December 2012 iTalk

Marquee The

volume 27 | issue 03 | december 20, 2012

mhsmarquee.com

iTalk 3

Band participates in Midwest clinic

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Teacher’s relatives work to recover after Hurricane Sandy

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MARCUS HIGH SCHOOL | 5707 MORRISS ROAD. FLOWER MOUND, TX 75028

The Marquee explores how the world may end tomorrow

table of contents

the marquee [newsmagazine] editor in chief jordan richards

managing editor marisa charpentier

photo editor jordan richards

design editor amanda collen

news & feature editor marisa charpentier

graphics editor sydney sund

in-depth & opinion editor

news

ryan mcdearmont photo kady kohankie

[4] CARE DALLAS Honor societies attend

annual charity event for homeless in Dallas. story miranda chiechi

entertainment editor courtney clubb

sports editor sydney sund

business manager hailey painter

reporters maddy ermenio, miranda chiechi,

feature [9] SEEING GLORY Track and cross country coach remembers life-changing event. story marisa charpentier

alyssa schmidt, ben horton, austin rickerson, michael delgado, madi schwem, anna middleton

designers sydney sund, courtney clubb, jordan richards, hailey painter, tori allmendinger

photographers amanda collen, kady kohankie, ben horton, michele papa, miranda chiechi

entertainment [14] BUBBLE TEA The Marquee reviews different bubble tea cafes. story marisa charpentier

sports [18] BASKETBALL BREAKDOWN Coach examines post-state team. story austin rickerson

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 $70 per 1/8 of a page, with discounts available. For more information call 469-7135196.

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

NEWS

Wind Symphony heads to Chicago Band chosen as one of five to attend Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic individual practice on Midwest pieces, Region audition excerpts and show music.

“Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with schoolwork, practicing 10 different pieces for Midwest and even practicing for Region auditions, but overall I feel pretty confident in my preparation for the concert,” Etter said.

The Midwest Clinic will be one of the more unique performance opportunities the Wind Symphony will have this year. According to Drinkwater, it’s an expectation of programs to participate in the annual spring UIL concert competition whereas the Midwest clinic is an invitational where bands have to apply in order to be selected.

“It’s definitely a unique performance opportunity versus UIL that’s every year,” Drinkwater said.

This trip to Chicago will be Drinkwater’s second trip. the Wind Symphony was selected to attend five years ago, in 2007. After their concert, Drinkwater said they were amazing, and got [an] extended standing ovation.

“It was so awesome,” Drinkwater said. “The last time we went to Midwest I would have to say was one of the highlights of my experience as a band teacher.”

Drinkwater says she thinks this year’s Wind Symphony will receive equal recognition.

“I think once the time comes for us to perform in Chicago, after how much time and effort that will be put into the program, it’s going to be unforgettable,” Etter said.

Despite all the success the band has had in the past years, both on and off the marching field, their goal is not to win or outperform another group. They say they try to uphold the highest standards of excellence while passionately striving to furthur their goals through unfaultering confidence, efficiency and integrity.

“They are very dedicated to their musicianship, and they’ve been having a blast,” Drinkwater said. “One of the most important photo submitted things is that we kept having fun along the Drinkwater conducts the Wind Symphony at their Pre-Midwest concert held in the Larry Sigler Auditorium on Thursday, Dec. 6. way.” photo submitted memorable experience.”

The Wind Symphony will be giving a music clinic as well It was just another day of class for the Marcus High as a concert performance where Drinkwater thinks nearly School Wind Symphony. Sounds of music begin to fill the 5,000-7,000 people will attend. The clinic is an hour long room as the students practice and warm up for their daily demonstration of what Drinkwater and the other directors rehearsal. The students continue to play until Head Band do to train the band students fundamentally.

“Honestly, I am a little nervous because of how many Director Amanda Drinkwater walks to the front of the room and steps onto her podium with a paper in her hand. The people are going to watch you perform,” Etter said. “But I music dies, and the room becomes silent. Drinkwater begins think it’s going to go well for both the concert and clinic once class with her routine speech about the day’s agenda and we finish preparing ourselves.”

For the concert, Drinkwater had to put together 10 pieces upcoming events, the paper sitting unread in her hand.

When she finishes with her announcements, she tells the of music. However, not just any pieces could be selected. The students she has something to read them. She unfolds the music must follow specific guidelines, span the full range of paper and reads it aloud. It was an email from the Midwest grade levels from grade level one to grade level six and have Clinic congratulating the band on being accepted to perform a specific balance of new and old works.

“I probably listened to music for it seems like a hundred at a clinic and concert in Chicago in December 2012. The hours,” Drinkwater said. students cheer and talk excitedly amongst “It’s a great puzzle piece of themselves. This was the email they had The last time we went to Midwest putting together all of the been waiting for.

I would have to say was one of the requirements you have to *** meet.”

The Wind Symphony band will be in highlights of my experience as a To simplify the Chicago to participate in the Midwest band teacher. selection process, Band and Orchestra Clinic from Dec. 19Drinkwater arranged 23. They were selected based on a taped Amanda Drinkwater, Band a variety of pieces on a submission they sent in last spring. bulletin board, all color Drinkwater and the Wind Symphony say they consider it a great honor to be chosen, since they are coded, and would switch them around to try to figure out what the best programming would be. It took Drinkwater almost one of only five high school groups invited to attend.

“We’re just elated,” Drinkwater said. “This is a real all summer to finally select the pieces Wind Symphony will community of our peers from around the country that are play. Once the music had been selected, the next challenge going to have an opportunity to hear the students perform.” was to figure out how to balance rehearsals for Chicago with Junior french horn Caitlyn Etter, who has been a member the regular marching band rehearsals.

“You just have to really budget your time wisely because of the Wind Symphony since her freshman year, says she there’s so much material to cover,” Drinkwater said. and the other students are also very excited about the trip.

The students had Monday night rehearsals throughout “I’ve never been there before, so being able to have my first experience there to be an international concert with my the fall, on top of marching band practice, and a few morning band family is just absolutely incredible,” Etter said. “The sectionals. They also will have some practice concerts before bus ride with the band, the feeling of Chicago at Christmas they perform in Chicago. One challenge for the students is time and everything else is going to make for a really learning how to balance schoolwork with rehearsals and story sydney sund

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the marquee december 20, 2012

design sydney sund

3

NEWS

around

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Helping others holiday season Honor societies volunteer to help homeless at Operation Care Dallas story miranda chiechi People arose from beneath bridges and off the street, their dwellings from the night before. Today was the day, Dec. 15. They slowly gathered all of their belongings, which included small bags of their only possessions. They walked until the Dallas Convention Center came into sight. Soon enough, countless numbers of men, women and children were wrapped around the building, anxiously waiting to go inside. The structure may have not have looked special on the outside, but inside, thousands of volunteers stood by their stations containing blankets, new clothes, shoes, personal care products, food, medical care and a reconnection booth to try to reach lost family. They waited to give all these things to those in need.

This was the scene of Operation Care Dallas. Among these thousands of volunteers were members of Spanish Honor Society, English Honor Society and National Honor Society members. Operation Care Dallas is a non-profit organization that started in 1993. This year the school organized a trip to go to Dallas to enable the students to be a part of the experience.

President of EHS senior Sam Karnes said he thinks the event is eye-opening.

“I think it gives really good real life community service,”

Karnes said. “Some of the stuff that we provide at the school is not as direct as this.”

The students that went to Care Dallas got ready for the event by making blankets that they passed out along with baskets of different items like coats. Karnes said the students were all energetic about the event because it is for such a great cause. Spanish teacher Amber Rutledge said many people signed up to help and that she was optimistic about how Care Dallas would turn out.

“It’s a really good program, and not only are you giving the stuff to them, but you’re getting to interact and getting to hear a little bit… of their story,” Rutledge said.

President of Spanish Honor Society Paige Wyant said she was most excited to see the reactions of those who are in need.

“I just think it’s a really good experience to see how much it benefits them… and impacts their life,” Wyant said.

Care Dallas does not only help those in need, but those volunteering as well.

“It kind of changes you too because you get to see kind of how other people live and what their circumstances are,” Rutledge said.

Junior Brittany Diaz said many of the people she helped when she went with Spanish Honor Society were veterans.

She said everyone, volunteers and those in need, were all very

excited for the event, and it made her appreciate everything she has in her life.

“It was cool seeing how happy it can make someone to receive one pair of shoes and to interact with people who were less fortunate than myself,” Diaz said. “It makes me see things differently.”

The people helped by Care Dallas may return to the same spot underneath a bridge or on the streets. But this time, they may be in better health, wearing new shoes or with a warm blanket made by the school’s students for the cold December weather.

photo kady kohankie

Young Men’s Service League to open up chapter in Flower Mound area story austin rickerson Young Men’s Service League, originally founded in Plano, is opening a chapter in Flower Mound/Highland Village.

YMSL is a volunteer and community service organization where young men in grades 9-12 can work alongside their mothers to help the less fortunate. YMSL works in mutual aid with other organizations, such as Meals on Wheels, to provide service to others. “[You] get an opportunity to work with people that are in need of something, whether it’s in need of their fence being repaired or helping someone with their groceries,” Robyn Lumpp, mother of sophomore Saxon Lumpp and participant in YMSL activities, said.

While the majority of the league’s chapters remains in Texas, branches have opened in California, Illinois, Georgia

and Nevada as well. Each chapter decides what type of work it will do in the community. Sophomore Saxon Lumpp and his mother are currently members of the Plano chapter of YMSL. Service projects in this chapter range from painting wounded veterans’ homes to delivering Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in Plano.

“Primarily, Saxon and I have both benefitted tremendously from this endeavor,” Robyn said. “Just to be part of something bigger than yourself has been great for Saxon.”

Robyn is in charge of starting a YMSL chapter in Flower Mound. She said that when the new chapter is started, members will have the freedom to choose what services the chapter participates in. For example, Saxon said he enjoys participating in Meals on Wheels, an activity the Plano branch doesn’t do. He said that the new chapter would. Saxon also said that while he enjoys it, Plano is a far drive and a more

local chapter would be better.

“It’s a lot more fun to work alongside your friends, too,” Saxon said.

Mrs. Lumpp said that YMSL has been a huge factor in helping the less fortunate kids in Plano schools through charitable acts and events. She said she feels that Young Men’s Service League can benefit the Flower Mound community in the same way.

