The Featherduster Volume 41 Issue 2

Fe a t h e rd u s te r the

Westlake High School

Volume 41

Issue 2

December 11, 2009

4100 Westbank Drive Austin, Texas

December2009 {contents}

trends + trads

9

History buff Celebrating Westlake’s major events throughout its 40 years

brains + brawn

38

Ready, set, State Varsity volleyball takes second at State for the third year straight

people + places

52

More than meets the eye Former economist with a Ph.D. now works as custodian at Westlake

rants + raves

Editors-in-Chief

Hetty Borinstein

Leah Whitlock Helen Anderson

Art Director

Content Editor

Photo Editors

Holly Heinrich

Copy Editors

Michelle Ling

Barrett Wilson Katherine Finn

Anisha Ganguly Danielle Brown

Ad Manager

Brains + Brawn

Subscriptions

Alex Bishop Sofie Seiden Asst. Jamie Mathis Katy Roden Asst. Cody Crutchfield Asst. Hillary Hurst

People + Places Katie Sorenson Asst. Hannah Kunz Asst. Caroline Hunt

Trends + Trads

Mary-Margaret Parrish Lauren Nelson Asst. Lizzie Friedman

Rants + Raves Jamie Lee Zach Wasfi Asst. Matt Frank Asst. Jake Bitting

Web Masters Matthew Chang

Adrienne Cooksley Mekala Keshu

Photographers Allie Carlisle Austin Hix Bennett Taylor Emily Cohen Indigo Colton Keren Rempe Laura Aldridge Nathan Kallison

Reporters

Abby Bost Abby Mosing Anna Macdonald Annie Valliant Alex Gieb Austin Fink Becca Burt Blake MacKie Brett Mele Chandler McCollough Christina Shin

Connor White Daisy Burgess Delaney Williams Elizabeth Petersen Emily Huang Emily Mitchell Eric Robinson Erin Armstrong Hailey Cunningham Hirrah Barlas Jared Charles Jennifer Woo Jenny Messer Jessee Haney Jessica Stenglein Jono Krawczyk Josh Willis Julie Dorland Kaitlin Wood Laura Doolittle Laura Hatcher Luci Ortiz Madison Scott Mariah Stevens-Ross Monica Tan Natalia Renna Ryan Stankard Selah Maya Z Shreya Banerjee Sofia Mitre Taylor Kidd Zelda Mayer

Adviser

Deanne Brown

75

What can I get for a dollar?

Freshman lives on McDonald’s Dollar Menu for five days

The Featherduster, the newsmagazine of Westlake High School, attempts to inform and entertain in a broad, fair and accurate manner on subjects which concern the readers. The publication also seeks to provide a forum of ideas and opinions between the staff of the newsmagazine, the faculty and the local community about issues presented.

All material produced and published by The Featherduster staff is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without the writer’s consent or that of the editors. Content decisions rest in the hands of the staff, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier. Opinions expressed in the columns that Cover art by Michelle Ling Photo by Barrett Wilson Art throughout issue by Michelle Ling

appear in The Featherduster do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the entire staff, the school administration or the adviser.

The staff encourages letters to the editor as an avenue for expressing the opinions of the readers. All letters must be signed to be considered for publication. Due to space limitations, not all letters will be published, and the editorial board reserves the right to edit them for purposes of placement. No material will be printed that is libelous, advocates an illegal activity or which the editorial board deems is in poor taste. The restriction includes letters to the staff, advertising and anything else the board feels presents an inappropriate message.

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 3

“Let Your Smile Make You Smile” www.10grin.com

Dudley M. Hodgkins D.D.S., M.S.D., PC. Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics

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Where we’re from and where we’ll go, we take with us all we know.

d l r o w l a e the r 1969 college beginning s

2049

Lauren Nelson

The time has come to look back on what’s been.

To remember these past 40 years with a grin.

Before we move forward, we must skip a step back.

In pride and spirit, we do not lack.

Our eyes have seen it all, from the big to the small.

Turn the page and learn of the past.

My my, these four decades sure went by fast. { westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 5

Featherduster file photos

Turning

The evolution of The Featherduster Black and white copies of stories lay strewn across the table as she focused intently on the task before her. Deadline was only hours away.

Drafts needed to be finalized, and the issue needed to be sent to press — it was another late night. It was 1969, and the Roadrunner Express was about to make its debut.

On Oct. 3, 1969, Vol. 1, Issue 1 of the school newspaper was unveiled. Along with the stories, the issue included rudimentary art and handwritten headlines, but no photos. During that first year, the Roadrunner Express was released almost every three weeks and consisted of three legal-sized pages. The 11-member staff covered traditional news ranging from the very first school play to Chaparral football to a survey asking whether girls should be allowed to wear “slacks” to school.

By the release of Issue 7 in January 1970, black and white photos were added. In March of 1970, the Roadrunner Express received its very first award.

As the Westlake community began to grow and change, so did the paper. Just a few years later, the Roadrunner Express changed its name to The Featherduster, named after a regular column written by Lisa Davis, a 1969 editor. Over the years, the actual size and shape of the paper has also changed, reflecting the preferences of the editorial board.

In May of 1984 the staff increased to 20 members, and the issue reached 32 pages.

“The community was really changing,” 1983 graduate and former editor Bradley Wilson said.

“Talking to the students about the overcrowding, temporary buildings and telling the students why they should care about the changes were all important. The Featherduster was the voice of students as the community began to develop.”

During Wilson’s junior year in 1981, The Featherduster received the Tops in Texas award for the top division one paper in Texas. In 1983, The Featherduster received the Gold Crown Award — a national award given to a student paper for overall excellence, and the highest award given by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

By the mid ‘80s, desktop publishing became the standard, and the newspaper class acquired two Macintosh computers — some of the first on campus. “[The computers] allowed us to have our own production of headlines,” said Dane Reese, 1987-88 and 1988-89 editor-in-chief. “We were able to create them on Pagemaker — we were cutting-edge.”

In 1985, The Featherduster was redesigned, and the paper was put on the map. In both 1985 and 1986, the revamped Featherduster again won the

Gold Crown Award, and in 1987, was awarded with the Pacemaker Award — the highest honor awarded by the National Scholastic Press Association.

By the early 1990s the staff reached 35 members, and while The Featherduster was mostly black and white, the cover and center spread were printed in color. In addition to the regular sections, the staff chose a special topic to report on for each issue. In the March issue of 1990, the staff covered teenage marriage, and in 1995 the staff took on topics such as AIDS, homosexuality and underage drinking.

“When I was a senior, a classmate of mine was involved in a drunk driving accident in which a woman died,” 1997-98 editor-in-chief Corrie MacLaggan said. “We did an issue focusing on teen drinking and driving that I think was really powerful and timely.”

MacLaggan is currently a reporter for the Austin American-Statesman, covering state government and politics including the 2010 governor’s race.

“I’d say The Featherduster was pretty relevant to what I do,” MacLaggan said. “Being on the staff is what hooked me on journalism.”

As The Featherduster transitioned from a traditional newspaper to a newsmagazine format in the late 1990s, the staff focused on writing more personality profiles of students and community members.

“Some of my most memorable stories of The Featherduster were about the people,” 1999-00 editor-inchief Mildred Yuan said. “I remember writing about the lovely school receptionist who was fighting breast cancer, and none of us at the time had any idea. It was about bringing the life stories of people you saw every day alive and making them more than just people you pass without seeing.”

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, The Featherduster has continued to win state and national awards, including Gold Stars, Gold Crowns and Pacemakers.

Today, with 72 members and issues longer than 70 pages, The Featherduster has come a long way since the black and white newspaper it once was.

With each issue costing upwards of $4,500 to print, the staff members sell advertisements to cover that cost so readers can receive issues free.

“I think it’s important to have a free publication to give to the student body,” current co-editor-inchief Leah Whitlock said. “I’m also happy we are able to provide a website so students have access to up-todate stories at their fingertips.”

While many things have changed over the years, one thing has stayed the same.

“We had an impact on the student body with each issue,” MacLaggan said. “We made students think and talk about things they wouldn’t have otherwise thought about.”

—Mary-Margaret Parrish

the

page

Westlake’s first yearbook in 1970 was just over 150 pages, with no more than a dozen color photos. Fast forward to 2009 — the yearbook is all color with more than 490 pages, an increase of more than 300 percent. Yet the size of the yearbook isn’t the only thing that has changed.

Former yearbook adviser and current senior creative accounts manager with Jostens Yearbook Company John Cutsinger put Westlake journalism on the map with his innovative thinking. While advising El Paisano from 1983 to 1990, Cutsinger saw the yearbook staff grow exponentially.

“The staff grew from 15 staff members in one period to over 100 across four periods in three years,” Cutsinger said.

El Paisano has been the name of the yearbook since its first volume. By dictionary definition, “el paisano” means “fellow countryman” or “compatriot,” but over the years its significance to the yearbook has been lost. Although no one knows who gave the yearbook its name, Cutsinger has his own interpretation.

“It’s a memory companion — a year’s collection of unforgettable experiences that come alive from the shelves of countless bookcases across this nation,” Cutsinger said. “In my mind, the staff collaboration is as meaningful as the printed book itself.”

As one of the best yearbooks in the nation, El Paisano has won numerous awards over the years, including Gold Crowns and Pacemakers, two of the highest honors in journalism.

“We won a Gold Crown for the 2006 yearbook and a Pacemaker for 2008,” said yearbook advisor Cindy Todd, who is in her 11th year at Westlake. “Those awards are given by small groups of people, but the real reward comes from how the student body and community receive the yearbook. At the same time, winning such big awards gives the staff and me validation that we are doing things the right way.”

Designing a yearbook in 1970 was much different than designing one now. In the new millennium students create yearbooks using desktop publishing. Designing spreads on a computer allows for more artistic ability and presents a new challenge for the yearbook staff.

El Paisano starts as small “annual” in 1970, grows to be nationally-recognized yearbook

“I will never forget when Dane Reese [1988 yearbook editor] came in and said we should get ‘Macs,’” Cutsinger said. “It changed our lives — we exercised complete control over the planning and creative preparation of the yearbook prior to going to press.”

Many students apply the skills they learn in yearbook after high school in jobs related to the industry.

“There are former editors who are working in advertising and public relations in New York City,” Todd said. “Some have interned at national maga1988 El Paisano zines such as Men’s Health and Texas Monthly.”

El Paisano is completely self-supporting. Money is raised through senior tributes and yearbook sales. The fact that 70 to 75 percent of Westlake students buy yearbooks helps the staff offset the cost of El Paisano. In 2009, the Westlake yearbook staff spent more than $185,000 on producing yearbooks.

“The amount of students that buy yearbooks is really high here, and it’s attributed to a strong tradition that supports the value of a yearbook,” Todd said.

Staff members are able to see the value of their commitment.

“I love being on the yearbook staff because I like the feeling of accomplishment I get after working so hard to produce a book that students enjoy and keep forever,” editor-in-chief senior Lauren Noonan said.

—Hirrah Barlas and Madison Scott

Westlake High School Journalists of the Year Dane Reese - 1987-88 and 1988-89 editor-in-chief of both El Paisano and The Featherduster, Reese was named Texas High School Journalist of the Year and National High School Journalist of the Year. He is now the senior vice president of Stark in Austin.

Corrie MacLaggan - Former editor-in-chief of The Featherduster, MacLaggan was named Texas High School Journalist of the Year and National High School Journalist of the Year in 1998. She is currently reporting on the 2010 governor’s race for the Austin American-Statesman.

Mildred Yuan - In 2000, Yuan received Texas High School Journalist of the Year and National High School Journalist of the Year honors. She lives in England and is a management consultant and a competitive ballroom dancer.

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 7

Street Smart

Athlete talks about life at Westlake, playing in the Major Leagues, how to win at the game of life

Every little boy dreams of growing up a game — it was about how you played. to play professional sports. He spends hours “His belief was that ‘everything in life is a in the backyard, tossing a football, kicking a game,’” Street said. “His definition of winning soccer ball or hitting a baseball to a parent. It was ‘being the best that you can be, on that is a big dream that, for most, doesn’t ever ma- day.’” terialize. But for those select few who earn the Armed with the wisdom of his father, opportunity to shine in the world of sports, Street entered high school already a seasoned this dream becomes a reality. athlete. He took advantage of the athletic The son of former University of Texas programs Westlake had to offer, lettering in quarterback James Street, Huston Street may both football and baseball. have been inherently destined to pursue a “I can honestly say my days at Westlake career in sports. If there were any expectation were witness to some of my fondest life put in front of Huston Street, it was to make memories,” Street said. “From two-a-day sports a part of his life. And as fate would football practices that led to the State Chamhave it, Street gravitated towards the allpionship game, to putting on the tarp for the American tradibaseball field in tion of baseball the early mornlike a fish to water. ings of rainy days “I was 3 years and then sliding No matter what the game old in the backaround after yard of [my friend] all the coaches is, be the best you can be, Stanley Finch’s left, to trying to house,” Street sneak off-campus by doing the right things, said. “I honestly for lunch and expecting the great things remember it as if the Commons it was yesterday. between classes and being humble in the He asked me if — so many more I wanted to play I could reminisce outcome — win or lose. ‘baseball.’ I curiall day long.” ously asked, ‘Well, Being —former All-District player what’s that?’ Mr. involved in nonHuston Street Finch, Stanley’s stop athletics father, brought out didn’t stop Street three square pieces from slowing of plastic labeled down and savor‘1, 2, 3,’ and an odd shaped one. That was my ing his time at Westlake. He established himfirst day of baseball.” self as a student, as an athlete and a friend.

Street began playing other sports, includ“Hands down, I enjoyed Westlake because ing football, but his skill for baseball was I had so many special friends, so many people honed early on. Growing up in a household that I looked forward to seeing day in and day with a renowned sports star, Street was given out,” Street said. “I still keep in touch with the tools to excel at a young age. most of them to this day, and that is further “The most privileged part of being my testament to how special some of those relafather’s son was that he knows more about tionships were.” coaching and teaching the game than anybody Street was, like many students, unsure I’ve ever met,” Street said. “Looking back, I of the direction his life would take after high realize the advantage I had on everybody, as school. One thing he was sure of, though, was I was 9 years old learning to hit a corner, or following in his father’s footsteps and attendchange speeds, while most other kids were ing the University of Texas. He pitched on just throwing the ball over the plate.” the baseball team and gained a reputation of Street’s experience with sports began being one of the best collegiate closers of all early, and his father taught him how to take time, earning All-American honors in every the rules of sports and apply them to life. Acseason. Street even led the University of Texas cording to his father, it wasn’t about winning team to the College World Series in 2002.

“ ”

Huston Street celebrates after a successful play while pitching for the Oakland Athletics.

Courtesy photo

“When you are younger, it’s, ‘of course I’ll play in the big leagues someday,’ and then you progress along and realize what kind of dream you are dreaming,” Street said. “However, I first realized I was capable of competing against the best when I got invited to do so at a baseball tournament so aptly dubbed ‘Tournament of the Stars,’ in Joplin, Missouri.”

From this experience, Street gained perspective and realized his potential for the spotlight. Street has proved himself in the Major Leagues, beginning his professional career with the Oakland Athletics and currently holding the position of closing pitcher for the Colorado Rockies. As a professional athlete, life in the big leagues can be hectic but Street manages to keep things in perspective based on the principles he grew up with.

“I am incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to play sports for a living, but someday that game will end for me as well,” Street said. “No matter what the game is, be the best you can be, by doing the right things, expecting the great things and being humble in the outcome — win or lose.”

Having a career as successful as Street’s is a dream that many students still have today.

As essential as it is to keep goals realistic, Street emphasizes the importance of working towards what you want and to always try your best no matter what the game is.

“Winning is giving your best, moment to moment,” Street said. “Everything is a choice.

There are no excuses.”

—Adrienne Cooksley

To read about Kathy McKinney, Westlake graduate and former professional volleyball player, go to www.westlakefeatherduster.com.

Westlake {through

Featherduster file photo by 2009 graduate Shannon Soule

the ages} A glimpse into the past 40 years

From its beginning as a 2A school housed in portables behind Eanes Elementary to the addition of sports teams, clubs, new classes, national recognition and our 40th anniversary celebration, Westlake has come a long way.

Featherduster file photo

—Jamie Mathis

1969

1970

}

Featherduster file photo

The boys swim team wins 2nd in 2A State. The girls team, consisting of one swimmer, Beery Boggs, wins two first places at Regional.

}{

Westlake High School is completed and opens for its first school year.

Hyline and the Zenith performance traditions begin.

{

Pan American Student Forum and the Franco-German Alliance clubs represent the four languages taught at Westlake – Spanish, French, German and Latin.

tradition of the { Senior Mexican hat dance begins.

Featherduster file photo by 1983 graduate Bradley Wilson

Featherduster file photo

1972

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 9

Featherduster file photo by 1983 graduate Bradley Wilson

{

“Richard Bohl relaxes between songs at the Geogetown football game,” The Featherduster Nov. 20, 1980.

Cross Country wins first { Girls State title.

Photos by 1997 graduate Andrew Loehman

1995

{

Students begin discussing homosexuality publicly.

College Board releases first PSAT with 60 questions.

Softball is a new UIL sanctioned sport.

1996

Girls basketball wins State.

1993

{

1976

{

Eight boys, two contestants from each class, participate in Miss Sugar Bear pageant held at Cedar Creek Elementary School.

Featherduster file photo by 1994 graduate Scot Gentry

1979

Archery is added to P.E. curriculum.

{

Photo by 2002 graduate Summer McWilliams.

{

Jason Piefer kisses the trophy after the 1996 team wins the 5A State Championship.

2000

Featherduster file photo by 1998 graduate Nick Kenig

Featherduster file photo

{

Drunk driving awareness is raised through the SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) club.

{

}

1998

Boys varsity basketball player Taylor Pearce swings from the rim during a game against Crockett.

Westlake wrestlers place in State meet.

Featherduster file photo

wins State championship { Football in Division II 5A.

2002

{

{

Quarterback Drew Brees leads the Chaps to the State Championship defeating Abilene Cooper in a 55-15 blowout in 1996.

1999 Controversial issue of having one high school or two ultimately results in the building of the Ninth Grade Center.

{

First time in 15 years that band qualifies for State. Marching band counts for first time as a P.E. credit. Six band students make it to All-State.

{

Featherduster file photo

by David Templteton

Nineteen clubs join together to offer “Fantasia” night to the community.

{

{

{

Boys soccer is recognized as a UIL sport for the first time. Westlake boys take District, 10-0.

Featherduster file photo by 1983 graduate Bradley Wilson

1980 {

Teen Teaching embarks on its first Pedernales Adventure.

Construction on new stadium is complete.

{

1000 parking permits are issued to students with no ensured paved spots offered.

Girls soccer wins District.

Senior Lauren Cassel wins Westlake’s first 5A State Championship at the University of Texas’ Performing Arts Center UIL poetry reading competition.

Tennis wins District, Region and State.}

{

Featherduster file photo by Troy Gothard

{

Freshman wing is converted into new craft and computer math rooms, new journalism facilities and a new language department.

1987

1988

{

1983

}

1985

Girls volleyball wins State. }

Featherduster file photo by 1991 graduate Katie Gilmour

Featherduster file photo by 1991 graduate Eric Gilmour

Westlake gymnastics team forms as an official 5A sport. They win second in District and fourth at Region.

1991

{

Boys Lacrosse becomes new non-UIL sport at Westlake.

The team is known as the “Westlake Wahoos.”

Blood drives begin.}

{

“As halftime crowd looks on, seniors Jason Richards and Rod Morris exhibit the commemorative flag,” The Featherduster Oct. 19, 1989.

2006

2007

{

Negotiations with South Korea’s Bugil Academy begin for student exchange opportunities. Bugil Academy and Westlake form official partnership two years later.

2003

{

The Symphony Orchestra is named the State Honor Orchestra and later performed for the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in 2004.

2009

Renovation of the FAF is started in spring of 2008, and is completed and renamed the new Performing Arts Center in February.

{

{

New educational opportunities are offered at Westlake, such as Health Science Technology, ISM, AP World History and others.

Courtesy photo

Four boys take part in cheerleading.

Over the years, the number of boys in cheerleading dwindles down to two, then to none.

{

Westlake celebrates its 40th anniversary.

A special thanks to Linda Rawlings, Dale Baker, Cindy Todd, Mark Hurst, Nancy Tilson, the librarians and Scott Gardner for help with this special 40th anniversary issue.

For more photos check out www.westlakefeatherduster.com Information compiled

by Jamie Mathis and Michelle Ling

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 11

B y rd ’s eye vi Former coun

e w sel r

o pa ints

he auditorium fills with stu“I’m just constantly amazed, and it’s just a blessing as far as I’m dents in caps and gowns, giddy with concerned,” Byrd said. “First, that I’m well enough to still do this, and anticipation. They listen as their then that I can, seemingly at least, [still] communicate with kids. And principal gives a glowing introduction for the that’s a real important part of my life. I think having dealings with kids commencement speaker. Whatever they are kind of keeps you young.” expecting, it isn’t Toody Byrd. As she crosses the Byrd has seen Westlake transform from a school of 900 students stage slowly, walking cane in hand, they giggle, in grades seven through 12 to the 2,500-student school it is today. point and punch each other jokingly. She reaches And though she retired in 1991, even now she still holds tightly to that the microphone and begins. relationship.

“I know what you kids are thinking,” she says. “[Westlake and I] kind of grew up together,” she said. “When we “I see you rolling your eyes and moaning, and you’re saying, ‘Oh my started we didn’t have so much affluence out here. We had a lot of God, they’ve got this old gray-haired woman who walks with a cane up kids whose parents were cedar choppers, and they lived over in Village here to speak to us tonight.’” She pauses. “This is really not a walking West, most of them, in that area. And we had college professors’ kids. cane; this is a baton. Now, you better stay awake, ‘cause I may burst But if you had to group them, we had hippies, kickers and nerds. It was into my twirling routine at any minute.” amazing how we never had any trouble.”

Ever since former guidance counselor Toody Byrd came to WestIn fact, there were even occasions on which the diverse groups lake in 1971, she has made a career came together. out of never being what anyone “We had an old one-eyed dog that bargained for. And although at was just kind of the unofficial mascot 85 years old, she is retired from — he was just always here,” Byrd said. teaching and counseling, this legacy “One day I came to school, and all the When I looked out in the continues through her speeches and kids — I bet there were 200 of them Commons on Monday workshops.

— were gathered together outside, “The way I [got into puband this dog had been run over and morning, not only did I lic speaking] was that I was the killed. And so I came in, and the program chairman for the Texas principal said he was going out to tell know every kid out there, State Counselor Conference here them all to go to class. And I said, ‘I and know his parents, but in Austin,” Byrd said. “And at the don’t think they’re going to do that till counselor’s luncheon I had about they bury the dog.’ He said, ‘I’m not I knew what he’d done a thousand counselors. The mayor having anything to do with that mess.

Saturday night. of Austin was supposed to speak, If you want to, go out there and see.’” and he didn’t show up. And I said The students chose the rockiest —Toody Byrd to the woman who was the general place on campus to bury the dog, chairman of the thing, ‘That fool’s and they turned this seemingly tragic not here, and I don’t know what the event into a bonding experience. hell I’m going to do.’ And she said, “They’d dig with this pick — the ‘Well, I can tell you what you’re gohippies would dig a little bit, and then ing to do — you’re going to speak. It’s your responsibility. You’ve got 12 the kickers would dig a little bit, and they just passed it around. It was minutes to pull something together.’” a cooperative effort. And still we got the dog buried. So I said, ‘Well This first impromptu speech triggered Byrd’s public speaking now, all of you go on to class.’ And they said, ‘Well, Mrs. Byrd, are you career. not going to say a prayer for this dog?’ My husband thinks I’m kind of “I was telling the people from Amarillo who were going to have the far out anyway — I just bowed my head first and said, ‘God, don’t let conference the next year what I’d gone through with all that,” Byrd Hoyt Byrd come by and see this, because I’ll never live it down.’ All said. “I said, ‘Just get you somebody dull but dependable; that’s all that of them held hands, I remember, and it was a united circle. Anyway, matters.’ And so the next year they asked me to speak.” when I finished the prayer they just all went to class, without any After speaking in at least 40 states, she can safely say that the trouble. There are too many kids to do this kind of thing now.” journey has been worth it. She also talks to teenagers closer to home, The relatively few number of students allowed Byrd to form strong including visiting the 8th graders at Pedernales. connections with them.

“ ”

a pic

ture

of W

estlak

e’s past

Featherduster file photo Art by Michelle Ling

“I used to laugh and say that when I looked out in the Commons, on Monday morning, not only did I know every kid out there, and know his parents, but I knew what he’d done Saturday night,” she said.

Along with relating well with the students, she also has fond memories of Westlake’s first teachers.

“It was real fun with them because they were so young and they’d try nearly anything to help kids learn,” Byrd said. “We had these faculty meetings where they’d say just anything, if it was bothering them.

I remember that Kenneth Dabbs was the coach and athletic director.

And he said in a faculty meeting one day, ‘My boys are just working their butts off, and none of you teachers are coming to the ball games.’

Judy Eichenbaum taught English and speech, and she was a little bitty thing, and she just stood up and said, ‘When you have your coaches come to my debates, then I’ll see that we have teachers at your football games.’ Well, he just leaped over the table and stuck his hand out and shook her hand and said, ‘It’s a deal.’ So after the football season he came in one day and he said, ‘You know, it’s really funny when I look out and see all those teachers at those ball games.’ And I said, ‘That wasn’t nearly as funny to me as seeing those coaches on the front row of the debates.’ And he said, ‘Well, a deal’s a deal.’”

Byrd hasn’t stopped coming to the Westlake football games. In fact, she’s only missed one home game in the past 39 years. Though the games have remained a consistent part of Westlake culture, other aspects of the past were resoundingly different.

“We had a smoking area,” Byrd said. “We had a bunch of smokers, and they’d go across the street to smoke, and they’d be late getting back. So we just decided we would have this smoking area, and it was right outside the library. Kids could come out there and smoke, during noon, or whenever. I’ve got pictures that I found of these kids: they were the worst-looking kids you ever saw. When I went to their

reunion I laughed because a lot of them are now teachers and lawyers.

I just brought this picture I had, and I said, ‘I don’t want you to get the big head too bad, because here’s the way I saw you.’”

Byrd’s wealth of experiences and interactions with her students have prompted her to write two books, one entitled Toody Byrd Talks and Talks and Talks and Talks and the other called Letters to Carl, along with a third currently in the works.

