J acket The
buzz
starkville high school • 603 Yellowjacket Dr. Starkville, MS, 39759 • www.shsjacketbuzz.com • VOLUME XVII, No. 2 • 10-30-09
Peterson Crowned Photo by T’Keyia Davis
Peterson, a first-time maid, selected as Homecoming queen for 2009-2010 pretty cool that my class thought I would be great to represent them as their homecoming queen,” Peterson Whitney Peterson was crowned said. Starkville High School’s HomecomPeterson was elected to the homeing Queen last Friday night at half- coming court by a popular vote of time of the Olive Branch football the senior class. game. She received the most votes of all To Peterson this has been a great the candidates, earning her the title honor. of Homecoming Queen. “I think it’s pretty awesome and “I feel that any of the eight seBy Ebony Robinson Staff Writer
niors could have been great for homecoming queen,” student government sponsor Sue Ann Morgan said. “I am very proud of Whitney for being selected by her classmates because she epotimizes intelligence, friendliness, and beauty.” This was Peterson’s first year to be a homecoming participant. She was so surprised at the results and very thankful that her peers chose her to
represent their school. Peterson is involved in various clubs and organizations including FMPC and National Honor Society. She currently holds a 4.0 GPA and is the Secretary for FMPC. Other senior maids were Latifah Booker, Ashley Brown, Jamishela Williams, Jessieca Green, Resell Larthridge, Tamara Bell, and Fanecia Saulsberry.
Club starts unique fundraiser - See story on pages 6 & 7
Page 2 • 10-30-09
News
Prevention group starts youth dance team By Cheyenne Underwood Staff Writer
Senior Keith Johnson dances for Project PASS. Photo by Cheyenne Underwood
Project PASS has found yet another way to keep students away from alcohol. The group is sponsoring a dance team. Students tried out to make the PASS dance team. The audition process involved lots of hard work, effort and dedicated time. The dance team meets Monday through Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. to perfect their dance skills. The team involves several different types of dances, including ballet, hip hop, and jazz. PASS sponsor Carrie White has brought in professional Stephanie Shachleford to help teach the students
the dance skills to make this dance team one of a kind. Shachleford has her own dance organization that is called POP Arts and was on the dance team while she was in high school. Project PASS hopes to be finished with their skit by mid-November so they will be able to perform at elementary schools and even East Oktibbeha. The skit the group is working on now is based on the popular television show American Idol. It will be called American Idol Rewind, and contestants will have to go before three judges to be judged on their ability to sing. But unlike the television show, the students in the skit will be judged on drinking and the consequences that come along with it.
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ONLINE EXCLUSIVES www.shsjacketbuzz.com SGA makes changes to Homecoming voting * Former Lt. Gov. Tuck speaks to SHS students * Band earns superior in state contest * Invisible Children hosts concert for awareness * Debate class holds mock trial on alcohol abuse
National Honor Society
would like to congratulate our new officers for the 2009 – 2010 school year. President Miss Ida Knox Vice President Mr. Stephen Grado Secretary Miss Kayla Fuentes The next NHS meeting will be Wednesday, November 4th at 7:20 in room 22. Members need to sign up for Salvation Army bellringing times. Stop by room 22 and check out the new NHS bulletin board.
