Friday March 28, 2014
R A C L E O
Bringin’ Back Barn Dance Pg. 6 Photo by Alex Milstead
TSTRATFORD HE Volume 41, Issue 7
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Powderpuff Performance Photo by Rebecca Williamson Pg. 9
shsoracle.com
Golf Swings Away Pg. 10
@spartanoracle
Photo by Gil Sanchez
Track Takes Off Pg. 9 Photo by Gil Sanchez
14555 Fern Drive, Houston TX 77079
@stratfordoracle
EVERYONE IS SUBJECT TO
DRUNK
DRIVING
Alcohol related simulation shows students just how many people can be affected by driving under the influence Kali Venable
The junior and senior classes watched as eight students were killed and brutally injured on Thursday, March 13 during a drunk driving simulation better known as Shattered Dreams. Critically injured victims included one student being life-flighted by helicopter to Ben Taub Trauma Center, two being taken in ambulance, and two more students put into hearses after being pronounced dead on scene.
The accident that took place on Fern drive was a simulation that’s put on every two years through a collaboration with the Shattered Dreams program. Unlike previous years, one of the cars involved in the accident was designated as the drunk-driving car while the other held a driver who was texting when the wreck happened. The addition of texting to Shattered Dreams was made to highlight a currently legal habit that has
caused thousands of accidents with numbers only increasing. Yet, drunk driving was the main focus on Friday when juniors and seniors gathered in the competition gym for an assembly during Spartan Time after all students involved in Shattered Dreams spent the night at Ben Taub Trauma Center. Students heard three different people who had been affected by drunk driving speak, two of which are Spartans. Math teacher, William Hall spoke
about his mother, father, and brother who were killed by a drunk driver when he was just a kid. While a recent Stratford graduate discussed how her decision to drive drunk resulted in the death of her best friend and a conviction for involuntary man slaughter. Hearing from both a victim and a driver helped students understand that drunk driving doesn’t just affect the people injured or killed and the driver, it affects anyone who has relationships with those people
whether they be family, friends, coworkers or classmates. The fact of the matter is that Houston has the highest rate of DUI arrests in the nation which means that even if you aren’t drinking, the driver of the car next to you could be. Students must take appropriate measures to insure that they won’t be involved in such a tragic event.
See pg. 3 for more photos and pg. 14 for a personal re-count from a simulation victim.
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NEWS
Friday March 28, 2014
The Oracle
Teacher of the Year
STAARs Are No Longer Shining
Karl Poetzl nominated for district’s top award
Students may now use other tests in place of EOCs
For math teacher Karl Po- astronomer. However, as we etzl, being named Stratford see today, he never ended up Teacher of the Year and in graduate school. Poetzl is a Stratford High nominated for Spring Branch Teacher of the Year means a School graduate and, instead of becoming an astronomer, lot. It is rewarding for Poetzl to he is happy teaching back at know that both the students his alma mater. he teaches and the teachers he works with honor him. Perhaps the most surprising fact about Poetzl is that he has only being a full-time teacher for two years. After he graduated from Beloit College with Bachelor of Arts degrees in mathematics and anthropology, he Photo by Gil Sanchez was a substitute Poetzl teaches Algebra II, teacher for 16 years because Pre-AP Geometry, and AP he didn’t know what to do. Poetzl had planned on Statistics. He especially enjoys teachteaching for a while, taking a break to go to gradu- ing full-time because it gives ate school, and becoming an him a chance to connect on a deeper level with the stu-
The STAAR tests may grow distant from many students after a recent amendment passed by the State Board of Education now allows substitution of other exams in place of end-of-course exams. The STAAR End-of-Course exams, or EOCs, were first given to the Class of 2015 in place of TAKS. STAAR began as 15 mandatory tests that were required for graduation from high school, which later was cut back to just five tests. Now, students will have the option of opting out of STAAR and substituting their PSAT, PLAN, AP, SAT, and ACT scores instead. Students
Kinsey Meek
dents than when he could only connect with them for one day as a substitute. Poetzl likes being able to watch his students grow, and grow with his students, rather than seeing them for one day and being gone. Spring Branch Teacher of the Year is the district’s oldest and most prestigious teacher recognition program. Both an elementary and a secondary teacher are selected as Teachers of the Year. Teachers then move on to regional competition and, if successful at the regional level, advance to be considered for the highest honor the State of Texas can award a teacher — Texas Teacher of the Year. Poetzl enjoys working with his students, and clearly, his students enjoy having him as their teacher.
Justin Todes
STAAR EOC
AP
Algebra I
can take alternative assessments and submit them to the district for graduation purposes. If a high enough score is achieved, the student is exempt from the related EOC. This substitution measure will allow students to take national-norm based tests that are more meaningful to the curriculum, reducing the emphasis on the state tests that are becoming obsolete. It also saves the state and school districts large sums of cash, as fewer EOCs will need to be ordered if students substitute other tests. The only problem with the new measure is that many students will end up taking
the STAAR tests anyway, as freshmen and sophomores are required to take the SAT, ACT, or AP exam — all generally junior year exams — to substitute an assessment in place of STAAR English I or II. Should students decide to opt out of STAAR English I and II assessments, they would either be forced to take the SAT or ACT early, or wait until junior year to take their English assessments for graduation. The substitution bill progresses in the national-norm based direction that educators want, but still leaves a some issues unresolved.
PSAT
PLAN
SAT
ACT
Math - 47
Math - 19
Math - 500
Math - 22
English I
English Language- 3
CR - 500 Writing - 500
Reading - 21 Eng/Wr - 18
English II
English Language- 3
CR - 500 Writing - 500
Reading - 21 Eng/Wr - 18
Biology
Biology - 3
US History
US History - 3
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NEWS
Friday March 28, 2014
The Oracle
Shattered Dreams Continued from Pg. 1
6
1 5 4
3
2 EMOTIONAL SIMULATION• (1) Senior Michael Harmon waits in the car for police to come examine his alcohol blood content. (2) Senior Arden Johnson’s mother holds her as they wait to find out about the injured
students. (3) Senior Clay Lamberton tries to bare the pain while the paramedics try to help him and find where his major injuries are. (4) Senior Kali Venable is pulled out of the car after being pronounced dead on the scene and before being loaded into a hearse. (5) Junior Abigail Jackson is stabilized by the paramedics to prevent further injury. (6) Senior Brice Stevenson gets carried onto the Life Flight helicopter and is taken to Ben Taub Hospital. Photos by Rebecca Williamson
4
NEWS
Friday March 28, 2014
News In 90 Seconds W H O WA N T S F R E E C A N E ’ S ? Stratford’s first annual Color Me Green 5K Color Run will take place on Sat., April 8. The run, open to the entire Houston community, starts at 8 a.m. and concludes with a post-run celebration. By the conclusion of the course, runners will be coated in plenty of green and gold color.
