The OCTOBER 21, 2010
MARQUEE
[VOLUME TWENTY-FIVE] ISSUE TWO
page [3] Tax increase voted down, budget cuts necessary
page [17] Girls’ cross country benefits from young talent
page [21] Staff supports judge’s ruling on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell military policy
MARCUS HIGH SCHOOL [5707 MORRIS ROAD] FLOWER MOUND, TX 75028
[table of contents]
the marquee [newsmagazine] editor in chief luke swinney
managing editor carley meiners
photo editor
allison pryzbysz
graphics editor
nathaniel thornton
news editor
carley meiners
sports editor
jasmine sachar
in-depth editor lauren rose
feature editor devon miller
page 17 news/
entertainment editor kelsey mccauley
opinion editor
kelsey mccauley
business manager photo by becca dyer cover design by maria heinonen cover photo by allison przybysz
[5] GOVERNOR’S RACE With the gubernatorial election on Nov. 2., The Marquee looks at both candidate’s social media websites and how they affect the election. by luke swinney
feature/ [9] REBECCA SHUGART One junior finds success through modeling after posing for the cover of fashion magazines, billboards and even walking down the runway. by olivia tarlton
entertainment/
[15] BURGER REVIEW As new burger joints have started opening around Flower Mound and Highland Village, The Marquee chooses which are the best. by carley meiners
sports/ [18] GOLF Golf team led by Kansas State University bound senior hopes to advance to state tournament and defeat the heavily-favored Allen squad. by alex cain
allison przybysz
reporters
alex cain, sarah sauer, molly spain, olivia tarlton
graphics
maria heinonen, james hubbard, jordan richards, breyanna washington
photographers
kyle anderson, becca dyer, peter iversen, sarah sauer, taylor thomas
adviser
lajuana hale
principal
gary shafferman The Marquee newsmagazine is a student-generated publication of Marcus High School. It is produced, edited and maintained through the efforts of the school’s advanced journalism class. The Marquee is designed to serve the school and community as a forum for open discussion and student expression. The Marquee encourages letters to the editor as part of its mission to educate, inform and provide an open forum for debate.All submissions must be signed. The staff reserves the right to edit all material. Editorials reflect the opinion of the staff, not necessarily that of the administration. Signed columns or reviews represent only the opinion of the author. Advertising rates are $34 per 1/16 of a page, with discounts available. For more information call 469-713-5196. The Marquee is a standing member of ILPC, TAJE, ATPI, CSPA, NSPA, JEA and Quill and Scroll.
news
Tax increase rejected as budget cuts loom Board of Trustees to meet in November to discuss budget as they attempt to offset $22 million deficit from last year story by jasmine sachar
that don’t affect the core curriculum, Kyer said, will be examined first. LISD voters’ rejection of the two-cent tax increase Assistant principal Jason Mullin said that the budget on last month’s ballot spells out budget cuts and might cut was needed for the school. bring big changes to the campus level next year. The “It’s unfortunate,” Mullin said. “The increase would terms and nature of these cuts will be discussed at the make it easier to have some flexibility financially so we school board’s resort meeting next month. didn’t face the prospect of cuts. The problem is a lot of The district, finding itself in a $22 million budget def- the general public doesn’t understand which types of icit at the end of last year, voted to put the .02 percent funds can be used for teacher salaries. When you start tax on the ballot to raise revenue to counteract the debt. losing that money, or costs rise, you don’t have any However, 67 percent of voters rejected the proposition. more money to pay the bills.” School board president Carol Kyer said passing the The district has about $100 million in a reserve fund tax rate would have resulted in the state awarding the for emergency purposes, but Kyer said they are relucdistrict $3 million. tant to use it to plug the Now, she said cuts are deficit. inevitable. “You usually don’t “It’s money taken want to spend savings on The increase would make it easier to away from the students everyday occurrences,” have some flexibility financially so we by the public,” Kyer Kyer said. “It’s not like a said. reoccurring paycheck. If didn’t face the prospect of cuts. The reason the defiit’s gone, it’s gone.” - JASON MULLIN, Asst. Principal cit exists, Kyer said, The tax increase, LISD is that the money the projected, would have state grants to the disgenerated $7 million in trict is frozen at the revenues and would have 2005-06 level, though costs have increased dramati- gone to paying for Maintenance and Operation fees. cally because of a 3,000 student increase in district enLatham thinks the way to move ahead is to cut what rollment since then. she calls a ”heavy administration,” which features eight New school board member Brenda Latham was the assistant superintendents and two deputy superintenonly member to vote against putting the tax cut on the dents. Kyer insists that the district has always been reballot, saying that the district needed to reevaluate its sponsible with money. spending. “(People) need to look at other districts around,” “I think it’s wrong to not exhaust every effort to make Kyer said. “We’re not wasteful. We’ve always gotten sure that you are running as efficiently as you possibly exemplary management letters for our fiscal spending, can,” Latham said. and the way we organize the district we get the most out Though no plans are concrete, possible changes ac- of our money.” cording to Kyer and Latham might include cutting unOn the other hand, Latham thinks that the district necessary field trips, further decreasing substitutes and should dip into the reserve fund instead of issuing taxes. changing from block schedule to a seven-period school “I think that they have been afraid to touch it, thinkday. Classroom sizes might also increase, and the dis- ing things are going to get worse, but things are tough on trict will most likely continue its policy of attrition – not the American people who live in this district.” Latham hiring a replacement teacher after one resigns. Things said. “We can’t just keep asking them for more money.”
“
”
2009-2010 Budget 13% 2% 1% 84%
Payroll Costs Purchased and Contracted Services Supplies and Materials Other Operating
Changes that will be discussed: - Reorganizing teachers - Moving to a seven period school day - Cutting down on field trips
2005-06 enrollment: 47, 283 2009-2010 enrollment: 50,508
The current tax rate is $1.04 per $100 valuation
If the tax raise had passed, $7 million in revenue would decrease the deficit by $16 million.
$$$ $$$ $$$
Now, without the increase, the deficit will increase to $23 million. the marquee |october 21, 2010
If the tax increase had passed, current tax rate would be $1.06 per $100 valuation. The district has already reduced staff through attrition where teachers who resign are not replaced. design by maria heinonen 3
news
Research shows recession is over Although technically finished, jobs still face jeopardy today story by devon miller
The recession is over, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. But for sophomore Alex Troiani and his family, the problems have just begun. In July 2010, Alex’s father, Arthur Troiani, a project manager for Dannenbaum LLC, was let go after the company failed to get enough contracts to support the work force. Alex’s mother Rhonda, a dermatologist at RDH Medical Center, supports the family while her husband searches for a job. “It’s been stressful trying to pay all the bills and keep things up the way they were,” Rhonda said. “He looks for a job every day and sends out resumes every day but so far, no luck.” Alex said one of the hardest parts of his father’s unemployment is not being able to buy the things he used to. “We’ve been a lot tighter on money,” Alex said. “All the money my mom gets from work goes straight to paying bills so I can’t do stuff like go to the movies or get things I normally could get like soda. We have to watch everything we do.” One of the consequences of unemployment is losing essential benefits like health care. After Arthur lost his job, the Troianis were forced to switch to a different healthcare provider, one that didn’t cover Alex’s mixed martial arts training. “I can’t do MMA anymore because if I got hurt insurance wouldn’t pay for it,” Alex said. “If I went to the hospital it’d be too much money and with my dad not having a job I couldn’t keep up with it.” The Bureau made the decision after reviewing data that indicated the economy began to grow during the months between July and September after 18 months of declining. However, Alex’s father has not been able to find a job since he lost his almost four months ago. Despite this, Alex still has hope his father will find a job soon and when he does, Alex plans to resume his MMA training. “He knows what he’s doing and he’s really good at what he does,” Alex said. “He has a lot of connections in that business. He has a lot of guys watching his back for him and looking out for jobs.” The Bureau made the decision after reviewing data that indicated the economy began to grow during the months between July and September after 18 months of declining. 4 design by jordan richards
Approximately 5.1 million jobs have been lost since the start of the recession in December 2007 and several other jobs have been relocated to other parts of the country. Senior Lilly Franklin* and her family were forced to make a tough decision when her father was relocated to California* two years ago. When the company her father worked for originally started to decline, he was offered a new job as vice president of a company whose main office is in California. Franklin said that even though her father lives and works in Montana he still makes time for his children. “He flies home every other weekend to see our football games and sometimes during the week, but he usually stays in California,” Franklin said. “It’s been hard, but he didn’t want to uproot our family and he didn’t want to ruin my senior year by uprooting us either.” While families like the Franklins and the Troianis have been hurt by the recession, Macroeconomics teacher Matthew Stoeberl said that the Dallas/Fort Worth area hasn’t been hit as hard as other parts of the country. “The housing market in Texas is predicted to come back inside the next two years,” Stoeberl said. “Housing markets in other states like Indiana and Michigan, aren’t predicted to come back for another six or seven years, so we’re in good shape. I’m not saying the recession hasn’t hurt but it hasn’t hurt Texas as much as other areas.” Despite some positive signs, Macroeconomics teacher Matthew Stoeberl said the recession is far from over. “The positive effects are going to be temporary,” Stoeberl said. “It’s been improving, but I don’t think we’ve done anything that is a long term fix. We’re going to be right back into another problem in the next three or four years. I do not have any long term hopes right now.” Alex also said he isn’t sure whether the recession is truly over. “I think it’s getting better but it’s going to fluctuate for awhile,” Alex said. “I can’t say it’s actually getting better because it’s going take a lot more than what we’ve done so far. A lot of people are trying their best effort to do something about it but it’s going to take a lot more time than we’ve given it.”
