College Station High School
4002 Victoria Ave. College Station, Texas 77845
Vol. 8 No. 1
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
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Art students memorialize victims of El Paso shooting.
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Discussion of gun control encourages open communication Kylie Vernon Senior Editor
Seniors showcase their traditional overalls.
Built on the open conversation concept of the YouTube channel Jubilee, we invited juniors Arden Duffield, Reese Garratt, Grace Garrison-Tate and Gavin Lehde and senior Kyle Anding to a Question and Answer session on the subject of gun control. Our hope is to Spark a healthy dialogue about controversial topics, so we present the first installment of the Catamount’s Spark.
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What is your stance on gun control?
Cougar Cross seniors make plans for the future.
INDEX
News Opinions People Sports Health & Rec. Entertainment Etc.
2-5 6-8 9-12 13-16 17 18-19 20
Gavin: The Second Amendment grants us the right to bear arms, and so I believe that it is for self-defense. But ultimately the purpose of this was to help us defend ourselves against a tyrannical government. Arden: I believe that the Second Amendment is valid, but that it was made in a time when guns were less easy to use. Now that the technology has changed, we need rules to change with it. Reese: Guns are there to protect yourself but they’re mostly to protect you from the government. They take away one right from you, and then they keep taking more. Grace:The Second Amendment was made when our Founding Fathers were living in fear, and times have changed since then. Our first amendment has evolved. I think the second one should evolve too, so I believe in gun control.
Have you ever felt attacked from the other side?
Grace: Yes. So, I’m in debate and we learn to listen to the other side. Most people are awful about that. They’ll go off on you without listening to you and just tell you their side. Arden: I had a few arguments where it started off as a good debate, but then it started to become more insulting. There’s a lot more of that around here
Social Media:
where the views are more extreme. Gavin: I don’t know if I could say that I’ve ever felt attacked per se, but I don’t think that people are willing to sit down and have conversations about this. It’s hard for people to sit down and talk about it and settle their differences. I don’t know if I’d say that I’ve ever been personally attacked, but I have gotten a lot of anger and disownment almost as a friend.
Do you think the government should tighten restrictions on public use of guns? Grace: I remember the first time I heard that you could have open carry in Kroger. I was horrified. I already live in fear of being shot but knowing that that could happen in a grocery store, even as an accident is horrifying. Open carry is a horrifying thing. It should not be allowed in any public space. Kyle: Yes, open carry does allow people to have a gun on them, but at the end of the day, if someone wants to go shoot someone at a Kroger, making a law that it’s illegal is not going to stop them. If someone wants to go kill people then they’re going to kill people. Laws won’t stop them. Reese: On the flip side of what she’s saying, I actually feel much safer if you can open carry somewhere because that way I know that if someone does walk in with a gun and decides to
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2 News The Catamount What’s
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
What's
PAST PAST Seniors qualify for National Merit status Seniors Claire Gatlin, Amelia Hu, Albert Chen, Sayuni Dharmasena, Rhianna Boivie and Abigail Perryman were named semifinalists in the 65th National Merit Scholarship Program on Sept. 16.
Start with Hello Week!
Sponsored by Student Council, Hello Week seeks to encourage students to start conversations with others by saying hello to reduce social isolation. The program is a national initiaive by Sandy Hook Promise to promote inclusivity.
HOSA Blood Drive
The HOSA club collected 52 units of blood on Sept. 17, which can save 156 lives, double the amount collected at the last blood drive. Their next drive will be on Oct. 30, and those who participate can earn half-price tickets for the Theatre’s Dracula and Night of the Living Dead production.
NEW Homecoming football game & dance Game: 7:30 p.m. at Cougar stadium Dance: tomorrow from 8 to 11 p.m. in the gym (bring ID); tickets are $8 for one and $15 for a pair
Dracula, Night of the Living Dead Oct. 30, 31 and Nov. 1 at 7:00 p.m. Nov. 2 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
First NHS Meeting National Honor Society kicks off their year on Sept. 24 at 7:00 pm to introduce their plans for 2019-20.
Student holidays and PSAT in October Oct. 14-15 are student holidays The PSAT will be administered on Oct. 16 for juniors and sophomores.
Breakfast Lunch and Pie! 4344 State Highway 6 S Towerpoint
Text MAX to 484848 to participate in promotions and giveaways
4150 Hwy 6 at Barron Rd. 12677 FM 2154 at Rock Prairie 14725 FM in Wellborn
Follow us on Social Media @cshscatamountnewspaper Cougar Media-College Station High School
The Catamount
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
News
Both sides of gun control debate find points of agreement
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continued from page 1
shoot up the Kroger, there is going to be someone else there who is intelligent, who will stop them from shooting up the store. Just like in the church shooting, so many more people would have gotten killed if that one guy hadn’t had his gun to protect everyone else. Arden: Not everyone who has a gun knows how to use it correctly. Suppose one guy in the Kroger takes out a gun to rob the place. Another guy takes out his gun, but he doesn’t really know how to use it and he shoots a bystander. What do you do about that? Gavin: With open carry in Kroger you have to remember that in order to bring your weapon, you first have to have a concealed carry license. To get the concealed carry license takes multiple weeks to have enough time to do the training. So, statistically speaking, the probability of somebody walking into a place that they know is going to have five, six or even ten people who all have concealed firearms waiting, and you don’t know which person has them and you don’t know who to target first, will deter anyone who’s trying to wipe out a mass number of people. Grace: Yes, you have to have a license to carry, but they don’t have people checking your license when you’re walking into a store. There are so many good people everywhere, but how are you going to know if they’re good or bad? Reese: Here’s the thing, if you make a law or gun laws stricter so that people who are good citizens who follow the laws aren’t able to get guns easily-that’s not going to stop bad people who don’t follow all the laws. Now, if you make a no-gun law, good people are going to get rid of their guns and bad people are not. That’s why we have good people who are good civilians who keep guns in their pockets, so that way when bad people come in, they can stop them. Arden: We do have people everywhere who are expertly trained everyday in the case that things like this happen, and they’re called the police. I think that we should be using police to respond to these situations opposed to regular people. Gavin: If you believe that guns are able to fire one bullet per minute, even if it’s just five minutes, that’s one person for every minute. And if licensed individuals have training and if they know how to do their job and they’re a good citizen, it can be stopped. It is also a felony for people to have a firearm that is concealed without a license and people get caught for things like that too. The cop’s response time is way too long to consider the amount of lives that could be lost if nobody can defend themselves.
Where do you think the line is on public use of guns?
Gavin: I would draw the line at the age restrictions we do have. So in order to buy a handgun, you must be 21. I believe that in high schools and elementary
schools the only people who should have them are the people who meet the requirements and that would be teachers. I also believe that you should be able to carry your firearm anywhere in a public place. Grace: The teachers having guns that you talked about would just add guns to the gun problem. Reese: Think about all the places where mass shootings happen. They happen in gun-free zones so obviously people who should have guns don’t have a gun. That’s the whole thing. Almost all mass shootings happen in gun-free zones. Grace: No, there are shootings everywhere. A school is not a place to have a gun. It’s a place for learning, not a place of fear. It’s scary enough that our police officer has to have a gun to protect us. Gavin: We don’t want responsible gun owners to have to stop a mass shooting but it adds intimidation to a potential shooter. Having teachers in school, you said would be adding to the problem but I really don’t see how that would add to the problem. I would see that if a school shooter came in, then many teachers would be able to stop it. Now, if we just had one cop, then the shooter could get to a lot of people before the cop could make it across the school.
