September 2015 by Michael Simmons

thewarriorbeat

Vol. 54, Issue 1 September 11, 2015 Oak Grove High School www.thewarriorbeat.com

ROCK THE

INSIDE

VOTE

By: Drew Herring Staff Reporter @drew_herring2

Performing Improvements for the Arts Meet the Candidates

THE PRESIDENTIAL TOP EIGHT > PG 4

Dress Code by #’s

CRACKING THE CODE > PG 8

Celebrity Clash LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE > PG 11

Guess the Teachers

THEIR GLORY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN > PG 9

In State Clash

SEC VS. CUSA > PG 3

Humans of HBURG

MR. ROBERT > PG 8

FALL TV PREVIEW

UP AND COMING > PG 6

Meet the Coaches

NEW STAFF > PG 3

MYCAH KENNEDY PHOTO

By: Alyssa Bass Staff Reporter @ sassyaly_

ast year, students and teachers received news that was long overdue: We would be getting a Performing Arts Center. After months of construction and anticipation, the Performing Arts Center is here! Connected to A hall, the new building adds new classrooms, new bathrooms, a new auditorium that sits between 1100 and 1200 people, and new facilities specifically for Oak Grove Theatre, Oak Grove Center Stage, and the Oak Grove Speech and Debate team. Drama has been given a new black box that seats 140 people compared to the old, cramped black box that only seated 66 people. The larger black box will allow them to have a much better place to rehearse and perform their smaller shows in the spring. They also have four storage rooms plus an air conditioned workshop to build and paint sets in, which was a nice and necessary change from previous years, when sets had to be built outside in the heat. Drama was also gifted a larger stage, an updated lighting and sound system, new curtains, and an actual lighting and sound booth. All of the new additions

will positively impact drama, but the auditorium is also a great asset because it comes with theatrical lighting, sound, and space. Drama coach Suzanne Allmon said, “Now that we have the auditorium, we will have the opportunity to perform more often, and for more people. We will still have a few performances in the new black box, but now that there are two performance spaces at our disposal, this will benefit the theatre students greatly. As they go to college, they will now have two different performance experiences that they have never had before.” Oak Grove Center Stage is now also able to have a performance experience they’ve never had before. Though the new choir room is only four feet larger than the old room, they are enjoying the added storage space for equipment and costumes and a connected classroom for learning music, which is also equipped with a sound system. However, the biggest and most important addition to the show choir is the auditorium. Show choir director Darren Dale said, “Having a stage to perform on definitely helps the show choir. For the past few years, the first time we performed our competition show on a stage was at our first competition. This put us at a disadvantage compared

to other schools that had much more stage experience. I compare this to the football team only practicing in the gym, but playing games on the football field. We are so excited that we now have the opportunity to practice on a stage before we perform.” The speech and debate team also has every reason to succeed this year after moving to a classroom two and a half times the size of regular classrooms that includes four practice rooms, storage, and an office. When asked about his initial reaction to the new room, speech and debate coach Shane Cole said, “It’s about time! The team and I love everything. We have room to rehearse, so we don’t have to talk to walls in the hallway anymore. We have our own little computer lab and a room for viewing film, so we can watch performances to make them better.” It’s obvious that drama, show choir, and speech and debate have hit the jackpot with the Performing Arts Center - the auditorium seemingly being the best gift of all. The long awaited building will surely provide all three groups a different and more effective way of practicing as well as performing, which will undeniably attract more audience members for each group.

For the quickly approaching Homecoming elections, Oak Grove students will be implementing a new, greatly improved voting process in which students will vote using their cellphones. The ballots showing the candidates will be emailed to the students. Through their school emails (firstname.lastname@lcsdstudents.org) students will send in their votes. This process is much more secure, ensuring only one vote per student. For those without the capabilities needed to vote using their cellphones, voting booths will be available outside of the school cafeteria on voting days. Mr. Michael Simmons came up with the idea for this new system. Simmons came up with the idea when he realized how inconvenient and difficult the old voting system was. “Having to count up the votes and make sure that every homeroom teacher was doing it correctly was much too time consuming. The new system will eliminate the middleman because it does not require the votes to be manually counted. The system automatically tallies up the votes,” Simmons said. School election results are only meaningful if everyone votes. If students refuse to vote or vote twice, the results are inaccurate. However, despite its convenience, in the official debut of the new process in the freshman elections, only 55% of students voted, and in the run-off elections, only 35% of students voted. Students are highly encouraged to vote because every student’s vote does count.

Warrior tracks for title: Sorry got to run! By: Grace Wilkes Mozingo Staff Reporter @gracewilmo

The Oak Grove Cross Country team kicked off the new school year with its annual XC Classic. The 5k was hosted on August 15, here at Oak Grove High School. Though the OGXC team participated in a two-mile run strictly for the rivaling schools, the 5k was open to the public. Schools that were featured in the run include PCS, Vancleave, Northeast Lauderdale, St. Martin, Clarkdale, Pearl River, and, of course, Oak Grove. A little over 160 runners competed in the separate boys and girls events, with OG taking second place in both races. Clay Derrick, a freshmen on the OGXC team, finished in first place for the boys’ event, with a time of 11:12. PCS followed the

next two placements with Trace Walter and Jacob Williams. This helped gain them the coveted first place title in the boys event, with 29 points overall. The girls’ event was won by Lina May, a sophomore at Vancleave High. Close behind her were four runners from PCS, who in the end, swept the race away. OG’s Aubrie Ware (6th) led the lady Warriors in for a second place victory with a time of 14:61. This impressive feat was not ignored either, with the head coach of both the girls and boys more than happy with his runners’ achievements in the race. “My expectation of each of them is to run their best and to push

See 5K on PG2

HUNTER FORD PHOTO OGXC TEAM MEMBERS Freshman Clay Derrick (left) and junior Aubrie Ware and celebrate post run. Derrick finished 1st in the boys event with an overall time of 11:12. Ware placed 6th in the girls event, leading the Lady Warriors to 2nd place overall.

2 news

September 11, 2015

Meet the Teachers

coming

By: Noah Farrar | Staff Reporter

Military Breakfast September 11

Football vs. D’Iberville September 11 Acosta ACT Class September 14 Volleyball vs. Petal September 15 Volleyball vs. Meridian September 17 Football vs. Hattiesburg September 18 Improv Fest September 19 Acosta ACT Class September 21 Volleyball vs. Brandon September 22 Volleyball vs. Forest Hill September 25

Lauren Starnes

Heather Leland

Lauren Starnes officially joins the Warrior staff, after spending time here last year student teaching. Starnes graduated with the class of 2015 at William Carey University. Like many other new faculty members at the school, Starnes realizes the learning difficulties that accompany the subject area she covers. She visualizes these learning difficulties as hurdles the students, with her help, will be able to leap over by the end of the semester. Starnes will achieve this goal by challenging her students’ thought processes, teaching the students to develop on their own.

Michelle Leland was born and raised in Hattiesburg. After graduating from The University of Southern Mississippi she obtained both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. After obtaining her National Board Certification, she chose to teach Spanish I and II. Her love for the Spanish language centers around the various mission trips she has previously been on. Leland says that we are all surrounded by a Hispanic community that demands interaction. She hopes, this year, to see her students succeed in learning a new language and developing a new love for the foreign culture that has shaped her in so many ways.

