EA
Allen’s million dollar baby
New Becky Lowery Freshman Center to open fall 2018 | page 4
Kids of Allen
Take a look at what the younger population of Allen has to say | page 6
Top marks
Mark-it Fresh cafeteria station review | page 20
Allen High School Issue 3 Volume 36 March 2017
THE POLITICIZATION OF AMERICA The Eagle Angle explores different aspects of increased civil engagement amongst the school population | page 8
ea
Policy
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. Allen High School 300 Rivercrest Blvd. Allen, TX 75002
Social theeagleangle.com @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
NEWS/FEATURE
Contents
Briefly speaking.......................................................... 2 Q&A with John Gardner............................................3 Allen’s million dollar baby...................................... 4-5 Kids of Allen............................................................ 6-7
COVER STORY
Sports Editor | Jackson Stone
The Politicization of America.............................8-13 The Eagle Angle explores different aspects of increased civil engagement amongst the school population
Assistant Sports Editor | Parker Primrose
SPORTS
Commentary Editor | Felix Kalvesmaki*
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
@theeagleangle theeagleangle
Cover art by | George Makary
From injured Eagle to MLB prospect.....................14 Freezing out the competition...................................15 Sports briefs...........................................................14-15
PHOTO ESSAY
The Wall of Altruism...........................................16-17
COMMENTARY
School isn’t always cool.............................................18 Artists of Allen: Sarah Stevens................................18 Staff Editorial.............................................................19 The ripple....................................................................19 Building a better Batman......................................... 20 Breakup blues.............................................................21 Top marks.............................................................20-21
Letter to the Reader Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year and a half, you’re probably at least somewhat aware of the political turmoil that has descended on the U.S. since the 2016 presidential election. Increasingly polarizing political views have led to fights at the family dinner table, the end of friendships and even physical violence. It’s often assumed that teenagers, as a fact of life, are too immature and/or uneducated to actively participate in politics, a traditionally “grown up” topic. But this explosive election and the circumstances surrounding it have brought millennials to the front lines of the civic battleground in more ways than one. The fact is, we’re in the middle of a revolutionary time. Every day is a new subheading in a history textbook. And the younger generation is going to be the one to lead the revolution. On page 6, we interviewed future high schoolers and current elementary school students to thighlight that younger generation. Then there’s the cover package. We didn’t write one big, long story this time. There are too many aspects of our current society to cover: Donald Trump, protests, the travel ban, media literacy. Though national issues such as the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act or Trump’s attempted travel ban can seem to exist on an entirely different plane of existence, these issues are affecting members of our student body. These issues are in Allen whether or not we choose to acknowledge it. In a time like this, it’s important to remember kindness and to act compassionately in order to help others and protect personal rights. It’s okay to be angry about the state of our nation; things are a little scary right now for a lot of different groups of people. But now we have the chance to take action. Remember that you have power to make a difference. Maintain hope.
Background by | Sara Schleede
Letter Letterto tothe theReader Reader||11
Briefly Speaking
Compiled by | Divya Jagadeesh
Malaysian officials announced on Feb. 28 that two women will be charged in connection with the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s halfbrother. Siti Aisyah of Indonesia and Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam both allegedly rubbed an illegal and deadly nerve agent on Kim’s face at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Feb. 13. If convicted, they could both receive the death penalty.
Murder of Kim Jong-nam Twin Taliban-suicide attacks and a shootout with Afghan forces in Kabul on March 1 left at least 16 people dead and 100 wounded. The bombs exploded in the western and eastern sides of the city, and a Taliban spokesperson took responsibility for both attacks. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani said that the attacks were linked to the recent death of a Taliban commander and that the followers were trying to attack cities to boost morale among their followers.
Attack in Afghanistan 2 | News and Features
Kansas Shooting
Cheatham Elementary fourth-grade math and science teacher Amanda Perkins was named a 2017 finalist for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. Perkins was presented with a check for $1,000 by H-E-B’s Jill Reynolds for being a finalist in the Rising Star Award category. A $1,000 check also was presented to Cheatham Principal Stephanie Logan for the school’s use. Perkins is invited to Austin in May to compete on a statewide level for a cash prize of $5,000. Cheatham Elementary also will receive a $5,000 grant if Perkins wins.
The FBI announced that the shooting at a Kansas bar, which killed one, will be investigated as a hate crime. The Feb. 22 shooting killed Srinivas Kuchibhotla and injured Alok Madasani and Ian Grillot. The shooter, Adam Purinton, was arrested early Feb. 23 in Missouri and was charged with one count of premeditated murder and two counts of attempted premeditated murder.
Rampant Anti-Semitism
Two cases of vandalism at Jewish cemeteries in Pennsylvania and Missouri resulted in more than $136,000 in donations from Muslims and other communities. Two Muslim activists, Linda Sarsour and Tarek El-Messidi, reported that the funds would be able fix the headstones that were broken in St. Louis and Philadelphia. Since the beginning of the year, JCC Association of North America has reported an uptick of harassment against Jewish institutions. On Feb. 27, 21 Jewish community centers reported bomb threats.
Teacher wins award Nineteen Allen seniors were named National Merit Finalists and will be eligible to compete for more than $32 million in scholarships. The students were among around 16,000 students recognized as semifinalists in the national competition in September. About 90 percent of the semifinalists became finalists, and half of the finalists will be selected as Merit Scholarship winners.
National Merit Finalists Photos courtesy of | Creative Commons and Allen ISD
QA & with John Gardner
Staff writer Nas Baclay sits down with John Gardner from the Crust and Crumb
How do you like working at Allen high school? I like it. I really, really do. I’ve worked at five or six restaurants in my lifetime, and I’m still working at a cafeteria restaurant here. The kids, the students, the people, the customers are for the most part very easy to work with, easy to get along with.
