. In response to this, President Theodore Roosevelt called representatives from several of the Ivy League schools to discuss reforming the sport. This action resulted in a reform movement that culminated in a meeting where the organization that founded what is now the NCAA. The responsibility may be indirect, but the Ivy League was still influential in the establishment of one of America’s most important athletic organizations.

Looking beyond college athletics, the Ivy League’s presence is prominent in professional sports. According to a CBS News report, out of 122 professional sports franchises (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL), 20 of them are owned by Ivy League alumni, seven of the 20 from Harvard alone. This is not to mention the plethora of managers and front office members the schools produce, whose influence revolutionized modern sports analytics.

The Ivy League boasts an impressive resume of leaders, doctors, actors and famous innovators, but its impact on sports is often overlooked. The “Ancient Eight” and its products are responsible for profound influences on many aspects of the modern sports world, and in a world hungry for innovation, it’s highly likely that this trend is far from finished.•

20

Sports

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

The Catamount

Soccer athlete embraces role as motivator on soccer team Noe Canchola Managing Editor Described as the ultimate team player mixed with a comedic personality unmatched by anybody on the boys soccer team, senior Jorge Ruiz not only relishes being a role player but also thrives under it.

“Even though Jorge is not on the starting lineup, he works his butt off and he is always asking me what he can do to get better,” head coach Stephen Mercer said.

“He’s a great person for me to put on that backline because I know that he’s going to go out there and give me 100 percent each time.”

Ruiz’s ability to give maximum effort each play revolves around his emphatic love for the game of soccer. For as long as Ruiz can recall, soccer has been a great part of his life since he was a young child.

“I have been kicking a soccer ball since I could walk and that is because I come from a family that has always been passionate about the sport,” Ruiz said. “I just have so much love for this beautiful game and that motivates me to try my best all the time.”

However, when Ruiz reached high school, he was dealt with a major reality check. Ruiz was informed that he was cut from the team due to his inability to keep up with the other players and his lack of strength. Despite his shortcomings, Ruiz never gave up even running with cross country to get faster.

“Just watching Jorge as an assistant coach the last few years, he has definitely put in a lot of work to get where he is right now,” Mercer said. “Whether that is getting faster or stronger, he has improved greatly since he was cut his first time.”

Though overcoming the odds by making the soccer team is something that most people can boast about, that has not been Ruiz’s greatest achievement. This past summer, Ruiz started a soccer camp that helped young children exercise and learn more about the sport. He hopes that through this camp, he has passed down valuable lessons and changed lives.

“I am very proud of that camp because to know that I made a difference in some kid’s life is amazing,” Ruiz said. “Not only did I see them progress as players but also into better people.”

In order to overcome all the hurdles presented to Ruiz on his road to making the team, he had to start motivating himself. Though he admits it is a bit cliché to write down all of his goals, Ruiz believes that by doing this, it helps guide him to fulfilling those goals.

“Every time I want to accomplish something, it’s pretty basic on how I set my goals,” Ruiz said. “It’s nothing really special.

All I do is write down all the things that I want to accomplish and every night before I go to bed, I look over them and I work towards them.”

Embodying all of the distinct qualities of a harder worker, Ruiz also puts his team above everything. As junior Brock Ritter has seen playing alongside Ruiz, the endless dedication and love for his teammates has made Ruiz a favorite in the locker room.

“Jorge is such a great person to be around with because he really cares about this teammates. He also has a great sense of humor, which is unique to him,” Ritter said. “I think a lot of people on the team love Jorge because he’s always encouraging us to do better.”

The boys soccer team will be in action on Tuesday to play rival Consol.•

I just have so much love for this beautiful game and that motivates me to try my best all the time.

-jorge ruiz senior

▲ Role player Jorge Ruiz looks for the ball during a game against Crowley High School on Jan. 13. Ruiz has been playing soccer since he was a child and soccer at CSHS since his sophomore year. The Cougars lost the game 2-0. PHOTO PROVIDED BY AMBRINA REED

remaining home soccer Schedule Date

Opponent

Time

Feb. 20

Consol

7:00 p.m.

