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1801 HARVEY MITCHELL PKWY. S., COLLEGE STATION, TX 77840 | FRIDAY, SEPT. 29, 2017 | VOL. 23 NO. 1 | THEROARNEWS.COM
Severe dietary restrictions require accommodations, awareness olivia conway & maya girimaji online editor & managing editor When senior Katie Gray was twelve years old, she received a life-altering diagnosis. After blood tests and an endoscopy surgery, Gray found out that she suffered from celiac disease, a disorder that prevents her body from absorbing nutrients from food. “I remember crying for like five minutes when I first found out,” Gray said. “I’d been expecting it because my mom had it, [but] for a twelve year old it seemed like a huge deal.” People with allergies have to pay close attention to what they eat due to their serious food restrictions.
“food restrictions” continued on page 3
inthisissue
news pages 2-4
opinions page 5
viewpoints page 6
feature pages 7-11
sports pages 12-13
reviews pages 14-15
brief | the roar
UPCOMING
2 | in
OCT. 6 Consol vs. CSHS Volleyball Game OCT. 9 No School OCT. 11 PSAT Senior Skate Day OCT. 13 Consol vs. CSHS Football Game OCT. 16-20 Howdy Week OCT. 23-27 Red Ribbon Week
NEWS
friday, sept. 29, 2017
IN THE
Varsity volleyball brings home win against CSHS
Consol defeated CSHS in all three sets of the game on Tuesday, September 12. They started out close with a 27-25 win in the first set. The next two sets did not phase the Lady Tigers as they came out with another two wins, 25-16 and 25-8.
Consol sends aid to Houston high school in wake of Hurricane Harvey
After Hurricane Harvey touched down in Texas on August 25, several schools were left devastated by the aftermath of the storm. The students of Consol collected water, sports drinks, and canned foods to send to the STEM Early College High School in Houston.
Consol students qualify for National Merit recognition
Senior Tatum Love celebrates with her father as she is named Homecoming Queen at the homecoming game against College Park. PHOTO BY DREW HOWERTON
On September 13, A&M Consolidated High School announced that nine seniors had taken a spot as this year’s National Merit semi-finalists. Because they were among the top one percent of scorers in Texas, seniors Hannah Chang, Darragh Farrell, Joy Fu, Lacey Hawthorne, Melissa Rasmussen, Riva Salzman, Michael Sprintson, Grace Wu, and Jennifer Zhan have a chance to compete for the organization’s scholarships awarded nationwide in May. A week later, seniors Maya Girimaji, Kathryn Gray, Phuc Ha, Cassie He, Jackson Lacey, Matthew Manley, Elizabeth Palazzolo and Parth Sarin were named as National Merit Commended students, while seniors Michael Caballero, Tobias Doerr-Garcia, Abigail Medina, and Luis Otarola were named as Hispanic National Scholars.
Tiger football starts off season with undefeated 4-0 record
The varsity team took a 34-14 win over Copperas Cove at the first home game. They then traveled to Magnolia where they brought back a 52-47 win against the Bulldawgs. Their game on September 16 ended in a blowout against Austin High School, bringing home a win of 66-0. The Tigers’ most recent game against College Park, a 19-13 victory, kept the winning streak going strong.
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Senior Taylor Coleman serves breakfast to seniors Kylee Markowsky and Camryn Byrtle as they wait for the sun to come up at Senior Sunrise. PHOTO BY JENNIFER ZHAN
the roar | news | 3
friday, sept. 29, 2017
Effects of food limitations extend beyond deadly reactions, impede on social life “food restrictions” cont. from page 1
Junior Jamie Taylor’s life changed drastically after she was diagnosed with an allergy to corn that caused dizziness, stomachaches and headaches. “When I was in second grade, I went to an allergy doctor and got tested. According to them I was only allergic to cats, dust, grass, and trees,” Taylor said. “And then freshman year, I went again and I did a more in-depth one and of the 144 objects that they tested on me, I was allergic to 106 of them.” Allergic reactions to food can range from an upset stomach to hives to anaphylactic shock. For many, these reactions can be life threatening. This past summer, junior Leah McAleer’s body went numb, her face turned red and she struggled to breathe. Not long after, she discovered that she was allergic to chocolate. “It was good [to find out about my allergies] because then I didn’t get sick anymore, but it was also sad because there’s a lot of things I can’t eat, like chocolate, bread and tortillas,” McAleer said. Taylor also has to be extremely careful when choosing food. Because corn is such a common ingredient in processed food, from corn syrup and cornstarch to caramel color, maltodextrin and dextrose, the best option for avoiding any corn products is simply to bring her own food. “I have to bring my own drink, I have to bring any ketchup if I want ketchup,” Taylor said. “I have to bring snacks if they don’t have anything there.” Even spending time with close friends becomes different when having an allergy. Meals at a friend’s house can be life threatening, something McAleer realized after her diagnosis. “Most of my friends know, but usually the main dish has something [that could trigger a reaction] in it,” McAleer said. “You don’t want to say no because that’s kind of rude, but you don’t
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want to say yes and get sick.” MAKING CHANGES Food allergies not only restrict diet, but can also impede social interactions. Anything from Halloween candy to baked goods brought from home can trigger feelings of exclusion. “There’s just the general feeling of being left out,” Gray said. “It doesn’t bother me that much, but the main problem is when people point out that I’m by myself.” The school acknowledges that feeling excluded is a side effect of having a serious allergy, but attempts to limit these feelings by creating an allergyfriendly menu and educating the staff on how to best accommodate these allergies. “I think at the younger level it can be very hard. Especially with snacks or somebody’s birthday [at school] and [the students] don’t understand or [they don’t] have that emotional level of why they can’t join in,” coordinator of child nutrition Sarah Dluhos said. “[At] the older level, with all of the [lunch] choices available it’s a lot easier to blend in.” Accommodations are on a campusto-campus basis. All campuses in CSISD make sure to receive the proper training regularly. The kitchens stay up to date on the allergies and frequently change the menu to fit the needs of the students. But the students and their parents know best
