The Dispatch, Vol. 30, Issue #3, 12.8.17

D

ADJUSTING TO NEW CULTURES Sophomore Nadia Shewear adjusts to American life after growing up in Saudi Arabia

pg. 4

THE BULLY FACTOR The affects and statistics of teenage bullying, as well as what is being done to find solutions

pg. 8-9

A BALANCING ACT Senior Josh Smythe-Macaulay and junior Katelyn Dill balance three sports at once

pg.11

coming UP Dec. 20-Jan 2 Winter Break Jan. 22 9th and 10th grade parent night Jan. 24-25 Cap and Gown Orders Feb. 1 Late Start

Vol. 30, Issue 3 www.thedispatchonline.net James Bowie High School 4103 W. Slaughter Lane Austin TX, 78749

FRI. DEC. 8, 2017

THE DISPATCH

The bond Chromebooks to come soon results Madison Austin Feature Editor

On Nov. 7 the AISD Bond was passed. The bond is worth $1,050,984,000. This money will be divided across the district based on a strategic plan already outlined previously. Bowie will receive just over $91 million dollars to improve the campus which is something that has most student excited. Many students hope that these changes happen quickly.

“I hope to see changes sooner rather than later, because of the traffic and amount of students. Our school population is already large and may become larger,” sophomore Camryn Young said.

One worry that students have is that when construction begins, the carpool traffic will get worse after school.

“Construction could certainly be an issue with release of school causing more back up on Slaughter,” junior Austin Buttlar said.

The bond money will be bringing lots of changes to the campus in order to improve the learning and physical environment.

“With the bond money I hope that there will be changes made to the air conditioning and hopefully some changes made to the bathrooms around campus, I’m looking forward to seeing what the new fine arts addition will look like,” Young said.

An improvement that is widely popular with students and staff is the air conditioning and heating being fixed.

“I know that they have a lot of money for the improvements but I just think that we need better central heating and air, for instant right now I have very awesome working air conditioning but whenever I came into the classroom this morning and it was 58.

It is things like that, that need to be fixed with this bond money,” science teacher Ashley Spiro said.

The changes being made to the campus with the bond will increase the amount of students that campus will be able to handle. This is something students are greatly looking forward to.

“I hope it will be used to find a viable solution to the excess amount of students coming to our school because the amount of students in classes is insane, we have had to bring in chairs from other teachers in some of classes,” Buttlar said.

Students are excited to see the changes that will be made in the coming years.

“I am really looking forward to the changes in parking. I hope that improvements will improve the way that students learn,” Young said.

FROM TEXTBOOK TO CHROMEBOOK: Freshman Katie Bailey, looks at Blend on a Chromebook. The district hopes that the Chromebooks will improve student engagement and quality of learning. PHOTO BY Victoria Newell

New personalized devices to be distributed early next semester Ian Miller

Commentary Editor Earlier this year, Bowie’s new principal, Mark Robinson, promised to bring many big changes to Bowie. Including the addition of personalized Chromebooks with the intent that they will help students perform better academically.

The Chromebooks are aimed towards initiatives such as AISD’s Blend, where all of a student’s learning can be found in one place. While originally promised to be distributed the week before midterms, due to scheduling conflicts, the distribution has been pushed back to early January. Robinson believes that the true potential of Chromebooks lies in its relation to Blend.

“The real connection here is going to be in Blend,” Robinson said. “We’ve also used it as a virtual backpack, where we can pull all of that learning from the web and put the information into these modules in Blend that allow for easy teaching and learn-

ing.”

A big goal for educators is to connect with their students, and the addition of Chromebooks may help achieve this.

“I’m hoping there’s going to be an element of engagement,”

to convert from a normal laptop with a keyboard into a portable tablet with a fully functional touchscreen. Additionally, they come with a durable protective sleeve to help prevent wear-andtear on the device. Every stu-

“...by adding these devices to classes, we’re normalizing the classroom- we’re getting the classroom caught up to the rest of the world.”

- Ruth Ann Widner school improvement facilitator Ruth Ann Widner said. “I think that when students leave this building on a daily basis, they’re immersed in technology; they’re used to it. I feel like, by adding these devices to classes, we’re normalizing the classroom - we’re getting the classroom caught up to the rest of the world.”

The Chromebooks are able

dent will be expected to bring the Chromebook to school with them each day.

“The device isn’t optional. You can’t opt out of using technology; that’s the same as saying ‘I don’t want to learn today,” Robinson said. “With these Chromebooks, the student’s learning is all contained in one device.”

Junior Collin Copley thinks

the Chromebooks will help with his academic workload.

“I’m really looking forward to receiving these Chromebooks and the convenience they’ll bring,” Copley said. “I think it’ll really help with taking notes and completing assignments since everything I need for school is put into one device.”

Some students think otherwise.

“It seems unnecessary and a hassle to carry around, seeing as how I can just use my phone, which is just as good as the Chromebooks,” junior Harrison Hoover said.

A concern for many students was that the hassle of carrying them around.

“To me, these are non-negotiable learning tools,” Widner said. “I’m hoping students will accept the Chromebooks simply because it’s technology. It’s like when you first get a phone - sure, it’s inconvenient at first, having to carry around a phone, but once you get used to it, you find it a part of your daily habits.”

Newspaper and yearbook staff win prestigious awards Preston Rolls Staff Writer

Sessions were attended, competitions held, awards won, and friendships strengthened at the JEA/ NSPA (Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association) convention the Bowie publication department attended this past Thanksgiving break.

On Nov. 16-19, both the Bowie newspaper and yearbook staff joined over 5,000 other students at Dallas for the bi-annual event. Newspaper staff won Fourth Best in Show out of approximately 150 other broadsheet newspapers, and both publications won a number of individual awards.

“Winning the Fourth Place Best in Show was incredible, because we all work so hard on the paper and put in so much time and effort,” senior Victoria Newell said. “It’s really nice to have someone pat you on the back for your work.”

Furthermore, both the yearbook and newspaper were awarded a CSPA (Columbia Scholastic Press Association) Crown Award earlier this year. The two editorial teams will be in New York City in March to collect their national awards.

“The national convention was a great opportunity for students to elevate and challenge themselves and compete against other staffs of their caliber from all across the country,” yearbook advi-

sor Lindsey Shirack said.

According to the CSPA website, approximately 1,100 newspapers, magazines, yearbooks, and digital publications created during the 2016-2017 school year were submitted to the CSPA to be graded for a Crown.

Only 47 print newspaper Crown Awards were given, as well as just 45 yearbook Crowns.

“It feels really great to know that we’re putting out a product that is getting national recognition as a good paper; that is just awesome beyond words,” Newell said.

“It’s very encouraging for the future, because I think this year’s paper is really strong and we have such an incredible staff.” READ

MORE “JEA” pg. 2

AWARD WINNERS: Members of the Dispatch/Newspaper staff pose with Fourth Place Best in Show award. The award was won at the JEA/NSPA 2017 Dallas Convention. PHOTO BY Michael Reeves

N

Fri. Dec. 8, 2017

The Dispatch

News

2

Counselors start up SEL FIT sessions Participating students learn the methods to manage their stress and other vital lessons Kiran Patel

News Editor Every day, students rush to find a class to attend for FIT after first period is over.

The 22 minutes sessions for students provide a time to meet with teachers and get additional help or complete assignments. This school year the counselors are introducing a guidance FIT plan with seven different topics about social emotional learning.

The seven sessions are:

“ This is a way to bridge the forced rules that they are mandated to follow and the complexities of students’ lives. ” - Blake Moyer Finding Your Inner Strength, I’m So Stressed I Could Scream, Three...Two...One...

Happy New Year, Lean On Me: How to be a Good Friend, Are They Really That Into You, Finding Your Zen, and Express Yourself. Each session provides a different opportunity to explore and get advice from counselors about important aspects in a teen’s life.

“As school counselors, we understand that it’s not easy

to be a teenager in 2017, and that there are many factors affecting teens’ ability to thrive,” counselor Katherine Owen said. “We wanted to provide in-house opportunities for students to reflect on their socialemotional health and wellbeing through a variety of workshops that address typical topics that teens struggle with.”

Each session will be led by a different counselor with the goal that students will leave with beneficial tools to help them conquer the challenges they are struggling with.

“We want students to see the outreach opportunity as a way of getting to know their counselor in a smaller setting, so that they can feel more comfortable coming to us when needed,” Owen said. “Finally, it’s our hope that students will come to understand and appreciate the importance of socialemotional learning through exposure to various SEL topics and opportunities.”

One concern about the sessions is student response and interest level.

“The FIT session about stress intrigues me the most because it is an issue most, if not all, high schoolers deal with,” senior Blake Moyer said. “Going over ways to manage, reduce, and solve stress with school is very helpful. Even providing insight on solutions to stress not related to school is beneficial.”

However, some students

LAUGHING THROUGH LESSONS: Counselor Katherine Owen instructs freshman Megan Zeng through an SEL lesson on how to find inner strength. The program of SEL, Social Emotional Learning, focuses on manging one’s emotions. PHOTO BY Violet Glenewinkel

find that it’s unlikely they will attend the FIT sessions, and many of them believe they could be using fit sessions for other, more valuable purposes.

“I don’t see myself

attending because I’d rather use FIT to do homework, get help, or catch up with friends, but I would feel comfortable going,” senior Hana Dole said.

The sessions are bringing

about a change to the Bowie campus between the relationship of a high school counselor and student. For many, this can be seen as a positive change throughout the school.

“Faculty here cares about our health and our well being. This is a way to bridge the forced rules that they are mandated to follow and the complexities of student’s lives,” Moyer said.

Journalism attends convention in Dallas to compete READ MORE “JEA”

All journalism students who attended the Dallas convention were signed up to compete in contests varying from writing, design, and photography.

“I entered the Newswriting contest. It was really nerve wracking,” senior Justine Lockhart said. “As I was waiting for the doors to open I was trying to calm myself down, and it worked for a while, but the moment the speaker started talking I started freaking out again.

After the contest was over I was shaking, but then hearing my name called for the award made all the nerves worth it.”

Along with awards hand-

ed out to the publications, students who participated in write-off competitions received individual awards in ratings such as honorable mention, superior, and excellence. Students also received feedback from judges who critique their photos or writing.

“I ended up getting an honorable mention for my story about orchestra so I was really happy about that,” sophomore Logan Dorsey said. “The judges gave me suggestions on how to start new paragraphs and they gave me really good feedback on my transitions so I hope to apply that to future stories.”

At the convention, stu-

dents were expected to attend multiple sessions each day to improve their journalism knowledge and skillset, from the basics to the advanced. The convention held many sessions which covered a variety of concepts such as photography, design, writing and more.

“I went to a lot of sessions that were made for on-line writers and editors. I learned a lot of new things about the way I approach my writing,” sophomore Ellie Coulston said. “I definitely think this helped me and I think I have improved my writing a lot because of these sessions.”

Attending the convention with thousands of other students was a new experi-

ence for many of the Bowie students, because they got to interact with completely new people in their same field of interest.

“I think the best part about the trip though was just meeting new people with different perspectives on how to document their school,” sophomore Emma Wake said.

Bowie journalism students were able to gain a lot of knowledge to enhance their skills from attending numerous sessions, meeting fellow journalism kids, and receiving feedback on their contests.

“The feedback from the critiques not only gave me perspective as to how jour-

CONCENTRATING COMPETITORS: Senior Lauryn Lomas looks at a yearbook. The JEA convention focuses on all journalistic aspects. PHOTO BY Preston Rolls

nalism is different across the country, but it gave me new insight as to how I can apply that to my own writing,” junior Jocelyn Brooks said.

“While I may not be a perfect writer, I think some of what I learned from the convention could maybe help me get there one day.”

3601 Wil. Cannon (W of Brodie)

512-891-6782 1807 W Slaughter (at Manchaca)

512-282-2255 www.thundercloud.com

BHS Lonestar Expires: 02/15/18

BUY ONE GET ONE

BUY ONE - GET ONE FREE! Buy any SUB and redeem this coupon for a FREE sub of equal or lesser value. Limit one coupon per customer Not valid with other offers Valid at 1807 W Slaughter or 3601 Wil Cannon

want a yearbook?

Volume 30 is going to be a new

classic

order yours now!

Order forms available in F206 or order on-line at bowieyb.com

*Personalize your yearbook for $7 or add a signature package for $19.

BE A PART OF SOMETHING GREAT $11.00 all positions knmanagement.com/careers

Great benefits.

Great job.

3

The Dispatch Fri. Dec. 8, 2017

F

Feature

Ross receives recognition in media Cianna Chavez News Editor

The crowd is silent. The band begins playing the opening notes.

Every rehearsal goes into making this performance as close to perfection as can be. The Color Guard performs at every football game during halftime, but that’s only the beginning.

Senior Shannon Ross has been in color guard for four years and knows the drill by now. Almost everything is to be expected. Except for when FloMarching, a sports media company focused on capturing the most exciting moments of outdoor performing ensembles, approached her to ask her a couple of questions.

“I kind of didn’t know what to say,” Ross said. “He’s asking me and I had no idea this was coming, I was just on my way to the bus so I could go eat my dinner. So he’s asking me questions and I’m just pulling from everything that I’ve ever been taught in the last three years.”

FloMarching is a branch of the company FloSports, an ESPN outlet for the Pageantry Arts. Based in Austin, Texas, the company travels

GAME FACE ON: Although guard is over for the football season Winter guard is just starting.

