The Eagle Angle Issue 3 Volume 34

EA Allen High School Issue 3 Volume 34 February 2017

Staying afloat in A hall

An unexpected flood in A hall unites AHS | page 4

The new man in town

Allen ISD welcomes new superintendent Scott Niven | page 5

On the ballot

See The Eagle Angle’s predictions for who will win on Oscar night | page 20

caged in

Students and faculty discuss the dark reality of dating abuse | page 10

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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 469-319-6216. 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 and JEA/ NSPA.

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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 | Felix Kalvesmaki* Sports Editor | Jackson Stone Assistant Sports Editor | Parker Primrose Online Editor | Makayla Nerpel Multimedia Editor | Josh Magpantay Staff | 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 Vieira, Alyssa White, Erik Young, Mark Young Adviser | Kelly Juntunen *denotes members of the Editorial Board

Cover design by | Sara Schleede

Table of Contents

NEWS/FEATURE

Briefly speaking.......................................................... 2 Q&A with Jason Thompson......................................3 Staying afloat in A hall...............................................4 The new man in town.................................................5 Brain games..................................................................6 One hour at a time......................................................7 Club corner...............................................................8-9

COVER STORY

Caged In................................................................10-13 Students and faculty discuss the dark realities of dating abuse and what to do about it

SPORTS

Basketball overview...................................................14 Redemption season....................................................14 Sports briefs................................................................15

PHOTO ESSAY

Dancing for a cause..............................................16-17

COMMENTARY

Flipside: age gaps.......................................................18 Demonizing mental illness........................................18 Staff Editorial.............................................................19 Artists of Allen..........................................................19 On the ballot: Oscar predictions............................. 20 Mmm...panada............................................................21 What’s streaming soon?............................................21

Letter to the reader

T

he beginning of a new semester. A chance for a fresh start, or for senioritis to set in. A newly repaired A Hall after a flood during fall finals week. Our newly appointed superintendent, Dr. Scott Niven. For us, the beginning of our last semester as seniors and co-editors-in-chief.

Our cover story this issue tackles the topic of dating abuse within our school, while our editorial discusses victim blaming and its harmful effects.

When you think of abuse, it’s easy to imagine the physical ramifications.

But abuse is not always visible. Abuse can be harsh words, gaslighting or controlling behavior. Abuse can be excessive jealousy or manipulation. Abuse can happen to anyone, and it occurs on school grounds despite the preventative measures taken by the administration.

We’ve also chosen to highlight five clubs, each formed during this academic year and full of passionate students embracing their interests and sharing them with others. On page 6, we delve behind the scenes of Academic Decathlon, a class whose goal is to expand members’ knowledge on a subject in 10 different categories. The sports section provides an overview of men’s basketball and sports briefs on sports currently in season. Finally, our commentary section predicts the results of the Academy Awards and reviews a local business.

This is the part of the letter where we would usually summarize everything in this issue according to one overarching theme. But this issue is too complex for that. We highlight big changes, big emotional obstacles and big displays of passion throughout the school. There’s a little bit of everything, just like in life. It’s the beginning of a new semester. Let’s get back to work.

Sincerely,

Illustration by | Josh Magpantay

Letter to the Reader | 1

Briefly Speaking

Compiled by | Divya Jagadeesh

Trump’s first week In southern Chile, more than 90 fires have burned through 180,000 hectares of land in one of the country’s worst wildfires in recent history. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet declared a state of emergency last week, and Peru, the United States, France and Mexico have sent help, including a supertanker from Colorado that can carry 73,000 liters of water to extinguish the fires.

Chilean wildfires The bill to officially begin the United Kingdom’s separation from the European Union was presented to British Parliament on Jan. 26. Prime Minister Theresa May planned to use Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which would begin the country’s exit, until the British Supreme Court ruled on Jan. 24 that Parliament must vote to approve the exit. If the bill is passed, May will have the power to trigger Article 50, which she plans to do by March.

Brexit continues 2 | News and Features

The Frisco Allen Texas Area Alumnae Panhellenic (FATAAP) will be having a recruitment forum on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

FATAAP is a conference whose mission is to further Greek life in the north Texas area. The meeting will be at Creekwood United Methodist Church and will begin at 6:30 p.m.

In his first week in office, President Donald Trump signed four executive orders. On Jan. 20, he signed an order that would loosen regulations on the Affordable Care Act to minimize the financial burden. He signed a second order on Jan. 24 that would make environmental impact reports sent in quicker, which would expedite certain infrastructure projects. Trump signed the last two orders on Jan. 26: one directing to begin building a wall on the U.S-Mexico border, and the other reducing the number of undocumented immigrants by increased The ninth annual Allen ISD Eagle Run deportations and stopping funding from will be held by the Foundation for Allen “sanctuary cities.”

Schools on Feb. 25. There will be a 5K and a one-mile run, with the fun run starting at 8 a.m. and the 5K at 8:30 a.m. The start and finish, along with all activities will be held at the Eagle Stadium, and a portion of the proceeds will go school campuses and PTAs.

FATAAP recruitment

Journalists under arrest

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Six journalists were charged with felony rioting after being arrested during protests during President Donald Trump’s inauguration in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20. The journalists were among 230 detainees from the anti-Trump protests that day. Evan Engel, Alexander Rubinstein, Jack Keller, Matthew Hopard, Aaron Cantu and Shay Horse’s charges have been denounced by press freedom organizations, and they’ve all said they weren’t part of the violence.

Eagle Run Photos courtesy of | Creative Commons

QA & with Jason Thompson Staff writer Christian Hinton sat down with financial math teacher Jason Thompson to talk about his recent adoption.

How did this adoption come to be?

Starting last year, my now-daughter was a senior, and throughout the school year she would stay after and ask for advice, and I could tell that she didn’t have the most stable home environment. So I tried to help her out as much as I could through giving her advice, and I was even able to help her financially. The two of us started to form a really strong student-teacher bond that became more like a father-daughter bond.

what made you decide to adopt this former student?

I was trying to help her get enrolled in school, and I was going to start offering to pay for her college. Just looking at it from a financial side and a legal standpoint, it would be better if, in addition to that emotional bond, we had that legal bond— legally being my daughter.

Was the adoption process difficult?

In Texas, adult adoption is very simple. Ten days after I contacted a family attorney, we stood in front of a judge, and it was official.

All they needed was the consent of myself and my now-daughter.

It was very short, sweet and simple.

Photo by | Christia

n Hinton

how is your relationship with her currently?

It’s better than it ever has been. Once the adoption was final, she moved into our house. I can see that she’s much happier recently.

It’s neat having our dinners together, and my family is also very excited, because I have a niece and nephew who now have a cousin that they’ve never had before. It’s fun; it’s a learning experience for me, but I think she’s doing great.

How has this adoption impacted your life?

I’m not married, and I don’t have children of my own, and it’s impacted me greatly because I am learning very fast about being a father. Granted, I haven’t had to change diapers or do anything like that because she is 19, but she is a teenager, so she has come to me with concerns about friends and things at work, and then we sit and watch TV together too. It’s been a great learning experience for me because I never thought I would be a father, never thought I’d want to be a father, but this has changed my whole view 100 percent. I absolutely love it.

How do you think this adoption has impacted her life?