Do you think shootings can honestly be stopped?
Everyone: No. Arden: With how many guns that are in the system nowadays, no. Gavin: I don’t think that it’s the guns, which we’ve already talked about, but I think that it’s bad people who want to do something bad and there’s nothing we can do. Mass killings will never be stopped because if they were, then we’d have a total tyrannical government, but then that’s another problem where there is still somebody with all the power doing something bad. Arden: I don’t think mass killings will ever be fully stopped, but I do think they can be curved or reduced using restrictions. Grace: People will always find a way, but it would be nice if it was harder for them to find a way. The first step would be limiting guns or at least putting restrictions, not that that’s going to solve everything.
Do you feel safe in school and why?
Reese: I do feel safe at school because we have at least one gun in our school. But I would feel a lot safer if there were more. I’m all for giving responsible teachers guns. Then we know that at least one person who is good could stop a shooting. Whether that’s a teacher, whether that’s more police. If there were more guns, then I would feel safer but I do feel safe already. Grace: My sister is 10 years old, and she just started at Pecan Trail and I am so scared for her. I am so scared knowing that if a gunman walked in, there’s
nothing that I can do. Raising awareness for shootings or being able to recognize the people who may perform a mass shooting might really help with that. I mean, it’s the least we could do right now. Gavin: I’d like to agree with you there. It is scary and that’s also why I believe in teachers being given the right to have firearms to protect children. I do, however, feel safe as it is because though seeing shootings pretty frequently on the news can be scary, you have to understand how big our nation is and how many schools there are. We might have one or so every month or every two months but the chances of that happening to our school are very low. Grace: I think that there’s a problem in saying that the only way to solve shootings is to add more guns. There are so many other solutions. Reese: What those other solutions may be? Grace: I talked about recognizing mental health from a young age. The issue is not always mental health. There’s reporting. There’s funding of research towards mass shootings. I just think there are many other things we can do before just jumping to adding more guns. Gavin: I do agree, but at the end of the day you can only find out so much about a person that we can already do with background checks. Most of the people who are actually doing the mass shootings have not acquired their gun with a stable mental health state or have failed the tests. I have seen through my dad how the process goes. It is strenuous. They require all identification: basically your entire family history background, everything you’ve done, your Social Security, they evaluate mental health records. Grace: Okay, but in Texas right now you can buy a gun from a private seller who may not require a mental health check or background check. Anything in that whole list that you just described is not necessary for a private seller. And I’m not just talking about mental health checks as you’re buying a gun. I’m talking about people being able to recognize them, not even necessarily as a “check” but just seeing your friends and making sure that they’re okay. Just little things like that. It’s hard to do that when you’re buying a gun. It’s not just about mental health but about how easy it is to get a gun. Kyle: At the end of the day I think people kill people, guns don’t kill people. If you take away guns, someone will use a bomb. Someone will use a car and run into people. Someone will use a knife. And yeah they might not kill as many people as with guns, but people are still going to kill people. I don’t think getting rid of guns is the issue. Reese: Overall, checking up on someone and making sure they’re good might help, but I don’t think that it’s going to stop mass shootings. It’s always
Gun Control our panel For Grace Garrison-Tate, Junior Arden Duffield, Junior
Against Reese Garratt, Junior Gavin Lehde, Junior
Kyle Anding, Senior
going to happen. The overall purpose of guns is not to protect ourselves from mass shooters, or to protect our property, or to hunt even. It’s to protect ourselves from the government. Taking away one of our rights might seem like a little thing but it leads to our other rights being taken as well.
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News
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
New cell phone policy enforcement incites mixed reactions Loredana Pearlstein Staff Reporter For many, cell phones take up a significant part of the day. From educational research to less traditional social media sights, technology has integrated itself into almost every aspect of our lives, including our schooling. Yet this year, the use of cell phones at school has slightly changed with new clear, consistent consequences for misuse. Although many students have perceived this as a change, in reality, it is simply a reinforcement of the pre-existing school board policy. So, even though the penalty for disobeying school rules now has a more consistent execution and follow through, the policy as to when students should and should not use their phones has not. “The overall goal [of the change] was to basically refocus [on] the rule that was created by our school board,” social studies teacher Stephanie Padgett said, “and put the power back with the teacher to determine the best course of action for their classes.” Yet, the decision to change the enforcement policy was not a light one. It instead stemmed from the fact that a staff review last year indicated that teachers believed that phones were becoming increasingly disruptive in class. “[Cell phone usage] is affecting [students’] education, it’s affecting their learning, it’s affecting what they are getting,” assistant principal Kim Rodgers said. “And so we’re trying to help build those good habits so that they put down their phones when it’s time for instruction.” Even so, the goal of the policy is not to minimize time spent on phones in a way that will negatively affect stu-
dents’ education, as cellular devices are still considered vital educational resources. “[Staff] also want cell phones to be used as education,” Rodgers said, “and [be used] when [students] need to look up something or look at Schoology and connect on that level, but we have to find that connection between instructional appropriate time… [and] spacing out.” However, this new regulation expands past just the classroom, but to the way our student body handles the responsibility of technology, and the habits that they build with their devices that students carry with them into the future. “The overall goal is to help kids be responsible for their learning and responsible citizens on social media,” Rodgers said, “and to get more out of their education, to be able to absorb everything they can from their teachers, [and] to not miss out on anything that’s live and in front of them.” In opposition, some students believe that the student body must learn through experience how to handle their cell phones properly and independently. “Students should be able to learn and to be able to balance their time on their phone the hard way,” senior Sasha Kustova said. “In college when [students] don’t have people [telling them to get off their phones], they won’t be able to realize the harsh consequences [of it] on their grades.” Nevertheless, the phone policy, although possibly subject to further change based on its performance this year, remains. “We’re doing this for you to be better adults,” Padgett said. “Our job is not only to educate you, but to prepare you for the real world.”
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CSHS Cell Phone Policy Guidelines In the classroom TODAY, devices are... • Out and used for classwork. • Put away and silenced.
At CSHS, device use is a privilege, not a right.
Cranes For Care
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
News
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Organization strives to spread happiness at hospital through origami art Erin Park Opinions Editor Over summer vacation, while volunteering at CHI St. Joseph’s Hospital, two rising juniors, Jo Naidu and Maggie Li, shared their urge to set out for a cause. Piecing their two passions together -- origami and volunteering -- the two inaugurated a small yet mighty organization -- Cranes for Care. “Cranes for Care is a nonprofit organization that is based on making origami cranes to pass around to people at the CHI St. Joseph’s hospital,” junior Maggie Li said. “Anyone who enters the hospital can take the cranes for free since our mission is to remind people that happiness is found in the simplest things.” Recently, the two girls have shifted gears by also incorporating a fundraiser as a part of the mission. This new fundraiser was brought together in hopes of purchasing a 3D mammogram to donate to the CHI Joseph’s Hospital. Mammograms, which are targeted towards screening breast cancer, have two types: two-dimensional and three-dimensional. When finding and getting rid of minor tumors, 2D mammography machines will take up to at least six months, when 3D machines cut down that duration to a month. Its timely efficiency helps avoid the rapid proliferation of cancer cells and in some cases, eternal rest. “It’s going to save lives as soon as it is plugged into the wall,” junior Jo Naidu said. “Breast cancer is a deadly disease. Doing a little bit to help out is a step in the right direction. It’s all about doing what we can.” While fundraising for the 3D mammogram, Naidu and Li began offering merchandise for sale. From stickers and scrunchies to crane strings, each product is customizable and handmade with benevolence towards the patients and passion for community service. When asked about the price of each product, both Naidu and Li replied that there was no
set price. Instead, consumers were to fill out a Google Form when purchasing or donating, and while doing so, type in the amount of money they would be willing to spend. “We don’t like saying that we’re selling products,” Li said. “We like to think that people are donating money to the community, and we are giving them items in return.” Naidu and Li said that they hope their strong passion for community service could gain momentum from the CSHS community through donations and purchases. Every bit of support would keep the organization running, including spreading awareness to friends, family, and the outer community. “Cranes for Care should be important to everyone because community service is not reliant on an individual’s effort. Rather, it is a collective goal shared by the entire community creating a larger impact o n society,” Naidu said. “If you have the opportunity to be a part of that, you should take it, because then, you’re also helping yourself, and I think that’s beautiful.”