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News
10-30-09 • Page 3
Funding keeps internet censored sexual sites, but in some monitor it closely, I think it cases I don’t think it should could be very beneficial for block sites with videos or educational purposes.” The policy isn’t just there games.” to keep students from adult Some teachers shared doesn’t just have it out for By Taylor Bowden keep students from accessmaterial. It’s also there to similar mixed views. anyone surfing the web, the Contributing Writer ing sites that have content protect minors from online “I believe there are pros filters are actually required matter that is “obscene, and cons to internet censor- predators. Many students have had by law. or harmful to minors,” “A few years ago,” Mcship within schools,” drama their internet excursions “Our internet is provided according to the Federal Donnall said, “We had a litteacher Mandy Kinney said. cut short by a big, bold to us by the E-rate grant,” Communications Commistle girl run away from home “As a theatre teacher I preprint BLOCKED mes- assistant principal Sean sion’s web site. fer to use such sites as You- to meet up with some guy sage displayed across their McDonnall said. “And beSo popular web sites like she met on Tube. Several screen. They’ve been hit by cause of CIPA and COPA, YouTube and Facebook are internet. of the perBarracuda, and they’re not we have to have some sort “ School is for the considered off limits, as far She made it formances I going anywhere. of internet censorship inas schools go. want my stueducation, not all the way to Barracuda is the web-fil- stalled in our network.” One could assume that the airport, I dents to view tering, URL-blocking softE-rate is a government for looking up the student population believe. And I can’t necesware Starkville administra- grant that provides schools would be unanimously outwhere did sary downtors have installed on the with internet access. CIPA funny videos on raged, but a surprisingly she get acload outside district’s computer network. (Children’s Internet Prosignificant number of stucess to the of school. YouTube.” It keeps people from visit- tection Act) is an act that dents understand the act. internet? But if we ing sites or viewing content was passed by congress “School is for education,” From our library.” could look at YouTube at that has been deemed unfit that requires all schools For teachers wishing they for students. that receive E-rate funding junior Meg Giesemann said, school, we could experi“not for looking up funny could use banned sites in ence these productions.” The administration to use adequate filtering to videos on YouTube.” However, she isn’t out their classrooms, there is Other students have right against it. hope. According to Mcmore balanced views on “Don’t get me wrong, I Donnall, if a teacher can the subject. understand the need for submit the specific URLs “I’m actually for it, but censorship,” Kinney said. of YouTube videos they with technicalities,” senior “I know why the rules are would like to use, the disJacob Jordan said. “They there. But, if there was trict’s technology team [students] shouldn’t be some way they [the admin- should be able to unblock able to go to obviously istration] or a teacher could them for classroom use.
Schools that accept government funding must filter internet use
Booster Supporters Rick’s Furniture Personally Yours Insurance Associates of Starkville
RETRACTION: In our Sept. 30 edition, the article “Jackets still alive for playoffs” incorrectly stated that the softball team has not been to the playoffs in six years. They have, in fact, been to the playoffs four of the last six years and won their district in 2007.
What happens in
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Staff Members Ty Ringo, Tess Long, Collin Whitten, T’Keyia Davis, Ruth Brown, Jimmy Sherrod, Leena Mrayyan, Brooke Underwood, Cheyenne Underwood, Ryan English, and Ebony Robinson
Page 4 • 10-30-09
News
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Jinkerson and Kim named National Merit Semifinalists By Brooke Underwood Staff Writer When seniors Barunie Kim and Jeffrey Jinkerson found out that they were National Merit Semifinalists, they felt both relief and excitement. “I was excited that I had been selected and recognized,” Kim said. “I felt honored and proud of my achievement.” When asked what had helped her become a semifinalist, Kim said, “Mostly I studied on my own, taking practice tests and reviewing my basics, but a lot of the AP classes that I took helped
me practice my test taking skills.” When asked how he prepared Jeffrey said, “I didn’t expect to become a semifinalist, but I was just trying to do my best, so I read the free PSAT materials and took a practice test.” His feelings on becoming a semifinalist? “At first, I didn’t fully understand how big a deal the award was. Then a lot of people began congratulating me. I found out what semifinalist status can do in terms of scholarships. It’s really a huge honor just for doing well on a standardized test.”
Both are very active in SHS. They are both 4.0 students and are members of the National Honor Society. Jinkerson is a member of the SHS Marching Band, and Kim sings in the SHS Chorus and runs cross-country. They will both compete for 8,200 National Merit Scholarships. There are about 16,000 students chosen to be semifinalists each year. Semifinalists are those that scored the highest on the PSAT in their state. Winners of the Merit Scholarship are chosen based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments.
