The Marquee Volume 30 Issue 2

t he m a rque e

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Volume 30 • Issue 2 • Nov. 6, 2015

Can guns control?

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ESL students open up about life before America

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Varsity volleyball uses team bonding strategies to succeed

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Tips on how to survive Black Friday madness

Edward S. Marcus High School • 5707 Morriss Road, Flower Mound, TX 75028

The Marquee Staff EDITOR IN CHIEF Rachel Ramirez MANAGING & SPORTS EDITOR Darci Walton DESIGN EDITOR Anna Kate Hutton PHOTO EDITOR pHoto vanessa davis

CovEr brooke wyant

Varsity volleyball girls huddles together before the Heart of the Marauder game. The team chose Amanda Thomas as the recipient of this year’s collected funds.

CONTENTS

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Brooke Wyant ONLINE EDITOR & BUSINESS MANAGER Jacob Fontaine GRAPHICS EDITOR Taryn Welch NEWS & FEATURE EDITOR Sanika Sule ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

News

NEWS BRIEFS A quick run down of hot topics in the media.

Katie Burton OPINION EDITOR Cara Crocker REPORTERS

Feature

RETURNING TO ROOTS Freshmen practice and perform traditional style of music.

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Vanessa Davis, Carli Fazio, Bailey Crocker, Andrea Garza, Michelle Mullings PHOTOGRAPHERS Amanda Fineran, Madeline Stanfield, Abby Schlichter ADVISER LaJuana Hale PRINCIPAL Gary Shafferman

Sports

TWIRLING AWAY Freshman earns state title in baton twirling competition.

Entertainment

FALL FUN Things to do in the metroplex during November.

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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 469-713-5196.

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

Marquee News Briefs

news

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story Darci Walton

School LISD is currently exploring the possibility of removing the accelerated block schedule from all district high schools for the 2016-2017 school year. According to principal Gary Shafferman, LISD is the last district in the state to have the accelerated block program.

Concerns with funding prompted the discussion of changing the way the school day is structured. Shafferman says the current schedule is costly and employing teachers consumes around 85 percent of the budget.

“We are just looking at various schedules to see if another way to do a schedule will help us get more classroom time out of a teacher and will reduce the amount of teachers we have to hire,�

Shafferman said.

A new schedule will accomplish the goal of having teachers teach more classes.

So far the district has ruled against having an eight period 45 minute class schedule that most middle schools in the district follow. There are three different schedules still in discussion, including

continuing the accelerated block for another year.

The other two are modified block schedules, one being an alternating A Day and B Day and the other which has a five period school day with two shorter periods for first and fifth periods and then three longer periods in the middle of the day.

Though no final decision will be made until December, LISD is analyzing every alternative scheduling option while still trying to keep the students best interest in mind.

Local SHILOH RD FM 1171

The latest construction project to come to Flower Mound is the widening of FM 1171. The street will have two different crews working simultaneously.

One crew will focus on repaving the eastbound lanes from I-35W to Tour 18.

The other crew will work from Tour 18

to Shiloh, which includes three bridges.

Once the eastbound lanes are complete they will switch the focus to the westbound lanes. The switch will likely happen at the end of November.

The anticipated completion date of the task is March 2017.

Political After the third Republican Debate on Oct. 28, Dr. Ben Carson has taken the lead from Donald Trump in the polls.

In addition, the GOP candidates expressed that they felt they were treated poorly during the CNBC debate, so the Republican National Committee has canceled the upcoming February debate DESIGN katie burton

that was supposed to take place on NBC News and Telemundo.

Within the last month, two Democratic candidates, Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee, have dropped out of the presidential race. Also, incumbent Vice President Joe Biden officially announced that he will not be running for election in 2016.

Nov. 6, 2015

4 news

Preparing for success

AVID program works to equip students with study skills “I joined AVID because I’ve always had study issues and AVID seemed like the best way to fix it,” sophomore Laura Liles Last year the district added a national college prep program said. Sophomore Joshua White says he has enjoyed his time in called AVID or Advancement Via Individual Determination. AVID. He has learned study skills such as how to apply, get into, AVID’s goal is to prepare students with study, organizational, and get through college and social skills that he can use in the writing, collaboration, and reading skills to help prepare them real world. for college. This program is at Lewisville High School and all “AVID to me is a group of people that I’ve grown close to,” of its feeder schools, as well as Hebron High School and Lamar White said. “We’ve all learned different ways to be prepared for Middle School. college, it’s a little tight-knit family all learning stuff together.”

M9 was the first in the district’s west zone to offer this To join AVID, students must take a minimum of one Preprogram. This year, sophomores may apply to AVID in addition AP or AP course, submit an application through Google and to the freshman. The program will continue to be extended until interview with the site team composed of Wallace, administrators, it is offered to all grade levels. Currently there are 56 freshman teachers and counselors to make sure that they recruit the selfand 28 sophomores enrolled in this program. By the time AVID sufficient students they are looking for. is extended to all grade levels, it’s goal is to have 10% of the “We want to know that these students are individually student body enrolled in determined,” Wallace said.

AVID. “Individual drive to be great Once a week, tutors and reach their goal, not come in to help AVID their parents’ drive, not their students during their class small group in classes’ drive, period. not their coaches’ drive, “It teaches students to be but they have individual proactive, critical thinkers determination to reach their when they encounter goals.” ‘points of confusion’ in Students in the program their courses and how to consist of those with different work through them to gain backgrounds and GPAs. Out new understanding,”AVID of the 2014-2015 class of elective teacher and site AVID seniors in the nation, coordinator, Emily Wallace 78% of them got accepted said. into a four-year college with photo abby schlichter over 60% of them being low Once a month AVID hosts Donut Day in which Sophomores Audrey Harbour and Lindsey Kerns sort new AVID t-shirts prior to distrib- income minorities whose they sell donuts during ution. These t-shirts will allow students to support and promote AVID. parents didn’t go to college. the morning in M9. This Wallace says she strives for helps the students with real life skills and interaction. All the great success and unity of her students as well, regardless of their money they raise goes into helping AVID with supplies, field differences. trips college visits and events. Field trips consist of reading at “We have students who are from different nationalities,” elementary schools to give back to the community.

Wallace said. “With parents who have gone to college, parents The new AVID club available for all grade levels incorporates who haven’t gone to college. Developing a family feel where they service and résumé building opportunities. The club also practices have one another to rely on is important, and it’s just like a team note-taking, organization, and college readiness. Wallace’s main in here and they support one another.” goal is to allow them to have a great experience in AVID. Wallace says she is committed to having an impact on “Really we’re just trying to develop the AVID family,” students lives by helping them to prepare for college and having Wallace said. “That they have something to buy into that’s bigger fun while doing it through the use of interactive activities. than themselves.”

“My teaching philosophy is that what we learn with pleasure Students currently enrolled in the AVID program have said we never forget,” Wallace said. “I want my students to have a they have already experienced improvement in their study skills great time in class that they would have an experience in here and grades through the use of Cornell notes, an in-depth note- that they would never forget and change them for the rest of taking system. their lives.” story Andrea garza

mhsmarquee.com

DESIGN taryn welch

news

District reconstructs GT program, audit leads to changes in class offering to make classes of 25-30.”

