THE
Starkville High School
JACKET BUZZ Volume XXIV, No. 1 • December 17, 2015
INSIDE
STATE CHAMPS! Yellow Jackets defeat Petal to win 6A title
Robojackets make history with regional competition victory Page 3
JROTC participates in drill competition on Gulf Coast Page 5
Hot Dog costume brings luck to Yellow Jacket teams Page 6
By Camryn Dawkins Jacket Buzz Editor
The SHS football team defeated the Petal Panthers for the 6A State Championship Friday, Dec. 4, at VaughtHemingway Stadium on the campus of University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. With first year head Coach Ricky Woods leading the Jackets, they came away with a 27-7 win. “I inherited a good program, good players, and a good coaching staff,” Woods said. Woods made sure to uphold the reputation of the program. In the first round of playoffs, the Jackets beat Olive Branch 46-24 at home. The Jackets then played at Clinton for the second round, bringing home a 45-7 victory. The Jackets then defeated Madison Central for the North State title 28-20, advancing to
Jacket Buzz Staff Photo
The Starkville High School Yellow Jacket football team and coaching staff celebrate after defeating the Petal Panthers 27-7 to win the 6A State Championship. The game was played at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford.
the 2015 State Championship game. As soon as the Madison Central game was over, the word quickly spread across the team that they would face
the Petal Panthers. “It was just another game. The players worked hard all week,” Woods said. The Jacket offense had a total of 390 yards. The defense
had 2 sacks and 9 interceptions against Petal. They represented the community and Starkville well in
See “Champs” page 1
2
The Jacket Buzz
December 17, 2015
Teacher suspended over condom demonstration By Tristen Grantham Jacket Buzz Staff
On Nov. 17, English III teacher Sherre Ferguson was asked to gather her things and leave after a junior research presentation. Not knowing when or if she would return back to the classroom she packed her personal items and left. Angel Sinclair chose the career of sexologist for her research topic. Sexologists study human sexuality, including human sexual interests, behaviors, and functions. Sexology encompasses many different fields such as biology and psychology. Angel decided to pick sexology because she has always thought it was a scientifically interesting career. “Sexologist have discovered some many ways to prevent STDs. This is the first year that HIV rates have vanished instead of going up, and I have always found this career path very interesting in the neural aspect of how the brain reacts to a certain situation,” Sinclair said. When Angel was told by her parents that Ferguson was asked to leave after her project, she was in shock. Following the suspension of her English teacher, Sinclair did not believe Ferguson should have gotten in trouble over the presentation. “If I had known what the outcome of me picking that career would be, I wouldn’t have picked it,” Sinclair said. Sinclair said Ms. Ferguson gave students the chance to leave and wait in the hallway until she finished if they didn’t feel comfortable. Nobody got up to leave the room. “I would like to see Ms. Ferguson back in the classroom. I also think that the class handled it very well. The class was very good with it, in the beginning there were people laughing, but by the end of the presentation
Submitted Photo
Starkville High School students rally on Nov. 20 in support of teacher Sherre Ferguson, who was suspended after allowing a student to conduct a demonstration on condom usage as part of a class presentation.
people were saying that was the best presentation they have seen,” Sinclair said. Another reason Ms. Ferguson was asked to leave was because the prop Sinclair used in the demonstration was a condom and a cucumber to emphasize the importance of safe sex and how to properly put on a condom. Sinclair said, “I could have picked other props or other topics to talk about but I thought using a condom and a cucumber to show safe sex would be the best. Ms. Ferguson had no clue what my prop would be. I decided to keep it between me and my parents.” Students past and present continued to back Sinclair and Ferguson. Many students went to the extent of boycotting. Students decided to stand up for Ms. Ferguson by planning a march. On Nov. 20, students gathered with signs and marched together from the
sophomore parking lot to the entrance of the school shouting, “Bring back Ms. Ferg!” Alex Hanson, class member, said, ”I think it was a good presentation and a good project and that it should be a class taught at school. I do think that there should have been a notification for parents, but I do not agree with Ms. Ferguson getting suspended when this was her first offense. She has worked there for a long time. Everyone in the class realized that it was Angel’s life goal and was not a joke.” Not only were students upset and shocked, but faculty members were too. Mr. Fuller was amazed to hear that his fellow colleague was told to leave her classroom not knowing when or if she would return back to the classroom. Fuller said,” As a teacher you will always show consolation with each other, I am not fully aware of the whole incident, but if I have heard correctly
