The Marquee Volume 35 Issue 1

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Vol. 35 Issue 1 Oct. 30, 2020 • Edward S. Marcus High School • 5707 Morriss Road, Flower Mound, TX

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School celebrates 40th anniversary with mural Cross country, track and field coach follows mentor’s footsteps Reviews of horror movies to watch this season

POLITICAL BOXING RING p11

editor in chief Madi Olivier managing editor Tara Connick photo editor Maya Hernandez design editor Emily Seiler news & entertainment editor Shriya Mukkavilli graphics editor Amber Luther business manager Sophia Craig reporters Garrison Acree Hyunsung Na Muna Nnamani Evelynn Singleton photographer Brooke Luther designer Alex Thornfelt adviser LaJuana Hale associate adviser Corey Hale principal William Skelton 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. Patron ads are available for $100. Online advertisements are also available. For more information call 469-7135196. The Marquee is a standing member of ILPC, TAJE, ATPI, CSPA NSPA, JEA and Quill and Scroll.

cover Tara Connick

Senior Alex Lengyel and junior Ifennama Cos-Okpalla reach to block a spike from a Lewisville player during their volleyball game on Oct. 6. Photo Maya Hernandez

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College bound

Pandemic complicates application process

Staying on track

Assistant coach joins cross country, track and field program

Throwing punches

Election encourages student political involvement

Fired up

FMFD travels to fight wildfires in California contents mhsmarquee.com

If walls could talk Mural celebrates 40th anniversary story Hyunsung Na “We want our students to learn a little bit about the history so that they can feel connected to the campus and our community, but also that they can just have that Marauder pride that we want to see in all of our students and staff,” Skelton said.

This mural is personal to Skelton, who has always believed that remembering the heritage and tradition of the school is important. Before being hired as the

The school’s successful history isn’t a secret on campus. When walking through the hallways, dozens of past trophies and awards sit lined up in rows within large display cases. Every year a sports program made it into a regional or state final is visible on large white signs directly above.

But none of the trophies capture the school’s first year. Edward S. Marcus, who the school was named after, remains a complete mystery to most students. Principal Will Skelton has a plan to change that. He wants students to graduate knowing the school’s early history.

To fix this, a mural of the original 1981 campus will be installed between the main office and the front entrance doors by Dec. 21 to commemorate the school’s 40th anniversary.

Skelton came up with the idea to place multiple murals around the building.

This art will cover the entirety of the school’s past with details of prominent people and events.

news Oct. 30, 2020

team had just been formed. It was a new experience for students and teachers alike, and everyone had to work through it, fitting that year’s yearbook theme of “Getting It Together.”

Pictures of the old campus look almost unrecognizable compared to today. When the school opened, Flower Mound was still developing and was mainly farmland. Morriss Road was only two lanes, trees were smaller and the

I was able to see the tradition and the pride and excellence that existed at Marcus.

- William Skelton, Principal principal in 2018, he worked at various LISD schools for 17 years. Even then he saw why the school was special.

“As a young educator at that time, I was able to see the tradition and the pride and excellence that existed at Marcus,” Skelton said.

Mural Details The mural’s design will depict the original campus in 1981 and show where the school began. Being the school’s first year, every club, program and sports

nearby houses hadn’t been built. Inside, the school was just four hallways and a library. Construction workers were a constant presence. The building was hot the first few weeks because it didn’t have air conditioning yet, and every window had to be kept shut to keep out loud moos from the nearby cows.

“It was like they put a school in the middle of a horse pasture,” Assistant Principal Kyle Smith said.

The design of the mural will also include two specific prominent people of

continued on page 08 design Alex Thornfelt

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Pandemic disrupts college applications

story Shriya Mukkavilli

The pandemic altered how students apply to college this year, pushing many college-bound seniors to change their plans. Some testing centers postponed SAT and ACT tests multiple times throughout the spring and summer, so schools

Boris Fosso

like the University of North Texas and Texas A&M are not requiring test scores. Campuses across the country are also closed to visits and in-person meetings. While every senior’s experience is different, they have all faced new challenges.

Photo Kaitlyn Hughes

Senior Boris Fosso is applying to Harvard, Princeton and Rice among other top colleges. He plans to study the pre-med track.

Fosso says that besides academics, the school’s environment is important to him.

“One big thing is the community, the people they attract, people who are like minded and that have the same drive and goals that I do,” Fosso said. “Being around those people will push me further and help push them further.”

However, Fosso was not able to visit any of the schools in person. He has attended virtual information sessions, which he says were not as helpful.

“You don’t really get a sense of the college atmosphere as much,” Fosso said. “So I didn’t have as good an understanding of what the college is like, what they offer.”

Because of the pandemic, Fosso says that applications have become more unclear.

Seniors’ plans after graduation According to a survey by the Art & Science Group LLC,

1 in 6 seniors who were planning to attend a four year college have chosen

a different path.

The same survey found that:

• 35% are planning on a gap year • 35% plan to enroll part time in a four year college • 13% don’t know what they plan to do From The Chronicle of Higher Education

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“It’s the level of uncertainty, not just what the college is like, but also what the application expects now that COVID did happen,” Fosso said. “We’ve had the whole summer and part of the school year taken away, and just how they’re going to accomodate to that.”

However, Fosso says that he feels prepared to take on the challenge.

“I don’t think it’ll be too difficult because I think if I can find an hour or two a day just to work on college applications, the time’s going to build up,” Fosso said. “When it gets to December or January when I’ll turn in the application, I’ll have it broken down, and I’ll have it all done and ready.”

Fosso says that his career goals have changed due to the coronavirus. He wishes to open a non-profit hospital to offer healthcare to the less fortunate.

“My goal has always been to become a neurosurgeon,” Fosso said. “But since the pandemic started, I started hearing about a lot of struggles that people were going through, and I just felt that I connect with that on a deep level.”

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Yasmeen Siddiqi

Senior Yasmeen Siddiqi has been seeking out cheer scholarships. However, due to the coronavirus, the recruiting process looks different this year.

“Given the circumstances with COVID, everything got canceled in the spring and over the summer, so I’ve just been working on recording videos and contacting the coaches via email,” Siddiqi said.

Because colleges closed their doors in the spring, Siddiqi was only able to tour a limited number of campuses in person. She said that because of that, she reduced the amount of schools she has applied to.

Siddiqi says she finds it important to experience a school for herself. For her, virtual tours do not offer the same experience.