What other restaurants did you used to work at? Chicken Express, Chick-fil-A. A hundred years ago I used to work at a Dairy Queen. My very first job was at a Dairy Queen, and yes, they had Dairy Queens when I was a kid. We also had electricity and telephones back then, too.
What’s it like being on the cafeteria staff here? It’s a little different from other restaurants, but everybody here works as a team. And during lunches we all have our station, like I’m at the Crust and Crumb, we have somebody at Pizza Hut, we have somebody at Subway. But at the end of day, we’re all a team trying to accomplish the same thing.
How would you describe your coworkers?
Illustration by | Sara Schleede
What is the most challenging part of being on newspaper staff? The most challenging part would have to be being on my feet from the time I get here to the time I leave. I’m an old man. But as far as working conditions, yes we have deadlines. We have to get the product out in a certain amount of time, it has to be a certain quality, and there’s a little bit of stress there. But there’s just really no huge stress. It’s just kind of nice.
Is there an event in your life that made you want to make a difference in children’s lives?
Great. Hard-working. Team-oriented. It’s not every man for themselves, or any woman for themselves. We all have the same goal, which is to deliver a quality product to the students. So that’s what we try to do.
It’s in general just something I wanted to do. I’ve been in places where the kids aren’t treated well, and I’ve been in houses where kids aren’t treated well. And it hurts me. I think I can make a difference and that’s what I want to do.
What’s your favorite part about working here?
Is there anything you hope to accomplish while working here?
The kids are great, for the most part. I have found that even if I say something within the nine to twelve seconds that I spend with each student, I can try to get them to smile, some I get to laugh. And if I can get them to forget whatever it was that was bothering them for half a second, then I’ve done what I’m supposed to do.
In a word, yes. I want to make a decent impact on as many students as I can. And I want it to be a positive impact. That’s what I want. I don’t know if I’m going to be here for three years, four years, five years, eight years, but whenever I leave, I want to have made a difference in as many kids’ lives as I can.
News and Features | 3
Allen’s million dollar baby
New Becky Lowery Freshman Center to open fall 2018 Story by | Caroline Tucker
1
959. The Becky Lowery Center opened its doors to 100 Allen High School students. Flash forward to 2017: the doors are now being swung open by 1600 students trying to get to class. Every year, principal Jill Stafford is told by the student advisory that
4 | News and Features
the hallways of the building seem to be getting smaller: it’s time for change. The new Lowery Freshman Center plans to open in the fall of 2018, and with the new opening on the calendar, people are counting down the months until the destination is reached. In November of 2015, the citizens of Allen voted for a $272 million bond package, with $107 million going to the building of a new freshman center. This also includes the renovation expenses for the existing Lowery and the Dillard Special Achievement Center. According to the
district office, Lowery has been expanded or renovated nine times since 1970. “With 76 percent approval rate for the bond, it shows what we value in this community,” Chief Operations Officer Daniel Pitcock said. “We made an agreement to put all our investments and resources into one school, and we’re keeping up with that commitment.” The new Lowery Freshman Center plans to open in the fall of 2018, and with the new opening on the calendar, people are counting down the months until the destination is reached. “Our freshman center is about the size
of a 5A high school,” Pitcock said. “I think we have a great community that supports our students; it’s a tight-knit community that wants a strong education, and we’re going to provide that.” The new freshmen center will be located north of the existing one, and will provide enough space for 1,850 students. Freshmen graduating in 2022 will have opportunities that no other freshmen has ever had in Allen. “To bring this building to the standard which our community expects in our schools, we can’t renovate it,” former superintendent Lance Hindt said. “We have
to rebuild.” Several classrooms at the current freshman center are smaller than the 700 square feet required by the Texas Education Agency. A failing water system only makes things worse for the 1,700, with holes in the ceiling that leak whenever a toilet flushes. Coincidence? I think not. To make matters worse, the only solution to fixing up the problem was duct tape. “Whenever you commit to putting all your resources into one facility with so many students, we use them on an excellent scale,” Pitcock said. “If you look at all the things Allen has, our stadium, the high
school or the PAC, our commitment is to build a facility to provide a higher level of experience than you get on a smaller level.” The school will be a mirror image of Allen High School, with a new mini version of a PAC and a grand opening with the same eagle statues and brick. The freshmen center will almost be an exact replica of the original Allen High School. “We have one more school year to go through, and the existing building will remain,” Pitcock said. “Even though it seems like we’re only moving dirt from one area to another, we’ve made progress and we will only continue to.”
Above | Official artist renderings of the new library and Performing Arts Center. Left | Official artist rendering of the new Lowery Freshman Center and surrounding grounds. Photos courtesy of | Daniel Pitcock
News and Features | 5
K I DS
OF
take a look at what the younger population of Allen has to say
William Tucker Age 8, Green Elementary
What is your favorite thing to do? Baseball What do you want to be when you grow up? Paleontologist or professional race car driver Who is your role model? Mom and Dad What made you happiest today? Getting a hug from my older sister
Owen erickson Age 12, Green Elementary
What is your favorite thing to do? Playing basketball What do you want to be when you grow up? Scientist Who is your role model? My cat Pickles What made you happiest today? I got hit with a baseball glove in the face and it made me enthusiastic about my day.
6 | News and Features
Srinidhi Jagadeesh Age 12, Lindsey Elementary
What is your favorite thing to do? Play basketball What do you want to be when you grow up? Lawyer Who is your role model? My family What made you happiest today? Anytime I talked to my best friend
ALLE N
kyle erickson
Age 8, Green Elementary What is your favorite thing to do? Watch dance EDM on YouTube What do you want to be when you grow up? Video game creator Who is your role model? My dog Myrtle What made you happiest today? Winning my basketball game
Jesse Magpantay Age 11, Reed Elementary
brooks roberts Age 9, Green Elementary
What is your favorite thing to do? Eat chocolate What do you want to be when you grow up? An NBA player on the Warriors. I want to be Stephen Curry III. Who is your role model? Myself
What is your favorite thing to do? Play video games and watch YouTube What do you want to be when you grow up? YouTube gamer Who is your role model? Lilly Singh What made you happiest today? I got Taco Bell
What made you happiest today? Playing football inside my friend’s house
Interviews and photos by | Divya Jagadeesh, Josh Magpantay, Tate Peterson, Caroline Tucker
News and Features | 7
Photos courtesy of | Creative Commons Graphic By | Joshua Magpantay
THE POLITICIZATION OF AMERICA T
he 2016 election marked a change in American’s ideas, beliefs and behaviors as the election of Donald Trump was one of the most divisive political events to occur in our recent history. Widespread unrest following the election is evident in the hundreds of protests, finger-pointing reports of fake news and foreign intervention and hostile exchanges between politicians and supporters of both political parties.
