Tiger Times 9-28-12 by THS Student Media

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tigertimes

volume 52 no. 1 • sept. 28, 2012

texas high school • 4001 summerhill rd • texarkana, tx 75503 • www.tigertimesonline.com

gift

the of

life

With more than 115,000 people fighting for another chance at life, organ donation is the only answer page 10

in the know

tiger times sept. 28 2012

10/17 10/8 U of A Recruiter 10/12 PSAT Testing 10/6 Visit Members of StuCo 4-States Marching Pink Out PepEligible sopho-

10/1 StuCo Meeting

the

ist

will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the student center. They will discuss Race for the Cure and other events that StuCo will participate in during October.

University of Arkansas recruiters will be on campus. If you’re interested in the University of Arkansas, contact the college recruitment adviser, Alex Williams.

Contest

Area bands will be competing in this show held at Grim Stadium. The contest begins at 11 a.m. with awards at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $2 for adults and $1 for students.

Rally

This pep-rally is a competition between schools in our district, PG, and LE. Be sure to buy a T-shirt to support Race for the Cure for $7 or $15.

more and juniors need to sign up to take the PSAT test. The deadline is today. The cost for juniors is $14 if you aren’t already signed up.

Pull out your 10/20 10/27 10/25 Race for the Homecoming calenders, sharpen Homecoming 10/26 10/24 Cure Dance Homecoming Pep-Rally Blood Drive The race will begin With an ‘80s This is the pepYou can start Football Game your pencils, write at the fair grounds. theme, why rally where the signing up for the The crowing of the Students who wish wouldn’t you buy a homecoming blood drive on queen will be at the down the dates you to participate in ticket, grab a date court is introduced Oct. 10. You must game against Mt. the school team and dance the formally. It’s a be at least 16. Pleasant. Make sure should sign up in night away? Come need for the nighttime pepMake sure to sign to get tickets for the Waldrep’s room. ready to boogierally in the PAC. up at lunch. There game which begins oogie-oogie. will be door prizes. at 7:30 p.m. upcoming month. Apple claims the new iPhone 5 to be the thinnest, lightest iPhone ever, which features an all-new aluminum design, 4-inch retina display, and faster wireless processing. Just three days after the launch of the new phone on Sept. 21, Apple said that they had sold more than 5 million. iPhone 5 comes in either white & silver or black & slate, and is available in the for a suggested retail price of $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model and $399 for the 64GB model.

iPHONE 5 U N V E I L S

BIGGER DESIGN

pple unveiled the iPhone 5 to the public on Sept.12. The new device is said to be the thinnest, lightest and fastest iPhone ever. According to Apple, the design is 18 percent thinner and 20 percent lighter with a 4-inch Retina display. Apple also claims that the new phone has a faster processor, better battery and more enhanced camera features. Sophomore Russell Thomas is ordering the phone because of its overall design. “It’s slicker, it’s longer, it’s more curved and edged bet-

recap 24% Western Day

ter,” Thomas said. The phone has also dropped Google maps and replaced it with a map system that acts more like an actual GPS, giving turn-by-turn commands. Sophomore Matthew Crawford got the phone after having his dad waited in line for an hour while he was still in school. “I like the iPhone 5 better because it is faster than my iPhone 4 and it is taller so that you can see more stuff. Other than that, the iPhone 5 is pretty much just like the iPhone 4,” Crawford said. “I would say that if you don’t have a reason to get the phone, besides the fact that you just want it, then I wouldn’t go spend my money on the iPhone 5. If you just update your iPhone 4S software, then it is pretty much the same as the iPhone 5.” The 16GB phone retails for $199 with new activation or an upgrade. by baylee mcbride

apple.com

IN A MOMENT 48% Apron Day

28% Camo Day

Students were asked which of the spirit days was their favorite.

Many students enjoyed the opportunity to show off their creativity and school spirit during Texas v. Arkansas week. One favorite was Apron Day because it gave students a chance to create their own unique design. “I just got and apron , painted it orange, wrote ‘Got Bacon?’ on it and added some rhinestones,” sophomore Micayla Fretwell said. “It took about three hours, but I liked getting to express my school spirit.” Some students preferred others, such as Camo

Day. “I really liked Camo Day because we were playing Arkansas and the hog hunting theme fit well,” junior Claire Wade said. “I also liked getting to wear the camo.” More unique spirit days have also become favorites. “My favorite was Western Day because there were so many options,” sophomore Haylee Garner said. “You could dress up as much or as little as you wanted.” by katherine doan

COVER PHOTO

The cover photo illustration was taken by commercial photography student Amy McCoy in a studio setting. Special thanks to Dr. Todd Payne and Collom and Carney Clinic for allowing us to use the medical equipment.

news

tiger times sept. 28, 2012

A NIGHT ofLAUGHS Theater company hosts final performances of Grimm classics During a practice for “Law and Order: Fairy Tale Unit,” freshman Elizabeth Colvin rehearses her lines. Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday performances will be $7 for adults and $5 for students. photo by claire norton

by katherine doan staff writer

he Tiger Theater Company will be performing two one-act plays Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Sullivan Performing Arts Center. “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” and “Law and Order: Fairy Tale Unit” are two fun-filled fiction plays with original spins on the Grimm classics. “These shows are pretty different than a traditional play,” theater director Micah McBay said. “I think they will be well received and that the students will love them.” This production is unique in that it is actually two one-act plays. “The Brother’s Grimm Spectaculathon” is a hilarious attempt by five actors to perform all of the Grimm Brother’s fairy tales in only 45 minutes. “Law & Order: Fairy Tale Unit” is a comedy about classic fairytale characters solving the mystery of who blew down the homes of the Three Little Pigs in a adaptation of the “Law & Order” television

show. The cast members of both plays enjoy working together and are excited to see the outcome of the productions. “I really like working with the cast,” sophomore “Grimm” cast member Cara Fowler said. “I’m also looking forward to making the audience laugh because it’s really really funny.” Other cast members are ready to see their hard work pay off through the audience’s reaction. “I’m looking forward to opening night and getting laughs from the audience,” senior “Law & Order” cast member Alex Walker said. “I think they will like the ridiculous lines we say with total seriousness.” Although these shows are different from the average play, the cast is excited to bring another production to the theater. “There are lots of costume changes, lots of different characters, and lots of laughs,” McBay said. “The show is hilarious.”