It hasn’t been very long, it’s only been since Dec. 29. We’ve had a nice father-daughter relationship going back since graduation. She’s not having to worry about things that she was worrying about in her previous situation. She has a place to come home to every night that has a positive atmosphere. She smiles a lot more now, and I just see her as happier than before.

Staying afloat in A hall An unexpected flood in A hall unites AHS Story by | Maya Morrriswala Miller said that he feels great about the finished product, but hopes that the school doesn’t have to encounter circumstances like that again.

“The floods reminded me of the strength of the Allen High School team,” Miller said. “When in need, everyone pulls together to help each other out.”

Karen Hunnicutt, an IB Psychology teacher, had to be relocated. In fact, the flood started in her classroom.

Therefore, water damage ruined many of her items including the carpet and the

By the numbers A Hall the Monday after the flood. The flood began in IB Psychology teacher Karen Hunnicutt’s classroom Jan. 11.

Photo by | Josh Magpantay

I

t was the last week of school before winter break for the Allen staff and students.

However, on that Monday, Jan. 12, teachers walked down the large main hallway into A Hall where damp carpets, bent books and damaged walls awaited them.

A pipe had started leaking on Jan. 11, which caused the majority of A Hall to flood. Teachers had to be relocated and students had to be redirected. It could have been complete chaos, but the staff and student body worked together and repairs were finished in about two and a half weeks.

Jared Miller, the associate principal of administrative services, was responsible for the repair of A Hall. He said he is proud of how the students and staff handled the flood.

“I have nothing except praise for our teachers and staff,” Miller said. “The teachers were great to work with, and the students were resilient and adapted very well.”

A Hall was restored, but new additions were also implemented at the entrance of A Hall for the increased safety of the students and staff.

“The doors that were installed are the new fire doors,” Miller said. “These doors offer a safer alternative to the garage style doors.”

4 | News and Features

A206: Where the flood began 13 teachers moved 3 weeks to complete repairs 2 new safety doors 5 days A Hall was closed to students walls, as well as books and computers.

“I lost my posters, and my books are all kind of bent, and my cabinets don’t shut,” Hunnicutt said. “Georgia, the service dog that was being trained at the time, was high stepping through water that morning trying to find and help me pull out items from my room. She was a little sad when she saw her soggy dog bed that was no longer usable.”

However, Hunnicutt said that the flood was handled well, and the teachers were well taken care of by the school.

“That week was a little bit different than normal because it was exam week,” Hunnicutt said. “The administration was fantastic. They got me another spot, and I had my exam on Canvas, so they allowed

me to have computer access.”

If this sort of disaster happened during a normal school week, class schedules wouldn’t work out as well. Also, the twoweek break following the leak allowed enough time to work on repairs without disrupting class time.

“The school took care of us as far as putting us into a spot and back into our rooms as quickly as possible,” Hunnicutt said. “I came back that Monday [after winter break], and I was able to move into my room about halfway through that day.”

She has many people to thank for getting her room back. In her opinion, the school did a great job at rebuilding what had been lost during the flood.

“The students have been getting my room put back together,” Hunnicutt said.

“It’s an event that occurred that the school handled extremely well and took care of us as far as putting us into a spot and back into our rooms as quickly as possible.”

Hunnicutt said that she believes lessons can be learned from this experience, and she is thankful that nobody was hurt in this endeavor.

“The one big lesson is to keep life in perspective,” Hunnicutt said. “The most important things are family, friends and faith. I’m thankful the school got everything repaired and usable again.”

A Hall after repairs were completed the Monday students returned from Winter Break.

Photo by | Josh Magpantay

The new man in town Allen ISD welcomes new superintendent Story by | Sara Schleede

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ov. 4, 2016. The phone is ringing. You pick it up, and on the other end is the announcement you’ve been hoping for: you got the job.

Nov. 28, 2016. You scrawl your signature on the bottom of the contract that formalizes your new position.

Dec. 20, 2016. It’s your last time walking into the workplace you’ve poured your heart into for the past 10 years.

Dec. 21, 2016. You move your boxes into a new house in a new town with a population almost nine times greater than your former home.

Jan. 2, 2017. You walk into a new office and sit down at a shiny wooden desk, a name plaque sitting on the edge labeling it as your own. You’re the new superintendent of Allen ISD. “I look forward to being superintendent here for a long period of time and moving forward with the community and school district and making sure that the best opportunities are available for our students,” Dr. Scott Niven said.

Under the new superintendent, the school board plans to offer more career technical education (CTE) courses for its students and partner with Collin College for a wider variety of academic opportunities.

Before coming to Allen, Niven was recognized for his partnerships with postsecondary institutions during his time as the superintendent of Red Oak ISD. Niven collaborated with Texas State Technical College and expanded the number of available dual-credit hours in Red Oak ISD from six to 160. Now in Allen, he will attempt make similar changes. He met with the president of Collin College during his first week on the job.

“We want to make sure we manage our growth adequately, and we want to strengthen our programs while we manage the growth,” Niven said.

In addition, his previous position in Red Oak focused on crisis management; the district was hit by tornadoes at the end of 2015 that completely ravaged one of their elementary schools. In Allen, however, Niven’s focus is to improve upon the growth that began under former superintendent Dr.

Dr. Niven already at work with a smile in his new office. Niven’s first day of work was Jan. 2.

Photo by | Sara Schleede

Lance Hindt.

“Sometimes when you come into a school district there are major issues that you have to address right off the bat, but Allen is in really good shape,” Niven said.

“There’s been really good leadership in the past, and currently there’s good leadership, so now it’s just us finding that next level for our students.”

Community voters approved a $272 million bond on Nov. 3, 2015, that will fund the construction of a new Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) Center and renovations on existing buildings.

“We passed a large bond and we have a lot of buildings being built,” school board president Louise Master said. “Obviously we don’t want that to be our focus. We want curriculum and all the opportunities for our students to be the focus, so that’s what I think we’re most excited about.”

While Allen is much larger than the 5,800-student town where he previously resided, Niven said that Allen has a similarly tight-knit community that he is excited to engage with.

“He wants to be involved and wants to get to know people, and that’s the kind of leader we want: someone who’s going to be on our campuses and know our principals

and know our teachers,” Master said.

Niven distinguished himself from his 33 fellow applicants with his tenacious attitude and the personal elements featured in his application, according to Master. He included photos of his former team in Red Oak taking part in bonding activities such as bungee jumping and wrestling alligators. “[He] stood out to us as a fun guy but also someone who is very involved with his board and [who had] also done some amazing things in his district,” Master said.

Niven credits his managerial success to his emphasis on teamwork.

“My leadership style is innovative and collaborative,” Niven said. “[I focus on] getting people on board with the vision of the district and helping them and working together in collaboration with the stakeholders to develop [that] vision.”

That vision is to work on strategic planning and increase student success after graduation. According to Master, Niven is the ideal person to pioneer the district in that direction.

“He’s going to be very innovative,” Master said. “He’s very driven, and he’s going to elevate us to another level.”

News and Features | 5

Brain games A look into Academic Decathlon Story by | Divya Jagadeesh

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aps hang on the wall. Some students study an intensive timeline covered in sticky notes, while others read from a book and make conversation. The teacher roams around the room, not intervening except to elaborate on a point made by one of the students. The atmosphere is relaxed, but everyone is buzzing with all the discussions occurring as they get ready for competition.

This is Academic Decathlon.

Academic Decathlon is an annual competition in which students compete in 10 subjects that focus on a specific topic.