Cane’s has now agreed to include Cane’s coupons in 5K participant packets. In addition, packets will include BOGO Jamba Juice smoothies, Spartan tattoos, and tshirts. Sign up now - quantities are limited! Volunteers are also needed for the event. Positions are available for color tossers, registration, water stations, course monitors, set-up and clean-up. Registration for the run includes a participant t-shirt and a packet full of goodies from local sponsors. The cost to register is $35.00 per participant.
Color Me Green 5K: April 5, 2014, 8 a.m. Starts at Stratford High School
Reg ister now a t colormegreenstratford.com
The Oracle
Layla's Lines
JUNIOR GIRLS BARN DANCE
Support the Junior Girls by coming to the Barn Dance. It will be held on April 5 from eight o’clock in the evening until eleven o’clock. Tickets will be ten dollars at the door if not previously purchased. See page 6 for more info.
MR. SHS
Come watch your senior men show off their talent, knowledge, and fashion taste at this year’s Mr. SHS Competition. The male beauty pageant is on Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. in the SHS Auditorium and will be a very entertaining night. Each contestant will perform a short talent, perform in a group dance, show off their knowledge while wearing formal wear, and strut their stuff in swimsuits. Some of the many contestants include Louis Birdsong, David Bartell, Ragan Robinson, Will Bredthauer, Campbell Ross, Bradley Bates and Matt Martin. Admission is $5.
SPARTIES TAKE NEW YORK
The Spartanaire Spring Show will take place from Thursday, April 10 to Saturday, April 12. Shows will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 5 p.m. on Saturday. The Spartanaires and all dance class students will show off several new dances in this year’s “New York” themed show.
BIG DAY
The Dairy Ashford Revitalization Team, or DART, is a school-community partnership. The vision of this partnership is to give SHS students an opportunity to give back to the surrounding community. A day of service, called The Big Day, is planned for Saturday, April 26. Students will spend the day in various service projects benefiting the community around SHS. Businesses and individuals can participate as a partner by donating funds or services to assist in projects like painting, landscaping, power washing, etc. Students are still encouraged to sign up to give back to the community. If you would like to participate in this activity, email Mr. Juntti to get on the list.
Moms Angered Over New West Houston Breasturant
Future Twin Peaks restaurant causing controversy with parents, school district Justin Todes Extended happy hours, lingerie weeks and bikini car washes are moving in just down the street from Wilchester Elementary School. A new Twin Peaks is scheduled to open at 11335 Katy Freeway, between Kirkwood and Wilcrest, and has local parents in an uproar. Within walking distance of Wilchester are two other Spring Branch campuses: Westchester Academy, a secondary school with grades six through twelve, and the South Transition Campus, which Rummel Creek Elementary is scheduled to move into next year while the new school is constructed. Twin Peaks calls itself “the ultimate man cave,” with comfort food and draft beer served at “29 degrees” by the Twin Peaks Girls, whose “playful personalities” ensure that “adventure starts at the
Peaks.” The mountain lodge themed restaurant also claims that every seat has a “knockout view.” Roxanne Camden, a Wilchester Elementary mom, started a petition on change. org about a month ago to protest the opening of a Twin Peaks based on the argument that it is a sexually oriented business which will serve alcohol and bring intoxicated drivers in close proximity to schools. The petition now has 1,809 signatures. In addition, a group has organized and is calling itself Citizens Against Unsafe School-area Establishments, or C.A.U.S.E. The group calls on residents in the entire Spring Branch community to take action and protest the new “breasturant.” Memorial High School’s PTA sent out a schoolwide email advising its parents to contact state Senator Dan Patrick and city council members Jack
Christie and Oliver Pennington. The Mustangs fear that if a Twin Peaks opens near one Spring Branch school, it could lead to a location near Memorial in the recently closed Loehmann’s and create a “citywide problem.” A city ordinance prohibits bars from opening within 300 feet of a school, and allows school districts to apply for an exception to extend the boundary to 1,000 feet. Spring Branch ISD filed complaints with the City of Houston and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, upset that they did not receive proper notification of the construction of the new restaurant. Recently, City Attorney David Feldman replied to the SBISD letter, citing that since Twin Peaks is also a restaurant, the 300-foot rule does not apply. Twin Peaks met all application and permitting requirements, and therefore, the city
cannot prevent them from opening as Houston does not have any zone restrictions. Twin Peaks did say that they plan to install a six-foot fence and keep all alcohol-related advertising on the side opposite of the schools. However, even when Twin Peaks does open, C.A.U.S.E. members are not done fighting. “Our property values will arguably be diminished with this type of establishment so close to our homes,” Camden said in the change.org petition. “[This will] create a gateway for other types of adult-oriented businesses to open in this area.” Residents are also unhappy with the addition of Twin Peaks. Some believe that crime rate will increase, as the establishment could attract “undesired clientele.” Other parents worry about their kids who walk or bike to and from school having to
deal with the hazard of drunk drivers leaving the restaurant/ bar. Aside from the drinking issue, parents are concerned about a “sexually-oriented business,” as they are labeling it, opening so close by to schools. They feel such an establishment does not belong in the family-oriented Wilchester area. “While I am concerned about the sexually-oriented nature of the establishment, I am also concerned about the driving of patrons coming out after drinking at sporting events for hours,” Debbie Dodds said. “I do not want our teens enticed or pressured to see for themselves what the hype is all about,” Cheryl Patterson said. “Twin Peaks does not fit in with the values of our neighborhood.” C.A.U.S.E. pledges to continue fighting the Twin Peaks and is even developing an “attack plan” for future steps.
A not-so-serious column Which One Should be Elaine’s Next Column Picture? Layla Shahhosseini
1.
2.
3.
4.
Vote now on shsoracle.com and the winning picture will be featured next issue
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Friday March 28, 2014
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MUSE
Friday March 28, 2014
The Oracle
Ellie Holcomb Becomes a Solo Star
Her new album spurs good responses as she begins her own career Katherine Mavergeorge
Many are familiar with singer, Ellie Holcomb, because of her role in her husband’s band, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, but she has finally made her most successful solo appearance with her release of her debut full length album, “As Sure As The Sun.” Although she has previously released two EP’s, “Magnolia” and “With You Now” which both topped iTunes Christian and Gospel music charts, her most recent release surpassed both by a long shot. Holcomb’s lyrics are not incredibly demanding for the audience’s attention, however each and every track is
firmly founded in the truth found in Scripture, offering a sense of renewal and hope for her audience. There is no way to miss Holcomb’s passion for spreading her beliefs, which she is able to humbly yet successfully accomplish through her gentle lyrics. The purity of her voice only enhances the entire album’s ability to slowly seep into your heart, because it is nearly impossible to stop listening to the beautiful and wholesome vocals she provides. The entire album presents a soothing attitude, though it is imposible to get bored while enjoying the songs. Each and every track provides a variety in instrumental accompaniment, from light
Kickin’ It at the Barn Dance
acoustics to solely piano, offering a mixed overall sound of alternative, folk and indie. Although each song varies in sound and purpose, they all boldly point back to the promise found in the Lord. One aspect that has made this album so successful is that Holcomb clearly makes all of her songs relatable to the audience, showcasing her honesty and genuine character, allowing the audience to feel immediate trust and connection with Holcomb. “As Sure As The Sun” truly is a treasure, offering renewal to anyone who is willing to give it a try. Keep an eye out for Holcomb as she continues to pursue her musical career.
