Scared of the bathroom?
11
Ryan Mardis is on PAGE
See the end of the world on PAGE
September 2015 _________________________________________________
the
8
See their story on PAGE
3
Volume 50, Issue 1 _________________________________________________
Commodore Cruiser
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL NEWSPAPER @DORESCRUISER ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LHS is 50
STUDENT SECTION
Lafayette’s student section cheering wildly as the Crosstown Classic game began.
Get Your Pink On
by Barrett Childress Fifty years after Lafayette High School was founded, LHS is still going strong. LHS was established in 1965. Lafayette High School was established to include seven schools in the makeup LHS. Those seven schools include Yocana, Taylor, Abbeville, Toccopola, West Union, Harmontown, and Water Valley. There are many things that were different back then compared to now. One major thing that has happened, is the rise in gas prices. Cars were very different then compared to now. Many things have changed in Oxford, Mississippi since 1965. Today, gas is
$2.06. In 1965, gas was $.31. Cars have also changed since then. Think about the kind of car you drive now and the kind of car someone drove to high school in 1965. There has been a huge change in the body style of cars. Students have taken on a great part of making Lafayette High School what it is today. In 1965, a group of students helped the superintendent come up with the team nickname and the school’s colors. They chose the nickname to be the Commodores and the official school colors to be red, white, and gold. See 50 on page 4
by Katie Sicks
Pink will be the only thing seen in the William L. Buford stadium of LHS on Friday night. Never before will there have been so much pink seen at one time. Lafayette Commodores will be having a Pink Out football game, to support breast cancer awareness. Head Coach Eric Robertson is dedicating the football game to raise awareness. “It is important to me. It affects so many people both directly and indirectly. The more awareness enables us to raise more money for treatment, prevention, and cures.” Breast cancerawareness is important to Robertson. “I think
the American Cancer Society will be there handing things out. Also, our players might wear a little pink,” Robertson added. “I would like to thank everyone involved in making the Pink Out possible,” Robertson added ending his interviewing. Margie McLeod is assisting with the pink for the team and helping make this event come to life. McLeod is member of Zeta Tau Alpha fraternity. ZTA’s fraternity has the desire to give back to the community. See Pink on Page 2
The Juniors and Seniors of 1966 posing for a prom picture during Lafayette High School’s first ever prom.
NEWS THE COMMODORE CRUISER 2
Learning Earnings by Mary Kate Newman
The Commodore Cruiser Lafayette High School 160 Commodore Dr. Oxford, MS 38655 (662) 234-3614 Staff Natalie Boone Brock Burge Barrett Childress Hailey Edwards Thomas Hinton Olivia Howie Javieus Lyons Destiny Mooneyham Mary Kate Newman Lakeirra Owens Brook Savage Katie Sicks Kady Smith Audrey Tapp Editorial Policy The views and opinions expressed in this paper are of an editorial nature and do not necessarily represent the views of the Cruiser staff, advisors, school faculty, or administrators of the Lafayette County School District. Guest editorials may be submitted to the Cruiser and will be published to according to available space and relevance. Anonymous submissions will not be considered.
Kids just don’t want to go to school sometimes, but now students could actually receive prizes for just attending school. Yes, this may sound crazy but it’s true. Since the beginning of September, Lafayette High School has started a program called Learning Earnings. This program allows students to have an account connected to their school email. This account receives credits based on a number of things. Just by coming to school all week a student can receive 60 credits. This concept will hopefully help with attendance, but wait there is more. You can receive additional credits for good behavior, coming to school prepared, and good character qualities. “You can receive learning earnings based on your performance in class, or making good decisions and
doing things you should just because you should do them,” Mr. Kitchens said. Learning Earnings are part of all the Lafayette County Schools and each have a school store. Let’s discuss what Learning Earnings actually is. This website is like an online bank account. Students have a savings account and a checking account. Teachers will give out points which will show up in the student’s inbox on their account and will be put into their checking account when claimed. Teachers can also print out credits for students toupload to their account. Learning Earn-
ings can also teach students the concept of moneymanagement. They are allowed to switch over money from the checking to the savings and earn interest just like a real bank account. With these points come rewards, too. Different teachers have different rewards which will show up in the stu dents store. All teachers are rewarding points you may use these points to purchase rewards for certain teachers’ classrooms. There are also auctions and games. One of the major auctions would have tobe the lunch on the square. Dr. Pugh has set up this auction and may do this kind of auction every nine weeks. Go be good, make sure
you come to school, and earn some credits.
