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PHOTO BY ALEX ROEDER
When memes are taking over the political discourse Students, staff consider implications of growing use of memes to distribute information alex roeder & saanya patel editor-in-chief & online editor In light of recent news events like the spread of Coronavirus, the Bush Wildfires, and the almost World War III, political memes have taken off throughout the internet-- and with it a raise in awareness, as well as misinformation. According to the Pew Research Center, from 2016 to 2018 there has been a 20% increase in the number of consumers obtaining news from social media, primarily through memes. Memes are a form of commentary that utilize photographs and text to humorously convey ideas. The simplicity of memes allows for a quick and easy news update, sophomore Ben Schmidt says. “Memes are something that are needed in our society to help people get through and understand what is happening around the world,” Schmidt said. CONNECTIONS
inthisissue
news pages 2-4, 8-9
Among teenagers, memes have created a sense of community through humor, which helps the younger generation relate to each other. “I think teenagers like something to laugh at,” freshman Meredith Hart said. “They like something to share with their friends, that they can send other people and make references with each other. I think it's kind of a connection thing.” As the internet’s vast reach steadily increases, this connection can only grow. Along with it, the need for instantaneous results and responses has become increasingly important among teens, which makes memes a convenient way to convey a point. “The idea of getting a point across efficiently is more valuable than dragging something out,” history teacher Chad Cryer said. “Why spend six hours doing something that can be done in six minutes? I think memes serve that purpose.” SPREAD OF INFORMATION
Memes also help people learn about events
opinions pages 5-6
feature page 7, 10-11, 16
in a much simpler form, without having to read an entire article or watching the morning news. “It helps people get aware so people can know ‘holy crap, Iran is kind of being a jerk and America is going to try and do something about it’,” Schmidt said. “It helps people dumb things down.” Along with their convenience, memes give students an outlet to cope with global crises and political issues that are tough to chew, Hart says. “A lot of teenagers these days use humor to cope with their problems or their issues,” Hart said. VALIDITY
The problem is, a meme only provides some of the story, and students rarely take the time to do their research, Cryer says. “I think the way [students are] getting their news, there's not context to it,” Cryer said. “They'll see a meme that is mocking something, but they don't understand what the actual event
“memes” continued on page 3 sports page 12-13
reviews pages 14-15
brief | the roar
UPCOMING
2 | in
Feb. 17-18 Feb. 21
Staff Development
Last Day of the 4th 6 Weeks
Mar. 9-13
Spring Break
Apr. 1
April Fools Day
Apr. 7
English 1 EOC
Apr. 8
NEWS friday, feb.14 , 2020
English 2 EOC
IN THE
Four students place in Special Olympics bowling
At the Austin state competition , four students were awarded medals. Freshman Cade Parkey won gold. Sophomore Zane Thibodeaux and senior Loren Cearley won silver. And sophomore Johan Vazquez placed fifth.
Band, choir students earn All-State honors
For choir, junior Lauren Moore earned all-state honors. Senior band student Emily Downie also earned all-state honors, her second consecutive citation. All-state is the highest honor a Texas student can receive.
19 individuals and four teams advance to BPA state
On Jan. 25 BPA members competed at the regional competion in a variety of business related events. Junior Pravalika Manchi who president of the school chapter of BPA was also elected to continue her role as Area 3 Region 2 President for the second consecutive year. Along with state qualifiers there were three individual alternates and two team alternates.
Principal Gwen Elder is presented wiith the Dave Campbell Community Connector Award. PHOTO BY CLAIRE GRACE FRANKLIN
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Senior Sean Park prepares for his first game in the tennis tournament. PHOTO BY CLAIRE GRACE FRANKLIN
the roar | news | 3
friday, feb. 14, 2020
School community discusses the value, impact of memes on political discourse
“memes” cont. from page 1 “You have Fox News [on the] says, which can create a divide been exposed to different ideas,”
was. So they understand things on a level of ‘everything in the world is stupid’, but not the rationale of why things aren’t as stupid as the memes make them look.” Often, memes also present incorrect information, which can be a real danger to those who accept them as reality, including adults, history teacher Samantha Krinhop says. “Some of it is such extreme nonsense,” Krinhop said. “I don’t know what [teens] are buying into versus scrolling through, but for me, when I see some of that I just keep scrolling. But even watching some of my elderly friends, they are linking things that are a home production.” While click-bait is an issue, confirmation bias--the tendency to seek out information that matches established opinions-is also a problem, Cryer says. “People have their minds made up,” Cryer said. “When they see [a meme], they get this feeling like ‘this satire, this sarcasm proves that I’m right,’ and that feeling that they get from the meme is more valid to them than reading an entire article. So entertainment has more value to them in discussing a point than would scientific logic and reasoning.” The same goes for adults, Krinhop says, but with more major news networks and established platforms. “We tend to gravitate towards commentary that speaks to us,” Krinhop said.
far right and CNN somewhere in the middle, maybe to the to the left of the center. People are going to choose the kind of news that speaks to them. So they’re looking for something that agrees with that.” But before accepting these memes as fact, Cryer urges students to do their research before forming an opinion.
