The Maroon v.90 February 2018

volume 90 | F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 8

S T E P H E N F. A U S T I N H I G H S C H O O L | A U S T I N , T E X A S | L O YA L F O R E V E R

ERA OF THE VAPE HEALTHY Alternative - or -

DEADLY Replacement?

LIFE & ARTS - p10

NET NEUTRALITY

New legislation could lead to additional fees for socail media access NEWS - p4

TALKING POLITICS

How to respectfully disagree with your peers in divisive times COMMENTARY - p8

QUENCHING YOUR THIRST

Not all water fountains are created equal.

ENTERTAINMENT - p19

IN THIS ISSUE

13

9

NEWS Dragoo Dies Three Times

by Olivia Heinze

LIFE & ARTS East v. West

by Eleanor Estrada

14 7 2

SPORTS Ultimate Frisbee

by Angie Black

ON THE COVER

NEWS Upcycle Auction

by Tatiana Brown

| CONTENTS | FEB 2018

10

LIFE & ARTS The Era of the Vape

by Eleanor Estrada

Meet the Editors Stephen F. Austin High School Publications Department 1715 West Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78703 sfamaroon@gmail.com www.sfamaroon.org Editor in Chief Staff Writers Eleanor Estrada Giselle Aviles Kyara Avilez Managing Editor Kylie Baber Tessa Lehman Ava Baker Angie Black Creative Director Tatiana Brown Auston Abrego Caleb Bryant Jonathan Dominguez Copy Editors Isabel Enciso Miranda Gershoni Mickey Ferguson Joslynn Sanchez Aisha Foster Sofia Freed News Editor Julian Garcia Bryan Sak Maddie Gaynor Sarah Guehring Commentary Editor Will Jones Cezanne Lossing-Cann Ashley Kahn Kenzie Marsales Life & Arts Editor Adrian Mosser Olivia Heinze Evan Myers John Paidle Sports Editor Jake Paterson Michael Tiemann-Daniel Elsa Pecore Cole Ratliff Entertainment Editor Ana Rosero Lauren Ward Connor Tate Colin Wade Photo Editor Zayna Chouman

Eleanor Estrada editor in chief Hi! I’m Eleanor. I am the Editor-in-Chief of The Maroon and this is my third year on staff. I love to travel and spend time pampering my dog. I have a strange obsession with chocolate covered marshmallows and waking up early to watch Meet the Press on Sunday mornings.

Tessa Lehman managing editor Hey, I’m Tessa. I am the managing editor of The Maroon Newspaper and I have been on staff for four years. Reading and writing are my favorite things to do, especially wrapped in a comfy blanket with a cup of hot tea. I am currently bingeing The Office and I love it.

Joslynn Sanchez copy editor My name is Joslynn and I’m a copy editor for The Maroon. I like to emphasize the experiences of people in my writing, whether it’s experiences of my own or of people like yourself. One of my goals in life is to be a leader that changes at least some small part of the world. My biggest role model is Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Justice Sotomayor once said, “the Latina in me is an ember that blazes forever,” and I try to live as bright and bold as an ember every day.

Publications Adviser Jena Weber EDITORIAL POLICY The Maroon is published five times during the school year by the newspaper students at Stephen F. Austin High School.

The publication strives to meet the highest ethical and professional standards for news and advertising. It will strive to be an inclusive publication that will be free of prejudice against race, creed, national origin, handicapping conditions or gender. Information in this publication is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Neither the newspaper staff, the adviser, Austin High School administration, nor Austin ISD can be held responsible for errors or omissions in content.

All editorials are the sole viewpoint of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the organization. Letters to the editor are welcome for topics of general interest to the readership of The Maroon. Letters must be typed or neatly written in ink and include the writer’s signature, grade and contact phone number. Editors reserve the right to determine which issue the letter goes in, making every effort to print the letter as soon as possible and the right to edit the letter for grammar, length and repetition. All persons are hereby informed that all advertised products/services or establishments are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Follow Us @sfamaroon

CHECK OUT www.sfamaroon.org F E B 2 0 1 8 | S TA F F |

3

Losing Our Safety Net

Recent battle for net neutrality alarms students

BY CEZANNE LOSSING-CANN | Commentary Editor

“J

ust trust us.”

A recent statement from Comcast stands as a top headline on Google. Comcast, one of the broadcasting giants that has stood at the head of the net neutrality debate, argues that it is something people can do without.

“The corporations that pay to get their material out first would really monopolize on the situation and really screw over the consumers,” senior Tessa Barlyn said. “I believe that students will get the bad end of the deal.”

Net neutrality, as defined by Webster’s dictionary, states that internet service providers must treat all data regardless of its kind, source, or destination, the same. If this regulation is removed, it allows for service providers to charge consumers per website while also controlling the speed of individual sites.

“Net neutrality shapes the internet,”

freshman Olivia Hoffman said. “With this new administration there is a lot of lying and censorship going on. I really don’t want anybody to be choosing what I get to see fast and what I don’t get to see fast. I don’t want huge fast corporate entities able to take the fast lane.”

Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Ajit Pai has been arguing that Title ll, the bill that enforces regulations on net neutrality, hurts small companies. While the primary backers of repealing Title ll have been telecommunication giants like Verizon and Comcast.

“From Ohio to Oklahoma, Minnesota to Montana, the @FCC’s Title II rules are hurting small companies-the entities critical to providing access and competition in rural America.” Ajit Pai said in a recent tweet.

Net neutrality keeps media distributed equally

and with Title ll being repealed, there is nothing to stop internet providers from getting picky.

These “small companies” that Pai speaks of are actually internet provider giants that provide those valuable bars. With Title ll being removed, internet giants can limit access to popular internet services by combining your website access into packages.

“I would say that all information on the internet is equal to me,” Hoffman said. “AT&T has already tried to do this. They get sued every time. Like you want to visit Instagram? Well, then you have to buy our instagram package.”

Net neutrality holds the internet together with the regulations of Title ll. Without these regulations, there is little to stop internet providers from controlling the internet.

SFA Society Supports Orchestra with Grant

BY ANGIE BLACK | Staff Writer & TATIANA BROWN | Staff Writer

S

FA Society gave $2200 to orchestra for them to expand and make improvements to their organization. Every year grants like this one are given out by the PTA and the SFA Society to improve different organizations who compete in UIL. However, orchestra has not earned a large

amount of money in a couple of years.

“The SFA society is made of alumni and donors, and every year they host a dinner where people can buy tickets and donate,” orchestra director Ana Maria Solis said. “All the UIL activities have the opportunity to apply for a grant and earn some of that money for their

Senior Justice Fasse plays violin at the Orchestra Winter Concert. Photo by Angie Black.