TYTL to renovate special education courtyard by amanda hackleman staff writer

lain. Boring. Bland. These are all words that came to mind for the members of Today’s Youth Tomorrow’s Leaders when referring to the courtyard by the special education department. They plan on changing that. TYTL is a program for high school students sponsored by Leadership Texarkana. The program prepares teenagers for positions of leadership in the community. In order to graduate from the program, students must do a project for their school. Junior Marissa Johnston proposed to remodel the courtyard. All in the group agreed. “I had to go into the special education room a lot my freshman year,” Johnston said. “I would see the courtyard and felt like it was unused and depressing. There may have been like a bird feeder out there and that’s all it had.” The group hopes to take the lifeless scene and create something to be desired. “It’s bad. It’s just dirt,” senior Makenzie Sangalli said. “It’s just dirty and ugly. We’re going to beautify it and make it wheelchair accessible.” The leadership students will also include the

students from the special education program in helping them. They hope to rid the courtyard of ants and add a ground covering, such as gravel or mulch, and flowers for decoration. Finally, a concrete path will be constructed and stones will be embedded into the cement. The stones will be decorated by the special education students with their hand prints or names. “I felt like every kid should have a certain part in the progress,” Johnston said. “I really didn’t want one kid to be left out. I wanted them all to be a part of it in some way.” After completion of the renovations, they hope to work with the special education students to tend the flowers and plants in the courtyard. “I felt like the special education students should have a chance to be outside more often and learn about nature,” Johnston said. Funding for the project is coming from donations and fundraisers. They held a fundraiser Sept. 17, at Chicken Express. This was to raise money for supplies to help with the renovation. The groups plans to have the renovations completed by April. “I’m really excited,” junior Lindsey Gore said. “I can’t wait to see what it turns out like.”

“I felt like every kid should have a certain part in the progress. I really didn’t want one kid to be left out.”

Marissa Johnston, 11 Junior Raven Lewis and senior Jacob Hill stand outside Chick-fil-a Sept. 17 trying to entice passersby to help them raise money to renovate the courtyard by the special education rooms for the Today’s Youth Tomorrow’s Leaders project. photo by caroline prieskorn

news

tiger times sept. 28, 2012

photo illustration by amy mccoy

by caroline purtle staff writer

ou touch the paper, but can you feel your lungs tightening? You taste the fumes, but can you taste the lack of sleep? Cannabis, also known as marijuana, has become a popular drug of choice for teenagers and is one that is controversial in both medical and governmental policies. According to a June study by the Center for Disease Control on risky youth behavior, 48.9 percent of teenagers have tried marijuana by the time they are seniors. The percent of teens who heavily use the weed spiked by 80 percent, an all time high according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Though, people say it has no permanent effects on the user’s body, there have been recent studies that prove otherwise. A recent study has found that marijuana use drops IQ. The study included information on more than 1,000 people born in New Zealand in 1972-1973. Participants took IQ and other mental functioning tests at age 13 -- before any had started smoking marijuana -- and then again at age 38, according to News for Healthier Living. The study showed an eight-point drop in IQ before the age of 38. The average IQ is a 100 points which is in the fiftieth percentile, a drop in only eight points bumped them down to the twenty-ninth percentile. For those who had started as teens, quitting or cutting back on marijuana later

WEED

OUT THE

LIES

didn’t seem to help much, according to the study. Even if they stopped, intellectual functioning never came back to the previous levels. Marijuana has up to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. People who habitually use the drug will suffer from long-term strain on their lungs, with negative effects on

athletic ability. A study of 450 individuals found that people who smoke marijuana frequently, but do not smoke tobacco, have more health problems and miss more days of work than nonsmokers according to a study on the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Not only does weed affect your IQ and athletic ability, but it is believed to create

serious health issues including certain types of cancers. Examination of human lung tissue that had been exposed to marijuana smoke over a long period of time in a laboratory showed cellular changes called metaplasia that are considered precancerous according to a study on The Well. Though some users smoke without knowledge of the consequences, others do not care about the possible risks. “I think that there is a lot of bad information out there. A lot of them really don’t believe that those things will happen to them,” said Ann Bishop, counselor and sponsor of Students Against Destructive Decisions. “If they do believe that those are possible consequences, they believe that you have to be smoking several times a day for that to happen. They don’t think that an occasional use will hurt them.” Every year more than 100,000 teens are treated for marijuana addiction. That number is believed to grow in upcoming years. “Teens need to view cannabis as not an entirely benign compound, but as something that can impair your judgment and might not be great for your brain,” said Susan Tapert, a neuropsychologist at the University of California in a story published in Live Science. You smell the smoke, but do you smell the memory loss? You hear the pressure, but do you hear you losing coordination? You see the lighter, but do you see your IQ dropping?

Burnett & Associates Anestheisa, P.A. 4500 Summerhill Road Texarkana, TX 75503 903-792-8888 Thomas A. Hunley, M.D.

Diplomate American Board of Anesthesiology

visit us online at www.tigertimesonline.com for more stories, photos & videos

viewpoint

tiger times sept. 28, 2012 EDITORIAL

tiger times

Texas High School 4001 Summerhill Rd. Texarkana TX, 75503 ( 903 ) 794 - 3891 F ( 903 ) 792 - 8971

Death of Darwin cookie cutters rise of the

CSCOPE can’t replace intricacies of good classroom teachers

heir individuality is handcuffed. Their creativity thrown in a jail cell and the keys tossed away to sea. Say hello to the new age of Texas education. Say hello to the cookie cutter era. Recently Texas curriculum has been attempting to raise its standards of education and in the process have created a new format of learning. A format that is more regulated, restricted and narrowed. And many are left with the same question. Why? The answer is always the same and never less ambiguous: to increase student learning. Why are there data walks? To increase student learning. Why write a bell-ringer? To increase student learning. Why should teachers write the objective on the board? To increase student learning, of course. The problem started with one word. A word that is the lungs and heart of America as much as it is its death: equality. People in high places got an idea that no matter a student’s background, their goals, or more importantly, their academic ability, they should perform at the same level. The concept is nice to think about;

however, it isn’t reality. And speaking of reality, it actually lowers the standards of education. Here’s an analogy. Imagine an athlete training for a competition. But there’s a problem, the athlete isn’t training to win. Instead, he is training not to lose. While the effort is there, the mentality has a negative effect. The motivation is through the fear of failure, not the desire to win. The same goes for education. In an effort to meet the minimum requirements, officials have forgotten a student’s maximum potential. And not to mention that one student’s maximum is another’s minimum. Anyway, the concept evolved and now it has a name: C-Scope. It’s a name packed with potency, enough potency to make students around the state of Texas cringe. But students have the least of it. Yes, their learning is reduced to a focus on CBAs, but imagine the teacher’s position. The cookie cutter concept is a double threat. Aside from being counterproductive, it is destructive. With a watered down education, individuality is lost in the classroom, in the lectures and most importantly, in the teachers. A teacher has spent four years earning a teaching degree and undergone hours of training. They have dedicated their lives to live on a teacher’s salary, all the while attempting to teach our generation. Now, the state of Texas has disarmed a teacher’s

Letter to the Editor: Although I arrived a little late, I was greatly looking forward to the Texas-Arkansas pep rally. I assumed that, as an upperclassmen, this year would be different. However, as I walked into the gym, all the seats became filled and, once again, I was forced to sit in the aisles, crammed against other students on the hard stairwell. Why was there no room? Because, as usual, almost a full section was taken up by the parents. I have been shuffled to the aisles during pep rallies at least once a year, if not the majority of the time. This year in particular I saw nearly every parent with a space. Why force out the people who actually attend the school and want