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between generations. “I realized that the younger generation takes that stuff seriously,” Cryer said. “So if I share a meme it is purely a joke, but there have been people who get offended by it. For me, it’s just a political cartoon in the comics section but for them, it’s their news source.” This also plays into the sense
The idea of getting a point across efficiently is more valuable than dragging something out.” history teacher CHAD CRYER
“I’m not sure how many people look at the memes and actually question the validity of what’s being said,” Cryer said. “They take the point made, but don’t actually consider whether the point got there in a valid manner. Like political memes that attack Donald Trump-people who want to dislike him receive the information like this validates it. But it didn’t. It showed a picture with a statement that didn’t have any rationale behind it.” EXPRESSION OF OPINIONS For many teens, the memes they share represent their beliefs and political standing, Cryer
of community that memes can provide people, especially with the various subcultures that emerge online. “I really think there’s a meme to speak to every person and to speak to every event or situation,” Krinhop said. With this availability comes dangers. For elementary-age children, finding out-of-context memes can form their opinion on issues they don’t understand, and embed the cycle of misinformation that memes create early on, Cryer says. “You gotta realize that memes are interesting, but for high school kids who may have
Cryer said. “They’re [also] going to be seen by eight year old kids who have no exposure to things, and they’ll accept it as a legitimate historical idea, which may not be the case.” WHAT NEXT With this in mind, there is a level of decorum necessary when making and sharing memes, Schmidt says, and according to him, politics should not be included in something that is rooted in a joke. “I think memes should be used to make people laugh feel better about their day --memes just don’t belong in a serious conversation,” Schmidt said. “They don’t belong in the news, which is meant to be taken seriously, when the memes are most definitely not.” However, as Generation Z grows up, Hart believes that the presence of memes in news has the potential to expand greatly. “If we see a lot of younger kids become journalists and news reporters, I think we could definitely see some more of that stuff implemented,” Hart said. Cryer agrees, but adds it takes more than just opinions to become a true journalist. “[People are] going to respond somehow or get the news out there,” Cryer said. “We can’t have a country of 340 million people with 340 million journalists, so the news will organize in some capacity, it’ll just be a matter of what capacity they do it.”
4 | news | the roar
friday, feb 14, 2020
they got the beat Band students prepare for percussion concert, work with middle school students elise sawyer & ellie hauge opinions editor & staff reporter Quick, what comes to mind with the word “percussion”? Some might say “drum solos”, but the Night of Percussion event is out to change that. Night of Percussion is a rhythm-only concert consisting of band students from AMCHS. The student musicians will perform pieces as solos, small groups, and full ensembles, using instruments from triangles to marimbas. “Everyone knows the drumline, but [during] concert season, no one really knows what percussionists do,” Senior Seth Zercher said. “In concerts we barely play-- it’s mostly winds and brass. [Night of Percussion] opened up what all was possible with percussion. There is so much more to offer than what’s usually seen.” AMCMS band director Ross Weckesser, who leads and directs Night of Percussion, specifically selected pieces to go a step further with instrumental variety. “I mean, there’s the phrase ‘all that and the kitchen sink’,” Weckesser said. “I literally played on a kitchen sink before as an instrument. There’s another song that I played where my instrument was two rocks that I bonked together. I think that the sheer variety of
things that we can do make it that much more interesting.” The concert also provides opportunities outside of standard high school band concert tradition. The concert is currently open to middle school band students still finding their roles in their sections as well as part-time marching band percussionists. Sophomore Kathryn Crosthwait, who does not typically play with percussion during concert season, participates in the Night of Percussion and enjoys the calm and helpful atmosphere. “[Rehearsal] is a lot calmer because there’s less people... if there’s more horses, you have to hold the reins tighter,” Crosthwait said. “It’s just a little chiller, and you know who everybody is.” Zercher also sees the rehearsals as a more relaxing opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with the percussion section and experiment with the instruments. “We have jokes and we’ll go with whatever,” Zercher said. “We’ll have somewhat of a metronome going. But we’ll take [rehearsing the piece] whatever speed we want just depending on how the morning is going.There’s solos, and [we] see who can come up with the weirdest solo to enjoy. [Structured solos] aren’t ever fun, so we’ll play with how the time works within the metronome. We’ll leave our basics behind and kind of go crazy.”
above: Sophmore Penelope Morris practices the chimes.
Weckesser hopes to encourage variety in the pieces performed in the concert to make up for the more basic percussion parts he often sees in the band’s UIL music. This year’s pieces also originate from many different places. “[My favorite piece is] probably ‘Big Yellow Mambo’,” Crosthwait said. “It’s a Latin piece that we’re collaborating with the middle schools on and I have the bass part. It’s pretty simple and just kind of groovy.” The performance does not just create bonds in between the students. Zercher sees it as a way to show the community the intricacies of percussion. “Night of Percussion is open to the community and public,” Zercher said. “However, it’s not [announced] to the community well. There’s usually, like, one Facebook post and a few flyers around the hallways. But it’s open to anyone who wants to come out. I think most people don’t realize what we’re actually going to do.” Weckesser agrees. “As a player, it’s more than just hitting a drum. There’s melody, there’s harmony. It’s more interesting to listen to, in my opinion.” Weckesser said. Night of Percussion is free at the AMCHS auditorium February 21 from 7 to 9 p.m.
above: Sophmore Robert Behmer is keeping the rhythym playing the timpani.
