October 18 by The Oracle

New Update Pg. 13

TSTRATFORD HE Photo by Rebecca Williamson

Volume 41, Issue 3

Halloween Throwbacks Pg. 8

Friday October 18, 2013

Fan Frenzy Pg. 9

R A C L E O Photo by Christi Gregory

shsoracle.com

PhotoPhoto by Katherine Kennedy by

@spartanoracle

Legally Blonde Pg. 2 Photo by Kinsey Meek

14555 Fern Drive, Houston TX 77079

@stratfordoracle

A Shattered Nightmare

Shattered Dreams is back in the process of production Layla Shahhosseini

The time has come. It has been exactly two years since the last Shattered Dreams experience, which means the deadline to begin the process is fast approaching. At the beginning of this year, building principal Mr. Chris Juntti announced that Shattered Dreams would be no more, due to several factors permitting its existence. To go through the extensive process of planning this scenario, many organizations are involved including, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), HCH, Houston Police Department (HPD), Houston Fire Department (HFD), and the SBISD police department. “It is an incredible process to plan,” Juntti said. Juntti has to meet with all of these organizations at one time to have a discussion and plan the future event. “I haven’t had anyone come to the table and I haven’t heard anything from the hospital district,” Juntti said. It is not an out of pocket expense, and it would be possible to fund, but there is a

$6,000 grant that funds this event every other year. There are certain permits that are vital to Shattered Dreams, which include partially closing the street on Fern and receiving authorization to conduct such an activity. Another reason why Mr. Juntti considered not doing Shattered Dreams is the message.

“I am 100% against teenagers drinking and teenagers drinking and driving. But the number of teens involved in distracted driving deaths has shot up and surpassed alcohol related deaths,” Juntti said. The focus of this year has

changed to campaigning against texting and driving. In the past, the first time that Shattered Dreams took place, there was a life-

ask the parents to write the obituaries and most refused,” Juntti said. After

flight, a n d the hype recruitGraphic by Sarah Davisedy from the 2009 ing volunteers to play the stu- performance, there was an dents was tough. increase in eager partici“We had to really work to get pants. “I had kids coming up participants the first time. We to me and saying ‘I want to

be in it’.” Juntti said. Without the life flight for the second time, there was a decrease in the realistic feel of the

s c e n a r i o. “We debrief after every time we do it, and after the second time we thought it was okay, but it was not as hyped up as the last time,” Juntti said. The hospital district actually recognized the video of Shattered Dreams in 2011 for

it’s lasting impact. “Having it on the street adds realism,” Mr. Juntti said. Shattered Dreams has only been in existence for four years and many students believe that this tradition

should continue. Recently, Mr. Juntti has made the decision that Shattered Dreams will be back this year, and the juniors and seniors will be able to see it from an up close view. “It’s tough to do it before homecoming and the earliest it would happen would be before Spring Break in January or February,” Juntti said.

NEWS

Friday October 18, 2013

The Oracle

OMG, You Guys

“Legally Blonde” cast and crew hard at work

Emily Fishman The fine arts hallway is overrun with pink. Glitter is everywhere. Loud pop music can be heard blaring from the theater until late in the evening. The scene can only be described as organized chaos. Whether they are performing on the stage or working tirelessly behind the scenes, the cast and crew of “Legally Blonde” are getting excited for the show. One of the hardest numbers in the show, “Whipped Into Shape,” requires the ensemble, plus senior Alli Klasing, who plays the work-out guru and accused murderer Brooke Windham, to perform complicated jump rope choreography while belting the upbeat song. Since early September, students in the Playhouse have been getting whipped into shape to perform challenging numbers like this one. “It’s really rough, but it’s a

good time. We get to do cool tricks with the jump ropes

can just kind of do, but when you have to focus on singing and sounding good is when it gets d i f f i c u l t ,” Klasing added. It has all been a bit hectic for sophomore Anna Langlois, who plays Serena, one of the leaders of the Greek Chorus. This is her first GETTING SERIOUS • Juniors Tucker May and time in the Ashley Karolys, in character as Emmett Forrest and cast of a PlayElle Woods, rehearse for “Legally Blonde.” Photo by house proNatalie Broussard. duction. “It goes crazy that are all in sync. It’s going fast, but I’m having a blast. to look really awesome. We Even though it’s whipping my work out to train for it every- butt, it’s really fun,” Langlois day and we do 500 jumps be- said. fore rehearsals,” Klasing said. It’s been butt-whipping for If the jump roping alone juniors Emily Lindsey and sounds like a lot, imagine do- Ashley Karolys as well. The ing it while singing. role of Elle Woods has been “The jump roping alone you double cast this year due to

the enormous strain the challenging role would put on just one actress. It is rare for there to be a moment of the show when Elle is not on stage. The perky blonde sorority girl will be portrayed by both Lindsey and Karolys, each performing four shows. Lindsey is loving the opportunity to portray such a large role. “Playing Elle Woods is so fun because she’s such an interesting character. She has so may deep personality traits that go beyond the surface. She’s blonde, but she’s also really smart and determined,” Lindsey said. Although Lindsey has been involved with Playhouse shows before, this is the hardest she’s ever worked on a part. “It’s a lot of time and a lot of singing and dancing, and just to be as likable as she is a challenge,” she said. “I’m basically called to every rehearsal.” Co-dance captain Collins Rush, a sophomore, is enthusiastic about the progress the cast has made so far.

“We rehearse everyday after school except for Fridays from 3:30 to about 6:15 and most Sundays too,” Rush said. The countless hours of rehearsals seem to be paying off . “I think it’s going really well. We have a lot of the dances down and we’re doing vocals and just learning new stuff everyday,” Rush said. Behind the scenes, the crew has been very busy. Legally Blonde is a very difficult show for the crew, and the whole department is determined to do it well. They’ve been working long hours to finish sets, install and program lights, fit costumes, and gather props. “As the stage manager, it’s my job to make sure the crew does everything on time and that the show goes well,” senior Emily Wissel said. “This show is really challenging technically, and the sets are going to be one of the hardest parts. It’s all worth it in the end, though.” Participating in crew is often a thankless job, but the cast members of Legally Blonde

are certain that the people backstage are doing a great job. “(The crew) has a really hard job and I respect them so much for being able to do that, because I probably couldn’t,” Rush admitted. It all sounds like a lot of work, but for those involved, it is completely worth all time spent on the production. Putting on a memorable show means putting in the work, and the finished product speaks volumes to the dedication and the passion of the students in the Playhouse. “It’s so much fun, and it’s totally worth it. Once we get it all together and everything is done it’s going to be amazing,” Langlois said. Lindsey shares the sentiment. “It’s 100 percent worth it. I’m having the time of my life. I can’t wait for people to see the show,” she said. Legally Blonde is showing Oct. 24 - 27 and Nov. 1-2. Tickets and more information can be found at shsplayhouse.org.

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Friday October 18, 2013

The Oracle

Breaking the Cycle

L i l ’ L e e sy

Principals open up about their past with alcoholic parents

Jordyn Waterson Santiago Rombado

At school, his teachers knew of his strife at home, and He felt safe at school. Safe, helped him cope with his because he felt like a regular mother’s problem. Juntti’s teachers led him to kid. But his life was anything the field of education, which but regular. appealed to him because he Christopher Juntti’s mother could make an impact on was an alcoholic, and he sufkids’ lives just as his teachers fered from both verbal and impacted his. physical abuse throughout At this year’s his childHo mecomhood and ing dance, adolescence. multiple stuHe lacked dents were a motherly c a u g h t figure, and drinking. when his parHaving lived ents divorced with an alduring his coholic famsenior year in ily member high school, in his past, he truly felt Juntti took motherless. the issue very Young Juntti seriously, and was forced to spent the find a mothnight dealing erly figure to All Photos by Gil Sanchez with the stufill the void. dents, rather than getting to A family friend eventuenjoy the Homecoming fesally became Juntti’s stand-in tivities. mom.

