EA Allen High School Issue 4 Volume 35 March 2018
As teenagers across the nation increase their involvement in activism, the student voices of Allen High School rise to create change. | page 10
changing desks
Former students return to Allen High School, this time as teachers | page 5
Choose your fighter Understanding local and state November election candidates | page 8
Life of Liles
Student wrestler commits to US Olympic Training Center | page 14
Acting OUt
ea
The Eagle Angle distributes 1,000 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 Matthew MacVeigh, newspaper adviser, at 469-319-6258. 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.
Social theeagleangle.com
ea
@theeagleangle @theeagleangle theeagleangle
Staff
Editors-in-chief | Divya Jagadeesh* Felix Kalvesmaki* Sr. Managing Editor | Julia Zaksek* Jr. Managing Editor | Maya Morriswala* News Editor | Christian Hinton* Features Editor | Caroline Tucker Commentary Editor | Audrey Vieira Sports Editor | Parker Primrose Assistant Sports Editor | Erik Young Online Editor | Natalie McMahon Photo Editor | Tate Peterson Staff writers | Brooke Adams, Brandon Barton, Jasmine Davis, Sophia Forrester, Alyssa Holloway, Kaitlyn Ingram, Tea McGilvray, Christine Odwesso, Morgan Pryor, Francis Salazar, Stephanie Scarano, Maria Solis, Jenna Sturgeon Adviser | Matthew MacVeigh *denotes members of the Editorial Board
Cover by | Tate Peterson
Table of Contents NEWS/FEATURE
Briefly speaking.......................................................... 2 Q&A with Stevie Mayberry.......................................3 District revises school calendar..................................4 Changing desks............................................................5 Lifting spirits................................................................6 On display.....................................................................7 Choose your fighter.................................................8-9
COVER STORY
Acting out.............................................................10-13 As teenagers across the nation increase their involvement in activism, the student voices of Allen High School rise to create change. Turn to page 10 to read about Allen students who are committed to being leaders and activists.
SPORTS
Life of Liles.................................................................14 Taking every shot......................................................15
PHOTO ESSAY
This Is Us: The Human Experience...................16-17
COMMENTARY
The art of letting go..................................................18 Staff editorial..............................................................19 Artists of Allen: Xavier Strode................................19 Cane’s vs. Layne’s..................................................... 20 Review: ‘Nation of Two’...........................................21 Review: ‘Black Panther’.............................................21
Letter to the Reader
W
e live in interesting times. Interesting can be good, interesting can be bad, but our world sometimes seems to move too fast for us to keep up. It’s a reality we’ve had to live with for quite some time now. On the surface, it seems to be fraught with tension and fragile societal norms, but underneath bubbles change and action. The lights in Hollywood are shined directly on Me Too, and voices chanting “never again” echo throughout Florida in the wake of one too many acts of gun violence. Advocacy feels like a luxury exclusive to those with extraordinary circumstances, but that goes against how advocacy can even begin. In this issue, we’ve decided to showcase the advocacy and activism prevalent in our school; many students who attend Allen are vocal about their beliefs, and they’re active in their communities in order to reach their goals. We interviewed leaders from organizations at our school who are committed to fostering change from clubs like the World Wildlife Fund and Red Cross Eagles. There are students taking action, and they deserve to be recognized. Change is coming to our community in other ways as well. We talked to the people responsible for a large new community park complete with a lighted softball complex and 25 acres of new trails. The recent primaries for midterm elections this November exhibit altering opinions in our district, and we’ve compiled a package for you to learn about the candidates who want to represent you. Lots of seniors will be deciding on their future in the next two months, and one senior whom we talked to, Alex Liles, is taking a big step: committing to the US Olympic Training Center. However, change isn’t always so tremendous; sometimes, it’s just a new chicken finger restaurant on the other side of town — and we compared Cane’s and Layne’s so you wouldn’t have to. Change is neither always positive nor always negative, but it is always created by humans. Humans who dream, who are brave, who are relentless and who are inspiring. There is no way for us to predict what next year, next month or the next day will bring. It’s always reassuring to face it together, though — as one school, and one city. Sincerely,
News and Features | 1
Briefly Speaking
Compiled by | Tate Peterson and Erik Young
Martin Shkreli sentenced to prison
Peace talks with North Korea
Boys’ basketball goes to state
Christina Morris found
Update on Amelia Earhart
Allen, Texas | On March 3, the men’s basketball team upset the number one team in the state, Denton Guyer, in the Class 6A Region I final. Allen is on their second trip to the UIL state tournament with a 40-36 win against a Guyer team that was ranked No. 11 in the nation by USA Today.
Anna, Texas | On March 7, Christina Morris’ skeletal remains were found unearthed in a field in Anna, Texas. Morris was last seen in the early morning hours of Aug. 30, 2014 in Plano when she was walking with Enrique Arochi.
Phoenix Islands | Earhart went missing along with navigator Fred Noonan in July 1937 during the pair’s attempted flight around the world. An early search after their disappearance led several parties to the island of Nikumaroro, where bones were discovered. On March 8, recent studies conducted on these bones have led many researchers to be close to certain that these bones were from Amelia Earhart, which could then give more information as to how she went missing.
Allen National Merit finalists Allen, Texas | This past week, 19 of the 20 Allen National Merit semifinalists were named finalists. The finalists were later recognized for their accomplishments at a formal breakfast with the high school’s administration.
2 | News and Features
Brooklyn, New York | Martin Shkreli, notorious for raising the price of a lifesaving HIV drug by 5,000 percent, was sentenced to seven years in prison in Eastern New York US District Court for defrauding investors. The former entrepreneur lied to investors to cover fund losses.
Pyongyang, North Korea | On March 8, United States president Donald Trump has agreed to a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The meeting is supposedly said to be taking place by May. The meeting could defuse the tensions between both of these countries.
Q&A with stevie MayberrY Staffer Brooke Adams sits down with Architecture teacher Stevie Mayberry to discuss why he began teaching, what’s changed and his favorite moments.
