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McCallum High School / 5600 Sunshine / Austin, TX 78756 / March 7, 2013 / Issue 5 / Volume 60

Theater students perform spring musical ‘Oklahoma’ story on pages 12-13

What’s inside: New scholarship policy at University of Texas encourages on-time graduation story on page 5

Staffer investigates newest health trend: gluten free story on page 9

With March Madness around the corner, staffers choose their favorite tournament picks story on page 22

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contents

march 7, 2013

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table of contents 3

news

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Staffer investigates new city ban on single-use plastic bags that went into effect March 1

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Band students do well in state UIL competition

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Sophomore Gayla Raulie talks about her afterschool extracurricular theatre program

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Students discuss popular morning radio show moving from Austin to Tennessee

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sports

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Students break the norm by pursuing outside rowing sports programs

Sophomore Jessie Woolley-MacMath and head swim coach Jeff Rudy discuss strategy for her upcoming swim race. MacMath competed at the state UIL swim meet and placed third in the 500 freestyle on Feb. 22-23. Photo by Mary Stites.

save the date March 11-15 Spring Break

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cover

Battle of the Bands Piano Recital @ 7:30 School Holiday

feature

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entertainment

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Students say new apps may not be up to the hype

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opinion

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Editorial staff examines benefits of passage of the DREAM Act

April FAA Dance Spring Show MAC Prom Capital City Men’s Chorus Concert in MAC 16-17 Choir Concert 16 Steel Drums Concert @ 1:30 p.m.

19-20 Blue Brigrade Spring Show @ 7 5-6 13 13

Members of the cast of the spring musical “Oklahoma’” stare amazed into Will Butler’s (freshman Kendrick Knight) kaleidoscope. The show was performed Feb. 28-March 3. Photo by Natalie Murphy.

Americana artist Robert Earl Keen and his band perform with orchestra students at his Feb. 22 concert.

For more turn to page 22. Photo by Grace Frye.

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A matter of money Judge rules current method of funding public school districts unconstitutional GINGER BICKLEY staff reporter

State District Judge John Dietz’s ruled in a trial that began Oct. 22 that Texas’ method of funding public schools was unconstitutional. Texas’ education budget has faced severe cuts, and with a growing number of students, the districts say they are in need of their previous state funding.

Allen Weeks, the director of Save Texas Schools, on organization looking to improve public education in Texas, said Texas is now ranked 49th in the nation when it comes to education, down from 41st in 2010.

“In spending per pupil, we are down $1,046 per pupil since 2010-2011,” Weeks said. “That means we have $66,000 less per elementary classroom, which is why teacher aides and other support personnel have been cut. We are $3,000 below the national average in spending.”

Weeks said many of the education problems Texas faces today are caused by Texas traditional culture.

“Texas is a mass of contradictions.

Public schooling is, by definition, something we do together as a community.

However, the independent streak in Texas makes some people suspicious of anything with public in the name,” Weeks said. “They would rather have a private system. We also have a history of racism that has meant more for some and less for others. There are still remnants of that today. Finally, for a state that values liberty, at least in name, we tend to do things in a very top-down manner, with the state legislating education more than any other state.”

Weeks said other cases about education funding have been brought up in the state before and have made it to the Supreme Court.

“This fight has gone on in the courts since the ‘70s, with more and more districts joining in,” Weeks said. “In 2004-2005, the court upheld that funding was not fair, resulting in the current mess of a system.

The court came close to saying that there was not enough being put into schools, and this was when Texas was funding its schools at approximately 25 percent more

per student, counting for inflation, than it does today. We are way under what is needed.”

Weeks said Judge Dietz’s ruling is a positive step for education in Texas.

“After months of testimony, he [Dietz] ruled that our legislature does not provide enough funding and does not distribute it fairly district by district to meet the state constitutional obligation to have an efficient system of free public education,” Weeks said.

“The state is appealing the ruling, and it will probably be ruled on by the state supreme court within a year.”

The next step for the ruling will be for it to go before the Texas Supreme Court, where action will be taken which could ultimately result in legislation directly affecting Texas school districts, Principal Mike Garrison said. “[The Texas Supreme Court] is going to listen to both sides,” Garrison said.

“There have been cases that have gone to the Supreme Court before regarding this, and a lot of times the ruling down at the lower level ends up getting thrown out, or it’s tweaked to where it doesn’t impact the government as much as the initial ruling.”

Weeks said he believes to reform the public schooling system in Texas, a greater commitment to education is needed.

“First, there needs to be a commitment to the idea that education is vital to the future of the state. We cannot do it with 49th place resources,” Weeks said. “Second, the out-of-control testing system, which has almost no fans, needs to be dismantled, with a broader foundation restored that values creativity, diversity and excellence across a broad range of areas. Finally, the legislature needs to restore the $5.4 billion that was cut in 2011. We now know that the revenue projections were way off and we have an $8.8 billion surplus plus $9 billion in the Rainy Day Fund.”

If the Texas Supreme Court agrees with Dietz’s ruling, the ruling could restore the funding Texas schools need.

“If upheld by the state supreme court, the legislature would come back together for a special session in 2014 to figure out a new system of funding,” Weeks said. “While

Austin citizens gather at the State Capitol as part of a rally organized

by Save Texas Schools. Used with permission of savetexasschools.org. we are hopeful, the legislature has tried and failed before to do its duty. We absolutely need the funding that was cut unnecessarily from Texas schools ($5.4 billion) restored now. Judge Dietz actually said that it would take $10 billion to get funding to where he would say that it is adequate for the mission.”

Garrison too agrees that if the ruling is upheld it could have positive affects on Texas education.

“The effect’s the ruling could potentially include hopefully more equitable distribution of the State funds, and not putting such a tax burden on each one of these school districts,” Garrison said.

“I think with the big players involved in the lawsuit like the Dallas Independent School District and the Houston Independent School District and the Austin Independent School District, all some very very large districts which have a lot to lose, if something’s not adjusted, I think something will come of it, but I don’t know to what degree at this point.”

A lack of adequate education funding makes a big impact on school districts, in many cases they are not able to provide the resources needed to teach in the most effective way when funding is cut.

“If the funding is not equitable or sufficient, it doesn’t provide enough money for infrastructure,” Garrison said.

“It makes it difficult to hire and retain qualified teachers because the salaries aren’t competitive with the private sector. It makes it difficult for teachers, if they’re limited on their funding, to get the supplementals and supplies they need to present their material in an engaging and interesting way to their students, so it affects all schools that way, and it also effects students here at McCallum.”

AISD has faced severe budget cuts in recent years. These cuts have had detrimental effects on the district, illustrating the many negative effects inadequate funding can have on schools, Garrison said.

“A lack of adequate funding affects student in every Texas school, including students here at McCallum, “ Garrison said, “If you pull a large chunk of funding like they have done, and in that short of a period of time it really kind of cripples the system and makes everything much more difficult, if you think back to two or three years ago when we laid off a lot of teachers.”

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Plastic blows away City implements first-ever single-use bag ban on March 1 GINGER BICKLEY staff reporter

The city-wide single use bag ban instituted March 1 is an attempt to cut down on the harmful effects caused by plastic bags that end up in the environment. The ban encourages consumers to use reusable bags, which have less of an impact on the environment.

“The Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance limits the types of bags that businesses can make available to customers,” said Courtney Black, Public Information Specialist at the Austin Resource recovery board. “Businesses can still issue bags, limited to paper bags with handles made out of a minimum of 40 percent recycled content, plastic bags 4 mil (.04) inches in thickness or reusable bags made of cloth.”

Science teacher and Environmental Knights co-sponsor Kendra Flenniken said she is hopeful about the environmental effects the ban could produce.

“I think the effects could only be positive,”Flenniken said. “I taught environmental science here at McCallum for three years, and every single time that went down to Shoal Creek there was always plastic bags stuck in the branches of trees or in the weeds along the side. We know that stuff ends up in the environment, we

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know it ends up in the oceans, and I think [the bag ban] is something humans can do to better their environment.”

Black said U.S. retailers give out 38 billion single-use paper and plastic carryout bags each year.

“The hope is that this ordinance can decrease this number and the amount of single-use plastic bags that enter the landfill,” Black said.

Flenniken said plastic bags can have a harmful impact on different aspects of the environment, including marine life. “[Plastic bags] take a long time to break down. They will eventually break down if they’re exposed to UV rays, but it takes a long time, and it takes being out in the environment,” Flenniken said. “They’re very light and easy for the wind to carry, so the bags that we use may end up blowing all the way into the Gulf of Mexico. In the Gulf of Mexico, to turtles and to sea life there, they look like other sea life. We know that animals in the ocean are swallowing them thinking that they’re sea life.

Then they may have a plastic bag that their system may not be able to get rid of, and it’s killing them.”

Flenniken, while a supporter of the ban, said she is suspicious of whether or not reusable bags are the right alternative to traditional single-use bags.

“Most of the reusable bags we have, unless you go with canvas which is more expensive, are plastic also,” Flenniken said “So my next question is, those plastic bags aren’t going to last forever, so what do we do with those when it’s time for the end of their lives? Overall, I think it’s going to be good. I think it’s going to cut down on the floating trash, but we still don’t have the problem solved.”

Similar bag bans have been implemented around the country in recent years.

“The Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance has been in the works for over five years,” Black said. “The city met with stakeholders, community members, businesses and the Austin City Council to discuss the proposed ordinance and define the associated administrative rules.”

Flenniken said she believes the reason Austin might be choosing to institute a ban now is because of pressure from environmentally conscious citizens.

“Austin has always been a place that’s cared about the environment and cares about the natural resources, and so I think the city is instituting the ban because of pressure from the voting constituents,” Flennikan said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if [the ban] was instituted on a national level in a couple of years.”

The ban was passed last year, and in

the year before it went into effect, the city made efforts to educate the public. Black said the last year was spent coordinating a number of education and outreach efforts about the ban.

“These programs included public service announcements, radio and television advertisements, print ads, community events, bag giveaways, etc.,” Black said.

As a result of the ban, Austin businesses were required to meet the city’s new bag standards; some businesses were in compliance with the ban beforehand, though.

