OPINIONS- TWITTER. PAGE 5 STUDENT LIFE- FUNNY TEACHER SAYINGS, PAGE 7 ENTERTAINMENT- NETHERWORLD REVIEW, PAGE 13 SPORTS- VOLLEYBALL, PAGE 15
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October 2011 Edition Volume 4, Issue 2
Etowah High School
6565 Putnam Ford Road
Woodstock, Georgia 30189
ETOWAH RUNS THIS TOWNE FOR A SECOND YEAR: Etowah’s 45-0 shut-out against the Woodstock Wolverines was broadcast for all to see
For more on the rivalry see page 16
photo by Laila Goharioon Etowah and Woodstock fans spent the week leading up to the rivalry game voting both online and via text message to be featured as Fox 5’s High 5 Sports game of the week, beating out four other games.
Etowah science teacher awarded Cherokee County Teacher of the Year
photo by Cathy Micali
by LAILA GOHARIOON chief editor On Tuesday, Oct. 25 during fifth period, John Murnan, science teacher and girls’ soccer coach, was awarded 2012-2013 Cherokee County Teacher of the Year by Dr. Frank Petruzielo, Cherokee County superintendent, and Keith Ball, principal. “John [Murnan] is the ultimate, humble warrior. He really de-
served this award, and I’m very happy that he won,” Ball said. Petruzielo was among the group of people who came in to give Murnan his award. He presented Murnan with a gift set of cookies decorated to reflect Murnan’s activities. One was decorated like a biology book. “Murnan is an example and role
model of the teachers we wish to see in Cherokee County,” Petruzielo said. Murnan was surprised about the award and even more so to have Petruzielo, Ball and many senior staff members in his classroom Tuesday.
Murnan continued on page 2
Band captains strive for “Superior” by JUSTIN BROWN sports editor
For an Etowah band member, the status of Band Captain is a great honor, but to knowing how to lead an entire band is a skill that must be cultivated. For Dryn DuBois and Melisa Gonzalez, senior band captains, music is a passion. DuBois has played the piano since second grade and believes that his piano skills and his other musical talents have helped defined his ability as a musician. “The biggest hardship about band is the time commitment. If the practice lasts three hours, you’re expected to be there early, and almost guaranteed to stay late. You give up every Friday night for months, and once competition season starts, you end up giving up most of your Saturdays as well,” DuBois said. photo submitted Principal Keith Ball and Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo awarded John Murnan Teacher of the Year.
Band continued on page 15
2 / October 2011
NEWS
the Talon
News Briefs Desperate measures for success Nov 5: Cross Country State Championship and SAT Test Nov 6: No school/furlough day and election day Nov 9, 11 & 12: Fall Play “Fuddy Meers” Nov 12: Reinhardt Math Tournament Nov 14-18: Anti- Bullying Week Nov 21-25: Thanksgiving Break Nov 24: Thanksgiving
Etowah teacher shines bright by EMMA JOHNSON staff reporter Teachers and students are inspired by Pam Teems, Family and Consumer Science teacher. Teems attended the Georgia Association for Career & Technical Education Conference and was presented a plaque naming her the 2011 Teacher of the Year for her division of Career & Technical education. “Everything I do, locally and at the state level, is directly related to my students. I advocate for Family and Consumer Sciences so my students may receive the experiences they need to develop skills for life,” Teems said. She is dedicated to providing her students with the life skills that will be necessary after they leave her class. Teems plays no small role in education. Along with her daily job of teaching, she serves as the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America advisor. She also is the Vice President of the Georgia Association of Teachers for Family and Consumer Sciences. “She takes time to actually teach, she is very patient with us and she is a hard working woman,” Belinda Mills, senior, said. Many of Teems’ students feel the same and are proud of their teacher’s accomplishments. This accomplishment not only reflects highly on Teems herself, but also on the school. With so many talented individuals working in the school system, it is an honor to have and individual like Teems to shine light upon Etowah High School.
by MANNY ELSAR staff reporter On Sept. 29, Long Island resident Samuel Eshagoff was charged with criminal impersonation after six high school students allegedly paid Eshagoff up to $2,000 each to take the SAT Reasoning Test for them. Administrators found out when they saw major discrepancies between the students’ GPAs and scores on the test. According to abc.com, the students are also facing misdemeanor charges for paying Eshagoff to take their test for them. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, during July 2011, the Atlanta Public Schools system faced a major scandal in which 44 district schools and 178 teachers were charged with cheating on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test. Both instances symbolize the growing prevalence of cheating on standardized tests and growing stress to pass these tests. Many do not realize that cheating on the SAT is a common thing. “I didn’t really know there was a way to cheat on it,” Emily Smith, junior, said. Etowah Science teacher Jeremy Armstrong took the SAT in 1980 and realized
Murnan continued from page 1 “I really didn’t know what was going on. There were just so many cameras and people all at once walking into the classroom,” Murnan said to his class. Murnan was chosen out of the 40 teachers who were selected as Teacher of the Year for their respective schools. Murnan completed an application that included his professional experience, certain essays and letters of recommendation. The teachers were then judged by a panel of county leaders on Oct. 21. “We all work hard and want the best for the students. I push my students past their comfort level because I know they can do it,” Murnan said on what he mentioned in his essay. In addition to winning the county title, Murnan will now be eligible to compete for the honor of 2013 Georgia Teacher of the Year to be announced in the spring. The process to win this honor will in-
the importance of a good score. “I was apprehensive when I took it. I was desperately trying to get into college, and I knew it was going to be important,” Armstrong said. Catherine Holman, counselor, takes many precautions when the SAT is administered on the Etowah campus. “It’s tight security. Test materials are kept under lock and key, and before students are admitted, picture IDs are checked,” Holman said. Many individuals who cheat on tests do it because the opportunity to get into college has gotten more exclusive, while others say the current culture encourages cheating in general. Some say the pressure that goes along with standardized tests has led to an increase in cheating. “This will be a little strong, but not only does it increase the chances of cheating, it encourages it. The emphasis on standardized testing forces people to change their behavior to pass the tests,” Armstrong said. However, there are ways to prepare for standardized tests without cheating. “I bought a review book from Barnes & Noble,” Smith said. Other ways to prepare for the SAT include taking SAT Prep classes, reading review
books, and taking practice tests. Many premier public and private universities in Georgia require specific SAT scores for admittance. For example, the average SAT score of the University of Georgia’s current freshman class is 1690-1980. For the Georgia Institute of Technology, the average freshman SAT score is 1940-2160.
photo by Anna Sherry Students use review books like this one to prepare.
volve an application, interview and an ob- Etowah. He looks at the bigger picture when servation. it comes to teaching. The Georgia Teacher of the Year will then In his application, he said about his stugo onto the National Teacher of the Year dents, “I want them to leave my classroom competition. with a better idea of who they are and what At the annual Cherokee County Teacher of they can do to help the world.” the Year banquet on Dec. 8, Murnan will be the guest of honor. “It’s really exciting and feels weird,” Murnan said about winning the award. While it may seem “weird” to Murnan, others obviously noticed his impact on photos by Morgan Hinchey students at Murnan teaches Anatomy and Physiology along with AP Biology and encourages his students to be engaged with the use of various technology.