“I’ve got this book running around in my mind; I’ve got the title for it but no book, see,” Byrd said. “But I’m going to call it, You Made Me What I Am Today, I Hope You’re Satisfied. I’ve started just kind of short story things to maybe put together, like what I learned from my parents, to begin with, and my brother and my sister. And then move on with friends and professors. [It will be about] what kind of effect these people in my life have had on me, and what I think I might not have been able to do without them. And some of them, I wish I hadn’t learned so much from them.”

It is clear that Byrd’s passion is taking what she has learned and sharing it with others. Along with the knowledge she has absorbed from her many acquaintances, Byrd has quite a bit of wisdom of her own.

“You know, I finally learned why schools were created,” she said.

“They weren’t really created so the legislature could meet every year or two and hassle over money, money for schools, or money for prisons, and never see any relation between the two. They weren’t created so we could sell yellow school buses, or so they could print books with mistakes in them. Or even so teachers would have jobs. Schools were created for kids, so they’d have the best, the safest, the most exciting and the most inviting place to be, to learn and to reach their highest potential in every way.”

—Helen Anderson

eid

Returning to the en

nest After graduating with the class of ‘72, Nancy Tilson comes back to where she grew up

Tilson’s senior photo

N

ancy Tilson lived the fairytale Westlake life. She was a cheerleader, married a football player and went to the University of Texas. She couldn’t have known at the time that she would come full circle and return to Westlake as the principal’s secretary three decades later.

Tilson graduated from Westlake in 1972, with a class of roughly 92 people, entering as a sophomore when the school first opened in 1969. Upon graduating, she married her high school sweetheart, Steve Tilson.

“Steve and I met at Eanes Elementary in the portables while the high school was being built,” Tilson said. “I was a sophomore and he was a junior.

We started dating in January of 1970.

Both of us went to UT and then moved out of town for a couple of years. Then we moved back to Austin. We bought our first house on Cuernevaca, where we lived for 20 years.”

During her high school years, Tilson got to witness the birth of the many traditions that make up Westlake today, including the Hat Dance, which started at one of the first pep rallies in the Commons by accident.

“I was a cheerleader, so obviously football games and pep rallies were a big part of my week,” Tilson said. “I remember the first Hat Dancer. His name was Scott Sparks, and he was in my grade.

One of the football players tried to embarrass Scott by pushing him into the middle of the Commons when the band was playing ‘Jalisco.’ But because he was in drama and pretty laid-back, instead of being embarrassed, he just started dancing.”

Although traditions such as the Hat Dance have been in Westlake forever, some of the bigger scale traditions have died out over the years.

“We used to have a bonfire at Homecoming — that was really fun,” Tilson said. “It was where the stadium is now by the tailgate. We would gather all the wood and put it in a fire. We even stole an outhouse and put it on top. It was kind of like an unorganized pep rally.”

Football at Westlake had rather modest beginnings. But despite not winning many games, the students and faculty still stuck behind the team.

“For the first two years that we had football we didn’t have a winning team at all,” Tilson said. “That first year we only had one or two winning games, but because we were grades seven to 12, the younger kids got to play a part in the pep rallies — everyone was always so involved.”

Wealth is one of the things commonly associated with Westlake, but at that time the stereotype was inaccurate.

“In my mind the biggest misconception was that it’s always been a rich school, but in reality the kids weren’t really rich,” Tilson said. “We were mostly just middle class.”

Fifteen years after graduating, Tilson and her husband decided to return to the place where they first met, allowing their daughters to have experiences similar to their own.

“When we wanted to start our family, we decided to come back here because we liked everything about the school,” Tilson said. “We knew our girls would get a good education. Both my girls were athletes — they both played volleyball.

Tilson in front of her cheerleading uniform.

We didn’t have girls sports back then [in 1969] so I was excited.”

Forty years later and Tilson has successfully kept in touch with some of the many friends she made at Westlake.

“My best friend from high school, Trisha Freitag, married Lann Bookout, another Westlake student,” Tilson said.

“We were in each other’s weddings and we still see each other often. We like to talk about funny things that happened in high school, the different students, tricks we pulled on each other and things like that.”

Although it’s been a long time since Tilson attended Westlake as a student, the things she did for fun weren’t much different from things students do today.

“If we all got together someone would drive us to the lake, Zilker Park and other people’s houses,” Tilson said.

“We mostly just hung out a lot because we didn’t have a lot of money, and a typical date would be a movie and maybe a Coke afterwards. Every Saturday my boyfriend’s family would make steaks as our weekly date.”

However, the many renovations have also affected the way students at Westlake interact with each other.

“We all hung around in the Commons,” Tilson said. “Since all the lockers were there at that time everyone hung around there. The students weren’t so spread out and you could see everyone in between your classes. It was just much more intimate.”

Thirty-eight years after graduating Tilson is once again at Westlake. Having worked for 10 years at this school, Westlake is her past, present and future.

—Emily Huang

From another’s perspective Former students share high school memories, why they returned to Westlake to teach

Featherduster: Who was your most memorable teacher at Westlake and why?

“The most memorable teacher I had would undoubtedly be Ms. Stucky and her English III AP course. She is entirely the reason I wanted to become a teacher, so I could potentially have the same effect on students that she had on me. She inspired me to be a better student, as well as a better person, and I’m eternally grateful for havCourtesy photo ing had the opportunity to have her as a teacher.”

—James Baker, World Geography teacher, JV boys soccer coach

Featherduster: What is your favorite memory from your time as a student at Westlake?

“Just working on the productions at Westlake.

I love being with my friends and accomplishing something. I love nothing more than seeing a Nutcracker production or Zenith or band concert where everything is flawless, and the people are wondering how it happens. They can’t beHirrah Barlas lieve it was pulled off by high school students.”

—Adam Bernstein, Performing Arts Center Operations Manager

g

Featherduster: What about Westlake made you want to come back and teach here?

“I came back because of the environment, the students and the teachers. The administration and how the school is run is excellent. The students are great and are willing to give their best efforts.”

—Allison Wooley, English IV teacher, girls basketball and track coach

lle Lin

Austin Hix

Miche

Featherduster: What was the weirdest thing to ever happen to you at Westlake?

“While warming up for a softball game my freshman year of high school, I was blinded by the sun and got hit in the nose. I had two black eyes for two weeks. Everyone would ask me, ‘What happened?’ It was quite embarrassing — I looked like a raccoon.”

—Jennifer Jackson, teacher’s assistant in the BEST program

Featherduster: How has Westlake’s attitude changed since you graduated?

“As far as the behavior and attitude, it’s similar but there’s a lot more pressure to make it into the top 10 percent — that rule has really been stressed. It forces everyone to take AP classes and I think it’s silly. The amount of work you guys have to do is unrealistic. You’re in trouble if you don’t take APs.”

—Lane Grigg, World Geography teacher

Nathan Kallison

Featherduster: What sorts of styles or trends were common when you went to Westlake?

“For some reason, I remember Doc Martens being brand new then and being really popular. As with so many things from the mid to late ‘90s, [the reason] they were so popular escapes me.”

—John Parsons, Assistant Band Director, Percussion and Jazz Studies Director

ConGRADulations to former students currently teaching at Westlake Nancy Tilson ‘72 Lane Grigg ‘93 Erin Meroney ‘01 Lexi Hibbert ‘75 Allison Lefeiste ‘94 James Baker ‘01 Margaret Ellis ‘84 Alex Owen ‘95 Rachel Calvert ‘02 Tres Ellis ‘87 John Parsons ‘99 Jennifer Jackson ‘04 Shayna Feldman ‘88 Allison Wooley ‘00 Jeff Strange ‘04 Krissy Morrow ‘91 Adam Bernstein ‘01 { westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 15

Big hair,

shoulder pads

Michael Jackson

and

Four parents share memories from their high school days at Westlake

O

chell

ily Mit

Em Art by

ver the years, one thing remains the same: high school students will be high school students. But the separation of the generations has made things a little different — the concerns and daily lives of students decades ago were on a different projected path than today. Now these past students are re-living the good ol’ days from the tales of their own kids, who are now are walking the same halls as their parents. We interviewed four parents who now have kids going to school in the Eanes district to hear about their high school memories. They include ’87 graduate Mark Mangum, ‘85 graduate Lisa Aune Bost, ‘80 graduate Leesa Hudgens Sheffield and ‘75 graduate Steve Burt.

Featherduster: How do you think Westlake has changed in the past 20-30 years?

Lisa Aune Bost: Well, it’s physically larger, the student population is larger and I think it’s academically much more challenging.

Steve Burt: In the late ‘70s, you could pretty much be involved in everything. You could participate in multiple sports, be on the yearbook staff and even if you were on the yearbook staff you’d write articles sometimes for the newspaper. So you were in a lot of different organizations, and there’s just no way you could possibly still get the academics done today. You look at the yearbook from the ‘70s and everybody’s got six or eight activities next to their names.

FD: How is Westlake the same as when you went here?

Leesa Hudgens Sheffield (top right) was a Lieutenant on Hyline in 1980. .

Bost: I think just the tradition of excellence. I think it feels the same.

Friday night football games feel the same as they did in high school, except that when we sang the school song, we held pinkies with the people next to us in line.

Leesa Hudgens Sheffield: We had the Hat Dance. Now the seniors will come and storm down around the guy that does the Hat Dance, so you can’t see him if you’re just a participant in the pep rallies. I kind of miss the old way we used to do it. It seemed a little bit more respectful of the dance. The cheerleaders sat on the floor in a circle around him, the students stayed in the stands, he had the red rose in his mouth and at the end of the dance he would go out into the crowd and he would always find a senior girl to give the rose to — that was fun. I miss being able to see the person and see the dance.

There’s actually some intricate footwork goLisa Aune Bost was Westlake’s first student mascot. ing on down there.

FD: Did you participate in Homecoming activities?

Mark Mangum: When Homecoming came around, madness arose in Westlake.

Everyone decorated their cars and time was taken from the school day for the parade.

For Homecoming you could always expect the unexpected. One year we had a massive water balloon fight in the gym.

Sheffield: The dance used to be after the game on Friday nights, so you would go to the game with your date and then you would come over to the dance. It was all kind of just in one big day.

Bost: Girls did not ask the boys. Boys asked the girls. They should have kept that. It’s too much pressure on the girls. We decorated cars and floats for Homecoming, and it seems like they eventually ended up driving around the track. We also wore real mums and had theme days during Homecoming Lisa Aune Bost (left) celebrates week. I do remember there were guys in my Homecoming festivities with some friends. class that somehow got a car onto the track Courtesy photos

at an inappropriate time, like during a pep rally, and they got in trouble.

FD: Did people smoke then?

Bost: When I was a freshman I went from a private school to a public school, and the first thing that shocked me was that there was an open area that was the smoking section, and there were so many kids out there smoking. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was shocking to me.

They were allowed to smoke there during lunch.

FD: What are some of your favorite memories from high school? And favorite teachers?

Sheffield: I had a lot of teachers that I still remember. There was an English teacher named Gene Dolquist. For the older generation like myself, I think Leesa Hudgens Sheffield everyone felt really strongly about her.

She was an interesting lady, sort of ahead of her time, and she really helped me with my writing. I’d like to think that was one of the skills that I carried into my adulthood and my higher education. We had a math teacher named Fred Mokrey and he would write so hard on the chalkboard and get so excited about working out math problems that the chalk dust would fly across the room, and we would call him Smokin’ Moke.

FD: Were there any senior pranks?

Mark Mangum Burt: I don’t think there were any organized senior pranks. We pulled a lot of stunts all the time. A lot of streaking went on. I remember at a baseball game a couple of guys streaked and everybody was trying to figure out who it was. Then as one of the guys was heading over the center field fence, he did this perfect hurdle and that’s when they knew it was one of the high hurdlers on the track team.

Sheffield: We had one boy who was just crazy enough to do just about anything, and he crashed his truck into the downstairs Commons.

Burt: We had those pillars outside the cafeteria, there was a walkway, and we actually picked up this girl’s Fiat and put it in between the pillars. There was like an inch and a half on each side. I don’t remember how they got it out of there.

FD: What were you involved in?

Sheffield: It was easier to do more things. I ran track and cross country, I played volleyball my freshman year and I was in choir and Hyline.

Burt: Football, yearbook, newspaper, National Honor Society, Spanish Club — there was a bunch of stuff.

Bost: I was on the yearbook, and I was the first student to be a mascot.

My senior year we went to the State playoff game or maybe the State Championship game. It was at the Memorial Stadium. The costume was a brown bird. It wasn’t a cute red and blue Chaparral. It was really hot, but a lot of my friends were cheerleaders, so it was kind of fun to be down there. It was a really big game. We lost the game, and I remember carrying the head around. The boys were crying, and it was really sad because we lost, but that was kind of an interesting experience.

FD: What electives were there?

Bost: It seems like it was just newspaper, yearbook, choir, band, foreign language, sewing and woodshop. I remember taking a sewing

It’s 1969 and the

price is:

class and the majority of the class was senior baseball players and I was a sophomore.

Sheffield: There’s just so many choices now that we didn’t have back then. Certainly we didn’t have all the languages. We didn’t have those kinds of options. Driver’s Ed was an elective. That’s something that you don’t have anymore, because you just don’t have the time for it.

Things like music and choir, obviously the athletics, the journalism, all those things have pretty much stayed.

FD: Was the football team as good as they are today?

Burt: No. My dad always says, ‘Boy they sure are a lot better than y’all were.’ But we were pretty decent for 2A. There was only one team that went to District playoffs every year. I think we finished second or third all the Lisa Aune Bost time.

Sheffield: Interestingly enough, the ’79’80 football team was just honored a few weeks back here at one of our games for sort of being the first team that went to the playoffs and kind of started to get the community more aware of the potential of sports.

FD: Were there any big rival schools?

Burt: We’d actually party with the Austin High people. We never played them because they were 4A and we were 2A at Steve Burt the time. We’d meet them for parties on Friday night, but they weren’t rivals. In fact, some of the Austin High folks are still good friends of mine.

FD: Was the Westlake stereotype around back then?

Burt: Yeah, it was, and it’s funny, too, because I don’t even think the area was as wealthy as it is now, and we still had that. Like, if you’d go out to Elgin, I can guarantee you they thought we were the rich white kids from Westlake.

Courtesy photos Bost: We definitely had that stereotype.

But it was a wide range of economic status at the school for sure. I don’t even think that the majority was wealthy.

Burt: We had cedar choppers, people whose livelihood was clearing cedar off people’s lots and stuff. My dad was on the school board when they voted to break away from the Austin School District and build Westlake. He said that he had people calling him all the time saying that, ‘this community is not large enough and does not have a tax base to support a high school.’ So it’s kind of funny looking back now and saying, ‘those were some real forward-thinking people.’

Sheffield: It’s funny now, looking back compared to how it is now, but we always had that stereotype, even then. My junior or senior year, another school, I think it was Round Rock, made t-shirts that said something derogatory. It was like, ‘Cadillacs, caviar, Chaparrals.’

Something along those lines. The stereotype was there — that hasn’t changed.

Mangum: My junior year we went to semi-finals in State. It was the first time we won a playoff game. One of the teams we played brought a big sign to us that said ‘Money can’t buy State.’ Even back then we had that stereotype.

FD: Did people dress up on Fridays for football?

Burt: Our clothes were funny enough by themselves.

—Abby Bost and Becca Burt with additional reporting by Blake MacKie

Newspaper: 10¢ Pair of Levis: $8 Gas: 35¢

Pair of pump shoes: $7.99 Loaf of bread: 23¢ New car: $3,300

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 17

You just got prank’d A look at senior pranks throughout the years

The tale of the senior prank is one as old as the school itself. In modern times, it often conjures up images of an inflatable body part suspended like a blimp in a public setting. Sure, it draws a chuckle or two, but more often than not, it is perceived as the same exhausted shenanigans every year. However,

1972

between Westlake in 1969 and today, the senior prank has shown how bold, and sometimes stupid, some students are.

The graduating class of 1972, wanting to keep their brand-new school at its best, kept the high-jinks to a minimum. However, students found a loophole to keep damage low. Nowadays, we call that loophole “streaking.” Students would rid themselves of all clothing, accessories and social mannerisms and frolic through the football stadium during games, exposing their bodies for all to see.

1981

A few Westlake outlaws, calling themselves the “Sons of Eanes,” donned the gear of a squadron of military commandos and placed a padlock on the door of the conference room where the board meeting was being held. The bandits fled, and the school board was confined to the room for hours, only to later be let out by the fire department.

1987

The graduating class uprooted road signs from around Austin and placed them in and around the Commons, thus creating an indoor intersection. As if the signs themselves did not suffice, the students, employing astounding constructional prowess, suspended a number of motorcycles above the Commons to be directed by the signs.

Students congregate around a wall of street signs in the Commons. These street signs had been removed from actual roads as the 1987 senior prank.

Featherduster file photo

1992

1989

A small group of seniors, ambitious in their quest to pull off what may have been the most ingenious prank Westlake has ever encountered, recruited the entire class of 1989 to subtly push the superintendent off the proverbial cliff of organization into a vat of confusion. The seniors armed themselves with one marble each, and when the time arose to shake hands and receive their diplomas, they relayed the marble into the hand of the superintendent. Soon enough, the superintendent’s pockets were chock-full of marbles, the students’ faces reflected satisfaction, and the parents and staff were convinced that the superintendent had suddenly become an avid marbles player.

In a valiant attempt to rescue their comrades who had recently fallen victim to a sentence of in-school suspension, two seniors geared up from head to toe in the guise of covert operatives, wielding an arsenal of fake guns, and attempted a search-and-rescue mission that would go down in the books. The gunmen burst through the doors of the room, barking commands and brandishing their weapons at students and teachers, all of whom had no prior knowledge of the plan. Needless to say, the students were chastised for their actions, ironically spending the next few days confined to the In School Suspension room.

2004

With a desire to appear as what some may refer to as “sexually eccentric,” two rogue seniors scaled the building in the dead of night, bringing with them a larger-than-life representation of male genitalia. They positioned the item above the skylight, rigging it with wires enabling it to lower into the school the following day.

Between second and third periods, students were in a state of awe when the massive object descended from the ceiling.

2009

Combating the juvenile nature of the wiener-themed prank, last year’s seniors turned the idea of the senior prank on its head. With the intention of pulling a prank so pleasant that the irony of it would draw laughter, they targeted a patch of dead grass in front of the Chap Court and erected a nine-foot-tall Bradford pear tree, surrounded by tulips, gardenias and a garden gnome. While the prank created a buzz among news stations such as CNN and News 8 Austin, the seniors’ fellow classmates, disgruntled by the lack of “manhood” involved in the prank, destroyed much of the garden.

—Connor White and Natalia Renna

Featherduster file photo After spotting the senior prank remnants, 2004 assistant principal Kathleen Sullivan calls for assistance.

Lighting up

BROADWAY

W

Westake’s original “techie” turns hobby into profession Gilbert served as the head lighting designer for the Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie.

When Phil Gilbert came to Westlake High School in 1995, there was no Technical Entertainment Crew. There was no video crew ― the football games went undocumented. When Gilbert was a sophomore, he and David Poole began to assemble the Westlake Technical Entertainment Crew. TEC would design sets, lighting and audio systems for all Westlake productions such as Zenith and Battle of the Bands.

“I was very involved in almost every performance staged on the Performing Arts Center (then Fine Arts Facility) stage for all four years I was at Westlake,” Gilbert said. “I especially enjoyed working with Hyline every year on Zenith.”

After helping Poole start the TEC, he served as president for twoand-a-half years, helping manage the Fine Arts Facility and serving as Poole’s assistant.

While at Westlake, Gilbert was mainly interested in lighting design.

He helped with all of the theater productions, and after graduating in 1999, he went to the University of Texas, where he assisted with lighting and audio systems.

After attending UT, he went to work for CB Systems in Houston, designing sound systems for large events such as Austin City Limits

Courtesy photo

In the weeks preceding Zenith 2009, TEC students worked one-on-one with Phil Gilbert to learn how to implement advanced lighting techniques using the new equipment in the PAC.

Courtesy photo

and the Houston Rodeo. He later began his own company, Colorblind Systems, where he serves as the “founder, owner, president, CEO and sole employee.”

After starting his company, he moved to New York City with his wife, fellow 1999 graduate Kristy Sprowls, to follow her work, and has lived there for two and a half years. While living in New York, he designed lights for concerts, television, trade shows and the revival of the Broadway show, Bye-Bye Birdie, where he was the head lighting designer.

However, Gilbert still contributes to Westlake. Every year, he returns to Westlake to work on Zenith, where he assists with the lights.

His work is greatly appreciated by Poole.

“I would say he is the Westlake TEC’s best friend,” Poole said.

Last year, when the FAF was renovated and turned into the Westlake Community Performing Arts Center, Gilbert returned to Westlake for three weeks to program the brand-new robotic moving lights system. He was also a guest lecturer for the Technical Theater classes, and trained the students on how to use the new, sophisticated system.

Poole greatly appreciates Gilbert’s work and volunteer hours that he puts toward helping Westlake, and even approaches Gilbert for help.

“Phil is one of those people who I don’t make big tech decisions without consulting,” Poole said. “He is always on the cutting edge of technology.”

—Ryan Stankard

elle

ch Mi

Ling

J U S K I C

S

he grabbed the uniform as quickly as she could, squeezing into it in the dark bus parked outside of the football stadium. The sequins and fringe felt familiar against her skin as she slipped into the wrong size boots.

Changing on a school bus was not her ideal situation; neither was having to put on the uniform. But for former Hyline director Barbara Loomis, it was a sacrifice she was willing to make. One of her dancers had blown out her knee only hours before and a spot in the half-time show needed to be filled.

Loomis was fresh out of college in 1971 when she started working at Westlake as the dance director. As a University of Texas student, she had assisted with the formation of the team, but now she was hired as an official teacher.

“There was this free rapport among all of the teachers, everybody helped everybody else because there were only 25 teachers on staff,” Loomis said. “We all had a mentor. Toody Byrd made sure that we all had an older teacher to help us so that all of the new teachers would hit the ground running and know exactly what they were doing. I really do think that panned out well because our academics started strong from the first day.”

Loomis recalls that Westlake was a school that pushed for success from the beginning of its history.

“We were all achieving at that time, except for perhaps our football team which didn’t win many games at the very beginning,” Loomis said. “But it didn’t really slow us down. It was such a unique situation and everybody felt special, so it was a great place to be. ‘The pride of the hills’ was always our mantra.

They would always announce us like, ‘Westlake High School band — the pride of the hills.’ We thought everything was the pride of the hills. We all felt special.”

Hyline in particular was considered “special.” Girls strived to receive the honor of being on the team. The first year the team was formed, anyone who wanted to be on it was able to join.

However, after that year everyone had to participate in formal auditions.

“Lots and lots of girls wanted to be on the team,” Loomis said. “There were probably only 200 girls that went to the high

T K S

F O R Former Hyline director continues to hold connection to Westlake by substitute teaching

Today, Hyline still maintains its well-established reputation.

The 6:59 a.m. practices are just a small sacrifice that the girls make in order to be part of the respected team.

“I think the girls are very honest about working hard to do the best job that they can do,” Loomis said. “It’s not just smearing on a little lipstick and putting on petticoats. I think if you ask in the community, ‘Are they hard-working?’ I think that most everybody would tell you, ‘Yeah, they get up early and work hard.’ I think that I believed in a lot of the girls that didn’t have a chance to believe in themselves, and dancing on Hyline gave them the opportunity to spring forward. They tell me that just by being on Hyline, you have to juggle so many things that prepare you for college. Probably from that standpoint, they have to say no to a lot of social situations because they are competing.”

Along with the seriousness of Hyline, there are also enjoyable times. The girls on the first team were able to name it, and this name is now a highly esteemed word throughout the high school dance world.

“The girls named it Hyline because of their high kicks and because they are on a dance line,” Loomis said. “Combining the two would make it H-I-G-H-L-I-N-E, but they decided to be unique and named themselves H-Y-L-I-N-E, because they could not be the Chaparralettes — that wouldn’t do. So Hyline it was.”

For three decades Loomis helped make the dance team what it is today, but in 2004, she decided to retire. However, she could not stay away from Westlake for long. Within six months of retiring, Loomis began substitute teaching.

“I just love kids,” she said. “Since I’m traveling so much I need to have a job that has a lot of flexibility and so with subbing you either say ‘yes’ or you say ‘no,’ and you get to choose which teachers you sub for. I love that because kids are the drug of my choice.”

For Loomis, the benefits of subbing are endless. “[My favorite part about subbing is] coming back in and seeing all of my old friends and seeing kids going strong at what they do,” Loomis said. “Subbing gives me the opportunity to be in a lot of classrooms and recognize the strength of all of the

other teachers. I did not have a clue how good some of them were, and now that I get to have a peek into the math classes and the science classes, I am just so impressed with the level of instruction.”

She continues to be a part of Westlake by subbing in different academic classes, but she has left a lasting impression on Hyline.

“Mrs. Loomis is still a very integral part of Hyline’s legacy,” dance director Chelsee Capezzuti said. “She integrated a team that works hard and plays hard, and we hope to make her proud every single year.”

Her love of Westlake and the impact she has made on its history has given her some words of wisdom to pass on. She has been through hundreds of half-time shows, competitions and numerous Zenith performances, all of which have taught her some important life lessons.

“I want to tell anyone who will listen to me that it is never about winning,” Loomis said. “It is all about relationships. That is what you will remember. I honestly cannot tell you what the highest score in the high kick was or if we got the most points in this, that or the other, but I can tell you which girls I adored being around and what girls pushed me to be the best version of a director. It’s all about relationships and putting your best foot forward.”

—Leah Whitlock

Hyline’s past

In Hyline’s history, there have been three different kinds of shoes in their uniform. First go-go boots were worn, but the two-inch heel constantly broke off. Then tennis shoes with crew socks were added. Most recently the uniform includes the western boots we see today.

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 21

Inmint

condition

Former coach Minton White looks back on time at Westlake

I

t was the first day of school in 1971 at the new grounds of Westlake High School. Instead of a fortress-like stadium with a permanent turf field, the stadium consisted of grass-less playing grounds. The PAC was nonexistent — instead the gym was used as the auditorium. Joining the students was Minton White, the new coach and math teacher.

He had just left his former teaching and coaching job at Del Valle High School. It was the first day of many to come, and White was ready to teach.

“It was more like out in the country then; it was a country school,” White said. “You didn’t have the big spread or the turf on the field. We put down the turf ourselves a month ahead of time [before a game].”

In the fall of 1970, Westlake opened its main campus. Prior to the opening of the high school building, students in grades seven through 12 were taught in portables on the Eanes Elementary School campus.

Minton White looks “When they built a new down the sidelines of building it was incredible,” the basketball court.

White said. “They used to teach the high school out of the elementary school because that’s where the offices were.”