Why did you decide to teach high school? When I was graduating from high school, I wanted to be an art, photography, architecture, drafting or woodworking teacher. I went to college, and in photography, there were a lot of people and very few cameras. In the next level class, there were a lot of people and still very few cameras, and I didn’t have time to wait for 20 people to use one camera so I dropped photography. I took graphic art, digital type art, and I retained some of that, but I didn’t go that route. I got my inspiration from a class in my junior year that I dropped. I dropped a class and started taking drafting, which turned into architecture, and I loved it. Sandy Richardson was my teacher. That [was] a college class, not a middle school type class.
With all the different pathways you considered, what different skills have you acquired? Well the skills I have are woodworking, ceramics, plastics, electronics, electricity, printing, photography, metalworking and leatherworking. What I majored in was Industrial Arts Education, and not every school has everything, so you needed a little bit of everything so when you got to the school you could perfect what they had and what you could do at that school.
What’s your favorite memory from all the years you’ve been at AHS? I like it when I have children of students or grandkids of students come back and say, ‘You had my mom or dad or grandparent,’ or kids that really didn’t like the class at the time because of my expectations of them and when they come back and go, ‘Guess what I’m doing?’ I know what you’re doing, even though you didn’t like it back then, you’re doing it now.
Mayberry helps freshman Carlo Juric with an assignment. Photo by | Tate Peterson
What’s changed the most, in your classroom and the school, since you started teaching here? The size. When I first got to Allen, the school, ninth through 12th, was 600 students. Ninth through 12th now, 6,000 students. It was still Lowery, and when I came, they expanded Lowery and built my classrooms. The size of the building, the number of students, the number of teachers and the number of offerings have changed. I used to teach a lot of different things for years, and then, they hired staff for me to reduce what I’m teaching, and I can really concentrate on architecture and interior design.
What’s your favorite thing about teaching at AHS? Seeing it click in the mind. A kid may be struggling with it and [see] it click after trying different ways. Instead of saying, ‘Okay, we’re going to do it A, B, C,’ coming back a different way and going ‘Okay, let’s see C, B, A.’ They’ll say, ‘Well that’s math’ but we’re not going to realize it’s math. We’re going to do it a different way and let you get it that way for them to enjoy it and understand it.
Do you ever regret becoming a teacher? Nope. Not one bit. The kids have changed now. I don’t regret it though. I still would have become a teacher. People say, ‘Why didn’t you become an architect?’ They say ‘That’s a lot of money,’ but I like seeing my 30 kids at one time, my 30 kids from this period and my 30 kids from next period and on from there.
News and Features | 3
District revises school calendar Allen Independent School District approves new school calendar for 2018-19 school year Story by | Maya Morriswala
I
n the 2018-19 school year, there will be multiple changes to the school calendar regarding the first day, last day and school breaks. These changes were recently approved by the District Calendar Committee, and the new school calendar is now published on the school website. According to principal Jason Johnston, the reason for the calendar edits is that the state changed the attendance requirement for students from a number of days to a number of minutes. “Several years back, the state used to require students to go to school for a certain number of days,” Johnston said. “They changed it to a specific number of minutes, which gave schools more flexibility of how long they went to school and how long or short the number of days within the school calendar was. And so, what you see now is schools counting minutes as opposed to days, and that’s what drives the schedule.” Due to this change, the beginning of the school year will be on a Wednesday, three weekdays before the original start date. According to Johnston, this is one of the largest changes being made for next year. “The end result is that it allows us to get out before June,” Johnston said. “Actually, before Memorial Day, so that was the plus side for us on that stand point.” Since school ends before Memorial Day, graduation day will be on May 24. According to Johnston, this means a longer summer as well as a better opportunity to see family from other parts of the country. “I’m excited about the being finished before Memorial Day,” Johnston said. “It gives us more of our summer, and I think it will be easier for our families, especially with graduation on that Friday, to have families come in and be able to stick around for a holiday weekend.” The new calendar has also slightly changed when school breaks are, as well as incorporated more early-release days before holidays which, according to Johnston, will
4 | News and Features
give people more time to travel. “Other big changes from across the district would be some early release days, so some days before a holiday, it was important for the district to want to give our students and families some time to maybe make plans to travel, and to be able to get out a little early on those,” Johnston said. “So we have more early release days than we had in the past.” Another big change for the students is the new school start time. While this year it was 8:15 a.m., next year it will be pushed back to 8:30 a.m. in order to account for travel and tutoring times. “We’ve got the STEAM Center and the Dual Credit facility that are going to open in the next few years, so we needed to make some adjustments to our schedule to ensure some travel times,” Johnson said. “[It will also] provide some additional time in the morning for our teachers to work with our kids and additional times for kids to have some breakfast.” According to Johnston, the overall feedback on the calendar has been positive, and no disappointed teachers or parents have approached him.
Photo courtesy of | Allen ISD “I know that some people were worried about the earlier start times, [and] some were excited about the earlier start times,” Johnston said. “Some were worried about it being before Memorial Day [and] others were excited about it being before. So it was a pretty broad range of opinions on that, but ultimately, I think the district did a great job, and their committee did a great job of building a schedule that’s very beneficial.”
