December 2010 - Drinking

The DECEMBER 16, 2010

MARQUEE

[VOLUME TWENTY-FIVE] ISSUE FOUR

[3]

Recent heroin deaths increase drug awareness

[18-19]

Basketball season preview reveals key players

[22] Staff editorial sees gas

bottoms up

drilling as threat to Flower Mound citizens

MARCUS HIGH SCHOOL [5707 MORRIS ROAD] FLOWER MOUND, TX 75028

[table of contents]

the marquee [newsmagazine] editor in chief luke swinney

managing editor carley meiners

photo editor

allison przybysz

graphics editor

nathaniel thornton

news editor kate o’toole

feature editor devon miller

in-depth editor lauren rose

sports editor

page 7 news/

photo by becca dyer cover design by nathaniel thornton cover photo by taylor thomas

[4] EDUCATION DOWNFALL After a worldwide test of math, science and reading skills, American students scored drastically lower than their foreign counterparts. by luke swinney

feature/ [8] FROM VIETNAM TO AMERICA One Marcus custodian relives her immigration story from the Far East, looking for a better life in the United States. by kate o’toole

entertainment/

[14] PERFECT PRESENTS Getting into the holiday spirit, The Marquee found the ideal gifts at affordable prices to make every member of the family smile. by jasmine sachar

sports/ [17] TENTH IN THE NATION Senior Craig Lutz led the cross country team to tenth place in the nation at the Nike Cross National race held in Portland, OR. by carley meiners

jasmine sachar

entertainment editor molly spain

opinion editor carley meiners

business manager allison przybysz

reporters

alex cain, shannon mccauley, alex mcginnis, sarah sauer, olivia tarlton

designers

maria heinonen, james hubbard, jordan richards, breyanna washington

photographers

kyle anderson, becca dyer, peter iversen, sarah sauer, taylor thomas

adviser

lajuana hale

principal

gary shafferman The Marquee newsmagazine is a student-generated publication of Marcus High School. It is produced, edited and maintained through the efforts of the school’s advanced journalism class. The Marquee is designed to serve the school and community as a forum for open discussion and student expression.

The Marquee encourages letters to the editor as part of its mission to educate, inform and provide an open forum for debate.All submissions must be signed. The staff reserves the right to edit all material.

Editorials reflect the opinion of the staff, not necessarily that of the administration. Signed columns or reviews represent only the opinion of the author.

Advertising rates are $34 per 1/16 of a page, with discounts available. For more information call 469-713-5196.

The Marquee is a standing member of ILPC, TAJE, ATPI, CSPA, NSPA, JEA and Quill and Scroll.

news

Drug misuse, overdoses become more rampant Girl has personal experience of how drugs damage life story by alex cain

past ten years because of readily available prescrip“I just decided it was kind of pointless,” White tion medicines from friends and family as well. In said. “I was getting nothing out of it. Then my sister amilies of three young adults have received general, doctors are prescribing more medication to started doing really hard stuff like meth for a while. I the devastating news informing them of the patients to treat mental illnesses such as bipolar dis- didn’t want to do that or become like she had.” death of a family member in recent months. order, depression and attention deficient disorder.

As White stopped using, her sister’s drug problem “As long as man has been around there has been got progressively worse.

This past year, the cities of Flower Mound and Highabuse of substances,” land Village have “Seeing my sister so messed up on so much stuff Griffin said. “We are scared me,” White said. “Like when she started doing experienced an unseeing an uptick in stuff, it was just like how I had started doing stuff and usual spike in heroin misuse of prescrip- it wasn’t like a bad problem, but then it got worse and overdoses, three of I kept hallucinating and seeing the girl tion medication, con- eventually got out of control.” the cases resulting in tributed to an uptick death for the users.

White said that she tried talking to her sister a from The Ring running at me. I bled out in use of prescription few times, but her sister never believed that her drug 14 arrests were made of my nose and threw up everywhere. medication in gen- use was an issue because she was simply using for in Flower Mound last

eral.” year for possession of amusement.

White’s first overheroin. According to “She couldn’t do anything unless she was high,” - LINDSEY WHITE*, 10 dose wasn’t enough White said. “She couldn’t eat or sleep or come to Captain Wess Griffin to stop her from us- school unless she was high. Then I tried talking to of the Flower Mound ing hydrocodone. A her, ‘You have a problem you need to stop,’ and she Police department, short time later she said ‘No I don’t, I’m just doing it for fun, and it’s no every city in the Dallas area is experiencing heroin overdoses because the was caught by a friend’s mom who told her parents. big problem.’”

After an enlightening conversation with her parents, drug is so dangerous if not mixed correctly.

But it was a problem. Her sister was pulled over “Often times, overdosages occur when we see a she quit using for a while, but quickly fell back into soon afterwards by a police officer who caught her rash of incorrectly mixed or overly strong chemicals, old habits. White got to the point where she would smoking marijuana before school. Consequently, she or something else has changed in the supply chain of smoke marijuana everyday like a regular after-school was expelled for being under the influence. She was activity. But soon she overdosed again, this time af- then put into counseling. It took two months of counthe narcotics,” Griffin said.

Sophomore Lindsey White* experienced firsthand ter drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana that seling before she realized that she needed to stop to the effects of heroin after watching her sister abuse was laced with harder drugs: cocaine and ecstasy. save her life. the drug. Her perfectly styled hair and designer jeans After her second overdose, she promised herself to “It’s good to see how she has changed,” White said. hid her family’s struggle with drugs. According to be more careful with the amount of drugs and liquor “I didn’t want anything to happen to her because she Griffin, heroin is one of the most addictive drugs on she consumed. By the middle of her sophomore year is my best friend and we tell each other everything.” the black market. Because the drug is so strong, it is summer, she decided to finally quit. *Names have been changed to protect the identity of the source hard to stop after trying the drug once. Also, it is one of the most physically addictive drugs, so withdrawal from the drug requires the use of other drugs to ease back into soberness.

“If you are fully physically addicted to heroin and you quit cold turkey, it can kill you,” Griffin said. “It’s hard to get off of it once you start, and once you start it becomes physically dangerous to stop.”

White said she first experimented with drugs her eighth grade year during winter break. Because she idolized her sister she tried marijuana, her first drug, after her sister wanted to smoke with her. She then used hydrocodone at her grandparent’s house because her sister used it as a sleep aid and liked the feeling. Hydrocodone has been one of the most popular prescription medications now used to achieve the “high.” The second time she tried the drug she overdosed by taking three pills, just one more than the maximum strength dose.

“I kept hallucinating and seeing the girl from The Ring running at me,” White said. “I bled out of my nose and threw up everywhere. My friends didn’t photo illustration by kyle anderson know what to do because they didn’t want to tell their parents, so they took me back to my house where I Drugs are no stranger to Marcus, but in recent years, use of harder drugs has been on the rise. Cocaine is one of just stayed and threw up for two days afterwards.” the most popular drugs being used. Drugs like cocaine release a chemical in the brain called dopamine which Misuse of prescription drugs has increased in the creates a euphoric feeling for the user. (Real drugs were not used in this photo).

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the marquee |december 16, 2010

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design by nathaniel thornton 3

news

American education falls short Shanghai, China, among other countries, outscores United States on war for smarts story by luke swinney

Last week, American students fell further behind foreign students in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), a study taken last year that tests 15-year-olds from around the world in math, science and reading.

Shanghai, China tops each subject while the U.S. is 17th in reading, 20th in science and 30th in math.

President Obama has called for a “Sputnik moment,” relating our educational downfall to the Space Race in the 50’s when America pumped money into math and science programs to beat the Soviet Union into space. Obama’s “Sputnik moment” could be beneficial to America because according to a Stanford study, America would earn $41 trillion extra dollars in the next 20 years if students can raise their test scores by only five percent.

Although Marcus is a relatively high-scoring school on tests like TAKS, evidence of these education patterns that America has grown accustomed to

can still be seen. AP Biology teacher Scott Hinsley said one important factor in high foreign test scores is the pressure to succeed.

“In the U.S. the assumption is that kids won’t work in factories and everyone’s going to go to college, so there’s not as much urgency in test scores,” Hinsley said. “If I was to ask the kids, there wouldn’t be any really worried that they’re going to work in a factory if they don’t graduate. It’s a different mindset.”

While Shanghai scored the best in each subject, Finland was close behind with sixth in math and second in science and reading. Sophomore Anna Toivianen moved here from Finland during fifth grade and said she noticed a difference in education styles.

“When you go to high school, you get to pick which one you go to and you can be specialized in different things,” Toivianen said. “Also, in Finland you learn English in third grade and that’s the first language you learn fluently. In fifth grade you can choose Spanish or French or another language, so that’s a huge difference from the U.S.”

