The Shield

the

shield

McCallum High School / 5600 Sunshine / Austin, TX 78756 / Oct. 4, 2013 / Issue 1 / Volume 61

Mac theatre produces first musical of the year, ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ story on pages 20-21

what’s inside Staffer investigates new AISD Chinese language immersion program story on page 5

History teacher William Staples returns to Mac for a final year story on page 9

Staffer goes behind the scenes with Mac mascot, junior Matthew Tinney story on pages 22-23

2 contents

inside the issue

story on page 7

story on page 9

From left to right: Protesters line the rotunda of the capitol June 25 in support of Senator Wendy Davis’ filibuster. Photo by Miriam Rice. Teacher Bill Staples engages his class in World History as he takes on one more year of teaching.

story on page 18

Photo by Bella Temple. Varsity Volleyball players freshman Andrea Janss and senior Chaundra Brown block a ball in the game against Lanier on Sept. 27.

Photo by Mary Stites.

News

Feature

7

Mac standardized test scores ranked distinguished

8 Four freshman participate in sum- 17 Sophomore girl joins JV football

25 Father, daughter duo act together

7

Wind ensemble wins seventh at state competition

10 Staffer investigates rising cost in 19 Cross-country runners train

26 One-on-one Q&A with senior

mer anti-bullying campaign

college tuition

Sports team

every day for district

save the date october 4-6 10-13 11-13

14 16 17 23

Austin City Limits Music Festival Choir Cabaret @ 7 p.m. in the MAC Austin City Limits Music Festival AISD school off- Columbus Day PSAT Mac vs. Travis (Battle of the Bell) @House Park Orchestra concert in MAC @ 7 p.m.

the shield // oct. 4, 2013

Entertainment in fall musical “Bonnie and Clyde”

dance major Somer Lawrence

Don’t forget to like The Shield on Facebook

24 Classical guitar and orchestra concert 31 Mac vs. LBJ football game @ HP 31 Late Start

Follow: @theshieldonline on Twitter

november 2 Fashion Show: Notions III in MAC 5 Election Day 7 “Trenchcoat in Common” play in FAB

Visit: www.macshieldonline. com for exclusive content

Cover: Junior Jacob Roberts-Miller and freshman Hannah McEvilly sing a duet in “Bonnie and Clyde.” Photo by Seren Villwock.

A sudden goodbye

NEWS 3

AISD leveling sends English teacher to Lanier SEREN VILLWOCK

online editor Junior Daniel Chilton was in his creative writing class when he heard the news.

“I was shocked,” he said.

“Really shocked.

I didn’t know that

kind of thing could just happen.”

The news was that English teacher Alissa Bell would be transferred to Lanier in just two days as part of leveling in AISD. Since recent counts of students showed McCallum was under-enrolled and Lanier was experiencing overcrowding, Bell was told she had to move to Lanier to teach freshmen English in an effort to redistribute resources in the Junior Mallory Vinson holds a poster at the student-organized rally last Monday. Photo by Mary Stites.

district.

That was on Wednesday, Sept. 18, and just two days later, Bell and her student teacher Frannie Brown were saying goodbye to their pre-AP sophomore and regular junior English classes.

“I heard that she was leaving on Wednesday when Mr. Garrison called me into his office,” English teacher Flor Mota said. “I was stunned. Completely and utterly stunned.”

Bell’s classroom was then packed up, and her sophomore and junior classes were dissolved.

“Never in my years of teaching have I seen something like this happen,” English teacher Tom Watterson said.

“My understanding is that she was a recently hired English teacher who was not a coach, so she was chosen to transfer.

Especially knowing that one of our teachers volunteered to go but Bell was the one who was sent bothers me. The idea that the district could not find the resources to prevent this disruption I find hard to believe.”

Principal Mike Garrison said the school had to follow administrative procedures set out by the district to determine which teacher would be transferred.

Bell’s students were sent to switch into other teacher’s classes or change their schedules.

“Originally my physics and my English class switched, but I changed that because it destroyed my studying schedule, and I went into Mrs. Northcutt’s English class,” Chilton said. “All the desks were full. It actually got so crowded in there that four or five kids who were originally in the class had to switch out when Mrs. Bell’s kids moved. It’s kind of sad because you shouldn’t have that many students in one class. There’s no way you could get as much individual attention. It’s really strange; they are trying to divide it so that it’s the least crowded, but any way you divide it, it’s whole classes that got

dissolved. It’s going to get more crowded.”

English teacher Nikki Northcutt said she worries about the disruption this caused Bell’s students.

“They were a little bit behind where we were in ‘The Crucible,’ so I’ve basically had to slow down a little bit,” she said. “I don’t even know if they are understanding what is going on because it’s so new, so I’m worried about them. There 36 kids in my room now for every class, and that’s never good for kids. I feel like I haven’t been able to build the relationships that I normally do, and I’m getting names wrong, which I normally don’t do, and things like that.

Kids don’t learn as well if they don’t feel comfortable in the classroom.”

Students in Northcutt’s and Bell’s classes weren’t the only ones who had to move when the leveling occurred. In order to take on the extra class load, Mota’s two Film Analysis classes were dissolved, and senior students in one of Watterson’s classes had to get schedule changes to allow him to take on a new English III class with Bell’s old students. Since he has never taught English III before, he has had to learn how to teach an unfamiliar set of curriculum.

“I’m figuring out how to do that right now,” Watterson said. “The students told me they were in the middle of Act I of ‘The Crucible,’ and we’ve had to just go from there, so I’ve been borrowing from my colleagues, and I just spent last weekend reading the play.”

Mota said the new load of classes made it necessary to adapt her plans for the year.

After teaching Film Analysis for seven years, she is now focusing on managing her seven English classes. “[The Film Analysis] curriculum that I’ve developed over the years is just sitting on the edge of my desk right now,” she said. “I’m currently teaching all of the sophomore pre-AP English classes. continued on page 4

oct. 4, 2013 // the shield

4 NEWS

Student protests attract school board attention

continued from page 3 I have a lot of grading to do, and I’m trying to figure out how to manage everything now. I need to incorporate some time in the middle of the day to get things done. The biggest question that I had for the board was why not wait until the end of the semester, or why didn’t this happen at the beginning of the year?

The answer was that they don’t know the exact numbers of students until a few weeks into the year.”

Northcutt said she also wished the transfer could have waited until the end of the semester.

“My main problem is the timeline,” she said. “I get that the district was under-enrolled and I would have been willing to adjust, but it has been so disruptive for kids and parents. If they had waited even until the semester that would have been great, and it would have given us a little time to make plans. As far Junior Owen Summers holds a sign reading “Honk if you support teachers” outside as who goes, I don’t know if there is a AISD headquarters Sept. 23. Behind him are junior Daniel Chilton, who organized the good way to make that decision. It’s rally, and other students. Photo by Mary Stites. just hard all the way around.”

Chilton said the leveling not human nature.”

“I was really proud of them,” Mota said. only affected teachers but disrupted the Chilton then began planning ways “It was a small group, but not for lack of students’ learning process as well. to bring the issue to the attention of the energy. It made me feel the best I have felt “Teachers have specific ways of district. all year. When I got home, I definitely felt teaching, and if suddenly they are plucked “When I that my spirits out, you have to start all over with another heard that had been lifted.” teacher,” he said. “Ultimately it’s just a she was being The rally ripple effect. It’s almost like a food web. If leveled due attracted some you take one person out of the equation, to budgetary Ultimately it’s just a ripple a t t e n t i o n the entire thing goes down.” reasons, I cars and effect. If you take one per- from Though students in Bell’s eighth thought, ‘This employees son out of the equation, the passing by as period class were able to stay together and is not the way switch to Watterson’s new English III that education well as from the entire thing goes down. class, Watterson said he felt they were still is supposed local KVUEdisrupted and have had to adapt to a new to work.’ I TV news Daniel Chilton // Junior classroom and a new teaching style. thought, ‘How station, which After the students found out Bell can I show that sent reporters would soon be leaving, students lined teachers and students are upset, and how to cover the protest. A video clip showing the hallways with hand-written posters can I help change this?’” footage and interviews aired Monday reading “AISD killed my English class” On Monday, Sept. 23, Bell’s first day of night and was posted on the KVUE news and “Save the Film Analysis elective.” teaching at Lanier, Chilton and a group website.

“It’s confusing for students,” Mota of students formed a rally at the AISD “I talked to a few people at the rally said. “I know it’s hyperbolic, but I think administration building on 6th Street after who worked at AISD, and they didn’t they wonder, ‘If it happened once, could school with posters to spread awareness even know what leveling was,” Chilton it happen again to another teacher?’ It’s about the effects of leveling. said. “I thought it was interesting that they

“

the shield // oct. 4, 2013

worked there, and they didn’t even know about some of the policies they had. It was ironic, but I thought it was good that they were surprised because that’s how I reacted when I first heard about it too.”

On Monday, students attended the district board meeting to speak about how leveling has affected the school.

“I’m hoping there will be a lot of parents who will speak,” Chilton said. “I’ve been told that AISD really listens to them and they have the bigger influence, even more than teachers or students, so I’m trying to get McCallum kids’ parents down there.”

Chilton said he hopes they will be able to get at least get a conversation started about the leveling practice so the district knows what is going on.

“Budgetary cuts may be necessary in the eyes of the school board, but it really does have a negative affect on the education quality,” he said. “It may make sense economically to do leveling and make these cuts, but the fact of the matter is that it’s actually making things worse.

I think it’s ultimately up to the people of Austin to make a difference, and that’s why I organized the rally. I feel like this is not what the community wants, and not what Texas wants, so I’m hoping people will get involved and make their voices heard.”

Like Chilton, Mota said she believes there is hope for change in AISD if parents and students continue to get involved in rallies like the ones the last two weeks. In the meantime, she said she extends her best wishes to Bell at her new school.

“I hope wonderful things for Mrs. Bell at Lanier,” Mota said. “I hope she has wonderful classes and really continues to grow as a teacher. I saw a lot of that while she was here, and I’m sad I won’t be able to continue seeing that.”

The district leveling that sent Bell to Lanier affected students and teachers in their learning process and emotionally as well, Chilton said.

“She cared a lot,” Chilton said. “She cared about the students and she cared about her work, and she tried to put as much of herself as she could into her work.

She really helped students who didn’t even like English to start enjoying it.”

NEWS 5

AISD begins Chinese immersion program at Doss Elementary School SEAN SIMONS

staff reporter Senior Eve Galbraith started going to Chinese school when she was 3 years old.

“Chinese was my first language,” Galbraith said. “I feel like the sooner you start a language, the better, because the sooner you can integrate it into your mindset, the better it is for you.”

Galbraith was part of a program that she started when she was 3 and ended when she took the AP Chinese test at 14.

Galbraith is still fluent in Chinese.

“It helped me a lot in English,” she said.

“I’m really able to compare and contrast Chinese and English, and I’m really able to implement new things in my writing and into my speaking. By being able to see the structures of both languages as they pertain to the cultures, I can mix and match.”

A relatively new program has been implemented at AISD’s Doss Elementary School. The program, which started last year, immerses kindergarteners and first graders in Chinese by teaching the students their normal lessons, only in Chinese. The classes split time with an English-speaking teacher and a Mandarinspeaking teacher.

“The district, and specifically the Su-

perintendent, wanted to start a Chinese immersion program because there is such a global need for the language,” said Doss Principal and Chinese Immersion Program director Janna Griffin. “The U.S. Department of Defense has stated that Chinese is one of the ‘critical need’ languages for the U.S. Doss was selected due to the strong Chinese programs at Murchison Middle School and Anderson High School.”

