Photo by Katherine Kennedy
Homecoming Dining p. 4 Photo by Katherine Kennedy
Stratford High School
THE Volume 41, Issue 2
O
Homecoming Spirit is in the Air
Sports Schedule p. 10
Photo by Aldo Martinez
To Mum or Not to Mum p.15
14555 Fern Drive, Houston TX 77079
RACLE
Friday, September 28, 2012
Arrival of Austin City Limits
Fans of all music genres get a taste of a highly anticipated festival Kali Venable
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On Oct. 12, thousands of people from all over the country will pack their bags and head for the rolling hills of Zilker Park in Austin, TX. Greeted by sunny weather and the one of a kind Austin atmosphere this music loving group of people will take part in experiencing Texas’s largest music festival-Austin City Limits (ACL). Complete with eight different stages and a countless number of popular acts, the festival will last until Oct. 14. Austin City Limits brings people from unique ethnic backgrounds together in an unexplainable atmosphere. Selling out in a matter of days, ACL is not just any average music festival. While the line up always consists of many well-known and loved acts, there are also a few hidden treasures thrown in here or there. There isn’t anything people like more than discovering new music to jam out to. Through the rare clash of artists, finding a fresh favorite to get hooked on is almost a guarantee. Aside from
the underground bands, ACL is well known for its superb food. It is a given that Austin has some of the best restaurants in Texas, so it is no surprise that Austin City Limits has a selection o f deli-
cious eats to chow down on. Some of the crowd favorites include Guero’s Taco Bar, Pureheart, The Salt Lick, Amy’s Ice Cream, HOPE Farmers Market, and the Seedling Truck. With such a variety of choices, everyone is sure to find something they will like. Costing up to $400 or more for
a three-day pass, an ACL ticket is not in everyone’s price range. However, if you ever get the chance to experience this memorable weekend, don’t hesitate to hop in the car and head to the Texas capital. From the fantastic line up of endless music, the variety of noteworthy food and the diverse group of music lovers a music festival truly can’t get much better than Austin City Lim-
its. For information on tickets, showtimes, parking, hotels, food, youth activities and more visit the ACL festival website at aclfestival.com Graphic by Sarah Davis See more on ACL on page
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NEWS
Friday, September 28, 2012
The Oracle
Season of Sickness
Illnesses are spread easiest among high school students in the fall Samantha Vargas Amy Brajenovich
With fall peeking around the corner, everyone’s allergies are acting up. In the first week of school, many teachers requested students bring some extra Kleenex and hand sanitizer for the class to have. With all the sneezing and coughing echoing in the hallways, it is obvious that germs are spreading around like wildfire. It is scientifically proven that the most common germs are located on the bathroom paper towel handles, water fountains, bathroom sink faucets, door handles, library tables and computer keyboards of schools. Some of the most common illnesses for teenagers to get during the school year are the flu, mono, strep throat, and stomach viruses. These contagious illnesses are bound to sweep through the school due to all of the interaction in a typical day. Influenza, better known as
the flu, is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. The flu is not the same as a cold, although they share many of the same symptoms including fevers, body aches, and chills. Mononucleosis, also known as mono, is a viral infection causing fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands in the neck. Symptoms mainly include drowsiness, fever, loss of appetite, and swollen lymph nodes. Strep throat is caused by streptococcal (strep) bacteria. There are many different types of strep bacteria. Some may cause more serious illnesses than others. Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, pain when swallowing, and white or yellow spots on the back of throat. Stomach viruses are infections caused by a variety of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Symptoms mainly include abdominal cramps, stomach pain, and nausea.
Another of the most common ways that teenagers get sick throughout the school year is from lack of sleep. It is recommended to get 7-9 hours of sleep a night in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. When the human body does not get the proper amount of rest, it slowly but surely begins to shut down. The longest a human can survive without food is approximately three weeks, without water is one week, without sleep is also around one week. The less sleep a person gets, the worse an immune system gets. The immune system is a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by germs and viruses. When an immune system is down, it makes it easier to catch a virus in which the body had been exposed. Keeping your immune system healthy and strong throughout the year can lead to many great achievements with school, social life, and
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well being. Many people find it hard sometimes to stay healthy, but eating the right foods, getting exercise daily, washing your hands regularly, and getting plenty of sleep can help you stay active and live a strong, healthy lifestyle. There are many students at Stratford that do follow these important guidelines that are keeping the school free of bad germs and bacteria. “Every time I use the rest rooms here at Stratford, I always remember to wash my hands. In the beginning of the school year, I also bring Kleenex and hand sanitizer for teachers and students to use. I think if everyone would do this, Stratford would be a very clean school,” junior Casey Sparks said. It only takes a few easy steps to stay germ-free this season, so do your part to stay healthy.
Graphic by Isabel Deakins
Friday, September 28, 2012
The Oracle
Fresh-Busters
NEWS 3
The Class of 2016 shares their thoughts
What is your favorite part of high school so far?
Benito Carranza
Marcus Wild
Leslie Merchan
Myron Milton
“All of my classes are really cool, I just don’t like getting booed at pep rallies.”
“Since I moved from a different district, I like meeting all the new people.”
“It’s great having so much more freedom than middle school.”
“I love going to the football games and being in ROTC.” All Photos by Harrison Vaporciyan
September:
November:
Make a profile on the application sites for the colleges you’re interested in. Start filling out Activities and Education sections of applications. Take note of due dates.
Finish up your essays and any other incomplete part of your applications. Be sure to finish any supplements if your colleges require them. Check on teacher recommendations to make sure they get turned in on time.
January: Register for FAFSA and start applying for scholarships. Check out the College Prowler website for lists of scholarships that apply to you. Take note of due dates.
March:
May:
Start receiving accept/deny letters and start narrowing down your decision. Register for AP tests - make sure you pay on time!
Take your AP tests, and finish up any outstanding scholarship applications. Enjoy Prom and your last few weeks of school!
Senior Timeline October: Most early decision application dates are Oct. 1. Start your essays and get reviewers to edit them. Turn in your transcript and teacher recommendation requests.
December: Most applications are due Dec. 1. Take the SAT or ACT for the final time - you can send scores to your colleges if you’ve already submitted your applications. Plan trips to visit any colleges that you applied to and haven’t seen yet or want to see again.
February: Check the websites of your colleges for your application status if it’s available. Continue working on scholarship applications.
April: Make your decision. Be sure to collect and turn in housing applications and any other required paperwork for enrollment. Find a roommate.
June: Graduation is June 1. Be sure all your forms and information is turned in to your college. E___njoy your last summer at home!