the roar | opinions | 5
friday, feb. 14, 2020
LIVING FOR TODAY
ian curtis staff reporter
student reflects on fears of future changes, misfortune To put it bluntly, my life is good. That scares me. Everyone goes through trials, tests, and fights. Every day there’s a new sign of someone’s struggle. But I don’t have any tear-jerking stories or gut-wrenching confessions to write about. Sure, maybe there are some difficulties, but overall I’m happy with what I’ve got. But even though I’m content, a part of me is still scared because I know that those struggles are coming. I don’t know what they’ll be or when they’ll come, but they will come. Maybe it’s losing a close friend or family member years in the future. Maybe it’s a car wreck tomorrow. Or maybe it’s something I haven’t even thought of. The point is, I can’t know. I guess it’s the unknown that causes that “fear,” although I think fear is a bit of a strong word for it. It’s more like this: Picture yourself having a good time, just feeling cheerful. It’s nice, right? Suddenly, you hear a sobering little voice in
Last summer, whenever I’d be bored to death, I’d pull out my phone and start a 15 minute timer. I’d then engage in social media and mobile games until the timer ended. My plan was decent; 15 minutes isn’t terribly long, and while phones aren’t the healthiest forms of entertainment, boredom is a justifiable excuse, right? Cue the huge psychological flaw: after the fifteenth minute, I wasn’t able to control myself. I’d stay on my phone and keep using it. And that original quarter hour of fun would turn into half a day of lost time and regret. I became addicted to my device. But why couldn’t I stop? Whenever you look at your phone, your brain releases dopamine, a chemical that incites pleasure. So even if you plan to use your phone for just 15 minutes, the chemical supply may hook you to your phone for hours, and even cause device addiction. That summer, I would use my phone until late at night, destroying my sleep schedule. I’d exist on merely two or three hours of sleep, only to stay up the next night immersed in apps. I became tired and addicted. Worst of all, at first, I couldn’t admit to myself that I was overusing my phone. I’d give myself excuses, like “oh, I just won’t use my phone tomorrow”. Yeah, right. While my issues mostly lay in wanting to use my phone at night and therefore not functioning well, device usage has countless other problematic effects. The blue light emitted from a device screen causes loss of focus, which in turn can impair deep thinking. We are so dependent on devices that being away from them has been known to cause abnormalities in heart rate and breathing. Also, phone addiction can cause anxiety and depression. Although I’m a bit of a mess when it comes to my phone, I pride myself on one thing: recognition of my addiction. The first step of overcoming an addiction is acceptance, and it’s the most important thing you can do for yourself. “I use my phone too much. I need to use it less.” Most teenagers who own devices can relate to my story on some level.
your head whisper. “This can’t last forever.” “Think of how easily all this could go wrong.” That leads you down a rather depressing train of thought, before it slips your mind again. Sure, I’ve had idle thoughts of “what would happen if so-and-so died?” and “what would I do if I lost a limb?” But that’s just it: idle thoughts. Everything turns out fine and I’m able to live my life how I want. But it won’t turn out that way. I know that when I’m inevitably confronted with an event of that caliber, one of two things will happen. Either the big event will be something completely out of left field that I never saw coming, or it will completely obliterate whatever expectations I have. Either way, it won’t be pretty. There is a simple remedy to these thoughts. In three words: live for today. Simple, but not easy. It’s one of those things that just happens with a lot of thinking and reflection. At least for me, I just realized that those struggles would happen no matter what, and there isn’t really a point in stressing about what I don’t have control over. To some, that may sound depressing. But to me, it’s liberating. I know I have good times now, so I might as well enjoy them while I can. It sure beats pulling my hair out over stuff that may be years away. However, it’s a whole lot easier to write this out than to actually live it. How many times have you seen someone post a motivational or inspirational quote somewhere? Quite a lot, but they are rarely truly lived out by whoever posts them. It’s something I and anyone else who wants to live this way is constantly working on. But in the end, all we can do is try to live our lives to the fullest, and live for today. And while it may seem depressing at first, having that attitude can really make you feel free. I know it works for me. Want to talk about your anxieties towards the future or the inspirational quotes you might not ever impliment into your life? Email Ian at ian.curtis.the.roar@gmail. com.
We live in a day and age when technology is everywhere and its usage is either necessary or encouraged. Countless times I’ve needed to pull out my phone in between classes to check or send a text or do a quick search on the Internet. It’s only natural that a lot of people get swept into being on devices too often. So, take a moment and recognize your device usage. How often do you use it, and for how long? Does it affect your sleep? Do you suffer from withdrawal symptoms? Can you put it down when you’re finished? It’s important to determine where you stand in terms of device usage, because hopefully, you want to be able to stop after that fifteenth minute. You don’t want any regrets or lost time. Want to talk about how you use your devices? Email Medha at the.roar.medha. sarim@gmail.com.
