The Shield

the

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McCallum High School / 5600 Sunshine / Austin, TX 78756 / Oct. 5, 2012 / Issue 1 / Volume 60

New coach changes things up during fall football season story on page 14

what’s inside West Nile Virus sweeps Texas; student tells first-hand story

Staffers take a look at what it means to be ‘college ready’

Student chosen as one of 30 finalists in national contest

story on page 4

story on page 9

story on page 18

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contents

oct. 5, 2012

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table of contents 3

news

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Judge in Lubbock causes national controversy

65

Hurricane Issac brings back memories for student from New Orleans

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feature

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Students prepare for upcoming ACL music festival

12

New teachers at Mac tell their stories

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sports

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Students and teachers discuss recent Lance Armstrong controversy

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entertainment

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Staffer dishes on all the new fall shows

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opinion

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Foreign exchange student compares home in Germany to Austin

Seniors Makala Wangrin and Brandon Corpus are crowned Homecoming Queen and King at the Mac v. Vista Ridge homeoming game Sept. 21. Photo by Ashlyn Eddy.

save the date october 5 5-7 6 9 11

Underclassmen school photos Choir Caberet in the MAC McNeil Cross-Country Invitational Varsity volleyball @ Ann Richards First designer meeting for Charity Fashion Show 12-14 Austin City Limits Music Festival 17 PSAT 18 Varsity football Battle of the Bell @ Burger Stadium cover

20 Orchestra Movie

and Music in the Park 20-21 Fall Dance Show 30 Steel Drum Concert 31 Halloween november 1

Late start Theatre Department ‘Secret Garden’ 13 Underclassmen picture retakes

8-11

The varsity football offense lines up for a second down deep in its own territory at the homecoming game against Vista Ridge Sept. 21. Photo by Mary Stites.

Sophomore Lily Hickman-Walden’s All-State Medalist, Gold Seal Winner art piece is on display in the main hallway gallery.

To see more Mac art, go to page 11. Photo by Grace Frye.

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oct. 5, 2012

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Political action or indifference?

Students encouraged to become involved in upcoming presidential election NATALIE MURPHY staff reporter

When senior Keith James* realized that he would be able to vote for President in November 2012, he knew exactly who he is going to vote for.

“I am very excited to vote I am going to vote for Barak Obama,” James said. “He has been doing well so far. ” James said he is sharing his opinion on Facebook and Twitter and with his classmates.

The Washington Post reported that each campaign in the 2012 election is using social media to its fullest to raise support.

In 2008 President Obama announced his vice presidential candidate by text message, and now both the Republican and Democratic parties reach out to supporters through blogs, iPhone apps, twitter accounts and Facebook pages.

Government teacher Erin Summerville says she sees a lot of excitement among students about the election.

“I think there is a lot of youthful energy in the campaigns right now,” Summerville said.

“Media informs us about politics. We look at the candidates through media, and the candidates look at us through media, too.”

Freshman Anna Arocha said she wouldn’t vote for Barak Obama because

her influence comes from somewhere else. tempt to persuade young adults and voters, “I think my family’s conservative tenden- sophomore Megan Dale said she doesn’t cies have probably affected my opinions,” think her opinion really matters.

Arocha said. “I don’t agree with my parents “I don’t really care [who is elected] unless on everything, though. I would probably the candidates do something major that afvote independent because I am somewhere fects my life, my school or me” Dale said. “I in the middle.” guess Obama’s Students can already been support both president.

Even if students aren’t candidates onMight as well line. On Obama’s give someone old enough to vote, website, else a chance.” they can campaign. my.barakobama.

What young com, anyone can people might sign up to parnot know is Erin Summerville ticipate or lead that there are campaign events many elections US government teacher in his or her area. going on this “Students can year, some even join groups or sign up for mailing lists,” closer to home. This fall, teens in Texas Summerville said. can support local candidates, as the race On Mitt Romney’s website, mittrom- for Texas Senator is in full swing. Principal ney.com, young people can sign up to cam- Mike Garrison said the Texas state laws paign for Romney in their communities will affect MAC students far more than and receive text updates about his cam- Federal laws. paign process.

“Based on my understanding, I am “Even if students aren’t old enough to not seeing any significant changes to the vote,” Summerville said, “they can cam- policy. I know there is talk about changpaign.” ing or abolishing [No Child Left Behind],” Although both candidates have sup- Garrison said. “But there is not a definitive ported the use of social media in an at- plan out there on what to do when 100%

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Who would you vote for in the 2012 election?

Indifferent

Barack Obama

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of the students in all schools, except those that applied for the waiver, are required to pass the designated assessments, which for Texas will be the STAAR EOC exams, in the year 2014.”

Freshman Zac Sternberg said social media has taught him what he knows about the election.

“I’d vote for Obama because he is [awesome]. He’s definitely one of the smartest presidents the US has had in a long time,” Sternberg said. “I don’t really know how I know about Obama, I guess from TV and what I’ve overheard people talking about.

He’s smarter than Mitt Romney.”

Sophomore Andreas Gaul said none of the issues in the debates right now have really captured his attention.

“I guess I care about every political issue just a little bit,” Gaul said. “I’d vote for Obama. He seems to know what he’s talking about.”

Dale and her friend, sophomore Jake Janson argued over whether or not the campaigns with affect the students of MAC or not.

“Who cares? We’re just kids!” Dale said.

“We’re the future of our country!” Janson said.

“No we’re not,” Dale said. “That’s weird.” *Name changed

Does social media affect your opinions?

Sometimes

Other

No

Mitt Romney

Yes 65 sutdents polled

68.5 percent of students said they would support President Obama in the upcoming election. 7.8 percent said they would suppport Romney. 9.4 percent said they would support a different candidate, and 20.3 percent of students were indifferent.

65 students polled 41.8 percent of students polled said social media does not affect their opinions. 37.3 percent said yes it does, and 20.9 percent said social media sometimes affects their opinions.

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Mosquito mayhem Students, teachers keep watch for deadly West Nile virus CAITLIN FALK assistant editor

When junior Sarah Swedlow woke up with a stomach virus, varying fever, aching body and swollen lymph glands, she had no idea what had hit her. After days of suffering with these symptoms, a doctor pronounced the diagnosis: West Nile Virus.

“I was pretty nervous,” Swedlow said. “I probably would have been less concerned at the time to know someone else who had it.”

This exotic disease was first noted, as the name implies, in the West Nile region of North Africa. Although no one is sure how the virus migrated to North America, some information has been discovered about how it has spread.

“It’s a virus that evidently lives in a variety of different hosts,” Science Department chair Richard Whisennand said. “Humans being one of these as well as birds and, of course, mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are the main vector. In other words, they are responsible for spreading it from one thing to the next.”

The virus has a variety of types that characterize it. Some who contract WNV can be infected but do not experience any symptoms. Twenty percent of people who become infected with the disease acquire what is known as West Nile Fever. Symptoms of this include fever, headache, tiredness and other flu-like indications. The rare form of the virus which has caused much of the fear associated with its name is the form of severe disease which invades a person’s nervous system.

“The main problem with viruses has been their mutability and their ability to change,”

Whisennand said. “The real problem is the type of West Nile that causes damage to the nervous system. That’s the one we’re finding has killed so many different people. It’s the neuro-invasive one people are worried about and not as much the one that causes flu-like symptoms. That one is not as big a deal.”

This neuro-invasive form of the WNV that Whisennand described can cause symptoms as severe as stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis.

Though Swedlow did not experience the most benign type of the virus, she was among the minority who endured symptoms while escaping the most severe neuro-invasive form.

“It takes anywhere from three days to two weeks from the day of the bite to start showing symptoms,” Swedlow said, “and I think it was about a week and a half when I started noticing it—about when school started, and I had spent a lot of time outside.”

The Texas Department of State Health Services has recorded 1303 cases of WNV in Texas as of Sept. 17. Sixty eight of these cases have appeared in Travis County. This high incidence rate affirms the outbreak as an epidemic. Whisennand said many of these cases are a result of the persisting drought in Texas.

“Because of the drought we’ve had, there were some minor puddles of water here and there,” Whisennand said. “So organisms needing water all had to go to the same place to drink: the same little pond, or the same little bird bath or the same standing water.

The “Four Ds”: 1. Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

2. Dress in long sleeves and long pants when you are outside.

3. Stay indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

4. Drain standing water where mosquitoes breed. Common breeding sites include old tires, flowerpots and clogged rain gutters.

Graphic by Caitlin Falk.

Because of that, lots of different birds would come, and mosquitoes were concentrated there. So it was easy for mosquitoes to get it to the birds or get it from the birds. Because birds fly from one of these puddles to another and mosquitoes stay kind of isolated, birds could transport the virus from one batch of mosquitoes to the next very easily.”

School nurse Kathleen Thelen said those who should be most concerned are the very young and the elderly with lower immunity.

“Typically it’s this population who are the ones who have died from it,” Thelen said.

“But it’s almost like any other flu. It’s going to hit your population that is the most at risk the hardest. But most of the symptoms are similar to the flu.”

The Austin-Travis County Health and Human Services Department has issued flyers for the district outlining the precautions students should take against the virus.

“The best way to prevent it is to go around your yard and make sure there isn’t any standing water anywhere and also use insect spray that has DEET,” Thelen said.

She did not see a need for students to adopt preventative measures while at school.

“There are people who are more prone to mosquito bites,” Thelen said, “but I really think the biggest thing to notice is when you see standing water you should dump it out.

You know to kill the mosquitoes. But unless

you’re noticing swarms of mosquitoes, I don’t think there are any other precautions to take.”

Whisennand said though some people can be concerned with spraying chemicals directly on their skin, it is important to wear an effective repellent.

“People really need to, when they go out, have some kind of protection against mosquitos,” he said. “And there’s a lot of mosquito repellents out there, but people seem to shy away from the ones that have DEET in it because a lot of people feel that’s not very good for you, but DEET seems to be the one that’s the best.”

After resting for a number of days and taking medication to relieve her aching body symptoms, Swedlow recovered from the virus.

“I missed the whole second week of school, and there was a lot of makeup work, including two tests, but I’m all caught up now,” Swedlow said. “I don’t feel too unlucky that I got it; I just didn’t like having to stay home for so long. It actually doesn’t even really feel like it ever happened, but I definitely know a lot more about West Nile now than I did before I got it.”

If students are experiencing any flu-like symptoms, they might consider Thelen’s advice.

“If you are having symptoms and fever and if you get any kind of rash or if your joints are stiff,” Thelen said, “certainly go see your doctor to check that out.”

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oct. 5, 2012

Thinking of the worst-case scenario Lubbock judge’s comments about President Obama create a stir Violet acevedo

ministration stood in the way of a global environmental treaty, and this is the guy that is going to hand over the U.S. to the Lubbock County Judge Thomas U.N.? How could [Head] be so completeHead made global headlines Aug. 21 with ly removed from reality?”

Judge Head currently presides over his comments about President Obama and his possible reelection. His words Lubbock County Commissioner’s Court voiced his concern of civil unrest if Obama and has served for several years. He has refused to retract his words, saying it’s remains president.

“He’s going to try to hand over the sov- part of his job to think of “the worst-case ereignty of the United States to the U.N., scenario.”

This is not the only time the judge has and what is going to happen when that happens?” Head asked the TV commenta- been involved with controversy. In 2009, tors. “I’m thinking the worst. Civil unrest, he posted “racially charged” posters of mug shots of people wearing Obama Tcivil disobedience, civil war maybe.”

Head spoke about his worries on Lub- shirts with the caption, “Did you ever see anyone arrested bock’s local Fox wearing a Bush News station, T-shirt?” HowevFox 34 News. er, this is the first Although his It says [the Republitime his actions words were cans] are devolving have made global originally said news. to help jusin their politics, that “He’s probably tify a proposed they are scared they a decent judge,” tax hike to Johnson said, strengthen the won’t actually win. “but all elected county’s Justice officials have two Department, Jeptha Johnson faces, one for they’ve caused Junior campaigning and more controverone they actually sy than intended have. He has a as news sources across the globe have picked up the story. right to opinions; however, as an elected “It gives off the perception that Texas official, he has to watch what he says.”

