December 2014

THE

CRIMSON

CONNECTION

VOLUME 2|ISSUE 4|DECEMBER 2014

the

HOLIDAY issue

THE COST OF CHRISTMAS

WHAT’S ON YOUR SANTA LIST? ZODIAC SIGN GIFT GIVING GUIDE FOREIGN EXCHANGE HOLIDAY PERSPECTIVES

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CONTENTS 16

A worldwide look at the cost of Christmas

NEWS

Photo by: Gage Henry

ON THE COVER

FEATURE 15 Paper Napkin

Meet the star of CWTC’s winter production of Annie

18 Next Top Model

Senior wins modeling competition

5 Get the facts

What is going on in Ferguson?

19 Behind the desk

6 News to Know

A look into the daily life of the front desk secretary

School app redesigned, Heart of the Woods and Feminism Club Photo by: Matthew Vasquez

7 Gifts from the office

Counseling team sets up tree for underprivileged students and families

OPINION

20 10 questions

A quick talk with Director of Instruction Kelly Ellis

STUDENT LIFE 21 Skate and destroy

8 Girl code/Guy code

Students find passion in skating around Cypress

How to handle awkward holiday situations

9 The reality of Santa

22 A dangerous catch

10 Social media fast

24 Redneck holidays

A look into the sport of sharkfishing

Should parents tell their children about Santa?

SPORTS 11 Running on empty 12 An NFL family

Teacher speaks about sons in the NFL

14 Navigating the paint

Basketball player commits to university

ENTERTAINMENT 26 Zodiac gift-giving A guide to giving gifts by the stars

Photo by: Cameron Brooks

Shea Foster triumphs in senior track season

Students share quirky holiday traditions

Photo by: Flickr user Jason A. Howie

A week without social media

27 What’s on your list?

Students share what they would like for Christmas

28 A night at the movies Netflix and Redbox set to replace movie theaters

29 Around the world

Foreign exchange students discuss holiday traditions

Cover by: Shannon Steele

STAFF

editor-in-chief SHANNON STEELE managing editor EMMA FRITZ media editor ABBIE MCINTOSH business manager BRADLEY WARGO news editor REBECCA RUDOLPH feature editor KAURIANA KENDALL sports editor COLIN GAY entertainment editor DAVID GAY opinion editor BYRIA HAMBLIN social coordinator ASHLEY PELTON STAFF REPORTERS ASHLYNN BROWN GAGE HENRY KELLI KUTACH MIA LOPEZ

NOEMI MARTINEZ JACK MCPHERSON MATTHEW RAMOS LEAH TORREZ

ADVISER

ABIGAIL PAYSSE

EDITORIAL POLICY The Crimson Connection is published seven times a year and distributed free by the Cy Woods Journalism Department. The Editorial Board consists of two editors. The Board determines the stances of editorials, as well as the content of the newsmagazine. Letters or comments are welcome and should be sent to room 1866 at the school address. To be printed by the school newspaper, the letter or comments must be signed and legible. The editor reserves the right to edit letters. The opinion of the staff does not necessarily represent the opinions of the faculty of this school or this district.

Make your voice heard. The Crimson Connection staff wants to know your questions, concerns or comments. If you would like to contribute to the next issue of The Crimson Connection, please contact us at: abigail.paysse@cfisd.net Cypress Woods High School 13550 Woods Spillane Blvd.

Cypress, TX 77429

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Fellow Wildcats, Understandably, I have been thinking a lot about the holidays lately. My favorite part about the Christmas season has always been the anticipation. The moment Hobby Lobby replaces Halloween decorations with Santa figurines, I start to feel that Christmas spirit. I am the person who blasts holiday music from 99.1 from Thanksgiving through Christmas Day, and I shamelessly wear candy cane earrings I got from Claire’s in elementary school. After a month of hardcore movie watching and jingle bell jingling, I wake up on Christmas Day utterly depressed that I have to wait another year to decorate the tree.

But I know as well as anyone that the month of December is not all about Christmas; there is so much more going on in our school and community. That is why this issue is full of a mix of our classic stories as well as a few holiday favorites.

So whether you love the holidays or not (and even if you don’t celebrate Christmas at all), I hope you find something in this issue that interests you.

Enjoy your break, make good decisions and come back in January ready for the second semester. Have a fantastic holiday season!

Sincerely,

Shannon Steele Editor-in-Chief

GET THE

FACTS

What is going on in Ferguson?

SHANNON STEELE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

On Aug. 9, 2014, 18-year-old Michael Brown, and AfricanAmerican, was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis. In the four months since, the town has practically shut down in the wake of violent protests. On Nov. 24, the grand jury decided not to indict Wilson, which has

THE PEOPLE MICHAEL BROWN, 18

Unarmed at the time of death, Brown was shot at least six times but, according to the autopsy, not from the back.

DARREN WILSON, 28

Wilson, a police officer responding to a potential robbery, shot and killed Brown after a physical struggle.

caused even more distress.

The problem with the Ferguson situation is the abundance of speculation. In the months following, eyewitness testimonies changed as much as news reports did. Weeks after the grand jury’s decision, the town must face racial tension and its aftermath. C

THE TOWN FERGUSON, MO. POP. 21,203

67% 3

AFRICAN-AMERICAN

AFRICAN-AMERICANS MAKE UP: POLICE OFFICERS OUT OF 53

86%

0

OF 2013 TRAFFIC STOPS

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

THE AFTERMATH In the days following the shooting, Ferguson residents began protesting, calling the incident a case of police brutality against black men.

Peaceful and violent protests erupted throughout the country after the grand jury decided not to bring Wilson to trial.

Heavily armed police officers were brought to Ferguson to contain the riots.

Protesters in New York City following the decision not to indict Wilson Photo by: Flickr user digitaldevience

WHERE DO YOU STAND?

Sources: CBS, CNN, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, BBC

The Crimson Connection wants your thoughts on the Ferguson decision.

Please send a letter to room 1866 or email us at cywoodsjournalism@gmail.com NEWS

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5

NEWSTOKNOW Same feel, new look: a look into the new 212 app ABBIE MCINTOSH

W

MEDIA EDITOR

We all, along with other CFISD students, have it on our phones iPads and iPods. The 212 app, which is mainly used for the sole purpose of checking grades, is receiving a face-lift from senior Hassaan Raza and Assistant Principal Jacob Chacon.

Last year, seniors Rashab Dar and Andrew Lu launched the popular app, but before graduating, Dar and Lu believed the project needed to be handed over to a wellqualified senior, and Raza’s name was mentioned. The first thought that came to Raza’s mind was to redesign the entire app.

“I believe the app needed a new face,” Raza said. “Everyone is so used to [the app] being used for only checking grades, but I want it to become an app that students actually utilize as a whole. I want it to become more of a Cy Woods app and not just an app that everyone in the district uses only to check grades.”

Both Raza and Chacon wanted to redesign the app not only to make it more school specific, but to also elevate the spirit of 212.

“The new face-lift has to do with the spirit of our school,” Chacon said. “We’re always trying to be bigger and better and we’re always trying to produce the best. I believe the new face-lift is a reflection of that.”

With the update, the app will almost be unrecognizable.

“It’s totally redone,” Raza said. “Some of the new features

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include a completely different home page. It will include a spotlight view that ties in all student activities across campus, in the fashion of videos and pictures. There is a ticker at the top displaying important messages and a countdown to certain activities.

The menu is totally redesigned.

There are so many cool, little features that students will be able to see once the app is launched.”

On top of new features, the app’s logo will also be changing.

“When redesigning the app, both Raza and I wanted a cleaner and bolder logo so it’s not as dark like it is now,” Chacon said.

The entire project took more than just Raza and Chacon to complete. “[Senior] Drew Dennistoun has helped me with parts of the app that I’ve needed help with and [senior] Arran James has done some graphical things for the new app as well,” Raza said.

Tagging along with the theme of change, the new app will cost 99 cents. While some may be skeptical about the app costing money, Chacon believes 99 cents is a small price to pay.

“I would pay $5 for the app if I had to,” Chacon said. “It’s just going to be that awesome.”

As of right now, the app is undergoing beta tests to hack out any more kinks that may still exist. If everything goes well, Raza and Chacon hope to have the new and improved app available for purchase before Christmas break.

StuCo organizes Heart of the Woods

LEAH TORREZ

F

STAFF REPORTER

For the past five years, Student Council [StuCo] has organized the annual Heart of the Woods campaign just in time for the holiday season.