Representative provides link to school board by ALLY HELLENGA chief editor If one was to look up Becca Hannigan, senior, in a dictionary they would find phrases such as energetic volleyball player, active student leader, President of the Etowah Chorus, worship leader and most recently—Stuphoto by Ally Hellenga dent Adviser for Cherokee County high schools. Hannigan’s leadership began in ninth grade when she joined the Student Advisory Board along with a handful of other clubs
and organizations. In SAB, Hannigan was elected Vice President her sophomore year and Secretary her junior year. Also during her junior year, she was asked to be a student representative for the School Council. Hannigan said her experience on the smaller-scale School Council helped her prepare for the School Board. The council also gave her an understanding of how decisions are made, the creation of rules and how to provide feedback from the student’s point of view. “My job as adviser is to speak on behalf of the students in Cherokee County. When a situation arises that directly affects us, I'm able to express our concerns and share from a student perspective,” Hannigan said. Speaking on behalf of the students is the main job of the adviser, but there are also other jobs Hannigan carries out.
According to Barbary Jacoby on behalf of Frank Petruzielo, the Student Adviser participates by attending School Board Meetings and Strategic Work Sessions, reading related agenda items, providing materials and commenting. The adviser also collaborates with the Student Delegates to the School Board from each high school and corresponds with students through the Student Adviser email account and other mediums. This job is not an easy one to obtain. Hannigan explains that every year, one of the senior representatives becomes the Student Adviser. This seat alternates between the high schools and this year, it is Etowah’s turn. Each senior representative is one who is active in their school. Jacoby explains the Student Adviser is a student who excels academically and is a leader among their peers.
“Becca is very involved at Etowah and is a very good and effective leader. She is the perfect person to serve on the school board because of her involvement in the school and her care for the issues that our school system is facing,” Kaitlin Johnson, senior, said. Each month, with some exceptions, Hannigan attends school board meetings. So far she has been on the council for three months. At these meetings there are many items to discuss such as: financing, budgets, technology changes, developments for charter schools and No Child Left Behind policies. Hannigan works hard to show the student perspective and her dedication to being the adviser is tremendous. “Even though she will be graduating this year, she [Hannigan] wants to better the education system for the students coming behind her,” Johnson said.
NEWS
the Talon
October 2011 / 3
photo submitted
Etowah alumnus Andrew Shell instructs tenth graders at a school in Ukraine.
Peace Corps offers students the chance to make a difference Etowah alumnus changes the lives of Ukrainians while teaching English abroad by MORGAN HINCHEY chief editor The Peace Corps is a volunteer-based program that gives college graduates the opportunity to volunteer their time and energy to assisting citizens of other countries, while also gaining significant leadership experience. Thanks to the efforts of President John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps found its roots in 1961, and celebrated its 50th anniversary in March 2011. Encouraging its volunteers to promote world peace and friendship, the Peace Corps is dedicated to providing assistance to countries around the world, gaining a better understanding of other cultures and promoting a better worldwide understanding of the American people. According to peacecorps.gov, 8,655 volunteers are currently making a difference in 76 countries, using their time and talent in work areas such as education, HIV/ AIDS awareness and other health issues, information technology, business development, environment and agriculture. Peace Corps participants are typically college graduates in their 20s or 30s who have both patriotism and passion, finding the strength to dedicate at least 24 months of their lives to serving others in a foreign country. Etowah High School alumnus Andrew Shell is a 23-year-old history major from the University of Georgia who had a variety of options to pursue post-graduation. Inspired by the courage, dedication, sacrifice and service his two grandfathers devoted to the United States during their lives and his personal love for travel, Shell decided to join the Peace Corps upon graduating from college. Shell left for Ukraine as a Peace Corps representative in September 2010. He currently resides there and plans to stay until at least fall 2012. He volunteers in the field of education; as a result, Shell spends his time volunteering as a teacher in Pavlograd, Ukraine and teaches about 21 lessons a week to students ranging from grades sixth through 11th. He also spends his spare time as an administrator of two English clubs, sightseeing and visiting friends around Ukraine, attending Russian classes to perfect his
fluency and playing basketball games with some of his students. “I wanted to teach English [in Ukraine] because it was something that I understood and felt comfortable doing,” Shell said. “I was happy with my placement in Ukraine, because I have always been interested in Eastern Europe and wanted to learn Russian.” The Peace Corps allows applicants to give preferences for regions of the country they would like to go to, but the preferences are general and not set in stone. “In general, the Peace Corps decides where you go by taking into account countries’ needs and your skills, not your desires,” Shell said. “But there are loads of
travel, a living allowance, and vacation days. Apart from devoting time to assisting communities in countries all over the world and reaping from the resulting benefits, Peace Corps representatives undergo a learning experience incomparable to any other. One of the biggest learning stretches for most Peace Corps volunteers is learning a new language and culture. Volunteers are submersed into the culture of their host country for three months before beginning work. This includes living with a host family and taking language classes for approximately four hours a day. The submersion that volunteers undergo
“There is simply no way I’d be where I am today without all the wonderful Ukrainians I work with every day, both at my school and with Peace Corps...” opportunities available to you, depending on your skills and interests.” The overall application process is lengthy and involves online applications and a personal interview to be eligible, as well as a medical examination to ensure applicants are healthy enough to serve. It took Shell 11 months from the first time he applied to be finally admitted into the program in July 2010. In order to be eligible for service, applicants must be at least 18 and a United States citizen. Volunteers have a great chance of being chosen for the program if they have an interest in the area of work they wish to pursue, a college degree, previous volunteer experience and a commitment to community service and helping others. While participation in the Peace Corps is a long-lasting and life-defining leadership experience that is a reward in itself, the Peace Corps provides its volunteers with several benefits. Volunteers are given free
makes it easy for someone who knows few words of a language to gain enough knowledge to live on his own in a city with no other Americans in just a few months. “I went from knowing three words in Russian to “advanced low” (according to the U.S. government’s official chart) level in less than a year here, and I hope to continue my progress,” Shell said. The skills that volunteers gain through the Peace Corps expand further than the extensive foreign language training they receive. Multicultural understanding and perspective as well as other technical skills result from volunteering in the Peace Corps, and these skills remain with volunteers for the rest of their life, making them more attractive to employers and expanding their career path opportunities. According to Shell, his learning experience has encompassed much more than the mere understanding of a native language of Ukraine.
