The Shield

the

shield

McCallum High School / 5600 Sunshine / Austin, TX 78756 / Dec. 13, 2013 / Issue 3 / Volume 61

butting

heads When it comes to student athletes and concussions, coaches and trainers are not playing around.

After serious injuries have occurred, MAC athletes and trainers are stepping up protection and awareness.

story on pages 12-14

what’s inside Students, teacher discuss controversial illegal immigration event at UT story on page 3

Foreign exchange student talks about current riots in Ukraine story on page 8

Boys lacrosse joins forces with rival LBJ team, get ready for upcoming season story on page 15

Staffer shares favorite holiday movies, including most quotable and best animated story on page 21

2 contents

inside the issue

story on page 10 From left to right: Members of the robotics A and B teams work together to complete a robot before competition in Kilene on Sat. Dec. 7. Photo provided by Audrea Moyers. Freshman Gabe Hanson-Erwin prepares for the start of the Mens 100

Feature

News 4

Students weigh in on propositions passed during recent election

7

Film Analysis class to return second semester; administrators plan new class schedules

story on page 18

story on page 14

yard back at the Round Rock Invitational meet. Photo by Mary Stites. Junior Adrienne Redman welcomes “camper” freshman Solana Oliver to “Camp Confidence” during the student-directed one act plays held Dec. 5-6. Photo by Mary Stites.

Sports

Entertainment

10 Robotics Club A-team qualifies for 14 Mac swim team participates in

18 Juniors direct this year’s one-act

11 College counselor Nancy Nitardy 16 Junior Jessie Woolley-MacMath

19 Mac Theatre, Joshua Denning,

dual meet with rival LBJ

state competition

uses experience, helps students with athletic scholarships

plays, ‘The Rep’

students nominated for city-wide BroadwayWorld Austin awards

talks about new coaching, growing as a competative swimmer

save the date december 15 Austin Chamber Music Center recital 20 Last day of 3rd six weeks 21 First day of Winter Break january 6 Last day of Winter Break 7 Band area recital @ 7 p.m. in the FAT 16 Late Start the shield // dec. 13, 2013

17 Mac vs. Lanier basketball game

@ 8 p.m.

20 Martin Luther King Day- student/

staff holiday 30 Late Start february 1 Band Mardie Grazie in the MAC 7 Friends of the Academy meeting @ 6:30 p.m. in the orchestra room

Cover: Illustration by Bella Temple. Design by Grace Frye and Madison Landry.

Don’t forget to like The Shield on Facebook

Follow: @theshieldonline on Twitter

Visit: www.macshieldonline.com for exclusive content

The games people play

NEWS 3

Students, teacher react to controversial illegal immigration event on UT campus

Graphic by Grace Frye

GRACE FRYE editor-in-chief

University of Texas at Austin students and faculty and actress America Ferrera mounted a protest Nov. 20. against the on-campus Young Conservatives of Texas student organization’s “Catch an Illegal Immigrant Game,” originally slated to take place on the same day. The event was met with opposition from students and university officials alike.

AP U.S. History teacher Joe Underwood said he supports YCT’s effort to trigger conversation on campus, which was the event’s purpose, according to a statement from YCT chapter chairman Lorenzo Garcia.

“I support any free exchange of ideas and anything that is going to spark a conversation,” Underwood said. “I really kind of believe that is their goal, to spark a conversation. However, we’ve got to be careful not to offend people, or to offend them as lightly as possible. You’re talking about illegal immigration. Obviously in Texas, it’s a hot-button issue.”

On the day of the “game,” a counter protest was organized in front of the UT tower where students could be heard chanting, “The people united will never be defeated.” Here Ferrera made a speech denouncing the event and showing her support for immigrants and their families.

“I visit the University of Texas at Aus-

tin today because the plight of immigrant group to participate in the conversation families and dreamers is not a game,” she but asked they respect their fellow students said to the crowd of protesters. “The fear and follow the university’s honor code.

“I ask YCT to be part of that discusthat these hardworking immigrants live with every single day, hoping and praying sion,” Powers said in a statement, “but to that they’re families won’t be torn apart by find more productive and respectful ways senseless deportations, is not a subject to to do so that do not demean their fellow students.” be made a game of.”

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott The “game,” which was originally posted as an open Facebook event, was created and Texas Senator Ted Cruz, both of

by Garcia. The event was intended to call whom Garcia has worked for, also critiattention to illegal immigration by having cized the event. The two distanced themvolunteers wear labels on their clothing selves from the event quickly after its announcement. that read “IlleHowever, gal immigrant;” Garcia said student parhe and the ticipants would If you start talking about group decided then present issues of race, it’s going to cancel the the labeled stuto become personal, emoevent citing dents with their concerns for ID cards and tional, and the logic of civil the group’s volreturn them to discourse is going to break unteers’ safety the game headand university quarters in exdown rapidly. retaliation. change for $25 Joe Underwood // Teacher Senior gift cards.

Zoe Scott “The idea for the event was intentionally over-the-top said even though the event was cancelled, in order to get attention for the subject,” she thinks it did what the group hoped for.

“Well, I mean, obviously they’re accomGarcia said in a statement.

Before the event was cancelled, UT plishing their goals because people are talkPresident Bill Powers and UT Vice ing about it,” Scott said.

Senior Bailey Saldana, who is considerPresident of Diversity Gregory J. Vincent both released statements denouncing the ing UT as a choice for college, said while group’s actions. Powers encouraged the she does not agree with the actions of the

“

YCT group, it does not affect her view of the university as a whole.

“If anything, this really helped my view of the university,” Saldana said. “Because, yes there are these groups of conservatives, but there is also so much diversity that one event is not going to ruin the entire university. “ This game wasn’t the first time the UT chapter has hosted a controversial event on campus. Earlier this fall, they held an anti-affirmative action bake sale where, depending on race and gender, people were asked to pay different prices.

Underwood said the reactions the group is getting are to be expected.

“Anytime you talk about a personal issue, an emotional issue, often times the emotion is going to supersede the logic.

That’s just who we are,” Underwood said.

“If you start talking about issues of race, it’s going to become personal, emotional, and the logic of civil discourse is going to breakdown rapidly.”

Underwood said even though he agrees with the group’s message, he does not support its methods.

“They’re bringing attention to a subject; they’re not doing it in a very good way,” Underwood said. “I don’t 100 percent disagree with the underlying things that from time to time these fundamental groups say. While I may agree about that issue, I do not agree the method by which they are making it a discussion. “

DEC. 13, 2013 // the shield

4 NEWS

Change is coming SEAN SIMONS staff reporter

Prop 6 aims to help Texas during its worst drought in state history

T

exas residents voted on Nov. 5 on nine constitutional amendments, the most prominent being the Texas Water Fund, also known as Prop 6.

The passage of Prop 6 comes during Texas’ worst drought in state history. The water situation in Austin is projected to only get worse with its rapid population growth and demand for water as the supply slowly shrinks.

According to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), the aim of Prop 6 is to create funds that will finance water projects in Austin and across the state.

“Projects in the state water plan will be eligible for funding,” said Lauren Mulverhill, who works in agency communications and outreach at the TWDB. “The projects range from conservation and reuse, to desalting groundwater and seawater, to building new pipelines and developing reservoirs and well fields, and include many other kinds of projects as well.”

Mulvehill said the main funds Prop 6 will establish are the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT), and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas (SWIRFT), which will receive a $2 billion investment from the Economic Stabilization Fund (also known as the Rainy Day Fund). The legislature authorized a one-time, $2 billion investment from the Rainy Day Fund to SWIFT. The funds aim to help Austin and the rest of Texas through their water supply struggles and the current drought.

“The State Water Plan contains numerous strategies to meet water needs during drought for communities across the state over the next 50 years,” Mulverhill said.

“Prop 6 helps us address our water needs over a long period.”

the shield // DEC. 13, 2013

2009

2011

2658 people

2244 people

2087 people

Affordable Care Housing Bond passes its second time around ocally, Austin residents voted in general/municipal special election, which included the long-awaited Affordable Housing Bond. The bond aims to help provide affordable rental and ownership housing to the elderly, disabled and homeless.

It was the bond’s second time attempting to pass, as it was the only bond that did not pass in last year’s general/municipal election. The bond will send $65 million from the City of Austin to local organizations that aid low-income families in finding affordable homes as well as assisting those families in paying house mortgages.

According to ECHO Executive Director Ann Howard, one of the major benefitors of these bonds are the homeless.

ECHO is an Austin organization dedicated to ending homelessness in the Travis

2121 people

2012

2010

L

2013

2406 people

Each graph shows the number of persons who were identified and counted as homeless in Austin/Travis County in the Annual Point-in-Time Count.

Source: Ending Community Homelessness Coalition.

Graphic by Grace Frye and Seren Villwock.

going to help change that.

County area.

“ECHO applauds the Austin voters for “On any given night, we can find about 2,000 people homeless in Travis County,” passing the Affordable Housing Bonds,” Howard said. “The annual count has Howard said. “With this bond money, debeen coming down about 10 percent each velopers will be able to intentionally design apartment units year, but knowing that this is not some of them the entire will be offered story.

We served alOver 38,000 low income Austi- for rent only to with most 12,000 nites can’t find affordable hous- persons low incomes, people last ing, pushing some of them into at 50 percent year in some and below the capacity. homelessness. median family Many womAnn Howard // income.” en and chilExecutive Director of ECHO Howard dren need said the bond housing.

AISD reports 2017 children registered implements a long-term plan to ensure aflast year as homeless. Many homeless fordable housing in Austin for decades to people elude our ability to count them, come.

“The city policy includes long term and but over the course of the year, they seek deep affordability when is doles out this help.”

Howard said over 38,000 low income money to developers,” Howard said. “That Austinites are pushed into homelessness means the properties will remain affordsimply because they cannot find afford- able for 50-90 years and maintain low rents able housing. She said this bond money is affordable to very low income earners.”