This year, StuCo is teaming up with the Support Our Soldiers club to send care packages to soldiers overseas.

“We create T-shirts and we sell them to pay [for sending] the boxes themselves,” junior class president Darian Taylor said. “I like the fact that we can send the soldiers abroad American stuff like movies and popcorn.”

For every three $15 Heart of the Woods long sleeve t-shirts sold, one care package is sent to a soldier in the service.

“We send care packages to

show troops how thankful we are for them,” junior Molly Malota said.

Malota is the founder of the Support Our Soldiers club, and a member of StuCo. The club is an extension of Heart of the Woods, continuing to send boxes on other holidays throughout the year.

“I think it’s really great to provide care and support for the people serving our country,” Malota said.

StuCo released lists of acceptable items, and teachers are encouraging their students to donate as a class. Students can put things like movies, books, playing cards, snacks and toiletries.

Students start Feminism Club MATTHEW RAMOS

T

STAFF REPORTER

The Feminism Club, which meets on Mondays in Mrs. Lokey’s room (2311), was started recently by a group of students. The views expressed during club functions aim to spread respect and gender equality on campus. The mission of this club is to educate, support and fight for gender equality not just for women but with an emphasis on women’s rights. “[This is] a club that wishes to promote equality for women and respect to all genders,” English teacher Candace Tannous said after attending the Oct. 27 meeting.

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The organization is in need of more people who are activists to speak out for what they believe.

“Young women need more respect than the cat calls and other inappropriate actions committed by young men even on our own campus,” club coordinator Katrese Lokey said.

Gender equality is probably one of the most pressing issues of life today. Students across campus are urged to think before they act and attend meetings to fight for the equal rights and proper treatment of all people.

NEWS

THE

GIVING TREE

Counselors set up Christmas tree to help families in need

T

NOEMI MARTINEZ

STAFF REPORTER

The Counseling team is setting up a threefoot Christmas tree in their office. The tags hung on the tree contain the names of students or families that are in need of gifts.

“What we do is list items [for families in need]; it’s all anonymous, and then staff can pull an item and then go ahead and buy it and bring in the gift wrapped or unwrapped, whatever they chose,” social worker Kelly Rasmussen said.

Staff and students are encouraged to donate and buy the items on the tags and give them to the counselors. Certain organizations from the school are also involved, like sports teams and clubs.

“It’s an awesome time of year,” Rasmussen said. “All the families that receive the donated goods are so grateful and they’re so appreciative to the people that care and are helping them out.”

Rasmussen has seen the excitement on faces of families when they receive donations.

“A mom one year [on the tree] had no pots or pans in her kitchen [because of] a fire or something,” Rasmussen said, “and a teacher got her not only pots and pans, but also dish towels, plate sets and things for baking. When the mom came to pick it up at school, she almost collapsed bawling when she saw everything.”

Donating is a great way to give back to the community. The feeling of giving can be unlike any other.

“You feel like you did something good and we might be in their position one day, so it’s all about helping others so that they can help us if we need it,” Rasmussen said.

The tradition of the three-foot Christmas tree began the first year the school was open. Over the years, the tradition has grown and prospered with the donations from faculty and students.

“This tradition has been going since at least 2008 or 2009,” counselor secretary Marguerite Howard said. “The staff is extremely supportive.”

After six years, the faculty is aware of what to do and what to donate for these families.

“The faculty always fights for specific tags because they know what they want to do for that person in need,” counselor secretary Chris Kloc said.

The act of giving is what drives the faculty to continue this tradition. The Christmas tree will be put up in mid-November. Donations will still be accepted through the beginning of December and should be in before Christmas break. C Photo by: Gage Henry The Christmas tree located in the counselors’ office

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GIRL CODE GUY CODE ASHLEY PELTON

SOCIAL COORDINATOR

H

Holiday awkwardness is at its prime. Relatives, mistletoe and parties are a recipe for uncomfortable situations.

However, with my guide you will see there are definitely ways to avoid it.

First are parties. Whether it is Christmas or New Year’s, there are always situations to avoid. My favorite decoy is the phone. Use the “Oh look I’m clearly too busy on my phone to talk to you” strategy.

Although you may indeed not be busy, it looks like you are.

When using this tip, however, do not wear your headphones because then it seems like you are purposely being rude.

Nevertheless, if you are just on your phone, it gets dismissed.

Besides, people on phones are too much of a hassle to try and talk to, so chances are you will luckily get overlooked.

If you are at a party and there is mistletoe or a New Year’s kiss, do what I do; hide in the bathroom until midnight. You could also just find a best friend and use the buddy system. The buddy system is crucial. If you have a friend of the opposite sex, but you are just friends, it will look like you are coupled up. People of the opposite sex will avoid you. It’s just logic.

Why would you want to go hit up somebody who obviously already has a bae?

Then there are loners. If you are awkward but want to

Awkward holiday situations

make friends, go stand by the food. People love food and chances are someone will talk to you. Mention things such as “Wow this quiche is to die for!” You could also give them compliments such as, “Wow! I really dig your ugly light up Christmas sweater! How original!” These are foolproof and will probably work out for you.

Now comes the most important holiday tip; the relatives. The aunts and uncles you haven’t seen since you were 12, and for some reason they still think you play soccer. They will ask you awkward questions such as, “Wow. You still don’t have a boyfriend?” or “How are those college applications going?”

My goal to this is to avoid conversation completely by starting the conversation and then ending it myself. Such as “Hi Grandma! School is going great! Wow. Look, I’m so tall. I have missed you so much! Yes, I am still single.

No, I don’t play soccer. That pie looks great! I’m going to get some! See you later.” You have just avoided 99 percent of all awkward conversation, and now you have pie.

The holidays are supposed to be a cheerful time, so don’t stress. Although it’s full of awkward situations, they are avoidable. With my tips, your holidays should be merry.

W

With the holidays fast approaching, it’s time to get ready for those holiday situations that, regardless of how much you try to avoid them, always seem to pop up. Whether it’s dealing with decorations you don’t want to put up, the weird relatives you meet once a year or receiving a gift you dislike while still having to act like you love it, all of these situations can be avoided. Here’s your guide to deflecting those situations and handling smoothly.

The holiday season is notorious for decorations and as festive as they look, they are a pain to put up. All the clips that need to be attached to lights in order for them to be hung, the tediousness of laying out the decorations and even the amount of time it takes to put them up make it unenjoyable. Not to mention the freezing cold weather you have to stand out in just to put up the outside decorations.

With all these negatives, it’s best to avoid these “festive” activities. In order to do so follow the simplest piece of advice I can give you: do your homework. Not literally do your homework, but “do your homework.” By that I mean tell your parents that you have homework to do anytime that they bring up decorating.

Now don’t lie and make up

BRADLEY WARGO

BUSINESS MANAGER

something. That’s wrong.

But if you don’t have any homework tell your parents you need to study for a big test that you’ll have when you get back. You may not have one the week you get back, but you will have one, so it’s not really lying.

Now, the next two situations kind of go hand in hand since most of the time it’s the weird relatives who you see once a year that get you a gift you dislike. Dealing with those strange relatives is relatively easy [pun intended] following the three step rule.

Step one, say hi and give them a hug. You may have to suffer through one kiss in this stage but it’s better than the 50 you’d get otherwise. Step two, talk for a few minutes and then say you’re going to go talk to some other people, or if it’s only them there, say you’ve got to go take care of a few things. Step three, stay away. Simple as that. This same process is applied to the disliked gift. Say thank you, give them a hug, pull away to avoid a kiss, and then move on to the next gift or onto the next activity.

Follow these basic rules and you should be all set to deal with those situations that we all find ourselves in, and that we all definitely wish we weren’t in.

DISCLAIMER: The purpose of these articles are not to show discrepancies between sexes, but rather to show two separate opinions.

The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily represent the opinions of the staff, school or CFISD.

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OPINION

THE REALITY OF SANTA Should parents tell their kids the truth about Santa?

Keep the dream alive SHANNON STEELE

O

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

One of my earliest Christmas memories is sitting on Santa’s lap at my dad’s company holiday party. My sisters and I took turns telling Santa what presents we wanted as an elf took Polaroid pictures of us.

