The Eagle Angle Issue 1 Volume 34

EA Allen High School Issue 1 Volume 34 October 2016

QUEEN QUENLIN

Local social media star talks about her origins, fame and future | page 4

ELECTION ESSENTIALS

Information on the election and why it matters to high schoolers | page 6

JONKE COMMITS

Quarterback verbally commits to Brown University | page 14

ACCEPTANCE WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS LGBT History Month offers a time to reflect on past, present and future of local LGBT+ community | page 8

ea

The Eagle Angle distributes 1000 copies of each issue on campus to faculty and students.

Contents may be viewed online at theeagleangle. com. Businesses who wish to advertise should contact Kelly Juntunen, newspaper adviser, at newspaper@allenisd.org.

The Eagle Angle reserves the right to deny publication of advertisements.

Advertisements are not necessarily endorsed by the staff or administration.

All editorials reflect the views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the staff, adviser or administration. The Eagle Angle is a member of Quill and Scroll, the Interscholastic League Press Conference, TAJE and JEA/NSPA.

Social theeagleangle.com @theeagleangle @theeagleangle theeagleangle

ea

Staff

Editors-in-chief | Sara Schleede* Megan Shankle* Sr. Managing Editor | Bryn Chambers* Jr. Managing Editor | Julia Zaksek* News/Feature Editor | Divya Jagadeesh Commentary Editor | Evan Kalvesmaki* Sports Editor | Jackson Stone Assistant Sports Editor | Parker Primrose Online Editor | Makayla Nerpel Multimedia Editor | Josh Magpantay Staff writers | Nas Baclay, Brandon Barton, Corinne Chandler, Pauline Esguerra, Braylon Fernandez, Ella Geosits, Christian Hinton, Natalie McMahon, Maya Morriswala, Christine Odwesso, Tate Peterson, Coleman Pyeatt, Francis Salazar, Astrid Souto, Caroline Tucker, Audrey Vieria, Alyssa White, Erik Young, Mark Young Adviser | Kelly Juntunen *denotes members of the Editorial Board

Cover design and photo by | Josh Magpantay

Table of Contents NEWS/FEATURES

Briefly Speaking.......................................................... 2 Renovations welcome eagles back to AHS...............3 Queen Quenlin.............................................................4 Band through unique eyes..........................................5 Election Essentials................................................... 6-7

COVER STORY

Acceptance Without Exceptions....................... 8-11 October is LGBT History Month. Turn to page 8 for an in-depth feature highlighting changes over time in the LGBT+ culture at AHS.

SPORTS

Jonke commits to Brown..........................................14 New coach, new season, same story.......................15 Friday night frames: Football photo essay.........12-13

COMMENTARY

17 places to go before 2017 seniors graduate....16-17 Flipside: Trick-or-treating.........................................18 Staff editorial..............................................................19 Review: ‘Three’.......................................................... 20 Review: ‘Girl on the Train’....................................... 20 Review: Dallas food trucks.......................................21

Letter to the Reader

T

here’s a certain familiarity in the way that school begins each year: new school supplies, new shoes, new classes. For The Eagle Angle, it means new staffers, a new look and your two new editors-in-chief officially reporting for duty. This year we will be producing six newsmagazines, all in glossy full color, factually reported and visually pleasing. We’ve changed our logo, our fonts and revamped our website.

And we’re not starting off slow. First and most importantly, the presidential election is fast approaching. Nov. 8 is shaping up to be one of the most tense in history — our coverage of the election details the policies of each candidate and highlights the importance of voting for those who can.

A prominent social issue not just within the election but around the world is the rights of LGBT+ individuals. Within our school and in its 106 years of existence we have experienced a definite shift in the climate for LGBT+ students: from fear to an almost acceptance. But that doesn’t mean that we aren’t still growing as a student body and learning to accept those who are different from the norm.

So as school goes on, as we get closer to Halloween, to Christmas, hold this mantra close to your heart: acceptance without exceptions.

Everyone deserves to live without persecution and harassment.

Everyone deserves to love and be loved.

We look forward to being your editors-in-chief this year, and we hope that you feel the same.

Sincerely,

Photo by | Josh Magpantay

Letter to the Reader | 1

Briefly Speaking Compiled by | Nas Baclay

Clinton’s campaign has been plagued by several releases of her deleted emails onto the website WikiLeaks, which releases “secret information,” most obtained through hacking. The latest email drop occurred on Oct. 13.

Clinton’s Email Leaks Samsung has made the decision to stop production of the Galaxy Note 7. Samsung, the world’s largest smartphone producer, struggled to address the phone’s manufacturing flaws—several reports of the phone overheating and catching on fire.

Galaxy Note 7 Disaster Over the weekend of Oct. 8, people from the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida evacuated before Hurricane Matthew hit the coast.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Matthew is a Category 4 hurricane with top wind speeds of 140 mph. As of Oct. 8, the death toll in Haiti—where it hit before reaching the U.S. coast—was 900.

Hurricane Matthew On Oct. 7, a video from 2005 of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was posted on the Washington Post. The video shows Trump and Billy Bush bragging about alleged sexual assaults.

Tasteless Trump Balfour will be on campus to take graduation announcements and cap and gown orders Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in the main hall across from the cafeteria from 11:00 to 1:00.

School News 2 | News and Features

All photos courtesy of | Creative Commons

Renovations welcome eagles back to AHS Story by | Maya Morriswala, Caroline Tucker and Francis Salazar

I

t’s the first day of school, and everything has changed. New lights illuminate the main hallway with its new gray and blue color scheme. However, the school has not only changed aesthetically, but it has also internally with the addition of key new staff members and teachers.

One new member is Dr. Jason Johnston, A Hall the recently hired Brand new walls head principal. He and carpet have has plenty of praise been added for Allen and said to revamp and that he loves being furnish Allen’s here. oldest hall “[A] sense of community, pride and enthusiasm comes from a system that has [only one] high school,” Johnston said.

Being experienced in other school jobs like being a teacher and coach, Johnston knows how he wants to be seen by students.

“I hope [the students] see me as somebody that is approachable,” he said. “[Someone] that cares about them and about their success and that cares about making sure that we are all trying to be respectful of each other.”

Johnston will work to enforce current rules rather than creating new ones.

“I think that the one thing that I have tried to ask of the administrators is that we understand our purpose,” Johnston said.

“I’m trying to hold us accountable, but I’d much rather create an atmosphere of autonomy than I would of rules.”

He is also making an effort to be active in the hallways during the school day.

“I try to be present where students are and then make conversation,” Johnston said. “I am certainly focusing on student leadership and increasing student voice here on the campus.”

Phase by phase

“We couldn’t renovate the whole building all at once,” associate principal of administrative services Jared Miller said.