regarding the necessary steps to avoid an allergic reaction. “I think by high school it’s kind of the student’s responsibility [to bring food for their allergy] but it’s definitely a good thing the school can provide,” Gray said. “At elementary schools though, it’s the parent’s responsibility because they should know more about their own kid than the school could.” COMMON SLIP-UPS But mistakes happen. Sometimes the person can forget to look at the ingredients list or eat something without being aware of what is in it or if it is cross contact. “Food allergies are scary because you don’t ever want to be in a situation where you eat it without knowing. That can just put you in a bad place,” McAleer said. “It’s not as bad as it seems [if you’re] sensitive to food. You just avoid it but it’s scarier when you actually can’t have it. It will make you beyond ‘just sick.’” Even for those who are extremely careful, human error is often unavoidable. The slightest cross contact can affect a person with celiac, and cocoa and corn often lurk in dense ingredient lists, hiding between or within unpronounceable words. “We definitely live in a world that it is hard to regulate. Especially as a parent you want them to be comfortable and not
“There’s just the general
feeling of being left out. It doesn’t bother me that much, but the main problem is when people point out that I’m by myself.” senior katie gray
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feel secluded,” Dluhos said. “It’s hard but if we can all work together we can make it safer for the kids.” While their allergies can be difficult to manage now, there is hope that the future will bring some relief from severe food restrictions. Medical advancements could lead to future treatments for food restrictions. Gray credits the increased public awareness of the disease with the more varied dietary options available. “Thanks to [Pinterest moms,] I’ve got gluten free menus at restaurants. Especially in big cities,” Gray said. “We went into a tiny little coffee shop and they had a gluten free muffin and multiple things to offer me.” HERE AND NOW But until the dream of cures for diseases like celiac or severe food allergies becomes a reality, the schools do their best to alleviate the stress that can accompany choosing food. These accommodations are available for students because of Dluhos and the rest of her hardworking staff. “I will do whatever is necessary to make sure that a kid can walk through the line and confidently eat with their peers,” Dluhos said. “The financial cost is completely worth it to make sure the kids are safe.” Even though students may be able to blend in with their food choices at school, there is still some social stigma attached to having allergies. But with time many have been able to accept their food restrictions. “I remember in middle school, I was really embarrassed that I was diagnosed. I was embarrassed that something about me had so drastically changed,” Gray said. “As a kid it affected me a lot more, but now I’m comfortable with who I am.”
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4 | news | the roar
friday, sept. 29, 2017
BUILDING THE FUTURE
Former Robotics members create new club, prepare for careers in engineering sam de figueiredo | opinions editor Senior Michael Townsend wanted to be a part of a club centered around engineering, so he built his own. “Me and a few other of our leaders used to be in robotics, but they switched to doing BEST, [which] isn’t engineering based; it’s more presentation based,” Townsend said. “We decided to make a club that includes all types of engineering.” Although engineering is a very broad field, Townsend makes sure that all categories of engineering are represented in the club. “Different [members of the club] have different interests,” Townsend said. “Just because you’re interested in engineering doesn’t mean you’re interested in all branches.” Engineering teacher and club sponsor Danny Roberts’ history exemplifies the power of engineering in the ordinary world. “I grew up on a farm and we built everything,” Roberts said. “We got [the materials], and we engineered it if we needed it. I learn more hands on.” Roberts is excited to apply his expertise to help prepare this club for competitions. “I just love engineering, it’s my
passion,” Roberts said. “I’d love for the club to succeed in our first projects and see them accomplish that.” Townsend’s shares Roberts’ excitement for the projects-- particularly for Brazos Bark & Build, a contest in which participants build dog houses and furniture. “We’re judged against different projects from high schools around the area and sometimes against the Architecture School at A&M,” Townsend said. “The projects are auctioned off to benefit Aggieland Humane Society.” Although Bark & Build is Townsend’s favorite project, he enjoys all of his competitions. The club also plans to travel for some competitions. “We go to New Braunfels and we build a cardboard boat,” Townsend said. “You think of cardboard boat and you think of a box, but we make 200 pound boats that can hold 6 people. We’ve been pretty successful in the past.” The contests are difficult, but Townsend says he has already overcome the hardest part: registering the club. “I’ve spent a lot of time in the office making sure all of our paperwork
is correct and in order,” Townsend said. “It’s a sense of pride seeing all of the hard work that I’ve been doing coming together and paying off.” Roberts has also noticed the progress made due to the club leaders’ work ethic. “The kids are the most rewarding part, but I hate to call them kids,” Roberts said. “They are so organized and helpful. They have been doing everything on their own.” Since the projects are interactive, there is the opportunity to fully understand the concepts being applied. “Even if you don’t feel like you have tons of engineering experience, you should still try it. We’ve got experience and we can help you learn,” Townsend said.“People should come learn more about engineering, because they might find that they like it.” Townsend hopes to leave a legacy through this engineering club. “We’d like [the club] to continue past us,” Townsend said. “It’s hard because most of our leaders are seniors and this is the first year of the club, but we’re hoping that it stays at Consol for a long time.”
