The Shield

the

shield

McCallum High School / 5600 Sunshine / Austin, TX 78756 / March 7, 2014 / Issue 5 / Volume 61

the school of

rock

what’s inside Argyle ISD to allow staff to carry weapons on campus story on page 4 Teenagers flock to music festivals, social media; staffer investigates story on pages 12-13 After football career-ending injury, senior Dewayne Bryant continues to play sports, inspire teammates story on pages 14-15

Student bands compete in 2nd annual Battle of the Bands competition, sponsored by the classical guitar program

more photos on page 19

2 contents

inside the issue

story on page 12-13

story on page 16

From left to right: The Austin City Limits globe is an icon of the popular music festival that takes place every fall. Photo by Mary Stites. Senior John Pass prepares to throw the ball in from the sideline during the varsity basketball’s last game this

News

Feature

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Cedar Creek student in coma after tasing incident; Mac students, administrators discuss

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Students debate merits of changing minimum wage

season. The team lost to Cedar Park 77-66. Photo by Nick Robertson. The cast of “Les Miserables’” takes a bow at the end of the show on March 1. Photo by Mary Stites.

Sports

Sophomore Pre-AP World History 15 Freshman Tyler Page joins the varsity baseball team as its and English joint classes see decatcher this year crease in students finishing course

10 Fine Arts Academy experiences 17 Junior swimmer competes in two music major drops this spring

story on pages 20-21

state events, places 5th and 4th

Opinion 22 Staffer explores new language with foreign pen pal, shares unusual experience

23 Staff editorial: Austin ISD should not

save the date march

adopt Argyle ISD’s new gun policy

Don’t forget to like The Shield on Facebook

april

9 Daylight Savings Time starts 3-6 Theatre UIL Spring Play @7 p.m. in FAB 17 AISD All-City Band 12 Late Start 17 Girls Soccer Game vs. Lanier @ 11-12 Spring Dance Concert @7 p.m. in MAC House Park 12 AISD Steel Drum Festival 18 Class Piano Recital @6:30 p.m. in MAC 15 Baseball Game vs. LBJ @Northwest 23 Orchestra Fundraiser Concert: Eggmen Field

@7 p.m. in MAC 26 Senior Prom

Follow: @theshieldonline on Twitter

Visit: www.macshieldonline.com for exclusive content

the shield // March 7, 2014 Cover: Senior Nathan Kareithi performs with his band The Death Aquatics during the Battle of the Bands. Photo by Mary Stites.

online 3

what’s new on macshieldonline.com Issue 5 online staff: Seren Villwock Natalie Murphy Ben Brown

Kendra Murphy Maya Coplin

Recent headlines: Student participates in Austin marathon (1) Eagle Scout projects benefit community (2) Explore elective possibilities: a virtual tour of the elective fair (3) “Frozen” warms your heart Photo gallery: Seniors discuss the best places to eat lunch off campus

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Varsity basketball season comes to an end

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Three seniors sign the dotted line: Student athletes to continue sports careers Like: facebook.com/ macshieldonline Follow: @theshieldonline on Twitter

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4 NEWS

SEAN SIMONS

staff reporter The Argyle Independent School District voted last May to allow district officials and staff members to be armed, becoming one of the first school districts in America to allow teachers and other employees to carry guns.

The Argyle ISD Board of Trustees began the talks for local policy change as a direct response to the December 2012 school shootings in Newtown, Conn.

After the policy was passed 5-1, the district began to take steps to prepare for the policy’s eventual im-

the shield // march 7, 2014

plementation, like creating the district’s first-ever police department in August 2013 and hiring its first police chief in October 2013. The Argyle ISD Police Department will oversee the implementation of the policy.

In January 2014, the Board of Trustees officially adopted the policy that would allow the Board to choose which employees and officials would be authorized to carry a firearm on district property. This time the policy passed in a 7-0 unanimous vote.

“I think that’s a great idea,” sophomore Griffin McDonald said. “If it’s concealed to where the students can’t get to it, that’s especially better.”

McDonald stressed the importance of the teachers being concealed handgun certified by completing the training course and earning a license.

“I think that would make our schools a lot safer,” McDonald said.

According to Argyle ISD in a press statement, teachers and staff must become eligible by passing, “a rigorous interview process, a complete psychological evaluation and a comprehensive firearms and emergency response training course.”

The policy went into effect during the first week of February at Argyle ISD’s four campuses, including one elementary school and one high school.

Argyle ISD superintendent Telena Wright said in an interview with the Dallas Morning News that this policy will help protect the students and discourage potential gunman from go-

ing onto the campuses. “It makes instances school shooting, saying it brought out the such as Sandy Hook a lot less likely to hap- extremes from both sides of the argument.

“A lot of people want to ban more guns pen because [the gunman] knows the teachers are armed, and they know that they and have more background checks and things like that, and then some people could use deadly force,” McDonald said.

McDonald said the teachers at Sandy want to go the other way with it,” Keel Hook had to lead their kids to go hide, but said. “But in my opinion, it makes me feel now they can do something in defense of pretty unsafe. I don’t think that more guns in school is the right idea at all.” those kids and themselves.

Keel said “If the the standard populace, esroute of empecially teachIf the populace, especially ploying disers, are armed, they will be teachers, are armed, they will trict security guards that more likely to be more likely to know when most schools know when something else something else is going take is a more favorable one is going down, down, and they will be more compared to and they will be more apt apt to respond and be ready arming the district teachers to respond in that kind of situation and staff. and be ready “If AISD in that kind of Griffin McDonald // Sophomore were to have situation,” Mcthat and I was Donald said.

McDonald said he thought the policy a parent,” Keel said, “I would probably makes schools exponentially safer and that move my kid to a school that didn’t have it should be implemented at McCallum that policy.”

McCallum police officer John Yoder and most AISD schools.

“Maybe not very impoverished schools said he is 50/50 on the idea of the policy.

“On the good side of it, I feel that it’d be because there might be more instances where a student might try to get a hold of great to be able to have a certain amount a gun or weapon like that,” he said. “But it of teachers [armed], not necessarily all that qualify. Having two or three designated would definitely make schools a lot safer.”

However, senior Rose Keel said she is teachers would be phenomenal. Someconcerned the policy will make school dis- times, our backup could get here a couple minutes later,” Yoder said. “But also, if you tricts more dangerous.

“It’s just adding to the problem,” Keel look at it from the negative aspect. If for said. “I think the more weapons, the more some reason we have a shooter situation danger. There’s the possibility of some- and we have other troops coming in to rebody of taking the teacher’s gun. You don’t spond, sometimes we’re not going or know want more weapons added to the situa- whether or not it’s the teacher that’s the active shooter, or if they’re trying to defend tion. I think it just adds to the danger.”

Keel said it made sense the policy their students.” would come out as a response to the recent Continued on page 5

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Too much power?

Cedar Creek High School student tased by district police NICK ROBERTSON

staff reporter A fight at Cedar Creek High School in Bastrop broke out Nov. 22 between two girls. Officer Randy McMillan was trying to break up the fight when he tasered student Noe Nino de Rivera. Rivera, who was not participating in the fight, was trying to interfere and was acting aggressively, according to the sheriff’s office spokesman, when he was zapped by a taser.

After being tasered, Rivera fell and hit his head on the floor. The fall caused a traumatic brain injury, and he lapsed into a coma. When he got to the hospital, he had emergency surgery. There is a possibility that he could face three criminal charges for interference of police officers, resisting arrest and assault.

“If the student [Rivera] was trying to keep the fight going, I think the charges are certainly warranted,” junior Adam Freng said. “I don’t think, however, that the officer’s taser should have been used. I think it’s a little overboard to tase the kid.”

Freng said he sometimes feels unsafe at school.

“When a fight is about to happen, you have to make sure you get out of the way so that you don’t get hit,” Freng said. “It is kinda scary.”

School police officers are allowed to carry tasers. A taser is a weapon that fires barbs, which are attached to wires and batteries. When these barbs hit their target, a charge is sent through the wires. This shocks the target and causes temporary paralysis.

“I think school officers should definitely be allowed to carry tasers in order to protect students,” junior James Peaugh said. “If someone were to walk on campus and be a danger to students, then I think they should definitely have them [tasers] to protect all of the students.”

AISD has its own police force to act as backup for the normal school officials. If there are fights at schools, the officers assist in controlling the situation.

“In fights you first want to be able to announce your presence,” officer John Yoder said. “That way they know you are not just some bystander trying to jump into the fight. We go through all different types of training for situations like that.

You have got to be able to use your verbal commands first. If they [the fighters] don’t want to comply, then we are forced to make a split second decision and hopefully it is the right one. You don’t have time to wait and go through your mental checklist of what to do next. You have to

think of the safety of who is involved and your own safety. You usually have to use the next level of force above what the assailants are using in order to gain control of the situation.”

Physical violence between students on school campuses does occur, and administrators work to prevent these instances.