In order for students to fully comprehend the magnitude of alcoholism, it is important that authority figures share their experiences and keep track of students’ unhealthy habits or choices on school campus. Drinking and driving is a leading cause of teen deaths, and no matter how many videos are played during Spartan time or Shattered Dreams is acted out, some students will still choose to put their own life and the lives of drivers around them in danger. As an administrator, Juntti has been able to relate to students facing problems or situations similar the ones he encountered as a youth. “It was at another school,” Juntti said. “It was a young man whose mother was also struggling with substance abuse, so we connected.” After the student graduated, he joined the military, got married, and later came to visit Mr. Juntti along with his

first child. Juntti is not the only Stratford administrator that has dealt with an alcoholic family member in their past. Associate principal Danny Gex was only in sixth grade when his father passed away as a result of his alcohol addiction. Gex was constantly verbally abused by his father. Curse words were offered as readily as greetings. Gex doesn’t have very many memories of his dad, other than the times he would be unconscious on the couch or drunkenly angry. When Gex was only 11, his father was taken away by “the people in white”. They put Gex’s father in rehab for his third time before

he passed away at Memorial Hermann Hospital due to an alcohol related seizure. Gex, had a difficult childhood, having to grow up at a very young age. At eight years old, he was throwing newspapers on peoples’ lawns, and at sixteen was busing tables at a restaurant. Much like Juntti, Gex was left to fill the hole left by his alcoholic father. Juntti and Gex grew up in different homes with different people, but the presence of alcohol abuse led to similarities in their passion to prevent students from making deadly substance-related mistakes.

Shaina Nails

“Experience the higher standard” 281-558-4266

14520-E Memorial Drive week Houston, Texas 77079

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Mon-Sat: 9am-7pm (Same shopping center as HEB Pantry) Sun: 11am-5pm Discount for Teachers and Students if you show your I.D. Mani Pedi $30! Do 9 Pedicures and get the 10th Pedicure for free!

Here I am, an eighteen year old senior ready as ever to go to college. Come to think of it, this time next year I will be a freshman in college, hopefully at UT, beginning the rest of my forever. However, it seems that my parents are dwelling over the fact that it’s my last year in their household. I get it. I mean, I am their one and only child, and their lives since I’ve been alive have revolved around me and my activities. I know that sounds a little pretentious, but it’s true. My mother has begun to cry, often muttering, “this is your last first day of team camp”, “this is your last first day of school”, or “this is your last first day of season games.” I began to get annoyed with the constant crying, but two weeks ago, I was reminded of someone I would miss way more than both of my parents combined. Sept. 17 marked my dog Tinkerbelle’s ninth birthday. Since she is getting older, I decided to spend my hard earned cash on stairs for her so she is able to get up on my bed. While I was ordering them online, my mother told me to order two. Of course, I asked her why, and she replied saying “Well Elyse’, this time next year, Tinkerbelle will be sleeping with me.” That one sentence was the undoing of me. As I looked into my dog’s big brown eyes thinking of how much I would miss her when I leave next year, I bawled my eyes out. No more barks when I arrive home. No more licks on the face. No more cuddling in bed or on the sofa. Life as I know it will be no more. So I say to you, my fellow seniors who are taking your last year at home for granted, don’t forget your loving furry friends that you will be leaving behind in college.

NEWS

Friday October 18, 2013

The Oracle

SPARTANS ‘SCOUT’ OUT SUCCESS

Students Exemplify Theme of ‘Working Towards Our Future’ Eagle Builds Dog Park

Junior David Humphrey completed his Eagle Project this August, after over 180 hours of planning and labor. For his Eagle project, Humphrey built a dog p a r k for the Humphrey Buckingham Senior Living community. Humphrey chose the project because it would provide Buckingham residents a close-by, convenient place to take their furry friends. It was an extensive process

to get from beginning to end. Meetings, design plans, and resident approval were just a few of the steps David had to take before he could start the project. Following approvals, Humphrey had to raise funds for the materials needed to construct the dog park. After several donations from friends and family, David was almost ready to get down to work. On a hot, sunny August morning, Humphrey and a team of friends and fellow

troop members began the project. The project took two days to complete, and his hard work paid off. The residents immediately fell in love with the dog park,. Humphrey is a member of Troop 642, and has been involved in Scouting since Cub Scouts. Throughout his years in Scouting, he has gained invaluable skills and leadership experience that will benefit him lifelong. Humphrey will receive his Eagle award at an upcoming Eagle Court of Honor.

Government Let Down

Sophomore Mariam Khaldoon has earned her Gold Aw a r d , t h e highest award one can in Girl Scouting. But the prestiKhaldoon gious award was not earned without Khaldoon’s hard work. Khaldoon completed a project that established an English tutoring program for 20 Spanish speaking 4th graders at Berry Elementary. The students in the program

Congress makes one of their most embarrassing mistakes yet Connor Jones

In less than 24 hours, thousands of workers across the country went from receiving steady paychecks to absolutely nothing as a result of the United States Government shutting down after a prolonged standstill between the two sides of Congress. The Republican House and the Democratic Senate failed to enact an economic plan for the 2014 fiscal year, including the funding of The Affordable Care Act commonly referred to as Obama Care, though the act did take effect on Oct. 1. The ACA is a public option for citizens to enroll themselves and their families in a government-run healthcare plan. The Act reduces healthcare prices over time, allows children to remain under their parents’ plan for an increased year count from 21 to 26 years old before having to be removed from the plan, and it prohibits healthcare providers from withholding services from patients based

on religion, gender, or sexual orientation. But while ACA has been a relief to some citizens, the shutdown has been a major concern for all, and especially for federal workers. All across the country, federal workers have been furloughed, or laid off temporarily, as a result of the shutdown. Not only have work forces decreased but funding has either been cut in half or completely. NASA has seen its workforce cut down by 75%, leaving only a skeleton crew to oversee all operations. A more tragic effect of the shutdown occurred when the families of four soldiers killed in Afghanistan learned that because of the shutdown they would be unable to receive “death gratuity” or payment for the services of their soldier relatives. However, as of Oct. 9, the House of Representatives has voted unanimously to restore the military death benefits to the families. The negative effects of the

shutdown are felt across the country as Museums and National Parks have closed completely, not allowing any admission whatsoever. While this may seem like a small matter, it could have drastic consequences for tourism and income rates. To combat this, some state governments have reopened the parks and museums, paying for the cost themselves so that the attractions will be available to the public. After several weeks, the shutdown could start to affect the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), meaning that our national income, and consequently, our economy, would begin to get worse. If this continues to happen, the government won’t be able to pay off the massive debt and will enter a state of insolvency, meaning the debtor won’t be able to pay off their debts. The key people involved in the shutdown are President Obama (D), Senate majority leader Harry Reid

(D), and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R). Ultimately, the impact of the shutdown will be decided by whether or not these men will be able to come to an agreement. Given the intense partisan nature of the government as of late, a compromise seems less and less likely. Two weeks after the shutdown went into effect, Congress finally passed a bill that averted this crisis for at least a couple of months. This was done in the final hours of Oct. 16 and will at least keep the government doors open until the first of next year. Whatever the outcome of the shutdown is, there won’t be a clean-cut solution for some time and the members of Congress will still receive pay despite the thousands of federal workers who are unsure of how to earn income. Those workers are now scheduled to receive their back pay; however, it is not clear if the contract workers will receive the same compensation.