Despite numerous requests from believes that Barack Obama is horrible,” junior Jeptha Johnson said, “and it solidi- Democrats and others, Head has refused fies the backwater image [of west Texas] to resign over his comments.

“I cannot divorce my theology and my because an educated person would not philosophy from my office,” Head said. say this.”

Lubbock, located in northwest Texas, “I am pro-life, I’m pro-gun rights, and if is home to three universities: Lubbock you’re gonna vote for me and if you’re not Christian University, Texas Tech Uni- for gun rights, then you probably don’t versity and Texas Tech University Health want me in office.”

Judge Head is not the first Republican Sciences Center, attracting a wide variety to voice controversial comments as the of people from around the world.

And it is their opinions and reactions volume of extreme rhetoric seems to into the judge’s comments that ended up in crease every year.

“It says [the Republicans] are devolva large variety of big name newspapers, including the New York Times, which is ing in their politics,” Johnson said, “that where Economics teacher Patrick Young- they are scared they won’t actually win.

You know how there was ‘yellow journalblood first learned about the situation.

“A lot of people are embarrassed,” ism?’ Well this is ‘yellow politics.’”

However, Head is only following a Youngblood said. “With Texas Tech and a serious major medical facility, for west trend that some of his fellow RepubliTexas, [Lubbock] is very diverse. It’s an cans have been following since their loss okay place, and those people are horrified in 2008. For the past four years, Republicans have criticized many of Obama’s at what he said.”

Since reading the article, Young- actions with varying degrees of negativity.

“What I find striking is there’s this blood’s own reaction to Head’s words has taken on a similar tone as he continues to sentiment out there that Obama is this socialist,” Youngblood said. “He’s not all find flaws in the judge’s argument.

“I mean, does [he] even read the pa- that liberal in the Democratic Party. He’s per?” Youngblood said. “Obama’s ad- pretty conservative. Clinton was a pretty Staff Reporter

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Illustration of Judge Thomas Head by Nohra Johnston conservative Democrat, and I don’t remember people criticizing him. It keeps coming back to the idea ‘is it because Obama’s black?’”

Youngblood said he has noticed changes in the country’s political culture over the years that the Judge’s comments only further display.

“The whole political spectrum has shifted to the right,” he said. “In today’s definitions, Nixon would be considered a liberal Democrat. Nixon started the Environmental Protection Agency. He also signed the Clean Air Act, and he was considered a conservative Republican in his time.”

Johnson has also seen a shift in the political climate this election year.

“In the last decade, the U.S. has shifted from moderate politics to more extreme politics. I feel it’s due to the aging population who feel that extreme things are the only way to fix things,” Johnson said.

“However, I feel confident this won’t hold over to the coming generations.”

Youngblood, on the other hand, is more concerned.

“I think it’s distressing that our political culture is so damaged. I mean, there are more important things to have a debate about,” Youngblood said. “It makes me distressed.”

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Looking for intelligent life Searching for shelter Hurricane Isaac brings back memories of Katrina “People were going crazy outside,” Recasner said. “People were killing people for staff reporter no reason, raping them, shooting, cutting On Aug. 28 , many who live along the people. It was just crazy.”

Gulf of Mexico were reminded of HurriEverything had turned to chaos. The cane Katrina as Hurricane Isaac began its government was showing no signs of helpdestructive path. Louisiana spent almost ing New Orleans during this time. $100 million preparing for Isaac. They “We were starving, and we didn’t have were not going to let history repeat itself. any food or water,” Recasner said.

Hurricane Katrina began its path of After Hurricane Katrina hit, Recasner destruction on Aug 23, 2005. It hit New and her family were moved to a temporary Orleans, killing over 1,800 people and leav- shelter. They lived there for a week before ing thousands more they were relocated stranded for days. For to Austin. Recasner’s We were starving junior Ferrionne Remother, grandmother, casner, Hurricane Kabrother and cousins and we didn’t have trina was more than still reside in Austin any food or water. just a story on the news. while the rest of her Recasner was just 10 family moved back to years old when the devNew Orleans.

Ferrionne Recasner astating hurricane hit Recasner takes Junior her hometown of New great pride in the tatOrleans. When news came that Hurricane too on her leg that reads “Home of the Katrina was going to hit, Recasner and her Saints” along with an outline of the state of family went to her aunt’s home. They tried Louisiana. While she doesn’t plan to move to leave the area altogether, but because so back to New Orleans anytime soon, she many people were trying to get out, it was does visit her family often. nearly impossible for the family to escape.

After Hurricane Katrina, more than “It was scary. I felt sad, mad and glad, 250,000 evacuees came to Texas, and out a lot of emotions, “she said.“ My grandma of those, 10,000 came to Austin. For Rewas always stressing, which made me casner and many others, New Orleans will stress too.” always be home.

The water rose 15 feet, flooding every“Austin’s not home to me,” she said. “I’m thing indoors but, miraculously enough, going to always want to move back, but it’s the house remained standing throughout just that the hurricane made people scared the hurricane. to move back.”

SAMANTHA ROGERS

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Student film plays at iconic local theater “Nick and the Ne’er-Do-Wells,” a movie by McCallum alumni Zoe Dahmen and Kelsey Hockmuller, premiered at the Alamo Drafthouse on Anderson Sept. 26.

Star junior Connor Barr said the premiere was a success.

“It was really satisfying to have it shown at the Drafthouse,” Barr said. “It was kind of intimidating to see myself on the big screen, but it is what it is. Actually, I think we sold-out, which is really great.“ The whole movie process took about a

”

Students today are lacking knowledge of space JACOB STRAIGHT staff reporter

On May 25, 1961, President Kennedy promised Americans would land on the moon before the end of the decade. In 1969, Neil Armstrong fulfilled this goal.

People in today’s world aren’t as informed or interested in space as they were then.

Many people don’t know the basics about what Americans are doing in space right now.

“I’m always astonished when a student comes up to me and tells me they saw the moon during the day,” said Clint Reck, astronomy teacher. “I always thought that was basic knowledge.”

Well, how much does the average student know? Out of 25 students asked, only two could name a recent event that dealt with space. Only 13 of the same 25 questioned knew what the International Space Station was.

“I honestly only remember about Neil Armstrong being the first man on the moon and the order of the planets in our solar system,” freshman John Smith said.

“Other than that, I’m pretty much clueless about space in general.”

NASA recently landed a rover on Mars, which has been sending images and information about the planet. In other news, NASA has discovered a massive amount of black holes scattered around the universe.

The NASA telescope WISE (Wide-field

Infrared Survey Explorer) has shown that there are as many as 2.5 million newly discovered black holes in the universe.

“I think space should be more included in the curriculum in classes at some point in the year,” senior Katie Straight said. “I didn’t think there were even two million black holes that existed. I would enjoy it if we were taught these things.”

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft is on its way to another small, undeveloped planet in the unending search for life. Dawn began its three billion mile journey to explore the two most massive objects in the main asteroid belt in 2007. Dawn arrived at Vesta, one of the small planets, in July 2011 and will reach Ceres, the second planet, in early 2015.

“When I was a kid, people in the space program were like rock stars, astronauts were celebrities, but now that we go to space so often, kids these days aren’t even interested in space,” Reck said.

The NASA probe MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) will explore the Mars atmosphere to determine why the red planet turned hostile. The planet is almost impossible for life to exist, with rapid freezing and heating stages to which most life simply can’t adapt.

“We already have spacecraft on Mars?”

Smith said. “I thought we hadn’t even started to send things to Mars. It seems like we don’t even have spacecraft on the moon, let alone Mars.”

news in brief year from casting to finished copy.

“I was a part of about six months of that,” Barr said. “I got cast December of 2011, and we finished filming May of 2012. So seeing it all finished and wrapped up, and seeing it on the big screen, and then seeing people applaud for it was really nice.”

Barr said in general he hopes more people will keep an eye out for the film.

“I want to encourage people to go seek it out and support it because the more support we get, the more chance we have to get it distributed,” Barr said. “Both of the filmmakers are in college now, but they’re going to continue doing more

films if people are interested in going to see that.”

Student council-run Homecoming dance enjoyed by students Junior Josh Haggler went to the homecoming dance the day after the homecoming game.

“The dance was not my thing, but it was a good experience, I guess,” Haggler said.

“They played rap and dubstep, and just music that’s popular these days.”

Students and teachers had fun, students said. Social studies teacher Bill Staples danced with a circle of kids around him, shouting his name.

“Let’s use that term very loosely. Have you heard of that movie ‘Dead Man Walking?’ That would’ve been me, White Man Dancing,” Staples said. “It was just a whatever dance.”

A photographer at the dance took pictures of students in front of a backdrop.

“They had boas and just little props on a table,” sophomore Cris Oliver said. “I loved taking pictures with my friends.”

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oct. 5, 2012

Express yourself Students dress up to show their school pride for homecoming

Safari Day Formal Day Sadie Hawkins Day Superhero Day

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My favorite part about spirit week is seeing everyone dress up and look ridiculous together.

Alexander Marquez Sophomore

Mac Pride Day Photos by Seren Villwock, Brittany Robinson and Jalia Travis

SEREN VILLWOCK staff reporter

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Mac-to-Mac Students miss local restaurant KOLTON ZABODYN staff reporter

The neighborhood McDonald’s on North Lamar, which has been under construction since mid-July, is expected to re-open in December. Sophomore Darius Henderson said it’s good it’s being re-built.

“It’s just taking too long because it was a hang out for me and my friends,” Henderson said.

While McDonald’s is under construction, food service manager Deshay Williams-King said she has noticed a huge difference in the cash flow that benefits not only the school but the students as well.

“You get more bang for your buck when students eat in the cafeteria,” WilliamsKing said, because school food is less costly than McDonald’s.

“I hope prices don’t skyrocket when the new McDonald’s opens,” sophomore Mat-

thew Clayton said.

School food is proven to be much healthier. When students eat at McDonald’s, they can expect to get a small quantity of food that adds up to over a 1,000 calories. However, when they buy their lunch from the school, they can expect to get a larger amount of food that will equal 250450 calories.

Still, McDonald’s has been a favorite to many students. It’s been so popular that some students have the courage to leave campus just to go to McDonald’s even though they are not seniors.

“I was very mad,” senior Jaylia Travis said. “I was looking forward to legally being able to leave campus to one of the best restaurants in the neighborhood.”

Biology teacher Kristen HopkinsCerame said she feels students are being “robbed” by McDonald’s. HopkinsCerame encouraged students to buy their

McDonald’s is being re-built on North Lamar and is scheduled to re-open in December. Photo by Kolton Zabodyn. lunch from the school cafeteria because it helps the school monetarily as well as students’ health.

However, senior Brittany Robinson said she was disappointed.

“It’s weird because during my freshman, sophomore and junior year, I was like, ‘Okay, senior year we can go off campus,’” she said. “When I found out it was closed, I was like, ‘Where are we gonna go now?’”

Students anticipate another year of ACL Past experiences help prepare concert-goers for what to expect at festival DANIELLE GARTNER staff reporter

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ith Austin City Limits around the corner, expect tourists coming from miles away, more hectic downtown traffic and overcrowded hot spots.

The festival will take place Oct. 1214. This year the headliners include Jack White, Neil Young and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Freshman Mia Sorrells attended the Austin City Limits Festival last year for the first time.

“Last year I was so wrapped up in the music, I wasn’t eating or drinking enough,” Sorrells said. “I almost passed out.”

Sorrels said eating and drinking during the festival will help people enjoy themselves and keep them from fainting.

The ACL administration only allows two sealed water bottles, per person, and usually the bag checkers will confiscate any food they find.

“Before I’ve been able to put food at the bottom of my bag, and even though, it’s not allowed, the staff has never noticed,” sophomore, Ian Gartner said.

If sneaking food in doesn’t work, then

concert-goers can enjoy some fresh, local ting a good spot at one of the concerts may food from some of the many venders at be a challenge. Many of the stages are at the festival. Grab a potpie from Boomer- the base of a hill, which allows people to ang’s or a P. Terry’s burger and a tall glass see even if they are far back.