$
photo by taylor thomas
Stacking Statistics
Unemployment rate in recession:
9.7%
Unemployment rate before recession:
4.9%
Flower Mound employment rate:
95%
Construction spending up:
0.4%
*Names and places have been changed
october 21, 2010 | the marquee
news
Festival changed
Campus expansion story by lauren rose
Starting in spring of next year, North Texas Community College (NCTC) will expand its campus and services to a new location in Parker Square. Currently 6,000 students attend the Corinth campus which opened in 1999. The college’s board has recently approved a lease agreement with a group of private investors on a 10-year agreement of the 32,000 square foot building in Parker Square. According to NCTC President Eddie Hadlock the expansion is intended to benefit the population of students already attending NCTC that commute from Denton County to the Corinth Campus of NCTC. “Frankly, our Corinth Campus is rapidly nearing a state of being maxed out,” Hadlock said. “It’s likely that over the next year or so we’ll be doing some kind of expansion there as well, not only to increase capacity but also to improve services.” Over 118 course selections will be offered at the new Parker Square location.
story by jasmine sachar
photo by taylor thomas Within the next few weeks, security guards will begin cracking down on students parked without a parking permit. A first time violator will receive an orange warning sticker placed on their car, a second offense could result in the owner’s car being towed at their own expense. Parking permits are available for purchase in Rusty Hamric’s office, C 215, for $5.
After five years of J.K. Rowling styled festivities, the Hogwarts Festival was canceled this year by the Highland Village Parks Foundation. In place of the festival, Studio B will host a Very Potter Weekend on Oct. 23-24., with similar events like lessons in dueling and a Great Feast. Upwards of 100 volunteers, several of them Marcus thespian members, acted as characters in the festival, which took place at Kids Kastle in Highland Village. Visitors were sorted into houses, visited classrooms and took a tour of the castle grounds. Outside the grounds was Hosgmeade village where games were set up for kids. Sophomore Sabrina Austin had been participating in the festival since its inception. “No matter if you were in drama or musical theater, we all came together,” Austin said. “I thought it unified us. I feel a little disappointed because I thought it was kind of a big deal.”
Governors analyzed as election crawls closer story by luke swinney
With the gubernatorial election on Nov. 2., republican incumbent Rick Perry and democratic challenger Bill White have shifted their campaign focus to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Throughout the campaign process, Perry has held a lead of around 50 percent to White’s 42 percent, but the numbers fluctuate and White has slowly gained ground. The Marquee looked into both candidate’s websites to see if they’re making a difference in the votes.
Vs. billwhitefortexas.com
rickperry.org
Bill White’s website is pleasant to the eye and is also easily navigated. The biggest pro for the site is the main slide show that links readers to White’s policies, ways to donate money and ways to volunteer for his campaign. By making these so accessible to the reader, it encourages Texans to help White and vote for him on election day. White’s Facebook page is also one of his main advantages. As of Oct. 19, White had 145,473 fans of his page who all receive updates on his campaign daily. Besides these updates, White’s Facebook page is also personal, letting voters know White’s favorite TV shows, movies, music and books. While this personal connection might not sway voters entirely, it does make White seem more human than solely a politician.
Rick Perry’s website is more bland and not as visually appealing as White’s which does hurt his image. It’s updated much less frequently and doesn’t have an easy place to donate money. Perry is the incumbent which means he won’t have to worry about money as much, but it still would be nice to see more about Perry’s policies. Perry’s Facebook page is less personal than White’s, but its biggest positive is the home screen’s “Home Headquarters” plan. In this plan, Perry encourages Texans to sign up and pledge to identify 12 pro-Perry voters and make sure all 12 vote on election day. The page doesn’t have any personal statistics on Perry, but that might not be needed since Texans already know him as the current governor.
the marquee |october 21, 2010
design by jordan richards 5
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october 21, 2010 | the marquee
feature
Q &
A Mary Margaret Taylor, 11 compiled by olivia tarlton photo by allison przybysz
Q: What is your favorite thing about school? A: My favorite thing is definitely fit gram. I just love the idea and it is so accurate.
Q: Who is your favorite celebrity? A: Miley Cyrus most definitely. She’s a hot-
tie and I like her music videos. She’s a good role model and she keeps it classy.
Q: What’s your favorite song? A: Don’t Stop Believing by Journey. Dude who can’t not like that song?
Q: What’s your favorite thing to wear? A: My sweater collection is my favorite. Q: What was your favorite childhood toy? A: Bopitz! They are so legit and they work on your hand-eye coordination.
Q: What’s your favorite dance move? A: The Carlton. I’m a pro. Q: If the cops arrest a mime, do they tell
him he has the right to remain silent? A: They don’t. They tell him he has the right to remain in his little box that he draws himself. the marquee |october 21, 2010
s m a i l l i w x e l a / t s i t r a d
feature
story by alex cain photos by sarah sauer
position as the concert master as well, which is the leader of the orchestra. “The concert master is the head leader, the one that is the most talented and is just an amazing player,” orchestra director Dr. Kathlene Goodrich said. Williams has held the position as the concert master for two years. The position requires Williams to help tune instruments and direct the orchestra when needed. “Every day in class, he’s the first one in and gets tuned and gets everybody ready to go so when it’s time to start rehearsal, they’re ready,” Goodrich said. Williams is respected among his peers in orchestra because of his involvement in the program and his dedication to practice, often playing 30 extra minutes a day. “He’s really committed,” his brother Zach said. “He practices more than I do for sure.” His leadership and commitment to the program have helped the orchestra earn many awards including the Varsity Orchestra Gold Award, Best in Division Award and the Best Overall Ensemble Award at the Heritage Music Festival. “He is an amazing player,” Goodrich said. “He is able to motivate the group without fussing at them. They all respect him and they all love him.”
