The Hi-Times October 2013

TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL

VOLUME 20 ISSUE 2

4125 Golden Wave Dr., Tupelo, Mississippi 38801

Homecoming

THE

WEEK

HI-TIMES OCTOBER 2013

#themblankets PG4

A STUDENT NEWSPAPER

INSIDE

BRAINY ATHLETES TAKE TO THE BUZZERS

COMMON CORE

WHAT IS THAT? Common Core State Standards bring changes

COURTESY

Swim team dives in for another season

thinking skills, which take time to master but will aid students to succeed in the long run.

Although many objectives n 2010, Mississippi adopted the Common Core coincide with what is currently State Standards, an initia- taught, the Common Core tive designed to pave the teaches subjects in a different way for students to achieve way. Less topic coverage is the skills needed to enter the planned, allowing more time workforce or pursue a college for mastering content, which primarily affects how core education.

English and math The change to classes are taught. the Common Core Transitioning In math classes, state-led standards to Common CC emphasizes has begun districtmajor concepts in wide in grades K-5. Core will aladdition to proceImplementation in low Mississippi dural problem solvmiddle schools and students to ing in order for high schools, as well meet a nationstudents to underas new assessments wide standard stand the thoughtin English and math, in preparation process behind will begin in the for not only 2014-2015 school graduating high math.

This helps year. It has yet to be school, but for students properly determined whether excelling at a absorb the inforpassing the tests will mation, ending the be required to grad- future career. current tendency uate as of next year. for students to only Common Core evaluates students with the same assess- retain a skill long enough to ments adopted nationwide in score well on the next test.

“One of the biggest skills is 45 states.

As higher expectations are set students have to come up with for all students, the transition a plan on how to solve a probis often difficult at first, with lem,” algebra II and statistics less proficient scores within teacher Amanda Inman said. the initial years. However, “No longer will the directions Common Core is designed to gradually teach higher-level See Common Core PG2 @delaneycnorton Staff Writer

I

Where’s my chicken nugget?

Students acknowledge healthy is good, but is it tasty? PG6

COURTESY

Album Review: Stay Trippy Reviewer Mackenzie Morgan thinks Juicy J’s new project is top notch.

PG12

MackColumn: Football results shocking

5

states have not adopted CCSS.

Sports writer takes on college, NFL football.

PG11

Only

Mackenzie Morgan

thscurrent.com Scan here with a QR reader.

INDEX • NEWS.................................2 • FEATURES.........................5 • OPINIONS..........................6 • SPORTS.............................9 • ART&ENTERTAINMENT.....12

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

4

100 STUD EN TS SU RV

ED EY

96

Senior

“

It’s better to look at other states’ test scores and try to meet their scores.”

Jasmine Gardner Junior

“

I agree with it. Everyone should be equal.”

Jeremy Hinds Sophomore

“

I don’t like it, because it might make school harder. It makes people try harder to learn.”

Lynne Johnson

Assistant Media Teacher

A lot of other states “have it already, and it

will tie us in with what the other states are doing.”

U.S. public school districts have adopted CCSS.

The goal of CCSS is to ensure more students are college and career ready.

4

U.S. territories have adpoted CCSS.

While players and fans are gearing up for Homecoming, other Tupelo High School students are preparing for another test of strength: the academic decathlon.

Just like a normal decathlon challenges different physical strengths, the academic decathlon challenges different areas of knowledge, from math to Rand Hinds pop culture.

Public speaking teacher Rand Hinds, one of the teachers organizing the competition, compared it to “an academic quiz-bowl.”

April Friar, a senior English teacher, works with Hinds to manage the decathlon team of 20 students who are scattered across all grades.

The talented students make up five teams of four competitors who work together during the decathlons. Teamed up based on compatibility and academic prowess, each of the students studies and tackles a certain area of expertise, and whether it’s grammar or current events, each person plays a key role in team dynamics.

With so many new competitors from ninth grade, the team’s main focus will be practicing. This, Hinds feels, is very beneficial to the chemistry of the groups.

“We are really excited about our team because we have a good balance with 12th-graders and underclassmen,” Hinds said. “With these younger students, we should be pretty formidable for the next few years to come.”

Even with their aboveaverage understanding, the See Academic PG3

School interpreter helps Ugandan orphans “...it felt like I was leaving [home]. When I walked into my kitchen and opened the refrigerator to get a drink, I just broke down because I realized that those children can’t do that.”

- Gloria Jarrell THS interpreter for the deaf

RELATED STORY

DO YOU LIKE THE NEW GRADING SCALE? YES NO

Emily Hink

89,970

FOLLOW US

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

@rachel_bobo Staff Writer

Delaney Norton

#ShredTheGnar PG9

@tupelohitimes

Rachel Bobo

Students, teachers spread Gospel overseas PG5

Bethany Fitts @bethyfitts Staff Writer

During the past summer, Tupelo High School’s very own Gloria Jarrell traveled to Uganda to change the lives of the African citizens living there, specifically the orphans.

Jarrell, known by most as “Mrs. G,” serves as the high school’s interpreter for the deaf and currently works with senior Richie Taylor. Jarrell is not only an inspiration to many in Tupelo, but she is also a musungu, or a “white mom,” to the orphans of Uganda.

Jarrell was first inspired to visit Uganda when a children’s music group, Ugandan Thunder, visited her church, Bethel Baptist. Deeply moved by the children’s performance, Jarrell took action to raise a large sum of money so that she could take part in a mission trip to Uganda.

“You can choose to turn your head but you can never again say you didn’t know,” Jarrell said.

COURTESY

Gloria Jarrell, who traveled to Uganda over the summer, is now trying to raise more than $21,000 to help build a children’s facility in that African country.

The group she traveled with was part of an organization called “Pennies for Posho,” based in Zebulon, Ga. Upon their arrival in Africa, Jarrell and her group immediately took action to help

the 14 orphanages in They helped by giving mainly the grits-like staple in Uganda), See Uganda PG5

the area. out food, posho (a medicine,

2NEWS

{

{

WHAT’S COMIN’ UP

• Tupelo Haunted Theatre @ the Lyric on Broadway Oct. 17-19, 24-26, 31

• Southern Circuit “Year of the Living Dead” Showing @ Link Centre Oct. 18

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • OCTOBER 2013OCTOB

Common Core

Student group

Continued from PG1

M.O.S.A.I.C. arranges art festival

• Blood Drive in PAC, 8 am Oct. 18 • Dogtrot Rockabilly Festival, 9 am-3pm Oct. 19 • ECW Food Fest @ All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 9 am-12 pm Oct. 19 • THS Football @ South Panola, 7pm Oct. 18 • University of Alabama Rep at THS Oct. 21 • Oren Dunn Haunted Museum Tour @ Ballard Park 7 pm12am Oct. 25 • THS Football vs Desoto Central, 7pm Oct. 18 • THS XC @ Ballard Park Oct. 29 • ACT Oct. 26 • North MS Symphony: The Music of John Williams @ Link Centre Concert Hall Oct. 26 • WWE Live @ BancorpSouth Center, 5 pm Oct. 29 • THS Football @ Horn Lake Nov. 1 • Tupelo Flea Market Nov. 8-10 • THS Football VS Olive Branch Nov. 8 • 2nd Term Progress Reports Nov. 19 • Disney on Ice @ BancorpSouth Center Nov. 21 • Thanksgiving Break Nov. 25-29 • SATP2 Dec. 3-9 • “It’s a Wonderful Life” @ Lyric Dec. 5-7 • Culmination Project Presentations Dec. 10-12 • 2nd Quarter Exams Dec. 13-18 • Christmas Break Dec. 19- Jan. 3, 2014 • Formal Dec. 31

KATHERINE GRACE

Janie Buckley, one of the hundreds of M.O.S.A.I.C. art festival attendees, paints a ceramic tile for the project’s final mosaic.

Delaney Norton @delaneycnorton Staff Writer

T

upelo High School seniors Kyler Emig, Ryan Murphy, Cemone Smith, McKenzie Darnell and Emily Carter make up M.O.S.A.I.C., a senior group project devoted to Making Organized Student Achievements In the Community. The team took on the unconventional challenge of promoting unity through the arts by holding a festival for children in grades K-2.

In order to spark interest for the event, the group first visited Thomas Street, Lawhon and Joyner elementary schools. Fully welcoming everyone to join in, the group designed posters and filmed a promotional video to further encourage participants.

“Our event allows children to get to experience an activity where they are surrounded with other kids,” Darnell said.

“My heart goes out to people that

Celebrating

100 YEARS OF Excellence

feel left out, so I hope that this gives me an opportunity to show my love for kids and what I want for them.”

The festival was held on Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Fairpark in downtown Tupelo. The main event of the festival was painting individual tiles in order to create a mosaic art piece for the city.

Group mentors Kim Caron, “I think the project will be really interesting for these kids that come out...it’s really interesting to see those that have that extra creativity.”

- Kim Caron Caron Art Gallery owner

owner of the Caron Art Gallery, and Charlie Buckley, an oil painter, assisted the team in event organization and the process of making mosaics.

Each participant painted a 4-by-4 tile that when constructed together into a single mosaic, create a motif of the Tupelo TVA arrow. Each tile’s design is an original.

“By creating their own tile, the idea we will present the children with is to leave a piece of them behind as they grow up,” Murphy said.

The group will donate the final piece to the park located downtown on Spring Street by the Farmer’s Market.

“I think that a lot of people don’t realize there’s such talent around here,” Caron said.

“I think the project will be really interesting for these kids that come out – lots of kids like to do art because it’s not having to do math or reading – but it’s really interesting to see those that have that extra creativity.”

The senior project allowed each group member to develop and practice abilities in event organization, public relations, public speaking and teaching, all while giving something back to the Tupelo community. With a subject as inspired and limitless as art, it’s no surprise to the group that their project had the impact to bring so many young minds together to accomplish a common goal.

TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT:

Alumni return as teachers 2013

2002

2013

2002

Bailie White @bailiew2016 Staff Writer

T

upelo High School students sometimes love THS so much that they decide to come back to teach here after they graduate. That is the case of Leslie Pleasants, Anna Sloan and a handful of other THS educators.