4
NEWS
Bistro Provence Walk-Ins 13616 Memorial
Friday, September 28, 2012
The Oracle
S
Barnaby’s Cafe Walk-Ins 5750 Woodway
J. Alexanders Restaurant PR 11103 Westheimer
Cantina Laredo R, FM 11129 Westheimer
Key PR: Private Room available FM: Fixed Menu option PS: Patio Seating R: Reservations PO: Photo Opportunity Katherine Kennedy Katie Gregory
Piatto Ristorante 2 PR, R, FM 11693 Westheimer
Info and Shorts
2012-2013 Freshmen Class Representatives Freshmen voted in Spartan Time for the new leaders of their class. Freshmen who are interested in walking-on should contact Student Council sponsor Mary Jackson in Room 236.
Mohammad Ali Parker Barrett Thomas Birdsong Emily Gex Julia Gex Evan Goodearle Chris Hachtman Griffin Henkel
Emily Joseph CJ Kight Maria Maa Taylor Meyer Alyssa Plant Torkild Stenseth Rebecca Tarver Jonas Yun
Rio Ranch PR, FM, R, PO 9999 Westheimer
Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen PR, FM, PS, R 6401 Woodway
Homecoming Week
Oct. 2: Tie-Dye Day Oct. 3: Twin Day Oct. 4: Camo Day Oct. 4: All-school vote for King and Queen Oct. 5 @ 2:30: Stratford America Pep Rally Oct. 5 @ 7:00: Football game vs. Tomball Memorial Oct. 5 @ Halftime: Homecoming Queen announced Oct. 6 @ 8:00: Dance begins Oct. 6 @11:00: Homecoming King announced Oct. 6 @ 11:45: Dance ends
ara’s pace
Sara Boyle Even with the stress of college applications, grades, and extracurriculars, the worst part of senior year for me so far has been the attitude that seems to be so widely accepted among the senior classes of the last few years. Senioritis. Yes, everybody has it. Yes, it is tempting to complain. But the second semester of last year, I got so sick of being in classes with seniors because of the obnoxious repetition of the word. Senioritis is not a legitimate excuse for making bad grades, quitting activities, or halfheartedly participating in the activities that you are in. Why should senior year be a blow off year? Academics-wise, yes, you can relax a little bit after you’re accepted to college, but not too much or your dream school may change their minds when they see that you’re giving in to the sickness. However, giving up your extracurriculars just shows a poor work ethic. It is tempting to drop classes when you are accepted to college, but it is just a bad idea. I would have loved not to have taken a math class this year, but I know that I will be glad I took it next year in my freshman math class. Even if I don’t use the math I’m learning now in college, I’ll know that I worked hard my senior year and accomplished something, which is more than a lot of people I know can say for themselves. Every single piece of advice given to you in your entire life is the opposite of what senioritis stands for. Why would you go against everything you’ve been taught just to have a “blow-off ” senior year?
The Oracle
Friday, September 28, 2012
ADS
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Forgot your copy of the Oracle? Don’t worry! We’ve got your back, with our virtual issues on spartanoracle.blogspot.com!
SPARTANORACLE.BLOGSPOT.COM
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PUZZLE PAGE
Friday, September 28, 2012
The Oracle
For answers, visit spartanoracle.blogspot.com
Graphic by Molly Richter
Friday, September 28, 2012
The Oracle
USE
Photo taken by Jackie Mask
Centre of Attention Layla Shahhosseini
Even though City Centre has been around for a few years, the hype regarding it has skyrocketed. The excitement for this Houston hot spot still remains, especially when there are concerts or other events scheduled. Some say that the hype is being overdone with everyone claiming that it’s the place to be on most occasions. “I think it’s fun as a place for shopping and eating,” freshman Ann Mustacchia said. Shops in City Centre come with a high price tag. “It’s very trendy, but it’s re-
Line up
Oct. 12
Oct. 13
Oct. 14
AMC
ally expensive,” junior Kaylin Kruseman said. There are also many places to eat, but they also are more expensive than some students can afford. There is a variety of shops in the area including a cooking appliance store, Sur la Table and a crafty art store, Paper Source. “I think City Centre is overdone because all there is to do is eat and shop,” junior Margaret Gray said. With all the publicity, finding a parking place can be quite difficult. “I like going there, but the parking is terrible,” junior
Honda
Asleep at the The Wombats, Wheel, First Aid Kit, Delta Spirit, Ben Howard, The Afghan Whigs, A-Trak, Weezer, AVICII Thievery Corporation
Dev, The Whigs, Metric, Jack White
The Boxer Rebellion, Gary Clark Jr., The Civil Wars, The Avett Brothers
Caveman, Zola Jesus, Big K.R.I.T., Big Gigantic, BASSNECTAR
Anya Vaporciyan said. There is a small amount of space available for booking events, due to City Centre’s popularity. Many of the shops stay open for the evening crowd. “All the stores there are kind of expensive. But it’s fun to go at night,” senior Monica Castillo said. The crowds of people that are being pulled to City Centre are teenagers and young adults. “I like it, I think for our generation it’s great and more modern,” sophomore Faith Reyes said. Some of the popular shops
there include: Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Free People, Lulu Lemon, and J.Crew. Besides retail shops, there is also Studio Movie Grille and the frozen yogurt sensation, Red Mango. The amount of restaurants that have opened have been inviting to the public eye, especially in the area surrounding City Centre. There’s definitely a prominent modern aspect in all of the shops and restaurants. Whether you think its an over-rated area or Houston hot spot, City Centre has caught the attention of many Houstonians.