“Saxon has a lot of friends that I think would benefit from the same thing he has been able to benefit from,” Robyn said, “We’d like to give them an opportunity to do it.”

Robyn said that she hopes to have the branch up and running by next year, unless there is enough demand and volunteers to start it now. If students are interested in joining YMSL or have any questions, contact Robyn Lumpp at robyn. lumpp@verizon.net.

Memorial golf tournament held at Bridlewood raises scholarship money story anna middleton

The first annual William Janvrin Memorial Golf Tournament was held Nov. 9 at the Bridlewood Golf Club.

This tournament is named after William Murdock Janvrin, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old. He died suddenly in late 2011 when he was a second grader at Flower Mound Elementary school.

“I often celebrated him,” William’s father, Brian Janvrin.

“Now that he’s gone, I want him to continue to be celebrated.”

The tournament was started by Janvrin with the help of the LISD Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports students and teachers in Lewisville ISD. Development Director of LEF Mary Worthington said that the proceeds of the tournament go through LEF and fund scholarships that go to two graduating seniors at the end of the year.

“The goal is to award a scholarship each year to a special needs student that wants to further their education and also to design hailey painter

a student that wants to become a special education teacher,” Brian said.

Janvrin said that he hopes to continue this tournament in future years to honor his son because his son was a big inspiration to him and his family. He said that William worked hard to achieve what other people would think were small tasks, like speech. Worthington said that the purpose of the whole tournament was for Janvrin to leave a legacy for his son.

“Instead of sitting in his grief and being so sorrowful he said I’m going to do something good out of something bad that happened.” Worthington said.

The tournament consists of a four person golf scramble. In the golf scramble players in groups of four compete against one another. Each player hits from the tee box, and then the team members choose the best out of the four shots for the next shot. This is continued until the hole is complete, then

a score is recorded. Worthington said it was a better outcome than she and Janvrin had expected.

“They looked like they were having a lot of fun,” Worthington said. “There was a lot of support for what Mr. Janvrin was trying to do.”

This year the LEF exceeded their goal of $10,000, and ended up raising about $18,000. Ninety-nine players participated, and most of the players were Janvrin’s personal friends and co-workers as well as men from the Bridlewood area. Janvrin said that it was a lot of fun and a wonderful celebration of his son.

“The message is to go out of your way to help kids with special needs because they are wonderful people,” Janvrin said. “Nobody chooses to be born with a disability so they deserve the best from anyone they come in contact with.”

There is still an opportunity to donate to the scholarship fund.

To do so, go to www.LISDEF.com and you can donate directly. december 20, 2012 the marquee

FEATURE

Hit by the storm

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Relatives of students, teachers work to recover from aftermath of Hurricane Sandy story maddy ermenio Amid smoky piles of debris, bits and pieces of houses and cars, in Manasquan, NJ, the mouth-watering smell of seafood swirls in the air. Owners of the local restaurant “The Beach House” waste no time in the kitchen, putting their supplies to use.

This is reality for the family of History teacher Luana Hanley, who was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. Rather than allowing the food from their family-owned restaurant to spoil, they decided to cook it and give it out to people in their community who were in need of food.

“They were, of course, upset with what they’ve lost,” Hanley said. “But they’re moving on and saying ‘we’ll make the best of it.’”

Hanley grew up in the New Jersey area and has family that lives in North Jersey and near Point Pleasant. She has spent many summers in New Jersey since she was a child.

“To see the places where we stayed and all of those streets there…it’s horrendous,” Hanley said. “My heart is breaking for them when I see the destruction and the damage on the websites.”

Late on the night of the storm, her family was stuck in chest-deep water and searching for evacuation by boat. At one point after the storm, 13 of her family members were living in one house with no power.

“They’re all getting by,” Hanley said. “They rode those rides when she was a kid. It’s really said in spite of it all, we’re laughing and we’re just sad to see it all gone.” having fun.”

For those like Higgins’ family who own Not only have they been encouraging each property across the toll bridge from Seaside other as a family, but also as a community. Heights, NJ, the National Guard was their Hanley’s high school nephews have only means of seeing all they had lost. The volunteered at shelters and with clean-up National Guard transported victims across around the city. the toll bridge and to their homes, giving them “They’re all stepping up and being part of two hours to view the damage and collect the community,” their belongings.

Hanley said. “My Higgins’ famfamily down at ily returned the shore, they’re on Monday, Nov. They move on. If something tough. They hang 19, to find their happens, they say ‘it’s going to get in there together. property that is They said ‘we’ll more than 2/10 of better, and we move on.’ get through it.’” a mile away from Jackie Higgins, 11 For junior the ocean flooded Jackie Higgins, with boardwalk Hurricane Sandy debris, saltwater also hits close to and even sand. home. She has family near the boardwalk in The house was almost completely destroyed, Lavallette, NJ and has many memories of the along with the newly remodeled kitchen and Jersey Shore. brand new car.

“It was just really devastating to see,” “They’ve had [the house] since I was born, Higgins said. “It was part of my childhood, so so I’m really sad to see it gone,” Higgins said.

I’m really going to miss that.”

“It’s been a really slow process of recovery.”

The boardwalk is a tradition in the Higgins Higgins said that in spite of it all, people family, who has seen generations pass along are still being nice to one another. Her aunt’s the Jersey Shore. neighbor, the only one in the area who had “I’ve ridden all those rides,” Higgins said. power, opened up her home to all the other “You can never ride those again. My mom residents in the area. They were free to use the

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electricity to cook food, charge electronics, and even stay overnight if they needed to.

“They move on,” Higgins said. “If something happens, they say ‘it’s going to get better, and we move on.’”

Even from 1,000 miles away, senior Carly Roggy organized a coat and sock drive in an effort to protect victims of the hurricane from the cold winter. As little as four days after the hurricane hit, Roggy was already at work.

“My whole family is from New Jersey,” Roggy said. “They told me really horrible stories about all the places I grew up in my childhood, destroyed.”

Roggy was moved to help and began collaborating with family and the swim team to collect coats and cash donations during lunch. Together they collected 13 boxes full of coats and other clothing accessories, along with $140 from students’ contributions during lunch. Coats were even turning up daily on Roggy’s doorstep.

Roggy sent the donations to the central coast, including local churches, schools and mosques. The donations also went straight to families who needed it most, including her own family members and friends she knows.

“I didn’t really see it as making a difference,” Roggy said. “I saw it more as just doing what I could. I know we collected a lot and then sent a lot, but I feel like it was just a dent in the large spectrum.”

Superstorm Sandy compiled

ranks

#2

hailey painter

for hurricane causing the most damage Tallest wave was

39.67 www.examiner.com

feet

www.articles.latimes.com

the marquee december 20, 2012

Strongest gust of wind was

94

7.5

www.statisticbrain.com

MPH

million power outages

>3,000

flights cancelled

$30

billion in property damage

design hailey painter

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SPOTLIGHT

Helping the homeless

Operation Care Dallas is an organization that provides help and support as well as other amenities such as food, clothing and sleeping bags to those less fortunate in the community.

Several Marcus groups participated and donated items to the event. photos kady kohankie

North Texans gather to unload food, water, clothing and blankets for the less fortunate in the community.

The homeless accept gifts from the volunteers of Operation Care Dallas. The organization was started in 1993.

Community volunteers bow their heads during a group prayer at the event. It was held at the Dallas Convention Center. design jordan richards

Operation Care Dallas held its event on Dec. 15. One of the organization’s goals is to share religious beliefs. december 20, 2012 the marquee

FEATURE

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Making it to the BIG SCREEN

60

seconds

Marian Christopher, 11 compiled madi schwem photo courtney clubb

Who would win in a fist-fight: Chuck Norris or Morgan Freeman?

“Chuck Norris would win, but Morgan Freeman would help him win by narrating the fight.”

What would be your weapon of choice in a zombie apocalypse?

“A flamethrower, because nothing’s more funny than watching a zombie burn to a crisp.”

If you could in anywere book, which oneand would “That my live parents murderers that you choose? they kidnapped me.”

“Harry Potter, because they all have cool British accents.”

What exotic foods would you like to try?

“Roasted parrot, because a parrot tried to attack me once and I need my revenge.”

photo submitted From left to right: Junior Sophia Ali co-starring as Scarlett; Actress Taylor Spreitler playing one of the main characters Lennox Scanlon.

the marquee december 20, 2012

Junior appears on TV shows, auditions for movies photo submitted story anna middleton Sophomore Sophia Ali stood at the front of the room facing the film director and the casting director sitting at a white table. She had just auditioned for a Korean movie named Papa and was waiting for her dismissal. This audition lasted for 40 minutes. It was the strangest audition she had ever done.

“He had me redo the scene over and over again,” Sophia, who is now a junior, said. “Usually if they keep you a long time it’s good.”

The director of the film spoke in Korean. Sweat built up on the back of her neck. She didn’t know how to respond. Another man translated what he said.

“I really like you,” the translator said. “But I was wondering if you could lose weight for the role.”

At first feeling unaffected, Sophia answered with a yes.

As she was dismissed, the casting director apologized, and Sophia said it was fine. She didn’t feel upset. But when her mother also asked her, “Are you ok, Sophia?” while they were walking out of the building, she burst into tears.

“I usually don’t even take stuff like that personally, but for some reason, I just found it hard when people would talk about my weight,” Sophia said. *** This is one of the troubles Sophia had to overcome while following her main passion, acting. After playing roles in the theater such as the narrator in “The Giving Tree” at Flower Mound Elementary and the lead in “Mother Goose House of Rock” and “12 Dancing Princesses” at ACT Children’s Theatre, she has made her way to the big screen.

Sophia started her film career on the children’s television show Barney. Then in 2007, she got a supporting role in the movie Missionary Man with Dolph Lundgren. She played a little American Indian girl and had only a couple lines. She said that it was her first important role.

“She was always acting and creative, and she loved to dress up,” Sophia’s mother, Brooke Ali, said.

Sophia said she is fortunate that she has a supportive family. They even moved to LA when Sophia was 12 years old to help her pursue her acting career.

“The biggest thing I thought about when it came to my kids was to find their passion and let them express it,” Brooke said.

“I will do whatever I can to support that passion.”

