The Roar News
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01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01101111 1801 HARVEY MITCHELL PKWY. S., COLLEGE STATION, TX 77840 | FRIDAY, sept. 25, 2020 | VOL. 26 01110010 NO. 1 | THEROARNEWS.COM
01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 100 years of football 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 00100000 and 01110010 homecoming 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 PAGE 8&9 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 Virtual, in person learners compare experiences, weigh benefits, disadvantages 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 opportunity to take of safety measures. Troy is especially glad ruby perry-mize & medha sarin to avoid losing the 01110010 01101111 01110010 01110100 her animation and law classes, even 01100001 he chose online after hearing from01101000 inmanaging editor & section editor though she is concerned for the health of 01110010 person friends and seeing01100001 the setup of01110010 his 01100101 00100000 01101111 classrooms 01100101 over video calls, he says. 01110010 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, vulnerable family members. 00100000 01110100 00100000 “It was a difficult decision,” Giles said. “I 01101000 “One of my friends went in person for a CSISD has joined school districts across 01100001 00100000 01110100 01101000 my hand is being forced 01110010 couple of days and then switched to online, the nation in adapting its curriculum to a don't enjoy the fact01101111 understand there's not a 01110010 because they were really uncomfortable at virtual environment. However, both virtual in this. Logically, I 01100101 00100000 01101111 01100001 01110010 learning and the traditional on-campus lot I can do. Everyone's just trying their best school,” Troy said. “In my Zoom lectures, 00100000 01110010 go as easily01110100 and safely 01101000 people in the01100101 class are not wearing masks learning are drastically different from to make this year00100000 just wish we01100001 had some 01110010 and the teacher sometimes doesn't wear a pre-pandemic education, and students as possible, but I 01101111 00100000 01110100 01101000 more agreeable on mask. That really makes me uncomfortable, have more factors than just their safety to methods that were or it would if 01101111 I were there.” 01100001 01110010 consider when deciding each six weeks everyone’s part.” 01100101 00100000 01110010 00100000 01110100 01100101 00100000 Sophomore Catelyn Cox took an 01101000 Junior Keeley Loyd admits 01110010 she whether to attend school on site. she’s attending band wishes district administration did more to For sophomore Owen Troy, an online intermediate path:01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 student, no factor is more important than practice in person but taking all her other mitigate the spread of coronavirus, though 01101111 01100001 01110010 classes online. 01100101 00100000 01110010 she understands they likely have reasons the risk of infection. “I trust the directors are going to make 01101000 for not implementing procedures, “My parents and myself are really 00100000 01110100 01100101more 00100000 01110010 worried about COVID-19,” Troy said. “We sure I'm in a very safe environment,” Cox she says. 01100101 01101111 01100001 01110010 I don't00100000 know the 01110010 “All the steps they're taking to be safe have grandparents that live in town, and said. “My other classes, I didn't know what it 01101000 for our students [are] really good,” Loyd 01110100 01100101 00100000 01110010 so we want to be careful for them. Family teachers, and so00100000 rather be the one said. “I also think there could be more that friends who also live in town are immune would be like. [I] would 01101111 01100001 01110010 00100000 01101000 they could have done, but01110100 I bet in their eyes compromised, so we need to be really who could control my environment.” 01100101 00100000 01110010 For some students, staying at home 01110010 they are also01101111 like, ‘We can’t01100001 do that careful.” of avoiding the virus. Senior Sydnee Giles’ choice was is more than a matter 01100101 00100000 01110010 01101111 01100001 01110010 “Learning” continued on page 3 complicated by the courses she is taking. It’s a decision made in light of what they 00100000enforcement 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 She decided to attend school in person consider to be inadequate 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010
THE GREAT DIVIDE
inthisissue
news pages 2-4
opinions pages 5-6, 16
feature page 7-11
sports page 12-13
reviews pages 14-15
brief | the roar
UPCOMING
2 | in
Oct. 3 Cross Country @ CSISD Varsity Invintational Oct. 9 Football Consol vs San Angelo Central Oct. 12 Staff Development Day Oct. 16 Volleyball Consol vs Magnolia West Oct. 31 Halloween Nov. 1 Daylight Savings Nov. 3 Election Day
NEWS friday, sept. 25, 2020
IN THE
Two students to represent Texas at Global Youth Institiute
Senior Ruby Perry-Mize and junior Kelly He will attend the Global Youth Institute. In November. They will discuss pressing issues relating to world hunger and poverty with leading figures in the worlds of science, industry, and policy. Normally held in Des Moines, Iowa, this year the event will be virtual. In order to be selected as delegates, students had to write a paper on a certain subject that is related to food security within a specified country and how the lives of a typical family in that country might be improved.
CSISD students return to in-person schooling
The girls cross country team runs to their first place finish at the Montgomery Invitational PHOTO PROVIDED BY GRACE KRINHOP
After being away from campus for five months, on August 20 students returned to schools for the first day of school. Given the choice between in-person and virtual learning, at Consol roughly 70% of students elected to return while around 30% selected the virtual. Those who choose to attend online will have the option to return every six weeks. In person students will also be able to choose whether or not to continue on campus at the same point. While at school, students will have to wear masks and maintain acceptable levels of social distancing at all times possible.