Cookin’ up a cancer cure

photo by allison przybysz Senior English teacher Marcie Cooley holds up last year’s Bake for Cancer club t-shirt. The club charges three dollars in dues to buy supplies for their annual bake sale and donates all profits towards finding a cure for cancer.

4 design by breyanna washington

READING mATH SCIENCE

graphic by allison przybysz

story by olivia tarlton Approximately 3,400 Americans are diagnosed with cancer every day, and about 1,500 lose their lives daily. Students are doing their part to lower that number through the recently created club, Bake for Cancer.

Bake for Cancer was created last year by two sisters - graduate Emily and sophomore Olivia Dalglish. They started the club because they “thought it would be good to be involved in something that has a good cause,” Olivia said.

Since Emily Dalglish has graduated, Senior Jack Medellin was appointed the club’s president this year with the club sponsor as English teacher Marcie Cooley.

The club holds one main bake sale during the year. Club members meet at each other’s houses and spend all weekend baking cupcakes, cookies and other goodies. The treats are then sold at the entrance of Wal-Mart and all profits are donated to American Cancer Society.

“Last year we raised about $823,” Olivia said.

The group is open to all students and anyone can still join this club. Their sole purpose is to increase the awareness of cancer and raise money towards putting an end to it. “[Bake for Cancer] is an easy way to raise money that can go to people who really need it,” said Dalglish. december 16, 2010 | the marquee

news sports

Dodgeball success

LISD superintendent

story by olivia tarlton

Students put the holiday season of giving to good use, all by playing dodge ball.

Saturday, Dec. 11 marked the annual Habitat for Humanity Dodge Ball Tournament. In years past, about 20 teams participate in this event, but this year 24 teams competed, including 2 teams consisting of Habitat for Humanity members.

President of Habitat for Humanity, Kelsey McCauley, said she was impressed by the turnout. “People are really getting the word out,” McCauley said.

The winning team of the tournament was “The Wrecking Crew,” with juniors Joe Sikes, Cameron Hajok, Ross Depperschmidt, Zach Christian, Shane Von Strohe, Drew Hamrick and Michael McGuire.

The team took home a variety of prizes, the largest being a Game Cube donated from Game Attack.

Each team was required to pay an entry fee of $50.

This money, along with concession sales, helped raise a total of $1600, which will be donated to Denton County Habitat for Humanity. Teams were also told to bring toys for the Children’s Advocacy Center.

story by luke swinney

photo by peter iversen

Rockin’ down halls On iPod day, Monday, Nov. 29, sophomore Eric Spalding listens to his mp3 player. Students paid $2 for the privilege to use their iPods during class. A total of $1,100 was raised. The money will go to a scholarship through the Lewisville Education Foundation, which helps teachers and students excel, in Dr. Roy’s name.

The school board will begin to interview the possible LISD superintendent candidates in January after Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), the search firm hired by the district, completes the final candidate list.

HYA has been recruiting candidates throughout December and will present its selections after the winter break. The firm, based in Illinois, will choose the candidates based on the four qualities that LISD employees and parents voted were most important – being a strategic thinker, a collaborative leader, an effective communicator and an excellent manager and problem-solver.

Place 3 school board member Jeff Knapp said the process is currently on schedule to hire the new superintendent by the end of January.

“We’re looking for somebody who can reach out to the community and connect with them,” Knapp said.

“We have a fantastic district right now. When you’re on top, improvement comes in small increments. We want somebody who can really move us forward.”

Gas drilling increasingly more apparent in area Disagreement builds between citizens, gas companies story by carley meiners

photo by kyle anderson

Its 10:20 a.m. on a windy Saturday morning. Most people are just getting ready to start their day, but four Flower Mound residents are standing on the right side of FM 2499 across the street from a local gas drilling site. They hold signs that say things like “Just say no to urban gas drilling.” Every Saturday a group of residents stand across the street from the gas well. As cars honks and drivers waves, a smile forms across the protesters faces. They hope that finally, their voices will be heard.

In the past six months two gas drilling sites have gone up on 2499, one in front of Grapevine Mills Mall and the other occupying Hilliard field, near the corner of 3040. The well in Hilliard field is about a half mile away from Shadow Ridge Middle School and Bluebonnet Elementary. Flower Mound resident Jim Wall said he feels that the gas drills are not safe for the town’s health.

“Too many things have gone wrong in recent times,” Wall said. “They’re rushing to put these wells in before they know if it’s really safe. We have higher rates of breast cancer compared to the rest of the country. It’s just not safe.” the marquee |december 16, 2010

In 2005 an energy bill was passed exempting all natural gas wells from being tested. Wall said this causes the Environmental Protection Agency to not investigate the safety of the gas wells. Just last week the EPA stepped in to investigate a well just outside of Fort Worth. A resident in Parker country was able to set his hose water on fire with a lighter. Protest coordinator Sue Ann Lorig said that she believes the water is contaminated by the gas well.

“People have had water wells on their land for years sometimes and they’ve used it for decades and the water is fine,” Lorig said. “Then there is gas drilling and the water is contaminated and full of chemicals. It’s hard not to believe that it’s not related to the gas drilling. It has to be.”

Three years ago a company named Cherokee Horns went door to door asking Flower Mound residences for the lease of their mineral rights. Ryan Verdi leased his mineral rights three years ago. Verdi said he supports the gas drilling.

“I think it’s important to our country’s economy that we’re able to use all of our natural resources for energy,” Verdi said. “I also think the companies that are doing the drilling have a lot of new technology that they can do it safely. I don’t think they’re going to do

anything to jeopardize the residents of derstand that we need energy. There’s the community.” plenty of areas for them to do it, they As the Saturday morning drifts on, don’t need to do it in the middle of the four protesters still stand along town.”

2499. All four protesters are at least At the Dec. 10 board meeting, LISD 30 years old. Wall said high school decided against leasing any school disstudents should be concerned with the trict land now or in the near future. drilling because it is polluting the air which effects everyone’s health.

“You guys at the high school level are the coming generation who really needs to be aware of the effects of all this so you can help educate your neighbors and get people to stop the drilling,” Wall said. “Your local and state level governments are not doing anything about it.”

While the signs the protesters carry every Saturday suggest that they want an end to gas drilling, protester Ron Henry thinks otherwise. He said he isn’t against gas drilling. He just wants gas companies to be responsible.

“I think we all realize we’re a supply constraint society, but at the same time I think the history of energy companies is very clear,” Henry said. “They come, they extract the fossil fuels and they leave everything else to A lone gas drilling rig stands on Hilliard field the towns to clean up. We un- along 2499, just south of the 3040 intersection. design by jordan richards 5

phone :

(972)-539-4457 (817)-464-1070

3121 Cross Timbers Rd. Suite 104 Flower Mound Tx 75028

december 16, 2010| the marquee

Q &

A Rachel Hunt, 9 compiled by molly spain photo by taylor thomas

Q: What was the best thing before they invented sliced bread?

A: Sliced bread was invented?

Q: If olive oil comes from smashed olives, how do they make baby oil?

A: Smashed babies!

Q: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

A: A little Chihuahua so I could get pampered all the time.

Q: What happens if you don’t leave Santa Claus cookies and milk?

A: He’ll come in your room and take your stuff!

Q: What would you do if your grandma got run over by a reindeer?

A: I would ask Santa to fix her for Christmas.

Q: What would you do if Frosty the Snowman was at your front door?

A: Invite him in for a cup of hot chocolate by the fire.

Q: Would you rather have an extra thumb or an extra tongue?

A: An extra tongue because you could have double the taste buds! the marquee |december 16, 2010

feature

Bringing in the big bucks story by alex mcginnis photos by becca dyer Senior Shelby Holly moves her fingers nimbly over the piano keys in her living room as 6-year-old Ruby sits by her on the piano bench. Ruby watches Holly play a part of a song and then tries it herself.

The steady ticking of the metronome and the gentle critiquing of Holly echo behind the sound of the keys.

To Holly’s delight, Ruby’s choppy playing begins to smooth over into a melody by the end of the lesson.

Another lesson finished meant another $10 in Holly’s wallet. Though many high school students keep jobs for the extra cash, Holly teaches for more than just the money.

Holly has been playing piano since her parents signed her up for her first lesson in third grade.

Though she hasn’t always viewed music as a serious part of her life, Holly now plans to carry it with her for the rest of her life.

“I didn’t love playing piano at first, but then I realized that God has given me the talent of music for His glory and to share with others,” Holly said.

Holly’s love for music sparked her interest to teach others. Her piano teacher, Heather Parks, held a class for her students on the basics of teaching piano lessons to children last year. Parks taught Holly how to interact with students so that they have fun and still learn the music.

Holly started giving lessons for free last November and soon gained enough experience to charge $10 per lesson. Through her church community and family friends, Holly has coordinated consistent lessons with five students that she prepares for recitals.

