The Catamount - May 2019 - Vol. 7 No. 6 by Cougar Media

College Station High School

the CATAMOUNT

Increased pesticides, habitat loss threaten bee population

4002 Victoria Ave. College Station, Texas 77845

Vol. 7 No. 6

Friday, May 10, 2019

PRIIde

Club promotes empathy, raises awareness for bullying of marginalized populations

Senior baseball player returns triumphant from injury

Catie Sikes Entertainment Editor

Built on the ideal that school should be a safe space for all

students, the CSHS chapter of the nationwide organization GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) offers all students the opportunity to be part of a community characterized by care for one another.

Horror movies provide thrilling entertainment

INDEX

News Opinions Senior Issue People Sports Entertainment Etc.

2-5 6-8 Insert 9-10 11-14 15 16

“Hopefully we can give kids that are a part of the LGBTQ community a sense of community and family here at CSHS,” said English teacher Virginia Babcock, the sponsor of GSA. A student-led organization at CSHS since 2015, the club has consistently worked toward the goal of being a safe place where traditionally marginalized students can ﬁnd support from allies in the majority. “I think it has made the school in general feel like more of a safer place to be just because we have a fairly visible club where you know you’re safe,” club president and senior

Liam Butler said. The members of GSA, according to Babcock, are caring and empathetic. She believes that they represent some of the best of the school. One way club members demonstrate this is by providing emotional support to each other. “GSA has helped me have a network of people who I can rely on or talk to about issues I might not be comfortable talking about with other friends or family,” sophomore and vice president of GSA Eve Walters said.

continued on page 3

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2 News The Catamount What’s

Friday, May 10, 2019

What's

PAST PAST

NEW Track athlete to compete at state meet

FFA students participate in state competition

May 10-11: Senior Ryan Stapp will compete at the Univerity of Texas at Austin in the 110 meter hurdles tonight at 6:30 p.m.

April 14: Milk quality team members and freshmen Aubrey Pettit, Braden Stutts and Navy Neidig placed 13 out of 61 teams at their state competition.

SkillsUSA members compete at state competition

FFA

SkillsUSA

April 4-7: 11 students traveled to Corpus Christi to compete in numerous SkillsUSA contests. Seniors Ben Moder, Jack Franklin, Mason Cochran and sophomore Gracie Lawhon placed ﬁrst in their events and advanced to nationals in June.

AVP students host Cougar Cannes film festival May 11: After months of preparation, AVP students will present their ﬁlms in the auditorium beginning at 6 p.m.

COUGAR BAND

Band hosts Spring Concert at local park

Gymnastics team succeeds at state April 28: The ten members of the gymnastics team placed 6th at the state meet held at Bryan High School.

UIL Academics Team competes at state meet May 3-4: 17 students traveled to University of Texas at Austin last weekend. Senior Robert Dohrman and junior Sayuni Dharmasena earned state champion in Current Events and Ready Writing, respectively.

COUGAR BAND

May 13: The band will host their ﬁnal concert of the year at 6 p.m. at Wolf Pen Creek Park. The concert will feature ﬁve ensembles. Food trucks and a snow cone machine will also be available.

FFA

COUGAR BAND & GUARD

Seniors to graduate in two weeks May 24: Graduation will be held in Reed Arena at 4 p.m. Calculus teacher Greg MacAfee was selected by the senior class as the faculty speaker, and senior Robert Dohrman was chosen to speak on behalf of the Summa Cum Laude graduates.

JUNIORs! Mark your calendars

Senior photo sessions for the 2019-2020 yearbook will be

August 7-9 For more info: - Look for your mailer this summer - Call Photo Texas at 1-800-883-6463 - Check cshsyearbook.wordpress.com

The Catamount

Friday, May 10, 2019

News

Group aims to raise awareness of bullying against LGBTQ individuals continued from page 1 While the club focuses on preventing issues like anti-LGBTQ bullying, the alliance of students who identify both as LGBTQ and straight it essential. “I would love to see the club not just grow in numbers but continue to have students from across the spectrum come and participate,” Babcock said. “It would be great if we could grow the community in other ways.” One of the club’s most visible activities is participation in the nationwide anti-bullying awareness event Day of Silence. Students and faculty call attention to the disproportionate amount of bullying (and its tragic side effects like suicide) by participating as either vocal supporters or by being silent for the whole day. “For me at least I think the big thing is to show people who are being bullied or are having trouble that they are not alone and that there are people here who support and care about them,” Butler said. In addition to Day of Silence, the club meets

throughout the year on a more social basis. The social meetings provide opportunities to show empathy for others who are making difﬁcult decisions and having tough conversations in “real life.” “If you are coming out, that is really cool. You are such a strong person. It’s amazing, but you should always make sure, if you are coming out, that you are doing it in a safe way and don’t put yourself at risk,” Butler said. The GSA club meets every other Wednesday throughout the year to plan events and socialize. “GSA is a group of people who are there to bring each other up and help each other through issues that other people may not be going through and just have a support group that stands with you,” Walters said.•

The big thing is to show people who are being bullied or are having trouble that they are not alone. -liam butler gsa president

lgbtq life in america 6 in 10 LGBTQ students report feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation.

80% of gay and lesbian youth report severe social isolation.