“They [are going to] take it in phases. So this was phase one, which was the main hallway and A hall.”

However, this is not the end of construction. Phase two will start next summer. Phases three and four will then

renovate the rest of the hallways. There will be a new multipurpose room and gym.

Along with these renovations of existing areas, there will be a new multipurpose room and gym.

“They already have—in the gym 15 years area—drilled and set before all their beams, the pillars, renovations [and] the big concrete pillars that go on the are complete ground,” Miller said.

“With that construction being outside of the school building, work will continue during the day as we’re here in school.”

There will also be the construction of a STEAM center. “[Construction] should begin sometime this school year,” Miller said.

A lingering problem

However, all these renovations and additions to the school highlight one huge problem. The student population is outgrowing a high school that is already bigger than most. Even some of the new staff members have taken notice.

“Because of the [school’s] size, it’s harder to get to know everybody on a more individual, personal basis,” associate band director Joel May said.

Students and teachers new to $272,580,000 the campus are all Amount ratified slowly adjusting in the November to the crowded 2015 school board hallways and the bond labyrinth that is Allen High School, but the school has even had an impact on returning staff.

“Even pulling up, I still had that ‘Oh my gosh this place is so big… everything just keeps growing, [and] it keeps getting bigger,” May said.

Though the new teachers haven’t been here long, they already have advice for their students to be successful and achieve their purpose.

“Set goals that you can see long-term,” May said. “That way, you don’t set parameters on yourself to only be good; [you set them] so that you might surpass your expectations.”

The main hall’s stairs were redone with new railings.

Photo courtesy of | Matt Russell

All of the main hall’s carpets were torn out and replaced.

Photo courtesy of | Matt Russell

News and Features | 3

Queen Quenlin

Social media star Quenlin Blackwell on her beginnings and future Story by | Coleman Pyeatt

M

ost teenagers can only dream of becoming an internet sensation.

Sophomore Quenlin Blackwell, better known as “Quensadilla” on Vine, has experienced enormous success through her social media outlets.

“I’ve always been into making people laugh,” Quenlin says. “I used to make videos on YouTube with my long time friend Emme, and then we went to Vine.

This is when everybody thought they were too cool to be crazy on camera, but I really didn’t care.”

Her whole persona is based off being herself. This caught the eye of established Viners across the platform.

“I posted a Vine of me dancing, and Ricky Thompson saw it,” Quenlin says.

“He had over a million followers at the time, and he liked the Vine, which made it show up on his page. Another first success on Vine was when I fell off a chair doing cheerleader tricks and broke the leg of the chair. That Vine got two million loops, and I was thinking ‘wow this is cool.’”

Since Quenlin’s chair-breaking Vine, her channel has grown exponentially. She now has over 750 million loops on her videos, yet wishes to remain humble and true to herself.

“If I do become somebody bigger than I am right now I either want to be an actress, a model or something where my brand ‘Quensadilla’ is not really attached to it but has the same following,” Quenlin says.

Quenlin has big plans for the future— merchandise for her brand, a possible acting career and potentially her own clothing line. She feels the name ‘Quensadilla’ is not mature enough for her future career, especially since it dates back to middle school.

4 | News and Features

“When I was in eighth grade, my Spanish teacher made us make a name on Kahoot that had to be a pun on our name to some food,” Quenlin says. “I was wondering how Quenlin could be a pun, and since I was in Spanish, I thought of a quesadilla.”

Quenlin is recognized everywhere she goes. Whether she is at dinner with her family or out shopping with her friends, somebody builds up the courage to come show her their love and support.

“Some people say that they are scared to come up to me, but every time I go out somebody says something to me, especially if they are into the whole social media thing,” Quenlin says. “Some people cry over me, and all I can say is that it’s crazy that I have the impact that I have because I’m just a 15-year-old girl.”

Quenlin anticipates the internet taking over the world. She cannot wait for the day that everybody knows what Vine is.

“In maybe 10 years from now, everybody will know what Vine is, what Instagram is—hopefully Facebook will be a thing of the past,” Quenlin says.

Quenlin Blackwell has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry at a very young age. She works hard to entertain her “supporters” across the globe and works equally as hard in school. She hopes to graduate early so she can get out into the world and make the next move in her career.

“Now that I truly know who I am and what I want to do with my life, I don’t want to be all into books or away from my family,” Quenlin says. “I want to be doing what I love and I’m happy. Happiness is all that really matters.”

Screenshots from Quenlin’s Vine and Twitter accounts.

Band through unique eyes

Sight-impaired student marches in Escadrille Story by | Christian Hinton

O

n a typical Monday night during the fall, a large portion of the student body descends onto the football field, armed with shiny metal instruments and large drums, to band practice. The size of the famously large Allen Eagle Escadrille makes it difficult to pick out any individual, but as the ensemble practices its drill, your eyes might eventually be drawn to a girl marching down the far right side of the field. It may not be obvious at first, but this member of the marching band is almost fully blind.

When she was 9 years old, Milka Yohannes began to lose her sight due to glaucoma. Now as a freshman, she is blind in her right eye, and only has partial vision in her left eye. Despite this significant visual impairment, she thrives in the marching band.

“I started playing trumpet in fifth grade, and I thought, ‘I should probably join the band,’” Yohannes said. “I liked the trumpet’s sound, and I thought it was fun.”

Many freshmen already have difficulty learning the technique required to march, and visual impairment only makes it harder.

“Sometimes the marching is a little too hard,” Yohannes said. “And it was kind of difficult in the beginning to find someone to help me.”

Most of the time, a director or a fellow student guides Yohannes and helps her navigate the marching field.

“Really, it’s just pointing her in the right direction, telling her if her step size is too big,” band director Jeremy Rohr said.

“She’s pretty coordinated; she can do that.”

For the first few weeks of the season, the marching band performs a basic traditional show while they learn the first movement of their UIL show. Rohr has worked with Yohannes on the traditional show to help her perform to the best of her abilities.

“I tell her when her step-outs come, and she gets the initial direction pretty close,” Rohr said. “From there, I count the set for her, I tell her when it’s the last set of six, and when she needs to do a flip-turn.

We keep going towards the end zone, and then we go back to her home spot.”

A band director guides Yohannes whenever they can, but during Monday night rehearsals, when a band director is not necessarily available, her younger brother, seventh-grader Saimon Yohannes, comes to help her. Like many of Yohannes’ friends and family, his support expands beyond band rehearsal.

“When we go to church, I help her sit down, and when we go out to eat, I sit next to her, I help her get her food, and I guide her,” Saimon said. “I used to get frustrated because she kept asking me so many questions.