Volleyball falls to 6A Cy Ranch in season opener
The Tigers were defeated in three sets by the Mustangs. Consol begins district 19-5A play Sept. 29 at Katy Paetow. The next home game is Oct. 6 against Waller. The teacher appreciation game is against CSHS on Oct. 9, while the Oct. 27 match against Brenham will be the “Block Out Breast Cancer� game. Homecoming will be on Nov 6 against Rudder. The final game of the season will be played Nov 13 when Consol plays host to Magnolia. Junior Kellly He receives her Global Youth Institute award. She and senior Ruby Perry-Mize will be two of six representatives from Texas to attend. PHOTO PROVIDED BY CSISD
theroarnews.com
the roar | news | 3
friday, sept. 25 , 2020
Students express expectations, difficulties of contrasting schooling options, attitudes “Learning” continued from page 1 because of this and this and this.’” Giles is concerned by how close students are to each other in common areas like the hallways and the cafeteria, but she knows the space administration has to work with is limited, she says. However, she would like to see stricter enforcement of the rules on the stairwells. “There are a lot of people coming up staircases where people are going down or down staircases where people are going up,” Giles said. “That’s a lot of unnecessary contact that makes me nervous.” Senior Aimee Li goes to school for one period per day for her AP art class. After seeing the hallways, Li believes the source of the safety problems is the sheer number of in-person students. “The hallways are so crowded,” Li said. “I don’t really know how they’re going to solve it either. I just didn’t think there’d be that many kids to go to school.” COMMUNICATION The ability to interact with teachers has been severely impacted by the setup of virtual learning. It has resulted in a loss of communication with teachers that has been almost as jarring as the lack of structure, freshman Jenny Jeong says. She feels it has affected her understanding of the content. “It doesn’t feel like I have a relationship with my teachers,” Jeong said. “I don’t even know what they look like. It makes it harder to understand everything because I don’t know what they’re like in person.” In person students’ communication with teachers is also suffering as a result of the pandemic. Tutorial schedules have become unpredictable, making getting help with material much more difficult, Loyd says. “If I messaged my teacher, and I’m like, ‘I really need help with this in the morning’, it’s hard knowing, will they even let me go to that teacher?” Loyd said. “I know teachers are trying to be on top of it, and students are trying to be aware of what time to message them. It’s just hard with tutorials.” However, Troy says communication hasn’t been a major issue for him with virtual learning. “If I have questions, I can message the teachers, and since they’re really looking out for that kind of thing, they usually get back to me pretty quick,” Troy said. “I can go to virtual office hours if I have a big question.” Overall, junior Patti Livingston feels that teachers are more accessible in person. “In person classes are learning more, going
more in depth,” Livingston said. “Kids are able to ask questions right then and there instead of having to email the teachers.” TECHNOLOGY Another effect of school in a virtual environment is an increased use of technology, particularly Schoology, for online schoolwork. Loyd feels this increase is an improvement from her freshman year, when her teachers used Schoology inconsistently. “Now, everyone’s posting everything,” Loyd said. “Everything’s in the same format, so you know what you’re getting into.” Unfortunately, simple technological malfunctions may cause problems as well as unfamiliarity. Jeong has had severe trouble with Schoology through no fault of her own. “Sometimes Schoology doesn’t show me my updates, so I can’t see what teachers send me, which is really hard,” Jeong said. “I’ve missed like five Zoom meetings already. Schoology is very wonky.” One of the difficulties of ensuring both inperson and online students have the same opportunity is designing fair testing procedures. Li has experienced problems with measures put in place to prevent cheating that make assignments more challenging for virtual students. “I don’t know how you’re going to solve this, because being between online and in person, I get it’s hard trying to balance the equity,” Li said. “But sometimes trying to balance that equity is throwing some students off.” BEYOND ACADEMICS Virtual learning has impacted students on a personal level, as well as an educational level. Jeong is disappointed to miss the “full high school experience”. However, Jeong feels the safety provided by virtual learning is worth it, she says. “I wanted to get to know upperclassmen and meet new people,” Jeong said. “I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, how am I [going to] do that if I’m online’, but it kind of worked out.” Besides providing safety, virtual learning allows for “more of a relaxed environment”, sophomore Hannah Baetge said, because she can incorporate her home lifestyle into her schooling. “You get to spend more time with your family and you get to sit there and do classes with your dog in your lap,” Baetge said. “I did one with a chicken in my lap.” Being closer to her family has not helped Ji with her schoolwork, she says. However, she is grateful for a relatively non-disruptive home environment. “My brother is also doing virtual school,” Ji said. “I’m having to help him through his classes in addition to mine, which definitely takes up a
lot of my time. I can’t speak for the people who have really bad home environments and I’m pretty sure this must be a nightmare for them.” Another problem with virtual learning is its effect on motivation. Ji has found herself working less hard because she no longer experiences the demand of in-person learning. “Without the pressure of having to be there in person and turn your work in to the teacher, I’m more likely to turn in work at 11:59,” Ji said. “I’m more likely to give the bare minimum rather than doing more.” Nonetheless, Troy is satisfied with virtual learning because even if school has to go completely virtual, he won’t need to adjust to a new learning option like the in-person students will. “I’m glad I went to virtual because I’m not sure if the school is ever going to have to go completely virtual and I don’t want to have to be flip flopping,” Troy said. “I like consistency, so I’m pretty happy that I chose virtual.” Now, as the end of the first six weeks approaches, students are tasked with deciding which learning option they want to do during the second grading period. Baetge feels students’ safety is a priority in choosing between virtual and in person. Beyond that, they should determine if their learning abilities are compatible with the virtual environment. “I think [students] need to look at how [good] they are at self-pacing and teaching themselves because you don’t get as much guidance [in] virtual,” Baetge said. Cox wishes more students took virtual learning to make the in-person environment safer. “I wish that they did a better job of explaining how the virtual would work so that way more kids would feel comfortable doing virtual,” Cox said. “That way, there’s less people at school. I feel like the more students we put in the school, the more dangerous the situation gets.” Giles feels that in-person and virtual learning both have their own share of downsides. “There’s a lot of complications that we really just can’t avoid whether or not we go in person, because, one on one hand, staying at home is sacrificing the quality of your education, but on the other, going to school is sacrificing your health.” Giles said. “It just feels like a lose-lose scenario.” Jeong wishes for in-person students to remain cautious, and hopes that virtual students are maintaining their mental health. “Be wary of your health and just be [as] safe as you can,” Jeong said. “For teachers, thank you. It’s a lot of work to be a teacher and to go through online and in person, so I wanted to just let them know that I’m really grateful for that.”