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| NEWS | FEB 2018

organizations.”

Grants like these allow for improvements to be made following the guidelines of what the grant asked for, such as grants giving for improving instruments and having a second string quartet.

“We have master conductors from the area come and work with the students,” Solis said. “We also have professional players, normally from the Austin Symphony or Austin Lyric Opera, to work with the sections and the orchestra to prepare for UIL. We want them to be prepared for a competitive competition. Our usual budget doesn’t allow these kind of opportunities for our students so it is nice to this,” Solis said.

This year, orchestra will use the grant to hire different coaches and consultants for UIL, region, quartets, and solos. Some students also use private teachers from the Austin Symphony or Austin Lyric Opera throughout the year to improve their performance.

“Normally we get excellence funds from PTA, unfortunately they could not give us money this year. Fortunately, the SFA society has given us money for grants to buy items, such as bows and re-stringing instruments,” Solis said.

All the UIL groups get a chance to apply and expand on their groups. It is up to the people who are at the top of the organization that decide who gets the money they collected.

“SFA has really helped out orchestra this year, and we greatly appreciate it,” Solis said.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

20 1.20 Donald J. Trump is sworn into office.

1.21 Millions participate in the Women’s March.

YEAR IN REVIEW 2.22 Trump overturns Obama rule on transgender bathroom usage.

2.26 Moonlight wins 89 Academy award for best picture after mix up.

3.6 Trump signs his second travel ban which barred travelers from six muslim countries.

3.29 The UK PM sends a letter to the EU to officially trigger Brexit.

4.5 Pepsi ad featuring Kendall Jenner pulled after backlash.

4.7 US airstrikes 5.22 Syrian 22 killed and airfield after 59 injured in bombing chemical after Ariana weapons Grande attack concert in on Khan Sheikhoun. Manchester, England.

2

1

5.7 Emmanuel Macron wins France’s presidential election defeating Marine Le Pen.

5

6.2 Trump announces the US’ withdrawl from the Paris Climate Agreement.

7.4 North Korea tests first succsessful intercontinental ballistic missle into Sea of Japan.

8.12 Protests in Charlottesville, Virginia turns violent.

8.25 Category 4 Hurricane 6.16 Harvey Amazon makes announces 7.26 it is buying Trump bans landfall in transgender Texas with Whole people from 130 m.p.h.

Foods the military. winds for $13.7 billion.

3

6

17

12.6 Time Magazine names their Person of the Year “The Silence Breakers”, people 9.13 who came International 10.31 forward Truck kills 11.20 Olympic Committee eight and Atlanta’s to report sexual injures 10 Georgia announces misconpeople in a Dome is Paris will New York destroyed duct. host 2024 in a and LA will terrorist controlled attack. host 2028 implosion.

Olympic games.

9.3 Californian governor issues state of emergency due to La Tuna brush fire near Los Angeles

10.9 Harvey Weinstein is fired from The Weinstein Company after sexual abuse alligations.

11.5 Gunman shoots 26 dead and injures 20 at a church in Sunderland Springs, Texas.

4 1. Donald J. Trump is sworn into office as the 45th president. Picture from the POTUS twitter 2. Britain’s historic vote; the U.K votes to leave the European Union.

3. Hurricane Harvey hits the Texas coast resulting in a record breaking 5 feet of rainfall and $125 billion in damage recovery, making it the costliest U.S. disaster of 2017. Photo by Lt. Zachary West, 100th MPAD 4. Time honors the woman who broke the silence with #MeToo. Photo from time.com.

5. The Woman’s March brings in up to 50,000 people.

Photo by Jena Weber.

6. Amazon buys Whole Foods, making it possible to order food online, and pick it up in-store.

FEB 2018 | NEWS |

5

ats on the

ise

Combatting rodent problem requires effort from everyone

BY COLE RATLIFF | Staff Writer

K

eeping rodents out of schools has always been a problem for the district, but recently AISD has seen an increase in the number of rats in their educational facilities. It has gained the attention of staff and students, who are now being asked to do their part to help keep them out of the school.

“The custodians have been very helpful by checking for me before I get here in the morning,” culinary teacher Esther Joucken said.

“I was in the room we use as a lounge in K-AHS at around 6:30 p.m.,” senior Alejandro Lopez said. “The motion sensor lights had gone off, so I had to turn them on manually. On my way to the light switch, I accidentally kicked [a rat]. I would have kicked it harder had I known it was there, but it was an accident and it was very frightening.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, rats and mice are a preventable problem, but it will take time to fix the problem.

“A majority of people at this school don’t care about what they do with their trash. They think it’s other people’s jobs to throw it away.

After hours, the rats all come out and have a veritable feast on people’s trash,” Lopez said.

Left-out trash and food is one of the reasons there is an increase in the number of rats in the school. The culinary program has been

Rat bites and scratches can result in disease and rat-bite fever.

Rat urine is responsible for Leptospirosis, which can result in liver and kidney damage among other diseases. Diseases can also be contracted through the handling or inhalation of fecal matter.

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| NEWS | FEB 2018

affected by this problem. “[The rats] have kept us from opening because if they’ve caught one, we’re not opening,” Joucken said. “We have caught several so far, so we haven’t opened because of that, so there is some loss of revenue.”

KAHS teacher Sean Gallagher said he saw rats in the fall semester.

“Once during class, then late at night after a screening we had,” Gallagher said. “I’ve worked here for 14 years, the school is by a river, it has many access points, and rats are notoriously intelligent. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a rat in the school.

I’m positive that the administration is trying their best,” Gallagher said. “It’s just like everything at this school, there’s so much happening. Everyone has a lot going on from kids to adults. In a way I feel bad for everybody.”

Pre-Calculus teacher Deborah Windham understands that the administration is doing everything in their power to take care of the rat problem, but hopes she won’t continue seeing rats in her classroom.

“When I came into my classroom on the delayed start there was rat poop on my desk, and I touched it because I didn’t know what it was,” Windham said. “They’re doing the best they can.

It’s a district issue with resources.”

Rats can chew through electrical wires, cinder blocks, and lead pipes with their razor sharp teeth.

Rats favor to live in kitchen areas because food is easily accessible.

Ways you can help combat the rats Remove garbage from classrooms every afternoon Keep food in tightly sealed glass and plastic containers Communicate with custodial staff. If you see signs of rats, report it.

Keep common areas clean throughout the day - especially after lunchtime If you eat during class, make sure to dispose of any trash or crumbs that are left behind

AGS Turns Trash into Treasures

BY TATIANA BROWN | Staff Writer

A

GS class of 2020 held their annual upcycle auction a few weeks back and earned a total of $500. One student earned the most money by making a fish purely out of aluminum cans, which sold for $78.