I, like many children, grew up believing in Santa Claus. I wrote letters to the North Pole and set out cookies and milk on Christmas Eve. For me, finding out that Santa is not real happened gradually as opposed to one surprising moment. As I grew older, I just sort of stopped believing. It was better that way; if my parents had directly told me, “Shannon, Santa and the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny are not real. We buy all the presents,” when I was five years old, I most certainly

F

The Santa hoax ASHLYNN BROWN

C

STAFF REPORTER

would have been scarred for life. I appreciate the fact that my parents went through with such an elaborate story to keep magic in the holiday. Children need something to believe in.

I understand the impossibility of one man delivering presents to all the children of the world in one night. But most little kids do not consider the statistics behind their favorite holiday figure as they watch ABC Family Christmas movies.

If nothing else, Santa Claus is just a nice figure to go along with Christmas.

When I have children of my own, I plan to tell them the story of Santa, even if it is considered “lying.” Kids have the ability to figure things out on their own, so there is no point to ruin the fun of Santa Claus.

Children grow up thinking that St. Nick brings their presents at night with a sleigh and nine reindeer. However, once kids turn about six or seven years old, they begin questioning the existence of Santa Claus. Let’s be real: Santa does not exist. How can one man go around the world to deliver presents to trillions of kids in a single night? That is simply impossible. Children should know that Santa is not a real person. Parents are just lying to their kids.

Parents should tell their children the truth instead of purposely lying. Just tell them, “Hey, your father and I buy your presents, wrap them when you’re not around, and put them under the tree.” There is nothing wrong with that.

Besides, kids get suspicious.

If you go take pictures with “the real” Santa and then they see another man dressed up in a Santa costume they are going to ask questions. I feel that all of this is just a big fat lie.

When I was around six, I knew he wasn’t real. My parents did not have to tell me; I pieced everything together. Children today are pretty smart and can find things out quickly. People might say you are stealing the little kids joy and ruining their childhood. However, kids will be happy either way because they’re getting presents. What kid doesn’t like gifts?

BYRIA HAMBLIN

OPINION EDITOR

For someone with such a complicated name, I get way too butt hurt when teachers say my name wrong. It’s Byria, pronounced like Mariah, spelled like Syria. I understand that it’s strange and that you have “120 other names to worry about,” but it’s December, honey. Let’s get it together.

I love class parties. It’s like “Yes. Please bring me free food and not give me an assignment.” Since the beginning of senior year, I’ve started creating new ways to procrastinate.

It’s astounding the kind of activities I will do instead of my homework and college applications. Yesterday, I cleaned, gutted, and reorganized my entire walk-in closet instead of doing my homework. Last week, I painted my dogs nails.

Holiday break is going to be fantastic. If any teachers dare to assign homework on the most wonderful time of the year, I will get a schedule change. It isn’t worth it. Shout out to Houston weather. Yesterday I drove on a street that looked like half a nice summer’s day and half like it needed a tornado warning. Also, why do people ask dumb questions like what’s your favorite color or what’s your favorite song? This is so worthless. This is not going to tell you anything about me, unless you consider “Tuesday” a really insightful melody, and it literally changes by class period. Lastly, why is it that even with flu season among us people are still not washing their hands? First, that is gross. Second, I saw you.

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SOCIAL MEDIA

FAST

Student goes seven days without any form of social media

Photo by: Abigail Paysse

BYRIA HAMBLIN

B

OPINION EDITOR

Day One

“Byria! Are we really going to have to do this every day? Come on. Get up!”

My usual morning routine includes my sister screaming me awake while I lay in bed on Twitter, Snapchat and Yik Yak until the last possible minute. In most cases, this is at around 6:55 am. Instead, I was greeted by my repulsive 6:15 alarm with nothing but messaging to communicate with the outside world. This was not too terrible. Attempting to remain optimistic, I try to ignore this disruption from my morning customs.

Getting ready without social media seemed nearly impossible. Most weekdays, I would send snapchats and texts seeking feedback on my outfit. Today, however, today I was limited. After much evaluation and being thoroughly discombobulated, I went off to school in a state of vacancy.

After managing to get through my first few periods, I realized how often I use my phone at school. I am pretty sure this is the first time in months I have looked up in some classes. In all honesty, it was kind of nice to make eye contact with Mrs. Rivard and Mr. Vance for once. I ended up hurdling through an immense amount of work in my eight hours at school. I was shocked by the new focus and desire I now had in class. Not

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only did I accomplish twice as much work at school as normal, but I also participated in class. It was astounding. I felt as if I was making progress for addicts everywhere.

Once I was home, the temptation become intense. My mother, also being a part of the social media craze, asked if I had seen the numerous posts she “tagged me in” on Facebook. This was frustrating because not only did I have to explain to my mother how outdated and tragic she is for using Facebook, but also how I could not get on to check for a week. She laughed at me and then proceeded to sarcastically wish me the best of luck. My support system was off to a dashing start.

Day Five Sunday is the best day of the week, hands down. I wake up to the sun coming through my window at noon with the lingering chatter of football starting downstairs.

Nothing is better than Sundays, and nothing could ruin this day.

I start off with the usual breakfast of champions that my father has laid out. I immediately consider snapchatting this glorious shot, but then realize I am still socially restricted. I was accustomed to this temptation by now. While still inhaling

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cinnamon rolls, multiple eggs and a protein shake I got a call from my friend Ally about our plans for the day. We were going to see the Addams Family Musical at Cy Ranch at 2 p.m for our theater tech class and then to dinner right after.

We had finally gotten through the uneventful and overpriced entertainment at around 5 p.m. With the poor teenage acting behind us, we made it to dinner with another friend, Clare. I was again starved. Once seated I noticed Clare was on Instagram and Ally was on Yik Yak. This was not nearly as frustrating as it was last week. Here I knew it was okay and that I was not missing anything important.

Something had shifted in the way I viewed this sort of situation. I no longer felt left out or “clueless,” but rather immune to the interest in staying wired. Instead, I had become content with the idea of limiting myself and never going back to old ways.

Although I knew that at midnight I would log on and see what I missed, I knew it no longer defined me as much as it did five days ago. I had a new perspective with social media: keep a happy medium. Never let it control you. Never let it stress you out. Never let it run the way that you think or view things. Always remember that too much of something is never a good thing. C

OPINION

[FOSTER]ING SUCCESS

Cross Country runner named High School Heisman State Winner

Photo by: Cameron Brooks

Shea Foster on the first leg of the Regional meet

JACK MCPHERSON

C

STAFF REPORTER

Senior Shea Foster is one of two state winners for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Program, which recognizes outstanding students across the country for their athletic prowess, academic achievement and leadership within their community.

Foster represents Texas along with Bellaire High School’s Samantha Smith, who were selected from a group of 20 state finalists.

The 5-foot-8, 135-pound Foster, who lettered in cross country, basketball, and track and field, recently placed among the top 60 runners in the state at the Class 6A Cross Country Championships.

Although he is proud of the honor, Foster said the High School Heisman recognition is not even his proudest achievement.

“My greatest achievement, I’d say, is making the guys around me better,” Foster said. “Everybody says that cross country is an individual sport, but they’re wrong. It’s about the team, and I’ve done my best to make the guys around me great.”

SPORTS

Not only has the team rallied around Foster, but so have his competitors on the course.

“There have been a lot of guys who I compete against who ask, ‘Shea, how do you do stuff like that?’ and I’m like, ‘Well I just run.’”

“There have been a lot of guys who I compete against who ask, ‘Shea, how do you do stuff like that?’ and I’m like, ‘Well I just run,’” Foster said, “so on off days I’ll ask those guys if they want to come run with me. I’m able to help everybody I can get better.”

Foster said this mentality comes from coaches like cross country coach Greg Zarate, who have aided him in finding the way.

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“Every day, coach says, ‘What is everyone else doing? The other teams, they’re trying to do the same thing you’re doing, they’re trying to get the best times,’” Foster said.

“Whether we’re doing intervals or laps, you’re breathing heavy, you’ll hear Coach Zarate in the background. ‘What are they doing?’ It pushes you.”

Foster, who placed third overall in the regional meet and first in the district meet, said he was pleasantly surprised by his success in 2014.

“It went better than expected,” he said. “I thought I would do well, but everybody else is just working so hard. I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but it went well.”

In the High School Heisman competition, Foster and Smith will compete against winners from other regions for a chance to be named one of 12 national finalists. That group will compete for the national title in New York City on Dec. 12.