Laura Jackson

Brittany Stubblefield

Sarah McCarty Sarah McCarty, a Southern Regional Education Board math ready teacher, teaches Algebra I in A127. She chose to pursue a career teaching mathematics because of her obvious passion for the subject. She attended Forrest County Agricultural High School and William Carey University obtaining her minor in mathematics. McCarty chose Oak Grove because it is close to home and because she believes she has much to learn from the many teachers that are available to offer her advice. McCarty says that she adores the student body she teaches, and hopes to make her students completely comfortable with math and its challenging hurdles.

Acosta ACT Class September 28 Volleyball vs. Meridian September 29

TWITTER @thewarriorbeat

Kristi Smith Kristi Smith, although her roots are not embedded in Hattiesburg, chose to teach at Oak Grove because she believes Oak Grove, “Is the best school in the state!” Mrs. Smith’s husband, Coach Smith, also received a new position at the school as the quarterback coach. Mrs. Smith graduated from Mississippi State University and East Central Community College with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English. Her goal this year is to effectively see her students reach their maximum potential in English while maintaining a position as a positive role model in each student’s life.

5-K

Continued from PG1

INSTAGRAM @thewarriorbeat

themselves, and they did just that. Because when you are on a trail and there isn’t anyone but you and another runner, it comes down to who trained harder and who wants it more,” Coach Burgess said. Though the race between schools was more than compelling; the 5k event before was

beat’s bits OH DONALD

After the GOP debates in early August, Donald Trump is still in the lead over the Republican candidates, who were more, let’s say, tactful in what they were vocalizing. Inspite of the politically incorrect assertions that have propelled Trump’s candidacy into infamy, he still controls 23% of the polls with Ted Cruz in second place with 13%.

Laura Jackson, or “Ms. Jackson,” joins the warrior staff as Suzanne Allmon’s new assistant in the drama department. Ms. Jackson recalls her mother being serenaded with apologies during her years at Oak Grove High School as the song “Sorry Ms. Jackson,” made famous by Outkast, was released. Ms. Jackson graduated from William Carey University with a Bachelor’s degree in theater. After graduating, she migrated from home to work in the Los Angeles film industry, mainly playing background and stand-in roles. She did this for four years and returned to Hattiesburg, where she now resides on the stage with Mrs. Allmon.

equally filled with intense athleticism. Runners of all ages competed in the three-mile run on OGHS’s walking trail. Drew Blake of Hattiesburg finished in first place, with an overall time of 18:04.8. George Mandoza place second, with a time of 18:08, and Robyn Ryder completed the podium with a time of 18:10. Perhaps the favorite event of the morning was the one-mile Fun Run, which really helped get things started. Nine-year old

Dallas Stricker, who placed 15th in the 5k, stole the show with an impressive time of 6:40. Reese Plumlee and Tate Woolbright followed up with times of 7:53 and 7:57 respectively. In the end, the OGXC Classic proved to be more than successful. With a positive start to a new season, runners all over the area are pumped to enter into the next few races and meets, especially our OG team.

NEWS

SHOOTING IN FERGUSON

On the one year anniversary of Mike Brown’s fatal shooting, an African-American man, confirmed to be about 20 years old, opened fire on several Ferguson police department vehicles. The police officers returned fire and shot the man, who was quickly transported to the nearest hospital. He is reported to be in unstable condition.

Brittany Stubblefield, the new special needs teacher, inherited her passion for education from her mother who is employed as Petal School District’s Psychometrist. Before settling down at Oak Grove, Stubblefield worked at Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources as a case manager. Becase of this, she began her pursuit for special education at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology. She then participated in the Alternate Route to Education program offered at William Carey University. Now, she teaches her passion here at Oak Grove.

HUNTER FORD PHOTO WINNERS Aubrie Ware and Clay Derrick celebrate post run.

By: Abby Ngyuen | Staff Reporter | @2busybeingabby

DEBRIS FROM MH370

A piece of the most infamous Boeing 777, plane MH370, was identified after washing up on Reunion Island, a French island. French investigators postulate that the piece found indicates that an emergency procedure was deployed when the plane hit water - meaning someone in the cockpit was consciously manipulating the controls.

MISSISSIPPI & ISIS

Muhammed Oda Dakhalla, of Starkville, and Jaelyn De’Shaun Young, of Vicksburg, were intercepted at Golden Triangle Regional Airport in north Mississippi early on August 8th for reportedly attempting to join ISIS. The pair had plans to get married in Turkey and cross the Turkish-Syrian border.

September 11, 2015

sports 3

In State Clash

MEET THE COACHES By: Alec Hudson Staff Reporter

By: Alec Hudson Staff Reporter @alechudson13

On Saturday, September 5, at M.M. Roberts Stadium, college football season began for both Southern Miss and Mississippi State. Last season, Southern Miss finished 3-9, 1-7 in Conference USA play, and things seem to be looking up for them this season. Mississippi State finished 10-3, 6-2 in SEC play last season. Mississippi State started the season unranked after one of the most winning seasons in school history, and USM also started the season unranked after one of the best seasons they have had in the past three years. Coach Todd Monken was brought into the USM program two years ago, after an 0-12 season. Coach Monken has plans to return this program to its former glory and is slowly, but steadily, win-

MASCOT HISTORY Mascots Seymour and Bully recreating the iconic end zone mascot picture

ning more and more games. When the game started at 9 P.M, 34,000 fans were ready to see two great teams fight 60 minutes for the first win of the season. At the beginning of the game, USM made a run to MSU’s 33 yard line, and then MSU stopped USM on fourth down and two yards. USM turned the ball over, and MSU made it to USM’s 10 yard line. Then Ashton Shumpert fumbled the ball inside of the USM endzone. The fumble was recovered by USM for a touchback. USM was then stopped

STARKVILLE FREE PRESS PHOTO

again by MSU’s defense, and they were forced to punt. On the punt, MSU’s Fred Ross muffed the ball and it was recovered by USM on MSU’s 11 yard line. USM’s Quarterback Nick Mullens was then sacked by MSU’s defense and forced USM to kick a field goal. Then on the kickoff MSU’s Stephen Brauchle returned the kick 100 yards for a touchdown. After USM drove the field and scored a touchdown, they kicked an onside kick and recovered the football. USM then pulled a trick play on MSU. They handed the ball off to a wide receiv-

er who then threw the ball to Nick Mullens, who then threw the ball to Korey Robertson for a 44 yard gain to MSU’s 1 yard line. This drive, however, did not result in a touchdown. Southern Miss again tried to kick an onside kick in the third quarter, but it did not work. Southern Miss continued to fight throughout the rest of the game, but Mississippi State ended up on top with a 34-16 win over USM. Southern Miss held their own with MSU for all of the first half and most of the second half. USM has improved since Coach Todd Monken was brought into their program three years ago. Things are looking up for USM this year as they are projected to have a final record of 6-6 this season. USM might even attend a bowl game this year.