“It makes them have better behavior and do better on their test, and come to school.” - Laura Sanders, 9th grade
NEWS THE COMMODORE CRUISER 3
The BACK Story...of the T-Shirt by Kady Smith
When you think about the first graduated class of Lafayette, you probably think puffy hair and black and white photos. We see them everyday as we walk to class from the commons along with other past graduate classes. Mickey Nelson is the first Mister Lafayette from the original senior class of LHS. Before he was transferred to Lafayette, Nelson went to West Union. “It felt outstanding to go to Lafayette and be the first graduated class,” stated Nelson, “Most gals and guys went to county schools and was bused long distances. I wondered why it didn’t happen sooner!” After high school, Nelson attended Northwest Mississippi Community College, but then went into the army and fought in the Vietnam War in the 14th division of 1969 and 1970. He then married his current wife and had three kids. Nelson then worked for the Oxford Electric Department, but is now retired. Bette McDaniel Robbins is the first Miss Lafayette, but before Lafayette she originally went to Taylor from the 1st grade to 11th grade. “I was very excited to attend Lafayette! I got to make so
many new friends. It was like a new beginning for me,” said Robbins. She thought that she would be a teacher once she left high school, but once she was married Robbins became a navy wife and moved around a lot. They first moved to Hawaii and then Long Beach, Cal. They then moved back to Oxford and she worked at the accountant office at Oxford City Schools. When asked how she felt about being on this year’s homecoming t-shirt, she stated “I felt very honored! I’m sure everyone laughed at our hairstyles and clothing!” RIGHT: Bette Mcdaniel and Mickey Nelson, the first Miss and Mr. LHS. BELOW: 50th anniversasy homecoming t-shirt.
BUS CARD B&W AD
NEWS
50:
Continued from page 1
The nickname and school colors are still in place today. Lafayette High School has also made many improvements since it was first established in 1965. In the first yearbook, The Commodore, it revealed a few things that Lafayette High had when it was first established. There was no football or baseball field. There was only one school for all twelve grades to be held in, which is currently Lafayette Middle School. The younger grades were able to play on the small swing set that they had. Many things have changed at Lafayette High School since 1965. Some changes have also been in the Oxford community. From gas prices to having four
THE COMMODORE CRUISER
schools at Lafayette County, many great things have happened to the Lafayette County school district. Now, in 2015, Lafayette High School is still a wonderful place to attend high school and it is still going strong and preparing students for the future.
Photos from the class of 1965-66:
4
STUDENT LIFE THE COMMODORE CRUISER 5
School Spirit or Lack Thereof
Freshman Spotlight
School spirit is a fun way for everyone to participate in school events, and get pumped up for the activity that is coming up. In Lafayette High School, there is not much school spirit. What spirit this school has, there is not much of it. Some schools around Mississippi do good to get students pumped up for games or an event, but LHS needs more student participation. Other schools have more student participation so it is more fun. The cheerleaders do a great job at coming up with different days to get us ready for the football games, but most of the students do not participate in the theme that is going on that day. Everyone needs to be in-
“If I could I would live that night over and over again. It was so mind blowing...amazing.” This is just one detail from one of the best nights of Destiny Gaut’s life. Gaut is originally from Memphis, Tennessee. She moved to Lafayette just this year, but she was here during 4th and 5th grade. She had a chance to see Ed Sheeran perform in Memphis on June 2nd this summer. It all happened on Beale Street. This also happened to be where she was born. She is a huge fan of Ed Sheeran and his music.When she talks about him and his music her connection as a fan is unreal. Her passion is so strong for him and she just loves him. She like lots of his songs but said her favorite, for right
by:Barrett Childress
Dr. Kitchens has school spirit.