Japanese teacher Toshio Nishida said the earlier one learns the language, the better. “It’s a language, and you’re supposed to be using it every minute of the day,” Nishida said. “Especially in Japanese, we use totally different characters, and it’s better if they start earlier. [The students’] brains are softer and they can take more information earlier.”

About 50 percent of these 6 and 7 year-olds’ day is spent learning science and math in Mandarin. The students also receive two half-an-hour classes every week on Mandarin linguistics.

“This is a 50/50 immersion model,” Griffin said. “Students learn science and math in the Chinese language and then

Chinese immersion long-term goals: • •

•

•

a high level of proficiency in Chinese a positive attitude toward those who speak the foreign language and toward their culture English language skills commensurate with expectations for student’s age and abilities skills and knowledge in the content areas of the curriculum in keeping with stated objectives in these areas

have Language Arts and Social Studies in English. We are following the Utah 50/50 model. Immersion education is extremely interactive and multi-sensory.”

Students were selected by sending an application to the program followed by a lottery that randomly chooses the applications. This past year, Doss had over 90 applicants vying for 60 spots. When Doss started the program, they had one kindergarten class, one first grade class and one second grade class. The school adds a class each year as the students move up through the grades.

After one year, Griffin said the program became a hit.

“There’s a lot of excitement. [The parents] have seen the program grow from a seedling of an idea to full implementation,” Griffin said. “They are very invested. Many families are learning Chinese as a family at home. [The] kids are very excited, too. Immersion education is hard, especially in the beginning, but the kids are doing great.”

Galbraith said she thinks the program is a fantastic opportunity.

“I definitely think that foreign languages should be started at a very rigorous level at a very early age so that you can be introduced to new things,” Galbraith said. “And I feel like it needs to be started as soon as possible and continued for as long as possible.”

oct. 4, 2013 // the shield

6 NEWS

Aborted debate Senator Wendy Davis filibusters Texas bill; students weigh in CAITLIN FALK

would raise abortion facility requirements, regulate abortion drugs and ban abortion assistant editor Texas abortion clinics and women’s after 20 weeks of gestation. Women who rights groups filed suit Sep. 27 in federal leaned pro-choice were generally opposed court hoping to block recent abortion to abortion clinics around the state legislation.

Organizations including being involuntarily shut down. These Planned Parenthood, the Center for clinics provide other services such as Reproductive Rights and the American contraception, STD testing and cancer Civil Liberties Union are suing Texas screenings for a number of low-income declaring some of the regulations women who are uninsured. unconstitutional.

“This an important issue because [the The issue came to light this past law] is essentially a ban on general access summer when one Texas senator mounted to women’s healthcare needs in Texas,” an unprecedented attempt to block Pitre said. Almost all of the attention the passage of the bill. Just as a vote on was brought specifically to the issue of Senate Bill 5, legislation that would close abortion, which is obviously a large part of hundreds of abortion clinics across the it and very significant, but really there’s a state, emerged and 11 hours before the lot more at stake, especially for women in Senate’s special session was to come to minorities and poorer women. A lot of the a close, one voice in the room stood in Planned Parenthood clinics that would be opposition. Senator Wendy Davis of shut down provide abortions, yeah, but Fort Worth began an 11-hour filibuster of they also provide basic women’s health the bill. Outside the adjournment room, care, check-ups and sexual education that thousands of supporters from around the a lot of people rely on.” state trickled in to stand with her.

Deirdre Cooper, Public Policy Analyst “The energy for the Texas in there was Alliance so powerful,” for Life, a junior Claire nonprofit It was so nice to be around oth- organization Pitre said. “The combination of er people who had the same dedicated to the chanting and “protecting opinion and were so passionate t h e stomping and just all of those fundamental about a specific cause. people in there right to life of together was Miriam Rice // Junior all innocent really intense. It h u m a n was such a crazy beings,” experience being a part of it.” supported the bill.

Junior Miriam Rice, who attended the “Every human life has dignity and worth protests at the Capitol along with Pitre, and is therefore worthy of protection,” she said her first experience at a demonstration said. “Abortion takes the life of a unique, of this magnitude was eye-opening. irrepeatable, innocent, defenseless human “It was so nice to be around other being. Those of us with a voice must people who had kind of the same opinion speak for those who cannot. In addition, and were so passionate about a specific abortion hurts women. No woman should cause,” she said. have to find herself in a situation where she Davis was opposed to the bill which feels she has no other choice but abortion.

“

the shield // oct. 4, 2013

1.

Women deserve better than that.”

However, Pitre said she wanted to make a clear distinction in her point of view.

“I want to make it clear that we’re not ‘pro-abortion’ as some people try to label us,” she said. “I obviously don’t advocate having an abortion or think it’s something to go through with lightly at all. But on the exact same note, I’ve never had an abortion or ever been in a situation where I needed one, so I can’t speak for those who have.

That being said, I wholly believe that if a women is in a situation where she needs an abortion, she totally needs to be able to go through with that. Nobody needs to question her or ask whether her reason for doing so is ‘justified.’ The person who is going to be affected the most by carrying the fetus is obviously the woman, so there’s nobody who should have more say in it than that woman.”

Eventually, Republicans were able to find way to prohibit Davis from speaking any longer. The time ran out in the initial special session due to a combination of other Democratic senators asking questions to prolong the time as well as

the iconic image of supporters yelling loudly to prevent voting in the chamber.

It was determined that the vote on Senate Bill 5 was done after the close of the special session of the legislature and was, as a result, invalid. Governor Rick Perry immediately called another Special Session to vote on the failed bill, this time dubbed House Bill 2.

“None of this could be called a success by any measure,” Cooper said. “The breakdown in decorum in the Senate of our state was not appropriate and the thwarting of the democratic process was also very harmful. Democracy does not work like that. The will of the people of Texas, represented by their rightfully elected representatives, was silenced by a very loud but very small group of extremists who broke decorum and broke the rules of the Senate that night. That was a sad night for Texas and for the democratic process.”

Pitre said she was more hopeful about the ongoing controversy.

“It was really empowering,” she said, “and although House Bill 2 did end up being passed, that experience alone tells me that there are a lot of angry women

NEWS 7 who are going to fight it until it’s turned view of things, I think it’s really important over.” for both young women and young men to Now that fight moves to the courts. realize that it’s not at all okay for women The lawsuit just filed would, if it to have laws specific to only women’s prevails, stop the state from fulfilling bodies imposed on them by men, which is some aspects exactly what’s of the bill. happening Rice said it with HB is important 2.

It’s really I think it’s important for my peers that students important that and my generation to take action high school take part in activism aren’t because HB2 and other such laws girls such as this seeing this greatly affect us. because their happen and generation thinking that Claire Pitre // Junior is the future. it’s okay and Pitre agreed. acceptable, “I think it’s especially at a important for my peers and my generation time in our lives when self-worth and values to take action because HB 2 and other are really being developed. Attending such laws greatly affect us,” Pitre said, the protest has made me appreciate how “both now and in the future. While we may powerful we can all be in a large group not realize the effects of the bill now, it’s together and how much noise we can really totally relevant to us. And in the broader make.”

“

2.

1. Junior Claire Pitre holds up a sign at the capitol in June, advocating against Texas’ new abortion bill.

2. Protesters unite in supporting Wendy Davis’ filibuster. Photos by Miriam Rice.

news in brief Wind ensemble wins seventh at state competition In early July, the Wind Ensemble placed seventh out of 15 at the Texas State Music Educators Association State Honor Band Competition.

After many months of practice and several qualifier competitions, the band finally got to where they were hoping for: state competition.

“Well, the process is you submit a recording of three pieces and you first have to advance from your region to area, and we placed first in our region,” Matthew Ehler, band co-director said. “The top two bands advance to area. Area is kind of like south San Antonio, through east Houston, around all the way to Austin. And then for area the top two advance from there as well; and we were first again. And then you go to state. There were 15 bands at state, and we were 7th out of the 15.”

Only one other AISD high school has ranked at the Honor Band State Finals.

“It feels very good,” Ehler said. “And you know, actually the last AISD school to go was in like the 1960s so it’s been a long time since any AISD school has accomplished it. So it’s a huge accomplishment for the program.”

School calendar now accessible through Google McCallum has a new calendar system this year.

Building manager Mary Noack used to type up the entire calendar and then send it out to the staff; now it’s just typed on the Google calendar and shared through the “Cloud” network.

“It cut out one step of me having to type it up on a Word document,” Noack said.

Noack said she is excited about the change and thinks the system is cool.

“My concern is that things will get put on there that I’m not aware of, then something happens and I don’t get notified to be able to make sure we have air conditioning or, you know, staff to cover an event; stuff like that,” Noack said.

The new system does come with new things to get used to.

“It’s very user-friendly, which is a plus,” Noack said. “A lot of the teachers are having a struggle because it doesn’t look like the other calendar did, so you have to get used to it, but I like it a lot.”

Mac STAAR scores named Distinguished across the board McCallum High School was one of only three AISD high schools to be named distinguished in three areas: math, English and improvement.

“I was very excited to hear that McCallum was one of the three high

schools in the Austin Independent School District to get the distinguished recognition for getting distinguished in the three areas,” Principal Mike Garrison said.

Assistant Principal James Wilson said everyone is responsible for the improved scores.

“The students are focused, the teachers are well-prepared to teach the students and we’re following the guidelines in order to succeed, so we are doing the right thing,” Wilson said.

Garrison said teachers and students will need to continue to work hard.

“It’s gonna have to be more of the same,” Garrison said. “Teachers are gonna have to continue to work hard, they’re gonna have to get the information from the previous year, and then monitor the students as they go through this year, and make adjustments depending on the understanding of the students and their mastering of the curriculum at that point in time to get them to a point where they’re successful again on the end-of-course exams.”

oct. 4, 2013 // the shield

8 Feature

There’s No Bull Freshmen win national video contest for anti-bullying campaign HALEY HEGEFELD staff reporter

When the No Bull Challenge, a contest where students submit videos promoting anti-bullying propaganda, announced the students who would be eligible to go to the one-day conference in Los Angeles, freshman Alex Phillips was at her summer camp, Camp Longhorn.

“I got a letter from [one of my groupmates] and I was like, ‘Oh my God,’” Phillips said. “Everyone [in her cabin] was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ so I had to explain to everyone [what had happened].”

Phillips and three other freshmen, Emily Goulet, Quinn Kennedy and Ellie Zambarano, entered No Bull Challenge, which challenges students to direct, produce and film a video that promotes the anti-bullying campaign.

Their fictional video, which was entitled “Scars,” showcased a woman who was bullied as a child and became traumatized from the bullies’ words and name-calling.

The video shows the girl as an adult who is still damaged from these harmful comments.

“We stemmed it off of the phrase ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,’” Goulet said. “We just wanted to say that that is no longer true.

Words can hurt more than physical things.

The words kind of define (the girl in the video). So the message is that when you say something, you don’t know how it is going to affect a person. It might affect them for the rest of their life.”

The four girls first started making the video in the spring semester during their sociology class, an elective at Kealing Middle School. Their teacher, Darcy McNutt, found out about the contest from a friend.

McNutt then contacted Sarah Flores, the campaign manager at No Bull, to get more information.

“We did it for a sociology project, and then Ms. McNutt was like, ‘Oh we’ll get

the shield // oct. 4, 2013

the school to come behind you and vote,’” Phillips said. “But no one really expected [the video] to go that far.”

In the first round of competition, the videos were uploaded online so the public could watch and vote for their favorites.

Their video placed second in public votes.