42% of people who are LGBTQ report living in an unwelcoming environment. While non-LGBTQ students struggle most with school classes, exams and work, their LGBTQ peers say the biggest problem they face is unaccepting families. Source: dosomething.org

News

Friday, May 10, 2019

The Catamount

Service instills unity with participation in volunteer opportunities Aliza Ali Assistant Editor Started as a project by teachers Ashleigh Houle and Jeremy Dockan, the Cougars Care service day on March 30 involved members of Leo Club, Student Council and National Honor Society. “We had a good turn out of students, and we all got to work together and beautify CSHS,” senior Anna Kate Bradford said. “NHS strives to aid anyone or any group that may need help. We want to teach our members to notice these things and go out and not be afraid to reach out and help.” In addition to this schoolwide service activity, NHS collects bags of food to feed families for Thanksgiving. Each bag contains a meal for a family of four. In 2018, 282 bags were collected, feeding over a thousand people. “Each bag of food is not just a meal for a family of four, but it’s also something that gives people hope, knowing that people took the time to assemble a meal for them,” NHS sponsor Randi Costenbader said. “So, it’s not just ‘Hey! We’re gonna put five dollars in the pot, and they’re gonna go buy a whole bunch of cans with it,’ but that we’re putting a meal together, putting it in a bag, decorating it, writing a thoughtful note and really impacting the community that receives it.” In addition to the food bags, NHS holds the Penny Wars fundraiser to raise money for McClain Children’s Medical Center to buy supplies for sick kids and help families with hospital bills, along with assisting in cleaning the school, volunteering for various events around town and tutoring students.

Student Council also focuses on service and recently partnered with Lowes to renovate the garden at the Bluebonnet Place nursing home. Members also help clean up the school every Tuesday and Thursday along with Leo Club and NHS Sparkle Crew, and run the school recycling program to reduce trash. “Service is important because we are very privileged to be in a place where we have everything we need,” Student Council service committee head and junior Isabella Virgil said. “Most of us don’t have to worry about where our next meal is coming from. We don’t have to worry about if we’re gonna go home or have to sleep in a car. I think people who have that privilege should want to help others that don’t.” In addition, Leo Club hosts drives for things like eyeglasses, toys, books and blankets for those in need and gives out Valentine’s in February and hot chocolate in December. “Leo Club is all about service and volunteering,” Leo Club sponsor and chemistry teacher Jeremy Dockan said. “Members can learn about the value of service and the good feeling that comes when you help someone else without expecting a reward, which is tough sometimes. They learn a good sense of pride, too.” Overall, members of all three organizations strive to help out the school and everyone from teachers to students to the elderly and contribute to making the community better. “My hope is that when students serve others, they feel a sense of satisfaction and that it inspires them to continue to serve others, because it’s in serving others that we learn about ourselves and that we become less self-centered,” Costenbader said.•

Ways to Serve others Read to elementary classes Offer to tutor someone Donate clothes/food Volunteer at an animal shelter Donate books Volunteer at a soup kitchen Donate toys for kids Source: fundly.com

Friday, May 10, 2019

The Catamount

News

Beekeepers concerned with recent decrease in bee population Calla Dufﬁeld BEE-Lieve It Or Not… Assistant Editor Science and news publications alike have been abuzz with reports of the bee “crisis” and the controversy surrounding it. In the local community, there are many people knowledgeable on the topic of bees. Among them is freshman David Hill, a beekeeper as well as a member of the Brazos Valley Beekeepers Association. “I’ve always been interested in [bees]. Just something small making something greater is generally interesting,” Hill said. The crisis, he said, stems from a multitude of causes that are still a bit of a mystery. “A couple decades ago, about fifteen to twenty years ago, bees just started mysteriously disappearing,” Hill said. This resulted in unusually high rates of decline in their population, Hill explained. Although around 33 percent of bees still disappear over the winter, “bee numbers in the U.S. are the highest that they’ve been in a couple decades,” Hill said. So why the urgency of the “save the bees” movement? As stated in the Pacific Standard, some species are thriving while others are on a path of decline. Their disappearance, Hill said, is encompassed by one term: Colony Collapse Disorder. Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, describes the effects of what causes bee population decline. When this

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phenomenon occurs, the majority of worker bees abandon the hive and die, leaving the queen and the young behind. “There are many theories as to why this is. [There] are specific kinds of pesticides called neonicotinoids, that basically mess with [the bee’s] nervous systems and give them disorientation so they [can] never come back [to the hive]. That’s the one that I personally think is the most plausible [theory],” Hill said. Although pesticides are part of the problem, a lot of the population decline is due to other factors. “Various pests and parasites for bees [also play a part],” Hill said. “Hive beetles, wax mods, it’s a mess if you aren’t careful.” The decline in bee population is especially dangerous considering how much wouldn’t be possible without them. “Unlike things like ants or wasps, bees actually produce something that humans can use. [One-third] of all our crops are dependent on pollination by insects,” Hill said. Apples, mangoes and strawberries are just a few examples of crops that wouldn’t be available to us if not for bees. “It’s not just the honey [that we use]. [There’s] wax and a lot of facial products, like makeup,” said freshman Bianca Lasagna, a soon-to-be beekeeper. But what would life without bees be like? “According to Einstein, we would have no food in four years on the planet. [Bees] pollinate everything.

Bees alone pollinate $15 billion worth of crops in the U.S. every year.

Cross-pollination by insects helps at least 30% of the world’s crops. Animals and mainly insects pollinate

80% of all flowering plants. Honey bees are responsible for

$30 billion a year in crops total. Sources: nrdc.org, bbc.com, fao.org [Without] them, we have nothing,” Environmental Science teacher Robert Ondrasek said. A 2017 study by the USDA revealed that there are 21.6 million jobs in agriculture and food-related industries. “All agriculture [would be affected],” Ondrasek said. For those that can’t take on whole hives, all small steps help save the bees. “You can plant flowers. [Bees benefit from] anything that has the most blooms on it,” Hill said. Caring for the environment plays a huge part in the survival of the bees. “Don’t destroy their habitats and don’t feed them poison,” Ondrasek said.•