Warriors Kick Off Football Season:

The Beginning of the Causey Era By: Drew Herring Staff Reporter @drew_herring2

he Warriors have taken the field twice now to kick off this football season with two victories. This team has many players who are natural leaders, and they have managed to stay focused during the offseason, despite it being extremely hectic with longtime head coach Nevil Barr’s retiring. The Warriors expected to hire Randy Butler, who had previously been on the coaching staffs of both the University of Southern Mississippi and Troy University; however, due to complications, this could not be done. Coach Drew Causey then was offered the head coaching job. Causey had previously been the offensive coordinator for the Warriors, and to say that his team was happy about his being hired as head coach would be an understatement. All of the players have said that they love Causey’s coaching style and the many different positive attributes he brings to the table. On Thursday, August 27, the Oak Grove Warriors played their first game. Wayne County, a team with many talented players on both sides of the ball, promised to be a tough obstacle to overcome for the Warriors; however, the Warriors had been practicing and working hard to prepare specifically for this game during the offseason. Oak Grove has two very talented senior quarterbacks in its arsenal, and the two rotated, taking turns running the team’s offense. Alex Ward took over the game for the

first time on the Warriors’ second drive, and he lead the Warriors down the field to the red zone. This drive was capped off with a 6 yard touchdown pass from Ward to senior wide receiver Jordan Duncan, the first touchdown of the season for the Warriors. Both teams scored multiple times throughout the game, and the teams went back and forth controlling the lead. With under three minutes left to play in the game, the Warriors were down 33-27. Coach Causey then called for an onside kick. This was a daring move, but there was no other way to secure a win for the Warriors. “We only had one timeout left. If we don’t get the ball back, they win the ballgame,” Causey said. In this do or die moment, the Warriors came up big with a recovery by senior Javarri Pierce at the War Eagles’ 49 yard line. This rejuvenated the Warriors; however, after three straight incompletions, they dove into what seemed to be their last play from scrimmage. After a pass interference was called on Wayne County, the Warriors were given an automatic first down, and this drive was capped off with a touchdown pass from Ward to junior receiver Justin Mary, which secured the win for the Warriors and their new head coach. The final score was 34-33. Coach Causey’s first game as the head coach of the Warriors was greatly anticipated, and the game lived up to its hype as one that both he and his team will never forget. “One thing we’ve talked about all week is playing as a family and for your brothers, and that’s all that was.” Causey said. Alex Ward came up big when his number was called.

Alec Hudson: Do you have plans to take Oak Grove to Oxford this year? Coach Causey: It would be very nice if we could compete for the state title again this year. My main goals for the team are for us to get out there and play hard every play, have some fun, and hopefully win a few games. AH: Previously you were the offensive coordinator and golf coach, who will take over in each of these positions? CC: I will still be running the offense but information about the new golf coach has not been shared yet. AH: How do you feel about your coaching staff? CC: We have a great coaching staff that works very well together. They all have great character and treat the players in the best possible way. I couldn’t be happier with our coaches. AH: What will you be coaching this year? Coach Smith: I will be coaching football, quarterbacks, and boys and girls track. AH: What is your background in football and track? CS: “I played QB in college at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Texas. I have been coaching football for 10 years in 5 different high schools. I have also been a head track coach for 5 of those 10 years.” AH: How do you feel about Coach Causey being appointed as the new head coach? CS: I am very supportive of this decision. Coach Causey is the reason I am able to coach here. He has been a huge blessing to me and my family in this process and I believe he will be a quality head coach and will sustain the level of success that Coach Barr has been able to achieve.

MARY MORGAN GRATWICK PHOTOS

WAYNE COUNTY AND LAUREL GAMES TOP: Oak Grove Team members celebrate after big play. BOTTOM: Players wait to start the game.

He finished with 191 yards and four touchdown passes, completing 14 passes out of his 30 pass attempts, including coming through in a clutch manner on the final two offensive drives for the Warriors in which he threw for 82 yards and two touchdown passes that led the Warriors over the War Eagles. In their second game against Laurel, the Warriors once again came out on top, this time 41-21. Ward played most of

Oak Grove recently hired two new coaches, Coach Ryan Smith and Coach Terri Underwood, and promoted Coach Drew Causey to head coach of the football team.

the game, finishing with 220 yards and three touchdowns on 15-of-29 passing attempts completed. Receiver Charles Hartfield had 104 yards receiving, and running back Aaron Abram had 126 yards on the ground. The Causey era has begun at Oak Grove High School, and the future looks bright for the Warriors under his leadership.

AH: What will you be coaching this year? Coach Underwood: I will serve as the head defensive coordinator this year. AH: What is your background in football? CU: I have 32 years of coaching experience, 18 in junior college and 14 in high school . I have been a head coach 10 years and an assistant for 22 years. AH: How do you feel about Coach Causey being appointed as the new head coach? CU: Coach Causey is and will do an outstanding job as head coach. He is very in tune with the players and coaching staff and the local competition.

opinion

The Presidential Top Eight By: Lucy Pruitt | Editor

1. Hillary Clinton

2. Donald Trump

Political Affiliation: Democratic Party

Political Affiliation: Republican Party

Experience: Former Secretary of State

Experience: Wealthy Businessman

Experience: Former Governor of Florida

Experience: Governor of Wisconsin

Weird Quote: “In my White House, we all know who wears the pantsuits.”--on the role her husband would play in her administration.

Weird Quote: “If you can’t get rich dealing with politicians, there’s something wrong with you.”

Weird Quote: “My dad is the greatest man alive...If anyone disagrees we’ll go outside.”

Hometown: Manhatten, NY

Hometown: Miami, FL

Weird Quote: “I’m not going to repeal it, but I don’t think it serves a purpose.”--Walker on the current minimum wage legislation.

Hometown: Chappaqua, NY

5. Ben Carson

6. Marco Rubio

3. Jeb Bush

4. Scott Walker

OPINION

Meet the Candidates

Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO

7. Ted Cruz

8. John Kasich

Political Affiliation: Republican Party

Experience: Author and retired Johns Hopkins Neurosurgeon

Experience: Senator from Florida

Experience: Senator from Texas

Experience: Governor of Ohio

Weird Quote: “I’m the only one to successfully take out half of a brain. Although if you go to Washington, you would think that someone had beat me to it.”

Weird Quote: “They want a weapon to trigger a global cataclysm that will bring about the arrival of the Thirteenth Imam! I know this sounds bizarre!”

Weird Quote: “I will renounce any Canadian citizenship.”

Weird Quote: “Everybody across this country knows that a tsunami of drugs is threatening their family.”

Hometown: Detroit, MI

Hometown: West Miami, FL

Hometown: Houston, TX

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Parking lot: Paint by numbers By: Katie Williams Staff Reporter @kt_williams_43

This year the administrators introduced a new outlet for students to let our creativity be shown on the parking lot called “Paint Your Space.” For $80, we could paint our parking spaces on a sweltering hot, sunny August day. On August 5th, 24 people who submitted

their applications in advance for design approval set about painting their spaces. Therein lies the first of many problems with this idea. Although this idea has potential, personality and creativity is hindered by the regulations, price, and time restrictions. Not only does it cost $80 for the permission to paint and $20 for the decal, but the painting ma-

terials must also be purchased. Most ended up spending around $200 total. Many students say that they would be more inclined to paint their space next year if the price was changed to be more reasonable. Another issue arose when the amount of time was chosen. A handful of students had to go back another day to finish painting because one day was

September 11, 2015

not enough time. Mr. Bounds says that it was successful and they plan to continue the activity next year. He even stated that we might have a chance to paint our parking spots at the start of the second semester. This gives the sophomores who did not have their licenses in the summer an opportunity, and for anyone who was not able to do it in the

summer for other reasons. Mr. Bounds agrees that the price would more than likely be lowered for half of the year. Although there were issues with this project, overall it was a success. And as it was only the first year to try this project, we hope that if some of the rules are changed, more students will be willing to paint their space.