Sophomore Goes Gold

had difficulty transitioning from Spanish to English due to their all-Spanish education in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. The project improved the students’ reading and writing levels, and provided them with everyday strategies to use in their classes. It also helped to provide support to students for STAAR testing. Khaldoon led a team of 6 to tutor the students in small groups. The project totaled over 80 hours, and gave

Khaldoon leadership skills that will benefit her for years to come. The program was not just a one-time project. The tutoring program has been placed on the St. John High School community service website and will be sustained beyond Mariam’s involvement. Khaldoon will be attending a statewide ceremony in Austin, Tx. in June, where she will be presented with her Gold Award.

News In 90 Seconds Costumes permitted on Halloween Students who bring a canned good on Oct. 31 will be allowed to wear Halloween costumes to school. Costumes must follow dress code. Canned goods will stay here and benefit this community.

Orchestra students make Regionals

Photo by Natalie Broussard Eight orchestra students earned spots in Regionals. Congratulations to Jamie Song, Sean Winata, Yuna Kim, Wilson Hui, Nasr Sheikh, Kevin Han, Annie Ye, and David Mogilevsky.

ACT and SAT Dates

Juniors: now is the time to take the SAT and ACT. This year’s dates are listed below. Register at collegeboard.org and actstudent.org SAT: Nov. 2, Dec., 7, Jan. 25, March 8, May 3, June 3 ACT: Dec. 14, Feb. 8, April 12, June 14

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Friday October 18, 2013

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Brenda Venable Reality

Serving the Houston are for more than 20 years! Offering sales, leasing and managgment: Cell: 832-419-2513 Home: 713-465-3175 Email: venable1@sbcglobal.net

MUSE

Friday October 18, 2013

MUSE

From Page to Screen next year’s sequel movie up in the air. Emily Fishman

Many readers dream of seeing their favorite books come to life in the movies. However, some bookto-movie adaptations of today’s popular titles have not done well at the box office, drawing criticism from reviewers and readers alike. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, books adored by readers all over the world, was adapted into a movie released this summer. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie was a huge let-down for fans of the series and did not impress film critics, leaving the fate for

“It was disappointing for people who had read the book and were expecting a better interpretation,” said junior Anna Powell. Likewise, fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson book series were let down by the second movie in the saga, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. Although better than the first movie, fans were still upset over the changed story lines and interpretation of the characters. “The new Percy Jackson movie was awful,” junior Kylen ChenTroester said. “My friends and I made fun of the inaccuracies.” There are many movies set to pre-

The Oracle

Countdown

miere this year that are based on popular books for teenagers. However, not all promise to aggravate die-hard fanatics of the original story. “I’m excited about the next Hunger Games movie, Catching Fire. The first one was really good, and I think they stayed true to the books,” said junior Keeley Flynn. The movie premieres on November 22, and is sure to draw huge crowds. There are many opinions on how to adapt an popular novel into a movie, but the general consensus is to involve the authors more. “The authors should have more say. It’s their book after all,” said Powell.

Tweets of the Week Houston Hauntings

Graphic by Molly

Students venture to haunted houses around the city

Christi Gregory@christi_creme22 Couldn’t be happier. Best homecoming queen ever :) @katherine_ford Cameron Barnett@BAM_itsCAM

So proud of our boys tonight! Such a great game #spartanpride

Haley Wilson @hwil20

Best club ever! Love the young life family @stratfordyl Ashley Wood@ash_w00d

Got Andrew Luck’s economics book #nbd

Nikki Economides @NikkiE639 Walking down the hallway after school and some kid yells “oh my gosh it’s Nikki Economides!!! Hiiiii” uhhh hello? #CelebStatus Tweets compiled by Alex Milstead and graphic by Victoria Shin

Ashleigh Garrett Every Halloween students get excited for haunted house exhibits that open up around the Houston area. Popular houses include Phobia, Screamworld, and Nightmare on the Bayou which are all open during most regular week hours Wed. through Thurs. and late night hours Fri. and Sat. A lot of students consider Screamworld to be the scariest haunted house in Houston, because the majority of the actors and actresses are adults. Phobia, on the other hand, is popular because they hire teenagers to work for them, so many visit to see friends on the job. “Phobia is awesome and I am going to try, and get a job there next year,” sophomore Megyn Schrey said. To work at Phobia, you must be at least 16 years of age and you need to get

your parents to give you signed permission. Scaring people may seem like an easy job, however the hours are quite demanding; as an employee you have to work Fridays, Saturdays, and on Halloween night. Quite a few people are terrified of haunted houses. But if you think about it, all of the twisted and morbid scenarios are really just composed of actors. The actors actually cannot legally touch any visitors, making their presence a lot less up close and invasive. The Nightmare on the Bayou house, unlike any other Houston haunted house, prides itself on being the only Houston haunted house that is tormented by real ghosts. Of course such statements cannot be verified by anyone other than paranormal witnesses at the Party Boy location, but the idea of real ghosts present is quite

spooky. While haunted houses can be quite fun and entertaining, they are extremely expensive for the duration of each visit. Many cost between $35$50 for only 30 to 45 minutes. Some houses like Phobia charge less for individual “haunts” (they have eight separate exhibits) but each $13 house lasts for not near as long as the more expensive ones — roughly 15 to 20 minutes. If you want to visit a haunted house regardless of the expenses, it is a good idea to go with a large group of friends rather than alone or with one or two people. Many haunted houses offer a number of discounted ticket prices for large groups in attendance and more friends means that when things get scary you’ll have plenty of hands to hold on to.

MUSE

Friday October 18, 2013

Strange Scholarships

40 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT STRATFORD

Scholarships so different it will blow your mind Ashleigh Garrett

Stratford’s top organizations share their secrets Ashley Karolys Molly Richter

ter” gifts all year round.

T h e a t r e Thespian

President,

13.

pus

14.

Go off camfor practice.

Actually hard run a lot. 15. Practice everyday for over 2 hours. 16. Have to set up in the same place every game. 17. Next year, Varsity isn’t seniors only. work;

Senior Hannah Lindsey 1. Won a third of all the “Tommy Tune” Awards ever given. 2. In total, Stratford Thespians have raised a total of $43,242 for the Black Bucket Drive since 2008. 3. The cast for the winter musical starts rehearsing in the summer. 4. Hires a Broadway choreographer to choreograph for the shows. 5. Won “Best in State” at Thes- Graphic by Molly Richter pian Convention. 6. Before every show, the F o o t b a l l cast sits in a circle while Team Member, Junior each person wishes evJack Whitaker eryone to Break-a-leg. 18. Have specific shirts for Thursdays. S w i m m i n g 19. Has pracTeam Member, Junior tice 6 days a week. Tommy Rohleder 20. Practice on 7. There is no varsity un- t h a n k s g i v i n g . til the very end of the year. 21. On game days, the 8. Have a dry land members of the team practice before actu- don’t get to leave school. ally getting in the pool. 22. Best feeling is walk9. “Happy Fun ing on the field/runWeek!” Is the hard- ning through the sign. est week of the year. 10. Have Winter and S pa r ta n a i r e s Summer break practices. Colonel, Senior Jae

11. After Halloween, no

one is allowed to shave until competition.