“Getting a good of fresh squeezed seat at a very populemonade and enlar concert, or even joy the shows. a not so popular “As much as I If you aren’t very into one, can be diffienjoy the music, cult,” Sorrells said. one of my favorite the music, you can “At times I just things about ACL definitely find somehave to push my is the local food,” freshman Charity way through to get thing you will have Copeland said a good spot.” fun doing Austin downGartner said town traffic is usupeople always Mia Sorrells ally pretty hectic camp out at stagFreshman to begin with, but es for hours and hours. during ACL the “I feel that I miss other bands just waittraffic is even worse. While free shuttles are available, there is a set schedule to when ing for that one,” Gartner said “I usually they come and go. The city bus is another like standing at the back of the crowd, and option, but it doesn’t run as long as the I can usually find a place where I can see the stage, hear the music and still enjoy the shows go.

“Some ways that I have avoided traffic concert.”

Gore, who is also a musician, said ACL and found a good place to park are to park a few blocks away and walk to the park,” is also a good way to stumble upon some substitute teacher Charlie Gore said. “You great new artists.

“If you have a band you want to see, you could also car pool with your friends.”

With 75,000 people at the festival, get- can wait there for an hour or so before the

“

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band comes on,” Gore said. “You’ll even get to hear other bands that play on that stage.”

The ACL staff invites bands from the entire world to come and play. Some may be touring, and some may have not toured in years.

“I like this year’s lineup because it isn’t all modern music. There is a good variety of bands from old to new,” Gartner said.

Gartner said last year the artists were of similar genre. His only complaint about this year’s lineup is that Neil Young and Jack White are scheduled at the same time.

“The music I play does affect the bands I listen to. I do like bands that play in the same genre as I do, but I also like hip hop and R&B,” Gore said. “Don’t stay stuck in the same genre because you may be able to find other bands that you like that are in different genres.”

While music is the main focus, ACL offers plenty of other things to do. Besides dining on some of the local food, concertgoers can visit the Hope Farmers Market, and a football lounge will broadcast all the college games.

“Even if you aren’t into music very much, you can definitely find something you will have fun doing,” Sorrells said.

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Are students ‘College Ready?’

Seniors prepare for the next level of education college-level work. A good test score can help students get into the school of their staff reporter choice, earn scholarships, and receive CAITLIN HENSON advanced placement or college credit. staff reporter Lopez said he was surprised to hear this Senior Danny Lopez hopes to get into information.

“I’ll probably be above,” Lopez said Carnegie Mellon University or New York University at the end of the year. NYU’s seriously. “I don’t want to sound full of SAT scores range from 2300-2390, which myself, but I’d like to think that. I think only gives him 1.4 percent chance getting people have a lack of inspiration when it comes to the SAT and the ACT, but they accepted. Is Lopez prepared?

“Prepared?” Lopez said jokingly. “I took the college test more seriously ‘cause it has the word college in it. Or just the was born prepared.”

Tests such as the SAT are used as a peer pressure because their friends have way to try and predict how a student will took it before and said it was easy, so do in college while they are still in high they listen to them and slack off, thinking school. Texas, however, has some of the nothing of it.”

Another important feature of Mclowest test scores in the country. In combined SAT scores, it ranks 45th out of 50, Callum is the dual-credit program with with a score of 985. AISD ranks higher ACC, which Nitardy said, like AP classthan the state average with a score of 1027, es, helps prepare students.

“The adand McCallum vantage of ranks higher taking colthan the AISD lege classes average with a “Each and every year it’s a now is that it combined score new experience. Whatever is a small enof 1104. vironment, Assistant you put into it, that’s what they get the Principal Soyou get. And it’s really fun feel of what phia Sherline, it’s like and McCallum’s and unique, but thinking what’s extesting coorthis is my last year, and pected, and dinator, said they can she is not sureverything will be entirely probably be prised McCaldifferent, it’s seriously a more suclum’s scores are cessful when above average. bittersweet experience.” they get to “ It (the data) college,” Nishows us that Danny Lopez tardy said. were better Senior Sherline than the state’s said the new average, and that were even better than some of the STAAR tests serve as an accurate indicaschools in Austin,” Sherline said. “I think tor of what a student has learned, and she definitely the students who participate in hopes they will show college readiness as pre-AP and AP classes can have a lot of well.

“I think STAAR exams are more achelp to be prepared for college.”

College counselor Nancy Nitardy curate in assessing what students should agrees, saying AP classes are an excellent have learned that school year,” she said.

“With respect to being ready for college, way to prepare students for college.

“I definitely think our students in the I’m not sure yet. I haven’t learned enough AP programs are very well-prepared,” Ni- about the STAAR tests.”

Senior Rose Banks said some stutardy said. “They continue to come back dents may get good grades but they aren’t and tell me that.”

The SAT and ACT test scores very good at testing.

“Maybe they are great students, but dropped between 2007-2010, but more students passed the College Admis- they are not very good at testing, or they sions Test. Most four-year colleges and just had a lack of test prep, but college universities rely on standardized tests and high school are two different things to determine how ready a student is for and when students are in high school for

“

”

Number of students (millions)

GINGER BICKLEY

Graphic by Caitlin Henson four years, it gets old,” Banks said. “But when college comes around, they get excited and realize they have to try harder.”

Sherline said she is definitely not pleased with the writing portion of the test as an indicator of college readiness because she believes the standard narrative essay format is too different from the research papers that are expected in college.

“The writing, at least on the TAKS test, is a narrative whereas in college you’re almost always writing reports and research papers,” she said. “Unless you’re majoring in creative writing or something like that, very rarely do you get to write about personal experiences.”

Some colleges look at GPA (Grade Point Average) and extra curricular activities as well as SAT scores. Lopez said college admissions test should be considered instead of GPA and SAT scores.

“College admissions tests will definitely be more significant, at least I think,” Lopez said. “It would be more significant towards where you get placed in college and how willing they are to take you.”

Banks would rather colleges base her admissions placement on the admissions test.

'When college comes around and you’re taking your SAT, it can be nerveracking,” Banks said. “Or students might not do well during the year in their class-

es, and if colleges just base everything off your SATs and your grades, I would rather them look at my college admissions test.”

Sherline said students who graduate from McCallum would have an easier time transitioning into a college environment because of the campus’ diversity.

“The amount of different things you can do at McCallum is a lot like college,” she said. “There are kids who are interested in fine arts and doing all that, and then there’s the athletes and the high academics, so I think a lot of that stimulates a college atmosphere. So maybe the diversity in the experiences prepares you better for the mentality of college.”

Lopez said although seniors look forward to college, they will miss some things about high school.

“There are those moments when you are like, ‘Okay it’s time to go,’” Lopez said.

“But then there are those others, let’s say marching band; you realize this is my last time doing this. This is just really kind of bittersweet because you really grow in to some of the things that go on here. You see your friends everyday, and you get to make new friends. Each and every year it’s a new experience. Whatever you put into it that’s what you get. And it’s really fun and unique, but thinking this is my last year, and everything will be entirely different, it’s seriously a bittersweet experience.”

10

oct. 5, 2012

feature

What rad things did you do?

Students talk about their summer vacations BARON HEINRICH staff reporter

Senior Nohra Johnston “I went to New York and I spent time with my dad’s four sisters. I was spending time with them in Boston for a week. And then I went with another aunt and stayed there for the rest of the three weeks. For those three weeks I went for a camp called Camp Smile for the blind and visually impaired, and it’s basic camp stuff since the kids are different. You take care of a bunch of people. I spent time with my brothers, and they took me to their apartment for something fun. I stayed home for the rest of the summer. “[New York] was different. I think you could fit in if you loved people. It’s also fun when New Yorkers are saying, ‘Oh my god, you’re from Texas? Do you do horseback riding? Do you wear boots? Do you wear cowboy hats? Do you have cacti? Do you have electricity?’ A little kid actually asked me that. It’s very friendly there in Webster. It’s very country. Friendly neighborhood and town, so it was fun. “[The camp] was suggested by one of my aunts. I did it last year as a CIT, counselor in training. There were a lot of kids there who I liked and made camp friends. All in all, it was really fun. We did different activities like swimming, canoeing, rock climbing, roller-skating, sports, horseback riding and outside stuff.”

Junior Charlie Bell “I went to the Olympics in London. It was the big event. It was a unique experience; it was really cool.

“We did a lot of sightseeing. We ate some interesting foods and went to a lot of museums like the National Gallery and Natural History Museum. We walked around a lot. It was fun not having a set destination.

“I liked being around all sorts of people from different places in the world and experiencing that crazy atmosphere that people see on TV. It’s 10 times bigger in person. Everyone’s kinda crammed in, and everyone’s excited and showing their pride showing where they’re from.

“I went to Men’s Diving, two soccer games, two basketball games, and men’s and women’s swimming. My favorite was either soccer or swimming. I liked swimming because I saw Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte and all those other guys. I liked soccer just because it’s really fun.”

Junior Hannah Yeo “A dance intensive is a program where a plethora of people come and unite and we have a set schedule where you take classes. The one I went to, Joffrey Ballet, had teachers that were from Joffrey in the past or with other dance companies. It’s just people getting the opportunity to dance on a regular basis with teachers from really well-known companies.

“I went to New York for a total of eight weeks, and for six of those weeks I was in a ballet intensive with Joffrey. It was amazing. I’ve been [in New York] once before. The first time I went I was overwhelmed with everything. It’s way busier than Austin is. The second time I went I could handle it and visited places around town and people kept moving. I was there for the choir for one week, and then I stayed with a friend who goes here for little less than a week and then six weeks of ballet.

“It was amazing. There were people from Italy and people from Mexico City, and everyone spoke a different language. It wasn’t just a ballet intensive; it was a cultural experience.

Some people there were professionals in dance companies already. It was amazing to see people from all different levels all coming here for the same reason.”

Sophomore Iliana Albion-Poles “I traveled a lot and went to orchestra camp. I traveled to Ireland, New Mexico, Mexico, Amarillo, New York.

“I went to a bunch of touristy spots [in Ireland] like the cliffs of Moher and just towns. I did nothing in New Mexico. I went to Santa Fe and then I stayed in Angel Fire and then walked around and read. It’s a super, super small town. It has a big coffee shop, though. I went to the library for my little cousin because his mom won’t read for him, and he’s in kindergarten and he doesn’t read. I also lost track of time in Amarillo because I was doing nothing.

“I liked Mexico because it was really pretty and relaxing although it was really humid. The hotel I stayed at was so humid the mirrors were wet. It was all-inclusive with food places and a pool. Some people who worked there didn’t speak Spanish. It was very Americanized.”

the shield

feature

the shield SEREN VILLWOCK staff reporter

Shield: What is your favorite art form?

Joe VanOverbeek: I definitely have a focus on two different mediums, and that’s fashion as an art form and 2D art, which is portraiture and such. They’re really one in the same because when you think about it, art is all about concept and representation of an idea, but my focus is definitely on fashion design. I’m working on the fashion show, I’m head of the Fashion Club, and I’m looking at some fashion colleges. I think fashion and 2D art are different aspects of representing these artistic ideas.

Shield: What are you plans for art after high school?

JV: I’m definitely going to pursue fashion in college.

Shield: What’s your favorite piece you’ve created?

JV: I think it was an alteration of a baptism dress. It was a white lace shift with pillars down the side and rows of flowers that converged into one near the top. It had three crosses on it and a little saint. It was part of a series or collection about Catholicism and those are my favorite pieces, but the baptism dress was my favorite and I think aesthetically it came off the best.

Shield: How have you improved as an artist over the years?

JV: I’ve improved a lot. With Ms. [Carol] Torrance, I’ve learned so much about form and so many basic art principles that not

only apply to painting or drawing a portrait but so many other types of art, like when you think about how one thing relates to another and the realistic implications of that. I think about those things on a whole new level now because of the way Ms. Torrance and Ms. [Mary] Ghazi have taught me. The art program has totally changed my perception of how to create and represent.

oct. 5, 2012

11

On the arts

Shield: If you could design for anyone, who would it be?

