The Hi-Times March 2015 by The Hi-Times

TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL

VOLUME 72 ISSUE 5

4125 Golden Wave Dr., Tupelo, Mississippi 38801

THE

Rocket Launching Class prepares for national competition in Washington, D.C. PG2

HI-TIMES MARCH 2015 A STUDENT NEWSPAPER

INSIDE

THS SENIOR CONSIDERED FOR NATIONAL AWARD

SNAPS SNAPS

Mallie Imbler KAITLIN FLOWERS

FOR FOR

American Sniper Review

Was ‘American Sniper’ good or bad? PG3

Tupelo students are attending West Point Seniors Benton Barber and William Ikerd were accepted into West Point. PG3

EMMA EMMA GOUSSET GOUSSET Emma Gousset performs “The Collar” for a video promoting Poetry Out Loud

Anna Coburn

@acobu2017 Staff Writer

COURTESY

New Diamond Girls named The girls who are doing work while the boys play. PG4

MEGAN YBARRA

The month of Mardi Gras Mardi Gras was on March 4, and this year as every other one was big and fun. PG4

@meimbler Staff Writer

ophomore Emma Gousset has a lot to be proud of about her poetry. Gousset won last year’s Poetry Slam at Tupelo High School, placed first in the 2014 Mississippi World Trade Center Writing Contest, and has won numerous GumTree Writing contests. This year, she was chosen to represent THS in the regional Poetry Out Loud competition in Oxford on Feb. 2. “The contest was a great experience, and even though I didn’t win the competition, I gave it my best shot and made myself proud, which is just as valuable as winning,” Gousset said. In Poetry Out Loud, contestants recite a poem from memory. At the school level, they are only required to recite one piece. At the regional level, they must recite two memorized pieces, and students who make it to state are required to recite three poems from memory. “The National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation partnered together with state art agencies to create the

KEYWANNA ROGERS

contest,” explained Kelly Manley, director of the THS Poetry Out Loud contest. To help get the word out about the program, THS student teacher Rex Harsin created a video of Gousset performing George Herbert’s “The Collar,” which is the poem she recited at regionals. “Each English teacher will have access to the video, and then next year, when we are trying to promote the contest, we’ll be able to show the video of Emma competing and, hopefully, generate more interest through that,” Manley said. Although Gousset did not place at regionals, she plans to go next year. “The Poetry Out Loud Contest was so big because it gives students a chance to become more knowledgeable about poetry and offers a cash prize for the winners and their schools,” she said. “Now that I’ve experienced the competition, I have a better idea of the judges are looking for, which I will definitely take into account when I enter next year.”

‘The contest was a great experience, and even though I didn’t win the competition, I gave it my best shot and made myself proud, which is just as valuable as winning.’

Emma Gousset Sophomore

Haley Cook of Tupelo High School is being considered a Presidential Scholar. “The most exciting part of this experience would be spending time in our nation’s capital with other scholars who have achieved the same goals as me,” Cook said. Each year 141 seniors are chosen from across Haley Cook the country as Presidential Scholars. Presidential Scholars are high school seniors who are recognized for academic accomplishments. One hundred and twenty–one of them will be selected as academic scholars and 20 will be selected as arts scholars. To be considered for this honor, students must have scored exceptionally well on an ACT and/or SAT test between the September test of their sophomore year and the October test of their senior year. While there is no set score that will guarantee consideration, the score needs to be one of the top in the state. Mississippi, for example, ranks all ACT scores and then selects the top 20 girls and the top 20 boys. Cook scored a 35 on the October ACT test, placing her in the top 20. From the almost 4,000 students who are candidates for this award, 560 will advance to the semifinalist round. Those students will be announced in mid-April, and the finalists will be announced in early May. This is not a scholarship because there is no monetary award. Instead, it is referred to as one of the nation’s top recognitions. See Presidential Scholar PG2

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INDEX • NEWS.................................2 • FEATURES.........................4 • SPORTS.............................5 • OPINIONS..........................7 •ART&ENTERTAINMENT....10

Rest in peace, Alan Nunnelee Achintya Prasad @AchintyaPrasad Staff Writer

On Feb. 6, one of Mississippi’s leaders, in Congress Rep. Alan Nunnelee, age 56, died at his home in Tupelo. Nunnelee had spent the the past few months battling brain cancer. A mass was found in his brain and was treated with chemotherapy. However, late last year, another mass was found in his brain. He was put into hospice care before passing away. Nunnelee’s funeral took place on Feb. 9, with several members of in Congress flying in to attend the ceremony. Nunnelee served as one of Mississippi’s four representatives in the House, from 2011 to 2015. Before his election to the House, he served the Mississippi Senate from 1995 to 2011. During his time as congressmen, Nunnelee was praised for his actions and considered a model Republican leader. In addition to holding a position in the House, Nunnelee also held a chair on the prestigious Appropriations Committee. Nunnelee’s term took place during an especially difficult time in Washington, with extreme partisan and gridlock. His navigation through these times were consistently praised by both his peers and opposition, a rarity in the modern political world. However, Nunnelee, a native of Tupelo, was far more than a successful politician. He was a beloved member

of the community, inspiring many, including senior Noel Morgan, president of the Teenage Republicans club at Tupelo High School. “Alan Nunnelee was a true public servant and Mississippi benefitted greatly from his service,” Morgan said. “He put God first and his life family service. Mississippi will miss his leadership.” Newer members of the Teenage Republicans also felt moved by Nunnelee’s service, and expressed their feelings regarding his death. “My heart goes out to Nunnelee’s family and the people of Mississippi, as I know that any respectable man, woman, and child is saddened by that fact that one of the greatest men to ever serve the state of Mississippi has passed away,” sophomore Ross Weeden said. The club’s secretary, Mason Quaka, also felt strongly about Nunnelee’s service and untimely passing. “It saddens my heart one of America’s most respected and appreciated congressmen has passed away, but I hope what he did in his time will live on in the generations to come,” Quaka said. In short, Alan Nunnelee represented the best of Mississippi in the complex halls of Congress. He was a man of the community, and impacted everyone around him. He will be sorely missed by the people of Mississippi he devoted his life to.

2NEWS

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • MARCH 2015MARCH

WHAT’S COMIN’UP • THS Parade of Beauties March 28 • Easter Holidays April 3-6 • Synergy Performances April 9-11 • Built To Amaze Circus April 9-12 • THS Theatre Co. presents “Xanadu” April 16-18 • ACT April 18 • Senior Project Community Presentations April 30 • Senior Awards Day May 1 • Senior Exams May 7-8 • Senior Awards Night May 11 • Junior & Sophomore Awards Night May 12 • Freshman Awards May 14 • Graduation May 15 • Fourth Quarter Exams May 15-22 • End of School Year May 22

THS CELEBRATES BlackHistoryMonth , KARLEE AVERY

New Orleans based poet Asia Rainey addresses students in the THS gym. Treyce Bannerman @treycebannerman Assistant Editor

In 1976, President Gerald Ford declared the month of February as Black History Month, a yearly observance and celebration of the accomplishments of African Americans. For years, Tupelo High School has hosted a school-wide black history celebration including the THS Voices Reaching Out choir, as well as a guest speaker. Beginning last October, THS Voices rehearsed every Tuesday and Thursday to prepare for the program. Junior Caitlin Gardner is a three-year member of the choir, and said the group’s musical selections and time together nurtured a family-like atmosphere, which encouraged the audience’s participation. “The music that we picked was more upbeat and was something that would not only get the crowd’s attention, but would make them want to join in,” Gardner said. “We were hoping our family-oriented spirit would resonate throughout the audience and get them to enjoy the moment as much as we did.” This year’s guest speaker was Asia Rainey, a New Orleans-based poet, musician and spoken word artist. Gardner believes this year’s guest speaker brought a contemporary touch to black history.