Captain,Senior Nikki Economides 12. “Spirit Sisters” give their assigned “sis-

23.

Barroga

Only seniors can dress up on for pep-rallies. 24. Before Spring Show, the seniors give speeches saying goodbye. 25. Pull pranks on each other. 26. The girls dress up on Wednesdays.

27. Stay at school until midnight for Spring Show. 28. They have squads every year with a different theme. This year, Royalty.

T e a c h e r s Principal Juntti

29. Teachers have a spe-

cific dress code as well. 30. They’re given a jean pass to w e a r jeans on other days.

M o s t teachers are coaches or sponsors for clubs.

3 2 . Teachers stay

working until 6 working on lesson plans. 33. Almost no teacher has the whole summer off.

N e w s pa p e r 34.

The Oracle

There are deadlines every Friday until the paper comes out. 35. Students work on articles during the summer. 36. Some students go off campus to sell ads or take pictures. 37. The Staff is required to wear their designated shirts on the day the paper comes out. 38. The staff brainstorm their own ideas for articles. 39. There are rules as to what can and cannot be written in the paper. 40. There is a great diversity of the students on staff, such as Cheerleaders, Thespians and football players.

Everyone has been told that there are varieties of abundant scholarships out there and students just need to search for them. There are also unique scholarships out there that defy the standards of what a scholarship “should” be. There is a scholarship for making greeting cards for students, according to scholarship.com, and students in high school may enter in the contest by designing a front cover for a greeting card covering anything from Christmas to get well soon cards. The grand prize winner wins a 10,000 dollar grand prize. This interesting scholarship has an incredible opportunity for students to actually enjoy scholarships instead of writing a ton of essays. “I would have never thought there would be a scholarship for greeting cards out of all things.” Said junior Amanda Hinaosa Among others there is a scholarship for making student’s whole prom attire out

of duct tape. Yes, duct tape. This contest, though unique, has its benefits anyone may enter and all you need is one color photograph (professional or amateur) of the couple together in prom attire. Each individual’s full name, address, telephone number, e-mail address (if applicable), age/ grade level, and the name of the city that student lives in are required to enter. They also need to sign a release form signed by each individual and, if a contestant is a minor, that individual’s parent or guardian will be able to sign it. The name, address, and telephone number of the high school, or home school association, which is hosting the prom, and the date the prom was held must also be supplied. For more information go to duckbrand.com. Yet another compelling scholarship is The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) Scholarship Contest, which is open to any high school seniors in the United

Sudoku

States. If the senior wishes to further their education at a college or a university or certified trade school in the United States. Also, homeschooled students may apply as long as your course of study is equivalent to that of a senior in high school. Unlike many traditional scholarship essay contests, the students will read an a essay not write one. To apply for this scholarship, students must go online and read a short essay about sprinklers and fire safety. After finishing the essay, they complete a 10-question quiz on what they just read. Each correct answer gives the student a chance at winning one of 10 $2,000 scholarships, and there are 10 chances per entrant. You can’t go wrong with this scholarship! This is an easy way for seniors to get a scholarship, and they can never have too many of those. Check Junnti’s tweets regularly for more scholarship information and updates.

MUSE HALLOWEEN THROWBACK 8

Friday October 18, 2013

Graphics by Daviana Wylie

1 PRINCESS MARY KATE• (1) Senior Mary Kate Goss recreates her glory days as a princess with a beautiful cone hat. Photos courtesy of Mary Kate Goss. CLOWNING AROUND• (2) Senior Zach Miller clowns around for old times sake. Photos courtesy of Cynthia Miller. LADY AND THE LAMP• (3) Senior Eila Motley lights up once again in her very original lamp costume. Photos courtesy of Eila Motley.

The Oracle

SPORTS Fan Frenzy Overload

The Oracle

Friday October 18, 2013

4 2

Coac h Fav er

Q: What sport/ position do you coach and how long have you been coaching it?

A: In football, I coach the defensive line (3 years) and the punters/kickers (7 years). I am also the assistant coach in baseball.

Q: What is your background in football?

A: I played at Kingwood High, earning 1st Team All District (offense) and 2nd Team All District (defense) my senior year. I went on to play defensive back and running back at Rhodes College, where I earned 1st Team All Conference honors for two years. I then coached Safeties and Running Backs for two years at La Grange College, where I was part of building the program, and went on to break NCAA DIII history for greatest turn-around, going from 0-20 for the first two years to 9-2 in the third.

Q: What goals have you set for your team, and how do you push them to reach their potential?

A: Get better everyday individually, but mostly as a team to win a district title and make it deep into playoffs. I make them believe and take ownership. The guy next to you is depending on you to do your job to the best of your ability.

Q: What has been your best memory while being a Stratford Spartan?

A: The Pearland Dawson playoff game last year at Reliant. Our players gave it their all and left it on the field. Story by Elyse’ Stieber

THE

DOMINATING THE STANDS • (1) Mascot Abigail White (12) greets future Spartans in the Tully stands. (2) Terrance Peters’ fan club shows off their custom-made T-shirts. (3) McGregor Dalton (12), Matthew Quintana (11), and Bradley Bates (12) cheer on the football team after an exciting play. (4) Seniors line the front of the stands at Tully each home game. “Games are more fun as a senior because you know more people on the team and you get more into the game. It really brings people together,” senior Makayla Lara said. Photos 1-3 by Rebecca Williamson. Photo 4 by Katherine Kennedy

SCHEDULE Football:

10/18 vs. Northbrook @ Tully 7:00 p.m. 10/25 vs. Willowridge @ Tully 7:00 p.m. 11/1 @ Tomball 7:00 p.m. 11/8 vs. Ridge Point @ Tully 7:00 p.m.

Volleyball:

10/18 vs. Northbrook @ SHS 6:00 p.m. 10/22 @ Willowridge 6:00 p.m. 10/25 vs. Tomball @ SHS 6:00 p.m. 10/29 @ Ridge Point 6:30 p.m.

Cross Country:

10/22 District @ Spring Creek Park 9:00 a.m. 11/2 Regionals @ Atascocita HS 8:00 a.m. 11/9 State @ Round Rock 8:00 a.m.

Tennis:

10/18 Bi-District @ SHS 3:00 p.m. 10/22 Area @ SHS 3:00 p.m. 10/25 Regional Quarterfinals @ SLHS 8:00 a.m. 10/26 Regional Finals @ Katy HS 8:00 a.m. 11/1-2 State @ UT Austin 8:00 a.m.