The Tiger Times is a student-run publication. The contents and views are produced solely by the staff and do not represent the opinions of the faculty, administration or TISD board of trustees. editors in chief Brianna Sellers & Wynne Tidwell online editors in chief John David Goins & Autumn Sehy managing editor Jacob Hill advertising Adam Graves news editor Shelby Kelley viewpoint editor Josh Klein, Riley Rogers & Sydney Schoen feature editor Mary Claire Boudreaux & Mackenzie Phillips sports editor Taylor Potter entertainment editors Abigail O’Gorman & Davis Payne

original lesson plan and replaced it with its own, far-from-original lesson plan. To many this is Stepford Wives meet public education. Imagine if the whole state of Texas was all learning the same time, at the same place, with the same lectures. The thought is unnerving. The concept seems to contradict that of evolution. Darwin’s Theory states without variation, a species will die. But according to the state, “research” shows that written objectives and the such will increase student learning. And as substantial as the research might be, it is never elaborated on remains an untrusting mystery to

many. The state has forgotten that the quirks make the teacher. That the intricacies of a classroom can’t be confined to a check-list on a clipboard. That the unexpected topics a classroom will stumble upon, be it a passionate debate on religion in school or a rehash on Sunday night football scores, make the classroom. That the little things sometimes touch students the most; not the latest objective. Remember, Texas is crazy on the whole “bell-to-bell” schedule plan, so when your class finds itself lost in a riveting discussion on something, your teacher might lose a mark for being off topic. Snaps for Texas.

Seating at pep rallies should be for students

a chance to participate in tradition, and leave parents, whose sole interest in attending is to watch their children do a few high kicks from behind? Some of these adults don’t even have children participating in the pep rallies, and instead bring their elementary/middle school children to watch so the kids can get out of school early. They are allowed to fill up an enormous section of bleachers, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Even more space is taken up by former students returning to watch the pep rallies. They may come to see their friends, but as they have already experienced the pep rallies, they should wait for the games to rekindle old memories.

This was some people’s first pep rally, and the experience was ruined by being stepped on in the aisles. The parents should be given a small standing section off to the side where they can take their pictures and move along, and leave the bleachers for the students. Even better, the parents could wait to watch their children at the actual football games, where they will get a front view, and everyone can be seen. The pep rallies are put on by the students and for the students, so the students should be allowed to enjoy them. Kristen Hall, 11

photo editor Amy McCoy staff writers Maggie Coleman Katherine Doan Ben Gladney Amanda Hackleman Casey Hitchcock Robert Hoover Madeline Hunley Baylee McBride Caroline Purtle Ashley Tyson photographers Katie Black Carlie Clem Ndidi Duru Casey Hitchcock Sabrina Larson Riley Madlock Claire Norton Mackenzie Phillips Caroline Prieskorn Josh Rostek Haley Rushing Sydney Steed Hailey Woods Bailey Vaughan advisers Rebecca Potter & Clint Smith principal Brad Bailey members ILPC, NSPA, CSPA The Tiger Times is the official student publication of Texas High School. The primary purpose of the Tiger Times is to inform the students of the school, while practicing the ethical canons of journalism. Letters to the editor may be dropped off in Room 50. Each letter must be signed and include the student’s grade. Letters are subject to editing. The Tiger Times also accepts advertising. Advertising is sold for $5 a column inch. All ads must be received at least two weeks prior to publication.

viewpoint

When nature calls

Bathroom policy proves difficult for athletes Okay let me just explain my predicament really fast. Practice is long, hot, and tiring. Cramps? Gatorade. Dehydration? Water. Being an athlete, your need for liquids is much higher than your “Average Joe.” In order to stay healthy an athlete MUST drink more water. I mean you don’t want to go and pass out in front of your team because you didn’t drink enough water. Agua es muy importante. Water is crucial, yo. So drinking water is important to athletes, I get it. So where’s the problem? Don’t worry, I’m about to give you an earful. We’ve all been there, you’re stuck in class with about 45 minutes to go and BAM. It hits you. Nature is calling. Then your mind starts to wonder from the classroom discussion. Should I take the tardy and go? Or should I wait in misery until class is over? Why can’t I go to the

riley rogers co-viewpoint editor

bathroom anyway? And just like that you are distracted from the very important lesson. The issue is that drinking lots and lots of water everyday, though it may satisfy your thirst and health needs, also causes a negative effect. Drinking a lot of water causes frequent urination. Technically, in normal situations, it’s not an issue, but at school it becomes one. I know teachers hate it when students leave class for unnecessary reasons, and yes, missing class time should be avoided as much

as possible, but when you gotta go, you gotta go. How much class time would I miss anyway? All classes are really important. Fact. Using the restroom in class takes up to 5 minutes. Another fact. Being distracted during a class causes you to miss valuable information. Last fact. If you ever miss class time, the work missed and the intellect lost is your fault, as it should be. But having to urinate is very distracting. It is understandable that teachers won’t allow students who have to go to the restroom every day go, but those students who honestly have to go to the bathroom should not have to take a tardy. We are young adults, and as long as we understand to consequences of missing class time, we should be allowed to use the restroom. Because the call of nature is hard to ignore.

Making Daddy proud

tiger times sept. 28, 2012

WORDon theSTREET

What do you think about the school’s bathroom policy?

“I don’t think that [it’s] fair because if you have an ‘emergency,’ you shouldn’t have to get a tardy.” Bailey Gravitt, 9

“I think it’s fair because you have seven minutes between class, and that’s enough time to finish your business.” El’lesse Thurman, 9

Father’s death inspires sophomore to strive for success

y doorbell rang. I put my paintbrush down and ran to the door. I looked through the glass in the door; I was home alone and my mother had warned me about opening the door for strangers. It was my aunt. I opened the door and invited her inside. She never came over, and her face looked stressed. Then she unloaded the eight words I will never unhear. Your dad has been in a motorcycle wreck. Your dad has been in a motorcycle wreck. My daddy. Motorcycle wreck. My mind flipped those words over again and again. Continued to replay them as I packed a small bag, picked up my paint, and walked out the door. It hit me again and again like a wave relentlessly hitting the shore. Somewhere in my tiny 10-year-old being, I knew I was never going to speak to Daddy again. I was persistent to get information from my aunt, to go to the hospital, to find out what was going on. Each time she would send me away, back to play with the dogs, my cousins Hannah and Holly, whatever would keep me busy and stop asking questions. I knew things must be bad, since I wasn’t getting any information. Panic. Panic and prayers. That’s all I could manage while putting on my big, fake smile. 3 a.m. rolls around. Hannah and

ashley tyson staff writer

Holly are asleep in the bed beside me, the Labradors asleep at our feet. My aunt and uncle, asleep in their own bedroom across the house. I was awake, the tv flickering brightly against the walls. Laying in bed, staring at the clock, tears streaming down my face. Praying mercilessly, “Please God, just let me keep my daddy. Please, if it’s the only thing I ever ask for ever again, just let me keep my daddy.” I finally drift off to sleep, still clinging to that last shred of hope. Morning dawns. My mama is here to take me back to her sister and my Ya’s house. Her happy attitude boosted my confidence that my mustached, NASCAR-loving, oil-rig working, world-lifting daddy was all right. Breakfast was waiting for me at my Ya’s. I went outside, excited about the new tadpoles in the pool. My brother and pregnant sister-in-law soon showed up. My confidence just tanked. Mama held me as I cried. Sobs racked my tiny body. He died about 3 that morning. The same time I was