then I completely support Ms. Ferguson in this incident. I think that we do better than any other places I have been to is that we have relationships with the kids here and it allows us as an instructor and a teacher to give students a little more maturity. Fuller also said the subject being done in her classroom is needed in the state of Mississippi. We had a catastrophic rate of teen pregnancy and I think it was doing nothing but helping that, Fuller said. “I do understand that the administration has a job, and they a have an obligation to every student. If someone was offended in the class, I am sorry that happened, but if they were given a chance not to be in the class during the presentation I do not understand it and I would like to see the administration go another route,” Fuller said during the suspension. Ferguson returned to the classroom Dec. 2
December 17, 2015
The Jacket Buzz
3
Robojackets win regional, first for Mississippi By PJ Mame
Jacket Buzz Staff The Starkville High School’s robotics team, the Starkville Robojackets, placed first at their regional competition. Out of 54 teams at the competition and 900 across the region, the Starkville High School Robojackets placed first in the Overall Best award, third in the Robotics competition, first in the Team Exhibit and Interview, second in spirit and sportsmanship, and third in a special Hyundai Exhibit Design and Construction award. This was the Robojackets’ fifth year competing yet their first time placing in the top 3. “Just being in the top 10 for every year we have been in regionals is a wonderful surprise,” Robojacket teacher Denise Adair said. The Robojackets placed 8th,
6th, and 5th during the three previous years at the regional competition. “Even this year where we were expecting to do well, we still felt like underdogs,” Adair said. One of the biggest challenges to the team was the change in the time. Kickoff, the official start of the competition and where the teams learn their tasks, started 3 weeks earlier this year almost 2 weeks after the first day of school. “We had to hit the ground running as soon as school started. We usually have about 5 weeks [between the start of school and Kickoff], but this year we had no real time for adjustment,” Adair said. A key component to the Robojackets’ success was the increase in time between the state competition and the regional competition. “We were able to completely
Submitted Photo
The Starkville High School Robotics Team celebrates after a big win in regional competition held at Auburn University.
change up our strategy [with the time given],” Adair said. This year, several Robojacket members were elected to high positions in their re-
spective divisions. Lakendria Young, a senior, was elected CEO and Marketing Coordinator. Marshall Adair, a senior, was elected Engineering Co-
ordinator and two freshmen, Wyatt Carpenter and Caitlin Jennings, were both elected to co-lead the spirit and sportsmanship of the team.
Theatre students win regional, advance to state By Braxton Stone Jacket Buzz Staff
The SHS theatre group traveled to Mississippi State University to compete in the North Mississippi Drama Festival, December 4-5. They performed the play, “Eurydice.”At the festival, the group was awarded the Overall Technical Award, Distinguished Play Award, All State Cast, and Mr. Dendy won Best Director. “It was a lot of work, but seeing everyone’s face when
we won made it worth it. Our set was very unique and different, and the music was live throughout the whole show, which improved the performance,” assistant stage manager, Sarah Rendon said. The group will now advance to Meridian for the Mississippi Theatre Association competition where they will compete with teams from across the state January 14-17, 2016. “We’re practicing and polishing things for the state competition,” Rendon said.
Submitted Photo
Starkville High School theatre students perform their competition show, “Eurydice” at the North State Festival at Missisisppi State University earlier this month. The students advanced to the state competition in Meridian in January.
OPINION
Page 4 The Jacket Buzz December 17, 2015
U.S. should allow refugees Crisis created by refugees One of the major problems facing the US and the world in general is the refugee crisis. As tensions grow in the Middle East, more and more people are moving out of their own home country and seeking shelter in other countries. Now many people oppose the idea of accepting refugees into the U.S., especially considering the recent attacks in Paris were done by those posing as refugees, but there are in fact many benefits that come from accepting refugees. Clemens and Sandefur write in Foreign Affairs of September 2015 that refugees often are highly motivated and capable individuals who can contribute greatly to their new countries. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees notes that for a one-time resettlement cost of $14,000, European countries add over $10,000 dollars per year per refugee to their GDP. So by accepting refugees we aren’t hurting our nation but rather helping quite a bit by growing our economy through general stimulus. The US is and other major countries are also major instigators of
what we now know as the refugee crisis. The Center for Research on Globalization noted in September 2015, quote, “U.S. and Western David Usher imperialism is the Columnist root cause of the refugee crisis.” Through interactions with the Middle East the west has caused boundary disputes and ended up arming what is now the Taliban in an effort to prep them for fighting communists. Because we, in essence, caused the problem, we have an obligation to fix the problem or at least do what we can to lessen the harmful consequences caused by it. This is a problem that puts millions of lives at risk and the West has an obligation to fix or at least help ease the tension. Helping wouldn’t hurt the West either but rather grow the economy of those willing to briefly sacrifice to help those in need. As the troublemakers we must be the mediators and fix our wrongdoing.