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Opinions

Friday, May 10, 2019

The Catamount

Staffer speaks out against cultural influences on racism

THE CAT’S EYE VIEW

staff editorial

Intrinsic motivation should fuel service, not required hours As this chapter of the year closes, organizations are scrambling to meet deadlines. For many, those deadlines look like service hours. Whether it’s NHS or Student Council, there seem to be service hours to be met. However, these deadlines and requirements are not the only incentives for serving others. Nowadays, service has frequently become a requirement for many college admissions. This makes service obligatory rather than voluntary. Students now see acts of service as just another thing to check off their list of things to do. However, we must do everything within our power to not become desensitized to the many ways service is still needed. Without an incentive, it is an unfortunate truth that very few will be willing to serve those around them. But regardless of an incentive, there will always be a need to help, a mouth to feed, or a hand to hold. Apart from being a Cougar Quality, service is something that we should strive to exemplify. This world could use some more light and happiness, and what better way to do so than to lend a hand to someone in need. This could look like a small act of kindness such as holding the door open, an extravagant display of affection through a handwritten note, or it could be as simple as helping someone with his or her homework. While the need for service is clearcut, our incentives may not always be. The definition of service is to help or to do something for someone. Let’s be clear, this doesn’t mean to do something for someone when in reality it makes us look better. Then our incentive is polluted with self-interest. If we are to serve, let it be done genuinely, from a pure conscience with good intentions. The need for service is evident in our community and in our world. All that is needed are hearts and hands ready to help. •

Colorism is defined as prejudice or discrimination based on skin color, usually Aliza Ali from people of the same ethnicity or race. I love my South Asian culture, but I can never get over how much it glorifies fair skin and treats dark skin as a disease. People in India and Pakistan are taught that light skin is superior from a young age. Anybody born with dark skin is ostracized and pressured to lighten it by relatives, peers and the media. Skin color is usually the first thing people look for in matrimonial ads or job applications, which specifically targets women. Dark skin could cost a woman her job or her relationships.

requirement for college?

YES

“Yes, because the people getting a higher education should be aware of the people in need, who can’t afford higher education. They should also show that they are able to help the community, not just themselves.”

“No. People would be helping the community for their benefit, and not to just help the poeple around them.”

-Meghan Reed, sophomore

-Parker Corley, freshman “Yes, because everyone needs to learn to help others.”

“I don’t thinks so because it has nothing to do with education.”

-Kate Jensen, senior

-Munzir Sharif, freshman

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

Dru Peacock

Assistant Editor

Aliza Ali

Managing Editor

Grace Costenbader

Assistant Editor

Jayci Tawney

District.

Executive Editor

Katie Guye

Assistant Editor

Lauren Gomulka

Senior Editor

Makayla Fox

Staff Reporter

Loredana Pearlstein

Opinions Editor

Kylie Vernon

Staff Reporter

Calla Duffield

Catie Sikes

Staff Reporter

Erin Park

Editor

Staff Reporter

Tori Salyers

Sports Editor

Ethan Cohen

Graphic Artist

Grace Costenbader

Photography Editor

Melanie Evans

Cartoonist

Sloan Peacock

Assistant Editor

Jaycie Robinson

Faculty Adviser

Courtney Wellmann

Assistant Editor

Ayden Woods

Assistant Adviser

Teresa Laffin

Entertainment

The roles for heroes and heroines are always reserved for lightskinned actors and actresses while their dark-skinned counterparts are usually the villains or sidekicks. With songs like “Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan,” which literally translates to “I have fair-complexioned wrists, and they’re yours now,” the problem keeps persisting. This unhealthy obsession people have with skin color fuels racism. By encouraging ridiculous beauty standards like this, we perpetuate the “I’ll never be good/pretty/fair enough” mentality. Skin color doesn’t decrease somebody’s beauty or value as a human. I am not any less beautiful just because I’m not as fair as Aishwarya Rai or Kareena Kapoor. Nobody should be made to feel worthless based on how much melanin they have.•

View of the Pride: Do you think service should be a

2018-2019 The Catamount Newspaper Editor-in-Chief

Skin lightening methods include laser treatment, injections, pills and creams, but can contain harmful ingredients such as mercury, hydroquinone, tretinoin and even steroids, which can have damaging long-term effects. People are literally willing to poison themselves to be seen as attractive by society. I’ve seen multiple Bollywood actors and actresses endorse creams like this, further promoting the whole ideology. There are multiple ads showing a man or woman with dark skin living a sad, loveless life and being happy once they use the product being advertised. The industry thrives on playing with people’s insecurities and celebrities take part without thinking about the impact this has on their fans. Too often, it is the first attribute required for actresses.

writers and are not reflective of the administrators, faculty or staff of the College Station Independent School 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) and a winner of their

Bronze Star award in 2014, 2015 and 2016, as well as their Silver Star Award in 2017 and 2018.

College Station ISD does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex

or handicap in providing education services. Monica James, 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, May 10, 2019

