The Dispatch, Vol. 32, Issue #1, 09.27.19

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Behind the Fence Peter Dang Editor-in-Chief

A chain link fence separates the old Bowie and the future Bowie, machines whir while performing construction, workers discuss plans and labor diligently. Managers and engineers meet to discuss blueprints and challenges. Everyday, the site looks a little different as progress is slowly but surely being made.

Construction was started at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 6. Phase one of construction has been completed. Phase two of construction is in progress and on schedule.

“In phase one, we completed the surface parking lot,” project engineer Jack Whaley said. “For this phase our challenges were mostly last school year when we started work after school ended and wrapped up work before school started.”

The surface parking lot is parking lot A which was made available for seniors with the best attendance to apply for a spot to park if they qualified. The lot was scheduled to be finished before classes started this school year, but due to some permitting delays, the project was delayed.

The parking lot was finished about two weeks behind schedule, causing the school to implement temporary parking solutions at the Bethany church.

“In phase two, which we are in now, we are building a parking garage,” Whaley said. “I’m excited to tackle this stage of the process and build a beautiful parking garage.”

Grade and elevation for the parking garage was established using markers, it was finished Sept. 18.

Storm drain improvements designed to accommodate for the parking is being completed. The week of Sept.

23, the foundation of the parking garage was started.

“Page Architects have come up with a really good design and they are really driving the project,” Whaley said. “Martinez Engineers have also been a key part.”

WICKED WAX Candle business created by junior Caden Cooper

BEE BUZZ Junior Jayden Wu starts beekeeping to protect environment

ATHLETE PROFILES Follow the lives of four varsity athletes

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pg. 7

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coming UP Oct. 3 Late Start Oct. 11-14 4-Day Weekend Oct. 16 PSAT Day Oct. 26 Homecoming Dance

Vol. 32, Issue 1 www.thedispatchonline.net James Bowie High School 4103 W. Slaughter Lane Austin TX, 78749

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019

Pride in Publishing

Phase one: parking lot complete

DOWN IN THE DIRT: A front loader is parked by the dirt mound which will be a part of the mound in the parking garage. The laser mounted on the tripod on top of the mound is used to establish grade and elevation of the parking garage. PHOTO BY Peter Dang

The foundation consists of a deep pier system where vertical piers in the soil will support the garage. The piers will be between 15 and 25 feet deep depending on the depth of the bed rock. Crews will drill holes down to solid bedrock. Afterwards, concrete will be poured into the drilled holes creating piers. After the piers are completed, beams extending between piers will be poured out of concrete. In-slab utilities like conduit for electrical wires for lights and storm drains to redirect storm water from the garage will be installed at the same time.

“Our trade partners have been essential to this project,” Whaley said.

“We have quite a few of them and

they are all beneficial.”

Once the foundation of the garage is completed, the first floor slab will be poured around the end of October. Afterwards preparation work like setting up concrete forms for beams and posts will be completed in order to start the second story.

“After we finish the foundation, we are building up,” Whaley said.

“It will be exciting to see the progress as it is made.”

To reduce their impact on traffic, the construction company carefully plans and schedules around the school schedule. Deliveries of materials and equipment are scheduled before 7 a.m. or after 9 a.m. Construction crews are scheduled to ar-

rive before school starts and to leave before school ends to reduce their impact on traffic.

“Everything we do here at Bowie, we have to consider the school,” senior project manager David Murphey said. “With a campus this big and a population of nearly 3,000 students, we have to be meticulous.”

Student input through student representatives on the project team has been carefully considered and implemented in some cases. Class of 2020 representative for the project team senior Emma Davis explains.

“I brought up the idea of creating an additional left turn lane onto Slaughter,” Davis said. “The team thought that was a good idea and

they made it happen.”

Like many of the students she represents on the project team, Davis is deeply fascinated by the ongoing construction.

“I think it's super interesting to see everything that's being done,” Davis said. “Especially because I am interested in a career as an architectural engineer.”

The parking garage with the rooftop tennis courts will be the first of its kind in Austin ISD. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to build tennis courts on the rooftop of a building,” Murphey said. “It’s not often you get to do that here in Austin like it is in downtown New York.”

State votes in over 800 laws following latest session Peter Dang Editor-in-Chief

Following the 86th legislative session, an excess of 1,000 bills were passed and sent to the office of Governor Greg Abbott. 820 bills were either signed into law or were allowed to become a law without the Governor’s signature. The laws became effective on Sept. 1.

Many of the laws passed were of interest to students and staff here at Bowie. The new laws received mix reactions from constituents. Laws passed included ones about school funding, tobacco, free speech on campuses, gun carrying in natural disasters, transmission of unsolicited images, and women's health, among others.

“There were quite a few laws passed after this session,” social studies teacher Dalton Pool said. “Some of them will have great effects on our community, others will not as they are very specific to a circumstance.”

A notable law that passed that will affect Bowie is House Bill 3 which provides $11.6 billion in education funding. Austin ISD as a result gave teachers with more than five years of experience a 7% raise while other employees will receive a 6% raise. AISD will also pay less money to the recapture program that subsidizes poorer school districts, leaving more money to be spent by the district.

“Being a teacher I was interested in the education bill,” Pool said. “I was encouraged by both sides coming together and working together to try to get more funding for schools and to try to raise pay for teachers.”

Another law that caused lots of stir was Senate Bill 21 which raised the age to purchase and possess tobacco to 21. Supporters of the law rejoiced that Texas was attempting to prevent another generation of nicotine addicts. Many believe this is in response to

INDEX

News 1 , 2, 3 Reviews 13

JUST A BILL: The capitol building on a bright fall day. The 86th legislative session lasted from Jan. 8 to May 27. PHOTO BY Peter Dang

increased use of e-cigarette devices among teenagers who had previously not used other forms of tobacco before.

“For the past 30-40 years, the US at large has had a lot of success reducing tobacco usage and reducing addiction to nicotine, especially in the younger population,” Pool said.

“But I think e-cigarettes have made that a challenge.”

Following protests of members of hate groups like Texas A&M University canceling a rally by white nationalist Richard Spencer, Texas passed Senate Bill 18 which allows any person to engage in free speech activities on

Feature 4, 5 In-Depth 6, 8, 9

college campuses.

“There’s a lot of things that polarize Americans these days,” senior Abbas Akhtar said.

“But if the fundamental right to express our thoughts and opinions is infringed, whether right or left leaning, it can damage the ideals that hold us together.”

In the wake of gun violence in Texas, a new law was passed allowing firearm owners to keep their guns on their body for seven days after a natural disaster even if they are not licensed. Before, some firearm owners had to leave their weapons behind if they were under mandatory evacuation.

Photo Essay 7, 16 Sports 10, 11

Entertainment 12 Commentary 14, 15

“This law will make law enforcement’s job tougher than it already is when there is a natural disaster,” Akhtar said. “Imagine people taking the law into their own hands or making threats in these already tense times.”

In the age of digital media, sharing of media has become easier than ever. Some people have taken advantage of that by sending unsolicited sexually explicit images of themselves electronically, also known as unsolicited nudes. With the passage of House Bill 2789, it is now a misdemeanor to send such images without the receivers consent.

“Too many people receive pictures they don’t want and feel attacked,” senior Makena Patterson said. “There used to be no way to punish the sender or make them feel the repercussions of their actions, but now there is and hopefully this deters it.”

Women’s health advocates were angered to see Senate Bill 22 passed. The law prohibits state and local governments from working with agencies that perform abortions, even if the agencies provided other women’s health procedures like mammograms and pap smears which are unrelated to abortion..

“This law hurts women and society as a whole,” Patterson said. “It’ll make the cost of services higher, so instead of screening people for things like HPV which can cause cancer, we may have to treat more people for cancer.”

Even though the laws passed this legislative session brought out many different opinions from constituents, the lawmaking process allows constituents to have their voice heard and their vote count.

“I still have complete faith in our democracy and our law making process,” Akhtar said. “Although I might not agree with laws passed, the lawmaking process is part of our republic that we hold so dear.”

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2 NEWS

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019

The stewing storm of sweet smoke

Cade Spencer and Peter Dang Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief

very vulnerable, with thousands of chemicals present just can’t be a good thing.”

As released by the Center for A teenage boy hides away in a bathroom stall as he slowly takes a Disease Control and Prevention, small device from his pocket. Lift- 530 cases of lung injuries connecting the e-cigarette to his mouth, ed to e-cigarettes have been reportthe boy inhales a puff of smoke. As ed as of September 17.

“I feel like most of the kids that he exhales, a light haze of sweet vapor fills the room. This very scene are probably getting these illnesshas become commonplace in high es from vaping could have also come from like illegal THC [tetschools across the nation.

As of September 1 in the state of rahydrocannabinol] cards,” Satler Texas, the legal age to buy tobacco said. “Those have no regulations and nicotine products, including on them where these kids are, and they could be smoking pesticides e-cigarettes, is 21.

“It was like sophomore year for all they know.”

The CDC has also released that with just like everybody that was in our grade was doing it,” senior 16% of the illnesses reported are in Ben Satler* said. “Everybody kind youth under 18 years of age.

“I think people just want to be of just kept doing it until they got hooked on it, and now I know kids accepted by others and they think it’s some kind of social status boost that are actually addicted to it.”

According to the Campaign for when they [smoke],” Ronald said.

Tobacco-Free Kids, 19% of high “People also vape because they schoolers in Texas use or have used don’t want to do drugs, but they still want some kind of title similar e-cigarettes.

“I distinctly remember two years to that.”

As reports of vaping-related illago, it [popped] up on the scene,” Biology and anatomy/physiology nesses increase, the exact cause of teacher Jessica Davis said. “I re- lung symptoms has yet to be determember because, well, there was a mined.

“I’ve had the debate with my rumor that it would happen in the own kids in this perception that bathroom.”

Despite what commercial adver- it’s a safer alternative to cigarettes, tisements may display, when the that it’s just vapor,” Principal Mark battery of the e-cigarette heats up Robinson said. “That debate has liquid to produce smoke, it releas- made me aware of some of the mises aerosol into the lungs, not water conceptions, and as a principal and a parent, I connect with this issue vapor.

“When I first started, it was like in a meaningful way.”

In response to the spike in lung it’s just, it’s a better alternative to smoking, and people have been conditions connected to e-cigarette smoking for 60 plus years,” Sat- use, the Food and Drug Adminisler said, “Then I started looking it tration is drafting a national ban on up and like popcorn lungs, and all flavored pods.

“I think [a ban] may have an this started coming up, and I was like, do I really want to mess up my impact at the youngest ages, the middle schoolers and high schoollungs at 15 years old?”

“Popcorn-lung” or bronchiol- ers that are trying it,” Davis said.

“I would itis oblitlove to see erans, as d e s c r i b e d We're going to continue to just be even more regulation by the vocal and educate our students by increasTexas Deabout the dangers of vaping ing the tax partment because it's our reality. on it so of Health that is beServices, is comes cost caused by a Mark Robinson prohibitive chemical in Principal for younger vape flavorpeople.” ing called In addition to new state-wide Diacetyl.

“I knew there were always health policies, Robinson explained that problems associated with vaping, Bowie has adjusted its vaping polbut now I realize it is worse than icy to meet the urgency of the sitI thought,” junior David Ronald* uation.

“I feel like this is like a lot of the said. “[It] scares me for the kids that did it not knowing the prob- other problems that the schools are asked to solve, but it can’t just be lems.”

Popcorn lung occurs when Dia- all the schools to solve,” Robinson cetyl scars tiny air sacs in the lungs, said. “We’re going to continue to and symptoms of wheezing and be vocal and educate our students shortness of breath can appear, ac- about the dangers of vaping because it’s our current reality.” cording to the DSHS. Within the new policy, a student “My science brain was a little skeptical because I had a very tough can now receive three days of ISS time believing that it was a safe al- for a first time tobacco offense.

“I didn’t let nicotine control me, ternative to cigarettes,” Davis said.

“The combination of it being a and I stay on task with my stuff,” hot liquid pulled into your lungs, Satler said. “If it’s really controlling which your lung tissue is always someone’s life outside of school,

that means that they have another major problem to deal with.”

Despite an increased presence of teachers in hallways during passing periods and lunches, it can be difficult to control e-cigarette use in the bathroom.

“I’m not surprised kids are drawn to it,” Davis said. “I just hope that they understand that they are hurting themselves.”

Despite the prominence of vaping on campus, Bowie is officially a no-tobacco campus, meaning e-cigarettes should not be brought to school.

“We already know smoking is bad for you, but we’ve seen this just spread like a wildfire,” Robinson said. “I would hope that anyone who reads this article would think twice and ask, do I really need to do this?”

*David Ronald and Ben Satler are fictional names to protect anonymous sources.

VAPING What You Need to Know

As of September 17, 530 vaping related illnesses have been reported.

The legal age to buy tobacco or nicotine products in Texas is now 21.

”

Bowie policy gives three days of ISS for tobacco on campus.

E-cigarette use can lead to shortness of breath and lung infection.

ART BY Sumin Kim and Cade Spencer

Sources: texastribune.org, mercurynews.com, dshs. state.tx.us, and cdc.gov

New policy provides teachers with silence during lunch Brianna Lopez Dispatch Photographer

When people go into the academic wings during lunch, they are greeted by the silence and emptiness of the hallways. At the beginning of the school year, the administration announced that students were no longer allowed to eat lunch in the academic halls.

“Students are invited to eat in the cafeteria, the fine arts building, the courtyard, or in the C/D hallways of the academic building,” principal Mark Robinson said via a schoolwide announcement.