system that is already The United States is currently facing at the bursting point. Is a Syrian immigrant crisis. There has it our moral obligation been much debate on what to do with to help these refugees, said immigrants, and I firmly believe while many United we cannot allow these immigrants into States veterans remain our country at this time. homeless? The growing situation involving ISIS Where is the outcry puts the United States at an increased risk of attack. Allowing Syrian immi- Ethan Tucker for these veterans? Those who state we grants to flock into the United States Columnist have a moral obligation without proper documentation would endanger thousands of Americans. Our to accept these refugees are spreading government’s chief responsibility is to an outlandish amount of hypocrisy, promote the general welfare of its citi- and people must be more careful when forming rash opinions. While the moral zens. If the government allows these refu- and economic disadvantages of acceptgees to enter without an extensive ad- ing the Syrian refugees are important, mittance policy, I fear we would be I must once again reiterate the danger opening ourselves to attack. The bias they pose to our national security. Just shown by those who support the ad- weeks ago our president stated that we mittance of said refugees is astonish- have ISIS contained. The Paris attacks clearly destroyed ing, considering how many people suffer in Africa every day. Why are these that illusion of safety, and now we are Syrian refugees so highly prioritized? potentially inviting in those who wish Those pointing to America’s moral re- to harm us. I believe the government sponsibility also conveniently choose is once again overstepping its bounds, to ignore our clear internal moral issues and hopefully the states are given the power to decide if they want to accept we refuse to address. I also question if supporters realize these refugees. I conclude by asking one question, how taxing this would be on our economy. Thousands or refugees, many of how would we live with ourselves if acwhom do not speak English, would be cepting these refugees into our country an incredible burden on our welfare led to the loss of American life?
Staff
Leadership Team Editor in Chief: Camryn Dawkins Sports Editor: Kaylie Beth Hobart Club News Editor: Maggie Miller Photography: Tristen Grantham Faculty Adviser: Angela Hobart
Mari Hunter Brown Tatiana Burgess Coleman Kennedy Kennis Kingery Morgan Lomen Merriam Mock Katelynn Peeples Braxton Stone Patrick Mame Cailee Helen McClain Angel Tate
Editorial Policy
The Jacket Buzz is published by the Journalism Department at Starkville High School. The Jacket Buzz is a student-run publication committed to providing SHS with objective information and serves as a forum for student expression. Opinions expressed are those of students and do not necessarily reflect the views of administrators and others in the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. Content decisions are made by student editors. Factual errors will be corrected in the next scheduled edition. Letters to the editor are accepted and published, excluding those that are deemed libelous or disruptive. Unsigned or anonymous letters will not be published. All letters are subject to editing for grammar and space availability. All letters and comments may be e-mailed to shsjacketbuzz@gmail.com.
CLUB BUZZ
Page 5 The Jacket Buzz December 17, 2015
Submitted photo
Submitted Photo
The last 2 years Millsap’s FFA has sent state champion teams to the National competition. FFA members are learning about the importance of agriculture to our livelihood by standing firm to its mission’s statement. Millsap’s FFA has won the state in various competitions 47 times.
Members of the Starkville High School JROTC Color Guard were among numerous cadets who participated in the recent All-Services Drill Championship held at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi.
Submitted Photo
Teacher Sheila Thead sponsors the Spanish club. They meet Friday mornings before school. They have students present information about Hispanic countries, and they listen to music by Hispanic artists. Sometimes, they meet after school and have a light meal at a Mexican restaurant where they practice Spanish.
Submitted photo
DECA is sponsored by Kathy Dawkins. The club will be attending the District competition on Jan. 20, 2016, at the ICC Belden. Next, DECA will be attending the Sports and Entertainment Marketing Conference in Orlando, Florida on Feb. 3-7, 2016. Lastly, they will be attending State Competition February 18-20, 2016, in Jackson.
SPORTS
Page 6 The Jacket Buzz December 17, 2015
Hot Dog suit brings superstition, luck to the Nest by Camryn Dawkins Jacket Buzz Editor
After the disappointing loss in the season opener versus Noxubee, Junior Chloe Bardon had an idea. She would wear her hot dog costume to the next game. “People told me I should wear it so I tweeted one day, ‘ RT if you think I should wear the hot-dog to the next home game,’ and I got almost 30 retweets,” Bardon said. At first it had no meaning but eventually the meaning snowballed into a superstition of the SHS student section, referred to as “The Nest.” “I honestly don’t know if the suit helped the team. I just know that we always won when we wore it, so I didn’t want to stop wearing it and
risk the team losing,” Bardon said. When the Jackets advanced to the playoffs, the hot dog suit was worn by a student for every game. The suit then traveled to the playoff game versus Clinton where the Jackets won 45-27. “Emotionally, it feels like such an honor to wear the suit. Everyone who wears it, wears it with pride, and it always gets lot of laughs,” Junior Sam Snell said. The suit added a fun aspect to the student section, and it was something that set SHS apart from other schools. It is rumored and likely that the hot-dog suit will make a return next year and might even make a few appearancSubmitted Photo es at basketball and baseball The appearance of someone in a hot dog costume at Starkville High School football games games this year. brought a run of superstitious luck that led the Yellow Jackets to a state championship.
Basketball teams showing success early in the season By Merriam Mock Jacket Buzz Staff
The Starkville High School Yellow Jackets and the Lady Jackets have begun the 20152016 season with success. The Lady Jackets have started the season with a 7-0 record and are 1-0 in district play versus Calloway. “The season is going pretty well so far, we were already able to get a district win. You can’t ask for a better way to start off the season,” Head Girls Basket-
ball Coach Kristie Williams said. Because the team made it all the way to semi-finals last year, everyone wants to go back to Jackson and come home with the golden ball and not expect anything less. Team captains, Eryka Williams and Tanita Thompson, are both having more communication with their teammates at practice and showing up at game time, Williams said. The Jackets have bounced
into a 7-1 record with 1-0 district play, winning versus Calloway. “We are progressing pretty well right now but we still have a long way to go,” Head Basketball Coach Greg Carter said. Tyson Carter and Keith Harris, team captains, are hoping to lead their team to another State Championship like last year. Even though football season is over, Carter is not expecting any football players to begin playing basketball.
Kaylie Beth Hobart/Jacket Buzz Staff Photo
Starkville High team co-captain Tyson Carter lays one up against Southeast Lauderdale last week.
December 17, 2015
The Jacket Buzz
7
Varsity cheerleaders revved up for state competition By Maggie Miller Jacket Buzz Staff The Starkville High School Varsity Cheer Squad will be competing Dec. 19 in the Mississippi High School Activities Association State Cheer Competition. The squad, along with their choreographer, Gerard Jones, better known as “G,” have worked for almost 2 months, preparing a challenging, and hopefully winning, routine for them to take to competition. The girls have spent countless hours practicing with high hopes of beating out the other squads. “We’ve had long talks together to explain everything about competition, like how the judges will be scoring and what they are looking for,” Senior Captain Aubreonna Mitchell said. The squad has been encouraging one another during practice, day after day, working hard, and pushing each
other. Not only do they have after school practices, they have practices during 4th block as well. A typical practice may include going over the cheer for the routine, going through the whole routine full-out, working on stunts or just marking (mini motions on count as a mental reminder of the routine). The squad feels that they are well prepared and should do well at this competition; although they recognize that along with their outstanding qualities, there are a few things they could still work on before they compete. “Just cleaning up the routine is what they need to work on,” assistant coach, Amy Helms said. Helms said the squad works well together and the seniors show strong leadership. “I honestly believe we are ready since everyone has been working hard and we have all had a positive attitude towards striving to be great
Maggie Miller/Jacket Buzz Staff Photo
Starkville High School’s Varsity Cheerleaders have been training hard in preparation for state competition at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
for this competition. We put God first and pray to do the best we can and
then we leave it all on the mat,” said Mitchell.