“The scope of what they have to learn is huge, and it’s a challenge that way,” Academic Decathlon sponsor Stephanie Karmann said. “This year [the topic] is World War II, and it’s pretty cool because you’re learning some basics, and then you go very deep into how a subject is part of that topic.”

The club was started three years ago by senior Chris Jung and a former student Antu Nguyen. They asked Karmann to become the sponsor, and she made it into a class.

“First it was just building up team members; we started out with a small team, and we didn’t have enough to fully

Above | Ms. Karmann leads seniors Luke Vega and Chris Jung and junior Audrey Nguyen in preparation for their competition.

Right | Junior Chelsey Suyo and seniors Chris Jung and Soham Shah study for Academic Decathlon for the January 20 meet.

Photos by | Josh Magpantay

6 | News and Features

compete,” Jung said. “Then as the years went by, we started building it into a class with Ms. Karmann.”

Karmann taught Academic Pentathlon— a similar competition except with five subjects— at her old school before coming to Allen, and she says that she likes the class because there is a different feel compared to other classes.

“I really grew to like the kids that were in it, and I had a great time,” Karmann said. “It’s really good for me as a teacher to see kids do something other than take class[es]. It’s a chance to develop a different relationship, and I like the competition part; it makes me excited.”

Junior Audrey Nguyen and senior Sarah Manthei say they joined Academic Decathlon after being in Karmann’s GT Phoenix English class sophomore year, when Karmann told them they could do well as part of the decathlon team.

“The class is not organized the way a normal classroom is: it’s not as structured,” Nguyen said. “It’s very much, ‘Here’s the material. Go learn it,’ and it’s comprised of a lot of different people, and we make it work.”

Manthei says that class is led by the

students, and that difference makes it better than a traditional classroom.

“I feel like it’s more organic,” Manthei said. “We’re learning the things because we’ve decided to learn them at that point, and I think it’s a really great experience. It’s something different.”

Jung says that Academic Decathlon is highly student-driven and that different learning experience and animated atmosphere are what makes Academic Decathlon a great club.

“With Academic Decathlon you’re working with a team and facing a myriad of what they’re trying to give us: the good and the bad,” Jung said. “It’s fun helping each other out and getting along, and it’s a real team effort.”

With all the different subjects, Manthei says that it’s an opportunity for different people to come together, work and compete.

“Math isn’t my strong suit, but I can still excel in subjects like history and music because I know those very well, so it’s an opportunity for people of all kinds of interests to come together and try and win this competition,” Manthei said. “And you get to learn it the way you want to.”

One hour at a time

How students balance making grades, making a difference Story by | Parker Primrose

I

n an age of increasingly crammed schedules and an overload of opportunities, time seems harder to come by than ever before.

But in the span of just six months, Allen High School students were able to contribute over two years worth of service hours to their community through various clubs and organizations, leaving a clear impact on the people and world that surrounds them. “[Student volunteers] definitely make an impact,” Allen Community Outreach volunteer director Janis Christie said. “We would not be able to provide the services that we do without our volunteers. Not only do they volunteer, but they do food drives, which really impacts our food pantry. We have about 400 families that shop every month at our food pantry, where everything is free.”

In the first semester of this school year alone, AHS clubs reported that members completed a combined 20,000 service hours, which is equivalent to 833 days or a little over two years. That’s the same amount of time it takes to get an associate’s degree from a community college. However, National Honor Society sponsor Kathy Vondracek says that the amount of time spent serving is not nearly as important as the lessons students can gain from being

active in their community.

“It’s important for students to learn to give back,” Vondracek said. “I think if they’re involved in the community they might see someone that they didn’t know was in need, or they can see the actual result of their hours and how it impacts the community.”

For students like junior Lane McGuire, service hours not only help serve others but also are rewarding to those serving. As a member of Peer Assistance & Leaders (PALs), McGuire is able to interact with and mentor different kids of all ages. “[Service hours] show that we’re really here to help our community,” McGuire said. “It’s awesome being able to help tutor some of the kids who need it or help students become more comfortable in their surroundings because they really appreciate it, so you feel really good about it.”

Serving the community also provides students with greater perspective on their own lives according to junior and Key Club treasurer Meghana Nadella. She says that by getting out in the community and serving, students can gain a greater appreciation for the blessings they have in their own lives.

“A lot of times we take what we have for granted,” Nadella said. “To see people

who are in worse situations than us, it opens our eyes and shows us that we should help those around us who aren’t as lucky or as fortunate as we are.”

Helping the community also provides students with the opportunity to explore potential career paths and discover their interests. Junior Shannon Mere is interested in becoming a special education teacher, which she pursues through her involvement in Best Buddies.

“Best Buddies is an organization where special needs kids at school are paired up with a student to be friends,” Mere said.

“It’s fun to get to know the kids and just be able to hang out with them and be their friend, and it gives those who volunteer a well-rounded feel of how to help out in your community and be involved.”

Community service has a huge impact on all who are involved, and as clubs such as Key Club and NHS reach record membership, leaders such as Nadella say that the role of students in the community will only continue to grow.

“It’s amazing to see how people are starting to realize how important community service is and how people are starting to take action in the world around them,” Nadella said.

MAQ hours

days

8,101

8,614

337.54 358.92

120

5

1,125

5,000

450

46.88 208.33

18.75

Above is a chart depicting the volunteer time completed first semester by members of various AHS clubs.

News and Features | 7

Club Corner

Students create clubs where passions can be shared

Celebrating diversity

Photo by | Audrey Vieira

Story by | Christine Odwesso

A

frican Students Organization is a club where students can meet and discuss different aspects of their culture, such as food, family and traditional holidays.

African Students Association is intended to help students connect with others from different cultural backgrounds and even encourages people who are not African to attend.

“People should join because it’s a place to learn about people outside of America and a place to learn about other people’s culture,” African Students Association Secretary and junior Tasha Wambugu said.

African Students Organization meets Thursdays at 3:45, in room A209.

“I was persuaded by a friend to join the club,” senior Cato Jackson said. “A lot of my friends are African, and I wanted to learn about their culture.”

Jackson thinks the best part about the club is meeting new people and connecting with others from a similar background.

“Having a space where we can all come together is nice,” Wambugu said. “You don’t have to be African to come. You can come and learn about a culture similar to yours.”

Sophomore Micah Randle, juniors Ella Geosits, Marwa Eljaouhari and senior Michael Kelly attend a Comic Book Club meeting.

Check the school website to find out when African Students Organization meets in A209

Photo by | Astrid Souto

Stargazing students

Story by | Corinne Chandler

A

stronomy Club officially made its debut as one of Allen’s newest clubs Jan. 10. Meetings will continue once a month during 8th period in room F121.

Tiffany Syfert, an AP Physics 1 teacher, agreed to be the sponsor after a few of her students united their common interest in astronomy into a group eager to learn more.

“Since I enjoyed astronomy it seemed like a good fit,” Syfert said. “I believe [my students and I] can learn [about astronomy] together.”

The club will also take advantage of the natural phenomenon that astronomy provides in its off-campus meetings.

“We are working on dates to go observe the stars and different planets that are visible in the sky,” Syfert said. “In addition we are planning to do a campfire constellation trip [to] discuss the history of the constellations.”

Club president and junior Rob Landsaw says that Astronomy club aims to attract not only students interested in astrophysics, but also students who feel the need to learn more about the natural occurrences in space and our world.