1 day until Florence and the Machine
7 days
until Ren-Fest 15 days until Mac Miller, and Two Door Cinema Club Graphic by Natalie Yoo
Austin Kiddie Limits
Austin Ventures
BMI
Zilker Stage
Hullabaloo, Rocknoceros, Big Don, Orange Sherbet, Special Guest, Ralph’s World
Infantree, Quiet Corral, River City Extension, LP, Jovanotti, Trampled by Turtles, Black Lips, M. Ward
Megan McCormick, Colorfeels, Justin Jones, Kenny Vaughan Trio, Patterson Hood
Stapletones, Shields of Faith, The Relatives, Lance Herbstrong, The Soul Rebels, Umphrey’s McGee
Rocknoceros, Jambo, Orange Sherbet, Hullabaloo, Special Guest
The Features, Freelance Big Don, Jambo, The Q Whales, POLICA, Die Brothers, The School of Rock, Peter DiStefano Antwoord, Crystal & Tor, Special Guest, Castles Ralph’s World
MUSE 7
Barton Springs
Bud Light
He’s My Brother, Los Campesinos!, She’s My Sister, The War On Drugs, Patrick Watson, Tegan and Sara, Esperanza Florence + The MaSpalding, chine, Alabama Shakes, The Black Keys M83
Disciples of Joy, The Deep Dark Civil Twilight, Rufus The Baylor Choir, Woods, Bombay Wainwright, Andrew Sonámbulo, Bicycle Club, Bird, The Roots, Neil La Vida Bohéme, Lee Fields & The Expres- Oberhofer, Band Young and Crazy Horse of Skulls, Gotye sions, Antibalas Kimbra, G.S.T., The Eastern Sea, Kopecky Noah NEEDTOThe Mighty Sincere Alt-J, Stars, Voices, Family Band, Moon Duo, Gundersen, BREATHE, Tennis, The The Aaron Ivey Band, The Devil Makes Three, Bad Royal Teeth, Two Door Cinema Weeknd, Thundercat, Books, The Lumineers, Lera Lynn, Club, Iggy & The Childish Ruthie Foster, Barrington Old 97’s, Randy Rogers The Dunwells, Stooges, Red Hot Gambino Levy Band Willis Earl Beal Chili Peppers Quiet Company, Wild Nikki Lane, Child, Wheeler Brothers, Native Run, Dry the River, Gardens & Villa, Father John Misty, Michael Space Capone, Kiwanuka, Punch Brothers, Kishi Bashi Steve Earle
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MUSE
Friday, September 28, 2012
The Oracle
Hone in on Houston
Caitlin Hilton
Things you may or may not have known about Space City Chandler Callahan
international population, and business makes having an efficient airport system a necessity. Bush Intercontinental, William P. Hobby, and Ellington Airports make up the sixth largest airport system in the world. Houston airports’ capability and location allow the city to be a primary gateway to Latin America for shipments and commercial flights. Hobby and Bush Intercontinental are also hubs for two successful airlines, Hobby for Southwest and Bush for United, previously Continental. This provides many jobs for Houstonians. In 2010 the three airports combined provided over 23,000 jobs and contributed more than 27 billion dollars to the regional economy. Compared to the rest of the country, Houston’s economy stayed considerably more consistent than the rest of the nation during the recession, having 2.54 million payroll jobs in 2010. Home to 23 Fortune 500 companies, Houston has
The “Bayou City� may not be everyone’s favorite vacation spot or have the most recognizable skyline, but as the fourth largest city in the United States with six million residents in the greater Houston area, Houston does have a lot to offer. Hosting the largest rodeo in the world, being named the Forbes Coolest City to Live in 2012, and making international history with NASA headquarters, Houston pleases residents and visitors alike. Houston’s world renowned theater district consists of 17 blocks and 12,000 seats. The only city in the country to have more seating in a condensed area is New York City. Our museum district is of equal quality as one of the largest museum districts in the country. 18 institutions, both museums and galleries, form the Houston Museum District. Both districts have been award-winning and internationally acclaimed. The Bayou City’s large size,
become attractive to many young professionals, the average age being 33. This also makes Houston’s stable housing market appealing for young employees and their families. Housing costs in Houston have been shown to be 21 percent below the national average, and living costs nine percent under the country’s norm. Another great attribute of Space City is the number and variety of restaurants available to its citizens. Eating out more than any other city’s residents, Houstonians can choose from pricier restaurants such as Mark’s or Mockingbird Cafe, or specialty restaurants like Niko Niko’s, featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, or The Chocolate Bar, “hole-in-the-walls�, like Max and Julie’s French restaurant in Montrose, are also local favorites. The University area of Rice Village, Montrose, and the Heights are other appealing aspects of “H-town�. The con-
temporary neighborhoods attract students and other locals with their idiosyncratic restaurants, boutiques, and shops. Since Houston is a metropolis, efficacious highways are essential, hence the easily navigable highways and feeder roads. Frontage roads, make Houston’s geographic size easy to maneuver. Another unique facet of
Houston is it’s thriving music scene. Rappers such as Bun B and Chamillionaire are natives of the city as well as the illustrious BeyoncÊ Knowles. Though Houston isn’t typically considered a favorable city due to its humid climate and unpredictable weather, the city’s distinctive urban sprawl and diverse population make it a unique place to live.
/V\Z[VU :R`SPUL‹ Downtown is the heart of commerce and night life in Houston where activities and events are always taking place. Photo taken by Jackie Mask
Tweets of the Week
# $ ! % "
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The tiny pumpkins are at Randall’s again #itsofficiallyfall - Matt Sibley, 12 I just googled ‘cute baby animals’ and I still have Eco and Stats homework to do, so yeah I’m a bit of a procrastinator.- Abby Moore, 12
APUSHin’ my buttons. Mary Kate Goss, 11
Sometimes I get really excited about getting old & finally being able to use an automated grocery cart scooter at Randall’s- Katie Temple, 12 Hopefully I’m not the only one rocking the jean dress today. #western- Emma Koydemir, 12 Compiled by Chandler Callahan Graphic by Isabel Deakins and Harrison Vaporciyan
Let’s play a game. Are you ready? Truth or dare. Dare? Perfect. I dare you, during the next passing period, to walk alone. Where ever you may be going, do it in silence. Listen to the noise around you. All the buzz you hear, aside from that one kid singing, is an ongoing conversation. Whether it be grades, your ex-boyfriend’s hook-up with your ex-best friend, the fact it’s raining, how you wish you didn’t have to run during athletics today‌ everyone is talking. And it’s usually about nothing. I always marvel at the fact no one ever shuts up. How could anyone ever have that much to talk about? There is no substance behind that occasional “wazzzzzupâ€? and automatic response of, “not muchâ€?. What else could you possibly respond with? Wait, I know. Because I’ve been forced to listen to it on my treacherous walk to the third floor. “Oh my gosh in my last class there was like a kid who like fell asleep and we like had to poke him to wake him up and then like‌â€? There was no punctuation nor breathing during her one-sentence-but2-minute-long-story. Maybe I missed the punch line, or maybe she lost her train of thought, but either way there was no point to the story she had told. Other than the fact some kid fell asleep. All of this unnecessary noise comes from the mind set that as people we need to be social all the time. We don’t need to be “chatty Cathysâ€? from dawn to dusk. An added bonus: people always want to know more about the people who never talk over the people who won’t shut up. So embrace your mysterious inner being and stop talking. Silence is not awkward. Silence is good. Silence is necessary for your sanity. And more importantly, it is necessary for the sanity people stuck behind you on the stairs who don’t care about how much sleep you got this weekend.
The Oracle
Friday, September 28, 2012
Caroline Suchman
Harrison Vaporciyan
Lydia Sweet
MUSE 9 Isabel Deakins
I really like this song. Its consistent beats make me feel very calm and relaxed, but at the same time reminds me of a hustle-and-bustle city.
I personally found this song pretty soothing. Basically, it’s a song by Beck, and that’s all you really need to know to decide whether you’ll like it or not.
I waited almost the whole song for a tambourine solo and I was greatly disappointed. This song is a fun listen but very forgettable.
