EA Allen High School Issue 6 Volume 35 May 2018
> The great debate
Debate members discuss the changes of the team | page 4
> Some things never change
Former students, city residents gather together for the Old Timers Reunion | page 9
> Keep the train rolling
The need for public transportation in Allen | page 18
Sowing seeds Teachers, administration talk about the education system, an instructor’s responsibility and how this past school year differs from the rest | page 10
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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.
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Editors-in-chief | Divya Jagadeesh* Felix Kalvesmaki* Sr. Managing Editor | Julia Zaksek*
NEWS/FEATURE
Features Editor | Caroline Tucker
Briefly speaking.......................................................... 2 Q&A with Courtney Sharkey....................................3 The great debate...........................................................4 Happy trails..................................................................5 The real deal: Ms. Creel..............................................6 Filling in white space...................................................7 Success in science........................................................8 Some things never change......................................... 9
Commentary Editor | Audrey Vieira
COVER STORY
Jr. Managing Editor | Maya Morriswala* News Editor | Christian Hinton*
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
Sowing seeds.......................................................10-13 Teachers, administration discuss the education system, an instructor’s responsibility and how this past school year differs from the rest. Turn to page 10 to read about how teachers do their job, their other responsibilities and connect with students.
SPORTS
Served straight up......................................................14 A historic run.............................................................15
PHOTO ESSAY
The senior voice....................................................16-17
COMMENTARY
Keep the train rolling................................................18 Staff editorial..............................................................19 Artists of Allen: Carter Scott...................................19 Budgeted fun............................................................. 20 Review: ‘Dirty Computer’.........................................21 Review: ‘Infinity War’...............................................21
Letter to the Reader
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he 2017-2018 school is coming to a close. The buzz of summer is in the air, and both students and teachers alike are ready to sleep in, and let loose. With the year winding down, it’s easy to get caught up in the stress of finals, of AP and IB exams, and forget about the people meant to coach you through the whole thing. Teachers fill the world with potential. Quite literally. Someone had to teach architects and carpenters to build this school from the ground up. Someone had to teach us how to make a magazine. Someone had to teach your teachers to do what they do every day. We’re ending our high school careers with a love letter of sorts, to the people who made it all possible. This issue, we also wanted to show our appreciation for parts of our school and community that don’t always get a lot of attention. We talked to members of our school’s science club and debate team about their accomplishments, and our softball team will be in the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. As the district gets larger, the addition of a STEAM center to Allen High School offers opportunities previously unavailable, so we sat down with the administrators of the new center to discuss the campus’ future, and what its use will be, and our last personal column of the year calls for public transportation in Allen to make our city more accessible to those who aren’t as privileged. We want to highlight everyone who’s at our school and reads our publication, we hope we did that well this year. This is the last issue of this school year — the last time we’ll write a letter to the reader. It’s been an absolute joy creating six 24-page issues in full, glossy color. Our time as co-editors-in-chief, and on The Eagle Angle in general, won’t be forgotten after graduation or in college in the fall. We hope you enjoy the issue. -30Love,
News and Features | 1
Briefly Speaking Compiled by | Christine Odwesso
AHS showcase set to take place
Michelle Wolf creates buzz at White House correspondents dinner
Prince William and Duchess Kate welcome new child
Allen, Texas | The Tallenettes and Colorguard Showcase 2018, titled “Spectrum” is set for May 18 and 19 in the Performing Arts Center. The Friday show begins at 7 p.m. and the Saturday show begins at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $7 to $17 depending on seat location. To purchase tickets, visit the Allen PAC website.
Washington, D.C. | In the wake of this year’s controversy over comedian Michelle Wolf’s scathing monologue, some are debating whether to make changes to the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, an event which honors journalists and awards scholarships.
Location | Prince William and Duchess Kate welcomed the birth of their new baby boy, who was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in London on April 23, weighing 8 pounds, 7 ounces at birth. According to Kensington Palace, the newborn will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge.
Plano student arrested for planning attack on mall
Former first lady Barbara Bush dies at 92
North and South Korea Set a Date for summit meeting at border
Houston | Former first lady Barbara Bush, who advocated for literacy, died April 17. She became a major political figure as her husband, George H.W. Bush, rose to become vice president and president. After they left the White House, she was a potent spokeswoman for two of her sons -- George W. and Jeb -- as they campaigned for office. Bush is survived by her husband, former President George H.W.; sons former President George W., Neil, Marvin and Jeb; daughter, Dorothy Bush Koch, and 17 grandchildren.
South Korea | North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, and President Moon Jae-in of South Korea met for the first time on April 27, and set a date for talks meant to extend the recent pause on the Korean Peninsula and pave the way for discussions between Kim and President Trump.
Plano, Texas | A 17-year-old North Texas student, Matin Azizi-Yarand, was arrested Tuesday at Plano West Senior High School and is now being held at the Collin County Jail on $3 million bond. Under Texas law, he’ll be tried as an adult and faces up to life in prison for criminal solicitation and up to 10 years in prison for making a terroristic threat.
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Q&A
WITH COURTNEY Sharkey
The Eagle Angle’s commentary editor Audrey Vieira reached out to recently hired STEAM center administrator Courtney Sharkey to discuss her past experience as North Forney High School principal, her future with Allen ISD and the qualities of leadership
Q: How did you decide to accept the STEAM Center administrative position? A: Honestly, I had not really intended on leaving North
Forney. I had no intention of leaving because I really love my job, I love working in schools, but then I heard about this job that combined two things I love, which would be students and leading a school, but also I’ve always been fascinated by STEM and the arts. I’ve had an opportunity to work in that field before, but not in the school setting. I was really excited about combining those two passions.
Photo courtesy of | Courtney Sharkey
Q: What will you miss most about Forney ISD when you begin your position at Allen?
A: Definitely the students. It’s why I do what I do. I just love
teenagers, I’m not sure why, but they’re great, they’re full of passion and life. I’m looking forward to meeting the Allen students, but somebody asked me what I was struggling with the most and I said, “Definitely the kids.” Luckily, the kids will be fine. They’re resilient and I will meet new, incredible students [in Allen.]