“Some stores do not issue single-use bags to customers, thus they will continue this practice,” Black said, “Other stores, like Whole Foods, for example, already issue paper bags with handles made out of recycled material.”

Black said she does not foresee many potential problems with the ban and hopes for its success in the future.

“In our experience, Austin is a progressive city and many are in favor of the ordinance,” Black said. “As with any change, there will be those in opposition, but it has been relatively minimal. Remembering to bring a reusable bag is easy, and it just takes practice. We realize the shift to using reusable bags will be an adjustment, but our hope is that people will come to embrace it.”

[Plastic bags] take a long time to break down. They’re very light and easy for the wind to carry, so the bags that we use may end up blowing all the way into the Gulf of Mexico.

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Kendra Flenniken Science teacher Remembering to bring a reusable bag is easy, and it just takes practice. We realize the shift will be an adjustment, but our hope is that people will come to embrace it.

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Courtney Black Public Information Specialist Austin Resource Recovery Board

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Feeling generous University of Texas enacts programs to encourage on-time graduation BARON HEINRICH staff reporter

It’s raining burnt orange money for the students at The University of Texas at Austin. The university has enacted a new financial aid program to encourage students to graduate within four years. The additional aid will consist of $5 million, which will be divided into smaller programs and will be available to students in the class 2013-2014.

Coach Nancy Nitardy said the program is a win-win situation.

“UT is taking advantage of their motivated student population as they’re going to put them in positions of leadership,” Nitardy said. “They’ve probably put this money aside to see how the new program works. The students are going to get paid for working for the university but also get some work experience. The university also will encourage students to graduate on time. ” Senior Maeve Richards said she likes the idea but wishes UT offered a little bit more money.

“As far as UT goes, their financial aid is only really though the Free Application for Federal Student Aid,” Richards said.

“They could offer more, but it’s such a big school that they don’t have to since a lot of people want to go there and people will pay. I think that anyone that qualifies for

Where will the $5 million budget go? $2.5 Million Job Success Program $500,000 Freshmen On-track Program $1 Million Presidential Award Enrichment Program $1 Million Summer Bridging Program

UT should get some money, merit, needbased or whatever. It would be nice if anyone that applied and got in would get the chance to go if they’re from Texas.”

Senior Brian Knippa said he understands why UT does not offer money “I think it’d be beneficial for UT to offer more money for the students,” Knippa said, “but any company or group wants to save money, and UT saves money by not offering scholarships. It’s great on their end, but from the student’s situation, yes, they should give out more money.”

Nitardy said there are other options for students to pay for college through the Texas B-On-Time Loan program.

“If a student graduates on time within four years, their loan will be forgiven,” she said. “ I think it’s an amazing opportunity to get your loans taken care of. It might not available for all students, and government has a limited amount of money they can give out.”

Nitardy said students should try their hardest to graduate in four years.

“It costs more to stay in college longer and it also takes up spaces in the classroom too,” she said. “The problem is usually students couldn’t get the course that they needed, that’s a college issue, and they had to stay an extra semester. Another problem is if they change their major, they have to make up those credits for the new major and that’ll take up another semester.

I don’t think enough kids take advantage and it runs about $36,000 a year,” Knippa of summer school. They just assume it’s a said, “while UT is about $20,000-$24,000 a time to be off when they could possibly be year. I have a scholarship from Kettering for $13,000 a year and I have a chance for a scholmaking up some credits.”

Richards plans to graduate in four arship for $6,000 a year, as well as a $20,000 Buick scholarship. The $13,000 scholaryears and try to make college affordable.

“I think I’ll be a political science major, ship from Kettering almost offsets the cost and I plan on graduating on time,” she said. of going there compared to UT. I am the “Money didn’t affect where I applied. I just process if getting another scholarship called went ahead and chose some colleges that I the Terry Foundation, but I have to send letters and be wanted to go to. interviewed.

If some aren’t fiHowever, nancial feasible, It would be great if it can pay then I won’t anywhere go there. It reI could get to half of from $5,000 ally depends my estimated amount to the whole on scholarship entire UT offers later on needed for college per experience. in the year. It year.

It depends would be great if I get anyif I could get to Maeve Richards thing from half of my estiSenior the Terry mated amount scholarship needed for coland if I get lege per year.

Most of the colleges that I applied to are any from the other schools and scholarships.”

Nitardy agrees money plays a role in out of state and are about $30,000 a year.

If I could get to half of that it’d be great, where students choose to go to college.

“I have kids that get into Berkley, Northbut it’ll be hard.”

Knippa’s will decide between two western or whatever, and it’s going to cost schools based on which one will give him them $35,000 a year and they can go to UT for the most money and will reduce post-col- $12,000,” she said. “That’s about three years at UT compared to one year at Berkley. Money lege expenses.

“I’m looking at two colleges right now: is just a huge issue for the student and the famKettering University in Flint, Michigan, ily to make, and it’s money that kinda makes the final decision sometimes.”

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The Job Success Program will give students an opportunity to earn loan forgiveness in return for academic preparation, leadership training or working for the university.

Freshman On-Track Program will give students a one time $1,000 scholarship sophomore year if the student has completed prerequisites freshman year.

A one-time $1,000-$1,500 enrichment scholarship will be given to recipients of the Presidential Award Scholarship. The enrichment will be added to the amount already awarded through PAS. The Summer Bridging Program will support students with foundational issues and replace loss Pell Grant scholarships

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Sweet DREAM New legislation gives young illegal immigrants path to citizenship like these kids’ options,” Fuentes said. “It CAITLIN FALK wasn’t their decision to come here. Their assistant editor parents made those decisions, so they’re Spanish teacher Daniel Fuentes stepped for the most part American, you know, inside the borders of America at the age of they were born here, they live here, it’s part 11. The sights, the sounds, everything here of their culture. I can guarantee you most was different. of these kids probably speak more English “I had no friends; I didn’t speak the lan- than they do Spanish. They should be given guage,” Fuentes said. “The culture was dif- that option [to stay here] if they want to conferent; the schools were different. I felt lost tinue education. We do want them to be a for a while and it took some time to assimi- part of society and we do want them to get late.” better jobs, to Fuentes’ story is contribute to much like the thousociety, not to I know they broke the sands of families who just be a part law, but it wasn’t these flock to the U.S. every of society but year hoping to build a kids options. It wasn’t to contribute better life. Debating to it. That’s the their decision to come about what to do with way they can do here. these families is the bodthat, by getting ing question which has an education.”

Daniel Fuentes provoked a deep rivalry The Act Spanish Teacher and gridlock in Confailed to pass in gress over the past four both 2009 and years. What is to become of these thousands 2010. In 2011, when the bill was reintroduced of displaced families? Where do they fit into by Democrats in Congress, it passed in the society? Denise Gilman, Clinical Professor House but faced overwhelming Republican and Co-Director of the Immigration Clinic resistance when it reached the Senate. at the University of Texas School of Law, “Immigration is a hot-button issue, and said they do have a place. positions on immigration have become very “As an immigration attorney and clinical polarized,” Gilman said. “Some members professor of law,” Gilman said, “I have repre- of Congress insist on an enforcement-only sented many young people who have faced approach to immigration (detention and deportation proceedings and detention as deportation) while others recognize that a result of their immigration status without we must provide some pathway to regularany consideration of the contributions they ization of status for DREAMers and other have made to this society and the potential hard-working immigrants. So far, the enthat they bring. I have also worked with forcement-only contingent has won out, but young DREAM Act advocates who have I expect that dynamic is changing. “ shown incredible leadership and strategic The bill was to be reintroduced at the wisdom as they push for this legislation, and end of this month by representatives in that experience makes it clear to me that Florida, California and Illinois, but the these young people deserve the support of outcome is still unknown. Junior Eve Galthe American public and of Congress.” braith, whose mother was born and raised in The Development, Relief, and Educa- Fuzhou, the capitol of the Fujian province in tion for Alien Minors Act or DREAM Act the southernmost province of China, agreed is a legislation, advocated for by President with Fuentes.

Barack Obama, which provides for gradu“I think that instead of thinking about ating high school students to apply for tem- how fair it would be for them to let them porary legal status in order to attend college stay,” Galbraith said, “it’s important to think here or serve in the U.S. military. about how unfair it would be for them to “I know they broke the law, but it wasn’t have to leave the place they grew up. I defi-

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nitely think they should be granted citizenship because it’s unfair to have to move and completely change lifestyles so abruptly like that. Even though there might be a potential for overpopulation, in the long run what matters is the happiness for people who deserve it, or more specifically, the happiness for people who didn’t do anything to not deserve it.”

For many of the children who immigrate as adolescents, the change can be very difficult, said freshman Melissa Palacios, who came to the U.S. in third grade after having been raised in Mexico.

“It was horrible,” she said. “I went to the elementary school and I couldn’t understand any of the things in English. The hardest part would probably be when I got here and I barely knew anyone. Everybody in my class in third grade hated me because I needed more help than they did, and so the teacher would pay a lot of attention to help me. It was really tough. I went from being one of the top students in Mexico and I knew everybody, to coming here and kind of being like the bottom kid.”

Palacios has dreams of attending Texas State University in college and working in the field of forensic science. However, without the DREAM Act, she said, many children will not get the chance to pursue their aspirations.

“For once,” Palacios said, “you come to a whole new place, and you try your best and you get incorporated into society and then you grow up and you learn the language and everything and then they tell you that you can’t fully enroll in what you want to be. I have the opportunity because I’m a citizen, but I feel like these kids should have a chance to reach their goals too.”

Opponents of the legislation have argued that immigrants will burden the welfare system if the bill is to pass. However, Fuentes said his parents, who became legal citizens as a result of the amnesty program passed in 1986, said they were wary of utilizing federal programs.

“My parents were pretty big about not asking for any kind of help from the government,” Fuentes said. “They didn’t want to apply for those kinds of things. They wanted to

Graphic by Caitlin Falk.

make sure that they do it on their own. At the same time, they knew the United States provided some of those things, like jobs. They were both able to work and they worked very hard, to say the least. But they were very proud of the fact that they did it on their own without having to ask for help or any government type of help “ Gilman had a message for those students who currently do not have legal status in high school.