However, Holly’s involvement in other activities makes juggling lessons difficult. Between Marquette practices, Bible study and youth choir at Lakeland Baptist Church, Holly still has to make sure she is prepared to teach. Holly still takes lessons herself, working on pieces ranging from classical to pop that can take months to master. But despite her busy schedule, Holly stays on track, motivated by her passion for music and her desire to carry music with her through college where she wants to study music education as her future major.

“I absolutely love my job and watching students grow,” Holly said. “My students get so excited when they complete a song and it’s rewarding to know I have impacted their lives musically and hopefully in other ways too.”

Junior Carlen Day and sophomore Rachel Sanders show off their hand-made bracelets. Each bracelet was made especially by them and each design took hours to complete.

Junior Carlen Day keeps a clipboard and a handful of string in her purse at all times. Whenever she has a spare moment between choir practices, club meetings and homework assignments, Day pulls out the clipboard and begins to tie the rainbow of strings into a friendship bracelet.

Day and sophomore Rachel Sanders both make friendships bracelets and sell them to friends and family. Last year Day discovered Friendship Bracelets, a website with tutorials on how to make over 500 pages of bracelets, so she began practicing the knots on thick pieces of yarn. Soon Day and Sanders began to improve their craft and started charging around $10 per bracelet depending on the design.

“I was inspired to just make something cool,” Day said. “Something that I could complete and be proud of.”

The bracelets come in many different colors and patterns, all intricately made using specific steps.

Some designs have lettering and others that have pictures of logos, animals, etc. on the bracelet. The business has been in full swing for over a year and they advertise their bracelets through a Facebook page called R&C’s Knotty Bracelets. The page directs potential buyers to a link for the patterns where they can then post the pattern they want on the Facebook wall. The girls then get to work on the requests, some of which can take up to four or five hours.

“It is a stress reliever and a challenge at the same time,” Sanders said. ”But seeing it go from a bunch of random strings into something so awesome makes it fun.”

As the holidays approach, Day and Sanders have been getting more requests from family and friends for bracelets. The girl’s business is centered on fun and cash, but the satisfaction of the customers is a huge benefit.

“It’s fun to see someone’s face when I give them a bracelet,” Day said. “I think it means more to them because I made it.”

Senior Shelby Holly goes over sheet music with another student for her upcoming recital in February.

design by jordan richards 7

feature

From farm to Flower Mound Vietnamese custodian relives journey to America, difficulties of adapting to Marcus school community story by kate o’toole

Americans interviewed Tran as a possible candidate since 1985. Although she knew a little bit of English, to come to the U.S. Her family has been accepted it was incredibly hard at first. Her disorientation with It was three days and three nights before the by France and had the chance to go to Australia, but her new surroundings initially made working at Marcramped boat hit the shores of Thailand. Kim Tran they decided on America. cus difficult.

“When [the American officials] interviewed me, I and 44 other passengers were exhausted and seasick.

“I had no time to go to school,” Tran said. “After They had spent countless hours without food and lit- could feel the freedoms and happiness of America,” three days, the people at St. Phillips took me to go tle sleep, exposed to the harsh outdoors in the South Tran said. to work. My son was born in 1983 in Thailand, and From Thailand, the Americans would either send I took him with me to work in the Philippines. But China Sea. Though they were terrorized by pirates and had their engine burn out throughout the trip, their chosen refugees to Singapore or the Philip- when I came here, I couldn’t do that. And I didn’t pines in order to know where to go in Marcus. But now it is okay.” they accomplished their learn English. The goal. They did it. They Most of Tran’s family now lives in America, exTrans traveled by cept for her 83-year-old mother and some siblings. had escaped Vietnam. plane to the Phil- Although she would like them here, they have evIt was Dec. 15, 1981 when head custodian I saw people fall in the water and have sharks ippines, but Tran erything they need in Vietnam and she sends them Kim Tran and her fameat them and saw the pool of blood. could not concen- money when necessary. trate on learning. ily, who practiced farm“It is easier over in Vietnam because the houses - KIM TRAN, head custodian She had a baby are already paid for and they have all their living exing, left their native Vietthat was weak and penses,” she said. “If they come here, they have to nam. With the help of she had to pro- find a new house, lighting and electricity. They would family and friends, Tran vide for her fam- have to take a citizenship test and learn English. It was able to secure six ily. Compared to would be hard.” spots for her family on a small boat. But after fleeing Vietnam and hitting Thailand, life was better in the Philippines.They had Regardless of the struggles she faced trying to find the edge of Thailand, they ran into another problem: plentiful food, water and basic necessities. freedom and a better life for her family, Tran was After living in the Philippines for seven months, promoted to head custodian in 2006. She says she Thailand had stopped accepting refugees in August.

As a result, Tran, her deaf husband, her two children the family flew to Maryland on visas. They stayed tries to do her job as best as she can. and her younger brother and sister were detained in in hotels and ate in restaurants, a large change “I try to take care of the building good,” she said. “I a camp for 22 months. They stayed with 700 other from their previous conditions. Her uncle had con- just want everybody at Marcus happy.” people in a tiny building, only receiving $50 a month nections in Texas and helped them get down as aid from the French.

Conditions were sparse – the family received little here. Tran found soliwater and food. Their food included flattened dried tude at St. Phillips Aposfish, which in Vietnam is what her family would tle Church in Lewisville, feed their pigs. The meager food portions were not where she got help getenough to feed her family of six, and in a few months ting a job at Marcus as a it would be a family of seven as Tran was pregnant. custodian. Although her In order to help support her family, 24-year-old Tran family arrived safely in would wake up at two a.m. to prepare for work. Over America, it was a comher immense pregnant belly, she would make sticky plicated voyage.

“We never thought we rice and bean sprouts to sell. The life she now led was would make it to Ameriextremely different than what she had previously.

“My life in Vietnam was much better than in Thai- ca, but we prayed,” she land,” she said. “I wanted to go back to Vietnam, but said. “I saw with my I couldn’t out of embarrassment to return. I had al- own eyes how difficult it ready left for freedom and wanted my children and would be. I saw people fall in the water and brother and sister to have a better future.”

Although the sparse conditions were not ideal, her have sharks eat them, older brother, who died in Vietnam days before they and saw the pool of photo submitted escaped, encouraged them through his spirit to stick blood. I saw how hurtful it out. Hope came after Tran delivered her son. A few it was.”

Marcus head custodian, Kim Tran (middle) is photographed with her family in VietTran has worked here nam. Tran and family traveled overseas to America on Dec. 15, 1981. days after giving birth on a thin straw mattress, the

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december 16, 2010 | the marquee

feature

Charitable clubs aid foreign country Senior spreads holiday cheer by bringing bags filled with necessities to children in Indian slums story by shannon mccauley

Walking down a dusty dirt path in a small town in India senior Katy Lancaster passes endless piles of fly infested garbage. The pungent odor that sweats from the trash causes someone in her team to gag from the smells, bringing a puzzled look from a homeless man who is picking through the trash. Other discarded trash travels down the street and eventually gets caught in one of the thousands of massive garbage piles that have been abandoned on the road. The classroom Katy walks into is hot and causes immediate beads of sweat to travel down her face. Katy was there to visit the students and volunteer as much as she could. Trying to keep the bright smile she has glued on her face, she greets the children. But Katy can’t shake the news she had received earlier that day. One of the students that attended the school she was visiting had passed away that morning. She can’t just ignore this tragedy that could have easily been prevented.

“She died of a sickness very easily preventable with clean water and medical care that no one in her family could ever afford,” Katy said.

This sparked an idea that has brought thousands of Indian children luxuries that many Marcus students consider basic.

“Her dying wish was for a little bottle of shampoo,” she said.

With the help of family, Katy created Bags of India, an organization that sends gallon-sized bags to Indian children filled with necessities including soap, school supplies and a comb for Christmas. Katy received donations from Marcus clubs including English Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.

Katy first traveled to India in March after a friend from India invited her and other women to go and help out schools and build homes in the slums. While working with various schools, Katy learned how simple affection could make a world of difference.

“One of the things we did was give every single child a hug,” Katy said. “Because life is so cheap in the slums, children often receive no affection from their parents because the parents don’t want to become attached to a child that could very likely die, so one hug can really make a difference.”

Katy departed to India on Dec 12. When there, she plans to distribute almost 2,200 bags to the schools and towns she visits.

“Every single child in the schools I am connected with will get the marquee |december 16, 2010

one bag,” Katy said. “I will pass out the bags to the children in the slums, and take in all their smiles as they receive such a treasure.”

Last school year, Katy raised money to build a home by selling scarves to the community. “Save a Life. Get a Scarf.” allowed Indian children to be in a home that takes them away from the dangers of being sold into child prostitution.

Freshman Luke Lancaster also became involved with bags of India. Through his sister and mother’s influence, Luke will also be going to India in December.