Along with the announcement, the staff had a first-day student welcome message, shown in homeroom, that asked students to eat only in the areas mentioned in the video.

“The final thing we want to make sure you know is that students can not eat in the academic wings,” assistant principal Stephanie McGraw said in the homeroom video. “Again, all of the centerpiece [in front of the library] is for you during lunch, however, hallways are for students in the academic area.”

As the new policy is enforced, teachers are thrilled to have the hallways be quieter with no students disrupting their classes while they are teaching.

“Honestly, it’s the best thing ever [because] last year I had a ham sandwich thrown at my door. It was thrown by a group of freshman and they later threw one again,” AP environmental science teacher Ashley Spiro said. “When kids were allowed to eat

TIME FOR LUNCH: Sophomores Adelaide Sibley, Erica Lee, and Andrea Hascribein (from left to right) enjoy lunch at one of the many side-table options across camp.

In accordance with the new policy, students cannot sit in A,B,F, or E hall during lunch, however, C and D hall are available for use. PHOTO BY Cade Spencer

anywhere, there weren’t enough people to supervise. The campus would be a total mess after lunch.”

However, some of the students were relatively displeased at first as they searched for a new spot in crowded common areas such as the cafeteria and fine arts building.

“I was upset with the rule because seating wasn’t an issue but now seating is,” sopho-

more Danny Burton said. “I just had to find a new spot to eat, which I did.”

When the lunch period begins, teachers stand guard in the hallways making sure that students don’t go into the academic wings.

In the past, teachers have felt that groups in the wings were disruptive to their class.

“I keep an eye out for students, and I make sure kids who were sitting in the hall-

ways kindly sit in the common area,” biology teacher Brandy Ramos said. “Most students are apathetic to it."

As teachers monitor the halls, they must also ensure that all students are wearing their ID’s.

“I feel there are better things for them to be doing than just standing there in the middle of the hallway like soldiers,” sophomore Elissa Wechsler said.

If a student does not have their ID on their lanyard, they can be asked to go to the office for a temporary ID sticker.

“It is sometimes hard to figure out which kids are from the classrooms and which ones are just wandering the halls,” Ramos said.

When the policy was not enforced, students didn’t notice how much of a mess they would leave on the tables, however, custodians and teachers did.

“I think the students didn't notice it that much because they didn’t have to clean it up. It would be a wreck and either I or the custodians had to clean [their mess] up,” Spiro said. “In the past, I had to go out with cleaning spray and paper towels and give it to students to clean up. I would just stare them down, but since I didn’t really know their names, I couldn’t do anything.”

Despite the benefits the new policy offers to teachers, some students have mixed feelings about the loss of seating.

“I don’t know, but it seems okay for now,” Burton said. “No matter what, someone will be mad about this [lunch] policy.”

NEWS 3

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019 THE DISPATCH

New class offering: Ethnic Studies Recently added course celebrates diversity and educates students on global cultures Cade Spencer Managing Editor

Imagine walking into a high school classroom to see a community of students as diverse as a field of wildflowers. Within this community, students can freely share their opinions, beliefs, and values.

In its inaugural year, a new class at Bowie has empowered this vision to become a reality.

Carlen Floyd is the teacher of the new Ethnic Studies class, an elective that encourages active discussion about minority groups and oppression in America.

“Ethnic Studies in some ways, I feel like, is mislabeled because it is the study of identity and marginalization, and it is not always ethnically based,” Floyd said. “It is the study of people who have typically been considered less than, why they have been considered as such, and the social, economic, and political ramifications of such beliefs.”

In addition to ethnic groups, the Ethnic Studies curriculum includes LGBTQ+ and religious communities.

“This type of education is important because it helps you understand who people are and how you can interact with them,” senior Liam Kornacki said. “It teaches you that you do not have to be scared of someone just because they are different from you.”

As of the 2019-2020 school year, the Ethnic Studies course is required to be offered across all AISD high schools.

“Look at the AISD demographics, we have populations that deserve to have more emphasis than a paragraph or chapter in a textbook,” Floyd said. “When we decided to offer [the class] to Bowie,

ART BY Sumin Kim

I went and started recruiting because I wanted this to happen.”

Senior Mariana Ramirez felt compelled to enroll in the class because of the new perspectives and discussions it could offer.

“Being Hispanic, I have never really seen my culture thoroughly represented in school or very much in general,” Ramirez said. “I thought this class would be a great

way to learn more about my own culture and the cultures of others.”

As the class challenges student’s knowledge of various cultures, the curriculum also questions the foundations behind the American identity.

“It is probably the most challenging class I have had when it comes to thinking about who you are, what you have done, and what

First FFA grooming day this year Senior future farmers offer pet grooming services to staff It's bring your pet to school day, well not quite. Today is the first Future Farmers of America grooming day of the year in which any staff member can drop off their dog with senior veterinary medicine practicum students. Students offer a wide variety of pet care options under the supervision of FFA advisor and Agriculture Science Teacher Amber Dickinson.

“Bowie has done grooming days before I started here but many other agriculture programs in the state of Texas also do grooming days,” Dickinson said. “This opportunity gives the practicum students real-world experience for future jobs with animals.”

There are two package deals which include a full or half spa day for pets. The full-day includes services from students who will bath, dry, brush, trim nails, and clean ears along with the owners' choice of shampoo or colognes. It also includes walks twice a day with pickup at the end of the school day.

“Students learn proper skills through

the Animal Science Program here. During Small Animal Management they spend time on proper grooming skills and animal restraint,” Dickinson said. “They relearn animal restraint skills in Veterinary Medical Applications and get to take the groomed dogs out to play and walk. Then students get to go out to their vet clinics and practice animal restraint for about a month before they come back to class.”

The half-day package includes all the details stated above but pick up for the pet is around 1 pm. Services can also be purchased individually or added on such as shaving and anal gland expression. To keep students safe, shots are required for all pets, as well as paperwork that must be filed and turned into Dickinson 24 hours before the event.

“My favorite part of the day is getting to watch my students learn real-world experiences by dealing with customers, practice how to handle dogs, and how to properly groom,” Dickinson said.

STORY BY Katie Holme

you are planning to do,” Kornacki said. “I think that this is an education that people may not want to learn, but the truth is, until we are educated, we have unwarranted biases that are in our life.”

In 2018, the State Board of Education approved a statewide Ethnic Studies course that should be implemented by 2023-2025.

“We are looking at historical op-

pression and discrimination and how that leads to current problems in all aspects and levels of society,” Floyd said. “Awareness is where it starts, and understanding can help us imagine and act to change the world.”

According to DataUsa, 160,985 people currently work in careers affiliated with ethnic studies.

“I would argue that this is probably one of the most important topics to learn about, not just for what it teaches you, but for what you do with people in your life,” Kornacki said. “If I had to say that any class has given me confidence that my generation is going to have a bright future, it is this one.”

As a member of the Multi-Cultural Appreciation Club, senior Anamarie Jarmon-Booker understands how the knowledge acquired in ethnic studies can apply to the world.

“If we learn about people’s ethnic backgrounds, then it can help everyone around the world understand one another far better,” Jarmon-Booker said. “I’m friends with several folks in New Zealand and I’ve learned so much about their life and culture just by conversation.”

Within the first few weeks of school, Floyd set aside time to develop a list of norms that could create a comfortable and supportive environment in the class.

“The [class] presentations [have] had so much emotion going into them and we are so proud of the people who share their opinions,” Kornacki said. “[Presenters] were scared and nervous about being judged, but then the class surprised them, as they did with me, with kindness and relatability.”

New student news source app The Dispatch is now available on a new journalist platform Apps provide user-friendly access to millions of platforms daily. The luxury of accessibility now applies to the Dispatch in which students and staff can access the publication on the new app called Student News Source. Editor-in-Chief of the dispatch Online, Kaitlyn Zellner explains the benefits of the accessibility to her publication and finds it easy to use.

“This new app is a great way for students to access all of our content in a very easy way,” Zellner said. “The website has been designed for computer access, but this app allows mobile access in a very clean way.”

Student News Source is a hub of student journalism around the country and allows users to access publications that use SNO sites. The app features the stories, photos, and videos that are produced by award-winning scholastic journalists.

“I like the app and think that my team and I can specifically look at the app and feel accomplished that our hard work is making an additional accessible product,”

Zellner said. “I understand that students are rarely going to search the website for information but now you can easily have everything right on your phone.”

Other features include the ability to subscribe to notifications in which users will be alerted when their favorite publications post new content. Along with notifications users can also interact with content including options to save stories to read later, commenting, and easy access to promote/ share content through other social media platforms. The app is now available for download on Apple and Android platforms.

“I think it would be good for students to download this app because they can see what's going on around campus or even in the community,” Zellner said. “It is a nice way to see what their friends are writing, what stories include their friends or even themselves. It is also a great way to support our Online publication and the hardworking students who create the content.” STORY BY Katie Holme

4 FEATURE

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019

The power of coding: junior produces apps Amorah Schultze Feature Editor

PHOTO BY Amorah Schultze

Salary

There are seven million job openings that require coding skills.

Higher salaries by $22,000, on average.

College Requisites Burning Glass found around 90% coding jobs require a bachelor’s degree.

Specialized Skill Coding’s becoming less specialized: half of programming jobs are in industries outside of technology.

Coding Language There’s many coding languages (Python, C, C++, Perl, Visual Basic, Ruby & PHP, and Java).

Careers Almost half of all jobs that pay over $58,000 require coding skills.

MIT: Coding Across New Hampshire is coaching local teachers to integrate computer science into curriculum.

Growing Market Programming jobs are growing 12% faster than the average market.

ART BY Amorah Schultze

Junior Zachary Eilers

Job Openings

Fast Company, The Guardian

The breeze carried chlorine from the pool, soft waves lapping at the shallow end, enticing anyone to step in for a swim. But he was too preoccupied with his computer, the sound of a keyboard as steady as the beat of his heart. The previous summer, it was adding data to his second app, Swim Stats. This time around is the app Finished, a homework organization app that would render planners unnecessary.

Junior Zachary Eilers has produced two apps, Meteor Storm and Swim Stats, which are meant to be both informal and entertaining for students. He began developing apps in his sophomore year, when he found a Google coding app called Flutter.

Eilers’ interest in mobile apps was sparked from “the way that our world is transformed from mobile apps”, and that led him to pursue coding.

“I taught myself to code in eighth grade, and the first thing I did was I built an Android app using a program called MIT App Inventor,” Eilers said. “You can kind of drag these code blocks to form the logic of your app.”

Later, in his freshman year, Eilers finished the Java coursework for Computer Science in November. From then on he dedicated the

class to developing his coding skills.

“One great place to look is a site called Udemy. It’s an Online course marketplace,” Eilers said. “The courses that are taught through video and so you code along with the instructor, and you learn from how they’re doing everything,” Eilers began to develop his first app for iOS after learning how to code and use variables. “[I] get a rough sketch of what each screen’s gonna look like, and how the user interface is gonna work,” Eilers said. “[Then,] I will build out the screen, build out features… Once I have all the bugs fixed, and I feel that it’s ready, I release it.”

This is how Eilers created his first app, Meteor Storm.

It was all programmed with CoronaLabs.com.

“The Earth is in the center of the screen, and there’s meteors that fly from the edges toward the Earth. You have to tap them to before they get the Earth to blow up,” Eilers said. “After a certain number of meteors hits the Earth, [it] blows up and you lose the game. Your score is the number of meteors that you destroy before the Earth explodes.”

After launching Meteor Storm, Eilers discovered Google Flutter, a coding framework that determines the general look, shape, and location of any coded items…

“A framework is code that framework authors have written [and] is designed to take care of… interacting with the phone,” Eilers said.

“The way a game works on a phone is by calculating frame by frame what the screen is going to look like, and then putting it on the screen. I don’t have to worry about that because I use a framework that figures it out for me.”

The “easy” format of Google Flutter allows Eilers to focus on the idea and design of his apps.

“I really like the material

COMMANDING CODE: Zach is working through codes on the computer. He’s refining his third app, Finished, ready to be complete by winter break. PHOTO

BY Amorah Schultze

design components within Flutter,” Eilers said. “I [can] plan out the application a little bit more, because it [makes] developing the app take much less time.”

His second app, Swim Stats, is able to generate detailed information on the different swim trials, times, and bios on swimmers all across the states using his custom-made server on Amazon Cloud. It’s Eilers’ first app created by Google Flutter.

“The server gets the requests, takes the name from it, and plugs it into a form on U.S.A. Swim Website to essentially search for the times of that summer,” Eilers said. “[Then it] takes the HTML page…grabs the little pieces of data from it, and then returns it back to you.

Eilers formatted his app so any saved swimmer’s name and information will be instantly accessible, even

without an Internet connection.

“Currently you can search U.S.A. Swimming Time, go on their website, and search for a time. However, it’s a little bit tedious [if] there’s no Internet connection,” Eilers said. “One of the features of my app is when you search for a swimmer, all the data from that swimmer is automatically saved. You can quickly and easily view [their] saved times… so you don’t have to go search them again.”

He’s working on his new app, Finished, this year.

“It will help [students] to organize their schedules,” Eilers said. “So that they’re not cramming and staying up until 2 a.m. the night before something is due.”

Eilers doesn’t have any way to handle user feedback through the apps. He said the suggestions for improvements comes from his

friends.

“I might put my email in the app and the settings page,” Eilers said. “[I can] create a form the user can fill out to provide feedback on the app.”

Zachary’s close friend, junior Wes Wasserburger, is someone who provides feedback as much as possible. He enjoys the features of the Swim Stats app, as it enables him to keep track of any swimmer’s times.

“I like [the] effort that he put into the looks of his app,” Wasserburger said.