Q: As an educational leader, which qualities of leadership do you value most? A: Above anything else, just being authentic and genuine. I Q: When will you officially think kids are smart enough that they know when you’re not begin working as STEAM Center being real, and having a genuine love of what you’re doing is probably one of the most important things you can do, and administrator? then being willing to take risks as a leader. I think that’s how we grow. If we’re not willing to take risks, I don’t know how A: This summer, so I’m going to get through graduation at we expect our students to take risks.
Q: What is your favorite job you’ve ever had? A: Definitely a teacher. I’ve had a lot of fun jobs, like STEM
North Forney. Obviously that will be sad and difficult, but I want to see these kids finish the year, and then I’ll start diving into STEAM probably in June. I’m ready.
supervisor at the district office, and I’ve been the director of a science museum and I’ve done a lot of really cool stuff, but in my heart I am a teacher first. That’s just what I love to do.
News and Features | 3
The great debate
Senior debate members discuss the changes of the team Story by | Caroline Tucker
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hen seniors Kennedy Frost and Catherine Chen joined the debate team their freshman year, the support needed was available for the debaters to persevere and achieve success. As years passed and sponsors changed though, the Allen debate team has lost the right to compete, according to Frost and Chen. According to Frost and Chen, as leaders changed and competition opportunities became scarce, the debate team suffered with loss of people, work, and recognition. “The first year was super awesome,” Frost said. “We had a different debate coach, and her name was Mrs. Sawyer. She was extremely handson, she understood what the best way was to make the program work.” As freshmen, Frost and Chen claimed that the debate team had much more resources available, including upperclassmen, alumni debaters and several cases and competitions where they learned best. “During our senior year, things took a turn,” Frost said. “We stopped competing. We still get access to UIL, but UIL for debate [is bad]. The Texas Forensic Association (TFA) competitions we used to go to are the cases that really matter in the debate world. ” According to Chen, transitioning from one sponsor to another, the debate teams gained some and lost some. “It’s different, Mrs. Farmer did a lot of good things,” Chen said. “She made debate a lot more organized, and she brings in a lot of new freshmen, but at the same time, we only did a couple TFA tournaments which is really where we learn and grow.” TFA tournaments are linked to the National Speech and Debate Association, allowing for students to place in state, and then have the chance to move on to nationals. “To qualify for state in a TFA tournament is actually really difficult,” Chen said. “There are very few teams who can [qualify] consistently, and if we’re not
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going to enough competitions, we’re not getting enough points and or practice to continue on.” Compared to schools nearby, such as Plano or McKinney, Allen barely goes to any competitions. While rivals have the support to go to 20 to 30 competitions, Allen only has the chance to go to three, which gives the advantage to other schools as they have practiced the cases many times before.
“ W e qualified for state our sophomore year, along with a few other upperclassmen,” Frost said. “When we asked Mrs. Farmer if we were allowed to go, she responded by saying she wasn’t required to go.” Without the opportunity to go to state, debaters had no chance to go to nationals. Frost and Chen saw the same thing take place when they qualified again their junior year. “All we needed was a sponsor,” Frost said. “We were really interested in this tournament, so Catherine and I proposed the idea to Mrs. Farmer that if we could find another sponsor, we could go. She agreed. But once we told her we found
another sponsor, she claimed that we had gone behind her back, so we didn’t get the chance to go again.” According to Chen, she believes that this could all be easily fixed if the school understood and looked deeper into the debate program. “The school only cares about UIL, and UIL is so much more different and less challenging than the TFA tournaments,” Chen said. “We’ve never had a problem with UIL.” Chen explained that TFA tournaments can be difficult to attend because the competition requires overtime during spring break, compared to UIL which only takes place on a weekend. “The school didn’t recognize that we made it to state,” Frost said. “The only time that they have acknowledged our accomplishments is when Catherine qualified for UIL. It’s frustrating.” As debate loses opportunities to get better and compete, the team loses talented team members who had qualified for state every year of their time on debate team. “It’s really sad because there were a lot of talented kids on the team,” Frost said. “So many people straight up quit because they were done because the support was taken from them.” In a nation that has several opinions, debate team teaches students valuable lessons that are necessary for a successful future, according to Chen. “Debate is such a valuable skill to have, we’re not asking for a million dollars,” Chen said. “We’re asking for the time and resources to help a club be successful. Allen isn’t just football.” The debate teacher as well as administration at Lowery Freshman Center were given multiple opportunities to respond to the discussion of this topic, but did not do so prior to deadline.
Graphic by | Caroline Tucker
Happy trails Allen expands and upgrades public trail system Story by | Christian Hinton
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ver the next decade, the City of Allen plans to expand its public trail system to make it more accessible and viable mode of transportation. These “hike and bike” trails can range from eight to 12 feet wide and are a part of a city vision that was first set in motion in the mid ‘90s. “I think there was a vision,” City of Allen Park Planner Randy Thompson said. “There is a trail master plan that was put together that kind of determined what we see now in Allen. That trail pretty much put down the green belts, the creekways, so it was very instrumental in directing the future trail development of this system.” The current trail plan, which Thompson said will be completed in about a decade, will have 93 miles of trail. In addition to recreational trails, it will have wider major trails that can be used to travel to the six cities bordering Allen. “We don’t have much say in what goes on around us,” Thompson said. “It’s really a good faith effort for each city to decide that they want to see that connectivity with their neighbors. Allen’s committed to that.” Although the City of Allen constructs trails, many trails in Allen are privately
constructed and maintained by housing developments. According to Thompson, Allen averages three miles of trail a year, with about one mile constructed by the city. “Developers are starting to see the value,” Thompson said. “There’s a pretty significant value in having trails in your development. People love having trails around where they live. There are a significant number of trails that aren’t even indicated on our maps because they’re privately maintained, privately owned.” Thompson said that recent surveys showed that trails were the number one thing Allen residents wanted and that this popularity is a recent trend in the past five years. “It benefits the whole,” Thompson said. “It may cost the developer [in Allen] to build this trail but it benefits the entire community. Some people feel like if they increase [the number of] trails, decrease the ability to come in with a vehicle and they’ll walk in, or they’ll bike in. It creates a more pedestrian-friendly environment and less motor vehicles.” One mile of trail currently costs about $1 million, according to Thompson. After
construction, the short term costs are low, but maintenance costs gradually increase as trails get older. “With trails come graffiti and erosion,” Thompson said. “The negative impact would be more on the logistics for having it around, because people use them, and where there’s people there’s mischief or opportunity for people to do things that you’d rather not have happening around your home.” Over the next several years, public trails will be updated with new trailhead markers and signs to make the trail system easier to navigate and more accessible. According to Thompson, there will be a detailed trail map available online and eventually an app. “We want to make it very obvious how a rec user can engage in trails, how somebody traveling from city to city can benefit from our trails, if somebody is looking for a historical marker,” Thompson said. “Are there trails that people are unaware of? Yeah, I’m sure there are. Let’s tell them where they’re at. Let’s show them how to get there, for the future.”