“Our club is open to all students who have a genuine interest in stars and space and would like to learn about astronomy in a socially enjoyable environment,” Landsaw said.

8 | News and Features

Senior Ethan Pinc and English teacher Timothy Wiseman welcome students to Harry Potter Club’s first meeting.

Astronomy Club meets monthly during eighth period in F121 Photo by | Caroline Tucker

Students make conversation and listen to the meeting at the Allen Visuals Club.

An origin story Story by | Audrey Vieira

B

y day room G232 is the home of Nadine Crank’s English class, but after school it transforms into the meeting place of the Comic Book Club. Members are spread out at a table, others sketching superheroes and many reading from comic books.

The club, which began meeting in November of last semester, has quickly grown in the past two months.

“Usually we have new members every week,” junior and secretary Marwa Eljaouhari said. “It is a new club.”

Now that more are jumping on the bandwagon, the group has begun planning their future. One of their goals is to raise money for comic-related events to attend outside of school.

“We’re currently in the middle of planning a fundraiser to do activities outside of the club, like maybe going to conventions,” senior and vice president Michael Kelly said. “I believe, in April, Dallas Comic Con is in town, and we’re trying to raise money to go there.”

Though the fundraiser is still in development, the comic book craze is in full swing at meetings. Several comic books lay on the table in G232 for members to read and discuss. However, the club often branches out into comics less well-known than the usual Batman, Superman and Spiderman.

“Recently we’ve been reading about woman superheroes, feminists and breaking

Accio Potterheads Story by | Astrid Souto

T

he worldwide phenomenon of “Harry Potter” has changed not only science fiction literature, but also the lives of many young adults as they have grown up under the influence of J.K. Rowling’s magical novels. As a result that there was an abundance of zealous chatter when senior Ethan Pinc announced the beginning of the Harry Potter Club.

“I just wanted to start an all-inclusive club where fans of Harry Potter could come and share their passions with no judgment,” Pinc said. “I want the environment here to be welcoming while accepting and

encouraging toward diverse participation.”

Warm and welcoming is exactly the environment Pinc portrayed last Wednesday during eighth period. Pinc and English teacher and sponsor Timothy Wiseman were wearing their house robes upon the newcomers’ arrival to room A116 and had made homemade butterbeer for the club members. There were handcrafted wands on display, posters draped across the walls and Harry Potter music blaring. People were still flowing into the crowded room 10 minutes after the first club meeting began, not even including stragglers.

A new perspective Story by | Caroline Tucker

F

or the first time, Allen High School has its own photography club, and new club members are clicking their cameras in excitement. As AHS grows with new clubs, the students are welcoming them with open arms, amd the founders of the club are looking forward to the club’s new opportunities.

“Tate and I really enjoy photography, and one day we were looking at the Allen website and realized that Allen didn’t have a photography club,” said junior and cofounder Sarah Abiog. “We thought to

ourselves, ‘Hey we should start that because a lot of people would be interested and show up.’”

Abiog say that the club will be a calm, peaceful, and welcoming place for everyone. As the club grows, founders Abiog and junior Tate Peterson hope that photographers will be able to capture the right moments at the right time so that members can show their work to a bigger audience other than social media.

“I want to inspire people to get out there,” said club member Rachel Karls.

Comic Book Club meets the first and third Tuesday’s of every month in G232 gender roles,” Elijaouhari said. “We haven’t read many of the typical ones: we go towards the ones that are not really well known.”

The member’s mutual bond over comics, superheroes and everything in between has helped Comic Book Club in its first year. Fans of comic books have a place to share their passion at AHS. “Everybody [here] has a common interest, and everybody knows what you’re talking about with certain authors or artists,” Kelly said. “It’s just really nice to have a sense of community. We’re a very welcoming bunch, and we read a little bit of everything — even the most obscure stuff.”

Harry Potter Club meets Wednesdays during eighth period in A116 “I believe the club has started off more [successfully] than I expected,” Pinc said.

“There were almost 50 people in attendance: so many that we may have to split up into two classrooms.”

With promises of a Quidditch tournament, house assignments, movie days and wand duels, Pinc has Harry Potter fans ecstatic as he is making their wizardly dreams as close to a reality as possible.

“I am so excited to see how it all turns out,” Pinc said. “We have so much planned and I am eager to see how everyone engages with one another.”

Allen Visuals Club meets every other Tuesday in K113 “Maybe get a few people to look behind a camera for a little bit.”

The Allen Visuals Club is for anyone: for someone who hasn’t even touched a camera or a person who has taken pictures since they could hold a camera. It’s a club that was made solely for the purpose of students getting together and sharing each other’s ideas.

“It’s cool to get a bunch of photographers together; that collaboration can create something special,” Abiog said.

News and Features | 9

caged in

Students, faculty discuss dark reality of dating abuse

D

Story by | Felix Kalvesmaki and Makayla Nerpel Research by | Francis Salazar Illustrations by | Josh Magpantay

uring freshman year, senior Allison* didn’t have the luxury of going to bed. She wasn’t preoccupied staying up late to finish a riveting TV thriller. She wasn’t too fixated on Twitter to let her head sink into the pillows. Schoolwork wasn’t keeping her up to the early hours either. Not her own, anyway. The goal tonight was to make sure her boyfriend got his assignments done.

It wasn’t the first all-nighter she’d pulled taking care of him, and the role she played was familiar to her. Tears ran down her cheeks while she screamed. While she yelled. While she begged and begged for her boyfriend to finish his classwork. Because it was her job. It was her responsibility to keep him on track, and without her, he would only get worse.

It was better he stay afloat than her. It was worth his happiness even if she killed herself getting him there. It was for him.

All for him.

“At the time, I didn’t notice [the warning signs],” Allison said. “People say hindsight is 20/20, you know?”

10 | News and Features

Pulling the curtain

According to Loveisrespect, 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner every year, despite schools advocating against it.

Allison says abusive partners easily brush off the preventions put in place.

“I got all the speeches in middle school about what to look out for, but so did he,” Allison said. “If he didn’t like something I did, he’d tell me not to do it. When I argued it he would say, ’Oh, so you’re telling me how to feel? You’re telling me what my feelings should be? That’s really abusive of you.’ I didn’t notice anything at the time because he convinced me the problems were on me.”

Allison walks the school halls brushing shoulders with students who have their own stories. A survey of 200 students at Allen High School concluded that 60 percent of students have known victims of dating abuse, and 18 percent of students have been victims themselves. Within that 18 percent, only 20 percent of those students reported the abuse.

Abuse, however, is indiscriminate, and

students aren’t the only ones in danger.

Physics teacher Tiffany Syfert recollects a troubled relationship in her past.

“I met the guy at a district church event,” Syfert said. “It was a situation where he put on a front to be what he believed I wanted him to be. It was sort of a wooing thing where he did whatever to make me happy, but once we were actually dating and I started to care for him, he became very controlling.”

Taking action

Crisis counselor Jennifer Atencio emphasizes the importance of a teenager’s security.

“Ultimately what we need to do is do our best to secure our students’ personal safety,” Atencio said. “If the student shares a class or lunch with their abuser, any kind of interaction with them, we try to adjust schedules. If there’s issues with transportation, say a bus, we can remove that student from the bus.”

Atencio also offers resources on and off campus for victims to help themselves, and for people to help victims they know.