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Cranes for Care sells... • Crane Strings • Scrunchies • Stickers All products are customizable and prices are up to the buyer! Proceeds go toward the purchase of a 3D mammogram machine for CHI St. Joseph Hospital. To purchase any product or to donate, use this QR code to fill in a Google Form
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Opinions
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
THE CAT’S EYE VIEW
staff editorial
Ensuring students’ safety becomes a priority at CSHS amid gun violence epidemic On March 24th, 2018, students flooded the streets all around America, vocalizing their demands for preventing gun violence. Also known as the demonstration March for Our Lives, those who stepped foot into the crowd stressed putting an end to school shootings. Acknowledging that even our very own school was subject to the threat of gun violence, we, the Catamount team, wrote in the 2018 April issue our concerns regarding school safety, pointing out possible flaws in the lunch drop off system, ID regulations, as well as the need for emergency drills. However, in such a short duration of time, College Station High School has done a phenomenal job enforcing new security measures that protect and prioritize the safety of those inside the building, allowing us, as students, to feel safe attending this school. Previously, if parents or any outsider had a lunch in hand, they were granted easy entrance into the building during student lunch hours. Emergency drills were not practiced as often, and student IDs were not subject to much regulation. Having no strict security measures could have posed unexpected, direct threats to those in the school, and realizing this, CSHS was quick to establish the changes, making it necessary for visitors to check in with the front office prior to their entrance, practicing all safety drillsoften and students must wear their IDs
Desire for luxuries blurs focus on necessities What is it about having fancy, expensive things that appeals to us? Why do I conLauren stantly find Gomulka myself wanting the biggest and newest iPhone? Why is it so difficult for me to be happy with what I have? Society has fallen into a dangerous state of constant discontent. I’m constantly competing with those around me to have the fanciest and trendiest possessions. This cycle of getting and wanting and getting and still wanting leaves us with no time to truly enjoy the things we do have and even the people we have. Not until I was in the ab-
In the end, it is not going to be the trendy pair of Birkenstocks that I paid so much for or
FOR
these new rules throughout the beginning of this school year, which has helped establish a noticeably safer zone for the population at CSHS. These latest changes have become an essential factor contributing not only to our safety, but also to our mindsets. Without having to worry about potential threats, we are able to be more at ease coming to school, knowing that the school and the administrators prioritize our safety above all. The group efforts in enhancing overall security at our school are definitely one of the many accomplishments that deserve applause,
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AGAINST
“I’m for gun control, mainly because there are countries that have banned guns and have maintaned a more peaceful society.” -Siena Healy, junior
“I am againt gun control because it takes away our freedom to rebel against a tyrannical government.” -Jackson Wells, junior
“I think background checks should be more strict.” -Howard Everling, sophomore
“I am against it because it’s our 2nd amendment [right].” -Cassie Brown, senior
and we would like to thank our school for their determination and ded-
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2019-2020 Newspaper Staff Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Executive Editor Senior Editor News Editor Opinions Editor Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Photography Editor Assistant Editor Staff Reporter
Society has fallen into a dangerous state of constant discontent.
the fifty dollar water bottle that everyone else had that is going to be there for me. Instead, it will be the people that I spent my time with. The people that I built relationships with. The people that cheered me on through the good and cheered me up through the bad. It’s okay to want the finer things in life, and it’s okay to spoil ourselves every once in a while. This is normal, especially in high school. We just need to keep in mind what we are sacrificing for these materialistic belongings. We can’t let the things we want get in the way of what we need. We should take out those Airpods, put down that iPhone XR, and build some relationships with the people around us.
View of the Pride: Are you for or against gun control?
at all times. Teachers and administrators have been strictly enforcing
ication to our well-being.
sence of the people that I care about most did I realize just how much I needed them in my life. My materialistic possessions suddenly didn’t provide me with the “joy” that they had once given me. I craved those personal relationships way more than I craved whatever Amazon had to offer.
The Catamount Newspaper Makayla Fox Catie Sikes Lauren Gomulka Kylie Vernon Jayci Tawney Erin Park Lauren Gomulka Ayden Woods Aliza Ali Calla Duffield Loredana Pearlstein
The newspaper is produced by the Advanced Journalism: Newspaper Production class at College Station High School, 4002 Victoria Ave., College Station, Texas, 77845. The opinions expressed are those of the writers and are not reflective of the administrators, faculty or staff of the College Station Independent School District. Submissions to the editors are welcomed but must be signed and should not exceed 300 words. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions in the interest of clarity and length or to not print a letter at all. Letters containing obscene or libelous material will not be considered. The Editorial Board consists of all staff. The newspaper is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC) 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.
Graphic Artist Cartoonist Faculty Adviser Assistant Adviser
Sophia Amstalden Jenny Langhoff Courtney Wellmann Teresa Laffin
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, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
Childhood trauma with shootings plays part in shaping perspective When I was in the fifth grade in Connecticut, my little hands grasped safety scissors and tissue paper and snowflakes that would be sent to a school on the other side of the state. I heard the name of the school on the radio a few days prior, before Makayla Fox my mom flipped off Art by Sophia the sound with sadness in her eyes. I didn’t understand at the time that 20 children and six adults had their lives taken away from them. That the children of Sandy Hook would never get to see their classmates at recess ever again. That their parents wouldn’t be able to see them grow. Now, seven years later, I’ve grown and I’ve found my passions. I live in Texas, and I’m in my senior year of high school. But, once again, I’m making art following another tragedy. This time I understand now. I understand that on August 3, 2019, a man walked into a Walmart and murdered 22 human beings in El Paso, Texas. That is the blatant truth of the world we are living in today. I understand that sometimes I jump and my hands shake when there’s a loud noise or the fire alarm goes
off at school because I never want to send the message, “mom, I don’t want to die.” I don’t want her last memory to be of me rushing out the door to get to school on time. This country is facing an epidemic. Mass shootings seem to happen on the daily. And when did this become America’s norm? When did the justice become unestablished? Prosperity can only go so far when countless human beings are killed at gunpoint. Amstalden I’m tired of feeling survivor’s guilt for people I’ve never met. I’m sick at the fact that my children will live in a world where society overlooks the names of victims and simply keeps scrolling. And I sure as hell am tired of keeping my mouth shut about this topic. The children of Sandy Hook were the future of our society. The young adults of Stoneman Douglass had dreams beyond measure. The victims of El Paso had stories that were just getting started. As the future generation, we need to demand change. Go to protests. Have the heated conversations. Vote for policies that will make a better future for us and the children after us. Speak up. You can start by donating to the March For Our Lives action fund at marchforourlives.com/donate.
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??? QUESTION issue OF THE
How many vitamins do you take on a daily basis?
