Volume 28 Issue 5

c o p p e l l s t u d e n t m e d i a . c o m Volume 28 | Issue 5 | April 2017

written by Riley Galloway Staff Writer @RileyShea16 Blue and red lights were flashing outside the window, I could see several police cars lined up around our curved driveway. I was nervous, thinking to myself ‘what is going to happen? Will my family be OK? Did this really just happen?’

Moments before, my mom was lying on the bathroom floor, a victim of my father’s assaults. Kalei, my older sister,

stood in my mom’s bedroom crying at the fact she could not protect my mom.

My oldest sister, Cherisse, stood crying, holding her neck which had been almost crushed by my father’s hand. And I was standing in the midst of the chaos, not registering what just occurred.

Outside the window you could faintly see the outline of my father running, trying to get away. Before he was able to escape, a group of cops swarmed my father.

>see STUDENTS on page 12

INSIDE Jasso leaving post

Social media all star

The best of Coppell

CHS will have new principal for 2017-18 school year PAGE 3

Senior Ryan Storch’s prank goes viral PAGE 11

A taste of the finest foods, voted on by you PAGES 16-19

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

TEACHER OF THE ISSUE

Bowden’s monstrous love for literature allows for connecting poetry with life written by Lina Pyon Co-Social Media Manager @linalinaapril Green slime, posters of horror movies and figurines of Frankenstein are the first things that stand out in Matthew Bowden’s classroom. Bowden teaches GT/AP English IV and Creative Writing, and has been at Coppell High School for 19 years, adding more and more to his collection.

“Ever since I was a kid I was fascinated with monsters and monster movies, and [Frankenstein] happened to be the one that I really loved and stood out because he was this monster, but he was also this sympathetic child that had been sort of abandoned by his father,” Bowden said.

Though Bowden’s affinity towards Frankenstein as a child was the movie and the physical aspects of the creature, it became something significant to him because of his true love for literature.

“The sympathetic picture that Mary Shelley paints of the creature and the ques-

tions of morality and responsibility and abandonment and the question of who’s the real monster, who’s the real antagonistFrankenstein embodies the things that I love about literature,” Bowden said.

Beyond merely loving literature, Bowden also writes poetry of his own for himself and for his students.

“I think it’s an important thing, rather than always reading poetry from a bunch of old dead white guys, to say ‘hey, I write this and I have a passion for this, I’m not just teaching it as a job, I do this as a therapeutic thing or as a way to commemorate important moments in my life,’” Bowden said.

As a teacher, Bowden hopes to pass onto his students the same knowledge and lessons from literature that he has gained throughout the years.

“The most important thing that [students] take away from my class is to see that literature is a record of human history, of human condition,” Bowden said. “The things that draws me most to literature are

written works that explore truths about human nature: about our greed, our generosity, and the unconquerable human will and human spirit. So, I wish for kids to see that

literature is not just a story, but the chronicle of the human condition.”

Congratulations to the April Teacher of the Issue, Mr. Bowden.

photo by

Meara Isenberg

Coppell High School GT/AP English IV and Creative Writing teacher Matthew Bowden stands with fun items in his classroom. Bowden was selected as teacher of the issue for the first time in his 19 years teaching at the high school.

Third attempt for House Bill 62

Texas House of Representatives passes act that prohibits texting while driving written by Farah Merchant Staff Member @farahmerchant_

graphic by

Elena Gillis

The Texas House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 62, which prohibits the use of a wireless communication device when operating a vehicle in Texas.

On March 15, the House passed the bill, 114-32, onto the Senate, where it was shot down in the 2015 legislative session.

This is the third legislative session where the issue of texting and driving was brought forth. Before 2015, the bill was introduced in 2011 and passed the House and Senate, but did not make it past former Governor Rick Perry.

According to Coppell Police patrol division commander Danny Barton, though the law might be fitting, there have been a lot of questions raised over the issue.

“I think it’s a good law,” Barton said. “I know there’s some apprehension. Some of the people opposed to it have raised questions of

how would a police officer know. I’m sure there’s politics involved just like anything else and I don’t know why.”

Though the dangers of texting might not be highlighted as much as the dangers of drinking and driving, there are just as many horrible repercussions.

“I personally, I’m not speaking for the department, think [the bill] would be a good thing,” Barton said. “We pull over cars that appear to be drunk drivers only to find out they’re texting and driving because they can’t maintain their lanes when they’re texting.”

For those in support of the law, they believe making texting and driving illegal will incentivize drivers to be more focused, leading to less near-miss accidents.

Texas is one out of four states that does not already have this legislation. Senators that opposed the law argued its micromanagement tendencies.

The fine for drivers on their phone while driving ranges from $25 to $99, if the law is passed.

“Speaking as a dad of a sophomore, I think that that’s a good idea,” Coppell High School Principal Mike Jasso said. “I think that’s a good idea for us all not just for students because distracted driving is very dangerous. Perhaps you’ve seen countless

car wrecks or near misses with people’s attention glued to their screen instead of looking out and being an attentive driver.”

As of now, the state bans minors and bus drivers from using cellular devices while texting and driving, which affects many students at CHS. CHS senior Maggie Theel has been in a vehicle where the driver was using their phone.

“I never text and drive and my parents made an effort to act as a role model to me and my sister so they never text and drive,” she said. “But I’ve ridden in the car with other people and their parents. I’ve noticed that their parents text and drive and usually if people’s parents text while they drive then those kids will.”

Even though the bill is making its way through the Senate slowly, the Coppell Police Department asserts that the implications of texting and driving extend further than legal ramifications.

“There’s a saying I use in patrol quite a bit: ‘You choose your decisions but you don’t get to choose the consequences’,” Barton said. “My advice to teenagers and adults, to be frank with you, is choose not to text and drive and you won’t have to worry about whether the consequence will occur or not.”

THE SIDEKICK april 2017

Jasso’s bittersweet goodbye

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Principal leaving CHS post for Richardson ISD as campus remembers his legacy written by Sakshi Venkatraman Executive News Editor @oompapa1 After 11 years on campus, Principal Mike Jasso has seen Coppell High School through its greatest tragedies and highest triumphs.

In 2001, he aided in a student evacuation after a bomb threat was called in on 9/11. In 2012, he held an aching student body together after the deaths of seniors Jacob Logan and Jonah Blackwell. In 2016, he consoled students and staff after the unexpected loss of IB English teacher Amy Wilkinson.

In his years, Jasso has also seen Coppell sports through five state championships, broke records for the number of National Merit Finalists honored at CHS and oversaw the immersion of iPads into regular classroom activities.

In an email to students and parents last night, Jasso formally announced his departure from CHS at the end of the 2016-2017 school year.

Jasso will take on a new role as executive director for secondary instruction, operations and leadership at Richardson ISD in the fall. However, he is beginning the transition process in the next few weeks.

“My love for this campus is still as strong as it’s ever been,” Jasso said. “My decision to leave to pursue another job is not indicative that I don’t love everything about Coppell High School. In life, things change and you have to take advantage of opportunities.”

Jasso says he spent three to four weeks considering the job at Richardson ISD before ultimately deciding to accept it, around

photo bybyAmanda Hair photo Amanda Hair

Coppell High School Principal Mike Jasso addresses the juniors and seniors of Coppell ISD after the completion of Shattered Dreams on April 13. Jasso has been the CHS principal since the 2011-2012 school year and is resigning after the completion of the 2016-2017 school year. a week ago. versity of North Texas. In fact, it was Hunt tionship.

From 2000 to 2005, Jasso served as an that convinced Jasso to come to CISD in “[Jasso] has grown me professionally assistant principal at CHS. After leaving to the1990s and early 2000s when the for- more than anyone ever has in my career,” work as principal of a Birdville ISD middle mer served as principal of Coppell Middle Arnold said. “I have mixed emotions about school, followed by Haltom High School, School West and the latter worked at a mid- him leaving. I’m crazy happy for him beJasso returned to CHS in 2012 as principal. dle school in Dallas. cause it’s an amazing opportunity for him Coppell ISD assistant superintendent Hunt served as CHS principal from and I’m crazy sad because my mentor’s Brad Hunt has known Jasso for more than 2006 to 2011. When he passed the torch to leaving. He won’t be right down the hall for 20 years, since they took their principal Jasso, he knew CHS had found the right fit. me to yell, ‘hey Mike can I talk to you?” certification courses together at the Uni“I felt very proud [seeing Jasso walk in Another group that Jasso has made his my shoes],” Hunt said. “We all thought he mark on during his time at CHS is the Red photo by Meara Isenberg was just the right person to take my place; Jackets, leading the group with pep talks at he’s a natural leader. When you’re a princi- each meeting and even starting a book club pal, you treat your high school almost like with them. it’s your child. I wanted to turn it over to “We’re supposed to be ambassadors of someone capable.” the school and there’s no better way to do Hunt says he is proud that some of his that through the principal,” Red Jacket selegacies and principal, such as the “I Rock nior Sanjula Yella said. “He leads a book CHS” T-shirts were carried on, but he has club with us called How Full is Your Buckalso enjoyed seeing the new initiatives Jasso et. He’s always there for us in that sense, he’s has implemented. a really cool principal.”

“He has really put forth an effort to try CISD is currently in the early stages of and get to know the students on a person- selecting a replacement to fill his shoes. al level,” Hunt said. “He was a supporter While district officials have not yet begun of new initiatives like the iPads. It’s a little interviewing potential candidates, adminemotional and a little melancholy to know istration will shortly release information to he’s not going to be here anymore. I really CHS staff about the procedures involved, will miss him and I’m sad to see him go, but including meetings to create a profile based I’m also excited for what the new principal on which to screen candidates for the job, will bring to campus.” according to Hunt.

Assistant principal Melissa Arnold has District administration hopes to have also worked with Jasso for the five years she a name to present to the CISD Board of has been at CHS. Arnold started in Feb- Trustees at the May 22 Board meeting. ruary 2012 as a teacher before transitionWhile district officials are anticipating Coppell High School Principal Mike Jasso announces during a student media press conference ing into the role of an assistant principal the new ideas his successor will bring to he is leaving his position after the 2016-2017 school year. Jasso has accepted an offer to serve during the 2013-2014 school year.

Over the the table, Jasso’s long legacy at CHS will not as executive director for secondary instruction, operations and leadership in Richardson ISD. years, the two have developed a close rela- soon be forgotten by students and staff.

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

Keeping pace

“Pulitzer prize of student journalism” awarded to staff at Seattle convention

written by Sakshi Venkatraman Executive News Editor @oompapa1 SEATTLE – After months of intense toiling inside and outside of the classroom, during and after class, the staff of The Sidekick and CoppellStudentMedia.com was awarded a 2017 National Scholastic Press Association Online Pacemaker award on April 8 at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention.

The award, which was a long-time dream to many staff members, marks the first Pacemaker in Sidekick history. After working towards what is described as “the Pulitzer prize of high school journalism” for his 12 years at Coppell High School, The Sidekick adviser Chase Wofford was speechless when the moment finally came to accept the honor.

“Honestly, it still hasn’t sunk in,” Wofford said. “I just heard them say ‘Coppell’ and, I’m not being dramatic, that’s kind of the last thing I remember. I just think that its deserving of this group especially.”

The staff has been honored as a finalist for the online award only four times and the print award once in its history, including the 2015-2016 school year.

“I’m still beaming, I haven’t stopped smiling in like 30 minutes,” The Sidekick Editor-in-Chief Meara Isenberg said. “I am so proud of our staff and what we have accomplished this year. I only have a couple

more months with [the staff] but I hope that this Pacemaker stands for what they are capable of achieving.”