“It’s worth downloading because it’s a really solid app and there’s no product out there quite like it.”

Zachary’s father, Bradley Eilers, has worked in several roles related to computers, some of which are software development, enterprise architecture, and IT management. He got a Computer Engineering degree from Texas A&M, and has worked with Zach on his apps, encouraging Zach to move forward with his skills.

“From the time Zachary took Mr. Howard’s game design class at Gorzycki, he started asking me tons of questions about how the Internet works,” Bradley said.

“I really enjoyed those discussions and they eventually led to us working together to create a simple web site related to swimming. Zachary decided he could create a better user experience as a mobile app.”

Nearly every industry has been disrupted by technology, as Bradley puts it. He believes his son’s accomplishments are important for the future of his career choices.

“Amazon has changed Retail. Uber disrupted the taxicab industry. The list goes on,” Bradley said. “The point is that coding and technical skills will be critical no matter what industry you are in.

Not every one of the current generation of students needs to be a hard core coder, but they do need to understand how technology works to compete in the job market of the future.”

Senior graduates early to take off on a global adventure Miranda Cardenas Feature Editor

While most seniors will be gearing up for the final semester of high school in early January, and getting ready to go off to college, senior Cara Spradling will be getting ready to embark China

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PO S S PA

on the trip of a lifetime.

Spradling plans on graduating early and using what would be the last semester of her high school experience to travel the world and expand her comfort zone.

“I plan on traveling to Latin America first, then Europe once it gets warm so I get a balance of cultures,” Spradling said. “In total I’ll be gone for about five to six months.”

Spradling sees this as the perfect time to take a trip like this as it’s bridging her past of high

RT

Boarding International flight to...

Google Maps

ART BY Sammie Thompson

school to her future and her aspirations.

“I have free flights that expire when I turn 21 so I want to use them now before I get too busy,” Spradling said. “I’ve traveled before and it’s one of my favorite things to do, I love learning about different cultures and how others live their lives.”

Aside from having a love and passion for traveling, Spradling has also come to have a passion for a sport not as common in Texas as it is in other states.

“I’m going to surf and see the world,” Spradling said. “I’ve been surfing since 2016 and I’ve been in love with it ever since then.”

In past trips, Spradling has done numerous service projects to help communities in numerous countries, and hopes to do more service work on this trip as well.

“Service work while on the trip would be great,” Spradling said.

“I’ll see if any projects a r e

Peru 1,154 miles Costa Rica 2,412.1 miles Italy 5,766 miles

available once I get to my destinations.”

With such an expansive trip that has unpredictable possibilities, Spradling has the support of her loved ones to help send her off.

“While my family and friends are all supportive, I feel like they’re still a little sad I’ll be gone for so long,” Spradling said. “My family’s most nervous about me going on my own in a foreign country especially surfing, since it’s such a dangerous sport.”

One member of Spradling’s support system is one of her best friends senior Taylor Snyder, who’s Senior Cara Spradling known Spradling since their fresh- PHOTO BY Mia Folkers man year.

“The past two summers she went Another person impacted by to China to teach kids English, and Spradlings plans is another friend. that’s when she fell in love with the Senior Eva Dwelle, who’s known idea of sharing cultures, and fell in Spradling since their eighth grade love with traveling, which I think is year. really awesome,” Syder said.

“Cara loves learning about other Spradling graduating early un- cultures and meeting different peofortunately means she will not be ple so I’m excited for her to pursue graduating on the same day as Sny- her passions out of her comfort der and the rest of her friends. zone,” Dwelle said. “I’m so proud “We’re also sad that we’re not of her for graduating early but gonna be able to graduate with when she goes on her trip I’m gonCara on the same day, thats a big na miss her so much.” thing,” Snyder said. “There’s going Dwelle offers Spradling some to be a missing piece of the puzzle advice to take with her while she’s of our group.” traveling the world next year.

Snyder speaks out on how this “I hope she doesn’t forget about trip will also affect her along with her friends,” Dwelle said. “But I the rest of Spradling’s friends. also hope she just enjoys her time “Almost every Friday night all of to relax and replenish.” our friends go to Cara’s house to Entering a new chapter of life, hangout because it’s like a sec- Spradling looks forward to expandond home to us so in a way, ing her knowledge of foreign culit’s upsetting that she’s go- tures. ing to be gone and we won’t “I hope to get a better underget to see her or her family standing of other cultures and lananymore,” Snyder said. “Es- guages out of this trip,” Spradling pecially her parents because said. “I’m most looking forward to they’ve played a big role being completely out of my comin all of our lives for fort zone alone in a foreign country, awhile now, so I feel like but I think the hardest part will be it’ll just be a weird tran- missing everyone I love at home.” sition.”

FEATURE 5

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019 THE DISPATCH

Junior entrepreneur sparks up profits Caden Cooper’s candle business offers a variety of scents and sizes for every season

business. One major helper being Susan.

“I’m his bookkeeper, help The heat is rising, soy out with melting wax, and wax simmers into a bub- dropping shipments at the bling magma. He gently post office,” Susan said. “His pours the soothing fragranc- younger brother, Coy Cooes of lemon, lime, and jas- per, helps to prep jars, inmine into the pot. Finishing stalling wicks, and packing up the wax, he secures the orders. Overall, I have realthin wick to the bottom of ly enjoyed helping out, it’s a glass mason jar. With the something I never thought I ending touches overnight, would be doing.” these simple and environCurrently, Caden has promentally friendly wax lights duced eight scents of candles are packed up, taken to the including Cinnamon, Vanilpost office and the next day la, Beach Linen, Honeydew are on their way to a satis- Melon, and more. fied customer.

“All of the candle have Junior Caden Cooper their own enjoyable smells,” started the school year with Caden said. “My favorite the decision to be his own would be the Oak Moss and boss. He created his own Amber because it is a forestcandle business, MDRN ry smell, and is a candle that Candle. works well all year round. “ “Working a regular job is The scent of a candle super time consuming and is what makes them sell, I found and Caden it to be seems to be boring,” producing Cooper the perfect The most satisfying said.

“I type of smell found my thing for me is working a c c o r d i n g interest in and having pride in to Caden’s creating something you have c l o s e s t a prodfriend and created. uct and customselling it, er, Jordan which was Riechers.

Caden Cooper more flex“The first ible and Junior two candles successful I bought for me.” were the While planning an ideal Fraser Fir and Day at the business, candles weren’t Spa,” Riechers said. “I like the original idea for making the simplicity of the candle, profit, according to Caden’s it is natural which makes mother, Susan Cooper. them very appealing.”

“Caden has always wantAs an independent ened to start his own Online trepreneur, Caden has inbusiness, and often came up creased business with his with ideal services and prod- own website, along with nuucts,” Susan said. “When he merous public networks. started asking around he re“My website mdrncandle. ally thought the candle busi- com overall has been what I ness could be a money mak- would consider successful, er and after some research and I sell candles for eighfound that making candles teen dollars, which is below wasn’t a super difficult pro- market average,” Caden said cess.”

“I’ve also found success in Even with the flexibility advertising and working on and freedom of the business, social media pages.”

Caden states the process to Susan states Caden’s make these candles is not as management of time and easy as some may assume. smart choices have not led “I found [it] bene[ficial] to negative outcomes, and in buying all the supplies in showed significant profit bulk,” Caden said. “I create within just a few days . the candles in batches of “Caden finds time to orfive, which takes about four der supplies, do business or five minutes”. research, and work with All the different aspects things Online in between to a business is a lot to han- his schoolwork, lacrosse and dle. Caden’s family does coaching a baseball team,” their part to assist in the Mia Folkers Feature Editor

”

MIXING IT UP: Mid-stir, junior Caden Cooper melts wax to make his homemade candles. Cooper’s candle company has been making substantial profits lately and is projected to make even more in the coming months.

PHOTO BY Rae Gray

Susan said. “He has had over $500 revenue in his first week of opening the store, and has been communicating about carrying his candles to other local bou-

CAREFUL HANDS: Junior Caden Cooper uses caution while stirring the wax, careful not to burn his hands. Soy wax must be melted at around 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

PHOTO BY Rae Gray

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tiques.”

Although Caden’s brand is becoming successful this year, Caden still plans for improvements and additions to the business.

“MDRN candle is planning on making new scents accessible with the seasons, along with more sizes and possibly different waxes,” Caden said. “The long term goal would be to expand into soaps, reed diffusers and maybe into some type of home decor type of brand.

Through assisting Caden, Susan believes the experience of running a small business is a perfect activity to start and learn from while attending high school at the same time.

“Small business is great in high school if you have the drive to keep up with it and have a good idea for products people want, “ Susan

said. “Students have more freedom to try new things on a small scale, than when you are older trying to pay bills.”

Even with all the work in this business, Caden has to keep up with growing demand. Riechers believes Caden reflects an organized attitude for his brand, and showed a clear talent in business.

“Caden definitely fits the role as a business guy,” Riechers said. “All the time I’ve known him he has been pretty curious about financial content and I’m so glad to see him becoming successful in it.”

The experience of running MDRN Candle is more than just having a job to get through the rest of high school. For Caden, it’s building and creating a passionate occupation for life.

“I love business, it’s what

I want to do when I grow up,” Caden said. “The most satisfying thing for me is working and having pride in something you have created, and then that time leading to something people can love.”

While most people find running a business a very daunting and full time task, Caden finds a way to maintain balance and effort between his candle business, school, family, and being an Under Armour All-American lacrosse player.

“Sometimes it does get kind of difficult to prioritize myself and my time with how much I have going on because it can get overwhelming sometimes,” Caden said. “But I know at the end of the day I’ll figure it all-out and make everything happen because I really enjoy doing all these things, and putting effort into it.”

Your life is definitely not ordinary.

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Buy your 2020 yearbook on BowieYB.com before October 31st and save $20.

6 IN-DEPTH

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019

PROS

I am blessed to be in lot A. It's very close [to Bowie] and traffic is not near as bad as it used to be. -senior Robyn Andrews

One positive thing about parking in B lot is that there is an easy exit sometimes. -senior Camryn Cuchia

ART BY Sumin Kim

One positive thing about parking in lot C is that there are always empty parking spaces. -junior Kaitlyn Muras

CONS

LOT A

One negative thing is that there is only one entry point so I have to take a minor detour around the school. -senior Sarah Brown

LOT B

A negative aspect of parking at the church is walking to my car by myself late after school. It's very dangerous. -senior Hannah Bohannan

LOT C

One negative thing about parking in C lot is that we have to ride the shuttle. It takes a long time and is frustrating when you are trying to get to school. -junior Kaitlyn Muras

BOWIE HIGH SCHOOL

The consequences of construction on students Faith Lawrence Managing Editor

Changes around campus aim to increase the maximum capacity of Bowie from 2,463 to 2,900 through creating new parking spots as well as new fine arts and athletic buildings, according to the 2017 Bond Program. On paper, adding additional parking spaces for students is a great idea, but students were unaware of the magnitude of the bond project and what it would entail.

and navigate.

“There [was] definitely a lack of parking but I feel like a parking garage wasn’t the best idea, especially with new drivers,” Albini said. “I am definitely scared and I will be hesitant to park in the garage next year if it is complete. I overall do not think it is very smart putting new drivers in a small garage and I think it will increase accidents from people trying to get out and beat traffic or get in and to class.”

PARKING

The conditions for having a parking Construction on Bowie’s parking permit have changed since last school lots began over the summer, leaving the year; students now will get only one school closed to any activities including warning before having their car towed as sports practice, regular office hours, and opposed to the previous three warnings. teachers preparing for the school year.

This change is due to a limited number “We weren't able to start rehearsals of parking spaces in every lot. for Into the Woods as early as we would “I really do need our students doing have liked to, so it definitely put a damp- as requested with regards to parking, er on those rehearsals,” senior Gillian because otherwise they're impacting Griffis said. “We other students were planning on [and] they could rehearsing like I know this is a challenging year, impact our retwo weeks before but hopefully we're going to see lationship with school started. I some of these a lot of benefit in the future with other entities know a lot of organizations meet that are helping regards to the construction. up before school us out,” Vohl starts to get stuff said.

Aaron Vohl done and they Griffis, who weren’t able to parks in Lot A, is Assistant Principal do that.” generally satisSummer renovations also led to fur- fied with her location of parking due to ther complications during the beginning the proximity to school and not a large of the school year like busses running amount of change from the 2018-2019 off of schedule and Lot A students being school year’s parking. displaced for two weeks.

“I am lucky because I am in Lot A and “I know we didn’t have air condition- I don’t have to experience construction ing in all of our classrooms up until al- as much but I would have hated it as a most the day that school started and we sophomore, getting my license and just still face some challenges with regards wanting to drive to school and having to to that, but I think our teachers in this park on [Wolftrap] or not being able to building [have] done a really amazing park near Bowie,” Griffis said. job,” Assistant Principal Aaron Vohl While both Lot A and Lot B are nearsaid.

by Bowie and allow students to have close parking to school, students parked PARKING GARAGE at Lot C, which is 1.3 miles away from Many students, including Junior Bowie, have to plan for shuttle commute Amelia Crawford, would have prefered when leaving for school in the morning. if the parking garage had not been built.

“When I park at Lot C, I have to leave Crawford believes the garage will be the my house 30 to 40 minutes earlier than cause of more traffic.