*The name of the student interviewed for this story has been changed to protect their identity.

.

Red flags in a relationship Compiled by | Pauline Esguerra

“We have some free counseling available,” she said. “There’s also a women’s shelter in Plano called Hope’s Door. They do a lot of educational classes, and from time to time they’ll do group therapy sessions.”

For emergency situations, students should inform student resource officers or Atencio immediately. But for a dire crisis, some teachers, particularly Phoenix teacher Jayne Creelman, take it upon themselves to step in.

“There’s a certain ominous edge when something isn’t quite right,” Creelman said. “What I’ve seen is the female up against the wall and the boy very close, almost towering over her. The tone of voice is low and intimidating and frightening.

We have to look [for] little clues.”

But more goes into abuse than intimidation. According to Bustle, there are seven primary signs of dating abuse including jealousy, a need for control and threats made against the victim. Control and threats characterized some of what Allison remembers, such as her exboyfriend endangering his life to keep her around.

“I guess he could only threaten to kill himself so many times before he actually tried to,” Allison said. “Honestly, he didn’t try though. He checked himself in. He would say ‘it was life changing, I’m so focused on my recovery now.’ And I’ve

had a lot of friends go to [the behavioral center] and they all said it was awful. I think he just got attention for a week and was just being pretentious about a new thing.”

Syfert was caught in a similar situation, and points out that if she didn’t plan beforehand, it could’ve gotten much worse.

“I broke up with him on the phone, and ignored him for a little while, but he eventually got me to meet up with him at the chapel at our school,” Syfert said.

“He pulled a knife and told me he was going to kill himself if I broke up with him. Luckily, I had the forethought to tell my roommate that if I wasn’t back in x amount of time, come find me, and she did. She found me in that situation, and I had to tell her to go get help.”

The staff tries to intervene when possible. Creelman recalls a few instances of when she stepped in, but also notes that students are good at keeping their secrets.

“It fills us with great dismay that many of you are distressed,” Creelman said. “In the class I teach, there is a lot of discussion and self-reflection that takes place, so sometimes I can pick up on things when the student is in a comfortable environment they feel safe in.”

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Moving forward

Domestic abuse carries on beyond a

6.

7.

They make you feel insecure.

You should feel assured and comfortable when in a relationship. Mental abuse is just as damaging as physical.

They lack trust in you. Trust should always come first in a relationship. Trust involves knowing that your partner has your best interests at heart.

They try to control you.

Nobody likes feeling controlled— whether you are in a relationship or not. Your partner should not be manipulative of how you spend your time, even in subtle ways.

They constantly bring up past relationships. Past relationships shouldn’t be a problem in a current relationship. Replaying old relationships is harmful because it stunts the growth with your current partner.

They manipulate you with guilt. Guilt is a healthy and necessary emotion. But when that guilt is used in a negative way, it’s a red flag.

They have double standards.

Holding a double standard can damage relationships and build a foundation of distrust and unfairness. A healthy relationship should be as equal as possible.

They don’t know your boundaries.

Derogatory language or actions should be confronted immediately, and your partner should respect your right to keep some things private.

News and Features Information courtesy of | PsychologyToday

| 11

getting perspective

= 5 students (of 200 polled)

Have you ever been in an abusive relationship with a romantic partner?

Graphic by | Megan Shankle

Has anyone you know ever been in an abusive relationship?

Emotional abuse =

Physical abuse =

single confrontation. Loveisrespect reports that half of teenagers who have been victims of dating violence will attempt suicide, compared to 12.5 percent of non-abused girls and 5.4 percent of non-abused boys.

Syfert reflects on how her past relationships have affected her.

“I think that’s why it’s so hard for people on the outside to look at a relationship like that and understand why the victim stays for so long,” Syfert said. “It’s because you start to believe that he’s the only one that will care about you, he’s the only one who will accept the things I’ve done or what I am at this point. I started to lose parts of who I was, and I sometimes still have that battle. I didn’t really know who I was because I’d changed for so many different people to make them happy.”

Syfert says her loved ones understand the toll abuse can take on a person, even to this day, .

“My husband now understands that there are certain things he can’t do,” Syfert said. “Like, he can’t move too quickly because I’ll react, or he can’t say certain

12 | News and Features

Both =

things because I’ll cry.”

Despite her worries about coming forward, Allison notified her counselor and got herself help.

“I drew the line when he started calling my parents,” Allison said. “He would say things like ‘oh, Allison’s going on a drug binge, watch out.’ That’s when I decided to go to my counselor. When I got there, he walked out at the same time. He actually went to my counselor to lie to them about me going crazy.”

But in the end, the faculty supported Allison over her abuser.

“I went to the crisis counselor and cried and spilled my guts,” Allison said. “They bought my story a lot quicker than they bought his. They wrote [the restraining order] up and had us both sign it.”

If a student on campus sees any form of abuse happening, be it physical, emotional or otherwise, they are encouraged to report it. Atencio says speaking out is the first step toward getting real help.

“Students can report concerns on the tip411 program, which is anonymous,”

None =

Atencio said. “There’s no way for us as a district for us to track who posts. Email is usually the best way to reach me and set an appointment up. If it’s an emergency situation, go to the house office and have them try to locate me.”

The school provides support to victims in any way they can, even moving classes or sending abusers to the Dillard Center.

“If charges have been pressed, the abuser will likely be removed from campus, which could mean going to Dillard,” Atencio said. “We want to make sure the victim feels safe at school. If charges have been pressed and they meet certain criteria, the SROs and the administrators are notified.”

If Creelman could highlight anything to the student body, it’s that no student deserves to suffer in silence, and no student is alone.

“That’s what breaks my heart and keeps me worried about you all,” Creelman said. “You have to let us help you. You are precious. Love awaits in a mature, healthy, generous, respectful relationship. That’s what you deserve.”

A letter to my abuser Column by | Anonymous

W

hen I met you I was convinced you were the one; the knight in shining armor I spent years and years waiting for.

The one my mother told me stories about at night. The man who would keep me safe, who would cherish me, who would love me with all his heart and create a space for me that would finally feel like home.

But my mother forgot to warn me about your short temper. Your wandering eyes, your two hands that would turn to fists and become the reason I flinch every time someone moves too quickly. No one told me that every moment of pleasure meant I had to accept an hour of pain. I was never informed that somewhere down the rabbit hole of loving you, I would forget how to love myself. I was blissfully unaware that it would take a few years and a lot of tears for the scared little girl you turned me into to remember the fierce and fearless woman who fell in.

Looking back, I can clearly see all of the red flags. It started with the gaslighting. I remember you would tell me, “You’re making this worse than it actually is,” or maybe “Stop overreacting, you’re hurting me.” Once you’d deteriorated the trust I had in my own thoughts and feelings, I was nothing more than putty in your hands. I became impressionable and completely ready to be molded into whatever you wanted to see from me, and I was too naive to notice that it was your plan all along. Each request you made, no matter how extreme, I felt obligated to fulfill.

You don’t want me to go out without you because boys might look at me? I’ll stay at home.

You want to check my phone and keep my passwords? Absolutely, anything for you.

You want me to cut off one my closest friends because I’m bisexual and I just might develop a crush on her? Sure, love.

You want me somewhere right now? I drop everything and run.