The Catamount

Power of kindness triumphs over bullying Remember in middle school when Many people hold others to a standard, and if people do we had a day to talk about how to stop not fall within that standard they are lesser, and do not debullying? People would speak to us serve kindness. That is cruel and, frankly, absolutely incorabout defending people who could not rect. Society has trained us to think females must be skinny, defend themselves or who would not but God forbid if they are too skinny- and that females should defend themselves, but many of us were allow themselves to be treated differently for their gender. just happy to be missing class Society has trained us to think men must be strong Tori Salyers that we did not pay attention to and brave and fearless, although men have just as the importance of the assembly. much emotion as the rest of the world. However, there are people who hate waking up It is never easy to break from the chains of in the morning, who hate looking in the mirror or society that have held us our entire lives, and it getting dressed or coming to school, all because they is almost silly to imagine that prejudices against are being bullied. Bullying is not a joke, and not an different types of people will just be merely forexcuse to miss class. gotten. We will be fighting against the teachings When we see people who look different than us, of our parents and our parent’s parents, and so on. the first thing that we tend to focus on in people are But kindness should never be hard. Kindness should those differences. We would love to say that the first never be forced. Giving people respect should be thing we notice are the color of people’s eyes or their natural. We should see someone who is fatter than hairstyle or if they smiled, but it is not. The first thing us and skinner than us and treat them exacty the we notice is their weight, or the condition of same because they are human beings just their clothes, or if they have acne. Truly, there Art by Grace Costenbader as we are. They have feelings just as we do, is not much anyone but yourself can do to change that, I want they feel sadness and anger and they hurt just as we do. to encourage you to be kind. It is not silly to imagine a world where people practice The definition of kindness is being friendly, generous, basic respect. Who deserves respect? Does that student who and considerate. Is belittling people for the way they look only speaks broken English deserve respect? Every person deconsiderate? Is laughing at people for their clothes friendly? serves respect. Every person has a different story that we do Is teasing people for their weight generous? You should not not yet know, a life that we are not living and do not underlaugh at people for things that they can not control or should stand, and that person deserves respect if only for that fact. not make people feel bad for the things that make them beau- Be the bigger person.• tiful and different.

???

QUESTION issue OF THE

How many pinterest boards do you have? No boards

1-20 BOARDS

21-50 Boards

50+ boards

51%

30%

14%

5% 841 polled

Opinions

HUMANS of CSHS

Leah Tolan freshman

“I would describe myself as conscientious. I’m passionate about thinking for yourself and doing what’s right because everyone should have the right to think for themselves and choose what’s wrong or right. That’s what’s most important in life; the option to do what you want knowing it is either right or wrong.”

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

COUGAR UNVEILED by sloan peacock

Opinions

Friday, May 10, 2019

The Catamount

Video games desensitize youth to violent realities In the 21st century, video games have become extremely popular, as thousands of daily video gamers will spend vast hours playing their favorite games. In 2011, gamers over the age of 13 played on average 5.1 hours of video Ayden Woods games a week. In 2012, the average went up to 5.6 hours a week. In 2019 the average gamer plays over 6 hours a week. Some gamers are known to play more than 4 hours a day on video games. There are some benefits to gaming, such as improvement in eye-hand coordination and some increases in reflexes, but for the most part, it only creates issues. Many video gamers are becoming desensitized from the reality of death and killing. People who constantly play extremely violent video games are losing their Art by Grace ability to understand the fact that their actions still have consequences. In addition, many of the modern video games are completely different from the early 8 bit video game like Pac-Man and Mario. The games are much more realistic and are created

to be more entertaining and appealing. The popular game series called Grand Theft Auto allows for players to do whatever they want without having to face the reality of what they are doing. They can kill whomever they want, steal whatever they want, die whenever they want, knowing that they will just respawn with some slight repercussion from the game. Video games are now more targeted towards adults and mostly consist of violence and gore. The large game franchises like Halo and Call of Duty were massive successes because they were able to satisfy the public’s want for first person shooting games that had lots of weapons and were as realistic as possible. Not all games are specifically bad or harmful. Some video games are very different from first person shooting games. There are a lot of options other than the violent type. Excessive use of video games is desensiCostenbader tizing us from our actions, so I urge you to be careful when playing video games. You should know our limits so that as a society we do not become desensitized from the reality of our actions.•

New perspective on life perceived through new lenses Three. That’s the number of pairs of glasses that I have worn in my lifetime. Though I don’t remember much about my first pair, I recently opened the dusty, aged case and set the pair on the bridge Makayla Fox of my nose. I looked in the mirror and flinched at the tilted, magenta frames that were too small for my face. I decided that must have been the reason I stopped putting them on when I was around nine or ten. After abandoning those frames and glasses as a whole, I decided to spend my time squinting to veer through blur of my everyday life. Over the span of two years, my vision grew worse and worse while I was unaware. The blur in my life was normal to me. My mother decided it was time for a new pair of glasses and a fresh, updated pre- Art by Grace scription and made an appointment. I read the sentences, I detected the letters, I had the lights dilate my eyes. I did every test, not knowing that I would grow to

hate my new glasses. The boxy, black frames required my constant attention as they slipped down and demanded I nudge them with the knuckle of my pointer finger. The frames gave me headaches. All the cons weighed on my opinion of my appearance, and I began to hate the idea that I needed thick sheets of glass to allow me to see. Now older and more knowledgeable, I recognize that the dramatic outlook on my glasses made their purpose hazy. My glasses allow me to see the beauty of life itself. My new, round, frames though they fit my face, continue to slip down my nose and get smudged like it’s nobody’s business, but I don’t mind their cons anymore. I am able to see the smiles of my beautiful friends, the colors that paint the sky, the movement of the fastpaced life I am living. I am able to understand myself and the Costenbader world quite a bit better with the help of two clear lenses.•

Voices Who is your favorite youtuber?