There was always stuff on her phone, Photo by | Tate Peterson and since VoiceOver Freshman Milka Yohannes plays her trumpet. on iPhone can’t read discouragement or negativity regarding her the pictures on Instagram, she would want marching band experience, according to me to describe the picture to her.”

Rohr.

When it comes to marching, Yohannes “Her biggest strength is her approach. has mastered the traditional marching show She has a great attitude,” Rohr said. “She’s but has more difficulty when it comes to the very flexible and very go-with-the-flow.” complicated UIL marching performance.

Her dedication and attitude toward band “We’re currently trying to work out is evident to her family as well, according to a situation where there’s another student Saimon. who can help her get the right idea, as “She’s really into it, and she always tries far as maneuvering the field,” Rohr said. to be the best,” Saimon said. “Since it’s one “The plan is to perform in the UIL show, of the few things she can do that involves but she’s not going to be on the field, right lots of people, she enjoys it.” now, she’s going to sitting with the front Although some band members consider ensemble. She’s going to be there to play.” marching to be a burden—she considers it Yohannes is able to contribute a lot as one of her passions and plans on staying musically. She plays with the band in the in the program. stands at football games. Some of her music “We’re doing our best to include her is written out in braille, but she learns the in every aspect we can,” Rohr said. “As we majority of the music by ear. work out and streamline a plan to make “I just listen and figure out the notes, everything better, her participation and and I get it,” Yohannes said. involvement in the program is only going Yohannes hasn’t shown any signs of to improve.”

News and Features | 5

200 students were polled about their thoughts on the upcoming election. Here are the results.

ELECTION

= five students Those old enough to vote vs. those not old enough to vote

ESSENTIALS

The election is almost upon us. The candidate chosen on Nov. 8 will decide the path of this country for the next four years. As the day draws nearer, you should know how your peers factor into the voting population and which policies each candidate supports. You can read about each of the candidate’s stances on immigration, taxation, foreign policy and gun control here, but this is just a sample of the wide Those who plan on voting in the upcoming election vs. those who do not

range of issues at stake during this election. Being well-informed and taking part in the democratic process is important; everyone’s voice deserves to be heard.

On the importance of voting

Those who would vote in the upcoming election given the chance vs. those who would not

Choice of presidential nominee

36.6%

29.9%

9.76%

3.65%

Hillary Clinton

Donald Trump

Gary Johnson

Jill Stein

Most pertinent political and social issues Equality

26.3%

Foreign Policy Immigration Economic Policy Environmental Issues Graphic by | Sara Schleede

12.6% 6.8% 5.3% 3.7%

Column by | Evan Kalvesmaki and Julia Zaksek

D

onald Trump and Hillary Clinton are probably among the most controversial presidential candidates in our young nation’s history. In an effort to avoid choosing between “the lesser of two evils,” many Americans are choosing to opt out of this year’s election or vote for third party candidates Jill Stein and Gary Johnson.

But let’s get one thing clear: regardless of your political alignment, or lack thereof, you need to vote.

No, this isn’t debatable.

If you have the ability, it’s your duty as an American citizen to elect an official into public office. Those who are choosing to abstain from voting don’t seem to understand that, while it is ultimately up to the electoral college who sits in the oval office come Jan. 20, your vote does still count. A few votes can change an election.

A few votes can determine if the next leader of our country will lead us on the path to a greater human understanding or if they will lead us back into the confines of the past.

Let’s take a trip back to the mid-20th century. In the 1960 election of Kennedy v.

Nixon, Kennedy won the popular vote by only a .1 percent margin, enabling him to win the electoral vote, and thus the presidency.

But let’s emphasize that .1 percent. You’d need military-grade binoculars equipped with night vision to see how close that election was. And let’s remember, the American people loved Kennedy. His short

time in office was widely celebrated, and there arguably hasn’t been a president as well-liked as him since.

So until Nixon’s election in 1969, we dodged a bullet. However, 1960 may seem like a different time. The 2000 election of Bush v. Gore wasn’t as close as Kennedy v. Nixon, but there’s a bit of a plot twist.

Gore actually won the popular vote with a 1 percent margin (rounded up, by the way), but due to Florida and their lack of liberal participation, Bush won the electoral college and therefore the presidency.

This is problematic because, in hindsight, Bush is generally not perceived as the best president – by everyone who didn’t vote for him and even by some that did. His response to 9/11 is widely regarded as ineffectual. He struggled to hunt down the leader of the attack, Osama Bin Laden, instead waging two costly wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Just as the cherry on top, he also still doesn’t believe in global warming and never did in 2000.

To conclude, every vote matters, and that’s not just a cheesy slogan to stick on campaign posters. A vote is a powerful tool, one that can shape a civilization or bring it to its knees. Many say the past is a reflection of the e, but we like to take a more optimistic view. The past is a warning, one that we can ignore or one that we can take to heart. With all of this in mind, do you still think your vote doesn’t count?

Hillary Clinton

Democratic Party Nominee

Donald Trump

Republican Party Nominee

Clinton plans to provide immigrants a full path to citizenship and expand healthcare to all immigrant families.

Trump’s immigration plan is centered around controlling immigration to ensure job security for Americans.

She intends to implement a fair share surcharge on large corporations and provide tax relief to working families in order to instill fairness in the tax system.

Trump wants to cut taxes for everyone, especially middle and working class families. Will ensure that tax cuts don’t hinder business competition.

She plans to strengthen defenses at home and take out ISIS strongholds in Iraq and Syria.

Trump’s foreign policy is based on “Peace through strength” and wants to defeat ISIS at all costs.

Clinton believes that if someone is on the FBI’s no fly list, they shouldn’t be able to buy a gun.

Trump intends to fully defend the 2nd Amendment.

Gary Johnson

Libertarian Party Nominee

Jill Stein

Green Party Nominee

Johnson wants to make it easier to legally enter the U.S. and instill more efficient ways to provide work visas and background checks.

Stein wants to provide a path of citizenship for immigrant residents as well as illegal immigrants who are integral to our economy.

Johnson wants to get rid of income tax in favor of a consumption tax.

She intends to implement an aristocracy tax as well as a 50 percent tax cut for lower income families.

He believes that the country should stop getting involved in other countries and instead focus on the U.S.

Stein’s foreign policy ideals based on diplomacy and human rights.

He opposes almost all gun restrictions.

Stein supports background checks and psychological testing as part of the gun purchase process.

News and Features | 7

ACCEPTANCE WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS

LGBT History Month offers a time to reflect on past, present and future of the local LGBT+ community Story by | Makayla Nerpel

B

enjamin Fredrick Clark is no stranger to fighting.