“The best way to prevent the fighting is to be vigilant and being aware of them ahead of time,” Assistant Principal Andy Baxa said. “The more problems that we can identify beforehand, the better chance we have of eliminating the physical violence from taking place on campus. We will never eliminate all physical violence on campus, but the more we listen, the better chance we have of heading it off before it gets started.”

Although a taser has never been used at McCallum to prevent fighting, other nonlethal deterrents have been used.

“To my knowledge there has not been a use of a taser, and there have only been a few situations where the taser has been pulled but it has not been used,” Baxa said.

“They have used other non-lethal measure such as pepper spray. Only once have I seen a taser pulled. The one time I saw the taser pulled, it definitely changed the student’s behavior 100 percent. The student

NEWS 5

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The more problems that we can identify beforehand, the better chance we have of eliminating the physical violence Andy Baxa// Assistant Principal

was out of control and as soon as the taser was pulled, not even aimed just removed from its holster to be an option, the student was immediately compliant.”

To carry a taser, the officers must go through taser certification, which is an eight-hour class. The classes take officers through all kinds of things like how many volts are in a taser between (20,000 and 150,000). Being shocked by a taser is also required in order to carry it.

“To my knowledge, there have been no changes to policy. I look over the policy every once in a while just to keep my mind refreshed. As far as I know, the taser policy has not changed at all,” Yoder said. ”The only thing is to be more aware and not be as eager to use it. Some people might get ‘taser happy,’ and we have to make sure that there is control and good decision-making in the moment with all of the adrenaline.”

Some districts to allow teachers to carry weapons Continued from page 4

Yoder said that if Austin ISD were to look at the policy, teachers would need to go through some type of law enforcement training course to be qualified.

“School’s not what it used to be anymore,” Yoder said. “It’s not good ol’ times where you can just go to class, learn and not have to worry about anything. You have to watch your back at certain schools now. Luckily, McCallum is a relatively behaviorally good school.”

Along with his praise of McCallum, Yoder also said every school has its criminals.

“There’s been situations where there’s just puts it in their desk. What happens if a student decides been items to go rummagstolen off ing through a teacher’s their desk lookdesk, backIf AISD were to have that and ing for a pencil packs or purses,” YoI were a parent, I would prob- or something and says, ‘Oh, der said. “It’s ably move my kid to a school here’s a semipossible that automatic handa teacher that didn’t have that policy. gun. I could do gets lazy Rose Keel // Senior a lot with that.’ one day and I’m really just doesn’t want to carry their gun in their waistband, and kind of 50/50 on it. I’m not completely

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comfortable with the idea of teachers being armed in a school district, but there’s always a positive side.”

Yoder said he didn’t think the policy should be implemented at AISD schools.

“I don’t think it should at AISD due to the fact that we have a pretty decent sized school district and police department,” Yoder said. “And I believe we’re 75 officers strong in our department. We cover the AISD school district pretty efficiently. So I don’t think it would be necessary to arm teachers, and I would honestly prefer that we don’t.”

march 7, 2014 // the shield

6 NEWS

Students, teachers weigh in on affects of raising minimum wage CAITLIN FALK

assistant editor When senior Corina Santos found out she was accepted to a prestigious music camp in upstate New York, she quickly realized she would need a job to help her parents pay for the cost of attending it. So she applied, was interviewed and offered a job at Jimmy John’s at the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour to help gain money and experience.

“I knew it was important to get experience working so that I would be more easily hired in the future,” Santos said.

Santos is one of millions of teenagers who take on minimum wage jobs annually. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) came out with a new report, Feb. 18, assessing what the affect of raising the minimum wage on incomes, employment and the federal budget would be. Its two primary findings were this: The large majority of low-wage workers would have higher wages and family income, but a smaller group would be jobless and have much lower family income.

More specifically, increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour from the current $7.25 could potentially reduce total em-

the shield // March 7, 2014

ployment by about 500,000 workers by “Raising the minimum wage would late 2016. However, it would also lift ap- have an economically stimulating effect,” proximately 900,000 families out of pover- Galbraith said. “Texas is a low-wage ty and increase the incomes of 16.5 million state, and a higher minimum wage would low-wage workers in an average week. strengthen the purchasing power and barEconomics teacher Spencer Cheney gaining power of a lot of workers here.” explained how the change in the minimum Furthermore, he said, the effect on unwage could in theory increase unemploy- employment is a hotly debated topic. ment.

“Most esti“When mates are that job we use norlosses would be mative ecorelatively few,” GalAs increases in pay go nomics, the braith said. “My theory says along, workers will tend to own view, based that if the on the experience be more productive. price goes in the UK and on up, then the the Card-Krueger Spencer Cheney // Teacher demand will studies in the US, go down,” is that there would Cheney said. “So, if we raise the minimum be no job losses to speak of.” wage, the demand for labor will go down.”

The David Card and Alan Krueger However, Professor James Galbraith study he referenced is one where two of the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the Princeton University professors conUniversity of Texas at Austin explained ducted a study on minimum wage in New there could be an offsetting effect because Jersey and Pennsylvania. New Jersey had as the CBO noted, many people would raised the minimum wage but Pennsylvabe lifted out of poverty and would have nia had not. So, conventional economic more to spend, thus promoting economic analysis might have predicted that New growth and employment.

Jersey’s unemployment would increase

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over Pennsylvania’s; however, their findings were that employment actually expanded in New Jersey relative to Pennsylvania, where the minimum wage was constant. Cheney points to contrasting examples.

“If you look at California, San Francisco has raised theirs. Boston has raised theirs, and they have a higher rate of unemployment than do the neighboring communities because it’s cheaper to hire labor outside of where they are,” Cheney said.

Besides, Adjunct Economics Professor Eloy Gomez at Austin Community College said, conventional analysis doesn’t always hold, particularly when there is a lack of competition between employers.

“The purely competitive market that was envisioned by Adam Smith is not what we have in this country,” Gomez said. “In microeconomics we teach that companies with monopoly power will exploit the worker both in terms of lower wages and less workers will be hired, and their productivity increases will not be rewarded. Will the market take care of the workers in this country? I think the answer is no.”

As an example, he points to a case in

NEWS 7 Silicon Valley where it is alleged “companies agreed illegally not to hire from each other in an attempt to manipulate the socalled free market for wages and jobs.”

One argument against raising the minimum wage is that it primarily affects teenagers and entry- level workers who are supposed to climb the job ladder with experience.

“That minimum wage job is supposed to be your first job,” he said. “It shouldn’t be your first job, your second job and your third job, and I know for a lot of kids it is.

So they’re never really going up the work ladder. They’re just going across it. You learn to adapt and adjust to that which you have, and if you learn to maintain your productivity, then you will get increases in pay. Your incentive to stay is that increase in pay. As increases in pay go along, workers will tend to be more productive, will tend to have more on-time performance, and will tend to do a better job. But it needs to come from a worker’s productivity rather than just the fact that you’re here.”

Senior Ashlyn Eddy works twice a week in the child watch center at YMCA

qualities one needs to possess to do a good for a little above the minimum wage “I think minimum wage is good how it job. This low starting-wage should not be is right now,” Eddy said. “I don’t think peo- universal, and I believe that if an employee ple should aspire to minimum wage. I’m exhibits valuable qualities and is successful, they should kind of be rewarded, against regardless of age the whole This issue brings an awareness or experience.”

Galbraith ‘$15 an hour’ for to the responsibility of busi- said it’s not only who mininesses to treat their employees teenagers are affected by mum with respect and to reward hard low minimum wage wage. because work and dedication.

“Women, I feel like people of color, it’s kind Corina Santos // Senior the young and of ridiculous since it’s a starting wage. People go to immigrant workers would be affected college to get that much money. It should most,” Galbraith said.

Santos said there is more to the minibe enough to get you through college, so it should be a little bit higher than it is, but mum wage controversy than just the socioeconomic issue. There are also matters of not as high as $15 an hour.” incentive.

Santos agreed.

“I believe minimum wage should be “I think that it is reasonable to pay inexperienced teenagers a lower start- raised because it gives people incentive to ing wage,” she said. “But I also think that work hard and represent their employer this wage should be determined by the well,” Santos said. “In addition, a paycheck intensity of the work being done and the for a part-time job earning minimum wage

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is hugely diminished by the subtraction of taxes, making the hourly rate you actually receive significantly lower than advertised.”

Eddy said at staff meetings at her work, many employers have suggested a raise in pay.

“We get paid a decent amount, but a lot of the people want more,” Eddy said. “It’s a non-profit that I work for, so it’s really hard to get a raise for us. A lot of people have said how they would work harder for higher pay. I think it does have an impact on productivity.”

Santos pointed out why the topic was so important for the younger generation.

“This issue is important because it brings an awareness to the responsibility of businesses to treat their employees with respect and to reward hard work and dedication,” she said. “If you feel you are being treated unfairly at work or paid too little for a job that requires extensive commitment, speak up for yourself. It raises awareness for an issue that is nation-wide and inter-generational and at one point or another will affect all of us.