“I like how she took the best attribute about her – poetry – and spoke to us through it,” Gardner said. “It’s

KARLEE AVERY

Asia Rainey recites her poetry.

different and something new. Kids were more prone to listen to her sing and recite her poetry instead of standing up there and stating a bunch of facts. The facts are important, but what do the facts have to do with today?” In addition to speaking at THS’ black history program, Rainey contributed to Tupelo’s districtwide black history celebration. The previous week, the artist presented

THS rocket team has a blast Students try to qualify for national competition

Samantha Ratliff @samgrl543 Staff Writer

Tupelo High School is trying to get as close to the moon as it can with its rocket team. “We compete, design and build rockets,” said junior Timothy Fortenberry, a member of Ester Potts’ Aerospace Studies class. Potts started the rocket team at THS after working with similar programs at the Monroe County Advanced Learning Center and New Site High School. Aerospace Studies is a yearlong class, not a club. Though the class does launch rockets, they also do a little more. The class has a lot of opportunities they wouldn’t get anywhere else. Tupelo has the privilege of being one of the nine high schools in the United States to be a part of ExMass, a research project sponsored by NASA. If they qualify, students also have the chance to compete against the 100 best rocket teams in the Team America Rocketry Challenge in Washington, D.C. If they get to Washington, they’ll launch once to compete and then launch a second time if they win. “The goal in Washington is to

have the lowest launch score possible,” Fortenberry said. “The target altitude is 800 feet, and points are taken off based on how far off you are from the target altitude. If you’re anywhere below or above the altitude points are taken off. Then if you beat the other teams the second time you launch the altitude is lowered 25 feet exactly. So you would have to have an altitude of 775 feet and they also lower the time two seconds.” Senior team member Christopher Wright added that the time should be between 45 and 48 seconds. “For every second you’re off, it takes off four points,” Wright said. Fortenberry said each rocket’s payload is an egg that weighs between 55 and 60 grams. “It has to be on board the rocket and not crack or break on the landMORGAN SOUTHWORTH Senior Christopher Wright and junior ing,” Fortenberry said, adding that Timothy Fortenberry set up the rocket. the rocket has to separate into two pieces and land separately. He said the entire rocket has to be completely built by students. “The only parts that we can’t make or modify are the altimeter and engine,” Fortenberry said. If the team qualifies for Washington and wins, then they would be able to go MORGAN SOUTHWORTH to Paris to compete From left, senior Miriah Stacy, junior Tim Fortenberry, internationally. senior Matt Hodge and senior Christopher Wright.

at several elementary schools and Tupelo Middle School. The following Saturday, Rainey hosted a slam poetry event at the Link Centre. “She was a part of the whole celebration,” said Kresta McIntosh, THS Voices director and this year’s program organizer. McIntosh emphasized the intent of the Black History Program was to display the togetherness of all races. “It wasn’t all about one race. We all came together,” McIntosh said. From the welcome to the presentation, the entire show was designed to be inclusive. “That was my main thing – to show them that we could all work together,” McIntosh said. “We had a choir that was mixed, we had a band that was mixed. That was our whole point, and I enjoyed that we could produce the fact that this is history. We’re all working together.” McIntosh said that black history extends beyond African Americans and the past. “It’s important for everyone to know their history,” McIntosh said. “It’s not really taught, but I think it’s a month where we need to express and give people ideas and keep it going. Black history to me is more diversity. I think history is the fact we’re not alone. Everybody is together, and we need to work together.”

Presidential Scholar Continued from PG1 Students who are selected will travel to Washington, D.C. June 21-23, for an all expense paid trip as part of the National Recognition Program. There, the students participate in seminars, lectures and workshops with accomplished politicians, authors and musicians. At the end of the week, the scholars are awarded the Presidential Medallion in a formal ceremony sponsored by the White House, in which students will have the opportunity to meet the President. Cook will begin the next stage of the application process this month. Along with a general biographical application, she will also be required to submit a school report and a self-assessment consisting of a resumé and essay. Cook is actively involved in Synergy and her church, Lawndale Presbyterian. She has also been involved in Madrigals, vocal jazz and cross country. Although her major is undecided, she knows she wants to pursue a degree in business. Cook has already been accepted into Ole Miss and the honors college at South Carolina. In addition, she has applied to SMU, Duke and Harvard, but she will not hear from those schools until April. She believes that her cumulative study efforts are what pushed her over the edge in her ACT scores, but she also attributes success to her teachers. “I have had a lot of great teachers over the years,” Cook said. “They are stellar.” Application packets are due at the end of February and then it is just a matter of waiting for the panelists’ decisions on semifinalists. Either way, Cook is honored to have been selected as a candidate and is proud of her achievements.

NEWS

H 2015MARCH 2015 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

Leading and learning:

Tupelo students HEADED to West Point Megan Ybarra @megandybarra Staff Writer

Two Tupelo High School seniors, Benton Barber and William Ikerd, received appointments to West Point, the United States military academy. Both students accepted the invitation from U.S. Sen. Wicker and are on their way to beginning their journeys as cadets. “It is a place that helps build men and women of good character, and it also teaches them how to lead people in combat,” Ikerd said. “I really wanted a challenge. I think that it will help me become a better man, and also, I think that it is the best path to earn a commission as a second lieutenant.” The United States Military Academy, commonly known as West Point, is a four-year, coeducational service academy in West Point, New York. For admission, candidates must apply to Benton Barber the academy and receive a nomination, often from a member of Congress. Students are officers-intraining throughout their years of school and are

released from the academy as second lieutenant officers in the United States Army. Their tuition at the distinguished institution is fully funded by the government, but they are obligated to serve as active duty military members upon graduation. Barber said that West Point is a perfect opportunity to receive a quality education at one of the top universities in America, while serving his country. The prestigious nature of the academy is shown through its lengthy application process. It takes approximately one year and requires three portions: applicants must be medically, physically, and academically qualified. They go through extensive screenings and a rigorous fitness test. Their strength is tested from the beginning. For some people, protecting our nation is a calling. “About halfway through ninth grade, I heard about West Point, and I just said, ‘Hey, that’s where I want to go.’ So I started building my resume and doing things that could prepare me for that,” Barber said. Barber and Ikerd said the opportunities at West Point are endless. Both students have high hopes and expectations for themselves. Ikerd said he is looking forward to being the best junior officer that he can be and putting his baseball-playing abilities to the test while at West Point. Unlike most enlisted servicemen, Barber, Ikerd and the other cadets at military academies across

the nation will have the privilege of receiving a quality education from an award-winning institution. This automatically sets them apart, but it also means that they will experience a steady stream of advantages and disadvantages. Because most military William Ikerd members choose to take the more traditional route and join the service directly after their high school graduations, they are thrown into the military life suddenly and have to learn everything they know through those experiences. They go through many years of mental and physical strain to earn their ranks, while academy students earn theirs through school. The difference is merely a choice, but the two come together to make one successful United States military. “You will be thrown in there as an officer, and a lot of men that you’re going to be over have actually served for a very long time,” Barber said. Ikerd said that enlisted men are the greatest fighters the country has, and that they can instill maturity into the newly created second lieutenants that come from West Point. “You really need to lead and learn,” Barber said.