4| news | the roar
friday, sept. 25, 2020
marching forward while looking back Students attend summer demonstrations supporting ‘Black Lives Matter’ ellie hague | staff reporter In recent months, millions protesters have gathered in support of the Black Lives Matter movement across the United States, as well as world-wide. Protests have also been held in College Station, most notably one that occurred on May 7, on Texas Avenue, protesting police brutality after the death of George Floyd. Many of the protesters work to draw attention to the issue of police brutality. Some also call for the arrest of the officers in cases of police brutality, such as Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. “I didn’t realize the amount of police brutality that was actually going on until I started being involved with the movement,” senior Rayleigh Cade said. “There are so many cases just like George Floyd’s, just like Breonna Taylor’s that I had no idea about, and [cases like these] have been happening for years.” Protesters like Cade try to raise awareness and educate about police brutality and discrimination against people of color in the United States. “[The primary reason for the protests] is to try and get people to realize there is an actual problem,” junior Andrew Mays said. “That means people have to go on the streets [and] draw attention to the matter at hand, secondly, I think people are just wanting to tell the leadership that they are tired of the oppression they have gone through.” Mays has attended protests in the past, in support of other movements besides Black Lives Matter. “I’m very fond of the Black Lives Matter movement and other movements that call for people to go protest because I believe that that’s the only way we’re going to get a change,” Mays said. Members from Girl Up club, created to
help and empower women, also attended the College Station protest in May. The club sold masks at the protests, making roughly $450, which they donated to Essie Justice Group. “I attended the protest with a group of my friends who are also on the Executive Board of Girl Up club,” senior and member of Girl Up Georgia Carrino said. “We made masks to donate to the Essie Justice Group, which is a fund for Black Lives Matter but specifically for females...So we made tie dye masks and we ended up selling about 45 of them [at the protest].” Hundreds of people showed up along the streets to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. “It’s so easy to think that everybody else is against [the Black Lives Matter movement],” Carrino said. “Obviously we’re not like Houston or Austin, but even on such a small scale, we can make an impact on the lives of the people in our community and really contribute to something way bigger than ourselves.” The Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013 after the death of Trayvon Martin, as a way of trying to bring awareness to police brutality against people of color. “Black Lives Matter doesn’t mean only black lives matter, and is in no way trying to put down anyone else,” Cade said. “It really is just an organization to spread awareness to bad things happening [to black people].” Cade felt that the protests allowed her to discuss others’ experiences of racism and police brutality, and learn about her privilege and how to use her privilege to support people of color. “Some of my friends are people of color, and I learned about their experiences,” Cade said. “It really is eye opening and it makes you aware of your privilege. Don’t deny that you have privilege, recognize it. It’s not bad to admit that you have [privilege] as long as you use it to...make sure that other people’s voices are heard.”