One possible explanation for the Following last year’s state audit of lower than expected interest might LISD’s gifted and talented program, the result from the confusion in the school has begun to once again offer difference between AP and GT classes.

GT classes. This new offering provides “Since this is the first year they did an opportunity for students to continue this I didn’t want to sign up unless I pursuing AP credits in gifted and talented really had full information on the class,” cluster classes with different approaches Junior Hanna Zwerver said. “The to the curriculum catering to their needs. difference between AP and GT was Lead Counselor Cheryl Richey unclear so I decided to keep my regular oversaw the creation of many of the new schedule.” classes and sees the potential in the new English teacher Heather Lurvey’s offering. Having a nephew that was a part GT Pre-AP English II class is the of the GT, she understands the importance only pure gifted and talented class this of providing the proper education for GT semester. In an informal poll asking kids. if they would recommend the class “When our to their peers, GT program was nearly every audited they said student raised we we’re doing a their hand. great job but made “The curriculum itself is “The curriculum some suggestions on the same, but the approach itself is the how we could make to certain concepts looks same, but the it better,” Richey approach to said. “One of those different.” certain concepts suggestions was looks different,” -Heather Lurvey, English Lurvey they wanted us to said. have some pure GT “I’m able to classes.” give them more Following this freedom in how suggestion, students saw numerous new they want to tackle certain problems pure gifted and talented classes on their and questions.” selection sheet last spring.

Sophomore Emily Haas has These classes reflect their Pre-AP taken Pre-AP classes in the past but and AP counterpart, meaning students acknowledges the environment makes a still receive the GPA multiplier of the difference. equivalent class. In addition, students “It’s just a different experience,” enrolled in GT AP classes still take the Haas said. “It’s more customized to the AP exam in May. What makes these way GT learns.” classes different is the activities in class Whether pure GT classes will be and the environment created by clustering offered for the 2016-2017 school year GT kids together. is still undecided, but the teachers and However, interest in these classes was counselors hope to learn from this year’s lower than many teachers expected. Due classes. to the minimum requirement of students “We’re trying to see if it will work. to form a class, only three pure GT classes We’re doing our due diligence to make were formed. sure we’re putting into place anything “We had kids that signed up for all of from the State School Board of Texas,” them, [so] we had a good number of kids,” Richey said. “We want to make our Richey said. “We just didn’t have enough school better.” story jacob fontaine

DESIGN taryn welch

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GT Statistics

There is an average of 6% of GT kids in each school district in Texas.

The GT classes that are offered this year are English 2, English 3, Humanities, English 4, Algebra 2, Precal, Calculus, World History, US History, Government, Chemistry, and AP Chemistry.

There are 387,623 GT students in Texas.

nov. 6, 2015

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FEATurE

Harvest Helpers

Juniors take seasonal job at the pumpkin patch Story sanika Sule

The heat of the unseasonably warm October weather beat down as the employees dressed in orange directed traffic through the parking lot. They combined theatrics such as jumping and dancing with pointing to parking spaces to add the element of entertainment that the patrons came for.

The employees worked to ensure the customers have the best fall experience by being enthusiastic and accommodating everyone. Hundreds of people of all ages spend hours looking for the perfect pumpkin, taking hayrides and playing in the bounce houses, all with the help of the Pumpkin People.

Every year, as the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch opens its doors on Oct. 1, students begin working as Pumpkin People. Starting shifts at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 7:30 p.m., they help people navigate the pumpkin patch and assist at the bounce houses. Though their tasks seem minimal, junior Mykal Kelly said that he creates a more exciting aspect to his job by interacting with the customers.

“I like getting to mess with people

by doing jokey stuff in the parking lot,” Kelly said. “They’re there to have a good time, so you’ve got to provide a show even when you’re just pointing where to go.”

Though the fall atmosphere of the pumpkin patch seems lively, the tasks involved are often time consuming and labor intensive. Kelly said he once spent seven hours stacking pumpkins.

after hearing about the job through a friend. Their experience last year made them eager to not only return this year, but to recruit more of their friends.

“It’s fun because we’re all friends and we’re at the same job doing the same thing,” Kelly said.

Along with having the opportunity to spend time with their friends, the pumpkin people have had memorable experiences with the customers.

“You’re not only a Pumpkin Kelly recalls a little girl giving him a Person, you’re like an hand drawn picture after her day spent at the pumpkin patch, which he still has. entertainer. It’s kind of a big This small gesture reflected the positive deal for us to be there.” experience the customers have as a result of the Pumpkin People’s hard work.

-Ben Williams, 11 As October came to a close, the Pumpkin People’s duties ended as well.

Despite some of the demanding Because of the positive experiences they characteristics of the job, the Pumpkin had working with their friends, both People have formed a close knit group, Williams and Kelly said that they would which makes work something to look return next year. Though many of their forward to. task were grueling, the Pumpkin People’s “Even though our work is difficult, job extended beyond simply directing we trudge through it with the power of traffic. friendship,” junior Ben Williams said.

“You’re not only a Pumpkin Person, Kelly and Williams both began you’re like an entertainer,” Williams said. working at the pumpkin patch last year “It’s kind of a big deal for us to be there.”

Families ride the train through the outside of the Pumpkin Patch. This is a favorite activity for many of the attendees both young and old. mhsmarquee.com

DESIGN Katie Burton

FEATurE

A grandmother escorts her gradaughter back to the car through the exit, after a day of walking through the Pumpkin Patch.

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Locals enjoy a day at the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch. For many, the pumpkin patch is a place where many fall memories are made.

photos Brooke Wyant Vistors enjoy looking and playing in the small house made out of pumpkins.

DESIGN Katie Burton

One of the Pumpkin People helps to pick up a heavier pumpkin for one of the younger guests.

Nov. 6, 2015

8 FEATurE

Honoring their heritage

Freshmen sing classical Indian music familiar with their culture.

“It was at first an initial push by our parents,” Cherukupalli said. “But now we want to do it.”

“Practice.”

Their singing is mainly in Tamil, a language spoken by over 70 That word was drilled into the heads of freshmen Subha Cherukupalli and million people and used in India and Singapore. They also sing Anusha Hedge as they rehearsed songs in Sanskrit, which is the root of all the Indian languages, just like Latin is for European languages. with their instructors.

Each girl has devoted over five years of her life to taking “Just one mistake and the whole this music class. They spend hours a week practicing with their audience will hear it.” teacher, Radha Sury, and learning the Their recital music. group included As they learn how to manage their over 120 people, but “We learned a lot about our time from the class, they’ve also learned each person culture from our music class about themselves and about life. Sury had a vital role. because we were born [in makes sure they keep up their education Everyone had to America] and brought up here.” and that they know it takes hard work to advance in life. stay synchronized “Nothing is impossible when effort is and in rhythm.

-Anusha Hedge, 9 put in with patience,” Sury said. “Patience The group traveled and perseverance are very important to all the way to move towards the road to success.”

Cleveland, Ohio for the recital which would be performed in front of hundreds of people, who were all there to honor Hindu gods.

Famous directors from across the country had come to conduct them at the largest Indian Classical music festival outside of India, so everything had to be perfect. Ten hour practices with continuous corrections took up the days before the performance.

The day came and they emerged with their group onto the stage to sing the ten songs they had been practicing for months.

Cherukupalli and Hedge remembered all the hard work they put in as they sang, including all the corrections and changes.

After the songs were over and they were applauded for their work, relief came over the two when they realized that they had done an amazing performance.

••• Indian classical singing has been enjoyed for centuries. Cherukupalli photos submitted and Hedge take classes to learn this type of singing and become more Radha Sury’s music class poses together after performing on stage. The group Story Cara Crocker

practiced together for months before this famous event.

mhsmarquee.com

DESIGN Katie BurTon

FEATurE

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understanding, learning has to be done on their own time. Sury makes sure to instruct them vocally and also culturally to make sure they know their heritage.

“We learned a lot about our culture from music class because we were born [in America] and brought up here.” Hedge said. “I feel like without music class we wouldn’t have really learned a lot about our culture and I feel like that’s why our parents put us in music classes.”

In addition to learning these intricate songs, balancing school, homework, extracurriculars and this music class has been tough for Hedge and Cherukupalli. Their dedication to this class sometimes uses up their free-time during weekends for them to learn a song and perfect it. Their music class takes up a few hours after school during the week they could use for time to do their homework.

Transitioning from middle school to high school while being involved in all of these time-consuming hobbies has been a challenge for them.

As they’ve grown and taken this class, they’ve had many people ask about why Freshmen Subha Cherukupalli and Anusha Hedge embrace after performing for the national festival. They have been singing together since elementary school. they do it, or what it really is. Some people are nervous to do new things, but Even in the summer, their commitment to this music class Cherukupalli has encouraging words shows. The two spend some of their break from school learning for those who are apprehensive about and practicing their music. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. they do vocal experiencing different activities. exercises for the songs they sing throughout the year.

“Just go do it.” Cherukupalli said, For these girls, their culture isn’t covered in depth in “Don’t be afraid of what people will their mainly Euro-based history classes, so to get a better think.”

Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival DESIGN Katie BurTon

Nov. 6, 2015

10 F E A T u r E

Beyond the Borders ESL students remember their home countries stories michelle mullings photos Brooke Wyant

Crime in Colombia

leaving Sembergman and her distressed friends behind. *** Her family had been planning on Last year, junior Carolina Guerrero Sembergman and her friends were leaving the country for years. When walking together on a crowded Sembergman’s mother and stepfather Colombian street when a teenage boy got married two years ago, they began the long process of moving to America. approached her.

He pulled out his switchblade. She said her mother was relieved, Sembergman felt him press the sharp knowing Sembergman would have a better life there. edge against her skin.

In America, being mugged in broad “Give me your phone or I’ll kill you,” the boy hissed under his breath, daylight is nearly unthinkable. In her his face concealed by a beanie pulled home country, it happens on a daily basis. In America, she can walk in the forward.

She street without fear refused. Frustrated, the boy threw “[Here] you feel safe; in of being robbed. “[Here] you feel down his knife Colombia you don’t feel safe.” safe,” Sembergman and punched her said. “In Colombia, in the face. While -Carolina Guerrero you don’t feel safe.”

Sembergman After moving threw a punch, the Sembergman, 11 to America last boy grabbed the year, she had to iPhone 5S out of learn to adapt to the her pocket. culture.

This included learning English.

“I was thinking, what do I do, what She entered an ESL class, where she do I do?” Sembergman said.

As the two began to fight each other, gradually learned the language with the Sembergman saw something in the help of teacher Jane Trkay.

Regardless, she continued to miss corner of her eye. She watched a truck her country. halt abruptly in the middle of the road.

Last spring, her parents planned The driver, a large middle-aged man on going to London over the summer, wielding a machete, exited the car and where her step-grandfather lives. approached them. Sembergman froze.

Frustrated, she argued against the She didn’t know if the man was going to help her or if he was coming to kill her. decision. Sembergman said that her To her surprise, the man turned mother promised she was allowed to to the boy and ordered him to give visit Colombia every summer.

“She fought her parents not to go Sembergman her phone back. to London, she wanted to go back to “It was like a movie,” Sembergman Colombia,” Trkay said. “I was like, ‘Are said. you crazy?

Go to London.’”

Shocked, the boy dropped her phone After convincing her parents, and ran off. The anonymous hero and a group of onlookers bolted after him, Sembergman finally was allowed to visit mhsmarquee.com

DESIGN Katie Burton

FEATurE her home country.

Once she arrived in Colombia, she made plans to meet up with an old friend in the park. While waiting on the bench, Sembergman noticed a boy sitting next to her. He glanced at Sembergman.

“He was like, ‘Can you give me the time?’” Sembergman said.

A seemingly innocent request.

However, she explained that when someone in her city of Cartagena asked what time it was, they had an underlying motive. They would wait as a watch or phone was pulled into view, and examine it. They’d see what model it was, and if it had value. They’d see if it was worth taking.

“You can’t trust other people,” Sembergman said.

Knowing this, Sembergman said she couldn’t. She said her watch was broken and that she didn’t have a phone. Angry with her response, the boy smashed his glass bottle of Coca-Cola and pressed the edge to her chest.

Not again, Sembergman thought.

She grabbed the boy’s wrist and slammed the bottle out of his hand,

Colombia

causing it to shatter on the concrete.

Seeing the wallet in Sembergman’s pocket, he quickly grabbed it and sprinted away.

While Sembergman has gotten used to this type of violence in her home country, her experiences in Colombia have taught her to be more careful.

After the first incident, she started to carry a pocket knife with her for protection. She learned to hide anything that someone would want to steal. If anyone saw the outline of an iPhone or a wallet in her pocket, she would be at risk of being robbed. Instead of keeping a wallet in her pocket, she learned Junior Carolina Guerrero Sembergman moved from Colombia a year to hide her money in ago. After her mother remarried, the family found their new home in the front of her pants. the state of Texas.

DESIGN katie burton

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She remembers her stepfather’s warning every time she would leave the house.

“He told me, ‘Don’t be on your phone when you’re in the street,” Sembergman said. “‘Put your money in your pants.’”

After moving from Cartagena, Colombia to Highland Village, Texas a year ago, Sembergman had become well accustomed to America, and it shows.

“When she first got here, I was a little concerned because her English was developing very slowly,” Trkay said. “But then all of a sudden last year, it was like, boom. She was talking about everything in English.”

Once she gained confidence, Sembergman became outgoing and quick to approach new students. As the class buzzes with excited chatter following the bell, she is seen talking eagerly with her fellow classmates. She’s adapted rapidly to her new home.

“I see Carolina staying here after she graduates from high school and becomes an adult,” Trkay said. *continued on page 12 nov. 6, 2015

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FEATurE

Moving from Moldova Sophomore Ecaterina Prodan thought that war in her home of Moldova was only a rumor.

This past summer, the 17 year old was getting ready to go out with her friends in her Eastern European country when she heard her mother call her in from another room.

“Come, you have to see,” her mother said. Motionless, they stared at the TV and watched as the news revealed what they had both feared. It wasn’t just a rumor. War was coming.

The two remained silent. They knew what this meant. It was no longer safe to stay in their country.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine was nothing new to Prodan. She had seen the signs and heard the stories.

She knew that those against Russia would make their hatred evident.

“When you would go to Ukraine, take a bus or something if they would see the bus comes from Russia... they would stop and start shooting people,” Prodan said.

She remembers that as tension boiled between the countries, citizens feared for their own safety.

Because Moldova borders Ukraine, Moldovans worried that violence would spread to their own communities. Talk of war lingered among the population. Some moved out of Moldova, while many lost their jobs due to businesses closing down.

Fearing war would affect her home country, Ecaterina Prodan fled from Moldova with her mother. Having moved only a month ago, Prodan struggles with adjusting to American culture.

“They’re not even hiding that war is coming,” Prodan said.

The day the two decided to move, the mother spoke to Prodan’s aunt, who lived in Texas. With her help, they planned the move. Devastated that she had to leave, Prodan immediately thought of her friends. She planned to keep the news from them until after they went out together.

“I didn’t tell them that night, I couldn’t,” Prodan said. “I knew how they

Moldova

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were going to react.”

For Prodan, her friends were like her family. She knew the hardest thing about leaving her home country would be leaving them behind.

Prodan still struggles with her homesickness. Having been an ESL teacher for 15 years, Jane Trkay can see the effect the move has had on Prodan.

“You can tell when she walks in the door, and looking at her face that she’s having a bad day or that she’s missing her friends,” Trkay said.

On her last night in Moldova, she threw a going-away party with her closest friends. While the group recalled their favorite memories together, Prodan struggled to calm herself down. Unable to ward off her feelings of anxiety, she suffered an asthma attack and was rushed to the hospital. The next morning, her friends visited her. Despite the circumstances, they joked with Prodan, trying to remain positive.

“We were talking, and they were like, ‘Hey, we knew you were going to figure out something to stay here,’” Prodan said.

While the incident did delay her departure, leaving the country remained inevitable. This September, she was due to leave Moldova. On her flight to America, Prodan couldn’t stop thinking about DESIGN Katie Burton

FEATurE

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60 Seconds

Arden Nerius, 12

@ardennerius photo & compiled darci walton

1. Which cartoon from the 90’s would you bring back?

“Hey Arnold. I’d pick that one because I watched it when I was younger because he was blonde and I was blonde.”

home.

“I always encourage that because I “The only thing I had in my mind love to hear about it,” Trkay said. was that I would do

Prodan misses everything that I could her friends daily. Until to come back as early “They’re not even hiding that she’s able to visit, she as possible,” Prodan makes sure to keep up said. “I think about war is coming.” with them by calling it almost every day them on Skype.

-Ecaterina Prodan, 10 Although they keep now.”

Trkay says in touch, Prodan says Prodan has been it’s not the same. open about her

“People there, experiences, talking freely about her they know how hard life is, and they homesickness and the struggles she’s faced would be there for you no matter what,” after moving. Prodan also openly talks Prodan said. “I would call my friend at about her country and the differences two a.m. and be like, ‘Hey, I need you,’ and between America and Moldova. he’s gonna be there.”

DESIGN Katie Burton

2. If you could wake up inside anyone else’s body whose would it be?

“Beyoncé because she’s Beyoncé.”

3. If you had the power to create a national holiday what would you create?

“National Spaghetti Day because I think spaghetti is underappreciated.”

4. What is one word you don’t like?

“Tissue, it just sounds gross.”

5. If you could eliminate one subject from school which would you?

“Biology because we have to dissect cats and it creeps me out.” nov. 6, 2015

Marcus Madness

COMPILED AND PHOTOS VANESSA DAVIS

With the 2015-2016 basketball season approaching the Marauders kick off the season with their annual Marcus Madness in the Arena. Both the girls and boys basketball teams gave the crowd a sneak peek of what their upcoming season will look like.

Freshman Harley Madsen waits for her turn to shoot a layup during the warm-up drill that all the teams demonstrated for the fans.

Senior Brandon Smithey and junior Grayson Williams participated in the varsity three-point competition against the girl’s varsity team.

Junior Lorenzo Daniels assists a future Marauder during a relay race. Each participant had to put on the full uniform before racing to the other side of the court.

Every player from each girls team huddled together to show the fans their excitement for upcoming season.

New Texas laws change gun rights

DESIGN BROOKE WYANT & KATIE BURTON

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in-depth

Concealed carry coming on college campuses story rachel ramirez

This summer, the state legislature passed a bill enabling campus carry on public and private universities beginning in August 2016. Many members of the class of 2016 will be setting foot on college campuses that allow students and faculty with concealed handgun licenses to bring their weapons on campus. Universities in the Metroplex such as the University of North Texas and Texas Womans’ University are already setting up committees to determine exactly what this legislation will look like on their campuses.

The main argument for the

new legislation was that in the event of an incident like the Oct. 1 shooting at Umpqua Community College, a licensed individual would have their own weapon readily available to prevent yet another group of significant casualties and injuries.

However, many, such as senior Lizzy Gump, are concerned with just how safe students can be when their peers have easy access to firearms.

“Students shouldn’t be allowed to bring guns on campus,” Gump said.

“Teachers maybe, but students, that’s not necessary. Students are impulsive.”

How the new law will affect the student populations at these institutions is yet to be determined, but in light of the recent number of school shootings, the eyes of the nation appear to be on gunrelated legislation. Some, like sophomore Kevin Poyer, find that increasing gun regulations might be a better choice than

the current law.

“I don’t think [campus carry is] necessary,” Poyer said. “The only reason that it would be necessary for students to be carrying guns if there was constant threat of people coming in and shooting the schools and even that would only happen if we didn’t have strict gun control.”

According to the Denton RecordChronicle, a committee at UNT held their first meeting a couple of months ago to address concerns and specific plans for the 2016-2017 school year. The committee plans to present its proposals to the UNT Board of Regents early next calendar year. TWU will also establish committees at its three campuses that will meet throughout the fall and seek public input on the issue. Their plans will be presented to their Board of Regents prior to next August as well.

Requirements for concealed carry compiled jacob fontaine

Must be:

Must not be: legal resident of Texas for six month period preceding the date of application

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years of age mhsmarquee.com

be a chemically dependent person.

be convicted of a felony DESIGN ANNA KATE HuTToN

Student opinions on campus carry

in-depth

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compiled sanika sule

Do you agree with campus concealed carry for the college setting?

45% Yes

16% “I don’t know”

39% No

Would it make you uncomfortable if campus carry was allowed at the college you attend?

45% Yes

9% “I don’t know”

46% No

Do you think that more guns on campuses will solve the problems of mass shootings?

31% Yes

14% “I don’t know”

55% No

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Would this legislation affect where you apply where you apply to colleges in Texas?

32% Yes

20% “I don’t know”

48% No

Does your family own any guns?

58% Yes

7% “I don’t know”

35% No

Would you prefer that your professors carried a concealed weapon?

42% Yes

22% “I don’t know”

36% No

*Polled out of 300 students*

mass shootings in 2015

Source : The Washington Post

Open carry law to begin in new year story andrea garza

Texas lawmakers passed a bill in May allowing an open carry gun policy which is to take effect January 1, 2016. This law allows those with a concealed handgun license to openly display a gun on a shoulder or in a belt holster. It is legal to display the firearm as long as it isn’t in a DESIGN ANNA KATE HuTToN

federal building, educational institution, public sporting event, election polling place, or while intoxicated.

In addition to this requirement, they must be over the age of 21, take safety and training classes and pass a written and hands-on test as well as a background check.

While many Texans advocate for

gun rights, some business and private property owners disagree with the new law. Business owners who wish to keep firearms out of their establishments are required to post a sign that must follow strict rules that include spacing and text size. Business owners may also physically tell patrons with an open gun that they are not allowed. nov. 6, 2015

Twirling her way to the top Baton twirler takes her skills to the next level Story vanessa Davis

Grasping the picture frame with her young and tender fingers, she sees a distant yet familiar face staring back at her. Holding a baton in her right hand, the girl in the photo stands proudly in her shimmering red costume with white fringe and blue accents. Her curly blonde hair compliments her soft yet confident smile as she looks deeply into the camera.

The picture of her mother as a young baton twirler is what inspired freshman Chailie Alsafar to follow in her mother’s footsteps. This precious moment that lit a spark within Alsafar to start twirling has created a special bond between her and her mother.

“She puts her heart and soul into my twirling,” Alsafar said. “She didn’t get as far as I have because she didn’t twirl as long as I have now. But she tries to help me as much as she can even if she doesn’t know exactly what I am trying to do.”

This past summer, Alsafar traveled to Lubbock to compete in the National Baton Twirling Association competition. Performing routines in three different events, Alsafar placed first in all three which granted her the title of mhsmarquee.com

Beginner Texas Miss Majorette and a chance to compete in the national tournament at Notre Dame University the next month in Indiana. After winning this prestigious award, many people began to recognize and appreciate her special talent.

“I travel a lot to competitions too so other people can see who I am and how I twirl,” Alsafar said. “I’ve had a couple of younger people come up to me and tell me ‘good job’. I hope that I have motivated them to keep or even to start twirling.”

While Alsafar has found much success this past year, the journey to her accomplishments did not go by with ease.

In fact, just like any athlete that is pursuing a certain goal, she faced many struggles along the way.

“Actually before state this year, I wanted to quit,” Alsafar said. “I just didn’t have any motivation to practice or any motivation to try and win.”

A typical competition day has its fair share of stressful moments and chaos. The hectic atmosphere is loud and wild as the young twirlers sit and wait for their performance time to come. Alsafar’s mother, Lee Speno, was very excited for her daughter to follow in her footsteps and has supported her through the highs and lows.

sports

19

“I’ve always told her your body knows what to do,” said Speno. “At this point it’s your mind that you need to control. A lot of times I will tell her to go out and own that floor. You earned it.”

Not only does Alsafar perform her solos in front of her supportive family and friends, but among the audience sits several judges who score

“I just love competitions, right before I go on stage I am always dreading it, but right after I always say I want to do it again.

I love the feeling of performing and being in front of a judge and smiling.”

-Chailie Alsafar, 9

her performance with tedious assessment. After she overcame her fear of performing in front of people, it was important for her to find that one motivating factor that would drive her to do her best each and every time she stepped on the stage.

“I just love competitions,” Alsafar said. “Right before I go on stage I am always dreading it, but right after I always say I want to do it again. I love the feeling of performing and being in front of a judge and smiling.”

Twirling has enabled Alsafar to build her confidence. Performing her solos, modeling and interviewing with the judges. She has learned from personal experience how practice pays off and how to trust her abilities.

“One time I had this thought in my head of ‘don’t drop the first trick’ and I dropped the first trick and it was terrible,” Alsafar said. “You can’t doubt yourself ”.

Finding the right balance between school work, practice, family and friends has been a big challenge for her. Watching her daughter struggle with learning a trick can be hard, but in the end all of the hard work and energy becomes worth it. “ There have been times when she doesn’t win,” said Speno.

“She’s also come in and placed very well. photos Amanda Fineran It’s learning to accept it with Wearing her competition uniform, sash, and baton, Chailie Alsafar models her graciousness.” performance stance that she learned from her coach.

Nov. 6, 2015

20 s p o r t s

photos vanessa davis Varsity volleyball players stand as they patiently wait for the game to begin. They watch their opponents shake hands with their players, coaches and referees.

Stronger bonds make a stronger team Volleyball girls use team building to get through a tough season story bailey crocker

A breath of relief exhaled from senior Bailey Longacre’s lungs as the crowd cheered with joy. After everything the volleyball team had trained for, it had finally paid off. After the long hours of practice and all of the games they had fought hard to win, they were victorious.

But none of it would have mattered if they hadn’t done it together, truly together, as a team and as a family.

With each of the district’s schools upping their competitive skills this year the school’s volleyball team found it hard to stay on top and motivated. Yet this year, like many years before, the girls stayed strong by group bonding. They went to Group Dynamix, a ropes course venue, with the Teen Leadership II class and they’ve done community service and projects together. Every Thursday during district play, they had team dinners at one of the girls’ houses. Spending time together is important to head volleyball coach Jennifer Cron because the team has battled fiercely, but sometimes come mhsmarquee.com

up short in the end. To her, it’s more of a reason to keep on moving.

“The girls come to practice every day and work really hard and still come in with a great attitude,” Cron said. “I can’t ask for anymore of them.”

Another way they build relationships with each other is through Heart of a Marauder Night. Every year the

volleyball girls collect money for the Heart of a Marauder award which is given to a specific person nominated by the school’s volleyball program. This year they were able to raise money for Amanda Thomas, who was diagnosed with a Stage III-A Metaplastic Carcinoma with Chondrosarcoma. Coach Cron believes that the girls worked hard and

were wanting to get involved and see the benefits of raising money for a person in need. Cron thinks it meant more to the girls because they got to see who it directly affected and realize how impactful it was to Thomas.

“That was really cool to see the girls care so much about somebody,” Cron said.

According to senior Olivia Covin they have a lot more of athletic and skillful girls on the varsity team this year, but their main and biggest struggle is the mental game on and off the court. She believes that they are more talented than people think they are, but because they have lost a lot of close games people only look at the points and not all of their hard work.

To Covin, the team bonding is a way to keep staying strong during the season.

“It helps you play together better when you know somebody personally,” Covin said.

During the season they take a bus down to Pearland in Houston. It is a two to three day tournament and, to Longacre, the whole way is a bonding trip. On the way there they participate in DESIGN taryn welch

21

Junior Hanna Zwerver and Senior Claire Seibert celebrated after the Marauders scored a point. The players on the bench congratulate their team members with high fives and cheers.

“secret pal,” which is a treat bag that they get each other every Tuesday game and play games like heads up to keep spirited and motivated.

“Just a lot of our memories come from there,” Longacre said.

Every year is a building year to the future. The tough district that they’ve had to tackle could change in February when they realign the districts. In Cron’s perspective, the team is better this year than the previous years and she hopes to continue getting better following in the future.

“Every team is different and this one is a mature team,” Cron said. “They’re very close and respectful of each other.”

During the summer the girls were working hard and practicing, yet small bouts of tension spread through the group. They had team camp the last three weeks of July, then Midnight Madness, which was where they went to the unair conditioned arena and did sprint tests to determine which team they were on.

Even during the school year the JV and freshmen red, and the JV and freshmen silver have to share lockers rooms which, according to Longacre, brought unnecessary animosity at first. But as the year went on, they became closer as a team and as friends.

DESIGN taryn welch

“I think that we have really good chemistry,” Longacre said. “The girls on the court get along and we can be very offensive and aggressive together.”

Though they struggled to hold a winning record at the beginning of the season, the varsity team managed to pull

sports off victories back to back for their last two games. They conquered Flower Mound 3 to 2 then for their last game the following week they beat Plano East 3 to 0. To Longacre winning is important because the volleyball girls feel accountable for each other and they don’t want to let their teammates down.

“Losing together, even winning together, it builds a bond,” Longacre said.

When they had their first victory of the season facing Flower Mound they were ecstatic. It was a sigh of relief for Cron when they came out on top because she knew that they could but would they was the question. To answer that question for themselves was a release of pressure to both her and the team. Covin believes that the victory against Flower Mound was a shock because they didn’t know when the winning point was, but it was comforting to know that they had won.

“Everybody just rushed the court and it was awesome,” Covin said.

Yet Cron believes that they won’t remember the games as much as the relationships, which is why she tries to focus on team bonding.

“They’ll remember each other and keep in touch for a long time,” Cron said, “and I think that’s the bigger win.”

Focusing on the server’s hands, senior Sam Test and her teammates prepare for the opposing team to serve the ball. This is Test’s second year on the varsity team. nov. 6, 2015

22 e n t e r ta i n m e n t

Stop, shop and roll story sanika sule

When searching for original looks at lower prices, thrifting has become a fun solution. Though Flower Mound and Lewisville have had several resale stores for many years, thrifting has only become a trend recently. Here’s a look at three thrift stores, varying in style and cost.

Rating System 1 hanger: You can’t hang with us.

2 hangers: Hanging on by a thread.

3 hangers: Barely zipping by.

4 hangers: Jean-ius.

5 hangers: Sweater than the rest.

Goodwill Goodwill, located near Albertsons on West Main Street in Lewisville, has many options of clothing, and an even larger variety of miscellaneous items. The clothing is extremely varied in style. Current styles are interspersed with suits with shoulder pads, making it difficult to find specific types of clothing. While many of the items are outdated or undesirable, there is potential of finding that one unique item. Goodwill has many unexpected items hidden among home decorations as well. There are many vases, picture frames and artwork, some of which appear to be homemade. The store is the ideal place to stop by during any holiday. It is stocked with decorations ranging from plastic pumpkins to Christmas wreaths. Though it requires a long time to sift through all of the items, Goodwill is sure to have that one unexpected item, whether it’s clothing or for the home.

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DESIGN taryn welch

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Thrift City Near Fitness Connection on West Main Street, Thrift City has a diverse collection of both clothing and accessories.The men and women’s sections have a large variety, ensuring a unique find. The store is relatively organized, but the sheer amount of clothing tends to be overwhelming. Most of the store is extremely low priced, making every purchase a good deal. While it has a section that exclusively has higher quality items, there is still a good chance of finding designer clothing among the regular items. It is the perfect place to shop for vintage looks that are coming back into style. Though the store has many unique items, it requires a lot of effort to find them. Thrift City is sure to surprise any shopper with some hidden gems.

Plato’s Closet Located on Cross Timbers near Sprouts, Plato’s Closet offers styles that are in tune with the current trends. The employees select the clothing, ensuring that most of the items are not out of date. While this resale process does eliminate some of the antiquated fashion, it also makes it difficult to find unique items - one of the advantages of thrifting. Another disadvantage is that the prices are generally higher in comparison to the prices at other thrift stores. The majority of the store is occupied by women’s clothing, further limiting options. Although the content of Plato’s Closet is more expensive in comparison to other thrift stores and lacks diversity, it’s organized layout and current styles makes it a decent place to shop.

DESIGN taryn welch

nov. 6, 2015

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E n t e r ta i n m e n t

Beating the break November events to attend Story rachel ramirez

As Texas attempts to cool down and transition into fall, there are several autumn-themed events coming to the Metroplex. Grab some friends or make it a solo outing to experience all the pumpkin flavored, orange and yellow colored goodness you can handle. Here’s all of the best opportunities to make the most of your remaining month of autumn.

Dashing through the Mound

A local fall tradition is the annual Dorothy’s Dash honoring the former Flower Mound employee, Dorothy Walkup who passed away in 2004. The Kid’s K and 5K races are designed to raise funds for the Lone Star Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society in her honor.

The twelfth annual event will be held on Nov. 14.

All the pumpkins

Make sure to check out Autumn at the Arboretum before it goes away on Nov. 25. A day in this Dallas paradise will be the perfect opportunity for that classic fall themed photo shoot. Check out the record breaking assortment of over 75,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash that make up the renown Pumpkin Village, an array of pumpkin houses. Take a stroll through the beautiful 66 acres of foliage and flowers, and enjoy some stress-free quality time with nature.

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DESIGN madeline stanfield

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Celebrating hometown heroes

On Nov. 11, Flower Mound will hold its annual Veterans’ Day Relay Run where local veterans and family members will carry the American flag on a course through Flower Mound. After the race is complete, residents are invited to the Community Activity Center on Morriss for an after party. Refreshments will be available as well as Veterans Day t-shirts for $20. Proceeds from t-shirt sales will benefit the Denton County Veterans Coalition, an organization that aims to meet the needs of local veterans through peer support and locating necessary resources like food and shelter.

‘Tis the season

The end of November brings cool weather and the transition to more winter holiday activities. The DFW Metroplex begins to light up with the Christmas spirit, and the Grapevine town square is no different. Watch on Nov. 23 as Mayor William D. Tate welcomes in the holiday season by lighting up the Christmas capital of Texas.

Musical performances and hot chocolate will be available for guests to enjoy.

Nov. 6, 2015

26 e n t e r ta i n m e n t

Will you survive Black Friday?

Compiled Katie Burton

3. Is Cyber Monday more appealing to you?

1. How prepared are you?

A. I kinda have an idea what I want?

B. I’m just hoping I can show up and find a good deal.

C. I already know what I want and where it’s found in stores.

A. Sitting at home is always the more appealing answer.

B. Yeah, browsing the Internet is easier than browsing store aisles.

C. I’m going to do whatever I can to find the best deals.

2. How fast can you run?

A. I run through episodes on Netflix pretty quickly.

B. The last time I ran a mile was in middle school.

C. You’d better get out of my way.

4. How long are you willing to wait in lines?

A. I’m not a patient person...

B. A few hours in line could be worth it.

C. I’ll bring a tent if I have to.

5. What’s your plan of attack for Black Friday?

A. I’ll just show up whenever the crazy people leave.

B. I’ll know the general area of where the items I want are.

C. Get a group of people together, divide and conquer.

Mostly As

Mostly Bs

Mostly Cs

If you chose mostly A’s, you probably won’t make it very far. With little to no plan, chances are, you’ll get swept away in a massive tide of people, and you’ll never be able to find anything you really wanted. If you’re lucky, you might find a leftover holiday scented candle.

If you chose mostly B’s, you might be able to find a couple of cool new items while coming out of the store with a few minor bruises. You might get lost in the crowd for a bit, but eventually you’ll be able to find some neat prizes hidden on the very back of the shelf.

If you chose mostly C’s, there’s a high probability that you’re running others over with your shopping cart.

However, your determination will provide you numerous deals. Not only will you walk out of the store with prizes of your own, but most of your holliday shopping will already be completed.

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DESIGN Madeline Stanfield & taryn welch

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Black Friday Survival Guide story katie burton

Black Friday. Just the name of the day after Thanksgiving can cause so much stress. After spending a day devouring a huge meal and sitting back with family to watch football games, not many feel like they are prepared to tackle the large crowds and general hysteria that accompany Black Friday. However, there are ways to ensure you won’t get trampled beneath frenzied shoppers in order to get the best deals.

1

Do your research All those flyers that arrive in the mailbox seem like a waste of paper, however, if you want to make it out of the stores alive on Black Friday, you might want to pay attention. It’s not uncommon for stores to post sales at least a week beforehand. This leaves plenty of time for

Get some rest While staying up late with family and friends might be tempting on Thanksgiving, shoppers planning on heading out early in the morning to catch the best deals, should be sure to get some sleep. When on the roads before the sun comes up and dealing with crowded stores, it’s important that deal hunters are well

3

rested. Before falling asleep, make sure alarms are set. The earlier the departure, the more alarms.

In order to leave the house as soon as possible, sleep in the clothes that will be worn when shopping. While running through stores, it’s better to be comfortable anyways.

2

In the battlefield A Walmart filled with soccer moms can be a scary place, but high schoolers are younger and faster. Do not be intimidated by them. Instead, put on the most comfortable pair of shoes, chug a cup of coffee and stretch out before entering the battlefield.

If there are lines or crowds, don’t get

If you’re lazy If crowds can be too much and waking up at the crack of dawn doesn’t sound like fun, just skip Black Friday. Siting at home in bed and enjoying the Cyber Monday

potential shoppers to flip through and pick out exactly what they want. Instead of rushing through stores early Friday morning amongst the crowds, sale items can be found and some of the chaos that comes with Black Friday shopping can be avoided.

savings is a great alternative. There will be plenty of deals with less of a hassle. With a solid wifi connection, good deals are just a few clicks away.

DESIGN Madeline Stanfield & taryn welch

aggressive. No one likes an aggressive Black Friday Shopper. Instead be patient and polite and try not to fight the crowd too much. With a plan in mind after doing research, it shouldn’t be too hard to find wanted items and leave the stores in a timely fashion and still in one piece.

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nov. 6, 2015

28 o p i n i o n

My sister Carli Fazio

@Carli_fazio

Dee, my beautiful sister, bounced around the kitchen flailing her Special Olympics uniform up in the air. Her curly afro springing around her face. Her bright blue eyes just add to her innocence. She gleams up at me, “Carli mine basketball is tonight! E’ coming?” At some point her fingers start their usual fiddling. I can tell she is nervous for my answer. “Of course baby girl.” I reply. A look of relief washes over her face and she flies off to cause more trouble singing all the way, “I love Carli. I love Carli. I love Carli.” Never skipping a beat.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a sister with no special needs.

I wonder what she would be like, what her future would be like. What if she had a boyfriend? What if she played on the school basketball team? What if she had the new LISD website

If something works, don’t change it right?

Apparently not with the school’s website. It used to be so much easier to find moodle. Now we have to actually click more than once to pull open the page.

the chance to go to college?

But even more important to me, I wonder if I will always be there when she needs me. As my graduation comes closer, I wonder what she will be doing, who she will be with, and what her life will be like in the future.

Miranda Jewel Fazio was born on January 25, 2002. The day she was born she was diagnosed with the disability known as Global Developmental Delay-meaning that she is delayed in all aspects of her life: talking, walking, moving her hands and fingers, dressing herself, feeding herself, learning and expressing her feelings and emotions. She has come so far from where she began.

She came home one afternoon and I could tell she was upset. Her lip quivered incessantly and her fingers were busy fiddling. I asked her what was wrong hoping it was a small issue that I could handle. She told me she had to tell me something and that it was important. She looked me in the eyes and for a moment she was sort of motherly. “I’m special needs and I’m different and that’s okay because Carli loves me.” I broke down and sobbed in her lap knowing that she had realized something that I had been denying to others my whole life. Her whole life. I later learned that kids at her school had been poking and making fun of the way she looked but somehow she had come to this realization. One that she

The cold school

We live in Texas, our bodies can’t handle the cold. Especially when it’s colder in the classrooms than outside. Just turn the thermostat up a few degrees. And let’s not even get started on the cafeteria.

Things we don't like mhsmarquee.com

felt was necessary that I knew.

In the last five years Dee has become involved in Special Olympics and has dramatically improved her speech impediment. She can better express her emotions and is better about verbally explaining how she is feeling. However that doesn’t change the fact that even though she’s at my school now, she doesn’t have the same opportunities as I do.

It is sad to imagine my beautiful baby Dee without her own family or a career.

I imagine Dee somewhere in the future wandering aimlessly looking for a phrase to repeat a thousand times or looking for something to finger paint.

Eventually I will have to face the inevitable and start making a life for myself, I know that will mean I have to leave Dee behind. Next year, after I’m gone, she will continue her schooling at Marcus until graduation. After Dee graduates she will then live at an assisted living facility that will adapt to her needs and teach her basic living skills.

“Carli,” her sweet voice breaks my concentration, “it’s time a ‘go”. She scrambles into the car and I follow. All the way to her practice I push these negative thoughts aside. A sister with special needs or not, I love her with all my heart. Although our paths after high school may not be in the same direction, we will always be sisters and that’s what really matters.

the 10/10 rule

Our bodies don’t understand the concept of the 10/10 Rule and trying to rush to the teacher’s desk before the clock hits those last dreaded 10 minutes makes it so much harder to hold it in.

HEYS! DESIGN Katie Burton

opinion

Dark reality Brooke Wyant

I miss the days when the world was perfect. The days when my mom smiled, the days when my dad was my superhero who held me on his shoulders and told me anything was possible, the days when my sister was my best friend who lived across the hall, and the days when falling in love seemed like a simple fairytale. I miss those days: the days when the world had an abundance of sunshine, and the days when death, pain, and heartbreak were nonexistent.

I still remember seeing her for the last time, only one day before she passed away.

She was so skinny and I could see every bone in her body. She had lost all of her hair, but I admired her so much: she still

looked beautiful and brave, and despite all of her pain she continued to smile and never once complained. She was a true inspiration. I was 14 when I found out my Aunt Kim had terminal stage-four pancreatic cancer.

My aunt was my role model. She was a woman who radiated a confidence and taught me to never put limitations on what I could achieve. Aunt Kim was a second mom to me and spent every minute of our time together demonstrating how to be a courageous woman by working hard for what you want and never allowing anyone to decrease your self-worth.

When I found out about her sickness, I was devastated; my heart sunk down in my chest and I couldn’t breathe. I was infuriated that something like this could happen to a person who did so much good and who genuinely worked to make the world a better place. That was the first time in my life I realized that bad things happen to good people. I learned that perhaps the gleaming sunshine in my life was actually an umbrella of innocence protecting me from all the terrible occurrences raining down upon the world.

However, I wanted to make my aunt proud and be the woman she taught me to be. I knew she wouldn’t have wanted me to be angry; she would have wanted me to

The arena

marcus football

Updated additions to the school help the world go round. Literally. The Arena gives a much easier view on the whole floor and allows students extra seating room rather than being packed together in the Red Gym.

Friday night football is what helps end a long week of essays and tests. What helps make it better is our football team doing so awesome this season. Go Marauders!

Things we like DESIGN Katie Burton

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spread my happiness to others during this tragic time and make sure my family was going to be okay. I will never forget the feeling of my heart beating through my chest and the numbness of my whole face when I tried to say something but couldn’t bring myself to say goodbye.

Every part of me wanted to break down in tears, but the valor and strength my aunt continued to show inspired me to do the same. At 14 years old, I was forced to hide my sense of impending misery and despair, to be able to be the rock my Aunt needed.

That experience made me realize that the world is not always full of happiness, but a place where darkness can creep up unexpectedly and try to control my life.

However, I also discovered that I am capable of overcoming whatever obstacles the world might throw at me.

My first exposure to tragedy and darkness forced me to grow up and learn a lot about life that I wasn’t prepared to know. Yet, looking back, I am learning to appreciate those hardships for the immeasurable strength, maturity, and wisdom they rewarded me. Even though my aunt is gone, I try to live every day embodying the same courage, perseverance, and kindness she exhibited as a woman of extraordinary character.

Chocolate sales

Chocolate makes everything better, especially when it’s sold at school for just a dollar. It’s the best sight in the world to see students selling their bars in class. Until you find out there’s no caramel left.

s!

ah b m o Bo

nov. 6, 2015

30 o p i n i o n

That kid Jacob Fontaine @jacobfontaine2

The stadium loomed ahead of me.

The band echoed through the concrete parking lot as I walked closer to my fears. “A football game is supposed be fun, right?” This question ran through my head as I stepped into the ticket line alone. My stomach dropped as I almost immediately saw some old friends.

Avoiding eye contact like the plague, I felt the air growing hotter and heavier around me.

The night grew worse as I began climbing the bleachers drowning in stadium light. Heart racing, my eyes frantically searched the stands for a familiar face. As I approached somefriends, I continued to ask myself

“#GrowingUpWithMyName “Oh it’s Meera. Like Mirror mirror but Meera Meera.” or “Oh like Meercat.””

-Meera Landry, 9 @meera_landry

Whether one is a quarterback for the football team, a member of the online gaming club, or president of the thespian club, their social connections shouldn’t raise a red flag that dictates your relations with that person.

During freshman year I didn’t know I’d meet the best friends of my life. Nor did I know I’d be given considerable opportunities that would allow me to persevere through that period.

But regardless of the growth I have experienced since then, that freshman Jacob will always be a part of me.

Being the kid who sits alone at lunch isn’t easy. Being the kid that’s scared to go to football games isn’t easy. Being the kid who feels as if they can’t find a single friend at a school of over 3,000 certainly is not easy.

Though society looks down upon it, talking to those kids makes a world of difference in their lives. Popularity is a facade that can overshadow what really matters in high school. By limiting your relationships to those who are only considered socially acceptable, you truly are missing out on friendships that could last a lifetime.

And who knows? That kid sitting alone might be pretty cool too.

Sweet tweets

“*goes to the barber* “Give me ‘The Trump’.”

-Everett Golenski, 12 @everettgolenski

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questions. “How had I let myself come here? “Why does it have to be me?” I knew my presence wasn’t desired but I made the conscious choice to smile through the pain.

Minutes felt like hours and the game hadn’t even started yet. I pretended to not hear the whispers around me and let the sound of the game drown out my thoughts.

Though my eyes were glued to the field, my curiosity ultimately overcame my social logic, and I turned to the right in an attempt to join a conversation. The image of what I saw on my friend’s phone typed bluntly before me would stay with me my entire life.

“Why is Jacob even here?”

Without saying a word, I rose from my seat and walked shakily down the bleachers. An overwhelming fatigue had come over me, and I made the conclusion at that moment that I simply was not fit to have friends in high school. The first home football game of the season was the last I attended my freshman year.

I didn’t make the middle school transition well. Looking back, I didn’t value those I considered insignificant. By placing myself higher than others, I failed to see the big picture.

DESIGN & Compiled Katie Burton

“dogs r so weird literally a little wild animal chillin around the house like running up & down the stairs all day and it’s like “this is home” -Ellen Slater, 10 @ellensl8r

“I think I should start playing Christmas music. It’s always good to be early. ” -Andrea Kim, 11 @andrea_kim99

“#hab1ts do the dishes tonight. Vacuum the house.

Show whoever provides you a roof how grateful you are. #bered” -Gerry Stanford, coach @StanfordwGerry

DESIGN Katie Burton

opinion

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Campus carry law may bring danger for colleges STAFF EDITorial

t he ma rque e

School shootings have always been a major problem in America, but with the recent Umpqua community college shooting, gun control has come under the spotlight more and more. The Second Amendment has been a highly debated topic especially in recent years with mass shooting becoming more frequent.

Recently, Texas governor Greg Abbott has signed a new bill into law allowing college students over 21 to carry a concealed handgun on campus. Gun rights activists are in support of this new bill. However, it provides a major problem for irresponsible students on campus.

College provides a fresher outlook into the real world, and gives students the chance to experience things they may not have done in high school. One of the major experiences of college is alcohol.

But when concealed weapons are brought into the situation, it makes the aspect much more lethal. When drunk, people make careless decisions due to their loss

of conscious control. Fights happen easier when tension arises, and it makes it easier to mortally wound another due to the insufficient ability to respond to a situation. If an agitated circumstance emerges causing a fight to erupt, an intoxicated person is not going to have the self-control to handle a gun and know the right moment to use it or not to use it.

College campuses provide more independence for some students on personal choices, but allowing students to carry guns into class can complicate how safe a student feels on campus. Although the recipient of the gun license has to go through a course teaching them how to handle the gun properly, this new bill allows any sort of student to have a concealed weapon with them. This means that anyone with an ability to pass the course, no matter how reckless they may be, can hold a gun. Students in classes with people they feel unsafe with now have to worry about the possibility of that

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“I feel like you should be able to have them, but under certain circumstances. Not everyone should be able to just carry a gun around on college campuses.”

- Landon Vaughn, 10

r e ma r k s

CompileD Bailey Crocker

What do you think about college campuses starting to allow concealed carry?

“I think it’s just more dangerous to be on campus with a gun, anywhere. I feel like teachers should be allowed to have them, not students.”

-Taylor Willett, 9 DESIGN Katie Burton

person acting out and using their gun for unpractical reasons.

Supporters of gun rights mention the possibility of a student with a concealed handgun being able to stop the shooter from harming others. But even if a whole class full of educated and aware students are carrying guns, there is the possibility of a student being unable to make the right decision to stop the right person.

There may be only one student in class with a concealed weapon and they may be unable to make an effort to try to stop the harm.

The chaos may confuse them and there could be error in judgement, causing the student to harm the wrong person.

Concealed handguns on college campuses allow irresponsible and incompetent students the ability to chose a person’s life or death, and no matter what sort of training someone goes through, there’s still the chance that their decision may prove to be faulty.

“It’s kind of scary but also I could see how it would give people a sense of safety. “ -Mrs.Vara, Physcology

“I think it’s a good thing, to protect yourself, like if something happened. I think it’s something that should be allowed in college campuses.”

-Gavin Stoner, 11 Nov. 2, 2015

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