His pen scrawled across the page, excitedly filling in blank after blank. “Soon,” he thought. Soon his name would be legally

changed. Ben’s mother ran the document to the courthouse, only to be met with bad news. The court ruled that Ben was too young to have his name changed. Some may see this as the end of the line, but not Ben. He was a fighter. At 16 years of age, Benjamin Clark was faced with challenging Texas state courts on the legality of his name change. He worried for weeks, struggling to convince a court room that what he felt in his heart was valid. He compiled letters from friends and family, as well as from his therapist and psychiatrist. After a lengthy testimony and support from a lawyer, one of their former transgender clients and a gender specialist from Galveston, Ben’s name change was finally accepted as legal.

“It was one of the most relieving moments of my life,” Clark said.

From the establishment of Allen High School in 1910 to present day, the LGBT+ community has been fighting. And though some sort of equality has been achieved on a national level with Obergefell v. Hodges, they are still fighting. For recognition, for acceptance. For love.

The climate has changed. LGBT+ rights have been a matter of nationwide discourse for decades, coming to a head with recent discussion on transgender bathroom policy. October is LGBT History Month: time to reflect on activists of generations past and to carry their spirit forward into the future.

LGBTimeline

Read all about the trials and triumphs of the LGBT community throughout United States history.

Graphic by | Sara Schleede

8 | News and Features

1924

The Society for Human Rights was founded as the first American LGBT+ rights organization, though it was disbanded after a month.

Alfred Kinsey published Sexual Behavior in the Human Male which influenced the scientific community to accept homosexuality as normal rather than a mental illness.

1948

1950

The Mattachine Society was founded as the first lasting organization for the rights of gay men.

Christine Jorgensen became the first transgender woman to receive sex reassignment surgery in the U.S.

1952

Photo by | Tuesday Ullrich

Past exclusions

Class of 2001 alumni Jessica Schumack says that during her days as a student, Allen was not nearly as welcoming to the LGBT+ community as it is today.

“Hardly anyone felt comfortable coming out at school,” Schumack said. “[Being a part of the LGBT+ community] was still not widely accepted. People would make fun of those who were deemed gay by other students, regardless of whether they denied it or not.”

Schumack said she only knew of one person in her graduating class who came out as being gay.

“My friend didn’t come out until his second year of college,” Schumack said. “He felt unsafe coming out at school because he feared for [his safety].”

Since 2001, Allen High School has come to foster a far more accepting environment for members of the LGBT+ community, although not everyone in the community is on board with the changing ideals.

Sue Bohlin is an associate speaker and online administrator for Probe Ministries, a

1961

Illinois became the first state to repeal its sodomy laws that criminalized homosexuality.

The National Transexual Counseling Unit became the first organization aimed towards promoting rights for transgender and gendernonconforming people.

1966

Plano-based Christian organization founded to help people think about a large range of topics in a biblical context. “[Same-sex attraction] is not God’s intent or design for people,” Bohlin said. “Same-sex attractions constitute temptation, not sin, but acting on those attractions is sin—just as acting sexually on opposite-sex attractions outside of marriage is sin.”

Bohlin said she believes that since samesex relationships are not on a level playing field with opposite-sex relationships, fighting for equality is attempting to normalize something that is neither normal or natural.

“A friend of mine who was in a gay relationship for a number of years calls marriage equality ‘a façade of normalcy,’” Bohlin said. “Now that he’s married to a woman and the father of several children, he is even more convinced that is a correct assessment of the difference between the kinds of relationships.”

In recent months, there has been an increase in debate about whether transgender

1969

The Stonewall Riots occurred in the Greenwich Village of New York City, reigniting the gay rights movement in the United States.

Christopher Street Day was first held in New York in remembrance of the Stonewall Riots. This marked the first Gay Pride Parade and Gay Pride Week in the United States.

1970

individuals should be allowed to use their restroom of choice. At Allen, trans students have the option to use the nurse’s restroom as well as the gym restrooms. Bohlin says that this is a good compromise.

“Feelings are real but they are not reliable,” Bohlin said. “We’re talking about feelings that are at odds with the physical evidence of one’s gender. More importantly, it disregards the vast majority of the other people using the restrooms, who should also have rights. Plus it truly opens the door for predators to walk right into girls’ restrooms and put girls in danger.”

Increasing acceptance

Allen faculty are praised by their transgender students for being extremely willing to work with students to make sure they feel comfortable and safe. Many faculty members are willing to use a student’s preferred pronouns, as well as call them by a name they prefer. Bohlin feels this is unproductive.

“I don’t think we do anyone any favors by using preferred pronouns because it is

1972

The National Bisexual Liberation Group was formed in New York, becoming the first association for the advancement of bisexual rights.

The Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) was founded to help foster increased understanding for the LGBT+ community.

1972

News and Features | 9

cooperating with an elaborate ruse, a game of ‘let’s pretend,’” Bohlin said. “Declaring one is the opposite gender, despite what all the evidence says, how is that different from declaring one is a cat, despite all the evidence saying one is a human?”

Transgender senior Ben Clark disagreed.

The day he got his name legally changed completely changed his life.

“We went through it all, and the judge finally said ‘God bless you, I hope you have a good transition, I accept your name change. Your name is officially Benjamin Clark,’” Clark said. “I started sobbing in the courtroom. It was one of the most relieving moments of my life. The positive emotional impact it had on me was really something special.”

Clark said that for the most part, his teachers have been accommodating to him, especially with his pronouns and name.

Before his name was changed, he would meet with his teachers privately to explain his situation and request that they use he/ him pronouns.

“As a gay trans student, I’ve always felt extremely safe at Allen,” Clark said. “[Teachers] really do make an effort to treat you as you want to be treated. We have a

1974

The American Psychological Association (APA) declassified homosexuality as a mental illness, removing it from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Harvey Milk became the first openly gay person to be elected to office.

He is considered the most prolific LGBT+ government official in United States history.

10 | News and Features

1978

great GSA program. It’s an awesome way to meet people that will love and support you through everything.”

Clark said that any student who is struggling with sexuality or identification should feel free to talk to him or any member of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA). “[GSA] is a great community,” Clark said. “You’re with people that are going to care about what you’re going through.

For anyone who needs a safe space, GSA is possibly one of the safest places in Allen.

It’s set up to be a loving group.”

Senior and GSA President John Pruden said the group is the ideal place to talk about things a student may not feel comfortable talking about in other places.

“There really isn’t another place in the school where you can talk about maybe not feeling 100 percent masculine or 100 percent feminine,” Pruden said. “There aren’t a lot of places where you can talk about questioning your sexuality because it’s high school, and kids are cruel.”

As well as being a place for students to discuss personal issues, there are events to support the LGBT+ community. The events are completely optional, in case students are not out and do not wish to come out

1979

The National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights took place in Washington, D.C. It was the first large political rally for the LGBT+ community.