News and Features | 5
The real deal: Kim Creel
Journalism I, AV Tech and photojournalism teacher shares how she balances her classes, her impact on her students Story and photo by | Alyssa Holloway
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imberly Creel is the bright and smiling face for many students looking to pursue a career in journalism, photojournalism or AV technology at Allen High School. Previously a teacher at Wylie before transferring to Allen during the 2013-2014 school year, students since then can say that Creel was their beginning teacher as they entered into the fields of computer science and journalism.
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When you’re passionate about something, you’ll do better at teaching it.
“I love all my classes equally and differently,” Creel said. “When you’re passionate about something, you’ll do better at teaching it, and some days, I feel like I’m good at journalism, [and] some days, I feel like I’m better at photography, and others, I feel like I’m dropping the ball on a bunch of things. I don’t think it’s possible to balance the classes 100 percent, but you just do your best.”
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- Kim Creel Freshman Hailey Armstrong, enrolled in Creel’s journalism 1 and AV tech classes, says Creel knows how to keep everyone in line. “She’s awesome,” Armstrong said. “She’s very good at keeping people’s attention and teaching the material. She’s good at having a mix of explaining everything and helping you remember things in a fun and easy way.” Creel began her journalism journey in high school when she accidentally got put into her school’s journalism 1 class, but she ultimately fell in love with the career pathway and is glad to be able to teach it today. “I was always a journalism nerd in high school,” Creel said. “But I never thought I’d actually be able to be a journalism adviser. There are still some days I think to myself, ‘wow, I’m pretty lucky.’” Creel has taught many different courses over her multiple years as a teacher, including Business Information Management (BIM), marketing and math recovery for fifth and sixth graders back in Wylie.
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When Creel moved here in the 20132014 school year, she was impressed with how polite and respectful the students were here compared to Wylie. She was a little overwhelmed with Allen’s school size, but thinks the way the house offices are organized is successful. “Everyone works together as a big team here at Allen High School, and everyone gets along,” Creel said. “I can’t imagine leaving here. I get to teach the classes I want and am most passionate about. I’m still excited
about working, and this is my fifth year teaching at Allen. I’ll be here as long as [the administration] will let me.” Most student staffers in the newspaper or yearbook classes can say they had or have interacted with Creel during their journey as journalists. Journalism I creates the Lowery freshman yearbook, The Eagle Eye, and is the starting point for many students continuing in the journalism career pathway. “I love when I’m flipping through the Eagle Angle magazine, and I recognize names of my previous students,” Creel said. “I love seeing you guys go out and conquer the world.” Creel dedicates a lot of her time in assisting her students in class and outof-class and according to Armstrong, is someone who is willing to help in any way she can. Located in K109, many of her previous students can say that it was a place they can still visit and go to today. “I work about an hour a day outside of class,” Creel said. “But during yearbook season, I’m here most weekends working. Non-yearbook season, however, I’m up here about one weekend day every three weeks or so to stay caught up on my work.”
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I love seeing you guys go out and conquer the world.
- Kim Creel
But Creel thinks all the time and dedication she puts into her job is completely worth it as long as she watches her students develop and grow in their learning. “I hope I’m teaching you all well,” Creel said. “Knowing I got to help you guys push yourself a little bit in achieving your goals is my absolute favorite thing about being a teacher.”
FILLING IN WHITE SPACE
As renovations continue, Animation classes transform a blank wall into bright canvas Story by | Audrey Vieira
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gallery of tape art created by students in Karen Adams’ animation II and practicum in animation classes has converted the blank space covering campus construction into a canvas for creativity. “At the beginning, we had almost no tape,” junior Hayden Hurst said. “We had two colors, black and blue. One of the very first paintings was just straight up black and blue paint, very simple, very nothingness.” However, as additional colors of tape arrived, rough sketches were soon stuck to the white wall, and the gallery slowly began to grow. “I don’t think there’s a single frame that got finished in one day,” Hurst said. Many works in progress, including the image of a deer, cover art for Frank Ocean’s latest album “Blonde,” and a portal which Hearst has been designing The pieces are updated daily by students. “It’s a good way to be artistic without having to paint something,” said senior
Elizabeth Ivy, who collaborated on “Tragedy of the Cephalopods” with fellow senior Reilly Tuer. “[The piece] is supposed to look a bit like the ‘Ummagumma album’ by Pink Floyd,” Tuer said. “But it doesn’t look like that at all anymore.” In addition to pop culture-influenced works like Ivy and Tuer’s collaboration, the tape art gallery includes parodies of Internet memes such as “Loss” and “Had To Do It To Em,” as well as an Eagles-themed mural in Allen High School’s signature colors. “I knew none of the kids would do [a school-inspired piece] because they all wanted to do their own own art projects, and I’m all for that, but I felt like we had to pull the high school in there somehow,” Adams said. Although the animation program’s gallery had never been created before, Hurst saw the opportunity as “something fun” to do with friends.