After facing disappointment during the 2015-2016 year before, a new class of Sidekick editoral leadership stepped up in hopes of turning the tables. The announcement of the award at the NSPA awards ceremony was met with joyful screams, cheers, hugs and tears from staff members and, briefly, even Wofford himself.

“I just think we did a really good job of looking at ways to improve,” Wofford said.

“We didn’t just say ‘we were wronged’, we took it as a challenge to better ourselves. I think that’s why I was so emotional about winning the Pacemaker, seeing how happy this group of seniors was because I know it was so important to [them].”

Along with stories, photos and short videos from The Sidekick staff, Coppell Student Media is supplemented by segments from Coppell High School’s Pacemaker winning student television network KCBY. After 11 years of working with Wofford on Coppell Student Media, KCBY advisor Irma Kennedy is extremely proud of all the work it took to achieve this honor. “[Wofford] has been a tremendous lead-

photo by Sallyanne Harris Members of The Sidekick who traveled to Seattle for the 2017 JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention celebrate their NSPA Online Pacemaker, the highest honor in high school journalism. This is the first time in history that Coppell Student Media has ever won a Pacemaker.

er in growing this program from just a newspaper to the new 21st century model of online delivery of news,” Kennedy said.

“It’s not the first time we’ve been nominated, but it’s nice to see that with his leadership and the leadership of the editorial team, we made it happen.”

Isenberg attests to the team effort it took to make this dream happen, from the newest additions to the most experienced editors on staff.

“While I was sitting there and waiting for [the NSPA staff members] to call our names, I was thinking about all the stuff that went into making the site and all the different people that impacted it,” Isenberg said. “There were great in-depth stories by our writers, there were amazing designs by our graphics and cartoon editors, there were fantastic pictures and photographs from our photo editors and there was definitely great web design.”

While some might consider this high honor the end of the line, the staff of The Sidekick is looking to the future, turning to younger staff members for fresh ideas and inspiration for the year to come.

“As a whole, the leadership that we’ve had this year taught me what Sidekick was and what we stand for,” junior and first year staff writer Amelia Vanyo said. “They taught me how to love journalism. I came into it not really sure if I was going to enjoy it. It is hard, but [the editors] taught me that it’s something I can love even if its hard.”

While graduating seniors have their eyes trained to the next phase of their life, the indelible impact that The Sidekick left on them extends far beyond journalism.

‘Right now, the only thing on my mind is how much this award means to me and how much it means to all of us at The Sidekick,” Isenberg said.

Letters from the editors

‘‘

2008: CSM launched

Class of 2013

‘‘

Class of 2010

Michelle Pitcher

‘‘

2012: Pacemaker Finalist

I think people started treating it more seriously as ‘Hey, this is a student publication. We are reporting hard news that people are reading and people in the community actually seek out to find and read’.

Alex Nicoll

Class of 2015

‘‘

Daphne Chen

‘‘

It was a really cool feeling to think that others saw the value in what we were doing. We felt like celebrities [at the 2012 NSPA convention] with our “Pacemaker finalist” badges.

2014: Pacemaker Finalist

‘‘

We really optimized what we got from [Student Newspapers Online] and also what we put up there and made the website so much more friendly and just interactive in a way that it really wasn’t before.

‘‘

‘‘

I just remember hours of trial and error just fiddling with WordPress trying out different apps and tools.

But I feel like it got a lot of community members interested in the student newspaper.

Rachel Buigas-Lopez Class of 2016

2016: Pacemaker Finalist

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

Koontz hired on as principal of CHS9 written by Tanya Raghu Staff Writer @tanya_raghu

On March 28 at the monthly Coppell ISD Board of Trustees meeting, Grapevine High School associate principal of academics Cody Koontz was announced to be the new principal of CHS9, the ninth grade center set to open for the 2018-2019 school year.

Koontz began his teaching career in 2005 at Grapevine High School, his alma mater, and graduated from Texas Christian University.

In addition to being an associate principal, he also has coached girls soccer, track and football and taught physics and chemistry at the high school level.

Koontz will officially fulfill his new role starting July 3, welcoming rising high school freshman from across the district.

The Sidekick interviewed Koontz to get the inside scoop on what he has in store for the 2018-2019 school year and how he is preparing to fulfil his new role.

What attracted you to Coppell ISD that motivated you to apply for the job?

First of all, I grew up in this area, I grew up in Grapevine, so I’ve always been aware of Coppell and the success they have had at the school district. They have an outstanding reputation as being innovative, cutting edge, what I love is the structure of community partnerships that exist in terms of creating relevant learning experiences. I’ve been part of opening a high school in the past, Chisholm Trail High School, located in Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD and that was two of the best years of my life, truthfully. The idea of having the opportunity to open a new school in a reputable school district that is innovative and visionary goes back to all that I want to do.

Why are you a good fit for the job?

One of my strengths, one of the things I really strive to achieve, is to build solid relationships. I think that the best way to impact young people is to building meaningful relationships and through those relationships you can inspire and empower students and teachers from a principal

position to achieve greatness. Truthfully, everything I do is always about having a major impact on the lives of others and so I just think the 12 years I have spent in the various roles and various the districts has provided me with a wide variety of opportunities.

What are you most looking forward to?

Honestly, getting to know the community, getting to know the leaders in the district, leaders on the campuses and generally to chance to meet the educators and learners. I’ve been around and know of the great reputation [Coppell] has, I’m really excited to just get in and kind of get to know what’s going on and really learn about the pride and tradition that exists in the community.

What is your vision for CHS9?

This unique model for the district is not something that’s ever been done before so for me, what excites me about it so much, is being able to utilize the ninth grade center as an opportunity to unite students from the three different middle schools and give them a space where they have some own-

ership, knowing that they are the only students in that whole campus.

photo courtesy

Cody Koontz

Cody Koontz, current Grapevine High School associate principal of academics, has been named the new principal of CHS9.

An option of allegiance

Silence during daily pledge signifies apathy, redefining of patriotic expression written by Briana Thomas Staff Writer @brianathom Every morning, children at schools across the country rise to their feet, face the American flag and recite 23 words written by a man who few students today can name.

There are countless ways American students demonstrate their national pride. But the act believed to be one of the most prominent signs of reverence, one ingrained in minds from a young age, is the Pledge of Allegiance.

It is the familiar one-minute break at the start of either third or fifth period at Coppell High School. With one hand over the heart and gaze fixed on the flag, students verbally express their allegiance to one nation, “under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Texas Education Code requires all students recite both pledges each day unless written consent is given from a parent to recuse them (Texas Education Code § 25.082).

But are these legal requirements really observed in classrooms? Evidently not.

Words meant to be spoken with pride and sincerity are now merely a collection of statements muttered quickly out of obligation or not spoken at all.

“It’s been 12 years I’ve been saying the pledge and I’ve now sort of become desensitized to its purpose,” senior Meryl Xiong said. “It’s not so much that I’m saying the

pledge. Rather, I’m repeating words and sounds I’ve practiced for a long time.”

As years of saying the pledge have passed, some students have developed a heightened awareness of their political surroundings. The perceived questionable historical implications of the flag have also deterred some students from participation.

“The flag’s history isn’t as distinguished as people think,” senior Ifunanya Ibekwe said. “With the amount of violence and racial tension today, not many people feel like they want to pay respect to a place that has yet to respect them.”

While political opinions influence decreasing student participation, the amount of vague, surface level responses received from students when questioned on lack of attention to the pledge, show that many simply don’t care anymore.

Alongside an apparent lack of emotional connection to the flag, some think students have lost an awareness of what it stands for. Coppell High School Forensic Science teacher Sandy Kirkpatrick says many students seem to, “lack an understanding of the sacrifices our armed forces made in order for every student to have the opportunity to a free public education.”

There are many students who continue to break the silence, Coppell High School junior Jamie Jun is one of the student voices who still continues to recite the pledge.

“In third grade, I got to celebrate Veteran’s Day with my dad, who had served for four years in the Navy,” Jun said. “On that day, although my dad was still there, I was

photo by

Ale Ceniceros

The Pledge of Allegiance is an age old tradition practiced by many students in schools all across America. Texas is one of the six states that mandates a state and national pledge to be recited.

Students at Coppell High School are displaying increasing indifference for the daily recitiation of the pledge, softy mumbling the words or remaining silent altogether. lence adopted during the pledge. reminded of all the people who weren’t.

From a lack of time during class to the “I didn’t give much attention to the pledge before, it was just part of my daily monotonous nature of the pledge, for some routine. But since that day, for all the peo- students - it is not that they lack respect for ple who have served and for all those who the flag and their nation, it is simply that are serving right now, I take time to honor they are finding decreasing significance in this particular action. and appreciate them.”

This reveals the possible passing of an Aside from decreasing patriotism, or historical ignorance, the silence could be age old tradition and a changing student revealing something more. The possibility body whose means of patriotism and attiof a change in how patriotism is displayed tude towards the pledge deviate from that has become evident through growing si- of previous generations.

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

EDITORIAL

Pledge deserves to be respected, not muttered The next time the United States Pledge of Allegiance booms over the speakers during daily announcements, take a look at the classroom around you. Odds are, most of your peers are mumbling the pledge under their breath, if not completely silent.

There are plenty of possible reasons for this loss of fervor in saying the pledge that seems to come as we age. Students could be making a statement about how they feel towards their country; they may be uncomfortable putting their hand on their heart pledging allegiance at all, as the United States is one of the few countries that requires a daily pledge. However, the most common reason for Coppell High School students’ silence is indifference.

While the pledge is meant to be a patriotic act, reciting the same series of sounds every school morning for 13 years has desensitized us to the deeper implications of the pledge, which was written by Francis Bellamy in 1892. Before the addition of “the United States of America”, the pledge was written to apply to any country that adopted it.

Because of its monotony, students no longer give thought to the meaning of the words in the pledge and the context in which they were written. More often than not, we see it as an interruption to our day, not something associated with the patriotism. Contrast this with the national anthem, sung at sporting events and assemblies with more participation.

Deep thought is no longer given to the

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP Adviser

Chase Wofford Editor-in-Chief

Meara Isenberg Executive Sports Editor

Marcus Krum

Executive News Editor

Sakshi Venkatraman Executive Editorial Page Editor

Emma Cummins

Executive Enterprise Editor

Joseph Krum

EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP Student Life Editor

Lili Lomas Entertainment Editor

Kathryn Rudd General Photography Editor

Kelly Monaghan Sports Photography Editor

Amanda Hair

meaning of the words in the pledge and the context in which they were written. But these words stand for the fight it took to secure the rights we treasure so deeply in this country. Granted, the right to remain silent for the pledge is one of those rights.

The problem is, it often takes a national tragedy, such as 9/11 or the Boston Marathon bombings, to shake us awake and make us say the pledge with purpose. Patriotism should not only come out when the country is in crisis; truly caring about this nation means having the same

Design Editor

Rutuja Joshi Jessica Jun Staff Cartoonist Tara Kamalpour-Ansari Thomas Rousseau Fiona Koshy BUSINESS LEADERSHIP Farah Merchant Akila Muthukumar Communications Manager Tanya Raghu Aubrie Sisk Business Manager Grant Spicer Chelsea Banks Briana Thomas Co-Social Media Manager Amelia Vanyo Lina Pyon Kathryn Wiener Co-Social Media Manager Reid Valentine Meha Srivastav Austin Banzon

STAFF WRITERS Gracie Blackwell Sruthi Boppuri Rachel Choi Riley Galloway Sofia Guerrero Saira Haque

level of reverence for the flag and the pledge on any given day.

That being said, patriotism is not equivalent to blind, unconditional acceptance.

You do not have to love every part in America’s past or present to love the country as a whole and respect the people who have worked hard within its borders and overseas.

