Vol. 27 Iss. 2

The Roar News

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1801 HARVEY MITCHELL PKWY. S., COLLEGE STATION, TX 77840 | FRIDAY, NOV. 5, 2021 | VOL. 27 NO. 2 | THEROARNEWS.COM

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Students, staff reflect on student independence, recognize positives, difficulties medha sarin & emmeline duhon managing editor & feature editor

After the final bell each day, 2100 Consol students swarm the hallways, heading for home. For the large majority of them, home is where they live with a parent, step-parent, or other adult guardian. However, a select few live independently.

Junior Alyssa Sauceda is among the few.

“I feel like a lot of kids here, whether they like to admit it or not, have a lot of supportive backgrounds,” Sauceda said. “I think there's very few kids here who are on their own.”

For those who do face living unaccompanied, many important life lessons are

inthisissue

news pages 2-4

taken away and replaced by new ones, assistant rincipal William Warner explains.

“Some of our students are forced into not being able to live and grow and make mistakes,” Warner said. “Instead they're forced into having to pay rent and having to figure out how food’s getting on the table.”

Senior Tara Hines lived alone with her siblings from the time of her parent’s divorce in fifth grade until she moved in with her dad and stepmom in tenth grade. During that five year period, self-sufficiency was an unquestionable reality.

“It's a situation that I'm in because I have to be in it,” Hines said. “This is how I have to live my life to get all of my basic necessities.”

opinions pages 5-6

feature page 7-11, 16

On the other hand, attitude can allow self-dependent students to succeed, Sauceda explains.

“From a young age, I've always had the initiative to get money,” Sauceda said.

Since others may have personal struggles, students should be kind and courteous to each other, says Warner.

“You don't know what people are going through,” Warner said. “There's always a story behind it. Getting to that story and really listening to what has caused that helps you to understand what the student is going through and how you can best help them.”

“self” continued on page 3

sports page 14

reviews pages 14-15

UPCOMING

2 | in brief | the roar

Nov 6 Nov 9 Nov 10 Nov 13 Nov 22-26 Nov 25 Dec 15-17 Dec 17

NEWS friday, nov. 5, 2021

Volleyball @ Giddings v. Bastrop Girls Basketball @ Home v. Navasota Boys Basketball @ Home v. Bryan Swim meet @ home Thanksgiving Break Thanksgiving Fall Final Exams Early-Release Day/End of Semester

IN THE

Band places third at area, advances to state for first time

After competing in Area at Channelview High School on October 23 and placing third, the band moved onto State out of over 200 original bands. This was the first time, not only one, but two College Station schools advanced to State. A sendoff was held for the community to show their support to the bands as they left for San Antonio on October 31. Friends and families of the band members lined up outside of Consol, cheering the band and color gaurd on as they boarded the buses. The band competed at the Alamodome on November 1, placing 27th in the preliminary round., falling short of the finals.

Boys cross country wins fourth at region, going to state

Senior and head drum major Faith Wenck talks to the band as they celebrate advancing to state the night of their area competition.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SHAY PURCELL

Freshman Kian Dekker ran a time of 16:44, leading the boys cross country team to fourth place at the Region III meet in Huntsville. Senior Brandon Topf had the team’s second fastest run, with a time of 16:58. The team will advance to the state meet at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock on November 5. This is the first time since 2014 that the cross country team has advanced to state.

Last district football game, Tigers win against Rudder 32-20

The Roar News

Senior Major Shulse dances with his mother at the last pep rally of the year on October 29 in the annual football mom dance.

PHOTO BY MYLA CATHEY

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GRAND STATION ENTERTAINMENT

Tiger football closed out district play with a win over the Rudder Rangers October 29.

Senior Tyndall McNamara led the team with two touchdowns, and Consol continues with their history of zero losses to Rudder all-time. The team is now awaiting playoff information.

The night was also senior night for the band and color gaurd. Each senior was accompianied by their family members, lined up on the football field, and the announcer told the stadium each students’ plans after graduation.

MONDAY-FRIDAY WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT

the roar | news | 3

friday, nov. 5, 2021

Independent students discuss battles and triumphs, differing outlooks on situation “self” continued from page 1 COMPLICATIONS

For some students the decision is inevitable; for others it is a choice. Teenage independence is limitless, senior Cason Garner says.

“It really depends on the situation,” Garner said. “There’s a million reasons to leave your house or current situation, whether it be good or bad.”

No matter the reason behind teenage independence, there is always common ground. Students face difficulties with even the simplest of tasks, which is where administration steps in, Warner explains.

“We have several students [with whom] we’ve just sat in the office and talked through how to get to the doctor’s, or how to set up a dentist appointment,” Warner said.

OUTSIDE HELP

For some students, administration is their only means of support.

“When it comes to our students here at Consol, we want every student to be successful,” Warner said, “and sometimes a couple of those students just need a little extra support.”

To the typical teenager, having a source of income seems to fix all problems. In reality, though, most teens are only able to afford the bare minimum, Garner explains.

“I don’t have a car at the moment,” Garner said. “I’m reliant on my bike, which limits my opportunities.”

For many self-supporting teens, the greatest challenge is finding a place to sleep at night. As for Sauceda, shelter is dependent on outside help.

“I was staying with whoever I could find each night,” Sauceda said. “It was a daily struggle, and there was lots of uncertainty.”

Many independent teens struggle to find somewhere to stay, especially in the beginning. For Garner, this stage has come with many lessons.

“Don’t expect help from anyone,” Garner said. “If you do ask

someone for something, you need to be respectful about it.”

Independence for a teenager is a big decision with many possible complications, a decision that Sauceda believes should not be taken lightly.