The beat is very calming. I rocked and swayed to Beck’s subtle voice until the song inconspicuously ended, when I promptly forgot about it.
Two
I loved the lyrics and the simplicity of the accompaniment of this song. More complicated music would have just drowned out the lyrics.
The instrumentals here are pretty simple, allowing Silberman’s voice and lyrics to shine. The result: a song that’s equal parts uplifting and soul-crushingly depressing.
The amount of tambourine employed in this song is heinous. After awhile the tambourine drowns out all other thoughts. The vocals are a bit weak.
The tune is very sweet and repetitive. While the singer’s voice is pretty whiny and unintelligible, it somehow fits with the song as a whole.
Lisztomania
When I listen to this song, I tend to forget how much time is passing. I never get tired of this song.
This was a good song when it first came out three years ago and it’s a good song now. It’s simple, it’s catchy, and most importantly, it doesn’t pretend to be deeper than it is.
This song is prime example that less is more. It manages to be incredibly upbeat and catchy without sounding manufactured.
Phoenix is very good at making fun songs that I can’t understand the lyrics to. This is no exception.
Wounded Third Eye Blind
This song has the perfect amount of 90’s angst to conjure up thoughts of basement-set music videos and overalls. Because that’s what the 90’s were all about, right?
I’m with Lydia here. This song is more 90’s than Will Smith in a backwards baseball cap riding a skateboard with Hinder playing in the background.
At times this song sounds exactly like a Jimmy Eat World song. It easily blends into the mass of pop rock that came out during the 90’s.
This song takes me on a roller coaster of moods. Third Eye Blind really does have some gems.
Black
Tambourine
Beck
The Antlers
Phoenix
The Power of “Doing it Yourself” A sentimental look at making your own clothing
Kali Venable When I was in eighth grade I went to see Owl City on the night of Halloween with my best friend, Eila. We spent the entire week before cutting and sewing fabric to make what we decided would be the cutest band shirts ever. The hours we put into our shirts seemed well worth the product we had produced. Putting on our new shirts we proudly entered the concert and pushed towards the front of the stage. In out unique T-shirts, we were part of a group greater than just ourselves, we were true fans. Owl City’s music seemed better than usual, the night was a total success. Looking back on this experience and trying not to laugh at my horrid taste in music, what I remember most about the Owl City concert was the clothing Eila and I had made. A few weeks ago, while my sister was leaving for college I
packed up my room to move into her old bedroom. While digging through my closet, I came across the Owl City band shirts. Not having seen it over three years, a certain nostalgic mood flooded my head and I was cast back to all of the sweet memories the shirt symbolized. The thing about clothing is that it can bring you back to a moment and make it unbelievably real. I am convinced that by putting our creativity into the garments we make, we as people learn a lot more about ourselves than we would by going out and purchasing articles of clothing. For what seems like eternity, fashion-forward clothing has been labeled as both expensive and hard to come by. Of course there has always been an underground form of trendy clothing. However, now more than ever people are taking the alternative routes towards outfits worth
admiring. By surfing the web and visWebsites such as Pintrest, iting some of the thousands Rookiemag, and Bloglovin of fashion blogs online, these have made tracking down projects are very easy to find. cool clothing projects on varFor those who are creative, ious blogs extremely simple. coming up with your own As this “do it yourself ” out- project can be even better. look consumes more and Perhaps going to a thrift more people, the pressure store and buying old clothing to spend excessive money to make into something new on items such as jean shorts, can get your creative juices jewelry, shoes and shirts or flowing. dresses drastically is decreasAnother benefit from making. ing your Buying a pair own jewof old elry, shorts Levi’s from or shirts Value Village It is comforting to re- is that you for $2 or using alize that trends are won’t have your mom’s becoming more real- too much old pair and trouble cutting them istic and accessible getting rid into jean of them. shorts is just as welcomed, if With the fashion industry not more, than spending big today, fads never last long money to purchase a brand enough. In fact, the minute name pair. you buy into them, they seem The problem is that most to change. people can’t just come up This becomes frustrating with these imaginative ideas when you spend, for example, on their own, but that is what $100 on a maxi skirt that reis so great - you don’t have to! ally is only seen as cute for a
“
short period of time. Once that period is over, you feel as if you have wasted $100 on a skirt that you are burned out of. However, by buying a long skirt for a few dollars at a thrift store or cutting an old floor length dress and sewing the top, the results are different. It doesn’t matter if you wear it for a single occasion then donate it to a charity, you hardly paid anything for it. Or maybe you want to keep the skirt as memorabilia of the event you wore it to, which is perfectly fine too. It is comforting to realize that trends are becoming more realistic and accessible. People get irritated with the fact that they can’t have the things they would like and in most cases even the things they deserve. I personally grow annoyed when I realize a shirt I am in love with costs $400 and will never go on sale. Cute clothing does not have to be expensive and seeing
our generation explore that idea brings much originality to each of our outfits. When I came across my homemade Owl City shirt while cleaning out my closet a few weeks ago, I realized that this idea of “doing it yourself ” is something special and worth recognizing. Chances are, I will never wear that Owl City shirt again due to the alterations in my music tastes and in my apparel desires. Although I would like to think that a few years from now when the Owl City concert seems like even more of a distant memory in an alternate life I will be able to pull the shirt out of the back of my closet. I can look at an item that at one time represented so much of the person I was and I can reflect on the changes in my life since then. The clothing that we make is more than just clothing, it represents the exact person we are in that moment.
10
SPORTS
Friday, September 28, 2012
Skeeters Creating a Buzz Elaine Parizot After the Astros’ World Series run in 2005, the franchise has clearly been in a steady decline. This season, they came close to the worst record in baseball history. Without a successful major league team to watch, many citizens of the Houston area have taken interest in the Sugar Land Skeeters. The Skeeters are a new minor league team that plays at Constellation Field, just 25 minutes away from school. In the Freedom division of the Atlantic League, the Skeeters are currently third place in their division, with a record of 33-32. They are just eight games out of first place, behind the York Revolution and the Lancaster Barnstormers. “I’ve been really wanting to go to a Skeeters game,” said substitute teacher Linda Badger. “I’m not sure about the name, but I guess it’s because there are so many darn mosquitoes in Texas!”
