The Dispatch, Vol. 34, Issue 1, 10/8/21

Community celebrates the academic, sports, and fine arts booster clubs

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Overview of the new dance and band buddy system

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THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021

SALTY DONUT REVIEW

PHOTO BY Lucille Price

SILVER STAR AND BAND BUDDIES

PHOTO BY Sammie Thompson

PHOTO BY Anna Bea Heise

D

BULLDOGS AND HOTDOGS

Review of the flavors and appearances of Salty Donut's menu

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coming UP October 11 Staff Development/ Student Holiday October 15 End of 1st Nine Weeks October 23 Fall Formal

Vol. 34, Issue 1 www.thedispatchonline.net James Bowie High School 4103 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX, 78749

Pride in Publishing

New program SOARS above prejudice An inside look into the anti-racism initiative formed to encourage equality among students Arushi Sharma Editor-in-Chief

Beginning the 2021-22 school year, the Bowie administration has formed a campus-wide initiative called Students Organized for Anti-Racism (SOAR) with 30 faculty sponsors, including teachers and counselors, and over 80 students. Stemming from Bowie’s teacher-only Equity Committee, SOAR organizes cohorts of ten students and pairs them with two staff sponsors.

With an abundance of unique SOAR programs all over the country, including some at feeder-elementary schools such as Cowan Elementary, Bowie’s Instructional Coach Whitney Shumate felt inspired by current national events to be a part of this initiative.

“In the wake of George Floyd's death, there was a lot of national conversation around police brutality and particularly just marginalized communities, focusing on justice for black lives,” Shumate said. "To take advantage of people's interest and willingness for taking action, I wanted to create a program that would look at our systems and structures and disrupt the ones that create these inequities for our students.”

According to a survey done by the Pew Research Center, 65% of Americans, including individuals across various racial and ethnic groups, believe that it has become more common for people to express racist or racially insensitive views.

“Racism is a problem everywhere, and I want to do my part to address it as much as I can,” English teacher Jacob Morgan said. “I want to use my tools as a teacher to do so, and to help students do that themselves.”

Specific instances of race-related crimes have become well-known in recent months.

According to data released by the FBI, hate crimes targeting Asian Americans have risen by over 40% since 2020.

With the combination of these hate crimes and in-class discussions held in UT

HANDING OUT STICKERS: Humanities instructor Whitney Shumate gives out Bowie SOAR merchandise to Bowie students. SOAR had a booth at Bowie's Club Fair on Sept. 9. PHOTO BY Reagan Zuniga

REGISTERING STUDENTS: English teacher Jacob Morgan points to the link for students to sign up for a cohort for this year's SOAR program. The first SOAR meetings were held this past week and will continue into next week. PHOTO BY Reagan Zuniga

OnRamps Rhetoric classes, senior Yuni Kim believes that these things have had an impact on her.

“I was inspired to join SOAR when I had to confront reality where the anger that I've felt for a long time about violence against my community became more focused on wanting to stop these injustices in society,” Kim said.

Some, including sophomore Sam Gregg, believe that the increase in Asian American hate and other recent worldwide events are what led to the origin of the program.

“I think [the] Bowie [administration] believed it would be beneficial for students to have a safe space to get their voices heard and talk about the things that have been occurring over the past two years regarding racism and so much more,” Gregg said.

On Thursday, Sept. 2, the Texas House passed a bill to ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory, an academic framework that probes the way policies and laws uphold systemic racism. After the bill passed through Governor Greg Abbott’s desk, educators at schools in Texas are now unable to facilitate a political conversation that includes their own bias or opinion.

“With the passing of the Critical Race Theory, I think it's essential to continue these conversations of race, and I believe SOAR can help us continue them," senior Leah Gonsalves said. "I know how I feel about race, so I want to know how my peers feel and how it impacts them in their everyday lives."

As an initiative aiming to educate its members on racism, the SOAR program will spend their meetings reading the novel, ‘This Book is Anti-Racist’ by Tiffany Jewell and holding various conversations on issues of identity, bias, and discrimination.

“Being a person of color, I've definitely had some comments thrown my way about being Indian and how people make assumptions about my religion,” Gonsalves said.

“Through the SOAR conversations, I hope to cover how people think about race, how it impacts us as a community and in everyday life.”

In a round-table discussion about deconstructing racial narratives with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the committee discussed the role of education as one of the best ways to stop the proliferation of racist

and discriminatory discourses and to foster inter-cultural exchanges.

“I want students to feel empowered to act because we need to spend time examining ourselves and reflecting on our own perspectives and vantage points in building education about personal identity and history,” Shumate said.

Morgan is interested to see how students engage in these conversations of race and discrimination, outside of what he hears in his English class discussions.

“I hope students feel that they can make a change and that they have the power to make a difference to support each other to explore their own understanding of racism,” Morgan said. "If we can explore these issues then hopefully we can see, we can see changes on the school level and on personal levels."

In terms of the impact of SOAR, Shumate has continuously expressed the effort that the staff has put into this program.

“The more we learn, the more we can deconstruct how we see the world and get outside of our own little worlds,” Shumate said.

“Our community becomes better as we promote the diverse experiences and perspectives that we have at our school.”

Improved athletics building provides a new student experience Sydney Crum Dispatch Reporter

Passed in 2017, the Austin ISD Bond Program has allowed Bowie to improve the current infrastructure and build new additions. This includes the construction of the parking garage, a new fine arts center, and the recently completed athletics facility. Some of the building’s features include a training room, weight room, and staff offices.

Bowie students and staff have been getting to use the facility for the first time this year. Head boy’s basketball coach, Celester Collier, is glad to finally be in the building and is thankful for many of the new features.

“The gym is awesome,” Collier said. “There’s a lot more room and a lot more storage than what we had in the old facility.”

There are multiple differences between the old facility and the new one. For example, Bowie coaches now have more closets that can be used to store their equipment. Coach Vickie Benson agrees with Collier that the additional space is one of the most useful aspects of the new facility.

“We have a lot more storage space,” Benson said. “That’s probably one of the biggest things for us. Having a place to keep our stuff and not have it all piled up in our office is ac-

INDEX: News 1, 2

Politics 3 Feature 4 , 5

tually really nice.”

There are also a lot of changes in the way things are set up and the size of the gym and staff offices. The offices are significantly larger than the old ones which Collier thinks is a positive change from the previous facility.

“The office space is nice. My office in the old gym was a utility closet,” Collier said. “I actually have a real office now with a window that overlooks the gym.”

Student athletes are also getting to experience the benefits of the new building. Senior Keira Rusinko has been using some of these new features like the weights and locker room.

“My favorite thing is the weight room which is larger and has air conditioning,” Rusinko said. “It’s also nice having the health classes be closer to the school than the portables.”

Benson agrees that the overall design and size of the facility is noticeable and something that students can appreciate.

“I think it’s really eye-catching,” Benson said. “It’s something new and something the students can feel proud of.”

Aside from the interior features, senior Maya Cottam believes that the experience playing volleyball in the new facility is positive.

"Because of it's large size, the gym have a lot of room for spectators which brings more people come and support to bring the energy up and make the games fun," Cottam said.

Photo Essay 6, 16 Entertainment 12

In-Depth 7, 8, 9 Sports 10, 11

Reviews 13 Opinion 14, 15

SET AND SPIKE: Freshman Grace Nesrsta jumps up to spike the ball. The Bowie Flex volleyball team, which consists of freshman and sophomore girls, lost to Akins 25-23. PHOTO BY Izzy Rejino

Overall, Collier considers the new facility a big improvement for the athletics department at Bowie.

“While I would like to see some things done a little differently, I'm blessed to have such a nice facility,” Collier said.

find us @jbhs_dispatch

2 NEWS

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021

Counseling helps struggling students

AISD wide use of Gramercy implemented to support student mental health & well-being Dylan Zellner News Editor

of getting help, knowing that could 26 percent, and serious suicidal considerations increased 11 percent make it easier.”

Gramercy counseling services with no signs of these rates declinRising stressors in a chaotic are offered in a central location, the ing. world lead to a substantial increase library. The library provides a com"Extra counseling is a very good in student mental health issues forc- fortable, sustainthing especially afing schools to find new programs. able environment,ter quarantine beWith this schools are finding ways making it easier to ing very destructive [COVID had] to better help students in their time schedule appointto a lot of students’ of need, creating opportunities for ments around a really affected the mental health," different means of school counsel- student’s Hartle said.

"There class emotional well-being ing. should definitely schedule which of our population at be an emphasis on All throughout AISD schools can avoid having to have implemented external coun- leave campus. large, but students in mental health now seling programs with the use of a “I think havmore than ever." particular company called Gramercy. The use ing those services Because a large of Gramercy can be entirely confi- accessible is reportion of students Ellie Gamble dential, with parental consent, and ally important,” haven’t been to gives students the ability to sched- Toohey said. “The Mental Health Center school for a year, ule counseling without having to district saw the the transition can Organizer speak to a administrator; all a stu- rising need for the be troublesome, dent needs to do is fill out an online service, and they according to Naform that can be found on the JBHS wanted to reduce tional Association of website. barriers to access. The benefit of Student Personnel Administrators “I think it can be nice to also having the services offered on cam- (NASPA). Students struggling with talk to somebody who isn't part of pus is that kids can access it while thins such as adjusting to a new acathe school system, it can feel a little they're at school.” demic year or forming relationships safer,” AISD’s Mental Health Center Gramercy is used to provide ac- with others. organizer, Ellie Gamble said. “In a cessible counseling for any student “[Returning to school] is really way to be able to express frustra- who needs it. According to AISD lit- like a new normal, it looks different tions and stuff like that so I do think erature, financial assistance may be than before. It's kind of this collecit's helpful.” available to individuals that are un- tive impact, and we're all managing Since the implementation of insured or under-insured to ensure it and dealing with it differently,” Gramercy, data that no student is Toohey said. “I think that is a norfrom 2018-2019 excluded. mal response to having to cope with students have “It's smart that things that we're going through.”

It's kind of this shown significant Bowie is providing Students with mental health i m p r o v e m e n t s collective impact, and mental healthcare problems have been reported to with depression, outside of standard struggle with their energy level, conwe're all managing anger control counselors," centration, academic performance, it and dealing with it school problems, hyperjunior Shane Har- etc. According to Suicide Prevention activity attention differently tle said. "Unfortu- Resource Center, a study conductproblems, funcnately it seems like ed in 2015 has recorded stress to tional impairment, no one takes school negatively impact 30 percent of stuAmanda Toohey and over internalcounselors serious- dents, anxiety with 22 percent, and Licensed Mental Health izing problems. ly” depression at 14 percent of students Students have Professional The hardships with 37 percent of students aged 14 also demonstratand stressors of the or older with a mental health issue ed improvements COVID year heavi- drop out of school, according to Acin attendance, ly affect everyone’s credited Schools Online. achievement, and well-being. Counseling and getting “Allowing students to vent and behavior at school. help has never been more import- get bad feelings off their chests “I think this means that these ant. According to CDC, as of late helps,” Mink said. "Just being able to Gramercy counselors know what June 2020, anxiety/depressive-re- talk to some can improve the quality they’re doing,” junior Jalen Mink lated symptoms rose 31 percent, of life, which even improves the acasaid. "As scared as students may be stress-related symptoms increased demic aspect of life.

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LENDING A HELPING HAND: Mental Health Professional Amanda Toohey works to help students in her office. Toohey refers students to different forms of mental health resources to assist in the mental health of students. PHOTO BY Seslee Sagebiel

However the importance of counseling isn’t just about academic success, with the third leading cause of death for people aged 10-24 being suicide, 90 percent of these individuals having underlying mental illnesses as well as 70 percent of them in juvenile detention centers having some form of mental illness.

"Counseling can help people get out of that mindset and is more effective than any other method we have," Hartle said. "Kids in juvie should have counseling every day, and something like [Gramercy] would be able to help them."

The Anxiety and Depression As-

sociation of America found that 80 percent of kids with a form of diagnosable anxiety and 60 percent of kids with a form of diagnosable depression are receiving the available treatment that is necessary to help them. “[The recent years have] really affected the emotional well-being of our population at large, but students in particular. I'm happy for all the campuses that have someplace for students to go,” Gamble said. “We've seen a lot of people reaching out and expressing concern and trying to transition back.”

Students adjust to new COVID response and protocols Mazzy Warren Dispatch Reporter

COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic in March of 2020. Since then, there have been many regulations implemented to mitigate the spread of the virus. Common recommendations for protection against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated, wear a mask, get tested, washing hands, and social distancing In addition to these suggestions, the district has instituted other protocols to protect student like mandatory mask usage, rapid testing, and contract tracing. Along with Bowie’s new protocols, a committee led by assistant principal Jerry Smith has been established to handle Bowie’s COVID-19 response. This team is in charge of mitigation of the virus, as well as ensuring staff and students’ safety.

“It’s definitely a new challenge,” Smith said. “No one likes wearing masks all of the time, and it does present its own challenges with being able to communicate as well as we usually do. It’s a bit of a frustration but the majority of our staff and students are doing very well.”

In March of this year, Texas’ Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA No. 36, prohibiting schools from enforcing their own mask mandates. Despite this the Houston, Dallas, and Austin school districts have all instituted their own rules enforcing the use of face-coverings. AISD Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde announced in August, all students, staff, and visitors must wear face coverings on AISD property.

“I am responsible for the safety, health and welfare of each and every one of our students and our staff,” Elizalde said. “I must be on the side of ensuring that we’ve been overly cautious, not that we have fallen short.”

Last year students had the option to return to school for hybrid learning, where they got the option to take some classes in- person and some classes online. Students participating in this hybrid model went to school two to three days a week and spent the rest of the time doing remote learning. This plan offered the use of social distancing, as there were only about 200-300 students attending school in person each day. Now that all students have returned to campus, distancing has become more of an issue.

“There was a lot more freedom last year,” junior Danielle Cross said. “Now the teachers are less relaxed, and they're stricter about masks now because there's so many kids. It's a big adjustment, going from there being less

ENJOYING LUNCH: Seniors Kinsey Quintanilla and Reese Wilson distancing maskless

during their lunch period. The two seniors spend their time in the courtyard to social distance from large groups. PHOTO BY Sage Epstine

than 200 kids in the school, and now there's almost 3000 kids.”

Students, for the most part, have been following these guidelines pretty closely.

According to Smith, masks have proven an important and useful tool to the regulation of COVID-19. All of last school year AISD required masks for hybrid learners resulting in a lower positivity rate inside its schools than in the community at large.

“You always had to wear a mask, but there were definitely a lot of people that didn't want to,” Cross said. “And because there was so few kids in the classroom, you were always well more than six feet apart from each other.”

Compulsory masks aren't the only method Bowie is using to protect its students.

Since students have returned to in-person learning, the new practice of contact tracing has emerged. Contact tracing is the process of tracking who staff and students come in contact with, alerting the school when any person has come in close proximity to any infected individual.

“I think contact tracing is a good idea in theory, but I’m not sure how effective it is in practice, because a lot of students don’t care all that much,” sophomore Charlotte Hill said. “Personally, I support contact tracing.”

When Smith and his team are notified of a positive case, they check the QR codes to find out where they eat lunch and who they have eaten lunch with. They also interview any positive students to see if they’re participating in any sports, extracurricular activities, or clubs.

“We have to get all of those questions answered, so we can let everyone know that they may have been exposed to COVID-19, and keep them safe," Smith said.

Students are also encouraged to stay home whenever they feel sick or think they might have come into contact with the virus. There are expected spikes in absences, so teaching methods and attendance records have been adjusted. Students who in quarantine will have excused absences, and attendance incentives were canceled at the beginning of the year.

“We encourage our teachers to use BLEND as much as possible to reach out to students that are in quarantine,” Smith said.