The winners will be recognized during the collegiate Heisman Trophy announcement on Dec. 13. C

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FRIDAY NIGHT

LIGHTS TO

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS Two sons of Carlton Center teacher played in the NFL

A COLIN GAY

SPORTS EDITOR

A lot of young boys’ dream is to play a professional sport. It is a rare feat to know anyone who plays professionally. Coach John Skelton, a special education teacher at the Carlton Center, has two sons, John and Stephen Skelton, who each played in the National Football League.

The Skelton household was always filled with sports from the time that John and Stephen were young. Like average young boys, they started their sports career early with baseball. When they were old enough, they transitioned into football.

“My dad basically said ‘Alright. Are you guys ready to play football?’” Stephen said.

“My brother started in the same year I did, so basically, it was time for us to start playing.”

The transition from little league football to peewee football for the eventual quarterback, John, helped him become successful in the new sport.

“Playing with my dad and brother in the backyard, I knew I could throw the ball a little bit,” John said. “The first day of football practice, I told the coaches I could throw the ball and they stuck with me and I have been there ever since.”

While most children usually play with the YMCA, the Skelton brothers took a different path.

“Nothing against the YMCA, but when there is no score, no winner and you are out there to have fun, you are not going to learn anything,” Coach Skelton said. “In order to be successful, you need to play with the best and play in the best league.”

That was exactly what they did. Coach Skelton put his sons into the toughest football league in El Paso, where the family grew up.

“We came into the other leagues and it was like men playing boys,” Coach Skelton

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Stephen Skelton playing for Fordham University Photo provided by: Coach John Skelton

said. “I think it had a lot to do with their football knowledge and knowing that if you are going to play, you have to play hard every play or you are going to get smacked down.”

With that tough mentality coming from a young age, both John and Stephen were prepared for Texas high school football.

However, high school football in El Paso is nothing like football in the rest of the state.

“I tell people that I grew up in Texas and they are like Friday night lights, big games, the team must have been pretty good,” John said. “We had good competition against ourselves. As soon as we got ourselves

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outside of El Paso, the rest of the state was that much better.”

The Skelton brothers had a different experience on the sidelines each Friday night with their dad on the field coaching the offensive line.

“It was good having him there,” John said. “It was always football. At school or after we got home, there was always football and that was cool to have.”

Coach Skelton made sure his sons were not getting any special treatment from him during practice, even if he was not their position coach.

“Stephen would sometimes say, ‘Dad

SPORTS

John Skelton playing Quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals Photo provided by: Coach John Skelton

is harder on us more than anyone else,’” Coach Skelton said. “I was because if I slacked on them, then this kid over there would wonder why my son is getting away with that. So, I made it a point to find something wrong on every play.”

With Coach Skelton being so tough on John and Stephen, they both succeeded in high school. Eventually, both brothers took their talents to the Bronx where they played at Fordham University. In the years they were there, the team was very successful for being a small program.

“It’s not big time football, which I am used to after growing up in El Paso,” John said.

“There would be games where you could count the number of people in the stands even when we were good and winning.”

As their careers at Fordham progressed, their paths to the NFL seemed to separate.

“Scouts kept coming and coaches told me if you work hard you may have a shot at the next level,” John said. “At first I didn’t even consider it [playing in the NFL] and it was more of a pipe dream that every kid dreams of.”

The Arizona Cardinals picked John in the fifth round after trading for the Pittsburgh Steelers spot earlier in the draft. Draft day was very emotional for the whole family.

SPORTS

“When I got that phone call and my name came across the screen there was a splurge of euphoria,” John said. “Everyone in the room was cheering, some were crying.”

Stephen had a harder time getting to the next level.

“We didn’t think Stephen would be drafted,” Coach Skelton said. “We always knew he would end up as a free agent because he had gone to too many tryouts and workouts.”

Stephen did end up making an NFL team, signing with the Arizona Cardinals after the draft. There were multiple reasons why he chose that team out of the five that were pursuing him.

“John was a huge part of it,” Stephen said. “The Cardinals only had two tight ends signed to their roster at the time. It was one of the best opportunities.”

Even though they were with the same team, John and Stephen had two very different roles. John started the last four games of his rookie year. Stephen was struggling to stay on the practice squad.

“He never made a 53 man roster, but always made the six man practice squad,” Coach Skelton said. “Stephen got nothing but great compliments like the defensive coaches saying that he makes them better.”

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Stephen, after two years struggling to find a spot on the practice squad, hung up his cleats and landed a job as an oil broker.

His first year out of football was the most difficult.

“The first months, I couldn’t even watch football. It was just too depressing,” Stephen said. “Now that I am getting into the flow of real life, it is getting better, but football was easily the greatest years of my life.”

John is still technically active but not currently on an NFL team.

Coach Skelton moved to Cypress last year from El Paso. He hopes to coach either baseball or football in the district.

“This district is loaded, man,” Coach Skelton said. “It would be nice just to coach and not have to pump them up and fire them up. They know how to play and want to play.”

Coach Skelton’s sons wanted to play football for a living and found a way to achieve it.

“I mean the odds of making it [to the NFL] are astronomical,” Coach Skelton said. “Coming from a small high school and a small college, it is just unbelievable.” C

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NAVIGATING

THE PAINT

Jhelean Wesley’s journey from a high school athlete to a college bound athlete

B DAVID GAY

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Big men who score are important on a basketball team, but an equally important component are the players who score easy points in the paint and draw the fouls. That is why Henderson State University commit Jhelean Wesley is so important to the varsity basketball team.

Senior Guard Jhelean Wesley has been on the varsity basketball team for three years, but he has always had a passion for the game.

“I have been playing basketball since I was four years old,” Wesley said. “My dad was a high school basketball coach for 20 years. He is the one [who] exposed it to me.”

Wesley’s dad has guided him and his younger brother, who also plays on varsity as a point guard, to be the best basketball players that they can be.

“My dad has led me in the right direction,” Wesley said. “He keeps me motivated and is always in my ear about how I can get better.”

Along with the motivation from his dad, his mother has been motivating him in a different way. Wesley’s mom passed away from cancer a few years ago, but she still pushes him to be the best he can be on and off the court.

“My mom has kept me focused to try and use basketball to get my higher education,” Wesley said.

Support also comes outside of his home.

His coach, Chris Draudt, also thinks highly of Wesley.

“He leads by example,” Draudt said. “He’s really good in the classroom. We never have

to worry about him there. He always shows up to practice on time and practices hard.

When he does this, it tends to rub off on some of the other players.”

Wesley’s attitude influences individuals he used to play against who are now his teammates.

“I played against him in middle school,” senior Samir Sehic said. “It’s kind of funny, once an enemy and now a teammate, but I’ve always had a great relationship with him from the beginning. He’s a good kid.”

Wesley’s style of play is pretty common for his position.

“Shooting the ball and getting to the basket are the most important skills that I have,” Wesley said. “I also get in the paint a lot and draw lots of fouls. I earn easy points that way.”

Sehic admires the style of Wesley’s play.

“I wish that I could have his quickness,” Sehic said. “His style of play is a lot different from mine. We work together really well.

That’s the reason why we love playing with each other because we are so different.

Together we flourish.”

He has high expectations on who he wants to play like on the court.

“I want to be like Kobe,” Wesley said. “He is just so versatile and he can attack from anywhere on the court.”

His style of play impressed many colleges. Wesley was first exposed to one of his options, Henderson State University, by a basketball camp.

“I was not big on going to camps but one of my friends told me to come,” Wesley

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RATIO OF UNDERGRADUATES PLAYING FOR ANY UNIVERSITY

said. “I met the coach and he followed me around the Summer Circuit.”

The Summer Circuit is a series of tournaments that Wesley participated in with elite players around the country. He built a relationship with Henderson State’s coach through those tournaments.

“The coach at Henderson State got close to me and we built a relationship,” Wesley said. “He said that I fit his system perfectly and then they offered me a place on their team.”

Wesley has many goals when he goes to Henderson State next year.

“My main goal in college is to be in the rotation as a freshman,” Wesley said.

After high school and college, Wesley wants to go further in his basketball career.

“My goal is to go overseas or play in the league somewhere,” Wesley said.

Sehic thinks that his goal is likely to be a reality.

“It’s all about the mindset and where you take your game,” Sehic said. “With Jhelean, the sky’s the limit.”

But, before college, Wesley has one more season on the varsity team. He has high expectations for the team this year.