Grade: 12th Favorite Olympic Runner: Leo Manzano Favorite Run Song: “All I Do is Win” -DJ Khaled

Main Event:

Position: Right-Side hitter

Grade: 11th Pet Names: Tex Best Game: Kingwood

1600 Meter

Favorite Snack: Ice Cream

Best Time (mile): 4:28 Memorable Quote:

“Mental Toughness!” -Coach Brillon

Brian Quinlan Story by Elyse’ Stieber

Ashley Fritcher

Idol: Haley Eckerman

Favorite Restaurant: Zoe’s Kitchen/Harvest Grill

Memorable Quote: Joshua 1:9

Photos by Gil Sanchez

Graphic by Scott Kennedy

SPORTS

Friday October 18, 2013

The Oracle

Crossing the Finish Line Long post-season expected for men’s cross country team

The JV and freshmen nating with a fast-paced Layla Shahhosseini Already two months teams are making im- aerobic run. into the cross country provements as the sea“I think we have a season, the boys are son continues on. good chance of winning making a statement with “I think JV and fresh- regionals and will probtheir remarkable train- men have a pretty good ably be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd ing and performance. chance in district. Junior at the state meet,” sophCoach Tony Brillon varsity should be a little omore Igor Berranger believes that his team bit more competitive. said. will advance to the state The guys are still learnMeets are usually on meet. ing how to race and I Saturday mornings with “Assumthe occaing we don’t sional Frihave anyday meet thing maand one Some have never run before. Some jor happen, overnight [the boys] are doing what they should be do- meet per should be ing. And some of them are just try- season. ing to survive” heading up For ex-Coach Brillon to Austin ample, for the state having a meet—that’s meet on a to compete Saturday in, not to watch,” Brillon would like to see them would make the week said. a little more aggressive,” look quite demanding: The top seven fastest Brillon said. Mon: Aerobic Run runners on the team Freshman Devin Fa- Tues: Track Workout will compete on varsity hey is new to the Spring Wed: Aerobic Run for the district, regional, Branch district and is Thurs : Track Workout and state meet, but al- not accustomed to the Fri: Aerobic Run ternates will have to be intensity of training that Sat: Meet chosen. “We’ll have a high school cross coun- Sun: Long Run time trial at the end of try entails. “I think all the trainthe year to see who the “It’s not easy way of ing we’ve put in is defialternates will be,” Bril- training, but its probably nitely paying off,” junior lon said. the best way since we’re Douglas Baker said. “In high school you one of the top teams in The diet of a runner is work a lot, but in mid- state and it is all due to also very essential to dle school you do 74 Coach Brillon,” Fahey the training of a runner. seconds per lap at one said. Carbo loads are a huge time,” freshman Sam One of the things that part of the cross counEvetts said. they’re doing differently try season and imporPrime qualifying times is watching their times tant to provide energy must be under 16 min- more closely. “We’re to the boys. Two days utes to make an appear- increasing the intensity, before every meet, one ance as one of the top if they’re putting in the boy hosts a dinner at ten runners at state, and time we’re going to be his house that is coma couple of upperclass- better. We’ve decided prised of an assortment men are in that range. the finish line would be of pasta dishes. It also “I think we could even at state,” Brillon said. provides team bonding, have two guys in the top The practices through- and what Coach Brillon ten or top five at state,” out the week consist of calls, “mental toughBrillon said. a track workout alter- ness.”

“

SPORTS

Friday October 18, 2013

1 The

The Oracle

Seniors 2 Sports

Minutes: time spent by football coaches driving to and from away games at all levels, which amounts to 26 hours and 10 minutes

The fastest cross-country 5K, or 3.12 mile, time in minutes this year by Stratford runner Austin Richard

122

Fall

(1) Varsity volleyball lines up for introductions at the start of every game. At home games, they throw stress balls into the crowds to pump up the fans. (2) Juniors Ashley Fritcher and Charlotte Stevens block a hit against Ridgepoint as senior Meredith Burch prepares for the dig. The Spartans came back and won in five games. (3) Varsity huddles before a game with senior Jennifer Swanson leading in prayer. (4) Senior Jack Brice (81) carries the ball while senior Zach Miller (24) watches out for oncoming defenders. (5) Seniors Shawn Taylor and Caroline Baerg and junior Ashley Fritcher celebrate after a point scored against Ridgepoint. (6) Junior Riley Green (53) loses his helmet in a nine-person dog pile in the game against Marshall. (7) The Stratford defensive line faces off against Spring Woods’ offense in a shut-out, where the Spartans won 42-0. (8) The varsity football team breaks through the Tri Theta run-through sign before beating Marshall 24-6. Photos contributed by Alex Milstead, Scott Kennedy, Gil Sanchez, Rebecca Williamson and Maggie Vickers.

1570

15:43

Miles per hour: The fastest tennis serve recorded at Stratford, by Jibran Mohammadi in 2005- the world record is 144 mph

25 STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL

Years: the varsity tennis team has qualified for the fall season playoffs since 1986, which is over three-fourths of Stratford’s history

Get your senior yearbook ads now before time runs out! Pictures message, form & payment are due by Nov. 25 in room 228!

9TH, 10TH & 11TH graders

Didn’t get your school picture taken earlier this year or need a retake? Retakes will be Mon. Oct. 21 in the library during lunches only!

8 Congratulations to the Varsity Tennis team for being undefeated in district for the second year in a row! They have been ranked #11 in Texas by the Texas Tennis Coaches Association. This district win marks their 25th time to go to playoffs since 1986, placing either first or second each time in district.

Go Spartans!

Picture by Rachel Allen

Dr. Everett Renger ORTHODONTICS

Changing smiles. Changing faces. Changing lives. 9099 Katy Freeway, Suite 175 Houston, Texas 77024 713.461.5910 www.smilesbyrenger.com Contact our office to schedule your FREE consultation.

SPORTS

Scott Kennedy

The smell of stale cheese balls fills the air. The hot August sun beats down on sweaty faces. Anticipation. The room is abuzz as a group of teenagers play pretend. But this isn’t just some kid’s imagination kind of pretend, this is fantasy. Fantasy football. Even as school started, football fans were ready for the NFL season to begin, but not necessarily just to watch their favorite teams. With the start of the professional football season comes the start of a much less professional season played by fans of all ages: fantasy football. And now, in October, fantasy is in full swing. As popular as the interactive football game is, many people still don’t completely understand it. While there are many variations of the game, and leagues can get quite complex, fantasy football is generally pretty simple. Basically, fantasy football is a continuation of the child-like imagination inherent in people, except instead of toddlers with imaginary friends, kids and adults of all ages play

BIG NAMES HIGH STAKES

While “managers” create teams that are a thing of fantasy, the consequences of wins and losses can be quite real. This may be more true for sophomore Holton Hockaday than for anyone else. Hockaday, nephew of CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz, plays in a league with some of the nation’s lead broadcasters. Not only is Nantz in the league, but Hockaday says, “there are other people in CBS, like Phil Simms (retired Giants quarterback and current sportscaster), and the producer for the NFL is in the league, too.” As far as the money goes,

Friday October 18, 2013

with imaginary football teams. These teams are made up of real professional football players in the NFL, except with fantasy, people aren’t restricted to “playing” with only players of one team- they can pick and choose players from any team to create their own “dream team.” Like the real NFL, fantasy

leagues, which can include up to 16 teams (though usually include around eight to ten), conduct a preseason draft. In the draft, the “general managers” of each team take turns picking a quarterback, running backs, wide receivers, a tight end, a kicker, and an entire de“It costs about $200-$250 to get into the league, and the winner can get around $2,000.” Hockaday has been playing in the league for about four years, and won a few seasons back. While it’s difficult playing against people who know and understand so well the current football trends, Hockaday says, “It’s really fun because I learn a lot from their decisions, and they give me advice and all the updates for the players and injuries and everything.” While $200 or more as a “buy-in” is pretty uncommon, many leagues require members to put anywhere from $10-$50 in a pool that goes to the winner.

fensive squad. Most prefer a live draft, where players are manually drafted, but some teams are drafted by “auto-draft” which bases picks off of statistics. Once the teams are picked, the “games” begin. Most people play in headto-head leagues, where one team is matched up against another, and league rankings