“And they don’t have to worry about accumulating absences that will impact them negatively.”

Earlier this year, the Delta variant of COVID-19 made its way to the United States and has by now become the predominant strain of the virus. The Delta variant is much

more contagious, especially to children 12 and under, yet there is no vaccine approved for children aged 5-12 in the U.S. “[COVID] is like the flu in a sense, because there's multiple strands of it, and you got to get your flu shot every year,” Cross said. “And since it's so new, there's gonna be a lot more strands than just Delta and [COVID-19].”

Although it isn’t required, students are strongly encouraged to get COVID-19 vaccinations. Students who are fully vaccinated aren’t required to quarantine if they come into close contact with the virus, while unvaccinated personnel will need to stay home regardless of whether or not masks were worn. This COVID mitigation protocol is in place to prevent the contamination of anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated, especially with the Delta variant’s impact on adolescents.

“I think quarantining if you’re unvaccinated and come into close contact with COVID is a good idea, even if masks are worn, because you are at a significantly higher risk of the virus if unvaccinated,” Hill said. “Quarantining is about preventing exposure to other students, so morally I think it’s the right thing to do.”

Although all of the district’s suggestions are being followed, there have still been some students who have caught the virus.

Some students feel that there’s more the school could do to mitigate the spread. Some believe there’s plenty of room for improvement, and have made suggestions for better maintenance of everyone’s health.

“I think that they should do it back to where it was online and in person again, because I know not everyone feels 100% comfortable being here,” Cross said. “And so for those students that want to stay home, they should be able to have that choice.”

Bowie has made numerous amounts of protocols to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. According to AISD Board President Geronimo Rodriguez, these protocols are especially important for the protection of the districts’ students who can’t get vaccinated at this time. Smith and his team believe that these regulations are crucial to the containment of COVID-19, and following them is the best way to remain safe in school.

“Even though it's frustrating to wear a mask all the time, and do these different things, the Bowie staff and students are doing an amazing job, wearing their masks and following the protocols,” Smith said.

“They're just amazing to work with and they're doing an excellent job of keeping everybody safe."

POLITICS 3

FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021 THE DISPATCH

Concerns over CRT impact classrooms History and humanities teachers struggle to balance their curriculum amid controversy Carey Wooley Politics Editor

Over the summer of 2021, Greg Abbott signed House Bill 3979 which has been named the critical race theory (CRT) bill.

This bill became law on Wednesday, Sept.

1, 2021. The CRT bill covers what teachers can and can not teach in history and current events. With it’s passing many conversations have been sparked as it limits how teachers can discuss current issues and how they go about discussing topics like race and identity.

According to Kimberlé Crenshaw, one of the originators of CRT, the phrase critical race theory is an academic term used for describing race and how racism has impacted social and local areas of the United States.

The topic CRT covers a variety of topics and explains how race intertwines with identity and how racism impacts many areas of the United States.

“Critical race theory is definitely one of those really lofty academic critical lenses to examine policy and society and nothing I ever had the opportunity to learn about at the high school level,” humanities instructional coach Whitney Shumate said. “I think NO BILL INTRODUCED that it's a really fascinating way to be able to think critically about our society and policies that we vote for and that affects us on a day BILL PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW to day basis.”

The bill prohibits lessons around current events from happening if a teacher does BILL INTRODUCED IN LEGISLATURE not show views from both sides without expressing any bias or leaning towards one of the opinions. The CRT bill also prohibits teachers from offering extra credit for like this could even get passed, and definitely students for volunteering or work affiliated very frustrated too because you can't erase with organizations that engage in lobbying history just because you don't like it,” Beg said. "Teachers can't talk about how race afor public policy.

“I remember even in middle school, in my fects kids in schools, so I just thought this social studies class we'd always have every could harm so many kids of color who won't six weeks, we'd write a current events paper understand or appreciate their culture.”

Based on a YouGov poll, it was found that about what's happening in the world right 58% of peonow,” senior ple surveyed Malaika Beg. strongly “Or even US No matter what their political views disliked the history, we CRT curricare, [CRT is] limiting their freedom of talk about ulum.

The current speech and what they can teach to same poll events and students. also found not being that a little able to talk Malaika Beg over 50% about them, Senior knew what washes you CRT was. away from “I am kind reality because you have no idea what's goof baffled as to how it became such a contening on.”

This bill was created in the Texas House tious item in national discussion because I and then sent to Greg Abbott to sign. There think that most people who feel some kind is also a Senate bill that is similar but goes of way about it or kind of strange about it or beyond just history courses and would have fearful don't fully know what it is and also similar restrictions on topics in all school don't fully understand what goes on in public schools at the secondary or elementary levcourses.

“Honestly, I was surprised that something el,” Shumate said.

The reality of legislation like this is not

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limited to just Texas. Five states have already passed a version of the CRT bill into law and it has been proposed in over twenty states and may be passed in more this year.

“I definitely think teachers will react negatively to this,” Beg said. “No matter what their political views are, [CRT is] limiting their freedom of speech, what they can teach to students, and what students need to know about their culture and their history.”

The bill does not specifically lay out how these restrictions will be enforced but allows that responsibility to fall onto school districts and their staff. This responsibility may first go through the school districts on how they will enforce it, but the individual schools themselves will decide how they move forward.

“This feels like a really heavy-handed way to control public education in general and to tie our hands and not allow our students the freedom to think critically,” Shumate said.

“Particularly, when issues of race and discussion of police brutality and systemic inequity are in the national conversation on a day to day basis and it's as though the bill wants to shackle teachers from allowing students to explore their own reality.”

In a poll done by USA Today found that 63% of parents would like for their chil-

ART BY Rachel Maddox

dren to learn about the on-going effects of slavery and racism happening in the United States. On the other side of that, only 49% of parents are in favor of their children being taught about CRT. “It's obviously unfair. These are the people who are supposed to be teaching a generation of people, why shouldn't they be able to tell us what's happening in our world?” junior Jillian Kelly said. “If they're supposed to be teaching us how to live in our world, they should be able to tell us what's happening in it.”

Many courses throughout education are structured around current events and history. This bill limits a lot of what can be taught in those courses and can affect teachers' lessons and curriculum. Kelly has already seen teachers enact these policies and has seen them steer away from discussing current events out of fear and uncertainty if they are even allowed to.

“Teachers should be able to tell students what's happening in the outside world, because we're going to leave high school, we're going to be thrown into the real world, and if we're not educated on the events and conflicts that are happening in the real world, we're going to be confused and unprepared,” Kelly said.

Potential Biden spending bill hits road-blocks to reality Lilly Bourgeois Dispatch Reporter

SENATE'S RESPONSE

$621 Billion Transportation

69% support

30%

$650 Billion Quality of Home Life

56%

mo ney

go in

g?

$400 Billion care for elderly and disabled

against

the

$300 Billion Research and development

Wh ere is

On August 10, 2021 the US Senate passed a $1 trillion dollar infrastructure bill. The bill was crafted

by Senators under President Biden in an attempt to rebuild the country's bridges and roads as well as to fund a new climate resilience plan.

After weeks of negotiation and debates, the final vote in the Senate was 69 in favor and 30 against the legislation, which was uncommonly bipartisan in 2020-21.

While the bill hasn't been passed in the House yet, it is going to provide funding for many things including $110 billion on roads and bridges, $73 billion for a clean energy makeover, $21 billion on an electric grid and pollution clean up, and $65 billion is going into high speed internet that will be going into less fortunate rural communities. There is a lot of controversy regarding the amount of money being spent in this package. Many Senators have expressed that they think the bill is too expensive.

“No, it's actually going to help the nation's economy, a good infrastructure helps businesses make more money and it makes it easier to ship goods,” history teacher Charles Stampley said. “So you have to have good infrastructure for the economy.”

One of the main points of controversy is the $37.5 billion spending budget going towards electrical transportation. There is a lot of money planned on being spent towards transportation and those billions would just be a start. Biden also wants to use some of the money for incentives, so people can purchase electrical vehicles as a part of his attempt to decarbonize the transportation sector.

SOURCE: USA Today, New York Times

support

PUBLIC'S RESPONSE

44%

against “I think spending $37.5 billion on electrical transportation, while it seems like a lot, is vital to help save the environment,” senior Addie Lilley said. “We don’t realize how much pollution we put into the environment with our cars and buses so investing in this eco-friendly transportation will save us in the long run.”

Once the infrastructure bill passed the Senate, it was sent to the House for passage. It was there that the fate of the bill change dra-

matically. House leadership, under Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was rebuked by progressive Democrats in the party, who have demanded a secondary bill's passage in the Senate before they will agree to vote the infrastructure bill into law. The secondary bill is part of a greater budget resolution bill, with a proposed value of more than $3.5 trillion dollars.

“You are trying to create a balance between what the country needs and how much it can afford

ART BY Audrey Hagan

so that's why it is important that both sides compromise,” Stampley said. “You have to go through and there's going to be some things that one party doesn’t like and there are some things that some parties do like. You have to work together.”

Texas citizens are curious as to how the bill will affect Texas. The main spending points on the bill that will benefit Texas as a whole is rebuilding and repairing highways and attempting to improve public transportation as many Tex-

ans commute to and from work on public transportation.

“This bill will allocate money to repair highways, improve transportation, and distribute high speed internet to those in need in Texas,” Lilley said. “I think it will really benefit Texas as infrastructure is vital to the state.”

Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn voted against the infrastructure bill. Texas is one of the three states that will benefit the most and has the opportunity to get more than $30 billion. The state is also expected to receive $3.3 billion for public transportations, $537 million for bridge replacements and repairs and another $408 million just for electrical car charging stations.

“Personally, I get where they’re coming from. I think the legislation has its positives and negatives, and both sides have valid arguments,” senior Brodi Tokar said. “The bill itself is quite expensive, and more taxes aren’t ideal but the expansion of infrastructure seems necessary with how much Austin and Texas as a whole are growing.”

As of Monday, Oct. 4, discussions at the national level have stalled. Passage of both bills is still being discussed as both the house and the senate are still engaged in talks to move the bills along. Biden was optimistic about the final result, saying that he expects both bills to pass eventually. Both parties, and their internal groups, expect some parts of the greater budget resolution bill to change.

“I think that this infrastructure package, since it will preserve our nation's infrastructure for the foreseeable future, is a worthy investment and a good amount of money for our country,” Lilley said.

4 FEATURE

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021

Passion drives McDonald to create music Sammie Thompson Managing Editor

years old.

“Beginning when she was little bitty, Sadie started singing nursery Sitting down in front of the small rhymes and lullabies with a microelectric piano, she adjusts her mi- phone in hand,” McDonald’s mom crophone to a perfect height. She Cindy Sebek said. “As Sadie grew, places her hands on the black and so did her creativity. She routinewhite keys, takes a deep breath, ly created and performed musical and begins to play. shows for her family and friends.”

During quarantine, senior Sadie In her more recent years, McMcDonald self-produced and copy- Donald has still found music to be righted four original songs: “Dark something she is excited about.

Child,” “All Alone,” “All We Need,” “Music is my passion and the and “Better to Love.” love of my life,” McDonald said.

“I wrote [the songs] about my “It’s just become a creative outlet own experiences with people and for me.”

I recorded them at home with an The inspiration for McDonald’s audio interface,” McDonald said. musical creativity came from many “Then I got to copyright them, and sources throughout her childhood, I just received them back. Now including her parents.

I’m working with my neighbor, “My dad introduced me to muwho’s a producer, to mix them and sic; he was a musician,” McDonald then maybe put them on a [music said. “My entire life, I’ve been surstreaming] platrounded by it. I’ve form.” always sung my Creating and own songs since I As Sadie grew, producing music talk.” so did her creativity. could is a process that Each individual most teenagers She routinely creat- song also has its aren’t aware of. own inspirations. ed and performed It requires tools In addition to the musical shows such as an audio songs she copyinterface, which righted, McDonfor her family and converts instruald also wrote and friends. ment and microproduced a song, phone signals into called “Without Cindy Sebek a format that can Love,” about the easily be recogwidespread Black McDonald’s mom nized by a comLives Matter proputer. tests that occurred “[Producing last year. music] is definitely a lot of re“If I’m feeling fired up and passearch,” McDonald said. “First, sionate about an event, I just write you have to get an audio interface wherever I am,” McDonald said. and then you have to work and “So I saw George Floyd’s cries for learn about the different record- help on the news, and I was crying programs. I personally use Pro ing about that. I immediately just Tools for recording.” went to my notebook and started Once the music is recorded, it’s writing.” ready to be copyrighted. Similarly McDonald’s music, which falls to the process of producing music, under the acoustic pop genre, has a copyrighting songs requires sever- unique sound that listeners enjoy. al steps to be done properly.

“Sadie’s music is very benefi“For copy writing, you have to cial, full of emotion and power, and record it in a medium where peo- needs to be heard by more people can understand the lyrics,” ple,” senior Olivia Ray said. “[She] McDonald said. “Then you have to speaks, sings, and writes from the pay like $85 and wait six months. heart, and that is what makes her It’s a whole process.” music unique.”

McDonald’s dreams of producMcDonald has also collaborated ing and copyrighting her own, orig- with other students, including Ray, inal music began long before she in the past. was stuck at home during quaran“Sadie and I have known each tine. She has been expressing her- other for many years, and one of self musically since she was four

”

”

PURSUING HER PASSION: Senior Sadie McDonald practices one of her original, copyrighted songs.

McDonald has been singing, as well as playing guitar and piano, since she was four years old. PHOTO

BY Kate Davis

the first things we bonded over was music,” Ray said. “We have written songs and sung together many times.”

McDonald’s songs, which are all based on personal, life experiences, provide listeners with a look into who she is as a person.

“Sadie is a unique musician and person because she’s able to create something special out of an experience or something that’s personal to her for a multitude of reasons,” Sebek said. “She tells stories about life through her music.”

McDonald has a lot of plans for the future. While she intends to go to college and explore other careers, music is something that will always be a part of her life and a potential career path.

“I am planning on working with my neighbor who is a real producer soon as well to develop some of my songs,” McDonald said. “I am a self-taught producer, so I’m not the most experienced, but with my neighbor, I’m going to record and copyright a new set of songs by the end of the year.”

The encouragement of McDonald’s family and friends is what allows her to express herself and her feelings in a unique way. To support McDonald and her work, find her on Instagram at ‘sadesandsmiles’ or on YouTube at ‘S. Mac’s Melodies.’

“I feel pride and joy when I hear Sadie singing her original songs, knowing that her songs are a way to express herself,” Sebek said. “I think to myself, what a gifted, creative, and talented daughter I have.”

Pandemic increases focus on anti-Asian hate crimes

Seniors form new club to combat the impact on local students and promote diversity Sophia Sanchez Dispatch Reporter

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of anti-Asian hate crimes has increased. According to a study from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, this type of crime rose by 149% from 2019 to 2020. These acts of violence have spread awareness about racial injustices faced by the Asian American population in the local community.

Presidents of the Asian American and Allies club, seniors Vanessa Nguyen, Rick Mao, and Kelly Matthews have formed the club with the intention of making it a safe place for others.

“I’ve actually been wanting to start this club since my freshman year, but I had put it off and then COVID-19 happened,” Matthews said. “Growing up, many kids used to make fun of my culture and it was difficult for me to handle, so to have a place where I could’ve gone for support would have been nice. Along with that, I wanted to start the club to teach our fellow students about our culture, diversity, the Asian narrative, and to bring awareness to global issues.”

At the beginning of the school year, the three seniors came together and got right to work with the sponsorship and help of counselor April Giuffre.