“I love my high school team,” Wesley said. “If everyone buys into the chemistry, we will do well this year.”

Many teammates believe Wesley is an irreplaceable member of the team.

“Without Jhelean, we wouldn’t be the team we are now,” Sehic said. “I am blessed to be his friend.” C

MsMeeny ADVERTISEMENT

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SPORTS

WHERE: School auditorium ON HER PLATE: Freshman year, rehearsals that run until almost 10 o’clock, and being the leading role, it can be hard to find a healthy balance.

How did you get Do you have a involved in theater? favorite musical?

I’ve been involved in theater for years.

I started out in community theaters and my mom told me to audition for some of the plays and I ended up really liking it.

Oh, that’s a really hard question. Um, I think my favorite one right now is “In The Heights.”

Is there anyone you look up to in the theater world?

Is “Annie” your first play to be a part of in I really look up to my older sister. She high school? attended Cy Woods It is! It’s so exciting! and is really into What does it feel like theater. She’s had a to be cast as the lead great impact on me role in your very first and my theater career so far. school play?

THE PAPER NAPKIN INTERVIEW

Dishing with We talk “Annie,” acting and aces with Hananiah Montoya, the freshman who plays the lead role in theater’s production of “Annie” ABBIE MCINTOSH

MEDIA EDITOR

It’s something new to me and while it feels a little weird, it’s really amazing.

Do you want to do anything with theater once you leave high school?

Were you trying out for the part of “Annie”?

I was auditioning for any part in the play, but being cast as Annie has been wonderful so far.

Yes. I want to go on and possibly be on Broadway.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love to sing and act.

It’s a passion of mine.

Any last words?

Come out and support Cy Woods Theater Company by watching our production of “Annie.” C

Are there any misconceptions about theater?

People believe that What was your everyone in theater reaction when you has a very outgoing realized you snagged personality, but that’s the leading role? not always the case.

There was a lot of screaming and laughing. Is there anything want the I was really excited and you student body to I couldn’t believe that I know about theater was the leading role. that they may not You’re only a know? freshman.

What We really work a do you expect/ lot. We’re up here want from your sometimes until 9 or experience in 10 o’clock. It’s intense. theater?

I want to have close What is the last relationships with thing you scribbled everyone in theater, and on a paper napkin?

I believe being a part That’s so random, but of the cast of “Annie” I guess it would be just will help me to begin random doodles. achieving that goal.

Montoya acting out a scene from “Annie” Photo by: Julia Held

FEATURE

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15

$ 4.99

the average cost of a roll of wrapping paper

$ 95

on average how much one family will spend on Christmas dinner

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NUMBERS $ 46

the average amount spent on a real Christmas tree

$ 78

the average amount spent on an artificial Christmas tree

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Statistics provided by: Statista.com

MODEL STATUS

Senior wins modeling competition ASHLEY PELTON

SOCIAL COORDINATOR

W

While some high school students are trying to make their Instagram posts model worthy, senior Maggie Todd is living the dream. Todd received first place at the 13th Annual Barbizon Southeastern competition in October.

“I started modeling in a funny way actually,” Todd said. “[Last year] a lady came up to me at a kiosk and said I should try modeling, and on a whim I did. Usually I avoid those people at all costs, but I actually listened that day and signed up for modeling classes.”

What started as a chance of fate turned into a future of promise.

“I participated in the competition with

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All photos by: Ethan Stewart

about 600 girls,” Todd said. “There [are] 10 different divisions and they categorize you in the type of modeling you do. They add up the points that you [receive] from each of the categories.”

Even though the competition was fierce, Todd used skills she had from theatre to help her.

“I totally forgot half of my commercial, but since I’m in theatre I improvised and it turned out really well,” Todd said. “My mom came up to me and said how everyone around her loved it. I was really surprised, because I thought I didn’t do that well, but I am glad I ended up having to do that.”

Next came the runway portion of the contest.

“The runway walk was 75 percent of my points,” Todd said. “I was really feeling the music, and really got into it, but then I totally forgot to stop and pose at the end. Then I was thinking about that and

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messed up on the way back. I really thought it would cost me the competition.”

At the end of the competition, Todd did not have high hopes.

“When they were reading off names, I didn’t think I was going to get honorable mention, and I was okay with it,” Todd said.

“Then they did the division winners for each section, still not me. Finally they were going to announce the overall winner and surprisingly they said my name.”

Todd won by a landslide.

“I had 25 points above everyone else,” Todd said. “I thought I wasn’t going to place at all and I ended up being the winner. The winner gets the modeling cruise we go on in the summer for free. Out of the 38 agencies, 36 wanted me. I had to go and get copies of my headshots for them all.”

Todd still does not know if she wants to make a career out of it, but as of now she wants to continue.

“They say a model’s lifespan is about five years, and you have to start when you’re young,” Todd said. “I might start modeling and then take college classes online. I don’t know who I am going to sign with, but I’m definitely interested and hope it works out for me. The sky is the limit, really.” C

FEATURE

“WELCOME TO CY WOODS”

A look behind the front desk

S

Photo by: Abbie McIntosh

ASHLYNN BROWN

STAFF REPORTER

She takes your calls and delivers your messages. Without her, our lives would be a mess. People think her job is not that complicated, but it requires patience and hard work. Front desk receptionist Sophia Graves makes sure that everything students and parents need is there for us and looks out for the school’s best interest.

“As the face of Cy Woods, my primary function is to welcome and to assist all visitors to our school, to make sure that visitors are signed in and accurately directing them to the department or area they are visiting,” Graves said. “I also maintain [a] watchful eye on the front doors to keep us safe and I know that if there is ever an issue, our AP’s and officers are just a few quick steps away.”

Graves is the first person with whom people interact. Graves is able to keep a positive attitude when interacting with parents and students.

“Knowing that I am the first face people see when they come on to the campus helps me to keep my personality in check and greet our visitors with a smile,” Graves said.

Graves has become attached to some of the parents and in the process has grown a few close relationships. They laugh about the silly things kids leave at home and how they depend on the “drop off table.”

There are parents who really admire Graves because of her hard work and patience.

FEATURE

“A parent who was here to bring her student lunch walked over to my desk to say that she had been observing me and how I had been interacting with students, checking in parents and answering the phones but still being able to stop people from walking past my desk, without losing my cool,” Graves said. “The parent said, ‘I want you to know that I appreciate you and what you do to keep our kids safe.’ That brought tears to my eyes because you never know how what you do will impact others.”

“I know that at the end of the day our highest priority is to keep the students and staff safe.”

Most people would feel pressure to say something to a person who is not supposed to be in the school building, but Graves has a different take on it.

“I know that at the end of the day our highest priority is to keep the students and staff safe,” Graves said. “I have four brothers, so I have very thick skin. I don’t have a problem with refusing entrance into the building with someone who does not belong here.”

While Graves would not call the parents crazy, they can sometimes be overly anxious. According to Graves, the weirdest phone call she has ever received was about

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a parent’s child who was in the third grade.

“She was worried because her neighbors told her that her kids would not be zoned here,” Graves said. “I tried to explain that the decision on school boundaries and the designation of open campus are generally made on a yearly basis and are announced in the spring. Based on her response, I could tell that she did not believe me.”

Graves never knows how her days will go; they could be slow or really busy. Her day begins at 6:45 a.m. and ends around 3 p.m. with short breaks around mid-morning and then lunch in the afternoon.

“I have never had two days that were the same,” Graves said. “Some days I come in and everything is quiet; I can put my things away and turn on my computer and take a few moments to prepare for the day, then there are days when as soon as I get here I am busy, and my day doesn’t slow down until the afternoon.”

In a school known for spirit and grades, Graves is happy to see widespread enthusiasm, even in the front office.

“What I like most about Cy Woods is the school spirit,” Graves said. “Seldom do you find an administrative team who is right there alongside the students jumping and cheering in the student section. How many AP’s have you seen running the flag at a football game? The school spirit here is truly an amazing sight to see and one that is envied by most.” C

19

1

2

Describe yourself in three words.

What did you do over the summer?

How long have you worked at Cy Woods?

I spent time with my family. I have two daughters, one is in middle school and the other is in elementary school. We had some good family time.

I am one of the founding members, so I have been here since 2006. I started as an Assistant Principal and later became the Director of Instruction.

Compassionate, positive and funny.