THS BAND PLAYS FOR THE WIN Anna Coburn @acobu2017 Staff Writer

The Tupelo Varsity Band is split into two bands in the spring Wind Ensemble and Symphonic. Both bands are preparing for their State Evaluation and State Concert Festival. Wind Ensemble’s evaluation was on March 25 and Symphonic’s evaluation was on April 10. The months leading up to evaluation are filled with long practices and tedious sectionals after school. The hard work pays off, though. Last year, Wind Ensemble received the highest score in the state at evaluation and Symphonic made high scores in both performance and sight reading areas. “The Wind Ensemble is really hard,” said sophomore Emily McCaleb, fourth–chair flute. “It takes awhile to figure out how it goes and to be able to play it. Competition helps because our music is so much more complex than the other bands.’” The Wind Ensemble’s concert features three pieces: “Procession of the Nobles,” “Mountain Thymes” and “Vesivsus.” Prospects are looking well for the group, director Tim Matlock said. “I think they are going to do well,” Matlock said. “They are ANNA COBURN The THS Wind Ensemble practices for their evaluations. motivated more than last year after getting a score of two in sight reading.” “We always prepare for success, so I’m certain that this time will be no difThe Symphonic Band’s concert features two pieces: “Kinesis” and “Reflecferent, that we will be successful,” Sparks said. tions.” Success is a goal that the band has been working hard on to achieve. Both bands’ prospects look good, and after having a pretty good marching Working in Symphonic Band is no easy task, students agree. season, the high competition placements that are fully expected for both of “The biggest challenge of Symphonic Band is the task of maintaining the bands will be a great way for the Tupelo High School Varsity Band to finenough focus to get the work done,” said freshman Hannah Kellum, third– ish their year. Through rough practices, long hours, tuning, breathing trainchair saxophone. “Focus is a huge part of what makes a band and an indiing, and more even practice, all their hard work will finally pay off. vidual successful. After witnessing first hand the effect of focus, I know that it “I anticipate we’ll do well,” first-chair tubist Treyce Bannerman said. “Both is mandatory.” groups have imporoved drastically, and I’m sure we’ll play exceptionally Symphonic Band director Andy Sparks is confident that his band will do well.” well.

‘American Sniper’ sweeps nation

The poster for American Sniper.

KAITLIN FLOWERS

Kaitlin Flowers @_Smudged_Ink_ Staff Writer

The movie “American Sniper” has taken the world by storm, holding the No. 1 spot in the box office for three weeks. It has grossed $282,265,000 nationally. Worldwide, it has generated more than $360,000,000. Based on a true story, the film follows the life of Chris Kyle, a U.S. Navy SEAL sniper. The plot begins when Kyle’s father teaches him to shoot and continues through his multiple tours in Iraq and his return home. “American Sniper” has been nominated for several awards, potentially including an Academy Award for Best Picture. Actor Bradley Cooper was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie as the main character. The movie has received both mixed feedback. It has prompted celebrities to share their opinions about veterans, snipers and the military in general. Many of these comments have been negative. Filmmaker Michael Moore tweeted that snipers are “cowards,” although he later explained he meant as in cases like that of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Actors Seth Rogen and Alec Baldwin also tweeted critical comments about the movie. Not every reaction has been negative, though. Kyle’s family, including his widow, parents and brother, have advocated for the rights and treatment of veterans. Talon Smith from

Stars Earn Stripes, a reality show based off military training exercises, and Jeff Kyle, Chris Kyle’s brother, have even initiated a movement called the “BeastMode for the Brave.” “BeastMode for the Brave” is a physical viral-video challenge to raise awareness and funds for the Guardian for Heroes Foundation and Silent Warrior Scholarship Fund. Anyone interested in participating in or finding more information about the challenge can visit beastmode4brave.org.

IN THE HALLS Why did you like ‘American Sniper’? “Because he protected his country by doing what was right as a sniper. He made all the right decisions with his job, which was admirable.”

LC Gassaway Junior

“It kept me on the edge of my seat.”

Mary Kate Grayson Sophomore.

4FEATURES

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • MARCH 2015MARCH

DIAMOND G :

irls

Behind the scenes of the Tupelo baseball program Emily Wright @emilykkwright Staff Writer

Although the Tupelo High School baseball team may make the big plays in games, the Diamond Girls are doing most of the work behind the scenes. Girls at THS are always looking for way to get involved in Golden Wave Athletics and support their school. Being a Diamond Girl gives them this opportunity. Diamond Girls play a major role in baseball programs, making it among the highest honors at THS. This role requires a lot of time, dedication and commitment. “A lot of good programs have Diamonds Girls, and it’s good to have girls who can contribute to the success of the program,” said Woody Goss, a senior THS baseball player. High schools and colleges all across the country select girls from their school or university to serve the role as a Diamond Girl for their baseball program. The THS baseball team believes that they have the best Diamond Girls around and could not be more grateful for their contributions to the program. “I appreciate the Diamond Girls helping around on the field and making it

easier for the baseball players,” said Jackson Bridges, a sophomore and THS baseball player. This a very sought-after position; therefore, students are required to complete a test to be considered for this job. This year the test required the knowledge of basic baseball information such as how many innings are in a game,

how many strikes until a player is out, and the specific positions in a game of baseball. The girls were also asked why they wanted to be a Diamond Girl.

Beads and doubloons are staples of Mardi Gras festivities.

Megan Ybarra @megandybarra Staff Writer

Mardi Gras, commonly known as Fat Tuesday and Carnival, is the day before Ash Wednesday. It is

Juniors Evan Sanders, Anna Claire Lothorp and Bess Buskirk work the scoreboard.

MEGAN YBARRA

said to be the final celebration before Lent, the period of time when Christians focus on living simply and purely, begins. Louisiana is the only state in which Mardi Gras is a legal holiday; however, elaborate festivities draw

COURTESY

Unfortunately, Diamond Girls fall under the stereotype of “cleat-chasers” which is defined as a person who pursues athletes for romance. Lauren Losordo proves that this is certainly not why she wanted to be one. “I was a Diamond Girl last year, and it was a lot of fun being in the Diamond Girl atmosphere,” said Losordo, a THS

senior. “I love baseball. I love watching it. I love helping out the baseball team by doing different things, and I love to support the athletics as much as I can.” It is not just an extracurricular activity to put on a resume, but participating in a club like the Diamond Girls teaches students skills that they will need in the real world. During the games, the girls are required to collect the money and tickets required to enter the game, to sell food in concession stand with baseballs players’ parents, and to operate the scoreboard. “Being a Diamond Girl has made me become more responsible, taught me how to handle money, and definitely helped me learn more about the game of baseball,” said Megan Ware, THS senior. COURTESY The girls are very positive about this Seniors season’s outcome, even predicting that Megan the team will make it to the state chamWare, Bailey pionship. Martin and Allie “I think they will do great,” said KaJaggers work the concession tie Darnell, THS sophomore. “There are stand. so many good players on the team, so I think they will have a great season this year.”