“Cody Ko because he’s lowkey hot and extremely funny.” Zoe Kelton, junior

“Tati because she does skincare and beauty. She’s also just like my mom.” Faye Turner, freshman “James Charles because he’s annoying but kind of fun to watch, and he’s entertaining.” Mariana Arteaga, sophomore

”Shane Dawson because he really likes his cat.” Jacob Swoboda, junior

“Antonio Garza because he’s iconic and a trendsetter.” Julia Lee, senior

“David Dobrik. His group is always spending their free time as I imagine I would if I had that much money. I relate to other obnoxious extroverts.” Colin Slattery, history teacher

Friday, May 10, 2019

The Catamount

People

Courage to endure

Cancer survivors persevere through hardships of disease Katie Guye Executive Editor Cancer is not the typical lunch-table topic, yet is it a disease that has affected virtually every student, faculty member or parent. Amidst the stress and challenges of high school, several students find themselves grappling with this disease and the strength that comes from the fight. “[Cancer’s] definitely one of those things that brought [my family] closer together. They’ve been by my side the whole time,” senior and leukemia and thyroid cancer survivor Judah Dombach said. “Part of the reason I’m alive is because we’ve been praying and had that support.” When Dombach was two, he was diagnosed with leukemia and underwent chemotherapy, but by the age of three and a half, his leukemia returned and progressed to stage four. After recovering from this disease, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 14 years old and underwent surgery to remove his thyroid and lymph nodes. “I wouldn’t change it if I could, and I don’t think my parents would either. It made me who I am today,” Dombach said. “If I can use my platforms and reach to inspire a person to make their life better or to commit their life to God then it’ll all be worth it. [I want to] use my story, my testimony and my passions to help people.” Even if a student does not directly battle cancer, the fight of loved ones can provoke its own kind of worry and struggle. “The hardest part for me was seeing my mom in pain,” freshman Emery Goerig said. “I was normally the one in pain and she was the comforter, so it was weird to have to be the one there for her. It was really hard to

have to see her lose her hair and crying about that and to see her not eating some meals because she was in so much pain.” Emery’s mother, Abby Goerig was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 at the age of 40. She then underwent a lumpectomy, four rounds of chemotherapy and roughly 30 rounds of radiation. “I think the biggest lesson I learned is that you have to show kindness to everyone,” Abby said. “I try to give people the benefit of the doubt now because you just don’t know what’s going on in their world.” Throughout the turmoil and uncertainty of treatment, Dombach, Emery and Abby all cited their faith in God as a source of steadfast truth. “We were at Six Flags shortly after my last chemo [treatment] and a lady came and talked to me about how she had been diagnosed with the same kind of cancer that I had 30 years before and she was there with her grandchildren,” Abby said. “It was a reassuring moment that I was going to make it through, and it was those kind of moments throughout the whole process where it felt like God was always there, always putting in place the next person that I needed.” Another shared sentiment among survivors and their loved ones is the recognition of mortality and a newfound gratitude. “Appreciate life,” Dombach said. “Cancer’s quick but it’s [also] not. You have this whole road that can take years but at the same time the news can hit you just like that, so truly live life instead of existing before it can be taken away. I think a lot of people are just doing their daily lives, not pursuing anything, not passionate about anything and it makes me sad because I don’t want to be on my deathbed and look back at the things I could’ve done.”•

if i can use my platforms and reach to inspire a person to make their life better or to commit their life to god, then it’ll all be worth it. -Judah Dombach Cancer survivor & senior

How to lend a hand

Give your support in the fight against cancer

• Participate in Relay for Life • Volunteer at local hospitals • Learn to listen and provide empathetic support for friends and family • Donate to research organizations

American Cancer Society

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

• Do your own research about cancer and its widespread effects Source: cancer.org

People

Friday, May 10, 2019

The Catamount

welcome

Shane Grant

to the

ShanesVlogs

digital age

1.4k subscribers

YouTube provides influence through video content Ayden Woods and Jayci Tawney Assistant Editor and Assistant Editor

elcome to the digital age, where the majority of celebrity personalities, the average DIY guru, and online Influencers have moved to social media apps like Twitter, Instagram and the most famous of all, YouTube. “I use YouTube all the time,” sophomore YouTuber Wyatt Galbreath said. “I usually upload a video once or twice a week, but once I gain a larger audience and more feedback of what I should do, I hope to make more videos.” YouTube offers a lot of different content to reach a variety of audiences. The style known as vlogging has become very popular with teen audiences. “YouTube has exploded with vlogging,” history and economics teacher Colin Slattery said. “I think the more that young people find their voice and find a way to express it, I think the better off everyone else will

be.” With the growth of social media, YouTube has become a regular trend that adolescents have started to use in their daily lives. Even though YouTube has many good components, there are flaws. “If you watch any commentary or rant channels on YouTube, you’ve probably heard of how bad the YouTube algorithm is at recommending content to viewers,” Galbreath said. “Also, how hard-working creators can make hardly any money from advertising.” The vlogging style has reached many students. Some have even been able to pursue it and have created their own vlog channels. “I started [vlogging] because a bunch of my friends did it.I didn’t even know what vlogging was and because my friends were doing, it I progressed into doing it,” sophomore YouTuber Shane Grant said. Senior Brianna Jacques is a firm believer that YouTube’s popularity is tied to recent generations being tied to technology. A major Influencer on YouTube is David Dobrik,

who started on vine and has now become a YouTube success. “I feel like I see one of my friends in every single person that’s [in the Vlog Squad],” Slattery said. “There’s so much content that he’s got and, I spend a lot of time laughing and all of my roommates love it.” Jacques is also a fan of David Dobrik and “The Vlog Squad” since her freshman year of highschool. “I think his main goal is to spread joy to his audience, and I think he does a really good job of that,” Jacques said. Although many students have YouTube channels, Shane Grant has recently grown popular on social media with a little over a thousand subscribers on YouTube and a hundred thousand followers on Tik Tok. “I always want my content to be positive and spread good vibes,” Grant said. “I would love for this to become career, but we’ll see what happens.”•