“

A mathematical change

NEWS 5

Algebra II no longer required for all graduation plans BEN BROWN staff reporter

The State Board of Education voted 14-1 on Nov.21 to drop the requirement of Algebra II for graduation.

Before, Algebra II was required for a student to graduate, no matter what plan they were on. Now, instead of taking Algebra II, students will be able take a set of “endorsements,” which are classes that students will take based on the career path they want to pursue, which may or may not include Algebra II. Students on the distinguished plan for graduation will still most likely take Algebra II. But unless the board starts to authorize more specific math endorsements, most students will still have to take Algebra II if they want to pursue a career in math, science or engineering Because of the change in curriculum, some teachers may be required to teach more classes.

“I think it’s good because a lot of the kids in my class probably won’t go into a

PALs collect Coats for Kids PALs collected for Coats for Kids from Nov. 18- Dec. 6.

“The experience with Coats for Kids has changed me because it makes me realize how lucky I am to have warm clothes to wear,” senior Carlos Muñoz said. “It makes you appreciate the little things in life.”

This was PALs first year doing Coats for Kids.

“Students are doing a good job of bringing in coats, and they are the reason this is working out,” senior John Pass said.

“It is really cool how students are all coming together to help people in need. The Coats for Kids program is special because we are taking the job of PALs further and

career where they will actually need algebra II,” Algebra II teacher Chastity Colbert said.

However, Colbert also has some concerns with the bill.

“I am kind of concerned with what that endorsements is going to be,” Colbert said.

“The only advanced math class we have now is Advanced Quantitative reasoning, which has a wide variety of curriculum, so I’m interested to see what that extra endorsement is going to be.”

Sophomore Hannah Cooley said she doesn’t like the idea of Algebra II not being required.

“I don’t think it’s a good thing that kids aren’t required to take Algebra II anymore because it seems like it’s promoting the bare minimum,” Cooley said. “I can understand Calculus or something like that, but I feel like Algebra II needs to be required.”

In May of 2013, the Legislature passed House Bill 5 unanimously. One of the main changes in the bill was to allow more opportunities for job training for students who do not plan to attend college.

Counselor Mindy Croom said she likes the changes in House Bill 5.

“What I know about it, I think that I like it. Nothing has been set in stone yet by the State Board of Education because they’re still in the process of tweaking it,” Croom said. “At the end of January, we should have the final product, then AISD will have the opportunity to tweak it to fit the schools.”

Croom said the number of other course offerings would allow more flexibility for students.

“Right now we’re pretty restrictive, but with the different endorsements, students will have more flexibility with say choosing what science they’re interested in based on their endorsement,” Croom said. “I think whenever you can give students choices on what’s there, it’s a good thing.”

Sophomore Eva Ackerman said she likes the idea of no Algebra II. “It’s a good idea because students can choose whether or not they want to take Algebra II, depending on what they want to do with their life,” Ackerman said. “I

think it gives students a better opportunity to prepare for the future rather than take a class that will have no use to them later in life if they want to be a lawyer or something.”

As of now there are plans for five endorsement options: STEM, Business Industry; Arts and Humanities; and Multiple Disciplinary and Public Services.

McCallum will probably have all but Public Services.

The Foundation School Program being put in place will be 22-credit courses that will replace the minimum plan, which also requires 22 credits; the main difference is the Foundation Program requires two years of a foreign language. The plan will require four English credits, three math credits, three science credits, three social studies credits, two foreign language credits, one fine arts credit and five elective credits.

“The thinking behind the new Foundation plan is that it will give the students the requirements that most public universities want,” Croom said.

news in brief helping the community too.”

Similar to PALs, the National Honor Society also participates in community service.

“I facilitate the officers in service activities such as the trash pick-ups and sponsoring a family at the holiday time and help facilitate getting new members in the spring and sending the applications out to everybody and having the faculty counsel come,” sponsor Kate Vollmers said.

Choir students advance to area competition The choir went to the Texas Music Educators Association Pre-Area Auditions Nov. 19. McCallum had the most students advance to Area Auditions out of

all AISD. “We had nine advance and two students as alternates,” Villalon said.

This is also the year with the most McCallum students advancing to Pre-Area.

“I think this achievement is definitely due to the hard work of Ms. Miers and Mr. Cantu,” junior Elena Villalon said.

No Place for Hate advances tolerance No Place for Hate has been going on for 10 years in Austin, but it’s only been at McCallum for two years.

“The goal is to show people that their differences don’t make them different from other people in a bad way,” club sponsor Timothy Bjerke said. “They’re more alike than different, and if you learn about oth-

er people, you’re less likely to stereotype them, discriminate against them and bully them.”

While a lot of the focus is around bullying, that’s not the main focus. No Place for Hate exposes people to new ideas and makes them think about being in other people’s shoes.

“We have events throughout the year to try and get people to be more respectful,” Bjerke said. “We’re doing a signing of the resolution of respect in a few weeks. Later this year we’re having speed-friending where we try to get people to meet new people.”

Bjerke said McCallum is much different from other schools in terms of bullying.

“We have really great diversity,” Bjerek said, “so other people are already open in their minds and get along really well with other people.”

Dec.13, 2013 // the shield

6 Feature

Rising above the water Students still recovering after homes destroyed during October flooding LULU NEWTON

staff reporter During Austin’s flooding several weeks ago, sophomore Texie Fisher was flooded out of her home, which was wrecked by the high water. She was displaced and initially lived with her grandmother.

“We were living in Round Rock for a while, but then we found a house,” Fisher said. “A family friend of ours knew somebody who is renting it and they let us stay in, which is nice.”

Fisher said she and her family will probably be able to move back into their home

by January. She said there has been some progress on the house, and the family has had help from friends.

“We are rebuilding our house and we get to remodel it, which is pretty fun,” Fisher said. “I’d say [the remodeling] is going faster than the rest of our street because a lot of our friends [have] been coming in to help us.

We have a lot of friends who are carpenters and things like that.”

Fisher had help from friends and volunteers in cleaning up right after the flood, but now she said the job’s more focused on rebuilding. “[Our friends] poured cement down on our floor and gave us a level plane to start off with,” Fisher said. “They are rebuilding all of the insides and putting new insulation in our house and installing electricity and air conditioning and things like that.”

Fisher said the changes her family went through threw off everyone’s groove, including her own.

“Getting home is a different experience,” Fisher said. “I’ve had to figure out the bus system, which hasn’t been a lot of fun.”

She said her mother’s and step-mother’s jobs both were affected by the damages. “[My mom] has to figure out where she’s going to work and what computer she’s going to use,” Fisher said. “My step-mom, instead of working, she’s a sign painter, she has to go to the house and help out.”

Fisher said the flood created challenges

the shield // dec. 13, 2013

Most of sophomore Texie Fisher’s house was destroyed. Photo provided by Texie Fisher. for the little things.

“When I’ll be trying to make a costume or something and I’ll be like, ‘Oh, I’ll use my chain pliers… that I had before the flood happened,’” Fisher said. “Or makeup. I’ll want to put [something] on but I can’t because it got wet. I’ll try to put shoes on, and I’ll [realize] these shoes are still gross and I have to go and wash them again.”

While Fisher was being flooded out of her home, senior Gabby Desporte faced the flood in a different way.

“My house was flooded,” Desporte said.

“It wasn’t to the point where you were standing knee deep in [water]. Our house wasn’t sealed properly, so it would flood in a way that the carpet would get really drenched.

The house was infested with mold. It was a really horrendous experience.”

Desporte said the water seeped halfway into the living room and ruined much of the electronics and furniture. Though the water didn’t rise too highly into the house itself, Desporte said they encountered problems with the garage.

“Since our garage was on a lower level [than the house], it actually did get flooded with about a foot of really disgusting rain,” she said.

Desporte said the October flood wasn’t the first experience her family had with water in their home. They noticed it a month prior to the big flood when Austin was starting to get more and more rain.

“Even when it would rain a little bit, our carpet in certain corners would get really wet and would be uncomfortable to walk on,” Desporte said. “It would always smell like mold and it was squishy and gross.”

After the big rain hit, this problem only worsened.

“You could step on the carpet and the water would rise over your feet,” Desporte said. “It was really uncomfortable, and [the flood] was the last straw for us. That’s when we had to pack up.”

Desporte had to move out of the house very shortly after the flood. She said the move was the positive side of the flood.

“It’s an act of the universe I think,” De-

sporte said. “On [the day of the flood], we had to pack and the next day, we were looking at houses and we found a house that isn’t too far from the school. We contacted the landowner and talked to her. Within a week we had moved into the new house.”

She said after the flood, her family was very angry and frustrated with the situation.

“I was very disgusted,” Desporte said.

“The house was deteriorating and we didn’t have a very stable foundation to live on.

It became a survival factor for a few days there.”

Desporte said the flood was difficult, but that it brought her family closer together.

“We had to just bond and come together,” Desporte said. “It was more than just trying to move a house. We were actually trying to help [each other] through our problems. That definitely helped us for the better. We really got to know each other.”

The flood helped Desporte’s family in a way but did ruin a number of things in their home.

“I had a couple art pieces ruined, which was probably the most disappointing part,” Desporte said. “There were a lot of little things [that were lost] that meant a lot to me. I lost this really nice doll I had when I was younger, and it would always comfort me. It was sitting under my bed . The carpet drenched it, and it was infested with mold.”

Desporte said she had to throw out a few photo albums but was able to save the contents of a drawer filled with photos and other small memorabilia, including her grandmother’s silhouette .

Though things were lost, Desporte and her family have moved into their new home.

“Our new house is amazing,” Desporte said. ”We have hardwood floors, and it’s raised on a platform so we don’t have to worry about flooding. I’m very excited about that. It’s definitely an improvement.