begging God to let me keep him. I felt betrayed. I felt numb. I felt nothing at all. I sat and stared at the wall for an hour. Then I got in the bathtub and sat until I noticed my skin was starting to look like a raisin. My world was shattered. I got out of the tub, went back outside to see the tadpoles, watched my mother worry about my new emotions. I was back to normal. Laughing, joking around, seeming careless, like nothing had ever happened. But, on the inside, I was empty. I had to be strong for my mommy. I had to be strong for my big brother, my beloved bubby, who had already lost his mom a few years back. I had to grow up and face the world. I dried my eyes; no more tears would be shed for others to see. Nothing would bring my daddy back. Nothing would ever fill the void left by his death. Nothing would ever take those memories away. Nothing would ever stop me from missing my daddy. Everything could give me hope. Everything could build me up. Everything could teach me to be stronger. Everything could give me more reasons to live my life like the brave, smart girl my daddy raised me to be. In everything I do, I’m still trying to do my daddy proud.

“It’s unfair because you should be able to go relieve yourself whenever you want.” Josh Bewely, 11

“I think that it kind of hinders people who need to go to the restroom because that one extra tardy could cause you to have detention.” Anthony Rhone, 11

tiger times sept. 28, 2012

viewpoint

Lefty or Righty? With both major parties recently concluding their national conventions, the nation is tuned in to the upcoming election. Come November, every issue is going to be taken into account when the voters enter the ballot box. This year, not only is the White House up for grabs but the future of America.

Democratic

compiled by Josh Klein

Taxes/Economy

Military

Second Amendment

Same Sex Marriage

Abortion

Health care

The Democratic party believes in progressive taxation, where the more you earn, the more you pay in taxes.

They believe on focusing on only the most serious threats to American security. They are in favor of cutting military spending.

They believe in legislation restricting gun sales to felons and the mentally ill. They also oppose the right to carry concealed weapons in public places.

The Democratic party supports gay rights and is for the legalization of gay marriage.

They think it is a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right and are supporters of Roe vs. Wade.

The Democrats want to make health care affordable to all Americans and support the Affordable Care Act, addressing pre-existing conditions and tax credits to make insurance more affordable.

Republican

The Republican stance is against interventionist policies on the part of the government and believes firmly in the free-market system. They oppose raising taxes on anyone including the wealthy.

They favor a stronger military to counter foreign threats. The party would like to not cut spending in this sector.

The Republican party are strong supporters of the Second Amendment and favors the right to carry concealed weapons.

The Republican Party believes that marriage is a sacred institution between a man and women. They oppose the legalization of gay marriages.

The Republicans think that abortion should be illegal. They oppose Roe vs. Wade and believe it should be overturned.

Republicans support reforms that will lower costs, ensure quality health care, and end lawsuit abuse. They oppose government-run health care.

student life

IT’S BACK Starbucks has once again wowed us with its pumpkin spice potion. What a great way to warm you up and get you ready for the leaves to change. $4.06

FASHION STATEMENT

Well girls, its about that time. Time to pull your boots out from the back of your closet, and throw on those scarfs. Whether it’s Steve Madden, Tori Burtch, Lucky Brand, or the occasional Hunter Boots, be sure to keep up to date on the newest fashion. $225

RAINY-DAY READ We all secretly wish that J.K. Rowling’s new book was an addition to Harry Potter. But no matter the plot, Rowling won a place in our hearts with her Harry Potter books and we will continue to show our support by curling up next to a fire in a snuggie and reading her new book. What a great way to start off the fall. $35

SENIOR BUMS

This is a must for seniors. This T-shirt, for only $15, gets you into all sporting events AND gets you out of class early for pep-rallies. They aren’t just handy, they are also super fashionable. Get with the program and get a senior bum shirt. $15

HALLOWEEN

Whether it be for the scare factor, the candy or the costume contest, don’t miss out on Halloween. Be a pumpkin, Pippy Long Stocking or a princess, whatever your desire, get in the spirit for Halloween. Ellis Pottery, Allison’s, and Spirit Halloween Super Store are some great places for Halloween shopping, or DIY. $56

The Party Express Miniature Golf Course Now Open! Birthday Party Packages Starting at $95!

•Unlimited Golf •Train Rides •Balloon Art •Bounce House! •Professional Magic Shows

Exit 212 & I30 (Lone Star Exit), Hooks, TX 7 min. from Mall 903-824-5826

tiger times sept. 28, 2012

all for

fall

Get cozy Get Comfy

Get Loud Get in the fall spirit with these items. They’re all you need for this fall season. compiled by Mary Claire Boudreaux

KEEP WARM With the addition to Friday night football to hectic schedules, I suggest you invest in some Hot Hands and Agloves. Hot Hands keep your fingers and palms warm and cozy while you cheer in the student section, while Agloves not only keep your hands covered and warm, but also allow you to also use your iPhone at the same time. Great investment. 87 cents

student life

tiger times sept. 28, 2012

tips for surviving high school

Teachers, students give advice on how to make it at THS

-Holley Hutches

on, science

compiled by Josh Klein

“Don’t ask me about the earrings or tattoos.”

10 “It pays to suck up.” -Seth Schirmer, physics

-Brandon Burnett, engineering

2 “Stay vigilant in

“The three D’s of survival: deny, deny, deny!

the halls and parking lot.”

-George McCasland, CATE

-Ann Bishop, counselor

“Assume everyone is dangerous.”

“Stay out of the pond.” -Chuck Zach, history

-Madeleine Pellegrin, 11

-Marvin Harris, science

gets stuck in a girl’s hair, leave it there.” -Catherine Stephenson, 12

“

r. M n i p u m l a p d n a h r u o y e s 8 Rai . s s a l c ’ s m a i l il W y o b y n n a D

“Make friends and get involved.”

5 “If your silly band

9 “Don’t be a troll .”

“Don’t accept food from strangers.”

-Paige Oliver, 12

ker, 11

-Zachary Ba

“I before E except after C, if you know what I mean.” -Charlie Goins, 11

health

WAITING AND hoping

HOW TO BECOME A DONOR If you wish to become an organ donor, the easiest way is to register at the local Department of Motor Vehicles. You can do this while registering for your driver’s license for the first time or at each renewal. They will give you a form that you

Dialysis takes toll as teacher’s son hopes for kidney by autumn sehy co-online editor in chief It’s six in the morning. Dusty Waldrep sits in a hospital room with about 30 other people, all of them at least 20 to 30 years older. He will be here four hours, reading a book, while his blood is being cleaned out through a process called dialysis. He undergoes this three to four times a week because, mysteriously in 2007, his kidneys failed while he was vacationing in Destin, Fla. “It’s a mystery [why they failed],” said Susan Waldrep, StuCo sponsor and Dusty’s mom. “The doctors here have no clue. In Houston they think a virus slowly attacked his kidneys and eventually caused them to fail. The doctors keep telling us, ‘It’s just very puzzling’.” What first seemed like a mild case of the flu while on vacation, soon turned into a nightmare filled with doctors, fluorescent lighting and prodding needles. Hours of dialysis in a room with white-washed walls replaced the sun-filled days of Destin. “Dialysis does the function of your kidney,” Dusty said. “It cleans your blood out and gets rid of your fluids. They stick two needles in and one takes blood out and cleans it and the other puts clean blood back in.” Before having to go to dialysis, Dusty couldn’t stand being poked by needles. Now he’s gone through dialysis so often that he’s used to it. “The guy next to me has been in dialysis for 12 years,” Dusty said. “There’s no specific worst days. The worst is when they have to take a lot of fluid out of you.”