MARY MORGAN GRATWICK PHOTO

thewarriorbeat The views and opinions expressed on this page are of an editorial nature and do not necessarily represent the views of The Warrior Beat staff, advisers, school faculty, or administrators of Oak Grove High School or the Lamar County School District.

Oak Grove High School 5198 Old Highway 11 Hattiesburg, MS 39402 601.264.7232 www.oakgrovehighschool.org EDITORS Lucy Pruitt STAFF REPORTERS Christian Rapetti Noah Farrar Abby Nguyen Alyssa Bass Hannah Lee Grace Wilkes Mozingo Drew Herring Lauren Parker Katie Williams Alec Hudson DESIGNERS Elizabeth Magee PHOTOGRAPHERS Mary Morgan Gratwick Mycah Kennedy ADVISER Simmons

September 11, 2015

opinion 5

SCARY MOVIES OR SCARIED OF MOVIES? By: Hannah Lee Staff Reporter @hanblanklee

Here I am, watching The Gift, and thinking, “Hey, okay, this is a pretty good movie.” A lot of things are running through my mind (i.e., existential crises, the impending zombie apocalypse, the overtly clichéd dialogue, Channing Tatum’s rippling biceps, the cinematography of this movie, etc.), but none of them involve the single man who entered the theater just a few minutes late. Of course, there was that natural flicker of annoyance, but not once did it occur to me that I could be in any sort of danger, or that I should forgo the movie and leave immediately. I mention this because recently, on July 23, 2015, there was a shooting at the Grand 16 movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana. The perpetrator, John Russell Houser, killed two young women, Mayci Breaux, 21, and Jillian Johnson, 33, before committing suicide. While this is a tragic occurrence, the people of Lafayette say that, with increased vigilance, they are planning to continue their attendance to the movie theaters. If anything, the recent movie theater shootings have increased security in various states, but a recent survey, conducted

by the research firm C4, after the Lafayette shooting, revealed that while 34% of moviegoers believed that theater lobbies should have stronger security measures, only 13% would be willing to pay $3 more per ticket to fund those changes. Moviegoers’ reluctance to pay for the increased security they supposedly crave shows a clear disconnect between alleged concerns and actual concerns. Most people acknowledge how unlikely they are to be victims of movie theater violence, and how can we blame them? This is not the first theater shooting, nor will it be the last. Will these shootings prevent people from going out to the movie theaters? Absolutely not. The truth is that these shootings are random -few and far between. They could happen anywhere -- from the mall to the schools to the streets -- and at any given moment (you could be on the toilet, who knows). It doesn’t mean that we should hide in our homes for the rest of our lives, living in fear of the unlikely, but this is not to say that we should be reckless and lose our common sense. Rather, we should continue to live our lives with a constant vigilance and a love for movies; for if we allow ourselves to let fear take control, then we will play right into these murderers’ hands.

By: Abby Nguyen Staff Reporter @2busybeingabby

Every time I go to see a movie and a lone man walks into the theater, I contemplate leaving and just wasting my $10. When movie theater shootings were limited to some place like Aurora, Colorado, I, and I assume, many other moviegoers were not all too affected by James Holmes and his singular act of terrorism. Now though, there has been a chain of Holmes copycats that has infiltrated movie theaters all around the country. In Palm Springs, California, the first incident of movie theater violence occurred. Two rival gangs clashed, leaving one young man dead. Similar incidences broke out throughout the country resulting in increased movie security. In 1990, during The Godfather Part III premiere, a 15 year old boy was killed and two others injured. In 1991, one man died during a fight over his spot in the ticket line. In 2012, James Holmes opened fire during the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises, and in 2015, two young women in Lafayette were killed by a gunman who later killed himself. In Nashville, two women were injured, one man suffered hatchet wounds, and the suspect was pronounced dead from police gunshots.

You get the point. Movie theater violence isn’t anything new. In fact, I’ve come to find that James Holmes wasn’t even the original James Holmes. You can argue that gang in California was the original movie theater shooter, and if you don’t buy that, then you can argue any of the other theater shooters was the original James Holmes. Violence in movie theaters is not new, and why would it be? I mean movie theaters are practically hot beds for mass murders are they not? Movie theaters are dark; the people are unsuspecting and fully exposed; the sound of gunfire is expected; and smuggling practically anything you want into a theater is easy. Armed with this knowledge, why is it that we, those poor unsuspecting, exposed moviegoers, continue to frequent theaters? Trainwreck, the movie that the Lafayette shooter was watching, is unlikely to suffer a decrease in ticket sales. Lafayette citizens say they plan to attend movies as usual but say they increase their vigilance and hope nothing happens to them. That’s the problem though, it is unlikely that any amount of attention can really prevent a shooter from exiting through a side door and opening fire. If we really want to prevent mass murders like the Aurora shooting from happening, we can’t keep opening ourselves up to the possibility of being victims to such gruesome acts of violence.

pgrade or dow grade?

By: Lauren Parker | STAFF REPORTER | @laurenparker24

You may have noticed that Oak Grove has had a new addition to its campus. The new Performing Arts Center opened its doors this year, and now our award-winning band, drama department, and speech & debate team finally have new practice and performance space. Also, there are more classrooms to adapt to our growing student body. Hopefully, this means that there will be fewer trailers and construction equipment in the near future.

More room for the arts upgrade

downgrade Dress code changes...again This year, the dress code is slightly different than past years, and now navy tops and dresses are no longer allowed. I am certainly sad to say goodbye to my Polo dress. And remember those jersey tees we all bought last year from the show choir? Now, it is up in the air whether we are allowed to wear those either. Long story short, we all wasted our money. Yeah, I am a little bitter.

Along with the new Performing Arts Center, our athletes also got some new practice space. This includes the new volleyball facility. Looks like no more competing for the gym! These girls now have a brand new court and their own locker room. If you have been in the gym’s locker rooms (or smelled them), you will agree that this is definitely a good thing.

We can DIG it

downgrade Put my cell phone where?

upgrade

It started with just a few, and now they’re taking over the entire school. Yes, I’m talking about the dreaded shoe organizers used as a place for students to store phones for the duration of class. “Cell jails,” as many teachers call them, are supposed to keep students from getting distracted during instructional time; however, they aren’t exactly legal in terms of the district handbook. The handbook states that teachers may only “take up students’ phones when used without permission.” So the next time it happens, just remember, if your phone is away you should have no problems.

6 features

September 11, 2015 7

NETFLIX ORIGINAL

RETURNING NEWBIES THE LAST MAN ON EARTH

The Last Man on Earth, starring Will Forte, is set to return for its second series on September 27, 2015. The Last Man on Earth left off with “Tandy” and Phil’s bitter rivalry. “Tandy” and Carol escaped Arizona for another new beginning. Season 2 will be revealed soon and with that comes a new isolated location.

UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT

angel from hell

Tina Fey’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a bubbly, comedic Netflix Original centered around an optimistic young woman who wants to start her life over in New York City after spending 15 years in an underground cult. Season 1 was released March 6, 2015 and was a booming success. Critics heavily supported the new show, even going so far as to name the show as “the first great sitcom of the streaming era.” The series has received multiple awards and has been cleared for a second season, set to stream in spring of 2016.

Amy, an average, hard-working woman has her life completely altered by an unhinged drifter claiming to be her guardian angel. At first, Amy doesn’t want or believe anything her angel is claiming, but when things start falling apart in her perfect life, Amy finds herself turning to her personal savior.

SCREAM QUEENS From the twisted mind of Ryan Murphy comes his next spooky hit: a raucous comedy centered around a sorority plagued by a serial killer. With a star-studded cast, the campy feel of Scream Queens is the perfect take on the infamous slasher sorority girls flick. Stretched into a season of heart pounding mystery and dry-humor Murphy is so famous for, this budding series is bound to keep the audience guessing throughout each episode.

GOTHAM After the freshman season of this Batman prequel finally came to an end, a number of fan-favorite characters saw conclusions to their story. Noble Jim Gordon and the young Bruce Wayne found out how hard it was to keep to the right track during their search. With a character line up ruled by the wicked Joker, Batman’s most infamous arch-nemesis, season 2 is setup to hopefully be even more intense than its predecessor.

GRANDFATHERED Hot dads are a thing of the past for this new Fox sitcom set to debut on September 29, 2015. With John Stamos playing an eternal bachelor that retains his youthful good looks, Grandfathered is about a man who finds out years after the fact that he has not only a child, but a child with a child. Josh Peck makes his return to daytime television years after the finale of Drake and Josh in a role that perfectly complements the reinvented Josh Peck.

THE FAMILY

That’s right America, you asked for it, and CBS answered with...another hospital drama! Conceptualized as a mash up between Scrubs and Grey’s Anatomy, Code Black is different, supposedly. The hospital that this new medical drama chooses as its backdrop is understaffed and overcrowded; a hotbed for romance, heart breaking, and heart surgery to ensue. The show’s cast is unsurprisingly beautiful and diverse, and while the plot is not anything new, Code Black could very well be filling up the gaping hole in Americans’ hearts after the tragic demise of Dr. McDreamy.

This upcoming political drama follows the lives of a torn family who are reunited with their young son who had been presumed murdered ten years before. In the midst of this huge revelation, the matriarch of the family announces her campaign for governor, to the shock and dismay of her husband and children.

SUPER GIRL The newest installment to the ever growing superhero lineup follows the life of Kara Danvers, or Supergirl. The series will center around Superman’s cousin as she finally accepts her powers after previously suppressing them. Revealing the secret of her heritage in the midst of a disaster, Supergirl is tasked with becoming a hero for the crumbling city she calls home. Guided by the adopted family that had taken her in all those years ago, Kara must wade through the struggles of adjusting to her powers and juggle everyday life under the guise of an average person.

REBOOT

THE MUPPETS

HEROES: REBORN

AHS: HOTEL For those who faithfully tune in to another of Ryan Murphy’s twisted hits, the spooky anthology series ended with a bang last season. After 13 episodes centering around the disturbing freak show, American Horror Story: Freak Show concluded its story. Fans now anticipate the newest installment in the world of horror and supernatural with the next season titled Hotel. Set in an eerie hotel run by the Fame Monster herself, Miss Lady Gaga, season 5 will focus on the unfortunate guests of Gaga’s uncanny lodgings.

CODEBLACK

UP AND COMING

DR. KEN Based on creator Ken Jeong’s previous career as a doctor, this new comedy follows the everyday antics of a physician and his family. The pilot episode centers on Dr. Ken’s son and his newfound passion of miming. Side stories conclude with the Dr. getting busted for drugs at a rave as he searches for his teenage daughter. For those who have seen any of Jeong’s hilarious movies, the expectations should be high, as hopefully, Dr. Ken comes to impress.

The much anticipated continuation of the 2006 superhero drama, Heroes: Reborn goes on to finish the stories of the loved characters from the original show. In a world where humans have special superpowers, a product of evolution, a secret organization works to keep the superhumans a secret. Though soon the count of people with capabilities rises, and the organization finds it to be slowly growing harder to conceal such a secret from the public. Especially as some with these powers begin to abuse their strength, and others rise with the occasion and become heroes. Hopefully this continuation can follow the pattern the original Heroes set and give the conclusion to this cult-loved series the faithful audience so deserves.

The Muppets have taken center stage in nearly every entertainment medium known to man. From the movies to the red carpet to Hollywood stars, the Muppets have pretty much seen it all. On September 22 though, The Muppets plan to make prime-time television their new home. In the ABC television sitcom comedy, the Muppets are featured rampaging through their daily hilarity which is heightened by Miss Piggy’s filming of her new late night show, Up Late with Miss Piggy. Co-creators, Bill Prady and Bob Kushell worked alongside The Muppets Studio and Muppet perAmerica is more than ready to welcome back former, Bill Barretta, all working to propel these the world of scrunchies, leg warmers, and neon puppets to a new status of super stardom. colored exercise leotards in the return of the Full House spinoff, Fuller House. Oh wait, this spinoff takes place in the modern day! Starring a grown DJ Tanner who is left to mother three young sons, Fuller House brings back the most beloved characters of the 1980’s: DJ herself, Stephanie, and their bumbling neighbor, Kimmy Gibbler. Fuller House is expected to be full of the same heartwarming moments that made its parent series an instant classic. This Netflix Original series is much anticipated regardless of whether it is as much of a hit as its original

fuller house

BY: Grace Wilkes Mozingo, Abby Nguyen, Noah Farrar, and Hannah Lee

September 11, 2015

8 features

GUESS THE TEACHER

HUMANS OF

Hattiesburg By: Lucy Pruitt, Editor

THE GLORY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN

Hattiesburg, MS: population 47,556. How many people do you know?

Mr. Robert

Leader of 4th grade gang, The Cobras

“Mook”

Lance Bass’s Bestie TOP The Walking Dead KILLERS 1. Rick

157 zombies this is not a bad thing. This is evidence of the series living up to its expectations as a slow and refreshing take on the apocalypse The new and greatly anticipated that is soon to come. spinoff series produced by AMC Fear the Walking Dead boasted Fear the Walking Dead begins a brand new set of faces, new just as eerily as its parent series and decaying. The new drug The Walking Dead. In fact, the addicted equivalent of Rick, Nick new series immediately draws resembles an intoxicated Cole a parallel to its parent’s original Sprouse or just Cole Sprouse. episode. Rick Grimes wakes Nick begins the excitement of the up in an abandoned hospital show by running into the streets ravaged by the infected. Nick, and forgetting what his mother our new potential equivalent of told him, “Look both ways before a drug addicted Rick, awakes in crossing the street!” and “Hey, a church to find it ravaged by don’t shoot yourself up with illicit the infected. Fear the Walking drugs, but what do I know. I’m Dead was expected, by its fans, to just your mother.” Speaking of develop at a slower pace than its mothers, we see a new powerful parent series, letting the viewer woman figure in this series. She enjoy the calm before the storm. seems to possess the mother-like The series was also expected to qualities of Carol and the can-do be a refreshing new take on the attitude of Maggie. Hopefully, original AMC hit. Although the she doesn’t fall in love with the beginning scenes were nearly first man she meets when the duplicated, the spinoff migrated apocalypse begins. from its parent’s setting in Let’s not overlook the fact Georgia to Los Angeles before the that the infection is starting outbreak is known throughout and spreading while Rick is in a the states. AMC’s typical episode coma. Also, the series resembles structure to prolong action until its parent series in the sense the latter half of the episode that both of its main characters can be seen in the premiere, but share the same name, apart By: Noah Farrar Staff Reporter @mrfarrar24

