TIGER TIMES April 12, 2018 • Vol. 57, Issue 5 texas high school
holding Students are found separated by forces beyond their control, circumstances they are born into that could affect their lives forever. It is hope that has the power to surpass these boundaries. continued on page 16
Texas High School • 4001 Summerhill Road, Texarkana, TX 75503 • tigertimesonline.com illustration by a. parker and c. johnson
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The Library Club will attend the North Texas Teen Book Festival in Irving.
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The Prom Boutique for seniors will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the cafeteria.
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REACH will travel and tour the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Stephen F. Austin University.
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The annual Texas HighStepper Spring Show will begin on March 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will be shown through March 28.
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Varsity girls and boys track will have a regional meet in Arlington.
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The color guard will have tryouts for next year’s color guard in the band hall from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
WHAT’S ON OUR
radar
inside
photo by r. sizemore
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STUNNED AT STN TigerVision members win best director and trip to Russia at Student Television Network
With Our Hearts Now Deepened BY JOHN MORGAN SPORTS EDITOR It’s not everyday that 5,000 people are gathered in one place for the same purpose. It’s not everyday that you get a chance to be a part of that group. It’s not everyday that you get the chance to lead it all. Texas High Student Council is hosting the 82nd annual TASC state convention in Arlington this weekend. This youth gathering is
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@itsizzy
the largest student-led leadership conference in the world. Planning for the convention has been in the works for two years, with many ideas being based off of previous conferences along with random inspiration. The theme, “Deepen Your Heart, Texas,” coincides with the state project, which is based around human trafficking awareness. The convention in all has required a huge workload from influences across the city. Local
HEART OF THE TIGER Junior Nick Graves and sophomore Emmy Stroud perform the state opening at Dinner Theater.
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businesses, parents, students and school administration have accepted the task with open arms in order to showcase Texarkana on a large stage. “I’m looking forward to seeing all the kids’ plans come to life and really take shape and for what they’ve been planning, talking and thinking about to actually happen,” StuCo sponsor Susan Waldrep said. “It will be fabulous for them.” johnmorgan@tigertimesonline.com
TOP tweets
“I love it when people are sweet for no reason at all. Let’s make this world more positive.”
@Bailey92Brad snapchat: thspublications instagram: thsstudentmedia twitter: @thsstudentmedia facebook: THS Publications HP reveal: thsstudentmedia mobile app: TigerTimesOnline
WHAT’S
“Congratulations to our Texas High Newspaper and Yearbook on both receiving the National Gold Crown Award! Go Tigers!”
@victoriaserena
“only the seniors remember when that guy’s car caught on fire in the school parking lot freshman year”
HOW TO BE A HELICOPTER MOM Step-by-step guide to ruining your kid’s life
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ACCEPTING THE UNACCEPTABLE Living through breast cancer tests emotional and physical strength
@m4r94r3t
“just put super hold hairspray in my hair thinking it was leave in conditioner... goodnight!”
@madgerrald
“Sure senior year is about making memories but what it’s really about is taking hour long naps and paying other kids to do your work”
@MusicMcDonald
“visiting Mr. Littmann was the highlight of my whole week. How can a man be so strong and so bright?” compiled by e. schroeder
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LIVING ZERO WASTE Tips to swap out everyday items for more eco-friendly alternatives
APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM
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THE MEMORY PROJECT
Art Club members draw portraits of orphans from Afghanistan BY VICTORIA VAN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Art Club has begun making artwork for The Memory Project, which is a charitable nonprofit plan that invites art students and teachers to create portraits of children from Third World countries and send them back as forever treasured gifts. Art Club pursued the project in order to gain a more wellrounded perspective on a place where war and poverty run rampant and which requires a remedy that art has the power to unleash. “I heard about the Memory Project in college and thought Art Club would take on the project successfully, as there a lot of advanced artists that can draw portraits well,” sponsor Shea Phillips said. “We decided to do orphans from Afghanistan, and everyone’s really excited to start on them because it’ll be a really good bonding experience.”
The importance and magnitude that each artist realizes in turn determines how dedicated and ready they are to accomplish this act of kindness. “It’s a selfless service act, and you’re not getting any monetary compensation, so that’s when you truly know the worth of the cause,” Phillips said. Since 2004, the organization has sent more than 100,000 portraits to children in 43 countries. In addition to creating the portraits, club members are asked to contribute $15 per portrait to cover the cost of coordination and delivery. Knowing that these children are unfamiliar with having even a photo taken of them displays how much they will cherish the portraits once they’re finished. It evokes happiness and a newfound appreciation within the artists creating the pieces. “It may seem silly, a single photo that gives kids joy, but to them, they may have never
had just a photo of themselves before,” junior Kayla Walthall said. “These days, I look back on my childhood pictures my parents had taken and it brings me happy memories. I want to do that with the kids.” Within the realms of every artist’s creativity, the true essence of every child’s photo is captured by making sure the portrait looks authentic and that their happiness shines through. “When I am working on his portrait, I will make sure to make his smile stand out, because that’s what made me gravitate toward his picture,” sophomore Anolyn Keenum said. “It’s important to do this because when they look back at their portraits, they’ll know that somebody out there is thinking about them.” The memory portraits will be sent off to Afghanistan toward the end of May for the children. For more information, visit memoryproject.org. victoriavan@tigertimesonline.com
photo by k.gordon
FACE THE ARTS Art Club members draw portraits of children from an orphanage in Afghanistan to send back to them for the Memory Project.
4 NEWS
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
THIS IS NOT A
DRILL
School safety procedures, policies are re-evaluated after Parkland shooting photo by g. mcguire
BY JOSEPH RODGERS & LINDSEY EGGER NEWS EDITOR & VIEWPOINT EDITOR
Since the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida, the security and safety of students inside America’s public schools has been in question. New measures have been taken nationwide to ensure that schools are places of learning rather than war zones. At Texas High, administration remains committed to protecting students and faculty. However, administration and the TISD police face unique challenges guarding Texas High since it is an outdoor campus. “There are a lot of entry points on a 94-acre campus,” Principal Brad Bailey said. “We have the mall, restaurants and other businesses nearby that create several opportunities for an attacker to enter [or leave] the campus. It is difficult [for the TISD police] to guard and monitor them all.” To counteract the multiple weak spots on campus, surveillance technology has been instrumental to TISD police and faculty in monitoring the campus and identifying those who commit crimes. In the instance of a school shooter on campus, specific action will be taken by TISD faculty, TISD police and local law enforcement. “We will notify all staff through our lockdown procedures, ” Bailey said. “TISD police and TTPD police will be notified, and emergency plans will be implemented. No one will be able to enter the perimeter involving all access points to the school. Law enforcement will work with the school to reduce any threat.” To prepare for the possible incident of a school shooting, teachers and students undergo drills throughout the year, and all faculty train using an online course that teaches them what to do in a hypothetical situation. “At least twice a year we do our
lockdown, shelter-in-place, reverse evacuation and evacuation drills, and we complete a monthly fire drill,” Bailey said. “We make sure that we educate our staff on what policies we have in place and what their responsibilities are for instances that occur on campus.” Some schools around the nation are hiring school resource officers or retired police and military service members for school security. However, TISD has no plans to adopt this practice and will continue to rely on the TISD police staff. “We have a police force with certified police officers and believe this is efficient to protect our students and staff,” Bailey said. “I can see where in a rural area a school may designate one of these individuals to be the school’s security or have an administrator with a firearm in a lockbox due to a lack of local resources. However, we have the resources of having a police force and having quick-responding law enforcement, so this is not the answer for us.” President Donald Trump and other lawmakers have advocated for the arming of teachers, but currently this is not an option considered in TISD. “I’m totally against [arming teachers],” Bailey said. “When you start arming teachers, that distracts them from teaching the class, and if they leave the classroom to administer deadly force, that sets up the students in the class for a safety risk.” TISD is constantly improving school safety. Earlier this year, TISD developed a new report system titled “Tiger Watch” that allows students and faculty to report any suspicious activity. A new policy enacted this past month requires visitors to scan their driver’s licenses when entering the school at the front office which will run a background check on the visitor. “Tiger Watch is much more accessible and is anonymous. Our
police chief and myself both receive the report immediately, and then we act upon it,” Bailey said. “Regarding our RAPTOR system, we implemented a program where we can identify any issues with a visitor, and I will evaluate the situation.” Additionally, TISD is currently building a new security gate near the PAC to open during events and remained closed at all other times in order to reduce unauthorized traffic. “We had a lot of traffic using the ramp next to the PAC that we could not monitor so we built a gate there to lock that area down,” Bailey said. “This way we can open it up for events and close it at other times to prevent people from sneaking in and sprawling out on campus.” FIRST WATCH A TISD police officer stands guard outside of the cafeteria Bailey prioritizes preventive during lunch. Officers watch over students during lunch to maintain order and security. measures to ensuring school safety and believes more “I am for awareness, but I don’t think funding and training for detecting a walkout is the right avenue,” Bailey mental health issues is needed. said. “I would encourage others to “We already teach our staff how to recognize the warning signs of different contact their local representatives and senators such as Sen. Bryan Hughes behaviors but not any extensive and Rep. Gary Van Deaver if they training to recognize serious mental have concerns about legislative issues health issues,” Bailey said. “I think it involving school safety.” is very underfunded considering the Despite the fact that TISD deeply fact that in shootings nationwide the cares and is concerned about students’ number of shooters who have mental safety, they remain devoted to the ideal health issues has skyrocketed due to a that education comes first. variety of issues.” “Sometimes we walk out because of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High [our emotions], but in the long run, it School students have challenged only hinders everyone,” Bailey said. “I students nationwide to walk out of support anyone who is passionate and school multiple times over the past dedicated, but we must remain true two months to show their passion to what education really is, and that is about current school safety and what I want to protect and enforce.” gun regulation. However, Bailey is josephrodgers@tigertimesonline.com optimistic that there are alternatives to lindseyegger@tigertimesonline.com this form of protest.