Dialysis leaves Dusty sick for the rest of the day. He has to eat a strict diet with lots of protein and walk for an hour to an hour a half a day to avoid getting extremely sick. The most difficult part is being limited to three bottles of water a day. He could choose to eat and drink and exercise as he wanted, but then he would have to go through dialysis longer. “Some people quit coming after a while because they hate it so much,” Dusty said. “They choose not to live.” The disabling effects that dialysis has on Dusty influenced his decision to sign up for a kidney transplant. The speed it takes to find a kidney depends on how quickly the doctors find a matching kidney. Once he has the transplant, Dusty will have to take anti-immunity medicine, so his body doesn’t reject the kidney. “They tell you more of the advantages [of having a transplant],” Dusty said. “It’ll mean no more dialysis.” The danger of taking medicine to reduce the immune system is an increased risk of getting seriously sick. “[After the transplant], we won’t be able to leave Dusty alone for six weeks,” Susan Waldrep said. “If he gets sick, we’ll have to take him directly to a hospital.” Even though getting a kidney transplant is dangerous, Dusty is optimistic that it will change his life and bring about some normalcy. “I would like to think I’ll be able to have a transplant before this summer,” Dusty said. “I’ll be happy as long as I don’t have to go through dialysis for the rest of my life.”

by sydney schoen viewpoint editor

gift

artwork by preston reed

the of

when illness threatens, lives hang in balance

ATa GLANCE According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, there were 13,963 transplants from January to June of this year, with the number of donors at 6,930. This is only a small portion of those who are still waiting to get a second chance at life.

life

when tragedy occurs, hope emerges

Organ donor waiting list continues to grow

Waiting List: 115,452 Active Candidates: 73,476 Kidney: 93,406 Pancreas: 1,236 Kidney & Pancreas: 2,145

Liver: 16,004 Intestine: 260 Heart: 3,274 Lung: 1,619 Heart and Lung: 51

*The total is more than the sum waiting list due to people who need multiple organ transplants. Figures as of Sept. 18.

must complete in order to get your license or renew your old one. Along with the basic information, they also ask you to become an organ donor in case of a fatal accident. By marking yes, you are agreeing to become an organ donor.

If you wish to information about being a live organ donor, visit, www.organdonor.gov. They make it easy to find out more information. Simply click on the “Becoming a Donor” link on their homepage and follow the instructions.

WE THANKClint

beep. beep. beep. beep. beep. It was the only sound they really heard for four days. beep. beep. beep. beep. beep. Four days of shock. beep. beep. beep. beep. beep. He was virtually living off machines now. beep. beep. beep. beep. beep. But, if it hadn’t been for him, three other people would be too. beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. In October of 2004, Clint Carpenter, special education teacher Belinda Carpenter’s son, passed away after four days of struggling to stay alive in the aftermath of a car wreck. In the midst of the shock, accompanied by a sixth sense, Carpenter made a decision that would, ultimately, bring life to three people who desperately needed it. “I think that’s probably the best idea you’ve ever had.” Carpenter may not remember everything, but she does remember that. “When they had told us that he was basically gone–he was just living off machines– I looked at his father [Kenny] and said, ‘What do you think about donating the organs?’” Carpenter said. The process moved quickly from there. Clint passed on a Wednesday morning, and by that night, the organs were already in the process of being harvested. In association with Southwest Transplant Alliance, the organization the hospital recommended, Clint’s donatable organs (liver, both kidneys, and heart) were distributed to three deserving recipients, with one recipient receiving both a kidney and a liver. Carpenter also was given the opportunity to write a letter to each of the recipients, in which she also enclosed a picture. The kidney recipient, John, replied. As I compose this letter, your letter and Clint’s picture, both properly framed, remain in front of me and are my inspiration, now and always. Clint, although his organs were donated, had never conveyed to his family his wish to do so. It had never been mentioned or even put on his driver’s license and, because of this, resulted in a lot of paperwork for the family. Fortunately, though, the bulk was taken care of by the Alliance, and signatures were the only remaining thing that stood between the rejuvenation of three lives. When we received your letter, [my wife]

and I shed tears for your loss and pain that continues. But know this: we shed tears of joy and thankfulness on October 14, 2004 for the greatest gift anyone could receive. Ultimately, four days of hell for the Carpenter family resulted in heaven for their son and the resurrection of three lives. “It just seemed like the right thing to do,” Carpenter said. “You know, to save someone’s life. And, I don’t know if it was a comfort, or what it was, but knowing that someone else was alive and enjoying their family. Like, one of the recipients, [James], received a kidney and a liver, and he lived for only a few months after that. But, his family wrote a letter saying, ‘We had those moments with him,’ and that meant everything to them.” We thank you and your family for this gift and now, because of your thoughtfulness, Belinda, we thank Clint.

community

tiger times sept. 28, 2012

Junior Simon Kallee is a foreign exchange student from Rheinfelden, Germany. photo by carlie clem

A new way of living by ashley tyson staff writer He digs into his first ever Chocolate Xtreme Blizzard, arms resting against the sticky laminate table. Kids are screaming in the corner, old people filtering in and out for their afternoon ice cream. Junior Simon Kallee begins to tell about his new life in America. Originally from Rheinfelden, Germany, the foreign exchange student is adjusting well to his new surroundings. Making his

foreign exchange

arrival to the states on August 22, he had only four days to acquaint himself with his new host-family and home, before embarking on his adventure at Texas High. To get here, Simon filled out several applications to become a foreign exchange student. Then he received an invitation to a meeting, was accepted, and filled out an endless amount of paperwork. The final step was spending a weekend learning about America. Then he could finally pack up and fly over. His flights started in Frankfurt, and went to Houston. From Houston he flew to Dallas, where he had to stay the night due to a delayed flight, before finally hitting the Texarkana runway. There his host family, Stephanie and Cris Anderson, and new little brother Connor Anderson, met him for the first time. “You can’t really describe it,

it was a mixture of many good feelings,” Kallee said with a smile. Simon will be living with his new parents and little brother until June of 2013, when he’ll return to Germany. Simon’s thoughts about Texas High are a lot more positive and uplifting than most. “It’s a really nice and big school, with really nice and helpful people.” His first day was similar to many new students, feeling lost on such a big campus with so many strange people, alone due to the lack of friends. But unlike a majority of students, Kallee got to see the positive and polite side of Texas High. He was shown where his classes were by a few helpful students. The most common question Kallee gets asked, of course, is where he’s from. He’s also been

