The Eagle’s Eye is the official student newspaper of Akins High School. It is published six times a year, generally once per six weeks for the school’s students, staff and community.
The Eagle’s Eye is an open forum for student expression. The Eagle’s Eye is not reviewed by school administration prior to distribution, and the adviser will not act as a censor. Content represents the views of the student staff and not school officials.
The Eagle’s Eye will work to avoid bias and/or favoritism. We will strive to make our coverage and content meaningful, timely and interesting to our readers. Our articles will reflect our genuine objective of reporting news and will be held to a high standard of quality.
We will make every effort to avoid printing libel, obscenities, innuendo and material that threatens to disrupt the learning process or is an invasion of privacy. We will avoid electronic manipulation that alters the truth of a photograph.
Staff editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board arrived at by discussion and will not be bylined. Bylined articles are the opinion of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Eagle’s Eye staff or administration as a whole.
The Eagle’s Eye welcomes reader Input. Please send any letters, articles, comments, or corrections to akins.journalism@gmail.com or mail them to 10701 South First Street Austin, Texas 78748 ir drop them off in room 223 with advisor David Doerr or an editor. Letters must be signed, and emailed letters will require verification before publication. We will not necessarily publish all letters received and reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.
Consent essential for medical care
Madison Staman
new medical forms
Nurse Falon Rhoades completes paper work in her office. A new law requires parents to sign new consent forms before students can receive treatment.
New protocol mandates consent forms for medical care
CINDY
NGUYEN
+ CAELYN DANSBY STAFF WRITERS
School staff and nurses were hit with confusion about when students can receive basic health-related services without a consent form when Senate Bill 12 went into effect on Sept. 1.
However, the Texas Education Agency was forced to send out guidance to schools that this new state parental consent law does not prevent nurses from administering basic health-related services like providing BandAids or checking a student’s temperature. The clarification became necessary when school nurses became concerned about losing their jobs over providing even basic services.
One elementary school nurse in Beaumont was so concerned about the law that she didn’t provide a change of clothes to a kindergartner who vomited on themselves at school.
According to the Texas Tribune, some districts had interpreted the law as requiring consent for every non-emergency, health-related circumstance. SB 12’s authors urged education officials to clarify that the extreme levels of caution exercised by some districts were not necessary for what the lawmakers consider “common sense” practices.
The new guidance, which may undergo further changes, attempts to make a clear distinction between “health care services” and “health-related services.”
Health care services, according to the TEA
guidance, involve medical treatment, medical procedures or dispensing medication, or administering a psychological or psychiatric test or treatment. Those services require parental consent before schools can provide them.
On the other hand, the education agency defined “health-related services” as short-term and “noninvasive” activities that promote students’ well-being, such as first aid, counseling, or mental and physical health screenings. Schools should assume they have consent to provide such services unless a parent opts their children out of them.
The TEA guidance instructed districts that it expects them to provide parents with consent forms detailing the types of services students can receive from their schools and to give families the option to opt out of each one, instead of the all-or-nothing approach.
Parents, teachers, and nurses at Akins have mixed feelings about this law, which bans diversity, equity and inclusion practices; instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity; and LGBTQ+ student clubs. Some are not fans of it, while others are supportive. Under the new law, schools must provide consent forms via email or on their websites. For students to see the nurse, teachers must notify the nurse and verify that they have the consent form.
In an emergency, a nurse can act independently and treat the student without facing consequences, as this is legal. If a nurse treats a student without a consent form, the nurse could face having their license suspend-
ed or revoked. Additionally, most medications must be stored in the health room, except for emergency medications such as EPI pens and inhalers.
School nurse Falon Rhoades said she has to be very careful when deciding when to treat Akins students.
“I have to be careful and clear on my nursing services to make sure I am following the law and parent consent,” she wrote in an email.
Health science teacher Jennifer Segura said the new law is making things more difficult for nurses and patients.
“This process adds unnecessary barriers to care and creates confusion for both students and educators,” she wrote in an email.
This law is keeping the nurses and teachers on edge, and is making the students feel confused about the new rules. Nurses and teachers have to explain to various students why they aren’t able to get certain services, which can be frustrating for everyone involved.
As of right now, this new law is affecting Akins and has been preventing sick students from receiving medical services at school that they otherwise received without question last year. Students who have been facing health issues, such as migraines, have been sent back to their class due to not having their consent form signed.
“Limiting access to the school nurse or basic first aid resources serves no real benefit and, in fact, can compromise student well-being,” Segura said.
interview with the new principal
De Leon takes over leadership as interim principal
YANITZEL SALAZAR NEWS EDITOR
This summer, Carman De Leon took over leadership at Akins as the interim principal after the departure of the previous principal in June.
Before taking over as the interim principal, De Leon previously served as the assistant principal for the STEM Academy at Akins. It is her 18th year in education, and she has previously served in various roles, ranging from classroom teacher to instructional leader.
The Eagle’s Eye sat with her for an interview to talk about what it is to be the new principal and her thoughts on current issues at the school.
EE: What have your first weeks as the top principal of Akins High School been like?
CD: The first few weeks have actually been pretty good. They feel like they’ve had a positive start to the school year. I’ve heard some good things from teachers, students, and parents. I mean, every year starts off with its own little, you know? Issues. But we have to tackle those things as they come along. And I think actually it’s been pretty good, a lot better than I thought it was going to be, actually.
EE: What are some of your goals that you want to accomplish as the principal this year?
CD: So when we look at our accountability rate this past year and the year before, we were rated as a C campus, but we’re one point away from being a B campus. So we’re 79. I would like to be an 80, if not better, and I know that we can do it. I think that we need to make a few changes. We’ve made a few changes within departments, and really, that’s what our focus is. And I think that’s going to make a big difference. I think one of the things that we need to focus on is our CCMR. Over the last few years, that’s what we’ve been working on, and we do really well as a high school, and I think
NEW LEADER ON CAMPUS
Carman De Leon took over as the interim principal this summer after Michael Herbin stepped down at the end of the last school year. De Leon, who previously served as the STEM Academy’s assistant principal, said she wants to set up a student cabinet to solicit input from students. De Leon expresses her excitment for this start of the school year, and said she would be instered in appying for permanent principal position.
that’s where we’re probably going to gain that one point this next year. And I want there to be more of a student focus here at Akins. I feel like that hasn’t been the case since I’ve been here. So, really focusing on students who like to do what you’re doing right, clubs, organizations, that type of thing. At the end of this month, I’m hoping to set up a student cabinet, so that we have representation from all different student groups, and then they can meet with me every couple of months. We can talk about how students feel things are going, and we can talk about things that you would like to see or possibly change, and just kind of everything that we do as a school... because you can participate in your clubs and organizations, and you participate in your classes. But I think there are a lot of other things that students can
participate in as well and have a say,
EE: What are some of your biggest challenges as the principal at Akins right now?
CD : The challenges are always the fact that I feel like sometimes people have a negative view of Akins, and people outside of Akins have an negative view. And that’s one of the biggest challenges, changing the perception of what we are as a campus, because I see you all are doing an amazing job, And no one gets to see that, I want that to be at the forefront of what people see. So to me, that’s a big challenge, because it really is something that’s not really so much in the school, but it’s outside, And getting community partners involved in them to understand, and to see everything that we do as a campus.
EE: Do you plan to apply to be
the permanent principal?