In the early ‘70s, many things proved to be smaller including the number of students, with an enrollment of 593 students grades seven through 12, compared to the now 2479 students grades nine through 12. The campus only consisted of the main high school building, the P.E. gym and cafeteria building, and the math hall that is now next to the Ninth Grade Center. The school later added the Fine Arts Facility in 1985 and the NGC in 2000, but intangible qualities like Westlake’s

good reputation seemed to be there from the start.

“Obviously Westlake was going to grow, and even then we had people coming to Westlake for academics and sports,” White said.

White’s career at Westlake started in 1970 when he began coaching and teaching until 1971. He enlisted in the army for two years (1971-1973), then returned to coach and teach in 1973 and stayed until 1978.

White taught mathematics — algebra and geometry — to freshmen and sophomores while also coaching freshman baseball, football and basketball. In his last year at Westlake, he became the head baseball coach and then head basketball coach.

“I just loved coaching the kids; I’m a big kid myself,” White said. “I also loved teaching math.”

The community has experienced physical change, with growth and expansion due to an influx of new residents to the area.

“When you would drive it was like going from town to town,” White said. “But now there is no town. It’s all town.”

Involvement in the school was critical for the district to thrive, especially parent involvement in students’ lives.

“I loved the country atmosphere,” White said. “I loved the idea that the parents were very involved then.”

The unity of having one central high school plays a part in the great connection within the community, landing local and non-local support from many people.

“When you have one high school, it really makes a difference versus 10 or 11 Courtesy photo [high schools],” White said. “When you just have one, everyone is there.”

White looks back fondly on his time in the community, which helped shape his career as a pastor and counselor at Glad Tidings Assemblies of God church in Austin. The time he spent helped him develop his career and also made it difficult for him to leave.

“It was a really enjoyable time for me, and a growing time,” White said. “It was hard for me to resign, believe me.”

—Danielle Brown

C

reating the Legend

Ron Schroeder reflects on coaching career, legacy

W

hen the words “Westlake” and “football game” appear in the same sentence, they are usually separated by the phrase “won the.” But according to former coach Ron Schroeder, this wasn’t always the case.

“The year before I became head coach we had gone 2-8,” Schroeder said. “Westlake was not expected to win back in those days like they are now.”

1987 was a unique year for the team. Schroeder had replaced Ebbie Neptune as head coach, and Neptune became full-time athletic director. It was unusual for an offensive coordinator to be promoted to head coach instead of bringing in an outsider with an impressive resume.

“The pressure was on,” Schroeder said. “I didn’t know if I could cut it as head coach. If we had gone 2-8 again, I probably would have been fired.”

But they didn’t, and he kept his job. After a surprising season of going 7-3, it was clear that the team needed him. Many of his boys came in as high school students and left as future professional and college players, one of the most notable being Drew Brees.

Schroeder’s voice grew nostalgic as he described his pride in the popular quarterback who led the 1996 team to its State Championship.

“He’s been through a lot,” Schroeder said. “He tore up his knee, had laser surgery on it his junior year, went through some demotions [as a pro]. Now he’s an icon. He’s a unique individual.”

And, according to the game stats, so is Schroeder. During his reign as head coach (1987-2002), Westlake won 187 games, lost 27, tied three, won 67 consecutive District games (a national record), was the District Champion 13

times (12 of them consecutive) and went to the State Championship five times, claiming the title once.

Schroeder revealed that the State Championship games were some of the highlights of his career. The season that Schroeder’s son, Chad, was the quarterback, the team went on to state where they took second.

“Those games were a unique experience for coaches and players alike,” Schroeder said.

Coaching his son was also an incomparable experience.

“It was a dream come true that we were able to have a positive relationship,” Schroeder said. “It was really great that I was able to be his coach.

Sometimes when it’s your dad, you don’t listen.”

But, as with any situation where being a parent and a program leader can cause controversy, there was some talk about the fact that Chad was the quarterback his junior year.

“It was a tough year,” Schroeder said. “The beginning of his junior year I received some letters questioning why he was quarterback. I just thought he was the best quarterback.

But then he broke his clavicle, and I had to pick another quarterback for the rest of the season. Chad came in at the end of the season as a receiver, and turned out to be a really good receiver. Then, his senior year, everyone knew he was really good and didn’t question why he was quarterback. It all just worked out.”

With a hefty winning record under his belt, Schroeder left Westlake after a decade and a half of excellence and enjoyment.

“It was so much fun to coach,” Schroeder said. “It was a heck of a career for me at Westlake.”

—Anna MacDonald

Coach Ron Schroeder reacts to the Gatorade splash at the Berger Center where Westlake finished 10-0 during the 1996 regular season.

1996 Featherduster photo by Andrew Loehman

Beat Austin High

In the year 1996, Westlake dominated Austin High 63-14. { westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 23

40

In

“

years,

Westlake will be...

“I think it’ll be a rainbow of diversity, with joy and love shining from every window.

And unicorns.”

—senior Amy Chang “We’ll have laser battles and we’ll use space pods to carry us around.”

—junior Tyler Jones “In 40 years I think the school will have added many more classes — ones that will help us more in our careers. Oh, and Coach Bennett will probably still be here too.”

—senior Olivia Caridi “Since it is unreasonable to make predictions more than five or so years in the future, making a 40-year prediction with current statistics would be intellectually bankrupt.”

—freshman Michael Miyagi

“A floating fortress. A cross between MIT and West Point. We’ll all have chips in our heads and holographic teachers.”

—senior Jasmine Mills “Westlake will continue to prepare us for collage and careers thereafter.”

—junior Jack Reid

“I think that Westlake will continue to be a school of excellence where one be-

comes ‘excellent’ and gets ahead by playing the system, not necessarily by being the smartest or working the hardest.”

—senior Erin Brown

“In 40 years our rigor will be more rigorous, our relationships more passionate and our relevance more relevant.”

—senior Daniel Garza “There will be robots everywhere, and possibly aliens.”

—Biology teacher Eric Martin

This ain’t yo’

grandma’s Westlake

Predicting the future without a crystal ball Westlake has its own Wikipedia page. For some reason, this seems important. The school was established 40 years ago, in the era of sex, drugs and rock & roll. When it finally opened its campus in 1970, Nixon was still in office, Earth Day was celebrated for the first time in the U.S. and personal computers were rare, or so Wikipedia tells me.

It makes me wonder. If this school has gone from records to MP3s, from landlines to Twitter, even from socializing to social networking, how can we hope to predict what comes next? What will it be like in another 40 years, when our grandchildren are running around, with who knows what kinds of technology and popular fashions — an era where our fads and revolutions aren’t just outdated but have become retro-chic.

The possibilities of the future are endless — so infinite, in fact, that predicting them almost seems foolish. And yet…

It’s irresistible. Here are the things that I imagine will be a part of Westlake by 2049.

Still more construction In 40 years, Westlake may have run out of logical problems to fix with the campus, but that won’t stop the renovations. Students will be able to intern as architects or on-site managers, although not a single woodworking or construction class will be added to the course list. Internal pressure will also yield travelators, flat escalators in the hallways, a Starbucks café in the lunch room and a state-of-the-art surveillance system. Despite valiant efforts against it, each successive renovation will manage to make the school look a little more like a prison.

Nerdcore and Geek Chic Clubs that take advantage of the technological advances will create an entirely new kind of dorky fun. Think of the street cred Harry Potter fans stand to gain from the Jetpack Quidditch club and the safety liabilities that will entangle the administration upon the advent of lightsaber fencing. With the onset of affordable virtual reality chambers, UGATS will enter its golden era, meeting twice monthly to sip simulated tea on what seems to be a meticulously proper estate somewhere in Wales.

Academic achievement The Featherduster and El Paisano will have moved online, and the robotics team will be working on artificial intelligence. Language classes will be taught via holographic Skyping, on the most recent iPhone upgrade. Hard copies of textbooks will be eliminated by the CUTE Club’s computer campaign, and teachers will tell the students stories about the old days of desktop computers and TVs. However, standing stalwart against the age of technological advancement, the sophomore English classes will still study Catcher in the Rye and 1984.

One day, Westlake may be an entry in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Students will be taught things we can’t even dream into existence. Some things, however, are immune to the passage of time. Even in the future, senior pranks will provoke the administration, students will find new ways to entertain themselves when they’re supposed to be learning and band students will continue to fall asleep in the middle of their classes during marching season.

But you have to admit, Jetpack Quidditch will be awesome.

—Hetty Borinstein

Lucy Ellis

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } trends + traditions 25

Chap

in season

Freshman Sarah Nichols plays a fairy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Black Box Theater. The show ran Nov. 5-7.

1

Hannah Kunz

Hirrah Barlas

1 2

During Homecoming week, sophomore Clara Navarro paints a class sign for hall decorations. “Decorating the hall was fun because we had a cool theme,” Clara said.

“I mean, who doesn’t love Pokémon?”

5

Allie Carlisle

2 3

On the night of the Homecoming game, sophomore Meredith Trank dances at halftime in the Hyline performance.

“It’s a huge rush, the band is so intense and I feel right there in the action,” Meredith said.

4

Seniors James Timmins, Jon Darilek and Hudson Hoyle prepare for kickoff at the Cedar Park game Aug. 28. Westlake won the season opener 24-14.

6

Zelda Mayer

Hannah Kunz

Barrett W

4

3 5

During day one of Regionals in Corpus Christi, junior Jay Henton serves to his opponent from Churchhill. Westlake won the match 10-4.

6

Seniors Jeremy Agness and Troup Evans cheer on the senior prank at the Homecoming pep rally Oct. 16.

In the Homecoming game Westlake beat Connally 31-7.

7

7

Juniors David Lukert and Ryan Oehler melt copper in a lab for their Chemistry II class Oct. 20.

8

At the induction ceremony in th Oct. 22, National Honor Socie president senior Kelli Bagwell sha hand of an inductee. “Being a m of NHS is a great honor and say about a person’s character,” Kel

8

Hannah Kunz

{ westlakefeatherduster.com } brains { westlakefeatherduster.com } + brains 27 brawn + brawn

Emily C

2

Michelle Ling

Nikki Miller

Dancing to “Hometown Glory,” senior Desiree Weinstock leaps across the stage with Hyline’s Jazz Company Nov. 17 at the annual Spotlight performance. “We dedicated the dance to [dance instructor Chelsee] Capezzuti, and the flowers represented something that could never let go, so the dance was very emotional for everyone,” Desiree said.

At the end of the Dance 3-4 song “Pocket Book,” freshman Jacqueline Brustkern snaps her fingers. “Performing on stage with my friends was my favorite part of Spotlight,” she said.

Hyline’s dance to the song “One Love” ends with the performers leaning on one another.

Keren Rempe

Senior Lily Patterson shows her passion for dance in Funky Co’s performance to “Get Down.” “Being a part of Funky Co these three years have made my Hyline experience special,” Lily said.

Senior Brooke Adair shows off her high kick during Hyline’s performance to “One Love.” “Spotlight is a fun, stress free show to preview what is to come next semester during Zenith,” Brooke said.

Barrett Wilson

Keren Rempe

JamFest puts on show, Jam Packed raises money for EEF

You know that feeling, when the lights many young musical artists, Austin-based band Nelo are flashing and the music is turned up so is well on its way to being a rocks out for EEF at JamFest loud that your chest shakes and you feel the flagship of this scene. on Nov. 14 at The Belmont. drums in between your ribs like a heartbeat?

“I believe that youth are When the bass numbs your mind so that all the solution to the future of you can do is jump up and down, dance or just the entertainment business,” scream along? There’s a word for that sensaMays said. “With the music tion: JamFest. business in a major transiThe third annual JamFest took place tion, it will be these young Nov. 14 at The Belmont, a venue downtown bands and their communion Sixth Street. Seven bands, with members ties that determine what ranging in age from 10 to 18, rocked out for direction the music business the five-hour event and fund-raiser for the will head.”

Eanes Education Foundation. Bands included But the young performers South of Center, the Loose Wheels, Cominat JamFest did not appear Katherine Finn tern, the Fireants, Thorbjørn, After Math, inexperienced. The bands crowd favorite, have played every year at Georgia Napolitano and special guest, Nelo. that played appeared to have JamFest since it began three years ago. MemFor over two months, Teen Teachers and the skills of performers who had been doing it bers include junior Steven Campbell, seniors JamFest organizers had been hard at work to for decades.

Ian Stewart and Victor Voilkowski and 2009 make this JamFest the most exciting yet.

Take the Loose Wheels, for example. They graduates Zeke Jarmon and Rebecca Pledger.

“We had a lot of great underage talent on are a young rock and roll group with tal“Our genre is funk-o-matic swingtastic the JamFest 2009 lineup, and ent way beyond their years. bluegrass roots yodel rock,” Ian said. having a headliner like Nelo Band members include sixth However, Nelo had the crowd cheering the was a good way to end the grader Pierce Waldrop, eighth most when they awed the audience with their Festival with a bang,” JamFest graders GR Chiappe, John musical talents on the guitar, bass, drums and organizer James Mays said.

Kronenberger and Dunsaxophone. They provided inspiration to all Teen Teachers put in a lot can Waldrop and freshman the aspiring musicians, as all the band memof effort in order for Nelo to be Landon Hegedus. The band bers graduated from high schools in Texas. the special guest. has only been together since “I knew that I wanted to do music for the “There is nothing like February, but has already had rest of my life when I wrote my first song [my] working hard and seeing the numerous gigs. senior year in high school,” lead guitarist Matt final product turn out suc“We’ve played at The Hill Ragland said. “It was the most cathartic thing cessful,” Teen Teacher senior Country Galleria Spring and Brooke Adair said. “What Fall Concert Series, Springfest, that I had ever done by a long shot. Writing always came easily to me.” made it even better was Rolling Sculpture car show, Most bands hope to continue their music knowing we were workYouthCast, Hill’s Cafe, Art City Freshman Livvy Benett careers, especially Georgia Napolitano, a ing hard for a cause, Austin festival, Vista Camps, plays bass for the band former Westlake student who left to profesEEF, that conTeens4Austin, YouthCast and After Math at JamFest. sionally pursue her music career. tinuously works even a few private parties,” Barrett Wilson “This is my dream,” Georgia said. “I’m hard for us.”

Duncan said. definitely someone who just keeps going until The young music That’s not to say that these young artists the top. In this industry you’re going to get scene is booming in don’t face any adversity. knocked down a bunch, but I think the people population and “It’s obviously harder to take a band seriwho make it are the ones that don’t give up.” bursting with ously when you have such young members,” •Orthodontist Many of the bands offered words of advice potential.

Landon said. “But it’s just something you for other young artists hoping for a future in Randy Kunik creAustin, a have to cope with. A lot of the time booking the music business. birthagents, festival producers, etc., just have to go ated JamFest in 2007 “Playing music in this environment isn’t place beyond the appearance of a young band to see necessarily easy, but it’s something you of the potential and musical ability at hand, and as a way to show appreciashould definitely strive for,” Landon said. “If judge from there.” tion for his young patients who you enjoy what you do, just keep on doing it For some of these bands, the uphill climb even if you feel it’s too difficult.” to get noticed can be rather discouraging were up-and-coming musicians What it all comes down to is chasing your at times. They have to put in a lot of •JamFest was originally dreams. extra effort just to prove themselves “If you have a passion and a love for worthy. JamFest gave these young named Kunikpalooza something, don’t give up,” Georgia said. “If it musicians the chance to show makes you happy you should be doing it every •Overall JamFest raised audiences what a band of single day of your life.” teenagers are capable of. about $3,000 for EEF, the most —Emily Mitchell The Fireants, a

History of JamFest

raised in JamFest history

Epicosity

Secret project captivates school, seeks to relieve students’ stress

“I heard Epicosity is a social experiment.”

“Someone said it’s supposed to be a stress reliever.”

“My friend’s grandma’s half-uncle twice removed’s dog said Epicosity is orchestrated by the administration.”

With the vast number of rumors that circulated through Westlake’s crowded halls, tales blurred the lines between fact and fiction. “[When I heard Epicosity rumors] I thought it was pretty comical, not that I didn’t further contribute to them,” Epicosity participant senior Sara Hyten said.

While many correct tidbits have passed from conversation to conversation, the whole story is not as widely known to students. Epicosity was initiated by Scoot Crandall and Jim Campain of Team Fort Collins. Since its founding in 1989, Team Fort Collins has dedicated itself to improving the lives of teenagers and is based on a social norms theory which states that most of people’s behavior is influenced by their perception of how other members of their social group behave. While observing Westlake, Team Fort Collins members noticed how students were striving to outdo one another in an attempt to achieve perfection, increasing the stress in their lives.

They thereby deduced that stress was a hefty component of the Westlake morale. In an effort to alleviate stress, Epicosity was born. Mitch Lasseter and his seventh period Teen Teaching class, along with a select few recruits (all of whom later became known as the “Street Team”), were chosen to develop Epicosity.

Raising the bar for fundraising Student Council kicked off the season of generosity with the Week of Giving (Oct. 26-30), hosting a food drive competition against Austin High and Passionately Pink for the Cure Wednesday in which students and teachers were encouraged to wear pink and donate to the breast cancer awareness cause.

Food drives and fundraisers are common in the community, but this year the generosity was taken to a whole new level by the Class of 2013. Freshman English teacher Kitty Mellenbruch implemented a competition between her classes as an incentive to raise money for Passionately Pink for the Cure, which supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

“Our initial goal was to beat the $730 we raised last year,” Mellenbruch said. “On Wednesday we realized we were going to beat that so we decided to go for $1,000.”

Raising the same amount in half the time

Noticing the seemingly endless amount of elaborate advertisements, students begged the question: where is the money coming from? Eanes ISD was given a grant from the Department of Education for secondary schools to address a variety of issues. This grant supported the initial stage of Epicosity, which allowed Team Fort Collins to come train the Street Team at the beginning of the school year. To clarify, those receiving an Epicosity shirt were chosen at random. The candy deliveries, on the other hand, were strategically planned. In order to remain unseen, the Street Team selected classes that were easy to chuck candy into and that they were able to swiftly depart from.

The administration was in on Epicosity, though it was only on a “need-to-know” basis, according to assistant principal Steve Ramsey. The administrators were notified of upcoming events, but Epicosity was completely student-operated.

“It was extremely difficult to keep it a secret,” Street Team member sophomore Steven Wilbanks said. “I just wanted to tell someone.”

With their brightly colored posters, sidewalk chalk and blue painter’s tape, Epicosity made a name for itself, literally. In doing so, their goal was achieved: to take away some of life’s daily pressures by changing what would normally be considered a monotonous school day into an epic one.

—Jessee Haney

Freshman English class collects unprecedented amount for breast cancer awareness

was impressive, but the students weren’t done.

“By Thursday we had reached $1,300,” Mellenbruch said. “So they decided they wanted to get $2,000.”

The money wasn’t all coming from a few, magnanimous donors either.

“Kids were coming in with Ziploc bags full of their counted change from home,” Mellenbruch said. “It blew me away.”

By the end of the week, Mellenbruch’s classes raised $2,331.32 — more than three times their original goal. In particular, Mellenbruch’s second period class stepped up to the challenge, collecting $1,054.26.

“Individuals in that class went out in their neighborhoods to raise extra money, and I didn’t even tell them to,” Mellenbruch said.

“The first group to do that was a group of boys [freshmen Keyur Mehta, Jacob Zodikoff and Nimish Kumar]. I just thought it was so

impressive that high school boys would go door to door asking for money to fund breast cancer research. They collected $140 just in their neighborhood.”

The boys, initially inspired by Mellenbruch’s enthusiasm and the possibility of a party for the class that raised the most, felt collecting for the cause was the right thing to do.

“It’s a good cause,” Jacob said. “It’s important to be aware of it and help out however you can.”

Westlake raised a grand total of $3,400 for Passionately Pink for the Cure, a third of which came from Mellenbruch’s “fired up” second period.

“I didn’t think they could do it,” Mellenbruch said. “But they did and it was incredible.”

—Alex Bishop

Kat he

rine

the ‘Tis season

Interact club spreads holiday cheer Austin-wide with seasonal charity work

Finn

For many teens, the words “holiday season” evoke images of massive feasts prepared days in advance, piles of gadgets and gizmos worth only temporary happiness, luxurious vacations to snowy ski lodges and relaxing beach destinations. This year, the Interact club has discovered a more charitable definition of the holidays: service.

“As a group, Interact’s goals are to get involved serving the community and help others in any way we can,” president senior McCall Raftus said. “Especially at a school like Westlake, we believe it’s important to take advantage of our resources and use them to better the lives of those in need.”

Deanne Brown, the faculty sponsor of Interact, makes sure that these students get the hands-on opportunities they need to feel like they are making a difference. Instead of simply donating money and raising funds, Interact goes and actually helps.

“I like that the Interact members are doing hands-on projects which take them out to the community and face to face with the people they are serving,” Brown said.

Another member, sophomore Jane Wells, believes that one of the most fulfilling elements of being in the club is the kind of people you meet there.

“It’s the people that are in the club,” Jane said. “They really care about what we are doing.”

Interact jumps at any chance to lend a hand to the community.

From preparing and feeding lunch to the homeless to helping out at school carnivals, Interact does it all.

“Once a month we go down to UUMC [University United Methodist Church], which is on the Drag, and we make lunch for and serve the homeless,” McCall said. “Also, in October, we had a cookie

How you can help Austin this holiday season:

decorating booth at the Eanes Elementary School carnival as a fundraiser for some of the projects we’re working on.”

This year, Interact sorted jackets for the Coats for Kids drive.

Coats for Kids is a nonprofit foundation that gives jackets to children in need. This year is a season of great need, as the economy has made many people fear the loss of their jobs, houses and finances.

“We volunteered with Coats for Kids on the actual distribution day, which was Saturday, Dec. 5,” McCall said. “We weren’t able to actually work with the people receiving the donations because there’s a new rule that you have to be 18 to do that and most of our group isn’t, so we sorted instead.”

In addition to helping at the Coats for Kids drive, Interact also plans to adopt a family for the holidays.

“Personally I think adopting a family is a great idea,” McCall said.

“I think it’s incredibly sad that there are so many kids, even just in Austin, that don’t get anything for Christmas, while there are people, like many here at Westlake, that get an abundance of expensive presents. Especially during the holidays, it’s extremely important to give up some of our privileges in order to help others. Not only do we provide these people with gifts, for which they are more grateful than you could imagine, [but] we are also showing them that someone cares.”

This December, Interact will make a handful of less fortunate people’s Christmases a whole lot better. In addition to making friends and helping the community, Interact makes an impact that will be remembered forever. Though it may seem like a small event for Westlake, Interact’s involvement in the Austin community will be a memory cherished for a lifetime by those served.

—Sofia Mitre

Senior McCall Raftus, sophomore Jane Wells, junior Ana Arredondo and sophomore Caroline Hunt bake cookies for a fundraising booth at the Eanes Elementary School Carnival which took place Oct. 25.

Join Interact e-mail McCall at MR21121@ eanesisd.net Donate to the Capital Area Food Bank www.austinfoodbank.org

Adopt a family www.salvationarmyaustin.org Courtesy photo

What’s in a

number?

Westlake achieves high rankings from various organizations How can learning be measured? How can schools be effectively evaluated? These questions have sparked a debate in schools all over the country. Numerous systems are in place which attempt to gauge success, some of which are controversial.

For the past six years, Newsweek has been publishing a list of the finest public high schools in the U.S. It uses the ratio of the number of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests taken divided by the number of graduating seniors to rank the nation’s top schools. Currently, only 6 percent of high schools meet Newsweek’s standard. Westlake is one of these schools, ranking number 73 out of 1,300 on their 2009 list with a ratio of 4.216. To get perspective, the number one school has a ratio of 16.109.

“We are very proud of being number 73,” College and Career Counselor Jeff Pilchiek said. “It gives a sense of pride.”

The difficulty with the ranking is that it is factored using the number of exams taken. The score of these exams means nothing. In theory, a school could be very high on the Newsweek list without having any of its students pass an AP exam. Because of this, some schools push students to take AP exams, even if the likelihood of the student doing well is minimal. As a result, the rankings are not as accurate as believed.

“People like [the Newsweek ranking] because it is tangible in a magazine,” Pilchiek said. “It’s a hugely debated topic, though. To some extent, it is pretty important, but that doesn’t make this high school good. It is only one indicator.”

Other ranked schools in Austin included Westwood (number 89), Anderson (number 477), Bowie (number 1047), Lake Travis (number 1095) and Austin High (number 1158).

The Texas Education Agency has its own method for assessing different Texas schools and school districts. It looks at a school’s TAKS scores along with other statistics. Eanes ISD was one of 117 Texas districts to receive an exemplary ranking. For 2008-2009, more than 99 percent of the students met the standard in reading, writing, social

studies and math. When the district does not get an exemplary ranking, the administration looks at what can be improved to receive an one again.

“As a district,” counselor Debbie Hicks said, “when we get our scores, the administration looks at the scores to identify what areas did not do as well and put in a support system.”

The National Merit® Scholarship Program compares student to student, from school to school. Using PSAT scores, the program recognizes the top 16,000 students as National Merit Semifinalists. This year Westlake has a total of 32 Semifinalists, the most in the school’s history.

“What it means for the student is money,” Hicks said. “It is a way to pay for college. It’s pretty awesome.”

Despite the benefits to students, the program still has flaws.

“It is based on one single test,” Hicks said. “You’re either in or you’re not.”

The Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence honors schools that either have an exceptional educational program or schools that show great academic improvements. Eanes ISD Schools have been honored with this award several times.

Westlake was named the number one high school in the greater Austin area by CHILDREN AT RISK in 2009. This organization ranks schools based on the percentage of students who apply to college. Last year, 98 percent of Westlake students applied to college.

“We were surprised to learn we got the award,” principal Linda Rawlings said. “But of course, we were thrilled to get it.”

People who want to see how Westlake compares to other high schools should exercise caution when looking at the different rankings.

They should refrain from simply basing their opinion of Westlake off of one ranking, but instead consider them all.

“There never is a perfect system,” counselor Carol Niemann said. “I don’t believe you can measure the intangibles.”

–Hailey Cunningham

Newsweek Ranking

Year

Rank

2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2003

73 52 97 106 72 37

Westlake’s Semifinalists in 2009 National Merit Scholarship Competition: Helen Anderson John Baker Kayla Ball Caroline Bennighof Matthew Brailas Nora Burdis Jill Capotosto Robert Chatterjee

Allen Chen Michelle Doughty Joshua Furnish James Gianakopoulos John Gianakopoulos Elizabeth Harwood Katherine Kroll Nathan Liu

Kevin Lu Katherine MacDonald Erin Meyer Carl Meyertons Jasmine Mills David Mullins Sarah Newman Jared Peterson

{ westlakefeatherduster.com }

Wyatt Smitherman Michelle Suh Brian Taylor James Timmins Alex Ussery Robert Waguespack Alexa Witowski Amber Witt brains + brawn

33

wants, n

What a school

what a

Proposed athletic facility finds supporters, opponents

T

rine

You could buy every student a laptop with that much money.