Tell me darling, do you remember the night you left me alone, crying on the concrete of the parking lot? You know, the night you conveniently “forgot” to pick me up after one of our many halfway break ups? The night you let me walk the three miles to my home alone, knowing perfectly well I’m terrified of the dark. The night I spent examining my

bruises in the mirror, praying my makeup would cover it well enough. The night I had to take four melatonin and two doses of NyQuil to sleep so hard I couldn’t possibly have nightmares of you? No, of course you don’t. Your head is too thick and your ego is too large to feel any sort of remorse. After every mark you left, every tear you caused, you don’t even realize how badly you scarred me.

It’s dangerous to believe that a person is more than a person, and that’s where I went wrong with you. I figured it was just like making a wish and if I obeyed that you would finally stop hurting me, and you would just listen or feel something, anything for me. It’s dangerous to cater to someone’s every whim, neglecting my own needs to ensure that I wouldn’t be hit/abandoned/forgotten, but I did for you. Everything I did, everything I said turned into a fight, and eventually, I was too worn down to even fight back. You stripped away my self-worth layer by layer until I was nothing but a shell of what I used to be. I don’t think I can ever forgive you for that. I don’t think I want to.

So to my past self, You may have forgotten some things along the way, but your life is not over. There are a multitude of moments left for you to exist in, to love, and be loved. You may have forgotten about your dreams, but I promise to you they are still worth pursuing, even if he failed to believe in them and in you. The strong, beautiful girl you remember is still inside of you. She may be tucked away in boxes buried underneath guilt and painful memories, but she will always be there. She’s worth rescuing from the disillusionment and guilt and numbness. I hope you realize that you are and have always been whole, with or without him. In just a while, you will be truly happy with someone who treats you like the precious treasure you are. While he’s no knight in shining armor, (Mom lied, those don’t exist) he loves you dearly and would go to the ends of the world to help you. All will be well again, I swear.

Even if you don’t love yourself now, you will.

Best Wishes, A Future You

News and Features | 13

Redemption Season

Column by | Astrid Souto

R

edemption is all that matters to the Allen girl’s varsity soccer team. Last year, the team included some of the best talent Allen soccer had ever seen, starting six seniors, three juniors and two sophomores, all committed to Division One schools to play ball on the college level. They were ranked as one of the top ten teams in the state and were predicted to make it far in the playoffs as they continued to dominate district play.

The team racked up a whopping total of 29 points, surpassing the competition by six points. After comfortably winning the 6-6A district trophy, they entered rounds one and two of playoffs confident, trumping 2015’s state champions, Coppell, as well as Mansfield.

Unfortunately, although the Lady Eagles beat Flower Mound 3-0 in district play, unfair calls by the officials and a player ejection led to the star squad losing in a crushing 2-0 defeat in round three of playoffs.

The heart-wrenching loss is still a sensitive topic in the hearts of the remaining players, but it is one to learn from as well.

Head coach Kevin Albury has rewatched the game’s recording many times and has made several adjustments to the new squad in order to ensure it’s success in the 2017 season.

After falling to Hockaday 2-1 in their first scrimmage while getting more comfortable with one another, the Lady Eagles are on a five game win streak with redeeming wins against last year’s 6A state champions, Flower Mound, and previous 5A state champions, Frisco Centennial.

The team, although having lost seven starting seniors, has gained over twelve new talented sophomores and juniors who have seemed to bring much success and promise to the squad. The team has two more scrimmages against Hebron, 2014’s 6A state champions, and Ursuline, state champions in the private school league for 25 out of the last 26 years.

The team will continue to chase a state championship title through district play, with their next game on Feb. 3rd, at 7:30 p.m. against Denton Guyer.

Sports Briefs Girls Soccer

Allen Girls Soccer Schedule 2/3 2/7 2/10 2/14 2/21

Denton Guyer McKinney Plano East Wylie Plano West

AWAY HOME HOME AWAY HOME

**All games start at 7:30 P.M.

Junior Kameryn Chambers fights off a defender in a 1-0 win vs Rowlett on Jan. 7.

Photo by | Briana Bui

Briefs by | Jackson Stone, Erik Young, Brandon Barton

Girls Basketball

The girls soccer team is led by five soccer college commits in Astrid Souto (TCU), Haley Jackson (SMU), Cami Nguyen (LA Tech), Ally Jackson (Oklahoma State), and Emily Russell (Arkansas). Starting off the season strong, the Lady Eagles sit at 6-2-2, tying their first district game against McKinney Boyd.

The Lady Eagles will look to make it a fourth consecutive playoff appearance at the end of this season.

The girls varsity basketball team began this season strong with three wins in a row, all with a margin of victory over 17 points.

Since then, the Lady Eagles have gone on to lose 13 of their next 19 games, leaving them ranked at 194th in the state according to maxpreps.com. Two of those wins came against division rival McKinney, who are one of the top 50 teams in Texas according to maxpreps.com.

Track and Field

Golf

Both the girls and boys track and field teams will be running their first official varsity meet on Feb. 10 at The Star athletic facility located in Frisco. Around 3,000 athletes will be in attendance, representing more than 30 colleges and 200 regional high schools. Senior Jaylen Allen advanced to the finals in the 60m dash and placed 7th overall with a time of 7.12s. Head Coaches Jon Cockroft and Elizabeth Allen will be leading the track team this year hoping to win another district title.

14 | Sports

The golf team started this season strong with the boys getting first place in the RHS Big Four Invitational by 50 strokes and the girls winning first place in the Argyle Invitational by 40 strokes.

Of both boys and girls, the single lowest score was by Amber Park with a 62 at the Dallas Invitational Tournament, which is now Allen’s tournament record.

Basketball Overview Story by | Mark Young and Braylon Fernandez

W

ith the Allen Eagles men’s basketball squad having a current record of 19 and 5, it is hard to deny the success of the team. They won the In-NOut invitational tournament in December, winning each game by a margin of 34 points.

“We have a tremendous group of skilled guards that can really shoot the basketball,” Coach McCullough said.

“They are unselfish and do a good job of spacing the floor, making the extra pass and setting up teammates.”

With Allen having a pass-first offense, it’s easy to see how they get everyone going in the offense. They play a large rotation, which makes it hard for an opposing team to form a gameplan. Allen also has very athletic frontcourt players, with Jaylen Walker and Cameron Christon who take advantage of slower, bigger opponents.

“When we share the ball, we are almost unguardable on offense,” Junior Guard Jerritt Dixon said. “Our team really gets going, and it gets everybody involved in the game.”

Allen also has an athletic defense which allows them to guard a variety of offensive schemes and styles, such as the pickand-roll. The defense crashes the glass which allows them to get out and run the fastbreak.

“We want to be known as a team that applies pressure on defense and makes it hard for other teams to set up their offense,” Dixon said. “When we fly around on defense, it allows us to make the game fast and get easy buckets.”

Allen’s up-tempo attack and aggressive play has not only grabbed the attention of the Texas high school basketball community, but it has also captured the eyes of its own city, a difficult task in a football driven town. With the football team losing in back-to-back playoffs, Allen might be seeing basketball take over as the main sport if this year’s team takes home a state title. If they do, they would be the first Allen team to ever accomplish the feat. “[Surpassing football] crosses our mind every year and everyday we start practice,” Senior Forward/Center Cameron Christon

Boys Basketball

Wrestling

Hockey

Boys Soccer

The boys basketball team has started the season with 19 wins and five losses, ranking them sixth in the state. Two of their losses came from division rivals Denton Guyer and McKinney.