“I am new to Bowie this year and really wanted to be a part of the student life,” Giuffre said. “One of the club members approached me during the inception of the club, and since I am new, I wanted to make sure I had a co-sponsor as well. Also, as an Asian American staff member, I believe I can bring an authentic perspective to the club as well as serve as a role model for Asian American students and allies.”

Co-sponsor and biology teacher Irene Lee was recommended by Giuffre to become a sponsor of the club.

“I think that it’s important that students have a safe space to celebrate their cultures,” Lee said. “I definitely think that Bowie needs a safe space for Asian Americans. So when they came up to me about the club, I was really excited to be the sponsor of that.”

Senior club member Katherine Crosley

LEADING THE TEAM: Senior Livia Power explains why the Asian American Allies club was created. The club is open to both Asian American students and allies who are looking to learn more about each other’s cultures. PHOTO BY Reagan Zuniga

joined the Asian American and Allies club to support her friends and other members of the Asian community as an ally.

“As a member I hope to learn as much as I can and take a lot of opportunities to volunteer for my community,” Crosley said. “As a club I really hope that we can become a unified front and learn about each other and where we come from.”

According to Matthews, the idea of the Asian American and Allies club was discussed regularly between the presidents of

the club during the pandemic, especially when the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes became more publicized in the news and social media platforms.

“In the Asian Americans and Allies club, we plan to address the recent escalations in Asian hate crimes, and social issues happening in our world now,” Matthews said. “We hope to break down the Asian American stereotypes in our community.”

The club is also planning for future activities and projects outside of school to achieve

goals revolving around their purpose.

“We plan to have something like one main project for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) month which is in May, but hopefully we have some sort of big thing across the campus,” Nguyen said. “Then we want to volunteer at Asian-based community services, and just eat out with friends and have fun.”

Because of the pandemic, the recognition and discussion of anti-Asian hate crimes became more politicized, which changed the public’s understanding of Asian American demographics.

“Asian Americans are the fastest growing ethnic group in America,” Matthews said.

“However, their concerns are neglected because of the ‘model minority’ myth. “There are assumptions of the Asian American class privilege, which leads to many discriminatory issues to be overlooked.”

The main hope of the Asian American and Allies club is to spread awareness on issues that Asian American members of the local community face and how to help solve those issues. The club is open to anyone who wants to be part of a learning and understanding community.

“I think it’s important that everyone is able to be aware of [other peoples’] situations since we are growing up in America, which is a very diverse country,” Nguyen said. “So to be open-minded about your Asian American friends and what they are going through, you are able to be just more sympathetic and understanding of the society around you.”

Although the club is still new, the Asian American and Allies club is already planning for the future. Members talk about controversial subjects like racism and discrimination, but also balance this with trips to restaurants to experience different cultures first-hand as a group.

“I know that the club wants to create a safe place for Asian American students and allies to gather and learn from one another’s cultures, discuss sociocultural issues, and raise awareness,” Giuffre said. “My hope is that the students are inspired by each other and learn how to advocate for themselves and be proud of their backgrounds.’’

FEATURE 5

FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021 THE DISPATCH

‘No one’s looking out for those kids’ High-risk and immunocompromised Bulldogs reflect after a year and a half of COVID-19 Dylan Ebs Feature Editor

Caulin Wagner knew something was wrong when he felt extreme pain in his left leg.

Wagner, a senior, went to his doctor and was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a common type of bone cancer.

“When I realized that I had it I think I was almost about to tear up because I didn’t know that it would actually happen,” Wagner said.

“But if it weren’t for the nurses that helped me heal up, I wouldn’t be here by now.”

Wagner no longer has osteosarcoma; he completed chemotherapy and proudly talks about how he beat cancer.

“The chemotherapy was awful,” Wagner said. “I kept on throwing up repeatedly because it was so bad.

I needed to have it anyway because it’s very important [for] chemo to be in your system because you have a higher risk for dying. Luckily, the system in my body was very tough and strong and I managed to actually beat [cancer].”

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wagner has had to adjust his habits. According to the CDC, having cancer makes one more likely to have a severe case of COVID-19.

“I’m kind of scared of getting [COVID-19],” Wagner said. “But as long as I’m careful and stay three to six feet apart, then I’m going to be okay.”

Wagner is not the only student or teacher with a potentially increased chance of having a severe case of COVID-19.

Every Saturday night, English teacher Bree Rolfe logs onto Zoom to hangout and play games with

her friends. The virtual hangouts are a safe way for Rolfe, who has cystic fibrosis, to connect with her friends during the pandemic.

Rolfe is one of an estimated 30,000 Americans with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects the lungs and pancreas.

“One of the positives about the pandemic was that everyone discovered Zoom,” Rolfe said. “My best friend lives in Massachusetts and I have really good friends in the Palm Springs area, and we discovered Zoom. We’re like, why don’t we hang out every Saturday night on Zoom and play Jackbox games?

So I did a lot of stuff like that with my friends who lived elsewhere.”

While Rolfe says that she isn’t too concerned about her risk of contracting COVID-19, she worries more about immunocompromised and high-risk students who have to attend in-person school.

“One of the things that’s really makes me angry about Texas, and about this whole situation is that, my concern is for the students who are like me, like when do we start caring about them,” Rolfe said.

“There have been people who have gone here that have had cystic fibrosis or other conditions and I feel like they’ve been left out of the conversation, especially in Texas, like that nobody is looking out for those chronically ill kids who are having to come back to school.”

Rolfe was unable to attend the graduation parade for the class of 2020 because she has cystic fibrosis.

“I missed out on lots of things,” Rolfe said. “Some of [my seniors] were like ‘where’s Ms. Rolfe?’ and my colleagues were like ‘she can’t leave the house.’ It was heartbreaking for me to not say goodbye to

76% of people with a serious health condition have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine

44% of hospitalized patients with a COVID-19 breakthrough case are immunocompromised

72% of immunocompromised people say they are moderately to very worried about contracting the Delta variant

92% of immunocompromised people reported wearing masks in indoor public spaces since July 2021 Sources: Global Healthy Living Foundation & KFF

ART BY Dylan Ebs

CHECKING IN: English teacher Bree Rolfe walks around her classroom, monitoring senior Cristian Vockell’s progress. Rolfe received the COVID-19 vaccine in January and recently got a booster shot because she has cystic fibrosis. PHOTO BY Sage Epstein

my seniors.”

For many high-risk people, including junior Carey Wooley, who has rheumatoid arthritis, getting a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was the right choice for them because of their condition. The FDA and CDC recently approved booster doses for eligible individuals.

“As a high risk individual I am always so afraid of getting COVID-19 but having the booster shot of the vaccine gives me so much relief as it feels like an extra layer of protection,” Wooley said.

Although CDC data shows that children are dying from COVID-19 at a lower rate than older age groups, the increased transmissability of the Delta variant has led to an increase in hospitalizations for COVID-19 among children.

“Every time you see it’s like,

‘oh, the only people who are getting sick or have underlying conditions’ and I’m like, you’re saying that in a room with people who have children with underlying conditions and it’s like, oh, only your kid will die is terrible, it’s terrible,” Rolfe said.

The potential removal of mask mandates in Austin ISD due to Governor Abbott’s executive order is a concern to some students, including Wagner.

“I would feel really angered,” Wagner said. “COVID is still here, because if it was gone, people would have the mask off. We’re still living in a state where someone brought COVID and there are still people who aren’t smart enough to know that masks are indeed mandatory for stores, schools, everywhere, meaning wear a mask at all times necessary.”

For Rolfe, adjusting to the return of fully in-person instruction isn’t always easy.

“We’re dealing with students who haven’t been to school in two years,” Rolfe said. “[I’m] reminding myself that this is a pandemic, and I have to kind of tailor my expectations. I no longer am like trying to be the best, most amazing teacher on Earth. I’m just trying to make sure my kids learn something and cutting myself and my students some slack.”

Rolfe returned to in-person teaching last February after getting vaccinated.

“I just hope that our students at Bowie who are immunocompromised or high risk are safe and happy,” Rolfe said. “I hope that we find a way to make being able to come back [to in-person school] a thing for them.”

Coach Alex brings renewed energy to cheer program Grace Harris Commentary Editor

Earlier this year, the cheer teams bid farewell to Catherine McCallum, their coach of two years. McCallum departed the program after being offered an opportunity to coach at Del Valle High School. The teams welcomed their new head coach, Alyssa Alex, over the summer.

Alex has been a competitive cheerleader and dancer most of her life. She began her journey at age six and continued throughout high school as well as college. After graduating from Baylor University, Alex began her career as a coach.

“I started my head coaching career at Hays High School,” Alex said. “I coached there for three years before being asked to go found the cheer program at the new school in the district, Johnson High School.”

After moving to central Texas, Alex was drawn to Bowie’s cheer program by Courtney David, who’s Alex’s roommate and a former Bowie cheerleader herself.

“After being here for a couple years, I then started to realize that it was not only the cheer squad, but the entire school, staff, and community that I was drawn to,” Alex said.

McCallum, the previous coach, had dance-based experience as opposed to cheer. Although Alex is new to the school, her background in cheerleading has aided her through her transition.

“Coach McCallum seemed a little unsure at times about what she was doing,” JV co-captain junior Brooke Dallmann said. “Coach Alex on the other hand is very comfortable with what she is teaching. It’s very nice to have a new leader who can drive us to success.”

After entering the program late last spring, Alex was excited to jump into summer practices with the teams.

“The transition was honestly a lot of fun because the girls are so talented,” Alex said. “We were able to jump right into a groove of improving and learning new skills.”

Coaches differ in their approaches and coaching styles, often making a transition difficult for the athletes. However, Alex’s presence and leadership in the program has so far proved comfortable and beneficial for the teams.

“I really like coach Alex,” Dallmann said. “She is very confident in everything she does and is very organized. Her transition over the summer felt really seamless and seemed easy on her.”

Currently, cheer is in the midst of football season. Running pep rally routines, game cheers, and painting spirit banners around the school makes a busy start of the year for the squad.

BONDING WITH BUSTER: Cheer coach Alyssa Alex gives a warm hug to Buster the Bulldog during the homecoming football game against Del Valle. This was Alex’s first homecoming football game as the cheer coach.

PHOTO BY Arushi Sharma

“I think the challenge so far has been figuring out the cheer program traditions and expectations of what is normally done, while also making changes to make the program my own,” Alex said.

Though the cheer team has many long appreciated traditions, the cheerleaders welcome Alex’s new ideas and improvements.

“Football season is already looking a lot more fun than it was in previous years with our new coaches,” Dallmann said.

“I love how coach Alex likes to create new traditions this year for the team.”

Not all of the cheerleaders got to experience cheer under coach McCallum’s instruction. However, new member Sydney Parsons has also had a positive experience so far with Alex.

“This is my first year cheering at Bowie, but the experience with the new coaches is so great,” Parsons said. “Coach Alex brings so much joy and she really shows a lot of commitment to the team.”

Alex’s presence has had a positive impact on the teams during games and practices.

“Change can be very stressful and very hard, but having a new coach was definitely a very good change, and definitely changed Bowie cheer for the better,” Dallmann said.

Further pursuing her passion for cheerleading, Alex has adjusted smoothly into the school community. Alex is proud of the girls and the success of the program so far this year.

“They have all already had such an impact on my life so I hope I am having a positive impact in theirs as well,” Alex said.

6 PHOTO ESSAY THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, OCT 8, 2021

Bulldogs & Hotdogs kicks off the year Booster clubs are given the opportunity to fund raise at this PTSA event for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic Anna Bea Heise Photo Essay Editor

ated some challenges with accessing electrical outlets, but our amazing booster clubs made it all work.”

Bulldogs and Hotdogs has been a tradition Senior Danny Rodriguez participated in the at Bowie now for over 20 years as it has be- dunk tank which served as a fundraiser for the come a well-known event that gives students baseball team. the opportunity to explore the wide-variety of “At the end of the day, all that money is goclubs and organizations available to students. ing to help out the baseball team and me, so This annual event has been utilized by any why not help out,” Rodriguez said. and all booster clubs offered at Bowie as a way Being able to work around these circumto get exposure and raise money by selling a stances allowed booster clubs to return to a variety of items, such as t-shirts, accessories, sense of normalcy and raise money for their snacks, and games to play. clubs, like the Class Council for the graduat“The boosters do a great job providing fun ing class of 2022. activities for all ages,” Parent, Teacher, Stu“The turnout was better than we thought dent, Association (PTSA) co-chair Stacy An- it would be,” Class Council teacher sponsor kele said. “Of course the pep rally brings lots Kris Grandinetti-Johnson said. “We sold a lot of families and fun. There is no better place to of t-shirts and class yard signs. It was good, find a huge selection of Bowie merch to show and helped us your Bulldog spirraise a good bit of it, and know that money.” you are supporting Each gradugreat organizations ating class has a of all kinds on camThere is no better place to find a class council dedpus.” icated to organizhuge selection of Bowie merch Ankele helps ing fundraising to show your Bulldog spirit and lead the PTSA, events beginning along with Laura know that you are supporting their freshman Williams Bond, as year up until their great organizations of all kinds they work togethgraduation during er to support the on campus. their senior year.

Bowie community The point of these through fundraiscouncils is to raise Stacy Ankele ing and facilitating money for class events to provide PTSA Co-Chair events, with their exposure to the senior prom bemultiple groups ing the priority. that make up the Utilization of this school. event allows for “Planning for [Bulldogs and Hotdogs] starts them to sell merchandise to raise this money. in the previous spring,” Bond said. “This year “So our class has been really wonky bewe waited a bit as we didn’t know what would cause COVID just hit at a really, really wonky happen with COVID-19. The PTSA coordi- time,” Grandinetti-Johnson said. “A couple nated with Mr. Robinson in May to select a years back we wanted to sell a class t-shirt date so we could start planning in earnest. We that was just for like the senior class of 2022 discussed multiple versions of the event based so we had a white shirt made. Then, we also on changing restrictions, including a potential had some other shirts made that would just drive thru event and 100% virtual. We were be kind of generic that everybody could buy. thrilled to get district approval for our all-out- So that was what we were intent on having, door event two weeks prior to the event.” like a class t-shirt and then some regular just During virtual school last year, Bulldogs and Bulldogs, spirit wear.”

Hotdogs was canceled due to the COVID-19 Grandinetti-Johnson was one of the many pandemic. In addition to limiting the spread people observing the crowd rather than parof COVID, the PTSA also had to work around ticipating as she had to run her club’s booth. construction at Bowie.

“It was actually kind of fun,” Grandinet“Due to COVID-19, we made this event ti-Johnson said when explaining what it was 100% outside,” Williams said. “We had been like to run her booth. “It was super hectic. It looking forward to showcasing Bowie’s new was busy, but you get to see a lot of people, gym, but holding the pep rally in the front especially after all of this time, to see a lot of parking lot worked really well. We spread out people we haven’t necessarily seen so it was and used all of the courtyard and all of the good, and kind of fast-paced, and kept you gobreezeway this year. Construction work cre- ing.”

”

”

SPREADING THE WORD: Mia Schwartz stands at the event’s entrance to advertise her booth for the Swim and Dive team. The club’s coach decided on selling the sandwiches, and her teammates decided on the booth’s activity.

“I really loved helping run the booth, most of the team was there and it was a great get together,” Schwartz said. “My favorite part about this event is knowing I’m helping my team, meeting friends, and getting to see all the other clubs’ booths and activities.” PHOTO BY Anna Bea Heise

IN FOCUS: Aussie Lura paints on a feeder school student’s face. Lura is one of the vice presidents for the Starlight Theater Company. “I think the main thing that could have made Bulldogs and Hotdogs better was something out of our control: the wind,” Lura said. “Overall, it went smoothly, and we efficiently led people through hairspray and face paint.” PHOTO BY Anna Bea Heise

WAITING FOR THE DROP: Danny Rodriguez sits on top of the dunk tank as he waits for the lever to be dropped. The Bowie baseball team set up the dunk tank at their booth and charged participants a fee to try and dunk whoever was sitting in the tank. “I felt like helping out in the booths was a great experience because it gave me more of a hands-on feel,” Rodriguez said. PHOTO BY Anna Bea Heise

HITTING THE MARK: Celeste Dauterive smiles as she helps lead the cheer team during their routine. The cheer team begins practicing the stunts and dance moves that will be incorporated into their routine around a week prior to the performance.