Graphic by Molly Richter
Junior Girls hope to bring back a historic school tradition Emily Fishman
On April 5, if all goes according to plan, the cafeteria will be filled with boots, hay, twinkling lights, and students having a good time at the Junior Girls Barn Dance. Last year, to the disappointment of many, the Barn Dance fell through at the last minute. This year, however, the class of 2015 Junior Girls are determined to see the Barn Dance go off without a hitch. For months now, the dedicated officers and committee members have worked closely with their sponsors, English teacher Becky Singley and World History teacher Lanie Towsley, to plan the dance. This year’s president, junior Anna Powell, knew from the beginning that the Barn Dance was important to their success as an organization, as well as to the school’s history. “Since it’s the anniversary
year of Stratford and the Barn Dance used to be such a big thing, we thought it’d be nice for it to make a comeback this year,” Powell said. The Barn Dance has historically be the Junior Girls’ main event, but has faded out in recent memory. Last year’s Barn Dance was canceled at the last minute due to poor ticket sales. Powell and the other officers are determined to put on a successful dance. The dance should serve as the organization’s biggest fundraiser for the popular Tri Theta formal, held in the second semester of the girls’ senior year. Powell thinks the Barn Dance will be a nice change of pace for students. “All of the other dances here are very formal, so this will be nice, kind of relaxed way for us all to get together,” Powell explained. The Junior Girls organized
committees of their members to plan Western-themed food, decorations, and entertainment. The girls have been browsing Pinterest for inspiration and have come up with many activities for participants. “We’re going to have a Western photo booth with cute props, good music, and it’s going to be decorated really nicely,” Powell said. Riding the coat-tails of Rodeo season, the Junior Girls hope the Barn Dance will attract those who don’t want to take off their boots just yet. “We really want the dance to be a success for the fortieth anniversary year,” Powell said. She and the entire organization have put many hours into planning the Barn Dance. So what has been the best part? “Anyone that knows me, knows I really like designing
t-shirts, so that’s been really fun in planning this dance,” Powell laughed. “With the help of all the officers and the advisors, hopefully everything goes well.” At the dance, you won’t see guys in tuxes and girls in
Graphic by Rachel
long dresses. Rodeo attire is encouraged.
“I’ll be wearing something I would wear to the Rodeo, maybe a like dress or something, but definitely with pockets because I like to have my phone with me,” Powell joked. The Barn Dance, besides encouraging We s t e r n wear instead of the typical formal attire, is going to be very different from the typical dance here at school. “Dates aren’t required, they’re optional. If you want
to ask a date, that’s great, but it’ll be a lot of fun to have a dance that’s just casual. You can go with a big group of friends and just have fun,” Powell said. This year’s Junior Girls are determined to make their mark on the community by emphasizing not only the dance but the community service that their members perform. “I think one of my favorite things was the Buddy Walk we did back in November because it was a really meaningful cause and it was good to support the Stratford community and show how much Junior Girls cares,” Powell said. Support the Junior Girls by coming to the Barn Dance. It will be held on April 5 from eight o’clock in the evening until eleven o’clock. Tickets will be ten dollars at the door if not previously purchased.
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MUSE
Friday March 28, 2014
Can You Hear Me Now?
S U D O K U
The Oracle
A side-by-side comparison of the top music providers Maxine Tran
Created by Ashley Karolys For answers, go to shsoracle.com
iTunes Radio
Soundcloud
Pandora
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Music Library Boasts the largest An accumulation collection of signed of millions of user uploads and independent artists
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Use Limit Unlimited hours of use
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6 skips per day for each station and 24 skips per day overall, unable to rewind or fast-forward
Playlist Options A personalized radio playlist is created for the selected song or artist. Pre-made music stations available User Interface 6 skips per hour Unable to rewind or fast-forward Accessibility Available on desktop and any Apple products in the US only Premium Membership
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Graphics by: Rachel Torres
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Friday March 28, 2014
The Oracle
Spartans Take the Runway
Students juggle successful modeling careers and their schoolwork
Maggie Vickers Rebeccca Williamson
GETTING STARTED • Junior Katie Moore is new to the modeling scene. After being scouted two years ago, she has just begun doing modeling work this year, but already loves it. “Modeling is a lot of fun, it’s sometimes hard to balance school and modeling at the same time because you get called in for jobs on school days, but I’ve learned to manage it.” In addition to modeling, she also participates in the Stratford Playhouse. Moore is very excited for what her future in the field brings. “In May, I’m going with Charlotte and Ashley to Agent Interview where we go talk to different agencies from around the country and world, so it will be very interesting to hear feedback from them.”
TIME MANAGEMENT • Junior Ashley Brown juggles modeling and school work. Brown says that finding the balance between work and school is a challenge, but she has found ways to get all of her work done. “It’s pretty difficult. Taking off from school is hard because of all the makeup work. Sometimes, it gets really stressful, but a lot of times I bring my backpack with me and get work done as I’m getting my hair and makeup done or when I’m waiting for a show.” Brown is very grateful that all of her friends and family support her with her career choice. She hopes to pursue it in the future, but still plans on going to college .“It’s something that I really want to continue, and I’m just going to go where life takes me.”
Spring Has Sprung
FUTURE PLANS • Junior Charlotte Stevens hopes to have a long term career in modeling. “I really want to model for as long as I can. After high school I want to travel and try to get picked up by as many agencies as possible. My dream destination is New York because it’s absolutely amazing.” Stevens got started in the modeling industry after her mom, a former model, introduced her to the job that she now loves. Stevens is also a member of the varsity volleyball team and enjoys taking the teamwork approach to modeling as well. She was scouted before her freshmen year and has been pursuing her dream of modeling ever since.