Finn

—junior Matthew Chang

—senior Tanner Price

He tt y

Bo

ri

n t ei

“

Kath e

“ ”

This would benefit so much more than just the sports programs. ns

o one side, it could be a community center, a place where kids would play on hot summer days and where their parents could lift weights after work. It would be a way to move the wrestling team’s practices from a cafeteria to a matted practice room, and a solution for the band and outdoor sports’ rained-out practices. But the other side considers it to be a $10-17 million drain away from academics — at a time when non-athletic needs have been left unfilled for too long.

In recent years, an indoor sports practice facility has been under discussion, and as the topic of what to include in the district’s bond package comes up again this year it’s back on the table, but on a larger scale. The 2006 proposal was that it would be for the most part a “turf room,” leading opponents to criticize it as a football bad-weather facility. The new plan, which was researched by the Community Bond Advisory Committee, is currently in the hands of the Board of Trustees.

In the current draft, the facility would include a turf room, but also a mirrored studio for the dance department, a gymnastics-style practice room for the cheerleading squad, a weight room with sufficient space for multiple teams to work out at once and the practice room that the wrestling team has lacked.

“We are the only team in our district that does not have a dedicated mat room for wrestling,” wrestling coach Pat O’Harra said. “The third place team in the state is practicing in a cafeteria. We still have to roll out mats every time we have to practice. It’s beyond ridiculous. What scares me is that voters will not think we need an indoor facility and the issue will not pass. We absolutely cannot wait any longer.”

The bond issue is just as important to the dance department.

“Westlake is one of the few high schools remaining without an actual dance studio,” Hyline and dance department director Chelsee Capezzuti said. “Bowie, Austin High, Leander, Cedar Park, Westwood, Anderson and Akins are all high schools in the surrounding area

with studios. Dancing is a high-intensity sport that requires jumping, turning and leaping. It is imperative that our students have the proper flooring to ensure that their safety is well-maintained. In the last five years, the dance department has grown 20 percent. It’s becoming increasingly harder to give proper instruction to all these students.”

Overall, the facility would fill the needs of multiple teams, as well as the band.

“I feel pretty strongly about it because I’ve seen firsthand the impact it can make on a school district — not just the athletes, but the student body and the community,” athletic director and head football coach Darren Allman said. “In Odessa [which has an indoor sports facility], people finally realized all of the athletes and fine arts students would be using the facility. It’s not just the football players. The facility was used by golfers on cold or wet mornings. We installed a curtain that could be pulled so that other sports could have privacy in the turf room — a curtain that was durable enough to be hit by baseballs, golf balls or softballs.”

Allman explained that a larger weight room would better accommodate the school’s many teams.

“Our weight room [in Odessa] was 9,600 square feet, which allowed more than one team to be in there at a time,” Allman said. “Right now, all the spring sports are in their off season. They are trying to prepare and gain strength [and fall sports are also using workout facilities] but the WHS weight room can only hold one team at a time.”

Allman has also seen how top-of-the-line facilities can impact attitudes — and scoreboards.

“One of the major things I saw is that the mentality of the kids went to a whole new level,” Allman said. “The year prior to that building going up, [our football team was] 5-5. As soon as the dirt started moving on that building we were 12-1 and then 12-1 again. I firmly believe it raises the mentality of all the athletes in the school.”

The fear of falling behind is also a factor — though Lake Travis is one of the few schools in Central Texas with an all-weather athletic

school

eeds? facility, the buildings are becoming increasingly common in the rest of the state, especially North Texas.

“If you go to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you’re going to see several facilities like this,” Allman said. “You’re going to see them at South Lake Carroll, Coppell, Flour Mound and even the smaller schools — 3A schools and 4A schools. Statewide these buildings are becoming the norm and not the exception.”

However, the sports facility’s price tag has caused concern among other teachers, who worry about the lack of funding for their departments’ needs.

“I teach a lot of workshops around the nation, and I think it’s appalling that we have such limited technology in our classrooms,” English department head Becky Stucky said. “A lot of schools now are putting laptops in the hands of every student. That’s where I’d like to see the money go.”

While Stucky said she feels athletic needs should be addressed, she believes they could be handled on a smaller scale.

“I think we could make some improvements without spending all the money for a ‘bubble,’” Stucky said. “You could build a small gym for wrestling. I think it’s a shame that our wrestlers don’t have a better place to practice. But the amount of money for a covered athletic field, to me it just doesn’t make sense. It’s not worth it.”

Chyrisse Miller, who teaches Nutrition and Food Science, the course Ready, Set, Teach and interior design, said she understands the value of supporting athletic programs, but she is very relieved to see that the proposed bond includes making improvements to programs with less star power.

“I think we do a good job in our district on focusing on the things we do well — and one of those things is, obviously, sports — which is a huge moneymaker,” Miller said. “But I worry about, especially as an electives teacher, the ‘hidden children’ of Westlake — the ones who are not our AP kids or athletic kids. We don’t always address their needs.”

Miller’s own classroom is badly in need of updates.

“Ms. [Carol] Stewart and I will teach Food & Nutrition to 238 students this year,” Miller said. “As far as I know, no major improvements have been made in the past 20 years. It’s a hard classroom environment. Half of the equipment doesn’t always work. It’s old, it’s outdated. In the past several years, both of the middle schools’ food science areas have been remodeled. I’m so excited that our turn may be coming and that we’ll be able to serve our students in a safer, more educationally conducive classroom.”

Although there is concern that the sports facility would benefit only student athletes, superintendent Nola Wellman said that it could possibly serve the entire community during off hours, though student activities would take priority. Allman sees it as a potential community center.

“We don’t have a Westlake YMCA,” Allman said. “We don’t have a place for young kids to come and hang out during the summer, a place that’s indoors where they could come and do athletic things. I think it would provide that.”

—Holly Heinrich

Breaking down the numbers

Below is the cost estimate for various components of the proposed sports facility as of Nov. 6, 2009 (as shown on the EISD website). The proposed building site is the Shriner property, where the junior parking lot is located.

Student Activity Center* $8,160,000 Dance/cheer/ wrestling facility Site development and parking

$3,840,000 $816,420

+ $4,800,000 TOTAL $17,616,420 Outdoor swim center

*includes turf room, a weight room ranging from about 9,000 to 10,000 square feet and some locker room/office space

What else is on the bond?

The high school sports facility is only part of the total bond package that may go to voters in May or November 2010 — currently the bond is in the hands of the school board, which will decide what items go into the final package and when and if the bond will be presented to voters. The $99 million package includes funds for repairs, new classrooms and other items for all schools in the Eanes district.

A few other items under consideration...

Science classroom $4,746,375 addition $843,750 New AEP facility Musical instruments

$700,000

Special education renovations

$408,000

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Back to

Austin ISD offers alternative electives Westlake lacks

Every spring, students anticipate filling out their choice sheets for next year’s classes. While Westlake offers a number of electives, most of which are geared toward preparing for college or the fulfillment of credits, few offer an opportunity to learn practical skills that could lead directly to a career or other real-life application.

Some allow people to try different types of career paths while others teach them about handling money.

Broadcast Journalism

Woodshop Anna McDonald

Woodshop would benefit students interested in a career pertaining to carpentry or architecture. It would teach students how to operate various tools and give them the basic knowledge on how to construct everything from birdhouses to clocks.

“A lot of my family is in the carpentry industry and I wish there was a class at Westlake so I could learn more and carry on the family business,” sophomore Fazzy Chhipa said.

For many students, living on their own seems far in the future, however woodshop could help with occasional home improvement tasks such as building bookcases or renovating a recently purchased house.

Culinary Arts Even for students who do not want to be chefs, this class can open doors into the food service and hospitality industries. This class can prepare students for work or continued education in this field after high school.

“I’d still take Culinary Arts because later in life it would be beneficial to know how to prepare a variety of foods for home life or a career,” junior Klare Harris said. “Not all your classes have to be AP for you to have a high GPA and class rank.”

Besides just teaching students to cook, this elective also involves the nutrition and management aspects of culinary arts. Nutrition and Food Science is currently offered but this class is not long enough to teach many career-oriented skills.

“We currently cover a little bit of food management, but in one semester we cannot go into the depth we want to,” Nutrition and Food Science teacher Chyrisse Miller said.

Today’s generation is constantly plugged in. Cell phones can access the Internet and connect to people all over the world. Most cars include radios, most homes have TVs and watching television is a daily activity. As news shifts more and more towards technology, especially with online news stories, teenagers find jobs in the broadcast journalism field increasingly more appealing.

“I think you can always find at least one class full of students interested in Broadcast Journalism because it lends itself to such a mishmash of interests — news, sports, writing, photography, production, performance, technology,” film teacher Emily Burdett said. “Broadcast Journalism is a natural fit for students currently enrolled in journalism, photography, film production, TEC, debate, graphic design and more. It would be interesting to develop Broadcast Journalism as an advanced practicum that combines upperlevel students from these various programs.”

If Westlake offered a broadcast journalism class, students could write, edit, film and produce real news broadcasts for daily schoolwide announcements.

Agricultural Science

Although a farming class does not seem like it would fit in Westlake, it could show students the different types of careers in the agricultural fields.

“It would enlarge my knowledge of rural areas and open my eyes to how other people live,” junior Melissa Dyer said. “Even though Agricultural Science wouldn’t be an AP class, I would still take it because it would give me more information besides regular school knowledge so I could have my own ranch someday.”

The job opportunities taught in the class include the obvious choice of the farmer, but this class is also useful for students interested in agricultural construction, marketing, management and mechanics.

basics Auto Mechanics In 2007, there were about 136 million passenger cars in the United States, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The longer a family keeps its car, the more often it will need to be repaired, which is where Auto Mechanics comes in. During this class, students learn virtually every part of a car and how it works.

This elective gives students hands-on experience in changing tires, repairing engines and fixing brakes. This class provides preparation for a job without having to go to college.

“I love working on cars with my dad as a fun hobby and this class would give me a chance to prepare for my future career,” junior Auston Litton said.

Other students would find it useful to learn how to fix their own car when needed and not have to pay for expensive services.

Consumer Economics How do you balance a checkbook? How do you invest money?

What should you invest in? A consumer economics class can help lead students in the right direction.

“If you are ever going to manage a business or do general accounting, Consumer Economics would be important to know and it would benefit everyone later in life,” sophomore James Pazdral said.

Instead of sending kids off to college with no idea of what their part in the national economy is, this class should prepare students with basic financial knowledge. This way, teachers could educate students about responsible spending so they can control their money for years to come.

—Jenny Messer and Julie Dorland

Austin ISD schools offer these electives: Akins: Broadcast Journalism and Agricultural Science Austin: Culinary Arts, Consumer Economics and Broadcast Journalism Bowie: Broadcast Journalism, Culinary Arts and Agricultural Science Crockett: Auto Mechanics and Broadcast Journalism Lanier: Woodshop and Agricultural Science LBJ: Broadcast Journalism McCallum: Broadcast Journalism and Consumer Economics Reagan: Auto Mechanics, Agricultural Science and Consumer Economics Travis: Culinary Arts

{ satirical commentary }

Extreme sports

Questionably sane students accept possibility of disfiguration, dismemberment, even death when choosing potentially risky electives Behind the doors of Westlake “Every time you want that High School, danger lurks — a awesome action shot of the footdanger far greater ball player leaping than paper cuts and over his opponent, pencils in the eye, a you are at total risk of danger we, as stubeing blown to smithdents, confront daily. ereens by 200-pound How great is this masses of body and danger, you ask? Is equipment,” Lily said. there any way to pro“And there’s always tect ourselves, or are slipping on spilled we all doomed? chemicals in the Selah Maya Zighelboim This danger looms darkroom...” in what we call Some chemi“extreme classes,” cals used in the electives and photojournalism academic courses are very toxic, offered at school and Lily and her that may be fellow classmates hazardous to our must take serious health. measures to avoid “We have Abby Mosing injury. gloves, safety “We use the goggles and guidelines to protect trays for carrying chemicalourselves from the dangers of covered photos,” Lily said. “Never Tech Theater and that’s it,” put your face right above fresh sophomore Hayden Warzek said. chemicals. Trust me, it’s a bad Hayden is in Tech Theater idea.” where the threat of being crushed Along with Tech Theater and by concert shells and other heavy photojournalism, Chemistry II AP objects constantly hangs above is also a class where the stakes are the students’ heads. Some of high and classroom activities play these risky feats include handling dice with the lives of students. power saws and air staple guns. “[In a worst case scenario], “I haven’t heard of any fatalisomeone knocks over a Bunsen ties at our school, but I know of burner full of concentrated hyseveral incidents worldwide drochloric acid, and the Bunsen where people died working counburner lights a lab book on fire,” ter weight fly systems exactly as junior Shankar Nandakumar said. our school has,” Hayden said.

“You could probably die.”

If this doesn’t sound dangerWhy would students risk their ous, imagine yourself on the sidelives daily for 50 minutes? Are lines of a football field in the heat they heroes, or are they pompous of the game, armed only with a fools who crave the adrenaline camera. You have to be extremely rush of these electives? cunning to get your shot in the “[These extreme classes] may right place and still stay clear of be dangerous,” Hayden said. “But oncoming football players. For in my opinion, [they are] the freshman Lily Pipkin’s photojour- most fun organizations at school.” nalism class, this kind of danger —Abby Mosing and is a part of life.

Selah Maya Zighelboim

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37

u Justpassed

Varsity volleyball tak

With a “third time’s a charm” mentality, team faced the reigning 5A State Champs Nov in hopes of dethroning them. After defeating C in four games to clinch a spot in Saturday’s ch Chaps were energized by the thought of going 47-3 team from Amarillo.

“We were really excited that we made it to Furst said. “But we were even more excited th play Amarillo again. Given our history with th ing to be a tough fight, but we were ready to g They fought long and they fought hard. It w battle — point for point. The Chaps took the fi Amarillo Sandies 25-19. The next two games w 20-25 and 26-28, but that didn’t stop the Cha back in game four and taking the game with a But it was game five that stopped them from r by two points with a score of 14-16, the Chaps Nov. 21 with an overall season record of 39-7.

“It was a great match,” junior Lauren Mitc never a moment where it wasn’t intense — I’m the outcome we wanted, but second in State is proud of.”

The 2009 season was strong for Westlake f opening match against Westwood High Schoo letic ability and mental toughness that allowed

up

4. Senior Priscilla Leake “drops it” by the bench after the Chaps win a point against Amarillo. Priscilla did a dance move after every point the team scored.

5. Raising her Hulk hands in the air, senior Sarah Gross celebrates with the rest of the student section in the Texas State gym Nov. 21.

6. Seniors Katie Sorenson and Hannah Kolar reach for a block during the State finals game.

“That was the toughest match of the season and we put all of our hearts into it,” Katie said.

7. Wishing her opponents good luck, senior Sara Shaw prepares to face the Amarillo Sandies for the third year in a row.

nd in State for third year in a row

lleyball oliseum v. 20 me, the the 47-3

eredith ng to play oing to

orth the arillo, a come25-23. d. Losing in State

was was not to be

sh. The s’ athhrough

a hard game and finish with a win. It set the standard for a successful season with high goals.

The team then went on to take second place in two pre-District tournaments, Duncanville and Fraulein Fest.

“The pre-season tournaments really helped us find ourselves as a team and created a great team dynamic before District and playoffs,” senior Priscilla Leake said. “It was an awesome opportunity to practice and hone our skills before the start of the actual season.”

A 14-game winning streak placed the undefeated Chaps first in District. Heading right into playoffs, they continued the winning tradition and advanced into the State finals with six playoff wins over New Braunfels, Corpus Christi Carroll, Corpus Christi King, San Antonio Southwest, San Antonio O’Connor and Katy Cinco Ranch.

“Everybody put a lot more heart into it this year,” junior Ella Praisner said. “Even when we would be down by a lot, our energy never faltered and we were determined to make it back to the finals. Amarillo left us bitter last year and that, to me at least, was a large portion of my incentive to do as much as I could to play them again.”

This year’s State finals marked the third year in a row Westlake has lost to four-year State Champions Amarillo. However, the girls haven’t let this one loss determine their season.

“I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished this year,” senior Sara Shaw said. “Though we fought our hardest, Amarillo just played better in the big points. It was a tough battle.”

—Katie Sorenson

Senior Sara Shaw completes 4 years on varsity

1. Sophomore Paige Caridi sets the ball during an intense match against Amarillo. Paige is the only sophomore on varsity.

2. After winning a point against the rival Sandies, junior Tessa Hunt celebrates with juniors Ella Praisner and Avery Edwards and seniors Sara Shaw and Hannah Kolar.

3. With State Runner-Up trophy in hand, the team smiles and poses for the cameras. The Chaps finished the season with a 39-7 record.

Standing 6’1”, senior Sara Shaw is a combination of grace, power, leadership, determination and “sass” — hence her nickname “Sassy.” All these qualities make up one of the best volleyball players Westlake has ever seen. After starting on the varsity team all four years, Sara will continue to play in college. A scholarship from the University of Southern California is the first step of her career.

“She started as a middle blocker then moved to outside hitter her junior year,” varsity coach Al Bennett said. “She has gotten better and better over time and with experience.”

Sara’s knowledge of the game has not only come with time, but also with observation.

“I think I learned a lot from the older girls I played with since I was a freshman,” Sara said. “They taught me a lot and I took it in.

Hopefully I’ve done a good job as a senior leader.”

This year, along with winning Most Outstanding Hitter at the Duncanville Tournament of Champions, District 25-5A MVP, PrepVolleyball Senior Ace #11 and making the LonestarVolleyball. com All-Texas Team, Sara has also set an example. “[She is a leader] because of what she does on the court,” Bennett said. “She takes care of business and leads by example. She’s not an especially vocal player, but when she gets fired up, it fires the whole team up.”

On Oct. 27, varsity played their last home game of the 2009 season before playoffs and won by a landslide.

“The game was so exciting and it was nice to have all the seniors together,” Sara said. “Obviously, your last home game is sad, but it was really fun. I think we played well the first two games. We came out and we were on fire and really pumped. We wanted to be the win-

ners so badly.”

Now, with high school volleyball completed, Sara is thinking about the years ahead and preparing for college. She will leave a lot behind, including memories with some of her best friends and teammates.

“One of my favorite memories was when Ella Praisner was hitting a slide and Coach was crouched on the end of the court,” Sara said.

“She hit the ball out and it went straight towards him like a dagger.

As he caught it, he did a somersault backwards. It was really funny!”

Memories like that will be hard to let go, but Sara has a future to look forward to and some more memorable moments to make.

“I’m going to miss playing with my best friends and playing for my small community,” Sara said.

“Hopefully, I’ll play as well in college as I did in high school.”

—Laura Doolittle

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On the road again

Football tramples Judson, heads to Regional semifinals

Nathan Kallison

es for a Shaw reach s beat in ll o C r io n er ju e Chap Wide receiv rlingen defender. Th of playoffs. a H nd pass over a 2-13 in the third rou 4 ls a in the Card

Kallison

n liso Kal

Nathan

N a t ha n

For the 22nd year in a row, the Chap football my last high school football game.’ But when time ran team is on the road to State. out, and we had won, all the stress was over and we On Oct. 30, the hammering of feet on the metal could finally celebrate. This game, along with the Ausstands echoed the pounding hearts in the Westlake tin High game, was the most memorable in my career student section as the Chaps were sent into overtime and the most exciting to see and be a part of.” with rival Austin High. Quarterback senior Tanner Nov. 20, the Chaps surprised their own fans and Price’s 27-yard pass to senior Bryce Hager put the silenced the Converse Judson fans as they stomped Chaps ahead 49-42. After an the Rockets, 43-17. incomplete fourth down pass by “We knew going into the game that Judthe Maroons, an announcement son has a tradition of great football,” running over the wild cheers from the back senior Tim Johnston said, “and that Westlake stands confirmed that since they were on their home field they were this victory granted the Chaps a going to play hard. We didn’t expect to blow spot in the 2009 playoffs. them out, but we had confidence that as a “Beating Austin High was team if we executed and limited our mistakes the most exciting moment of then we could come out with a win. Defense the regular season,” wide replayed a great game against a tough running ceiver senior Miles Berger said. offense and were able to shut it down. Our of“It gave us good momentum fense has also started to really click which has On Nov. 27, wide receiver junior heading into playoffs.” allowed us to have a really balanced attack with Tyler Luxion catches a pass Two weeks later, the team running as well as throwing the ball.” against Harlingen. faced San Antonio Madison in The Chaps beat previously undefeated HarNathan Kallison its first round of playoffs and lingen 42-13 in the Regional semifinals Nov. lost hold of the lead in the last 27 at the Alamodome. They faced San Antonio three minutes. However, the Chaps quickly recovered Clark Dec. 5 at Hero’s Stadium. Results were unavailand finished the game 31-27. able at press time.

“When Madison got the lead with such little time “We expect to win the State championship,” head left, the nerves started to set in,” linebacker senior Elcoach Darren Allman said. “We would be shortlis Glaw said. “As I was on the sideline pacing, watchchanging ourselves if it were any other way.” ing the offense on the field, I thought, ‘this could be —Katy Roden

During the Homecoming game against Connally, quarterback senior Tanner Price goes for a carry. Tanner is committed to play for Wake Forest University.

After scoring one of his two touchdowns against rival Austin High Oct. 30, senior Miles Berger celebrates with junior Jason Prideaux.

Quarterback senior Tan ner Price hands off to running back junior Van Gramann during Westlake’s second rou nd playoff game.

Nathan Kallison

Hannah Kunz

d to rns to the crow Charlie Copa tu or ni tonio se An d n en Sa t Tigh ry over am’s 31-27 victo celebrate the te Madison.

allis Nathan K

He’s got spirit “Don’t sweat the small stuff” — that’s the motto of Westlake’s new cheerleading director and varsity cheer coach, Jeff Nixon. With extensive cheerleading experience, a love of coaching, and dedication to Westlake’s sports teams, Nixon has already positively impacted the program.

Nixon’s resume shows he has the background and skills to take the squads to a higher level.

“I was a competitive gymnast for six years, a college cheerleader at Texas State University for six years and part of UCA (Universal Cheerleading Association) for three years,” Nixon said. “I owned a competitive cheer gym for four years, and I coached the Texas State University cheerleaders for four years. I also have two UCA national collegiate titles.”

To many people outside of cheerleading, a male coaching and being involved in a traditionally women’s sport may seem very unusual. But his success at the sport at a young age opened many doors.

“I was a gymnast in high school,” Nixon said. “I was asked by the cheerleaders in college to try out for the team because I could tumble. I honestly had no intention of being a cheer coach, but as you grow and mature you realize that the best job is something that you are truly passionate about.”

Westlake’s reputation of being a competitive, topnotch school attracted him Keren Rempe to his current job as head cheerleading coach.

“I came here for the reputation of excellence,” Nixon said. “I like the school because of the great location and the strength of the Westlake community.”

Nixon choreographed the 2009 Homecoming pep rally that was performed by all three squads Oct. 16.

“I was excited about the cheerleaders’ performance at the Homecoming pep rally because it gave them an opportunity to showcase their talent and ability,” Nixon said. “I’m looking forward to other performances and competitions in the future.”

Leadership turnover has been a challenge for the cheerleading program. Throughout the last four years, the cheer squads have experienced four different coaches and the cheerleaders have had to adapt to their different coaching styles and techniques. Varsity cheerleader senior Christina Florey has been through it all.

“In my four years of Westlake cheer we have had three different coaches [before Nixon],” Christina said. “Each one changed the program in his or her own way. Our new coach has definitely brought the program together, improved it and challenged us to become better.”

Sophomore Taylor Nesbit has been in the program for two years and has only words of praise to give her new coach.

“Coach Nixon pushes us harder in practice,” Taylor said. “He does this to try and make us the best we can be.”

Being a competitive and Westlake cheerleader, freshman Bridget Person believes that Nixon combines elements of competitive and

New coach puts the ‘cheer’ in cheerleading

Nixon leads as an example by showing the girls how to fly with juniors Kristin Behnke and Carly Jones and senior Dana King basing and junior April Yu spotting.

school cheer in order to create a more successful program.

“Every day Nixon tries to take our team to the next step, doing everything he can to improve the squads,” Bridget said.

Nixon improves the program by adding harder stunts, more difficult tumbling, and by emphasizing cheers that get the crowd more involved and excited. New to the sport, freshman Baylie Beebe appreciates the professionalism, spirit and new ideas that Nixon brings to the program.

“I think that Coach Nixon has reshaped the cheer program in a positive way,” Baylie said. “Every day in cheer practice, Coach Nixon and the other coaches encourage us to try our best in stunting, tumbling and cheer spirit. He is very professional.”

The junior varsity coach, Alison Leifeste, is the only cheer coach this year who isn’t new to Westlake. Leifeste said she values the optimistic vibe that Nixon brings to the program.

“I think he’s wonderful,” Leifeste said. “He’s brought a much more positive atmosphere to the cheer program.

The level of respect that the girls have for the school and Westlake cheerleading has grown tremendously since

Keren Rempe

Nixon prepares the girls for the football game against Akins the following day.

“Coach Nixon pushes us to our best ability and is always encouraging us to try our hardest,” freshman Ali Gray said.

he’s been here.”

Having extensive experience with the sport and young adults, Nixon guides the cheerleaders to strive to do their best and perform up to their potential.

“I really enjoy sports, supporting athletes and working with young adults,” Nixon said. “Now the cheerleaders are performing at a higher level and generating a high level of crowd interaction.”

As a former cheerleader and gymnast himself, Nixon coaches the cheerleaders in a more athletic-based, collegiate style of cheering, which involves more stunts and tumbling. He emphasizes that working hard and going all out will ultimately result in a stronger and closer team. Seeing obvious improvement from the cheerleaders, Nixon plans to continue his style of coaching and even form a competitive team next year. This team will learn a challenging routine including stunts and tumbling. They will also choreograph a dance and cheer to be prepared for competition.

“I’m really enjoying my first year at Westlake High School,” Nixon said. “I’m excited to take this program to the next level.”

—Sofia Mitre

WE

STL

AK

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41

Just doW it Change in sports adds intensity over time Coach Al Bennett

In the locker room before the State semi-final game against Cinco Ranch Nov. 20, the volleyball team performs a pre-game ritual.