WANT TO JOIN ENGINEERING CLUB? meetings are Mondays and Wednesdays after school in room 1309 for more information, follow @consolengineering on Instagram
5 | opinions | the roar
friday, sept. 29, 2017
hitting the road
jennifer zhan editor-in-chief
Driving provides path to maturity
I was parked beside the DMV, sweating as the woman next to me tallied up my fate. “As you know, the most points you can miss and pass is 30,” my road tester said calmly. She looked back down at her clipboard, pretending not to see my unsubtle attempts to peek over her shoulder. Then, for the first time since she’d gotten into my car that morning, she smiled. “You only missed 17. Congratulations.” A few minutes later, I pulled around the side of the building, learner’s permit cut in half and temporary driver’s license stashed proudly in my wallet. My dad hurried forward from where he’d been waiting for the past half hour. “How did it go? Did you fail?” I resisted the urge to answer by hitting the gas and driving all the way home, but the knowledge that I could now drive by myself was intoxicating. The next day, when I saw my mom staring into the fridge the way she always did when she forgot to go grocery shopping (as if food could be willed into existence), I all but yanked the keys out of her hand. As I headed to H-E-B, I reveled in my newfound power, but felt strangely unsettled by the lack of conversation. To combat this uncomfortably empty feeling, I did the normal thing and started pretending I was taking the road test again. “Take a right where? Oh, just ahead? Cool,” I said, nodding animatedly at a nonexistent passenger, suddenly thankful for tinted windows. Luckily, after a few more road trips, I abandoned my invisible friend. But as I started going further than 5 minutes away from my house, I ran into another issue. Despite having been driven around College Station for pretty much my entire life, I didn’t have a clue where anything was. Apart from, you know, not texting or being drunk behind the wheel, I hadn’t really thought of driving as a responsibility. It had always just been my dream for freedom and a way to get around town. But I learned the importance of be-
ing prepared when I tried to get to a restaurant after only glancing at the directions once. Thanks to many, many wrong turns, the 10 minute drive transformed into a 45 minute scenic trip that ended in Bryan. Or when I got so lost trying to find the exit of a Wal-mart parking lot that a worker pushing the carts waved me over and asked if everything was okay (surprise: it wasn’t). And shockingly enough, if I wanted to go places by myself, I had to be ready to do things by myself, too. My entire family learned this lesson after that first fateful grocery trip, where I blanked on all the brands we’d bought for 17 years of my life and instead grabbed items randomly off the shelf that we were all forced to eat for weeks. When I wanted to go somewhere but my dad needed to use the car, I felt the full force of the years of frustration he must have suffered as my last-minute ride home, my go-to contact in 8th period when I’d realized a club meeting slipped my mind. So driving wasn’t exactly the escape that I had imagined it would be. Yes, I could go anywhere I wanted, but I also had to familiarize myself with directions ahead of time and know how to check in or pick up or buy things on my own. My concept of driving pretty much consisted of cruising down the highway, windows down, occasionally imposing my music taste on my fellow drivers. It hadn’t involved studying maps of College Station so that I’d know which main roads to look for if I got lost. In essence, it seemed like driving was the exactly everything I’d hope to avoid with a licensescheduling my time, responsibility, taking precautions. But surprisingly, I found that I loved it. Driving forced me to always know where I was going and what I was going to do when I got there, and as it turns out, there’s a lot of freedom in that feeling. Want to talk about driving together? Contact Jennifer at the.roar.zhan@gmail. com.
“What’s in the box? If you don’t mind me asking.” I turn around and take out my earbuds, worried it might be an overbearing TSA agent. It’s just a stranger - a girl, with blonde hair and thick framed glasses fogged by steaming hot coffee. I turn to tell her that it isn’t a bomb, but then I remember that I’m in an airport. “It’s my record player,” I say sheepishly, feeling like I’ve gained hipster points just by saying the words out loud. Luckily, she doesn’t laugh or tell me how impractical it is. In fact, she strikes up a conversation. “Do you like music?” she ponders, gesturing from my record player to my dangling headphones, audibly blasting David Bowie. I really love music, I tell her. In fact, I probably say too much - that music is one of the most important things to me, that I have a playlist for every mood, that I will listen to almost anything, that I hear it in my head even when it’s perfectly quiet around me. I have never met this person. Over the next couple minutes, I learn all about Kelly from the Starbucks in terminal four of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Kelly doesn’t just consume music; she plays all sorts of instruments. But then, she asks me if I play anything. I feel like playing recorder in elementary school probably isn’t worth mentioning. I have nothing to offer back to this stranger who has shared a big part of her life with me. I don’t play anything. Then, she asks me something I’m not prepared for. “Why not?” I don’t have a response to this. I’m usually happy to make excuses: that it isn’t for me, that I don’t have the time. This time, I really don’t know why. “You should pick up an instrument. Even if you’re not great, it completely changes your appreciation for music.” The barista interrupts us by call-
drew howerton senior executive editor
ing out my order, and I grab my coffee. My mind is now on a gazillion different things as I bid Kelly a quick goodbye and make my way to Gate 3 with my white chocolate mocha. But riding the moving sidewalk to my gate, I couldn’t help but think that I’ve been here before. In fact, I know I’ve been here before. Same situation, just with different people and about different things. Like my aunt asking me why I didn’t just teach myself math, since I’m so interested in it. Why don’t I just pick up a programming language, since I want to learn? I don’t have the time, I say. I have work and homework, and extracurriculars, and a dozen other excuses that aren’t true. I know they aren’t true because I come home and just do nothing, like always. Really, I’m just too afraid to try. How could I ever compare to those who are masters when I can’t understand the basics. No, it’s easier to put up roadblocks, to make it impossible to ever start down the path of uncertainty. If I never start, never try, there’s no possibility of failure. That’s what I realized when a random stranger at an airport asked me why: I am afraid of trying new things because I am afraid of failing. I can’t even start, because I’m so worried about the end result that I can’t see the beginning. There’s truth to the adage that failure is just part of life. We all fail to do things everyday, whether we fail a math test or just fail to say thank you. We can either build a wall out of our missteps and never try again, or learn from them. I can’t let failure - and imaginary failure at that - decide what I do and do not attempt, because the only real failure is not trying at all. Want to talk about finding the strength to start new things together? Contact Drew at the.roar.howerton@gmail. com.
taking flight
Airport encounter highlights missed opportunities
6 | viewpoints | the roar
friday, sept. 29, 2017
should congress protect daca?
