V
CLARK THIRD @ STATE XC
THE
Volume 37 /// Issue 3 /// November
ALLEY ENTANA
INSIDE
Entertainment ......9 News............2 and 4 Opinion ..................3 Sports ............10-11 Special Section ..5-8
PAGE 11
Social, Much?
@valleyventana
Do We Have
school spirit? By Robert Evans
W
hen entering the school, either from the water tower-like rotunda or the amphitheater façade, the spirit and sounds of the high school encircle its participants, both willing and noncompliant. For some, the school is enticing chorus of whistles floating up from the athletic fields and the band pad. For others, the school is chaotic. A mesh of car horns and cursing and tire screeches and blaring directors and coaches blended together at a million miles an hour, too fast and too noisy for the morning. Most, though, find themselves lodged somewhere in the middle. The spirit of the high school neither shaped nor
Continued on Page 4
Voters strike down $451 million proposed Comal ISD bond ‘Back to the drawing board,’ says Superintendent Kim on failed proposal to build six to seven new By Robert Evans More than 11,000 ballots and 12 days of voting later, voters struck down Comal ISD’s $451 million bond proposal in a Nov. 5 joint amendment and special CISD election spanning across five counties. “The voters have spoken,” Superintendent Andrew Kim said in a Nov. 6 CISD press release. “We will go back to the drawing board, regroup and look at our options for addressing the projected enrollment growth.” Outcomes of the failed issue are already being weighed at the administrator level, soon to trickle down and affect students throughout the district. “(W)hile portables and redrawing school boundaries are not the preferred options, these are the tools left to the district,” Kim wrote in a Nov. 6 email sent out to CISD staff at 2 a.m. “The vast distance between our schools compound the issue, and we will have to weigh the financial burden to our transportation department as well. “No doubt, we will use portables at our middle schools for next year. “ Five thousand one hundred fifteen
voters were for the bond proposal, 46.22 percent, while 5,952 were against, 53.78 percent. Besides the bond, voters also directed their opinions on a combination of city council and municipal authority seats and propositions, including a controversial $2 billion state water proposal under Proposition 6. Five-year election official and first year Comal County election administrator, Julie Kassab, found this election to be one of the more aggravating to hold, mainly because of technology and county lines. Although a large number came from host Comal County with 58,000 registered voters living in CISD, Bexar (8,000), Guadalupe (4,500), Hays (75) and Kendall (4) counties had polling stations set up in their precincts with voting technology different than that of Comal County. Election officials rolled in most of the 217 suitcase look-a-like, 60-pound ballot computers from across the area until about 11:40 p.m. that night. “CISD wanted to have more polling locations,” Kassab said. “With 61 temporary branches, it was difficult to try to get this thing together.”
She also observed little consensus on the issue. “It could (have been) about dollars and cents, but there was no middle 53.78% ground,” Kassab said. Architect Kent Niemann, who helps design CISD schools, poked his head in and out of the Comal County Elections Office throughout the night, waiting for results. “The bond asks a lot initially, but it prepares us for the future,” Niemann said. “There’s a reason people are moving here. Comal is growing. Others are not.” Carr Hornbuckle, architect and member of the summer Long Range Facility Committee, which wrote out much of the proposal, stood alongside Niemann in the fluorescently lit office and reasoned that schools are a big factor for Comal County’s growth. “People move to Comal (County) because it has good schools and it is a
46.22%
Bond 2013 Election in Numbers For Against Results from Nov. 5 Comal County unofficial results from all 38 precincts.
great place to live,” Hornbuckle said. “Versus other parts of the city or region of the Hill Country…the whole quality of life here is just better.” However, with expansionist momentum hindered, little work will be made on the next proposal immediately after the election, giving time for the superintendent, members of the school board and citizens to relook their plan for the future. “It would be too early for us to discuss about a potential bond in 2014 for consideration,” Kim wrote. “I will work with our board of trustees to evaluate and analyze not only our process but the bond itself. That will take time.”
Work Harder, Plan Larger
Student Council president cites diligence, friends for success By Madison Demmer
Night of the Walking Dead: Creeping at Student Council’s Haunted House during the Fall Festival, senior Michael Scales attempts to scare Smithson Valley Middle School assistant principal Colby Evans Oct. 30 in the cafeteria. Photo by Robert Evans
Fall fest 2013
FACS, StuCo host fifth annual event Bag It, Sack It:
Ensuring that everyone has a spook-tacular evening, senior Michaelah Reynolds watches over the miniature beanbag toss at the annual fall festival in the school’s cafeteria on Oct. 30. This was the fifth anniversary of Fall Fest, previously Trick or Treat on SV Street. Photo by Taylor Harrell
Health Sciences Special Edition
Pages 5-8
President of Student Council, adept student and generous friend, senior Katy Wemmert is involved at the high school in several different ways. As StuCo president, she carries out the responsibility of guiding future officers and helping with events, meetings, workshops and more. “I work hard,” Wemmert said. “You have to be really dedicated to do it (student council), a lot of staying after school and getting here early.” The 18-year-old plans to attend the University of Texas in Austin and
major in pre-physical therapy, a branch of her own interests in life. “I love helping people and I like working out and being involved in sports,” Wemmert said. “It’s a good combination for me.” Wemmert said she believed her best accomplishment would be keeping herself in shape. She takes a boot camp class called 24 Fit. She has gone through training and works hard to maintain her fitness. However, none of this would have happened without a little help from her friends. “My friend group helped,” she said, “having supportive friends in the right crowd.”
Preps for Success: Senior Katherine Wemmert scans the an-
nouncements at a student council meeting on Nov. 6. She planed to make the meeting quick and to the point by having everything in its place. Photo by Madison Demmer
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PAGE 2
NEWS Briefly \\\
@VALLEYVENTANA
Class council elected Results for the 20132014 Class Council elections were released Oct. 11 after elections were held Oct. 9 in a week of campaigning. Freshman Class: President – Cailin Clow / Vice President – Alex Garza / Secretary – Sophia Hennessy / Historian – Lizzy Iconomopulos / Spirit Master – Kaycee Kozekua Sophomore Class: President – Austin Cornelius / Vice President – Mikaela Clinton Junior Class: President – Sophie Santleben / Vice President – Trevor Perkins / Secretary – Makenzie Lewalski / Historian – Frank Bass / Spirit Master – Carmen Gatrelle Senior Class: President – Shane Tabor / Vice President – Savanna Gray / Secretary – Taylor Ohlenburger / Historian – Christa Gatrelle / Spirit Master – Kenny Vann
FACS begins holiday charity
Family and Community Services is collecting donated canned goods for 24 families who need assistance for the Thanksgiving holiday. FACS is accepting donations all through November and encourages students to help others by offering one service hour for every two cans of donations. Turkey feathers are also available for purchase to increase donations.
The Blind Side
Senior shares lifelong challenge By Kolby Barber
To the naked eye, senior Hailey Whittaker is a regular high school student. She likes writing and reading. She has a brother. She’s felt jealous before, anger at times, like any other teenager. Only one thing: Hailey has no peripheral vision. She is also legally blind and dyslexic in her right eye. Although she suffers a major visual challenge, she does not dwell on her condition. “It’s not really a conversation starter,” she said. When Hailey’s mother was pregnant with her and her twin brother, Cameron, her mother went into labor 11 weeks before the due date, and the doctors had to keep the labor at bay. But the two Whittakers were born about seven weeks earlier than planned. Cameron, despite being born premature, came into the world without any problems. But Hailey, without anyone knowing it yet, had some difficulties. Her family first realized there was something different when she was riding a scooter at the age of 5. “I was just riding along when my mom suddenly yelled for me to look out for the truck,” Hailey said. “The truck was about five feet in front of me, and I didn’t see it at all. By the time I had turned back around to face my mom, it was too late and I hit the truck full force.” Hailey constantly went to doctors and professionals about her eyesight. But her eyesight kept
Briefs by Madi Janes, Amanda Renteria
Right of Way: Senior Hailey Whittaker has been legally blind in her right eye since the day she was born. Despite this challenge, she perseveres through writing short stories. Photo by Meagan Park
Cheer Clinic produces future spirit masters
Smashed: Staring in at the Amber Menefee Mobile Memorial stationed outside the high school Oct. 22, sophomore Zach Zuber attends the Comal County sponsored event open to all classes throughout the day. For information, visit www.ambersmobilememorial.org Photo by Cassie Stricker
Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice: A
Smithson Valley Middle school cheerleader helps the school’s cheerleaders at the Pink Out game’s Cheer Clinic on Oct. 11. The cheerleaders gave the younger girls a chance to feel like real cheerleaders. Cheer Clinic is an annual event hosted by the school’s cheerleading team. The girls got a chance to perform in front of about 4,000 people in the home stands at the beginning of the game and at halftime. Photos by Cassie Stricker
Band crushes competition “Dragon,” the 2013 marching show, earned the band a first place 5A trophy and the grand champion trophy Oct. 12 at the Judson Rocket Review marching contest. More than 200 band members celebrated with their directors Matt Boening, Jeff Yates and Raimund Vereen. “I feel really good about our group,” Vereen said. “We have worked very hard and have improved every week. I expect we will have our greatest performance of the year.” At the region contest Oct. 19, also at Judson High School, the band earned straight superior ratings for “Dragon.” “There was always the chance that something could go wrong in the back of my mind,” senior drum major Devyn Richter said. “But I felt relieved and excited about what we did.” During the performance, the drumline showed off its moves with the tenors stepping forward to take center stage on the field. “I think this year’s drum line is not necessarily stronger in skill, but as a unit,” sophomore tenor player Derek Fang said. “We want to get better, so we practice harder. I don’t want to let the rest of the line down.”
shifting, going from bad to worse in less than 24 hours at times. On several occasions, the doctors could not give her any information she did not already know. “Some of the doctors wouldn’t even believe me after the tests were done,” she said. Through the bad times, Hailey had her anchor: Cameron. Her personal super hero, as Hailey calls him, Cameron helped throughout her life from helping with high school work that was too small or hard to read to bullying over her vision difficulties. Hailey admitted that, in the past, people have verbally bullied her. She was not good at sports, and her different vision treatments called for an eye patch she had to wear at school. “I felt terrible, always asking myself why they had to pick on me about this,” she said. Before, she envied people with perfect vision. Now, though, her opinions have shifted and matured. “I’ve accepted it,” Hailey said. “There are times when I do wish I could see, even if, at times, not everyone will understand.” Hailey said she hoped others would not fall into the same hopelessness she felt and instead made the best out of a situation. “For years I thought I couldn’t offer the world anything because I couldn’t see and almost every job requires eyesight,” she said. “Everyone has something to offer.”
By Madi James More than 200 identically dressed young girls wearing matching pink t-shirts and bows rushed into the gym Oct. 11 as they attend the annual coaching event hosted by the high school’s cheerleading squad. As part of the cheerleading team’s commitment to stay involved in the community, the team hosted its annual Cheer Clinic for girls ages 4 to 12 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. before the Pink Out game. The girls learned new cheers and chants and were provided a mean before their big moment in front of more than 4,000 people at Ranger Stadium. Taught by the high school’s cheerleaders, the girls were able to perform on the track that night before the football game. “It was kind of chaotic,” freshman cheerleader Kaili Wirth said. “But overall it was a lot of fun.” Many girls attend
the yearly event because they hope to become high school cheerleaders when they graduate middle school. “I feel like they look up to us,” junior varsity cheerleader Tiffany Weber said. “It’s our job to (be) a good example for them but have fun at the same time.” The Cheer Clinic gives the tykes an opportunity to feel what cheering in front of a crowd is like and give them an image of where their cheering path could take them. “It felt cool to teach them and make them feel like a real cheerleader for the day,” Weber said. Many school cheerleaders today were part of activities like the Cheer Clinic when they were very young as well. “It feels really sweet and great to teach them because it shows how far I’ve become from dreaming of becoming a cheerleader finally doing it and guiding little girls who dream,” Wirth said.