0 Vitamins
1-4 Vitamins
5+Vitamins 102 people polled
Opinions
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HUMANS of CSHS
Paula Bernal junior
“I’ve been swimming since I was 7 yearsold, and since I swim around 20 hours every week, it does get intense. But that intensity serves as an escape from my daily life. When I’m really stressed because of school or my personal life, I can just leave all the negativity in the pool.” “Coach Munson’s biology class helped me understand what I had to eat and how I had to train to become a better athlete.”
Check out our Instagram to learn more about the Humans of CSHS @cshscatamountnewspaper
COUGAR UNVEILED by Jenny Langhoff
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Opinions
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
Teenagers connect by sharing entertaining memes I see hundreds of memes a year. They have become a way for us to express ourselves, and more than life. For instance, memes like the T-pose originally came from the internet but became a way of recognizing Ayden Woods common interests and become part of daily life. The phrase “do you know da way” said by Ugandan Knuckles from early 2018 came from a VR chat room and quickly became a popular phrase to say. It was put onto hats, shirts, and even socks. There was even a
grow more closely connected with my friends. Laughing together over a good meme is always able to lift my spirits. While memes are also a way able to help me lose some of my stress by making me laugh, can also have a great positive impact on businesses. For example, the game Minecraft by Mojang was slowly becoming a thing of the past, but through memes it has become popular again. For the past several years Minecraft has had a decline in players, but recently Minecraft’s ability to be turned into memes and have a vast amount of meme content has brought it back and created an appeal for older players. I have spent many hours in the past playing Minecraft with my friends. The new Minecraft
song that made a debut on I-Heart Radio in mid-2018. Saying this phrase was the reason I was able to connect with one of my good friends. When he heard me say “do you know da way” to one of my classmates, he recognized it and came over and started talking to me about memes. We laughed and made a great connection all because of the Ugandan Knuckles’ Meme. Being able to enjoy memes has let me
memes remind me of those great times I had and made me try Minecraft again after several years of not playing. Being able to create joy out of very little is just one of the amazing qualities memes have. For the past several years, memes have increasingly become more popular, and this means that people are laughing more and having great ways to be expressive with them.
Being able to enjoy memes has let me grow more closely connected with my friends.
What is your opinion on “Old town road”? “It has gotten old and replayed many times, but it’s a catchy song and a certified bop.” Leah Tolan, sophomore
“I don’t really like it. It gives me weird vibes.” Stella Tjhia, sophomore
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Acceptance from family provides staffer with loving support Hi my name is Catie. I’m a Cancer, I like long walks on the beach, and I’m a loud and proud bisexual. My journey with sexuality started early when I was learning about relationships and all of us awkward Catie Sikes preteens were starting puberty and “cooties” no longer seemed to be a thing. Don’t get me wrong there were plenty of weird feelings and emotions I was experiencing already, but I couldn’t shake the ever constant feeling that the girls in my classes were very attractive, and my friends and I were becoming closer than we had previously been. It was an incredibly surreal experience to have as a 6th and 7th grader, especially when I found myself telling my best friend in 7th grade that “if she wasn’t a girl I would want to date her.” I didn’t have a word for what I was feeling, and I definitely didn’t know what I was feeling was completely normal. My mom was the one who gifted me a word to describe myself: bisexual. For the first time my confusing middle school emotions made sense.
Voices
I was always very proud to be considered bisexual, considering I had been so sheltered from the negative sides of the spectrum. It wasn’t until I reached high school when I truly understood the struggles of what it meant to be an LGBTQ+ kid. I’d like to mention that I am very lucky to be alive right now. In 2019 we are on the journey to having full equality, whether it is regarding race, gender or sexuality. Slowly but surely, we are getting there. I have been lucky enough to have accepting parents and grandparents who do not let the beliefs of their religion hinder their acceptance of me. I was given a wonderful opportunity to represent myself as well as others and not be harassed or bullied for it. Art by I have been given an opportunity that so many Makayla have been deprived of. Fox I want to share my good fortune and want to help pave the road to a world where no one has to be afraid of being who they are and loving who they want to love. I hope that my story can help people understand that it’s okay to be bisexual, lesbian, gay, transgender or nonbinary. We are all Human. As far as I’m concerned right now, yes, I am bisexual. Yes, I like both girls and guys, and no, it’s not a phase. It’s who I am.
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“Why does it exist?” Lilly Anne McCown, junior
“Old Town Road” is cool because it mixes the two most hated music genres: country and rap.” Amaka Okonkwo, senior
“It’s really overplayed but sometimes if I just want to go crazy, this song hits different.” Jayden Aleman, senior
“When my 6-yearolds come home singing that song, I know something is wrong.” Beth Creel, theatre teacher
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
People
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The Mighty Cougar Band Band Band
PHOTO BY MAKAYLA FOX
Hours of practice form foundation of marching season, competition Jayci Tawney News Editor The stands are crowded with over 2,000 people as the halftime show begins. Once the percussion starts to play, the band members move quickly in rhythm with the music and the color guards’ colorful flags soar in the sky. Although the polished performance lasts less than 15 minutes, the show takes months of preparation. “The band kids put in about 50 hours of work before the first day of teacher staff development,” band director Jon Seale said. Summer band is when the group comes together to start learning the marches for the season. “I think it’s crucial that we hold group summer band because we make sure everyone knows how to march,” senior flute section leader Allison Macha said. The program involves two different types of practices: instrumental and physical. “Each instrument has a different skill they work on, such as horn angles, marching and playing abilities,” Macha said.
Although some of their activities are challenging, the group understands that these practices are crucial. “At first the warm ups and practices are difficult, but because we practice them so much, we improve quickly and they really do help us improve as a
[band] is a really good way to connect with cshs students. - colin Medlock sophomore group,” sophomore percussion player Colin Medlock said. Although it may seem like a lot of work, during this time each section is able to develop a sort of bond. “Not only do you start to learn the skills for the
show, but you also get to hang out with and get to know your section more,” Macha said. For underclassmen, the summer band program not only helps improve their playing and marching skills, but also provides them a way to connect with their sections. “It’s a really good way to connect with CSHS students and some of the upperclassmen that are also in band,” Medlock said. The band’s performance for this year is an original piece that is written and arranged for the band specifically. The marching contest show for this year is “It’s in the Stars” and contains several works of music. “That’s such a cool thing that we sometimes forget about,” Seale said. Seale states that by the first home game the band should have a little more than half of the show on the field and hopes to have another successful marching season. “Our potential is very high again this year,” Seale said, “[but] the journey of the season is always more important than the trophies you get.”
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Student Life
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
The Catamount
Student Life
Marigolds For Statewide art project helps relieve suffering following Texas shooting Loredana Pearlstein Staff Reporter
Junior Jenny Langoff repurposes plastic kitchen place mats to create a larger than life marigold with a light bulb placed in its center.