Jeffrey Jinkerson (top) and Barunie Kim have been named National Merit Semifinalists. Photos by Brooke Underwood
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Visit our website: www.projectpassonline.com
Every 2 minutes someone is injured by a drunk driver Every 30 minutes someone is killed by a drunk driver. !"#$%$&'()&*+,+&-%./012%#1&34&5$"6/173#&
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Page 6 • 10-30-09
Feature
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Operation Smile start Lindsay and Hughes are spreading the word about their creations throughout Starkville, starting with their own memOperation Smile co-president Laura bers. Kathryn Lindsay had a couple of things to On October 10, Operation Smile club work with: a roll of duct tape and lots of members met at Hughes’s house to learn imagination. the wallet-making process. Last summer, while her peers were out “It was thrilling,” Katya Gilbo said, “I playing soccer and drinking lemonade, could suddenly take something uninterestLindsay sat inside and wondered how she ing and turn it into something extraordicould raise money for her club. nary.” The end result? Operation Smile is a nonprofit worldwide Duct tape wallets!The wallets are made organization that raises money for children out of duct tape of every color and can with cleft lips and palates. be decorated with designs, words, or even With the money Operation Smile raises, cutouts from magazines. teams of specialized doctors travel to difLindsay designed several different styles ferent countries to administer the $200 opof wallets, including trifold, bifold, and eration to as many lucky children as they keychain versions. can. “I had seen something about someone For these children, the difference of a making duct tape wallets before,” Lindsay smile makes the difference of their life. At said. “So I just sat down and played with it SHS, Operation Smile is a fairly new club. until I got it right. I really felt like an entreOperation Smile members can be found preneur.” on occasional Mississippi State football Originally, making duct tape wallets was game-days sitting outside of the Savvy just a way for Lindsay to have some fun and Grape selling their duct tape wallets. maybe make a little money on the side. Wallets are also available from Lindsay However, she soon realized that selling and Hughes by request. duct tape wallets would be a great fundraisLaura Kathryn Lindsey and Lauren ing scheme. Hughes (above) make duct tape walFrom there, the idea spiraled into Lindsay lets of all shapes, colors, and styles and fellow co-president, sophomore Lauas a fundraiser for Operation Smile. ren Hughes, making 170 creatively-decoPhotos by Ruth Brown rated wallets to take to the Operation Smile International Student Leadership Convention in August in Newport News, Virginia. At the convention, Lindsay and Hughes had the opportunity to hear from motivational speakers, participate in workshops, and be a part of teams of people from all over the country and the world. Lindsay and Hughes sold the majority of their wallets at an international party at the convention called the “iparty.” This party was a chance for every country represented at the convention to convene and mingle, and the perfect chance for Lindsay and Hughes to sell their handmade wallets. “It was really fun,” Hughes said. “We hope to go back next year and bring more of our people with us.” By Ruth Brown Staff Writer
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Feature
10-30-09 • Page 7
ts colorful fundraiser
Page 8 • 10-30-09
Opinion
The Jacket Buzz Volume 17, Issue 1
Tess Long
Editor-in-Chief
Collin Whitten Assistant Editor
Staff Writers
Ruth Brown, T’Keyia Davis, Ryan English, Leena Mrayyan, Ty Ringo, Ebony Robinson, Jimmy Sherrod, Brooke Underwood and Cheyenne Underwood
Contributing Writers Taylor Bowden
R.J. Morgan Advisor
Statement of Policy
The Jacket Buzz is published three times each semester by the Journalism Department at Starkville High School. The Jacket Buzz is a student-run publication committed to providing the students of Starkville High School with objective and informative coverage of events involving or affecting the student body. The Jacket Buzz serves SHS as a forum for student expression and thought. Content decisions are made by student editors. Factual errors will be corrected by a retraction in the next issue. Opinions expressed are those of students and do not necessarily reflect the views of the adviser, administration, Starkville High School faculty, or the Starkville School Distict. Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Jacket Buzz staff. Letters to the Editor are accepted and published, excluding those that are deemed libelous, malicious, hurtful or disruptive. Unsigned letters will not be published, and all letters are subject to editing. Please email all letters, or other comments/concerns, to rjmorgan@starkville.k12.ms.us
Editorial
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The editorial below is a written collaboration among all members of the Jacket Buzz staff. Ideas expressed represent the majority opinion of the staff.