LOST TIME
medha sarim staff reporter
freshman confronts technology addiction, symptoms of device usage
6 | viewpoints | the roar
friday, feb.14, 2020
The Roar News
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The Roar 2019-2020 Staff Memes are an integral part of the online experience. Corporations use them to create buzz, people have become famous (or infamous) for being related to them, and many recent movements have been rooted in them. It’s difficult to pin down what an ‘internet meme’ really is due to the sheer variety of them, but, put simply, they are information tidbits displayed through an image, audio, or video ‘format’ which fits with its main idea. Trends usually arise from either a format or topic becoming popular, and until recently, they were mostly on less serious topics. Many of today’s memes, though, are based on current events and debates: on Monday, half of the ‘top this week’ posts from Reddit’s “r/memes” page were focused on current issues. It’s not like jokes about politics and world news are new-- they certainly aren’t-- but lately, everything newsworthy seems to manifest in the memes on the internet as a joke. Is this a way to spread awareness of or cope with the events we are facing? Or are we going a bit too far? Although these memes can help bring recognition to issues, there is a limit to their usefulness. There is some good in joking about news. In some ways, many of these trends have been outlets for teenagers to express frustration with current events and their inability to really contribute to them. A joke about global warming wreaking havoc on the world or a quip about possible drafting for a war could just be an example of using morbid humor to cope, something that isn’t remotely new. In addition, some memes are meant as satirical commentary. The “30-50 feral hogs” meme from 2019 was meant to criticize the talking points of people against assault rifle restrictions, the ‘okay, Boomer’ meme was initially satirical of the “millennials ruined _____” editorials, and the current ‘Nancy Pelosi ripping Donald Trump’s Speech’ format makes fun of her action. Some memes even bring awareness to
various problems, such as a recent meme trend that tricked companies that sold stolen artwork into shutting themselves down. But memes about serious subjects often do more harm than good. They can easily spread misinformation, since people can share memes about current events without checking if the facts are legitimate. Jokes from memes can also cause the spread of misinformation on other platforms. Teenagers across the country were sent messages from numbers pretending to be the US Army to trick people into thinking they were drafted-- so many were sent that the Army had to confirm that the messages were fake. There’s an additional problem with memes as they relate to current events: their ability to spread stereotypes en masse as jokes (think: ‘starter pack’ memes). These can cause disaster when paired with current events. Some of the memes about the coronavirus, for example, encourage racist and antiimmigrant sentiments through jokes to the point where students are getting bullied at schools since they ‘probably have the coronavirus’. It’s not like the memes are helping people become aware of the virus— news media is giving plenty of coverage of it— and it’s not like there’s any real reason to make memes to argue about the virus, since there aren’t large groups of people defending it. These memes, like many others, are causing unnecessary panic and spreading lies. Some internet memes are great for spreading awareness about current events or demonstrating ideas, but many just repeat the same dark jokes that get old quickly and spread toxic sentiments. Even ones meant to help people deal with problems can spiral out of control and cause more harm than good. Discussions of current events, basically, should include more than just an image macro.
“[Memes] delegitimize important and serious news.” -junior Sarah Poore
“It depends because everyone has a different taste in memes and people are going to judge differently. Sometimes it could be a good meme, but sometimes it could be really risky. Its tentative.” -freshman Annabella Nolan
Alex Roeder Ruby Perry-Mize Allen Zhang Claire Grace Franklin Saanya Patel Elise Sawyer Emmeline Duhon Allison Segers Piper Hitchcock Madison Stanfield Heidi Fahrenwald Ellie Hague Myla Cathey ian Curtis Medha Sarim Faculty Adviser Michael Williams Assistant Adviser Chauncey Lindner
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Executive Editor Senior Editor Online Editor Opinions Editor Feature Editor Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Social Media Editor Staff Reporters
The Roar Editorial Board Alex Roeder • Elise Sawyer • Ruby Perry-Mize 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 20072013, 2015, and 2018 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.
the roar | snapshots | 7
friday, feb. 14, 2020
get the picture Students create, present art in a region level competition allen zhang & heidi fahrenwald executive editor & staff reporter Students across Texas come together every February to compete in The Visual Arts Scholastic Event, a multi-stage art competition where students design creative art pieces. The competition, more commonly known as VASE, has been a key focus of the art community within Consol. Art teacher Jamie Bevans has been helping students prepare for it for the past 20 years. “I was the first one who got it started in Region 6 [for VASE] in 1994,” Bevans said. “Previously, it was only a pilot program in Houston.” The program is run by the Texas Art Education Association, which is made up of art teachers from all around the state. The competition offers the students the opportunity to see the work of more than 13,000 fellow art enthusiasts. “Each state has their own different type of contest, but nobody runs it the way we do,” Bevans said. “It’s unique to every state.” The first round of the competition is held at the regional level, with the winners of these subdivisions advancing to state. Last year, junior Ashley Liu went through the process after
advancing to the state competition. “One thing that changes is that the judges get progressively pickier as you advance to each stage,” Liu said. “The judging varies significantly. Different judges look for different things.” The event is different from a traditional art competition. Instead of just having an art piece, students are also required to prepare a story that describes the deeper meaning behind it. Every step of the event is thoroughly laid out, Liu says. “You arrive [at the competition], and then you have to wait for your time,” Liu said. “Judges come out and you get interviewed about your piece, [then] they look at all the pieces and vote.” Students are awarded for more unique and original ideas and are also encouraged to incorporate a multitude of different elements. There are several steps that students have to follow to achieve that, Liu explains. “Once you have a concrete idea, [you] start building references, like poses, [and] focus on object color theory,” Liu said. “The foundation [is] created through a color theme; color should be contrasting and it should all just fit in.” Just like writers’ block, art also presents obstacles of its own. Struggling to think of a cohesive, complex idea is a common issue. “My drawings are inspired from a lot of things,” Liu said. “If I get stuck, I look through
Twitter and look through the work of a lot of talented artists.” For the most part, the competition is flexible when it comes to choosing the topics of art pieces. Senior Tara Citirik has chosen a more personal approach towards her painting. She draws her inspiration from a beloved pet, who has been in her life for over 13 years. “My dog is unique and inspiring to me and I’ve taken the pictures myself,” Citirik said. One drawback is that the competition is extremely time consuming, Liu says. To create a good art piece, students have to dedicate a significant amount of their own time. “In AP Art, it’s like a painting every week, so there’s really no time for you to focus on a VASE painting,” Liu said.”To prepare for the competition, we have to spend special time towards designing the pieces.” Throughout the years, CSISD has seen numerous successes on both the regional and state level. Artists from both high schools have produced high level pieces that have placed extremely well at the competition. “We have never not had a piece go to state,” Bevans said. “In some years, we’ve even had ten go to state. We have been blessed with great kids.”