The house brings out a new energy that wasn’t there before. And my room is much cuter now.”

NEWS 7

Film Class to return CLAIRE SANFORD

staff reporter

After its abrupt cancellation at the beginning of the year, English teacher Flor Mota’s Film Analysis class will make a return next semester.

Mota said she is excited and relieved to teach this course again. Its cancellation affected her and many students’ schedules.

“I was very disappointed [about the shutdown of Film Analysis], but I didn’t lose hope that I would get my class back at some point,” Mota said. “Film Analysis was cancelled because Ms. Bell was forced to transfer to Lanier. It would have been difficult for my to train someone two days after she left to teach the Pre-AP curriculum, so I took her classes.”

Mota wasn’t the only one affected by this schedule change. Sophomore John Carson said he had to completely change his schedule to make up for the lost class.

“It was really frustrating,” Carson said.

“I had to talk to Mr. Jordan and rearrange my schedule. I’m now in songwriting, which is a junior/senior class, which is a great opportunity, but I was really excited for Film Analysis.”

Carson said he felt let down when the class was cancelled because he had been looking forward to learning about film.

“I was really disappointed because this was one of my favorite classes,” Carson said. “I was excited to be in an elective with Ms. Mota, and I know she really loves the class. It was interesting to learn the basic part of the language of film, but we didn’t get to go very in-depth.”

Counselor Mindy Croom said rearranging classes not only affected Film students but English students as well.

“The English students’ schedules weren’t affected mostly. They were just moved across the hall, but all of a sudden they had a different teacher,“ Croom said.

“For the students in Film Analysis, it did affect [their schedule]. They were either

TALIA MILLER English teacher Flor Mota has a large gap in the number of students in her classes this semester.

“There’s a lot of disproportion to Aday and B-day,” Mota said. “A-days are packed, but B-days aren’t at all.”

Mota and other teachers in the English Department were shocked when the transfer of their fellow English teacher, Alissa Bell, to Lanier was announced at the beginning of the semester. The transfer of Bell caused Mota to gain two more English classes, which greatly affected her time spent grading.

“Grading’s always taken me a while,” Mota said. “Now that I have two more English classes than I’ve ever taught, grading all those papers is taking a lot longer.”

Although Bell’s transfer caused Mota to gain two more classes, the issue of differing class size has always been apparent.

“My classes were pretty much the same size [before the transfer of Ms. Bell],” Mota said. “[While] my biggest class is 32, I have a class of 14 and also a

class of 22.”

Mota said this disparity between classes can be attributed to fine arts, athletics and math fixed blocking.

“Not everybody can be moved around because of double blocking in athletics and fine arts and math, and that affects us,” Mota said. “It really limits the choices where we can put kids.”

While Bell’s transfer drew attention to crowded classes in the English Department, uneven class size can be found across the board.

“My smallest class has nine kids in it, and my largest class has about 20 in it,” Physics teacher Cristal Lindell said.

Lindell’s differing classes are more related to the rearrangement of Pre-AP and regulars students.

“My classes were larger at the beginning of the year,” Lindell said. “[They’re smaller] due to Pre-AP kids dropping to regulars, and regulars kids shuffling around too.”

Due to under-enrollment and a disproportion in classes, the Theatre Department has also been hit hard. This year, the Tech II class was eliminated, and Tech II students were combined with the Tech I students. The combination of the classes

offers no variation between the courses.

“All of the Tech II majors are basically having to retake Tech I,” sophomore Cole Cunningham said. “We’re learning basics we learned last year, like how to use a drill and what a paintbrush is.”

Class disproportion is unfavorable for some, but Lindell said she prefers her unusually small class. “[In small classes] there’s more one-onone interaction with the teacher,” Lindell said. “Also, access to lab equipment is easier when there are fewer kids.”

Sophomore Mackenzie Krys was a member of one of Bell’s old classes. When Bell transferred, Mota took on Bell’s classes, and Krys is now in Mota’s class.

“I wasn’t really affected by the transfer,” Krys said. “My entire class just moved to Ms. Mota. The only people really affected were in the Film Analysis class, which got removed.”

Mota, however, overwhelmed with grading and her large amount of classes, said she’s looking forward to the changes being made next semester.

“Next semester we’re condensing those really tiny B-day classes,” Mota said. “[Bell’s transfer] is affecting everyone. It’s hard on us. But I have hope for the future.”

randomly given another elective or office aide. It was an unfortunate situation that nobody wanted to happen, but sometimes those things just happen.”

Croom said counselors were always hopeful to keep Film Analysis for the second semester.

“There is already a class that is set up, and there are about 25 students in there, and their schedules have already been adjusted to be in the class,” Croom said.

“I have a student who wanted to change three of his core classes to be in Film, and if a student really wants to do it, we can make it happen.”

When notified that Film Analysis would be making its return, Mota was

both excited and relieved.

“I feel great,” Mota said. “It’s pretty unreal right now, but it was a very big relief to learn that I could go back and teach something that I have developed for the past eight years because I really do love teaching it,” Croom said she thinks this class offers students a chance to pursue something they love and learn about old classics.

“I think the idea is that people who are interested in a certain elective should be able to explore what they’re interested in.”

Croom said. “So I always want to have electives that kids are interested in.”

Mota said Film Analysis has been a large part of McCallum culture and

offers students versatile skills in analyzing movies and other academic classes.

“It offers a different perspective of what movies are because I think a lot of students, and people in general, think that movies are just to pass the time,” Mota said. “They are not really very focused on thinking about it a little more deeply or analyzing it. I feel like people in general think anybody can teach a film class, like you’re just popping in movies and that doesn’t take very much. But like anything else, whether it’s a sports team, a special class or a core class, it takes training and it takes a lot of passion to do it well.”

staff reporter

dec. 13, 2013 // the shield

8 Feature

Thinking of home Foreign exchange student skeptical of proposed changes in Ukraine MARA VANDEGIRFT

staff reporter Foreign exchange student Anastasiia Zinchenko is living in America for the year while her home country, Ukraine, is erupting in protests.

“I don’t support any of this [that’s going on in Ukraine], but I would like to be in the European Union and have life like Germany and France,” Zinchenko said.

Zinchenko said she thinks the protesters are switching what they are protesting against.

“First they protested against the president, who rejected to sign an European Union association agreement,” Zinchenko said. “But now they are saying they are protesting against the government and they want new government.”

The agreement in question was with the EU that would possibly bring Ukraine closer to the Western world. President Viktor Yanukovych instead made a “customs agreement” with Russia for closer economic ties.

“I don’t support Russia, but I think that both Russia and the EU want to use Ukraine,” Zunchenko said. “Look at what happened to Greece. They are in the EU, but they don’t have a good life.”

“

I don’t know if I would.”

According to Zinchenko, This is not the first time prothe EU wouldn’t give Ukraine tests have broken out in Kiev what they want. over politics. The 2004 “Orange “I don’t think they want to “First they protested against Revolution” over the corruption give us money; they just want the president, who rejected and fraud of the presidential something from Ukraine,” to sign an European Union led to similar revolts.

Zinchenko said. “I don’t know association agreement. But election “I was very small at the time, what they want to do ,but so I was a small revolutionary,” they want something from our now they are saying they Zinchenko said. country.” want new government.”

For now, Zinchenko attends Zinchenko is skeptical of Anastasiia Zinchenko// Sophomore school here while watching what what the future holds. is happening at home.

“Maybe it’s a good thing “School is very different in Ukraine,” Zinchenko said. [the president didn’t sign the agreement], maybe it’s a bad thing,” Zinchenko said. “Nobody knows what will happen.” “School here is more liberal and comprehensive. It is also She said being in America while the protests go on in easier to get an education here. I think I like Ukrainian school more, though.”

Kiev doesn’t affect her.

Life in Ukraine is much different from American life “I would not go to Kiev to protest I don’t think,” she said. “Maybe I would go if I lived there just for fun, but I as well.

“There are many different aspects to life here,” Zinchendon’t think so. I live in Svitlovods’k, [which is three and a half hours away from Kiev], so I don’t know if it is worth ko said. “Rich people are rich everywhere, but the stangoing there. My best friend goes and she is having fun, but dard of living and normal life is much better in America.”

Plans being made for summer trip to Dominican Republic also never been to an island country before, so I’m very excited.” staff reporter Gun described how this service trip, Spanish teacher Juana Gun said she is led by her and social studies teacher Katie readily anticipating a new flavor of Latin Carrasco, would benefit the people who live there, the culture that she environment hasn’t yet experiand the travenced when she eling group takes students to We will be doing a green from here. the Dominican “We will Republic in the ecotourism program that be doing first weeks of will provide the kids with the beach and July. river cleanup “I grew up in challenge of full immersion as well as a small town and for six days and allow them planting spoke mostly trees and Spanish with to grow as people. doing other my family,” Gun Juana Gun // Teacher water consersaid. “The speed vation activiwith which the Dominicans speak is like nothing I’ve ties,” Gun said. “We also might be cleaning heard before, so it should be a fun chal- or clearing hiking paths in the mountains lenge to tune my ears to their speed. I’ve so that people and horses can maneuver

JESSE LEVY-RUBINET

“

on the trails more smoothly and easily. In the process we will be doing a green ecotourism program that will provide the kids with the challenge of full immersion for six days and allow them to grow as people.”

The travelers will also participate in other things besides community service.

“We are going whitewater rafting, hiking, to see manatees and a national park, possibly horseback riding and beach volleyball,” Gun said. “Later in the week, they are going to teach us to dance salsa or Merengue, I think, and we are going to try and teach them some country western dancing or another country style so we can create some cultural exchange between our groups.”

Gun said the trip was being led by an organization called Education First tours.

“It’s a travel agency that specializes in taking high school groups around the world to travel and help different communities,” Gun said. “They help us help others

and learn something in the process, which makes it a great deal.”