Photos by Rebecca Williamson Model Photos courtesy of Paige Parks Agency
Tweets of the Week
Trivia and facts about the season Emily Fishman
Anna Powell @annakpowell I want me and my boyfriend to be as cute as Brad and Angelina just were at the Oscars.. #ohwaitimsingle #oops
Children grow faster in Spring Over 1800 bird species will migrate home this spring Spring symbolizes rebirth in many cultures Spring officially began on March 21, called the Vernal Equinox Spring is the season in which flowers bloom and blossom
Griffin Sink @GriffinSink burritos are gods gift to the world.
Mary Kate Goss @gossis_boss JUST ATE 12 THIN MINTS & I FEEL GREAT Hannah Stuart @Stuart__Hannah Pretty sure ferris bueller is the only person who knows how to live life correctly.
There are 47 school days left Emily Gex @EmilyGex Actually glad it’s not spring break right now because I don’t tan in 25 degree weather #positivethinking Graphic by Rachel Torres
Follow @StratfordOracle for your chance to be featured in the next issue Tweets compiled by Ashleigh Garrett and graphic by Victoria Shin
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SPORTS
The Oracle
Friday March 28, 2014
Eyes Up Ahead for the New Track Season
With the start of the semester, track has just begun to make an appearance
Layla Shahhosseini Photo by Micheal Martin
Coa c h Co pa Q: What sport do you coach and how long have you been coaching it? A: I coach soccer and I have been coaching it for about 30 years. Q: What is your background in soccer? A: I have played soccer as a kid, throughout high school, college, and semipro, and have taught it for many years. Q: Who do you believe is our biggest rival this season? A: Spring Woods. Q: What goals have you set for your team this year? A: To make it to playoffs and to finish in the top two, which we accomplished. Q: What practice routines do you use to push your players to live up to their potential? A: A lot of cross-training, lifting weights, running, sprinting, and curtain drills for shooting. Q: What players do you expect to be key in seasonal and in postseason play? A: Josh Blair, Chris Vanston, Sebastian De La Puente, Cesar Oviedo, Tyler Frost, and Franco Timonieri. Q: What has been your best memory here at Statford? A: Being able to go to tournaments and being with the kids and bonding with them. Story by Ashleigh Garrett
GUNS UP • (Right) Freshman Tommy Mathias runs the 100 meter sprint at the JV Katy Taylor meet. Many freshman and sophomores competed in the sprinting events. Photo by Gil Sanchez
EYES AHEAD • (Right) Senior Jay Joseph sprints the 200 meter race. Photo by Gil Sanchez
TAKING CHARGE• (Above) Senior Justin Wood participates in one of the legs of a relay. Photo by Gil Sanchez
THE
READY TO RELAY • (Left) Junior Austin Richard is in a Distance Medley Relay at the Memorial High school track meet that took place on Feb. 12. Photo by Gil Sanchez
UP IN THE AIR • (Right) Freshman Grace Lovejoy pole vaults on Feb. 12 at the JV Katy Taylor SPRINT AWAY • (Above) Sophomores Holton track meet. Photo by Gil San- Hockaday and Adam Brecht sprint the 400 meter race at the JV Stratford meet. Photo by Gil Sanchez chez
SCHEDULE Baseball:
3/28 @ Spring Woods 7:00 p.m. 4/4 vs Tomball Memorial @ SHS 7:00 p.m. 4/8 @ Marshall 7:00 p.m. 4/11 vs Northbrook @ SHS 7:00 p.m. 4/12 @ Elkins 1:00 p.m. 4/15 @ Willowridge 7:00 p.m. 4/17 vs Tomball @ SHS 7:00 p.m. 4/22 @ Ridge Point 7:00 p.m.
Softball:
3/28 vs. Tomball Memorial @ SHS 6:30 p.m. 4/4 @ Marshall 5 p.m. 4/8 vs Northbrook 6:30 p.m. 4/11 @ Willowridge 5 p.m. 4/15 vs Tomball @ SHS 6:30 p.m. 4/17 @ Ridge Point 6:30 p.m.
Position: Pitcher Toughest Team: Tomball Dream Job: ESPN Commentator Walk-Out Song: “Nike Boots” by Wale Dream School: Rice University Favorite Quote: “An eye for makes the whole blind.” -Ghandi
BRITTANY REOH
an eye world
PATRICK DONAHO Story by Layla Shahhosseini
Position: Short Stop Favorite Movie: She’s the Man Lucky Number: 14 Biggest Competition: Tomball Goal: To make it deep into the playoffs Favorite Quote: “Dream big, work hard.” -JJ Watt
Photos by Lori Brown and Rebecca Williamson
Graphics by Scott Kennedy
SPORTS The Drive for Success: Golfers Prepare for District 10
The Oracle
Friday March 28, 2014
As the regular season heats up, golfers reflect on their passion for a sport that students often overlook Scott Kennedy
It doesn’t have the crowds of football, the speed of basketball, or the variety of track and field— it has a course, some clubs, a ball, and a tee. But what golf lacks in flash it makes up for in skill, and the Stratford team continues to attract some of the most skilled athletes every year. Golf is different than most sports, it’s a slower, more methodical game of skill, but it’s one that requires more dedication and commitment than
many people realize, and the 23 Varsity and 18 JV golfers are as committed as ever. For many golfers, being on the team is about working on skills they’ve been developing for years. “I started playing golf for fun with my family in middle school,” senior Alison Utz said. “I didn’t actually start playing seriously until my junior year when I joined the Stratford team.” Senior Ben Riedel began playing competitively in 7th grade, and has found that one
GETTING LOOSE • Senior Ben Riedel warms up with his teammates at the River Ridge Golf Club. Photo by Gil Sanchez
of the unique things about golf is that the competition is primarily against one’s self.
schools that we play against are extremely good, and have athletes who will be playing golf in college.” In order to prepare for the challenges of competition, golfers have a class period every day devoted to practice, and are allowed to leave school early to play or practice on a GOING FOR GREEN • Senior Camp- course. “My usual bell Ross takes a shot from behind a tree. practice begins on Photo by Stratford Yearbook the driving range to “It’s different than baseball, work 30 minutes on my swing basketball, or football,” Riedel or certain shots that need to said. “There’s so much more be corrected,” Riedel said. of a challenge to the game. “Then it’s over to the putting Nothing is ever guaranteed. and chipping area for another One week you can shoot 10 30, and sometimes I’ll be able strokes worse than the week to go out and play a quick before.” nine-hole round in an hour Although golf is often about and a half.” competing against one’s self, With the district tournathe tournaments the ath- ment starting on April 7, the letes compete in are by no athletes are continuing to premeans relaxed. “It’s actually pare and practice, with hopes a pretty competitive sport of advancing further in comwhen it comes to the tourna- petitive play. “Most people ments,” Utz said. “Some of the think that the SHS golf team
isn’t very ‘competitive,’” Riedel said. “But we should be able to advance to regionals easily, and we should make it to state.” Especially with playoffs coming up, all of the practices and competitions can present a challenge for athletes as they try to balance school and sports. While having to catch up in school can be frustrating, Utz believes it’s worth it, and is grateful for the opportunity to occasionally take a day off, especially if there’s nice weather. A lot of people don’t real-
TOURNEY TEAM • Matt Martin, Ben Riedel, Campbell Ross, Zeb Kaminski, Trevor Hennington pose for a group shot during the tournament.