Ross has been on Color Guard since freshman year. PHOTO BY Preston Rolls

SPINNING THROUGH PRACTICE: Caption Shannon Ross practices with the team after school. Ross and the team are preparing for Winter Guard and perfecting their routine. Practice is from 6:30-9:30 pm on Wednesday and Thursday night. PHOTO BY Madison Austin

around the country broadcasting live performances as well as competitions.

“It is such a great honor and achievement,” coach Joseph Powell said. “This is our third feature, I believe, for the website. It is great to see the appreciation for the talent and work our students, staff, and parents have put into the program.”

This is just the start. Powell has plans to expand the program and increase recognition in and out of Texas.

“We have been advancing on a plan that started when I moved to Austin, Texas to teach and grow the program,” Powell said. “The project included enhancing and reaching world-class status on a National Level. We completed that time-line and are working to strengthen our contribution and influence on our activity. Bowie wants to push the envelope in design and our artistic viewpoint competitively.”

Last year, the Guard made it to the World Championship. Becoming world-renowned does not come easily. The team has faced its share of challenges big and small on and off the field.

“I think our community has a hard time understanding the level of competition we face. The prestigious accomplishments we have made and just how nationally recognized we are. It is often times overlooked. We have a hard time getting gym time with the lack of facilities,” Powell said.

Finding time to practice can be a tall order because of all the other activities going on around campus.

“We rehearse very late at night because of scheduling. It is a tremendous commitment from the students, and they sacrifice for the activity they love,” Powell said.

Walking onto a team that’s been recognized around the world for it’s talent is not an easy thing, according to sophomore Madeline Feen. This is her second year on Guard and with that, comes challenges of its own.

“This winter season I made the world class team, which is sort of the same idea as varsity,” Feen said. “I was surrounded by people who were literally ranked among the best performers in the world, so coming in after only a semester of fall Guard obviously is a challenge, but one I wanted to take on.

I had overcome having an emotional response to technical problems because I’d get too bogged down in the frustration of getting a part right.”

This commitment to the Guard requires many hours of practice.

The result of these practices is a team bond that is like no other between teammates.

“It’s really changed my perspective on how to be the best at everything I do and made me way more accountable and driven as far as schoolwork and everything else,” Feen said. “Being in the environment we work in, with such talented and motivated people is so inspiring to be around every day. It’s being a part of something bigger than yourself. You really get in the mindset of ‘I need to get better for not only my own satisfaction, but so my team can excel at what we do.”

This year’s Color Guard performance is focusing on a child who has fallen asleep and is dreaming of a cloud like man.

“It (the show) starts out with a little girl and she’s dancing around and then she falls asleep. And then that’s when the man with the sky face is ‘When I Saw the Sky.’”

“That’s what it’s (the show) based off.”

The constant stream of competitions throughout the year requires hours of coaching and practicing.

According to Powell, it’s taught him a lot.

“Coaching is not an easy task, especially in the high school setting,” Powell said. “It takes sacrifice, commitment, and passion. My life was shaped by the experiences I received through marching band and color guard. It was a place of safety and an area that gave me an artistic voice. I wanted that for others.”

Practicing day in and day out allows for the goals of the team to be reached and achieved, Powell has worked hard to make sure that everything flows smoothly.

“If you want worthwhile results, then you have to put in the hard work and careful planning,” Powell said. “Have a vision for the future and align your goals with that vision. I have learned to brand myself and stay true to who I am, help others when necessary, learn from good books, bestow my skills upon others, and be gracious in the talents that I have been given.”

Satisfaction of speaking a language unspoken Shelby Papst

Reviews Editor German, Russian, French, English. There are many languages spoken all over the world by billions of people with unique cultures. Yet, there is still a lack of understanding to individuals within these cultures. But who says a language needs to be spoken or even heard?

Freshman Kate Scarboro is bilingual in English and in American Sign Language (ASL) due to her mother and brother both being deaf.

“I do consider myself bilingual as the rules for ASL are much different than English,” Scarboro said. “I have those moments where I catch myself signing as I’m talking without realizing it, or I’ll ask my friends for something in ASL because I can’t remember the English word.”

Scarboro has embraced both languages since she was a little girl and continues to as she has gotten older.

“I was taught sign language growing up as I learned English, and I don’t really consider one or the other to be my first or second language, because the only difference to me is that one is heard and the other is seen,” Scarboro said. “My brother, who is deaf, is only a year older than me so when he was being taught to sign, I was there right alongside him.”

Not many people understand the full extent of what it means to be deaf. It is a culture within itself, therefore has its own language as others do. Kate’s mother, Megan Scarboro, gets a lot of mixed reactions in

response to being deaf and having to use sign as means to communication.

“When people say ‘Oh, I’m sorry’ when they realize I am deaf, I’m not offended at all. It just tells me that they aren’t knowledgeable about deaf culture,” Megan said.

“I’m more than happy to explain that there is nothing to be sorry about it. I’ve never known what it was like to be able to hear so I don’t know what I’m missing out on. I’m just happy with the way I am.”

Deaf individuals are often pitied out of misunderstanding, believing the cul-

as learning it when you are an adult as Kate has learned from first hand experience.

“I learned sign language in preschool when I was three years old. My parents tried the spoken language approach but realized that I was picking up language faster via sign language so they shifted over to sign language as my primary mode of communication. I have been using it ever since,” Megan said .

Some people, such as Kate’s friend freshman Maria Rene San Esteban, see sign language as a way to express themselves in a differ-

“But in real life it really just made me connections all over the country an d world who I wouldn’t have had if I didn’t know sign language.” ture to be a disability when in reality it is just as normal to speak through sign as any other language but the Scarboro family is working to undermined those stereotypes about the deaf community.

“It’s a really common thing where I tell people my mom is deaf and they apologize because they don’t know how to react,” Kate said. “It puts me off when people apologize since being deaf is in no way a liability and that the culture and the people are just really amazing and accepting, so when people apologize it makes being deaf or having a deaf parent sound like a bad thing, when I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Learning sign at a young age is the same if not easier

- Megan Scarboro

ent way that is no different than other languages.

“I think everybody should learn sign because at one point or another you’re gonna run into someone that can’t hear and it’s so simple to learn sign language,” San Esteban said. “It’s simple and easy and that way we could have less language barriers around the world.”

In and outside of school, Kate is treated as every other student or teen is in reaction to using sign as a means of communication.

“Nothing really changes at school other than me being aware of other kids at Bowie and having really close relationships with some of them,” Kate said.

“But in real life it really just made me connections with

people all over the country and world who I wouldn’t have had if I didn’t know sign language, which I’m really grateful for.”

Kate and her family feel at home in Austin, a community with many deaf individuals that have welcomed the family with open arms.

“I definitely encourage everyone to learn sign language especially here in Austin as there is large deaf community here,” Megan said. “I would love to see Bowie set up a sign language class as many colleges do accept sign language as a foreign language requirement.”

Kate’s friends also recognize that learning sign isn’t that difficult and that anyone can learn.

“If there’s one language that everyone could learn it would be sign language because you don’t need to learn to write or grammar rules or stuff like that,” San Esteban said.

Even though one might not need to know sign language on a day to day basis it can be helpful in certain situations.

“At some point you’re gonna run into someone who can’t hear and it’s way easier for them if you know how to talk to them. Also it’s fun,” San Esteban said.

Learning sign language can be as easy as signing up for a club provide by students at school.

“I learned sign language at Gorzycki’s sign language club because Kate took me with her. Since she speaks sign language she liked going to help out so she took me with her and I learned the alphabet and a couple of words,” San Esteban said.

SIGNING TO A FRIEND: Freshman Kate Scarboro has been using sign language to communicate with her family members since she was little. Kate enjoys being able to showcase part of her family’s culture in such a public way on a daily basis. PHOTO BY Shelby Papst

Kate has lived her life audibly and non-audibly speaking the languages of the cultures she is interwoven with.

“Knowing sign language is incredibly useful, and it helps me meet new people and make new connections all the time,” Kate said. “It also really helps out when I need to interpret for my mom when we’re out doing things together or if she’s talking to a hearing person and they don’t understand what she said”.

Kate is passionate about the deaf community and encourages all who want to communicate whether they can hear or not to learn ASL. “It would be really great if more people learned sign language, especially since the deaf community is one of the largest I’ve seen in the country,” Kate said. “People would get to see what I get to see on a daily basis, and they’d see a tight knit group of passionate people who are proud of who they are.”

F

Fri. Dec. 8, 2017

The Dispatch

Feature

4

Sophomore adjusts to new beginnings Abby Ong

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

Feature Editor

Acclimating to life in a new place can be a difficult change for anyone, but especially so when moving between very between the United States and Saudi Arabia different cultures.

CLOTHING When she was only two years old, sophomore Nadia SheMen wear this long dress-looking thing, it’s white, and then they wear some kind of wear and her family moved from the United States to Saudi scarf on their head which is checkered-colored. Women wear these things called Arabia for her mother’s job with the military. After living in abayas, they wear black abayas when they leave the house. Talking about actual Saudi Saudi Arabia for the majority of her life, she chose to move clothing, they have these things called jellabiya and there’s two versions, there’s ones back to Austin before her sophomore year to stay with the that are just for in the house, and then there are some that are for parties that cost a lot family she has here. Shewear’s mother remains in Saudi Araof money and are very pretty. bia, although she has plans to move to the United States as well.

EDUCATION “It’s been really hard because I had to adjust through The education itself, studying wise, is a lot harder there, it’s easier here to this all by myself, acclimate all by myself,” Shewear said. me. I also feel like their level, when it comes to certain math and scienc“Of course, I had some support from my aunt and cousins, es, is a lot higher than here. Other than that, I like the American educabut this is something that you have to go through alone, tional system because we get to do more things, things that we actually by yourself. It was challenging, I got through it, she’s comlike doing. We have time for that. ing home for Christmas so that’ll be good. It’s been tough, FOOD it’s not easy at all. I wouldn’t move to a different country by Food has a lot more spices. They make everything from scratch, yourself.” they don’t believe in boxed goods like we do here. They have Shewear moved in with her aunt and two cousins, who grocery stores like us and there’s a lot of boxed goods, but when both go to Bowie as well. While getting to know them at it comes to like making food, like if you’re having a party for your first was hard, she has come to think of them as her older family or something, they’re very traditional with making everything brother and younger sister. from scratch and having everything down, it’s really good.

“I did not know them,” Shewear said. “The first time I came here was the first time I met them since I was two. It FAMILY was the first time I met them, because obviously being two I People are very family oriented, family was a big, big thing. You’d didn’t remember them. It was a little awkward in the beginsee everyone on the weekends hanging out with their families, like ning, but now we’re really close.” eating dinner, and the families were huge, so it wasn’t just a gatherShewear found her place in the community by joining the ing, it was like a party. I miss the family-oriented culture.

JROTC, where she is a first-year cadet but also acting flight sergeant for her flight, which is how they refer to different - Nadia Shewear, 10th class periods. “[With] my mom working on a military base, I just kind of got use to that familiarness,” Shewear said. “I always thought of my friends were there, but it was just easier for my mom world. People don’t see that because they don’t live there it was a brave thing to do, to join the military. I had a lot of to work, because she lived there and she worked there so and they don’t experience it. You won’t know until you’re actually there, but the younger generation and the newer respect for them. But I thought it would be fun, I couldn’t get transportation [wasn’t an issue].”

As the base was isolated and far from her original home generation just wants to be like everyone else, and they’re into a sport because I don’t really know how to play sports.

I’ve always thought about joining ROTC so I thought why in the compound, it was difficult to see her friends. She- slowly becoming that.”

Shewear’s mom, Catherine Shewear echoes the sentiwear and her friends would have to get drivers, which made not just do it, so I joined. It helped me a lot.” ment that despite cultural differences, there are more simiWhile it was difficult to adjust, Shewear is glad she moved hanging out very expensive.

“In Saudi Arabia, until recently, women couldn’t drive,” larities than what most would realize. back for multiple reasons.

“Even though Saudi Arabia is on the conservative side, “Education is a lot better here, you have more and more Shewear said. “So we, as women, had to call a driver, or if people are people wherever you go in this world,” Cathyou already had one, go out with him.

Going out with friends opportunities,” Shewear said. “We also moved back just because we always intended on coming back. It was just time, is a lot easier here than it is in Saudi Arabia, in Saudi Arabia erine said. “Demographics are the same. People in Saudi you have to find a driver to take you and then make plans. Arabia know how to enjoy life and love to have a good time time to come back home.”

In Saudi Arabia, Shewear experienced life both off base It’s not easy to call a driver, make plans, see if he’s available. just like the good old folks back in the USA. In fact, there are Here, it’s like, ‘Hey, you want to hang out after school? Cool, many Americans living in Saudi Arabia and many are happy in a compound for foreigners, as well as life on base. to call it home.”

“When I lived off base, I grew up in a compound, we had let’s walk there.’ You can walk to places.”

In Nadia’s opinion, there are many good things about the This was made especially diffia lot of those for foreign peocult by the fact that Shewear’s fa- country, and she feels that life there is slowly improving over ple so we didn’t have to wear ther passed away when she was time. abayas in that area, it was like “It takes time because Saudi Arabia is in such an old young, so she didn’t have a father a little free area,” Shewear said. mindset, and it’s taking us time to come out of that, but to drive her.