from the one letter difference. Coincidence? Both series still keep the cause of the infection a mystery. As we have seen from previews of later episodes the series will not highlight the search for the cure, but rather it will focus on how the population and military will handle the outbreak during Rick’s coma. The timelines from the two shows won’t be shared. The Walking Dead is never expected by AMC to make a crossover due to the series taking place in different timelines. Yet AMC has made it quite hazy as the two producer’s thoughts contradict each other. One believes cameos will be rare but present throughout the series. While the other believes no cameos will be planted in the show. Let the hunt for cameos begin-or maybe not. Don’t drive yourself mad hunting for a glance at characters seen in the parent series. Place your fantasy that one day we will see Daryl Dixon riding gracefully through a panning shot of Los Angeles in the back of your mind, and focus on the series dominating the charts as we wait for The Walking Dead to return.

2. Daryl

150 zombies 3. Glenn

129 zombies 4. Michonne

94 zombies 5. The Governor

56 zombies

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MR. MAGEE, MS. WELCH, MR. DALE, MR. SIMMONS

Won Wittiest and Most Athletic in high school

The Warrior Beat is setting out to show Hub City natives the true treasures of the city, its amazing residents. If you are ever out on the corner by Walmart and Sonic on Highway 49 South, a couple days a week you can find a sweet homeless man named Mr. Robert sitting in the hot sun, holding a cardboard sign, and waiting for those nice enough to lend a helping hand. I set out on a search on a Sunday afternoon with a couple friends and a care package looking for a nomad named John whom I had spoken with before on that corner. But when John was nowhere to be found, we soon crossed paths with Mr. Robert, who was more than happy to have a little company. Tentatively walking up to the stranger on the bench, we politely said hello and asked if he minded talking to us for a little while. Easy-going as he seemed, he leaned back and welcomed us to his seat for the day. Our practiced questions faded from the conversation as Mr. Robert quickly opened up to telling his life’s story. Originally from Lauderdale, Mr. Robert attended high school in Palmer’s Crossing. He moved to Hattiesburg in 1968 with his grandmother and has mostly stayed here ever since. For the winters, Mr. Robert “hops on the hobo train and rides down to New Orleans to stay on Bourbon St.,” but it’s not something he really wants to do. The rest of his family in Lauderdale has passed away, and other than some conversations with John in Hattiesburg--the guy we originally planned on talking to-- and his friend Jim in New Orleans, he stays mostly alone. Mr. Robert repeated over and over that, “Sometimes you get help. Sometimes you don’t get help,” but he keeps living and moving on. Through all of his struggles and long life in the city, he told us that he never really gets tired of Hattiesburg. He’s been here too long to leave, and he’s adamant about staying. In the summer Mr. Robert resides in an abandoned house and makes his way to HWY 98 or the bench where we found him to ask for food from willing strangers. He refuses to stay in a homeless shelter, for reasons I was completely ignorant to. He

See HUMANS on PG9

features 9

September 11, 2015

Cool College Tours

[Oak Grove seniors go on college tours in state and out of state] By: Alyssa Bass Staff Reporter @sassyaly_

Parents, alumni, and teachers say that senior year is the best part of high school, but it also is gone in the blink of an eye. As graduation approaches, seniors are taking advantage of every opportunity they have to go on college tours, in state or out of state. Kathryn Simmons toured The University of Mississippi in Oxford through the Mississippi Outreach to Scholastic Talent (MOST) program, a

free three-day conference offered to African Americans to explore the campus, ask questions to current Ole Miss Rebels, and participate in leadership activities from July 26-28. By attending, Simmons was able to attend several workshops on campus and even recreational activities in The Grove and The Union. Despite her initial opinion of Ole Miss, Simmons found the atmosphere to be much different than expected. “The best part of the tour was the beautiful and picturesque scenery at Ole Miss, a very welcoming atmosphere.”

Due to the welcoming environment, Simmons is now considering applying there. Known to be in a more theatrical environment, Moses Williams also toured college campuses this summer looking for a school that thrived in the performing arts. He started his search with Xavier University in New Orleans, the college that his late father attended. “The best part of the tour was that it was my first tour, and that I shockingly understood - thanks to my 11th grade English teacher Ms.Clark - what schools were

looking for and the questions you’re supposed to ask while on a college tour.” But despite his newfound knowledge, he figured out that Xavier was not the school for him. “Even though it’s very prestigious, it didn’t thrive in the majors I want to pursue.” However, Williams isn’t giving up. He plans on applying and touring the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, the University of Mississippi, and Troy University in the near future. Luckily for some seniors, they already know where they

will definitely be attending after touring a campus. Oak Grove Football’s wide receiver Jordan Duncan recently committed to the University of California at Berkeley. Despite the long distance from Duncan’s home, and the potential for earthquakes, Duncan is in love with the university. He said, “In agreement with my mother, this opportunity will open so many doors for me! The university has such a great staff, phenomenal academic programs, awesome players, and most importantly, great people in the community!”

The Urban Farmer

[Local Market squashes competition] By: Alyssa Bass Staff Reporter @sassyaly_

For those few lucky souls who happen to venture out on some random Thursday afternoon and find themselves at the Farmers’ Market, they are the ones who understand true southern culture. A tradition kept alive all across the country, the Farmer’s Market has its roots in the South. In today’s ever-evolving society, it seems the simplicity of the past has been lost to the new generations. Somehow though, in downtown Hattiesburg once a week, a block is covered with tents and people all brimming with excitement. Live local music, hand

carved woodwork, and freshly squeezed lemonade. Everything the heart could ever want, and all in one place. Vendors line the sidewalk with things like snow cones and candies, homemade ice cream and honey straight from the farm. The people are all lovely, decked with the suave southern charm that is sometimes lost, even here in south Mississippi. People of all ages mingle and laugh, no thought to who you are or where you have been. And where is this magical place? Believe it or not, the Hattiesburg Farmers’ Market.In the small Town Square, each Thursday from 3 to 6, food and fun is provided for everyone. Games for children or adults, music to

help retain the mood, and fresh fruits of all kinds. While most would first think the market would consist of mainly older folks trading trinkets and whatnots, surprisingly the Hattiesburg Farmers’ Market is made up of both young and old. Jenna Devenport, a junior at Oak Grove, makes a point to visit the local grocery each season. “I’ve been going to the market for years now, especially since they have the best honey. I don’t think you can find something that good anywhere else,” said Devenport. Local appreciation doesn’t stop there. Visitors from all generations make it a point to visit, and this is what keeps the southern tradition alive.