“These students should work hard to be successful in their academic and extracurricular activities,” Gilman said, “because most of the public supports them and feels strongly that opportunities should be granted to them. I would also encourage them to become involved with DREAM Act advocacy because they have so much to contribute. “ Gilman also said she has hopes for the future of these young kids in terms of immigration reform.

“I strongly support the federal DREAM Act. This important legislation would allow amazing young people who have lived most of their lives in the U.S. to regularize their status in this country. They already feel American – they are on our sports teams, in our schools, at our science competitions and in our workforce; this legislation would give them an opportunity to become legally American and to grow and contribute their talents to our economy and society as a result. Up until now, most undocumented young people have been forced to live in the shadows even though they are the same as their classmates at school in every way other than immigration status.”

Fuentes expressed similar sentiment for the bill.

“The ones [immigrants] that are already here should be given an opportunity to become citizens,” he said. “You know that’s what this country is made from: from different cultures. I think immigration is an issue that’s not going to go away unless we embrace it rather than attack it, which is a big difference.”

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Changes proposed for Mount Bonnell JACOB STRAIGHT

staff reporter Mount Bonnell is renowned for its great scenic views and good hiking trails, which have remained the same. This may not be the case for very much longer, as a group is planning to fix the paths.

“The West Point Society of Central Texas trimmed vegetation and raised canopies on trees to restore the fabulous views to the west, north and south,” Stan Bacon, manager of It’s My Park Day, said.” But were unable to restore view to the east.

The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, which co-manages the park with PARD because of the presence of the protected species of a plant called the bracted twistflower, has blocked us on that, unreasonably so.”

Mount Bonnell is the highest point in Austin, standing at 775 feet. Dogs are allowed on the trails, but not bicyclists. It’s named after George Bonnell, who was Commissioner of Indian Affairs for the Texas Republic after moving here in 1839.

“I don’t know who the area is named after,” freshman Noah Coombs said. “It seems like something I should know, kinda like how people should know who their

gone. I think this is the city’s fault since city is named after.”

The hike itself is more of a tourist walk they didn’t do anything to protect it. We than a hike, allowing people of all athletic need to do something to preserve this one abilities to walk the trails every day. This if we put another in. Maybe it could be put in a museum could change or somewhere soon, as the else safe, but it’s trails are detoo damaged to The West Point Sociteriorating. stay out there.”

The West ety has been trying to The Parks Point Sociand Recreation ety of Cenreplace the limestone Department tral Texas tablet since January plans to host has spent a meeting to several years 2011. determine the planning fate of this landto improve Stan Bacon mark. If the dethe design partment does of Mount Bonnell. The group is willing to donate decide to replace it, a large granite monu$150,000 to help add benches, change the ment will be put in place of the limestone landscape, and maybe even remove retain- monument currently at the site.

“The West Point Society has been trying walls that are said to block the views.

The group also wants to remove the ing to replace the limestone tablet since limestone monument donated in the late January 2011 with a permanent granite 1930s by the Covert family and replace it marker and to make improvements to the surrounding hardscape—partially cover with a new one.

“The monument is very broken. I the large garden to form a dais, add benchcan’t believe nothing has been done yet,” es and handrails,” Bacon said. “The City Coombs said. “Nearly half of it is already Historic Landmark Commission has been

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blocking these changes.”

Many of the walkways will have handrails and benches put in for visitors if the proposed plans are followed. Many of these changes took place March 2 on the Austin Parks Foundation’s “It’s My Park Day” (IMPD), which was sponsored by The West Point Society of Central Texas and other groups. IMPD is an event where volunteers work to make the parks clean and safe. Last year, almost 2,000 people worked in IMPD, working on over 70 different projects in parks around Austin. This year there were even more projects than last year, with volunteers working on over 100 different projects all over Austin’s parks.

“We will have 30 volunteers who will be picking up litter in the parking lot and trails, weeding the gardens and maintaining one of the trails,” Bacon said.

Coombs said the trails need updating.

“Some parts of the trails really do need handrails or something to hold onto,” Coombs said. “Sometimes you could easily slip and hurt yourself, especially around this time of year when the ground is moist.”

news in brief AISD launches new online resource for parents Parents of students in AISD now have a new way to access information about their students’ educational progress.

Parent Cloud, a program which was launched in February, provides parents with the tools to stay connected with the school. Features include access to test scores, grades, class schedules, lunch money, attendance records and more.

“Parental engagement is critical to our students’ success, and we are committed to empowering parents with the tools they need to support their children,”

superintendent Meria Carstarphen said on the Austin ISD website. “Parent Cloud offers a one-stop shop for families to access their children’s information and learn about district-wide resources and services.”

The program combines many of the resources found on the AISD website, Parent Connection, and Naviance into one tool. Parents can manage multiple students online from one account. In addition, a Spanish version of Parent Cloud will be launched later this year.

5 band students qualify for all-state More students from McCallum than

from any other school in the district performed at the annual TMEA all-state convention Feb. 13-16. After area auditions in January, five band students qualified for all-state. Matt Flores, Jenny Hah and Charlie Bell made it into the 4A Symphonic Band, while Sunny Hah qualified but was unable to attend, and John Walden made it into the Jazz Ensemble.

“I would say that the students who got in are in at least the top half of a percent of all high school musicians,” band director Carol Nelson said. “It’s really a great accomplishment.”

The annual clinic/convention in San Antonio featured exhibits, over 60 concerts and many clinics. Students then gave a performance with their all-state

group. Nelson said the thing she most enjoyed at all-state was a feeling of pride for the students.

“They are really outstanding students and musicians,” Nelson said.

“I’m very proud of such a tremendous accomplishment.”

Correction In the article “Man of the Knight” in the Feb. 8 issue, we mistakenly reported the proceeds of Mr. McCallum will go towards Grad Night. The proceeds will actually go towards senior prom and senior scholarships. We regret this mistake.

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Stranger danger Medical experts find another condition related to gluten other than Celiac disease

By the numbers

BELLA TEMPLE

Gluten intolerance is a condition in which the consumption of wheat can lead to similar symptoms to those observed in Approximately one in every hundred Celiac disease.

“Gluten intolerance can cause some Americans suffers from Celiac disease.

Doctors have recently discovered another different symptoms for different people,” condition related to gluten that is not school nurse Kathleen Thelen said. “The Celiac disease, gluten intolerance. Car- most common symptom is severe headac men Abbe, a junior from Roosevelt High hes.”

Gluten is a protein composite found in School in Seattle, Washington, suffers wheat and other grains, such as corn, rice, from this condition.

“I almost never eat wheat,” Abbe said. oats, barley, rye, etc. For those who have “I recently did a test and ate a regular Celiac disease, wheat will trigger digestive gluten pizza for lunch. I ended up with a problems as well as fatigue, joint pain and stomachache, but the most dramatic affect autoimmune conditions.

“You can test for gluten sensitivity, was emotionally. All of a sudden I got rewhich would ally sensitive and show up difirritable.”

If a person with the dis- ferent markers The cause of for Celiac Celiac disease is ease eats gluten, they will get than disease,” Brounknown and can develop at anyextremely sick with severe zowsky said.

The conditime in life, from symptoms. If you look at in- tion is less of infancy to adulthood. tolerance, it’s the inability to athan adiagnosis descrip“The body basically attacks the digest. Celiac is disease con- tion. Certain people’s health protein and then starts attacking dition and a life or death situ- improves when they become the body itself,” ation for some people. gluten-free and Beth Brozowsky, then worsens a nutritionist at when they bePeoples PharmaBeth Brozowsky gin to eat it cy, said.

Peoples Pharmacy Nutritionist again. Over the The disease past decade, is a perforation to be glutenof the intestinal lining, which prevents it from absorbing, free has been understood as a way to lose whereas gluten sensitivity is a milder intes- weight, better the complexion and cope well with certain conditions. tinal permeability.

“Going gluten-free is definitely be“Celiac is a true diagnosable; it’s a disease.” Brozowsky said. “If a person coming a fad,” Abbe said. “I think going with the disease eats gluten, they will gluten-free can have really positive impacts get extremely sick with severe symp- on some people. I would definitely say it toms. If you look at intolerance, it’s the is something to try. The diet can be lifeinability to digest. Celiac is disease con- changing for some people. It can make dition and a life or death situation for them happier, more energetic and improve them physically.” some people.” staff reporter

Between

and

per-

97

percent of Ameri-

cent may suffer from a gluten

cans estimated to have celiac

sensitivity of some form

disesase are not diagnosed

“

”

5 10

Celiac 3 million Gluten sensetive 15 million

18 6-10

million people follow a gluten free diet

years old is the aver-

age age a person is diagnosed with Celiac

A

100

percent gluten-

free diet is the only existing treatment for Celiac today

300

Celiac disease has over known symptoms

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march 7, 2013

09

The show must go on Student plays unique roles in afterschool theater program

1.

2.

VIOLET ACEVEDO

staff reporter Sophomore Gayla Raulie can hear the audience on the other side of the curtain waiting impatiently for the show to start.

Her breath catches in her throat as the play begins and her cue to enter draws closer and closer.

“Usually I don’t try not to think about all the people sitting out there, waiting to see me,” Raulie said.

“When we’re getting into places, that’s when I start thinking about what I have to do. I try to keep calm, which is hard. When I first get on stage my heart starts to race. Then I everything starts to [happen], and I feel natural because I’ve practiced so much.”

Theater majors would understand that feeling, but Raulie is unlike many of them. Instead of participating in the theater program here, she is part of Buzz Productions, an after-school theater program that hosts kids from ages 8 to 18.

“I’ve been in it since fourth grade,” Raulie said. “The director goes to my church. I’d been doing some plays at church, and she was, ‘You should try this’ and I did.”

Over the course of her four years in the program, Raulie has played a variety of dif-

“

ferent roles; however, only one of them has fit her gender.

“I’m usually cast as a guy because I can’t sing the higher parts the girls usually sing,” she said. “[Plus] my build is more boy-ish and I have a lower voice.”

She has played the part of a tailor in

I do it because I don’t have to be me. I can be someone else and drop all my troubles. I don’t have to worry about a test or if the research paper is done.