CD: Well, the interim part…I don’t know when they will open up. The district decides what they want to do, as far as the principalship. if it’s something where they ask people to apply for the position. I obviously will apply again for the position and interview for it. I was told the timeline would be December, when they would start looking for the permanent principal position. But I don’t know if that’s still the case or if it’ll change. I haven’t been updated on that. My hope is that students, parents, and teachers are happy with what I’m doing… I can become the principal permanently, and I’d like to be here, as long as I can be. I’ve been here seven years already, so I wouldn’t leave if I didn’t like it… if I didn’t like it, I’d probably try to find some other place. But I really like it here. I do like our students, and I feel like I do some great things here.
EE: What are your hopes for the Akins school communities here?
CD: I’d like for the community to grow. When I go back to the student focus again, I’d like it to be a place where kids want to be. They’re learning, and they’re also participating in doing things. And not only that, but I want to see more students participating. And so one of the things that I had suggested to a few groups and organizations was to have some tables out, like in the foyer or in the courtyard, so students know this is the kind of thing that we do. Because I think high school can sometimes be a very intimidating atmosphere, especially if you’re new, or you’re not somebody who readily joins something, but you might be interested in it. And if it was available, and you could kind of see what was going on or what was happening, then maybe that would be something that you would want to join. And so that’s what I’d like to see. I’d like to see the community grow, and for it to be not isolated in its groups, but come together as a whole.
Madison Staman
phone ban law in action
Students face surviving the school day without devices
NICO GOMEZ STAFF WRITER
Ever since the first iPhone came out in 2007, cell phones have been a constant presence and nuisance at schools.
That was the case at least until this year, when state lawmakers passed a law that bans student use of cell phones during the school day, starting at the beginning of this school year. Now, students, teachers, and administrators are struggling to figure out how to operate without the most commonly used communication device in the modern world.
Junior Daniel Prill said he doesn’t think the cell phone ban will actually stop students from being distracted in class.
“Because taking phones away from them means they’re gonna be more addicted to it,” Prill said. “Overall, this phone ban isn’t going to help kids get off their phones.”
The ban was authored by State Rep. Caroline Fairly and passed with bipartisan support in May. It adds Texas to the growing list of more than 30 states that have passed similar laws, which have quickly spread across the U.S. after Florida became the first to pass a ban two years ago.
Schools have taken different approaches to implementing the new law, largely depending on administrators’ priorities and the resources available to secure phones that are brought on campus. High schools in Austin ISD have decided against purchasing the expensive Yondr pouches, which are lockable fabric cases that securely store cell phones and other personal devices, preventing their use to create phonefree zones.
Instead, Austin ISD’s new device policy requires students to keep their personal devices turned off and stored out of sight in their backpacks or bags for the entirety of the school day. The school day includes any time before the first bell until the last bell of the day, but does not encompass before- or after-school activities, according to the district’s updated student code of conduct.
The policy also prohibits the use of any personal communication devices on school property, including cellphones, headphones, earbuds, smartwatches, tablets, personal laptops, wearable technology or “any device capable of digital communication or telecommunication.”
At Akins, if a student is found to have a phone out during the school day, the penalties get gradually more severe on each subsequent violation. For example, after the first offense,
Phones taken up Students’ phones are temporally stored in a drawer in the front office. This is the first year of the phone ban in effect, and students are seeing their phones taken by administrators if they are out during the school day.
the student may pick up the device at the end of the school day from the administrative office. On the fourth offense (and subsequent offenses), only the parent/guardian may pick up the device after verifying ownership, after a 48-hour waiting period. Or the parent/ guardian may schedule a conference with the designated campus personnel to create a plan in order to retrieve the device earlier.
The Akins Eagle’s Eye newspaper students face new challenges this year to do their jobs without phones. Especially when it comes to social media management, things may need to change.
Madison Staman, Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Eagle’s Eye student newspaper, said student journalists are facing many challenges when reporters are trying to do their jobs without the productivity and communication tools cell phones provide.
“It’s definitely a lot harder,” Staman said. “We used to have an app called Otter AI that would basically record the audio (for an interview), but then it would also transcribe it for you. And then it’ put together so you were able to, like, put on headphones and listen, and so you could follow the transcript as it goes to fix any mistakes, because obviously AI isn’t 100%.”
“We always did it by hand as well, but it’s just a lot easier to just have it transcribed and only fix the mistakes rather than have to hand transcribe everything ourselves. It also makes us have to bring (voice recorder) equipment so we can’t do interviews just like offhand.”
De Leon said there is an advantage of this
ban being a state law versus just a district or campus policy.
“I also think that students also understand that it’s not the teachers, it’s not me, implementing it. That was the state that implemented it, so we kind of have to go by whatever that state law is, but I think that has made it a little easier for staff, because it’s not our personal thing.”
De Leon said there is strong evidence that cell phone use during the school day hurts students academically.
“I do think that if you read and you look at the studies and the research behind it, it really does affect your ability to concentrate and to be productive,” she said. “I think the study was at one time, like every time you looked at your phone, it took about 15 minutes, if not longer, for you to come back to what you were doing, to refocus.”
De Leon said she will be interested to see if there is a boost in academic performance this year because of the cell phone ban.
“I’d love to see what grades look like at the end of the year” she said. “Because our students are more focused and doing that because you’re just not distracted. And I don’t think, for most kids, I don’t think it’s something they want to do, right? I just think that it’s something that is a learned behavior that we’re so used to doing that we don’t even realize that we’re doing it. So just not having that, and not having the ability to do that, I think, will make a big difference. It’ll have some profound changes.”
De Leon said her biggest concern about the cell phone ban is staff members potentially getting into some sort of power struggle with students.
“That’s what I don’t want to happen. I don’t want that to be a negative thing,” she said.
“We have to treat people with respect. So we have to treat students with respect, and we have to say, Hey, just put it away. “ “And I think a simple reminder for most students, that’s enough, that’s all you need.”
English teacher Alan Brooks addresses his opinion on the benefits and drawbacks of a cell phone ban.
“There are definitely academic benefits to a cell phone ban,” Brooks said. “There was a study just a few years ago that came out that found that schools that banned cell phones saw more benefits academically than they saw drawbacks to cell phone bans. And I haven’t always been a proponent of banning cell phones outright, but after that study, it convinced me that that’s the way to go.”
Nico Gomez
EDITORIAL
Jasmine EIC & SPORTS
Yanitzel NEWS
S. Salinas OPINION
Rami IN-DEPTH
EDITORIAL:
WE NEED MORE GUN REGULATIONS
Confronting America’s gun violence epidemic
On a stage in Utah, a man bled out while answering a question about gun violence. Hours later, three school children were shot in Colorado. Sadly, this numbing feeling has taken America by storm; gun violence is the noxious reality we face daily. Our country bears witness to gun violence, and no lives are spared in the crosshairs of this distinctly American madness. Is this the cost of freedom? We hope not. We raise our editorial voice to call upon our fellow Americans: Take a stand against political inaction and fight in support of gun regulation to protect the people of this nation.
We know that gun violence is a constant threat to the American public, from school-aged children to adults living out their day-to-day lives. It is a fear that we know all too well. We must take action to protect each other from the scourge of gun violence. Too many lives have been lost, and many more lives will be at risk if the country does not take the necessary steps towards stricter regulations on firearms now. Understandably, people want to own guns, especially in a scary world like this, Americans naturally want anything that will keep them and their family safe. With the previous lack of gun regulation, there is a high volume of gun
holders in the state, and it can be hard to believe that the state can fully regulate it enough to keep others safe. Even if we are able to put regulations in place, how will we go about making sure previous owners follow the same laws? It can feel vulnerable to not be able to protect yourself, but it can also make others feel safer.