“Going to college, being on the campus and seeing the culture is really important to me, and I want to feel like I’m at home,” Siddiqi said. “So doing that virtually was definitely a struggle just because I don’t know what the campus would feel like if I were on it personally.”

Since cheer recruitments went virtual, Siddiqi made an effort to form bonds with potential coaches and teammates.

“It’s been hard just because I want to build a personal connection with the coaches and the girls on the team now,” Siddiqi said. “But I’m also thankful for social media, because I’ve been able to connect with the girls on the team. And I’m thankful that I can email the coaches and keep in touch

Liv Hendrick Senior Liv Hendrick visited Louisiana State University during Memorial Day weekend. According to Hendrick, who will study film, her group wore masks and had social distancing measures in place.

Hendrick attended virtual college tours as well. Compared to the in-person campus visit, she says that she did not connect with the college as well.

“It felt so impersonal to take a virtual tour,” Hendrick said.

“It felt very rushed. I felt like asking questions was weird. It was just not a great experience.”

Like many other students, Hendrick had trouble with finding testing dates for the SAT, which were pushed back multiple times.

“It was very frustrating,” Hendrick said. “It definitely made me feel like I didn’t want to do it anymore because I’d prep and prep and prep and the night before [it would] get canceled.”

Once she was able to find an SAT testing date, it was during the height of the pandemic, according to Hendrick. She spent eight hours in a location four hours away to test. Hendrick took the SAT offered during the school day on Oct. 27.

Hendrick says even though it has been challenging, the pandemic is a learning experience for her.

“This was a test of my patience that I had been unprepared

news Oct. 30, 2020

Photo submitted by Yasmeen Siddiqi

through that.”

Siddiqi tries to maintain a positive attitude.

“It’s just been a passion ever since I first began getting to cheer in front of crowds and it’s made me who I am as a person and just such a leader,” Siddiqi said. “So even despite all the circumstances, I just have this dream of cheering in college so I don’t let anything stop me from that.”

Photo Maya Hernandez

for,” Hendrick said. “But I’m grateful because it gave me new challenges and things to work through to prepare me for my life in the coming future.”

However, Hendrick finds comfort in the fact that many seniors are in the same boat as her and she hopes they feel the same way.

“I understand the stress and they are not alone,” Hendrick said. “It’s overwhelming and I think that we’re all going to get through this together.”

design Emily Seiler

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Head Cross Country, Track and Field Coach Andrew Reinberg (right) is following in the footsteps of longtime coach Steve Telaneus (left), who died on April 30. Photo submitted by Andrew Reinberg

Following in stride

New head coach takes over after mentor’s death story Madi Olivier If anyone glanced through the window of the cross country team’s bus in July 2016, they wouldn’t have seen anything special.

They were on their way home after training in the Woodlands. Athletes leaned across the seats to joke with one another. Others stared at their phones with earbuds in. The coaches sat together up front, preoccupied with their own conversation.

They could have been any high school team on any highway in the country. But that bus was where everything changed for Head Cross Country, Track and Field Coach Andrew Reinberg.

It was only a couple of months after he left behind a head coaching position at a strong program to be an assistant coach at the school. He would be working with Head Coach Steve Telaneus, a legend in the cross country world. Telaneus had already coached several state champions.

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However, Reinberg couldn’t help but question if he made the right decision to take the job as he sat down next to the hall of fame coach.

The two men only had a few quick conversations before, due to their busy summer training schedules. But once they pulled out of the parking lot, Reinberg and Telaneus had four hours to talk about what mattered most to them — their faith.

As the bus reached Flower Mound, Reinberg knew one thing. Destiny placed him in that seat next to Telaneus, who later became like a father to him.

“I felt like this is a calling,” Reinberg said. “Like this is a place that God wanted because of the conversations and the relationship that I had with Coach T.” ••• Reinberg’s love for running began at an early age. He grew up looking for any excuse to race his friends, later competing in high school and coaching in college. Reinberg worked as the head coach at Carrollton Ranchview for three years and at

sports mhsmarquee.com

Plano West for two years before Telaneus hired him.

“I have always been super competitive but at this point now, running is a way of life,” Reinberg said. “Obviously it keeps you in shape, but it’s also very good for just meditating and finding a way to get away and destress.”

After spending countless hours talking about running and their families, Reinberg and Telaneus quickly formed a close friendship. Reinberg learned the ins and outs of coaching that helped Telaneus win awards. He also embraced “love and respect,” which are the words Telaneus lived by.

Reinberg saw the type of man he wanted to be.

“He was just a very open person,” Reinberg said. “A very loving person. I can’t imagine working with anybody better than him.”

Reinberg was named as the new head coach in May after Telaneus died suddenly on April 30, almost exactly four years after the bus ride.

“I feel like obviously I have very, very big shoes to fill, but early on the community and the school and even the athletes, everybody’s been super supportive and bought in,” Reinberg said. “It’s been a pretty smooth transition.”

However, Reinberg said that this will still be a challenging year due to changes brought by COVID-19. This year less teams will be able to participate in invitationals and qualify for the regional and state meets. LISD is also one of the most competitive districts in Texas. Reinberg has relied heavily on the lessons Telaneus taught him, especially while facing the new safety regulations.

“He always used to tell me, ‘Trust yourself. Trust with your abilities,’ so sometimes I’ll hear that,” Reinberg said. “I’ll be thinking about things, like we should do it this way or this way, and in the back of my head, I hear Coach T say, ‘You got it. Just do it.’”

Senior and varsity cross country runner Josh Clark said that it was obvious Reinberg learned everything he could from the legendary coach, just like the athletes.

“R was like our buddy,” Clark said. “He was one of us in a lot of ways.”

Clark also said that Reinberg has always had a good relationship with the athletes. He spent time at the beginning of the school year with individual runners to discuss their goals for the season and to see how they were handling the changes brought by the virus and Telaneus’ death.

“We’re all buddies in cross country,” Clark said. “We talk and chat.

We crack jokes, espeHead Cross Country, cially with Coach R.

Head Cross Country, Track and Field Coach Andrew Reinberg reviews data from the team’s morning run off of a runner’s phone. Photo Maya Hernandez

Coach R has always had a great sense of humor.”

According to Clark, Reinberg also got in contact with local schools and set up races at the start of the season.

“He’s doing a really good job,” Clark said. “He’s flexible enough to work with all the changes and stuff.

Reinberg said his main goal for the season isn’t collecting trophies or breaking records. When he looks back on his first year as head coach, he wants to know he helped his athletes become the best version of themselves, just like Telaneus did for him and the kids they coached together.