Skeeters’ games have a are fun, and the stadium is While he usually was in right laid back feel and tickets can very clean. field when with the Astros, be extremely cheap, which A notable player on the he has been playing as a leftmakes a Skeeters game an at- Skeeters’ roster is ex-Astro handed relief pitcher for the tractive place for Skeeters. Lane has said that any baseball fans he hopes that his time with looking for a lowthe Skeeters will help boost key game. him back into majors. “The games are Another player that has fun, the atmobeen drawing thousands of sphere is really people to Skeeters games relaxed, and the is the notorious ex Astros mascots are pretty pitcher Roger Clemens. funny,” said freshAfter being the subject man John Eyre. of baseball controversy inConstellation volving steroids for years, Field is a brand Clemens pitched for the new $37 milSkeeters on two different lion complex that nights, giving up no runs holds 7500 fans. either time. On Sept. 8, The seating opClemens pitched five intions include regu- 9,;<95 6- ;/, 96*2,; Roger Clemens nings to his son, Koby, lar stadium seats, talks to his son, Koby, after warming up his arm before who made his Skeeters a picnic table the Skeeters game against the Long Island Ducks. debut that night as the area, and a grassy Photo by Elaine Parizot catcher. spot where fans Despite Clemens being can bring their own lawn Jason Lane. Lane played for 50 years old, Astros owner chairs, and tickets are usually the Astros for five years as Jim Crane is now talking around $12. an outfielder and helped get about bringing the “Rocket” It also has a massive play Houston into their first World back to major league basearea for kids complete with a Series by catching the last out ball, so Clemens may not be small swimming pool. Park- in the final game against the with the Skeeters for very ing is easy, the theme nights St. Louis Cardinals. much longer.
The Oracle
The Schedule FOOTBALL:
VOLLEYBALL:
-Fri. 9/28- vs. Spring Woods @ Tully 7:00 OUTSMART THE TIGERS -Fri. 10/5- vs. Tomball Memorial @ Tully 7:00 (HC) AMERICA -Thur. 10/11- vs. Marshall @ Hall 7:00 -Fri. 10/19- vs. Northbrook @ Tully 7:00 SHINE OUT THE RAIDERS
-Fri. 9/28- @ FB Ridge Point 6:30 -Tues. 10/2- vs. Spring Woods 6:00 - Fri. 10/5- vs. Tomball Memorial 6:00 -Tues. 10/9- vs. Marshall 6:30 -Fri. 10/12- @ Northbrook 6:00 -Tues. 10/16- vs. Willowridge 6:30 -Fri. 10/19- @ Tomball 6:00
Tennis:
Cross Country:
-Tues. 10/2- vs. Tomball @
SHS 3:00 -Fri. 10/5 - vs. George Ranch @ SHS 3:00 -Tues. 10/9- @ FB Ridge Point 3:00 -Tues. 10/16- @ SHS District Semifinals -Fri. 10/19- @ SHS District Championships
-Fri. 9/28- @ SHS Tempo Run TBD -Sat. 10/6- @ Nottingham Park 8:00 Spring Branch Invitational -Sat. 10/13- @ College Park 8:00 College Park Invitational -Thurs. 10/18 @ SHS Tempo
11
SPORTS
Friday, September 28, 2012
The Oracle
Conference Rundown
Midway through the season the SEC is still on top yet many teams are primed to change the conference outlook
Alex Newton As we near the half way point of the season, and as conference play is fully underway, the contenders and pretenders are becoming increasingly evident. As usual, the unexpected is to be expected in college football. The hogs of Arkansas took a historic tumble out of the AP poll as they were once ranked number eight. It was the biggest fall during a one week period in the poll’s history. Then, shortly after their monumental loss, Nick Saben’s tide rolled through Arkansas in what would have been one of the biggest games of the year, leaving us once again wondering, who can stop the rolling tide? The SEC once again appears to be the nation’s top conference although the Big 12 doesn’t seem to be too far behind, while the Big Ten is struggling to retain rel-
evance. As the nation is indulging itself in the irrelevant debate of whose conference is the best, it’s time I put my three cents in the debate. SECThe nation’s prime conference, the SEC, is looking to continue its’ long-standing streak of national championships. Alabama is off to an outstanding start, dominating preseason title hopefuls Michigan and Arkansas. Yet Coach Saben is still not impressed. The fall of teams such as Arkansas and Auburn has many wondering if the SEC is still the prime rib of the conference cow. “I think the SEC’s stock has fallen a little but they are still the best conference,” said senior Matthew Stein. The new conference inductees have struggled with their new friends. Both Texas A&M and Mis-
souri dropped their SEC openers to Florida and Georgia. Redimption for the Aggies will come this week against Arkansas. Because of the solid play from both teams, the annual Florida Georgia rivalry may finally be relevant once again as both teams have looked impressive. The winner of this conference will be decided in the November third showdown between LSU and Bama, yet after LSU unimpressive performance in Auburn and Alabama winning by a measly 33 points, Georgia may be a sleeper. Big 12As all the talk is on the glamorous SEC, the Big 12 is quietly making its own case for the “best conference” status. Don’t get me wrong, the SEC is still the King, but the Big 12 is not too distant. The replacement of both A&M and Missouri with West Virginia and TCU has
turned out to have been a good trade. Both teams are looking very good through three games. Texas appears to have made a full rebound from their past two season of going 13-12, their first conference game will be on the road this weekend against the pokes while hosting Geno Smith and the Mountaineers in two weeks. Oklahoma lost some ground at the hands (or legs) of Colin Klein in a rare home loss. West Virginia is my pick to win this conference along with the winner of the Red River Rivalry who is always a contender and no, I am not a believer in K-State. Pac 12The pack twelve took a hit when USC dropped a big one to the Stanford Cardinal putting a broad smile on Andrew Lucks face as his alma matter has continued its dominance over USC for the entire Barkely era. Oregon is their only hope to
make a run for a national title and is looking good after an impressive rout of Arizona. Still, one must keep in mind Stanford. Beating the nations number two team makes them a formidable opponent for any team. I see Oregon winning their conference. Chip Kelly is all about fast, and this is a very fast team. The Pac 12 is also a very strong conference and with Oregon’s offense along with their stout defense, if they survive their conference a national title will be within reach. Big TenThe Big Ten, where they play “old man’s football” is struggling to remain relevant for the BCS title race. Unless Northwestern or Minnesota, the conference’s only two undefeated teams, can win out, no one from this conference will dethrone the SEC or make a title run. Ohio State, who is unde-
feated themselves, will not be playing in a bowl this year because of a few individual’s disgusting act of selling autographed jerseys. Wisconsin can’t seem to accept life without Russell Wilson as they, much like Arkansas, have gone from title hopeful, to unranked. A tough conference to predict a winner, I’ll take a battered Michigan State to survive and win this conference. ACCNearly a year after Florida State’s home loss to Oklahoma they once again proved they are not there yet. Although Saturday nights home defeat of Clemson showed that Florida State is a contender and with their remaining schedule that has only one ranked team, Florida, the Seminoles are primed for not only a conference title but a national title. Clemson is still a BCS sleeper but Florida state will win this conference.