8 | News and Features
However, the impact of the 2016 election can be most clearly seen in our daily lives—how relationships, living situations, health situations and other seemingly concrete things are changing rapidly under new leadership. We are in a time of political and social revolution not seen since the middle of the 19th century. Mistreatment and wrongdoings that were acceptable before are being brought into
the light. Invariably, once forward movement begins, movement backwards from the opposition is expected. Our nation is split, divided between what often seem like vastly different ideas and beliefs. However, whether you are pleased or dissatisfied with the developments in America’s domestic and foreign policy, understanding, but not necessarily agreeing, is a step along the path of healing a fractured nation.
United we stand Students give their thoughts on the current political and social climate of the United States Compiled by | Julia Zaksek
Laeryn Plankey “There’s a lot of stuff that we need to fix, and I don’t think that we’re going to be making any progress in a forward direction anytime soon.”
Olivia May “I think that lots of people are having very different opinions and there’s a lot of conflict but at the end of the day there is still hope for a new tomorrow.”
Celeste Reese “I don’t think the state of the nation is as good as it could be just because of the turmoil politically and also because of what’s going on socially. I don’t think that human rights are being prioritized at this moment in time.”
Do you think Donald Trump is doing a good job as president? Graphic based on a poll carried out on 200 students Graphic By | Divya Jagadeesh
21.5 %
78.5 %
Yes No
News and Features | 9
A little birdie told me... Students and teachers discuss social media’s effects on news and politics. Compiled by | Felix Kalvesmaki
Media literacy quiz Below are groups of three news headlines. Two have been published recently by verifiable news sources. One is fake. Can you spot the fake headline? Quiz by | Sara Schleede 1 From the Washington Post
“We get a lot of our news, we find out what’s going on and we communicate with people using social media. Looking around on Facebook and Twitter and seeing — not necessarily “fake news” because I hate that phrase — but seeing stories get posted, and reposted and retweeted and shared that shaped people’s political opinions. I’m afraid that did more harm than good.” KIMBERLY CREEL, JOURNALISM TEACHER
A | Republican governors divided on Obamacare replacement
“I feel like social media increases our biases. Our circles often reflect our own beliefs. They inflate our biases, be they liberal or conservative, and I believe that through social media people were kind of influenced by what was on there, on both ends of the spectrum.” TREVOR SLANSKY, JUNIOR
B | Trump administration signals a possible crackdown on states over marijuana
B | Toyota scion to be indicted on bribery charges C | Blasts in Syria kills dozens at security headquarters in Homs
2 From the New York Times A | ‘Ring of Fire’ eclipse travels across South America and Africa B | Trump concedes health overhaul is ‘very tricky’ C | Cambodian government cites Trump in threatening foreign news outlets
3 From the Los Angeles Times A | In Colombia, poverty and corruption fuel the drug trade C | Justice department changes course on closely watched Texas voting rights case
4 From USA Today A | Report: iPhone model will have curved screen, cost $1000 B | Israeli police evacuate West Bank settler homes C | Japan, China veto U.N. plan for Syrian sanctions
Anti-woman 40
Reported hate crime motivation since 2016 election
Anti-Muslim 49 Anti-LGBT 95 Anti-Semitic 100
Anti-black 187
Graphic By | Divya Jagadeesh
Anti-immigrant 280
10 | News and Features
Information courtesy of | Southern Poverty Law Center
Making their voices heard Students join protests to advocate for causes they believe in Story by | Julia Zaksek
F
ollowing the election of President Trump and the subsequent passing of his executive order on immigration, Americans across the country took to the streets to make their voices heard. “I feel like there’s a stigma on protesting,” senior Katie Neal said. “[That] it’s just screaming, it’s not going to do anything people are going to ignore you, but I feel like a lot can be done with it.” Neal and several friends joined the Jan. 22 Women’s March in Dallas to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with Trump’s comments towards women and minorities. “In the current political situation, we’re
taking a step back instead of moving forward as people,” Neal said. “So I feel like going to the Women’s March was a beginning of coming together, standing up against something and moving forward.” Junior Alfonso Gonzalez joined crowds at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to show support for immigrants affected by Trump’s initial travel ban. “[Protesting] is a privilege that we have being in a country where people have more rights, so we should use that to our advantage to get the change that we want to see,” Gonzalez said. Neal says protesting is something
everyone, no matter what the cause or who the person, should try to take part in. “If you feel a certain way about something, don’t just go on feeling like that without taking action,” Gonzalez said. Protests have long been a medium of all people, regardless of race, gender, class or sexual orientation, to push for change in their communities, at the local and national levels. “Everyone should get a chance to protest or stand up for what they believe in,” Neal said. “Don’t be afraid to be strong about it or be heard.”
How to improve media literacy Didn’t do well on the quiz? Here are ways to become smarter about the media you consume Information courtesy of | USAToday Check the spelling and sentence structure. If it’s poorly written, has a lot of misspellings, incorrect capitalization or exclamation points, it’s probably not coming from a verifiable source. Check the URL. If it ends in something like “.com.co” it’s probably fake. Go to the news site’s about page and see where they’re housed to see if they have a proper headquarters. Remember that some websites are satirical. If it’s from The Onion or Clickhole, it’s supposed to be outrageous and humorous, not legitimate. Use websites such as factcheck.org to check information. Search to see if other news sources are reporting on the event. If it’s real, they probably are. Research information about the writers. Do they have credentials?