In response to the recent shooting in El Paso, our Pre-AP and AP art students are currently working on projects--featuring marigolds--as a way to process their feelings of grief and sadness, as well as to show support for the El Paso community. “I have never experienced what [El Paso has] experienced,” art teacher Annie Sellers said. “Being in that situation, everything is very real and raw to you.You might feel isolated from the rest of the world,... and I think it’s nice just to know that other people are paying attention.” Marigolds are the traditional flower of the Day of the Dead, a celebration very dear to the people of El Paso, and are typically found scattered around graves and general festivities on days celebrating the tradition. “Not only [are Marigolds] connected with death and the passing of loved ones, but [they are] supposed to be cheerful, so [they are] supposed to put a different spin on death,” Sellers said. “We’re not looking at is as like we’re mourning so much as we’re remembering the good things and celebrating the life of the people who passed on.” Together with the Marigold projects from other art programs in Texas, students are hoping to fill the walls of El Paso schools with these artistic messages. “I think it will be cool when you put all [the projects] together, and it will be kind of similar
to the Day of the Dead with all the Marigolds everywhere,” junior Anne Macha said. However, the projects extend past just the gesture they will hopefully serve for El Paso. They touch on the goals of the purpose of visual arts themselves. “What [art teachers] are really trying to do is to teach kids how to communicate through art,” Sellers said. Therefore, for their projects, the Pre-AP and AP art classes have no limits as to what medium they can use. From detailed 2D paintings and collages to elaborate 3D projects, such as clay sugar skulls, statues and stitch works, the projects vary greatly. Choices are made according to what students think best artistically represents themselves and their perspective. “Art is about letting other people know that you have similar feelings to them,” senior Maria Clara-Barga said. “So, maybe [those from El Paso] see a painting and feel an emotion that you couldn’t communicate in words.” The art students are hopeful their projects will have a positive effect, along with the others from schools from around the state, will be. “I hope that they’ll see the amount of submissions and just realize that people took time to make these things and send them to them to show their solidarity,” Clara-Barga said. Most of all, Sellers and her students believe the Marigolds will serve as a reminder to those of El Paso that there is a community willing and able to support them. “I think this project is showing the people of El Paso that their story is important to other people, and that other people are there with them,” Clara-Barga said. “They’re not alone.”
n lema A n Jayde create a r o i n o or, se pencils t corner. l o c t r to New rismacolo on a stree P e uses rial scen o mem
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Victims of El Paso Jordan Anchondo, 24 Andre Anchondo, 23 Arturo Benavides, 60 Leonard Cipeda Campos, 41 Maribel Hernandez, 56 Raul Flores, 77 Maria Flores, 77 Jorge Calvillo García, 61
Adolfo Cerros Hernandez, 68 Sara Esther Regalado, 66 Alexander Gerhard Hoffman, 66 David Alvah Johnson, 63 Luis Alfonzo Juarez, 90 María Eugenia Legarreta Rothe, 58 Elsa Libera Marquez, 57 Ivan Hilierto Manzano, 46
Gloria Irma Marquez, 61 Margie Reckard, 63 Javier Rodriguez, 15 Teresa Sánchez de Freitas, 82 Angelina Englisbee, 86 Juan Velázquez, 77
Using clay for the first time, senior Taylor Deuel molds a sugar skull with a marigold flower crown.
PHOTOS BY MAKAYLA FOX ART BORDER BY ANNIKA VAN STEINBURG
Chan nelin gh Soph ia Am er talents in f sta canva s usin lden crea ashion, ju ni te g em broid s a colorf or ul ery th read.
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12 People
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
Senior Overall s
Schoolwide tradition showcases individuality, school spirit Jayci Tawney News Editor The tradition of senior overalls is a right of passage at CSHS. “Senior year is supposed to be amazing, and senior overalls are a great way to have fun and show school spirit in your last year on game days and senior events,” senior Riley Lemons said. Many students have been looking forward to this tradition during or even before their high school experience. “I’ve wanted to make senior overalls ever since my sophomore year,” senior Baylie Senkel said. “I’ve always loved this tradition and I’ve been excited to make my own.” Senior overalls are a great way for many to show their school spirit and use their creativity to show all the activities and achievements that they experienced in high school. For example, some might write the clubs that they have participated in on the leg of their overalls. “[The Strutters] started doing senior overalls my sophomore year, and it’s always been something that I have been excited to do one day as a senior,” Senkel said. Anyone can make senior overalls. In fact, some seniors will send their desired designs to professionals to be made.
▲Seniors
“I actually got someone else to make them for me because I didn’t have the patience to sew everything on and they probably wouldn’t have looked as good,” senior Macey Wilton said. Senior Riley Lemons has been able to help many make and design overalls. “I’ve wanted to make senior overalls since I learned they were a thing,” Lemons said. Lemons has been able to create her own business around helping others with school crafts such as senior overalls, mums and more all custom made by her. “It started out that I just wanted to make a pair for myself, but then it morphed into a business,” Lemons said. Seniors typically wear their overalls the day of footballs games and sometimes even during the games themselves. “I plan on wearing [my senior overalls] every game day. Home or away!” Senkel said. Senior traditions bring a sense of pride to many. They symbolize that the end of the high school career is coming and that a new chapter in life is about to arise. “I recommend that everyone make senior overalls whether they want them or not, because if they don’t they’ll look back on high school and wish they had participated in all the school spirit,” Lemons said.
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Baylie Senkel (far left), Riley Lemons (middle) and Emmi Wilson (far right) express their individual personalities through their overalls while still being a part of a unified tradition. PHOTOS BY JAYCI TAWNEY, CATIE SIKES AND MAKAYLA FOX
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
Sports
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Cougars prepare for district play against familiar foes, new coaches Ayden Woods Sports Editor The district football season is full of uncertainties as the team prepares for competition against teams with new coaches. “Out of the eight schools in our district, there are four new coaches,” Head Coach Steve Huff said. “So, there is a lot we don’t know. We haven’t seen what they can do yet.” Even with new coaches in the district, the competition will continue to be tough. “I think our district from top to bottom is a very strong lineup,” Coach Huff said. “I think our district will go down to the very last tick this year to see who is in[the playoffs].” The team has been working tirelessly to improve their skill sets, and to continue to grow. The coaches have been using the same trainings that led to win the 5A Division II State Championship.
“We are comfortable in our philosophy, and the kids believe in our philosophy,” Huff said. The team will continue to use plays and strategies that have been proven to work for the Cougars. In addition, they work tirelessly to always improve themselves. “We are comfortable in our skin,” Huff said, “Our approach hasn’t changed at all.” The team knows that with work they will play to the best of their abilities and show the rest of the district lineup what it means to face he Cougars. “If we keep working hard and keep doing what we’re doing, I think that this could be a great year for the team,” Coach Gregg Frashure said. With fewer returning and new players, there is always room for improvement. Wether it’s footwork to knowing every play, each player works hard to improve themselves. “I think our potential for growth this year is high,” Coach Huff said.
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▲Linebackers Jaxson Slanker (34) and Bubba Carter (12) tackle
a Huntsville player on Friday, Sept. 13. The Cougars defeated the Hornets 29-13. PHOTO BY JAYCI TAWNEY
Caney Creek played Vidor under head coach Steve Svendson on Sept. 13 and beat them 48-0 to rank 109 in the state.
Sept. 26
Caney Creek (1-2)
Oct.
Waller (1-1)
Waller High School is ranked 74 in the state after their recent game against Brenham High School losing 38-13.
Oct. 11
Lufkin (2-1)
Lufkin lost their first game against the Longveiw Lobos on Aug. 30, 24-21.
Oct. 18
Magnolia (3-0)
Head coach Stearling Doty led the team to a win against the Montgomery Bears, defeating them 42-10 on Sept. 13.
Oct. 25
Willis (1-2)
Willis lost their game on Sept. 13 after facing the New Caney Eagles, 39-37.
Nov. 1
Tomball (1-2)
Tomball played Port Neches-Groves on Sept. 13 losing 28-9 with long-time head coach Kevin Flanagin.
Nov.
Magnolia West (1-2)
Losing 50-28 against Foster High School, the Magnolia West Mustangs are set to play the Tomball Panthers on Friday, Sept. 27.