the roar’s consensus In 2012, the Obama administration created Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an immigration policy that allowed certain unauthorized immigrants to defer deportation for 2 years. As an executive action, DACA was not codified into law, which meant that the White House was able to announce early this month that it would be discontinued. The Trump administration then provided Congress with a six-month window to decide whether to pass legislation protecting DACA. Until that date, the fate of an estimated 800,000 unauthorized immigrants in the United States lies in question. DACA recipients, often referred to as Dreamers, were brought to the United States as children without going through the legal immigration process. In some cases, they weren’t aware they weren’t citizens until graduating from high school and discovering that they couldn’t enroll in college, obtain a driver’s license, or register to work because they didn’t have Social Security numbers. We should not exclude Dreamers from our society. They are not seeking a shortcut to citizenship; they had no control as infants or young adults over the decisions their parents made, and regardless, DACA does not provide a path to American citizenship and its benefits. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, over a million DACA eligible immigrants contribute $2 billion in annual taxes. However, they don’t receive tax benefits like Medicaid or Obamacare. Opponents of DACA suggest that the policy sets a standard of leniency towards those who break the law. And it is true that the United States should not open borders to everyone - chaos would ensue in any country without power to regulate and enforce immigration laws. But DACA is not intended to be a cure-all solution. It’s primarily designed to grant a temporary legal status in which they can obtain work permits. And that’s what the Dreamers want: to join the work force and contribute to this country. Requirements for the program are intended to ensure that. For example, only those who have completed education in the United States and do not have a major criminal background are elegibile. Our government can and should work to reform the existing immigration process that the parents of the Dreamers encountered. But the children of DACA did not choose to come to the United States, and we should not punish them for the simple desire to stay in and contribute to the country they have known for the majority of their lives.
Congress has 6 months to decide pass legislation for or against DACA. Some believe that DACA should be rescinded to tighten the immigration policy, while others think that the DREAMers should be protected. Either way, this decision will affect 800,000 immigrants, including our own students at A&M Consolidated.
“I, as a Latina, disagree [with Trump’s decision] because I believe that he is taking valuble opportunities away from people who really need it and it’s getting rid of people’s hopes for a better future.” senior dany gonzales
“I’m a legal Mexican, but I actually agree with Trump’s decision because it’s unfair that [the immigrants] can just easily come here and take jobs away from people that are born here and legal immigrants. It makes it harder for legal citizens to get jobs. ” sophomore ronaldo yanez
The Roar 2017-2018 Staff Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Senior Exec Editor Online Editor Opinions Editor Section Editors Staff Reporters
Jennifer Zhan Maya Girimaji Drew Howerton Olivia Conway Sam de Figueiredo Sueji Han Tessa Matthews Kaleigh Waguespack
Faculty Adviser Assistant Adviser
Michael Williams Chauncey Lindner
The Roar Editorial Board Jennifer Zhan • Maya Girimaji • Sam de Figueiredo
The Roar is produced by the Advanced Journalism class at A&M Consolidated High School, 1801 Harvey Mitchell Parkway S., College Station, Texas, 77840. The opinions expressed are those of the writers and are not reflective of the administrators, faculty or staff of the College Station Independent School District. Submissions to the editors are welcomed but must be signed and should not exceed 300 words. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions in the interest of clarity and length or to not print a letter at all. Letters containing obscene or libelous material will not be considered. The Editorial Board consists of the editor-in-chief, managing editor and opinions editor. The Roar is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC), the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA). The Roar is a winner of the CSPA Gold Crown, the 1997, 1998, 2000-2016 ILPC Award of Distinguished Merit, the CSPA Gold Medal Award, the NSPA All-American distinction and 2005, 2014,2016 ILPC Bronze Star and 2007-2013 and 2015 Silver Star. College Station Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex or handicap in providing education services. Monica Jones, Director of Human Resources, 1812 Welsh, College Station, Texas 77840 (979-764-5412) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Title IX. Molley Perry, Executive Director of Special Services, 1812 Welsh, Suite 120, College Station, Texas 77840 (979-764-5433) has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
friday, sept. 29, 2017
Wake uP, flawless
the roar| snapshots | 7
Competing in water sport brings uncommon opportunities, renown drew howerton senior executive editor Junior Zane Montgomery is riding the wave. “Whenever I was younger, around four or five, my uncle had a boat and we went out and tried wakesurfing,” Montgomery said. “I’ve been doing it for about 11 years now.” Wakesurfing is a type of surfing where the surfer rides on a board behind a weighted boat that throws back a wake which can be surfed on without a rope. This makes it different from surfing in open water, which requires paddling. Wakesurfing is less dangerous than other types of surfing because of its pace. “Wake surfing is a lot slower than wakeboarding, like 10 miles an hour versus 20 miles an hour, so it doesn’t hurt nearly as much,” Montgomery said. “I would wake board before wakesurfing, because I started getting into big tricks and it would really hurt.” Despite the hazards of tricks, wakesurfing attracted Lange with its carefree nature. “I like being out on the water, it’s a good opportunity to take friends out and stuff on a boat.” Due to their love of surfing, both Lange and Montgomery wakesurf competitively at the professional level. “I’ve been competing for eleven years. I’ve been professional since I was thirteen,” Montgomery said. “It’s awesome, and you get paid.” Competitions usually take two to three days, which gives surfers an opportunity to show off stunts. “You get two passes per day, one minute each way, one minute pass down to do all the tricks you can and a one minute pass back to do all the tricks you can,” Lange said. “Then you get judged on what you did and you
get ranked.” As they move up through the ranks, competitors attract sponsorships. “When I moved up to professional, they started giving us checks,” Montgomery said. “If I podium, my sponsors will also pay me.” Throughout his time in professional wakesurfing, Montgomery has picked up a number of sponsorships, including Centurion Boating. However, wakesurfing means more to Montgomery than money; to him, it’s the feeling of hard work paying off. “After trying a trick, just so many times and I finally get a three shove which is, I’m standing still and the board comes all the way around, it’s one of the hardest tricks. That’s one of the best times.” Learning tricks requires rigorous practice. However, Montgomery has to balance wakesurfing and his commitments at school. “One of the most difficult things is wakesurfing and football in school. Every weekend I try to go and practice, after football practice.” Montgomery said. Surfing has taken Lange and Montgomery across the United States, from Washington to North Carolina and even to other countries. “Next year, I’m going to do some international events. Europe, and they do one in South Korea,” Lange said. “We’ve been to a bunch of the same places over and over again, so it’s cool to get to know a certain city, you get to know the local people when they come out to events and make friends with them.” Competing in wakesurfing gives Lange the opportunity to experience things that he wouldn’t in other sports. “All the travel is just unique to wakesurfing,” Lange said. “Getting to go new places and meet people, having friends all over the world is pretty cool.”