I [did] for when my mom drove me pre“I have never heard one student or viously,” Albini said. “After school it also member of the faculty say anything pos- adds about 15 minutes to get home from itive about the parking garage,” Craw- the shuttle ride time and the traffic. But ford said. “The parking garage will take I think the shuttle isn’t that bad. Despite forever to leave after school not to men- the extra time it takes back and [forth] it tion that it will be very hard for inex- is an okay system.” perienced drivers. I think that many acIn addition to getting displaced parkcidents will occur when students try to ing spots for two weeks in the beginning leave, as it will be harder to observe your of the school year, current seniors were surroundings. It also seems unsafe for not able to paint their own parking spot students to have to walk in the parking over the summer like previous senior garage alone at night after extracurricu- classes have. lars. I feel like I am waiting for parking “For this one year, band isn’t using that no one wants” the [parking lot] yet, so we should be Junior Lily Albini’s main complaint able to paint the spots and then paint about the parking garage is that it will over it at the end of the year,” Griffis be difficult for new drivers to deal with said. “It’s little and not very important,

SUMMER CONSTRUCTION

”

but to [seniors] who have been told since freshman year that we were going to be able to paint a spot, it’s kind of annoying. We’ve been thinking of ideas for it and just can’t do it.”

ENVIRONMENT

However, construction has not only impacted student’s schedules and parking situations, it has also affected a species of bird, the golden-cheeked warbler, living in an area of construction.

“My understanding is [the golden warbler is] an endangered species and due to where it habitats they had to delay some of the work in that area until it migrated,” Management Assistant to the Principal Debby Theis said.

FUTURE FOR BOWIE

While changes around school can be frustrating, Vohl is looking forward to the outcome of construction and seeing the parking garage as well as new buildings complete.

“I know that may be harder for some of our seniors because they won’t have the luxury of enjoying this parking garage that we have been so in need of for so long, for 30 years,” Vohl said. “I appreciate everybody for being patient and working with me and that’s been helpful to say the least.”

Even though construction is currently a big inconvenience for students and staff, Theis urges students to have patience and focus on the better outcome for Bowie.

“I’m most looking forward to the end of the construction for my siblings to have a better Bowie to attend,” Albini said. “I think all of the new facilities in their plans will be great for incoming grades as long as the construction runs a little smoother.”

Bowie plans to add universal air conditioning and heat once all renovations of the school are done, estimating to be completed by 2022.

“I feel like the [administration is] focusing so much on the parking right now that I would be curious to see what they were going to do about central air and heat, which is something I know a lot of people are looking forward to but aren’t exactly sure how it’s going to happen,” Griffis said.

While construction on Bowie is going to take up at least another two years, Vohl believes the benefits will be worth the wait.

“Thanks for being understanding to our students, as well as our families,” Vohl said. “I know this is a challenging year, but hopefully we're going to see a lot of benefit in the future with regards to the construction. I wish I could provide parking for everybody; I wish I could snap my fingers and make it happen. I'm thankful that our families and our students have, you know, been as understanding as they have and have found ways to make it work.”

STUDENT SUGGESTIONS Bowie juniors and seniors voice their ideas over how construction and parking situations can be improved.

ART BY Faith Lawrence and Sammie Thompson

Junior Lily Albini An improvement for Lot C would be the three [shuttle] buses actually leaving first after school like the administration said, instead of what we have now where we wait in line with the rest of the cars.

Junior Kaitlyn Muras I think they should implement more drivers [on the shuttle] in the morning so we didn’t have to wait so long.

Senior Camryn Cuchia Something that could be improved would be having trash cans in the parking lot and along the walk back.

Junior Ninabelle Sitler One thing to improve is the amount of parking spots available because I know there are empty spots available at Bethany, yet they say the parking permits are sold out. That just doesn’t add up.

Senior Sarah Brown The light to turn left into and out of the parking lot should be longer.

Senior Hannah Bohannan I personally feel if we could park closer to the school in the church parking lot it’d be a little shorter of a walk for everyone.

Junior Lauren Schoenfeld There could be more WOLFTRAP spots available on Wolftrap and surrounding neighborhoods to improve parking.

Junior Jenny Toran More parking spots at Bowie would decrease the number of people parking on Wolftrap.

Junior Cassandra Garcia I think that more police stationed around Bowie would be beneficial because students just walk in the street.

PHOTO ESSAY 7

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019 THE DISPATCH

Beekeeper keeps community bee-utiful

SMOKING THEM OUT: Jayden Wu uses his smoker so that he can safely access the bee hives to check on them. The smoke makes the bees believe that their hive is on fire, causing them to eat their honey supply and go into a sugar coma. “I have to be able to use the smoker on my bees so that I can calm them down to safely access them,” Wu said. “The smoke does not major harm to the bees, it just causes them to sleep and stop swarming.” PHOTO BY Rae Gray

GIVING THE MONTHLY CHECK UP: While checking on his bees, Jayden Wu looks for eggs and if the bees are producing honey. He checks on the bees every monthly to make sure that everything is going smoothly. “When I check on the bees I make sure that they are doing what they need to be doing,” Wu said. PHOTO BY Rae Gray

Jayden Wu works to preserve bees by beekeeping Rae Gray Photo Essay Editor

GETTING STARTED

TIME TO SUIT UP: Jayden Wu is puts on his beekeeping suit. Bee keepers have to wear protective gear to prevent themselves from getting stung by their bees. “I used to be able to wear just a face net, but since my bee population has grown they have gotten more aggressive, so I needed more protection,” Wu said. PHOTO BY Rae Gray

Over the past six months, junior Jayden Wu has been working to preserve bees in his own home.

After hearing that bees are dying, Wu started the process of becoming a beekeeper.

“I decided to get into beekeeping because I heard that bees were at risk of becoming endangered,” Wu said. “I also like honey a lot so it was a win-win situation.”

To start the process of becoming a beekeeper, Wu first had to do his research.

“I watched a lot of YouTube videos on local beekeepers, and followed them on Instagram, just to see how they did it,” Wu said. “I also took an introductory class on beekeeping with Bee Friendly Austin, they taught me how to take care of hives and everything that I needed to know to get started.”

Wu also had to decide on the type of bees that would be most beneficial for him and the environment around him.

“Most beekeepers work with Italian bees, and thats the type I have,” Wu said. “Italian bees make the most honey, and they’re the most docile and least likely to attack.”

Before Wu could even start this process though, he had to get permission from his parents on whether or not he could have a beehive in his backyard. His father, Jerry Wu had mixed feelings in the beginning but eventually came around.

“I think initially, everyone is naturally apprehensive about beehives near your home much less in your own backyard,” Jerry said.

“Austin is a bee friendly city so as long as the rules were followed and all the things were learned that needed to be learned to maintain them, I was okay with everything.”

CARING FOR THE BEES

FRUITS OF LABOR: Pictured on the left is the filtered honey, and on the right is the beeswax from the honey that was filtered. Jayden Wu collected three jars of honey at the end of the summer. “The byproduct of having the bees is that you get your own supply of great honey,” Jayden’s father, Jerry Wu, said. PHOTO BY Rae Gray

Bees are a self sufficient livestock to raise. Once the hive is established they are almost completely independent. That in mind it is still important to check up on them to maintain their hive.

“In the beginning, I would feed them and check on them, like once a week, to make sure they’re doing all right, and not having problems and that they’re growing,” Jayden said. “Now that they are established I only to check on them once every three to four weeks.”

HARD AT WORK: Jayden Wu’s bees are hard at work producing honey. On the left is the empty honey cones, and on the right is the honey cones filled with honey. “I wasn’t planning on collecting honey at all this year, but I checked on them one day and I noticed that they had produced a lot more than I thought,” Wu said. PHOTO BY Rae Gray

Beekeepers have an important role in maintaining the health and stability of their hive, they have to make sure that their bees are developing properly.

“When I go in and check on my bees I make sure that they are not swarming or making another hive,” Jayden said. “I also make sure that they are laying eggs and producing enough honey for them to survive off of.”

Jayden is pretty independent in raising his bees, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have the support of his family.

“It’s kind of like your kid wanting a dog of their own but then the dog becomes part of the entire family so eventually, everyone has a hand in feeding, walking, scooping, etc,” Jerry said.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEEKEEPING

Beekeeping possess many benefits for both the beekeeper and the bees involved. It is an important part in the preservation of bees and provides shelter and a safe place for bees to grow.

“So bees, naturally they would be able to survive on their own in the wild,” Jayden said. “But there’s now parasites and diseases that have been introduced from different parts of the world. The biggest problem right now is the varroa mite, which is originally from Asia, but it’s now spread all over the world, except Australia.

So without human intervention,

the mites would just completely destroy all the bees. So for them to survive, they need humans to get rid of those mites. Beekeeping helps with that.”

Beekeeping is important for the environment as well. Bees are a vital pollinator and part of the ecosystem that everything depends on. AP Environmental science teacher, Ashley Spiro strongly believes in bee preservation.

“Bees are pollinators. Pollinators are responsible for fertilizing the vast majority of flowering plants on earth,” Spiro said.

“Nearly all fruit and vegetable crops rely on pollination to grow as well.”

HOW PEOPLE CAN HELP THE BEES

Besides beekeeping there are other ways that people can help in protecting the bee population. To support the growth of bees people can also look into what they grow in their backyard, and what they put into their soil.

“To help bees people can ban pesticides, such as neonicotinoids, that are shown to decimate bee population,” Spiro said. “People can also plant wildflower gardens and other native flowering plants to help provide plentiful resources for all of Austin’s local pollinators.

Everyone can make an effort to slow the speed at which the earth’s climate is changing. This can be done by people making an effort to reduce fossil fuel consumption.”

IN-DEPTH 9

8 IN-DEPTH

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019 THE DISPATCH

Gun control triggers heated debates

Perspectives clash as recent gun violence sparks newfound interest and widespread discussion

Marisa Salazar Editor-in-Chief

MASS

SHOOTINGS

in America 2019

In wake of the El Paso and Odessa-Midland shootings that claimed the lives of 30 people, gun violence laments itself as a primary issue in America and a concern for people across the nation. According to Gun Violence Archive, the number of mass shootings in 2019 has reached 310 incidents. Consequently, the topic of gun control has become problematic with polarizing viewpoints and it remains arduous to differentiate between facts and misinformation.

Texas Gun Sense is a statewide nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that advocates for evidence based policies in reducing gun violence. Ed Scruggs, the board president of the group, has been involved since the Sandy Hook shooting several years ago.

“More people are interested in this issue than ever before and they’re going to carry it with them to the voting booth come next election,” Scruggs said. “Now, I think we have a lot of public momentum on our side where folks on our side are more energized than the other side.”

A position within the gun control debate includes those who believe the right to own firearms should not face limitations. Michael Cargill, owner of Central Texas Gun Works, stated that in a time of uncertainty, people are wanting access to protection in the event of an attack.

“The police are going to take minutes to get [to the scene] and by the time they respond I could lose my entire family,” Cargill said. “People are wanting to put their own protection in their hands because they know that they cannot depend on law enforcement to come and save them.”

Junior Manasa Polavarapu declared herself neutral regarding the issue of gun control. She claimed that, with such a complex issue, definitively choosing a single viewpoint will lead to complications in looking for reasonable solutions.

“It hasn’t directly affected me,” Polavara-

pu said. “At the same time, others have been affected. I wouldn’t say completely take it away because some people use guns properly, but there are also people who use guns the wrong way.”

Likewise, social studies teacher Alejandro Garcia believes that gun control is such a complex and disparaging issue that finding viable solutions can seem futile in such a misguided and hateful society.

“I don’t think anything will reduce gun violence,” Garcia said. “We are in a society right now where everybody tends to turn to violence. I’m not sure if there’s anything we can do to solve this epidemic of racist, disgraceful violence.”

According to the Stanford Law Center, the sale of firearms increases following a mass shooting. This was confirmed by Cargill, who said that after a mass shooting the sale of firearms and shooting classes increases at Central Texas Gun Works.

“I think more people need to take their own personal protection in their own hands,” Cargill said. “There’s no way you’re going to be able to stop all the evil people that are dead set on committing crimes and committing evil, they are going to commit that evil.”

POLITICAL POLARIZATION

As divides grow between those with differing ideologies the debate over how guns should be managed in the United States continues without a foreseeable end. Scruggs expressed disappointment that the divisions within the country may hinder improvements on gun control.

“We live in a very polarizing time in a very divided country: politically and culturally,” Scruggs said. “[Guns] can define someone’s identity, it says a lot about culture, and because of that they also play a big role in the cultural divide that we have in the country.”

It has been a decade since the Columbine High School shooting and a year since the Parkland High School shooting. Schools and the students in them have fallen victim to gun violence. Now both students and teachers must be aware of potential dangers on campus, which Garcia conveyed grief over. “[School shootings] have crossed my mind, because this is the world that we live in now,” Garcia said. “I think every teacher has thought about what they would do and how they would secure and make sure their students are safe. It’s sad that we have to

think about that.”

Sophomore Aidan Barboza believes that gun control is needed in America.

However, a quintessential right like the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms, should remain intact since certain people use guns responsibly.

“There are some instances where a gun is needed to protect yourself,” Barboza said. “I do think that the right to bear arms is something that people should have because it is a right that you are allowed. At the same time, that doesn’t mean that you should be able to own all sorts of weapons on the market that aren’t needed.”

As teenagers approach voting age, Garcia said that students must become educated on all aspects of gun control and consider both sides of the issue. He does his part to present students with unbiased information and encourages them to draw their own conclusions.

“Being able to find unbiased information that people can turn to for facts, as opposed to opinion, is very important for teenagers who are in such a very persuasive part of their life,” Garcia said. “I try my best as a teacher to be very unbiased in the evidence I present in history and let those students make their own opinions.”

MENTAL ILLNESS

A claim in the debate over gun control is that guns don’t kill people, people kill people. This sentiment asserts mental health issues as leading people toward acts of violence. While Scruggs considered the idea, he also claimed that only about 4% of those who engaged in gun violence last year were classified as mentally ill.