According to data from the CDC,
gun violence is the number one cause of death among people ages 1-19 in America. This disturbing fact has been continuously true since 2022. The majority of gun-related deaths are suicides. We need to pass laws and regulations that prevent people struggling with mental health issues from having easy access to firearms. At only 18 years old, in Tex-
WHAT IS AN EDITORIAL?
as, it’s possible to legally purchase an assault rifle. But why should an average citizen have access to a gun manufactured for war? What legitimate use could a citizen not actively fighting a war make of a weapon like this for? The Second Amendment was created during revolutionary times, when people actually had a real cause to fight. It was to ensure no single, tyrannical power could completely take over the country, the way the colonists experienced with the British. We need to call on our politicians, both local and national, to pass laws that regulate people’s access to firearms.
In conclusion, we need a major firearm reform in this country, given the numbers and the violence that is constantly happening to innocent children and people in general. We as a country need to push forward towards more regulation on firearms because these deaths are preventable and completely unnecessary. This is not a matter of “right to bear arms,” this is a matter of protecting our innocent children and people who are lost to gun violence every single day in this country. People should not have to fear for their lives when attending a school in America; this is why we want reform, to protect those who can’t protect themselves.
The Eagle’s Eye editorial board decides the postions taken in the staff editorial. The editorial board consists of the paper’s top section editors for the print edition. Editorials are not given a byline because they represent the collective opinion of the board. The topic of the editorial is discussed by the board and a position is voted on. When deciding on the position, majority rules so most opinions reflect the majority of the opinions of the board. Editorials do not purport to reprsent the official opinion of Akins Early College High School administration.
Micaela Rodriguez
politicians declare death to dei Texas, national politicians attack DEI policies at schools
JONATHAN BALDERAS STAFF WRITERS EVER HAYNES
In what feels like a shocking reversal or progress when it comes to schools, workplaces, and various governmental organizations, the concept of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has turned into a weapon against the various people it was meant to protect.
Conservative politicians, including President Donald Trump, have complained that policies that support people from diverse backgrounds in ways that promote equity and inclusion are actually discriminatory and illegal.
Although the ending of DEI policies may seem to be a small problem compared to other issues going on in the world right now, the ending of these protections is having negative effects on the everyday lives of all Americans, including students and staff at Akins.
We feel DEI is very important at our school, Akins is supposed to be a safe place that accepts anybody regardless of their race, sexuality, or preferred gender. Ever since society started to focus on DEI and implement it into schools and workplaces, many lawmakers in Texas have been retaliating against it. Thus, a ban was instated recently.
The DEI policies matter a lot for the students at Akins. There are many programs and events that used to happen at our school that relied on DEI. We had a club called the GSA (GayStraight Alliance), which was a safe space for LGBTQ students and allies.
Unfortunately, due to the ban, the club has been canceled starting this year. Many students saw the GSA as a safe environment where they could make friends without any hatred or discrimination. This is now not possible here at Akins, and it’s very upsetting for them.
Many politicians in the state of Texas are against DEI because it is against their beliefs. One, for example, is the author of Senate Bill 12, Senator Brandon Creighton, who has stated many times that it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars to keep on funding these DEI programs. Many Republicans share that opinion, saying the money used for DEI could be put into “more important” endeavors in our schools. SB
12 is a wide-ranging law that went into effect on Sept. 1, which outlaws many forms of DEI policies in public schools.
Sherry Sylvester, a fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, says, “DEI is an attempt to undermine what America is and how we see ourselves; It divides us. It divides us by part of our history– not all of our history. Other critics of DEI say it is “divisive” or “exclusionary”, and some even compare it to actual racism.
“people of our country fought for. Some teachers are even losing their jobs because of their thoughts on any DEI-related topics.
Akins has a lot of students on the transgender spectrum, but unfortunately, teachers can be faced with punishment if they use a student’s preferred name or pronouns, even if the parent or guardian consents. This law can feel discouraging to those students and make them feel unwelcome at our school.
“these politicians are making up excuses to try to silence minority groups in Texas schools”
- Ever Haynes
The ACLU has launched a lawsuit against the law that went into effect in September. The ACLU states that the law violates the rights of students and teachers. They argue that the ban is censoring students’ and teachers’ viewpoints. We feel that it’s good that the ACLU is taking action because the law really does violate the rights that the
“These close-minded views are hard for us to comprehend; DEI programs are really important to provide groups where everyone can feel included. Many students appreciate these programs because they give them a sense of acceptance.
Our opinion is that these politicians are making up excuses to try to silence minority groups in Texas schools, but no matter how hard they try, they’ll never go away. If you’d like to help the cause against the DEI ban, contact your lawmakers and representatives and get your voice out there.
Ever Haynes
roblox wrongfully bans creator
Roblox under fire amid child safety concerns
Roblox is a very widespread platform with over 280 million users in 2025. With Roblox having so many users, what makes Roblox so controversial, Roblox can be so fun at the same time, but there are a lot of things wrong with Roblox, It seems Roblox has been having a horrible time due to the controversy surrounding the schlep situation, its lack of concern for child safety, the departure of Star Creators, and David Baszucki’s desire to add dating features to a game primarily played by children.
Of course, adults can play Roblox; most of the Roblox YouTubers are adults, but when certain adults go on the game or play games where they are trying to find children to prey on. Most, but not all, people on Roblox are just trying to play the game and have fun with what you can do on Roblox, and are not trying to groom children. However, the latest controversies surrounding a Roblox player known as Schlep and his efforts to bust adults engaged in inappropriate communication and behavior with minors.
The primary reason Schlep started working to catch child predators on Roblox is that he was groomed at the age of 15 by someone older on Roblox. Schlep is now 22, and his efforts have resulted in six arrests of Roblox users accused of being child predators. One of the arrests was not going to end in prosecution, and two of them most likely headed towards a plea agreement.
Schlep mentioned that none of the alleged predators has yet to be convicted. Roblox found out that Schlep has been exposing child predators on their platform. Some would presume that Roblox would be grateful and thank Schelp for getting creeps off the platform.
However, instead, Roblox terminated Schelps’ account for multiple reasons, including staged child endangerment, off-platform communication, and interfering with safety protocols.
Roblox said that Schlep’s “vigilante” methods interfered with its own moderation and reporting systems, and also shared personal information. Many users have expressed dismay at Roblox’s behavior toward Schelp, saying all of those things about him. Well, it’s because Roblox doesn’t want to look bad about having creeps on their platform. Roblox even mentioned a goal is to be “the saf-
est and most civil online platform possible.” This is not going to happen if Roblox doesn’t care about child safety, as they claim to care so much about.
Child safety, online or in real life, is a very important thing that everyone should care about, but it seems no one cares about child safety. The basics of specifically online Child safety are to never share any of your personal information, don’t use your real name, don’t use your actual pictures for profile pictures, don’t meet strangers, which is very obvious, and no one is who they say they are unless you know them.
With most of the sting operations for child predators, the “child” is actually not a child, which is very good. But what if an actual child is in that kind of situation? Most people would think the child would tell a trusted adult.
However, there are many real victims under 16 who are preyed on by actual child predators. Sadly, this happens more than you’d like to think. According to ChildLight, about 300 million children globally are victims of online sexual exploitation and abuse each year, which includes grooming. Of course, you can’t stop child predators from doing what they do best, which is some of the saddest things that people can do to children. The problem goes well beyond Roblox. It’s the little things big companies can do to keep children safe; they say they care, they say they want to do better, they say all of these things. But in the end, actions speak louder than words.