GUNS. 5 NEWS
BY TJ WALL, CONNOR BROOKS & JAY WILLIAMSON
Another mass shooting, more lives lost, more calls for reform, more heated arguments, and more division in the United States of America. This is the all-too-common cycle of events that occurs every time there is a massacre due to gun violence. As a result, the AR-15 (commonly referred to as the “AR”), a rifle that has been used in multiple mass shootings in recent history, has been isolated and singled out as “the choice weapon” for a mass shooter. With the media spotlight on the weapon, there are a number of misconceptions about the AR-15. Misconception #1: “AR” stands for “Assault Rifle” This is the most basic misconception that many people believe about the rifle. To keep it short, “AR” stands for ArmaLite Rifle, and Armalite Inc. is the original manufacturer of this weapon. Misconception #2: The AR-15 is an automatic weapon This is one of the more uninformed comments about the weapon. In order to understand what this means, you have to understand what “automatic” and “semi-automatic” actually mean. By definition, an automatic firearm is one that fires bullets rapidly and does so until the trigger is released. When the trigger is released, the gun stops firing. In contrast, a semi-automatic firearm requires the release and subsequent pull of the trigger for each successive shot. So, almost every handgun is semi-automatic. The AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle. It fires one round every time the trigger is pulled. Misconception #3: The AR-15 shoots the highest caliber round a civilian can own legally Caliber is the internal diameter of a gun barrel or the diameter of the projectile it shoots. It is measured in hundredths or thousandths of an inch or in millimeters. For instance, a .45-caliber firearm has a barrel that is roughly .45 inches wide or 11 millimeters. The most common round that is used in an AR-15 is a .223 round. This round is 0.003 inches wider than a .22 round, which is commonly used for hunting small game such as rabbits and squirrels, and is also the caliber many handguns shoot. So, if an AR-15 shoots a .223 round and a .22 LR (Long Rifle), while many handguns shoot a .22 round, that means the caliber of the round used by an AR-15 is roughly about the size of or a hair wider than a round
used by most guns that are considered acceptable in the eyes of many. A popular semi-automatic hunting rifle, the .30-06, uses a round that is larger and more powerful than the .223 round used in an AR-15. So why is the AR-15 singled out as the most deadly semi-automatic rifle? The firearm is well-known partially due to the fact that it looks similar to a weapon used in the military called the M-16. Misconception #4: AR-15’s are responsible for most gun violence While we may not know the exact number of people killed by an AR-15 each year, we do know that most deaths caused by guns are not by AR’s or even rifles in general. According to Table 12 of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program, there were approximately 374 people shot and killed with rifles of any kind in 2016, while 7,105 people were killed by handguns. 3,263 people were killed by an unidentified weapon. However, even if some of those unidentified firearms were rifles, we can tell by the trend of the statistics that the majority were most likely handguns. Given the fact that there were 374 firearm deaths caused by rifles of any kind, and that the “rifle” category consists of a wide variety, we can safely assume that the majority of those deaths were caused by other rifles not named AR-15. Misconception #5: The AR-15 is a powerful military rifle Many people have come to believe that the AR-15 is a powerful rifle that is used in the military, when in reality, the gun is just based off of the popular military rifle called the M-16, which became standard issue for U.S. troops in the Vietnam War. ArmaLite first developed the AR-15 in the late 1950s as a military rifle but had little success in selling it, which resulted in the company selling the design to Colt’s Manufacturing Company in 1959. Colt was selected by the military in 1963 to manufacture the M-16, which then became the most common rifle for U.S. troops. After Colt had major success in selling the M-16, they decided to make a semiautomatic version of the firearm that would be sold to law enforcement and civilians, which is now what we know as the AR-15. After Colt’s patents for the AR-15 expired in the 1970s, other manufacturers began making clones of the AR-15 to sell to civilians under different names. tjwall@tigertimesonline.com connorbrooks@tigertimesonline.com jaywilliamson@tigertimesonline.com
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
#AR-15 POPULAR MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT AR-15 TRIGGER PUBLIC As a result, the AR-15 (commonly referred to as the “AR”), a rifle that has been used in multiple mass shootings in recent history, has been isolated and singled out as “the choice weapon” for a mass shooter.
compiled by connor b.
APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM
NEWS
OVER THE MOON
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photo by a. kift
Juniors selected to attend summer NASA program FROM STAFF REPORTS
Following four months of interactive online learning experiences with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, five STEM students have been chosen for a six-day summer residential internship at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Only students with the highest scores during the online learning program are considered for the summer internship paid for by NASA. The High School Aerospace Scholars are juniors Nabil Kalam, Hannah Klein, Carson McCarver, Guillermo Pass and Joseph Rodgers. An estimated 400-500 rising seniors from Texas are selected for the program. “I’m really excited for the students being accepted for the NASA trip,” teacher Nicole Ayers said. “They worked very hard through the school year on top of their school work to achieve that.’ To be selected for the
program, students had to complete a rigorous four-month online program that taught students the workings of NASA. “[The online course] was a series of four modules with four activities in each module, and those activities consist of videos, interactive activities and articles that we were quizzed over,” Pass said. “We also completed worksheets and designed objects using a program called Tinkercad, which was really fun.” Students learned many lessons in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and how these fields relate to NASA’s goal of sending a manned mission to Mars. “I learned an array of science and engineering-related topics that aerospace engineers deal with on a daily basis,” Kalam said. “I calculated things such as wing shape and rocket propulsion that NASA scientists and engineers deal with. I also realized that there is a lot of NASA technology in my daily life that I usually overlook.”
NASA SCHOLARS Juniors Joseph Rodgers, Nabil Kalam, Hannah Klein, Guillermo Pass and Carson McCarver have been selected as High School Aerospace Scholars and will attend a six-day summer residential internship at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
During their residential summer internship, the students will work on team projects and briefings directed by NASA engineers and scientists as well as hands-on design challenges and engineering activities to plan a mission to Mars. “I look forward to having a great time with my friends and meeting new people, particularly the individuals who work at NASA,” Kalam said. “They will help me make connections for
my future career.” The program offers a oneof-a-kind experience for Texas High students to explore possibilities of a STEM-related major or career. “The NASA Internship at the Johnson Space Center will help me see what these engineers actually do, so that I can focus more on areas that have direct career applications during college,” McCarver said. The state of Texas, in
partnership with Johnson and the Texas educational community, developed HAS in 1999 to encourage students to pursue studies and careers in STEM. More than 8,500 students from across the state have participated. “Even if someone is not interested in the STEM field, HAS is a great program for anyone to do because it really develops your knowledge and your study skills,” Pass said.
A WIN FOR WALDREP
Student Council adviser among 8 finalists for top NASC award FROM STAFF REPORTS Student Council sponsor Susan Waldrep is among eight national finalists considered for the National Warren E. Shull Adviser of the Year Award. The National Association of Student Councils presents two of these awards each year. Waldrep has served as the Leadership teacher and Student Activities Coordinator for the past 17 years and has guided the Student Council to 10 consecutive National Gold Council of Excellence Awards and 30 consecutive District 19 Sweepstakes Awards. “The finalists for the Warren E. Shull Award are skilled educators who epitomize the commitment Student Council advisers make to promote leadership, service and civic engagement as qualities of good
citizens through Student Council,” said Ann Postlewaite, director of NASSP Student Programs. “National Student Council SUSAN WALDREP congratulates Susan for her exemplary efforts to nurture and develop these qualities in high school student leaders.” Waldrep’s leadership has been recognized through her selection as District 19 Adviser of the Year in 2011, Past President Adviser, District Coordinator for 2014-2016,
TASC’s Eddie G. Bull State Adviser for the Year, and NASC’s Warren E. Shull State nominee and regional nominee representing Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico and Texas. “I am extremely honored to represent these states and Puerto Rico,” Waldrep said. “Obviously, I was very surprised. It’s really neat for our students because I don’t actually do the work. [The students] do the work, so I am just reaping the benefits of the hard work that has gone on for 10 years of our kids being active on the national level.” The Warren E. Shull Award is given to the high school Student Council adviser who demonstrates exemplary character, leadership and commitment to young people and their development as student leaders.
“We are very proud of Mrs. Waldrep for being named a finalist for the National Adviser of the Year for NASC,” Principal Brad Bailey said. “This acknowledges her hard work and commitment to developing student leaders as well as growing our local, state and national chapters to help them be successful. We are all cheering for her as she competes for the National Adviser of the Year.” Waldrep will be recognized and the national winner named during the NASC conference in Plymouth, Minnesota in June. “It’s an interesting conference in that people you don’t actually know kind of bond together,” Waldrep said. “Everybody is doing the same thing, hoping their kids catch on to leadership and really take it where they want it to go in their future.”
APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM
NEWS
STUNNED AT STUDENT TELEVISION NETWORK
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TigerVision members win best director, trip to Russia at STN competition
BY APRIL ALVARADO STAFF WRITER Four TigerVision students will travel to Moscow, Russia to attend and film the 2018 FIFA World Cup this summer after they sent in a video to enter into a student exchange contest and won. Juniors Colton Capps, Briley Court, Abbott Lawrence and Kaden Lloyd will also collaborate with Russian students to create video packages the next following school year as a part of the exchange program. TigerVision learned of these achievements while at the annual Student Television Network (STN) Competition on March 13. “This was my first year attending STN, so I did not expect to win anything,” Capps said. “I have never been out of the country, so I’m really excited in going to Russia. This trip will affect us a great deal, [and while we are there], we are going to collaborate with the Russians every month [by] making stories and packages with them. It’s going to be really great.” TigerVision members competed in the Film Excellence Awards, which consist of many categories, but TigerVision sent a video to compete in Mr. Acting in
which juniors Colton Capps and Kaden Lloyd won the Best Director award. “About six weeks ago, they sent the video in, and we totally forgot all about it,” TigerVision director Charles Aldridge said. “We actually misunderstood and didn’t think it had even placed, and then we got there and found out. ‘Oh, you won Best Director,’ so we were very excited about it.” TigerVision members remain dedicated and committed during competition season but say that they can always find room for improvement. “Definitely things we need to work on are practice and teamwork,” senior Shelby Reed said. “Just knowing what we can do [about] every little detail that the competition presents and to make sure that we have everything planned out [helps]. The awards that we won have set new standards in TigerVision that we try to meet every year, and it makes us create better content.” Although setting high standards as a whole team helps everyone improve their dedication and endurance throughout the competition, setting standards individually allows members to target their specific weaknesses. “What I can do personally to win
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WORKING THE NETWORK TigerVision students celebrate with juniors Kaden Lloyd and Colton Capps after they won the Best Director award at the Student Television Network Competition in Nashville, Tenn., and select TigerVision students won a trip to travel to Moscow, Russia, in an exchange program to make videos.
more awards next year is to practice more,” Capps said. “I definitely need to search how to make better graphics, better transitions and better special effects to make the story noteworthy.” Winning the trip to Russia not only will give the TigerVision members an experience of a lifetime, but will also provide them with an array of opportunities for their future.
“I hope this trip and collaboration will further my career for college so I can get into a better school, because this is a huge opportunity to do so,” junior Kaden Lloyd said. “It will be exciting to see the cultural gaps that there are between us.” “I’m also super excited in going to the FIFA World Cup and getting interviews and doing things that I love doing.” aprilalvarado@tigertimesonline.com
BACK TO THE CAMPGROUND
AP Ambassadors aid staff at Camp Preston Hunt
BY VICTORIA VAN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
photo by a.k. jordan
LENDING A HELPING HAND Juniors Joseph Rodgers and Hannah Klein aid Highland Park Elementary School students during a hike at Camp Preston Hunt.