Class time is important. That’s the whole point of school, so rules that cause unnecessary time out of class should be questioned. Security is also very important, however the fact that the security gates are closed at 8:00 a.m (shortly after the first bell) can sometimes cause issues with getting to class on time. If a student were running late in the morning they could still manage to get to class on time if they could get to their usual parking space. But sometimes the gates close even before 8:00 a.m. and then students have to walk all the way from in front of the football feild. A very simple solution to this is to leave the security gate going into the sophomore parking lot open until a more rea-
sonable time of 8:15 or 8:30 a.m. This would still provide adequate security for the students’ cars parked in the sophomore lots and allow students running late in the morning time to get to their class without recieving a cut slip. We feel it’s unfare to write a student up for skipping when everyone knows how easy it is to misplace one’s keys in the morning. Also when students check in in the morning they are now required to have a pass from the front office before going past the guard shack. This makes it take much longer to get to class since students first have to find a parking space in front of the school, which can sometimes be very difficult. We feel that students should be admitted into the parking lots and be able to pick up their pass on the way to class.
Letter to the Editor
This letter is in response to the “Parking system needs overhaul” story printed in the September 25 edition of the Jacket Buzz. The story mentions an “issue” with security. I do not know what “issue” the story is referring to with security, our two security officers have been a big help keeping students parking in the correct lot. Besides the long walk from the football field, I’m unaware of any “problems” parking spots are causing. If there are concerns in this area, please come see me about them. The price of parking on campus was also mentioned in the story. If students think this is unfair, this topic should be brought to the attention of our student government. There are some costs associated with parking: the tags, painting the lot, and rental fees that go to Millsaps, but the administration is willing to look into price reduction. We could charge different amounts for the different lots (similar to what we do for lockers). The money that is not spent on associated
costs goes into the student activity fund. The writers of this story also made mention of parking spaces being assigned by grade level. Parking is only issued by grade level during orientation. Seniors first, then juniors, and so on. After orientations, parking places are issued on first come, first serve basis. This year, during junior orientation, we had Juniors that still had to buy a hang tag to park in the football field lot. We just don’t have enough parking spaces to accommodate all juniors and seniors. That being said, Ms. Vo can’t park with fellow juniors because she either missed her orientation or was at the end of the line for parking during her orientation. The administration is looking into alternative parking areas so we can avoid having students park on the football field lot. If students have any questions regarding parking please come see me. - Sean McDonnall
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Opinion
10-30-09 • Page 9
Water should be allowed in class By Tess Long Editor-in-chief No food in class. No chewing gum in glass. No drinks in class. These are the three basic rules almost all the teachers at Starkville High School either tell you on the first day of school, or have posted on their walls along with bring your own tissue, and no bathroom breaks. And as much as I love food and potty breaks, the rule that strikes me as the most absurd is no drinks in class. What with a large percentage of the human body being made up of water, and researchers and scientists telling us that the average human should consume eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day, I think this rule deserves a little bit of investigation. “Sugary drinks in class will attract ants,” assistant principal Sean McDonnall said. “And the idea is that students will try to
bring alcohol into class in water bottles.” Ok so sure, nobody wants a room full of ants. And even though I know it’s hard to go without caffeine all day, the no-soda-andsugary-drinks part of the rule kind of makes sense. But no water bottles, because students may use them to conceal alcohol does not. Not that the students at SHS should be aware of this, as most of us are under 21, but alcohol has a pretty distinct smell. And if a student wanted to become intoxicated at school, well…all roads lead to Rome, as the saying goes. Students bold enough to drink in school will do it anyway. But who hasn’t longed for a cold bottle of water during an exam on a hot August day, or when they come to school even with that horrible cough? I think the administration should just let this one go.