There is no way to tell where Roblox is heading. With the use of AI moderation tools, hackers can devise ways to evade detection, and users and game makers who attempt to abuse the system will always find ways to circumvent it. Until Roblox starts prioritizing the safety of children by adding extra rules to the game, there will be ways to exploit the system and leave children vulnerable to child predators. And even if Roblox adds all these additional rules, it’ll most likely backfire on them. People just want to enjoy the game, and you can’t enjoy the game when there could be hackers, child predators, E daters, and just all these awful people who make Roblox unfun to play. Time will only tell what happens with Roblox, but hopefully, it won’t get worse.
KENZIE CRAVEN STAFF WRITER
Kenzie Craven
HOMECOMING GAME MAKES HISTORY
Akins Eagles blowout game against Northeast
MADISON STAMAN
PHOTO AND EIC
The pressure was on at this years homecoming, not wanting to break a current 3-0 winning streak, but all worked out when the Akins Eagles pulled through a huge win making history with a 4-0 winning streak. The Akins Eagles went against the Northeast Raiders on September 18th, taking home the win with a final score of 56-0. Excitement was at an all time high in the student section, with students popping confetti, throwing water, cheering on the team, and congratulating players after the game was over. The homecoming court was also announced at the game during halftime, the winners for each section are as follows; Luca Vallejo & Jocelyn Vasquez as Lord and Lady, Uziel Tapia-Lugo & Scarlett Monroe as Duke and Duchess, Jobe Jones & Laia Owens as Prince and Princess, and then finally Lucas Krocka and Cassandra Ramirez as Akins homecoming king and queen. There was also a secondary queen crowned, Elia Wilford, during the halftime show. When asked, Student Council Advisory Grayson Hackney stated that “”. Overall, the homecoming game was an unltimate sucess and a huge milestone for the Akins Eagles.
Moby Sanderson
KING AND QUEEN
The king snad queen were annocnced at the games halftime, with Lucas Krocka winning homecoming king and Cassandra Ramirez winning our 2025 homecoming queen. The other queen nominees include Alexa Martinez Delgado and Jennae Rojas. The other king running was Jeremah Cortez.
NEW HIGHS
Nico Lutz-Carrillo (11) fights for yards down the field after an Interception. When asked about the game, he says “I am proud that I was able to support in the pass” and adds that this win gives him a “boost of confidence going into the season”.
INTERCEPTIONS
Sam Roque (25) goes airborne in order to catch the interception. The Akins Eagles did a great job keeping the ball away from the Raiders, not allowing them to score a single point. This was a huge achievement for the Eagles and helped create momentum and hope for the remainder of the season
Justyn Trejo
Emily Keys
PHOTO ESSAY
EAGLE PRIDE
After the win, Dylan Cagle (22) says “it felt amazing to be apart of the history we always talked about” and congradulated his team for “remaining focused” and “keeping their heads forward”
SCHOOL SPIRIT
Junior cheerleader, Madison Avila, says “this HOCO had the best student section we’ve had” and noted that the students “energy and spirit” was fun to watch and cheer along with.
MAN DOWN!
Teo Gutierrez (29), Andrew Copeland (7), and Sam Roque (25) work together to tackle the Raiders and ensure they cant score.
CARRYING OUT THE FLAG
Madison Staman
Madison Staman
Ian Ruiz
Lillian Crider
Cruz Morales (14) leads the Akins Eagles out of the tunnel for their homecoming game against the Northeast Raiders.
A COUNTRY ON EDGE
Americans lament violence, extremism in political life
RAMI KASHAKHI IN-DEPTH EDITOR
Political violence in America has grown louder, more visible, and more personal.
High-profile attacks and threats have become more common in recent years, raising alarms about the growing divide in American public life. Political opponents are now being viewed not just as rivals, but as enemies. This shift has left many wondering what it will take to prevent more violence, or if that is even possible.
The assassination of conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk marked a new chapter in the nation’s political unrest. Though shocking to many, the event followed a troubling pattern. In just the last three years, political figures across the country have been attacked in their homes, at official events, and while conducting public business.
In October of 2022, Paul Pelosi suffered a fractured skull in an attack that was aimed at then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In April of 2025, Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence was set on fire while his family was asleep. In May, two Israeli diplomats were murdered in Washington, DC. The shooter claimed he was acting in retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza. In June, Minnesota state representatives John and Yvette Hoffman were shot in their home. Days later, Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her husband were found murdered by the same attacker: a hit list of 45 Democratic officials written by the gunman was found during the investigation.
These incidents are just a few examples in a disturbing trend that many say reflects the direction of the country’s political discourse. Some see echoes of the 1960s in today’s unrest. A time marked by assassinations, mass protests, and deep national divides. Many of the same issues—race, war, gender,
January 8, 2011: Attack on Rep. Gabby Giffords June 14 Base
n g
p o l i t i c a l f i g u r e s a n d a c t i v i s t s
i n t h e l a s t 1 5 y e a r s
January 6, 2021: Attack on the U.S. Capitol
A m o b o f r i o t e r s s t o r m e d t h e U S C a p i t o l b u i l d i n g i n a n a t t e m p t t o o v e r t u r n t h e
2 0 2 0 p r e s i d e n t i a l e l e c t i o n r e s u l t s T h e
a t t a c k r e s u l t e d i n m u l t i p l e d e a t h s , s e r i o u s i n j u r i e s t o p o l i c e o f f i c e r s , a n d t h r e a t s
a g a i n s t m e m b e r s o f C o n g r e s s a n d t h e V i c e P r e s i d e n t
July 13 & September 13, 2024: Assassination Attempts on Donald Trump
P r e s i d e n t D o n a l d T r u m p w a s t a r g e t e d i n a n a s s a s s i n a t i o n a t t e m p t w
and rights—still fuel today’s political conflict.
Social studies teacher Adam Gorell said the United States has a long history of bitter divisions.
“We are no less or more divided as a country than we were during the debates over the content of our constitution, or when a major-
H o u s e M a t h r e e o t h
w h e n R e p u b l i c a n a p r a c t i c e C o n g
October 2020: Plot to Kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
T h e F B I a n n o u n c e d i t h a d t h w a r t e d a m i l i t i a p l o t t o k i d n a p
M i c h i g a n G o v e r n o r G r e t c h e n
W h i t m e r T h e i n d i v i d u a l s
i n v o l v e d w e r e c h a r g e d w i t h
t e r r o r i s m a n d c o n s p i r a c y
December 4, 2024: Assassination of Brian Thompson
ity of the country thought people of color should not be citizens, or when women still lacked the right to vote,” he said.
In the last 40 years or so, the increased availability of firearms and the rise of untreated mental health crises, especially in young men, have changed the scale of
that violence. Add in social media and a lack of trust, and you get what we’re seeing today. Senior Isabella Cervantes said witnessing Kirk’s killing was traumatizing.
“My initial response was shock, because I sadly was one of the people who saw it on Instagram,” she said. “ I felt vulnerable. Like,
Septem
IN-DEPTH
extreme views and reinforcing democracy. But in recent decades, those barriers have weakened.
“While political violence should largely be condemned, we should also not be surprised when violent rhetoric inspires violent reprisals.” said Gorell.
12,
10, 2025:
wow, someone’s life was on the line. That’s really traumatizing.” She says the event changed how she views American politics. One of the most dangerous shifts has been in political rhetoric. Experts say that, in the past, both major political parties provided a kind of barrier, discouraging
Today’s modern communication has expanded the reach of extreme beliefs and conspiracies.