After the preliminary voting, the 50 videos with the most votes were selected and put into the second phase of competition. The groups that made these videos were invited to go to the conference in Los Angeles as well. During the second phase, the remaining videos were judged by professionals chosen by No Bull.

“We went to LA in the beginning of August,” said executive producer of “Scars,” Zambarano. “I got to be on an expert panel because I was the executive producer, and I got to talk about bullying and being a bystander.”

The four freshmen said they woke up conference. The freshman girls ended the early so they could spend all day at the day with the final awards show where the conference. They went to round-table dis- overall winners were announced and other cussions with a panel of students and pro- awards were given. Their video was nomifessionals who have first-hand experience nated for Best Directing, Best Acting and working with anti-bullying organizations. Best Message.

“It was black tie and we all got really The people on the panel shared their expedressed up,” Phillips said. “We got to find riences with bullying.

The main organization that was talked about is called Teen Line, a telephone number that teens who are at risk of commitWhen you say something, ting suicide can call and get help.

“Teen Line is different from you don’t know how it is other suicide lines because it’s acgoing to affect a person. It tually teens that talk to you on the phone and then they talk [the callmight affect them for the rest ers] through it and calm the kids of their life. down,” Goulet said. “The founder of Teen Line, a parent whose Emily Goulet // Freshman child had committed suicide, and a girl who had gotten through out what we won, and we got fourth over[bullying] were all there speaking.”

There were also performances from all.”

The most important thing Zambarano minor celebrities, including Ryan Beattie, a teen pop star. Lauren Potter, who said she learned is to not be a bystander. plays Becky on “Glee,” also spoke at the If someone is being bullied, the best way

“

to handle this situation is to speak up and defend the person.

In the future, the girls said they still want to be proactive in the anti-bullying campaign and educate students of the lifelong effects bullying can cause.

“We might make another video again this year,” Phillips said. “We’re not really sure about ideas for the video yet.”

The four freshmen are also sharing their video around Austin in an attempt to spread the anti-bullying propaganda.

They plan to go to their elementary schools and show the video and lead a small workshop to teach the elementary school students how to approach bullying when they see it. McCallum is also joining the effort against bullying. This year, McCallum is officially a No Place For Hate school.

“It’s not like once a school is a No Place For Hate school, there is automatically no bullying that goes on,” Goulet said. “You have to actually believe in it and take action. You need to have enough students who actually care about it and not think of it as a joke to make a difference.”

Feature 9

Back in action World history teacher stays another year after retiring from McCallum last year BELLA TEMPLE staff reporter

In mid-July, world history teacher William Staples was getting ready for retirement and had many job options when he got a call from co-chair of the social studies department, Katie Carrasco. She said McCallum had not successfully found a replacement teacher for his class for this year.

“We had narrowed it down to two candidates, a first choice and a second choice,” Staples said. “And apparently the first choice, who was out of state, in the end could not see himself moving from Florida, that is where he was from, to Texas.

The other candidate turned out to not be the quality we wanted here.”

The administrators found it difficult to find a teacher who would be able to teach Pre-AP World History.

“A program that, for many years, has proven that combining English and World History through joint assignments greatly helps prepare students for their collegiate careers,” Staples said.

What Staples was planning to do this year was to teach internationally.

“I am really set on somewhere in Europe,” Staples said. “My preference would be Germany. I don’t know why. I’ve never been to Germany, but there is just something about it that is interesting to me.”

Junior Jessie Woolley-MacMath, who had his class last year and is now a teacher’s aide for him, said she had mixed feelings when she first found out Staples was returning for a 24th year to teach at McCallum.

“I was really happy that he was coming back because he is a great teacher, and I

World History teacher William Staples shows his class a Power Point about the end of the six weeks.

Photo by Bella Temple was excited that another class was going with his room keys.

“It felt very good to have them back in to get him,” Woolley-MacMath said, “but I also felt kind of bad because he didn’t get my hand,” Staples said. “I look forward to spending another year with my McCallum to do what he wanted to do.”

Staples planned to leave this year due family.”

Woolleyto financial MacMath reasons. said she was “When upset when you hit that she first heard retirement I wasn’t tired of teaching or the news last point, if tired of students. I was very year about you’re young Staples’ plans enough, then much the opposite. to leave; it is really fishe said she nancially adWilliam Staples // Teacher hoped the vantageous replacement to take your pension from teacher retirement and go teacher would be good.

“He was one of my favorite teachers. get another full time job and couple this new pension and your salary together for He is really funny and a cool guy,” Woola number of years.” Staples said. “And that ley-MacMath said. “My brother had him, was really the plan. I wasn’t tired of teach- so I kind of already knew who he was. My ing or tired of students. I was very much brother really liked him, so I was excited about meeting him.” the opposite.”

When Woolley-MacMath chose to be Before school started, Mary Noack, the building manager, presented Staples a teacher’s aide for Staples, she said she

“

knew how the year would go.

“I had a teacher’s aide in my class last year, and she graded a lot of the work and talked to us about her experience in the class, so that’s probably what I’ll be doing too,” Woolley-MacMath said.

Woolley-MacMath said Staples still says all the same jokes and all the same lectures. On the first day, the class did an activity where they stood up and asked questions, an activity that he has done for years.

“The students are pretty talkative,” Woolley-MacMath said. “I think it is going to be a great class” According to Staples, McCallum will use this year to find a strong replacement teacher suitable for his job while he teaches for one last year.

“As I discussed the situation with Ms. Carrasco and, subsequently, Mr. Garrison, we jointly arrived at the idea that, perhaps, I should return as an interim teacher for the 2013- 2014 school year,” Staples said.” I love McCallum and I love the students. I am having a really great time. I am having a really good year, so far.”

oct. 4, 2013 // the shield

10 Feature

Supernova of the STAAR House Bill 5 reduces number of end-of-course tests, graduation requirements ing of a certain subject, like algebra, will HALEY HEGEFELD advertising manager have a better chance of being able to fill the ophomore Isabella Grossling’s requirements to graduate. mind goes blank when a test is “I support testing because I like acput in front of her. The words countability,” Pre-AP World Geography start moving around the page, so she can’t teacher Katie Carrasco said. “I think that concentrate on the test because she is too a standardized test is a good way to meabusy worrying what it says, not what it sure, but it shouldn’t be the only way to means. measure. It should be a good test because “I have dyslexia and dysgraphia, so test- there are always biases in tests. It depends ing is really hard for me,” Grossling said. on who is writing the test, and all of the “It makes me very anxious, and sometimes politics involved in writing the tests makes I rush, especially with timed things like the me more skeptical.”

STAAR.” Grossling is an example of a national However, STAAR testing will no lon- epidemic caused by these end-of-course ger be as big of a problem for Grossling exams: test anxiety. This phenomenon has because the number of tests has been reduced. In May, a new law, House Bill 5, was passed by the Senate to reduce the number of stateWe had to cover a ton of mandated end-of-course exstuff, but we couldn’t go into ams from 15, a national high, any solid detail about anyto five. The five subjects that will be tested are English thing. It didn’t feel like anyI, English II, US History, thing was very relatable or Biology and Algebra I. In addition, House Bill 5 lessinspirational. ened the graduation credit requirement to a “foundaKatie Carrasco // Teacher tion” plan that requires three math and science credits to give students more flexibility to focus on classes that will prepare them become a common occurrence in schools for their future careers. because of the great importance put on “I don’t think [lowering the diploma students’ scores. requirement] is good because high school “I like [House Bill 5] to an extent,” is pretty easy as it is,” sophomore John Grossling said. “I do think that the tests Carson said. “If they keep [the standard re- are there for a reason because they need to quirement] like it is, people will have more know what the average is, I guess. I think knowledge going into their first jobs, espe- if there would be another way to show [the cially the people who don’t go to college.” average] they should, but I don’t think that Carson said House Bill 5 will affect the lowering it down to five tests shows that number of graduating students. This is be- too much.” cause with fewer credits and fewer tests to However, Carson said he believes stanpass, students who have trouble with test- dardized testing should not be something

S

“

the shield // oct. 4, 2013

to stress about. Carson said the testing will not change anything for the students but will affect the teachers instead.

“I don’t think the teachers will test as much and we won’t be geared just for tests,” Carson said. “Because they don’t have to just teach facts, they can kind of teach what they want to teach.”

Carrasco had to change her curriculum when the STAAR tests were first used two years ago. The course became more fact and memorization-related instead of idea-driven.

“The big thing that [teachers] complain about in social studies was that we had to go an inch deep and a mile wide,” Carrasco

said. “We had to cover a ton of stuff, but we couldn’t go into any solid detail about anything. It didn’t feel like anything was very relatable or inspirational.”

Grossling said she had a math teacher in middle school who focused solely on the basics and moved through the material really quickly. She did not learn the material as well as she should have because of this method of teaching, so the end-of-course exam was very difficult.

“I never liked [the tests] in the first place, but I wish instead of taking more tests off, accommodate that in a different way,” Grossling said. “Test us in a different way.”

by the numbers numbers represent percentage of students who passed

BIOLOGY

88

83.7 WORLD GEOGRAPHY 80.5 ALGEBRA 1 82.1 GEOMETRY 86.2 ENGLISH 1 (Reading) 70.1 ENGLISH 1 (Writing) 54.3 ENGLISH 2 (Reading) 78.0 ENGLISH 2 (Writing) 53.7 CHEMISTRY

feature 11

Is higher education

Out of reach?

Rising tuition costs in America makes it costly for students to go to college AARON ROLES

six to six-and-a-half years,” Nitardy said.

“So, number one would be here at McCalstaff reporter In the competitive world students live lum to get more credits before you even in, the importance of a college education leave here, especially if you’re staying in is pushed on them their whole student state. Do ACC, take the AP classes, do career. However, many students across the exams and get enough credits so when America cannot attend college because you go off to college, you’re already like a they can’t afford it or don’t want to face stu- sophomore. Then if you have to switch or change majors, you have a cushion there. dent loan debt.

The cost of a college education in Definitely getting done in four years is America is more expensive than it has ever huge. Taking advantage of community been, and it continues to go up every year. college courses while you are back home in For the 2012-13 school year, the cost to go the summer helps. Four year colleges need to an in-state public college rose 3.8 per- to get kids done in four years, but it’s hard because kids change majors.” cent, according to the College Board.

Sophomore Jackson Holtkamp said College adviser Nancy Nitardy said she believes the costs to make colleges colleges should take action to curb tuition more appealing is driving tuition prices up. increases.

“Tuition could go down if colleges ac“To get strong professors, you need to pull them from the business world in tually do something about it,” Holtkamp some cases,” Nitardy said. “I think it’s try- said, “but it’s more likely to plateau than go back down.” ing to get top Nitardy professors in said student the fields and paying them Do ACC, take the AP classes, loan debt is a problem in more money do the exams and get enough America. to steal them “Debt is from the busicredits so when you go off to getting kind ness world. college, you’re already like a of crazy, esAnd then evpecially in erything costs sophomore. the past two more, [such as] Nancy Nitardy // College Adviser years, like stubuilding new dents having facilities. On many campuses they have had to redo their to borrow $15,000 a year. If they’re done dorms because everyone wants their own in four years, [it would cost] $60,000. room with their own bathroom and their You know, graduating with $60,000 in debt, that’s a lot,” Nitardy said. “I had a own everything.”

Nitardy said colleges are trying to student walk in that is $120,000 in debt. come up with ways to stop increasing their That’s as much as a home. A lot of people promoting post-secondary education say costs, but the main factor is time.

“What will help is if kids can be done in you’re going to earn that back, it just four years. That’s definitely a push in this takes a long time.”