The AP Ambassadors served as assistants to Camp Preston Hunt staff while Highland Park Elementary students were visiting for “Character Camp” on April 4. AP Ambassadors is an organization made up of 16 students that strives to diversify Advanced Placement and Dual Credit classes. Ultimately, the goal of AP Ambassadors is to interact with younger individuals and promote attitudes of success and involvement. “Our purpose is to serve as an organization and as individuals [and] present an opportunity to do that,” sponsor Carla Dupree said. “One of the driving purposes is trying to branch out and break barriers that are introduced in kids at a young [age] and AP Ambassadors are trying to be those role models that younger kids can look up to.” Although this event was a first for the kids and the ambassadors, the camp was deemed a success due to the cooperation and collaboration of all the members. “It was the first time for Highland Park first graders to attend Character Camp,” camp coordinator Linda
Willis said. “Thanks to AP Ambassadors and Scout volunteers, the Character Camp was very successful for the children and teachers. More importantly, the students played cooperatively and shared life experiences.” Different activities required the help of the ambassadors, whether it was making sure the kids were appropriately using camp equipment or guiding them through the trails. “I enjoyed helping out the elementary kids during the Pirate Ship Hike,” junior Hannah Klein said. “We went on a treasure hunt with the kids. We helped out some of the forest rangers as they were explaining safety protocols. There was one elementary class that was really respectful and kind toward everyone, and that’s what made the trip worthwhile.” Now, the AP Ambassadors have gained some experience within the community in order to further their goals as an organization and establish themselves as role models. “The more we interact with younger kids, our mission as AP Ambassadors of breaking down barriers will succeed,” Dupree said. victoriavan@tigertimesonline.com
8 NEWS
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
RENOVATED PRIDE District-approved $5 million tax note will be used for variety of improvements
BY JOSEPH RODGERS NEWS EDITOR
Texas High will begin to undergo various district and campus-wide improvements, including the renovation of the construction technology building located beside the PAC into a multipurpose building that will feature a dance studio and locker room for the Texas HighSteppers, a new studio for TigerVision, and function as a testing center. The renovation comes from a school board-approved $5 million tax note from a monthly February meeting that will be used for a wide variety of district and campus improvements but cannot be used for any new construction. “We will work on the construction trade building and look to try to make it a ‘Tiger Studio’ which would consist of a dressing facility and a permanent practice facility for the drill team,” Chief Operations Officer Casey Nichols said. “We are also looking at moving some other programs out there, such as TigerVision and different performing arts and careerbased courses that work closely with the PAC. Having them in close proximity [to the PAC] would work out well for them.” The building will give the Texas HighSteppers their first official home on campus, allowing them to store their belongings in a locker room and giving them their own practice studio. “The largest benefit that we have to get out of it will be that we will finally have
a place for all of our stuff,” HighStepper Director Amber Reynolds said. “The HighSteppers will no longer have to carry all of their belongings around campus, and instead, they can put them in the studio in the morning and get dressed in the afternoon. We will also have uninterrupted practice and plenty of space all year wherever we perform or practice.” Additionally, the building will give TigerVision a new home with more space. “The main benefit that we are looking at is more space,” TigerVision director Charles Aldridge said. “We’ve been growing out of the walls here for several years, and we have been in this location for 18 years. We just need more space, and it wouldn’t hurt to have a nice rebuild because we have wires and things that need to be repaired [and stored away]. We are working on the layout and the design of how we want it right now, so we’ll see what we get.” The relocation will also strategically place TigerVision next to the PAC. “The second benefit is being up next to the theater,” Aldridge said. “We do a lot of productions in the theater, so being right there next-door is going to be a big plus.” The $5 million tax note will also be used for upgrades to various athletic facilities, including re-laying of the turf field in the multipurpose building and rebuilding the track field with turf. “Unfortunately, there is the
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BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD A rendering from Bartlett Architecture of the renovated construction technology building shows the concept of the building when completed. Renovation construction will begin this summer.
issue with a spring running underneath the track field which we encountered a decade ago, but instead of lifting it up again, we’re going to try to redo it,” Nichols said. “We want to also upgrade it to a UIL-spec track so we can have events and things like that there.” Starting in next year’s season, the marching band will receive new uniforms. “The current uniforms we have are about 10 years old, and the shakos are 20 years old. Everything is beginning to fall apart, and we barely have enough shakos to equip the full band,” band director Arnie Lawson said. “We will get a more contemporary-looking uniform for the Tiger Band so that we can look as good as we sound. We expect to receive our new uniforms late next fall.” TISD plans to spread technology infusion across the district by purchasing more
Chromebooks and iPads for in-classroom use. Algebra II teacher Nicole Ayers has hosted a pilot classroom for Chromebooks since last year, and the success of the technology has convinced the district to invest in more handheld devices. “This is my second year to have a classroom set of Chromebooks for my math classes,” Ayers said. “Most students in my surveys about technology in the classroom say that the Chromebooks have had a positive impact on their learning since they can get immediate feedback from an assignment and collaborate with their peers when working on projects and other group activities.” The board of trustees has a significant number of other projects that are being considered but will not come to a final decision until after the board meetings in the upcoming months.
“Besides what we have already announced and the renovation of the construction trade building, there are several different things that we’re looking at right now, but we haven’t specifically said that these are the exact items we will do,” Nichols said. “We have a large scope of things that we’re looking at, especially at some of the ones that are the highest priority.” Overall, the school board remains optimistic about the various improvements being made and hopes that students and faculty alike will feel and enjoy the impact that these improvements will make over the next year. “I feel very confident in where we’re going to end up being [on these improvements],” Nichols said. “I’m very optimistic about how these improvements will shape up for us financially and how well received they will be.” josephrodgers@tigertimesonline.com
APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM
Dunn, Nutter & Morgan, L.L.P. -ATTORNEYS AT LAWPracticing in Arkansas & Texas
James Beck
jwbeck@dnmlawfirm.com
James L. Cook
jlcook@dnmlawfirm.com
3601 Richmond Road Texarkana, Texas 75503-0716 Telephone (903) 793-5651 Fax (903) 794-5651 www.dnmlawfirm.com
COMMUNITY
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10 EDITORIAL
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
Texas High School 4001 Summerhill Rd. Texarkana, TX (903) 794-3891 Fax (903) 792-8971 The Tiger Times is a student-run publication. The contents and view are produced solely by the staff and do not represent the opinions of the faculty, administration or TISD board of directors.
LOOK AHEAD TO SAFETY It's time to take measures to increase sense of safety
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ince 2013, there have been more than 300 school shootings in America. There have been at least 17 shootings in 2018 alone, averaging more than once a week. Students don’t think it will ever happen to them until it does. Under the shadow of this threat, schools must step up to the plate to make their students feel safe and educate them on how to react in the event of a school shooter. There is a problem, however, with the measures being introduced to increase our safety. The fact that Texas High’s campus is predominantly outdoors increases the risk of an intruder. There are too many entrances and exits at which to install metal detectors and security, compounded by the fact that the crossing guards and police officers aren't always in their kiosks or stations to safely monitor the flow in and out of the school. While teachers do participate in some drills in the incident of a school shooter, kids are left clueless aside from knowing to sit away from the door and be quiet. Students need to know what to do, what not to do and where to go. If someone were to get stuck in the halls or separated from their teacher, they would automatically become more vulnerable in a shooting situation, but especially if they have no knowledge of how to react. Mental health is closely tied to school shootings. Some argue that it is the
source of shooting, and recognizing those students who are unstable could avoid the incident early on. Some schools require teachers to participate in mental health workshops where teachers learn how to identify signs and symptoms of mental health issues. By implementing these workshops, we could be addressing the problem at its source. However, after investigation of the Florida shooting, it was discovered that many students and teachers had reported Nikolas Cruz for troubling behavior. He was investigated a year before the shooting by the Florida Department of Children and Families. Additionally, the FBI received a tip that he intended to kill people at school. In this way, the system failed to protect citizens. Schools don’t act until it happens, as seen with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida after 17 were killed and 14 injured. Why act after it happened and not before? No protocol can stop the deranged from waltzing into schools, guns blazing. School is a garden to cultivate tomorrow’s youth. School should not be a prison. While we do surrender some of our rights at school, we should not have to surrender whatever sense of safety we have, nor should we be stripped of our privacy. In Parkland, students are now being required to wear clear backpacks. This happened before after Columbine when mesh backpacks became
popular, but they quickly went out of fashion after the safety fervor died down. It seems as if the Fourth Amendment that protects right to privacy is being infringed upon, while the Second is unnegotiable, which is not under the school's authority. While active shooter drills give us a sense of what to do, our mental clarity is compromised by panic. There will most likely be mayhem when the lights turn off. Only in the aftermath of tragedy are we forced to consider what we have done wrong and begin to take additional preventative measures. Whatever side of the gun control issue a person supports, there should be no argument that students should be safe at school. The responsibility falls to both students and faculty. Students should report any suspicious behavior immediately to administrators, and law enforcement officials should take those reports seriously. Our administration should continually evaluate safety procedures and make sure that they are communicated effectively to students and staff. There should be no ambiguity in our knowledge of escape. It's not just the teenage "spirit." It's not rebellion. At the end of day, it's selfpreservation. Download the HP Reveal App and scan for vvideo content
editors in chief-print Colton Johnson, Eleanor Schroeder editors in chief-online Celeste Anderson, Langley Leverett managing editor Jay Williamson news editors Lois LeFors, Joseph Rodgers viewpoint editors Craig Crawford, Lindsey Egger feature editors Misty Lopez, Jhovany Perez sports editors Connor Brooks, John Morgan, Matt Prieskorn entertainment editors Madison Brown, Victoria Van advertising Maddie Anderson copy editors Paisley Allen, Emily McMaster photo editor Kaitlyn Gordon video editor Katie Biggar staff writers April Alvarado, Emma Anderson, Maddie Anderson, Joseph Asher, Katie Biggar, Hollan Borowitz, Jackson Cheney, Addison Cross, Margaret Debenport, Savannah Downs, Amanda Garmon, Maddie Gerrald, Autumn Golden, Jenny Gonzalez, Kaitlyn Gordon, Audrey Haskins, Alyssa Higgins, Grey Johnson, Anna Grace Jones, Molly Kyles, Andrea Loredo, Matthew Martin, Nick Mitchell, Cameron Murry, Connor Powell, Alexis Runnels, Emilee Slayton, Greylyn Tidwell, TJ Wall, Jenna Williamson photographers Breanan Cranford, Rivers Edwards, Alyssa Higgins, Anna Kate Jordan, Dawson Kelley, Alyssa Kift, Grace McGuire, Auryeal Parker, Holland Rainwater, Rachel Sizemore, Angela Valle, Laurel Wakefield videographers Cameron Alcorn, Kara Jefferies, Taimoor Malik, Karson McDonald, John Morgan, Eleanor Schroeder, Emilee Slayton, Sarah Stark, Joseph Rodgers advisers Rebecca Potter, Clint Smith principal Brad Bailey members ILPC, CSPA, NSPA
APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM
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question that plagues me concerning strangers is: Where did you come from? From a first glance, I’m Asian. Yet, I always respond with a straightforward answer: I’m from Texas. It’s where I was born and have grown up my whole life as I identify as an Asian-American. It’s simple, yet the guise people utilize to ask where I come from garners another question: No, where are you really from? It’s essentially a euphemism for: Tell me your race and what country you came from because I’m dazzlingly curious. I don’t mind revealing that small part of myself as long as it’s out of sheer curiosity and not a borderline ignorant questioning. I’ve never been overly concerned with where I came from because my sense of traditional Asian heritage has been supported by my mother. I never saw myself as different from any other person in the world until I was exposed to an environment where I’d be the odd one out in a group of unfamiliar people that knew nothing about me. To add on, I learned how to speak Spanish at a young age, so it further confuses people when they’re in the midst of trying to figure out who I am. Often, people think I’m Asian, but they never guess Vietnamese due to the fact that I don’t look like the ideal version of my race. I’ve been identified as Caribbean, Chinese and Japanese, among other races, and these assumptions arose in my mind constantly. I soon wore down my own curiosities and decided to venture out to discover what I’m genetically made up of instead of relying on other people’s assumptions. 23andMe is a genetic testing service that genotypes your DNA and lets you know your ancestry. It also reveals how many generations ago your most recent ancestor for each population in a timeline existed,
among other characteristics, such as inherited traits, who your maternal haplogroup is, etc. I used this service in order to unearth mysteries about myself that have been hidden in my genetics. I witnessed the breakdown of my genes that were traced to my maternal haplogroup, which is B5a1. Many would glaze over this since it doesn’t specifically pinpoint who it is, yet knowing how families of lineages that come from one common ancestor is fascinating because of how close-knit my ancestry is linked. My ancestry composition revealed that I’m over 80 percent Southeastern Asian, which isn’t surprising since my father is full-blooded and my mother is Asian as well. On the other hand, my mother is mixed with Mexican, and the second highest percentage of my composition is 13.7 percent European, more specifically Iberian, which is where my Mexican heritage appears since many Iberians conquered areas in Mexico. It was intriguing to find out that somewhere in my lineage contained traces of Ashkenazi Jewish, Mongolian and Scandinavian. Hopefully, now that I’ve gained closure by acquiring the knowledge 23andMe has offered, I am now able to let go of all of the preconceived notions that people assume about my race and move on with the more important matters in life. I’ve ultimately learned that my ancestry is comprised of so much more than what I thought. I’m still maturing and growing, and at the end of the day, I need to take the ancestry as a grain of salt. Even though I’ve confirmed my genetics, I am not going to let that information dominate the characteristics that I’m continuing to forge as I manifest my individuality.