Photo by Stratford Yearbook
ize that a big part of playing golf is just enjoying being outside and hanging out with friends. “I like the camaraderie,” Riedel said. “It’s easy to joke around, and we all have nicknames for each other and inside jokes.” Golf is a sport that many people play for life, not just competitively in high school. Riedel plans to possibly play in college, but like most golfers hopes to play for fun for the rest of his life. Utz agrees, and says, “It’s a pretty fun activity to do when you have friends and family that you can enjoy it with.” While it may not be the conspicuous sport on campus, golf continues to draw athletes in with its required skill and fun atmosphere. And as district nears, the golf team is more determined than ever to drive, chip, and putt their way to victory. See more photos on the Oracle website, shsoracle.com
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SPORTS
Friday March 28, 2014
The Oracle
Seniors Continue Powder Puff Win Streak
Even with only one practice, the seniors defeat the juniors in an intense game of touch football on March 14 Layla Shahhosseini Elyse’ Stieber
WON’T GIVE UP • (Right) Senior receiver Meg Mathias eagerly awaits to catch the football as senior Emily Whiteford defends her from junior defensive lineman Gabby Cruz. Photo by Rebecca TOUCHDOWN • (Below) Senior tight end Meredith Burch rejoices at catching a throw made by senior Jennifer Swanson. The final score of the game 13-12 with a senior team win. Photo by Rebecca Williamson
CRUNCH TIME • (Above) The junior offense decides to run a trick play while the senior defensive line tries to find the person keep their eye on the ball. Photo by Rebecca Williamson HUDDLE UP • (Right) The junior offensive line huddles to talk about their plays against the seniors the game THE WINNING TEAM • (Above) Senior coach Zach Miller during holds up a number one after the seniors scored their winning while down by one touchdown made by senior Emily Tekell. Photo by Rebecca touchdown. Photo by Rebecca WIlliamson Williamson
Graphics and Story by Scott Kennedy
$2500
Dollars: The annual Senior vs. Junior Girls’ “Powder Puff ” football game raised $2500 for the Senior Prom
Average: Ragan Robinson is the leading varsity hitter, with 17 hits out of 30 at batting
4:24
.567
Time: The fastest mile-runner at Stratford is Brian Quinlan, who can run a mile in 4 minutes and 24 seconds
8 STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL
Years: Water Polo became a sport here back in 2006, but the previous head coach began organizing recreational matches in 2002
SPORTS Fresh Start for Boys Baseball 12
Friday March 28, 2014
Ranked second in the city, varsity baseball looks for a successful season
The Oracle
ELAINE EXPLAINED Photos by Gil Sanchez
An opinions
Can I Just Shave My Head Now Elaine Parizot
AT THE BACKSTOP• Senior specatators Justine White, Kelly Hewitt, Tripp Thorne, Jennifer Swanson, Allie Eggert, and Zach Miller watch a pop fly hit by a Spring Woods hitter.
MEETING AT THE MOUND• Senior pitcher Freddy Price and senior catcher Ross Collins take a moment to talk pitches on Saturday March 9 during their game against Katy Taylor.
FASTBALL• Senior pitcher Senior Ragan Robinson attempts to Patrick Donaho waits to read senior steal second base while the Katy Taylor pitcher throws the ball to home plate catcher Ross Collins to find the pitch he on Saturday March 9. wants to throw against Tomball. STEALING THE BASES•
SLUGGER• Senior third baseman Jay Harper hits a single during the game against Katy Taylor on March 9.
UP TO BAT• Senior shortstop Devon Wilson steps up to the plate against the Mustangs on Saturday March 9.
EYEING THE BALL• Sophomore Kyle Donaho steps up to the plate against Katy Taylor on Saturday March 9.
TAKING A BREAK• Senior outfielder Will Bredthauer waits for the pitch at first base with Coach A on Saturday March 9.
FOLLOW THROUGH• Senior pitcher Freddy Price throws a fastball in attempt to strike out a batter during the game against Spring Woods.
My hair is pretty long, it reaches down right to the middle of my back. I’ve had it this length for a long time because I know it’s the best cut for my face shape from all those helpful quizzes I took in middle school. But sometimes I just wanna say “I’m done Seventeen,” and cut all my hair off. But I can’t do that, unless I want an afro since my hair is so thick. Long hair is a huge pain, and I mean that literally. First of all, hair is kind of heavy, so buns and ponytails are kind of balancing acts that are just bound to fall apart and get redone. Another thing is that it takes approximately three weeks to dry completely. All jokes aside, if I shower at night, it’s not even completely dry in the morning, and my pillow is a soaking, cold blob. Also, there is almost nothing worse than getting up from your desk and realizing that 5-15 strands of hair have become somehow magically attached to those little demon studs on the back of your chair. It’s not like you’re going to take the time to meticulously unwind each strand, so you get to leave a nice little present of your hair for whoever sits in your seat the following period. And hair is not limited to catching on chairs, but also other people’s clothes, people’s elbows, and in car doors just to name a few. In the long run though, long hair has a few perks. Like sometimes it keeps me warm. Or if there’s a stain on the top half of my shirt, I can always just use my hair to cover it up. :)
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OPINIONS
Editors-in-Chief Kali Venable Elaine Parizot Associate Editors Layla Shahhosseini Elyse’ Stieber News Editor Justin Todes Muse Editors Ashley Karolys Ashleigh Garrett Emily Fishman Sports Editors Scott Kennedy Kelly Hewitt Opinions Editors Claire Galbraith Maxine Tran Photo Editors Gil Sanchez Rebecca Williamson Katherine Kennedy
Friday March 28, 2014
Photographers Rebecca Meek Cassidy Menard Michael Martin Philip Chen Maggie Vickers Alex Milstead Graphics Editor Victoria Shin Reporters Courtney James Emily Adams Natalie Raley Staff Artists Claire Pena Molly Richter Ads Editors Katherine Mavergeorge Emily Copeland Allison Rice Sarah Sturgis
Ads Staff Harper Jones Emily Brown Lindsey Jenkins Meredith Burch Erin Higginbotham Paige Barber Kendall Marbach Jacob Pennington Phoebe Lamay Copy Editors Amanda Sturm Natasha Eades Philip Chen Building Principal Christopher Juntti Advisor Janice Cummons
The Oracle newspaper is the official, school-sponsored student media of Stratford High School. The Oracle is published every three weeks by the Journalism Department of Stratford High School, 14555 Fern, Houston, Texas 77079, 713-251-3454. The Oracle is also available online at shsoracle.com. The newspaper is a member of Columbia Scholastic Journalism Association, National Scholastic Journalism Educators, and International League Press Conference. The Oracle serves as a public forum of student expression, and is open to contributions submitted by the readers. Readers may submit material by e-mail to info@shsoracle.com, to Room 120, or to Janice Cummons’ mailbox. All letters to the editor must be signed by the author. The staff is responsible for the content of the publication, and strives to produce media based upon professional standards of accuracy, objectivity, and fairness. The editors reserve the right to determine whether submissions will be published, subject to space availability and content. All submitted material must be typed and include the author’s full name and grade. The opinions expressed are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, the staff, the administration, or the school district. The Oracle staff strives to produce a newspaper that covers the entire Stratford community. The staff welcomes freelance submissions and is eager to hear from readers regarding story and photo opportunities.