While a part of an acting agency called Coast to Coast in LA, she received her longest role. She was chosen to be a host on Get Connected, which is a mini-show that appears during

commercial breaks on Disney Channel. Sophia said that she has had many auditions booked after getting the role. *** Fourteen-year-old Sophia was holding on tight to the paper in front of her, silently memorizing her lines. It was between her and another girl for the role of Maddy in Taranova. She wanted to show she was the better fit for the role.

Another group walked through the door, all of them well dressed and smiling. Among those smiles was none other than Stephen Spielberg. Sophia’s eyes widened. She felt awestruck and anxious at the same time. She read in front of directors, producers and even the entire network for the show. She couldn’t believe she had made it this far.

“The pressure was nerve racking, and it was my 14th birthday too,” Sophia said.

She looked at each person in the group. There were around a dozen of them sitting beside one another. When given the signal, she read the lines for her character. Spielberg continued smiling at her. Her nervousness slowly turned to joy throughout the audition. When she was dismissed, she rushed with her mother to get a birthday cake.

“I showed up late to my own birthday party, but it didn’t matter because I had read for Stephen Spielberg,” Sophia said. *** Although not getting the part on Taranova, Sophia got multiple roles in other television shows. She co-starred on Shake It Up as a girl named Tasha Brooks, guest-starred on CSI: Miami playing Samantha Downey and guest-starred on Melissa & Joey as a character named Scarlett.

“I’m humbled and fortunate to do what I’ve been able to do,” Sophia said.

Sophia said that her favorite role she had ever played was on CSI: Miami. She was the youngest person on the set and said she felt mature and special. When doing her most recent role on Melissa & Joey she met Gregg Sulkin, who is known for his roles on Wizards of Waverly Place and Pretty Little Liars. Sophia said that he was very sweet and professional, but she was surprised to learn that he had a British accent when getting to know him off set.

“He didn’t ever speak it on set,” Sophia said. “He didn’t want to go in and out of character between British and American.”

Sophia said acting has been a wonderful experience for her.

She wants to pursue acting as a career not just a hobby.

“I don’t see myself doing anything else but acting,” Sophia said. design tori allmendinger

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FEATURE

SECRET LIFE of the

typical substitute Sam Pellissier

Whenever a teacher is out, these rescuers get called in. They arrive to save the day from almost certain chaos. They are the unsung heroes of the school system, working in Algebra one day and World History the next. They are the substitute teachers of Marcus High School, and every one of them has a story. The Marquee interviewed three substitute teachers and got the hard facts of their lives in – and out of – the classroom. photos michele papa story ryan mcdearmont

Cosey Carlisle

Mike Sommers

1. How long have you taught as a substitute teacher?

1. How long have you taught as a substitute teacher?

1. How long have you taught as a substitute teacher?

“I started substituting around November 2006, after retirement.”

“This is my first substitute teaching position, here at Marcus, so we’re talking a couple months now.”

“I began substituting in 2007 when I got bored with retirement.”

2. Did you do anything before becoming a substitute teacher?

2. Did you do anything before becoming a substitute teacher?

2. Did you do anything before becoming a substitute teacher?

“I taught and coached for 29 years before becoming a substitute teacher, 22 years in Oklahoma and seven years in Texas.”

“I am currently also the head men’s lacrosse coach for the University of North Texas. I’ve owned multiple businesses, including a gold and silver store, I run a DJ business and I’ve been a photographer since high school.

“I am a retired Agriculture Science Teacher and taught at Marcus for six years. I retired from Aubrey High School in 2004 when I had major back surgery. A bad back and teaching agriculture are not compatible.”

3. What’s an interesting story from your life?

3. What’s an interesting story from your life?

“I am an avid graphic designer…especially for sports apparel. At one point, one of my careers was that I designed items for the NFL, NCAA and the NBA.”

“I spent 14 years in the Marine Corps, first as an enlisted man prior to attending college and then 11 years as a commissioned officer. I served as an infantry officer in Vietnam in 1967-68. As I look back and remember that time, I realize how fortunate I was to have survived.”

3. What’s an interesting story from your life?

“The most impacting portion of my life had taken place during the four years that I served my country as a U.S. Marine.”

4. What advice can you give to high school students?

“My advice to…students would be to get as much out of your student years as possible; if you don’t strive for excellence, you will come to regret it. Learn as much as you can especially in the areas of communication, foreign language, personal finance and how to successfully compete for what you desire.”

5. What is your favorite subject to teach for?

“I used to teach Social Studies and Physical Engineering.

I used to coach Wrestling and Football. Now, as a substitute I enjoy serving students in all disciplines.”

6. What is your favorite food?

“I guess my favorite food would be ‘real’ Italian pizza, New York style.”

design jordan richards

4. What advice can you give to high school students?

“If you can, find out things about college and start preparing yourself for that. Start taking notes on how to study properly like how you would for college, and be involved in something in high school. Any type of club, sport or anything will really help you out socially being ready for college.”

5. What is your favorite subject to teach for?

“Journalism.”

6. What is your favorite food?

“Crawfish and alligator tail. That’s what I get for my birthday every year.”

4. What advice can you give to high school students?

“Students need to recognize that the harder they work in high school, the easier future endeavors will be for them. Developing strong study habits instills discipline.

5. What is your favorite subject to teach?

“I don’t have a favorite subject to substitute teach, but obviously agriculture is my passion since that is what I taught.”

6. What is your favorite food?

“One of my favorite foods is Babe’s fried chicken probably because I only eat it once a year considering the amount of fat and cholesterol that can be consumed in one meal.”

december 20, 2012 the marquee

FEATURE

Back on track

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Track, cross country coach remembers heart attack that happened 10 years ago story marisa charpentier It was the last race of the day. The crowd, bundled up in sweaters and coats, waited for the final runners to cross the finish line of the district cross country meet in October 2002. Track and Cross Country Coach Steve Telaneus stood near the finish. His 11-yearold son Ben waited alongside him. Suddenly, Steve collapsed. He was having a heart attack.

Steve’s wife, Ellen Telaneus, was helping with scorekeeping when someone came running towards her explaining what had happened. She rushed to the top of the levy where her husband lay. She realized his heart wasn’t beating. As the crowd grew larger around them, Ellen alternated administering CPR to her husband with one of the parents, who was also a paramedic. Hundreds of people stood watching.

Twenty minutes later, the ambulance arrived. The medics began working, attaching a tube to aid his breathing. But his heart still wasn’t beating. The medics then rushed Steve to the Presbyterian Hospital in Denton. For 30 minutes, he did not have a heart rate. His brain did not have oxygen.

“So, in essence, I was dead,” Steve said.

Back at the meet, the crowd formed a circle. They began to pray.

The doctors later discovered that a piece of plaque had gone into one of the major arteries in Steve’s heart. The artery is nicknamed the “widowmaker” because most people die if it is blocked.

But it wasn’t Steve’s time. Halfway to the hospital, the medics found a pulse. For the next 24 hours, he was alive but in a coma.

“During that time, they didn’t know if he would ever wake up,” Ellen said. *** At 8:55 a.m. the following morning, Steve’s vital signs began getting worse. His brain looked like it was shutting down. At the same time that morning, the pastor at Steve’s church explained the incident to the congregation. At 8:55 a.m., the church prayed he would open his eyes.

Back at the hospital, the doctors ushered Ellen out of the hospital room. Okay, it’s time to plan a funeral, she thought.

A few minutes passed. Then the nurse walked into the waiting room.

“Mrs. Telaneus, get in here,” she said.

Thinking this was the end, Ellen stepped into the room towards her husband.

Then, he opened his eyes.

Ellen was stunned. The doctors asked him to hold up two fingers, and he did.

Although still breathing through a tube, he was able to understand commands.

“Our family calls it the ‘8:55 Miracle,’” Ellen said. “There was that miracle of the body of believers praying and the Lord answering.”

For the next three weeks, Steve remained in the hospital. During this time, he relayed stories to his sister-in-law Amy about what he had seen while in the coma. Sitting next to him, Amy listened as he spoke.

“Amy, did I die?” he asked. the marquee december 20, 2012

“Well, Steve, I think you did,” she replied.

“It was beautiful,” he said. “I wanted to stay, but I heard a voice say, ‘You have to go back. It is not your time. I have more for you to do.’”

The lack of oxygen to his brain left Steve with brain damage. For this reason, he doesn’t remember saying these things, but he said he is grateful for that.

“I feel like my memories of seeing Glory have been taken from me because if I knew Glory, I wouldn’t want to be here at all,” Steve said.

The resulting brain damage left Steve with some amnesia and short-term memory loss.

He couldn’t remember all of his children at first. He didn’t know what he liked and what he didn’t. He couldn’t read a page of writing in less than an hour. He couldn’t remember how to ride a bike or shoot a basketball. He didn’t know how much pressure to use when holding an object.

“I picked up a milk carton and smashed it because I didn’t know what a milk carton was,” Steve said.

After being released from the hospital, Steve went home to recover. He said he slept constantly.

Steve was then admitted to a rehabilitation center in McKinney where he relearned everyday tasks. The doctors thought it would take at least a year before he could teach and coach again. But Steve thought otherwise.

He worked eight hours each day at the rehabilitation center, trying to relearn what he had forgotten. By January, Steve was back teaching. He transitioned into his job by just attending his second period Biology class for the first five weeks and then adding in

coaching later on. for cross country a few years ago.

During his recovery, Steve struggled with “One of my goals when I started out in the impulse control. Before the heart attack, he 80’s was to win 50 district championships,” said he had a relatively easygoing personality. Steve said. “I’m at 53 now.”

But during the first two years after the However, everything is not back to the way incident, Steve said he was more short- it was before the incident. Steve said he has tempered than normal. He said this was to really concentrate and write a lot of things especially difficult for his children. down in order to remember them. Before the “At first, they went through thinking they heart attack, he could remember all of his lost me completely, and then they lived with runners’ best times, which helped him make this period of time when they didn’t know if workouts for each runner in his head.

I would ever be Dad “I can’t do that again,” Steve said. anymore,” Steve I feel like my memories of seeing “So you couldn’t ask said. “So that’s why Glory have been taken from me them to go through I had to relearn to anything more coach a different because if I knew Glory, I wouldn’t difficult.” way because I have want to be here at all.

