February/2017
MYDSHSNEWS
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Theater’s fall production of Noises Off. Photo by Noah Green
DSHS juniors qualify for nationals at December’s Thespian Festival IN THIS ISSUE OPINION
Column: Misguided Matchmaking Page 2
Community
Letter from the Editor: Don’t Let Greed Run our Planet Page 16
FEATURES
A Little Blue in a Sea of Red Page 9
Camryn Horst Staff Writer
On December 1 through December 3, Dripping Springs students from the theatre department attended the Thespian Festival. The festival took place at the Omni Convention Center in Dallas. Thespian Festival is a collection of workshops and shows where students can compete, learn, explore, and meet other actors from across the country.
“The festival is a thrilling experience,” junior Logan Dundon said. “It gives students the chance to find colleges, meet new friends, and have fun enjoying all aspects of theatre. There’s always something new and innovative to participate in.” Dundon and junior Nathan Dahill competed in duet acting as an individual event with a scene from the play Red by John
Logan. “Basically, you go into a room of judges who watch your performance and grade you on a variety of qualities,” Dundon said. Dahill and Dundon received a perfect score on their event. “We qualified for finals and nationals,” Dundon said. “Natalie and Brynn Brewer also qualified for nationals.” Multiple students from...
Continued on News >> Page 4
OPINION
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Misguided Matchmaking Jade Berry Staff Writer
Getting handed the school generated ‘matchmakers’ quiz was an exciting moment, and I looked forward to seeing who I would be paired with. The quiz was a fundraiser for iTell, in which students would take a personality test to be paired up with another student. I am a huge quiz junkie, as I am usually on BuzzFeed taking one of their quizzes. However, much to my disappointment, I realized that this quiz was very heteronormative and disregarded students in the LGBTQA+ community. For starters, in the introductory paragraph, it clearly stated that quiz takers would be paired “with a member of the opposite sex”. This statement alone shuts down the idea or even the possibility that students might have different sexual orientations. I would hope that after all the progress this country has made with accepting same-sex couples,
it would be common courtesy to include them in this romantic test. I understand that the makers of this questionnaire are more than likely heterosexual, but that doesn’t mean that it’s any less disrespectful to create something that was provided to the entire school without bothering to consider the preference of a decent portion of the student body. And while I understand that this was probably meant to be a quick and fun time filler to create some excitement for Valentine’s Day, it has created a big debacle between some students. Sexual orientation is something very personal, and it varies for every person respectively. In some cases, students already feel excluded from activities due to their sexual orientation, whether it be at school, at home, or anywhere else where they are considered the minority. It is detrimental to include them in basic
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student activities, so as not to create a rift between heterosexual students and the rest of the student body. Another point that has been stuck in my mind since receiving this quiz is the fact that the very first question asks the gender of the taker. If everyone in the school was in fact heterosexual, this wouldn’t be a problem and the result process would run much more smoothly. However, this isn’t the case. This question only further ignores the transgender, gender fluid, or non-binary students in the school. As far as I am aware, Dripping Springs has already had two “controversial” issues regarding transgender students at the high school and the elementary school. Gender identity is once again something that depends on the person themselves, and it is offensive to assume that someone is strictly male or female, or what role someone’s gen-
Meet the Staff Editor-in-Chief Jaxson Thornton ‘18 Opinion Editor Rylee Matousek “17
Features Editor Jaxson Thornton ‘18
Sports Editor Jillian Shepperd ‘17
Entertainment Editor Nifa Kaniga ‘17
Online Editor Grayson Ruiz ‘18
News Editor JT Dahill ‘17
Staff Writers Emily Curran, Giselle Galletti, Alyssa Weinstein, Camryn Horst, Jade Berry, Liliana Reyes, Clara Comparan, Olivia Fletcher, Dallas Johnson
der plays in their sexual orientation. For future reference, it would be much quicker and inclusive if the first question had simply been, “Do you prefer: *boys *girls *both?” This would effectively shut down the heteronormative thinking that this quiz seemed to express, it would match students with others who actually fit their preference, and completely remedy the old belief that your gender enforces your sexual preference. Who you are and who you like depends solely on you, and it’s about time that people recognize that everyone is different. Dripping Springs has a lot of progress to make when it comes to accepting a more progressive stance on things. Let’s start by realizing that not everyone is going to believe in everything that you believe in. Let’s try to accept what we consider different or not the norm to be inclusive. After all, we are just west of weird.
Opinion
MyDSHS welcomes reader viewpoints through letters to the editor and guest columns. Opinions expressed in myDSHSnews are not necessarily those of the Dripping Springs High School or Dripping Springs ISD administration.
Editorials, Columns & Letters
Editorials express the opinions of the myDSHS Editorial Board. Letters and columns are the opinions of an individual and not myDSHS.
Letters
To submit a letter, email DSHSstudentmedia@dsisdconnect.com. Letters should be a maxiumum of 400 words. The letter is not guaranteed to be published.