“I loved all of my history classes,” said Pleasants, a 2002 graduate who now teaches U.S. history at THS. Pleasants graduated the same year as Sloan, who teaches psychology and coaches the girls cross country team, and Laurie Bishop, who teaches science and coaches volleyball.

Some people say that your friends in high school will not be your friends after high school. This wasn’t the case for Pleasants and Sloan, who were not very close back then.

“We are closer now,” Pleasants said.

In school, Pleasants played softball, soccer and intramural Frisbee football, and Bishop played basketball and volleyball. Sloan, Pleasants and Bishop were all members of chorus as well.

The pride of being a THS student is present now and was present when these teachers were students.

“My favorite part about

be ‘find the area of a circle.’

The student will be given a word problem with a given description or scenario where they have to use the formula, but the problem won’t tell them that.”

This concept, called “modeling,” applies math to realworld problems in preparation for using the skills in day-to-day life.

“Most of the time the word problems have multiple ways you can arrive at the correct answer, so students have to realize there may be more than one way to solve it,” Inman said.

The English and language arts standards build skills needed not only in English classes, but those vital in history, social studies, science and technology courses.

CC emphasizes informational text, close reading (annotating), academic vocabulary, argumentative writing and higher-order thinking skills. Students will use a variety of media to research, communicate and learn.

The courses will also focus on the progressive development of reading comprehension in order for students to gain a college reading level before the end of high school.

Higher grade levels will read more nonfiction texts, approximately 70 percent of their overall course texts by grade 12.

While many rising high schoolers may find the new adjustments daunting, Common Core is implemented for the students’ own gain.

Transitioning to Common Core will allow Mississippi students to meet a nationwide standard in preparation for not only graduating high school, but for excelling at a future career.

Leslie Pleasants

Anna Sloan

U.S. History Teacher

2013

1992

Suzy McGrath

Pre-AP English II Teacher

2013

2001

Jonathan Begnaud

History Teacher

2013

2002

Laurie Bishop

Science Teacher/Volleyball Coach

2013

1992

Mark Enis

Physics Teacher

U.S. History Teacher

going to school here was just being a THS student and everything that came with it,” Sloan said.

“We had friends in the county schools,” Bishop said.

“Everyone always looked up to us, whether they wanted to admit it or not. My favorite part was having the pride of being a THS student.”

In the time since Pleasants, Sloan and Bishop have been students here, more concern has been placed on academics, including more emphasis

on state tests, more opportunities for students, and physical changes to the campus such as the expansion of the cafeteria and central courtyard.

“The biggest difference to me is between coach and player,” Bishop said. “Players are young, and they don’t think about the team, but as a coach, I have to think about the whole team.”

“Enjoy it,” she advises students. “Everyone wants to graduate and leave. High school should be one of the

best times of your life. Don’t wish it away.”

Jordan Metcalfe, THS science teacher, was a 2007 graduate. While in high school, Metcalfe was on the powerlifting team and the cheer squad. In fact, across the hall from his classroom (B244), there is a picture of him with the cheer squad from one of his four years in high school. Before becoming a teacher, he often filled in as a substitute.

Mark Enis, a 1992 THS graduate, was a member of the soccer team, baseball team and Key Club.

Current THS math teacher Ginger Lumsden was one of Enis’s teachers while he was a THS student. Enis was a part of the last class to graduate from the old high school, which is now Tupelo Middle School. He decided to come back to THS and teach history, because most of his family still lives here.

“I made a lot of memories here as a student and athlete,” he said.

Many other teachers here also graduated from THS, including Suzy McGrath, Jonathan Begnaud, Gary Enis, Rand Hinds, Amanda Inman and Hannah Kimbrough.

Students should remember their teachers now, because they never know what the future holds. Students could be teaching in their teachers’ old classrooms one day.

3

NEWS

R 2013OCTOBER 2013 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

New THS teachers have stories to tell said Kimbrough, a THS graduate who is certified in English and social studies. “I always wanted to come back Students know most of the teachers and give back what I have received.”

Also transferring to THS from within here at THS, but this year there are the district was Marlo Hendrix, who many new faces on the faculty.

Beth Kuykendall worked at Milam previously taught at Tupelo Middle and in Hardeman, Tenn., before School. With 16 years of experience, coming to THS to teach creative writ- she teaches Mississippi Studies and world geography. ing.

“The difference between “I graduated from one of teaching middle school and the smallest schools in the “I came to state, and now I work at the teach here be- high school is the students are more mature in high largest school in the state,” cause it’s an school,” she said. “The kids Kuykendall said. opportunity to in high school are more Jordan Hopper, the new focused on graduating.” collision repair teacher at better myself and the stuThere are many teachers THS, has a sense of humor.

“I graduated college at dents I teach.” at THS who are either new or known to the district. the age of 13 and taught at - Jordan Hopper Collision Repair But whether they are new Harvard for seven years and Teacher or not, they still love what decided to come to Tupelo they do and care about the to teach collision repair,” kids they teach. he joked.

Freshman health teacher and softBut Hopper also has a serious side.

“I came to teach here because it’s an ball coach Brittney Robertson is also opportunity to better myself and the new to THS. “I taught and coached at Alcorn students I teach,” he said. “So far it’s going pretty good, and it’s a lot better Central for three years,” she said. “I’m a huge Atlanta Braves fan.” than I expected.”

Perhaps the most interesting story Freshman English teacher and girls soccer coach Hannah Kimbrough came comes from brand-new theatre teacher here from Thomas Street Elementary, Lacey Carr.

“I love all things Disney, and my where she had been teaching for two fiance just proposed this summer in years.

“I love my experience here at THS,” Belle’s castle at Disney World,” Carr Meaghan Killian @MeaghanE96 Staff Writer

COREY KALISH

Lacey Carr, who likes all things Disney, became engaged in Belle’s castle at Disney World.

said. “Ever since I was born my parents kept Disney on TV and so it became a family thing. We would go to Disney together every year.”

When she was a young girl, Carr wanted to be a princess.

“I mean, every girl wants to be a

{still the same{

princess, and my fiance knows Belle is my favorite and decided to propose in her castle,” she said, “My perfect proposal came true.”

Carr and Tyler Smith, who grew up two doors down from each other, are planning a June 14 wedding.

IN THE HALLS

DRESS CODE

by Nathan Jackson, Staff Writer, @_treehome

Senior Jasmin Watson

Senior Sumner Fortenberry

The dress code, year after year, never changes, and this year is no different.

“The dress code has not changed,” Assistant Principal Genna McAlpim said. “You are sent to I building to wait for a change of clothes, or some of the administrators will keep clothing around so that they can send them back to class as quickly as possible.”

Many students think because they have seen others wear tanks that the dress code has changed, but it hasn’t.

If a student wears a shirt or tank that is •more than or exactly three fingers wide at

“People talk about how we don’t work hard, but this shows them. You know what they say, ‘you play how you practice.’”

Jason Harris Principal

the shoulder, then it is allowed.

•Extreme hair color is prohibited.

The minimum length for shorts is •three inches above the knee.

Holes, tears, and/or shreds that expose •undergarments and inappropriate areas (holes above the knee) are prohibited.

COREY KALISH

“I’m excited because I worked really hard to make a good grade on my state test. I feel accomplished to go to an A-rated school.”

Neely Brown Junior

Academic

“It shows how hard everyone at THS works.”

Continued from PG1 competitors practice all they can. For the past few weeks, everyone on the team has been meeting during T-Period, but Hinds and Friar decided that longer after-school practices will better prepare the team. They recently held a mock decathlon, which Hinds said will give them “the necessary practice and confidence to compete against other elite schools in the state.”

Most of their competition is from larger metropolitan areas like Jackson and Memphis, including Jackson Academy, Madison Central, St. Andrews and Briar Crest. So far, they have not competed against any local schools, but later in the spring other Lee County schools will join the playing

On Oct. 13, Tupelo High School officially became an ‘A’ ranked school as desginated by the Mississippi Department of Education. What do you think about the new ranking?

Brookes Prince Marketing and Economics teacher

“I believe the students earned it.”

MACKENZIE MORGAN

The Academic Decathelon team is led by Rand Hinds and includes members Christina Daniels, Emily Carter, Peyton Curtis, Dalton Tutor, MacKenzie Smith, Jimmy Stone, Grant Thorton, Hailey Grisham, James Grant, Nathan Jackson, Caitlin Bailey, Achintya Prasad, Anna Ballard, Luke Tucker, Clayton Swell, Betsy Crosswhite and Corey Kalish.

field at Itawamba Community College.

To win an academic decathlon, a team must defeat all the other teams in the tournament. If enough tournaments are won, a school can go on

to compete at a national level.

This year, the Tupelo team has only participated in one tournament in which they competed against Birmingham area schools at the University of Alabama.

This “academic sport” might go unnoticed around campus, but they are making an impact with the other decathletes across the state with their consistent triumphs and intimidating success.

THE

CURRENT

THE COLLABORATIVE HOME OF THE HI-TIMES, WTHS, AND THS ALBUM

thscurrent.com

Guy McCoy

Science teacher

“It’s good that we improved.”

C.J. Williams Junior

4NEWS

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • OCTOBER 2013OCTOB

KATHERINE GRACE

TROPICAL WAVE THURSDAY

Front row, from left, Danielle Sharp, Quintera Berry and Brett Ashleigh Brooks. Back row, from left, Matt Koonce, Antonio Clifton and Valencia Wilson.

KATHERINE GRACE

TROPICAL WAVE THURSDAY

Front row, from left, Tay Walton, Daniel Purnell, Hayden Buckley and Kyle Holliman. Back row, from left, Jack Nance, Andrew White, Heston Lollar, Tyler Gilbert, Ashton Wedel, and Joel Baldwin.

Homecoming

WEEK BRADEN BISHOP

DRESS UP MONDAY

Dressed to impress, Hayden Buckley, Daniel Purnell and Kyle Holliman stride to class.

This year, Tupelo High School’s spirit week was themed Tropical Wave.

The week featured Dress Up Monday, Tourist Tuesday, Walk the Plank Wednesday, Tropical Wave Thursday, and Flamingo Friday. Here are a few students that stood out.