Katherine Finn

F

rom players to rules, many of the sports we know and love today don’t look anything like they did 30 years ago. In track, it has gone from Carl Lewis and Jesse Owens going all-out on their way to gold medals, to Usain Bolt practically jogging to the finish line. In football, it has gone from Jerry Rice politely handing the ball to the referee, to Chad (Ochocinco) Johnson having a party in the end zone after scoring. In baseball it has gone from the admiration of great players, such as Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken Jr., to speculation on whether the greats are now taking steroids. With so much change in sports, few have been around long enough to witness the changes first hand. Head volleyball coach Al Bennett, head baseball coach Jim Darilek and head cross country coach Bert Bonnecarrere have all coached for approximately 30 years and have viewed some of the changes in their respective sports.

One of the biggest changes over time is the physical development of the players and the changes they have brought to the sport.

“The athletes have changed,” Bennett said. “They have become bigger, faster and stronger. Everyone is physically more in shape than they used to be. There are more girls who have played more, so you have to train them more so that they can reach their full potential.”

Barrett Wilson

In volleyball’s rich history there have been numerous changes in many years. But none is more radical than the rally score. Instead of having to wait to score on each possession, now a team can score when they are able to endure the other team’s rally. This revolutionized the game, making the matches move along much more quickly. “[In rally scoring] every time you survive a rally you receive a point,” Bennett said. “Now you have to focus on every possession and every game. As the rally score came, it was a change to almost everything.”

Another change to volleyball, and sports in general, is the transformation of coaching itself. The experience and the style of many coaches have changed since Westlake opened.

“It’s just different,” Bennett said. “I can’t do what I did 30 years ago. The game has changed dramatically, the training techniques, the scoring system, rules, and the athletes themselves. I feel like I’m a better coach every year. You gain more experience on dealing with players and parents. Experience is a great thing in life because you learn how to react. You are constantly trying to improve every year and you are shortchanging your players if you are not trying to improve. Once you start wishing about the way it was, it’s a good time to stop coaching.”

Power to the people

Implemented in 1972, Title IX allowed women more rights in sports, stating that “No person

in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal aid.”

Much of the changes in sports have been Coach Jim Darilek due to the way society has changed over time.

Sports constantly adapt to more and more interesting ways to excite the audience, causing shifts in coaching styles and techniques.

“I am probably a less intense coach now then I was when I was younger,” Darilek said.

“I see more benefit in working through coaching situations at a slower pace than being really intense and having to fix everything right away. Society is different now, too. Kids don’t respond to discipline the way they used to. I think players today don't respond to negative coaching. In other words, it is not good to say First baseman 2009 graduate Joseph ‘you can't do it like that’, rather you should Trahan throws the ball back after the say ‘you need to do it another way.’” hitter was called safe.

In baseball, changes have been more Nathan Kallison Laura Aldridge recognizable over the years, especially with taken away some of the mystique of athletground balls, fly balls and doing some batting steroids and human growth hormones being ics. Baseball especially, kids are starting to practice, just to hit a little bit,” Darilek said. introduced to the sport, though the changes play younger and younger and you see that “That was pretty much all that you did in have been slower moving than the sudden creeping dropout rate. I think you’ll see a lot practice.” scoring change in volleyball. more burnout because of all this intensity and In cross country, athletes are always striv“I don’t think you can point your finger at teams doing it over and over and over.” ing to push the limits of their own bodies as a certain time. I think it Many of the practices they endeavor to become faster and faster. was a gradual change,” in baseball have been “I think it is indicative of changes in Darilek said. “One thing altered over the past our society as a whole,” Bonnecarrere said. that marked a defi40 years, especially the “At times we seem to have lost the value of nite change was when Back when I first focus on the essentials of fundamentals. We sometimes seem to want UIL stopped allowing baseball. started coaching, to bypass old school adages of hard work, baseball coaches to “Probably 80 percent discipline and learning the ability to deal with practice was just coach their teams over of our practice is drill adversity as a person and most importantly as the summer, and that taking some ground work, working on fundaa team member.” was in the ‘80s. From mentals, which is totally balls, fly balls and High school has become more and more that developed select opposite from what we time consuming, and with so many things to some batting pracbaseball programs, used to,” Darilek said. do at Westlake and around Austin, less time is which used to be just tice —just to hit a “The other 20 percent of available for sports. high school, and they’ve it is taking ground balls, little bit.

“It seems that high school kids have sevslowly gone younger regular batting practice eral more choices to occupy their time these —head baseball and younger.” and some fly balls. In days,” Bonnecarrere said. “That has had an One of the key other words, most of the impact on the number of kids in the program coach Jim Darilek changes in sports is changes have been due and the amount of time and energy they are the change in intensity to technology and filmwilling to dedicate to the sport. I have seen over time. Players now ing. We now can look at this trend develop since the late ‘90s.” are expected to practice people and break down Even though these changes in sports have longer and be stronger skills into different parts drawn critics, sports are just as alive as they than they used to. so you can work on things a lot more specifiused to be. From rally score to change in UIL “The intensity is so much greater,” Darilek cally than we used to.” regulations, sports are just as enthralling as said. “It used to be that people played for fun.

Practice was a lot simpler back when they were when Westlake was first formed. It And now people have started playing when Darilek started coaching, having much less seems as though the only thing that remains they are infants with goals to be the best that intensity and length than a current practice. constant in sports is change itself. they can be. They have a plan. It’s almost not “Practice used to be just taking some —Cody Crutchfield recreation anymore. It’s work. I think that has At the Vista Ridge Invitational, senior Nicholas Domino runs at cross country’s first meet of 2009.

“ ”

Coach Bert Bonnecarrere

Keren Rempe

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Hirrah Barlas

brains + brawn

43

and Math

marathons

Hirrah Barlas

Calculus teacher trains, teaches, qualifies for Boston Marathon Hobbs has run marathons in the following places: Arizona Arkansas California Idaho Illinois Indiana Italy Kentucky Louisiana Missouri New Mexico North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Tennessee Georgia Texas Utah Washington Wyoming

FINISH

Next to the TI-89, TI-84 Plus and TI Nspire run 30 marathons before I turn 30, but since I’ve calculator posters hung on Allegra Hobbs’ classaccomplished that, I changed it to 30 states.” room wall, a U.S. map stands out. Almost half This school year, Hobbs has competed in the states are colored in, indicating that she has Idaho, Ohio, Utah and Cedar Park and plans to run marathons there. Written in the states are go to Boston, Dallas and Houston. Though she her times for the respective marathons. misses up to five school days a year in order to “I’ve run 38 marathons so far,” Hobbs said. travel to the various races, like any good Calculus “3:37:07 is my best time and I’ve won first place teacher, Hobbs never stops thinking about her in my age group in many of the smaller races.” subject.

Hobbs has the training schedule of the aver“I know this may be shocking,” she said. “But age cross country runner — three to six miles, I do a fair bit of math while I’m running. I calcufour days a week on a street downtown late how much longer the race will take or the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail, if I keep my current pace. concluding with a 10- to I calculate what my time 22-mile run on Saturday. would be if I were to slow She started training to down, or worse, walk the compete in marathons five rest of the marathon. I also This may be shocking, years ago. like to count down the miles but I do a fair bit of “When I moved back to — once I’m half way (13.1 math while I’m running.

Austin for graduate school miles), I start thinking of at UT, I started running the race in terms of percent—Allegra Hobbs because that’s what my age completed. I’ve never ‘roommates’ — my parents tried running with music — were doing,” Hobbs said.

— I actually don’t own an “I started running maraMP3 player. So, I prefer bigthons because none of my college friends ger marathons because the crowds, both lived in Austin, so I didn’t have anything better runners and spectators, keep my mind busy and to do. My mom, dad and I decided to run the help pass the time. It also helps to target people ‘Distance Challenge,’ which was a series of seven to pass — and then hopefully pass them.” races of increasing distances that finished with Although Hobbs doesn’t listen to music durthe 2004 Motorola Marathon. That was my dad’s ing the races, she and her father share a musical second marathon and my mom’s and my first.” pre-race ritual.

Since she started running marathons, Hobbs “In the morning before a race, we traditionhas set and accomplished several goals. ally listen to Blue Oyster Cult’s ‘Godzilla’ and I “I wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon, wear my Godzilla socks for good luck,” Hobbs which will be in April 2010, and I did that Oct. 3 said. in Utah,” she said. “Another original goal was to —Katy Roden

“ ”

Hannah Kunz

Freshman Mackenzie Franklin swims laps at Rollingwood pool for swim team practice Oct. 26. “Our swim team practices are extremely hard, but it’s all worth it when you finish your race with a best time,” Mackenzie said.

“It’s the best feeling in the world when your coach smiles at you and says, ‘good job.’”

T

otal immersion Swim team trains for upcoming events

Feeling every stroke she takes as she tries to beat the clock, senior Samantha Tucker lunges for the wall, finishing the race. Looking up to see her time, she feels satisfaction from her new personal record.

The swim team started off its fall season with its first meet at the AISD Invitational on Oct. 9. From there, it will be doing five meets in the first semester.

“So far the season is going great,” Samantha said. “Westlake is off to a good start winning dual meets and our team is performing really well early on in the high school season. I think it’s going to be a great year for us.”

The swimmers have been practicing vigorously, swimming for two hours Monday through Friday at the Rollingwood pool. The athletes’ hard work has been paying off by doing well in many meets, like the Round Rock Invitational on Oct. 22.

“The Round Rock Invite went well, despite the inclement weather delays and less than preferable racing conditions,” senior Mara Weidmann said. “Girls finished second overall and boys finished seventh with not even the entire team attending.”

The Westlake swim team has always been strong, but they still have some opponents to worry about.

“Churchill has a good number of fast swimmers so they have number as well as depth which makes them a good competitor,” Samantha said.

However, new athletes with noticeable talent continue to join the team which strengthens it even more.

“We have a lot of fast underclassmen this year, so in the future

Art by Emily Mitchell

[the team] will be great,” senior Lucas Belury said.

Even when star athletes like Samantha or junior Eric Dirvin graduate, the swim team will have nothing to worry about.

“We have a lot of talent, so as the years go on, we will get better and better,” junior Jesse Johnson said.

However, not all of the credit should go to the athletes. Coaches are the ones who motivate and train their athletes to become better and stronger. “[Coach Issac Grombacher] is efficient in practice and you get everything you want out of practice,” Jesse said. “He keeps us in line.”

Grombacher, who has coached a team to State six out of his seven years at Westlake, teaches his athletes discipline and how to become stronger and overcome any nerves before competition. “[I help my athletes by] teaching them good habits and good mindsets,” Grombacher said. “A lot of times we get caught up in racing and the other competitors and the swimmers forget that they’re racing against the clock. Sometimes you can use [the other competitors] as motivation, but the flip side of that is that they can become a distraction for doing their best.”

Despite the competitiveness of the sport, the team seems to function as one big family.

“I have loved being a part of the Westlake swim team my four years of high school,” Mara said. “Truly, it is one of my favorite and most rewarding activities. From friends to games of Ultimate [Frisbee], I have really enjoyed everyone and everything. I feel like we have become a lot closer and work together much better.”

—Christina Shin

savethe

memories purchase your

yearbook

www.jostensyearbook.com

LuckyStr ke Special Olympians compete in Regional bowling competition

Courtesy photo

Assisted by Special Olympics coach Brett Coleman, junior Joel DiMare prepares to execute a perfect strike.

Cynthia Martin first started the Special Olympics team for the Eanes district 20 years ago.

Bowling Results: —Danny DeLano: Silver —Joel DiMare: Bronze —Jillian King: Bronze —Amy Mansfield: Gold —James Nogarede: 4th

E

very Monday afternoon at Westgate Lanes bowling alley, four lanes are crowded with coaches, a few student volunteers and 15 athletes who compete for the Eanes team of the Special Olympics.

The Special Olympics is a non-profit organization that gives special needs athletes the chance to participate in bowling, basketball and track and field throughout the school year.

“The goal of the Special Olympics is to teach athletes to work well as a team, to participate in community events and to show them that they’re good at sports,” Eanes Special Olympics coach Pegi Pickett said.

Along with the position of head coach, Pickett is also the Head of Delegation for the Eanes team of the Special Olympics. It is her job to contact the parents, set up the events and organize the practices.

“I got involved in this when one of my friends convinced me to come out and volunteer at a Special Olympics event,” Pickett said.

“It was beyond awesome — it changed my whole life and I’ve been doing it for 11 years now.”

The team members are indeed achieving their goals merely by practicing every Monday from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. Throughout the school day, they are typically in a very controlled learning environment, with minimum noise and distractions and few students around them. However, Westgate Lanes, where they practice, is the complete opposite — noisy, crowded and unpredictable. The team members have to deal with restricted areas, having to take turns, putting others before themselves and an all-around stressful environment.

“Their perseverance coming into this situation and working towards their main goal, the competition, is tremendous,” Pickett said.

“I think the athletes benefit greatly from the experience as well. It teaches them sportsmanship first and foremost, and helps them learn how to be a good winner or a good loser.

It encourages them to make more friends, it challenges them get out of their comfort zone, and it helps both their physical and mental endurance.”

These athletes have worked the entire fall in preparation for a bowling competition on Nov. 16, when all the Special Olympic teams from Region 13 schools (the area around Central Austin and Hays County) competed at the 300 Austin bowling lane.

Many students were so inspired by these team members that they volunteer to help out every week.

“I helped teach them how to play basketball last spring and I thought it would be fun to teach them to bowl too,” senior Alex Lokken said. “Plus you get great community service hours out of it.”

Students that are interested in volunteering can get more information by visiting the Chaps InService web site, which has links to the Special Olympics.

“Working with the Special Olympics has brought so much happiness in my life,” Pickett said. “I can’t imagine not doing this, or doing anything else. It’s so much fun to know that you’re making their lives a little bit happier.

“Once you start volunteering it’ll change your life for the better and it’s a total blast.

Besides all the benefits that the athletes get from all the extra encouragement, volunteers benefit even more from what it brings to their day,” Pickett said.

“It certainly has made me more humble and to appreciate all the things I have. I no longer take for granted all the abilities I have to do the things that I want,” Pickett said.

—Luci Ortiz

—Nathan Snyder: Gold —Jeffrey Yang: Silver Katherine Finn

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brains + brawn

47

Letterfrom

the

Substitute recalls military experience, discusses path to teaching career

Dean

“

After that tour I decided to put a smile on someone’s face every day in honor of Bill Lawson. I try to make you guys smile.

It’s my mission.

—Dean Phillips

{

thousands of people. When he told it at Westlake High this year on Veterans’ Day, the auditorium was silent. No one talked or texted; he held the attention of every person in the room.

“After I told the story, parents, teachers, and students came up to me with tears in their eyes and said, ‘Thank you for telling that story,’” he said. “Students sat in the PAC afterwards, not moving.”

“After that tour I decided to put a smile on someone’s face every day in honor of Bill Lawson,” Phillips said. “I try to make you guys smile. It’s my mission.”

He lives out that promise daily. After a second combat tour in Vietnam and years at the Pentagon, he retired from the army and began working in the computer industry and as a research manager. Phillips became a substitute teacher at Westlake in 1999 and is as much a part of Westlake as football games in the Chaparral Stadium or Driver’s Ed with Mr. Thomas. He is known for his “Goon Squad” speech (informing the class that potential troublemakers will face the Goon Squad, the school’s secret dungeon, and be read to from boring textbooks — as Phillips says, the last is an oxymoron) and as a familiar face at school.

“It’s a heck of a lot better than watching TV,” Phillips said. “It’s called reality.”

Substitute teaching and the military were never part of Phillips’ original plans.

“When you’re a young man in 1964 and you’re kicked out of college, you go straight to the top of the draft list,” Phillips said, explaining his transition from editor-inchief of his university’s newspaper to the jungles of Vietnam. He was a student at the University of Southwestern Louisiana — now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and one of the few voluntarily integrated universities in the South. But racial tensions still ran deep. That year the Engineering Ball was integrated for the first time, but when students arrived, a sign announced the ball had been canceled.

White students were given refunds and were told that the band for that night was at a venue across town — essentially, a pri-

{

During a trip to Washington D.C., several journalism students paid their respects to Bill Lawson while visiting the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall Nov. 14. They created a rubbing (above) of his name and observed a moment of silence in his honor.

vate dance had been created that excluded black students.

“Think about it,” Phillips said. “You buy a dress. Your date rents a tux. And then you get there and a sign says, ‘Sorry, the Engineering Ball has been canceled.’ As the editor of the paper, I didn’t like that, and I wrote an editorial about how unfair it was.”

He was called into the dean’s office the day after it ran.

“He said to me, ‘We don’t publish things like this in Louisiana, son,’” Phillips said.

But Phillips refused to apologize for the editorial, or to back down on the decision to print letters to the editor criticizing what the administration had done.

“A letter to the editor was anonymous — but it was strongly in my style of writing,” Phillips said, grinning.

As a result, he was called into the dean’s office and expelled for “missing too many classes”— classes missed every time he had to take the school paper to the printers.

Like his sudden exit from university life into the role of a soldier, Phillips’ introduction to working with teens came as a surprise. He likes to say he was “tricked into substitute teaching” — beginning when a cousin convinced him to spend a week as a tour guide for seniors in San Antonio. Phillips assumed he meant senior citizens until a bus load of high school seniors pulled up in front of his hotel. Despite his initial reluctance, Phillips found he loved the job.

“Another friend told me that if I enjoyed the students so much, I should try substitute teaching,” Phillips said. “That was 10 years ago, and it’s been a great 10 years.”

Every year, he also takes 500 to 1000 students to Washington, D.C. and stops at the Vietnam Memorial — to tell his story, to tell the story behind the names carved into the silent black wall.

“When I look at the Wall, I see Bill Lawson’s face staring back at me,” Phillips said. “And Mike Gianinni, and Chris Clearwater. Two of the finest young men I’ve ever met. I see them and my other friends there on that wall. Smiling back at me.”

—Holly Heinrich

Classroom rules

“Sometimes I can tell this story without crying — but not usually,” Dean Phillips said.

He pauses, then goes on.

“You know how when you go to camp there’s always that person making funny noises at night?” Phillips asked. “Or telling stupid jokes? That was Bill Lawson. He kept us laughing.”

They were friends, soldiers in the Vietnam War, two guys who liked to tell funny stories. Lawson’s roster number came up and he was sent into the jungle as an artillery coordinator. When Lawson was ordered back to the base camp early for some admin duty, Phillips was assigned to take his place. Lawson radioed in and said that it was only two more days, said he knew the soldiers and procedures already, so Phillips didn’t need to head out.

“The next morning Lawson was in the armored personnel carrier and got ambushed,” Phillips recalled. “The VC launched a grenade and it hit Bill right in the chest. He was standing where I would have been standing, calling for backup.”

After Lawson’s death, his belongings were boxed up to be sent home. Phillips wrote a letter to Lawson’s family.

“I had to write a letter for the colonel to send,” Phillips said. “It said what a good officer Bill had been. What a good example to his soldiers. How he’d given his life for his country. But I knew that was a lie. I knew that wasn’t true. Bill Lawson had given his life for me.”

Like other veterans, Phillips struggled to understand why he had lived while friends and fellow soldiers had been killed.

The answer came many years later from an unlikely source — the father of an eighth grader in a class of students Phillips took to visit the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. “Dean, I know why you survived,” the father told him. “It doesn’t have anything to do with Bill. It has to do with that story.

Someday you will tell young people that story so they will understand what it is like to be a veteran.”

Years later, he has told the story to

“I have two rules. One: when I’m talking, no one is allowed to talk — you don’t have to listen to me, you just can’t talk. Two: three strikes and you’re out: the first time you disrupt the class, I will ask you not to do that; the second time, I will warn you and move you to a corner where you won’t bother me; and the third time, you will be handcuffed to the front of the room where we will perform experiments on you until you are unconscious. If that takes too long, we will read to you from a textbook, then drag you down to the Westlake Dungeon where the Goon Squad will work you over until your parents or legal guardians are called to pick up your body and take it for burial or cremation, depending on your religion, or lack thereof.”

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people + places

49

relations

Junior excavates Mayan ruins with mother in Belize For the past four years, junior Aminta Dawson has spent her summers in Belize, a locale that typically brings to mind lush palm trees and oceans that extend in a million shades of blue, but her trips are not the usual sand-and-sun vacation. Aminta has been accompanying her mother in Belize on archaeological digs to study the ancient Mayan civilization that once thrived in the area.

Aminta’s mother, Maria Martinez, is currently working on getting her Ph.D. in archaeology at the University of Texas, so every summer they go with The Programme for Belize Archaeological Project at La Milpa, the third largest Mayan site in Belize.

“The area was occupied from the preclassic era to late terminal classical period (about 500 B.C. to 900 A.D.),” Aminta said.

“The place where my madre and I work was supposedly, at least this is what she thinks, an elite residential area or somewhere that ceremonial practices took place. Right now she is working on her dissertation — [she is] trying to find out the function of the acropolis, how the population lived and what they were doing.”

The archaeological site where Aminta and her mother work each year is located on a nature preserve, about three hours away from Belize City. The archeological team stays at the wilderness preserve, not on the actual archaeological site, but they still have a very basic way of living. The staff, Aminta, her mom, the graduates and professors live in simple cabanas, while the college students stay in dorms or tents.

“We have outhouses, outdoor showers, no running water, no electricity or air conditioning, and we are in the middle of the jungle so it’s really humid and hot,” Aminta said. “There is a dining hall where we eat breakfast and dinner and we eat lunch at the site. Lights go out at 8:30 because the camp cooks have to get up early to make our lunches. There are all different types of

Courtesy photo

Junior Aminta Dawson sifts carefully for bones at the archaeological site in Belize.

animals living near us like howler monkeys, turkeys, toucans, parrots, deer, jaguar, peccary [a type of wild pig], spider monkeys and other birds. In other words, the camp is very rustic. We get one cold shower a day so we can conserve water because we get our water from a water tank which we use for both drinking and showering.”

They work on the site along with students studying archaeology from universities such as The University of Massachusetts, Texas Tech and UT, so Aminta is not only the youngest on-site but also the only one without higher-level training.

“I’ve moved up a lot in what I’ve been able to do,” Aminta said. “I used to bring down work supplies to my madre and the students. This year I got to excavate in my own room and I found lots of ceramic pieces and charcoal which they were able to carbon date in the lab, showing that the room dated from about 700 A.D. to 900 A.D.” On the archaeological site they have long, intense work days, where Aminta works just as hard as the trained staff.

“I usually work eight hours a day, but when I’m not working I’m my madre’s assistant,” Aminta said. “That consists of grabbing materials, taking notes, measuring units, sifting for and bagging lithics and ceramics and doing other little things when my madre’s too busy to do it.”

While most of the objects uncovered by the team are usually ceramic pieces, sometimes they come across more exciting finds.

“Last year the team uncovered a body,” Aminta said. “It was [a] male, 18 to 22 years old and missing its cranium and femurs.

The work is very meticulous, especially with bones. I’m not able to work with bones, but when they found the body they had to be very careful and use paint brushes to uncover it.”

The artifacts they are finding haven’t seen sunlight in about 1,000 years, so the

quality tends to vary.

“Some of the stuff we find is well preserved,” Aminta said. “For example, when the body was uncovered, it was preserved, but it was out for a year while they were uncovering it, so the bones became brittle from the humidity and exposure to air.”

All of the pieces must be carefully reviewed to try and find more insight into the history of the area.

“After we find artifacts, we take them to labs for different people to look at,” Aminta said. “There is a ceramicist from UMass who is able to tell just from the different colors of designs what time period something is from.

Most of [the artifacts] go into storage, but my madre is going to look over all of them this year for her dissertation.”

Working on the archaeological site has not only been a unique way for Aminta to spend her summers but also has helped her decide where she wants to go in her future.

“Even though I find archeology really interesting, it’s not really my thing,” Aminta said. “But as I was out in the jungle I realized that I really want to be a primatologist.

No matter how many times I went to Belize and saw the howler monkeys and spider monkeys I found them utterly fascinating.

At the same time though, I want to study people and be a cultural anthropologist.

I realized this last summer when I talked more with the workmen and realized how fun it was to just listen to someone talk about their own culture and values.”

Aminta’s summers have given her an amazing, in depth look into a culture, career and lifestyle that few people will ever truly experience.

“From working in Belize I have learned to be patient and to just enjoy life and be grateful,” Aminta said. “I was having the experience of a lifetime, and not many people get to do something like this this at my age.”

—Sofie Seiden

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people + places 24

Vikki and Cheuk moved to Westlake July 2009 from Shanghai.

I am going to get caption from Emily!

T

Emily Cohen

Freshman, junior demonstrate it is possible to blend into a new school bit different.

“Our parents think it’s going to be easier to get into a good college or university if we get our last few years of education in the U.S.,” Cheuk said.

Vikki had to learn to deal with the stresses of moving, as her family moved every two years, forcing her to switch from school to school. She has attended more than 10 schools in the duration of her student career.

“I tend not to form really close relationships with places and people, because I never know how long I will be in the city,” Vikki said. “It is sort of a self-protection mechanism.”

Moving to a different country in order to give their children a better chance of getting into a good college required sacrifices from the parents.

“My dad worked for British Petroleum for a very long time, then he started his own business customizing Japanese cars in Shanghai,” Vikki said. “He left his business with his partner, so now he’s semi-retired.” o If parents are willing to move to a different fie S ei country in order for their child to receive a better education, one might get the impression that the parents would expect their children to always have perfect grades. But the Tse family looks at things in a different light.

“As a traditional Asian family I believe that my parents have expectations for me, but it was never in any way pressured upon me to get A’s,” Vikki said. “Most of the pressure comes from myself. I work hard to prove to my parents that they were right to come here and ensure that I receive a good eduction.”

—Annie Valliant

people + places

51

n

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de

“I was in Student Council at my old school but I didn’t really like the experience because it was mostly girls who ignored my opinions,” Cheuk said.

In September, without hesitation, Cheuk decided he would try Student Council again.

The day he heard the dates and guidelines of the election, Cheuk was determined to make his voice heard. He enlisted the help of his friends and teachers to gain support.

“I talked to a few of my friends and told them to spread the word,” Cheuk said. “But at the same time I got support from my English teacher, Ms. [Maddie] Robertson.”

After just one month of observation in her second period English class, Robertson could tell that Cheuk had what it would take to run for Student Council president. He had clear goals “and the mature personality that would help him excel and stand out,” Robertson said. “[Cheuk] made it known to me that he was interested and I told him that you can’t just get up there and sound like the other kids.

He is a good listener, very positive and intelligent and will always be on time if you ask him to be there.”

As for Vikki, her priority was getting involved in her new community and school by means of service-related activities, such as the Interact club.