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Sports
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
FUN ON THE RUN
Senior girls cross country runner adapts to newfound passion Lauren Gomulka Executive Editor It may seem impossible to win a race in which everyone else has a head start, but senior cross country runner Paola Calderon is making it possible one stride at a time. “Towards the end of track season her sophomore year, we noticed something in her, work ethic wise, and we encouraged her to come out and try cross country,” girl’s cross country coach Josh Munson said. “She’s been a good, consistent performer for us in both cross country and track ever since.” Trusting in her coach’s decision, Calderon made the switch from the track to the grass and hills. “It was kind of hard adjusting to going to practices every day, and it took up a lot of time during the summer,” Calderon said. “It was difficult at first, but it turned out pretty good.” Calderon has noticed a change in both her physical and mental performance abilities while running cross country. “I would have never imagined I would go from running 200 meters to running three miles. I never thought I would be able to run that far,” Calderon said. “I know now that I can achieve more than I ever thought I could before I started running cross country.” Because Calderon didn’t start cross country un-
til her junior year, she has been tasked with catching up with the rest of her team’s two years-worth of experience. However, she has not let this disadvantage keep her from becoming a part of the team and finding success. “Paola sets an example of focus, diligence, and leadership for the younger runners during workouts and in the weight room,” senior teammate Avery Seagraves said. “She always has a positive attitude which has helped my teammates and I get through tough runs and long days.” While her teammates look up to her for encouragement and guidance, Calderon looks to her team for the motivation she needs to finish every race. “You would think my inspiration would be some famous person who runs cross country, but my inspiration is my team,” Calderon said. “I feel powerful running with a pack. It’s really cool to have your friends and your team running beside you.” Calderon’s quick adjustment to long distance running and the relationship she has built with her teammates have resulted in success for both her and her team. “[Cross country] wasn’t something that she had really considered, but she trusted our opinions of it and went for it,” Munson said. “Ever since then, she’s grown considerably in her confidence and her willingness to push mileages higher and higher. As a result of that, she’s finding success.
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▲Senior Paola Calderon runs at a meet on Sept. 5 at Waco Midway. Calderon finished in sixth place. PHOTO PROVIDED BY STACI WILLIAMS
Muscles Involved With Running • • • •
Gluteals - pull back and stabilize hips Hamstrings - pull back Calf Muscle - push off spring Foot lands ahead of body, heel strike, excess flexion of the foot, stretched calf muscle
• Core muscles - stability • TFL - brings leg forward and turns leg inwards • Quadriceps - pull leg forward and up • Foot flexors - lifts the toes and front of the foot Source: runnersblueprint.com
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Sports
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
RUNNING THE DREAM
Senior boys cross country runners aspire to continue in college Catie Sikes Managing Editor Cross country has led Joseph Benn and Siddharth Jayaraman to their senior year, and now plans to continue running in college. “They are just so dedicated to the sport of running. They are willing to put the work in,” Coach Rodney Wellmann said. “You can’t replace that, and we’re going to have a hard time replacing those two next year.” Benn has been running local charity 5k’s since his 3rd and 4th grade years but officially joined the cross country team during middle school. Similarly, Jayaraman joined in intermediate school. “It’s given me something to focus on and put my energy in to do something I really enjoy. Running is something I hope to do for a really long time,” Benn said. Both runners have shown excellent improvement over the years and according to Wellmann are equally matched in their work ethic, leadership and athleticism. “In workouts they’re side by side. Towards the end of a workout they might get a little bit separated but not by much. Even in races they run side by side,” Wellmann said. The cross country team is more than just a group of runners. It has become a family that helps its members grow and succeed. “When I came into freshman year, I had 25 guys I saw so much, in the morning, during 4th period, after
school. It helped me adjust to high school,” Jayaraman said. The grueling practice workouts and competition not only help bring the runners together, but also help them understand themselves. “[Cross country] has helped me discover a lot about who I am and helped me develop some really great friends,” Benn said. Following their second place finish at district last year, Cougar Cross has high hopes to get back into the win column and advance again to state. “We have a good team this year. Coach thinks we have a chance, so we just have to prove him right,” Jayaraman said. Wellmann has high expectations for his seniors this year but isn’t worried about them stepping up. “They are leaders. They have no problem calling someone out if they are not doing something they are supposed to, or they’ll praise people if they are doing really well,” Wellmann said. While the runners have made an impact on the coach, the coach has made an even bigger impact on the runners. Benn credits Wellmann for his success as a runner. “I’ve been running for Coach Wellmann since freshman year. He is one of the best coaches in the state. I try to make him proud every day. He’s coached some phenomenal runners,” Benn said. The cross country team has set impressive goals for this year and has the means of reaching those goals, with their excellent team and senior leadership. “Watch out for Cougar Cross,” Benn said.
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▲ Seniors Joesph Benn (left) and Siddharth Jayaraman (right) run at the Texas A&M meet on Friday, Sept. 13 at Dale Watts Cross Country Field. PHOTO BY CATIE SIKES
Texas A&M Invitational - Sept. 13
Northeast ISD Invitational - Aug. 22
Midway Invitational - Sept. 5
Joseph Benn:16:23.61 - 1st place
Joseph Benn:15:30.4 - 1st place
Joseph Benn: 6:44.7 - 5th place
Siddharth Jayaraman: 16:55.88 - 2nd place
Siddharth Jayaraman: 15:43.7 - 2nd place
Siddharth Jayaraman: 17:05.1 - 9th place
Andrew Reichman: 17:28.71 - 13th place
Andrew Reichman: 16:23.9 - 6th place
Andrew Riechman: 17:21.7 - 11th place
Chance Miller: 17.42.99 - 16th place
Chance Miller: 16:42.4 - 10th place
Chance Miller: 18:04.2 - 18th place
Parker Corely:18:00.14 - 21st place
Karl Lindahl: 17:30.8 - 23rd place
Parker Corely:18:17.2 - 23rd place
Luke Hull: 18:35.12 - 39th place
Luke Hull: 17:53.4 - 35th place
Karl Lindahl: 18:29.8 - 32nd place
Karl Lindahl: 19:12.57 - 57th place
Nathan Kerth: 18:11.4 - 44th place
Luke Hull: 18:51.2 - 45th place Source: athletic.net
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Sports
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
Volleyball player’s ability sets her up for scholarship at TCU Erin Park Opinions Editor In an increasingly more competitive world, colleges are searching for exceptional athletes they can recruit for their reputable teams. For Texas Christian University, that perfect player is situated in the College Station High School community -- senior varsity volleyball member and captain Kate Georgiades. With recruitment being one of the greatest opportunities provided for high school athletes, her recruitment by TCU is her next big step in her volleyball career. “Being recruited is very special to me because it’s not something that a lot of girls get to experience,” Georgiades said. “A lot of people play volleyball and only a couple get recruited because it’s very selective. It means a lot because it shows that I am wanted somewhere that is greater.” Trying out for the USA High-Performance Camps during the summer of her freshman year, Georgiades was recruited by a TCU coach who acknowledged the outstanding talent she possessed. The sudden recruitment caught her by surprise, she said, but soon enough, she began embracing the euphoria. This excitement put fuel to her passion for volleyball, and through her active participation in the Cougar varsity volleyball team, she enhanced both her fundamental and advanced skills, including those of leadership. Her coach, Kacie Street, emphasized her talent in demonstrating powerful leadership through her position as one of the captains. “[Georgiades] doesn’t take breaks. She’s not going to take a rep off but will continue to push
herself, and in turn, push her teammates to do more than what they think they are capable of,” Street said. “Because of how she exemplifies that with herself through her play, she doesn’t have to say anything but lead by example.” To Georgiades, her powerful leadership is an instinct, and it is derived not only from her love for volleyball but for her teammates and coaches as well. To her, they are the reason why she strives to be a better teammate, person and player all around, and are the people who made her who she is today, both on and off the court. In return for Georgiades’s love, her team has shown immense support for her as December, the month she departs for TCU, quickly approaches. “Kate’s work ethic has always inspired me since I was a freshman on the team,” junior varsity volleyball player Shreya Sunkari said. “Her drive to do better is constantly present, and her team spirit shines on the court. It is no surprise to me that she is taking her future in volleyball further and playing at TCU. I can’t even imagine how good she will become in college, and I absolutely can’t wait to watch her kill it on the court.” Graduating early in December for her departure from College Station High School, Georgiades can not hide her excitement in enrolling as a TCU volleyball member to proudly represent the Horned Frogs. “Volleyball is a huge part of my life. I don’t know where I would be without volleyball,” Georgiades said. “Going to TCU, I’m excited to meet new people by getting to experience something ▲Kate Geordiades digs a ball during a set against Consol different from what I’ve been exposed to, and just on Friday, Sept. 13. The Cougars defeated the Tigers in go, go, go.” three sets 25-19, 25-23, 25-23. PHOTO BY ERIN PARK
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Volleyball Positions
Setter: Blocks attacks coming from the opponent’s team’s left side or outside hitter
Right Side Hitter: More comfortable for left-handed players who focus on attacking
Middle Blocker: Blocks opponent’s attacks, perfoms attacks on oposing teams’ setters Libero: Mainly focuses on defensive skills, first touch and passing to teammates
Defensive Specialist: Provides passes to the setter Source: www.volleyballadvice.com
mental health matters
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
Health & Rec.