Graphic by Scott Kennedy

are determined by teams’ win-loss ratios. Teams gain points in games when their players perform well. For example, generally 25 passing yards by a quarterback gains a team one point, and a touchdown earns six points. Individual leagues

Unique Leagues

When people think about fantasy football, they often think of it as a game for teenage guys. But that’s not always the case. Many adult men also play popular game. SHS Football coach Nathan Mesler has played in the same league with some of his friends for 10 years. While a profession in coaching real football might be expected to give him some sort of advantage, he says that in fantasy, “There are no similarities to coaching at Stratford.” Mesler, who checks his

The Oracle can set their point system up however they like it, and there are also many different types of leagues available to join for alternate experiences. Teams can also negotiate trades, drop and pick up players, and continue to mold their team throughout the season. Fantasy football has grown tremendously in the past decade, especially with the expansion of the internet and the recent ability to manage teams and leagues from a mobile device. Some fantasy leagues have high stakes, where each person puts a certain amount of money into the “pot,” which goes to the winner. Other leagues have some intense drafts, with team managers doing research and others going by superstitions. From the way people play, to the witty names they give their teams, fantasy football can differ greatly from league to league. The game of fantasy football is generally pretty simple, however; it’s a way for fans and friends to pit themselves against each other and get a taste a managing their own NFL team. roster twice weekly, had a strategy while drafting. “It is all about draft order. I got the first pick in the draft so I chose Adrian Peterson, and I decided to go with two Running Backs with my first two picks.” Mesler’s league also is unique in that not only is there a fee to enter the league, there is a fee for every time a player is added, dropped, or traded. Many men use fantasy football as a way to stay in touch with old friends. But not just men play it , there are some “girls only” leagues at Stratford, too.

Draft Days

Since managers have little control over their players, the draft is the main opportunity to get an edge on the competition. Some have detailed, well-researched strategies, while others just wing it. Many players, like Hockaday, use some sort of draft cheat to help them find the best players available, and some, like senior Louis Birdsong, take risks. “I like picking players who I feel are very hit or miss, not necessarily good.” For Birdsong, it didn’t turn out too well, “My team’s not very good, I’m not gonna win. I’m an upset team. I like to ruin seasons.” Some take a different approach; “I pick the best looking players, because if you look good, you feel good, and if you feel good, you play good, that’s my motto,” sophomore Clay Schnake said. Some leagues have a long draft, while others’ drafts are more casual. Birdsong’s draft was three hours long, on a Tuesday night. Sophomore Grant Lee’s draft was more surreptitious; “It was at like 10:00 at night, so my parents thought I was doing homework pretty late that night, but I was d r a f t ing.”

st be .” he yers t k la e pic p ak “I king Schn loo lay -C

Graphic by Victoria Shin

Talking Trash

Although they themselves have little influence on their players’ performances, sometimes managers resort to smack talk. While some play it classy, others enjoy the rivalry. “There’s a lot of smack talk,” senior Louis Birdsong said of his league. “We have an entire group chat dedicated to smack talk.” Others, like those in sophomore Jonas Yun’s league, also enjoy the trash talking aspect of the game. “We’re all friends and we all talk smack about it, and we really like to beat each other,” Yun said. Ironically, a little smack talk here and there can actually unite people. In Birdsong’s league, this happens through a common enemy. “There’s a lot of rivalries, mainly against Casey Gex and his team.”

ELAINE EXPLAINED

When I was little, I didn’t want to be the usual mermaid, princess, or a fairy when I grew up. I wanted to be an astronaut entomologist. That would be someone who studied bugs in space. Not only does that job not exist, but now bugs and space both freak me out. I think it’s kind of weird that people ask little kids what they want to be when they grow up. I guess it’s just to get a laugh out of their answers, but obviously kindergartners have no idea what they’re talking about. Now as I fill out college applications, I’m starting to be asked what I want to do with my life all over again. But this time I can’t say that I want to be a Barbie or a Power Ranger or even an astronaut entomologist. Sometimes it feels like I’m confined to petroleum engineering or accounting. But the truth is, I’m not. There’s nothing wrong with these fields, but a lot of my peers seem to be heading toward those careers with the sole intention of making money. I get why parents warn against going into the lesslucrative fields like creative writing or anthropology. I understand that if I want to be a museum curator, it’s unlikely I’ll be living next door to Oprah. But over the past few months, I have finally come to understand that I wouldn’t be satisfied doing something I hate for the rest of my life, even if I was making millions. That doesn’t mean I’m determined to be living in a shack doing some obscure job, but I think it’s important that kids realize that you don’t want a life that’s money-centered. If you love something, do it. Work hard and you’ll be successful.

OPINIONS

THE

Editors-in-Chief Kali Venable Elaine Parizot Associate Editors Layla Shahhosseini Elyse Stieber News Editor Justin Todes Muse Editor Ashley Karolys Ashleigh Garrett Sports Editors Scott Kennedy Kelly Hewitt Opinions Editors Claire Galbraith Maxine Tran Photo Editors Gil Sanchez Rebecca Williamson Katherine Kennedy Photographers Rebecca Meek Will Klussmann Cassidy Menard Michael Martin Philip Chen Maggie Vickers Alex Milstead Managing Editor Aldo Martinez Graphics Editor Victoria Shin Reporters Courtney James Emily Adams Emily Fishman

Friday October 18, 2013

RACLE Don’t Fix What Isn’t Broken Natalie Raley Staff Artists Molly Richter Claire Pena 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 Online Editors Janelle Blackwood Ben Fairchild Samantha Stazo Online Staff Jack Lin Jackie Velarde Bronwyn Wismer Rachel Torres Daviana Wylie Building Principal Christopher Juntti Advisor Janice Cummons

Apple developers introduce a complete redesign of their interface system Maxine Tran

annoyed and dejected. Rather than focusing on imAround 12 p.m. on Sept. 20, proving system bugs from the the school’s wifi experienced previous update, the software a serious lag due to a sudden developers focused primarincrease in activity from stuily on the visual aspect that dents downloading Apple’s didn’t really need changing. newly released iOS7. The basic utility icons that This highly anticipated upwere fine as is have date had milbeen completely lions of Apple redesigned. Many users counting criticize the new down to the design, comparing release date of them to childish the new interflashcards and even face system that Android’s interhad been ruface because of the mored to have bright cartoon-like undergone a appearance. complete transNot only did the formation. icons undergo a The iOS7 was major redesign, but expected to the fonts and keyhave old issues Out with the old...• board also received improved upon, The previous iOS6 interface a makeover. Apple but instead changed their stanmany Apple users were disdard font to something much appointed when they realized thinner and much smaller in that all they got were more size. Although it is visually colors, smaller fonts, and a appealing in a futuristic minfew new ringtone options. imalist way, it is incredibly If anything, the changes Apple did make were entirely inconvenient and unrealistic inconvenient and unneces- for daily use. The font size wasn’t the only sary. The highly anticipated thing to get smaller. The space update left people feeling

High School Expenses Choosing between essentials and experiences Aldo Martinez

Between homecoming, prom, the SAT, and college applications, the amount of money invested in these basic high school necessities seems to be extremely high. The sum of these costs are far beyond what the average student can afford. Most students don’t really think about the cost of events like homecoming. Being at the event with friends while having fun seems to make the night worth it, but is the night really worth a $20 ticket? Mums and garters are expensive but are fun to make and give to one’s friends and date. This festive tradition is a great way to show school spirit and make people feel special. However, when some cost over a

hundred dollars you can’t help but find the whole expense a little ridiculous. Many girls spend hundreds of dollars on their dress. As for dinner, meals usually run $70 for two. Assuming attends every dance of your high school career, you can be looking at thousands of dollars spent on dances, not even including prom. Clubs are another common expense for many students that add up quickly throughout the years. Many clubs charge dues to join. If these dues aren’t paid, then one’s eligibility to be part of the club is revoked. While the usual school costs can pile on for underclassmen, senior year is by far the most expensive year of high school.