March 2

Bryan

7:00 p.m.

March 20

Waco

7:00 p.m.

March 23

Temple

7:00 p.m.

The Catamount

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

Entertainment

21

TAKING OFF THE MASK

Actors share insight on mindset required for performance Grace Costenbader Opinions Editor The final spotlight slowly dims, and the stage goes full blackout. As the curtain falls, the audience is forced to their feet in applause. Roses are thrown to the stage in praise, and the actors come out from behind the curtain.

With a final bow, the show is over. Many admire this experience, but not many can say they know what goes on inside the mind of an actor.

“It’s just so much fun being able to create a character and a scene for people to watch for entertainment,” sophomore Kolbe Cashion said. “I love it so much.”

There are many aspects of acting that often get overlooked. The only facet that the public generally acknowledges is the actual performance, but there is so much more that goes into a performance than what is seen on stage. For example, many actors struggle with stage fright when they begin.

“I wish I could say I didn’t struggle, but I most certainly did,” junior Grace Beikirch said. “I was so terrified I could barely get through my first high school audition without crying. Thankfully, I have gotten over my stage fright.”

Stage fright does not affect every actor, but regardless, it is something that has to be overcome in order to be successful in the world of the theatre.

“I didn’t ever have stage fright, but I used to get nervous before a show and got awful butterflies,” McMurray said. “Over time I’ve become able to calm myself and create a confident mindset.”

Another aspect of acting that often goes unnoticed is the effort that goes into becoming another person for the stage.

“All actors have to get to know their characters through their backstory, words and actions,” McMurray said. “Once you get to know these aspects, personally, I am able to put myself in the character’s shoes and act how they would.”

Embodying a character can have exceptional effects on an actor. Whether those effects are positive or negative, it’s sometimes very crucial to compartmentalize.

“I strive to not let my role in a production affect my personal life, mainly because a lot of the roles I’m cast as are completely different from me,” Beikirch said. “I am very happy with my morale, and I hope to not let a character define me.” ▲ Sophomore Kolbe Cashion dances in the closing scene The mindset of actors vary of this year’s production of High School Musical. Cashion depending on the person, but played the role of Jason, one of the basketball players in it is indisputable that when it the musical. Cashion’s debut role was Romeo in the tragecomes to the theatre, there is dy “Romeo and Juliet.” PHOTO BY CAROLINE GATLIN more than meets the eye.•

I am able to put myself in the characters’ shoes and act how they would.

-Jensen mcmurray sophomore

Pre-show rituals “I like to do a shakedown, just to get all of the nerves out before I go out on stage.”

-Grace Beikirch

“I totally change my mindset into the character I’m playing by walking through their life and actions so I can act just as they would on stage.”

“There’s a tradition that the whole cast does where we stand in a circle and hold hands together.”

-Jensen McMurray

-Kolbe Cashion

22

Get A Pizza ME

Entertainment

The Catamount

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

Staffers visits pizza joints to discover new savory flavors Mr. G’s Pizzeria

Urban Bricks Kylie Vernon Assistant editor Late one Tuesday evening, a couple of friends and I drove down Texas Avenue to try the new and obscure Urban Bricks pizza parlor. Immediately after walking in, I was struck by the light atmosphere.

A giant mural that covered the back wall highlighted pictures of Texas, tourism and pizza.

The enormous brick ovens wafted rich scents of tomato and cheese. All I could think about was pizza. As I walked over to the counter my eyes surveyed the dozens of available toppings. From the 15 different types of cheese to the various random toppings, the possibilities were truly endless.

The staff were each wearing “Legalize Marinara” shirts and each employee was incredibly warm and friendly. Each meal was a little pricey, but it was worth it considering the large portions.

One of my friends and I each ordered the classic pepperoni while my other friend got a Chicken Avocado Sandwich.

The pizza was hearty and filling despite its thin but smoky crust. The cheese and tomato sauce were evenly distributed over the pizza, and the white dough had a unique and thick flavor.