Nitardy said it is hard for her to tell stucountry, for students to graduate in four years from college. Right now I think it’s dents to take out student loans when there

“

Average Cost of College Over Time (1980-2011) 1980-81

All $3,101

4-year $3,499

2-year $2,230

1990-91

$6,562

$7,602

$3,930

2000-01

$10,820

$12,922

$5,466

2001-02

$11,380

$13,639

$5,718

2002-03

$12,014

$14,439

$6,252

2003-04

$12,953

$15,505

$6,705

2004-05

$13,793

$16,510

$7,095

2005-06

$14,634

$17,751

$7,236

2006-07

$15,483

$18,471

$7,466

2007-08

$16,231

$19,363

$7,637

2008-09

$17,092

$20,409

$8,238

2009-10

$17,649

$21,093

$8,533

2010-11

$18,479

$22,092

$8,909

source: nces.ed.gov graphic by: Aaron Roles

are other options, like staying in state or going to community college.

“It’s tricky because I know it’s definitely worth it to go to college,” she said. “You need to be trained at something. I think there’s going to be a problem down the road in this country with all the young population having that kind of debt.”

Holtkamp said it is important for parents to set aside money for college.

“My parents have been, but they haven’t looked at it in a while,” Holtkamp said.

“My mom’s been complaining about how expensive the colleges I want to go to are, but the other day she was like, ‘Wait, you have a college fund.’”

Nitardy said not having money shouldn’t stop students from going to college.

“If students don’t have a lot of money, they usually qualify for a Pell Grant, which is $5500 to go to college and then you can also borrow $5500 at a very low rate. Half

of that is interest free until you stop going to college,” Nitardy said. “You can go to community college for your basics for less than $10,000. You have two years and it’s about $5000 for one year and $5000 for the next at the most. It’s actually not even that much.”

Nitardy said if students start thinking about their future in high school, things will be easier for them in college.

“I know people don’t like us pushing kids to try and figure out what they want to be once they get out of high school, but absolutely if you did start thinking about it maybe you’ll come up with that decision sooner,” Nitardy said. “It seems like many students go off to college and after sophomore year they change their major.

At some schools if you’ve started taking courses for that major, those credits in that major don’t switch over to this new major, and that’s when you have to sort of back up and get behind in credits.”

oct. 4, 2013 // the shield

12 Feature

Taking a road less traveled Fordham University professor questions of validity of last year of high school JESSE LEVY-RUBINETT staff reporter

In the heat of preseason basketball, senior Ben Dickey is working hard to make his last season at McCallum worthwhile and successful.

“It’s my last year on varsity,” Dickey said. “I wouldn’t want to miss it. I gotta be here with my bros. I worked hard all summer on improving on my game and my athleticism to finish out my career strong.

We are going to have a good team this year, and I want to help take us deep into the playoffs.”

Although Dickey is enjoying his senior year, Fordham University’s Marc Bernstein questioned the validity of senior year in The New York Times. Bernstein said many students are unproductive during senior year, being plagued by senioritis, and could be better off having a free year to use in ways

that would be productive to their future.

“I wouldn’t skip senior year if I could,” Dickey said. ”It’s just a fun time. If I skipped it, I would just go on vacation and travel around the world to see cool things, which isn’t exactly realistic for me.”

Dickey is also using the year to prepare for college.

“I am taking a few more AP classes this year to help me get ready for college,” Dickey said, “and I am still working hard on my applications and college stuff.”

Sophomore Luke Richter said students should enjoy senior year and use it to help further prepare them in different ways. “ If I did (skip senior year), I would relax, go on vacation and do other things to help me prepare for college, but I don’t think that’s my best option,” Richter said. “ Also, I would miss my last year of baseball, but I’d also miss being at the school with everyone for the last time.”

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the shield // oct. 4, 2013

Richter said people would misuse this time.

“I definitely think that some people would basically waste a year of their life doing nothing, so this might not be the best idea,” Richter said. “It depends on the situation though. Some people need to stay to finish their credits and make sure they are ready for college, but I don’t think senior year will help as an emotional transition year. It is just a fun time.”

Dickey said some people make mistakes during senior year.

“A baseball player messed up at prom a few years ago,” Dickey said. “And that hurt his reputation and resume for college, not to mention missing the playoffs for baseball.”

Sophomore Addy Hernandez said time off for a year would be beneficial to do service work in the community, travel and do other things that would help her learn about the real world outside of school.

“The year off would give me time to go out into the world and see what I wanted to do with my life,” Hernandez said. “If I could, I would definitely take the opportunity and do things like go to Africa and volunteer there, backpack northern Spain, and travel other important places in the world. I would use these experiences to educate myself in ways that senior year would not provide.”

She also sees how this option is not for everyone. “ I can see people just wasting their time and having an extra long summer. It would also be sad to miss prom and other senior activities throughout the year,” Hernandez said. “It just depends on where you at in life and what you want to do with your time. Both options would work. I know it’s not for everyone but this could create some amazing opportunities for ambitious students and active people.”

Feature 13

All through the town Students discuss benefits, drawbacks of riding city buses to school KENDRA MURPHY staff reporter

Soques said she often feels unsafe on the city bus.

“I decided to sit in the back because it feels more protected, and you can see everyone,” she said.

Carl said the biggest complaint about the buses is that they’re never on time.

Senior Elizabeth Carl has been riding Cap Metro buses since she was a freshman.

“I know about five or six people who ride the bus regularly,” Carl said. “They don’t despise it, but they don’t enjoy it either. For them “It’s nice to have easy-access it’s just transport from place to place.” transportation from place to place.

Senior Alexandrine I would recommend Capital Metro Delijeant also rides the city busses to school. buses to my friends.

“A lot of people ride Cap Metro buses,” Elizabeth Carl // Senior Delijeant said. “I see tons of people at the bus stop after school. I don’t “They’re always either early or late,” even think I can count them all.”

Capital Metro has been in the news Carl said. “They never show up when recently following a surprising report of they’re supposed to, and it messes with its board’s expenses in the last few years. people’s schedules.”

Soques also complained about the timQuestions about the transit service’s reliability and its use of taxpayer funds have ing and the reliability of the buses.

“Sometimes you have to wait a really risen as a result of the report.

Senior Alex Soques, who also rides the long time for the bus to come, and it’s a Cap Metro buses, said no one really likes hassle,” she said. “They also charge me riding them.

“Pretty much everyone I know has ridden the bus once or twice,” Soques said.

“If most people had a choice, though, they would probably carpool instead.”

Delijeant shook her head when thinking about the general condition of Cap Metro buses.

“Oh boy,” Delijeant said. “There are signs on the bus that say ‘no food, drinks or loud music,’ and people do all of those things anyway.”

Carl worries about the cleanliness of the buses.

“Some pretty unclean people ride the bus,” Carl said. “I never see anyone who looks dangerous, though,”

“

more money sometimes because they don’t believe I’m a student.”

Carl said one good thing about riding the bus is the cost.

“The reduced student pricing is great,” Carl said. “It’s not at all expensive for students to ride the bus. Only paying 50 cents is really nice.”

Delijeant agreed the bus’s student-reduced pricing is good.

“I heard a rumor that they’re raising prices in a few years, which I’m not too happy about, but right now it’s totally manageable,” Delijeant said.

The cons of riding Cap Metro buses don’t outweigh the pros, according to Delijeant.

“It might take me a while to think of things I like about the bus,” Delijeant said, “but there definitely are some good things about it. The price is great for students, and the design of the new buses is really nice. There’s more space and it’s

more comfortable. Riding the bus is a good time to just sit and stare out the window and reflect.”

Soques agreed. She said riding the bus is worth it for people who have no other options.

“A lot of people ride the bus, and they probably wouldn’t if they had a choice, but the bus is still a good source of transportation” she said.

Carl said the bus is a good alternative for people who can’t ride the school bus, and that Capital Metro’s service is overall an excellent option for students.

“It’s nice to have easy access transportation, and it’s great because it’s inexpensive,” Carl said. “I would recommend Capital Metro buses to my friends.”

oct. 4, 2013 // the shield

14 Feature

A new way to binge GRACE FRYE editor-in-chief

The industry term is “cord cutting,” but senior Zoe Scott says it’s just a smarter option.

Relying on only Hulu Plus and Netflix, Scott’s primary source of television viewing is completely online.

“Cable is really expensive,” Scott said. “It’s like over a hundred dollars a month. So we just bought this little thing that hooks up to our TV that was like 20 bucks and then Netflix is like 10 dollars and Hulu is like 5 dollars. It’s a lot cheaper.”

And Scott is not alone; the rise in Internetbased television providers has been steadily increasing over the past few years. Over-the-Top (OTT) companies such as Netflix and Hulu have seen massive increases in subscribers culminating in 29.2 million total subscribers and 4 million paying subscribers respectively. Although Internet business is up, Carmen Tawil, co-managing partner of the Austin-based KCWX television station, said she thinks OTT services are in fact helping broadcast TV. “Cord cutters really haven’t impacted broadcast television,” Tawil said. “[They] have probably helped since more and more viewers are returning to over-the-air television to supplement their OTT service.”

According to Tawil, the growth in OTT companies can be attributed to the reduced cost associated with the services, as well as its ease of access. However, she said some sub-

scribers do not take into account the net price it assignments.

“I come home after school and I’m just costs to use OTT services.

“What is not being calculated in the cost is like, ‘I’m only going to watch one episode, you the Internet portion of the equation,” Tawil know, relax before I start my homework.’ And said. “If you don’t have high speed Internet, then [the first episode] ends and I’m like ‘Well, I want to watch another one,’” Henry said. “So I then you can’t use OTT.” But for sophomore Eli Loewenstern, Netf- just start another one and then I’ll be like, ‘I’ll do [my homework] later; I’ll do it after dinner.’ And lix is a nightly ritual.

“I like to do my homework then stay up late then I’ll be like, ‘Wait no, I want to watch more. watching TV,” Loewenstern said. “It goes TV, I’ll do my homework at lunch.’ And then I end homework, TV. It is easy to watch multiple epi- up doing it right before it’s due. It’s pretty bad.”

Loewensodes in a row.” stern agreed. He This practice is said he tends called binge watchwatch about ing. It is the act of I like to do my homework to 10 hours of TV viewing multiple then stay up late watching per week. That episodes of a TV show in a row. And TV. It goes TV, homework, TV. comes out to 27 standard it is growing in It is easy to watch multiple over half-hour shows popularity. Accordepisodes in a row. each week. ing to research, the “I’ve seen average Hulu user Eli Loewenstern // Sophomore every episode spends at least one of ‘How I Met hour and 13 minutes each sitting. That comes out to more than three Your Mother’ like three times,” he said. “TV gets in the way of my homework all the time. I standard half-hour shows every time.

“With stuff like Netflix and Hulu, you don’t just procrastinate. When I’m doing homework, have commercials and you don’t have to wait, I’ll just pop on an episode of ‘How I Met Your like with traditional TV, for episodes to air Mother.’”

Scott said she likes having Internet-based each week,” senior Hannah Henry said. “With Netflix it’s just like bam bam bam bam and TV coverage because her busy schedule sometimes gets in the way of when her favorite you’re through the season.”

Henry said while she enjoys watching TV, shows air on standard broadcast.

“I think [the Internet] makes it easier to find it often gets in the way of her completing daily

how do you watch?

100 students polled

the shield // oct. 4, 2013

“

With the technological advances of today, TV has started to be replaced by growing Internetbased industry all the shows I like because I’m not home a lot, so I would miss all of the shows I would want to watch anyway,” Scott said. “So I can just watch them whenever I want to.”

Tawil said although OTT services are easily accessible, it is not as efficient as standard broadcast.