“[This whole experience] has been an illuminating learning process,” Shell said. “I’ve learned about myself and the world; I’ve learned about a new culture; and I’ve tested my abilities, understanding of the world and patience on a daily basis. I really think Ukraine may be one of the most unique countries on earth.” Thus far in his endeavor, Shell feels he has expanded his global perspective and learned a lot about his own abilities. He hopes to attend graduate school, upon finishing his volunteer work in the Peace Corps, and aim for a career where he can utilize his foreign language skills, either in the Foreign Service or nonprofit sectors. Shell has found that there are so many opportunities available through the Peace Corps, and he recommends the experience to any interested high school students, once they are finished with college. “If you’ve always been interested in traveling, the rest of the world, and different cultures, and if you really want to understand your own culture, then I’d recommend seriously looking into Peace Corps,” Shell said. “The volunteer community is quite diverse. There are people of all ages, from all states and from all walks of life involved in the Peace Corps.” An Etowah student, Nicole Wynn, senior, is seriously considering pursuing a path in the Peace Corps after college. “I have always loved helping others and traveling,” Wynn said. “The Peace Corps seems like the perfect place to pursue my career path while volunteering, but nothing is definite; this is a big decision to make.” Wynn hopes to earn her video journalism degree in college and use her skills and passions in the field of information technology within the Peace Corps. Shell encourages students to look into the opportunities offered by the Peace Corps, because of the positive experience he had so far. “It’s been amazing, eye-opening, supportive, and sometimes bureaucratic. [The Peace Corps] fosters an independent spirit, as volunteers are quite often the only American in their town, yet a cooperative nature at the same time. There is simply no way I’d be where I am today without all the wonderful Ukrainians I work with every day, both at my school and with Peace Corps,” Shell said.
4 / October 2011
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6565 Putnam Ford Road Woodstock, Ga 30189 jennifer.jackson@cherokee.k12.ga.us
OPINIONS
Alexis Cape, Laila Goharioon, Ally Hellenga, Morgan Hinchey- Chief Editors Cathy Micali, Emily Snook, Amelia BurlesonAssociate Editors
Pet names are for pets, or are they?
Thoughts by Justin Brown
sports editor ne way you will know if a relationship will be successful is if you give your significant other a pet name. This states that you have reached another level in your relationship. When I hear a girl call me a pet name, it makes me feel like a million bucks. By the time I am done, I will convince you that pet names are essential to maintaining a successful relationship. Among the wide variety of pet names available, I find the sugar and sweet category to be the most successful. One of the most popular pet names in this category is Honeybun. Although it is a food, the name itself has the same effect. Whenever I witness this name being used, I can see it in their loved ones face that it gave them a
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warm feeling that person truly cares about them. Not only have I witnessed it, I have even felt its warm, sugary effect. The simple name Honeybun provides a blanket of love that surrounds you and makes you feel as if you are in your own Candyland. Another name that is not being used as much as it used to be is Sugarpie. This does not exactly strike the heart as much as Honeybun, but it is cute, sweet and brings up a little smile. I think people underestimate the power this nickname really possesses. I use it as a back-up, because not
all pet names provide that blanket of love I mentioned earlier. Now, the next biggest area of pet names is the cuddle category. These nicknames are cute nicknames that provide humor in a relationship. Just a few pet names that come from this category are Snookums, Cuddly-Wuddly, Boo Bear, Punkin’, Twinkle Toes and Babykins. When it comes to this category, how popular the nickname is does not matter. What matters is how it relates to your relationship. These type of pet names are just little inside jokes that only you and your companion are in on.
For example, you may use the nickname “Twinkle Toes” for girls who have cute toes or keep their feet clean. Naturally, this category is open to your creative mind, but you can always take a few from the internet. If you do take names, keep in mind that it will not be as heart-felt as one that you came up with yourself. Pet names can be funny. They can be cute. They can be sweet; however, you must be extremely careful about how much you use pet names. If it happens too much, you will end up being that couple that always ends their sentences by rubbing each other’s noses together and saying exaggerated nicknames such as “Wubby Lubby Kins.” Just keep in mind there is a fine line between adorable and overwhelming.
to see. Boo bear is one of those nicknames that I gave to my teddy bear when I was little. It’s not creative or cute. When saying this to a girl or boy, it is like saying “boo bear” as if you are requesting a toy from your childhood. This doesn’t seem like something that a couple in a relationship should be saying to each other.
One of my least favorite of the nicknames on my list of non-favorite nicknames by couples would be cuddly-wuddly. Babykins and Twinkle Toes are two nicknames that creep me out. Why are you talking about your significant others’ toes? Are they really that special? I do not think so. When I am talking to a baby I use these phrases. So unless you are babysitting your girl or boyfriend, do not use this language. It just sounds creepy. There are plenty of other words in couple language that bug me. When I hear the word “daddy,” I assume you are talking about your real daddy and that is just gross. One of my favorite things on Facebook is to log on, see someone has just switched into a relationship, and read their comments about how happy they are. It has been four hours, how can you be this happy already?
Retort by Katelyn Lease business manager
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ne of the grossest things that couples can do is make up little nicknames for their significant other. When I walk down the hall and hear the gushy talk, it makes me want to turn around and go the other way. The creative names that people come up with continue to amuse me. For example, Honeybuns is a snack in the vending machine. So why would you call your significant other something that can be found in the cafeteria? Is he or she really only worth $1? Are you implying that they are overweight? Sugarpie and Punkin’ are two nicknames that are cute, but really just make one hungry. When you hear Sugarpie, the first thing you think of is not your significant other but food. Romantic? No. I understand that as a relationship grows,
t h e couple develops little inside jokes, and I am all for cute relationships. But the nicknames should be a private thing, just like those jokes. When I log on Facebook and a boyfriend or girlfriend has written on the wall to their love and used these nicknames, it makes me laugh. I know they are only trying to be cute, but I just do not understand why they would put it on the internet for everyone
No comments please; Twitter is better
by LAUREN SCHWARTZ staff reporter To tweet or not to tweet, that is the question. Over the past year, the social networking site Twitter has become more popular. It has been around for many years, but many people are just finding out about it. Students across the nation have become hooked on the website. Twitter is similar to Facebook in that users can post a status or a “tweet” to let others know what is going on at a particular moment in their life. Facebook is used to connect with friends and family while Twitter is simply a place to update a status. The main difference is one cannot comment on another’s status on Twitter.
Some believe Twitter may eventually become more popular than Facebook, and at this rate, more people are starting to enjoy the world of Twitter. But, Facebook will always be more popular since it is diverse and offers applications that are not available on Twitter. For example, people are more interactive on Facebook with the ability to have conversations with one another. Also, more and more social networking sites are being created, such as Google+, Tumblr and Pinterest, so the rapid rise in Twitter’s popularity will diminish as other websites become more popular. As of 2011, Facebook has over 800 million users, over 145 million people are registered on Twitter, over 17.5
million people are on Tumblr, and Google+ has over 10 million users. Unless you are famous, it is much easier to have friends or followers on Facebook than it is on Twitter. I prefer to have more friends on Facebook because there is more to it than just statuses. With Facebook, you can find out a person’s interests, see what that person looks like through various stages of their life and comment on their pictures or posts. I joined the Twitter world because I saw how popular it was becoming, and many of my friends were part of the site already. It was different from Facebook which intrigued me. There are some things that are better on
the Talon Staff Editorial Board Alexis Cape Laila Goharioon Ally Hellenga Morgan Hinchey
Associate Editors Amelia Burleson Emily Snook Cathy Micali Business Manager Katelyn Lease Sports Editor Justin Brown
Staff Writers Kassi Dos Santos Ben Moser Emma Johnson Taylor Duplantis Kelsey Saeger-Barnes Melissa Gifford Jonathan Van Linden Ira Vogt Manny Elsar Deija Glover
Lauren Schwartz Anna Sherry Ailsa Cruickshank Kiersten Cusick Laura Smith Susannah Spokes Katie Tanner Stephanie VanDyke
Adviser: Mrs. Jennifer Jackson Publisher: Judd Publishing, Macon, Georgia
The Talon is published eight times a year by students of Etowah High School in Woodstock, Georgia. Etowah High School and its administration is not responsible for the accuracy of opinions or claims appearing in The Talon. Opinions expressed do not neccessarily represent the views of the staff or its publisher. The appearance of any advertisement does not constitute endorsement of any product in The Talon. Anyone interested in placing an advertisement in The Talon may contact Jennifer Jackson at jennifer. jackson@cherokee.k12.ga.us. We reserve the right to refuse advertisements we deem inappropriate to an educational institution. The Talon welcomes letters to the editor. Letters can be put in Mrs. Jennifer Jackson’s mailbox or sent to: Etowah High School, Attn: Newspaper Staff, 6565 Putnam Ford Road, Woodstock, GA 30189.