“I would be honored to have the same track record as Coach T,” Reinberg said. “I may or may not get to that point, but if I do anything like Coach T, it would be impact the lives of - Andrew Reinberg, my athletes and teach them how to be good Track and Field Coach people.”

This is a place that God wanted because of the conversations and the relationship that I had with Coach T.

sports Oct. 30, 2020

design Tara Connick

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40th anniversary mural continued from page 08

the time, Larry Sigler, the first principal and Edward S. Marcus, the school’s namesake.

Smith is in charge of the written bios of Sigler and Marcus that will be placed on the mural. Smith worked with Sigler, who passed away in 2015 and said that he did everything to help the students.

“He made sure between every passing period, he was out there in the halls, high fiving kids and asking their names,”

first year have still remained.

“Academic achievement has always been something very important to our community but also to our students,” Skelton said. “They take great pride in the work they do in the classroom and setting themselves up for a great future.

Behind the design LISD has its own team of people from the communications department working on the mural. Lee Ann Brandy is in charge of the graphic design.

“During my research I learned that the

be designed digitally, mainly using Photoshop. Bandy broke down the process into three steps — brainstorming, design and application.

“The artwork needed to fit in with its surroundings, but also celebrate the past,” Bandy said. “Not an easy combination.”

After brainstorming, Bandy began to electronically restore old images of Sigler and Marcus. She also found old maps to represent how barren Flower Mound was.

The entire time she was working from a computer at home during quarantine for COVID-19.

Bandy decided to include symbols such as cows, flowers and airplanes in the design of the mural.

“They’re Texas themes, but back then, there were more cows and bluebonnets here than students,” Bandy said. “The stick pin indicates that Marcus literally put Flower Mound on the map.”

To create the mural, a large format printer will print the background design onto a sheet of vinyl, which is similar to latex paint. It will then be heat-pressed onto the wall, making it look as if it had been painted. When that cures, secondary objects such as the school logo and blue prints will be installed. The last piece, a stainless steel band with 1982 on it, will then be added.

40th anniversary

A restored image of Edward S. Marcus will be icluded on the mural. In the sample above, the background is made up of maps of the old Flower Mound area and airplanes, representing the DFW airport’s historical significance. Photo submitted by Lee Ann Bandy

Smith said. “I think you’d be surprised if we could rewind the tape. He knew so many kids by first name.”

The campus is noticeably different today with the addition of the 9th grade campus, the football stadium and lack of cow pastures. Though so much has changed, Skelton believes aspects of that

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design Alex Thornfelt

town of Flower Mound was Mr. Marcus’ vision,” Bandy said. “That’s why he is the prominent and first figure in the design. I am amazed at how he could look at acres upon acres of vast ranch land and see a thriving suburban community of the future.”

The 40th anniversary mural will

Other plans have been affected by COVID-19. In addition to the mural, Skelton had hoped to bring back charter staff members as part of celebrations, but instead has had to adapt to the current situation.

“We’re going to shift gears and find other ways to celebrate,” Skelton said. “I think a lot of that is just through pushing the message out through many of our communications throughout the year, but we are hoping to have an activity in the spring.”

Skelton says he is proud of all the accomplishments the school has made.

“We’re all blessed to be a part of such a supportive school community with a rich tradition,” Skelton said. “If you look at the 40 year stretch, it’s difficult to match our level of success in academics and in athletics and fine arts, and that’s due to the hard work of the teachers, parents and students that have come before us.”

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Hit the ground running Cross country, track program hires new assistant coach story Madi Olivier One of Head Cross Country, Track and Field Coach Andrew Reinberg’s first tasks after taking over the program was hiring Assistant Coach Corey Wales in late July.

“He’s been helping me and I’ve been helping him,” Reinberg said. “It’s been a great relationship already, and we’ve only gotten to know each other for really only a couple months now.”

Wales grew up on the soccer field before picking up cross country and track his freshman year of high school and competing as a sprinter in college.

He was a head coach for 14 years at several high schools before Reinberg offered him the job.

Wales moved from Utah to Texas 10 days after Reinberg contacted him.

Although he had wanted to move to the DFW area for a few years, Wales was motivated to finally do so by the school’s winning legacy.

have totally different coaching styles.

He is more laid back while Reinberg likes structure. However, their two personalities clicked almost instantly, and Wales hopes that this will help the team qualify for the regional and state meets.

“There’s sometimes when you’re coaching, you have to give a kid a statement they might not want to hear, and it’s good to have one of us be on the flip side of the coin to play devil’s advocate for,” Wales said. “Friction creates fire, so it’s good to have a little bit different personalities.”

Senior and varsity cross country runner Josh Clark said that it’s obvious that Reinberg and Wales have a good working relationship.

“It’s like a buddy cop movie,” Clark said. “They definitely enjoy what they do.

They love each other… They’re always cracking wise together. It’s super fun.”

However, Wales said his biggest goal as a coach has always been teaching his athletes character on and off the

I already have a handful of kids that just follow me around and chat me up already. So It’s good. I’m definitely being welcomed.

- Corey Wales, Assistant Coach “I expected to go to a program that probably needed to be rebuilt because that’s usually why there’s an opening,” Wales said.

According to Wales, he and Reinberg

sports Oct. 30, 2020

track, which aligned perfectly with the foundation previous Head Coach Steve Telaneus and Reinberg built into the program.

“A big thing is positivity,” Wales said.

Photo Maya Hernandez

“That was my first thing I wanted to emphasize. We’ve been going through a lot of negativity right now.”

Clark believes that Wales added to the program’s culture of kindness and respect by encouraging the idea of working for the team as a whole outside of practices and meets.

“It’s not like we’re losing what we had.... it’s not like the team mentality has gone away,” Clark said. “Now it’s just expanded and it’s a new angle that we’re looking at it from.”

Wales said that while it will probably take a full school year for the athletes to get to know him and his coaching style, many of the runners accepted him with open arms.

“I already have a handful of kids that just follow me around and chat me up already,” Wales said. “So it’s good. I’m definitely being welcomed.”

design Tara Connick

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If you were forced to legally change your name, what would it be?

“Ah, Banana George!”

If you own any famous object, what would it be?

“I’d like to own the world! Is that famous enough? Or is that an object enough? Or the moon. That would be cool to own the moon if I could get there.”

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and what would you use it for?

“Being a math teacher, it would be to insert the ability to have students conceptually visualize concepts.”

compiled Evelynn Singleton photo Maya Hernandez

What’s your favorite genre of music and why?