“As more and more people start to use OTT, bandwidth constraints will start to come into play since there is simply not enough current capacity for everyone to download videos for their personal viewing,” Tawil said. “With broadcast television as well as standard video providers, everyone receives the same signal and thus the bandwidth usage is much more efficient, point to multi-point instead of point-to-point.”

Henry said even though her family continues to use cable, Netflix is her primary source of TV, especially binge watching.

“Sometimes I’ll just wake up late and I’ll start a show and I’ll just spend the whole day watching TV, and when I get to the end of the day I don’t feel productive,” Henry said. “Although it’s fun, it doesn’t always make you feel that great.”

But for Loewenstern, the pros outweigh the cons, and he doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.

“You stay up late and get tired. You lose friends because you don’t care about them as much as your TV friends. And you sometimes just don’t do homework,” he said. “But hell yeah, it’s worth it.”

WIth additional reporting by Bella Temple.

48 %

Feature 15

opinion NATALIE MURPHY

public relations editor

Hi, my name is Natalie and I’m addicted to TV. I know how it sounds. Like I stay up all night watching TV and often don’t finish homework and ignore my friends on Friday nights because Netflix just released a new season of “Cake Boss.” That’s pretty accurate.

Netflix is my preferred method of binge watching. I love it. If Netflix were a person, that person would be my best friend. I spend more time with Netflix than my grandmother.

confessions of a TV addict

It’s just so easy to use because you don’t even have to pick up the remote to watch the next episode. I just sit there for hours. I don’t have to move even once and TV just happens to me. Who would choose homework over that?

Man, if I only I could get a scholarship for Chad Michael Murray trivia, I’d be all set.

I’m really into “One Tree Hill” right now.

I’m also into “Heroes,” “Lost,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Doctor Who,” “Parks and Recreation” and “Meerkat Manor.” The variety is perfect because if I’m in the mood for TV but can’t decide what kind, I have infinite options.

That’s the other beauty of Netflix; it orga-

45 %

nizes all your genres and interests for you so you don’t even have to decide what you want anymore.

Of course, my relationship with Netflix has its down sides. Sometimes I have to wait for it to buffer and I get so upset that the neighbors hear about how I “want the talking people to come back” and cry “how could you leave me?”

In all seriousness, I’m really passionate about TV. I think our culture has downgraded its worth. Yes, there are some shows that are trashy and only exist to make money, but there are some shows that are just as artful and sincere as any film, book or play. How great is

5%

the feeling of knowing you’re watching something with millions of other people and investing together in that show? Or how exciting it is when your favorite character delivers a line that is so spot on you want to stand up and applaud. And when you have a bad day, sometimes all you need is a mini-marathon of a show where everyone’s lives are way worse than yours.

There is merit in binge watching. Should we sit at home and watch TV every day? No. But being passionate about a story is not worthless, and occasional binge watching can keep you sane.

other

2%

oct. 4, 2013 // the shield

16 Sports

Carrying on the traditions Students enjoy old school rituals including upcoming Battle of the Bell LULU NEWTON staff reporter

The horns start playing from their place in the stands and all the spectators start linking up shoulder to shoulder, making room for the last person in the stairs to join in before it starts. Fans start to sway and the cheerleaders set the timing. And all at once, the drum-line drops in and everyone does the Hawk dance.

“I feel like [the Hawk dance] makes us more united,” junior Paige Puorro said, “We’re all doing it together, and it’s really fun and pumped up and excited. Not a lot of schools do that, you know.”

Everyone gets pumped up at the football games, especially the big traditional games like Taco Shack Bowl against Anderson High School, the intense rivalry with LBJ High School, and the oldest, the Battle of the Bell against Travis High School. In the 60th anniversary of McCallum and the Bell, the game is expected to have a much bigger crowd than many years past.

“I know that a lot of people that came to this school, I guess alumni, are coming, and we have Blue Brigade who have been on the team in years past that are coming to the game, and cheerleaders and band,” junior Abby Nirenberg said.

Though neither Puorro nor Nirenberg knew how the tradition of the Bell started because it was so long ago, they still hold the game to high standards.

“It’s a really exciting game. It’s a game that we look forward to every year, besides Taco Shack, and we want to bring back the Bell, especially the senior football players. It’s really important to them to bring it back,” Puorro said. “When we win the Bell, all the senior players and the senior cheerleaders and the senior band people go out and they ring the Bell. It’s a huge deal.”

The Battle of the Bell began when McCallum and Travis High Schools were

the shield // oct. 4, 2013

Well, we want to bring back the Bell. The Bell belongs to us, and we can’t let anyone else have it.”

For the older games like Battle of the Bell, people sometimes forget the meaning behind it.

“I don’t think a lot of people know it’s been going on for 60 years,” junior Brent Chandler said.

The big games hold a special importance because of their history, and some just because of the rivalry behind them.

Taco Shack Bowl is a big one for most students at McFootball players carry the Bell after the Knights beat Travis Callum.

The last year. The Battle of the Bell will be played Oct. 17 this year. friendly rivalry Photo by Ashlyn Eddy. with Anderson has created founded in the same year in 1953, McCal- some diverse traditions to follow.

“My favorite is definitely Taco Shack lum in the north part of Austin and Travisin the south. The schools’ journalism de- Bowl. Waking up early and going to Taco partments collectively bought the Bell and Shack at 5 in the morning has always been decided to make it an annual tradition to my favorite.” Nirenberg said. “This year, play for it. Though some don’t know about we were there, the cheerleaders were there the origin, the Battle of the Bell has always and drum line was there. We decorated the day before and then we got there and been a big deal.

“It’s one of the biggest games we play,” showed our support. KXAN was there Puorro said. “It’s like how we want to too.”

Game day can look pretty different for bring back the Taco Shack Bowl trophy.

a football player than a Blue Brigade girl.

“It’s more like team rituals, like the night before a game we’ll go to a teammate’s house and have dinner there and spend time together as a team and prepare,” Chandler said. “I just kind of listen to music and get in the zone, go over plays, stuff like that.”

Chandler said all games are important, but some have more significance.

“Well, every game is important, some games, yes. Battle of the Bell is more important, LBJ is more important, Taco Shack’s important,” Chandler said.

“They’re all important, just some have more importance because we might have won every other game but we lost to LBJ, so it’s important that we keep the popular games, bigger rivals at a higher level.”

Every big game comes with a little extra fun: mornings at Taco Shack, taking the Bell, and either LBJ or Mac getting trashed. Chandler said his favorite tradition is what the football players wear on game days.

“The game day attire for varsity football,” Chandler said, “On game days I think it just looks snazzy. It gets people’s attention.”

Game day attire is a big tradition for more than football players. Everywhere teachers are in football jerseys, and students are dressed up for spirit day.

“We get to school and wear our uniforms, and it’s a spirit day so you can either wear your uniform or participate in the spirit day, which is what you’d usually do,” Puorro said. “There’s a pep rally, so you get called down early so we practice a little bit. Then there’s the big pep rally and after that we go eat together and get ready for the game and we go.”

Chandler said there is significance for the traditional games for the whole team.

“There’s so much emphasis on them from the players that have come before us,” he said. “The tradition carries on.”

Sports 17

A game of her own Sophomore Sage Birrell joins JV football team

“I did not play freshman year because I honestly thought that school would be staff reporter harder and I did not think that my mom t all started on the field at Lee would let me,” Birrell said.

Coach Russell Houston said he is imelementary school. She would catch passes from all the boys pressed with Birrell’s work ethic.

“She comes to practice every day, and and would score touchdowns.

Unlike the other girls, she did not she is not a complainer,” Houston said.

Birrell enjoys the work it takes to be play to be social with the other girls who played; she played because she loved the a successful football player. She said all game. She developed a competitive spirit of the work is worth being able to play in the games. that inspired her She said she to practice and is excited to work hard so play the rest she could finally I play football for the love of her footbe able to play at of the game. I do not play to ball career the high school during her level. try to prove something time at Mc“I play footto people.

Callum. ball for the love Birrell of the game” Sage Birrell // Sophomore sophomore Sage gets along Birrell said. “I with all of do not play to try her teamto prove something to people.” mates, but due to the fact that she is a girl, Birrell wanted to play tackle football in she is not able to interact with them as fifth grade. When she brought up the idea much as she would like. She is not legally to her mother, who plays recreational two- able to enter the boys locker room. hand touch football, her mother did not re“I get a lot of hall time to myself. I sit ally take her seriously. out there a lot,” Sage said. “But I kind of “She told me, ‘Oh you just want to play just have to deal with it.” two hand touch or something,’ Birrell said, Birrell said that she does not get as in“and I said, ‘Okay, I will do that.’” spired or “pumped up” before practice or Birrell settled for playing flag football the games. She said she has to do that on for around three years until the idea of her own. playing for her middle school team became “It definitely gives her some sort of disa possibility. advantage, but it is what it is,” Houston Birrell attended Kealing Middle said.

School where, in seventh grade, she asked Junior Zack Oakmond said the players the coach and he said yes. She started her accept her. tackle football career in eighth grade but “She’s cool, really cool,” Oakmond said. did not play freshman year.

“Everybody is really nice to her.”

JONAH SMITH

I

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Sophomore Sage Birrell at JV football practice on Sept. 30. Birrell, who plays wide-receiver and cornerback, has been playing football since elementary school, but this is her first year on a high school team. Photo by Mary Stites.

“

Sophomore Matthew Burnet said the players should not treat She is a great person to have Birrell any different on the field. on our team. She works hard, “Even though and she gets along with evshe is a girl, we eryone really well. don’t feel like we need to treat her Matthew Burnett // Sophomore any differently than any other player,” she gets along with everyone really well.” he said.

Birrell plays wide-receiver and corner Burnett said Birrell understands the risk of playing this game and that she does back on the team, and she is also on the not have a problem being treated the exact field for every kick off and kick off return.

“I love the work that it takes to be presame.

“She is a great person to have on our pared for the football season,” Birrell said. team,” Burnett said. “She works hard, and “It makes all of the games worth it.”

oct. 4, 2013 // the shield

18 Sports

Order on the court Volleyball team features 10 seniors, 1 freshman BEN BROWN

staff reporter Fourteen players. 10 seniors. 1 freshman.

Although the varsity volleyball teamis stacked with seniors, freshman Andrea Janss is a starter. Coach Amy Brodbeck said team members all know she needs to be on the court.

“She is very talented; she has the skills,” Brodbeck said. “Being 6’2”, I have to have her in my front row to block. All my upperclassmen know that.”

Brodbeck said having a freshman on the team is both scary and exciting.

“It was scary at because you don’t know how all the upperclassman well react to her, especially since we have so many upperclassmen,” Brodbeck said. “It is exciting to know that McCallum will have an outstanding athlete for four years on the varsity team.”

The upperclassman have reacted well to Janss, according to Brodbeck.

“The upperclassmen have welcomed Andrea to the team and respect her love and skills for the game,” she said. “After every kill she makes, the team chants ‘She’s a freshman’ in unison.”

Janss said the upperclassmen and seniors especially have helped her a great deal in her short time here at McCallum.

“They definitely helped me on the first

day of school in keeping me not lost,” Janss said. “But in volleyball I learn every day different techniques from all them that I put into my playing.”

The team began the year by beating Poth, San Antonio Lee, Lehman and Lanier during tournament play.

“I expect my team to win district and to go far into the playoffs,” Brodbeck said. “I would love to get at least two rounds in.”

This is the first time all of the senior girls have had a chance to play together on the same team, and the girls are focused and excited, according to senior Zahia Tawil.

“We’ve all grown together over these four years,” Tawil said, “and we’re ready to make a playoff run.”

Tawil said the seniors work well together.