“A lot of foreigners lived on “I was almost two, and he died now women are driving and that’s a big step,” Nadia said. it and I grew up with a lot of from a heart attack,” Shewear said. “I mean, I can understand why people have a lot of misconfriends. But then when I moved “I don’t really remember, but I can ceptions, I would too if I saw everything like that on TV, but on base, I was the only kid on tell you that growing up in Saudi everything you guys do here we do over there.” base, so I didn’t have anyone to Although Nadia had to acclimate, she was able to find Arabia without a male, if it wasn’t socialize with that was my age, her place at school by joining the ROTC and making friends your dad it was your brother, and I so it went from super, super fun didn’t have either. That was a big, in her classes. One of her childhood friends from Saudi Arato super, super dull and boring. big struggle, for my mom and for bia, Saman Fatima, believes Nadia is settling in well.

It was very quiet, I had to keep “Nadia seems to be adjusting fairly well to the US,” Fatime.” myself busy by going to the ma said. “I think she has become a lot more independent Her mother was employed to gym, taking classes here and take American soldiers off base and self-reliant. Understandably, moving to another counthere, being home a lot. I just and to show them the Saudi cul- try can be a taxing transition: having to start from scratch in had to tolerate it.” ture through festivals, art galleries, school, making new friends, learning how life works. Going Shewear’s best memories and various restaurants. Shewear through all that with little support can be frustrating and difof her childhood in the comliked joining the tours, exposing ficult, sometimes lonely, but Nadia has handled it incredibly pound were with the friends her to a wide variety of Saudi cul- well and with immense courage.” she had here.

To her mom, Nadia’s character had a big part to do with ture.

“My friends were originally her ease in moving to a new place.

“My favorite thing to do was to from different countries, like “I love the fact that Nadia is a social butterfly like her fahelp my mom show people the Pakistan, but they were also culture, because they really en- ther,” Catherine said. “She loves to meet new people and part Canadian or part British,” joyed that, it was different, not ev- find out more and get involved in the community she lives Shewear said. “My fondest eryone gets to go to Saudi Arabia in. She brings the community home and I believe she adds memories were probably getCOVERED UP: Wearing an abaya, Shewear and experience all the food,” She- life to any community she gets involved in.” ting to wear their traditional stands in front of a fountain at the Ritz-CarlHer mother also attributes her ease to the life experience wear said. “They have a yearly fesclothes and just celebrating ton in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital. In Saudi tival which we like to go to where Nadia was exposed to. parties with them, like PakiArabia, women are required to dress modestly. they play music and they show you “I think that Nadia had the privilege of growing up in the stanis had really nice weddings “Clothing is generally dress-like, for both men the different tribes in Saudi Arabia multicultural society of Riyadh,” Catherine said. “I think this and they’re fun. But it was a and women, and often embroidered and emand the different instruments and has taught her that there are many different viewpoints in compound, so we had one big bellished,” Shewear said. PHOTO COURTESY OF the world and that all the values represented in the world different clothing that they wear.” basketball court and we’d all Nadia Shewear should all have a voice.”

Shewear’s experience gives her run there every weekend and Nadia values the multicultural exposure she has been a unique perspective from what is hang out there for hours and often portrayed of Saudi Arabia, allowing her to see both given through living in both Saudi Arabia and the United hours and just not be home.”

States.

When Shewear was 15, it made more sense for them to the positives and the negatives of the country.

“It’s hard to explain, you can’t even put it into words,” Na“I feel like a lot of people think that how you see it on move off the compound and onto the military base.

“Where I lived on my compound, most of my friends were TV, that the people in Saudi Arabia want it to be like that, dia said. “I don’t regret living there, I had a lot of good expegrowing up, going to college, going back to the States, to and that’s not the truth,” Shewear said. “People there, es- riences there, just growing up, seeing different things. Now England, to Canada,” Shewear said. “My mom saw no point pecially the younger generation, want to be like everyone that I’m here, it’s obviously a different place, but it was kind to pay rent while there was no one there. I mean, a couple else in the world, and they are just like everyone else in the of cool to experience stuff like that.”

‘‘

‘‘ ‘‘

”

”

PHOTO BY Abby Ong

‘‘

”

”

O

wning a car is a difficult task and requires a certain amount of responsibility. They can also be very expensive so, to ensure that they last you should follow the basic maintenance suggestions. There are many different factors to owning a car and they are not always pleasant to deal with.

Cars need constant maintenance to keep them working their best. If they are not taken care of properly, they can be damaged or not run as well. There are lots of different aspects and chores to take care of your vehicle to keep it running smoothly. Here is a list of a few things you must do in order to keep your car in good order.

How to ADULT Owning a Car

1

3

2

4

OIL CHANGE: A car’s oil should be changed every 3,000- 5,000 miles. Oil changes help your engine run smooth and improves your car’s fuel efficiency. Some people choose to change their own oil and others choose to take them to oil change shops such as Jiffy Lube. The cost of an oil change will depend on where you take it and the type of oil used. Failure to change your oil can cause engine failure.

CAR INSPECTION: Safety inspections are needed for every car in Texas. You should get car inspections once every year, and they cost around $50-$75.

The Texas DMV has made getting inspections very simple. They have made it into a two-step process first you have to get your car inspected, then go online and complete your registration online, and a new sticker will be sent to you in the mail. If you fail to have your car inspected you will not be able to register your car.

CAR REGISTRATION:

Cars must be registered when first purchased and renewed annually. To do so, go to your Texas Tax Office and fill out Form 130- U (Application for Texas Certificate Title). You must provide an ID, car insurance, and proof of ownership. You will be given a sticker to place in the lower left corner of the car’s windshield.

The registration fee starts at $50.75 and varies based on the type of vehicle. Failure to register results in fines.

HANDLING TIRES: Tires typically have a life of about 25,000 to 50,000 miles. The average cost to replace a tire starts at $80-100 per tire. To help extend the life of your tires, you should keep your tires filled to the recommended tire pressure and have them rotated every 6,000-8,000 miles.

You can have your tires filled at your local gas station and have your tires rotated at an automotive repair shop such as Discount Tire.

5

The Dispatch Fri. Dec. 8, 2017

F

Features

Staying connected: on-line student life Kiran Patel

Feature Editor School can be a very stressful and thus a joyless environment for many students. However, online school and, in specific, AISD Online has allowed many students in the district to take online classes while still participating in extracurriculars at their local high school.

Former full-time Bowie student Luke Fisher is completing his senior year through AISD Online which requires students to log a minimum of 20 hours each week.

“My teacher comes to my house twice each week for one to two hour sessions where she helps me on anything I’m stuck on,” Fisher said. “It could be anything from a math problem I don’t understand to helping me with technical difficulties.”

The switch to online classes provides Fisher with more time to learn at his own pace and complete his graduation requirements in the comfort of his home.

“I actually still have [Musical Theatre Dance] at Bowie, so I still go by the school most days but it’s a lot less anxiety-provoking than a full day of regular classes there would be,” Fisher said. “Honestly, the time I do spend at Bowie is a lot more enjoyable now than it used to be since I’m no longer associating it with the dread of going to class.”

Attending online school gives students more freedom to personalize their educational experience.

“A big advantage to the program is the flexibility it gives my schedule,” Fisher said. “Aside from my two weekly appointments, I have the full freedom to choose when and where I want to work on my courses, sometimes I like to go to coffee shops or cool places around town to do my work which is pretty sweet.”

While completing online classes, Fisher is still participating in Bowie theatre activities as he had done for the past three years.

DRAMA KING: FIsher makes a face as he points off stage. Fisher has been highly impacted by his time in the theatre program. Fisher has chosen to take online classes so Fisher takes great pride in his final performance. PHOTO BY Preston Rolls

“Aside from the fact that I really enjoy acting and being in the productions, [theatre] offered an opportunity to socialize and stay connected with my school friends despite the fact that I was no longer in classes with them,” Fisher said.

“I think humans have an innate desire to be with others, at least to some extent, so I knew completely shutting myself in wouldn’t necessarily be a good idea.”

Fisher’s friends have noticed the impact that staying in theatre has had on him.

“I feel like Luke is a really charismatic guy and always has a great

LISTENING IN: Senior Luke Fisher performs in his last children’s show, Mr. Popper’s Penguin’s. At Bowie, he solely takes theater and P.E. PHOTO BY Preston Rolls

time when he’s a part of a show,” senior Natalie Haddad said. “He makes acting look so natural and you can tell he’s always having a fun time on stage, so I feel like he just wanted to continue to have that fun.”

Extracurriculars can provide a unique opportunity and exposure that may not be available in an online school setting.

“Theatre is something that makes Luke happy,” theatre director Cortney Hall said. “Being in the Starlight Theatre Company is a rigorous, yet immensely rewarding activity and I’m not surprised he chose to stay.”

Fisher’s decision to continue theatre despite taking online classes is in part due to his relationship with his peers.

“The friends and mentors I’ve met through high school are large contributors to the person I am now,” Fisher said. “I was lucky enough to stumble upon this community that really invested in me and took care of me, and now four years later I’m coming out of the program as an entirely different person than I was back then and with some of the most meaningful friendships I’ve ever had.”

Being a part of theatre plays a larger role in Fisher’s life than it simply being another after school activity.

“Theatre itself has made me a much more confident and outspoken person, and theatre commu-

the theatre class at Bowie with his fellow seniors, Fisher is able to stay connected with the company.

“It can be kind of hard to keep up with what’s going on in the program since I’m kind of out of the loop but I mostly just go to meetings or ask my friends if I’m not sure about something,” Fisher said. “Really the only part that can be hard to keep up with are dates and scheduling but I do my best to check with people and see what’s going on.”

Besides theatre, Fisher was also a part of FFA for two years and Bowie’s speech and debate team for three years and even semi-finaled in duet acting at the Texas Forensics Association State tournament.

“I inevitably had to leave both because I did not have enough time to manage all of my extracurriculars and school work,” Fisher said. “I’ve also been a youth group leader at my church since freshman year and as of this year I am now the worship leader and social media leader for the student ministry.”

Fisher’s influence on his peers continues through his participation in theatre and his continual connection with them while balancing online school.

“He has always been there for me, and he helped me appreciate everything going on in our lives,” Haddad said. “It’s never a dull time when you’re with Luke Fisher.”

nity is what made that possible,” Fisher said. “I won’t be pursuing it as a career, at least not primarily, but I plan to continue it in college and depending on where I end up living after college, I might pursue it outside of school for my own enjoyment.”

“ I have the full freedom to choose when and where I want to work on my courses, sometimes I like to go to coffee shops or cool places around town to do my work which is pretty sweet. ” - Luke Fisher Even Fisher’s teachers have noticed the effect theatre has had on him.

“I have directed Luke in two performances and it has been a pleasure working with him, in my opinion, it’s been an incredibly positive impact,” Hall said. “Theatre is such a great social opportunity for everyone.”

Although he no longer takes

FALL & WINTER If you like current, trendy and designer fashion but hate paying retail, you’ll love Uptown Cheapskate. Get the brands you love and vintage at up to 90% off the original retail.

Some of our favorite brands: • Anthropologie • Free People • Urban Outfitters • Levis • Project Social • Ralph Lauren • American Apparel • Dooney & Bourke •The North Face •Vintage & Designer

$5 OFF

any $30 purchase *Cannot be combined with other offers. Limit one per customer.

02/15/18 CPNMT1016QA Expires 10/31/16.

3005 S. LAMAR BLVD IN AUSTIN |    

R

Fri. Dec. 8, 2017

The Dispatch

Reviews

6

Disney leaves audiences loco for Coco

Pixar's new family film shows the importance of Mexican traditions in a new perspective Shelby Papst Review Editor

Everyone has a dream.

It’s a desire that feels almost like it was etched into your DNA - you can’t escape it.

But, what do you do when your family would do anything to keep you from the one thing you want?

In Disney Pixar’s “Coco” a young boy named Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) wants nothing more than for his family to accept him for the musician he dreams to be.

The film was released on Nov. 22 and I was instantly skeptical based on all the trailers I had seen as it greatly resembled another film, “The Book of Life.” My doubts were very quickly dismissed though when I sat down to enjoy the family film.

Set around the Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos, Disney shows audiences what happens beyond the world of the living.

After Miguel’s great-great-grandfather left his wife and daughter Coco to pursue his love for music, Miguel’s great-great grandmother Mama Imelda (Alanna Ubach) banned music and passed down her hatred for it all the way to Miguel.

Unlike the rest of his family, Miguel loves music more than anything and dreams of becoming a musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt).

Miguel runs away from his family only to wind up in the world of the dead after trying to steal a guitar, which betrayed his family’s beliefs.

From that point on, Miguel is in a race against sunrise to earn his deceased family’s blessing and return to the world of the living.

Along Miguel’s journey in the spirit world, he runs into a deceased musician named Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal) who wants to return to the living world during Dia de los Muertos just once before he is forgotten and disappears.

Hector very quickly became my favorite character in the movie with his charismatic persona and strong belief in the importance of remembering your loved ones.

I rooted for Hector the first moment he appeared and he continued to make me laugh and love him more throughout the film.

Overall, I can’t say “Coco” will be the most revolutionary Disney film based on how many there are.

While the storyline was heartwarming and made my cry all my mascara off by the time the movie was over, the most shining part of the film had to be how pretty it was.

The animation in this film left me speechless from start to finish. The attention to detail in every scene could be described as nothing less than a cinematic masterpiece.

Every building, strand of

hair, and shine in Miguel’s eyes made this movie glow beautifully.

One of the best parts of the movie besides how gorgeous it was, was how much the plot kept me hooked.

Miguel was such an endearing character that brought a smile to my face with how passionate he was about his family’s acceptance. He took the plot in directions I wasn’t expecting, but never came across as annoying.

My favorite part of the movie was when Miguel and Hector sing “Poco Loco” in a talent competition in order to meet Ernesto de la Cruz in the land of the dead.