volved in school spirit to get everyone pumped up. Laurie Branch and Alivia Noonan, both freshman at LHS, both really enjoy the spirit days and participate in school activities. Noonan says, “I like to go to school events because I get to hang out with my friends and get to see people I might not get to see on a regular basis. I also think that everyone should participate in the spirit days so that everyone is pumped up for the event that is coming up.” Branch says, “I am a fan of the games because they are at night and it is cooler and the sun is not out.” She also adds, “There is just something about the stadium lights that make it so much better.” School spirit
is something that is fun and everyone needs to participate in. There are a few people that will dress up for every school spirit event LHS has, but there are some students that do not ever participate. LHS would be full of spirit if everyone participated when there was an event going on. School spirit is one of the things that the students can control and LHS needs to be full of it. Everyone needs to make an effort to raise our school’s level of school spirit!
by: Mary Kate Newman
Meet Destiny Gaut.
now, would have to be Bloodstream.“You could feel the music run through you and the way he sang was so beautifully beautiful,” Gaut said. She can’t even begin to describe how amazing that night was. Gaut was accompanied by her best friend, Isabella Wilson. If you didn’t think her night could end up getting any better then you are mistaken. They stuffed their faces with funnel cakes and danced the night away. Gaut and Wilson’s night was topped off by a free carriage ride. She has been to a total of five other concerts in her life but the way she told of this one with such enthusiasm and love for Ed Sheeran made this the best memory of her life.
STUDENT LIFE
THE COMMODORE CRUISER
6
The New Face Of LHS by: Olivia Howie “The first time (I came to Lafayette), I was very excited because everything is new and as a foreigner, I’m very very excited because I’ve never been like this. The teachers and the classmates are all foreigners,” She said, her almond-shaped eyes glittering. Do not be quick to make assumptions, but anyone would agree this does not sound like a statement made by the average Joe at Lafayette High. These are the words of none other than Claire Shuxan Zhou, an exchange student from Beijing, China. Zhou attended the high school attached to Nortceast Normal University of Chaoy-
ang before eagerly making her 13 hour flight to The United States. Living in Oxford, Mississippi, with a family that chose her out of a plethora of other exchange students, she considers herself to be exceptionally lucky to get to experience life at an American school. During the first week of being at LHS, Zhou became frustrated because the
teachers were speaking too fast for her to follow, but the chameleon spirit easily caught on after about a week.
“In China, we do not change classes, we stay in the same class and the teachers change. Everyday our schedules are different. In one week we have five days, so we have five schedules and after one class we have ten minutes to rest.” Although she is only a sophomore, Zhou has taken chemistry, physics, and most of the maths offered on the Commodore campus. When asked what her most challenging subject has been since her big move, Zhou spits out U.S. History like rapidfire. She feels like this is partly because there was not enough emphasis on history class at her high school in Beijing. History class in Beijing consisted of listening to the
teacher ramble, watching movies related to the lesson, and listening to various stories. After that, there is usually an exam on which the students were allowed to use their textbooks for guidance. Zhou is one of those rare individuals who is too appreciative of her circumstances to allow miniscule things such as an interaction with a rude classmate or not comprehending a lesson get her down. When asked if she has had any bad days on the campus of Lafayette High, Zhou serenely replied with “No, this place is very good. I love it.”