“The fact that this is our fourth year playing together, since ninth grade, has made a huge difference,” Tawil said. “We seem to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I think it helps so much that we know each other so well and have played together so long. It definitely helps a tremendous amount.”

Brodbeck said having this many upperclassmen on the court is a big advantage.

“Having 10 seniors gives the team experience. Experience on the court is always

The varsity volleyball team celebrates after winning a point in the game against Lanier High School on Sept. 27. Photo by Mary Stites. needed,” Brodbeck said. “It helps the underclassmen to achieve high expectations and the seniors to finish their high school career on a high note.”

The seniors this year are trying to live in the moment and have fun doing what they love, said senior Chaundra Brown.

“We just have a lot of fun being together, whether it’s on the court the bench or outside of school,” Brown said. “Being all together again just enhances the effectiveness

of the team, and our relationships with each other also improve, so all around it’s a great experience that we get to all get to share for our last year at McCallum.”

Brown says her expectations this year are high.

“I do believe we can win district and the team is really good, so I think we have a chance to advance and get pass the first round of playoffs,” Brown said. “I think this year could be special.”

sports in brief Tennis team 2nd in AISD tournament The tennis team completed the AISD Tennis Tournament Oct. 1 with a second place finish over Crockett and just behind rival LBJ. “The team has started slow this season but has come together nicely,” captain Kyle Teseny said. “The tournament went well.

It was a little bit tighter than we wanted it to be, but we got where we thought we would.”

The final game was won by senior Ja’quon Moye and junior Lily Gates.

the shield // oct. 4, 2013

“It was a hard-fought victory, “Gates said. “It was a game we needed to desperately win.”

JV team off this week; freshmen play tonight The JV football team record is 2-1-1. The team was off this week, but the next game is against Crockett next Thursday. The JV team beat Vista Ridge 20-13 Sept. 19. “[Our goals against Vista Ridge were] play hard, go all out, and stop them as much as possible,” sophomore Matthew Burnett said.

JV football coach Quincy Stewart said the team is doing well and progressing nicely.

The freshman team is also working hard this year, coach Thomas Gammerdinger said.

“We meet every morning at 7:30 and we lift weights, watch films,” Gammerdinger said. “During athletic period we’ll practice offense and after school we practice defense.”

JV volleyball team 14-10 The JV volleyball team record is 14-10 with its sixth district game tonight.

“We do what we need to work on for [each] week,” coach Rachel Carter said.

“At our tournament this past weekend, we really struggled with our serving, so this week, we are going to focus on serving.”

Tonight’s game is against Reagan High School, and Carter said she expects the team to do well.

The freshman volleyball team is also in the middle of district with a record of 5-0.

“This year’s girls have been improving quickly,” coach Nikki Northcutt said.

“There has been an 180 degree change from the beginning of the year to now.”

Sports 19

No benchwarmers Growing cross country team aims for regionals SEREN VILLWOCK online editor

For junior Alonso Fernandez, the school day starts not at 9 a.m., but at 5:15 a.m., when he hits the alarm clocks and gets ready to head to school. After arriving at 6, he joins the cross country team running around the neighborhood or around the track.

“Practice goes from 6 to 7:30,” he said.

“First we do three warm-up laps around the track, and then we stretch and roll out. Then we’ll either run around the neighborhood or do repeat 800, 400 [kilometers] or miles. Some days after practice I will bring my food and clothes and stay here to shower and eat breakfast, and other days I will go home and then come back for school.”

The morning practices each day involve an assortment of workouts designed to build strength and prepare the runners.

“We do a variety of runs,” cross country coach Susan Ashton said. “We’ll do longdistance runs, repeat miles, hill workouts and tempo runs, where they have to run at a certain pace and repeat that distance. We have several routes in the neighborhood we like to run on, too. We mainly run over in the Crestview and Brentwood area and up and down Grover and Woodrow. We ran to Highland Park Elementary School the other day, and we also run to Lamar and use their track sometimes.”

Fernandez, who has been on the team for two years and also plays soccer and tennis, said this routine means it’s important to get enough sleep and to stretch carefully so he doesn’t tire out.

All of the runners’ preparation cumulates at the meets, where each person runs in the 5-kilometer races.

“I get a good night’s sleep the night before, eat a small breakfast if the meet is later in the morning, and then we get to school nice and early and take the bus over to the location,” Fernandez said. “Then if you aren’t running first, we cheer on the rest of the team, and when it’s your turn

to run, you wait at the start line until they shoot the gun and you’re off.”

The first meet of the year was a preparation meet with 3-kilometer races in Lockhart on Aug. 31.

“The first meet went pretty well,” Fernandez said. “I got my best time for that distance so far. A lot of people got new personal records, and for the new kids I think it was a really good experience to figure out how to get the hang of it and pace themselves.”

Senior Marie-Claire Huff received a medal for placing 19th.

“I’m proud of how everyone did,” Ashton said. “We are starting off with a big team. We have 25 [runners] on our roster, and we’re really excited about that. We have some nice freshman runners this year as well, so we are working with them to improve their times.”

After a strong start at the first few matches, including the AISD invitational meet on Sept. 6, the team is continuing to work on increasing endurance.

“Getting into the conditioning has been the biggest thing we’ve had to work on so far,” Ashton said. “You have to put a lot of mileage underneath your feet to build up stamina. Cross country is a hard sport.”

Fernandez said the key to success at meets is sustaining energy.

“The biggest thing is pacing yourself,” he said. “For the three miles, you have to get your mile time, and then maintain that time. Some people can do a mile really fast, but the trick is to do three of those straight.

It’s all about finding a good pace and then keeping that for the entire race. You have a certain amount of energy, and the trick is to use it all so by the end of the race, you don’t have any energy left. You have to use it all up.”

The team looks forward to the possibility of going to regionals again this year, Ashton said.

“My hope is that we place in the top three,” she said. “We are trying to beat LBJ this year on the boys side and Ann Richards on the girls side.”

The cross country team poses after practice. “I’m really proud of everyone’s work,” coach Susan Ashton said. “This was a difficult workout of repeat 100 [meters] today, and they all did really well with it.” The next meet is the McNeil Cross Country Invitational at Old Settlers Park tomorrow. Photo by Seren Villwock.

Last year, the girls advanced but the boys did not. Fernandez said he is optimistic about the team’s chances of continuing with both boys and girls for varsity.

“I think we can do it,” he said.

“We have a lot of new kids and everyone is getting a lot faster, so I think we have a pretty good chance.”

Following the strong start for the year, Fernandez said he hopes the team will continue working hard.

“Cross country is really satisfying.” Fernandez said. “It makes you feel good. It feels good to be active, and afterwards you feel so accomplished because you worked out that day already. It’s very satisfying.”

“

What gets you up in the morning to run?

The love of running.

Marie-Claire Huff // Senior

My alarm clock.

Thomas Magnuson // Junior The “Cheers” theme song.

Josh Leftwich // Junior It leaves you feeling energized for the rest of the day.

Sarafina Fabris-Green // Sophomore oct. 4, 2013 // the shield

20 Sports

Chaundra Brown

Wes Bellomy MARY STITES photo editor

The Shield: What are your expectations from the team this season?

Wes Bellomy: I mean, you always want to win every game, but I expect to win all but maybe two games. I hope to be 9 [wins]-1 [loss], maybe 8-2, something around there. Navasota is always a really good team. They killed us last year; Vista Ridge is always a good team. They also beat us pretty badly last year.

TS: How has preseason prepared you for the start of district?

WB: The teams we play outside of our district are always much stronger than any of the teams in our district, so I would say playing teams like Anderson, Hutto, Navasota and the other preseason teams prepare us really well for a district title.

TS: What position do you play?

WB: I play safety, wide receiver and punt returner. Safety is my favorite position because it’s fun. You’re in the back and you see everything, but you also get to come up and hit really hard, which is always fun.

TS: How has being on varsity for three years prepared you and given you a leadership role on the team?

WB: It definitely gives what you say to the team credibility. It’s not my first rodeo.

I’ve been there before.

TS: Who is your biggest competition in district?

WB: LBJ will be our biggest competition for sure. They’ve always got tons of

the shield // oct. 4, 2013

great athletes on their team. They will be much better than they have been in the past. They have a new coach from Manor this year, so I’m sure they have improved.

TS: What is the team’s biggest goal for the season?

WB: Definitely to make it past the first game in playoffs. We want to go deep into playoffs this year. If we can win the first game, it’s always just hard to get out of that first game because we play the Leander, Cedar Park district, but once you get out of that first game the competition isn’t quite as hard.

TS: How has playing football shaped your experience at McCallum?

WB: It has been awesome. It is definitely a way to be more social. You get to know different people and it seems like everyone knows you. It’s fun for sure.

TS: What are your plans after high school?

WB: I’ve been talking to Princeton a little bit, SMU [Southern Methodist University] a little bit. I mean, that would be awesome to play football in college, but if not I’ve been looking at Arizona State, TCU [Texas Christian University] or something like that.

TS: What has been your most memorable football experience?

WB: I guess the most memorable experience was beating Vista Ridge my sophomore year. Griffin Stuesser [class of 2013] had a great game, Deon Price had a really good game, and that segued into a lot of momentum for the rest of the year. That was an awesome game.

The Shield: What position do you play?

Chaundra Brown: I play middle hitter.

I got that position because the coaches assigned it to me freshman year, probably because I am tall. I like playing middle because you have the option to run a bunch of different sets from the middle, whereas outsides and right sides are pretty limited in what they can do. My favorite thing to run used to be ones, but now I would say that I really like threes or slides. A slide is a backwards set where I run around the setter and meet the ball on the right side, and a three is in between a middle hit and an outside hit. It isn’t quite to the outside.

TS: When did you start playing volleyball?

CB: I learned how to play volleyball in sixth grade, but I never played competitive volleyball in sixth grade. I just learned the rules of the game. I played for the first time in middle school, but that doesn’t really count because you don’t have real positions. Everyone just kind of rotates around in a big circle and they try to just pass it back over the net without messing up [laughs]. But the first time I played real volleyball was my freshman year of high school.

TS: What has been the hardest thing for the team to overcome this year?

CB: A lot of teams have problems with serve receive sometimes and we do occasionally, but it has gotten much better.

We also have those games where we play really well and then towards the end we just start playing really bad. When that happens, it gets pretty complicated at the very end of the set. And we have even

won the first set, lost the second, win the next set, lose the next set. It gets pretty frustrating going back and forth. We have tried different rotations for the ones that we get stuck in, but I think we just need to work on finishing the game and not getting tired towards the end.

TS: Who is your biggest competition in district?

CB: I guess Ann Richards. We have this reoccurring problem with them where we lose at their house and then we win when they come to McCallum. But we have always beat them in the finals. We used to have this big rivalry with Crockett, but we don’t really anymore. There is still a rivalry in a way, but not skill-wise. Game wise, Ann Richards is definitely our biggest competition.

TS: How did a loss to Ann Richards prepare the team to play Crockett?

CB: Well ,we know that we can beat Ann Richards. We have done it twice [in tournament play]. So the fact that Crockett beat Ann Richards made us believe that we could beat Crockett, and more importantly, beat Ann Richards second round of district. They should know that next game they are really going to have to step up their play because we are ready for a win.

TS: How has soccer helped you become a better volleyball player?

CB: Reflexes. My reflexes are so much better because I play goalie. I’m always ready for anything. I would say that playing volleyball has helped me just as much in soccer as playing soccer has helped me be successful in volleyball.