A little birdie told me... Students and teachers discuss social media’s effects on news and politics. Compiled by | Felix Kalvesmaki “Social media, when it comes to politics, tends to form an echo chamber. I feel social media fostered hate and misunderstanding more than it did unity and community. I guess it’s because you don’t really have to worry about the repercussions of your words on social media; you can literally just block them.” TRAETON JANSSENS, JUNIOR “Social media really seems to influence the way people perceive a lot of situations and events because more sides of the story are shown. It’s easy for media to censor what’s happening, but when the average person is posting about something and maybe exposing some things that aren’t necessarily being covered, it’s pretty eye opening.” KEI HSU, SENIOR
Media literacy quiz answers 1: B | Should be “Samsung scion to be indicted on bribery charges” 2: B | Should be “Trump learns that a health overhaul is ‘unbelievably complex’” 3: A | Should be “In the Philippines, poverty and corruption fuel the drug trade” 3: C | Should be “Russia, China veto U.N. plan for Syrian sanctions”
Educators on Education Secretary Allen teachers weigh in on controversial Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos Compiled by | Divya Jagadeesh
“We’re a strong community because we have one high school, and now you might see communities that have five, 10, 15 different schools, and kids don’t mix with each other. You don’t get exposed to different cultures. Part of the American public school system is we all get to meet people with various cultures learn with these whether you’re a student, teacher or otherwise. I just don’t like the idea of breaking the community up.” KEITH HYATT, GOVERNMENT TEACHER
“She’s got no public schooling experience. Her whole mantra is to slowly dismantle the public school system. And a lot of Trump’s appointments have been about, ‘We’re going to take the teeth out of these regulatory departments that we’re supposed to be championing.’ You’ve got Wall Street people. You know, ‘Drain the Swamp’? The man has done a wonderful thing for the environment, he’s managed to make a bigger one.” DON ANDERSON, US HISTORY TEACHER
“I’m concerned the current Secretary of Education has a lack of understanding, empathy and knowledge for what American students’ lives are really like and what the purpose of education is. [Her] mentality of trying to convey an incorrect or alternative vision of reality is my biggest concern with her. I’m very, very concerned about the detriment that she could do to the reputations of teachers and school districts in the public education system.” AMY TERRELL, WORLD HISTORY TEACHER
Agree to disagree Junior managing editor Julia Zaksek sits down with junior Rob Owen and sophomore Grayson Lanigan, friends with differing political opinions Q: How long have you two been friends?
Q: Any advice for friends with differing views?
Rob: Since the first day of school.
R: If you know that something agitates someone then don’t bring it up. If you know that somebody absolutely does not like Donald Trump, they don’t bring it up. At least try. G: Yeah, he’s gotten a lot better.
Q: Do you normally talk about politics with each other? Grayson: We try to avoid politics, and avoid talking about it. R: Everyone has a different opinion and I respect that. Just acknowledge the difference.
Q: How do you maintain your friendship knowing that you have differ in political opinion? R: We became friends through photography and we both still like photography. That’s the driving factor in our friendship. G: We agree on a lot of other things; politics isn’t everything.
Grayson Lanigan (left) and Rob Owens (right) say they’re friends by not talking about politics. Photo by | Julia Zaksek
How to get involved Ways for any concerned teenager to create change Story by | Julia Zaksek 1. Donate to an organization that’s important to you. 2. Stay aware: follow the Human Rights Campaign, subscribe to a news organization’s morning briefing to stay informed on new policies and read local news to understand how these national policies will affect your community. 3. Write a letter to your area’s senator about issues that concern you. Find who represents you on house.gov. 4. Join a protest: follow Twitter accounts, like the ACLU or the Women’s March official account, that regularly post about national protests such as “A Day Without Women.” 5. Volunteer for a cause that matters to you (or look to the right for ideas). 6. Promote unity: have conversations and try to hear out another’s point of view. A house divided upon itself cannot stand. 7. Understand: read up on issues that affect you and your loved ones, but ensure that you don’t just learn about what’s immediately around you. Read about everything, from the Affordable Care Act’s impact, to LGBT+ struggle, to immigration policy. Things to Read: The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights — specifically the First Amendment, President Trump’s executive orders as they come out, “Daily Kos” weblog and Politico articles and statistics. Things to See: “Selma,” “All The President’s Men,” “Iron Jawed Angels” and “Moonlight.” Things to listen to: Podcasts such as “Politically Re-active,” “Off Message,” “Stuff Mom Never Told You” and “1A.”
12 | News and Features
No way home Sophomore Sarah Al-Nemri reveals the real effects of President Trump’s travel ban Story by | Nas Baclay
O
n Jan. 27, 2017, President Donald Trump initiated an executive order travel ban against the entry of refugees and immigrants from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Current residents from these countries were not allowed to enter the United States without a valid visa. The effect of the initial order plays a significant role to the ones in America that it’s protecting even though it is understood that President Trump is banning citizens from these countries to seemingly keep Americans protected from terrorists disguised as refugees. “I have Syrian family that we grew up with in California who were here on a green card,” sophomore Sarah Al-Nemri said. “My aunt’s mom left to visit Syria, but when she tried to come back to the United States, she was detained in the airport even though she was Christian and a permanent resident here; so it’s pretty clear that the ban wasn’t even put in place to prevent Muslims or terrorism, but to just block out
entire countries without reason.” Al-Nemri is originally from Jordan but has a significant amount of friends and families from the travel ban countries. She says she feels strongly toward the travel ban implemented this year due to her close connection with the countries associated
“
The U.S. should respect those people who go through the lengthy and tedious process and leave them alone, but they still don’t.