Freshman Akshitha Nandhakumar
Seniors Kayla Bennett and Avery Hamff
Junior Aimee Li
PHOTOS BY HEIDI FAHRENWALD
8 | student
life | the roar
the roar | student life| 9
friday, feb. 14, 2020
When can I drive in Texas? STEP ONE: If you are 14 years or older, you can begin driver’s ed through either a driver training school or parent-taught driver’s education (PTDE). PTDE requires parents to register with the state and get course material. Alternatively, you can check with your high school to see if there is a driver’s ed class there (there is not one at Consol). STEP TWO: If you are at least15 (and younger than 18) and have completed the hours required by your driver’s education course (some require completion of the first six hours, others require the whole course to be completed), you can obtain a learner’s license from the DMV. Make sure to bring all the required documents, which can be found on the Texas DPS website! STEP THREE: With your learner’s liscense, you can drive as long as you are accompanied by a liscensed driver over 21. You also aren’t allowed to use wireless/hands-free devices (through calling, texting, etc) in most situations. You are expected to have 30 hours of behind-the-wheel experience with supervision before you can continue. Ten of these should be at night. You will have this license for at least six months (unless you turn 18). STEP FOUR: In addition to the driving experience, you are required to do the “Impact Texas Teen Drivers” program within 90 days of your driver’s test. It is a video course approximately two hours long on distracted driving. STEP FIVE: When you are ready to take your driving test (which can be done both through the DMV or, occasionally, through third-party organizations), make sure to have everything the DPS requires so you can get your provisional license if you pass! Go to the DMV and get your license! STEP SIX: Start driving!.... with restrictions. Your provisional license, which will expire when you turn 18, still has the ‘no wireless communications’ rule, as well as curfew rules (no driving from midnight to 5 am unless you have official permission/are in an emergency) and passenger rules (you aren’t allowed to drive more than one person under 21 that you aren’t related to). For more information, check the Texas Department of Public Safety’s website.
Driving to School? AMCHS offers students the chance to purchase parking permits at schedule pickup which allow them to park in school lots. Students are given parking passes that must be on the car in the lot to indicate that they are allowed to park. In addition, students can have their own reserved parking spaces through the PTO that guarantees them a space during school hours, if they choose to purchase one. A student must paint their reserved space during the summer before the beginning of the school year, and although there are several restrictions on what can be painted on these spaces, students still have the leeway to express themselves artistically (or just paint their graduation year).
Driven to Succeed Staff compiles information on driving, student input on the driving process elise sawyer & allison segers opinions editor and entertainment editor
“What’s the most difficult part of driving?” “I think driving in the dark is hard because it’s really difficult to see.” - sophomore Jamie Siegel ‘[The most difficult part of driving] is splitting my attention between everything I must be aware of.” - sophomore Fariha Zahid
“What advice would you give to new drivers?” “I would tell a new driver to take it slow and don’t stress out about anything.” - sophomore Jamie Siegel “Have confidence and don’t freak out.” - sophomore Fariha Zahid
I got a ticket. What do I do? For most minors, your ticket can be dismissed by taking the defensive driving course. You can take this course if you: 1. Haven’t taken this course within the past 12 months 2. Don’t have your CDL or commercial driver’s license 3. Not currently taking this course for a different offense However, you cannot take this course if you: 1. Were speeding 25 or more over the speed limit 2. Don’t have car insurance
“What do you think the best part of having a liscense would be?” “I think the best part of having a license would be the freedom of not making your parents be your chauffeur.” - sophomore Jamie Siegel “The best part is the knowledge that my parents really couldn’t stop me if I went for a snack run at 2am.” - sophomore Fariha Zahid
3. Passed a school bus 4. Have a construction zone violation 5. If you left the scene of an accident
10 | feature | the roar
friday, feb. 14, 2020
band of brothers Two man band developing sound, working to create opportunities for future claire grace franklin | senior editor Bands have been a staple of high school culture since the beginning of rock and roll. Seniors Timothy Pappoe and Yousef Hilal are carrying on the tradition of teenage musicianship with their indie rock band Copper’s Cove. “Copper’s Cove is the best thing that you’ve never heard of,” Pappoe said. The band is close and has a bond, Pappoe says. Their connection creates an atmosphere of positivity and fun. “I think that’s kind of the reason that we get along together,” Pappoe said. “We have the same goals. We both want to go to college and become doctors. He’s pretty much me, but Arab.” But being in a band isn’t all fun and games, Hilal said. “The first couple of months were a struggle,” Hilal said. “It was kind of difficult with time [management] because we’re both really busy. It’s not really the startup that’s hard, it’s trying to become more mature with the band itself.” The comfortable dynamic comes through to those watching and enjoying their music, Copper’s Cove manager senior Ellie Rhoades says. “I think they’re both really hilarious guys,” Rhoades said. “The dynamic of them having great personalities and being great people just makes the whole group such an awesome thing.” The start-up of a band requires confidence with self expression,
Pappoe says. “You have to be willing to put yourself out there,” Pappoe said. “We’re just having fun. But realistically, we don’t really care what other people think. We are more willing to express ourselves however we like.” The band is currently a strong duo, but they are open to eventually expanding to include more members, Pappoe says. “We’re good with the number of people we have,” Pappoe said. “It would be cool if we had a piano player and drum player to make it sound more full, but it fits our vibe. Right now we’re just chilling.” Rhoades is currently working on gigs at local public venues, which will help the band with publicity and gaining traction. “I help out with events and managing their time,” Rhoades said. “They’re still not huge, but we’re working to get there. I manage events and make sure everyone knows where and when [the events are].” Rhoades and the band are working together to progress and make plans for the future. “I feel like we just get together and work,” Hilal said. “Our manager is actually like the brains behind operation ‘B.’ She’s going to tell us where we should play.” The band and the manager work well together and have similar aspirations for the future of the band, Rhoades says. “I think that they can go super great [if] they keep doing this,” Rhoades said. “I think that you can see a whole lot more of College Station area right now and then hopefully, bigger [gigs].”