crowds in other p a r t s of the United States during the season as well, including Alabama and Mississippi. Balls are one example of the many celebrations that take place during the month of February, highlighting the extravagant nature of Mardi Gras. The main source of entertainment, though, is the stream of parades that rolls through streets all across the Gulf Coast. While New Orleans is considered to be the home of Mardi Gras, the coastal cities also know how to let the good times roll. In 1892, Rex, the King of Carnival, selected purple, green, and gold as the official color scheme of Mardi Gras–purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power. Despite more than 100 years passing since this decision, these colors have remained the same. No Mardi Gras celebration is complete without them lining floats and people alike. Like any other holiday, Mardi Gras brings its own traditions to the table. One of the most famous is the buying of king cakes. They are sugary, danish-like desserts that are

braided with cinnamon inside, and they are usually coated with purple, green and gold sprinkles. Inside each cake is a miniature plastic baby doll. The doll was originally used to represent Jesus; now, it is said to bring luck and prosperity to the person who finds it. The finder is also expected to purchase the next year’s king cake or to throw the next Mardi Gras party. Perhaps the most widely recognized aspects of Mardi Gras are the collection of floats that are present in the parades and the beads that are thrown, collected, and fought over. The floats usually portray jazzy art that is sure to catch one’s eye. The beads come in nearly every size, shape and color and are common collectibles that are an honor to get. When driving through the streets of Louisiana during Mardi Gras, it is not surprising to see babies in highchairs on top of ladders. This enables them to be clearly seen so that the best items from the floats can be thrown to them. One might also hear paraders yelling, “Throw me something, mister!” at the top of their lungs.

(662)620-7244 5143 Cliff Gookin Blvd. Tupelo, MS

SPORTS

H 2015MARCH 2015 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

7244

f vd. MS

Sports Signings 1.

HI-TIMES

HI-TIMES HI-TIMES

HI-TIMES

1. Football player Jarvis Wilson - University of Georgia 2. Soccer player Katie Taylor - University of Arkansas 3. Football Players Nathan Cox, Justin Clifton, Zach Ellis, Davin Hadley, Tavonta Hadley, Shaun Kohl heim, Jarren McKinzie, Alex Norwood, Demarcus Rogers and Demaris Wise 4. Soccer player Keaton Halbert - ICC 5. Softball player Rachel Rooney - EMCC 6. Boys Soccer Players Sam Dexter, Zach Ellis, Bos ton Hampton, Bryce Hunt, Hunter Johnson, Cam eron O’Daniel and Marquise Rivera 7. Baseball player Will Buse - Meridian Community College

the eighth Golden Wave player to join the ICC men’s soccer team. On Jan. 15, pitcher Will Buse signed to play Tupelo High School has had quite a few athbaseball at Meridian Community College, and on letes sign with colleges. Jan. 16 shortstop Rachel Rooney signed to play Back in December, a notable signee was Jarvis softball with East Mississippi Community ColWilson, who graduated from THS early to attend lege. the University of Georgia. The defensive running On Feb. 4, Tupelo football head coach Trent back signed with the Bulldogs on Dec. 15, graduHammond had 10 seniors officially sign with ated on Dec. 18, and enrolled early with the college. Headed to ICC are Nathan Cox, Zach Bulldogs in January. Ellis and Tavonta Hadley. Headed to Northeast On Jan. 14, seven members of the Golden Community College are Jarren McKinzie, DemarWave soccer team signed with Itawamba Comcus Rogers and Demaris Wise, while Shaun Kohlmunity College. heim and Alex Norwood will play for Northwest Joining the ICC men’s soccer team will be deCommunity College. fender Sam Dexter, midfielder Zach Ellis, midDevin Hadley will walk on at Mississippi State fielder Boston Hampton, defender Bryce Hunt, University, and Justin Clifton signed with Arkanforward Hunter Johnson, midfielder Cameron sas State University. O’Daniel, and forward Marquise Rivera. Rivera, Also on Feb. 4, Katie Taylor signed to play socHampton and O’Daniel will sign as walk-ons. cer at Arkansas State. On Jan. 21, goalkeeper Keaton Halbert became From Staff Reports @tupelohitimes

Page design by ANNA COBURN

6SPORTS THE DEPRESSURIZED

PATRIOTS New England Patriots take Super Bowl win Achintya Prasad @AchintyaPrasad Staff Writer

On Feb. 1, the Seattle Seahawks made headlines as the team gave up their chance to win the Super Bowl. With seconds left on the clock, the Seahawks’ coach, Pete Carroll, decided to pass the ball, a call that cost the team the game. In fact, Super Bowl 49 saw many a controversy, including a fight between the two teams near the end of the game. However, neither the scuffle nor the Seahawks’ bad call compared to the controversy regarding the winner of the game: The New England Patriots. The Patriots, headed by coach Bill Belichick, are tied up with a scandal that many consider as a “Watergate for sports,” giving us the name “Deflate Gate” or “Deflegate.” In the game against the Indianapolis Colts, the team was accused of deflating the footballs used. The Patriots would later go on to win the game and travel to the Super Bowl, going on to take the title as Super Bowl Champion. This makes the scandal especially important: Did the team really cheat to go to the biggest football game of the season? The accusations first started when Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson took one of the footballs from the game after intercepting a pass from Tom Brady. He initially intended to keep it as a trophy for his interception, and handed the ball over to one of the Colts’ equipment staffers. It was there that the problem began to arise. The lack of pressure in the ball was apparently reported to the refs in the game, who slightly delayed the start of the second half to investigate the situation. Of the 24 footballs used in the game, 12 belonged to the Patriots. Of those 12, at least 11 were thought to be low on pressure. This development was later reported to both teams. However, Tom Brady, quarterback for the Patriots, claimed to not have noticed any problems with the ball. Of course, the game continued on with a staggering 45-7 victory for the Patriots. However, the victory has only fanned the flames of controversy. Many called for the NFL to take action against the Patriots, ranging from a fine to an outright rejection of the team’s latest Super Bowl trip. Of course, since then, the Patriots came out victorious in the Super Bowl, kicking the controversy into overdrive. Several explanations have since surfaced regarding how the footballs last air pressure, with some claiming environmental factors. Others have even gone as far as to blame the Colts for sabotaging the equipment or fabricating the story. This is not the first NFL scandal. However, with the winner of the Super Bowl being suspected of cheating, this particular scandal has took center stage in the news. The Patriots have only denied claims, but even so, the true scandal many point to is the lack of interest from the NFL. In all, the Patriots’ scandal tracking similarly to Watergate, with accusations and counterclaims crisscrossing a major American institution, with the American people uncertain as to who to believe.

Cheer competes in national competition at Disney World Samantha Ratliff @samgrl543 Staff Writer

Tupelo High School cheerleaders have made their way to Orlando, Florida, again. They left Tupelo Feb. 6 and stayed a week for the National Cheerleading competition at Disney World. The competition consisted of 24 teams and only 12 could win. The THS cheerleaders made 13th place, missing 12th place by one point. According to some on the team,

COURTESY

From left, Ferrell McAuley, Chappell Emmons, Brooke McAuley and Mary Elizabeth King.