“I’m currently the secretary of Interact and I’m very excited for our upcoming plans — volunteering at Coats for Kids this month,” Vikki said. “The feeling you receive after you help others is hard to describe.”

Most of the time when families move it is because of a parent’s job change or job transfer, but for Vikki and Cheuk the move was a

S

Transferring from one city to another in the same state is a possible task. But transferring from one country to another thousands of miles away is truly a life-changing event. This is what junior Vikki Tse and her brother freshman Cheuk Tse faced as they moved from Shanghai to Austin last July.

Compared to Vikki’s school in Shanghai, Westlake has proved to have a different atmosphere, because of its smaller percentage of students from different countries.

“My old school was a private international school,” Vikki said. “Students came from over 50 countries around the world and the cultures were very diverse and interesting. In any one hallway, five or six languages could be spoken at once.”

From the much larger student body to the numerous clubs and organizations they were determined to participate in, Vikki and Cheuk had a lot on their plate when school started in August. “[I feel like it is essential to participate in activities] because in such a big school, you need to get involved to know more people,” Cheuk said.

Although the school Cheuk attended in Shanghai was an English-speaking school, many of the students spoke Chinese.

“My old school was small and everyone knew each other,” he said. “The teachers were okay and though it was an English school, everyone spoke Chinese when there were no teachers around.”

Cheuk’s first experience with the Student Council back in Shanghai didn’t exactly give him the means to have his point of view recognized.

Falling into place

past behind

Putting the

Custodian reflects on life in Cuba, difficult transition to America

At first look, 64-year-old Rafael García seems like an ordinary Westlake maintenance employee. Gentle and soft-spoken, he works quickly and efficiently behind the scenes as a custodian around campus. Yet beneath the mild-mannered exterior, García harbors a disturbing past, dating back to the beginnings of communist rule in his home country — Cuba.

As a child, García led a relatively normal life. Growing up during the turbulent time of the Cuban Revolution, García didn’t feel the immediate impact of the change of government at first. He was able to study economics and earn a Ph.D. at a Cuban university.

“I used to be an economist,” García said.

“I was an adjunct professor at the university.

I also had to do economic analysis for the government of Fidel Castro.”

As the power of the communist government began to spread, García, a vocal opponent of the regime, began to experience difficulties in his career. Despite the fact that communist doctrine condemned the practice of religion, he continued to engage in religious activities.

“I went to church and I wouldn’t participate in the activities of the government,” García said. “Because I was against the regime, I could not have a job as a boss. In Cuba, you need to belong to the communist party to be in charge and have a high position.”

As tension continued to grow, the government created a new program, Military Units

to Aid Production, that sent 25,000 dissenters to various concentration camps around the island.

Custodian Rafael Among the exiled was García suffered under García, who worked a communist society in one of the camps while living in Cuba for three years. before moving to “The situation in America.

Cuba was very bad,” García said. “When I was 20 years old, the government sent me to a concentration camp. It was forced labor.”

García continued to struggle through the difficult political climate in Cuba until he managed to escape to the U.S. almost 30 years after he completed his term in the camp.

“Although I have an uncle here, I didn’t come for that reason,” García said. “The American government admitted me as a political refugee into the U.S., along with my mother, my wife and my son.”

However, his departure from Cuba wasn’t easy. He and his family were forced to make several stops due to the complicated admittance process.

“We left in a plane from Havana to Cancún, from Cancún to Miami, from Miami to Dallas and from Dallas to Austin, where we arrived at 11 at night,” García said. “It was April 2, 1996.”

Upon arriving in the U.S., García and his family faced a number of obstacles as political refugees. Given his high level of education and teaching experience, García’s first instinct was to become an educator. However, limited English The American skills and financial concerns prevented him from being able to teach. government “When I came, I wanted to give admitted me as a classes,” García said. “I presented myself in an education office, and they told me that I needed to become certified as a teacher. As a refugee that had into the U.S., along just arrived, the first thing you need to with my mother, my wife do is work — I couldn’t study.”

García then got a job working at and my son.

Goodwill. It was there that he began the career path that eventually led him to work at Westlake.

“I finished the work at Goodwill, and there was a girl there that had

“

political refugee

—Rafael García

Barrett Wilson

a relative that used to work [at Westlake],” García said. “She recommended me, and I began to work here.”

He and his wife — previously an industrial engineer — both continue to work as custodians to further the education of their son, who will soon graduate with a Ph.D. in entomology.

“I am a person that arrived at this country very late,” García said. “For this reason I should work as long as I am able to. I look at the future with optimism — I am very grateful since I have been permitted to live in complete liberty and my son has been able to study to where his capacity permits him and has not been restricted by political limitations.”

Even now, García still holds onto the memories of his life earlier in his homeland.

Though he hasn’t returned since he left, he retains a sense of nostalgia when pondering what he calls his “old life.”

“One feels bad leaving their family,” García said. “And not only is it just leaving your family, it’s leaving your friends as well. It has been 14 years since I came [here]. I would like to visit. I miss my family, my friends, the places that I went to, the beaches. It’s where I was born, where I was formed, and so starting again is starting a new life — totally different.”

However, García tries not to dwell in the past. He remains a steadfast supporter of the values of education and taking advantage of the opportunities offered in life.

“Don’t abandon your studies,” García said.

“They are going to prepare you for life. The first years are for preparing for the rest. Later you can have children, a family. But the first 30 years are to enjoy and ready yourself for the remainder of your life.”

—Anisha Ganguly

Israelization Junior spends summer in Israel,

Maya Hunt assumes a powerful pose with walking stick “Moses”.

learns to embrace her heritage Identity is defined as one’s sense of self. It is what sets one person apart from the next. However, Jewish identity holds a different meaning. Some Jews spend their entire religious life searching for a form of spiritual significance. The goal is to understand how religion affects one’s existence and what can be done to heighten its meaning.

Traveling to Israel is a defining experience that can greatly alter one’s Jewish identity. For junior Maya Hunt, it did just that.

“I attended Hebrew school for 10 years and I never really enjoyed it,” Maya said. “My Jewish identity was not strong, but going to Israel has reestablished both my faith and way of thinking.”

Visiting a foreign country gave Maya a curiosity and excitement for trying new things. This adventure included a chance to meet a number of Jewish teenagers from around the U.S. and travel to the place cherished by her ancestors.

“Meeting new people is one of my favorite things to do,” Maya said.

“It wasn’t hard at all. I didn’t know anyone, but eventually we all became really close. Having a family of 45 at all times was very impacting to everyone because we were all going through the same things.”

In a community like Westlake where the number of Jews is proportionally small, there are definitely times where Maya’s Jewish rituals are questioned by others. She doesn’t dwell too much on her religious role at high school, but she fully embraced this opportunity to get to know the other 44 travelers.

“It’s really not that difficult [being Jewish at Westlake] until people start asking questions about why we practice certain rituals,” Maya said. “Sometimes I can’t explain it, but I am not really vulnerable to any prejudice. Westlake is pretty good in regards to that.”

As a whole, Maya’s summer experience tremendously influenced her outlook on life. It was the specific activities and opportunities she was provided with that caused her new attitude.

“We went to an overlook of the Cardo, the old city of Jerusalem, and it was so surreal — that is the only word I can use to describe it,” Maya said. “We did a lot. We repelled off a cliff in the Negev [Desert], rode camels and donkeys, snorkeled in the Red Sea and hiked. We explored the entire country.”

Her travel program, coordinated by United Synagogue Youth, allowed the participants to delve into all that Israel has to offer.

Throughout the entire month of July, Maya and her newfound friends explored the cities of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Eilat. The group also spent time in the Golan Heights and the Negev Desert.

“If it was a major city, we went there,” Maya said. “Obviously [the trip] is not for everyone, but it was definitely a good experience for me.

The knowledge I gained made it worth it.”

When considering a trip to any foreign country, language is a concern. In Israel, though, most people speak both English Courtesy photo and Hebrew. Maya’s group was accompanied by two Israeli tour guides, who aided in preventing any language barriers.

“I am still learning my Hebrew,” Maya said. “The hardest part of the trip was definitely the money. It’s really different and much cheaper [in Israel]. We had to exchange dollars for shekels.”

As a junior, Maya is in what most would consider the most difficult year of high school. With demanding courses and her role as president of the Gay-Straight Alliance, she understandably should suffer from stress. She doesn’t, though. Israel has transformed her.

“In Israel, especially because of the army, everyone is encouraged to slow down and live life,” Maya said. “Once you turn 18 and have lived there for a year, you are required to serve in the military. Females are drafted for one and a half years, while males are drafted for a minimum of three. My trip allowed me to realize that I was pushing to grow up too much, too fast. I try not to let school affect me. I make good grades, but I am not afraid of the future or college. I am taking this time to enjoy everything.”

Due to this enlisting requirement, most Israelis take a year off between the military and college. They prefer to live leisurely, appreciating each day rather than stressing over insignificant issues.

“Everything changed for me at Shacharit [morning prayers],” Maya said. “We were two days into the trip and were praying towards the east, towards Jerusalem. The sun was rising and I just knew this was it.

This was the place I was meant to be.”

Maya is hoping to return to the country that revised her attitude towards becoming an adult. She plans to take a year off between graduation and college to attend an immersion program called Nativ.

There, she will spend a semester taking classes at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Her second semester will permit her to take part in some type of community service or live on a kibbutz, an agriculturallybased community in Israel.

“Despite what everybody thinks, Israel is a safe country and I have never felt more at home,” Maya said. “I live in the West, but my heart’s in the East.”

—Lizzie Friedman

Maya’s top five Israeli attractions

Maya Hunt with friends pose for a photo during an archeological dig in the Negev Desert.

Courtesy photo

1. Jerusalem 2. The Beach at Tel Aviv 3. Eilat 4. The Negev Desert 5. Hiking in the Golan Heights { westlakefeatherduster.com }

people + places

53

Magically inclined

55

Barrett Wilson

Junior Andrew Krug’s card playing leads to acclaim, reward

I

t was two nights before the competition.

Most would find themselves attempting to contain their anticipation and nerves of the event close at hand, perhaps further prepping if possible. However, junior Andrew Krug found himself lying on the ground in a Boston police station. He had flown up to Massachusetts alone the day before, without booking a room.

Andrew stopped at a police station, explained his lack of a place to sleep, and was allowed to doze in a meeting room. The card game Magic: The Gathering had led Andrew here, and to him, spending a night in a police station was worth the possibility of winning the tournament and the accompanying acclaim.

Though originally modeled heavily after traditional fantasy role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons(players battle each other as wizards), Magic: The Gathering incorporates more complex rules to a game ruled by strategy. The deck size for both players is limited to 60 in tournament play, but the number can be raised during a regular match. Every card chosen can be one of five colors — white, blue, green, black and red — each containing specific strengths and weaknesses.

“Magic is basically a strategic card game, and a lot of people describe it as a mix between chess and poker,” Andrew said.

“The objective is to get your opponent from 20 lives down to zero. Then you draw seven new cards and go from there.”

Like many children, Andrew played both Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokémon throughout his elementary schooling. Gradually, his interest in the games waned, and strategic card games were essentially abandoned by middle school. Andrew’s passion was renewed during his freshmen year of high school. However, this time it was in the form of Magic: The Gathering.

“I had always been interested in card games since I was in elementary school,” Andrew said. “I moved on to Magic mainly because it was the big one.”

Andrew’s fondness for the Magic: The Gathering stemmed from one of his first encounters with the game.

“The main reason I initially got into Magic was probably the fantasy element,” Andrew said. “The first time I ever saw a Magic tournament being played, a guy was doing something that involved dragons, and I was so excited. I don’t know if you have ever seen a dragon, but they are pretty exciting.”

Andrew mastered both the intricate rules and complicated strategy in a surprisingly short time — under a year — and has

the rank to prove his talent.

“Currently, I am the number one player in Austin,” Andrew said. “However, Austin isn’t an exceptionally strong Magic hot spot.”

He garnered this impressive rank through entering tournaments throughout the country. The entry requirements for local tourneys are startlingly simple — merely submit a list of the cards you will be playing with and pay obligatory dues of $30.

However, the professional competitions call for a long list of accomplishments.

“There are several different ways that you gain entry into a pro tourney,” Andrew said. “Either you win a qualifier tournament, end up in the top 16 at a Grand Prix or are in the top 50 at the pro tour right before the present one. As you can see, it’s pretty rough.”

Andrew gets to travel without charge to such tournaments thanks to his dad’s aviation profession. As a result, he is able to attend competitions hosted in cities sprawled across the nation including Tampa, Charleston, Boston, Dallas and even Los Angeles. Throughout his intensive traveling, Texas has remained the best place.

“Personally, I think the best tournaments happen in Texas, and especially in Austin,” Andrew said. “Although, the beach house I stayed at in Tampa was pretty exciting.”

Beyond returning with memories, Andrew has brought back resoundingly positive results, including 55th at the pro tour of Austin and first at a tournament in Dallas. Along with securing bragging rights, placing in competitions can allow players to rake in thousands of dollars.

“The most money I have ever won at a tournament was $2000 in Dallas,” Andrew said. “After receiving my trophy and the check, I went to a Hooter-ish restaurant and got pictures with all of the girls.”

Unsurprisingly, this way of life is appealing to Andrew. Although he plans on focusing the majority of his energy in college with becoming a Communications Major, Andrew is not opposed to the idea of continuing his hobby on a professional level.

“I think that I might try to become a professional Magic player, since there really isn’t anything to lose,” Andrew said.

“Most professional players take Magic seriously, though. The majority wear suits and ties to tournaments.”

—Jake Bitting

9/12

Fire

under

Best friends through high school, college, Westlake grads John Spong and Carlos Brown met up again in Iraq — one to save lives, the other to tell the story of the war

hotos courtesy of Carlos Brown

Friends

Director of trauma at Brackenridge Hospital, Carlos Brown (right), and Texas Monthly writer John Spong in Ramadi, Iraq.

Spong and Brown graduated from Westlake in 1985 and have been best friends since seventh grade.

Texas Monthly writer John Spong

Trauma surgery director Carlos Brown

Featherduster: How did you decide to cover this story?

John Spong: When Carlos went over, it was the most frightening thing in the world for his family and friends. We were hanging on his every e-mail. One night he sent an e-mail about an angel’s flight, when a dead soldier is flown home. Their entire battalion lines up on either side of the runway as the casket is brought out.

It’s lit by candlelight. He described how nobody spoke, and how it’s so powerful for the soldiers to lose someone they’re close to in the way that they face every day. I wanted to go there. I wanted his family to know he was safe enough that a friend could visit him.

And there was this realization that someday his kids and my kids will say, ‘Who’s your best friend, and what does it mean to be a best friend?’ That seemed like a pretty good answer.

FD: What was it like when you first got to Iraq?

Spong: I got there at 3 a.m. and woke Carlos from a deep sleep; it was just like when we were roommates and I’d come home late and wake him up and he’d be furious. He wasn’t furious, but there wasn’t quite the tearful, ‘I can’t believe you’ve come to see me!’ It was more like, ‘Uhh, it’s you.’ He got up and said, ‘I’ll show you around,’ and we went outside. As we walked across the base he stopped and I thought it was because he was stuck in the mud but he said, ‘I can’t believe you came to visit me in Iraq.’

FD: What were you like as friends in high school?

Spong: We both liked the same teams, the same bands and were rejected by the same girls. Those are the ties that last.

FD: What is your strongest memory of being in Iraq?

Spong: At first he didn’t want me to go outside the wire [leave base], but later he did because he wasn’t allowed to go himself. I went outside the wire and I came back to tell Carlos about it, but no one was in the emergency room. That meant casualties had come in. Carlos heard my voice outside the operating room and came out and gave me a big hug. He had tears in his eyes. He said, ‘This morning after you left an IED went off, and it was Americans.

They said two people were killed and two were coming in. The two people came in and neither of them was you. I spent the whole day thinking you had been killed in part because I said you should go outside the wire.’

FD: What was the most fulfilling part of this story?

Spong: The coolest part was coming back safe and sound and surprising his kids. They had seen me in the video on his blog and knew, ‘John Spong’s with Daddy.’ The kids didn’t know I was coming and found me sitting in the kitchen. It felt good to reassure them, ‘Your daddy’s coming home.

See? I came back.’

Featherduster: What was it like to be with your best friend from high school and college in a war zone?

Dr. Carlos Brown: Surreal. He kept up with my blog when I went over there and early on he said, ‘I need to come over there. I need to see this.’

As a reporter he wanted to experience it; I helped him coordinate that. As weird as it was to see him in that environment, we fell back into the same old jokes and back-and-forth. It was comforting to have someone familiar there with me, and definitely the most enjoyable time [in Iraq] was when he was there.

FD: What did you want him to experience there?

Brown: Exactly what he did, which was to see everything. He saw times when there were heavy casualty loads; he saw a mass casualty with dozens of patients coming in at once. He saw the city. He went out and saw the war. And on the flip side he saw slow days when nothing was going on, how we spent the time working out, playing video games or watching movies. He saw American casualties. He saw Americans heal and do well.

He saw Americans die. That’s probably the most excruciating thing about being over there — when a young American is dying. John’s two weeks were about a perfect representation of my seven months there.

FD: How do you think that experience changed both of you?

Brown: We were already best friends, but I think we’re closer and we share that bond of being in a war zone together. I don’t share that with anybody else I know well. It made me keep my priorities straight; as bad as things can get, it’s never as bad as seeing someone die over there.

FD: What was the most difficult part of your time in Iraq?

Brown: Being away from my family. When I went overseas my brother helped me set up a blog to communicate with my family. My wife and kids could see pictures and video and hear my voice and know that I was okay. The return wasn’t as difficult for my kids because they had seen me all along. Still, I think people forget — my family doesn’t really gain anything from me being gone. When I’m deployed I get the tremendous professional satisfaction of taking care of Americans and feeling like I’m contributing something positive. My family just loses a husband and a dad. I’m sure they’re proud of me, but it’s hard for them.

FD: How did you become a military surgeon?

Brown: I joined the Navy in college and the Navy paid for my medical school. I did special training in trauma surgery and later trained others before they went to war. In August 2006 it was my turn to go to Iraq and support Operation Iraqi Freedom. The injuries I saw over there were from high-velocity rifles and rockets, and they were tremendous compared to civilian injuries. Also, the emotion associated with taking care of someone who’s fighting for our country is exponentially more than the day-to-day trauma care I do here. When I take care of patients at Brackenridge, I take care of everyone to the best of my abilities, just as if they were a friend or a family member of mine. But I don’t have that visceral emotion. Overseas the injured soldiers, sailors or Marines who came in had minutes ago been fighting out in the city to protect me…that emotion is overwhelming.

—Holly Heinrich

{ westlakefeatherduster.com }

people + places

55

in Back

action

Senior Zack Wetzel recovers from, copes with scoliosis

Katherine Finn

We all did the physical testing for it in middle school, but none of us thought we would be diagnosed. We willingly removed the article of clothing from our backs so the nurse could run her fingers up and down our spines and check for the signs. Scoliosis was just a thought for the majority of us, but in seventh grade, it became a reality for senior Zack Wetzel.

1

Before the surgery, Zack had two curves in his spine. The lower was at a 46 degree curve and the upper was a 54 degree curve.

2

Zack was left with two titanium rods and 24 screws in his spine to help keep his back straight.

3

“The screws in my back are two inches long but I can’t feel them at all,” Zack said.

Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

“I first found out I had scoliosis in middle school when the nurses came in and did a screening process to measure the alignment of everyone’s backs,” Zack said. “At that time, my spine was only 15 degrees off center. But from middle school to high school, the condition got worse and worse.”

By the time he had reached sophomore year, Zack’s back had rotated 35 degrees.

“After a while, it really started to bother me,” Zack said. “I went to the doctor and he gave me the option of wearing a back brace, but the brace wouldn’t correct my back, it would only stop it from getting worse. And those braces are big and bulky so I decided not to wear one.”

Halfway through his junior year, Zack discovered that the curve had increased to 50 degrees.

“The curve had become so bad that my rib cage had started to rotate,” Zack said. “I was at the point where it starts to compress your organs and makes it difficult to breathe.”

At his next doctor’s visit, Zack found out he needed corrective surgery to realign his back. Three days after his junior year ended, he headed for the hospital and underwent a major surgery.

“I went into surgery at 5 a.m. and didn’t wake up until around 2 p.m.,” Zack said. “The surgery lasted eight hours. Normally it wouldn’t take them that long, but my back was so stiff that they had to slow down the process.”

Already an intricate procedure, Zack’s back surgery was extremely complex due to the intensity of his curve.

“To start the surgery, the doctors cut open your back,” Zack said. “They cut all of the muscles off of your spine so they can begin to rotate it. Then, they put these little metal screws in the wings of your vertebrae and attach those screws to a wire. The wire is then attached to a machine and the machine slowly pulls the wires and straightens out your back.”

Zack’s surgery required a lengthy recovery. But, with the support of his friends and family, he was able to make a great comeback.

“Zack was incredibly brave before and after the surgery,” Zack’s mom, Allison Wetzel, said. “Of course he slept through [the surgery], but it was a long day of waiting for his dad and me. Afterward, we were amazed to see the dramatic difference in his before-and-after x-rays. In the hospital, he was in pain and needed help every time he moved. His recovery was slow at first. We moved his bed into the living room so that he wouldn’t have to walk upstairs. He watched all the seasons of ‘Lost,’ took pain medicine and did a lot of sleeping. His friends showed their concern through hospital and home visits, gifts, cards and phone

Courtesy photo

calls. Eventually Zack progressed to walking to the kitchen, then upstairs, then around the block. Now he is completely back in his routine and feeling normal.”

Although his recovery time has passed, Zack’s scar from the surgery will remain on his back forever.

“It starts in between my shoulders and goes pretty much all the way down my back,” Zack said. “It’s red and the entire thing is numb. It doesn’t bother me at all, but it is pretty gnarly.”

Titanium rods were screwed into Zack’s spine during the procedure to help straighten it out. They are permanently placed in his back and stop his spine from growing any more.

“My spine can’t grow anymore,” Zack said. “But my arms and legs still can. My spine was so wavy that after they straightened it in the surgery, I was three inches taller. Growing three inches immediately is really weird because you don’t really notice yourself growing, but I was hitting my head on all these different things that had never gotten in my way before.”

Although the procedure fixed Zack’s scoliosis, it limited him in some ways concerning his flexibility. His spine no longer enables him to bend forward, forcing him to bend only at the waist. But, he has allowed it to have little impact on him.

“It has limited my flexibility and mobility a little bit, but it doesn’t really affect me that much,” Zack said. “The surgery actually made my life easier because I used to have constant back pains from sitting, standing and exercising. I did lose a lot of stamina in the hospital but I am building that back up.”

On top of Zack’s diagnosis of scoliosis, he also has had to deal with the challenges of being a diabetic patient. Zack was previously involved in a fundraiser for diabetes where he and his mother rode 66 miles on their bikes and raised $11,000.

“We are going to try and ride another 66 miles this year and raise even more money for the cause,” Zack said. “So far we have around $7,000, but we aren’t done fund-raising yet.”

With a strong motive and a determined mindset, Zack is not allowing his scoliosis to take a toll on him or anything he is involved in.

“Cycling is actually a lot easier now that my back is fixed,” Zack said. “It’s weird how easy it is.”

Enduring such a life-challenging situation has allowed Zack the chance to overcome a unique obstacle.

“The surgery and recovery were stressful experiences, but I really appreciated all of the support that my friends gave me,” Zack said. “The whole thing was scary but I’m so glad I went through it and that I can get back to living a normal life.”

—Katie Sorenson

{ westlakefeatherduster.com }

people + places

57

Just

keep

swimming Junior Amber McDermott follows dream, learns life lessons early while living on her own

A

Living in an apartment without her parents, junior Amber McDermott is not like most girls her age. With goals set high, she aspires to become a 2012 Olympian.

fter school, most kids go to various extracurricular activities, hang out with friends or go home to where at least one parent will be waiting to welcome them.

But for junior Amber McDermott, this Barrett Wilson typical lifestyle does not apply. When the school bell rings she goes straight to a work and go to bed at a reasonable time,” Amber said. two-and-a-half to three-hour swim team Despite the lack of a parental safety net, Amber believes that this practice at the University of Texas swim center. After the exhausting move may someday take her to the top of the swimming world. practice, Amber goes home to an empty apartment where she lives “[I want] to swim in the 2012 Olympics,” Amber said. “Imagining with a swim coach for the 10-to-12-year-old group, who is rarely home. being in the Olympics motivates me to swim faster.”

In January, Amber’s coach of four years, Doug Rusk, decided to Working to achieve this goal, Amber attends intense practices 10 move to Austin from Seattle. Since his techniques were improving times a week. During these practices Amber swims for two hours or Amber’s swimming immensely, she more and then does dry land exercises, decided to follow him at the end of such as weights and running. To be August. Amber’s sister wanted to finish in the Olympics, competitors have to out her senior year in Seattle, so her work hard and be motivated. parents decided not to move. “[Amber’s work ethic] is outstand“When I first started living without ing,” Rusk said. “She will do whatever my parents I felt liberated, but now I she is asked to do. Her training is very just miss them a lot,” Amber said. “I’m challenging, but she will never comhomesick most of the time and someplain and she is extremely coachable, times I Skype my parents.” which is one of the reasons she has Parents do a lot for you — they reached such a high level.” cook, they clean and they remind you Between managing an independent to do your homework. But they also life and working hard to achieve her set rules to follow. Living without her goals, there are always those ‘what ifs?’ parents, Amber has grown used to an that constantly run through Amber’s independent lifestyle, even managing mind. If Amber had never moved here, —junior Amber McDermott to master the art of cooking pasta. her life and swimming career could be “[My favorite thing about living completely different. She would still without my parents] is the freedom,” be living in Seattle and would be able Amber said. “I have no curfew and to see her parents every day instead of don’t have to worry about them lookmonthly visits she has with them. ing over my shoulder. But my least favorite thing is cooking my own “[If I had never moved here] my swimming career wouldn’t be as meals.” good and I wouldn’t be as responsible,” Amber said.

With all this leeway, some people would abuse their freedom. AmWith Amber’s strong work ethic, a great relationship with her coach ber is not one of these. Her days are spent going to school, practice and and the support of her family, she has all the ingredients to go far in then doing homework before going to bed. The valuable life lessons the swimming world. she has learned from this experience have given Amber a newfound “She can go as far as she wants to,” Rusk said. “She can certainly responsibility. become one of the best swimmers in the world if she continues to do “Living without my parents has helped me learn time what she needs to do and maintains the great attitude she has.” management, and I motivate myself to do my home— Jessica Stenglein

“ ”

When I first started living without my parents I felt liberated, but now I just miss them a lot.