At the end of the day, we need to step back and consider what this country means to us. To some, that definition may not be pretty, and that’s valid. If you make a conscious choice not to stand or speak the pledge for a personal reason, that’s OK and this country will still protect you.

The apathy, though, towards the 29 words that we recite each day, should be remedied.

A way to fix this problem at the state level could be reducing the number of times we say the pledge to once a week or even once a month. Making the recitation of these words less of a routine and more of a special event might allow students the attach

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PHOTOGRAPHERS Ale Ceniceros Bren Flechtner Chloe Navarro Hannah Tucker Megan Winkle

DESIGNERS Elena Gillis Wren Lee Kelly Wei

Visit coppellstudentmedia.com 2017 NSPA Online Pacemaker

more meaning to the words and participate more, as is the case with the national anthem.

As the next generation of American adults, it is up to us to define what patriotism looks like in our eyes.

Whether or not you feel that this country has been good to you, reciting the pledge should be something that you consciously think about, not something softly muttered with indif ference.

The Sidekick is the student newspaper for Coppell High School and is published six times per school year.

The newspaper is a member of National Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Interscholastic League Press Conference.

The editorials and columns presented in this paper reflect the views of their student writers and not Coppell High School or Coppell Independent School District.

Adverstisements are sold as full, 1/2 page, 1/4 page and 1/8 page sizes in black and white or color.

The Sidekick welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters can be emailed to cwofford@coppellisd.com or delivered to the D115 newsroom at Coppell High School. A current email address and first and last name for the writer must be included for the letter to be considered for publication.

Contact The Sidekick: 214-496-6239 cwofford@coppellisd.com 185 W. Parkway Coppell, TX 75019

Sidekick Online @CHSCampusNews @sidekicksports @thesidekickcoppell @sidekick_sports @sidekicknews

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

Collectivism vs Individualism

How experiences with contradictory ideas can create harmony, balance written by Fiona Koshy Staff Writer @fionakoshy10 When I was young, I remember coming back from vacation one summer to be greeted by neighbors playing in our backyard. As my family pulled into the driveway, the sight of volleyballs flying through the air and sounds of laughter welcomed us home.

Excited, I dropped my suitcases and sprinted to the backyard to get in on the fun.

To some, it may have been alarming coming back from a trip to see neighbors using your property, unannounced, but to us, this was normal.

Both my parents grew up in what would be classified as collectivistic homes. My dad was raised in Brunei in southeast Asia, and my mom was raised in Wisconsin by parents who had just moved to America from India.

Despite their differences, both Brunei and India are collectivist countries.

Collectivism within a culture places em-

graphic by Elena Gillis Collectivism is defined as the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it, while induvidualism is defined as favoring freedom of action for individuals. phasis on the needs of a group as a whole, however, my collectivistic upbringing has rather than members of that group. been equally matched by an individualistic There are so many small ways that col- environment. lectivism has shaped my life. My upbringIndividualism is the idea of leading life ing has taught me to truly care for others. as an individual with one’s own actions, inPlacing value on community is one tent and goals in mind. of the most important aspects of my life.

Rather than limit myself to the creEveryone I care for is treated like family dentials or stipulations of a group, I have which has allowed me to cultivate mean- learned to view myself as my own being. ingful relationships.

I have learned to grow into my own perHaving lived my whole life in America, son, shaping my life to fit my own mold

rather than that of others.

Running, writing and taking pictures are hobbies that play a huge role in my life, yet no community has had to force these interests onto me. By separating myself from others from time to time, I see that there are distinctions within a group.

If I want to reach my goals, I have to put in the hard work myself rather than expect others to do part of the heavy lifting.

There are times, however, when these ideas are so different that they present a crossroads.

When I am presented with plans that I consider to be more favorable than previous commitments, my environment tells me to cancel my initial plans and attend what I want to, but my upbringing reminds me to honor my commitments no matter the sacrifice.

At the same time, I have learned that taking time for myself is just as important as taking time to be with others.

Finding a balance between these two contradictory forces has opened me up to all sorts of experiences and ultimately, has shaped me into the person I am today.

In the eye of a hurricane

Convention shows that in tough times, journalism remains stronger than ever written by Amelia Vanyo Staff Writer @ameliavanyo SEATTLE – In the eye of the hurricane there is quiet.

For journalists in this day and age, living up to your credentials may seem a daunting task. With anyone from your neighbor to your president ready to pull you down to the realm of fake news, it can be difficult to remember that what you publish is as stable as you make it, not as weak as what others decide it should be.

But at the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle, I was reminded that journalists, even with the world at their throats, continue to live up to their ethical and civic expectations.

As pointed out by Tim Harrower, an award winning editor, designer and columnist now teaching journalism in Oregon, in his keynote speech on Thursday night, there is no greater pit that a journalist can fall in than that of fake news. In fact, he made us swear that we would never falsify any fact or figure in our journalism career.

With a thousand right hands raised high around me, I realized something: even with all the fake news I have come across, I have found so much more true, important content. Though fake news has become an

epidemic in our world, there is real news that we need to read.

We may have to filter through our news sources, but there is news out there that you need to read, and that we need to write and that will never change.

This past week, student journalists at Pittsburg High School in Kansas got their new principal to resign by uncovering discrepancies within her resume by using an incredible display of investigative journalism.

Listening to an advisor tell the Pittsburg High School journalist’s story on Friday morning was a reminder that sometimes the truth can be difficult. Surely going against the head of their school and their local newspaper was no easy task. But sometimes it needs to be written, and journalists will always be there to write it.

In the eye of the hurricane, there is quiet.

For journalists, this means that while the world is a magnet for caoss, the morals of good writers, graphic designers and photographers remains untouched. When we write the truth, even when that truth hurts, we write it because it is true and because it needs to be written, not because of our agenda, not because of our beliefs, not even because of our political affiliation. We write because it is our job, our passion, our duty. We write it for you.

graphic by

Thomas Rousseau

According to Vanyo, there has been a storm of fake news in our country in the past year.

Real news covering chemical attacks, travel bans and air strikes must be encouraged.

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THE SIDEKICK

We

are

not

to

be

april 2017

robots

graphic by

Austin Banzon

Cummins contends that life is more than technological advances, automation

written by Emma Cummins Executive Editoral Page Editor @emma_cummins_ Recently, billionaire and inventor Elon Musk made the claim that humans have to become cyborgs or “risk irrelevance”.

I am not sure about you, but, to me, that kind of world sounds absolutely boring.

As of late, the issue of automation in the economy has come front and center. For many of us, we are wondering what our purpose in society is; robots seem to be replacing many of the jobs we once knew.

Progress and innovation have their places in history and we should always strive for these things, but at what cost are we willing to sacrifice our humanity in the name of “progress”?

Human interaction cannot be replaced.

Or if it can be replaced, human connections will be irrevocably altered. The way in which humans think has and always will be a subject of interest. If we reduce ourselves to thinking as robots do, are we real-

ly thinking? Technology improves our lives but it also creates a sense of detachment in everything we do. There are multiple ways to approach a question, create a solution or look at a problem. A homogenous world is inevitable should we all become like robots.

If we relegate ourselves to thinking in a way that is more amenable to technology, then what beauty can we find, if any? The inherent complexity of each and every human should be encouraged, not destroyed.

America has a problem with commercialism. Some of us, conservatives in particular, tend to think of the free market as the panacea for all problems.

While I am no advocate of socialism,

there are still flaws within the free market as there are with other systems. If this is the direction the free market is taking us, if the world is meant to be filled with humans who have to think more like cyborgs and less like humans, then something must be done.

This is by no means meant to be a veiled suggestion to abandon all technological innovation and replace it with some form of socialism. It is meant to remind us all of our humanity and that regardless of where the economy takes us, we must not forget that humans and their souls have some timeless truths.

We are not just cogs in the machine.

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

CALL ME PRINCESS A SATIRICAL LIFE STORY OF THE ONLY CHILD written by Akila Muthukumar Staff Writer @akilam29 Like not using the right fork when at dinner in a fancy restaurant or wearing mismatched neon clothes, being an only child can get a bad rap.

Only children are characterized as selfish, socially awkward hermits waiting on the desolate island of self-centeredness amongst their imaginary admirers for any human contact.

Then, of course, there are the impassioned attempts to defend the only child: they must have grown up with refined thought from years of introspection and dinner table talk that revolved around adult matters, a precocious gem. They will always embrace time alone and find creative ways to entertain themselves, unlike their weaker counterparts: those with siblings.

Early years When I was born, my parents threw out the rest of their entire lives – work, friends and other relatives – aside to obsess over me. Their undivided attention had an unintended consequence; it increased dependency on them for every little thing. In fact, until today, I cannot tie my shoes without help.

Additionally, from my years as a toddler, I was embroiled in heated discussions on politics, and the world water crisis. I believe my first word was, in fact, “sociopolitical.”

But, I must say the greatest advantage I have had from an early age is being able to point at anything, ranging from a Mercedes Benz to my own apartment (which I used to hold seminars on foreign affairs), and get it immediately. All the presents under the Christmas tree were mine and my birthday was treated like a religious holiday.

Middle years When my parents decided it was time to return to work, I was left in isolation.

I did not interact with friends, relatives, neighbors or have any general human contact. This is when I started dreaming up imaginary friends – the hallmark that only children are notorious for. I surrounded myself with these companions, hosting events ranging from elaborate dinner parties and casual birthday celebrations, except the presents bought were always mine.

I bossed these imaginary pals around to fulfill my every whim: they carried my throne, cleaned my tiara until it was shining and answered to my every demand.

Then, when I finally first met another human (around age 14), I immediately lunged for their hair and jumped around shouting gibberish, unsure how to express the many terrible years of loneliness.

POPPIN’ THE BUBBLE ride technicians and listen to live music turned up to a near deadly volume. Since it is a charity event, your wallet better be ready to pack a punch as the carnival is complete with overpriced food and fun.

How else would anyone want to spend their weekend? written by Amelia Vanyo Staff Writer @ameliavanyo Growing up in Coppell (or as it’s more commonly known, Boppell) is the greatest experience a growing kid can have. What, if not a like-minded small town, could a cultured millennial want?

It is with heavy hearts that high school students leave Coppell, like birds pushed from the nest. But as they travel into the big, scary world, full of Sylvesters, they look back upon Coppell and its happenings with a full heart.

Before seniors are off let us have some satirical fun reminding them what they are going to miss.

The Saint Ann’s Carnival We all at some point or another have made our way down to the St. Ann’s Carnival. Conveniently planned for either the year’s rainiest or hottest weekends, the carnival is the prime place to get yelled at by

Football Games Of course, football is a part of our lives, we’re in Texas. Whether it’s Dallas or Coppell, everyone loves their Cowboys. If you’re going to the game to support the team, the drill team or the marching band, football games are an amazing way to experience extreme weather and baby powder storms. But forget the band, the noisemakers coming from the students section…nothing was more like music to my ears.

West Dome It was all too easy to climb up the old Coppell Middle School West dome and sit on the spray paint covered slope, enjoying the crisp air of teen rebellion. What

Present day Despite the exaggerations in the tall tales I have presented thus far, the truth is: I’m still figuring it out. As a teenager, the effects of being an only child are significantly less distinguishable and slowly wearing off.

As I start learning to drive, start approaching college and a life away from home, I am forced into more social interactions.

I will never quite understand the world of sibling rivalries, trying to follow in the footsteps of an older sibling or trying to leave those same footsteps for a younger one.

But, being an only child has enriched my life in countless other ways: I have grown closer than I ever imagined to my parents, have made friends who are practically siblings, learned to embrace quiet time alone and honestly never felt a lack of love from those I do have in my life.

what teens will remember about their great city

else demerits society if not this display of rebellion? What else defines being a teenager if not the untouchable feeling you get when you are an entire 20 feet above the ground?