“Fifty percent of the project has to be made of whatever mystery item that they were assigned and that might be cardboard, glass, HDPE plastic, synthetic rubber or aluminum. Fifty percent or more of that project has to include that item.

Students have to manipulate the item in at least four different steps, to show their process which is why students are also required to write a storyboard and a brochure that goes with the

1

3

product, which educates whoever might be buying it,” English teacher Stacy Webster said.

Students have to work with actual trash and make something artistic or something useful out of their given material. Not only that, but many parents will also see these students products on maroon and white night. This encourages students to be even more creative since many will see their projects.

“The upcycle project gets primarily based on chemistry because students have to find percent composition of their item they’ve been assigned, they have research what would happen if that item ended up in a landfill or being burned like some trashes taken care of in other countries,” Webster said. “They have to create a brochure that

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4

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considers the history of the item, the data that they’ve collected,” The upcycle project involves multiple parts which include math, history, English, and chemistry. Students have to work on different research items as well as making a creative piece.

The actual upcycle portion involved hard work for students who went above and beyond.

“I spent a lot of time on my project, I’d probably spent three hours for research and deciding on the concept of the project. Then about six hours to actually build my wall-hanging picture frame made out of CD cases,” AGS sophomore Xander Christou said.

The students that went above and beyond tended to spend extra hours building their projects. Students get to release their creativeness while still having to use mathematical and scientific thinking to show the process of their item that may be thrown in the landfill.

“The students are researching about the world around them but the upcycle creation is really allowing them to do something that doesn’t happen in a lot of schools around the country and that is to access their own creative ideas and to come up with a new solution to a problem,” Webster said. “While the product doesn’t necessarily one hundred percent fit the teks of any one class it’s not an English project or a math project or a history project instead it pulls together all of the disciplines,” “Once again this year, I was really impressed by the professionalism of the products there were so many items that I actually wanted to purchase.

There were teachers literally waiting by the tables right as we were counting down to the end of the auction so they could rush and be the last person to win the item,” Webster said.

1) Ellen Haggard’s aluminum fish had the highest bidding of $78. 2) A Ferris wheel made out of cardboard and an HDPE plastic lantern. 3) Tis the season for festive plastic cups that make a snowman. 4) A fo cacti garden that lights up the night. 5) Multiple adorable plastic planters and aluminum jewelry were made by the AGS sophomores.

Photos by Tatiana Brown-Gomez

Heating Issues Cause Disruptions Across District

BY ELEANOR ESTRADA | Editor in Chief

A

s faculty returned to work on Tuesday, Jan. 2, many came back to bone-chilling classrooms. Many teachers, knowing the difficulties of learning in such a cold environment, sent out messages to their students warning them of the cold temperatures.

Austin High wasn’t the only campus experiencing colder than usual temperatures.

AISD was said to have received heat-related work orders from 90 of its 130 schools.

“At the beginning of the semester, the boilers were not working,” assistant principal Doug McGraw said. “They were resetting and they weren’t working. The first day we came back, it hadn’t been running, so when I went around the building, it was cold, 37 to 65 degrees.”

The air conditioning and heating in the school are a maintenance and operations issue, meaning the downtown district pays for repairs.

“Most of the issues our maintenance and operations people can deal with, but sometimes they need a little assistance,” McGraw said. “In this case a gentleman did come out to actually help our person at night to make sure we got a boiler running.”

The colder than usual temperatures lead to both students and teachers finding it hard to focus.

It wasn’t uncommon to see people wrapped in blankets or wearing winter coats, hats and scarves inside the building.

“It’s hard to focus on the lesson if I’m too busy trying to conserve my body temperature,”

senior Paige Hemingson said. “One time I was here to take the SAT when the heater was broken, and I almost died.”

While many were surprised at the frigid temperatures in many of the classrooms, students at Austin High are not new to cold classrooms.

Students and faculty alike have complained about the frequently low temperatures in many areas of the school, but the administration has little to no control over the central heating system which is located at AISDs downtown offices.

“This school is so bipolar,” senior Jordan Bernard said. “One minute it’s hot and one minute it’s cold. I always have to bring a jacket to school.

If I ever forget it, I know it’s going to be a rough day.”

FEB 2018 | NEWS |

7

How to Hold a Conversation Across Party Lines

BY EVAN MYERS | Staff Writer

I

n this time of great division in our country, it can be hard to discuss your ideas openly with others. People on both sides of the political spectrum are passionate about their views and just as passionately oppose the other side. To have a good political conversation one must recognize that both sides of an argument have equal rights to speak their mind. Both of you are exercising your first amendment right to free speech, and are both equally entitled to your opinions. You must not demonize the opposite side into monsters. You can disagree with someone and still be respectful.

When engaging in a political conversation, represent your political views positively and respectfully. You’re not going to convince anyone by screaming in their face.

Being pleasant and collected shows that you’re

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| C O M M E N TA RY | F E B 2 0 1 8

mature and that your argument is

at

valid. Screaming the opposition will only strengthen their own view that you are incorrect

and immature.

In a situation where you are unable to convince your opponent, you should both agree to disagree on the topic and try to discuss other things. Respect the other person’s right to think differently than you, but know when to recognize factual inconsistencies or falsities.

Be sure to also know when to stop if things become too heated.

Being open to new ideas or concepts when going into a conversation can help expand your horizons and build parts of your political ideals you might not feel confident about. Consider a political conversation as an opportunity to learn and build character rather than a chance to sway someone to your side. A good synonym for this kind of conversation could be an exchange of information rather than a battle of wits.

OUR PROGRESSIVE CITY REMAINS A DIVIDED CITY

WEST VS EAST

BY ELEANOR ESTRADA | Editor in Chief

T

To this day divides can be seen throughout the city and in the school district. There is a constant battle between which schools receive funding and many believe that East Austin schools are being ignored compared to their neighbors to the West. Austin High has a particularly interesting placement in the views on East and West. With such a large zoning area, students from Tarrytown to East Cesar Chavez come together to study.

Students from every tax bracket and every ethnic background gather in the same classrooms.

While this diversity gives students an interesting insight into the distinct makeup of our city, it can be easy for students to get stuck in their ways and keep themselves from interacting with those from other communities. For example, AGS previously only accepted students who were zoned for Austin High, meaning that there was a drastic lack of diversity compared to the rest of the school.

There are hopes that with the recently passed million dollar AISD bond will be equitable enough to provide for all schools equally. And with the implementation of the new academies, hopes are that it will also bring greater diversity to the programs.

he 1980s was a time of progress and change throughout the United States.