VIEWPOINT
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UNRAVELING MY DNA
Genetic testing reveals more than ancestry BY VICTORIA VAN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
ANCESTRY COMPOSITION
Southeast Asian 58.7% Chinese, Mongolian and Manchurian 16.4% European 13.7% Native American 7.5% *3.1 percent is unassigned because the 23andMe algorithm can’t pinpoint a region of your DNA to a specific population
Sub-Saharan African and West African 0.7%
victoriavan@tigertimesonline.com
page by v. van
12 VIEWPOINT
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
LIFE UNDER THE CROSSHAIRS
Living in constant fear is not a solution BY ANNA GRACE JONES STAFF WRITER
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n the event of a school shooting, people lose. They lose their lives, their loved ones, their sense of security, and in this absence comes the presence of fear. It is not a response confined to the victims, but rather a reaction that reaches all those that hear of the incident. People fear that it will happen again. They fear that the next time it will be in their community or in their school. The thing that scares us the most is the motivation behind the killings. Most school shooters aren’t old, disgruntled men, but in fact, young kids acting on behalf of their malicious impulses. Most school shooters act on emotional or political resentments and use that kind of terrorism as a kind of outlet for their frustration. Trends in school shootings are inconsistent however. The FBI and Congress have changed from using a definition of “mass shooting,” in which four or more people are killed, in 2012 to using a definition of “active shooter,” an armed assailant with the intent to kill. These changes in federal statistics complicate trends in school shootings in the past decade. As a counter to this ominous threat, people demand stricter gun laws on the national scale and the right to arm teachers or change a school’s plan of action in the event of a shooting on a more local scale. It’s a rule of thumb that when people are afraid of an impending incident, they do whatever they can to prepare or prevent as a way to stop feeling helpless and defenseless.
This reaction, to do something, is good and necessary. People shouldn’t just stand by and do nothing, but it must also be recognized that there is only so much that can be done to avoid a school shooting. Someone capable of committing a crime of this caliber suffers from some kind of derangement. If someone is so legally, logically and morally inept that they could go into a school with the sole intention to murder innocent people, it is apparent that they have something wrong. Realistically, someone of this condition is not going to be constrained by laws seeing that achieving their goal requires them to commit several crimes. If they need a gun, they will find a way to get a gun whether it be done legally or not. The same principle applies to a shooter’s ability to make their way onto a campus. Limiting entrances, increasing security and armed staff, and changing the way students and faculty are supposed react to a shooting are all good tactics to make it more difficult for the assailant to complete their intended task, but it will not make it impossible. Challenges and consequences are beneficial steps to be taken, but they are not the solution. As far as we as a nation know, there is no solution. Due to this fact, we will continually live in fear.. This fear confines and limits us, but it shouldn’t. The possibility of a school shooting occurring should not prohibit a person from living their life or living without a constant sense of fear. To marginalize it would be to describe it as an opportunity for danger that is present
at all times. It most likely will not happen, but there is still the slim chance that it will. There is danger everywhere we turn. There is danger in driving, there is danger in eating, there is danger in technology, and there is danger in meeting new people. But we choose to push through it and live without being afraid. The same goes for a school shooting. To reside in a state of worry is almost like letting the criminal win. A shooter’s goal is to inflict pain, heartache and fear, and in most scenarios, they succeed. But if we as a society can choose to focus on life instead of the chance of death, we take back some of our security, and in a way, we win. annagracejones@tigertimesonline.com
SPEAKING THROUGH SILENCE Survivor turned spokeswoman leads the charge for gun control BY MADDIE ANDERSON STAFF WRITER
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he blood of classmates. The ruins of a school. What was once a sanctuary is now a battlefield. It was on Valentine’s Day that the line between death and life was carelessly crossed by a teenger armed with an AR-15. It was on this day, that national movement begun and this generation’s next political leader was created. Emma Gonzalez, an 18-year-old Florida native, emerged from the rubble of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with her fist held high in protest and rage in her eyes. Her words following that tragic day were heard by millions of Americans, piercing through the ear of every student and parent. Her voice rings today with the sound of the fallen American school children.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas student Emma Gonzalez speaks to the crowd during March for Our Lives to demand stricter gun control laws on Saturday, March 24, 2018, in Washington, D.C. (Mike Stocker/Sun Sentinel/TNS)
Born to a immigrant fleeing the harsh dictatorship of Cuba, Emma has grown up with the will to fight against
oppressive governments. Her strong statements of individualism have always been at the forefront of her personality. Her opening sentence in an article for Harper’s Bazaar bluntly states this steadfastness, writing “I am 18 years old, Cuban, and bisexual.” She is sure of who she is and what she wants. Since the massacre that murdered 17 of her classmates, Emma has relentlessly advocated for more gun control. She has marched for student’s rights and covered multinational magazines. She has called for the stop of NRA funding and empty sympathies and pleaded for action. She has yelled and begged, stood silent and cried, all in the hopes of having those that are meant to protect students to hear her, to hear every student. Through her words following that fateful day, we don’t just see a survivor. We see a teenager with the will and determination to change the world that
so wrongly treated her and her fallen friends. With each scream in frustration and every silent tear, we can feel the power shift from the hands of the all powerful, never-present legislators and major companies, to a teenage girl. She is not backed by political allies or money-laden companies, but instead she’s filled with the sorrow of the murdered and the rage of a generation. The revolution sweeping through America is at the mercy of an 18-year-old armed with a cell phone and a voice. Emma Gonzalez not only fights the movement for students rights, but shows the power that teenagers, like ourselves, have. Through her voice, we are beginning to readjust our perceptions of students from hormonal teens to activists and leaders with the ability to shape the politics of a nation. maddieanderson@tigertimesonline.com
APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM
VIEWPOINT
WHERE DID THE LOVE GO? T
As we grow older, we either grow apart or grow together
he person you told everything to when you were younger, the person you knew would always be on your side, the person you could put all of your trust in, now seems a million miles away and removed from your life. Growing up, my mom was the person I would run to with all of my issues, triumphs or just to talk to. I felt as if I could tell her about anything in my life, and she would listen intently and be understanding. Now it feels like I have to hold my tongue and act like a different person when I’m around her. There are things about my life she is unaware of, like my interests, problems and a plethora of other things. Our once close relationship began to change for the worse while I was in middle school. I think that every child’s relationship with their parent will change slightly as they get older, but I never anticipated the change in the bond between my mother and I to be so drastic. I can’t identify any singular event
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that served as the catalyst in our falling Time passed and the tension died out, but rather that we were both going down, leaving things worse than they through a series of rough patches in had previously been. We were like two our lives that unfortunately collided ships passing in the night. She didn’t with the other. Initially we stopped pay attention to me, and I didn’t pay communicating, and on the rare attention to her. I entered high school occasion we did share a conversation, it and with that came a host of new felt distant and uncomfortable. It was experiences that I couldn’t tell her about. like this for about a year, and while it When a problem would arise, I didn’t was unpleasant, it hadn’t reached the have her there to turn to for advice. point where it felt hostile yet. Eventually I became used to this and Upon entering eighth grade, made my peace with it. I didn’t feel like tension between my mother and I I had any other choice because having grew exponentially. Our conversations a healthy relationship with my mom changed from being cold and distant to seemed impossible. aggressive and tense. There were times As of now, things have pretty much when we would fight for what felt like stayed the same. But there are moments weeks, non stop verbal and physical that give me hope for the future. A altercations. After months of being in conversation about how our day was. such a hostile environment, it started Shared excitement for the weekend. To to take a toll on my mental health and most, such interactions seem incredibly school work. I found myself retaining mundane and natural, but to me they the aggression that I built up at home are a sign that there is potential for us and lashing out on people I considered to rekindle someday. I’m not sure if we to be my friends, which consequently can be as close as we once were, but she pushed them away. I had never felt more doesn’t feel worlds away. alone. writer wishes to remain anonymous
HOW TO BE A HELICOPTER MOM? Step-by-step guide to ruining your kid’s life BY MOLLY KYLES STAFFWRITER
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oms, have you ever felt unsatisfied with your involvement in your child’s life? Is watching over them summer and weekends just not enough? Do you live vicariously through them? If you answered yes to any of these, then you probably have already achieved the coveted status of Helicopter Mom, but their are always more things you can do to improve your hovering. Firstly, make sure there is no aspect of your child’s life that you aren’t involved in. Most average moms will give their kids advice on extracurriculars, volunteering and classes. Make sure you stand out from those careless moms by actively planning and even taking part in all activities your child does. This means visiting your child’s school so much that you’re on a first name basis with all the ladies in the front office,
the academic advisers have an entire filing cabinet full of your requested schedule changes, and every other mom knows that the parking spot closest to the office is indubitably yours. Normal moms might visit the school a mere three or four times a year, but you’re no normal mom, so keep your record of visits high! Sometimes you show up to school more than the people who work there! If your child gets a bad grade, don’t be afraid to call their teacher for them and complain. Teachers love hearing concerned moms argue about a grade their student has. Besides, your child could never talk to the teacher about the grade without you, because they might not say the right thing! It’s crucial that you step in at any point you can— your kid can use all the help they can get. You will always be there for them, even in adulthood, so make sure they know from an early age that they won’t ever need to do anything for themselves.
Make sure you find your flock— that one group of helicopter moms just like you— so you can combine your supermom powers and coordinate all of your children’s friendships too! It’s important that your group of moms had matching haircuts and very frequent social meetings. Brunches and other get-togethers are great opportunities to compare your child to everyone else’s and hear the latest gossip about your teen’s life. You are completely right in your assumption that any parent who doesn’t know their child’s schedule front to back is negligent and deserves to have their kids taken away by Child Protective Services. True caring parents should know where their kids are and what they are doing every second the day. As any good helicopter mom knows, life is all smiles and flowers, and struggles just aren’t meant for your kid. So if you ever see your child struggle on a project, homework, or class,
v by ion trat illus
just do it for them! This can range from emailing teachers questions to literally doing the work for your child. School work may seem too hard for any student, but don’t worry, as soon as your child graduates, they will never have to work again! But ladies, let’s get real for a second. Being a mother is tough, and sometimes it feels necessary to overcompensate for your faults by being overbearing and overprotective. Insecurities and a need for control can end up determining the way you treat your child, and the choices you make might not always be the best for them as a result. But hey, on the bright side, they’ll graduate with a 4.0. mollykyles@tigertimesonline.com
van
IS YOUR MOM A HELICOPTER MOM?