infographic by Amelia Burleson Some are starting to prefer Twitter over Facebook and Google+
Twitter. You do not have to worry about “likes” or comments on Twitter, so it takes pressure off of users if they are debating on deleting their status if no one liked it. It is simply a place to post what is going on in your life and follow people whether they are famous or not. Facebook is more interactive with other people and allows conversations to be had through various places. Twitter, on the other hand, permits coversations only through replies to tweets. Also, and there is not a way to properly archive content on Twitter. Even though Facebook offers more applications and allows users to interact with people in a different way, I prefer Twitter because it is a place to get away from everyone who has a Facebook account. I am able to post what I want and when I want to without worrying about what so many people think. Posts on Twitter seem to be much more insightful than those on Facebook. Social networking sites take up most of my time during the day. I find myself constantly distracted by Facebook and Twitter which causes me to fall behind with my homework. I focus more on being connected with others through the internet than almost anything else, and in the long run I regret wasting my time. This shows how addicting the sites can be, but they are something interesting do in your spare time.
OPINIONS
6 / October 2011
the Talon
Capital punishment not the answer Troy Davis case makes some question effectiveness of the death penalty by KASSI DOS SANTOS staff reporter The death penalty has been a topic of controversy from as far back as the 18th century B.C. when any crimes, even petty ones, were punishable by death. Times have changed and capital punishment has become more civil, depending on how you look at it. Now only those who commit severe crimes receive the death penalty. Some of these crimes include treason, killing of federal/government agents, terrorism, continuous drug trafficking and aggravated sexual assault of a minor. Some argue that the only way criminals will learn is by being sentenced to death and that capital punishment serves as a warning of what could happen to those who intend to attempt a serious crime. The truth is that no matter how many criminals are put to death there will always be another to take his or her place. Researchers have found that murder rates in neighboring states with and without the death penalty were not significantly different. They also found that homicide rates in states did not increase after the abolishment of the death penalty or decrease after the reinstatement of it. Capital punishment goes against the constitution, the government hav-
illustration by
ing the power to kill criminals that might be innocent is corrupt and immoral. The death penalty should not be allowed by law. If there is ever a chance an innocent person could be put to death I am against it. Our system is not perfect and sometimes mistakes occur. Since the death sentence was reinstated in the 70s at least 138 innocent people have been freed from death row. There have been cases where criminals anxiously await the day of their death sentence so they can break away from the world they live in. Some criminals see the death punishment as a kind of escape, so that they can finally rid themselves of pain, guilt or even the torture they face in jail. As many are aware, Troy Davis was executed on Sep. 21 for the murder of 27-year-old police officer Mark MacPhail in Savannah in 1989. Many witnesses testified that they saw Davis shoot MacPhail: however, the murder weapon was never recovered. Rallies and protests began once Davis’ death penalty was handed. In the 20 years between his conviction and execution, Davis and his defenders had support from the public, celebrities, human rights groups and even the Noble
Emma Johnson
source: GoogleImages Troy Davis was executed on Sept. 21 for the murder of a police officer in Savannah. Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The date for his death was moved four times because of how much support his case had gained. Out of 34 witnesses that testified a few of them stated that police officers coerced them to testify against Davis and threatened jail time if they did not. His funeral was attended by over 1,000 people on Oct. 1. His last words stated his innocence and he pleaded for people to continue his campaign and not let another innocent person die. The system should have spent more time looking for things that could exonerate Davis.
Davis was the 34th prisoner to be put to death in America. If the death penalty had not been put in place the world would still have Davis and the person who truly committed the crime could have been found and jailed. Nothing good will come from the death penalty. It does not deter others from committing crimes. People will commit crimes whether they can be put to death for them or not. An alternative for the death punishment would be life in prison. Why would one knowingly take the criminal out of his or her misery instead of allowing him or her to live with their guilt in a jail cell for the rest of their life?
Check out a book, not a flick by MELISSA GIFFORD staff reporter The “Twilight” saga, the “Harry Potter” series, “Gone with the Wind,” “Dear John,” “The Notebook,” and the “Star Wars” saga were all books that were later made into movies. In each case the book and the movies have differences. While the movies have great special effects and talented actors, books are still better Reading strengthens vocabulary and improves writing skills. Reading can increase intelligence and build memories. Many educators and scientists agree that reading a book is more beneficial than watching a movie. There is a sense of accomplishment after the reader finishes a good book. Books are the author’s point of view unlike the movie where the producer or writer may cut out what the author was trying to portray. For example, in the book “Gone with the Wind” the main character Scarlet O’Hara had a baby by each of her three husbands. In the movie she only had one child with her last husband. Many movies leave out major events from the novel for the sake of playing to a wide variety of audiences. Movies take away the ability to imagine the characters, setting and other parts of the story. The viewers are seeing the book though the director’s eyes, not their own imagination. A reader can take as long as needed to finish a book, but a movie has to fit in all the action and emotion in less than three hours.
illustration by Emma Johnson
October 2011 / 7
the Talon
STUDENT LIFE
Funny teacher sayings
Students support causes with See how well you know your teacher’s jargon Senior Project 1. “Do you want to join the lacrosse team?” f. 2. “We’ve lost a a. few homies Student: Abby Reidy Cause: Prostate and along the way” Ovarian Cancer Research “BAM!” 3. b. g. 4. “Good times”
by CATHY MICALI associate editor One of the greatest mazes which must be navigated senior year is the Senior Project. This project consumes literature classes from the beginning of the year until the final presentations in April. Every senior must do a project, and a few have chosen to put their projects toward good causes.