“Better mental health treatment would help and possibly reduce some mass shootings or gun violence,” Scruggs said. “I think a lot of times people think the answer to gun violence is just better mental health care for the mentally ill and to fix mental health care, but they’re citing things like anger or impulse issues as mental illness and that’s not necessarily true.”

Widespread mental health screening on all potential gun buyers is considered a possible solution in easing gun violence, but Polavarapu is certain that an idea of this magnitude would be inefficient and essentially impossible.

“You c a n ’ t do it for every single person,” Polavarapu said. “You also don’t know who has an illness and who doesn’t because some people hide [mental illness]. This could be a solution, but I don’t think it would practically work.”

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THE NEXT GENERATION

The future of gun control is in the hands of those who have been growing up in a country ravaged by mass shootings, Scruggs stated, and that change will come from the actions of younger generations now.

“You are the generation that’s going to change this,” Scruggs said. “Your generation is coming up in this world and you’ve had to deal with this your whole life, and you’re going to have the experience and the knowledge and the energy to really make change.”

Barboza believes gun control is an issue that everyone must be concerned with, due to the prevalence it has in present day as shootings become more frequent and are a legitimate concern across the nation.

“I think that most everybody should be informed about gun control,” Barboza said.

“It’s something that is very relevant right now and is a very serious topic that young adults and people in general need to be educated on.”

Garcia stressed the importance of being aware of the information surrounding such a divisive issue like gun control, especially for students who are approaching the voting age.

“If you don’t understand why people are

ups e t about guns, then you’re not paying attention,” Garcia said. “People informed about actual facts is the best way to stop and curb some of the violence that happens. Educate yourself, find out what people are actually saying, and use that to kind of form your knowledge.”

The debate surrounding gun control is ongoing. Scruggs commented that the tragedies associated with gun violence has permanently changed America and the state of freedom in the country has come into question. “[America] has lost a lot of innocence,” Scruggs said. “The other side will say that having a firearm is about protecting freedom. We’re a more cynical country, a country that’s more afraid, and that doesn’t feel like freedom to me.”

STUDENT POLLING DATA

A Mass Shooting is defined as when at least FOUR people are injured or killed in the attack.

Would you support a nationwide ban on the sale of assault style weapon?

YES

51.7%

12.1%

NO

36.2%

UNSURE

How confident are you that passing stricter gun control laws would reduce mass shootings in this country?

VERY

36.2%

28.6%

21.4%

13.8%

SOMEWHAT NOT VERY

How worried are you, if at all, that a mass shooting could happen in your community?

VERY

38.3%

21.7%

25.9%

14.1%

SOMEWHAT NOT VERY El Paso Shooting August 3, 2019

ART BY Arushi Sharma

NOT AT ALL NOT AT ALL

When you turn 18, will you consider purchasing a firearm?

Midland-Odessa Shooting August 31, 2019 SOURCE www.gunviolencearchive.org

YES

47.6%

30.3%

UNSURE

22.1%

NO

290 STUDENTS POLLED 9/16-9/20; Polled through Google Form 148 Females, 132 Males, 10 Non-binary/other 75 Seniors, 78 Juniors, 57 Sophomores, 80 Freshmen

10 SPORTS

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019

ATHLETES ASSERT Is Texas football really “back”?

Jaxson Glenewinkel Guest Sports Columnist

Back in 2005, the Texas Longhorns had a historic football season that went 130, and they won one of the best championship games ever. In the final minute, they scored a touchdown to win the game. Ever since, fans have been longing for a return to the national stage, and every year it brings back the question: is Texas back?

Under head coach Tom Herman, many fans think Texas may once again be able to compete for a national championship this year. After ending last season with a win over then No. 5 Georgia, the team has high expectations for this season. Naturally, fans wonder if Texas is truly “back.” In my opinion, Texas has a high chance of making the playoffs this year. But will they win the title? I highly doubt it.

Texas looks good this year, and after only losing to LSU 45-38, they could easily sweep their schedule and finish 11-1, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready to compete with elite teams. Texas’ performance against LSU was impressive, and last year’s win against Georgia was too. However, both games are not as convincing as they may seem.

Georgia played awfully after being kicked out of the playoffs, and they had many key players sit out for the draft.

LSU had an uncharacteristic game on defense. Known for their excellent pass defense, they played poorly and kept Texas in the game.

Texas has an easy schedule this year with only two other AP top-25 teams left to play: Oklahoma and TCU. Their only true opponent is Oklahoma, currently ranked No. 5. Oklahoma has a very good transfer at QB, and their offense is one of the best in the league. However, their defense is inconsistent, and with Texas’ current passing offense, Oklahoma won’t offer a true test of Texas’ defense. TCU just got into the top 25, and I don’t expect them to stay ranked for long. The other teams in the Big-12, Texas’ conference, are just not that good.

I expect them to win all of their games except Oklahoma. They may be able to top Oklahoma and be the Big12 Champions once again, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re back just yet.

I think the Playoff Committee will put Texas in playoffs, but they’ll be the number four seed, and a team like Clemson will be way too much for Texas. With Texas lacking at running back and Clemson’s extremely suffocating defense, I see their season ending with a loss to Clemson in the playoffs.

Texas definitely has a much better team than the past few years, but even if they win most of their games this year, Texas is simply not “back” yet. They won’t be tested with a weak schedule, and they don’t have the talent to beat the elite teams.

Questions?

Concerns?

Want to share your opinion?

Contact: Email: bowie. journalism@ gmail.com Room: F203

Rookie quarterback dominates Naya Tillisch Sports Editor

After countless early morning practices, dozens of late night games, individual training, and two years of playing football for the Dawgs, sophomore quarterback Diego Tello has earned a spot on the varsity team.

“Diego is a really good kid,” athletic director Jeff Ables said. “He’s playing hard and doing everything we’ve asked him to do.

Tello found his love for football at a young age.

“I have been playing football since I was four,” Tello said. “I started playing because I loved watching [it] as a kid.”

As a freshman, Tello was moved up to JVA after starting quarterback Trinidad Sanders got injured.

“We moved Diego to the JVA last year to get him more prepared to play tougher competition,” Ables said.

“We liked him and he did a really good job of grasping our offense. It’s just the experience factor and getting reps that will help him improve his game. ” His coach-ability and intelligence allow him to compete with older players on the varsity level.

“I knew he was going to be an essential part of our offense in the next couple years,” junior wide receiver Thanio Bright said. “Diego has a strong arm, great mobility in and out of the pocket, and makes great decisions when it comes to options and read[ing the field].”

A huge number of seniors graduated from the team last year, so a lot more underclassmen are getting opportunities to play this year.

“We graduated 47 guys last year, so we only have 12 returning lettermen,” Ables said. “Players like Diego are going to have to grow up quick and step up. They’re

STAR PLAYER: Sophomore quarterback Diego Tello searches for a target as his opponent charges at him. Tello will be one of the varsity starting quarterbacks for the rest of this season. PHOTO BY Abbey Repka

doing well; they’re playing hard and doing the best they can, so that’s all we can ask of them.”

Tello has set big goals for himself to accomplish in the next two years.

“My goal for this year is to help my team win in any way,” Tello said. “Over the next two years I’m excited to lead the team, and the goal for us will be to [eventually] get to the state championship.”

Starting senior quarterback Trinidad Sanders injured his knee in the game against LT on September 13, so Tello will be one of the players stepping into his place as quarterback.

“Diego will definitely

play at quarterback a good amount,” Ables said. “We hate to lose Trinidad, and it’s a big loss for us, but everybody is going to have to step up and play their best.”

With a major player injured and so many young players, Ables notes how this season will be very trying one for the team.

“The team is facing a little bit of adversity right now,” Ables said. “It’s like what I told the team at practice: when you go through adversity you find out what you’re made of. Ultimately, they’ll be closer together and stronger because of it, and they’ll be better because of it.”

Despite the challenges, Tello loves playing on varsity

and being a part of the football program.

“I wouldn’t change anything [about football],” Tello said. “We have great coaches, and if everyone works hard this year, we will be a great team.”

The team is very close, which is one of the aspects Tello appreciates so much about football.

“My favorite part about playing for Bowie is getting to play with great teammates and coaches…[I want] to grow with my team and strengthen our brotherhood.”

After throwing his first touchdown against Lake Travis, Tello is excited for the upcoming games.

“I’m starting my first game on Thursday against Del Valle (Bowie won 38-21),” Tello said. “I will be ready to play any time my team needs me [on the field].”

He hopes to one day get committed and play college football.

“We take it one day at a time, and [he will] play a lot,” Ables said. “He has potential to start full time as a senior and later play in college.”

Tello has certainly made an impact on the varsity players and coaches, and he is expected to have a bright future in football.

“Diego is a future D1 quarterback; you heard it here first,” Bright said.

Junior dives into abundance of college offers Amelie Hayne Dispatch Reporter

Having a supportive coach can influence an athlete’s performance when playing and can also help to build their confidence up during the game.

New doors are beginning to open for junior “Johnson’s also a good leader, she’s a quiMaya Johnson, for the young student-athlete is al- et leader and leads by example, she inspires her ready receiving college scholarships from Bethune teammates with her plays, she contributes on and Cookman, North Carolina A&T, and East Caroli- off the court in many ways,” Saenz said. na University. Johnson has been playing volleyball Many athletes have role models that they look since she was 11 when her interest in volleyball up to and who help to keep them focused on playfirst began. ing their best. Johnson looks up to the Olympian “The main reason I got into volleyball was be- volleyball player, Rachael Adams who is a member cause of my older sister,” Johnson said. “I have of the United States women’s national volleyball always looked up team, and is a role to her and once she model for many girls, started playing vol- My favorite part about being on the team including Johnson. leyball, I decided I is getting to spend quality time with the “She has helped wanted to be just me become better team to connect and make memories like her and play.” at higher level volwith them.

The way an athleyball, I have really lete trains reflects a Maya Johnson looked up to her as a lot on their perforvolleyball player and Junior volleyball player mance in the game, as a person, she is having the resources what I strive to be as a player,” Johnson said. to be able to receive extra training can provide a Johnson plans on using volleyball to help get a leg up for many players. Johnson’s dad owns an scholarship for college and further her education, athletic company that helps train athletes and which is something she has been working toward build strength. since high school started.

“I work out with my dad, he is a strength coach “My goal is to get the opportunity to play voland I workout with him two times a week in sea- leyball in college so that I can get a degree in bison and in the off season I go to workout three ology and I would like the chance to be able to times a week. That helps me get stronger and become a marine biologist and start a career in the helps with injury prevention,” Johnson said. biology field,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s teammates recognize her success on Staying motivated is a very crucial part of bethe court, junior Evelyn Batista also plays along- coming a successful student-athlete, many playside Johnson on the Varsity volleyball team. ers have their own unique things that make the “Maya is really good and has improved signifi- sport worth playing. cantly over the past couple of years. She is a true “My biggest motivation to play volleyball is the team leader and sets a good example for the rest competitiveness,” Johnson said. “I love the high of the girls on the team,” Batista said. pressure situations you are placed in and the agA coach is able to see how players develop and gressive side of the game. I love being on a team perform from a different perspective, as well as and going through the ups and downs together.” how they grow and improve throughout the seaBeing a part of a sports team can lead to difson. ferent problems that players have to put up with “Johnson is an overall dominating player; she throughout their season, but most athletes are touches 10 to 1, and she leads our team in blocks able to find the positive out of these situations. and she leads our team in kill percentage,” varsity “Volleyball has made my high school experivolleyball coach Miguel Saenz said. “She’s a very ence pretty challenging because of missing class physical, dominating player that we rely on,” for games or tournaments, but I‘ve made some

”

BUMP, SET, KILL: Junior middle blocker Maya Johnson hits the ball back on to Ann Richards’ side of the court. Because of her performance, she has received interest from several colleges. PHOTO BY Abbey Repka

really good friends to make up for that,” Johnson said.

In team sports, most players have friends that are there to support them and make the whole experience more fun and enjoyable.

“My favorite part about being on the team is getting to spend quality time with the team to connect and make memories with them while we are at practice, games, and tournaments,” Johnson said.

coming UP in SPORTS September 28 Swim team meet @Round Rock

October 1 Varsity volleyball vs. Westlake @Bowie High School October 4 Varsity football vs. Anderson @Burger Stadium

October 7 Varsity tennis tournament @TBD

O c t o b e r 1 5 M c N e i l I n v i t a t i o n a l X C m e e t @ O l d S e t t l e r s Pa r k

October 25 Homecoming game vs. Austin @Burger Stadium

SPORTS 11

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019 THE DISPATCH

Bulldawgs dominating student athletics

Arianna Lax

Her heart is racing as every muscle fights through the water, finally reaching the wall she looks up at the clock, another record time. Junior Ariana Lax is on the rise, improving her skill and speed with every stroke she takes.

The 16-year-old began swimming competitively eight years ago, and is putting in countless hours of hard work to improve every year.

“I swim about 18 hours a week,” Lax said “I practice twice on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday but once on Wednesday.”

Lax’s hard work has been paying off recently as she has competed at the state level for the past three years and been invited to exclusive training camps.

“I went to the National Diversity Select Camp at the Olympic training center in Colorado,” Lax said “Only 48 swimmers from around the country qualify to go for the weekend.”

With less than two years left in high school, the junior has her eyes set on an opportunity to swim competitively in college.

“Right now I would like to swim Division 1,” Lax said “The top college meet in is NCAA and it is really hard to qualify for so that is my main goal.”