Political and Social movements spread across the country, and many viewed the era as a decade of advancement. Austin was seeing one of its first booms and the “weird city” was as weird as ever. But what many don’t remember were the harsh racial and socio-economic divides seen throughout the city.

To this day, we have clearly mapped out what it means to be in West Austin, and what it means to be in East Austin. I-35 marked the dividing line between East and West Austin. While many see this divide as nothing more than a geographic marking, to many groups, it means far more.

My father was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, but spent most of his High School life between San Antonio and Austin. He grew up on East 3rd street with his mom and grandmother.

He attended public schools in East Austin until busing was implemented in AISD in hopes of diversifying the district. Mexican-American students from the Eastside were bused to schools like Anderson up North. And while advertised as a positive plan for the community, busing did little to nothing to bring together racial groups.

I N T E R S T A T E

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Order online at www.balfour.com or stop by room 335 for an order form.

F E B 2 0 1 8 | C O M M E N TA RY |

9

ERA OF THE VAPE Your Body After Vaping BRAIN

Dopamine levels increase as nicotine from the E-cigarette enters the brain.

LUNGS

Nanoparticles from the vapor may enter the lungs and cause inflammation and raise infection risk.

MOUTH

Cotton mouth, scratchy throat and coughing can all be side effects.

HEART

Vaping causes raised blood pressure and heart rate. Blood vessels also become restricted.

OTHER

Blood fat levels increase.

Consequences of Vaping “Electronic cigarettes, vaporizers, and other devices intended to distribute nicotine are prohibited per district policy. The penalty is the same as for tobacco. If the device was used to deliver an illegal substance such as marijuana or bath salts, suspension and/or removal to a DAEP will be required.” - Austin High Student Handbook

1 DAY

in school suspension for posession of a vape.

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2 DAYS

in school suspension for using a vape.

| LIFE & ARTS | FEB 2018

REMOVAL

to alternative school for smoking from a vape that has THC, the chemical found in marijuana, and being under the influence.

Healthy alternative or deadly replacement?

BY ELEANOR ESTRADA | Editor in Chief

W

alking down the streets of Austin it’s not uncommon to see groups of teens with a vape in hand. The past few years have seen an increase in the use of vapes, and teenagers are the most common users. According to the Center for Disease Control, E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used form of tobacco by youth in the U.S.

“Although it can be fun in a social setting, doing it in school is completely unnecessary and just shows the immaturity of the kids” While many agree that devices such as the recently popularized e-cig “JUUL”, while being healthier alternatives than cigarettes, have no place on school grounds and during the school day. Senior Lillian Lucero sees the appeal in vaping but thinks that using vapes at school is simply reflection of adolescent rebelliousness.

“Although it can be fun in a social setting, doing it in school is completely unnecessary and just shows the immaturity of the kids,” Lucero said. “Sneakily doing it in the back of the classroom or taking breaks to go and vape is not satisfying any need to have a healthier alternative.”

According to the CDC, although vapes are less harmful than cigarettes, smoking electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs, doesn’t come without any risks or harmful side effects.

“To me it seems like a no-brainer. If you inhale chemicals, it seems obvious to me that that’s not really ideal for your body,” school nurse Cynthia Moden said. “They try to make it seem like it’s more healthy than cigarettes but I don’t believe that. Something that is too good to be true probably is too good to be true.”

In 2015, a new law passed the Texas

TEENS ARE MORE LIKELY TO USE E-CIGARETTES THAN CIGARETTES

E-CIGARETTES CIGARETTES

legislature prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. This means that seniors who have turned 18, can legally purchase e-cigs along with regular tobacco cigarettes. Like any other form of tobacco product, vapes and e-cigs are illegal on school grounds, but this doesn’t keep students from purchasing and using them.

“We used to be able to write Class-C citations for possession of tobacco, but with the legislature being the way it is, they’ve kind of cut that off for us, so we are not able to write any Class-C tickets while on school property. That includes the school, the school bus, any athletic event or any school sponsored event,” AISD Police Officer TJ Hernandez said. “If a kid is caught with a vape or an e-cigarette, we will turn it over to administration and they have to handle it. Our hands are tied.”

“There are obviously health risks involved. It’s liquified nicotine so the side effects of that are increased heart rate and a tightened chest,” senior Carmen Larkin said. “But on the other side of that, it is a better alternative to cigarettes. Cause beyond the effects of nicotine, you also have tobacco side effects and addiction.”

They try to make it seem like it’s more healthy than cigarettes but I don’t believe that. Something that is too good to be true probably is too good to be true.

Questions have arisen on whether or not the era of vaping will soon come to an end, or whether it’s here to stay. Lucero is convinced the popularity of vaping will eventually pass.

“I do think the vaping craze will pass because just like the cigarette thing in the 50’s and 60’s passed,” Lucero said. “This will pass too, once it becomes taboo.”

9.5%

3.6% 8th Grade

14.0%

16.2%

11.4%

6.3% 10th Grade

12th Grade

FEB 2018 | LIFE & ARTS |

11

Pageant Material

Sophomore Crowned Miss Austin to Compete at National Level

BY MADDIE GAYNOR | Staff Writer

S

ince going to an open call with the National American Miss pageant system at the age of 11, sophomore Gianna Mares has spent much of her time practicing her personal introduction speech, going over possible interview questions, and practicing her formal and casual wear walk. Mares’ hard work was recently paid off when she

became Miss Austin, and went on to compete in the Nationals pageant.

“Being Miss Austin means that I have to take action in our community and be an active role model in our great city,” Mares said. “I want to represent the best city in the best way possible.”

While working to become Miss Austin, Mares competed at the state level where she received an invitation to the national pageant in California.

During the process of joining the national pageant she had to apply and submit a request to represent Austin.

“Perseverance was a main key just going back to compete every year and giving it my all,” Mares said. “ I was thrilled to receive my banner at Nationals with the words “Miss Austin” embroidered on the front and my name on the back.”

Her “Miss Austin” title was the result of constant practice and support from her friends and family.

“My family and friends are my biggest supporters,” Mares said.

“Whether they are in the audience

cheering for me or cheering me on from home, I always have their support.”

Pageantry has positively affected many aspects of Mares’ life through using her experiences to shape herself in a positive way.

“It has helped me grow more confident as a person and become more organized,” Mares said. “It has also helped me become a better communicator.”

Through her time competing, she has taken away many positive things, but Mares has also experienced the negative views people in pageants can sometimes face.