Junior Pete Lange balances on his wakeboard. Photo provided by Lange
Junior Zane Montgomery attempts a trick while wakeboarding. Photo provided by Montgomery.
Junior Pete Lange catches some air while wakeboarding. Photo provided by Lange.
10 | feature | the roar
friday, sept. 29, 2017
instrumental leaders Conducting position teaches junior drum majors value of leadership tessa matthews | staff reporter
pretty loud voice, and someone who is willing to go above and beyond what the normal band student is going to do.” It is the first home game of the football season. While everyone is taking a break As as student representation of a staff member, this leadership demands a lot of refrom the gridiron excitement, two members of the band start climbing the podiums. They spect from one student to another. reach the top and the drum majors’ raise their arms, attracting the band’s attention and as “If someone has a music or personal [issue], there is a chain of command and after their arms fall, the band roars to life. their section leader they go to us for further questions and if we can’t answer them then “[Our director] told us we are going to be the face of of the band,” drum major Re- we go to the staff,” Hay said. becca Keefer said. “If you go onto our Facebook page our faces are the profile picture. I Being a drum major develops skills that will be used throughout life . think it’s funny how literal that is.” “It’s got to be someone who is a multi-tasker, someone who doesn’t get rattled, someThe position of drum majors is critical but very rewarding. one who has complete composure and the ability to deal [with a] stressful situation, some“I believe [Hay] and [Keefer] are doing a good job as far as leading the band,” head one who can can stand out there and when it gets really stressful they can handle the band director Steve Fry said. “Both [of them] represent the band and they do it the right situation because they are on an island by themselves quite frankly,” Fry said. way. They bring high energy and they want it to be fun. They want [the] band The nerves of being in such a big role of leadership do get to them someto be good. We are super proud of them.” times. Their dedication to the band can be seen through their sacrifices. “Every day I’m nervous that I’m going to mess up because it’s the “There are so many classes that I can’t take because of my outside whole band watching me. Like if you are marching and barely miss of school requirements for band and my in school requirements,” your dot then you can slightly adjust to it, or if you miss a note then drum major Aubrey Hay said. “A lot of times in study hall, I will you can shy away and fix it, but everyone is watching me and it’s get a pass and go practice instead of doing homework. It is a lot of very apparent if I make a mistake,” Hay said. time.” Although there are nerves and a lot of Being a drum major does not only take responsibility, there is plenty of time to up time in school but outside of school as have fun. well. band director “One time at the end of morning “Aubrey and I usually both get to rehearsal we had a dismissal that we did the band hall around 6 a.m.,” Keefer said. steve fry and last year’s band director jokingly said “We welcome people into the band ‘Alright, who wants to do dismissal,’” Keefhall until about 6:15-6:20 and that’s er said. “And I said, ‘Oooh, I do!’ He said, when we start the transition to the practice “Alright, go,” so I did it and that was the point that I field.” wanted to do this.” They also have to know when to take charge Where there is fun, memories begin to form. without being told. “One time we were at a football game the other band “We are responsible for starting stretch block across the field had their drum majors on the podium, even if the directors aren’t out there yet for re- so there was just one, and he started a hearsal,” Hay said. “We have to start whenever the dance off and we just kept goclock strikes 6:30.” ing and it just got faster and This leadership position requires an immense amount faster,” Hay said. “It was really of skills. fun.” “They have to have a very smart musical IQ when it Even though being drum major is exciting, being part comes to not just knowing their part but also being able to of band is what tops everything off. read a score of music that has everyone’s music on it every “It’s really cool to be a part of something bigger than one’s part,” Fry said. “[A drum major is] a person that has just a class because it’s a family and I really love that,” Keefer to be able to stand on their own and make tough decisions said. “I think if there is one thing that I want people to know, it’s at times, be someone who is not afraid of raising their voice that being in band is the best thing you can do with your life.” and yelling across the field or saying commands at a
“Both [Keefer] and [Hay] represent the band and they do it the right way.”