Gayla Raulie Sophomore

”

“Fiddler on the Roof Jr.,” a Wickersham brother in “Seussical Jr.,” and the leader of a Shakespeare troupe in “Shakespeare Comes to Calamity Creek.” Currently, she’s the grandfather in “Willy Wonka Jr.” The only female part she’s been cast in

3. has been the Queen of Hearts in “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” “When I started we had a lot of guys,” Raulie said. “Then they graduated. I believe it’s [sometimes] harder for guys to act because they want to be cool. They want to keep their image even though you’re taking on a new image when you act.”

Despite the fact that the images she’s taking on are a different gender, Raulie says she normally feels well-suited for the characters she’s played.

“Yea, usually [the parts] have fit me,” Raulie said. “When I was a Wickersham brother (which is a monkey), I was in fifth grade and I was really hyper [so it fit].

[But] I was also the Queen of Hearts, and it didn’t fit me because I had to be mean and that’s not me.”

However, she only has to put on her role for a short period of time because, unlike other theater companies, Buzz Productions only practices once a week.

“We practice every Saturday from 2-5 p.m. from September to May,” she said.

“We have a lot of younger kids, and they can only handle one play a year.”

That seems to be the case for her as well. With multiple Pre-AP classes, Latin and Steel Drums, Raulie doesn’t have much free time on her hands, which is why she isn’t involved in the theater program

4.

1. Sophomore Gayla Raulie prepares for her performance as Noble Heart in “Shakespeare Comes to Calamity Creek.”

2. Raulie practices for her role as Grandpa Joe in their upcoming production of “Willy Wonka Jr.” 3. Raulie acts in her role as the Queen of Hearts in “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” 4. Raulie poses with the other Wickersham brothers in “Seussical Jr.” here at McCallum.

“I couldn’t really balance school and doing a play every month,” she said.

Even so, Raulie still has to plan ahead to get her schoolwork done, especially during research paper season.

“Usually I try to get homework done on Friday [because] I usually don’t have a Saturday because of this,” she said. “I’ve done most of my research paper on Friday or during the week.”

But these challenges haven’t stopped her from acting.

“I do it because I don’t have to be me,” she said. “I can be someone else and drop all my troubles. I don’t have to worry about a test or if the research paper is done because that is not me and the moment.”

10

march 7, 2013

entertainment

the shield

KISS him goodbye Bobby Bones leaves Austin to start syndicated show JENNIFER CASTRO staff reporter

Located in the heart of Chicago’s Loop and at saic.edu

After years of being one of the most top-listened-to radio shows in Austin, KISS FM’s “The Bobby Bones’ Show” has moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Bones announced on Feb. 4 that he and his crew would be moving the show to Nashville where it will be syndicated nationwide. Bones has worked at KISS FM since 2003 and for his work on the program, Bones was named “Austin Radio Personality of the Year” in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Some fans were worried that because of the move, the show would end, but Bones announced that because the show is nation-wide, instead of airing on 96.7 KISS FM, it would air on Austin’s 100.7 KASE-FM. “It’s weird that he’s leaving, you know?” freshman Vanessa Martinez said. “I mean, we’ll still hear from him, but we won’t turn to 96.7, and that’s kind of sad to me.”

The last live airing of “The Bobby Bones’ Show” on 96.7 was on Feb. 8, and the new show premiered on KASE-FM on Feb. 25.

“I’m going to miss going to 96.7 in the mornings when I go to school,” sophomore Karla Leiva said. “I know I’ll still be able to hear them, but I don’t know. It doesn’t feel the same going to the other station.”

The show is broadcasted in St. Louis; Wichita, Kan.; Tulsa, Okla.; Fort Myers, Fla.; and Tuscaloosa, Ala. “I think it’s great that Bobby’s moving up,” sophomore Liney Hernandez said. “He’s been here for a while now, and I think it’s about time he’d move to other things.”

With the new move came controversy when it was announced that Carlos would not be a part of the new show.

Bones’ other co-hosts Amy, Lunchbox, Alayna and Ray

have confirmed their association with the new show and dates on what’s have made an appearance as well. happening in “I liked Carlos, but he’s been kind of (absent) for a the entertainwhile,” Martinez said. “That’s why I wasn’t surprised he ment world. wasn’t going with them. I thought he left already, to be “I’ve always honest.” liked the show, It is unknown if Carlos will be a part of the new show they’re funny,” Hernandez said, “so regardless of it being in the future, but it has been confirmed that Carlos will country, which I hope it isn’t a lot, I’ll still listen to it.” not move to Tennessee and will remain in Austin, still Not only fans are getting used to the change, Bones’ working for KISS-FM for the time being, as Bones made said in an interview that moving to Tennessee was a difnote that no one was fired due to all the big changes occur- ficult decision to make, having to leave Austin and experiring in the show. ence a whole different dynamic. He says he was told he “I wonder why Carlos didn’t go with them,” Hernan- was going to be the next “country superstar,” which he dez said. “I mean, if they were moving the show, shouldn’t declares stunned him but decided to take on the job. After all of them have gone, including Carlos? But maybe he over a decade of being on KISS FM, he bids goodbye to couldn’t or didn’t want to go anyways, so who knows?”

Austin and says hello to Nashville.

A thing that bothered fans too was that Bones’ show “I hope he does well in Nashville,” said Leiva. “Moving would produce more country music. from a whole different place is kind of scary, so I hope he “I’m not a big fan of country,” Martinez said. “The gets use to being in Tennessee and on the new show.” reasons I would listen to (the show) was because they would play good music, and country isn’t my favorite type of music so if it mainly country then I probably won’t lisAMERICA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL ART ten much to it and switch to AND DESIGN SCHOOL INVITES YOU another station.”.”

Aside from it being counTO TOUR OUR CAMPUS! try music, fans said they hope Discuss your work in-depth with our admissions counselors, the show will remain the who are also working artists, designers, and visual scholars same just with a new location Tour our state-of-the-art facilities and incomparable and include all the member’s residence halls funny commentary and upExplore Chicago, our urban campus

For more information and to reserve your space, visit saic.edu/tour ADMISSIONS | 800.232.7242 | 312.629.6100 | admiss@saic.edu

SAIC is the largest school-museum campus in the U.S. Photo by Kirk Gittings, The Art Institute of Chicago, Modern Wing.

feature

the shield

march 7, 2013

11

In search of privacy Facebook adds new settings, leading to easier access of personal information BELLA TEMPLE

but it does not allow a profile to completely opt out of a Facebook search. staff reporter “I think it’s a little strange how anyFacebook adds new features to its site one can look you up on the Internet,” frequently, and many of those features freshman Hannah Wright said, “but you change the default privacy settings, which should update your privacy settings regucan lead to easier access to users’ personal larly so strangers can’t find out more other information. Junior Angela Prete said she than your name.” believes the social networking site is not When Facebook was first founded, it as private as it used to be. restricted the visibility of users’ personal “Their privacy settings are, instead information to just their friends and their of improving, “network” degenerating,” (college or Prete said. “You school). can’t be as pri“I like vate, and it’s only its initial becoming easier purpose, for strangers to for college learn about you. students so I never really use they can be it. About two connected Hannah Wright months ago, I to each Freshman deactivated it. other,” The only time I Prete said. go on was when someone asked me to.”

“I can connect with my dad’s side of the As of January, Facebook announced a family, who I never see. It’s also nice so new search engine, Graph Search. While you can connect with people who you no new personal information is being pro- have not seen in a long time.” vided to the general public, Graph Search As of September 2011, Facebook has made it easier for that information boasted more than 750 million active usto be accessed. Graph Search will en- ers. More than 250 million people access able people to tap into a user’s timeline, Facebook over a mobile device, and they check-ins, likes, employment and educa- are twice as active on Facebook as desktion history, and other personal informa- top or laptop users. tion; the feature provides user-specific re “People I know who have smart sults. Facebook does let users specifically phones use it frequently,” Wright said. choose who gets to see likes and photos, “It’s a little ridiculous to always have ac-

“

Whatever you say on Facebook can be on the Internet forever.

”

Battle of the Bands!

Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m. in the new fine arts building.

Sponsored by MAC radio Tickets are $5

130 is the average number of friends per Facebook user 2 million friends are requested every 20 minutes

on Facebook

48 percent of 18-34 year olds check Facebook when they wake up

cess to your account.”

Graph Search has been released only to limited users, with a slow expansion planned. Facebook announced plans for a future mobile interface and the inclusion of Instagram photos. The name refers to the social graph nature of Facebook, which maps the relationships among users.

In 2005, when Facebook was first founded, all Facebook users could view only networks, profile picture, gender and name. Over the past couple of years, the default privacy settings for a Facebook user’s personal information have become more and more permissive. With the default privacy settings, the entire Internet can now view users’ photos, wall posts, networks, likes, friends and name and gender.

“I do now know all my friends on Facebook,” Prete said. “At one point I went through and deleted all the ‘friends’ I didn’t know or remember.”

Facebook has indicated only that its current privacy tools won’t limit how information is shared with ads. The company has also indicated in its policies that Facebook activity and data will be available to the advertisers who use the network. A change that Facebook is making is to clarify that a Facebook timeline always has been public. (Posts that have been set to be less visible will remain so.) If users hide something from their timeline, it will still be available in their news feed and search, and possibly elsewhere.

“You shouldn’t post things you don’t want certain people seeing,” Wright said.

“Whatever you say on Facebook can be on the Internet forever.”

12

feature

march 7, 2013

The Old West invades MAC Theatre

Student cast takes us behind the scenes of spring musical ‘Oklahoma,’ Feb. 28-March 3 NATALIE MURPHY staff reporter

When junior Connor Barr found out the theatre department’s newest performance was going to be Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma,” he was pleasantly surprised.

“I think McCallum has gotten in the habit of putting on dark, out-of-the ordinary shows recently,” Barr said. “‘Oklahoma’ is a classic musical theatre show. A lot of people think ‘Oklahoma’ is chipper, easy to follow musical, but it is a little more complex than that.”

The musical opened on Feb. 28 and closed March 3. Barr, lead actor of the show, said anyone, fan of musical theatre or not, would enjoy “Oklahoma.”