Textbook Shortage
The Oracle
Not enough textbooks for student usage Dana Denney
Texas schools spend hundreds of thousands dollars yearly to ensure classes are equipped with enough textbooks for all students. However, recent budget cuts have made that nearly impossible. Recent cuts to government funding in schools, have made replacing and reordering textbooks a tight stretch, with little to no extra books for new students or classes. In addition to these severe cuts, schools can only order new books every 8-10 years leaving textbooks outdated and in poor shape. Since it has proven to be impossible to make sure every class has enough books to compensate for constantly growing and changing classes, everyone is left to find a new solution that also keeps schools up to date year to year on ever-changing books. The solution? Technology. With the growing demand for a solution, the idea of online textbooks are on the rise. As schools weigh the options on how to ensure each student has the tools they need to succeed, technology has
been an increasingly popular option. Although this technology is not available to everyone at home, schools are working to expand their supply of laptops, iPads, and Kindles, as well as more frequently buying electronic copies of high demand textbooks from publishers. With these new developments students can have access to their textbooks from virtually anywhere. By opening up the world of technology to students, they are given a wide variety of ways to achieve success in schools. They can now access books from their phones or they can still check out a hard copy if they don’t have access to books in the classroom or at home. On average Texas annually spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on textbooks for all levels of the education system, but as demand for books increase, sadly the budget does not; leaving some classes without enough books and not allowing every student their own copy. Along with portability and
countless other advantages to online books, one of the major pro’s is the ability to keep the textbooks updated versus being forced to used the outdated information we are currently. Long term, an investment in technology seems beneficial in more ways than one. You can purchase a Kindle for around $70, which is less than the average cost of most college textbooks sold today. If online books are made available to these devices, the amount schools and individuals would save in the end would be astronomical. With technology still comes many complications but it shows promise of helping the tremendous shortage of textbooks in schools. Although having a completely online based set of textbooks is still pretty far off, it’s becoming a little more of a reality each year. For right now, students will still have to share textbooks with the each other until the shortage is no longer an issue. Then no one will have an excuse to why their homework isn’t done.
ing kids” and “don’t understand what they are doing”. The age learn from these mistakes is at the age of four— not at the age of fourteen. Being a kid doesn’t mean kids are ignorant and shouldn’t be disciplined. Ignorance is no excuse. Ignorance can’t pardon delinquent behavior every time kids say they didn’t know the rules. Just because someone says they didn’t know doesn’t mean they didn’t understand that their actions weren’t right. It’s disrespectful to blatantly disregard all the rules that society has laid down by using the excuse that one was unaware of them. Playing the kid card gives people a chance to escape the punishments they would otherwise receive. Children are aware of the rules and what is
acceptable, but when they get in to trouble they suddenly can’t remember these thing. No one likes getting into trouble and it is easier to play innocent than it is to admit to fault. Excuse only make these situations worse and owning up to one’s mistakes makes any situation better. Being honest has always been key to making a collaborative environment. The way to earn respect and show one is responsible is by being responsible. This means that people must own up to their actions and not use childish excuses. The truth is, no one is above the rules—young or old. Age and ignorance do not absolve people and no bad deed should go unpunished. It is time for children and teens to own up to their actions and stop using excuses.
The Kid Card
Age isn’t always a valid excuse for misbehavior Claire Galbraith
As a child, one usually makes mistakes, some more severe than others and uses their age as an excuse. However, at what age must one own up to their actions? When are people too old for excuses? The excuse of being a kid has been heard in many different situations; it is heard when a child throws a hissy fit or brakes a vase and says a bad word — but sometimes kids go farther than childish mistakes. Pushing, stealing, and teasing are all things that are common among young people, but it doesn’t mean they should be accepted as excusable behavior. When does “just being a kid” become a reason to not blame a child for his or her actions? There is more room for error when people are younger. If
one gets caught doing something wrong as a kid, the consequences are nothing more than a wag of the finger and some light scolding. So at what age does society draw the line for when a child should be reprimanded for wrongdoing? The obvious answer being the age when they know the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. There is that first time a kid makes a mistake and this error shouldn’t be punished severely, merely corrected so they know not to do it again. Everyone must except that kids make mistakes and will usually repeat the same mistakes—but when a
kid uses his or her age as an excuse, they know what they did wrong and they are looking for a way to get out of trouble. Age shouldn’t be an excuse for an adolescent w h o knows what is right and what is wrong. At an early age, children learn that bad be-
there a r e cons e quences for their actions. Things like bullying, stealing, and o t h e r misdemeanors should be seen as intolerable conduct. However, there are still adults who say the teens and kids who committed these offenses are “just
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OPINIONS HOW TO DEAL
Dead on Scene: A personal recount of Shattered Dreams Kali Venable
I never thought I’d experience the claustrophobia of a body bag given that their enclosure is typically reserved for the dead, the lifeless. But on Thursday, March 12 I slowed my breathing and tried to move as little as possible while EMS volunteers zipped me up in a body bag and loaded me into a hearse. The car accident was a drunk driving stimulation known as Shattered Dreams and we we’re just playing roles like actors in a play. Yet, in the midst of trying to see through the thick black lining of a bag that felt entirely too small and listening to the cries of my own mother, a morbid sense came over me. For a mere moment everything about the day felt unrehearsed, unplanned and real. ***** The junior and senior classes had the opportunity to witness the wreck and attend the Friday morning assembly but only those involved in Shattered Dreams spent the night at Ben Taub Trauma Center in the Houston Medical Center. We see critically injured people on TLC and in reality TV shows like “Greys Anatomy” but seeing them on a bed in front of you is an entirely different experience, one I cannot put into words. All I know is that what I witnessed at Ben Taub wasn’t a stimulation. The wounds weren’t made with adhesive and the blood wasn’t peppermint flavored. Some of the patients I saw will never be able to walk, see, talk or smell again and a few will probably never see the world outside that trauma center in this lifetime. Not only did the hospital make me thankful for the healthy life I’ve got, it also made me realize how fragile it is. We’re young. Not just by age but also by the amount of life we’ve got left to live. There are so many things for us to see, learn, and experience. We have dreams to chase and mistakes to make — we have time that isn’t worth throwing away or losing because of someone else’s mistake. ***** I wish I could say that all drunk driving accidents are actually accidental but I don’t