“I would say don’t rush it because sometimes people get caught up in the moment or let their emotions take the best of them,” Sauceda said. “I work a lot. If I was completely on my own, I don’t think I would be able to do it without [the] help [of] others.”

PREPAREDNESS

The experience of being selfreliant has given Hines a long-term advantage over some of her peers, she says.

“I think it’s going to be something that can possibly make me successful,” Hines said. “The drive, work ethic and time management, could help me with gaining a lot of the tools that most people don’t get until they’re in their mid 20s.”

She finds value in having developed these skills early on.

“To know these things further ahead of time makes everything easier because in the future, you have to rely on yourself,” Hines said. “Your parents aren’t going to help you buy your first apartment, your first house, your first car. You’re going to need to know how to do those things on your own.”

MENTAL HEALTH

Having to balance school and home maintenance responsibilities can take a mental toll on many independent teens.

“Mental health and sleep are definitely the top two things that I miss out on and struggle with,” Hines said. “I have all these different responsibilities.

If I can’t get everything done in one day, then it just makes me feel really bad and feel like I’m not good enough.”

In addition, the isolation that comes with self-reliance can be a struggle.

“It feels really lonely doing it

all on your own,” Sauceda said. “The weight of having to bear everything can become unbearable at times.”

According to Hines, many other teenagers she’s talked to feel like they cannot rely on parents or guardians for help.

“I wouldn’t say [teenage independence is] at its peak right now, but pretty soon, it could be just because of the mental health mindset of teenagers, especially in our generation,” Hines said. “We have to do everything alone, we’re supposed to be alone, everything is shut down. We just feel isolated, in general. I think it has the potential to become a bigger issue.”

However, the obstacles students like Hines, Sauceda, and Garner have experienced may build their mental strength for future hardships.

“It’s going to teach them [to deal with] adversity,” Warner said. “It’s going to teach them that ‘You know what, I remember when I was 17. I had to do it on my own.’”

OPINIONS

Finding common ground with those who live on their own, Sauceda admires managing the difficult aspects of independence.

“They’re strong,” Sauceda said.

“Usually people who are independent are going to be intelligent because they have to factor out the things that they need in their life.”

Students should be more appreciative of their parents and guardians and financial stability if they have it, Sauceda says.

“I think that people who have it easy, smooth sailing, need to cherish that because once it’s gone and stripped away, you can’t get that back,” Sauceda said. “Motherly [and] fatherly relationships break. It’s hard once you don’t have those anymore, or once that support system has gone from you, and it really opens your eyes.”

4 | news | the roar

a guiding hand

friday, nov. 5, 2021

Cuevas offers college advice, reflects on personal experience in new counseling position scholarships and financial aid to students.

“She knows about scholarships that are available,” Faith said. “If there is anything that’s going wrong with the ApplyTexas or Common App or, even how to apply for financial aid, she knows all of those thingsand she’s been trained on how to do that.”

Cuevas often draws on her own experiences to guide students with the college admission process.

“What I hope to accomplish is to teach kids about college to help them learn from my mistakes,” Cuevas said. “I am a first generation student. It was difficult for me Cuevas guides a student through a college’s application process. to leave home, it was difficult for me to stay after I graduated.” allison segers & ellie hague Cuevas is able to answer many questions entertainment editor & opinions editor students have regarding college admissions that the other guidance counselors can’t.

Daisy Cuevas, Consol’s first college advisor, is “We graduated from college a long time ago, available in the counseling office to help with any so it’s very different from when we [applied] for questions students may have regarding the college the help students apply for now,’’ Hord said. “If a admissions process. student is completing their application [or] they “People think [when] I explain my job I recruit have questions, she sits down in her office area, for [colleges],” Cuevas said. “That’s not true. I just and helps them through that process.” help kids get to college.”

Hord believes the help Cuevas can provide to After graduating from Texas A&M with a the students will be beneficial to those who aren’t degree in history and a minor in english, Cuevas sure where to start. became the college advisor. She works closely “She’s a very helpful person,” Hord said. alongside guidance counselors to help students “You can take people and put them in those through the admissions process. positions, but sometimes students don’t feel like “We are really excited to have Ms. Cuevas they can approach that person and ask for help. with us,” counselor Jill Faith said. “She brings an She’s extremely approachable, and she’s very expertise to answer questions that if she’s fresh out friendly, and she really really wants of college, she knows the system, she knows what to help students. I feel like it is needs to be done.” going to give students more The college advisor position was first created help that they need.” through the help of a grant from Texas A&M. Despite the “College Station ISD is not what they call a challenges her new Title I school district,” counselor Paul Hord said. job presents, Cuevas “We don’t get extra funding from the government puts her best to have things like [a college advisor].” foot forward to With the knowledge Cuevas has as a college provide for her advisor, she can provide information about

Instagram: @amchstigerccc Make an appointment via the counseling office QR codes in the hallways.

students.

“If a student comes to me and there’s a problem and I don’t know the answer, or a question I don’t know the answer,” Cuevas said, “I will figure it out. I will call everybody to get that answer for the student to help my student.”

Appointments with Cuevas can be made online by scanning QR codes found in the hallways and outside the counseling office.

“Don’t hesitate to walk up to her and ask her questions in the hallway,” Faith said. “I encourage our student body to take advantage of our College and Career Center, because this is something that not every school has, and we’re fortunate to have her.”

In addition to providing help with college applications and finances, Cuevas encourages her students to ask for information about the benefits and disadvantages of individual colleges.

“Although the college admissions process and everything that revolves around it isn’t easy, don’t give up,” Cuevas said. “Don’t let anything stop you from at least applying or asking, getting more information, because that’s one of the mistakes I made, being afraid.”