Students experience DWIs first-hand By Valerie Kulbaka For the third year, the Comal County Sheriff’s Department hosted its Driving While Intoxicated program to help high school students understand how drunk driving can affect them Oct. 22 in front of the school. “The point of this is to scare some students
about driving drunk,” Mel Koehler, chief misdemeanor prosecutor of the Comal County criminal district office, said. “We hope that it can get through to some of them.” The event offered a variety of programs for students to engage in virtual reenactments of DWI situations. One of the activities lets students wear
“drunk goggles” to understand the difficulties of walking while intoxicated. Some students reacted emotionally to the experience. “I’ll see an individual participating and see them choke up and get teary,” Koehler said. “This program has a big impact on students, and can change many minds about drunk driving.”
We Have Liftoff: (From left) Left: Launching their catapult Oct. 17, juniors John and Kevin Froboese successfully hit the target. “(W)e understand each other, and we know how to work with each other,” John said. Below: After a successful launch, juniors Nathan Chavez, Jimmy Tatar and Hunter Quiel show off their homemade catapults Oct. 17. The final launch called for the ball to fling 5 meters into a hula-hoop and Frisbee for extra points. Photos by Orlando Mendiola
The Projectile By Orlando Mendiola The thrill of using a spoon or shovel to propel food or dirt at a family member is almost nullified by the stress of a physics project, as the junior physics classes discovered very quickly this October during their annual catapult projects. Students got to test their catapults Oct. 9 during a pre-launch that allowed them to make adjustments before the final launch Oct. 17.
Juniors combine weaponry, physics in annual project
“I saw a lot more successes I think due to the pre-launch,” physics teacher Christine Warzecha said. “They could figure out they needed to do to make it better, and I saw an improvement.” Guidelines for the catapult for the PreAP classes were tight. Dimensions were limited to 30 centimeters for the width, height, and length, and the required distance of launching a ping-pong ball was five meters. The target students had to hit to get bonus
points, a Frisbee inside a hula hoop, sat five meters from the catapult’s launch position. This, although seemingly difficult to achieve, was possible and many students had success in reaching the target. “I was relieved the catapult worked the way I had planned,” junior Madison Bush said. “I practiced plenty of times at home before the pre-launch, but I still had some doubts that my catapult would work properly for both the pre-launch and actual launch.”
Spirit is low, but polls show hope
Make Your Voice Heard!
From Valley Ventana Editorial Board
THE
Because of the location of the high school and modern societal norms, overall school spirit appears low at the high school. Situated on the fringes of the rural hill country and San Antonio suburban sprawl, the high school is in a unique place. At least a 10- to 15-minute drive from most major housing developments in the area, the high school is out of the way for most students and parents. Because of this distance, students who drive and who are driven by their parents are discouraged from attending late volleyball games or evening pep rallies. But attendance at sporting events does not entirely gauge spirit for the high school. The Oct. 18 home game against Judson had more than 6,500 people in attendance. The “Ball Heads,” a group of volleyball fathers who regularly attend volleyball games loudly and proudly, are figureheads for community spirit. Sporting events indeed bring out swaths of people in the community for support but also required attendance by high school clubs and organizations. Sports team players, cheerleaders, band members, Silver Spurs dancers, all groups who rouse spirit at games, tend to be more engaged in school spirit activities while at school. Although the community is visibly involved at games, its interaction does not reflect upon the entire student body. The average Junior Joe might not feel the urge to spend his Friday night shivering in the home stand nosebleeds watching the football team beat up on yet another school. This general apathy is felt throughout several arenas at the high school. Toward the end of pep rallies while the alma mater plays, many students not playing an instrument or not holding a varsity seat will simply walk out. Spirit Week will garner a few decked out students, but the greater part of 2,300 will not know the difference. Furthermore, Homecoming, for the high school, is essentially an overblown home game. There is no dance, and even when there was one it was sparsely attended (this past year, the dance was cancelled because low ticket sales). There is no visible alumni pride or anything of the like. Most importantly, there is no huge difference between any other weeks during football season. However, an informal Media Team poll concerning school spirit says otherwise. Out of 230 of students from all grade and activity levels, 166, or 72.2 percent, said “yes” to the question “Do you think we have school spirit?” In truth, the answer surprised us, but did not convince us. School spirit should be taken as an active participation in one’s school. Attending games and getting involved in spirit days would earn that rite of passage from a thought in school pride to an engagement in school spirit. But getting involved is not very popular. The same Media Team poll revealed that only 16 percent of students know the alma mater. But the wonderful thing about inactivity is that it is an easy fix. If students, the overwhelming majority of whom believe we have school spirit, act upon that notion of pride, then school spirit might start showing a pulse. Until then, we will continue to mull about, wondering why we cannot be like that other school.
V ENTANA ALLEY
The Valley Ventana is an online and monthly print publication. The Ventana is a student publication meant for the student body, and a production of the Smithson Valley High School Media Team. The Media Team’s publications include: The Ranger Yearbook Ranger Report (weekly broadcast) Social Media: @valleyventana Twitter/Instagram and on Facebook. The Ventana also welcomes letters and opinions to the editor. Send letters to either room C105, or email them to m.edmonson@comalisd. org. Letters can be anonymous or addressed. No return letter will be sent asking for information. Letters should expect no attention if they are biased, libelous or slanderous.
Editor-in-Chief: /// Robert Evans Editor(s): /// Orlando Mendiola Adviser: /// Margaret Edmonson Principal: /// John Montelongo Staff Writers: /// Keagan Miller/ Wes Cornelius / Preston Davis / Keagan Miller / Hailey Whitak-
er / Madison Janes / Michael Rocha / Orlando Mendiola / Madison Bush / Chris Adams / Cole Eldridge / Jessica Owens / Xavier Fajardo / Kolby Barber / Gianni Harvey- Montgomery / Eric Burrel Staff Photographers: /// Emily Etter / Orlando Mendiola / Robert Evans / Sammy Weisgarber / Gabby
PAGE 3
OPINION
valleyventana.org
- Letters to the editor can be sent to room C105 or by email:
m.edmonson@ comalisd.org Spirit Session: More than 72 percent of the high school believes we have school spirit. Editorial Cartoon by Josh Quesada
Cheers
&J
eers
Jeers: To bipolar climate control. Faulty air conditioning units sweated out and chilled classrooms in a matter of weeks. Some classrooms registered temperatures up to 88 degrees during the week of Oct. 28 and down into the mid 60s the week of Nov. 4. Let’s just keep it in the 70s, guys. Cheers: To the 60 members of the Long Range Facility Committee who worked hard on putting together the 2013 Bond proposal, and Superintendent Andrew Kim for pushing past the defeat and continuing to look ahead for Comal ISD. Jeers: To the non sequitur anti-bond election signs paralleling a federal healthcare law to a local school bond proposal. “No to Obamacare” did not necessarily mean the same thing as “no to new schools, teaching jobs and increased home values.”
for hosting an awesome Haunted House at the Oct. 30 Fall Fest, the second time in the cafeteria. It was a scary good time. Way to go! Jeers: To the weather. Torrential rains cancelled a scheduled outside Oct. 30 pep rally, and flooded roads the morning of, causing delays for students trying to get to school. Cheers: To the weather. Those flood waters brought the area much needed rain. (It’s all about perspective, Rangers). Cheers: To the football team for going undefeated in the regular season two years in a row. Good luck at playoffs! Cheers: To Devin Clark for snatching her second cross country region title and outrunning her New Braunfels rival, Paige Hofstad, Nov. 2 at the UTSA National Shooting Complex.
\\\ Top Tweets @ChaseMartinn
@tayelainehar
“Smithson Valley’s gonna retweeted @Ohsnap_itssamm take state.” “Couples that make Nov. 1, 10:53 p.m. out in the hallway”
@ZacdVincent
“People always ask me, ‘why do you enjoy living in the US better than the UK?’ Reason #1: walk outside Oct. 29, 9:19 p.m. right now.” @aleck_hernandez Nov. 2, 1:02 p.m. “Hey rain, stop” Oct. 26, 9:50 a.m. @jeffrey_savard
“Smithson valley is smart @kristin_reneeee or I’m dumb because I’m “I easily find football playranked like 4something.” ers to be attractive .” Nov. 1, 11:13 a.m. Nov. 2, 6:46 p.m.
Cheers: To Student Council
of
@Grayson_Richter
“When you find out who unfollowed you, and you can only pray that Satan takes their soul and they suffer eternal punishment for doing so..” Nov. 4, 8:37 p.m.
@coolstorycaelyn
“Okay, men. The time has come. LET THE BEARD GROWING COMMENCE.” Nov. 1, 6:00 p.m.
@ShayneTRaw
“10 years later and I still wish the magic school bus was real” Nov. 3, 9:16 p.m.
SVHS
@31_Peanut
“I’m not sure if this is my easiest or hardest class...” Nov. 5, 9:42 a.m.
@SheyDavis23
“This chemistry project < #howaboutno” Nov. 3, 3:31 p.m.
@mckaleybadgett
“sooo many subtweets. puhlease for the love of all things holy just @ them already” Oct. 26, 12:05 p.m.
@Avverynicole
“My cure for a bad day is Whataburger” Nov. 1, 2:46 p.m.
Give candidates voice; make elections engaging By Robert Evans Around September, poster traffic in the hallways increases significantly. Names printed in bright neon greens and pinks advertise candidacy for one position or another. Catchy slogans link their names to ice cream, money, Miley Cyrus, all things popular or popularly despised. They hang in the hallways like ornaments on Christmas trees, decorations for that special time of year. Class elections, generally conducted a month or so after the first week of school, is a yearly phenomenon known to many as a time when select students scrounge up enough courage to place themselves on the ballot so they can be judged by their peers. The election, hosted by Student Council, is also known as a time when popularity is placed higher than qualifications.
This is a common criticism of class elections: they are biased in favor of the outgoing and the outlandish or the popular above the prudent. Though this point does have validity at times, especially concerning the everlasting battle between high school egos, it is a stereotype. Like any stereotype, it is not universal and does not concern everyone. At the high school, however, class elections are set up to confirm that generality. Students who vote via cut-out copy paper are given no information regarding the candidates’ positions or characters besides their own individual insights about the person. Most vote for their friends or check off
names they recognize. Furthermore, most students do not even know what they are voting for. They know, for example, that their friend is running for sophomore class vice president. But most cannot tell you what that position does. Because most students do not know the candidates or the class election purpose, most do not care about the outcome. And why should they? The candidates themselves are given no time to clarify their positions. Candidates must make their case in 8x12 inch flyers students give less than a second’s look at. This issue even goes beyond high school. If students are not brought up with a respect for the democratic process, these future adult voters (some seniors at the high school already that future) might not give as much thought when picking their country’s leaders. Instead of perpetu-
ating stereotypes and possibly risking the future of the country, Student Council should work with the administration to schedule class meetings the week before class elections. The meetings would allow candidates to explain themselves in front of their electorate as well as give voters information regarding what exactly they are voting for. This way, students might give more thought to class elections beyond a poster in the hall.
