REDHAWK TIMES
RT Dec. 2014/Jan. 2015 Vol. III, No. 2
WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL Blythewood, South Carolina
Nothing is in Miss Westwood’s way
e Sadie Hawkins e Winter Ball Did you know?
Sadie Hawkins Day is a pseudo-holiday that originated in Al Capp’s classic hillbilly comic strip, Li’l Abner. This inspired real-world Sadie Hawkins dances, where girls ask boys out.
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January 15 Westwood Cafe 8-11pm Semi-Formal
Who are you going to ask?
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by Brianna Brooks, staff writer
“For the first time in forever, nothing’s in my way!” You could practically hear each of the contestants minds’ screaming as they crowned the winners of the Miss Westwood 2014 Frozen Pageant. Senior Baili Byrd won the overall title of Miss Westwood. Alandria Hayes won Miss Senior with Zakiya Harris earning runner-up. Senior Ekklesia Hawkins was crowned Miss Congeniality, and senior Alyssa Castelluccio won Miss Talent. Junior Sarah Lee Jenkins took Miss Underclassmen with junior Kristen Lincoln as runner-up. Junior Samarya Jenkins won Miss Publicity, a new title for this pageant. The opening number of “Do you wanna build a snowman?” had the audience falling in love with these talented young ladies. Byrd said, “The funniest part had to be practicing the opening dance number. I can’t dance at all, so we all had fun laughing at my attempts.” Lincoln said, “I would like more time to actually prepare for the pageant; I felt like everything was due and happening so fast.” “What I want to keep around for the contestants in the future is for them to keep their confidence up for doing this pageant and exploring their horizons, and learning from their experiences,” said Haynes. The girls seemed to enjoy being in the pageant. “I want the public to not be afraid to put yourself out there,” Haynes said. “This pageant is a confidence booster. It’s not about the most expensive dress or the most glamorous shoes; it’s about your confidence and courage going up there and having fun.”
Wishes of Westwood brings hope, help for the holidays Wishes of Westwood, aka The Elf Days of Giving, started off with a bang at Westwood Night at Chipolte. Raising over $1,600, Student Government used the proceeds to help fund the party for the 74 foster kids the Westwood family adopted this year. The Redhawk spirit of giving included: eCanned goods -sponsored by FCA eNewspapers/blankets for the local animal hospital sponsored by National Honor Society e Clothes for Tricia’s Trunk - sponsored by Redhawk Helping Hands e Toys for Richland Memorial Hospital - HOSA e Gently used shoes - Leo Club
After a week of holiday giving, the assembly on Dec. 12 had everyone in the mood for winter break.
Pictured: Miss Senior Alandria Haynes, Miss Senior runner-up Zakiya Harris, Miss Westwood Baili Byrd, Miss Talent Alyssa Castelluccio and Miss Congeniality Ekklesia Hawkins.
Activists responding to police killings see potential for new civil rights era by Tina susman, Los Angeles Times
NEW YORK _ The chants are angry, but simple: “I can’t breathe!” “Hands up, don’t shoot!” “Black lives matter!” They have echoed from the American heartland to the coasts in the wake of two recent grand jury decisions that cleared white policemen in the deaths of unarmed black men. Now, activists are counting on the rage behind those words to spur a movement that would force the country to confront the interlocked issues of race and policing and press the government to automatically take control of cases of alleged police abuse. “They’re asking for something simple. They want to be treated the same,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said of protesters Thursday as he sought to calm a city where many were seething over a grand jury’s decision not to indict Daniel Pantaleo, a white officer, in the death of Eric Garner. Largely peaceful demonstrations broke out in New York soon after Wednesday’s announcement of the Staten Island grand jury’s decision. Protesters blocked major roads and gathered at landmark sites, including Times Square and Grand Central Terminal. Police made 83 arrests, mainly for minor offenses. “It was a murder on video and there was no justice,” said Mickey Thomas, a 21-year-old Hunter College student. “I definitely think we’ve had enough. I feel like there is a new civil rights movement.” Last week, violence, arson and looting erupted in Ferguson, Mo., after a grand jury declined to indict Darren Wilson, a white policeman, in the shooting death of
Michael Brown. Marches have been almost daily occurrences there since Brown’s shooting in August. At a Thursday news conference, black leaders, including Al Sharpton of the National Action Network and Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, sought to draw protesters from around the country to Washington for a Dec. 13 event aimed at pressing for federal intervention in excessive-force cases. “Marches and boycotts led to the ‘64 Civil Rights Act,” Sharpton noted. He said that just as federal legislation led to change 50 years ago, similar action is needed now to ensure that prosecutors no longer handle cases involving their own police. “That’s what (Dec.) 13th is all about,” Sharpton said. Holder has launched federal inquiries into several police departments in recent years, and many have led the Justice Department to mandate reforms. But those investigations often follow years of abuse claims, and they are never guaranteed to take place. The demand made Thursday was to automatically put in federal hands cases in which law enforcement officials face possible criminal charges arising from civilian deaths or injuries. The visceral impact of Garner’s death, which was captured on video, and the recent death of Tamir Rice, a black 12-yearold shot dead by Cleveland police in an incident also caught on video, could help galvanize protesters, experts said. continued on page 3