”
with the ban. “When people go through the effort to come here legally and still not get all of the benefits that were promised is completely problematic,” Al-Nemri said. “The U.S. should respect those people who go through the lengthy and tedious process and leave them alone, but they still don’t.” Al-Nemri perceives irony in America’s neglective actions toward the countries that America seems to have some of the most
direct association is incredibly evident and apparent. “It doesn’t make sense that the U.S. is turning away refugees in Syria since they’re bombing the banned country in an effort to get rid of ISIS,’” Al-Nemri said. “The Republican party [continues] to ignore that they’re putting Syrians out of their homes but won’t let them come here or actively provide aid.” The restrictive order blockaded migrational entitlement from the seven Middle Eastern countries to enter America. However, Al-Nemri says that she remains ambitious with the future of Syrians and her cooperation to aid struggling refugees. “I hope to go on mission trips this summer and raise money to help the refugees all over the Middle East who are unable to come to America because our president is an islamophobic fascist,” AlNemri said. “It’s unfair and simply inhumane that our country is turning away to those who need the most help.”
Reaching out Local places where you can make a difference Story by | Julia Zaksek Allen Community Outreach What: Allen’s food pantry and resale store for community members When: There are many different programs and events held by the ACO such as distributing meals at the ACO Center and assisting customers at the ACO Treasure Chest Resale Shop. A complete schedule of volunteering opportunities is available once a volunteer application is filled out. The Treasure Chest is open every first and third Saturday and Friday of each month. Where: The ACO Center is located at 801 E. Main St., and the Treasure Shop is located at 301 W. Boyd Dr. Why: The ACO helps members of the Allen community, offering food, clothing and support to Allen members of all walks of life.
Habitat for Humanity What: Habitat for Humanity sponsors construction and repair for the less fortunate in south Collin County. When: Housing projects take place throughout the year, and the schedule for each project depends on the needs of the homeowner. The dates for current projects are available with completion of an application on their website. Where: Projects take place in Plano, Wylie, Allen, Fairview, St. Paul, Murphy, Lucas, Parker, Lowry Crossing, Trinity Park and the rural areas of south Collin County. Why: Habitat for Humanity untites the DFW community and provides much needed to aid to people who can’t afford to independently maintain ideal living standards.
Hope’s Door What: Hope’s Door provides emergency shelter and various other services to family members affected by domestic violence. They provide counseling and child care to, as well as counseling for other family members, a resale shop and a 24/7 hotline for victims. When: Several positions are open to volunteers; the details concerning these positions are available with the submission of an application on the website. Where: Hope’s Door Service Center is located at 3000 Custer Rd #220 and The Hope’s Door Resale Shop is located at 2129 W Parker Road, Ste. 300. Both are located in Plano. Why: Hope’s Door offers a fresh start for families impacted by domestic abuse.
News and Features | 13
From injured Eagle to MLB prospect Ronnie Taylor recovers from a torn UCL injury Story by | Jackson Stone
S
enior Ronnie Taylor has been playing baseball since the age of 4, but his journey from a freshman on varsity to a senior committed to Wichita State has not always been a homerun. During Taylor’s sophomore year, tragedy struck as he encountered a serious injury to his throwing elbow. “[Having] to get Tommy John surgery is a terrible process because you literally cannot do anything for 12 months,” Taylor said.
“It’s normal for us pitchers to get the surgery, but it just really sucks for me to get it so young,” Taylor said. “A lot of guys do get it nowadays, so I wasn’t concerned going into it.”
[Rehab] took up my entire sophomore and part of my junior year.
Tommy John surgery is the process of repairing the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in the medial elbow with another tendon from one’s own body. A UCL tear is caused by repetitive stress to the part of the elbow that bears the most stress when throwing a ball. “[To recover] I mainly had to do stretching drills where the physical therapist would straighten my arm just to get the muscles moving again,” Taylor said. “They said if I kept working hard I could come back a stronger and better baseball player.” Due to the new tendon in the throwing elbow, a pitcher’s velocity can return to the level it was before the wear and tear of the UCL occurred. This is why Tommy John surgery has become a very common practice in baseball leagues.
Senior Ronnie Taylor warms up during a practice on March 2, 2017. Photo by | Jackson Stone
Taylor’s confidence was justified as he rejoined the team the next year and pitched well enough to earn a scholarship to Wichita State University. However, Taylor may never reach the Wichita State campus because he may have the chance to play professional baseball. “My coach has been talking to some [scouts] to get them to watch me when the
Sports Briefs Boys Basketball After beating Cedar Hill 78-70, led by Cameron Christon’s 25 points, the Eagles advance to the Sweet 16 for the third time in four years. The Eagles will look to get past the Keller Indians on March 3 in Fort Worth.
14 | Sports
season gets going,” Taylor said. “If I was to get drafted, I would probably try and go play lower A ball depending on what they offered.” Taylor has the possibility of getting drafted because of his 6-foot-3 stature and hard-throwing fastball. Taylor is currently ranked as the 30th best right-handed pitcher in the state of Texas according to the Perfect Game rankings. “I pretty much rely on my fastball. It gets up to around 94 mph, and my slider can hit up to 85 mph,” Taylor said. “I just throw it as hard as I can and hope they don’t hit it.” To put things in perspective, the average MLB fastball for the 2015 season was 91.8 mph according to MLB Statcast. This is why the possibility for Taylor to get drafted is the highest it has been for an Allen player since Kyler Murray was ranked 41st in the state as a second basemen. “[This season] I want to stay healthy and keep getting stronger so I can throw harder and improve my game,” Taylor said. “I [have] been trying really hard to stay committed and focus on my game to become successful.” Last season, Taylor struck out 23 batters in only 16 innings for a 1.44 strikeouts per inning ratio. Taylor’s innate ability to pitch has allowed his baseball career to have a number of possible opportunities, but one thing is for certain. “I want baseball to be my job,” Taylor said.
Briefs by | Erik Young
Track and Field At the DeSoto Nike Invitational Feb. 25, Sr. Jaylen Allen, Jr. Asante Fazarro, Jr. Glenn Bender, and Sr. Jack Christiansen were a part of the 4x100-meter relay team that finished first overall. Senior Caroline Pruitt finished in first in the girls 300m hurdles.
Baseball The Allen baseball team started off the season in the Denton Tournament where they finished 2-1 with wins against Denison and Saginaw. They are led by seniors Joshua Simpson, Ronnie Taylor and Dylan Ditzenberger.
Freezing out the competition Allen Ice Hockey Club captures state championship
Story by | Parker Primrose
Photo courtesy of | Allen ISD
T
he Allen Eagles Ice Hockey Club kept their season alive with a 5-0 beatdown of Southlake Carroll in the Pure Division High School State Championship on Jan. 29, marking the program’s first state championship in 10 years and punching the team’s ticket for the National Tournament that begins on March 29 in Cleveland, Ohio. “[Winning state] feels surreal,” junior Will Gongos said. “[At the beginning of the season] I didn’t think we would make it to state, so it was kind of surprising to win the championship. It was pretty cool to share that experience with guys that I’ve been playing hockey with since middle school or even longer than that.” The team started the game out hot, with Gongos scoring the first goal just two minutes into the first period. Freshman Robert Bernier added to the Eagles lead by scoring another goal late in the first period, and junior Ryan Casey scored a goal in the second period. “Everything comes down to work ethic, and we started off the game working hard and shooting a lot of pucks at the net,” head coach Jason Deitsch said. “When you shoot a lot and you work hard, you’re going to score some goals.” The Eagles finished off the game with two goals from junior Jordan Almeida in the third period. Sophomore goalie Cole Canning had a perfect performance in the game, with 25 saves and no goals allowed in his 51 minutes of play. “It was good to do something for the school, under the name of Allen,” Almeida
Softball The girls varsity softball team is currently on a two-game winning streak with a win margin of 28-3. The Lady Eagles have a record of 5-6 and will start district play on March 7.
The Allen Ice Hockey Club is awarded their State Championship trophy after defeating Southlake Carroll 5-0 on Jan. 29.
said. “It was the most important part of the season, and the entire team really stepped up. We wanted to put everything into it and play with no regrets.” The USA Hockey’s national tournament brings the best team from each state to compete for the national title. The last time a team from Texas made it to the national championship was in 2011 when Southlake Carroll lost in the finals. Six out of the last seven national champions have come from states north of Oklahoma. “We’re definitely underdogs,” Almeida said. “Everybody looks at Texas teams as, you know, Texas teams, not hockey teams. Our team believes that we are actual contenders, so we’re taking everything that we do very seriously.” Although the team may not have history on their side, they do have experience. Several players have competed in tournaments across the nation, and
Deitsch played minor league hockey for 17 years and served as the captain of the Allen Americans during his final season as a player. “[Deitsch is] a great coach,” junior Preston Ford said. “He knows how to keep us all focused, and he knows the game really well. He lets us have fun, but at the same time we work hard. All the guys are working a little harder trying to prepare because the competition’s going to be harder playing the northern teams.” The national tournament may be over a month away, but Deitsch knows the team will be ready and has one objective on its mind. “The ultimate goal is to go win a national championship. If everyone just chips in and does their part, I think we have some players and I think we can go up there and win a couple games,” he said.
Wrestling The wrestling team won their eighth-straight UIL State Title on Feb. 25. They scored a total of 264.5 points as a team. They had five first place finishers, four second place finishers and two third place finishers.
Girls Basketball The girls varsity basketball team finished the season with an overall record of 17-17. Their last game was a 37-35 loss to Lewisville in their first round playoff game.
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the wall of altruism 16 | Photo Essay
Far Left | IB Psychology students began collecting notes at the beginning of the second semester and have now covered an entire wall with kindness. Left Top | Senior Pricilla Pena places a note on the IB Psychology Wall of Altruism. Left Bottom | Senior Pricilla Pena posts notes from her fellow IB Psychology students.
Photos by | Jackson Stone Far Left | Each note describes the positive action done as well as what kind of altruism it is classified as. The notes include both actions done by IB students and actions done for them. Center Left | An IB Psychology student takes a break from her project to arrange notes on the wall. Left | Notes of kind deeds done by students cover the cabinets. Right | Senior Sophie Reyes posts the first of many notes to the cabinet. Photo Essay | 17
School isn’t always cool Column by | Natalie McMahon
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he education system is the concern of every good politician, between technology advances, program transitions, poverty restrictions, nutrition, bullying, standardized testing and over-priced higher education. It invariably raises a lot of questions and controversy. One of the most interesting things about the human species is that we are individual and different. We all go to school and have different ideas, contrasting opinions, diverse skin, mismatched thoughts and contradistinct hobbies. Our attention is captivated by different objects, we believe in different philosophies, different political views and different morals. What makes someone human is the combination of various experiences, facets and learning processes brought together with perception. I believe that if you can paint a beautiful picture, act passionately in a play, sing flawlessly, but you can’t do calculus to save your life, it shouldn’t count against you.
Sure, calculus is somewhat important in the “real world,” but the “real world” isn’t all calculus. If you’re planning to pursue these creative endeavors and pursuits then you
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We need to reevaluate how we teach, examine and challenge students.
your hardest and staying infinitely curious. We need to reevaluate how we teach, examine and challenge students. The No Child Left Behind policy is, more often than not, backfiring. Though, the program’s intentions seem philanthropic and beneficial, standardized testing swallows up the joy of learning and subtracts from imagination. This “one size fits all” method is convenient but defective; it’s appraising one institute above another, one professor above another, and most of all, one student above another. This arbitrary structure isn’t honoring outof-the-box thinking; it’s cheating students out of fulfilling creativity—true brilliance. We aren’t clones of one individual, we are ourselves. Our intriguing, beautiful unique selves. And as a consequence, it warrants differences in the way each student learns. Trying your best goes completely unrecognized in schooling institutes, unless you can reflect it in the gradebook.