Reaching New Heights

Sports 21

1 3

4

2 Rock Climbing Club students, sponsor improve skills at Austin Rock Gym 1. Sophomore Trace Snyder reaches for a rock as he climbs up one of the many walls at Austin Rock Gym. 2. Sponsor Eric Wydeven teaches Rock Climbing Club members about finding a route up the wall and beginning a climb, and he stresses the importance of spotting properly.

3. Junior Colin Youngblood thinks about his next move as he climbs up an inverted wall. “My favorite part of being in rock climbing is the atmosphere and how supportive other people in the club are,” Youngblood said. “There is a camaraderie among the club members that remains unmatched.”

4. Sophomore Spencer Cossen hangs as he attempts to find the best footholds.

Photos by Mary Stites.

oct. 4, 2013 // the shield

22 Sports

Finding his groove

Junior Matthew Tinney works to increase spirit during football season MARY STITES

photo editor For most students, football means late nights at House Park, dancing to Hawk and supporting the boys of the football team, but junior Matthew Tinney takes dancing to Hawk and getting the crowd pepped up to a whole new level.

After an attempt at mascotting during his time at Lamar Middle School, Tinney already had some experience with the idea of being a school mascot.

“Technically, I was a mascot in middle school, but they didn’t have a suit so it was actually just really embarrassing,” Tinney said. “I guess I was thinking I would like to do it again, just do it well.”

After his first high school pep rally, Tinney awed at the mascot of the time, 2012 graduate,Nia Calhoon. However, Tinney was disappointed when he realized the mascot was not on the sidelines at the football game.

“Well, my freshman year I came in to the first pep rally, saw the mascot and thought, ‘Wow that’s amazing. I think I might like to do that,’” Tinney said. “Then when I went to the game, they weren’t there and it turned out that they never even went to the game, so I decided, ‘You know what? I’m going to do that.’”

Being the mascot has changed a lot for Tinney. It’s given him a new-found burst of confidence, as well as given him a special role at the school.

“In middle school I wasn’t really someone that people liked. I didn’t really even like myself and even into my freshman year,” Tinney said. “I guess now that I’m the mascot, people pay more attention to me and I’m a big deal now. It really feels good to have people notice you, and it has boosted my confidence a lot.”

Tinney’s new role at the school has also given him a new outlook on the sport of football. Tinney said he used to believe football was not appealing to watch but the new perspective changed this.

“Honestly, before I was the mascot I didn’t like football; I didn’t enjoy it at all,”

the shield // oct. 4, 2013

Tinney said. “I thought it was dumb that leaders at Great Wolf Lodge. At this camp my family sat on the couch and watched Tinney receives valuable time with knowlfootball during Thanksgiving. Now I really edgeable mascot coaches. Tinney also gets to work with other high school mascots. enjoy it.”

“We have way to much time on our At the end of his freshman year, Tinney attended the cheerleading tryouts to audi- hands, so we joke around and say, ‘I bet I can be a better mascot than you, and I bet tion to be the mascot.

“The problem is most people don’t re- I can do it in a cheerleading skirt.,” Tinney ally know what mascotting is, especially said.

Tinney’s first summer at the camp he cheer coaches,” Tinney said. “I had no idea the first time, and they just told me to get learned a piece of very valuable advice from a skit together. I ended up coming up with a mascot coach that allowed him to imthis skit where I had a plush dragon and I prove as a mascot.

“I like the way my instructor put went and slayed it. Of course, now that I’ve it: It’s better to ask for forgot a little more experience, I’ve realized giveness than to ask for that it’s supposed to be funny and there permission,” Tinney isn’t supposed to be as much of a plot. The said. “You just have plot is more of the foundation for my perto be willing to do anyformances.” thing, but you have While to be careful cheer coach Chastity Colbert knows more about cheerleading than mascotting, she keeps an open mind and gives Tinney the ability to do what he feels would allow him to be the best mascot he can be.

“She is very nice, she gives us [comascot senior Damon Meredith] the freedom to get what we are doing done, and she is very open to suggestions,” Tinney said. “My sophomore year we hadn’t had a mascot that came to games in so long and the suit was so old, and so she let us get a new suit for this year. And some people don’t realize that mascot suits are extremely expensive, for just the head it would have been over $500.”

The past two sumTinney dances to the fight song mers Tinney has after scoring a touchdown against attended a camp Reagan on Sept. 27 with the cheer-

about what you do. You have to pop your bubble, you have to pop it with every movement.”

The past two years as mascot, Tinney has learned the balance between drawing the crowd’s attention without distracting from the game. This skill has come with lots of experimenting and has allowed for Tinney to get the crowd excited for the game.

“You have to be able to disregard your comfort zone,” Tinney said. “It can’t exist.

With that you can learn whatever you want to learn, you can get better at athletics, but if you have too much of a comfort zone, you can’t do much.”

No matter what the circumstances are, Tinney must keep the crowd energized during the game. The tough loss to Hutto High School on Sept.13 was a game that required Tinney to be on his A-game.

“I have to keep the crowd pepped, no matter what is going on in the game,” Tinney said.

“I can make fun of the refs but I can’t insult them. A perfect example was the Hutto game of when I have to keep my cool and make sure the crowd is pepped no matter what is going on. I also have to look like I’m having the time of my life, even if I’m half dying in the suit.”

As to keeping the crowd excited, Tinney has a few tricks up his plastic, knight costume sleeves. He has learned to move with the music and try new things so the crowd never gets bored.

“I haven’t really put any labels on my moves, but I really enjoy dancing to Hawk,” Tinney explained. “But ‘My Girl’ really gets people pumped up so you can really have fun with that one. I enjoy making phone signs with my hand and pointing at the crowd.”

The 2013 football season has come with lots of changes for Tinney, including a wave of new cheerleaders, a new costume and a second mascot, senior Damon Meredith. At first Tinney was skeptical of having multiple mascots, but as the season progressed and Meredith and Tinney

Sports 23 began to work together more, he was able to see the benefits of having two knights.

“I don’t have to work quite as much. I admit at first I was jealous because I really enjoy hogging all of the glory, but he is a great guy and he is fun to be around,” Tinney said. “Damon also has great dance moves. I hope to learn some from him. But it is also nice because if for some reason I don’t want to finish the game, he can do the second half of the game. Right now we are alternating games so I can just sit and have the best seat in the house for a game.”

Tinney and Meredith have been able to build off of each other’s skills to make a powerful mascot duo.

“I think we have been learning from each other very well,” Tinney said. “I wouldn’t call it getting competitive, because we don’t.

But at the pep rallies we are [competitive] to an extent because we are trying to get more

attention than the other guy.”

With the addition of Meredith to the pep-squad, Tinney felt the purchase for a new costume was necessary. Tinney and Colbert searched for a new knight suit.

“The new costume is better because it is cloth, so it is much cooler than other mascot suits,” Tinney said. I really like the new one, but they all have their problems. I got a really bad bruise from the mask on the new costume. But all of the costumes are just as hot as the other. The old costume is very bulky and hard to move in, but I make it work.”

Tinney said he prefers football games over pep rallies.

“I can only kind of sway for the majority of the pep rally,” Tinney said, “but at a football game I can jump in front of the camera and I’m still not taking away too much attention from the game.”

Tinney has made it a goal for the year

to try out new moves and offer the crowd a different set of dances to keep them excited.

Meredith and Tinney have brainstormed and experimented during practice and will use their ideas throughout the season.

“I’ve been working on trying something new, something the crowd hasn’t seen before,” Tinney said. “Something Damon and I have been experimenting with is jumping on the ledge that is right next to the fence at House Park so we will jump on that and start getting people pumped again.”

Over the past two years of being mascot, Tinney has learned new ways to keep the crowd pepped and excited in any situation.

Tinney has had great experiences on the sidelines of the football games, but couldn’t name his favorite. These past season have been a learning experience that has lead to Tinney’s new mascot philosophy.

“I like to make every game [more] memorable than the last.”

Tinney dances to personal favorite “Hawk” during a pep rally. Photo by Mary Stites

Off-Season tarnishes Manziel’s image NICK ROBERTSON staff reporter

The last year for Texas A&M sophomore Johnny Manziel has been a rollercoaster ride. As a freshman, “Johnny Football,” as he has been nicknamed, led his team to an 11-2 record with dazzling plays and electrifying performances in the biggest games. Manziel even became the first freshman Heisman Trophy winner. However, since then almost all the headlines regarding Manziel have been negative.

“I feel like Manziel is just doing what regular college students do,” junior Harrison Brown said. “But I think he should behave in a more mature manner and become an adult because he is kind of behaving like a little girl.”

On Aug. 4, ESPN reported the National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA, which is the governing body of college sports, was investigating Manziel and whether he accepted payments to sign autographs. This is considered a huge violation of NCAA rules. In the past, similar cases where the NCAA was able to prove that money was actually given to a student

athlete have resulted in lengthy suspensions and even bans on the team from competing in post-season play.

The NCAA investigation began after more than 400 signed Manziel memorabilia were released onto eBay and other similar sites around the same time. The NCAA ultimately could not find any evidence that he accepted money, so it only suspended him for the first half of their season opener due to “inadvertent violations” of NCAA rules.

“I would call the kid [Manziel] in during the summer and talk to him about his actions and how they reflect on the rest of the team,” coach Tom Gammerdinger said.

Before Manziel even started a football game at Texas A&M, he was getting in trouble. In June of 2012 Manziel was arrested at a late-night club in College Station.

He was charged with three misdemeanors including disorderly conduct, failure to identify and possession of a fake ID. He pled guilty to the failure to identify charge while the other charges were dropped in July of 2013. Manziel, however, was not suspended a game following the arrest.

“I don’t think he should have been sus-

pended because it was off the field and didn’t relate to football,” Brown said. “I feel like the punishment that he received from the coaches (the one given to him behind closed doors) should have been enough to get him to grow up.”

In the spring of 2013 Manziel was at a Texas A&M practice. He threw an interception, and a graduate assistant who was working with the defense got excited and, according to usatoday.com, Manziel shoved the assistant. The coaches and teammates ended up having to break up the pseudo fight. This type of action has been going on for Manziel all the way back into his high school days. According to espn.com, Manziel’s father asked him in high school to stop drinking and that he would buy Manziel a new car if he did.

“I don’t think A&M made a mistake at all because our program [Texas A&M] got seriously elevated,” Brown said. “He won the Heisman, and now we are in the national spotlight. If we didn’t recruit him, I don’t think we would be there. Regardless of what he is doing right now, I think our program has been changed for the better.”

Last summer, Manziel helped coach

the prestigious Manning Passing Academy. The camp invites young quarterbacks in middle school and high school to participate while being coached by the Manning family. It is tradition that top college quarterbacks attend and help coach. However, Manziel was asked to leave early by one of the Mannings because he was late to a morning practice. According to foxsportssouthwest.com, Manziel was seen on Bourbon Street at 4 a.m. the morning he was kicked out of the passing camp. New Orleans is over an hour’s drive from where the camp was being held.

“I think young aspiring football players should have looked up to him [Manziel] before,” senior Mariana Castillo said. “But once all of these allegations have come out, I think they should rethink how they thought of him in the first place.”

According to ESPN, Manziel was kicked out of a University of Texas fraternity party. Texas is A&M’s biggest rival in sports.

“I would be mad if I was his teammate because I don’t think it’s fair that everyone else has to follow the rules but he doesn’t since he is ‘Johnny Football,’ and he can do whatever he wants.” Castillo said.

oct. 4, 2013 // the shield

24 entertainment

Making a

Break

Theatre Department premieres ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ in state MAYA COPLIN staff reporter

The Theatre Department is the only one allowed to produce “Bonnie and Clyde” in Texas. The show ran Sept. 19-22 in the MAC theatre.