PHOTOS BY MEDHA SARIN

friday, nov. 5, 2021

Living in the Middle East for more than half my life and relocating to the United States, I learned more about myself as well as others. I loved being immersed in other cultures. I walked into the local markets and ate food from street vendors; I saw the traditional dress.

I heard a multitude of languages spoken, not only in the markets but also in the halls at my international school. When I moved back to the U.S., I encountered intense culture shock. I was unable to find the culture and diversity that had become part of my everyday life. I thought my new home simply lacked diversity and the people around me were the problem.

However, with time and new experiences, I learned that I was the issue.

When I was three months old, my family moved to Doha, Qatar. What was supposed to be a few years abroad became more than a decade. Qatar has an extremely diverse expatriate community and brings together people from all over the world. I grew up in a compound, which was a walled community of people from different countries, ethnicities, religions, and cultures. While living in a compound with neighbors from all over the world, I also attended an international school with students and staff from six continents. I had the blessing of walking the hallways of my school with over 70 different nationalities. No culture was left unnoticed because there was always a conscious effort to learn about other people and their backgrounds. Cultural appreciation was everywhere from the flags adorning the cafeteria walls to the International Week where students exhibited their backgrounds and learned about others through food, arts, and more.

After moving to College Station in 2017, I was launched into an American high school. As I was being shown the school for the first time, I felt like Cameron in his first scene of 10 Things I Hate About You. I was exposed to the “standard” high school experience. The cliques were obvious. In one part of the school, there were the varsity jocks who

were bound for state, and a few hallways over the theater kids were preparing for the fall play. There were so many groups within the school, but there appeared to be no overlap. New students had to break through superficial friendliness to create genuine friendships. I realized that people had gone to school together since elementary school and seemed to have an unbreakable bond. Living in the same place with the same people for my entire life was a foreign concept because of the constant cycle of people moving in and out of Qatar. For the first time in my life, I felt like an outsider with no way of breaking the glass standing between me and the students right in front of me.

How could I break through?

I didn’t want to be isolated behind the invisible glass and began searching for my hammer to shatter it. I was on a mission to find my way into this homogeneous culture. After enrolling in an Introduction to Journalism class, I was offered a position on the school newspaper staff. The staff was made up of athletes, musicians, and thespians. It was the melting pot I had been searching for. In my class alone, there were kids from five different organizations who all bonded over a love for writing and people. Despite the people around me having similar upbringings and lifestyles, I found diversity.

The American high school experience does not have to be what the movies make it out to be. When looking through the invisible glass, it seems to be divided.

No one dares to step out of their comfort zone. However, once the glass is broken, a diverse culture can be found. One small realization made a long-term change in my life. I learned not to take everything for face value and recognize the vast amount of cultures within a culture.

Diversity can be found in the oddest of places. I was looking for diversity in culture, ethnicities, and religions, but I realize now that I can find it in interests, personality, and experiences too. I long to surround myself with people who are different from me. As I changed, I learned that there is diversity all around me if I open my eyes to it.

a world away

student switches high schools, struggles making genuine friendships clarie grace franklin editor in chief

gifted

the roar | opinions | 5

staffer reflects on experiences with social conventions medha sarin managing editor Amid a conversation (about homework, or music, or maybe an exciting new accessory on her outfit), my friend reveals a small envelope from her bag. Inside is a cute little invitation to her birthday.

Her sweet sixteen.

Hold on, what? Is she really inviting me? Why? Does she really enjoy my company, or does she feel obliged since we’ve been in the same electives program for two years? ...I’m already resigned to my answer before I open the letter.

I stumble through a polite, reasonable-sounding but completely false rejection. I would love to come to the party, but oh, I might have something that day.

Thank you so much for inviting me, I really appreciate it. I may be able to come, I’ll have to check, but I’m not sure, it’s probably a no. But thanks anyway.

She takes it coolly in stride. I proceed to push the conservation from my memory and scrape away it’s underlying pressures.

Fast forward a month. My Instagram is suddenly dominated with photos of my friend, a year older and wiser. Decked out in a silver tiara, a sophisticated pink dress that compliments her dusky hair, accented by empowering dark mascara.

I swipe right on the post. Her with her brother. Right again. Her with friends. Again. Seven more frames of golden-pink photos, featuring friend after friend after friend. Grinning around the birthday girl as she has the time of her life.

Later, in class, I wash her in belated birthday wishes and fake apologies that I wasn’t able to come.

She’s very cool about it.

But the feeling nags, so eventually (days later) I confess the truth.

So, I didn’t actually want to go to your party...but not because I

d o n’ t l i k e you of course!!

You’re a great friend, I love your company, I just...wasn’t really feeling the whole big-socialinteraction thing.

To my surprise, her reaction is neutral. “It’s totally fine,” she repeats patiently through my apologetic jumble. She also freaks out about social things, she explains, and she was worried she wasn’t reciprocating the efforts of her friends who had shown up to celebrate at her party.

Wait, what? She was worried?

But she’s the birthday girl! Her sweet sixteenth should have been a day of no concern! As her twoyear classmate, I was basically obligated to make sure she had a good birthday. It only makes sense if I worry about being a supportive highlight in her day!

But this reasoning in my head that had once seemed impeccable now sounds like nonsense. And I’m suddenly left with two takeaways: My friend and I, without realizing it, were in the exact same boat. We were worried about what each of us thought about each other.

There was some mystic pressure on the inviter to satisfy the invited, and vice versa. Whatever relationship obligation I thought I had, which had overshadowed my personal satisfaction, my friend had had a similar experience. So I was not alone, because we both had a great time that day, in our own ways.