Abby Reidy wanted to do a Senior Project to benefit those she loved and bring attention to a lesser-known cause. Reidy’s event, Beat the Blues, is a walk to raise money for prostate and ovarian cancer research. The walk is in memory of Reidy’s own grandfather and one of her close friend’s mothers. When: November 5 from 9 am to 1 pm Where: Eagle Watch Main Park and walking around Eagle Watch Register?: http://beattheblues.weebly.com/ index.html or the Facebook page Beat the Blues
Student: Gia Cruz Cause: Drug/Alcohol Awareness Gia Cruz is using her Senior Project to raise drug and alcohol awareness at Etowah. During the week of Oct. 23 she put together a spirit week, with Monday as Red Day, Tuesday as Pajama Day, Wednesday as Hat Day, Thursday as Twin Day and Friday as Super Hero Day. A fun or interesting fact relating to the cause was announced each day and during all lunches on Friday there were trivia questions for an “awesome treat.” The idea for her project came from her realization that Red Ribbon Week is not emphasized at the high school level like it is in the younger grades. She also liked the idea that every student would be involved. During Teachers As Advisors on Oct. 26, students watched an video created by Cruz about Red Ribbon and participated in a discussion about what do if they suspect a friend is using drugs or alcohol.
ATTENTION SENIORS: Do you have an interesting senior project charity/event that you would like publicized? Leave your contact information with Mrs. Jackson in Room 7104.
5. “Y’all are genii, here I come college”
c.
h.
d.
i.
10. “No violence” e.
j.
6. “To a degree” 7.
“Honkin’ awesome”
8. “That is all” 9. “Woah nelly” for answers... see the November issue of The Talon.
Seniors register to become active citizens Lunch provided opportunities for seniors to complete voter registration by ANNA SHERRY staff reporter For highs school seniors, the next election is an important one. Although it is not the presidential primary election, it does happen to be the first election that high school students can vote in if they are 18 by Nov. 8. Ana Pettit, social studies teacher, and Jesse Howard, math teacher and sponsor of the Young Republicans Club, decided to promote voting by holding a voter registration drive during every lunch period on Oct. 7 and by providing students with voter registration forms made available by Cherokee County. “I don’t remember a time when we had that good of a turn out. It was definitely worth my effort,” Pettit said. Around 90 seniors showed up to register and encouraged their friends to do so as well. Consid-
ering the fact that not all seniors are able to vote yet due to their age, this number is surprisingly high. “I want to vote because I want a say in the government that I live with,” Megan Ba-
on the current events. “Now that politics have become more controversial, it is important to pay more attention to the information given to you,” Pettit said. “It is better to register then decide later if you want to exercise your right.” To get the word out about voting, Pettit and other teachers are talking about it in class. “I believe that Ms. Murray’s government class has started to prepare me to understand and think about voting,” Kendall Jones, senior, said. Considering the controversy evident in politics today, it is important to pay more attention to information given by teachers or in the news. “I truly believe it is our civil duty to vote; a republic cannot work well without our help,” Pettit said.
“I truly believe it is our civil duty to vote; a republic cannot work well without our help.” rie, senior, said. “I feel that it is especially important that kids my age vote because we’re the new tomorrow, so we have to have a say in what we want when we get older because this will affect us later on.” Considering the debates seen on television it is imperative that one stays informed
8 / October 2011
STUDENT LIFE
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Homecoming festivities
PARADE EXCITEMENT n Oct. 12, students and families lined Parkbrooke Place in anticipation of candy and excitement. Every year, clubs and organizations unite for one common purpose: to create the best float. This year the Drama Club took the first place title, followed by the Volleyball team (below) and then the Art Club (right) in third place. The Drama Club won by their creative Super Mario theme (above). Many clubs entered in the friendly competition as they waved to the crowd, passed out candy, and traveled “Around the World�.
O
the Talon
October 2011 / 9
STUDENT LIFE
call for school celebration
photos by Cathy Micali Matt Rich and Madison O’Brien, seniors, were crowned King and Queen on Oct. 15.
T
he week prior to homecoming revealed school pride in students and faculty members as they dressed up for the various themed days ranging from Twin Day to Old Person Day to Around the World Day. All of the excitement of homecoming week ended with an eventful halftime show during the Oct. 15 football game, as elected members of Etowah’s homecoming court represented their classes. Matt Rich and Madison O’Brien, seniors, were crowned Etowah High School’s Homecoming King and Queen.
Shaina Kattaron and Karen Henderson, seniors
J.T. Waugh, senior, Ashley Mathews, social studies teacher, and Valerie Whittle, senior, pay homage to the elderly.
Mallory Tafoya, senior
Katelyn Lease and Madison O’Brien, Porscha Gadson, senior seniors photos by Morgan Hinchey, Katelyn Lease, Laila Goharioon, Cathy Micali and Jennifer Jackson
10 / October 2011
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STUDENT LIFE
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What makes mirrors funny? by IRA VOGT staff reporter The EHS drama club entertains its audiences with over-the-top productions. From a top notch crew and skillful behind-thescene workers to the passionate director and long hours of rehearsing, it is easy to be tricked into thinking putting on a show is simple. “Fuddy Meers”, the club’s upcoming performance, is one that reflects the drama club’s versatile abilities. “Fuddy Meers” is a theatrical show that tells the story of an amnesiac, Claire, who awakens each morning to a blank slate on which her husband and teenage son must imprint the facts of her life. One morning Claire is abducted by a limping, lisping man who claims that Claire’s husband wants to kill her. The audience views the ensuing mayhem through the kaleidoscope of Claire’s world. The storyline is meant to be difficult to follow until the last moments. It is told through Claire’s perspective. She, along with the audience, is attempting to piece the seemingly fragmented parts of her life and her past together. The play culminates in a disharmony of revelations, proving that everything is not what it appears to be. The title, “Fuddy Meers” means funny mirrors and emphasizes the intricate and detailed depth and meaning of the play. “Fuddy Meers” is a popular play, originally written by David Lindsay-Abaire, and different from anything the drama club has ever tackled before.
“We wanted something fresh,” Matthew Graham, drama teacher, said. The past two years the fall plays were classic comedies. This year the club was up to the challenge of a unique choice to prove that they could pull it off. Graham knew that in order to execute a play of this magnitude he needed nothing short of an amazing cast and crew. This is exactly what he got. With over 60 people trying out for photo by Ira Vogt a seven character cast, Students rehearse a scene for the fall play, “Fuddy Meers”. the decisions proved to be difficult. develop the character Mildred. Lauren LaRicci, senior, plays the lead “My favorite part of the play is using a character, Claire. What set the selected puppet, it is fun and exciting because I have seven apart from the rest is their ability to never done it before,” Tori Thompson, juportray the characters to the viewers but nior, said. most importantly the “skill to build the The most satisfying element for Graham character,” Graham said. is, “The excitement of watching the kids The cast is only a portion of the play. The grow and truly be proud of what they acstage crew and mangers, as well as the complish.” makeup artists and house participants, are The production of “Fuddy Meers” opens equally important to the production. The Nov. 10 and runs through Nov. 12. The tickexciting prop for the play is a handheld ets can be purchased at the door. Admission puppet used to entertain the audience and is $5 for students and $7 for adults.