Friday March 28, 2014
believe that is the case. Each and every alcohol related wreck can be prevented by simple decisions based off of legal and moral beliefs that we all have. No one can look themselves in the mirror and say they’d be okay with being at fault for the injury or death of another person. Yet, people make the mistake of going out without a sober ride home, getting in the car with a person who isn’t trustworthy enough to be a designated driver or even worse, being the designated driver and not having the willpower to refrain from drinking. Sometimes it is seems easier to just let things unfold and decide later after being at the concert, party or other such event where drinking is taking place. But the fact of the matter is that no one can make good judgement after a night on the town. Making arraignments in advance can be annoying to some of your friends and feel stressful but it’s the only way to insure that you’ll get home without having to put your life or other peoples in danger. ***** The character I played in Shattered Dreams was not the drunk driver but she’s someone we know all too well. We see her in our peers at parties, in the faces of people we love, some of us even see her in ourselves. She represents a person who is too scared to take someone’s keys away because being a rule-follower has never been the cool thing to do and believing that when they say their fine they’re fine is easier than not. I am ashamed to say I’ve been this person before even though I know that a lot of my peers have too. But I’d rather focus on the fact that after having been a part of Shattered Dreams I will never not take precautions to prevent such tragedies. ***** It has been two weeks since Shattered Dreams but I still remember the sterile smell of that body bag and the way my stomach dropped when I realized that the people who end up in accidents like the one we stimulated don’t get to walk away from them. The hardest part of this experience has been finding a way to accept that some people won’t value the Shattered Dreams program until it’s too late, until they’ve made the decision and they can’t turn back. Knowing that I won’t be one of them doesn’t make it any easier to imagine one of my peers standing where a Stratford graduate stood in the competition gym on Friday, March 13 during the Shattered Dreams assembly. When she spoke to us the night prior at Ben Taub there was a point when her composure completely deteriorated. Even now I can hear her saying “it doesn’t go away,” and I can feel the regret in her voice. That single statement makes it impossible for me to ever accept that someone on this campus could drink and drive when it is never the only option. Houston has the highest number of drunk drivers on the road in the nation, don’t be one of them.
The Oracle
Letter to the Editor: SHS Cheerleading The Stratford Cheerleaders respond to “Cheer Tears,” written in the in the Feb. 28 issue of the Oracle Varsity Cheer Team
After reading “Tears for Cheers” we realized that many people have a misunderstanding about Stratford cheer. First, we have to follow strict regulations made by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches & Administrators (AACCA). Recently, the AACCA made several changes to their rules and regulations, restricting high school cheerleading squads from doing particular stunts and tumbling that they found too dangerous. Because of this change, we are unable to do many of the “cool” stunts that everyone liked so much before the new rules were enforced. Stratford and Memorial both agreed to keep their varsity cheer teams only seniors in order to keep the cheer teams more traditional and be a privilege for seniors. It’s official that varsity will no longer be reserved for seniors but despite the many rumors, Spring Branch ISD will not have any freshman cheerleading teams. The committee that regulates SBISD cheer teams determined that it would be too difficult to have a new freshman team and allow underclassmen on varsity in the same year. To the untrained eye, it seems that tumbling is the only important thing in cheerleading. However, the score sheet for cheerleading tryouts says something different. Last year, tumbling was only eight points out of a total of 75 points. This means that
tumbling was worth only about 11% of the total tryout points. Even with the changes this year, tumbling is only worth 10 points out of 70 total points or 14%. The fact that the tumbling score did not change much emphasizes that tumbling isn’t everything in cheer. Another surprising factor on the score sheet that most people don’t know is that the cheer we were taught and performed lat year for tryouts was worth 25 points. That means that it was worth almost three times more than tumbling. This year, the cheer is worth 20 points out of 70 which is twice as much as tumbling. In addition, there is an overall impression score consisting of spiriting, enthusiasm, and energy. Most people think that making the cheer squad is political. But the coaches actually have no influence on who does or doesn’t make the team. Instead, they hire judges who judge cheerleading competitions and are from outside of the district by rule. This keeps tryouts fair and prevents politics from getting involved in the tryout process. Another misunderstanding is that junior varsity and varsity teams do not get along. This could not be further from the truth. There are many strong friendships made between both teams. Girls on varsity who were on JV as a sophomore and junior even say that they are better friends with some of the JV girls now, then when they were when they
were on JV together. It may seem like the teams are segregated, but it is just like any other varsity and junior varsity teams in high school — the people you spend the most time with are the people who you tend to be closer with. This correlates with the fact that girls on cheer hang out with other girls on cheer. Just like the fact that girls who play soccer hang out with girls who play soccer and boys who play baseball hang out with boys who play baseball. It seems to work out like that because we spend so much time together making friendships even stronger. However, the rules and regulations of cheer is not what we wanted to focus on when we decided to write this. We want to emphasize one of the most common sayings at Stratford, which is “Stratford America”. Over the past couple of years, many of the organizations at Stratford have begun to critique and criticize other sports or organizations. Although some have been very harmless and funny, others have been more serious and hurtful. Criticizing something or someone from your school on any social media source should end. We are all so lucky to get to go to such an amazing school with so many opportunities, yet we always find something to complain about or dislike. “Stratford America” means that we stand together as a school and support each other no matter what, and doesn’t criticizing others at our school mean we are doing the opposite of that?
Comments from the Editors
As Editors of the paper our ultimate goal is to provide a platform for students to share their genuine opinions and beliefs on campus and global happenings. Our organization doesn’t promote or implement personal attacks but strives to start discussions and bring about change in areas we feel the student body shows concern. We encourage people to
read articles and submit responses because we believe that it is crucial to express all angles and sides of varying important topics. As mentioned in the staff box on page 13, the views expressed in the opinions section of the paper are “those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff, administration, or school district.”
We look forward to reading more responses and commentary on future articles. Your Oracle Editors, Elaine Parizot and Kali Venable Please summit Editors to the Letter to room 120, either of the Editors or Newspaper Advisor, Janice Cummons.