Visits over three of your teachers Comes to school during school hours Monitors how long you spend on your phone Follows all your social media Emails your teachers Always knows what homework you have Reminds you to study
14 FEATURE
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
ACCEPTING THE UNACCEPTABLE
photo by a. runnels
Living through breast cancer tests emotional and physical strength BY LANGLEY LEVERETT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
and do a blood test and all of that. They released me from the hospital, and a week or so after, they called my mom and told her that it was cancer. At first it was stage 3, but it’s gone down, so now I am at stage 2. I do Pain shoots through her upper chest. It’s hard to injections around my breasts on both sides, and they’re breathe, hard to think. Slowly, the compression eases going to keep doing that since it’s working. They said if and her lungs begrudgingly open, providing relief. She it gets any worse, then they will transfer me to another closes her eyes and focuses on the air entering and treatment.” leaving, through her nose and out of her mouth. Over Although it was shocking news, this was not her first and over. Over and over. She begins to pray to God, encounter with breast cancer. thanking him. She gives thanks for her remaining “I had breast cancer last year, and nobody knew. My health. She reminds herself that he has spared her life dad was with me for that appointment, and my mom another day on earth. She is in pain. She is tired. But didn’t even know. I kept it secretive,” she said. “But that she is full of strength — strength that is greater than was the first time that I found out about it. It was right any cold diagnosis. before school started, but that wasn’t as bad as it is now, Diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in the winter of and it was only in one side of my breast.” 2017, she was initially numb to the news. She had no This uncovering, however, was not only devastating thought, no emotional outbreak and all that remained due to the state of her health, but what it meant for her was just an unfeeling resolve. However, she is now family. determined to focus on her life, and the things in her “My grandma always said to ‘stay strong,’ and she control. said that anytime someone would ask her how she gets “It was during Christmas break, and we were out through [her cancer], she said, ‘I just stay strong.’ She of town. I woke up in the middle of the night, and passed away three weeks before I found out I had it,” my mom thought it was just an asthma attack. (I have she said. “You can only imagine how I felt. I honestly asthma, and I’ve had one before, and that was exactly couldn’t focus or process it. It did not hit me until a how it felt.) So she took me to the hospital. They gave week after. I wasn’t upset. I wasn’t crying; I just couldn’t me a breathing treatment, and they gave me IV,” she think. I just said, ‘This is what’s about to happen, and I said. “Well, they said it was worse than what an asthma can’t do anything about it.’” attack should have been. They said they were going She chooses to keep her mind preoccupied so she to give me an X-ray and see if there’s anything in my doesn’t have a chance to dwell on the reality of her lungs, any liquid or anything.” situation. Her family waited in anticipation for the call to “I was scared because it runs in my mom’s side of the come, to see whether or not she would have cancer. family, and everybody who has had breast cancer has “They did it, and they found this large mass and died. I was scared, but after talking to my mom and dad said they can’t identify it, so they were going to do a about it [I felt better.] They keep me calm and tell me CT scan. I did that, and they found multiple masses, not to worry. They tell me to think positive, so that’s and they said they didn’t know if it was cancerous or what I’m trying to do right now,” she said. “I keep my not,” she said. “So they were going to draw my blood mind off of it, I stay in sports, and I don’t think about
it. I know it will get to me, and I will feel down about it, and I’ll block everybody out. So I try to keep my mind focused with grades, school and going to work. I keep myself going so I don’t sit there and think about it all of the time.” Having support during this strenuous time has been crucial to her stability, and she is grateful for her parents the most. “My dad has always been there for me. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have my dad. He’s always there for me. He takes me to all my doctor’s appointments; he’s there for me whenever I’m down,” she said. “My mom is just one of those people you can talk to,. She’ll listen and then give advice to help. If they were not here, I don’t know where I would be right now.” Life doesn’t give individuals a choice as to what storm they will endure, but she makes it crystal clear that one can overcome, simply if they will themselves to. “A lot of people think that breast cancer is hard — that it’s something you just can’t live with, that you just can’t do anything,” she said. “I come to school everyday, I go through my regular schedule everyday. No matter what you go through, just know that you can always get through it if you just put your mind to it.” To be thankful during a crisis is often the last item on the list, however, she makes it a priority to give praise in her faith and to keep two solid feet in her daily walk with God. “I was going to church for a really long time, and I found out and stopped going. I have been trying to go back, but now I have a job and school, and it’s been hard,” she said. “But I thank him everyday that I am still here, that I wake up in the morning and that he’s given me the opportunities that he’s given me, and that he’s getting me through this.” langleyleverett@tigertimesonline.com
*subject wishes to remain anonymous
APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM
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14 INDEPTH
by c. jo illustration
Invisible walls stand in this school. Walls we came to know by years of growing apart. Walls whose shadows grow taller and darker, eclipsing students from the light. Two schools exist within each other: students who wish to succeed and students that wish to survive, separated by the roads by which they get here. This fracture includes the education these students receive and the atmosphere in which students approach their education. “I feel like people from a lower socioeconomic background already feel like they have a stigma against them. In feeling like that, they already have a preconceived notion that they aren’t good enough, so students tend to hang around the type of kids that are like them,” economics teacher Angela Spence said. “Even though your potential may be more than you show, if you put yourself in a box and don’t take yourself out of it, nobody else will.” Rooted in socioeconomic status, race, parental support, and the involvement of school faculty, walls continue to show up at every turn. Students live under and adjust to the weight of the atmosphere at school with an apparent partition existing between the disadvantaged and the advantaged — a difference in attitudes regarding the classroom, which sometimes stems from their parents. According to a study by the Connecticut Commission for Children, twice as many low-income parents suffer from depression as other parents. Depression in parents is connected with poor behavior by their children in school. A behavior difficult to shake off, but not impossible to overcome. “By the time you get to me, it’s too late. I teach seniors. [Bridging the gap] should’ve started back in the third or fourth grade, but since it didn’t, it’s just a generational thing,” Spence said. “They think, ‘You know my big sister, my big brother didn’t take [higher level] classes, so I’m not taking those classes because I can’t do it.’ I think it should be the mission of the school to be colorblind, blind to socioeconomic status, and to treat all students like they’re the same. We know they’re not, but who’s to say that if you don’t reach out and encourage a kid, that they can’t do it.” School faculty play a crucial role in the development of students’ character and work ethic. They influence students for better or for worse, especially those in the lower socioeconomic classes. According to a study done by Risley and Hart, in homes of those from poverty, children commonly get half as much positive reinforcement as negative reinforcement, compared to a 3-to-1 ratio of positives to negatives in middle-class homes. With investments of faith, students have a tool to scale their walls. “Maybe a student has all the potential in the world, but if you don’t have somewhere to go for support, as far as that academic level of rigor, then it’s going to be really difficult. Sometimes parents are just doing the best they know how; they just don’t know any better,” Assistant Principal Carla Dupree said. “I came from an economically disadvantaged home, but it was always understood that I would always go to college. Because my mom and dad told me I could, and a few educators told me I could, it made all the difference.” This encouragement must start young in primary education. It is the power of one voice that can change the course of a student’s life. “Sometimes, it only takes one person to believe in us, to encourage us to believe that we ‘can’ do something. Teachers
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BY ANNA GRACE JONES & COLTON JOHNSON STAFF WRITER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
are essential since they have the ability and position to encourage students to do more than they think they can,” English teacher Michele Rigdon said. “Often, students shortchange themselves and doubt what they are capable of doing. Sometimes it can be really hard to know where to start. Teachers are a fabulous resource. They can ‘be the light’ for students to see their own potential.” With this in mind, however, it is not teachers alone who can bridge this gap. “Students also have to have a desire within their own heart to put in the work that will pay off later,” Rigdon said. “Upper level courses involve a lot of hard work, just like anything in life that is worth doing. However, the payoff is worth every bit.” Nonetheless, there is, at times, negative connotation surrounding higher level programs, such as STEM, Dual Credit and Advanced Placement. Teachers are ineligible to teach STEM until they receive their master’s degree, which compounds a certain elitism within the program. The idea that these programs are generally for upper class white students reinforces the lack of diversity in higher level classes, and it deters other students that don’t fit that stereotype from partaking in the program due to the assumption that they will be alone and unable to succeed. “They feel like they’ll be separated in the classroom because
their friends won’t be in there, they’ll be in a class where nobody is like them, or they’ll feel uncomfortable,” junior AP Ambassador Destiny Hunter said. “This makes them feel like they can’t engage and learn in the classroom, so they just stay where they are inside of their comfort zone.” All of this is evident in the attitude expressed at Texas High. The two ends of the spectrum are present, but it seems there is little common ground. This is where the AP Ambassadors step in. Rooted in student outreach by students themselves, the AP Ambassadors play the role of the middle man. “Our mission is to increase awareness of the benefits of taking Advanced Placement and Dual Credit classes and encourage them to push themselves while we are there to support them,” AP Ambassadors President Chandler BurseyReece said. “We want to increase interest in these programs through community service and outreach. We plan to assist children with a summer reading program, be a mentorship program next year, and speak with kids at the middle school to encourage them to take [higher level courses].” While there are walls of separation within this school that have been built and fortified with time, there is also a light. It is a light that shines from within faculty and students, that counteracts the shadows, and has the power to break the wall. “We have so much talent and knowledge in our student
body, and if we utilize that energy to help others, then I think we all benefit,” Dupree said. “The more we expand this process throughout the campus, the better off we all are.” While AP Ambassadors are a positive step in the right direction, there are still areas in the school which divide students. Some scholarships and college representative visits are only offered to a select group of students. Along with this, the college panel earlier this year was predominantly white. When a student inquired about balancing the college workload with a job, none of the alumni could speak from experiences as none of them had to have a job. “Seventy percent of that audience tunes them out. 70 percent of that audience doesn’t know what they’re talking about,” Spence said. “What is our mission? To produce a productive adult for tomorrow.” Representation, above all, is important. It’s important for students to see others in situations similar to theirs succeed, important for them to have hope for their own futures. Without hope, there is nothing. Without hope, nothing changes, remaining stagnant while others progress, making the gap even wider and the wall stronger. “We all have the ability to take the first step,” Rigdon said. “We won’t know if we can succeed unless we try.” annagracejones@tigertimesonline.com coltonjohnson@tigertimesonline.com
LEAD BY EXAMPLE BY HOLLAN BOROWITZ & COLTON JOHNSON STAFF WRITER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
There are people who simply mirror what they know. They live a life giving into the idea that they will never amount to be better than their suffocating surroundings. Children become their parents — the image they have grown up watching, mimicking. And then there are students like junior Cole Drumm, who had the courage to face his adversity and overcome it. “It was rough not having a father because every boy needs a father. Nothing can really fill the spot. Luckily for me though, I had a grandfather who has always pushed me to get my degree and always do my best no matter what,” Drumm said. “He was a middle school dropout when he was in school, so he always pushed me to do the best I could. That’s where most of my motivation comes from. Without him and my mom, I don’t know where I would be.” However, while Drumm had the drive to do better than those who came before him, he still didn’t have the guidance from someone who understood the importance of higher level classes since his role models had not been able to partake in them themselves. “I’m not from upper classes. I’m not rich,” Drumm said. “I’m a young kid just trying to make it. I want to be the first in my family to finish college; that’s my biggest goal.” Although Drumm had aspirations for his future in mind, he, much like many other students, had external forces holding him back from success which were out of his control. “Last year, I had a very tough family situation going on that is still affecting me today,” Drumm said. “I didn’t have a ride every day to school, and I had over 20 make up hours, and my grades suffered.” There is only so much one person can handle on their own. Without the support of others, Drumm would’ve drowned in the overwhelming workload, as many students do. It would’ve been easy to simply give up, to carry on with his life without pushing himself to reach his potential. But when his REACH teacher Jenny Walker offered him support, his outlook on life changed. “She just steadily kept telling me, ‘You can do it. You can succeed and excel in AP classes,’” Drumm said. “And the more she said it, the more I came to realize that I could. AP classes have helped better my life by helping me see my potential.” After joining, Drumm was asked to be a part of a new organization, the AP Ambassadors. This new outreach program recruits AP students from all walks of life to advocate to students across TISD to believe that they can excel in higher level
15
Support, persevering attitude help overcome obstacles
classes. These students are there to help them. Drumm currently serves as the vice president. “A lot of kids don’t think they can handle AP classes or get high grades in them,” Drumm said. “I want kids to be able to see the good in themselves.” In making the choice to challenge himself, he became a role model to guide others, just the same as Walker had once done for him. The lessons he has learned in his rigorous AP English III class are lessons he will carry with him as he embarks on his journey through college. It is a college-level setting that will better prepare him for the future he wants for himself. “AP classes are also more open-minded. The whole class is involved, and you get a lot more help than in regular [classes],” Drumm said. “The work’s a little harder, but you have a lot of help with it.”