“I really enjoy being able to perform at pep rallies because it allows parents, students, and teachers to see the wide variety of talent on our team as well as all the hard work we put into it,” Dauterive said. “Pep rally routines are very complex and take a lot of practice before we are able to perform.” PHOTO BY Anna Bea Heise

CAUSE A STIR: The school mascots attend the pep rally to help excite the crowd. Their jobs involve interacting with the families and cheering on the performances. “The Cheer Team planned the pep rally, including the Band, Silver Stars, and fall athletic teams,” PTSA co-chair Laura Bond said. “The football team provided the awesome Bulldog tunnel as well.” PHOTO BY Anna Bea Heise

GO TIME: Anni Dotzenrod focuses on her director as she performs the band’s pep rally routine. Dotzenrod chose to play the saxophone for the marching band because of the instrument’s look. “I liked showcasing our hard work this season to the rest of the student section,” Dotzenrod said. “I love performing at pep rallies because everyone is excited for the games, and they’re super upbeat.” PHOTO BY Anna Bea Heise MARCHING ORDERS: Lianna Tidwell (back cadet) marches with the Texas flag after rehearsing the Pledge of Allegiance.

JROTC members are chosen to facilitate the pledges during morning announcements and events like this. “My favorite part of JROTC is the people because we all get really close over the years,” Tidwell said. “I also like how everyone has different personalities, and they come together to lead and direct the corps.” PHOTO BY Anna Bea Heise

IN-DEPTH 7

FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021 THE DISPATCH

Timeline for five-year construction project

Deeper dive into the impact of the creation of the new athletic facility on all sports teams Corinne Piorkowski Editor-in-Chief

At the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, the new athletic facility opened for the use of sports’ teams and coaches. Between renovated areas for practices, larger locker space, and a brand new big gym to hold indoor games, the facility has sparked excitement in the community.

“The response from parents and teachers so far has been overwhelmingly positive, which is great,” principal Mark Robinson said. “The staff especially has had a chance to compare and contrast this new facility from the old one, because it feels like every graduation speech I’ve heard has been that this is a great school with terrible facilities.”

In addition, there are many components to separating space in the facility that were conjured up by design planning, faculty meetings, and principal decisions that hope to contribute to its success for sports teams, and Robinson was a large part of that process before the plan was officially pitched to the rest of the faculty.

“We’re in year four of a five-year project, and in the beginning, there was a lot of time to have feedback that came from students, staff, and community,” Robinson said. “We were really encouraged to dream big, and so we dreamed big, because we’ve kind of been living on top of each other for a long time.”

through to focus on the game that we’re playing rather than thinking ahead to the football game after ours.”

For Silver Stars, the new facility has aided them through the use of the small gym, which is significantly larger than their previous dance gym. With this said, the year-long sport does not have access to the girls’ locker rooms, as the seasonal sports do.

“The n e w facility h a s g i v e n Silver Stars the opportunity to practice in the new small gym with air conditioning.

However, we have to share the small gym with several other organizations. On game days, we have to put all of our uniform pieces and equipment in the studio, out in the open, with several dance classes coming in and out throughout the day,” senior Kaitlyn Chambers said. “We’re not given lockers, so on an average practice day we have to carry our practice clothes, makeup, shower stuff, change of shoes, etc from class to class.”

2017

2018-2020

AISD grants bond initiative to school for facility constructions and renovations

GENDER Specifically, sports are separated by gender, and there are places in the facility to adhere to those differences. For example, the girls’ and boys’ head coaches have separate offices, but are right across from each other so that they can collaborate if needed and have eyes on the big gym. Girls’ basketball coach Vickie Benson has had lots of opportunities to use the facility, as her team practices daily in it.

“The Bowie tagline is pride and performance, and I’m a big believer that if you’re proud of your space and feel good about it, you’ll perform well,” Benson said. “Our kids work hard, but I think they’re more proud when people come to our facility now because I feel that having a space that my team feels proud of is important.”

There’s been some debate as to whether or not the facility equally distributes space for both genders of sports. As a girls’ coach, Benson has first-hand experience with battling adversity, and is able to analyze whether or not the whispers of mistreatment are actually present in the environment for all parties involved.

“We have more males involved in athletics here than we do females, and there are hundreds of football players and not as many girls’ athletes, so the fact that they have more coaches is rightfully so,” Benson said. “I want to make sure the picture is painted properly because there may appear to be more representation for boys’ sports, but there’s a reason for that, because they’re two different things. If you have 100 on one side and you have 30 on the other side, both sides have the resources that they need for their size.”

The volleyball team has also gotten to use both of the new gyms for their practices, and bring large amounts of spectators for their games in the new big gym on Tuesday and Friday nights. With a game going on at the same time as football, senior Maya Cottam describes the impact the change in spectators has on the team’s performance.

“Football games definitely impact how our games look because we definitely don’t get as many fans, which is hard because they’re really the ones that bring the energy that supports us through our matches,” Cottam said.

“The football game is another mental block for us to work

room,” Dobinsky said. “Every sport here has some positives and some drawbacks, but they’re doing the best they can to make things better for everyone.”

Although the facility’s budget didn’t have room for wrestling, before this year, the team shared the small studio with other teams, constantly having to pack up their large and heavy mats every day.

“I am glad we got our own space because prior to getting this room we had to share a room with dance, so it wasn’t ever really a “wrestling room,” but more of a feeling like when you stay at a friend’s house for the first time,” Moreno said.

“Although it’s not in the new athletic building, the steps we are taking to improve the room are going to benefit us in the long haul if the program survives.”

Parking garage is built and opened for students, faculty members, and staff use

FINANCIAL

The panel Robinson contributed to emphasized the need to set aside money for different sports to assure that space and equipment in the facility would be separated equally. There was an initial bond of $91 million for the five-year construction project, and around $68 million was set for constructing the new facilities.

“Of course, there’s the reality that budgets and resources are not unlimited,” Robinson said. “We held a lot of meetings with everybody directly impacted with the space and gathered feedback from them, but Coach Space and money were allocated for different sports based on many different aspects of them when planning the Ables was the one most involved with it, as he is the athletic facility. With this said, budgeting hasn’t allowed for every coordinator.”

Along with that position, coach Jeff Ables is also the head sport to have a gym space in the new facility, specifically wrestling. The wrestling team currently uses the old weight football coach, and has extensive experience with addressing issues presented by the sports teams. room connected to the academic When in the process of the new facility, building to roll out mats and the distribution of space in the facility practice on. However, the old lined up with the amount of funding weight room is undergoing that was received in the bond. renovations from the (projected) “I think every athlete and district, such as every PE kid in our program is new paint on the walls, and getting something out of this permanent new facility,” Ables said. m a t s “Everybody has a little bit, t h a t while tennis has the parking w i l l garage courts, and wrestling be put will compete in the big gym; down for everyone can use the weightpracticing. room, so I think everyone is “When I really excited about it.” first heard about For wrestling, their finances the new athletics were distributed differently than facility we were getting, the quintessential space given for I was hopeful. I figured that the facility. With the old weight room, wrestling, the most successful they were not technically put on the program at the school, would get bond for new equipment or a room, but a room in the gym and could have a fresh start,” the district allocated money for the new senior wrestler Joshua Moreno said. “As time went on and weight room to be fixed up, specifically painted, so that I was told it wasn’t going to be in the new facility, I was the team would then be able to put mats down and have heartbroken because although I would only have the new a permanent room for practice. gym for myself one year, the future of Bowie wrestling was “Everybody gets what they need, like if you were to impacted by that decision.” take a one-day picture, some sports are going to look Wrestling has also experienced more changes this year, better, but when taking into account the entire picture, with the hiring of a new head coach, Tyson Dobinsky, from everyone is given materials to suit them,” Dobinsky said.

Westlake High School. Although Dobinsky was aware of the “When seeing the old weight room for the first time placement wrestling would have, parental complaints still knowing that this school was 6A, I was shocked, but it’s arose regarding the old weight room. definitely taking the long view and realizing that this is “I already met with our parents and talked about the going to be fixed for us.” situation, and it was a tightrope of acknowledging that every According to Robinson, the new construction has the other sport is in that area and has power to represent Bowie’s sports’ teams and community something over there with the in a renovated way to pay homage to the athletes working reality that we don’t, towards a 33-year legacy. but we also got “With this bond initiative, we had the opportunity to our own make the facility reflect the amazing work and learning we have,” Robinson said. “We’re so fortunate to have all of these talented people in one space, and we need a facility that reinforces and resembles that work; there’s definitely an appreciation and a desire to keep it nice, and we want to preserve and maintain it.”

MINOR SPORTS

2022

New and renovated athletic facility opens for the school year for all sports teams

Fine arts building opens with improved theatre and music rooms for their programs

ART BY Corinne Piorkowski

2021

$68 e v i mil t a i lion t i n f i or a d n t hlet o s b p a i e c c n v e faci e i o i s i l s l e p l lity r i b e a s d m t equa n 1 e 5 d lly fo 9 u $9 % t r spo o fs f o s rts t u s % a d t 1 i e sfied w 7 nts AR

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202 STUDENTS POLLED 9/16-29/21; Polled via Google Forms 96 females, 87 males, 12 Non-binary/other, 7 prefer not to say 56 seniors, 58 juniors, 43 sophomores, 45 freshmen

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IN-DEPTH 9

8 IN-DEPTH

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021

FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021 THE DISPATCH

CLIMATE CHANGE: rising temperatures with a rising generation As Earth’s weather systems intensify, today’s youth are facing increasing concern for the future of the climate and are advocating change Anna Holme Editor-in-Chief

ity,” pulmonologist Dr. Mickey Sachdeva said in an interview with NPR. “We’re seeing more heat exhaustion and heat-related illnesses. With climate change happening, the number of these cases will keep rising.”

“I think that climate activism, as well as human-rights activism, is very important,” Stachura said. “Environmental rights, human rights, they’re both in tandem. Everyone has a right to sustainable, safe homes and to work in sustainable, safe environments and not have to live under the fear of pollution, fires, or losing their homes from flooding.”

This increase in activism and interest in the environment among younger generations has influenced career paths in the future as well. Environmental science and protection technician careers are projected to see an 11 percent growth over the next 10 years, a faster rate than average. Some other environmentally-oriented careers, such as wind turbine technicians or solar panel installers, are seeing career growth rates of upward of 50-70 percent, some of the highest available.

“I have definitely considered going into environmental science or environmental engineering in college,” Mishra said. “I think one of the biggest things I’ve done, and what other people can do, is just to educate ourselves.

This summer I attended an Austin’s Youth Force Initiatives course called Project Learning Tree. It focuses on the importance of trees to our world, and how we can use trees to combat really important issues like climate change. Learning about what’s happening in the environment and knowing what’s true is ultimately going to allow us to make better decisions in our lives to combat climate change.”

to expand upon our very minimal-existing climate regulation.”

On a larger, global scale, the UN recently announced that there are over $400 billion worth of private and public investments in renewable energy development and installation. However, many are debating about where the United States fits within the global sustainability discourse.

“Even though we are going to be limiting oil production in the United States, we need to limit oil production in other countries,” Mishra said. “I mean, if we’re sponsoring oil production in Europe, Saudi Arabia, and other places where oil is extremely mass-produced, we’re still indirectly contributing to the issue. That’s going to be hard because oil has been ingrained in the United States economy. We need to maintain jobs and workforces in a way that benefits the environment.”

In 2020, The U.S. Energy and Employment Report found that around 1,148,900 people work in fuel industries in the United States. Proposals like the Green New Deal assert that workforces can be maintained through a transition of non-renewable energy workers to renewable energy positions. Regardless, the UN Environmental Program states that in order for global warming to stay below a 1.5 degrees Celsius increase, all greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced by 7.6 percent every year until 2030.

“I think a key message here is that it is still possible to forestall most of the most dire impacts, but it really requires unprecedented, transformational change,” UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change vice chair Ko Barrett said in an interview with NPR. “But the idea that there still is a pathway forward I think is a point that should give us some hope.”

Droughts, rising temperatures, floods, heat waves, storms. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), these are a few of the sympEFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH toms of climate change. National Geographic defines climate change as “the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a Besides just physical health, climate change has been shown to exacerplace.” In reference to Earth, climate change helps to explain many of the bate mental health issues as well. In what has now been dubbed “eco-anxunusual environmental phenomena that have appeared in recent years.

In the United States specifically, eight out of the 10 warmest years on iety” or “climate anxiety,” thoughts of climate change have been linked to record have been recorded since 1998, according to the U.S. Environmental worsening mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, Protection Agency (EPA). Additionally, since the late 1800s, Earth’s global and substance abuse.

“I definitely think that with climate change, there is this ever-encompasstemperature has risen about one degree Celsius, which many experts coning dread,” Amnesty International Club co-president junior Jake Stachura sider to be a startling change in such a short period of time. said.

“There is uncertainty that I won’t have a good life in my future. That “There’s now much more evidence of climate change over the past 30 affects me and my decisions now, if I do something is it even worth it? If I’m or so years,” environmental science teacher Alonna Beatty said. “We have going shopping for something, I have to be conscious of hey, how does this instrumentation to measure these things affect the environment? Does this increase now, which means that we can provide pollution?

Does this increase carbon emiscold, hard facts that show trends in data sions?

Is it green? Is it locally sourced? How that show human impact. Climate change There is an uncertainty that I won’t have a does it affect the climate?” is much more irrefutable than it was a few good life in my future. That affects me and A study by GlobeScan found that 59 decades ago.” percent of children in Generation Z have a With this acceleration in what many my decisions now, if I do something is it strong desire to change their lifestyles to be POLICY CHANGES consider a “climate crisis,” questions have even worth it? more environmentally friendly. Many report

arisen regarding what the future of Earth that this stems from a fear of the future conThe most popular way Americans are attempting to fight climate change entails. Especially among younger generaJake Stachura ditions of Earth’s climate. is through legislative action. This policymaking most often targets large FUTURE OUTLOOK tions, discourse has emerged regarding the Junior “We know [climate change] is going to corporations, since these industrial powers contribute the most to climate spiraling conditions of the planet’s climate. come to haunt us in the future and that change. A report conducted by the Carbon Disclosure Project found that Many governments do have plans in place to “I’m scared for future generations and previous generations haven’t taken enough action to combat 100 companies around the world make up 71 percent of total greenhouse tackle climate change. Biden has set a greenhow they’ll be impacted, because so far we’re only affected very indirectly house gas reduction target for the year by climate change,” freshman Samantha Seiter said. “But once things get it,” Mishra said. “Especially for Generation Z and future generations, we’re gas emissions.

“I would love for Congress and for our government to make industry 2030 and plans for net zero emissions worse then younger generations will have to deal with it in everyday life and going to have to take immediate actions towards ending climate change.

Seeing my peers not align with me on these views about issues that are so responsible for what they’re putting out there,” Beatty said. “Battery com- by 2050. Whether these plans are efmake accommodations for those changes.” important to me, and should be so important to other people, definitely panies create batteries, they package them, and they pollute while doing fective or not, Stachura argues there These concerns are reflective of current climate trends. Many experts impacts my mental health in a negative way.” it. They then expect the consumer to be responsible for their trash. In- are things every person can do to in the scientific community predict that Earth will continue experiencing According to the Pew Research Center, Generation Z and Millennials are dustry has actually made consumers feel guilty for their combat climate escalating environmental conditions. change.