“People who love musical theatre will love it because it’s the basis of many other shows,” Barr said. “People who think they don’t like ‘Oklahoma’ and haven’t seen it will be pleasantly surprised because it’s different than most musicals.”

The show was directed by theatre teacher Joshua Denning and Courtney Wissenger, an outside hire by the department, who also directed last year’s Cabaret.

Photos by Natalie Murphy.

“It’s really fun to work with her,” Barr said.

“She’s someone from the outside, and it’s nice to have a change in directing styles. She’s really forward with what she wants, which is nice.”

Junior Jasmine Bell said the show was exciting to perform because it’s a classic musical.

“The show is a pivotal part of the history of musical theatre because it was the first time dance had been used in a show to forward the plot,” Bell said. “That’s why it’s one of the most fundamental musicals and part of the reason it’s still performed so often.”

The show is accompanied by an orchestra pit made up of members from the orchestra and band. Junior Annamarie Kasper said the pit brings a new level of excitement to the show.

“We have the best musicians here, so it’s really great,” Kasper said. “It’s always hard at first to blend because we’re used to singing with a recorded track. It’s nice to sing with live music because we can react off of each other and it makes it really unique. Everyone involved is just great. Everyone is giving 100 percent.”

Kasper said the show features a lot of choreography, directed by dance teacher Brazie Adamez.

“We have so many good arts programs here

helping with the show,” Kasper said. “My favorite part of the show is the first act because we do a song called ‘Many a New Day.’ The song starts out with my character, Laurey, singing, and then everyone comes together.

All the girls get to do a fun dance, and the way choreography blends us all together is super-fun.”

Bell said the show also incorporates lots of work done by the tech theatre program in “Oklahoma.”

“There’s a lot of the machinery side of tech theatre in the sound and lighting,” Bell said. “There’s also the artistic side of lighting, which really sets the tone for the show. And there’s costuming and sets as well. So the show incorporates all art forms.”

Kasper said she feels lucky she was a part of “Oklahoma.”

“Everyone works really hard, is really dedicated to the show and does everything they can to make it the best it can be,” Kasper said. “We’re so lucky to have such phenomenal faculty. I’m so lucky to get to work with such great fellow actors; they make my job a lot easier. It’s a really great show. It’s unique and lots of fun.”

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Love triangles

show,” Kasper said. “My fashow is the first act because ed ‘Many a New Day.’ The with my character, Laurey, n everyone comes together. to do a fun dance, and the y blends us all together is how also incorporates lots the tech theatre program in of the machinery side of e sound and lighting,” Bell the artistic side of lighting, the tone for the show. And g and sets as well. So the s all art forms.” he feels lucky she was a part

8.

1. Laurie (Annamarie Kasper) loves Curly (Connor Barr) 2. Curly loves Laurie 3. Jud (Owen Ziegler) loves Laurie 4. Laurie marries Curly 5. Curly fights Jud 6. Jud dies 7. Will (Kendrick Knight) loves Ado Annie (Danielle Ruth) 8. Ado Annie loves Ali (Ezra Hankin)...

9. ...and Will ....And they lived happily ever after

8.

9.

orks really hard, is really show and does everything t the best it can be,” Kasper cky to have such phenomo lucky to get to work with actors; they make my job a ally great show. It’s unique

4.

5.

6.

3.

7.

2.

1.

14

sports

march 7, 2013

the shield

Junior Jiro Deloach, junior Jaede Davis, senior Leo Rogel and junior Daniel Sorto smile after success at the regional meet. Photo by Tiffany Scott.

Put a Pin in it

McCallum takes four to compete in State wrestling tournament MARY STITES photo editor

Senior Leo Rogel placed fourth at the UIL State Wrestling Championship on Feb. 21, 22 and 23 at the Delco Athletic Center in Austin. Rogel, junior Daniel Sorto, and junior Jiro Deloach qualified for the state championship and junior Jaede Davis qualified as a state alternate.

The wrestling team began practicing and preparing for the upcoming season early on in the school year with hopes of dominating district and preparing for the regional meet which was held in February. Coach Ray Amaro and assistant coach Richard Salazar worked with the girls and boys wrestling teams every day before and after school on conditioning and strength and focused on mat practice.

“Practice, practice, practice,” Salazar said. “When we started at the beginning of the year, we did morning practices because Coach Amaro had football. Once the football season was over, we started having afternoon practices. We did a lot of strength and conditioning and lots of mat work, wrestling each other two minutes at a time.”

For many of the athletes, wrestling outside of McCallum was crucial for extra attention and practice that would help them

advance later on in the season. Each of the athletes progressed at different levels, and the team had a wide variety of skill.

“Throughout the season everyone has progressed sort of differently,” Salazar said. “The three that advanced to state have always been really good. They had the opportunity to go to a lot of different camps over the summer. They even went to one in New York over the Christmas holiday. They themselves did a lot of extra preparation on their own by going to these different camps.”

While the competition in district and regionals was easier for the competitors, state had a higher level of competition than Deloach had seen earlier in the season.

“In my other meets I would just try to beat everybody,” Deloach said. “Usually at tournaments I just go through and beat everybody. But at state it was a whole new level. Usually at a tournament it was pretty easy until finals, but at state everyone was good. It was a lot harder mentally and physically because everyone was so much better than who I had seen in previous tournaments.”

As the season progressed, Deloach said he had a realization that he was a contender to advance to the state tournament.

“I thought I had a good shot at making state, but I didn’t know from the begin-

ning of the season that I would be able to,” Deloach said. “I didn’t think I was going to do as well as I did.”

After the district tournament, Deloach got through with ease and was successful in regionals, despite being in one of the tougher regions in Texas.

“When I went into regionals I pretty much knew I was going to advance,” Deloach said. “There were four people that had advanced from my region, out of the 16 total competitors at state. The other kids that had been in my region placed in the top four at state, so we were in a pretty hard region.”

Once the wrestling season began, the wrestlers began intensive training with Coach Salazar and Coach Amaro, making sure to improve all aspects of the athletes’ wrestling.

“Coach Amaro makes practice pretty intense,” Deloach said. “Coach Salazar lets the guys that made it to state do their own thing; that’s how we got there. They balance each other out so we get the intensity and the individual practice that we needed to advance.”

As the season progressed, the wresters kept a positive mindset that pushed them in practice and tournaments that would helped them advance in the season.

“Everyone on the team that made it to state had the same mindset throughout

the season,” Deloach said. “If we all kind of have the same mindset, practice is a lot more intense. We were all working towards the same thing, so that made practice better because everyone was working towards the same thing.”

However, the state meet did not go as smoothly as hoped for Deloach.

“My experience at state wasn’t as positive as I had hoped,” Deloach said. “I got cheated in my last match. Every time I scored, they said they started the clock late so my points didn’t count. My first year at state wasn’t the best.”

Despite the difficulties that Deloach faced, he hopes to build on his experience to prepare for next year and is proud that the wrestling team was able to do so well at the state competition.

“It was pretty cool because usually McCallum doesn’t take any people to state,” Deloach said. “Usually McCallum doesn’t really have a great time, but just this year we are really coming up. We took three people to state, and we had a state alternate. I think coming in as a group together really helped and we did a lot better. I think if we could get a wrestling class we could be even better as a team next year.

Our performance at state was pretty awesome. It was really cool that Leo Rogel placed fourth and that we had so many qualify to compete. ”

sports

the shield

Out on the water

march 7, 2013

15

Students break from the norm and pursue rowing

From left to right: Braden Pellowski, Charlie Bell, Rowan Youngs, Madison Landry, Sarah Issleib, Meija Caldwell, Lulu Newton. Photo by Violet Acevedo

VIOLET ACEVEDO

staff reporter The afternoon sun is warm when they reach Town Lake. They stand there for a moment, boat on their shoulders, watching the water lap up on the dock. But soon they place the boat in the water, and the team of four is off gliding across the lake, rowing as fast as they can.

“Many people have misconceptions about what rowing is,” junior Madison Landry said. “Most people think it’s like kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding.”

Rowing is a sport where teams of four or eight in a boat row in synchronized movement against other rowing teams.

It is not a common high school sport, but a handful of McCallum students participate anyway, including Landry, junior Braden Pellowski and freshman Sarah Issleib.

“I began taking recreational rowing for PE credit,” Pellowski said, “then I witnessed the competitive team and was inclined to join it.”

The two competitive rowing organizations in town are Texas Rowing Center (TRC) and Austin Rowing Center. TRC is the organization most McCallum students are involved in.

“I started with some of my friends over the summer of seventh grade,” Issleib said. “Then at the beginning of the school year, I went over to the competitive team.

It just looked like fun, and I love the water.”

Landry’s first experience with the The spots they earn allow them to sport also happened during the hot days compete in the races or regattas. The of summer. regatta they recently worked towards “Last summer me and Rowan Youngs was the regional Heart of Texas Regatta went to camp to learn how to row,” March 2-3. The race gathers rowers from Landry said. “I had a lot of fun. [At the end across Texas and Oklahoma. While imof camp] they asked if anyone wanted to portant, the regional race later in the year compete. in Oklahoma deNow I’m termines which on the novteam gets to go to There aren’t many ice team.” nationals.

There While similar sports where you can are two to other sports in connect to nature. I’m teams in the competition rowing: process, rowing relaxed [when I row]. the novis uncommon Once I get in the boat, ice team, enough to apwhich peal to different body enters a whole Landry people. other space of my life. and Issleib “I really are on, and haven’t played the varsports in high Braden Pellowski sity team, school,” Landry Junior which said. “And when Pellowski I started to row I is on. Afwas like, ‘This is ter a certain amount of time a person on fun, and I can do it.’ It’s something differthe novice team automatically moves up ent. It’s fun to go out with some people not to the varsity team, but that still doesn’t in your school. There are some kids from guarantee them a spot in the top boat.

Austin, some from LASA, some even from “Everyone’s working against them- middle schools. It’s a different experience.” selves for times,” Landry said, “and we’re Issleib agrees. also working against each other for spots.

“There’s just something about rowing,” So when I move up to varsity, I have to she said. “It kind of makes sense for me. It keep up.” makes me happy.”

“

”

The differences between rowing and other sports are what mainly attract Pellowski.