Protester drives down Texas Avenue with the names of police brutatlity victims painted on the exterior. The demonstration lasted over three hours. PHOTO BY RUBY PERRY-MIZE
Protesters kneel in honor of George Floyd during the June demonstration. Approximately 1,000 people attended the protest. PHOTO BY RUBY PERRY-MIZE
PHOTO PROVIDED BY NEW YORK PRESS
friday, sept. 25, 2020
Myla Cathey Section Editor
THE STING OF A ‘B’ commonplace stress about grades takes its toll
Every report card I’ve ever received has been full of A’s. Near-perfect grades in the most advanced classes and an eagerness to learn all of the material has been the story of my school career. But behind this performance is the other part of the story: endless hard work driven by severe anxiety about my grades. No matter how much work I put in, I still have a constant fear that I will have less value if I let my grades drop even slightly. I check my grades too much. My breathing becomes heavy and my hands start to shake everytime I look at them. It feels like my whole life is in jeopardy just because my grade could go down 2.33 points if I don’t get at least a 92 on a test. It is fine to be aware of how I’m doing in my classes, but
obsessing over these numbers is not fine. It’s strange how a list of numbers can make teenagers tremble, but this is the reality for some students, including myself. I’ve shed tears when worrying about my next test, already concerned about failure before I even start studying. I’ve avoided sleep countless nights because I wanted to perfect a project. I’ve wasted time calculating the maximum number of questions I can miss on a test and still get an A. It’s always the classic thought process of “If I only miss these three questions, then I can still get an A, so I can’t afford to miss anymore,” while I could be using that time to figure out those three problems. I can’t help but take these precautions to prevent more future stress or
I have always considered myself to be an artistic person. In elementary school, I always wore many different hats, doing piano, dance, and art lessons. Eventually, I quit all three, for one reason or another, but art has always remained a big part of my life. I play trumpet in the band, and I am beginning to work on my first art portfolio this year. But what about art has always been so fascinating to me? It’s the stories that each form of art can tell. Math equations or chemical formulas are only telling the story of math or chemistry. But when you are painting, when you are singing a song, or dancing to music, you can convey any story, display any message that you want. Now, of course there is a place for math and science: it’s the reason we are healthy and safe, why we have advanced technology, and a way of life that enables us to create forms of art. Before math, science, and the invention of modern medicine, people had little time for leisure activities. But the magical part of art is the way it enables its creator to convey a message to the audience. A ballet dancer can step slow and mournfully to show the death of her lover or hop around the stage demonstrating her youth and naiveté. An artist can paint a picture of her dog
or sculpt an abstract figure representing the fight for women’s suffrage. Even musicians can play a piece with pride or with genuine sorrow. Art can be anything, can convey any message, and can tell any story. This is the true beauty of art, its versatility and ability. More often than not, art and science must work together to improve our world. To create an amazing computer, one must have an understanding of design, what would be the most functional as well as appealing to a viewer. To sell goods and services, one must have an advertising and marketing team that creates interesting, eye-popping designs that will make consumers want to buy a product. Science and math are great, but for scientific advancement to take effect in society, we must use a little creativity and artistry to get the importance of the message across. Working together, art and science can create a better, brighter future. Want to talk about how art has impacted your life? Contact Ellie Hague at the.roar.ellie.hague@ gmail.com
the roar | opinions | 5
disappointment. So, how am I supposed to feel better? As I consider my worries about grades, I realize that if I do not voice my insecurity, then no one would recognize it and be able to help. Anxiety can affect anyone, and it’s not always obvious. I’ve learned that, for me, the best way to calm anxiety is to tell someone I trust about it. This task is not a simple one, though. It takes courage to ask someone to help console you. No one wants to admit that they are struggling, but everyone struggles. My worries cannot simply diminish, but it helps to have someone reassure me that these worries are reasonable. The best feeling is when a family member or friend allows me to confide in them without judgement or disbelief. Even though students are pressured to get good grades, at the end of the day, a grade is just a number, not a life-or-death situation. I still have trouble believing this statement, but it is reassuring to know that others are in the same situation as me and are there to help. Are you experiencing changes in your academic experience? Contact Myla Cathey at the.roar.myla.cathey@gmail.com
ART AND HEART student contemplates the versatility of storytelling Ellie Hague Section Editor
6 | viewpoints | the roar
friday, sept. 25, 2020
Are we taking COVID-19 Seriously Enough? As people began to return to school throughout August and September, questions began to arise. What can reopen? When can people expect everything--anything--to return to how it was? Are masks required? So much has happened and is happening throughout the second half of 2020-- the breaking of Supreme Court precedent, wildfires, hurricanes, protests, the weeks leading up to the 2020 election-- still, COVID-19 remains. Locally and nationally, the pandemic should not be dismissed, as it is still a threat. COVID-19 could even have a resurgence similar to the cases in the spring. “Second waves” of the pandemic are already reported to have begun in places such as Spain and the UK, and they are expected to happen in the US, with the Washington Post citing predictions of over 400,000 deaths as likely by the end of 2020 (as of September 22, there have been just over 200,000 deaths in the US linked to the virus). At a local level, attempting to ignore the virus could prove disastrous, as college towns across the country have been cited as “COVID-19 hot spots”. CSISD’s response to the pandemic, with a focus on protecting the health of students and staff and providing several options for students based on what they feel safest doing, seems effective for the schools as of now. When examining a broader picture beyond these schools, though, the responses to COVID-19 become more questionable.
The flaws in the national response to COVID-19 are primarily due to a focus away from preventing its spread and more towards the search for a total cure. The research towards a cure is not the problem: how the virus spreads, how it manifests symptoms, and so much else about COVID-19 is still unclear. The problems come outside the research organizations in the form of campaign promises. Although a pandemic is obviously a difficult obstacle when going about processes such as those related to the presidential election, dismissing its severity and debating statistics should not be prioritized over a focus on how people can stay safe at the moment. Promising a vaccine for COVID-19 before the end of the year, in such an unpredictable situation, is an optimistic remark from even the most qualified of health scientists; using such a promise as part of a political campaign is essentially meaningless and a distraction from discussions of how people should actually respond to COVID-19 to protect themselves and each other. Safety should continue to be a priority in the coming months, and although a vaccine will almost certainly be developed in time, it should not be rushed to ensure a return to pre-pandemic lifestyles. On an individual level, people should focus less on hopes for a cure and more on what health organizations recommend to prevent a second wave from claiming even more lives than the first.