photo by a. runnels
A divided student body can be reunited despite the odds
g kin ea br these boundaries
A SCHOOL WITHIN A SCHOOL
page by c. johnson
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
Ultimately, Drumm has used his own experiences to provide a positive example for others, as all the AP Ambassadors are doing. They are showing students that they too can succeed, that they will not be alone in these classes. They are representing students who do not usually find themselves sitting in an AP class, and in doing so, they hope to encourage others to join, bridging the gap — the divide within the student body. “I want kids to read this and know that no matter what is going on at home or whatever it is they’re struggling with, they shouldn’t let anything hold them back from doing their absolute best academically, and that it’s OK to fail,” Drumm said. “They should never give up and keep pushing on.” hollanborowitz@tigertimesonline.com coltonjohnson@tigertimesonline.com
18 FEATURE
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018 photo from archive
Government teacher faces adversity, continues to teach, inspire students BY ELEANOR SCHROEDER EDITOR IN CHIEF
archive photo
There are teachers who follow a guideline. They teach the curriculum and only the curriculum. And then, there are teachers like John P. Littmann, who open their students' eyes to other perspectives. They teach more than a history or calculus lesson: they teach life lessons. A month ago, senior government teacher John Littmann suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. The numerous scans revealed he has stage four cancer metastatic melanoma. Currently, he is in rehab working to gain the use of the right side of his body again. “I feel hopeful and humbled,” Littmann said. “Every once in a while [in physical therapy] we will get a big thrill out of me being able to move a new area of my body, so that usually keeps me going.” Littmann says one of his main goals in therapy is to relearn to tie a necktie. Known around school for wearing a tie everyday, Littmann’s collection of ties is so vast, he never repeats one all year. “I keep trying to justify of figure out how I got here,” Littmann said. “‘Was I not taking care of myself ?’ I wonder. I talk to my students about the 10 most perfect foods to convince them to care about what they put into their bodies, but that didn't prevent me from getting sick. I don’t think you can plan for
something like this. If you have a stroke in your future it is going to happen. This is something I wasn’t planning for, but it has been an interesting wake up call.” Littmann has been teaching at THS since 1993, only leaving for two years to teach in Colombia. This challenging time has shown Littmann the power of a strong support system and the caring community at Texas High. “This has changed my perspective on the Tiger Family, which is a term our school uses for unity," Littmann said. "[The administration] is constantly encouraging us to wear the 'Tiger Family' wristbands and promote the sense of community, but you don’t realize how huge it is until something like this happens.” Many current and past students have visited Littmann and claim that illness has not taken away his drive or spirit. “I saw him just yesterday, and he was so much better,” senior Olivia Parks said. “I saw part of the old Littmann, the funny animated storyteller. He was talking about how Mr. Zach was bringing him the papers the students were doing in class with the substitute and letting him grade. It was so amazing though because even though he was in so much pain he continued grading and working hard to teach his students.” Multiple students say that Littmann used the time they visited to tell stories and information that he traditionally
THE NOTORIOUS WHITE BOX Government teacher John Littmann reviews a senior's government project. Everyone who takes dual credit government must complete a semester-long scavenger hunt for specified items.
NEW TYPE OF LESSONS Government teacher John Littmann holds the gift he received from students. Around 60 of his students posed for a photo wearing a tie or a fake mustache.
does. “Mr. Littmann is such a strong positive role model to so many students at Texas high,” senior Sarah Stark said. “As a student, you can tell when a teacher wants to be there and truly has a passion for their job. Mr. Littmann definitely does. It speaks volumes that even though he was in the hospital he was thinking about his next lesson plans, and even gave us a quick lecture about civil rights when we visited him. He's made a large impact on my life in the short time that I've know him.” Littmann’s class is anticipated by every student who has heard of the semesterlong project and lecture-style classes. Many credit the class to preparing them the most for college. “I love going to his class because the stuff he said opened all of our minds to the reality of the world,” Parks said. “We grow up listening to our parents’ political stances and basing our political beliefs off of theirs, and because of him, I feel like we all kind of formed our own opinion. He taught us so much in just a short amount of time, and it’s so crazy because I still remember the majority of it.” A group of over 60 students took a group photo last week to hang in Mr. Littmann's room. They wore neckties and fake mustaches, in honor of his famous facial hair, during the picture to show appreciation for their teacher. “I organized this picture to try to show
Littmann our support from school and to let him know that we are here for him as he goes through his treatment,” senior Alyssa Kift said. The impact Littmann has made is indisputable, and the students and faculty want to give back to him. “The picture was very humbling and cheered me up,” Littmann said. “It was like bringing the whole classroom in here.” Littmann welcomes visitors, and if you would like to provide a meal for his family, please sign up at mealtrain.com/ trains/94ymk6. Please submit comments of memories from Littmann's class that stand out or encouraging words to tigertimesonline. com. eleanorschroeder@tigertimesonline.com To Mr. Littmann, You have taught us so much. From the history of our government to how to get out of a speeding ticket, our lives were forever changed when we walked into your room. We are here for you in your time of need as your were there to show us what a model citizen, husband, brother, father and teacher is. We want you to do your best to get back to the classroom, but just know how wide the impact you have made already spreads. Oh, and remember, let’s be careful out there. Love, Your students
APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM
FEATURE
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED WITH LOVE Handwritten cards for military by student provides happiness BY VICTORIA VAN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Service. Respect. Discipline. All of these words embody the sentiment sophomore Sophia Conkleton experiences when the topic of the military passes through a conversation. Conkleton’s passion for the sacrifices made by the armed forces provided her with the opportunity to send considerate cards to the military made with love and encouragement. “I was inspired to make the cards for the military because I know that people are overseas sometimes fighting for our country,” Conkleton said. “Not a lot of people care that they’re over there protecting us, sacrificing their lives, so I want to make them feel special.” Honoring each individual is a goal that Conkleton strives to reach by sending handmade cards to each of the military branches as often as she can. “I try to send a military card every day if I have time,” Conkleton said. “I have sent a bunch of cards to the Marine Corps, Navy, Marines, Army and most recently the Coast Guard.” Appreciation of the brave soldiers resonates profoundly in Conkleton’s mind as she thoughtfully relays her every message utilizing crayons or colored pencils for her works. “I put phrases such as ‘Thank you for serving our country’ on the cards, draw pictures for them, and put the names of bases on there. I tell them how much I appreciate their uniforms and everything they do,” Conkleton said. Multitudes of people
questioned the motives of Conkleton’s kindness yet she has prevailed and the people who would question her motives would be the individuals that nurture her efforts by encouraging the messages Conkleton is spreading. “I decided to do it on my own and people ask why I send the letters in the first place, and it’s because I like to,” Conkleton said. “They really appreciate it since they don’t get a lot of presents or rewards overseas.” Pursuing a career in the armed forces seems like a stretch for individuals such as Conkleton with special needs but no obstacle has weakened her willpower to strive in an environment designed to develop determined and spirited people every day. “I think there’s a possibility that people like me could have a position in the military someday,” Conkleton said. “The Red River Army Depot fixes tanks so that could be something I can do to help them.” Conkleton’s heartfelt messages resonate with each person who receives them, and her encouragements will forever be acknowledged and held in high regards. She hopes to embolden the attitudes of each serving member of the military with her words of comfort and stability. “For each person in the military, thank you for protecting me and for defending my country. I care about you and I’ll keep sending stuff and wish you come home safely,” Conkleton said. “Good luck in the military, I love you and I hope you do a good job.” victoriavan@tigertimesonline.com
Illustration by v. van
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20 FEATURE
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
TREK TO TEXAS
New student shares experiences throughout her journey across the globe submitted photo
BY MARGARET DEBENPORT STAFF WRITER
STRIKE A POSE Freshman Jennifer Jordan dances in a picture taken of her while she lived in South Korea.
Starting high school can be frightening, and moving to a new high school in the first weeks of your freshman year can double that fear. For freshman Jennifer Jordan, she became acclimated to the transition better than expected for her first year in high school. “I think the [transition] was pretty smooth because everyone at Texas High is so friendly,” Jordan said. “In the past schools that I moved to, I went months without making any friends. Here, in the first week I started talking to many people which made the move really easy.” Jordan is in advanced classes that most never attempt to take in high school. In her first year alone, she has taken Calculus AB AP and Chem 2 AP. “In my old school, freshmen and middle schoolers were allowed to take higher level classes,” Jordan said. “Since my dad was very ambitious with his children, he immediately signed me up the first chance he got. That gave me a head start and I just kept on going. When I came to Texas High, the advancement continued.” Exploring new places isn’t a new situation for Jordan. She has lived in many places, like Massachusetts, Tennessee, Connecticut and is most fond of her residency in South Korea. “Korea is a great place,” Jordan said. “It’s amazing. The people are very kind to foreigners, and they love it when
COME JOIN US FIND YOUR PLACE TO BELONG IN A PUBLICATIONS CLASS. THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON & YOU MEET NEW PEOPLE.
people take interest in their country. The food is great, especially the street food.” Living in Korea from ages 4 to 9, Jordan spent a large part of her childhood years in a different culture from the one she currently resides in. “Since I was only 4, I didn’t really understand different countries, so going to Korea was just like going to a new home,” Jordan said. “I didn’t really know how different [the culture] was from America because it’s all I’ve ever known.” However, going to America at 9 from Korea was much more difficult. “I was used to the Korean culture and the Korean way of speaking,” Jordan said. “Suddenly, I was introduced to something completely new, and I was clueless.” Even adjusting to pop culture was a change. “A huge thing I heard about was Justin Bieber, and I was so confused,” Jordan said. “Actually, funny story, since his last name confused me, I used to think he was called Justin Beaver.” Adjusting to new environments can be difficult, but Jordan has been able to count on her family. “Something I really gained from moving around was having a strong relationship with my siblings because growing up we only had each other to hold onto, so that made us cling to each other stronger,” Jordan said. “Now they’re probably the most important things in my life.” margaretdebenport@tigertimesonline.com
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APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM
Student focuses on musical career as creative outlet
BY AUTUMN GOLDEN STAFF WRITER
He puts on his headphones and presses play on the computer. As soon as the beat hits his ear, the words from his soul pour out and bounce off the microphone. No matter what the world around him does, all that matters is this line, this verse, this song. Senior Joshua Sneed records and produces music on Soundcloud in his free time. With plays reaching over 20k, Sneed uses this creative outlet, as well as dancing, to express himself. “The fact that [music] is a super power is why I do music,” Sneed said. “People can create something and allow it to be expressed through other people. It’s kind of something I wanted to do my whole life.” At a young age, he saw himself imitating what he saw on TV and what played on the radio, often looking up to many of the icons in the music industry. “Chris Brown reminds me of me in some ways,” Sneed said. “Since I first saw him, I realized how much I liked music, and he produces good content, so I wanted to be like him growing up.” This inspiration led him on a path to combine his love of dance and his passion for producing music in his approaching stage in life. “In the future, I plan on entertaining the world,” Sneed said. “I plan on everyone knowing about me globally, and I will probably venture into both music production
and dancing because they both involve music. People need music to dance and producers create the sounds within the music, so I think I’ll do a mixture of both honestly.” Often, the life of someone in the production and entertainment industry is corrupted and individuals try to live off of others success. “I try and surround myself
“People can create something and allow it to be expressed through other people, it’s something I’ve wanted to do my whole life” with people that I will be around in the future,” Sneed said. “I try to be around smart and intelligent people. Mostly I spend time around those who have good spirit because the company you keep defines you as a person.” With the transcendency of music and the lyrics in songs, these sounds unite people all over the world with their messages and underlying meanings. “Music is one of the main reasons I wake up,” Sneed said. “It has a lot of influence, and I feel that I can use my songs to establish my impact, good or bad.” autumngolden@tigertimesonline. com
FEATURE
21
SNEED ON THE BEAT AND THE BEAT GOT SICKER
MAKING MUSIC MOVE Senior Joshua Sneed works on making more hits for his Soundcloud account. photo by j. perez
SIRYUS JAYY Too Lit- 21,000 views D6vils- 732 views No Drama- 657 views They are Enemies- 437 views Bck N 4th- 283 views
22 COMMUNITY
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM
BOWLING
This activity may seem a bit casual, but if we look at the criteria, it seems to fit the bill of a sport. The goal: knock down the most pins. The physicality: the speed and accuracy of the throw. The only factors are the bowler and the ball. A perfect 300 takes immense talent, some of which I do not have, making this more impressive in my mind.
Verdict: sport
SPORTS
ULTIMATE FRISBEE
Imagine a fast-paced game of football without any stoppage in play. That is the identity of ultimate frisbee, an activity that has seen a recent boost in popularity due to its simplicity. When judging its levels of physicality, search on the internet for some of the insane catches made by these athletes.
Verdict: sport
SPORTS
23
FISHING
This glorified pastime has evolved from a necessity to survive to a great leisure activity. Casting a rod, waiting for a bite, and reeling in your line is great and all, but I struggle to acknowledge any sort of physical skill required by fishing in its purest form. Minimal competition and a number of external factors, from the type of bait to weather and climate, also hinder its chances.
Verdict: not a sport
or
LEISURE?
HUNTING
Ready. Aim. Fire. What more is there to hunting? While that question is mostly a joke, this activity has numerous drawbacks to its potential sport argument. The behavior of animals can in no way be monitored in the wild, and various factors relating to guns and ammunition make hunting too broad of an activity to be considered a sport.
Verdict: not a sport
In today’s world, what should we consider to be a ‘sport’? BY JOHN MORGAN sports editor Decided criteria for a sport: a competitive physical activity with limited external factors
ARCHERY
Precision and accuracy. These are two terms that we hear thrown around in various sports that are extremely crucial to success in archery. It takes insane mental concentration and prime physical skill. Don’t think that pulling back an arrow on any bow is light work.
Verdict: sport
RACING
I understand that automobile racing is nothing to slouch at. I understand that the workouts of many NASCAR drivers rival those of other athletes. I even understand that NASCAR racers face extreme conditions on a race track, including profound g-force. You know who else experiences immense g-force? Astronauts. That’s not a sport either.
Verdict: not a sport
E-SPORTS
This might sound crazy, but just think about it for a second. Gamers get insanely competitive over the simplest of things, let alone when something is on the line. There is immense training that goes into professional video gaming whether you think so or not. The external factors, such as internet connection and game servers, are typically monitered by the competition committee, therefore eliminating massive corruption. Like it or not, sports is literally in the title.
Verdict: sport
POKER
Believe it or not, poker is considered by some people to classify as a sport. Despite requiring hardly any physical ability or skill, the argument is that it is so mentally strenuous that it counteracts this fact. The problem with this game, however, is just that: it’s a game.
Verdict: not a sport
24 SPORTS
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
SWINGIN’ FOR PLAYOFFS
Baseball team hopes to mirror early success late in season BY ADDISON CROSS AND CONNOR BROOKS STAFF WRITER AND SPORTS EDITOR
photo by r. sizemore
COMING IN HOT Sophomore Alexis Bolden prepares to collide with the catcher as senior Ryann Williams yells for her to slide into home plate. Bolden would score in a 4-2 victory over Pine Tree.
BY LINDSEY EGGER VIEWPOINT EDITOR The Lady Tigers softball team has three losses and six wins so in district so far. They have three games left in district before they know where they will be seated in playoffs. Two of their outfielders and their third baseman graduated last year and their shortstop, sophomore Bailey Groom, was injured during tournament season. The team had to fill those spots with new players for this year. “We don’t have the same players this year, so we don’t flow as well as last year, but now it’s more of a team effort,” sophomore Kaylin Henderson said. “We make errors, but we make people
know that we’re a team. It’s not just about the game. We support everyone.” Last year they were first in district, but lost in the first round of playoffs against North Forney. This year they cannot place first in district, but have a good chance of making it to the playoffs if they win crucial games against Greenville and Mount Pleasant. “I expect to go to the playoffs this years and hopefully go pretty deep,” junior Kylee Spriggs said. “I think we have the team to do it.” Softball plays a home game against Sulphur Springs on April 17 and against Greenville April 20. Varsity plays at 6 p.m. Student tickets are $2 with their I.D’s and adult tickets are $4. lindseyegger@tigertimesonline.com
photo by k. gordon
Softball team looks to clinch postseason berth
The varsity baseball team has started the season with a 15-4 record and is looking to continue their record while developing their skills. “We started off really good going 11-0,” senior Cole Christen said. “However, right now we are fighting for the top spot in district.” The boys have continued to work hard, and employing methods different from previous years has proved beneficial. “Our team works hard at practice to prepare for the games each week,” Christen said. “This year we focus on having fun, and it makes us play better. I enjoy being around everyone on this team, and I feel that’s what has made us do so well so far.” Repetition had also helped the boys improve their skills. Getting into a routine and making every second on the field count has been essential to their success. “Every week is the same. We have to be focused and practice like it’s the last practice ever,” senior Adam Quinn said. “We keep it simple, make sure we get out work done, and when the time comes in the game, we are ready.” They’ve also focused on improving the team as a whole instead of boosting individual players. “This team really doesn’t have anyone spectacular,” Quinn said. “We all play together, and that’s why we have been winning ball games. Everyone does their part, and we get the job done. Once someone becomes selfish is when we see a downfall in games.” The team has had several epiphanies that have boosted morale as well. “When we beat Lindale, that was a special moment,” Quinn said. “Our coach said it was the best Texas High baseball he’s seen in awhile. After that game, we started realizing we could be something special and be different than other Texas High baseball teams in the past.” Despite the lack of individual focus, however, individual players have thrived this season. “My favorite moment was hitting two home runs in a game,” Christen said. “It was the first time I’ve ever hit a homerun in a high school game, and I hit two, so it felt really good.” The team has also become better by spending more quality time together and building bonds. “The team chemistry is very good this year,” Quinn said. “Normally, you have teams that have groups of friends. This team is all one ROUNDING THE BASES Freshman Rian Cellers (right) big family. We hang high fives junior Trevor Toppings (left) after scoring a out outside of baseball, run for the Tigers. This came in a 9-4 win over Mount and that’s what’s really Pleasant on March 23. brought us together. This helps because when things gets hard on the field, we know that there’s 20 people that will come help pick you up.” addisoncross@tigertimesonline.com connorbrooks@tigertimesonline.com
APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM
SPORTS
TJ’S PIGSKIN REPORT: MOCK DRAFT PRINT EDITION
The who, what, when, where and why about this year’s NFL Draft
25
Rest of the Best: Picks 6-32 6) Colts: Denzel Ward/CB/Ohio State 7) Buccaneers: Minkah Fitzpatrick/S/Alabama 8) Bears: Derwin James/S/Florida State 9) 49ers: Marcus Davenport/DL/UTSA 10) Raiders: Roquan Smith/LB/Georgia 11) Dolphins: Josh Allen/QB/Wyoming 12) Bills: Baker Mayfield/QB/Oklahoma 13) Redskins: Tremaine Edmunds/LB/Virginia Tech 14) Packers: Josh Jackson/CB/Iowa 15) Cardinals: Lamar Jackson/QB/Louisville
1) Browns: Sam Darnold, Quarterback, USC SCOUTING REPORT: Darnold’s got a pretty nice arm with above average accuracy. He does really well at making good passes while under pressure. The way he plays reminds me of Matthew Stafford. One big problem is the fact that he was tied for the most turnovers (22) in college football last season. In my opinion, he’s not the best quarterback in this draft, and I don’t believe he’s worthy of the first pick, but he definitely has potential.
2) Giants: Bradley Chubb, Defensive Lineman, NC State SCOUTING REPORT Chubb is a monster! He’s got the speed to get around the block, he’s got the strength to shed the block and he had an awesome combine performance. Chubb is probably better than last year’s first-round pick Myles Garrett and will make an instant impact wherever he goes.
16) Ravens: Da’Ron Payne/DL/Alabama 17) Chargers: Mike McGlinchey/OL/Notre Dame 18) Seahawks: Mike Hughes/CB/UCF 19) Cowboys: Calvin Ridley/WR/Alabama 20) Lions: Derrius Guice/RB/LSU 21) Bengals: Orlando Brown/OL/Oklahoma 22) Bills: Billy Price/OL/Ohio State 23) Patriots: Rashaan Evans/LB/Alabama 24) Panthers: Courtland Sutton/WR/SMU 25) Titans: Arden Key/DL/LSU 26) Falcons: Taven Bryan/DL/Florida 27) Saints: Mason Rudolph/QB/Oklahoma State
3) Jets: Josh Rosen, Quarterback, UCLA
4) Browns: Saquon Barkley, Running Back, Penn State
5) Broncos: Quenton Nelson, Offensive Lineman, Notre Dame
SCOUTING REPORT: Rosen is very accurate and has a solid arm. I believe that he is the most pro-ready quarterback in this draft. One problem is that Rosen has been accused of not being passionate about the game of football. If this is true, this is a legitimate concern. However, I don’t believe this to be true, and I think Rosen has a very high ceiling.
SCOUTING REPORT: Wow! What can this guy not do? Barkley is the Secretariat of running backs. He’s a jack of all trades. Whoever says that nobody’s perfect obviously hasn’t heard of Saquon Barkley. Barkley is the best running back to enter the draft in years. He’s an athletic freak, he’s got speed, he hits the gap with quickness, he’s agile and he’s got great ball-carrier vision, he’s just perfect.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Broncos have been struggling with their offensive line for a while now, and Nelson is the most surefire prospect in this entire draft class. He has amazing strength, he can create a huge gap for the running back to run through and he can hold blocks. He’s the best offensive lineman in this draft and will definitely make an impact on day one. updated as of April 6
28) Steelers: Leighton Vander Esch/LB/Boise State
29) Jaguars: Dallas Goedert/TE/South Dakota State 30) Vikings: Isaiah Wynn/OL/Georgia 31) Patriots: Sam Hubbard/DL/Ohio State 32) Eagles: Connor Williams/OL/Texas compiled by t. wall and j. morgan
26 SPORTS
BY CAMERON MURRY STAFF WRITER He comes to a stop, hands on his knees, breathing heavily. He can’t hear the noise around him because of the beating of his own heart and blood rushing in his ears. He looks around at the red clay track that surrounds him, a place he has come to know as a second home over the past three years. Only one year left, he thinks. Then it’s off to college. Not all high school athletes plan on continuing their athletic careers after graduation. Senior Austin Broussard is one of these athletes. Broussard has been a member of the cross country and track team for three years. “Track and cross country have somewhat consumed my life,” Broussard said. “I have run cross country and track since sophomore year.”