Pep rallies Nothing hypes up school spirit like ditching class to celebrate our football team. The celebration gives us all a sense of charitability for cheering on such an underappreciated group. It’s good to know we love the underdog once in awhile, right? Of course, we also had to give some attention to the band, cheerleaders and drill team, not that they needed any more of it. Luckily, we never paid too much attention to other sports teams or clubs, god forbid they receive too much praise.

Horses Because we could not possibly be more stereotypical, horses are obviously a part of our day to day life at Coppell H i g h

School. The horses that shared a fence with the CHS parking lot were just enough of a cliche for a small Texas town. This way when we get asked if we rode horses to school, we can say “no, but there were always some by the parking lot.” And we will sound just hick enough.

Coppell Moms There is no defining feature that screams Coppell as much as our Coppell Moms.

Bedecked in Kendra Scott, cowboy marchandise and rhinestone covered hats and flip flops, these women made our town unique by being cookie cutter versions of their endless group of friends. Seriously, no one looked as cool as they did pulling up to the PTO meeting in their SUVs and Range Rovers like they owned the place (which, let’s be honest, with their soccer mom-esk demanding style they practically did).

CISD Technology Most of all, we will miss the school issued iPads and the dependable CISD wifi.

Nothing furthered our education more than closing books, putting away paper and pencils and diving into a Thinglink assignment. My ability to access nothing on a daily basis brought a sense of calm into my life and it brought me great joy to be incapable of completing assignments when my iPad randomly decided it had enough. photo by

Amelia Vanyo

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

photo by

Jesse Jun

A S OUND PA S SION

DALIPARTHY’S PAST SPARKS FERVOR FOR SPEECH PATHOLOGY

e cannot stop himself from crying as he throws a tantrum. She bends down, looks him in the eyes and they take three deep breaths together. With the sound of her voice and the warmth of her hug, he finally calms down and smiles.

She smiles with him and right then, she knows: Coppell High School senior Soundarya Daliparthy is going to pursue a career in speech pathology, the study or treatment of communication disabilities.

Influenced by her personal experiences, Daliparthy realized her potential to give back to society and help those in similar situations.

“I have [12-year-old] twin younger brothers and Kartheek, the younger one, is autistic and seeing him grow as a person and all the obstacles that our family has faced, it’s been very inspiring,” Daliparthy said. “Helping people has always been a big thing for me and this is my way of giving back. I’ve seen what therapists have done for Kartheek and it’s amazing, so knowing that I have the potential to do that is encouraging.

Through her experiences with Kartheek, Daliparthy recognizes the need to educate people around the world and looks forward to taking on that challenge.

“People tend to shy away from special needs kids, but when I see them, I almost want to cry because they are just so pure and too good for the world,” Daliparthy said. “I remember one day Kartheek came into my room just full on sobbing because these two kids were making fun of him and he said ‘I just want them to be my friends.

Why can’t they just be my friends?’

“In that moment, my heart just broke.

And that’s why I’m excited to go into speech path, because I know that not only will I help people like Kartheek, but I will also be able to educate kids and future generations about autism and that’s the biggest thing I’m excited for. Just because someone is different, doesn’t mean they should be shunned. We should embrace that difference.”

Lending a helping hand to those around her has been something Daliparthy strived to reach from a very young age.

“I’ve known Soundarya all of my life and it didn’t matter who, but from the beginning, she’s always wanted to do something that can help people,” CHS senior Sneha Venkatesh said. “She’s someone who cares so much for her brothers and she talks about them all the time. I know she’ll be be one of the greatest speech pathologists because of the relationship she’s built with her brothers, which has shaped a lot of who she is today.”

Daliparthy’s connection with her brothers Sreeram and Kartheek has been the main influence in her decision to pursue speech pathology. As the older sister, she has learned the importance of love and personal relationships.

“The best thing about pursuing speech pathology is the connection and love you get from the child,” Daliparthy said. “My favorite part and something I do more often is understanding their perspectives. That connection I have with them is surreal to describe; it’s just something else. Special needs kids have so much love to give and I think that’s something people don’t realize these days. If you just take the time to get to know them, you really get to see how much love they have to offer. And all they want is to be loved in return.”

With the learning experience comes the obstacles. Though she and her family have faced many struggles, she maintains a positive attitude and uses those trials as her motivation.

“My brothers were born extremely premature and they were the size of my hand,” Daliparthy said. “I remember it was Jan. 15, my mom’s birthday, and the doctor came in saying they needed to operate on her and both her and my brothers’ lives were at stake. As a little 5-year-old, I didn’t know what to think, but through that experience, I think if I could help another family in

‘‘

character growing up,” Soundarya’s father Satish Daliparthy said. “Those qualities really set her apart. The way she cares for others and the way she wants to help people and contribute to society makes her stand out from the crowd.

“Even when her brothers were born and in medical care, she was really young and still she already had the heart to want to help kids who are premature. And her effort is 100 percent all the time. She communicates well with others and she’s smart but I think her hard work is what really stands out.”

That connection I have...is surreal to describe. It's just something else. Special needs kids have so much love to give and I think that's something people don't realize these days.

Soundarya Daliparthy, senior

some similar way, it would make a very big difference for both myself and that family.”

Her caring heart has touched her family incredibly, especially her brother Kartheek.

“Soundarya is a good sister,” Kartheek said. “She’s really smart and she helps me a lot.”

Although the 12 year old’s speech is limited, when asked if he loved his sister, his answer was simple: “Yes.” Daliparthy’s parents have also taken notice in not only her loving heart, but also her hard work and determination.

“Being hardworking, self-motivating, and dedicated, she’s always had a very big

‘‘

H

written by Jesse Jun Staff Writer @jesse_jun16

Daliparthy is unsure which university she is attending this fall, but she will be majoring in speech pathology and business.

As she enters a new chapter in her life with college, Daliparthy says she will miss her brothers but she looks forward to making a difference and living out her dream.

“I’m going to miss seeing them everyday and having a best friend who is too good for me,” Daliparthy said. “But I’m excited for the idea that I can really help people and that’s what drives me most. As much as I love my brothers and I want to protect them from anything, I know the next step is to help people I can because I want to and I know that I can.”

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

MUSIC OFFERS CHADAGA INSIGHT ON HUMAN CONNECTION written by Amelia Vanyo Staff Writer @ameliavanyo Coppell High School junior Mihir Chadaga gets shushed a lot in class.

Chadaga, a band student and All State performer, whistles to keep on task and has been doing so since the sixth grade. Music, like whistling, is his passion, and defines who he is as a person.

Chadaga is just one of more than seven billion of people. More than seven billion people with different collections of habits, strengths, shortcomings, dreams and fears. The bridge that connects the people of this world is blurred and indefinable. So what brings us together? What allows us to understand the person beside us? Is it our similarities? Our differences?

Often it is easy for people to find others most like them. Many of Chadaga’s friends come from the bond they create in the band hall. Cliques form from all sorts of extracurricular activities, classes and clubs.

But reaching outside this comfort zone is far from impossible. In fact, overcoming

the barriers of opposing personalities can be an impressive strength.

Chadaga, who plays the oboe and the English horn is in love with music, so much so that its constant contact is imperative to his success.

“My productivity goes way down if I’m not constantly listening to music,” Chadaga said. “I guess I can sort of relate this to a battery, I sort of need music to charge me through the day.”

His friends see Chadaga as not only a talented musician, but as a musician that exemplifies a passion sought after by many.

“He’s grown so much in high school because I used to not really see his passion in middle school but now that he’s immersed in it I’ve seen that passion really grow,” CHS oboe player Kristin Boyer said.

Mihir’s communication comes best from music itself, be it with his English horn in hand, a rhythm in his arms as he conducts his way down the hallway, or with a tune on his tongue as he whistles his way through class.

“He is definitely a magnet for all things musical,” Chadaga’s private teacher Sally

Bohls said. “He has a very innate ability, not just when he’s playing the oboe or the English horn but just with music in general.”

Chadaga’s musical talent is undeniable, but instead of getting wrapped up in the music world Chadaga sees how our differences are as fundamental to the bridge of understanding as our similarities.

“I’ve acknowledged that every person has an activity or hobby that they can relate to in the same way that I relate to with music, so everyone feels a connection to something,” Chadaga said. “Just understanding that has helped me to communicate with others. Like some of my friends use sports a lot as an analogy to something we’re doing in class and it helps them understand better and helps me communicate with them because we’re connecting through our passions.”

Mihir Chadaga, junior Amelia Vanyo

photo by

CHS STUDENT’S PRANK SMASHES EXPECTATIONS, GOES VIRAL written by Emma Cummins Executive Editorial Editor @emmacummins One would often think that tricking the associate principals at Coppell High School in participating in a prank video would be a risky move. But for CHS senior Ryan Storch, it was a no brainer.

“It literally just came to me,” Storch said. “I’ve always really liked comedy like YouTube and [“Saturday Night Live”] sketches. I like dry, funny humor like Monty Python. I love making people laugh and this idea came to me and I just rolled with it.”

Storch put together a video of the APs and Principal Mike Jasso at CHS singing the lyrics of “All Star” by Smashmouth – without the administrators knowing it was going to be posted on Twitter or that it was going to be used for anything other than academic purposes. In order to have the APs say the words to the song, Storch gave them a list of random words that were supposedly for a psychology project for his father’s friend.

“I wasn’t really afraid because I

Ryan Storch, senior photo by Emma Cummins

knew that the worst thing that could happen is they would figure it out and be like, ‘OK, Ryan why did you just waste my time?” Storch said. “But I knew that if they didn’t figure it out the end product would be so much better than what would happen if they did find out so I just hoped.”

It turns out that Storch’s video became a hit, and not just in Coppell. Storch’s video as of April 5 has 52,610 retweets, 131,500 likes and the video is now making the rounds on popular Twitter accounts, Instagram, iFunny, and even NBC 5. And to top it all off, Smashmouth, the band who created the song Storch uses in his video, gave their own shoutout.

“When Smashmouth tweeted at me, I fell to the ground,” Storch said. “I just collapsed. It was nuts.”

Jasso had his suspicions while filming but enjoyed the video anyway.

“When I got in there, it seemed a little strange and farfetched. So in the back of my mind I thought, ‘hmmm, I smell a rat’,” Jasso said. “When the video broke, it really rang in my mind, I knew he was up to something. But if you know Ryan, he’s a great kid and not mean-spirited at all and I think the video was very funny.”

Storch was a little shaken about how popular the video became.

“I didn’t expect it to become this popular. I expected it to get out of Coppell a little bit maybe a couple hundred, couple thousand favorites but I’ve gotten notifications from people from Australia,” Storch said.

“I don’t know whether to be proud or confused or just like, ‘what is happening with my life’ but it’s so funny.”

KCBY-TV advisor Irma Kennedy had faith in Storch to create a great product.

After she watched the video, she knew her faith had been well placed.

“I just remember him saying, ‘it’s gonna be good, it’s gonna be good, Mrs. Kennedy,” Kennedy said. “I loved it. I thought it was very clever and creative. I think it was creative genius.”

Students and teachers alike have seen the video and made a point of how good it is.

“When I first saw it, I laughed and thought, ‘wow, this person really knows how to make other people laugh,” CHS senior Jonathan Lindbloom said. “I admire his creativity and humor.”

Only time will tell if Storch’s video will make it any farther than it already has. But for now, the students of CHS and people around the world will be given a taste of the lyrical talents of the Administrators at CHS.