Poster Polling: Posters
like this one made by freshman Madison Panzarella in D-wing were posted in hallways across the school. Photo by Keagan Miller
PAGE 4
school spirit
s the
@VALLEYVENTANA
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Blue Out: Cheering for the volleyball team at a crucial away game, high school students pack the visitor stands sporting “SV Volleyball” shirts on Oct. 22. School spirit is usually measured in game attendance. Photo by Hannah Pittman
Continued from Page 1 defined by them, school spirit is interacted with, felt through Spirit Weeks and winter break drags alike. But do we even have that spirit? Is school spirit, preached about by television and parents’ high school lore, existent here at the high school? Tackling each argument, the Media Team breaks down school spirit. History Founded in 1976, Smithson Valley High School was built as the center of a then-rural Comal County. Before the high school’s construction, students living in the area were bused to Canyon High School in New Braunfels when the district boundaries boarded Loop 1604. With the construction of the high school in ’76, found-
Zac Vincent Senior, Drum Major Q: What is the best way to show your school spirit? A: “It would be supporting all the different school activities by going to all the events.”
ed with the bicentennial-appropriate colors red, white and blue and the quintessentially Texan “Rangers” mascot, the school began with a population of less than 500 students from around the county. Citing Vol. 30, No. 1 of The Ventana, the high school’s campus moved from Farmto-Market 311 to Texas 46 and Smithson Valley Road in 1988 with a $7 million price tag. With that change, and an increased rivalry with red
Canyon High School, the high school dropped its patriotic red in the 1990s. In 2001, the high school moved into Class 5A territory, and in 2007, Canyon Lake High School relieved the overburdened high school, pulling it back into a 4A class. Before the construction of Canyon Lake High School, the school’s population was more than 2,600 students. Now, the school population hovers around 2,300. For lead counselor Marsha Murphy, who has lived in the area and taught at the high school for nearly 30 years, change came not only through the movement of campuses but also through the attitudes of students throughout the years. “Back then, it was a rural school,” said Murphy, who began teaching business elective classes, such as typing, in 1984. “Now, it’s harder to stay connected with everyone and everything because there are just so many people. “For example, if my closest friends aren’t involved in swim, then I probably won’t support it as much.” D’Ann Krause, mother of FFA officer and varsity football player, William Krause, did not attend the high school in the 1980s, but attended a school in her small hometown of Lampasas, Texas. Back then, she said, school spirit was strong, especially around Homecoming. “You could definitely tell it was Homecoming week,” Krause said. “From Monday to Friday…everybody participated.” But that feeling doesn’t translate to a modern Smithson Valley. “I feel that kids grow up too fast – college, then life,” she said. “More and more students are graduating early wanting to get away from (the high school). “I mean, I’m a mother and I have expectations for my son, but I still want him to
have some enjoyment to go to school.” Geography Timberwood Park, one of the primary feeder neighborhoods for the high school, is 12 miles away or a 25-minute drive from the high school. However, that drive is much preferred to many living farther away. Senior Ryan Gableman spends 30 to 45 minutes traveling to school each day, nearly 25 miles away. Gableman lives on the periphery of the Comal ISD district lines, along Ralph Fair Road (Farm to Market 3351) and has endured distance decay for most of her student career. “I hate the drive and it doesn’t make me want to come to school as much,” Gableman said. Although she said she did not personally believe her location affected school spirit, Gableman said she did not think the school had a lot of energy. “No one is really excited (about school spirit),” she said. “I mean, for football games they are. But for most everything else, no one is very enthusiastic about being here.” Counselor Christine Rostedt said she believed the space between home and school hindered school spirit for most students. “Proximity is a big part of it,” Rostedt said. “The distance to school is so large, it’s hard to get to pep rallies and school events.” However, students such as sophomore Zach Zuber are so close that they walk to and from school most days from across Texas 46. Culture Junior Garrett Rose said the thought that school spirit should unite and makethe school “feel like one big family.” “We need more school spir
pirit
Is school loyalty in decline? 27.8%
72.2%
16.0%
“Do you think we have school spirit?” Yes No
“Do you know the alma mater?”
84.0%
Yes No
Percent error +/- 2.0%
it not only to support our athletics, but to bring the student body closer together and make Smithson Valley a better place,” he said. Rose, 6 feet and 225 pounds, is also an offensive tackle on the varsity football team. His opinion resonates with other students involved in extracurricular activities and Friday Night Lights. While most in extracurricular activities said school spirit had a positive effect, even varsity cheerleaders said that the “positive environment” school spirit creates is only temporary. “When football season comes to an end, the spirit fades away,” varsity cheerleader and junior Sarah Franklin said. “We are meant to lead the school in spirit, but it’s difficult when the school doesn’t seem to want to have spirit.” Others said that school spirit had a minimal effect. “Besides posters and stuff like that, I don’t see how it affects how the school looks at all,” ROTC officer and junior Phillip Winston said. Nevertheless, students in extracurricular activities tend to have a more prevalent belief that the school does have school spirit, if only at times, while others feel that school spirit is important, though nonexistent at the high school.
Garrett Rose Junior, Football Player Q: What would you change about school spirit? A: “I would make school spirit be something fun and exciting that gets people involved, something students could have fun with, students need to be able to show school spirit without tons of restrictions.” Q: What is your opinion on school spirit? A: “We need more school spirit... to bring the student body closer.”
Sarah Franklin Junior, Cheerleader Q: How do you think school spirit affects the school? A: “Spirit doesn’t affect the school in a significant way because most people don’t seem spirited.”
Student Council temporarily subtracts Homecoming dance By Keagan Miller
Phillip Winston Junior, ROTC Officer Q: Do you think there should be a homecoming dance? A: “I think we should (have a homecoming dance) because it’s tradition, just amongst schools, to have homecoming dances.”
Stadium lights shining onto the field make everything glimmer as the 2013 Homecoming winners stride onto the football field. But aside from the high school image so familiar to many, there was one major difference - there was no Homecoming dance before or after the game. For senior counselor Christine Rostedt, the lack of a homecoming dance was a big change from the tradition of her past teaching years. “In 1984, (Spring Branch) was definitely rural,” Rostedt said. “No H-E-B, nothing past Loop 1604…you were living out in the country. The growth of San Antonio changed that.”
Many faculty members said they noticed a decrease in general school spirit and values they held on to as high school students. “It’s harder to stay connected with everyone and everything, because there are just so many people,” said counselor Marcia Murphy, who has worked at the high school since the early 1980s. Student Council puts on Homecoming each year, including the dance portion that was retraced this year. This past year, a Saturday dance after the game brought little ticket profit, resulting in its cancellation. But Student Council President Katy Wemmert said it wasn’t the council that dropped the ball.
The dance was expensive, and the tickets helped pay for it. When people did not buy tickets, the school ended up footing the bill for a lot of the dance’s components. Decorations, catering and general facility bills combine for quite a check. Student Council organizes many events of the school, Swords and Crowns: Smiling broadly, freshman Abigail Robles is but it claims there is on to the football field during the homecoming game against nothing it can do about escorted El Paso on Sept. 13. “I was really nervous, although really proud and the dance if the tickets privileged,” Robles said. Photo by Emily Etter do not pay enough to citement in the general of the freshmen were sustain the budget. high school body for a upset about not having “It has been really dance,” Rostedt said. (a dance). It kind of unsuccessful,” Wemmert However, some ensucks.” said. “It was cancelled, thusiastic students who Student Council has a and we didn’t want that do wish to continue the plan for revival. to happen again.” tradition of Homecom“We’re gonna take it Rostedt agreed that ing suffered a significant away for a few years,” a common lack of spirit blow by the dance’s Wemmert said. “When for Homecoming would absence. it comes back, it will be most likely result in the “It’s a bummer,” a big deal. That is our subtraction of a dance. Wemmert said. “Some plan.” “There isn’t…an ex-
valleyventana.org
PAGE 5
ETHICS & MEDICINE
ethics & Medicine
A Special Section by the Health Science Technology Department
Euthanasia should be legalized By Shawn Uduji
Euthanasia refers to the practice of inten-
mostly patients who can’t breathe, eat or move
proving that there was really nothing they could
happen, so why shouldn’t the oath change as
by themselves. These are patients like Tony
of done to stop him from killing himself.
medical advances continue to happen. Oppo-
Not only does euthanasia save the patient
nents of euthanasia also say that “Everyone has
from suffering, it also saves them and their
the right to life, liberty and security of person,”
Nicklinson.
tionally ending a life in order to relieve pain
He was a former rugby player and sky diver
and suffering. People have argued for a while about if this should be legal or not. I believe
who had suffered a stroke in 2005. He was
family money. The longer you stay in a hospital
but if a person has the right to live shouldn’t
that euthanasia should be legal because it is the
suffering from locked-in syndrome, which is
the more money you have to spend and if the
they also have the right to die? Being forced to
patient’s decision about what they want to do
an incurable condition where a patient loses
person has no way of being cured all you’re
lie in a hospital bed and not be able to do any-
with their life.
all motor functions, but remains aware and
doing is prolonging life and using more and
thing doesn’t really seem like living. A disease
awake. He has paralyzed from the neck down
more money to do that. Staying in a hospital
or condition can change the way the patient
is murder or not. It’s not murder because
and unable to speak for the last seven years.
can also get the patient to be subjected to new
wants to live there life. They also argue that the
the patient is telling you to help them die
He can only communicate through a system
treatments which might even make them feel
desire to die is caused from depression and that
peacefully and if the doctor doesn’t want to
that allowed him write message on a computer
worse and taking away even more money.
is fully treatable. Even if that is true, you can’t
help he doesn’t have to. A patient can refuse
from blinking his eyes. He asked the court to
Opponents of euthanasia say that it goes
treat what made them depressed to begin with,
food and/or water and still die that way. It not
let someone give him a lethal drug to end his
against the Hippocratic Oath, but the people
so how much of a difference would it make.
even like most of these patients are normal,
“living nightmare”, but the court refused. Even
who support euthanasia say that the oath is in
These are many reasons why euthanasia should
everyday patients who come and go. These are
after he went to court, six days later he is dead,
need of revision. Laws change as new things
be legalized.
One thing that people agree about is if this
Terminally ill patients need way out By Morgan Zillman
Euthanasia, Greek for “Good Death”,
nothing but complications in his/her
of someone due to a chronic illness or
life. Would you euthanize your baby?
suffering. While this is not necessarily
I agree completely with a high, livable
common in the world, it is a widely,
standard of living, whenever possible I
heated debate. Those against may
believe you should be capable of happy
compare this situation to putting down
living without pain if there is no cure
an animal, degrading a human’s life to
for the disorder you have. on life support; she suffered from
agrees, why would you not be capable
complete heart failure on February 25,
of choosing what happens to your
1990. Terri’s brain was left with severe
body, whether that means ending your
damage due to the lack of oxygen. She
life or not, the moral of it should be
spent two and a half months in a coma
with the ladder. Euthanasia is separated into four
Stoutamyer, Carlos Telles, Kenya Barrios, Samantha Lively, Josh Clifton, Cameron Lopez, Derek Shreve, Denae Baine, Harley Ehlund, Becky Slattery, Kailey Muniz,
categories, voluntary, non- voluntary,
Susana Carballo, Ivy Lapresta, Morgan Zillman, Cody Miller and April Evans.
involuntary, and passive euthanasia.
Patients must know, protect rights
Voluntary euthanasia is the decision to use lethal injections to die with the help of a certified physician this form is legal in the United States as well as Switzerland and other countries around
By Joel Fuentes
type of treatment that they do not want
Patients can expect the treatment
information on them. Without these
the world. Non Voluntary is most
As patients we have certain rights.
or are not comfortable with receiving.
records are confidential they have
rights, something could happen to the
commonly used in child cases; this
Some are by federal law. These laws are
They have certain rights that they can
given permision for the records to be
patient or possibly affect him or his
is used when the patient is unable to
supposed to protect us, the patients,
expect to be given in any situation.
released. Hospitals will give necessary
body. Patients are allowed to use or
make their own decision. Involuntary
who are in need of help or information.
They are to be given confidentiality
health services to the best of its ability.
ask about these rights. Some people
Euthanasia is conducted against the
Patients have the right to have a
for any information that they have,
Patients have the right to advance
don’t know any thing aboutthem; they
patients will, this is illegal! And last is
copy of medical records. They have a
and they have the right to refuse any
directives, such as living wills.
just pretend and agree with the doctor.