{ westlakefeatherduster.com }

people + places

59

After all is said and Dunn

Joe Dunn suffered from Guillain-Barré Syndrome, leaving him bed-ridden in the hospital for a little over a week. “It was eight long days, but I’d have to say my faith, family, friends and will to persevere [got me through the hard times],” Joe said.

Barrett Wilson

Westlake graduate battles life-threatening syndrome

II

e opened his eyes. Rays of sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the walls of the college dorm room with streaks of gold. The whispering of the fan overhead mingled with the soft creaking of the mattress as he sat up. In one fluid motion, he swept the covers off and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The bare flesh of his feet made contact with the cool floorboards, and he hesitated. The muffled murmurs of people moving about in other rooms could barely be heard over the pounding of his heart. Slowly, he looked down. Despite the fact that his feet were there, the feeling in his big toe was completely gone. A mundane sensation of nothingness had engulfed his appendage, and sickening numbness slowly began to settle in. He could not feel the cool floorboards, nor could he feel the soft breeze of the fan.

Three days later, he was in the hospital.

“I thought my toe had just fallen asleep on me,” 2009 Westlake graduate Joe Dunn said. “But after a day or so when [the numbness] started spreading up and eventually to my shin, I started to worry. I went to the medical center on campus and one of the doctors sent me to the ER at North Shore University hospital.”

Dunn spent the beginning of his summer in Long Island, New York at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, also known as King’s Point, before his close brush with a near fatal case of paralysis. He had been planning to start his freshman year of college playing football, but his dreams came to an abrupt halt after being diagnosed with GuillainBarré Syndrome.

GBS is a rare disorder in which the body begins to attack and destroy its own nervous system, causing extreme weakness and even loss of feeling in parts of the body. If left untreated, the syndrome can intensify to such a degree that the patient can slip into a paralytic-like state, potentially interfering with breathing, blood pressure and heart rate, and categorizing it as a medical emergency. Back home in Texas, the Dunn family received a call from Joe informing them of his volatile state.

“Our initial reaction was that we were completely stunned,” Dunn’s mother Michele Dunn said. “We were anxiously awaiting Joe’s first call home from school. He called bright and early and sounded great, but when [he said] that he was in the hospital and had been admitted the prior day, we were shocked. Everyone was scared and didn’t know what to think or say. Our family had never struggled with anything like this.”

Mrs. Dunn immediately booked a flight to New York and flew halfway across the country to support her son in his time of need. She was

present to help Dunn as he underwent additional tests such as nerve conduction studies, reflex examinations, extensive blood work, MRIs and finally a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap.

“There are several things that got me through this difficult time: my faith, my family and the prayers of family, friends and strangers alike,” Mrs. Dunn said. “Prayers were offered up here in Texas and around the world.”

After roughly eight days of intensive care in the hospital, the doctors permitted Dunn to return home to Austin when the test results showed that the disease was no longer life-threatening. Although physically weakened, Dunn’s condition steadily improved with continuous physical therapy and acupuncture as well as the use of a special brace in his shoe to assist in walking. However, since rehabilitation time is uncertain with GBS, Dunn is forced to stay in Austin this school year and take classes at Austin Community College instead of attending King’s Point. Despite this setback, Dunn still envisions the possibilities that the future holds, hoping to one day attend either business school, medical school or become a maritime lawyer. But for now, he focuses on making a complete recovery.

“I am not fully cured,” Dunn said. “From my left knee down I still have pretty much no feeling, but movement is slowly coming back.

Rehab could take anywhere from a month to two years. My doctor said the myelin sheath, [an insulating layer] which covers the nerve, grows back at about one millimeter per day, but since I’m young, it’s faster. I do physical therapy every day which really helps, as well as hour-long walks with my dad every morning. GBS has led me to view everything with a ‘what’s important now’ and ‘live for the moment’ attitude. I’ll still plan for the future and all, but living in the moment makes every day that much better to be a part of.”

Finally, in the aftermath of this hectic summer, the Dunn family can release a much-needed sigh of relief. Mrs. Dunn, although mentally shaken by the ordeal, now claims that as much as she craves to be in control of her future, she knows that in reality “your world can change overnight.” Dunn’s brother, senior Tim Dunn, compares the whole situation to a dream-like blur of events, a haze of confusion that luckily did not end poorly.

“This [ordeal] does indeed change the way I look at things,” Tim said. “You have to be ready for anything that happens. Who knew Joe would be diagnosed with this terrible disease that could have potentially killed him? It is actually a little frightening — that nothing is as sure as it seems. This experience has showed me that you have to embrace and accept some things that you don’t want to. But despite all of the negative aspects, I’m happy my brother is back home with me for one more year.”

—Hillary Hurst

The Rocky Horror Picture Show • Blazing Saddles • Star Wars • One Flew Over the The Brady Bunch • Doctor Cuckoo’s Nest • The Who • Little House Godfather part I/ The Amityville II • Jaws • Young on the Prairie • The Horror • The Dead Frankenstein Muppet Show • BeZone • Everything You witched • Scooby Doo • MOVIES Always Wanted to Know All in the Family • About Sex but Were Afraid to Hawaii Five-O • BOOKS Ask • The M*A*S*H • TV Passions of the The Six Million DolMind • The Exorcist • The lar Man • Winds of War Three’s Company • 60 Minutes

‘70s

TECHNOLOGY

The (fun) A look into 40 years of entertainment, events “There was a really good restaurant on South Lamar called The Stallion. You could get a chicken fried steak, fries and a salad for one buck. It was the best deal in town.”

“Armadillo World Headquarters was kind of like a big bazaar with a lot of bands that would come to play.”

The Rolling Stones Beginnings of home • Led Zeppelin “The ‘70s was the beginning computer • arcade games • MUSIC • Aerosmith • of the health craze. There barcode • e-mail • space staBob Marley • Queen • David weren’t as many joggers and tion • floppy disk • pocket Bowie • Elton John • The runners.” calculators Eagles • Black Sabbath • Pink MAJOR EVENTS Floyd • The Sex Pistols • The Vietnam War • Three Mile “We used to go to Aquafest — it Ramones • The Clash • The Island nuclear power plant was a local thing. I saw George Isley Brothers • The Doobie • Watergate scandal • gas Strait, one of the biggest country Brothers • The Police • The shortages • IRA bombing singers, when he was just starting Temptations • Rush • The • Iranian hostage crisis • out. There were maybe 200 people, Who • Sugarhill Gang NASDAQ debut and it wasn’t on the main stage, it was off to the side.”

Laura Aldridge

“Laguna Gloria was an art fest at Auditorium Shores.

It was a big thing and everyone would go to it.”

—art teacher Dale Baker GoodFellas • Pulp Fiction • Casino • Dances “I worked diligently with the African with Wolves • The Silence National Congress (ANC) to end of the Lambs • Unforgiven • apartheid through supporting Schindler’s List • Forrest Gump The boycotts, demonstrations and • Braveheart • The Matrix Stand • letter-writing campaigns. Basi• Titanic • Shakespeare in Beavis Bourne Ultimatum • cally getting our voices heard Love • American Beauty and Butthead Fight Club • Timequake however and wherever we • Seinfeld • King • The Street Lawyer • AnMOVIES could. Nelson Mandela was of the Hill • Fresh gela’s Ashes • The Bridges freed in 1990 after spendPrince of Bel-air • X Files of Madison County ing 27 years in prison. I • Family Guy • Freaks and BOOKS • The Giver • The remember exactly where Geeks • Full House • Sum of All Fears • NightTV I was, watching it on TV, Friends • Doug • Law mares and Dreamscapes crying. He was then & Order • Arthur Nathan Kallison elected the first black president of South Africa, U2 • Beck • Dr. Dre • where he continued to TECHNOLOGY Radiohead • Nirvana • fight for justice and equality through non-violence.”

DVDs • digital cameras • Britney Spears • iMac computer • Internet Pearl Jam • Ma- MUSIC “I would still go to Liberty Lunch in the ‘90s. It preboom • CD players • modonna • Guns N’ Roses vailed in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. I used to ride my bike bile phone boom • Red Hot Chili Peppers • every Thursday to dance barefoot.”

MAJOR EVENTS Metallica • 2Pac •

—Transition Facilitator Leslie McCulloch Gulf War • OklaDave Matthews Band • homa City bombing • Backstreet Boys • MC “Austin in the ‘90s was all about the music. I loved going to Columbine shooting • Hammer • Sugar Ray Bill Clinton sex scandal see The Scabs play at Antone’s or listen to Texas country at • Weird Al Yank- • Rwandan genocide • The Backyard. Then you could always cap the night by heading ovich • No to Magnolia Cafe. Good times with good friends. That’s Austin for Hubble space telescope Doubt me.” launched • Nelson Man —geography teacher James Baker dela freed

‘90s

facts of life

The Empire Strikes Back • Raiders of the Lost Ark • E.T. • Ghostbusters • Back to the Future • Rocky IV • Top Gun • Lethal Weapon • Driving Miss Daisy

Star Trek: “The ‘80s brought the original hacky sack craze, which I enThe Next Genthusiastically embraced. I was able to run and kick the sack eration • Dallas • really high and keep it going. Once, I kicked it up into the A-TEAM • The Cosby rafters and had to retrieve it using a wobbly cherry picker.

Show • Cheers • Murder Not fun for someone with a fear of unprotected heights.”

She Wrote • Full House •

—German teacher Scott Gardner Dukes of Hazzard • Miami “One event was called Aquafest. It was what ACL is today. It was a lot smaller with more local bands.

They did have some big names there as well. I saw Ringo Starr, a former Beatle!”

—math teacher Debbie Rodell Courtesy photo

Vice • MacGyver • Richards Simmons • The Joy of Painting

TV

MOVIES

‘80s

Gap Band • Michael Jackson • Prince • Kool & The Gang • Lionel “There was a place downRichie • Queen • Pink Floyd town on fourth street and • Stevie Wonder • MUSIC Brazos called Club Foot, a Earth, Wind & Fire terribly politically incorrect • Van Halen • Duran Duran • name, but a fun place. It used Genesis • Wham • Madonna • to have benefits for us — there U2 • Milli Vanilli • Cher • Bon were bands such as The Butthole Jovi • The B-52s • R.E.M. Surfers, Stevie Ray Vaughn and • Stevie Ray Vaughan • R.E.M. It was where I first learned Iron Maiden • KISS • to mosh.”

Run-DMC • AC/DC “I was a big activist, fighting for alternative energy, against racism and the Ku Klux Klan and was an anti-war protester. I spoke at demonstrations for the first Gulf War.” —Transition Facilitator Leslie McCulloch

The Bourne Identity • It • Patriot Games • Clear and Present Danger • The Shining • BOOKS The Shawshank Redemption • Misery

TECHNOLOGY

Walkman • mobile phones • Commodore 64 • camcorder • IBM Personal Computer launched • vinyl • cassette tape • Nintendo gaming console MAJOR EVENTS

The Cold War • Fall of the Berlin Wall • PG-13 rating system • Challenger Explosion • CNN launched • Halley’s comet • Reagan assassination attempt • Iran hostage crisis • Black Monday

Gladiator • Slumdog Millionaire • Kill Bill • Finding Nemo • No Country “Barton Springs night swimming is For Old Men • The Departed • Harry the best. I love when they have live Crash • Howl’s Moving Castle • The Potter • bands too.”

Million Dollar Baby • A BeautiOffice Twilight • The

—senior May Sembera ful Mind • Moulin Rouge • The • Lost • 24 • Da Vinci Code Dark Knight • Lord of the Weeds • 30 Rock • Tuesdays With “I love Sno Beach like no other.

• Arrested Develop- Rings • Up • New Moon Morrie • A Million They have such great flavors ment • Curb Your MOVIES Little Pieces • Life and when you add cream, it’s Enthusiasm • Colbert of Pi • The Kite worth braving the heat to Report • West Wing BOOKS Runner • The Time get a little taste of heaven.”

TV • The Daily Show • Traveler’s Wife • A —junior Danielle Suh The Sopranos • Who Thousand Splendid Suns • Wants to be a Millionaire?

Extremely Loud and Incred“I enjoy going to Zilker • House • John & Kate Plus ibly Close 2003 Featherduster photo by Roy Mata Park to play Ultimate 8 • ER • American Idol • So Frisbee. Occasionally, I You Think You Can Dance TECHNOLOGY like to ride the train, too.”

• Survivor • Top Apple explosion • Face —sophomore Robert Hunt Chef book • Myspace • Twitter • MUSIC White Stripes hybrid vehicles • Wii • Blu “ACL is a major local event. Every kid in Austin • Radiohead • Sonic Ray discs • Internet should go at least once in their life. It’s a staple of Youth • Coldplay • Kanye West telephony • DVRs the city and such a large event with a great variety of MAJOR EVENTS • Lady Gaga • Muse • Lamb 9/11 • Bush shoe-throwing music. Since we are the live music capital of the world, of God • Fall Out Boy • The incident • Obama elected it’s really fitting.”

Strokes • Jonas Brothers • • Virginia Tech shooting •

—freshman Clayton Niess Outkast • Tim McGraw hurricanes • war on terror • Miley Cyrus • Taylor • Fort Hood shooting • Swift • Justice • Enron scandal • Anthrax Black Eyed Peas attacks • 2000 election

‘00s

{ westlakefeatherduster.com }

rants + raves

63

Royally played

Tips to play

Kingdom

Hearts

but a more polished look would have been greatly appreciated.

The combat basically requires that you hit the A button repeatedly, which can get tiring at first, but when you do get far enough in the game to block attacks, cast spells and gain cool abilities, a lot of variety is added to the basic concept. Targeting enemies is a bit of a problem though, since the camera is so shaky. Locking onto an enemy that’s not on screen can send the camera flying if you have it on the automatic setting, making manual camera controls much more preferable, ensuring that you won’t suffer from vertigo.

Mission mode is an addition which has you teaming up with three other players locally on the main campaign. While this mode is fun in small doses it can get frustrating, as a few aspects do detract from the experience. One would be the fact that players can harm each other, making large-scale battles oppressive, as players must keep a lookout for the other team members so they don’t get wiped out by the occasional “accident.” Another problem is the way players lose games; if team members die three times, it’s game over. If one of your players is very inexperienced, then the game can get extremely annoying, since that player probably will be the one who dies three times, making it necessary to restart missions.

Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days does have a few quirks, but if you can ignore them, then it will be an entertaining experience that will last a long time.

While it may not match up to the previous installments in the series, it can stand on its own. If you are looking for an action role-playing game for the Nintendo DS, then Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days won’t fail to satisfy.

—Eric Robinson

•Consistently visit the store to buy upgrades, since the amount you receive from completing a mission is not enough to keep you alive later in the game.

•Utilize dodges and block moves in order to stay alive during missions. Failure to do this will result in the loss of health points, or your character’s life.

g Chan

Released in late September, Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days is the latest product in the Kingdom Hearts series, brought to us by the famous gaming company Square Enix. This title follows the story of Roxas, the newest member of Organization 13 and the villain of the Kingdom Hearts series. The game takes place between the story line of the best-selling titles, Kingdom Hearts and its sequel, Kingdom Hearts 2. Being the first of the series to be ported to the Nintendo DS, it has caused much anticipation.

Fans were worried that the capabilities of the DS wouldn’t be sufficient to make this a genuine entry in the series. However, DS owners may rejoice: Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days is an experience that will satisfy both fans and newcomers to the series alike.

The game has you playing Roxas, journeying from world to world fighting creatures called “the heartless,” completing a plethora of side missions and leveling up using a “panel system.” In this setup, you collect abilities and items in the form of panels, placing them in a small tetris-style grid, which limits the amount of abilities your character can have. The grid size increases as you play, ensuring a steady rise in abilities so you can compete with the game’s rapidly expanding difficulty. You are allowed to purchase upgrades using “munny” or “hearts” (the game’s currency) collected from the enemies killed.

During the game, you are taken to various locations such as Agrabah (Aladdin), Neverland (Peter Pan), Wonderland (Alice in Wonderland) and Halloween Town (The Nightmare Before Christmas).

Most are classic Disney locations and charming at first, but unfortunately they are extremely small, meaning that missions require you to backtrack to locations you have already been to, creating a lot of repetition. The 3-D graphics look great for a DS game

Amy

The latest product of series won’t disappoint newcomers, fans alike

•Don’t provide your character with fire magic, as you are given only one fireball, which not only is hard to aim with, but also does minimal damage to enemies.

•Expand your panel to supply your character with more abilities, ensuring that you won’t be stuck in a mission.

In the Village at Westlake

Chick-fil-A,ÂŽ the Chick-fil-A CowsÂŽ and Eat Mor ChikinÂŽ are registered trademarks of CFA Properties, Inc.

The cows are celebrating!

Present this coupon for

FREE Chick-fil-A Chick-n-StripsÂŽ (3-count) with the purchase of a medium drink and medium waffle fries!

Š 2009. CFA Properties, Inc. Coupon not valid with any other offer. Coupon not for sale. One coupon per person per visit.

Closed Sundays. Chick-fil-AÂŽ is a registered trademark of CFA Properties, Inc. Redeemable at Chick-fil-A in the Village at Westlake.

Please use by January 15, 2010.

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{ staff editorial }

Enter to learn, exit to succeed Westlake celebrates 40 years of excellence, traditions

B

efore 1969, the year Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, Sesame Street first aired on television and thousands flocked across the country to Woodstock, Westlake didn’t exist.

Instead of the hallowed halls down which we walk, there stood only a patch of land with roadrunners darting between a maze of tumbleweeds. The longtime residents of this area met the proposal of a new school with raised eyebrows and shaking fists.

At the time, cedar choppers, charcoal burners and goat herders made up a large portion of the local population. They feared that the creation of a new high school would change their way of life and eat into their precious tax dollars.

But paying no heed to the naysayers, Westlake debuted in 1969 as a collection of portables next to Eanes Elementary — nothing more. Our football team, a ragtag assembly of motley youths, nearly put shame to the noble sport. There was no Performing Arts Center, no Chap Court. There was no Ninth Grade Center or stadium. There was not even a Korean exchange program. Yet even in those early days, Westlake exhibited a unique spirit that drove it to establish itself as a force to be reckoned with in the area — and eventually the state.

So look at how far we have come! Our students and faculty have won Siemens awards for their scientific ventures. Our athletes have gone on to play their sports professionally. Our musical programs have traveled nationally and internationally to perform at prestigious concert venues. Our newspaper and yearbook are nationally recognized. Our school ranks the highest among high schools in the Central Texas area.

From a relatively small handful of students and faculty, our population blossomed to a whopping 2,500.

But we’re not done yet. As much as we’ve accomplished in the past 40 years, our goal should be to make the next 40 even better. Let us go forth and seek out our dreams, both as a school and as individuals. We can follow the example of Huston Street (pg. 8), Phil Gilbert (pg. 19) and Corrie MacLaggan (pg. 6), who took what they learned from their experiences at Westlake to achieve success in the real world. In the true Westlake tradition, we need to rise above the expectations of our predecessors and build an even greater reputation for ourselves.

With an admirable legacy in our past, it is now our job to look forward and grow even more as a community, as a campus, and as a student body. If we can embrace

the educational values Westlake strives to uphold, it will not only be sports teams or academic programs that push us to the forefront of Central Texas high schools.

Although when we take a gander into the past, we see a trail strewn with various awards and critical acclaim, what does it all really mean? We may be ranked the 73rd best high school by Newsweek and have a remarkably high SAT average, but these are only numbers. Instead, we should remember what is important and measure our success by the relationships we forge with our peers and teachers. Our four years here may seem to last an eternity, but in comparison to the 40 years Westlake has been around and the many years it has to come, they are actually very brief. So make the most of the time you have and let your years at Westlake propel you, as they should, into the stratosphere of success. ing

elle L

Mich

{ westlakefeatherduster.com }

rants + raves

67

b u T y l l a Tot

r a l e -u

Katherine Finn

Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Go ahead, try and think of the most random thing you possibly can. Don’t worry if it doesn’t even make sense — just think of something absolutely ridiculous. Now, how does your idea compare, in terms of randomness, to let’s say, Tim and Eric’s “Doo, Doo, Doo, Doo” sketch that just randomly has a man in a glittery Carl-Douglaslike jumpsuit singing and dancing to a song about how he wants to meet your dad? Are you surprised, intrigued, scared, so confused that you just re-read this five times to make sure you got it right?

Or running to your computer/television to see what in the world Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is all about? All of the above are understandable and most likely intended responses.

Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! should, quite simply, not be on television, much less have been on for three seasons. It’s

basically like public access television — poorly edited, full of ridiculous costumes most likely purchased at the nearest Goodwill and overwhelmingly creepy. It was, after all, described by both Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim in an interview with The New York Times as “the nightmare version of television.” Yet, not unlike public access television, you can’t stop watching it even if at first you scoffed and thought “I could easily make this.” It soon grows on you until you start watching it on a regular basis and stop asking yourself why you aren’t at least watchAlyssa Creagh ing something that had a little more effort put into it.

The humor of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is definitely unique. It thrives off awkward situations, randomness and making hyperboles seem as real as possible. But what may be more interesting than the general nature of the show is the huge number of celebrities who make appearances

on it. These guests range from Michael Cera and Patton Oswalt to “Weird Al” Yankovic and the members of Flight of the Conchords. The most prominent guests, however, are Zach Galifanakis and Grammy award-winning and Oscar-nominated John C. Reily, who plays the beloved and wild-haired news correspondent Dr. Steve Brule in the “Channel Five News Team” sketches. However, aside from Galifanakis and Reily, most celebrities appear as cameos and have no significant role other than just sitting in the background and maybe saying a couple of lines while completely unknown actors play the main characters.

Having been renewed for a fourth and fifth season, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is a testament to what pointless and random toilet humor can accomplish (i.e. the “I’m Never Gonna Wipe my Butt” song). But just because the show’s success is as odd as the rest of their program, that doesn’t mean you have to dislike it. Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is really quite entertaining even if all logic tells you otherwise. In fact, a new show which will star John C. Reily’s Dr. Steve Brule and will be produced by both Tim and Eric, Check it Out! With Dr. Steve Brule, is currently in the works. Now, how did this show garner all sorts of fame with dirty jokes and randomness? It could probably be best described by a metaphor. Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is like McDonalds: nobody understands what it’s made out of but it’s undeniably delicious.

—Matt Frank

What was television like 40 years ago?

Boasting shows such as M*A*S*H, The Jeffersons and Happy Days, the ‘70s had some ot the funniest programs in the history of television. What is truly incredible, though, is how they did this with such limitations. Despite having very basic special effects and strict FCC regulations on “potty humor,” the ‘70s created classics from true ingenuity and cleverness.

New fall television lineup gives large dose of vitamin awesome Glee

It’s Thursday morning. Half of the class happens to be singing the same songs, quoting the same one-liners and gossiping about the hilarious antics of mysterious people named Kurt and Sue. You feel left out of the loop, not knowing what happened that caused such a sensation in your fellow classmates. This is because you didn’t watch Glee last night.

At first glance, Glee seems to be your typical teenage show, complete with misfit protagonists, cheerleaders who never take off their uniforms and the occasional musical number. But after five minutes of watching, it becomes clear that this TV show Michelle Ling is much more.

The storyline of Glee revolves around a small-town high school in the middle-ofnowhere Ohio. Spanish teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), in an attempt to inspire and reach out to students, takes the reins of McKinley High’s Glee Club (otherwise known as a show choir) after the morally question-

FlashForward

able choir teacher is fired. His situation looks bleak. The only people his auditions attract are your typical eccentrics and oddballs.

Things look up when they are joined by Finn Hudson, star quarterback and all-around nice guy who is blackmailed into joining Glee Club when Will pretends to have found marijuana in his locker after hearing him sing after a football practice. After a couple episodes, the Glee Club grows in size, adding to its ranks some jocks and cheerleaders.

However, no matter how many priceless characters Glee comes up with, the show is undoubtedly stolen by head cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch). Ruthless and maniacally — yet wonderfully — deranged, Sue is the show’s antagonist, trying to sabotage Glee Club’s every move and wreak general havoc on Will Schuester’s life as the club’s successes compete with the prestige of her squad of “Cheerios.” Outrageously hilarious, Sue’s one-liners cause laughter to the point of tears. She’s the character that you absolutely love to hate.

Dark humor is what makes this show. Glee isn’t afraid to step on a few toes to get laughs, often throwing political correctness out the window and stretching its TV-14 rating. Most notably, an incident occurs where the school

The new series FlashForward leaps into the future with its otherworldly premise. Everyone on earth experiences a blackout for a full 137 seconds. In these two minutes and 17 seconds, everyone witnesses visions of six months into their future. At least, those who are supposed to live. Predictably, chaos ensues.

The show’s main character, FBI agent Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes), envisions himself drinking, although he is a recovering alcoholic. He also sees himself under attack by mysterious, masked men. His wife, Dr. Olivia Benford (Sonya Walger), sees herself cheating on Benford with another man. By piecing the flash forwards of various people together, a pattern begins to form, aiding the detectives in dealing with the case they now call “Mosaic.”

Puzzled by the events occurring globally, Sarah Clarke Benford spends each episode trying to uncover the truth and the culprit behind the worldwide blackouts. Gradually advancing towards solving the mysteries of his own vision, he encounters clues that begin to demystify the phenomena.

With each episode, the show hones in on specific characters, providing the viewing audience with the chance to see other individuals’

nurse gives the kids decongestants, resulting in two spastic musical performances and the question, “Are they really allowed to do this on television?”

Humor aside, what really makes the show amazing is its music. Glee incorporates every genre of music, and every song is performed by its cast of Broadway veterans. Sure, the dancing lacks, but the performances are mostly about the music — each song selection reflects the theme of that week’s episode.

Original characters, twisted jokes and outstanding musical numbers are only a small part of what makes Glee stand out in a genre of shows that generally revolves around either the vices of rich, back-stabbing prep school kids or characters who are too sickeningly perfect to be real. Glee tackles hard issues that other TV shows are usually too afraid to touch, such as the repercussions of a lack of sexual education or the issues of being a modern teenage homosexual, with characters and situations that are almost painfully realistic.

However, Glee never loses its optimism. Every adversity the club faces is met in a meaningful, and oftentimes comical, way that guarantees to give you that this-is-so-cliché-but-stillso-happy-and-uplifting feeling.

—Brett Mele

flash forwards and to catch a glimpse of how they are intertwined in each others’ destinies. Each installment ends with a suspenseful, edgeof-your-seat twist that leaves you craving more.

Those who don’t want the future to turn out as they saw it attempt to change and prevent their visions. Many of these characters rationalize that their dream-like visions were just that — a dream. However, many enjoyed the outcome of their revelations and welcome their imminent future.