“I’ve heard going to India was pretty cool,” Luke said. “I don’t know what to expect but I’m really excited. Even though I haven’t been yet, I already know that I will want to go back.”

Katy gave Luke tips on how to behave in India. While Katy will be dedicating houses, Luke will be taking a trip to a small Indian town.

“Katy said not to laugh in public because you might offend someone,” Luke said. “I will be passing out bags but I’m also going to travel to Raunchi, a town in India with my dad. We will be talking to adults but the girls can’t go on that trip because it’s not a safe place for them.”

Luke hadn’t realized the amount of hard work his sister and mother put into the bags.

“I did not do as much as Katy. She was a saint,” Luke said.

In 2007, the Ministry of Women and Child Development reported the presence of 2.8 million sex workers in India, with 35.47 percent of them entering the trade before the age of 18 years. Katy and her team also established another foundation called youcanfree.us, an organization that dedicates itself to preventing and rescuing women from sexual exploitation. Through the horror stories Katy saw in India, she realized how serious this problem is.

“One woman I met asked my team and me to take her out of the brothel, to save her, but we didn’t have any place to take her,” Katy said. “Most prostitutes are human trafficking victims. They aren’t prostitutes by choice.”

In November, Katy and her team had a banquet to raise money.

When they return to India in December the first youcanfree.us safe home will be dedicated as well.

Katy knows that she couldn’t have accomplished the Bags of India project without the help of Marcus students.

“They really made a difference in their lives. I pray that God blesses them,” Katy said. design and graphic by maria heinonen 9

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the marquee |december 16, 2010

design by nathaniel thornton 11

in-depth

story by devon miller

“My dad’s an alcoholic so I definitely know what can happen from drinking too much,” Steiner said.

Steiner watched as her friend smiled at the cashier, Valerie Steiner* tried to focus as she looked down who smiled back and rang her up, never asking for an at the papers in her hand. The music from the club ID. He gave her a wink as he handed her the receipt. she’d just been thrown out of pounded in her ears Steiner’s friend took the receipt and they left quickly, as her alcohol-muddled brain tried to process the anxious to get the drinks to their friends. words. Public Intoxication. Out past curfew. The Steiner said teenagers can always find something words swirled together and she blinked a few times, alcoholic to drink. giving up on understanding them for now. She “No teenager is a responsible drinker,” Steiner looked up and met the angry eyes of her mother, said.

“They drink to get messed up. It’s something to who had just pulled up. She took a deep breath and do. ” walked towards the car. *** On the first night of last summer, junior Steiner Kristen Collins* threw open the door of the bathdowned a Four Loko and, along with a friend who room, desperately searching for her friend Maria*. was also drinking, drove to Plush in Dallas. The The last time she’d seen her, Maria had been downtwo got in to the club with fake IDs but were soon ing vodka like it was water, just after chugging a Four kicked out for their drunken behavior. Along with Loko.

What Collins saw inside the bathroom shocked the tickets she received, Steiner is on probation for her. six months and has Maria was to complete 60 sprawled out on hours of community her back in the cold service. Her parents shower. Her hair was I thought she was dead. You could also sold her new red matted and chunks Mustang and sent barely see her breathing. of vomit clung to the her to counseling.

- Kristen Collins*, 11 strands. Her clothes “Right after I got were wet with alcoout of counseling I hol and puke, and was more cautious she was taking short, about drinking,” Steiner said. slow breaths.

Steiner, who has been drinking since she was a “I thought she was dead,” sophomore Collins said. freshman, said she drank Four Loko “20 times or “You could barely see her breathing. I couldn’t get more.” The drink is a mixture of an energy drink and her out and I started crying because I couldn’t get her alcohol, with more caffeine than two cups of coffee up by myself and no one wanted to help me.” and more alcohol than four glasses of wine. The FDA After managing to get her out of the shower and on recently enacted a ban on caffeine-spiked alcoholher feet, Collins brought Maria to her mom, who was ic drinks like Four Loko because of the effects the waiting outside.

After telling Maria’s mom what had drinks were having on consumers. happened, they rushed her to the hospital.

“Anytime I drank one I threw up,” Steiner said.

“Her pulse started slowing down,” Collins said.

“There was so much sugar. It just didn’t sit well with “It was so bad that she was having mini seizures and my stomach. I got hungover pretty much every time, coming in and out of consciousness.” too.”

Maria’s doctor told her she had alcohol poisoning *** and, after giving her medicine to get the alcohol out The bell over the door jingled as Steiner and of her system, let her sleep it off. Collins said she was her friend walked into the rundown gas station. scared by the event, but continued to drink.

They grabbed a few Four Lokos from the back and “In my mind, I thought that I could control myself brought them to the counter.

“

12 design and graphics breyannathornton washington design and graphics byby nathaniel 12

”

more than she could,” Collins said. “I thought I was going to be fine because nothing like that had happened to me.”

However, Collins recently threw a party at her house with alcohol and was caught by her parents and grounded.

“Since I’ve been grounded I haven’t (drank),” Collins said. “I hope it stays like that but I don’t know.

I’m only a sophomore and there’s a lot of time in high school.” *** Amanda Jackson woke up with her head pounding. She slowly sat up as she processed where she was. Once she realized she was in her bed in her room, she tried to remember what had happened the night before. She had been drinking with her friend and they had been laughing. He put his arm around her. Then things got fuzzy.

She could remember being pushed back on the bed. She remembered him fumbling around with something. After that, it was a blank, but she didn’t need to remember the rest to know what had happened. She started to cry.

She’d been raped.

“I felt like I didn’t have any control over my body,” Jackson said. “It definitely made me stop drinking. I don’t promote drinking and I like to make sure I’m sober.”

After telling her parents, junior Jackson got a morning-after pill and decided to take her rapist to court. However, because they’d both been drinking, there was no concrete proof, so Jackson was forced to drop the case. Jackson had started drinking as a way to deal with her depression.

“I drank to dull the pain,” Jackson said. “But drinking doesn’t prevent the problems. It just dulls them out until you deal with them later.”

Since that night, Jackson has tried to ensure that others who are drinking are safe from harm to prevent what happened to her from happening to anyone else.

“I lost my virginity that night and I didn’t even remember it vividly,” Collins said. “I couldn’t stop it... You can’t prevent everything. You’re not yourself when you’re drinking.” *names were changed to protect the identity of the source

november 19,|december 2010 | the 16, marquee the marquee 2010

in-depth

story by carley meiners and molly spain Senior Becky Katel* listens as her 13-year-old sister launches into a recount of her Friday night activities. Her sister starts from the beginning, first explaining how she came to acquire the alcohol. She excitedly tells Katel about how drunk she was by the end of the party, and how anxious she was to drink again. Katel restrains herself from rebuking her sister, aware of the hypocrisy that would present. Although Katel parties and drinks herself, it’s hard for her to hear about her younger sister’s drinking.

Underage drinking has become more prevalent among younger generations today. An average of 11,318 teens drinks alcohol for the first time every day (learn-about-alcohol.com). Junior Bailey Mckinley said she knows students at Marcus that drink and recognizes the issue of drinking in high school.

“It’s definitely a growing problem because people make friends with older kids easier now and it’s easier for them to get alcohol,” Mckinley said.

Even students in elementary and middle schools are now drinking alcohol, whether the cause is peer pressure, depression or to just have fun. Downing Middle School assistant principal Will Skelton said he can see that alcohol targets more of a younger generation. Katel said that her younger sister started drinking around the age of 12. She worries that drinking will negatively affect her sister in the future.

“I fear that my little sister is going to experience things that she shouldn’t, and that she feels like it’s okay because I did it,” Katel said. “I think she started drinking so young because of peer

pressure and depression. She wanted to escape.”

According to studies by David J. Hanson, Ph.D., continued alcohol exposure by teens affects brain development, which isn’t fully developed until a person is in their early twenties. Alcohol damage to brain development can impair one’s intellectual capacities and cause learning problems. School nurse Kathy Saucedo said that younger children don’t know how much alcohol their bodies can handle which causes even more problems.

“Even over the counter Benadryl some kids can only take one while other bodies’ can handle two and their bodies won’t flop over and fall asleep,” Saucedo said. “I mean do you really want to find out accidentally that what you did was too much?”

Long-term use of alcohol can lead to liver damage, cancer and pancreatitis. Research done by teendrugabuse.us proves that excessive drinking of alcohol when one is under the age of 21 can actually shrink the brain and cause a person to age faster. Drinking before one is 15 years-old makes one four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence later on in life than people who begin drinking alcohol in their twenties. Saucedo said that the media glamorizes drinking into something that many teens would want to do.