WEDNESDAY

From left, Anna Claire Lothorp, Caroline Brown, Mary Dawson Buskirk, Lauren Bean, Maggie Houin and Emily Carter.

TOURIST TUESDAY

Mollie Houin, Brian Haadsma, Joel Baldwin, Lauren Kate Carter, Amy Haadsma, and Addison Gable.

More homecoming pictures are at thscurrent.com

BRADEN BISHOP

WALK THE PLANK

COREY KALISH

KATHERINE GRACE

KATHERINE GRACE

FLAMINGO FRIDAY

From left, Peyton Curtis, Betsy Crosswhite, Hailey Grisham, Caitlin Bailey, Shivani Parcharne and Colm McCool.

HOMECOMING PARADE

Madison Horton and Malik Coleman show THS pride from the senior float.

Homecoming

MAIDS FRESHMEN

Freshmen: From left, McKenzie Young, Katherine Stone, Maura Chiles, Jasmine Bean, Caroline Parker Sophomores: From left, Katherine Holliman, Madeline Harrison, Kaitlyn Wilson, Adriana Ivy, Sarah Holliman

JUNIORS

Juniors: From left, Asia Partlow, Elizabeth Wyatt, Sarah Ewing, Anna McAuley, Farah McGaughy

SOPHOMORES

Seniors: Front row, from left, Shivani Parcharne, Emily Carter and Yasmin Young (football maid), back row, from left, Taylor Rodgers, Caitlin Bailey, and Kylie Hobson.

SENIORS COURT PHOTOS BY COREY KALISH

TEACHERS OF DISTINCTION

From left, Tim Matlock, Jennifer Towery, Anna Garner, Amber Nichols-Buckley and Tim Matlock were recognized Sept. 23 as Teachers of Distinction from Tupelo High School.

Matlock became the first person to win the Teacher of Distinction Award a second time. Prior to this year, past recipients were ineligible to win again. With the new partnership between CREATE and AEE, recipients can be renominated after five years.

COURTESY

Uga

vitamins Ugandan discover children and oth more can “Kids w she said.

Also, J take sp the orp out spon have gro more th and mor orphans to help p items the “It is

5

FEATURES

R 2013OCTOBER 2013 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

School club teaches tolerance Meaghan Killian @MeaghanE96 Staff Writer

Meredith Beasley, sophomore, helped distribute Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to children in Ecuador.

COURTESY

Students, teachers spread the overseas

Gospel

Bailie White @bailiew2016 Staff Writer

Honduras, Ecuador and Africa received a little taste of Tupelo over the summer, as students and faculty journeyed around the world to spread the Gospel. From May to July, many local churches in Tupelo took mission trips to many different places.

West Main Church of Christ traveled to Honduras. Their group left at 2 o’clock in the morning on May 29 and returned the evening of June 9. Their first stop was in Memphis, and from there they flew to HousCOURTESY ton, their last stop before leaving THS girls soccer coach Hannah Kimbrough traveled to Kenya over the summer. the country. From Houston, they flew into San Pedro Sula, the capital of Honduras. Their group of about about God. She was most touched as they call it) with a people group I 30 then rode an unairconditioned by “passing out Operation Christ- love was very special.”

The purpose of Kimbrough’s trip bus to Trujio, Honduras, where they mas Child shoeboxes.” These boxes hold special items that the children was to go and do what she felt like spent the next 10 days.

Seniors Carley Cole and Cassie do not have but are very grateful the Lord was calling her to do. She Williams, along with sophomore for. Crayons, coloring books, Barbie wanted to go and share His love.

Nathan Cox, journeyed to Trujillo dolls and other toys made up the She wanted the African people to special items. see His love in her and for Him to this summer.

Beasley said the hardest part use her.

The verses that helped these “I ended up getting much more Tupelo High School students on of the trip was “not being able to speak fluent Spanish,” love than I gave,” she said. their mission was “I loved simply which is the language I John 4:18 helped Kimbrough Matthew 28:19-20: that the people of Ecua- through her trip because she was “‘Go therefore and playing with the 45 dor speak. scared and nervous about going and make disciples of all children that live at “Colossians 3:17 she doesn’t like to fly. She came the nations, baptizing the orphanage we was the group’s theme across this verse before she left, and them in the name of worked at, Limuru verse,” Beasley said. it gave her comfort. the Father and of the Children’s Center.”

- Hannah Kimbrough The verse reads, “And I John 4:18 reads, “There is no Son and of the Holy Girls soccer coach whatever you do in fear in love; but perfect love casts Spirit, teaching them to word or deed, do all in out fear, because fear involves observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am the name of the Lord Jesus, giving torment. But he who fears has not with you always, even to the end of thanks to God the Father through been made perfect in love.”

Him.” “If you ever get the opportunity the age.’ Amen.”

After going to other parts of the to go on a mission trip, I highly Williams, who worked with children on her trip, was touched the world that are not as fortunate as suggest it,” Kimbrough said. “The most by “seeing how happy every- America, you learn “to be more Lord will use you and will teach you thankful for the things we have,” and grow you through the experione was with the little they have.” ence. It will be a life changing expeThe goal of West Main’s mission Williams and Beasley said.

For 14 days during the summer, rience.” trip was to evangelize, provide ninth-grade teacher and THS girls These students and teachers healthcare, and give spiritual support to the people of Hondu- soccer coach Hannah Kimbrough learned a lot, thoroughly enjoyed journeyed to Kenya, Africa, on a their summer trips and highly ras. suggest mission trips to every THS Calvary Baptist Church took a mission trip.

“I loved simply playing with the student. group of about 30 to Ecuador for One doesn’t have to go overseas 10 days. They drove to Atlanta and 45 children that live at the orphanage we worked at, Limuru Chil- to be a missionary. One can be a flew straight to Quito.

Sophomore Meredith Beasley dren’s Center,” Kimbrough said. missionary and change lives here at went on this trip because she loves “Having the opportunity to share THS. being around kids and telling people the sport I love (soccer or football

Teaching Tolerance is a stand-up-to-bullying club here at THS. It’s available for anyone to join.

“Teaching Tolerance is a group that supports everyone such as religions, sexualities, ethnicities, et cetera,” senior Adam Hildenbrand said.

“I hope people will be more accepting to all people.”

Teaching Tolerance used to be called the Gay Straight Alliance, but this year the name was changed.

“We changed it so people will be more accepting to the club,” Hildenbrand said. “It’s important to me because it gives everyone a chance to be equal.”

Teaching Tolerance was made for everyone to come together as a community and to learn new things and accept one another as humans.

“Teaching Tolerance is a way to help people understand each other and get along with one another more than on a friendship basis,” senior Kylar Emig said. “A lot of people around the world are very close-minded and being part of a club won’t make much of a difference, but I think that I want to help people understand each other better,” Emig said. “I hope that eventually Teaching Tolerance can become more worldwide and not be one of those clubs everyone comes from and not join just because it’s something everyone else is doing.”

The adviser of Teaching Tolerance is Amber Buckley.

“We wanted a club that was more inclusive and opened to everyone, and one of our goals is to fight discrimination in school and a lot of that happens to do with bullying and bullying on multiple fronts,” Buckley said. “(We’ll) seek justice for vulnerable members of society and establish a safe haven for students who are persecuted against race, sexual orientation, religion, weight, age, and/or personality.

“We’re already seeing ways that we can branch out into the community to help support events that are addressing those kinds of issues like discrimination and bullying,” Buckley said.

Teaching Tolerance is important to not only the students but also to Buckley.

“I’ve always been an advocate for students who feel like they have no one else to talk to or go to, and I talk to my kids often about the importance of tolerance,” she said. “Even though people may be different from you, they’re still here in order for society to work and work well. We need to be able to tolerate each other.”

Students of every background imaginable are welcomed to join Teaching Tolerance and come together to stand up against bullying. The organization meets every second Wednesday of the month, usually in the Small Auditorium.

JORDAN JONES

Amber Buckley leads a Teaching Tolerance meeting.

Uganda Continued from PG1 vitamins and switti, which is Ugandan candy. Often, upon discovering the switti, the children would trick Jarrell and others into giving them more candy.

“Kids will be kids anywhere,” she said.

Also, Jarrell’s group would take sponsorship photos of the orphans who are without sponsors. The orphanages have grown drastically, with more than 4,000 children, and more than half of those orphans do not have a sponsor to help provide them with the items they need.

“It is the happiest thing to

give gifts to these children, but the saddest thing is to watch the ones who receive nothing because they have no sponsor,” Jarrell said.

What stood out to Jarrell the most was the sheer poverty.

Disease is ever present, and the lack of food and clean water creates many harmful problems.

“In spite of everything, those children had the brightest smiles I have ever seen,” she said. “When all you’ve got is God, you find it’s enough.”

Jarrell returned to Tupelo just in time for school, but her work for Africa has not ended. She is currently rais-

Uganda is located in central Africa.

ing $21,700 to give to a young African man, Dalton Apollo.

Due to very difficult events in his past, including the disap-

pearance of his parents and the death of his eldest sister, Apollo has a desire to help orphans like himself. He plans to build an orphanage for the abandoned, deaf and the orphaned, but for this to occur he must buy the land to start construction. Jarrell plans to give the money to Apollo when he visits the United States next spring. While still in the U.S., she needs volunteers to help raise the money.

Out of everything that she experienced, the most difficult part of Jarrell’s journey was returning to Mississippi.

“It didn’t feel like I was going home, it felt like I was

leaving it,” Jarrell said. “When I walked into my kitchen and opened the refrigerator to get a drink, I just broke down because I realized that those children can’t do that.

There’s a verse in Ecclesiastes that says ‘with wisdom comes grief,’ and that’s what I felt.”

In the future, “Mrs. G” plans to live in Uganda and be with the orphans full time. Meanwhile, she will continue to work at THS and raise funds for Apollo and the seven Ugandan children she sponsors.

6OPINIONS

[

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • OCTOBER 2013OCTOB

Most underrated TV shows of all time

While many at THS suggest that the new five, instead of six, chicken nugget meals and choice of low-fat milks are a travesty, these changes aid Mississippi’s struggle to end obesity.