The Eagles started the season strong by winning 11 of their first 12 games. The next 12 games, however, the Eagles slowed down a bit as they won eight and lost four. The Eagles are currently on a three-game win streak and are looking to build on their momentum as they approach the end of the season.

The Allen Eagles opened up the hockey season by winning four of their first five games. They then slowed down and lost their next four games, but picked it back up and won four of their next five games. They currently sit at 8-6 for the season.

said.

The team was in a similar pace last year, but the wheels fell off late in the season which resulted in a first round exit from the playoffs. Last year’s stumble serves as a key motivator for the Eagles this year as they look for redemption.

Senior Dylan Ditzenberger drives to the basket in a 69-63 loss to McKinney on Jan. 6.

Photo by | Sarah Stevens

The wrestling team won their ninth straight Dual State Championship after defeating Southlake 65-11. The Allen wrestling team is currently ranked 18 in the nation and number one in Texas according to intermatwrestle.com.

The boys soccer team began the season by winning four out their first five games, before tying four games in a row. The Eagles currently sit at 5-2-4 on the season, and are ranked 89 in the state

by MaxPreps. The boys kicked off their district season last week in a loss against McKinney Boyd, but look to rebound against division rival Plano West to begin their playoff push.

All information accurate as of Jan. 27.

Sports | 15

Dancing for a Cause

Photos by | Maya Morriswala

Above | Club members perform to “Panda” by Desiigner.

Left | Sophomore Rachael Yu performs to “Panda” by Desiigner.

Right | Sophomore David Chen breakdances as part of his featured solo in “Panda” by Desiigner.

16 | Photo essay

Top | Dancing for a Cause practices for their talent show exhibition.

Middle | Club members perform a dance to a remix of “Replay” by Iyaz.

Bottom | Club members incorporate their “DFC” symbol into their performance.

Photo essay | 17

Pro-age gap Column by | Felix Kalvesmaki

T

Flipside: Do age gaps matter? W

here’s a blurry photo on the cover of the trashy tabloid of your choice. A young woman, maybe an actress, is on the arm of an older man. We’ll say he’s a businessman. The commentary is charged with the choice words of “tramp” or “skank,” depending on how misogynistic the writer is. But the question I have is: Why do we care?

Age gaps in the dating world are perfectly fine.

Other people’s relationships are really none of our business. As long as they’re not abusive, I don’t see the problem with two consenting adults with 10+ or even 20+ years between them.

Many celebrities, particularly women, are scrutinized for having relationships with older men. She’s labeled a “gold digger” and the like.

But besides snarky, deadbeat gossip columnists, who truly cares? And why? If she’s after him for his money, if he’s after her because she’s younger and hotter, they might not be in a relationship for conventional reasons, but we can’t say anything about it. That should be the end of it. Let their poorly-built relationship fall apart on its own. But if they actually care for each other, why tear it down?

These relationships can test the boundaries of a healthy relationship, as they’re susceptible to an unhealthy power dynamic leaning toward the older partner. But unless there’s a problem along those lines, we should keep our noses out of it.

Anti-age gap Column by | Ella Geosits

hen entering a new relationship with somebody, you consider many different factors about your possible partner. One of those factors: age. Even if some disagree, “age is just a number” is often heard during arguments regarding age gaps, but age is so much more.

There could be generations between couples.

Taste in movies, music and style could all be completely different simply because your partner wasn’t born in the same generation. Sure, some people could look past all that trivial nonsense, for a few months. However, it becomes bothersome explaining who James Dean is (not some guy Taylor Swift dated) or that Buddy Holly is not a girl or just the name of “that one Weezer song.”

The more serious side of age gap are the legal issues. For example, a relationship between a 16 year old girl and a 21 year old man doesn’t seem bad, as long as they like each other. She could be mature for her age. Fast-forward about five months and he begins to lose feelings for her. The breakup is unexpected, and she becomes very heartbroken over him. She is so angry and upset, in fact, that she filed for statutory rape and ruins his life.

Although this is only a hypothetical situation, it could become real.

Be careful, folks. Age is not just a number; it’s a deal breaker.

Don’t demonize mental illness Column by | Nas Baclay

M

ental illnesses are extremely common.

About one in every five Americans suffer from a mental illness each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

With so many people affected by mental disorders, it’s no surprise that there are many films revolving around someone with one, which is great because keeping the public aware of mental illnesses is always a plus. However, in most cases, the character with the mental illness is usually the antagonist of the story. This can direct people into thinking that those who are affected by mental illness are “bad guys.”

On Jan. 20, “Split,” a thriller film about a man who suffers from dissociative identity disorder, premiered in theaters.

The antagonist of the film, Dennis (James McAvoy), kidnaps three teenage girls and

18 | Commentary

holds them captive in a cellar as each of his personalities take their turn interacting with the girls. Although most people won’t think about it, viewers of the film could have a subconscious, malicious image of anyone with a personality disorder.

A considerable number of films that feature a leading antagonist role with a mental illness are horror or thriller films.

More often than not, the antagonist has an insane desire to kill all the other characters in the film, and the “I want to kill everyone and everything” reputation is pounded onto those who have a mental illness in real life.

While the exposure of mental illnesses to those watching the film is beneficial in that it allows others to be aware of the nonphysical disorders, the bad reputation it gives almost makes that awareness useless because of its inaccuracy.

Using someone’s disorder to label them as a fiend is unfair and disrespectful. If there were a movie that mocked a physically impaired character as an antagonist, the film would probably not be very successful.

What the film industry fails to remember is that people who have a mental illness are more than what they suffer from.

The truth is, mental illnesses are something that we cannot fully understand.

The fact that not very many people understand mental illnesses is a big contributor to our ignorance toward them.

As humans, we often mock what we do not understand. With mental illnesses being incredibly mysterious and transcendent, analyzing them can be difficult. Instead of stereotyping mental illnesses as a factor of extreme psychotic behavior, we should be embracing people as they are.

Staff Editorial: The Editorial Board stands against victim-blaming O

n Feb. 15, 2014, Ravens star running back Ray Rice assaulted his fiancée, now wife, Teresa Palmer. A little over a month later, Rice was convicted of third degree assault, causing the NFL to suspend him for the first two Ravens games of the 2014 season. Outrage ensued. Ravens fans and fellow critics pointed angrily to the fact that only six weeks after the assault, Rice and Palmer married. If she voluntarily chose to remain and cement an abusive relationship, they said, the abuse was her fault.

This detrimental and dangerous way of thinking not only creates an unfair culture of victim blaming, it also adds guilt and shame to the already frail shoulders of abuse victims.

Abuse, whether physical or emotional, is essentially the product of an extreme, off-balance psychological dynamic. The dynamic relies on severe egotism and aggression on the part of the abuser and

acute insecurity on the part of the victim.

These vast differences in personality allow the abuser to exercise control over the victim.

Assigning responsibility to the victim in cases of abuse only intensifies this dynamic, pushing it to even further extremities.

Blaming the victim supports the abuser’s belief that they have done nothing wrong, sanctioning a continuation of the abuse. Blaming the victims reinforces the victim’s belief they deserve their abuser’s attacks, encouraging them to remain in the relationship, continuing the cycle.