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Awareness of mental health critical to positive lifestyle Aliza Ali Photography Editor Mental health is defined as a state of psychological and emotional well being. It affects almost every aspect of life, including school, work, relationships and in some cases, physical health. “Lots of people think that it’s a fad to say, ‘Oh I have anxiety,’ or ‘I have depression,’ but some people really do struggle with that,” junior Hannah Brick said. “It needs to be seen as an actual issue.” According to the World Health Organization, half of all mental problems start by age 14 and often go undetected. Untreated mental disorders in youth interfere with growth and development, and the consequences translate into adulthood. “[Mental health] is low on [teenagers’] priority lists. With AP exams, tests and extracurriculars, those take the forefront,” psychology and sociology teacher Chad Lehrmann said. “What they don’t realize is that not taking care of their mental health is going to be very detrimental to those things as well.” One out of every five students in the U.S. deals with mental problems such as depression or anxiety. Multiple factors may contribute to negative mental health, including stress from school-related activities or problems at home or with peers. “High school definitely makes [my mental health] worse,” senior Krista Thomas said. “During the summer, I’m perfectly okay, and then I get here, and all the stress piles on.” Mental illnesses interfere with academic success, as well as relationships with family, friends and significant others. Children and teenagers suffering with their mental health may have difficulty paying attention or retaining information, poor relationships with other students and possible behavioral problems. Relationships with family may also be affected, especially if family members do not know how to
help or provide support. “A lot of people hear mental health and think that if you’re struggling with depression or anxiety, then there’s something wrong with you,” Lehrmann said. “The more we can make it known how common anxiety, depression and all forms of mental illness are, the more readily people will seek help.” Society tends to stigmatize mental health severely. According to a 2006 survey from HealthStyles, 24% of young adults believe people with mental illnesses are dangerous and 44.3% believe that they are unable to succeed at work. Additionally, only 55.2% believe that treatment is effective and 26.9% believe that people with mental illnesses can recover. “While it is becoming more normal, there is still this perception that if you go to get help for how you’re feeling or how you’re thinking, then you must be crazy or there must be something wrong with you,” said district mental health counselor Kelsi Keepers, who is on the CSHS campus two days a week. Discrimination and stigmatization tends to pose as a barrier preventing people from seeking the help they need. They are also contributing factors to suicidal thoughts and alcohol or drug abuse. “Just like we go to the doctor when we start to feel sick, mental health should be seen the same way because sometimes we can help each other feel better before it spirals into something worse,” Keepers said. Prioritizing and promoting mental health leads to a more welcoming environment for those who suffer from mental disorders and are attempting to get professional help, as well as happier, more content individuals. “If it was more well known, I feel like it would benefit people who don’t have the resources to get help,” Thomas said. “It also would make life for people with mental health issues a little bit easier to cope with.” Graphics by Kylie Vernon
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Statistics
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause for death in people between the ages of 10 and 34 • 1 in 5 youth between the ages of 13 through 18 suffer from severe mental disorders • More than 90% of people who die by suicide show symptoms of mental disorders • America loses nearly $193.2 billion in earnings every year due to serious mental disorders •43.3% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2018
Source: nami.org
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Entertainment
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
ETFLIX ORIGINALS REVIEWS Unicorn Store Aliza Ali Photography Editor
The Haunting of Hill House Kylie Vernon Senior Editor No sound, slow pan, the tension builds. Like a poison, The Haunting of Hill House created by Mike Flanagan of Hush and Oculus sinks into the deepest parts of our fear complex. Rather than outright terror, Hill House is subtler in its approach to the horror genre. The fear and depth of the show reaches far more than the average horror flick. The Haunting of Hill House follows the Crane families’ present and past by jumping back through time from the mysterious past to the consequential present. The show begins and progresses without giving the viewer the full story of what has happened on the fateful night that changed the course of the Crane family’s lives when they were children. Because of the back and forth of the time zones, Hill House can be a little confusing or hard to follow. Nevertheless, Hill House weaves together a story of the importance of family and of overcoming adversity together.
The cinematography is what really makes Hill House a masterpiece. The use of color reflects the time zone and state of the family throughout the show. Deeper, warmer shades paint the happier times the Cranes experienced together in the past while the present is filled with dull, isolated coloring symbolic of the fractured, isolated state of the family. Apart from color, Hill House stands out most for its stunning performance of one-shot length. The best example may be episode 6, titled “Two Storms.” The episode is filmed so that for the 57 minutes, it looks like 3 singular shots. I was floored when I noticed. Because of the slow panoramic style of filming, the episodes build tension seemingly effortlessly. Though horror may not be everyone’s cup of tea, The Haunting of Hill House is worth every second. The show draws out the suspense in a way that I have never witnessed before in any genre of film and it deserves to be watched and noticed.
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Starring Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson, the Netflix original “Unicorn Store” has the eccentric childhood sentimentality that my inner five-year-old is going crazy over. Movies like this have that feeling that brings back memories from the past. Kit, played by Larson, is an aspiring artist who gets a temporary job at a public relations firm when she gets kicked out of art school and moves back in with her parents. On her first day, Kit has an awkward encounter with Gary, the vice president of the PR. A few days into her new job, Kit receives an invitation to “The Store,” which sells “what you need.” Meanwhile, Gary complains about the other employees lacking creativity and offers Kit a chance to keep her job permanently by assigning her with the task of coming up with a
sales pitch for a vacuum cleaner. While visiting “The Store,” Kit is given the opportunity by Jackson’s character to fulfill her childhood dream of adopting her own unicorn. In order to receive the unicorn, she must meet certain requirements such as a loving environment and financial stability. She purchases hay for the unicorn to eat and hires Virgil, a person working at a local hardware store, to help her build a stable. But to provide a loving environment, Kit must fix her unstable relationship with her parents. The plot is childish, but in a good way. As someone who has been an avid unicorn lover since childhood, I can honestly say that this movie creatively displays a sense of nostalgia with a whimsical factor. I have been a huge fan of Larson since “Captain Marvel,” and she portrays the character of Kit skillfully and proficiently. I would highly recommend this film for any unicorn lovers and those who wish for childhood nostalgia.