Ben Davis @bsdavis4296 Assistant Editor

Throughout the years there have been many failed television shows that have not only been cancelled, but lost from the annals of smallscreen history. For some, would-be-scrapped shows are sustained by small fanatic fan-bases.

While the first occasion is far too common, for many, this fate is deserved. Other shows have been unjustly canceled. Here are my top five shows that have met either fate.

“Chuck” My Rating: 9.5/10 Original Run: 2007-2012 “Chuck,” the quirky spy drama that battled cancellation throughout its lifespan, was kept alive by a fan-base that could be considered a cult. The series is about an underachieving tech at the local “Buy More,” Chuck, who becomes the government’s most strongly guarded secret. “Chuck,” which generated an average viewership of 6.43 million over its five seasons, revolves around a highly classified computer program known as the intersect, a database of all U.S. intelligence designed to be absorbed subconsciously into the minds of U.S. field agents. When Chuck reluctantly opens an email containing encrypted files from his college friend and CIA agent Bryce Larkin, he becomes the first “intersect” and is assigned a protection detail. He then slowly learns he has more to do with the implementation of intersect than he once thought.

“Jericho” My Rating 9.8/10 Original Run: 2006-2008 “Jericho” is an action drama series that debuted on CBS in 2006. The show, about the aftermath of nuclear terrorism in the small town of Jericho in rural Kansas, never gained a large viewership, primarily due to its 9/8 Central Tuesday night time slot. The show’s main characters are the Green family who are very popular in the town. After the terrorist attacks, which target the nearby city of Denver, the Green family must organize the city to combat issues like nuclear fallout and to face problems that come with having be reverted to a third-world state.

“1600 Penn” My Rating: 8/10 Original Run: 2012-2013 This comedy centered on the drama of the U.S. presidential office failed to gain any prominence as a serious show. Frankly, I can’t understand why. The show was one of the most comedic programs in recent history that still managed to successfully incorporate a strong storyline. The show centers on the president and his family, which bears no resemblance to the one currently inhabiting the White House in real-world America. The show brings America’s most popular family down to earth and portrays the first family in a believable manner. The show boasts a contrasting compilation of characters who all influence the show in their own way.

“House of Cards” My Rating: 9.5/10 IMDB: 8.8/10 Original Run: 2012-present The political drama “House of Cards” was the first Netflix original to grace the small screen. The show, which is actually quite popular, has still failed to gain acceptance in the mainstream due to its Netflix exclusiveness.

The show primarily follows Congressman and Republican whip Frank Underwood. The series opens with a monologue from the plotting politician, who has been promised a seat in the newly elected President’s cabinet. However, due to a change of plans, Frank Underwood is excluded from this elite group. The series’ main storyline follows Rep. Underwood’s plot for political recovery.

If one has time to spend watching TV but has just finished the latest season of “Breaking Bad” or “Sons of Anarchy,” it would be advised to check these shows out.

Where’s my chicken nugget?

COREY KALISH

Food initiative teaches students how to live healthier lives Ryan Murphy @ryanmurph12 Editor-in-Chief

F The unhealthy food traditions that many parents pass down to their children are a major reason why our state goes through a constant cycle of obese generations.

BOSTON.COM

First Lady Michelle Obama

irst Lady Michelle Obama’s 2010 Let’s Move! campaign has fostered other healthy lifestyle initiatives in the United States. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act was created in 2010 as an offspring of the campaign, and today HHFK affects Tupelo students in a positive way.

While many at THS suggest that the new five, instead of six, chicken nugget meals and choice of low-fat milks are a travesty, changes like this aid Mississippi’s struggle to end obesity.

In February, the first lady visited Clinton public schools to commemorate our state’s eager acceptance of food reform. Mississippi was one of the first states to join forces with Obama for healthier school food.

This willingness gives hope that we are on the path toward a brighter future, but there is still a long battle to fight. The fact that students object to the change is a sign that education in healthy, portioned meals is needed.

Teaching of health should first begin in the home. Southern food culture is rooted in rich, decadent meals that are unfortunately high in calories and fat. This, combined with poverty and easy-access, affordable junk food, is the major reason Mississippi struggles as one of the most obese states in the nation. Parents need to instill healthy eating habits from a young age.

Many parents do not want to be told about the necessity of nutritious foods for children by an 18-year-old high school student, but it is true. The unhealthy food traditions that many parents pass down to their children are a major reason why our state goes through a constant cycle of obese generations. Fried foods and quick meals do nothing but harm future generations.

Fast foods will only cause a fast death.

Something needs to change.

Education of food should also be taught in schools. I expect a health class that pushes the importance of exercise and a balanced meal. This is not what I experienced, and I find it to be sad. Mississippi schools, especially our own, should find it important to teach and promote a healthy lifestyle.

The HHFK Act can only do so much.

IN THE HALLS What do you think about the food in the cafeteria and the healthy food initiative?

“I just like Chicken Nuggets, and that’s it.

I bring crackers and a water bottle on the days I know the food isn’t going to be that great... I don’t think the healthy food initiative is working.”

- Karla Morales Sophomore

It is a huge step in the right direction, but if a school does not do everything it can to keep the program popular with its students, then it will ultimately fail with no lasting effect. I do not want this to happen at Tupelo High School.

Simple steps exist to avoid failure.

A Health and PE Week initiative started in Australia and proved to be very successful. The Tupelo Public School District could easily build from the initiative and host its own Health and PE Week. Five days full of education on foods, exercise and the necessities of a healthy body would be a chance for students to learn and ask questions that they would have never done during a regular school week.

School gardens have also been popping up across the nation, and leave an effect on schools that is unparalleled to any other form of health education. By creating a garden at school, meals will contain nutritious ingredients from a reliable source instead of from a production company surrounded in mystery. While feeding

KATHERINE GRACE

Freshman McKenna Allen at lunch in the cafeteria.

more than 2,000 students at THS may not be achievable, a garden would still be beneficial. Classes could visit the garden and learn about what it takes to grow the food we eat, and a club or biology class could take charge and use the garden to promote health in the school. Seeing a direct source of essential foods go from the ground to their plate, students would gain a higher appreciation for school lunches and the amount of work put into them.

Tupelo students need not complain about the changes to school meals.

They are a good thing and will even make for better students who do not get sick as often and have the energy to pay attention in class. The Let’s Move! initiative and the HHFK Act will work if supported by schools and students.

A change in the way we eat is needed to progress our city, our state and our nation. Try health with an open mind and learn how it will help.

“It’s good, but I don’t think it’s any healthier.

The broccoli has cheese all over it, and that’s not healthy. My favorite food in the cafeteria would be the chicken nuggets.”

- Vesil Dao Freshman

“I don’t eat in the cafeteria. I bring a sandwich, chips and maybe an apple. I bring water. I don’t think any teenager would want to eat healthy food, but it’s good to have.”

Adrian Mann Junior

“My favorite food in the cafeteria is Chicken Nuggets. I think they taste better than fried chicken nuggets...No, I don’t think I’m eating any healthier.”

- Jordan Poppelreiter Sophomore

“Honestly, most of the healthy foods are either over or undercooked...

Chicken Nugget Mondays are definitely my favorite, but they were better last year.”

- Chandler Melton Junior

[

AMERICA WANTS YOU TO DECIDE: IS FOREIGN INTERVENTION NEEDED?

Consider warfare carefully

Foreign intervention: a moral issue

Katherine Grace

Ben Davis

@katiegrace_14 Business Manager

@bsdavis4296 Assistant Editor

W

F

oreign intervention: it’s costly, tiresome, ar, terrible war. This is what we as gruesome, and most important, deadly. After teenagers in today’s society have fighting two of the nation’s longest wars grown up with. Our nation has been in the Middle East, most are tired of war. at war for the greater part of our lives Recently, there have been talks of a series – almost 12 years. That is 12 years of of strikes against Syria due to the use of sarin gas, a children growing up watching war on the television; 12 weapon of mass destruction, against citizens in order years of the United States’ brave Armed Forces going to gain ground in the country’s bloody civil war. There overseas and risking their lives; 12 years of children are strong opinions on both sides of the matter in the without their mothers or fathers, wives without their U.S. and around the world, as the U.S. planned surgical husbands, families separated sometimes forever. Twelve strikes against Syria. Ultimately, Syria’s stalwart ally, years is unacceptable and too long for war.

Russia, negotiated the destruction of Syria’s chemical The Vietnam War is the only war that has surpassed arms, preventing U.S. intervention. in length the war in Afghanistan, which we have been Strikes similar to the ones once planned for Syria involved in since Oct. 7, 2001. were carried out in Libya during March 2011. These On Aug. 21, chemical gas attacks were carried out strikes involved a coalition of 18 NATO nations led by against the Syrian people. More than 1,500 people were Britain, France, Italy and the U.S. and helped cause killed and 3,600 hospitalized. Soon after these attacks, the downfall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was leaders from the United Kingdom, the U.S. and other responsible for a long list of atrocities including the countries began deciphering what course of action killing of civilians and state funding of terrorism. These would be taken against the party responsible. President strikes helped to reduce terrorism in Libya, once a Obama wanted the U.S. to carry out military action hotbed for groups such as Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah, and against Syria, but only with the approval of vastly increased U.S. national security. Following Congress. Why would the U.S. become the intervention, a much greater level of safety involved in another war and spend and liberty for civilians in Libya came about. more money that the USA does not Even though strikes such as these are relahave? It’s because of moral obligatively expensive, they can increase homeland tions as the “International Police security, prevent the U.S. from having to put Force.” troops on the ground, liberate oppressed I understand that the Syrian peoples, reduce future defense spendgovernment’s use of deadly ing, and if carried out correctly, can chemical weapons on its own set the tone for better foreign relacitizens resulted in many chiltions with nations in the region of dren, teens, parents and grandsurgical strikes. In the long run, these parents being killed or severely strikes can actually save money. Most injured. I am not, in any way, importantly, surgical strikes can prevent a condoning their behavior. However, conflict from escalating into a full-blown it is not the place of the U.S. to be war such as the one that developed in Iraq. involved in international affairs In 1981, Israel executed surgiwithout ample backup and cal strikes against an Iraqi support from our allies. nuclear reactor that was under Issues like the one in Syria construction. Ironically, it was should be brought to the Iraq’s claim to have WMDs United Nations, not handled that caused the U.S. invasion by the U.S., because the of the country in 2003; these Syrian regime violated an claims were false. Iraq failed international law and not to synthesize chemical weapa U.S. law. Therefore, only ons, and its nuclear program the U.N., which was founded had long been dismantled on promoting and facilitatby Israel, leaving no reason ing international law and for the boots-on-the-ground security, can rightfully prosoperation that the U.S. ecute and charge those who became engaged in for carried out the attacks. eight years.