“I like Radiohead a lot. I like things that don’t have the common 44/4 time signatures. They’re different. They’re like 9/8 or, I guess, alternative. It’s not like Breaking Benjamin.”

If you had unlimited resources, what would be some changes you would want to make to this world?

“If there’s any kids that are in a spot that’s not good or in neglect or any abuse or anything like that, give them a place. Give them something that they feel cared for and loved because everybody deserves that. Everybody deserves to have enough money to eat.”

DAVID PIKE, Math Teacher

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POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT INCREASES AMONG STUDENTS

story Madi Olivier

Although America has a history of low voter turnout from the younger generations, students have recently become more politically engaged, especially with the upcoming presidential election. In a poll of 300 students, 78 percent of students said they’ve seen this increase, with 46 percent saying involvement increased significantly and 32 percent seeing a slight increase.

Junior Luke Dodson, who identifies as a leftist, agrees that students are more interested in politics.

“I’ve seen a much greater awareness and a much greater urge to actually do something,” Dodson said. “I think people are realizing how vital politics are to not only our future, but the people around

us.”

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I missed their classroom when I was going by to register people and that does not AP Government teacher Carey happen.”

Petkoff said that she began to see this Senior Tristan Fredrick, who identifies shift in 2018. Before then, she said as a Conservative, registered with Petkoff. that students occasionally went He voted early for Donald Trump. to political rallies but rarely got Fredrick believes that a lot of hands-on experience. teenagers complain about the How do you think student involvement “I had a lot of students directly government but don’t do their in politics has changed in recent involved in various campaigns part to get their message across years? and that was definitely a change by voting, which he hopes more 3% from previous years,” Petkoff said. teens will do in this election. decreased “... These kids were going out, significantly “A lot of young people aren’t knocking on doors, campaigning voting and getting the messages 4.7% for local candidates.” that they really support,” Fredrick slightly Petkoff believes that the contro- decreased said. “They’re not pushing for that versial nature of President Donald and getting it, using their ability 14% Trump and his policies, as well as to vote to kind of get the message no change the media attention they illicit, are out and get what they want done.” the main reason why teens and 46.3% On the other hand, Fisher votincreased young adults are gaining an intered early for Joe Biden. He said significantly est in politics. that while the older generations 32% “Donald Trump is anything but sometimes view teenagers as lazy slightly boring,” Petkoff said. “So I think and apathetic when it comes to increased that brings a lot of attention to it politics, he believes younger votand elicits a response one way or ers actually do care about Amerthe other.” ica and each other, it just doesn’t Topics such as climate change, transfer over to the polls. Fisher college prices, BLM, gun rights and agrees that it’s up to teens to fight *from a poll of 300 students by The Marquee COVID-19 are major talking points for the changes they want to see in the election. Senior Carson in the government.

Fisher, who considers himself leftOf the 80 students old enough to “The system has been so long left to the leaning, believes that they are important register to vote, about 61 percent said older white male, that it doesn’t really to young voters. they will be voting in the upcoming appeal to a more diverse younger “I think a lot of our generation is election. Petkoff helped 68 generation,” Fisher said. concerned about things like civil rights, students register to vote “So we have the perwhether that comes like LGBT or Black this year, which is slightly ception that it’s Lives Matter,” Fisher said. “Whether lower than the 75-100 kids only old people they’re against it or for it, I think that she gets most years. However, she that participate, those are big issues, and I think also believes this is because less students are but that’s not the anything that has to do with the envi- on campus. case. We only view ronment is also pretty big.”

“I think the difference is that I didn’t it that way because The topics being discussed during the have to try so hard to get kids to register, we ourselves aren’t election have played an important role so they were a little bit more willing and participating.” in helping students form their political wanted to get registered,” Petkoff said. “I opinions. Senior Mathad kids seek me out on their own if thew Hill, who considers himself a Conservative, believes that political topics such as gun control can motivate teens to vote for candidates they might not agree with in other ways.

“Even if their social views aren’t all

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that Conservative, I know a whole lot of guys who enjoy hunting and so they want Trump to win just because they don’t want gun rights to be taken away,” Hill said.

in-depth mhsmarquee.com

Parent perspective Many students seem to follow the same path as Fredrick, Parents can be a major influence when teens are forming political opinions. About 32 percent of students said that their forming their own opinions as they get older. About 33 percent of freshmen said that their political political beliefs are similar to those of beliefs are the exact same as their their parents, while about 28 percent How would you say your political parents, which is notably larger than said they are somewhat similar. beliefs compare to your parents? the 12 percent of seniors who said AP Government teacher Carey the same. Senior Emma Adair, who Petkoff said this is to be expected, identifies as a leftist, wasn’t surprised as parents who are vocal about their by the results. political beliefs on either side will 11.3% very 13.3% “I think a lot of it has to do with likely influence their kids. different exact same maturity and the ability to kind of be “The most influence in your life on your own because I don’t think is by your parents because you see 15.3% anybody really thinks the exact same politics from their point of view first,” mostly different things they thought when they were Petkoff said. “They’re never wrong, of 14,” Adair said. “They’ve kind of course, when you’re little.”

32.3% similar grown up a little bit.”

Senior Tristan Fredrick, who Adair experienced this personally, identifies as a Conservative, believes 27.7% somewhat as she said that she didn’t care that his views align with those of similar about politics in 2016 before she his parents, although he has formed began doing her own research. Her some of his own opinions since 2016. political beliefs are now different “My parents are a lot of the from her parents, who typically vote reasons why I got into politics, but Conservative. there are definitely some things that *from a poll of 300 students by The Marquee “You have to be on it yourself to we disagree on,” Fredrick said. “Some try and be more informed and form things that I’m maybe a little more traditional on, which is kind of ironic, and then some things your own opinion from that, because really, nobody’s going that maybe they’re a little more traditional on, but it’s fairly to help you,” Adair said. “If you don’t, then you’re just going to end up going along with whatever it is they said anyway.” similar.”

ROOKIES IN THE RING story Madi Olivier contributor Shriya Mukkavilli

in-depth Oct. 30, 2020

design Tara Connick

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Division between parties The divide between political parties is greater, leaving less conservative.”

Although many students identify with one end of the Independents with the upcoming presidential election. This division is seen on campus as well. Almost the exact same political spectrum, Petkoff said that she still has a considerable percentage of students identified as Democrats and Republicans amount of moderate and apolitical students. In the poll, 11 at about 23 percent. The proportion of students who considered percent identified themselves as Centrists, while about 15 percent said they had no identity. themselves moderates on both sides Petkoff believes that being socially was also about the same at about 11 Where do you identify politically? liberal and economically conservative percent. is a common trend among teens.