A student holds a refreshingly illegal bottle of water during class. Photo by Tess Long
Barracuda blocks important info Nine-week exams By T’Keyia Davis Staff Writer You’re on the computer at school researching a paper. You’ve been there for almost an hour and you think you’ve finally stumbled across the information you’ve been dreaming of. You’re happy, excited, and thrilled that you can finally leave. You click on the site, and to your dismay a Barracuda web filter appears, blocking the site for tasteless material. You sit there dumbfounded and just plain disappointed. This is what many students at SHS have to deal with daily while either searching for pictures for Digital Video or browsing information for research papers. The Barracuda, or the district’s new filtering system, is hard at work monitoring and blocking harmful sites. But is all the content it blocks necessary for the users safe keeping?
Well, for some students it is more than necessary, since they can’t control the urge to browse content that’s too vulgar. But the majority of students just want to get what they need and get off. But why have blocks in the first place? This answer is easy: to pay for the service. “When schools choose to provide internet service, they must get state funds,” assistant principal Sean McDonnall said. “In doing so they must follow strict guidelines stated in CIPA and COPA, which are laws protecting the innocence of young eyes.” The law also incorporates “E-Rate”, a blocking system that entails like movie ratings. If a site is rated R or M it is blocked, while sites rated E or PG let us through, thus creating safer viewing. So next time when you can’t get to the needed information because of the Barracuda web filter, just know it could be worse, you could not have internet service at school at all.
unnecessary after four weeks of class the exam was not needed. I just don’t feel that the The first quarter of time in which we were in the school year was nine school was long enough weeks long, but it felt to have material to be like we only covered four tested on. weeks’ worth of material. Also on the A/B schedWith the new sched- ule students are takule, time spent in classes ing eight classes a week, seems shorter. which makes exam week Only having a few weeks very stressful. of materials to be tested Nine-week testing is on was different than in mandated by the district previous years due to the in the student handbook. fact that there was literBut depending on next ally nine weeks of mate- year’s schedule, the adrial taught in any given ministration might need course. to decide if nine-week Many students felt as if testing is still necessary. By Jimmy Sherrod Staff Writer
Page 10 • 10-30-09
Sports
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Perkins commits to Southern Miss been Perkin’s basketball coach for the past three years, has seen many improvements in Perkin’s On Thursday, October 9th, game since his freshman year. Starkville High’s Rashad Perkins “When he started out, all he verbally committed to the Uni- could do is dunk-he couldn’t versity of Southern Mississippi. even dribble,” Carter said. “Now The small forward was being he can do a lot more and he’s imrecruited by some of the top proving as a passer, too.” ranked basketball programs in Perkins hopes to bring enthusithe country including Alabama, asm to Southern Miss’s basketball Missouri, Georgetown, Memphis program throughout his college and LSU. years. Perkins said that his other top While attending USM, Perkins choices were Alabama and Mis- wants to learn enough in college souri. to play at the next level. “I chose to commit to USM be“My wish is to play in the cause the school isn’t too far and NBA,” Perkins said. “If that it’s not too close either,” Perkins doesn’t work out, I want to be in said. “I also love their coaching a field of work where I can make staff.” money and enjoy the job.” Coach Greg Carter, who has Carter also believes that PerBy Ty Ringo Staff Writer
kins’ athleticism and high energy will give him a chance to play right away, and possibly on the next level. “He has the potential to play on the next level,” Carter said. “It just depends on how hard he works and how much he improves in college.” Perkins also believes he can bring his enthusiasm and hard working demeanor to the Southern Miss’ squad of basketball players next year as a freshman. Perkins will officially be able to say he is a Golden Eagle when he signs a national letter of intent on signing day in November. The SHS basketball team will open its season at Meridian on Nov. 10 and host its first home game on Nov. 14 against Gentry.
