The Marquee Volume 27 Issue 4

Marquee The

volume 27 | issue 04 | february 1, 2013

mhsmarquee.com

DRUG CULTURE

Real drugs and other paraphernalia recovered by the Lewisville Police Department

3

Flu season to last until end of February

5

Senior travels world for fashion and creates style blog

16

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

The Marquee creates Valentine’s Day date ideas

the marquee

table of contents

[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 ryan mcdearmont

entertainment

entertainment editor courtney clubb

sports editor

[17] DAY IN DALLAS The Marquee plans out

sydney sund

the Dallas experience with various attractions.

business manager

story alyssa schmidt photo courtney clubb

hailey painter cover photo jordan richards

reporters maddy ermenio, miranda chiechi,

news [4] NEW SECURITY The school takes another look at security after Sandy Hook shooting. story alyssa schmidt

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

feature [7] BRIGHT FUTURE Senior works as volunteer firefighter to prepare for future career. story maddy ermenio

sports [19] TORN ACL Sophomore runner and basketball player recves surgery for injury. story anna middleton

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

3

Flu season to last until end of February story maddy ermenio The recent flu outbreak across the nation has become a growing concern in the DFW area. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the flu season is estimated to last 12 weeks, beginning in December and lasting until the end of February.

“In our pediatric practice, my colleagues and I have seen roughly 300 cases of influenza so far this season,” Pediatrician Dr. Lisa Nash of Cook Children’s Physicians Network in Hurst said. “Most severe cases occur in those who are in high-risk categories, such as infants younger than 6 months of age, pregnant women, the elderly and those with chronic underlying medical conditions.”

According to CNN, 29 pediatric deaths related to the flu have been confirmed in the U.S. since the flu season began. As more and more cases of the flu are being reported, students are taking precautions like the flu shot. The school held a flu shot clinic in the library on Thursday, Jan. 17, available to all for $5 or free to those with acceptable insurance.

“I recommend getting a flu shot,” Nash said. “Encourage other members of your family to get vaccinated, as well.”

According to Nash, the first symptoms of the flu are fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue, with some of the more serious side effects being nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Those who come down with the flu should remain isolated from others for at least 24 hours.

Junior Alicia Byers was one of the victims of the swine flu epidemic in 2009, despite the fact that she got a flu shot.

“It was really awful,” Byers said. “I felt really exhausted and out of breath.”

The swine flu first came to the U.S. in April of 2009 and affected more than 70 countries around the world. Byers said that she recommends getting the flu shot since it has been fairly effective for her.

“I’ve gotten it every year of my life,” Byers said. “I’ve only had the flu once. It works pretty well.”

Nash said that some pharmacies and doctors’ offices have flu shots and the flu mist available through April.

“It is not too late to get a flu shot,” Nash said.

The flu can also be prevented by avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth, cleaning objects that are used daily such as keyboards and washing hands frequently.

LOVE to the MAX

Students, family come together after death of senior story maddy ermenio The school lost one of its own over the Christmas break, senior Max Schwolert, after he fought a bacterial infection that was worsened by the flu. Max was visiting family in Minnesota when he first experienced symptoms of the flu and thought that his condition was improving. Max was taken by CareFlight to the hospital in St. Paul, MN. It was then that the Schwolerts were told that Max’s kidneys were beginning to fail.

“It was a very aggressive bacterial infection,” Max’s father, Tom Schwolert, said. “You should get a flu shot, but it’s not fool proof. There’s no way for us to know whether or not it would have made a difference. Doctors were baffled by how quickly it progressed and the doctors really had a hard time.”

A memorial service was held for Max in Minnesota, where more than 500 people attended as well as in Flower Mound, where over 1,000 attended. Soon after Max passed, his family began to remember him by the saying “LOVE to the MAX,” due to his loving and kind character. Max’s aunt created the Facebook page “LOVE to the MAX” to honor Max and allow the community to share stories of him with one another.

“The community has been amazing at embracing us, supporting us, loving on us,” Schwolert said.

Students from Marcus have shown their support by purchasing “LOVE to the MAX” t-shirts with the Bible verse Matthew 22: 37-29 that describes Max’s faith and loving treatment to all.

Close friend and teammate senior Cody Case first met Max freshman year at a golf camp. He said he was always close with Max, who he considered very funny and friendly.

“He reached out to people and always made them feel welcome,” Case said. “He always was very friendly to everyone and loved everyone. He’s one of the best all-around kids I’ve ever met.”

Golf coach Kerry Gabel said that the two characteristics that come to mind when he thinks of Max are friendly and generous. the marquee february 1, 2013

“One thing that has never wavered is his character,” Gabel said. “He was made for the game of golf. He was always conscious of representing our program with the highest of standards.”

Each member of the golf team now carries a bag tag with the sayings “Love to the MAX, Live to the MAX and Play to the MAX.” The team is also hosting the first annual golf tournament called “Play it to the MAX” in remembrance of their teammate.

“He was someone who loved God and loved people,” Tom said. “That’s what he was about. He loved life and loved being around others and showing respect towards others. He was someone who wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.”

FLU OUTBREAKS 1918 • A new flu virus was identified in the Far East.

• It affected 1-4 million people worldwide.

• It is normally found in wild ducks.

1968 • H1N1 (Swine Flu) was first diagnosed in the U.S. • Around 43 million to 89 million people had H1N1.

• Between 8,870 and 18,300 H1N1 related deaths were reported.

2012 -13

photo submitted Students remember senior Max Schwolert through the phrase “LOVE to the MAX.” Max passed away in December.

• Spanish Influenza began in Europe.

• More people died from this epidemic than in WWI. • 20-40% of the worldwide population was affected.

1957 • The virus was first detected in Hong Kong.

• Over one million people were affected worldwide.

• It was the mildest epidemic of the 20th century.

2009

• The current flu is not yet considered an epidemic.

• 47 states have reported widespread geographic activity.

http://virus.stanford.edu/uda/#top http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/history/1918/the_pandemic/influenz a/index.html-http://asianhistory.about.com/od/asianenvironmenta lhistory/p/flupandemics.htm - http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

design tori allmendinger

4

NEWS

Second look at school security Administration reviews security measures in response to Sandy Hook shooting story alyssa schmidt

shooting at any school is an ongoing thing.”

Sophomore Cat Cakmis said she doesn’t see a point in School administrators have been meeting to review security locking the doors, and if someone wants to get in, they will measures after the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary find a way. She said she thinks there could be more that the in Connecticut. school could do for protection.

“My reaction was shock and then, as probably anybody “I believe that teachers who have licenses should be able to who works in a school, ‘Oh my gosh, could that happen here?’” carry concealed weapons,” Cakmis said. “That way they can Assistant Principal Jason Mullin said. “What do we do if it protect themselves and students.” happens here?”

Portables also cause a security concern because they are The administration came together to look at what they could not connected to the main building and are easily accessible. change or add to the school’s “There is always a concern security to make the school as anytime you have anything As a teacher, I think that these prepared as possible for this sort detached from the main building,” of situation. Currently the only Mullin said. “In a perfect scenario students are my kids, and I am things that have been discussed everything is indoors and we can taking care of them during that are locking certain doors during lock all the doors so no one can get the day and more restrictions on in through anything but the front hour and a half. visitors. door.”

Sandy Lumley, Algebra Mullin said that the only Algebra teacher Sandy Lumley doors that are open during the said that ever since she was moved school day are by the Marauder out to the portables she has always Gym, the cafeteria, the band hall and the front doors. Visitors seen the security risks. She locks her door every day and keeps such as students returning from college must contact a teacher the window on the door covered. She said she doesn’t open the first, and then the teacher must let the front office know what door for anyone her and her students don’t know. time the visitors will arrive.

“When I first came out to the portables, which was several “There’s just a general awareness to be vigilant,” Mullin years ago, that was my first reaction,” Lumley said. “What do I said. “Just to make sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to do for safety? But I feel very secure that these security officers do.” are out here watching.”

Mullin said that the problem with the doors is making sure Lumley said that after she graduated from high school in the students in athletics and portable classes are able to get the mountains of Colorado, there was a break-in at the school back into the main building. Mullin said that there will be and one student was killed. She said that the shooting does more security plans in the future. not register as high as other shootings like the Colorado “As the school year goes on and going into next year, we shooting at Columbine because there wasn’t a large death toll. will have a little bit more time in the summer to redesign our However, she said that in her area nothing had ever happened plan,” Mullin said. “That’s something that even before the like that before.

“ “

What’s locked and what’s

not A

photo michele papa Security officer Walter Coates stands guard at the school entrance off of Dixon.

“The first thing I’m thinking is I feel for those parents,” Lumley said. “As a teacher, I think that these students are my kids, and I am taking care of them during that hour and a half.

That means that they need to feel safe so that they can learn.”

Mullin said that the most important lesson one can learn from Sandy Hook and other shootings like the ones in Columbine and Aurora is to not be paranoid but to always be prepared.

“Unfortunately, the way the world is now we all have to have that awareness that we need to be prepared for anything, but at the same time be realistic,” Mullin said. “We live in a great town with a great school, but we can’t be blind. The moment you think that it could never happen here is when you open yourself up to those kinds of situations.”

B Due to new security measures, the school now keeps all doors locked during the school day, except for the four main entrances. Before 8:15 a.m. more entrances are available.

B A

Doors to use:

A

A A

B

Doors open before and during school

Doors open before school only

B design courtney clubb

february 1, 2013 the marquee

FEATURE

5

Senior travels world for fashion, accepted to Parsons School of Design story miranda chiechi

company as a thank you. But it turned into more than just a video to say “thank you.” The video reached the creative A swirl of colors danced around 3-year-old Arianna director and designer who looked into her designs and called Padfield as she spun around in her new silk dress covered in Arianna for an interview.

Ecstatic, she flew to the headquarters in Los Angeles a floral design. It was a designer “Baby Lulu” dress Arianna’s mother, Kim Padfield, gave her for her third birthday from to meet with the director. She even got to see the Azria Nordstrom’s. The long, sweeping dress trailed behind her family, who runs BCBG, when she was waiting in the lobby of the building. The BCBG family pulled up in a sleek, black every day for a week straight when she refused to take it off.