After the meal we decided to check out the dessert options. Apart from the Nutella Banana Pie and the Cinnamon Pie, there was an array of gelato that Urban Bricks claimed “perfectly complimented” the hot pizza. We ordered one Nutella Banana Pie and one cup of Texas Pecan Sea Salt gelato. The Nutella Banana Pie was a bit of a let down due to it consisting of nothing more than dough, drizzled nutella and sparse bananas slices strewn over the top but the gelato was another story. It was everything that gelato was meant to be: thick, flavorful and icy cold.

Overall, Urban Bricks was a pretty neat place. I won’t go so far as to say it was outstanding, but it did satisfy my

Katie Guye Staff Reporter Located in beautiful, popular Downtown Bryan and decorated with signs boasting “The World’s Best Pizza,” Mr. G’s Italian Pizzeria has an authentic, hometown family feel that sets in the moment you open the door.

I found the beginning of my experience to be slightly awkward as I was the only customer in the restaurant (although

this could easily be attributed to it being 7 o’clock on a Tuesday night).

Opting for a classic, I ordered cheesy garlic bread and a pepperoni pizza with extra cheese. Both of these items were reasonably priced and could easily feed multiple people. The wait time was remarkably short and although the pizza appears quite greasy and thin at first glance, it boasts of a great flavor. I could distinctly taste sweet, fresh tomatoes and stringy cheese that gives the pie an authentic flavor. After the main course, I ordered tiramisu from a dessert menu offering several traditional Italian dishes.

The service was truly exceptional, and I was personally greeted by both Mr. and Mrs. G who, along with the friendly wait staff, ensured that I never waited long for anything. Overall, I found my experience to be positive.Although Mr. G’s location makes for a bit of a commute, the picturesque atmosphere of Downtown Bryan is impossible to beat.•

Blaze Pizza Catie Sikes Assistant editor Blaze Pizza, a small pizza joint tucked between Century Court and Century Square on the side of University, is a clean and warm place to enjoy good pizza.

The counter service allows you to place your order and watch the employees make your pizza. They have an assembly line that moves rather quickly and efficiently, and you follow your pizza all the way until it gets transferred into the brick oven.

The service is incredible at Blaze. The employees are friendly and open for a few short minutes of casual banter as you pay or wait for your pizza. They always seem to smile or joke but also are very polite and respectful. The

line moves quickly.

Blaze has an assortment of menu options that help you pick the right pizza for you. They offer a build your own pizza which costs $8.25, a pizza with one topping which cost $6.75 and one with two toppings, which costs $7.50. Cheese pizza is $5.25, and the special signature pizzas they create are $8.25 per pizza.

The signature pizzas were creative and interesting, such as the white top, or the barbecue chicken pizza. They also serve simple fresh salads as both a side and an entree. The dessert options consist of cookies, brownies and a s’more pie.

Blaze offers more than just your traditional red marinara sauce, including a white cream sauce, a spicy red sauce and a garlic pesto sauce. They also offer an assort-

ment of different cheeses. Their toppings are high quality ingredients that range from pepperoni and Italian sausage to bacon and grilled chicken.

The serving size was perfect for one person, but still big enough to share. The total cost was $18.75, which for two personal pizzas and two drinks isn’t that bad. The only downsides were that seating was hard to come by in the small restaurant and parking around the restaurant was also scarce.

All in all, the experience was great! The pizza was good, service was good and the restaurant had a friendly and warm attitude. I’d love to go again because the food was definitely worth the money. •

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

Soul songs

The Catamount

Entertainment

23

Choir students share gospel music during annual concert Catie Sikes Assistant Editor

Certain aspects of the choir are brought out in the gospel concert, such as sliding into the notes and interpreting the music in a personal way.

“I relate to the music pretty well, especially when the song has a good meaning behind it. It’s really cool to pull songs from different times in history,” Hardin said.

According to Hardin, many students have soulful voices that they can express at the concert.

Behind the scenes, the concert isn’t always pitch perfect. According to senior co-President Ryan Herriage, it is very fast paced.

“It’s usually kind of hectic, but it’s always worth it in the end,” Herriage said.

Gospel music is soulful and meant to be sung with emotion. It gets a positive reaction from audiences and singers, especially at the high school concert, according to Etheredge.

“I get into the music, and I get excited.