Junior Avery Hamilton, who “It’s not necessarily that you don’t identifies as a Conservative, agrees identify as Democrats or Republicans, that the split between political parties but that your viewpoint on certain is becoming more clear.

23.3% 15.3% conservative issues doesn’t necessarily lend itself to “America is supposed to be about no identity republican like one or the other,” Petkoff said. freedom,” Hamilton said. “Liberty to 5.3% Senior Matthew Hill, who considers choose what you want, and think other himself a Conservative, thinks that the what you want and be able to talk 11.3% small number of apolitical students about things, honestly with almost moderate 22.7% have maintained their views since the no filter… but I feel like because republican liberal last election. everybody’s so one side or another, democrat “They don’t want to be involved we’re definitely becoming more 11% centrist because all they see is fighting, and so divided.”

11% they don’t want to have to join either AP Government teacher Carey moderate side and then fight against the other,” Petkoff has seen this divide in her democrat Hill said. “So apolitical people, I don’t classes. Petkoff said that the even think they’ve really been drawn into split between right-leaning and left*from a poll of 300 students from The Marquee it. I think they’ve sat out.” leaning students is unique compared Although senior Carson Fisher said to her classes two years ago.

“I had a heavy skew to the liberal side,” Petkoff said. his political views align more with liberal ideas, he tries to keep “Sometimes I do activities where we break up into segments a moderate stance, as he sees value in having an open mind.

“I think anyone who doesn’t listen to both sides is foolish,” and I’ll do the ideology split, and I almost couldn’t do it because I had so few conservative students. But this year, it’s really not Fisher said. “I think that’s an immature stance to only align like that at all. I’ve really had a 50/50 in all three of my classes.” yourself with one side. I think both sides have valuable Denton County is often considered a Conservative county opinions and valuable information.” in a historically red state. However, studies have shown that younger voters are more likely to be left-leaning. Petkoff said this could contribute to the even split seen on campus.

“The income level plays into party politics, as does race,” Petkoff said. “If you’re living in an area like ours that is largely affluent, that has traditionally been a part of the Republican base, you’re seeing a shift all over the place on both sides now where you have folks that are making more income that are skewing to the left.”

Senior Susanna Soelberg, who identifies as a Liberal Democrat, said she was surprised by the current split between political views in the local area.

“It’s more evenly split than I would have thought,” Soelberg said. “I honestly would have thought it would be more

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design Tara Connick

in-depth mhsmarquee.com

Effect of social media Social media has played a major role in getting teens said. “If you want to know what the president thinks about involved in politics in recent years. Almost 53 percent said that something, he’s constantly putting it out there. So I think it’s social media has impacted their political views in some way. nice to be able to see what it is he’s thinking at any given Junior Luke Dodson, who identifies as a leftist, believes that moment.”

While social media has played a huge role in boosting teen social media has helped students see the big picture when it interest in politics, it can also have a negative effect. Apps often comes to politics. suggest content based on a users’ “I think it’s made political interests, which can prevent users involvement much more accessible,” Has social media impacted your from being exposed to a wide variety Dodson said. “It really lets us not political views? of opinions. Junior Avery Hamilton, just get a grasp for how other people who identifies as a Conservative, also identify politically, but also be worries that false information can introduced to new viewpoints.” spread quickly on social media.

AP Government teacher Carey 12.3% “I feel like people see stuff online Petkoff believes that social media not sure and then they post out without really has helped many teens develop their researching or thinking about what political opinions in a way that wasn’t the actual context of the scenario available to previous generations.

52.7% was,” Hamilton said.

“I think it is a unique way for yes 35% Senior Carson Fisher, who your generation to be able to sort of no identifies as left-leaning, said that vocalize your thoughts and feelings consistently seeing information on about things,” Petkoff said. “Whereas social media can persuade someone’s in my generation, the internet thinking without them realizing it. existed, but social media wasn’t a big Fisher has noticed that if he gets too deal and so if you were going to talk many TikTok videos promoting a politics, then you had to have friends political topic, he’ll sometimes begin who wanted to talk with you, and *from a poll of 300 students from The Marquee to believe it, even if he does not agree that’s not always the case.” with it.

Senior Tristan Fredrick, who “I find myself after a while believing stuff, or starting to identifies as a Conservative, said that he follows a lot of political-based accounts and discusses politics with others on believe stuff that I kind of snap out of and am like, ‘Wait, I social media, allowing him to consistently see political content know that’s not correct,’ Fisher said. “So I think it has almost a hypnotic effect without realizing it.” in his feed.

Fredrick said that he is concerned that social media “At least on social media and stuff, I was pretty active during 2016, but... I just feel like on social media, everyone companies may ban people based on their political beliefs. shares their views now, and I think it’s good that there’s more One of his friends was banned on Twitter twice, the first time political involvement,” Fredrick said. “I’m hoping that means coming shortly after the 2016 election, and Fredrick believes it had to do with his Conservative content. there’s more young voter turnout.”

“I think it depends on what you’re associated with and Social media usage in politics isn’t limited to teens. In recent years, politicians on both sides have been using social media the people you follow, but also, I think there’s a lot of tech to connect and interact with younger voters and supporters in censorship,” Fredrick said.

Petkoff said that social media has the potential to either a more casual setting. According to the Pew Research Center, politicians use Twitter twice as much and have three times as educate teens about politics or make them resent it completely depending on how it is used. many followers in 2020 when compared to 2016.

“Sometimes it’s just too much and it’s really easy to turn it This is especially true for President Donald Trump, who is known for using his Twitter account to openly share his opinion off and completely escape it,” Petkoff said. “Especially if you on controversial topics and political figures. He currently has aren’t a regular news reader or watcher, it’s really easy to escape it and never know what’s going on. So I think it’s sort over 87 million followers on the platform.

“You have all this information at your fingertips,” Petkoff of either end of the spectrum.”

story Madi Olivier contributor Shriya Mukkavilli in-depth Oct. 30, 2020

design Tara Connick

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Traveling heroes

Flower Mound Fire Department Captain Wade Woody and Engineer Brody Eakin wear protective gear in front of the August Complex wildfire. They stayed in California for about two weeks. Photo submitted by FMFD

FMFD helps fight California wildfires story Madi Olivier A thick cloud of smoke blocked the sun as the Flower Mound Fire Department firefighters worked against the flames of the August Complex wildfire in the Mendocino National Forest last month. The wildfire’s size was nearing one million acres, making it the largest in California history. The firefighters were exhausted from their 24 hour shift, but FMFD Engineer Brody Eakin was determined to control the flames.