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OPINIONS
Friday March 28, 2014
Subtweet This
The emergence of a harmful trend found on Twitter Maxine Tran
carries on to all aspects of a teens life. It makes confronting issues or dealing with emotions something you can handle indirectly. Although it seems harmless enough it essentially destroys the basis of healthy communication. Teenagers who practice this are avoiding honest confrontation stunting their emotional growth and creating a generation of young adults who have no idea how to handle conflict. Judging someone is inescapable but jus remember, when you exploit someone else’s flaws you are projecting an image of insecurity and vulgarity. So the next time you feel the need to vent take a minute and rethink it. No one wants to know or be burdened by your negativity and the drama that is sure to ensue will definitely not be worth it no matter what it is.
Ukraine controversy brings up hard feelings about U.S. intentions Kali Venable
Stemming from a history of bloodshed and absolute control, the showdown between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the new Ukrainian Government which recently came to global attention, is one the United States need to stay clear of. If you’re living on this planet than you probably have gotten use to the U.S. playing a roll in every major world conflict, and if you’re living in this nation than you definitely are familiar with our approach to foreign policy. Sometime after WWII we decided that our power gave US the authority and
responsibility to shove our interpretations of democracy and peace down the throats of any country vulnerable enough to listen.
Shin
with internet access. For example someone might tweet something like ”Wow who knew you were such a bad friend?” or “You can be so annoying“. The real dilemma is identifying who the “You“ is. In a generation at an age where low self confidence and vanity is rampant it doesn’t take much for the wrong person to assume the tweet is about them. Subtweeting doesn’t always have to be a bad thing, not every tweet has to be an ambiguous insult to the public. There’s always the occasional “You are so adorable“ or “I really like you“ although it sounds innocent enough a subtweet is a subtweet. The bottom line in this issue is not potentially hurting someone’s feelings but rather a deeper underlying character flaw. This form of communication
Put the Big Stick Down
Graphic by Victoria
When you add a disgruntled teen and 140 characters or less you get the subtweet. Subtweeting is the act of indirectly tweeting about an individual without actually including their name. Although it sounds innocent enough, somewhere along the line this became the go to tool of teenagers, most commonly girls, when it comes to dealing with conflict. Rather than dealing with arguments privately teens have taken to tweeting obscure and biting remarks. Pushing aside the obvious aspect of immaturity, these tweets are so problematic because of how easily they can be misconstrued or misdirected. This abuse of twitter has evolved into a form of warfare capable of a copious amount of destruction. Each favorite or retweet is a battle won or lost put full display to anyone
The Oracle
For quite sometime our methods worked. When other countries were in danger we took pride in knowing that ours was the one to help and the
American Government had genuine intentions to protect foreign people. But lately our decision to almost always get involved in foreign affairs seems to be coming form somewhere else. The government’s recent involvement in the Ukraine crisis is a perfect example of our nation attempting to play the hero in a situation we have nothing to do with. While it’s important for us to help keep global peace, we’ve taken measures too far. In fact, we spend more effort and money intervening in other nation’s problems than solving our own. It’s about time we realize that to actually help others we must first help ourselves and to stop giving advice when we are in no position to do so.
Put Your Phone Down and Talk to Me Is the generational dependence on cell phone’s really that dangerous? Janelle Blackwood Elaine Parizot
The conversation dies down, and silence falls upon the group for a few seconds. You love your friends, you really do, but you feel like your Twitter feed would be a lot more entertaining than this lull of awkwardness. You slowly pick up your phone and unlock it. The screen comes to life with the promise of social media. At last, some quality entertainment. This situation shouldn’t be foreign to you. In fact, you probably experience it on a weekly, if not daily basis. At some point in time, our generation lost its ability to handle silence. A minute without stimulation is wasted, and cell phones are practically designed to fill that need. You’ve probably rolled your eyes through your parents’ lectures about how when they were kids, they played
marbles instead of Flappybird and bought Coke for 75 cents. We get it, you lived in the good old days of playing outside and reading encyclopedias. It was a simpler time, much different from the information-demanding, activity-craving generation that the technology revolution created. To give our generation some credit, it’s likely that if our parents had been exposed to smart phones, they would be where we are today. And if the reverse were true, if the technology that gave us cellphones had never been developed, maybe we would be more socially capable. But we’re not. Hanging out with friends consists of one part talking, one part looking at your phone, and one part showing each other things on your phone. Forgetting your phone at home isn’t an annoyance, it’s a catastrophe because what on earth are
you going to do in a situation where no one is talking to you?! Phone dependency is not only disturbing because it is so widespread. It’s particularly frightening because there’s virtually no hope of it ever getting better. If our generation is just the beginning, what will our children be like? Will they be able to speak to each other, or will communication have dwindled down to Tweets and likes on Instagram? In the back of our minds, there must be at least some amount of fear that with the rise of cell phones, there has been a drop in interpersonal communication skills. After all, it stands to reason that before cell phones, the only stimulant among a group of people was conversation. But the reality is that the natural flow of conversation is constantly interrupted by the appeal of our phones.
This is not supposed to be some admonishing note to the less educated among us. It’s not as though we ourselves haven’t experienced the phone-as-an extra limb phenomenon. We are not exempt from the list of pseudophone addicts. Neither are we somehow implying that we can present a solution to this situation. But that doesn’t somehow lessen its severity. Companies and organizations have long since recognized the importance of cell phones in our society. Certain organizations have even attempted to capitalize on it. In the case of the UNICEF Tap Project, users willing to donate need to simply log onto their website and press a button pledging to not touch their phone. For every 10 minutes that the user doesn’t touch his or her phone, sponsors of UNICEF make generous donations to the charity. While UNICEF’s intentions
are entirely respectable, the fact that a charity like this even exists is a testament to our progression as a society. The fact that the act of not touching our phones could be considered so great a feat that it warrants the donation of funds to charity is almost alarming. Are we so obsessed with our mini-computers that not being able to touch them is a legitimate challenge? There doesn’t seem to be an apparent end to the development of what phones can do. It seems as though the more features cell phones gain, the less interested we become in the people we have around us. If anything, we must work twice as hard to be funny, interesting, or engaging in order to pull each other away from our screens. It is this one aspect that presents the possibility of growth. If we are willing to accept the challenge, we could theoretically become more creative, more
intriguing in our actions and speech. In the competition between technology and the antiquated earnest conversation, we could stand to put up a fight. It might not be necessary to eliminate our use of cell phones, but rather force ourselves to reinvent the art of conversation. Perhaps then we could stand to put our phones down for ten minutes. Then twenty. And maybe, one day down the line, we might be able to stand our friends for a full hour without once pressing our home buttons. Years from now, it’s likely we’ll be recycling the same the speeches our parents gave us. We’ll tell our children that in our day, we didn’t obsess over technology. We’ll whine to them about how we lived in the good old days of casually checking our phones now and then while maintaining fabulous conversation with our friends. It’ll be completely false, but who cares?
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