“There’s a natural teen curiosity about all things and some of that’s good,” Saucedo said. “But they make it look like it’s something cool to do.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that underage drinking is the cause of about 5,000 deaths for people under the age of 21 each year. However, a national survey taken by NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) reports that there is a decline in underage drinking among middle schoolers.

*names have been changed

compiled by lauren rose and alex cain

Alcohol is digested in the same way as other food and beverages.

Alcohol passes directly into the bloodstream through the tissues of the stomach and small intestines.

Your family history can influence your drinking habits.

Children of alcoholics are 3 to 4 times more likely to become alcoholics.

If you “sleep it off” for a few hours, you will be fine to drive home in the morning.

Your motor function can be affected for up to 10 hours after you finish drinking.

the marquee |december 16, 2010

design by nathaniel thornton 13

entertainment

Presents with price in mind compiled by jasmine sachar

There can be no greater embarrassment than when your family members present you with the greatest gift for Christmas (exactly what you wanted down to the wrapping paper color) and you sheepishly hand them soap on a rope. We understand you’re on a budget, so here are some foolproof, affordable gifts sure to return the love.

For the mother:

“The Audrey 100” - $28.07 at Target

Audrey was the iconic actress that epitomizes old Hollywood glamour and most moms will be familiar with her classic standbys—Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Roman Holiday, My Fair Lady. The book features 100 unreleased photographs of Hepburn and flipping through them is sure to evoke that same signature elegance.

Emerson Electric Wine Bottle Opener $20 at Target Tired of seeing your dad putting his “manhood” in question while struggling to get that bottle open? Put away those old-fashioned cork screws which can make anyone break a sweat. This stylish and easy-to-use opener will spare your dad the embarassment and speed up holiday dinners. photo from target.com

photo from target.com

For the older sister:

For the younger brothe r :

LEGO Harry Potter Quidditch Match $19.97 at Walmart (6-12 yrs) This item takes a modern fantasy spin on a classic toy. Your little brother can be the ultimate master of the hostile match-up of Gryffindor and Slytherin. Between helping Harry find the snitch before Malfoy and dodging bludgers, your little bro will be occupied enough to leave you alone for the rest of the holiday.

For the father:

Flannel Santa Claus PJs at Old Navy $12.00

The weather can turn chilly around Christmas break. It’ll be time to grab the snuggie, pour some hot tea and hit the couch for some classic movies. These cute, inexpensive pants will just add to the experience and make your sister’s break warm, toasty and comfortable.

photo from walmart.com

For the girlfriend:

Old Navy winter wear, totaling $25.50

photo from gap.com/oldnavy

For the boyfriend:

Jake cologne by Hollister for $30

photo from gap.com/oldnavy

Jewelry is a classic romantic gift, but the bling can get pretty pricy.

Old Navy has an extensive variety of outer wear for the winter months which makes for an inexpensive alternative. In every color from periwinkle blue to lime green, we recommend the cable knit scarf for $8.50, a pair of gloves for $7.50 and a chunky knit pom pom beanie for $9.50. Snazzy and useful.

14 design by breyanna washington

The delectable scent that greets you whenever you walk into Hollister can be bottled and given to your significant other. Jake, the store’s least expensive cologne, combines a lively citrus with a rugged wood base. It might have you lingering a little bit longer on those hugs. photo from hollisterco.com

december 16, 2010 | the marquee

New work, same geniuses Man on the charts review by breyanna washington Creative, ingenious, stellar — these are all words that describe Kid Cudi’s second album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. After Cudi’s first album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, fans have spent months anticipating another one of Cudi’s works. “These Worries,” “Maniac” and “Erase Me” are all songs on the CD that focus on Cudi’s dark memories and how they’ve affected him in life. Concepts such as disappearing and fading into the past and hiding in the comfort of darkness are all feelings that Cudi experienced when rapping for Man on the Moon II. One of the lyrics of Cudi’s “Don’t Play This Song” starts with, “Pain, hurt, sadness and loneliness,” and turns to the second verse with “I’m in the maze/I’m in the daze/I’m losing it/I’m locking in my rocket ship.” With words such as these, the listener can clearly see the gloomier angle of Kid Cudi.

Man on the Moon II has a new spin on the “emo” aspect of rap, but the sound of the album is lyrically attractive. Classic hip-hop beats envelope the listener’s musical dream. The song “All Along” has a mellow rock rhythm and the song “Erase Me,” is more rock-and-roll.

Cudi also included an all-star cast of featured artists. Chip the Rippa, GLC and Mary J. Blige are a few of the talents that attribute to the mesmerizing voice of Cudi’s imagination.

The mixture of music genres gives fans more than just a great hip-hop album.

Man on the Moon II is a blend of abstract melodies behind clever rap lines. Kid Cudi does not stray far from the 2009 rapper that fans have grown to love. With his Relaxing, harmonic and spell binding tunes while crossing boundaries and expectations, Kid Cudi is definitely the “Man on the Moon.”

Kid Cudi and Kanye West return with new brilliance

A swift comeback review by nathaniel thornton

Over the last few years, Kanye West has become a household name. This is not only from his music, but for his ridiculous award show antics. His image has changed from one to be admired to one that is often frowned upon and he knows it. With his new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, he’s looking for a new start.

West has never stuck to one style of music through the span of his hip-hop career. His sound has incorporated anything from soul to electro. Despite his constantly changing style, the quality of his music has been fairly consistent.

Deep beats and heavy bass match his quick lyrics and interesting perspective in his songs.

This album keeps up both of those traditions. Kanye’s new approach is easily comparable to that of an “opera.” All the songs seem to fit together into a similar concept or story, and each song’s lengthy runtime is like another scene. Even the music is more reminiscent to that of an opera than a hip-hop album. Instead of being bombarded with the sounds of bass, listeners are serenaded with a symphony of strings.

Not only does it have a unique sound, it also has a great “cast.” It has many of hip-hop’s well-known artists such as Kid Cudi, Nicki Minaj and Jay-Z, along with less typical guests like Elton John and Bon Iver.

Whether or not you are a fan of Kanye West’s over-the-top persona, there is no doubt you’ll be impressed by this musical endeavor. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is one of the best albums of the year and a milestone in Kanye West’s ever-changing career.

entertainment

IN CONCERT

$ 3 5 - Trans-Siberian $ 7 2 Orchestra American Airlines Center 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 $ 1 0 - Family $60 Force 5 House of Blues in Dallas 8 p.m. on Dec. 19 $ 1 6 - the Video $ 2 2 Stars House of Blues in Dallas 7 p.m. on Dec. 23 $ 5 7 - Robert $ 1 0 9 Earl Keen House of Blues in Dallas 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 27 $ 3 1 - Better $ 4 1 than Ezra House of Blues in Dallas 7 p.m. on Dec. 28 $20$ 4 0 Fronteirs House of Blues in Dallas 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 28 $ 4 5 Cake The Palladium Ballroom 8 p.m. on Dec. 30 Party

$44 House of Blues in Dallas 10 p.m. on Dec. 31 Theft

$ 3 6 - Ozzy $ 9 2 Osbourne American Airlines Center 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 20 the marquee | december 16, 2010

design/art by breyanna washington 15

entertainment

I won’t be home for Christmas...

Exchange students tell their holiday traditions story by alex mcginnis

We all know about the holiday season in America: the late night shopping hours, colossal trees and yard decoration rivalries with neighbors. The Marquee decided to explore the traditions of foreign exchange students spending their first Christmas in the states.

Anna Nobbe, junior

Haeun Cho, junior

Carl Nielsen, junior

Hanover, Germany

Bucheon, South Korea

Karlskrona, Sweden

•

On Dec. 25 and 26, both known as “Second Christmas,” all of the relatives come over and have a big feast.

•

On Christmas morning the family goes to a Presbyterian church.

•

The Christmas tree is put up a few days before Christmas, not a few weeks. No stockings are hung.

•

After church and time with family, Cho goes out with her friends to celebrate Christmas at various festivals in Seoul.

•

On Christmas Eve, her family goes to an evangelical church and watches children perform the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth.

•

There are no decorations outside and only a few ribbons hung in the windows around the house. They don’t put up a tree.

•

Gifts are always opened on Christmas Eve.Electronics and toys are the most popular presents to give.

•

They eat a birthday cake honoring Jesus as well as white rice and orange maple chicken.

•

“My favorite part is waiting for Santa Claus and wondering what presents he’s going to bring me,” Cho said.

•

“I remember as a little girl watching Pippi Longstocking on Christmas Eve while my mom and sister decorated the tree,” Nobbe said.

•

The family watches the Christmas episode of Donald Duck at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve and then exchange gifts.

•

They don’t do anything on Christmas except eat dinner with grandparents and other relatives.

•

They eat Janssons Frestelse or Temptation, which is a baked casserole with layers of thinly sliced potatoes and onions with crème between each layer.

•

The main decoration is the Christmas tree inside the house.