Changing desks
Former students return to Allen, this time as teachers Story and photos by | Stephanie Scarano
W
hen most people leave high school, they never dream of going back. But, there are some Allen High alumni who are back again; this time they are in the teacher's chair. AP U.S. history teacher Lauren Gaskill is one of those teachers. Gaskill graduated in 2012 and has been back at Allen High for two years now. “The pride in the school is the same, everyone here is so proud to be an Allen Eagle,” Gaskill said. “That hasn't changed.” Something has to prompt a person to go back to high school, especially their own. For Gaskill, AHS provided a stable working environment in her home in Dallas. “I didn’t feel like I was being supported [at other districts],” Gaskill said. “I didn't
Gaskill (left) and McDermott (right) are Allen High alumni. have a team effort and a good structure, and I knew this was a place where I would be well supported. You’re not a man on an island, you’ve got lots of people around, supporting you to be the best that you can.” Allen ISD has been educating since 1910, and in that time, many teachers have noticed changes taking place through the years. From the change of the original high school to becoming a freshman center, to a whole new high school being built, Allen has seen some changes, but one thing that hasn’t changed; Gaskill and McDermott agree its the school spirit. “Overall, high school was a great time for me,” McDermott said. “I felt like a part of something that was bigger than myself.” Chemistry teacher Matthew McDermott
also attended Allen High and attributes his start to his alma mater. Although the teacher’s chair is a bit different from the student desk, the opportunities it offers to help in the classroom are great. “It definitely takes some getting used to, but it’s great to be able to come to work and know that you’re helping to shape the future,” McDermott said. Some teachers even take their high school experiences with them to make their time teaching easier. “I was so thankful that [Allen High] had made me into a well-rounded individual and not someone who just focused on present tense” Gaskill said. “[Allen High] prepared me for a really positive future.”
News and Features | 5
Lifting spirits Allen finishes construction on new community park Story by | Divya Jagadeesh
F
rom a bond election in 2007, to a master plan in 2013, a new park on the west side of Allen is scheduled to open by fall of this year. The park addresses the need for a large community park west of US Route 75 and will have a variety of amenities including a softball complex, multiple open fields, a playground, and 25 acres of preserved wooded area complete with various trails. Spirit Park was first proposed in 2007 as a way to build complexes that were specifically for adult athletics. With funds from bonds, and grants from county and state organizations such as the Collin County Parks and Open Space Funding Assistance Program and Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Recreation Grant, the Allen Parks and Recreation Department was able to allot 75 acres for the construction. “It takes a master plan, as well as design development and detailed construction drawing phases that take years to get through,” project and grant specialist Kelly McGinnis said. “It’s not just residential support, but also Collin County and the state of Texas.” While the softball complex was constructed with adult athletics in mind, project manager and landscape architect
News and Features | 6
Matt McComb said it will be open to all ages, and the fields are planned to be used for baseball as well. “There is the possibility of baseball with some unique mound systems that are going in, but there’s going to be other components,” McComb said. “There’ll be a playground, some enhanced landscaping like the pollinator garden, and the trails.” According to McComb, the playground will be near the softball complex and the preserved 25 acres, and it will be uniquely built to be a child-friendly environment exclusive to Allen. Furthermore, the pollinator garden will be the connection from the complex to the children’s playground that will be made to promote native plants and wildlife. “It’s going to be another park within the park,” McComb said. “It’s going to [teach] about native plantings, droughttolerant plantings, and how those function as pollinators to help with hummingbirds and honeybees.” The park will also include open fields for other sports like cricket, lacrosse and soccer, which will be available for tournaments and free-use. “We need the support for our growing
Master plan courtesy of | City of Allen adult athletics,” parks superintendent Kim Spearman said. “As we get past the grand opening, we are going to be hosting quite a few tournaments there.” Allen residents also had a chance to be involved with the park’s construction as the city plans to implement public art throughout the park and its infrastructure. According to McComb, Spirit Park will contain three levels of art: freestanding art, integrated art and functional art, such as signage for the plants, benches and bike racks. “It’s a very public process, and it involves advertising and a call for artists and [giving] them some framework for what the site is,” McGinnis said. McComb says that the diversity, uniqueness and spirit of play imbued in the park’s construction play off of each other to create a special package. “I think Spirit Park is a different complex than [what] we’ve built before,” Spearman said. “We’re doing a lot of different things with this complex that we’ve not done before, and we’re excited about the opening of it.”
On display
Allen plans showcase to highlight diversity Story by | Christian Hinton
O
n March 29 from 6-8 p.m., the Allen Performing Arts Center will host a Diversity Showcase. The showcase, a joint effort between high school and district staff, will feature culture-related informational booths and performances from clubs in the school district. Allen High School has over one hundred clubs, with many clubs related to specific cultures and identities such as the African Student Association, German Club and Gay-Straight Alliance. House 100 Administrator Richard Jordan is one of the coordinators of the showcase. “The goal of the showcase is a districtwide showcase of the diversity of Allen,” Jordan said. “Not necessarily just race, but cultural diversity, which includes religious, socioeconomic, sexual orientation, gender.” The booths will be purely informational and be used by clubs to promote their culture and their organizations. “They’ll have tables or booths set up to provide information to interested parties, and there will also be a stage set up for any clubs or organizations that would like to do a performance,” Jordan said. “An example would be German Club. They’re doing a
polka band to celebrate students or people who have interest in a German heritage.” The clubs can be from the high school, middle school and elementary schools. The showcase is also open to community cultural organizations, although there will be no selling or outside food allowed. “We’ve got some henna artists that are from the community that are going to come in and share and do some henna for Indian culture,” Jordan said. “[Clubs can share] any general information about meeting dates and times from those clubs and organizations, so if there are interested students that are attending or parents or kids that are even at the middle school level that might want to start their own clubs, they can get information.” From 6:30-7:30 p.m., there will be stage performances from various clubs. According to Jordan, there has been interest shown for musical presentations from Bollywood Club, German Club and spokenword presentations from the Writer’s Guild. “There have been several diversityrelated events at elementary school levels for each individual elementary school and [we’re] trying to put together one
that highlights all grade levels as well as highlighting some of the clubs and organizations that we have on campus,” Jordan said. “I feel that it would be well recognized and received.” According to Jordan, the event stemmed from the diversity committee at the district level. “[It comes from] wanting to have something that celebrates the inclusiveness of Allen,” Jordan said. “We want to show that although we’re different, we all come together in order to make Allen great.” Jordan says that he plans to make the Diversity Showcase an annual event, so if a club wasn’t able to participate this year, they can take part next year. “[We want] anything that would highlight and show the diversity that’s within Allen ISD,” Jordan said. “We all come together to make Allen what it is. We have kids from different walks of life, different religious backgrounds, different socioeconomic backgrounds. Anything that’s entertaining that actually speaks to the talents that we all share here in Allen ISD.”