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deserve the opportunity to explore them. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and the one size fits all approach doesn’t work when everyone is incredibly abstract. Nobody likes to be graded on their failure. I believe you should be graded on effort — if you’re in last place but you give it your best then you’re just as good as the person in first. True intelligence is about trying
artists of allen: sarah stevens compiled by | Tate Peterson
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I had loved taking pictures when I was young, and when I learned there was a photography program in high school, I really wanted to do it. Taking a photography class helped me improve a lot and really got me into photography. I’m a part of the commercial photography program and on the yearbook staff. We can enter contests and go to a convention every year, and I’ve gained a lot of skill from that. Also, the more I go out and shoot, the more my photography improves. The people that inspire me at the moment are
18 | Commentary
my friends who ask for me to take their picture. It’s such a good feeling when people compliment my pictures, and I feel especially flattered when they ask me for portraits. My favorite subjects to shoot are definitely people and places. I love to travel, and when I do, I always have my camera. My favorite part about photography is how creative you can be. There’s so many different types of
photography, and it’s all so interesting, I really like how you can try out every type to find your favorite.
Photo by | Sarah Stevens
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Below | Junior Kaitlin O’Connor models for Stevens’ photography.
Junior Sarah Stevens strikes a pose. Photo by | Tate Peterson
Staff Editorial: Journalism is America’s saving grace T
hroughout the 2016 election, citizens on both ends of the political spectrum have scrutinized the media. President Trump’s campaign referred to, and continues to refer to, unsavory articles about him as “fake news,” and left-leaning constituents criticized the inflation of Hillary Clinton’s email scandal, even going so far as to call it the reason she lost. During President Trump’s first month in office, outlets like the New York Times and CNN have been barred from briefings and disparaged by federal officials. Even former President George W. Bush openly criticized President Trump in a recent TV interview, calling the press “indispensable to democracy.” This is a time where propaganda passes for journalism, and the objective truth is rejected in favor of a truth that’s beneficial to the government’s agenda. It is more crucial than ever to speak out against federal bodies, especially those who try to defy the rights and amendments they’re meant to protect. 1972. Richard Nixon is in office, and the Washington Post is knee-deep in a story pinning the recent burglary
of the National DNC headquarters on his administration. The journalists who chased the story, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, have become synonymous with exposing political scandal and holding the government responsible. But under a government that chooses to suppress negative feedback instead of listening to its constituents, the narrative doesn’t end with whistleblowing. It leaks into the next presidency, and the next after that. Part of the problem is the concept of “fake news.” This is a buzzword that started as a genuine concern but has quickly become a way to tear down “liberal” media. “Liberal media” being anyone that dares to question our commander-in-chief. Be it CNN’s Jake Tapper or the New York Times Editorial Board, the majority of “fake news” is simply a criticism of contrasting opinion. Undeniably, journalists have made dangerous mistakes. Buzzfeed’s decision to publish an unverified dossier alleging hefty claims against President Trump, including incendiary allegations concerning his campaign’s relationship with Russia, was nothing short of a blunder. The journalists
and editors involved deserved every bit of criticism they received. However, less than a month later, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was found to have ties to Russia. And that’s the point: this is an administration that requires exhaustively close inspection. Journalists are one of the last lines of defense standing between a susceptible citizen and their manipulative government. Journalists are some of the few people that can tell our representative government what their constituents think. Journalists embody the first unalienable human right our Founding Fathers saw fit to clarify and emphasize, and modern governments have that same responsibility to uphold it. If our government won’t defend the rights of every citizen, they aren’t doing their job. And apparently, journalists have to do it for them. So subscribe to the New York Times. Subscribe to the Washington Post. Support publications trying to fight for American rights. The government is obstructing the truth. The American people must seek it for themselves.
you absolutely have the power to bring the change you want to see in the world. Regardless of how big the issue, every solution starts with a small first step. Personally, I hate littering. I just don’t understand why people can’t manage to get their garbage into a can. But I’ve realized that littering is never going to end if I just angrily stare at trash and think to myself that someone needs to learn to clean up their own messes. So instead, I now take the extra 10 seconds to pick up that orange peel and put it in the trash can or put that empty water bottle in the recycle bin. I’ve gone from just recognizing the issue to addressing the issue. And the best part is now I see people behind me do the same thing and growing an entire ripple of positive change. The beauty of a ripple is that it starts with something small and then expands exponentially in size. All it takes is someone
getting it started. In the same way, the best way to get a group of people together who can change the world is by just simply starting with yourself. Whether it’s litter, negativity, discrimination or more, the best way to make a change is by changing yourself. Don’t just call it out, live it out. Next time you see an empty water bottle laying in the middle of the hallway, instead of thinking about how terrible someone must be to litter, pick up the trash. Next time you see someone post a snarky message on Twitter, instead of biting back with your own post, just ignore it. The only way to break the cycle of inactivity and negativity is to take action against it. Pointing out problems solves nothing, but living out solutions changes everything. Go start your ripple of positivity, and watch how far it goes. You might just make waves that shake the whole world up.