The Oracle

As soon as applications open in August, seniors are expected to balance their time between college essays, school work, and their social life. Not only are the applications extremely time consuming, each one can cost up to $70. For students applying to nine or ten schools, the costs of getting a university to even consider your acceptance can near $1000. Seniors also get slammed by the $50 SAT and ACT fees. Then on top of the costs required by colleges, many seniors pay the Balfour company hundreds of dollars for graduation-related items. There’s no doubt that school related costs can become mind-boggling, but it’s up to the individual to make their experiences worth the money.

bar on the keyboard was cut What they did notice, nearly in half to make room was the significantly shortfor some rarely used symbols ened battery life, something that could be easily accessed that was already under heavy with the former keyboard. criticism. Perhaps the strangest most Along with these issues came concerning complaint the a number of other new small new update has received operating bugs on top of the is that it has been previous upmaking people sick, date’s problems and not because that have yet to of the amateur debe weaved out. signs. On the bright The new interface side of things, system has reportiOS7 does have edly been giving usits redeeming ers motion sickness qualities. caused by a new feaPopular ture formally know changes inas the “parallax efclude the adfect.” dition of the On the other hand, Itunes radio, the update did bring the flashlight new changes to the ..In with the new• The utility and the updated iOS7 interface operating system ability to close itself, but with these new not all of your apps at once, changes came new problems. but multiple ones at once. A recently added feature is If you’re one of the lucky ones the automatic application re- who haven’t updated their fresher that reloads your ac- Iphones yet, it is probably a tive applications periodically. good idea to pass on the iOS7 This change is virtually un- update and continue using detectable with the major- your user friendly interface ity of Apple users completely that majority of people prefer unaware of it. to the new one.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the Oracle Staff

OPINIONS

Friday October 18, 2013

The Oracle

Fashion Copycats: Caught in the Act

Big name clothing stores caught stealing designs from artists Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 are extremely popular stores amongst teens and young adults, and are the perfect place to get highly fashionable clothes for relatively good prices. However, would these stores be as popular if people knew they were stealing art? Yes, it is true that these fashion titans are taking designs from other companies, artists, and designers without their knowledge, but the worst part is that the robbed artists can’t even fight back. Recently, Forever 21 caught a bit of bad light because they put a design on a shirt that was taken off a young artist’s Tumblr page. The art work displayed a man on a mountain with the caption, “You can conquer anything.” Usually, having one’s art put on a T-shirt would seem like an accomplishment for any artist, but that is not the case when it is used without consent.

These artists find out they have been ripped-off when their designs are already being sold. A feeling of hurt and betrayal hits them as they realize that they’ve been robbed of their hard work and a huge pay check. For these artists, it has become impossible to defend themselves against these enormous companies who can afford top notch lawyers. Plus, any form of defense that the artists can use is usually paid out of pocket, which is almost always too much for them to afford. At the end of the scuffle, these artists are left with either less money than they had originally had, or an insignificant amount of compensation for their art. There is a fleeting sense of injustice in these court rooms when the innocent are punished and the guilty walk away scot free. Forever 21 has been sued more than 50 times for alleg-

A Horrifying Flop A decline in quality horror films Natasha Eades

As the temperature begins to drop, most people enjoy retreating to their couches and popping in a scary movie to suit the haunting atmosphere of October. There are, of course, the natural scary movie preferences: slasher, zombie, paranormal, action-thriller, and perhaps the occasional spoof movie, which is bound to provoke a laugh or two. However, with technology advancing ceaselessly, are producers and writers of the film industry heading in the right direction, or are horror movies losing their scare factor? How do scary movies from — say, the 80’s — compare to the horror films of the 21st century? Looking at official movie ratings, there is a pattern in the majority of 80’s movies receiving approximately seven to

eight stars. Some notable films of the decade being The Shining (8.5/10), The Thing (8.2/10), and A Nightmare on Elm Street (7.5/10). What’s even more interesting is that the producers of the 80‘s weren’t equipped with all the technology we have today — Walkmans, CGI, personal computers, and cable television were just being introduced to the world during this time. With the high-tech appliances and flashy graphics we have at hand, you’d think horror films would have the best ratings yet, surprisingly this is not the case. There is a serious lack of a stable plot in recent movies and it is reflected in their ratings. Mama, released in 2013, only received 6.3 out of 10 stars; The Purge (2013), a meager 5.5/10, and Chernobyl Diaries (2012), a sorry 5.0/10. What’s with the low rat-

edly stealing the work of other designers and passing it off as their own. The chain has never lost one of these cases in court and at worst receives a minor

Graphic by Victoria Shin

Claire Galbraith

slap on t h e wrist. If any company takes a design from another designer and uses it as there own, it is called fashion piracy. Fashion piracy also includes taking images off the internet, and tweaking the work of others

ings, Hollywood? Have movie producers of the 21st century become too dependent on the skills of the graphics team, neglecting to actually manage a screamworthy film? Are special effects and high-definition gore the new crutch of the film industry? When people go out to see a scary movie, they expect to be biting their nails and clinging to the edge of their seats, not bored out of their mind. It’s is that even some of Hollywood’s most noteworthy producers can’t even create a quality horror film without drowning it in special effects. Unfortunately, with the recent influx of mediocre horror films, veteran scary movie fans might have to turn to romantic comedies, action and science fiction films as their new source of weekend film entertainment.

slightly then calling it their own. Some cases do however have a decent ending. Urban Outfitters was caught in the act not too long ago for selling necklaces that read “I Heart Destination” which were actually designed by Stevie Koerner. Koerner produced her own line of pendants reading “A World Of Love” two years prior to this incident. After extensive arguing, Urban was forced to take the necklaces off the shelf. Yet, they still denied stealing in the first place because their design was slightly different. This “copycat” designing is easier to get away with because of the little adjustment that these companies do to prove that the designs are not completely the same. Both Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 are notorious for this. They will take another de-

signer’s outfit, make it look slightly different, then sell it in their store and claim that it is an “original” design. This is entirely cheating the system, because it is just an easy way to rip off other people’s work without getting into a major lawsuit. Outraged customers are beginning to protest against these stores. By not buying anymore of the companies products, these customers are hoping their message will be heard loud and clear. This doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t shop at their favorite stores, instead, they should be more cautious of what they’re buying and where it might of come from. Hope is not lost for the victims of art theft. By making the public aware and taking action through boycotts or protests, people can put a stop to these companies that forge the artwork others make. Eventually, with everyone’s participation, the safety of these artists’ master pieces will be restored.