February, 2017
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COLUMN
College is overrated Rylee Matousek Opinion Editor
College is pretty overrated if you ask me. Of course, I don’t mean that going to college and getting a degree to pursue your passion is overrated. I just mean that college in general is overrated.
The pressure society places on young adults to go to college and earn a degree is truthfully ridiculous and overvalued. The idea that the only way to become successful in life is to attend college and earn a
Doctors and Death Liliana Reyes Staff Writer
Writing about death seems very emo, as if death is this romanticized monster we’re all running away from. Although, for many people in the medical field, death isn’t a brooding darkness, but a cold-hard fact of life. In many ways, doctors and nurses work for death, humbly serving where she dictates, all without the promise of glory or reward. These men and women spend more than a decade studying, training, dedicating their lives to the sole purpose of saving others. This may sound redundant, but when studying the body, you come to the realization that it’s alive. Every cell, every fiber of your body vibrates with life and purpose, each with a job to do and the skills to do it. The body completes millions of tasks every day on its own accord, most out of your control. The transportation of blood through your veins, the beating of your heart,
the expansion of your lungs all done without the slightest command from you. However, that free will of your body also allows it the ability to just stop. Whether it be quickly, with warning, without, but ultimately yields the same result. Eventually, every student who studies medicine must understand that if the body is truly ready to stop living, there’s nothing you can do to stop it. Everyone views death in a different way after all: the exchange of lives, the extension to your own, or your longest sleep. What can be said is those who accept the most natural and human result of our bodies are the ones who have longer before they meet it. Call it a placebo effect, but studies have shown that when a patient acknowledges the inevitability of death, their road to recovery often becomes a pleasant one.
degree is an outdated belief. We should be encouraging the younger generations to explore their passions. If they can achieve their ultimate goals through a college degree, great! But if not, we need to stop feeding kids the idea that not going to college equals becoming a failure. Most 18-year-olds have no idea what they want to do for the rest of their life, but we still send them off to col-
lege and expect them to pick something that they kind of like and succeed at it. When teenagers go to college without the slightest idea of what they might want to pursue, they often waste lots of time and money while they test out multiple career paths. Instead of considering that they might be struggling with finding an ideal career choice for them, we assume that they are lazy and indecisive for taking their
time. Deciding what job you are going to have for the rest of your life at 18 isn’t an easy choice to make. It’s time that we stop judging people for where they went to college, what they majored in, or if they took a few years before they decided to go back to school. At the end of the day, a degree is just a piece of paper and what truly matters is if you can actually apply yourself to the real world.
NEWS
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DSHS Hosts Wellness Fair Emily Curran Staff Writer
The DSISD Wellness Fair took place on Saturday, January 7 in the Dripping Springs High School cafeteria. Vendors from all around Dripping Springs were invited to come advertise the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and how their business can be involved in healthy living. “The Wellness Fair is geared towards the community,” sophomore Danielle Cook said. While it may seem that the Wellness Fair is aimed toward fit adults in the community, it is actually geared towards anyone curious about health or simply wishes to know their options. “[The Wellness Fair] makes people realize the opportunities that they have in the neighborhood that they might not otherwise know,” senior Kellen Vandevee said. Continued from Page 1 ...Dripping qualified for state in different events. “A lot of people from our troop qualified, such as Natalie L’Amoreaux,” sophomore Madison Guida said. Guida competed in the costume event. “I placed 6th out of over 50 people in costume,” Guida said. “In theatre, I’ve worked towards being accepted.” A lot of work and dedication goes into preparing for the multiple events. “I probably put the most work into my role as Roger in the farce Noises Off which we performed this fall,” Dundon said. “The
Vendors had the opportunity to set up booths throughout the cafeteria decorated with their various advertisements to promote being healthy and staying well. Types of vendors at the fair include grocery stores, medical clinics, Crossfits/gyms, dentist offices, pharmacies, and others. Unlike other communities, Dripping Springs bonds together stronger, thus allowing communication and support to be stronger. “The Wellness Fair provides visibility and the opportunity to meet your neighbors,” Brea Barner from Solutions Pharmacy said. Despite the lack of people who came to the Wellness Fair, those who did come were introduced to all of their healthy options in Dripping Springs, and vendors were able to make connections with each other.
best part of the festival was probably doing the improv challenge. It consisted of a bunch of games and challenges designed to make you construct a story on the spot.” Some students who attended the Festival were thrilled to be attending for a second time. “I have been to Thespian Festival once before and it was also a lot of fun and a great learning experience,” Dundon said. “Next year, the location is changed to a huge resort so it will be exciting to go again!” According to the students, many memories were made on the trip. “I met a lot of new friends,”
As all public events are, “[the success of the Wellness Fair] is all based on the attendance, and because the attendance is low, I don’t think there would be a lot of effect [if it didn’t exist],” Carol LaRue from Bell Springs Dental said. Since few people came to the Wellness Fair, vendor representatives provided thoughts on ways to improve attendence. “I would want to see this when it’s after school or when there is more traffic,” Barner said. The change to the time being after school or even during school hours could improve the attendance, ultimately increasing the event’s impact. The Dripping Springs Wellness Fair is a great opportunity for families and individuals to learn about healthy living within the Dripping Springs community. Be sure to head out next year to the event in order to enjoy these special opportunities and tips for well-being.