Ariana has a strong support system of coaches and teammates that keep her performing at the top of her game.

“My club coach always tells me to go faster and do my best on every single thing we do in practice,” Lax said “My training partners are the two girls on my team that are the same speed as me so we race and push each other to be faster.”

Another one of Lax’s big supporters is Bowie’s head swim coach Peyton Bobo, who has coached Lax for a year now.

“She could go as far as she sets her mind to,” Bobo said “She will definitely swim D1 if she wants to do that.”

STORY BY Kateri Jaquette

Carlos Canepa

Long meetings, intense practices, and late night study sessions are all in a day’s work for our student council president.

Senior Carlos Canepa is simultaneously running clubs while taking on a rigorous course load and playing highly competitive tennis.

Canepa has spent the past eleven years committed to playing tennis.

“I have been playing since I was six years old,” Canepa said. “ I have been on varsity all my years at bowie and I play at the super champ level.”

The senior has a number of other extracurriculars that he works into his schedule.

“I am involved in student council, the Spanish Honor Society and the National Honor Society,” Canepa said “I am the president of both the Spanish Honor Society and student council.”

Canepa has had to deal with the struggles of being a heavily involved student athlete but has managed to overcome those challenges.

“I manage to balance everything by being very organized,” Canepa said “I have planner where I put down important dates like due dates, tournaments, and appointments and with that I can more or less manage my time.”

The head tennis coach James Dammann, has coached for many years and has seen his players struggle with time management.

“I think everyone on the team has struggled with balancing school because we are gone a lot,” Dammann said “They have to be really motivated to be able to balance everything out.”

Dammann has coached Canepa since his freshman year and admires his commitment to his work.

“He has a really good work ethic,” Dammann said. “He plays a lot of tennis and STORY BY Kateri works really hard.”

Jaquette

College Recruit

Triple Threat

Katie Cole

Dribbling, setting, and cradling. Senior Katie Cole is a triple-threat in every sense of the word, playing on three varsity teams for three separate sports.

“I am playing volleyball, basketball and lacrosse this year,” Cole said “I have been playing volleyball and basketball in high school and through middle school but this is my first year playing lacrosse.”

Although she plays hard for all of her teams, Cole is especially committed to one.

“Volleyball is definitely my main sport because I start in the summer so I get to be there for all the entire season,” Cole said “I miss the first few months of basketball so it is hard to have the same commitments and goals when I’m coming in three months behind.”

With volleyball in August, basketball in the fall, and lacrosse until the end of May, Cole has an intense athletic schedule.

“Last year I played my volleyball playoff game then I was at basketball practice at 7:30 the next morning.” Cole said On top of her impressive athletic commitments, Cole is also a member of a number of clubs and is involved with the Austin chapter of the National Charity League.

“I am my own worst critic because I am involved in all of these things I love so much I hate myself when I am not doing well at them,” Cole said “As horrible as it is, all of my motivation is internal because I have always been the person who wants to be the best at something.”

Despite her harsh self criticism, Cole is an extremely supportive friend and teammate according to senior Sarah Israel, who has played with Cole for years.

“She is so encouraging and is really good at giving constructive criticism,” Israel said “If you are on a team with her she is like your family, and it is really nice to have STORY someone like that on your team.”

BY Kateri Jaquette

PHOTO BY Peter Dang

PHOTO BY Marisa Salazar

PHOTO BY Kateri Jaquette

Mr. President

PHOTO BY Kateri Jaquette

NCAA Dreams

Jayden York

Hot summer practices, grueling workouts, and intense training are all part of Bowie’s football program, and while the work is tough, it is paying off for some of the players. Last week the varsity wide receiver Jayden York received his first scholarship offer from the Division 1 school, Bryant University.

The senior began playing ten years ago and by his freshman year he had his sights set on college football.

“Freshman year I realized I wanted to play football in college,” York said “It’s a sport I love and it would provide me the opportunity to go to college for free.”

York has committed countless hours to the sport and achieving his college dreams.

“I spend around 30 hours a week practicing to prepare and train before game days,” York said “I’ve just tried to stay focused on reaching my goals and working towards reaching them.”

York has both the skill and sportsmanship to be a successful athlete. York’s teammate, junior Evan Mallet, recognizes his natural leadership abilities.

“He’s a character,” Mallet said “He has always been one of the big leaders and has always been the guy we go to when we need a big play.”

Although he has already secured an offer from a division one school, York is still setting goals for himself throughout his final season as a Bowie Bulldog.

“I hope that this season I can successfully carry the team to the 4th round in state,” York said “I would like to get over one-thousand receiving yards and fifteen sacs.”

Mallet attributes York’s leadership as well as the leadership of others to the teams positivity.

“We’re always positive even when we are down when we take a tough loss we still come back to win the next big game,” Mallet said. STORY BY Kateri Jaquette

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12 ENTERTAINMENT THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019

The Apotheosis casts a choir soloist

Senior vocalist presents herself with a new a voice to the outdoor performing ensemble Callie Payne Entertainment Editor

The lights shine down on senior Hannah Cherukuri as she begins to sing for the large audience. The stadium fills with melody as the band begins to play.

The Bowie Band’s show this year is called The Apotheosis, which features Cherukuri. The band has never before added a choir member to their show.

“My best friend and I are the main characters in The Apotheosis,” Cherukuri said. “I am royalty like a goddess and everyone starts worshiping me but I don’t know that. The story is basically me figuring out that I am a god. My best friend is the storyteller and she is the one that informs me.”

All-State is a competition for musicians particularly high schoolers in Texas.

“After me and (senior)Sara (Brown) both made all state they decided to write us into the show,” Cherukuri said. “It is really rare that marching band shows have someone who isn’t in the band.”

Brown is an oboist who has also been added to the marching band Show.

“I am like the instrumental counterpart to Hannah’s singing vocals,” Brown said. “Being in this show is an amazing feeling. Getting to have a part in making a show that will entertain people makes one feel so accomplished. Knowing that one day someone may decide to join band because they loved the show you were in makes all the hard work worth it.”

Band Director Garth Gunderson describes the process of putting the show together and the behind the scenes on what it takes for a successful show.

“We meet as a staff and talk about what went well and what didn’t go well,” Gunderson said, “We hire someone to write the show for us and then the drill designer writes the drill for that. We have a program coordinator who coordinates how the color guard fits in and the props and all of the

LOUD AND TUNEFUL: In the half-time performance, senior Hannah Cherukuri sings in The Apotheosis. Cherukuri had to focus on her volume to make sure everyone in the audience could hear her vocals while the band was playing right behind her. PHOTO BY Peter Dang

production value.”

In order to be considered as a soloist it is necessary to have the right experience.

“Sara and I both made all-state, so after that the director wanted to implement us in the show,” Cherukuri said. “I sing and dance while she plays her instruments.

It is so fun to be able to do this because I have been the marching band’s biggest fan.”

The band competes in various competitions and also is included at the halftime performances at football games.

“It is a very nerve-wracking process but it is one of the most rewarding feelings when you finally do make it,” Brown said. “You work

for months on the same music and then you get to perform with the best musicians that are your age and it’s amazing.”

Gunderson guides the soloists on the field during the performance in order to make sure things are working smoothly.

“Hannah Cherukuri is an AllState Choir member so she is one of the best singers in the state,” Gunderson said. “We utilize that talent and she was also in band in middle school so she already came prepared. I am the person on the tower that communicates to her things that I am hearing through the speaker because sometimes when you are singing you are not aware of how it sounds forty yards

away.”

There are many advantages that come along with being a soloist in the show.

“The greatest benefit from doing this is that me and my three best friends are able to travel together during senior year,” Cherukuri said. “I never thought this would be something I would be able to do. I have had many people who are so supportive and I think that is another benefit I have gotten from this.”

After hours of preparation, the show is finally ready to perform in front of hundreds of spectators.

“When all of the pieces come together it is very fulfilling,” Gunderson said. “We started the design

process last November, so we have been working on this show for about six months. We are still at a point in the season where we are developing the ideas and so it is a work in progress.”

Participating in the marching band Show is a role that requires effort and preparation months in advance.

“I was so scared going into this because I had so many questions,” Cherukuri said. “ I had to mentally prepare myself because it is a crazy amount of hours to put in. It can be so much work we have rehearsals everyday and most people don’t usually know that. Every bit of hard work has been worth it and I have grown a lot as a musician.”

Starlight Theatre takes on the 1800s American Dream Corinne Piorkowski Entertainment Editor

Starlight Theater is currently working on their fall production called American Dream.

The show has four staff directors, as well as numerous student led assistants and managers. Specifically, Haymarket Eight is about racism and terrorism during the Haymarket Riots of 1886.

The ‘American Dream’ shows reflect on ancient hate crimes and tragedies that are still evident in today’s society, and are used to bring awareness to it.

“It is an ongoing issue of segregation in our society that has sadly yet to diminish,” sophomore actress Sarah O’Leary said.

As this show and topic uses deep meanings that can be difficult for viewers to understand, actors must work their hardest to portray their characters correctly to the time period and emotion that the Haymarket Affair brought along in real life.

“I think by working with characterization to really understand what happened during the Haymarket riot will help us convey the story a lot better,” O’Leary said.

Preparing a show for performance is not an easy feat, and requires several different roles from students and staff to unify a specific topic.

“We make sure that everyone is adapting to their roles and responsibilities,” stage manager Tayah Savoy said. “We also make sure that the tech positions are running through their roles smoothly.”

The topic of Haymarket Eight and the other American Dream shows are carefully chosen by everyone involved to convey the aged, yet real events that took place in American society.

“It is super old, so I have to get in the oldtimey mindset,” freshman actress Arabella Chairez said. “Even though it’s challenging, it’s always super fun.”

With that said, directors had to keep in mind the idea of making the events unique to Bowie’s theatre program, and creating special details and characters, while keeping

Eight Hours of Labor

Eight Hours of Recreation

Admission $5

Eight Hours of Sleep

Oct 10 - 13

HAYMARKET EIGHT ART BY Sumin Kim

the Haymarket Riot’s events accurate to history.

“We have been working on making scenes and defining characters during the time period to help us better portray our timely characters,” O’Leary said.

Creating a show requires collective teamwork and is completed with every theatre role being fulfilled.

“I think that everyone understands that in order to create a great performance, we must be compatible and connect with each other in every rehearsal,” Savoy said.

Although acting is the only thing audiences can physically see and critique, the back-

stage tech crew also plays an important role in assembling a performance.

“I love being backstage because it really showcases the compatibility in the range of skills within our students,” Savoy said. “Being able to be a part of the process that connects everyone together is a very humbling and knowledgeable experience.”

The topic of the Haymarket Eight, although touching, may cause controversy with viewers, which must be noted when the show is being prepared and performed.

“Haymarket Eight relates to how minorities in America are often convicted of crimes they didn’t commit, and how white people

tend to try to play the victim,” O’Leary said.

“This is very relevant in today’s society just as it once was.”

Conveying a show focus may also be a struggle for theatre staff, as each year topics change and are significant in a different and captivating way.

“There was a riot and bombing and minorities were immediately picked to have committed the crime, when they showed no signs of suspicion,” Chairez said. “That segregation is still there today, even if people act like racism is completely gone.”

The cast and crew of Haymarket Eight must collaborate in order to form the image that they are trying to create. This includes lighting, sound systems, costumes, and acting.

“We’re all always there for rehearsals, pitching in ideas and giving all of our effort,” Chairez said. “This allows us to bring our show together for the people that want to watch us.”

Rehearsing for a show begins with an audition, which had to have been done prior to beginning any practices or scripts.

“For auditions, we were allowed to choose from monologues that were out in the hallway, but we did not get to choose which show we were casted in, so we must have been prepared for them all,” O’Leary said.

Rehearsals structures may change as show dates become closer, which requires even more focus from everyone involved.

“Closer to the performance, we will run on stage with lights and tech in order to reach our fullest potential,” Savoy said.

Overall, this year’s fall shows are intended to bring attention to issues in society that have been happening for centuries, according to the students and staff involved with creating a captivating show and displaying the message.

“The theatre community has proven to be a place of compassion and creativity that I would love to continue to learn and live in,” Savoy said.

coming UP in ENTERTAINMENT

Oct. 5-6 Starlight Theatre Fall Show Oct. 12-13 Starlight Theatre Fall Show

Oct. 19 Austin Food Truck Taste-Off Oct. 22 Tyler the Creator Concert

Oct. 22 UIL Band Regional Nov. 1-3 Choir Cabaret

REVIEWS 13

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019 THE DISPATCH

Shake up your day at The Yard Gracie Angeli Reviews Editor

Around Town with Amelie

In the midst of the chaos of school, it’s Find fun things to do nice to be able to grab around Austin for the a quick treat to cheer upcoming fall yourself up.

With all of the stress Amelie Hayne and school work, it can Dispatch Reporter feel like you have no time to do something for yourself, but someAs October begins to times you just have slowly creep around the to decide that getting corner, it’s time to start a milkshake to make getting ready for spooky yourself happy is more season and start by getting important than that into the Halloween spirit. homework assignIf you’re a fan of horror ment. And that’s exmovies and looking to find actly what I did. a good scare, then look no The popular nationfurther than the House of al franchise The Yard Torment.

Milkshake Bar opened The House of Torment is up in late June, and has located in north east Ausmade quite an impact tin near the intersection of on Austin. It is locatHWY 183 and HWY 290 ed in the domain, at East. The House of Tor3400 Esperanza Xing ment is a full experience Austin, TX 78758. It due to how the fun starts is a little bit of a drive before you get into the acfrom Bowie, but if you tual attraction. Before even are in the mood for an getting through the lines, adventure ending with actors in costume will come an extravagant milkup to people and create shake, I think it would personal interactions with be worth it. guests.