JV: I really like Mia Farrow, with the whole emergence of the mod fashion in the ’60s and the moral implications of that.

Shield: What’s your dream job?

JV: It would definitely be to own my own fashion house.

Shield: Who is your favorite musical artist?

JV: I’m really into Crystal Castles right now.

Shield: If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?

JV: I’d love to go to Asia and see Japan or go to Greece and London, somewhere not in our hemisphere.

Shield: Where’s your favorite place to go in Austin?

JV: I really like going to the Blanton [Museum of Art] and getting lost inside all the exhibits there.

A moment with

Joseph VanOverbeek

In the gallery

Junior Ellen Scarborough’s gallery piece features her cousin, Luca. “It started out as just creating different spray paint backgrounds, seeing what it looked like,” she said.

Rowan Young’s first venture into a new style of oil painting was this piece of her friend. “I think of her as a really sweet and genuinely open person, and I wanted to represent that with the colors and the style,” she said.

This piece by senior Owen Dodgen is displayed in the McCallum Arts Center. “I wanted to represent something other-worldly,” he said. “I love drawing hands, and I was trying to make them as detailed as possible.”

the sh

12 feature

The road to McCallum Students, teachers welcome new staff members Kalyse McElveen Fine Arts Coordinator It was Kalyse McElveen’s love of the arts that drew her to work at McCallum. After Lanier Bayliss’ retirement last year, McElveen now manages the operations of the Academy and over 400 students who are a part of it.

“I’m a band nerd from way back,” she said. “I’m really excited to work with students whose passion is also fine arts because it’s something I can identify with.”

McElveen works in the Fine Arts Office with her assistant Stephanie Phillips, where they manage calendars, schedule meetings, track student requirements and progress, facilitate communication, recruit perspective students, and much more. Though it is a big task, she said she feels up to the challenge.

“I am really enjoying [working here],” McElveen said. “I started at the beginning of August, and everybody has been really welcoming. The thing that’s been the nicest for me is that because of the nature of this job, I have opportunities to work with teachers, students and parents.”

One of the ways McElveen hopes to make improvements is to advocate for the Academy so it is recognized at the state and national levels.

“I hope to raise the profile of the Academy so that we’re really well-known in central Texas for doing fantastic work,” she said. “I hope we’ll have student and parent advocates that are out there talking about their experiences they had while they were here saying, ‘This is the place to go.’”

As the coordinator, McElveen’s advice for fine arts students is to be mindful of requirements to get the most out of their schedules.

“My mantra for students is ‘Do what you have to do so you can do what you want to do;’ knock all of your state requirements for graduation out of the way early so by the time you are a junior or senior, you can take a ton of fine arts classes and you have more flexibility in your schedule.”

For McElveen, the year will be filled with new opportunities. She looks forward to helping students discover their passion, she said.

“I feel like high school is like a catapult; you’re still in an educational environment where you’re taken care of, but this is an opportunity for you to really find what that next step is going to be in your life,” she said. “Even participating in some small way in helping individual students blossom and find their passion is really exciting.”

Joshua Denning, Becky White, Kate Wiley, Theater teachers With a completely new set of teachers, the theater department has been completely remodeled.

Theater production teacher Joshua Denning, technical theater teacher Becky White, and musical theater teacher Kate Wiley are the new leaders of the program.

Though the changes have been big, the theater production department has already hit the ground Wiley running with its recent production “Beauty and the Beast.”

“I think it’s definitely been a radical change considering that all three of our teachers left last year, but I think there’s a lot of motivation to do big things with the new teachers,” senior Molly Wear said. “We’ve already put on a show that Mr. Denning directed, and we made record profits. We sold out pretty much every night and even over-sold some of the nights.”

Denning, who began as a sub mid-semester last year, said it’s the productions like this that are the most exciting aspect of becoming a theater teacher.

“I think I’m most looking forward to all the exciting productions that we’re going to do,” Denning said.

“Over the years I’m sure we’ll do some pretty spectacular and interesting shows, and I’m also really looking White forward to growing the department in a way that’s really efficient and excellent.”

For sophomore Lila Penn, the new teachers mean an opportunity to learn different techniques and styles in musical theater.

“Everyone has a different way that they sing and a different style that they like, so I’m looking forward to seeing what type

of music and dance Ms. Wiley likes,” she said. “I really miss the old teachers, but I’m sure I’ll warm up to the new ones. Now that there are three teachers just focused on theater, I think there will be a narrower focus on the program and we’ll have more opportunities, too.”

In the technical theater department, White said she hopes her students this year will be able to Denning grow with the teachers in new directions.

“I know that the theater is a completely new department, and I hope that the changes are easy and the students will be able to accept the differences,” White said. “I want them to be stretched in the theater and in their craft so they’ll turn back at the end of the year and say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know I could do that.’ I hope they’ll be pushed even in the classes; I think there’s a lot of things in the technical classes that they’ll get to do this year that they hadn’t been doing in the past.”

In the theater, White is designing the set for the upcoming show “Harlequinade.” In addition to teaching classes, she is also making sure the students are supporting and helping with all of the fine arts productions.

“The biggest challenge has been learning which student wants to do what and what their focus is,” she said. “That means learning who they all are and figuring out where their needs and wants are, so we’re making sure they’re getting the right support.”

White’s students’ ambitions go beyond the classroom into the personal interests of each tech theatre major. White said she looks forward to this aspect of the fine arts program.

“I’m really excited about the energy that the students here have,” White said. “They’re very ambitious about what they want to do and where they want to go, and I think that’s really awesome. It’s really cool to have lots of kids that really want to be here.”

oct. 5, 2012 13 Joe Underwood AP US History Teacher The first time Joe Underwood came to McCallum, five years ago for training, he “fell in love with the charm of the old classrooms.” After teaching at Reagan, Lago Vista and Taylor high schools, he is the new AP US History teacher here. When Underwood moved into his class, he added his own personal touches, painting We The People on the wall above his desk.

“The American Revolution is my favorite time period because it is what this country believes in,” Underwood said. “It is what we stand for and all the good things about America wrapped up into one.”

Underwood went to McClennen Community College in Waco before going to The University of Mary-Hardin Baylor in Belton, and he is now working to complete his masters from Sam Houston State University.

“I used to run summer camps, and I really enjoyed being around teenagers,” Underwood said. “I thought that teaching would be a great way to do what I already love doing.”

Underwood was the director of these camps and did everything from “logistics to day-to-day operations.”

“Underwood is one of the best teachers at Mac,” junior Jake Fey said. “He’s really funny and he makes learning fun.”

Even though Underwood is an AP teacher, he still has a life outside of school.

“I’m an avid outdoor hunting, fishing, camping guy,” Un-

derwood said. “I really enjoy firearms, and my wife and I compete with handguns.”

The competitions are part of the International Defensive Pistol Association.

“It’s a timed scenario,” Underwood said. “You get a staged set up with multiple targets and multiple no shoots.”

These competitions test the accuracy and the speed of the shooters. Underwood won the State Regionals in 2009, which was his biggest win so far.

Underwood is also a Freemason. While in school, Mr. Underwood noticed all the great men people study in this country and name buildings after all belong to the Freemasons. He wanted to have his name alongside the likes of George Washington and Ben Franklin. Some people view the Masons as a secret society, but in reality it is a society with secrets. The group is widely involved in community service and charity efforts.

Underwood’s favorite teaching memory involves taking a group of students to Washington D.C. in 2007.

“Taking a group to Washington D.C. was probably the coolest thing I’ve done since I’ve been a teacher,” Underwood said. “Considering what I teach and what I taught them, it was that much more special.”

Their tour guide was very new to the job. “She got a lot of facts wrong, but I was so proud because they were able to politely correct her and provide her with the correct information,” Underwood said.

Underwood’s parents and grandparents are Irish immigrants, and he will occasionally wear kilts to honor his heritage.

“They are just the most stupidly comfortable things on planet earth,” Underwood said. “I think they look really cool, and they’re different. I don’t mind standing out in the crowd.”

tin implemented the year she got her degree.

“She couldn’t get a job in Austin Building manager Mary Noack’s three (because of the hiring freeze),” Mary children attended McCallum, so she’s used Noack said, “so for the last three years, to having family around her workplace. she’s been driving all the way to CopHowever, since her daughter’s graduation per’s Cove, which is up by Killeen and in 2007 she’s been the only Noack in the Temple, teaching Chemistry. When building. That changed this year when her she found out there was going to be daughter-in-law, Sarah Noack, was hired to some openings here this summer, she teach 10th grade Chemistry. applied and was fortunate enough to Chemistry teacher Sarah Noack “It’s amazing. It really is amazing,” Mary and building manager Mary Noack be hired, so we’re really excited about Noack said. “I am kind of used to having that.” one of my kids around, so it’s really cool to have her here in Speaking of exciting, the Noacks have some other news the building.” to share.

Sarah Noack graduated from Texas State University and “Well,” Mary Noack said with a smile, “she’s pregnant, so decided to work at McCallum after securing a job as a perma- we’re going to be having a grandbaby in March. I kinda renent sub here during her time in college. ally get to play mom here and make sure she’s okay, and she is.

“I really enjoyed it,” Sarah Noack said. “I really like the That is very exciting, though, and was really an added bonus principal and I liked the other teachers and I knew that it was too when she got the job because you know we didn’t know a place where I would feel comfortable working.” about that when she applied. It was still too early then, but Two of Mary Noack’s children live out of town. One re- that’s definitely an added bonus with her being here.”

Mary Noack noted the reason she has chosen to stay at sides in Georgia as a member of the Navy, and the other is working in Houston until the end of the year, when she will McCallum for such a long time is because she, too, appreciates the students and faculty members. travel to Europe to work on a project there. Since two of her “The thing I enjoy the most about McCallum is the stuchildren are out of town, Mary Noack looks forward to having a familiar face at school with her this year. Three weeks dents and the teachers,” Mary Noack said, “and unfortunateinto the school year, Sarah Noack was already enjoying her ly my role is not always a fun role with students because I’m position. telling them, ‘You’re in the wrong locker, you parked in the “I really like the people here; everyone’s really friendly,” Sar- wrong parking lot, you lost your textbook,’ and that’s not alah Noack said. “No one has been stand-offish or weird at all.” ways a fun thing to do. I want to have fun with students, but After graduating, finding a job teaching wasn’t always a sometimes my job just doesn’t always let me have fun.” simple task for Sarah Noack because of the hiring freeze AusEven though the pair work in the same building, they don’t

see each other every day because of their hectic schedules.

“I haven’t seen her since the weekend,” Mary Noack said.

“You know we had the three-day weekend, and now it’s Thursday, and this is the first time I’ve seen her since then, so we don’t get to see each other every day, but I know she’s here.”

These periodic visits at school give Mary Noack a chance to discover what her son and Sarah Noack, who live in South Austin, are up to.

“South Austin is like another world to me because I don’t go to there very often but on weekends and holidays when we get to spend time with each other. It’s a lot of fun, and now, I feel almost like they’ve moved back to town because I do get to see her during the week. When Sarah was working out in Copper’s Cove, she left so early and came back so late and then when she did have a weekend, she was just exhausted and doing lesson plans. So that has definitely loosened up the schedule to where we see each other more now.”

Sarah Noack said though she had not always wanted to be a teacher, after applying about four years ago, she found it was something she really enjoyed. According to Mary Noack, the atmosphere at Copper’s Cove was not always what Sarah Noack had in mind.

“McCallum is very different than Copper’s Cove,” Mary Noack said. “Here it’s, you know, ‘Get your job done, teach the kids what they need to do, that’s what is expected of you and give your 100 percent to the kids,’ and she feels like she’s able to do that more here than she was there in Copper’s Cove because she’s able to spend quality time with her students.”

Sarah Noack agrees; she does appreciate the extra flexibility in her teaching curriculum she has here.

“The rules are different for teachers at McCallum,” she said. “It’s a lot more free, and I get to make more of my own choices about things.”