Clubs work together to raise money for
Pennies for Patients by KATELYN LEASE business manager Two of Etowah’s finest clubs, National Honor Society and Friends Club, have joined forces to promote an annual fundraiser known as Pennies for Patients. Etowah participated in this fundraiser from Oct. 11-28. For the cause, the four lunch periods competed against each other for the opportunity to win free ice cream or frozen yogurt. The fundraiser called students to donate their loose change and bills. The benefits of the fundraiser go toward
helping fund research for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a society that is dedicated to relentlessly researching blood cancers. According to its website, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has many goals that all reach the same common idea: “to ensure patients live better, longer lives.” In the past 15 years, the society has raised over $125 million to reach their goal. “[Pennies for Patients] is a great way to help cancer research and help lift a financial burden on families who have been affected by cancer. Students will be making a difference by just donating mere pennies,” Nicole Diaz, junior, said.
Diaz, along with members of NHS and Friends Club, has diligently encouraged students and faculty members to donate loose change during lunch, because they believe in the supporting cause of Pennies for Patients. In order to gain the attention of students, NHS and Friends Club members have put many posters up around the school and walked around the lunchroom with milk jugs in order to raise both funds and awareness. Etowah’s goal for this year’s fundraise is to reach over $2000. Last year, Etowah students raised $300 for Pennies for Patients.
photos by Katelyn Lease Students from NHS and the Friends club count the money raised from donations collected during all four lunches. The lunch period who raises the most money will recieve ice cream.
October 2011 / 11
Student’s music makes iTunes debut by BEN MOSER staff reporter Many students download songs off iTunes, but Sam Mecum, senior, recently released his own album on the media website. Mecum’s solo album, “Open Your Eyes,” debuted on iTunes in August and contains songs about seeing the beauty in uncomfortable situations. One particular song that speaks to his message is “The River.” “’The River’ has a dark feeling, not just the dark, but being in the dark and seeing the light,” Mecum said. Growing up, Mecum was never really interested in music until his friend showed him a song by Incubus. “Instantly, I fell in love with the emotions that music can show,” he said. Since then, Mecum has been writing poems and playing the guitar for about five years. He got bored with playing songs that had already been written and began writing his own. When writing, he said he takes what he has learned and experienced and shares it with whoever cares to listen. Mecum said he writes about three or four songs a week, but only keeps and records about two or three a month. Some of Mecum’s influences are Josh Homme from the band Queens of the Stone Age, and Anthony Green, singer of Circa Survive. He also finds inspiration in the book House of Leaves, which he found through research of Green. “Everything you come in contact with has some influence or impact on you,” Mecum said. He has never been more proud or frightened by anything in his life than creating and distributing music. Mecum enjoys all kinds of arts and sometimes buys paintings and imagines sounds that can go with them. “Art, in general, is a wonderful thing that everyone should get involved in,” Mecum said. Before his solo career, Mecum was a member of the local band, Guided by Oceans. He left the band after realizing that the band was not making as much progress as he wanted to. However, he continues to attempt to be friends with his former band. Guided by Oceans member Jarrod Blanton, senior, gives his best to Mecum. “I wish him the best of luck in his endeavors,” Blanton said. “As a fellow musician all one can ask for is the best success that anybody can achieve.” The music business is not all success though. Mecum expressed that he has thought about quitting at times. However, his motivation to succeed keeps him going. “As soon as I pick up my guitar, all the feeling of why I started and continued are just there,” Mecum said. One of his main goals is to write songs for meaning, not money. A song from Mecum’s album called “Blind” is about how people walk through life with eyes shut to new experiences and natural beauty. “It’s all about going on and seeing something, and before you know it, it is up to your knees but it’s not always a bad thing” Mecum said. Mecum does not take himself too seriously because he never wants to worry about it. Overall, he loves art and music and he loves making it as well.
12 / October 2011
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October 2011 / 13
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ENTERTAINMENT
A journey into the haunts of NETHERWORLD by AMELIA BURLESON associate editor “It will only hurt a little,” is the last thing I heard as an 8-foot-monster was grasping me and I was lead through the doors into a house with haunts scarier than Hell. About 45 minutes earlier, I purchased my $28 ticket into both haunted houses at Netherworld, the main haunted house and Raw Meat. Netherworld is a haunted house known by many in the suburbs of Atlanta. Upon arriving, I notice that the atmosphere outside was enough to scare away the weak. With a brave state of mind, I headed toward the line to the ticket booth, which is situated right next to the smaller attraction Raw Meat. Its location right next to the ticket booth, and the sound of a chainsaw floating from the doors of the house, works effectively as a scary preview before the main attraction. Outside the attractions, clowns, skeletons, witches and gargoyles creep about waiting for an innocent victim to spook even before the real spooking begins. During my experience, I waited in a line that wrapped around the spooky Antique Store, which looked about as antique as the items displayed in the windows, and a witch flew behind me into the line. I shrugged off the witch and then heard a loud noise causing me to jump. I turned around to see the witch, who looked like
she stepped off a horror movie film-set, cackling to others around me. Once inside, I suddenly became vulnerable to attack. In the least expectant of corners there seemed to pop out a fictional
all in. Stuck inside a mirror maze, I had nowhere comforting to look except at the person in front of me, avoiding the images of the zombie girl who was depicted all around me in
photo by Amelia Burleson The ticket price for both Netherworld and Raw Meat is $28. creature which created the feeling of being trapped in Dante’s Inferno, rather than in a haunted house that I had actually paid money to see. Severed limbs hung down above me and I it took all of my courage strength to keep my eyes open and take it
every mirror. The never-ending spooking seemed to come to the end but then another of my fears surfaced - claustrophobia. The walls surrounded me, and I felt like the end could not come sooner. I needed a fresh breath instead
of the air-filled, puffy walls that surrounded my body. I knew I was almost out when I saw the halls expand into a walk-way. All I had to do was escape a huge man in a robot costume. He was hard to pass, but somehow I found a way to avoid him, but not without having my wits scared out of me. My journey was over, and I was relieved, until I realized my next fate. I had purchased the combo ticket, which meant I still had to conquer the Raw Meat house. With a brave heart, I put my big-girl pants on and decided to go into Raw Meat. Luckily, this one was half the time of the first, and definitely not as scary. It was full of gore though, and it did produce a few scares. The ending was by-far the most heart racing when a man with a chain saw chased me out of Raw Meat. Relieved to be out, I began to walk to my car, only to be scared yet again by the characters in the parking lot. This time I kept my big-girl pants on and played along with them, which made the characters seem much less scary and also made for a good time. Overall, Netherworld receives 4 out of 5 stars in my book. It was perfectly haunting enough to scare those who live for a fun scare but not too scary for those who are frightened by a bump in the night. I left the attraction with good memories and a feeling of pride knowing that I had survived the Netherworld.