“That little dress was the first inkling that we knew she had limousine, and the security guard ran outside and ordered the a thing for fashion,” Kim said. “If I had not taken that dress off cones to be moved out of their way.

“It was like a movie because everyone stopped for them,” of her, I think she would still be wearing it.”

Now as a senior, Arianna has long since grown out of that Arianna said.

After the director saw her sketches, she wanted to hire dress, but her love for fashion has only deepened. She now has a fashion blog and designs her own clothes and collections. This Arianna that day. But at the time, Arianna was only 17 and had to be 18 to get the job. Another love has brought Arianna numerous interview is scheduled for after her opportunities and experiences. She birthday in February to determine has been asked to advertise clothes [Fashion] has a vision behind it. It future opportunities to see her for famous brands on her blog and designs come to life. has travelled all over the world. She is art through clothes.

Her love for fashion has also drew her first design, a pink chiffon taken her all over the world. From gown, when she was 12 years old the rolling hills of Switzerland to the and finally created it in her fashion Arianna Padfield, 12 gondolas in Italy, Arianna has seen class at the school during her it all. sophomore year.

But Arianna’s She has also been able to eat croissants across from the designs are not only dresses. She designs all different kinds of clothes Eiffel Tower in her favorite place, Paris, France. She visited France for the second time in summer 2011 for a month long and has a varying style.

“Sometimes I’ll do something fashion program through her dream school, Parsons School really edgy with studs and leather, of Design. Parsons is located in New York and has had many and other days I’ll feel like a famous designers graduate from it. Going to the program gave feminine spring dress,” Arianna Arianna the confidence to pursue fashion design because of said. “It just depends on the idea her teachers’ guidance and being able to truly experience the fashion industry because the program was not easy. of the collection.”

“That summer program taught me how long it takes and

Her collections can be found in her sketchbook, what you have to do,” Arianna said.

Just in the first day, her professor, who worked for Calvin waiting to be sewn. A majority of her designs are found on Klein and J. Crew, said he does not give A’s unless a student her blog, www.coolgirlstyle. is Marc Jacobs. Her first night’s homework assignment was to draw 60 croquis, which are fashion figures with outfits com.

“Sometimes music, a designed for a collection, all colored and 8 inches tall. Class flower [or] something… was from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but Arianna was there triggers in my mind, and until 7:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. and was up until 4:00 a.m. the I base the collection off of first night finishing work. She said designing clothes is not something that can be done in 10 or 15 minutes, but it can that,” Arianna said.

In her blog, Arianna has take hours of effort.

“It has a vision behind it,” Arianna said. “It is art through art, fashion and travelling sections, and posts her daily style. Blogging clothes.”

It wasn’t all hard work, though. Arianna and her fellow has brought Arianna into the fashion realm. Several brands and students went to museums, tours and trips like to the companies have noticed her. One is Fragonard Perfume Factory, whose building’s architecture Reward Style. This is a Dallas based inspired one of her collections. Finally as the program came to company that not only allows a close, the students had a final exhibit with their sketches and Arianna to receive commission on a final garment. The teacher’s intention was for the students the items sold that she links on her to recreate an already constructed garment, but Arianna took blog, but also allows her to attend the project one step further.

Arianna grabbed her friends, and they went weaving different Rewards Style parties and events. Themes of different through the rainy streets of Paris in a crazy taxi to reach a six story tall fabric store. After picking out the perfect ingredients parties help her create her outfits.

“I take a little of the company’s for her final product, she sewed a dress from scratch for four style and base it into mine,” hours that night. She had no sewing machine and made the whole dress by hand. She pulled it together and ended up Arianna said.

Through her blog, Arianna was getting an A minus in the class.

She also took a program in the summer of 2012 for her also discovered by the clothing brand BCBG. As she gained second love, graphic design. Going to these programs followers, BCBG sent her clothes deepened her love for Parsons and she finally applied there from their BCBG Generation in November.

To apply for Parsons, Arianna had to submit 12 pieces Spring Collection to promote on her website. She shot a video of of artwork that resembled her style as well as complete the collection and sent it to the Parsons Challenge. Parsons Challenge gave Arianna a subject the marquee february 1, 2013

“ “

of which she submitted three pieces of artwork and an essay to illustrate why the pieces demonstrated the topic. Arianna waited in anticipation for weeks. Finally on the week before Christmas, the email came. When she saw that first word, she burst into tears and Both designs were created by cried hysterically. The Arianna. They can be found on her blog at coolgirlstyle.com. only word that mattered.

“Congratulations.”

“We were just ecstatic,” Kim said. “We were like, ‘Yes, it really is meant to be.’”

Arianna said she is excited to go to college and to learn how to make her designs become a reality. She said she looks forward to being in a classroom where everyone has a common passion.

“I’m in love with [Parsons],” Arianna said. “It is just the school for me. I knew since I saw their website in sixth grade… this is going to be the school I have to go to.”

Arianna said she aspires to ultimately come out of Parsons with a name and a label. But no matter what happens, she wants to stay in the fashion industry.

“I don’t just like fashion,” Arianna said. “I love fashion...

It’s my form of expression – my outlet in life.”

photo michele papa Senior Arianna Padfield poses next to her design mannequin. She designs clothing of different styles and was accepted to Parsons School of Design. design sydney sund

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volume 27 | issue 01 | october 5, 2012

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B O -M

LOCK IT UP...

3

Students contract West Nile virus

9

MARCUS HIGH SCHOOL |

Students establish cancer fundraiser for mother 5707 MORRISS ROAD. FLOWER MOUND, TX 75028

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Steve Jobs biopic to premiere in Dallas

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Applications are available from Ms. Hale in S105 or Ms. Youngblood in S107 Deadline to apply is February 15, 2013 february 1, 2013

the marquee

60

seconds

Dylan Buchholz, 12 compiled ryan mcdearmont photo amanda collen

If you could fry any food, what would it be?

“I’d have to say I’d fry a shark because I want to eat the deadliest predator, but I want it to be delicious too.”

If you had to sell one organ on the black market, which one would it be?

“A heart, but only if it’s not my heart, obviously. If it had to be my organ, I guess a kidney would be fine to be without.”

If you could switch faces with any celebrity, who would it be?

Fighting fires

FEATURE

7

Senior volunteers at fire station to prepare for career knows about firefighting in order to be successful.

“The career is very rewarding,” Strauch said. “You grow as Flash-forward. Evan Strauch, now 25, straps on his helmet an individual as well as with your fellow firefighters.” and sprints to the fire engine. He jerks the engine into drive Strauch said that he feels fit for the job because of his and races down the street as the sirens scream. He swings out determination and dedication. He has also considered of the truck and clutches the hose, bracing himself for the gush entering the animation or automotive technology field, but of high-pressured water. nothing ever gave him as much enjoyment as firefighting. Ever As a current senior, Strauch dreams of becoming a since he was 7, he has looked up to firefighters, specifically professional firefighter – but his dream isn’t far from reach. At those who sacrificed their lives in 9/11. age 19, Strauch has found his passion and made the decision “Watching how brave they were and the determination that to pursue it as a career. they had just really inspired me to join,” Strauch said.

Strauch first began working as a volunteer firefighter nine Strauch said that although firefighting can be somewhat months ago at the Sand Flats Volunteer Fire Department in dangerous, the job is worth it in the end. He is the first in his Chico, TX, near Lake Bridgeport. He has been visiting Lake family to decide to become a firefighter, but he said that his Bridgeport for over 10 years now and signed up to volunteer family supports his volunteer job and future career. when he was 18.

“They think it’s a great thing, and they can definitely see Strauch said that he clearly me being a professional firefighter remembers his first day on the job. He down the road,” Strauch said. woke up on a Saturday morning at 9 “They’re always happy about it.”

The best qualities that I have that make a.m. to begin his training. He took out Along with his family members, the fire engine with fellow volunteers me fit for a firefighter are the amount close friend senior Rhett Longacre and learned how to connect a hose to said that he also admires Strauch’s of determination and dedication that I a hydrant and what tools are required volunteer work. to put out a fire. have.

“I think it’s such a cool career “When I first joined, I was very that he’s choosing,” Longacre said.

Evan Strauch, 12 nervous that I would not fit in or do “He will be a great firefighter.” well,” Strauch said. “Without training, Longacre first met Strauch you are just an average person with a over 10 years ago in grade school title.” and the two have been good friends ever since. Longacre said Training consists of learning how to use extinguishers, fire that he respects Strauch’s character and decision to become a hoses and protective clothing gear properly as well as how to firefighter. execute drills and routines in case of an emergency. Strauch “He’s a great overall guy,” Longacre said. “He’s willing to said that he has learned a lot about teamwork and firefighting go into dangerous situations to help other people out. It’s an while on the job. admirable trait.”

“The most valuable thing I’ve taken away from volunteering Strauch is currently considering attending a fire academy is just how much teamwork goes into firefighting,” Strauch as opposed to a university so that he can follow his dreams of said. “You need certain people behind you to perform different becoming a firefighter. tasks.”

“The most rewarding thing of being a firefighter is knowing Young volunteers like Strauch rely on one another for that you’re doing something right,” Strauch said. “Knowing assistance, especially since he is the newest volunteer to the that I will help people every day is one of the reasons I love station. His fellow volunteers have taught him everything he doing what I do.” story maddy ermenio

“ “

“Nicolas Cage. I want to be instantly recognizable and have the face of a man with some of the best movie lines.”

What is the worst album you have ever heard?

“Whatever album has ‘Paparazzi’ on it. I can’t stand pop music.”

DC or Marvel?

“Marvel. DC only has one character…Batman, [who is] the best. But still, Marvel has way better quality overall.” photo

michele papa

Senior Evan Strauch has been volunteering at the Sand Flats Fire Department as a fireman for about nine months. He was first inspired by the firefighters that sacrificed their lives during 9/11.

the marquee february 1, 2013

design hailey painter

8

FEATURE

Bringin’ down the house

photo illustration

kady kohankie and sydney sund

Oscillators band wins money, recording time from competition at House of Blues story austin rickerson As they entered the freight entrance with their equipment, anticipation began to build. Sophomores Tyler Gammon, Chandler Goen, Adam Roby and junior Preston “Thunderstorm” Harris shuffled down the long descent of stairs from the band entrance at ground level toward the underground main stage. When they stepped out onto the huge hardwood platform, the bright lights and lines of speakers surrounded them. Nerves slowly began to creep into their stomachs.

Each of the four guys that make up the band, The Oscillators, looked around at the floor some five feet below and the balcony seating above. As the anticipation grew inside, it hit them. They were playing at the annual Bringin’ Down the House competition at the House of Blues.

Each year, the House of Blues hosts this competition in cities across the country. The winner of each venue receives money to spend at Guitar Center, recording time at a local studio and a spot in the national competition between the other winners of their respective cities. Although the band realized they were about to play at one of the major music venues in Dallas, they tried desperately to keep their cool.

“We try to deliver the same intensity wherever we play,” Roby, the band’s bassist, said. “It wouldn’t be any different if we were playing at Marcus, the House of Blues, Cowboys Stadium or a little dive bar.”

From older artists like Peter Frampton and Slash to modern day musicians like Waka Flocka and Imagine Dragons, the list of people that had stood on that same low-gloss wood ran through the head of lead singer and guitarist Gammon, as he stood back stage waiting for show time.

“It’s just like a flash, some really cool people have stood here,” Gammon said.

All the hard work the four had put in seemed to be paying off. The band had originally formed only a week before winning the Marcus Battle of the Bands competition the previous May. The band that came up with their name just before Battle of the Bands had now even put out a song entitled “Cold” on iTunes. Over the six months of their existence, they had gone from playing in a school auditorium to a professional theater.

Practicing wherever they could, whether it was a parent’s place of work or a band member’s house, they had had to juggle school work and music. Harris wasn’t even a member of The Oscillators until late September, a couple months design sydney sund

Goen played lead guitar in unison. Roby head-banged, and before this competition. Guitarist Goen and drummer Harris Harris beat the drums. Although they didn’t know it yet, they stood alongside Gammon and Roby backstage before their had just put on a first place performance. Roby collapsed on performance. Gammon and Goen retained a more calm and stage out of pure exhaustion. The crowd roared. confident manner while Harris went around hitting stuff in a “It was like an endorphin high,” Gammon said. There were nervous frenzy. Roby put on his leather pants while trying to cameras flashing and people cheering, and we just couldn’t come to terms with his nervousness and realizing that he was stop smiling.” scared out of his mind.

Now with $500 to spend at Guitar Center and 10 hours “I just sat down and prayed that I could uplift the people of recording time to use at Chrystal Clear Sound Studios in that came to see us,” Roby said.

Dallas, the four left with satisfaction. The band that formed Before going on stage, the four routinely huddled up to only months before the competition had won Bringin’ Down recite the backstage prayer from the movie School of Rock as the House. The self-proclaimed “quasi rock funk-a-delic they waited for their time to shine. extravaganza” of The Oscillators was no longer just a typical God of Rock, thank you for this chance to kick a--. We high school garage band. are your humble servants. Please give us the power to blow “This just validates a whole lot of work,” Gammon said. people’s minds with our high-voltage rock. In your name we “It’s good to know that we were able to stand up against other pray…amen. Now, let’s get out there and melt some faces! bands and that we aren’t half bad.”

The waiting game was over. The prayers had been said and the guitars had been tuned. All that was left to do was to put on an invigorating performance.

But nothing ever goes as planned.

In all of the confusion, Goen and Roby accidently switched places on stage, throwing the usual formation out of whack. Harris’ heart briefly stopped as he realized that a few of the drums from his drum set weren’t there. But there was no time to report it. The eager eyes and ears of the judges and cheers of the crowd below told The Oscillators to begin.

“We played through the first song, and it was a little bit shaky because we were all nervous,” Gammon said. “But after we got out there and people started yelling and clapping for us, the rest of it was just smooth sailing.”

The Oscillators’ mix of blues, funk and rock blared through the speakers as they played through the night. Nerves quickly disappeared under a spell of photo kady kohankie pure joy. As they finished the last notes of their final song, “Whipping Post” by the Allman Brothers, Gammon and Sophomore Tyler Gammon plays his double-necked guitar with the rest of his band. Goen is the lead singer for The Oscillators. february 1, 2013 the marquee

ALZHEIMER’S MYTHS

SPOTLIGHT

9

There’s no business like show business photos jordan richards story anna middleton

In the school’s production of “Annie, Get Your Gun,” the daring Annie Oakley joins the Wild West Show owned by Colonel Buffalo Bill Cody. In this romantic comedy, she meets the dashing Frank Butler, a champion shooter. The dramatic yet funny love story is based on a true tale of one of the best female shots in history.

Above: Senior Preston Smith plays the shooting champion Frank Butler.

Left: Senior Robyn McGhee, who plays Annie, sings a solo called “You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun.” Right: In this scene, McGhee participates in a shooting match against the famous Frank Butler.

Bottom Right: Smith plays the male lead, Frank Butler. Senior Ryan Echols plays Buffalo Bill, who owns the Wild West Show.

Senior Geo Kennedy plays Charlie Davenport, who is also part of the show.

Below: McGhee meets sophomore Mitchell McMullen, as he plays Foster Wilson, owner of the Wilson Hotel.

the marquee february 1, 2013

design sydney sund

10

IN-DEPTH

UP IN

SMOKE

design/photo jordan richards

After recent reports on drug use in LISD, The Marquee takes an in-depth look at drugs and the way they affect student life.

february 1, 2013 the marquee

IN-DEPTH

11

*All photos were taken from Marcus student’s instagram accounts.

#thehighlife Drug content on social networking increasing story marisa charpentier Among the “Selfie Sunday,” “Man-Crush Monday” and “Woman-Crush Wednesday” pictures, posts relating to marijuana and other drugs have made their way onto students’ news feeds. Instagram, Facebook and Twitter have all become home to pictures of smoke-filled rooms, bongs and other drug paraphernalia.

Just by searching hashtags like “marijuana” or “cocaine,” people can find millions of pictures on social networking sites that relate to drugs. Junior Emory Osborn said she commonly sees posts relating to drug use.

“We all hear it from teachers and coaches that it’s going to come back to bite you,” Osborn said. “If you’re lucky, it’s not going to, but once you put that stuff out there, it’s out there for good.”

Junior Justin Collins said that he believes posting pictures of illegal drug usage could be harmful to both one’s future and peers.

“There is a slight peer pressure aspect to that,” Collins said. “If someone sees such posting, they might be tempted to think, ‘well, they’re doing it, and it’s out in the public so it’s kind of okay.’” the marquee

february 1, 2013

Social networking can also make drugs easier for students to access, Detective Gordon of the Lewisville Police Department said.

“If you want to do it, and you know someone that needs it, you know who you can go to, or drop a hint to, to get those drugs,” Gordon said. “Social networking is huge.”

According to Lieutenant Dan Rochelle of the Lewisville Police Department, these posts are evidence.

“If you have it on your Facebook that you are into drugs, we are going to print those pages out and put them through the court case,” Rochelle said.

Not only can these posts affect court case decisions, but they can also affect one’s ability to get a job in the future.

“If you are looking for a high-paying job, and they do a background check on you and pull up that picture of you taking a hit off a bong or snorting cocaine, you are not going to get that job because you thought it was cool back when you were 16 or 17,” Rochelle said.

Although the posts themselves are not illegal, they could shed a spotlight on students who participate in drug-related activities, Resource Officer Devin York said.

“My rule of thumb for social media is if you don’t want your grandmother to see it, then don’t post it,” York said. design jordan richards

12

IN-DEPTH

Senior spends months recovering from near-death overdose story austin rickerson The memories of that August night are fuzzy. The four grams of cheese heroin, a mixture of heroin and Tylenol PM, he bought in Flower Mound. A blur. The ride back to The Colony after snorting two of the grams. A blur. The person that left him to die after overdosing on the last two grams.

A blur. As he is now passed out on his bedroom floor at his dad’s house, the countdown to death has begun. From there, he doesn’t remember a thing. But those closest to him do.

For someone that tried marijuana for the first time in the seventh grade, Dillon Thomas’ drug use escalated quickly.

By the ninth grade he had started using harder drugs. Salvia, cocaine, ecstasy, painkillers. He’d experimented a little. But Thomas wasn’t just a drug addict. He was a varsity football player, a popular guy at school. He passed all of his classes. He was walking the line between success and destruction.

And it had come to this. Lying limp on the floor, his body was shutting down. Life was draining out of him and hope was fading quickly. One of his first times trying heroin would likely be his last.

His sister, Ashlyn, found him. He was making an awful noise, one she will never forget. He had aspirated on his own vomit, and most of it now was in his lungs. He was running out of time. Quickly Ashlyn called 911. Then she called Thomas’ mom and dad. Brain function minimal. Heart function minimal. The roller coaster ride of his life began its descent down the first big hill.

“He was gasping for air,” Thomas’ mom, Katherine Davison, said. “He was basically on his last breath.”

The emergency crews hurried Thomas to Baylor Carrollton, trying to keep him alive long enough to reach the hospital.

When Davison came rushing in, she asked the doctor how bad her son was. The doctor held her hand then started crying.

Thomas was so critically ill that doctors didn’t even think he would live long enough to get transported to the Intensive Care Unit, which was only two floors above them.

Six hours later, the doctors finally stabilized Thomas enough to move him to the ICU. Even then, almost every single organ in his body was failing.

At 9:30 a.m., the doctors returned to Thomas’ room. It would be a simple procedure, they said. We’ll go in and clear out the vomit from his lungs. Unfortunately, things seldom go as planned. In fact, sometimes they can go terribly wrong.

As they attempted to clear Thomas’ lungs, his comatose body gave out. With his liver enlarged, kidneys only functioning through constant dialysis and his entire system in a coma, the procedure was too much. The room quickly turned into chaos. His heart leaped into cardiac arrest as white coats surrounded him. The probing in his chest also caused his lung to collapse. The heart monitor flat-lined.

“They came and got us, me and his dad,” Davison said.

“And I couldn’t watch. The whole room was filled with people with machines, beating and shocking his chest.”

All she and Thomas’ father could do was wait outside and listen while the medical staff tried desperately to pound Thomas’ heart back into action. Overcome by emotion, they fell to their knees. Thomas’ parents didn’t know what else to do, as they hoped that their son wouldn’t die that August 11 morning. For the second time in less than 24 hours, it seemed their only son was lost.

After a few minutes, however, they revived him. All Thomas’ mom and dad could do was hope that the horrific ride would end soon. But it didn’t.

Pulling the plug

For the next five weeks, Thomas remained on complete life support. He was almost lost in the jumble of tubes that came out of his body. The tube spiraling out of his stomach fed him.

The tube protruding from his trachea breathed life into him.

Two other tubes excreted wastes from his body. design jordan richards

Although he was no longer technically in a coma a month later, Thomas remained unconscious.

Brain activity was still little to none. His kidneys began to recuperate but progress was slow. Neurologically speaking, doctors still had no clue. Would he be himself again or would he be a vegetable? It was anyone’s guess.

“The best assumption was that he was in a vegetative state and would be put in a nursing home,” Davison said. “No one could tell you, so it was kind of like a gamble.

What do you do?”

Each of the nine or so doctors could only say one thing. He was healthy, and he was young. Thomas’ parents took it day by day, forever contemplating if he should stay on life support or not. People questioned their judgment. The whole family was divided.

Some told Thomas’ parents that he would come out a vegetable.

They told stories of people pulling the plug. But it wasn’t as simple as that. There wasn’t an on/off switch for his body now.

His feeding tube would have to be pulled out. Taking him off of life support would mean starving him to death.

“It’s all the unknown,” Davison said. “It’s all the things we

photos submitted Top: Thomas remains in a coma during his first week in ICU. Left: Thomas poses for his junior football picture. Right: Thomas sits in his bed at Medical City around Sept. 20.

don’t have answers for, and when you’re in that situation, you just have to go with your gut.”

Put him out of his pain or give him a chance at life? That was the question. No one could be sure of Thomas’ future. So they just kept taking it day by day, step by step. Hope seemed to always keep clinging to them.

Funeral music and caskets

Thomas was transferred to Medical City in Dallas on Sept.

17. His organs had been stabilized. He remained unconscious, and his bone marrow was not functioning. In other words, his

look closer A at DRUGS marijuana The immediate effects are increased heart rate, lessened coordination and balance, and a “dreamy,” unreal state of mind.

Long term effects include lung damage, poor memory and a low mental aptitude. It has been found that consuming one joint gives as much exposure to cancer-producing chemicals as smoking five cigarettes.

Adderall The immediate effects are increased blood pressure and heartbeat, hostility and paranoia. Long term effects include increased risk of critical cardiovascular problems and strokes, depression, and hostility. Adderall is a prescription drug stimulant similar to “speed” or cocaine.

heroin

cocaine

Effects

The immediate effects are a rush, slowed breathing, nausea, drowsiness and possible death.

Long term effects are bad teeth, a weak immune system, constipation, cold sweats, acne and comas. Most heroin is injected, creating an additional risk of contracting AIDS.

The immediate effects are increased heart rate, violent behavior and hallucinations.

Long term effects include permanent damage to blood vessels, organs, malnutrition, severe tooth decay, severe depression, delirium and immediate addiction. Once a person begins taking the drug, it has proven almost impossible to become free of its grip both physically and mentally.

IN-DEPTH

blood cells weren’t reproducing. After receiving many blood transfusions, he was still running out of red and white blood cells. He critically needed a bone marrow transplant, but his body was too unstable. On Sept. 19, the surgeon came in. He broke the news to Thomas’ parents. It was death either way.

They would have to make arrangements. His mom wondered if all of the hope and perseverance was for nothing.

Maybe the relatives were right. Maybe they should have pulled the feeding tube long ago.

“I made funeral arrangements twice,” Davison said. “We knew what we were going to bury him in, his football uniform.

I knew that’s what he’d want.”

The service was planned. Music selected and the casket picked out. Thoughts and emotions ran through his mom’s head, but out of all of them, one stuck out. Relief. It was a horrible thought, but it was there. Relief that all the pain could end. The chaos and emotional swings that had defined their

www.drugfreeworld.com www.drugabuse.com

mushrooms The immediate effects are slurred speech, hallucinations, unconsciousness, rashes around the nose and mouth and severe headaches. Long term effects include muscle weakness, disorientation, depression, damage to the vital organs, hearing loss and death from heart failure.

ecstasy The immediate effects are impaired judgment, confusion, depression, severe anxiety, nausea and involuntary teeth clenching. Long term effects include brain damage, degeneration of nerves, depression, kidney failure, hemorrhaging and even death. Ecstasy is a nervous system depressant and includes substances that are also found in drain cleaner, floor stripper and degreasing solvents.

13

lives for more than a month could finally stop. But hope still other friends also helped entertain and support Thomas in his three-month long hospital stay. Lennox said he realized how remained.

It was almost like Thomas heard the conversation between much of a miracle it was to see his friend again and wanted to his parents and the doctor from his unconscious state. After make sure he would be there for him through his recovery and two more days, his blood count started to come back up. into the future.

“I want to keep in touch and check up on him,” Lennox said.

Against all odds, it seemed his bone marrow was regenerating.

Indeed there was life in that body, a body that had gone from “If he feels tempted at all, I want him to tell us so we can talk about it. We need to be his positive influence.”

220 pounds to around 150.

The surgeon came back to talk to Thomas’ parents. He had Hope for the future the giddiest expression on his face, especially for a doctor of His mom puts on Thomas’ left sock and shoe first, tickling his caliber, a hematologist surgeon that hadn’t shown much his foot in the process. He laughs but still has trouble with emotion at all. Thomas was beyond a medical miracle. His basic actions like this. As he tries to bring his right foot onto chances of survival were slim to none, one in a million. He his mom’s knee for the other sock and shoe, his leg limply falls had surpassed all prognoses and expectations. Although death back to the floor. Thomas still has no feeling in his right foot, continued to pursue him, Thomas had sidestepped it again. causing him difficulty in relearning to walk.

“I’m a mom who couldn’t stop a freight train, but I put up He also has trouble speaking, as the brain and nervous hurdles and roadblocks in the way,” Davison said. “Dillon is a system have yet to fully recover. Despite all the pains and freight train. The freight train is what put him in his state and hardships Thomas and his family have endured, he still plans the freight train is what got him out of it. He is a fighter that to walk with Marcus seniors at graduation in June. knows no limits.”

Now an aspiring entrepreneur, Thomas juggles multiple A couple days later, Thomas began to wake up. His mother things in his life. Neurological therapy Mondays, Wednesdays and father stood beside his hospital bed, each holding one of and Fridays helps him relearn basic skills like walking and his hands. Thomas made his first attempts to open his eyes. talking. A private tutor Tuesdays and Thursdays helps him While his eyelids struggled to open all the way, he squeezed stay on track with school work at his mom and stepdad’s his parents’ hands.

Bridlewood home. As he sits in his “He made faces,” Davison said. wheelchair, Thomas tries to really grasp “The best way to describe it is that all that he’s been through. he looked like he was grimacing in “I didn’t realize until a little while after We made funeral arrangements pain.” that I am really blessed,” Thomas said. twice. We knew what we were All of a sudden, he opened “Looking back, I’m glad it happened.” his mouth. His parents hesitated Of all he has learned through his going to bury him in, his football to see what their son would say. stay at various hospitals, another lesson Although the tracheotomy tube in uniform. sticks out in his mind. Thomas doesn’t his throat hampered his speech, deny that drugs are the sole cause of all Katherine Davison Thomas managed to gasp a couple the chaos and disorder that have defined words. Very faintly he said “I’m life for him and his family since August. sorry.”

“Don’t think marijuana isn’t a gateway drug,” Thomas said.

“Dillon has always made excuses to why everything is not “Once you get into the harder drugs you never know what’s his fault,” Davison said. “I thought it was profound that the going to happen. You never know if you’re going to overdose.” first thing he said is that he was sorry.”

As they eat pizza and play board games, Thomas and his mom enjoy the time they have together. If the entire ordeal Hospital birthday party On Oct. 9, all of Thomas’ nurses that had been caring for has taught them anything, it’s to value something like a game him for the past month came into the room. Dressed in their of Uno, even if Thomas wins every time. In hind sight, Davison light blue scrubs, they gathered around the hospital bed. With takes joy in the fact that they never gave up hope. She realizes much difficulty, he managed to form his facial muscles into that if her daughter hadn’t acted so quickly and if she had a big smile. As the other ladies glowed with joy, one of the listened to some of her own family, her son wouldn’t be here today. female nurses serenaded Thomas with “Happy Birthday.”

“I’m not proud of what he’s done but I’m not ashamed On his 18th birthday, Thomas was released from Medical City to Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation. It wouldn’t be easy either,” Davison said. “I’ll be ashamed if he doesn’t take though. He would have to relearn the most basic actions like advantage of this second chance he has been given.” walking and talking. Although it didn’t mean going home, being transported to Baylor was another step in the right direction.

A little over a week later, while Thomas was just beginning a long road of grueling recovery at Baylor Rehab Hospital, seniors Christa Rickerson and Kaitlyn Abraham put together a video of Marcus students showing support for Thomas.

Abraham and Rickerson had traveled the halls of the school for a couple of weeks to compile footage of former teammates and friends of Thomas wishing him a speedy recovery. Over 50 students took part in the video.

Thomas was sitting in his wheelchair when Abraham and Rickerson came to visit. He strained to look at who was entering. Since Thomas had little movement in his neck and none in his arms, they held up the screen for him to see. He laughed throughout the video, glad to see friends supporting him.

“I know who my true friends are now,” Thomas said.

“Some of the people I thought would come visit me didn’t come visit me.”

Friends and family played a huge role in Thomas’ long stay in the hospital and recovery. Aunts, uncles, grandparents and other relatives came from across the country, thinking it would be their last time to see Thomas. Friends, including former Marcus student Matt Lennox and senior Wyatt Verret, pushed him down the halls in his wheelchair and brought him Thomas is in the process of recovery at his home in Bridlewood. He plans on his favorite candies, Raisinets and Sour Patch Kids. Several graduating with the 2013 senior class. design jordan richards

“ “

14

IN-DEPTH

Caught in the act

Marcus named school in LISD with most students reported, disciplined for drugs

Police Department, marijuana is the drug most commonly arrested for.

“Marijuana a lot of times is considered a gateway drug, A car sits in the middle of a vacant parking lot. The vehicle’s dome light shines down on two teenage boys. One lays passed and generally it will lead people to doing something else more out in the passenger’s seat. The other sits in the back with a serious like meth or cocaine,” Rochelle said.

Another harmful drug is heroin. After working for security rubber band wrapped around his arm. He tightens the band with his teeth, trying to get his veins to pop. In his other hand, at hospitals, Rochelle said he has witnessed people drop off he holds a syringe. Just as he is about to inject himself with their friends who overdosed from heroin. Although one cannot heroin, a light flashes down upon him. It’s the police. The be arrested simply for having heroin in his or her system, the person can still face serious medical consequences.

18-year-old’s life is about to change forever.

“Heroin is bad stuff,” Rochelle said. “Heroin can kill you For Detective Gordon of the Lewisville Police Department, these instances are not uncommon. After working patrol for because you don’t know who made it and how they made it.”

Prescription drugs are also prevalently misused. According the past five years, Gordon said he has seen drug use increase to Resource Officer Devin York, the abuse of prescription among teens, especially with heavy drugs.

“Heavier drugs meaning heroin and cocaine,” Gordon said. drugs is both common and dangerous.

“The doctor prescribes “You see a lot of the younger kids doing that.” these medications to people for Recently, Marcus has been named the If you have friends that think specific reasons, and a doctor school in LISD with the most students that have been caught and disciplined for having that doing drugs is cool, ...then takes into consideration your current health,” York said. drugs. you need new friends because “So when somebody is taking “We’ve had more discipline with drugs a drug that’s not prescribed to and alcohol than anybody else in the district,” they are wrong. them, they may not take into Principal Gary Shafferman said. “So does that Lt. Rochelle consideration their actions or mean that we are just catching more of them proper dosages.” and disciplining them, or does that mean that Senior Dan Stafford said that there is an issue with we have a real issue here?”

Since 2008, the school has had 14 students charged with prescription drugs among students because they are easily possession. One arrest has been made so far this school year. accessible, and the stigma isn’t as bad for prescription drugs Shafferman said that although he does not believe the drug as it is for other drugs.

“It’s a lot easier to say, ‘I’m just taking it because I sprained issue at the school is worse than that of any other school in my ankle’ rather than, ‘I’m just smoking a bunch of weed for the district, drug use among students should not be ignored.

“I think it would be naïve for us to believe that it doesn’t the fun of it,’” Stafford said.

Even after the case is over and decided, teens can still face exist, that we don’t have issues with drugs and alcohol,” Shafferman said. “It saddens me that kids feel like they need consequences for their drug-related actions.

“It certainly can affect your ability to get a job…” Rochelle to use those.”

Shafferman said that he is working with a group of students said. “It cuts down your job possibilities certainly with known as the Principal’s Advisory Council and the staff to help government entities or people that have government contracts because nobody wants their hard-earned tax dollars spent on create a new initiative for the drug issue.

“We are trying to introduce that the campus should be somebody that does drugs.”

When it comes to the consequences of drug use, Gordon has proud of not using drugs,” Shafferman said. “Instead of always concentrating on the kids that get caught for it, we should be seen this first hand. Gordon used to work with kids around the ages of 12 and 15 who were struggling with substance abuse. bragging about the percentage that don’t do drugs.”

“I started working with these kids, and their drugs were According to Lieutenant Dan Rochelle of the Lewisville story marisa charpentier

“ “

What do you think are some reasons why students do drugs?

Student Voices

“cool” factor

Do you know anyone who has used drugs?

meth prescription drugs heroin cocaine

media influence other

yes no

more than one

yes *Out of a poll of about 300 students

design jordan richards

Which drugs do you feel are abused the most at Marcus? marijuana more than one other ecstasy mushrooms

because their friends do it problems at home

alcohol and tobacco,” Gordon said.

As Gordon moved up in his career in law enforcement, these kids moved up in their drug usage. Years after their time at the correctional center, the same teenagers were still struggling with substance abuse. This time with heavier drugs – cocaine and meth. Walking into the jail, they would sometimes spot Gordon, and slowly shake their heads.

“I should’ve listened to you. Back then you said this is where I was going to be, and I didn’t believe you,” one said. “I didn’t believe you.”

This was years later. They couldn’t escape the addiction.

“You’re still in and out of jail trying to get your life back together just because of the decision you made when you were 12 and 13 years old,” Gordon said.

According to Stafford, students aren’t always aware of the consequences of drug usage. If caught with drugs on campus, students can face penalties from the school as well as the law.

The state’s definition of an adult is 17 years old. If someone 17 years of age or older is caught with drugs, he or she is arrested and sent to see a judge where a bond is set for the person’s release. The bond can range from $2,000 to $20,000, according to Rochelle. The charge depends on what type of drug the person is caught with and how much. Having drugs like meth, cocaine or five or more pounds of marijuana is considered a felony.

However, if one is 16 years or younger, he or she cannot be arrested. Instead, the teenager is detained, released to parents and may be prosecuted.

According to both Rochelle and Gordon, getting away from friends that do drugs is one way to avoid these consequences.

“A lot of bad decisions in your youth are things that people have talked you into sometimes,” Rochelle said. “If you have friends that think that doing drugs is cool and that there aren’t any ramifications for doing them, then you need new friends because they are wrong.”

When it comes to preventing drug use, schools can only do so much, according to Rochelle. He said that although schools should be able to stop drug use on school grounds, the school cannot control one’s personal activities.

“I don’t think it’s up to the school to be your mother and father,” Rochelle said. “And at some point it becomes even too difficult for your mother and father.”

In the end, he said, the decision is up to the individual.

Do you feel marijuana should be nationally legalized?

no no preference

february 1, 2013 the marquee

ENTERTAINMENT

Ludicrous laws Laws vary from state to state. The Marquee has uncovered some odd and surprising laws. story anna middleton

Sweet Tweets

15

compiled ben horton

Texas In Clarendon, TX, it is illegal to dust public buildings with a feather duster. The dust bunnies are victorious in their battle with the cleaning ladies.

In Mesquite, TX, children cannot have unusual haircuts or they are committing a crime. Lady Gaga’s future children won’t have very much fun on their trip to Mesquite.

Pennsylvania In Morrisville, PA, a woman must have a permit to wear cosmetics. I guess Bruno Mars was right when he said you are beautiful just the way you are. If he is wrong, get your cosmetic permit and get it quick.

In Bensalem, PA, if a person is convicted of a felony, they may not operate a Bingo game. If Grandma goes to jail, she will lose more than her knitting needles.

Alabama In the entire state of Alabama, it is illegal to play Dominoes on Sundays, and if you do play this game, you may be fined up to $100 or serve county jail time. Don’t worry kids, Jenga is always an option.

Also in the entire state of Alabama, you may not wear a fake moustache in church, in fear of causing laughter during the service. Any snickers or giggles may be cause for a moustache check. Hell hath no wrath like a fake moustache.

the marquee february 1, 2013

California In Norco, CA, one must pay a $100 fee for a license to obtain a rhinoceros as a pet. Instead of getting a guard dog, have a rhinoceros. No one will break into your precious Victorian without broken limbs.

In Blythe, CA, it is prohibited for someone to wear cowboy boots unless the person owns at least two cows. One must earn the privilege of wearing such exquisite attire.

Pretty sure Marcus High School itself keeps Cavenders in business...

Tyler Boertje @TylerBoertje

tbh Chickfila needs to have a 6 (or 8) count of chicken minis....4 just doesn’t do it Kali Blackshear @blackshearkali

We need to have a Harry Potter themed spirit day at Marcus Gabi Harkrider ‫@‏‬GabiHarkrider

Colorado

#ThoughtsInTheHallway please don’t get hit by a door, please don’t get hit by a door, please don’t get hi- (gets hit with Austin Coad ‫@‏‬AustinCoad door)

In Denver, CO, a dog catcher must notify dogs of their impounding for three consecutive days with a notice on a tree in the city park. Who knew dog catchers could speak dog? Teach us your ways.

teacher: “don’t pack up we have .07542 seconds of class left!!”

Sydney Woy @woysydney

In Sterling, CO, Cats must be fit with a taillight before running loose. You don’t want Fluffy to get into traffic without a good taillight.

Marcus high school is so warm #saidnooneever Laura Ann Terry ‫@‏‬terrylauraann I love class debates cause it’s usually the two smartest kids just battling it out #entertainment Abby Hoover ‫@‏‬abby_hoover_

Alaska In all of the beautiful state of Alaska, it is illegal to push a moose out of a moving plane. It doesn’t matter if you passed its stop or gave it a parachute. Mr. Moose must wait like everyone else.

In Alaska, it is illegal to wake up a bear to take a picture with it. There is a small chance you would even get the opportunity anyway. You’ll get a clawed face before a snapshot with your new BFF, #bearfriendforever.

When you finish way before everyone, and you don’t know if you just knew it well, or did it wrong Luke Lancaster ‫@‏‬lukelancaster1

Don’t count days, make days count.

Kaitlin Morgan ‫@‏‬kaitlinnmorgan

tweet us @mhsmarquee #marqueemadness design/graphics amanda collen

16

ENTERTAINMENT

Guide to the heart

compiled sydney sund

What to do on Valentine’s Day with your special someone:

Intelligence

The Classic:

Popcorn

Athletic

Nothing beats dinner and a movie. For dinner, find a nice restaurant you wouldn’t normally go to like BJ’s near Vista Ridge.

Or, go somewhere more exciting and make reservations for Hibachi at the restaurant next to AMC at the shops of Highland Village. As for the movie, take your date to see Warm Bodies.

It’s the perfect mix of gross zombies (for the dudes) and sweet romance (for the ladies). And of course, you could always cook your date a homemade meal (fresh, not frozen or catered of course) like spaghetti and spend an evening watching classics like The Notebook or The Proposal.

What is the most important thing you look for in a boyfriend or girlfriend?

Appearance Personality Social Status

less than a month

Romantic:

1-6 months

Take your date out to Grapevine or Lewisville Lake. Build a bonfire together and bring along some marshmallows, crackers and chocolate. Take a truck, set out some pillows and blankets in the back and star gaze.

You could even hold hands and dream about the future together! Or, you could bring some lawn chairs and set them near that fire you just built. If you’re musically inclined, bring along a guitar and a hand written song in which you confess your love for your date. If not, you can still confess your love, just skip the strumming and singing.

7 months-1 year more than a year

What is the longest you have ever dated someone?

more than 2 year

Adventurous:

Pick something new and fun you and your date can experience together. If you’re not afraid of a little sweat, try out rock climbing at Lifetime Fitness or go slacklining at Kid’s Castle. It’s always fun watching your sweetheart flail around, trying do activities clearly made for more sporty people. Plus, it makes for a great bonding experience trying a new activity together. If you and your date happen to be one of those athletically gifted people, then challenge your date to a one on one basketball match. If neither of these activities are for you, go to the zoo and spend an afternoon taking selfies with your date and exotic animals, and then post them on Instagram.

What is your current relationship status?

Single In a relationship Engaged/Married It’s complicated

*Out of approximately 200 students

Valentine playlist Just A Kiss Lady Antebellum

Kiss You One Direction

Cinema Skrillex

Kiss Me Slowly Parachute

Lost in You Three Days Grace

Ours Taylor Swift

Replay Iyaz

Loving You is Easy Ben Rector

album covers

design amanda collen

itunes.com

february 1, 2013 the marquee

ENTERTAINMENT

Day in DALLAS

17

Flower Mound has great hangout spots and restaurants. However, Dallas is less than hour away, so there are plenty of opportunities to get out and experience some big city culture. These are some must-go places for a photos courtney clubb day in Dallas. story alyssa schmidt

The original Spaghetti Warehouse is located downtown just a couple of streets over from the House of Blues and the Hard Rock Café. The old brick restaurant looks exactly like the image its name conjures. Vintage windows and booths give it an authentic Italian café feel. The menu features old Italian favorites like fettuccine alfredo, lasagna and chicken parmigiana. It also includes some not-so-Italian meals like beer chili. Prices range around $13 or $14 for entrees but servings are large enough that you get your money’s worth.

Klyde Warren Park

Blue Mesa Grill

Another new addition to the downtown area, Klyde Warren Park is a simple, modern and quite artsy park located on top of the overpass on Woodall Rogers. White, orange and limegreen colors cover a children’s park, walking trail, dog park, performance pavilion, game area and eventually a restaurant, which will be coming sometime this year. It also features free wifi for the internet users who want to get some fresh air while they blog. The park also has food trucks that line the side with anything from barbeque to sushi. There’s something for everyone and for whatever mood you’re in. Pick some up and take it with you to any part of park you want.

Blue Mesa appears to be a hole-in-the-wall compact TexMex restaurant in a run-of-the-mill shopping center. However, as soon as diners step through the entryway, they go upstairs to an art deco dining room. The food is mostly organic and free range, with many vegetarian options available. Order the street taco plate, and they will donate 50 cents to a plethora of charities such as American Cancer Society and Operation Kindness. They’ve raised over $142,000 so far.

The Spaghetti Warehouse One of the only museums dedicated entirely to sculpture, the Nasher House is home to some of the most famous sculptors’ works, such as that of Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin and Henri Matisse. Those who are more knowledgeable about sculpting should try visiting the 360 Artists, Critics and Curators meeting to engage in conversation about the everchanging world of sculpture. The next meeting is Feb. 9 at 1:00 p.m. If not, no worries. Just go and take a look around.

Perot Museum

Dallas Museum of Art

The Ross Perot is the newest addition of museums to Dallas. This museum is so new the ticket sales are backed up for weeks. Make sure to buy in advance. The 11 exhibit halls all have state of the art equipment such as 3-D computer animations that allow visitors to see hands on, life-like simulations.

Looking to tap into your inner art enthusiast? This museum is home to over 22,000 paintings that date back all the way to the 16th century and older. It features some of the most well-known artists such as Van Gogh. Because of the new Friends & Partners program, you can get in free any day of the week. Request a list of 100 Experiences. The list features different things to do as you go through the museum.

House of Blues Dropkick Murphys 2/26/13, 8:00

IN CONCERT

compiled

The Devil Wears Prada, As I Lay Dying, The Color Morale

3/12/13, 7:30

An Evening with The Black Crowes

4/25/13, 8:00

the marquee february 1, 2013

ben horton

graphic courtney clubb

P!NK with special guest The Hives

Maroon 5

Muse

Bon Jovi

4/11/13, 7:30

Volbeat with special guests Danko Jones and Spoken

Alabama Shakes with special guests: Michael Kiwanuka and Sam Doores & Riley Downing

3/12/13, 8:00

Two Door Cinema Club

3/25/13, 7:30

4/11/13, 8:00

2/22/13, 8:00 3/13/13, 7:00

Palladium Ballroom 3/6/13, 8:00

American Airlines Center

3/7/13, 7:00

They Might Be Giants

Nasher Sculpture Center

Pierce The Veil and All Time Low with special guests: Mayday Parade and You Me At Six,

4/12/13, 6:30

design courtney clubb

18

SPORTSS

Going for the goal

compiled kady kohankie and ben horton photos kady kohankie With a number of players going on to play on the college and professional level after high school in the past, varsity soccer has a long history of producing great soccer players.

But, sometimes it leaves the team with more new players than experienced ones. This year’s challenge for the team is learning to rebuild and continue the “Proud Tradition” of Marcus boys’ soccer.

“The players that we have this year have been through the fire,” head coach John Gall said.

“We did a great job last year, but there was a lack of experience. The most important thing about this season is the amount of experience that the team has.”

The team played against Colleyville Heritage at Marcus Stadium. The boys played Tuesday, Jan. 22. “People can look forward to a great game, lots of shots, lots of goals, lots of action, and a lot going on,” senior Dalton Nusz said.

Dribbling the ball, senior Haiden Stiles keeps the team in the lead. “I appreciate the camaraderie, meeting people, and being part of this school,” Stiles said.

Senior Ryan Bigbie waits for teammate senior Blake Barnes to pass the ball to him. “It’s my love of the game. I look forward to playing games, every day. We have a lot of time to prepare, so everyone drives to win,” Barnes said.

The team gathers around for a group huddle to get pumped for the game. “There are a lot of people that have put faith in this team,” senior Victor Villarael said. “The last thing I would want to do is bring them down.”

design tori allmendinger

Barnes gets ready to make a pass to one of his teammates. “I am looking forward to district, for sure, especially with all the seniors because we have played together since our freshman year,” Barnes said.

february 1, 2013 the marquee

SPORTS

19

New perspective

Sophomore works to overcome ACL injury story anna middleton Sophomore Bridget Tobias was finishing up her basketball tournament in May. During game play, she planted her foot and twisted her knee. Her knee turned sideways and she watched as it popped in and out of its socket.

At first, she couldn’t feel the pain. She just worried about the injury. She didn’t know how serious it would be. As she tried to get up, she could barely walk and couldn’t run.

“We didn’t think my ACL was torn because normally it swells a lot, and I didn’t experience much swelling,” Tobias said.

Tobias had an MRI done the day after the tournament, and the results showed that she tore her ACL, a season ending injury. She said she was upset because she had just been improving her athletic abilities. She ranked first in the state in 300 meter hurdles and second in the state in 100 meter hurdles, the summer before she got into high school.

“It was a lot of hard work to earn that,” Tobias said. “I was devastated.”

Tobias has been playing sports since she was young. She said that sports took up most of her time, and she was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to play sports again. She was

upset because she missed her summer track season as well, which is her favorite sport.

“This has showed me to value playing,” Tobias said. “I have taken it for granted.”

Tobias then had a patellar tendon graft done on her knee. The patellar tendon lies right below the kneecap. In this surgery, the surgeon removes the middle section of the patellar tendon, removes the torn ACL and puts the tendon into the knee where the ACL was formally. Due to this surgery, Tobias will recover from her ACL injury and be able to play in basketball and track within the year.

“Reconstructive surgery is relatively new and it’s gotten better and better,” Track Coach Steve Telaneus said. “I had reconstructive surgery done on my ACL. I tore it playing football in college.”

Telaneus said it is very common for athletes to tear their ACL nowadays, and that it is probably the most common injury that happens when students play sports. He said that one reason why this could be is because it is easier to diagnose a torn ACL than years ago. He also said that another reason could be a combination of things such as stronger athletes or the field surfaces used during

ACL BREAKDOWN About

HALF

games.

Tearing of the ACL can be caused by any over excessive activity on the knee.

Even walking can be a culprit in certain circumstances.

Reconstructive surgery can only do so much. Marcus has had two quarterbacks who cannot play due to a torn ACL. Junior Cole Erwin and his younger brother Sophomore Cade Erwin both had torn their ACL during football games during the fall and were out for the rest of the season.

However, Telaneus says that more athletes are getting back in the game.

“These days, athletes come back in quite a bit,” Telaneus said. “It’s better now than when I was young.”

However, Tobias said even with the surgery, she will have to face many challenges when she gets back into basketball and track.

She feels like she will be more timid when she plays because she will be protecting her knee.

“I won’t be as confident in my abilities because I will always be worried about it,” Tobias said.

Over the summer, Tobias went through different types of physical therapy. She said that most of therapy was to get her mobility

back. After the surgery, she couldn’t do simple things like bending and straightening her leg.

She couldn’t even walk the first week.

Tobias then had to do more physical therapy that would build back the lost muscle in her leg. Through physical therapy, she has to build back 80 percent of the muscle she had before in her leg to be able to do athletics.

Tobias said she is starting a new type of therapy to get her back where she was and make her stronger.

“She’s coming back pretty quickly,” Telaneus said. “Sometimes it takes up to a year or more to recover. She is doing really well.”

Tobias travels with the girls’ basketball team whenever they have games, and once she recovers, she will be able to participate in the track season. She said that she has learned how much she appreciates sports. Telaneus said that Tobias will have to continue rehab even after her release, along with her workouts, but that she will be able to get back to where she used to be.

“The main thing we’ll be concerned about is getting her overall physical fitness back,” Telaneus said. photo

About

250,000

ACL injuries occur in the U.S. each year.

of all ACL tears require reconstructive surgery.

RECOVERY TIME

6-12 months

There is a higher risk of ACL injury when returning from recovery. the marquee

february 1, 2013

michele papa

80%

of ACL tears are non-contact injuries.

http://www.uvsef.org

ACL tears are

2-4

times more likely to happen in girls than boys.

design tori allmendinger and jordan richards

OPINION

BOOMBAS [things we like]

20

Syd kid

Notes of encouragement

Team effort

Recognized excellence

Girls may have noticed sticky notes with positive statements in the bathrooms. The Redefining Beautiful Club has done an excellent job encouraging girls to be confident with who they are. After all, there’s no better time or place to receive a little positivity than while sitting on the toilet.

Congratulations to various sports teams. Girl’s Bowling qualified for regional, Girls’ varsity soccer won the Lewisville Cup, the wrestling team swept the competition and Girl’s swim team won second in district this past weekend.

Recently the school received the “2012 College Readiness Award” from the Texas ACT Council, an award given for raising the number of ACT takers and improving college readiness in general.

Congratulations to all Marauders!

Sydney Sund

Un-Safe Haven

I have an announcement for all you girly girls out there.

Yes you, the girls who spend your weekends on the couch with your mouths open drooling over how hot Ryan Gosling is.

And you girls, who spend your nights soaking your old tattered copy of the Dear John in your tears as you sob through the story for the 57th time. And then you, boy from my English class sophomore year, who knew more about The Notebook than all the girls combined. If you are one of these girls (or boys - I won’t judge) and would like to subject yourself to hours of flailing, crying and curling up in a corner in the fetal position, then I have an announcement for you.

Less than a year after the release of the movie adaptation for the Lucky One, Nicholas Sparks is promoting yet another tear jerking, heartbreaking, romantic movie adaptation for Safe Haven. And if you want to undergo even more emotional upset, you can subscribe to the Nicholas Sparks mailing list!

That way even your iPhone, tablet, laptop or other electronic can kindly remind you that the next installment of heartbreak city is only four months away and that you can pre-order your heartbreak early. Nicholas Sparks, the emotional terrorist is everywhere, even your notifications.

Have you ever taken a look at all the Nicholas Sparks movie edition books side by side at a store? If not, I highly suggest that the next time your mother drags you off to Wal-mart to shop for pointless made-in-China products, stop by the book section and check out the Nick Sparks novels. You’ve got Liam Hemsworth almost kissing Miley Cyrus, Ryan Gosling almost kissing Rachel Mcadams and Zac Efron and Channing Tatum doing the exact same thing with other mildly famous women.

Really, they could be an entire series called White People Embracing. More than just white people have love stories, Nick.

But anyway, for those of you ignorant, loveless people who live under a rock, Nicholas Sparks is known for taking the exact same cookie cutter plot and putting the exact same mundane characters into the exact same setting. He waves his magic wand, changes the names and poof! You have a novel.

But somehow, with every single novel, he manages to get you to buy emotional stock in the love life of the characters.

He’s become wildly popular feeding the love-hungry souls of the female population. You get caught up in the sweet romantic dates and the first kiss and just about every single other thing that would never happen in real life. And as soon as everything just seems perfect…bam! He does something insane, like break the characters up. No, that’s really not insane.

But still, you get a little choked up.

Some people may emit a squeaking sound of terror, others may cry and some may simply skip to the end of the book and read the epilogue. But those who aren’t wise cheaters and choose to read all the way through have unknowingly just subjected themselves to the unlawful persecution of love. This includes everything from drowning the main character to sending one off to war to reincarnating another as a goose. Yes, a goose. However, no geese were harmed in the making of that book. Hopefully.

I would classify Nick Sparks novels under “cruel and unusual punishment.” My solution to Nicholas Sparks’ terrorism? Read Edgar Allan Poe stories, where everything is dark and depressing and everybody dies. No surprises there. Afterward, sit and contemplate why life isn’t a fairy tale love story.

Then go get counseling. You’ll need it. design hailey painter

kitty

Anna Middleton

Reality check “Sh, don’t cry. It’s okay Ella.”

I picked up the bundle that was my sister from her bed. As I cuddled her, her loud cries turned into soft babble. Looking at the time, I was beginning to worry about how late it was. I didn’t want to sleep in on accident and be late for elementary school. Holding her a little longer, she closed her eyes. As I laid her back down for sleep, there was a slam outside of the room.

Ella opened her eyes and looked around the room in confusion. I comforted her until her eyes closed yet again. I left the room and walked into my living room. There was a figure in the corner. It was mindlessly rocking back and forth. Each slow step forward was brought by curiosity, and then I sighed in relief.

“Daddy, you scared me.”

He looked up at me in disarray, his eyes bloodshot and yellowed. He stood over me looking as tall as a giant.

“Dad, what’s wrong?”

He then began to shout at me. Each word seemed to get louder and louder. I stood there defenseless with no words to say. All the offenses and curses he wished on me seeped deep into my heart. He shoved me and walked to my sister’s room.

She was wailing from the enraged argument.

I got up as fast as I could and rushed to her room. He was holding her up high in the air and shouting. She continued to cry and cry. I ran up to them and grabbed her away from him.

He gave up and walked out. I brought Ella with me into the living room and sung to her until she smiled, tears running down the side of my face.

HOW Sandy Hook

did the

shooting affect your views

“I promise to protect you, that’ll never happen again.” *** My father was an addict to drugs and alcohol. These two things were the priority in his life. Growing up, I felt like I wasn’t important because of his neglect towards me. I never had the dad who would go to my ballet recitals, the dad that would spoil me and call me his little princess.

My dad would work, stay out late and waste his money on alcohol and drugs. He’d become dazed and confused and would say curses he never meant. For years I thought I hated him. I wished my mother would just take me and the kids and leave. I wondered how he could show hatred upon something that was his own flesh and blood. I thought blood was thicker than booze.

Then there would be periods of time where he would stop his habits. He’d tell us how much he loved us and how sorry he was for the things that happened. Being a kid, I believed he would quit each time. He would try and make it up to me by taking me out on what he called Daddy Daughter Dates. He’d take either me or my sister Zoe out once a week. We’d go to a movie and a restaurant of my choice. The final thing he would do was buy us little presents to remember the day like flowers or small toys. This phase would last a couple weeks, maybe a couple of months if we were lucky. It was like he was Dr. Jekyll one day and Mr. Hyde the next. It was as if my father was consumed by a monster.

I felt so alone, so out of touch with him. The place I called home is where I felt the most exiled. I wanted his addictions to go away. They ruined all of our lives. My siblings never intervened because they were so young. They never understood.

My mother and I were the prime source of his problems. Even my friends would be too scared to come over for sleepovers, as they had witnessed my household’s daily evils.

Once my parents got divorced, life was easier. I was happy, but the fact that I was happy made me sad. I was happy without my father, but I wanted to have one growing up. I needed a dad, not a live-in drunk.

Once my father hit rock bottom, he got better. He’s in rehab now and he’s been clean for about seven months. This is his longest sober period. Now I’m almost 17. It’s late for me, but he can be there for my little sisters and brother and be their father.

My father was a teenager when he started doing drugs and drinking. He was 17. He didn’t know how much it could affect his life, how much it would affect my family’s lives. He made the decision, and now he regrets it. I bet when he was a teenager, like a lot of kids today, he just thought it would be fun.

“It definitely needs to be safer, and I think teachers should be able to carry a gun.”

on school security?

“I think that security should be taken seriously, but at the same time I think that if somebody’s out to do something...they’re going to figure a way around security to be able to do it.”

compiled miranda chiechi photos

michele papa

Bryce Haney, 9

Morgan Tabari, 10 february 1, 2013 the marquee

OPINION Pending vending

To the loud teachers and students who can be heard through the classroom walls: turn down the volume! As lovely as one’s voice may be, students don’t want to hear it while they are trying to work out a complex calculus problem or write an essay.

For students that cut it close in the morning, the task of getting to class on time has become even harder. Both doors at the end of W hall, as well as other entrances, are now locked. Although these locked doors are part of new security measures, they can still be annoying.

Students many times do not have cash with them to buy snacks or drinks from the vending machines. Instead of teasing these students with food or causing them to die of starvation, the district might want to invest in machines with debit card slots.

renaissance woman

Madi Schwem

Teen angst I am 15 years old.

I will be 16 in March. My natural hair color is dirty blonde.

When I dyed it “brown,” the box said “long-lasting,” though it’s almost faded completely an ugly orange color. My eyes are grayish blue. My eyebrows are too thick.

I’m chubby, and my cheeks are fuller than they were a year ago. I call myself fat. People say I’m not fat, and I’m not. Not really. There are people who weigh 600 pounds, and I weigh 148. But when people take photos of me, I can’t help but think I’m fat when I see them.

I am socially awkward. I stutter. I don’t look you in the eye.

I touch my face a lot when I speak. I repeat myself over and over. My voice is either too loud or too soft.

When I like something, I like it too much. I have a shelf in my room dedicated solely to Assassin’s Creed merchandise.

Secret Crusade, Renaissance, Brotherhood, Revelations and Forsaken—all the novel adaptations. A Connor Kenway button. I have a notebook full of doodles I’ve made of my favorite characters. I cry over all the characters when bad things happen to them. I have never been so emotionally invested in any sort of TV, video game or movie in the same way.

I forget things way too much. You ask me to do a simple chore, I’ll lie on my bed, say, “Oh, I’ll do it in a minute” and let

HEYS

Locked doors

[things we don’t like]

The kids next door

you down because I don’t. I don’t study, even though I probably should. I have two Bs, an A and a C. I could make better grades, but I don’t.

I have an insane weakness for dogs. I prefer them over people, if I’m going to be honest with you. Their love is unconditional. I can speak to my dog all day and feel like I’ve really been listened to.

My style is unusual. It consists of my pink and black coat, my black boots, my red snake skin pants and my Assassin’s Creed shirt, all of this accompanied by gloves with zippers and skulls on them.

Things of importance to me consist of what game I’m going to play, whose house I’m going to stay at this weekend and what areas of Anatolia the Persian Empire conquered. Whether or not I raise my hand in World History and attempt to impress the rest of the class with my annoyingly large amount of knowledge.

Little things, like my nail polish chipping down or the Hollywood Heights marathon showing on Fridays. Whether or not to dye my hair blue or green this summer. Whether or not I want my first tattoo to be of the Assassin’s Creed insignia or the Fallout Nuka Cola bottle and where I want them in the first place. Whether or not there will be a day where we all realize that fighting is stupid and we should all just move on.

I don’t accept things for the way that they are. I want to know why. I want to question authority. Why can’t I look in that box? Why can’t I know why no one wants me around my brother? I’ll find out anyway, so it’s best if you just let the cat out of the bag, so to speak. I have a thirst for knowledge and understanding.

I’m me, and that’s okay. I’m not normal because there’s no such thing. Now, if you’ve been reading this and thinking in your head that I’m one weird individual, hold this back from your face and analyze yourself. I’m sure you have a few weird quirks too, and that’s normal.

I’m tired of looking back and thinking I’m a terrible human being just because I’m not like everyone else. I’m tired of being upset over the fact that I am what I am. And, most of all, I’m tired of trying to please other people while I feel terrible on the inside.

I need to think of what I have and realize that maybe—just maybe—I’m not such a bad person after all.

MARQUEE REMARKS “I believe that the Connecticut shooting showed that people really need to lockdown on the way people enter and exit the school.”

“I felt like it made me realize how important it is that some people can get in here so easily, and the day after, I actually was really scared.

I never really thought of it before.”

Daric Legg, 11

Rachel Coming, 12

the marquee february 1, 2013

21

“I think everybody’s view on school safety was pretty much shattered by the shooting...I think also the 24/7 news cycle kind of alters our perception of reality and makes it seem as if that could happen anywhere, but I think schools are still one of the safest places to be.”

Jennifer Forthun, English

brobocop

Michael Delgado

Swim of a lifetime

It was so hot that day. It was the type of heat that glues your hair to your face. I remember running. I was running so fast. I couldn’t hear my feet pound against the cement as I sprinted to the deep end of the pool or the laughter of children playing on the shallow end. The only two sounds in my world were my own voice calling out to my friend Drew to bring a body float and the sputtering screams from the drowning girl in the deep end of the pool.

We were in Florida with my school marching band, preparing to compete in a competition, and it was our day off.

Because it was so hot, we were allowed to go to the water park outside of Universal Studios to cool off. The lifeguard had called adult swim and walked off, and Drew and I were lying back on the chairs by the pool side. Our relaxing moment was broken by the screams of a girl splashing and flailing in the deep end of the pool. The two of us leapt into action, jumping right into the pool and swimming straight towards her. I felt as if I was suspended on marionette strings, like I could writhe and wriggle all I wanted, but I was getting nowhere, just out of reach of the girl who was beginning to sink below the surface of the water. Just as her head dipped under the surface I dove under, the icy water coldly protesting against my red face.

My arms and legs screamed at me, begging for a minute’s rest, a luxury I could not afford as the drowning girl sank deeper into the water. She was right before me now, descending almost gracefully in the water. Her long, black hair was made smooth and silken by the water as it floated before her face. Her hands gently outstretched before her, as if to reach for the depth tiles as she sank slowly past the 10… 11… remaining outstretched towards the 12 as her knees softly came down on the bottom of the pool.

With rioting arm muscles and shrieking lungs, I finally managed to reach her. I wrapped my arms around her and crouched down on the pool floor, springing upwards to the surface. I pumped my legs, my strength failing me, my lungs crying out for me to breathe, to take a breath or so help me they will explode. By the time my kicks were no longer pushing us up, my vision was already fading, the darkness crowding my vision, threatening me with the same delicate downfall as the girl in my arms.

When I finally managed to break the surface of the water, the two of us were sputtering and coughing up the pool water as Drew kept us up with the raft. The second she was done sputtering, the girl started panicking again. She couldn’t have been more than 15 years old, but she managed to hit me and Drew more than once with her flailing arms. By the time we finally got her to shore, Drew and I were both covered in bruises and very sore. She tossed a “thanks” behind her shoulder and ran off to a group of other girls in the distance.

We both stood there, panting and exhausted, when Drew started to laugh, doubled over on his side.

“What’s so funny?” I asked out of breath.

“That… that was sort of hilarious! She looked like a fish out of water wiggling around like that,” Drew said.

I laughed too. I like to think that partly we were also laughing because we were happy we saved her, but also that we had done something neither of us would forget. design hailey painter

22

EDITORIALS

Pop culture should stop glamorizing drug use Staff Editorial In today’s society, drugs have become a popular part of culture. People see and hear about them almost everywhere they go, desensitized to their effects on both the physical and mental stabilities of people. There is also not enough being done to prevent people from taking drugs in schools and our community.

It’s no secret that desensitization to drugs is hindering society far more than helping it. Drugs are a menace to society, and things need to change to prevent the menace from spreading.

Typically, movies these days have one or two charismatic characters featured that utilize some kind of drug to create a dark or even mysterious sort of effect. While it can make for an interesting trait of the character, the viewer might see it as cool to start using that drug or put up with their friends using that certain drug. These television “role-models” make for desensitization, and because these characters are deemed as “cool,” taking drugs does not seem like it’s that big of a deal. However, when it all comes down to it, a person has to

consider the fact that it is fantasy.

Television oftentimes does not show the true extent of an addiction’s effect on a person. Therefore, whoever watches these shows and thinks about trying those drugs should think twice.

People have often spoken of the legalization of marijuana.

Most people who desire to have the drug legalized speak of how marijuana is not an addictive drug and how its effects aren’t as devastating as that of other drugs. While marijuana in itself may not be the most addictive drug out there, it can lead to the use of other drugs. The horrors of drugs are diminished once that person starts thinking that doing them isn’t all that bad. Marijuana is one popularly-used drug that commonly creates this problem. It can easily become a gateway to drugs that are much worse, such as heroin or cocaine.

In elementary school and middle school, videos and special days were held in order to teach students that drugs are wrong. When students begin high school—the time where making that decision becomes the most critical—schools hold Red Ribbon week, but that is the only time of the year

when drugs are really addressed. Drug dogs are brought out to search for drugs periodically, but that doesn’t stop the problem itself. The issue of drugs needs to be addressed before it actually gets to a point where it’s a problem. More discussion is needed, and teachers need to be brutal when it comes to the description of those drugs so that students will stay as far away from them as possible. There simply is not enough being done currently.

Society has the possibility of being changed if more people would think about the consequences of their actions before acting or if the risks of drugs were reinforced more prevalently.

Just because someone sees or hears that some drug isn’t bad, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true. People must stop belittling the horrors of drugs.

If a someone supports this issue, they should talk to their friends about staying away from drugs. If someone’s friend is addicted to drugs, they should convice that person to seek help. Whenever someone brings up the fact that trying drugs is no big deal, students should strive to remember that all it takes is one person to remind them of all the risks, and be the person that gets them to think about what they’re doing.

Schools should raise awareness for flu virus vaccines Staff Editorial The recent flu season has been one of the worst in the past 10 years. Many people across the country have been infected, and there have been several deaths. One of the ways to prevent catching the flu is to be vaccinated. However, there are still many people who do not get vaccinated against the flu for a variety of reasons, such as misinformation or not having enough time to get a shot. In order to curb the amount of flu victims, the vaccine should be made more widely available, particularly to students. In addition, more awareness should be promoted for sickness prevention at schools.

In our society, students are perhaps the most susceptible to infection by epidemics such as the flu. Throughout the school day, students are in constant contact with one another, crowding into classrooms and lunchrooms alike. The potential for a contagious virus to spread is much higher in such a setting. While preventing themselves from becoming sick is a task that mostly comes down on the students, it would be beneficial for the school to help in the effort as well.

There are many things that the school could do to promote sickness awareness. Flu season typically begins in November or December, so it might be beneficial to make announcements reminding students to get their flu shots. Schools could even call home to remind parents about flu season and vaccines.

There are some students who do not even know when flu season begins. More awareness could even help to remind students when flu season will occur months in advance, giving them plenty of time to prepare.

It would also be beneficial for student and school organizations to hold flu awareness fundraisers. The money raised could go towards funding the provision of vaccines. In addition, students would earn hours and points, which would serve as a widespread incentive to get students involved within their various clubs.

While some school districts have recently begun offering students and members of the community flu shots for a cheap price, it is late in the flu season, and people would have had many chances to be infected already. It would be better to offer these shots earlier, perhaps even before flu season really starts. This would help to reduce the amount of infections before the epidemic gets a chance to grow out of control.

It is true that the flu vaccine does not always work.

However, it is better to get a shot that only has a 40 percent chance of not working as opposed to not getting one at all. design hailey painter

This is especially true if these shots are being offered to the

community at affordable prices and earlier in the flu season.

There is simply no reason that vaccines cannot be made available to everyone in the community and its schools early

in the flu season. By making vaccines more widely available and promoting flu awareness, schools and communities could sharply curb the spread of the flu virus before it has the chance to become totally devastating.

Take that!

Flu Virus

AC

february 1, 2013

the marquee

S cot t M c D e a r m o n t, board certified general surgeon

M D PA hernia surgery gallbladder surgery laparoscopic surgery breast surgery skin cancer surgery

For Appointments: 972-219-6800 w w w. s c o t t m c d e a r m o n t. c o m

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Pagewindsor 4300 centree trail, sTe. 400 Page 11

flower mound, tx 75028

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BTX A I R E X P R E S S D A L L A S Experience the BTX AIR EX P Rdifference E S S D A L Lat: AS 1063 Texas Trail, Suite 750 BTX AIR EX PRES S D A L L750 AS 1063 Texas Trail, Suite Experience the difference at: Grapevine, TX 76051

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Grapevine, TX 76051 Free: (800)D 359-8991 BTX A IRToll E XPRESS ALLAS

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Flower Mound Campus 1200 Parker Square Flower Mound, TX 75028 (972)899-8400 www.nctc.edu the marquee

february 1, 2013

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with 100+ hour enrollment 03/31/13

expires: 2/28/2013