Although this a different brain.” was a tough time for Steve also said Steve Telaneus, Track the Telaneus family, that when tired, he Ellen said it also stutters a little bit helped strengthen them. and sometimes can forget how to pronounce “I say that because in each one of our certain words. hearts it convinced us of who God is and how But Steve has a story to tell.

He loves us and how He provides for us,” He said that he believes there is a reason Ellen said. why he was given a second chance to live. Not *** knowing what that reason is has encouraged October 2012 marked the 10-year him to live life as though each moment could anniversary of Steve’s heart attack. Since be why he is still here. then, he has overcome many difficulties that “Today at workout coaching my kids might came from the brain damage. He can now have been the reason,” Steve said. “I don’t read normally again, and his memory has know that. But I do feel obligated [to live that improved. way] because I’m here, and it’s a gift that I’m In coaching, Steve has achieved many here.” accomplishments since the heart attack.

With this belief in mind, Steve has spoken Several of his teams have been state medalists, at churches and FCA meetings. There, he including this year’s girls’ cross country team, spreads his story and his message. who got third in state. Also, one of his runners, “I’m ready,” Steve said. “Take me home, Craig Lutz, won the national championship but I know my time is still here.”

“ “

ALZHEIMER’S MYTHS

photo jordan richards Track and cross country coach Steve Telaneus times a student’s mile at the Marauder Stadium. Telaneus has led the Marauders to 53 district championships. design tori allmendinger

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IN-DEPTH

11

iTech

The discovery of side effects to technology usage has prompted an in-depth look at the way it affects student interaction.

the marquee

december 20, 2012

design amanda collen

12

IN-DEPTH

Maintaining contact Junior’s family uses Skype to communicate with father deployed overseas

story miranda chiechi He was there, but at the same time he wasn’t.

It was Christmas morning at the Demers’ household. Junior Ben Demers and the rest of his family were woken up by his little sister in the early hours of the morning before sunrise.

They gathered together in the family room around the Christmas tree to open presents.

Their father, Jeffrey Demers, happily watched his children tear open gifts, but he couldn’t help them. He couldn’t reach out and hug his children because he was watching the whole scene from Sicily, Italy through a computer.

He had been deployed with the United States Marine Corps in September 2011 to fly aircraft for the Marines. His duty was to refuel helicopters as they travelled in and out of the country. Their mission was to support the people of Libya in their struggle for freedom. Jeffrey was Skyping with his family, something he did almost every day for about seven months.

“I miss a lot of Christmases so actually seeing it was very important,” Jeffrey said.

He said it hurt to leave his family, but it was a little easier to leave his older children because they were old enough to communicate with him and let him know what was going on at home. It was a little harder to leave his young daughter Danielle. To overcome this hardship, he perched his computer on his bed so that he could wake up and see his family.

They Skyped him when it was 2 a.m. in Italy and 6 a.m. in Texas. Danielle was the one who often had these early morning meetings with him.

This is the first time since his children were

What technology could you not live without?

born that he was deployed. Ben said had it not been for modern technology, his experience when his dad was gone would have been a lot different.

“It made it a lot easier on everybody,” Ben said. “It was as if he wasn’t really gone… we could still see him all the time.”

In the beginning, when Jeffrey was first in the military, he said the available technology was nothing in comparison to today’s.

“There were no cell phones,” Jeffrey said. “Computers were just beginning; now everything’s done by computer. Everything’s done by cell phone…so there’s been a huge leap of technology on how I communicate with the family and…with my commanding officer,” Jeffrey said.

Earlier in his life, Jeffrey said he and others in the military used the telegram system, which was limited to 35 words a message. This made the messages short.

Jeffrey received one message from his wife in 1994 that got straight to the point: “I am okay.

Got in accident. Car is totaled. What do you want me to do?”

Because of technology, Jeffrey has been able to do much more. For example, he was able to refinance the house when he was in Italy, check his kids’ grades, help with homework and listen to his daughter read to him after school. He said it was huge to be able to communicate in this way. But being able to constantly talk to his family created somewhat of a disadvantage as well because his family started to expect to be able to talk to him all the time. It created worry when they couldn’t reach him.

“When you’re deployed and [say] ‘Hey,

I’ll be back in four days,’ and you don’t show up in four days, everybody thinks the worst,” Jeffrey said.

But any anxiety of his dad’s safety came to an end for Ben as April approached. After about seven months, Jeffrey came home and landed in Fort Worth on April 4, 2012 in the middle of a catastrophic storm. That day three tornadoes touched down right outside Fort Worth. Jeffrey’s plane was barely able to land, but managed to right between two huge thunderstorms.

“The good Lord looked out for us because he made a hole to land,” Jeffrey said.

His wife, four kids, parents and brother rushed to the plane when it landed. With tears falling from his eyes, Jeffrey could finally do more than just watch his family like he had done that Christmas morning. He could finally reach out and hug his family. The computer image Ben had talked to for months finally came home.

“You’re whole again,” Jeffrey said. “You’re back where you belong.”

photo

amanda collen

Junior Ben Demers skypes his dad as a way to keep in touch with him while he is overseas. They made an effort to contact each other daily.

“ ““ ““ “ Probably my iPod because I use it for music a lot. Music is how I deal with things. Music is the way I express myself.

Hannah Barger, 9

I don’t think I could really live without my phone because it’s how I communicate with my friends.

Aaron Bigbie, 10

I can’t live without a computer because basically my whole life revolves around it.

Lindsey Clarke, 12

compiled maddy ermenio photos kady kohankie

design courtney clubb

december 20, 2012 the marquee

IN-DEPTH

The Human Brain and Social Interaction

13

Technology Pros: Cons: compiled

maddy ermenio

It gives users access to more information worldwide.

It can cause distracted driving.

The line of public and personal information is disappearing as people publish almost every aspect of their lives.

Interaction with technology like videogames improves the ability to isolate important information among clutter.

Social disconnection

Using it improves skills like multitasking, complex reasoning and decision-making.

It reduces the attention span and the ability to think outside the box.

12 9

3 6

story michael delgado As the usage of technology increases, students, teachers and parents have growing concerns over how this impacts the youth in and out of school.

Like a goldfish Recent studies show that an average person’s attention span is only five minutes, when 10 years ago, it was 12 minutes.

That’s the difference between being able to read this entire article and barely making it through the first few paragraphs.

Attention span is in even poorer condition when it comes to web browsing. Another study shows that the average online attention span is eight seconds, one second shorter than a goldfish’s attention span.

Technology often requires multi-tasking, which contributes to this decreasing attention span. Every time a person is distracted from a task, the brain must restart and begin a new task altogether. When a person is distracted by a popup, an app, a text message or flashy video, the brain is forced to re-wire itself and change what it’s doing, shortening one’s attention span.

Debate teacher and coach Carey Petkoff said that she can see technology’s presence in the school environment negatively impacting students’ attention spans.

“I feel like every year attention span gets shorter and shorter,” Petkoff said. “It’s because they try to multi-task all the time.”

Not talking the talk Repeated use of technology impacts the daily lives of those connected to it. The constant connectivity to technology subtracts from the time spent with people outside of a social networking site. Junior Nicole Ulakovic said she understands why other students would use technology so much.

“I study online and keep contact with friends on Skype and Facebook,” Ulakovic said. “The time I spend using technology is basically continuous. It really can’t be measured at this point.”

Junior Jamison Kellen said that over the years, he has seen an increase in smart phones among students, which may have started to affect how they interact with people.

“Smart phones have become more popular,” Kellen said.

“It used to be that not many people had smart phones, but now everyone carries them.” the marquee december 20, 2012

Instant gratification Kellen also said that he has noticed that people have started to prefer short pieces of information that can be absorbed easily over more dense content with informative depth.

“We need more faster and sooner, and we get instantly bored without constant stimulation,” Kellen said. “We are a more instant gratification society now.”

Ulakovic said that technology isn’t really the issue, so much as how technology changes teenager’s perspective on what is important in their lives.

“With all the connectivity and how we are always using it, it’s apparent that teenagers don’t care for much beyond the here and now anymore,” Ulakovic said.

No more playgrounds The way technology affects people is not restricted to teenagers. Parents are also beginning to see the way overexposure to technology affects younger children.

Mother of two Karla Kambourelis said that there is a significant difference in what technology is available to a child now, and what was available when she was younger.

“I didn’t have any type of computer,” Kambourelis said. “I had a TV, but it had no cable.”

Kambourelis said that she tries to regulate the exposure of technology to her two sons, 7-year-old Matthew and 5-yearold Nicholas. She said that she went to a friend’s house to see that her friend’s children were sitting in the living room playing a game, acting unresponsive and doing nothing else.

“When they aren’t playing outside or communicating, they just sit there and don’t move at all,” Kambourelis said. “It’s sad, really.”

How technology affects the brain: It results in greater brain activity.

The more it is used, the more the network of nerve cells in the brain is altered.

It worsens social skills, affecting the frontal lobe’s emotional capacity to feel empathy and attention span.

It can be addictive because of the dopamine that is emitted in the brain during technology use.

When it is overused, the temporal lobe is impacted by short-term memory loss.

design courtney clubb

ENTERTAINMENT 14 14 entertainment

BUBBLES

Bubble-licious

story marisa charpentier photos

jordan richards

According to several food and drink websites, bubble tea is the newest fad. Recently, quite a few cafes have started selling the unique drink. Originally created in Taiwan, bubble tea is a tea-based drink paired with tapioca pearls and a large straw that allows drinkers to consume these “bubbles.” Customers can choose whatever type of tea they want, and the bubbles often take on some of the flavor of the chosen drink. Many bubble tea vendors sell smoothies, coffees and other drink concoctions that can be paired with bubbles too. The bubbles, sometimes called “boba,” are sweet and chewy, adding texture and substance to any drink.

When bubbles are paired with green or black tea, the drink has several health benefits like antioxidants and immunity boosters. Although bubble tea takes some getting used to at first, once customers are hooked, they can’t get enough. The Marquee reviewed four local bubble tea vendors.

Fat Straws

Kaleo Cafe

The atmosphere of Kaleo Cafe can only be described as eclectic. Each wall is decorated with a different theme. One side displays a blue glass wall adorned with ceramic flowers.

Another contains a series of blown up black and white photos. Couches are available, providing comfort to those who wish to drink their tea in a snug area. A bar with electric outlets for those who want to sip their drink while surfing the Internet or charging their cell phones is also accessible.