The two of the characters had so much chemistry and when they sang the duet, you could hear the fondness as the companions danced happily.

The music in the particular scene amplified how great the characters were.

All of the voice actors brought very catchy song to the film with a blend of Spanish and English. The bilingual-versus were fun and had me nodding my head along.

While I can't say the movie had my favorite soundtrack of all the Disney movies, I can't say there was a song I didn't like or preferred to not be in the movie.

The climax of the film dished out a plot-twist I was not expecting, then came to such a happy conclusion I cried for a good ten minutes

as I was leaving the theater.

The amount of familial love and comradery Pixar poured into this film broke my heart and repaired it over and over again until the credits rolled.

I went into “Coco” with very little expectations, ready to scold it on its unoriginal idea such as its resemblance to “The Book of Life.” What I didn’t expect was the, while not unique, endearing group of characters and lessons that followed.

I can honestly say that while both films relate to Dia de los Muertos and Mexican culture, they are not the same.

I don’t know how Disney keeps managing to blow me away. “Coco” was an A-plus experience I recommend for everyone. This is not just another cheesy cartoon for kids like many assume from a Pixar film. There isn't a target audience, it reaches all.

It teaches the significance of chasing your dreams and the importance of family in

ART BY Callie Richards

a way that I can’t say many movies have managed to execute so well.

Not to mention, the representation of Mexican culture was very heart-warming. I can't recall many instances if it in Disney's past, at least not enough to remember of the top of my head.

If you don’t get to see “Coco” in this lifetime, make sure your family puts up your picture so you can come back during Dia de los Muertos, because this is a film you won’t forget.

Premier walks into dead-end after long-running wait Editor-in-Chief

Having come through seven hell-ridden seasons of dead men walking and innocents being robbed of their last wholly quality, “The Walking Dead” is nowhere near slowing down this eighth season.

Is that necessarily a good thing though?

After suffering through brutal murders of fan favorites, heart-wrenching scenes of loss, and characters pushed to their limits, it’s time for “all out war”.

The season premiered Oct. 22 with promising trailers of something bigger than fans have ever seen before.

With scenes previewed at San Diego Comic Con months before the premiere date, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), the beloved sheriff turned apocalyptic-leader, seems to have a hopeful

outcome from the suffering the show has pulled its viewers through.

However, those clips couldn’t have been more misleading.

for the sake of good overcoming evil.

The opening scene of the season consists of lights reflecting over a tormented and disturbed Rick. His red-

Now that Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and his group of Saviors have really hit home with their kills and threats, Rick has prepared to end things once and for all

rimmed eyes and shaking features are soon replaced by a new clip of him before battle, silhouetted by the sun.

Following are quick

ART BY Callie Richards

Violet Glenewinkel

ALBUMS

G-Eazy

The Beautiful & The Damned Dec. 15

Fall Out Boy

MANIA Jan. 19

Rae Morris

Someone Out There Feb. 2

scenes of main characters preparing for battle, suiting up their gear, and giving motivational speeches; the typical pre-war routine to build suspense.

However, this is a slow beginning for a show like “The Walking Dead” and, unfortunately, it doesn’t pick up.

The rest of the episode’s hour is filled with flying bullets, close saves of character lives, and the whole deal fans are used to.

There is nothing that viewers have not seen before in this war of wars despite what the trailers and previews seemed to suggest.

With a boring beginning enough to infuriate a dedicated fan, it doesn’t get much better with the other episodes that have aired so far.

Attacks are made with little surprise. The ambushes are mediocre. The warfare is similar to the Governor vil-

lain days which leaves fans like me wondering where that hellish Negan vs. Rick punch is.

After a series of bullets are shot aimlessly at the Sanctuary (the home of Negan and his Saviors), Rick and his group evacuate without one of the beloved characters, concluding the season premiere.

Months of anticipation for the all out war are wasted with the boring, uneventful premiere.

As a longtime fan, I was speechless with disappointment at the creative and talented people producing and writing this show.

I was left to only hope that the next episode would live up to expectation the show has built.

Unfortunately, I found myself hoping for that fulfillment the next episode, and the next episode, and the next.

Instead, fans are presented a repeating of the past.

The same routine of villain, battle, loss, and recovery is being told here in season eight despite the hopes of something more with the Saviors vs. Rick, something unlike anything else the show has seen.

The devilishly delightful gore is all there though.

This season has been one for special, bloody effects, making it the most interesting part of the season so far.

Now with the mid-season finale coming up, fans like myself are left disappointed in the start of the season, with no hope towards it possibly taking a turn for the better.

Overall, I give the season a C for the lack of originality and disappointing start to a plot with so much potential.

As fans wait for the mid-season finale, the only thing to do is hope for a little something that will keep us on our seats… and make us want to keep watching the show.

Local

BUZZ

'Tis the season for all new releases. Curl up with a new book, find a cozy seat at the movies, or just jam out to the newly dropped albums as you take in the holidays.

MOVIES Star Wars: The Last Jedi Dec. 15

The Greatest Showman

Dec. 20

Pitch Perfect 3

Dec. 22

GAMES

Resident Evil 7 Gold Ed. XBOX One, PC & PS4 Dec. 12

CONCERTS Willie Nelson

ACL Live Moody Theatre Dec. 30

Wolfenstein 2

Pink Floyd Laser Show

Kirby Battle Royale

They Might Be Giants

XBOX One, PC & PS4 Nov. 17 Nintendo Switch Jan. 19

Emo's Jan. 12

Stubbs BBQ Feb. 1

7

The Dispatch Fri. Dec. 8, 2017

P

Photo Essay

Students paw their way to future jobs

HELPING PAW : Senior Gabriela Minjares wraps a leash around a dog to take outside. On A days Minjares spends her mornings at the VCA Tanglewood Animal Hospital. "For me I don't really learn till I'm hands on, working and thats why I'm glad I have the opportunity to see a typical day," MInjares said. PHOTO BY Ashley Ramirez

TAKING VITALS: As a Vet technician restrains a dog senior Morgan Walk listens to a heartbeat. Walk not only takes vitals but many other tasks that a veterinary technician. "Since being in this class I have learned how to pull up vaccines, run blood test, and grooming techniques like nails and ear cleanings," Walk said. PHOTO BY Ashley Ramirez

Seniors intern at vet clinics to earn valuable experience & connections Ashley Ramirez PE Editor

SETTING UP: Filling up vaccines needed for the next patient is senior Morgan Walk.

Walk believes this will help make a career decision in future. "This class has given me more experience in the field of veterinary medicine where I can make a better educated choice, since I enjoy this class I am more likely to enjoy a career in veterinary medicine down the road." PHOTO BY Ashley Ramirez

CALM AND COLLECTED: Senior Gabriela Minjares restrains and clams a nervous cat being groomed. Minjares learns basic techniques while working at the clinic. "I learn what typical days for a veterinarian are like, how to administer vaccines, how to properly restrain and take care of animals," Minjares said. PHOTO BY Ashley Ramirez

Waking up early, getting dressed, and heading to class is normal for any high schooler. However, for student in the Vet Practicum class instead of sitting at a desk they are working at veterinary clinics around Austin.

Seniors Morgan Walk and Gabriela Minjares are part of the Vet Practicum class that allows them to spend half the school day working hands on with animals.

“I arrive at the clinic at eight then don’t leave till twelve,” Walk said. “Once appointments come in I help restrain or treat the animal as they come in or I will take care of the dog that are there for the day.”

Some students like Walk joined the class because of her love for animals.

“Ever since I was little I’ve had lots of pets and lots of experience with animals,” Walk said. “I joined because of my love for animals and wanting to help them.”

Others joined the class to take the steps towards a future career in this field.

“Freshmen year I took Principles of Agriculture to be in FFA then I saw that there was Vet Practicum class,” Minjares said. “I decided to take the route of animal and livestock because I want to do that in the future.”

Even though this class is both first and second period it does require time outside of class.

“The whole goal is to get your Certified Veterinary Assistant (CVA) and in order to get that we have to work

300 hours or more which means we have to work holidays and breaks,” Minjares said.

Having only been at the clinic a couple of months, Walk has had to make adjustments to help her succeed.

RESTRAIN: As a Vet technician administers a vaccine, senior Morgan Walk restrains a dog. Restraining is needed to keep the animal still. "The animal clinic I am attending is Oliver Animal Hospital," Walk said.

PHOTO BY Ashley Ramirez

“The most difficult adjustment I have had to make is learning so much in such a short span of time to meet the level that they are at because it a business not just another high school class,” Walk said.

When attending the clinic students are required to wear a specific uniform.

“You have to wear closed-

toe shoes and scrubs,” Minjares said Out of all the animals that go in and out of each clinic, Minjares believes cats are that most difficult to work with.

“Cats are the hardest to work with because they get fussy and the have sharp nails,” Minjares said. “ They are scared easily and are less domestic than dogs.”

Walk takes great pride in helping out at the clinic.

“My favorite part is all the animals I get to see and the experience I am earning,” Walk said. “I have a passion for caring for animals so it is just really rewarding to go in a help out the animals and help out the clinic take care of those animals.”

In order to join the Vet Practicum class students will have to apply first even if all prerequisites have been taken.

“For Practicum they have to take the Vet Med class before this and they have to apply to be in the program,” Vet Practicum teacher Amber Dickinson said. “They fill out paper and from their teachers they will get a letter of recommendation and I will also decide on who i feel will be responsible enough to show up to the vets and do what they need to do.”

Students in the Vet Practicum class have a great advantage when applying to a vet program.

“They get 500+ hours and you need quite a few hours to get into a vet program so they already have that advantage getting an internship while they are doing school instead of having to get a outside of school job,” Dickinson said.

I

Fri. Dec. 8, 2017 The Dispatch

In-Depth

PROBABILITY of cyberbullying

9

8 ART BY Violet Glenewinkel and Victoria Newell SOURCE: nobullying.com

How likely and often does bullying really happen?

95% Over 95% of teenagers use social networking sites to communicate with peers

43% of kids have

been bullied online.

1 in 4 has had it happen more than once.

1 in 10 adolescents or teens have had embarrassing or damaging pictures taken of themselves without their permission

f

The bully factor It’s commonly known and taught that bullying others is wrong. We have been exposed to this since elementary school and yet it still seems to be present into high school. With the recent creation of David’s Law, it’s disappointing to know that the price of addressing the serious problem of bullying to lawmakers came at the cost of a teenage student’s life.

I have always wondered why people bully because I can never think of a reasonable or justifiable cause to treat someone cruelly as opposed to just moving on. When I do ask someone why they are bullying another student, most of the time there is no reason at all or a completely baseless one.

As someone who has been in a bullying situation themselves, I can verify first-hand that it’s not great and help is very difficult to find on campus. In an already isolating situation, not being able to find adequate help makes the whole ordeal worse and seemingly endless. I talked to AP’s and counselors but they were dismissive and unhelpful with the problem, as I expected them to be.

When talking to various students around

This also means defining bullying; What constitutes as bullying and what may be just “mean” are two completely different things.

“What teachers can do is educate students about what bullying is and isn’t and when they see it occur or brought evidence of it to be able to get the administrators involved to be able to stop it,” Robinson said.

For Shumate who has witnessed students taking light of the subject firsthand, teaching must be intentional on explicitly explaining behavioral expectations and making a clear line between right and wrong.

“I have had multiple students come and show me videos of others that they know, and that they don’t know, being humiliated or hurt, and it’s often shown to me with the expectation that I will laugh or think that it’s okay,” Shumate said.

According to sophomore Charlie Ferguson who has experienced bullying first hand, a typical form found on campus is justifying someone doing an action they did not commit, whether in person or over social media.

“When people do that it’s like they’re trying to justify being mean to them,” Ferguson said. “Sometimes it may be based off a misunderstanding of some sort that’s completely untrue or an over exaggeration of something.”

In Ferguson’s opinion, David’s Law being more about bullying as a whole is what will make it the most effective.

“David’s Law is originally centered around cyberbullying but I like how it’s a bit more expansive and being directed toward more bullying as a whole,” Ferguson said. “The whole concept of David’s Law is raising awareness in a way.”

The experience of being bullying is

OPINION

@Staff Writer

campus I found out that there is shockingly low expectations with the office’s ability to handle or help with the problems students have personally or academically. The notion that AP’s and counselors put minimal effort in effectively helping students with their problems is popular and dates back years from when my older sister was at Bowie.

Students should not have to feel hesitant to attend school in anticipation of harassment or ridicule from bullies while the staff that are supposed to help them do nothing about the student’s problems. I went to the

not to attend class in addition to losing confidence in school authority.

When acquiring more information on the procedures used to handle bullying on campus and the possible changes with David’s Law, some counselors repeatedly refused interviews with little to no explanation as to why. One excuse that was given to me was that they didn’t know enough about the law, which was puzzling because I would think counselors need to be well informed on something that could possibly affect the students they are paid to advise.

“ Students should not have to feel hesitant to at-

tend school in anticipation of harassment or ridicule from bullies while the staff, that are supposed to help them, do nothing about their problems. ” assistant principal who I had reported the initial bullying to and they told me there was nothing more that could be done and shut the door, even though the situation was persistent. I didn’t come to school for the next few days after that.

The ordeal with the assistant principal led me to become more upset at the incompetent and lackluster job done by the administration than those who were actually bullying me. For a place that incentives good attendance, it’s ironic that their lack of concern contributes to some students deciding

I know others who have come to the point of withdrawing from school altogether because they feel that there isn’t any other way to stop their consistent harassment. It is outright ridiculous that some teenagers resort to altering their own education for a persistent yet preventable situation that was never properly dealt with.