Sarah Noack Chemistry Teacher

04

sports

oct. 5, 2012

the shield

New athletic director shakes things up Varsity football players adjust to methods, personality of coach Jason Cecil NATALIE MURPHY staff reporter

Coach Jason Cecil was hired as athletic director last spring after coach Todd Raymond left his position at McCallum.

Cecil was the assistant head coach to approximately 300 players at Stony Point High School in Round Rock before coming here.

“I started in April and had less than a month to get prepared for spring football,” Cecil said. “I had to get to know our players, our coaches, our school and our opponents. There were already four coaching positions to fill, so not only did I have to start teaching our players and coaches our system, I also had to go out and find the best people I could to coach here.”

Cecil has coached in many stadiums in his 17-year coaching career, including Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Dumas High School.

Defensive end Edward Armstrong said

his first impression of Cecil hasn’t changed. “[Cecil] came in already yelling and screaming,” Armstrong said. “I guess he was excited. It was exciting when [Cecil] came, because we had never had a coach like that before. [His intensity] is a good thing. It instills fear in us.”

Cecil said his first impression of the players was that they were talented and wanted to win.

“I still believe those two statements,” Cecil said. “However, right now we are trying to teach them the difference in wanting to win and paying the price to win. I want our team to understand that nothing will be given to them, and if they want to win, they will have to earn the right to win.”

Cecil is well known for his catch phrase “Do it the right way, every day.”

Defensive end Marquis King- Smith said Cecil cares more about the integrity of the team than winning a game.

“Raymond didn’t care how we won,” King-Smith said. “He just wanted it done.

Cecil is different. He wants us to win the right way.”

Armstrong said former coach Raymond was a lot more relaxed than Cecil.

“We have a whole new defense,” Armstrong said. “His intensity level is crazy.

Practice with Cecil has to be 100 percent.”

King-Smith agreed.

“Coach Cecil is way more about his business than Raymond,” King-Smith said. “If [Cecil] says he is going to do something, it will get done. Raymond was more of a pushover.”

Wide receiver Wes Bellomy said Cecil has changed the football program for the better.

“Practices are harder,” Bellomy said.

“We have a lot more focus and discipline.

Cecil came in with a lot of fire and intensity. He’s always excited.”

Offensive coordinator Charles Taylor said Cecil and Raymond have different mentalities.

“Coach Raymond was more focused

on offense,” Taylor said. “Cecil is a defense guy.”

McCallum is about two times smaller than Stony Point. Cecil said McCallum is smaller but has a similar student body.

“Both schools have very unique and diverse student populations,” Cecil said.

“Our kids are very similar in talent and backgrounds.”

Cecil has coached many positions on the field, including linebackers coach, defensive coordinator and special team coordinator.

The Knights are 3-2 so far this season.

“These games have been learning experiences for our team, and we know that if we make these mistakes against a really good team, we would be in trouble,” Cecil said. “On the other hand, if we clean up all of the mistakes, we know can be a really good football team.”

Cecil seems to already be making an impact on his players. “[Cecil] is crazy,” Armstrong said. “He’s going to get me to college.”

sports in brief Freshman football team beats Akins 18-14 The freshman football team currently holds a 1-3 record.

The game against Hutto was canceled.

The team beat Akins 18-14.

“I really think we’re going to improve this season,” freshman John Smith said.

“We’ve had our ups and downs so far this year, but I think we will balance out towards the end.”

JV football focuses on skills, teamwork for upcoming games The JV football team is 2-2 with a 1-0 record in district play. Last Thursday the team shut out Reagan 68-0 in the district start.

“We put in a lot of hard work and effort in our homecoming game,” sophomore Eric Sandoz said. “ We came up short, and we were really disappointed. We were able to rebound really well against Reagan, and we came away with a good win.”

The team will play Sacred Heart Catholic School from Halletsville this week.

“We really need to work on our ball skills, tackling and blocking this week and not slack off,” sophomore Kyle Turi said. “It’s important we stay focused and continue to play our best.”

Next week they will play Crockett at Noack at 7 p.m.

New members means bigger team for cross-country With a team twice as big as last year’s, the cross-country team has already competed in four meets and will compete at the district meet Oct. 19.

“I’ve really enjoyed the great turnout that we have this year,” coach Susan Ashton said. “There are a great number of students that get up early to run with us every morning. There’s a JV and a varsity team this year, so we’re very strong and looking good.”

New this year is the three-mile run for girls, replacing last year’s two-mile distance. Sophomore Alexis Shoobe said this is an adjustment for the girls.

“It’s a lot longer, and we have to practice this year to prepare for the longer distance,” she said. “At our last meet, we ran against

Westlake, and they have a really good crosscountry team. We’re hoping to improve for district coming up soon.”

Ashton said she hopes to see the runners continue to drop their times as the season proceeds, and she looks forward to the progress the team will make.

“I made up a time sheet for the kids so they can see their times are lowering and we can continue improving,” she said. “I’d really like to see us do well at district.”

JV volleyball undefeated in district so far The JV volleyball team will play Travis tonight here at 6:30 p.m.

JV won all of its first six games. The team played LBJ Tuesday. The scores were not available at press time.

“JV is doing great,” sophomore Penelope Stopper said. “This year our team is really working together. We are improving really fast.”

Freshman volleyball 6-1 in district season Varsity volleyball tied The freshman volleyball team is 6-1 so for first in district play

far this season. The team played a home game against LBJ Oct. 2. The results were unavailable at press time.

“We’re doing great,” freshman Meagan Garza said. “Coach [Casey] Kinkade and Coach [Charlie] Gore are really motivating us. We’re going to have a great season.”

The freshman girls broke their winning streak after a loss against Ann Richards in September. The match went to three sets, and the team worked really hard, Garza said.

“We’ve won almost all our games,” Garza said. “There’s room for improvement, and we’re getting better.”

With their many recent wins, the Lady Knights varsity volleyball team is tied for first place in district with Ann Richards School. The two teams are set for a rematch on Oct. 9.

“We need everyone to come to the Ann Richards game,” senior Chandler Stancliff said.

Stancliff is confident the team will win their upcoming rematch.

“I think we’re going to come back and get them,” she said with a smile.

The game starts at 7:30 p.m. on the Ann Richards campus.

sports

the shield

oct. 5, 2012

15

LANCE ARMSTRONG: FADING AWAY?

Local celebrity stripped of titles; students, teachers discuss controversy GRACE FRYE editor-in-chief

W

inning: the overwhelming adrenaline rush, the aching pains that last for days and the sense of accomplishment. These universal feelings are known by hundreds around the world, including junior MarieClaire Huff.

“Almost a year and a half ago, I decided to register and begin training for the Capital Texas Triathlon,” Huff said. “Allotting myself only two months of preparation, I trained rigorously every day in hopes that I would maybe place in the top 50 for my age group. When race day finally came, I felt I was ready. I will never forget the moment I crossed the finish line and was handed a plaque reading 19 and under Female State Champion. I couldn’t believe it. I thought there was some sort of mistake. My body was so dead after the race that the magnitude of my accomplishment didn’t set in until the next day.”

According to Huff, the idea of being stripped of her wins would be devastating.

This punishment was recently given to local Austin celebrity Lance Armstrong—famous for his sports accomplishments and philanthropic efforts. The retired professional bicyclist has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles by the U.S. AntiDoping Agency (USADA), in what has become a highly publicized controversy.

“I think that doping has really done irreparable damage to the sport of cycling,” AP English 4 teacher and avid cyclist Tom Watterson said. “That Lance Armstrong has been implicated really isn’t surprising, given how pervasive the problem is in the entire pro peloton. That said, I have yet to hear of a conclusive test that has shown him to have used performance-enhancing drugs.”

Armstrong announced Aug. 23 that he

would no longer fight against the USADA’s doping charges against him.

“There comes a point in every man’s life when he has to say, ‘Enough is enough,’” Armstrong said in his Aug. 23 statement.

“For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a two-year federal criminal investigation followed by Travis Tygart’s unconstitutional witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense.”

The quasi-governmental agency took this as an admission of guilt and announced a lifetime ban against Armstrong, as well as stripping him of his Tour titles from 19992005.

“I’m not at all convinced that USADA has the jurisdiction to even bring charges against Armstrong,” Watterson said, “let alone sanction him in the Tour de France.”

In a statement issued on Aug. 24 by USADA, CEO Travis Tygart explained the agency’s reasoning behind Armstrong’s punishment.

“Nobody wins when an athlete decides to cheat with dangerous performance enhancing drugs, but clean athletes at every level expect those of us here on their behalf to pursue the truth to ensure the win-atall-cost culture does not permanently overtake fair, honest competition,” Tygart said.

“Any time we have overwhelming proof of doping, our mandate is to initiate the case through the process and see it to conclusion as was done in this case.”

The USADA claimed to have many key witnesses ready to testify against Armstrong in court, Watterson said.

“My understanding is that USADA is prepared to introduce an array of witnesses, George Hincapie [a teammate of

Armstrong’s] among them, whose testimony could potentially be very damaging,” Watterson said. “If they’re willing to go to these lengths without having a positive doping test, they must be pretty confident that they can win.”

Huff said even though Armstrong has been charged with doping, she still considers him one of the greatest athletes of all time.

“I am confident that Lance Armstrong has used some sort of enhancement drug as most professional athletes have done,” Huff said. “Whether the drugs were legal or illegal, I am not sure. But he is still an icon regardless of whether he was wrongfully convicted or not.”

While Armstrong’s titles were stripped based on the principle key that he broke the rules, questions have been raised about the legality of the USADA’s actions which broke their own eight-year statute of limitations rule.

“The statute of limitations can be extended if there’s evidence of a cover-up, which USADA claims is the case,” Watterson said. “But I’m honestly not inclined to accept their version of events, given that their entire case seems to be based on second-hand information, rather than actual doping test results.”

The Tour de France has released a statement saying they will keep an eye on the case and have requested the case files to make sure the punishment issued was valid. The International Cycling Union (UCI) has also stated it will keep watch on the situation.

Watterson said he thinks the UCI, which enforces disciplinary rules, such as in matters of doping, has the sole jurisdiction to strip Armstrong of his titles.

“Based on what I know about the state of the sport today,” Watterson said. “I would be very surprised if he didn’t dope. But without a positive test, it’s all just specula-

tion. The USADA didn’t have the right to take away his Tours.”

After declaring his innocence, Armstrong had until midnight Thursday Aug. 23 to decide whether to or not fight against the agency’s charges. The USADA has a 58-2 record of athletes fighting charges, but due to the lack of a positive drug test, Armstrong’s case is unique.

“To me, that’s the crux of the matter,” Watterson said. “If the UCI sets up doping controls and a rider adheres to them and passes the tests, then you have to accept that. USADA can’t just say, ‘Well, he passed the tests, but Floyd Landis says he doped, so we’re going to punish him anyway.’”

Huff disagreed.

“I believe there is a possibility that his lawyer is trying to protect him by refusing to fight back,” Huff said. “Personally, I can’t imagine accepting the fact that I am wrongly convicted and stripped of my titles. However, maybe he is simply tired of constantly battling the media.”

The reputation of LiveSTRONG, Armstrong’s foundation, could also be affected by the recent events, Huff said.

“It is sad because the goal of the foundation is merely to help those with cancer,” Huff said. “The validity of Lance Armstrong’s titles should not affect the foundation.”

It is still unclear to the public who will be announced the winner of the Tour de France from 1999-2005 since most of the riders on the podium with Armstrong have also faced their own doping charges.

“I heard today that if they were to award Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France victories to the highest-ranked rider who didn’t dope, they would have to give them to the guy who finished 37th in the race,” Watterson said. “The whole thing is just sad, and I’m very disappointed to see such a great sport be forever tarnished by cheating.”

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oct. 5, 2012

TS: When does cross country start training for the season?

MW: Well, usually we start during the summer. For this 2012 season we started at the end of school last year and went all through the summer, but summer training is a lot more relaxed than the in-season training. We run around the track; we did a lot of conditioning so that we would be in shape for the competition season, and we ran around the McCallum area.