“There aren’t many sports where you can connect to nature. [In rowing] you’re out on the lake every day,” he said. “I’m relaxed [when I row]. Once I get in the boat, my body enters a whole other sphere of my life. I focus on what I’m doing right then, yet at the same time I’m determined to do my best.”

These students enjoy the sport enough to consider continuing it in college.

“It’s not really something you can do in real life unless you go to the Olympics Landry said. “[But I’m not] so college is really my last chance.”

Pellowski is more confident that he’ll carry on rowing after high school.

“A lot of my perspective colleges offer rowing,” he said. “It will definitely influence my college choice.”

Whatever he decides, Pellowski is sure he wants others to try the sport he loves. “[I would] recommend rowing to anyone who has time and will dedicate themselves to something that’s strenuous yet relaxing,” he said.

Issleib also recommends it to others who just want to find something to do for exercise.

“It’s something that you can take at your own pace,” Issleib said. “You can take it for fun or go for competition. It’s really enjoyable sport.”

16

march 7, 2013

Shield: What position do you play?

Amanda Lewis: I normally play somewhere in defense.

Sometimes when we are up by a lot, I will get put up at forward, which is always pretty funny. When I was younger, I played stopper more but now I am an outside defender. Defender is probably my favorite because I don’t really know what I’m doing in the other positions [laughs].

Shield: How has the team changed since last year?

AL: This year we have more young people. We also have a lot of seniors on the team. This year the team is a lot better about communication and we work better as a team than we have in my past years. We have had to move positions around because of injuries, but our communication has improved. The team has also had to rely on some of our younger players to be in important positions.

Shield: Who is your biggest competition in district?

Why? AL: LBJ is by far our biggest competition. They are one of the better teams in our district for soccer. They are like us in the sense that they have a lot of girls that play outside of school. Sometimes it is hard to really get into a game because we have so much more skill than a lot of the teams.

Our first district game against Reagan was kind of hard because it took us a while to start playing our game. We were really slow, but for the second half we definitely stepped it up. In that game we learned that even though we play

sports teams that aren’t as good as us, you can’t just go through the motions. You have to work to get better.

Shield: How has Coach Honeycutt helped the team?

AL: Honeycutt is really understanding and when I’m doing something wrong, or I mess up, she takes me to the side and talks to me about it. She pinpoints the things I need to work on, and it helps me know what I need to work on. She is always there for everyone on the team, and she will always help us with our problems, even if it is outside of soccer.

Shield: How has being captain changed your role on the team?

AL: You definitely have to have more leadership and are more responsible for the things that happen on the field.

There are times when you have to get the team going when we aren’t focused or we aren’t doing as well as we usually do. It’s different because I’m responsible for my actions as well as everyone else’s. I have to be more focused and make sure that everyone is doing what they should be doing instead of just doing my own thing. It has been really fun, though. I like being able to do the cheer before every game.

Shield: What has been your favorite part of soccer?

AL: Definitely the team. Everyone is really friendly and we get along really well. McCallum Soccer is a lot of fun, and I look forward to the season every year.

Shield: How long have you played golf?

Max Krys: I’ve been playing golf for about seven years or eight years now. I always used to play with my grandpa. Every summer I would go play a few rounds with him. After I got injured, I couldn’t play baseball anymore, so I tried to figure out if I could play golf. My swing didn’t hurt my shoulder, so I decided to pick that up as a school sport since I wanted to still be able to do something my last year. I haven’t been playing competitively for that long. I’ve played competitive golf for probably seven or eight months.

Shield: Do you play outside of McCallum?

MK: Yeah, I play a lot outside of McCallum. I don’t play in tournaments or anything, but I play more for myself because I really enjoy it.

Max Krys MARY STITES photo editor

the shield

Shield: What is your favorite part of golf?

MK: I like that I get to go to a nice golf course. It’s nice to be able to go outside for the day and be at a nice course and you just happen to be playing a round of golf at the same time. I’ve only been to two tournaments, and both have rained out on us.

Shield: How has Coach Nitardy helped you this season?

MK: Coach Nitardy is really good coach. She knows a lot about the sport. She is fun; she doesn’t really push us too much. She can help me when I have a bad swing. She is able to tell me what I’ve done wrong. Coach Nitardy is a pretty cool person.

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

Amanda Lewis

MK: LBJ. They have one kid that can shoot really well.

Other than him, there isn’t anyone on their team that is good. We are more consistent with our scores as a whole, so we know we can win district. When district comes around, it is a matter of how well he’ll be shooting.

Shield: Would you consider golf a team sport or individual sport?

MK: Like most would think, a lot of the sport is individual. When you are actually on the course, you aren’t with your teammates and you are playing alone, but on the way to the tournaments and afterwards it is definitely a team sport. Everyone relies on each other for support, and when we do see each other on the range or the course, we do support each other. So it is a collective team effort and every score counts, so even though it is an individual activity, you are playing for a team and you have to come through when the team needs you.

Shield: How does speed and strength help you for golf?

MK: For golf, strength training has surprisingly helped me a lot. I’ve noticed when I do lift weights and work the right back muscles and forearm muscles, I’m able to follow through with the ball and hit the ball harder and further. It also helps me have more control in my swing.

Weight training has helped me learn how to control my body more, which helps my movements and swing. If you’re consistent, but lifting weights isn’t always as beneficial, but lifting weights has really helped me improve my swing.

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Student spotlight: Katie Gernsbacher, senior Senior Katie Gernsbacher donned the classic burnt orange on Feb. 6 to take part in National Signing Day. Gernsbacher officially signed on to be one of the University of Texas at Austin’s six incoming freshmen on its varsity soccer team.

“I’ve been playing soccer since I could walk,” Gernsbacher said, “but I’ve been

playing on an organized team since I was 4 or 5.”

Gernsbacher made the McCallum varsity soccer team as a freshman and has been a captain since her junior year.

“I play the attacking midfield or sometimes forward position,” she said. “I think I bring good decision making and good technical skills when I’m on the field.”

Left: Coach Nancy Honneycutt watches Gernsbacher sign with UT on Feb. 6. Photo by Mary Stites. Above: The 2013 Lady Knights varsity soccer team congratulate Gernsbacher after her signing. Photo provided by Chaundra Brown.

sports in brief Varsity baseball team does well at Leander tournament, Feb 28- March 2 The varsity baseball team went 3-1-1 with blowout wins against Vandergrift, Georgetown, East View and Cedar Park in the Leander ISD Tournament last weekend. The lone loss was a close one, 6-8, against the Midway Panthers.

“The team is working really well this year,” junior Jordan Gray said. “We have a lot of chemistry during practices and games.”

This weekend the team will play in the AISD Tournament facing off against, Killeen, Kerrville and Lake Travis. The Knights will wrap up the tournament with a 9:30 game Saturday morning against the Lehman Lobos At Northwest Field.

Gray said the teams chances for district look good.

“I think we have a good chance for district this year,” Gray said. “The rest of the season should turn out well.”

Girls track looks forward to competitive season Junior Marie Clair Huff said she is excited for the 2013 track season.

“I’m obsessed with running,” she said.

“It’s not a new thing like ‘I’m back running again.’ It’s the switch up from long distance to short distance. It’s fun to be competitive. I’m excited for the whole team.”

Head girl’s track coach Susan Ashton said she expects a lot from her girls.

“We have some really fast, new freshmen on the team this year,” she said.

“We’re looking for them to do well in the JV division and hope that they’ll stick with track and move up to varsity next year.”

Boys track looks forward to new spring season Head boys track coach Rocky Clark said this year is going well for the track team and he has some high expectations.

“Everything’s been positive,” Clark said. “Kids been coming out working hard,

trying to get better. It’s looking good.”

Junior Paris Odem said he is looking forward to this season.

“We have a really good track team and I think we can get to regionals,” Odem said. “My friends support me and I support them so they can do better and push themselves.”

Sophomore places 3rd at state swim meet At the state swim meet, sophomore Jessie Woolley-Macmath placed third in the 500 and fifth in the 200.

“I trained really hard for regionals,” she said. “Once I found out I got into state, I went into this period of taper, where I started with hard training that slowly got easier so I was rested and ready to compete.”

At the district competition, she won first place in the 200-free and the 500free event. These results qualified her for regionals, where she placed second in the 500-free and third in the 200-free.

Woolley-Macmath said she will

Woolley-MacMath catches her breath after finishing her 500 meter race in the state swim meet on Feb 23. Photo by Mary Stites.

continue swimming next year in hopes of competing again.

“It was really fun to get to be in a meet with all the fastest swimmers in Texas,” she said. “I think it was a really good experience.”

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the shield

Wait for the Madness finally over WES JOHNS staff reporter

Ladies and Gentlemen, March Madness is upon us. This basketball season has been everything but predictable. Indiana, Duke, Miami, Michigan, Kansas, Florida, Gonzaga and Louisville have all hovered in the top five and traded the number one ranking.

Indiana started the season at the top of the poll before they lost and Duke took it over. Duke stayed at the top for a couple of weeks before going down, giving Louisville a shot. Louisville then went on a three game slide, and Duke was once again on top.

This is when things started to go really weird. Duke took a trip down to South Beach to play No. 25 Miami and was handed their largest loss since 1984, in a 90-67 loss. The following week Michigan took the top spot, and to follow the trend, they lost to number three Indian, 81-73.

Indiana then took the top rank, followed by Florida, Michigan, Duke and Kansas to round out the top five.

In one week, Indiana, Florida, Michigan and Kansas all lost. Kansas didn’t just lose once; they lost three games in a row to unranked Big 12 opponents. First it was a home loss to Oklahoma State after their rally came up short, then a road stunner at TCU, 62-55, giving TCU their first Big 12 victory. The third loss came at the hands of Oklahoma, 72-66.

After these losses Kansas no longer had sole possession of the Big 12 lead.

Kansas was able to rebound their next game against K-State with a blowout 8362 win. Two games later they faced Oklahoma State but managed to hold them off in a double OT thriller. Kansas has let bad teams hang with them late in games, and they almost paid for it against Iowa State and OK-State. If they face a better team in the tournament, they might let them get too far ahead late in games and won’t be able to rally back.