When a student begins the process of leaving school, administration intervenes in attempt to keep them enrolled. It’s ridiculous that after all the time they did little to help the student, now administrative staff

NEWS

@Editor-in-Chief

The negative impact cyberbullying has on teens today and how David’s Law is trying to make the necessary changes.

take action when they could have put effort in preventing this from happening in the first place. By this time it’s too late for them to redeem themselves by thoughtfully intervening, the student has made up their mind and the damage is already done.

I have come full circle since the time I was bullied and yet am still stumped on the same question I’ve been pondering for over a year, which is where can students go on campus to find effective help for victimization or any other social/emotional problem?

The disappointing truth is that there isn’t any easily accessible place on campus to find a complete resolution for concerns a student may have and that isn’t going to be fixed with a new law.

With a situation like this happening, everyday school routine can get overwhelming and frustrating for any student instantaneously. While David’s Law is a step in the right direction, nothing will change unless there is a better effort on everyone’s part to improve things on campus. I’m confident the new law will affect what constitutes as bullying but I am unsure that the law will affect the actions of our school administration when it comes to a student’s concern regarding bullying situations.

Here is a clear message to the administration who are supposed to have a strong stance on bullying at school and online: do better. While bullying situations aren’t always black and white, there should be more than little to no action towards bullying on a campus that claims to be a safe environment with no place for hate.

Fri. Dec. 8, 2017

different for each individual, making it dangerous to a person’s well-being no matter who the student is.

“In the moment [of being bullied] you sort of feel like you’re in danger, it depends on how severe the situation is but it feels like you don’t want to show your face because you feel like someone’s looking for you or out to get you,” Ferguson said.

Dealing with the consequences of ver-

A recurring problem with bullying is the act of victims letting it go, seeing it as something not so important to keep pushing for help. According to AISD Licensed Mental Health Professional Cristine Hanlon, that’s where problems worsen.

“We need to actually tackle the problem and not let it go, we need to speak up,” Hanlon said. “If a student is experiencing that then they need to find some-

“ In the moment [of being bullied] you sort of feel

like you’re in danger... it feels like you don’t want to show your face because you feel like someone’s looking for you or out to get you ” - Charlie Ferguson bal bullying over physical bullying have varied for many years.

“Physical bullying was a lot easier to address and punish because a lot of times students would pretend they were joking if it was being done through speaking,” Shumate said.

In the classroom, teachers can now watch for signs of verbal bullying and aggression before it can be covered up as “joking”.

“I think that’s a really important thing to keep in mind for teachers and administrators to look for signs of that kind of relational aggression in the classroom, because there should definitely be consequences for that and not just physical aggression,” Shumate said.

one they trust and who will listen to them and not let it go.”

For the new law to work, the first action must be from a student or parent speaking out about the action.

“I like to make sure that students and parents, and school staff even, are aware that if a student is being bullied, no matter if it’s social media or in person, that the school district has a clear procedure to follow for that and it starts with the student and/or parent complaint,” Hanlon said.

Even though this law may cause people to reconsider bullying over the media, the problem of bystanders is still very evident.

“We still have too many bystanders,

42%

bystanders that stand by and look and don’t say anything,” counselor Nona May said. “We also have too many victims who take the hurt and they don’t say anything.”

However, David’s Law isn’t defined as clearly as it could be which causes the public to not have a clear view of its benefits.

“As a new law, it needs to be defined more clearly so people have an idea of how this law can help them and protect them and then people need to take it seriously,” May said.

Being so new, details like bystanders are not addressed, making it difficult to handle bullying cases and all the factors that come along with it.

“Right now, the law says if anybody feels uncomfortable about what is said to them, said about them or sent to them, they can have action on it,” May said. “Everybody’s perspective is unique to them, so we have a law now that is all over the place.”

For now, David’s Law does not have a clear point on what it can truly be effective towards.

“What is harassment? What is bullying? Right now, anything and everything kind of falls under David’s Law,” May said.

Despite the few flaws, David’s Law is a step in the right direction for the safety of victims and justice towards bullying over media or in person.

“I think what David’s Law does is it empowers our staff here and it empowers our adults here to actually follow through with bullying that was not considered ‘real’ bullying in the past years,” Shumate said. “Kids won’t feel as empowered to harass people because they know that there will be consequences, even if it’s online.”

of TEENS with technology access REPORT BEING CYBERBULLIED OVER THE

PAST YEAR

ART BY Violet Glenewinkel SOURCE: nobullying.com

69%

of teens own their own computer or smartphone device OF THOSE TEENS: are active on one or more social media sites

81%

I

In-Depth

Violet Glenewinkel

The tragedy of a young life lost has blossomed into an act for justice with the introduction of David’s Law, an anti-cyberbullying law making it illegal to commit acts of bullying over any media.

With the new law in place, along with a pledge towards anti-cyberbullying, these actions are a step towards ending the use of media for negative reasons.

“The story is of a young man who was bullied until he took his own life and there can be nothing more tragic than that,” principal Mark Robinson said. “His parents took this initiative and worked with lawmakers to get a law passed.”

Originally, schools could do nothing about what occurs outside of the grounds, meaning behavior outside of classes was something they couldn’t be involved with.

“All David’s Law does is give administrators more power over those situations so if it is impacting what happens at school, then we’re able to get involved where as before we couldn’t,” Robinson said.

Students will now be held accountable for their actions, on campus or off. “[David’s Law] forces people to realize the implications of their actions, even if it is online,” English II teacher Whitney Shumate said. “It can affect the whole school if students are made aware of the consequences that will actually take place.”

Educating students on cyberbullying and the legal effects of it is the next step in implementing David’s Law. “There has to be something built into our curriculum to encourage students to be responsible in their online presence,” Shumate said. “It seems like a lot of students believe that nothing bad will happen to them.”

Marissa Salazar

The Dispatch

80%

of young adults say bullying online is easier to get away with than in person

S

Fri. Dec. 8, 2017

The Dispatch

Sports

PHOTO BY Mia Barbosa

As the fall weather rolls around, so does wrestling season, and the 20172018 Bowie team is more excited than ever.

“Our season officially started November 18, but we have been practicing for a while now, I think we are going to do good things this year” senior wrestler Raymond Ybarra said.

The team has been working since August to prepare both physically and mentally for this years season.

“Obviously getting in shape and reaching our weight goals is an important part in preparing for the season, but we also have been working on getting the right mindset, which I think is just as important” junior wrestler Cory Silguero said.

The actual season just kicked off and will continue until around February, depending on how far the athletes advance.

“We had our first tournament on November 18, it got me even more excited for the season,” Silgue-

Photo of senior Raymond Ybarra

Wrestling season preview

Mia Barbosa

Managing Editor

ro said.

Each athlete works hard throughout the year to prepare for the new season and tournaments, usually focusing on their skills and staying in shape.

“We do intense training for a few weeks before we get started, but we’ve been running practices three times a week since the third week of school,” head wrestling coach Glen Lewis said.

From the looks of it, the team thinks season will be quite successful.

“I think we have a good shot at winning district champs this year, the team got pretty close last year and we have all improved a lot since then,” Ybarra said. STORY BY Caitlin Worthington

PHOTO BY Mia Barbosa

Photo of junior Peyton Ludemann

weights and running every day to make sure they are in the best shape possible to compete for next fall.”

Even though this year didn’t end the players had hoped, the coaches are proud of everything the team accomplished.

“Although we did not go as far in the playoffs as we would have liked, the kids played very hard all year long,” Branyon said.

Both the coaches and players are looking forward to next season and working hard to prepare.

“I’m excited to get back on the grind and put in work for next season,” Ludemann said. STORY BY Caitlin Worthington

As the sound of squeaking sneakers fills the gym the rush of ten boys running across the court sends shock waves through the air. The youngest on the team dribbles with the ball close to his side as he scans his players, he fakes to the left and then makes a pass to an open player who then scores.

As the boys varsity basketball team begins playing games during their preseason some players are just stepping on the court straight from the football field, some are currently on the bench from injuries, and one is a freshman named Coleton Benson.

“When I found out I was on the varsity team this year it was a blessing,” Benson said. “I’m just proud that all my hard work and dedication paid off.”

Benson is joined alongside junior Cameron Bell as a new varsity player this year.

“When I found out I would be on varsity I was really excited for the opportunity,” Bell said. “To be honest I was a bit nervous but I knew if I played well I would have the chance to stay.”

Bell had started the preseason as a junior varsity player but got moved up to varsity after he trained hard to be a better player.

“Basketball is a skill sport so you have got to develop your skills then when you play you want to apply that to your situation, the more skill you are the better player you’re going to be,” varsity boys basketball coach Chester Collier said.

For senior M’Elijah Wesley he has been playing on the varsity team the past two years and has the skills for the sport but he is still having to adjust back to playing basketball since he just came from playing on the football team in playoffs.

“My biggest struggle right now is that I don’t know all of the plays right now for basketball that’s my only big problem right now but soon I will learn all the plays,” Wesley said.

Bell has already noticed a difference in his performance since he has been playing for the varsity team

PHOTO BY Mia Barbosa

Much like anything else the volleyball season doesn’t last forever.

“The season had a rocky start but we got our act together and finished as district champs,” junior Emily Swift said. “As far as playoffs we made it to round two and sadly lost, but it was still a good season.”

The girls worked hard all year to keep up with the competition, and ended with a record of 25-19.

“We had early morning practice just about everyday and treated our district games like playoffs, keeping aggression and energy up,” senior Kyndall Johnson explained.

Although the girls didn’t advance as far as they had hoped, given the setbacks and conditions they faced, they had an incredible year.

“Despite all the injuries, we definitely overachieved a lot, and con-

Photo of senior Kyndall Johnson

Volleyball wrap up

Preseason boys play with passion and pride

Varsity basketball team eager to play in district games

Football in the playoffs This year the football team pushed through a lot of challenges, and ended with a record of 8-3.

“I think our record didn’t show how good we truly are, we had a rough end to the season, but I’m proud of everything we did accomplish,” junior Peyton Ludemann said.

The team ended second in district, and lost during the first round of playoffs.

“The main goal for playoffs is to play your best and keep fighting no matter what,” Ludemann said. “Since playoffs are the best of the best it’s important to bring your A game, which is something I think we struggled to do this year.”

The team plans on working extra hard during off season to ensure they are able to reach their goals next year.

“The boys are already hard at work in our off season program getting ready for next season,” football coach Tyler Branyon said. “They are lifting

10

sistently had a good team chemistry,” head volleyball coach Miguel Saenz said.

The season came with a lot of challenges and rewards, but this year has proven to be a good example of what the volleyball program is all about.

“There was a lot of great leadership, good chemistry, and the girls fought hard to overcome all the injuries and challenges they faced this season, overall there was a lot of great character shown this year,” Saenz said. STORY

BY Caitlin Worthington

JUMP SHOT: While playing against Round Rock, senior M’Elijah Wesley focuses on the basket right before he shoots. Bowie lost the game 55-53 after a close last quarter. PHOTO BY Mia Barbosa

REACHING FOR THE REBOUND: Senior Braden Gough goes up for a rebound against defensive player in a tournament game against Saint Andrews as junior Carson Donahue watches. Braden has played basketball at Bowie all four years and this is his second year on the varsity team. PHOTO BY Mia Barbosa

roster this season.

“My first game I was honestly pretty nervous and jittery,” Bell said. “My latest game I’ve been able to play relaxed and just go out there and play my best.”

The team’s starting point guard senior Isaac Walker is currently benched due to being injured but Benson has filled the role of being the point guard and being a leader on the court.

“When I’m playing I’m looking to be a leader on the floor, and try to get the other guys involved,” Benson said. “I take pride in my defense and make sure I’m communicating all the time.”

The boys have been playing with as much power as they can in their preseason games and tournaments in order to focus on gelling together and also growing in their own play but they still have room to improve.

“Personally as a coach I think that a lot of my players need to put more time in,” Collier said. “Basketball is one of those games that if you want to be good at it you got to put that time in.”

Benson is willing to make sacrifices in order to put in that extra practice and time to achieve his goals this season and continue fulfilling his dreams on the team.

“I’m looking forward to seeing us grow as a team and getting better,” Benson said. “Also I’m super ready for district and making a playoff run.”

“ It means a lot to be on the team because basketball is my passion and with the team we have now we can win against good opponents. ” - M’Elijah Wesley Recognizing how crucial every second of the game is, Bell is determined to help the team as much as he can while on the court this season as well.

“I feel energetic when I play a game,” Bell said. “I try and go as hard as I can every rep because you nev-

coming UP in SPORTS Dec. 19 Varsity girls basketball vs. Vandegrift @Bowie

Jan. 9 Varsity boys soccer vs. Lehman @Burger Stadium Jan. 31 Wrestling tri-meet @Bowie

er know when you could be taken out.”

With some of the team’s strongest players expected to return to the court soon and the young new additions to the team this upcoming season looks to be in good shape for the boys.

“I feel that with the shortage we have I just try to play harder and give other peo-

ple chances to score and get their job done for the game,” Wesley said. “It means a lot to be on the team because basketball is my passion and with the team we have now we can win against good opponents but being on this team is a lot to me.”

11

The Dispatch

Fri. Dec. 8, 2017

Three is the magic number Shelby Kelly

Athletics Editor Sweat beads on the forehead as the outside is still dark and other students are just waking up.

Sleepiness rolls off the face as passion ignites some strength to push the body and score.