•

“It’s the same episode of Donald Duck every year. But I love it and everyone in Sweden watches it anyway,” Nielsen said.

Community service opportunities compiled by shannon mccauley

Keep Lewisville Beautiful

Flower Mound Police Department

Greater Lewisville Cares

Texas Tailwaggers Rescue

What: Volunteer to beautify Lewisville Where: 189 Elm Street #106, Lewisville Who to Contact: info@keeplewisvillebeautiful.org

What: Assist with various community services in Lewisville Where: 5500 Morris Road, Flower Mound Who to Contact: info@greaterlewisvillecares.org

16 design by jordan richards

What: Dress in McGruff costume at community events Where: Flower Mound Who to Contact: muah.hammerquist@verizon.net

What: Animal rescue and fostering at Adopt-a-Pets on Saturdays Where: Highland Village Who to Contact: txtailwaggers@aol.com

december 16, 2010 | the marquee

sports

Undefeated senior hopes to lead team

Ultimate team looking to state next April

story by devon miller

story by carley meiners

The frisbee tips in the air as senior Austin Walker attempts to score another point for the ultimate team. As Walker slams into the ground, the frisbee is caught in between Walker’s outstretched hands. This point tied the game 7-7 against the top ranked UNT ultimate team. However, minutes later UNT scored again, making the final score 8-7 - a Marauder loss.

On the weekend of Dec. 5, the ultimate team competed in the Jingle Bell Hell (JBH) Tournament in Denton. The tournament consisted of college and club teams from around the state. Oklahoma State University was among one of the few teams from outside of Texas.

The JBH tournament is one of two tournaments the team competes in yearly. In April, they will compete in the high school state tournament. Last year the team tied for third and this year they’re looking for a first place win. Walker said it’s a possibility because they beat the top ranked team in JBH. He said

photo by luke swinney In the 52 degree December weather, senior Austin Walker quickly passes to teammate senior Matthew Hudspith at an after school 4 p.m. practice at the freshman campus on Monday, Dec. 13.

the team has shown their true capabilities.

“With our success at this tournament we have proved ourselves,” Walker said. “If we can do that with top tier college and club teams, then the high school teams at state have nothing on us.”

This year, senior captain Dylan Powers is looking to change the school’s outlook on the wrestling team.

After 18 meets, the team is 12-6 and Powers is 160, the only undefeated member of the team. He credit the team’s success to their cohesiveness.

“Individuals can win for themselves, but they can’t win for the team,” Powers said.

Powers uses his influence as captain to help prepare the other wrestlers for matches. He prepares for his own by warming up and listening to screamo and death metal music.

Tomorrow, the team will compete at the Cowboy Duals at Coppell High School. Powers, is most looking forward to facing rival Dalton Franks from The Colony at the Cougar Duals meet.

“When I was younger, I basically just went around and muscled people,” Powers said. “I’m starting to learn technique and that’s helping me out quite a bit.

I’m looking forward to going against (Franks) now.”

Boys’ cross country ventures to Portland Runners travel to Nike Cross National race, return with tenth place story by carley meiners

W

ith only 400 meters to go, Craig Lutz can see his finish.

He can see himself taking it all again.

Only 400 meters to go and his national title will remain his. Then the mud gets thicker, the hay barrels are harder to get over and he loses his strength. With a time of 16:04, only five seconds behind the winner, senior Craig Lutz finished third in the Nike National Cross Country meet in Portland, Oregon.

Last year Craig won first at the Nike Cross National. Lutz said this year the race was more of a challenge, but ended up playing in his favor.

“I’m more of a strength runner,” Lutz said.

This year Lutz was one of the two previous top ten boys to place in the race. He said this was partly his goal.

“I kept throwing in surges and I kept accelerating the race even through the hard parts,” Lutz said. “I was trying to tire everyone else out. This ultimately worked because Lucas (the winner) beat me by five seconds.”

Illinois native Lucas Verzbicas won the race with a time of 15:59. Last year, at another national race, Footlocker Nationals, Verzbicas beat Lutz. Lutz said that Verzbicas has a lot of strength over him.

“Race time he is just stronger than the marquee |december 16, 2010

me,” Lutz said. “Compared to me he has everything more. His parents are Olympic tri-athletes. He just has every resource he needs. But I respect him. If one person has enough, they can beat anybody who has worked the hardest.”

According to coach Steve Telaneus, Lutz has worked that hard. Telaneus said Lutz is not only a good runner, but also an excellent leader.

“For a team to have success, one of the most important things you can have is a good peer leader,” Telaneus said. “You need somebody who’s out there and respected. Someone who will work hard and demand stuff out of themselves and their other teammates.

Last year Craig traveled alone to the Nike race. This year the boy’s cross country team traveled out to Portland with him. In the race the boys placed tenth. Telaneus said this wasn’t just a one year accomplishment.

“Three years ago we talked about accomplishing exactly this,” Telaneus said. “I’m proud of the team for how they’ve worked hard for a long time for this.”

Lutz said the tenth place win is a big accomplishment. He said that they met more than their expectations.

“We just wanted to run as a team and do what we’ve been doing all year and ultimately we accomplished that,” Lutz said.

Despite his loss, Lutz said he is proud

of his high school cross country accomplishments. Lutz is the first person to place in the top five at the Nike meet three years in a row. He said he takes pride in that and that he looks forward to his college career at the University of Texas, to which he is committed.

“Nothing that anybody does in high school should be the highlight of their life,” Lutz said. “So hopefully what I’ve done in high school is just a stepping stone into what I can do for college.”

(Top right) Senior Craig Lutz sprints through the mud, vying for a second national championship title. Lutz ended up finishing third. (Bottom) The boys’ team poses before they run the race course for the first time.

photos submitted design by jordan richards 17

sports

shooting stars for the

The boys are looking for a repeat state appearance. The girls want to make a long run in the playoffs with a new coach. The Marquee previews both teams, breaking down successful strategies, top players and games not to miss.

boys’ basketball compiled by luke swinney photos by becca dyer

key match-up: plano west The Marauders play their first district game next Tuesday, Dec. 21 against Plano West. As the away team, this game is key for the boys to start their district record on top and keep their momentum throughout district play.

SECRET WEAPON After a small taste of state victory last year with the boys making it to the state semifinal game, their experience gives them an added edge this season. This benefit is evident through the team’s quick ball handling and patience in not shooting the ball too quickly.

Their experience also helps the boys handle pressure and keep their cool, something that state teams must have to be successful.

PLAYER PROFILES MARCUS SMART, junior (#3)

Ht-6’0 Position- Forward Biggest Strength- Leadership on the court Inside scoop- “We’re one team, not individuals, so I’m looking for that trust in my teammates that we’re all ready to go to battle on the court. Just looking for that brotherly love that all teams want.”

18 design by maria heinonen

NICK BANYARD, junior (#23)

Ht- 6’8 Position- Center Biggest Strength- Rebounding Inside scoop- “I’m just ready to start up district, because I know a lot of people in the district and I like playing against people I know. My step-brother is the starting point guard for Plano West, so that will be fun playing against him.”

PHILLIP FORTE, junior (#10)

Ht- 5’11 Position- Guard Biggest Strength- Shooting. Forte consistently scores around a third of the team’s total points.

Inside scoop- “We’re enjoying the ride right now and taking it one game at a time. We’re not looking to Austin or anything specific because anything can happen.” december 16, 2010 | the marquee

sports

girls’ basketball

THERE’S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN

compiled by jasmine sachar photos by kyle anderson

Experience is new head coach Pam Owens’ middle name and going to state is nothing new. At Taft High School in San Antonio, Owen traveled to the state championship three times before she went to coach at the University of Tennesee. “I think I bring a work ethic and I try to show them that if they work hard and work smart then good things can happen for us.” Despite a 5-9 record at presstime, Owens said that once she gets used to the system, she’s hopeful that the team will make a run in the playoffs.

THE STRATEGY “Press and run and score. And press and run some more.” This is the signature strategy Owens has implemented since her arrival, a change from the team’s passive approach. This aggressive defense style has players putting pressure on the opposing team and tiring them out. “Our philosophy is we want to make them have to play around us,” senior forward Hailie Sample said. “It makes them have to move and go to where we’re not and that turns into turnovers.”

key match-up: lewisville Lewisville has three returning guards, a new pair of move-in posts and the advantage of size. “They were really young the past two years and now they’re older more mature and can handle things better,” junior post Shannon Malone said. The game takes place on Jan. 10 at home.

PLAYER PROFILES SHANNON MALONE, junior (#00)

Ht- 6’0 Position- Post Inside scoop- “We played a really hard preseason schedule. The teams in our district I don’t think have been playing a hard preseason.

As we go into district, it helps us because we’ve been in this situation before, you know, tight games against teams who are really good.”