Friday, May 10, 2019

The Catamount

flying for first

Sports

Senior jumper finishes area meet with gold medal in high jump Ethan Cohen Sports Editor It takes a unique blend of raw athleticism and stoic patience to succeed in track and field. Those who compete in it must be naturally gifted, but must also be able to endure countless reps to refine everything from relay handoffs to the first steps of a high jump. There is no better embodiment of this blend than senior jumper and runner Grant Fairchild. Fairchild just finished his fifth year of track and field and has competed in numerous events in both facets of the sport, one of which he says stands above the rest. “I personally enjoy jumping the most, doing long jump and high jump,” Fairchild said. “With jumping it’s more than just running on a track. There’s so much more that factors into it.” Fairchild’s appreciation of the technical aspects of jumping is likely conducive to his success. The senior placed fourth overall at the district meet and followed up that performance by winning first overall at the area meet. Despite the solo aspect of jumping, Fairchild expresses that he loves competing in relay events for the team aspect. “You’re with all of your friends and working together, and when you win you feel great, but even if you don’t you’re still all there for each other.” Fairchild said. It’s no surprise that Fairchild treasures so many different aspects of the sport, as the versatile senior has competed in long jump, high jump, every relay and the open 200 this year alone. He reflects upon the balance of competing in so many different events. “It’s very challenging, especially when we are dealing with something like the 4x4,” Fairchild said. “That is a much different event than the 4x1. Running a 400 is a lot harder, and you have to actively strategize how you will train for and run that race. Staying in shape for that race is a lot harder than staying in shape for running a 100.” These are far from the only challenges that he has faced. Track and field is one of the most mentally taxing sports, as often athletes have to wait hours between events or even just between jumps.This means that athletes must give their all in each of their respective events while also being aware and ready for any other

event they have yet to compete in. Fairchild believes this may be the biggest challenge the sport presents. “Staying focused on meet days can be very hard, especially for something like high jump,” Fairchild said. “And if I had a 400 later in the meet, I would be mentally preparing for it all day, just getting myself ready for that race.” Fairchild’s family is a huge contribution to his athletic career, as they have a long history of accomplishments in athletics. His father played football at Howard Payne University, and his sister is a D2 National Champion in the long jump at CSU-Pueblo. His

I love my coaches. they have been like family to me. -Grant Fairchild Senior sister has had a particularly impactful influence on his athletic experiences. “She’s my biggest inspiration,” Fairchild said. “She’s been doing this since she was 7, and she’s the reason that I started and got involved. Going to all of her meets and seeing what she was doing made me want to do this all the more. Seeing her win a national championship inspired me to push even harder.” Though they played a very important role, his success cannot be solely accredited to his family. Fairchild has a strong work ethic that he says he has developed over the years by avoiding what he calls bad distractions. This work ethic is apparent not only in his success in track and field, but in football where he was a consistent contributor at defensive back for the Cougars. He cites the weighlifting and conditioning he did during the fall as factors that helped him run faster and jump higher in his events. His involvement in football kept him in shape for track season and influenced what he enjoyed most about Cougar Athletics.

▲Senior Grant Fairchild jumps over a 6’5 high jump bar at the area meet in Webster Tx. on April 26. Fairchild finished first overall at this meet, coming back from finishing fourth in the previous meet. PHOTO PROVIDED BY EDDIE HANCOCK “I love my coaches,” Fairchild said. “They have been like family to me for the past four years. They may yell at me, but I know that they all just want the best out of me.” And Fairchild has given his best. He recently competed in his final event as a Cougar, nearly making it to the state meet by jumping 6’5 and finishing third overall at the regional meet. As he looks back on his time here, he recalls the most important lesson he learned from his time competing for the Cougars. “You have to give it all you got,” Fairchild said. “Time is limited, so give everything you got.” After he graduates, Fairchild plans on attending Blinn College before transferring to Texas A&M University to finish out his college degree.•

12 Sports

The Catamount

Friday, May 10, 2019

Sophomore runner helps relay team win first at district track meet Tori Salyers Staff Reporter Track is often not described to be a team sport, but CSHS girl’s team has changed the definition. They have turned the team into something similar to a family. The girls spend weeks training before track season to get into shape for season, and when the season is over, they are back to practicing. They spend months with each other, competition or not, working together. Despite only have being in varsity track for one year at the high school, freshman Aliyah Collins has made many friends within the team known as a family. “I’m really close with a lot of people, but that is the whole team,” Collins said. “We are all close and we all support each other in every event.” The bond Collins has with her teammates is very strong. They cheer each other on and they treat each other with kindness, she said. “I love being around [my teammates],” Collins said. “I love competing with them.” Even as much as the team has made an impact in Collins’s life, she has made one on theirs. “She always brings a positive attitude to practice,” senior Victoria De La Garza said. “She makes working out more enjoyable.” The kindness Collins carries and her ability to work hard makes track easier on everyone, even her coaches. “She’s a super competitive person with a lot of talent,” girl’s track coach Robert Ondrasek said. Her competitive drive has resulted in successful outcomes for her races. Collins and her 4x1 relay team finished frst overall at the district meet on April 4, and shattered the school record. Even after a big win, Collins is still focused on cheering on her team, humbly putting them before herself.

“I always feel really excited and proud of the team [after a win],” Collins said. “We do so well and we always work really hard.” Collins has worked hard and her work has paid off. Her work ethic has made her successful and helped her rack up plenty of wins during track competitions, including her first place finishes in the 100m and 200m dash at District.