The ripple Column by | Parker Primrose
A
ll it takes is 30 seconds of watching the news or one scroll down your Twitter timeline to see that there’s a lot wrong with the world we live in. And all it takes is one more scroll or another 30 seconds of watching the news in order to recognize that a lot of people aren’t happy with the world’s current state. But what happens when everyone voices their displeasure about an issue by angrily sending it out so the whole world can see it? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. That’s the problem. Now I’m not trying to say that bringing awareness to an issue is a bad thing, but if all we ever do is bring awareness to an issue then it’ll never get fixed. It’s so easy to point out everything wrong with our world. Anybody has the ability to point out the negatives. But the people who make a difference are the ones who recognize an issue and then do something about it. Although it may seem daunting,
Commentary | 19
Building a better Batman
‘The Lego Batman Movie’ review Review by | Audrey Vieira
F
ollowing the success of toy commercial turned successful franchise “The Lego Movie” in 2014, the Lego Batman spinoff has graced movie screens and even beat out “Fifty Shades Darker” at the box office. Despite being product placement for Lego’s DC toys, “The Lego Batman Movie” has the humor and heart that 2016’s “Batman v. Superman” lacked. In this spinoff, Batman (voiced by Will Arnett, reprising his role from “The Lego Movie”) has worked alone as a vigilante, never letting anyone join in on his adventures stopping the Joker (Zach Galifianakis) from destroying Gotham City. His longtime butler Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) urges him to work with commissioner Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson) and sidekick Robin (Michael Cera) in the sequel. The lighthearted humor of “Lego Batman” is a welcome change from the dark tone of recent DC films, and it manages to
top marks Mark-it Fresh review Review by | Sara Schleede
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he school’s latest lunch line, MarkIt Fresh, features entirely vegetarian options. Options typically include an entree, side salad, soup, dinner roll and the occasional cobbler along with the usual chips and candy. Each day of the week
20 | Commentary
entertain both the children who make up its target audience, as well as adults. The
A-
movie pokes fun at most of the previous Batman films, the Justice League and even “Super Friends,” the cartoon featuring Batman and his now-rival Superman,
with jokes referencing various versions of the Dark Knight. I never thought I’d say I liked an animated Lego Batman movie better than a big-budget blockbuster, but this lighter take on the beloved hero did his story justice. Another aspect of the film that I liked was the characterization of Batman. Batman’s arc was surprisingly emotional, dealing with the five stages of grief, as well as learning to accept help from others. Despite being a Lego movie, it built on his origin story without forcing its audience to hear the same tale they’ve been told thousands of times. I give “The Lego Batman Movie” an A- for the originality it brought to a story that has seen countless retellings and its humorous shout-outs to other DC superheroes. This reboot of the Dark Knight is a delightful deviation from the usual superhero flick.
presents different options. Meals are varied, nutritious and flavorful and are about as good as school lunches can get. Every day the salad bar is stocked with mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers and a quinoa mix with several dressing choices. One day of the week has the choice of noodles or fried rice with fried or grilled tofu. This is my favorite dish at Mark-It Fresh. To be honest, I haven’t even tried the grilled tofu or the noodles, because I tried the fried tofu and rice first and fell
way too hard for the combination to ever abandon it. If you’re wanting more flavor, try drenching your plate in sriracha, which is always sitting next to the cash register. Additionally, they offer several pasta options: lasagna, ravioli and bolognese or alfredo sauce. School pasta has a habit of being bland and soggy, but the pasta here avoids that. The meal won’t exactly give you visions of Venetian gondola rides or the Sicilian countryside, but the lasagna is cheesy and warm and comforting. The
Breakup blues
B
‘Prisoner’ review Review by | Astrid Souto
P
rolific singer-songwriter Ryan Adams released his 16th studio album on Feb. 17. Now recovering from his devastating divorce from American singer, songwriter and actress Mandy Moore, audiences anticipated “Prisoner” to replicate the same ‘80s heartbreak style Adams has portrayed for years. However, with Adams having experienced heartbreak in its purest form, audiences also expected that he would bring the heat by translating his passion into his music. Listeners were slightly disappointed as, although Adams maintained his brooding theme, it was just another middleground album with no real twist or artistic risk. Although “Prisoner” lacks originality in comparison to the 15 other studio albums preceding it, Adams incorporates a quintessential despair that attracts a wide variety of romance advocates, as his raw
emotional lyrics and soothing sound allow it to mold to almost any genre. Adams’
usual rolls are traded out for garlic knots on these Italian fare days, which are a nice addition. Other days, there are cheese and vegetable calzones with the alternative choice of a Mediterranean flatbread. The flatbread has feta cheese crumbles, black olives and tomatoes. The calzones are filled with cheese, oil and a bit of pesto which is a nice deviation from the typical marinara sauce, though you can get a side of tomato sauce for dipping. The flatbread seems like a
nice and chic dish in theory, but in truth it’s bland and tomato-y in the watery way, not the fun way. The calzones are a bit greasy, and just by the nature of design some bites are all bread, but they’re nothing to avoid. Another day features toasted buns and a choice of a freshly cooked black bean or tofu patty, but most recently they had small slabs of grilled tofu to go on a long sub bun. I’m glad that they made this switch because sometimes the tofu patty was too thick and made for a texturally unpleasant
versatile nature compensates for his refusal to stray from the gloomy vibe most breakup albums depict. Adams not only produced this album
as a result of his heart wrenching divorce but also to represent his trapped emotions regarding it, almost as if he feels like a “prisoner” in jail. In the track “Doomsday,” Adams claims that “he could wait a thousand years” but follows it up with confusion over “how to let feelings go.” It seems contradicting, but the oscillation between desiring your ex and wanting to move on is quite normal after a breakup, especially when the relationship was longterm and intimate. It would have been nice to see Adams take more of a risk and put more of a personal spin on some of the tracks. Adams’ fans can expect another decent album, but from an outside perspective, it’s not a surprise that “Prisoner” receives a B. a snooze fest. Adams’ fans can expect another decent album, but from an outside perspective, it’s not a surprise that ‘Prisoner’ receives a B due to its lack of originality.
experience. It was topped with a carrot slaw and chipotle mayo sauce, and there’s a topping bar including typical burger and sandwich dressings such as lettuce and onion. Other condiments include an avocado and feta spread, salsa and a verde sauce. The flavors and textures of these sandwiches are surprisingly complex and sophisticated. Mark-It Fresh is a great new addition to the school cafeteria and deserves the grade of an A-. Photos by | Tate Peterson
A-
Commentary | 21
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