Sophomore Hannah Ilan said she was interested in this opportunity and decided to go on the trip.

“I am interested in going on the trip because it’s a great opportunity for me to help others who live in a less fortunate community, have fun and practice speaking Spanish,” Ilan said. “I want to learn about Dominican culture and possibly share some of my own with them.”

Ilan said she looks forward to interacting with kids and teenagers from the Dominican Republic.

“I’m really excited to meet kids from another culture and be with them and see how they live their lives,” Ilan said. “I want to help them in any way I can and immerse myself in their way of life. I know this will be a great trip for everyone involved, and I will gain valuable life-long experiences and memories from it.”

Feature 9

Austinites visit the Trail of Lights LULU NEWTON

now you step on people’s toes trying to walk. It’s awstaff reporter Throw away the pumpkins and move ful in a good way.”

Live music, the Trail, past the turkeys. Austinites look across the Austin skyline, past Lady Bird John- vendors that sell light-up son Lake and see the glow of the Trail of knick-knacks on Barton Lights and the iconic Zilker Christmas Springs Road, and 36 of Austin’s favorite food trucks tree.

Since 1965, the one-and-a-quarter mile will all be part of this year’s Trail of Lights, formerly known as the experience. According to Yule Fest, has been enjoyed by Austin the official website, some citizens. Sophomore Sarah Isslieb said she of the food trucks include goes every year with her younger relatives. Crepe Crazy, Amy’s Ice “Usually it’s just me and my little cous- Creams, Austin’s Pizza, Hero’s Gyros, Hill Country ins and sometimes my mom,” Isslieb said.

The Trail of Lights is a place for family Kettle Korn and Hat Creek and friends to come and enjoy the thou- Burger Co. After the winter sands of tiny twinkling lights covering walk, Isslieb welcomes the many scenes. Isslieb’s favorite is the light- good food but sticks to the up cowboy boot. She said she loves the classics.

“Kettle Korn. You’ve got Christmas tree too.

“Who doesn’t want to go spin under a to get some of that,” Isslieb giant Christmas tree and fall down?” Issli- said.

Along with the foods eb said. “I always pick my little cousin up, and lights, Trail of Lights and she and I spin under the tree.”

Just like her little cousins, Isslieb has employee Courtney Camp- Sophomore Sarah Isslieb and her cousins enjoy the Trail of Lights last year. Photo bell this year they will have provided by Sarah Issleib. been going since she was very young.

“I’ve been going since I was about 5,” three entertainment zones.

Isslieb said, “Then they didn’t have it for a The Trail is broken up into kids can go and pick out a book for free at said she enjoys just walking down the trail these three sections. The first is the “Arma- the H-E-B Train. few years and then it came back”. together, talking with her family.

“I remember going my very first time dillo Alley.” “[I look forward to] the togetherness ”This year, with H-E-B as the sponsor “This is where for the Trail, there will be a train from H- feeling really,” she said. when I was 5 and you can write your E-B that will give away 60,000 books to it was freezing,” She said the Trail of Lights is special letter to Santa, be children attending the Trail of Lights.

Isslieb said. “It because it’s something she looks forward dazzled by local was really cool It really was like a winter The last entertainment zone is the Zilk- to for the Christmas holiday season. community per- er Village. being little and “I think [the Trail of Lights] is someformers and get [the displays are] wonderland.

“The Main Stage is the feature in this thing everyone should go to.” your first taste of the zone and will feature some amazing conjust lit-up.”

She said she was 6 years old her when many food trucks certs each night,” Campbell said. She also she took her first trip to the Trail of The Trail of Holly Cerna // Sophomore featured through- said there will be live art demonstrations Lights.

Lights website out the Trail,” happening. (www.austin“[I remember] the little pop-up aniCampbell said. trailoflights.org) Sophomore Holly Cerna said she is mals that light up when you’re walking The next zone is “The North Pole.” looking forward to the Trail. She said she down the trail,” Cerna said. “It was like has information on the full evening it provides for the people attending. Isslieb said Campbell said it’s the best destination goes once or twice every few years. nothing I’d ever been to before, and I reshe has seen the Trail get more and more point at the Trail for kids and families.

“The family usually goes together, and member thinking that everything was so “Visit Santa and deliver your wish list in we can sometimes bring friends for my big around me. I don’t know, when you’re popular through the years she’s been goperson and get a picture together,” Camp- little brother or for me,” Cerna said. ing.

6 years old, everything is a lot more magi“When I was little, there were a lot less bell said. “After that, head to Santa’s WorkCerna said she looks forward to the cal than it is for older kids, so it really was people,” Isslieb said. “Nobody went, but shop for fun holiday arts and crafts. Then, funnel cake and the tree every year. She like a winter wonderland.”

“

Dec.13, 2013 // the shield

10 Feature

Pulling up to the next level Robotics Club members hope to compete at Worlds championship

MARA VANDEGRIFT

pression building a robot gives him.

“You can do things in more than one way,” Bagby said. “Your robot is the creation of your thoughts in such that things This is only the robotics team’s fifth function in the way you want them to and year, but they have already qualified for the the robot interprets things in the way you Vex World Championship three times. want it to. All in all, it’s what you make it.”

This is the first year the team has had The goals of the robotic’s team three groups creating robots. are not unlike other team’s goals: “We’re all one team, but only so they want to advance to the world many hands can be on a robot at a championship. certain time, so it doesn’t really make [The goal is] to go to Worlds “The goal is always to qualify to sense for 10 people to be working on one robot,” team sponsor Audrea of course. That’s everyone’s attend the world championship,” Moyers said. “This year our A-team Moyers said. “There are three teams goal. It’s not always easy, but qualified for state, so when we go within the larger team that are workto the competition in February, the ing together to build a particular dethat’s the goal. goal is to win an award or advance sign.”

Hunter Bagby // Sophomore to Worlds because it’s just so much Each year the robotic competitions fun.” get more and more difficult as VEX The A-team is the only group grows. The team competes in regional, to qualify for state so far, but the other state and world competitions if they qualify. performance reflects that.”

Tournaments are not only for improv- groups still have more chances to go.

“Every year it’s put on the same size field, “The short-term goal is always for but every year the scoring and challenge ing their robots, though. They are also for changes so you have to redesign,” Moyers having fun and spending time with team- every tournament we go to, to improve the design and be more competitive,” said. “You can’t just pull up last year’s robot mates, senior JT Carse said.

“Going to competitions is really re- Moyers said. “ The long-term goal is to and start with that. Last year we had to score using bean bags, which was difficult warding,” Carse said. “We spend almost qualify for the world championships.”

Team members have the same goal. because we had to design a way to pick every day, every week together. We don’t “[The goal is] to go to Worlds of them up and move them without getting usually test our robot before the competithem caught on things. This year we have tion, so it’s really cool when we go the com- course,” Bagby said. “That’s everyone’s goal. It’s not always easy, but that’s the to be able to have our robot pull itself up, so petition and it works properly.”

Bagby said he loves the freedom of ex- goal.” it’s very different.”

staff reporter

To advance from each tournament, the team must adjust their robots to be the best they can be.

“When you go to competitions, you realize some things work, some things don’t,” sophomore Hunter Bagby said.

“So, you improve your robot and hope its

“

the shield // dec. 13, 2013

Feature 11

From coaching to counseling

Nitardy, once an 18 time All-American swimmer, now prepares students for college NICK ROBERTSON

staff reporter When most students think of coach Nancy Nitardy, they think of the college counselor, not the 18-time All-American swimmer she was in college.

“I started swimming when I was 9. I enjoyed it because I had a lot of friends on the team with me and I got to travel some,” Nitardy said. “But I really just love water. I love the feel and sound of water.

I’m just a water person, I guess.”

When Nitardy went to college, she swam there too and was an all American three of the four years she was in college. She competed in multiple events in her college career with some of her best events being the 100 and 200 butterfly.

“I was originally at [The University of] Indiana, but when I was at Indiana the men kinda had everything and the women had very little. We got one lane to train in in the morning,” Nitardy said. “When I transferred, the South Carolina team was a co-ed team, so then it was equal for everyone. The facilities, the training, the coaching, everything.”

Coach Nitardy even competed in the Olympic trials in 1976 and 1980. She came close to making the Olympic team.

“I was sick with mono in ’76, and so I didn’t do very well. And then in 1980 it was my senior year of college, but they canceled the Olympic trials for the United States. That’s the year we boycotted,” Nitardy said. “To make the Olympics, Competes in the Olympic trials with mono

1976

there is money involved, the kids are kinda working for the university.”

After she finished coaching, Nitardy decided it was time for a job change. . At She moved to Austin and started helping kids across the country find scholarships.

“I realized that there were a lot of kids who didn’t know how to approach recruiting and how to be recruited, so I started helping kids then with athletic scholarships,” Nitardy said.

“Helping kids find scholarships is more about giving kids a chance to compete in college.”

She still advises stuNancy Nitardy coached at the Universtiy of Indiana after she graduated from University of South dents across the country in terms of playing in colCarolina. Photo courtesy of Nancy Nitardy. lege and even has a book you had to be top three in your event, and there. Then after that I came to Dallas about how to get athletic scholarships. the highest I got was 12th I think. I was and coached the Mustangs [Southern The advice she would give to a prospecMethodist University] for five years. I tive student who might play in college 30th in the world at one point.”

After she finished her swimming ca- was an assistant coach at Harvard and would be: “Pick a school that you really love so reer, Nitardy began to coach college also the head water polo coach there. swim teams. She started at South Caro- Also I was the head coach at Dartmouth,” that if you took sports out, you would still lina as an assistant and progressed even- Nitardy said. “At the Ivy League schools be happy there and be happy all-around,” there are no athletic scholarships, so the Nitardy said. “You are going to enjoy the tually to head coach positions.