“Some people may have a negative view of people in pageants, but only because they don’t know all the details or they may be misinformed,” Mares said. “Before I was a participant, I thought pageants were for super girly-girls and the judges only judged on looks. Now I know it’s not about looks, it’s about the way the contestants present themselves, [with] confidence and

poise.”

Although facing negative views may be apart of competing in pageants, Mares has learned skills that will help her in her everyday life.

“In a way, pageantry has given me an advantage over some of my peers because in the future when I go to a job interview or an interview for school to further my education I will not have a fear of interviewing,” Mares said.

Pageantry, even though it is a competition, has shown Mares that sometimes winning isn’t everything.

It has shown her that instead of being discouraged, she should use the success of others to push herself further.

“In pageantry, even though we are all competing for the title, we are all sincerely happy for the girl who gets the crown,” Mares said.

“On any other night, with any other set of judges, the outcome could be different. That’s what keeps me striving to improve.”

Competitive Martial Artist Learns to Grow From Her Loses BY KYLIE BABER | Staff Writer

Y

asmin Evans is a competitive karate champion. She is a part of Team Gipsy, a sponsored karate team for youths. This team does martial arts competitively, and has even competed for team USA in the world championships. Evans has been practicing karate for ten years, and is still an active competitor.

“The first time I competed was at a small local tournament; I was a white belt then,” Evans said. “I went, broke boards and fought, and I ended up winning. That’s when I decided I should stick with this because it’d be cool to be a black belt someday.”

She has a large collection of competition rings from various

12 | L i f e a n d A r t s

tournaments and competitions that she has done well in.

“I go to the world championships, and win at least three, and at state, you win at least two,” Evans said. “In my division, I’ve won, like, 13 rings now. I have a special case for them, I mean you wouldn’t want those to get dirty or anything.”

Even though karate is a solo sport, Evans spends time with her teammates.

“I don’t really get nervous because I do it alot, and I like doing it,” Evans said. “I’m on a sponsored team, and we all just have a little get together to talk about strategies, what we’re going to do to win.

| FEB 2018

Whenever you win it just feels good, after the tournaments my team and I all go out to eat or something. It’s really fun being with the team and we get to travel.”

Evans was inspired to start practicing karate by the movie The Karate Kid. “My mom’s reaction was, you should try cheerleading or something,” Evans said. “She even bought halloween costumes of princesses and cheerleaders. I mean I’ve been a princess for halloween before, I’ve been into that. I’ve also been a ninja for halloween- for maybe three years in a row. After that my mom was like, okay I get it you like karate.”

Evans said that the tournaments she has competed in have taught her that even if you lose, you’re still learning.

“When I win it feels so good because you’ve been working hard and been training for it, all the sweat and blood shed, it ties together,” Evans said. “I did all that and I win, that’s a good feeling. My team and I then are able to relax, and any time anyone wins, we hang out and celebrate. Being apart of a team makes winning, and even losing so much better.”

Dragoo Wins Theatre Educator of the Year While Battling Congestive Heart Failure

BY OLIVIA HEINZE | Life & Arts Editor

A

nnie Dragoo was told that she didn’t have what it took to be a teacher. Today, she has taught for 25 years, created the musical theatre program, wrote the curriculum for the state of Texas, was named Austin High teacher of the year this year, and won the Texas K-12 Theatre Educator of the Year. Oh yeah, and she’s legally died twice.

“So in 2013 in June, we went to the International Thespian Festival, and my daughters and I were walking on the campus because I wanted to show them around the University of Nebraska,” Dragoo said. “Of course, I don’t remember this, but we had just gotten Starbucks, and I stopped, I sat my Starbucks down, I sat down, and said ‘Uh oh’ and dropped dead. Like I stopped breathing. I was turning blue.”

Her eldest daughter, Hayley, called 911 while her youngest daughter, Sadie, held her head up.

Dragoo was unconscious for six minutes before the ambulance arrived. Upon being taken to the hospital, she was put on an EMCO machine, which functioned as a heart and lung bypass.

“They ended up putting me on life support for five days,” Dragoo said, “and they told Mr. Dragoo that if I didn’t start breathing on my own after five days then I wasn’t going home alive. So we sent all the other kids home, the students who were on the trip, and I was there for three weeks. I started breathing on my own at the end of the fifth day.”

At the end of her stay, Dragoo was taken off the bypass and given a defibrillator. She returned to teaching in the fall of 2013. She was determined to keep teaching, yet she kept getting sick and developed congestive heart failure. The cardiac arrest damaged one of her valves, and the doctors told her that she would have to have a surgical repair.

“The repair went good, and then about two hours after the surgery, I had another cardiac arrest and my heart just stopped,” Dragoo said.

The doctor had more give her CPR until the paddles were retrieved.A year later, Dragoo was well enough to begin cardiac arrest rehab, in which she exercises in order to strengthen her heart. She has to maintain a certain weight, eat healthily, and avoid getting sick. Dragoo takes her weight every day to ensure that the fluid isn’t gathering around her heart again.

“Now we’re at the point where I still have this, I have to be watched, I have to constantly be at the doctor, we have an emergency plan, and I have Americans With Disabilities modifications for my classroom and that kind of thing. But I’m doing well. I’m doing really well,” Dragoo said.

Annie Dragoo teaches her Musical Theatre II Class how to sing with inflection. Dragoo has started a podcast about stress management. “I don’t want anyone else to have to experience what I experienced,” Dragoo said. It can be found at thelivingtree.fireside.fm. Photo by Olivia Heinze

The first time Dragoo died, she remembers being in a room with spikes and an AC vent on the ceiling. There was a door on the wall opposite of her, filled with light. She remembers feeling scared and wanting to get out of the nightmarish room. The second time she died, however, she had a much different experience.

“I saw this man’s arm from his elbow down, and he held his hand out and he motioned for me to come with him,” Dragoo said. “So we left the hospital and we went in this beautiful place, it was a really cool city, and we went into

one of the shops, and it was a cabaret. So we sat down on a table, and on the stage there were these singers and they were singing, they were doing cabaret. And so they did a couple sets and then they said, ‘Anne come with us, come sing, you’re a singer, come sing, come join us!’ and I was like, ‘Okay!’ So I started to get up and the man grabbed my arm and said ‘No, not now.’”

Dragoo recognizes that she was heavily medicated when these visions occurred. However, she also knew the difference between the swirling, woozy effects of the drugs and the clear, out-ofbody experience she went through.

“Then we left, and we continued going down the street and we went into another, but this one

was like, a jazz hall, and it was all black. So we were sitting there and listening to the music, everybody was having a good time. Then they were like ‘Hey, come play the sax,’ because I play the saxophone. I was like, ‘Okay!’ So I get up, and the man said, ‘It’s not your turn. It’s not your time.’ Immediately when he said ‘It’s not your turn,’ I came back. If heaven is filled with fine arts, I’m happy, and I’m excited to get theresomeday,” Dragoo said.