asked where Germany is located and if he’s a Nazi. He takes it all in stride, laughing and asking if they know any history. When he compares Germany and America, there are some surprises and a few expected differences. He says America has more fatty and unhealthy foods, along with more fast food restaurants, rather than sit in eateries. In Germany, you can only get your drivers license at 18, versus 16 here in the states. Even though Kallee will be turning 16 while he is here, he isn’t permitted to get his license. “It’s so strange seeing people my age driving; I’m not used to that!” Here, there are fewer people, but they’re much friendlier. “People here are much nicer than in Germany.” Classes are longer here, and more controlled. Back home, if a teacher doesn’t show up for class, students can sleep or go back home. However, they do have more homework in Germany and twenty minute breaks between lessons, and twenty minutes for lunch. They have open campus, which allowed Kallee to walk home for lunch and then back to school. Kallee is on the school’s soccer team, playing defense and middle. Back in Germany he skied, took piano lessons and swam for a few years. He also skateboards, swims, and plays Xbox in his free time. Kallee hopes to improve his English, meet new people and get involved in activities before returning to Germany a week after school ends. “I can’t really say right now, but I think leaving people here will be the worst part about leaving.”

far from

HOME Coming from Denmark,

Camille Loevgreen is

here to experience another culture, American high school, and meet different people. She has noticed that Americans are more talkative and sociable and tend to follow trends more than people in Norway. In her spare time she enjoys listening to music, hanging out with friends, and playing sports. She is involved in soccer and drama.

Emma Lee

comes here from Busan, South Korea. She is interested in America, learning our culture, and learning English. She says that in Korea, students stay in only one class all day and there are no policemen at the school. Emma enjoys listening to music and shopping in her spare time.

Linda Ornes is

from Sauda, Norway, and is here to experience a different culture and see if America is the same as in the movies. She feels that people here are more open and say hello to each other, but school here is more strict with the rules. She enjoys listening to music, being with friends, taking pictures and cheerleading. She is involved in drama.

complied by mackenzie phillips

feature

14 Senior Christopher Keith, who has become known as The Guy Who Sleeps in Class, is changing his ways. photo by katie black

ODE TO THE GUY WHO SLEEPS IN CLASS Senior decides to break bad habits, stay awake

by wynne tidwell co-editor in chief

leep: a fundamental part of the teenage world. Yet deprived to us by the burden of homework, extracurriculars, work and Twitter. Most learn to function without it, stifling a yawn with Coke in hand, ready to face the day. But not everyone is a slave to feigning awake. Some follow a code of ethics: If you get sleepy, sleep. No one does this better than

senior Christopher Keith. So here’s an ode to Keith, better known as the Guy Who Sleeps in Class. Chris has had a successful high school career as the Guy Who Sleeps in Class. The past three years for Chris have been filled with memories of exasperated teachers and closed lids. “I was tired, I got bored,” Chris said. “It’s that simple.” Obeying the whims of sleep was the only crime of Chris. Outside of school, Chris had a round-the-clock schedule, consisting of yard work and video games. So he managed about five hours of sleep. “I always got a good eight hours of sleep,” Chris said, “counting my three in school.” Chris does regret sleeping in class when it comes to his grades, but that hasn’t been the only problem. Chris wasn’t a teacher’s favorite. Although he did wake when told, it would usually end with him falling back asleep.

tiger times sept. 28, 2012 “Some teachers just gave up on me,” Chris said. “One even asked if I was narcoleptic.” What started as a simple gesture of putting his head on the table, and promising to not fall asleep, soon evolved into a perpetual school-year snooze and, once again, the glorious–or inglorious, depending on perspective–title of the Guy Who Sleeps In Class. “A lot of people knew me as the kid who sleeps a lot,” Chris said. “Freshman year, sophomore year, junior year, that was my title.” Now a senior, Chris is breaking the mold. Mostly due to college admissions, Chris has decided he needs a better average. And maybe the realization that life is spent better awake. “I have changed my ways; it’s kind of my goal got the school year. So far, I have reduced my sleep time by a 100 percent,” Chris said. “You’ll see a lot of awake Chris this year.” So, here’s an Ode to Guy Turning a New Leaf.

Instagram may be becoming new Twitter? by madeline hunley staff writer From MySpace to Facebook and Facebook to Twitter, the social networks were slowly becoming uninteresting without a new application for the digital addicts. Instagram made its appearance and became an instant hit with the ability to post any kind of picture, edited or not, to the outside social media. Twitter was and still is at the top of the list, popularity wise. Many believe Instagram is better than twitter, though others disagree. “On Instagram you can only upload certain pictures,” sophomore Autumn Jester said. “Twitter can let you do both.” Since Instagram was created after Twitter, many say that they have borrowed different technologies from each other. Freshman Annie Housel agrees with this statement and believes Instagram is the new Twitter. “Instagram adopted the hashtag from Twitter and people update just about as much,” Housel said. Preferences between Instagram and Twitter differ depending on the particular person. Whether they enjoy uploading pictures or tweeting, each has a different perspective. “I do not think Instagram is secure,” Housel said. “I prefer Twitter over Instagram due to the unsafe pictures uploaded.”

sports

tiger times sept. 28, 2012

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

New trainer plans sports medicine program by ben gladney staff writer

hether he’s called “Doc” or Coach, Cody Walls, the new athletic trainer for the Tigers, is looking forward to bringing his medical experience to the school. While competing competitively in high school and college, Coach Walls faced many obstacles, but nevertheless, he challenged himself to reach his full potential. Becoming an athletic trainer was not Wall’s original choice for a career. It wasn’t until he experienced some medical problems that he considered it. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, other than play football,” Walls said. “But after some research, and a couple of shoulder injuries in high school, I met an

athletic trainer who helped rehabilitate my shoulder, so I decided to pursue my bachelor degree in athletic training.” After obtaining his degree, Walls became the head athletic trainer at Harmony & Overton and later head athletic trainer at Greenville High School, before coming to Texas High School. Walls is also a certified teacher in sports medicine. “I’m hoping to start a sports medicine class next fall,” Walls said. “It will be a competitive entry class that will require students to meet a certain criteria to enroll, but it will have a major effect on the students’ future.” Walls knows that starting the class off small will eventually allow it to grow on and off the field. “I’m hoping to get more

students involved,” Walls said. “I’m hoping to start off with 10-12 , and I hope that it will grow to 20 students in the future”. This mindset has helped Walls in many ways, especially on the football field, as injuries this season have often occurred, he and his student athletic trainer have trotted on the field to evaluate the injury. “When injury occurs, I have to assess and evaluate the injury,” Walls said. “I have to determine the severity, so I can refer to the appropriate resources and treat the injury carefully.”