Honestly, it lifts me up,” Herriage said.

Each choir has its own songs, and then they all join together to sing a traditional song called “Total Praise”, which is performed every year and shows off all four choirs and their hard work.

Etheredge said the gospel concert is rewarding and successful, due to the positive responses and the excitement the choir holds for it every year, adding she is moved to see and hear the students’ emotional connections to the music.

“It’s really been a success every year.

It’s a really fun way to delve into different cultures,” Hardin said. •

Gospel music is a soulful rendition of God’s word and is a form of music that fills the listener with excitement. The school choir took on the tradition of performing a gospel concert when Trey Cole, a student who was equally as involved in his church choir as he was the school choir, introduced it in the spring of 2014.

“We call it the gospel concert, but its formal title is ‘An American Treasury of Song’,” choir director Kearby Etheredge said. “The concert takes us on a journey through the past: from American folk hymns, to the early Sacred Harp style, to the rich history of African American Spirituals, and, finally, to the Gospel style. It is an opportunity to understand music in relation to its history and culture.”

The idea was a hit. Everyone loved it, especially the guys, according to Etheredge. Senior and choir co-president Autumn Hardin enjoys the concert and the form of music performed.

“It’s definitely not what we normally sing. It’s less proper, and it has more of a swing style too it and that’s pretty fun,” Etheredge said.

A lot of preparation and research goes into the gospel concert, according to Hardin and Etheredge.

“I spend countless hours looking at music on publisher websites and listening to music posted on ouTube. It’s a challenge to find music that is both a good choral arrangement and suited to the abilities of each choir,” Etheredge said.

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▲Junior Braden Thornton performs a solo during the annual choir concert, “The American Treasure of Song,” on Friday, Feb. 9. All songs showcased were a part of the gospel genre. The traditional concert started three years ago. PHOTO BY JAYCI TAWNEY

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weeken

24

Etc.

The Catamount

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018

a class act

Students learn effective teaching skills through hands-on training

Grace Costenbader and Katie Guye Opinions Editor and Staff Reporter Throughout the past year, the 15 students enrolled in Ready Set Teach have taken on a unique and exciting challenge as they learn how to teach as students. Rather than electing for an off-period or a random subject course, these juniors and seniors spend the first two hours of their day training to be future educators.

“In Ready Set Teach, instead of going through class from a student’s perspective, we are approaching class from a teacher’s perspective,” junior Regan Hedrick said.

In pursuit of a teaching career, Hedrick, along with fellow classmates, utilize teaching strategies in the classroom while simultaneously learning effective methods to employ them.

“No matter whether you’re teaching kindergarten or a high school student or an adult, the same things are in play in getting someone to learn something,” Ready Set Teach teacher Erin Stutts said.

Over the course of the year, students learn practical teaching skills and participate in off-campus internships with elementary school teachers from other schools in the district. This real life practice helps in preparing students as they plan for their future careers.

“For kids who want to be teachers I think it’s important because it gives them a really strong foundation, and it gives them the opportunity to try some different things,” Stutts said.

Despite all of the knowledge learned throughout the course, students in the class have formed a tightly-knit community in which they get to do what they love.

“I think if you ask the students in this class, they will tell you they are a family. They’ve found kind of a home at CSHS,” Stutts said.

In short, Ready Set Teach helps students discover what they love, hone their skills and enjoy great company as they do so.

“I never knew how much I would grow and see how I have a real passion [for] being a teacher,” senior Cheyenne Brown said.

While its namesake promotes occupations in schools, that hasn’t stopped many students who look forward to careers in all

fields. First and foremost, Ready Set Teach hopes to prepare students for what lies ahead, no matter what it may be.

“I really want people to know that Ready Set Teach is not just a class for future teachers,” Hedrick said. “By taking the class you gain a whole new perspective on different situations which is very beneficial for anyone and for any job.”•

▲ Junior Erin Clendenin helps first grade students at Spring Creek Elementary make personalized Valentine’s Day boxes. Clendenin goes to the elementary school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to gain hands-on experience for her Ready Set Teach class.

PHOTO BY SOPHIA NORTH