Americans are increasingly viewing political opponents not just as individuals with differing views, but as threats to the U.S.
“Political polarization is always dangerous,” Northwestern Historian Kevin Boyle said in an interview with PBS, “but what we’re seeing now is people in the mainstream treating each other like enemies. That opens the door to more violence.”
This environment has put pressure on political leaders to address the tone and direction of national conversations. Following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox took the national stage with a clear message: “Disagree better.”
In an interview on 60 Minutes, Cox, a Republican, emphasized the need to tone down political language and find ways to communicate across differences.
“Keep your values. Communicate. Find common ground,” Cox said. “We need more architects, fewer arsonists.”
These calls for unity are often dismissed as naive, especially when threats and attacks are still happening. But Cox and others argue that naivety has always played a role in progress.
“The founding fathers were naive. Civil rights leaders were naive,” Cox said. “But hope and determination created change.”
He also reminded the public that the American flag is a symbol of collective progress, not political ownership.
“It represents 250 years of struggle. It represents all of us, not just one identity,” Cox said.
As for whether the country can pivot directions quickly or if this’ll take generations, few are optimistic about a short-term fix. Still, some believe a shift is possible, but only if citizens and leaders commit to civil discourse, reject
violent rhetoric, and speak out against extremism on both sides. Students, teachers, and citizens across the country are feeling the effects. Some worry about expressing opinions, while others are calling for more respectful dialogue. But many agree that the country is at a turning point, including Hunter Kozak, who identifies as a liberal and witnessed the Kirk assassination in person. Kozak was interviewed by 60 Minutes because he was the
“
individual speaking to Kirk at the time of the assassination.
“Part of living in a society is not resorting to violence,” Kozak said. “Charlie Kirk’s shooter is one in 400 million. They don’t speak for us.”
As the nation reflects on recent attacks and an increasingly hostile political climate, the message from leaders like Cox is clear: change starts not with silencing each other, but with listening.
Disagree Better.
Until the underlying mental health issues are addressed, to say nothing of the ease in which a person can acquire a gun in this country, I suspect our political discourse will continue to be plagued with political violence, assasinations, and outright murder.
– Adam Gorell, Social Studies Teacher
“
As someone who is Gen Z and is currently getting to the age of being legal to vote in the US, I feel empowered in that I do have my voice, and it does matter, but I feel discouraged for our political system.
– Isabella Cervantes, senior
“
“
Hate is the root of all problems. If our politics keeps growing and thriving off hate, humiliation, and division, it’s only going to set in stone what our future will continue to look like.
– Luna Mathias, junior
“
4, 2017: Congressional ball Game Shooting
August
2017: Death of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville
mber
Assassination of Charlie Kirk
Brian Thompson photo by United Health Care
January 6th photo by Tyler Merbler
Charlie Kirk photo by Turning Point USA
D4vd's Romantic Homicide
Interscope Records
D4vd's cancelled tour
Musician faces intense scrutiny after online speculators have linked him to the homocide of a teenage girl. His tour was consequently cancelled.
Decaying corpse found in musician D4vd’s vehicle
JANA SARAIREH STAFF WRITER
On September 8, 2025, police discovered a decomposed, rotting corpse in the back of a Tesla rented by David Anthony Burke, also known as the musician D4vd.
Burke was born on March 28, 2005, in Queens, New York City, but he grew up in Houston, Texas, after his family moved there when he was 13 years old. He was raised in a Christian household, where he was exposed to gospel and church choir developing an interest in music. He was making Fortnite montages and posting them online. At the time, he used other artists’ music as background sound, but after encountering copyright issues, his mom motivated him to start creating his own tracks. He started simple, by creating music on his phone with apps, and had even recorded inside of his little sister’s closet because it was the quiet. He began posting his songs to SoundCloud, and soon enough, his music started gaining recognition. One of his songs, “Romantic Homicide,” quickly went viral after its release in July, 2022, and his popularity grew rapidly. After that, he kept going with his career and has released successful EPs and albums, such as “Petals to Thorns”, “The Lost Petals”, and his most recent being “WITHERED,” released in April.
Some fans discovered his music by watching the Invincible series, which featured a track called “Feel it”. Burke began his World Tour for WITHERED in his hometown, Houston, Texas, and the main tour began July 30, 2025. So far, he has been to San Francisco, Kansas City, Los
Angeles, and more.
On September 8, 2025, while in LA, police got a call from an local impound lot and began investigating when they were informed of a foul odor coming from a Tesla, registered to Burke. Police searched the vehicle and, inside, found decaying human remains. Police got hold of Burke, and he quickly responded cooperatively. People heard the news and ran to social media with conspiracy theories, rejecting Burke’s guilt, claiming he was framed, and saying it was a setup because he was on tour and couldn’t have done this.
On September 17, police identified the remains as Celeste Rivas, a 15-year-old girl from Lake Elsinore, California, who had been reported missing in April 2024. Before the identity was revealed, the victim’s mother had a feeling that the body might be her daughter after reading the description released by the authorities. Celeste’s mother told TMZ that her daughter had been dating someone named David before going missing.
Soon after Celeste was identified, more disturbing details began to circulate online. A clip from an old Twitch Live started spreading around, where Celeste makes a “joke” claiming that Burke rapes little kids. In the video, you can see Celeste looking nervous after she said this and muting the live right after. When she unmutes the live, you can hear Burke saying he’s going to end the live and saying goodbye to the chat. While most people are sure that it’s just a joke, many are not putting it past him due to everything that has been coming out.
People online have even started questioning
Celeste’s mom, claiming that she may have known more about the situation than she admits. Many are arguing that the age gap is so extreme, it’s unlikely that her parents weren’t aware of the relationship. Screenshots and old posts are being shared as “proof” that the family may have been paid to keep quiet about it. One of the most concerning details that got out was that Burke and Celeste had matching tattoos on their index fingers, both saying “Shhh.” Although the tattoo isn’t uncommon, more pictures are being leaked online. These include photos of Burke himself, only 0.3 miles away from Celeste’s home, shortly before she was reported missing. There are also screenshots of Burke on FaceTime with Celeste and another person whose identity is unknown. Additionally, there are photos of Celeste and Burke together in person, with her face mostly hidden in the images. Photos are also circulating of unreleased song lyrics Burke wrote about a girl named ¨Celeste.¨ The lyrics read: “Oh, Celeste, the girl with my name tattooed on her chest, smell her on my clothes like cigarettes, I hear her voice each time I take a breath, I’m obsessed, Oh, Celeste.”
The theories have gone way too far. Some fans are even claiming there was another Celeste. Even if that were true, there is far too much evidence linking Burke to the case, so there is no defending him.
This situation has severely damaged Burke’s career, and it may not be something he can recover from. Soon enough, the truth will come out, but for now, the internet’s theories have taken over as we wait for D4vd’s side of the story.
ENTERTAINMENT
trump's war on comedy Trump cracks down on comedians, shows that mock him
YANITZEL SALAZAR NEWS EDITOR
South Park, an all-time classic comedy sensation that has stood the test of time since its debut in 1997, is now in its 27th season on Comedy Central.
What keeps this show alive is its unmatched satire. It has served its audience with controversial clips about current real-world issues, continually mocking political figures and the current administration.
However, even with the fanbase absolutely having a field day, it’s definitely not in the clear when it comes to criticism; in other words, it has been criticized for its portrayal of government officials. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers stated, “This show hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention.”
South Park isn’t the only comedy show feeling heat from the Trump Administration. On September 17, a cultural earthquake hit when Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show was suspended indefinitely by Disney executives after the chairman of the FCC issued threatening comments about the show host, who frequently makes jokes about Trump during his show.
Similarly, The Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert, which features many jokes about the Trump administration, is another example of a show that faces cancellation in May 2026 by the new owners of CBS.
With the removal of many beloved cultural figures, the administration has been bombarded
with an unprecedented amount of backlash, prompting many to voice concerns about the erosion of the First Amendment, claiming that this is an effort to diminish and silence influential voices that criticize the administration. Even the smallest trigger or most timid assessments of events or perceived threats must be suppressed because they are enough for the administration to react.
Beyond South Park, Late-night comedy and other shows have weighed in on the matter, having openly criticized Trump on air. President Trump and Trump loyalists will most likely continue to bash these comedy programs. Trump’s vendetta against anyone not aligned with him shines a light on his fragile ego and petty grievances. Late-night hosts unite, demonstrating their influence, while South Park amplifies Trump’s absurdity—highlighting that he just can’t take a joke.
Demon Slayer slays in theaters
BRENTON CHILDERS STAFF WRITER
Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba: Infinity Castle is officially the most popular anime movie at the box office with over $475.8 million earned worldwide.
Meanwhile, Infinity Castle has earned ¥40.75 billion in Japan’s box office, which is the second-highest-grossing film in the history of the country, surpassing Studio Ghibli’s classic film Spirited Away. And the reason this anime is so popular and entertaining is that there are many places to watch it, including Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, and many other platforms. The movie has gained even more popularity through the its high-quality animation, characters, and powerful build-up of anticipation from prior seasons and manga arcs.
Many people have rated the movie one of the best they’ve ever seen. Lots of fans have said the film was worth the wait because of the beautifully animated scenes, battles, and strong back stories.
The story of the Demon Slayer Movie is that all Demon Slayers are dragged into a massive place called the Infinity Castle by a villain
named Muzan Kibutsuji. The Demon Slayers then have to fight the Upper Rank Demons and the main villain, Muzan Kibutsuji. It’s all about people who chose to be Demon Slayers to eliminate all evil and to put an end to Muzan’s Reign.
Both the Japanese and English actors did amazing when it came to this movie’s voice acting. The Japanese subtitled version is most popular when it comes to Demon Slayer, because it really matches the way the characters sound and act. The English dubbed version, where the original Japanese voice acting is replaced with new voiceovers in English. I liked the movie because of its intense action scenes for each character. For example, Hashira Shinobu Vs Doma, Kaigaku Vs Zenitsu, and Akaza Vs The Hashira Giyu & Tanjiro Kamado. These battles were very entertaining. The story was very emotional, but the fights were the standout of the film. The animators of these scenes, Ufotable, did an amazing job. A lot of people loved it so much and can’t wait for the sequal, releasing in 2027.
I think the lesson of this movie is to always spend time with your loved ones, for you may never know when it will be your last or
if something could happen to them, and to always care for them even if they are sick and in need of assistance, and I think others will learn from it and understand to always spend all your time with your loved ones, and to cherish every single moment of it.
The group of I would most recommend this movie to are people who love anime, especially those who love Demon Slayer. My final word on this film is that it is amazing, beautiful, and emotional. It’s a great film and I can’t wait for more Demon Slayer.
Yanitzel Salazar
Ufotable Studios
Akins Band marches onward
competition preperation
Members of the Akins Marching Band practice early Saturday morning before the Capital City Band competition. During the Fall, between the football games, school events, and competitions, they continuously prevail through the seemingly never ending season.
Eagles band works tirelessly through marching season
ALEX ENYART STAFF WRITER
It’s Saturday morning, and a horde of zombies dressed in blue shirts is approaching the Akins Fine Arts building.
OK. They aren’t really zombies, but members of the Akins Eagle band dragged themselves out of bed near dawn after going to bed past midnight — following hours spent performing at a late-night football game and riding a bus almost an hour away — they might feel like the undead in these early morning hours. Despite their weariness, members of the Akins Marching Band were ready for practice at 9 a.m. before heading off to another long day of performing at a competition. It’s hard, but the long hours and hard work are part of the job, especially in the busy fall semester, which is dominated by practices, performances, and competitions.
Since August, band members have been reporting to Akins for early morning rehearsals, working late in the evenings, and even on days off of school.
Director Jose Flores said this season is much more than just winning trophies and making finals. With a large freshman class, they’re focused and committed to developing their marching skills and musicality.
“I want the freshmen to develop in these three months of marching band the skills they
should have developed in three years of middle school...” Flores said.
Assistant Band Director William Kimmell said they plan to be competitive at all of their upcoming competitions.
“I want to provide a very competitive program... Meaning making finals at every competition,” he said.
However, they made it clear that they don’t see success as just winning. Flores said that’s not how band directors judge the success of their students.
“There’s a surface level of success that only the outside sees, the trophies, the rankings, the public performances, and there’s a deeper level that only the band experiences,” Flores said. “What band experiences is the daily journey of self-improvement and refinement over several months. I measure success based on the growth of a student from day 1. Are they better humans because of the band? If so, that is success.”
“I want the students to develop grit and discipline, develop a metaphorical ‘backbone’ and be willing to embrace discomfort because that’s where you grow,” and “Band teaches real-world skills– leadership, time management, communication, and teamwork,” Kimmel said. They’re proud of how their students have developed over the previous years.
Drum Corps or DCI is the most competitive marching bracket in the world that only re-
cruits top talent under age 22. Jaiden Medina, a band student who graduated last year, competed in the previous DCI season with Santa Clara Vanguard, an elite corps that placed 3rd at the DCI World Final. Flores credits this success with introducing the band to DCI.
“We really love to say that band is for everyone,” Kimmel said. “To anyone scared to try it, your favorite musician had to start somewhere; they had a first lesson before, too,” He added. “Don’t be scared to try something new...”
Building a program that’s open to everyone isn’t an easy task; it’s a logistical challenge. From moving instruments and heavy equipment, having props built, bringing in techs and writers, and finding the funds to get it all done, the directors are constantly working to give students the best possible season.
Having a competitive marching program doesn’t come cheap. By the director’s own estimate, this season will cost just over $100,000. Akins received $80,000 from the district for the marching program. The band also received several grants, $10,000 from the Austin Ed Fund, $5,000 from Spark Good Grants, and $1,500 from A+ FCU.
“Honestly, the competitions and, like, seeing all of my sections, like, faces when we make finals or we get, we place high, like, it makes everything worth it,” said Rachel Guerrero, a sax section leader.
Avelina Sanchez
ENTERTAINMENT
DOom is near
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney Dr. Doom cast
Actor Robert Downey Jr. poses on stage at comic-con Marvel panel, after Marvel announced his casting as the titular villain, Doctor Doom, in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
Upcoming Avengers film accumulates hype among fans
JACK GREENE STAFF WRITER
Doctor Doom is one of the most popular villains ever in the Marvel universe. But, what are fans thinking about the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, now that Marvel’s announced the title, RDJ’s casting as Doctor Doom, and the actors portraying popular heroes.
Fans are focusing on leaks, theories, and more. Some fans are worried if the movie will flop based on their previous low rating films and series, but many fans are excited after the movie “Thunderbolts*” was a big critical success for Marvel.
Much of this popularity is among young people, who are excited about the movie. However, that doesn’t mean Marvel fans don’t have concerns about it.