And another thing: do you feel like it actually matters? I’m not so sure. I didn’t need to do what I thought would satisfy her by coming to her party and being hilariously fantastic company. Do I have the right to assume what she would or wouldn’t have wanted from me?

I only have control over my own decision, and I can’t guarantee the outcome; I can only do what’s best for me. And so can my friend. And so can you.

6 | viewpoints | the roar

friday, nov. 5, 2021

Are tik tok trends such as ‘devious licks’ impeding upon learning environments?

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 editorin-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.

The Roar 2020-2021 Staff Claire Grace Franklin Medha Sarin Piper Hitchcock Ellie Hague Emmeline Duhon Allison Segers Ian Curtis Myla Cathey Emily Chen Faculty Adviser Michael Williams Assistant Adviser Chauncey Lindner

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Executive Editor Opinions Editor Feature Editor Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Section Editors

The Roar Editorial Board Claire Grace Franklin • Ellie Hague Medha Sarin

It all started with a single box of stolen face masks.

Now it’s a viral TikTok trend that has made its way to schools across the country. ‘Devious licks’ are both real and fake acts of vandalism and theft from schools. Items range from more minor thefts like soap dispensers and toilet paper rolls to larger items such as computers, toilets and sinks. While it may seem like all fun and games, ‘devious licks’ and other similar trends are inhibiting the learning environment.

The vandalism and theft promoted in devious lick videos puts extra strain on schools to have to discipline students rather than teach them. Teachers, school administration, and janitors, who are already overwhelmed and underpaid, have to deal with the aftermath of these pranks. Administration has to investigate the crimes, as well as scrape the miniscule school budgets together to replace stolen items and filthy vandalized classrooms. Teachers have to focus on disciplining students for such nefarious acts, rather than focusing on lesson plans and teaching. And janitors, who are the backbone to keeping schools healthy and safe, have to deal with the aftermath of the crimes. Devious licks also harm other students, as bathroom closures and other precautionary measures have to be taken at schools to prevent vandalism, affecting every student for the actions of one or two.

The devious lick trend may have begun as a seemingly harmless prank, but has quickly spun out of control. What started as a fun trend of stealing minor items to blow off steam after a year in lockdown has resulted in mass cases of criminal vandalism. There have been multiple cases of students being arrested and charged with vandalism throughout the United States.

In Polk County, Florida, students were arrested for vandalizing bathrooms and stealing soap dispensers.

Another instance occurred in Boone County, Kentucky, with eight students being charged with vandalism crimes associated with the devious licks trend. A prank or a trend is only fun when there are no serious consequences.

It is not worth facing criminal charges for a few likes on TikTok. While school can be a place to have fun and, at times, even be silly, the primary objective of schools is to help students learn. The devious licks trend inhibits the learning environment and does little to help teenagers grow into mature, well-behaved, soon-to-be adults. And, in a society where few teens are taken seriously by their

“I think it depends on what the trend is telling the students to do.”

-freshmen Madison Hix

elders, trends such as this one hardly make high school students look any better.

Ultimately, like any trend, devious licks will most likely die out. But just because a prank seems fun to one person, doesn’t mean it’s funny to everyone.

Students should show maturity at school, and work alongside school staff to foster a more nurturing learning environment, rather than one filled with criminal vandalism and theft.

“I believe that the devious licks trend impedes the learning environment... because it injures the custodial staff.”

-senior Aymen Ibn el farouk

the roar | snapshots | 7

friday, nov. 5, 2021

shivers down your spine Creativity reaches new levels with Halloween costumes piper hitchcock & emmeline duhon executive editor & feature editor

Me and Emma [Paul] always do some kind of dynamic duo,” senior Ava Derbes said. “Freshmen year we were a lamp and a moth, then we were two of our old coaches. Last year we were a grandma and her caretaker. We knew we had to go out with a bang-- Bhad Bhabie and Dr. Phil just felt right.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY AVA DERBES

“My girlfriend picked our [Flynn Rider and Rapunzel] costumes,” senior Cole Eckhardt said. “They were pretty hard to put together because we had to find different pieces of clothing. But it was worth it, it was fun.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY COLE ECKHARDT

PHOTO PROVIDED BY BROOKE BOND

8 | centerspread | the roar

friday, nov. 5, 2021

the roar | centerspread| 9

“My favorite part of being in the play is having the honor of leading others and helping them to create theatre shows,” Brumblelow said. “It’s so cool to see how the show and the company’s abilities and talent progress from the beginning of the year to showtime - and seeing the successful end result of a show after everyone has put so much work into it, and knowing that you helped make that happen is the best feeling in the world.”

“I love preparing for the opening night,” sophomore Amy Chae said. “Everything from building the sets, figuring out blocking, preparing props, and theater traditions, it all builds to the official production and it’s really cool to see it all come together.”

STAGE FRIGHT “At a normal rehearsal, we’ll run scenes or all the way through individual acts, and the stage managers and directors take notes that we give to the actors to edit the show and make it performance-ready,” senior Laurel Brumbelow said. “At the beginning of the show process in September, we’ll have line tests to make sure actors have their lines memorized, and we’ll begin to designate stage movements to scenes, called blocking.”

Tiger Theater presents Pride and Prejudice and Zombies claire grace franklin & emily chen editor in chief & section editor

“My favorite part of rehearsals is watching how scenes come to life during the blocking process,” senior Marissa Patti said. “A lot of scenes come to life from mistakes that end up working.”