“The sheer volume of work that needs to get done is kind of daunting,” Eakin said. “It probably was the most difficult fire assignment I’ve been on.”

According to FMFD Emergency Management Officer and Spokesperson Brandon Barth, Eakin was part of the first group of FMFD firefighters sent to California through the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System. Flower Mound was one of 56 departments to participate.

“With Texas being a very large state with a lot of resources, we can be kind of an easy button for California,” Barth said.

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It probably was the most difficult fire assignment I’ve been on.

- Brody Aekin, FMFD Engineer

news mhsmarquee.com

“They can make one call to the state of Texas and we can send several hundred firefighters and a couple hundred fire trucks.”

Eakin left on a brush truck along with FMFD Captain Wade Woody and Firefighter John Davis on Sept. 11, a little less than two years after the department helped with the 2018 wildfires.

“I was a little surprised on the timing, but I was excited to get to go,” Eakin said. “I’ve been on a lot of different fires here in Texas all over the state with the wildland team, but it was kind of a goal to be able to go out of state somewhere, and California, that’s a big deal.”

They left immediately after their annual 9/11 ceremony, which Barth said made their assignment across the country even more special.

“I think that it just speaks volumes,” Barth said.

“Everybody came together as Americans on 9/11/01 and then on 9/11/2020, people from across the state of Texas are getting on fire apparatus to go help other Americans in another state and uniting as one to fight some catastrophic fires.”

Eakin, who was in charge of leading the Flower Mound engine, said that they were put in a group with four other local Texas departments and assigned to a specific location under a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection employee.

Smoke from the August Complex wildfire surrounds the mountains of the Mendocino National Forest during sunrise. The wildfire is the largest in California history and has burned a large portion of the land. Photo submitted

by FMFD

news Oct. 30, 2020

For us to be able to provide the people and resources to help others in need, no matter where they live, I think is a great feeling.

- Brandon Barth, FMFD Emergency Management Officer

They spent most of their time putting out hotspots near the edge of the fire line. The firefighters also helped burn some of the vegetation between the fire itself and the fire line to keep it from spreading.

“After the fire would go through it looked like the surface of the moon,” Eakin said. “There’s maybe some burnt sticks sticking up that was left over, but other than that there’s nothing left.”

However, the environment made it more difficult for them to control the fire, according to Eakin. The terrain was covered in brush that was taller than him and so thick he couldn’t walk through it, but the flames easily destroyed it. The strong winds and steep mountainside only made the wildfire stronger.

The firefighters had to work 24 hour shifts every other day to combat the flames.

“It was a very weird sensation,” Eakin said. “It’s like time was standing still. The days went by fast enough, it’s just very disorienting. That 24 on, 24 off period. It was very, very strange.”

The first group of Flower Mound personnel stayed in California for about two weeks. They were replaced by FMFD Battalion Chief Scott Funderburg, Captain Ronnie McCarroll and Firefighter West Goldsberry on Sept. 29.

The second group of firefighters are expected to spend two weeks in California, although it is possible that the trip could be extended.

If this occurs, Barth said that the FMFD could potentially send out a third relief crew. Eakin said that he would go back to California if given the opportunity, as working in the unique terrain and weather of California is a good learning experience.

Eakin and Barth agree that it was a privilege to help the citizens of California.

“For us to be able to provide the people and resources to help others in need, no matter where they live, I think is a great feeling,” Barth said. “It’s something that we all thrive on. That’s why we got into this business. To help others, really no matter who or where they are.”

design Emily Seiler

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Ghoulden Globes

Spooky movies to watch on Halloween story Garrison Acree

Since people might be attending less Halloween festivities this year, nothing beats curling up in a warm blanket and watching a good movie. But what should you watch while you ignore the trick-or-treaters pounding on your door?

“Insidious” Rating:

A family of six moves out of their house after finding out that it was haunted by Satan’s angels. After moving, the members of the family begin to have night terrors and suffer from traumatizing sleep paralysis. An exorcist is called in on the scene, and what she reveals next changes the family’s lives forever.

I thought the idea itself was good, but the

execution had its flaws. The over saturated colors were distracting at times, and the story can’t be tied back to modern society. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s a pet peeve of mine. The writers also left out a few small details that aren’t that big of a deal, but it’s enough to leave some small plot holes after the movie ends.

“Coraline”

Rating:

A girl, tired of her uneventful life with her family, feels lost and confused about what to do until she discovers a secret door while exploring her home. On the other side is a new world and family that closely mirrors her own, yet feels more exciting. However, the joy fades when her other family tries to keep her there forever.

The stop-motion animation style was a nice throwback to early animation. The plot is a

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metaphor for how the grass might seem greener on the other side of the fence, but people don’t realize that it’s not what they want until it’s too late. “Coraline” serves as a cautionary tale for people who aren’t satisfied with what they have.

This movie got my highest rating because the plot and animation style sync up perfectly, and the tone has some positive aspects to it, along with the movie’s satisfying ending.

entertainment mhsmarquee.com

“The Silence” Rating:

This apocalypse thriller features archaeologists uncovering a cave that has housed a species of bats that, after a few hundred years, evolved into blind killing machines that hunt by sound.

By digging up the cavern, the archaeologists accidentally release the bats to wreak havoc on the world. The movie follows a family of seven trying to escape to the fabled last permanent stand for humanity.

Though there’s not a lot of realism, the CGI

entertainment Oct. 30, 2020

bat creatures are incredibly well-animated and the quiet, anxiety-inducing tone of the movie goes well with the plot. The grotesque bats are terrifying with sharp brown scales, torn wings and a hole in their face where the eyes should be. The situations the characters get into almost serve as a satire for the horror genre, with a hint of modern culture. Nothing would beat watching “The Silence” on Halloween night with some ambient lights and a few friends.

design Amber Luther

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things we like Marauder Time Marauder Time is now every day instead of just Wednesday. We’re enjoying this great break because it gives students a 25 minute free period to catch up on homework, socialize, or do whatever. It’s like a little gift.

Back on campus

Thank you, teachers

We’re back in school. It was bound to happen at some point, right? We appreciate everything the district has done to make this a reality. In-person students are thrilled to be back on campus instead of looking at their iPad in bed.

Now they’re looking at their first period teacher while struggling to stay awake instead. Progress!

The stress of COVID-19 has taken a toll on many students but teacher’s stress can go unnoticed. We wanted to thank the teachers who are facing difficulties while working through the pandemic.

We know it’s hard, and just want to say we appreciate you so much for sticking it out.

Hearted i’s and scribbled lies column Sophia Craig @sophiacraig03 I sat in my chair staring longingly at the whiteboard. The thick, smelly, chiselpoint markers were calling my name. I just had to wait for the teacher to assign me a station.

“Sophia,” my kind, patient kindergarten teacher called.

My fingers itched with anticipation.

I needed to get my hands on the dry erase markers. I had to practice drawing perfect circles and cubes and dotting my “i’s” with hearts.

“Yes, ma’am?” I asked excitedly.

“Silent reading station.”

I watched as my fellow classmates got chosen one by one to participate in different stations. Silent reading was by far the most boring activity there was. I had to tune out all the giggles and noises of my classmates who were happily drawing on the whiteboard and making macaroni necklaces while I was reading “The Kissing Hand” silently at a table in the back of the classroom.

I had intended to follow the directions, but it was impossible to stay still and read a book while I wanted to be playing. I didn’t even think through my decision before I acted. I bolted up from my seat, clenched a hot pink Expo marker in my right fist and swung my arm around, windmill-style, leaving two or three giant circles on the board. Then, I turned and ran back to my seat, my heart pumping with adrenaline.

Instantly, I realized what I had done: I had blatantly disobeyed Miss Clark. I felt

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hot shame rise up in my cheeks. Guiltily, I returned to “The Kissing Hand.”

“MISS CLARKKKKK,” called out Carly, the tattletale of the class. “Sophia just went to the wrong station and scribbled on my name!”

Apparently, when I was making the huge circles on the board, I had accidentally crossed out the “y” in Carly’s name. I felt bad, but at the same time, I really did not want to get in trouble.

“Did you just make these circles, Sophia?” Miss Clark asked me, clearly disappointed and fully aware that it had been me.

“No ma’am, I was at this station,” I fibbed.

She knew I lied. And I knew that she knew that I lied. I felt embarrassed, but was too scared to admit that it had been me, because I thought that I would be in trouble not only with my beloved teacher but also with my mom and dad.

I got sent to timeout by a very upsetlooking Miss Clark. Afterwards, I was even more distraught, because the

only kids who ever got sent to timeout were the bad kids. I was not a bad kid. I couldn’t make eye contact with anyone or stop bawling. The even scarier part of being punished at school was what came after timeout — the principal’s office. Ms. Dennis was, according to my classmates, the scariest person to ever live.

As I suspected, in the middle of the day, I was called down to talk to the Ms. Dennis. As I walked down the hallway, I avoided eye contact with classmates and teachers I knew. Vision blurred, choking back tears, I walked into the most dreaded room in the entire school, where the cheaters and bullies were sent to and came back to the class with tears in their eyes. I was absolutely terrified and so disappointed in myself.

“Why are you here today?” Ms. Dennis asked.

Shakily, I explained to her exactly what had happened and that I was so ashamed of my misbehavior that I had fibbed to my teacher about it. Ms. Dennis had kind, comforting eyes that actually appeared slightly amused.

“Sophia, you wouldn’t even be here today if you hadn’t lied. If you had told your teacher the truth, you wouldn’t have gotten in trouble,” Ms. Dennis explained.

“The part that got you in trouble was that you lied about it. You need to be honest.”

I rode the bus home that day dreading telling my parents why I had a principal’s office note to sign, but I never forgot what Ms. Dennis told me about the importance of honesty. Even though telling the truth may seem scary, it’s always better than lying and getting yourself into even more trouble.

opinion mhsmarquee.com

things we don’t like Songs over the loudspeakers We adore hearing Kidz Bop blasted over the loudspeakers on spirit days. Great idea, but who picked the songs? It’s a good way to get people hyped for spirit days, but we think more popular or current songs could make it even better.

Mask up

Coronavirus charts

Masks might not be everyone’s favorite accessory, but they keep us safe. We understand that they aren’t easy to breathe in and may not go with your outfit, but masks are the biggest reason that we’re able to be in school. Make sure to wear yours over your nose so those of us that are enjoying in-person learning can stay here.

We greatly appreciate that we can access information about coronavirus cases in the school every week, but how about updating the COVID-19 case tracker on the LISD website twice a week? While the email letters rock, they aren’t the clearest way to get the info we’re looking for. Nobody wants Grandma to get sick, right?

Bigger isn’t always better column Muna Nnamani The ballroom reeked of sweat and Axe. We were 12 or 13 years old, the worst time to be alive. Sweating through our formal wear, we stood boy-girl-boy across the edges of the ballroom.

“Foxtrot, everybody!” bellowed the cotillion teacher.

We obeyed. I turned to the 4’11” boy next to me, pulling at the dainty white gloves that barely covered my hands.

He stared up at me with a look that seemed to say, “How am I going to reach her waist?”

So I angled my neck down dramatically and reached down until my fingertips could reach his small, small shoulders.

Fox-trotting with a boy half my size was as awkward as it sounds.

I’ve been bigger than my peers since birth. Not overweight, but larger. My parents aren’t exactly giants, so I don’t understand why, but I am 5’9”. The average height for girls my age is 5’4”.

Once when I was complaining to my mother about it, she gave the most exasperated of sighs and said, “Muna, if you could just see how big and beautiful you are, you would know that you turned out just fine.”

I refrained from telling her that “big and beautiful” seem like words to describe a well-groomed horse.

In elementary school, I loved my size.

When we lined up by height for picture day, I would puff out my chest and take first place in line. Some of the boys in class and I would stand side by side dai-

opinion Oct. 30, 2020

ly, just to see who was taller. I won every time, and I would let everybody know it.

But in middle school, everything that I liked about myself suddenly became embarrassing, including my size.

For the first time, I realized that I was big. Not big as in confident or loud. Big as in a tall, sweaty giraffe trying to make her way through a herd of mice without stepping on anyone.

I outgrew all my sparkly Justice

clothes, so my parents started sending me to school in size medium women’s blouses. The boys who used to measure against me every day barely looked my way anymore. Instead, they succumbed to loudly listing the small, cute girls they liked.

My name was never called.

My mother’s assurances were of no help. “This is just your awkward stage,” she told me again and again. “You’re going to be very lovely one day, just you see.”

And still, I grew.

In freshman year, I joined Young and Purposed, the female Christian club at school. Despite being 14, I towered over everybody there, and would try unsuccessfully to look as small as possible. I remember hunching in my chair one day as we discussed our weeks, and tensing up when the subject turned to growth.

One of the smaller girls spoke up and said, “I’m still really short. My parents are tall, so I’m supposed to be too, but…”

She laughed.

If courage had outweighed insecurity, I would have told her that being tall isn’t all reaching high shelves, and being picked first for grade school sports.

It’s showing up to the first day of school with your head down, praying that you aren’t the only one who grew three inches over the summer. It’s ducking when the annoying 5’0” boy in your class complains that he can’t see the board past your head. It’s the constant feeling that you’re taking up too much space.

But as I thought more about it, I realized that she felt like she didn’t take up enough.

I would like to say that I magically became more comfortable in my own skin, or that I suddenly stopped wearing extra large shirts to hide my body. But that just isn’t how the shift from insecurity to confidence works.

For me, it works by understanding that the girl you wish you were isn’t as confident as you think. It works by knowing that you aren’t the only one who feels like an impostor in your own body.

design Emily Seiler

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“I am surviving not thriving on this Friday.”

“What do you think of hot gatorade?”

- Newsroom

- A hall

“I thought I failed but I checked today and I got a 54!”

“My eyes are spicy.”

- S hall

- B hall

“Mr. Moseby was a star character and no one will convince me otherwise.”

“Happy birthday! Now you’re one year closer to death.”

“I found a Cheeto that looks like Michael Jackson.”

- W hall

- Cafeteria

- Newsroom

For ongoing updates on sports, COVID-19 and more in the community visit mhsmarquee.com While the fall season looks different this year due to COVID-19, many are still competing. Coverage includes photos and stories about different sports — such as tennis, football and volleyball — recapping their games and plans for the year.

Senior Abby Ekeler sending the ball back over to the Lewisville farmers during the game on Oct. 6. Photo Brooke Luther

Junior Ella Loxley waits in preparation for her partner senior Mary Ann Lu to serve the ball during their match against The Colony on Oct. 9. Photo Brooke Luther

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Senior and Marquette Julianne Meeks does a split leap. The drill team performed alongside the band during halftime on Sept. 25. This photo won a TAJE state award.

Photo Maya Hernandez

opinion mhsmarquee.com

compiled Sophia Craig photos Maya Hernandez Definitely Trump because he is a more structured leader in my opinion.

- Joshua Ratnayeke, 10

Who would you vote for in the Presidential election and why?

Biden because a lot of my family members are Hispanic, trans, or gay, and Trump has already taken away their right to join the military as trans people.

- Sydney Battiste, 11

Personally, I would vote for Trump because I am a Republican and I agree with his viewpoints a lot more than Biden.

- Lexie Marick, 11

Biden because he cares about climate change. He believes that there is a problem with racial inequality and so much more.

- Jazlyn Holmes, 11

Teen voices are vital in politics staff editorial Teenagers have had to face the consequences of adult politics our whole lives. We were born into the political aftermath of 9/11 with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have practiced active shooter drills ever since kindergarten and watched the devastation at Sandy Hook and Parkland on the news, wondering if that could have been us. We have heard debates about pro life versus pro choice.

We have watched as forest fires and hurricanes tore up land.

Now, as teenagers, we are more aware of how these issues affect our future and understand that we have to become the voices for lasting change for what adults did not fix. We are the generation that will face the consequences of their actions. As a result, many of us have become more involved in political and social justice movements.

However, many adults react negatively when teenagers get involved in politics, claiming that we are too young to form our own opinions. They create a hostile environment when we try to speak up and would rather we follow what they say. The older generations need to instead encourage teenagers to educate themselves about politics and fight for the changes they want to see in the future.

opinion Oct. 30, 2020

As a generation, we’ve proven ourselves to be capable of causing changes in the government. The teens at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting came out fighting for the political changes they believe in.

Emma Gonzalez advocated for gun control in Congress. On the other side, Kyle Kashuv made a name for himself as a pro-gun advocate.

We are old enough to decide what we believe, and we can evaluate our parents’ ideas and choose to stand by them or we can form our own. We can gain strength in politics if we are doing our research and developing our own opinions instead of just following what the adults in our lives think without question.

Another reason teenagers are capable of speaking out is due to social media.

It has played a huge role in how young people express their political opinions.

We can voice our perspectives and connect with politicians. We grew up in the age of information, with other kids being a click away. Some even mobilized over TikTok this past summer, buying tickets to a Trump rally they never planned on attending. Right-leaning teens can reach each other through TikTok’s Conservative Hype House.

Teenagers on both sides started petitions for causes they believe in and spread them throughout social media, gathering

thousands of signatures.

On Twitter, people tell stories of their friends and family who died of coronavirus and Black families share stories of their loved ones who died at the hands of police. Through this platform, these lost lives were humanized, rather than just being numbers on a screen.

Social media has given us power to create change that no other generation has had before. It would be wasteful if we did not use it to our advantage.

We can understand why many adults might be against teenagers becoming involved in politics since many of us cannot vote. However, the majority of us will be able to by 2022. Now is the best time for us to be forming political opinions and educating ourselves instead of being uninformed of issues by the time we reach the ballot box.

The most dangerous situation for our country would be a large demographic of unaware voters.

We must realize how consequential this election is for our futures. Adults should give us an equal voice in political discussion. We have ideas and important perspectives that should be amplified, not silenced. Even if many of us are under the voting age, that does not prevent us from making our voices heard. We all have a say in how our future plays out.

We must be the ones to shape it.

design Emily Seiler

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Marauders reign undefeated

Junior defensive lineman Jaden Rush and his fellow teammates carry the trophy after they defeated the Jaguars 55-14.

design Amber Luther photos Maya Hernandez The Marauders have had a successful season so far, winning their first four games. This includes a 55-14 win over the Jaguars at the Mound Showdown on Oct. 23, making it the most lopsided victory in the game’s history. They now have a 12-9 series lead in the cross town rivalry and are ranked first in the district and 16th among other 6A schools.

The game was important for senior Garrett Nussmeier as well.

The award-winning quarterback is a vital part of the team and recently became the school’s alltime touchdown record holder.

Senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier scans the field for a teammate to pass the ball to.

Senior Nick Donnelly cheers after the Marauders win the Mound Showdown game Oct. 23.

The football team celebrates after scoring a touchdown against one of their biggest rivals, the Flower Mound Jaguars.

Senior Mya Pearson cheers on the Marauders alongside her teammates.