“I think that the amount of characters they’re putting into this movie is kind of a lot,” said junior Max Melton. “I think that unless we’re making this movie like four and a half or five hours long — which isn’t a movie at that point — it’s just like a miniseries put into one thing. But you cannot put that many characters into one film and make them all do something meaningful. So at this point, it sounds like we’re just putting characters into the movie for the sake of revenue.”
Many fans online have attempted to leak the
movie’s props, scenes, and sets. They’ve generated numerous theories about the movie. Actors have told fans that this is going to be a bigger movie than ever before. Another major update from this film is from an official light show at Disney Shanghai. The show started with Doom, revealing his costume and throne. It also hints at the Marvel hero teams that are in the movie (The Avengers, “Thunderbolts*”, Fantastic Four, and X-Men).
The Russo Brothers, who are directing the Doom movie and also directed Avengers movies Infinity War and Endgame as well as the last two Captain America movies, revealed that this will be mixed with science and magic, and major plot saying that doctor doom will more like a hero than a supervillain he usually is, proving that the plot will be bigger than any previous marvel movies.
Many Actors have been giving out small interviews about the movie, including Channing Tatum, who plays Gambit.
“I’m not gonna go full Cajun. The Russo Brothers want things to be funny, but they don’t want to go full “Deadpool,” he said. “They want to keep the drama and keep it tight. When Gambit gets serious… things do matter.”
Another update related to the characters: a trending rumor that’s been circulating in the community, with fans speculating that some famous characters will die.
“Playing Thor has been one of the greatest
honours of my life,” Hemsworth said in a YouTube video. “For the last 15 years, I’ve held Mjolnir and then Stormbreaker as the God of Thunder, but what is truly special… was sharing it with all of you. Your passion, your cheers, and your love for this character have meant everything to me. Thank you for making my journey through the Marvel Cinematic Universe an unforgettable experience. Next up, Doomsday!”
After the video trended, fans made theories that Thor could be killed by Doom.
Fans also have been making content such as fan art, 3D animation, Photoshop images, theory videos, fan scripts, and fake trailers. One thing the fans are disappointed about is the actors that did not make it to the roster, such as as Spider-Man, Captain America, Daredevil, Punisher, Hulk, Ghost Rider, and many more.“It’s just it’s gonna be a phenomenon that I don’t think has been seen since Endgame. I’m really excited for it.”
Fans have been wanting a lot of from the movie, such as Spider-Man’s symbiote suit, Captain America’s return, Mr. Fantastic and Doctor Doom fighting, and more big heroes. Now the real question is Who will win? What will happen in the next Avengers movie? How will the heroes defeat this massive threat? What heroes will die? All these questions will be answered when Doomsday releases on Dec. 18, 2026.
fashion companies use ai models
AI GENERATED
As crazy as it may seem, this is entirely Artifical Intelligance. Seraphinne Vallora, the creator of this website, creates insanely realistic AI images, using the software to make them look like models per request to the consumer.
Vogue has been a staple in the fashion industry for years.
It holds the power to create and shape aesthetics and values that influence each generation. People trust that Vogue is fully authentic and diverse in their monthly subscription magazines. However, as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly common, it is slowly integrating itself into spaces once defined by human creativity.
Recently, Vogue published an advertisement featuring an AI-generated model, created by Seraphinne Vallora, a company that solely creates highly realistic fake models to mimic someone who is “perfect.”Model Felicity Hayward said in a recent BBC news article that this campaign was “another kick in the teeth,” especially for models with realistic body types who already feel that they cannot fit into the fashion industry. While it may seem easier to type in a prompt and profit hundreds, it does more damage than good. For young photographers, models, and writers, landing a feature in Vogue has usually been a career-defining opportunity. Replacing those opportunities with AI-generated content robs new and
emerging talent. Instead of original work, it has slowly started to erase the human stories in the fashion industry. Presenting fake, impossibly perfect bodies creates a new, dangerous beauty standard. When readers compare themselves to unattainable AI-generated content, it can deepen insecurities and exacerbate the pressure that people already face from social media. Vogue had always celebrated individuality, artistry, and human stories behind styles. However, the growing presence of AI in fashion magazines is starting to strip away the authenticity of it all. Allowing AI to replace creative voices risks turning a fun, unique experience into soulless media. Fashion is about emotion and vision, not prompts and perfection. Instead of surrendering to AI, we should challenge and protect spaces where human creativity is crucial.. Studies that have been done by NBC show that “teenagers between 13 and 19 years are increasingly seeking cosmetic procedures and were found to be suffering from depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem due to obsession with body image and celebrity culture fueled by social networking sites.” Though social media has always put an immense amount of pressure on young women and teenagers by showcasing stereotypical bodies, the use of AI is now causing adolescents to compare themselves
to fake media. This can lead to body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and other possible bad impacts on mental health. In conclusion, AI has so many bad effects on different groups of people and the environment, and we must recognize and change that.
Seraphinne Vallora HER WEBSITE OPTIONS This is a screenshot from Seraphinne vallora's website showing the basic and easy steps for anyone to be able to get their own personalized ai model.
AI Generated by Seraphinne Vallora
Class or clash
Mobile game brings together friends and rivals
RICARDO RAMOS STAFF WRITER
Walk through the cafeteria during lunch, a classroom during worktime, or even walk in on somebody using the bathroom, and you’re guaranteed to see it. Heads bowed, fast fingers tapping on the screen, rage or celebration. That is called “Clash Royale”, the mobile game was released in 2016 and had not come close to falling short. Until 2019, when they started adding champions and people started realizing they were playing pay-to-win players. And in just a few weeks since school started, it has now become the mobile game to excel at.
Clash Royale is a real-time multiplayer game where your goal is to take/destroy more towers than your opponent. Now, in this game, there are different strategies and decks you must choose between, that being either a deck with a low
elixir or a high elixir. The elixir comes into play based on the cards you choose to have in your deck. The game will continue to bring more players into it now that the game has stepped into a more pay-to-win step, and so be-
Liz Arzola
cause of this, the game has made it easier for free-to-play players and is now giving everybody so many chances to upgrade and unlock cards with tournaments, events, and new game modes. One of the biggest drivers of the
game’s success is social engagement. You could walk down the hall without hearing someone ask another to play them in a friendly battle. The ability to play your friends in a draft battle or even with your own deck, to have up to 50 of your friends in the same clan, to have clan wars, and to trade or donate cards.
Ultimately, Clash Royale has captured our attention with its perfect mix of simple mechanics, social connections, and a variety of unique cards to use. It’s the ideal distraction for a student’s life. The only con is if people were to get bored/tired of the same metas or cards being played.
chemicals in your fast food
Whats really in the fast food we
AMAZIN BLACK STAFF WRITER
When we’re eating fast food, we usually aren’t thinking about what’s in it; we just know that it’s good and want to continue eating it. But why, what’s really in it, and why do we love it so much? As we go through this, we’re going to see what’s in it and what makes it so good to the naked eye.
We are already familiar with the basics, such as high salt levels, sugar, trans fat, calories, and so on. Now, it’s not scientifically proven to be in all fast foods; however, multiple studies show that they contain phthalates. Phthalates are found in various products, including cosmetics, personal care items, air fresheners, and now, fast foods as well. These chemicals have many negative effects on the human body and yet are used so commonly.
PFAS, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of human-made chemicals that are known for their ability to resist oil, water, and
grease. Due to their strong chemical bonds, PFAS do not break down and persist in the environment and the body for decades, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals”. Researchers found that people who ate more meals at home had significantly lower levels of PFAS in their bodies, showing that the majority of fast food carries these chemicals that are almost impossible for your body to break down.