Photos by | Tate Peterson
“It wasn’t something to show the extremely artistic side [of animation],” Hurst said, “but it was fun to get something up on that blank wall since there’s really nothing there.” Adams described the project as “like the planning phases of animation, [including] creating concepts and storyboards.” When construction is completed at the end of summer, the tape art gallery will be taken down along with the wall. Still, the animation program continues to work on new projects and gain experience with various styles of technology and art . “If you are really passionate about going into animation, go for it, man,” Hurst said “Nothing can really hold you back, and if you really want to go, don’t be held back by ‘oh, I don’t have enough skill’ or ‘I’m not good with computers.’ If you want to do it, you do it.”
News and Features | 7
Success in science
Members of Science Club win at this year’s Dallas Regional Science Fair. Story by | Brooke Adams
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espite hard work and the endless hours put into the final product, the high school’s success at the Dallas Regional Science Fair is not-so-widely recognized, according to chemistry teacher and Science Club sponsor Sandy Kulkarni. Many students, all a part of the high school’s Science Club, participated in this event. Some students even brought home awards or advanced to the state competition. “I tell [the students] science fair is not just to win an award, it’s to get the experience,” Kulkarni said. “That’s what happens in life. Life is not always fair and you have to work hard to get research done.” According to the results, six students won a total of nine awards. Many students from Allen did not win, and the ones who did had been working on their projects for multiple months and some even years, tweaking fine details to enhance their presentation. “I’ve actually been working on this project for four years,” senior Meghana Nadella said. “It was inspired freshman year by a researcher working with clays in Africa against a bacteria there, and I wondered why we can’t use American clays as antibacterial devices against more common types of bacteria. That molded over four years into a water disinfection device.” With the amount of time these students have been working to perfect their projects, it is reasonable that they would run into some roadblocks along the way according to Kulkarni. “The most challenging aspect of the project for me was getting acclimated to an actual laboratory setting because I had never conducted research in an actual lab before this,” sophomore Priya Mandava said. However, many of them do not have to face these hurdles alone. They often times have mentors to motivate them throughout the process. “Sometimes things don’t work, and I can connect them with some professors if they need some more help or need to do some experiments,” Kulkarni said, “I open
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my classroom, and they work here with me as well.” After the entire project is complete, Nadella said there is a feeling of relief and success, where she is proud of herself for all she has accomplished. “My favorite part of every year is the night before the fair when I finish the board and stand the double board up and admire the months of work that I have compiled into 20 slides and a dozen pictures,” Nadella said. Sophomore Pranay Srivastava and senior Meghana Nadella hold their awards beside The students Sandy Kulkarni, their mentor teacher. Photo courtesy of | Sandy Kulkarni a part of Science involved the use of a lab, Kulkarni said that Club such as Mandava and Nadella said they recognize a science fair project does not have to be its good qualities and importance, but like the traditional experiments most people Kulkarni said that many students often imagine. “It doesn’t have to be exactly like misinterpret Science Club and what it’s like working on an experiment in the lab,” to be a part of the science fair. “Everybody thinks when you’re in Kulkarni said. “It can be anything, like how science class that it’s a boring class, where the color affects somebody’s mood to the you need to do problems and all that, but effect of music on students’ performance. Science Club is all about fun, and they get That alone brings [students] to think that closer to science,” Kulkarni said. “This they want to pursue a career in science.” Nadella said that the foundation of leads to a passion for science.” Mandava said that participating in science projects is asking questions that science fair also provided her with useful lead to discovery, and students who share this passion meet together in Science Club. skills that will help her in the future. [Students] like to have that social “I was able to learn so much about laboratory settings, various equipments and atmosphere in which we have; they feel tests, experimental methods, experimental that’s like a family to them,” Kulkarni regulations and more,” Mandava said. said. “Here we have sophomores, juniors “Through hours of dedication and [my and seniors who all come together and mentor’s] help, I was able to adapt to a share each other’s thoughts. That’s the best thing.” university lab.” Although Mandava’s project specifically
Some things never change
Former students, city residents gather together for the Old Timers Reunion
Story by | Natalie McMahon Photo coutesy of | Tim Carroll
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he Allen Old Timer’s Reunion, hosted by Allen ISD’s Community Education Department, was Sunday, April 22 in the Performing Arts Center Commons. The event was free and available to former and current city residents who consider themselves “old timers.” Tim Carroll, the Allen ISD Chief Information Officer, said the purpose of this event is not a class reunion, but a reunion of people who grew up in Allen. “I think what makes this interesting is there’s a history in Allen, and Allen has changed so much since the old days.” Carroll said. “It’s hard to imagine school, in a town like Allen with no houses and no highways.” Tim Carroll said they had about 150 people at the event and the average age was 65 to 70. “We just had somebody come in and [say] it’s nice to see all these people and not be at a funeral,” Carroll said. “I know that sounds kind of crude but that’s exactly
what they [say].” Buddy Camper started the newspaper in Allen and said this was his third time attending. This event gives him the chance to see people he hasn’t seen in 50 years. He said when he moved to Allen, it was just a small town of 1,700 people.
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I’m just delighted to come back [to Allen] and call it home again.
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- Richard Chumbley “Back in the early days, Allen was a very special place,” Camper said. “[There were] a lot of forward-thinking people who really set up Allen to be what it is today.” Carroll said that it gives everybody a chance to enjoy the company of these people, even if they didn’t go to high school in Allen. “I don’t think there’s any question
[that] they come to see people they haven’t seen in a long time,” Tim Carroll said. “I recommend [this event] to anybody that grew up in Allen in the old time.” Richard Chumbley graduated from Allen High School in 1963 with a class of 12 students. “We still feel like we’re a part of the town, a part of the school, [and] a part of the community,” Chumbley said. “I still try to come to homecoming for the football games.” Chumbley said that it has been really interesting to see the progress made in Allen with the young people stepping up. “This is the best thing to ever happen,” Chumbley said. “I’m just delighted to come back [to Allen] and call it home again.”