Dress Code by #’s

HUMANS

Continued from PG8

[Cracking the Code]

$1 billion

19%

57%

1994

per year

of public schools

of public

first public

on school

require student

schools enforce

school required

uniforms

a strict

uniforms for

dresscode

k-8

By: Abby Ngyuen Staff Reporter @2busybeingabby

There are strong opinions on both sides of the legendary dress code debate at Oak Grove High School. We, like 48% of other public schools, have a moderately strict dress code. Students don’t like having to wake up early and pull on their khakis, and teachers don’t like for students to show up to class with sagging pants. Either way, it’s almost impossible to have an objective debate on school dress code. So today, let’s talk about the more calculable impacts of uniform. Of course the advantages of a dress code are obvious; social class is blurred, nonstudents are immediately identified, and it keeps the learning environment appropriate for learning. This much is true. In fact, a school in Long Beach, California saw tremendous improvements

in student safety and behavior. Indeed, dress code became severely endorsed in public schools mostly around the late 90’s after the Columbine High School shooting. The shooters went to school dressed in trench coats with deep pockets filled with the weapons they would use to eventually kill 12 students and one teacher. The disadvantages of school dress code are much more subtle though. Supposedly, kids who follow dress code for a majority of the year are limited in expression and creativity. Then there’s the issue of banning more clear examples of personal expression like slogans or political and religious memorabilia. While this prohibition may prevent confrontation, it also severely limits discussion on pressing issues that I would argue need to be dissected. In addition to inhibiting discussion, it most definitely seems that in many schools that adopt dress code, student focus shifts from a distracting free dress policy

to a distracting enforcement of strict dress code. Students not in line with the dress code are removed from the learning environment for the sake of other students. While this may be a huge blow to the expression and conformity, kids who follow a strict dress-code policy at school are limited in expression, especially if the dress code also places restrictions and rules on other features, such as hairstyles. While prohibiting clothing with slogans can cut back on disagreements and controversies, it can also reduces the students’ freedom to express personal, political and religious views. Enforcing a strict dress code can place the focus of school on clothing and rules, rather than on education. Scott Key, Ph.D., warns that a dress code can actually hinder a child’s opportunity to learn about other lifestyles, cultures and styles. This can make your child less prepared for a future work place, where he will need to

adapt to different clothing expressions and find a balance between blending in and expressing his individuality. Keep in mind that there are potential benefits from dress codes, as well. According to GreatSchools.org, dress-code policies and school uniforms can encourage discipline, diminish social barriers and increase a student’s sense of belonging. The existence of a dress code or uniforms can also help to identify school intruders. You will need to learn the school’s rules regarding dress thoroughly to determine if the benefits outweigh the costs. Almost 60 percent of schools enforce a strict dress code around the country, according to the latest findings from the National Center for Education Statistics based in Washington, D.C. Requirements, however, vary from school to school.

describes young neighborhood “gangbangers” that have taken over hopeful safe havens in Hattiesburg. The teenage boys belonging to these violent groups have attacked Mr. Robert in the street, stealing his few belongings too often for his 60 year old self to be risking physical confrontation. “They’re all over the place. I can’t fight them any more. I’m an old man. I can’t be doin’ that, no ma’am.” He cannot always avoid the delinquents though; he has found himself waking up in the street after being beaten for just a jug of water a father and son gave him at the shelter. At first when we walked up to Mr. Robert he was wary and quiet, and he mostly had nothing to say to our questions. But by the end of our visit he was talking our ears off about Hattiesburg and saying, “God bless y’all and have a good day.” At the time we drove off and waved goodbye to Mr. Robert his smile shone bright against his dark, sun-tanned skin and across his whole face as he waved wildly and happily and sat back on the bench to await the rest of the day. Who knew a short conversation with a man who had not been blessed with even the educational opportunities Oak Grove students have been offered today, could teach me so much about the place that I’ve lived in for years?

September 11, 2015

10 entertainment

Satire Stewart Says Sayonara By: Hannah Lee @hanblanklee Staff Reporter

e is a comedian, a writer, producer, director, actor, and talk show host, but he is also leaving. That’s right, everyone’s favorite satirical late night host, Jon Stewart, has officially retired from The Daily Show (Not With Jon Stewart Anymore). The Daily Show has been mistakenly thought to be a true news program, though it is anything but. The show proudly proclaims itself to be nothing but pure satire and comedy and has proven to be worthy o f high praise and accolades from a variety of critics. It blends humor with the day’s news

headlines, generally leaning towards political topics. The show itself is geared towards the younger generation to offer world news in an entertaining and informational way. The series has run since 1996 with host Craig Kilborn at its helm and in its earliest stages, it was much less politically driven as it was with Jon Stewart. However, from the beginning, the show has been a raving success, and not many people thought it could get better than Kilborn - that is, until Jon Stewart came on the stage. Jon Stewart started his career as a stand-up comedian but rapidly branched out to television with Comedy Central’s Short Attention Span Theater, and with the success from that show, he soon hosted his own show on MTV, The Jon Stewart Show. In every show he’s hosted, Stewart has managed to capture the audience in hysterical laughter. He has a distinct personality and a bouncing energy

that sets him apart from other late-night talk show hosts; he’s playfully cynical of news channels like CNN, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC, and though most would usually find his criticism offensive or explicit, Stewart has elegantly mastered the art of wit in a way that everyone finds satirically hilarious. Stewart has hosted The Daily Show for sixteen years, an occupation he has described as “the most perfect job in the world.” Despite his love and dedication to the show, the decision to leave has lingered in his mind for some time. Though he knew it was possible for him to continue hosting the show, Stewart felt as though he wasn’t getting the same satisfaction as from previous years. He not only would like to move on to other endeavors, but he also wanted to be able to spend more time with his family. But no worries, fans, The Daily Show will go on, with new host Trevor Noah. Jon Stewart may not have been the conventional comedian, but his own personal touch on The Daily Show has left a legacy that will never be forgotten. Stewart, you will be missed.

Compton: A Soundtrack By Dr. Dre The Doctor Will See You Now By: Christian Rapetti @c_rapetti Staff Reporter

2015 has been an incredibly big year for hip hop. Whether it be because of Kendrick Lamar’s sophomore effort dominating the competition, Drake releasing a mixtape that debuted as number one on the Billboard 200, or Big Sean releasing his first number one album. One of the most highly anticipated albums though was that of the legend known as Dr. Dre. Dre has been hinting at his new album since his last release, which was almost sixteen years ago. This new project was supposed to be called Detox but as Dre stated in an interview, the album never met his perfectionist standards. He eventually gave up on the album and focused on producing the N.W.A biopic known as Straight Outta Compton. While working on the movie, Dre came up with the idea for his next project called Compton, which replaced the idea of Detox. Compton is a sixteen song project that Dre has explained will be his “grand finale.” As the title suggests,

the album feels more like a soundtrack than anything else, which is not particularly a bad thing. The album begins with what sounds like an intro for those early black and white dystopian society films. The intro sets the scene for explaining the idea and history of the famous city known as Compton, where Dre is from. He does not take the smooth G-funk approach that he had in previous albums, instead he follows the current west coast style that has been trending. On the first two tracks “Talk About It” and “Genocide,” Dre and his co-producers juggle between an ear throbbing funk bass, jazz trumpet, extended high-hat solos, acoustic guitars, and irresistibly pounding drums. Since this is Dre’s final album, instead of following the usual narrative in his albums, Compton seems to be more about him coming to terms with his career. This becomes evident in the closing track “Talking to My Diary.” Through the song, he explains how he tried to take the high road through any issue that his career might have brought to

beat’s bits

him. Like his previous albums, Compton includes features from some of the greats, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and, Eminem, and some start ups, King Mez and Anderson .Paak. One feature that particularly pops out is that of the Dr. Dre protege, Kendrick Lamar. Lamar is featured on three songs and through them you can tell that Dre is ready to leave because he has finally found someone that he could pass his torch to. Since this album

has been anticipated for almost two decades, it is hard to judge it since most everyone expected it to be the album to end all albums. This is the album to end a legacy though. In the end the quality of this album definitely depends on your expectations for the album. If you want the old Dre… yeah... do not listen to this. This album might not meet the high standards set by his previous efforts, but Compton is still a remarkably strong album.