10 | feature | the roar

friday, nov. 5, 2021

butter believe it Student chefs discuss the joy of cooking, turning culinary into more myla cathey | news editor Turning an everyday activity into something more, some aspiring student chefs and bakers devote much of their free time to perfecting recipes, experimenting with ingredients, or learning about food.

Preparing food, which may seem like a simple task required for survival, can become a hobby, an art form, or even a competition for those who strive to become experts in the kitchen.

Senior Laurel Brumbelow has taken multiple classes, in and out of school, to further her skills in several aspects of baking and even ran her own home subscription bakery “I like baking because there’s very clear scientific processes in it, and you can very clearly see where chemistry and biology come in,” Brumbelow said. “Everything’s nice and clear and measured.”

Brumbelow wishes to pursue a culinary career after hopefully attending Auburn University and graduating from their Hospitality and Tourism program, which has an emphasis in culinary science.

“I’d like to attend college and focus more on the management and business side of culinary and restaurant management,” Brumbelow said.

“It’s easier to find a career in [something other than] being a chef. I really want to work in the industry in some capacity.”

Not all students are focused on culinary careers. Senior Lydia Demlow bakes as a stressfree hobby that began when she was a kid in the kitchen with her mom and grandma.

“I enjoy eating what I cook,” Demlow said.

“I enjoy sharing what I make and seeing other people get happy from eating it.”

Demlow enjoys

making bread, brownies, and cookies from scratch, and the only difficulty she has found in this pastime is in ensuring the tidiness of the kitchen.

“When you make something complicated, making sure that you don’t mix things up and that your workstation is clean enough to figure out where stuff is while you’re cooking is really difficult for me,” Demlow said.

Cooking turns into a contest for freshmen Jacob Trimble, who has competed for five years in his 4H club’s food challenge event with his team of “food ninjas.” In this event, competitors must choose from a selection of ingredients and create a dish and corresponding presentation.

“I enjoy it because I get to do it with three of my best friends, which is really fun,” Trimble said. “I am also very competitive, and this gives me something to do that allows me to be competitive. It’s also educational and can help [me] get scholarships and things of that nature later down the line.”

Getting inspiration for creating meals is an important factor in being successful. Many resources are available to help, like recipe books, cooking television shows, online series, and famous chefs.

“Whenever we’re about a week from competition, there’s only three shows my mom allows me to watch,” Trimble said. “The first of which is the show Chopped, and the other two are Master Chef and Master Chef Jr, so chefs like Gordon Ramsay very much influence cooking.”

Brumbelow’s favorite way to gain inspiration for recipes is to travel to different restaurants and bakeries to try their food and later experiment with what she learned.

“I just love food in general and exploring restaurants and different cultures,” Brumbelow said. “Cooking obviously goes right in hand with that, and it gives me that independence and experience within that area of expertise. It’s just something that resonates with me.”

Overall, Brumbelow feels that baking provides an independent and rewarding experience that anyone can try since it is such an expansive area of study.

“People don’t realize how big it is,” Brumbelow said. “We eat food every day, so it obviously impacts us. There’s so much you can do in that field, and it’s really cool how it’s never-ending.”

Senior Laurel Brumbelow bakes a plate of delicious chocolate dessert treats.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY LAUREL BRUMBELOW

Freshman Jacob Trimble poses with his food challenge team for a 4H competition.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JACOB TRIMBLE

friday, nov. 5 2021

the roar | feature | 11

239420975329587259422987302972094 cr ypto-mite 982543756243957485987426429123749 Students trade crypto-currency, practice money-management, investment skills 103799516437019247918365102385401 103509841658713640198410397507463 489171856341027581436423048973503 987614873571651340983510674376129 827361401430487635671346109843678 189736248236510293847124320984731 209486732785162539413054613253499 918463713051263453437737710327461 195387641058746513120374813981734 234871643047632059182374513958763 328476154028746237485135928461036 984726510387468154786529340857982 198461038764385409871023954351329 913324051473623562093468763210343 243871605384762374510324613478616 709345626450150296356220293847133 097856423098457204956262450845423 495876135610498675264601488045618 ellie hague & ian curtis opinions editor & sports editor

From stories of Average Joes striking it rich off bitcoin to memes of the fluffy dog from Dogecoin, few new technologies have dominated the internet in recent years in the same way cryptocurrency has. But all of this attention has failed to deliver the most important information: what exactly is cryptocurrency?

“It’s an online way to transfer your money into a private source that can’t be traced,” senior Luke Caverlee said. “It gives you more safety with your money. The blockchain is [an] algorithm that analyzes all the transactions and keeps them private, away from other people.”

Minors can legally invest in and trade cryptocurrency, as Caverlee discovered.

However, trading at such a young age does have its limitations.

“Since I’m not 18, I have to have a parental guide,” Caverlee said. “Everything’s under my parents’ names [and] I’m given limited access.

I’m just kind of holding [cryptocurrency] and waiting until I’m 18 [when] I can make more of the big decisions so I don’t have to run it through my parents before I decide ‘oh, I want to buy this’ or ‘I want to sell this.’”

One of the main problems currently facing the crypto world is the general public’s lack of knowledge on the subject, a situation that results in common misconceptions about the technology.

“People don’t know what it is, so they just assume whatever they don’t know is bad,” senior Quin Bonasera said. “It’s not like regular stocks.

It’s not based on anything [physical], like a phone or battery.”

Unlike stock exchanges, which involve the buying and selling of shares of a company, the cryptocurrency market’s coins are the product itself. This means crypto trading is free from the constraints and accessibility limitations of more traditional investment practices.

“That’s the beauty of it. You don’t have to wait until whatever time the stock [exchange] opens,” senior Jordan Kissee said. “There’s no time that [crypto] closes. You can buy it, then you can sell it whenever.”