Goals- to be all-district, first team december 16, 2010 | the marquee

HAILIE SAMPLE, senior (#33)

Ht- 5’11 Position- Forward Inside scoop- “People are more eager to play than they were last year. (Owens) gives more advice than she does yelling.”

Goals- go to state tournament

VANESSA JONES, freshman (#22)

Ht- 5’8 Position- Shooting guard Inside scoop- “(Our youngness) brings a lot of energy to the team because we haven’t been through it and we’re happy to get the opportunity.”

Goals- to win “Newcomer of the Year” and to average 12-15 points per game design by maria heinonen 19

opinion

mighty mouse

Kate O’Toole

Polish adventure dictates future job

We were eating pierogi and other typical Polish peasant food when it happened. It was a cold, windy June day in Krakow, Poland. An elderly man in his 70s walked slowly up to our table. He pointed to our soup and said a few words in Polish. Through hand signs, we finally understood what he wanted – the soup. We were eating it, so we shook our heads. He scurried back to his table, focusing a hawk-like gaze on the trash can in case anyone threw away food. But after he left, an uncomfortable guilt settled on us.

In the end, I brought the soup, along with a piece of bread to his table. He looked at me gratefully and started talking in Polish. I looked at him blankly but smiled. He smiled back and took my soup, devouring it. At that moment, I wanted to know that man’s story. I wanted to know how he lived throughout the World War, the Nazis and the Communism that hit Poland. All through traveling, the hardest thing for me has been the language barrier.

A language is just words and sounds. It is a seemingly simplistic thing. I have been learning French for five years. Through the long days of conjugating verbs and trying to sound remotely French, it has been a challenge. When people speak in French, I try my hardest to remotely pick out words that I know.

But still, I typically have no clue what they are talking about. I have tried to become fluent. I put my non-bilingual mother through a five hour dinner, in French on the French countryside. Throughout our two week journey through France, we stayed at people’s houses. Some didn’t know English. I have tried. But here in Texas, I find it impossible to put my French to use.

That is why, when I graduate early in January, I have decided to become an au pair, which is a nanny, for a year. I will be going to France to take care of someone’s kids. But the whole uncertainty of what kind of family I will get and where I will end up intimidates me. I don’t even want to hope for anything out of fear that it won’t meet my expectations. At the same time, I am excited to go somewhere different and challenge myself. It will be strange to be truly alone for the first time. I will be relying on strangers that I will get to know in the span of a year.

But after I process my fears and uncertainty, I reflect on what I wish to achieve in life. I want to listen, hear and report people’s stories. I don’t want a language barrier to get in the way of comprehending another way of life. Hopefully, this job as an au pair can help me do that. Wherever it brings me, I do know one thing: it is going to be an adventure.

20 design by james hubbard

Fan frenzy options

Hooray for iPod day

Praise the po-po

Hockey Hotties, Courtside Cuties and Marquette Maniacs. These are just some of the fan groups for the different activities at Marcus. Now there are organized groups aside from football getting attention.

It’s great to see the spotlight on other sports for a change.

We enjoyed having our iPods allowed at school for a day and it was even better that the money collected from the fundraiser helped create a new scholarship for seniors. It was a good way to make the day go by faster and was effective in its purpose of raising money.

The cops that help direct traffic on Waketon in the mornings are greatly appreciated. They help ease the congestion and make it easier to arrive at school safely and on time.

Instead of waiting 15 minutes the time is shrunk to an enjoyable four minutes.

hillary is my homegirl

Jasmine Sachar

Ladies, open your own doors

I guess I’ve established that I won’t make a boy a sandwich, but have I gone too far?

I don’t exactly know how it got to this point. Over the past two years, I’ve somehow become that “feminist chick.” In a typical teen movie fashion, I began to preach on lunch tables and in physics class about the importance of higher education and equal pay. I made frequent references in casual conversations to the greatness of Hilary Rodham Clinton. I denounced Disney for only making one animated movie, Mulan, with a strong female role.

What’s worse is that no one seems to understand.

Or care. And it’s prompted me to wonder: have I taken the dream of smashing patriarchy too far?

Last week, a guy friend of mine, let’s call him Sam Dorsch (because that’s his name), opened the car door for me when he picked me up for a study group. It seemed silly. Neither my arms nor opposable thumbs were broken or in any way handicapped, and I was soundly capable of opening my own door.

I refused to get in until the door was shut and I could open it myself.

I kind of shook it off as a joke, but in the weeks following the incident, I was mocked by the guys and questioned ceaselessly by my dainty girl friends. “He was just trying to be a gentleman,” they say sympathetically. “It was so nice of him.”

It had me thinking: if I had been driving and was picking up a boy, would it be socially acceptable to step out of the vehicle and open his door?

“Well, of course not,” they shrug. “That would

Do you

THINK

there is a

drinking

problem @ Marcus? compiled by alex mcginnis photos by sarah sauer

make him a wimp.”

I was certainly taken aback by the complacency of my friends. I thought girls at least disliked the idea of having their individual liberties stripped away.

But instead they liked boys being in the lead. They liked the gentlemanly acts, the pulling out seats, the paying for the entire dinner bill. They liked being the one waiting for the Homecoming invitation and saw no problem with spending $30 weekly on gift baskets for boy athletes. We were preconditioned to put men in the lead.

Even my mom - my full-time working, doctor flesh and blood - agreed with the rest.

“Save your energy for bigger battles,” she scolded.

But how could I, mother dearest, when I saw injustice everywhere? It went deeper than a silly refusal to get into Sam’s car. Making jokes about women’s rights and sandwiches, listening to Lil’ Wayne rap about strippers and hookers and all sorts of other very respectable things. Eating at Hooters, watching Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on the jumbotron.

How we as a society have placed so much emphasis on men’s sports while outright ignoring accomplishments of female athletes. And how even though strides in the professional world have been made, people are still surprised to know my mother is the doctor in the family.

My peers can call me insane, aggresive and all together unreasonable.

Still, it’s a battle I’ll continue to fight, one car door at a time.

“I’ve heard about other kids drinking since last year, and I’m sure there are kids doing it, but I don’t think it’s a big issue.”

Griffin Ferara, freshman

“It’s a problem and I know a lot of people that do it.

It’s not smart and it’s dangerous.”

Carly Beasley, sophomore

december 16, 2010 | the marquee

opinion

Limited song choices

Dirty bathrooms

The new town dump

The senior song choices were a bit limited, most being of the country genre.

This might be Texas but country music only appeals to some students at Marcus.

More variety in the future would help find an appropriate senior song that everyone can enjoy.

The lack of attention made to the bathrooms makes them unsanitary.

Some of the doors have been missing locks for years, and the paper dispensers are always empty.

Let’s fix this so our feet don’t get soaked from the water on the floor.

The parking lot is overflowing with trash. It’s not that hard to pick up after ourselves. Maybe if the school provided outdoor trashcans, it would encourage students to throw away their garbage rather than to just leave it on the ground next to their car.

little laureny

Lauren Rose

Great expectations at Great Wolf Lodge Its kind of funny how things work out and how a normal day at work could change your life.

It was the beginning of October and my third month of being a certified lifeguard at Great Wolf Lodge. Tuesdays were typically slow with only about 20 guests in the whole water park. I was at a normal guarding rotation, scanning the same water for 45 minutes and then rotating to the next pool. Switching to the next pool, the catch pool, three slides ended and a rapidly moving current and turbulence guided its riders to the nearest exit. Then it happened.

One long whistle, I hit the emergency stop on the slides, the water stopped moving and so did he.

I jumped. My supervisor Darrin was face down in the water, lifeless. I wrapped my arms around his chest, plunged the rescue tube forward and thrusted us backwards onto the tube. His head backward, his airway was opened and he began to breathe normally. Brian, my other supervisor, was watching closely off the edge, scanning the water and my every move.

He helped me out of the water and said “Good job kid, you got an exceeds.” I had been audited for the first time that night and passed, just to make sure that on slow nights I would be able to find a guest in distress within ten seconds and save them in less than twenty.

Oct. 29 I was at the same guarding spot, the catch pool, scanning my water as usual. Step one, two, three and look back, downward head sweep, repeat.

The orange slide is the fastest at Great Wolf Lodge so most people fall off their tubes when they shoot out

“You can say it’s a problem. However, I see it as normal because Marcus is not the only school doing it.”

Danny Leal, junior the marquee |december 16, 2010

of the slides. But this time it was different.

An older man around 70 came out from the slide, hit the water and began to drift back. He must have slipped on the bottom of the pool, right? Everyone slips here. He’ll be fine. Okay Brian, this isn’t funny anymore. Come out so I can see you. Please just be another test.