The Roar News
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The Roar 2020-2021 Staff Alex Roeder Ruby Perry-Mize Allen Zhang Claire Grace Franklin Saanya Patel Elise Sawyer Emmeline Duhon Allison Segers Piper Hitchcock Ellie Hague Medha Sarin Ian Curtis Staff Reporter Myla Cathey 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 Section Editors
The Roar Editorial Board Alex Roeder • Elise Sawyer • Ruby Perry-Mize
THE ROAR ASKS: “How has COVID-19 impacted you?” “Last year, our soccer season got cancelled. I don’t like it.” -junior Camryn Capek
“Everything I was looking forward to this summer got cancelled. I was supposed to go to Israel for 6 weeks ,but now I have to do online school.” -junior Ellie Conway
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, 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.
“I haven’t been able to travel. Usually I go up to Carolina a lot and I can’t do that. Sports are very different, and we have to wear masks everywhere.” -sophomore Sofia Criscitiello
the roar | snapshots | 7
friday, sept. 25, 2020
New Paint Job
Parking space paintings allow personality to shine on asphalt
Sophomore Jayden Warner painted lemons on her parking space, and wrote her name out in cursive in the center. She believes that creativity is an essential part of the painting process because she wanted to form something unique.
PHOTO BY MYLA CATHEY
Junior Genna Guerra painted an impressive picture of the sunset behind the shore. She wanted to create a fun and intricate design, and therefore chose to paint the beach.
PHOTO BY MYLA CATHEY
PHOTO PROVIDED BY BEN CORRIER
8 | centerspread | the roar
friday, sept. 25, 2020
Kip Corrington was a Consol and Texas A&M graduate. He earned Academic AllAmerican honors three times. Corrington was a contender for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship during his time playing for A&M. He helped the Denver Broncos win Super Bowl XXIV against San Francisco. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018. Now, Corrington is a doctor in North Carolina.
Ann Fleming was a Drum Major and Tiger Yell Leader in the 1950’s. She is the oldest living homecoming queen after being crowned in 1954. The night she won it rained, but she said it was magical. Fleming was invited back 25 years later to experience a homecoming with a clear sky. She still attends some Consol events.
the roar | centerspread| 9
Larry Fedora attended Consol in the late 1970’s. He played football for the Tigers, and in his freshman year he began considering coaching football as a career. He attended Austin College and played wide receiver. Larry Fedora began coaching at Middle Tennessee State as an offensive coordinator. He also coached at Florida, Oklahoma State, and Southern Mississippi. He then worked at the University of North Carolina for seven years. He later became an analyst for the Texas Longhorns. He is currently working at Baylor University as the offensive coordinator.
centennial celebration Staff uncovers history of football and homecoming traditions alex roeder & claire grace franklin editor-in-chief & senior editor
1970’s varsity and JV cheerleader squads pose with Tony the Tiger in the football stadium. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY: The A&M Consolidated Centennial Committee: Randy Bond, Brad Corrier, Marc Parrish, Shelly Peters, Julie Schultz, Katy Scott, Heather Simmen and Kelly Waguespack
Moving Sidewalks, now known as ZZ Top, performed at the 1969 homecoming/prom. The theme was “Haight/Ashbury” which was picked to match the psychedelic rock band. They performed the 1968 album ‘Flash’. The event was so big people from all surrounding schools, such as Bryan High and TAMU students, attempted to ‘crash’ the party. The whole performance was free.
10 | feature | the roar
friday, sept. 25, 2020
on the flip side Skateboarders explain thrill of hobby, reflect on society’s negative stereotypes piper hitchcock | sports editor Despite his parents’ concerns, freshman James Gimbert faced the skate park bowl, arm encased in a hard plastic shell, ready to redeem himself from the first failed attempt. With a blinding confidence only a 15-year-old skater can know, he dropped into the bowl, only to re fracture his arm moments later. “I’ll get hurt and not want to [skateboard], but then the next day, I just have to do it, Gimbert said. “It’s not satisfying to try something and not be able to do it. I have to [excel] if I start it. That makes me want to keep skating.” Since the local skate park, G. Hysmith, opened in 2011, College Station has experienced a sharp increase in skateboarders. Although skating is a popular hobby amongst the teenage boys, freshman Parker Hitchcock also warns of its dangers and extreme physical activity. Junior David May has experienced accidents similar to Gimbert’s, but may have been slightly more humiliating. “I was wearing my nice blue jeans that were frayed on the ends because they were a tad bit long,” May said. “The next thing I know, the frayed part of my jeans is stuck in the wheel of my skateboard. I couldn’t just walk down the street with a skateboard hanging off my leg, so I did what any reasonable person would do and I just took my pants off, then ran home. One might say that experience was traumatic, but skateboarding is like riding a horse. See, when you fall off a horse, you get back on.” Despite the entertainment skaters reap from the hobby, society can hold a negative opinion about skateboarding. Gimbert says he often feels disregarded due to this perception. “[The public’s opinion is] probably that we’re loud and obnoxious, that we’re always in the way, trying to do something,” Gimbert said. “I don’t like to be thought of like that.” Freshman James Gilbert attempts a frontside shove it in the school’ parking lot. A frontside shove it involves making the board spin 180 degrees in the air underneath the skater.