TS: What is your favorite part about Cross Country?

MW: I love how rewarding it is. It is definitely one of those things where your hard work really pays off and you see lots of improvement throughout the season which I think is really cool.

TS: What is it like to be the captain of the team?

MW: Well, it is a lot more responsibility. You have to make sure that everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing and not slacking off during practice, especially since the team is a lot bigger this year. Coach Ashton puts a lot more weight on my shoulders to make sure that the team is doing their best work.

TS: How has Coach Ashton helped you as well as the rest of the team?

MW: Everyone has been really positive and understanding. She understands if we are injured or if we have a problem with running or school work and she is very flexible towards our injuries and is really willing to customize workouts depending on if you aren’t feeling well. She is also really encouraging which is a really good quality to have in a coach.

TS: What do you hope to accomplish this season?

MW: This year we are running three miles so I want to get

sports a really good personal record around 20 or 21 minutes and I want to do really well in every race and feel like I couldn’t have done any better. I also hope we can win district and beat LBJ. TS: Would you consider Cross Country an individual sport or a team sport?

MW: There are definitely some individual aspects because what you do is all you; what place you come in is up to you, but the way they rank who gets first and second is by team. However, you can get a medal depending on your individual time so in a way it is pretty much both.

TS: What are you most excited for this season?

MW: I’m just excited for everyone to do well, and it is my last year so I really want to make it my best year yet. I really want everyone to improve and be really happy with their season.

TS: How has the team changed since last year?

MW: The team has gotten a lot bigger this year and I feel like we have become really comfortable with each other really fast, so we are all really outgoing and supportive of each other which is really awesome, and I really like the vibe that our team has.

TS: How do you prepare for a race?

MW: I always listen to Kanye West, [laughs] I mean its true, I try not to focus on what is going on outside of the race. I don’t think about what is going on in my life like school work and drama, I just try to focus on the race and just block out everything else in my life.

TS: What is your favorite thing to do after a race?

MW: Probably go to P. Terry’s, it is something I do quite often after races. I always pass out under our little tent and then when we get back to McCallum I just go to P.Terry’s and go ham.

Shield:What position do you play?

Billy Won: Left tackle, which is on the offensive line. The offensive line are the five guys that are in front of the quarterback; the center guy snaps the ball, and there are four guys next to him and I am the leftmost player. My main job is to block the other players and protect the quarterback, depending on what plays we run.

Shield: How long have you been on the Mac football team?

BW: I’ve played all four years; I made varsity my sophomore year. I wasn’t able to play last year because I tore my ACL. TS: How has the team changed since last year?

BW: I feel like we have gotten tougher since Coach [Todd] Raymond left and the new coach, Coach [Jason] Cecil, has implemented a lot of punishments rules and disciplinary rules.

I feel like we have gotten slightly better too.

Billy Won MARY STITES photo editor

the shield

TS: How has the team adjusted to the new coaching staff?

BW: We haven’t done too bad. I guess people were more comfortable with Coach Raymond because they knew him and they had more than a year to know him. But, of course, the first year with a new coaching staff will always be hard so I think we are still getting used to the new system, but I think once all of the players are used to it, everything will work really well.

TS: What do you hope to accomplish individually this season during district?

BW: Individually I don’t really have many goals. I just want to help the team win. I mean, getting first team all district would be nice, but I would much rather help the team win games than get a personal reward.

Makala Wangrin

TS: What does the team hope to accomplish this year?

BW: To go deep into playoffs is probably what I hope to accomplish. I hope we can win district and definitely go undefeated and try to go deeper into playoffs than we ever have and possibly go to state.

TS: How do you think winning the Taco Shack Bowl helped the team mentally?

BW: I heard we were picked to lose that game, and coming back from being down because they scored first was a huge confidence boost. It let us know that we can make comebacks; we aren’t going stay down once we start down. Winning that game after losing it three years in a row was a big boost for the team and the school to have that trophy back because we had come close in the previous years.

TS: Shield: Who is your biggest competition in district?

BW: LBJ, definitely. They haven’t won any games yet, but they have also played three very good teams. They returned 17 starters, so they have a lot of the same players that they had last year, but I still think that we have the better players TS: How do you think the team will do in playoffs?

BW: [Even though Lake Travis is no longer in our district], we will still play a very tough team. The two teams we will play are Cedar Park, number four in the state, or Leader, number two in the state. So either way we will play a very tough team, but I think if we can beat them then we can make a really deep run in playoffs because the first round is always the hardest.

TS: How has tearing your ACL affected you?

BW: It made me enjoy playing football a lot more. Missing a season like that is just awful. Being out last year made playing this year even better.

sports

the shield

oct. 5, 2012

17

Scandals tarnish memorable year Teams start journey to rebuild; others look to make a championship run WES JOHNS staff reporter

The first week of school did not bring only dread this year, it also brought the end to a mostly tragic off-season for college football. With all the scandal that surrounds football now, it’s hard to just sit back on the weekends without the constant talking of Penn State, Jerry Sandusky and the forever-tainted ending to the career of Joe Paterno.

In addition to the events at Penn State, the University of Arkansas head coach, Bobby Petrino, was involved in a motorcycle crash in April. Riding with him on the motorcycle was former All-SEC volleyball player Jessica Dorrell. Pertrino had hired her in March as the student-athlete development coordinator. Petrino initially announced he was alone, but minutes before the police report was announced he revealed Dorrell was on the bike with him and that he had an inappropriate relationship with her. Petrino was later investigated and fired. The NCAA took fair action in this situation. Dorrell was given an unfair advantage in the hiring process, and Petrino initially announced he was alone in the crash to protect his image.

In July, NCAA President Mark Emmert handed Penn State unprecedented penalties that will cripple the team’s ability on the field. Emmert banned Penn State from bowl games for four years and imposed a reduction in scholarships totaling 40 lost over four years. In addition to these, he vacated all of Penn State’s victories from 1998 through 2011. That means former head coach Joe Paterno will lose 111 of his record 409 victories, a Division I alltime record. This punishment was chosen over suspending the program for at least a year, but the current sanctions are likely to be just as devastating. It is very clear that the NCAA wanted to make it very difficult for Penn State to succeed in the future.

The NCAA made an example out of Penn State and made it clear that any similar situation at any school will be handled in a very harsh manner.

In addition to the physical punishment of Penn State, many still feel the lingering emotional effects in the wake of the scandal.

The football season has not gone great for Penn State so far; they have lost their opening three games. It will take years for the program to rebuild and even longer for the University to come back from this atrocity.

Despite the tragedy at Penn State, the

BCS finally decided to negotiate the be- Texas A&M, who lost a very close game in ginnings of a playoff in college football. their SEC opener against Florida. ArkanMany fans have been praising the idea of sas looked like they could be a contender a playoff for the last several years. The new until they were upset by Louisiana-Monsystem, which will start in the 2014, will be roe in week two, and then were absolutely a four-team playoff by the top four teams in destroyed by Alabama in week three by a score of 52-0. the BCS poll.

Without quesThis season of tion Alabama and college football The Longhorns look LSU will be the promises to be teams to beat this one of excitement. much better than they season. The two Quarterback Matt did last season. The teams will meet on Barkley is comNov. 3 at LSU. The ing back for his sedefense is solid, and meeting between nior season to lead the offense showed these two teams last USC. They were year was dubbed in a good situation they could put up “the game of the to make a run for points. century,” and this the championship season’s meeting until they took a trip will be no different to Palo Alto in the third week and lost to Stanford for the as long as the two are able to stay undefourth year in a row. Their rivals to the feated. Alabama will most likely come away north in Oregon are coming back with one with the victory unless LSU is able to estabof the fastest and most unique teams in the lish a consistent passing game. Quarterback country. Their uniforms are still the most Zach Mettenberger has struggled this year, unique in the country and with Nike in and until the passing game improves, LSU their back pocket, they will continue to be has no shot at the National Championship.

The Longhorns also look much better the team to beat on the West Coast.

Alabama and LSU will fight it out in than they did last season. The defense is the SEC this fall, along with new addition solid and the offense showed they could

“

”

put up points in their 66-31 victory over Ole Miss in week three. Quarterback David Ash showed he could throw the long-ball but still was underthrowing his receivers.

Marquise Goodwin also showed the speed of the Texas team in his 69-yard TD run against Ole Miss.

Texas will have a decent shot in the Big 12 this year if they can contend with Oklahoma and Kansas State. In order for them to make a push for the Big 12 Championship, Ash will have to do a better job on his long throws. Against Ole Miss he underthrew a number of his deep throws and forced the receivers to peel back in order to make the completions.

Traditional powers Notre Dame and Florida State also look to be returning to power. Both teams have a 3-0 record, and so far Notre Dame has taken down Michigan State and Michigan. The Irish face a very tough schedule this year with games against Miami, Stanford, Oklahoma and USC. Florida State took down Clemson in the fourth week in their best performance of the season. With a relatively easy ACC schedule, it would be easy for them to go undefeated. Their toughest tests will be Miami and Virginia Tech on the road and their traditional game against Florida at home to end the season.

My two cents NFL Strike • The NFL finally reached an agreement with its normal referees Sept. 27, ending a lockout that lasted since June.

Roger Goodell and the team owners had confidence in the replacement officials from the start.

The call that ended the Green Bay and Seattle game shook the league and forced negotiations to re-start. Late on Sept. 26, NFL owners reached a tentative agreement with the referees. Until the call in Seattle, the NFL had replacement officials scheduled through the fifth week and had no plans to negotiate further with the refs.

The lockout started because the refs wanted a $16.5 million benefit package over the next five years of their contract.

NFL revenues are at an all time high, $9.6 billion a year, and expected to grow to between $12 and $14 billion, so why did they not want to take $500,000 from each team to pay the normal officials?

They risked the integrity of the game in try and create the most profit possible.

Baseball • This MLB season has been one of the most exciting that I remember. The Texas Rangers started the season strong and have continued to win as playoffs get closer.

The Oakland A’s and Baltimore Orioles were both surprise teams this year. The A’s gave the rangers a run for the money in the AL West. The Orioles were a huge threat as the season progressed. The team does a great job of building off of each other’s energy and are a huge threat in the postseason as long as the team’s pitching can contend with the Yankees, Rangers and Tigers.

The Yankees had their hands full in the East with the Rays and the Orioles. The Houston Astros turned out another horrible season this year. They finished with over 100 losses for the second season in a

row, but they will have Nationals third base coach Bo Porter as their new coach in their inaugural season in the AL West in 2013.

I project the Rangers, Orioles, and Nationals will all make a deep playoff run this season. The Rangers have been the most consistent team for the last two years. They were defeated in back-toback World Series in 2010 and 2011.

The Orioles have an explosive team and will be hard to beat if they get hot in the postseason. The Nationals will not have Steven Strasburg in the playoffs but will have rookie Bryce Harper.

Gio Gonzales, the season’s first 20-game winner, will be their ace if they make a run deep into October. The Reds are also a team capable of making a deep run in the playoffs. They have a strong pitching staff and an offense that can put a lot of runs on the board. If Joey Votto stays healthy, their chances to win will improve greatly.

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oct. 5, 2012

entertainment

the shield

Imaginat10n at work Student photo chosen as finalist in national photography contest Self-portrait of junior Emily Hunteman. Photo chosen as a finalist in the photography contest Imaginat10n.

GRACE FRYE editor-in-chief

Junior Emily Hunteman’s heart raced when she heard the news. In an effort to keep from screaming, she forced herself to bite something. Emily had just found out her photo was chosen out of 9,000 entries as a member of the top 30 finalists in a nation-wide competition called Imaginat10n.

“I couldn’t even breathe when I found out [my photo had been chosen],” she said.

“I walked through the door after school, and I guess they called my mom trying to reach me. She was just like, ‘If somebody calls, answer it!’ and I thought something was wrong. She wouldn’t tell me what she was talking about. When they called me, I didn’t even hear half of what the lady on the phone said, my heart was beating so loudly. I had to keep the news to myself for a few days for confidentiality reasons because they hadn’t released the finalists to the public. I thought I was going to burst.”