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Knock Down the House Calla Duffield Assistant Editor Anyone seeking an in-depth look at the more humane side of politics or just a source of educational entertainment should watch “Knock Down The House”, an hour and a half netflix original documentary that follows four women running underdog Democratic campaigns. Before I watched the documentary, I knew the story of Alexadria Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest woman elected to Congress, but I didn’t know the journey behind the title. It hadn’t occurred to me that there would be so many stories like hers. The documentary trails four women, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cori Bush, Amy Vilela and Paula Jean Swearengin, during their campaign journeys through the months leading up to the congressional district primaries, when one candidate will win the vote for their political party’s nomination. All of the women had the same “born and raised” outlook on their communities. I learned about their
personal backgrounds and why they believe what they do, as well as the preparation and work involved in running for office. Some of these women had no background in politics, and I love how the film captures the shaping of their characters as they went through their first political debates and the cutthroat way that candidates are pitted against each other. Despite it being a documentary, “Knock Down the House” is as entertaining as an action movie. For one, the presentation is amazing. The interviews are edited seamlessly with graphics and footage of debates and marches, aided by the dynamic lighting and camera angles. The film includes bird’seye view drone shots, which enhance the storylines, and I could see physical divides within communities. The background music adds a suspenseful atmosphere to the film, and I could not have asked for a better closing credit song. For the price of an hour and a half, I discovered what happens behind the scenes of our country’s politics and structure, and it was well worth it.
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Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
The Catamount
Entertainment
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HOLD YOUR HORSES
Modern influences bring country music to the forefront of pop culture Calla Duffield Assistant Editor Many country music fans first heard the kind of “my-girlfriendleft-me-I-lost-my-job-and-my-dog-died” songs when their parents played the likes of George Strait, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. Molly Fleener, a sophomore, is one of them. “Since I was born, my parents have played country music, and it’s such a big part of my culture and my life at home,” she said. “Country culture” has “kind of turned into a way of life [for me],” senior Meghan McMurry said, an avid country listener. But the genre seems to be declining in popularity among some younger listeners, Fleener added. “People think that it’s just not with the times and honestly the older country really isn’t from this generation,” Fleener said. This could be the reason that younger listeners are moving away from the genre, just like some artists have. “I think that country [music] is losing a lot of excitement and hype,” Fleener said. “It’s not as popular, and so I think a lot of artists break off of it and like to go [in] different directions because of popularity and fame.” “The country genre [is] easier to get into, [and] it’s easier to break out [of], like you saw with Taylor Swift, among others,” senior Brandon Kidwell said. In addition to country artists leaving the genre, pop influences have brought new sounds to the old style. “I don’t think [Gen Z] is listening to [country] less, I think they’re actually listening to it more because it’s becoming such a melting pot of different genres of music,” dance instructor Jenna Helduser said. Helduser added that while people are listening to this new wave of country, they probably aren’t listening to the classics as much. “[Pop culture] started to make its way back into Texas [with] the “bro country” like Luke Brian and Florida-Georgia Line, [and] they’re starting to become bigger than the originals, the better ones,” Kidwell said.
One popular yet controversial example of combining genres, in this case country and rap, was the recently released “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X, a Georgia rapper. Some listeners think the new combinations are revitalizing country while others think they are killing the genre. “I think [it’s polluting country],” Fleener said. “Country is a style and a genre. It’s not really what it’s talking about, it’s more its more of the way the song is played.” Senior Julian Perez thinks otherwise. “It’s on the border. It’s got pop production but country lyrics,” Perez said. “Old Town Road” became the longest-running No. 1 single in Billboard’s history, holding the spot for seventeen weeks, but according to The Guardian, the song peaked on country music charts at number 19 in March. Still, Helduser is optimistic about the fusion of other genres with country. “I think the diversity is a good thing, and it’s bringing in different listeners. People that typically only listen to a certain style of music are probably more open to listening to country music,” Helduser said. Some listeners aren’t so sure the change is a positive thing. “Nowadays, music changes to fit consumers, or fit the culture,” McMurry said. “But I think it should stand true and be what it always has been rather than trying to adapt.”
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Graphics by Lauren Gomulka
Top 5 Country Songs on Billboard Music as of Sept. 11, 2019 Source: billboard.com
The Git Up Blanco Brown
Knockin’ Boots Luke Bryan
Beer Never Broke My Heart Luke Combs
One Thing Right
Marshmello & Kane Brown
Whiskey Glasses Morgan Wallen
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Etc.
The Catamount
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
Vitamins Are In
Supplements strengthen immune system Makayla Fox Editor-in-Chief
Vitamins in common foods Vitamin C: citrus fruit, potatoes, broccoli, bell peppers, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, brussel sprouts B-12: meat, poultry, fish, milk, cheese, fortified soymilk and cereals B-6: meat, fish, poultry, legumes, tofu and other soy products, bananas Calcium: yogurt, cheese, milk, salmon, leafy green vegetables Iron: red meat, poultry, eggs, fruits, green vegetables, fortified bread Zinc: meat, shellfish, legumes, whole grains Source: health.harvard.edu Graphics by Catie Sikes
Whether taken in pill form or consumed through foods, vitamins are essential to a balanced nutrition and healthy diet. “Vitamins are chemically different compounds that are essential in small amounts for normal metabolism,”said Dr. Brian Goerig, a physician at CHI St. Joseph Health. “Because vitamins (with the exception of vitamin D) cannot be synthesized by humans, they need to be ingested in the diet to prevent disorders of metabolism.” Dr. Goerig cautions against taking vitamins for the sake of taking them. Varying lifestyle choices, like vegetarianism and veganism, make vitamins an integral piece of a healthy diet. Dr. Goerig suggests that someone following a vegan diet may not be getting adequate Vitamin B12, found primarily in animal products such as dairy, meat and eggs. “I take an iron supplement because I’m iron deficient and also vegetarian,” senior Lindy Weisman said. “Since I’m a vegetarian, I don’t eat red meat, so I don’t get the amount of iron that I need [in my diet].”
A lack of fundamental vitamins that the human body needs to function can lead to common illnesses that can be fought against by specific oral supplements. “I [regularly] take multivitamins and probiotics. I have a relatively weak immune system so they help to strengthen it,” senior Josiah Dombach said. “They help me become more resilient to sickness and when I think I’m about to catch something, I load up on vitamins more than usual, and it [helps combat] sickness pretty fast.” Not specific to fighting illnesses, taking a daily multivitamin or specific vitamins will help build immunity to bodily stress caused by physical activity. “I take calcium and iron supplements because I don’t get those vitamins in my diet. They help me most in all of the sports I do,” junior Kiki Flynn said. “They keep me from getting stress fractures often. As for the iron supplement, it really just helps combat the effect of orthostatic hypertension, the feeling when you get dizzy when you stand up.” An additional advantage of taking vitamins is their mood-stabilizing element. “[Taking vitamins] helps control my nutrition and helps me perform better physically and mentally. Not taking them makes me noticeably tired and unfocused,” Weisman said.
[Vitamins] need to be ingested in the diet to prevent disorders of metabolism. -Brian Goerig Physician Chi st. joseph health
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