Hitchcock shares a similar view on skateboarders from the perspective of people on the outside. “From an elder’s point of view, let’s say boomers, they see the skate park environment as someplace where teenagers go to do drugs,” Hitchcock said. “When people think of a skater, they imagine some e boy with black painted nails and chains. But if you look at all the pro skaters and the people who are going to be in the 2021 Olympics, they’re not what you would imagine.” Other skaters have even experienced direct disrespect due to this negative judgment. “Me and my friend were skating in the HEB parking lot, not hurting anybody since we were out of the way,” May said. “Then this man comes out from the store and he’s livid. He’s screaming, then grabs Jack’s board and pulls it
away. He threatened to call the cops if we didn’t leave. It was insulting because we weren’t really doing anything harmful.” Hitchcock notices a separate form of disrespect at the skate park, directed towards newer skaters. “A lot of the people who are just now getting into skating and can’t ride that well are depreciated,” Hitchcock said. “A lot of people say that the new skaters are ruining the culture because they’re trying to keep it authentic-- their own style. But the thing with skating is, anyone can skate. Everybody has their own style, and it’s not just about one type of skater.” While society might hold a prejudice against skaters, Gimbert believes that this negative energy will gradually develop into a positive stereotype. “[The] stereotype can be changed by more people skating for fun, doing the right thing, and just trying to be good,” Gimbert said. “I feel like if a whole generation grows up thinking something is good, then the next generation will still think of it as a good thing. It’ll get better over time.” Many members of society are breaking the social normality and instead associating with skaters. For instance, Hitchcock witnessed an act of kindness one afternoon at the skate park. “There was a cop who came one time because it was one of the hottest days of the summer,” Hitchcock said. “The cop stopped by and gave everyone at the park water to make sure we were all hydrated. There have been multiple occasions where you can see support from people who don’t skate, and those are the types of moments that just brighten your day.” Hitchcock offers a final piece of wisdom to anyone who wants to start skating. “Don’t be an image of somebody you think looks cool just because they skate,” Hitchcock said. “You should start skating to grow your own style and because you really like what you’re doing.”
PHOTO BY PIPER HITCHCOCK
the roar | feature | 11
friday, sept. 25, 2020
ADAPT
and
ADJUST
Teens reflect on pandemic’s effect on job opportunities alex roeder | editor-in-chief Over the past few months, the nature of the workforce has seen significant changes. For the average working teenager, this means facing limited job opportunities, restrictions on storefronts, and sometimes questionable customer interactions. Junior Julie Pembelton began working at Bahama Buck’s in May, which came with managing changing protocols concerning masks. For the most part, she found that customers were compliant. “Everybody’s been pretty good about, especially in drive thru and curbside, wearing a mask and making sure that they’re respectful of our policies,” Pembelton said. Earlier in the lockdown, when restrictions were tighter, senior HEB cashier Brady Anderson says adherence was less common. “When there was a ground beef shortage, people would come up to the line with a cart full of ground beef and we’d tell them, ‘You can only get two,’” Anderson said. “They’d get mad at us, [but] we can’t do anything. It’s just company policy.” When restaurants began to open back up, waiters like junior Aymen el-Farouk, who works at Cotton Patch, had to enforce the mask mandate-- a feat, he says, that came with some troubles. “We’ve actually had a ton of people walk out just because we asked them to wear a mask before they were seated,” el-Farouk said. “They were like, ‘You mean from here, point A to like point B over there.’ And you’re like, ‘Yes. We’ll get in trouble legally.’” Beyond the complications of COVID, school can often present difficulties for teen workers. Pembelton, for instance, decided to start taking weekend shifts to help her manage schoolwork. “No one wants to work weekends [because] that’s when you can hang out with your friends and stuff, but it’s just kind of a part of life and growing up,” Pembelton said. El-Farouk recommends a different method
of time management, however. “If you are very academic, I suggest you don’t get a job and just focus on that,” el-Farouk said. “Or if you do something with that free time, don’t take it for granted.” For those who do choose to work, Pembelton says jobs can often be fun, especially if you get along with your co-workers. “We have drive thru headsets, and since no one’s in the lobby, we can talk to each other on them without other people hearing,” Pembelton said. “We’ll make jokes or movie references. We just laugh all the time. It’s almost like we’re a cast and we’re on set.” The best part of the job, however, is payday, Anderson says. “I just say getting a job is the biggest thing if you want to make some money,” Anderson said. “Just know that it’s not going to be the most fun all the time, but you’ll enjoy getting the paycheck and having some of your own money.” Getting a job as a teenager can teach you valuable life lessons, Pembelton says. Although she is typically a quiet person, working has helped her branch out and given her financial skills. “I’ve learned how to use my voice a lot,” Pembelton said. “And it’s super cool to have my money and be able to be like, ‘Oh, yeah, I have this bill to pay and I can actually afford to pay it. If I want to go get coffee after school, I could go spend $6 on coffee.’” As a waiter, el-Farouk says he’s learned how to talk to people and start conversations, as well as how to manage difficult situations. “It teaches you patience, and that suffering is going to occur eventually,” el-Farouk said. “[And] I’ve been able to speak to anyone nowadays.” Most of all, Pembelton appreciates the opportunity working as a teen gives her to gain experience. “A lot of people don’t hire people that don’t have any work experience, so it’s nice to have that under your belt,” Pembelton says. “[Working] gives you an opportunity to expand your network. There’s literally no harm that can come out of it.”