“Where

Dreams

Come True ”

THS cheerleaders strike a pose on stage.

the competition was just as good as Tupelo. “We were probably as good as the other teams skill-wise, but their routines looked a lot cleaner,” said Courtney Pugh, THS junior. Focus is critical at a time like this, one cheerleader said. “We did great but the other teams had more skills and we needed to be more focused,” said Reid Chapman, THS sophomore. Even getting 13th place took hard work, blood and sweat. “There were a number of injuries during practice,” Chapman said. “Once somebody fell and had to get stitches. Then the other time a person had a neck injury.” Those who are going to be on the team next year are already

COURTESY

thinking about what to do to improve for the competition next year. “I think we’ll probably just have to work harder at every practice and use our time wisely and take it more seriously,” Pugh said, adding that her personal goal is “to just try to be a good senior leader.” Chapman also has her sights set on improvement. “My goal is to try and learn more skills and flips,” she said. The cheerleaders hope to compete again next year. “I hope we will place in the Top 10 and if we’re lucky the top five and really be more of a team,” sophomore Lilla McGraw said. “Next year is my fourth year on the team, and it will be really great to finish it off with a bang,” Pugh added.

THE GAME THAT CHANGED THE TIDE: THS Girls’ Soccer loses to Madison Central Pierce Lehman @piercetayleh Business Manager

This year Tupelo High School’s girls’ soccer shined as they made waves in the soccer playoffs. Win after win finally led to the disappointing loss against Madison Central on Feb. 3. The Game took place at THS and after a winning season, girls soccer finally came to a close with a 1-0 score at Madison Central. The winning goal scored by Maggie Overby, player No. 4 for Madison Central. Senior and Division One–signed Katie Taylor was disappointed with their playoff loss. “I knew we were better than that but sometimes things just happen,” Taylor said. Even though THS lost, the team has really shown everyone how all of their hard work was put into play during the girls’ season. Hours upon hours of hard work were necessary for the girl’s soccer team to make it as far as they did. Taylor is confident that if the juniors work just as hard and show

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THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • MARCH 2015MARCH

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ACHINTYA PRASAD

Junior Madeline Harrison kicks the ball past senior Sarah Lambert Hollingsworth.

their incredible leadership, they will do just as well next year. Though the boys’ soccer team played well this season, the girls stole the show, despite their loss. The girls’ campaigned to get people out to their games by offering free popcorn and free entrance to anyone in THS attire. Students at THS have recognized what a wonderful season the girls had this year. With only two losses under their belt, the girls’ soccer team has shown how dedicated to

the program is. That said, Katie Taylor did sign the Arkansas Razorbacks soccer team. It is rare that you see a high school player sign straight into Division One, and Taylor has made Tupelo, coaches, family and teammates proud with her impressive signing. With everything girls’ soccer has shown this year, it is clear that this playoff loss is nothing in comparison to what it has gained in recognition and legacy.

Kaitlin Flowers @_Smudged_Ink_ Staff Writer

What do methane pollution, toxic chemicals and earthquakes have in common? These are all effects of hydraulic fracturing, a process used to obtain natural gases and oil from up to 10,000 feet under ground. Fracturing entails pumping several million gallons of water mixed with sediments and chemicals through an existing gas or oil well to crack up rock or tightly packed sand in order to release fossil fuels. While it may be great for lowering gas prices, hydraulic fracturing causes more problems than it is worth. For starters, fracturing is terrible for the environment. Even if we ignore the outrageous amount of water used for the process–up to 140 billion gallons annually in the United States, by the way–around 90 percent of the chemical mixture remains underground. The other ten percent, called “flowback,” returns to the surface and is stored in open pits. Maybe that doesn’t seem like a big deal, but imagine 10 percent of 1,000,000 gallons. That’s 100,000 gallons being stored in pools on the earth’s surface. Now factor in that anywhere from 0.5 to two percent of the mixture is made up of chemicals. Of those 100,000 gallons, 500 to 20,000 gallons of toxic chemicals just sit out in the open until their proper disposal, simply hazardous at best. We have to keep in mind that one gas or oil well can use two to eight million gallons and that there are around 35,000 wells in the U.S. alone. There are some gaseous hazards as well, namely methane pollution. Some cases include communities near fracturing wells being able to light the water in their taps on fire due to large amounts of methane in the water supply.Methane is a major component of natural gas and during the fracturing process, large quantities of it escape into the atmosphere. Of course, we’ve all heard that carbon emissions are destroying the ozone layer, but methane is substantially worse. In fact, during a 20-year span, it traps 87 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Also, since sand is typically a main part of the fracturing operation, huge clouds of silica dust are produced. Silica is linked to tuberculosis and lung, kidney and autoimmune diseases. The earth’s surface and atmosphere aren’t the only environmental victims of fracturing. After all, the process revolves around breaking up the ground

The lifebood of our economy

deep inside the earth’s crust. This can have adverse effects above ground in the form of small earthquakes. These are typically no worse than a three on the Richter scale, but who’s to say they won’t get worse with time? The environment isn’t the only concern hydraulic fracturing presents, though. Remember all of those chemicals? Many of them are suspected endocrine disrupters and carcinogens. To put that in layman’s terms, they can

Morgan Southworth @MNSouthworth Editor-in-Chief

Hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as “fracking,” is a popular method for extracting fossil fuels from the earth. This process is done by shooting water, sand and other chemicals into the ground in order to dislodge debris and access natural gas. This method is much more effective than other methods in reaching otherwise inaccessible fuels. The United States depends upon foreign oil for most

40% Should we find alternative methods to gather oil and natural gas?

60%

cause cancer or hormonal imbalances. These dangerous chemicals have a habit of leaking into groundwater, contaminating the drinking water of surrounding communities. In mild cases, it is still technically safe to drink but can cause illness. In more severe cases, the water is deemed completely undrinkable. Now, for anyone who thinks the obvious solution here is to just not drink water from the tap, think again. Bottled water doesn’t just appear in bottles with those lovely little plastic screw-caps. Water is collected and processed through a variety of different filtering methods that depend on the company and source of water. These methods filter out most of the pollutants in the water. Most. As in, not all. Under ordinary circumstances, this isn’t really a problem. However, if waste from a hydraulic fracturing well were to contaminate a company’s water source, especially without the company’s knowledge, not all of the pollutants might be extracted. If we solely rely on regulations to make sure that doesn’t happen, we could be in for a rude awakening, because bottled water is out of the EPA’s jurisdiction. The Food and Drug Administration covers that industry, and their rules are more lax than those of the EPA. Basically, fracturing plows through an exorbitant amount of water, which is then polluted along with the air. People get sick, and the ozone layer gets dissolved. But at least gas is cheap.

YES NO

MORGAN SOUTHWORTH

of its energy needs, from lighting cities to fueling our cars. Most people believe this is because the majority of oil in the earth is located under foreign soil. This is not true. There is actually a wealth of oil located in the United States, simply hidden by a layer of hard bedrock. The natural gas stored here is enough to fuel the United States for 110 years and is accessible with the use of fracking. Not only is this an efficient way of fueling the United States, it is also ecofriendly. When natural gas instead of coal is used as an energy source, the surrounding air holds lower carbon dioxide emissions and almost none of the ash, mercury or sulfur dioxide. Likewise, with this natural gas available to us, the United States would become significantly more secure and independent, energy-wise. Due to the lack of importing, gas prices would also lower significantly. This would be a big win for the American people, especially considering the uneasy ground the economy has stood on for the past few years. By continuing to use hydraulic fracturing, the United States would become much more

“Experimentation with fracking began in 1947, leading to 68 years of hydraulic fracturing use. It is not a new concept.”