All eyes are focused on him while he does what’s necessary for the injured athlete. “All of this takes place under the scrutiny of hundreds of lookers,” Walls said. “And in some cases, one bad decision can be the difference whether the athlete lives or not; is paralyzed or not, but even through all the commotion I keep my attention and focus on the athlete.” Even after the game, the work doesn’t stop there. He is on constant alert for all sports in the school district. “No matter how much work I have,” Walls said. “I

love being an athletic trainer, and Texarkana has offered me, my wife Jamie, and my daughter Lillee a chance to move closer to our family.” No matter what obstacles have been set in front of Doc, he perseveres to achieve many of his goals. “Years from now, I want to attend medical school and become a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon,” Walls said. “I want to build a sports medicine clinic in compliance with the SouthWest Athletic Association, and I want to engineer the power of sports medicine in the community.”

HELPING HAND

New athletic trainer Cody Walls, along with head coach Barry Norton and junior assistant Ben Gladney, escorts an injured player off the field for further observation during the freshmen Texas versus Arkansas game. Walls hopes to start a sports medicine program here soon. photo by hailey woods

IN THE SWING OF THINGS Freshman golfer looks to father for guidance by madeline hunley staff writer

Golf instructor Geoff Jones checks his son’s swing during their afternoon practice session. Freshman Grayson Jones is the second-ranked player on the varsity golf team. photo by mackenzie phillips

Growing up in the shadow of a professional golfer not only influenced freshman Grayson Jones into playing the sport, but made golf an everyday ordeal. The pressure of being a freshman on varsity is the least of his worries; pleasing his dad is a different story.

“I want to make him happy,” Grayson Jones said. “He has been in the same position, so he knows what I am going through.” Having a professional coach as a father has its perks in the long run. With grades, school, and friends, golf can always be made more dependable with his father on his side. “He has tons of experience,” Grayson Jones said. “The advice he gives really does make a difference and he can give show all the tools I need to be a great player.”

Grayson Jones feels golf has brought his dad closer in their relationship. The two would still be close without the sport, but it has made a difference over the years. “I eat, breathe and sleep golf so I’m around him 24/7,” Grayson Jones said. “Not only is he my dad, he is my coach, so it’s kind of a two way relationship.” Following the footsteps of his dad, Grayson Jones started to play when he was as young as two years old with the see SWING on page 16

sports

SWING from page 15

THIS ISSUE’S MVP

OFF AND RUNNIN’ Walker makes endzone his home

by robert hoover staff writer

tiger times sept. 28, 2012

During the loss to Evangel, junior running back Treveon Walker broke away from defenders and scampered for a 72-yard touchdown. photo by casey hitchcock

unior running back Treveon Walker has been the most productive football player for the Tigers over the past few weeks. Even though he is undersized at his position, his stats make up for his lack of physical attributes. “It feels really good to be recognized for an [honor],” Walker said. During the Arkansas game, Walker had 106 yards along with two catches. Walker had a total of 18 carries for the game. “I work hard, I watch the film to try to figure out what I did wrong so I can improve,”Walker said. During the game against Evangel, Walker had an impressive 147 yards. Walker also completed five catches with 21 overall carries.

Very early on in the game, Walker broke off for a 72yard touchdown play. In his efforts he scored Texas High’s only touchdown. “I was trying to give us a chance to get ahead. I was pumped and felt like running another 72 yards.” After the loss to Evangel, Walker piled up another 78 yards rushing and 119 receiving in the loss to Tyler Lee. Depsite the hardship, Walker stays positive. “I learned to never give up, and to fight down to the very end.” Walker said. “I’m just going to keep working hard in the weight room and get ready for the next game.” Walker’s perseverance and overall attitude is phenomenal when his team needs him. “I owe it to my offensive line.” Walker said. “Without them I couldn’t do it.”

dream of becoming a professional golfer just like his father. “He would put me in a stroller and I’d watch him hit balls for hours,” Grayson Jones said. “There is no place I’d rather be than at the range or course.” Geoff Jones agrees that his son has improved tremendously over the years throughout his hard work and determination. “He conducts himself on the course in tournaments much better than most 14 year old boys,” Geoff Jones said. “That is something he’s improved over the past year or so, and it really shows what a successful player he is.” Rather than hanging out with friends and wasting time around the clock, Grayson always finds himself working on his golf game or spending time with his dad at the range. “I feel at peace whenever I play,” Grayson said. “I look forward to heading to the course every day.” The hopes are high for Grayson in the future and Geoff Jones couldn’t be more proud of the many accomplishments his son has achieved. “He’s a good student, a polite young man, exhibits character and integrity, and is a good hearted person,” Geoff Jones said. “I just want him to be happy, those attributes are much more important to me than how good he is as a golfer.” Grayson looks forward to the years to come on the golf team and is ready for the competition. Without his father’s guidance, he feels golf wouldn’t have impacted his life as much as it does now. In fact, golf might have not even been a priority to begin with. “He is probably the only reason I started playing.”

student life

tiger times sept. 28, 2012

Graham Cracker Graham Cracker, a local consignment shop, has the cheapest dresses in town. They range from $45 to $7.50. This dress is $40. The upside is that the dresses are cheap. The downside is that they’ve been worn before so they might not be in mint condition.

HOMECOMING for less Dillard’s

Dillard’s had dresses for a mid-range budget. They range anywhere from $99 to $69. This dress costs $69. The upside is that the dresses will be decently made without being extremely expensive. The downside is that many girls buy their homecoming dresses from Dillard’s, so there’s a chance that other girls will have the same dress.

Reed’s Bridal Reed’s Bridal has more expensive dresses. They range anywhere from $289 to $95. This black and red feather dress is $289. The upside of Reed’s is that since it’s expensive, it’s unlikely that two girls will have the same dress. The downside is that it’s an expensive and it’s rare for homecoming dresses to be worn more than once.

life

Ways to direct your laziness by davis payne entertainment editor We are at the end of the first six (really five) week grading period and I for one am already tired of the school year. Students school-wide seem to be echoing my resentment of the day-to-day exercise that is school, but since most of us want to be successful in life, we will still come. With that being said, there still remains the astonishing workload that the average student has to deal with. Now the less clever will often resort to procrastination, but that is generally frowned upon, so we have supplied a few options for you to direct your laziness. Regular Class Buffer I know that regular classes are somewhat of a taboo for the student who desires to take on a heavy workload. There are so many juniors and seniors who love to load up their

schedule with AP and DC courses, and I am all for having a rigorous schedule, but there is a point when one needs to just chill out. Taking one regular class provides the perfect chance to do so. It provides a boost to the GPA while also giving someone a period to kinda relax and have a class where you don’t have 40 problems assigned at the end of every class period. Some regular classes even provide the opportunity to get your work done early which may seem like counter-productive laziness, but actually allows one to be lazy after school. (See Below) After School Nap On the average day of the week you will probably have homework in at least one class if not more. If not then you really don’t need or deserve these tips on laziness, and I would like to kindly ask you to discontinue reading this particular article and move on.