“My first college coaching position kids are doing it purely for the love of athletics, but you should also be able to was at South Carolina while I was still their sport. The other D-1 schools, when enjoy everything else about college”

Freshman at the University of Indiana

1977

Transfers to South Carolina. All-American in seven events.

1978

All-American in 6 events during junior year

1979

All-American in 5 events Graduates and begins to during senior year. Comcoach at South Carolina petes in Olympic trials again, but the U.S. boycotted the Olympics

1980

1981

dec. 13, 2013 // the shield

12 Feature

the shield // DEC. 13, 2013

Graphic by Caitlin Falk.

Feature 13

Athletes discuss experiences; trainers, coaches encourage education, reporting to manage concussions CAITLIN FALK

assistant editor By the time junior Mary Stites was hit with a severe and nauseating pain while walking to her zero hour chemistry class, her last week’s soccer game was almost a distant memory. She recalls that game against Anderson High School.

“I went up to head a ball and hit heads with another player at the same time,” she said. “But I played in another soccer game and swam in a swim meet, and realized that I was getting really bad headaches. That’s when I knew that I had a concussion.”

It took almost two months for her to recover and be cleared to play contact sports again. But back in the game in her first match of the club season, Stites was confronted yet again by an even more devastating blow to her head.

“I went up to head a ball that was punted from my goalie,” Stites said, “and all I remember from that was someone yelling ‘no’ right before I headed the ball, everything going black, trying to stand up and falling over, and then having Pluckers for dinner. Everything else from that day was kind of a blur.”

From then on, Stites experienced a multitude of symptoms.

“Having a concussion is the worst pain that I’ve ever felt,” she said. “Your brain is swelling inside of your skull, and that is exactly what it feels like. As well as the feeling of pressure around my eyes, I would get really sharp shooting pains on the sides of my head and those would last for about 30 minutes, and it happened like three times a day. It felt like my brain was going to explode. My head was always throbbing, I could never sleep, I felt like throwing up, I was always in a daze, and it was extremely difficult to concentrate. I got really bad headaches when I was in bright light, so I would wear sunglasses to school.”

Athletic trainer Kristin Rogers has seen 11 students just this year with symptoms like Stites’ including a headache, dizziness, light-headedness, lost memory, loss of consciousness, nausea or vomiting. Her diagnosis: a concussion.

“These are very similar symptoms to heat exhaustion or not eating all day,” Rogers said, “so you really have to know the right questions to ask in order to pinpoint what you’re looking at.”

Rogers evaluated Stites for her symptoms after she received her first concussion.

“She looked at my eyes and could tell which side I got hit on because when I would look to my right side, my pupils would shake and my pupils were two different sizes,” Stites said. “She asked a lot of memory questions and tested my reactions. When they told me that I had a concussion I was pretty upset because high school soccer is so much fun, but I figured I would just miss a couple of games, not most of the season.”

When junior Ria Chenet King-Smith clashed with another player and hit the floor unconscious during a basketball game, she thought she would be back playing in the game within a week as well.

“I couldn’t tell it was serious right away because I had never had one before,” King-Smith said. “I just thought that I would be able to play the next week, but that didn’t happen.”

When Stites continued to play before her first concussion had healed, her symptoms became more pronounced.

“At one point I ran to the opposite side of the field from where the ball was even being played and [Coach Nancy] Honeycutt was like ‘Mary what are you doing?’ and I had no idea,” she said. “I was so confused. Like I said, I didn’t even go to the doctor for like a week, and I just went to my pediatrician.”

Under previous rules, a coach could put an athlete experiencing these symptoms back into a practice or a game if they were symptom-free for 15 minutes. Now, under a state law passed two years ago known as Natasha’s Law, students are required to receive clearance from a physician before they can return to the field.

“We try and be as safe as possible in all of our sports here, so if you get a concussion, you have to be cleared in order to go back in,” Rogers said. “So say a basketball player gets a concussion tonight at a tournament. He won’t be

able to play for probably a solid week. That is to your brain the amount of time that it needs to prevent that continual concussion after concus- rest. You want to encourage a lot of hydration sion after concussion situation from happening. and you want to encourage a lot of sleep.”

We’re trying to limit the amount of hits to the While Stites was recovering for a period of head so that we can limit the long-term effects.” two months, she visited a team of doctors at the For Stites, besides not being allowed to Dell Children’s Hospital every week where they play, she had to miss three weeks of school and performed rigorous tests to determine her concame back only for modified half days for some dition as well as giving her exercises to help her time after that. Her orders were “cognitive rest,” recover. which meant no electronic screens, no reading “I would take a test on the computer called and absolutely nothing stimulating to the brain. the ImPACT test,” Stites said, “and it would “Sometimes I would go for really long walks ask me memory questions, test my reaction or make friendship bracelets,” Stites said “but I time, and ask me general questions about my wasn’t allowed to use my phone, watch TV, use symptoms. The first two times I took the test, I the computer, read, do school work, or do any- was below the first percentile in every category, thing really. I got really tan in those three weeks and they said I had some of the worst results because I would just sit outside.” that my doctor had seen.”

During this time the headaches gave her King-Smith said her teammates and constant pain.

Continued on next page “I would sit in my bed all night but never even be tired, but my body felt drained,” Stites said. “It was all around a pretty undesirable situation. My grades dropped a lot because it was so hard for me to focus in school, and the work load was huge.

And I could never remember anything that Boys Ice Hockey I learned. I also just worked really slowly.

Boys Lacrosse Something that Football would usually take Girls Lacrosse me 15 minutes took Girls Soccer me like two hours.”

Girls Field Hockey Rogers said rest from all physical acWrestling tivity is necessary for Girls Basketball the brain to heal propBoys Soccer erly.

Cheerleading “The brain is an orTop 10 sports ranked per 10,000 athletic gan, and so it has to rest,” exposures (practices and competitions), 2008-12 school years. Source: Pediatric Rogers said. “A concussion Injury Prevention, Education and Research Program at the Colorado School of in the very basic of terms is a Public Health. bruise to the brain. So if you are constantly thinking or having schoolwork or taking tests, then you are not giving

Concussion rates among high school sports

DEC. 13, 2013// the shield

14 Sports Coaches, trainer say concussions are unavoidable, awareness is key Continued from previous page family were concerned about the severity of her injury.

“My family was really concerned and wanted to know how bad my head injury was,” she said. “My grandpa still wants me to wear this type of helmet during games to protect my brain. My teammates were not very happy, and my close friend Dae checked on me often. They never pressured me to come back before I was able to.”

Rogers said some of these concussions that occur while playing contact sports are not preventable.

“You can’t walk around with a bubble around you, you know?” Rogers said. “And accidents happen, and so as long as you’re trying to prevent them or trying to make sure that it’s a safe environment, I think that concussions can be completely manageable.”

Head football coach Jason Cecil agreed.

“I think there’s things you can do+ like strength and conditioning that can prevent things [like concussions] from happening, but anytime you have big, strong, fast athletes hitting each other, there’s a

chance of it,” Cecil said. “I think people to- term effects.

“It’s such a big news story now, and day are more educated about them, and as long as we have the opportunity to teach people are aware of the long term affects,” good technique and tackling and things Cecil said. “We do a good job educating like that, we can lessen the chances, but [our athletes] about the protocol and what they have to do. There’s probably a few you can’t avoid it completely.”

According to the Sports Concussion kids out there that still [don’t report their Institute, after receiving one concussion, individuals are 1-2 times more likely to have a second one.

People today are more educated about “That’s kind of the scary [concussions], and as long as we have thing about concussions,” the opportunity to teach good techStites said. “People just nique and tackling, we can lessen the started doing extensive research on the effects chances but not avoid it completely. that they have on your Jason Cecil // Head football coach development and brain functions, so this could be something that affects me much later on injuries], but not as many as there used to in my life. Because I’ve had two really bad be two or three years ago. “ For both Stites and King-Smith, the concussions, I’m much more susceptible to having another one, and I could get a thought of never being able to play contact concussion just from falling down and my sports again has become very real.

“If I get another concussion, I am more neck jerking too much.”

Cecil said today, athletes are more concerned about my brain and my body, likely to report their concussions because but I am also concerned about being able of the increasing awareness on their long- to play,” King-Smith said. “If I couldn’t

“

play basketball again or do sports in general, I wouldn’t feel complete because basketball is a big part of my life.”

Now that Stites has had two concussions, her doctor told her it was her choice to decide whether or not to play soccer again, but if she did, she needed to be very careful.

“When he brought up the idea of my quitting for my health, and because the concussions that I had were so bad — I was really susceptible to get more if I wasn’t careful — I got really upset because I had never thought about the idea of not playing,” Stites said. “But my parents, my doctor and I agreed that if I got another concussion, I would be done with contact sports. Because not playing for two months, missing school, grades dropping and feeling awful all of the time (and the questions about my future) really weren’t worth messing up to play. But my coaches are really aware; I’m really aware, and I have definitely changed the way I play soccer so that I can avoid getting another concussion. Hopefully I will be able to play for the rest of high school, but if not, I’ve prepared myself to make that decision if I ever have to.”

sports in brief Wrestlers expect good season The wrestling team has started off its season with a bang, according to junior Julyssa Boortz.

“We’ve already had a tournament with about 15 other schools,” Boortz said. “We also had a meet with Eastside and Lanier at McCallum.”

Boortz said she is excited about the team’s prospects for this year.

“The team is doing really well,” she said. “I think this year might be the strongest we’ve been for both boys and girls.”

The team benefits from the intensity of the sport, according to Boortz.

“Wrestling is a team sport because of the support we get from each other,” Boortz said, “but it’s also individual. It’s

the shield // dec. 13, 2013

a lifestyle; if you don’t eat right you won’t make weight, which is bad, especially if you love the sport because you won’t get to wrestle.”

Swimmers face regionals in February The swim team will compete against other schools at regionals in February.

“The LBJ meet will be good practice for us to compete against them then,” freshman Jared Dale said.