Miami has shown to be a very powerful team this season, and the ACC will no doubt come down to them and Duke.

To me, Miami looks like the better team because of their explosiveness and team chemistry. They do a great job spread-

ing defenses out and capitalizing on the opportunities they create, but sometimes they struggle to put points on the board, which is very costly when March Madness rolls around. North Carolina State could be a team to watch when both the ACC tourney and the NCAA tourney start.

Michigan State looks like it could be a force in the tourney and are getting hot at the right part of the season. Their loss at home against Indiana may have knocked them out of the race for the Big 10 regular season championship, but they will be a factor in the tournament.

Ohio State has played well this season, but they have had trouble beating ranked teams. They were destroyed by Wisconsin but then came back two games later and knocked off Michigan State. Their only other victory against a ranked opponent this season was way back in January when they beat Michigan. Michigan has been inconsistent towards the end of the season.

They lost to Penn State, then came back the next week and held off Michigan State in a very close game.

Indiana has been a very strange team this year. They have dominated against good teams and have played outright sloppy against weaker teams. Two of their losses have come against teams aren’t even in the top five in the Big 10 standings. For now Indiana is still the best team in the Big 10, but Michigan State and Wisconsin are a close second.

I can’t forget about Gonzaga, either.

They look good so far, but they have only played three ranked teams all year, and they lost two of those meetings (to Illinois and Butler). They got the schools first-ever number one ranking this year and are the first team to go 16-0 in the WCC. They could be a force in the NCAA Tournament, but I see them making it to the Sweet 16 at best.

Now let’s talk about Texas. What happened to Texas? Without Myck Kabongo, they limped through the season and couldn’t even compete with good teams. Rick Barnes has a number of things to do this off-season including convincing Kabongo to come back for another year.

The PAC-12 has been a very interesting conference this season. Arizona looked like they would run away with the conference but

Staff Tournament Picks

Natalie Murphey

Mary Stites

Kansas Jayhawks “I think the losses have real“No other team has such a ly prepared the team, and the majestic mascot.” seniors have really stepped then they lost on the road to Oregon, then lost up and taken charge.”

New Mexico Lobos

to UCLA twice. During the regular season they struggled against teams at the top of the conference, so they better watch out in the tournament. Oregon and Arizona were at the top of the PAC-12, but both teams struggled at some point in the season. Both lost to Colorado and Cal, but Oregon lucked out with their schedule and only had to play Arizona and UCLA once during the regular season.

If I had to pick what conference the national champion will emerge from, it would have to be the Big 10. Indiana, Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State all had good patches this season, and Wisconsin didn’t look too bad in conference play. Indiana is the most likely to make a run. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the Final Four with Miami, Kansas and Duke.

This season could be the perfect year for a Cinderella team to make it to the Final Four due to the lack of clearly dominant teams. Virginia Commonwealth and Shaka Smart made a run in 2011 becoming only the third 11th-seed to ever reach the Final Four. Keep an eye on teams like Creighton, Colorado State, Murray State, Saint Mary’s, Wichita State and SMU when the NCAA Tournament arrives.

Grace Frye

Duke Blue Devils “Duke has a good track record and average a lot of points; their endurance will also outlast their competition.”

sports

the shield

march 7, 2013

Love ’em or hate ’em?

Who is the number one disliked athlete in the U.S.?

a. Lance Armstrong 30% b. Tony Romo 60% c. Kobe Bryant 5% d. Metta World Peace 5% Cyclist Lance Armstrong admitted to illegal doping in a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey Jan. 17. This confession followed the International Cycling Union stripping him of all his titles, and his corporate sponsor Nike, and others, publicly terminating its contract with him.

Which college player faked his girlfriend’s death as a PR stunt?

a. Manti Te’o 95% b. David Ash 5% c. De’Anthony Thomas 0% d. Issac Ava 0% During the 2012 Notre Dame season, one of the lasting stories was Te’o’s strong playing after the death of his grandmother and girlfriend. Soon it was exposed that the death of his girlfriend was fabricated.

Which quarterback is disliked because of his arrogance towards his team?

a. Robert Griffin III 5% b. Jay Cutler 0% c. Can Newton 85% d. Joe Flacco 10%

JAMAICA WONODI staff reporter

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GRACE FRYE editor-in-chief

Athletes often get a bad rap for their “extracurricular” activities that make the headlines on a regular basis. Here at The Shield we were interested to see how many McCallum students were able to identify which athlete did what. A total of 100 surveys were sent out and 60 were returned to us. Beside each answer is the total percentage of students who selected that answer.

Which professional football player was convicted of dog fighting?

a. Manti Te’o 10% b. Calvin Johnson 5% c. Michael Vick 70% d. Ray Lewis 15%

In April of 2007, Vick was implicated in an illegal interstate dog fighting ring. Later that year in August, Vick pleaded guilty and served 21 months in prison.

Who has had more than five extramarital affairs?

a. Lance Armstrong 2% b. Tony Romo 30% c. Tiger Woods 66% d. Kobe Bryant 2% On Nov. 25, 2009, a grocery store tabloid published a story which stated that Woods had an extramarital affair. Following multiple women’s claims to having affairs with him, Woods released a statement admitting to his infidelity and apologizing for his actions. On Woods and his wife officially divorced Aug. 23, 2010.

Which NASCAR driver is disliked because of his attitude?

This Chicago Bears quarterback doesn’t have the best attitude. He is disliked by many because of his visible arrogance towards teammates and opponents.

a. Austin Dillon 30% b. Jeff Green 25% c. Hal Martin 20% d. Kurt Busch 25%

After several heavily publicized negative interactions between Busch and fans as well as media personnel, he has been branded poorly.

He is disliked because of his attitude towards teammates and fans.

Photo illustrations by Grace Frye.

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Keen on music

Americana musician performs concert to benefit orchestra program, Feb. 22 Above: Rich Brotherton, Robert Earl Keen and other band members perform in the Feb. 22 REK@The MAC concert.

Photos by Grace Frye.

GRACE FRYE editor-in-chief

“Oh the tears, the tears; the tears I have shed and those I will. These kids are amazing and this is just great. To play with such talented young artists brings tears to my eyes, and you’ll have to excuse me because I’m going to cry while I’m playing.

All right, guys, let’s do it.”

The opening words of Robert Earl Keen at his benefit concert entitled REK@ The MAC on Feb. 22 stuck with the crowd as he and his band began the first song of the night. And right behind them the strings of the MAC orchestra filled the theatre as they accompanied Keen in his first three songs.

“I think it’s always good for our kids to have different kinds of musical experiences.

The preponderance of what they’re getting during the school and through the orchestra program here is classical training, playing mostly classical music,” Fine Arts coordinator Kalyse McElveen said. “To have an opportunity to play with a band—basically, kind of a country band—is a wildly different experience from anything else that they’re getting through their normal education, and so it was awesome. That music was arranged specifically for them to play with a group, and so it was a one-of-a-kind. Nobody else can ever say that they did that, and that’s a pretty cool thing.”

Many of the students who played in the

concert have previous experience playing with other artists, but head orchestra director Ricky Pringle said the students still had a good experience.

“I think in general they had a great time doing it,” Pringle said. “For a lot of the kids who got to play, they’ve gotten to play with other people and do all kinds of stuff like that, so it wasn’t necessarily they gained something new, but they had a great experience playing with a new artist.”

The concert was a part of a series of star-studded concerts benefitting different departments of the Fine Arts Academy. According to Pringle, the proceeds of the show will go towards the orchestra program’s trip to New York City scheduled for this summer.

“The proceeds from the concert are going to help bring down the cost for each student to go, and it also may help pay for some of the students who can’t really afford to go,” Pringle said. “We’re going to play at Avery Fisher Hall, which is a part of the Lincoln Center in New York City—that’s actually the place where the New York Philharmonic plays. So we’re going to play on the same stage that they play on.”

To plan, organize and run the concert took an enormous effort from the orchestra program’s parent-run booster club. Along with the work from the booster club, the show took a combined effort from the whole academy.

“To put the show on, it took countless hours, a lot of parents doing a lot of work,”

McElveen said. “It was a huge combined effort. They really only worked with me to secure a date to be in the space, and Ms. King—who is the orchestra booster president— and some of the other parents worked tirelessly. They arranged making sure that the tickets could be on sale, and Mr. Denning helped with that. We had our technical theatre students there the night of the show to help setup and then to load in all the equipment, and then run things like lighting. It was definitely a collaborative effort, but in terms of what people from the school had to do it was very little compared to what the parents did; they did so much of the arranging and figuring out of things and the whole nine yards.”

And in the middle of both the MAC community and the Robert Earl Keen community was guitarist and orchestra dad Rich Brotherton. Brotherton and his wife helped to organize the concert from start to finish.

“I actually approached Robert about doing the concert, then worked as the intermediary between the band and the concert committee at McCallum while we were putting the whole thing together,” Brotherton said. “I helped organize the show from a logistical standpoint. I wrote the string arrangements that the orchestra kids played with the band, and I played guitar and sang in the band as well.”

Senior Maddie Brotherton, musician and daughter of the band’s guitarist, said

the shield

the show was a fun and new experience.

“I’ve grown up with Robert’s music around the house, and so it was nice to be able to play along with some very familiar songs and some not so familiar songs,” she said. “We played three songs, and two of them were actually ones that I hadn’t heard before; one was Robert’s older songs, like before my dad played in the band, and that was kind of cool to be able to go back to that, learn it and—my parents actually arranged the string parts—a lot of people thought the string parts contributed nice to the songs. I’ve always enjoyed Robert concerts, so it was nice.”

Maddie said since the concert many fellow students have talked to her about how much they enjoyed the show.

“There have actually been a lot of people around school who I didn’t know were fans of [Robert Earl Keen’s] who came to me in the days after who where like, ‘Hey, did you play in that Robert Earl Keen concert? I really, really like him,’” she said. “I think it’s really nice that people our age are fans of his.”

McElveen said the entire cademy benefits from the concert, not just the orchestra program.