Passive Euthanasia is when the doctor
right to be informed about illnesses,
treatment permitted by law. You can
But as patients we also have
Patients are everything and matter to
or physician knows of a cure for the
procedures, and treatments before they
ask for any other treatment if you not
responsibilites. Patients have to make
the company even in the medical care
disease but does not tell the patient,
are done. They are able to refuse any
comfortiable with the one being giving.
sure they know or at least have some
that their in, every single one of them.
then the patient is unaware that there is
to see or treat gay patients. They claim that because
ment. The only reason I believe this one should be an
they are believers in the bible, they cannot treat these
exception is because this counts as destroying a life.
today’s society. There is no right or wrong opinion
“sinners”. The bible also instructs to love everyone,
Performing this operation would be the only thing
or decision regarding how this dilemma should be
including sinners and your enemies. John 13:34, “A
that would actually go against health care providers
handled. Does freedom of religion as stated in the
new command I give you: Love one another. As I
beliefs. I believe it is within doctor’s rights to refuse
constitution over power the patient’s rights to receive
have loved you, so you must love one another.” By
and refer the patient to a doctor who wouldn’t have
medical care? Or does the care and health of someone
refusing to care for these people they are contra-
an issue performing the operations.
in need prove to be the primary concern?
dicting their own beliefs. Gay or not, a patient has a
By Harley Ehlund Religion in health care is a growing problem in
An opposing view regarding religion in health care
As the technology in medical care continues to
right to and deserves medical care and their sexual
is that if a person is unable to fulfill all of doctor’s
advance and improve, the religious beliefs of health
orientation should not cause that right to be denied.
duties, they shouldn’t be in health care. This is a valid point, but only five percent of Americans claimed
care providers has proven to be a major issue. The
However, I do believe there are some exceptions.
most common religious belief is Christianity. “…
Gay has been a major issue in religion vs. health care
to be atheist in a “The Washington Post” poll. Even
Seventy-six percent of doctors believe in God” and
disputes, but it is not that one that has to most avid,
if the entire five percent went into healthcare, it
“fifty-five percent of doctors say their religious be-
dedicated supporters. Abortion has become a major
would not be nearly enough to support the country.
liefs influence how they practice medicine” (Easton).
debate in not only health care, but government and
Therefore, religion in healthcare is inevitable and
This is a dramatic increase since past studies.
society as well. Pro-life vs. pro-choice are the two
problems that arise must be resolved. The amount of doctors who are refusing to treat
Though it is a persons right to exercise their beliefs,
opposing sides and neither can find common ground
does this still hold true when they are responsible for
with one another. The closest thing to a compromise
patients is highly insignificant when compared to the
someone else’s care and welfare? There are many
is the limited time period a pregnant woman may get
number of able and willingly doctors eager to take
different views. I believe that a patient’s care should
an abortion, and even that has begun to be argued
their place. Religious beliefs should limit a person’s
come first and religious beliefs should not change the
over.
job opportunities or be as big of an ordeal as they
way a patient is treated. There have been cases when doctors and other health care providers have refused
When it comes to the subject of abortion, I believe that doctors do have a right to deny or refuse treat-
have come to be. Doctors have their rights as well as the patient and both should be respected.
In 1990-2005, Terri Schiavo was
Or you may run into someone who
irrelevant. If you ask me, I would be
Religion vs. patients’ rights
provide for it and there would be
refers to the intentional euthanization
be equivalent to that of a dog or cat.
The Health Science Technology class for the 2013-14 year include, from left, Sarah Conkins, Seth Schnedler, Shawn Uduji, Joen Fuentes, Xavier Fajardo, Ryan
you knew you would not be able to
a will to live so they make a voluntary decision to euthanize themselves. Any form of euthanasia is legal in most third world countries due to the low standards of medical care. My stance is pro-euthanize due to patient’s rights, I believe anyone
until the doctors declared her to be in a permanent vegetative state. Willing to finally let go, Terri’s husband agreed to take out her feeding and breathing tubes to let her be at peace, his decision was objected by Terri’s parents who were convinced that she was conscious. Schiavo took his decision to court against the parents; Terri’s tubes were taken out just to be reinserted three days later due to multiple appeals of the court, including that of George W. Bush. Several weeks later the original decision was reinstated and Terri was put into hospice care; her feeding tubes were once again removed on March 18, 2005 and Terri passed away on March 31, 2005. When an autopsy was performed doctors discovered only 23 percent of Terri’s brain remained. In this case, I could only imagine euthanasia would be mandatory if it happened in this time period. Doctors, as well as Terri’s family were completely aware that she would never be “normal” again. Although morbid
should be able to choose what they
it may be, there is a point in which it
want done with their body; if a cancer
would be easier not only for the patient
patient only has 3 months to live and
but also those surrounding to let them
has nothing else to live for why would
go. Just as the Schiavo case, those
they want to finish out their time on
suffering from terminal illnesses need
earth in excruciating pain, wondering
a way out that will not involve suicide
what the next day would bring? If
or injury to themselves. Euthanasia
you ask me I would say that if I had
helps solve this problem, it may not
any chance to leave earth on a good
be your option but it may certainly be
note I would utilize this opportunity
the suffering patients in the oncology
to the fullest. On a darker note, if
ward’s choice that may only have
you were a pregnant mother with a
months to live; wouldn’t you want their
baby that had an incurable disease,
last seconds on earth to be at peace?
Special section a team effort This special section is a publica-
the medical field and wrote reports
tion of the Health Science Technol-
on their findings. The publication
ogy class taught by Michael Moore.
was designed and produced by the
Students conducted research on a
newspaper staff under the direction
number of ethics related issues in
of adviser Margaret Edmonson.
Consent to donate organs, help save other lives By Haley Tanner Organ donation in my opinion is a
At this day the United States of America has over 150,000 people just
their needed organs. It’s heartbreaking to hear that most
because it’s a generous thing, and I
signed consent before you go through
would hate to see someone else sick,
with it, unless you are under the age of
alive and still donate the whole kidney
especially a family member.
18 years old.
and even the pancreas. All this occurs
very generous and helpful procedure
waiting for an organ. Four thousand
people these days need transplants and
for all ages. I agree with it 150%.
people are added to that waiting list
organ donations. There are far more
every day. Not even to get it on the
people in need than people who will
could be in the way of your organ
like to donate that your blood type
very seriously because when a person
spot, but the waiting list? Most people
give. And even if you find a donor, he
donation process, along the lines of
matches the people getting your organ.
when a person passes away (a donor)
who need organs are in need of a
might have diseased organs.
the possibility of having HIV, actively
And if you do not have the same blood
they won’t have a clue that their
kidney, liver, or heart.
spread cancer, or even a severe infec-
type get ready for a lot of tests in the
organ donor, because if that were me
tion could be reasons for not being
near future to see if there is some
able to donate your organs.
type of match. So if it does not match
The reason I do accept it and take it
organs have been taken out; they are
Another thing that’s really upsetting
I as an individual chose to be an
gone. I mean I understand religious
to hear is that even if they made it off
and the tables were turned, I would
beliefs and some religions might not
the waiting list and are ready for the
definitely want an organ I needed. And
There are also some obstacles that
Another obstacle in your way could
It’s also better that if you would
the medical centers they will still go
Also another cool thing is you can be
without putting your health at risk. And even if you didn’t know if your health would be at risk then the doctors would tell you in advance (before the organ procedure) and tell you if any problems would occur. So, YES say yes to organ donation
accept that, but it’s doing something
waiting list and are ready for their
I would hope there would be someone
be that you want to be a donor and
through with the transplant, but they
, because saving a life is something
kind for an innocent child, teen or
transcript, they can still die. Eighteen
generous to give the great health I
your parents do not have a clue. You
will give you treatments so your body
you should be proud of and even
adult. You’re saving a life.
people die each day before getting
needed. I chose to be an organ donor
must go over it with them and have
does not reject the transplant.
noticed for.
PAGE 6
ETHICS & MEDICINE @VALLEYVENTANA
Miscalculation can cause harm, death to patients
No excuse for abuse against patients By Gabby Knuffke
Patient abuse or neglect or failure to
By Kailey Muniz
act which causes unreasonable harm to
The improper or unprofessional treat-
ease. Misdiagnosis can be fatal because doctors have been spending valuable
the patient, includes physically striking,
ment or care that results in an injury to
sexually assaulting, withholding of
another medical professional is known
Medical negligence affecting both
necessary foods, physical care, medical
as, malpractice. Unfortunately, this is
the mother and child during pregnancy
attention, theft of pain medication and
all too common these days, with so
and childbirth is still a problem. A
emotional abuse. This defines patient
many distractions and bad intentions
few leading types are; excessive and
abuse and neglect. It occurs in many
even a small slip up can be fatal for a
unexplained vaginal bleeding, placental
setting such as hospitals, nursing
patient. Just a miscalculation or wrong
abnormalities, mother’s gestational
homes, clinics, and home visits.
diagnosis is life or death for some.
diabetes, excessively long labor that
One case in Atlanta twenty-one cur-
A victim of malpractice is someone
rent and former employees at a nursing
who experiences an injury at the hands
home face a total of more than 70
of a wrongful or negligent action by
criminal charges for abusing patients.
a medical professional. Once a case
As in this case the rates are increasing for patient neglect as well. The most common areas of neglect are patient weight loss, weight gain either with out medical explanation. In addition poor dental care, poor physical hygiene and pressure sores that do not heal. One form of patient abuse is sexual abuse, some of the results of this abuse can be contracting sexual transmitted disease, injuries in genital areas, difficulties standing and walking, afraid of being alone with care workers. Signs of a patient being fearful to be alone with the care giver may be, quietness, less movement, this behavior maybe the result of having suffered verbal or physical abuse at the hands of a caregiver. Another form is physically striking patients. Medical workers may hit or slap patients. This may occur out of frustration with the patient who might be combative or verbally abusive to the health care worker. A patient may become combative or verbally abusive because they are in extreme pain, or their mental abilities may be impaired. This is no excuse for a health care worker to react in abusive way to a patient. The health care worker who unprofessionally strikes or harms a patient intentionally should face legal charges. Physical abuse comes in many forms, including an injury that is not immedi-
Patient abuse growing problem By Susana Carballo
ner violence means physical, sexual
weapons to communicate a threat to
Abuse is not to be taken lightly, it is
or psychological harm inflicted by a
harm, injure, disable, rape or kill them.
a serious matter. Patient abuse happens
current or former spouse or partner.