Unfortunately, this cycle affects high school students as often as adults, and it is not restricted to marriage. One out of every three high school students will be in a abusive relationships over their four years. Studies also show teenage girls are less likely to end a relationship, and teenage girls are much more likely to be the victims of abusive relationships, 70 percent of

which go unreported.

It is almost impossible for anyone not in the relationship, even someone who has experience in an abusive partnership, to fully understand the extent of the relationship and the effects of the abuse on the victim’s self-worth, mental health and psyche. At any point, a relationship can cease to be voluntary.

However, sometimes an outsider would never know. Not all abusers are the hulking, hard figures we imagine when we think of an abusive partner. An abuser can be charming, polite, charismatic. An abuser can look like a loving, caring partner.

We shouldn’t disparage others for a choice that isn’t a choice at all. Victim blaming creates an unfair standard of assuming the freedom of a choice, the feelings of the victim and the lack of power in the hands of an abuser.

artists of allen omar deeb What got you into photography?

“

I got into photography because I was amazed at the picture quality and the crazy technology behind the DSLR camera. I also always wanted to have my own kind of work, something that represents me, and with photography I’m also able to show my love for cars.”

How do you go about finding subjects?

“ Omar Deeb takes photos of a Porsche 3TRS.

Compiled by | Tate Peterson

I try to give myself as many opportunities as possible. I find subjects to shoot by going to car meets, or I’ll message exotic car owners if they want photoshoots. If any of that fails, I find myself at exotic car dealerships.”

What keeps you motivated to continue and go take your pictures?

“

I stay motivated when people share, comment or give me good feedback on my pictures. My family also keeps me motivated because they take me wherever I need to go to take pictures, and they always support and brag about me.”

Commentary | 19

On the ballot: Oscar predictions

The Eagle Angle editor-in-chief Megan Shankle weighs in on the 2017 Oscar Nominations released Jan. 24. The 89th Academy Awards will take place on Feb. 26, 2017.

Best Picture “Arrival”

Best actor

✓

Isabelle Huppert (“Elle”)

Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”)

✓

Ruth Negga (“Loving”)

“Fences”

Andrew Garfield (“Hacksaw Ridge”)

“Hacksaw Ridge”

Ryan Gosling (“La La Land”)

Emma Stone (“La La Land”)

“Hell or High Water”

Viggo Mortensen (“Captain Fantastic”)

Natalie Portman (“Jackie”)

“Hidden Figures”

Denzel Washington (“Fences”)

Meryl Streep (“Florence Foster Jenkins”)

“La La Land” “Lion”

Best supporting actor

“Manchester by the Sea”

✓

Best actress

“Moonlight”

Best animated film

✓

Best Supporting actress

Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight”)

Viola Davis (“Fences”)

Jeff Bridges (“Hell or High Water”)

Naomie Harris (“Moonlight”)

Lucas Hedges (“Manchester by the Sea”)

Nicole Kidman (“Lion”)

Dev Patel (“Lion”)

✓

Michael Shannon (“Nocturnal Animals”)

Octavia Spencer (“Hidden Figures”) Michelle Williams (“Manchester by the Sea”)

“Kubo and the Two...”

“Moana”

Best director Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival”)

“My Life As a Zucchini”

Mel Gibson (“Hacksaw Ridge”)

“The Red Turtle”

✓

“Zootopia”

✓

Best visual effects “Deepwater Horizon”

✓

Best original score

✓

“La La Land” (Justin Hurwitz)

Damien Chazelle (“La La Land”)

“Lion” (Dustin O’Halloran, Hauschka)

Kenneth Lonergan (“Manchester by the Sea”)

“Moonlight” (Nicholas Britell)

Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”)

“Passengers” (Thomas Newman)

Best costume design

“Doctor Strange”

“Allied” (Joanna Johnston)

“The Jungle Book”

“Fantastic Beasts...” (Colleen Atwood)

“Kubo and the Two...”

“Florence Foster...” (Consolata Boyle)

“Rogue One”

“Jackie” (Madeline Fontaine)

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“Jackie” (Micachu)

“La La Land” (Mary Zophres)

Best makeup & hair “A Man Called Ove”

✓

“Star Trek Beyond” “Suicide Squad”

Graphic by | Megan Shankle Information courtesy of oscars.org.

Tune into @theeagleangle on Twitter Feb. 26 for a livetweeting of the 89th Academy Awards.

20 | Commentary

Mmm...panada Tango’s Empanadas & Bakery review Review by | Bryn Chambers

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small bakery sits beside the Driving School of North Texas, quaint and almost unnoticeable when driving by. The owner welcomes customers inside with a beaming smile, giving them suggestions and explaining her dream to start an empanada store, bringing family recipes and inspiration from Buenos Aires to her migrated family in New York City all the way to Tango’s Empanadas & Bakery in Allen, Texas.

In case you’ve never heard of them, empanadas are turnovers typically stuffed with meat.

Tango’s offers a unique selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian empanadas and Argentinian pastries. After a day out with friends, trying different shop selections and sharing them with each other, I couldn’t help but be impressed. Everything tasted amazing, from their signature beef empanadas (filled with ground beef, hard boiled egg, sliced olives, onion and spices) to their spicy corn empanadas to their alfajors de maizena (a chocolate coconut macaroon-like dessert) to their delicious fruit empanadas (the apple is a must-try). Their signature sauces only add to the already delicious, flaky and fresh treats. I can’t help but look forward to my next visit to try another kind- I feel like a kid trying to complete a collection.

Although the bakery itself may be a bit crowded to enjoy these delicious pastries inside (there really aren’t any designated eating areas), Tango’s provides a perfect light lunch for a picnic or something similar.

And just when I thought this bakery couldn’t get any better, I found out that Tango’s caters. Shipping is free, and they even have mini empanadas. Super Bowl snacks, anyone?

Please give this lovely bakery your business. It’s not everyday you get to try authentic Argentinian food in Allen. Tango’s

What’s streaming soon?

Design by | Natalie McMahon Compiled by | Coleman Pyeatt

Empanadas is the epitome of why small businesses flourish; the service, atmosphere and most importantly, food, is unmatched.

Photo by | Josh Magpantay

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Whether you plan on spending Valentine’s Day snuggled up next to your hunny or wrapped up alone in your bed, Netflix will be stacked with new content to binge all through the month of February.

>Channing Tatum stars in Magic Mike, a steamy film about making ends meet.

Don’t watch this with your parents. Arriving Feb. 1.

>For all the fish fans out there, Finding Dory - the sequel to Finding Nemo - is coming Feb. 1.

>If you are a fan of fantasy, The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the

Wardrobe tells the tales of a group of siblings who stumble across a magnificent world they did not knew existed. You can enter this world on Feb. 1.

>Santa Clarita Diet is a Netflix Original series coming Feb 3. Starring Drew Barrymore as a zombie real estate agent, this new show is sure to give you goosebumps.

>“Superbad” is a hilarious movie starring Jonah Hill and Michael Cera about a senior year for the books. Coming Feb. 4.

Photos Courtesy of | Netflix

Commentary | 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

5

FRISCO (NE of Tollway & Main St.) 214.387.4372

2

DALLAS (Stemmons at Royal Ln.) 972.243.5041

6

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

3

RICHARDSON (Central at Arapaho) 972.783.7376

7

ALLEN (Prestige and Greenville) 469.342.8560

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4

PLANO (Coit N. of Plano Pkwy.)

972.758.0080

8

McKINNEY (380 West of Custer) 214.385.4902