Graphic made on Piktochart.com by Caitlin Falk

March 7, 2014 // the shield

8 NEWS HALEY HEGEFELD staff reporter

11 students in band, choir, orchestra compete at All-State in February Students from band, orchestra and choir went to the Texas Music Educators Association All-State competitions Feb. 12-14.

“It’s a competition,” sophomore Jenny Hah said. “There’s district, region, area and state. If you get into region, you can go to area. If you get into area, you can go to state.”

At the competition, the students get to hone their skills as musicians by practicing and playing or singing music all day.

the shield // March 7, 2014

news in brief “All-State was a really great experience,” junior Elena Villalon said. “It was really educational; I learned a lot about music.”

Among others, Villalon placed first in the Soprano 1 division, and Hah got second chair. Hah said she practiced for five hours every night after school to prepare for her solo.

“I went to a summer camp over the summer that prepared me for the AllState round of auditions,” Villalon said, ”and I practiced mostly the first semester of the 2013-2014 school year. I appreciate the hard work and dedication of my music teachers.”

PALs sponsor biannual blood drive The PALs sponsored a blood drive for

the Central Austin Blood Center March 4 in the small gym.

“Twice a year the PALs sponsor a blood drive, and the Central Texas Blood Center comes in and sets everything up,” PALs sponsor Richard Cowles said. “Our job is to volunteer during the time to help with whatever they need, help them find the right place in the morning, pack up in the afternoon and handle the promotional stuff.”

The Central Austin Blood Drive is a non-profit organization, which aims to provide blood for the local hospitals.

“The area hospitals use the blood center as a resource, that if they run low on different things like that, they will go to them,” Cowles said.

To participate in the drive, students must be 17, have a valid form of ID and weigh at least 115 pounds.

“We hung posters; we talked about creating awareness,” Cowles said. “The PALs are supposed to talk about it in class to get

people to come sign up and everything.”

Garden Club sells herbs to raise money Garden Club is having an herb sale in preparation for spring, the time when people begin to garden again after the winter.

“We are selling mainly starter herb plants for people’s gardens,” Garden Club sponsor Flor Mota said. “It’s mainly just Spring Break’s coming and people are looking to garden.”

The goal of the sale is to raise money to fund projects for beautification of the gardens around the school.

“We are trying to get donations from Shoal Creek Nursery for vegetable starters and other herbs. So far, we haven’t heard anything, but we are hoping,” Mota said.

“Also, over the weekend I am going to pick some stuff up. The stuff that will grow here in central Texas that is pretty low maintenance is what we are trying to sell.”

Feature 9

Jumping ship

APPPP

Sophomores leave Pre-AP classes for regulars level courses LULU NEWTON

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classes five weeks after returning staff reporter In the first six weeks back from win- from break. ter break, several sophomores dropped “It was really their Pre-AP World History and Eng- just a lot of stuff lish 2 classes, taught by William Staples piled on, and and Flor Mota, for the regular level ones. I didn’t have Sophomore Hannah Cooley said she the time to dropped the Pre-AP class because of the do it,” Mijoint English-World History research pa- nette said. per.

“I think it’s “I dropped them two weeks into good for school [after winter break],” Cooley said. us to get “Once we got back from winter break, I used to kind of started thinking about it, espe- that for cially when we got the research paper as- college and get an idea of how it’s going signed, and it got the point where I was to be, but when they give this to us in adso stressed and we weren’t even that far dition to regular work in class, it becomes into [the assignment].” really hard to do. We were reading two Mota said it saddens her to see stu- chapters out of the textbook while doing dents dropping the course. the research paper.”

“I know that in the end the students Mota said students who are overare missing out on a lot of good informa- whelmed don’t want to get such a big tion that will help them in the long run,” project done.

Mota said. “The foresight is not there.

“I just think it’s ridiculous to have [The students] come this far are thinking of in the process the now. They and then just are thinking, say no,” Mota ‘Now, I canAs the weeks have gone on, said. “They’ve not do this,’ done a lot of a lot of [students] have been the work aland we are thinking of the ready.” considering dropping.” future, what Mota future skills said she and Hannah Cooley // Sophomore you need to Staples make develop now.” themselves Staples readily availsaid the stuable for students are quitting because of a lack of ini- dents to come talk to them. tiative and drive.

“We will help them through it,” Mota “[They say] ‘I don’t want this pain right said. “I’ve talked to students who are very now,’ and what they don’t realize is that stressed out. By the end of the conversathey are putting the pain off a couple of tion, for the most part, students feel a lot years down the road, and the pain is go- better because they just needed that reing to be much worse,” Staples said. assurance. It’s about just calming them Sophomore Melissa Minette had is- down and telling them it’s going to be sues with the workload. She dropped the okay.”

Staples said this work the students worry so much about is rarely wrong.

“So much of the stress is that they’re putting all this work into this piece and many of them think that it’s going to be wrong,” Staples said.

Cooley said the students reached the point of staying up entire nights to work on their papers.

“As the weeks have gone on, a lot of [students] have been considering dropping to [regular classes] because it’s so much work,” Cooley said.

Minette said the more successful students were the ones who continually paced themselves with the work.

The paper is broken into parts the students complete over a course of eight weeks. Students choose a topic for their paper, gathered sources and learned to cite them properly, then come up with research questions. They create a thesis statement, put together a fully cited outline, and write a rough draft, a clean draft and the final draft.

“It’s a very step-by-step method of doing research,” Mota said. “It’s a very long process, but it’s long so that the kids don’t get overwhelmed with everything being due at the same time.”

Minette said she had procrastinated last semester, but was still doing fine.

“It wasn’t too bad last semester be-

cause we didn’t have that much stuff compared to [spring]. A lot of my friends waited until the day before the outline was due to start working on it,” Minette said.

“Probably not the best idea, but I know that’s how a lot of people did it. They were all cramming it in the night before.”

Time management proved to be an important factor in the joint classes.

Sophomore Elijah Chandler said he dropped the classes right after the first semester ended.

“I made good grades in the class. I just needed more time to practice [cello],” Chandler said. “I was fine with the workload. I dropped because of the amount of time it took.”

Chandler talked to both Staples and Mota before dropping, and they were very supportive of what fit his needs best.

“I knew it was going to take far more time than I had to give, and I couldn’t get a grade I needed with the time frame I had and the amount of work I could put in,” Chandler said. “If I wasn’t so preoccupied with orchestra and I had more time to give, I definitely would have stayed.”

Continued on page 11

march 7, 2014// the shield

10 Feature

Dropping the bass Music majors resign from Fine Arts Academy with one semester left HALEY HEGEFELD

“I realized that having a fine arts diploma had relatively no significance for me, given that I had already gotten into college,” senior Braden Pellowski said. “It just didn’t seem worth the stress and the workload and time required by a course such as Music Theory. It required a lot of concentration, and I wasn’t particularly good at it or very enthusiastic about it.”

At this time every year, some seniors leave the academy, McElveen said.

They have other interests, A few students drop their and I think they are not seemusic major because they no longer feel it is applicaing it through. Because ble to their lives. some of them are not going “Having a few seniors drop their senior year is into music in college, they not an outlier or atypical,” are not seeing the value of McElveen said. “We have a handful of kids who don’t completing their Fine Arts follow through with their Academy major, which is a commitment every year, but there is not an uptick disappointment because it’s in drops. There are a few, a four-year commitment and there are a few every year, so that’s pretty typical.” it’s part of the prescribed To graduate as a music plan from the get-go. major, a student must take AP Music Theory his or Kalyse McElveen // Fine Arts Director her senior year. McElveen said this class is very challenging, as is AP Art Theonot where they want to end up anymore. ry, but it is not that students are not able to Because of this, music majors have been do the work. They simply do not want to.

“There was a lot of homework; howdropping their majors only months from ever, I did not see the purpose of said graduation.

“A lot of the seniors who come through homework,” senior Jane Doe* said. “The are looking really short-term, like ‘This is tests were very stressful. I feel less stressed effort I don’t want to put in right now,’” fine now. Also, I wasn’t really grasping a lot of arts director Kalyse McElveen said, “but I the curriculum, so now that I’m not in the think that the long term, regret of not see- class, it’s less stressful.”

However, there are many more stuing it through the last few months is probably going to catch up to them eventually. ” dents who stay within the program for all With graduation approaching, students four years, like senior Zoe Scott.

“When you work for three years toare making final decisions on what kind of wards something, to drop out a few weeks major and career they want to pursue. staff reporter Four years ago, the seniors in the Fine Arts Academy made a decision to apply to McCallum that put them on a path for their high school career. However, in the four years they have spent since this decision, some have decided this path is

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the shield // March 7, 2014

before it’s over, it’s not really necessary,” Scott said. “I’m not really a quitter.”

Other factors within the decision to be considered include how it will affect the student’s collegiate life and beyond. All of these factors are included when the student make his or her decision, Doe said.