The AIDS epidemic ravaged the gay male population in the United States, decreasing public acceptance of homosexuality. The epidemic was at its peak throughout the 1980s.

1981

publicly.

“For example, the Day of Silence,” Pruden said. “It’s typically seen as a very ‘out’ event, meaning most of the students that participate are out, or at the very least prominent allies.”

For students who have not come out, Pruden said that he remembers being in the closet, and understands that “it sucks.”

“Coming out is not a silver bullet.

You don’t just do it once and it’s done forever,” Pruden said. “You’re constantly re-explaining it to people. It gets easier as it goes along, but I don’t think there’s a week at Allen that I don’t tell someone for the first time, ‘Hey, I’m bisexual.’”

Pruden’s advice for LGBT+ students who are worried about the response to coming out is that those who ridicule them are on “the wrong side of history.”

“They aren’t mature enough to comprehend something that they don’t personally feel,” Pruden said. “That’s a skill that develops as time goes on. Empathy is not an inherent trait, especially among teenagers. Wait until you’re comfortable [to come out]. You’re still 100 percent yourself.

If you’re not out, you’re still exactly who you are.”

1994

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” prohibited discrimination against gay individuals so long as they did not reveal their sexuality.

The Defense of Marriage Act became federal law. It legally defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman and refused to recognize same-sex marriages that were legal in some states.

1996

“I see the LGBT community as not being a community anymore. I see it just as being an accepted part of the world just as different racial communities are.”

- Senior Alexa Stolarski

“I hope to get to a point where it doesn’t matter whatsoever what your gender or orientation is. You’re just a person.”

- Senior Alek Faulkner

“I’m hoping to see the LGBT community in the future as becoming more and more of a regular part in society where stereotypes don’t exist as much [and] where no one has to be afraid to come out anymore” - Sophomore Claire Bendiksen

2000

Vermont became the first state to being the practice of performing civil unions for same sex couples.

Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage.

2003

“I think it depends a lot on who’s elected president because it’s different things we would have to fight for and things we would have to fight for again.”

- Senior Rachel Granados

SPEAKING OUT

Members of the Gay-Straight Alliance offer their perspective on where they see the future of the LGBT+ community heading.

“I have some faith that people will become more open and accepting.”

- Junior Aeros Fung

2008

Proposition 8 in California passed by popular vote, revoking the right of same-sex couples to get married and voiding the ones that had been passed previously.

The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act passed, repealing former policy set forth by President Clinton and allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military.

2010

“I see it expanding and becoming more widely accepted throughout the world.”

- Junior Megan Potts

“It will be a normal day thing like being asthmatic or diabetic. It won’t be an issue where people will be thrown out of their homes or families or communities for it.“ - Junior Kai Bui

“I see the LGBT community not only being themselves but being in safe environment where they can do what they’ve always been wanting to do their whole lives but couldn’t because of certain things that oppressed them when they were younger.”

- Senior Hunter Williams

2015

Obergefell v. Hodges ruled that the right of same-sex couples to marry is guaranteed by the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clauses of the 14th Amendment.

Mississippi governor Phil Bryant signs the “religious freedom” bill into law, which gave individuals the right to refuse service to LGBT individuals on the basis of religious beliefs.

2016

News and Features | 11

Friday Night Frames

Photos by | Jackson Stone

Clockwise from top left: Junior wide receiver Carson Schleker breaks a tackle against a Hoover defender in a 25-7 win.

Junior outside linebacker Jace Waters lunges out to tackle the Hoover quarterback.

Junior cornerback Jevon Jones breaks up a pass from the Coppell quarterback and celebrates during the Eagles 42-20 win.

Offensive Coordinator Derek Alford talks to his team during a timeout in a game against Evangel.

Senior wide receiver Josh Cornell out leaps a Plano West defender to score a touchdown in a 61-19 win.

Sophmore wide receiver Theo Wease celebrates after a crucial first down catch.

Junior running back Kirby Bennett breaks away from Coppell defenders in a 42-20 win.

Senior defensive lineman Cole Maxwell celebrates a defensive touchdown in the game against Hoover.

Senior quarterback Mitchell Jonke scrambles to his right in a 45-10 win against Evangel.

Sports | 13

Jonke commits to Brown Story by | Divya Jagadeesh

S

tarting quarterback Mitchell Jonke has committed to play football for Brown University next year. He led the varsity team last year into the semifinals of the state championship and has started all six games for the Eagles this season.

Jonke started looking at colleges last year after he received his first offer from Brown. Until then, Jonke hadn’t thought about going to an Ivy League school.

“Mainly for me, it was about comfortability at the school,” Jonke said. “Seeing how schooling and football works there, and how you can balance [school and athletics] with just being comfortable.”

Brown is part of the Ivy League, which head football coach Terry Gambill believes is a great opportunity for Jonke’s career after football.

“There’s going to be a day where they all are going to quit playing football, and once you have a degree, you can never have that taken away,” Gambill said. “Once [Jonke] graduates from Brown, he’s going to be set to go get a job and start his career; it’s such a great university.”

For Jonke, his family was a big part in deciding which university to commit to. He says that they keep him humble, and they are whom he goes to for advice.

“Probably the people that had the biggest influence on a person such as Mitchell is his family, and the family has to sit and make sure that it’s the right fit for everyone,” Gambill said.

Athletic Academic Advisor Cory Cain says that the process from receiving an offer to actually committing can take months. “[The university wants] to know everything from his family life, what he does off the field and what his strengths and weaknesses are,” Cain said. “We, as coaches, focus on asking the hard questions: what you like about the school, what do you dislike, what do you know about the coaching staff and their roster and what do you know about the weather and the dorms.”

Cain says that Jonke is well prepared for college athletics after playing at Allen because he believes that Jonke has been tested at the highest level in high school football.

“He’s a very smart football player,” Gambill said. “He’ll always be very prepared because that’s what he does—he prepares himself to be successful both on and off the field—and a lot of young people don’t do that, but Mitchell, he does.”

Jonke says that he believes Brown is great for him for his education and comfort.

“The schooling is phenomenal there,” Jonke said. “You’re just going to get a great education there and get to play football; there’s nothing [more] I can ask for.”

This season so far, Jonke has thrown for a total of 1070 passing yards and has a 64 percent completion rate. Both Cain and Gambill agree that his intelligence and football skills will help him after high school.

“It’s just a great honor to coach somebody that’s able to go [to] and continue his career at the Ivy League schools such as Brown, and he’s done nothing but great things here at Allen,” Gambill said.

“We wish him nothing but the best.”

14 | Sports

Photo by | Jackson Stone

Above: Quarterback Mitchell Jonke speaks with coach Derek Alford during a game against Plano West.