Project Imagina10n is a contest headed by director Ron Howard and Canon Cameras where participants from around the nation enter photos, and the winning images are used to make one of 10 films. In her particular category, there are 10 winners to inspire a 10-film film festival. Hunteman said she thinks this project is a great way to highlight photography as an art medium.

“A large point of the project is to prove that inspiration and creativity can come out of something like photography, and to show that photography can be a creatively useful tool,” she said, “which just makes me love this project more because I feel like sometimes photography gets undermined, and it’s really exciting to have a new use for photography.”

Once a photo was chosen as a finalist, the pubic voted and the winners chosen. To vote, people went to the contest website.

They voted once a day from Sept. 11-24. The winners will be announced on Oct. 15. Emily said once the voting started, contestants were responsible for spreading the word.

“It’s kind of a domino effect,” she said. “I posted it on Facebook, some of my friends shared it, and some of their friends shared it and so on and so on. Ms. [Carey] West [photography teacher] also put up flyers and sent them around the school. It’s so weird seeing my photo all around McCallum.”

Emily found out about the contest through YouTube two days before the contest ended.

“My mom actually saw an ad for it and it sort of became a last minute ‘Eh, I guess I’ll do this’ sort of thing,” she said. “I’ve done, like, little contests here and there. For example, the kite festival has a photography contest every year, and I’ve participated in a few ATPI contests and activities. Noth-

ing nearly as huge as this, though, that’s for sure.”

Emily said she created the photo before the contest as a school project. She entered nine photos.

“We had to do self portraits for class, and self portraits can be very difficult to successfully photograph,” Hunteman said.

“So I sat down and looked at other self portraits people had done. I found this one girl, Kayla Varley I think is her name, and I was so drawn to her photos and the way she used emotion to create an otherwise boring image. So I started to draw out what I wanted to do, and I decided I wanted to portray something that people could relate to. I feel like heartbreak and the typical teenage drama that just makes you want to lay your head down and drown out the world is something we can all for sure relate to. It’s a really powerful emotion, and I really wanted to capture it in a photo. I also was sort of in love with faceless portraits at the time. I still am. I feel like they tell more of a story.”

Part of Emily’s story includes what she describes as “typical teenage heartbreak.”

“I mean, I can for sure admit to feeling hurt and, yes, heartbroken,” she said. “But you pick yourself back up again and get on with your life, and that’s sort of what this photo is about. That moment when you just let everything fall down around you,

but you can sort of see this emerging light from her, like everything’s going to be okay in the end.”

Emily said if she won, as well as inspiring a film, she would be able to buy new supplies, which would help her improve even more.

“I would get to be a part of this awesome collaboration, of course, which would just be incredible,” she said. “I also get to go to New York, which I have never been to, and go to the premiere and film festival and all events associated with this project. I do also get $500 credit to their sponsor’s store, which could get me new lenses I’ve been wanting.”

She continued to say the support she has received has been great, and she hopes to see her name in the rolling credits of a film, soon.

“I feel like it’d open so many doors for me,” she said. “Some really big names are involved in this (Ron Howard, Eva Longoria, Jamie Foxx), which could possibly put me in a really good position. It’s incredible how many people are trying to get the word out and how many people have taken the time to vote. I’ve gotten pats on the back from random strangers and so many nice comments from people. It’s really, really incredible. I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity and to have so much support to go with it.”

entertainment

the shield

oct. 5, 2012

19

New shows spice up fall TV season JENNIFER CASTRO staff reporter

The change of the seasons to fall means the return of all favorite TV shows and checking out brand new series.

Supernatural/Horror/Fantasy • “The Vampire Diaries” (Oct. 11, The CW) • “Supernatural” (Oct. 10, The CW) • “Grimm” (Sept. 28, NBC) • “Once Upon A Time” (Sept. 30, Fox) • “Havens” (Sept. 30, Syfy) • “The Walking Dead” (Oct. 14, AMC) • “Touch” (Oct. 26, Fox) • “American Horror Story: Asylum” (Oct. 17, FX), a brand new series set in a mental institution for the criminally insane in 1964 • “666 Park Avenue” (Sept. 30, ABC), a series about a couple who learns that the Manhattan apartment building that they just moved into might be possessed by a mysterious demonic force.

Action • “Nikita” (Oct. 19, The CW) • “Castle” (Sept. 24, ABC) • “Revenge” (Sept. 30, ABC) • “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” (Sept. 26, NBC) • “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (Sept. 30, CBS) • “NCIS:LA” (Sept. 25, CBS) • “Hawaii Five-0” (Sept. 24, CBS) • “Arrow” (Oct. 10. The CW) A new series based on the DC character “Green Arrow” and his origins

Drama • “Hart of Dixie” (Oct. 2, The CW) • “90210” (Oct. 8, The CW) • “Gossip Girl” (Oct. 8, The CW) • “Criminal Minds” (Sept. 26, CBS) • “Private Practice” (Sept. 25, ABC) • “Grey’s Anatomy” (Sept. 27, ABC) • “Person of Interest” (Sept. 27, CBS) • “Scandal” (Sept. 27, ABC) • “CSI:NY” (Sept. 28, CBS) • “Fringe” (Sept. 28, Fox) • “Blue Bloods” (Sept. 28, CBS) • “The Good Wife” (Sept. 30, CBS) • “The Mentalist” (Sept. 30, CBS) • “Beauty and the Beast” (Oct. 11, The CW) A modern telling of the story of the original series of a mysterious man falling for a woman who tries to uncover his dark past • “Vegas” (Sept. 25, CBS) A tale of a sheriff dealing with a Chicago mobster in the 1960s.

• “Nashville” (Oct. 10, ABC) About an old country star who’s afraid of being outshined by a younger, beautiful singer and tries to make her way back on top • “Elementary” (Sept. 27, CBS) A remake of the BBC show “Sherlock,” making the setting in New York City.

Comedy Fans of “How I Met Your Mother?” The hit sitcom will be returning on Sept. 24 on CBS, along with: • “2 Broke Girls” (Sept. 24, CBS) • “Mike & Molly” (Sept. 24, CBS) • “New Girl” (Sept. 25, Fox) • “The Big Bang Theory” (Sept. 27, CBS) • “Two and a Half Men” (Sept. 27, CBS) • “Raising Hope” (Oct. 2, Fox) • “30 Rock” (Oct. 4, NBC) • ”It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (Oct. 11, FX) • “The League” (Oct. 11, FX) • “Suburgatory” (Oct. 17,ABC) • “Whitney” (Oct. 19, NBC) • “Community” (Oct. 19, NBC) • “Happy Endings” (Oct. 23, ABC) • “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23” (Oct. 23, ABC) • “Partners” (Sept. 24, CBS) Two longtime friends are put

to the test to retain their bromance when one gets engaged and the other starts a relationship.

• “Emily Owens, MD” (Oct. 16, The CW) A young thriving doctor-to-be discovers her long-time nemesis is working with her and realizes her job is high school all over again.

Animation • “The Simpsons” (Sept. 30, Fox) • “Bob’s Burgers” (Sept. 30, Fox) • “Family Guy” (Sept. 30, Fox) • “American Dad” (Sept. 30, Fox) • “The Cleveland Show” (Oct. 7,Fox)

Reality TV • “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars” (Sept. 24, ABC) • “The Amazing Race” (Sept. 30, CBS) • “America’s Next Top Model: College Edition” (Oct. 19, The CW) • “Jersey Shore” (Oct. 4, MTV)

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opinion

oct. 5, 2012

the shield

Time to update the closet Fall fasion trends include combat boots, oversized sweaters KAYLA GREGORCYK staff reporter

Sophomore Penelope Stopper wears combat boots, a new fall fashion trend. Photo by Kayla Gregorcyk.

As I walk into Pacsun, I notice that all the sweaters and scarfs are out in the front. At the back of the store all the swimwear and shorts are on sale. Relizing that fall trends have come.

A big trend during the summer was high-waisted jean shorts. Since summer is coming to an end, what’s better than highwaisted jeans? I love high-waisted jeans because I can wear a crop top and still be school appropriate.

I think high waited-jeans are great because they go with so many things. I can style with any T-shirt I want and a pair of flats or boots and bam, my outfit is complete. Jeans are a classic look, but highwaisted jeans give you a little bit different look. I think high-wasted jeans are a great choice for that comfortable and casual look.

I have seen many celebrities and many people around MAC wearing combat boots. These shoes will keep you nice and toasty for the cold winter ahead. Also, they are super versatile. I adore how these boots go with jeans, skirts and even dresses. I really enjoy these boots with highlow dress or skirts.

If you don’t know what a high-low dress/skirt is, it’s when the front of the dress is shorter than the back. (This was a big trend during the summer.) Combat

boots with this dress look absolutely stun- late this is what I do. I don’t have to put ning. These boots give an edgy feeling to too much thought into styling with an your outfit. You can dress down your out- oversized sweater. It is nice and easy for fit with these boots. Also, these shoes are those lazy and chilly days. a great way to add some height without Leather pants have been spotted on seeming dressed up. I expect to see a lot many celebrities and everyday people. I of these shoes have seen these in a around MAC couple stores. I tried during the fall. on a pair and hated Another thing I A clothing them. I do not like item I have seen the feeling of these don’t like about them a lot is the infinipants. Plus, they is that I look like I ty scarf, if a scarf make a strange sound that never ends. when you walk. Like, am part of the KISS Basically, both who wants to sound band. That is not the ends of a scarf like a piece of plastic? are connected. I Whenever light hits style I am going for. tried one on and these pants, there is a I did not like the huge glare on them. way it looked. Call me old-fashioned, but This makes them look like you’re wearing I preferred the look of a plain and simple a piece of plastic as pants. Another thing scarf. I enjoy the style of a scarf going I don’t like about them is that I look like around your neck once and seeing both I am part of the KISS band. That is not ends of the scarf. The infinity scarf does the style I am going for. I also do not like the opposite of what I like. It goes around the way that it drapes around my legs. I my neck twice and that’s it. I think it looks really don’t want to be wearing pants that like a drape on my neck. The infinity scarf look, feel and sound like plastic. Overall, is just one of those trends I would not I can’t handle these pants when they are wear myself. on me. Hey, if you like them, then more However, what I plan to wear a lot power to you. during the fall is oversized sweaters. I No matter what your style is, these are love how they are so comfortable and very the big trends going on. You may love or casual. I like how you can just throw on hate the trends, but there is always somea large sweater and put on a pair of jeans thing in your style no matter if it’s girly, and there’s your outfit. If I ever wake up edgy or even both.

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Transferring from one reality to another ‘Honey Boo Boo’ proves to be popular despite redneck family’s crude behavior BRIANNA GARCIA staff reporter

“A doller make me holler, Honey Boo Boo child!” is something you just might hear at Honey Boo Boo’s house in Georgia. “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” on TLC, follows 7 year-old Alana and her selfproclaimed redneck family.

The family consists of “Honey Boo Boo” (Alana); her mother June (Mamma); Mike (Sugar Bear), who is the father figure in the family; and Alana’s sisters, who are Jessica (Chubbs), Lauryn (Pumpkin) and Anna (Chickadee). The show has become quite popular, and, according to the Hollywood Reporter website, received more

views than the Mitt Romney’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention.

The show is quite different from most reality shows because the family consists of just normal people. Alana was first shown on “Toddlers & Tiaras,” but all she was seen doing was competing in pageants.

Before that, she wasn’t famous in any way and because so many people liked her, she got her own show.

Alana herself is certainly a character to watch. She’s a chubby little girl although the family members themselves are a chubby people. It’s no wonder the family is chubby because they eat a lot of junk food.

That makes me wonder why she even does

pageants. She recently got a pet male pig, but she named him Glitzy and dresses him up in little dresses as if he were going to do a pageant himself. I don’t understand why they just didn’t get a female pig for her.

I can understand if people do not like Alana’s sister Pumpkin. She is really gross and will burp and fart at the table while eating. June signed Honey Boo Boo up for etiquette lessons making Pumpkin tag along, but Pumpkin was not in for it, burping and blowing her nose during the lesson, saying “What you see is what you get.”