Dragoo is being recognized for her achievements in fine arts in the material world, not just in her postdeath experience. She was nominated by her peers and selected by a board of directors to be the Texas K-12 Theatre Educator of the Year. It is based on the nomination and her work in theatre, reputation and classroom teaching.

“I am so honored,” Dragoo said. “It’s pretty cool. I had a teacher in college my senior year who just looked at me and flat out said, ‘you don’t have what it takes to be a teacher. This is not for you.’

I remember going home and just bawling, and my parents said, ‘you just need to focus on getting a Mrs Degree,’ and I was like- oh god I want to be an independent woman. So I never forgot about that lady, but I was like, I’m gonna be the best teacher I can be.”

“My defibrillator went off 11 times; it even shocked the nurse and knocked her off her feet.”

FEB 2018 | LIFE & ARTS |

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New Coaches Recruit Female Athletes

BY ANGIE BLACK | Staff Writer

U

UT coach Ivy Harrison passes the frisbee during an afternoon practice preparing for the team’s next competition. Photo by Rhyan Patterson

ltimate frisbee is a sport that requires a total of 14 players and in order for the girls to compete as stand-alone team they need more players. As of right now there are only five regular attendees. Recently becoming the head coach for the boys Ultimate team, and a part-time coach for the girls team, AGS Algebra teacher Steven Trenfield loves this sport.

“I didn’t start playing ultimate until two years ago when a sophomore asked me to be the club sponsor,” said Trenfield. “It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made in my time at Austin High.”

Not only does this sport provide joy and entertainment for those who play but also those who watch.

“I fell in love with the sport when one of my friends forced me to go to the practices,” sophomore Skylar Weum said. “It became a great past-time. Ultimate frisbee is a really entertaining sport to play and watch.”

The low numbers of girls does not prevent them from playing in tournaments, but it keeps them from playing as an all girl team. The players often compete and go to mixed practices.

“Currently, Marcus High School in the DallasFort Worth area is the only school with a full girls team, and they regularly compete and win college-level tournaments,” Trenfield said. “Our

Wrestlers Work Toward District Championship

BY MICHAEL DANIEL | Sports Editor

A

s the year moves forward, the wrestling team has had a strong start to the season.

“So far we have had about four or five meets and overall I say we have definitely improved from last year and we are working our way towards our goal of going to state.” Senior Dalton Villareal said.

There have been a lot of challenges through the season, but the team has been working hard to cope with the challenges.

“Most difficult challenges has to be gaining weight before the new year comes because after the new year we have a 2 pound allowance depending on what weight class we are in. It also depends on the size of your opponent cause they

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| SPORTS | FEB 2018

could be in the same weight class, or they could be either stronger on top, or they could be taller in your same weight, but it really all depends on who your going against and just making weight at the same time,” Wrestler Serena Gatica said.

As the season approaches to District Championships, the team has been ready and focused.

“I expect a lot of success from both our girls and boys division. I expect that every wrestler will advance to the regional tournament for a chance to make State, which is something that hasn’t been accomplished in a long time at Austin High,” Coach Paul Moreno said.

Since the wrestling team is ranked on in-

girls are almost all brand new to ultimate but are determined to reach that goal.”

To branch out and increase their skills, the female coaches from UT and other schools come down every Wednesday to help give the girls the push they need to be successful. The coaches provide challenges for the girls to overcome, and provide the tools to stay safe.

“We have Kat Zacharias, who plays on the UT Women’s Ultimate team, as well as Ivy Harrison and Laura Landis who play on Texas’s elite women’s club team,” Trenfield said.

Ultimate frisbee requires a range of different skills from its players, from positions such as cutters, who try and get open down the field, to handlers, who do most of the throwing.

“We do throwing and catching drills, and we practice certain offensive formations and how to play defense,” Trenfield said. “Ultimate requires a lot of running, so I try to work some conditioning drills into practice every day.”

According to Trenfield, the girls really have the teamwork and are learning the skills to make a successful team.

“We have every type of kid on the ultimate team - football players, math club, theater, band, swim team, soccer - and they’re all some of the friendliest and welcoming kids at Austin High,” Trenfield said.

Freshman Alfredo Marquez - Photo by Sami Johnson

dividuality for district and not as a team, then the team wont know their rankings until the district championships.

“The way it works, it’s different, because they’re individuals and they compete, so they all have theire individual records and they all have their individual win-loss totals. I don’t know those right off hand. The district meet is when those rankings really come out and that would be on Feburary 7. Once that’s complete we will be able to tell for sure who is first in the district, who is second in the district. As far as scores go,it really isn’t like that because it’s more of an individual win-loss ranking. It also all depends on the wrestler.” Moreno said.

Athletics Ring in New Year on Top Upcoming Tournaments to Kick Off Golf Spring Season

BY MADDIE GAYNOR | Staff Writer

W

ith the golf season just beginning, with just 3 Varsity and 3 JV tournaments, practice is a major focus for the Boy’s golf team. But, even though the fall and winter seasons are used for practice and exposure over many other things that has not stopped the team from having success. Coach Charles Looney, of both JV and Varsity, talks about the current success as well as what is to come.

“We finished 3rd in a Varsity Tournament at Berry Creek and Finished 1st at the Onion Creek Varsity tournament in December. But, again, most of the Fall is about exposure and getting your feet wet, so to speak,” said Looney.

The current team is made up of many returners from last year which provide Looney with a positive expectation for District.

“District is in April, but we definitely expect to play well. We never chalk anything up until it happens, but we are pretty optimistic about playing

well. We are returning 3 guys from our top 5 from last year and returning 8 out of our top 10, so we should be in line to do well,” said Looney.

As new members are working to adjust Freshman Timmy Gaynor speaks about his first experiences of being apart of the team.

“Playing in the tournaments are a really cool experience. I have never competed competitively in high school before so it’s something new,” said Gaynor.

As the team works towards adjusting their new members, they are also focused on meeting the goal of getting to and winning district and then state.

“Our goal is to win District/Regionals and State. That’s the expectation we set and I think we can live up to that. Golf is a funny game though and who knows what might happen on any given day, but we expect to compete at the highest level,” said Looney.

Boys & Girls Soccer Ranked Top 10 in Region

BY ELEANOR ESTRADA | Editor in Chief

A

t the start of the season, both boys and girls soccer were ranked among the top 10 5A teams in the Region. Varsity Boys were the only AISD High School to be ranked, while Varsity Girls ranked in 4 place - above Lanier, Crockett and Travis.