“We can expect a significant jump in extreme weather over the next 20 more active when discussing climate change. Consequently, many young- trash. The fact of the matter is, the person who produced “I just think evor 30 years,” climate scientist Piers Forster said in a recent interview with er Americans are more likely to be affected by eco-anxiety: a recent study it should be responsible for it.”

There have been many different types of proposals In order for us to eryone should be the New York Times. “Things are unfortunately likely to get worse than published in Lancet Planetary Health reported that 45 percent of 16 to 25 year olds are negatively affected by climate-related anxiety. From the same that aim to limit the effects of climate change. While Texinformed about they are today.” really have a great study, 46 percent of young Americans believe that “humanity is doomed.” as doesn’t have a state-wide plan, recently President Joe climate change impact against “Just the fear of floods and droughts and horrible disasters that can hap- Biden’s infrastructure bill has gained traction. This plan, if because knowEFFECTS ON PHYSICAL HEALTH pen, and are happening, in increasing amounts,” Stachura said. “You don’t passed, would benefit the environment by allocating monclimate change, it ing is half the know what’s going to happen next. There’s kind of a depression, there’s so ey to combat severe weather and pouring money into more Apart from its effects on the environment, climate change has been needs to be a group battle,” Stachulittle you can actually do about it. You feel helpless. I feel helpless.” sustainable transportation projects. ra said. “We can’t shown to have many effects on the physical conditions of humans as well. effort.

“The Biden presidency is trying to do things to combat make good policies Earth’s ever-adjusting climate has been linked to many health issues. The climate change but I know many environmentalists would ACTIVISM AND CAREERS about climate change American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that factors such as heat Alonna Beatty argue that it’s not enough,” Mishra said. “I think that with if we don’t understand stress, poor air quality, food insecurity, and changing disease patterns are Biden there has been a lot of With improvement all these adverse from effects [former being Environmental Science perpetuated by climate change, climate many change.” direct results of climate change. president Donald] Trump, adolescents especially because are attempting he has joined to re-take control of Earth’s climate.

A survey A study conducted by Teacher “I have a lot of family in India,” Earth Club president senior Taru Mishra researchers at San José Unisaid. “The last time I visited them, the effects of smog were so prevalent. by the United Nations (UN) found that 89 percent of youths think young the Paris Agreement again. Also, Biden is trying to pass versity found that if 16 percent When I walked into the New Delhi airport, I could barely breathe. I was people will help mitigate the effects of climate change. But with this hope an infrastructure bill that addresses climate change. That doesn’t mean that we don’t has have also caused a long some way to to go, resent there the are lack still of a response lot of from high the school government. students in more affluent conditions coughing the entire time. My cousins, who are natives there, were used to advancements that need to be “You made have within stolen this my society dreams and and within my childhood our bewith were your to be empty educated words,” about climate change, carbon dioxide emissions it. But I have a little bit of asthma, and I felt like I was dying. It’s come to teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg said in her famed speech to liefs.” could be lessened by around 19 gigatons by 2050. Other small actions, the point where you can’t even see clear skies.”

More drastic legislative movements, like the Green New Deal, have such as turning off unneeded lights, air-drying clothing, or taking shorter Respiratory problems, like asthma, are one of the health issues that are world leaders at the UN Climate Action Summit. “And yet I’m one of the gained traction lately as well. This congressional resolution, introduced by showers, could reduce one’s carbon footprint by hundreds of pounds of lucky ones.

People are suffering.

People are dying.

Entire ecosystems are becoming more common due to air pollution. These effects are especialRep. Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez and Sen. Edward J. Markey, seeks to tackle emissions per year. Besides just individual actions, Beatty emphasizes the collapsing.

We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk ly noticeable in adolescents. The EPA found in a study that children ages 11 and younger were more susceptible to harmful air particles. In general, about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you.” the systemic issues that allow climate change to persist. The Green New need for a holistic approach when addressing climate change.

In 2019, over four million people in 163 countries attended Climate Deal is a much more progressive set of policies that would likely take tril“In order for us to really have a great impact against climate change, it research has shown that children are more susceptible to climate-related lions of dollars to execute strikes and aim all to around be completed the world. by This 2035. year, on Sept.

24, thousands needs to be a group effort,” Beatty said. “It needs to be an effort from the of people in health problems. The AAP estimated that 88 percent of climate change-re“I would really like to see over a carbon 1,400 locations tax,” Stachura protested said. climate “I think change the Green once again. individual, With but it also needs to trickle up into the changes that need to be youth voiclated diseases affected those under the age of five.

“Young kids are getting more and more admissions to the [emergency es constantly gaining more traction, many adolescents have taken stronger New Deal is a great set of policies for climate change in the future and I made in our infrastructure and our civilization as a whole so that we can would really like to see senators and representatives push it more and more reduce our ecological footprint.” room] and the hospital with asthma exacerbations due to poor air qual- roles in activism.

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CURRENTLY: recent climate events in the past year

YOUTH OPINION: student polling data strongly disagree=

SOURCES: The Environmental Defense Fund, CBS News

Hurricane Ida

Pacific Northwest Heatwave

In July, this region faced record high temperatures: upwards of 15 to 25 degrees above normal.

This heatwave would’ve been 150 times rarer before the start of human-caused global warming.

Due to climate change, the number of severe hurricanes has doubled since 1980. Ida killed around 82 people in eight states.

ART BY An

na Holme

disagree=

neutral=

agree=

strongly agree=

Humans are the main cause of climate change.

2% 5%

11%

40%

How worried are you about the effects of climate change?

42%

I try to limit my negative impact on the environment.

10 = Incredibly worried

SOURCES: NOAA Climate.gov, Washington Post

Fires in the West

8%

Droughts out west have created dry, flammable foliage.

The largest and longest lasting of these fires, the Dixie Fire, has been active for around 80 days.

7%

22%

50%

13%

The U.S. government is doing enough to combat the effects of climate change.

42%

SOURCE: Wildland Fire Interagency Geospatial Services Group

13%

39%

3% 3%

Climate change should be a high priority for the U.S. government.

Lake Mead and Colorado River Droughts

Increasingly severe droughts are becoming more common in the Southwest due to climate change. Lake Mead hasn’t been full since 1983, and is projected to empty further.

6% 3% 9%

SOURCE: National Parks Services

SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Coral Bleaching in Hawaii

Ocean acidification, caused by increased carbon dioxide levels in the ocean, has been killing off coral reefs for decades.

Texas “Snowpocalypse”

In February, Texas faced an extreme freeze, killing 210 people. Climate change disrupts polar vortexs, the cause of this extreme cold.

SOURCES: Texas DHSH, Forbes

Top 10 answers are shown, with the size of text associated with the frequency of the response.

ART BY Anna Holme

47%

35%

What is one word you would use to describe how you feel about climate change?

8= Median response for Bowie students

Unsure

Worried Sad

Frustrated

Scared

Angry

Real

Anxious

Bad

Concerned

1= Not worried at all

202 STUDENTS POLLED 9/ 16-29 /2021; Polled via Google Forms 96 Females, 87 Males, 12 Non-binary/Other, 7 prefer not to say 56 Seniors, 58 Juniors, 43 Sophomores, 45 Freshmen

ART BY Isabella del Nido

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10 SPORTS

Athletes commit to D1 schools

THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021

Athletes Assert Students receive offers from prestigious colleges to continue their sports Sam Vane Dispatch Reporter

October is around the corner meaning… Playoffs! After a wild season filled with surprise and disappointment ten MLB teams will duke it out for a World Series championship.

The Astros are the team to beat this year in the AL. Orchestrated by the trio of Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and Alex Bregman, the Astros have had some stars shine this year, especially left hander Kyle Tucker who is hitting .293 with 25 Home runs and 81 RBI’s.

The team up north, the Blue Jays aren’t as nice as Canada is put out to be. The Jays run by Vladmir Guerrero Jr., Marcus Semien, and Bo Bichette have been dominating the competition. Their pitching isn’t too shabby either as Robbie Ray leads the AL in strikeouts. If they continue to hit well they could be playing in November.

The lesser known team in Chicago has been the better one, as the White Soxs hold a steady lead in the AL Central. The White Soxs weren’t expected to be more than a wild card team but with the breakout play of starting pitchers Lance Lynn and Carlos Rodon along with returning stars Tim Anderson and Liam Hendricks playing great, this formula has led the White Soxs to a division lead and maybe a World Series title.

The Rays were a bit of a surprise this season, as they don’t have one real superstar like most other teams have.

Led by the young Randy Arozarena along with Brandon Lowe and mid-season acquisition Nelson Cruz.

The Rays have the best record in the AL and are poised to make a long postseason run this October.

The Giant surprise of this year the San Francisco Giants have been on a tear this season. A resurgent by their old big three of Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, and Brandon Belt. The mid-season acquisition of Kris Bryant certainly helped as he filled the much needed hole at 3rd base.

The reigning champ L.A. Dodgers have only gotten better. At the deadline they added star pitcher Max Scherzer and shortstop Trea Turner and still have their three headed monster of Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, and Corey Seager. They also aren’t lacking in the pitcher department as they still have the studs Kershaw and Walker Buehler.

The Brewers are good.

They have the pitching and their “Brew Crew” isn’t a pushover either. But their pitching is the best in the league; they have a five headed snake consisting of three starters (Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes, and Freddy Peralta) and two relievers (Devin Williams and Josh Hader). All these guys are the reason the brewers were a surprise team this season.

Questions?

Concerns?

Want to share your opinion?

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

Riley Payne Sports Editor

Sweat, blood and tears aren’t unusual for these prestigious athletes.

There’s an immense number of high school athletes who dream of playing at this fierce level. Here at Bowie there’s a selective few who’ve earned the opportunity to play Division I sports throughout college.

Senior volleyball player Katherine Crosley has committed to Tulane University, senior football player Diego Tello, who has decided to play at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and junior baseball player Ben Merriman who has chosen to play at Texas State University. Their choice will further their sports and educa-

tion at a high level.

“I am looking forward to playing for a successful volleyball team and being around players who are motivated and really want to get better,” Crosley said. “I think that energy is really contagious and will push me to be the best I can be.

The quality of academics student athletes will receive at college is another aspect of being a Division I athlete.

“When I was looking at what colleges I was interested in, I had a list of requirements that were super important to me: academics, location, size, and program,” Crosley said. “After learning about Tulane I realized it checked every box for me. I was born in New Orleans and my entire

family lives there, so I’m excited to things played out,” Merriman said. be closer to my family. My dad grad- “I made the decision because I love uated from Tulane, my uncle played the culture at the university and the football there, and my grandpa was coaching staff has treated me great.” a professor there, so it’s exciting to Each individual student athlete keep it in the family.” will learn in both the classroom and The competat practice. These itive nature of will be things stuselect sports dent’s will have to prepares athjuggle while being letes for college in college.

I think work ethic is to be able to “My dream would what will help me join a new team be to have a better with players perception about at the next level. they’ve never the game of baseball Everyday I will have to met before and itself and also learn strive to get better and how to deal with pursue the goal of winning. adversity and grow continue to learn.

“I think that from it,” Merriman

playing club said. volleyball has Commits have Diego Tello really helped lots of new challengVarsity Quarterback me to prepare es to face joining a for the college new team. Each stulevel,” Crosley dent athlete will be said. “Club volleyball brings a new facing the challenge of working with level of intensity that you can’t get a new team, coach, and are while at the high school level. I think that maintaining their studies. mentally will definitely be a big tran“I’m looking forward to being able sition for me, especially being away to play with the experienced ball from home.” players and being able to learn from Playing at the highest level of col- them,” Merriman said. “I also want lege athletics provides an opportuni- to do whatever I can to help this ty for high school athletes to show- team win lots of ball games.” case their skills.

Bowie head baseball Coach Sam “Entering high school my main Degeila has been coaching Ben Mergoal was to just improve my skills riman and former Division I athletes and figure out if this is something I throughout his coaching career. want to continue into college,” Cro“Ben’s a good hearted kid that sley said. “I achieved this goal by any coach would be happy to have putting in work on and off the court 26 of him on the team,” Degeila in order to realize I really wanted to said. “Ben’s been a quiet guy that’s play in college.” starting to come out of the shell”, The mental aspect of changing but he’s a competitor. His competiplaying fields from high school to tiveness translates on the field being college athletics is almost as import- a silent leader. He leads the team by ant as the physical for Tello. example.”

“I think work ethic is what will Being a coach for so long, Degeihelp me at the next level,” Tello said. la has seen the change of the mental “Every day I will have to strive to get focus of athletes once they commit better and continue to learn.” to a college.

Athletes always have goals and “Several times as a head coach I’ve a certain mindset to stay locked in. seen these committed players and Merriman had focused on improving sometimes even seniors, and then his game in every area he could work they check out and stop working as on to get attention from a school. hard,” Degeila said.”Every player has “It wasn’t an immediate choice to a role and it needs to be filled no commit to Texas State, since I was matter who they are or what they’ve very young and I wanted to see how done.”

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Major League Baseball post season preview

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ON THE RUN: Senior quarterback Diego Tello escapes the rush against the Austin High Maroons in the 2020 season. This year, Tello is out of playing due to a collarbone injury. PHOTO BY Reagan Zuniga

New tennis coach leads team through season Marcelo Canepa Dispatch Reporter

After the end of the 20202021 school year, former tennis coach James Dammann announced his retirement from coaching at Bowie. Soon after, the school announced that Craig Powell, who teaches Texas History at Paredes Middle School would be the new tennis coach.

Dammann, much loved by the team, had been coaching tennis for nine years before he resigned. After a commitment of that length, Dammann’s departure from the program was not an easy choice for him.

“I was getting some pre-cancer on my skin, getting treated,” Dammann said. “I was just super dark tan and I would get dehydrated all the time no matter how much water I drank, it got to be a little much.”

Dammann, who teaches biology at Bowie did not think his commitment to the team would last too long. He had only intended to coach the tennis team until his daughter graduated in 2017, however the team kept him coming back.

“As a coach we always had great kids,” Dammann said.

“We’ve always had a really good time as a whole team feeling about it, solid, click family vibes.”

Dammann now reminisces on his time on tennis, on the court and off the court.

Despite the loss of the team itself, the leave isn’t all bad.

LECTURES IN PRACTICE: New tennis head coach Craig Powell instructs junior Nicolas Ospina during morning practice. The team returned to practice after last week’s 11-0 loss to Westwood High School. PHOTO BY Sage Epstein

“It feels good, but I missed the kids from the team,” Dammann said. “It’s nice to not have to be out in the sun when it’s 130 degrees, and be home late at night dehydrated like a raisin.”

Soon after, the school announced to the tennis team Powell would be the new coach. Powell coached middle school tennis for 19 years before he made the switch to high school.

“They came to me during football camp and asked me if I would be interested,” Powell said. “I said yes.”

Coaching for a new school does not come without its challenges and adjustments.

From having to learn where

matches are held, to figuring out team rosters, Powell has his hands full.

“There is paper work and lack of equipment.” Powell said. “Becoming acquainted with the new school and its systems is a challenge.”

Navigating through his new occupation has not hindered his enthusiasm. Powell very much enjoys being the coach for Bowie Tennis.

“It’s always busy and it’s always rough,” Powell said.

“But it’s worth it.”

When a new coach joins, the players must adjust as well. Some of these adjustments are more apparent to seasoned members of the team.

“Dammann had a lot of pre-established traditions with the team,” senior varsity player Cristina Canepa said “This year was a little more unpredictable with the new coach since we had to relearn things and we had to rework things differently than how they were the past 10 years.”