I love being around my teammates i love competing with them. -Aliyah Collins freshman Runner “She has raw speed,” Ondrasek said. “[She’s] competitive but easy going.” Collins’ speed will play a huge role in her track career going forward, but Someone who is willing to work hard and put themselves after the people around them often leads them to success. The fact that Collins has been able to do so as a Freshman indicates that she has an excellent future ahead of her competing for the Cougars.•

ALIYAH COLLINS EVENT Best TIMES: 100 meter dash:

12.10 200 meter dash:

25.76 4x100 meter relay:

49.06

Girls track District meet results: 100: 1st (Collins)

400: 2nd (V. De la garza) 4x1: 1st (Team) 4x4: 3rd (Team)

200: 1st (COllins)

800: 1st (GRACE WU)

4x2: 3rd (TEAM) 1,600: 2nd (E. Tong)

Friday, May 10, 2019

The Catamount

Sports

back in the swing of things

Senior finds passion, sense of belonging through love of baseball Jaycie Robinson Assistant Editor Baseball is known as America’s favorite pastime, especially for those watching in the stands and from afar. For many of the players, the game is considered a fact of life and a cherished routine. However, embodying a catcher in the beloved game for many years of his adolescence and currently being committed to a Division I university, playing baseball takes on a new weight for senior Cole Marler. “The feeling of being committed is great,” Marler said. “I love the coaches and the way they operate on and off the field. The university doesn’t stray too far from the small hometown feel of what we have going on now.” Marler previously played with the competitive local team Twelve Baseball when he first moved to College Station. At CSHS, he found a strong brotherhood in the Cougar baseball program and has created undeniable bonds with the other players. “Since my freshman year all of the players have been really close and have had each others’ backs regardless of being in an athletic setting or not. We knew we could count on each other and that translated to our playing,” Marler said. Being one of the first to be called up to varsity confirmed his ambition and desire to continue playing baseball into college, especially staying in his favored position as catcher. Close friend and fellow committed player Austin Teel has had a front row seat to Marler’s personal

accomplishments. Being a pitcher, Teel has directly worked, practiced and played with Marler throughout their high school careers. “Mole, as we like to call him, has grown a lot since freshman year,” Teel said. “Being able to see the transformation from then to now especially with the fact that he is committed to Lamar is inspiring to see.” Heading into their games, the baseball team finds ways to strengthen their playing bond and strategies. Before their game against Waller High School, Coach Scott Holder newly implemented the tactician phrase “AOW,” meaning Art of War. The team’s game approach was to fight like their backs were against the wall. There was only one way to go forward and the team would work to get to and achieve that point in their playing performance. Despite his set backs, Marler was able to bounce back from his injury in order to continue playing and practicing with the team. Along with the adjustment back onto the field from a surgery, Marler and several other players have had to fit themselves into new roles during this season. “There has been some seasonal changes in the game speaking in terms of experience. Since there is a mostly senior hitting lineup, there are more leadership roles for us to take on and live up to as we build our playing strategies and relationships,” Marler said. The team has continuously progressed as a unit throughout the season with hopes on reaching the state championship. “We have the tools to go far in playoffs especially with the talent and experience that exudes from the seniors,” Marler said.•

we knew we could count on each other and that translated to our playing. -Cole Marler senior

▲Senior Cole Marler prepares to bat at a game against A&M Consolidated High School on April 12. PHOTO BY JAYCIE ROBINSON

baseball Playoffs 2019 may 1 4-3 loss against Kingwood Park

May 3 5-3 win against Kingwood Park

May 4 2-1 win against Kingwood Park

May 10 Home game against Georgetown at 7:00 p.m.

May 11 Away game against Georgetown

14 Sports

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Friday, May 10, 2019

Spirit, unity of softball team drives senior catcher to success Lauren Gomulka Assistant Editor For some, the best part of softball is watching the ball fly over the back fence, sliding into home plate or winning the championship game, but for senior Grace Davis, the best part of the game is the team. “I love my teammates. They make everything ten times better,” Davis said. “Just sharing the same passion with everyone else is great and makes playing the game really fun.” Davis began playing softball when she was eight and, through the years, has learned how to not only become a better player but also a better leader. “Softball is a game of failure, so whenever you play, it really teaches you that you have to be able to bounce back and forget about anything bad that just happened,” Davis said. “Let go, learn from your mistakes, and adjust.” Head softball coach Brandy Gibson has witnessed these changes in Davis’s ability and character while playing the game and looks to Davis as a leader of the team. “I would definitely say, leadership wise, she’s really stepped up and is willing to see the amount of time that you have to put in to be good and the willingness to stay after and get extra reps or to work on things that you may not be good at,” Gib-

son said. “Just seeing that transformation in her has added to her growth as a softball player.” Davis has been accompanied throughout her softball career by her best friend and teammate senior Cami Winder. The two started playing softball together when they were ten years old and have been best friends since. “Grace is a great player,” Winder said. “She knows exactly what it takes to be the best, and she works hard everyday to achieve that. She knows how to pick up each one of her teammates and always does it with a smile on her face.” Davis has decided to continue her softball career even further and has committed to play for UT Tyler next year. “Whenever I was little, I thought, ‘I want toplay at A&M’ or ‘I want to go to UT,’ but once I started getting into the recruiting process, I fell in love with the smaller schools,” Davis said. “I went and visited the school, and I just fell in love.” Just by playing the game she loves, Davis has impacted many of her teammates and her coaches and has helped the team reach great heights. “She’s just such a good person. It makes you want to be a better person,” Gibson said. “She’s younger than me, and she’s still somebody that I completely respect and even look up to. She’s an incredible teammate, an incredible leader and skill wise, she’s a great player. When you add all of that together, it makes for a pretty formidable ball player.”•

Fun Facts A softball is actually bigger and harder than a baseball. The original softball was actually just a rolled up boxing glove. For the first softball fastpitch games held in the 1996 Olympics, all tickets were sold out. Source: allaboutfastpitch.com

▲Senior Grace Davis catches at a home game against Consol on April 12. Davis has committed to play softball for UT Tyler next year. PHOTO BY LAUREN GOMULKA

Softball Playoffs Lady Cougars vs. Magnolia Game 2 in Madisonville at 4:00 p.m. today Game 3 (if needed) in Madisonville at noon on Saturday