“It was a hard decision because I didn’t know if I wanted to drop after going through three-and-a-half years of being a music major and doing all of the requirements,” Doe said. “But it got to a point where it didn’t matter anymore because I’m not going to pursue music in college.

I am planning to go into the medical field.

It’s not really going to affect me after June.”

Another factor in the students’ decision is how their parents react to their children wanting to drop. If a parent approves of his or her child’s decision, the adviser cannot do anything about it.

“I have some interesting parents and they had some mixed feelings about it, but ultimately they trust my judgment,” Pellowski said. “Although they would have preferred to be able to say their son was part of the Fine Arts Academy, they allowed me to do what I thought was the best for me, as they have always done.”

The fine arts graduation is a special graduation at the end of their senior year.

It takes place a day before the formal grad-

Fine Arts Academy basics

458 Fine Arts Academy majors, with

48% in the music strands

82 band majors 70 orchestra majors 26 classical guitar majors 42 voice majors

73% of majors complete the program, while the other 27% do not complete for a number of reasons, including expulsion and moving away

Feature 11 uation ceremony and is an exclusive honor for Fine Arts Academy graduates.

“At that special graduation ceremony we have a keynote speaker,” McElveen said. “[Students] get a special certificate that goes through and outlines all they have done in the Fine Arts Academy for four years and all the things they were involved in at McCallum. They also get a really cool medal that has their name engraved on the back of it, as well as their major and graduation year. Our Fine Arts Academy majors then wear this to the graduation ceremony the next day.”

This graduation ceremony is very important to fine arts majors because it represents the four years of work that they have put into their achievement, Doe said.

“At first, yes I was [sad about not being able to participate in the ceremony],” Doe said. “That was actually a really big factor in deciding whether I wanted to drop or not, just because I’ve put so much work into it.”

The advisers do everything they can to try to keep the students from dropping their major, McElveen said. They do not want the students’ four-year commitment

to go to waste. they are not seeing it through,” McElveen “In certain circumstances we will try said. “Because some of them are not going to counsel them away from dropping,” into music in college, they are not seeing McElveen said, “but ultimately the par- the value of completing their Fine Arts ents have a lot of control over that, so in Academy major, which is a disappointsome cases ment because it’s a four-year comwe have to mitment and make that allowance it’s part of the plan to let them It was a hard decision be- prescribed from the get-go.” drop out of cause I didn’t know if I wanted the program.

Scott said We try to to drop after going through staying with the program has advise them three-and-a-half years of be- helped her in against it, but we ultiing a music major and doing many ways.

“Time manmately don’t all of the requirements. agement is a have control big [thing I over every Jane Doe // Senior decision.” learned],” Scott said. “Just beThe ing able to go adults invested in the majors, like the fine arts director, through harder classes that I don’t know are disappointed when students drop. what I’m doing in. Being able to persevere However, most students get the self-sat- through things. I think it’s a good thing to isfaction that comes with completing their have; it’s good to stick to something you sign up for.” four-year commitment.

Because the advisers want the students “They have other interests and I think

“

to stay in the program and see through their commitment, they are going to change how students are able to drop their majors.

“We are changing our procedure for next year with the Fine Arts Academy,” McElveen said. “We are going to set windows of time for freshmen, sophomores and juniors from January to Spring Break to come in and request any changes to their academy status. After March of junior year, that decision really needs to stick all the way through graduation. We want them to see it through, so we are going to make it a little more difficult for seniors to drop.”

McElveen said the largest reward of graduating as a major is the self-satisfaction students have when they complete it.

“For the kids who are going on to music, because we do have quite a few who are either going to go on to music as a major or just continue in it as a hobby or secondary interest,” McElveen said, “it really does give them a lot better skill set to move forward and having a better understanding of their craft.” *name changed

Students encouraged to stick with Pre-AP courses Continued from page 9 Mota said many students just need a time reassurance, but there are special circumstances when things come up, and she and Staples are not blind to these.

“I just wish [students] would come and talk to us before they consider [dropping],” Mota said.

Chandler said his new regular level classes are good; however, part of him wishes he could have stayed in the Pre-AP classes.

“I’m not satisfied with [the regular classes] because they don’t push me, but I need the extra time,” Chandler said. “I don’t like the classes, but I need the time that they give me.”

Cooley and Chandler now have the same teachers, Allen Kemp and Michael Urick, and while Chandler is dissatisfied, Cooley said she enjoys her new classes. She said the regular classes seem to be much more hands-on than the Pre-AP ones.

“I like them a lot,” Cooley said. “I’m defi-

“

Buck up, work through it now, or put it off when you have very little help.”

William Staples // Teacher nitely happier because it’s a lot less stressful, and I am enjoying the way I’m learning in those classes a lot more now. I feel like the teachers are really working with you.

I’m learning way better now.”

Cooley said the regular courses are heavy in description and understanding.

Mota and Staples have directed their curriculum more into writing. “[The students] have got the joint essays between the two classes in the spring,” Staples said, “When they leave here, most of them feel very comfortable with writing assignments.”

Mota said sophomore year is the pivotal point in high school. In their joint curriculum, the writing assignments have history components and, of course, English components, and Mota said the curriculum gets the students to develop critical thinking skills that she said are vital in college. The emphasis on writing is mainly for college preparation.

“When you talk to college professors today, that is all they complain about,” Staples said. “They complain about the fact that students can’t write.”

Mota and Staples want the students to learn how to properly write now while they have many resources for help.

“Buck up, work through it now, or put it off when you have very little help. That’s what [students are] looking at,” Staples said. “They’re going to hit those [college] classes, and they’re going to be like deer in the headlights. That terrifies me for them.”

Mota said she had little writing experience before college, and it affected her in

college. She said she doesn’t want her students to go through that.

“We’re not trying to make light of this like this is an easy process by any means,” Mota said.

Staples and Mota said they intentionally push their students in order to make them better. The joint course program has been going on before either of them were a part of it. Staples is retiring this year, as he planned to do last year, and Mota said with the budget currently, there may not be a new teacher but instead another teacher assuming the position.

“We are facing the possibility of not having a new ‘Mr. Staples,’” Mota said. “Even if this program morphs into something else, with me being the head of it, it’s not like the research paper will go away. It’s not going to get easier. It’s still going to be a challenging course whether it’s connected to history or not. [The class] has evolved, and its going to continue to evolve no matter what the future brings.”

March 7, 2014 // the shield

12 Feature

A little birdy told me Pressure to attend music festivals increases; teens turn to social media, Internet

GRACE FRYE editor-in-chief

When Hannah Noyes, 17, bought her first Sweetlife Music Festival ticket sophomore year, music was the last thing on her mind. Fueled by her peers’ insistence, Noyes purchased her ticket to the one-day fest held annually at Columbia, MD’s Merriweather Post Pavilion, gearing up for her best profile picture yet.

“It was a total social status thing,” said Noyes, a Baltimore resident. “If you didn’t go to Sweetlife, you didn’t make face. And the whole point of going to a music festival now is to be in pictures that you put on Facebook so you can say that you went to a music festival.”

Noyes is not alone. Each year more than 200 music festivals in the U.S. take over public spaces and hundreds of thousands of patrons

the shield // March 7, 2014

flock to those grounds. But music festivals are nothing new to the national music scene. Inside those fests, however, a new demographic is taking over. Equipped with their cell phones and multiple social media accounts, teenagers are stealing the show fast.

“Social networking is such a dominant feature now in the lives of young people that there is this kind of fear of missing out of things,” said Nancy W. Hanrahan, an Associate Professor of Sociology at George Mason University. “The sort of social connectedness through social media is at least as much a dominant thing now in terms of identity development as music has always been.”

According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, 95 percent of teenagers use the Internet. Seventy-seven percent of those teens use Facebook. Noyes

said she thinks social media is the driving force behind teen attendance.

“I don’t know anybody who goes for the music,” Noyes said. “Basically you’re spending your money to get your pictures.”

Sophomore Addy Hernandez, 16, agreed.

She has noticed social media as a strong motivator.

“Kids wouldn’t be [going to music festivals] if it was just over word of mouth because there is no physical evidence of it,” Hernandez said.

“It’s not just Twitter and Instagram. It’s Tumblr and websites like that. Kids want to validate their Internet profiles.”

Tyler A. Pratt, an on-air radio producer and host for the Austin-based KUTX station, said after years of attending music festivals, he has recently seen a dramatic increase in the amount of young people also enjoying the fests.

“During South By Southwest, I noticed these groups of kids all over town,” Pratt said. “And then as I’ve gone to ACL fest and Fun Fun Fun Fest and Coachella, I really noticed that there are what appears to be groups of young kids, mostly teenagers, more and more.”

Jason Mellard, who is a lecturer in the Department of History at Texas State University, said the increase in social pressure to attend modern festivals is similar to the pressure to attend festivals such as Woodstock.