Kaleo Cafe carries through its eclectic theme in the drink menu as well. A variety of options is available from coffees and teas to smoothies and ice cream. Any tea flavor can be turned into a smoothie, and the shop sells normal tapioca pearls or fruit-flavored bubbles. One of the best sellers is the Taro tea. If turned into a smoothie, this purple concoction is frothy and has a vanilla-like flavor. Prices are slightly more expensive than that of some of the other vendors, but when it comes to atmosphere and variety, Kaleo fits its name’s Greek meaning – to invite.

Fat Straws is farther than the rest of the cafes, but the route is pretty simple. If people are in the mood for a new kind of drink, the drive is definitely worth it. Right when customers walk in, they see shelves of tea leaves lined up against the walls. When paired with beige walls and pictures of bubble tea and teakettles, the leaves promote a soothing atmosphere – unless, of course, the place is busy. The café attracts many customers but is rather small, making the shop loud during busy hours.

Fat Straws sells teas, smoothies, slushes and milkshakes. Unlike other bubble tea vendors, Fat Straws can add chopped fruit or jelly, which are cube-shaped jelly chunks that come in different fruity flavors, instead of bubbles. The tea, smoothie and slush flavors range anywhere from green apple and peach to lychee, a tropical fruit native to China, and guava. The green apple slush provides a cooling and slightly sour flavor. The prices here are on the lower end, but the cups are smaller than those of some of the other cafes.

Orange Peel

Naranja Cafe

When it comes to variety, Orange Peel has the most. Walking through the doors, customers first see frozen yogurt dispensers lining the walls and a glass case of donuts. A self-serve coffee station is also available along with smoothies, slushes and bubble tea. The green and orange walls create a modern and bright atmosphere that fits the fun drink concoctions. The vendor sells everything from honeydew melon to coconut-mocha flavored drinks. Once customers select one of the many options, they can take a seat on the stylish but not-so-comfortable chairs.

A cushioned booth is also available, but the seats are covered with a plastic casing that provides little comfort.

When added to smoothies like the cococut -mocha smoothie, the normal tapioca bubbles seem to have a little more flavor. For those who aren’t accustomed to the tapioca flavor, a smoothie or slush paired with bubbles is recommended. Although the prices are somewhat higher at this shop, the cup sizes are larger.

Just a few minutes away from the UNT campus sits Naranja Cafe. This cafe is lodged on the side of a small road and has one of the most undersized parking lots in the area.

Walking inside, customers are greeted by mint green walls that are meant to create a calming atmosphere but look faded as though they belong in a 13-year-old girl’s bedroom. The fish tank that sits near the cash register and the smooth wooden chairs and tables look like an attempt at modern décor.

However, wooden pillars hold up part of the roof and make the surroundings look more like an old barn.

Hot drinks and cold drinks are available as well as bubble tea. One of the best sellers is the Jasmine Green Tea. When paired with boba, the tea is refreshing. The natural flavors of the tea supply a healthy alternative to sugary smoothies and shakes that some vendors sell.

The prices here are pretty average. When it comes to décor, the restaurant falls short of other bubble tea vendors. But based on flavor, the caf is enjoyable.

rating guide design jordan richards

check please

not worth it

could be better

not too shabby

masterpiece december 20, 2012 the marquee

ENTERTAINMENT

END of the

WORLD

2012

story ryan mcdearmont In the past, there has been much speculation as to the end of the world.

One increasingly popular theory is that an event will occur on Dec. 21, 2012, that will bring about the world’s end, due to the ancient Mayan Calendar ending on this date. In the event that some sort of apocalypse actually ends up occurring tomorrow, The Marquee presents a helpful guide for dealing with various possibilities of the world’s destruction.

Nuclear Holocaust – Our country has gotten in an arms contest with another country and the whole world lost. Now the Earth is a barren wasteland, filled with nothing and more nothing.

In the event that you survived, prepare to fight off hordes of savage raiders in the wastelands of former civilization. There’s a good chance some mutations will occur, so if you suddenly grow a third arm or second pancreas, try not to worry. In such a bleak situation, The Marquee recommends simply getting some of your living friends together and waiting for civilization to rebuild itself, or maybe just watching reruns of Seinfeld on an old TV in the shell of what used to be someone’s home.

Cosmic Catastrophe – If an apocalypse of this scale occurs, there isn’t much to do in order to survive it. If the Sun expands into a red giant, most life on Earth will burn to death. On the plus side, lucky survivors will be able to not only fry eggs on the sidewalk, but also larger foods like hot dogs and entire cows. If the Earth somehow drifts into a black hole, everyone on the Earth will be compressed together down into nothingness and sucked into a whirling sphere of death. But if this compression does occur, The Marquee asks that you take solace in the fact that you’ll be closer to your “special someone” than ever before.

Robot Uprising – Your GPS is trying to

drive you off a cliff, and your toaster keeps setting all your bread on fire. Its official – technology has gained self-awareness and is rising up against humanity. There isn’t much you can do to stop a robot, except bludgeoning it repeatedly with a blunt object or overloading its logic circuits.

Luckily, the machines will be hindered by their lack of mobility, so the first killer robots will be restricted to annoying computers and malfunctioning cash registers. However, if this scenario occurs, The Marquee says to stay away from any Arnold Schwarzenegger look-alikes for awhile, particularly if they’re looking for someone named “Connor.”

Alien Invasion – It’s finally happened.

Aliens have arrived on Earth, and they are not happy. Or maybe they’re the same aliens that helped build ancient civilizations, like the pyramids and all that. Whoever (well, whatever) they are doesn’t really matter because they’ll certainly be looking for human test subjects as soon as they land. The best you can do is hope that their multiple limbs impede their ability to open doors, or maybe that their bodies will be crushed in Earth’s higher field of gravity when compared to that of their home planet. At the very least, The Marquee recommends constructing a tinfoil hat in order to keep the invaders from stealing your brain waves.

Natural Meltdown – Maybe global warming

has finally taken its toll, or maybe Mother Nature is just angry. Whatever the reason, terrible natural disasters are occurring on a global scale. If Texas is lucky, then maybe the whole state will be flooded.

If we’re unlucky, then maybe a super-tornado will tear us from the Earth’s crust and fling us into space.

Your best option for this apocalypse is to build an incredibly secure bunker and get really cozy. In the event that the entirety of Antarctica melts and the world is submerged, The Marquee suggests learning to evolve gills as quickly as possible in order to survive the water-world that will follow.

WHAT will

Do you believe the world will end on December 21, 2012?

MARCUS do? the marquee december 20, 2012

15

YES NO

Zombie Apocalypse – The world has collapsed. There are no real responsibilities due to half of society becoming mindless, shambling, carnivorous meatbags. This seems to be the big one that everyone’s hoping for because nothing screams “post-apocalyptic fun” like running away from your family in terror when they join the horde. If zombies occur, your best hope is to bone up on horror films and hope at least one zombie film got it right. There’s just as much of a chance that the undead will be aggressive super-predators as they will be slowmoving ammo targets. The Marquee also suggests stocking up on canned foods because nobody likes beef from zombie cows.

16%

28% 6%

36% 84%

5% 25%

How would you spend your last hours on earth?

SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY PARTY OTHER TRAVEL SLEEP

design jordan richards

16

ENTERTAINMENT

Sweet Tweets compiled ben horton

Gag gifts compiled

Need a last-minute gift idea? The Marquee put together a list of presents that are easy to put together before Christmas. With these options, you’re sure to get a laugh.

ben horton

$10 in Pennies

+ 1,000

Rebecca Anderson @rebeccaAnders0n

People sometimes just want money for Christmas. So, why not tell them you got them a lot of money and then hand this over. Their reaction will burst with groans of excitement.

Where you can get this item: Bank - Trade $10 for the pennies

Marcus needs to get better wifi connection so I can watch some M.O.B. #getittogethermarcus Brittne Largent @brittnelargent

Awkward Family Photo Album Nothing is more sentimental than getting a photo album for the Holidays. Buy a photo album and fill it with photos from the Awkward Family Photos and People of Wal-Mart websites. It will give this classic gift the humorous spin that no one will expect.

They need to put an Olive Garden where Life’s A Beach is at #geniusidea

ENTER PHOTO HERE

DONT VOLUNTEER TO PASS OUT PAPERS IF YOU HAVE TO STAND AT THE FRONT AND ASK WHO EVERYONE IS!

Where you can get this item: Kohls or Target, awkwardfamilyphotos.com, peopleofwalmart.com

Opposing Sports Team Gift We live in Texas, where most people have a favorite sports team that they would die for if they had to. So, give your friends the gift that shows you truly love them - a souvenir from their least favorite team. It’s the thought that counts.

Right?

Where you can get this item: Dick’s Sporting Goods or Rally House

Austin Kinley @monsieurginger

Using the bottom of your laptop for warmth Sydney Armstrong @sydneycheyennne

Gift Card in Weird Places Another prime example of a basic Christmas gift is the gift card. But give the recipient a difficult time finding it. Put it in jello or in a package of cookies or chips. This will make these gift cards extra sweet.

Where you can get this item: Wal-Mart

Gift rd Ca

Ugly Sweater It only comes “in style” one month out of the year. When you look across a crazy Christmas sweater, you see an epic story.

Whether it’s about reindeer or Santa, your friend will surely love it.

Where you can get this item: Good Will or Thrift City

Toys Not Included How often have you gotten a toy or an electronic accessory that comes with the label, “Batteries not included”? You never see it the other way around. So, wrap some AA or AAA batteries in fancy packaging and write a note that says, “Toy not included.”

Where you can get this item: Wal-Mart design hailey painter

If your ten year old self knew you now, would they be proud? #askyourself

Hannah Olson @hannaheolson

This is high school. People are gonna talk.

If you don’t want people to talk about it then maybe you shouldn’t have done it.

Samantha Sales @samanthaasaless

tweet us @mhsmarquee #marqueemadness december 20, 2012 the marquee

SPORTS

17

Shooting for sport passed on through family story

austin rickerson

Students, such as junior Tevis Cannon, gather around at Elm Fork Shooting Sports on a crisp February afternoon.

They look to junior MaKenna Enfinger’s mother, Shellee, for guidance. She explains what they will be doing that day at practice and where they will be shooting.