For senior Josh Smythe-Macaulay and junior Katelyn Dill the alarm clock sounds at sunrise and the journey home does not begin until well after sunset. Cleats, basketballs, soccerballs, and footballs fill their 15 hour days, advanced classes’ assignments fill their nights, leaving five to six hours of sleep.

Tackling three sports, Smythe-Macaulay plays basketball, football, and track and Dill plays soccer, track, and basketball. They have been playing inside and outside of school since a young age and have not stopped playing since.

JOSH SMYTHE-MACAULAY Smythe-Macaulay has been playing sports since he was four, starting with soccer and making his way to other sports, learning the balance as he grew.

“In the past it was difficult to stay on schedule but I’ve been doing this since freshman year so it’s a lot easier to adjust now,” Smythe-Macaulay said.

Baseball coach Sam Degelia explains that being a student athlete is more than just being able to make it to practices, it’s a commitment to a team and to maintaining academic excellence.

involved in multiple extracurricular activities so I feel like a lot of us are on the same boat,” Smythe-Macaulay said. “I would say my life is harder, but I love what I’m doing.”

Junior Seth Werchen is another student who understands the challenge of participating in not only one sport but multiple.

“When the season is in full swing, I have very little free time, but that comes with playing football or baseball or track,” Werchen said.

Participating in multiple sports can benefit athletes because of how much it can teach players about life in general.

“In baseball as a hitter you are going to fail more than you are going to succeed so players are constantly trying to stay consistent in baseball to limit their failures,” Degelia said. “Also working together as a team and not an individual teaches them about real life situations.”

Smythe-Macaulay has gained accomplishments because of his motivation to always strive for success.

“I’m going to Columbia University to play football next year so, in a way, sports has already affected my future,” Smythe-Macaulay said. “Hopefully whatever I end up doing, athletics is closely tied.”

Especially when challenged with the task of participating in multiple sports, being an athlete and pushing your body and mind takes a lot.

“Anyone, especially young adults, that put themselves out there for people to judge and criticize and can deal with the ups and downs of sports, in my opinion are special people,” Degalia said.

KATELYN DILL Acting as a catalyst, Dill’s parents gave her the opportunity to participate in multiple sports as a kid.

“I’ve always loved the competition and entertainment of sports, even at a very young age,” Dill said. “I think this is largely as a result of coming from an athletic family.”

Girls soccer coach Carrie Hoffman-Howell explains how hard it can be now that Dill has taken her love to a whole new height with more commitment in addition to rigorous academic courses.

“It can be very challenging with multiple sports and school,” Hoffman-Howell said. “If the student does not communicate with their coaches, teachers, or family members, they could end up in a lot of trouble and possibly disappoint their teachers, coaches, family, or teammates.”

At some points her calendar can be very full; waking up early for school soccer, going to basketball during the day, having track practice right after school and then going to select soccer practice after that.

“My schedule does get pretty chaotic sometimes, especially towards the wintertime when all of my sports overlap,” Dill said. “There’s a window of a few weeks where all of my sports overlap, and that is probably the most stressful time of the year for me.”

The overall commitment can also bring disadvantages if the athletes dismiss their health issues.

“If the sports overlap a lot, they might miss critical team practices for one sport while at the other sport, and not receive much playing time,” Hoffman-Howell said. “Not to mention if they do not take care of their bodies, they could end up

with wear and tear injuries, like stress fractures.”

Most might not realize how different involved athlete’s lives can be, sometimes getting less sleep or having less social time.

“I am all for student athletes participating in several sports throughout the year,” Degelia said.

“If they are willing to put in the time for each sport and they can keep up academically then I say go for it.”

Although having to transition to sports that require different skill sets and physical requirements three times a year can be difficult Smythe-Macaulay doesn’t feel alone.

“There are many students at Bowie who are

Sports

SUMIN’S STANCE Increased amount of breaks may give teams an advantage

Sumin Kim Columnist

HOLDING HER SUCCESS : Junior Katelyn Dill steadies the items that she spends many hours with. Dill plays many sports and plans to continue her involvement into the future no matter what. PHOTO BY Violet Glenewinkel

“I definitely think my life is different from others since I am involved in multiple sports,” Dill said.

“Leaving for school at 6:45 in the morning and then getting back home at the end of the day at 9:30 isn’t exactly typical for most high schoolers.”

Not all students can push their bodies to be able to do so much athletically, therefore it is important for many to remember to put their health first.

“It is good to be active, but listen to your body and take care of your body,” Hoffman-Howell said.

Being in multiple sports can serve as an advantage for an athlete because of the different angles learned in each sport.

“Playing multiple sports has allowed me to experience and compare the different sports that I compete in, which sometimes gives me insight that other players don’t have,” Dill said.

Taking on more than one activity, sport or not, takes a certain kind of person.

“Katelyn Dill is an amazing student and athlete,” Hoffman-Howell said. “She has always been responsible and communicative with her teachers and coaches to help everyone stay successful.”

Playing many sports can bring disadvantages but Dill’s love for athletics dominates.

“I would say that my motivation for sticking with many sports stems from the competitive nature and love of athletics that I have developed throughout my life,” Dill said. ”I can’t imagine myself uninvolved in sports, and I will continue to compete as long as possible.”

“ I’ve always loved the competition and entertainment of sports, even at a young age. ”

BALANCING IT ALL: Smiling, senior Josh Smythe-Macaulay, gets ready to go to basketball practice. He has learned to balance three sports, basketball, track and football and grades. PHOTO BY Violet Glenewinkel

S

- Katelyn Dill

Christmas is just around the corner, and it’s a period of waiting for everyone.

Most of the European soccer league gets cool down time, but the Premier League (PL) is getting heated up because, in winter, there’s a day everyone’s waiting for Boxing Day. Boxing Day, also known as St. Stephen’s day, takes place on December 26th, the day immediately after Christmas. In the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations, there is a tradition that professional soccer players play a game on Boxing Day. That’s where the problem starts. That results in PL teams having to play three games within a single week.

In my opinion, PL should give the teams a winter break instead of Boxing Day, or they should at least spread the games out.

One big reason is the teams get too fatigued after winter. Because of their packed winter schedule due to Boxing Day, it’s almost impossible for players to have the full energy needed. Also, it’s dangerous for players because when they play with accumulated fatigues, there’s a much higher chance for injuries to occur.

Since Chelsea won their Champions League in 11/12 season, none of the PL teams advanced to the semi-finals while Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern München were killing the Champions League. It’s because by the time the Champions League knockout stage starts, compared to other teams, PL teams are much more fatigued.

“I would cry if there was no Christmas football,” said Arsène Wenger, manager of Arsenal. Like what Wenger said, there are too many people who want to keep the tradition of playing football during Christmas break.

In my opinion, changing this culture is one giant step towards the advance of PL.

JOIN OUR TEAM

BBQ CUTTERS $13.00 CASHIERS $12.00 KITCHEN/BUSSERS $11.00 knmanagement.com/careers

E

Fri. Dec. 8, 2017 The Dispatch

Entertainment

12

Behind the scenes with the techies The tech crew for the upcoming Mary Poppins musical work hard to perfect the show Mikayla Zellner Entertainment Editor The tech theatre aspect of the musical productions are a very essential behind-thescenes operation to make each musical better than the last. For the upcoming Mary Poppins musical, the tech crew is already hard at work planning out the set design and special effects they're going to be including in the show.

“The tech side of the musical is very different because we don't really work with the actors until tech rehearsals,” stage manager junior Elizabeth Tiedt said.

“A lot of techs don't go to rehearsal until tech week, instead we do a lot of work outside of rehearsal on weekends and such.”

Both the theatre students and tech theatre students fully dedicate themselves to entertaining their audiences and dealing with different challenges to make sure the show comes through the best that it can be.

“I think that the [jobs] are both equally hard because we all have to work to make sure every little detail is perfect,” prop crew member junior Darcy Kanneman said.

The tech crew are going to face many challenges, including the issue of keeping the actors safe in the Mary Poppins show because of their new intricate fly system.

“It's going to be much bigger than [the flying in the past Tarzan production] when Tarzan flew in and we had people do aerial tricks,” said tech theatre teacher Matthew Humphrey.“Tarzan was on what's called a pendulum rope which is a

CUE THE TECHIES: On the first workday for the production of Mary Poppins, senior Sam Searles works on sanding down and putting together a makeshift path to attach to the front of the stage with a few other tech theatre students. The walkway is going to be used by the Mary Poppins' actors in various scenes. PHOTO BY Mikayla Zellner

single hang rope, and what Mary Poppins and Burt have are double line set, meaning they can go and flip upside down and that kind of thing.”

Even though Humphrey is the designated tech supervisor, the tech crew are responsible for themselves and their personal contributions to the show.

“The irony is not lost on me that I'm a tech theatre teacher that is not tech savvy,” Humphrey said. “Working with computers is not my forte, since when I went to school here I had to go to the library in order to use a

computer so that never really became part of my life.

That's a challenge that I'm facing, but I'm lucky enough to have kids that love it, run with it and pick it up.”

The tech theatre aspect of the Mary Poppins musical has to deal with equipment and high expenses necessary for creating the set pieces and backdrops.

“This is the most expensive show we do all year,” Humphrey said. “Flying was really quite the expense and the building materials are going to be a lot.”

Even though the props and equipment can be cost-

ly, Humphrey is confident that they'll make their money back because their show is an absolute classic.

“It’s a huge production so it's going to be expensive, but with the anticipated popularity of it and tickets sales and the fact that it appeals to all audiences, I think this is going to be a major boom for us because, while I think that the past Tommy musical was fantastic, it was not necessarily kid oriented,” Humphrey said. “[Tommy] was one of my favorite shows ever, but it's not the most family friendly event, but Mary Poppins is, so I

think that is going to help us financially and really attract large audiences every night.”

One of their biggest struggles isn't the money, it's the fact that not all the students can fit backstage since there are over 120 students in the cast and tech crew.

“We have a huge department, we try to give everyone an opportunity to work on the shows, we do our best, but sometimes it doesn't work out,” Humphrey said. “A lot of time it's the fact that, in Tommy, in the closing number when ev-

eryone is on stage holding hands, we've got just rows and rows and rows of kids, it gets kind of cluttered.”

This makes the tech crew jobs more difficult because there is so little backstage space for them to help move the production along.

“We have a lot of students in our tech crew but not all of them are going to be backstage during the show because we can't fit them because our back stage space,” Humphrey said.

The tech students have to deal with just as much pressure as the cast does, especially in this production.

“I deal with the stress by taking deep breaths and focusing on the end goal of the musical,” Tiedt said.

“I like to keep in mind that it's all for the audience and creating an illusion for the audience.”

Both the actors and the tech crew sacrifice a lot of their time and energy into perfecting the Mary Poppins show.

“My least favorite thing about working on the show is the stress and the long hours because it can be so draining sometimes but so rewarding,” Tiedt said.

Even though they lose a lot of their free time dedicating themselves to the shows, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Its challenging for us in terms of our time-line and it's challenging for us in terms of the actors getting all of their lines memorized and their choreography memorized and their character work done,” Humphrey said. “It's challenging but we wouldn't do this if we didn't love it, if we didn't want the challenge we wouldn't do it."

Guitar students volunteer to perform for fundraising show Jadon Alvarez

Entertainment Editor The guitar strings give off a majestic sound when fiddled, with each chord played to perfection.

As the student musician's hands glide on the guitar, a song captivates the audiences. The guitar can be viewed as one of the most popular instruments, and the guitar players at Bowie know how to put the instrument to good use.

The guitar ensemble gave a concert on December 1, hoping to receive cheerful vibes from the audience and more money to help their program.

“There’s going to be a lot of the studio solo performance and the concert will start off with a Christmas ensemble because it’s that

JOLLY JAMMIN': Juniors Fabian Isaola and Josh Cannata play with the rest of the ensemble. They had a great time playing classic Christmas songs. PHOTO BY Austyn Keelty

time of the year,” guitar teacher Jody Moseley said.

Moseley had the beginners and others play Christmas music and solos are being played by a select few students at an advanced level.

“There are going to be some students playing some solos and there are some students that have just started playing classical guitar and they’ll be playing more beginner music,” Moseley said. “Some students are playing at a college level so we will have a wide range of pieces.”

The guitar ensemble played popular Christmas tunes that the audience could have recognized from the radio or popular holiday movies.

“Since it’s our Christmas concert, we will be performing classic Christmas songs like Deck the Halls and Frosty the Snowman,” junior guitar player Josh Cannata said.

The guitar students put in many hours of practice to perfect their music for this concert. The practice took place at school for the whole ensemble and the soloists practiced their songs at home.

“We rehearse after school every Monday and Thursday for an hour or hour and a half,” junior Fabian Isaola said. “I’m going to be playing a solo so, whenever I’m at home I usually run through it a couple of times so I don’t get rusty on it.”

Trying to be perfectionists, the guitar students fix their mistakes in an attempt to make their music as good as it can be.

“If I made a mistake somewhere when I’m playing my music, I try to practice and get better on those parts,” freshman Leif Tilton said.

The concert hasn’t had many difficulties for the guitar players participating. However, some of the soloists do feel the pressure of performing alone.

“I haven’t had difficulty with the Christmas carols because I know them well and it is easy to sight read, but my biggest pressure is having to perform a solo in front of the whole audience by myself because this is my first solo,” Cannata said.

The soloists acknowledge that there is extra pressure since they wanted their performance to be as flawless as possible.

“There’s always pressures when it comes to playing at a concert, for me especially, with the solos when everyone is watching you,” Isaola said. “You feel the pressure and you don’t want to mess up in front of a crowd.”