In all aspects of the team the players have had to change their tradition for the switch in leadership. This includes new schedules, change in tryouts.

“A difference this year is our practice schedule,” Canepa said. “This isn’t necessarily the coach’s fault, but we don’t have a class period

anymore so we lost our tennis period so we had to start playing in the mornings and after school.”

Despite the adjustments the players agree that Powell very much is able to pull the team together during matches. From his experience Powell is able to give effective pep talks and advice “You can tell he has a sports background and I think that the way he speaks and the advice he gives after matches is very helpful,” Canepa said. “He definitely helps you with the mental side of the sport.”

New players are experience for the first time how that communication and mental support can make all the difference in the team’s bond. For Powell it goes beyond that.

“He brings the team together in practices by talking with everyone on what we are doing and having us know each and everyone on our team,” freshman varsity player Tristan Stine said.

“In the matches he is great and cheers us on. He is constantly walking around and watching every person on the team.”

Powell, after so many years of coaching tennis, has coached many students.

However, these tennis players will hold a special place in his heart for many years to come.

“There are times when tennis kids are the players you wouldn’t find in any other sport,” Powell said. “It’s something I enjoy.”

coming UP in SPORTS October 12 Varsity girls volleyball vs. Hays @Bowie October 15 Varsity boys football vs. Akins @Burger October 16 Wrestling tournament @Bowie

October 19 Varsity girls volleyball vs. Austin High @Bowie October 22 Varsity boys football @Burger

SPORTS 11

FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021 THE DISPATCH

Bills limit transgender student-athletes

Transgender athletes can only play sports assigned to them at birth due to two new bills Dimitri Silva Sports Editor

Two new bills disallowing transgender students’ participation in sports were passed through legislation on July 14. The bills would allow transgender athletes to only participate in sports that correspond to their sex at birth. However, groups who support LBGTQ rights are uniting and protesting against the bill so that transgender athletes can participate in their non-biological sport.

Senator Charles Perry, the author of the bill, also voiced his worry for people that might change their gender marker on their birth certificate to bypass the bills and cause an unfair advantage to school sports. Perry also stated that failure to pass the bills would hurt women’s sports and cause safety risks for student-athletes.

“I think that it is unfair that transgender athletes participating in women’s sports because men and women are built differently,” junior Chazon Mingarine said. “Men generally have better upper body strength while women have better lower body strength.”

Three Democratic senators wanted the bills not to pass. They stating that it isn’t an issue that needs to be resolved right now. Most Republican senators, however, state that it brings an unfair advantage to sports and needs to be changed as soon as possible, especially in high schools.

“I think the bill is unnecessary,” Mingarine said. “It should be up to the school district because if the government passes the bills it will

lete Ethan McMahon said. “Losing to a transgender athlete in any sport would be unfair because of how men and women are different physically.”

The bills are also designed to mainly affect transgender women and not transgender men as much due to safety hazards and other advantages or disadvantages it could bring. This brought a lot of controversy during the hearing and resulted in many parents who have transgender children appear in court to testify against the bills.

“It sucks that so many students

probably cause controversy that can easily be avoided if they just let the school district make the decision.”

The bills are designed to affect transgender student-athletes from kindergarten through college in Texas public schools. Republican senators also tried introducing four new bills which similarly attempted to disallow transgender student-athlete participation in sports, the bills failed to pass through committee.

“I think transgender athletes will always be controversial among schools,” junior varsity football ath-

ART BY Azul Lin

that depend on sports to help them emotionally and physically are now [assuming the transgender athlete bills pass] being forced to stop competing in sports,” McMahon said.

“While it doesn’t affect most student-athletes, it still sucks that the bills disregard what the transgender athletes might be feeling and how much they’re lives will be affected.”

Both bills passed with only three Senate Democrats voting against them. The senators also attempted to pass SB-2 which would allow students to sue schools or any public

higher education that violated the bills. SB-2 has not yet been passed through legislation.

“I think the bills bring more problems than it solves,” Mingarine said. “Now coaches may need to ask for a birth certificate from students to show what gender they were assigned at birth. This could also bring controversy from students or parents who might not want coaches to know certain information.”

During one of the hearings, a parent to a seven-year-old transgender student stayed in court for 20 hours defending her daughter and her gender identification. The parent also stated that if the bill does pass it will be impossible for her daughter to compete in sports.

“It’s just terrible that people can be so advocate about something just for it just ignored by senators and representatives,” Mingarine said. “If people are taking this much time out of their day to defend and try and stop the bills from being passed, I think it’s a sign that something needs to change or even stay the same.”

Many LGBTQ advocates voiced their opinions through protests and other ways such as petitions and posts on different social media sites to spread the word against the unfairness of the bills.

“The people that the transgender athlete bill affects should be the ones voicing their opinions,” McMahon said. “It shouldn’t be up to representatives who could pass a bill that doesn’t even apply to them.

Make it make sense.”

Injured student-athletes seek help from the new trainer Ben Tillisch Dispatch Reporter

Helmets clash, and bodies slam against one another, leaving a student-athlete laying awkwardly on the turf. The spectators fall silent, but Bowie’s newest addition in the training room, trainer Lauren Maldonado, has prepared for this moment, understanding she’ll be a vital part of the athlete’s recovery.

At the end of the 2020-21 school year, Maldonado became the second trainer within the Bowie family. The students accepted her immediately, for they could relate to her desire to constantly improve. “[Maldonado’s] young and hungry still.

She was at a smaller school [before coming to Bowie], and she sounded eager to get started at a bigger school and a new opportunity,” Bowie trainer Pablo Riera said. “This is an ever-evolving training room, as we’ve got a new training room twice in the eight years I’ve been here, so we want someone who al-

ways strives for better.”

Prior to coming to Bowie, Maldonado was a trainer at Bastrop High school, which is classified by UIL as a 5A school. Maldonado was attracted by the competitiveness and community surrounding sports at a bigger school like Bowie(6A).

“I see a strong community here,” Maldonado said. “I love everything that is involved in this school, for everyone is solely invested in it, and [the students] are so happy to be here, and it’s very refreshing, and it’s very motivating to want to come and work for a school like Bowie.”

Despite only being a Bowie trainer for less than two months, Maldonado has made an instant impact on the students that interact with her. The added presence in the training room has been appreciated by injured student-athletes, as well as Bowie staff. “[Maldonado] comes in and is very engaged with the students,” Riera said. “[She is] very excited to come in everyday, and the students have really seemed to take her. They

TREATING AN INJURY: New Trainer Lauren Maldonado wraps senior varsity football player Noah Camacho’s ankle. The football team won their game against Copperas Cove on Friday, Sept. 3. PHOTO BY Reagan Zuniga

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ability to efficiently recover. Maldonado creates an environment in which the athlete is constantly reminded of their ability to fully recover.

“You want to make sure that you’re constantly progressive, and you’re showing them that they are progressing,” Maldonado said. “I like to set goals for my athletes, and then compare and remind them [where they started]. Don’t give up.”

Studying psychology as an undergraduate, Maldonado understands the importance of mental health. Maldonado aims to help student-athletes improve their physical and mental health.

“We have our conversations, we talk, and we make sure that [the athletes] get the job done,” Maldonado said. “It’s just as much my responsibility to make sure that [every athlete is] physically intact as much as mentally intact.”

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ASSISTING ATHLETES: Senior linebacker John Straw gets help from new trainer Lauren Maldonado. The Bulldogs took home the win over Del Valle with a final score margin of 35-7. PHOTO BY

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can relate to her and she’s been very pleasant to work with.”

High school injuries can lead athletes down a long and hard road. Throughout the recovery process, Maldonado aims to highlight that an injury is a small blip in an individual’s development, not only as an athlete but as a person as well.

“You get to know them, not just from an athlete’s perspective, but you get to know them as a person,” Maldonado said. “And that’s really important because that’s something they need to be reminded of: they’re more than just an athlete, they’re a person, a kid, a growing teenager, and that’s some of the hardest times.”

Maldonado and Riera make it possible to bring athletes back in action by emphasizing the importance of good vibes in a melancholy environment.

“We put the child’s care first, but we’re very approachable, we’re very knowledgeable, and we like to make the atmosphere fun,” Maldonado said. “We want them to be uplifted, we want them to be encouraged.

We want [the students] to know that they’re working their way towards heading back out the door, and back onto the field or court.”

Junior soccer player Weston Bescheinen touched on the idea that injuries can lead to a subconscious lack of confidence and anxiety for student-athletes. Maldonado works to eliminate these feelings.

“Because I broke my foot and I was out of soccer, I had a lot of anxiety,” Bescheinen said. “So, knowing that I was in a good spot and I was getting the right kind of treatment was definitely [helpful]. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Just weeks after breaking his third metatarsal, Bescheinen was able to return to the field following Maldonado’s treatment. The junior soccer player was able to mentally break free from his injury, allowing him to return to his sport very quickly.

“I’m not sure if there’s anything better I could have done [to recover],” Bescheinen said. “Everything she did was very helpful and definitely sped up my recover for sure.”

Progress can be minimal at times and athlete’s become discouraged, hindering their

12 ENTERTAINMENT THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, OCT. 8 , 2021

Silver Stars and band build their bond Nicole Rooney Entertainment Editor

This year the JBHS Outdoor Performing Ensemble and Silver Stars are starting an activity where they both exchange gifts and get to know each other better, so they can become closer.

With football season starting, this year, the Silver Stars and the band are doing a buddies program to help them become closer as teams. This is an activity where band members get assigned a Silver Star and they both exchange gifts once a week.

“We started band and Silver Star Buddies as a way for the students to bond with each other and build connections between the two organizations that work so closely together during the fall semester,” Silver Star director Leanne Bilnoski said. “It is so fun to watch the Silver Stars and band members exchange notes and gifts, which has made game days even more exciting. We love the comradery that is being built between the two programs.”

The band and the Silver Stars both perform often, together and separate. The moment when they step on the field is the moment that all of their hard work gets paid off, according to senior band member Jackson Bloder.

“Performing gives just so much adrenaline,” Bloder said. “You do all of the things that you’ve ingrained into your mind over the course of three months and are able to go out and give your best.”

Junior Silver Star Cressida Rodriguez always cheers on her band buddy. Whether the teams are performing on a stage, a field, or just practicing, she believes that they all have each other’s backs.

“Silver Stars is a pure example of a hardworking family, they have given me the opportunity to meet sisters I will have for life,” Rodriguez said. “My buddy is in color guard and they are a smaller group, but since I know my new buddy and a few other girls, I have so much fun with them.”

EXCHANGING GIFTS: Senior band member Ben Thollander and senior Silver Star Keira Folkers participate in the Silver Star and band buddies system. The goal of this initiative is to build a stronger bond between the two groups, who often perform together. PHOTO BY Sammie Thompson

The band and the Silver Stars are closely integrated teams due to the fact that they both rely on each other to perform at during football games. Both teams have their differences but, their similarities are the things that bring the teams together because of their understanding of each other.

“Band and Silver Stars are close homies,” Bloder said. “We both have a lot of respect for each oth-

er because of how much work both groups put into their activity.”

The buddies program was created as a way of creating an even closer bond. While working with their buddies, the teammates get to gain a better understanding of how the teams work and a better connection with their buddy.

“I enjoy getting to know more about the band in general and getting to know more about individ-

ual band members,” senior Keira Folkers said. “Silver Stars also love getting to watch our band buddies perform and getting to cheer for them from the end zone at football games.”

Having gone through so much, such as similar practice hours and difficult training, the two teams have a special appreciation for each other when it comes to performing, both on and off the field.

“I enjoy the connection between band and Silver Stars because we are there for each other and hype each other up,” Rodriguez said, “When I need to motivate myself during practice I look to band and they hype us up.”

Buddies not only bring the students closer during practice, but also gives them a familiar face outside of the performing environment.

“The reason for buddies is so that the two fine arts groups can become closer and create a bigger community within Bowie,” Folkers said. “It also allows for Silver Stars and band members to get to know each other better individually and create more connections between the groups.”

Folkers believes that making sure they are close is one of the most important aspects of their connection. Because of the fact that they perform together, they must have a close bond.

“Something special about band buddies is that this is only our second year doing them and it has already created more of a bond between the two groups, especially since these two groups work together all the time during football season,” Folkers said.

Buddies not only give the teams a chance to get to know each other better, but also work to commend each other for all of their hard work.

“I enjoy that we’re able to compliment what they’ve worked so hard on, with the thing that we love,” Bloder said “It’s also really impressive to be a group producing so much sound and have the best dang high school drill team in Texas be our main event.”

While being part of one of these organizations, members like Bloder believe they gain skills and habits that they will carry on in the future.

“Band has given me a sense of comradery, and I think most importantly an understanding of responsibility that I think will be so critical to the rest of my life,” Bloder said.

Choir group gets back to their groove post-pandemic The singing organization performs at their fall concert with new in-person adaptations Emily Loewe Dispatch Reporter

Bowie’s choir group has been gearing up for the first choir concert back in person on Sept. 30, and they have hours of after-school practice to show for it. The choir concert was held in the Bowie cafeteria where they all performed nine songs together.

The concert started at 7 p.m. and showcased the work that the choir students have put in since the beginning of the school year.

While the concert occurred in late Sept., preparation for the event started much earlier.

“We started rehearsing for the concert probably the

third week of school, I would say when we first got our music,” junior Maddie Tapia said. “We’ve had in-class rehearsals and after-school rehearsals since then.”

This year the choir students are adjusting to being back in person. As they transitioned from turning in online submissions to being able to sing with the people around them, they were simultaneously preparing for the Fall Concert.

“We weren’t really thinking about the music when we were virtual, whereas when you’re in person, or in concert you have to listen to the people around you and your entire section, making sure that you’re all doing the

DIRECTING MUSIC: Choir director Aaron Bourgeois directs the choir students as they perform in their first concert of the year. They also practice after-school to prepare for these performances. PHOTO BY Austin Ikard

same thing,” junior Grace Harrison said. “It’s more mental work than just reading and submitting it.”

Although adapting to being back in person has brought new changes, numerous hours of practice has left them well prepared to face them.

“We’re a little bit nervous but I think it’s going to come together,” Harrison said. “I think the biggest thing is remembering to look at the director. I mean you know the music because you’ve been doing it for so long that you can do it without looking at the director, but then it kind of messes up the whole rhythm.”

Over the 2020-2021 school year the choir group produced one virtual concert, to do this they had to each record their individual parts of the song, then their teacher Aaron Bourgeois blended their voices together with editing.

“We had a virtual performance last year, but it was recorded, so we weren’t sitting there reading the music or anything,” Harrison said.

“It was a really cool, fun experience that you can be like, ‘oh yeah, we did a virtual concert.’ But when you look at it you realize that is nowhere near how good we could have been if we were in person.”

For the incoming and returning members of choir, there has been a big change since last year’s virtual school year.

“Being able to hear other people singing with me, so it’s not just me in my bedroom, and really having all the parts come together, makes it feel more real,” junior Olivia Watt said.

The choir students ac-

CHOIR GROUP HARMONIZING: The choir group sings and performs in their first concert of they year. They experience new challenge such as social distancing, singing with masks on, and coming back after a year off. PHOTO BY Austin Ikard

knowledge the positive effects being back in person has had for them and their performance in choir.

“Now you can’t fake certain things that he might not have heard and couldn’t tell you because we were online,” Tapia said. “Some people sing more confidently with other people around too, which we couldn’t do.”

This concert is the beginning of countless other choir concerts that the choir students will participate in this school year.

“It’s like we’re getting back into things and starting over,” Harrison said.

The impacts of COVID-19 are prominent in new adjustments made for the choir group just as they are for all of Bowie. The students and their teacher, Bourgeois, are working around new obstacles.