“Woodstock was a generation defining moment, and you might say that people didn’t so much go for a specific artist either. That in its own way, people were attending it because it was cool,” Mellard said. “So it’s not radically different. What’s different is how you translate that experience.”

To do this, you have to look to social media.

Forty-two percent of teens admit to visiting social media sites multiple times a day, the Pew report said. This fact has Hanrahan worried.

“I think that social media actually reinforces social conformism, and I think that’s problematic,” she said. “It’s to the extent that this phenomenon is linked to an environment in which young people feel that they have to be socially connected all the time. That they have to be able to display artifacts like, ‘Here I was. I have the wristband. I have the T-shirt,’ to prove something.”

That’s not to say music festivals aren’t still a place to escape from the norm. Pratt, who produces a daily music news show called Sound Check, said festivals are a fun social place to go and be somebody else for a few days.

“Because of music festival culture, they offer sort of a temporary world or a temporary society,” Pratt said. “You’re able to enter this alternate reality while you’re at a music festival; different rules apply. You can live a different life for a few days. It’s sort of like the Burning Man effect. You go someplace else, a separate existence. “ Which is exactly what Noyes did.

“I’m a total wannabe hipster, and I can’t

Feature 13 sent to me—and all I wanted to do was be left alone because I felt so left out that I was not at the concert,” Noyes said. “It’s something that kids know that you feel left out and they still do it because it makes them cool.

It makes them then have experienced something you haven’t.”

Some bands such as Wilco, The Lumineers and even Beyoncé have taken notice of the increased use of devices at concerts, urging fans to put their phones away and experience the event in real time.

“I think what you’re getting to is sort of the larger issue of mediated experience, where something like a festival is supposed to be a performance in which artist and pull it off in any other circumstance other than at a music festival when it’s totally appro- audience share a moment,” Mellard said. “But priate to wear high-waisted shorts, a cool shirt, many patrons, given the nature of social media face paint and flowers in your hair,” Noyes said. and connection to devices, want to immediately “We all try to emulate what went on at Wood- archive and share that moment with the entire world of their acstock. I definitely quaintances rather think that contribthan being in that uted to the whole moment, at that vibe of the place I don’t know anybody who time and experiwhen I was there.” thing.”

But for Hergoes for the music. Basically encing that However, nandez, this is Mays, “insulting” not you’re spending your money James founder of the only to true fans, to get your pictures. teen-centric music but “also the musifestival The Kids cians.”

Hannah Noyes // Senior Are All Right Fest “It just bothand South By ers me that when something that was meant to bring people to- Southwest Underage, both in Austin, said he gether to bond over something like music is in- thinks many kids are still in it for the music.

“I remember when I was in college and terrupted by all these girls and boys who come here, like [the people] that buy outfits specifi- wanting to be a fan of that band that nobody cally for ACL,” Hernandez said. “You shouldn’t had really heard of and sort of make that disbe planning out your life like that. It just defeats covery,” Mays, 45, said. “I think that that’s just shifted to a younger age now.” the purpose. It’s insulting, I think.”

To help with that, Mays said he started to But this year, Noyes did not get to join her friends at Sweetlife; instead, she stayed home notice “bigger indie clubs” in Austin opening their doors to all age audiences. to help her family.

“Now, it seems to be more a part of the “I remember the whole time I was getting Snapchats, I was looking at Vines, I was get- common culture,” Mays said. “[Teens] are not ting pictures sent to me, I was getting videos just sneaking into a club, they’re actually invited

“

into the club. When we did South By Southwest Underage, we had about 500 teenagers in a room listening to bands.”

Hernandez agreed that, while some teenaged fans are not genuine, the ones who are will make it a priority to attend festivals such as SXSW. “ACL is like right when school starts, but SXSW is during spring break, which is when you see the trend more towards, ‘I’m at the beach, look at me I’m in Port Aransas,’ kind of deal,” Hernandez said. “Honestly, the kids that are really dedicated to music and the bands they listen to and the lifestyle at ACL, you see them back for SXSW. You don’t see the flower crown girls come back for SXSW because they honestly don’t know what’s happening. They’re off in Port Aransas taking pictures now.”

Hernandez said she encourages increased interest in teens, but for what she calls “the right reasons.”

“I don’t have a problem with kids who go to ACL for the first time to get this experience and actually have fun and enjoy and really like the bands, and then come back next year,” Hernandez said.

“I want people to go to these music festivals and have fun, but it’s just bothersome that the motivations behind it aren’t genuine.”

Regardless, the number of teens attending music festivals is rising each year and Noyes said she doesn’t think it will stop anytime soon.

“I would say I’m the chief offender of going to festivals for social reasons,” she said, “and I’m not shameful of it. It’s totally a reality and it’s totally in our culture as high school students because you have to be ahead of the curve for everything.”

Left: Each year thousands of fans gather at the Austin City Limits music festival. Photo by Grace Frye. Top: Noyes at The Governors Ball music festival in New York City. “There is definitely a pressure to go to festivals that are seen as cool; that is definitely the case,” Noyes said.

Photo provided by Noyes. Bottom: Hernandez at a Trash Talk show at SXSW last year. “I start planning for SXSW in November-December,” Hernandez said. Photo provided by Hernandez.

march 7, 2014 // the shield

14 Sports

(Left) Senior Dewayne Bryant rings the bell after the Knights defeated Travis 62-34 on Oct. 17, 2013. (Right) Bryant laughs as he talks to track and football coach Rocky Clark during an after school track practice. Photos by Mary Stites.

A new start

MARY STITES

photo editor Six months after the injury that took senior Dewayne Bryant out of contact sports forever, Bryant has made a full recovery and is now trying out different sports.

After taking a hit during the Crockett football game that hospitalized him, Bryant learned about the condition he didn’t know he had. “[The condition is called] spinal stenosis,” Bryant said. “My spinal canal is really narrow, and there is a chord that goes through your spinal canal that connects to all of your nerves. So the spine is pressing against the chord of nerves. People are born with the condition, so I’ve had it all of my life. I just didn’t know it until I got hurt.”

After being diagnosed with spinal stenosis, Bryant was told by the doctors that he that he needed to stop playing football.

However, the coaches allowed Bryant to be on the field during games to help with the defensive line as well as be the team’s spirit leader.

the shield // March 7, 2014

Senior recovers from injury, joins track team

Track coach Quincy Stewart said he was thrilled when Bryant decided to join the track team. Stewart said he was glad to see Bryant would continue to use his athletic ability, even if it wasn’t in football or lacrosse.

“Dewayne brings a sense of work ethic to the team,” Stewart said. “He is a guy that is going to work hard, and if you ask him to do something, he is going to that. He is a really hard worker and definitely has some athletic ability. A lot of kids look to [Bryant] for guidance. He has been around, he knows the ropes, so a lot of kids follow in his footsteps.”

Michelle Banks, Bryant’s mother and the football booster club president, watched Bryant’s plans after high school change while sitting in intensive care after the Crockett football game.

“The ER doctor told Dewayne and I at 3:30 a.m. in intensive care that he would never play football or any other contact sport,” Banks said. “After the news, we sat in silence for about two minutes, and I asked Dewayne how he felt about the

news. He just said, ‘I am fine. I guess I will just to school at Auburn.’ His godparents both graduated from Auburn, and it has been a dream of theirs for him to attend their alma mater.”

The day before the injury, Bryant scheduled his first football recruiting visit to Trinity University in San Antonio.

Since then, Bryant has applied to colleges without athletic intentions. To date, Bryant has been accepted to eight colleges, receiving merit scholarships from most schools.

Prior to his diagnosis, Bryant had overlooked the common symptoms of spinal stenosis to continue playing football.

“I didn’t know I had [spinal stenosis] before my injury, but I did have a lot of symptoms,” Bryant said. “I would get stingers, and my back would get numb sometimes when I was playing football.

I’m really thankful that I never got paralyzed playing football or lacrosse because that could have been a possibility.”

Senior Marquis King-Smith played football with Bryant for the past four

years. The two had coincidentally played little-league football together but grew as friends in high school. The two played the same position and used one another as a competitive drive during practice and games, King-Smith said.

“We really fed off of each other’s energy,” King-Smith said. “We were in the same grade and we played the same position, so we were together a lot. He would do a play and I would do a play, and then I would do a play and I would try and top him.”

Having the competitive drive from Bryant caused King-Smith to become a better athlete, he said. The drive they shared combined with the similar personalities brought King-Smith and Bryant’s friendship closer.

“Dewayne and I have extremely similar personalities,” King-Smith said. “He thinks he is really funny and I think that I am really funny but in reality we aren’t funny at all. We both have the same work ethic, so everything just kind of falls into place.”

Bryant’s intelligence and passion for

Sports 15 the game was one King-Smith “had not seen before,” making Bryant an influential leader for the team.

“Playing football with Dewayne was really different,” King-Smith said. “He has this emotion and this love for the game that was incredible. On our team there are a lot of people that have a huge love for the game, but not like his. He always knew where to be and what to do before the play even happened. He is such a smart player.”