Even though some of the guitar students have performed before, they acknowledge that this concert isn’t like the concerts they have done in the past.

“This concert is a bit different from others because not every class is performing, it was more of an optional concert to those who were interested,” Isaola said.

“It’s a bit smaller but I like it better like that so you can hear everyone around you.”

Although this concert was completely optional, the guitar students choose to use this performance as an opportunity to improve their skills on the guitar.

“Mr. Moseley had asked me to play and I agreed to perform because I want to use every opportunity to be a better performer,” Tilton said.

The ensemble musicians want-

STRUMMING SOLOIST: Freshman Leif Tilton plays a 14 minute solo of the Turkish song, Koyunbaba. He began playing guitar when he was six and has loved it ever since. PHOTO BY Austyn Keelty

ed to express themselves through their music when they performed at the concert.

“I’m looking forward to showing people my talent and being able to express to others my thoughts and feelings through music,” Tilton said.

This guitar ensemble also hoped to entertain an audience during this concert as well as raise money for their program.

“This concert is to help fund raise money and we’re going to be asking for donations there so that we can raise money to help buy

coming UP in ENTERTAINMENT Nov. 14 Pre-Area Choir Auditions @ Anderson High Dec. 16 Silver Star Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser Jan. 13 All-State Audition @ REAGAN HS, San Antonio, TX Jan. 18-28 STC's Mary Poppins

supplies and things like that for the guitar program,” Moseley said.

“We also would like to be able to bus us around to competitions and guitar events.”

The guitar students also expected that this concert would be fun and entertaining for audiences of all ages.

“I expect this upcoming concert to be really fun and it’ll be a good way to lead into Christmas with all the Christmas songs and such,” Isaola said. “Hopefully those who come will have fun too and enjoy it as much as we do.”

13

A look into the fine arts of yesterday & tomorrow Jocelyn Brooks In-Depth Editor

Art is present in the lives of nearly all students in some form or another; whether the individual considers himself an artist or views art from an audience’s perspective.

Music, visual art, and theatre play an important role in society and are the driving force of culture, especially for students.

“It’s understanding who they are as an individual and understanding what they’re going through and what they are possibly trying to share without actually verbalizing what it is," art teacher Mindy Le-Jeune said.

A common characteristic of fine arts programs at Bowie is their drastic growth in the numbers over the years.

“The jazz program had 12 students when I started here; it now has about 70,” band director Ryan Thomas said. “Steel drums was a single class with about 20 and it is now three classes with about 60.”

The influx of students has encouraged more opportunities for involvment in music and experiment with different styles of learning, which has led to the creation of more programs offering diverse music education.

“The band program has worked hard to keep up with modern ideas about what's important for students' growth as well as what it takes to stay successful in a competitive band activity,” Thomas said.

However, band inspired the making of other music classes.

“One of the major changes in the program over the years has been developing areas other than the marching band to provide more options for students to get involved in music," Thomas said. "In addition to the marching band, we offer five concert band classes, two percussion classes, two color guard classes, three jazz band classes, three steel drum classes, and two chamber winds classes."

Not only do these classes include the music, but other programs in the department have incorporated musical performance.

"Students also participate in full orchestra, region bands, the school musical, and lots of other small performances," Thomas said.

In addition, deeper re-

lationships between the programs have developed, strengthening the individual programs as well as the fine arts department.

“One of the things that I’m just super excited about is the level of collaboration that we currently have between the strands," choir teacher Randy Cantu said.

"That element I think has really really come a long way since I’ve been here and to tell you the truth, it’s one of the best parts of this job."

As these programs have grown and developed, they have earned their place at Bowie through the extensive awards being won.

“In the two years that I’ve been here, we’ve done things that haven’t been done in the history of the school,” orchestra teacher David Chisum said. “Last year the non-varsity orchestra made sweepstakes at both full orchestra and string orchestra—that hadn’t happened before.”

“It’s understanding who [the students] are as an individual and understanding what they’re going through.”

-Mindy LeJeune But while the awards continue to increase, the fine arts programs also promise to build character and contribute to who students will become as a person.

“We at Bowie are not expecting all of our students to become famous or to win multiple awards in the few contests in which we compete,” theatre teacher Betsy Cornwell said. “We only hope that they will become good people because they have learned about creative expression, collaboration, and communication; they develop leadership skills and learn what it means to be responsible and have a good work ethic.”

This character is evident in alumni Jordan Barron, who graduated in 2012 and has since continued his career in musical theatre in New York, appearing in numerous productions such as Austin’s very own “A Christmas Carol” at ZACH Theatre.

“Bowie's theatre program

a history of

KEEPING THE BEAT: 1993 vocal teacher Sheryl Jones conducts the show choir. PHOTO BY Christine Harrington

really provides great opportunities to explore different styles of performing and acting,” Barron said. “Coming from music, it was great to be thrown into situations that were acting central.

Teachers like Cornwell and Bazan are the ones who have helped shaped the programs into what they are today.

"The teachers in the fine arts departments really create an environment that makes you challenge yourself and learn," Barron said.

"It's a place to test yourself and the opportunities are top notch and in abundance.”

Pushing students to challenge themselves is hard work, but the end result leaves them as better artists and performers.

“The most rewarding thing is getting to see people grow,” Cantu said. “It’s getting to see people not only grow as musicians but grow as individual people, seeing them discover things about themselves, seeing them discover ways to handle both success and challenge in life.”

Not only that, but fine arts programs at Bowie have done what art does best: grown and evolved with society to create powerful emotions that grab hold of the audience and change the way the world is viewed.

“There was a study done in the UK that found that the heartbeats of audience members at theatrical performances very often become synchronized due to levels of emotion, excitement, etc,” Barron said. “So often we are all involved in our own worlds and devices, but if our minds and bodies can drop that and ‘live’ in the now, even for a moment because of what the performers and audience are sharing, the feeling is unbeatable.”

The Dispatch

Fri. Dec. 8, 2017

30

I

In-Depth

YEARS of ARTS

41

reasons why any of us are actually interested in drama

We like to take 'center stage'

2 3 4

4

PHOTOS BY Carrie Burkett, June Johnson, and Amber Sturtz

It's the most creative way to get your fine arts credit out of the way We needed an excuse to put on an act

Cornwell's like a second mother to us

'94

1 2 3 4

reasons why any of us are actually interested in drama

The community in theatre is really great to be a part of because everyone is like a family The thrill of being on stage that we get when we perform Being able to be a tech and being backstage during performances

We get to wear some really exciting costumes

'17

PHOTO COURTESY OF Group Photos, Inc.

PHOTO BY Christine Harrington

Punk bands "August Spies," "Black Samvara," and "Bovine Prophecy Band" are formed by students

FINE ARTS The most memorable moments in Bowie’s artistic history

1996 1993

2008

Third annual Winter Festival of the Arts held to save the fine arts departments from district budget cuts

The JBHSOPE travels to New York to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade PHOTO BY Stewart Harrington

PHOTO COURTESY OF Kelley Israel ART BY Preston Rolls

The JBHSOPE travels to London to perform in the New Year's Day Parade

Guitar program introduced as an elective class for the first time

2015

2014 2015 Theatre facilities are repaired after water damage postpones performances

PHOTO BY Maddy Rice

PHOTO COURTESY OF Russell Pankratz

2011 Art students begin the tradition of painting the windows of Waterloo Ice House

C

Fri. Dec. 8, 2017

The Dispatch

Commentary

14

AISD bond approval brings positive reactions

Some Austin citizens celebrate while others doubt and worry for the future district plans On November 7th, Austin citizens voted for the approval of a historic bond. This meant that AISD would receive over $1 billion to improve, modernize, and build new schools within the district.

Specifically, Bowie is on track to receive a parking garage, renovated and expanded athletics facilities, new and expanded fine arts facility, and technology improvements.

Along with new projects, there's also a large portion of money set for the up-keeping of preexisting parts of the school. This includes things like air conditioning and heating improvements. The everyday life for students will significantly change.

If done properly, this will have a great impact on all AISD schools.

It’s important that we celebrate the passing of this bond not only because it’ll improve schools across the city immensely but because it showed the care within our tight -knit community.

Many individuals were very dedicated to the passing of the bond whether it was through signs in their front yard or standing in front of Bowie on voting day to remind people to vote. The bond’s benefits were shared on Facebook or promoted in organizations and groups by passionate parents.

But as a community, we cannot stop caring from this point on now

that it’s passed. Things can still change and it is the people’s responsibility to speak up and keep AISD in check as many people have already done.

There were a few big reasons why some were against the bond passing. Some citizens believed East Austin schools were not getting the attention they deserved and the distribution of money and care was unfair. Many perceived the situation as West Austin being favored. This promoted ideas of gentrification and institutional racism in their eyes.

They make a good point but the plans were carefully thought out and schools’ funds were not just selected randomly. Ideas were exchanged through an extensive, two-year community involved process where Austin neighborhoods were approached about what their schools needed. Also, every school is on track to benefit from the bond.

Although Bowie is in a nice, fairly wealthy area of Austin, it was in need of attention. This was not because of poor, under-performing facilities but rather an overcrowded school.

Bowie’s major extensions and improvements are in place of building a new high school which would have been more expensive. The district is saving time and money by making this choice. The careful planning behind Bowie’s

future shows the bond was well thought out.

Another concern is that the school district has been consistently successful in paying for the bonds in the past but they have never managed one this big. With this being the largest bond in district history, Austin citizens worry they won’t be able to pay all of it which will force them to alter taxes. The district has maintained that taxes for Austin citizens will not go up, but some believe this concept is impossible.

The school district is making it possible through a financial method of borrowing and repaying in intervals. They will borrow and pay off the debt as they go rather than borrow the whole billion right at the beginning. This tactic is financially safer for AISD and helps keep taxes consistent for Austin citizens.

With big plans and visions, there is a lot of room for things to go wrong or off track. One aspect could cost more than expected or a school could need sudden treatment which would alter the plans for another school. The district may not borrow the full $1 billion in fear that they won’t be able to pay it all back, meaning some projects could be cut. The projects are prioritized by “worst first” which makes these “concrete” plans subject to change. It’s very important for the voters to get what they vot-

IMPR EDUC OVE FU TUR AT AFFE ION WITH E CTIN G TA OUT XES NO...

W HER THEY GETT E ARE I MON NG THIS EY?

AISD Bond

ed for in the first place.

This is a time to celebrate the bond’s passing because it has the potential to improve public education greatly. If all the plans go

ART BY Avy Friedman

EDITORIAL

through, students’ experience will be modernized and enhanced.

However, the community should stay as involved as they were to get it passed in the first place.

Coming to school every day and taking rigorous courses can be difficult and unpleasant for students. Many students join extracurriculars as a way Kiran Patel to make friends and News Editor participate in activities that they enjoy.

These activities are what keep students involved in their school community. However, many claim that extracurriculars may interfere with academics.

Extracurriculars are an important part of a high school experience and they allow students to surround themselves with individuals who have the same interests as themselves. While joining organizations might make completing homework assignments more difficult, they teach students important skills of responsibility, leadership, and time management.

Sports, fine arts and other organizations often have moral codes to follow in order to participate in the activities. These codes include having a clean and academically honest record. The codes motivate students to avoid dishonest behaviors so that they can continue to take part in their respective extracurriculars.

Additionally, many organizations encourage their participants to practice good behavior and maintain the standards of their grades by offering leadership positions.

Within the theatre company specifically, the sophomores and juniors can apply to become “officers.” These positions include

ART BY Avy Friedman and Callie Richards

Students struggle with balancing academics and extracurriculars

president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, librarian, and board member. Part of the selection process includes an evaluation of grades, commitment to the company, and exhibiting honest and respectful behavior which requires maintaining academic integrity.

Another component of many organiza-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• The Dispatch does not necessarily endorse the products or services of advertising.

CURRENT STAFF AWARDS • CSPA Crown (TBA), 2016-17 • CSPA Gold Medal, 3/3 All-Columbian, 2016-17 • JEA 4th Place Best in Show, Dallas Fall Convention, 2017-18 publication

• NSPA First Class, 3/5 Marks, 2016-17 • ASPA First Place Senior HS, 2015-16 • UIL/ILPC Bronze Star, 2015-16 • TAJE HM Best in Show, 2015-16 • TAJE 2nd Place Sweepstakes, 2015-16

tions is to set academic standards for their students. Athletes, in order to participate in their respective sports and play at their respective games, they must be passing all of their classes. This sets goals for students, prompting them to keep their grades up. In addition, these rules teach students the skill of time management between academics

Friday, Dec. 8, 2017 Vol. 30, Issue 3 www.thedispatchonline.net James Bowie High School 4103 W. Slaughter Lane Austin TX, 78749

and extracurriculars.

Understandably, juggling extracurriculars and academics is difficult. A solution organizations can offer, as many already have, is study hall. This is a great way for fine arts and sports teams to help their students makeup work they missed or complete homework.

Additionally, while handling both aspects of school, many students do not get much sleep and therefore struggle to pay attention in class. If teachers were to embed brain breaks, as were once introduced but failed to take place, students would have a chance to rest their brains and be more effective learners.

Extracurriculars are labeled as “extra,” however, in order to get into college, especially one that is highly ranked, they are a necessity. Many students who have a stellar academic record have been denied acceptance into colleges for their lack of participation in organizations. Knowing this, extracurriculars have become just as important as a great GPA because they allow a college to learn more about a student’s interests and strengths.