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Students, teachers share difficulties dealing with domestic violence, how they overcome it

If you are or have been a victim of domestic violence it is important to seek help. Many things can trigger victims including having PTSD, a condition in which victims of serious life threatening issues repeatedly relive the event.

Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) domestic violence hotline if you are in need of help. There are several different support groups you can go to or people you can talk to.

>from page 1 He was then charged with family domestic violence.

The house that once had happy memories was filled with only misery and sorrow.

For half of my life, I was a victim of domestic violence. My father was a great man but when he would drink or abuse drugs, he was no longer there. He was a hurt man who wanted to punish the world for a life of pain he, himself endured.

After years of abuse, my mom could not take it anymore she knew if she did not leave my family would not be here today. My family then got a protective order and fled to Oklahoma in hopes to change our future.

Domestic violence is a pattern of controlling behaviors that one partner uses to get power over the other, resulting in physical violence, threat, mental abuse and sexual abuse. Eighty-five percent of domestic violence victims are women and 25 percent of women worldwide will experience some type of dating abuse, according to DoSomething.

Domestic violence can affect anyone, as it does not matter your economic background, race or gender. Many victims of domestic violence do not always show signs of being a victim and most do not share with others. Therefore, people should remain sensitive when talking to others who may have been a

victim.

For most of the childhood for one Coppell anonymous senior, it was similar to the typical family. It was not until her family immigrated from Mexico to the United States in 2006 that problems started to arise. Her life shifted from a regular household to a much more chaotic home.

“My brother was maybe about 16 whenever… Our dad was getting more physical,” she said. “At first he started hitting my mom more than anything else and I thought it was because, well I was not necessarily sure, why. I just remember coming home one night and I noticed our family shifted from being very healthy to just not so healthy.”

She could see her family falling apart.

“I came home from work and my mom was pretty much having a mental breakdown, she started throwing books and throwing everything. I think I came in at the wrong time, so she pretty much, essentially, started beating me,” she said. “That’s when it started to shift from my mom and dad being violent to each other, to them being violent to my brother and I.” Eventually her brother moved out, leaving her to face her parents alone.

Without her brother there, things progressively got worse.

“Whenever my mom was arrested, not my father but my mom, there was my dad, I and my brother that came one

night,” she said. “We just all happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and my mother had another mental breakdown and started going violent on everyone.”

Her mom was charged with first domestic violence and sentenced to a year in jail. She will be going to college in the fall and believes being away from her parents will allow her to grow. She feels stronger and believes being a survivor of domestic violence has really affected who she is as a person and will make her a better person.

Unfortunately, many families affected by domestic violence are not protected by the Criminal Justice System.

Families may apply for a protective order which tells the abuser they are not allowed 500 feet from where you live or work. However, this does not ensure the safety of the family. Any abuser can still show up on property and if law enforcement does not act quickly, the results could be extreme.

According to National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in four women and one in seven men have been victims of extreme physical abuse by a spouse or intimate partner. Domestic violence affects many families all over the United States, as one in 15 children are exposed to violence and 90 percent of these children are eyewitnesses.

Growing up in a household that has domestic violence affects children severely. Many children often feel anx-

ious, fearful, powerless and worried for siblings or other relatives, according to Domestic Violence Roundtable.

A Coppell High School substitute’s wife was abusive verbally and physically.

“Abuse is not totally reserved for women only, it happens to males too,” he said. “It’s not always physical, in my case it was both, mental and physical. I had a wife who was very lovely person, very talented person but very insecure and could not handle her alcohol. Day by day, month by month, year by year she got worse.”

According to Verywell, 92 percent of domestic violence cases reported drug or alcohol consumption on the day of the assault.

“One point when she would drink she would get mean and sometimes even hit me… It got worse for me and I did not want to divorce, at the time I was Catholic and divorce isn’t something that you do,” he said. “One morning I woke up and she was standing over me with a kitchen butcher knife and then I ran away from home. In fact, I married a person who was in an abusive family and she as a child left.”

He left his wife in hopes of finding a better future. A few years later, he met his present wife and now lives happily.

“I really don’t think I’m a better person, if at all because I was no longer around an abuser,” he said. “The same person only immensely happier. I ac-

credit my 28 years with my wife and partner I truly love.”

Being a victim of domestic violence does not mean you are inferior or weak.

In fact, many victims of domestic violence are strong for they have witnessed the cruelty of the world.

Although, my childhood was filled with anger and hatred, everything that happened shaped me into the person I am today.

I am a strong independent person that will not give up. In high school, I have struggled a lot and at many times I felt like giving up but I did not. As my mom is always working I cannot ask for help because I know she is struggling herself.

I have maintained a job throughout half of high school. I have always loved working and sometimes I find myself prioritizing work instead of school.

Work has been a getaway for me, I can be myself and not worry about peers or others judging me.

I still am very affected by my childhood but I do not let it define my life.

Many times I have panic attacks, especially, if I am around confrontation: yelling, or even if someone speaks about abuse, I have flashbacks.

For a long time, it was hard for me to be myself and open up to others and I still struggle with that. However at the end of the day, I know I have my mom, my sisters, and my close friends to support me. I know I am not alone.

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

Channeling expertise through YouTube Mishra showcases intelligent mind through educational Internet music

photo illustration by Kelly

Shastry inspires students to take learning initiatives with creative videos

Wei

Coppell High School freshman Sushim Mishra sings renditions of popular songs with original lyrics to teach biology and history concepts. Mishra has been creating educational content on his YouTube channel Big Shim since the seventh grade. written by Kelly Wei Staff Writer @kellylinwei When one imagines a busy night spent studying, very few would think of their favorite pop song. After all, there is obviously no correlation between a catchy tune and an upcoming test.

Coppell High School freshman Sushim Mishra would beg to differ.

Mishra has been creating educational videos on his YouTube channel Big Shim since the seventh grade. Specializing in biology and current events, his videos provide viewers with a stylistically unique approach to studying.

Rather than filming a slideshow presentation or long-winded speeches, Mishra has instead adopted his lessons into creative song covers. His video “All About The Plants” is a rendition of Meghan Trainor’s popular hit “All About That Bass”.

With 18 videos posted and approaching almost 100 subscribers, Big Shim has become a prominent media platform for Mishra to reach out to others in his own unconventional methods.

“A normal lecture would be boring, just sitting there and listening for 30 minutes,” Mishra said. “I’d rather watch a video that’s compiled [all the information] in four minutes.”

The idea of establishing a YouTube presence first came to Mishra in the seventh grade, after having created an informative rap song for a school project and recognizing potential in an activity that would combine film, music and education.

Biology plays a significant role in Mish-

ra’s life, mostly due to his mother, Richa Bhatt, who is a biology teacher at CHS and has fostered a love for the subject within him.

Many of Mishra’s classmates and friends are subscribed to his channel. A glance at his comment box underneath almost every video shows students’ supportive and encouraging stance on the content he puts out.

The energy and humor Mishra displays in his creative videos also translate clearly into his every day real life.

“He definitely brings life into the classroom,” CHS English teacher Joy Han said.

“For instance, there’s a friend he waits for every day to [jokingly] scare him on the way to class - just eccentric little things like that.”

For all his jokes and gimmicks, however, Mishra is a deeply passionate and curious individual who genuinely enjoys learning about the world around him. Already juggling two AP courses as a freshman, he is an academically driven student to say the least, and certainly one with big and bright things ahead of him. “[Mishra] loves to ask questions - you can tell he’s very interested in the topics we cover,” CHS AP Biology teacher Jennifer Martin said. “Sometimes he’ll hang out for a few minutes after school to talk [about] biology.”

As for the future of Big Shim, Mishra plans on further improving his channel by moving away from karaoke tracks soon and instead creating his own original ones using the program GarageBand. He looks forward to expanding his channel and increasing in both views and subscribers.

photo by Sruthi Boppuri Coppell High School senior Adithya Shastry helps students better understand complex science concepts through his YouTube channel, ShastryNation. Shastry created his channel after discovering his passion for science after taking an Advanced Placement (AP) Biology class.

written by Sruthi Boppuri Staff Writer @sruthiboppuri As students take harder level classes throughout their education, many find themselves struggling to understand certain topics, to the point where they may lose interest in them. But for Coppell High School senior Adithya Shastry, these advanced classes have only made him more interested in science.

Through his YouTube Channel, ShastryNation, Shastry helps these students get interested in the field by providing them with a better explanation of the complex topics.

Since the summer after his freshman year, Shastry knew he wanted to do something to enhance the learning experience for himself and his peers, but was unsure about exactly what to do.

After taking AP Biology his sophomore year in high school, Shastry developed a stronger passion for science, inspiring him to start and dedicate his YouTube channel to making informational science videos, ranging from topics such as biology and chemistry.

“When I would ask the freshmen on the swim team about biology and science, I would always get responses like ‘biology sucks’ or ‘science is terrible’ and that to me was just surprising because I always thought science was so cool,” Shastry said.

“My real goal is to get people to enjoy science and get interested in the topic.”

His channel, ShastryNation, has more than 500 subscribers and is constantly growing, while his videos have been viewed

more than a thousand times.

“He’s one of those [students] that’s really curious about everything,” AP Biology teacher Jennifer Martin said. “He wants to do well in the class but he’s really more interested in the learning, so he would always ask really good questions. He’ll think about it when he’s gone and then he’ll pop by my room and ask more questions.”

To make his videos, Shastry starts by finding a science-related topic that he finds interesting and thoroughly researches it, using a wide variety of resources.

“The research I put into my videos is definitely the most fun part. I get a bunch of resources and read through everything to make sure I have a good understanding of the topic,” Shastry said. “Then, I try to make it as basic as possible so people will get interested. I purposefully leave out a lot of the details to get people to go out and research more of it.”

After planning out the layout of his video and the information he wants to include, Shastry begins filming his video and editing it.

While most of the effort put into ShastryNation is solely his own, his sister’s work almost always makes an appearance in his videos. The visual elements, such as the diagrams and pictures, are usually drawn by his sister, CHS junior Mahati Shastry.

“He wants [his videos] in a certain way, because it’s his project and he wants it displayed to the world in a certain way,” Mahati Shastry said. “So, it’s a little bit hard but overall, it’s really fun working with him. ” photo by Sruthi Boppuri Shastry hopes to continue his channel after he graduates CHS and further inspire the world to learn.

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

Exploring new artistic mediums

Vargas combines clothing design, watercolor to create stunning photographs

‘‘

ing sketches for a needle and thread.

“I’ve literally never sewn anything before this year,” Vargas said. “This is all new, I’m still learning. I’ve designed things before, but I never had the courage to actually make them.”

Vargas’ finished products burst with color, a retro feel, and floral designs, all which symbolize something unique to her.

“A lot of it’s my own culture,” Vargas said. “I’m from South America, I’m Peruvian, and a lot of tropical prints I’m using, because I’m doing my concentration over South American, tropical vibrant colors and pattern integrated into like 60s fashion.”

With a change in medium, Vargas was able to combine her art with another passion – people.

“I noticed a lot of current models, you don’t really see that many races and diversity,” Vargas said. “There’s a lack of that, and that kind of spoke to me. Most of my models I’m trying to use different races and religions, because that’s what I want to see personally in magazines, I want to see different body forms, because that’s what I think is beautiful.”

Anyone can rock anything. That’s what I want people to know, you don’t have to be a model to be a model, you’re just beautiful, that’s how you are.

Giuliana Vargas, senior

“I love doing more two-dimensional things,” Vargas said. “I really had to find a way to encompass what I love, which is fashion and watercolor. A lot of pieces that I have where I’m painting on them. For the first two pieces I made, I painted the fabric the design that I wanted, and that’s the pattern that I used, and that’s what I turned in.”