There is also the problem Since military action that if the U.S. did become incorporating ground •There are involved in another war, we would troops can be costly and 6,000 military be plunged further into debt. The deadly, surgical strikes bases and/or military U.S. cannot get involved in another that target military installawarehouses located in war when the House of Representations with precision munitions are the United States of America. tives and the Senate are divided on often the most efficient and effective choice when diplomacy fails. This type the budget and the government is •Total Military Personnel is of of strikes allow political change to progshutdown. One of the main goals the order of 1.4 million, of which ress in countries after being targeted of the Congress is to pass a budget, 1,168,195 are in the U.S. and U.S. so the people can establish (often U.S. which they have failed to do not overseas territories. friendly) democratic governments. once, but twice in the past 17 years.

Some worry that surgical strikes can This is unacceptable. The House •There are 325,000 U.S. military only cause direct conflict rather than and Senate have had the proposed personnel in foreign countries: prevent it. This isn’t logical. When budget since April 10. Obviously considering foreign military interventhe opposing parties in Congress Canada: 147 S. Korea: 40,258 tion, it must be remembered that the cannot put aside their differences Africa: 800 Central Asia: 1,000 U.S. commands the most technologilong enough to pass bills that would Japan: 40,045 Middle East: 6,000 cally advanced and well-trained milibetter our country. Congress needs Philippines: 100 Diego Garcia: 491 tary in the world, making retaliation to get over their personal problems, Singapore: 196 Thailand: 113 from targeted nations and their allies stop complaining, and get stuff done Australia: 200 Europe: 116,000 improbable. Countries that the U.S. is that will actually help our country Honduras: 413 Guantanamo: 700 in opposition to almost always maininstead of acting like a bunch of bickMilitary personnel at sea: 16,601 tain ruinous post-USSR militaries that ering 5-year-olds. lack the the ability to direct any of Congress and the White House do ILLUSTRATION BY DELANEY NORTON meaningful aggression toward the U.S. not have the single option of war to or its allies. deal with the Syrian situation, and Although direct retaliation after a surgical strike is any other international situations that may arise. The highly unlikely, a much more worrisome possibility is a U.S. has many diplomatic options to help countries in a terrorist response.

However, this possibility is one that position similar to Syria’s, such as allowing refugees to is met by our country every day. Additionally, almost enter the U.S.; sending foreign aid directed to specific all foreign terror plots since 9/11 have been foiled, and needs such as health care; putting a stronger emphanearly $1.5 trillion has been spent on war in the Middle sis on international talks with the U.N. Security Council East with the purpose of defeating terrorism. regarding international law; and providing basic necesIt must also be considered that mass murder is taking sities to those who cannot flee from Syria. place in Syria, and more than 2 million people have Throughout history, war has been appropriate, but fled Syria in response to the bloody civil war that has war should not be the course of action that we take now. claimed more than 100,000 lives. Although military With a struggling nation, mounting debt, and a divided action may no longer be the best option, the U.S. is the Congress, war would only send this nation further into only country both powerful enough and willing to end debt and bring more unwanted international conflicts the violence. Intervention isn’t a political issue. It’s a than needed at this point in our country’s history. moral one.

7

OPINIONS

Opinions

[

R 2013OCTOBER 2013 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

THE

HI-TIMES A STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Editor-in-Chief: Ryan Murphy Assistant Editor: Ben Davis Managing Editor: Jordan Jones Business Manager: Katie Grace Chief Photographer: Corey Kalish Staff Writers: Rachel Bobo LeShay Dixon Bethany Fitts Nathan Jackson Meaghan Killian Mackenzie Morgan Delaney Norton Bailie White Adviser: Ginny Miller See more news at thscurrent.com 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 • OCTOBER 2013OCTOB

The source of despondency in young writers Delaney Norton @delaneycnorton Staff Writer

Everyone has seen it: an in-class essay where more than one student is poured over their papers, filling out prewriting bubble maps with blank eyes, silently surrendering to the terrible writing that is to come. I sometimes wonder if students are making writing out to be harder than it really is. Don’t get me wrong, writing is often excruciatingly painful for me as well— but why does it have to be this way?

As an elementary student I was eager to write, oblivious to the fact that all my writing was garbage as long as

As students get older, less time is given for independent exploration in any given school. It’s not in the lesson plan to kindle a love for writing when there are objectives to cover. As a middle school student, I was often bored relearning literary devices and grammar skills I had, for the most part, already learned. the teacher glorified my hard work. My early writing curriculum consisted of producing as much as possible, with a heavy focus on narratives.

Implementing reading outside of class was of the utmost importance to the teachers, and with this new discovery of literature, writing almost seemed interesting as a thirdgrader. I remember a long list of literary devices taped to the desk that all students had to use a number of in each piece, so I knew their meanings quickly. Basically, I owe a lot of my knowledge of writing to my third-grade self, which is unsettling since not all kids have the time to focus so heavily on writing these days.

As students get older, less time is given for indepen-

dent exploration in any given school. It’s not in the lesson plan to kindle a love for writing when there are objectives to cover. As a middle school student, I was often bored relearning literary devices and grammar skills I had, for the most part, already learned.

State tests can become the overarching drive of classrooms; every student is a liability. The prior ideology that encourages experimentation is replaced with set rules.

The formulaic five-paragraph format is taught, utilizing a three-point thesis that guides the writer through essays.

I understand that without any sort of structure, most middle school students couldn’t begin to write coherent thoughts down, but I think these rules are enforced in the wrong ways. I remember the example student essays that scored the highest broke quite a few of these rules. If anything, it improved their writing. I appreciate it when I’m given guidance to make sense of a new skill, but why is this format drilled into students? It’s virtually useless beyond middle school, as it trains students to mechanically write like it’s a science.

This breakdown of creativity also kills a student’s selfesteem. Not many students get motivated to pursue writing when their essays are marked up with red pen time after time. With the teaching of formal writing comes the sense that writing is difficult – difficult in a sense that there are unspoken rules that one has to learn before they break them. Yes, it’s important to understand the workings of language beforehand, but why scare students off from deviating off the beaten path?

In any case, teaching essay writing, or any formal writing, is a double-edged sword. While it matures students’ writing, structured formats and rubrics bog some people down. Many become convinced that they are simply bad writers and are unable to move past this paradigm.

Nearly everyone has regrettably turned in a paper with static, forced language — a failed attempt to build around a prompt. Students need to learn that just because they’ve became hung up before does not mean they can keep allowing these set requirements to be their downfall.

COREY KALISH

Less pedantic methods of writing that promote collaboration and originality allow AP English III students Benton Barber and Graham Taylor to practice rhetorical analyses.

ILLUSTRATION BY RYAN MURPHY

POLITICAL POLARITY

HINDERS NATION Ben Davis

@bsdavis4296 Assistant Editor

Do you know the difference between a Republican and a Democrat? If you answered “no,” don’t worry, it shouldn’t matter.

However, it seems like no one’s managed to get that point across to U.S. lawmakers.

It has become awfully apparent over the past years of the polarity of the government, and its failure to act in almost any situation. This, in part, is due to the overwhelmingly far right House and the left-leaning Senate, coupled with a lackluster executive branch that can’t get either to cooperate. These problems stem back well into the 20th century, but they didn’t become a catastrophic problem until the election of Barack Obama in 2008. Many die-hard proponents of the right claim that the election of this so-called Marxist is what has caused the rift that has become so prevalent in present-day politics; they are partially right. Indeed, President Obama’s election helped conjure a wave of noncooperation in the right and establish the Tea Party, or as I like to call them, the American Taliban.

This would be an extreme opinion if it wasn’t rooted in hard truth. In fact, so-called “Republicans” have claimed this name themselves.

After Obama’s first election, prominent House and Senate GOP leaders met to discuss their political goals for the future. Referring to the meeting, Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, declared the GOP political model a derivative of U.S. enemy No. 1 – the Taliban.

“Insurgency, we understand perhaps a little bit more because of the Taliban,” Sessions said. “And that is that they went about systematically understanding how to disrupt and change a person’s entire processes. And these Taliban — I’m not trying to say the Republican Party is the Taliban. No, that’s not what we’re saying. I’m saying an example of how you go about is to change a person from their messaging to their operations to their frontline message. And we need to understand that insurgency may be required when [dealing with] the other side, the House leadership, does not follow the same commands, which we entered the game with.”

Isn’t it strange that a U.S. Representative would compare his party’s tactics to that of a terrorist group without intentionally modeling it? Isn’t it a little fishy that he would then go out of his way to clarify that the same party is “not the Taliban?” Like the Taliban,

insurgent tactics and non-cooperation policies have been put in place by the right to systematically dismantle the Obama presidency. The far right has done this by breaking records on filibustering and have lead the least productive House in U.S. history.

In another case, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, famously stated, “Our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term.”

I’m sorry, Sen. McConnell, but as an elected official, shouldn’t your top priority be to represent your constituents and to your best ability pass legislation to strengthen the floundering economy? Apparently not, as party line bickering is much more common within our nation’s leadership than is positive progress and the passing of common-sense legislation.

Republicans have also been making the news due to their relentless effort to combat the Affordable Care Act and the tax increases for our nation’s wealthiest. They have also demanded higher taxes on the middle class and have even threatened to shut down the government if their political policies (primarily the defunding of the Obamacare) aren’t adopted.

While Republicans, who have a large majority in the House, are the primary cause of low productivity in the government, Democrats, who narrowly control the Senate, haven’t been much better.