The Domain is a There are three different pretty crowded area, rooms that change every so finding parking for year, this year the rooms are The Yard was pretty Rise of the Dead, Clown, difficult. I ended up and Dimensions of Darkhaving to park a good ness. A general admission few minute walk away, ticket includes access to which was fine, just a all three houses, and range little annoying for one SPOON LICKIN’ GOOD: The Yard Milkshake Bar’s Cookie Dough Delicious shake is ready to be slurped up. The from $20 to $30 depending milkshake. I would Yard’s pint sized milkshakes average at around $15, and come in many different flavors such as the Cereal Killer and on what day of the week recommend only going the Cookie Monster, or a customizable shake. PHOTO BY Gracie Angeli you go. However, you can to The Yard if you have also upgrade your tickets to more time and can visOne complaint I Once I actually got to dough on top, all in a size. markably special about a Fast Pass for an extra $10, it a few other stores in or skip the line for $20 to The other specialty it, but I enjoyed it. the shopping center, to do have for the order- the employee that took chocolate icing dipped The shake was also get into the attraction fastmake the parking worth ing process is that the my order, it was quick mason jar. This sounds shakes’ consisted of a menus at the front of and over with soon. She like a lot, and it was, Birthday Cake Shake, presented well, and er. your while.

If you’re interested in I went on a Saturday the store are hard to then gave me an order but it was also one of with birthday batter looked cool. I was number, and I was to the simpler shakes on ice cream and a Mint sticky by the end of it watching some scary films, night, so it was almost read.

While in line, I was sit and wait for them to the menu.

Green Monster shake, and it was a little too look no further than the unbearably crowded. trying to read the menu call my order.

The milkshake bar with mint moose tracks much presentation for Blue Starlite Mini Urban Walking in, it was a I ordered the Cookie also had regular ice ice cream. me, but would make a Drive-In, located off I-35 shock seeing how loud and it was just imposand is about 30 minutes They were fairly good photo. and audibly harsh the sible because of how Dough Delicious shake. cream, and eighteen small the print was.

The shake comes other specialty milk- quick and efficient with Overall, I think that from Bowie. environment was.

Individual walk-in tickI then had to wait As I already had my with cookie dough ice shakes to choose from making my shake, and they could have more dairy options, and ets are around $11, but in line for fifteen min- contacts in to help my cream and whipped and a choice of mak- that meant a lot.

The shake itself tast- could be cheaper. But I they also have packages utes, which was okay vision out, it was con- cream, chocolate chips, ing your own custom because I had to decide cerning that I couldn’t a chocolate drizzle, and milkshake, all coming ed good, I wouldn’t say still think The Yard was for drive-ins that include snacks and unlimited pasread it. a scoop of edible cookie in either a pint or quart there was anything re- a cool experience. what I wanted anyway. sengers. The prices range from $30 to $45.

They are showing horror movies like the Blair Witch Project, Addams Family, Sammie Thompson the Goonies, Beetlejuice Dispatch Reporter and more spooky classics.

Showings at the cinema Immerse yourself into a universe occur all year round, but full of flaming meteors and an Earth horror movies are being that shoots red-hot lasers in my new screened from September favorite game: Meteor Storm. through October.

Meteor Storm is an action game If you’re looking for developed and coded by Zachary Eisomething closer, the Alalers, a junior at Bowie. Eilers created mo Drafthouse is screening the app from scratch based off of an a variety of horror movies idea he had for a while. to get into the Halloween “I’ve had the idea for the meteor spirit. storm game since eighth grade,” EiThe Alamo is locatlers explained. “I wrote the code for ed right off of Mopac and the game myself using a cross platSlaughter, and in Octoform game engine called Corona.” ber they are screening the The primary goal of the game is to Shining, the Cabin in the defend the Earth from meteors that Woods, the Phantom of the are quickly spiraling towards it.

Opera, and you can find To destroy a meteor, you tap on more Halloween showings it, and lasers shoot out at it from the on their website. Tickets are Earth. But be careful, because if you not on sale yet, but should don’t tap on a meteor in time, the go up when it comes closer Earth’s power is drained and you to October. could lose the game.

If you’re looking for a The basic concept of Meteor creepy and spooky experiStorm is similar to many other deence, don’t miss out on the fense games, such as the Bloons Austin Ghost Tours.

Tower Defense series or Plants vs Austin is home to many Zombies. haunted sights and locaHowever, in contrast to these tions that the ghost tour games, Meteor Storm is much simmakes sure to feature.

ART BY Sumin Kim pler and requires less strategy.

They offer three differPersonally, I really enjoyed playing ing to players everywhere. is not looking to create an update for ent unique tours located The app has many cool features, However, there was one downfall: Meteor Storm. such as the sleek and colorful icons this game because it was very simple in downtown Austin. On “I probably won’t create an update Thursdays it’s the ghost, used to create the Earth and the as- and hard to put down. The app dis- Does the game capture the user’s plays your current high score, which attention for an extended period of for the app anytime in the future murder and mayhem tour, teroids.

There are also sound effects to made it hard for me to stop playing time? If I’m being picky, I think the because I have other projects that I on Fridays it’s the alleyway answer to that question is no. After would rather put my time into,” Ei- and shadows ghost walk of alert you when an asteroid hits the until I beat it.

As someone who isn’t really a a while, the simplicity of the game lers said.

Earth, which you can turn on and off the capitol tour, and Satur“gamer,” I appreciated the low skill could make it repetitive, which, in Taking everything into consider- day’s are the Historic Disfrom the main menu. my opinion, would cause players to ation, I would rate Meteor Storm 4 trict Ghost Tour.

There are no levels or different level required to enjoy this game.

Compared to similar games, I lose interest after a while. out of 5 stars. modes to choose from, but more Reservations are reI believe that the addition of levI think the app is well developed quired so make sure to asteroids do appear the higher your think that Meteor Storm could apscore, making it increasingly diffi- peal to more players who don’t nec- els or different modes to the app and appealing to all audiences, but book the tour on their webcult to keep them away. Eilers shared essarily have the experience required would help retain some of the focus an addition of game modes or dif- site if you are interested. that could potentially be lost. These ficulty levels would give it the final that creating these features was an for more complex games.

Tours are 90 minutes I also really liked the design of the would provide users with an option touch it needs. enjoyable part of making the app. long and cost $25 per perOverall, I am very impressed with son. Make sure to check out “My favorite part about creating app itself because it’s colorful and for how they play, and encourage the app was designing the features fun to look at, but it doesn’t take them to keep playing in different how well this game worked on my any of these options so that ways. phone, and I would definitely recom- you don’t miss out on the and effects the game would include,” away from the actual game itself.

In my experience, the game has Eilers explained that as of right mend it to anyone who wants to try fun.

Eilers said. many things about it that are appeal- now, he is focused on other ideas and out an addictive game.

Get ready for this app to fire up a media storm

14 COMMENTARY THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019

Construction's impact on the environment Examining the long term effects of rampant city growth on the issue of climate change EDITORIAL Austin is one of the fastest-growing cities in the united states and is constantly expanding. With this expansion, Construction feels like it never stops, especially in the areas surrounding Bowie and towards Loop One South MoPac. Construction has created a chaotic environment that surrounds campus constantly. The inconvenience is there, and affects the daily lives of those who live in the surrounding area, but how is it affecting our environment?

The current political climate is stressing the importance of being Eco-conscious due to the heated debate on the legitimacy of climate change. According to the White House’s official website, Donald Trump’s call to action in response to climate change entails little to no effort.

The official stance states Americans are misinformed about the country’s energy supply, the carbon emissions are “their lowest level in 25 years” and “American energy policy must balance environmental protection with economic growth to encourage innovation, discovery, and prosperity.” Although the stance of Trump may be deemed sufficient based on his political values, carbon emissions, as well as the state of our atmosphere, is continuing to deplete.

With this being said there are several questions to ask: how is the construction in the surrounding area affecting our fragile environment, and what can the community do to improve these already implemented construction projects in our area?

To answer these pressing questions, we must take into account the policies in place to legally protect the environment on behalf of the private construction company. Because of these already existing precautions, construction was cleared in the Bowie area, but there is always more that can be done by us, the individuals.

As a community, we are responsible for our small ecosystem. Because we are responsible for the surrounding wildlife, we must do more to protect it now that construction has altered the balance existing amongst the environment.

The effects of the private construction company have seemed to displace surrounding wildlife. Students may have seen small ducks roaming into construction or overgrowth of greenery in several areas of campus regarding the construction. If one spots a displaced specimen of wildlife, be sure to contact an administrator, or a nearby adult rather than disturbing the wildlife itself.

Something else that must be addressed is the large pile of dirt and waste that is located next to the construction site, in which dust, smells, and other residue constantly stir in the

Keep my pond clean!

CONSTRUCTION AHEAD

ART BY Katie Holme

atmosphere near the outdoor areas of campus.

Being the less glamorous part of a construction project, it is important to question how these changes to our campus are affecting the surrounding environmentally fragile areas, such as the Veloway and the Edwards aquifer. With this massive amount of waste, the school must communicate with the private construction company to create an environmentally friendly area.

To create an Eco-conscious campus, the reflection of one’s behavior is essential to understanding the effects of Bowie as a community on the environment. Although there are faults in the construction process to improve our campus, there are some positive outcomes that have stemmed from it.

For example, the traffic due to construction, as well as the scarcity of parking spots available, has encouraged students and staff to carpool which has (theoretically) reduced Bowie’s carbon footprint. Small changes like these are essential to fighting the ongoing battle with climate change and

are highly encouraged to keep Bowie beautiful. With this though, there has been more litter near areas of construction, and in the church parking lot. Students and staff alike must be conscious of their decisions and how they may be affecting a larger issue.

Although construction is essential to societal progression, it is important to treat Mother Earth with respect and kindness so, ask yourself, what am I doing to contribute to the longevity of a ‘healthy’ earth, and how do my actions contribute to larger, ongoing issues including debates like climate change.

Due to individual action, many have contributed to a larger cause that will, in turn, affect the rest of the world for future centuries (if the human race is lucky enough to solve pressing environmental issues). So to help with the problem, make sure to pick up litter, carpool, and do any small thing one can do to contribute to campus in a positive, environmentally conscious way.

VSCO girls and the effects of stereotypes on teenagers Maya Amador Commentary Editor

Hearing the bang of a Hydro Flask hit the ground has become as common as hearing sneakers skid the floor.

Hydro Flask sales went up almost 10 percent last year with their overall housewares sales reaching $418.1 million, according to SGB Media. Some people might heavily credit this increase in sales to a new trend, VSCO girls.

If you haven’t heard of a VSCO girl, there’s a chance you might have seen one. They’re typically teenage girls who wear oversized t-shirts with Birkenstocks, scrunchies on their wrist, and lets not forget the VSCO girl staples, a Hydro Flask and metal straw.

They’re known for their peppy personality and having a sort of cult-like feel when they are all together due to their similar look from one to the next. The term VSCO actually comes from a photo editing app created in 2011 called VSCO. VSCO girls have been known to use the app for every photo they post on Instagram.

Even going as far as to create special photo shoot hangouts out of

VSCO READY: Sophomore Samantha Cordova poses with her scrunchies and Polaroid camera. These items have become defining characteristics of the VSCO stereotype. PHOTO BY Brianna Lopez

old attics, sheds, or closets to capture the perfect VSCO photo.

This trend, like you probably can guess, became very popular through social media. One app in particular that has run wild with this trend is TikTok.

EDITORIAL POLICY • The Dispatch is the official student newspaper of James Bowie High School. 3500 copies are published and distributed for free six times a year, generally once per six weeks for the school’s students, staff and community.

• The Dispatch is an open forum for student expression. The Dispatch is not reviewed by school administration prior to distribution, and the advisor will not act as a censor.

Content represents the views of the student staff and not school officials.

• The Dispatch works to avoid bias and/or favoritism. We strive to make our coverage and content meaningful, timely, and interesting to our readers. Our articles reflect our genuine objective of reporting news and will be held to a high standard of quality.

• We make every effort to avoid printing libel, obscenities, innuendo and material that threatens to disrupt the learning process or is an invasion of privacy. We avoid electronic manipulation that alters the truth of a photograph without indicating that the photograph is an illustration.

• Staff editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board arrived at by discussion and will not be bylined. Bylined articles are the opinion of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Dispatch staff or administration as a whole.

• The Dispatch welcomes reader input. Please send any letters, articles, comments or corrections to bowie.journalism@gmail.com, call (512) 841-7825, mail them to 4103 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX 78749 or drop them off in room F-203 with adviser Michael Reeves or any editor. Letters must be signed, and emailed letters will require verification before publication. We will not necessarily publish all letters received and reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.

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TikTok is an app where you can lip sync to songs for up to fifteen seconds. Many have used the app to create their own memes and various types of other content such as singing, dancing, and art videos.

Other than VSCO girls, TikTok

PRIDE IN PUBLISHING Friday, September 27, 2019 Vol. 32, Issue 1 www.thedispatchonline.net James Bowie High School 4103 W. Slaughter Lane Austin TX, 78749

has cultivated other trends such as E-boys and E-girls who are known for adorning multiple amounts of chains along with baggy plaid pants. With these stereotypes and trends of course comes people who make fun of them. If you spend five minutes on TikTok you’ll find someone doing their impression of a VSCO girl, poking fun at how all VSCO girls appear the same.