Sitting tall in his chair, instrument in ready position, senior Alex Williams patiently waits for the starting swish of the director’s baton to begin playing the Mozart masterpiece: Symphony No. 41 Finale. His fingers confidently fly across the strings of his violin, striking each note with beautiful precision. A complicated piece unravels as basses play soft rhythms and violins sing soprano melodies. When the piece comes to a close and the last tune is hushed with the waving of an arm, a smile breaks across his face and the room bursts into applause. This past April, Williams competed in the Heritage Music Festival in Los Altos Hills, CA, and was awarded with the prestigious Maestro Award. This award is given to instrumentalists or vocalists that showed exceptional leadership ability and other qualities. “It’s where your technical level is high enough to where you don’t have to worry about playing correct, but rather with emotion,” Williams said. Around 800 students competed in the four day competition which took place at the Foothill Jr. College. Williams was the only instrumentalist to win the award this year. “I wasn’t really competing as a soloist, but I guess they thought that I was pretty good,” Williams said. “I was just in shock. I knew that the award existed, but I never thought that I would get it because it’s usually focused on choir soloists.” Williams started orchestra at Downing Middle School when he was in the sixth grade along with his twin brother, Zach. Because their father had played the violin, they both became interested in the program. When he joined the orchestra his freshmen year, he developed a close bond with the other students in orchestra due to the family-like environment. “I really enjoy music,” Williams said.“It’s pretty much my favorite part of high school.” Williams has excelled in the high school orchestra. He is the first chair violinist for the school’s Sinfonia Orchestra. Concert master Alex Williams stands up to applause at Because he is the first chair of the violinists, he holds the the Oct. 5 orchestra concert. design by nathaniel thornton 7
feature
Leading the march to victory
Drum majors act as role models, form lifelong friendships story by kelsey mccauley graphic by peter iversen
They practice with the band nearly 14 hours a day in the blistering Texas heat during the month of August. On game days, they hover almost ten feet above their fellow musicians under the Friday night lights at half time. They are the drum majors of the Marcus band. This year, both the main drum majors, seniors Connor Brem and Josh Dover, and assistant drum majors, seniors Kaitlyn Harry and Kevin Jones, lead a group that is recognized as one of the top marching bands in Texas and is also highly regarded on a national level. “We came off the field on Saturday (Oct. 2) and the performance was incredible,” Jones said. “We had a standing ovation at the end of one part of our show, and we weren’t even finished yet. Just knowing that you put on a show that people enjoyed is amazing.” As if keeping up with grades and college deadlines isn’t stressful enough, these four leaders are responsible for over 300 students as well as the other section leaders of the band. Besides giving instruction and aiding other members, the drum majors serve a larger role. “We’re basically like sheep dogs,” Jones said. “We keep the band where they need to be, doing what they need to do, keeping them on track and just try to keep them out of trouble.” While the title of drum major may not sound all that complicated, the process for obtaining a position of that merit is challenging. Those interested in a leadership position must first write a Letter of Intent to the band directors, and then after an extensive auditioning process complete with an interview led by the directors and a two part try-out, the leaders are then selected. “The drum majors are used a lot as examples and if you’re going to be teaching people how to march, (the directors) want to know that you know our technique,” Jones said. “Every band has a different way of doing things, and if you don’t look confident enough on that then they don’t feel comfortable with you teaching it.” *** For the average student, summer starts in June and lasts well into the month of August. For the average Marcus band member, their summer is cut almost a month short once band rehearsals start in August. “Band, food and sleep. That’s all it is,” Brem said. 8 design by jordan richards
“Wake up, go to band, eat, go to band, eat, go to band, According to Harry, living up to past leaders examthen go to sleep.” ples is a big job in itself. When most kids are sleeping well past one in the af“You think back to all of the other great drum majors ternoon and spending the rest of their summer by the that we’ve had and it’s a lot to live up to, but you hope pool or at the mall, those in band are reminded of the that you can perform as well as they did,” Harry said. long day ahead of them when that first tone from their Though the amount of time and effort they put into alarm clock sounds around 7 a.m. this organization might seem excessive to students not Though practice only lasts from 4:30-6:30 p.m. dur- in band, Jones, Brem, Dover and Harry said that the reing the school year, Brem, Jones, Dover and Harry must wards greatly outweigh the costs of such a commitment. all be at rehearsals half an hour early and normally stay Individual accomplishments, as well as group sucan hour later than the rest of the band. Brem said he cesses, are highly treasured among every band member, enjoys the extra time they spend at the school. no matter their rank. “When we have morning stuff, when it’s dark and re“I had this one girl, she was really sweet and aweally quiet, it’s nice to have your alone time before every- some, but she couldn’t play as well as others,” Harry one gets there,” Brem said. “There’s a lot of stuff that said. “I really worked with her and she started getting goes on after (practice) that no one sees. The band di- better and better, and seeing her happy was probably rectors let their guard down a little bit and they’re like my best moment.” teenagers. It’s kind of funny.” However, the relationships that are built are the most It’s when the uniforms are on and thousands of eyes fundamental of any member’s experience. are all on you that the guard must come back up. “I would say there are four people that I know for a “We have a lot of boundaries that we try to uphold fact will be in touch after college, forever,” Jones said. because we go to a lot of places and we try to repre- “I wouldn’t have met any of them if it wasn’t for band.” sent where we’re from,” Brem said. “It’s a lot more than just a school club. It’s a major, nationally known entity.” Brem is no stranger to the pressures that come with his position. “The whole band has to achieve greatness. Knowing that you have so many people that rely on you is different.” *** Sometimes choosing the activity you want to pursue in high school can be an overwhelming decision. It could be the actual activity that inspires students to join, and other times it’s the people involved. Both Jones and Dover said they liked performing under the direction of former drum major Sarah Ballard. In fact, it was through her leadership that Dover said he decided to work towards becoming a drum major himself. “Her personality and watching her get to do what she did photo by allison przybysz made me really enjoy it,” Dover said. “She taught me how to Senior Connor Brem directs the band during halftime on the Friday Oct. 15 senior conduct. She’s the only reason night football game. All football players, band members, Marquettes, cheerleaders and athletic trainers walked the field with their parents. I’m good at it.” october 21, 2010 | the marquee
feature
Marcus Model Junior aims for career in fashion
story by olivia tarlton photos submitted “That’s the model girl,” the kids at school whisper. They know about her modeling, but they don’t really know how successful she actually is or even the struggles she goes through to pursue her dream. What they do know about her hardly even skims the surface. They don’t truly know Rebecca Shugart. Junior Rebecca Shugart began her modeling career last year with the help of her aunt, who is a creative director for JCPenney and helps choose models for the company. Because of her aunt’s knowledge of fashion and modeling, she believed that Shugart had a chance at making it in the modeling industry. “I was nervous but my aunt really believed in me, and people told me that I could do it, which made me more confident,” Shugart said. Shugart and her aunt first went to Kim Dawson Modeling Agency in Dallas during her sophomore year. After a series of modeling auditions, Shugart had her first photo shoot for ON Magazine. Dressed in a red and white off-the-shoulder blouse with her dark hair in braids surrounding the crown of her head, Shugart’s photo was chosen for the cover of ON Magazine. After the magazine cover came photos in FD Luxe, D Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar Mexico and even a billboard for Mockingbird Station, a shopping center in Dallas. Shugart said that she really likes modeling as a whole, but she especially enjoys runway. Recently, she walked in a fashion show in Austin for Tribeza. “You’re there for like three, four maybe even five
the marquee |october 21, 2010
hours just sitting, getting hair and makeup done and trying on clothes. It’s so long,” Shugart said. “And then when the runway show actually starts, it’s just so quick. You go do your walk and everyone looks at you. It’s just awesome. It’s such a rush.” Fanayre Shugart, Rebecca’s mother, said she knew from the beginning that her daughter would be successful in modeling and has been a constant supporter of Shugart’s modeling career. “She’s a natural at it,” Mrs. Shugart said. “This is something I think she’ll do for a very long time.” For Shugart, success does come with a price. Being a model while still in high school means having to juggle schoolwork, friends and modeling all at once. During her sophomore year, Shugart was even forced to take credit recovery due to modeling. Modeling, just like any other job, takes place during the week, which often leaves little time for classes and studying. She feels it’s worth it though, because like any other job, modeling has its perks. One of those, which Shugart said is probably her favorite part, is meeting new people. “Everyone’s so nice, like the stylists and the hair and makeup people and the photographers. They’re all really creative,” she said. “It’s just a fun environment to be in.” Also in that environment comes critique, which Shugart said can often be hard to handle, even with her tough skin. “Some girls may take that to heart but really its just what people tell you. You have to change constantly to make yourself better at it,” Shurgart said. Shugart said that she wants to continue modeling for
as long as she can and plans on making a career in some part of the fashion industry as an adult. Being in magazines, fashion shows and on billboards are all things that Shugart has accomplished in just one year. The fact that people know her as “the model girl” doesn’t really bother her. The words don’t define her, but merely show something that she loves to do.
design by jordan richards 9
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october 21, 2010 | the marquee
in-depth
The Marquee takes a closer look into this mental illness as Depression and Mental Awareness Month comes to an end.
the marquee |october 21, 2010
design by maria heinonen 11
in-depth
story by devon miller Ian Drew lies in bed in a silent room. His empty brown eyes trace patterns on the ceiling. He’s so consumed by feelings of sadness and negativity that he can’t make himself get up. He doesn’t really want to anyways. He doesn’t want to do anything anymore. It’s the summer of 2010, his senior year, the time he said was the lowest point in his battle with depression. “I didn’t like myself,” Drew said. “I couldn’t think about anything positively. I didn’t care. It didn’t let me do anything. I stayed in my shell and it kept me from doing a lot of things.” Drew has suffered from dysthymia, a type of chronic, cyclical depression, since eighth grade. Senior Daniel Durrett, who has been friends with Drew since middle school, said it was hard to see Drew so depressed. “It was difficult to watch from the outside,” Durrett said. “We would still hang out with friends and stuff, but he would always go to the negative side.” Depression runs in Drew’s family. Drew said having someone with depression in his family helped him cope, but it was still difficult for him to open up about his depression to his friends. “That was a hard decision to make because I really didn’t like talking about it,” Drew said. “I reached a point where I realized I wouldn’t have anyone to help me otherwise.” Though most of his friends were supportive, Drew said he lost some friends after telling them because of the way they handled his situation.
compiled by lauren rose source: www.webmd.com
“It definitely changed a few friendships,” Drew said. helped me see ‘Hey, I can do this.’” “It was a time when I really didn’t understand it, so how Though dysthymia can diminish or even disappear could they understand it? I was acting different and completely over time, Drew said in his family it usually they didn’t know why.” stays. Despite this, Durrett said his friendship with Drew “I think it’ll fade, and I’ll be able to move past it, but wasn’t affected by Drew’s depression. I don’t expect it to leave,” Drew said. “It hasn’t left for “Being friends with someone who’s depressed isn’t anyone else, so why would it for me? I might as well prereally different,” Durrett said. “It’s not as crazy as any- pare myself now. But who knows, maybe I’m just being body would really think. It’s really just a lot of talking pessimistic.” with him and being there for him.” Despite the negative side of depression, Durrett said Rather than take medication for his depression, Drew it did have a positive effect on Drew because of the probtakes vitamin D, which has been shown to positively af- lems he’s had to deal with like losing friends and coping fect the neurotransmitters with the negative feelin the brain that control ings. feelings. “I really think that “(Medication) causes he’s a better person I couldn’t think about anything posiproblems like increasactually,” Durrett said. ing suicidal tendencies “Not necessarily betively. I didn’t care. It didn’t let me do and we decided it wasn’t cause of the depresanything. worth it,” Drew said. “Vision, but it just made - IAN DREW, 12 tamin D makes my dispohim stronger. He has a sition better when I take different outlook than it regularly. It gives me somebody who isn’t more energy and helps me function, but it doesn’t help negative all the time.” with the feelings.” Drew said though dealing with depression has been Besides taking vitamin D and talking to Durrett, difficult, it has helped him make positive improvements Drew picked up a hobby to help manage his depression. in both his friendships and in the way he feels about life. “Depression made me really good at guitar,” Drew “It taught me to really take joy in the little things,” said. “That’s my comfort. It’s what I do when I’m down. Drew said. “I can walk into school smiling and laughIt picks me up. It’s a way to escape for awhile. The feel- ing. I really appreciate the things I have. While my outings didn’t go away, but guitar held them back and look is still doom and gloom, I can find a silver lining.”
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Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable
Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness Overeating or loss of appetite
Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
Feelings of hopelessness
Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
Insomnia , early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping Irritability, restlessness 12 design and graphics by maria heinonen
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Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings Fatigue and decreased energy october 21, 2010 | the marquee
in-depth
story by alex cain & luke swinney She stopped eating in middle school. It wasn’t an eating disorder, but junior Allison Turner’s* appetite still began to dwindle rapidly. If she managed to get anything down, she felt sick to her stomach. Turner soon discovered her eating habits were just a side-effect of a bigger problem – depression. “You have to eat to live,” Turner said. “I knew I needed to do something. I got myself into this hole that I couldn’t get out of and that’s what made me seek help.” With her sister soon leaving for college and a string of depression in her family, Turner realized she needed to seek help and went to a psychiatrist. She was soon diagnosed with depression. “You’re really tired,” Turner said. “You
don’t want to do anything. Everything you usually enjoy just kind of goes down the tube. I remember missing almost a week and a half of school and all I did was sleep.” Turner’s psychiatrist put her on Zoloft, a medication that increases the brain’s amount of serotonin which helps maintain mental balance. “If I don’t take it for two days, I can feel it,” Turner said. “I’m already emotional as it is, so when I don’t take it, I can definitely feel it. But it makes me really tired so I take it at night.” Besides Zoloft, Prozac and Lexapro are other popular depression medications. Some parents believe medications increase the risk of suicide in teenagers, but Dr. Jane Miles, a psychiatrist based in Dallas, said this isn’t true and medications are extremely beneficial.
“There is no evidence that antidepressants actually increase the risk of suicide,” Miles said. “For moderate to severe depression, the potential benefits from medication treatment seem to outweigh the potential risks.” While Turner was officially diagnosed with depression, not all students seek help or want to take medication. Junior Sarah Mott* hasn’t been diagnosed, but her family history of depression and experience of the obvious symptoms are both likely signs. Like Turner, Mott’s feelings began in middle school, but she kept her feelings to herself. “I was stubborn and didn’t think I needed to see anybody,” Mott said. “I didn’t want to have to go to my parents and tell them I was depressed.” While Miles recommends all students seek help, medication isn’t the only op-
tion. Various forms of psychotherapy and working with the family for support are beneficial as well. “Some parents refuse to accept the fact that their child has depression,” Miles said. “Some have a general principle “the less pills the better.” While it is not a professional treatment, the patient’s friends and family are indispensable in providing a supportive environment.” For Mott, her feelings of depression drove her to a point where she began to hurt herself. When she finally realized that she couldn’t live like that anymore, her best friend Carrie* was there for help. “She talked me through everything,” Mott said. “She told me that I’m important to her and if something happened to me, she’d be devastated. She’s kind of what kept me here.” * names have been changed
A depressed friend/teen typically will not open up to their parents or adults, so friends are often the first or only person they talk to about their feelings. Though it may seem like a big responsibility, there are lots of easy things you can do to help. source: www.helpguide.org
compiled by lauren rose
Get your friend to talk to you. You don’t have to abruptly start a conversation, but you can ease into the subject by asking things like “You seem like you are really upset lately and not yourself. I really want to help. Is there anything I can do?”
Know that your friend does not expect you to have every answer. Listening can not
only be reassuring but supporting. By responding in a non-judgmental way, feelings can show that you truly care.
Speak up if your friend is suicidal. If a friend Stick with your friend through hard times.
When a person is depressed they can say hurtful or strange things that they do not mean. If this happens, try not to take it personally. Realize that your friend is not the same person they used to be, but if you get them help they can return to their old personality.
Encourage your friend to get help. Depression is a serious illness and can have fatal results. Whenever your friend is appearing to be depressed, encourage them to talk to a trusted adult like a parent, teacher or counselor.
the marquee |october 21, 2010
is talking about suicide, giving possessions away, saying strange goodbyes or even joking about suicide, tell a trusted adult immediately. If you feel like your friend needs help, it is your responsibility to get your friend help. Even if your friend makes you promise not to tell anyone about their suicidal thoughts, don’t be afraid to break that promise. It is better to have a friend that is angry at you than one who is dead because you refused to speak up. Depression carries a high risk of suicide. Anybody who expresses suicidal thoughts or intentions should be taken very seriously. Do not hesitate to call your local suicide hotline immediately. Call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)—or the deaf hotline at 1-800-7994TTY (1-800-799-4889). design and graphics by maria heinonen 13
entertainment
Four burger bites put to the test story by carley meiners
photos by kyle anderson
After the recent openings of Whataburger and Mooyah in the Flower Mound area, The Marquee decided to review local burger joints. At each of the four restaurants the quality of the burger and the atmosphere were analyzed.
IN CONCERT compiled by nathaniel thornton
Oct. 21 Maroon 5 7:00 p.m. at the Superpages Center $36-$113
Mooyah The burgers have great flavor and there are an endless amount of toppings and condiments to choose from. The Mooyah Burger has two patties or for the less hungry customer you can get a junior burger that has only one patty. Customers can write and leave messages on the “Moodle Doodle,” a giant erase board situated in the back of the restaurant. Mooyah had the most inviting atmosphere for teens out of all four restaurants.
Culver’s There were a variety of burgers and sides to choose from at Culver’s. They have eight different burgers to choose from. Along with the burger you can choose from different sides like fries, green beans, mashed potatoes or cole slaw. These options help the customer who is looking for a healthy alternative. Culver’s also specializes in frozen custard and their ice cream is clearly their best feature. Culver’s has more of a family friendly atmosphere.
Oct. 29 Wiz Khalifa 8:00 p.m. at House of Blues $17-$25 Oct. 31 Circa Survive 6:30 p.m. at House of Blues $25 Nov. 2 Of Montreal 8:00 p.m. at Granada Theater $22 Nov. 11 Tim and Eric’s Awesome Show Tour 7:00 p.m. at Granada Theater $25 Nov. 15 All Time Low/Rocket to the Moon 7:00 p.m. at the House of Blues $12-$17
Burgers and Brats Burgers and Brats has options for every type of person. From “The Straight and Narrow Path” which is a burger with the regular veggies to “The Texas Turnpike” which is a burger buried in chili and shredded cheese, the burgers are good but are dripping with grease. A puddle forms in your basket by the end of the meal. While the burger tasted good, the grease was not appetizing. Also, there was no music playing which made the atmosphere awkward. 14 design by nathaniel thornton
Whataburger Whataburger is a good alternative to more expensive restaurants if you’re looking for a tasty burger. Another perk is that it is open late. High school students can enjoy a burger after a football or volleyball game. The service is extra friendly and they actually deliver the food to the customer’s table. For a fast food restaurant this place is the top of the line. The atmosphere is perfect for all ages. Whataburger also has a drive-thru for those on the run.
Nov. 19 Motion City Soundtrack/Say Anything 7:00 p.m. at the Palladium Ballroom $25 Nov. 30 Blonde Redhead 7:00 p.m. at Granada Theater $25-$35
october 21, 2010 | the marquee
entertainment
Three steps to a spooktacular Halloween
The best costumes, treats, scares, screams and boos. There are a few things to take care of in order to pave the way for a fantastic Halloween. These steps will help to make the best Halloween possible.
story by sarah sauer
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First, it’s important to find a costume that is not only good quality but one that’ll be sure to give the neighbors a shock when they open the door. After visiting Halloween City and Party City, neither could rival the selection or large assortment of costumes at Spirit, located in the Highland’s Ranch complex near Best Buy in Flower Mound. Just going by the store proved to be an exciting experience with the impressive, haunted house-like scenes artfully assembled by the staff. Robotic monsters, skeletons and ghouls provide a spooky atmosphere that really helps do what the store name suggests: put you in the Halloween spirit. Filled from front to back with decorations and masks, it’s impossible to leave without finding something to die for.
The next important step is to find the right candy to pass out to trick-or-treaters. Prices were the same at Walmart and Target, and both offer similar kinds of candies in different combinations of mixed packages. Ranging from Kit-Kats to Sour Patch and Hersheys to Reeses, there’s bound to be a tasty treat that everyone will enjoy. Smaller packages are around $5, but the mixed packages start at $9.99 and provide more variety for the eager trick-or-treater.
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Finally, the most critical thing to do is figure out what you’re going to do Halloween night. For some that may be trick-or-treating or going to costume parties, but what better way to celebrate than to spend it spooked out at haunted houses? There are several in the metroplex such as Thrillvania Thrill Park, Terrorplex, Hangman’s House of Horrors and The Parker House but the ultimate place to go for a good scare is Cutting Edge. Being a Guinness World Record Holder for “the world’s largest walk through haunted house,” it’s guaranteed to provide maximum scares. Open most Fridays and Saturdays during the Halloween season, tickets are $29.50. Found at 1701 E. Lancaster Ave, the drive can take up to 45 minutes, but the terror you’ll experience is definitely worth the drive.
Sinking their teeth into economic recession story by molly spain
While sitting in a dark movie theatre, I am surrounded by crowds of people staring intently at the big screen. I watch as sluggish, red liquid dribbles off his chin, creating a crimson stain of evil on his white shirt. A sardonic grin exposes pointed teeth coated with the liquid of death - blood. A helpless victim desperately fights for her survival while screaming teenage girls in the audience shriek with joy. Only one word can describe this obvious excitement for death: Vampires. Recently, vampires have invaded bookshelves, movie theatres and most importantly teenage minds. But this random obsession seems to not be so unexpected. Vampire fascinations appear to be connected to economic downturns. Vampire obsessions can be dated back to the 1930s with Dracula. This famous 1931 movie is an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula. During this Dracula phenomenon, the United States was suffering from the Great Depression of the 1930s. After the death of Dracula in the 1940s, Anne Rice revived interest in the vampire world once again during the 1980s with her vampire novels. Starting with Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice’s novels created a vampire frenzy that sold eight million copies. Durthe marquee |october 21, 2010
ing this “Rice-mania”, the United States suffered from a ic times. This might be attributed to the identification deep economic recession from 1980-82, and the num- to the dark characters of vampires in dark times or to ber of bankruptcies rose 50 percent. the fact that most vampires appear affluent and sophisVampire hysteria caused another big spark in the ticated in a time when luxury is scarce. Nevertheless, 2000s with Stephanie Myers’ Twilight saga. The first something about vampires, maybe their flawnovel in the series was published in 2005, but less good looks or struggle for humanity, the books did not gain worldwide popularity makes people turn to vampires until the last few years. The Twilight series when the economy has let has sold over 100 million copies and their wallets down. the first three movies together have collected at least $1 billion. As the economy worsened, there has been a peak in the creation of vampire-related entertainment. TV shows such as The Vampire Diaries and even reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer popped up on TV screens everywhere, and books such as Peeps, the Sookie Stackhouse series and the House of Night series have populated the bookshelves of local bookstores and libraries. From the Great Depression in the 1930s to the recent economic recession, vampires seem to appeal to people the most during hard econommoney photo by kyle anderson|design by nathaniel thornton 15
entertainment
To Spark Note or not to Spark Note? The books that high school students are required to read in class almost always fail to strike an emotional chord with the teenage readers. However, The Marquee was able to find a few novels that teens responded well to, as well as some literary “duds.”
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The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is often considered a literary masterpiece. The novel takes place during the epic period in American history referred to as the “Roaring Twenties.” Each character represents different societal values and depicts the superficial lives often led by the “aristocrats” of society. After reading this book, readers are forced to come to terms with the fact that material possessions don’t always satisfy our happiness.
To Kill a Mocking Bird Harper Lee won the hearts of many with To Kill A Mockingbird. In the novel, Atticus Finch must face a difficult task for Alabama lawyers of the 1960s: representing a black man. Though the language and experiences in this book are harsh, Lee exposes her readers to the injustices suffered by African Americans due to racism. The moral lesson Lee conveys is an everlasting thought amongst all her readers: stand up for what you believe in.
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story by kelsey mccauley
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The Catcher in the Rye The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger in 1951, is told from the perspective of an unruly 17-year-old boy named Holden Caulfield. As the protagonist of the story, Holden has to overcome the many pressures brought on by society, such as conformity, sexuality and self-worth. While this book was written nearly six decades ago, teens today can surely relate to Holden’s struggles with friends, family and school. Our priorities haven’t really changed since then.
Jane Eyre
Summer reading can be the bain of any high school student’s existence, but especially for the freshman forced to read Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. The story is told by a self-righteous woman, Jane Eyre, who chronicles every single experience she undergoes. When dealing with her romantic interest, first she loves him, then she doesn’t. Then she loves him...You get the idea.
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Silas Marner Written by a woman, George Eliot’s Silas Marner depicts the life of a troubled hermit by the name of Silas Marner. After a series of unfortunate events like being accused of stealing the town’s funds and then being exiled from that town, he eventually builds a fresh start for himself. Though the novel has a happy ending, the majority of the story is characterized by too much gloom and despair to allow readers to appreciate it.
As I Lay Dying You know that feeling you get when too much is happening and you just can’t keep up? Well, buckle your seatbelts because William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, though masterfully written, takes readers on a literary journey that might as well have been written in Pig Latin. The story is told through the perspectives of multiple characters, which leaves many who attempt to read it mentally drained.
Community service opportunities Bags for India
What: Stuff bags with goodies for children in the slums of India Where: Marcus When: Now through Nov. 21 Who to Contact: Mrs. Rutledge in W208
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compiled by olivia tarlton
CCA Food Pantry and Toy Shelf Stacking
What: Help organize items for families in need - must be 16 to volunteer without adult Where: 2202 South SH 121 Lewisville, Texas 75057 Who to Contact: Charlotte Alexander / 972- 219- 4341
Teen Court Operation Care- Dallas
What: Celebrate Christmas by handing out gifts and helping the homeless Where: Dallas Convention Center When: December 18 Who to Contact: Mrs. Rutledge in W208
16 design by james hubbard
What: Serve as attorneys, master jury judge, bailiffs or jurors in juvenile court - ages 13 to 17 Where: rotating between Lewisville Annex and Flower Mound Municipal Court Who to Contact: www.cityoflewisville.com or call 972- 219- 3671 For more service opportunities try contacting: Humane Society Local Nursing Homes Local Hospitals
october 21, 2010 | the marquee
sports
Younger legs pave way to state for girls’ team With fast underclassmen, new attitude, team looks to advance story by luke swinney
While senior Craig Lutz and the other upperclassmen continue to lead the heavily-favored boys team, the girls’ success has sprung from the opposite end of the spectrum – young talent. With three new freshmen and a first-year sophomore on the varsity squad, it’s the young legs that have given the girls their best shot at a state title in years. Freshman Sydney Brown, winner of the Haltom Buffalo Stampede meet last Saturday with a 2 mile time of 11:19, is the top varsity female runner this year. While one player cannot carry a team victory, coach Steve Telaneus said it certainly helps to have her. “It’s a little bit of pressure, but also not so much,” Brown said. “I have a lot of time and know I’m going to get better every year so that makes it easier.” Having experienced varsity as a freshmen herself, junior Katie Canavin said there’s been a drastic change in attitude this season. Canavin said her freshman year team was mean-spirited. Now, she said the team’s positive attitude gives them a much better chance at state. “The younger girls push the older girls a lot harder,” photo by becca dyer Canavin said. “They don’t want a freshman to beat them, Freshman Sydney Brown crosses the finish line at the Buf- so that helps. They’ve made our team a lot stronger than falo Stampede Cross Country meet on Oct.17. She came in it’s been in the past.” first place and won the meet with a two mile time of 11:19. Because of the new cross country locker room,
Canavin said the girls see each other more often and have formed a tighter bond. “All the freshmen know is this year, so they have a higher standard not knowing how it’s been in years past,” Canavin said. “I would be afraid to even shower with the varsity girls my freshman year because it was a mean environment. Now we’re all positive and help each other.” To better prepare them for the season, Canavin said the upperclassmen have tried to explain to the underclassmen how the team used to communicate and how lucky they are now. Brown said this new positive philosophy was apparent through Telaneus’ motto of “Be nice.” “He thinks that it will make a good team if we’re nice to everyone and get along,” Brown said. “A few years ago they were really mean to each other and we hadn’t made it to state. Now we’re a much better team.” The team is currently looking ahead to district on Oct. 30. So far the boys are favored to win, but the girls trail behind Flower Mound and are even with Hebron. Though three teams do move on to regionals, Telaneus said the girls still need to push themselves harder. “The girls just need to get faster right now,” Telaneus said. “That sounds trite, but it’s what needs to happen. We’re a really young team and we need focus right now. We have the talent, we just need to focus.”
Versatile competition to keep defense on toes Football faces off with top-ranked Allen tomorrow night story by jasmine sachar
Second down, 10 to go. The snap is low. Plano quarterback Conner Michelsen tries to scramble, but junior linebacker Jake Blount runs from the side and pins him to the turf. Third down, 15 to go. Michelsen runs around, frantically searching for an outlet. For a second time in the first drive, he is sacked, mauled by senior defensive end Tanner Bacino before he can rid himself of the ball. “We did a lot better scheming this week with different pass coverages and we showed different blitzes,” Blount said. “I was pretty psyched because that first drive sets the tempo for what’s to come.” This kind of defensive play is exactly what head coach Bryan Erwin wants to see. As the war of District 8-5A enters its final stages, Marcus (6-1, 3-1) has been focused on becoming a weapon on all angles. But Allen (7-0, 4-0), who the Marauders battle tomorrow night, is guaranteed to put up a hard fight. They average 212 passing and 235 rushing yards per game. Their new junior quarterback Alec Morris surprised spectators when he led Allen to a 33-27 victory over Cedar Hill in their season opener. Lead running back is Jonathan Williams who has scored 12 touchdowns and averages 7.67 yards per carry, on par with Marcus lead running back senior Rufus Mason. They rank second in 5A football, only trailing behind last year’s state chamthe marquee |october 21, 2010
pions, Euless Trinity. Relying primarily on a heavy rush attack for the first four games, Marcus struck difficulty with Flower Mound on Oct. 1. Marcus defense allowed a dazzling Flower Mound offense to pick up 581 yards, 27 first downs and six touchdowns. Head coach Bryan Erwin said that the defense had some “missed opportunities” and ultimately lacked deep coverage. Last week against Plano, Marcus was able to grind out a narrow 35-32 win. This time, defense tackled fast, recovered fumbles and interfered with deep passes. “We learned that we need to make plays in position whether it’s knocking down a ball or getting a big hit or causing a fumble,” Erwin said. Erwin has not changed the defense strategy but has worked on executing it better. “We’ve perfected the old things,” junior free safety LC Wright said. “Same coverage, new schemes. We’re spending our free safety down more often and we’re spending our rover down more often, and cover three.” Erwin said that it is imperative that linebackers make plays on the ball—swatting the ball down or intercepting. Equally important is putting pressure on the quarterbacks like Morris tomorrow night. “We got to get some pressure on him, we got to hit him, knock him on the ground and try to confuse him and slow him down,” Erwin said. “I don’t think we have any holes (on defense). We really shored up our depth.”
photo by allison przybysz Junior free safety LC Wright (left) and junior linebacker Jake Blount (right) line up seconds before a play begins in the Plano game on Oct. 15 at Marauder Stadium. Marcus overcame a 0-7 deficit in the first quarter to narrowly win the game 35-32.
design by james hubbard 17
sports
Pressure to get bigger may have bulky consequences Creatine protein supplement is legal, but health specialists are calling foul
story by devon miller and kelsey mccauley In a state where football is everything and being small is not an option, supplements like creatine have become increasingly popular among high school athletes. “I want to be bigger so I can be better,” junior defensive lineman Zach Miterko said. “I work out four times a week like an hour a day and I have a personal trainer and I take supplements like protein and creatine.” However creatine, which provides muscle fibers with enough protein to build more muscle and increase muscular strength and enables an athlete to work out for an extended period of time, has been shown to cause kidney damage and muscle cramping. This summer, 24 high school football players from McMinnville, Oregon who used creatine were hospitalized for either elevated CK (creatine kinase) levels or compartment syndrome, a condition that occurs when blood vessels, nerves 18 design by breyanna washington
and muscle are compressed within a closed space. Miterko said he is aware of the consequences of creatine use but chooses to use it anyways. Senior offensive lineman Mike Wyse, who uses creatine during the off-season and during the summer, said the pressure to be bigger comes from outside influences. “We’re expected to be able to hold our own on the field and you want to be bigger and stronger than your opponent,” Wyse said. “We’re not always the biggest and strongest. We can win based on our assignments and knowledge of the game, but it helps being more physically dominant than your opponent.” Though it is legal, head football coach Bryan Erwin said he strongly discourages usage of creatine among his players. “It’s all about eating right,” Erwin said. “But creatine is a negative thing. We’re totally against it. We don’t condone it. We don’t promote it.” Dr. John Tilley, MD and Family Practitioner for Phoenix Associates in Highland Village, said that the loading dose of creatine is equal to the amount of protein available in seven steaks. “Theoretically, it provides building blocks for building muscle because muscle is mainly protein,” Tilley said. “In my opinion, (creatine) is not much better because you can only use so much over a given period of time. So you get the same (results) out of chicken, fish, beef and that kind of stuff.” But quick doesn’t always mean safe, Tilley said. One of the major health risks associated with this supplement concerns the kidneys. “It’s very hard on the kidney when it’s bolus – in other words,
when it’s loaded,” Tilley said. He said that athletes are harmed during a strenuous workout or a high heat humidity type of situation where the kidneys have to do a lot of work. On the other hand, Stasha Kucel, a registered dietician at New Day Nutrition Services in Lewisville, said that creatine can be beneficial in certain cases. “If it’s a male who weighs a lot and feels like they cannot get enough protein in their diet then I think that would be a fine supplement for them to take,” Kucel said. “It’s fine in moderation.” Erwin said when his players want to know what they can use in order to “bulk up,” he recommends whey protein. But most of the time he said he encourages his players to maintain a “rainbow” diet, complete with all the necessary fruits, vegetables and meats. “Basically, for teenage boys, they just need more calories,” Erwin said. “They don’t eat well enough to support what we do and how hard we work. We burn thousands of calories a day whether we’re in season or off season and because they don’t eat right and they don’t eat three or four square meals a day, they probably do need to supplement but the supplmentation they need is all-natural protein.”
Though thorough water consumption can halt the effects of creatine, Tilley said athletes should avoid taking supplements and maintain a healthy diet instead. “Most of the time we tell them to exercise hard, give themselves a chance to recover, and eat a good healthy diet,” Tilley said. “We try to steer them away from supplements because a lot of times we don’t know what supplements do. The problem is that (creatine) is in wide use so it’s not so much a question anymore of not using it, it’s trying to avoid damage.”
october 21, 2010 | the marquee
sports
Swinging a prosperous game Four-year team member hopes to round off run with memorable season story by alex cain
Squaring her hips and bending her knees slightly, senior golfer Carly Ragains prepares to tee off in the first tournament of the season. A dry Lubbock breeze shortly relieves some of the Texas heat as Ragains slowly raises the driver in the hands, keeping an eye on the ball. Her arms descend quickly, club swooshing in the air as the steel collides with her target, creating a satisfying clink that sends the ball soaring. Ragains is one of the district’s top competitors in the golf division this year and will soon be signing with Kansas State University to play on their team. Last year Ragains was district champion, but in the region tournament, she placed third in a challenging tie breaker and did not advance to state. Ragains started golf when she was five, mainly just playing putt-putt with her father. Shortly after she decided that she would try playing an actual round with her dad. She instantly liked the game. “I had the natural swing for the sport.” Ragains said. “Some kids have to work for it and get lessons to have the mechanics, but when I was little it was easier for me than I guess other kids.” After a hiatus from golf in middle school, Regains decided to return to golf right before freshman year. “If I played golf I could actually go somewhere in my life with it,” Ragains said. “Golf can take you places.” photo by kyle anderson During her four years of playing for Putting for perfection, senior Carly Ragains practices her Marcus, Ragains said her biggest struggle steady swing on Tuesday Oct. 5 at the Bridlewood Golf has been keeping a positive mindset in a Club. Ragains was the 2009 girls’ district champion and tough game. is a top golf competitor this year. “I have gotten a lot more mentally tough and men-
Coach recognized with national award
Volleyball to return to Hebron for last match story by carley meiners
The volleyball team lost their first district game Friday Oct. 1, 3:2, against Hebron. The team is now 6-1 in district. Although it is their first loss, senior co-captain Sarah Hula said the team held strong. The girls were up 2:1 but “lost their grip” in the fourth game. The team only has two more district games in their season. Hula said that this year the girl’s have shown potential of being capable of winning state. Tomorrow night the girls face their second to last district game. Their district season will conclude with another game against Hebron. Hula said the first Hebron loss has had a positive effect on the team. “We’re putting it behind us,” Hula said. “Every night we have a different district game so we’re not focusing too much on the loss but more of what we can learn from it.”
tally stable.” Ragains said.”You kind of have to be or you’re not going to be successful.” Along with her struggles to remain positive, head golf coach Richard Miles said Ragains has also become a smarter golfer than she was before. “The main thing she has done is managing her game on the golf course,” Miles said. “Carly has learned to play the golf course the way it was designed instead of trying to overpower the golf course all the time.” This new strategy has improved her game, and she has learned to conserve her energy for the difficult shots rather than making easy pars more difficult than they are. “You don’t try to play the trick shots on a hard course,” Ragains said. “You just try to play to the fairway, play to the green, just make your par and leave.” Fall season started just a few weeks ago in Lubbock. Based on past performances and the Lubbock tournament, Ragains is expected to place in the top three at the district tournament, which should place her in the top three at the regional tournament because of what Miles calls a competitive district. “Allen is a front runner to winning state,” Miles said. “So we’ve got to compete against the very best, but Carly can compete with the very best in our state.” Last season the team came in fifth in the regional tournament with Allen taking first place by a landslide. Senior Casey Edwards said the team is capable to place at state, as proven by their first round in Lubbock. “We’re the best team we’ve had since I have been here,” Edwards said. Ragains is expected to sign with KSU this November. “She set a goal, and she’s been working on it for a long time,” Miles said.
story by molly spain
photo by peter iversen
Senior saddles up
Trotting on her horse, senior Kathleen Kelley warms up for a Tuesday night practice on Oct. 12. Kelley is a member of the Marcus Rodeo Club. Practices are held at the Lewisville Rodeo Club in Old-Town Lewisville where Kelley practices barrels and poles with her horse. Kelley has been in Rodeo Clubs all four years in high school.
Marcus swimming coach Shannon Gillespy was awarded the national Glen S. Hummer Award on Sept. 17 for her notable role in open water swimming in the U.S. Established in 1978, the Hummer Award is given annually by the Open Water Swimming Committee. “I don’t think I should’ve been as deserving as much as other people should have but the national team athletes thought so,” Gillespy said. “It just floored me.” Gillespy has been a team manager for the last two years for the 2009 World Swimming Championship team, the 2010 USA Swimming National Open Water Select Camp and the 2011 World Open Water Swimming Championships. The athletes on these teams come from all over the country and Gillespy devotes a few weeks of her summer and some weekends to the job. design by breyanna washington 19
the marquee |october 21, 2010
opinion
little laureny
Lauren Rose
Stereotyping males makes love unlikely
20 design by james hubbard
Building up the yum
Holla party people
The staff would like to give a shout out to Mr. Mullin. We are happy you are doing the announcements. Your youthfulness and funny antics make us (those who are grateful enough to actually listen to the announcements) smile. Keep doing what you do, dude!
And here’s another shout out for those who work in the cafeteria. The new food is such a success. The wheat burgers—yum, and the slushies—oh yeah. Delicious and nutritious is what you guys aim for. All we can say is—score!
So the freshman didn’t get to go to the pep-rally — too bad. But you guys got to watch it live on a TV, and that’s some NFL stuff right there. For everyone who did go, we think that everyone can agree that the school spirit set that pep-rally off!
i’ll never make you a sandwich
Jasmine Sachar
Nerds need to share the spotlight
I’m just going to put this out there: We nerds at Marcus need to stop getting so much attention. We do, of course, appreciate the baskets of warm sugar cookies and Sour Patch Kids delivered to us by peppy cheerleaders after we’ve spent days slaving over study materials for that brutal US History test. Yes, we know you love us when we see you come clad in red shirts and face paint to our UIL meets, especially at 8 a.m. on Saturdays. We think it’s cool- that the drill team and band perform the “fight” song during the most critical parts of the competition when Flower Mound and Marcus face off in Calculator Science. It really brightens my day when I walk into a cafeteria where the walls are covered with red posters draped in streamers reading “Nerd Swag.” Everyone high-fives us when we roll through the hallways with our oversized backpacks and TI-84 Plus Silver Edition calculators. The pep rallies are always a nice break from class. My favorite part is when the Top 5 from every grade make their grand entrance through a pathway of smiling Marquettes and rustling pom poms. Hats off to Marcus administration for introducing the Adopt-a-Nerd program at McAuliffe Elementary school, where we meet with third graders and discuss scientific inquiries of the day, read to them key selections from Junie B. Jones and edit their “What I want to be when I grow up” essays.
But seriously guys, we need some space. We’re sick of posing in your Facebook profile pictures. You want to be seen with us, we get it, but honestly sometimes we just need to get to our next class. We also want to get away from those probing, often personal questions that you fans shout at us. Do I prefer Spark Notes or Cliff Notes? Princeton Review or Barron’s? That kind of stuff is on a need-to-know basis. We don’t take your emphatic support of us for granted. Of course we look kindly towards a society in which being a nerd is glorified, in which academics is paramount and where a 100 on a pre-Cal test is a badge of honor you wear around for weeks. Where would we be without such a society? Hiding behind the reference shelf in libraries? Afraid to act smart out of fear of being the butt of a joke? That being said, there are other organizations, other student interests that need more publicity more than we do. I almost feel bad for the varsity athletes, the football players especially. While we nerds are over here with our baskets of testing day goodies and armies of worshiping third graders, the football players toil under a scorching sun all afternoons of the week, then have to walk around hungry and unloved on game days. Everyone needs to feel appreciated sometimes, and here we are, as the nerd community, trying to hand off the torch to someone who can use a little extra spotlight. *this column is purely satirical social commentary
Do
you think students
at
Some girls are just really annoying to me. You know the ones. They look every night at the Facebook of the guy they like just to snoop. They get jealous whenever a new girl comments on his latest status update and he replies just like any normal person would do. The girl goes on a rant on her Facebook, posting tons of Taylor Swift lyrics about how the boy she wasn’t even dating broke her heart into millions of tiny pieces. Every boy from then on is considered a heartless jerk and to her love doesn’t exist. I’m not a love guru or a dating expert, but I have had some sort of experience with love. I dated my ex-boyfriend Ty for almost a year and a half, but broke up with him back in August. It may have been a roller coaster of puppy love, but it was still something. We hated each other for weeks after we broke up, but as time passed we came to realize it wasn’t worth the fight. No matter what happens he knows that I’d still do anything for him if he asked. I realized a long time ago not to characterize one group of people because of one bad relationship. Sure, Ty hurt my feelings but because of our fights I would never group all males together and call them terrible people. 50 years ago two people met in their early twenties named Lou and Cheryl. Shortly after they met they got married and had a family. Flash forward fifty years later to the summer of 2008 to a Methodist Church in Smithville, Texas. A banner hangs from the ceiling reading “Congratulations Lou and Cheryl 50 years!” All of my grandparents’ closest friends had come to Texas to celebrate their 50th anniversary. From the fights over how many minutes my grandma spends on the telephone to my grandma complaining about my grandpa putting dishes away the wrong way, they stay together. If that’s not love and proof that love does exist then I don’t know what is. Maybe I think differently than the girls I consider stupid or annoying because I have been fortunate enough to have parents who were high school sweethearts and have been married for almost 24 years. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve grown up witnessing relationships that are successful and I have hope. Maybe it’s because my grandparents have lasted half a century together. But to all of those girls who don’t believe in love and hate boys, I suggest you open your closed mind and think before you make a decision. If you give a relationship a chance and stop Facebook “creeping,” maybe something good could actually happen. Something like love.
Comin’ from the man
?
Marcus are
affected by
Depression
compiled by sarah sauer photos by sarah sauer
“There are kids that suffer from it, but they hide it well. If they’re feeling that way they’re not going to broadcast it.” Jacy Butcher, freshman
“I think some students are affected by depression, but not a large amount. Marcus is a happy place.” Chad Baker, sophomore
october 21, 2010 | the marquee
opinion
Dude, where’s my seat? Thanks for the new stadium, but we need more seating. Sure, the parents paid for this stadium, but the students that actually spend over 30 hours a week at Marcus deserve more sections of seating to rest our tired backsides.
Wasted television For the first months of school, the new TV by the office wasn’t working. Now that it’s up and running, all we see are random slideshows having nothing to do with our school. Let’s get this updated with things that pertain to us.
Even winners need second chances Counselors—did you forget about equality? When AP students aren’t allowed to change classes when they fail, we have an issue. They may be little Einsteins, but they’re not supermen. Give them a chance to excel at some other classes.
just another statistic
Kelsey McCauley
Relative’s illness brings strength
Three years ago, my Aunt Susan found a lump in one of her breasts. A trip to the doctor’s office confirmed both her and her family’s greatest fears – breast cancer. Susan’s body was attacking her from the inside and there was nothing she could do about it, so she cried. She cried because she didn’t understand it. So she turned to God. Maybe this was punishment for all the times my aunt didn’t go to church or for all the times she cursed when she was frustrated or even when she told little white lies every now and then, because let’s face it – those never hurt anyone, right? But even after acknowledging all of her imperfections, my aunt still didn’t know why God had allowed this disease to take over her body. Soon, crying became a daily ritual. Eventually though, the crying stopped. Susan decided it just wasn’t worth it anymore. The tears and the grief, all over something she knew she didn’t deserve but had to accept. So my aunt stopped feeling sorry for herself. Shortly after the diagnosis, my aunt began chemotherapy. Her white blood cell count was incredibly low and she became extremely vulnerable to airborne illnesses. It wasn’t long before her hair began falling out and bandanas provided only minimal protection against even the slightest draft. She was always cold, but she refused to cry. Instead, Susan shaved the remaining hair from her head with more grace and determination than I thought possible in a human being. Her bandanas weren’t just a necessity, but now an accessory. And that’s when I realized she wouldn’t be leaving us any
“Yes, even though we live in a nice area and most of us have it pretty easy, we also have issues. I don’t think a lot of kids know how to deal with it.” Haley Allman, junior the marquee |october 21, 2010
time soon and certainly not without a fight first. In time, and after much deliberation between her family and physician, Susan made an appointment to remove both of her breasts. It all seemed very inhumane the way a doctor had been trained to mechanically deliver a potential death sentence to a patient. Through all of it, though, my aunt kept a straight poker face as a procedure was described to her in which part of her body was to be removed – the part that defined her, and had since adolescence. We cried for her. Chemo had done a number to her body already, but as far as she was concerned this surgery would eliminate this menace, at least for a little while. Susan was ready. In November of 2008, my aunt participated in her first “Race for the Cure.” Susan ended that race a breast cancer survivor. More than a year later, she found out that the monster that had once threatened her life had been defeated. I could say that I admire my aunt for her perseverance and for her willingness to overcome, and I do. But the truth is I love her for that. I love her for what she inspires me to be. I love her because she makes me want to be better. I love her for bringing out the best in everyone and not even knowing that she did. I don’t cry about what happened to my aunt anymore and neither does she. She acknowledges that everything happens for a reason. My aunt is not a victim. She is a survivor.
“Yes, I think it affects a lot of students, many times for reason they can’t help, but they shouldn’t be ashamed of it.” Michaela Pecoraro, senior
“No, I don’t think there are a lot of kids suffering from depression here, but I think that there are a few. We need to do what we can to help them.” Rick Sudbrook, teacher
*~toxic tsunami~*
Nathaniel Thornton
Major decisons arriving too soon
“Have you applied to college yet?” “Do you know where you want to go to school yet?” “What do you want to do when you grow up?” I keep hearing these questions now that I am a senior, and I don’t really know how to answer them. Honestly, I still have no idea about what I want to do. High school has passed so fast, and everyone seems to be leaving me behind with their ambitions and life goals while I’m still struggling to figure out what mine even are. Confused only begins to describe my feelings at the point. I’ve only been alive 17 years, so how am I supposed to know what I want to do with the rest of my life? I have just started to figure out who I am and still have a lot of time to change. The paths I take in the next few years will determine what happens to me in the future. I’m sure I’m not alone in this indecision. I’m sure there are handfuls of other seniors who don’t know what they are going to do after graduation. And there’s nothing wrong with that. With so many different options and career paths, making a choice that decides the rest of your life seems sudden. Sure, your counselors may be pushing you to apply to college now and take as many random tests as you can to look good in every university’s eyes, but there are other things to worry about too. Maybe your career path doesn’t require a university-level education. Everyone should do what they want to do. Maybe they want to take a few years off from school and get a full-time job. Or maybe start off at a community college before they move on to a university. Or maybe college isn’t their thing. People are different and have different options and goals. Not every path after college leads to the same place. On the other hand, maybe the traditional leave high school-and-enter-college plan is exactly what they want. Whatever their plan is, taking time and following the plan is key. Too many people rush into decision-making because of peer pressure or because it’s what everybody else is doing. Everyone is their own individual person and should make their decisions for themself. Following the common path could do more harm than good. This system of applying to colleges and deciding my future aspirations before I’m even finished with high school just makes me rush into making some of life’s most difficult decisions - decisions that I’m not going to rush into. I’m going to take my time to figure it all out. Here’s to hoping that happens. design by james hubbard 21
opinion
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell nears end, outlook bright On Oct. 12, U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips issued a historic ruling, suspending the policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which bans openly gay people from joining the military. Within the next 60 days, the U.S. Department of Justice attorneys must decide whether or not they will keep this judgment or appeal the judge’s decision and send the issue of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to Congress for the final verdict. Because “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” violates the constitutional rights of freedom of speech for homosexuals, the Department of Justice attorneys need to approve the judge’s ruling and keep the policy repealed. It is the individual that needs to have the choice of whether or not his or her fellow combatants should know about their sexual orientation, not the federal government. There should not be a law restricting an individual’s freedom of expression. According to the CBS News/New York Times poll, 58 percent of Americans are in favor of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” so most Americans support gays openly serving in the military. A homosexual in the military has the same goal as a heterosexual - to defend our country. If how gays express themselves differs from how a straight person in the armed forces does, so be it. All people in the military are fighting for the same reasons and defending the same people. Sexual orientation does not affect the way they serve our country, so it should not matter. Around 25 nations including Australia, Canada, Italy, France and Germany already allow gays to openly serve in the armed forces, so it’s time for the United States to do the same. The United States guarantees its citizens the freedom of speech, so homosexuals need to have the right to state their sexual preferences. In our country that already supposedly gives so much freedom to its citizens, it is time to give our gay citizens the right to enter the military without hiding a part of themselves.
It’s understandable that many are worried about homophobic people fighting side by side with a gay person and that open discrimination of homosexuals can cause conflicts. But this country has faced discrimination long before like gaining suffrage rights for women tand ending segregation of races. We have managed to conquer these discriminations and gain equality through civil rights movements. This is no different. Those who support the gay community in their endeavor to openly enter the armed forces need to speak
No tax, no money, big problems Voters in the district turned down the proposed property tax increase on Sept. 14. But the tax should have passed. Now instead of just a small tax increase on property, teachers, supplies and extracurricular programs will face budget cuts. This decision will negatively affect a student’s education in the future years. First of all, the budget will obviously have to be cut. The district planned their budget for the 2011-2012 school year, thinking that the tax would pass. Now that it was turned down, the district will have to reorganize their budget in order to fit in with their $22 million deficit. The district should resort to upper level cuts, such as administration, instead of cutting from campuses where the actual learning takes place. The district’s decision to cut teachers or extracurricular activities should be their last resort. If we cut the budget there is talk of “reorganizing” teachers, which causes less of an opportunity of education for students. Cutting teachers is the last thing we want to do. After teachers are cut, the classroom sizes also increase. Every year our school population increas-
22 design by james hubbard
es, so classrooms already get crowded. By increasing the class size the student gets less one-on-one attention. Some students need that attention. Just because the economy is coming back from a recession, it doesn’t mean that our student’s education should suffer because of it. The tax proposed would have added a two cent increase on property tax. With the two cent increase the tax would have increased by $20 for every $100,000 value on a home. That is only a small amount of money each month compared to the lifetime of a good education. By not passing the tax, the voters of the community are implying that a student’s education is not worth the $20 a month. In November the district will vote on what to do with the budget. We urge voters to persuade the district to not touch the schools, but instead make upper level budget cuts first. The students are tomorrow’s future. They need their education. Just because our economy is in a downturn, doesn’t mean our school system should have to be too.
up. Let our congressmen know your position and petition for the next 60 days to keep the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy repealed. Every American deserves the right to let their true identity be known and should not have the government limiting their freedom of expression.
Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, There is injustice in our school’s streets (parking lots). On Oct. 14., students coming from Adopt-anAthlete were attempting to enter the parking lot from Waketon. As they were about to enter, a white Honda Civic cut them off. A security guard got out, wearing giant aviator sunglasses shielding his eyes, and proceeded to close and lock the gate on the innocent students trying to make it to class. Being frustrated at the idea of being locked out, a student slammed his car into reverse and hit the car behind him, resulting in hundreds of dollars in damages. The guard left without assisting the students. The others in line behind the accident were forced to turn their cars around one by one and circle around the school to park. Needless to say, those students were late. While they argued their case to the attendance clerk, the aforementioned guard walked into the office. However, his story greatly differed from the students. Although the students got off unpunished, they still felt as if their rights were violated by the security guard. The students coming from Adopt-an-Athlete that day were left to fend for themselves in a difficult situation while the security guards were nowhere in sight to help in a time of need. This is injustice and must be addressed. If you are reading this then you are the resistance. Always watching, Mike Wyse, 12 (General Nighthawk) october 21, 2010 | the marquee
Highland Village Haunted Trails
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photos by sarah sauer
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1. Ghoulish decorations are scattered about the Higland Village Haunted Trails such as the makeshift graveyard containing a criminal skeleton located in the volleyball sand pit at Kids Kastle. 2. Red paint and creepy decorations give the illusion that a massacre has occured inside a homemade haunted house created of black trash bags. 3. Junior Madison Gerritzen completes volunteer work by wrapping streamers around a spooky bridge. 4. Various boxes and other trash items are scattered around a field to create a creepy haunted house. Visitors can walk through the middle and observe blood covered plastic skulls and other ghastly items.
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october 21, 2010 | the marquee
design by allison przybysz 23
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24 design by breyanna washington