Boys began the season with a win over Lehman in a Christmas morning scrimmage. The team faced wins and loses in two tournaments, taking a win over Miller High School before falling to Anderson and Canyon Ridge. On a frigid evening at Burger, the boys took on Akins, who forfeited at halftime when Austin High was up 1-0.

“We have played seven games so far, and we

have not had the whole team together at any point during the season so far. And that has been a massive challenge,” Varsity Head Coach Jesus Arreola said. “The injuries that we have had are not season-ending injuries, so I am resting everyone that needs to rest so that they can be ready for district play.”

Girls faced a tough loss at their first game of the season, losing 2-1 to Gregory-Portland at the Dripping Springs Tournament. Since then, the team has come back and won both of their last two games. An 8-0 win over Glenn in the same tournament and a 2-1 win over Dripping Springs has prepared the team for District play starting at the end of January.

Maroon Basketball remains undefeated

Junior Danielle Serna - Photo by Auston Abrego

BY ELEANOR ESTRADA | Editor in Chief

T

wo months into the regular season, boys and girls basketball both hold winning records ahead of playoffs. Girls remain undefeated at home while boys remain 12-8 overall.

Varsity girls, who had a record breaking season last year, are hoping to bring the same level of competition to their game this year. With wins over longtime rivals LBJ and Reagan, the team has defeated each of their district competitors by an average of 49 points. With Tulane-commit senior Mia Heide leading the pack, the team hopes to make another strong playoff run this spring.

Boys started the season with a similar winning streak with wins over Liberty Hill and Dripping Springs. The team remains 1-2 in District play, but hopes to improve their record in their nine remaining District games.

FEB 2018 | SPORTS |

15

2 0 1 8 V A R S I T Y S O C C E R TUES

23

@

TRAVIS

7:45 PM

FRI

26

VS

CROCKETT

7:45 PM

MON SAT

27 29

@

MCCALLUM

4:45 7:45 PM

FRI

2

VS

WED

7

@

REAGAN

7:45 PM

FRI

9

VS

LBJ

7:45 PM

13

@

LANIER

7:45 PM

FRI

16

VS

TRAVIS

7:45 PM

TUES

20

@

CROCKETT

7:45 PM

VS @

TUES

27

@

SAT

3

VS

WED

7 9

@ VS

MCCALLUM

ANN RICHARDS 7:45 PM

REAGAN LBJ LANIER

| SPORTS | FEB 2018

22-5

8-0

POINTS FOR

POINTS AGAINST

Wins

10:45 4:45 PM AM

DISTRICT RECORD

OVERALL RECORD

Losses

Wins

1,469

Losses

877

DISTRICT STANDINGS

1. AUSTIN 2. CROCKETT

3. LBJ 4. LANIER

10:45 AM Lanier

7:45 PM

Jan. 23 Austin

7:45 PM

Jan. 26

LANIER REAGAN

LBJ Jan. 30 Travis Feb. 6

LBJ

7:00

27 24

-ALEENA ALVARADO

TRAVIS

8:00

SAT

ANN RICHARDS 7:45 PM

WE ARE GONNA DO GREAT.”

8:00

TUES

FRI

16

AWAY

IS UNPREDICTABLE BUT WE KNOW

7:00

MARCH

FEBRUARY

JANUARY

HOME

“THE REST OF THE SEASON

GIRLS’

GIRLS’ VARSITY BASKETBALL

BOYS’

BOYS’ VARSITY BASKETBALL

-MOGGA DOGALE

OVERALL RECORD

DISTRICT RECORD

16-9

4-3

POINTS FOR

POINTS AGAINST

Wins

HOME

JANUARY

in the playoffs.”

2 0 1 8 V A R S I T Y S O C C E R

Losses

Win

1,415

Loss

1,280

FEBRUARY

“We have a good

chance to go far

LBJ Jan. 30

REAGAN

LBJ

8:00

TRAVIS

Feb. 6 Crockett Feb. 9 Austin Feb. 13

CROCKETT

24

VS

CROCKETT

7:45 PM

SAT

27

@

MCCALLUM

10:45 4:45 PM AM

TUES

30

VS

LANIER

7:45 PM

FRI

2

@

REAGAN

7:45 PM

WED

7

VS

LBJ

7:45 PM

TUES

13

@

TRAVIS

7:45 PM

FRI

16

@

CROCKETT

7:45 PM

TUES

20

VS

MCCALLUM

7:45 PM

FRI

23

@

LANIER

7:45 PM

TUES

27

VS

REAGAN

7:45 PM

FRI

2

@

LBJ

7:45 PM

SAT

10

VS

TRAVIS

10:45 AM

8:00

Jan. 26

Travis

WED

MCCALLUM

8:00

Reagan

LANIER

8:00

Jan. 23

8:00

Austin

8:00

3. LANIER 4. AUSTIN

1. MCCALLUM 2. LBJ

MARCH

DISTRICT STANDINGS

AWAY

FEB 2018 | SPORTS |

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Top Films of 2017 Connect Us in Unexpected Way

BY MIRANDA GERSHONI | Copy Editor

2017 was certainly a year of disarray and confusion that polarized people from the opposite sides of many spectrums.

Our political sphere sparked social controversies which provoked passionate, and sometimes violent, discourse.

And while this chronic disillusionment discouraged many, others were inspired by the uncertainty of our time and used this fear to create art which inspired many. While all of the best films of 2017 had very different stories, they all drew on refreshingly human and relevant experiences of today.

The first film I saw last year that immediately became one of my favorites of all time was Get Out, written and directed by comedian Jordan Peele. This social thriller told the story of Chris, a twenty-something photographer who finds himself in a frightening situation that begins with awkwardness and subtle racism and becomes a menacing power struggle that ends with blood and betrayal. Chris finds out the hard way that his white girlfriend lured him into her family’s business of neurological slavery. This film was brilliant because it made racism, an experience which much of the population doesn’t have to face, relatable through horror. Regardless of ethnicity, I felt that sinking feeling along with Chris. I felt afraid of the twisted Armitage family. This innate feeling of fear resonated with viewers on a level so deep that it surpassed race or class. Peele wanted to increase empathy for the racism so many experience, using horror and hyperbole to communicate that we definitely aren’t living in a post-racial society.