senior
BRADY ANDERSON
junior
AYMEN EL-FAROUK
junior
JULIE PEMBELTON
12 | sports | the roar
friday, sept. 25, 2020
A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME UIL sports adapt to safety measures, scheduling concerns during pandemic ian curtis | section editor For many students, the athletic programs are a key part of the high school experience—the buzz around football games is evidence enough. But like so many other facets of life, sports have changed drastically in the wake of the pandemic. Teams from the high school level to the major leagues have all been forced to adapt to the new normal. Football is taking several measures this season to ensure the team’s safety, says junior wide receiver Gary Essix. “When we’re in the weight room, we have to wear a mask,” Essix said. “If we’re on the field, we don’t have to have a mask, [but we do] on the sideline.” The volleyball team has implemented several new policies this season in accordance with the guidelines established by the UIL. These include social distancing when possible and not switching sides of the court in between sets. Although difficult at first, coaches and players have become used to the changes over time. “At the end of the day, it’s not going to hurt to wear a mask,” Conner said. “It’s kind of just been a normal routine.” Just as COVID-19 has resulted in chaos in
collegiate and professional sports, it has wreaked havoc among high school schedules, forcing coaches to scramble in an attempt to find schools willing to play. “We’ve gone through 20 different schedules,” Conner said. “Originally, we were supposed to start August 3, [then] it got pushed
back to September 7. We had to build an entire new schedule for that new start date.” For the volleyball team, bonding is a vital part of their success. Overnight tournaments and team dinners help forge a bond between teammates that pays dividends during play. Unfortunately
those experiences are a casualty of COVID-19. “Starting later has been difficult,” sophomore Ella Norton said. “We got our teams later, so we haven’t been able to spend as much time together as we’re used to.” Not all of the effects of the pandemic have been negative. Many athletes have used the time off to their advantage. “I feel like if quarantine didn’t happen, I wouldn’t have trained as much,” Essix said. “Since quarantine happened, I just worked so hard this whole summer.” Both teams are expressing caution in mitigating the spread of the virus. Other schools have already canceled games, and missing early season match-ups could spell doom in district play, explains junior Tyndall McNamara. “You’d be an idiot to go out and act like it’s not really happening,” McNamara said “And you get it and spread it to a whole district and ruin everybody’s season.” Despite this year being a far cry from your standard season, one thing is still normal: athletes are ready and willing to compete. “I just want to play a game every week,” Essix said. “I want to play and I want to reach my goal.”
the roar | sports | 13
friday, sept. 25, 2020
making a run for it Cross country runners adjust to changes, new coach, looking towards state
claire grace franklin & allison segers senior editor & entertainment editor The cross country team has faced many new and unknown challenges, but they continue to outrun COVID - 19. “Obviously it’s not ideal,” senior captain Nic Hilty said. “But we still have a positive attitude, we’re still excited to compete. We have our first meet in nine days, so we’re really excited. It’s not traditional, but we’re coping.” The runners are optimistic, but some were surprised by the new changes. The JV and varsity will have to be separate divisions, junior cocaptain Gabriel Guillen says. And the number of teams and spectators will also be limited. “I wasn’t expecting [practice] to change too much because cross country isn’t physical,” McGuire said. “We haven’t gone to any meets yet, so I don’t know how those are gonna go.” However, the team members are very enthusiastic about the arrival of their new leader, coach Peter Martin. “He wants us to succeed, and sacrifices a lot,” sophomore Nathan Parulian said. “He wakes up early on Saturdays to bike with us
while we run, so he definitely cares.” Along with excitement of the new coach, the team also expresses their appreciation for the new team captains. “With everyone looking up to me, it’s really gratifying; everyone telling me I hit this time, I hit that time, and everyone wanting to impress me,” Hilty said. “I’ve never been in this position before. I know when I was a freshman, [I remember] the captain I had, I looked up to him. Now, I’m that guy.” The teams have also discovered their bond and its positive effects on their work ethic. “We have really good chemistry with each other, we know our strengths and our weaknesses,” Parulian said. Guillen agrees that the team has grown closer despite the challenges at hand, and they are able to come together through their shared struggle. “It’s great, everyone on the team gets along really well and we are all good friends,” Guillen said. “Since we see each other so often and so early we are used to
seeing everyone tired and struggling and we all bond around those feelings.” McGuire echoes that sentiment. “I’m really excited for this season,” McGuire said. “We’ve been training all summer and we’ve been training real hard. [It’s] a lot better than it was last year, and I’m really excited to see how we do.” Despite the unexpected setback, Gullien is continuing to set goals to help the team improve this year. “Since this year is so different, we really are focusing on doing everything we can to be the best we can be,” Guillen said. “My expectation is that everyone shows up every day and gives 100%. That’s the only thing we control, and this year has shown that. I really want us to get back to the regional meet, and then to state. But we know there are factors outside of our control so as long as we give it our all every day, that’s all we can ask for.” Even with all the uncertainties, the team still conveys their love of cross country. “I would like to do it to the best of my ability,” sophomore Russ Whitfield said. “Even with the virus happening I still would like to do what I love.”