the roar | feature | 11
friday, sept. 29, 2017
Married staff members recall first meetings, reflect on relationships in workplace maya girimaji | managing editor When art teacher Robert Houchins started a conversation with a new co-worker about her shoe size, he had no idea that he was talking to his future soulmate. “I have never a met a more genuinely nice person in my life. There’s not a mean bone in [French teacher Maria Houchins’] body,” Robert Houchins said. “She’s the only person I know who smiles more than I do.” The Houchins started dating in 2014 and got married this past June. Husband-wife teams aren’t something new to Consol, though. Assistant principal Omar Espitia and animation and graphic design teacher Shannon Jones will be joining that list in the summer of 2018. “We got engaged this past spring break. We went down to Garner State Park and hiked to the top of Old Baldy,” Jones said. “I complained the whole way and made jokes like ‘There better be a ring at the top of this thing’ and he actually proposed.” Because of Espitia’s position as assistant principal, he followed a rule of not dating people at work. He said that one of his biggest fears when he was dating Jones was that it could be a detriment with the students. “If it doesn’t work out, then it makes it weird if you still have to work with them. [But] we were just hanging out so much [until] it became hanging outside of work,” Espitia said. “You can only deny [the connection] for so
long until you’re like ‘This person really gets me.’ When you click, you just click.” The benefits of having a partner in the same building go beyond just carpooling and saving gas money. “Teaching is a very rewarding profession, but also a very challenging one,” Maria Houchins said. “It’s definitely really nice to have someone who works here and understands everything I’m going through because we’re both teachers.” World geography teacher Matt Warhol and special education teacher Shannon Warhol, who have been married for five years and together for 12, also experience the benefits of working in close proximity. “If we ever need to get anything done he’s right down the hall. If there’s an issue with our dog I can just go next door to see [Matt Warhol],” Shannon Warhol said. “Or if I forget things at home he can bring it because he comes later to school than me.” Robert Houchins said that with having similar professions they understand each other’s problems and frustrations – especially when it comes to how students act or issues at the school. But some obstacles have arisen. “You try to be aware that home is home and work is work but we are going to talk about work. Most couples go to work then come home and talk about work with their significant other because they’re not at that job,” Espitia said. “There’s a thing called FERPA which is like HIPAA. It’s privileged. I can’t talk about things that she has no business to know about.” The couples try hard to keep their work life separate from their personal life. Jones said that she and Espitia are regular people who enjoy doing regular things. “He is kind of a big scary guy with a beard but he is a softie around me. I understand that kids can be scared of him and they’ve told me but he’s fun,” Jones said. “We go kayaking and do a lot of sports and endeavors together.” All of the couples believe that they have a job to do here and make sure that their relationship with another staff member does not affect their career life. But they lead a different life at home. “My job here is to make sure that people are safe and students behave. And that means I have to act a certain way,” Espitia said. “At home she’ll tell you that I’m a fun guy, I like to have a good time, and that I’m funny. I would like to think that our relationship is kind of the standard and what people are shooting for. It’s taken me a long time to find that and with her I found it. She makes me very happy.” Maria Houchins agrees that living with a person allows for the couple to know each other on a whole different level. “Marriage is awesome. When you’re dating you just see them when you want,” Maria Houchins said. “But with marriage you have to actually really care about someone and make sacrifices for them and always do what is best for them. I think that’s what true love is.”
THE APPLE OF MY EYE
the roar | sports | 12
three’s company
friday, sept. 29, 2017
Small size of senior cheerleading class presents new challenges, strengthens team Three might be a magic number in myths and folklore, but Consol’s cheerleading squad wasn’t sure whether it would be a lucky size for the squad’s senior class. “Two years ago when I stepped in as assistant cheer coach, we stepped into a very large senior class,” coach Jordan Lauhoff said. “After having done that for a year, we questioned what it was going to be like to only have [three]. It was something that we were a little nervous about.” Although three is just a tiny fraction of previous senior groups, it’s the largest amount of cheerleaders the senior class has had since entering Consol as freshmen. “I think because cheer is a lot of commitment, it’s hard for people to join,” senior and co-captain Ashtyn Zavala said. “But I’ve done it for so long, I’m used to it. I think I just couldn’t go without it.” Senior and captain Tatum Love agreed, saying that while she loves being directly involved in the school and getting to participate in the Friday Night Lights atmosphere, she understands that the sacrifice might seem overwhelming to others. “We were here a lot during the summer, we stay after school Mondays and Wednesdays, and we’ll come early sometimes,” Love said. “And then all the money for uniforms and megaphones is a huge commitment in itself.” Love, who was the only cheerleader in her class her sophomore year, has experienced the effect of dwindling numbers. Because of that, she said she felt some pressure to keep the team going strong. “I feel like I’ve kind of built the program where it is today, and I’m trying to keep it safe and keep everybody happy,” Love said. “This year being captain and the only person who’s been in it the entire time, I’ve been trying to help the coaches as well as the new people on how things have gone in the past.” And in the past, seniors on the squad have always had many responsibilities. “They decide what uniforms to wear each week and help set pep rally and dress up day themes,” Lauhoff said. “And they help make practice run. [The coaches] stand back and let them do what needs to get done in order to fix a routine.” Senior leadership isn’t limited to the school day. Outside of school as well, older cheerleaders often guide the team. “They’re in charge of calling and making sure squads are doing what they’re supposed to do on the track during football games, watching and paying attention so they know what cheer to call,” Lauhoff said. “And they do a lot of behind the scenes stuff as well, like decorating the hallways, or happily going when I ask them to go to an
event at, say, an elementary school that day.” Luckily, Love doesn’t have to shoulder the workload by herself. Last year, Zavala joined the squad and now serves as the squad’s co-captain. “Any decisions, [Zavala] and I make together,” Love said. “If we’re planning what to do in practice, what formations to go over, she’ll help me with that. And if I have to miss 8th period, she’s great about stepping up and taking over practice for me.” Lauhoff said that Zavala’s skill set is a good complement to Love. “She’s involved in Thunder Elite, so she gets to bring a lot of that expertise from competitive cheer into our school cheer world, which is helpful to me,” Lauhoff said. “She brings that level of knowledge that you hope for, not only in a senior, but in a cheerleader in general.” Senior Jordan Stimmel, who joined the squad this year, will also be working closely with Zavala and Love to increase the squad’s skill. Stimmel also participates in competitive cheer, and as a recent transfer from College Station High School, brings other experience to the table as well. “I’m going to be helping [Love] with drumlines, teaching her drumlines from CSHS, and making ours harder,” Stimmel said. “With [Zavala], we’ll teach each other to do different things and work together to do harder stunts.” When the three seniors combine their skills, they not only teach others, but learn from each other as well. This helps when it comes to choreographing and producing performances for the entire squad. “With a big group of seniors, making the whole routine you see at pep rallies is pretty easy,” Love said. “But whenever it’s only three of us having to coordinate for 29 girls, it’s a lot harder.” But despite any extra effort, the girls are ultimately glad they had to face these challenges. “I would not know [Zavala] and [Stimmel] very well at all if there were a bunch of my friends in cheer,” Love said. “Having to work a little bit harder really gave us a strong relationship.” Although Zavala did feel more responsibility to be an example as part of a
small group of leaders, she said she wasn’t too worried about their ability to do well. “I think it’s fun with only three seniors,” Zavala said. “It’s better to have less of us, you know, the ‘too many chiefs’ idea. It makes things easier — especially since we’re so close, we can make better decisions.” Meanwhile, retention doesn’t seem to be a problem in the other classes. Lauhoff said she’s no longer worried about it, and is happy to see that this year’s senior group is handling their small numbers well. “I really just want this to be a year that they enjoy,” Lauhoff said. “It’s really important to me that the seniors feel like they’ve not just been a part of it, but that they’ve had the opportunity to take ownership and facilitate the year. Because in a way, this is their squad just as much as it’s mine and Coach Grenier’s.”