“We always wear masks, and we try to social distance but we’re in the portables so it’s kind of hard to,” Watt said. “The masks are kind of weird, but it’s not that bad.”

While the effects of COVID-19 were obvious for all of Bowie, the extra work and time the choir group had spent practicing was shown at their first concert in per-

son since the 2019-2020 school year.

“I’ve met a lot of friends in choir, I guess it made me be able to express myself in a different way,” Tapia said.

Many members believe that choir fosters an environment where students feel comfortable and excited to learn more.

“I’m actually learning something new, and it’s exciting because I think I’m going to do choir in college as well,” Harrison said. “I took choir freshman year and I fell in love with the teacher, the classes, and the people. It’s really like a family.”

REVIEWS 13

Austin Adventures with Angela

FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021 THE DISPATCH

Trendy donut shop excites Austin Lucille Price Reviews Editor

Angela visits Keeper’s Located in the heart of Seafood restaurant South Congress, The Salty Welcome to Austin Adventures with Angela where I’ll show you our city’s new hot-spots. You’ll have exclusive coverage on the utmost entertainment and food.

This can introduce you to more varieties of activities to do in your city and discover new locations that you never even knew about in Austin.

Today, I will be talking about the exciting new seafood restaurant in town, Keepers Coastal Kitchen, located right on Slaughter Ln. The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is casual but minimalist with a huge, circle bar. The price range for this restaurant is moderately expensive but well worth it.

Keepers’ food goes from Po’ Boys to entire seafood boils, as well as all different sorts of seafood options to fit your wants and needs.

For starters, they have a variety of options but my personal favorite is the seafood gumbo. It soothes the soul and the warmth of the dark roux, okra, shrimp, blue crab, and white rice to top it off hitting your tastebuds, perfect for a cold night.

There are also spicy options if you wanna kick start your night, such as the shrimp aguachile with poached gulf shrimp, avocado, red radish, serano cucumber sauce, cilantro, and tortilla chips.

The other options they have are dips, fries, and for a good crowd some fresh oysters on half shell.

Moving onto the entrees, a po’ boy is a great option, served with fries or green apple slaw, if you’re choosing handhelds. If you don’t know what a po’ boy is then you’re living under a rock but don’t worry I got you. It has lettuce, tomato, onion, and citrus tartar served on a toasted Nawlins Leindenheimer roll straight from New Orleans. It really doesn’t get any better than that, but wait it does. There are many different varieties of po’ boys from fried gulf oysters to blackened drum po’ boys.

Now as for the boils, they deserve a separate applause.

Boils are meant for family style sharing and they’re viet-cajun style, boiled in seasoned goodness with corn, potato, then tossed in your favorite butter. Boils are seasonal so they might not always be on deck, such as king crab, snow crab, crawfish, and blue crab boils.

You can always depend on the gulf shrimp boil though because they’re always in season. Of course, be aware that the price range for these boils depend on the market price.

Don’t forget about happy hour as well. Happy hour is available from Monday through Friday starting at 3:30, until 6:30 pm. During this time you can get most of the starters for half off, like the rockin shrimp taco, their famous Isla ceviche, and even a beach uger.

They have many different milkshake flavors such as strawberry, chocolate, cookies and cream, and vanilla. I would have to say that the cookies and cream are a MUST try. All of the malted milkshakes are made with vanilla bean ice cream. Who knew that milkshakes and seafood would combine together so well?

Questions?

Concerns?

Want to share your opinion?

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

Donut is one of Austin’s trendiest and newest donut shops offering a wide variety of gourmet seasonal and rotating flavors, as well as classic flavors. The Salty Donut offers gluten-free and vegan options and unique coffee flavors, like cinnamon cereal milk latte and salted caramel. Additionally, they offer a service where customers can order ahead and pick up their order.

As an Austin local, I wanted to see what all the hype was about, so I headed downtown where some of the best donuts I have ever had awaited me. After many minutes of analyzing the insane menu, I made some decisions. I ordered six donuts: the Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake, Traditional Glazed, Coffee Cake, Dragon and Passion Fruit, Prickly Pear Margarita, and the Gluten Free Blueberry Pancake.

The wait was super short, around five minutes, and I filled a complimentary glass of water at the self-serve water station. The Donuts were a little on the pricey side, approximately $20.00 in total for a half dozen, so I had high expectations. The employee who gave me my donuts was super nice and the staff gave me a welcoming experience.

After acquiring my half dozen, I walked outside where there was a very am-

High up: The Salty Donut displays their sign in South Congress to stand out. The Salty Donut is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Sunday-Thursday. PHOTO

BY Lucille Price

Freshly Baked: The Texas Chocolate Sheet cake, Coffee Cake, Dragon and Passion Fruit, Classic Glazed, Gluten-Free Blueberry Pancake, and Prickly Pear Margarita donuts sit in their box before being devoured. The Salty Donut offers seasonal rotating flavors and year-round flavors. PHOTO BY Lucille Price

bient place to sit. There was some artificial turf, misters, and umbrellas along with comfortable seating options, benches, and tables. I can definitely imagine working on homework in this little outside patio. The Salty Donut definitely did not disappoint, the sweet treats I had were amazing and worth every cent.

DRAGON AND PASSION FRUIT My favorite donut was certainly the Dragon and Passion Fruit. The best part of this donut was the delicious whipped filling. It had a fruity and slightly sour taste, which paired well with the sweet cake part of the donut. It also had a really delicious and flavorful whipped icing and a crunchy graham cracker on top which was a really nice added texture.

This was also the prettiest donut I have ever seen, it had a bright magenta colored frosting that was piped perfectly. I would absolutely recommend this donut and I would give it a five out of five stars. I will definitely be ordering this one the next time I visit.

COFFEE CAKE The Coffee Cake donut was my second favorite. I am a huge fan of coffee cake normally, so it was delicious in a donut form. The texture was moist and fluffy. The best part of this donut was the crumbled coffee cake on top.

I loved the texture it added and it paired with the cinnamon glaze so well. This is a must have if you order from The Salty Donut. This donut is a solid five out of five stars for me.

TEXAS CHOCOLATE SHEET CAKE The Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake was more than an average chocolate donut.

The base of the donut was chocolate flavored as well as the glaze on top. The cake was moist and fluffy and the chocolate drip on top was really silky and sweet. However, if I could change this donut, I would add a topping such as chocolate chips or cake crumble, because I feel like it could have more texture added to the icing.

This donut ranks as my third favorite and I would give it four out of five stars.

GLUTEN-FREE BLUEBERRY PANCAKE My fourth favorite donut was the Gluten-Free Blueberry Pancake. Sometimes when restaurants serve gluten-free options, it is very obvious, but this donut didn’t taste gluten-free or have an off taste at all. It was really fluffy and had a very strong blueberry flavor, but not overpowering. It wasn’t my favorite because I thought that the crumbled granola on top tasted a bit weird, but if you like blueberry pancakes or are on a gluten-free diet, I’d definitely recommend this donut to you. This donut gets three out of five stars from me.

TRADITIONAL GLAZED The Traditional Glazed donut was slightly less moist and fluffy than the other donuts, but it still tasted amazing. Usually plain glazed isn’t my favorite donut flavor, but this one was pretty good. It was such a nice spin on a normal glazed donut and it had a really strong vanilla bean essence. I would

rank this as my fifth favorite donut only because it was a little plain and it was also a little too sweet for my liking.

This donut gets three out of five stars.

PRICKLY PEAR MARGARITA My least favorite donut was the Prickly Pear Margarita. Although the flavor was very strong, I didn’t enjoy how sour it was. This donut had a lime curd filling, and personally it was just too much. I really liked the whipped cream on top, though. I don’t think I would order this donut again, but if you like sour or tropical margarita flavors, this flavor would be for you. I’m giving this donut two out of five stars.

Overall, I didn’t dislike a single one of these donuts, and I would recommend the Salty Donut to anyone wanting a sweet treat and a trendy place to hang out or get work done. Next time you’re on South Congress and craving a donut, you should stop by for the plethora of treats they offer. I will definitely be returning to the Salty Donut, and I would love to try other flavors next time.

Marvel launches new action hero in movie Donna Kim Dispatch Reporter

Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Marvel’s most recent action movie with its first Asian lead, broke box office records by earning over $94 million during Labor Day weekend, and continues to top the box office in North America.

Shang Chi was highly anticipated, as it was the first movie in Marvel’s Phase 4 to be played only in theaters and not on streaming platforms, the first Marvel movie with an Asian lead and a mostly Asian cast, which was considered an “experiment” according to Kevin Feige.

Although there were many controversies leading up to the release of this movie, Shang Chi might just be one of the best origin stories that Marvel has ever released.

The movie opens with the introduction of the true Mandarin, Xu Wenwu, and how he has conquered nations with the power of the ten rings. The ten rings are a new weapon that is now in the MCU. Consisting of ten large bracelets made of an unknown material, the ten rings are powerful weapons that grant their user immense power.

Everything changes when he meets Ying Li, a guardian of the village of Ta Lo. They fall in love, and Wenwu gives up the ten rings and his organization called the Ten Rings Organization to start a family with the women he loves. They have two kids, Shang Chi and Xialing, and the family lives happily until Ying Li dies due to Wenwu’s past. This prompts Wenwu to go back to his old ways,

ART BY Lily Bourgeois

Angela Le Dispatch Reporter

and trains Shang Chi to become an assassin at the age of seven.

17 years later, Shang Chi is living in San Francisco with his best friend Katy, as they both work as hotel valets. Changing his name to Shaun, Shang Chi enjoys living his quiet life in San Francisco as he hides from his past, but everything changes when he gets a mysterious postcard from his sister. He then embarks on a journey to confront his past and save his mother’s village, Shang Chi must face his past and make difficult choices that can impact everything he knows and loves.

Before watching Shang Chi, my expectations for this movie were very high. With most of the sound track being produced by 88rising and the cast including incredible actors like Simu Liu and Michelle Yeoh, it is fair to say that a lot of Marvel fans were expecting this movie to be one of Marvel’s greatest works. This movie

definitely went above and beyond for me.

The one thing I loved about this movie were the fight scenes. In typical Marvel movies, action scenes always contain the same formula/ fighting style, while in Shang Chi, martial arts was the main style that characters used to fight. I loved how martial arts was integrated, and it brought me back to the old-timey martial arts movies that were popular in the early 2000’s. Every fight scene had my eyes hooked on the screen because of how bad-ass it all was.

The soundtrack of Shang Chi stands out itself, and deserves its own recognition outside the movie. 88rising was probably the best choice to have produced most of the songs that carried action and heartfelt scenes. They are a musical platform and record label company that focuses primarily on Asian and Asian

American artists in America, 88rising delivered a wide range of genres.

From upbeat rap to melancholy tones, I could really tell that the songs by 88rising captured the movie’s elements of family, pain, and forgiveness. On top of artists like Rich Brian and NIKI from 88rising being in the soundtrack, other iconic artists who were featured in the soundtrack are Saweetie, Swae Lee, Anderson .Paak, and 21 Savage.

Being the first Marvel movie to contain an Asian lead, it made me happy that this movie would be showing on the big screens and the big screens only. It is important that this new superhero gets introduced to everyone in theaters, like every other superhero in the MCU has.

The way Chinese culture was shown in this movie was amazingly done through the storytelling aspect, incorporating mythical creatures and beautiful set designs. There was a large amount of Mandarin and beautiful Chinese traditional clothing that showed off Chinese culture. I loved how the movie circled around the themes of family and redemption, as it was nostalgic to old Marvel origin movies when the Avengers were still being introduced.

Overall, Shang Chi is a great movie that kicks off Phase 4 of Marvel with a new superhero. I strongly recommend this movie for Marvel fans who miss the old era of Marvel origin movies, and as a movie for family nights. With a wide range of fighting, to heartfelt scenes of friendship and family, Shang Chi truly delivers greatness and laughter.

14 COMMENTARY THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021

Opening the neurodiversity conversation Mental disabilities need to be talked about in order to help students feel safe and included EDITORIAL

“Neurodiversity” is an umbrella term first used by Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist in the 1990’s. It was created to better understand mental disability and illness in a less stigmatized way. Neurodivergence refers to an individual whose brain differs from typical thought. Neurodiversity includes mental disabilities such as ADHD, autism spectrum, dyslexia, speech disorders, dissociative disorders, and schizophrenia. Due to the novelty of this term, most people have never even heard of neurodiversity.

Neurodiversity is an important topic that needs to be further discussed at Bowie. This is a wide-ranging topic that affects students, faculty and staff. The lack of understanding and student accessibility to programs at Bowie is unacceptable.

Neurodiversity greatly impacts students on our campus. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 28% of the adult population in the U.S. is diagnosed with some type of disability. That’s potentially 61 million people. Many of our students, and staff alike are neurodivergent.

If neurodiversity was further talked about, more awareness in the Bowie community could bloom, helping the school overall.

Neurodiversity may affect anyone, probably someone you may know.

We believe there is a distinct lack of understanding of this issue from staff and students. Although neurodiversity is common, it is mostly shunned. We believe that stu-

dents should be able to feel safe and accepted at their own school. In the Bowie vision statement it is stated that “Bowie will be a collaborative community of learners.” How can we make this true with such a large populous not accounted for? Neurodiversity and disabilities in general are often mocked, giving them a lack of representation.

In addition to this, there’s no type of program in place that guarantees equality in the learning environment. In fact, in the Bowie Student-Parent handbook there is no such policy regarding neurodivergence or disability equality. Nor is there even a statement about it. This leaves room for harassment, and bias. This is unacceptable as a No Place For Hate campus.

One might argue that since Neurodiversity is considered a medical condition, it should be treated. We completely agree.

Neurodivergence accommodations, and treatment should go hand-in-hand. A balance of both of these is needed. However, this type of thinking is very two-sided. In reality, Neurodiversity is not just black and white. Outside of the box strategies are required to accommodate outside of the box thinking.

While there are some genuine support systems at Bowie, such as the 504 program, We believe that Bowie should provide a number of new opportunities. SEL lessons on Neurodivergence are essential for having any type of student body understanding of this topic. This would help give representation to this large percentage of people.

Furthermore, adjusting the 504 program

ART BY: Isabella del Nido

to be more student friendly is needed. 504 meetings are not very student accessible and are often with just parents. This makes it very hard for students to advocate for their needs. If the program was more student friendly, the enrollment rate in the 504 program would increase. This would help Bowie’s overall student body grades, as people would be getting the resources they need.

Understanding of accommodations and student neurodiversity is something that

needs to be further enforced and discussed among teachers. If a student reaches out about accommodations and their 504 in no way should teachers be able to refuse this.

There should be no room for misinterpretation.

Overall, Neurodivergence should be something that is widely discussed and an important topic to cover here at Bowie. Neurodiversity impacts us all, so let’s talk about it.

But besides being scared, anger has lit a fire in the generation to get up and fight back like never before. Young people all over the world have started to advocate, spread awareness and protest for climate action.

Take Greta Thunberg for example. A teenage climate protection activist who, at just 15, started a movement known as Fridays for Future, which encourages students to demand greater action from governments to fight climate change.

After Thunberg addressed the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference, students became even more inspired, leading to student strikes happening every week all over the world. At 16, she was included in Time’s 100 Most Influential People, Forbes’ list of The World’s Most Powerful Woman, youngest to be named Time’s Person of The Year (2019), and has earned three consecutive nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize since then. Millions are following Thunberg's example and fighting for their future.

With any type of response from kids, there is also an intense amount of criticism from older generations. We are constantly looked down upon just for our age, and it’s true, with age comes maturity and experience, but with youth comes a fresh set of eyes. We are better equipped to evaluate the world we have grown into. And most importantly, give feedback for those who have been controlling the world for so long. Governments need to take into consideration young opinions and respectfully listen to our knowledgeable ideas without dismissing us.