The left has seen fit to spend an inordinate amount of time on issues such as assault weapons bans, magazine capacity restrictions, immigration laws, extended background checks for gun buyers and minimum wage increases, all of which stand no chance of passing in the House. While these issues are extremely important to Democrats, and a minimum wage increase could improve the economy, time could be more wisely spent cooperating to get legislation passed to benefit the economy, which is just now beginning to recover from the 2008 crash. It would make the most sense for the left to spend their time on tax codes, which will have to be modified in order to decrease the U.S. national debt that is growing ever closer to a whopping $17 trillion.

While a lack of cooperation from the left is less prevalent than from the right, it must be remembered that the President’s office is held by a Democrat. Even so, both parties have equal blame for the nation’s miserable state.

Party line bickering is much more common within our nation’s leadership than is positive progress and the passing of common-sense legislation.

9

SPORTS

R 2013OCTOBER 2013 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

AQUATIC CENTER COMES TO TUPELO

The beautiful front of the aquatic center is nearly completed. The grand opening will be Nov. 23.

Tupelo first high school on “This is huge for Tupelo, as it establishes us not only as one of the best, if not the very best, with having a top-notch athletic department.”

- Braden Bishop THS sports information director

The Olympic sized pool will be used for swim meets as well as other aquatic activities.

Mackenzie Morgan @mbmorgan15 Staff Writer

Everyone has their favorite sports team. Everyone has their favorite social media app. Why not combine them both?

Hossein Razzaghi, a Mississippi State University graduate, has developed an exclusive all-in-one app known as Fancred. Fancred is an ultimate sports and social media lover’s app. A jumbo combination of popular social media apps such as Twitter and Instagram, Fancred can show pictures, gifs (multiple still images for animated effects) and even videos.

“Tupelo High School is the first high school in the world to have an athletic program with a presence on Fancred,” said Braden Bishop, THS sports information director. “This is huge for Tupelo, as it establishes us not only as one of the best, if not the very best, with having a top-notch athletic department.”

Joining Fancred establishes the school as an innovator, so much so that high school fans across America will be downloading Fancred as quickly as they can get their phones out of their pockets.

Earlier this year, while Bishop contributed to “For Whom the Cow Bell Tolls,” a Mississippi State sports blog, he was contacted by Razzaghi.

The Fancred CEO sent Bishop the beta version, hoping he’d want to join the soon-to-be popular trend. Bishop loved it, not expecting it to equal giants such as Vine, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, but hoping it would catch on in

a similar way.

“It just needs a group of people to come through and love it, and this app will blow up with popularity,” Bishop said.

After beta testing, Fancred was released to the public in March. Bishop was right. Fancred has many collegiate and professional teams right now, with more joining every day.

Bishop ultimately came up with the idea to incorporate high schools into Fancred. He tossed the idea back and forth with Razzaghi, who pushed Madison Central and Starkville. Bishop, a diehard THS fan, was not going to let an opportunity like this pass right before his eyes. He made sure that THS

COREY KALISH

Fancred is an ultimate sports and social media lover’s app.

was going to be well represented on Fancred.

“There are many high hopes for our athletic department, and Tupelo High School all around,” Bishop said, noting that Fancred greatly increases Tupelo’s presence on social media.

Swim team ready for another great season mer in Mississippi last year, graduated.

“I think we have a long way There is no doubt that to go this season,” Smith said.

Tupelo High School’s swim “I think we lost some good team is one of the most swimmers last season, and successful teams at THS and they will be really hard to replace.” one of the best swim Since Tupelo’s swim teams in Mississippi.

“I have team is the best in the With Lucas Smith as head coach, the girls faith in the state, every other school and boys have won swim team. is competition. Tupelo’s biggest competition not a combined 12 state I believe only in swimming, but championships since they are almost every other sport 2005. The boys won able to win is Madison Central. their seventh in “Look out for the first the run last season, another big meet when Madison while the girls won season.” their fifth.

- Olivia Reese Central and Starkville Even though they Sophomore come to Tupelo,” Smith said. did win their first For all the success that the meet at Tupelo Christian Preparatory School, Smith swim team has had, it is seemed not-so-confident that great that Tupelo is building his team is guaranteed another the biggest aquatic center in Mississippi for the team to use. state win this season.

“The aquatic center is “I think this team is learning how to work hard,” he said. scheduled to be done Nov. “They aren’t there yet, but 23, which is after high school season,” Smith said. they are learning.”

This year’s team is different.

This year the team has to adjust to a lot of changes. It isn’t like it’s always been.

Colton Fremont, the top swim- There are freshmen that have Nathan Jackson @_treehome Staff Writer

The swim team gets fired up before meets with the motto, “Shred the gnar.”

to be taught some new techniques, and it has been a while since some of the members have swum. They will have to get back in the groove of things.

“We try to get better at our strengths,” Smith said. “We go in every day to work on what we are good at and improve on what we aren’t good at.”

Even though the swim team is very successful, they have many challenges. If they didn’t have any challenges to

go through, they wouldn’t get better.

“Our team’s greatest challenge now is learning how to swim fast,” Smith said. “I think we are doing OK, but we’ve got to find some intensity. They have OK intensity, but we have a different team with different competition, so they have to get great intensity and practice.”

A lot of students believe that the swim team can bring in another win this season.

COURTESY

“I have faith in the swim team,” sophomore Olivia Reese said. “I believe they are able to win another season.”

“They are really good, and I think they are going to do very well,” junior Joseph West said.

The swim team is set up to do great this season with the help of friends and school members.

10SPORTS

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • OCTOBER 2013OCTOB

Lady Wave

Lacrosse Club finding its place Staff reports @tupelohitimes The Hi-Times

What began in 2010 as a senior project has become an emerging sport at Tupelo High School.

“It’s physical. It’s fast paced.

It’s very unique,” said Charlie Davis, who joined the Lacrosse Club last year. “Lacrosse is based on a game indigenous to North America.”

According to uslacrosse.org, the game is considered to be America’s first sport, “born of the North American Indian, christened by the French, and adapted and raised by the Canadians.”

“Lacrosse literally means ‘the stick,’” said Davis, one of the club’s 21 members.

“I think we’ve got a good team this year,” junior and club officer Matt Hodge said.

“We’re doing really good and working hard.”

Many of the club’s members said they are enthusiastic about the sport because it is such a test of strength and skill.

“It can be pretty challenging, with the combination of sports,” said junior Jacob Manley, also a Lacrosse Club officer.

He explained that lacrosse -- in which the ball is thrown, caught and carried with a long-handled stick that is curved and has a small net on one end -- includes aspects of basketball, hockey, football and soccer.

Those sports have their own way of playing, but with lacrosse, players get everything at one time.

“I love this sport. It’s like so awesome and fun, and I can play it better then any other sports,” freshman Grey Davis said.

The sport also has a social aspect for players, who get to interact with old friends and meet new people.

“We all come to play and have fun and see our friends and be a family,” freshman William Bradford said.

“This team has given me my best friends, and I hope it does the same for them,” Manley added.

Although the team is just a club, many of its members would like to take it to the next level.

With all the sports THS has to offer, they want to make lacrosse an official sport.

“For that to happen, we’d have to be recognized by the MHSAA,” Davis said.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association is the official sanctioning body of all public and some private junior high and high school academic and athletic competitions in Mississippi.

Still, Davis said there is no active plan to change the club’s status. In the meantime, players continue to practice three to four days a week after school, and they are actively seeking a full-time coach.

The club is co-sponsored by English teachers Jeff Cates and Kelly Manley.

Intro to Journalism student Jacob Manley contributed to this story.

COURTESY

Matt Hodge, left, and Jacob Manley fight for the ground ball during lacrosse practice.

crowned as division champs COURTESY

Abby Stafford hits a single down the left field line as the Lady Wave plays Mooreville on September 12.

always making sure that when the JV is playing, we’re cheering and making sure we all do he 2013-2014 our part to contribute to the Tupelo High School win.”

As a senior, Cox wants to slow-pitch softball team claimed the be a positive influence for her Division 1- 6A/5A teammates both on and off the title on Sept. 26 with a win field.

Due to the team going over Saltillo. The slow-pitch season started Aug. 10 at the through a coaching change, Mooreville Jamboree, and the they did not have summer season ended Oct. 10 as the workouts, but they did play in a tournament over Lady Wave played “Hopethe summer.

Myrtle at home.

The Lady Wave Over the course fully we’ll had their first offiof the season, the get district Lady Wave played champs, and cial practice on the first day of school 10 home games and we’ll be in during fourth seven away games, not including the the playoffs, block. Now, they practice every day Mooreville Jambo- so hoperee (at Mooreville) fully we’ll go during and after fourth block when and the Kossuth pretty far in they do not have Classic (at Kossuth). the playoffs games.

The Lady Wave On Mondays played three division since it’s my games, two against senior year.” the Lady Wave lift and on - Abby Stafford weights, South Panola and Senior Mondays and Fridays one against Oxford. they lift weights Playoffs will begin and condition. Mondays’ and Oct. 15.

The seniors on the team this Wednesdays’ practices consist fall are Reagan Aldridge, Abby of hitting and taking the field.

Under the new coaching Cox and Abby Stafford.

“We all have different staff of Josh Hegwood, who chores that we do before every previously taught at Calhoun game,” Stafford said. “We City High School for eight always make sure that we’re years, and Brittany Robertson, really good and warmed up, who was at Alcorn Central for Bailie White @bailiew2016 Staff Writer

T

three years, there have been many changes among the softball players.

“I think we’ve changed our whole attitude about not only softball, but about God and teamwork as well,” Cox said.

“We’re hitting the ball a little better, our defense is a lot better than it was last year, and we’re a lot more focused on the games that we have,” Stafford said.

Compared with last year, “The players care more about winning,” said freshman Kendall Brooks, THS leftcenter

COREY KALISH

Freshman Nina Young takes batting practice the week of two division games.

fielder.

“I want to see more hustle and determination in the players,” said freshman Lauren Knight, JV pitcher and Varsity right-center fielder.

The goal of the team is to get to the state championship, but they are playing one game at a time and winning as many games as they can.

“Hopefully we’ll get district champs, and we’ll be in the playoffs, so hopefully we’ll go pretty far in the playoffs since it’s my senior year,” Stafford said.