Want more of Copper’s Cove? Follow on Instagram:
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the roar | feature | 11
friday, Feb. 14, 2020
Shoes to Fill Interim superintendent adjusts to new responsibilities, helps district’s transition emmeline duhon & myla cathy feature editor & staff reporter CSISD is facing a shift in management, as Deputy Superintendent, Mike Martindale, takes the place as interim superintendent. Earlier this year, as former superintendent Dr. Clark Ealy moved to another position, Martindale was elected as the Interim Superintendent. Martindale moved to College Station in 2007, and has since called it home. Geralyn Nolan is the vice president of the school board. During her time on the board, she has collaborated with Martindale. “Before I was elected to the school board, Mr. Martindale and I were on numerous district planning committees,” Nolan said. “Once elected, he and I both served on the Intergovernmental Relations Committee and Community Based Accountability Systems.” Since Martindale’s former position was closely tied with that of a superintendent, he felt sufficiently prepared for the interim role. “As Deputy Superintendent, I work really closely with Dr. Ealy,” Martindale said. “So there are times where I feel he has multiple events, or responsibilities, that are kind of my role also.” Nolan, who has worked closely with Martindale as deputy superintendent, believes he will be successful for the interim role. “I think Mr. Martindale has done a fine job as deputy superintendent,” Nolan said. “He has successfully set and managed a very large budget.” Nolan also believes that Martindale has the experience to be a good leader for the students of CSISD. “Mike Martindale has shown me that he is passionate about the education of all students,” Nolan said. “He is also a very
good listener and has experience at all levels that I believe will help him understand the needs of our youngest to oldest students.” As Dr. Ealy moves on to another position, Martindale is confident that he will still be able to consult with Dr. Ealy for important decisions. “Dr. Ealy has been a tremendous help and will continue to be even as he transitions to his new position,” Martindale said. “We’re colleagues and friends, so I have no doubt that during the interim time that I can pick up the phone and call him anytime for feedback.”
When faced with the list of responsibilities, Martindale is fully confident that he can manage his new workload. “I foresee it just being a greater scope as opposed to a lot of things changing,” Martindale said. “I just want to have more of those responsibilities that I wouldn’t have as many as deputy superintendent.” Working along with the superintendent, as well as having experience in a smaller district, Martindale is prepared for the role. “I have some previous experience in a much smaller district for several years,” Martindale said. “Being here as Deputy Superintendent the last four years is a positive experience also preparing me for serving this position.” Martindale is extremely content in the interactions of the job, and the benefits that they entail, he says. “The best part is really going to campus and seeing what’s going on,” Martindale said. “I think what energizes me and helps to keep me focused is interacting with students.” Although the superintendent position has the final say, Martindale steadily relies on the help of the school board for decisions. “They really provide the vision,” Martindale said. “It’s the superintendent’s responsibility to turn that into action.” Martindale feels that the community and the district are his biggest support systems. “I have great teachers and great schools, and excellent community,” Martindale said. “So as an interim, my responsibility is just to ensure that things continue to operate along those lines while the board makes a decision.” The actual hiring of a new superintendent is not in Martindale’s hands, but in the hands of the community, and the Board of Directors. “I really haven’t been involved with that particular work much,” Martindale said. “It’s really up to our Board of Directors to kind of determine the process that they want to go through, and that will kind of dictate their time.”