News and Features | 9
SOWING SEEDS
Teachers, administration talk about the education system, an instructor’s responsibility and how this past school year differs from the rest
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eachers are at the core of every school system. They are on the front lines and the back-ends and everywhere in-between. And their job is never easy. Grading can take hours, students can be, well, students, and of course there’s hall duty. But teachers, at the end of the day, play a vital role, not just within four classroom walls, but in our society as a whole. Principal Jason Johnston agrees. He says that is not only the goal of teachers, but the entirety of Allen ISD. “Our goal should be to equip and empower and encourage our kids to reach their full potential,” Johnston said. “That’s the mission of the district, to utilize the scope of the influence [teachers] have, whether
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that’s their content time, or any other time they have on the campus, to help students achieve their goals.” While Johnston says the students are the first priority of the school system, the administration also considers supporting teachers vital. “If your teacher’s goal is to equip, encourage and empower your students to maximize their full potential, the same will go for the teachers,” Johnston said. “I think we want to equip, encourage and empower them just the same.”
Something old, something new The 2017-2018 school year saw changes in Allen High School to the role of its teachers
with the induction of new procedures on campus. “We were trying to make sure we provided the safest environment for our students, making sure we provided the best learning environment for our classrooms, and so, that was the precipice for that,” Johnston said. And just trying to make sure we’re an active part of our student’s involvement here on campus,” Johnston said. Teachers now play a more active role in district-sponsored activities that take place outside normal school hours, as well as extending their school day to include hall duty and academic monitoring periods before first period and after eighth period. “It was a huge adjustment in trying to figure out tutoring times because I would
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Photo by | Tate Peterson
have to say, ‘I’m not here at this time, I have duty,’ and normally, it was always, ‘I’m here at this time every day,’” economics teacher Don Anderson said. By necessity, some teachers had to alter their tutoring and meeting schedules in order to fulfill new responsibilities. “There have been some changes on campus that have added some to our plates, so we’ve had a little bit less time,” Spanish teacher Jordan Kauffman said. Kauffman says this year has been a particularly busier year than before, not only because of new duties, but because of smaller-scale changes to how his class operates. “Our department got a new textbook,” Kauffman said. “We’ve created new
curriculum, so I and some other teachers are teaching brand new sections that we’ve never taught before. Expanding on the departmental changes, Kauffman explained that less teachers and more curriculum have been a big challenge to tackle this year. “A couple teachers retired last year,” Kauffman said. “So we’re teaching three pre-AP [classes] now, so we have less time this year, and we’re creating brand new curriculum, assessments, games, activities, lesson plans. It’s hard, because you’re basically creating everything, and you’re trying to keep ahead of all your classes, so they don’t catch up to where you’re at. So it’s like a big game of catch-up, but I think we’ve done a great job at staying ahead.”
Kauffman says the year has definitely kept him busy. “Every minute is filled with something –– there’s always something to do. It’s a struggle year, for sure.” Kauffman said.
Making the grade However, Johnston says the administration makes sure teachers still have both time to properly fulfill their role as educators as well have the space for lives outside the classroom. “I used to spend seven days a week working and coaching, and I never got to be a mom,” U.S. history teacher Caitie Quirk said. “So here, everyday is exciting, but I have the choice to go home and be a mom.”
News and Features | 11
Quirk is new to Allen ISD, she finds the current operations of the high school a much needed improvement. “I felt burnt out at my last school,” Quirk said. “It wasn’t fulfilling even though I was doing a lot with the kids. Here the expectations are higher; I have more curriculum and new curriculum and new people to talk to. It has re-energized my teaching bug.” Quirk says the structure of school operations and the involved roles the staff play remind her of the efficiency of the mechanics within a business. “I felt like when I stepped into Allen High, I was touring another college campus,” Quirk said. “College campuses run very smoothly and are exciting, and that’s exactly what [Allen High] felt like.” Overall perception of the changes to the school shifted over the course of the year. “You know, every time you change someone’s routine or pattern, there’s always a little bit of angst that comes along with that,” Johnston said. “We probably got more feedback from concern at the beginning of the year, a lot because we were trying to communicate the full vision of that, as opposed to meeting need. But as the school year has gone on, we’ve been able to become more efficient in how we’re using staff, so I think they’re finally finding some time given back to them.” Over the course of the year, initial unease with the changes in routine evolved into appreciation. “While it’s been stressful and a lot of work, it has also been one of the most enjoyable years I have ever had,” Anderson said. Quirk says that moving to Allen has been a beneficial experience, both for her own life and her family. “My experience has been so smooth and
positive and honestly, I am a better teacher at year one than I was in the beginning or even at year five, six or seven,” Quirk said.“It’s been a really great year and great to be there for my daughter too,”
Beyond instruction Allen High offers many opportunities for students outside of the school, which often need adult supervision. After-school musicals, football games and other activities require chaperones and sometimes the administration looks to its teachers to fill gaps, which many teachers are happy to do. “[When] I volunteer, I know what I’m getting into,” Quirk said. “I’m not pushed into anything I don’t want to do. When we do go, it’s super fun. We don’t have to go, we get to.”