That freedom does not come without its own risks, however. Cryptocurrencies are not tied to the value of another item, which creates a fertile ground for scams.

“People will try to tell you ‘this is the next big coin’ and tell you that ‘this is going to beat Bitcoin,’” Kissee said. “You’ll buy in, and they’ll basically just pump and dump, which is [when] you get one guy who has a bunch of coin [and] gets a bunch of other people to buy it. On the day the coin releases, [they’ll] just dump it and only about one or two people typically even [benefit].”

Although cryptocurrencies do not produce a physical product, they have a major impact on the environment.

“If you mine [crypto] on a large scale, it’s really bad for the environment,” Caverlee said.

“You’re essentially just running hundreds of computers and you’re having to pay for cooling and energy. Especially if you’re doing it in a country with loose laws, It can get really bad.”

Regardless of its benefits and upsides, investing in cryptocurrency is a risk. And sometimes, it can end poorly.

“Don’t put any money in that you’re not willing to lose because ultimately, the risk is the reward,” Caverlee said.

“You [can] lose everything, [or] it can multiply by 50.

You can make a bunch. You just want to only put in money you’re willing to lose.”

12 | sports | the roar

friday, nov. 5, 2021

brodie knows

Dual sport athlete gains leadership experience, proves abilities on both playing fields ian curtis | sports editor

On July 19, 2021, before his senior season even began, Brodie Daniel committed to play baseball for the Tulane Green Wave upon graduating from Consol. On August 27, 2021, Daniel suited up as Consol’s starting quarterback, throwing seven touchdowns in a season-opening 68-7 win over Waco University.

Daniel’s dual-sport skill is just one example of an athletic career that can best be summed up by one word: adaptability.

“He’s done an outstanding job stepping in from receiver to quarterback,” head football coach Lee Fedora said. “He’s been a great leader. He’s done a great job, throwing the football and running the football. He’s proud of that dual threat guy, and he has scrambled well. He’s just been an all around great athlete.”

“Dual-threat” is a fitting description.

Daniel has 1003 yards passing with 13 touchdowns, with another seven scores coming on the ground. But stats only tell part of the story. Daniel plays a critical role on the team, one that cannot be measured by mere numbers.

“He’s out there pushing each other, helping the defense, helping the offense, helping the special teams,” Fedora said. “He never worries about himself. He only worries about his teammates, and [he] shows that.

He’s one of those guys that builds chemistry.”

The role of leader is one that Daniel embraces easily and fully.

“I want people [to see me] as a leader,” Daniel said. “[I want to show] what that’s supposed to look like. The quarterback is a leader on the team and he’s able to run the show and run the offense and make

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: LINDSEY CAVE

sure that everybody’s doing what they’re supposed to.”

While he has made a major impact on the gridiron this year, Daniel’s true passion has always been with the baseball program.

“It’s my favorite thing to do,” Daniel said. “No matter even if I’m playing bad, I just still come back to it because I love it.”

Head baseball coach Ryan Lennerton has been working with Daniel since he arrived on campus, allowing him to note exactly what sets Daniel apart from the crowd on both playing fields.

“I would say [there is a] calm fierceness about him,” Lennerton said. “On the surface, he doesn’t look like a real fired up person, but he plays with some serious tenacity. We’ve seen it on the football field this year for sure in the premier position.”

Having already led the football team to their 17th-straight playoff appearance, Daniel hopes to carry over his leadership skills gained at the quarterback position to the baseball field this spring.

“I’m going to be looked at as a leader [in baseball],” Daniel said. “I want to be that person for everybody. They’ll be able to look up to me whenever I’m gone, and it’s like a [benchmark] for them and what they need to do [in] the upcoming years.”

One of Daniel’s greatest strengths as an athlete has always been his versatility.

He signed with the Green Wave as a utility player, and it’s a trait that he has exemplified in his football career as well.

“Going into this year, we needed a quarterback and he came to me and said, ‘Coach, I will play whatever I need to play to

help this team win,’” Fedora said. “And that just shows the character he [has]. That’s why he’s an outstanding athlete, and [it’s why] he’s going to be an outstanding baseball player in college. And I’m really proud of him.”

Daniel’s time on the football team is something that Lennerton and the rest of the baseball program have embraced, as it has its benefits for the rest of the team.

“It helps when he comes over from football every year,” Lennerton said. “We add a leader, one that we didn’t have. We don’t have him in the fall and all of a sudden we got a leader inserted in the spring.”

Fedora praised Daniel’s selflessness at practice and during games.

“He’s one of those hard nosed guys,” Fedora said. “It’s never about himself, even when he makes great plays, and [when] somebody else makes mistakes he’ll take the blame. He encourages [them] to keep winning.”

Lennerton’s years of coaching have allowed him to watch Daniel develop both on and off the field.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Brodie over four years,” Lennerton said.

“Every year I just see him grow more as a man. That’s what we hope for as coaches.”

But in the end, it’s not the scholarships, glory, or statistics that keep Daniel in either sport. Brodie Daniel plays for his team.

“It’s been all my teammates that have made this year fun for football. It’s been one of the most fun years,” Daniel said. “I think what made me love football so much was the guys I’ve been around.”

PHOTO BY: IAN CURTIS

friday, nov. 5, 2021

the roar | sports | 13

targeted Shooting competitions emphasize safety skills, responsibilities, leadership

Get into position, take aim at the target, pull the trigger, and hear the boom of a gunshot.

Whether part of a club or as a hunting activity done with their parents, shooting is a sport that allows for educational and characterbuilding experiences. Sophomore Dalton Cordray has been shooting since the age of eight, and says shooting is actually relaxing and safe.

“You need to know where your surroundings are, what’s behind you, [and]

what’s to the side of you,” Cordray said. “When I shoot or hunt, I always wear my safety glasses.

I also always have my earplugs in because you don’t want to ruin your hearing.”

Similarly, senior Hunter Melder clarifies that hunting requires certain precautionary measures to ensure the safety of all people participating, taking a hunter’s safety course and owning a hunting license.

“Before [anyone] is ever going to let you shoot, they’re going to make sure you’re using

the right ammo in the gun,” Melder said.

“You’re pointing it where you’re not going to shoot anybody, and when you’re not ready to shoot, you don’t have your hand on the trigger and your gun isn’t loaded.”

Like Cordray and Melder, junior Layne Feldhousen is also a member of 4H, a non-profit youth organization that teaches leadership and expertise in various fields. She has taken safety courses through her 4H club that have taught her the appropriate protection and awareness required for shooting.

“4H is very safety focused,” Feldhousen said. “They try to keep everything under control. There are a lot of rules that we have to follow to make sure we aren’t harming the safety of anyone. It’s really rare that anyone gets hurt.”

Handling a potentially fatal weapon teaches young people the importance of being aware of possible dangers and knowing one’s responsibilities in such a risky situation.

“If everybody’s doing what they’re taught, then there are no dangers,” Melder said.

“I’m always making sure that I’m not being dangerous to anyone else and watching the people around me to make sure they’re doing the same. Shooting has definitely helped me realize how important it is to be responsible around guns because they are something that can take a life.”

In competitions, participants travel to shooting ranges to represent their club in tournament-style rounds. They are ranked according to the accuracy of their shots in a variety of events.

“There are different disciplines, games, or ways you can shoot,” Feldhousen said. “You shoot somewhere from 25-100 times, and the highest score wins. You try to shoot as many targets as you can, that’s the main rule. If you crush one of the targets versus chipping it, the

scores [will be weighted] the same.”

Within the tournaments are different categories that are all judged by the number of targets hit.

“There’s trap shooting where the bird just goes straight out and you have to shoot it,” Cordray said. “There’s skeet where the bird moves side to side. There’s wizbang where the birds can come from every single angle. Then there’s sporting clays, which is my personal favorite; you go to each station and shoot from different angles.”

Despite the extensive training provided for all shooters and the life lessons shooting sports can teach, some people continue to regard shooting negatively. Cordray advocates for shooting, saying that it is just like any other youth sport.

“I wish more people knew just how exciting shooting is, how stress relieving it can be,” Cordray said. “If people are more informed about it and they actually saw how it is run, how safe it is, and what they’re trying to teach besides just shooting guns, I think it wouldn’t be looked at as bad.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY: DALTON CORDRAY

piper hitchcock & myla cathey executive editor & news editor

14 | reviews | the roar

friday, nov 5, 2021

stage to screen the roar reviews: musicals mariska lingsweiler | journalism student

debkonya banerjee | journalism student “Dear Evan Hansen” addresses the harmful impacts of social media on teens.along with the related issues of teen suicide. I appreciate the way they conveyed the sensitive subject in this film. It was really well done without ruining the humorous mood but also not making it into a big joke. There were some unsatisfactory elements in the musical, such as the songs like ``You Will Be Found’’ or ``Waving from the Window”. Not only were they long, but they weren’t catchy or memorable. There were some places where the songs just came out of nowhere, as if they were just thrown in. The music wasn’t the only thin that was inadequate. The acting was average.

When Evan Hansen (Ben Platt) talks about his guilt and social anxiety with his family friend, Jared Kleinman (Nik Dodani), the dialogue was superficial. But not all the actors fit the average bill. Amy Adams, as Cynthia Murphy, the single mother of Evan Hansen, was very heartwarming. It touched the viewers hearts, and made them experience Cynthia’s pain.

I recommend this musical to everyone. Even with the inadequate music and average acting, there was some cinematic brilliance which conveyed some deep subjects.

In the controversial movie rendition of “Cats” (2019), a group of stray felines compete at the Jellicle Ball to be chosen as The Jellicle Cat, the cat who visits the Heaviside Layer to receive a new life.

It is an utterly brilliant film and totally hiss-terical.

The movie will appeal to those who enjoy the thrill of dancing and singing in musicals.

The actors’ movements are very cat-like; they’re grounded, yet light, travelling quickly across the floor, using their levels to engage you. It has a wide variety of dance styles—pointe, tap, hip-hop and ballet, but not traditional ballet. While they still use traditional ballet moves, the elements are mixed together to create a dance style that is a Frankenstein mixture—in a good way. Break dancing cats in tennis shoes? Tap boots on a railroad track? It has a slinky cat look in all of the actors, and halfway through the movie you forget that they’re people. While the figures are obviously CGI-assisted, it maintained believability. The scale of the settings reinforced the notion that you were in the cat’s world. The cats are dancing on and under tables and it felt as if you were peering through their feline eyes.

Fans of the Broadway musical will also enjoy this movie because of the soundtrack. I can’t compare it to the musical because I’ve never seen it, but now I want to. The music was goosebump-inducing. At the end when Grizabella (Jennifer Hudson) sings “Memory”, there are real snot and tears involved (hers, not mine). There is so much emotion and passion in this beat-up cat, that she sucked both the audience and other cats into her angsty life and made them feel not only empathy, but a strong connection to her character.