economically independent. Although 110 years of local fuel is not an indefinite supply, it would buy us a significant amount of time to switch over to other forms

of energy consumption, like solar or hydraulic energy. Some environmentalists claim the use of fracking causes climate change. Not enough research has been conducted in order to solidify that claim. However, we do know that power plants that use natural gas accessed through fracking, emit fewer greenhouse gases than those that use coal. With more access to natural gas, the use of coal would decrease and so might the greenhouse gasses emitted by power plants. There are other health concerns involving fracking. The water shot in to the earth allows us to obtain the gas underneath the earth, but that water is also mixed with dangerous chemicals. This water is difficult to get rid of and not all of the water can be contained. With each use of fracking, between 10 and 40 percent of water flows back to the surface and may potentially contaminate the groundwater in the area. In spite of that, we have not conducted enough research to be entirely clear on the effects of this pollution and how bad it may or may not be. This problem could easily be solved through taking more safety precautions and using fracking far away from urban areas. The key to fracking is location. Of course there are bound to be problems when industrialization is done in urban areas. Even minor construction can cause problems for people when it takes place too close to home. Fracking is not the problem so much as people living on top of oil wells is the problem. By drilling in locations farther away from civilization, the side effects of fracking will not affect the people. Experimentation with fracking began in 1947, leading to 68 years of hydraulic fracturing use. It is not a new concept. The oil industry accounts for a significant portion of jobs in our country. By prohibiting the use of fracking because of preventable dangers, thousands will lose their jobs. If the fracking industry continues, those jobs will continue to grow. Humans have been drilling for fossil fuels for centuries. Those other methods present similar danger as well. Have we already forgotten the BP oil spill of April 20, 2010, where over 200 million gallons of crude oil was released into the ocean, endangering animals and humans alike? No method of extracting fossil fuels is without risk. It is senseless to cease using one method of drilling because of the “danger” when countless other methods are still used in U.S. soil. Fracking is a dependable method of extracting much needed oil and natural gas from the earth. It would be nonsensical to stop using fracking when it is so dependable and we do not yet know the full extent of its power. It is only right that we find out the full side effects of fracking before we throw it out the window.

Opinions

Hydraulic Fracturing: Is it worth it?

OPINIONS

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THE

HI-TIMES A STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Editor-in-Chief: Morgan Southworth Assistant Editor: Treyce Bannerman Business Manager: Pierce Lehman Staff Writers: Delayney Norton Nathan Jackson Tiara Henson Kaitlin Flowers Samantha Ratliff Keywanna Rogers Anna Coburn Achintya Prasad Emily Wright Mallie Imbler Megan Ybarra Adviser: Ginny Miller See more news at thscurrent.org Follow us on Twitter @tupelohitimes Corrections The Hi-Times newspaper staff is committed to writing the most accurate and compelling news. We strive for integrity. If there is a misprint in an article, photo cutline or infographic, please tell us, and we will correct the mistake in our next issue. Editorial Policy It is the intent of the editorial staff to provide Tupelo High School students with an opportunity to create a productive forum to further enhance a positive academic environment at the school. The opinions expressed on the editorial page reflect the feelings of the entire Hi-Times staff unless otherwise bylined. Guest editorials may be submitted to The Hi-Times and will be published according to available space and relevance. Anonymous submissions will not be considered.

8OPINIONS

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • MARCH 2015MARCH

More protection needed Air Force One in public schools needs revamping for President Keywanna Rogers @keyy.lashayy Staff Writer

Achintya Prasad @AchintyaPrasad Staff Writer

The President of the United States is the most powerful person on earth. No other country has ever compared to the United States’ influence and strength. It is important, then, for America’s leader to be able to travel around the globe to spread this power. The U.S. Air Force has announced the procurement of two new Boeing 747-8s to replace the older two planes. However, this announcement has been met with critics, citing that the current plane, along with any other military updates, is a waste of funds. However, it is imperative for the United States to not only replace the plane, but also to to refurbish the U.S. Air Force. Ever since the United States became a major world power in the late 1800s, the president has traveled all over the globe. The first confirmed instance of a president in office flying on an airplane is traced to Roosevelt’s flight onboard a Boeing 314 Clipper

named Dixie Clipper, a large flying boat. Ever since then, the Commander-in-Chief has flown on many different types of aircraft. The most famous, of course, is the modern Boeing 747, which was brought into service in the 1990s, and was since clocked thousands of miles in the skies around the world. The current plane has seen quite a bit of action; during September 11, the plane was forced to fly over the Gulf of Mexico to avoid any air traffic during the attacks. In fact, after the attacks, the plane was further upgraded, making Air Force One one of the most advanced planes in the US inventory. The plane has served the Commander in Chief extremely well, but it’s time for the plane to be retired. With new world threats and new requirements, the US needs an upgrade. The new plane symbolizes the best of the United States; built by the Boeing Company in Everrett, Washington, and outfitted with the best American technology. It’s also important to note that the Boeing 747 is an icon, a symbol of American engineering and technology. In fact, the 747 has been used by the Air Force for other uses, including being outfitted as an airborne laser, a NASA space telescope and a highly advanced warfare command center, which is used by the Secretary of State for travel. There should be no discussion about whether the plane should be replaced with a new 747; it’s required. Just like the rest of our air force, while the planes we currently have function well, we need to continue to upgrade our capabilities. Current U.S. Air Force acquisitions revolve around the F-35, and extremely expensive, horribly unqualified aircraft that cannot adequately defend American interests. American security is in jeopardy, and it is imperative that the U.S. take action to secure its military capabilities. American influence is the cornerstone of worldwide stability. The new Air Force One is the start of the replacement of older American aircraft. This replacement that is necessary to continue the power and influence of the U.S. The new Air Force One will represent the best of American influence, and carry the leader of American power. ACHINTYA PRASAD

Though it is a very controversial topic, it is my firm opinion that teachers should have firearms at school but only for protection. By arming teachers, teachers will protect students from outside dangers, such as an armed intruder. Similar incidents have occurred in many schools, most notably at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Teachers should be armed in the event an attacker comes in to his or her classroom. In addition to a “Security offipsychological evalucers are meant ation, all teachto protect us. ers should undergo They can’t protect us with only classes that train them to handle unpepper spray safe situations that when intruders might require the are often more use of a firearm. If heavily armed.” teachers or school officers have firearms, they should keep them locked away so that students will not have access to them. The security officers here at Tupelo High School do not carry firearms. They do not even have tasers; they have pepper spray. The people who are here to protect us should be able to carry weapons that would actually be useful against an intruder. People who are sprayed with pepper spray often can stand back after they have been sprayed. It will sting them a little, but it’s only a temporary deterrent. What if they were wearing goggles? Then the spray would have no effect. Security officers are meant to protect us. They can’t protect us with only pepper spray when intruders are often more heavily armed. We have drills for this kind

of situation, but hiding will not stop a interloper from finding you. It’s just like hide and seek. Someone always get found. This is a school campus. Hundreds of people are obligated to be here every day. If the parking lot is full of cars then they will know that there are students in the school, whether they’re hiding or not. There have been gun incidents at schools in the past. For example, 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and then he later shot his mom and then he committed suicide and that incident made a big serious issue about gun control. Everyone who owns a gun should go through a psych evaluation or problems like this will not occur often. Those children who were injured or killed would not have been if the teachers had a firearm.

TREYCE BANNERMAN

A fire extinguisher is a good alternative weapon in case of emergency.