Shooters look down range, eying their targets. MaKenna’s world champion uncle, owner of Elm Fork, and national shotgun champion grandmother help the team members in their technique. Each team member squeezes the trigger, and bullets fire towards the target with a bang.

For MaKenna, who started the club with the help of history teacher Phil Cooke, and other shooting team members, shooting is more than just pulling a trigger. It’s a tradition that is passed on from generation to generation. Cannon, another team member, said that he learned to shoot with his family long before joining the high school shooting team.

“My dad has taken me hunting since I was about 4, so I kind of grew up with it,” Cannon said. “My dad, grandpa and

uncle all shot and hunted.”

The art of shooting has been passed to him, and Cannon doesn’t plan on breaking the tradition. He said he intends to pass it on to his children as well.

“I plan to teach my kids to shoot and hunt,” Cannon said.

“And I hope they like it as well as I do.”

Cannon said that he enjoys shooting and that it is fun to take on challenges and participate in a sport not many people do. Although it may just be a hobby for him, Cannon said that the team has taught him life skills such as leadership and how to utilize positive reinforcement as well.

“We have a diverse group of people,” Cannon said. “We have people joining that have never shot a gun before. We have to help them learn and build from the ground up.”

All grades and skill levels are welcome to join the shooting team. Cooke said he believes that the team consists of students with varying hobbies and personalities because shooting is typically passed down through the family and can appeal to all people.

Cooke said he believes the number of shooting team members could double this year. He also said that the

upcoming season should begin sometime in late January or early February. All students that wish to join must complete a safety training course.

In addition, he said he thinks shooting goes beyond just a tradition or a pastime. From personal experience hunting and being a gun vender, Cooke believes shooting can have an even larger effect on maturity and development.

“If you get comfortable with what you’re doing, you get comfortable with yourself,” Cooke said. “You gain more confidence in yourself and in your abilities.”

SCAN HERE Scan here to view more sports stories and photos on The Marquee’s website.

Archery state champion continues sport for fun story

alyssa schmidt

A whistle blows. The archers line up side by side and rest their bows on their feet. A second whistle blows. Arrows are secured into bows with a click. The archers take aim at the targets. The room is silent besides the buzzing of fluorescent lights. Arrows are released and hit the targets with thumps that echo through the room. These archers are part of the school’s archery team that meets every day at Lamar Middle School.

When Junior Nicole Taylor joined in seventh grade, she had no background in archery. She said that her dad suggested she take the course because she enjoys the outdoors. She was also the only girl on the team. She eventually went on to be State Indoor Archery Champion.

“In seventh grade, I could hardly even touch the target with an arrow,” Taylor said. “But by the time I hit eighth grade, Mr. Bavousett taught me to get all my arrows going in the tens.”

About 20 years ago in 1996, Ferris Bavousett left his coaching position at Texas A&M to teach science at Lamar Middle School. Later, he and another teacher were brainstorming ideas for more elective courses. Because of his love of the outdoors and his background in archery, Bavousett suggested an outdoor education class.

“I wanted the kids to have an opportunity to do archery and we had a room transformed so that the kids could have an archery lane to shoot in,” Bavousette said.

The curriculum mostly revolved around fishing and archery. As elementary students became interested in the program, the course eventually became an archery team for the marquee december 20, 2012

all grade levels.

For the past five years, five of Bavousett’s students have placed at state championships, Taylor being one of them.

In 2010, Taylor was the State Indoor Archery Champion.

She was in a pool of over 600 competitors and even beat a previous teammate’s record. Although she was excited, she said that it wasn’t the win that she was shooting for.

“I was shooting with a friend, and we weren’t paying attention to the score, we were just trying to beat each other,” Taylor said. “My parents told me that if I made a certain score that I could get an iPhone. I didn’t realize that I had broken the record until after. “ Since she broke the record, more girls have joined on the team. Taylor said that the program really hit it off because girls saw how fun it was and they wanted to try to beat her record. But she said that she doesn’t mind it.

“I’m shooting for fun, I’m not shooting to keep a record,” Taylor said. “But it’s fun that I have one.”

Taylor also said what she enjoys the most about the archery program is the people she meets.

“The best part is the people we meet,” Taylor said. “Me and Ryan [Robenalt] never would have had this kind of relationship, and it’s all through archery.”

Taylor said that she wants to continue shooting for the rest of high school and eventually try hunting. But she said she never wants to turn into something she takes too seriously.

“It is really serious to other people, but I like to make it fun,” Taylor said. “I don’t think I’m better at it. I just think I have more fun.”

photo miranda cheichi Junior Nicole Taylor draws her bow at archery practice. Taylor has done archery since the seventh grade. design sydney sund

18

SPORTS

Post-state basketball

story austin rickerson

After back-to-back state championship seasons, many students wonder what the new basketball season will yield. Coach Clay Cody said that this season will be an adjustment period since there are no returning varsity players.

“It’s going to be a learning process,” Cody said. “There’s such a transition between sub-varsity and varsity basketball and we’ve got to adjust to that speed and that intensity.”

Cody said that the learning curve for the players may be slow but he said he is hopeful for a successful season and a fresh start for Marauder basketball.

“I think it’s important that people don’t compare this year’s team to teams of years past,” Cody said. “I think this team is going to be special in its own right. They just have to have a little room to grow and to learn.”

While Cody said that not a lot of people are expecting the Marauders to do much and that the team isn’t picked to make the playoffs, he also said that being underestimated can be used to their advantage.

“We’re going to be flying under the radar,” Cody said. “We just have to do all the little things right this year to be successful - defend, rebound and take care of the basketball.”

Jack Holden, 11

10

6’0 Guard He is the most explosive player on offense according to Cody.

“I can shoot, pass and just be a leader,” Holden said. “My personal goal is to play college basketball.”

“Jack is our most athletic kid,” Cody said. “He’s got a lot of tools that could make him a good player.”

Michael Wheeler, 10

23

5’9 Point Guard

He is the best on-the-ball defender and ball handler according to Cody.

“I just want to leave everything on the floor and help the team to get the win every night,” Wheeler said. “I have the leadership abilities and the defensive side of the game to help the team win.”

“He’s not a big scorer for us, but what he does as far as running the offense and what he does defensively are essential for us,” Cody said.

design amanda collen

Aaron Steele, 12

4

5’10 Guard He is a great spot-up shooter according to Coach Cody.

“This year we want to grow as a team,” Steele said. “It isn’t about winning every game, it’s about getting better every game.”

“He’s very smart,” Cody said, “He understands the game and doesn’t make many mistakes.”

Sean Campbell, 12

21

6’7 Forward

Chad Elliot, 11

41

6’7 Forward

He is a strong and physical defensive player and is very athletic according to Cody.

“I’ve got a good presence inside,” Elliot said.

“I think Sean Campbell and I will be a good combination down low, either switching out or playing together, whatever the team needs.”

“Chad is more finesse than Sean,” Cody said.

“He likes to shoot the little 10 to 15 foot jump shots more than Sean does.”

Michael Mayhew, 10

2

He is good around the basket and on defense according to Cody.

5’10 Guard He can score off the bounce and is a great shooter according to Cody.

“I’m mentally tough, a good leader and good teammate,” Campbell said. “We’re ready to chase greatness together.”

“My personal goal is to do as much as I can to help the team win,” Mayhew said. “I think that my hustle and scoring ability will help the team this year. Coach always tells us to know our role and that’s mine.”

“He’s very physical, kind of a bruiser and gets a lot of rebounds for us,” Cody said.

“Michael Mayhew coming off the bench is probably our best one-on-one basketball player,” Cody said. december 20, 2012 the marquee

SPORTS

19

photo courtney clubb

Sophomore no longer plays hockey due to spinal disorder story

michael delgado

Thirty miles north of Denton, sophomore Lee Jennings pumped the pedals on his bike, surging ahead of the other racers. As he ripped down the path before him, he came to a hill and a bridge. Sweat poured down his face as he climbed the hill and began to cross the bridge. All of a sudden he came to a screeching halt on the bridge, as if he were frozen in place. Looking down, he realized that he had lost all feeling in his legs and collapsed onto the road.

Jennings remained on the ground as paramedics rushed towards him. When they got to him, one of the first things they checked for was Jennings’s level of muscle control.

“They said I had about five or 10 percent muscle control in my legs and 10 or 15 percent in my arms,” Jennings said. “Then I got carelifted to a hospital in Fort Worth.”

It was at the hospital that Jennings learned that the incident during the bike race was caused by a genetic spinal disorder. While this disease has no specific name, it causes two of the disks in Jenning’s spinal cord to bulge outwards, hitting the spinal cord.

If left unchecked, the two disks could eventually rupture. Jennings said that his back could act up at any time, even in class.

He said that the level of pain is dependant on his posture.

Jennings described the symptoms of the disorder as a numbness and lack of control in his legs.

“I lost pretty much all muscle control in the marquee

december 20, 2012

my legs,” Jennings said. “There was pretty much no way to move.”

Prior to the diagnosis, Jennings was a member of the school’s hockey team for a year and a half and is currently a member of the track and field team. However, his condition prevents him from competing in certain types of track and keeps him from playing hockey altogether.

Anything physically challenging that could hurt his back is out of the question. Jennings said that it saddened him to learn that he was not able to participate in sports anymore.

Jennings said that track and hockey were two of the things he loved most.

“I really wasn’t allowed to do any sports,” Jennings said. “It was kind of depressing.”

Jennings will eventually have to undergo spinal fusion surgery to prevent the discs from slipping further. The procedure will fuse two of the vertebrae in his back together in order to keep the spine rigid. He performs various stretches to help lessen the condition, but the reality is that Jennings is forced to live with this life-altering condition. He has had to learn to cope with an ailment that impacts his life both in and out of the sports world.

Jennings said that he is forbidden to play any form of contact sports for fear of worsening his condition. Track has been especially difficult to keep up because running can put strain on his back. Jennings originally participated in the pole-vaulting and hurdle events, but has had to drop out of hurdling due to his condition.

“All the sports I do pretty much affect it

in some way,” Jennings said. “It makes you change a lot of things.”

Jennings’s condition affects his home life too. He has to be careful not to agitate his condition by putting too much strain on it.