The shift in art form is not without challenges for Vargas, as she trades in her cloth-

‘‘

written by Meara Isenberg Editor-in-Chief @mearaannee With a glue gun in one hand and a flower in the other, Coppell High School senior Giuliana Vargas applies the last part of a headpiece to her model. A watercolor of a girl with the same flowers sits on a table beside her, now brought to life.

By transforming her 2D watercolors into wearable art pieces and design elements, Vargas pulls from different forms of art to create a finished product, capturing it all in creative photographs.

The open-ended assignment came from Vargas’ 3D Art and Design class, where she was challenged to create a cohesive 10-piece portfolio with any medium of her choice.

You do your own concentration, so you basically let free, which is what every little artist wants to do, but at the same time you don’t realize how much power you have,” Vargas said.

After a year of AP Drawing classes, the 3D assignment is a leap out of her comfort zone.

Vargas embraces culture in her portfolio, designing a hijab for a Muslim friend she photographed and selecting models with a variety of skin tones.

“Any skin tone can be beautiful and every race,” Vargas said. “Anyone can rock anything. That’s what I want people to know, you don’t have to be a model to be a model, you’re just beautiful, that’s how you are.”

Coppell High School senior Aniv Thanikella models as senior Giuliana Vargas takes her picture for a AP 3D Art and Design project. Vargas combines many art forms for a unique product by transforming her 2D paintings into clothing and decorative art.

Vargas’ passion for art started young, through her clothing, I think that is a reand continues through the classes she flection of who she is as an individual, haptakes, and days she would paint until four py, cheerful, bright,” Tiede said.

By the end of the year, Vargas will have in the morning.

“Ever since I could pick up a pencil, I a cohesive collection of ten pieces to show would always steal my brother’s art sup- for her hard work.

“She’s on piece number five right now, plies, because he was older than me,” Vargas said. “I would raid his crayon boxes, it will be interesting in a few weeks when we can line up all ten pieces and really see, and he would get mad at me.”

Vargas’ mother Carla Vargas saw her af- this is where you started, this is where you finity for art early on, when Giuliana would wound up,” Teide said.

Vargas’ longtime friend and one of express herself by decorating the house for her models, CHS senior Aniv Thanikella, holidays and seasons.

As far as her most recent project, Ms. jumped at the opportunity to be a part of Vargas has nothing but support for her her project.

“She thinks really out of the box, the way daughter’s ambition.

“It’s really interesting and creative, one she expresses her artwork is different than of the best things that she’s done so far,” Ms. any other person I’ve seen,” Thanikella said.

Vargas said. “It’s using everything that she’s “In the beginning she plays around with it and it always ends up looking super cool. learned so far in art.”

CHS 3D AP Art and Design teacher She’s really talented, hopefully she goes far.”

Cameron Tiede has seen Giuliana grow in with this.

Thanikella is able to see Vargas’ work by just a semester from trying to make a sewing machine work to turning in her first the photos she shared on Instagram, some reaching more than 100 likes. complete pieces.

“Definitely the feedback is really helpful “When I think of Giuliana, I think of a happy disposition, very cheery, I think the and motivating, but at the same time, it’s whole tropical vibe that she tries to portray something that I love.”

photos by Meara Isenberg Coppell High School senior Giuliana Vargas combines different art techniques to create her own product. She sketches and paints pictures, brings them to life in clothing, then photographs models for her AP Art and Design class. Vargas goes beyond the original assignment and shares her finished products with her friends and family on her Instagram account @gv.fotos.

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

C

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written by Kathryn Rudd Entertainment Editor @rudd_kathryn

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he wide variety of restaurants and specialty food and drink items available to residents are staples of the Coppell community.

In a 10 question survey, members of the community voted on what they believe is the “Best in Coppell”. Lists ranging from Best Burger to Best After School Snack included locations in Coppell and the surrounding area. The Sidekick congratulates all 2017 “Best of Coppell” winners.

Donut Palace renowned as community staple for comforting breakfast written by Sakshi Venkatraman Executive News Editor @oompapa1

best donuts photo by

Amanda Hair

One of Coppell’s oldest donut shops, Donut Palace has been located at 600 E Sandy Lake Rd. #126 since its opening on April 15, 1985. Over the past 30 years, the shop has become a community favorite and a hotspot for weekend breakfast.

Donut Palace serves a wide variety of tastes with their selection, which ranges from classic glazed to buttermilk to strawberry cake donuts. However, the shop’s most popular items are the glazed and chocolate donuts, according to the manager of 20 years, Flor Gonzales.

The prices are extremely reasonable; donuts range from $0.70 to $1 and the tastes are classically sweet and traditional.

The inside of the small shop is simplis-

tic; the rows of donuts are certainly the main attraction. The large glass windows, which let the sun light up the shop, along with the friendly staff give the establishment a very local feel that makes it true to the small town that Coppell once was.

Congratulations to Donut Palace, voted Best Donuts in Coppell!

royal picks Buttermilk Donut Chocolate Buttermilk Donut “Fancy” Donut White Donut Twist Donut

Local Diner’s classic food, retro appearance attracts many customers written by Tara Ansari Staff Writer @_taraansari Local Diner is not only the go-to breakfast spot in Coppell, but one of the community’s favorite hangouts.

Offering a relaxed pick for either a classic American breakfast or lunch on retro styled counters and booths, Local Diner offers a perfect meal for everyone.

Local Diner has provided Coppell quality food and great services for the past 24 years. It is also known for donating meals for fundraisers, along with products and supplies.

Their most popular menu items include the classic shortstack, which includes two pancakes with your choice of syrup, classic fried chicken fingers and fries, as well as its hobo omelette with diced bacon, bell peppers and cheese.

Local Diner’s classic milkshakes are a big reason why it draws a crowd every morning. The famous milkshakes include classic chocolate, as well as Oreo, blueberry and many more.

Local Diner’s affordable and palatable menu is what has dubbed it best breakfast in Coppell from The Sidekick and its relaxing retro overlook makes dining there enjoyable for everyone.

best breakfast local favorites Hobo Omelette $10.82 Denver Omelette $9.22 Pancake Stack $4.98 Fried Chicken Tenders $8.79 photo by Tara

Ansari

Local Diner was voted best breakfast for best of Coppell by The Sidekick readers. The diner is located at 477 W Bethel Rd. and has been a fixture in Coppell for 24 years.

Chicken Fried Steak Plate $11.99

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

A new twist on classic burgers, shakes

best burger

Twisted Root Burger Co. wins voters with atmosphere, flavor written by Kathryn Rudd Entertainment Editor @rudd_kathryn Located in a prime spot of Coppell’s community and history, a franchise burger joint has become distinctly local to Coppell residents.

Twisted Root Burger Company, located at 505 Houston St., has been serving its hearty, half-pound hamburgers since June 2016. Menu options are not only unique but allow each customer to find their favorite.

Whether it is a burger topped with potato chips in “Enough Said” or even french fries and a fried egg, dubbed “The Freshman Fifteen” burger, Twisted Root provides a menu that appeals to all tastes. With prices ranging from $7.50 to $10.50, it is a

reasonable starting point for a meal that goes above casual restaurant standards.

The ordering area and dining area are separated to where customers can eat in a casual environment, sitting at the bar, booths or even sharing a seat on a picnic table. Sharing an outside patio with Quincy’s Chicken Shack next door, Twisted Root provides the ultimate burger and family atmosphere.

Fan Favorites

The Freshman Fifteen...$8.99

1/2 lb beef patty with french fries, cheddar cheese, bacon and a fried egg

The Western ..................$8.99

1/2 lb beef patty with pepper jack cheese, bacon, fried onions, and jalapenos.

The Vegabond............... $8.99

Chickpea, black bean, brown rice, quinoa

photo by Kathryn

Rudd

Twisted Root Burger Company located in Old Town Coppell at 505 Houston St., opened last June. Famous for its eclectic, half pound burgers and handspun shakes, Twisted Root is awarded ‘Best Burger’ in The Sidekick’s 2016-2017 Best of Coppell community survey.

High school hangout favorite for chicken, fries best fast food

Chick-fil-A voted best for quick service from students, adults written by Reid Valentine Staff Writer @reidv9

photo by Reid

Valentine

Chick-fil-A specializes in all things chicken, inculding their Chick-n-Minis which are only sold on their morning menu. The closest Chick-fil-A is located at 749 W Main St., in Lewisville.

“Can I have a three strip meal with a sweet tea along with an individual spicy chicken sandwich? Extra Chick-fil-A sauce please.”

I have placed this order quite literally hundreds of times at varying Chick-fil-A locations, yet the spot on 483 E Round Grove Rd. in Lewisville is Coppell’s favorite spot for quick, delicious fried food.

When it’s 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning and the only thing that can wake you up is some chicken, Chick-fil-A has got you covered. Chick-n-Minis are a perfect

breakfast snack. For lunch, a classic Chickfil-A sandwich coupled with waffle fries and a sweet tea will cost you less than $12.

After a brilliant dining experience there is cheap and tasty soft serve ice cream available. For a wonderful and affordable meal, there is no question that Chick-fil-A’s fast service is the perfect place for high schoolers to grub.

Fan Favorites Chick-fil-A Sandwich.......$3.05 Waffle Fries.........................$1.55 Medium Sweet Tea............$1.59 Ice Cream Cone.................$1.65

Love is in the air at this pizza parlor

Italian restaurant voted best scene for local romance for teens

written by Meara Isenberg Editor-in-chief @mearaannee With dim lighting, delicious pizza and dine-in or takeout options, Palio’s Pizza Cafe is the classic Italian restaurant of your date night dreams.

Located a short walk from Coppell High School at 171 N. Denton Tap Rd., the family friendly cafe offers pasta and salad as well, but I knew I would be cheating myself if I didn’t order a delicious pizza.

While waiting for them to bake the pizza (a process you can observe from your seat), we sat in a cozy booth that made conversation easy. In less than 15 minutes, the large pepperoni and sausage masterpiece was brought out, along with small plates for sharing.

Palio’s has catered to the Coppell community for 16 years. Daniveo Salvucci, the

manager of the pizza restaurant, recognizes what keeps customers coming back.

“We have good customer service, we have fresh foods, we make dough four times a day so we never freeze dough,” Salvucci said. “We know the neighborhood and Coppell’s community.”

Some menu highlights include large pizzas for $16, ranging from the vegetarian “Palio’s Vegetable” with black olives, onions, mushrooms and bell peppers, to “The King”, consisting of pepperoni, sausage, canadian bacon and veggies.

Congratulations to Palio’s Pizza Cafe, The Sidekick’s best date restaurant in Coppell.

Fan Favorites

Palio’s Vegetables..................$16 Black olives, onions, bell peppers

The King................................$16

Pepperoni, canadian bacon, vegetables

Palio’s Pizza Cafe, located at 171 N Denton Tap Rd., offers a fun family and date atmosphere to Coppell. The Italian restaurant has a wide array of pizzas, salads, pasta, and desserts.

best date night photo by

photo by

Meara Isenberg

Meara Isenberg

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

Mi Cocina es su cocina

Trendy new eatery spices up traditional Mexican cuisine with unique options written by Wren Lee Staff Designer @laurenwrenlee You might expect Mi Cocina to have traditional decor and classic cuisine, but Coppell’s newest Tex-Mex restaurant is not

traditional at all, and that is what makes it stand out.

From the moment you step in 110 W. Sandy Lake Rd. Suite 112, you enter a modern, 21st century restaurant. The fake fire uses puffs of steam to mimic flames. A visually-appealing geometric pattern adorns

photo by

Wren Lee

Mi Cocina won the best new restaurant, and the Taco “de Brisket” at Mi Cocina consists of three corn tortillas with brisket and jack cheese inside. The dish also comes with rice and avocado salad.

the wall.

As you sit down, you are greeted by a friendly server who sets the table with a basket of chips and a cup of salsa to munch on while you deliberate on what to eat. The salsa has a touch of spiciness but overall is a flavorful experience. The chips are crunchy and mildly greasy which is surprising but tasty. Overall, the chips and salsa are a good start to a great meal.

The menu has something for everyone.

There are seafood dishes, salads, soups and, of course, tacos. Unlike other Tex-Mex restaurants, Mi Cocina uses corn flour tortillas to add authenticity.

If you visit between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday, you can try the lunch specials such as two enchiladas or a half order of chicken quesadillas for $8.95.

While the prices are higher than other restaurants such as Anamia’s, the food is worth it. The flavor is rich and strong. The dishes are portioned well and are filling without being too heavy, contributing to a pleasant meal.

The staff is welcoming. They pay attention to their customers’ needs and help without being asked.

The combination of a modern look, good food and friendly services makes Mi Cocina the best new restaurant in Coppell.

{Menu at a glance} Cocina Changa ••••••••••$15.95•••••••••• Tacos “de Brisket” ••••••••••$13.95•••••••••• Chocolate Dulce de Leche •••••••••••$5.95••••••••••• Quinceñara Salad ••••••••••$10.95•••••••••• Tacos “de Camaron” ••••••••••$15.95••••••••••

best new

restauraunt

Family favorite dining Anamia’s takes crown for second consecutive year voted on by our readers {Menu at a glance} Fish Tacos ••••••••••$13.99•••••••••• Enchiladas Dinner ••••••••••$8.99•••••••••• Pollo A La Parrilla ••••••••••$13.49•••••••••• Chimichanga ••••••••••$11.99••••••••••

best tex-mex

written by Aubrie Sisk Communications Manager @aubrie_sisk Walking into Anamia’s Tex-Mex, it is easy to see why it has won “Best Tex-Mex” two years in a row in The Sidekick’s Best of Coppell.

Anamia’s is always full of Coppell residents, even on weeknights when most restaurants are empty, enjoying chips and salsa while watching the waiters make tableside guacamole. But the restaurant’s dark colored walls, mood lighting and authentic Mexican music makes the it a great place for family dinners or friendly get-togethers.

The restaurant has an extensive menu ranging from sizzling fajita platters to enchiladas to taco salads. Although its prices can get on the expensive side for an entree, their prices are similar to other Tex-Mex restaurants and its food definitely is worth it. Most Tex-Mex restaurants have complimentary chips and salsa brought to the table, but Anamia’s Tex-Mex has crispy chips that are still warm from being made, along with a nice spicy salsa that compliment

each other perfectly. Guacamole, queso and other dips are available upon request and all compliment the fresh chips.

Anamia’s Tex-Mex is located at 106 N

Denton Tap Rd near Tom Thumb. With its great atmosphere for any occasion, friendly waiters and delicious food Anamia’s earned its “Best of Coppell” ranking this year.

photo by

Kelly Monaghan

Anamia’s received the “Best Tex-Mex Restaurant” in Coppell ranking from The Sidekick poll for the second year in a row. Their menu offers the choice of chicken, beef or cheese enchiladas with a side of guacamole, sour cream and onions.

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

best coffee

best fro-yo

photo by Meha Srivastav Frozen Yogurt shop Tappy’s Yogurt, located in Lewisville, has become a popular hotspot for residents in Coppell. The ‘Best of Coppell’ Dessert winner is known for its healthy, non-fat options and its casual atmosphere for those seeking a fun and tasty break with friends or family.

photo by Sruthi Boppuri Starbucks was voted as Coppell’s best coffee by The Sidekick readers. The restaurant offers a delicious variety of coffee, teas and snacks.

Tappy’s Yogurt named ‘Best Dessert’ Starbucks provides warm, productive for healthy options, casual atmosphere environment with fresh coffee, drinks written by Meha Srivastav Co-Social Media Manager @mehasrivastav Step 1: Take a cup.

Step 2: Proceed to the frozen yogurt dispensers and push the chosen handle downwards with maximum vigor. Repeat for each flavor.

Step 3: Sprinkle from the assortment of toppings - including fruit boba, Reese’s bits, rainbow sprinkles and more.

With three simple steps for a yummy, customized dessert, it is no wonder that Tappy’s Yogurt, located at 2780 MacArthur Blvd. in Lewisville, is a favorite for those

craving a lighter option than ice cream.

The colorful frozen yogurt shop has an ambience that draws both families and high schoolers to swing by after school or office, and enjoy a casual break.

“It’s a clean store with a family environment, and people love the yogurt,” store owner Milensky Rega said.

Nonfat options for most of the flavors, such as the shop’s trademark ‘Tappy’s Original Tart’, also make the dessert hotspot unique in its selections. Customers love that they can satisfy their sweet tooth, not feel the guilt and enjoy a chilly mouthful of flavor- all in one convenient cup.

Smoothie Factory rises above others as convenient, healthy alternative written by Tanya Raghu Staff Writer @tanya_raghu In a world dominated by unhealthy, harmful food in the name of convenience, Smoothie Factory provides delicious and healthy options to fulfill your craving for something sweet.

With a menu “fit for you”, all menu items are customizable to your liking and needs with “smoothie boost packs” that can target a specific fitness goal such as building muscle, body cleansing, wellness or weight loss.

In addition, the clean interior is stocked with a variety of fitness items ranging from weight loss supplements, protein powder to energy additives.

Whether you are in the mood for a light, freshly squeezed juice, wanting to bulk up after an intense workout or just stopping in after school to refresh with a classic smoothie, there is something for everyone.

written by Sruthi Boppuri Staff Writer @sruthiboppuri For those stressful nights and morning pick me ups, Starbucks is the place to get a freshly-brewed cup of coffee.

The popular coffee company has a wide variety of drinks that are guaranteed to satisfy your caffeine cravings, ranging from cappuccinos, tea, lattes and more.

If you’re looking for a quick bite to go along with your drink or pastry to please your sweet tooth, Starbucks on

Denton Tap and Sandy Lake Road also offers foods like delicious desserts, scrumptious sandwiches and healthy salads.

According to the supervisor at the Coppell Starbucks, Barbie Thorp, the atmosphere is accommodating for both adults and high school students, as it can provide a quiet workplace or bustling hang-out spot.

Some new items on the menu to look out for include the Cinnamon Almond Milk Macchiato (, Toasted Coconut Cold Brew and Gluten-free Smoked Canadian Bacon and Egg Sandwich.

Congratulations to Starbucks for being voted Best Coffee in Coppell.

best snack

photo by Tanya Raghu In addition to freshly made smoothies and juices, Smoothie Factory offers fitness supplements such as weight loss supplements, protein powder and energy bars. Congratulations to Smoothie Factory for being voted the best after school snack by The Sidekick in Coppell.

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THE SIDEKICK

Pinning the problem

april 2017

Transgender athlete stirs debate over Texas attitudes, gender policy in athletics

T

written by Meha Srivastav Co-Social Media Manager @theofficialmeha

he moment the boos were uttered, the entire crowd in the heated Allen High School arena heard it.

The coaches. Viewers. Fans. Opponents.

The Washington Post, The Dallas Morning News, ESPN, USA Today, CNN. Almost everyone noticed it.

Except Mack Beggs.

The 17-year-old Euless Trinity wrestler had just won the Class 6A girls wrestling state title, the first transgender male participant to do so. He had faced such boos from some of his peers for a long time, but since a young age, they pushed him to persevere.

“You’ll never be a boy.”

He can bench 245 pounds.

“Why don’t you just wrestle with boys?”

He practiced his pins and throws. That week of the championship, he “trained harder than [he] ever had in [his] life.”

For many others involved in the sphere of competitive high school wrestling, the week of the Texas Wrestling State Tournament, Feb. 23-24, was a stressful and intense time.

Media outlets from all over the state and country were present on the mat, in the midst of frenzied debates over controversial issues concerning Beggs’ use of testosterone, a performance-enhancing drug, and Texas UIL’s contested birth certificate policy.

After overwhelming dissent occurred over the birth certificate policy, which limits Texas high school athletes to competing within the gender listed on their birth certificate, the organization released a press statement concerning the rule prior to the state finals.

On whether the birth certificate rule may change in the future, the UIL states it is possible, as “[all] UIL rules are created by, and subject to change by, the Legislative Council, which meets twice annually.” The council will meet in June.

Many affected by the rule are hoping for a change, but the public is divided on expectations of when or how the change may occur.

James Baudhuin, the Coppell attorney who filed a lawsuit against Texas UIL on behalf of a parent whose daughter wrestled and lost to Beggs during regionals, is in support of the birth certificate rule itself.

However, he feels that supplementing the policy with a condition that addresses

exceptional cases such as Beggs’ is necessary, to ensure fairness for girls in the same weight class who do not have the “competitive advantage of [taking steroids].”

graphic by

“The problem is that [the UIL] doesn’t really have a rule to address [this situation],” Baudhuin said. “[Beggs] truly falls into the gray area. They’ve got a wall there that says boys against boys, girls against girls, and there’s really no remedy in the middle if you’re ineligible to compete against the girls because you’re taking testosterone.”

According to Baudhuin, there is no guarantee that the UIL will be forced by a judge to create a rule to allow Beggs to wrestle boys, if the organization loses the lawsuit. Although Baudhuin is in support of Beggs being able to compete, he intends to argue only the case for the wrestler to be suspended from competing against girls.

Coppell High School wrestling coach Chip Lowery is in agreement with Baudhuin’s position on the problem of Beggs’ use of testosterone.

“Any athlete, boy or girl, that is on performance-enhancing drugs, has an athletic advantage,” Lowery said. “This was never about [Beggs] being [transgender]. It’s that a person was performing in high school athletics and taking PEDs.” In terms of the physique of wrestling, Lowery sees the division between boys and girls as very distinct.

“There is absolutely a difference between the strengths of boys and girls of similar sizes nearly all the time,” Lowery said. “Once you enter high school, strength becomes a big factor. In the sport of wrestling, if you are significantly stronger, then you have a definite advantage.”

Beggs, who started undergoWren Lee ing hormonal therapy in October 2015, is currently at a Testosterone to Epitestosterone ratio of 4:1, which is lower than UIL’s allowed maximum of 6:1 for athletes who have been prescribed the

The University Interscholastic League (UIL) amendment was put

into effect in August

steroid “by a medical practitioner for a valid medical purpose”.

Beggs acknowledges that there are “obviously some differences” between strengths of boys and girls.

However, Beggs states that, based on experience wrestling with boys at USA Wrestling Greco-Roman events during the last two summers, competitive levels are “kind of the same”. Beggs credits extensive training for his prowess, rather than his hormone injections.

Beggs believes the boos he received at the tournament were equally about discriminatory attitudes towards transgender people in Texas, as much as his usage of performance enhancing drugs. Such an issue could be especially relevant in the state now as the new bathroom bill, Senate Bill 6, continues to be debated in Austin, sparking further dispute over transgender issues.

“Sometimes, there are some really bad comments,” Beggs said. “And for a second, [reading or hearing them], I don’t want to wrestle anymore. To the people who say these comments, you don’t have to be ignorant and hateful; you choose to do that.

I urge such people to take a step back for a second and put themselves in a transgender person’s shoes.”

Sophomore Allie Baudhuin, a CHS varsity wrestler and daughter of James Baudhuin, supports her father’s lawsuit, but blames the issue with Beggs in part on a “lack of progressiveness” in female wrestling. Allie is a friend of Beggs and has previously wrestled with him before February’s tournament.