Senior forward Rashad Perkins goes up for a dunk in practice. Photo by Leena Mrayyan
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Sports
10-30-09• Page 11
Jackets need win for playoff berth By Ty Ringo Staff Writer
Starkville High’s defense tries to stop the Olive Branch offense in last Friday’s 23-13 loss. Photo by T’Keyia Davis
La Club de Franc!is Congratulations French Club Officers! President:
China McClenton
Vice President:
Ashley Brown
Secretary:
Adriana Lipscomb
Co-Treasurers:
Ruth Brown and Kauthar Gaber
Public Relations:
Diana Pechanova and Emily Damm
Rogers said. “We’ve got work hard and be more “We’ve got to to disciplined. We also need a lot of people to step up In tonight’s game against work hard and and make plays.” undefeated South Panola, With only two games rebe more the Starkville High School maining on their regular Yellow Jackets (3-6, 3-2) schedule, both on disciplined.” season still have a chance to make the road, tonight’s contest the playoffs. against South Panola is alAfter an 0-4 start, the ive Branch Friday night. most a must-win for the Jackets began district play Both losses were painful Jackets. with an impressive 3-0 re- to senior Jacket Justin RogA loss tonight means only cord against Desoto Cen- ers. a victory in next week’s fitral, Tupelo, and Horn “It felt bad,” Rogers said. nale at Columbus can get Lake. “I think we could have the team into the postseaThe Jackets were sure to won, but we didn’t execute son. put their spot in the play- as well as we should have. “If we play football for offs in the bag, since only They did, and they made now instead of talking four district wins are re- plays.” about playing football, we quired for a berth. Even though the Jack- will go deep in playoffs,” But thoughts of a secure ets have lost two straight junior Jarrod Atterberry spot in playoffs were put games, they aren’t giving said. to a halt when the Jackets up hope on their chance of If the Jackets win, it will fell short to Southaven on making playoffs. be their first trip to the the road and lost at their “We still have a good playoffs since the 2007Homecoming game to Ol- chance to make playoffs,” 2008 season.
Knox, Bond win state By Taylor Bowden Contributing Writer At the MHSAA state swim meet on Saturday, October 24, the Starkville High School boys swim team scored a total of 100 points, ranking ninth out of 27 teams, while the Lady Jacket swim team earned 140 points, ranking sixth out of 29 teams. One member from each of SHS’s swim teams received the MHSAA All-Star Swimmer honor; Andy Bond [Jackets] and Ida Knox [Lady Jackets]. Bond, a sophomore, alone scored 37 of the team’s points. Not only that, but, along with receiving the All-Star Swimmer title, Bond won the state championship title in the 200 freestyle events. “It’s pretty cool to be No. 1,” Bond said, “And to be the best in the state at anything is pretty great.” Knox, a senior and Lady Jackets team captain, placed third in the 100
freestyle in addition to winning the all-state title for the sixth time in a row. “It’s a good way to end my senior year,” Knox said. Not only did the SHS swim teams rank so highly and boast two AllState swimmers, they did so with a relatively young team. “I just keep thinking about what a young team we are,” coach Angela Hobart said. “We have 12, 13 and 14 year-olds swimming in heats with seniors, and our girls out-swim many of them.” Laken Vickers, a seventh grader swimming on the high school Lady Jackets team, participated in the 100 breast, placing fifth among many high school athletes with a final time of 1.14.12. Vickers also swam in the 400 free relay along with Mark Anne Hobart, Adina Harri, and Knox. The relay team placed fifth with a final time of 4.03.67.
ports buzz S The
starkville high school • 603 Yellowjacket Dr. Starkville, MS, 39759 • www.shsjacketbuzz.com • VOLUME XVII, No. 2 • 10-30-09
Homecoming Heartache After their 23-13 loss to Olive Branch, junior Martavious Foster (right) and the rest of the SHS Yellow Jacket football team need to win one of their last two games to make it to playoffs.
See full article on page 11.
Photo by Brooke Underwood