Yes, the Oscars have racial issues Pierce Lehman @piercetayleh Business Manager

Every year when award season rolls around, the media falls into a frenzy. With the most popular movies, music and television series constantly trending on social media and almost overtaking the world, the next logical step would be to award the most successful entertainment productions. The biggest night of the awards season is the Oscars. The Oscar nominations are riddled in controversy this year because of the lack of African American actors and actresses nominated this year. The idea that there are no black actors and actresses nominated this year is startling because one of the biggest movies on the year, “Selma,” has a predominantly black cast. “Selma” has won and been nominated for multiple awards this season,

and its moving performances brought tears to my eyes. With a cast full of diversity and a big hit at the People’s Choice Awards, “Selma” seemed like it was a sure ringer for Oscar nominations. Alas, only one song from its soundtrack was nominated and the movie itself was nominated for best picture. The cast, on the other hand, was not nominated at all. Not only was the cast of “Selma” overlooked, so were the rest of the black actors that shined on screen this year. There were very few black actor or actress nominations at all. While a lot of award shows these days look to the common people for their decisions, the Oscars choose their nominations using a judging panel. This panel is made up of people who have been in the entertainment business for years, which has led to speculation that Hollywood is not as racially diverse as it has seemed

be working towards. This is not a surprise, as most television shows and movies are not very racially diverse, though there have been efforts to change that in shows like “Stalker,” “The Walking Dead,” “Orange is the New Black” and “How to Get Away With Murder.” While these shows seem to be making a positive step forward, the Oscars are showing us that there is still a ways to go. There was also some anger about a few well-loved movies not being nominated. “The Lego Movie,” a family favorite, was not nominated for best animated feature, despite the rave reviews it received when it was first released. The Oscar nominations this year do not match up with the picture that everyone else had in their head. If the Oscars want to avoid another catastrophe, they need to take that evolutionary step from having an “elite” judges panel to listening to the people.

Vaccinate your kids, vaccinate your wife Achintya Prasad @AchintyaPrasad Staff Writer

Congratulations Mississippi, you are No.1 in health. Believe it or not, the previous statement is true. In terms of the number of vaccinated kids, Mississippi ranks first in the entire country. Our state is usually known for being No. 1 in the country for obesity. The fact that Mississippi is also No. 1 in a health category is staggering. Many news outlets have lauded the vaccine rates in Mississippi, citing the number of children vaccinated at 99 percent. This is a major contrast to California, which hovers in the low 80 percentile. These numbers have translated to a huge new outbreak of measles in the Western United States, with California leading in the total number of measles cases. Coincidence? The simple fact is, vaccinations are good for people. It is a necessity for children to be vaccinated. Vaccines have consistently proved themselves to be helpful in limiting the number of dangerous and communicable diseases, such as measles or even polio. These diseases were eradicated from the United States 40 years ago because of the use of vaccines, but recently parents have begun to doubt vaccines, resulting in the outbreaks we see today. Parents who do not choose to vaccinate state that there is a direct con-

nection between vaccinations and autism in young children. Of course, many scientific studies have consistently disproved this. Trying to draw a connection between the two is unscientific and irresponsible for any parent. Other non-vaccinators claim that required vaccines are oppressive and possibly even unconstitutional. Of course, those standpoints are

COURTESY Boxes filled with vaccines.

addressed by the CDC, which says that the diseases vaccines prevent are truly dangerous; the fatality rates are reason enough to vaccinate children, not to mention how contagious the diseases are. Unvaccinated kids are dangers to society, as they can spread deadly illnesses to others rapidly. The government has the right to require vaccinations. The United States has moved past the diseases of yesteryear. So why are we doubting the sciences that had all

Politics taken from schools Morgan Southworth @MNSouthworth Editor-in-Chief

The American school system is a very restricted place. Teachers especially don’t have much wiggle room in or outside the classroom. An additional restriction was proposed earlier this year. Mississippi House Bill 449 is “an act to prohibit school district personnel from engaging in political activity while in performance of official duties and responsibilities.” This bars all school staff from saying or doing anything regarding politics during

J er a m yT u er rn school hours. Teachers may not show any support or disapproval for any political figures during school hours and may not use any school materials or funds to support candidates. The school system would, for all intents and purposes, become a neutral party. Whether or not this will actually work is another story. Section C of the bill rules that a

OPINIONS

H 2015MARCH 2015 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

school official cannot “participate in any political activity while in the performance of his or her official duty.” A controversy as to what this actually means has arisen among several teachers, the primary concern being that teachers may not be able to do anything involving the government during school hours, such as voting or contacting government representatives involving personal affairs during their lunch break. Since the school day lasts from 8 a.m. to after 3 p.m. and teachers are often obligated to stay long after the students have left, House Bill 449 poses a problem for teachers. Should this law be violated, the school official could be fined up to $10,000. Some people, like Tupelo High School teacher Jeramy Turner, don’t like the idea of being told what they can and cannot do during their personal time. “I can see his point of using our work time to do it,” Turner said. “But we also have off time like lunch, and he can’t stop us from doing that on our off time. You cannot silence the people.” Mississippi House Bill 449 failed earlier this year. However, this is not the first time political officials have attempted to pass such a law. In 2013, Mississippi House Bill 889 proposed a similar law prohibiting school personnel from engaging in any political activity while working. Though both bills were defeated, it could possibly be proposed again in the future–this time without being shot down.

but eradicated these diseases? There is no proof to suggest any negative side effects from vaccines. The real question then is whether the people are actually serious about disease prevention. And amazingly, it appears Mississippi is leading the charge. But even here, not everything is fine and dandy. Organizations have begun to sprout in the state, preaching that vaccinations are an example of the government becoming too involved with the people. The parents behind this movement also seem to cite scientific papers that support their claims of an autistic link, though all of these journals have been disproven. Despite this, the state has unfortunately called for scrutiny regarding the state’s vaccination policies. The reason this policy has successfully worked is due to the very limited reasons to not vaccinate your child. The stances held in the law are unusual for Mississippi, including a clause that specifically does not allow vaccinations to be ignored on the grounds of religious reason. In fact, the only real reason why a child in the state can be exempted from a vaccination is because of a specific medical issue that could harm the child in question. The anti-vaccinators now wish to expand these exemptions to allow parents more control over which, if any, vaccines their children will receive, though progress through the state’s legislature is slow, and doesn’t appear

to be in favor for lax vaccine laws. In short, the stunning truth is that the one of the most obese, unhealthy states in the Union has the best record for vaccinations in all fields. Vaccines are not a political or scientific issue. They are a common sense decision that all parents should make. Vaccines are perfectly safe, and save lives otherwise endangered by the diseases of the past. Mississippi’s vaccine laws are the reason for why the Magnolia state has not seen a large outbreaks of easily preventable diseases in decades. So listen up America, Mississippi has a lesson in vaccines for you.

COURTESY The influenza vaccine and several needles.