Preseason training makes difference for Jacket baseball By Kaylie Beth Hobart Jacket Buzz Staff
Everyone knows baseball season is in the spring, but to be successful players must train throughout the year. In the fall baseball players get prepared for their upcoming season by working on fundamentals. This fall the baseball team added a pitching coach to its staff; therefore, this off-season they have concentrated on putting his style in the system. A portion of the baseball team is training for football during the fall. SHS senior Milton Smith says “The tran-
sition from the football season to training for the spring baseball season is a big difference, from the boys and the different techniques of training.” After a successful winning season last year and making it to the first round of play offs, the team is expecting a bigger and better season this year. “We are finally an older team. We have 8-9 seniors; a lot of those guys have very much experience on the field. We should be able to field a competitive team this season,” Head coach Travis Garner said. There are some big goals for the team this year, because
Kaylie Beth Hobart/Jacket Buzz Staff Photo
Pitcher Ben Burrell gets a workout during a preseason practice for the Starkville High School baseball team.
they are such an older team now. Practicing hard in the preseason Milton Smith said, “We do many drills that are beneficial to the spring sea-
son; the running drills to build your speed up and the hitting drills to make you better on the plate. These drills bring a lot of progress to our team.” Leadership, like in all sports
and on all teams, play a very big role in this baseball season. There are 4-5 players who have played in the starting line-up since they were sophomores, but also with the large number of seniors in general, they are expected to carry the team both on the field and from a leadership standpoint. Like most players Milton Smith has one main goal this season. “My biggest goal for our team this season is definitely to win state, but also just to have a winning season and show progress, not just individually but as a team,” Smith said.
8
The Jacket Buzz
December 17, 2015
SHS runners prove swift in competition By Katelyn Peeples Jacket Buzz Staff
extra work we put in; whether it is getting together on Saturdays and practicing, or doing sit-ups late at night at home. “To try to continue our streak, we are going to do whatever it takes to get better and help the team,” Stewart said. Running back Rodrigues Clark, credits coaches, David Boykin and Tate Fischer. “The coaches have kept this streak going by pushing us and sometimes downed us just to make us grind harder,” Clark said. Clark had 12 touchdowns
this season alone. Stewart and Clark both offered similar reasons as to why the team was special to them. “The team is special because we’re just relentless. If someone gets hurt or something, the next guy is ready. This team is special because we are family. We always have each other’s backs,” Stewart said. “The team is special to me because we are a put together team and everyone cannot do what we do. We are like family. We all have that bond,” Clark said.
Starkville High School track represented Mississippi in the Footlocker 5k run. This event is held every year for all runners located in the Southeast region. This event is optional for all runners, it is considered one of the most competitive 5k runs, when runners enter they are looking to make a national record. Starkville High school had three of their most out-standing runners compete in this National event November 28. Two-time Mississippi Gatorade runner of the year recipient and state champion, Kate Mattox, state track champion, Patton Little and recent Starkville Academy transfer Lake Spradling are represented SHS in the state of Mississippi. “It was a good experience for all of us,” Mattox said. There were 171 competitors in the girls’ division and a total of 324 boy competitors in this event. Mattox placed 32nd, Little placed 106th, and Spradling placed 170th out of all the South-East region. All three
out to Woods because everybody got the job done. “The kids bought in and played together as a team,” Woods said. Sophomore running back
Andreous Swanigan stepped up and assumed the role of injured senior Avery Brown. He scored 3 of the 4 touch downs, and wide receiver AJ Brown had the 4th. “I had to
step in and fill some really big shoes,” Swanigan said. Woods said all of the kids played a vital role, top to bottom on defense, special teams, and offense. Woods had one
Mari Hunter Brown/Jacket Buzz Staff Photo
Starkville High School’s freshman football team enjoyed an undefeated season
Jacket freshman football enjoys undefeated season By Braxton Stone Jacket Buzz Staff
The Starkville High School freshman football team had an undefeated season this year, finishing 6-0. “It feels great. It almost feels unreal, and for all our hard work to pay off, it just feels awesome,” receiver Caleb Stewart said. This undefeated season contributed to the team’s overall record of having never lost a game. “I think the reason we have never lost is because of all the
Champs From page 1
every way, Woods said. No one team member stood
Ralesheia Gee won a silver medal in long jump at the Alabama indoor meet.
of them achieved the first fastest times for Mississippi runners. The Magic City Invitational in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 6 was the first meet for the indoor track team. “Indoor track is a transition for cross-country runners who also want to compete during spring track season. In other words indoor track is basically preseason warm up for all runners,” head coach Caroline Woomer said. SHS indoor track represented Mississippi well in the meet. Senior, Emily Woomer placed third in the 400 meter dash. Senior, Ralesheia Gee placed second in long jump. The next SHS indoor track meet is January 9, located in Baton Rouge, La. thing to tell the boys. “I am very, very proud of them.” The SHS football team finished the year 14-1, and the 6th golden ball was added to the program.