STUDENT LIFE
THE COMMODORE CRUISER
Dress Code by: Destiny Monneyham “What are you wearing?” is a familiar question for students, who break the dress code, heard quite often. Some students wonder why school’s even have a dress code, LHS principal Dr. Glenn Kitchens has given the student body an answer. “We have a dress code because we have around 765 students and roughly 75 adults here on the campus. Meaning, we need an environment that’s inclusive to learning. If a young lady or young man had on something that is very revealing, everyone’s going to notice that and be distracted, no matter what the sex or what the age. A
lot of times that type of clothing is fine at home, but when you are pulling an entire community of people together, everyone just needs to feel comfortable,” Kitchens said. Instead of having to deal with the havoc of rebelling, many schools have uniforms. “Since we are a public school it is unlikely to have a uniform, but it is possible. I do not care for uniforms, that is my own personal opinion as a principal and as a person. One of the issues with me is, school uniforms that I have seen are really not uniforms, it’s basically an extremely strict dress
code. What I view as a uniform is more like what the ROTC cadets wear, where everybody’s outfit is exactly the same. It’s a matter of pride that says ‘Hey this is who we are.’ So if Lafayette happened to have a uniform that was exactly the same and they were a matter of ‘This is Lafayette, this is who we are. This is what defines us.’ Then I’d be all over it,” Kitchens added. In Lafayette High School, Nike shorts won’t be accepted, shorts must come down to the wearer’s fingertips. Tank tops and shirts that expose the midriff are not allowed. Picks,
Hours: 6am-9pm Monday -Saturday 1200 North Lamar 662-234-5041 Oxford, MS, 38655
combs, or other styling devices can not be in students hair. For more information about the dress code, it is on page 38 of the student handbook. Principals have to do what is best for the whole student body, and ensuring students dress appropriately is a part of it.
7
STUDENT LIFE
THE COMMODORE CRUSIER
8
The LHS Band Takes on the Apocalypse by: Kady Smith
Flags twirling, instruments raised high with pride, people being dragged on to their spots, the band marches on the field ready to take on halftime. “This theme has to be the best show yet,” states clarinet section leader Hannah Edwards.“I mean, we’ve had some fun shows in the past, but this is the most themed and organized show we’ve done. It’s a lot of fun!” In the past, the band has always done light-hearted, happy themes. This year the band decides to get a taste of the dark side with their apocalyptic theme. The songs they are performing this year are
The Walking Dead theme song mixed with “I See Fire” by Ed Sheeran, “Skyfall” by Adele, and “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons, accompanied by the color guard portraying as “zombies” or “infected”. “It’s more of a darker and scarier show this year,” says, color guard captain, Gaddie Johnson, “which is nice because my whole guard career I’ve only done happy and exciting shows. It’s nice to do something different! Almost like finding a new character.” In addition of taking on the apocalypse,this school year band members who signed
up are going to Orlando, Fla. during Christmas break. They will be performing at the Russell Athletic Bowl during halftime with around 2,200 other students from all over U.S. It will be the largest bowl game band that will ever be marched. Not only are LHS band members performing, but they will also be going to Universal Studios and having some fun. “It’s going to be a lot bigger than what we are used to,” state Johnson ,“and a lot different marching with such a huge group, but it’s going to be an amazing experience.”
University Sporting Goods 105 Courthouse Sq. Oxford, MS 662-234-1736
Get all your Rebel gear! Hotty Toddy!
Milkshake Monday
Topping Thursday
Two Scoop Tuesday
Float Friday
Waffle Wednesday
Come check out our daily specials!
Saturday Sundae
OPINION THE COMMODORE CRUISER 9
Oh YUCK!
by Brock Burge
At some point in our lives we have said this about our school’s cafeteria food but what can we do to change the phrase from being said. We have taken some suggestions about what should be added to the school menu. •
Yogurt
• Different types of salad -Caesar -South Western -Greek Salad • More drink options -Coke and diet drinks -Sweet tea -Lemonade • Healthier meat choices -Grilled Chicken -Turkey Burgers -Tofu substitutes • More Snacks -Energy Bars -Chocolate bars -Candy Products
Let’s Talk About Sex . . . Or Not by Javieus Lyons “On a monthly basis I have to contact a parent with issues that concerns a student’s sexual activity,” says Lafayette High School nurse Julie Ingram. Lafayette High School’s policy on sex education is abstinence only. I feel that some students would benefit more if the school were to go deeper into the subject of safe sex. However, I understand how the school must take the parents’ feelings into consideration when talking about such an adult topic. “Most parents want to teach their kids about sex,” Ingram said. The school’s health class
That is the list of suggestions for the cafeteria lady. For them to help cut out stereotypical lunches for good.
Yogurt, caesar salad, and lemonade are just some healthy examples of healthy alternatives that should be add to the luch menu.
has a whole unit on sex education where the students are taught about building positive relationships, abstinence and the obvious consequences of having sex before marriage including the emotional damage. The health class goes into the consequences of having sex and that abstinence is the best way to truly be safe from sexual transmitted dieseases. Sometimes being taught abstinence
doesn’t always work, and even though the percentage of teen pregnancy declined 86 percent when taught abstinence only, I
feel that having the knowledge to protect yourself, and being equipped with such knowledge could be considered a safety net. Instead of just teaching students about abstinence and sexualy transmitted diseases, LHS health classes could try and teach about ways to prevent pregnancy such as birth control.
OPINION
THE COMMODORE CRUISER
Touchdown Ladies by La’Keirra Owens Powderpuff is a game of football for girls. I really want to play football and I’m wondering why Lafayette High School doesn’t have a powderpuff team. It’s not fair for the boys to have a football team and not girls. “When I go to the football games,” I always say to myself, “I want to play football, and I’m going to be the first female in the NFL.” Playing football is so fun to watch, I use to watch my brother Tadarow Bobo and he was number 3 and I loved to watch him play. I think all schools should have a powderpuff football team because the schools say they want everybody to participate in school clubs or school
activities, but what if the sport you want to play is not available in school? Everybody loves volleyball, baseball, soccer, but why not switch it up and do something we haven’t done before. We can play flag or touch football it doesn’t have to be as physical as regular football. Sports are supposed to be fun, but how are you suppose to enjoy yourself when the sport you want to play, you can’t play. You can enjoy playing powderpuff without anybody getting injured. So can we have a powderpuff team. Anybody who wants to play football should be able to play, no matter the gender of that person.
Want a Puff?
by Brock Burge “The first time I started smoking I was 14. It was a relaxed time back then, but then we didn’t know the effects of smoking. When I turned the age of 65, I had to have three new valves added to my heart because of the all the smoking I did when I was younger. I now have quit smoking for good and have started regaining bits of my health”. This man named Hugh Robertson, owner of Pitner Office Supply, told to us his story about smoking which leaves us a few questions about why he did it. Thats a lot of questions that smoking stories leave to us. But why do people smoke? The idea of the cigarette came to be in 1865 by a man named Washington Duke with his hand rolled-cigarettes. It wasn’t until 1881 when the cigarette machine was invented by James Bonsack and that is when smoking really took off, but smoking in general has been around since the pilgrims came over to america. The Pipe was the first official smoking device used. The vape is a new type of machine designed to let people feel the bliss of smoking but still maintaining yourbody’s natural feel. Vape is a
better alternative to a bad habit. Most people start smoking when they are teens and they get addicted to it un til they might can kick it as an adult. Teens start smoking because they want to look much more mature than they really are, to look more like are, to look more like their friends, and to experiment. They also find enjoyment about trying to get a cigarette, smoke it, and not get caught. Angie Robertson, an employe at Pitner office supply, says,” I started smoking at the age of 16 and I have kicked it a few times but the stress from working gets me down sometimes.” Adults that smoke are usually inclined to do so because of because of stress of work, kids, economics, and perwork, kids, economics, and personal and personal problems.Cigarettes give them a sense of bliss and
10
happiness for a short time. “I was in a big hole from smoking and was having to live with my mom until i was 25,” said Angie Robertson. There are no real real laws on smoking in workplac es, restaurants, and bars. It is all up to the restaurant owners and bosses. Also, there is no law even though it is dangerous to their health.
#GoDores
OPINION THE COMMODORE CRUISER 11
Flush and Hush by Thomas Hinton
“Oh, my god,” I said as I opened the stall door in the boys’ bathroom. What floated in the toilet is something that I don’t wish to remember, and I don’t think you do either. The bathroom (also known as “el baño” in Spanish) is a sacred place where students go to perform the biological act of excretion, the removal of wastes. It is a serious problem when students can’t do this basic function because of the horrendous condition their peers leave the stalls in. I had to know that I wasn’t alone in my beliefs, so I took my friend, Ryan Mardis, on a scouting mission to the boys’ bathroom on the main hall. “This is not peachy,” he said upon entering. His nostrils couldn’t draw breath through the putrid odor, and he had to step out for a moment. “What is that?” he demanded to know. I, too, wanted to know. We approached the first stall to find feces splattered on the walls, floors, ceiling, and the toilet,
which was wrapped up like a mummy with toilet paper. “Artwork,” Mardis said sarcastically. The second stall wasn’t much better, being stopped up with paper towels and all. Lucky for us, there wasn’t any feces or urine. Why anyone would intentionally stop up a toilet is beyond me.
The final stall was perfectly pristine. No one had tainted it yet, which I found surprising considering the state of the rest of the bathroom. We left, satisfied yet disgusted with our reconnaissance. To write this off as “the janitor’s problem” is irresponsible and selfish. It is not the janitor’s
job to wipe your feces from the ceilings of the bathroom. How did it even get up there, anyway? This is purely a student problem, and we are the only ones that can fix it. If you are part of the issue, you seriously need to sit down and evaluate your poor choices. Defacing the stalls with your urine and feces does not make you “cool,” it reverts your life state down to that of a diaper-wearing newborn. At least babies have an excuse for making a mess. High schoolers, who are almost adults by the way, have no excuse for leaving the stall in such a manner. Here are some bathroom etiquette laws you might want to follow: 1.) Flush, flush, flush. Never leave anything that comes out of your body in the toilet. 2.) Lift the seat if you urinate in a stall. Your peers will thank you. 3.) Don’t place toilet paper on the seat if you don’t plan on flushing it. 4.) If your posterior perspires easily, please wipe the sweat off the
seat. 5.) Toilet paper is designed to be flushed. Don’t throw it on the ground. 6.) Don’t clog the toilets on purpose. 7.) Don’t throw your feces. It’s just not classy. 8.) Always wash your hands. If you can’t do these basic things, you probably shouldn’t go to the bathroom at school. Do everyone a favor and go at
Ryan does not approve.
home, because I guarantee that you wouldn’t treat your own bathroom like that. Respect school property, your peers, and the hard working janitors of LHS. They will all appreciate your efforts to become a more civilized human being.
SPORTS
THE COMMODORE CRUISER
12
A Classic Loss by: Audrey Tapp Heartbroken Commodore football players, crying cheerleaders, an obnoxious student section, and disappointed fans exit Robert L. Buford Stadium Friday, Sept 11. The Commodores fought their hardest as the hyped student section cheered them on. The Chargers won the battle, but it definitely was not an easy task. As the Lafayette High School Commodores took on the Oxford High School Chargers, they needed a little motivation. The energetic student
section did not disappoint. Fans
and cheerleaders yelled their hearts out as football players storm the field. When the Commodore football players took the field, red powder filled the air over the student section. Students cheered on their Dores through-
out the game as football players perform their hardest against the Chargers. The student body swept it away with their school spirit. When beginning the pep rally, teachers, students, cheerleaders, and football players filled the gym with rambunctious noises and excitement. With the Seniors wearing white, Juniors wearing black, Sophomores wearing blue, and Freshmen wearing red it was obvious who owned the spirit stick! The Class of 2016 walked away with the
Welcome Commodore by: Destiny Mooneyham For the first time in decades LHS will have a mascot as a symbol of luck. Ana Branch pitched the idea to Coach Lewis, who then told her to go to the Parent Involvement Program. Which is where a group of parents get together and decide what the money goes to. Branch has been wishing for a mascot since this past March. She’d always liked the idea of having someone running around in a costume pumping up the football players, and making everybody laugh. So she took the idea and turned it into reality.
“It’s going to look just like the Vanderbilt Commodore, an old man with white hair.” Branch said, clearly enthusiastic. Since this is Branch’s last year at LHS before she heads off to college, there’s no specific way of knowing who will take her place next year. She says the school will hold tryouts next year so that the person trying out actually wants to be the Commodore, not just a person in a suit. LHS once had a mascot ages ago and the student body of Lafayette High can say that the class of 2016 welcomed its return.
most school spirit. Teachers rocked the floor during their cheer and dance performance, as cheerleaders cheered them on with great excitement. Even though the final score, 31-21, was not in Lafayette’s favor, the Commodores still continue to have hope in their team throughout the rest of the
football season. Join them as they finish their football season. Any student is invited into the exciting student section! You will not regret it. And remember, not everyone can be, but everyone wants to be a Commodore.
SPORTS
THE COMMODORE CRUISER
PINK
In a Blink of an Eye
continued from page 1 “Zeta Tau Alpha is partners with the National Football League is ‘A Crucial Catch’ program where members of Zeta Tau Alpha distribute pink ribbons and breast cancer educational materials to fans at the NFL football games across the country. Since there isn’t an NFL team nearby, we thought why not have a Pink Out at a local high school football game,” McLeod said. A lot of time is going towards planning this Pink Out, right down to pinning pink ribbon pins to pink bead necklaces. “I met with Coach Robertson and the Athletic Director of LHS in June to set and plan the date. Other officers of our chapter have helped with ordering supplies, contacting
13
collegiate chapters for help, and with publicity of the event. Our chapter members spent two hours pinning the pink ribbon pins to pink bead necklaces,” added McLeod. This will be McLeod’s first Pink Out game, and she is very excited to see the faces of everybody attending. “I would like to remind all women to perform a monthly self-exam and women over 40 to get a yearly monogram. Both American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Foundation provide mammograms for women who are in need. All you have to do is ask,” added McLeod ending her interview. Wear pink Friday and support your ‘Dores.
by Audrey Tapp
Of course, your senior year can be very emotional. Senior cheerleader, Emily Shoffner, is finishing her honors in high school and beginning her journey to college sports, which can be extremely challenging. Cheerleading wasn’t Shoffner’s first choice as a sport. In fact, her friends boosted her to try out. “I am thankful that my friends encouraged me to try out. I enjoy being on the sidelines doing what I revel in with my team,” Shoffner continued. “This is my first year to cheer on the Varsity Cheer Squad, but I did partake on the team in middle school.” She doesn’t intend to further her career in cheerleading, but she does encourage any future athlete to
proceed in doing what you love. Shoffner is a senior cheerleader for Lafayette High School. She plans to attend Ole Miss and major in Radiology. “I’m pumped to be taking on senior
year with my favorite pals,” She is heavy-hearted when discussing this topic, but excited to receive the opportunity to deliberate her feelings for her senior year. ¨It’s my year to be a
‘Top Dog,’¨ Shoffner said. “I’m excited to take on senior year with such a great class,” ¨Don’t blink, it goes by faster than you think. Laugh and enjoy being with your friends, because it may be the last time you’ll be together,” Shoffner said. “Don’t stress. Take as many easy classes as you can. Enjoy your high school career, because you don’t want to miss an experience of a lifetime,” added Shoffner.
“My Faith is the very reason why I cheer.” -Emily Shoffner Future Graduate of the Class of 2016
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
THE COMMODORE CRUISER
14
Coming Soon by: Natalie Boone
The Martian Release Date: October 2, 2015 Rating: PG-13 Genre: Action; Adventure; Sci-Fi Description: During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
Pan
Release Date: October 9, 2015 Rating: PG Genre: Fantasy; Action Description: Living a bleak existence at a London orphanage, 12-year-old Peter finds himself whisked away to the fantastical world of Neverland. Adventure awaits as he meets new friend James Hook and the warrior Tiger Lily. They must band together to save Neverland from the ruthless pirate Blackbeard. Based on J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan tale.
Steve Jobs Release Date: October 9, 2015 Rating: R Genre: Biography; Drama Description: A dramatized account of events surrounding the Apple co-founder’s launch of a number of iconic products, beginning with the iMac in 1998.
Bridge of Spies Release Date: October 16, 2015 Rating: PG-13 Genre: Thriller; Spy Description: A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, Bridge of Spies tells the story of James Donovan, a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot.
Goosebumps Release Date: October 16, 2015 Rating: PG Genre: Adventure; Suspense Description: After moving into a small town, Zach Cooper meets Hannah, his neighbor. Hannah’s father R. L. Stine, who writes the Goosebumps stories, keeps all the monsters in the series locked up in his books. When Zach unintentionally releases the monsters from the books, the three team up in order to put the monsters back where they came from.
Go Commodores! Come see why we were voted Best Office Supply Store 11 years in a row.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Kentucky or Bust by: Thomas Hinton
What do you get when 80,000 students in blue corduroy jackets travel to Louisville, Kentucky? The National FFA Convention and Expo, or the “Super Bowl” of FFA events. This is the big kahuna where members from every state gather to compete in a variety of contests and celebrate all that FFA is: the largest youth organization in North America. It all starts on October 28, when members from Lafayette’s FFA chapter travel the distance, 400 miles to be exact, to compete for their chance at FFA glory. But what’s a chapter without its adviser? Meet Meredith McCurdy-Rhodes, the dedicated leader and adviser to over a hundred students at Lafayette.
The students, in fact, are McCurdy’s favorite part of being advisor. “Getting to see them grow from what they were when they first walked in to what they are when they walk out for the last time as seniors,” she said with a warm smile. Many of those students who enter the lab-based class go on to compete in contests and win at the state level. These are the students who travel to nationals. This upcoming FFA convention will be lucky number thirteen for McCurdy, where she will lead not one, but two teams at the national level. The first is floriculture, which involves identifying various types of plants and creating floral arrangements. The second is chapter display, which is the
THE COMMODORE CRUISER creation of a booth that displays the diversity and the many commodities produced in Mississippi. “It’s very nerve-wracking,” said Megan St. Peters, a senior who is competing in both contests. Between the pressure of senior year and preparing for nationals, St. Peters finds herself under “a lot of pressure.” Both competitions are team based, which had St. Peters worried. “I didn’t want to be the weak link,” she said. However, winning first place at the state level has given her more confidence, and she feels good about her chances at nationals. This is far from the last convention for McCurdy. From being the state president to being an advisor, Mrs. McCurdy lives, breathes and eats FFA. “It’s not all about cows, plows, and sows,” said McCurdy, “It’s about growing as a person.”
15
Back row: Thomas Hinton, Riley Arbuckle, Koty Martin, Edi Kent, and Walker Westbrook. Front row: Samantha Johnson, Megan St. Peters, and Raegan Ramage.
Laura Billingsly, Ashley Avent, Abby Thweatt, and Cathrine Avent.
Brought to you by the Greater Oxford ZTA Alumnae Chapter
THE ANCHOR
Teacher
Mrs. Speegle
What makes you laugh the most? Hmmm....my sister Sherry---we are kooky together! If you could describe yourself as any animal, what would it be? Koala Bear What teacher would you like to throw a cake at? Oooo--should I answer? Mr. Lehenbauer--he is such a good sport. What’s the weirdest thing you have eaten? Escargo
THE COMMODORE CRUISER
Freshman
The Anchor
Micheal Kapp What makes you laugh the most? Spontaneous acts of stupidity! If you could describe yourself as any animal, what would it be? Sparrow What teacher would you like to throw a cake at? Coach Jones What’s the weirdest thing you have eaten? Beanz Boozled
Sophomore
Ja’Lahya Stokes What makes you laugh the most? My cousin Miah! If you could describe yourself as any animal, what would it be? A panda bear What teacher would you like to throw a cake at? Señor Jiménez What’s the weirdest thing you have eaten? Seaweed
Junior
Sarah Castle What makes you laugh the most? Myself If you could describe yourself as any animal, what would it be? A cat due to the fact that they enjoy sleeping. What teacher would you like to throw a cake at? All of them. Who doesn’t like cake? What’s the weirdest thing you have eaten? Uhhh...Alligator?
Senior
Tyrell Price What makes you laugh the most? Katelyn Smith If you could describe yourself as any animal, what would it be? Lion What teacher would you like to throw a cake at? Mr. Quong What’s the weirdest thing you have eaten? Guacamole
16