“We got some really great publicity because there were a lot of people from the community who aren’t necessarily affiliated with McCallum who came in and saw our space and saw the concert, and got to see our kids perform, and so they obviously are going to take away a really good experience about what McCallum is about,” McElveen said. “And then there were the people who are fans of Robert Earl Keen. I heard from several folks who were actually coming in from out of town who had found out about the concert and wanted to buy tickets, and so they were there as well. It’s good name recognition for our school.”

The general consensus is the show was a hit and enjoyed by all who saw it.

“I loved the show; I had so much fun,” McElveen said. “I like a lot of different kinds of music; I had never seen Robert Earl Keen perform live before, and I could not have had a better time. The whole audience—you could feel that they were having a really great experience, watching the whole thing, the kids got as big a cheer as the rest of the concert, and it was really, really fun.”

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march 7, 2013

the shield

Hitting the top of the charts 3 new applications may not live up to hype surrounding them JACOB STRAIGHT staff reporter

Temple Run 2, Snapchat and Ruzzle are all hitting the top of the app charts, but some students don’t think they hold up to all the hype surrounding them.

Temple Run 2 is a sequel to the game Temple Run, a popular game available in both iOS and Android systems. The game consists of a player running on a track randomly generated with obstacles that users have to jump over or slide under. Users collect coins and upgrade power-ups, which are unlocked by getting a certain amount of coins without hitting an obstacle.

The power-ups vary greatly, ranging from a shield that protects the player from one obstacle, to a boost that lets the player run 500 meters with a press of a button. It has many new features, including a new “Save Me” system where players collect

gems and can use them to continue their run. There are many bugs with the current version, which are being worked on currently by Imangi Studios, the group responsible for making the game itself.

“I’d still say Temple Run was better,” freshman Aidan Shehan said. “I don’t like the new restart system. It makes it way too easy to get a high score. It almost lets you buy a high-score by buying gems to continue when you die. I dislike apps that tempt you and plead you to buy things using real money. It’s just a sell-out and sacrificing quality for profit. They also replaced all the monkeys that follow you with one huge ape, which makes the game a lot weirder.

The ape also blocks parts of the screen when it gets close to you. I guess it’s OK that the ape is there, but they need to fix it.”

Shehan also said the game is really glitchy.

“Sometimes when you jump you ran-

domly fly off the screen, making you lose and have to restart,” he said.

Snapchat is a new instant messaging app in which users send pictures or videos to one another. Users can view photos for seconds before they disappear and the files are destroyed by the app. The creators of the game, Daniel Smith, David Kravitz, Bobby Murphy and Evan Spiegel, did this because they believe moments should be cherished because they won’t last long, hence the pictures being deleted after a few seconds.

“I think the idea of Snapchat is really interesting,” Shehan said. “It’s really fun to send funny pictures to your friends. It gives you an opportunity to be silly or a little bit crazy without the threat of whomever you send it to spreading the picture around for everyone to see. I just wish there was an option to save a certain number of photos because sometimes people send me really

cool or funny pictures, and I lose them after a few seconds.”

Ruzzle is a word game that is a mix between Scrabble and Boggle. The game works like this: there are three 2-minute rounds where two players get 16 letters in a 4x4 box. They then use their fingers to connect the letters and make words. Players are awarded points for words, and the harder the word is the more points a player scores. Players can play with Facebook friends and random people that the game connects them to.

“I’m usually a fan of word games,” senior Rachel Smith* said. “I don’t like this game as much. It’s more like a combination of a lot of different games, opposed to a new and innovative one. I prefer a game of Boggle than Ruzzle. I’d give this game a 6/10 because it’s not very original, but it can still be a fun way to pass the time.” *Name Changed

Students say they look forward to SXSW CAITLIN HENSON staff reporter

Senior Logan Garza has been going to South by Southwest for as long as he could remember.

“I always go to see local homestead artists and my favorite singer/songwriter, Gregory Alan Isakou, perform every year,” Garza said.

Over 5,000 events will occur between March 8-17. The interactive festival will be March 8-12, the film festival will go between March 8-16, and the Music festival will be March 12-17.

“I’m really excited to see what’s new this year, with all the artists and the new festivals opening up,” senior Zoe Graham said. “ I heard there’s this new Film Factory opening up, and we’re all excited.”

SXSW will introduce the “Come & Capture Film Factory,” which allows people explore the newest tools for capturing and creating content, from panel

discussions, workshops and demos.

SXSW. The deadline for this scholarship “I love how its so open and not as is March 9. They have to write a 100-200 crowded as ACL would be,” junior word essay on who they are and what if Marcus Cole said. “I think it’s a amazing would mean for them to go to SXSW and experience.” then create a 2-minute or more video on Another feature what they would opening is called I find it really cool to do while attending Point Shoot Share.

SXSW. They live in Austin because could win five film This will highlight how to start SXSW and ACL badges or 20 film movie making and conferences passes. are only here, and it’s sharing content on “SXSW is a smartphones. work out, I know, amazing that we get to “I’ve heard so but the lounge experience it. many things from passes are so worth my friends that it. It helps, more have connections music, chairs, A/C, Marcus Cole with SXSW and it’s pretty cool,” Junior heard so many new McLucus said. “I’m things are going excited to see if it’s to be in SXSW this year,” sophomore the same or better this year. I already have Christian McLucus said. my weekend planned out for South By.” Students in grades 9-12 can participate Located on the fourth floor of the the film scholarship 2013 and win tickets to Austin Convention Center in Ballroom D,

“

”

the Radio Day Stage is where people will be able to catch a few extra performances from artists they might miss, including Vampire Weekend, Bajofondo, Jake Bugg, Lissie, Divine Fits and more.

“I remember last year I saw BOB, TI and A$AP Rocky. I find it really cool to live in Austin because SXSW and ACL are only here,” Cole said, “and it’s amazing that we get to experience it.”

The SXSW Gaming Expo will showcase product demos and allow attendees to work hands-on. The threeday tribute is to the gaming world which is based on the concept that the future of games, whether the access is from the cell phone or the console, in comics or toys, it will be everywhere and for everyone.

“2013 is starting out right, and I would like to keep it that way,” Mclucus said. “Me going to South By and Austin City Limits will just make my year that much better.

Even if my year turns crappy I’ll make the best of it; 2013 is going to be amazing.”

editorial

the shield

march 7, 2013

Immigration policies need to be revisited There is a massive ‘underground’ population of people in the United States today that reaches a size of nearly 11 million; they are classified as illegal immigrants and are faced with the threat of deportation every day at the smallest provocation. Caught in the political crossfire are the children and young adults who came to this country with their families, most at a young age when they had no say in the decision to move here.

President Obama and the Democratic Party have recently re-presented their solution to this situation in the form of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act. The U.S. needs the DREAM Act to be passed to help plan for a better future.

The DREAM Act would be used by illegal teenage immigrants to apply for temporary citizenship to attend higher education or to serve in the US military. The DREAM Act would help to encourage higher education and offer larger opportunities to a minority of people who wouldn’t otherwise have access to these options.

With higher education becoming a necessity for above minimum-wage jobs, the DREAM Act would allow high school graduates the ability to expand their knowledge, and given this chance to excel, these graduates could help to develop new innovations for the betterment of society. As of 2010, 27 percent of legal immigrants in the

U.S. have a bachelors degree or higher, while 31 percent of all students in the U.S. do not even receive their high school diplomas. Rather than adding to the population of less educated people, DREAMers would be able to contribute to society in a positive manner.

Our country is in an economic crisis, and among the discussion of immigration policy changes are discussions of tax increases, which have faced serious Republican opposition. With the passage of the DREAM Act, tens of thousands of previously illegal, unrepresented immigrants would be entering the work force as tax-paying citizens.

The additional tax revenue generated from both employees and employers would flow directly to the government and into the economy.

The average annual income for a college graduate is $57,500 versus $31,600 for a high school graduate. Higher earnings will continue to spur the economy. As people earn more and spend more, the economy will steadily rise. The world has plenty of people; what we need are innovators.

Based on immigration studies, 5.5 million children in the U.S. have at least one parent who is an illegal immigrant; of that 5.5. million, 18 percent are unauthorized citizens themselves. However, a great deal of these immigrants were brought with their families to the U.S. at a young age.

assistant editor Caitlin Falk

online editor Baron Heinrich

photo editor Mary Stites

advertising manager Seren Villwock

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

Cartoon by Tillie Walden.

Young adults who are already assimilated into American society and familiar with American culture should not be punished with deportation to a land which may technically be home, but in practice is foreign to them. The temporary citizenship offered by the DREAM Act would help to limit the amount of people who are faced with the culture shock of these unexpected deportations.

With the rising number of illegal immigrants in the U.S., some type of reform needs to be enacted to recognize them in society. Without it, illegal immigrants will continue to live in the shadows and not

contribute to society as a whole. America’s fundamental M.O. has always been based on the search for a better life and prosperity.

The U.S. was founded by men and women looking for a new life. That universal pursuit has attracted people from all different nations; the girls and boys who would benefit from the DREAM Act will grow up to be part of our nation’s future.

It is the responsibility of our lawmakers today to help plan for a better tomorrow.

And tomorrow includes the bright minds of all, no matter their country of origin. The DREAM Act seeks to provide opportunities that will greatly improve our society and our nation.

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

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editor-in-chief Grace Frye reporters adviser Rhonda Moore

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.

VIOLET ACEVEDO, GINGER BICKLEY, JENNIFER CASTRO, CAITLIN HENSEN, WES JOHNS, NATALIE MURPHY, JAcOB STRAIGHT, Bella Temple, JAMAICA WONODI

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.

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

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march 7, 2013

photo essay

the shield

Better Than OK!

Fine Arts Academy comes together to put on spring musical, ‘Oklahoma’ 1. Junior Annamarie Kasper sings “Many a New Day” as the “girls” crowd around her.

2. Junior Connor Barr and Kasper sing in the final scene after just being married.

3. Kasper and the girls perform during the “Out of My Dreams” scene to conclude the first act.

4. Barr and junior Jasmine Bell, playing Aunt Eller, open the play with song, “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.”

5. Freshman Ezra Hankin, sophomore Seamus Bolivar-Ochoa and senior Danielle Ruth contemplate Ali Hakim’s, played by Hankin, proposal to Ado Annie Carnes, played by Ruth. Photos by Mary Stites