Stereotypes are nothing new. It’s easier to group people together and to write them all off as being the same. Teenage girls in general often get labeled as obsessive, cringey, and basic. For years it is been embarrassing to enjoy a genre of music or a T.V. show in fear of being labeled a crazy fangirl. We often forget that girls are the ones fueling the hype, it is the young girls who create tomorrow's legends.

For example, Elvis and The Beatles are considered some of the most influential musicians of all time and who is responsible for their initial success? Teen girls.

While men experience this stereotyping too, the entertainment content that young girls enjoy often gets labeled as less intelligent.

In fact, the National Institutes Of Health states that compared to

boys, girls are twice as likely to experience depression by the age of 16. It’s becoming alarmingly clear that this harassment of young girls is having some sort of effect. Depression isn’t just something to brush off as a part of life. A poor mental state can affect every aspect of your life, causing you to put off work or in some cases develop severe anxiety, suicidal thoughts, or other serious repercussions.

One of the most important parts of growing up is about self discovery. If you don’t try new things without worrying about what others think, you might miss out on something you might really enjoy.

If scrunchies and oversized t-shirts are your thing, no one should stop you from doing that.

Even if you grow up to regret some questionable fashion choices, at least you could say you were your most authentic self.

Questions?

Concerns? Want to share your opinion?

Contact: Email: bowie.journalism@ gmail.com Room: F203

THE DISPATCH STAFF THE DISPATCH PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Peter Dang Marisa Salazar MANAGING EDITORS Faith Lawrence Cade Spencer Katie Holme FEATURE EDITORS Miranda Cardenas Mia Folkers Amorah Schultze

PHOTO ESSAY EDITORS Rae Gray Abbey Repka COMMENTARY EDITORS Maya Amador Carter Scruggs ARTS/GRAPHICS EDITOR Sumin Kim COPY EDITOR Amanda Zinni

REPORTERS Ellie Coulston Dylan Ebs SPORTS EDITORS Amelie Hayne Kateri Jaquette Maya Hayne Naya Tillisch Tiera Jarmond ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Lauren Joy Azul Lin Callie Payne Isabella May Corinne Piorkowski Arushi Sharma Samantha Thompson REVIEW EDITOR Gracie Angeli

PHOTOGRAPHERS Lainey Combs Anna Holme Brianna Lopez Cassidy Pesek Reagan Zuniga THE DISPATCH ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kaitlyn Zellner MANAGING EDITORS Shruti Patel Shikha Patel STAFF Austin Civatte Natalie Cullen Bethany Hanson Izzy Rejino ADVISER Michael Reeves

COMMENTARY 15 FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019 THE DISPATCH

The ascending price of living in Austin Like it or not, Austin isn’t the city it once was. A city that had a vibrant, underground culture full of free-spirited hippies pursuing their passion, is now evolving into a hotspot for tech startups, higher prices, and corporate America. Of course, Austin will continue to grow, but when the expansion of the city strips away the culture that built the city, the positives no longer outweigh the negatives.

Let’s go back in time to 1970. Austin had a population of 250,000, and the city was vastly different from today. There was no real industry, and Willie Nelson was one of Austin’s only claim to fame. Plenty of bands trying to gain exposure performed anywhere they could, no matter how small an event was. Fast forward to now, where the largest private employers are H-E-B, Apple, and Samsung, according to the Austin Chamber of Commerce. Besides, the changing dynamic of Austin has resulted in many nostalgic Austin businesses to close because of rent prices.

Nowadays, there are too many examples to cite, but the list of long-time Austin restaurants closing continues to grow. One of the most recent notable closings was Hut’s Hamburgers, which opened in 1939 and announced the closing this past June, and Frank and Angie’s, an Italian restaurant owned by the same owners of Hut’s Hamburgers, closed last year. And in case if you hadn’t already guessed it, a 28-story mixeduse building will replace Frank and Angie’s.

Frank and Angie’s won’t be the only longtime Austin restaurant to close and be replaced by big business. The Frisco Shop, an American restaurant running strong for 65

ART Carter Scruggs ART BYBY Carter Scruggs

Dylan Ebs Dispatch Reporter

$ years, closed in July of 2018. The restaurant was loved among all groups of people, and served as a symbol for civil rights in Austin as it was one of the first restaurants that hired women and minorities, and desegregated years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson. However, it’s not just long-time restaurants impacted by the increasing rent prices and increased developments: it’s affecting the residents that helped develop Austin’s culture to where it is.

In 1928, city officials designed a zoning plan that was described as a “Master Plan” that would effectively segregate the city.

The master plan came after a 1917 Supreme Court ruling that zoning laws that segregated against minorities were illegal, and the

master plan was developed as a way to circumvent the Supreme Court ruling. As a result of the master plan, almost all of the African-American population had to live East of I-35 but were not given the same economic opportunities as the rest of the population.

The City of Austin decided to create a “Negro District”, which effectively segregated Austin, and utility companies cut off services to African-Americans who lived outside out of the district. This resulted in the rest of African-Americans living outside of the Negro District to move to the district. Because African-Americans were not given the same opportunities to succeed in Austin, many of them struggled with poverty but didn’t move because where they lived was pretty cheap and came together as a community.

Today, developers have recognized the potential of East Austin and the process of gentrification has begun, as new developments and housing have sprung up in the past several years. On the surface level, it may seem like a good thing, but the developers launching new businesses and housing aren’t doing it with the long-time residents in mind.

Because of these developments and rising cost of living in East Austin, many of the residents that have had generations of family living in East Austin for decades are now moving out because of rising property taxes and overall cost of living.

According to Zillow, the median cost of a home in Central East Austin in January 2010 was $243,000. The cost has now increased by a staggering 90% to $461,800. It is almost impossible for someone who has lived in East Austin when home prices were fairly cheap to be able to afford the property taxes on a house whose value has increased by ninety percent in just ten years.

As Austin continues to develop, it is important that the diverse culture and quirks of Austin that helped build the city continues to remain as a flagship of what makes Austin unique. If the things that makes Austin unique leave, an essential component of the city will be left in the dark.

Questions? Concerns?

Want to share your opinion?

Contact: Email: bowie.journalism@ gmail.com Room Number : F203

Load up, lock up, and own up to state gun control laws Lauren Joy Dispatch Reporter

The discussion of gun control has been one of the biggest arguments in the United States for the past decade. In the United Sates alone 36,000 Americans are shot and killed each year, that's an average of 100 per day. Clearly this is a huge issue. Recently the majority of people side with the idea of making gun control laws more strict. Specifically 53 percent of Americans believe gun laws should become more strict. But, the issue with making them more strict is taking away part of someone's freedom as an American citizen, and more importantly taking away something that can be used to protect you, rather than hurt.

Being someone who stands in the middle ground, not fully being pro or anti gun, I feel that some people would never give up the right to own a gun. I agree that gun violence and mass shootings will always be prominent all around the world no matter what laws would be created. With 72 percent of Americans already owning guns I don’t doubt that they will all just give them all up easily. Criminals getting their hands on guns would still be an issue. 83 percent of Americans believe that criminals will get guns regardless of what the law says. But, on the anti-gun side, It is horrifying that you can walk into a gun show and buy guns with just showing a piece of paper work.

With Texas having 10 of the deadli-

ART BY Carter Scruggs

est shootings in modern American, a reality that can terrify students.

In April 1999 a huge mass shooting took place at Columbine High School. Twelve students and one teacher were killed. Along with injuring 23 other students. Almost 15 years later most gun control laws have stayed the same. I shouldn’t be scared to go to school because of the possibility of being shot by one of my own class mates.

If anything, school should be a safe place. A 2004 report by the US secret service and the department of education found that over two thirds of students who used guns

in violent acts got those guns from their own home or that of a relative.

This information makes you think twice about gun control and how we should view Americans’ use of guns. With this issue growing and the government barley changing any laws that could change this, the issue is only getting worse. Clearly, something needs to be done. What can we do?

I’m not saying the government should eliminate firearm use completely because like I said before, not everyone is going to give up that right easily and guns can be used to protect. I believe that be-

fore getting the right to use a gun you should have to go through more than just straight up buying one. People should have to be required to maybe take a class or at least get a background check.

When people want to get their license they have to take a class, drive for a certain amount of hours, and get permission from a few facilities and people. This is how getting the right to owning a gun should be. If people really feel the need to have one to keep themselves safe, you can know the right ways to protect yourself with a gun.

On the other hand, the more effort

it takes to get the right of owning a gun the less people will own guns, and eventually, the less mass shootings there will be. Right now 2,900 children from age 0-9 are shot and killed every year, and 33,100 from ages 9 and up. These numbers need to be changed for the less.

Questions?

Concerns? Want to share your opinion?

Contact: Email: bowie. journalism@gmail. com Room: F203

BULLDAWG SPEAK OUT

9th

Tony Lin

"I'm most excited to see better parking and to get into school quicker."

What are you most excited to see come out of the construction at Bowie?

10th

11th

12th

TEACHER

Aidan Garcia

Melissa Meir

Elliott Crunk

Jackie Gonzalez

"Probably the parking garage because it's going to save a lot of space."

"I'm excited to have working air conditioning, and also for the parking lot to be finished."

"Results... I am excited to see a parking building with tennis courts on top. "

"As someone who went to this high school,and is now teaching here I think change is a really good start."

PHOTOS AND INTERVIEWS BY Carter Scruggs & Maya Amador

16 PHOTO ESSAY

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, SEPT. 27, 2019

Theatre takes a journey ‘Into the Woods’

Advanced musical theatre classes produce their take on another classic production Abbey Repka Photo Essay Editor

As the curtain opens and the spotlight reflects off the stage, you can almost feel the audience’s anticipation and excitement in the air.

Students in advanced musical theater recently put on two captivating performances of their rendition of ‘Into the Woods’, a musical about multiple fairytale characters who go into the woods to follow their dreams.

“Into the Woods follows multiple storybook characters such as Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and the addition of a story about a baker and his wife gathering things for a witch,” sophomore Ariana Ritzie said.

“Everyone goes into the woods to achieve their greatest wish.”

Students in the past have put on shows such as Chicago, In the Heights, and Urinetown but this year they wanted to try something new so they picked Into the Woods.

“We were looking for a production that would challenge them and we wanted to use material from a new composer we hadn’t worked on previously,” musical theatre teacher and director Marco Bazan said.

Bazan helped to produce this musical along with the help of students.

“I helped produce and work on some directing,” Bazan said. “This is a self-directed student product, so my job is to make sure it comes together.”

Into the Woods is set in a fairytale land where the audience gets to see into each of the characters lives.

“Cinderella has been abused for most of her life, so she just wants to escape for one night,” junior Rachel McBurnett said. “When she goes to the ball, she happens to catch the prince’s attention and he helps her leave her abusive house and live in a paradise.”

McBurnett, along with

others, knew exactly what role they wanted to audition for.

“I have worked on Cinderella’s main song ‘On the Steps of the Palace’ in the past, so I figured I may as well audition with that song,” McBurnett said.

While some who auditioned knew exactly what they wanted to be, others had no preference.

“I tried out for any male part and got put as Rapunzel’s prince which I guess is technically a lead,” sophomore Matthew Cluchey said.

“I just wanted a part I could have some fun doing.”

Although there were challenges, McBurnett fought through them with a positive attitude.

“Traditionally people think of Cinderella as a thin girl, and I am obviously not that,” McBurnett said. “My friends convinced me it didn’t matter, and it turned out the directors agreed.”

Being apart of a production sometimes involves both inside and outside of school activities.

“My favorite part about tech is that we all try to help each other out when possible,” Ritzie said. “During the show we have mic tape and we needed some special tape called Tegaderm so I went out to buy some for the crew to use.”

Everyone involved in the production had fun doing their part and they each created new memories.

“My favorite memory was probably whenever I had to wait with whoever played Rapunzel, and both of us freaking out and waiting for our cues to go onstage,” Ritzie said.

Overall, the cast of the production said that everyone involved made this experience amusing.

“I really like working with the people in the production,” Cluchey said. “Our directors, Cantu and Bazan, are great and the people make it a really enjoyable experience.”

DANCING WITH THE BIG BAD WOLF: Junior Haley Pousson dances with junior Jaden Davis and his entourage of wolves. Pousson played the role of Little Red Riding Hood, while Davis played The Big Bad Wolf. “Little Red is on a journey to bring bread and supplies to her grandmothers house in the woods,” Pousson said. “She faces complications on the way.” PHOTO BY Abbey Repka

KNOCKING ON THE BAKER’S DOOR: Junior Haley Pousson pretends to knock on the baker’s door to get some bread for her sick grandma. Pousson has been acting since 6th grade and was very excited to get this role. “The music of Into the Woods is very complex because it is Sondheim,” Pousson said. “I thought it would be a really nice challenge for me.”

‘LOOK OVER THERE’: Junior Rachel McBurnett points towards the sky. McBurnett auditioned for Cinderella because she knew the music pretty well. “People who play Cinderella need to be able to sing pretty high,” McBurnett said. “And be good with rhythm because the music is so hard.” PHOTO BY Abbey Repka

PHOTO BY Abbey Repka

JUST A BOY AND HIS COW: Junior Riley McCue comforts his cow, played by senior Kamryn Morales. McCue along with other cast members where astounded when they got their roles. “I was so incredibly thankful and excited when I got [the part of Cinderella],” junior Rachel McBurnett said. PHOTO BY Abbey Repka

HOW TO BREAK THE CURSE: Junior Sydney Reinhart tells the baker and his wife, played by senior Eric Larson and junior Maia Gerdes, about the curse she placed upon them. Musical theatre teacher Marco Bazan helped the students produce and direct this production. “My favorite part of directing is seeing students grow as performers and really develop confidence in their acting choices,” Bazan said. PHOTO BY Abbey Repka