The swim team competed against LBJ on Tuesday.

“It’s dual meet, so we’re the only two teams competing,” freshman Jared Dale said. “LBJ are our rivals, and we’re swimming at UT, which is kind of our turf because we practice there.”

Results were unavailable at press time.

before it,” Clubb said. “We work on stuff like boxing out and stepping up to passes.”

JV boys to play Bowie Dec. 20

Varsity boys stay positive about season

The JV boys basketball team will play its next game at Bowie on Dec. 20.

The team has a 0-5 record this season, but sophomore Julian Clubb is optimistic about the team’s performance in future games.

“Yeah, we’re o-5, but we’ll come back,” Clubb said. “There have been some close games. We’ve been playing some really good teams, like Del Valle.”

The team has been working hard in practice to improve their performance in games.

“In practice, we’re working on fixing mistakes we made in last game and games

The varsity boys basketball team is doing well this season, according to senior Ben Dickey.

“We’re winning some games and coming close to winning others, which is better than last year,” Dickey said. “We’ve progressed really well throughout the season.”

Dickey said he is happy with the way the team has grown since the beginning of the season.

“We’re getting better as a team; our chemistry is really good,” he said. “We move the ball really well, and we play hard on defense. There’s not one individual who stands out; we’re all at the same level.”

Sports 15

Making the catch Players rule the game in Ultimate Frisbee DAVID RUWWE staff reporter

John Walden goes into practice with a serious mindset on getting better. He helps the team with drills and playing in scrimmages.

Ultimate Frisbee is a sport where player cooperation is key. “[You need] a lot of sportsmanship,” sophomore Sebastian Marquecho said.

“Everyone is really nice to each other regardless of what team you are on or who you play for. Everyone is on one team, and you have to be nice to each other.”

Since Ultimate Frisbee is not a contact sport, players have to be careful not to be too rough. They also have to be honest when one player fouls the other. The sport is based on fairness and respect towards the other team.

“I like how it’s not a contact sport,” ju-

nior Jake Holmes said “It’s a lot of conditioning, and you run a lot. I like how there is a lot of respect. There is no trash talk, and the calls are made by the players.”

Ultimate Frisbee is different than many sports because there is not an adult coach.

The decisions on the field are made by the players, and honesty is required when placing the calls.

“It’s really cool,” Marquecho said.

“People are really friendly. It’s all grade levels, and no one gets excluded because they are freshman. No one gets more attention because they are seniors.”

Marquecho started playing in eighth grade at Kealing Middle School and has played through sophomore year. He said he learned a great deal this year and became better at throwing.

The team has 16 members. “[The team might grow] a little bit, but we don’t really need many more players,”

Walden, who coaches the team, said.

Many varsity athletes have joined the club this year who have never played before.

“Basketball players Ben Dickey, John Pass and Jake Holmes, who are all 6’ 4”, are playing,” Walden said. “It will be an advantage because they are tall and agile.”

McCallum Ultimate Frisbee is serious, according to Walden. He says it’s pretty competitive even though it’s not a contact sport.

“It’s really nice because you don’t have a coach yelling at you the whole time, and it’s different from other sports,” Walden said. “I mean, there’s a good at-

Ability to play tops rivalry JONAH SMITH

staff reporter The men’s lacrosse team is in an interesting position this season. The school is lacking enough players to make a full McCallum team, so the players merged with Mac’s rival, LBJ, to form a complete lacrosse team. This allows them to compete against other schools.

“I would say it is probably good that we are merged with LBJ,” junior lacrosse player Adam Freng said.

Since the team is small this year, all of the players will get a lot of good playing time, Freng said. The team is pretty even in terms of the ratio of players from each school, he said.

To get ready for the upcoming season, the team has already started to practice.

“Practice is a lot of fun, but it is also a lot of work,” Freng said. “Coach Zach, our coach, is really good about preparing us for the big games and still keep it a loose at-

Graphic by Bella Temple. mosphere, and it’s calm, relaxing and fun overall.”

Lacrosse team merges with LBJ because of lack of players

mosphere.”

The team will start competitions in December with tournaments that will continue through January. The regular season starts in early to mid February.

“Our best competition will probably be either St. Michaels or St. Andrews,” Freng said.

“The private schools tend to have more lacrosse players that are experienced.”

The games against these two teams will be really tough, and the Mac/LBJ team will have to focus really

hard, Freng said. The other teams will not be easy either, but they will not be as tough, he said.

“We are going to be better this year than we were last year,” senior Sky Samuelson said. “Our team is merged with a lot of really good LBJ players who have been playing for a long time.”

The team has made adjustments from last year to compete at a high level so they can try to win all of their games.

“I am excited for this year, and I think that we are going to be very good,” Samuelson said.

Despite the rivarly between the two schools, the different players don’t mind playing together.

“Playing with McCallum does not really make me mad or anything,” LBJ lacrosse player Fox Pfund said.

“We are just grateful that we get to have a lacrosse season.”

DEC. 13, 2013 // the shield

16 Sports The Shield: What position do you play?

John Pass: I’m the shooting guard. The shooting guard is more of an offensive player, I dribble on the wings and then take shots. I get to shoot the ball more than the big guys. It is my favorite position because I’m pretty tall for a shooting guard, so I have an advantage over the players because I’m taller than a lot of the ones that I guard. Usually people can’t block my shot, which is nice. Sometimes it is hard because I’m not very fast, and usually the people guarding me are fast because shooting guards are quick, fast, little guys, but I’ve gotten quicker.

TS: How has the team changed since last year?

JP: This year we are a much better group and we have better chemistry. We hang out more outside of school and play casual basketball outside of school, which has caused us to become better friends. We are used to being with each other, and we know where everyone is going to be on the court. Having that confidence in each other definitely creates a more relaxed atmosphere when we play. We have a lot of returners and seniors, which is good. And when [senior] Willie [Mays] came in, there was a really easy transition. He picked up right where we were at, so it was super-easy.

TS: How has a tough preseason schedule helped

shape the team to be successful later on?

JP: In practice we have realized that every little thing counts. We have practiced free throws and having that one extra play at the end of the game that gives you the win. We really just needed that good play to get us over.

We could have beat Anderson and St. Andrew’s if we had just had one or two more good plays.

TS: Who is the team’s biggest competition in district?

JP: LBJ. This year we should be competitive with them because we are a much stronger team. LBJ plays a much easier preseason, so they have a really strong record going into the district part of the season, whereas we play a lot of really tough teams so our record doesn’t look as good on paper. LBJ also lost one of their best players. He transferred to another school.

TS: What is the team’s biggest goal?

JP: We are currently focusing on winning district, and we definitely want to make it out of the first round of playoffs. Getting out of the first round is always really hard, but once we are past that, we can go a lot further. We haven’t made it out of the first round in a few years, but we haven’t had as strong of a team. Last year we were fourth in district, so we played the first team place team from the other district in the first round and they were always really good.

TS: What’s most valuable thing you’ve l The Shield:the What stroke do you swim?

Jessie Woolley-MacMath: Freestyle is definitely my best stroke. When I moved up to the National group, I started doing freestyle a lot more. My stroke got a lot better and I became a much faster freestyler. Doing the longer sets in club has really helped me because it gave me an event that I have become really competitive in.

Jessie WoolleyMacMath

the shield // dec. 13, 2013

TS: What is your favorite meet to go to?

JWM: My favorite meet to go to is definitely state. It’s a really fun atmosphere. You’re with the fastest swimmers in Texas, and it’s the last meet of the year. It is a really cool meet because you get to make a lot of new friends and race people that you don’t usually see at high school or even club meets. You get to see those people the year after, which is also cool.

TS: What have you learned from being on the McCallum swim team?

JWM: Club swimming is much more serious. At school practice everyone talks to each other a lot and you feel like you are having a lot of fun, but at club practice there isn’t time to stop and talk on the wall.

TS: What have you gained most from swimming at McCallum?

JWM: High school swimming has definitely helped me mentally because I’m not as stressed. I’ve learned how to become more relaxed at meets, which has translated

John Pass

MARY STITES photo editor

over to club swimming. I’ve learned to have a lot more fun at meets.

TS: Talk about your first experience at state.

JWM: It was very nerve-racking just because I didn’t really know who I was going up against. I knew their times, but I didn’t know what they could do because there were a lot of people that I had never swam against. I felt pretty confident about my 500 free because I was seeded ahead of a lot of people. I was really nervous about my 200 free because all of the times were close. It was just a really exciting meet because you’re with so many fast swimmers.

TS: How have you changed as a swimmer in the recent years?

JWM: Freshman year I swam different events and I was in a lower group, but I moved to the National group when I was a sophomore and that is when I really started getting serious about swimming. Practices were a lot harder, and it made me realize that it was something that I wanted to do in college. I started filling out recruiting questionnaires and have talked to a few coaches because I really want to go to UT [University of Texas] or USC [University of Southern California].

Swimming for Longhorn Aquatics has really helped me a lot because I see the college teams every day and I look up to them. When I see them I’m like ,“Wow I really want to be on that team some day.”

Sports 17

Get a Grip

Debate over legitimacy of gymnastics as a sport is not valid

At the age of 15, I already have the body of a 50-year-old, thanks to gymnastics.

Gymnastics puts so much impact on all of our joints that some days it is even hard to walk Gymnastics is the hardest sport physically and mentally. Some may argue that gymnastics is not a sport at all, even though gymnasts train up to 42 hours a week, 52 weeks a year while also doing just as much (if not more) conditioning as any other sport. Gymnasts flip their entire bodies multiple times in the air and manage to find the ground again, sticking the landing cold.

Gymnastics requires you to use every muscle in your body in almost every skill.