Friday, May 10, 2019

Fright

The Catamount

Entertainment

Delight

Horror movies attract those seeking shock entertainment Dru Peacock Editor-in-Chief

ear is a complicated emotion, but many people seek it out in order to experience a thrill. Thus, fear on film, or horror movies, have created a cult following and powerful entertainment industry since the first one appeared in 1886. “It’s why people like rollercoasters,” senior Logan Lauer said. “It’s the adrenaline you get out of it.” The allure of horror movies can also stem from a natural desire to learn about the darker parts of our world. A psychoanalytic theory dating back to Aristotle claims a potential reason we enjoy horror is the feeling of catharsis-- a relief of pent up emotions or aggressions. Psychology Today suggests that horror movies allow us to feel in control of such emotions like fear and anxiety because we know they are not real. According to the theory, they allow us to put psychological distance between us and real, violent acts. “I have a huge passion for [horror], and I feel like even if you don’t like to dwell on the dark, horror is worth your while,” English teacher and scary movie fanatic Jonathan Brady said. “Almost more than any other genre right now, it makes you think. To me the best part of a horror movie is when the horror movie not so much gives you nightmares or anything like that, but it has a part of it that really just stays with you and really makes you think.” While some think the sole purpose of horror movies is to scare the audience, themes in horror movies have become increasingly important to identifying flaws in

our society. “I think it’s one of the top mediums for satire, and in fact, a large chunk of horror nowadays is satirical,” Brady said. “I feel like we are actually living in a horror Renaissance. Horror movies for the most part, especially in the last decade, have steadily gotten better because they want to be more

Horror is grander than just scaring people or grossing people out. There’s a greater purpose in it. -Jonathan brady english teacher thought provoking. They don’t want to just be trash.” One of the most successful writers and directors of horror movies, Jordan Peele, has used this idea to make his movies relate to the audience on a deeper, personal level. With blockbuster movies like “Us” and “Get Out” Peele has made waves and broken barriers in Hollywood. In 2018, Peele even won an Oscar for “Us,” proving that the world was ready for scary movies that

struck a deeper message. “A lot of the media has focused on how [Peele’s movies] incorporate minorities into it, although while that’s on the forefront, it’s more of the psychological [effect],” Lauer said. “For ‘Get Out’ they were messing with your head and it was really creepy, especially when they incorporated the science into it. It made it more real.” By incorporating real-life problems into his movies, Peele attempts to not only entertain his audience but to put a social issue on the front burner. “I think the way that George Romero did in 1968, Jordan Peele is doing now. It’s not just shock and scare, it’s commentary on our society,” Brady said. “He understands that horror is grander than just scaring people or grossing people out, that there’s a greater purpose in it. Despite the many fanatics who love the horror genre, others don’t understand the appeal. From the suspense and the unknown, some people don’t enjoy the anxiety experienced while viewing a scary movie. “I think a lot of people like being scared sometimes and they like the anticipation of not knowing what’s happening and not knowing when the jump is going to happen,” junior Skylar Schlett said. “But I don’t like jump scares. I hate them. It gets my heart racing and I don’t like that kind of stuff.” No matter the different effects of horror movies on certain people, they will continue to frighten and delight audiences throughout the world. At the end of the day, we can all at least appreciate the creativity and spookiness of a good horror movie.•

16 Etc.

The Catamount

Friday, May 10, 2019

Pinterest provides creative outlet for lifestyle, art inspiration Makayla Fox Senior Editor Pinterest is a creative social media outlet where users can find inspiration for art, fashion and food and then can save these ideas in personally-crafted boards. The algorithm displays similar ideas to pin on the home screen and suggests specific ideas for further findings. “I use Pinterest a lot to give me inspiration for my art/clothing, to get more organized and prepared for my future, and honestly like any social media site when I’m bored, just to scroll through my feed and maybe get inspired,” junior Avery Barrum said. Barrum offers her paintings on water bottles, an inspiration she found from using Pinterest. “Pinterest has all sorts of tools that aid in my creative process,” Barrum said. “I can look at [a surface] like hydroflasks or canvases when I’m creating, or I can look at more indirect things like a nature scene or wedding board that can also inspire me through things such as colors, floral elements or just the overall look of a piece.” Using Pinterest’s lifestyle side, senior Tori Clinton creates boards to sort and discover new ways to spend her time and enjoy specific areas in her life. “[My board with the most pins is titled] ‘Fit-

ness.’ It has different workouts and motivational quotes about working out. I divided it into sections of what the workouts are tailored for so there’s a “core” section and a “legs” section, etc,” Clinton said. Clinton uses the app to find inspiration for other areas in her life as well. “I mainly use Pinterest to draw ideas from for hair and beauty-type things, but I also use it to find good recipes and books I want to read,” Clinton said. Being a teacher who is herself a creative, but also strives for her students to express their creativity, art teacher Candis Oberdorf uses Pinterest regularly to aid her imagination. “I use Pinterest as inspiration for lesson plans, my hair or food. I use Pinterest a lot,” Oberdorf said. “I have 192 boards, and each board has at least 20 pins in it. My husband calls me a serial-pinner.” Having a board for almost everything, Oberdorf has favorites where she adds most of her ideas. “My hair board has 147 pins. Silas, my youngest kid’s board has 306 pins and my zentangle [a form of line art] board has 744 pins, but I have multiple zentangle boards,” she said. Whether it be a useful tool for everyday life or an app to find quick inspiration, Pinterest serves a hub for creativity for all of its users.•

pinterest has all sorts of tools that aid in my creative process. -avery barRum junior

Floral handpainted waterbottle Uploaded by Avery Barrum

put a pin in it

Create a Pinterest account

Find a pin that draws your attention

Create a folder that matches the topic of your pin

Add your pin to your folder

Continue to scroll finding more pins and creating more folders

Do not forget to add your friends to keep up with their pins

Texas outline zentangle Uploaded by Candis Oberdorf