3

10 Questions with EMMA FRITZ

Kelly Ellis

MANAGING EDITOR

4

What did you do before becoming an administrator?

5 What inspired you to become an administrator?

Since graduating from A&M, I have been in education. This is currently my 26th year. Previously, I taught social studies at all levels, was an academic achievement specialist and an AP.

I was never ready to leave the classroom, but my mentor, Mrs. McGowan, the former Principal, asked me to be an administrator because she saw something in me.

8

(Director of Instruction)

6 Where in the world have you traveled?

7 What is your favorite book of all time?

My dad was a Marine, so I have lived in Okinawa, Japan and North and South Carolina. I backpacked through Europe after college also.

To Kill a Mockingbird. I love everything it stands for.

9

What do you do in your free time?

What is your favorite color?

Most of the time you can find me at Wildcat functions.

Crimson and gold!

10 What did you want to be as a high school student?

I always wanted to be a teacher and in education. As a high school student, I was a beach lifeguard.

SKATE AND DESTROY Students find passion in skating

P KELLI KUTACH

STAFF REPORTER

Passion is often described as something people care deeply about, their motivation.

For a handful of students, the words passion and skateboarding are synonymous.

Skaters spend countless hours perfecting their tricks, improving the quality of their skating and enjoying the sport.

“I love skating,” freshman Zackary Hart said. “It is a way to get away for a little while and have fun.”

Skaters spend hours trying to land their tricks perfectly and when it finally happens, it gives them a rewarding feeling.

“Whenever [I] learn something new, I fell so good about [myself] afterwards,” freshman Angel Gaston said. “There is no better feeling.”

Most people who skate predominantly agree that learning new tricks can be strenuous but is the best part of the skating experience.

“Tricks can be difficult to achieve,” sophomore Cameron Crook said. “But the best thing about skating is that there is always room for improvement and a way to get better.”

People who do not skate generally see skating as just a hobby, but to others, it is a lifestyle.

“Skating will always be a part of my life,”

sophomore John Obsheatz said. “I could never see myself doing anything else. If I can skate for a lifetime, I consider that to be a goal achieved.”

Skateboarding has provided many friendships for the students.

“Skating makes it so easy to connect with people,” Obsheatz said. “Meeting people who have the same interests as you makes skating way easier because they’re always there to support you.”

“It can get tough out there, but it never gets my spirits down.”

There are moments in skating where giving up seems like the easy way out, but the enthusiasm for the sport always prevails.

“It can get tough out there, but it never gets my spirits down,” Obsheatz said.

“Risking it is what keeps me going. I’ve already accepted that sometimes I may get hurt, and I’ve stopped avoiding that fact. I just give myself a little pep talk when the going gets tough, and I remind myself it will benefit me in the long run to go bigger and

keep trying.”

Skate spots in Cypress are sparse, so the skate community has to make do with the little resources they have.

“We usually skate around Taco Bell or behind Kroger,” Gaston said. “We really liked skating around Mattress Firm, but we got kicked out pretty quickly. That happens pretty often at places, so we just have to find a new place to go.”

The lack of quality spots can cause frustration.

“I really wish we had a cool place to call our own,” freshman Jordan Velasquez said.

“We need one really bad.”

Skating can be extremely time consuming, but finding time to fit into their everyday lives is no problem.

“We just leave our boards in the AP’s office when we get to school,” Hart said.

“Then, right when the bell rings to get out we grab our boards and head out to skate.”

For most of them, this is the most anticipated part of the day.

“Skating with my friends is always fun,” Obsheatz said. “Sometimes, we have so much energy and get exhausted quickly, so we have to take a lot of breaks. At the end of the day, the exhaustion is worth it.” C

Freshman Zackary Hart skating Photos by: Matthew Vazquez

STUDENT LIFE

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21

JAWS

LOOKING FOR

A glance into the sport of shark fishing KAURIANA KENDALL

P

FEATURE EDITOR

Plenty of kids go fishing for catfish or trout every weekend they get the chance, but several Wildcats are known to reel in a larger kind of fish. Shark fishing is an intense sport that requires a different process than average fishing and offers an exciting way to enjoy time on the beach.

“It’s kind of interesting because the way

Trenton Bird fighting a shark in Destin, Florida Photo provided by: Trenton Bird

you have to do it is kayak the bait out like 500 yards into the gulf and drop the bait out and row back,” senior Cayden Sessions said. “It’s fun trying not to tip over.”

Tipping over the kayak, if it happens, can be the most dangerous part of shark fishing.

“While you’re kayaking to the bait, you need to make sure that you’re super careful so you don’t flip in the middle of the ocean or when you’re super far out,” senior Paige Gunderson said.

“You have the bait with you, so you’re basically telling the sharks to come eat you. That’s the scariest part.”

Since the bait is so far out where the sharks will actually find it, the line must be brought on the kayak as well.

“You take the line out there because you can’t cast it that far,” freshman Brady Sessions said. “Then you come back and wait for a shark to come.”

Besides kayaks, different, or bigger, supplies are necessary to accommodate the size of the sharks.

22

“You have to have a bigger reel,” junior Rebecca Metcalf said. “You stick giant poles in the sand, then you put the reel in it, then it just stays in the pole.

Once something catches on, the pole starts shaking.”

The reel is not the only equipment that is plus-sized.

“The line is really thick so it can take the shark’s weight,” Brady said.

These special supplies tend to cost more than the average fishing trip.

“It’s expensive to get the reels and the kayaks and the fishing rod and all the supplies to do it, but it’s fun,” Gunderson said. “It’s worth it.”

According to professional sharkers like BlacktipH and TX-Shark Fishing, for around five to eight foot sharks, the most recommended rod size is about seven feet.

For a sturdy one, it will usually cost well over $100, depending on the type. Reels should be between 5/0 and 9/0, again depending on the brand and will cost about $150 to $170 in order to last for years.

The recommended line weight is between 80 and 130 lbs, possibly higher if heavier sharks will be involved. At least 500 yards of line should be on the reel in order to fight

Cayden Sessions with a bull shark in Destin Photo provided by: Cayden Sessions

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A bull shark caught in Destin, Florida Photo provided by: Trenton Bird

the shark all the way down the beach.

Despite more expensive equipment to fit heavy-duty needs, the extraordinary strength of such large creatures can still prevail.

“Last year in Destin, the line snapped and [my friend] grabbed the line, he grabbed this other pole, and switched out the reel while someone was holding onto the line,” Gunderson said. “[He] had to do a repair [job] on the spot. It was insane, because it was all tangled up, but it felt like he performed surgery or something.”

This level of expertise, however, did not allow a quick nor easy service.

“It was a long process,” Gunderson said.

“It took 45 minutes just to repair it and he still had the shark on the line while he was holding onto it.”

There are more places to catch sharks than one might realize. Included are spots all along the South Coast, such as Destin, Florida, a city known among tourists for its gorgeous beaches.

“Every spring break we go to Destin, we get a house on the beach, and we shark fish in our backyard,” junior Trenton Bird said.

“The sharks in Destin are really big. I know everything is bigger in Texas, but in Destin they’re twice as big.”

There are a couple species of sharks that are commonly caught on these adventures.

“We catch a lot of bull sharks,” Metcalf said. “But those ones you don’t keep; you just throw them back in the ocean, because you can’t eat them. But if you catch a blacktip you can eat it.”

However, not all blacktips are made to be eaten.

“The smaller they are, the better the

STUDENT LIFE

taste,” Gunderson said. “So if it’s too big of a shark we just let it go.”

In one instance, Bird set seven sharks free at once.

“One time we caught seven sharks in one morning, and one of them we were going to eat,” Bird said. “We cut open its stomach to clean out the guts and there were seven baby sharks, so we let them all go and they swam away. Then we ate [their] mom.”

Like any sport, there are many competitions to challenge each angler’s ability.

“There was some Sharkathon we competed in,” Bird s a i d .

“There are these groups who do it every year, so we found it and joined it.”

For amateur contestants, Bird’s

group blew their rivals out of the water.

“They have a point system [to measure] how many fish and sharks you catch, and we beat everyone,” Bird said. “Our point total was like 500, and the second place team [scored] 80, so we kind of destroyed them there.”

“Don’t put your hand next to their mouth. They’re very strong fish, even though they’re tired when you reel them in. You can’t underestimate them.”