For example, when a gymnast is doing a Yurchenko on Vault, first they start off running at an average speed of 16 mph for around 82 feet then hurdle into a roundoff landing on the springboard launching them backwards into a back-handspring going up onto a 4 foot 3 inch table proceeding to block off the table and do another flip landing on the ground again. All of this takes an average of 0.99 seconds.

ESPN has ranked gymnastics as the

eighth hardest sport in the world right after tennis. I have played tennis, and in my opinion gymnastics is incredible harder in all aspects. I am no pro tennis player, but I know that not a lot of people can do gymnastics and a lot more people can play tennis. People of all ages can play tennis, unlike gymnastics. ESPN did not add any of the mental factors of sports in when they were judging the sports to rank them.

I believe if they added in mental aspects, gymnastics would easily be at the top.

I am a gymnast at Crenshaws Athletic Club and train six days a week 52 weeks out of the year; I personally know what gymnasts go through day in and day out both physically and mentally. In middle school I was put in a physical education class, and we explored a little of each sport. Of course, I never went to an official game or meet, but I never endured anything even close to gymnastics. In the class we didn’t even cover gymnastics, and I am sure if we did everyone would have struggled and possible gotten injured due to wrong technique, but yet we could learn every other sport, and for the most part everyone was fine.

Gymnasts are some of the most in-

One and Done Key players leaving early for professional basketball have plagued the NCAA game.

While the money is enticing to these young men, most individuals could have had a great season the next year, consequently raising their draft stock and value at the next level. This issue has been alive and well lately in college basketball as fab freshmen leave after their first year for the pros.

This hurts college basketball because when these players leave, the quality of the game declines. Not only does the game lose the talent of these young players, it loses the chemistry of a veteran-laden squad that has deep-rooted rivalries founded by three to four years of hard-fought competition.

The Texas Longhorns provide a formidable example of this problem. The Longhorns have a very young and inexperienced team as they lost forward Jaylen Bond, their leading scorers Sheldon McClellan, Julien

shape athletes. There is not a single gym- taking my last turn on beam. I was very nast on the elite level who is the slightest tired and knew that my skills would be off, overweight. We condition and do cardio but if I didn’t do it I would get in trouble, so just as much as we train. You must be I went for it. That was the worst decision I have ever made. I broke strong and quickmy wrist very badly, and twitched to master it never healed correctly. any of the events.

I have been out of full There are so many gymnastics ever since, aspects of gymnasand now I have to get tics that people look surgery, possible ending over such as speed, my career in gymnastics, strength and handand my chance at doing eye coordination. college gymnastics and Think about it. When getting a scholarship. a gymnast lets go of The definition of the bar and grabs sport is: an athletic activit again in less than ity requiring skill or physone second, which ical prowess and often takes insane handof a competitive nature. eye coordination. On Samantha White // Gymnastics contains all Vault and Floor, the staff reporter of those aspects. Just begymnasts have to get so much speed to launch themselves in the cause it isn’t a “ball sport” does not mean air, and on beam they have to have a lot of it does not qualify as a sport. If you do elegance, strength and power. Sure, it may not think gymnastics is a sport, you clearly don’t know what gymnastics is. We don’t look pretty, but it sure doesn’t feel pretty.

Gymnasts push their bodies to the max train to look pretty. We train because it’s and sometimes they break. Last year I was our passion.

NCAA basketball plagued by players leaving for NBA

Jesse Levy-Rubinett // staff reporter Lewis, Ioannis Papapetrou and Myck Kabongo, who left for the NBA draft. The youth of Texas has proven to have talent and a winning instinct thus far as they opened the season with a 6-1 record. If this youth would have been combined with veteran leader-

ship and skill from years past, a great season would have been in store. The team is an example where the level of the game declines due to losing players. It is a shame, but the game is trending in that direction.

This year, Kentucky’s starting lineup consists of freshmen, most of which will be heading to the NBA next year. Leading this young group is forward Julius Randle, who has proven to be a beast down low and too much for other college post players to handle. He is in an elite group of freshmen along with Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins, Duke’s Jabari Parker and Arizona’s Aaron Gordon. Each of these players will look to do the same as the ones before them: hit it big and make money.

While Kentucky may have a storied team for the 2013-14 season, the hype will fade away as the team will break up after one year together. There will be no rival-

ries, no dynasty, no closely-knit team that has been created over the years. There will be no college basketball as it was before.

To solve this problem, the NCAA must set new rules and regulations about attending college. First, players should be allowed to go straight from high school to the NBA. College is a choice, and so is one’s profession. These young men should be able to enter the draft freely, rather than play for a year in college. Playing in college becomes something they have to do, rather than something they want to do which inspires them to leave for the NBA sooner.

Secondly the NCAA needs to create a rule stating that student athletes must stay in college for a minimum of two years. This would give them more time to develop academically, athletically, and create a sense of flow in the college game to where teams like Kentucky don’t have five new starters every year.

DEC. 13, 2013 // the shield

18 Entertainment

Junior Peter Richard tells his story of living as a transvestite in Nazi Germany to sophomore Jack Holcamp in the play “I Am My Own Wife.” Photos by Mary Stites.

Junior Adrienne Redman listens to sophomore Kirsten Timco talking about her plans after a long weekend at Camp Confidence.

A move in the right direction

Juniors take on this winter’s one-act play series, ‘The Rep,’ with 2 works SEREN VILLWOCK

Junior Peter Richard describes how the police officer threatened him in the play “I Am My Own Wife.”

the shield // dec. 13, 2013

online editor With seniors in the theater program tied up with other productions, college applications and other work, juniors Amani Alexander, Reid Gehring and Wyatt Martin took on this winter’s studentdirected plays in the annual series “The Rep.” The two one-act plays were “Camp Confidence,” directed by Alexander, and “I Am My Own Wife,” co-directed by Gehring and Martin.

“The seniors decided to do theirs in the spring, so it kind of fell to the juniors,” Alexander said. “When Mr. Denning announced it, we filled out applications, and we were the ones with the strongest visions and the most definite plan.”

The three juniors then worked independently to direct their productions.

“At the beginning, I was really on my own through the selection process, application process, casting process, staging and initial rehearsals,” Alexander said, “but this week, I’ve asked Mr. Denning for input on specific things, but for the most part, most of the direction has been completely independent.”

Alexander said this experience has given

her and the other directors the opportunity to grow as artists.

“For me personally, it’s been very uplifting being on my own because I feel like for the first time I can really get to see my own strengths and weaknesses, and so it’s been a really good growing experience for me,” Alexander said. “I’ve learned about things I need to work on, and I’ve also gotten a chance to see theater from the other end of the table, especially the casting and audition process. It’s been a great experience.”

But for Alexander, directing on her own has also been a challenge.

“The most challenging thing has been dancing the fine line between ‘I am a director but I am also a peer,’” she said. “It’s really hard to direct in a way that is more diplomatic.”

Gehring said the limited time posed a challenge, but they managed to put everything together with less than two weeks of rehearsal.

“It came down to the very last minute for some of the props and the set,” he said. ”We got to that final dress rehearsal watching our play, and I thought, ‘Wow’,” he said. “’I have no reason to be nervous because these

actors are doing it perfectly, exactly how I imagined it.”

While originally the Gehring and Martin didn’t know what play they were going to do, they found the one the liked in the theater library. Martin said they chose this play because they liked its unique style and story. “[Directing] is a combination of kind of exciting and scary,” Gehring said. “You feel like you’re on your own, and so you know you have control over everything, but it’s all on you if you mess up.”

Martin’s and Gehring’s play, “I Am My Own Wife,” had just two cast members playing various roles. Alexander’s play, “Camp Confidence,” was a comedy about a group of girls who went on a confidenceboosting camping trip to help them deal with various issues. Alexander said the most rewarding moment was when she was at her final dress rehearsal.

“When I got my last tent, I got my shirts, everything looked pulled-together, and all of my actors were off-book, I had the revelation that ‘Wow, this is actually a play that I would love to show people,’” she said.

“I felt proud and I wasn’t nervous anymore.

I just felt really excited.”

Entertainment 19

‘This World Will Remember Us’ MAC Theatre receives 16 nominations in BroadwayWorld Austin Awards SEAN SIMONS

staff reporter For the first time, the McCallum Theatre Program received nominations in the BroadwayWorld Austin Awards. McCallum is the only high school to receive a nomination.

The BroadwayWorld Austin Awards are an annual awards contest for local theatrical plays held by the large national theatre website BroadwayWorld.com The awards were part of BroadwayWorld’s separate Austin branch, which focuses specifically on the local theatre scene.

McCallum received 16 nominations total for the play “Bonnie & Clyde,” including 12 individual awards for students and four for all of McCallum Theatre.

“It was kind of shocking,” said sophomore Kendrick Knight, who is nominated for Best Actor Under Age 18 and Best Featured Actor in a Local Musical. “It’s pretty cool considering that McCallum is the only high school on there. The rest are either colleges or professionals.”

Knight said he thinks the nominations will help him and the Theatre Department gain recognition.

“I think it really points out the good work that we do here,” Knight said. “McCallum is not like other schools when it comes to theatre. We go above and beyond what’s considered normal for high school theatre. The amount of shows and quality that we put out, I think it’s good that we got recognized for what we do.”

Knight pointed out if McCallum wins several categories, it could possibly lead to MAC Theatre receiving sponsorship and funding.

Despite the excitement, Knight said he isn’t hung up on if he’ll win or not.

“Whether or not I get the award doesn’t make me a better or worse actor than I was before,” Knight said. “It just points out the

work that you do. Even to be nominated is sional actors.