Originally MAC purchased the rights to “Bonnie and Clyde,” but because a touring company wanted to perform it, MAC’s rights were revoked. Director Josh Denning was personally given the rights to the musical by Frank Wildhorn, the writer of the music to “Bonnie and Clyde.” Since then the rights have been stopped and no one else will be able to perform the show in Texas.

“He said, ‘Absolutely. The show should not be restricted for you,’” Denning said.

“He pulled some strings with the company and they ended up giving us special permission to do it.”

“Bonnie and Clyde” started as a Broadway production, which then had to be adapted for the MAC Theater.

“We are not a history book,” Denning said. “We are a theater, so we are being a little bit more imaginative with how we tell the story and the way the ideas were presented.”

Denning picks actors to play each part based on their skills and energy.

“It can be anything from skills, like do they have the skills, can they hit the notes that they have to hit, do they have the right color of voice,” Denning said. “Then also a lot of it has to do with the energy and essence of the people themselves and how closely that matches the energy of the character.”

Denning cast sophomore Hannah McEvilly when she was a freshman to play Bonnie.

the shield // oct. 4, 2013

“I like casting freshmen,” Denning said. “I’ve noticed that since I’ve been here. It’s because there’s such a new energy there.”

Besides robbing banks and killing people, McEvilly felt a connection to her character.

“Well, she’s from Texas,” McEvilly said.

“She’s kind of bubbly and goofy, and I am too.”

Junior Jacob Roberts-Miller played Clyde.

He spent a large quantity of time working on “Bonnie and Clyde” during the summer as well as Sophomore Hannah McEvilly, playing Bonnie, sings “Picture Show” in the first scene from “Bonevery night after school.

“It’s fairly tough. Ba- nie and Clyde.” The theatre department was the only group allowed to perform the musical in sically it just means that I Texas. Photos by Seren Villwock. have to be OK with coming home some nights after rehearsal, getting straight to work on rector, brilliant tech, and the rest of my homework and then as soon as I finish the cast was absolutely phenomenal,” my homework I go to sleep,” Roberts-Mill- Roberts-Miller said. “It was a genuine My favorite part is the vicer said. “It’s tough but it’s worth it.” pleasure to be performing with such imtory you feel at the end.

There is a lot to be done behind the mensely talented people.” scenes. Tech theatre crews, led by tech Denning said he enjoys the process When it’s over, what is in theatre director Karn Severson, do every- of creating the performance from nothsomeone’s mind is now thing from sound and lighting to costumes ing. and makeup.

“My favorite part is the victory you actually alive and breath“Scenery kind of has to be sort of the feel at the end.” Denning said. “You ing on stage, and that’s first thing done and props as well and then know you start with nothing. We had you add in the lighting and sound,“ Sev- absolutely nothing. Last summer when pretty incredible. erson, said. “Then the hair and makeup. we cast it, we didn’t have any of the stuff Josh Denning / Director Costumes come just right after the scene, or any of these ideas, people, and then sounds and lights.” all of a sudden when it’s over, what is Roberts-Miller thought the perfor- in someone’s mind is now actually alive mance went well. and breathing on stage, and that’s pretty “We had a fantastic pit, a great di- incredible.”

“

Entertainment 25

Junior Jacob Roberts-Miller as Clyde sings in jail. Performances were Sept.

19-22.

Bonnie and Clyde (McEvilly and Roberts-Miller) sing about having a new life together.

Sophomore Jackson Holtcamp, the preacher, sings “God’s Arms Are Always Open.”

2 of a kind Father, daughter work together on school, community musicals MAYA COPLIN staff reporter

Actors as well as father and daughter, Dan and Janine Dworin were given the unique opportunity to work together in “Bonnie and Clyde.”

Even though Dan is not a student at MAC, Josh Denning, the show’s director, gave him the role of the sheriff in the play.

“Theater is all about community.

It’s all about bringing people together, bringing together an audience experiencing something,” Denning said. “And I just thought how cool would it be to have some adults in some roles and sort of make our community a little bigger.”

Had other male actors tried out for the play, Dworin would not have been asked by Denning to play the sheriff in “Bonnie and Clyde.”

“You don’t have to be a theater major

to try out for the play; you don’t even have to be in the Fine Arts Academy,” Dan said.

“Anyone can try out for plays.”

According to Dan and Janine, the two are very close. They have been in other plays together over the years. They are in a band together as well as perform in the opera together. Outside of theatre, their whole family enjoys going camping together.

“The more we do together, the closer we become,” Janine said.

Dan originally was worried about being in “Bonnie and Clyde” because he would not be able to watch Janine’s performance.

“His main worry for ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ was that he wouldn’t be able to watch it,” Janine said. “But I think he’s having more fun.”

Janine played the governor of Texas. In the play she is upset about how the sheriff hasn’t caught Bonnie and Clyde yet.

“She gets to chew out her dad on

stage,” Dan said, “which has got to be awesome for her.”

Janine has always enjoyed acting. When she first started reading, she would act out the voices. Janine was in her first play in fifth grade where she played the Wicked Witch of the West.

“He made me do the show he was directing,” Janine said. “It was kind of like I am his daughter, so I am going to do it anyways.”

Without her dad’s influence, Janine said she would not be involved in theatre or choir.

“I am definitely thankful for that,” Janine said.

Dan was also in his first play in fifth grade but did not pursue acting until his freshman year at Anderson High School. For a year, theatre was his major at the University of Texas until he decided he did not want to make a career out of it. Now he is a criminal defense attorney with his own practice.

“It’s fun to pretend to be someone else,” Dan said, “and to work in a team to turn words on a page into something people can see, hear and feel.”

Both father and daughter are in the opera “Tosca” at the Austin Lyric Opera. There are differences between “Bonnie and Clyde” and singing with Austin Lyric Opera. “‘Bonnie and Clyde’ is a musical, so there is a difference in the technique you would use as far as the singing goes, but there is also a speech,” Janine said. “You have lines and you have to interpret them.”

Dan said the theatre are basically young professionals.

“The teachers hold them to a high standard and they are expected to take it as seriously as they would if they were getting paid,” Dan said, “and for the most part, they do. I’m very impressed with all of them.”

oct. 4, 2013 // the shield

26 entertainment

On the arts NATALIE MURPHY

Public Relations Editor

TS: When did you start performing?

SL: “I started dancing around 3 years old.”

TS: What was your experience at dance

camp this summer?

SL: “The camp was in New York City; it was called Paul Taylor Dance Company.

It was his school. He’s a modern choreographer and he has a company. It was mostly based around technique.”

TS: What’s your favorite style of dance?

SL: “Probably Modern, which is what the

you choose and why?

SL: “Oh man, that’s a hard choice. Probably someone in Paul Taylor’s company.

That would be a really cool experience.”

TS: What are your plans after high school?

SL: “I’m going to go to school in New York City, majoring in dance and minoring in something else. I’d love to join a company, but dance will always be a part of my life, so if I’m not in a company right away, that’s OK.”

TS: Who’s your inspiration?

SL: “Dance-wise definitely Paul

TS: How do you prepare for a big performance?

SL: “Mostly I just try not to put too much pressure on myself. I might go over the steps of my piece a few times. I also try to talk to the person I’m performing with to form a connection.”

TS: If you could trade places with anyone, dead or alive, for one day who would

TS: What has your experience with the McCallum Dance Department been like?

SL: It’s been great. Ms. Murray and Ms. Adamez have been working pretty hard to make something that’s worth while, and they do that. It’s really a good program.

Paul Taylor Dance Company was based around.”

Taylor now that I know more about him. He’s really interesting. Martha Graham. People have called her the mother of modern dance.”

Catching up with

Somer Lawrence violins

Pilates Studio Ann Arnoult Open pilates7 days a week.

Classes and personal sessions available for all ages!

3016 Guadalupe St the shield // oct. 4, 2013

(512) 480-0662

Opinion 27

AISD leveling not the best answer Friday Sept. 20, the last day in the fourth week of school, was also English III and Pre-AP English II teacher Alissa Bell’s last day at Mac. Due to Austin ISD district leveling, Bell was unceremoniously moved to Lanier high school to teach freshman English, starting the following Monday, Sept. 23. Because McCallum student enrollment was lower than expected, AISD said our resources had to be distributed elsewhere.

This attempt at alleviating overcrowding at Lanier has only made the problem worse. The act of moving a teacher from one school to the other to try to even out the problem is just setting us up for conflict.

After Bell was moved, fellow English teacher Flor Mota was forced to dissolve her Film Analysis elective, a class she has taught for seven years, to take on a heavier course load. It’s classes like Film Analysis that make Mac a more creative learning environment. Not many schools are able to offer thought-provoking electives such as that, and now neither can we.

In an open letter to AISD parents pub-

Cartoon by Tillie Walden. lished on Sept. 27, superintendent Meria Carstarphen encouraged the use of Austin public schools and even stated that in areas such as north central Austin, enrollment continues to increase. However, Mac is situated right in the middle of north central Austin, but our teachers are still being taken away. The letter continued and said “at the high school and middle school levels, enrollment is steady at current levels.”

editor-in-chief Grace Frye

assistant editor Caitlin Falk

online editor SEREN VILLWOCK

public relations editor NATALIE MURPHY

photo editor Mary Stites

advertising manager HALEY HEGEFELD

adviser Rhonda Moore

The Shield is published by journalism students in the Newspaper production class.

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

should have been handled in-house and not spread to more schools. And even if leveling was necessary, it should have taken place earlier in the school year or it should’ve been held off until the semester break. It is unfortunate that Lanier is experiencing overcrowding, but spreading the problem throughout the district only causes more headaches and displaced students.

A.N. McCallum High School 5600 Sunshine Dr. Austin, TX 78756 (512) 414-7539 fax (512) 453-2599 shield.newspaper@gmail.om

the

shield staff

But if this is the case, students’ education wouldn’t be getting interrupted in the middle of the school year, especially if it is creating classes with too many students, such as Nikki Northcutt’s 36-student classes.

That is just too big.

District leveling may seem like the first option when it comes to fixing overcrowding, but taking place well into the school year is disruptive. This is a problem that

cause a “substantial disruption to the educational process.” Content that may stimulate heated debate is not included in this definition.

The Shield operates as an open forum for exchange of ideas. Opinions expressed in editorials are the ideas of the staff. Opinions expressed in the columns are that of the writer’s alone.

reporters Kaitlin Billiot, Ben Brown, Maya coplin, jesse levy-rubinett, Kendra murphy, lulu newton, nick robertson, aaron roles, david ruwwe, sean simons, jonah smith, bella temple, mara vandegrift, samantha white

Letters to the editor are encouraged and must be signed. Positive identification may be required when a letter is submitted. Letters may be edited. Letters that are critical of the newspaper staff’s coverage of events or that present information that may stimulate heated debate will be published.

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oct. 4, 2013 // the shield

28 Photo Essay

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Celebrating 60

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Students, staff, alumni kick off McCallum’s anniversary during homecoming week 1. Senior Kristina Lopez jumps during the homecoming pep rally.

2. McCallum’s defensive line prepares to make a play against Reagan in the third quarter. The Knights beat the Raiders 40-3.

3. Junior Jake Carter lines up to kick the extra point after a touchdown in the second quarter as a Reagan player attempts to block the kick.

4. Senior captain Chynna James leaps during the halftime pom routine.

5. Seniors Camille Hawn and Bobby Pellegrini walk together to be crowned homecoming king and queen during the homecoming halftime show. “I was really surprised that I won homecoming queen,” Hawn said. “It took me a second to realize that they said my name [laughs].”

Photos by Mary Stites the shield // oct. 4, 2013

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