BUY YOUR YEARBOOK FOR $90 AT
smart-pay.com $100 during distribution day. First come first serve.
News and Features | 7
CHOOSE YOUR FIGHTER Understanding local and state November election candidates Compiled by | Julia Zaksek
A
As the willingness to vote in national elections appears to be dwindling, polling locations in state and local elections continue to tout low turnout numbers. Often, it is difficult to conceptualize the effect local and state elected officials will have on the day-to-day. In the big picture, elections on the state and county level are frequently viewed as insignificant. However, change begins at every level. Your local officials influence the technology in your school, the streets you drive on, and the stadium in which you sit. Your state officials influence national and international decisions and policies. Impact isn’t limited to executive orders or presidential veto. How you vote and who you vote for will impact both what is around you and what is beyond you.
the Senate presides over lawmaking in Washington. Our state senators can both propose legislation in the form of bills and vote on bills proposed by other members of Congress. If both the Senate and the House of Representatives vote to pass the bill, the bill is sent on to the president. If the president chooses to sign the bill into law, the proposed bill becomes a law.
Every state elects two senators to serve a six year term. In conjunction with the House of Representatives,
Governor
Senator
Representatives
The House of Representatives also consists of representatives from each state. However, the number of seats is proportional to each state’s population. Texas has 36 representatives, each serving a two year term. The House is equally involved in the process of lawmaking. Members can propose bills and vote on the bills proposed by both other House Representatives and members of the Senate. The Texas governor serves as the state’s chief executive officer for a four-
year term. The governor is responsible for implementing state laws, overseeing the state executive branch, signing and vetoing bills passed by the state legislature, proposing state legislation, and appointing Texas state officials.
Lt. Governor
The Texas lieutenant governor is elected separately from the Texas governor and also serves a term of four years. The lieutenant governor serves both the governor in the executive branch and oversees several sections of the legislative branch. If the governor leaves office during term, the lieutenant governor becomes the governor.
County Judge
The county judge is the chief officer of the commissioners court, the Collin County court. The county judge presides over a variety of county cases and represents the county in administrative issues.
HOW TO REGISTER
HOW TO LEARN MORE
1. You must be at least 17 years and 10 months old to vote and registered at least 30 days in advance. 2. Visit collincountytx.gov for a voter registration form. 3. Print, complete, and sign the form. 4. Either mail the form to Registrar of Voters, 2010 Redbud Blvd., Suite 102, McKinney, Texas 75069 5. Or, email your application to: voterregistration@collincountytx.gov
1. Visit the official sites for the Collin County political parties as well as candidate websites to learn more about candidates and party stances. 2. Stay up to date on voting locations and hours in Allen. 3. Attend local campaign events, speeches and fundraisers to learn more about local and state candidates.
8 | News and Features
SENATOR Ted Cruz: Ted Cruz is a member of the Republican Party. He has served as Texas Senator since 2012. He unsuccessfully ran for president in 2016 and is now seeking re-election to the Senate.
Beto O’Rourke: Beto
O’Rourke is a member of the Democratic Party. He served on the El Paso city council from 2005-2009 and as a state representative since 2012.
REPRESENTATIVES Van Taylor: Van Taylor is
a member of the Republican Party. He has served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2010.
Lorie
Burch: Lorie Burch is a member of the Democratic Party. Burch is a private practice lawyer and long time Collin County resident
GOVERNOR Greg
Abbott: Greg Abbott is a member of the Republican Party. He served as the 50th Attorney General of Texas from 2002-2015 and as the 48th Governor of Texas since 2015.
Lupe
Valdez: Lupe Valdez is a member of the Democratic Party. She served as Dallas County Sheriff from 2005-2017. Andrew White: is a member of the Democratic Party and entrepreneur.
LT. GOVERNOR Dan
Patrick: Dan Patrick is a member of the Republican Party. He has served as the 42nd lieutenant governor of Texas since 2015 and is seeking re-election.
Mike
Collier: Mike Collier is a member of the Democratic Party. He ran unsuccessfully for Texas Comptroller in 2014 and is a Collin County business owner.
COUNTY JUDGE Chris Hill: Chris Hill is a
member of the Republican Party. He served as Collin County Commissioner from 2012-2017 before resigning to run for Collin County judge.
Danyell Lanier: Danyell
Lanier is a member of the Democratic Party. She served in the navy from 1994-1999 and has work experience as a project analyst for United Health Group.
News and Features | 9
10 | News and Features
Graphic by | Tate Peterson
acting out the student voices of Allen High School rise to create change on local levels
T
Story by | Parker Primrose and Audrey Vieira
he aftermath of the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida saw the voices of student survivors such as Emma Gonzalez, Sarah Chadwick and David Hogg creating and stimulating conversation across the country about gun control and school safety. Through their campaign for change, these teenage activists are successfully encouraging Florida state Senators on both ends of the political spectrum to pass legislation restricting gun purchases and banning the sale of bump stocks. Similarly, students in Allen are becoming more engaged in activism by participating in organizations and taking actions to spread awareness for local, national and global issues. Not only do these students speak out for their causes, they commit the time and resources to improve lives and make a tangible difference in the community.
Getting Involved By definition, making a difference means to actually incite change within someone or something that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. For students like junior José Marquez, one of three original founders of the World Wildlife Fund chapter at Allen, that means going a step beyond pointing out the world’s issues. “I, for one, hate complainers, so I stopped complaining and I started doing,” Marquez said. Marquez discovered his passion for nature at a young age and wanted to find a way to help preserve the world’s animals and environments. “It’s just heartbreaking when you go online and start hearing about the other side of the world, like the Great Barrier Reef is
considered dead or that the government has now legalized elephant hunting and other animal trophy hunting,” Marquez said. “It’s heartbreaking, but you’ve got to move on from that heartbreak and start doing something heartwarming.” Marquez isn’t the only student who chooses to use more than his voice while advocating for a cause. Senior Amisha Kumar also searches for ways to make a tangible difference. “When I go on Twitter and I see [bad news or complaints], I don’t normally retweet it,” Kumar, secretary of Red Cross Eagles, said. “In my mind, if I see it I think ‘okay, what change? What impact? What can we organize to fix this?’”