Jennings said that he has to be careful not to be too rough with his friends because his spine may twist in the wrong way, causing it to pop.

Despite his ailment, Jennings has not given up on hockey or track. He still continues to be a member of the track team, participating in other events besides hurdles. Jennings says that he is still not allowed to play hockey, but he intends to try again this summer.

“A lot of things have changed, but I am trying again,” Jennings said.

Facet joint

Anatomy of the Spine

Vertebral body Vertebral disc

Spinal cord and exiting nerves design amanda collen

OPINION

BOOMBAS [things we like]

20

the emperor

Racking up the wins

A win for the paper

Up and comers

Great job to Drum Line for winning first place at PASIC Marching Competition in Austin and to Band for winning their fourth state championship in a row. It looks like all of their hard work has enabled them to be chosen for the Midwest clinic in Chicago.

We’re proud of our own Newspaper staff as well as the other journalism staffs.

On the trip to Nationals in San Antonio, Newspaper won fifth, the highest the paper has ever placed. Lit Mag won ninth and there were also many individual winners.

Here’s a shout out to The Marquee’s biggest little fans at Highland Village Elementary.

They’ve been working very hard on their own soon-to-be weekly paper. With this kind of determination, hopefully they’ll be on one of the Marcus staffs in a few years. Good luck, guys.

Jordan Richards

Living on the edge

Rebellion (noun): defiance and resistance to authority and set laws. In other words, living life on the edge, no regrets.

This is something I’ve mastered. In the last few months things have been way out of hand, resulting in an accomplished feeling of revolt. The adrenaline rush I get when committing such defiant acts is exhilarating.

For example, the signature Panda Express water cup.

The cup is the smallest of their line-up and is given free to customers only who are drinking water. Given my devious ways I may have once politely asked for their water cup and approached their soda machine. I quickly looked around to see if any of the employees were watching me and then filled it with Sierra Mist. The Sierra Mist resembles the look of water so I thought it would be the best fit. I felt so alive after doing this, you only live once right?

But that’s not all, I purposefully go one over the speed limit. Yes I said it, one over. On any given day you can see me going 41 miles per hour on Morris, and I feel no shame for it.

The riveting experience of speeding in the suburb of Flower Mound is quite daring. We can’t lived cooped up forever. We have to let loose at some point.

Not only do I speed but I steal for my own benefit and satisfaction. I have a tendency to borrow pencils and not return them. So watch out, I might even ask you for paper too. I know what you are all thinking, I’ve gone way too far and have taken this whole “live life on the edge” too seriously.

Lets all face it, I’m uncontrollable and live a crazy life. If you think that’s rebellious you will not believe what I do in the freedom of summer. Summer means no school and no rules. Have the time of your life, as they say it. I do just that. I never wait an hour after eating before I go back into the pool.

I don’t care if its bad for you or that it will make you sick. I’m a rebellious kid, so I could care less about those and the many other consequences.

I also even sometimes stop and talk in the hallways even though it says “walk and talk” on the signs. You all can see me at any given time doing this. This is as defiant as it gets.

I love this on the edge feeling so much I purposefully don’t do my homework until the last minute. The goal is to get that feeling of rush and a sense of a time crunch. This motivates me and makes me feel on the edge, as I described previously.

Finally, I listen to my music a little too loudly. Let’s just say you can hear it from approximately five miles away. Doing this makes me feel risky and dangerous. One by chance could have a cuss word in it. Yes, I said cuss word. I, Jordan Richards, buy explicit music. Even though I haven’t said a cuss word, it doesn’t mean I can’t listen to them. So if you see me on the road, look out for my blaring music.

As you can see I live probably one of the most rebellious and craziest lives in Marcus High School. I can’t help myself, it’s just my way of life. It is dangerous, wild and fearless.

While all of you are living your “boring” lives, I’ll be on my way to committing another dare-devilish act. In the famous words of Oprah Winfrey, “Devote today to something so daring even you can’t believe you’re doing it.” You have to listen to Oprah and abide by everything she says. So go out and live a little and be like me. design amanda collen

say what?

Marisa Charpentier

Limit the technology When I was in elementary school, I used to pretend I was an undercover agent. I had all the right equipment – a laser watch, a portable communication gadget, high-tech hidden cameras and a navigation device. Of course, these were items I put together myself out of calculators and outdated cell phones that nobody needed. Like all kids that age, I had an imagination with no limits.

Throughout my experiences as an “agent,” I always dreamed of a device that could do everything. Something that could access the Internet, take pictures, store books, navigate, communicate. I never once imagined this would actually exist. But as time went on, the object became more and more possible. Now everyone seems to have an iPhone or smart phone of some sort. With these devices, we can do pretty much anything by merely swiping or tapping a screen.

At school, we rely on them as dictionaries, encyclopedias, planners and notebooks. At home, they become our entertainment and, in some cases, our social lives. The crazy part is, just five or six years ago these devices didn’t even exist.

This newfound realization has led me to wonder what life was like for older generations who never had the luxury of such high-tech tools. For some of us, it’s hard to understand how they even survived. But if I had to guess, life was probably something like this (give or take a few minor misconceptions): As teenagers, our parents and grandparents probably lived somewhere in the deep confines of a hollowed out cave on the side of a mountain. In this barbaric lifestyle, technology was scarce. No iPhones. No Facebook. No texting. People weren’t

you HOW think technology do

constantly having picture wars with friends, sending pictures of themselves to each other’s iPhones. They couldn’t even post “selfies” on Instagram. Let’s face it: life was one big struggle.

Our parents and grandparents didn’t have the ability to see each other’s faces every second of their lives. In these olden times, they actually had to make the long trek outdoors to neighboring caves to see friends and socialize. Human contact was necessary for communication. People had to talk face to face, not face to screen. How bizarre.

Back then, physical activities took more effort than the tap of a screen. Basketball, football, flinging birds, throwing paper wads into a trashcan. None of these things had apps.

Apps weren’t even in existence. The barbarity! People actually had to sprint down a track with their bodies instead of just having their fingers run for them in the app “Finger Sprint.”

Even chopping fruit wasn’t that simple. They couldn’t become master fruit choppers with the simple swipe of a screen like people nowadays can on the app “Fruit Ninja.” Back then, people actually had to get off the couch. They actually had to exercise. How demanding.

I’m also going to assume that people had fewer friends than we do these days. It wasn’t possible for our grandparents to be “friends” with people they didn’t know like Facebook currently allows. Man, were they missing out. People actually had to waste their time getting to know each other at social events before being able to call themselves friends. How complicated.

With all of the technological advancements we no longer lack, it’s easy to deal with a lot of the “struggles” older generations had to deal with when it came to socializing and physical activities. But something about the simplicity of some of these activities doesn’t sit right with me. Should we really be trying to make it easier to become more antisocial or less physically active? The sad thing is, some of us actually applaud this promotion of laziness. If you didn’t catch the sarcasm in some of the previous paragraphs, then maybe you’re one of them.

And I’ll admit I have my own addictions when it comes to technology. I don’t know what I would do without my phone, which doubles as a calendar and my math textbook. But there are some areas of our lives that don’t need to be made any easier by technology. So maybe next time instead of wishing someone happy birthday on Facebook, we can make the effort to tell him or her in person. Sure, technology is helpful, but maybe a true do-all gadget is meant to remain in the imaginations’ of 7-year-olds.

“You can always stay connected to your friends, but some kids don’t have the same kinds of technology.”

affects

“I think it limits it a lot of times because people don’t really talk anymore. They just use their phones and Facebook.”

social interaction? compiled ben horton photos

michele papa

Hunter Smith, 9

Justin Graham, 10 december 20, 2012 the marquee

OPINION Cheer food

Let’s face it, this school is huge. And sometimes getting to classes takes awhile. Pushing through dozens of students at once and making the trip from one end of the school to the other is not only tiring, but also stressful. Therefore, passing periods should be increased to 10 minutes.

Sometimes using the bathroom during passing periods is difficult because there isn’t enough time. Some teachers have been giving out detentions and enforcing limits for using the bathroom during class.

This should stop because when someone has to go, they have to go.

Sometimes students get so excited at a game that they get super hungry and thirsty.

But then at the concession stand they don’t have enough money. Concession stand food and drinks cost too much. They should be cheaper so students can keep up their strength for cheering.

real human being

Ryan McDearmont

Romantic encounters Dear Dark-Haired-Girl-Leaning-Out-of-the-PassengerSide-Window-of-Some-Silver-Car: Hello. I have taken precious time out of my schedule of entertainment culture commentary to talk about you. By the time this column is published, you probably won’t remember the event I’m going to talk about. But that’s all right because I remember you all too well. You really did make quite the impression.

I knew as soon as I saw you that our meeting would be absolutely electric. As I was stuck in traffic back in the school parking lot, I blankly gazed around, that is, until my eyes first beheld you. There you were, your arm hanging out of the passenger-side window of some silver car. You stared vapidly, almost cow-like, at the line of traffic. On your face was an emotion that was a fantastic blend of disgust, anger and what seemed like sheer confusion at realizing the world was not revolving around you. Although my heart certainly skipped a beat upon gazing at your upsetting expression for the first time, it was not until the traffic started moving that we had what I consider our first real romantic encounter.

I pulled forward in the traffic line, leaving little space between myself and the car in front of me. Apparently, your blonde driver-friend wanted to move out ahead of me in the

HEYS

Potty breaks

[things we don’t like]

Trekking across school

line of cars. Since she was nowhere near the point of pulling into the street, I was clearly in error since my psychic powers failed to inform me of her intentions.

This must have been when you first caught sight of me, driving my black Versa, wearing a black jacket, my brown hair parted on the left. Perhaps, due to my largely unassuming appearance, you didn’t realize I write for the school newspaper.

But that’s forgivable because not many people do.

What I can assume is that you fell in love with me at first sight because the way you ungracefully shoved your body out of the passenger window and bellowed guttural, animalistic obscenities can only be described as an action of passion. I didn’t notice the hand signal you were spasmodically waving in the air above you like Michael J. Fox trying to fist-pump, but I’m going to assume you were making a tiny heart with your fingers, as opposed to anything else more vulgar, like a certain finger I’m sure you’re very familiar with using.

Suffice to say, I was overwhelmed by your performance.