The act does not have to be carried out
quite frequently. It is not something
According to the CDC, these are the
that most people would think happens
four main types of intimate partner
for it to be abusive behavior.
all the time but it does.
violence: Physical Violence - This
I am firmly opposed to the idea or
mean intentionally using physical force
mere thought of patient abuse or any
to harm, injury, disable or kill. It can
abuse. If someone is in need of help
involve using a weapon or restrains or
one should do all that is possible when
merely using body, size or strength to
helping them. You are probably think-
harm another person. Sexual Violence - Sexual abuse not
ing that patient abuse isn’t common but
Psychological and Emotional Abuse - Using acts, threats of acts or coercive tactics to cause someone emotional trauma. If there has been previous physical or sexual abuse in
is reported, it is soon after heard by a district court. You must have evidence to back up your claim. There are four types of evidence you can provide. The first is real evidence, an object that is directly involved in some aspect of the case. Second is demonstrative, which illustrates a witness “fairly accurately” stated testimony. Third is testimonial, a witness testimony, expert opinions, and everything that has been said in court. When choosing to do a testimony
the relationship, any further threat of
the witness must take an oath, have
abuse is considered psychological or
personal knowledge, accurate memory,
it is. One of the most common places
only includes forcing someone to have
emotion violence. Psychological abuse
and be able to communicate what the
where abuse may happen is at a hospi-
sex, but it can also include having sex
can include: Humiliation, controlling
perceived. Lastly, there is documentary,
tal or a nursing home, sad but true.
with someone who is unable to refuse
what the victim can and cannot do,
which basically, is real evidence in a
due to disability, illness, intimidation
withholding information, diminishing
document form.
that affects millions of people in all
or the influence of alcohol or other
or embarrassing the victim, isolating
kinds of relationships including tradi-
drugs. There are three main categories
tional marriages, same-sex partnerships
of sexual abuse: Using physical force
the victim from friends and family,
or even relationships where there is no
to compel someone to have sex against
sexual intimacy involved.
their will, whether the act is completed
Domestic abuse is a growing problem
Physical violence, of course, is the
or not. Attempting or having sex with
most blatant form of domestic abuse,
someone who is unable to understand
sometimes called intimate partner
the nature of the act or unable to
violence. But physical abuse is not
decline participation or is unable to
the only form of domestic abuse.
communicate their unwillingness. Threats of Violence - The use of
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, intimate part-
words, gestures, motions, looks or
denying the victim access to money or other resources. These are just some of the forms of abuse there’s child abuse mental
Some common malpractice lawsuits are misdiagnosis, negligence affecting pregnancy or childbirth, mistakes in
time treating the wrong condition.
causes injury to the mother and the baby, preeclampsia, hemorrhage of the mother during pregnancy or labor, surgical negligence during a Caesarian section, negligence in administering anesthesia during labor or a Caesarian section, premature babies, and shoulder dystocia or other nerve injury of the baby during labor. Medical malpractice relating to medication is extremely common. Prescribing a patient even one decimal less or more than they need can be life threatening. The most common surgical errors are damaging a nerve, failing to control bleeding, and leaving a foreign body inside the patient. Surgeons have also performed the wrong operation, sometimes even on the wrong part of the body or on the wrong patient all together. A common location for surgery to be preformed wrong is the spine. All doctors are required to have
prescribing medicine, and surgical
malpractice to insure that they can
errors.
cover any financial problems for their
Recent studies have found that misdi-
patient that is affected. The best thing
agnosing a condition is the leading type
to do to make sure you are not affected
of physician error, and that the five
by this wrong doing is to ask your
Abuse should never be tolerated. Pa-
most commonly misdiagnosed diseases
doctors questions, let them be fully
tient abuse has many legal issues such
or conditions are infections, tumors or
aware of any symptoms you are having
as: jail and maybe even punishable
masses inside the body, heart attack,
and always check your prescriptions to
by death.
blood clot in the lung , and heart dis-
make sure they are correct.
abuse elderly abuse and so much more.
Technology protects, violates patients’ rights By Carlos Tellez Patient abuse has been a problem in hospitals,
harm on the patient. There is verbal abuse where
Patients with Huntington disease will many times
can be the demands the elderly person needs
any verbal communication violates the wellbeing
find an excuse for the bruising and try to hide it
daily. Many elderly patients become dependent on the nursing staff to provide for their needs. The
ately reported to the patient’s family, a
nursing homes, etc. and should be stopped
or dignity of the patient. These two are very
which is why any loved ones or other caregivers
burn on any kind, multiple bruises of
immediately if it is happening to a loved one or a
common within hospitals and nursing homes.
should keep a look out for anything suspicious
similar shape, and non-reaction to pain.
patient in a hospital or nursing home. Children or
The consequences for these types of abuse can
and report to the proper agencies if they suspect
The following may happen due to a
the elderly are at risk of in hospitals. Between 4-6
be immediate termination, suspension, criminal
abuse among a patient.
caretaker not being responsible and not
percent of elderly people have experienced some
prosecution or other type of disciplinary action.
treating the patient as soon as possible
form of abuse. 36% of abuse nursing- home
The elderly sometimes may have some type of
nursing homes and can have long lasting effects
or not addressing the patient’s family.
staff has reported of seeing at least 1 incident of
disease or illness that can cause these types of
on patients that can make them feel isolated or de-
care of an elderly person, there is no excuse to
Caretakers should guarantee that a
physical abuse of an elderly patient. 10% have
abuses because of the caregiver’s inability to
pressed. This type of abuse emotionally damages
mistreat them because they are a human being
patient’s environment is free of burn
admitted to committing at least 1 act of physical
adapt quickly enough. Patients with a chronic
patients and sometimes is worse than physical
just like us and don’t deserve to be abused for
risk, electrical cord or other objects
abuse themselves, and 40% have said of psycho-
disease such as Huntington’s disease are an easy
abuse. Verbal abuse also causes stress among the
usually cause similar shaped bruises.
logically abusing a patient. These statistics show
victim for abuse.
elderly and can worsen their health condition.
Patients who are repeatedly subjected
that abuse among the elderly happen to many and
to physical abuse may eventually
is something that should be dealt with.
stop showing any outward reaction or response. The health care worker may abuse the patient without physically touching the patient, such as emotional abuse, not giving the patient the necessary foods or withholding medication. Although, there is no excuse for any
There are many types of abuse that have major consequences. There is physical abuse where
Falling is vulnerability in Huntington’s disease
Verbal abuse is common among hospitals and
The causes of these types of abuse can be
labor needed to care for an elderly person is tough and can cause many to get frustrated with caring for an elderly person. Although there is a lot of work required to take
the rest of their life. There are abuse hotlines (1-800-252-5400) that people can contact if they suspect an elderly patient being abused. We can
and causes bruises on the patient’s leg or arms.
caused by “burned out” staff that have long work
Caregivers physically abusing these patients
hours and don’t get paid much. The wage the
all help decrease the number of elderly patients if
usually hit them in areas where clothing will
federal nursing home staff have gotten paid has
we cooperate together and have compassion with
Privacy lost, technology gained
the caregiver uses unnecessary force and inflicts
By Seth Schnedler
cover it up such as in the stomach or back.
been between $7 and $9 an hour. Other causes
them; after all, they paved the way for us.
record-keeping. Unfortunately for the
Any other measures of privacy would
provider. There exists a myriad of tools
is today. However, these progressions
form of patient abuse it still occurs.
With the rise in prevalence of
health care providers, this provided
be rendered completely futile. The
along the lines of password protection,
have created a whole new area of
Legal action should be taken to help
modern technology and in its increas-
a slew of new laws and regulations
health care providers must know the
encryption, and firewalls to ensure
concern for patients, and they deserve
stop it from occurring. In addition,
ingly rapid evolution, privacy concerns
regarding their proper use and just
proper way to use modern technology
the security of a patient and their in-
to have their concerns put to rest. The
to legal action more training needs to
have emerged regarding the use of
what constitutes their misuse. All of
with regards to patient privacy and
formation. When misused, it becomes
laws surrounding these advancements
be given to health care workers, this
the aforementioned technology in the
these new things have to be learned
all laws that surround it, or else they
as easy as pressing a few buttons
and the protective capabilities offered
would include education for prevention
health care system, and justifiably so.
inside and out by medical profession-
would forfeit your or my privacy.
to access sensitive information in a
in conjunction with record-keeping
Frankly, computers can be hard, and
als, as they outline what’s lawful and
given database of patients. This cannot
technology create a border within
it’s the responsibility of health care
ethical for a person to do in any given
leaked patient information: there
happen, especially in the medical field.
which secure actions can be performed
providers to learn to use them properly
scenario. Honestly, it blows my mind
is absolutely no excuse for this.
When all information is critical and
and tracked, but ultimately it is the
and statutorily in order to ensure total
that this is debatable. Just think, for a
Ninety-nine percent of the time this
potentially harmful, it must be one of
sole responsibility of the health care
privacy of any and all patients.
second, if your paper medical records
happens, it’s not the fault of the soft-
the highest priorities of their keepers
provider to give a secure and discretely
were all kept in expertly maintained
ware creator or provider (the exception
to ensure their absolute secrecy.
maintained record for their trusting
papers full of patient information,
privacy, under lock and key, but
being certain “high profile” patients),
many programs and handy pieces of
the digital copies of the same exact
but rather the poor use or even misuse
health care world would be only a
trust a doctor, how many more of us
software have emerged to modernize
information were posted on Facebook.
of said software by the health care
fraction as advanced and reliable as it
would be dead and gone today?
and alternative ways for the health care worker to deal with stress, and frustration. Also, if a coworker witness patient abuse or neglect it must be reported. Many patients are uneducated as to what to do in these cases, and what there rights are. Patients and patient’s families need to report any forms of abuse, and stand up for their rights.
In lieu of the old standard of filing
Regarding any occurrences of
Without aid of technology, the
patients -- because if you couldn’t
valleyventana.org
Proceed with caution in surrogacy By Shreve
PAGE 7
ETHICS & MEDICINE
questions rise to the surface and ones that aren’t
gestational. In traditional, the surrogate is
the parents, if genetically related, do not have
mother tried to escape to Florida, but she was
easy to answer. Probably the most important
inseminated with the intended father’s sperm.
to adopt the child.
tracked down and dragged into a lawsuit. The
would mean a couple that is infertile would
one would be, “What defines a parent as the
Due to the surrogate being both the genetic
make a contract with a women to go through
real parent of that child?” Wouldn’t the fact
and gestational mother of the child, after the
would be that it provides couples who are
grounds that the birth mother was not mentally
the gestation period and then relinquish her
that the surrogate mother is, in some cases,
child’s birth, she must terminate her legal
unable to have children the chance to actually
stable enough to care for a child.
rights as a mother to the couple.
genetically related to the child make her the
rights, thus relinquishing the child over to the
raise children - not just infertile couples but
As to me, this is a double-edge sword.
real mother? As such questions are asked, most
intended couple, as the contract most likely
also single parents, older couples and gays
While it does get a job well done in most cases,
babies per year are a result of a surrogate
don’t have an answer. Possibly another area in
outlined. For gestational to occur, the egg of
and lesbians as well. Yet the surrogate mother
there is still the off chance that it will backfire
arrangement. Yet this particular arrangement
which some might feel threatened would be the
the intended mother is inseminated with the
might even choose not to relinquish her rights
and blow up in your face. If you are ever going
isn’t restricted to the United States; other
existence of the nuclear family. The answers
intended father’s sperm outside of the womb.
to the child. In the Baby M case, the mother
to use a surrogate, develop a good relationship
countries as well have reported numbers almost
seem to be a little on the vague side.
The embryo or embryos are then implanted into
agreed to give up the child once born. When
with her to avoid possible future problems that
the surrogate’s womb. With this arrangement
that time came, she would not give the baby
might occur. To use this great tool is fine, but
To most people, surrogate parenthoud
Within the United States, about 1500
on the same scale.
With surrogacy there are two different
Yet with this “practice” going on, several
One of the biggest benefits about surrogacy
up. Eventually the birth
types: traditional and
By Samantha Lively
because she had a severe lung disease and arthritis (Wikipedia, n.d.).
125 million pairs of twins in the
you must watch what your steps as this might
What is surrogated parenthood?
Scientists explore cloning options to help mankind It is estimated that there are over
judge finally gave custody to the family on the
By Becky
Since the success of the cloning
The word ‘surrogate’ means to
world. Now imagine having a twin
of Dolly, several laboratories
that is alike in every single aspect
have used their own version of
substitute or to replace. Which means
down to the genetic level. This is
Ian Wilmut’s process to clone
a surrogated mother is a ‘substitute
made possible through the process of
other animals such as cows, pigs,
mother’. A new method, known
cloning. Researchers have made this
monkeys, and mice. Some reasons
as Artificial Insemination, allows
a reality when Dolly the sheep was
for cloning might include trying to
unfertile mothers and/or fathers,
cloned in 1996.
repopulate endangered or extinct
and same sexed couple to create an
species or trying to replace a family
identical offspring with the same
just do the surrogacy in the United
pet. On January 8, 2001, scientists
DNA. A woman who will give birth
States is because it is hard to find a
announced the birth of a clone of
to the other parent’s child must be
woman who will carry the child and
an endangered animal species, the
acquired to perform this. The mother’s
it takes lots of paperwork and time.