Many people campaign against shark fishing for different environmental reasons, trying to prove that too many species are endangered to be fishing them and that the animals are unhealthy for humans to consume due to the high mercury levels they contain. The fishermen disagree with these points.

“The bull shark and blacktip shark

population - there’s lots of them out there,” senior Jacob Metcalf said. “They’re fish just like any other fish if you go fishing, and they’re very tasty.”

After getting past potential inhibitions about hunting the creatures, it is recommended that one be introduced to the sport before going out to do it.

“If you have the equipment, and if you have adults that understand how to do it, you can go out and do it,” Jacob said.

“Otherwise, it’s not a good idea.”

The most avid fishermen all maintain similar pieces of advice that seem obvious, however, some spectators do not quite grasp. “[Everyone] want[s] pictures with the sharks and sometimes they get a little too close to the teeth,” Jacob said. “It can be nerve-wracking.”

Cayden agrees with the warning.

“Don’t put your hand next to their mouth,” Cayden said. “They’re very strong fish, even though they’re tired when you reel them in.

C You can’t underestimate them.”

How much does it cost?

Renting the kayak:

$25-$50 for one day,

depending on where you go Buying a strong enough rod:

$100+ depending on brand and length of choice

Buying a big enough reel:

$150-$170 to get one that will last a long time

Buying thick enough line:

$50-$100 to purchase Trenton Bird holding a blacktip shark Photo provided by: Trenton Bird

STUDENT LIFE

enough, depending on brand of choice WWW.THECRIMSONCONNECTION.COM

23

REDNECK CHRISTMAS Quirky holiday traditions

M

REBECCA RUDOLPH NEWS EDITOR

Most families spend the holidays with each other in a relative’s house eating lots of food and doing their own quirky traditions.

Some students, however, like to take their own little twist on the holidays.

“For Thanksgiving traditionally, we would go down to our hunting lease and we had these big old trailers from 60-something in which we would cook a huge Thanksgiving dinner,” junior Jack Ransleben said. “There would be 30 or so of us down there and we would just have dinner together and we’d be there for the entire week. However, we’re going to be changing it, so we’re kind of in and out of our new lease which we’re getting set up right now in Corpus Christi, which isn’t too far away.”

This tradition is not the only one wandering through our halls.

“Usually we go to my grandparent’s house and celebrate Christmas there,” junior Dalton Barclay said. “Then right after that we always go up to our family’s ranch and hunt through New Year’s Eve.” To some, these traditions may seem odd. But for other students, this is just another part of the holiday tradition that keeps their f a m i l y together. “ M y dad and grandfather started this

tradition,” Barclay said. “We’ve done this for almost 20 years. They’ve done it since before any of my cousins were born.”

In addition to the years packed into this sport among the families, where they hunt is also a tradition.

“We hunt up by Fort Hood because my family owns the property up there,” Barclay said.

During this time of year, there are certain kinds of game that make the tradition special.

“We hunt mostly deer,” Ransleben said.

“We’re out there and it’s a fun sport and all, but we usually do it for food because this is what we’ll eat during the year. We’ll use the meat to make different recipes.”

Deer is not the only game hunted during the winter season.

“We mainly hunt hogs during this time,” junior Dalton Stegent said.

In addition to providing food, this sport produces some interesting results for everyone.

“The girls hunt as well,” Ransleben said.

“My mother

actually shot a trophy buck that is hanging in our living room. They call it a uni-buck because it has the two main antlers and then the third horn right in the middle. It’s a genetic mutation that’s actually becoming more common. It’s something scientists are beginning to figure out, but they’re not entirely sure why it’s happening. In the wild it’s extremely rare.”

Not only is the tradition special during the season, but it teaches each generation what they need to know about hunting.

“It’s kind of like a responsibility,” Barclay said. “You have to learn how to use the weapons right, what not to kill and what to keep. If you shoot it, you have to go and find it yourself and do all the right processing.”

When stacked up next to other traditions, nothing can compare to what makes the holidays special for these students.

“In terms of [last] Christmas, since there was no lease to go to, it was weird,” Ransleben said. “I personally prefer having a lease over being at home for that one because it’s comfortable. It’s what I grew up in.” C

Illustrations by: Laura Barbe

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GIFT-GIVING

BY THE

STARS

Using astrology to find the perfect Christmas gift MIA LOPEZ

Illustration by: Mia Lopez

STAFF REPORTER

FIRE

AIR

Gemini, May 21-June 20

Geminis are opinionated and knowledgeable.

WHAT TO GET: An electronic reader for portable access to the books they want.

People with this sign prefer a lot of little gifts instead of just one huge gift.

Libra, September 23-October 22

Libras are peaceful and keep their lives in balance.

WHAT TO GET: a spa certificate, dream catcher for their room or photo set in a modern picture frame.

Aries are competitive and love challenges.

WHAT TO GET: video games to add to their collection, tickets to a sporting event or the latest sporting gear

Leo, July 23-August 22

Leos are talented and filled with flair. Leos like their gifts given as big surprises.

WHAT TO GET: Clothes and jewelry in eye catching colors or personalized with their initials/birthstone.

Sagittarius, November 22-December 21

Aquarius, January 20-February 18

Aquariuses are travelers and enjoy new trends.

WHAT TO GET: a subscription to a magazine or a gift card to their favorite clothing store.

EARTH

Capricorn, December 22-January 19

Capricorns love gifts given whole heartedly.

WHAT TO GET: homemade dishes made from family recipes and comfy clothes they can wear at home like pajamas or robes.

Virgo, August 23 -September 22

Virgos are analytical and love colors that match, or go with what they carry daily WHAT TO GET: a planner, journal or wallet

Taurus, April 20-May 20

Aries, March 21-April 20

Taurus are reliable and enjoy simple comforts.

WHAT TO GET: a gift card for their favorite place to eat, create a gift basket of their favorite goodies, high quality gifts like perfume and cologne

Sagittariuses are adventurers and partiers.

WHAT TO GET: fantasy, sci-fi or romance novels, a digital camera or posters of their favorite movies.

WATER

Scorpio, October 23-November 21

Scorpios are passionate and unyielding.

WHAT TO GET: suspense movies, cool gadgets like a multifunction watch, secret voice recorder or penlight are great options.

Cancer, June 21- July 22

Cancers are known to be sentimental and nostalgic.

WHAT TO GET: gifts representing what they enjoy doing are always big hits.

Pisces, February 19- March 20

Pisces are romantic, sentimental and creative.

WHAT TO GET: a nice drawing or paint set, an iTunes gift card, aromatherapy kits, candles or bath oils.

Page design by: Emma Fritz and Mia Lopez

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ENTERTAINMENT

CHRISTMAS

WISH LIST

Students share what is on their Christmas lists this year GAGE HENRY

PHOTOGRAPHER

Zoe Chimielewski “I want riding boots for Christmas because the ones I have now are really bad and I don’t like them anymore,” freshman Zoe Chimielewski said. “That’s all I want. I’m not asking for anything else though, so I’m not greedy.”

Andrew Brownly “I need a new bow flex machine, it’s how I work out and my old one broke,” junior Andrew Brownly said. “Other than that, I really need gas money, I can’t afford gas. So, I may just ask for a gas card. I’m thinking I should be on the nice list, I mean I’m a good person and all.”

Ashley Brem “I really want a new car and money for college,” senior Ashley Brem said. “Other than that I want the typical girl stuff like clothes and jewelry. I should be on the nice list because i always volunteer to teach the 4 and 5 year olds on the Lone Star swim team how to swim.”

Nick Caleffe “I want a new DGK skateboard, some new skate shoes, grip tape and wheels and trucks for my boards,” sophomore Nick Caleffe said. I’m probably on the naughty list because I’m always out skating at places I’m not supposed to be, like behind Kroger, by Mattress Firm and at the Metro.”

Page designed by: Emma Fritz

ENTERTAINMENT

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27

TO GO OR TO STAY?

Are movie theaters being replaced by home theaters?

BRADLEY WARGO

T

BUSINESS MANAGER

To understand the recent trend in movie going, a quick history refresher is in order.

The first successful, permanent theatre showing only films was “The Nickelodeon” in Pittsburgh in 1905 and in 1933 the first drive-in movie theater was opened, according to History.com. This is relevant since it tells us that movies and the way we watch them have been a form of entertainment for over a 100 years. The recent trend, however, has shown that ticket sales are dwindling, and fast. Yet, as the movie-going trend decreases, at home movie watching is increasing in large part due to Netflix.