PHOTO BY JENNIFER ZHAN
jennifer zhan | editor-in-chief
the roar | sports | 13
friday, sept. 29, 2017
All In the family
PHOTO BY OLIVIA CONWAY
Fedora family makes multi-generational impact on school, reflects on years of service drew howerton senior-executive editor When Lee Fedora took over the position of headcoach in January of 2016, he became another part of his family legacy at A&M Consolidated. “Growing up here I got to see my oldest brother Larry, and then Bruce and John, they all played here, and then I got to play here too,” Lee Fedora said. “It’s a neat thing to be back here at [my] alma mater.” Lee Fedora’s family history with Consolidated began in the seventies when his father, Herb Fedora, became involved in the Tiger Club. “It was called the Quarterback Club, actually,” Herb Fedora recalled. “One of the superintendents came out, he was from up north, he said, ‘What we want to do is hire a coach that sells insurance and he’ll just come out at three, four o’clock in the afternoon and work with the kids.’ Everybody said ‘You’re in Texas. It ain’t gonna work here, you know.’ And it didn’t.” Eventually the Quarterback Club became a fundraising organization for all sports, not just football, and was renamed Tiger Club. Herb spent sixteen years working with the Tiger Club, serving as president for a majority of his tenure. One of his first acts was to move the football team from Kyle Field to the then-new Tigerland Stadium. “[Games] used to be at Kyle Field, and it was nice, but every team came in and looked around and said ‘Kyle Field!’ and you know they could play good. Their adrenaline was really flowing,” Herb said. It was in this way that Herb Fedora went about modernizing the Tiger Club. John Fedora, Herb Fedora’s third oldest son, is now the current president of the organization. “We raise money for all the sports, seventh grade all the way through 12th grade, and we include band, cheer and also our belle program,” John said. “Our goal is to go out there and raise as much money as we can from the community to spend money on stuff the district or state
can’t provide for our student athletes.” But it wasn’t just about building concession stands and moving the football team into a new stadium. Through these things, Herb left a lasting impact on A&M Consolidated -- and his children, whom he taught to give back to their community through his work. “The four boys, the school was good to them and the community,” Herb said. “I’ve always said, if there’s a way to give back to the school, basically with work, you should do it.” Now, his son has taken that idea to heart through his dedication to his players. “My main thing is it’s about taking care of these young men, getting them ready for the real world, making sure they’re taking care of their academics,” Lee Fedora said. “I know a lot of people say it’s about your wins and losses but the main thing is just getting all these kids ready.” Dawn Fedora, sister-in-law to coach Fedora and board member of the Tiger Club, believes in his ability to teach more than just football. “We’re excited to have Lee here, and even if John and I weren’t related to Lee, to have a caliber of coach like [Lee] is coaching your kids, it’s huge,” Dawn said. “We’re seeing some big changes in these kids because Lee is not just about building football players or athletes he’s about building people, and that’s what we’re seeing. We’re seeing these kids interact on a different level with their coaches, and these kids are responding well to it.” Not only is Lee Fedora’s program benefiting students, it’s benefiting the next generation of his family. Junior Caden Fedora, Lee’s nephew, is the quarterback on the varsity football team. “The quarterback role - it’s a big role to step up into, especially since I’m new to the position and that I’m new to the whole system, it’s a bigger pressure,” Caden said. “But the coaches are really great and they help me get through it.” Being a part of his family’s legacy of football and school has allowed Caden to see his family in a different light, which has helped him ease into the role of quarterback.
“The coaches are proven to be some of the best coaches in the state of Texas, and I know a few of them from when I was younger so that helps out,” Caden said. “Having your uncle as your head coach, it’s a big thing in your life because you get to see him a lot but you don’t get to see him from different aspects.” Despite the family connection, Caden stressed that to him, Lee Fedora is his coach first and uncle second. “When you hear that your nephew is your quarterback, I guess that’s a pretty big shock, and people will say ‘he got the position because of nepotism’ and stuff like that,” Caden said. “He’s more of a coach. He’s always in the zone, he always loves talking football so that’s where he is more to me, he’s always going to be Coach Fedora. I think he’s always out there making the best decision [for the team] and it means a lot that he would pick me for [the quarterback position].” Having family roots at Consolidated and in football has helped Caden feel more comfortable on the field. In addition to Lee, Caden’s uncle Larry is the head coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “I get to talk to him a lot about football and what he thinks and what I should do,” Caden said. “It’s great to get two levels from a high school coach and a college coach, I can talk football with two people that I’m really close to in my life.” As part of the next generation of Fedoras at Consolidated, Caden hopes that he can live up to the achievements of his predecessors. “I hear a lot about how great they were back in the day, I’m just hoping I can fulfill what everyone talks to me about, about how good Consol was back in the day,” he said. “I hope we can take Consol back to winning championships.” Caden knows that he can count on seeing his family in the stands, cheering for him in the glow of the Friday night lights. “I get to see my grandpa come out and watch me play, he has all of his old stuff from the 90s when my uncle used to play.” Caden said. “It’s always great getting to see him put back on Consol stuff, and I know that my whole family is always there for me.”