Gaur, also known as the Indian
egg and father’s sperm are placed into
Background checks and documents
Bison from Southeast Asia (How
the women who will carry the fetus
most occur before. There are also lots
Stuff Works, n.d.).
for the next nine months. Another
of unhealthy people who live in India.
way surrogacy can happen is through
So, many of the women there practical-
cloned or engineered to produce
an egg or sperm donor. Surrogacy
ly sell their bodies to earn quick money
organisms with preferred traits, such
babies are very rare to come by. Only
from the surrogacy.
as a prize-winning orchid or geneti-
a couple hundred are born each year,
Dolly the sheep was the first successful cloned mammal. Dolly had three mothers; the first mother provided the DNA, the second mother provided the egg, and the last mother gave birth to the clone (Wikipedia, n.d.). Scientist Ian Wilmut of the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh and his
Plants and animals are also
colleagues performed 276 attempts before they finally got the cloning process right. They took an egg from
and studying, scientists have taken a
will reject the new organ or tissue.
sheep A and a cell from sheep B. They
cally engineered animals. People have
step forward to try therapeutic cloning.
Drugs are often necessary to reduce the
then combined the cell and the egg by
been engineering plants for thousands
using electricity to create an embryo
of years. When you take a leaf from
Therapeutic cloning may be a success-
possibility of rejection as well. Cloning
to implant in into sheep C. Sheep
a plant and grow it into a new plant,
ful aid and help the world of medicine
could provide for organ and tissue
C would then carry the clone in the
it is another way of cloning (How
which may be able to save more lives
replacements that are identical to the
uterus for approximately five months.
Stuff Works, n.d.). Today, farmers
in the future. Cloning can be used
recipients’ original, healthy, body part
On July 5, 1996, Dolly was born (How
can genetically modify corn to make
to provide skin for burned victims,
nearly eliminating the possibility of
Stuff Works, n.d.).
it sweeter, larger, and more resistant
brain cells for the brain damaged
rejection (Webspawner.com, n.d.).
Dolly lived her whole life at
to pests, diseases, or environmental
the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh.
conditions (Wikipedia, n.d.). Animals
The clone was healthy and able to
are also being engineered; an example
reproduce six offspring of her own
would be a sheep. These animals have
through normal reproduction. Her first
been specifically engineered to pro-
lamb, named Bonnie, was born in April
duce human insulin (How Stuff Works,
1998. The next year Dolly gave birth
n.d.). Insulin is the primary treatment
to twin lambs, Sally and Rosie, and the
individuals, and spinal cord cells for
While cloning technology is still
the paraplegic and quadriplegic, hearts,
in its infancy, scientists are exploring
lungs, livers and kidneys and cancer.
ways to use this new found knowledge
This is a new field in science which
to help mankind in many areas of
will take many years of trial and error
everyday life. We are using cloning
(Webspawner.com, n.d.).
to improve the nutritional value and
Many of the people who surrogate
and only about 22,000 have been born
sign written contracts before. Many
since the mid-70s.
cases show where the non-biological
Most states allow the surrogacy,
parent, who just carried the baby,
but very few actually ban it. Michigan
tries to keep the baby. A gay couple in
is one of the most anti-surrogacy states
Minnesota had surrogated, and a month
in the U.S. The state forbids it, and it
after they were given their baby, the
is known as a felony to undergo the
birth parent had went to their house,
process. People who proceed with it
saying that they had changed their
and are caught can serve 5 years in
mind, and asked for the baby girl back. One major problem and one reason
prison and pay a fine of $50,000. Many ethical dilemmas occur
why I don’t believe in surrogacy are
during the whole process of the surro-
because of the religious side of it.
gate. Many families travel to India and
Many people state that it’s against
other countries, because it is legal to
God’s will, since there is no sexual
undergo the process. After the child has
relationship. I also believe that the
In cases where a transplant is nec-
quantity of our food supply. Cloning
for some forms of diabetes. Diabetes
essary due to injury or disease, cloning
is being used to enhance many of the
been born the family will have to stay
emotional damage of the child finding
year after, she produced triplets Lucy,
management is a major concern in the
may someday offer a more direct and
products manufactured from plants
in that country for 2-3 months for the
out that their so called ‘birth mother’
Darcy and Cotton (Wikipedia, n.d.).
United States as 25.8 million children
faster method of obtaining the neces-
and animals. Most importantly, cloning completion of formalities. The crossing
Dolly’s life expectancy was
and adults in the United States, or 8.3
sary replacement. Typical of modern
technologies are being explored which
between the two countries can lead to
supposed to be around 11 to 12 years,
percent of the population, are currently
transplants, the donor must be a close
will reduce disease, improve manage-
many problems such as citizenship,
a surrogate are pretty common. Many
but Dolly died at the age of six. On 14
diagnosed with Diabetes (ADA, n.d.).
match to the recipient in order to limit
ment of existing illnesses and provide
nationality, motherhood, and the rights
people still turn to it in desperate want
the possibility that the recipients’ body
for a longer life expectancy.
of a child. The reason why people don’t
of an identical child.
February 2003, Dolly was euthanized
After continuous experimenting
isn’t really the true birth giver. Overall, the ethical dilemmas of
More organ donors needed because many on waiting list By Sarah Conkins
your decision on your license or state ID card
Organ donation can literally give someone a second chance at life. There needs to be more organ donations because of the waiting
Organ donors are always in short supply;
through the states department of motor vehicles
there are far more people in need of a transplant
registry.
than there are people willing to donate an
This is considered an organ and tissue
an organ donor here is some information you
type have to match the recipient?” It’s easier to
may consider.
transfer an organ if the donor and the recipient
For donation after death, a medical
have a good match. The transplant team
organ. Most of the organs that are available
assessment will be done to determine what
will then put you through a series of tests to
list, which is a wait from seven to nine years
donation. There is no set age limit for organ
come from diseased donors. When you fill out
organs will be donated. Certain conditions such
determine whether your blood and tissue types
before a match is found. At this moment right
donations. At the time of death, the potential
an organ donors card with your drivers license,
as having HIV, actively spreading cancer, or
are compatible with your recipients.
now, more than 117,000 people in the United
donors’ organs are evaluated to determine their
you’re agreeing to donate all or some of your
severe infection would exclude organ donation.
States are waiting for a life saving transplant.
stability for donations.
organs if you die. A smaller number of organs
Having a serious condition like cancer, HIV,
longer having to be dependent on costly routine
Four thousand of them are added to the national
For some an organ transplant means no
come from healthy people. About six thousand
diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease can
treatments to survive. It allows many recipients
waiting list daily. Eighteen of them die each
the: heart, kidney, pancreas, lungs, liver, and
transplants from living donors are performed
prevent you from donating as a liver donor. Let
to return to a normal life style, but for others
day because an approximate match wasn’t
intestines. Tissues such as bones, ligaments
each year.
your transplant team know about any health
an eye or tissue transplant could give them
found in time.
and tendons are needed for important surgical
conditions you have had at the beginning of the
the opportunity to see again or the recovery of mobility and freedom from pain.
Each of these people is in desperate need of
Life saving organs for transplant includes
You might have wondered about donating
procedures to repair injured or diseased joints
an organ — either to a friend or relative who
process. Then they will have to decide whether
an organ. If you would like to donate an organ,
and bones. Corneas, heart vessels and skin may
needs an organ right now, or by filling out an
you’re a good candidate.
you can designate to donate by indicating
also be donated.
organ donor card. Before you decide to become
Transplant process involves major decisions for everyone By Xavier Fajardo
garding race, sex, sexual orientation,
Groundbreaking advances in
or income. Someone can’t be turned
medical technology have made
away simply because he’s black or
the life-saving process of organ
gay. Everyone gets a fair shot.
transplantations a more common
Another factor is medical
practice.
urgency. Someone may have a
However there is not an infinite
disease in which his heart valves are
supply of organs so there is a selec-
slowly closing up and it will become
tion process in place by the Organ
a serious problem with in the next 10
Procurement Organization to ensure
years. Yes that person needs a heart,
that the right people get the organ or
but if someone’s heart is failing and he needs a heart immediately
organs that they need. Factors that go into this selection are organ type,
only have a few more years of life
size, blood type, level of medical
anyway. The heart would have just
urgency and time on waiting list. I
been wasted. As for the 18-year-old
agree with this process and believe it
,he can be potentially gaining 70-plus
is the fairest way to handle it.
years, and that would be considered a
right that second then he’s going
very successful surgery.
to give that person the heart. This
Successful transplants are measured by how many years of life
One positive bias that I agree
the patient gains. This greatly dictates
with in the selection process is
who gets an organ. That means that
“medical worthiness.” With this,
a younger person usually has a better
people who have unhealthy habits
chance at receiving an organ than
such drinking, smoking, or doing
an older person would. If there’s a
drugs can be kept from reaching
90-year-old man who requires a heart
the top of the list. Again the organ
and an 18-year-old who needs that
would just be wasted. However, if the
same heart, then there’s a very good
individual is willing to clean up and
chance than the 18-year-old will get
go to rehab, then he may have equal
it over the 90-year-old. The 90-year
chance to get an organ as a healthy
old man has already had a life and
person would. Luckily this selection
even with a new heart, he would
process is free of any social biases re-
then he’ll get the heart first. Doctors and surgeons can only handle one problem at a time, and if there’s a heart and this person needs a heart
can sometimes be a problem though because the patient in front probably isn’t looking at the situation the same way as the medical staff and demands that he or she receive the organ first because they have been waiting longer It would be nice to give everyone the organs needed, but that’s just not a possibility. The Organ Procurement Organization has set up this process as fair as possible to save as many lives as possible.
Did you know that one organ donor could
You might ask “Does my blood and tissue
save up to eight lives?
Do the right thing: Donate organs to save lives By Cody Miller Organ donation is the donation of
What Organs can be donated? Heart - A heart transplant can be
meet the needs of patients awaiting organ transplants, people sometimes offer
biological tissue or an organ of the hu-
used to help those suffering from heart
to donate an organ or part of an organ
man body, from a living or dead person
failure, as well as babies born with
to someone. It is possible to do living
to a living recipient in need of a trans-
heart defects.
organ donations because certain organs
plant. In order for a person to become
Liver - Liver transplants may be
are able to function when a portion of
an organ donor, blood and oxygen must
used to treat various conditions which
them are removed or can regenerate
be able to flow through the organs until
cause liver failure, such as cirrhosis or
themselves. The current possible things
the time of recovery to ensure viability.
liver cancer.
a living donor can donate are:
This requires that a person die under
Kidneys - A kidney transplant may
• kidney
circumstances that resulted in a UN
be recommended for those who have
• portion of the liver
repairable incident. Once all acts of
been diagnosed with chronic end stage
• lobe of a lung
saving have been exhausted is when
renal disease.
• portion of the intestine
tests can be performed to confirm the
Lungs - Lung transplants are
absence of brain or brain stem activity,
recommended for those with severe
and brain death has been declared is
lung disease, such as cystic fibrosis,
when donation is a possibility. The
COPD and emphysema.
state donor registry is then searched to
Pancreas - Pancreatic transplants
• a portion of their pancreas My Stand I believe that organ donation is a good thing. Anyway that you could
determine if the patient has consented
are indicated for those with insulin-de-
possibly save another person’s life is
to donation.
pendent Type I diabetes.
a good thing. Organ donating costs
Why Be an Organ Donor?