The masterminds behind this series, David S. Goyer and Brannon Braga, come from a science fiction background. On CBS, the duo had a show called Threshold. Braga is also the executive producer of 24 and co-wrote Star Trek: Enterprise. Goyer co-wrote Batman Begins and directed The Invisible, The Unborn and Blade Trinity.

FlashForward has an interesting outlook on a scientific occurrence that keeps the viewers wanting more. This new drama will either achieve greatness or follow the twisted, confusing plot of a Lost-esque show. Tune in on Thursdays at 7 p.m. on ABC and decide for yourself.

—Taylor Kidd

{ westlakefeatherduster.com }

rants + raves

69

’s ther l Werrigina O

’s ther Werriginal O

’s ther Werriginal O

Not ne f these new-fangled “clever” headlines

Anna Vaught

OWer rig th in er al ’s

When I did venture outside My daughter will have failed of my house, generally for the college, and she’ll tell me she sole purpose needs money for food but I of purchasing know she’ll just spend it on foodstuffs, I would only do so if I had clothes so I won’t give it to her. spent the past few —junior Steven Campbell weeks voraciously collecting coupons for things that I I envision myself as a cranky old didn’t really need voice teacher that yells at all of in the first place, like 25-pound her students and wears trendy bags of dog food. half-moon glasses.

Or Spam. I would —junior Perry Lines not need that dog food, and there has never been a reasonable excuse for the existence of Spam in the first place. Still, I would pay no heed to that fact when using those coupons. After all, I was from a more frugal generation where we had to work for our money, and I wouldn’t spend it at the drop of a hat like the good-for-nothing kids these days.

The one thing I’d buy that I would have use for would, of course, be butterscotch candies. Every morn, I would start my day off with a helping of those wonderful golden candies. When, on occasion, my house was to be visited by a youth, I would hand him butterscotch. When the mailman came to my door to hand me my mail, I would give him butterscotch. When I saw a dog gallivanting down the lane, I would give him butterscotch. When I strolled down the street, I would fling butterscotch to and fro. Children would flock to my butterscotch-strewn trail, skipping with merriment and glee.

Whilst I was at the check-out counter, purchasing these tantalizing treats, I would watch the cashier like a hawk to make sure he wasn’t miscalculating the price of my groceries. Sometimes, just to make sure the cashier was doing his job correctly, I would ask him about the price of various items as he rang them up. If he informed me that it was all correct because it was automated by computers, that would just put me further on the prowl, because if there is one thing I would trust less than teenagers, it would be technology. On the drive back home, I would probably complain aloud to myself about how traffic has gotten out of control and that darn governor had better start making some changes. Then I would vow to vote for the other guy in the next election. Which I would do with a sense of honor, for as an elderly person, not partaking in the majesty of democracy would be a cardinal sin, even if I wasn’t entirely sure who I was voting for.

So even though my golden years are quite a while away, I can still look to the future with the utmost anticipation. At this point in my life, it would seem uncouth to sit on my lawn and yell at other kids as they pass by. So I will wait, begrudgingly, for enough years to pass until I can express my emotions the old fashioned way — by mumbling to myself and thinking angry thoughts.

—Zach Wasfi OWer rig th in er al ’s

While some people aren’t terribly thrilled about growing older (I’ve got my eyes on you, Peter Pan), I can barely contain the excitement I have towards becoming elderly. Sure, there are some downsides to old age, like arthritis or the constant threat of incontinence, but there are also some serious upsides. Besides, by the time either of those things have become any threat to me, I like to imagine that medicine will have created some sort of super-pill that will cure every negative factor of aging.

As for the positive aspects? Well, the most obvious is going to be retirement. After spending years toiling away at whatever job I end up getting, I will be able to resign myself to staying at home all day and doing whatever pleases me. Maybe I’ll start a platypi farm, or go with the classic retirement activity and grow a garden. Sure, I don’t know the least bit about horticulture, but when I’ve got all the time in the world to plant stuff, I’m sure I could manage to plant something correctly every once in a while. Plus, did Gregor Mendel even know what peas were before he started experimenting with them? I think not, and he ended up becoming the father of genetics. I could easily become associated with a moniker of equal prestige, like Dr. Plant, by just throwing random seeds together and hoping something that stops just short of a horrendous monstrosity emerges.

Of course, I can’t spend all of my waking hours hanging around plants. I’ll have to get my fill of social interaction through the second favorite elderly person pastime of sitting on a rocking chair on my porch and yelling at children as they walk by. As a member of the older generation, the sheer number of things I will be able to be confused and angered by will be substantial, and I will channel most of these emotions towards teenagers. So I will have no difficulty spending day after day in a rocking chair, staring off into the distance, only pausing to yell at fiendish youths for getting too close to my lawn, blasting their rap music too loudly, or just creating an all-around hullabaloo. On occasion, when these annoyances got too far out of control, I would likely write a strongly-worded letter to my local congressman expressing my particular distaste for this young generation. This letter would include, but would certainly not be limited to, how they are nothing but lazy and how back in my day I had to walk five miles to school uphill both ways in the snow. No less than six times during the composition of the letter would I pause to ponder what has happened to kids today and where the previous generation went wrong.

OWer rig th in er al ’s

Why being an octogenarian will be great

I’ll finally be able to grow a beard.

—senior Jeff Olson

like in 40 years?

What will you rapscallions be

o m R o service

Vintage store serves up the decades

The key to successful vintage shopping

Ka th

eri

ne

Fin n

I have two things in common with old people: I like repeating myself, and I love to say, “They just don’t make things the way they used to.” I’m 16, not 60, but I’m still obsessed with the quality and uniqueness of vintage goods. Located on 107 East North Loop Blvd., Room Service Vintage is my one-stop shop for old-school styles, sweet furniture and decades of past pop culture. Out of Austin’s 30-plus vintage stores, this eclectic haven is the best not only for items, but also for entertainment. You don’t just shop at Room Service — you experience it.

Anything desirable — or not so desirable — can be found here. Assorted matches fill deco bowls. Political campaign buttons litter wooden bookshelves.

Projector slides sit with old photos and cameras. There’s a wall stacked with vintage fabric, shelves of paper memorabilia and a gigantic three-sided case full of rhinestone-friendly costume jewelry. Basically, it’s a treasure hunter’s dream.

The large volume of vintage goods makes shopping a bit chaotic, but Room Service always proves to be more exciting than overwhelming. The entire store is a fascinating tribute to history. Every knick-knack provides an example of what people were like in the past. And then there are the clothes. I spend the majority of my time at Room Service flipping through rows of ‘50s full skirts, Jackie O-inspired cocktail dresses from the ‘60s, ‘70s bell bottom flares and little black dresses exploding with sequins from the ‘80s. The walls are lined with purses and clutches, scarves, swanky cocktail hats and tiny shoes that typically range from modern women’s sizes five to eight. But gentlemen, don’t feel left out. If old cameras, ‘70s stereo systems and vintage Playboys don’t spark your fancy, they have a section dedicated to men’s clothes which includes trouser flares, vintage tees and fringed leather.

Compared to other vintage stores around Austin, Room Service has a wider selection and better deals. Vintage and thrift stores are typically hit or miss, but Room Service’s large array of items pretty much guarantees that there is always something interesting to be found. Room Service’s prices are comparable or even slightly lower than others in Austin, but what sets it apart are the sales. Every couple of weeks, they run different promotions on specific items like “20 percent off all drinks and smokes,” so all glasses and ashtrays are reduced. And typically whenever I remember to ask for an additional 10 percent off at the counter, they’ll give it to me.

Room Service’s unique shopping experience is part of what helps keep Austin weird. If you can navigate through the decades, you may just find the perfect timeless piece.

—Lauren Nelson

Other vintage shops near Room Service

Blue Velvet Vintage 217 W. North Loop Hog Wild Texas Vintage 100 E. North Loop Sound On Sound 106 E. North Loop

Always check vintage goods for rips, busted zippers and stains. If the item is easily repairable and is still worth purchasing, make sure you get an extra discount at the register.

Distance your time between visits. Some vintage stores, like Room Service, receive new shipments every day, but for the majority, resale shops take a long time to turn over because of their eccentric merchandise.

Try on clothes, shoes and even accessories. Sizes constantly change, so they’re not a reliable guideline when shopping. You never know how something will fit you until you try it on.

{ westlakefeatherduster.com }

rants + raves

71

Some like it raw Izumi brings sushi, teriyaki to Westlake Village The long-awaited arrival of Izumi, currently the only Japanese restaurant in The Village shopping center, has finally come. This new restaurant has been met with a booming start to business as Westlake customers pour in to receive this new local dining option.

Located in what was formerly occupied

by La Salsa, Izumi has taken the restaurant in an entirely new direction, with a chic, intimate atmosphere and a more high-end menu.

Though the actual restaurant space is relatively small, Izumi manages to turn this into an advantage. The interior design is dark and sophisticated, with walls adorned with painted cherry blossoms and Japanese art. The restaurant contains a wrap-around sushi bar at which diners can eat if they’re in hurry.

Though the ornamentation has a modern feel to it, the milieu remains true to traditional oriental design, complete with a wooden Japanese booth.

As far as Japanese cuisine goes, Izumi does an outstanding job in taste, presentation and budget. Though sushi tends to be a little pricey elsewhere (sometimes up to $70), Izumi’s sushi

and sashimi combinations give you a value for your money, offering a $25 plate with numerous creamy cuts of fish accompanied by generous helpings of daikon (a Japanese root vegetable often served alongside sushi), cucumbers, wasabi and ginger slices, all arranged like a work of art. If you’re not into raw fish, order a bento box, which includes several types of meat entrees served with an array of vegetable and shrimp tempura, rice and a selection of tasty dipping sauces. There are several other dinner choices, including classic teriyaki dishes, katsu (breaded and fried meat) plates, varieties of udon noodles and also Korean barbecue options. If you’re looking for a more inexpensive dining experience, stop by for lunch to partake in their discounted midday specials, which cost from around $8 to $11.

If you’re looking for a break from the same old Westlake-area dining options, be sure to give Izumi a try. It’s something fresh, new and classy — and, unlike other Japanese restaurants, you won’t have to shell out $50 each time you visit.

—Anisha Ganguly

Barrett Wilson

Barrett Wilson

Curry in a hurry

Tarka offers fresh new variety to Austin’s Indian cuisine options As a food enthusiast, I was very excited to hear that the Indian restaurant Clay Pit was opening a sister restaurant. Tarka, located on Brodie, is significantly more contemporary than its upscale counterpart, which can run hour-long waits on any given weeknight. Ready for lunch, I walk into the moderately sized restaurant, filled with clean, simple, modern décor. It didn’t exactly give off an authentic Indian vibe, but I was still willing to give it a shot. To my left, I found a humongous copy of the menu printed on the wall, which I read attentively before making my way to the cashier. If your experience with Indian food goes no further than those Lonely Planet videos you watched freshman year, or if the thought of spicy food is enough to make your eyes water and throat burn, do not fear. The concept of this restaurant is that you are given the option to create a dish of your own and tweak it to perfection.

Keren Rempe

Keren Rempe

Little Italy A touch of Europe served at Bella Sera Tucked away in the newer part of Bee Caves off Senna Hills, Bella Sera (“beautiful evening” in Italian) is easy to miss. However, this quaint Italian restaurant is worth the sharp U-turn. As you pass by the tiny cascading waterfall outside, you will feel like you are right in the heart of Europe.

The dim lighting and unique murals of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Venice covering the walls set the mood for your Italian experience. The homey feeling is completed by a wine bar and the model wood kitchen placed at the back of the restaurant. The wafting smell of fresh bread and pasta will make your senses spin even before you receive your menu.

Shortly after you are seated, the standard and generally dismissible basket of complementary bread comes your way. But take a second look — it is difficult to pass up this appetizer. The light, hot bread is coated with a tantalizing mix of olive oil, garlic and oregano and is an absolutely wonderful way to start your meal.

Bella Sera offers a wide variety of dishes: soups, salads, pastas, pizzas and an almost endless array of lunch and dinner specialties.

The prices range from $6.95 to $16.95, but be prepared to ask for a take-out box as both the lunch and dinner specialties come in huge portions and are also served with a full plate of salad. Although the meals are quite large, they are surprisingly light.

Steering away from my usual comfort of chicken cacciatore, I daringly ordered the chicken siciliana (chicken and noodles sautéed with mushrooms and artichokes in white wine and lemon sauce) and hoped for the best. First came the huge salad, which could

have easily stood on its own as a meal. Next came the main dish, which was without a doubt, half the size of a large pizza. The savory noodles were flanked by two large chicken pieces which literally melted in my mouth. Although I could not finish it, I was excited by the prospect of enjoying my meal all over again the next day.

My dad, an avid connoisseur of eggplant parmigiana, had nothing but compliments for Bella Sera’s version. The dish, reminiscent of lasagna, has a layer of eggplant surrounded by two layers of tomato sauce and cheese. After a couple of bites, he immediately decided that Bella Sera was definitely a contender for best eggplant parmigiana.

The tight-knit camaraderie between the waiters only increases the homey feel of this quaint restaurant. All the servers sit together at the back of the restaurant when off duty and have engaging conversations complete with hearty laughter. The only thing that was slightly disappointing about my trip to Bella Sera was that the restaurant was basically deserted, although this could be attributed to the fact that I went during the infamous “dead spot” — 6 p.m. on Sunday evening. Quite frankly, there is nothing not to love about Bella Sera. When you need a change of scenery after all that studying, head over to Bella Sera and experience a part of Italy right here Keren Rempe in Austin.

—Shreya Banerjee

Keren Rempe

Keren Rempe

A history of eating out in Westlake You first choose from a large variety of curries and pick the fresh meats and vegetables that you want to put in. Then you can choose exactly how spicy you want your dish to be. There is also a large selection of vegetarian and vegan options to choose from.

My meal was brought promptly to the table, arriving in a matter of minutes. The wait staff was very friendly and the food was just as fresh and flavorful as its sister restaurant, but available without the long waits for food and tables, the high prices, dim lighting and formal atmosphere. I was thoroughly satisfied; Tarka is casual, convenient and has something tasty for just about everyone.

—Sofie Seiden

-When Westlake started, all grades, or at least anyone with a car, had open campus privileges for lunch.

-Students would go to the popular lunch hangout Time Out for Burgers (now My Fit Foods) for burgers, fries and shakes.

-Before settling on Barton Springs Road, the burger stand Sandy’s was first located right in the heart of Westlake (now Compass Bank).

-Las Palomas, located on 3201 Bee Caves Road, opened its doors to Westlake in 1983, drawing large crowds from the community.

-The Westlake People’s Pharmacy was established in 1985. The first People’s Pharmacy in Austin was established on North Lamar in 1981.

-Texas Honey Ham, ever since its opening in 2004, has attracted many Westlake customers with its delicious breakfast tacos, sandwiches and of course, its trademark ham.

{ westlakefeatherduster.com }

rants + raves

73

Snack attack barbecue pork buns

sticky rice

shaomai dumplings, steamed dumplings

egg custard tarts

Simply defined, dim sum is Chinese brunch. For those of you thinking noodles for breakfast, think again. The specific cuisine of dim sum is typified by small, snacklike portions of food, ranging from standard fare like dumplings and sticky rice to more exotic options such as chicken feet and cooked jellyfish. A typically Cantonese (think Hong Kong and southern China) tradition, dim sum was at first considered a genre of snack food, but now it has become a beloved part of Chinese cooking.

A particular characteristic of dim sum cuisine is the carts containing food. Rather than ordering their choices, patrons simply wait at their tables as servers push around metal handcarts to show off various dining options. After the diners select the dishes they want, the server marks their choices on a bill sheet placed on the table. On average, dim sum costs around $10 per person, as each individual dish ranges from as little as $3 a plate to the more intricate $7 choices.

Among the dizzying array of entrées, the most well-known is the dumpling. Dim sum restaurants generally offer several varieties, such as the classic shrimp steamed dumpling, pork and leek dumplings, shaomai (pork or shrimp in a wheat flour wrapper) and potstickers. Other favorites include congee (a thick rice soup), steamed buns stuffed with barbecued pork or vegetables, Chinese broccoli drizzled in a savory brown sauce and roasted pork spare ribs. For dessert, try an egg tart (puff pastry and an egg custard filling) or sesame balls (dough stuffed with red bean paste and fried.) Be sure to order a pot of hot tea — most restaurants offer multiple types, from traditional jasmine tea to more unusual herbal flavors.

Though in the past dim sum had been difficult to come by, with the opening of the new Chinatown Center in North Austin, several Chinese restaurants have begun to serve dim sum on the weekends. The three dim sum options that stand out are Chinatown (off Mopac), Shanghai and Fortune.

Chinatown Photos by Indigo Colton

Though most Westlake students would first think of the Chinatown restaurant in the Randalls shopping plaza, the Mopac location adds a new dimension to Chinese dining.

With a more upscale atmosphere, elegant décor and a generally higher quality of food and service, this branch of the Chinatown chain seems to be the best. The food is fresh and flavorful, offering several classic dim

Austin’s Chinese restaurants take lunch to a new level sum options, along with other inventive fusion and varying dishes, with a cart that lets you make your own Vietnamese-style sandwich and a special Chinese New Year menu with seasonal treats. If you’re new to dim sum, sample their dumpling tray, which presents three or four varieties of the traditional snack. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, go for the Peking duck or the salt-and-pepper shrimp.

Shanghai Restaurant

Located off the I-35 near Galaxy Highland Theatres, Shanghai gives more of an urban feel to Chinese dining than most other options in Austin. Service is remarkably efficient, given the booming clientele during the weekends. The ambience, like Chinatown’s, is more modern, with a polished and clean atmosphere. Though their dinner menu is excellent as well, Shanghai receives the most business on Saturday and Sunday lunch when they serve dim sum. The highlights of their dim sum dishes include the shrimp and leek dumplings and braised beef ribs — slices of meat gently seared in a delicate soy blend. Shanghai tends to be a little pricey in comparison with other Chinese restaurants, but its consistently satisfying dining experience makes up for it.

Fortune Restaurant

Austin’s very own Chinatown Center in North Austin opened in 2006 and has grown to include 27 businesses, including Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants, Asian video stores and a massive supermarket. Among these stores is Fortune, which just opened this July. Fortune has a large, ballroom-style seating area, which has less of an intimate feel than Chinatown. The servers are friendly and competent; you’ll never wait more than two or three minutes between food carts.

The food is fresh and authentic, served piping hot straight out of the kitchen. Though they don’t offer the more imaginative dishes that Chinatown and Shanghai do, Fortune manages to get by simply on classic dishes like shaomai dumplings and stir-fried snow pea leaves. Their shrimp-stuffed mushrooms and barbecued pork buns are excellent, as are the dessert options, including the fresh, melt-in-your-mouth sesame balls. If you’re in the mood for something particular, ask the server for it directly, and they’ll be more than happy to find it for you.

—Anisha Ganguly

Can you really live on the McDonald’s Dollar Menu for five days?

SUPER SIZE

With our current trainwreck economy, people are cutting back more than ever. What used to be a $12.50 dinner out at a nice family-owned Italian bistro has now become a $3.99 combo meal at a fast-food joint. With this cutback comes the sacrifice of not just taste, but health. The cheapest food is usually the unhealthiest. That is why I embarked on a mission, a quest, if you will, to see what would happen if someone were to eat only off the Dollar Menu at the most infamous fast-food restaurant in the world for a week. One shrouded in myths and misconceptions.

One trying to change its image from the place where a bear goes before hibernation to an oasis of freshness and health on the go: McDonald’s.

Day 1: Starting the week with the nastiest combination of fat, grease and eggs possible, I had a breakfast taco and a hash brown. The artificial eggs were rubbery, and the cheese made not eating at all seem like a viable alternative. Lunch was better with a McDouble cheeseburger, small fries and a small soda. But since the McDouble was able to fit in the palm of my hand, I went back for a second cheeseburger to fill the void. Dinner was the same with two McDoubles and a soda, but instead of fries, I ordered a yogurt parfait. The fruit and yogurt offered a welcome relief from the fatty grease buckets I ate for breakfast and lunch. When I tried to get a healthier soda, i.e. Sprite, I found black pellets floating on the top. Not wanting to ingest mystery rubber from the soda fountain, I switched to Coke. The mixture created a caffeine buzz that left me trembling throughout the night.

Day 2: Still riding the caffeine high from the previous night, I thought that maybe, just maybe, this wouldn’t be the worst week of my life. But after a hash brown, three apple pies, four McDoubles, a small fries, a yogurt parfait and two sodas for the entire day, I found that my energy was slowly dwindling, kind of like the reputation of the great establishment which I had made my home for a week. I felt lethargic, indicative of the fat that had started to accumulate in my body after eight cheeseburgers in two days.

Day 3: I was halfway done with my expedition when I found much relief in the sausage McMuffin I ate for breakfast. Combined with the milk and hash browns, I actually enjoyed my breakfast, something I hadn’t done for the previous two days. For lunch, I had the usual McDouble burger. I sampled the McChicken as well, which was, to my

surprise, somewhat spicy and delicious. The breading of the McChicken provided a nice contrast with the creamy texture of the yogurt parfait that accompanied my lunch. Two McChickens, apple slices to dip in caramel sauce and a medium drink made a dinner that was, admittedly, quite satisfying.

Day 4: I was looking forward to breakfast on the morning of the fourth day of my quest, but was sorely disappointed with the minimum-wage service presented to me. I enjoyed my yogurt parfait and also ordered another sausage McMuffin and a milk. Unfortunately, the great employees of McDonald’s neglected Barrett Wilson to give me a sausage McMuffin and instead gave me a sausage biscuit. They also completely left out my milk. For lunch, the classic two McDoubles with a side of small fries and a drink banished the emptiness from my stomach. Dinner was getting repetitive with two McChickens, but this time, a lemonade and apple slices with a caramel dipping sauce proved to satisfy my sweet tooth and provided a healthier contrast to other Dollar Menu items.

Day 5: The last day. I am almost done. I can taste victory. Breakfast seemed like a minor footnote on my road to success. Another wrong order gave me a sausage McGriddle, which isn’t even on the Dollar Menu, a hash brown and milk. My health and well-being didn’t seem to matter at lunch when I ordered two McDoubles, fries, a sundae and a drink. My last dinner, which I refer to now as the “Last Supper,” was small after the feast I had for lunch with a single McChicken, three soft and delicious chocolate chip cookies and a drink.

After the experiment ended, I felt withdrawal symptoms from not having the grease and fat my body was now used to. On Saturday, I was hard-pressed to stay awake. Overall, the journey to conquer McDonald’s was tough and trying at times. Over the five-day period, I gained two and a half pounds, and my blood pressure went up from 90/57 to 108/66, both a significant gain. In all, I spent a little over $50, which is a little over $3 per meal. This week of grease has really made me appreciate all the fresh food I take for granted. I proved that one can live on the McDonald’s Dollar Menu for a week, but not without adverse side effects.

—Jono Krawczyk Note: Thanks to all the seniors who took me out to lunch: MaryMargaret Parrish, Katy Roden and Katherine Finn.

ME

Nutritional facts of common menu items McChicken: Calories — 360 Fat (g) — 16 Cholesterol (mg) — 35 Sodium (mg) — 830 Carbohydrates (g) — 40

McDouble: Calories — 390 Fat (g) — 19 Cholesterol (mg) — 65 Sodium (mg) — 920 Carbohydrates (g) — 33

on

d a bu

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Barrett Wilson

Yogurt Parfait: Calories — 160 Fat (g) — 2 Cholesterol (mg) — 5 Sodium (mg) — 85 Carbohydrates (g) — 31

Did you know...

The first McDonald’s opened in 1940 in San Bernadino, CA.

{westlakefeatherduster.com }

rants + raves

75

Clichés Oh, how we love clichés. You’d have to walk a mile in our shoes to understand just how much, but we’re going to go the whole nine yards to explain it to you anyhow so just keep your eye on the ball. We’re definitely not going to pull the wool over your eyes with this one. Any past differences we’ve had are water under the bridge, so it’s better late than never that we’ve become friends once more. If you had to go to the doctor because you forgot to eat your apple each day to keep him away, you wouldn’t be barking up the wrong tree if you came to us for help. If it were raining cats and dogs, we’d be happy as a clam to find you an umbrella, even if we were as busy as a bee. Just give 110 percent so that you don’t rock the boat and just remember the grass is always greener on the other side.

Furbies There is something about these robotic, chicken-like toys that drives us all wild. Maybe it’s those big eyes and long eyelashes or perhaps their pointed elf-like ears. It might be the way they say “I’M HUNGRY” 24/7 even if we’ve taken the batteries out of them and stuffed them deep into the darkest crevices of our closets. Either way, when we hear the name “Furby” we can’t help but subconsciously cringe. In joy or fear, we have yet to decide. However, we do know that no matter how much Furbies manage to creep us out or annoy us, we still have a warm, fuzzy affection deep down inside for the odd little things. And that’s why we like Furbies – they just manage to work their way into our hearts, no matter how hard we try to ignore their “HUG ME” call.

Linux Imagine: Your six-page paper on cellular processes is due tomorrow, but it’s okay because you just finished, and it’s only 11:43! Just as you’re about to print it out and not go to bed (the night is still young), you notice something very unsettling — it isn’t printing. A few moments later your worst fears are realized: “Microsoft Word is not responding. Do you want to send an error report?” I would not like to send an error report, thank you very much. If only there were an operating system in which all of our work were safe and we no longer had to fear infection from a deadly virus. Luckily for all of us, such an operating system exists, and it has penguins*. It truly is a testament to human stupidity that the commercial bludgeon of Windows is more widely used than the sleek and free beauty that is Linux. That’s fine though, because one day the age of the penguin will begin, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. * Tux the penguin is the official mascot of Linux.

Bollywood Ever since the epic closing number of Slumdog Millionaire enthralled moviegoers across the globe, the phenomenon of Bollywood has captured the hearts of American viewers. The process: take extremely attractive people wearing very little clothing, add catchy ethnic beats and MAKE THEM DANCE. It’s a surefire formula for diverse fun! Plot is less than a pressing concern in the production of Bollywood films, which focus more on the virtues of designer saris, millions of rupees-worth of jewelry and spectacular hair that would make John Stamos proud. The actors may not deliver Oscar-worthy performances, but their pleasing countenances and fierce, well-coordinated dancing make up for any lack of acting skills. The characters never miss a chance to break out into song, whether the occasion calls for a mournful tribute to their lost love accompanied by a snappy dance number or a celebration of a reunited father and son to an Indian rap. And really, what’s more gangsta than a remix of “Pretty Woman” with a Hindi rap twist? Move over, Hairspray.

There’s a new jam in town.