More food options needed near campus

the nation that have like mini restaurants in their cafeteria. Why @keyy.lashayy can’t our school be like that? We Staff Writer are an A–rated school, but there There are very few restaurants are some schools ranked below us located near Tupelo High School. that have mini restaurants. Both There should be more restaurants students and teachers could use a located around the school. Most of good lunch after all the hard work the students do not like to eat in we accomplish during the day. the cafeteria because sometimes There are very few teachers that the food is tasteless. Many would eat cafeteria lunches. I’m sure prefer more variety in their lunch. many teachers would like to eat Teachers always complain about take-out food on some days students eating snacks in the too. Having more classroom after lunch, restaurants would but the cafeteria’s benefit students food does not reand school ally make you staff alike. Should there full. If there Students be more were more would also restaurants restaurants be able near THS? around the to get job school, then experience students YES at these would have restauNO more options rants. These and be much restaurants less likely to would be in need eat in class. Also, of a staff and the students would be students would gain a much more lot of important skills from MORGAN SOUTHWORTH focused with a having a job. Likewise, having a full stomach than an empty one. job gives people the benefits of I understand building more having more money in their pockrestaurants around the school costs ets, which give them the opportua lot of money, but those costs will nity to buy food. It is an easy cycle be repaid very quickly. The resto fall in to. taurants would have hundreds of This could also benefit the school customers daily, the majority being as well because students like to hungry students. Students would go to school events or activities love to eat at places close by. Many but sometimes they don’t have students buy their breakfast at Con- any money. Now that they have a nie’s, a restaurant located across job, they can contribute to school town. Imagine how many more activities or events. students would buy food at restauThere should be more food oprants that are much closer. tions around THS. That way everyThere are a few schools around one could enjoy their lunch. Keywanna Rogers

28%

74%

10ART&ENTERTAINMENT

Trivia

Crack Emily Wright @emilykkwright Staff Writer

Concert Review

ALDEAN BURN IT DOWN Jason Aldean sings to the audience.

Jason Aldean sings to the audience.

In December 2014, with 2,803,188 daily users and 248,846 daily installs, Trivia Crack was easily named the most downloaded game in the Applications Store. The app was primarily made in Latin America in October 2013 and was translated in 10 different languages, making it available to an even wider audience. People of all ages around the world immediately downloaded the app and challenged their

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • MARCH 2015

Tickets to the Jason Aldean concert. EMILY WRIGHT Emily Wright considers Trivia Crack’s worth.

friends and strangers alike. In order to play the game, one must try to earn a character from all six categories before their opponent and reach new levels along the way. Their rules and instructions are quite simple and easy to catch on to, which is one reason the game caught on so quickly; however, it is also very repetitive. There is no incentive behind the game rather than to simply answer as many questions correctly as you can and beat your opponent. There is no reward besides the pleasure of knowing you are more knowledgeable or maybe just luckier than your opponent. Once you have that, what else do you have to play for? This makes Trivia Crack just like any other popular game that has thrived for a short period of time in the past few years. Trivia Crack has sharply declined in popularity in recent months. “For a couple of weeks, I

Emily Wright @emilykkwright Staff Writer

On Feb. 20, Jason Aldean made his Tupelo debut and sparked excitement among country music fanatics across Northeast Mississippi. Aldean began his Burn It Down Tour in May 2014 in Roanoke, Virginia, and extended it into 2015, adding 23 other cities to the original list due to the tour’s remarkable success. With the success of his album, “New Dirt, Old Boots,” which hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in October 2014, people were lined around the corner waiting to purchase tickets for the extended tour. Tyler Farr opened up for Aldean and drove the crowd “Redneck Crazy” with the titular song, as well as several of his other hit singles, including “Whis-

key in My Water” and “A Guy Walks Into a Bar.” However, Cole Swindell stole the show with his Southern boy charm and dazzling smile. His special way of connecting with everyone in the crowd, even those in the nosebleed section, and his joyful attitude made for the most outstanding performance that night. Swindell gave Aldean a tough act to follow, but he came out guns blazing. In a daring entrance, Aldean appeared on stage by riding a video board shaped like a large “A” above the stage, actual fire blasting in every direction. Given that it was a Burn It Down Tour, Aldean attempted to include as much fire in his performance as possible, giving his show a little edge. In addition, Kelly Clarkson made a special on-screen appearance at the concert, singing a previously re-

corded duet with the country singer. The concert was full of entertainment and surprises. Even though the fans came to see Aldean, Swindell won the crowd over. Swindell outdid Aldean and Farr and practically made the concert. Aldean relied more on fire and special effects to enhance his performance as opposed to Swindell, who simply sang and incorporated human interaction, such as walking out into the crowd and talking to people in the upper risers, to enhance his. Although I enjoy Aldean’s music more, Swindell’s genuine personality made his performance more delightful. Both performers sing equally well; however, Aldean’s performance was average while Swindell’s was extraordinary. I give this concert a three out of five stars.

PL AY REVIEW

FATHER OF THE BRIDE EMILY WRIGHT

Mallie Imbler

Emily Wright deletes Trivia Crack.

@meimbler Staff Writer

would check Trivia Crack whenever I got the chance, but after a while I started slacking until I just stopped playing,” said McKenzie Denton, a THS senior. “The game just got old and quite boring, honestly.” Flappy Bird, Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, Angry Birds, Words with Friends and Temple Run are just a few among the hall of fame of short-lived and addicting games. Granted, the games will always have their loyal users, but most users will eventually get tired of the game and its repetitiveness and delete it off their cellular devices. Trivia Crack is just one of the many passing game fads.

Tupelo Community Theater produced another top show Feb. 5-7 with its adaptation of “Father of the Bride.” The play was held at the historic Lyric Theater and is the third production in TCT’s 2014-2015 season. This heart-warming classic is based on the 1950 movie starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. MALLIE IMBLER Upon arriving, guests were greeted The Lyric Theater advertises “Father of the Bride.” with a beautifully decorated lobby and music provided by Big Brad Blalock and ther, Mr. Banks, into shock. not disappoint in their portrayal of these the Rhythm Aces. The Lyric had been With the help of Massoula, the wed- beloved characters. The play featured transformed to resemble a wedding re- ding planner, and his assistant, Joe, the two Tupelo High School students and ception complete with flowers and a Banks soon find their house being turned a teacher: Josh Martin playing Buckley cake. upside down. Dunstan, Samantha Turba in the roll of The play follows Kay Banks and her TCT patron’s have grown accustomed Peggy, and theater teacher Allana Ausfamily as they plan her wedding to her to an outstanding tradition of excel- tin in her role of Mrs. Banks. The atmofiancé, Buckley Dunstan. Although the lence, and this play was no exception. sphere and superb acting gave this show couple claims they want a small wed- The loyal fans filled the theater as the an unbeatable quality. ding, the guest list quickly climbs to four shows were nearly sold out. This I give “Father of the Bride” five stars. more than 400 people, sending Kay’s fa- show’s actors, veterans to the stage, did

RESTAURANT REVIEW

BOP’S Pierce Lehman @piercetayleh Business Manager

Bop’s is one of the best places in town to satisfy your sweet tooth. Being the only frozen custard shop in town, they definitely have a step up on the competition as well. Unlike many other frozen treat businesses, at Bop’s the customer can basically create any custard flavor they want. Bop’s also has a multitude of options for toppings. The prices are reasonable and they even managed to create a drive-thru at their lo-

cation, which I personally did not think was possible. If frozen custard isn’t your thing, they have snow cones too. People definitely get their moneys worth and their snow cones are some of the best in town. With summer approaching, Bop’s is the perfect place to grab something to cool. If customers don’t want to create their own concoction then they can always choose from a list of fan favorites that

are sure to delight. The Turtle is one of the most popular items. Customers can choose from a multitude of flavors and even thickness of custard. If patrons don’t get their fill at the store they can always buy a pint to take home. With a choice between Bop’s and Baskin Robbins, I would choose Bop’s every day. With fourpoint-five stars on Google and five stars in my heart, Bop’s is the place to be.