“
I, for one, hate complainers, so I stopped complaining and I started doing - José Marquez, junior
”
Impact doesn’t just have to be on a global or national level. For example, senior and Gay-Straight Alliance president Megan Potts sees campus as a place to begin spreading activism and unity. “I want to have a positive influence on the school,” Potts said. “[I want to] help to make the school a more accepting and inclusive environment.” Knowing how to make a difference also involves recognizing one’s own gifts and talents. Senior and American Sign Language club president Erin White does that through her work with the Deaf community. “With my fluidity, if I’m in an area with a large Deaf population, I can become more involved in the community,” White said. “With my ties to the hearing world as well, maybe I can bridge any gaps, alleviate
any maybe concerns or doubts that they have with each other.”
What it’s all about The next step for students making a difference is to turn their passion into action. Whether it’s raising money or supporting an organization, change can be brought about in a variety of ways. “[World Wildlife Fund] raised over $400 towards coral reef conservation,” Marquez said. “We are now raising money to symbolically adopt an elephant. Once an animal’s extinct, you can’t really turn that back.” Monetary donations are only one of the numerous ways to impact lives across the globe. However, raising funds is not the only way to support a cause or organization, as Kumar has shown that sometimes a new perspective on an old item is all it takes to change the game for those in need. “We just did [a project], Soles for Hope, where we cut out jeans and we cut them out into templates, and then the [organization] sews them and stitches them up into shoes for kids in Africa and third world countries,” Kumar said. “They don’t have it like [we do] here. You can’t just go to the Nike store or the outlet mall and buy some shoes.” Red Cross Eagles also serves the public in other ways. Kumar and the organization also focus on improving public health. “We host three blood drives a year,” Kumar said. “People always need blood. For instance, with all these shootings, they lose so much blood, so when people donate blood, people can do blood transfusions.” Change isn’t always in the form of physical gifts or donations.
News and Features | 11
K.C. Ajoku working at a Red Cross blood drive Photo by | Christian Hinton
White has shown that change can be achieved purely through a person’s sheer presence and willingness to volunteer time for a cause.
“
”
With my ties to the hearing world as well, maybe I can bridge any gaps, alleviate any concerns or doubts that they have with each other. -Erin White, senior
“[The American Sign Language club] tries to get out in the community and make ASL and deafness normal here at Allen where it’s not as prevalent,” White said. “There have been a couple of times where we’ve signed the national anthem at Allen sporting events, and we did one at an Allen Americans hockey game. The first Friday of the month, there’s an event called Deaf Coffee Chat, and 12 | News and Features
we all go and we just get to meet some more people in the deaf community.” Some organizations take steps to make a difference by investing in future generations, like the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. “[UNICEF] goes to homeless shelters and provides activities for children who don’t get as many activities [as other children,]” sponsor Sandy Lee said. “They go to other shelters for refugees, and they provide opportunities and activities for those children as well.”
The future Students letting their voice be heard is not a recent phenomena, but the magnitude of modern student engagement is something that Marquez feels is a reflection of what will only become more powerful in the future. “We are no silent generation,” Marquez said. “It’s awe-inspiring, really. Being complacent is never something I want to see me be doing, so
it really is heartwarming to see people want change.”
“
“In my mind, if I see it I think ‘okay, what change? What impact? What can we organize to fix this?’” - Amisha Kumar, senior
”
Serving as an advocate for change doesn’t require a student starting his or her own organization or working independently. Leaders like Kumar say that all it takes is finding something to be passionate about and seeking out others who feel the same way. “Find an organization or find some topic that [you’re] interested in and grow from that,” Kumar said. “Try to think about [or] jot down ideas of how you could change gun control, public health, whatever. We’re the ones that have to grow up and make an impact if anything’s going to happen.” ea
join in The organizations making a difference in Allen, and how to join their ranks Compiled by | Felix Kalvesmaki
GSA: The Gay Straight Alliance seeks to make Allen High School an accepting and inclusive environment for LGBT+ youth. They meet on the first and third Tuesday of every month, 2:30-5 p.m. in A226.
UNICEF: Allen’s ASL Club President Erin White signs the national anthem Photo by | Maliha Zobayed World Wildlife Fund President Isabelle Envile chalks the walk at an awareness event for the WWF. Photo by | Sarah Stevens
UNICEF chapter puts forth efforts to make the community aware of international plights for human rights. They meet every other Tuesday from 4 to 5 p.m. in G129.
WWF: The World
Wildlife Fund in Allen works to preserve the environment. They meet every other Thursday in K125. More information can be found at allenwwf. wixsite.com/conserve.
RED CROSS: The
Red Cross Eagles work to improve public health in Allen. They meet on the first Tuesday of every month in A206.
ASL Club: The ASL
Club raises awareness of Deaf culture in and around Allen. They meet every other Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. in F149.
The Life of Liles
Student wrestler commits to US Olympic Training Center
Story By | Jenna Sturgeon
D
edication is a necessary skill for all successful athletes. Senior Alex Liles’ dedication to the sport of wrestling has rewarded her with 34 all-american titles, 21 national and 4 UIL state Championships. Liles began wrestling seven years ago when she went to her little brother’s wrestling practice with her mom to pick him up. “My little brother didn’t have anyone to practice with, so I practiced with him,” Liles said. “After that I was hooked on wrestling.” While a member of the Allen varsity wrestling team, she lends her talents to other competitive teams outside of high school. “I wrestle for Best Trained Elite, then I wrestle for the US team,” Liles said.