Photo by | Jackson Stone

Above: Quarterback Mitchell Jonke warms up for a game against Plano Senior.

Completed Schedule:

Upcoming Schedule:

Hoover @ Allen: 25-7 W

Allen @ McKinney Oct. 20

Evangel @ Allen: 45-10 W

Allen @ Plano East Oct. 28

Allen @ Coppell: 42-20 W

Wylie @ Allen Nov. 4

Allen @ McKinney Boyd: 69-17 W Plano West @ Allen: 61-19 W Allen @ Plano: 38-15 W Denton Guyer @ Allen 42-7 W Overall Record: 6-0 District Record: 3-0 Photo by | Jackson Stone

The Eagle offense has scored 24 rushing touchdowns through seven games.

New coach, new season, same story Allen football among top Texas programs Story by | Parker Primrose

E

ight weeks into the 2016 season and nine months into the Terry Gambill era, the Allen Eagle football team is back to its winning ways and soaking up the Friday night lights.

Gambill, hired as the head coach in January after Tom Westerberg left for Barbers Hill, has his team off to a 7-0 start behind an intimidating defense, an ascending offense and dynamic special teams play.

“I think we’ve shown great improvement from week to week,” Gambill said. “Bottom line though, we have to stay humble.

We cannot feel like we’ve accomplished anything. We have to come to practice and improve on a daily basis.”

When Coach Gambill was hired, he brought with him a new system for the offense. Although there have been growing pains, senior quarterback Mitchell Jonke said he feels that the offense will continue to get better.

“When [Coach Gambill] came in this spring, I spent every morning with our offensive coordinator Coach [Derek] Alford learning the offense and then helping the other guys as I learned,” Jonke said. “Once we get into more of a rhythm with the new offense, I think we can definitely get things going a lot better and keep things rolling in a positive direction.”

The Eagle offense has been able to increase its scoring output every week, going from 25 points in week one against

Hoover (AL) to 69 points in their battle with McKinney Boyd. Senior wide receiver Tevyn Stevenson attributes the point totals to how Gambill’s offensive system has opened up new ways for the team to score.

“It hasn’t been that hard learning the offense because it’s simple stuff just meant to confuse the other team,” Stevenson said.

“You get different ways to get people the ball, so there’s always a chance to score a touchdown.”

“Every week we always have something to prove.”

- senior Tevyn Stevenson On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagle “D” has been absolutely suffocating; they are yet to allow a 300-yard passer or more than four yards-per-carry to a team.

They’ve also forced 14 turnovers this season.

“It starts with the defensive line from the defensive perspective,” Gambill said.

“Our defensive line has done an extremely great job, and the reason is because of our depth. Those guys take great pride in what they’re doing. I couldn’t be prouder.”

The defense has been especially stout on third down, permitting opponents to convert only 24 of 79 attempts.

“When we see third down, we know we have to get them off the field so that our offense can go out and score,” senior

linebacker James Tupou said. “When it hits third down we just have to say ‘look at the sticks’ because we can’t allow them to drive down the field and score on us.”

The special teams unit has also played a huge factor in the Eagles’ season thus far, with kicker Michael Ewton converting 10 of 10 field goal attempts as well as 40 of 40 extra point attempts.

“Special teams has played a major role,” Gambill said. “We’ve been able to score points, it’s changed the field position, and then the third thing is that it hasn’t gotten us beat.”

The Eagles still have three regular season games left to play, but according to Stevenson, they aren’t even close to complacency.

“Every week we always have something to improve on,” Stevenson said. “We like to get one percent better every week. Whatever we can do, whether it’s being physical, playing faster, catching more passes, getting more blocks, running the ball, we can always get better.”

The improvement the team seeks is with one singular focus in mind, says Jonke, one that will help define the team’s legacy at Allen High School.

“I want to be remembered as a state champion.”

All information in the article was accurate as of Oct. 17.

Sports | 15

17places for 2017

seniors to go before graduation

Story by | Corinne Chandler

1 3

The Yellow House You may have seen it while you’re driving on McDermott, but what you may not know is that this little yellow house doubles as a salon and a boutique.

The Heard Museum This one’s for all you Mckinney kids who make the long voyage to Allen every day. While technically this isn’t Allen, its natural science exhibits shouldn’t be passed up because of its zipcode. Check out their super realistic dinosaur exhibits or visit them Halloween weekend for “Halloween at the Heard.”

4

2

Allen Cafe You may have been going here for as long as you can remember, if you’re like me, you may have just discovered this hidden gem and have dreamed of their french toast ever since.

Hydrous Wake Park If you’re an adrenaline junkie like me, Hydrous is the perfect way to spend your last summer here in Allen.

5

Allen Stone Dam Speaking of water, add the Allen Stone Dam to your bucket list. The dam is accessible by a little bit of hiking and is probably the closest thing you can get to a lake in Allen.

The Yellow House Salon and Boutique offers hair and nail services as well as boutique jewelry in a historic house off of Main Street.

6

Meals on Wheels Meals on Wheels is a volunteer program where you can spend a few hours delivering warm food to those who can’t get meals. As long as you contact ACO and have a valid license, you can spend a few hours getting to see warm smiles.

16 | Commentary

7

Watters Creek There’s no doubt you’ve been to this gorgeous shopping complex before.

Next time you’re there, take the time to sit out on the green with a cupcake from Bonnie Ruth’s on a Saturday night.

8

Photo by | Megan Shankle

Top Golf Even if you don’t know how to properly hold a golf club, try it. Top Golf is perfect for large groups or even a date night.

9 12

Allen Event Center The Event Center was built seven years ago but has already been home to incredible artists and games.

Allen Antique Mall The Allen Antique Mall has everything you’d find in your grandmother’s junk drawer and more. If you have an eye for crafting, the antique mall will be your heaven.

10 13

Saxby’s Whether you like coffee or not, go to Saxby’s. Granted, it’s a less mainstream version of Starbucks, but it’s roomy and an optimal environment for personal or group study time. Sprawl yourself and your things over one of their many couches, pop in your earbuds, have a sip of their insanely good coffee and get to work.

Pinot’s Palette Pinot’s is a lively environment where even if you have zero artistic ability like me, you can feel comfortable painting in a group setting. The teacher of the session tells you how to recreate a painting at the front.

11

14

The Allen Cafe is an Allen staple, serving up handmade hash browns and omelets daily.

15

The Edge Skatepark This skate park featuring a BMX trail, two roller hockey rinks and a large concrete skate park is just an all around fun place. Professional skater or not, there is a place for you to hang out here.

16

Blu You probably have already sworn that you will never step foot back into this school after you leave, but you should definitely make an exception for Blu. This student-run restaurant is not actually open to Allen students, but it is the perfect place to catch up with friends when you come home from college.