The last time the THS slowpitch softball team won the state championship was in 2006.

To win a state championship, “You gotta believe,” said Ashley Steward, who was a part of the 2006 team and also played for Itawamba Community College.

“Always shake off errors in the field and swing hard at the plate, she said. “Never give up.”

A photo of the 2006 championship team is displayed on the top floor of A building.

The fast-pitch season will start in the spring of 2014.

To keep up with the rest of the season, follow the THS softball Twitter page, @LadyWaveSB.

Wha of Jo the m who at the time was the president of the Hei TYBA. quarte THS has many connections to the Ranger from program. Sandroni’s wife, Lisa Sandroni,

Rangers rip through teams around the area Bailie White @bailiew2016 Staff Writer

Boys ages seven to 14 have the opportunity to participate in travel baseball here in Tupelo. Tupelo Park and Recreation sponsors eight baseball teams named the Tupelo Rangers.

“We base it on the USSSA seasons, and the USSSA season starts in August,” said Todd Sandroni, president of the Tupelo Youth Baseball Association board, “Since the Tupelo Park and Rec department helps subsidize the teams, we have to do open try-outs. Each year around the first of August, we have try-outs.”

There are two nights of try-outs, and the boys are evaluated by two volunteers who have prior knowledge of baseball along with the head coach of that age division. The rosters are then posted on the Tupelo Park and Recreation website.

The TYBA is the arm of the Tupelo Park and Rec department, so it is over the Park and Rec league and the Rangers, which is considered the “elite” team.

“The TYBA provides the Rangers a field to play on, helps with the uniforms, and gives them a break on the cost of playing in tournaments here in town,” Sandroni said, “We do the same thing with the Park and Rec league. We help with their uniforms, and if they have our all star teams, we help monetarily with practice fields also. We offer the same to both of them, but Rangers are our more competitive teams.”

“Starting in March to around September or October we generally host about eight tournaments,” Sandroni said.

Tournaments are held at the Tupelo Baseball Complex located at Ballard Park, which was built in 2009. One of these tournaments is the 12-year-old USSSA State tournament in the spring. The Rangers practice here during the fall, but during the spring, due to Park and Rec baseball, the teams practice at the baseball fields on Joyner Street and Mitchell

COURTESY

Freshman Ray Sandroni was a catcher for the 14-year-old Tupelo Rangers last year.

“Our Ranger program allows the boys and the parents to make new friendships. It also teaches them to work as a team. It helps them get better as baseball players. It has helped them on and off the field.”

- Todd Sandroni TYBA President

Road.

Baseball tournaments are held in Tupelo, Oxford, Fulton, New Albany, Southaven and many more locations during the two seasons. The spring and fall seasons end with state tournaments.

For some teams, the spring concludes with the World Series. This past spring, the 13-year-old Tupelo Rangers was one of these teams. This World Series was held in Orange Beach, Ala. More than 10 years ago, the Ranger program was started by Rick Reddout,

is a 9th-grade English teacher at THS. The Sandroni’s older son Ray, a freshman, finished his last season with the Rangers this past spring, and their younger son, Will, is currently playing for the 12-year-old Rangers.

“Our Ranger program allows the boys and the parents to make new friendships,” Todd Sandroni said. “It also teaches them to work as a team. It helps them get better as baseball players. It has helped them on and off the field.”

Not only is Sandroni the president of the TYBA, but he coached for seven years.

“I enjoyed coaching Ray, but I also enjoyed coaching the boys,” he said. “I was very fortunate growing up having some good coaches. They were a very positive influence on my life as I kept playing sports all the way through Ole Miss.”

While Sandroni coached, he loved “being around the kids, getting to know the kids, watching them develop.”

Sophomore William Ikerd’s dad, Will Ikerd, is the Rangers Rep for the TYBA. Ikerd’s little brother Jack also plays for the 14 year-old Rangers.

Chris Stratton, former THS and Mississippi State University baseball stand-out, grew up in the Ranger program. He was selected 20th overall in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.

There are also many former Ranger players along with older brothers and sisters of current Ranger players here at THS. The purpose of the Ranger program is “to offer a more advanced avenue for players who want a more competitive experience,” Sandroni said.

Golden Wave shines in new equipment Nathan Jackson @_treehome Staff Writer

O

COREY KALISH

IN THE HALLS

What’s your opinion of Johnny Manziel, the money flashing, nt of the Heisman winning quarterback sensation e Ranger from Texas A&M? androni,

at THS. son Ray, hed his he Rangng, and Will, is for the . m allows to make Sandroni to work et better s helped

sident of en years. t I also said. “I p having e a very s I kept ugh Ole

e loved to know .” ad, Will e TYBA. plays for

d Missisand-out, He was 12 Major

Ranger hers and s here at

program enue for mpetitive

n April 11, Tupelo High School received a huge announcement: Adidas is now sponsoring the athletic program. It isn’t surprising that Adidas would choose THS due to its athletic excellence; it has been recognized by Sports Illustrated for having one of the nation’s top high school athletics programs.

“I think Adidas realized Tupelo High School as someone who does well in athletics and would be a great representative for their company,” said Andy Schoggin, THS Athletic Director.

This new sponsorship updates much of the uniforms worn by THS sports teams. Football players now wear the same quality of gear that Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Notre Dame play in.

“I really like the new gear,” said head football coach Trent Hammond.

“I love the gold uniforms. They are adidas’ top of the line uniforms and they seem to whole up really good.”

“We look better in the equipment,” player Reed Sanders said. “If you look good you play good. When you’re comfortable in what you play in you feel better about yourself.”

“The new Adidas gear is great because it is light,” middle linebacker Aston Wedel said. “It let’s us play fast and it is better than our old gear.”

The cross country team is getting new uniforms to wear during races.

The team has gotten new shorts and new shirts, and certain members get a jacket depending on their place on the team.

“I like the new outfit we have got for the team,” cross country runner Kathryn Taylor said. “They are a lot better looking that the last year’s.”

“The old shorts had a huge slit in them and were uncomfortable, but the new ones feel comfortable and don’t have a slit in them,” runner Leah Davis said.

Sophomore quarterback Daniel Bristow

“Personally, I don’t like him. I think he’s a tool and he’s full of himself.”

Noah Cox Senior

“He’s still arrogant, but he has the right to be.

He’s a good player.”

Avram McGaha Senior

“But he is a good athlete though.”

Harrison Hawkins

Freshman

“He doesn’t deserve to win at all, because he doesn’t have a good attitude.

I hope he loses every game he plays!”

Mackenzie Smith Senior

“He’s good at football. I could care less about his personal life.”

Reese Hester Junior

Getting new uniforms for the majority of the sports teams isn’t all that THS gets from the deal. Our sports teams get a discount on apparel ordered from Adidas.

The Adidas sponsorship will surely make THS stand out. It will also bring attention to the school, which will be great for all students, even those not directly affected by the sponsorship.

The city, now building the largest aquatic center in Mississippi, is allowing the reigning state champion THS swim team to use the facility for meets.

The school is building a new area for soccer, cross country and track located behind the home side of the football

COREY KALISH

Cheerleaders Maddie Hammond, Ferrell McAuley, Mary Elizabeth King and Brooke McAuley .

“If you look good you play good.”

- Reed Sanders Sophomore

stadium. Completion of this project is scheduled for November.

The Adidas sponsorship has made a huge impact not only on how the THS sports teams look, but also on how the students feel wearing the new equipment. The football team has won its first four games, improving on last year’s record, while the cross country team has won every meet so far. Players with good equipment can make a great team.

Seniors have wins on their minds, Golden Wave pride in their hearts LeShay Dixon @leshaydixon18 Staff Writer

This season, a handful of THS seniors have gained their rightful spot on the Golden Wave football team. Dedication and hard work push these players to give the game all they have to make the season memorable.

Four amazing players, who have helped lead the Golden Wave to a 4-0 record, include Antonio Clifton, James Gilleylen, Ron Milledge and Reed Taylor.

“This year you can really tell the difference from last year’s games,” said Clifton, a running back. “We’re giving this everything we have, trying to leave this school year with a victory.

“There’s been a lot of improvement in how we play this year,” he said, “but there’s always room for more progress.”

Seniors like Clifton not only have football to worry about, but also what comes after the season ends. With graduation and college looming, these players are preparing themselves for life.

“My year has been great, and this season we’re going all the way and working hard to be the best we can be,” Gilleylen said. “As a senior, so far has been good. Being linebacker for the team, I contribute strength, focus and time into my position. I go hard and play hard.”

From practices to warm ups, the seniors are constantly working and getting better at

11

SPORTS

R 2013OCTOBER 2013 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

KATHERINE GRACE

Antonio Clifton said the team is giving everything they have, trying to leave this school year with a victory.

James Gilleylen

Reed Taylor

Ron Milledge

Antonio Clifton

their game.

“The season has been phenomenal,” said Milledge, a linebacker. “The schools we’ve played against have been great. I feel that the team has put their sweat and soul into every game we play.”

Gilleylen said there are

always things to work on individually as players strengthen their positions.

“As a senior, this year I’ve learned so much from my coach,” he said. “He pushes us in everything we do and helps with anything we need.

“This team is like a second family, and we all are playing for the same reason -- we love it,” Gilleylen said.

“Football is our passion, career and pride,” Milledge added.

“We love this game and have fun while doing it,” Taylor said.

Not to be outdone, juniors and sophomores are also contributing to this season of Ws. “I feel very good about this season,” junior Shaun Kolheim said. “I’m just looking for a win and to have fun while playing the game.”

MACK COLUMN Football results shocking Mackenzie Morgan @mbmorgan15 Staff Writer

Mackenzie Morgan here with Mack’s Column. This month I am going to talk about professional and college football.

The NFL season opened Sept. 5, with the defending Super Bowl champions, the Baltimore Ravens, battling with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Manning is fully back without a doubt, passing for seven touchdowns, tying an NFL record and leading his team to victory.

Another highly successful NFL team, the New York Giants, kicked off against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 8, at their home in Arlington. Turnovers were devastating for the Giants, with Eli Manning throwing three interceptions, David Wilson fumbling two, and a horrible play on special teams, ultimately giving up six of them. Through it all, the Cowboys never really capitalized on all these, only beating the Giants by five.