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018 Participating in the sport has come with big sacrifices and effort on Broussard’s part. “Staying in that top shape is hard to do,” Broussard said. “I don’t think I’ll be able to continue it in college, especially since I’ll be running as a backup or have to walk on if I am running.” Leaving track comes with big changes for Broussard. “I feel like I’m going to have a lot more free time [if I quit running],” Broussard said. “A lot more late nights to study and do other things besides running.” An athletic history is beneficial for some students, though. Senior Paige Eaton, for example, will be able to use track as a good foundation for her future endeavors. “I’ve been in track and cross country since sophomore year, and I probably won’t continue [after graduation],” Eaton said. “I’m going to an academy where training will be part of my daily routine.” Eaton’s athletic past will continue to influence her after graduation. “I won’t be doing sports,” Eaton said. “But working out will be easier.” Athleticism in high school tends to benefit those who choose to discontinue their journey as well as those who continue. The choice to continue being an athlete impacts the lives of students, as well. “I’ve been on the varsity football team since I was a junior,” Russell said. “I’ve signed with Trinity Valley Junior College in Athens, Texas [to play football].” Texas High School’s athletic program has taught Russell valuable life lessons that he will carry with him through college and his career. “The work ethic they’ve taught me here — waking up, coming to workouts, all that kind of stuff — will help me go on to the next level,” Russell said. “The work ethic, meeting people and trying to fit in with people will help me.” cameronmurry@tigertimesonline.com
photo by a. kift
APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM
COMMUNITY
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28 ENTERTAINMENT
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
BY SAVANNAH DOWNS STAFF WRITER
IN THE MAKING Over the past 129 years of Texas High School, the school survived three major wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Era, and decades of ever-changing culture. photo by a. kift
2007
2007 marked the construction of the Math and Science building with a goal to expand the campus and provide a larger number of classes for the growing population of Texas High.
1970-1971 Dunbar, a predominantly African-American school, merged with Texas High. Every student who resided in Texarkana would now attend Texas High. As time progressed, integration became more successful as the students became acclimated to their new way of life.
1889
page design by m. martin, v. van and s. downs
2017
September 9, 2017. On the annual Bacon Fry, seniors gathered near the pit for the Senior Sunrise, where they commemorated the death of two of their classmates: Houston Hart and Leonard Parks. Students released balloons to remember the loss of their friends.
photo by h. rainwater
1991
In 1991, the World Wide Web was debuted as an Internet service. The school now had a chance to better education with new technology. Later that year, Texas High would receive its first computer lab that students utilized.
1942-1943 The Tiger 1943
Pages From The Past
Texas High School’s first campus, located on Spruce Street, opened its doors to grades seventh through eleventh.
Students received civilian defense, drill session and a special Veterans Training Program for veterans who had not received a high school diploma because of fighting in World War II.
APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM
ENTERTAINMENT
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WRITE FOR SOMEONE, NOT ANYONE Local artist elaborates on significance of pursuing aspirations BY LANGLEY LEVERETT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF In every city, there is an underground current constantly flowing, an atmosphere of intense competition intertwined with art — a silent rivalry centered on who can speak the best truth. Although creativity isn’t a genuine product of contest, it is fueled by a hungry endeavor to reach the next step: making others feel raw emotion that words alone simply don’t have the power to accomplish. In an interview with Genoa native singer-songwriter Keith Tubbs, he illustrated the trials and triumphs of being a local musician and disclosed his true devotion: writing music. Like any ardent artist, the admiration started young. “My first memory of music is when I was about three. My sisters would sing country songs and try to teach me the words so I could sing with them. I just remember liking the melodies,” Tubbs said. “I guess it was a natural progression from there. I got an electric guitar for my 14th birthday, and that’s when I really started to learn to play.” Now 27 years old, Tubbs has trekked through the experiences of young
experimentation as well as playing in a rock band dubbed “Us and the Ship.” They produced two full albums from 2014 to 2017, each focusing on ambiguous concepts of life, love and every hazy thing in between. Despite hailing from a quaint Southern town, Tubbs found a way to pursue his true affections. “As a young musician, I would dream about making a career out of music and getting big enough to not have to worry about working a day job,” Tubbs said. “I guess that’s the major challenge of being a local band. You’re trying to be more than a local band, and it’s really hard to do without touring constantly. That’s really the main reason why my band ‘Us and the Ship’ didn’t tour as much as we would have liked and why we ended up moving to Nashville. We wanted to be able to give our music a shot without having to travel a lot, but we were all still working day jobs and not progressing in the music industry.” From playing shows over the ArkLa-Tex, to chasing dreams in Nashville, Tubbs now lives in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tubbs and his wife are pouring their efforts into starting a family, all the while keeping a tight grip on personal ambitions.
STRINGING UP PASSIONS Musician Keith Tubbs expresses the importance of loving one’s passions despite obstacles. He is dedicated to pursuing lyrical writing.
submitted photo
“My wife and I began talking about wanting to start a family, and that was the catalyst to our moving back to Arkansas,” Tubbs said. “We wanted to be closer to home. So, now I have more time to focus on my solo work which is what I’ve always been most passionate about.” Now developing music on his own, Tubbs has released a traditional folk album titled “No Butterfly Stitches.” Captivating in melody and earnest in lyrics, it brings forth memories of simpler times, and questions spirituality, family and relationships in a new light. “My favorite music to work on would be my singer-songwriter stuff. I’ll usually just sit down with an acoustic guitar and mess around until I find something I like, then I’ll find a vocal melody and start writing lyrics to the mood, or whatever I’m feeling at the time,” Tubbs said. “This process makes it easy for me to express something honest, and that’s what I love about music — it gives me the ability to do that.” For some, passions are the only constant foundation, and for Tubbs, writing is the solution and healthy outlet. He plans to keep working toward solo accomplishments, while keeping a steady eye on his developing family. “What drives me to keep pushing for
more is just my love for writing. I’ve always said that no matter where I’m at in my life, I will continue to write music, even if it’s only for the sake of writing it,” Tubbs said. “The fact that people continue to support me and enjoy what I write is incredible, and that’s also why I continue to do it. I’m hoping to write a new solo album this year. Other than that, I’m not really sure. I’m just enjoying the process.” Life is a story worth documenting, whether it be in the form of music, poetry or other forms of eclectic expression. Keeping this in mind, he comments on the profoundness of having a purpose in creating. Humble in origin, he expresses a common sentiment of persevering over obstacles, instead of worrying about the benefits it might reap. “My inspiration is life, as corny as that sounds. Most of my songs are just expressions of my own experiences. I also get a lot of inspiration from books and all kinds of music,” Tubbs said. “Advice for young musicians: Be honest and write what you feel. There’s a quote out there, I’m not sure by who, but it goes something like, ‘Write for someone, not anyone.’ I think that’s really good advice.” langleyleverett@tigertimesonline.com
30 ENTERTAINMENT
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
WHAT’S
WHAT TO KNOW
LIVING ZERO WASTE
PERCENT of water bottles are recycled each year
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Companies such as Lush offer shampoo bars that are free of the traditional plastic shampoo encasing and can be used up to 80 times for maximum efficiency.
Water filter
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tips to swap out every day items for more eco-friendly alternatives this Earth Day
Reusable bag
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You can use this bottle for all liquids, so ditch the Starbucks disposable cup or plastic water bottle and enjoy sipping out of a bottle that will last you a lifetime.
[25]
BRITA filter company is donating $1 for every Brita Longlast Pitcher or filter purchased to wane schools off of bottled water.
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trees could be saved if the paper from the New York Times was recycled every day.
Coconut Oil Uses • Substitutes oil or butter when cooking • Makeup remover • Fights acne • Natural hair conditioner
APRIL 12, 2018 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM FOUNDING GREATNESS Sophomores Audrey Haskins and Atlas Hines, founders of the Y.E.S.S. club, watch member performances during the "Equality Speaks" event at Spring Lake Park on March 30. Y.E.S.S Equality was founded to encourage bringing together the unique identities at the high school.
photos by a. runnels
PHOTO ESSAY
EQUALITY
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SPEAKS
Event raises money for library books By KAITLYN GORDON Staff Writer Y.E.S.S. Equality club members showcased their talents March 30 at Spring Lake Park during their event, "Equality Speaks." The event featured singing, reading poetry, showcasing artwork and more. During the event, members sold art, baked goods and crafts in order to raise money for introducing LGBT books into the school library. The group was able to raise $200 during the event. "Our goal is to provide books with positive representation for our library, so that maybe kids who don't feel 'normal' can find someone to relate to," said sophomore Atlas Hines, co-founder and president of Y.E.S.S. Equality. The club focuses on being diverse. "We welcome anyone of any sexual orientation, gender identity, racial identity and religious preference," co-founder Audrey Haskins said. "We welcome anyone who is already or has the desire to be more open-minded, wants to increase their tolerance, and has the desire to speak out about their opinions."
HANG AROUND At Spring Lake Park, junior Chris Geyer hangs origami as decoration under the pavilion. Club members decorated the pavilion with artwork to sell. "We were promoting equality through the arts," Geyer said. "Origami has been another passion of mine since I was little." CAT-ASTROPHIC POEMS Junior Craig Crawford recites the poem "The Naming of Cats." The poems read at the event were eclectic in nature. "Part of equality's end goal is that all people get to enjoy the good things in life, so I performed 'The Naming of Cats,' because I enjoy cats," Crawford said.
TUNING CHORDS Adjusting tension on the strings, Kaitlyn Freeman tunes her guitar before playing for the audience. Numerous artists and musicians performed at the fundraising event, which raised $200 for books for the library. BRAIDING CHANGE Junior Kamryn Johnson makes bracelets and anklets by hand, using colors that people chose. The bracelets symbolize individuality and acceptance. "I learned how to make them when I was younger," Johnson said. "I've found that they are a really small and thoughtful way to share positivity."
BAKE IT UP Sophomore Kara Jefferies purchases baked goods. All Y.E.S.S. members gathered the day before the event to prepare and bake treats. "I came out to support what everyone was doing," Jefferies said.
EQUALITY SPEAKS VIDEO Use the HP Reveal app to scan this icon and view the video from Tiger Times Online that goes along with this story.
ALL ABOUT THAT BASS Sophomore Channing Queen holds a microphone for Dylan Aavard while Aavard performs. "There were all kinds of music played, from indie to acoustic rock," Queen said. Many songs were performed all day, including a rendition of "Creep" by Radiohead.
32 COMMUNITY
TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • APRIL 12, 2018
summer GET AHEAD & SAVE MONEY WITH
college classes If you’re graduating: Start at TC this summer and transfer your classes to your college/university in the fall.
If you’ll be in high school next year: It’s now easier than ever to enroll as an Early Admission student at TC! Call (903) 823-3012 to learn how.
Summer registration is open now. Go to texarkanacollege.edu/summer2018 to browse our schedule.
May Mini-Mester // May 14-25 Summer I // June 5-July 5 Summer II // July 9-Aug. 9 Day, evening & online classes available.
texarkanacollege.edu/summer2018 // (903) 823-3012 TC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs or activities. The following person is designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Human Resources Director, 2500 N. Robison Rd., Texarkana, TX, 75599 or (903) 823-3017 human.resources@texarkanacollege.edu