Moviehouse & Eatery This state-of-the-art movie theater is a little further west that some of you may be used to, but worth the drive.

Watch a movie premiere in a recliner while you have a warm meal and a cold drink. Make sure to bring your student ID any day before 12 p.m. for a discounted ticket.

Max’s Donut Shop Like you haven’t had these before.

But if you haven’t, the small size of the actual shop is underwhelming to the big love you will have for the fresh, hot donuts. Make sure to stop by on your way out of town for some sausage rolls or glazed donuts for the road.

Photo by | Megan Shankle

17

Allen Eagle Stadium Just to be extra sentimental, you have to christen yourself as a true Allen Eagle by going to the stadium and taking in the spirited atmosphere.

Even if you have pegged yourself as someone who is totally above sports, take advantage of the $60 million piece of architecture that makes Allen feel like nothing less than home.

Commentary | 17

Flipside: Tricks or treats for teens?

Column by | Tate Peterson

Column by | Bryn Chambers

There’s There’s a certain age when nothing wrong with it’s an adequate time to stop going trick-or-treating as engaging in a holiday activity meant a teenager. Some may say that for children. It’s perfectly fine for someone teens are way too old, but legally, to get excited for Halloween. When Halloween they’re still kids. If you’re in high comes around, it signifies that fall is in full force school, especially if you’re a junior but trick or treating is a different story. Trick or or senior, it’s likely you’re struggling treating is the part of the holiday that is meant for kids to figure out what you’re too old and too and kids only; it starts to become a little strange when young to do. While some teenagers may much older kids are still participating in a holiday ruled by view these years as a time when they can’t the younger ones. participate in either end of the spectrum of When teenagers and even some younger adults participate in activities, why not take advantage and do both?

Halloween it can ruin the whole experience for the younger kids.

It’s one thing when teenagers show up to As a kid, I recall thinking that the much older people who were houses in normal attire expecting candy, but if out trick or treating were dressed in much scarier costumes and they they actually make an effort with their costume, usually acted obnoxious (stealing others candy, taking more than give them some treats. When you discourage kids one piece of candy from a bowl that says “only take one,” etc.), which who are just trying to be, well, kids, you make made trick or treating less fun on such a special holiday for children. them think they have to be adults. They don’t, and The older people out trick-or-treating don’t seem to pay much attention they’re not.

Instead of viewing teens trick-or-treating to the little ones who are just trying to enjoy themselves, and I think us as some nuisance, why not see them as kids trying older teenagers should try our best to make this holiday special for the to have innocent fun?

After all, they’re not at parties younger kids. We should be someone they can look up to, not someone getting drunk or high or vandalizing anything. they are afraid of.

They’re not the kids TP-ing houses or soaking kids The most important aspect of this argument would have to be how with water balloons or playing pranks on little trickthe holiday affects the health of different age groups. I know candy or-treaters.

They’re just taking advantage of their is not healthy for people at any age, but teenagers have a higher last chance to not be completely immersed in the tendency to binge eat, and having access to a load of candy is not “real world.” necessarily the best of ideas (trust me, it’s not easy turning down Most importantly, when teens go tricka tempting pile of candy). It makes sense to enjoy access to free or-treating, they show little kids that it’s sweets for a couple of years, but eventually it becomes time to act OK to trick-or-treat as teens, too. A simple mature and set aside the candy. compliment on a costume from a teen on the Although trick or treating is definitely a highlight of my street will make those kids feel on top of the childhood and I’m sure the same could be said for many world. Kids try to grow up too fast, and others, the tradition should come to an end at a reasonable they look up to teenagers. Besides, if you age. There are much better things for us teenagers to really don’t want to trick-or-treat in be engaging in than walking around getting candy. your teens, then don’t. Go to a party, pass out candy, stay in and watch horror films— but don’t shame teens who are just trying to enjoy Halloween.

18 | Commentary

Staff Editorial: The Editorial Board endorses Clinton for president

D

onald Trump and Hillary Clinton have been the two names dividing the nation since 2015. With each passing day, each passing speech, each passing debate, the gap only grows wider. It’s important to note that despite this theatrically laughable election, when all the Twitter commentary is put aside, this is an election that will determine the state of the country for the next four years. And as the nation approaches Election Day, The Eagle Angle strongly endorses Hillary Clinton for President of the United States.

Clinton’s stances on the issues concerning our country aren’t perfect, but they aren’t as clearly biased and unstable as her competitor. That in itself isn’t impressive considering her opponent in his entirety, but the evidence of Clinton’s thorough planning for America’s wellbeing can be found everywhere, from news articles dating back to the 1990s to her campaign website for this election.

She has given her stance on over 40 of the nation’s most pressing issues, from how to combat ISIS to HIV/AIDS awareness and everything in between. Clinton as a

person may seem calculated and cold, but her empathy is evident in her policies; she plans to make healthcare more accessible for the general population and expand job and immigration opportunities. Hillary Clinton cares about the people in this nation.

Clinton began her public career after graduating Yale Law School by taking a job at the Children’s Defense Fund where she fought for the education rights of children with disabilities. She continued her law career until her husband Bill Clinton became the governor of Arkansas and then the President of the United States. Clinton used her position to again lobby for children’s rights. After her husband’s term ended, Hillary became the first female senator from New York and eventually the Secretary of State for President Obama. Clinton clearly has vast experience both as a politician and activist, and as a public figure subject to scrutiny.

On the other hand, Trump has zero political experience. His leadership roles are confined solely to the business and entertainment sectors.

Since Trump first announced his candidacy for President, political experts have suggested Trump’s appeal lies in his “honesty” and the fact that he’s not a politician. While some may find an “outside” candidate appealing, a candidate whose experience far from the political machine is as a reality television star and a bankrupt businessman doesn’t really mark him as a qualified commander-inchief. While honesty is a desired quality in any candidate, there is a difference between candor and blatant abuse. There is a difference between “not having a filter” and not having any respect, and Trump too often finds himself on the wrong side of the line.

It’s not that Hillary Clinton is the perfect choice for the next president. She may not repair our broken political system or launch us into a grand new era of American excellence. But her experience in compassion and in politics will lead America forward in a way that Donald Trump cannot. We implore those that are old enough to vote to elect Hillary Clinton as your president.

yearbook yearbook fdsfdsfds

www.smart-pay.com www.smart-pay.com

Commentary | 19

Review:

‘Three’

Story by | Audrey Vieira

P

hantogram, the alternative duo behind the recent radio hit “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore,” released their third album “Three” on Oct. 7. Every song on the album has its own unique sound, yet they all keep Phantogram’s trademark electronic beat.

Though I was expecting everything to sound similar to “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore,” I was relieved to hear the band take its music in such interesting directions.