Not only does climate change affect our futures, it affects our current and very present mental health. Youth depression is a major risk factor for suicide, which is inherently devastating. There are many probable causes to youth depression but if climate change is one of those reasons, it hasn't been fully explored. The fear and anger of climate change teens hold can directly contribute to not just depression but other mental health disorders such as anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder and more.

Climate change and its ensuing negative impacts on the physical environment exacerbate poverty, malnutrition and disease.

This in turn affects the development of young minds, especially in developing countries that might be subject to change sooner. Teens have a greater vulnerability to the negative effects of climate change due to our developing coping capacity, which will also affect our adult minds in the future.

The way climate change can directly affect both the physical and mental health of teens is horrifying and the way government officials do not recognize this is unacceptable.

Thunberg encapsulates the feelings of so many young people around the world saying to the UN, “You have stolen my dreams, and my childhood, with your empty words. And yet I’m one of the lucky ones.” It’s true.

Politicians are stealing our future when they callously ignore the decaying world we live in and the fact the world will one day be ours. The one thing they do for us is celebrate us, tell us we’re lucky for being so young, and congratulate us on the fact that we don’t have to do anything at this stage in our lives. Right, because we can just live freely and happily with the decaying planet in the back of our minds.

The effects of climate change on teens are all around negative but the thought that there’s “nothing we can do about it” is completely wrong. We need to stand up and fight for our planet by holding government officials accountable for their actions for and against the earth. Together we can fight for each other, for our futures and not stop until we make a change.

Powerful effects of climate change on future generations Ava Wong Commentary Editor

At the rate we’re going, planet Earth has until as soon as the year 2030 before it reaches the crucial threshold of a 1.5 degrees Celsius increase, precipitating the worst for humanity. The increasing level of climate change enforces the uncertainty of the future for not only the planet itself but also the people on it.

The way we live, work, socialize, everything will be changed and everyone will be affected. This scientific fact is extremely ignored by much of the public and some don’t even believe in the reality of the issue. Teenagers have started fighting against that very

thought. As teenagers, we have to live on this earth in the future. But how do we do that if the planet is completely dilapidated?

Another change society ignores and must stop ignoring, is the detrimental effects climate change has on youth specifically.

As teenagers in this fast-moving world, we are scared of our unknown future. The Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation took a poll in which they asked a number of teens, “Does the issue of climate change make you feel each of the following, or not?”

More than half the teens surveyed answered afraid, motivated and angry. This fear is understandable, as older generations have left us with a bleak future, which we inherently have to fix, though these environmental issues were not of our doing.

ART BY Ava Wong

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THE DISPATCH STAFF

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MANAGING EDITORS Sammie Thompson Reagan Zuniga NEWS EDITOR Dylan Zellner POLITICS EDITOR Carey Wooley FEATURE EDITOR Dylan Ebs ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Nicole Rooney REVIEW EDITOR Lucille Price COMMENTARY EDITORS Grace Harris Azul Lin Ava Wong

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COMMENTARY 15 FRIDAY, OCT 8, 2021 THE DISPATCH

Vaccine privilege: but only in America

People are refusing to get vaccinated even in the face of endangering the lives of others Azul Lin Commentary Editor

For everyone living in the United States, the COVID-19 vaccine is completely free, and is safe and effective. Many other countries would give everything to be able to give its citizens the benefits we have. Despite this, there is still a community of people who refuse to get vaccinated, regardless of the benefits.

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is safe. It went through all the stages of research in clinical trials required to prove their safety. According to CDC, 369 million vaccines were given in the United States from December 14, 2020, through August 31, 2021. The vaccines meet the Food and Drug Administration’s standards and have been approved.

While there has been a minuscule number of bad reactions, they are very rare and overall, people should not have long term negative effects from the vaccine. The long-term, positive effect from the vaccine is much more important than not getting one.

In terms of effectiveness among the vaccines in use in the United States, the Pfizer company has announced the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be 91.3% effective against COVID-19, the Moderna company has claimed the Moderna vaccine to be about 90% effective against COVID-19, and Johnson & Johnson has been reported to be 72% effective against COVID-19 in the U.S. There are a couple studies for each vaccine that show this effectiveness dropping, so the Biden Administration has begun encouraging getting booster shots, but regardless the effectiveness of the protection vaccines, never falling below 70% even with the studies showing drops, provide against COVID-19 are relatively high. This effectiveness is especially notable when compared to the flu shot, which is a shot people get often, and is only

about 40-60% effective.

I think everyone should get a vaccine, and it is incredibly selfish not to, especially because it costs us nothing. Getting the vaccine not only protects yourself from getting infected, it protects others from getting infected from you. All of us who live in the United States have the privilege of being able to easily obtain a free vaccine at our convenience. It is not only unfair to your own body and to those around you who could get sick because of you, but disrespectful to those in other countries that cannot access a vaccine as easily despite desperately wanting one.

COVID-19 is a real threat. At the time this article was written, CDC had reported 702,360 deaths recorded in the United States. It is simply not reasonable to not take the virus seriously considering the heavy death toll. More people have died in the United States from COVID-19 than people in the United States died from World War II, a war regarded as a war to end all wars.

What makes the fact that some people in America will not get vaccinated even more infuriating is that there are people in many countries that need vaccinations to live that do not have access.

According to the Our World in Data website, only 1.1% of people in low income countries have gotten the first round of vaccination. This is absolutely unacceptable. The reason for this is not only the lack of money to buy up all of the vaccines needed for these countries’ populations, but the overreaction of higher income countries. Some examples include the US, the UK, and Canada, all of which bought two, four, and five times the amount of vaccinations necessary in comparison to their populations respectively.

All of the vaccines won’t even be used, but it is the responsibility of the American population to utilize their resources to their greatest extent. Creating a safer country at

home will allow countries not struggling to vaccinate their populations to help countries that do truly need help.

Many Southeast Asian countries do not have the healthcare, supplies, equipment, or oxygen to accommodate their populations.

This does not even have to do with careless government inaction or a lack of policies to contain the virus; in fact, near the beginning of the global outbreak, Vietnam was praised for its maintenance of the virus with its strict early screening of passengers at the airport and quarantine and monitoring program.

However, because of the gluttonous spending of more wealthy countries, Vietnam has a shortage of vaccines, and only 4% of people in the country overall have been fully vaccinated, according to NPR. The New York times reported that in the last week, there have been about 22,204 COVID cases a day in India. Many critics blame Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the spread. Modi prematurely declared the pan-

ART BY Claire Scott

demic defeated in India, allowing large gatherings and approving a Hindu festival that has millions of attendees. This carelessness has plunged India into a pandemic crisis.

Only about 3% of the population has been fully vaccinated as of August 31.

We should all be grateful for the privilege we have living in America, and the only way we can show that right now is getting fully vaccinated. When the United States is safe enough, the government will be more willing to donate vaccines to countries in need. For the safety of yourself, your family, your friends, and your fellow Americans, please get vaccinated.

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The Heartbeat Bill violates women’s right to their body Lillian Hoover Dispatch Reporter

Sept. 1 marked the implementation of Senate Bill 8, more commonly known as the “Heartbeat Bill,” causing an uproar of commotion around Texas. This bill has put a ban on any abortion performed after six weeks of pregnancy, around the time when the fetal heartbeat can be detected. This will not only ban most abortions, but will also take away a woman’s right to choose.

I believe that this bill should have never been put into action as it will create even more hardships for women who are already in a difficult situation. For the vast majority of women, six weeks does not allow enough time to get an abortion as most women don’t even know they are pregnant at that stage. The challenge is even more compounded for pregnant minors who choose to seek an abortion. It is practically impossible to obtain abortion care due to the additional legal hurdles to obtain a judicial bypass when parent consent cannot be obtained.

This law is making what is already an incredibly difficult choice for a woman even more challenging, economically, logistically and emotionally.

The “Heartbeat Bill” does not include any exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape and incest. Instead, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said that the state will

work to ‘eliminate’ rape. According to the Texas Department of Safety, there were over 14,000 reported cases of rape in Texas as of 2019.

And the state of Texas has just passed a law making it possible for a rapist to sue a doctor who provides abortion care to their victim.

As of 2019, there were more than seven million women of reproductive age in the state of Texas.

If most abortion care in the state is

ART BY Lilian Hoover

eliminated, it would result in an average increase of the one way driving distance to obtain an abortion from 17 to 247 miles. This fourteen-fold increase in mileage would increase the need for an overnight stay and add the cost of a hotel room. The added distance would also make it harder to find a person to accompany them, due to the additional travel time required. If a woman must travel to a neighbor-

ing state to seek an abortion, they may be required to make multiple visits, as is the case for Louisiana.

In addition, this is a dangerous law which allows private citizens to sue anyone who helps a woman seek an abortion. The monetary damages sought in such cases will be $10,000 or more. This law will force doctors and providers of abortions to spend countless hours and dollars defending themselves in court. The very nature of this law is a dangerous precedent to set as it may encourage other states to create similar types of legislation.

Within Texas, lawsuits will now tie up anyone who offers support to women who obtain abortion care. Many organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, are now in court attempting to challenge this new law.

Senate Bill 8 stands in defiance of Roe v. Wade. This U.S. Supreme Court decision (7-2) protects a woman’s right to have an abortion without excessive government restrictions. At the time of the lawsuit, abortion had been banned in Texas with few exceptions. In Roe v. Wade the court ruled that these abortion laws violated the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment including a woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy. The Court also held that this right must be balanced against the state’s interest to protect the health of the mother and the “potentiality of human life.” The court tied the state

regulation of abortion to the three trimesters of pregnancy, each with its own qualifications. During the first trimester, states cannot prohibit abortions at all.

To combat this bill, we need to eliminate it and prevent similar laws in other states. Our U.S. Congress needs to pass a federal reproductive rights bill. Representative Judy Chu (CA) introduced The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021. This bill would guarantee a women’s legal right to an abortion.

Its passage in the House is considered likely, but not the Senate. The abortion issue should not be left up to the courts, and it should not be left to 50 individual states to decide their own rules.

I cannot stress this enough: we must allow women to obtain an abortion no matter the situation that they are in. Choice is a legal right that everyone should have, especially when it comes to someone’s own body and life. Taking this choice away undoes the progress that we made in the 70’s with Roe v. Wade. Our legislative branch needs to step in and protect a woman’s right to choose.

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BULLDAWGS SPEAK OUT

How effective do you think Bowie’s COVID-19 precautions are?

INTERVIEWS BY Mazzy Warren PHOTOS BY Nick Wood

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“I think our precautions are pretty good. People are wearing masks, except while they eat, and that’s keeping us safe.”

Maddie Saucedo Junior

“I think it’s good that they’re making us mask up. It mostly prevents COVID-19 and I feel like it’s helping somewhat.”

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“I don’t think they’re doing enough based off of how many cases there are. Maybe they could designate part of the school to come in on A days and other parts to come in on B days.

Phillip Nguyen Sophomore

Trinity Thompson Senior

I think that Bowie’s been handling the COVID-19 protocol the best they can. I personally think they should require a vaccine mandate unless someone has a medical excuse.

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Lukas Larson Freshman

Edward Day Math Teacher

I think the QR codes are useful if the students are using them. Lunch is when we are facing each other face-to-face without masks.

”

16 PHOTO ESSAY THE DISPATCH FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2021

Dawgs dominate their opening games

HERE COME THE DAWGS: The varsity football team runs out after halftime at their white out game against Austin High. The score at halftime was 47-0, with the final score being 59-0. "The game against Austin high was an important one because it was our district opening," Sonny Dedmon said. "With that being said I think the team performed really well and showed how well we play as a team in all phases of the game" PHOTO BY Reagan Zuniga

Undefeated varsity football shows promise of a successful regular and playoffs season Reagan Zuniga Managing Editor

TOUCHDOWN: Senior Jackson Howards lifts receiver Cash Peters after he scores a touchdown against Stony Point. Peters averages 91 receiving yards a game. "We played the ball very well in the Stony Point game,” Peters said.

“We had a steady rhythm going which was the biggest key to us putting up so many points."

PHOTO BY Reagan Zuniga

WIDE OPEN: Senior Anthony Simmons prepares to catch the ball for his first touchdown of the season. "We improved approaching the Stony Point game because we added new plays to showcase the variety of talents we have on offense," Noah Camacho said. PHOTO BY Reagan Zuniga

BARNES COMING THROUGH: Junior Max Barnes looks for an open route down field. Barnes has scored eight touchdowns and plays as both a receiver and running back. “I think Barnes has surprised a lot of people, not just our teammates but other teams as well with how well he is performing after missing all of last season,” Noah Camacho said. PHOTO BY Reagan Zuniga

Approaching their rivalry game against Westlake, the Bulldogs enter the game undefeated. Having already defeated teams such as Stony Point and Austin High, who the team had difficulty against last year, the varsity football team shows playoff potential.

The team accomplished these wins all while playing with their second string quarterback, Conner Kenyon, after Division I UT San Antonio commit Diego Tello broke his collarbone in the opening game against Vista Ridge.

“The loss of Diego really helped rally the team together to play harder,” senior Sonny Dedmon said.

“The defense specifically felt the need to ensure they were playing with all their effort with the offensive leader out, because we knew we had to help take some stress off the new offensive and we’ve been able to carry that momentum thus far.”

Since starting as quarterback, Kenyon averages 176 passing yards a game and is completing 70% of his passes. He is also working with almost a

completely new O-line, with all of them starting for the first time this year except for Rick Mao. “Kenyon came in and has been very consistent,” coach Ty Branyon said. “He’s completing a high percentage of catches, protecting the ball, not turning over the ball, making the right decision, and just overall being efficient. ” In addition to Kenyon, multiple other players are stepping up this year to have a bigger impact on the team on both defense and offense.

Junior Max Barnes returned to the team this year after tearing his patella avulsion last season and now leads the team in touchdowns.

“Barns has been a big asset of offense,” coach Pittman said. “We’ve been able to utilize him as a receiver and a running back and he is averaging about 45 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards a game. We have different receivers each week that shine, last week it was Anthony Simmons against Del Valle and the week before Cash Peters against Austin High. The O-line is often forgotten about but they’ve all been doing well adjusting quickly and are playing efficiently.”

STEPPING UP: Quarterback Connor Kenyon throws to a receiver. This is Kenyon's first year starting as quarterback.

"I was a bit surprised at first when I had to take over, but I got better as I practiced more," Kenyon said. "I think I've performed well so far but there's always room for improvement." PHOTO BY Reagan Zuniga

With 47 seniors on the team this year, many of the players have played alongside each other for multiple years now. Captain Noah Camacho believes these relationships help contribute to the team’s success.

“With all of us working towards a common goal that we’ve all had for years, we’re able to communicate really well,” Camacho said. “We also have a lot of chemistry because the seniors have been playing together for so long and the younger guys on the team follow us well.”

After only winning two games last year, the Bulldogs have already shown improvement halfway through their season. The Bulldogs have attained the record of 5-0 as they go into the game against Westlake with high hopes.

“I think the game against Westlake will be a good game and definitely better to watch than in years past since we’re the only undefeated teams in the district,” Dedmon said.

“I think we need to really just focus on working hard in practice each week. If we just go one week at a time, I think we will keep our momentum for the rest of the season and hopefully into the playoffs.”

SACKED: Junior Aaron Gall celebrates after a sack against Stony Point. Gall has been part of the varsity team since his sophomore year.“I think defense is doing so well this year because we have a lot of people who returned so we all have a lot of chemistry by not losing a lot of seniors last year,” senior Sonny Dedmon said. PHOTO BY Reagan Zuniga