“The problem with girls wrestling is that it isn’t advanced enough as we want it to be,” Allie said. “There aren’t even enough schools that provide girls wrestling; there aren’t big teams. It’s pretty sad that it isn’t evolved enough.

“Performance enhancing drugs are obviously against the rules. [The controversy is] also a little about ignorance of transgender people. But the fact that Mack’s transitioning, its hard ethically and morally

2016.

see BEGGS on page 21

Texas school superintendents voted to use a student’s

birth certificate for sports participation with 409-25 in favor in 2016.

Source: Transathlete.com

Texas is one of six states requiring a birth certificate or gender reassignment surgery to compete as a male or female athlete.

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THE SIDEKICK april 2017

Beggs state championship sparks discussion over transgender athletic policies from page 20

to compromise everybody. Once this situation gets cleared, though, more [situations] will come, and the culture [surrounding transgender athletes in wrestling] will improve.”

With the hearing against UIL being tentatively set to occur in a Travis County Court on April 25, James Baudhuin hopes that the organization will eventually choose to adopt similar policy to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Such a decision will bring significant change to Texas UIL policy for transgender athletes, which is currently classified as ‘discriminatory’ by transathlete.com based on requirements for birth certificate or surgery.

The transgender-inclusive policy of the NCAA requires that transgender males taking testosterone participate in

a males team, making them ineligible for female teams. Baudhuin advocates this policy as he believes it would engender fairness for the girls’ wrestlers.

“If you are a female becoming a male, the first time you get a shot, you’re not a boy, from the standpoint of competition,” Baudhuin said. “I don’t care if it’s one little shot of testosterone - you’re no longer wrestling or swimming against females. You’re one step towards being a boy; well, that’s one step farther than all the other girls are.”

Beggs previously requested UIL to be allowed to compete with boys; however, his request was denied. In August last year, 95 percent of the UIL-member school superintendents voted in favor of the birth certificate rule.

With such an overwhelming majority

of support for it, Beggs does not expect that he will be able to wrestle boys his senior year of high school. But he hopes the change will occur sometime in the future.

“Texas is a really conservative state, and everyone was hoping they would pass the birth certificate rule - because, I mean, it was either that or we don’t compete at all,” Beggs said. “People say [transgender athletes] can compete at an outside league, but those don’t exist; they’re not at the level as what we want to be at. Why do we have to conform with people who don’t understand or are afraid to understand?

“I hope to try to make them see that the policy that they have put in place is not a good one, and it doesn’t work and will never work. It won’t stop transgender athletes from competing. They will continue to transition

and they will continue to be who they are.”

Amidst the boos, however, there is also significant positive support for Beggs and his struggle.

“I’ve gotten so many messages from other transgender athletes, saying ‘I could never do that, I’m glad you’re advocating for us,” Beggs said. “I don’t even know how I’m doing it, but one person has to do it sooner or later. And I guess that person’s me. It’s really good to advocate for kids who don’t have that sort of support, but now, in the future they’ll be able to do what they want to do.”

With decisions yet to be made by Texas UIL and state courts, it remains in question whether Beggs, and in coming years, other transgender athletes in Texas, will be allowed to compete against the gender they identify as.

Springing into action: from the track to the baseball field, Coppell sports deliver

photo by

Ale Ceniceros

Coppell High School sophomore forward Micayla Weathers takes a shot during the first half of the Cowgirls’ Class 6A Region II bi-district match at Highland Park High School on March 24.

Weathers scored two goals in the Cowgirls’ 3-0 victory over Garland Lakeview Centennial.

photo by

Kelly Monaghan

Coppell High School senior Cahlyl Rossin starts the boys 4x200m relay of the Coppell Relays at Buddy Echols Field on March 4. The relay team was composed of Rossin, sophomore Jonathan McGill, senior Matthew Dorrity and senior Josh Freeman.

photo by

Megan Winkle

Coppell High School senior John Kodros pitches during the game against Richardson Pearce on March 21.The Coppell Cowboys claimed a 10-0 victory after only five innings at the Coppell ISD Baseball/Softball Complex.

photo by

Kelly Monaghan

Coppell High School senior midfielder Bishesh Manandhar celebrates after scoring the final goal of the match against The Woodlands at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on March 31. The Cowboys led by three goals, ending the night with a 6-3 win.

22

THE SIDEKICK

Memory man

april 2017

Villalobos’s unique character, talent makes him someone you will never forget written by Amelia Vanyo Staff Writer @ameliavanyo Charlie Villalobos remembers everyone’s birthday. He can also remember what day of the week May 12 was two years ago and song lyrics after he has listened to a song once.

Charlie’s memory is a special part of who he is. He has Savant Syndrome, a condition where autistic people display incredible, almost unrealistic, memorization skills. This allows Charlie to remember almost anything that he encounters.

But the Coppell High School freshman is so much more than his memorization skills. Villalobos is a baseball fanatic and music lover. He is a compliment machine

and a friend to everyone he meets.

“I love how he always finds something to compliment people on,” Coppell High School special education teacher Jenna Bennett said. “He’s always sweet and has a smile on his face.”

In his free time, Villalobos enjoys watching NASCAR, eating tacos on Taco Tuesday at Rosa’s Cafe, going to movies with friends or doing anything involving Spongebob.

And if you know Villalobos, you know his love of music. Whether he is humming a catchy tune or reciting the lyrics from memory, music is an important part of who he is.

Villalobos loves pop music of all kinds, especially anything with a strong beat. Rap

graphic by Thomas

Rousseau

songs, dance music, even Spanish songs get Villalobos excited.

Amelia Vanyo Coppell High School freshman Charlie Villalobos is a huge baseball fan and plays on a local team. Villalobos has Savant Syndrome, a condition of autism that allows him to memorize things like people’s birthdays and song lyrics faster than others. photo illustration by

CozbyCon Art Contest artwork will be accepted April 1 - 30 Contest sponsored by Createria Studios Winners announced at CozbyCon Stop by our 7th annual CozbyCon for games, crafts and door prizes! Gifts & food will be available for purchase.

Don’t forget to swing by our Star Wars Cantina!

Cosplay encouraged.

177 N Heartz Rd Coppell, TX coppelltx.gov/library

“One Halloween I dressed up as Pitbull and he knows all his songs now,” Villalobos’s father Ivan Villalobos said.

But when he is not busy jamming out to music or out with friends, Charlie can be found on the baseball field.

CHS junior Anthony Villalobos, Charlie’s older brother, has been playing baseball his entire life, but it wasn’t until last year that Charlie took a serious interest in the sport. He now plays with a special needs team, Texas Rangers, of the Coppell Youth Baseball Association.

Coppell Youth Baseball Association recreational teams volunteer to come out to play a game with the Rangers, giving Charlie a chance to experience his favorite sport with friends by his side and family cheering him on.

“I like that he likes to play baseball, since I like to play,” Anthony said. “It is really cool to see someone else play, especially my brother.”

Through their shared love, Charlie has also formed strong relationships with boys who play for the school.

“We go to Charlie’s baseball games and it’s always really fun to watch,” CHS junior JV baseball player Austin Liu said. “He always hits home runs and runs around the base path and has a really good time. I think the sport really gives him something to enjoy and a way for him to make new friends.”

From baseball fanatic to SpongeBob enthusiast, Charlie is a unique and striking character. And while not everyone has the luxury of being his close friend, all can return the favor and remember his birthday - Dec. 4 - just like he remembers theirs.

23 ANALYZING AND RANKING THE AREA’S SPORTS PROGRAMS THE SIDEKICK april 2017

written by Marcus Krum Executive Sports Editor @marcuskrum

Jesuit - 88.722

photo by Kelly

Monaghan

Talk about a well-rounded sports program. Although they only run boys sports, the Rangers scored above nine in each of the four sports, and, due to the boys soccer and baseball state championships, finished on top. The dominance in those two programs allowed Jesuit to overcome a bit of a low score in football to end up at No. 1.

Southlake Carroll - 81.362

photo by Ale

Ceniceros

As Coppell’s biggest rivals, the Dragons always pose a threat as a championship-caliber team in most of the major sports. As an always solid football team and stellar boys and girls soccer program performed well this last year, Southlake Carroll only fell well short of Jesuit in boys basketball, where a .500 record did not allow for a playoff appearance.

High school sports programs across the nation are chock-full of next-level talents and future superstars. Cities such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Chicago are always listed amongst the most prolific in terms of producing college talent. However, right in the middle of this discussion is the Metroplex.

Coppell sports has nothing short of a storied history. But which school has the best sports program in this area?

I decided to tackle this never-ending question by creating a numerical way to quantify the quality of a program’s last full year. In using the seven other District 9-6A teams and a handful of other local high schools, I tried to create a list pertinent on the minds of those trying to compare Coppell to regional rivals.

The equation: win percentage multiplied by “district place value” multiplied by 1.5 for a playoff appearance and then added to a “playoff win value” or simplified: [(WPCT)x(DPV)x(1.5?)] + (PWV).

So what is the “district place value” and “playoff win value”?

It’s simple. To give value to how a team finished in the district standings, I simply counted backwards from the bottom. If a team finished last, the value was one, second to last it was two, and so on. For “playoff win value”, I added one point for the first playoff win, PLUS two points for the second, plus three more for the third, and so on.

Potentially, a team could receive a total of 28 for the “playoff win value” if they win the state

championship, because there are seven rounds of playoffs. The highest possible season (almost achieved by Jesuit’s soccer team) is 40, while the lowest (achieved

by Richardson’s football team and Skyline’s softball team) is, of course, 0.

Of course, I ran into the same problems anyone runs into when they try to quantify the unquantifiable; it’s not perfect.

For one, this equation did not take into account more than the most recent results of a team. For the Coppell football team, who made it deeper into the playoffs than it had in the previous five years, this was helpful. For the Coppell boys soccer team, who dropped from 40 points a year ago to 11 points this season coming off last year’s state championship, it hurt. If I had either a whole lot more time (or a whole lot more help), I could’ve run this equation for the last five years.

Sadly, I had neither.

Another problem I ran into was the fact that baseball and softball seasons are not yet finished, so last year’s data was what was used in the equation. So in that case, it used last year’s state champion Jesuit baseball team, rather than this year’s team that will likely finish in second in District 9-6A. Again, some teams were helped by this, some teams were hurt.

In this equation, it is quantifying the unquantifiable. There are so many aspects of a team that you can’t put into numbers: team chemistry, success of individuals on the team, heart, etc.

And again, this equation is not perfect, but it is a step towards a measure on the quality of each sports program in the area this year.

Allen - 72.902

photo by Kelly

Monaghan

Traditionally known as a football powerhouse, the gridiron is what Allen leaned on for the bulk of this year’s points. A state semifinal berth gave the football team over 21 points, nearly 30 percent of the Eagles’ points. Their only shortcomings came in baseball, girls basketball and softball, where .500 or below seasons and only one playoff win between the three teams allowed for little points to be gained.

Coppell - 70.371

photo by Megan

Winkle

The Cowboys were very, very close to cracking the top three on the list. An appearance in the regional quarterfinals in football, volleyball, boys and girls soccer and baseball gave Coppell a boost in the rankings. If only this year’s dominant softball team could be included in this mix, the Cowboys might have been able to edge out a few of the area’s top three. For now, however, they sit in fourth.

5th - Skyline 46.404 6th - Flower Mound 34.4375 7th - Lewisville 30.0865 8th - Lake Highlands 29.812 9th - Richardson 23.861 10th - Richardson Pearce 22.1485 11th - Richardson Berkner 18.225 12th - W.T. White 11.954 graphics by Austin

Banzon

24

THE SIDEKICK april 2017