Very few bands can experiment with their sound and still make an album as powerful as “Three.”

I enjoyed this album because each song was unlike any of the others. I still cannot choose a favorite track, but I felt that “Answer” was of the album’s most emotional songs. “Answer” is a much quieter track than any of the singles that felt written for radio, but the skipping beat and piano tore at my heartstrings in a way I never thought an electronic ballad could. I also liked the two tracks that were

released before the album dropped, “Cruel World” and “Run Run Blood.” They sound as if they were destined for the radio airwaves, and I hope they’ll be heard on the alternative stations soon. Their beats were mesmerizing and made me never want to stop listening. “Cruel World” had memorable lyrics, including “I used to see beauty in people / But now I see muscle and bone.” The album got stuck in my head not just because it was catchy, but because the songs evoked emotion.

The only problem I had with “Three” was that it felt too short. Clocking in at just 37 minutes, I was a bit surprised when the album was over after the 10th track. It felt disappointing that an album as stellar as what Phantogram created was so short, especially since I had been waiting for it to come out since I first discovered the duo in July. It is the shortest full-length album Phantogram has released in their career and the only one to end before the 40-minute

mark.

Despite how short it was, I fell in love with this album. I admired the way each song had a different style to it yet It can be dangerous for a band to experiment with their sound, but this album is proof that taking such a risk can pay off. I give this album an A for its originality and genrebending music, and highly encourage anyone else who enjoys alternative music to listen to “Three.”

A

Review:

‘Girl on the Train’

Story by | Astrid Souto

“

The Girl on the Train” seemed to be one of the highest anticipated movies of 2016 after audiences raved over the hugely popular page-turner written by Paula Hawkins coming to the big screen. On Oct. 7, 2016, director Tate Turner released his on-screen depiction of the suspenseful thriller. Box office sales have climbed to $24.6 million just from the opening weekend. The film is obviously popular due to the success of its preceding novel; however, it seems Turner could not meet the high expectations set by eager fans.

Beginning with a scene of main character Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) sitting in an almost isolated train car staring longingly out the window, the film creates an alluring, eerie mood. However, it is only enticing for those who had no

20 | Commentary

previous expectations. For the rest of us die-hard fanatics, it was just what we were anticipating. The rest of the movie seemed to follow the same pattern. Although it made the movie predictable, there was some beauty in the replication of the book almost word for word. Turner definitely deserves credit for his successful attempt to preserve the literary components of his story. Yes, he definitely gets the gold for his ability to replicate a well-written novel, but he lacks originality and self-expression in his representation. It would have been nice to see some original ideas incorporated into the film versus an exact copy of the famous novel.

To concede, Turner did a magnificent job casting experienced actors who portrayed their roles perfectly. I found myself heavily empathizing with the characters. I was completely consumed -- abducted by Rachel’s melancholy life and struggles. I found myself replicating the reactions of the characters through the twists and turns of the film. Although predictable, “The Girl

on the Train” was still able to captivate me.

Overall, “The Girl on the Train” could not completely live up to its preceding novel and therefore receives a rating of a B. Expectations were set exceedingly high, and the task for anyone to make a film to fulfill the hype was nearly impossible. However, Turner took a safe route in his attempt to accomplish this goal. He reached some success through the casting of talented actors whom thrusted a whirlwind of empathy upon the audience so that they may find themselves as infatuated with the emotional appeal of this film as I was.

B

Photo by | Maya Morriswala

Review:

Ssahm BBQ and Yummy Spiedies Food Trucks Story by | Maya Morriswala

I

have always found the idea of eating food from a truck a bit of an interesting trend. When I think of a truck, I think of a garbage truck: a large, chunky and unsanitary vehicle. However, tasting the food at Ssahm BBQ and Yummy Spiedies’ food trucks has completely changed my mind. Food trucks actually provide both convenience and great-tasting food: what more could you ask for?

Ssahm BBQ is famous for their Korean BBQ tacos which sound like a weird combination, but in spite of what one may think, this Korean-Mexican fusion is amazing and provides a spicy flavor like you’ve never tasted.

The truck menu consists of a choice between four different meats that can each be placed in six different dishes. This lack of variety is the only disappointing thing about this truck.

However, the experience is awesome.

The service is quick with a wait of five minutes at most. The tacos, kimchi (spicy pickled cabbage) fries and quesadillas are exemplary. Everything is very well-cooked and all the dishes have an amazing spicy mayo sauce. Best of all, one taco is only $3, which is great value considering how much Ssahm stuffs their tacos.

There is not much to say other than try Ssahm, because I give the service and the dishes an A. If you are up for something interesting and

A

spicy, this is the truck to go to next time you visit Dallas.

On the other hand, Yummy Spiedies wasn’t as good of an experience. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t anything special.

This food truck sells pizza, chicken and gyros. It actually has a lot of variety, but that is the only great thing about it.

After ordering, I spent 20 minutes waiting for my food. It was not a pleasant experience, especially when people who ordered after me got their meals first.

The food itself was average at best.

I ordered chicken with fries, so I guess I shouldn’t have been expecting much.

However, the chicken could’ve been cooked better and the fries had way too much seasoning. I definitely didn’t find it worthy of the $8 I paid. I could’ve gotten two more of the heavenly tacos from Ssahm with that money.

Yummy Spiedies gets a C-. It may be a good truck to go to if you are a picky eater, but if you are up for something unique with good service, this truck is definitely not the place to eat.

C-

Ssahm BBQ: Type of Food: Korean/Mexican Wait Time: Five minutes Things to try: Korean BBQ Tacos Kimchi Fries Rating: A

Yummy Spiedies: Type of Food: Variety Wait Time: 20 minutes Things to ditch: Chicken and fries Rating: CCommentary | 21

Herb’s Paint and Body would like to thank all our customers for over sixty great years of work and service in the Metroplex. We remain committed to this service, and to the Allen community.

HERB'S IS PROUD TO SUPPORT

THE ALLEN EAGLES VISIT US AT ANY OF OUR 8 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS 1

LAKE HIGHLANDS (LBJ at Garland Rd.) 214.328.4381

2

DALLAS (Stemmons at Royal Ln.) 972.243.5041

3

RICHARDSON (Central at Arapaho) 972.783.7376

4

PLANO (Coit N. of Plano Pkwy.)

972.758.0080

5

FRISCO (NE of Tollway & Main St.) 214.387.4372

6

PARK CITIES/UPTOWN (Mockingbird W. of Lemmon Ave.) 214.366.2155

7

ALLEN (Prestige and Greenville) 469.342.8560

8

McKINNEY (380 West of Custer) 214.385.4902

w w w. H er bsPaintA ndBody.c om