One Tee. One Week. One Cause. by LAILA GOHARIOON chief editor
Sevenly, a for-profit organization that creates one tee shirt per week to support a cause, is a way to help in the world with just a swipe of the credit card. “We started Sevenly because my partner, Dale Partridge, and I both saw charities really struggling with getting awareness and raising funds, so we put our brains together and came up with Sevenly. We also both had successful businesses before Sevenly and we just felt that we should use our talents for something greater than making ourselves successful,” Aaron Chavez, cofounder and president of Sevenly, said. According to sevenly.org, the company was founded on the mission to raise capital and awareness for the world’s greatest causes. “A lot of charities apply and if they have a good mission we'll usually work with them,” Chavez said. Charities range from providing free mammograms and health screenings to women in need, to giving a family in Africa an opportunity to escape poverty, to providing a new and free wheelchair to someone in a developing nation and to providing one month of shelter and protection to a women in Cambodia. Week one’s cause was for the International Justice Mission. Every six tees purchased provided one day of aftercare for a child rescued from the sex trade. Over a 150 lives were changed in that one week. Sevenly.org has become more wellknown with the help of ads on the sides of
web pages and word of mouth through social networking and many more lives have been affected by the purchases. Week 12’s tees for Soles4Souls provided seven pairs of shoes to the children of Honduras for each t-shirt sold and allowed for 5,432 lives to be changed. The number of lives changed continues to increase as the weeks go by. Customers can request or suggest charities through Sevenly’s Facebook page, Twitter or email. “We have some in-house designers who design the shirts each week. I have to say that the Let them be Free shirts [benefiting the Not for Sale Campaign which provided one month of shelter and protection to a women in Cambodia] is my favorite design,” Chavez said. The artwork and styling of the shirts are what seem to draw the majority of customers. “The designs of the shirts are always really interesting. I want to buy all of them,” Sarah Pollack, senior, said. What also makes Sevenly different from other charities around the World is that each week’s tee is limited edition. After that week is over on Sunday night, the tee is no longer for sale. The shirts are campaigns that focus attention on one charity to help those affected for one week. “When I first found the site, I didn’t realize that the shirts were just there for one week. I waited the first time and came back the next week to buy the shirt, but it was too late. The design had changed for another cause. So, make sure to buy the shirts
that week,” Megan Vande Corput, senior, said. Today, there are commercials that guilt you into sending money to save the children in Africa and South America, and to save the polar bear and the rainforest, but many times it is unclear vague where the money is going. Sevenly is different. According to sevenly.org, for every $22 tee that is purchased, $7 is given to that week’s charity. This is approximately more than 30% of their total revenue per shirt. According to their website it is more than what most nonprofits give. Sevenly.org is a way to help see thousands of lives changed by the purchase of a shirt.
photos courtesy of Sevenly.org
the Talon
14 / October 2011
EAGLE EYE to the song inspire a message of selfconfidence. “I am titanium. You shoot me down, but I won’t fall.” As a whole, “Nothing But The Beat” is a good album when one is looking for party songs. Guetta has pulled off another album filled with the type of songs that have produced millions of fans.
“The Hunger Games”, Suzanne Collins Popular novel makes it to the big screen by AILSA CRUICKSHANK staff reporter
mages GoogleI source:
The Hunger Games” was a book that became a favorite from the first pages when the main character, Katniss Everdeen, describes her sister’s pet cat. It was published in 2008 and written by Suzanne Collins. Soon, it will even be released as a movie. Survival to Katniss is the one thing she knows best. Her father died when she was young which caused her mother to shut down and ignore the happenings of the world, forcing Katniss to take over the family and provide for her mother and her much
beloved sister, Primrose. The United States is gone and is now called Panem, run by a government that hosts a TV game show where 24 randomly chosen minors come together to compete for their lives. These contestants are chosen from each of the twelve districts that make up Panem. In District 12, it is not a lucky thing to be chosen. If chosen, you already know you have a very slim chance of coming home. The Games started 74 years ago, and in those years they have only had two winners, and only one of them is alive. Primrose’s name was drawn from the bucket that had only contained one piece of paper with her name on it. No one expected that to happen, especially Katniss. So when it happens, Katniss realizes that she will have to step in for her fragile sister. When Katniss enters the game she runs into many obstacles like dehydration, walls of fire made to chase her through the trees and most of all watching her back from other contenders in the game. If not care-
Booming from the speakers in clubs, raves or the sound system of a party music fan, David Guetta has created a new album to satisfy the cravings of any bass head. Featuring artists such as Nicki Minaj, Usher, Chris Brown and Lil Wayne, the track list of Guetta’s CD is filled with talent. Guetta has brought genres such as rap and hip-hop to his own specialty of electronic music. “Nothing But the Beat”, Guetta’s fourth album, was released Aug 29. Although some tracks contain explicit lyrics, others on the album can be enjoyed free of profanity. Tracks such as “Little Bad Girl”, “Where Them Girls At” and “Without You” are already hits on current radio. “Little Bad Girl” and “Where Them Girls
At” have been popular recently. They are easy to sing along to because of their repetitive lyric. This also means that they become old quickly. “Without You”, featuring Usher, is currently number seven on the top most downloaded songs on iTunes. The song begins slowly, yet the tempo increases and you find yourself moving along to the beat of the song. Other stand out tracks on the album include “Turn Me On” featuring Nicki Minaj and “Titanium” featuring Sia. Like many of Guetta’s songs, “Turn Me On” has an infectious beat. Even if one cannot dance, this track brings out the inner dancer. “Titanium” featuring Sia, is another popular track off of the album. Although this track strays a bit from Guetta’s traditional sound of heavy bass and upbeat tempos, it still stays true to the electronic pop that has made Guetta so successful. The lyrics
source:
by EMILY SNOOK associate editor
Images
“Nothing But The Beat”, David Guetta
ful, one may be dead in seconds. Who knows if Katniss and Peeta, the boy that was chosen from her same district, would survive the next day? With pageturning excitements, you never know what to expect. Many, like me, did not want the book to end; this story was just too good to stop. Collins had to write two more books making a trilogy. Many are now anticipating the movie that will be released March 23, 2012. The director, Gary Ross, tried to make the movie as close to the book as possible, including the characters. Jennifer Lawrence, from “Xmen: First Class” will play Katniss. Josh Hutcherson, from “Bridge to Terabithia” will play Peeta and Liam Hemsworth, from “The Last Song” will play Gale Hawthorne. Elizabeth Banks (“Modern Family”), Stanly Tucci (“The Lovely Bones”), and Woody Harrelson (Zombieland) also start in the film. Ninth grade English classes at Etowah will be reading this book. The teachers want students to recognize the great story and plan to use the book for lessons they will teach.
by KELSEY SAEGER-BARNES staff reporter Sometimes the remake of a classic film is better than the original, but the recent release of “Footloose,” the 1984 blockbuster, has been met with mixed reviews. The film, directed by Craig Brewer, stars Julianne Hough (Ariel Moore) and Kenny Wormald (Ren MacCormack) as presentday teens who take on the town laws for the sake of dance. Blake Shelton’s version of the theme song “Footloose,” makes audiences want to get up and dance from the start. The plot line closely follows that of the original. Ren presents a bad-boy attitude, but he is just a teenager trying to let go of his past. However, the preacher’s only daughter,
Ariel, is a rebel child. Ariel’s brother, Bobby, and four other teenagers were killed in a car accident. The town of Bomont, Ga. went crazy and made public dancing illegal for those under 18. Ren, the new kid, wants to abolish this nodancing law and says that “laws are meant to be broken.” While trying to abolish this law, Ren also falls in love with Ariel. Toward the end, Ren addresses the town council and makes a really great speech and even includes some Bible that say that someone danced for Jesus. At the end, of course, the teenagers get to have a dance and the law is abolished and everyone lives happily ever after. Well, sort of. Some critics say that this time around, the dance falls flat.