Now, for those to whom this does apply to, I would first like to sympathize with you on how horrible having three classes worth of homework in one night really is, but there is a simple solution to deal with it. The answer is sleep. More specifically: Naps. A quick 30-minute nap after school is perfect to relax for a bit and allows one to feel revitalized when starting the long odyssey of homework ahead. Keep in mind, you don’t have to go by the book and take the nap right after school. Feel free to change it up and

take it a couple of hours after school. If you are having a really late night don’t be afraid to take two or three. It will really help those nights that you stay up until 3 a.m. studying. Before School Challenge This is part laziness and partly a challenge that most students will find themselves taking on as they go through school. We have almost all done it. The night is late, you have been hard at work like any respectable student. You come to the end of that last assignment and

realize to your horror that you still have that one last English or math packet left to complete. Instead of taking an hour to do it, you say no thanks and postpone it until morning. This makes for a great spectacle to everyone around you as you struggle to do an hour’s worth of work in roughly 20 minutes. Many times people will fail to successfully complete the assignment which is why we strongly recommend that you avoid taking this totally unnecessary risk. Still, there is that one time that you manage to

tiger times sept. 28, 2012

complete that assignment and you walk into that class with those stares of admiration from the rest of your classmates. Just don’t try to do it often because I can personally assure you it won’t work every time. These are just a few suggestions or options that I have left you to consider. I am not recommending any of these nor am I saying that they are bad options. You just need to decide what is best for your schedule. Laziness is a fine art and each person has their own individual flare to it.

hipster corner

tiger times sept. 28, 2012

menfolk. The immense, neverfaltering tidal wave of superhero movies, each somehow cheesier than the last, are part of the same phenomenon. For some reason, 18-35 year-old males will reliably fork over the benjamins for movies about men in implausibly tight spandex onesies punching each other. Now, even I, who judges films primarily upon how “European” they are, will admit that a few of the superhero action flicks have been pretty good (I’m looking at you, Christopher Nolan), but does the world really need a Thor sequel? No more than the world needs an Aquaman movie, which, I am sorry to say, is currently in pre-pre-production. Current box office numbers reflect this creative vacuum. The highest-grossing movie in the U.S. at presstime was Resident Evil: Retribution, which is a sequel of a sequel of a sequel of a video game adaptation. I’ve never seen any of the Resident Evil movies, so it would be unfair for me to dismiss them as terrible, but something tells me that we aren’t looking at the next winner of the Cannes Grand Prix here. In second place was Finding Nemo, which was originally released in 2003 but is currently

Sequels, prequels, spandex

nyone who’s been down to our local Cinemark lately knows that the recent cinematic offerings haven’t been exactly choice. For the past year or two, Hollywood has been churning out prequels and sequels like they’re Chinese knockoff handbags. Remakes abound, and most of the “original” films being released are hackneyed and

formulaic. How terribly blasé, amirite? What is up with this poppycock? Here’s what’s up with this poppycock: studio executives greenlight scripts that they know will make money. The Ice Age movies, for example, have been proven to rake in the phat loots with the 6-10 demographic. Therefore, it’s likely that they’ll

keep making Ice Age sequels ad infinitum unless Dreamworks Studios is physically destroyed by the ghost of Ingmar Bergman, who is the all-powerful god of good filmmaking (just don’t question it, okay). The pattern remains the same if the intended audience is switched from elementaryschoolers to over-testeroned

back at theaters for a totally righteous 3D jam session that is sure to make Pixar truckloads of money. The remaining top-ten films are similarly unimpressive. Sadly, this pattern is likely to continue until Oscar season rolls around and the benefits of prestige outweigh the benefits of profit in the eyes of Hollywood’s bigwigs. Like almost every major societal problem nowadays, this abominable creative vacuum can be chalked up to the Recession. In recent years, the average American family has had less cash to spare, and, as a result, fewer people go to the movies. Studio executives are feeling the monetary hurt and are therefore much less likely to greenlight risky but high-quality projects than they would be if the economy were in better shape. Thus, we get an inexcusably superfluous number of movies that are cringe-inducingly bad but appeal to the mass market. It’s an unfortunate but unavoidable conclusion. If you enjoy films that are actually watchable, your best bet is to judiciously avoid the theater until the bright sunshine of quality cinema breaks through the dreadful clouds and makes everything lovely again. Or, if you’re me, you can barricade yourself into your game room with a stack of Alfred Hitchcock DVDs and curse the invention of 3D. Cheers!

Warning: read with caution, high levels of hipster

by abigail o’gorman entertainment editor

he tantamount issue in our society at the moment is not the presidential race or the war in Afghanistan. It is not the drug trade or teen pregnancy or national health care. The biggest obstacle to world peace and universal happiness is the rampant misuse of the word “ironic.” It isn’t ironic when you unexpectedly run into your friend at the movies after talking to him on the phone. Irony isn’t when you order a medium soda at a restaurant but they give you a large by mistake. And it isn’t ironic when you tell your friend her jacket is cute when it actually looks like a unicorn was sick on a poorlyfitting zip-up hoodie. These are examples of coincidences and sarcasm. “But Miss Journalist Writer Person,” you say, “What can the difference between these complicated talk-words possibly be? How is I make grammar?” Read

further for the answers to these questions and many, many more, gentle reader. Or don’t. It’s not like I care or anything. I’m a hipster. A broad definition of irony is “incongruence between the actual results of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result.” (Thanks, Merriam-Webster!) In proletarian English, it’s when something happens that is more or less the exact opposite of what you expect to happen. Let’s say you stay up until an ungodly hour studying for the terrifyingly important physics test the next day, but when you get to class it turns out that the test you have ruined your health studying for isn’t until next week. That’s irony- situational irony, to be exact. Irony comes in many flavors-dramatic, Socratic, the aforementioned situational. The most ornery and difficult to define, however, is something I’ll refer to as hipster irony. It isn’t exactly a bona fide literary trope, but it can be loosely defined

as when you do (or more commonly, wear) something really lame, but you secretly do it to make fun of it, turning your supposed embarrassing gaffe into savvy cultural humor. Allow me to illustrate this nebulous concept with an even more nebulous example: it is commonly accepted that Nicolas Cage’s acting is so cheesy that people with lactose allergies can’t even go near him without breaking out in hives. (If you’re reading this, Mr. Cage, please don’t be offended. Cheese is my favorite dairy product.) Despite, or rather because of this, ironically putting up a Wicker Man poster in your room is seen as a suave act of icy-cool hipsterism. It’s not like you actually LIKE The Wicker Man or think it has any entertainment value beyond being unintentionally hilarious, but you are pretending to because it somehow makes you cool in an extremely confusing way. The main purpose of hipster irony is to convolutedly ridicule the poor souls who

genuinely like the stuff you’re making fun of. You might think there’s no point in ridiculing something if the object of ridicule thinks you’re agreeing with them and nobody gets the joke except you, but that’s because you’re a humongous lame-o, man. One of the main dangers of being a hipster is that people who aren’t familiar with the concept will mistake you for an actual lame person due to all of the crushingly lame tomfoolery you do for ironic purposes. One has to wonder whether doing lame stuff makes you unquestionably lame yourself, regardless of intention. Questions like these keep hipsters up at night. We can’t banish the creeping suspicion that we’re actually not as cool as we think we are. Hipsterism is a philosophy that glorifies the questioning of the broadly accepted. When we extend this scrutiny to ourselves, will we find that we were really just commonplace posers all along? It boggles the mind, man. Boggles the mind.

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tiger times sept. 28, 2012