ENTERTAINMENT

Harper Lee:

Go Set a Watchman By: Katie Williams Staff Reporter The publishing house HarperCollins announced just last month that Harper Lee’s second novel, Go Set a Watchman has sold more than 1.1 million copies in a week’s time, making it the “fastest-selling book in company history.” The most dramatic feature of her “new” novel is that it was written before To Kill a Mockingbird, yet published 55 years afterward. Like many firsttime novelists she made many beginners’ mistakes: scenes that don’t always add up, speeches instead of dialogue, and so on. She also baffled the readers when she took a character who was a racist in the first draft and turned him into the saintly lawyer Atticus Finch. This makes reading the book very confusing and for people who have already read her first novel, it seems as if you are reading a story backwards, as Go Set a Watchman draws the story of the main character, Jean Louise, as an adult while To Kill a Mockingbird describes her as a child. Jean Louises’ disappointment in the novel suggests an opportunity to explore a very complicated question: How should you deal with someone who has loved you unconditionally when you find out that they hide dangerous social preferences? After writing To Kill a Mockingbird, in 1960, Harper Lee not only never published another book, she insisted she never would. Until now, when she’s 89, a frail, hearing and sight-impaired stroke victim living in a nursing home. In an interview, conducted in 1964, Lee said: “I think the thing that I most deplore about American writing … is the lack of absolute love for language, the lack of sitting down and working a good idea into a gem.”A publisher that truly cared about Harper Lee’s legacy would have taken those words to heart, and declined to publish Go Set a Watchman. That HarperCollins decided instead to manufacture a novel that wasn’t written to be published is disappointing.

By: Alyssa Bass, Staff Reporter, @sassyaly_

Nobody Can Drag Zayn Down

A Different Kind of Coachella

Record Breaking is Never Out of Style

After splitting up from his highly acclaimed boy band One Direction, Zayn Malik has been ruthlessly independent in every part of his life. In August Malik followed the new celebrity trend of getting into a Twitter fight with Taylor Swift’s boyfriend Calvin Harris. Malik isn’t only being a savage in his public life, but his private life as well. News broke in July that Malik broke up his two year engagement to Little Mix’s Perrie Edwards, who had been putting on a brave face for a while until a livestream show in August where she cried mid song singing the lyrics “but love isn’t fair.” It is clear for everyone to see that Zayn is in fact living his life with no apologies.

This year Snapchatters got an inside look at the 2015 AFROPUNK music festival held in Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn, New York and the humongous crowd of black hipsters and trendsetters. Unlike Coachella and other famous music festivals, AFROPUNK celebrates black entertainment with artists like Lenny Kravitz, Kelis, and Lauryn Hill. When asked about what AFROPUNK meant to her, festival goer Sharina Doyle said, “Everything is touched on, but it’s all on a mutual level where it’s welcoming, so you’re not offending anybody… you’re making people aware of the things and the diversity that’s necessary… There’s nobody telling you that you can’t be who you are.”

On August 22, Taylor Swift shook off haters by breaking the record for 16 sold out shows at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. And during her 1989 tour, she welcomed a different surprise guest for every show, and this one was no different. Swift had Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant announce the exciting news on a banner reading “Taylor Swift: Most sold out performances” dropped from the ceiling. When talking about Bryant, Swift said, “The screams you hear from an LA crowd when Kobe walks out onstage are so deafening you think you may have permanent hearing loss. But it was SO WORTH IT.”

September 11, 2015

By: Christian Rapetti Staff Reporter @c_rapetti

Everybody loves a good argument, especially when it is between two people you have little to no connection to, and they are fighting over Twitter. Fighting over random nonsense seems to be common with celebrities, especially between rap artists and singers. But do these fights ever see themselves past Twitter and lead to a bare-knuckle brawl behind a Hobby Lobby between the two? Sadly no, but that does not stop the general public from dropping everything they are doing and voicing their opinions. The recent Drake and Meek Mill dispute has caused a spark in social media, but these types

entertainment 11

of altercations have been going on for a long time. One of the most popular Twitter battles in the recent past was between international pop star Justin Bieber and Drake and Josh actor Drake Bell. The fight started when Bieber sent out a tweet that explained he was “doing some writing,” and Bell responded with, “Yeah right.” Whether this struck a nerve with Bieber at first is unknown but this did anger some of the pop star’s core fans who attempted to defend Bieber, over social media of course. Bieber tried to take the high road at first and let his fans deal with it but that did not last. Bieber’s breaking point was probably when Bell started posting pictures of Bieber and saying he wears makeup. One of Bieber’s re-

taliations involved attending Bell’s album release party, taking a picture of the crowd, and tweeting, “Look at all my fans.” This battle has had many cease fires since it started, but it does not look like a treaty will be signed anytime soon. The main and most talked about Twitter fight of 2015, though, is between Toronto born rapper Drizzy Drake and Philadelphia’s own Meek Mill. Meek said the feud started because Drake does not write his own raps and he did not give Meek’s new album a shout out because they found out. There is also the possibility that Meek does not like Drake because he is open about being attracted to Meek’s girlfriend Nicki Minaj. No matter how it started, Meek went on Twitter and accused Drake of having his raps written for him by a rapper from Atlanta named Quentin Miller. Miller later denied writing for Drake in a Tumblr post. “I’m proud to say we’ve collaborated, but I could never take credit for anything other than the few songs we worked on together.” Instead of retaliating on Twitter, Drake decided to go to the studio and make a track that responds to Meek called “Charged Up.” After

not getting a proper response back, Drake decided to make a new song called “Back to Back.” The song judges Meek for not responding and even talks about Meek’s relationship with Minaj. The track caught the attention of everyone, even major corporations like Burger King. “All these Burgers and they still got beef. #BackToBack.” With Meek backed into a corner, he decided to release his own track called “Wanna Know.” The song was an instant flop, and Drake responded with an Instagram post of himself laughing. Not to throw salt in the wound but Meek is getting sued for $500,000 by the WWE superstar Mark Calaway (AKA the “Undertaker”) because Meek sampled his en-

trance music in the song. In an interview, Calaway said that he normally would not have cared, he only sued him because the song was just not good. Meek might have beat himself and the lawsuit probably did not help, but the finishing blow was delivered by Toronto City Councilor Norm Kelly of all people. “This is the reason people hire ghostwriters. #WeDidntWannaKnow.” A response has yet to be given by either of the artists, but this has the attention of the social media universe right now. Sadly for Meek, pretty much all of the Internet has declared Drake the winner of what has been admittedly a one-sided disagreement.

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September 11, 2015

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of Oak Grove