Photo special to myDSHS Guida said. “Thespian fest is the best part of high school to me.” Logan said he wishes for more students to be involved. “Theatre never fails to provide opportunities which constantly change your perspective,” Dundon said. “Whether it be about a play you read in school, or how to present yourself in front of an audience.”
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Youth and Government Team is State-bound Rachel King
Contributing Writer Dripping Springs High School Youth and Government Team will be traveling to the Texas capitol to compete in the YMCA’s State Conference on January 28. Students will be showing off their hard work and dedication to the program hoping to win a spot at nationals. “Youth and Government is a YMCA sponsored club where students get to participate in and learn about different branches of government through mock trials, legislative bills, media broadcasting and more,” freshman Sydney Morriss said. During four days at state, students travel to the capitol each morning for a day full of mock trials, passing bills, and reporting the news. “At state, we have lots of fun while competing against each other in mock trials and other activities at the capital,” freshman Estee Revill said.
At the events, students interact with others from various high schools around Texas through the weekend-long competition. “I think that it’s great that we get to interact with students from all over Texas and potentially across the nation,” Morriss said. “I love getting to know a wide variety of different people and getting to make lifelong connections with those that have the same interests as me.” Aside from the meticulous work put into the competition, many enjoy getting into character and participating as their role. “While competing in the trials, you get to make up a role and contribute to the story,” freshman Kearson Erwin said. “We have a script that we memorize during our meetings, but we have a whole character to play along with.” While competing, students show off their talents and interests not seen in a school setting. “I am looking forward to watching students inter-
act differently than in the classroom,” Jerri Ybarra, Youth and Government sponsor, said, “and I am able to see them in a whole different light.”
DSHS Students Prep for War J.T. Dahill
News Section Editor The students of DSHS are preparing for this year’s Nerf War as the February 10 registration deadline approaches. Last year’s Nerf War, hosted by the DSHS Interact Club raised over $3,000 for the Lumos International charity. This year’s Nerf War is aiming to raise even more money for humanitarian efforts in Haiti. Sign ups will be available during both lunches by the Interact banner and more important info for the event will be posted on the club’s twitter @DSInteractclub. With over 60 teams of six people each last year, the Nerf War lasted for months and gained the attention of the entire community. “It was really crazy,” senior Blake Phipps said. “It got a little out of hand but it was a blast and it’s going to a really good cause.” With the amount of Nerf guns around school last year, parents and teachers alike were both entertained and a little shocked by the sheer impact of the event. “It was really strange having kids walk around campus carrying all different kinds of guns and gear,” math teacher Alisia Phillips said. “But, it was
very entertaining to watch and a great fundraising idea.” Though successful, there were some incidents during last year’s Nerf War, including two minor car wrecks. Some students are a little worried about the safety of their competing peers. “People need to really listen to the rules and know that they are representing not just our school but our community,” Phipps said. “People need to realize that this is for charity and there is no reason to be reckless and irresponsible.” Although teachers found it a little shocking to witness students walking around with Nerf guns in hand, they agree that students continued to stay focused and respectful in class. “I didn’t have any problems with my classes,” Phillips said. “The students continued to be respectful in class, and it didn’t cause any distractions in class.” Other students are relieved to hear that there are now some new rules to address the issues from last year and are ready for the competition to begin. “I’m really glad to hear that there will be a rule prohibiting the shooting of competitors in the athletic locker rooms,” sophomore Drew Pare said. “It’s going to be insane!”
DECA State Qualifiers
Nikhil Clayton, Madeline Fuchs, Jessica Gallardo, Holt Holcomb, Madalyn Jarvis, John Leavitt, Zach Lengner, Lily Sethre-Brink, Varun Verma, Faith Walker, Riley Whitcomb, Brayson White, Kevin Wierzbowski
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FEATURES
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Senior lends a hand in Haiti Jade Berry Staff Writer
Stepping off the humid bus into the bright sunlight of the Haiti skies, senior Jordan Kilgore was met with the joyous cheers and shrieks of local Haitian orphans. Kilgore, a member of the Lake Hills Church in Austin, traveled to the caribbean island of Haiti with her mission group over the winter break to work with the local children from the La Maison des Petits de Diquini orphanage. “The church sends three teams per year to spend time and love on forty orphaned kids and give the caregivers who live there 24/7 a break,” Kilgore said. “During the time there, we played with the kids, told Bible stories, sang songs, took them out to eat, and on the last day we took them to the beach.” Kilgore expresses her adoration for the kids and mentions that the most memorable thing from the trip was their optimistic and overall loveable attitudes. “The best experience I took from the trip was seeing how loving and trusting all the kids were to us Americans when they really didn’t Senior Jordan Kilgore (center), joined by some of her friends from church, work with some of the children and care know anything about us,” she said. “They are takers at La Maison des Petits de Diquini orphanage. Photos provided by Kilgore. so filled with so much joy and happiness even though they have close to nothing.” ing in December so my team and I spent November as this was her first mission trip ever. She also remarks that despite her previous knowl“I would say that within the past two years I have meeting once a week, bonding and getting excited for edge of the previous earthquake Haiti experienced, felt called to go on one, and this December a spot the trip!” Kilgore said. the condition of the environment came as a shock to Through meeting and spending time with the opened up for me,” Kilgore said. “After I committed her. to going on the trip, I started preparing by fundrais- children and experiencing life in Haiti, Kilgore is “It was far worse than I thought,” she said. “There humbled by her trip. ing, which is how most mission trips are paid for.” is so much “To me, the most important thing after visiting Kilgore goes on to explain that mission trips usutrash and tons ally vary in their own ways depending on the loca- Haiti or just a third world country in general was of wild animals just the realization of how blessed we are with evtion and many other factors. and run-down “All mission trips are different depending on what erything that we have in America, most of which we buildings evyou go for and where you go,” she said. “But, they are often take for granted,” she said. erywhere.” Kilgore was so influenced by her time in Haiti all based upon serving others.” This jourMission trips usually consist of a group of church that she encourages her schoolmates to also spend ney will stand volunteers who spend a large amount of time before time helping communities and traveling: as a major the actual trip getting to know each other and pre“To anyone that ever has an opportunity to travel milestone in to another country and give back to people: DO IT, pare for their departure. Kilgore’s life, “I found out late October that I would be leav- because it really is life changing!”
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The Man, the Myth, the Legend: Joe Green for ideas and creative outlets to be expressed, and when I beStaff Writer came a teacher, I really tried to implement that idea. I needed Joe Green has been a student-favormy students to see that English could ite ever since he arrived in Dripping be this amazing escape during school Springs in 2014. He started at the high even if they didn’t quite understand it.” school as a freshman English teacher Green was no rookie to teaching and quickly fit into the growing comand his previous experience had him munity. Green was able to engage the prepared to adapt quickly to the new students through his interactive lesson environment. He learned quickly that plans and his passion for the subject Dripping Springs was not quite the shined through every day. In fact, that same in its value as other schools he passion was one of his main motivahad worked at. tions behind becoming a teacher. “I taught for 11 years… in Califor“I really fell in love with literature nia, Florida, and Texas… I think this and English and I wanted to create a school is definitely my favorite because safe space for students,” Green said. there is so much room for creative “I wanted my classroom to be a place teaching, and I know when I worked at other schools I would always get in a little trouble because I wanted to deviate from the norm and that wasn’t allowed like it is here,” Green said. “I’m really happy that teachers are able to kind of create their own style and experiment with different methods. I think it really brings a great element to the quality of learning here.” After only a year of teaching in Dripping Springs, Green became an assistant principal. While many students were disappointed that he would no longer be teaching English I, they understood that he was more than qualified for The strong and masculine Joe Green softly expressing his inner teddy bear.
Clara Comparan
the new job and were excited to see what kind of changes he would bring as a member of our school’s leadership. Even though he knew things would be different, Green was still shocked by the information he learned in his new role. “It’s interesting because as a teacher, you only really see the side students show in the classroom. I tried to spend a lot of time out of the classroom but still there’s just so much you don’t really see as a teacher, and there are crazy things happening, and there’s just no way to know,” Green. “Now it’s like I see everything, and it’s really surprising to look at all the behind the scenes and realize just how much you guys have going on outside of school and in school.” While he does enjoy being an assistant principal, it’s nowhere near a cake-walk. Green mentioned that he struggled with staying within the boundaries of his job and branching out into his own methods. “My biggest challenge is probably finding ways to be creative with discipline and planning,” Geren said. “There are a lot of policies that we have to follow so it can get really difficult to find ways to stick with those and be creative in the way we execute them.” As an assistant principal, Green works daily to try to improve the lives of everyone in the Dripping Springs community, most importantly the students. He genuinely appreciates student input and respects that while it is difficult to get everyone’s opinion on everything, he would like to try as hard as possible to make the high school a happy and safe place.
Joe Green watching over his kingdom. “I’d like to see more student involvement in bigger decisions, like letting them come to panels and meetings so we can get more of their opinion on things,” Green said. “I know we have some of that but I definitely think we could always be more effective in the way we use your input. Also, I think that the competition and environment here can be stressful for students especially now with finals coming up. I want to put more emphasis on mental health and balance because I think students can really get lost in all the school work and extracurriculars and family that they forget to take time for themselves.” When asked if he would ever return to teaching, Green responded that though he loved being an AP he missed the family built only in a classroom. “I miss teaching every day, the close interaction with students is really cool and to watch you guys grow and improve throughout the year is incredible,” Green. “I wish every staff member here had the opportunity to teach a class on top of what they already do, counselors, assistant principals. I mean most of us have been teachers and I know that I really miss that experience and that connection with you guys.”
FEATURES
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Former teacher Katie Pryor’s legacy lives on in the Paw Area Jaxson Thornton Editor-in-Chief
Dripping Springs’ rendition of the famous piece Guernica, by Pablo Picasso, has been greeting students in the Paw Area for two years now, and for students like myself, it is one of, if not the greatest piece of culture Dripping Springs High School has to display, and we created it! Freshman year was an interesting endeavour for me, but I immediately found my home in Mrs. Katie Pryor’s fifth period Pre AP Spanish 2 class. Midway through the school year, I remember her asking me to stay for a minute after class. Fearing what I’d done, I approached her desk after the bell. “Jaxson, you’re good with technology, right?” “Um... yeah!” “So here’s the deal. I want to remake Guernica, but I want every Spanish student to do a part of it.” And here we are, two years later, with a massive piece of Spanish culture greeting every person who enters our school, expressing the artistic accomplishment and cultural worldliness we are so proud of here at the high school. “I had never interacted with a piece of art like I did when I saw Guernica in real life, and the feeling was so deep that I just wanted to find a way to bring that into the classroom,” said Pryor, former Spanish teacher turned poet.
Guernica (above) was originally painted by Pablo Picasso in an effort to show the horrors of war, using the Basque town of Guernica that was used as a bombing practice site for the Germans, as an example. After the 2014-2015 school year, Pryor left DSHS to persue her dream of getting her masters in poetry. Since then she has been living in Lincoln, Nebraska, although she has been traveling all across the country. “[Guernica] expressed the kind of agony that, even having never experienced warfare, I immediately understood the implications of war.” Guernica is Picasso’s ode to the town of Guernica
in the Basque region of Spain, that, without notice, was used as a bombing practice site for the German Nazis of WWII. Franco, the leader of Spain at that time, was more concerned with the civil war on his hands, and allowed the Germans to do this in order to stay neutral. “I felt so honored that I got to be at a point in time where I got to teach these incredible students who really loved it,” Pryor said, “and I think most of the students involved in its creation really did learn something from it. You only get so many moments as a teacher where you are in such a position of honor and pride.” DSHS’s Guernica is composed of columns of individual squares, each illustrated by a different DSHS Spanish student, then strung together and hung in the Paw Area. “I think about my classroom a lot,” Pryor said, “but Guernica kind of serves as a reminder to me that you can’t do everything in life, and although it was tough, I made a good choice [persuing my master’s].” Pryor is currently well on her way to acquiring her master’s degree in poetry, and also working on her first book manuscript (a collection of her poetry). “[With this piece] I hope to show that there is room for possibility and creativity, and if you trust that your students are highly intelligent, with a little bit of guidance and a willingness for spontaneity, they can do some really incredible things.”
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Image courtesy of flickr.com
A little blue dot in a big red sea
It’s no secret that In high school, stuLilana Reyes Dripping Springs, bedents are often living Staff Writer ing in the center of a in a bubble where their traditionally red state, only concerns are their GPAs and social life. However, a new is a conservative town. The Young club has recently surfaced and is filled Democrats was born on the idea of bewith kids who added a very different coming a forum where students can and important topic to that list: poli- discuss their political views when they otherwise felt they had no place to do tics. The Young Democrats club was so. “The club originated when me and made three months ago in hopes of getting the student body involved in the Mia Haraguchi noticed a Young Re2016 presidential election. Their club, publicans club at our school but not a was founded by jumiors Mia Haragu- Young Democrats and felt it was a poor chi and Josh King and is sponsored representation of the entire student by engineering teacher John Adams. body,” King said. This club is almost exclusively run Given the recent formation of the club, many are confused as to exactly what by the members and its leaders, King, Haraguchi, Henri Bink, Meredith Anit is. Co-President Josh King stated, “The derson, Emily Barefield, and myself. With a group so passionate about Young Dems club is a club focused on community service, based on morning helping their community become a meetings where members discuss their safer, more accepting place, there has common interest and differing opin- already been many projects put into ions about national and global issues.” place. During election month, the
group got together to canvas voters and even create signs advertising the Clinton campaign. However, the Young Democrats don’t only go to work during election season, as there are many service activities coming up, the biggest of which was walking in the recent Austin Women’s March in late January. “At a time where a lot of women are feeling their reproductive rights and their safety in general is being threatened, it’s important for the DSHS Young Dems to march and show support and solidarity with women,” junior Gillian Bynum said. Whether they’re in the minority or not, all members of the club have made it their mission to create a safer, more accepting atmosphere at Dripping Springs High School where everyone can feel free to express their beliefs, no matter how far to the right or left they are. In response to what kind of kids should join Young Democrats, King
said, “Even if they’re not a huge Democrat, I still think it’s a fun place filled with a group of free thinking people who are accepting of all. Throughout the year, we will be discussing topics many may not know about, so hopefully it will be a good opportunity to learn more about the world around you and maybe even yourself.” So, if you feel passionate about political progress, or just need a place of support, check out the Young Democrats club in John Adams’ room Friday mornings. It is guaranteed you find those who are ready to delve deeper into conversation to excite change. “I see the Young Dems as a way to let our voices be heard and conversations opened so we can enact change,” senior Mariah Chappell said. “No meaningful dialogue stems from just one source, or even two sources, or even three. It’s a matter of including all voices we can so we can work towards the common goal of improving our society.”
Entertainment
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ALL THE LATEST ENTERTAINMENT NEWS >> Visit myDSHS.com/category/entertainment.
Weinstein’s Top 10 Oscar Movies
1.
Hacksaw Ridge
2.
Lion
Hell or High Water
3.
4.
Jackie
Fences
5. 6. 7.
La La Land
Manchester By The Sea
8. 9.
10.
Nocturnal Animals Loving
Moonlight
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Airwave Anxiety: Corporate Control Restricts Radio Freedoms Willie Johnson
Contributing Writer
A quick listen to most radio stations reveals a general lack of variation among songs played with current hits and popular classics dominating modern airwaves—but there are clear reasons why. “Overplaying is a huge problem,” sophomore Nick Pannes said, “constantly playing the same songs over and over again not only limits the amount of songs you get to hear, but it also makes good songs turn bad really fast.” Most people would prefer a wider range of music to be broadcasted on popular stations, but corporate control restricts playlists to only the most popular songs and strips away
the previously held freedom to choose what is played from Disc Jockeys. The unfairness of this common action is obvious to all, but widespread action against such practices has not been taken. “DJs should definitely be able to choose what they want play, as long as it’s what other people want to hear,” sophomore Anna Faivre said. A big reason for these issues is the exorbitant prices all recording artists or bands are forced to pay for airplay, often the only way to gain exposure in a wider audience. Struggling acts have a hard time making profits without hedging their bets on the often unreliable or preoccupied stations that exist today. “Stations have to make a
profit, but if [artists] do have to pay, it shouldn’t be as much as it is now,” Pannes said. “They shouldn’t be throwing out all of their money to get a song out there on the radio.” The large amounts of time devoted to advertising are cause for complaints by many interviewees, but the problem is hardly new; one listen to a show from any time confirms that extended ads have been a fixture of radio for decades. “Hearing hosts shamelessly endorse a product they don’t even use or run an annoying jingle for a big company makes radio that much more unattractive to the common listener,” Carole Hennig said. Careers in broadcasting currently seem to attract few young people. The ever-increas-
ing restrictions on those in the industry being an equally large deterrent as the monotonous and technological aspects of the jobs. Without support from new generations, the now common entertainment outlet may not survive in future decades. Success in the music industry as a whole is often defined by hit singles, so whether the common consumer knows it or not, radio stations and the corporations that control them have massive bearing on an important source of entertainment. “Performers should combine what’s popular with their personal taste to find success, because a good balance between the two benefits both parties. The song will be more likely to get played, and the artist stays true to the music they want to create,” sophomore Mason Mohon said. The picture created by testimony from students is largely negative, but not all changes in radio are bad; corporate control ensures quality control, employee salaries are higher than ever, and DJs have access to excellent equipment- possible because of higher budgets than other stations could afford. Many problems are still present, but one must consider both sides of the issue before casting judgment upon an important component of western society that, ultimately, still keeps the majority of its consumers happy.
CREATIVE
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February, 2017
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Untitled
Krystal Ramirez Contributing Writer
What makes you sane? What is your anchor to reality? You don’t know it right away. You have to really think about it. Now, What makes you insane? There’s thousands of things that can make a person crazy: A hobby, a love, a pet peeve, Yourself. So many things. Some have been lucky. They have found their anchor, Their reason to be normal. They find it in a person, a hobby, a trinket. Those who aren’t so lucky Are found in asylums. Funny how the same reasons that makes a person sane Can also make one crazy. Now think back Are you insane?
February Puzzle Answers 1.Eros 2. Oscar 3. saint 4. leap 5. Dancing 6. red 7. love 8.amor 9. door 10. flowers
11. bromance 12. Rose 13. Mardi Gras 14. mononucleosis 15. chocolate 16. Super Bowl 17. strawberries 18. Gump 19. groundhog 20. sonnet
SPORTS
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February, 2017
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Bleeding burnt orange at DSHS Sophomore Camille Corona verbally commits to the University of Texas Jillian Shepperd Sports Editor
Sophomore Camille Corona made the decision to verbally commit to the University of Texas in exchange for a spot on their softball team. “Right after I got off the phone with Coach Clark and I said I would commit to UT,” Corona said, “I immediately started crying. Almost all of Corona’s life, she has dreamed of playing ball at UT. This was huge for her, because she would be given the chance to achieve her lifelong dream. “I was born and raised in Austin and have always been a longtime Longhorn fan,” Corona said. “My family has been football season ticket holders for 15 years, and we have attended many softball and baseball games as well.” Corona has been going to UT softball camps and clinics since she was 6-years-old and is amazed that she will be playing on that field that she did camps
on as a child. “I have been playing softball for 12 years, and I’ve loved it ever since,” Corona said. “My dad was the main reason for me to start, and both my older brothers played baseball.” With countless hours and time devoted into this sport, Corona’s father has been a huge influence in preparing her to play at the college level. “My whole family has spent endless hours on helping and has spent lots of time and has sacrificed a lot,” Corona said. “My dad built a batting cage in
Photo special to DSHS our backyard. He pitches to me almost every day and is always coaching me.” Corona admitted that her father was her biggest supporter of all. “Being committed to play college softball is very exciting,” Corona said. “To also be able to get an education from my dream school and the school my brother went to is just the icing on the cake.” Although Corona still has two and a half years at Dripping Springs High School, she has hopes to win a state softball championship during her reign.
Harker Heights Tournament W 5-0 Ellison W 1-0 Shoemaker T 1-1 Harker Heights
Jalen Chavez, 9
February, 2017
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Junior Jayci Goldsmith serves her way into college Giselle Galletti Staff Writer
Dripping Springs junior Jayci Goldsmith has been playing tennis since she was 9 -years-old and is now ranked 28th in the country. With college offers from Alabama State, A&M College Station, and many others, she is a force to be reckoned with on the court. Back during the winter break, Goldsmith competed in the USTA National Winter Championships for singles and doubles in Phoenix, Arizona. “I got to the quarterfinals in singles. I lost in three sets. It was a really close match. Then in doubles, I got third place, so I got a bronze ball with my partner from New York,” Goldsmith said. This wasn’t some silly tournament. Most kids were competing for the attention of colleges, which also means they were competing for their futures. “Everyone is very intense. At nationals, people
are traveling from all over the U.S., so everyone’s parents are strict on them too, and coaches come with. Especially on the court, then off the court, you can talk to some friends. Some people don’t talk to anyone because they’re focused,” Goldsmith said. Of course, Goldsmith wasn’t sweating it when it came to possible colleges. They came to her. And she proved her standing, making it known that she was supposed to be there. “My favorite moment was my win against this girl who’s top in the nation named Reilly Tran, and that was one that Alabama, Texas Tech, TCU, A&M, OU, a bunch of college coaches were watching me, and I played very well,” Goldsmith said. She will be a senior at Dripping Springs and with college right around the corner, her plans may differ. “I’m not quite sure if I’m going to play in the tournament next year because I’m planning on commit-
ting to a college soon, so I won’t have to play in it,” Goldsmith said. College coaches have already latched onto Goldsmith, providing her with many options. “Right now, I am deciding between Alabama and A&M. They both have offered me [a] full ride. I’m visiting Alabama this weekend actually,” Goldsmith said. Tennis is the reason Goldsmith is where she is right now, and she hasn’t gone a day without it since starting. “I like it because it’s an individual sport. I tried it when I was 9-years-old, and I ended up loving it,” Goldsmith said. As the competition gets tougher, Goldsmith is a young woman who has no plans of backing down. “If it’s something you love,” Goldsmith said, “just keep working hard and never give up.”
Tiger swim develops unity and bonds this season Jillian Shepperd Sports Editor
The DSHS swimming team has so far had a great bond and team unity. “This year, I feel like everyone has been very supportive of each other. The bus has been immaculate every swim meet (yes, I feel the need to mention that),” assistant coach Ali Cisewski said. “The attitude toward the team has been great this season.” Like every other high school swim team, these Tiger swimmers are preparing for district. That means practice, practice, and even more practice. “There is also a bit of strategy that has gone into deciding meet events this season,” Cisewski said. “I think we are going into district with a solid idea of our competition and what is at stake.” This isn’t going to be an easy one for the Tigers or anyone for that matter but they’re up for the challenge. “I have complete faith in our team,” Cisewski said. “Further than that, we would like to get as many swimmers to state as possible and, yes, I think this
is a definite possibility. I have no doubt that our team will take some swimmers to state.” When it comes to thinking about state, the real question is who will they most likely be taking to state and who will succeed. “We did great during fall semester,” Cisewski said. “We won most meets we attended or at least scored in the top 3.” Despite a challenging district, head coach Andrea McCarthy believes that the swim team can still dominate. “The team from A&M Consolidated was top 10 in state last year, but our girls team should give them a run for their money,” McCarthy said. “We have some very strong swimmers.” A typical everyday practice for the swim team always starts out early. “Monday - Thursday this season, we were in the pool at 6:30 a.m.,” Cisewski said. “We would swim around 2,500 - 3,000+ meters and get out around 7:45 a.m.”