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“You simply need to make your class fun. It also absolutely must be relevant to their lives. - Don Anderson
However, Anderson says that there is plenty of room to make learning just as fun as extracurriculars, and doing so is the secret to successful instruction. “You simply need to make your class fun,” Anderson said. “It also absolutely must be relevant to their lives, either then, or very shortly in the future. I’ve tried to apply that to every single subject I’ve ever tried to teach.” Thus, while change is evident in Allen, Johnston says the objectives of the district remain the same. “We want to continue that tradition of providing students a great learning
Graphics by | Julia Zaksek
12 | News and Features
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experience that sets them up for success as they move forward. I think we have to do that recognizing that there’s changes that are happening around us in terms of how we access information, how we teach and learn,” Johnston said. “We have to make the adjustments necessary to provide opportunities here for our kids, and to be able to support their successes in all the different ways.” Kauffman also says that connecting with students is key to helping them learn and that he has his own way of bonding with his students. “We do ‘frunch’ [Friday lunch], my wife and I,” Kauffman said. “It’s every other Friday in my room. We buy 12 pizzas for kids, and hang out, eat some food, and talk about some issues that we see, or issues that they see. We just open the floor for discussion. [It’s] that idea of wanting to build into students— especially the advanced academics kids because those are the kids we relate most with and have a passion for. We just wanted to have a place where kids –– mostly students in my classes, but also just IB students –– could get together, where we just talk about what’s going on in life.” Kauffman said “frunch” discussion is based around a list of questions meant to get students thinking and relating to each other. “Not super deep questions, but just ways of thinking and sharing. For example: ‘How do you perceive love? How do you give love?’” Kauffman said. “‘What worries do you have about your generation? What gives you hope about your generation? When you do graduate, what kind of legacy do you want to leave? What keeps you going?’ It’s very interesting. It helps [students realize] ‘oh, yeah, I’m not the only one that feels that way.’” Kauffman says he hopes to be the
Tracking Teachers Compiled by | Caroline Tucker
> According to surveys given in the United States, teachers are second to military personnel in contributing most to the well-being of society
IB Spanish teacher Jordan Kauffman said he enjoys an active classroom. Photo by | Julia Zaksek
teacher he needed and appreciated when he was a student. “I guess I just noticed in high school, that a lot of times, I tended to learn better from teachers that I respected and felt a connection with,” Kauffman said. “I feel like there’s been kind of a shift in this generation. In the past, you gave respect because of someone’s position. Now it’s more, ‘I respect you, therefore I will
Economics teacher Don Anderson said the year was stressful but enjoyable. Photo by | Tate Peterson
to teach content, but to try and “I feel like I responded prepare kids for the future. better to teachers who Can I do that seemed to have an if I just teach interest in who I was.’” them Spanish? Obviously -Jordan Kauffman Spanish can be listen to you.’ Respect is useful in the future, but almost earned, rather than I want them to be good just given. A lot of times, parents, good adults, good it’s a relationship. I feel spouses. I want them to be like I responded better to good community members. teachers when they seemed Learning is not just a to have an interest in who content, it’s the holistic of I was. Our goal is not just who someone is.” ea
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> Compared to other professions that have the same education teachers receive, teachers are paid 14 percent less than them > Teachers work an average of 52 hours per week > There has been a 252 percent increase of teachers in the workforce since the 1950s Almost 20 percent of teachers working in public school also work a second job > 92.4 percent of teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies or providing support for students Courtesy of | Fact Retriever News and Features | 13
Served straight up
The Eagles wrap up a historical season with an appearance in the regional finals Story by | Jenna Sturgeon Photo by | Jenna Sturgeon Graphic by | Parker Primrose
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he Allen tennis team made school history this year, going undefeated in the district round-robins in the fall and making it all the way to the regional finals this spring. In their district season, the Eagles beat the Plano West Wolves, a powerhouse team in the state and reigning district champions, not once, but twice. “That was the first time they had lost a district match since the early ‘90s, so that was a massive accomplishment,” tennis coach Justin Quest said. “We really had to come together as a team to win all those district matches.” This was a historical moment, not only for Allen, but for the players themselves. “In my years playing on the team, we had never beaten them,” junior Emily Goridkov said. “They are a really good team, so it was really impressive that we [won]. We were the underdogs, and they were the expected team to win.”
“The people make every day really special and make it worth it to come to practice.” - junior Emily Goridkov Almost half of the tennis team this year are newcomers at the varsity level, which was an elements of surprise for the Eagles when facing well-known opponents in their district. “Last year, we thought we would be down after losing fourteen seniors, but then we go and beat West and break their streak in district,” sophomore Sarah Chen said. “That made our mark and defined us as a team.” For the past six years, the team has been ranked in the top eight teams in Texas, a ranking which stands strong today. “We had a great fall season, and I think we have been tremendously consistent throughout the years in our team tennis season,” Quest said. “That is just mark of how we train and how we work together as a team.” Since the tennis team spends a lot of time practicing together, they have a builtin support system. “The people make every day really
14 | Sports
special and make it worth it to come to practice,” Goridkov said. “I can talk to everyone about something different, and I appreciate that they are always there for me.” District 6-6A is different from other districts in Texas when it comes to tennis because they do a district tournament in addition to the district season matches. “If [our district only counted the round-robins], we would have been district champions, obviously, because we didn’t lose,” Quest said. “But we did lose the district championship to Plano West.” The tennis team competes in singles and doubles play in both the fall and spring season. “Fall season I play both singles and doubles, but in spring season, I play doubles,” Goridkov said. “[If someone gets] injured that [can] mess up [the] doubles lineup. There are some people you just gel with more, so that could create some problems.” The Eagles have been successful in the
spring season just as much as in the fall, having two doubles teams place fourth in the regional qualifier, and freshman Jordan Mitchell, a single player, place second in the state qualifier. “In doubles in spring, me and [my partner] got third, so I am proud of us,” Chen said. “We had some memorable matches, we beat some good people.” The Up All Night Event is the annual tennis fundraiser that also benefits The Foundation for Allen Schools. “We play tennis all night, so there are wonderful memories with that,” Quest said. “We are always looking forward to that every year. We have raised over $100,000, meaning we have given almost $30,000 back to the foundation for schools.” The Eagles have had a memorable season and plan to continue their winning streak next year. “I wish people knew that we [are good] and we do exist,” Chen said. “Our matches are right across from the school, so you should come out and support.”
The tennis team, who went 24-4 in the fall and had five players qualify as regional finalists in the spring, poses with their region 6A second-place trophy.
A historic run
Sotfball team makes the playoffs for the first time since 2005 Story by | Erik Young Photos by | Sarah Stevens
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he Lady Eagles softball team finished their season with a 7 to 5 loss to Flower Mound in the first round of the playoffs, resulting in the Eagles finishing the season with a 18-13 record overall and a 7-7 record in district play.
“We wanted to make the playoffs, and we had agreed to give it everything we had.” - junior Maleah Ross “The main goal for us this season was to make playoffs and to be a different team from the past,” junior Maleah Ross said. “We wanted to prove the people that doubted us wrong and show that we are a stronger team.” Coming off a 2017 season in which the Lady Eagles went 14-16 and missed the playoffs for the 12th straight year, the team made history by clinching a playoff berth in their last game of this season. “The team’s goal was to make playoffs,” junior Myah Eldred said. “We wanted to work hard to make sure that happened.” Not being in the playoffs in 13 years
Allen Softball District Review 3/6
McKinney Boyd W 13-6
3/9
Plano West
W 5-2
3/13
Plano
L 8-1
3/16
Denton Guyer
L 6-3
3/20
McKinney
W 5-2
3/23
Plano East
W 9-5
3/27
Wylie
L 13-1
3/29
McKinney Boyd
L 3-2
4/3
Plano West
L 8-1
4/6
Plano
L 4-1
4/10
Denton Guyer
W 4-2
4/13
McKinney
L 14-9
4/17
Plano East
W 16-13
4/20
Wylie
W 7-6
Sophomore Lauren Lopez pitches against McKinney Boyd on March 6.
seems like a stretch, and since this is their first time back in a while, the team were happy. The team knew it was time to go out and go beyond.
“[We knew] every game would be a fight in order to move on.” - junior Myah Eldred “We were extremely happy because that had been our goals since January,” Ross said. “We wanted to make the playoffs, and we had agreed to give it everything we had.” The team’s success did not come easily, as over the course of the season they have played in 14 games decided by three runs or less. “Our expectation was knowing that we were facing even better competition,” Eldred said. “So [we knew] every game would be a fight in order to move on.” The team finished with a run differential of plus-8, illustrating how close every game truly was. The team scored an average of just over four runs per game while also allowing under just 4 runs per game. “We struggled with being consistent.” Ross said. “Some games our defense wasn’t very precise and some games it was flawless, but we always practiced and worked on areas we were weak in.” Although the Lady Eagles softball season may be over, the offseason awaits them. The girls are looking for another
run into the playoffs, but are coming back better. “Your Allen Eagles softball team plans on bouncing back by taking this postseason run as a learning opportunity and now using our off-season to become better,” Eldred said.
Senior Daylan Inkman, who had 14 steals this season, hits against McKinney Boyd on March 6.
Sports | 15
THE SENIOR VOICE
Photos by | Sophia Forrester
Most high schools allow seniors to come up with their own senior quote and have it placed under their picture in their yearbook. With Allen High School having a student body size that’s almost three times the size of most high school populations, doing what other high school’s are doing when it comes to senior quotes would be an incredibly hard task to accomplish. In spirirt of graduation and the last month of the 2018-2018 school year, staffer Sophia Forrester asked seniors around the school for their own senior quotes to give us an idea as to what our student body might say given the chance to have their own senior quotes.
16 | Photo Essay
Photo Essay | 17
Keep the train rolling The need for public transportation in Allen Column by | Parker Primrose
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llen is one of the most prosperous and thriving cities in the country, with an incredibly bright future ahead of it. However, if the city wants to reach its potential, it must address its pressing need for public transportation. Allen is the 27th fastest growing city in the nation according to the Allen Economic Development Corporation, and was recently ranked as the second best place to live in the U.S. by Money magazine. This growth and publicity shows Allen’s current appeal and blossoming economic status but also signifies that the city is being pushed into uncharted territory in terms of size. In order for Allen to handle the influx of people and business, public transportation is needed to mitigate traffic and to connect Allen with large corporations such as AT&T in Dallas, allowing Allen to grow in prominence and as a destination spot for businesses. A system of public transportation would also allow for increased economic mobility for Collin County’s homeless population. According to the Collin County 2018 Homeless Census Report, there are 427 people in the area experiencing homelessness. By establishing a way for these people to move around town, they could be connected to employment opportunities and begin to work their way out of poverty. This would not only help them personally, but it would also better the community as a whole by getting people back to work and improving the local economy. Additionally, public transportation would ease the burden on families
18 | Commentary
with parents that work full time, allowing children to be more involved in extracurricular events and more engaged in their education. Instead of being reliant on parents’ schedules or having to walk home,
students would be able to stay for that extra tutoring session or to play in the baseball game that they otherwise wouldn’t. This could prove the most beneficial aspect of all, as it would help get students involved in the community and equip the next generation to be successful. A great way for Allen to address their
public transport deficiency is by becoming full-time transit members with Dallas Area Rapid Transit, or DART. The city currently has a partnership with DART for a taxi voucher system, Collin County Rides, that accounts for seniors and residents with disabilities, but this doesn’t scratch the surface of the area’s needs. Becoming full-time transit members with DART could allow for a bus service and potentially lead to an expansion of the rail line from Dallas to Allen. The need for public transportation will only intensify as the city continues to grow, but by acting now, we can ensure that our community is prepared for our future and is set up for continued success. A simple letter to your city council today could ensure lifechanging action for the future, so don’t be afraid to take that step and let your voice be heard.
City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 305 Century Parkway. Prior to the Council meeting, a workshop is conducted at 6 p.m. in the Council Conference Room, located next to Council Chambers. Graphics by | Christian Hinton
Staff Editorial: T
eachers may have one of the hardest jobs in the world with the smallest monetary reward, at least in the United States. The national average salary for a teacher is a mere $58,950, which is much less in states such as Oklahoma and West Virginia, where teachers have been striking for better pay. Many think that the “three months off” makes up for any lack of pay. In reality though, many teachers get second jobs at places like Walmart or 7-Eleven because the monthly pay they receive from teaching is not enough to sustain their family. In fact, this trend of moonlighting, or getting a second job, is at its highest rate in Texas with 40 percent of teachers compared to the national average of 16 percent (U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics). Furthermore, teachers are in charge
Teachers are underpaid and overworked
of paying for much of their supplies and classroom decorations. Yes, the school might provide a few supplies, but all the inspirational posters on the walls, as well as that pencil and highlighter you borrowed and never gave back, are on the teacher. In all, it just does not make sense how a profession that requires so much postsecondary education (a bachelor degree and state licensure exam) does not get paid the same amount as other occupations requiring the same amount of education. In addition to being underpaid, teachers often combat a huge workload as many play the role of teacher, tutor, club sponsor, chaperone, volunteer and hall monitor, not to mention all the paperwork we hear of some teachers doing. In fact, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that American teachers
spend more time in the classroom than most other countries’ teachers — almost 1,000 hours per year, 300 hours more than the OECD average. On top of all that classroom time, teachers face increased pressure to make sure all students pass state-mandated tests because if they don’t, the school’s ranking plummets. Remember that under all this stress and work, teachers still, sometimes, somehow, have to work a second job. So yes, underpaid and overworked. Teachers absolutely need to get a better salary, and they need to be able to put their students’ education first, over any paperwork or other role in the school. This has to be done for not only the teachers’ health and wellbeing, but also for the sake of educating this nation’s future workers, leaders — and teachers.
Artists of Allen: Carter Scott Compiled by | Tate Peterson
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ophomore Carter Scott is a young fashion mogul as much as he is an aspiring artist. Carter represents the beauty that is to be found in the combination of both abstract and simplistic art forms, which is present in his pieces that draw one into taking a second look. While incredibly different, Carter truly represents what it means to be unique.
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Drawing gives me something to do , it’s the decoration of space. It assists in a way to remember and challenge my creativity overall. I will pursue drawing and creating artwork in any way , regardless of the audience or who supports me.”
Photos courtesy of | Carter Scott
Commentary | 19
budgeted fun Story by | Maya Morriswala
Are you going to be bored this summer? Have you resigned yourself to moping around at home since you aren’t going anywhere cool? Well, I’ve got some good news for you. I have compiled a list of eight activities that you can participate in this summer, and most of these are pretty cheap too.
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For avid readers: The Allen Public Library Golfing with discs: If you want to hang out does the Teen Summer Reading Club. You fill out a outside, bring some water and bring your own discs reading log and turn it in for some small prizes and (frisbees) to play Disc Golf. There are nine holes at the chance to win a larger Prize Pack. the Bethany Lakes location in Allen and a whopping two full 18-hole courses in McKinney. The best part is it’s free!
2.
...But I don’t want to read: The Allen Public Library isn’t just for bookworms (though there is a wide selection of everything from novels to comic books). They actually hold many events in the summer about making crafts, anime and other interesting topics. A full list can be found on the City of Allen website (https://cityofallen.org/1148/Teens).
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If you want to avoid the heat: The Allen Community Ice Rink has multiple public skating days, and the price is relatively cheap compared to other activities ($5 for entry and $3 for skate rental).
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Pet some dogs and cats: What’s better than seeing animals for free? Of course, at SPCA McKinney the dogs and cats themselves cost money if you want to adopt, but in my opinion, it sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon.
Arts and Sciences: There are both art-related and educational events that take place at the Frisco Discovery Center. Walking in the art gallery is free, but tickets for shows in their Black Box theatre cost money.
Go bowling: For years, bowling has been a Watters Creek: Even if you don’t want to buy favorite pastime for people all ages, so go grab anything, Watters Creek is an enjoyable place to some friends and bowl to your heart’s content at walk around and window-shop. The best part is Allen Bowl. there are so many different shops and food places alike.
20 | Commentary
Graphics by | Julia Zaksek
Review: ‘Dirty Computer’ Story by | Felix Kalvesmaki
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anelle Monáe’s third studio album “Dirty Computer” is brazen in the best way. It’s track after track of celebratory anthems: political, feminine and proud. Using her vocal and lyrical talents, Monáe fuses R&B, pop and funk to create a stellar concept record that’s as powerful as it is catchy. One of the album’s first cuts, “Crazy, Classic, Life,” is proud and independent. It sets the tone of the album, both with its proud, anthemic production and its equally aristocratic lyricism. Monáe declares “I’m not America’s nightmare/I’m the American dream” over an orchestra of warm synth and snappy drums. This is, as The Economist put it, “protest music done right.” But there’s more treasure on this album. Another standout track, “Pynk,” which features Canadian electronic maestro Grimes, is a thudding celebration of womanhood, soaked in
harmonies and roaring guitar riffs. It’s also a poster track for Monáe’s simple, but poignant lyricism. Only she could repeat the word “pink” over 25 times in a song without it getting boring. Each simile (“Pink like the paradise found/ Pink like the folds of your brain/Pink as we all go insane”) stacks on top of the others, creating a crescendo of language. It’s a talent to be able to convey so much — to make you feel like she does — with simple reiteration. I’ll give an opposing view credence: a concept album is not the easiest listen. It can be somewhat difficult to understand the motives behind them, and what they’re trying to convey. However, Monáe takes this challenge head-on, and breaks the mold with “Dirty Computer.” There are few artists that can say they’re working harder than Janelle Monáe, if any at all. Not only did she create an album without a weak track to
A+
it, but she accompanied it with a 48-minute motion picture. For this enthralling concept, its motivating politics and pure musical talent, “Dirty Computer” deserves an A+. Pay attention to Janelle Monáe. She’s one of the best this generation of talent has to offer.
Review: ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Story by | Julia Zaksek
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ne of the first dates I wrote in my agenda at the beginning of the school year was the date of the “Avengers: Infinity War” premiere. It seemed so strange that this film was finally here, after so much waiting, so many theories and so much anticipation. “Infinity War” is what it promised to be: a film almost bursting with stars and heroes, a culmination of ten years of storytelling and character development, a film that would delight fans with hero interactions and humor, but nevertheless most likely break our hearts. Marvel delivered almost too well. The quips and one-liners returned in full force. I couldn’t help but smile as I saw the different teams and franchises collide, watching Ironman (Robert Downey Jr.) meet Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and, of course, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) meet Groot (Vin Diesel). Marvel could have coasted on this alone, the coming together, humor and great fight scenes. However,
all the assembling brought another feeling: a dreadful apprehension. Josh Brolin shines as Thanos. He makes the years of after-credits scenes and Easter eggs worth the wait. Seeing him in full, not eclipsed in shadow, is startling. He’s not an “evil for the sake of evil” villian, a model to which Marvel often resorts. His slow, steady seizure of the infinity stones across gorgeously rendered planets and his gradual increase in power builds anxiety until the very end. The dark tones which started in “Captain America: Civil War” intensified, almost to a fault. The cliffhanger is close to cruel. Additionally, the struggle to keep the narrative together and united was always lurking beneath the surface, but the Russo brothers persevered. Despite needing the box of tissues I smuggled in in my purse, it truly was a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience. “Infinity War” is truly a precedentsetting film. It was true to the
characters we love and heartbreaking for that very reason. It deserves an A. For a review with spoilers, head online: theeagleangle.com
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