This declining trend of attending the movies is having a hard impact on movie theaters, both drive-in and the classic cinemas, all around. According to drive-ins.com, only 336 drive-in movie theaters are still open, which is a drastic change from the 4063 drive-ins that were open during 1958. Even for the classic cinemas, the trend has not been positive. Statistics gathered by the-numbers.com show that since 2009, movie ticket sales have dropped each year progressively, except for 2012, which, due to the number one hit movie, The Avengers, saw a temporary spike in sales.

In correlation with lower ticket sales, Netflix saw a dramatic increase in subscribers during 2008 and had similar numbers of subscribers each year after.

It should not be a big surprise that people are staying home more and more instead of going out. With movies, shows and extras right at your fingertips, it is not logical to spend $9 per person per movie. Also, staying home and watching a movie lets you sit in a seat you like, with the option to pause the movie and go to the bathroom, answer a call from a friend or actually have inexpensive food that you want to eat. These reasons, make it more logical to just stay home and watch movies. The only real downside is that new movies are not available for a couple of months after they come out. However, according to fool.com, Netflix is already working with movie companies to allow Netflix subscribers access to movies the same day they open in movie theaters.

It is not like movie theaters will be gone tomorrow, but don’t expect going to the movies to be the norm 50 years from now. Instead, expect more of a night ‘out’ as a night ‘in,’ with your newly renovated movie room showing a Netflix feature presentation. C

BY THE NUMBERS

Illustration by: Laura Barbe

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ENTERTAINMENT

WORLD AROUND THE

EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS

SHANNON STEELE & EMMA FRITZ

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & MANAGING EDITOR

ELISA CROCIONI, ITALY Junior Elisa Crocioni, a foreign exchange student from Italy, has noticed a few differences between holiday celebrations in America and her home country.

“The holidays here are crazy, but I like it a lot,” Crocioni said. “It’s very different from Italy, so I am looking forward to the holiday season.”

HENRIETTE DILLINGOEEN, NORWAY Only a few months into her foreign exchange program, Norwegian junior Henriette Dillingoeen will be spending the holidays in Texas. “I don’t get how you can celebrate Christmas without snow,” Dillingoeen said. “In Norway, we get tons of snow around the holidays.”

JOHANNES BACH, DENMARK Sophomore Johannes Bach, a foreign exchange student from Denmark, is surprised to find that the United States does not begin prepping for the holidays sooner.

“We prepare [in Denmark] several weeks before Christmas to make the food,” Bach said.

“In Denmark, Christmas is much more prepared for than in the United States.”

ENTERTAINMENT

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29

REVIEWS

The Lame Half of a Mockingjay: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 BRADLEY WARGO

Masterpieces Take Time: Boyhood DAVID GAY

BUSINESS MANAGER

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

The newest installment in the Hunger Games franchise, Mockingjay, should not be on the must see list. The movie itself is not bad, as it follows closely with the book, has great character development and great cinematography. It is the never ending feel with many slow, almost sleep worthy, parts and the abrupt halt at a climactic moment, that makes this movie not a must see. At least the other franchises, such as Harry Potter, had part one end on more of an episode type note with a wrapped up feeling while hinting at what is to come. As a movie watcher it would probably be better to watch the two parts together instead of feeling like you’ve only watched half a movie for the next 12 months. Mockingjay picks up where the second movie Catching Fire left off, with Katniss rescued and Peeta in the hands of the Capitol.

This movie has more of an enclosed and eerie feeling to it than the others thus far have had. This should not come as a surprise as the rebellion is becoming the movie’s focus, and most rebellions take place ‘underground.’ Unlike the openness of the games with Katniss and company running through the woods, this movie has them enclosed in a bunker as they build their forces to fight back. The enclosed feeling is further felt with Katniss’ internal battles as she struggles to come to terms with the consequences her actions have on others. Overall with the propaganda, suppression, and endless fear of being caught and destroyed the movie feels a lot more like a war movie as the rebels begin to gain traction and tensions rise. Hopefully, Part Two picks up with and the action can finally start with them making a push for their freedom, in what will probably be one of the year’s biggest war movies.

B

I have always wondered how they could put real life into a movie. It is so hard to grasp the essence of reality and put it into a film, or an enjoyable film for that matter. “Boyhood,” the newest release from director Richard Linklater, brings real life to the big screen. Shot over a span of 12 years, Eller Coltrane shines as Mason, a six year old boy who, throughout the movie, grows up through our eyes. This movie lets the viewer take a glimpse into this boy’s childhood. As he grew up through the movie, his maturity blossoms and you can see the influences that his parents had on him. Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette both have career- defining performances as his biological parents. As I watched this movie, I felt as if I was living through this movie. Familiar with Houston, I felt a sense of nostalgia watching familiar buildings go by, especially when the dad takes the kids to an Astros game, it reminded me of my parents taking me to Astros games when I was younger and the excitement that occurred. The events that occurred in this movie are events that occur with every family once in their life.

Mason went through divorce, break-ups, and bullying through the time that the viewer spends with him. All of us go through something like that in our lives and I think that’s why this movie appealed to so many people. This was one of the best movies that I have seen all year and pretty much a lock for a Best Picture nomination. Linklater’s direction is nothing like he has done before. His direction is revolutionary and we will see nothing like this movie ever again in our lifetime. This movie is a masterpiece and I highly recommend it.

Looking Back on the Hits : DAVID GAY She & Him Classics ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Zooey Deschanel is everywhere. She’s on TV with New Girl, on the big screen with films like 500 Days of Summer and Elf. She is also everywhere on the new album Classics. It seems like she does not get a break. She, along with M. Ward, make up She & Him. They are a duo setting out to make music like musicians did in the old days. They accomplished that with their fourth album Classics. Everything on Classics is covers of songs from the past. The album is a huge nostalgia trip yearning for that time period. As the album progresses, everything starts to get repetitive. There are times where it is Jazz Standard after Jazz Standard repeat.

It gets boring. Deschanel is also focused too much on this album. In this duo, she gets most of the vocals, leaving Ward out of the Spotlight. But, there are some highlights and they usually come where M. Ward has, at least, background vocals.

Songs including “Time After Time” [not

the Cyndi Lauper song] and “Would You like to take a Walk?” showcases both of the voices in like a duet style which it should be. His harmony blends in with her unique vocals perfectly. Only one time Ward gets the lead vocals. On “She”, his wonderful voice is the focus as Deschanel provides the backing vocals. It is a nice change from the rest of the album. The other highlight of this album is the instrumentation behind the vocals. The abundance of brass and M. Ward’s masterful guitar playing brings the songs to another level. The producing and skill put behind the background music on this album is astonishing. That is the most interesting part of the album by far. Overall, this album is a great tribute to America’s past and the music that was released back then. It seems like that this album will only be a placeholder for some original music to come, at least I hope that it is.

B +

A

MIXED

BEST OF THE BEST: MOVIES OF THE YEAR

1) AMERICAN HUSTLE 2) ANCHORMAN 2 3) BOYHOOD 4) GONE GIRL 5) GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

6) HER 7) INTERSTELLAR 8) SNOWPIERCER 9) THE LEGO MOVIE 10) X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURES PAST

BEST OF THE BEST: ALBUMS OF THE YEAR

1) JACK WHITE LAZARETTO 2) BECK MORNING PHASE 3) FOSTER THE PEOPLE SUPERMODEL 4) BLEACHERS STRANGE DESIRE 5) ALT-J THIS IS ALL YOURS

6) JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW POST TROPICAL 7) RAY LAMONTAGNE SUPERNOVA 8) FIRST AID KIT STAY GOLD 9) LECRAE ANOMALY 10) TAYLOR SWIFT 1989

DECEMBER REVIEWS www.thecrimsonconnection.com

UPCOMING DECEMBER 18 American Authors at Bayou Music Center DECEMBER 19 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies & Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb in theaters Phantogram at Bayou Music Center DECEMBER 25 Unbroken & The Interview in theaters DECEMBER 30 Spoon at House of Blues DECEMBER 31 Blue October at Bayou Music Center JANUARY 9 Taken 3 in theaters JANUARY 13 Panda Bear: Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper JANUARY 18 Rebelution at House of Blues JANUARY 20 The Decemberists: What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World JANUARY 23 Lecrae at Ford Park

ENTERTAINMENT

WWW.THECRIMSONCONNECTION.COM

31

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