Intestines - Patients qualify for
no money, and most of the time you
The need for organ donors has
intestine transplants if they have been
aren’t even alive when it happens.
never been greater. In the United States
diagnosed with life-threatening intes-
Why waste your good organs when
alone, there are more than 117,000
tinal diseases such as total parenteral
you die that will just rot, when you
people who are currently in need of
nutrition or short-gut syndrome
could save another persons life? People
an organ transplant. And each year thousands of people die while waiting for a transplant because no suitable donor can be found for them.
should donate their organs because it’s Living Organ Donation
the right thing to do and it could save
Since the number of organs donat-
another persons life, with little to no
ed by deceased donors is not enough to
effect on yours.
PAGE 8
ETHICS & MEDICINE @VALLEYVENTANA
valleyventana.org
PAGE 9
ENTERTAINMENT
Double Takes\\\ Top movies reviewed by staff
Katy Perry shines with Prism Ratings based on 5 “Guns”
By Orlando Mendiola
C
otton candy, whipped cream and all things short and sweet filled Katy Perry’s second album Teenage Dream, spawning five No. 1 singles. She became the first woman with five No. 1 hits from a single album, tying only with pop sensation Michael Jackson’s record. Prism, is less sugar coated, rawer, and looking to be another record-breaking album for Perry. Starting off with her eighth No. 1 single, “Roar,” the album follows up with a record full of potential hits for Perry, such as “Legendary Lovers,” “Dark Horse (feat. Juicy J)” and the album’s second single “Unconditionally.” These songs are all unique in their own way and contrast with the sounds of her previous two albums. Songs like “Walking on Air” sound like a throwback to the 1990’s and “Birthday” is like a 1970’s disco song playing at a loud psychedelic party. After the first six songs, the album
takes a turn from experimental beats and lyrics to a more personal approach. Songs like “Ghost” and “Love Me” are slower and non-single worthy but still have choruses that will be stuck in your head, sound like a track from her One of the Boys Days and allude to her failed marriage with comedian Russell Brand. “Love Me,” like “Roar,” is another self empowering song stating she’s going to now love herself like how she wanted her ex-husband to love her. The next two allude to her finding happiness with her current boyfriend, fellow singer/songwriter John Mayer. These songs, like “Double Rainbow,” reflect her newfound happiness after “letting the light in,” after getting over her heartbreak, showing how she’s changed into a happier person. The deluxe album comes with three additional songs that fit the theme of reflection, adding more to her relationship troubles with Brand, but do nothing to make the cost of three additional tracks worth buying. The standard record ends with “By The
What the Professionals Say Spin Magazine: 5/10 Rolling Stone: 3/5 Metacritic: 6.5/10 Grace of God,” a standout track that is arguably her most personal song yet. It builds itself with a soft piano piece until, unfortunately, it falls flat when the addition of some very hollow beats and generic synthesizer riffs make it into another generic self empowerment anthem. Perry certainly pushed herself with this record. Though generic, yet masterful, in its pop roots, it is different from anything she’s done in the past and is her most personal record yet. It’s an album with songs that both the casual and super fan will love.
Child’s Play Card’s novel unfolds onto the big screen By Preston Davis Same Old Thang: Rapper Trevor Jackson’s new EP #NewThang emphasizes the generic trend of popular hip hop.
More of the #Same
Jackson’s EP reflects bland hip hop trends in pop-mainstream culture By Eric Burrell
Before listening to Trevor Jackson’s new EP, I expected an original piece that would lead everyone to take an interest in the artist. However, after hearing the EP, I found that there is little to no originality in this artist’s music. Jackson’s debut EP “#NewThang” recently dropped on Sept. 24. Yes, the title has an actual hash tag. This poor title choice is what really started my extreme dislike for this whole EP. “#NewThang” consists of seven songs, with only one standout, “Drop it.” Everything this album consists of feels like an attempt to please everyone and anyone and make a quick buck. As a
producer, you don’t make something for someone in particular; you should make it because you enjoy making music. The intro sounds very cliché: synthesizers and plucky chords combined with the music standard “808 clap” and hushed vocals, and the lyrics, of course, saying the song title over and over again. Furthermore, you would think this song would not be as risqué as it is considering the fact that he’s only 17 years old. For me, this EP was nothing to write home about, just another kid trying to make a quick buck in the music industry.
Although it is often said that movies skew from their book originators and pale in comparison, this is not always the case. The film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, “The Shining,” proved to be vastly different from the book in plot and character, but is still acclaimed as one of the greatest horror films of all time. Similarly, “Ender’s Game” is a movie adaptation of the critically acclaimed book by Orson Scott Card, and while it might not follow the book exactly, it is still an entertaining movie worth the price of admission. The movie takes place on a space station suspended in Earth’s orbit where children are trained to be military leaders fit to fight back at a race of aliens, also known as the “Buggers,” a devious species that attacked the human race years earlier. Protagonist Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is a genius tactician who deals with opponents in battle games children play on the station. Besides his genius in
To The Big Scream: Directed and written by Gavin Hood, Ender’s Game is a worthwhile, action-filled watch though it diverts from the original novel’s plot.
the war simulators, his personal struggles with his family and friends bubble up throughout the movie. Additionally, the mystery and vagueness surrounding the nature of the Buggers helps build the anticipation considerably. This makes Ender a somewhat difficult character to relate to, as you don’t have the internal conflicts read to you in a fashion similar to the books. He comes off as far too intelligent and cunning to be the age he
seems. Ender’s friends and opponents, however, make up for this lack of internal dialogue by interacting with Ender to give an idea of his conflicts in relationships. Despite this lack of empathy with the main character, the film proves to be a worthwhile watch. Intense action scenes and constant surprises within the plot will keep viewers guessing and keep the book’s readers on the edges of their seat.
Sophomore assigned allegorical novel unleashes powerful commentary on dark side of human nature
Paradise Lost: William Golding’s novel, written in 1954, has a reputation as a classic story and a commentary on human nature. With its fair shair of twists and turns, the allegorical novel never stops suprising the reader. Sophomores typically read this novel as part of their required reading.
“The Lord of the Flies,” by William Golding, recounts the fictional story that centers itself on a small group of children trying to survive within the jungles of a deserted island. The setting, though unspecified, is hinted at taking place in a time of war. While many who delve into the book find that it teems with adventure and thrilling mystery, it’s soon discovered that the book takes a much darker and more sinister turn. Skillful imagery and concrete colors transform blank pages into a vivid world of dark and captivating mystery. The characters are well drawn. They’re relatable, and none of their dialogue is too
Like many movies coming out, “Carrie,” released Oct. 18, is another retelling. The original 1976 film was based on the book of the same name by Stephen King. The conflict of this movie is easily understood through the radiant actors. Carrie, played by Chloë Grace Mortez, suffers constant bullying at school by a popular girls Chris and Sue. Carrie figures out that she has supernatural powers after an incident in the girls’ locker room. After that, she researches it and learns how to control her powers. That’s when things go crazy. Adults who see this will likely compare it to the first version. Most though, will not see much of a difference, except for all the bullying through online media. Though some might say that this version is more mellow than the first one, the movie was good regardless and perfect for anyone who loves horror movies.
‘Captain Phillips’ stays true to book
From Grace Fall By Hailey Whitaker
‘Carrie’ translates into modern remake
constrained, adding depth to the characters and making them more believable. Even the most absurd characters are understandable - and it is no small feat to see the sanity in insanity. Golding’s allegorical tale depicts many unsettling but obscure events that teem with dark and subtle imagery, captivating those who read with fascination and horror. However, not all students are as captivated by this story’s chilling thrills, and finding the symbolism within the book might be far too cumbersome for everybody to deal with. It is a book riddled with symbolism, yet that is what makes Golding’s work so appealing. Every truth has a little mystery,
and every mystery is in need of solving. What is Golding’s mystery? What drove him to write such a book? As a World War II veteran, perhaps he wished to answer a difficult question that has yet to claim a solid solution: Are we, as a species, prone to commit evil or are we capable of innocence? Do we find pleasure in power, or do we find pleasure in the world of color and music that surrounds us with its stories of rarity, kindness, strength and survival? Are we shaped by the corruption or the compassion and tranquility that define the Earth and its inhabitants as beautifully remarkable?
More often than not Hollywood will overdramaticize the events of a true story to make the movie sell better. “Captain Phillips” is no different. It’s hard to distinguish fact from fake in the Maerk Alabama hijacking incident. Even though a lot of the movie perfectly corresponds with Captain Richard Phillips’s personal accounts and his book, “A Captain’s Duty,” many still claim that the movie is a lie. In the midst of a lawsuit, the crew claims Phillips acted irresponsibility in the actual hijacking, misrepresented the story, and isn’t what the book and movie depicted of him. No one has argued though against the actions taken by the crew to prevent the boarding of the pirates, and what the crew had to endure while under the pirate control. All of the actions taken by the U.S. Navy to save Captain Phillips from the life boat are also true. The acting by Tom Hanks was great. He displayed the emotions of a man who was genuinely afraid for his life. Many have said the last five minutes is some of the best acting he’s done in his career. The young man who plays the lead pirate has also earned much praise for his performance. Barkhad Abdi is of actual Somali decent and spent his early years in Somalia before immigrating to Minneapolis. Now he’s quickly rising to fame, thanks to this movie. Until the civil suit is fully resolved there’s no way of knowing if every major detail of the movie is fully authentic but it is surely an enjoyable movie and is definitely worth a watch.
Reviews by Rebecca Flores & Xavier Fajardo
PAGE 10
SPORTS
@VALLEYVENTANA
Perfect in District Champions blaze into playoffs 10-0
San Marcos 55-7
During the second quarter of the first district game on Oct. 11, junior running back Cord Given crossed the goal line on a healing ankle sprain. “I heard my teammates,” Given said.”It felt good.” Given shared lots of good moments with his teammates as the football team defeated San Marcos 55-7 at home.
By Wes Cornelius For the second year in a row, the football team wrapped up a perfect regular season and claimed the District 25-5A championship. The first playoff game was against San Antonio Johnson at 7:30 Nov. 15 in Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos. The team clinched a playoff spot with a 23-6 win over Canyon on Oct. 25 by senior running back Cameron Jones. During the season, Jones rushed for 939 yards in 121 attempts, scoring 18 times. “He’s got great vision,” Coach Larry Hill said on his weekly program. “He can make cuts; he can run away from you. He ran in the state track meet last May, so he’s got that kind of speed.” Senior quarterback Garrett Smith led this team throughout the season with 112
Judson 45-28
Running Success: During the Oct. 18 Judson game, senior running back Cameron Jones makes a run for the end zone while quarterback Garrett Smith signals the touchdown, and offensive guard Michael Martinez and corner Anthony Cruz rush to lend support. Photo by Robert Evans completions adding up to 1,919 yards and 19 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Joseph Barsalou led the team in receiving, catching 48 of Smith’s passes for 818 yards and seven touchdowns. Defensively, the team was led by senior cornerback Brian Werstefer who had two interceptions for 190 yards,
scoring a touchdown on one of them. The winner of the game against Johnson will play the winner of San Antonio Brandeis versus Corpus Christi Carroll. Regional semifinals would be against one of the winners from the Laredo Alexander versus Edinburg Economedes game and the McAllen versus Browns-
Blue the Color to Beat Freshman A team pulverizes opponents
ville Rivera games. On the other side of the Region IV Division II bracket, Canyon faced Reagan in the first round while Steele played Clark. The winners of those two games will compete to see who will face off against the winner from the Valley side of the bracket. Brandeis comes into
the playoffs with a 9-1 record overall, 8-0 in district, with its only loss at Ranger Stadium. Cibolo Steele comes in 9-1 overall, 5-0 in district, with its only loss to Madison by one point in the season opener. Reagan comes into the playoffs with a perfect record winning key games against Madison and Johnson.