As a school system we should help our students learn to balance their lives between the two and encourage them to partake in activities that will bring them fulfillment. The friends and bonds that are made within extracurricular organizations can be the highlight of an individual’s high school career. They are places where people make lifelong memories that hopefully they can look back on and cherish, so it is important that we value their significance and help students find their place in the Bowie community.

THE DISPATCH STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Violet Glenewinkel

MANAGING EDITORS Mia Barbosa Victoria Newell NEWS EDITORS Cianna Chairez Kiran Patel

COMMENTARY EDITORS Jake Brien Avy Friedman Ian Miller REVIEW EDITOR Shelby Papst IN-DEPTH EDITOR Jocelyn Brooks

ONLINE TEAM Mo Orr (Lead) Ella Wright (SM Lead) Ellie Coulston Justine Lockhart Marisa Salazar Natalia Torres Kaitlyn Zellner

STAFF WRITERS Natalie Aman Gracie Angeli FEATURE EDITORS PHOTO EDITOR Sam Blas Madison Austin Austyn Keelty Liam Connally Abby Ong ARTS/GRAPHICS EDITOR Peter Dang Gigi Francis SPORTS EDITOR Callie Richards Katie Holm Shelby Kelly Madisen Johnson COPY EDITOR Sumin Kim ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Kathleen Nguyen Sam McPherson Jadon Alvarez Maddy Rice Mikayla Zellner VIDEO TEAM Preston Rolls Dalton Spruce (Lead) Caitlin Worthington PHOTO ESSAY EDITORS Douglas Smith Cara Andres Michael Sugrue Ashley Ramirez Robbie Warhola ADVISER Michael Reeves

15

The Dispatch

Fri. Dec. 8, 2017

C

Commentary

A painting speaks a thousand words. Like an art gallery, YouTube allows creators, or “YouTubers,” to hang their paintings in the exhibit. Favoring advertiser friendly content, YouTube is struggling to appease advertisers, and many YouTubers are now feeling censored; their art taken down.

Is YouTube limiting free speech?

A juggernaut second only to Google.com, YouTube, according to Alexa Internet Inc., is the second most visited website in the world. With this great power, comes great responsibility, and YouTube still has to pay the bills. It’s for this reason, from my stance, that the website has done a terrible job of upholding a free

extinguishing his source of income. YouTube carried out their actions without any prior notice or detailed explanation of how DeFranco had specifically violated the terms of service, as well as what counts as “controversial or sensitive subjects” for the website.

What’s the most telling of YouTube’s problems is the fight to continue generating money from advertisers. As of 2017, large corporations such as McDonald's, WalMart, Starbucks, and many others have come together to boycott YouTube so as

The right to flip off Trump

not to put their advertisements on YouTube videos.

Some of these may just be harmless cat videos, while others could be similar to the recent scandal of pedophile clips which have shocked advertisers.

YouTube is destroying itself. The fact is, Google’s only recently broken even with its $1.5 billion dollar purchase of YouTube way back in 2006. This company spends roughly $3.5 billion each year improving infrastructure while only making $3.8 billion in profits.

Grasping at the straws of a

ART BY Ian Miller

CHAT with NAT

Ian Miller

Natalie Aman

Commentary Editor

On October 28th, cyclist Juli Briskman flipped off President Donald Trump’s motorcade during her usual cycling routine. Soon afterwards, Briskman’s employer, Akima LLC, heard of the news and decided to fire the 50-year-old mother of two because of this incident.

Did Briskman truly deserve to be fired for her actions, or is this a violation of freedom of speech?

Briskman shouldn’t have been fired for what she did.

The company that Briskman was working for didn’t follow its own policy correctly, her colleague was able to get away with only a warning after saying something much more obscene, and the first amendment protects Americans from expressing their opinions.

Briskman's former company has a strict policy that all employees are bound to follow. One of the rules of the policy is that employees should never post "lewd" or "obscene" things on their social media unless the employee is off-duty.

Columnist

Briskman was off-duty when she flipped off Trump’s motorcade and had her photo taken during the action, and yet she was still fired for violating this rule. To me, this doesn’t seem fair for Briskman.

Sure, it could certainly be argued that flipping off Trump is obscene. However, as Briskman pointed out, an undisclosed former-colleague of hers at Akima posted offensive content on his public Facebook account, and yet after a simple warning from Akima, he was allowed to keep his job.

If Briskman’s colleague could get away with just a warning, then why did she have to lose her job without a second chance?

The first amendment of the Bill of Rights is the first on the list for one simple reason: it’s the most important amendment we as American citizens have. Under the first amendment, all citizens of the United States have freedom of speech;

new, shiny terms of service intended to be as vague as possible, and the always just out of reach perfect algorithm destined to regulate all 400 hours of content being uploaded each minute.

By distancing itself from both its creators and advertisers, YouTube has created a cycle. This cycle is fueled

by YouTube's attempts at greater control - to no avail.

A corporation is built upon both the success of its own employees and sustained by the income of revenue from customers. YouTube, my favorite site and

what we say, unless it threatens another person's life, cannot lawfully penalize us.

If Briskman wasn’t violating company policy when she was fired from her job, then could this be considered a violation of one’s first amendment? If so, Briskman shouldn’t be the one receiving punishment; the company who fired her should.

There isn’t much students can do to personally help Briskman, but we can help spread the message. Simply getting the word out about Briskman’s story, and how she was unfairly treated, could help to inspire others and create a message that this isn’t the only unfair case out there. Across the United States, injustices such as this happen all the time.

Briskman should not have gotten fired for what she did. The company she worked for didn’t have the right to intervene by firing her because of her actions, even if her methods were considered obscene.

Tis the season to be... greedy? Not exactly what you want to hear, right?

Well, let’s face it, while the winter holiday season can indeed be one of the most cheerful, fun, and cherished times of the year, we have to admit that our desire for more new things dramatically increases as December approaches.

Even if your family isn’t religious or doesn’t celebrate Christmas traditions, most people tend to designate winter as the gift-giving season.

While this isn't entirely a negative thing, the magnitude of Black Friday deals and our expectations for getting exactly what we want has come to an unreasonable level in our society.

Let’s start with the madness that ensues on what we call Black Friday. Only hours after we gather with our families and friends to celebrate and give thanks for the things we have, we find ourselves scavenging the local malls in a free-for-

app, is negating both. I believe that the reason for the company’s misfortunes is that the state of the Internet from 2006 was much different than the one today.

Google, for all of its deep pockets and ambitious dreams of leading the world in technological innovation, fails to understand that today’s Internet is more politically correct, better at using social media to effectively pressure corporations like YouTube, and much more united.

Every painting deserves a fair chance to be seen.

How can we achieve happiness?

all just to get that BOGO (Buy One Get One) deal.

Where did this mentality originate? The desire to save money: to have something simply because it costs less than it would on any other given day.

This obsessive mindset isn’t healthy. Yet every year, companies make their deals bigger and start them earlier. With Black Friday, people seem to easily miss the meaning of thankfulness altogether.

As young adults growing up in such a materialistic society, it’s almost impossible not to get caught up in the commotion of name brands and nice things.

As high schoolers are struggling to make money, it’s that much more tempting to view the holidays as a time for getting those things we’ve had our eye on.

Yes, we all do this. I’m guilty of it every year. Secret Santas at school, ‘Friendsmas’, and family gift exchanges are all opportunities to give and receive, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s when that desire turns into a regular feeling that this materialistic mentality becomes too much.

We are growing up in a world where the money and objects we have hold more value than the things we accomplish and the people

ART BY Jake Brien

Jake Brien

Commentary Editor

speech environment under the intense pressure of advertisers.

Philip DeFranco, a wellknown YouTuber who posts videos intended to inform his audience of the “news and pop culture” in the world, came under attack from YouTube demonetizing over a dozen of his videos; rendering him unable to make money from advertisers.

DeFranco took to Twitter, and posted an edited screen shot of the site’s terms of service under the “not advertiser friendly” section, highlighting a particular section which read “controversial or sensitive subjects… even if graphic imagery is not used” as a violation of the terms of service.

So, does YouTube have the right to flag YouTubers for posting content which violates the terms of service? Of course. However, vague guidelines such as “controversial or sensitive subjects” are what threatened DeFranco’s channel and personal livelihood by

ART BY Jake Brien

YouTube is turning its back on creators

we know. And we base our success off of the quality of our clothes and cars and Instagram posts.

Growing up in this type of society is taking a toll on us as we live our lives striving to obtain things rather than happiness because we’re stuck thinking that these things will provide us happiness and worth. However, if more people would shift their energy from selfishness to selflessness, we’d be living in a much happier and accepting society.

It’s not all that bad to have nice things, but when your priorities for gaining new and better things take center stage, it may be time to reexamine your priorities.

I’m not here to tell you what you should or shouldn’t be thinking or doing. So, it’s for you to decide what holds the most value in your life.

BULLDAWG SPEAK OUT 9th

10th

Maia Gerd

James Hayek

"Yes, because it probably looks good on college applications."

If you could graduate early, would you?

"I would not graduate early because I want to be ready for college."

11th

12th

TEACHER

Alex Coch

Brisa Yeo

Laura Hartford

"Yes, if I could just skip to senior year and be done with it [high school]."

"Probably not because I would want to graduate with all of my friends at the same time."

"No I would not because I think high school is a very important part of life. If anything I wish I could go back to study harder."

PHOTOS AND INTERVIEWS BY Austyn Keelty and Madisen Johnson

P

Fri. Dec. 8, 2017

The Dispatch

Photo Essay

16

Gingerbread houses galore Culinary arts students team up to create themed projects to be displayed and auctioned Cara Andres PE Editor

Four mastermind groups per block team up to create extraordinary gingerbread houses filled with icing, chocolate, marshmallows, licorice, and so much more.

This marks the 18th year that chef Richard Winemiller has done this holiday project with his culinary arts students.

“It is an excellent way for my students to learn some decorating skills along with helping them learn and use their organization, time management and teamwork abilities,” Winemiller said. “It also allows them to express their creative side and do some real-world problem solving.”

Each group gets one week to plan their project, which consists of creating a cardboard replica of their idea, coming up with a decorative plan, and creating a shopping list. They then get one week to put their ideas into life.

“I try to stay about one day ahead of the students so they can watch my process and learn from it,” Winemiller said. “I also provide advice.”

Each group comes up with a distinct theme for their gingerbread house.

The ingredients that they use are all provided by the culinary program.

“My groups theme is Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory because we really liked the idea for the boat to be gingerbread and a large chocolate river,” junior Julia Comer said. “We’re using candy dots, dots, and green licorice string.”

The groups utilize all sorts of sweets, such as pez, starbursts, Swedish fish, and

“ It gives our customers a lot of pleasure when they see the finished products. ” - Richard Winemiller

even different kinds of cereal to provide unique textures and details. However, to make the houses stick together, each group uses Royal Icing.

“The #1 rule is everything in the project (except the baseboard) must be edible,” Winemiller said.

In the end, the finished pieces are displayed at a staff luncheon that the culinary team caters during the first week of December.

Then, the pieces are auctioned off.

“We will display the houses in the library the follow-

ing week where they will be for sale by silent auction,” Winemiller said.

So far, a few groups have faced some challenges on their projects, due to time constraints and lack of communication. Despite all of that, they have been optimistic about their projects and the collaboration skills they will gain from it.

“The biggest challenge is being able to do everything you have planned for each day within the time limits,” senior Seyi Odufuye said. “However, I think the best part is probably at the end, when we get to see all of our ideas, planning and hard work come together.”

Since the groups have just two weeks to get their masterpieces finished, they benefit greatly from working in groups.

“Doing this alone would be impossible,” junior Jack Ingram said. “Being a part of a team really helps everything get done well and on time for the most part.”

Ultimately, Winemiller plans to continue on with his tradition for many years more.

"It is great training for the students in working together in a true collaboration, trains their time management and organizing skills and it gives our customers a lot of pleasure when they see the finished projects," Winemiller said.

BAKING IT OUT OF THE BALLPARK: Chef Richard Winemiller starts to create his own baseball stadium out of the gingerbread. He is always one day ahead of his students so that they can learn from his process. "Just like real construction, the order you do things is really important," Winemiller said. PHOTO BY Cara Andres

GINGERWOOD: Seniors Sofia Garza and Kieran Barrington work on a Hollywood themed house. They are creating celebrities such as Katy Perry. "The best part about it is seeing my vision come to life," Garza said. PHOTO BY Cara Andres

PRECISION AND PERFECTION: Senior Martin Cervantes uses a sharp tool to make the floor of his gingerbread house look precise. "The Night of the Living Gingerbread" is the theme for his group. "We were inspired by an ad of a gingerbread running away from a scone," Cervantes said. PHOTO BY Austyn Keelty

SETTING UP THE LODGE: Senior Zach Branham, senior Isabella Poveda, and junior Juliana Miller work on their ski lodge themed gingerbread house. They used books on house-like design for inspiration. "We wanted something wintry and that had a big house like structure," Poveda said. PHOTO BY Abby Ong

COLLABING: Senior Madi Golden talks to her teammates to figure out how to build. Their groups theme is King Kong. "The best part about the project is how challenging we made it for ourselves," Golden said.

PHOTO BY Cara Andres

A CHRISTMAS HOUSE: Juniors Asia Vo and Grace Henderson work together on putting the icing on their gingerbread. Their groups theme is a Christmas Carol. "We chose this theme because it gives off that classic Christmas vibe in a friendly way," Vo said. "We stumbled upon our theme when were looking at traditional gingerbread houses." PHOTO BY Cara Andres