I do like Honey Boo Boo. I enjoy watching the show because it is really entertaining to see what the family is up to

next. Some people don’t like Honey Boo Boo or the show itself. I think if they just take the time to actually watch the show, they’d see that it’s not all that bad.

It’s just like any other reality show that shows people in their daily lives, but I feel like the family members are really true to themselves and don’t put on a show just because they’re in front of a camera. It’s not like she’s in their life, bothering them every day. She and her family are just on TV doing whatever they please.

Overall, I would keep watching “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.” New episodes are Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. on TLC. Some episodes are funny, some are not, but the show is still very entertaining to me.

opinion

the shield

oct. 5, 2012

21

No peanut butter sandwiches in Germany Foreign exchange student learns to live American way of life at McCallum High School LINA WOSTMANN

classes; everyone goes to a school with their Football, eating peanut butter and jelly level. The school with sandwiches and yellow buses are things the lowest level is called I’d only seen in movies before moving to “Haupschule”, the middle America as an exchange student. one “Realschule,” and the However, being an exchange student school with the highest is much more than those things. It is a level is called “Gymnagreat way to experience different cul- sium.” At the “Haupt-” ture. und “Realschule” students I live in a village in the west of Germany. graduate after 10 years, so It is called “Herzebrock-Clarholz”, and it most students are about is much smaller than Austin. Austin is 16, at the school with about 50 times as big as my village, so the highest level after 12 living in a big town is a new thing for me. years. If they want to go In addition to this, the weath- to college, they must have er in Texas is much hotter. graduated from the highWe count our time different too. We have est school. no a.m. or p.m. At noon we count on, so Furthermore, we have no our 1 p.m. is 13 o’clock (military time). middle school. We go for The difference between the time zones four years to elementary At the varsity football game against Akins Sept. 6, foreign exchange students Jila Shirazi, Anneis seven hours. That is why it is difficult school and then the teach- Sophie van Hasselt, Lina Wostmann and Emilie Kjellerup pose with the McCallum Knight, to talk to my family and friends back ers have to decide which sophomore Matthew Tenney. Photo provided by Lina Wostmann. home. school level The whole the students should go. school. People play them during free Another difference between Germany and school sysAnother thing I like time and the sport has almost nothing the USA are the eating habits. In AmerFrom English tem is differabout the American high to do with school. That’s why we don’t ica, dinner is the most important meal. to ent too. In schools is the offer of have a special school color or a mascot. Our most important meal in Germany is Germany, we electives. There are so Our school grades are different too. An lunch.

Good Morning - Guten Morgen have three many kinds of subjects I “A” is a 1 (called “sehr gut” in German), I am also looking forward to see AmeriHello - Hallo kinds of can holidays like Thanksgiving. In GerHow are you? - Wie geht es dir? had never heard about. B=2, C=3 and so on. high schools Because of this, I am During my second weekend in America, many we don’t have Thanksgiving, so it Good - gut with differable to have subjects like I went to Atlanta to visit the family of my will be very new but interesting for me Bad - schlecht ent levels. newspaper. host mom. It was a great trip and a good to eat turkey for the first time. In addiBye! - Auf Wiedersehn That’s why The football game against chance to see another part of the United tion to this, I am excited for Halloween our schools Anderson High School States. It was hard sometimes to under- because we don’t celebrate Halloween are smaller. was the first football stand the family because of their South- as much as people do in the states.

It is differgame I had ever seen. ern accents, but very funny.

All in all, I can say being an exchange stuent for me It was really fun. I like that nearly ev- I stay with a Jewish host family, so I will dent is a great way to see different things. that all the students are in the same erybody went to the game to cheer see another kind of religion (I am Catho- For the rest of my exchange I am looking forschool. It is a great way to meet students for their high school. Most sports in lic). At the first Jewish holiday, Rosh Ha- ward to discovering more typical American with a different background America are in school, so students play shanah, we went to a temple, and it was things. My host family is already planning The difference between our three high for their school. That is different in very interesting for me to see a different to visit me in Germany, and after my exschools is the level. We have no pre-AP Germany. Most of our sports are not in way to celebrate the New Year. change, I would like to visit the USA again. staff reporter

German

Facts about Germany

Capitol - Berlin Ethnic groups - 80% German, 5% Turks, other 15% Official name - Federal Republic of Germany Population - 81,799,600 Germany consists of 16 states The biggest festival is the Oktober Fest, but it starts in September Gummy bears were invented by a German Christmas tree (Tannenbaum) tradition came from Germany The most popular German surname is Müller There are 35 dialects of the German language.

German is the official language of 5 countries: Germany, Schwitzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Lichtenstein Berlin has the largest train station in Europe.

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opinion

oct. 5, 2012 Design Patent D’677 Q5

D’305 Q7

915 Patent Q2

Galaxy S 4G

Utility Patents 381 Patent Q1

the shield

163 Patent Q3

Are you getting the iPhone 5?

Galaxy S2 AT&T Galaxy S2 Skyrocket Galaxy S2 T-Mobile Galaxy S2 Epic 4G Galaxy S Showcase Droid Charge Galaxay Prevail

Yes

Key to chart:

Maybe No

Design Patents for iPhone Utility Patents for iPhone iPhone Design Patent: D’667 & D’305 Pinch-to-zoom: 915 Rubber-banding: 381 Tap-to-zoom: 163

The war of the phones

Are you getting the Galaxy S III?

iPhone company sues rival Samsung or patent infrigment BARON HEINRICH staff reporter

In a heated court case between Samsung and Apple, the court ruled in favor of Apple and awarded the company with $1.05 billion in damages.

The case was over an issue of patent infringement. Samsung was accused of mimicking Apple’s smartphone designs, interface and icons based on the iPhone.

Looking at a couple images of phones around the Web, it is pretty obvious Samsung’s phones look like cheap iPhone knockoffs. The Samsung Galaxy S looks almost exactly like the iPhone 3G. The Samsung Galaxy S II looks like the iPhone 4. Icons for the Galaxy generation do look too similar to the icons used for iOS. Apps were also organized similarly, most obviously seen in the Galaxy S but also seen in the later models. Other areas of infringement were the use of multi-touch features such as “pinch to zoom.”

Apple has requested the infringed phones be taken off the U.S. market. The Galaxy S III will be also taken to court for

other infringements and possible removal from the U.S. market. If In South Korea, a court determined both Samsung and Apple were infringing each other and banned the sell of the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 along with the Samsung Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab 10.1.

However, Samsung isn’t going down without a fight and is watching closely the specs of the iPhone 5. Since the iPhone 5 has been officially announced to have 4G LTE for its next generation, Samsung threatens to sue under a patent infringement for 4G LTE technologies.

This heated patent war should’ve ended with Apple declaring infringements on Samsung devices. Apple’s decision to ban the sale of the infringed phones makes Apple look a little too greedy. But, at the same time, the 4G LTE lawsuit from Samsung makes them look like they’re trying to hard to get even with Apple despite Samsung only owning the third largest of 4G LTE patents. Samsung is too eager to hamper the sell of the iPhone 5. I wouldn’t be surprised; Samsung did released an anti-iPhone ad encouraging consumers to

buy their Galaxy S III. The South Korean court didn’t make the best move with the dual ban of both Samsung and Apple devices. Doing so will hamper choices for South Korean consumers.

This whole debate over Samsung and Apple has cued many other lawsuits around the globe. Apple won against Motorola in a German court and banned the sale of the infringed phones. At the same time, Motorola Mobilty, a Google owned company, is suing Apple and requesting the ban of imported iMacs, iPhones and iPads imported from China.

It’s getting absolutely crazy. These court cases are both a demonstration of a power struggle over the mobile market and a question of what features can and can’t be implemented in a cellular device and what patents count as “fair and reasonable;” patents that can’t be infringed upon. These court cases across the globe are more devastating for the consumers rather than the companies. With the whopping amount of preorders, Apple better hope not to lose any court cases or consumers can say goodbye to the new iPhone 5.

Yes Maybe No 40 students polled

editorial

the shield

oct. 5, 2012

23

Politics should focus on substance, not style With what looks to be the closest Presidential race in history only 32 days away, the main issues still seem to be on a more superficial level than most care to recognize. Rather than focusing on substance, the positions and debates are focused on style. Instead, the candidates (and the debate moderators, for that matter) should focus on what our nation needs now.

The grim facts are that only 54 percent of Americans are fairly/fully satisfied with the candidates while a whopping 40 percent of citizens are not very/not at all satisfied with the current candidates. This doesn’t seem to faze President Obama or Gov. Mitt Romney as the two seem to spend all their time trying to make the other look bad.

Furthermore, the ridiculous idea that if the president were to be reelected, Texas, or any other state, would be invaded by the United Nations is ludicrous. By even bringing the subject up, Lubbock county Judge Tom Head is derailing the minds of voters and adding yet another useless topic into the mix. This is just one example of how the focus is not on what the country needs.

Both Romney and Obama have made mistakes in the campaign, and the media’s fascination with these mistakes builds the situations to staggering heights and blows them way out of proportion, only adding to the confusion surrounding main issues such as education, the economy and foreign policy. The truth of how impactful mistakes are lies solely with the voters; their votes are the ones to be swayed.

And while polls offer insight into the minds of Americans, they have become too much of a focus for campaign managers. For the Republicans to accuse polls of being skewed to bias Obama seems like a waste of time and shows a lack of class and control. Being this far in, the candidates need to know how to exercise these key tactics if they hope to succeed. Take for instance Mitt Romney’s 47 percent comments. They caused him to drop in the polls, but not significantly enough to count him out or even seriously affect his campaign.

Both candidates, incumbent Obama and challenger Romney, are skirting their responsibilities to the people of the U.S. by not telling us their plans for improving our country’s problems. Rather they are hiding behind a façade made up of feigned concern over pointless topics; the American people want solutions, not rhetoric.

In order to correct their mistakes, Obama and Romney need to be straight with the voters, tell them exactly what they are thinking and how it will affect them and their families. Ignoring easy one-liners and rah-rah pep rallies, they need to rally their supporters honestly and with the respect they deserve. Debates should help the American people understand what the candidates plan to do, both their easy to find five-step plans as well as their what goes on behind-thescenes plans.

If either one wants to be trusted by the people, they have to give us a reason to trust them and earn our votes. Both

are known for their oratory skills. They should use them to answer their citizens’

assistant editor Caitlin Falk

editor Baron Heinrich

photo editor Mary Stites

advertising manager Seren Villwock

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Although students work under the guidance of a professional faculty member, the student staff ultimitely determines the content.

Students may not publish material that is obscene, libelous or that which will cause a “substantial disruption to the educational pro-

questions insightfully and, above all, with purpose.

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the

shield staff

Cartoon by Tillie Walden.

editor-in-chief Grace Frye reporters adviser Rhonda Moore

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photo essay

oct. 5, 2012

the shield

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Tale As Old As Time

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Cast, crew of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ perform in show to be submitted to the International Thespian Festival 1.Senior Aline Mayagoitia (Belle) sits and reads her favorite book that the book store owner gave to her in the opening number “Belle.”

2. Sophomore Jacob Roberts-Miller, who plays the Beast, and Mayagoitia perform the iconic Beauty and the Beast ballroom dance to “Tale As Old As Time” after sharing a meaningful dinner for two.

3. Sophomore Ben Dickerson and sophomore Janine Dworin are excited about the possibility of being human again after Belle reveals her true feelings about the Beast.

4. Junior Skylar Bush, junior Jasmine Bell and senior Sydney Holt talk about Gaston and the town gossip.

5.Gaston, played by senior Liam Dolan-Henderson; Lefou, played by sophomore Seamus Bolivar-Ochoa; and other townsmen raise their torches and sing about killing the Beast.

6. Junior Lara Whitley, senior Micaela Racanelli and Bolivar-Ochoa swoon over Dolan-Henderson as the cast sings about Gaston’s love for Belle. Photos by Mary Stites.

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