About 71 percent of Rottentomatoes.com critics liked the movie. Critic Richard Roeper of richardroeper. com said, “Footloose” has the look and feel of an OK basic cable movie.” However, critic William Goss of film. com said, “This incarnation of Footloose may not make as great a dent in the current generation as the original film did, but it does offer up a commendable amount of energy and heart to its tale of rebellion in the high school halls — enough that it ultimately proves itself worthy of that title.” Goss gave the film a BAs a teenage girl who has never seen the original, I give “Footloose” five stars. The music and choreography make you want to join in the dance.
photo by K elsey Saeg er-Barnes
“Footloose”, Craig Brewer
the Talon
October 2011 / 15
SPORTS
Volleyball season ends with second place in region by CATHY MICALI associate editor
The Etowah varsity volleyball team ended their season with a Sweet Sixteen match played at Brookwood. Winning two games and losing three games out of five, the team did much better than Megan Emery, senior, expected. “I didn’t know what to expect with Becca Hannigan and Jessica Gum out [due to injuries], so I was really happy ending up
second in area,” Emery said. Easily winning two games, they narrowly lost the other three. If the team had gone onto the Elite 8, the next round, Emery believes they “easily would have been in the finals.” Every year 12 outstanding volleyball players are chosen from Etowah, Lassiter, Walton and Woodstock as an All Area Team. This honor was presented to seniors Megan Emery, Simmie Bray, and Jenna Wilt for their effort and talent.
Senior volleyball players celebrated their 2011 season.
Band continued from page 1 To be an Etowah band captain, one must be quick on their feet and be able to exceed the standards of the average band member. For Gonzalez, the role of dedicated band captain comes naturally. Also, exceptional leadership skills are a requirement. A band captain must maintain respect and discipline throughout the band. And, extensive musicianship and marching skills are essential to ensure that the newer members prosper. “The one thing people don’t understand about band is that it is a challenge to be able to march and play at the same time,”
Gonzalez said. The band captains have many responsibilities in addition to being able to play an instrument and march. “As a captain I’m required to run sectionals and assist with teaching marching, correcting drill sets and generally acting as an on-the-field assistant to the directors and drum majors. As brass captain and a brass player, I naturally work more with the brass players than the woodwinds,” DuBois said. DuBois said the band attends threehour marching rehearsals on Tuesday and Thursdays and sectionals after school until 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. “We also hold the occasional Saturday
photos by Cathy Micali and Ally Hellenga Allie Elson, sophomore, and Carlie Gilbert, junior, contributed to the team’s successful season.
rehearsal, which usually lasts about nine hours,” DuBois said. All the hard work pays off when the band captains lead their band onto the competition field. “So far, the year has been going great. We have a great staff with a couple new members, but we still have a strong core team full of seniors and juniors,” Gonzalez said. Every team must have a goal to stay motivated. The Etowah Band strives for the same goal every year - to earn the Superior honor. To achieve this rating, the band must practice. Recently, the band placed third at the McEachern Marching Invitational at McEachern High School.
Whenever DuBois finds spare time, he spends it running, playing Pokémon or enjoying a good game of Dungeons and Dragons, but even spare time is hard to come by. Currently, he is not sure if he will continue with band past high school. “I love playing my instrument, but my goals for the future do not include music, so it will depend on what colleges I get into and what I end up doing once I’m there,” DuBois said. Gonzalez said she does not plan to continue with band after high school either. On October 29, the band will head to Creekview High School for the Creekview Classic Marching Competition.
photos by Laila Goharioon Band captains DuBois (left) and Gonzalez (right) dedicate countless hours to make sure the Etowah High School Marching Band performs successfully on the field and at competition.
16 / October 2011
SPORTS
Rivalry continued from page one
by LAILA GOHARIOON chief editor Etowah fans, decked out in all black and neon, stormed the field screaming “playoffs playoffs playoffs” after defeating Woodstock 45-0, Friday Oct. 21. This is the second time that Woodstock has lost to Etowah on television. This year the game was televised live by Fox 5 News’s High 5 Sports. The Etowah versus Woodstock game won the High 5 Sports Game of the Week poll with 225,267 votes creating a new record. “I tried to vote every hour, so our team would end up as the Game of the Week,” Avery Thomas, senior, said. Etowah (5-4) pulled out a victory against Woodstock in a way that can be described as organized motivation. Team captains, senior defensive back Vashaun Washington, senior running back Devonte Wheaton, senior defensive tackle Dylan Herod and senior wide receiver Martyn Detz, joined fan of the week, Hunter Estep, sophomore, for the coin toss. Etowah kicked off to start the game. In the first three minutes Etowah recovered a Woodstock fumble near the 50-yard line. Etowah was on the board early when sophomore quarterback John Oliver, completed a pass on the third down to senior wide receiver Damola Awe-Olaleye. “John [Oliver] improves every game and he came on strong for the Woodstock game,” Bill Stewart, head coach, said. Before the end of the first quarter, AweOlaleye scored a 36 yard touchdown making the score 14-0. “It feels unbelievable to have scored three times this game. It’s a game I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Awe-Olaleye said. Woodstock’s many incomplete passes in the second quarter helped Etowah throughout the entire game. Etowah went for it in the second quarter, but Woodstock intercepted the ball during the late quarter. However, the Eagles held the Wolverines to 14-0 at halftime. During halftime, senior tight end Barrett Burnssaid the team reviewed what it was doing wrong and what needed to be fixed for the second half. “The coaches motivated us to finish the job,” Burns said. Etowah started the third quarter receiving. Senior defensive tackle Nick Rowell intercepted a throw for a 21-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 21-0. “It feels pretty good to score a touchdown at my last home game against Woodstock. The looks on their faces when I scored was priceless. They were not happy at all,”
Rowell said. Junior kicker, Ryan Hopper, put up three more for the Eagles with a field goal in the middle of the third. Junior defensive back Michael McCauley intercepted a Woodstock play giving Etowah back the ball. Soon after, Oliver completed a pass to Wheaton for a 32-yard touchdown. Woodstock suffered many incompletions toward the end of the third. The Eagles dominated again in the fourth with a 27-yard touchdown by Awe-Olaleye, bringing the score to 38-0. “This is a game we will always remember. There were so many great plays and opportunities,” Detz said. Sophomore running back Pierre Lubin scored the final touchdown sealing the Etowah victory at 45-0. “It is great knowing that the margin of victory was so high for the game against Woodstock,” Burns said. The win for Etowah means the team is now in the regional playoffs. Stewart said that the team needs to work on limiting turnovers and executing all the phases. “In honor of our TLP victory over Woodstock on Friday, Towne Lake Chick-Fil-A is flying our flag!” Keith Ball, principal, said in a recent email to the school staff.
photos by Laila Goharioon Above: Etowah players battle for the ball. Top Right: junior Linebacker Zach Lopez and junior offensive lineman Maveric Rechsteiner escort player of the week, Hunter Estep, onto the field. Middle right: Etowah quarterback, John Oliver, waits for the snap. Bottom right: Senior wide reciever Damola Awe-Olaleye gets ready for the pass.
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