12
SPORTS
Friday, September 28, 2012
The Oracle
Race for First Place
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THE RUNDOWN T E R R A N C E P E T E R S Position: Running Back Favorite Movie: Bad Boys 2 Favorite Food: Gumbo Favorite Pre-game Song: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Want This Foreverâ&#x20AC;? -Drake Favorite NCAA Team: LSU Favorite Professional Team: New Orleans Saints Favorite Quote: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be the best you can be.â&#x20AC;? -Unknown Photo taken by Will Klussman
C L A I R E A V E N
Position: Cheer Co-Captain Favorite Song: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Space Jamâ&#x20AC;?- Quad City DJ Favorite Stunt: A Liberty Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Jackson Favorite Dessert: Cookie Dough Favorite Store: T.J. Maxx Favorite quote: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fo free!â&#x20AC;?- Brynn from Bridesmaids Photo taken by Katie Gregory
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The Oracle
THE
O
Newspaper Staff Editors-in-Chief Sara Boyle Caitlin Hilton Samantha Hicks News Editors Samantha Vargas Samantha Vanston Hannah Bevers Muse Editors Chandler Callahan Layla Shahosseini Kali Venable Sports Editors Alex Newton Elaine Parizot Elyse Steiber Opinions Editors Michelle Evans Lydia Sweet Esther Jeon Reporters Andres Acosta Dua Mazhar Aldo Martinez Photo Editors Katie Gregory Stephen Martinez Katherine Kennedy Photographers Gil Sanchez Emily Copeland Sarah Sturgis Will Klussman Allison Rice Maggie Vickers Harper Jones Bonnie Slattery Victoria Shin
Friday, September 28, 2012
OPINIONS 13
Spirit RACLE Relocating Pep Rallies are more spirited in their new location
Ads Editor Mary Margaret Weaver Ads Staff Emily Brown Jacob Cribbs Kendall Marbach Jacob Pennington Katherine Mavergeorge Design Staff Claire Galbraith Caroline Suchman Harrison Vaporciyan Staff Artists Molly Richter Claire Pena
Online Staff Online Editors Janelle Blackwood Isabel Deakins Samantha Stazo Online Photography Editors Jackie Mask Ariyan Almassi Online Photographers Mark Coffman Michael Martin Claire Pena Rebecca Williams Online Reporters Jackie Velarde Faith Figueroa Building Principal Christopher Juntti Advisor Janice Cummons
The Oracle is a newspaper published every three weeks by the Journalism Department of Stratford High School, 14555 Fern, Houston, Texas 77079, 713-251-3454. The newspaper is a member of Columbia Scholastic Journalism Association, National Scholastic Journalism Association, Texas Association of Journalism Educators, and Interscholastic League Press Conference. The Oracle is open to any and all contributions submitted by the readers. Any material can be submitted by e-mail to thestratfordoracle@gmail.com, brought in person to Room 120, or placed in Janice Cummons’ mailbox. The editorial board reserves the right to determine whether the submitted material will be published depending on the available space. The submitted material may also be edited to remove libelous or defamatory statements. Any material that is submitted must be typewritten and accompanied with the writer’s full name and grade. The opinions expressed are those of the individual writer 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. They welcome freelance submissions and are eager to hear from their readers regarding story and photo opportunities. The Oracle is also online at spartanoracle.blogspot.com.
Michelle Evans For anyone who has been to one of the two pep rallies, the changes are old news. When the competition gym floor was flooded over the summer, pep rallies were temporarily relocated to the middle gym. For the faces behind the pep rallies, this change seemed like it would be a disaster. The cheerleaders were skeptical about many things including whether anyone would attend the pep rallies and how we would possibly be able to fit anyone who did attend. However, when the bell rang at 2:30 to commence the green out pep rally, all of the skepticism disappeared. We felt surrounded by students who wanted the school to thrive. We felt like people wanted to be there supporting their football team. Compared to the competition gym, pep rallies are much more fun in their new location. Whenever the pep rallies were located in the competition gym, some-
times it would feel like no one showed up. Other than the Green Out and homecoming pep rallies, having a full crowd in the competition gym was a rarity. After all, if you had to choose between going to an “insignificant” pep rally and leaving school 30 minutes early on a Friday, which would you choose? The latter is definitely the more inviting option, to at least some of the student body. When the cheerleaders and football players look like ants and the bleachers look halffilled, it’s hard for a student to even care about being there. Nothing is more frustrating than attempting to get a reaction from the crowd and seeing nothing more than a few blank faces. In the middle gym, students are cheering and screaming at almost every moment. Although it is more jampacked and there is only one set of bleachers, the middle gym is the ideal place for a pep rally. Whether we are
singing the Alma Mater or trying to be the loudest, the sound of school spirit echoes throughout that gym. Even if there are Spartanaires and band members who prefer their old spots in the competition gym, the new layout feels more organized. With all of the organizations laid out on the floor, it is almost like a presentation for the students. While we promote school spirit, they give us a reason to promote it. Prior to the construction of the competition gym, pep rallies were always located in the middle gym. The cheerleading coach Natalie Benzman remembers that time fondly, for it was very similar to how pep rallies feel now in their new location. “The pep rallies were in the middle gym for a long time before the competition gym was built” said the cheerleading coach Natalie Benzman. “When everyone is so close together, it feels more spirited.” The cheerleaders aren’t the
only ones who prefer pep rallies in the middle gym. Even students are getting into the spirit of the change. “I prefer pep rallies in the middle gym, they’re so much more exciting” said sophomore Tommy Rohleder. The construction workers are working hard to get the competition ready before the end of the season. At the current pace, the competition gym is estimated to be complete on October 8. Although many were hoping that it would complete before the hectic homecoming pep rally, it looks as though it is a 50/50 chance at the present time. Pep rallies will most likely never be permanently relocated to the middle gym. We built the competition gym for a reason, and there is no sense in letting it sit there unused. However, for the few pep rallies that were relocated, it was nice to experience something different: a new wave of school spirit and Spartan pride.
Flipping the Classroom High school is not the right time to switch up the classroom experience Andres Acosta Obviously, we are all different. We talk differently, we eat differently and we even learn differently from one another. So why do we all get treated the same? In the last several years, there has been an emergence of support in a new teaching method known as Flipping the Classroom. Basically, flip teaching means that a student learns at home and does the homework in the classroom. The way a flipped classroom works is a student is assigned with the task of going home and watching a video created, or provided, by their teacher from which they learn the lesson they are currently on in their class. The student would then return the next day and apply what they learned on work provided by the teacher. A flipped classroom setting
is designed to give students more responsibility in their own learning and give teachers more freedom to work with students individually within the classroom. It is designed to prevent students from skipping or forgetting about homework, whether because they did not want to, couldn’t, or because they did not understand the material. Here in Stratford America, flipped teaching is being put to use in the physics department. Students are being given a check list of assignments they must go through before the end of the six weeks with only quizzes and tests being on assigned dates. Unfortunately, it appears the flipped classroom is not as successful as one would have thought it would be. The students seem to be left with little real sense of direction and motivation.
Students are being left on their own to fend for themselves, to teach themselves something they do not know or have not learned. A select group of students may have the ability to learn from a video, but others have a different learning style where they need a teacher to lecture them in person for the concept to be fully grasped. If a certain method of teaching isn’t working for many students, why continue it? Students have grown accustomed to the traditional way of teaching. After all, they have been doing it for over a decade, and this change is a very radical one. They are used to sitting in class taking notes in their notebooks and going home to put what they learned to use on their assigned homework. They are not used to teaching themselves and will probably not get used to it for the next
few years. If flip teaching is going to be implemented in our school district, it should be done while the student is still young so that they grow up and move from grade to grade with the idea that a flipped classroom is the way a classroom works. They grow used to the idea, just like middle and high students are used to the idea of a traditional classroom. It is being said that the flipped classroom is the future of education, but what is being suggested is a dramatic change to the traditional way of teaching. While flip teaching has been proven to be a viable method teaching in tested classrooms across the country, it is it’s implementation that still has kinks that have to be worked out.
14
OPINIONS
The Oracle
Friday, September 28, 2012
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Showing respect to everyone is something everybody should practice Aldo Martinez Faith Figueroa “Treat others the way you want to be treated” is one of the many pieces of advice my parents used to give me as a child, and honestly I’ve tried to do exactly that. As a high school student, I’ve experienced rudeness to a very unnecessary level. From students to coworkers, respect has lost its meaning and purpose. No matter the age, gender, race, or sexuality, respect is supposed to be universally valued. As children, we’re taught the basic structure of respect. “When I hear the word respect, it makes me think about our elders and how we are supposed to respect them,” said junior Greta Guajardo. Not only do we respect those who are older but those who have seniority and deserve respect for the accomplishments they have achieved.
As school progresses and we take part in more clubs, respect becomes even more important. Showing disrespect when talking and listening to fellow club and team members can damage your credibility. Some people take advantage of such respect, and upset others with their delegations. “Respect can be taken advantage of,” junior Leslie Bustamante said. This is when the whole “treat others the way you want to be treated” advice comes into place. The one doing the delegations tend to lose credibility and respect, because respect was not returned. Then there are the people who demand respect. The demand for respect can upset others and make that particular person to be disliked. When such thing happens chaos and disrespect is fabricated and no one is happy with each other. “Respect your teachers,” was the one reminder parents
told me before I went off to school. To this day I attempt to be courteous and respectful to my mentors, teachers, and bosses, only in the hope that they will return the respect. The way you talk to someone will affect the way people see you. From a student’s perspective, one expects the teacher to be nice and polite, but that’s not always the case. Everyone can lose their temper at times and act in an inappropriate manner. When this happens to teachers though, some students take this as disrespect. That then concludes with the student talking back and ending up in the principle’s office. Even though one feels disrespected, treating someone the same way they treated you can not always end up in very positive way. Setting the example to those who lack this characteristic might make your environment a more relaxing
and calm place. If you decide to return the disrespect, that doesn’t make you any better than the person. Then the person who was being disrespectful will just think its right. Instead lean towards being respectful and hopefully the person learns from you. Disregarding who you know, who you are, or who you think you are, respect should be a common part of your character. This characteristic should be applied at work and school, so the people surrounding you will make more of an effort to treat you with respect as well. Respect takes quite a roll in the circle of karma. When respect is given, respect is received. Respecting somebody out loud regardless if you respect them in your own head, can make an over all difference. When you ignore your personal opinion toward someone and show them respect, they’ll take the quality of your character into interest.
Overall respect can be appreciated and will come in handy when trying to when dealing with very uncomfortable situations. Dealing with and issue in a respectful way, can almost always move the outcome towards a very positive resolution. If one does end up having an issue, and the other someone seems to get aggravated and starts yelling, you probably lost respect for that person already, but its always the right choice to back of and argument that’s getting to crummy to handle. If respect can be incorporated into everyone’s life, arguments and disrespect wouldn’t be an issue and more than likely we could all get along. It might sound cheesy and unlikely, but one can dream of peace. Respect can’t be given, it is earned, and when people realize this, an organization, school, or work place can also run properly and efficiently.
Senior Blues
The overwhelming responsibilities of senior year are weighing the Class of 2013 down Esther Jeon
Having started senior year under the misguided delusion that it would be the relaxing period of my high school career, I was rudely surprised by the truth regarding the last year of high school. It unfortunately does not actually resemble in any shape or form getting enough sleep or feeling any kind of ease. Instead, you get all the sleepless nights and stressful classes you had junior year and you get to enjoy the “benefits” of even more stressful classes, college applications, standardized testing, college applications, extracurricular activities, homework, and college applications. (Did I mention college applications?) Only a few weeks have passed since the beginning of school, and already the grounds of the school have transformed into a battlefield. Tears have been shed, hair has been torn out, and mental breakdowns are taking place
this very moment across the school. The question where do you want to apply for college is asked every 5 minutes and somewhere, a frazzled senior sobs internally as the question only brings up the thought of the six other college essays that have yet to be written. Funnily enough, the essays shouldn’t take long; in fact, most college essays have word limits varying around 500 words. But like everything else that has to do with college, that seemingly miniscule number called six suddenly seems like an extremely irrational number of six billion. College applications are only a scratch on the surface of senior year. We have one more semester to last before our GPA is locked in, but until then, there’s still the homework that has to be done, the quizzes that have to be taken, and the tests that have to be
cried about. And contrary to popular belief, second semester of senior year is not the symbol of freedom. Grades still have to be maint aine d a s
Graphic by Natalie colleges have been known to rescind the acceptance of a student because of his or her poor second semester grades. In the meantime, our workload has substantially
increased as teachers try to prepare us for the reality of college, and what was “okay” in freshman year is no longer “acceptable” as teenagers on the brink of adulthood. Senior year is the end of our high school career, but simultaneously, it is our first big step into college. We can’t afford to slack off; we need to work harder to adjust ourselves to college standards. As seniors, we become leaders in the extracurricular activities that we’ve participated in. There are the clubs we now have to watch over, sports, musical activities, academic societies, and community service. The responsibilities that the previous seniors once shouldered for the school fall onto us. There are even the seniors with jobs, who are attempting to balance work and school and extracurricular activities in a deathly juggle. And still somehow, in the midst of all this, we try to find time for ourselves and get more than we bargained
for when we slip into the dangerous (but often inevitable) clutches of procrastination. In an attempt to remain somewhat sane, I’ve developed my own coping techniques. I’ve resorted to eating a lot of Goldfish at home and watching all 3 seasons of Community before the fourth season comes out. And as such, I probably don’t have much of a right or reason to do any kind of comforting, but to all seniors out there on the verge of mental breakdown: take a deep breath (it really does work), think of happy things, and pat yourself on the back! The six weeks is nearly over and we’ve survived the first month of our senior year, haven’t we? It’s already almost October and before we know it, we’ll be facing December cackling maniacally in our demented glee for we will have done the impossible by then and have conquered our college applications. I eagerly await this beloved day.
Samantha Hicks
After three years of wishing I was a senior, my time has finally come. Senior year is here and I now wish I was a freshman again. I wish I was back in the gym being booed at a pep rally, or sitting in the corner of the cafeteria trying to squeeze myself on a bench with 30 other freshman girls. I wish I was a sophomore again and could go back to the first pep rally I performed in as a cheerleader, and back to all those JV football games where we would cheer to the stands because no one would come. I wish I could relive junior year again so I could go back to those Lacrosse games that defined my life in the Spring and the surprising moment when we made it into playoffs as our first year as a varsity team. While I wish I could go back to all of these things, I am overjoyed that I am finally a senior with a schedule to die for and so much to look forward too. I love having my Friday nights occupied with cheering at the football games and my school days filled with working on the newspaper. Everyone always says senior year is so easy though, it’s not. While college applications were not something that I stressed about, I do stress about leaving for college. It’s not for another 1o months, I know, but it’s still scary to think that this time next year I will be away at college and away from my family. But for now, I will keep myself busy with all my activities and make the most out of the little time I have left in such a wonderful place.
The Oracle
Friday, September 28, 2012
Mum’s the Word
These timeless accessories are a fun tradition Hannah Bevers When I think of the Homecoming game, I think of school spirit, Homecoming Queen, and mums. Ribbons, little plastic footballs, and smiles from Stratford America to the moon. I can’t imagine Homecoming without the huge clusters of plastic and cloth (or whatever those ribbons are made of) that mothers and flower-shop workers have spent hours on. Mums are not just another way for girls to go overboard in decorating and show off their (or their mom’s) artistic skill with a glue gun, although both are important factors in why mums are so fun. Sure, they’re expensive and take a whole bunch of free time to make presentable, but they’re traditional. Every year, girls spend precious money and hours to create glittering heaps of ribbon, which they hand over to their dates or pin to their blouses at the football game. Even the guys who aren’t too hot on the whole ribbon
thing admit that if it makes their dates happy they don’t mind dealing with it. We all act as if the micro-cowbells annoy us and the ribbons are dangerously close to too long, but, in all honesty, we love it. It’s nice to pass a group of people and hear them whispering about how pretty and original your mum is. You put the work into it, you want the outcome. In economics terms: the marginal benefit is greater than the marginal cost. Getting ready for that Homecoming game, putting on that mum, taking pictures with friends: all things we love. The amount of Facebook and Instagram selfies of girls with their mums is enough tribute to how much we love them. Luckily for us, craft stores display their mum materials far before the actual date of Homecoming. Girls: don’t pretend that you don’t purposely walk through the mum section at Michael’s when you just happen to be there. You
know you do. The excuse that mums are too much work isn’t valid, either - the band booster club is selling them at lunch in the cafeteria. So even if you feel like you aren’t artistic enough to make your own masterpiece mum, you can still buy one. For that matter, it’s probably cheaper to buy one already made than make your own. But, then again, the customization makes it worth it. My favorite thing about mums is the memories. My mother has hung all of my past mums to a wall in our house, making it easy to remember the game, jokes, crazy dresses, and conversations over dinner afterwards. Who doesn’t love to reminisce? That’s what high school is all about - making memories. I’m sure many would argue that the true purpose of high school is to learn (and it is) but making memories is a huge part of it as well. So twirl your ribbons and get those glue guns going, because it’s time for Homecoming.
OPINIONS 15
An Antiquated Tradition
Mums are a waste of time, money, and effort Sara Boyle
Jangling bells, sparkly letters, and pretty ribbon in various shades of green are all familiar sights and sounds to a person who has given or received a homecoming mum. While mums can be fun to customize and give to your homecoming date, this Southern (mainly Texan) tradition has turned into an expensive, outdated nuisance. The main problem with the mums is the outrageous price. Mums are usually about thirty to one hundred dollars. Add that to the price of tickets, your outfit, and dinner, and the amount of money you are spending on one night becomes ridiculous. “I definitely don’t think they’re worth all the money, but I buy one for my date every year anyway,” senior Paige Tormey said. Everybody’s mum is a little bit different. They can have your name on them, your date’s name, and little decorations that are supposed to
reflect the things you like or are involved in. The pressure to have the biggest and best mum can cause people to spend more money than they can afford. Is a decoration that you will only wear for a few hours really worth all the money? Band parents put in countless hours cutting ribbon, attaching decorations, and perfecting the design of all the mums at a designated house nicknamed “Mum Central.” This is one of the band’s biggest fund raisers of the year and it funds a lot of what the band does. While the band obviously needs this money, they could sell something more useful that makes as much or even more of a profit. One of the first lessons in a beginning economics class is that it is more efficient to sell something that was easier to make than harder to make if you are getting the same profit. Also, mums are just a hassle. They are noisy, uncomfort-
able, and really not that appealing to the eye. For girls, as if their shoes, dress, and all the makeup they’re wearing the night of the dance aren’t uncomfortable enough, wearing the mum the night before to the game just adds more discomfort to the weekend. “They always slip down my arm, I think they’re too heavy,” senior Tyler Garcia said. It is not just people who are cynical about the Homecoming experience that don’t like mums. School spirit shouldn’t have any association with the mums, school spirit should be showing your pride in your school without thinking about the dollar amount that it takes. The people who really take pride in their school are not the ones buying the most expensive mum. They are the people who make the most out of the experiences given to them for free.
Should mums stick around, or are they a thing of the past?
Taylor Cash, 12
“It’s an important tradition now in high school that needs to be kept. We’ve had it since forever, and they’re worth it despite their expense.”
Jamie Bowers, 10
Jackie Bartling-John, 11
“They’re such an important part of tradition and they’ll serve as memories forever, and I love hanging them on my wall.”
“They support the band and they’re such an important tradition and I think they’re fun. I’ve hung all my mums on my wall and now I can remember my memories from high school forever.”
KEEP ‘EM!
Gerard Do, 9
“Mums seem a little too big and sometimes useless. I’m not sure why we need them.”
Mariana Avalos, 9
“They’re a waste of money and a waste of time. You only wear them for one day in the end!”
DITCH ‘EM!
Jake Klausmeyer, 11
“They just seem overdecorated, noisy, heavy, and altogether annoying. They cost so much money and it makes others feel bad when they can’t afford mums.”
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ADS
Friday,September 28, 2012
The Oracle