12 | sports | the roar
TOP OF THE HEAP
friday, feb. 14, 2020
Junior Cade Cannon faces off against his opponent. Photo Credit: Chris Mapp
Wrestlers overcome low membership, create community on tight-knit team emmeline duhon & piper hitchcock feature editor & sports editor With their recent wins at regionals and state duals, the wrestling team is enjoying greater success, which they attribute to their hard work and chemistry. “Last year we had holes in our lineup where JV wrestlers had to fill in for varsity, but this year we don’t,” head coach David Salyer said. “I think we also put in a little bit more time, so we’ve become more dedicated. I think we’re stronger, we’re faster, and we work hard.” Junior Anthony Criscione has noticed the increasing level of intensity during practice, along with the merging of grade levels between the teams, he says “We’ve had a lot of good people step up from the lower grades,” Criscione said. “They [lead] by example at practice, and when it comes down to it, they’re just good people.” Junior Jacob Sanchez feels that despite age differences, the whole team is consistent in showing commitment to performance. “We realized that it really does matter how hard we go in practice,” Sanchez said. “Everyone is pushing themselves harder [than previous years], and we don’t let each other rest or slow
down. We’re not going to get better unless we’re pushing ourselves.” The team overcame the adversities that were included with having fewer wrestlers, and now view their lack of members as an advantage, senior Connor George said. “We all have our goal of getting fifth in state, and I think our team really motivates each other [to do that],” George said. “Even if a player loses, they know that they’re still a part of our team, and that we don’t care because they’re family.” Along with fewer participants, there are many physically difficult aspects for the players to overcome. Many of the wrestlers agree that weight cutting alone is the hardest part of the sport. “We usually sit in a sauna to sweat, but when we go to hotels before tournaments, they don’t have saunas,” Sanchez said. “So we close the bathroom and turn the water on really hot, then stuff towels under the door so the heat doesn’t escape-- I don’t know if that’s even allowed. But it works, and we do what we have to.” Before the sun comes up, the wrestling team is wide awake, doing all they can to cut down their body mass, George says. “This year alone I’ve woken up three times at 3 a.m. just because we have to wake up and be in the school at 6 a.m.,” George said. “There are no gyms open at that time, so I throw on four
pairs of sweatpants and run laps.” However, the wildest trick in the book to lose weight that the boys have taken to is spitting in a bottle, says junior Gavin Word. “We eat jolly ranchers or gum, and then we spit in a bottle to fill them up because spit weighs more than water, and it’s an easier way to get water weight out, rather than just waiting to go pee,” Word said. Despite the many challenges faced by the wrestlers, they are excited to see where they are going in the future, and committed to the small family they have built through the years, Criscione says. “[Through wrestling], you get to feel that chance of victory,” Criscione said. “The team-just having that alone is enough to draw people in because it’s a nice, small family right there.” To multiple players, the chemistry they share with teammates is more rewarding than the victory itself. “I stayed in just because I love my team and I love the sport, so it’s pretty great,” George said. “It’s not like I look forward to [wrestling], but in the end, it’s the time I’m spending with my team, it’s making me better, and deep down I know I need to do it either way.”
friday, feb. 14, 2020
THE NEXT SIGN
the roar |
sports | 13
Student athletes, coaches discuss commitments to play for college teams ruby perry-mize & ian curtis managing editor & staff reporter
Senior Nate Floyd commits to Texas Tech University where he will play football in the fall of 2020. PHOTO BY Ruby Perry-Mize
Senior Brian Darby signs with the University of Oklahoma for football and will attend in the fall of 2020. PHOTO BY Ruby Perry-Mize
All athletes as well as their families and coaches pose together at the end of the second signing day. PHOTO BY Ruby Perry-Mize
Of the more than a million high school football players in America, roughly seven percent will ever play a college snap. But on early signing day, no fewer than three Consol players signed with major Power Five programs: senior wide receivers Devin Price and Brian Darby signed with Texas A&M and Oklahoma, while senior cornerback Nate Floyd will play for Texas Tech. Part of Floyd’s rationale for attending Texas Tech was wanting to stay within reach of College Station, he says. ”It came down towards the end between Tech and Missouri,” Floyd said. “But it really came down to being closer to home. The majority of the away games at Tech are like in Waco and Austin.” For Darby, Oklahoma’s appeal was based on its coaching staff, he says. He feels he will be able to work particularly well with Head Coach Lincoln Riley, given his ability to relate to the players. “Coach Riley is a very young coach for college coaches,” Darby said. “I just feel like he knows us better than most coaches really can. The whole coaching staff, they all treat us like their sons. They take care of us.” In Price’s case, Consol’s
reputation was a factor in A&M’s interest. His work ethic and willingness to improve also caught the college’s attention, head coach Jimbo Fisher says. “Knowing he played for Coach Fedora at A&M Consolidated, we knew Devin was a good teammate,” Fisher said. “We also knew he had good character. He comes from a great family and is not afraid of working hard and learning.” Price sees his role on the team as doing his best in whatever capacity the coaches choose for him, he says. “I’m just a guy who wants to go in, and there’s a bunch of people on the team that want to go in,” Price said. “So if I’m successful, I can help the team be successful.” Darby believes his greatest asset for his new team is his flexible nature. “Coach Riley likes to put people in different schemes,” Darby said. “I think the more versatile you are, the more you step out there on the field, so I feel like I’ll be able to do good with the schemes.” In order to maintain focus on school and football, Price has to shut out lessthan-constructive criticism from others, he says. “There’s a lot of people
telling you you’re not good enough, other people saying they’re better than you, stuff like that,” Price said. “Just focus on yourself, and you can only do what your mind tells you. So you’ve got to keep your head on straight and do your best.” Fisher emphasizes the importance of such focus in high school in order to do well at the collegiate level. “Ability combined with determination, both athletically and academically, provides an opportunity for young people,” Fisher said. “We recruit the type of prospect to come into our program and make [it] better.” For Floyd, being able to play at the next level allows him to follow in his former teammates’ footsteps and adds to the joy of getting signed, he says. “[Darby, Price, and I] just always watched those who are ahead of us succeed in their dreams,” Floyd said. “I never thought I’d be able to do it.” All three athletes express their gratitude to the schools they will play for, and Darby is especially thankful for the chance to play at the next level, he says. “I was just thankful that I could get an opportunity to play past high school,” Darby said. “I’ve just always wanted that opportunity, so I’m very blessed to get that.”
14 | reviews | the roar
friday, feb. 14, 2020
SWEET SUPRISES
the roar reviews: ferro golden gallery chocolate box Ian Curtis | staff reporter
“Biancoretti” The smooth white chocolate taste seems to glide over your tongue before youbreak into the light, almost flaky almond interior. It’s the kind of treat that will leave a taste in your mouth and keep you longing for more.
Claire Grace Franklin | senior editor
“Hazelnut Duo” The chocolate was smooth and the small chunks of hazelnuts gave it texture. Chocolate is one of my favorite deserts. The aftertaste was tasty and not bitter. I was definitely wanting more after my first piece.