Battle of the Mannings?

That’s right, its older brother against little brother, like old times in the backyard of their New Orleans home. In all of the previous meetings, older brother Peyton has won all the bouts. Sept. 15 would be no different. The Broncos started off with the lead, and capitalized on every opportunity the Giants failed to use.

With Peyton’s arm, it’s hard for even the greatest to come out on top, the Broncos came out on top winning 41-23.

Ever since the loss to the Cowboys and Broncos, the Giants have not made a step forward at all. With the “awesome line” that the Giants usually have year after year, this isn’t the case this season.

Sept. 22, Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers showed out against the Giants, demolishing New York 38-0. Eli was sacked six times in the first 18 minutes of the game, which was embarrassing beyond belief.

With college football kicking off its season on Aug. 28, Ole Miss started their season with SEC play against Vanderbilt.

Through many highs and lows of the game, the Rebels and their young team stormed out of Nashville with a last minute 73-yard rush for the win.

The in-state rival to Ole Miss, Mississippi State did not fair well against BIG 12 leader, the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

These two teams faced off at a neutral site in Houston. With State starting off its season with three quick points, the Bulldogs failed to score the rest of the game. Through many ups and downs for the two local in-state colleges, this year looks to be exciting, with much more to come.

COURTESY

Donte Moncrief, wide receiver for Ole Miss.

12ART&ENTERTAINMENT ALBUM REVIEW

STAY TRIPPY

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • OCTOBER 2013

WHAT TO

Mackenzie Morgan @mbmorgan15 Staff Writer

A PATH TO HAPPINESS

MOVIE REVIEW

:

By Ryan Murphy, Editor-in-Chief, @Ryanmurph12 My dear friend Netflix continues to grow each year. It went from a small company where a person could receive a rental in the mail to a world phenomenon. Just recently, Netflix has added television series creator and producer to its long list of jobs and achievements.

Such a large selection of both familiar and obscure viewing material can be intimidating, but here is what needs to be on the top of the watch list.

Rap enthusiasts everywhere, including me, think the new Juicy J album is top notch.

Jordan Michael Houston, better known as Juicy J, is a 39-year-old rapper, producer and songwriter. Juicy J was a member of the Southern hip hop group, internationally known as Three 6 Mafia, from 1991 to 2009.

On Aug. 27, Juicy J released Stay Trippy, his first solo album since leaving Three 6 Mafia. With features from Wiz Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz, Stay Trippy definitely brings home some heavy hitting songs.

Singles released ahead of the album included “Bandz A Make Her Dance,” featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz, “Show Out,” featuring Young Jeezy and Big Sean, “One Of Those Nights,” featuring The Weeknd, and “Bounce It,” featuring Trey Songz and Wale.

Although there are many different opinions, Stay Trippy has brought in more good reviews than bad.

“Teens twerk to it... hustlers vibe with it; and gangsters laugh at it,” said Peter Marrack of Exclaim!, giving the album a six out of 10. “Juicy J’s trippy music succeeds because of its spirit.”

Personally, I love this album. It is an album, in my opinion, that you’re either going to love or hate. Juicy J makes songs where you can sit in your car and just dance, or have a party where you can turn any of the songs on; with the crowd knowing automatically who’s rapping and will dig the song.

Juicy J definitely brought it home with his first solo album, collaborating with many popular artists, a must for modern rap records. I would recommend this to any fan of Juicy J, or rap fan enthusiast.

“Breaking Bad”

With the final series finale having over ten million viewers, “Breaking Bad” is everything a person needs in a TV show. The storyline has drama, action, suspense, anger – and all of this just from the first episode. “Breaking Bad” follows chemistry teacher Walt White, played by Bryan Cranston, who after being diagnosed with cancer, looks to extreme means in order to leave money for his wife, son and unborn daughter should he die.

Each show leaves the viewer feeling close to a heart attack, but it is a strange feeling that begs for more. Watch season one through five on Netflix and prepare for a new obsession.

“Arrested Development”

Following the story of the Bluth family, whose real estate owning father gets thrown into jail, “Arrested Development” is told from the point of view of Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman). Michael must keep his privileged mother, sister and two brothers afloat as their father’s prison sentence lands them with no money.

Filled with awkward love, strange hilarities and goofy humor, this comedy TV show is four seasons of pure joy. As of this year, Netflix has taken over to keep the series alive and is currently working on season five. “Arrested Development” is perfect to lighten the mood.

“Portlandia”

Created by singer/songwriter Carrie Brownstein and SNL star Fred Armisen, “Portlandia” is a quirky, comedy-lover’s wonderland. The show centers on the city of Portland, and through several short comedy sketches, it pokes fun at the unique, hipster-esque vibe of the Portland people.

This type of smart comedy will make the viewer laugh out loud while the brain continues to think about the true theme of the sketches. From competitive hide-and-seek to a hilarious feminist bookstore, “Portlandia” really is for anyone.

“Tiny Furniture”

HBO “Girls” creator and star Lena Dunham began her now successful career with “Tiny Furniture.” Based on her actual life, this movie follows Aura (Dunham) as she returns home to New York City after graduating from art school. Aura is confronted with failures in her personal and professional life and with the struggle that accompanies entering the workforce.

“Tiny Furniture” is a witty and weird independent film that shares a story of true human emotion. It is definitely not for everyone, but the lack of intense action says more than anything else could. Dunham’s star-making film is thought-provoking and leaves the viewer questioning his or her own choices in life and plans for the future.

Everyone needs this sometimes.

“Butter”

After her champion butter-sculpting husband retires, ambitious Laura decides she wants the fame and fights to gain the title. “Butter” is a dark, witty and even frustrating comedy. Jennifer Garner’s character Laura is one viewers will love to hate as she unfairly sculpts her way to the top in a final competition of butter sculpting.

She is rude and relentless, but she has competition from a prodigy, a young girl who can sculpt butter like no one else.

Mishap after mishap, combined with failure, makes this film unique. The lack of success from almost every character makes the film hilarious, especially when it is Laura not succeeding. This movie is full of cynicism and is perfect for a different kind of laugh.

This list of three TV shows and two movies will help create happiness and relief from the stresses of life. At only $7.99 a month, Netflix is not a bad price for viewing entertainment; I would sell my soul to watch these. – R.M.

ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US Nathan Jackson @_treehome Staff Writer

One Direction is one of the most popular boy bands right now.

They have had two No. 1 albums in more than 30 countries, and they also have had sold out tours. One Direction consists of five guys: Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson.

The group was formed in the United Kingdom version of “X Factor.” They made it to the the finals but lost. Simon Cowell saw that the group of guys had great potential so he signed them to his label, and after they released “What makes you beautiful,” they became a huge hit.

Their documentary “This Is Us” came out Aug. 29. It shows the group performing in stadiums from Tokyo to Mexico City. The film focuses on lighthearted situations like joking around mixed with sentimental situations like them crying.

“This Is Us” does what it needs to do for its target audience, but anyone looking for actual substance or insight will be disappointed.

The film allows viewers to get to know One Direction’s life and to see who they really are. It tells of how they grew up and how their family members feel about their fame.

When I watched “This Is Us,” I felt it was similar to every other concert movie about a singer, like Katy Perry’s “Part of Me” or Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never.” The only thing that separates these films is who it focuses on. “This Is Us” didn’t need to be shown in theaters. If it was on TV as a special, it would have been more popular because more people would be able to see it without spending money.

I am very disappointed that Morgan Spurlock would decide to direct this. He is capable of doing way better work based on his past. Spurlock is the man who made the popular documentary “Super Size Me.” He was the cause that affected U.S. food regulations. Spurlock showed how the food in America is getting out of control.

Overall, “This Is Us” wasn’t the best. I learned things about the group, but I would never recommend anyone see this movie only.

‘X Factor’ revamps with Four Chair Challenge “Hard work makes no excuses.

Hard work shows up every day.

Hard work might fall down, but hard work gets up.

And hard work gets a seat!”

- Lorie Moore X Factor contestant

Jordan Jones @jordanjjones1 Managing Editor

“The X Factor” is back for its third season, with returning judges Simon Cowell and Demi Lovato joined by newbies Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio. The show has been struggling to pull ahead of its NBC competitor “The Voice,” and this season the two singing shows have tied with an average of 12 million viewers.

On “The X Factor,” each of the judges is assigned to mentor one of four categories. This year, Cowell is mentoring the Groups, Lovato the Girls, Rowland the Over 25s, and Rubio the Boys. Unique to the show, and new this season, is the Four Chair Challenge.

In this new round, the final 40 acts, 10 from each category, sing for their spot on the live shows.

Only four acts from each category can progress into the next round, and it is up to the mentor of their category to choose who will move on.

First up was Rowland’s Over 25s. She quickly filled up her four seats with the first contestants, but had to make switches as the night went on. One contestant, a professional female football player from Los Angeles named Lorie Moore, gave an epic speech on why she should get a seat.

“Hard work makes no excuses,” she said. “Hard work shows up every day. Hard work might fall down, but hard work gets up. And hard work gets a seat!”

Unfortunately, Moore didn’t make the cut. The final Over 25s are Jeff Gutt, Lillie McCloud, James Kenny and Rachel Potter.

Next was Lovato’s girls. The former Disney star showed little

mercy, as she has the whole together, like One Direction in the season, and quickly chose Khaya British version of “The X Factor,” Cohen, Danie Geimer, Rion Paige and this season was no different. and Ellona Santiago as her final Cowell grouped Reckless Road, four. a country boy band, and Sweet Rubio had trouble when it was Suspense, a girly trio. After many her turn. She sent home Tim switches, he ended with the ReckOlstad and was booed by the audi- less Road, Sweet Suspense, Roxy ence, even through the commer- Montana, and Alex & Sierra. cial break. She later These acts will move forward changed her mind to the live shows beginning Oct. and brought him 29. Check it out. back, ending with Olstad, C a r l o s Guevara, Josh Levi and Carlito Olivero as her final four.

Lastly was Cowell’s groups.

Cowell is known COURTESY for his success X Factor judges, from left, are Demi Lovato, Simon Cowell, in putting groups Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio.