November 2011-A Heavy Load To Carry

the

mar uee

volume 26 | issue 02 | november 4, 2011

(4) New grading policy means less weight for final and midterm exams

(8) Senior produces, directs and choreographs musical for charity home

(18) Girls’ basketball team welcomes third coach in three year stretch

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

table of contents table of contents pg. 9

pg. 24

the marquee [newsmagazine] editor in chief jasmine sachar

managing editor maria heinonen

photo editor jordan richards

design editor breyanna washington

news editor

photo photo || kathryn kathryn petrauskas petrauskas

alex mcginnis

feature editor

pg. 14

alex mcginnis

in-depth editor molly spain

entertainment editor breyanna washington

sports editor photo photo | jordan | sarah richards sauer

photo photo || jordan jordan richards richards

jasmine sachar

opinion editor molly spain

news/ [3] TEACHER PAY FREEZE Teachers see paychecks grow smaller while cost of living rises. by emily aijkens

feature/ [9] LEFT WITH MEMORIES Senior reflects on friendship with Kyle Jackson, whose overdose on ecstasy has left him severely disabled.

business manager joseph rau

reporters emily aijkens, meghan eurich, marisa charpentier, juliana adame, mckenna autem, vallery phillips

designers sydney sund, courtney clubb, joseph rau, amanda collen

photographers kathryn petrauskas, sarah sauer, mariah lucy

adviser

lajuana hale

principal

gary shafferman

by molly spain

entertainment/ [15] CLASSIC COLDPLAY WITH MODERN TWIST Coldplay’s new album “Mylo Xyloto” is irresistibly electrifying. by jasmine sachar

sports/ [17] ALL-AMERICAN GIRL Senior Lexi Jordan is National Honor Society president, in the top 10 of her class and now an All-American soccer player. by alex mcginnis

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 $40 per 1/16 of a page, with discounts available. For more information call 469-7135196.

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

news

3

Teachers faced with paycuts story | george washington

District employees see pay checks shrink as cost of living, gas, housing, insurance, education escalates will have to come directly out of the employee’s Timothy Chaffin, the school district made the change paycheck. For some teachers, this is as much as $75 because they wanted to make sure that new teachers, who did not have any experience teaching, did not This school year, many Lewisville ISD teachers are a month less pay. feeling the pinch in their pocketbooks due to a decrease The administrators’ and the teachers’ salaries are make more money than teachers with one or more years’ experience. in their paychecks. determined by a step program.

“I am primarily a teacher because I love what I do, To avoid teacher layoffs like most other districts, Each step corresponds to an increase in wages, of but I am here as a the school board decided not to give teachers the pay three to five percent, for each financial provider increase that they had received in previous years. year an educator teaches. for my family as “Instead of moving up to the step I was supposed to The steps range from step 0 to well,” Geometry this year, I just stayed on the same step I was last year,” about 40. Step 0, the salary level and Algebra II principal Gary Shafferman said. of a new teacher, was reduced teacher Carolyn The overall increase in health insurance had a major by $350 this year. Returning Gary Shafferman, Principal Garber said. She effect on the teachers pay as well. Some teachers saw a teachers will remain at the same has two children in 20 percent increase in their insurance. step they were at last year. college and a junior at Marcus this year.

The district will still only contribute the same “I am making less money than I originally would This year, the average price of in-state college amount of money as they did last year toward health have last year, which is a bummer because the cost of tuition, which is around $17,000 a year, jumped about insurance premiums for each employee. Whatever living has gone up,” Shafferman said. additional money needed towards paying for insurance According to Compensation Analyst for the district, $631. This is an 8.3 percent increase from last year’s price.

Senior Katie Virant feels that a decrease in teachers’ salaries is not at all acceptable. +9.8% 10% “I have always felt that teachers should be paid more because they are so important to 8% society,” Virant said. “Cutting their pay may end up cutting their performance as well.”

6% Because of the step increase, teachers will have to find another +4.0% way to cover many expenses that 4% everyday society is facing. Food +2.8% prices soared 2.8percent higher this year, which is the biggest 2% gain since 1974 and the cost of +0.8% living has gone up substantially.

“This is a just a very difficult 0% Food & Education fees situation,” Garber said.

Gas & Cars Housing story | meghan eurich

Percent Change of Prices From 2010-11

I am making less money than I originally would have last year.

the marquee | november 4, 2011

Cost of living increases Increase of Prices from2010-2011 2010 to 2011

& Tuition

Beverages

design | courtney clubb

4

news

Changes in store for grading policy In anticipation of new End of Course tests, final, midterm exams made to count 15 percent of class grade, school schedule changes possible story | emily aijkens

Forthun said.

The new testing system also means students will have to In reaction to the state’s adoption of End of Course exams take more tests. Before EOCs, students were required to take for this year’s freshmen, the district has adopted a new a total of 10 TAKS test during their high school career. This grading policy that will affect all grade levels. years’ freshmen will be required to take 12 EOCs in high The traditional grading policy counted final exams as 20 school. Throughout their freshman, sophomore and junior percent of a student’s final grade. This year’s new grading years, the class of 2015 will have to take an EOC in each of policy will reduce student’s final exam to 15 percent. The their core classes. change has been created in reaction to the Texas Education On the TAKS, there were high passing rates, according to Agency’s law that mandates that the score received on an Communications Director for the TEA Debbie Ratclifse.

EOC will count for 15 “It was not a very challenging test percent. to a lot of our students,” Ratclifse said.

It is still undetermined if Ratclifse said the EOC will raise I don’t think they’re very much the EOCs will replace or be the standards because it will test for different from TAKS. taken in addition to a final. college readiness skills, forcing more “We actually have had to complex thinking. put that on hold because the TAKS tests covered what a student Jennifer Forthun, English had learned not only that year, but two Texas Education Agency has changed their position and we years before. The exit level TAKS test have not gotten final rules,” Lewisville ISD Superintendent for a junior would include eighth grade math, algebra and Dr. Stephen Waddell said. “It’s kind of up in the air now.” geometry. The EOC for a junior will focus specifically on This year’s freshmen will be required to take an EOC Algebra II and go more in-depth, according to Ratclifse. The in each of their core classes. The grade they make on each math tests will also include more free response questions.

EOC will count as 15 percent of the corresponding class final In reading EOCs, greater emphasis will be given to critical grade. A student must still make a 70 as a final grade in a analysis rather than to literal understanding. In writing, class to receive credit. students will be required to write two essays instead of one, EOCs could affect the school’s schedule. EOCs cannot and the English EOC assessments will be administered over be given before March. With Marcus on accelerated block, two days. students will have to recall information they learned in Last year, junior English classes, like that of Forthun, took their classes during fall semester. This change may mean a a field test of the English III EOC. move away from accelerated block, according to Humanities “The tests are directed at the average high school student teacher Jennifer Forthun. in Texas,” Forthun said. “I don’t think they’re very much “If you take a course in the fall, technically your grade different from TAKS.” can’t be calculated until the spring when you take the EOC,” EOCs will be a part of the graduating requirement.

Side-by-side comparison

The TEA will determine in February how high a student’s cumulative score must be in order to graduate. Besides meeting the cumulative score requirement in each of the four core areas, Algebra II and English III are exit exams that must be passed in order for students to graduate.

EOC Exam

Four hour time limit Can be online or paper

Three levels of performance - advanced, satisfactory, unsatisfactory

No break for lunch

-lunch is eaten before or after the test -several other breaks are allowed By 2014, all grades will take the EOC

After eight years, Texas state mandated testing has shifted from the TAKS to subject based EOCs. Here’s a sample TAKS science question compared to a sample Chemistry EOC question.

Science TAKS 10th grade

A B C D

Release of hazardous gases Hot materials and spills of harmful liquids Contamination of chemicals and glassware Staining of lab clothing

design | sydney sund

2

HB

Chemistry EOC

Which of the following elements has the smallest atomic radius?

A B C D

Sulfur Chlorine Aluminum Sodium

Answer 1 (B) Answer 2 (B)

An experiment requires the use of a lab apron, goggles, and insulated mitts or beaker tongs.

The purpose of these safety items is primarily to protect against —

november 4, 2011 | the marquee

feature 5

Present regret brings out past memories Senior reflects on times with best friend whose drug overdose in March left him disabled story | molly spain

the car that night. Part of her believed that they had been hanging out, having fun. this really was the only time he would take it.

“I kind of sat in disgust,” Salcedo said.

It’s the summer of 2010 and senior But there was a small part of her that thought “How could I really let him do that the first Stephanie Salcedo walks into her friend’s maybe, maybe he will do it again. time and now he’s in the hospital? I could house to see him and Kyle Jackson sitting That part of her was right. have just stopped him the first time, but I on the ground, staring at her. Jackson and his Last March, eight months after Jackson didn’t.” friend have decided to try ecstasy tablets. took his first tab of ecstasy, he was *** “What?” she asks. hospitalized after taking 4 meth-laced It’s now been five months since Jackson’s “Okay, I know you don’t want this,” ecstasy tabs at Club Afterlife in Dallas. night at Afterlife. Salcedo, Jackson’s best Jackson tells her. “I know you’re going to get Jackson already suffered from juvenile friend Bryant Field and five other people mad, but this is going to be my first time.” posttraumatic epilepsy due to a longboarding visit Jackson. Jackson sits in a Lay – Z – Boy Salcedo shakes her head no. She sticks out accident about one and a half years ago. chair in his home with a cup of Dr. Pepper her lip, pouting. But it’s just her and two After that night at Afterlife, the doctors in his hand. Salcedo and his friends walk in boys, and they have the upper hand. didn’t expect the room and his *** Jackson to be face lights up.

I kind of sat in disgust. How could He smiles. He Salcedo and Jackson have been friends able to walk or since seventh grade at Lamar Middle School. talk again after I really let him do that the first time recognizes his She remembers the notes he used to write being severely friends. Jackson and now he’s in the hospital? to her telling her how good of a best friend mentally and can now walk a she was and how much he loved her. She physically little on his own remembers the “About Me” section on his handicapped with the help of Stephanie Salcedo, 12 MySpace page where he wrote, “I don’t do due to brain physical therapy drugs. I don’t drink.” injury. five days a Four years later and they are now in high *** week. But he school and still best friends. It’s July, weeks Salcedo doesn’t remember much about still can’t talk. before the incident in the house and Salcedo Jackson when he was hospitalized after that “Regardless of whether he can talk or not, complains to Jackson about the band Lydia. night at Afterlife. She blocked out most of regardless of him being able to walk, I’m She wants to see them in their last concert that memory, she said, because it was so still going to love him,” Salcedo said. “I’m before they break up. “Kyle, nobody wants traumatizing. still going to always consider him as my best to go,” Salcedo tells him.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Salcedo said. friend.”

“It was like reality slapping me in the face They watch the Texas Rangers play completely. The night before everything was the Detroit Tigers in the American League normal and the next day you wake up and Championship Series. They crack jokes, and they tell you ‘Your friend is in the hospital Jackson laughs along with his friends. They because of drugs.’ I almost couldn’t breathe.” shoot Nerf guns at each other and Jackson Salcedo was in denial. She didn’t want to laughs even harder, taking the shots they believe that her best friend would probably playfully launch at him. never walk or talk again when just last week “It’s kind of like looking at a two-yearold or three-year-old child when they’re laughing at something,” Field said.

Salcedo tries to visit as often as she can – about once a week, but says it’s hard now that she’s back in school, whereas before she visited during summer. Jackson’s condition has caused Salcedo to take a new stance in her life – she said she will never do drugs because they get in the way of life and family.

“Just as they told you since you were little, it’s not going to turn out okay,” Salcedo said. “Things do happen to people. People do die. People do get brain damage. People do change with drugs. It’s not worth it at all.”

Salcedo said Jackson doesn’t have to be “mentally here” because she knows he is still here with his heart, though her life will never be the same.

“I think about him every single day,” photo | mariah lucy photo | submitted Salcedo said. “I’d lie if I said I didn’t. It’s Left: Salcedo and Jackson on Halloween of last year, five months before Jackson overdosed on ecstasy. Right: Jackson’s overdose has inspired Salcedo to always going to be in the back of my mind. take advantage of any opportunity with her fashion designs. “I’m doing everything I could possibly do with it, because anything could happen,” Salcedo said. The bad stuff and the good stuff.” the marquee | november 4, 2011

“Are you kidding me?” Jackson responds.

“You can count on me. I’ll take you. We’ll have fun.”

After the concert, the pair drives to Waffle House and “pig out” on original waffles and coffees. The ticket for the concert still hangs on the wall over Salcedo’s bed, reminding her of her favorite memory with Jackson. She thinks about it almost every day. *** That summer night, Salcedo doesn’t answer Jackson’s question about drugs right away. Salcedo and Jackson leave the house and get into the friend’s car. Jackson turns to face Salcedo in the passenger seat of the car and repeats his request.

“This will be the first and only time I’m ever going to roll,” Jackson tells her quietly.

Salcedo runs it through her head, should she believe him? He had always been a sweet kid, so maybe he won’t get addicted – maybe.

“Okay,” Salcedo finally agrees. And Jackson takes his first tablet of ecstasy. It won’t be his last.

“What I was thinking is I’m going to look like such a loser if I say ‘No, don’t take it,’” Salcedo said. “I’m going to look like such a mom. Nothing’s going to happen. A million people have done it. It’s going to be fine.”

Salcedo said part of her believed him in

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6

seconds with...

molly webber, 9 complied | juliana adame photo | sarah sauer

What’s your favorite thing about Marcus?

“It’s a lot easier having eight minute passing periods instead of just four. Also the overload of homework from eight periods made it hard to concentrate.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“We always have corn soufflé and we usually have family and friends over. It’s usually my mom’s side. If we have man-family members or man-friends, they usually watch football.”

Who’s your favorite superhero?

“Superman because he has that cool catchphrase: ‘It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Superman!’ And I mean he wears tights, so he deserves it.”

Who would be your dream host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live?

“Justin Timberlake for both. He’s so funny and he entertains me.”

New Facebook timeline -- like or dislike?

“Dislike. I hate it so much! It takes up room and you can’t see who’s on chat.”

the marquee | november 4, 2011

Change in uniform

feature 7

Ca rt

e r ‘s

C h al l e nge Sophomore gives up military dreams after being diagnosed with debilitating nerve disease story | marisa charpentier

Sophomore Carter Hayes has wanted to be a Navy SEAL since he was sixyears-old. Military is in his blood. His great grandfather was a colonel in World War II. His uncle was once in Special Forces.

This summer, everything changed.

Carter sat with his mother and 3-yearold brother, listening to an orthopedic doctor explain Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a disease caused by faulty nerves that leads to muscle weakness and degeneration. Carter took his mother’s hand.

“It’s going to be okay, Mom,” he said.

Michelle Hayes, Carter’s mother, had always noticed that he walked on his toes.

Doctors continued to dismiss this early sign of CMT until this summer when Carter was receiving a physical. At this appointment, his doctor referred him to an orthopedic doctor. After several tests and MRI scans, Carter was diagnosed with a hereditary disease that affects one in every 2,500 people worldwide.

CMT has no cure and progresses over time. Some people have trouble writing.

Some people end up in wheelchairs.

Carter did not know what CMT was at first. It’s just a disease, he thought. It’s not really going to change anything. *** Carter stood alongside other JROTC members. The sun beat down upon their backs. He stood flatfooted for 45 minute intervals, waiting for food and uniform inspections, eating and marching. Pain seared through his feet until they went completely numb.

Just ignore it, Carter thought, it’s just a little bit of pain. The week is almost over.

Before the diagnosis, Carter had gone to a JROTC Summer Leadership Camp in Arlington. There, the pressure put on his feet caused the disease to progress.

Throughout his life, Carter has been an athlete. He played soccer, football, BMX, tennis and golf. In eighth and ninth grade, Carter ran cross country. He planned to run all four years at Marcus. But after this summer, he could not keep up. He tried to explain, saying he hadn’t run in a while and that he would catch up soon. But he couldn’t.

Carter had to quit the cross country team.

“Seeing the cross country team run everyday, I want to run with them, but I can’t,” Carter said.

Now, his hand hurts sometimes when he writes during school because the

disease has led to muscle weakness in his hand. He can’t walk or stand for long periods of time either.

Carter has to quit JROTC. “He had his whole life mapped out and it’s gone because he can’t go into the military anymore and he physically cannot run because of the disease,” Michelle said.

And Carter is not the only one in the family with CMT. One month after the diagnosis, doctors diagnosed Carter’s 10-year-old brother, Zach, with the same disease.

“I feel bad for him, especially since he is younger than I am and doesn’t really understand it,” Carter said. “Hopefully when he does, he won’t be as affected as I am.”

Michelle had to watch Zach and Carter as they underwent painful tests. At separate times, both boys went through an Electromyography (EMG), where electric shocks surged through their bodies to detect muscle abnormalities.

The shocks grew stronger and stronger over time. Then doctors stuck needles into their nerves. They were shocked again.

Zach’s arms and legs started to twitch.

His hair stood up on his head. The pain was so great that the doctors had to stop the process early.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve been through with them,” Michelle said. “You can see the pain from their faces.” *** With CMT, Carter has been told he can’t run, he can’t be in JROTC, he can’t follow his dream. But one sport Carter can do is cycle.

On Sept. 17 in Greenville, Carter participated in the Cotton Patch Challenge, his first cycling race. His black jersey displayed the words “Carter’s Challenge” as he cycled through 31 miles of country

roads. His main goal wasn’t to win.

It was to raise awareness.

Almost immediately after being diagnosed, Carter created an organization known as Carter’s Challenge to raise awareness for CMT. He plans to wear his Carter’s Challenge jersey to future cycling races to do so.

“He has basically taken all of the anger and frustration with being diagnosed with this disease that is going to affect him for the rest of his life and put it towards helping raise awareness and raising funds,” Michelle said.

For his 16th birthday, Carter asked for donations on Facebook. He received $1,164, all of which was donated to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA), the only association doing clinical research to find a cure for CMT. Carter’s family and members of the cross country team are also selling green bracelets that say “Carter’s Challenge” on them for $3 to raise awareness and money for the disease.

“I wish more people knew about (CMT), and if more people did, there might be a cure and more potential treatments,” Carter said.

A cure is even more important now.

Carter’s 3-year-old brother, Ayden, is showing signs of CMT, too.

“The testing is pretty difficult,” Michelle said. “I don’t want to put him through that right now because he is only three.”

Even though Carter says he is still trying to get over not being able to go into the military, he has already started making new plans for the future. Carter said he sees himself possibly going into the medical field.

“There’s always going to be struggles in life,” Carter said. “You’ve just got to fight through and keep staying strong.”

photo | mariah lucy Sophomore Carter Hayes takes a ride down his street on his bike. Hayes has replaced sports he participated in with bicycling after being diagnosed with CMT. design | amanda collen

8

feature

Cast Bristol Rayburne Kaytie Nielsen (12) Barrett Fox Ben Johnson (11) Ben Little Stetler Eppley (12) Olivia Little Krista Adams (12)

Marcus Wickes Zach Pletcher (12) Winston Hadley Kevin Fox (12) Lottie Chilcott Bridget Price (10)

Taking center stage

Senior produces, directs original musical for charity home

photo | mariah lucy

Senior Kaytie Nielsen leads the cast as they practice the dance routine to “The Cave” at rehearsal. “Little Lion Men” premieres Nov. 3-5 at 7 p.m. story | molly spain

Teenagers lay on blankets outside of a single story, bluishgrey warehouse in Lewisville. It’s time for rehearsals. Inside the open garage of the building are wooden stage settings pushed into corners and an open space where senior Kaytie Nielsen and a group of six students and one adult gather.