The next film I saw was The Shape of Water, written and directed by Guillermo del Toro. This fantasy film set in 1962 follows Elisa, a mute janitor who works in a government laboratory in Baltimore. While working one day, she meets a scaly water creature that’s being kept in a large water tank at the lab and they soon fall in love. The rest of the film follows her journey trying to protect this misunderstood being from the wrath of Colonel Richard Strickland, a megalomaniac who represents the omnipotent male bully who infiltrates many corners of corporate America. I loved this film because it drew on many current issues: gender biases in the workplace and an ever-developing mysticism toward new technologies like artificial intelligence. The Shape of Water drew on several previous works like Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) and Stranger Things but created a very new and completely enthralling masterpiece that is incomparable to anything out there.

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| E N T E R TA I N M E N T | F E B 2 0 1 8

Lady Bird, a coming-of-age film written and directed by Greta Gerwig, follows “Lady Bird” McPherson, through her life at 18, one that is frustrating, heartbreaking, and incredibly exciting.

While the plot is familiar, the story and themes are fabulously new. The genius of this film is the originality in the message-- that each character isn’t merely a necessary cliche in Lady Bird’s life, but has a complex conflict of their own. Each is unapologetically human. This movie was special because it was so relatable. I’ve seen very few movies about teenagers that get it right.

Because of the care taken to each of the characters, people of all ages can relate to it. The main message I took away from this film was to not take life too seriously but also treasure the uncertainty, and to remember how important each moment is. Overall, Lady Bird was an outstanding success because it challenges the viewer to stay invested and learn from each character’s mistakes, both laughing and crying in the process.

Call Me By Your Name, another coming-of-age story directed by Luca Guadagnino and based on the novel

by André Aciman, was the last film I watched in 2017. This was probably my favorite. Set in 1983 in northern Italy, this film portrays the intimate and impossible romance between 17-year-old Elio and Oliver, a graduate student who stays in Elio’s family villa for the summer. What follows is a raw and deeply emotional relationship between two men, a story rarely told on the big screen for large audiences.

I admired how their love did more to strengthen their masculinity than minimize it. I loved this film not only for the entrancing cinematography, but for the universality it established. Quite frankly, I was a bit nervous to see this movie with my family, especially my grandmother, because of the sexual content. But by the end of it, my whole family was crying. Its message holds true across sexual orientation and age and was communicated beautifully by Elio’s father: we must bask in the moments of heart-wrench just as much as the moments of elated love. The combination of impeccable aesthetics and authentic connections forced the audience to become completely immersed in this magical world of love and loss.

This was undoubtedly a year of incredible films, each in their own right provocative, humanizing, and simply radiant in their look and message. Each of these films brought unlikely people to the theater to experience unique stories alongside such dynamic characters, learning a little bit more about the extremely perplexing and incredibly satisfying human experience.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: AHS Water Fountains

BY ASHLEY KAHN | Staff Writer

Whether it be movies of the year, sports teams, or even people, everything is ranked. The water fountains of Austin High, however, have yet to be “officially” scrutinized and classified. The following is a categorization and evaluation of five of the best, worst, and sub-par fountains of the school.

Fountain: Room 148 The elusive fountain of room 148, home to the Social Behavior Services class, is hidden behind multi-colored frosted windows and a fear of the unknown. Upon use, a soft and smooth hum murmurs out of its circa 2010 body. The water is cool and does not have a funky taste, unlike many of its older counterparts. Teaching Assistant Nicole Arenas claims “the fountain is our secret fountain of youth, which keeps me looking 45.” This fountain truly is an underutilized and sparsely used feature of the first floor.

Fountain: Second AGS Hallway Upon inspecting this over-hyped fountain, there was a half empty, generic, diet brand coca cola wading in a pool of water. Many believe that this is the holy grail of fountains, however, it is more accurate to describe it as a poisoned chalice.

Though the water is cold, the pressure is weak, making the water trickle out. This leads me to conclude that many envelop the mouthpiece, making this the communal bacteria breeding ground of the Global Studies program.

Fountain: 2nd Floor near library Cold, crisp water. A steady stream. The Messiah of water fountains. On the second floor near the library and girl’s bathroom lies the best fountain within the school. Equipt with a rapid bottle filler, this drinking fountain is reliably cool and clean- a rarity amongst its subordinates. Though the best water fountain is heavily debated, this one takes the cake for a majority of students.

Fountain: 3rd Floor by Journalism and Art Here lies a disgrace to the fountain world. Located near the newspaper room, this travesty serves as the pariah of the school’s fountains. Frequently infested with ants and littered with trash, this fountain proves to be the worst in the school. Its archaic and bulky body is rusted and its tan paint has peeled off. The water is lukewarm and as Senior Cezanne LossingCann puts it, “it tastes like drinking out of a puddle.

It’s like drinking dirt.”

The diversity of quality with our water fountains is not something to praise. From ants and rust, to cold, crisp water, the varying grades of our fountains leave students with a foul taste in their mouths. Our fountains should be held to a higher, cooler, cleaner standard, and as of now, only two fountains meet that mark.

BY MICKEY FERGUSON | Staff Writer

he age of watching hour-long Vine compilations late at night has come to an end. Vine co-founder Dom Hofmann announced the renewal of the app in early december, tweeting “V2” with a bright green logo.

Vine was shut down by Twitter in Aug. 2016 due to the competition with Snapchat, Instagram, and the rise of GIF apps. The removal was around the time competitors started adding new features.

Hofmann claims he will fund the app as an outside

2

Fountain: Outside Cafeteria With a broken filter, the cafeteria fountain and bottle filler still manages to keep up a somewhat glorified status amongst students and faculty alike. Coach Emerald Garza describes it as, “one of the better fountains.” The water is regularly cold and has the most forceful pressure, however, milk cartons and food waste are often scattered around or placed on the fountain. This, alongside the heavy foot traffic, is what downgrades this fountain to second best.

HOFFMAN ANNOUNCES VINE 2

T

1

project. Not many details of “Vine 2” have been released, but based on the simple, memorable format of six-second loops, most know what to expect. Vine fans can hope to scroll through the app around March 2018.

Maybe the second time around Vine can keep up with their competitor’s expansion, and get themselves back to the top.

3 1) This fountain, found littered with student’s trash, can be found in the second AGS hallway by the theatre room. 2) Teacher assiatant Daniel Horner fills his cup with the cool “fountain of youth” water. The fountain is located in room 148. 3) Senior Paige Watts drinks out of the lowest rated fountain of the school. This fountain is located by the newspaper room on the third floor.

“I’m excited and really pumped about Vine coming back in 2018. My friends and I plan on making some funny Vines together. We might make some that are inspired by old famous Vines.”

Senior Jena Carr

“I watched an hour long Vine compilation the other day, so I’m pretty excited for it’s revival.”

Sophomore River Miller

F E B 2 0 1 8 | E N T E R TA I N M E N T |

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