Seeing Bryant leave House Park in the ambulance had a lasting impact on KingSmith and the rest of the team. According to King-Smith, many team members thought Bryant would be back in the next game and were shocked when they found out he would no longer play.

“When I saw that Dewayne went down and wasn’t getting up, I started to cry on the field,” King-Smith said. “It hurt a lot, but it made me play harder because I wanted to win that game for him. It made the whole team play a lot harder because the whole team was playing for Dewayne, and that carried through for the rest of the season. When we found out that Dewayne couldn’t play anymore, we wanted to win

every game that we played for him. It was really shocking when I found out about his condition because when I saw him leave on the stretcher, I thought, ‘Dewayne is strong. He will be back next game.’”

Upon hearing the news about Bryant, King-Smith said he saw a change in the mindset of the team. While it was difficult for King-Smith to get used to working out and practicing without Bryant, he was relieved to know Bryant would still be a part of the team on the sidelines.

“When I saw Dewayne at our next game, I went on the field and told him that my next big play was for him,” KingSmith said. “Right after that, I made a big play and pointed to him. I felt like a huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders. Seeing the huge smile on his face even though he couldn’t be on the field with us showed that he had a love for the game.”

While Bryant was no longer on the field with him, King-Smith didn’t see any change in Bryant’s influence on the team.

“I firmly believe that Dewayne was the heart and the soul of our team,” KingSmith said. “His leadership played a huge role in us even making it past the first

round of playoffs, regardless of whether or not he was on the field.”

Now that Bryant can work out and lift weights like he used to, things have returned to what they used to be. Despite not being able to play football, Bryant said he has not let his condition limit his life.

“A lot of people have told me that I’m really mature for handling the injury the way that I did,” Bryant said. “I’ve grown to be much more mature. I’ve learned that there are some things that you can’t do and you just have to build yourself up with what you can do. Just because you are limited in one aspect doesn’t mean that you can’t be good at other things.”

The ethic, determination and commitment that Bryant learned from football and lacrosse has carried over to track. Bryant said he has learned how to push himself in the individual sport to work hard and get better with every practice.

“I just try not to take steps back,” Byant said. “I don’t want this injury to affect me.

I make sure that I don’t use it as an excuse to not do something that I am capable of doing. I’ve been playing football for so long with this condition without even knowing

it. It’s weird to know that I never should have played contact sports at all, but I still did. Hopefully I can influence someone with my story.”

The news of Bryant’s condition caused mixed emotions, according to Banks.

However, Banks said the football team, coaching staff and trainer Kristen Rodgers embraced [Byrant], helping him accept the situation.

“I hope he understands that life is not what happens to you. It is how you react and survive after what happens to you,” Banks said. “When bad things happen, you pray about it, get up, dust off and move on with your life.

Bryant said his approach to athletics pushes him to be a better person, a better athlete, and he hopes to make a lasting impact on athletics at McCallum.

“I think that sports is all about building character,” Bryant said. “I want to be an influence on other athletes so that they know that you get out what you put into it so that I can make them better athletes too. That’s why I like team sports so much, because people hold you accountable for their success. There is a cool camaraderie.”

A fresh face on the team

Freshman joins varsity baseball team as catcher MARA VANDEGRIFT

staff reporter The varsity baseball team has new catcher this year: freshman Tyler Page As quarterback of the freshman football team, Page said he’s used to being the last guy.

“It’s pretty good. It’s a lot different than football because I’m usually used to being the last guy who doesn’t get treated very well,” Page said. “It’s a lot more fun.”

He said the varsity team is different than what he would expect the JV team to be like.

“You don’t get a lot of instruction on JV, and Coach Houston doesn’t really work with you as much and the team isn’t really connected on JV,” Page said.

Coach Russell Houston said it doesn’t really matter if a player is a freshman, as

though. That’s the reason why we do this. long as he’s good.

“It just depends on how many are able The more kids you have out, the more to play at that level as a freshman,” Hous- competition there is. There’s always competition.” ton said. “I’ve Senior been the head Jordan Gray coach for agrees with eight years, There is always competition, Houston and and we’ve had five [freshthough. That’s the reason says that it matter men].” why we do this. The more doesn’t that a freshman Houston said the other kids you have out, the more is on the team.

“Its kind of players don’t competition there is. relaxed,” Gray worry about said. “No one playing with a Russell Houston // Coach really cares. freshman.

I mean, he’s “It’s not different for any other player. They don’t good enough to play, so we don’t really worry what grade they’re in,” Hous- mind him there.”

Having a freshman on the team means ton said. “There is always competition,

“

having more of a leadership role for Gray.

“I try to be a leader when he starts to mess up and encourage him to keep his head up because he’s got a whole four years to go,” Gray said.

While some players are indifferent about a freshman being on the team, senior Nicky Westphal enjoys having Page on varsity.

“It’s fun,” Westphal said. “It’s pretty cool to have a freshman on the baseball team. It’s fun to mess with him.”

Neither Gray nor Westphal think having a freshman on varsity affects the team at all. Gray said having four years on varsity will be beneficial for Page.

“I think over time he’ll become a better leader,” Gray said. “He’ll know what to do to in certain situations when he gets to his sophomore, junior, senior year.”

March 7, 2014// The shield

16 Sports

Varsity basketball falls in first round of playoffs

Above: Senior Ben Dickey takes a jump shop against Cedar Park in the first round of playoffs on Feb. 16. Right: Senior John Pass shoots a layup over Cedar Park defenders during the varsity team’s last game this season. Photos by Nick Robertson.

the shield // march 7, 2014

BEN BROWN staff reporter

The varsity basketball team fell to Cedar Park in the first round of the playoffs 77-66 on Feb. 16. The Knights were down 24-47 at halftime, but made key mistakes down the stretch that cost them the game, according to junior Jake Holmes.

“We missed a lot of free throws,” Holmes said. “We weren’t the team we wanted to be. We made mistakes we normally don’t make. I thought all year we never really played to the level I thought we should have, and that’s the reason our season ended early.”

Seniors were very disappointed in the loss because it was their last high school

game, senior Ernie Scott said.

“I didn’t want to make that my last high school game ever,” Davis said. “Ending my career on that note will leave a sour taste in my mouth for a long time. All year long our goal was to make a deep run into the playoffs, and the fact that we couldn’t reach our goal hurts.”

The Knights will lose five key seniors from this year’s team, including Ben Dickey, Matthew Doyal, Willie Mays, John Pass, Ernie Scott and Anthony Williams, and will rely on this year’s junior’s for leadership and ability.

“It’s our time to shine next year,” Holmes said. “We’re all going to put in tons of work in the off season so we can meet our goals for next year.”

Sports 17 The Shield: What position do you play?

Hayden Price: “Just goalkeeper.”

TS: What advice do you get from the coaches or other players?

HP: “I need to work on distribution of the ball, and I need to work on coming out of the box less prematurely.”

TS: How long have you been playing soccer?

HP: “I’ve been playing since about halfway through eighth grade.”

TS: How is varsity different from JV? HP: “The shots are harder, the level of play is higher and a lot faster, and the competition is a lot more important because you can go to state, unlike JV.”

TS: What’s the most difficult part of being goalkeeper?

HP: “Goalkeepers do their best to keep their team in the game, but it’s really hard when the team isn’t playing to the best of their abilities, and the goalkeeper has a lot of stress on them.”

TS: What’s it like being on varsity as a sophomore?

HP: “I feel refreshed, I suppose, because last year I made it but was taken off because of UIL transfer rules. It’s fun to represent the highest level of McCallum soccer.”

TS: What do you mean by refreshed?

HP: “I was on varsity, but then they took it away from me, and now I have it back, so I feel refreshed or rejuvenated.”

TS: How do you encourage others on the team?

HP: “I give them support when they do good plays all the time. Instead of getting mad at them for messing up a play, I just tell them to keep their head up.”

TS: What’s the hardest thing about soccer?

HP: “The game of soccer relies so much on being a team, and if we’re not playing as a team and are trying to do things on our own, we can’t succeed and win the games.”

Hayden Price

TS: What is your goal for all three years of soccer?

HP: “Not to let in any goals.”

The Shield: How long have you been playing softball?

Melissa Minette: “At least five years, maybe more.

I’m not really sure.”

TS: How do coaches and other players encourage you?

MM: “Well, all the time whenever we’re batting, they’re always cheering for us and they’re like, ‘Go, you!’ In practice they’re, ‘It’s alright. You’re okay.

Just do that again.’”

TS: What position do you play? Which is your favorite?

MM: “I play third and first. I guess third because you get hit a lot more balls there. It’s really exciting.”

TS: How do you encourage others?

MM: “I cheer for them. Yes, I tell them they’re doing a good job. And I give them constructive criticism sometimes.”

TS: Since this is your first year here at McCallum, how does it feel to be playing varsity your first year?

MM: “Pretty good. It’s a really different experience because at my old school we didn’t really have good sports teams. This is so official. It’s great.”