Elise Sawyer | opinions editor
“Milk cupola” The chocolate’s fun spherical shape added a satisfyingly crisp sophistication to what’s essentially a three-musketeers candy.
Saanya Patel | online editor “Coffee meastria” This piece of dark chocolate had a coffee filling inside and it was amazing! I love chocolate and I love coffee so I wasn’t surprised that I basically decided that this chocolate was better than most human beings. It definitely surpassed my expectations.
Heidi Fahrenwald | staff reporter
“Giandujot Ferrero” This oval-shaped piece was the perfect combination of milk chocolate and hazelnut although overall it was too sweet for me. The filling reminded me somewhat of nutella with a strong aftertaste.
Ruby Perry-Mize | managing editor
“White opera” This delicious sweet has a white chocolate shell with a creamy hazelnut center and is just enough crisp. Chef’s kiss, even for someone who doesn’t like white chocolate.
friday, feb. 14, 2020
love at first sight
the roar | reviews | 15
The Roar reviews: romcoms
madison stanfield|social media editor
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d | staff reporter
Heidi Fahrenwal
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there’s nothing better than eating a pint of ice cream and watching an old romantic movie. The only problem is, there are so many movies to choose from, but for me, there is one movie that reigns supreme: “Dirty Dancing”. It has been one of my favorite movies since the moment I watched Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey do the iconic lift at the end of the movie. It has a great soundtrack that has some original and vintage songs that really give the movie its 60s flare. Swayze, a professional dancer, really shines in every scene, and Grey brings her character to life. But the best part of the movie is the romance between Baby and Johnny. Baby becomes more independent and goes against her parents’ wishes to be with Johnny, and Johnny is no longer afraid of not being good enough for her by getting her father’s approval. I would highly recommend this movie if you’re looking for a fun watch that will leave you having the time of your life.
ery single girl ple reason that ev sim e th r fo k” oo eb ppy sob to watch “The Not was hop on the sa do to d te an w I For years I refused g thin ally being forced ed with it. The last to find love. After fin d te I knew was obsess an w I e us ca th all the hype. y bedroom be e Notebook is wor Th s: es nf story and cry in m co to ng ve natural , I have somethi er and obviously ha th ge to g in az to watch the movie am e ar ters d onto the charac Rachel McAdams he tc la y kl ic qu I at Ryan Gosling and d th overall and it gives off an is so well develope y so or al st ul e tif Th au . ry be ist is chem the movie ve” cliche, but nematography of assic “forbidden lo cl e th on es emotionally. The ci rid e mascara gic vibe. The plotlin g my eyes out with lin w ba f el ys m d vintage and nostal I foun tually a totally end of the movie, lusion that it was ac nc co e it just works. By the th to e m co face, and I’ve running down my tertaining ride. awesome and en
16 | etc. | the roar
friday, feb. 14, 2020
on a high note
Student actors participate in musical competition, discuss benefits, reflect on experience madison stanfield & medha sarin social media editor & staff reporter This year, the curtains are opening on a new opportunity for the choir’s musical production: “Footloose” has been entered into the Jimmy Awards, and it’s not just choir students that get to be a part of the fun. “We knew we had a lot of talent in the choir, but we also wanted to try and find a way to include talents other than singing,” choir director Emily Ramos said. “It’s a great musical in general, but it really showed off a lot of different people’s talents.” Not only does the more inclusive cast enrich “Footloose”, it’s a major step in improving the show’s chances for the Jimmys, a national competition in which high school musicals compete for a variety of awards including Best Actor and Best Actress. Junior Lauren Moore has been interested in the award program since middle school. “I’ve been really wanting to do it, but our school has never signed up before,” Moore said.
Not only were the Jimmys a dream come true for some cast members, for others, it was the motivation to give their best performance. “That’s when I finally decided I needed to fully embrace my role even if it wasn’t something I was super interested in doing,” senior Coleman Maxwell said. “[The musical] ended up being a really awesome experience.” With the opportunity of winning best actor or actress, actors like junior Bo Cochran tried to dig deep with their characters. “The more you can bring yourself to your character, the easier it is for the audience to believe [the character],” Cochran, who played Willard Huitt, said. “On that basis, the fact that I can bring myself into Willard so much, I think it gives me a chance.” For Cochran, the Jimmys gave the musical a purpose beyond simple entertainment. “[Performing’s] still for the audience and entertaining because that’s what I love about it,” Cochran said. “But [the Jimmy Awards] changed [performing] to more of a competition for sure, just like you’re fighting for something instead of doing it to prove it to yourself.” The ability of the cast to associate with their characters added to the success of the musical.
“We have a lot of people whose characters were absolutely perfect for them, like Coleman and [Christina Williams, who played Vi Moore],” Moore said. “You could just tell that they literally look like a married couple. And it’s just really cool to see them come together on stage.” The producer and choreographer, Kathryn Lys, went on to express admiration for the cast’s work ethic. “I am just so proud of what everybody’s brought to their character,” Lys said. “If they are feeling a lot of pressure, I don’t see it. Every single one of [the main actors] could pursue a career in acting if they wanted to.” Overall, the Jimmys seemed to have a strong influence on the musical. “To know that we might have the possibility to get something else and have a bit more recognition for all the work that we were putting in definitely helped and changed our work ethic,” Moore said. Regardless of the outcome of the Jimmys, sophomore Antonio West found this year’s musical an emotional experience. “I love my Footloose family,” West said. “They made my first ever musical the best musical I could ever ask for.”