“It’s a great feeling, just being able to be a leader for young females.” - Senior Alex Liles Just like any sport, wrestling comes with its hardships, even for talented athletes like Liles. “[The hardest part about wrestling is] probably being in shape and being able to compete at one of the top levels that I compete at,” Liles said. “ [Also] the sprints, we do tons of running and I hate running.” Liles’ passion for the sport of wrestling
has only grown as she has advanced in her career. “What makes me passionate about wrestling is that not everyone can do it,” Liles said. “It definitely shows a lot [and] makes you more aware of what you are able to do as a person.” Liles is the only female on the varsity team, but she wrestles both boys and girls in competitions. “I was super little when my brothers were wrestling [and] I’ve always been the only girl,” Liles said. “I started wrestling when girls’ wrestling wasn’t even a thing.” As a part of her success, Liles has noticed her impact on others around the world. “I have been getting so many messages on how adults want their kids to look up to me,” Liles said. “It’s a great feeling, just being able to be a leader for young females and males and [have them] know that I do it for myself, and it’s a passion.”
Liles with Allen High School wrestling head coach Jerry Best on National Signing Day on Feb, 7, 2018. Photo By | Parker Primrose
Liles walks with her mother, Jessica, on senior night on Jan. 11, 2018. Photo by | Jacob Burke
Liles has achieved one of her lifelong dreams and is committed to the Olympic Training Center. At the age of only 17, Liles will be competing and practicing with the top wrestling athletes in the world. “I just can’t wait to go train with the head coach, Terry Steiner, because I know he has a lot of information to give me,” Liles said. “I love learning and seeking new ways to do something and become better. [Also], their food is amazing.” The head of Allen wrestling, Jerry Best, has coached Liles since she began the sport. “He pushed me past my breaking point, he pushed me to see the wrestler I can become and how much I can get better,” Liles said. “He drives me to become a better person and a better human being all together. I will definitely miss him.” Liles’ wrestling future looks bright, as she prepares to train at the Olympic level. “I hope I win a world title,” Liles said. “[I also hope to] get on the Olympic team for 2020, that’s my goal, if not 2024.”
Taking every shot
Girls’ basketball players reflect after season-ending loss
Story By | Erik Young Photos By | Sarah Stevens
T
he Lady Eagles basketball team’s season has come to an unexpected end after the team fell to the Duncanville Panthers in the playoffs by a score of 62-42. The Lady Eagles finished the season ranked 28th in the country and sixth in the state of Texas. Ending the season with 29 wins and only nine loses, the Lady Eagles improved their record dramatically compared to last year, as they previously went 17-17. This year’s team had been led head coach Teresa Durham, and senior guards Jada Peacock, Sydney Hardeman, Taylor Dillard and
“This year was special because we had a bond that wasn’t there in previous years.” - Senior Sydney Hardeman forward Klaire Bentley. “It feels great to know that all of the hard work that went into off season had paid off,” Durham said. “I was very proud of our Lady Eagles and what they were able to accomplish.” Not only did the team have a memorable season, but the they also managed to win against the then-fifth ranked team in the country - Plano Senior High - on Dec. 15.
The Wildcats led at halftime with a score of 32-30, but they couldn’t stay in the lead as the Eagles managed to rack up 31 points in the second half and won with a total score 61-56. “We beat Plano because we set our mind to it and played with a chip on our shoulder. We played as a team, and went out there with confidence and passion,” Hardeman said. “Most importantly we had fun frustrating them because they aren’t used to losing, especially in district games.” The last time the Lady Eagles reached the first round of the playoffs was in the 2015-2016 season. Steve Williams, Allen’s athletic director for the past 42 years, says he cannot remember the last time the Lady Eagles have made it out of the first round before this year. “What has changed is everything,” Dillard said. “The way we play, the way we interact with each other, just everything. I’m glad everything has changed from last year.” The team made an unanticipatable turn this season, as they went from being ranked the 114th team in the state during the 2017 season to jumping up 108 spots and finishing as the sixth best team in the state this year. While improving from last season, Peacock says she still feels the team had a lot of improvement that was needed
Senior Jada Peacock dribbles around a defender in a game against Plano East on Feb. 2, 2018.
Senior Jada Peacock attempts a lay-up against Plano East on Feb. 2, 2018.
this year.
“What has changed is everything. The way we play, the way we interact with each other, just everything.” - Senior Taylor Dillard
“Some of the challenges we faced was probably rebounding because we weren’t the biggest,” Peacock said. “If we would’ve been able to rebound as a whole a little better in the regional quarterfinals, we definitely would be playing in the state tournament.” Through the first three games in the playoffs, the Lady Eagles scored a total of 162 points, but lost in the quarter final round of the playoffs with only two games left until the UIL state tournament. “This year was special because we had a bond that wasn’t there in previous years.” Hardeman said. “We came together as a family, and had each other’s back.”
Sports | 15
This Is Us: The Human Experience Allen’s Gifted and Talented students create and design presentations to teach GT underclassman. Photos by | Sophia Forrester
1
5 2
3 16 | Photo Essay
4
6 7
8
9 1) Students sit around a table and play cards as part of a presentation. 2) Junior Marie Ayiah gives a speech for her station. 3) Students from correctional facility station present. 4) Underclassmen learn with their peers. 5) Junior Sarah McFarland gets ready for her demonstration. 6) Students do a presentation on the Watergate scandal. 7) Senior Parker Primrose gives a speech. 8) Students watch and listen to upperclassmen. 9) Underclassmen lassos to please the sheriff in a simulation station.
10
10) Junior Luke Harrison stands behind bars as part of the correctional facility station.
Photo Essay | 17
The art of letting go Column by | Francis Salazar
I
was playing tag with my cousins — waiting for my mom to get to my grandmother’s house so that my siblings and I could go to my dad’s place. I remember running around the house, hoping not to get tagged. I remember the placement of the living room where we were playing. It’s all vivid. It’s not a perfect recollection of the day, but I remember everything that led to the news. I remember being walked into the kitchen. I remember thinking it wasn’t a big deal that my tias, my aunts, were crying for some odd reason. The weirdest part is that the colors of my grandma’s kitchen are what I recall most. I don’t know why those colors stick out to me. But for the most part, it’s hard to forget the day you find out that your dad isn’t here anymore — that he’s gone. I remember being told that he was gone. I can’t recall the exact words, I don’t think I ever want to remember the words that told me -- at the age of six -- that my dad was gone.
18 | Commentary
There seems to be a before I found out. A before my worldview changed, before a slight difference in me occured. Before my laughter became quiet confusion, before my large smiles became quiet crying. There was an after too. After being told how the house was somber. How my cousins tried to make me feel better. An after of being confused: What did it mean? How was I supposed to deal with this? What could a 6-year-old do? I can’t recall anything after that, but I remember the funeral. How the line to see him was out the door, how I kept going up to my dad, wanting him to wake up, wanting it to be a joke, wanting my dad back. How I kept asking my Tia to take me up to see him. For a while, my siblings and I would record messages to him on a old voice recorder. I would write letters. Sometimes the pain of not having my biological father around hurt so much that sometimes, even now, it hurts everywhere, like an old wound being opened again. Recently, my uncle passed away from cancer. It hurt, not because I was close to him, but because I saw my family, the ones who told me my dad had passed, break. I broke with them. It was hard. It always is. My uncle has two beautiful girls, my baby cousins who are dealing with the same thing I had to deal with when I was six. I wish I could say that I can’t imagine what they are going through, but I can. I wish they didn’t know what it feels like. I’ve dealt with grief since I was six, and I will deal with it as time goes on. No one is immortal, time and death will come for us all in the end. It’s an impossible idea to even entertain. What happens after they pass? Well I’ll tell you — life. Life continues. It sucks, but as they say, life goes on. There is not anything we can do, not really. Dealing with grief and death is
hard. It’s always hard, losing someone you love to death is hard. I know this very well, and for anyone who has ever lost someone, they know. Sometimes it becomes so hard, you can’t breathe and you wonder, “why did this happen?” It echoes in my head, “Why me? Why my dad? Why did this happen? How did this happen to me? Why is it that he’s gone and I don’t know what to do?” I don’t know which is worse, feeling like the grief is suffocating you or forgetting the things about them that made them, them. Or maybe the worst part is feeling guilty for enjoying life without them. It comes and goes, the grief, the sadness, the pain of losing someone. There’s a light at some point, where you don’t feel guilty for continuing on without them. Where the anchor on your chest feels a little lighter, where you breathe for the first time and you don’t feel the tightening of your throat. It’s okay. It’s okay to be fine, to continue on. Yes, it happened, and yes, it hurts, but that doesn’t mean that it will be the only thing that will ever happen to you. Our lives go on, and that’s okay. One thing I’ve learned from losing my dad and my uncle is that they continue on. We tell the stories of them, we remember them, we love them as time goes on. We keep them alive in our memories and in our hearts. Loving and losing people is a part of life, we must accept that if we continue on living. We are not immortal, and that’s okay. It’s actually perfect that we are born, we live and love, then we move on to whatever happens after death. Maybe we get reincarnated, maybe we go to heaven, who knows? What I know is that grief is hard to deal with and will be hard to deal with, but we continue on. We have to. The only way to deal with grief is to live and love. Life isn’t forever, but neither is grief. In the end, it all turns out okay.
Illustration by | Caroline Tucker
Staff Editorial: Is it time to amend the right to bear arms?
T
he shooting in Parkland, Florida, felt painfully familiar to gun control activists across the country: innocent lives lost, tragedy met with apathy, and shouting on both sides of the aisle, but failing to make any real progress. This time is different. This time, we are not simply gawking and frowning at the pained faces of the shooting victims. We are hearing their roars of power and anger, and we need to be listening. We need to be listening to their perspectives — which are unparalleled by any of the chaotic chants from the global peanut gallery — and we must fight actively for gun control in the United States. The country collectively cried “never again” in 2012 when Adam Lanza killed 22 students and teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, but we, as a nation, have yet to make any real progress on that front in over five years’ time. Not only is this lack of action embarrassing on an international scale, it is almost viciously lukewarm and indifferent on behalf of
our lawmakers. When people are dying in violent droves on American soil, change should come. Americans are dying. Where is our change? Are the deaths of young people, your children, your cousins, your cherished and beloved, not enough? Simultaneously, the defeatist ideal of “if we could not spark change when children died, no change will come” is just as disheartening. Believing in gun control and battling for it are two different things, and America should be doing the latter. The unjust and heartwrenching deaths of kindergarteners and teenagers alike should only provide more motivation for a fight, not a resignation. Change does not come in groveling; it comes in action. Change, of course, is not always characterized by restriction. Some call for arming teachers in response to the Parkland shooting. As high school students, we strongly encourage a different solution. School is not made safer by doubling down on weapons,
it is made safer in ensuring very few people could even manage to get onto campus grounds with one. Our student resource officers, people trained and in the industry of protection, should be carrying weapons. Nobody else. Gun control is a dicey issue. It deals with complicated questions regarding our Bill of Rights and how to approach a centuries-old document in a modern context. Nonetheless, people are dying. Solutions come with a lack of temptation to cause problems. Death tolls fall with a lack of method to raise them. So take action to stop further bloodshed. Advocate to your senators and representatives. Call in as a concerned citizen at every level of government. We encourage you, as students and as Americans, to fight actively for gun control and for the benefit of every student in this country.
Artists of Allen: Xavier Strode Compiled by | Tate Peterson
Senior Xavier Strode plays all the roles of a musician, vlogger and photographer. Stode strides to inspire his peers to think postively and encourage a positive outlook in everyday life through his work.
Q: WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORLD WITH YOUR ARTWORK? A: Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve held firm aspirations to change the world for the better. Over the years, these aspirations would become more vigorous and sound as I would encounter numerous experiences and circumstances. I wanted to do something that would help people prevent themselves from encountering these situations, and, of course, one of the only ways I could do so at the time, was by producing various forms of artwork.
Photo by | Erik Young
Commentary | 19
VS.
LAYNE’S Chicken Fingers
The Eagle Angle’s Audrey Vieira reviewed both Raising Cane’s and Layne’s Chicken Fingers so you didn’t have to At Raising Cane’s the box combo includes four chicken fingers encased in a crispy, deep-fried coating. Although the Cane’s box contains less meat than the Layne’s numberone, the chicken is equally as satisfying as Layne’s, while providing more flavor. Cane’s sauce unites the meal by complementing the sweetness of the chicken with its signature tangy flavor. Excluding the coleslaw, almost every item in the box combo can be eaten with Cane’s sauce. However, only a small amount is provided, forcing customers to choose between paying for each extra container of sauce or practically rationing the condiment. In contrast, the soft, lightly grilled Texas toast slices at Cane’s are more similar to bread than toast, yet greater in thickness.
Cane’s coleslaw is drowned in mayonnaise. In fact, apart from a few pieces of lettuce, mayonnaise is basically the coleslaw’s sole ingredient. there is no “lesser of two evils” to choose from between the two sides. There is only mayonnaise. Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers earns a welldeserved A for reminding me of my deep love for deep-fried chicken and for serving a signature sauce so good, I can almost forgive them for serving coleslaw.
Chicken
A number-one original combo meal at Layne’s Chicken Fingers includes five chicken fingers sprinkled with pepper. Each chicken finger felt like a meal on its own, but while Layne’s provided more for my money, it also made me feel sick to my stomach less than halfway into the meal.
fries
I thought Layne’s secret sauce would be love at first bite, but when the harsh aftertaste kicked in, I discovered some secrets were best kept hidden. Sweet and spicy can be a delicious combination, but in Layne’s sauce, the two tastes clash with almost every aspect of the meal. This sauce is better off substituted for another side item.
TOASt
Those who enjoy their Texas toast welldone are likely to appreciate how each slice is grilled to a crisp before being served at Layne’s. However, the bread itself is incredibly thin and tastes slightly burnt once toasted.
sides
Both Layne’s potato salad and Cane’s coleslaw should satisfy mayonnaise lovers in need of a side dish. I could not detect a hint of potato in Layne’s potato salad, only the uncomfortable chill of refrigerated condiments on my taste buds.
Overall
I would give Layne’s Chicken Fingers a B-. The chicken fingers and lemonade are delicious, but overwhelmingly large portion sizes and the clashing flavors of the secret sauce have made me unsure whether or not to revisit a Layne’s location in the future. Photo by | Audrey Vieira
Review: ‘Nation of Two’ Review by | Divya Jagadeesh
F
our years after “Dream Your Life Away,” Australian singer Vance Joy’s sophomore effort, “Nation of Two,” is an evolution of sorts. From the lovelorn, yearning chords on his debut, Joy explores a world that begins and ends with a couple: their bed, their car, any place where they’re together. The tracks construct a tale about two people who use love as the point of reference in their life. Throughout “Dream Your Life Away,” Joy seems to be reaching for a love that’s just out of reach, but “Nation of Two” is more sunny, and Joy is holding someone’s
hand this time around. The first single from the album, “Lay It On Me,” has an infectious rhythm, and it’s reminiscent of the confident crooning from 2014. Joy has always been strong with his ballads, and the ones off this album are some of my favorites. Even the more poppy songs like “Saturday Sun” and “Like Gold” are replete with adoration for their subjects, and they have the feeling of a romantic montage during the heat of summer. Joy serenades his love in tracks such as “Take Your Time” and “I’m With You,” whose position right next to each other juxtaposes fiery longing with lovesick ache; they both expertly convey the speaker’s love and devotion with starkly different moods. “I’m With You” is one of the best cuts on the album. Joy shows off his vocal range as he’s accompanied with only a guitar playing sparse chords. It contrasts with the fastpaced, catchy production Joy’s songs on the radio are known for, and, oh God, it hurts. It hurts when he describes his “darlin’,” and it hurts when he reaches a falsetto repeating the song’s title over and over.
A
The layout of the song is simple, and it’s romantic in all the right ways — from a movie scene with fingers brushing and the sunset reflected in a pair of eyes. However, it’s easy to get lost in this album. Much of it blends and blurs, and it doesn’t feel as cohesive as it should be. While songs such as “Crashing Into You” and “Little Boy” attempt to stand apart, they still underwhelm, without a climax. It’s too easy to put on this album, not recognize transitions between songs, and look up in surprise when it ends because it seemed like the first track, “Call If You Need Me,” was just on. Despite its lack of variety, “Nation of Two” is still emotional and still communicates the several faces love takes on. Joy carries that Australian, folksy ambience from his previous EPs and debut, and he’s grown into it. For its smart storytelling and wistful vocals, “Nation of Two” deserves an A.
Preview: ‘Black Panther’ Review by | Morgan Pryor
T
he Marvel Cinematic Universe recently celebrated a milestone in its history ― a decade of bringing comic book heroes to life on the silver screen. Marvel’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down, however, with recent addition “Black Panther” making a significant breakthrough in minority representation in film. Though “Black Panther” does follow Marvel’s usual plot formula, it distinguishes itself from other films by tackling important social issues. The film delivers on nearly every level, from its exceptional performances to the stunning visual designs. Still grieving over his father’s death, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) faces immediate challenges to his rule in the form of political concerns about his nation’s future international role. Later on, outside forces — Andy Serkis’ Ulysses Klaue and Michael B. Jordan’s Erik “Killmonger” Stevens — unite to wreak havoc on the
A
kingdom. A mutual respect exists between the male and female characters; neither seems intimidated by the other’s strengths, which is a refreshing departure from the many Hollywood films that pit female leads against men in power struggles. There is an unsaid understanding that they work better as a united force, perfectly executing what feminism is all about. Though the CGI-heavy final battle is a bit underwhelming when compared to the more intimate fight sequences, “Black Panther” more than makes up for it with stellar costume and set design. Afrofuturistic elements are expertly layered with rich traditional culture. Coogler smoothly integrates important questions and issues like the impact of colonialism and white supremacy, elevating it beyond a standard action flick to a social
commentary. “Black Panther” sets the bar for all of the future installments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. More than worthy of an A, “Black Panther” deserves to be celebrated.
Commentary | 21