14 | review | the roar
the roar reviews: tactical laser tag
AGGIE LAND
WAR
GAMES
friday, sept. 29, 2017
drew howerton | senior-executive editor Aggieland War Games isn’t like classic laser tag, found at arcades like Grand Station. Instead, War Games is more like a tactical training exercise, complete with different game modes, each with its own objective and weapons. Overall, it’s a great experience with friendly staff, an inventive atmosphere, and a fresh, new take on laser tag. THE GEAR Unlike traditional laser tag, which requires a bulky vest, the only two pieces of gear required to play were a headband and a rifle. The headband attached to the rifle and had sensors that detected when the player had taken a hit, making the game headshots only. Shooting other players involved a bit more skill than regular laser tag, since the target area was so much smaller; I had to look through the sight on the gun and actually pay attention to where I was aiming, like a real weapon. The trade off was that I had a lot more mobility sans-vest, allowing me to crouch down and easily hide behind the numerous barrels, shipping containers, and walls scattered throughout the play area. War Games’ play area also sets them apart from other laser tag venues because the arena is built from the sort of scrap that would be found on a real battlefield, instead of the cheesy neon blues and greens that pizza place arcades seem to love. When I was crouching inside a shipping container, hiding from other Roar staffers, I felt like I was really in combat and not at a birthday party. THE MISSIONS The atmosphere at Aggieland War Games is even better with all of the different game modes or ‘missions’ that they have set up. We played different missions, each requiring a different skills set. In the first mission, our objective was to shoot the other team as many times as possible. When a player is shot, their headband flashes red light, making for a rather interesting, albeit humiliating, walk of shame back to the reset station. The next mission was bomb recovery where one of the employees hid a suitcase in the middle of the arena and then we had to find it and hide it on the other team’s side before time was up. This mission was a bit easier than the first because it didn’t require quite as much shooting skills. Our third mission was like the first in that we were trying to get as many successful shots as possible, but it had an interesting twist where our guns changed every minute or so. We started with the normal style of gun for the first minute, then moved to a sniper gun for the next, and finally we used a machine gun for the last minute. Our last mission was what the employees called “Hunger Games style” because instead of working as teams as we had for the other missions, our only goal was to eliminate the other players.
reviews | the roar |15
friday, sept. 29, 2017
NEW TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD the roar reviews: latest restaurants
kaleigh waguespack | staff reporter
Zoës Kitchen
Trying to find a parking spot was a difficult task alone due to the excessive amount of people stopping to enjoy some food at the newest restaurants in College Station. As I entered the restaurant, Hopdoddy, I was overwhelmed by the amount of noise. With the restaurant as it has , the food was not as great as I was hoping for. The burger and fries failed to meet my expectations. The restaurant was very noisy and the service was ex-
I went to Zoës Kitchen with high expectations, and the new restaurant exceeded them. I ordered the chicken roll ups and a Greek salad. It wasn’t very expensive, and the roll ups were amazing and really filling. The food was delicious, but what really amazed me was the service. My meal was ready in less than ten minutes, and the employees were really friendly. The interior of the restaurant is really casual and the tables are clean. The restaurant is located next to tons of dessert places and
even a small lawn where you could sit and eat your meal. It is an ideal location for a dinner with friends. Overall, I would rate Zoës Kitchen 10/10 for its tasty food and great service. I ordered the chicken roll ups and a Greek salad. The food was delicious, but what really amazed me was the service. My meal was ready in under ten minutes, and the employees were really friendly. The location was ideal for a dinner with friends. Overall, I would rate Zoës Kitchen 10/10.
Hopdoddy
samantha de figueiredo | opinions editor
tremely slow. It took me thirty minutes to get through the line alone and another twenty to receive my food. I was so excited to take the first bite, but when I did I was underwhelmed. The meat was dry and the flavor was not what I had in mind. On the other hand, the fries were delicious. They had a wonderful seasoning that made them even better. Still overall, Hopdoddy was not what I expected in terms of their service and food quality.
16 | etcetera | the roar
friday, sept. 29, 2017
Family Owned AND OPERATED Participation in family business enhances social skills kaleigh waguespack staff reporter For junior Ellie Garrett, family responsibilities extend beyond washing dishes and folding laundry. Since 2007, Garrett has provided her technological expertise to 7F Lodge, her family’s bed and breakfast. “7F is a place I’m proud my parents own,” Garrett said. “[It’s] a place where people can escape the world to enjoy the peace of nature.” 7F Lodge is a bed and breakfast that is one of two business the Garrett family owns. “A lot of people choose to come to 7F because each cabin is on its own and it’s a way for people to get away,” Garrett said. “It’s different than just staying in a hotel because there’s breakfast and several paths for people to walk around the property.” Paired with the walking trails, the unique traditions also appeal to the guests. “Every bride and groom has a rock that has their names and the date of the wedding,” Garrett said. “We have a rock garden for all the old ones and then we added a rock for the weddings that happened before we started the rock garden.” With the few special traditions added to the business, the Garretts have created a personal experience. In hopes that residents remember their stay, Garrett’s primary focus is making posts about the business. “Ellie has been instrumental in helping us with the social media side of our business, she doesn’t
even have to be on the property to do it,” her mother Donna Garrett said. “She mainly helps with promotion.” Helping out with the business is not a problem for Garrett. Seeing her parents’ heavy work load makes her more appreciative and grateful for everything her parents do. “It is time consuming for my parents because it’s not just from 8-5, it’s all day because people are here over night,” Ellie Garrett said. “The only day 7F is closed is Christmas Day so my parents are constantly busy.” Although her parents can feel overwhelmed by the ample amount of work there is, Garrett and her siblings are able to provide assistance when needed. “Luckily we have kids who can help and have the skill sets to help us in our business or at home when we are busy with our other business,” Donna Garrett said . “It’s a juggling act, but we try to put people in place to help us out and so in that regard, it’s doable.” For the Garretts, the central part to keeping multiple businesses running at once is family. Sticking together through all the difficulties and challenges being an owner brings is dire to succeed in owning a business. “I could not be more proud of my parents for growing 7F into the place it is today,” Ellie Garrett said. “Being involved in family owned businesses has taught me the value of hard work and responsibility.”
PHOTO BY KALEIGH WAGUESPACK