When traffic started moving again, I had to take deep breaths to calm the butterflies of mutual romance in my stomach. It was then I realized that the car behind me was going to let you in, and that’s when the sparks began to fly again.

As the car you were riding in pulled behind me, I could only watch as I saw your arm extend from inside the car and throw something at the back of my vehicle, your hand swiping the air like a harpy’s talons. I couldn’t really tell what it was you threw, honestly. For all I could tell, it looked like a big toothbrush, a hair-curler, or some sort of misshapen stick. I’m forced to assume it was some sort of object intended to be a declaration of your undying love for both me and my driving prowess. I don’t know what possessed you to convey your affection in such a way, but it really doesn’t matter. It makes me sad to know I could not exit my vehicle and pick up the object, then proceed to return it, directly and forcefully from my hand into your beautiful, beautiful face.

That was the end of our meeting, but I’m sure your heart is still aflutter with your burning love for me. It’s okay, I don’t blame you. I tend to have that effect on people. However, the more I think about it, the more it seems that maybe you just have serious anger management issues. Well, sorry to break your heart, but girls like that just aren’t my type. Or anyone’s type. Ever.

MARQUEE REMARKS “It makes it worse because people talk differently over technology than they would in normal conversation.”

“It can be good or bad.

It’s mainly good because I can talk to my family in India, but then it is bad because you become too comfortable with the level of technology and you can’t talk to other people, face to face.”

“It helps because it gives us more ways to communicate. All around the world or just next door, using technology.”

Kaycie Fletcher, 11

Cherry Srivastava, 12

LeeAnn Farris, Technology

the marquee december 20, 2012

21

gluten girl

Amanda Collen

Life, not fantasy It was difficult to comprehend that my mom and dad were not going to be together anymore. After 15 years of marriage, why did they have to end it? The reasons were too complicated for my fourth grade mind to understand. I didn’t know why my dad called it off at the time. All I could do when he told us was cry with shock and disbelief. I just huddled with my mom and my seven-year-old sister on our couch as we watched my dad and his luggage pass through the garage door.

I had a few friends whose parents were divorced; however, I never imagined it would happen to me. It was one of those things that you never understand until it happens to you. I thought, why me? Why did this have to happen to my family?

Suddenly, my life changed. Instead of seeing my dad every night at dinner time, I had to adjust to seeing him every other weekend and one night a week for dinner. The house I’d grown to love quickly became a memory after we moved into a much more affordable one. The emotional tension between my parents was hard to handle. When my mom and dad had to have face-to-face conversations about parenting issues, I could see the pain and anger in my mom’s eyes.

My mom and my faith in God helped me learn to cope with the new situation and how to look at things differently. My mom has always been there for me and my sister, and I have a great connection with her. I know that she is and always will be there for me no matter what. As we were starting our new life without my dad, she taught me how to make the best out of a bad situation.

One way she did this was when she created the AMA Adventure Club. AMA is the first initial of each of our names and this became my newly redefined family. As a way to cope with the stress and change we were all facing, the club was a diversion and, in turn, brought us closer together. We started an alphabet scrapbook. For each letter of the alphabet, we participated in an activity that started with that letter. A was for a visit to the Alamo, B was for beading necklaces, C was for seeing the horse show “Cavalia,” etc. For some letters we had to get creative. We had an “Umbrella Party” for U which was a lot of fun and a little strange. It was because of the AMA club that I learned not to sit around and wallow in self-pity but to try to see the positive side of a bad situation. As I flip through the pages of this treasured scrapbook, my eyes fill up with tears of joy from all the wonderful memories that were created which will never be forgotten.

As much as I would love to have my parents together, I know that this is not possible. So, I have had to adjust to the realities of life. After many tears and daydreams of the way life used to be, I have grown accustomed to the fact that life is filled with challenges and that part of life is learning how to overcome them. I believe that life is a rollercoaster and God is the safety bar. So one must pull it in close and hold on tight.

My attitude and outlook on life has undoubtedly been affected by what I have had to endure. I can now say that I am glad that I have learned ways to cope with the bad things that happen in life. I am able to relate to others who may be going through hard times such as a divorce. I believe that the challenges we face in life are opportunities in which to grow.

I can’t imagine having a life free of difficulties. If that ever happened, I wouldn’t call it life. It would be called fantasy. design amanda collen

22

EDITORIALS

Students should be involved in hurricane relief Staff Editorial Roughly two months ago, Hurricane Sandy ravaged the East Coast of the United States. Due to its proximity to the presidential election, the storm received relatively little coverage on most local news sources. However, it was the second most destructive Atlantic hurricane in history, following closely behind Hurricane Katrina. It did over $63 billion dollars in damage and relief is still ongoing. Many organizations have set up charities to aid the victims. But despite having helped victims of both Hurricane Katrina and the devastating Japanese tsunami of 2011, the student body has done relatively little to provide assistance to victims of Hurricane Sandy.

It is true that at least one organization, the Marcus Swim Team, had an event in order to raise funds for the hurricane victims. However, this was only announced once, and most students were not aware of the event. It provides a stark contrast to the eagerness which students often seem to exhibit towards charity work through various clubs, jumping on the first opportunity to volunteer.

Perhaps this unawareness and unwillingness were the result of the other issues presented by the presidential election. However, the election has since ended and no other

organizations have moved into action and tried to collect relief.

Just because a couple of months have passed, it does not mean that the hurricane relief effort has ended. In fact, a benefit concert was recently played by many celebrities in order to raise funds for Hurricane Sandy relief. There are still many people across the Atlantic coast, particularly in New York City, who were left without power or even homes after the flooding and destruction from the hurricane.

Or maybe student’s unwillingness comes from the fact that since no clubs are providing volunteer opportunities, students have no way to earn points or hours for raising relief funds for victims. Frankly, this is a very misguided way to operate. Charity should be done for charities sake, not in order to earn some sort of incentive. Students should care about the progress of the relief effort, even outside of school.

Just because Hurricane Sandy is no longer breaking news does not mean that the problem is over. In addition, just because the school is in Texas and the hurricane affected an area of the country many states away, it doesn’t mean that the destruction left by the hurricane hasn’t affected students. Those with friends and family members living on the East Coast have been forced to watch as their loved ones go through a painful period of rebuilding and financial loss.

Of course, at this point in time, the relief effort is well on its way, and there are some who might say that there is nothing more that can be done for the victims that hasn’t been done already. While there may be some truth to this statement, it does not mean that donating or volunteering wouldn’t still provide help. In addition, aid for Hurricane Katrina went on for years, and Hurricane Sandy did only marginally less in terms of dollars in damage.

Students should at the very least be more interested as a whole on what has occurred due to Hurricane Sandy and how the relief effort is proceeding.

Just because students won’t get club hours or points doesn’t mean they shouldn’t care about the reconstruction effort outside of school. Rebuilding the damage will be costly to our government and people, and students should help in any way they can, whether that be volunteering their time or donating money to the cause.

Students interested can find a variety of websites at which they can apply to volunteer and donate such as FEMA.gov.

Technology needs to be moderated Staff Editorial There is no doubt that technology is a large part of people’s everyday lives. Students constantly utilize technology to Google the answers to homework assignments, play games or use social networks. While technology has effective uses, it also has negative influences. To solve these matters, technology should be used in moderation.

Cyberbullying is a major issue that has spread across the internet. Studies show that more than half of teenagers in the United States have been the victims of cyberbullying, and almost the same number of them have participated in it as well. Cyberbullying occurs because people believe that what they say over the internet doesn’t affect others. Some think that just because it’s on the internet, people will take insults and threats more lightly. What people write can easily be taken the wrong way and get people into trouble because they do not have body language and tone to define what’s being said. Cyberbullying can lead to anxiety, depression and potential suicide.

Most people don’t realize that what they put on the internet does not disappear—it’s out there forever. What is posted can really hurt someone. Before someone makes that hurtful post, students need to think about what they’re saying and what their reason is for saying it.

With the increase in utilization of technology, people have become far too impatient, and their attention spans have decreased. This is because there are things like 4G and high-speed internet access. With a simple click, people can open up a new tab or find the answers to their homework. Without technology, people aren’t able to have the whole world at their fingertips. They have to do things such as writing out an essay instead of typing it, which takes much longer. This is a negative effect on most people because of that impatience—they have such a hard time focusing on assignments that must be completed under a certain deadline.

Along with decreasing attention spans, technology has also affected the way that we interact with one another, hindering social skills more than helping them. In normal interactions from person to person, endorphins are released in their brains that stimulate them and allow them to feel happiness. The same happiness can be released from social networking. But through social networking, actual interaction is not taking place. People find it much easier to type out what they want to say and therefore avoid relationship problems like arguments and misunderstandings that faceto-face interaction can create.

Students often text under the dinner table instead of talking with their family right in front of them.

Also, someone may be having a conversation with another person and be texting while that person is talking to them. No sort of empathy is learned.

Healthy interaction is always needed between people in order to develop social skills.

While technology has proven to be useful, it can sometimes also hinder people more than help them. Students need to drop the cell phones and the laptops every once in a while and have a face-to-face conversation with their friends. There are more important things in life than using a cell phone every second. Put down the phone for a few hours and find something else to do that would be healthy for both the mind and the body and doesn’t require batteries.

Get me out of here!

design tori allmendinger

TA

december 20, 2012

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SPOTLIGHT

Magical Madrigal compiled

ben horton photos amanda collen

Every year since 2007, the Marcus Choir holds its Madrigal Celebration. This year, it was held on Dec. 7 and 8. It was attended by family, students and anyone else interested in a night of music and medieval ambiance. The guests feasted on a medieval dinner which included a pot roast and music performed by the Marcus Choir. In addition, a play was going on which was loosely based on the songs that the choir was singing.

Sophomore Tania Laposa greets the audience as the town crier.

SCAN HERE Seniors Cameron Donner and Audrey Reeves play the king and queen in the performance. The play was held on Dec. 7-8 in the cafeteria.

Scan here to view a gallery of additonal photos from the madrigal perfomance Sophomores Kyle Olsen and Ashley Mitchell participate in the play as narrators.

Junior Zane Rutledge kneels during the madrigal cerimony. He is the main character in the play. the marquee december 20, 2012

The Fusion group sings to the audience as an introductory act of the play.

Freshman Rachel Wright and Kristen Woodbury participate in one of the opening acts as part of the choir. design amanda collen