“They’re in the same categories with a really big honor. I’m up there with some really amazing actors. And just to be put seasoned professional actors that have been acting for in a category 30 years,” Denthat’s kind of ning said. “And the same as Nominations: here they are, them— it’s awebrand new in some.” terms of their Not only is • Best Actor Under 18 Knight comConner Barr, Kendrick Knight, Ja- artistic development.” peting against cob Roberts-Miller Knight over 30 other nominees in • Best Leading Actor in Musical plans to study musical theatre both his cat(Local) - Jacob Roberts-Miller in college and egories, but he then pursue it is fighting for • Best Featured Actor in professionally. the top spot in Musical (Local) “[The nomithe voting polls Conner Barr, Kendrick Knight nation] is really against fellow cool,” Knight McCallum • Best Actress Under 18 said, “especially thespians ConHannah McEvilly, Sage Stoakley since it’s a proner Barr and fessional nomiJacob Roberts• Best Leading Actress in nation and not Miller.

Musical (Local) only within “I thought it Hannah McEvilly McCallum. So would be pretty it’s just kind of cool to win, but • Best Featured Actress in a step up from for me, I don’t Musical (Local) amateur thereally care who atre.” wins as long Sage Stoakley The nomias its a person • Best Musical (Local) nations even from McCalcaught Denlum,” Knight “Bonnie & Clyde” ning off guard. said. “I really • Best Direction “I had seen don’t think of it that they were as competing.

Joshua Denning going to be I just think of doing awards, it as a local efbut I thought fort. If Connor it would be for wins or if Jacob wins, I’ll be happy for either of them, just professional theatre,” Denning said. “And to see our name up there so many times like I hope they would be happy for me.”

Theatre director Joshua Denning said was a huge shock.”

Denning said he thinks the nominations his students are humbled and honored just to be nominated alongside those profes- are going to get people to start noticing the

McCallum Theatre Program even more.

“Already, people that are voting are seeing the theatre program’s name over and over and over again right alongside theatres like ZACH Theatre and the national tours that come through,” Denning said.

“Right now, we are the only high school up there. I think it’s really helping us publicitywise to get our name up there, and people start to notice we’re doing great stuff here.”

Denning said competitions such as the BroadwayWorld Awards and the Greater Austin High School Musical Theatre Awards are good for students because they give them a chance to see how they rank and stack up against the other high school students as well as professional actors in Austin.

“I really love that because it’s healthy competition,” Denning said. I think it’s going to push the level of dedication and commitment, and raise the bar for the talent in the theatre program.”

Denning said he hopes the nominations will help cement McCallum Theatre’s reputation as the finest in theatre training in the city.

“I am so proud of us,” Denning said. “I feel like we’ve worked really, really hard the last couple of years to try to get the name of the academy out there more, and I feel like everyon’es work is paying off.”

The student nominations include two for Barr, two for Knight, two for Roberts-Miller, two for sophomore Hannah McEvilly, two for junior Sage Stoakley, one for senior Camille Weizenbaum, and one for juniors Sarah Walls and Domino Jones. Denning received a nomination for Best Direction for “Bonnie & Clyde” as well as Best Featured Actor in a Musical with ZACH Theatre for “Les Miserables.” For the full list of nominations, go to: www.broadwayworld.com/austin/ vote2013region.cfm

DEC . 13, 2013// the shield

20 ADS

Knights of Steel will present a

Dessert Concert tonight at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria

’Tis the movie-watching season

Opinion 21

Student reports about favorite holiday features funniest film

prettiest film

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (PG-13) The story of Clark Griswold and his family’s struggle to have a smooth-sailing and problem-free holiday vacation is a fun take on family dynamics around the holidays. As the Griswold family prepares for Christmas day, their house is filled with more and more obnoxious family guests.

The family dysfunction in this movie will make viewers laugh hysterically (and maybe cringe a little bit).

“White Christmas” (G) “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” is a visually beautiful movie. Its musical numbers are fun and exciting, and the costumes, especially for characters Betty and Judy, are classy and fabulous. It also includes fun musical numbers and choreography. The last scene of the movie, which includes the musical number “White Christmas,” mixes audio and visual beauty, takes place in a beautiful, snowy setting.

most quotable film

best romantic comedy

“Elf” (PG) This movie, beloved by many, tells the story of Buddy the Elf and his journey to New York City to find his father and discover who he really is. It’s full of memorable quotes. As naïve Buddy meets crabby New Yorkers, his conversations with them get hilarious. Buddy lives life in the real world and discovers it’s not like his home in the North Pole.

“While You Were Sleeping” (PG) Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman star as Lucy and Jack in this cute, quirky romantic comedy. It’s a movie about family, love and belonging. As Lucy, by accident, becomes part of the Callaghan family, she grows to love them. Viewers will grow to love them, too. Perfect for curling up with a hot cocoa and a blanket.

best kids’ flick

classic comedy

best cartoon

most uplifting film

“Home Alone” (PG) This movie is about 8-year old Kevin McAllister, who gets left behind in his home in Chicago while his parents vacation in Paris, is fun for the whole family.

It’s full of hilarious slapstick scenes and heartwarming family values. It’s a movie for all generations, as it reaches kids who feel left out sometimes, teens who wish they were still kids, and adults who need to be reminded of what being a kid is all about. It’s a delight for all who watch it.

“A Christmas Story” (PG-13) Everyone knows the story of Ralphie and his intense longing for a Red Rider BB gun as his Christmas gift. Ralphie deals with bullies, a crazy family and one traumatizing visit to Santa as he waits for Christmas day. Despite his parents’ warnings (“you’ll shoot your eye out!”), Ralphie gets his BB gun and all is well on Christmas although things aren’t exactly as he expected them to be. This movie is a mustsee for holiday movie-lovers.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” (TV-G) This television short about kids in a small town trying to find the true meaning of Christmas is heartwarming and fun. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the musical numbers and dance scenes, and parents will appreciate the movie’s family and friendship values. As Charlie Brown’s friends decorate a Christmas tree for him, they give him the best gift of all: the love and support of good friends.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” (G) “It’s a Wonderful Life” tells the story of George Bailey, a businessman who feels like everything is working against him.

He’s frustrated almost to the point of suicide when an angel shows him what his life would be like if he never existed. George sees all of his family and friends with worse lives than they had in actuality, and realizes that helping people pays off in friendship.

‘Elf’ Quotes: “SANTA! I know him!”

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

“Francisco…Francisco.”

“I’m in a store and I’M SINGING.” “We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup.”

“I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite.”

“I like to whisper, too.”

KENDRA MURPHY staff reporter

DEC, 13, 2013// the shield

22 editorial

Algebra II should still be required Since its proposal and subsequent passage, House Bill 5 has caused a stir across the state. The premise is solid, and the Texas legislature has done a good job attempting to create multiple pathways for students interested in pursuing different career paths after high school. However, the bill lacks backbone when it comes to the requirement of Algebra II. Students should be required to take Algebra II as their third level math course and then choose to stop there or continue to more advanced classes, no matter what endorsement path they are on.

As it is now, the endorsements are vague, and how they would match (or simply replace) Algebra II in knowledge and critical thinking skill is unclear. At its core, algebra teaches students logical thinking and logical problem solving, which is applicable in any profession, whether it be in

a STEM field or not.

The new graduation plan’s emphasis on flexibility is an idea with merit. Students should be able to focus on more career training or career exploration courses depending on their plans beyond high school. But that should not come at the expense of a course that up until now has been required for students to qualify for certain state-wide opportunities such as the top 10 percent automatic acceptance to public universities (excluding UT-Austin) law. Vocational classes are great, but critical thinking is just as important.

Legislators should be slower to reduce rigor and should focus more on how to integrate appropriately challenging courses with the new endorsements, rather than just cutting either one or the other. Flexibility should not be lost, but neither should rigor.

staff vote

14 4 1

Should Algebra II be required to graduate?

yes

no

no opinion

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

Cartoon by Tillie Walden.

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

the shield // Dec. 13, 2013

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, Talia miller, Kendra murphy, lulu newton, nick robertson, david ruwwe, Claire sanford, 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.

Letters that contain malicious attacks on individual reporters, the adviser, or the prin-

cipal will be rejected.

Anyone interested in purchasing an ad should contact Rhonda Moore at (512) 4147539.

The Shield is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference, National Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

online 23

what’s new on macshieldonline.com Congratulations to comic strip contest winner: sophomore Mila Doiron View this comic and more selected entries on macshieldonline.com

Haley Hegefeld Bella Temple

1 Recent headlines: Environment Knights raise awareness of recycling Staffer goes behind the scenes to explore secret doors at school Varsity football team wins its first playoff game 41-31 against Leander Students, staff express gratitude for Thanksgiving Math classes compete in kickball games (1) Theater students nominated for BroadwayWorld awards

2

First Edition choir members partner with Texas State students to present opera McCallum Youth Dance Company uses Language of Dance in show (2) Students share favorite holiday memories Issue 2 online staff:

Photos by Haley Hegefeld and Maya Coplin

3

Seren Villwock Natalie Murphy Haley Hegefeld Bella Temple Maya Coplin

Like: facebook.com/ macshieldonline Follow: @theshieldonline on Twitter

24 Photo Essay

4 5 1

2 3

6

Swim team prepares for district

McCallum hosts dual-meet with LBJ at Joe Jamail Pool Dec. 10 1. Freshman Rachel Wolleben gets ready to start her 100 backstroke.

2. Senior Isabel Garcia finishes the 100 backstroke. “It was a tough meet because everyone swam so many events,” Garcia said. “It was good practice because we haven’t had a meet in a really long time.”

3. Senior captain Wes Johns congratulates senior Jak Holbrook after placing second in the co-ed 200 freestyle relay. “I was happy the shield // dec. 13, 2013

with our performance,” Holbrook said. “I wish we would have beat LBJ, but I can’t complain. Everyone swam really hard. ” 4. Junior Jake Janssen dives in for the third leg of the men’s 200 freestyle relay to take first place over the LBJ Jaguar A-relay team.

5. Senior Janna Newman comes to the wall to finish her last lap of the 200 individual freestyle.

6. Junior John Garcia takes his position on the blocks to start the 100 breaststroke. Photos by Mary Stites.