Receiver catches sources of inspiration By Meagan Park
Madison Takedown: Freshmen blue team players Zane Neutze,
Ehandler Beam, Brandon Arnold, and Saul Lara celebrate a 42-8 win over Madsion, on Sept. 20 at Madison High School. Photo by
Devlyn Taylor
By Wes Cornelius The freshmen football blue team got off to a great start in these players’ high school career. The team went undefeated beating all of their opponents by more than 20 points. “SV has had some very good freshmen teams for a number of years,” Coach Corby Maurer said. Freshmen football differs from varsity in that freshmen still practice and play both sides of the ball. “That allows us to play a lot of kids, and
Games Briefly \\\
create good depth offensively and defensively,” Maurer said. Both middle schools run the same offense and defense as the high school, so the freshmen are already know the plays. ”Our middle staffs do a great job with these kids before they get to ninth grade. The players understand the system and how to work hard,” Maurer said. Bringing players from both middle schools is a big reason freshmen teams are as good as they are.
(Football) Scoreboard 58-12 vs Brandeis 28-6 vs Laredo United 41-8 vs Madison 32-0 vs CC King 34-8 vs Johnson 33-6 vs San Marcos 35-6 vs Judson 34-6 vs Canyon 48-20 vs NB 51-0 vs Wagner
“When you combine the play ers from both middle schools, there is always an opportunity to have very competitive freshmen teams,” Maurer said.
Senior Tyler Coiner is known as TC by his peers, but on Friday nights he is on the field as No. 3. “My number was passed down to me by one of the best football players to ever come through SV,” he said. He referred to one of his best friends Tyler Mooney who playedfootball with him since he was 6 years old. Coiner, who had been playing since first grade, planned to play college ball but did not have a specific school. His choice would be based on the school that gives the best offer for a scholarship. His grandfather, who passed away early in Coiner’s high school career, inspired him. “He and I were extremely close,” Coiner said. “He came to almost every single one of my games, whether it was football or baseball. He always critiqued me in sports and would tell me what I needed to do to get better.
SWINGING FOR SECOND
Tennis dominates district for runner’s up rank By Jessica Owens
In it to win it : Swinging his racquet as the ball
approaches, sophomore Matthew Bartlett plays against his opponent from Churchill High School on Oct. 18 at Churchill High School. One of the highest ranked male player on the team, he was ready to score points for his team. Photo by Sammy Weissgarber
The tennis team played New Braunfels High School on Oct. 11 at New Braunfels High for the district championships. The players lost with the score of 10-0. The loss of this game put them in either second or third place. To determine their place, they had to play another high ranked team. They ended up playing San Marcos High School and dominated them with the
score of 10-6. “In our playback match for second place against San Marcos, we won the match against a strong team,” coach Keith Brown said. “It’s always tough to beat a district opponent twice. “Our second win against San Marcos was probably the most rewarding win of the season.” The tennis team ended its season with 9 wins and 2 losses. Team leaders included junior Mariah Bartlett and senior Cole Nipper.
In what the local media deemed the game of the week on Oct. 18, the football team put its undefeated record up against Judson’s at Ranger Stadium. The result: The home team remained undefeated by pounding the Rockets 4528. Adding to the scoring tally were Smith, Jones, Coiner and senior wide receiver Joseph Barsalou.
Canyon 23-6
In one of the closer games of the season, the football team edged the Cougars 23-6 on their red field on Oct. 25. The win sealed the team’s berth into the playoffs. Jones and Smith crossed the goal line while senior cornerback Donovahn Jones ran back a blocked field goal attempt for a safety. In one of the stranger plays of the season, senior quarterback Austin Franco ran in a two-yard touchdown after picking up a fumble that one of his receivers dropped.
NB 52-14
Sideline Practice : Before the Oct.18 Judson game, senior Tyler Coiner warms up. Photo by Emily Etter
“Before he passed away he told me he was extremely excited to watch me play varsity football for SV .... I know he’s watching us from heaven. “ Kali Gorzell, who died in a July 2012 boating accident, also inspired the senior receiver. “Kali and I grew up together,” he said. “There were eight of us kids that all lived within walking distance from each other. We were all extremely close as kids, and we still are today. I know she’s watching over us from heaven.”
The football team dominated the Unicorns Nov. 1 in New Braunfels 52-14, not allowing the the home team to score until the final quarter. Smith threw for two touchdowns to Barsalou while Jones scampered for three running touchdowns on his 111-yard night. Franco and Given also scored on a running plays.
Wagner 45-17
Senior quarterback Garrett Smith threw for 244 yards and one touchdown to lead the team past the Rockets, 45-17, at Judson’s Rutledge Stadium on Nov. 8. Jones ran for 108 yards and three touchdowns on the night while Coiner ran in a seven-yard score. Sophomore Derek Housler ran in a blocked punt for another touchdown while senior kicker Aaron Kennedy made a field goal.
Setters reach playoffs, fall in first round By Angie Herrera The volleyball team fell to Churchill in three games during the first round of the playoffs on Nov. 5 at Boerne Champion. The Chargers won by scores of 25-20, 25-11, and 25-16. Senior Emily Medlin contributed with 18 assists while senior Savannah Gray had 18 digs. Senior Allison Grona marked six kills while junior McKinlee Boss had two blocks. The volleyball team ended its season with a record of 30-14 overall and 6-4 in district. Churchill continued on with a record of 42-2 overall and 11-1 in district. A day after the loss, head coach Liana Gombert reflected on the season as a whole.
“We had a great allaround play,” Gombert said. “I was proud of our whole team.” Graduating this year are defensive specialist Savannah Gray, middle blocker Allison Grona, right side hitter Mackenzie Kelley, outside hitter Allison Meckel, setter Emily Medlin, defensive specialist Kelsey Pierce and defensive specialist Amanda Sherrod. Medlin said she would miss both the game and her coach. “She’s like a mother to me, she’s helped me through the hardest times, and I couldn’t have asked for a better coach,” Medlin said. “I will miss the family atmosphere the most. I look at all of these girls as my sisters, and I trust them with my life.” Senior Night took
Setting Up: Senior Emily Medlin set the ball up for junior McKinlee Boss during the Oct. 4 match at Canyon High School. at home but lost when playing at Smithson Valley, 3-2, later in the season. Photo by Hannah Pittman
place on Oct.29 to honor and thank all seniors and parents before the last home game. “It was really emotional,” Medlin said. “All season it hasn’t really felt real, but I realized that would be my last
time playing in our home gym.” Grona agreed. “I’m gonna miss the game of volleyball in general,” she said, “but I will miss my teammates and coaches as well.” Returning starters will
include junior middle blocker McKinlee Boss and freshman outside hitter Maja Kaiser. “Being a starting freshman is such a blessing,” Kaiser said. “There is a lot of responsibility that comes
Girls cross country makes run at state By Xavier Fajardo Junior Devin Clark has achieved many things throughout her running career. District champion, regional champion, all state and San Antonio runner of the year are just a few titles she has earned throughout the years. This season, Paige Hofstad, sophomore runner from New Braunfels, emerged as a solid competitor and gave Clark a run for her money. “Paige and me are very close in most of the meets that we run against each other,” Clark said. At the New Braunfels Invitational Aug. 31, Clark won with a time of 10:36 against Hofstad’s time of 10:38. At the UTSA Ricardo Romo Classic Gold Sept. 21, Hofstad won with a time of 17:56 and Clark placed second with a time of 18:07. Then in the Austin Westlake Invitational, Hofstad prevailed with a time of 16:45 and Clark once again placed second with a time of 16:45. At district, Clarkwon first place with 17:16 with Hofstad trailing behind at 17:22. Clark also won first place at region at UTSA’s National Shooting complex. She ran a 16:35 with
Hofstad dangerously close behind her with a time of 16:36. The entire girls team went to state Nov. 9 at Round Rock. Overall it placed eighth, and Clark placed third as an individual with a time of 17:55. The girl in first was none other than Hofstad with a time of 17:36. Though they are constantly going head to head, Clark said she enjoyed the challenge. “Everyone thinks we are rivals, but we just race our hardest when we go against each other,” Clark said. “Just a little friendly competition that benefits us both.” The cross country teams went to district Oct. 25 and the girls placed second overall with three individual placers, Clark first, Anna Cozart fourth place, and Taylor Hawes fifth place. Boys placed third overall and had two individual placers with Matt Rivera fifth and Matt Cargile sixth. At region Nov. 2, the girls placed second overall and three girls were rewarded individual placing; Clark first place, Hawes fifth place, and Cozart sixth place. The boy’s team improved from a 19th place finish the previous year and placed 13th overall,surpassing district rival New Braunfels.
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Canyon won 3-1
with it, but I enjoy every part of it. “One thing I’ve learned from my team is that whether you win or lose, you forget about the past and keep moving forward.”
All In: Playing in their first game of the season, the varsity girls basketball team huddles together on Nov 5 against Brandies in the Ranger Gym. Brandeis won 68- 42. Photo by Madison Sennie
Basketball teams tip off seasons Girl Basketball By Wes Cornelius With only one senior, the girls basketball team will need its upperclassmen to step up and lead the way, Coach Nicole Villarreal said. The squad looks to junior guard Elizabeth Cathcart and senior guard Jessica Bible for leadership after going 14-22 (3-7 district) this past season. ”Jessica Bible is our lone senior,” Villarreal said. “She has made sure the chemistry of our team is strong.” Cathcart, who made first team all district this past year, also contributes to helping the inexperienced girls adjust and adapt. Bible was named all-district honorable mention. After reaching the playoffs this past year, the team graduated seniors Allie Baker, Kristen Murto and Danielle Vizzone while first team all-district guard Baylee Nichols suffered an injury that has kept her off the court this season. Sophomore post Erin Wimberley, another all-district honorable mention this past season, also is on
Silver and Gold: The girls golf team celebrates their second place finishes at the Ranger Fall Classic at River Crossing on Nov. 4 and the Northside ISD Concan Invitational Nov. 8 and 9. Megan Woods finished as the first place medalist at the NISD tournament. From left are Hannah May, Lauren Mancha, Megan Woods, Amanda Turney and Brooklyn Sutton. Photo by Delia Alderete
the sidelines this season after suffering an injury during a showcase early in the school year. The season started Nov. 5 with a loss to Brandeis, 68-42, at home. At Mira’s Texas Riviera, the girls took down Marshall 60-46 before losing to Corpus Christi Ray 54-41. They came back to win the next two, 63-35 over Corpus Christi Miller and 64-45 over Floresville. They lost 58-47 to Corpus Christi Carroll in the last game. In addition to changes to the lineup, the squad also picked up assistant coach Brandon Lindsay. “He comes to us with a plethora of knowledge and enthusiasm,” Villarreal said. “He is God sent for us and just what we needed to get our program ready to compete in a very competitive district and region.” Boys Basketball By Maggie Barnes The sounds of shoe scuffs and bouncing balls echo through Ranger Gym as the boys basketball season gets under way. “I feel very confident for this upcoming season,”
coach R.J. Strauch said. “We have a bunch of guys who have something to prove and are ready to show everyone that SV basketball is a serious contender in the 5A ranks.” Strauch said he planned to approach this year differently than last year’s 18-16 season. For example, the team has new plays and new boys, and with new boys comes new talent. “We are approaching this year a little different, focusing a little more on being disciplined and staying focused throughout the long season” Strauch said. ”Also another big focus this year is making the ‘tough’ play.” Returning to varsity this year are seniors A.C. Reid, Carter Defries, Warren Gorecki, Keith Collins and juniors Myles Boone and Jonah Mahone. New varsity players are seniors Demarco Newton and Joey Cevallos and juniors Cody Welch, Cesar Flores, and A.J. Carr. “My attitude has changed,” Mahone said. “A lot of my friends only have this year, so I want to go out with a bang.”
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