It wasn’t. The man’s face turned from rosy pink to a pale blue. He lost his breath and couldn’t get on his feet. Farther and farther he drifted away. My heart stopped and I blew one long whistle, hit the emergency stop and jumped in. If you don’t know, go. It’s okay to just go and jump in even if it ends up being nothing. I had my arms wrapped around his body in seconds about to pull him onto the tube, and by some miracle the wind that was knocked out of him returned. He was near the edge and pulled himself out.

Before I could say a word to him, he said “Thank you honey, I truly appreciate you jumping in to save my life,” and left. In a matter of seconds he could have died and it would have been my fault.

Now I may not have had to perform a complete emergency rescue for that old man, but thinking about it I’ve never been so thankful for the way anything worked out. I never would have expected a lifeguard test that I thought was annoying and pointless to prepare me to jump in for an old man’s life.

Emergencies do happen and being prepared for any possible scenario makes difficult nerve racking situations come at ease. Life can end in a second and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“I think there are bigger problems at Marcus that need to be dealt with.

But for some people it’s a big problem because they can’t control it.”

Derek Nance, senior

“Alcohol is so readily available, and there’s a curiosity about it. When you put those two together it creates a problem.”

Jan Hutley, teacher

shmallison shmibish

Allison Przybysz

This is my space.

I’ll do what I want.

This week, this is my little corner of the newspaper to share my thoughts, views, stories and opinions. I could write a sob story about ending relationships or my anxiety about graduating high school.

Except I don’t care about losing friends and I don’t feel nervous for graduation. I do, however, have strong views on the opression of the world’s most majestic creature.

The Platypus, or Ornithorhynchus anatinus, is a reptilian creature rich in a culturally diverse history.

Despite what many have been led to believe, this furry lizard has a disturbing past.

The platypus was first discovered by Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus in 1456 in the bustling Indonesian city, Jakarta. The first platypus Columbus met worked as a basket weaver in the bustling town with his family. The family sold their creations for just enough money to pay the rent and electricity bills. It was a hard life, but an honest one.

Columbus promised the platypus family that if they moved to Spain, they would gain extreme wealth and become kings and queens. Trusting Columbus, the platypus family agreed and migrated west to Spain.

Upon their arrival, Columbus betrayed the family’s trust and enslaved them. He forced them to breed, resulting in deformed offspring with large bill-like beaks. He used his army of cuddly reptile freaks to invade Somalia, but the platypuses were no match for their forces. The platypuses fought hard against the Somalians, but the battles were brutal.

The species was nearly wiped out and only a few of the creatures remained alive by the end of the war.

Defeated, Columbus took his remaining platypuses back to Spain, and began to realize the wisdom the platypuses possessed. The creatures explained to Columbus that he had taken advantage of their ancestors trust, and he began to realize he had done them great injustice. Columbus vowed to treat the platypuses as kings. He took them to the distant land of Australia and declared them rulers of the vast continent, where they eventually stabilized their population.

Okay, so maybe this wasn’t completely acurate.

However, this is my little place to write my opinion and this is the story I wanted to share. I really doubt anybody would care to read a column about what has been happening in my life, and I don’t care to publish my personal stories. The platypus is much more interesting than my struggles and accomplishments. Long live the platypus.

design by james hubbard 21

staff editorial

Drilling poses severe health risks A ticking time bomb sits half a mile away from sues including frequent nosebleeds around the time Shadow Ridge Middle School. Standing over the the toxins in the air reach their highest levels. The school is a towering gas drilling rig which constantly chemicals released into the ground by a drilling propumps natural gas from the ground. The rig is also cess called hydrofracking are also seeping into water surrounded by a shopping center, a major road and supplies. On Dec. 7, dangerously high levels of metha neighborhood, all of which could be gone at any ane and other chemicals were found in two water minute if something went wrong. If a pipe bursts, if a wells in Parker County, just outside of Fort Worth. line breaks, if something overheats, the entire struc- The methane level was so high that one resident was ture could go up in able to light the waflames and explode, ter from his hose destroying everything on fire, producing a in its path. To prevent a constant stream of tragedy, gas drilling in flames. DISH is also The methane level was so high that Flower Mound needs to having problems one resident was able to light the water stop immediately. with contaminated from his hose on fire.

Over the past dewater. Traces of arcade, gas drilling in senic, lead and chroresidential areas has mium were found become increasingly in one couple’s well, popular as energy corforcing them to find porations are encouraged to use our own natural a new water supply. resources rather than depend on foreign oil. Though Health risks aside, the rigs also robs the town of gas drilling has been plaguing other states for years, its beauty. Flower Mound was once a scenic place the problems have only just begun in Texas, home where residents didn’t have to go far to take a drive to the Barnett Shale in North Texas. In December of in the country. Now, gas companies are attempting 2005, a drilling rig in Texas exploded, destroying ev- to fill every last bit of country land with drilling rigs erything within a mile radius and leaving only a mas- and compression stations. The rigs are getting closer sive crater in its place. To put that in perspective, if to neighborhoods, decreasing property values and, the same were to happen to the rig by Shadow Ridge, more than anything, marring what was once a beaueverything from the intersection of 2499 and Flower tiful town with ugly, hulking gas rigs. There are curMound Road to Shadow Ridge would be destroyed. rently four rigs operating in Flower Mound and, if it A densely populated area with thousands of people, weren’t for the moratorium on gas drilling, several gone in a matter of seconds. There have been explosions closer to home, too. Two explosions involving pipelines of drilling rigs in Fort Worth claimed the lives of two workers over the summer, not to mention the several other explosions that have occurred and killed in recent years.

As if the risk of fiery death isn’t enough, the rigs also pose several serious health risks. The rigs release harmful chemicals like benzene, a known carcinogen, into the air. Last year a study about cancer cases in Flower Mound found the number of cases of leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and breast cancer were slightly elevated in the years since the installation of the drilling rigs. Several students at Argyle High School have complained of increasing health problems, ranging from chest pains to asthma to trouble concentrating, since a drilling rig was put in half a mile from the school. Just 15 miles from Marcus in DISH, Texas, home to 11 gas compression stations, an air quality test revealed high levels of toxins in the air that exceeded the short and long-term levels set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Regulations. Several trees surrounding compression stations in DISH have withered and many livestock on surrounding farms have died. Since the gas compression stations were installed, residents of DISH have experienced several strange health is-

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22 design by james hubbard

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others would be aiding in Flower Mound’s conversion from a pleasant residential area to a hideous, rundown wasteland with no better purpose than pumping gas out of the ground.

Some say that gas drilling is beneficial because it provides a source of energy and residents who sell their mineral rights get money. However, is this energy source really worth the small payment and surplus of dangerous problems? Those who lease their mineral rights usually make less than $1,000 unless they have a large amount of acreage. No amount of money can compensate for the loss of Flower Mound’s rural areas or health problems with residents. Others say that gas drilling has not been directly linked with any health issues. It’s too early to tell if the two are linked, though, and why risk waiting? And in other areas plagued by gas drilling, like Colorado, studies have found a direct link between drilling and air and water quality issues, which are the main causes of the health problems seen in residents near gas drilling rigs. It’s only a matter of time before a link is found here, too.

The moratorium on gas drilling ends in February.

The time to act is now. Before a rig explodes. Before the beauty is gone. Before the water is contaminated and flammable. Those who wish to put an end to gas drilling can sign the petition at www.stopthedrilling. blogspot.com, attend the protests every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in front of the rig on 2499 or contact the Flower Mound Town Council for more information. Stop the danger. Stop the contamination.

Stop gas drilling before it’s too late.

december 16, 2010 | the marquee

Parading for Christmas cheer 1

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photos by allison przybysz

3 the marquee |december 16, 2010

1. A Schlotzky’s sandwich walks down Morriss road in the annual Flower Mound Christmas Parade on Saturday, Nov. 11. The parade started at approximately 10 a.m. and lasted about an hour and a half.

2. Senior James Arnesen runs with fellow musical theater members to promote their play “Li’l Abner.”

3. Junior Sarah Hanlon marches alongside her colorguard teammates.

4. A float supporting the Flower Mound Humane Society reading “we need a REAL home pleeze” informs the parade audience of the many animals in need of an adoptive home.

5. A truck decorated as a bug advertises the town of Flower Mound’s campaign to keep our city beautiful.

design by breyanna washington 23

Affordable Holiday Treats

The Marquee creates homemade snacks for under $10

step 1 step 4

step 2

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step 6

photos by becca dyer

Materials: • one bag waffle pretzels • one bag of Hershey kisses (any flavor) • one bag of assorted M&M’s • cookie sheet • aluminum foil Step one: Gather ingredients Step two: Arrange pretzels on ungreased foil covered cookie sheet Step three: -Unwrap kisses Step four: Place kisses on top of pretzels

Final Product 24 design by allison przybysz

Step five: Put snacks in 170 degree oven for 7 minutes Step six: Push M&M’s into warm melty kisses december 16, 2010 | the marquee