TS: What’s the hardest thing about playing softball?

MM: “I think working as a team is difficult sometimes, but we’ve definitely gotten better.”

TS: Did you play softball last year?

MM: “Yes, but I didn’t play for my school. I played for NAO, which is a little different.”

TS: What do you hope to accomplish this year on varsity?

MM: “I want our team to win district, but I don’t really know what I want for myself.”

Melissa Minette

TS: What’s your favorite thing about softball?

MM: “I like batting because I’m good at that, so it’s nice to be hitting. I like being with my friends, too, and going to eat after; that’s pretty fun.”

TS: What have you learned from your experience being on the team?

MM: “One thing that I’ve learned is that we can’t win games if we’re not working together as a team.”

march 7, 2014 // the shield

Sports 18

sports in brief

JV baseball team wins AISD tournament

Varsity boys soccer team 5-4 in district

Girls soccer team starts district with 3-0 record

After a win over Akins to start the year, the JV baseball team completed the AISD tournament, where the team finished with a record of 3-0-1 with wins over Travis, Lanier and Crockett, and a tie with district rival LBJ. Sophomore Catcher Quentin Reed said he liked the outcome of the tournament but wishes the team could have the game against LBJ back.

“I thought we played well in every game except LBJ,” Reed said. “We had beaten Travis and Crockett pretty badly, so I think we came into the game with a little too much confidence, and that came back to bite us.”

The Knights also competed in the Georgetown tournament Feb 27-28 and recorded wins over Westlake and San Marcos Academy while losing to Akins.

Deep into district play, the varsity boys soccer team is down to its last two games to decide the winner of district. After starting off the season well in non-district play, sophomore Simon Fremgen said the team has faltered down the stretch. He said players need to play to their potential if they want to contend in the playoffs.

“Right now we’re 5-4 in district, “ Fremgen said, “I know as a team we can play much better than we have over the last couple games.”

As of now, the Knights will qualify for the playoffs, which after last year’s season will be an improvement.

“Last year, it was the first year in a long time we didn’t make the playoffs. This year we don’t just want to make it there; we want to contend,” Fremgen said.

After starting district 3-0, the Lady Knights varsity soccer team continued to win, compiling a 10-1 record, with playoffs on the horizon. Sophomore Lily Stuesser said the team has really improved a great amount throughout the season.

“We’ve really improved on communicating better and making smarter and better plays,” Stuesser said.

Stuesser said the team still needs to improve on starting the game fast.

“At some points this year we have started out the game slow, and it hasn’t come back to bite us yet, but it will once we start playing really good teams in the playoffs,” Stuesser said. “We also need to work on working hard all the way through the game and finishing with a purpose.”

The Lady Knights’ next game will be

Varsity baseball wins Fredericksburg tourney After a close extra inning loss in the first game of the season to Akins, the varsity baseball team took first place in the Fredericksburg tournament with victories over the Llano Yellow jackets, the Regents Knights and the Antonian Apaches.

The Knights arrived in Fredericksburg Feb 20, where they won three of four games over the next three days.

“I thought we started off a little slow in most of our games,” senior Carlos Munoz said. “The only game I thought we played to our full potential in was the championship game against Antonian. I think the key to us being really successful this year is to start off strong in games.”

Munoz also said the team needs to work on finishing games stronger.

“Our two losses both came on walk offs,” Munoz said. “We really just need to put teams away when we have the chance early in games.”

Varsity also competed in the Leander tournament Feb. 27-28 and finished with a 3-3 record.

March 7, 2014 //the shield

against rival LBJ at House Park. The game was rescheduled from Monday, March 3, due to bad weather.

Junior competes in state swim meet Junior Jessie Woolley-MacMath competed in two events at the state meet on Feb 21-22, and finished fifth in the 200 free and fourth in the 500 free. Macmath said she was a little disappointed by the outcome.

“Last year I got third in the 500 free, so it was upsetting not to place again this year,” MacMath said, “although I am still pretty happy with the way I swam because I improved in the 200.”

MacMath said she was very happy to be at state.

“It’s always really fun being there because everyone is so pumped up and excited,” MacMath said. “It was a really good experience and an honor to compete with the fastest swimmers in the state.”

Lady Knights start 1-1

Senior Holly Bucknall plays mid-field against Ann Richards on March 1. The Lady Knights won 2-1. Photo by Renae Shepler.

The Lady Knights varsity softball team is off to a 1-1 record in district play thus far.

Sophomore Hannah Smith said after a rough non-district schedule, the team has started to play well, especially in the first district game against Reagan.

“Out of district we didn’t really play our best,” Smith said. “We we’re a little timid against tougher competition early, but towards the end I could see us coming together as a team more.”

The win against district foe Reagan is one the team desperately needed, Smith said.

“We were on a losing streak, and we needed to win a game to get back in the right mindset,” Smith said. “I feel like we can do well in district play. We have some good teams in our district, so it will be tough, but I think we can do it.”

The team’s next district game will be March 18 against rival LBJ at Guerrero Field.

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Entertainment 19

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School of Rock

Students perform in Battle of the Bands, benefitting the Guitar program 1. Junior Thomas Magnuson opens the Battle of the Bands with his band The Mr. Clark Experience.

2. Junior Bomani Barton and his bandmates perform a rap after Bomani’s solo guitar performance.

3. Freshman Grace London (Grace Schmidhauser) performs one of her three songs.

4. Senior Katie Sanchez performs a cover of “Rivers and Roads” by the Head and the Heart.

5. Freshman Ian McKinney performs with his band “Only Human.” Photos by Mary Stites.

march 7, 2014// the shield

20 Entertainment

Masters of the house Spring production of ‘Les Misérables’ sells out 3 shows

MARY STITES photo editor

Senior Connor Barr the shield // march 7, 2014

Senior Connor Barr said playing the lead for “Les Misérables” was a great way to wrap up his musical theater career at McCallum.

“I played Jean Valjean in ‘Les Mis.’ He is a convict that stole a loaf of bread and broke parole to help this woman’s daughter out of poverty,” Barr said. “I’m superglad that [“Les Mis”] is my last production here because it’s kind of like the pan-ultimate musical. It was sad that Thursday was my last opening night, but this is the beginning of the end, I guess.”

The cast of “Les Mis” was the largest McCallum is thought to have had working on a production, director Joshua Denning said. The cast of over 100 students spent hours in the theater preparing for the show.

“It was not easy adjusting to the size of the show,” Denning said. ““Les Mis” was extremely hard to put together, rehearsals have been difficult, the music has been difficult for everybody. But because of that, everyone has been forced to come together and support each other and work as a team. Everyone has collaborated and risen to the occasion like no other show we’ve ever done.”

When Denning proposed the idea of doing “Les Misérables” during winter of last year for the spring production, Denning said there was overwhelming enthusiasm about the idea. As soon as the announcement was made, junior lighting designer Ja-

cob Stahl began researching to create the lighting design for the musical.

“Last year when Denning announced that we were doing ‘Les Mis,’ I looked up a lot of other productions of ‘Les Mis’ on YouTube and started thinking of cool colors and textures for each scene,” Stahl said. “I did a lot of research to develop my ideas as to where I put lights and what I wanted everything to look like.”

Denning said “Les Mis” is a fairly common high school production for schools with strong fine arts departments. The size of the show makes it difficult for collaboration, but Denning said he was blown away with how kids worked together to pull the show off. Denning said the accumulation of talent the school has sets McCallum apart from others in the city.

“What makes McCallum different than a normal high school is the amount of talent that we have here is insane,” Denning said. “Every high school has kids that are good, but we have that times 10. Every high school has that guy and that girl that can do the lead role, but we have 10 of those, which means that the cast is always really really strong.”

Barr said the amount of quick changes, the vocal range required for the part, and the lack of down time back stage made it the hardest part he has ever played.

“I’ve had to take a lot of time to do characterization on my own because that’s not something that we do in rehearsals,” Barr said. “At the end of the show, I have to cry on stage, and I’ve never had to do that

Entertainment 21

(Left) Jean Valean (Barr) shows mercy on Inspector Javert (sophomore Dylan Tacker). (Right) Valjean (Barr) sings while Marius (junior Jacob Roberts-Miller) lays wounded after the “second attack.” Photos by Mary Stites. before. It is really weird because it isn’t as easy as you would think. People tell me just to think of something sad and the tears will come out, but you really have to channel into the emotions that are on stage to make it happen. I’ve put twice as much energy into this show because it’s my last one. I come home and I’m totally drained. I just collapse on my bed.”

The show was not only difficult for Barr, Stahl said this was the most tasking production he has worked on yet.

“This is the most difficult thing I’ve had to do for a show,” Stahl said. “I had a lot of responsibilities and things going through my head all at one time. It was the most artistically challenging thing that I’ve had to do while in high school.”

Despite the difficulties of the show, Denning said he was blown away by the work of the students, Stahl especially.