Do you have something to say? Do you want to state your opinion on something? We need your letters to the Editor Submit to:

thestratfordoracle@gmail.com

or Room 120 or Mrs. Janice Cummons’ Mailbox in the main office

*All letters must be signed and may be edited for space

Kali Venable

HOW TO EAL D

Lately I feel like everything I create is stolen from someone else or like nothing I do will ever be seen as truly original. With a language that’s centuries old, how can I possibly find a new way to structure words or to get my point across when thousands of people with the same goal came before me? Each sentence feels like a test I know I will fail no matter how hard I study, each metaphor is cliche and the diction reads like a piece of tinfoil that leftovers have been wrapped up in one too many times. I know I’m not the only one who feels compelled to make myself stand out, given that the Internet has made being unique a necessary skill for success. But every time I sit down at the key board I have a pressure weighing on my shoulders to make my work innovative or revolutionary. My writing comes from a variety of influences — authors, photos, art, and movies — how can I not be taken by so much beauty? Recently I tried to read less and notice less work in hopes that when I go to write there will be no mimicking or no source you can trace back to something else. In turn, such isolation from the work of others just seems to make feel unhappy and unfulfilled. I am beginning to realize that our work will always be influenced by other things we felt something through, no matter how talented and one of a kind we may be. It is the combination of influences and experiences that make our recollection unique. I don’t want to rid myself of everything I see in others work, because it is their insight that inspires me to share my own.

OPINIONS

Friday October 18, 2013

Stabbing With Words

Women are not the only gender facing social pressures

Verbal weapons are just as dangerous

Gil Sanchez

When we were children, we all heard the saying “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. We would say it to makes us feel better, but deep inside we all knew that words could hurt just as badly as any physical pain. Today as we roam the halls we hear our peers being called ‘fags’, ‘sluts’, ‘skanks’, and much more. The people receiving the hate are often left alone to defend themselves. It’s almost as if the person delivering the hate isn’t punished at all. We all hear it, but we choose not to do anything about it. It’s like we’ve given up on the delinquents, allowed them to bully the innocent. Slurs are often openly said in gaming networks like the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, as people are in an open environ-

ment with little to no moderators, making it a breeding ground for slurs of all kind. Today if you were to break the gaming social norm and defend someone who was receiving slurs, instead of support for your efforts, you and the stranger would receive all kinds a insulting language. But don’t think its only the delinquents and the gaming community- It’s everyone. We have come to the point where we are not thinking about what we say, and what the consequence s a r e . W h e n we openly call someone retarded, we don’t know if they might actually have some type of medical conditions, or if they have a family member that has a condition There was a case in South Carolina where a student

Christmas in the Fall

It keeps coming earlier and earlier

Maxine Tran

The air is crisp, pumpkins are scattered about, and all around crimson leaves fall to the ground. So why is it that the first things you see when walking into nearly any department store, are Christmas lights and Santa Claus? A recent marketing trend has stores of every kind putting Christmas paraphenlia on display in the fall. Over the years store marketers have begun their Christmas campeigns increasingly earlier. Christmas has always been the most lucrative holiday for the retail industry. It is the hopes of theses stores that by preematively beginning their Christmas seasons that they will maximize their already large profit. Although this has become a common occurence , recently it has worsened to the point that Christmas treees are more readily available than pumkins , even in the dead of October. Not only is this ridu-

clous but it is also hazardous to societal values. Even though Chritstmas does emphasize countless great attributes, they are often overlooked. Commercially, Christmas is a holiday that is concentrated on material gain, and in a society that is already under heavy criticism for being too materialistic, a strong focus on Christmas may not be the best idea. This obsession over the holiday only perpetuates society’s earthly mindedness . On the other hand holiday’s like Thanksgiving celebrate the characteristics of humility and thanks and would be much more beneficial to societal values. Other than being utterly ridiculous , this widespread issue is actually financially harmful to the stores that practice it. By focusing both their efforts and their finances centerally on Christmas, stores are glancing through true fall holidays such as Thanks-

All Hail the Masculine Men

The Oracle

received gay slurs from his own math teacher. The teacher would openly call him “Gay” or “Gay Boy” in class, and would tell his classmates that he had a homosexual relationship. The student then became so pschologically and emotionally overwhelmed that he attempted suicide by hanging himself. This whole situation could have been avoided. Just think about what you’re going to say people, if it’s not nice, don’t say it at all. Don’t use excuses like ‘Oh, they’re my friend, so they know that I’m joking’. But both your friend and you know that you weren’t joking at all. If we all vow to stop profiling, to stop labeling, and to stop bashing people with slurs. Then we can put a stop to all the feelings that get hurt, all the friendships that get ruined, and all of the suicides caused by hate. Graphic by Molly Richter.

giving and Halloween. In doing this, they are losing an exponential amount of potential profit that could be gained if they allow each respective fall holiday its own time. Not only does this undermine the importance of fall holidays but it also makes Christmas something less anticipated. In past years people have looked forward to Christmas and all that it brings for months and months, but with stores beginning the Christmas season months before, Christmas has lost that special feeling. This preemative jump on Christmas cheapens it and makes it that less special. Stores beg for this attention when it’s supposed to be about other current holidays, causing their time and money to eventually be lost. What they don’t know is that they will benefit if they take this into consideration and slow down to enjoy and celebrate each and every holiday with their customers.

Kali Venable

We often hear about the pressures women face in today’s mass-media society. However, it seems that the pressures the media puts on men has gone unacknowledged or in some cases flat out ignored for quite sometime. From an early age men are taught to pursue “masculine” interests. These interests often appear in the form of athletic pursuits such as football, baseball or basketball. Hollywood has made the “typical guy” out to be this athletic and violent man, when in reality the majority of guys don’t fit such a narrow stereotype. Ever seen a movie where the kid who was on the debate team, collected comics or involved himself in the newspaper was anything but a los er? Didn’t think so. These predetermined assumptions h a v e

shunned those with interests other than what is expected and in turn made their selfesteem plummet. Not only are men raised on the idea that “masculine” activities are the only ones worth engaging in, but they are also brought up with the understanding that men don’t show emotions. This hold-it-all-in philosophy can be extremely dangerous given that bottling up feelings has negative effects

on both physical and mental health. Many years ago, the medical psychology field discovered that the mind and the body are not separate. Therefore, when one keeps negative feelings stacked up in their mind, it can have negative impacts on their body. You think that it would be easy to let go, defy the stereotypes and be your own person who’s real, raw and unreserved. But with the claustrophobic box that media places men in, such a notion hardly ever becomes reality. In recent years, the ideal man has begin to evolve into a being that is more closely related to the men we observe in everyday life. Yet, this image is almost worse than the previous because it mocks those who choose to purs u e the interests that were shunned in earlier days by idolzing cliche ideals of them.

For instance, in the past decade or so, the entertainment industry has made male nerds into mass sex symbols. Shows like “The Big Bang Theory,” and “Glee,” feature main characters in plaid clothes, thick framed glasses and piles of textbooks then

manipulate the scripts to turn them into every female viewer’s dream crush. Perhaps these superficial characters aren’t created exactly in such a manner, but the point is all the same. Just because someone dresses a certain way or participates in certain activities doesn’t mean they fit into any judgemental box that we as a globe have created. To be quite honest, all of these cookie-cutter ideals can’t be applied to real-life beings because everyone defies stereotypes through individual existence. In that sense, idolizing false male stereotypes rather than discriminating against them is just as bad. Doing so puts people who “appear” to fit those stereo types in awkward positions that make them question the authenticity of their own personality or lifestyle. For instance, guys who dress a certain way or act a certain way can suddenly be found appealing by people who don’t like them for their true self, but rather for the stereotype the media has created and dropped them into according to clichés such as clothing or hobbies. The really ironic thing, is that gender discrimination comes down to the same principle in both men and

women. If gender stereotypes continue to be broadcast and idolized through the media and in turn rule the streets, than people might never be able to feel truly free. Allowing both genders to find their true self will help all of us in the end.

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