Photo by Dalia Neumann-Gaber Martel On Fridays, the team gets to participate in “dry land activities” which are where the swimmers get a chance to team-build and bond. Unfortunately, it’s hard to bond when your head is under the water. “I think the best thing about the team this year is how we have pulled together as a team,” McCarthy said.
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February, 2017
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A common philosophy in the modern day world of business is that money makes the world go round. Without money, there is no production, no supply, no sales, no consumer, etc., but without a habitable planet, there is no money either. Climate change is something that is undisputed amongst scientists who do not have oil companies in their pocket, yet the greed of a couple big companies like Exxonmobil and industries owned by the Koch brothers alone have almost sole control of the fate of our planet. And spoiler alert: they don’t care what happens to it. These companies spend hundreds of millions annually to buy out enough seats of Congress to steer away from clean energy initiatives and environmental protection plans. One of the scariest buyouts these companies have secured is Trump’s proposed head of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), who is a documented climate change denier. And while many may think that just Republicans, who have long been cli-
Community
Letter from the Editor-in-Chief: Don’t let greed run our planet
feeds itself. Withmate change skepJaxson Thornton in our icecaps are tics, are the ones Editor-in-Chief large pockets of accepting bribes methane, and as from big oil, that also isn’t true. Hillary Clinton accept- global warming (caused by climate ed $775,456 from these companies last change, caused by increased carbon year, which is actually over $100,000 dioxide outputs) increases and polar more than Trump (that being said, ice sheets melt, these methane pockets Trump owns a plethora of businesses will eventually be released. Methane is roughly 30 times as powerful as CO2 whose best interest lie in fossil fuels). But this is not a Republican ver- at trapping heat in our atmosphere, sus Democrat debate, and to be quite thus increasing to global warming, frank, we don’t have time for that any- thus releasing more methane, and so more. In an article last year, Scientific on. Scientific American predicted we American predicted that at the most recent (as of 2015) rate of growth of would reach this “point of no return” CO2 in our atmosphere, by 2042, we mark of 450 ppm CO2 in 2042, predictcould hit 450 ppm (parts per million) ing an annual increase of 1.92 ppm. of CO2 in our atmosphere. This would This was last year, when the ppm was cause unprecedented environmental 398.55. Since, in one year, we have by changes to our climate, and many esti- far surpassed the 400 ppm milestone mate that it is the “point of no return” and jumped to 403.64 ppm (end of 2016). This is a jump of 5.09 ppm, 3.17 for our climate. “The point of no return” is when cli- ppm greater than the predicted inmate change takes over and becomes crease. At this rate, we have just over 9 a positive feedback loop, meaning it years before we hit the dreaded “point of no return”. Scientific American also predicted that to stop global warming by 2042, we’d need to make very serious changes by 2020. Again, at this year’s rate of growth, we have only 9 years. There is no way around it: We are in a dire situation. And yet, we are still squabbling over whether climate change is even real! According to NASA, sea level is rising, global temperature is increasing, polar ice sheets are melting, oceans are warming, and extreme weather events are on the rise. Other countries leading scientific departments are in full support of this evidence. At this point, disputing global warming is like disputing gravity, or the heliocentric Above is the most current available levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere, in ppm (parts per million)
model. We must move past this debate of whether or not climate change is real. As respectfully as possible, if you cannot believe in NASA’s direct findings, who have access to the best scientists of our time, you might want to come back down to Earth. It is now our job to, first, be passionate about our planet. It is our job to care! Especially my generation. I want my children to be able to see the beautiful parts of the Earth I have seen, and not just barren wastelands and insides of skyscrapers. Then, we need to educate those who are skeptical of climate change. It doesn’t matter if you are Republican or Democrat, Mexican, American, or Chinese, etc.; we’re all people of Earth. An Earth that is very, very sick. Don’t let the greed of a handful of people control our planet through palm oil and fossil fuels. We must rise up as a people to heal our planet. The technology is available to both save our planet and keep our livelihoods; it is just in a stranglehold of big oil interest. Although I personally feel that the planet being habitable is economic incentive enough, we must also call for our governments to incentivize clean energy and implement carbon taxes. For those still skeptical of the economic advantages of fixing our environment, it is predicted that in the next 20 years, damages from climate change caused natural disasters will exceed the amount needed to invest in saving our planet by over 10 billion USD. Money does not make the world go round. Mother nature does. It is up to us, the people, to overcome the gluttony of our time, and insure that our collective legacy does not go down in the history books as one of greed and disaster.