“I’m very impressed with all of our students, but what has really blown me away was the lighting design,” Denning said.

“It is really state of the art and professional. It’s just amazing that it was completely done by a junior in high school, Jacob Stahl. I was completely blown away with it. And I know we have so much

talent at this school and everyone is doing such a great job, but that lighting design is incredible. Just seeing it assures me that [Stahl] is going to have a promising career in lighting design if he keeps doing what he is doing.”

Stahl said he spent countless hours on the “technically sound” scenes to make sure the lighting and sound went on and off without a problem. Stahl said his favorite scene was Javert’s (played by sophomore Dylan Tacker) suicide.

“It’s so satisfying seeing my design go into fruition,” Stahl said. “I put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into the project, and I was really motivated to do it well.

I’m really proud of what I did.”

The end of the six weeks brought some changes for the cast and crew of “Les Mis.” Junior Ben Dickerson found out he would be playing the role of Enjorlas the day of the last dress rehearsal.

“We had a couple of people that were main characters fail out right before opening night,” Barr said. “We had to put Ben Dickerson in for the last dress [rehearsal], and he went in and knew all of it. He did a great job, but that’s still a really hard thing to deal with for the last dress rehearsal.”

However, Barr said he was impressed with Dickerson’s ability to play the part with such little notice. “[Dickerson] was awesome. [Dickerson] somehow already knew almost every part,” Barr said. “During the dress rehearsal, it was a little rough at some points, but he did great in the first show.”

The size of the show forced the cast and crew to work together like never before, Denning said. The long rehearsals the nights before opening night lead to uneasy feelings for Denning, but he said the show was a success.

“Kids can’t just come in, memorize their lines and do their own thing,” Denning said. “There is so much going on and everyone has to help with everything. It is really rewarding to see it all come together.

I’ll be honest. There were times [before opening night] where I didn’t know if we were going to pull it off, but we did. It’s been awesome to see and it’s really moving. I couldn’t expect anything more from these kids.”

According to Dickerson, “Les Mis” was the production to have sold out the most shows in the Fine Arts Theater. Dickerson said having a full house provides for a

different, better environment to act in.

“Opening night was a huge success; we had a few technical glitches that we fixed for the other shows. The overwhelming response was that people couldn’t believe they were at a high school production. Everything sounded and looked beautiful. It was just incredible.”

Denning said the difficulty of the show has pushed students to learn new skills that will help them in fine arts and other aspects of their lives. He said it is great to see kids put together an incredible show and become better prepared for their future.

“It’s so moving watching students grow and learn actual skills,” Denning said. “I’ve seen students do things that they didn’t know they could do before this production. People are moving differently, sounding differently, looking differently. Kids have a lot more confidence, and I also see people supporting each other. This show has no room for divas or stars, and everyone has to move scenery or move props. It’s been a community-building show moreso than other productions.”

march 7, 2014 // the shield

22 opinion

Writing roundtrip Staffer learns a foreign language with French pen pal SEREN VILLWOCK online editor

My pen pal, Bérénice, goes to school in Angers, France. She wants to be a French teacher when she grows up.

the shield // march 7, 2014

We’ve all heard students complain about learning a foreign language. There are the students who spend four years taking Spanish classes but still don’t feel like they could have a conversation; there are the graduates and parents who used flashcards faithfully in school, but then their skills became rusty. Then there are the advertisements for expensive online classes and systems claiming to be able to teach a foreign language if you buy a “free” trial.

And meanwhile, students in high school in other countries have often been studying multiple foreign languages at the same time for years.

I started learning a foreign language later than most. Last year, as a sophomore, I started taking French for the first time. I wish I could have been one of those kids who grew up bilingual, but unfortunately, I’m pretty sure the benefits of starting a language from a young age don’t really apply to me anymore.

Of course, I love how the language teachers at school do the best they can to motivate

us with songs, parties and crazy games. They try to make it easy and accessible, and most of the time, language classes are pretty fun.

But, there are still times when it can be frustrating and daunting to realize just how foreign the language still seems to me.

I started talking to Bérénice over email almost a year ago. It began when an English teacher at Lycée Joachim du Bellay in Angers, France, emailed my French teacher, and she asked the class if anyone would be interested in having a pen pal. We began simply. We introduced ourselves and wrote about where we live, our family, our school, and what we like to do. Then, we started writing back and forth regularly, alternating paragraphs of French and English so we could practice and read in both languages. We talk about anything: school, music, traveling, culture, life. We even became friends on Facebook.

Once, I talked with Bérénice by videochat. She took her laptop and sat out in her beautiful garden while we talked. We had some trouble understanding each other, especially because she is learning English in a British accent at school, and I haven’t had a lot of practice listening to a French accent, but we just laughed about it and were still able to get our messages across.

It was adorable when her younger brother came over and asked, in broken English, “Do you like… ‘chocolat?’”

It’s challenging to learn to hold a conversation in a foreign language, and I’m far from perfect at it, especially because I started so late. But practicing regularly (even if I have to look up words a lot) helps me to remember those words and get used to the way they are used in French. I’m incredibly grateful for the experience to communicate and share cultures with my pen pal. It’s not only helped me accelerate learning French language and culture, but it has also just been a fun way to make a new friend.

In class, I find myself recognizing new vocabulary words and grammar patterns because my pen pal has used them before.

Even lessons that are completely new are easier to grasp because I have had more practice picking things up quickly and understanding the language. You can’t get experiences like that in the classroom.

While studying in the classroom is really important, nothing can compare to having a real conversation with someone.

I’ve learned that a foreign language doesn’t need to be frustrating if you explore and take initiative outside the classroom, whether it is through writing to a pen pal, watching videos or movies, using websites like duolingo, or even listening to music. After all, learning a new language is all about making connections and interacting between cultures. Writing to a pen pal transforms this process from work to fun.

Opinion 23

Guns in school don’t keep students safe Schools should arguably be one of the safest places for kids to be, but sometimes they are not. This does not mean arming schools to the teeth is a good idea, such as when Argyle ISD decided to implement their new gun policy. To arm faculty and staff is a rash decision that could cost the school district more in the end.

Texas has one of the highest gun-related death rates in the country with 699 deaths per 100,000 people in 2011—and that is down 13 percent from the year before, according to the Guardian. Clearly there is a positive trend, but by arming school employees, people who are not trained to handle high-stress situations, unnecessary deaths could become a reality.

While those who support arming teachers argue on the basis that faculty would be required to undergo training that licenses them to carry, that is not a significant amount of training. A school can never be prepared for a shooting or major tragedy or disaster like Columbine or Sandy Hook. Even if the teachers are armed and trained, that doesn’t mean when it comes down to a real-life moment

Cartoon by Seren Villwock.

where they will be called on to protect their students, they will be able to. There is also always the possibility of them shooting other innocent bystanders while running after the criminal.

Having under-trained individuals walking around with guns and also branding the school with signs, advertising the gun-filled nature of a campus is more trouble than solution. Signs all around campus that a school has guns and that the teachers are armed may scare off some

editor-in-chief Grace Frye

assistant editor Caitlin Falk

online editor SEREN VILLWOCK

public relations editor NATALIE MURPHY

photo editor Mary Stites

advertising manager HALEY HEGEFELD

adviser Rhonda Moore

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

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

Students may not publish material that is obscene, libelous, or that which will

ity into what is supposed to be a safe environment.

Rather than turning to guns, the Texas state government should attempt to work towards a more peaceful solution such as fixing the problem at its root and investing more money in mental health research and assistance for those in need. Also, on a smaller scale, schools can be more proactive in installing more security in other forms before resorting to arming their faculty.

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

criminals, but it is also detrimental to students. Students may start to think weapons are the answer to their problems and being constantly armed is a good thing, which in most situations it is not.

School should be a place for students to learn and express themselves, not a place where they are worried if the teachers, who are supposed to protect them, are even qualified to carry arms. While Argyle ISD’s new policy is well-intentioned, it is bringing unnecessary violence and hostil-

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.

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March 7, 2014 // the shield

24 PHOTO ESSAY

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Did you hear the people sing?

4 the shield // march 7, 2014

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2 Fine Arts Department performs ‘Les Misérables’ Feb. 27-March 2

1. Freshman Sam Dubin (Thénardier) jumps onto junior Janine Dworine after the wedding scene. “[Dubin] has a great sense of humor,” Dworine said.

“We got to joke around backstage a lot.

By the end of the show, we had gotten really comfortable goofing around on stage together.”

2. Junior Quinlyn Tesar as Eponine sings her solo, “On My Own.” “Singing a really well-known song was fun because so many famous, talented people have performed it,” Tesar said. “It was a really fun song, but it was really taxing on my vocals.”

3. Junior Jacob Roberts-Miller (Marius) holds Tesar as Eponine dies.

4.Junior Elena Villalon (Cosette), Roberts-Miller and junior Sage Stoakley (Fantine) surround senior Connor Barr (Jean Valjean) as Valjean begins to die.

Photos by Mary Stites.