Ultimately, many people find it more amusing and enjoyable to criticize and complain than they do to uplift and praise. For this reason, I believe that it became popular to diss this movie, rather than give it a chance. They were just embarrassed to admit that they actually liked it. I, however, loved it.

friday, nov. 5, 2021

debkonya banerjee | journalism student Tiff ’s Treats is a very popular place to get some delicious goodies. The double chocolate chip cookies are my favorite. The cookie was decadent. There was chocolate in every bite. It was warm and fresh when I opened the box, and the chocolate was very rich.

The cookies were soft and melted in my mouth. They were super sweet and it was an exceptional dessert to eat for any occasion. However, there were some difficulties with getting the cookies out because they broke very easily and got stuck with the other treats.

Other than that, I whole-heartedly enjoyed them. I definitely recommend people to go out and try Tiff ’s Treats cookies!

the roar | reviews | 15

sweet tooth the roar reviews: cookies

dottie marvin | journalism student Crumbl does an excellent job of setting themselves up for success. A plain cookie from Crumbl soars beyond expectations. They are a perfect combination of moist with a good amount of crumbliness and sweet balanced with the perfect touch of salt. The toppings, however, are not a factor to be overlooked.The flavors in my box were bubble gum, Twix, Reese’s Pieces, and a rice crispy treat. The Twix consisted of a layer of caramel, melted chocolate, and a Twix on top. Although it was my favorite, I can’t discount the other flavors. Going into it, I was skeptical of the bubblegum and Reese’s flavors considering the fact that they aren’t my first choice in candies.

Bubblegum flavors are usually so overwhelming, but the icing was subtle enough that I could taste it without needing a break from the flavor. The same applies to the Reese’s cookie that had a melted layer of chocolate with a crumbled Reese’s on top. It was just enough flavor to appreciate the cookie and not feel as though you are just eating candy. Although it is not a cookie, the rice crispy treat was the perfect addition to a perfect cookie experience.

16 | etc. | the roar

for the people

friday, nov. 5, 2021

Political discussion groups promote sharing of opinions TurningPoint, enjoys how he can use opposing viewpoints of others to develop his own through discussions, he says.

“It’s interesting to be able to hear and

Young children are often influenced by listen to other people’s opinions that don’t go their parents’ political views, but as they grow with mine,”’ senior Samuel Chew said. “It makes older, they form their own political identity. One me see what other people think, and it helps me way teens can build their political knowledge formulate my argument.” and viewpoint is through discussion-based

Sophomore Amy Chae did not groups. engage in the news before joining JSA, but

Junior State of America (JSA) and now, it’s opened her up to a whole new TurningPoint USA (TPUSA) are two national knowledge base, she says. organizations in which students discuss and

“I learned there is so much going participate at events like Winter Congress on beyond politics, like the Game Stop Meeting days: Wednesdays (JSA), and attend political seminars. But when stock market situation and how things sophomore Paris Pavlas decided to create two like #deviouslicks Topics discussed: freedom &affected our own school local chapters for these programs, she faced district,” Chae said. “It’s gotten me excited to virtue, some challenges in the approval process, she learn about the things I would never pursue capitalism, says. on my own.”

“JSA was smooth sailing,” Pavlas said.

Fortunately, Chae has found a way Executive board: “Turning Point was a little bit more of an issue. to not let political disagreements get in the It was accepted last year, then denied twice, and way of her friendships with members, she then was accepted this year after we had to go says. through all the steps [again].”

The parent organization

“Obviously there will for beConsol’s some

However, from her unique position as amount of chapter tension whenisdiscussing of TPUSA known to be the the leader of both clubs, Pavlas feels the political sensitive topics we touch on,” Chase said. conservative-leaning. orientations of each club balance out.

“No matter how rough it gets within the

“Each organization does have its own meeting that week, we leave it out of our little quirks making it unique from the other personal lives, because at the end of the day, one,” Pavlas said. “But I definitely would say that most people in JSA are friends.” even though Turning Point is a little bit more

Chew is open to the creation of right-leaning, JSA is a little bit more left-leaning. more discussion clubs as long as people It’s really cool to see where they meet in the accept them, like the recently-approved middle.”

OFA that is typically associated with

However, Pavlas does recognize the Democratic ideas. influence of party virtues on each organization, “There has to be respect and so she tries to give a reliable source of professionality to show that we are actually information to create opinions from, she says. mature enough to engage into a discussion,”

“To make it not biased towards one Chew said. “That’s really important if we group or another, I give them facts [and] want to have a symbiotic relationship at the multiple pieces of evidence,” Pavlas said. “‘Here’s school.” where this is coming from, what do you think

The variety of viewpoints at about it?’ Each person gets to share their own meetings is necessary, says Pavlas, because opinions, but they also get to look at the facts.” otherwise, they could not function.

Senior Samuel Chew, a member of

“If you go to both JSA and

medha sarin & emily chen managing editor & staff reporter

Turning Point, you’ll find people there that are libertarian, Republican, Democrat, conservative, liberal, all the above,” Pavlas said. “If it was all one party, it wouldn’t work. I think that this way of communication between the parties and between individuals is amazing.”

Which club is right for you?

TURNING

@amconsoltpusa

POINT USA

Types of topics: freedom, virtue, capitalism (focused on foundational aspects of America) Meeting days: bimonthly, Tues. or Wed. Exec: VP Samuel Chew Secretary Allie Lemons Treasurer Elise Word

Social Outreach Joy Johnston Types of topics: abortion ban, immigration, 2020 election (focused on current events) Meeting days: weekly, Thu. Exec: VP Secretary Treasurer

Sarah Barrow Amy Chae Maria Marcantonio

@consol_jsa

OFA (Opt for Action), founded by Melinda Li and Claire Wang, had their first meeting Thu, Nov 4. @optforactionconsol