above: sophomore Miles McGuire (right) and sophomore Corbin Parker (left) run at the Montgomery race. below: sophomore Nathan Parulian passes the three mile mark at the Montgomery race. Consol placed first in the meet.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY GRACE KRINHOP
14 | reviews | the roar
friday, sept. 25, 2020
Wired Together the roar reviews: multiplayer games
abigail quinn | journalism student Looking for a game to waste time on? Want to take a trip down memory lane? “Poptropica” might be a good option for you. “Poptropica” is a popular online roleplaying game usually played on a PC. A version of the game is available for your phone, so you can take it wherever you go. The game has several “islands”, or different adventures, that the player can choose to follow. Players can win medals by completing the adventure options, play and chat with online friends, and customize and dress their characters. If you enjoy brain games, fun adventures, and a bit of a nostalgic feel, then you might want to take a look at this awesome game!
ja’den johnson | journalism student “Mortal Kombat X” is a game where two characters fight against each other using a variety of attacks. Players can either participate in a story mode or fight online with other players from across the world to increase their online rankings. This game is great in many ways: graphics, gameplay, control types, action, and concept.I really love the concept of the new and old characters. My favorites are Raiden, Scorpion, SubZero, and Kotal Kahn, because I enjoy the fighting characteristics. I would recommend the game to everybody that I know. The only downside is the game’s dependence on a good wifi connection. Overall the game and storyline are completely out of this world. “Mortal Kombat X” is a 10/10.
the roar | reviews | 15
friday, sept. 25, 2020
spotless skin the roar reviews: skincare
amelia kim | journalism student In the past, I never thought I could look more youthful than in my past years; it’s all thanks to the product by CeraVe. CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen is a moisturizer that includes SPF and comes in sizes of two and three ounces. It’s developed by dermatologists and recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation. Oily skin is nonexistent when this product is around. The SPF in the product assists in outdoor activities, such as my favorite, skateboarding. Though it sounds excellent, reapplying every hour can be annoying, and $13 a bottle is costly. What makes this combination unique from the other is the lifelong effects that come with it. Every application is a small but impactful decrease in skin cancer. In addition, keeping this product around can give you youthful skin for a while. It may be expensive, but the positives outweigh the negatives.
emily chen | journalism student Face masks are essential for flawless skin and they seem to be almost a “must-have.” These mud masks have been used for anti-acne, unclogging pores, oil control, and to improve the skin’s overall appearance. The New York Biology Dead Sea Mud Mask seemed pretty promising at first glance and it might just be what I needed for flawless skin. The first thing I noticed was how it didn’t sting my face. I know that there are many heavily chemical-induced masks that sting and irritate the face (coming from painful experience) that made my cleaning an unpleasant routine that I did not want to go through again. However, this one had a soothing effect and wasn’t painful whatsoever. The second thing I noticed was the texture. It was a nice and thick mask that wasn’t watery and it had an earthy smell to it that wasn’t too much to make my head hurt. It didn’t feel like my skin was too tight whenever it dried, and washing it off felt like I was washing off oil or cream instead. There was only a small problem I had with the mask. The container had said to wait 10 minutes for the mask to dry, but somehow, it felt like more. It would have even been better if the mask dried fast like the directions had promised. And that was pretty much it. The price wasn’t too high, and the packaging was pretty cute. Just know that you might look like the most attractive thing in the world after applying, if you know what I mean.
16 | etcetera | the roar
friday, sept. 25, 2020
CANDIDATE BREAKDOWN The Roar summarizes presidential candidate policy, campaign promises
change obamacare
ICE taxation keep america great party lines trade deals
DACA womens right’s black lives matter climate
Overarching values: This election, Biden stands to represent two values: helping the working class and bridging the political divide. Healthcare: Biden’s proposed approach to fighting the virus is to increase testing capabilities and enact a nationwide contact-tracing program. He plans to set up 10 testing centers in each state with promises of free testing for all citizens. Outside of the coronavirus, he seeks to expand Obamacare, which would provide health insurance coverage to 97% of Americans. Economy: Biden’s proposal for tackling unemployment is to raise the national minimum wage as well as investing more in green technology to create job opportunities. Those policies fall under his “Build Back Better” plan, which works to benefit and satisfy both blue-collar workers and democrats. Race Relations: Biden proposes to increase financial support for minority communities, invest in a nationwide community policing program, and increase rehabilitation efforts to reduce reoffending rates.
green new deal trickle down economics
BIDEN
saanya patel & allen zhang online editor & executive editor
TRUMP
Overarching values: Trump’s fundamental values are promoting US exceptionalism and improving the conditions for the working class. Healthcare: Trump has proposed a plan for the development of vaccines for the virus with promises of making them available by November. Apart from COVID-19, he plans to replace the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act-though the specific details have not yet been released. Economy: Trump’s plan towards the US economy is to ensure that jobs are kept in the US and not allocated to foreign nations. To do so, he wants to push for more sanctions, which would increase prices on goods made in foreign nations, thus promoting sales domestically. He contends this will likely lead to large economic growth for sectors like the manufacturing industry. Immigration: Since 2016, Trump has held a major stance against illegal immigration. This coming election, he has several proposals. He wants to continue the construction of the border wall as well as creating changes to current legal immigration policies. Foreign Policy: Trump intends to renegotiate several current US trade deals with other nations. He left the NAFTA agreement last year, a free trade agreement between the US, Mexico, and Canada and pursued the USMCA, a deal similar to NAFTA but with promises of protection for US jobs and businesses.