“We’re going to start with ‘The Cave’ today,” Nielsen announces as she leads the group. “From the very beginning, okay? Everyone get to your places.”

She begins clapping the beat of the song as the others dance.

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,” Nielsen snaps. “Eh, that wasn’t good.

Do it again.”

**** While most students spend their days writing English essays, Nielsen writes plays. This is not the first time Nielsen has written, directed, choreographed and acted in her own musical, but the second. Last year, Nielsen wrote and directed the musical “Hogwarts,” and this year she wrote and is directing a production of “The Little Lion Men,” a musical featuring the songs of the band Mumford & Sons.

The musical is set in Victorian London and centers around clashes between the rich and poor. It follows a group of poor adults living in a tenement as they try to get the city to build an orphanage for the many numbers of poor orphans that have been forced on the streets.

“I like directing, kind of seeing the creation come to life,” Nielsen said. “I’m just kind of interested in writing in general, music in general.”

Nielsen’s grandma owns a costume shop, so she grew up in the world of theatre. She fell in love with Mumford & Sons after hearing about them from a friend and watching the “Little Lion Man” music video in October 2009.

“They have a sort of dynamic to them,” Nielsen said.

“Their music can be epic. Whereas a lot of the acoustic bands are pretty chill and mellow the whole time, they actually have some excitement.”

Nielsen got the idea for “The Little Lion Men” while she was waiting for her mom to finish a costume fitting at a theatre in Grapevine last December.

“It was just something about the atmosphere,” Nielsen said. design | sydney sund

“It just happened. I went out to the car and just started writing ideas. The plot literally developed in like thirty minutes.”

She had the musical finished and edited by last summer.

Nielsen said that throughout the whole process of putting the musical together she “never really had a doubt that it wouldn’t happen.”

Nielsen said that parents need to be wary when taking their young children to see the play, though because it’s definitely PG-13.

“There is some heavy content in there. It’s all done tastefully, but just the subject matter, it’s not comedic,” Nielsen said.

The musical premiers Nov. 3-5 at the BoxWerks Theatre in Lewisville and the tickets are $10 each. All proceeds will be donated to New Horizons, an organization helps abused children.

“We wanted to do a charity that was parallel to the story,” Nielsen said.

Junior Sabrina Austin is Nielsen’s right-hand woman for the musical. She is co-choreographer, directing assistant and Kaytie’s understudy. She has actually been to the New Horizons orphanage.

“They’re all really cool kids,” Austin said. “If I could do anything to help them, then I’m happy.”

Austin has been acting and singing since she was seven, and says she is enjoying working with Kaytie on this musical.

“Kaytie really understands what teenagers are going through,” Austin said. “It’s just a different environment because it’s a lot more understanding and a lot more friendly, not having an adult yelling at you all the time.” **** The students rehearse three days a week for three-hours each day.

At rehearsals, Austin copies Nielsen’s dance moves as Nielsen demonstrates. Nielsen flings herself across the wooden floor trying to imitate a puppet just as Nielsen did.

“That was perfect!” Nielsen yells in delight. **** Senior Stetler Eppley plays the main character of Ben, but has never acted in a play before and auditioned only because a friend asked him.

“I really enjoy it because you’re with a bunch of people

Plot This class-clash story is set in Victorian London in the 1880s and 1890s. In London during this time, there were not many orphanages for poorer kids, so orphans formed gangs on the streets.

The play centers around a group of poor adults – Barrett, Ben, Marcus and Winston – former orphans living in a tenement together. The group decides to petition for an orphanage to be built on Old Nichols street, a real street in London notorious for being a slum.

The play is filled with the trials and errors in the attempts to get this orphanage built, coupled with the escalating drama between the rich and poor, politics, corruption and love stories. that you’ve grown to love because everyone is funny and unique in their own way,” Eppley said.

Eppley also thinks Nielsen is doing a good job managing a cast of teenagers.

“She has a lot to balance between this and school, but she’s succeeding in both,” Eppley said.

Nielsen plays the part of Bristol, who is one of the poor characters living in the tenement trying to found the orphanage. She said some of the characters reflect characteristics of her friends in real life.

“A lot of people say Bristol is like me, but it’s more like Bristol is who I’d like to be,” Nielsen said. “She’s really kind of savvy and she’s a tomboy. We are kind of alike, but she’s way cooler than me. It’s a fun character to play.”

Nielsen said that despite the inexperience of the actors, the play is going “surprisingly good.”

“We really want you to come see [the play] just because we worked so hard on it,” Nielsen said. “It’s really just for a good cause.” november 4, 2011 | the marquee

Family triumphs through trials

feature 9

Senior uses family experiences with disabilities at home in volunteer work, life story | meghan eurich

They called 911 immediately and before they knew it, a “Eiler keeps defying the odds,” Mary Beth said. When he was first diagnosed, the doctors said that he would not live care-flight helicopter was resting in the intersection at Highland to be past 5-years-old. “They said he would just sit and do Shores Boulevard and 2499.

The streets were crowded with onlookers trying to get a nothing.” But Eiler proved them wrong by beginning to crawl and eventually walking with crutches at three years old after a closer look. Paramedics placed the little girl into the helicopter, without her family. They would have to join her at the hospital. seven hour surgery to correct his feet.

“It’s the hardest thing to see your sister while she is having From daily therapists to numerous paid babysitters, the Bucks have little privacy and the house is always filled with noise. The a seizure, because you don’t know what is going to happen,” majority of it comes from the TV room where Emmy’s little Emmy said. “There could be brain damage that we just don’t know about.” sister, sophomore Adlaine Buck, spends her afternoons.

Addy does not have many seizures, but when she does they While most 15-year-old girls are taking drivers education and preparing for the PSAT, Addy enjoys dancing to her favorite are serious. She has had approximately one or two a year since musicals on television. She hops up and down as her short dark she was 11. Eiler has seizures as well. Although less severe brown hair flows from side to side. Her daily babysitter always than his sister, they are much more frequent. Sometimes he has three a day and up to 200 a year. stands by her as she enjoys the Life with two handicapped children hours after school.

Our parking is blue may be hard, but the Buck’s found a way to At just shy of 2-years-old, and convenient, our manage.

Addy was diagnosed with a brain “People could look at our lives and think malformation, which causes lives are not. they’re a tragedy, but they’re not. They’re a mental retardation. She functions at about the level of a 6-year-old.

Emmy Buck, 12 triumph,” said father Alex Buck.

Laughter and warmth fills the house as Although her disability is not to the extent of her brother’s, Addy will never be self-sufficient they joke and tell stories and share experiences about their dayto-day lives. Communication is important in their family. But because of her continuous seizures.

On a cold day in November of 2007, Addy had her first of to communicate with Addy and Eiler, the Buck family uses sign many known drop seizures, where she falls unexpectantly. The language. Though they can both hear fine, they cannot speak family had just finished dinner for the night when they decided the words.

“It’s their way of speaking,” Mary Beth says. “Especially to put the seventh grader in the shower by herself for one of the Eiler, because of his swallowing difficulties.” first times.

Their family has restrictions because of the disabilities of “She loved the water, and we thought she would be fine,” Mary Beth recalls. Somewhere between washing the dishes and the two younger children. Many simple tasks, such as going throwing away the trash, she heard a thud and quickly ran to go to the movies, requires hours of preparation. But when all the family members are on board, it makes things a little easier check on her youngest daughter.

“We weren’t really sure what happened. I think she just got when taking care of their two handicapped children.

“Our parking is blue and convenient, our lives are not,” excited while in the shower and was jumping up and down when Emmy said. The family has also had help from many “extreme she slipped and fell,” Mary Beth said. babysitters” over the years. According to the Bucks, the size of their family gets bigger every year.

“We couldn’t do anything without help. All of our babysitters have become a part of the family,” Mary Beth said.

Emmy helps out a lot with her brother and sister too. Whether it’s playing with Eiler, or just sitting next to Addy, Emmy has always been there for them, especially in their schooling.

“I mainly did Circle of Friends club so Addy could see a familiar face. She’s not good around a bunch of strangers,” she said.

Emmy has done deeds to support her siblings outside her home too. She volunteers once a month at the Adult Day Stay, which is a handicap community for older people in Lewisville.

Over the summer, Emmy has performed in numerous plays at the summer schools for special needs kids. Also, a few years ago, she developed a thespian troupe for the mentally disabled.

Through all of this, Emmy knows that she may eventually become responsible for her siblings.

“Emmy is a wonderful big sister,” Alex said. “We are lucky enough that she has a big enough heart that she will want to do that.”

“I want Addy to come live with me after college,” Emmy said. “So my parents can do the traveling that they want to do.”

To this family, having two children with special needs is their normal. They have learned how to accept a difficult situation and although it may be tough at times, they always keep their photo | kathryn petrauskas spirits high.

Senior Emmy Buck helps feed her younger brother Eiler, while her sister Addy stands next to her and watches. The family, including mom Mary Beth and “We all have special needs,” says Alex. “Whether its divorces dad Alex, laughs and jokes around the table despite the challenges they face. or diseases, everyone has something their dealing with.”

Senior Emmy Buck has been involved with the disabled community since she was a young child, not only by circumstance but also by choice. After juggling AP Chemistry and AP English, she still finds time to serve as the Circle of Friends president.

“It’s a lot of fun and I love all the kids in there,” Emmy said.

Emmy might not have become involved with the Circle of Friends if it were not for her 14-year-old brother Eiler Buck.

He’s not an AP student and certainly not your typical teenager but what he lacks in physical abilities he makes up in zest for life.

After the schoolwork is finished and the club meetings are over, Emmy comes home where she greets her family of five, grabs a snack and sits down at the kitchen table.

Eiler takes his crutches off from the kitchen counter and begins to slowly make his way over to the table to sit down. His mom grabs one of the red containers of meal replacement off the counter and pulls out a chair next to her only son. Eiler lifts up his crisp white shirt, exposing his clear “button”, a feeding tube, in the middle of his stomach. He allows his mom to attach the tube to as she begins pouring the liquid dinner into his stomach.

“Would you like to do it yourself?” his mom, Mary Beth, asks him. Eiler lifts up both eyebrows and smiles a huge smile as he proudly grabs the container.

All of Eiler’s meals are feed to him this way. He does not get to eat the nachos at school every day with the other kids, or the chicken dinner tonight with his family. All he can do is have a small taste off his mom’s finger of sauces or ice creams. His half paralyzed tongue is to blame for his inability to eat solid foods.

At 3-days-old, the sixth grader at Downing Middle School was diagnosed with Poly Micro Gyria, or a brain malformation and functions at the level of a 5-year-old. He also was born with clubbed feet, which prevented him from walking for the first few years of life.

the marquee | november 4, 2011

design | sydney sund

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in-depth 11

It started with “Juno,” then “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom”. Unintended teen pregnancies are becoming a reccurring theme in pop culture. The Marquee explores the effects of this culture on high school students and the trials of teen moms. +

the marquee | november 4, 2011

design/graphics | maria heinonen

12 in depth

Teen parenting in the living room

Unintended pregnancy in media affects students’ perception on subject story | vallery phillips

Sophomore Aurora Skalberg sits in the hallway trying to calm down the computer-controlled baby assigned to her by her Child Development teacher. Writing in her spiral, Skalberg continues on her English class work alone. Her English teacher dismissed her from class because of the robotic baby’s incessant crying.

The program has given Skalberg a different view on teen parenting.

“It is so tiring and stressful. It would be so much harder if the baby was real,” Skalberg said.

Skalberg’s only other experience with being a teen mom comes from watching MTV’s reality series.

In December, 2009 MTV aired its first episode of the hit series “Teen Mom, a spin-off of “16 and Pregnant,” which aired earlier that year in July.

MTV’s website summarizes the show as a portrayal of the truths about teen pregnancy, while creating a “positive” impact on teenagers. But Melissa Henson, senior Director of Programs at the Parents Television Council said the show has a negative impact.

The Parents Television Council is an organization that Mom”. Henson argues that watching these reality shows compiles information for parents about the shows that their helps create the wrong mindset for adolescents. children may or may not be watching. The council looks for “Although the television programs don’t portray the sexual content, language and violence. girl’s lives as glamorous, they don’t display their lives as “There have been studies that have shown that teens that being drastically changed either,” Henson said. are exposed to higher levels of sexual content in the media Albert, of the NCPT disagrees, “I think MTV’s “16 and are more likely to be involved in a Pregnant” and “Teen Mom” are pregnancy,” Henson said.

Anything that gets young people among the best efforts I’ve ever Chief Program Officer for the thinking ... about starting a family seen in helping young people National Campaign to Prevent Teen understand the real challenges of when you are sixteen years old is a parenthood,” said Albert. and Unplanned Pregnancy Bill Albert good thing. said that their research shows that many Viewers like Skalberg Bill Albert, NCPT teenagers do not think about the risks of question if the show is a shortcut getting pregnant. to fame.

“In general, anything that gets young people thinking “The purpose of the show is to see how hard it is, but I about sex, about contraceptives, about starting a family when think some of the girls are only you are sixteen years old, is a good thing,” Albert said. on it because they want According to a study by the Center for Disease control to be famous,” released in April 2011, teen pregnancy rates have declined Skalberg said. by 37 percent since 1991. Still, the United Nations upholds “It does in some that the teen pregnancy rate in the United States is nine times way show to not higher than the rate in other wealthy countries. get pregnant and Henson said that while these television shows bring to not end up attention to the issue, shows that portray teenage pregnancy like them. But do not portray the girls’ lives in their true form. then girls are “What (the shows) are talking about is not the sleepless getting nights, or the worries about the medical problems the baby pregnant might have,” Henson said. “What they are talking about is on purpose the tattoos and the body piercings, and the fights with the just so they boyfriends.” can get on According to The Washington Post, every six in 10 teens television.” watch or have seen the shows “16 and Pregnant” or “Teen

>>Prime time pregnancy >> 16 and Pregnant

MTV’s documentary style show follows a different pregnant teen every episode.

The episode gives highlights of the pregnancy and ends after the baby is a few weeks old.

>> Glee In season one, head cheerleader Quinn Fabray, a sophomore, becomes pregnant in an early episode after hooking up with a football player who is not her boyfriend. The baby is given up for adoption at the end of the season.

In recent years, prime time television shows aimed at the teenage demographic have started to incorporate major plots centered on unintended pregnancies. The Marquee takes a look at the most popular. compiled | jasmine sachar

>> Teen Mom A spin off of “16 and Pregnant,” the show chronicles the after-math of an unintended teenage pregnancy in four girls from the original show.

>>The Secret Life of the American Teenager The show started with the accidental pregnancy of main character Amy Jeurgens and unintended pregnancies became a recurrent theme throughout all four seasons as more characters end up expecting a baby.

>> 90210

In season one, Adrianna becomes pregnant at 16.

The baby is given up for adoption in season two and not mentioned again.

Also at the beginning of season four this fall, Naomi has a pregnancy scare.

>> Gossip Girl Blair Waldorf, the ambitious protagonist of the Upper East Side set, just recently received a positive pregnancy test this season. The identity of the father was up for grabs but was later revealed to be Prince Louis, her fiancé. pictures from: mtv.com, fanpop.com, video.vimesode.com, blog.nyfa.edu

design/graphics | maria heinonen

november 4, 2011 | the marquee

in depth 13

Baby bump alters road through adolescence Pregnancy drives young teen to re-evaluate prospective plans story | mckenna autem

she said, “I didn’t want to have to go through like wondering what she would have looked like or what would have came Junior Sarah Hibbert was in her backyard with her father, out of it.”

Michael Hibbert, when she broke the news to him. She was Sarah’s mother also said that she wouldn’t tell Sarah’s nervous and jumpy when the words finally spilled out of her dad, so Sarah could tell him herself. mouth, “Dad, I’ll be right back. I have something to show “I kind of, like needed to let it set in for me before I could you.” let it set in for other people,” she said.

A few seconds later, Sarah walked back outside with the Sarah waited a week to tell her father, and finally found positive pregnancy test. “I’m pregnant.” the right moment while in the backyard of their house.

Michael Hibbert hugged his daughter, “Well, “When she said she had something to show me, you congratulations,” he said. know I just figured she made an A on a test or something,” Michael “I know that God will *** Hibbert said. provide... people make

A week earlier, Sarah had Sarah showed her father the mistakes but he doesn’t.” taken three pregnancy tests. After pregnancy test and they talked Sarah Hibbert she took a generic brand test first that about her plans for the baby. resulted in two lines, one faded, Sarah “You know, I think we talk decided to take the test again. Two First about it every day,” Michael said, Response tests later, it was confirmed. Sarah was pregnant. “but we discussed her options, she said she wasn’t gonna get Afterwards, she wanted to tell her brother, Josh. Sarah an abortion and she wasn’t going to do adoption. So I said said he is her best friend. okay.”

Sarah told her mother, Linette, next over the phone.

Sarah said that she had never really taken adoption into Because of their close relationship, Hibbert said her mother consideration because she wants to be there for her baby was supportive. throughout her life and be able to teach the child all of the “She asked if I was thinking about abortion at all and I things that she can. said no,” Sarah said.

“I want her to know that I never left her side no matter She said that her mother was glad that she wasn’t thinking how hard things got and that I will continue to be there for about abortion. her,” she said.

“That [abortion] was just never really an option for me,” *** the marquee | november 4, 2011

Sarah plans to graduate at the end of this year from the Learning Center and go to a community college to get her GPA up so she can eventually go to SMU. Hibbert said that she feels more motivated than ever to get her schoolwork done and her grades up.

“Before I had thought about college, but now like I definitely want to go, it’s not an option anymore,” she said.

Doctors have told Sarah she is having a baby girl, due to be born on Jan. 22.

She has decided to name her Shiloh. She was searching for baby names that started with “S” one evening on the Internet. She finally came across the name Shiloh, which means “gift from God.” Hibbert said that she just knew that was the right name for her baby.

“I know that God will provide. He gave me her and yeah, people make mistakes but He doesn’t make mistakes,” Hibbert said. design/graphics | maria heinonen

14

in depth

Life after labor Former student reflects on life turnaround, new career goals after having baby at 17 story | juliana adame

It was 3 a.m. in the Walmart bathroom when Savannah Terrell’s life changed forever.

She had been driving around with her friends and boyfriend all evening. The night was waning, curfew had long since past. She had a gut feeling that something was wrong, so her friends pulled into the Walmart parking lot. She asked her boyfriend to wait in the car while she and a friend entered the store.

Clad in her boyfriend’s jacket against the cold night air, she told her friend what they were looking for.

A few minutes later, Savannah was in the Walmart bathroom with a box of pregnancy tests.

She took nine tests and even had her friend take one to make sure that they were accurate.

Her worst fears were confirmed as the little plus signs stared back at her.

With her friend by her side, she trudged back to the car in disbelief. She slid into the driver’s seat. After a moment, she broke the news to her boyfriend. He was silent for the rest of the night.

She took him home, tears streaming down her face. Once he was home, she drove for miles, crying the whole way, ending the night by destroying her phone. She stayed the night with a friend in Denton.

For the next two weeks, Savannah lived with a school friend, not knowing how or what to tell her parents. She was having thoughts of dropping out of school and leaving the state.

She even had thoughts of abortion. Finally, sobbing in front of her computer screen, Savannah decided it was time to tell her parents.

“I told them over email,” Savannah said.

“It was tough. I wrote this really, really, really long message and instantly got a reply.”

Savannah later met with her mother, Laurie, to discuss their options.

“We were disappointed and upset,” Laurie said. “She had dated someone behind our backs because she knew we would not approve of him. She ran away before we knew and told us that her friends and boyfriend would help her. In the end, no one helped her but us.”

Savannah’s pregnancy was an emotional rollercoaster. In the beginning, she did not want the baby. She and her parents discussed adoption. Even with her protruding belly, she still couldn’t quite believe that she was pregnant.

“At first, I was crying every day,” Savannah said. “I thought it was absolutely design | maria heinonen

Savannah and her parents now live by “A year ago, I wouldn’t have said I was horrible and that I was never going to have a Abbie’s schedule.

While most teenagers are going to college,” Savannah said. “I would life and have to stay at home with the baby.” probably still in bed, her day begins at 6 a.m. probably say I was going to be working at Around the end of her second trimester, when she gets herself and Abbie ready for some club.

All my friends worked at Darkside however, Savannah decided to keep the baby. the day.

School at the Lewisville Learning and I used to go there a lot. I’d probably say On July 7, 2011, baby Abigail was born, I’d be working there. No college, dropped Center begins at 8:35 a.m. and goes until weighing in at nine pounds, six ounces. At out of high school, and trying to make it on 12:35 p.m.

She then has has 25 minutes to just seventeen years old, Savannah was facing my own.” get to Grapevine Mills Mall for work.

She the life of a single teen mom, a position she Savannah said that she acknowledges her works until 6 p.m. and is in bed at 7:30 p.m. never thought she’d be in. challenge as a teen mom and keeps her head when Abbie goes to bed.

Staying out late is “I would watch ‘16 and Pregnant’ and high. She said she hopes to have a successful think that that could never be me,” Savannah no longer an option. Savannah has little to no time for anything career and will always keep baby Abbie in said. “I kind of judged I would watch 16 and but school, work her decisions as far as relationships due to teen moms. I would see she has learned from past experiences.

Pregnant and think that that and her baby what young pregnant people Although her ex-boyfriend has seen Abbie girl. and I would whisper to could never be me. a few times, he does not play a big role in A recent my friends about it.”

Savannah Terrell, 18 graduate from either of their lives.

She remembers the Savannah advises potential teen moms feeling of being stared at in public. The the Lewisville Learning Center, Savannah to be safe because not everyone can handle feeling of never again leading a normal plans to pursue radiology at NCTC in order the lifestyle and obstacles that come with a teenage life. The feeling of her baby kicking to become a sonogram technician due to teenage pregnancy. inside her belly as she tried to concentrate in the impact left upon her when she had her “If people think that teenage pregnancies sonograms. are just for low income families or divorced class.

“I want to work in hospitals because when families, they are mistaken,” Laurie said. “It But she didn’t care. It was her life, her I had my sonograms, I thought it was the could happen to anyone. We would not trade decision, and her burden to bear. cutest thing,” Savannah said. “I’d love to be Abbie for the world, but Savannah has a hard Laurie said her daughter has handled able to tell people what they’re having and life in front of her. We will help out, but she Abbie differently that she expected. will always have someone else to think about see their faces.”

“I expected her to be immature and treat in all of her decisions.”

However, college wasn’t always on her this baby like a baby doll,” Laurie said. “But, agenda. surprisingly, she has really stepped up to the plate. She is up with her in the night and takes care of her when she cries. She goes to school and has her first real job.”

The care-free teenager who loved to challenge curfew and live on the edge is long since forgotten as Savannah assumes her latest role as a young mother. According to Savannah, she now mostly has friends who are also teen moms as many of her school friends stopped hanging out with her. She said that this experience helped her to find out who her true friends were because those who cared stood behind her during her pregnancy while others didn’t want to have to put up with her having a baby. Savannah is now part of a teen mom group at her church.

“A year ago, she was sneaking out and doing things that we would not have approved,” Laurie said. “She has really grown up in this year. I watched her go from a disrespectful, depressed, wantingno-part-of-our-family teenager to an upbeat, responsible, loving mom.”

Though emotions ran high throughout her pregnancy, Savannah said her parents have been the most supportive. They take part photo | sarah sauer in caring for baby Abbie by occasionally picking her up from daycare, occasionally Savannah said she is hopeful for the future. “I’ve really adjusted,” Savannah said. “I’m graduating early and I will changing and feeding her, and sometimes be working full time after I graduate.” She said she aspires to one day help young teen moms “because they need looking after her. all the support they can get.” november 4, 2011 | the marquee

entertainment 15

Thanksgiving

traditions Students share their Thanksgiving meal customs

“At my dad’s, we all go to our ranch house in East Texas, but we normally celebrate Thanksgiving the day before. Because on Thanksgiving Day is the Texas vs. A&M game, so my dad and I watch the game. Every year we have the turkey and massive butter rolls which are delicious. Last we have pie, mostly pecan pie. I help make it.”

Emily Banner, 12

Before you out, The Marquee uncovers the Faccus.

Uspig inciendae qui omnis reperum, true story behind Thanksgiving. conem quae audicia quamus ad et complied | vallery phillips

Fast Facts •

The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days.

•

The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tradition began in the 1920’s.

•

Abraham Lincoln issued the “Thanksgiving Proclamation” on October 3, 1863. This made Thanksgiving a national holiday.

•

In 1941, Congress passed an official proclamation that Thanksgiving would be on the fourth Thursday of November every year.

Who is Edward Winslow?

Edward Winslow was a leader of the Mayflower and was appointed governor of Plymouth Colony in 1633, 1636 and 1644. His publication Mourt’s Relation is one of the only two sources that inform current day scholars the first Thanksgiving.

What was on their table?

Here is a model table spread of what was on the menu at the first Thanksgiving feast. illustration | amanda collen

“We go to my grandparents in West, Texas. We hunt deer and turkey. If we kill a turkey, then we eat it on Thanksgiving.”

Sam Porter, 10

lamb

Pilgrim

1. The Pilgrims held the first Thanksgiving: The first Thanksgiving feast was held by Texans. In 1598, 23 years before the Pilgrim’s feast in San Elizario, Texas, locals threw a Thanksgiving celebration for the arrival of the Spanish explorer Juan de Onate.

2. Thanksgiving was about family: When the Pilgrims asked the Indians to join them for the feast, it was a peace offering.

3. Thanksgiving is about religion: If the feast concerned religion, the Pilgrims would have never invited the Indians. Thanksgiving was actually a harvest festival.

4. Turkey, turkey and turkey: The Pilgrims did not have the luxury of eating turkey. Instead they had deer.

pumpkin wheat flour

t Whea r Flou onion

duck the marquee | november 4, 2011

lobster design/graphics | amanda collen

16 entertainment

Pl ylist

Each month, one Marquee staffer will share a collection of songs from their iPod. This month’s playlist was created especially for road trips.

compiled | compiled | julianna adame

“1” Joy Zipper

“Don’t Stop” Patrick & Eugene

“Paper Bag” Fiona Apple

“Someone Like You” New London Fire

“Take Me to the Riot” Stars

“Pig” Weezer

“In Your Apartment” Charlotte Sometimes

“Under the Weather” KT Tunstall

“Antonia” Motion City Soundtrack

“Stuck On the Puzzle” Alex Turner

design | courtney clubb and breyanna washington

New Coldplay album pulsates with love, rebellion review | jasmine sachar

Amidst shaky financial markets and fiery riots erupting around the globe, “Mylo Xyloto”, Coldplay’s fifth studio album is an answer to that chaos--an encouraging collection of melodies to contrast the mayhem. It is the band’s first concept album, the entire record tied together by a common theme: the exciting love story of two people immersed in the havoc of a city.

With each consequent album, the band has showed fans a different facet of their musical ability. “Mylo Xyloto” is certainly not a shy album. It is bold, new age, electronic sounding, more theatrical than “Viva La Vida” and at an almost completely different side of the sound spectrum than the softer “Parachutes” or even “X &Y”. Lead singer Chris Martin drew inspiration from excitement and rebellion, from 70’s graffiti art and German anti-Nazi movements.

The first single “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” was the perfect prelude to the record. Catchy and miraculously uplifting, Martin’s vocals are top notch.

The band even brought in Rihanna for “Princess of China”, which at first may sound like a bizarre

combination but oddly, it works well. Rihanna laments about love gone sour while the electronic synth backs her up. This song was made for radio play. The fast-paced, bubbly “Hurts like Heaven” has the snappiest lyrics “Oh, you use your heart like a weapon/And it hurts like heaven” while “Up in Flames” is a soft-spoken, sad ballad about lost love. The last track “Up with the Birds” is an airy, ethereal conclusion where Martin finishes with “I know one thing/ Good things are coming our way.”

A good handful of the songs are melancholy ballads, while the rest pulsate with optimistic rhythm, as the ups and downs of the relationship are explored.

This makes for dramatic diversity.

Melodically, the album does hit a rut around track 8, as “Major Minus” and “UFO” do little to stand on their own.

It is rumored that “Mylo Xyloto” is the last Coldplay album. Martin himself said that the album was produced “as if it’s our last, because that’s the only way to proceed. He certainly did just that, because Mylo Xyloto throbs with the irresistible, electrifying beat of city love, the complications of which are explored in its crescendos and diminuendos, in its latticework of intricate sounds.

Fortunately, if the album is Coldplay’s last, at least they will have ended on a high note. rating:

Drop that drama fresh da illest

DJ Drama is back, hip-hoppers: ready your speakers review | breyanna washington Award-nominated DJ Drama is back and ready to give the world hot new tracks to bump. After two years of movie spots and singles, this DJ is ready to bring the hyphy back into our trunks. With his new album, “Third Power,” hip-hop fans have been gearing up for something new. Fans have been gearing up for some Drama.

DJ Drama is a collaboration artist, meaning he takes the best rappers around, throws in some new-comers, and makes a whole CD of hits based on his mixes. Drama’s latest hit, “Oh My” is quite the chart-topper. Featuring Fabolous, Roscoe Dash and Wiz Khalifa, DJ Drama kills this track. “Oh My” has become the party anthem for all the ladies in every night club. The song has also been featured on VH1’s new show, “Single Ladies.” This swagged out trio spit some hot verses on “Oh My,” but no one expected Drama to do it again when he released the remix. Trey Songz, 2 Chains and our “Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay” verse-master Big Sean resurrects and massacres this song. Within the month of this song’s release, a video has been released and has been making money on iTunes.

rating guide

ear plugs, please pretty bad

Not many remember Drama’s 2009 album, “Gangsta Grillz: The Album (Vol. 2).” Fans of today’s hits can only sit and wonder why. Was it ratings? Was it the songs? Was it poor promotion? The answer is yes to all these things. Do not get it twisted fans, Drama had an entourage of top artists including: Nas, Ludacris, Gucci Mane, Snoop Dogg, T.I. and tons more; but the combination was all off. Rappers like those stated would work better under DJ Khaled or Pharrell, but the album itself just did not soar. “Third Power” ’s album listings include, “Undercover” with J.Cole and Chris Brown and “Me and My Money” featuring Gucci Mane. This all-star line-up truly makes the album worth listening to.

DJ Drama’s Third Power is quite the album. Upon listening, one feels the true hip-hop nostalgia that music consumers of the rap world have been yearning for. After being corrupted

by Soulja Boy’s sad attempt to make music, many artists have fallen ill to the weakness of heavy beats and stupid lyrics. Few have been able to survive and succeed from the fallen’s ashes of shame. Those such as Lil’ Wayne, Jay-Z, and Kanye West have continued their streak of glory down the road of hits. Now, it’s time for DJ Drama take the wheel. rating:

average

ear candy

sweet symphony

november 4, 2011 | the marquee

sports 17

All-American girl

Senior girls’ soccer captain one of 36 athletes named to All-American soccer team photo | kathryn petrauskas

story | alex mcginnis

Jordan was elected captain a few weeks later along with senior Rachel Lurvey. Lexi and Lurvey have been friends since elementary Senior Lexi Jordan sat at the computer with her eyes glued to the school, and the two said their friendship creates a positive dynamic screen. On the page was a list of 36 names. At first glance the list was for the team. just a jumble of unfamiliar people and schools, but Jordan knew what “Lexi and I have good chemistry off the field which makes it easy she was looking for. Printed in the middle of the page, she found her to work together on the field,” Lurvey said. “I’m kind of like the own name. What Coach Chad Hobbs had told her earlier that morning cool aunt and Lexi is the mom. She leads by example and I lead by was confirmed—Jordan had been named Second Team All-American for vocalizing things.” defense.

Lexi and Lurvey expect the team to ultimately advance to the state “It was just shocking, so I didn’t know how to feel,” Lexi said. “I was tournament and bring home the title. kind of speechless.”

“I don’t expect anything less,” Lexi said. “I tell them that every Lexi’s second team status means that she is ranked as one of the day.” top six female defenders in the nation. In addition, Lexi was named Along with Lexi’s responsibilities as a captain, she also plays All-American after her junior year, a year on another top soccer team off campus, younger than all of the other defenders. at her church and maintains officer She is extremely deserving of the volunteers Lexi has been playing soccer since positions in various honor societies. She has award because of everything she also managed to stay in the top one percent of she was four years old, her level of play increasing over the years along with her brings to our team, on and off the her class. Lexi’s mom, Patricia Jordan, said love for the game. she is proud of Lexi’s All-American status field.

“I like the physical aspect of it, I love Chad Hobbs, coach and of her other accomplishments. playing defense and getting to slide tackle “It amazes me that she can do as well as people,” Lexi said. “I like the feeling of she does in all things,” Mrs. Jordan said. winning, but soccer in general I just feel like it requires you to think on “I’ve always told my kids, I want you to be involved, but we’re not the go and I’m good at that.” quitters. If you start something you’re going to finish it.”

*** Lexi’s plans for after high school are still undecided. She is still Hobbs stood in the locker room with his junior varsity red and varsity negotiating scholarships with the University of Tulsa and Texas teams, some young freshman and others experienced and decorated like A&M. Lexi hopes to pursue a career in medicine at both universities Lexi. People had been asking Lexi about her All-American recognition and also play soccer if she attends Tulsa. Mrs. Jordan said that the over the summer, but Hobbs wanted to make the announcement official. scholarships are not the only factors contributing to what college Lexi “She is extremely deserving of the award because of everything she will chose. brings to our team on and off the field,” Hobbs said.

“We’re just going to have to sit down as a family and decide which Despite Lexi’s embarrassment over the attention, Lexi said she was one is best and where she’s going to be the happiest,” Mrs. Jordan encouraged when her teammates congratulated her and told her she said. “That’s really the ultimate goal--where she is going to be the deserved it. happiest.” the marquee | november 4, 2011

design | breyanna washington

18

sports

Shooting for life lessons New girls’ basketball coach brings versatility, new approach

photos | jordan richards

story | emily aijkens

Also new this year is the “hands down” policy. When bad passes are made, or there is confusion, usually players put their hands up. t any one moment Coach Fred Jones is “They look at each other and that leads to blaming,” wearing one of his State Championship rings. senior Krystal Richardson said.

It glistens as he teaches or coaches under “Instead of blaming each other, we do hands down to fluorescent lights. stay calm and stay positive,” Malone said.

Jones has taught English, BCIS and Teen Leadership, Jones has also been a teen leadership teacher at Marcus in elementary, middle, high school and alternative schools for two years. The class has allowed Jones to know students throughout Texas. He has coached P.E., football, boys on a different level. basketball and now he is the new Richardson had Jones as a girls’ basketball coach.

I want to teach them what it means teen leadership teacher before After helping the boys’ became coach. A lot of to truly love first and put themselves he basketball team to win state last what Jones taught in Teen second. year, Jones is the head coach Leadership he has transferred for the girls’ basketball team. to the court.

Fred Jones, coach Jones describes the difference in “He is very big on always teaching girls. encouraging people, being “Girls do exactly what their coach tells them to; boys positive, and listening,” Richardio said. kind of go off on their own and do their own thing,” Jones “It’s an easy transition because they know my values said. and my morals,” Jones said. “My passion is to impact kids.”

Jones brings over lessons he has learned from the boys Jones is teaching the same life skills he does in teen to the girls’ team. leadership class, on the court.

“The biggest thing for me is teaching them how to be a “Every day you have to have work ethic, you have to be team, teach them how to love each other,” Jones said. That positive. Every day you have to come ready to encourage is displayed this year in the team motto, “Self second, love your team mates,” Jones said. “It’s bigger then the wins and first.” Senior Shannon Malone came up with the motto for loses. I want to teach them what it means to truly love first this year. and put themselves second.”

“I’ve been playing with a lot of the girls since third On the inside of his ring a verse from II Timothy 4:5 is and fourth grade. They mean a lot more to me than just inscribed. “For you, truly be vigilant, laboring in all things. teammates,” Malone said.

Do the work of an Evangelist, fulfilling your ministry.”

A

design | breyanna washington

Maraudermusings Players talk about their first impressions of coach Fred Jones.

I loved him. He has the biggest heart and he just wants the best for our players.

Kaitlyn Cantrell, 12

He knows when to joke around and he knows when to be serious. He can be sarcastic, but he doesn’t carry it to the court. He is very very sweet and kind and he is thoughtful.

Krystal Richardson, 12

You just want to hang out with him.

It’s hard sometimes to see him as a coach, but we all respect him so much.

Shannon Malone, 12

november 4, 2011 | the marquee

sports 19

Balancing act

Senior gymnast commits to University of Florida after being offered full ride scholarship consuming. It’s tough on the body, but it teaches you some great life skills that she will have for the rest of Senior Rachel Spicer stands on the beam in her pink her life. So the sport has been good to her.”

Spicer’s parents spend $12,000 per year on and black leotard that Olympic medalist Nastia Liukin had given her. It’s her first event of the competition, but gymnastics. This cost includes the 50 leotards she she isn’t nervous. She wobbles a bit on the four inch owns, the monthly tuition for the gym and the wide beam, but recovers and finishes the routine. Little registration fees for competitions plus travel for Spicer did Spicer know at the time, friends and family watched and the coaches.

“I probably wouldn’t have gotten this far without through their television screens as she competed at this second annual Nastia Liukin 2011 Supergirl Cup in them [parents],” Spicer said. “I couldn’t ask for Jacksonville, Florida on March 4. Despite being in the anything better.”

After visiting only the University of Oklahoma and 14th spot after the first round, Spicer grabbed the third the University of Florida, Spicer decided to attend the place spot out of the 36 girls that competed.

“I was actually really surprised,” Spicer said. “I was University of Florida on a full-ride scholarship for competing with people that could probably go to the gymnastics. She is graduating early in December and Olympics and I’m not at that level, so it was just a leaving for Gainesville.

“It was just a good fit really good experience. It was I like the competitive aspect. for her,” Mrs. Spicer said. encouraging.”

University of Florida Spicer has been involved It’s a lot of hard work and “The coach is a great person and with gymnastics since she was takes a lot of time. they’ve had great success in 4-years-old when her mom Rachel Spicer, 12 gymnastics.” enrolled her in a “mommy Since she has been to and me” class. Spicer had also danced, but ended up choosing gymnastics over dance every one of Spicer’s competitions, Mrs. Spicer said it will be tough on her and her husband not being able because she thought she might get more out of it. to go watch Spicer compete once she is in college.

She was right.

In 2010, Spicer won the all-around at the Junior Though, Spicer said she is excited to compete for a big Olympic National Championships. Spicer has also university.

Spicer said she is undecided on a major and isn’t won three consecutive state championships and two sure if she wants to pursue gymnastics after college. regional titles.

“I know my love for the sport will probably go “I like the competitive aspect,” Spicer said. “It’s a lot of hard work and takes a lot of time. But you just somewhere else, but I’m still undecided right now,” have to be really dedicated about it and I like showing Spicer said. what I’ve worked for at competitions.”

Spicer trains at Metroplex Gymnastics in Allen six days out of the week. Sundays are her only free days.

She gets out of school at 1:23 p.m., then goes to the gym 3:30-8 p.m. every day. She gets home at 9 p.m. and finishes her homework before going to bed.

Spicer said that because of the hard work and time gymnastics demanded of her, there was a point between middle school and high school when her dedication wavered and she had to decide whether or not to stick with the sport.

“You kind of give a lot up just training so much,” Spicer said. “I know all gymnasts think of that because it is so hard, but because of my teammates and the support of my parents, I just stuck with it and I’m really glad I did.”

Her mom, Mickie, said parents must sacrifice a lot for gymnastics. Mrs. Spicer was fortunate enough to work at the gym Spicer trained at before Spicer could drive herself to workouts, so it was easier on them.

“It’s kind of like a love – hate relationship with the photos | submitted sport of gymnastics,” Mrs. Spicer said. “It’s very time story | molly spain

the marquee | november 4, 2011

design | courtney clubb

opinion

Sasha fierce

BOOMBAS [things we like]

20

Marauder pride

Change is good

Give them a visit

We love that people are going over-the-top for spirit days. The full body lion suits on animal print day and frighteningly accurate teacher impersonations make coming to school on Fridays worth it.

The homecoming carnival was a nice change from the traditional parade.

The booths had something for everyone, and we all loved watching assistant principals getting pied in the face.

The colleges in the commons are taken for granted. Not many students have time to take off school to go on college visits. It’s really convenient to learn about universities at lunch or during passing periods.

Sarah Sauer

Pets, watch out for me Growing up, my family never had much luck with pets.

Turtles died from overexposure to the sun, our rabbit died of heat stroke and multiple fish died from not enough “Beta-safe” dechlorinator in the water. By age 7, I was already on pet goldfish Esmeralda the VI. I guess you could say my parents didn’t exactly have the green thumb of pet ownership. This past year I learned that I also inherited this unsought gene.

Unaware at the time of my unsuitable skills of pet watching, my unsuspecting neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Weever, asked me to babysit their beloved terrier, Zoey. I happily obliged, oblivious that this next week was going to be a true test of dog survival.

Let me just say beforehand that no dogs were lethally injured in the making of this column.

Everything was going fine the first two days. Zoey was a happy and energetic puppy. But on the third day, I came home to find my room a terrorized mess. Shoes and pillows sprawled everywhere. My backpack was unzipped with its contents spilled all over the room. In the corner I found a package of two Oreo Cakesters hastily chewed open.

In my defense, what dog knows how to unzip a backpack and tear open a synthetic package? Probably not most, but this was evidently a demon dog. Aware that dogs are deathly allergic to chocolate, I raced to my computer to find some emergency service to call. The last thing I wanted was the blood of an extremely cute terrier on my hands.

The emergency clinic operator said Zoey should be fine and not to worry. Dogs have to eat a very large amount of chocolate to experience the deathly effects. She said to keep a close eye on Zoey and to monitor her to make sure she was okay. Considering she was still bouncing off the walls, I assumed she was.

The next two days went as planned, and I even found some time away from dog-sitting to visit a cupcake shop in Dallas with friends. Shutting my door before I left for school, I didn’t have the slightest thing to worry about, or so I thought. But when I returned home that afternoon, Zoey had somehow opened my door and managed to get on top of my dresser to take down the cardboard box of cupcakes that was taped shut. She had ripped it open and eaten two chocolate cupcakes. Of course she left the one vanilla cupcake that would ensure her survival and instead took the risk of, not one, but both the chocolate cupcakes.

I speed dialed the pet care emergency line again and got the same woman. She ultimately thought that Zoey would be okay.

She also noted that dog sitting just might not be my forte. Trust me lady, by this point I had definitely figured that out.

Luckily, Zoey did make it out okay after all. The next few days my family and I were on high alert for food that Zoey might find and thankfully they passed by with no problem. Zoey was still the happy pup she was at the beginning of the week and when her owners came to pick her up I was sad but also relieved.

I should’ve been more aware of what I was getting myself into because not taking good care of her could have really made her sick, and that’s irresponsible on my part. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to handle my own pet, but that’ll probably be a long, long time in the future. And who knows, maybe by that time I’ll have moved on to watching kids.

design | joe rau

Call me the honey badger

McKenna Autem

A heartfelt apology Anxiously awaiting the arrival of my sister, I didn’t know what to expect. After not seeing her for two years, I could be certain of one thing, she was going to be different. Just how different, I wasn’t exactly sure.

Growing up, I wanted to be just like Lindsey. She had it all, she was pretty, popular, in the top ten percent of her class, a cheerleader. There wasn’t a thing she could do to make me think any less than highly of her.

In sixth grade, I finally received the privilege of knowing my sister; it was like things changed over night. She was the first person I went to when I needed advice or I had a secret to spill. The relationship I had always longed for with Lindsey was finally coming true, or at least I thought.

Even though I saw my sister as perfect, I knew she was actually quite rebellious; my preteen self just easily overlooked that fact. Drugs and alcohol were irrelevant at that age, they were things I had only heard about and was told to stay away from.

Our relationship became strained as Lindsey began her downward spiral. It seemed she was in and out of rehab at every moment, and my patience wore thin as she continually changed.

I no longer looked forward to talking to her about my adolescent drama and struggles. I didn’t want to be a part of who she had become. I tried to avoid being in the same room as her as much as possible because when I was around her, my back tensed, my

?

think THE MEDIA IS AFFECTING

How

do you

compiled | meghan eurich

mouth formed a hard, thin line and it took everything in me to keep my opinions to myself.

Our strained relationship became almost nothing at all as I started high school. I hardly ever saw her because she didn’t live at home anymore. Of course I missed Lindsey—I’d find myself in her room often looking to borrow clothes, then would realize her closet was empty—but ultimately I felt more calm, more at ease when she wasn’t around.

This year, mid-September, I sat in terminal A of DFW, waiting for my sister’s layover flight on her way to New Mexico for yet another treatment facility. I hadn’t wanted to go, but for my mother’s sake and in the light of recent events I obliged. She came out of the gate with our older sister in tow, hugged my mom then looked at me, “What? No hug?” she asked.

I was frozen. It was almost as if the sister I had once known as a friend had faded completely. Lindsey looked worse than I remembered, her skin sallow and her once blonde hair now more of a mousy gray. She had always been tiny, never weighing more than 95 pounds, but she had gained weight in the two years since I had last seen her, now looking around 120. I gave her a slight smile, though I’m sure it looked more like a grimace, and held out my arms to her. A million thoughts raced through my head, but I held my tongue.

We sat by the luggage carousel, waiting for her flight to arrive.

Lindsey and I threw sisterly-sarcastic remarks at each other and laughed hysterically about one of our favorite movies. Things began to seem so normal, like the Lindsey I knew and admired hadn’t completely vanished, like I could still get her back.

The hour and a half came and went, and too soon it was time for her to leave. I embraced Lindsey in a hug, put my mouth close to her ear and dropped my voice low enough so my mother couldn’t hear, “I love you, please be strong for me. I need you to be the big sister finally.”

I had never realized until that night just how much I needed to grow up. All this time I had thought so highly of myself because of the things I had learned not to do from my sister. For six years, I ignored the fact that my sister more or less needed me, and needed to be loved by me. The bitterness and anger I felt—still feel—is vanishing as I’ve finally accepted the fact that yes, loving Lindsey is going to be extremely difficult, but by forgiving her and looking forward to the future, I can establish the basis to build our relationship back on.

“The media is kind of desensitizing it.

They’re putting more into the TV shows and act like it’s not a big deal.”

Henry Reiner, 9

“The media is affecting teen pregnancy by showing that there is more of a consequence than a reward to having a baby.”

Kelly McGuire, 10

photos | vallery phillips

november 4, 2011 | the marquee

HEYS [things we don’t like]

opinion Wi-fi fail

Extreme temps

Misplaced bandies

With smart phones, it costs money to get on the Internet. The LISD student wi-fi took so long to be functional for a lot of kids.

When wi-fi was down, BYOT wasn’t that much different from last year.

It’s hard to remember a time when the thermostats actually worked. Some teachers give detentions for touching the thermostat because they’re so unpredictable. Clearly this is a problem.

The band needs a locker room. The S hall bathroom isn’t working out. Why not open the auditorium bathrooms for them? We all know how hard they work and they deserve their own place to change.

I’m not a writer

Joseph Rau

Rules of the road

You could say I have a bit of road rage. I’m a little neurotic.

Possibly hypocritical. But it’s not completely my fault. I am the product of two over-angry sisters and a father who is “that guy” on the road. A daily dose of yelling on a short excursion or five hour road trip was commonplace. This was how I learned to drive. Throughout my illustrious two and a half year driving life, I’ve developed a set of guidelines that I would like other drivers to follow.

1) The speed is 40, not 36. If you don’t want me to ride your tail and honk my horn, observe local speed limits, if not faster.

We ALL have places to go.

2) Use caution towards cars. The speed limit and other traffic laws are there for a reason, bikers. If you want me to share the road, go my speed. Attach a little motor to the back of your bicycle, and don’t delay me. Don’t misunderstand me, I want you to get some exercise. I’d just rather you do so at the gym.

Same effect, just less annoying to the rest of us.

3) Get on my level or veer right. Unless your left turn is quickly approaching, do not drive slowly in the left lane. Ever heard of using the left lane as the passing lane? Some drivers leave for a destination with minimal time to spare, not expecting any obstacles. Left-lane slowpokes, get out.

4) If you can’t read my license plate, you’re too close. If I

am observing correct speed limits, do not indicate so by riding my back bumper too closely. I will employ the notorious brake check. Hope you’re paying attention!

5) Blinkers were made for a reason. Don’t be afraid to use your blinkers when turning. As much as I love to slam on my brakes, utilizing the easily forgettable blinker tools is simple.

6) Don’t stalk me, bro. If I have a momentary lapse in driving etiquette, please don’t take your time to track me down in the lanes of the road or grocery store. If I wasted your time by letting someone go out of turn, don’t further waste your precious moments by yelling at me. Ultimately, you are embarassing yourself, not proving a point.

7) Horns aren’t toys. If I’m honking my horn at you, it doesn’t mean I want to take you on a date. Take it personally and improve your flawed ways. Pretend it’s a slightly louder version of my voice saying “The first time you skipped the green light was funny, the fifth not so much!” However, don’t just use this useful tool on a whim. Like the boy who cried wolf, the more it is used, the less effective it becomes.

8)To the girl who stood in the middle of the road taking a Facebook pic with your mom, you’re embarrassing yourself. This one goes out to all the pedestrians who think that just because we won’t hit you, you can walk as slowly as you please. Nobody likes it when you stand in the middle of the road, not even your grandmother. Respect the pedestrian traffic laws so that cars and pedestrians can live in perfect harmony. So thank you, silly girl, for causing a minor traffic jam in the Palio’s parking lot.

9) Those bold enough to turn in front of me should be bold enough to keep a safe distance away from my car. Hypothetically, let’s say you decide to risk your life and make a turn onto a road that I am traveling on. If this does occur, make sure to get up to the speed limit before I get up to you. Slowing down is not only a waste of my gas, but also my life.

10) Respect is a two-way street. It’s quite simple, really. If the police don’t want you driving like that, neither do I. Observe all

of the rules of the road and you and I will get along just fine.

By-law: All drivers are bound to violate one of the above driving suggestions, even me. Pray to the driving gods for forgiveness, and all is forgotten. Unless, of course, you make these horrible violations habitual.

MARQUEE REMARKS

“The media is definitely not promoting it, but speaking out against it. I don’t think that people are going to want to be pregnant at this time in their lives.”

“People think it’s acceptable now because it’s on shows like Teen Mom, and people want to be on shows like that.”

Sam Karnes, 11

Megan Barry, 12

the marquee | november 4, 2011

“The portrayal of young love in TV programs affects teen pregnancy because it’s romanticized.

They make it seem that everything is going to turn out okay, but that is not normally the case.”

Marcie Cooley, English

21

Like my status

Jordan Richards

Reliving family memories The sun set slowly on the 48 acre barren pasture over the aged wooden barn, its golden rays pierced through the tree-lined creek parallel to the 39-year-old ranch style home. This was my grandparents’ farm, my childhood.

I remember the calm mornings when the dew dripped from the pecan trees and the creek was still. At this time of day, my brothers and I ventured after our grandpa to feed all the animals.

In an attempt to keep our shoes dry from the moist morning grass, we hopped along the square stepping stones leading to the door of the barn. In the everyday routine, the donkeys got their breakfast first, then the cats and finally the dog.

The smell of a home-cooked meal lingered in the night air as my grandma made dinner. After the meal was prepared, my brothers and I struggled to sit on the tall four green bar chairs.

The seats were woven with thick twine and rose up about three feet off the ground. In front of us were our plates ranging from homemade sausage and biscuits to warm chicken dumplings.

These were always the best dinners. If we were lucky, there was fresh peanut butter cookies for dessert.

On special nights when the fall weather reached its peak, we built a large bonfire, carefully crafted to smolder but not produce smoke. The fire was located at the edge of the property under the old pecan tree. We would surrround the fire and roast hot dogs accompanied by my grandma’s homemade chunky chili.

Being on the farm was always a new adventure. I spent long days here exploring, discovering, and growing with the property.

Unfortunately, those days are over. The farm was sold in 2009 due to the economy. The property quickly disappeared from my life, but I will always remember the experiences that took place there.

Now that it is gone I feel more appreciative of the little things that were at the farm. It was strange because the further I was away from the house the stronger my feelings grew towards it.

The mistake I made was not cherishing it while I still had it in my life. The happy memories will remain in my mind forever.

For example, the special occasions where the family gathered were always enjoyable. Holidays were typically celebrated at the farm because it was large enough to hold our whole family. The kids had their own dining space, and a counter lay in the center of the kitchen allowing easy access to the piles of delicious food. The farm itself became irrelevant. It was the laughter and the memories that were made there that stuck with me. From Christmas to Thanksgiving, there was always something to smile about. I wish I would have taken into account how important those experiences were instead of waiting until it was gone.

The farm was what shaped me to who I am today, it molded my future. Every little thing counts, but at that time I thought otherwise.

After the farm was sold, with it went my memorable childhood.

The happiness that took place there will always remain in my life. The sun will set and I will forever remember the wonderful past that was created there. design | joe rau

22

editorials

Paychecks must adjust to higher cost of living The Lewisville ISD Board of Trustees created a new salary schedule for employees that is unfair to all workers, especially teachers. LISD employees typically receive an increase in pay to comply with the growing cost of living. This year, however, the Board has chosen not to raise salaries even though both the cost of living and health insurance have increased.

During this time of continuing financial troubles, the last issue LISD employees need to be dealing with is pay cuts. Some may argue that this new salary schedule does not involve pay cuts. But considering employees are receiving less pay than they had expected to receive and both the cost of living and health insurance have increased, it is entirely logical to regard this salary schedule as a pay cut.

Due to previous budget cuts, classes are larger this year. Teachers do not deserve the same pay as last year when the number of students they are teaching has increased.

More students lead to more distractions and more essays, math problems and PowerPoints to grade. More work should mean more pay, but this is not the case with the new salary

schedule.

Financial issues are a part of everyday life now, but if money is needed for the district, it should not be taken out of the salaries of the employees responsible for the education of future generations. Teachers are the key to the academic and future success of all students. The money should be taken out of the salaries of those given exceedingly higher paychecks than teachers.

For teachers providing for a family, this new salary schedule is especially difficult.

Food and gas prices have increased. With the same salary as last year, some teachers are struggling to make ends meet. The price of college tuition has also increased. Teachers with students going off to college may not receive enough money to allow their children to go to college because of this new salary schedule.

Worried students and parents should voice their opinions about the new salary schedule at the next board meeting on Nov. 11 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. If enough opinions are voiced, a new salary schedule that will accommodate the needs of all employees could possibly be established for next year.

BW

High school curriculum should include sex-ed

design | joe rau

In 2008, the state of Texas decided to change requirements for high school graduation.

Among the dropped classes was Health.

Included in the Health curriculum was a unit on sex education. Now this material is no longer presented in high school.

The elimination of sex education from high school curriculum was a huge mistake on the part of the state. Adolescents need to be taught sex education in school. This information needs to be reintroduced into the high school setting in some form.

Students need this information because the United States has the highest teen pregnancy and birth rates out of any industrialized country in the world. Even if the information taught in a sex education class only prevented a few unwanted pregnancies or sexually transmitted disease (STD) issues, that’s a huge change in those students’ lives.

Students also need sex education because STDs are becoming more and more common among teens. Currently in the high school setting, STDs are something joked about in the hallways. Most students have no idea about the real consequences of contracting one. Most of these diseases have no cure, but right now students have no way of learning this information from a non-biased source.

Some parents may object to teaching sex ed in school because they feel it is something to be dealt with at home. However, many parents may not have the knowledge to talk about STDs and other sex related health issues with their children.

A sex education course doesn’t necessarily have to be introduced through a Health class. It could be integrated into freshmen and junior meetings at the beginning or end of each year. The school district could train counselors or other teachers that would teach the sex education class. This would be the best way because the information would be presented in a quick, painless manner instead of a long, drawn out required course.

By doing the sex education course through class meetings, it allows more leeway in a student’s schedule by no longer taking nine weeks for a required class.

Students and parents should contact the district in order to request that schools provide some form of of sex education. Since the state mandates health classes emphasize abstinence, that would be taught as well as information on STDs and methods of birth control.

It’s important this change be made so that students are not left in the dark. november 4, 2011 | the marquee

the marquee | november 4, 2011

24

spotlight

Friday night at the fair

Three-time state champion band returns with “Vanity Fair”, Victorian fair-themed show highlighting music by composer Percy Fletcher photos | jordan richards

Bottom left: The Marcus drumline marches on the field in as they play in front of thousands at Marauder Stadium on Sept. 21. The drumline recently took first place at the Plano Drumline Competition.

Botttom right: The band escorts march onto the field holding balloons to enhance the theme of the show.The escorts’ jobs are to help with the visual effect of the performance.

Top left: Senior Kelsey Branson twirls her rifle in the halftime performance. “It is a lot of fun to perform in front of people, side by side with your best friends,” Branson said. design | breyanna washington

Top right: The French horn sections plays the music featured in the “Vanity Fair” performance. The performance features music by British composer Percy Fletcher.

Middle right: Senior John Lenard rolls on his symbol while playing the vibrophone during the performance.

“You’re around a great group of people. There is nothing more fun than the feel of playing a great show,” Lenard said.

november 4, 2011 | the marquee