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have become a significant part of our modern diets. These food products are designed to be highly tasty and convenient, but they also pose serious health risks. Studies show that over the last two decades, consumption of ultra-processed foods has increased sharply. In 2024, more than 50% of calories in the average American diet are from UPFs. This, by itself, doesn’t seem so bad, but the main chemicals in UPFs are what make it dangerous. So let’s take a look at some chemicals found in UPFs that consumers should be aware of.
consume?
Phthalates: A synthetic chemical used primarily to increase the flexibility and durability of plastics, and also to help fragrances last longer. Chronic exposure to phthalates harm your hormones and even slow your metabolism. This can even affect your reproductive abilities.
Dimethylpolysiloxane: A heat-resistant, silicone-based polymer, commonly used as an anti-foaming agent in foods, such as cooking oils, and in care products like shampoos and cosmetics. Side effects include skin irritation, eye irritation, blurred vision, nausea, or other stomach issues.
It’s not just the food either! Some gloves from Wendy’s, Burger King, and McDonald’s were found to contain phthalates.
With all that being said, try to be aware of the things you eat. If you still enjoy those types of things but are wary, you might want to try finding an alternative, as not all fast foods contain chemicals like that.
'ANGEL IN THE ENDZONE' Football team honors former teacher with helmet design
REBECA GUARDADO STAFF WRITER
To keep the memory alive of a beloved Akins teacher, who passed away in a hiking accident in 2021, the Akins Varsity Football team is featuring a large set of wings on their helmets this season.The helmet design first made its appearance during the 2021 football season after Christina Garcia-Mata died during the summer break before school started. Garcia-Mata, who began teaching at Akins in 2006, has made a significant impact on the Akins community through numerous contributions. In 2018, she was voted the 2017-2018 Akins Teacher of the Year. She taught U.S history, AVID, SEL, and Teen lead-
ership. She was the campus AVID coordinator and the Green Tech Academy coordinator.
When the Akins community heard about Garcia-Mata’s death in a hiking accident in the mountains surrounding her hometown of El Paso, many students and teachers worked to honor her legacy as an Akins teacher. Head Football Coach
Joey Saxe said the design for the helmet was inspired by a custom jersey Garcia-Mata would wear while supporting the team at their games. The jersey featured a large set of wings on the back.
Now that many of the students who would have personally known Garcia-Mata have graduated, Saxe decided to bring back the wing design on the helmets to pass down her legacy to a new set of students who never got to know her when she was alive.
“Everybody loves the wings; it’s also that reminder of flying high all the time, soaring through the stormiest of the skies, and it’s always wings up; it’s what we try to instill in our athletes,” Saxe said.
One of the most meaningful messages she left behind was the 1LOVE” message, said psychology teacher Katie Delmore.
“Garcia Mata was pure sunshine; she was loved,” she said. Delmore said when students walk down the hallway and see the 1LOVE campus norm posters, that’s the message that she has left with us.
“I think that message we can carry with each other with ourselves and for each other every day,”she said.
EE: Could you explain the meaning or story behind this year’s helmet design?
Coach Saxe: Yeah, so we went back to the gold helmet, it was just a constant reminder that we wanna strive for excellence, and then the standard is what we said it to be in everything, both academics, athletics, and community.
Memorial for BELOVED TEACHER
Memorial for Garcia-Mata which was held in the Akins High School library with displays of flowers and notes.
We wanna have high standards for each other. And so just every time we see the goal, that’s what that is. The wings were my first design at the head coach, and it went back to just paying tribute to a great teacher, a great friend of mine, Christina Garcia Mata, and she was a very long-time educator here at Akins High School. And we lost her a few years back, in a tragic, just flash flood incident, in our hometown. And so we wanted to just give a nod to her and her family because of how much she had meant to me, in my development as an educator, but also how much she had meant to go kids.
EE: What do you want new students at Akins to know about Garcia-Mata?
“She was an academy coordinator. She’s helped write the SEL curriculum for the district with myself and a couple of other teachers, and just really loved kids, but when she would go to
the game and she had one of those just like infectious smiles. And so she was always cheering them on. She was always just, you know, high-fiving them in the hallways. She had a shirt made for the school, like a custom-made shirt that she got, which had the wings on it. And it kind of went down, she would always wear it to every game and just be cheering loudly in the stands.”“She was just relentlessly loving to kids to help them understand, like, you are great, you are valued, you can be whatever you wanna be. You know, she helped so many first-generation college students through AVID, the opportunity to go to school, and how proud she always was of her students. She was also just so great at every interaction that you had with her. You just felt valued, and so like, she is truly missed. She just loved being an educator and loved helping kids.
Rebbeca Redland
Facebook post by Gabriel Mata, who was Garcia-Mata husband.
LIFE+STYLE
dorth follows passion to akins
Kylie
Dorth finds her calling leading Park Ranger program
ANDREW RAMIEREZ STAFF WRITER
CTE teacher Kylie Dorth is in her third year leading the Park Ranger Practicum program at Akins, where she is able to pursue her passion for introducing her students to working in parks and with wildlife, including snakes and various critters she keeps in her classroom.
Before teaching the Park Ranger program and various ecology and Principles of Agriculture classes, Dorth taught middle school science and worked as a park ranger. The Eagle’s Eye: What subject do you teach?
KD: My capstone course is my practicum, which is for my juniors and seniors, and that’s my park Rangers. And we go out to Zilker Park and help out the (City of Austin) Rangers. I also teach wildlife ecology, range ecology, and Principles of Agriculture
EE:When you were a child, did you imagine yourself doing?
KD: Yes and no. So before I was a teacher, I was a park ranger myself, so that was what I wanted to do. It didn’t work out because every job was temporary. So I became certified to teach. And so I was an eighth-grade science teacher for 10 years. And then this position specifically opened as the park ranger teacher. So this is the best of both worlds. So it allows me to do all of the Park Ranger things while also being in the classroom, teaching
EE: How do you feel on your first day of teaching?
KD: Scared. Teaching is scary, especially if you have never done it before. And because I was alternative certified, I didn’t go to college to be a teacher. I went to college to essentially be a park ranger. So, you know, you crash and burn a few times, but then you learn from your mistakes. Now I love it. EE: If there was one thing you could say one thing to yourself when you were younger, what would it be?
SNAKE HANDLER
Teacher Kylie Dorth holds her pet snake Alfredo. Alfreado is a Morph Ball Python who has been specially bred for these features.
KD: Ooh, that’s a good question. I think I would give myself the advice of, like, that everything happens for a reason. So now that I’ve lived my life and I’m like, you know, in my 30s, I always tell my students now, like, all these chains of events happen for a reason, and the moment, you don’t know why they’re happening, right? So when I couldn’t get a job in the parks, I was like super depressed, and I was upset and I’m like, man, this is what I really want to do. And then now I’m in this unicorn job, where because I had that experience, it allowed me to get this specific teaching job and allowed me to get out of like teaching eighth-grade science. And so that’s kind of the advice, because, man, I sure did get like really down and out back in the day of like, man, why is it my life this way or that way? But now I realize I had to do all that stuff to get to where I’m at now.
EE:If you wouldn’t have this job, what was your other target?
KD: I probably would still try to
work in the park system. I don’t know where I would live because I lived in Colorado for a bit, trying to work at the parks. I’ve lived in different parts of Texas. So if I didn’t have this job, I’d probably still try to have some sort of park ranger job somewhere.
EE: What’s something that you like about this specific job?
KD: Getting to go outside, and I like the mixture of manual labor and learning things. So we’re out there washing trucks some days, or we’re out moving mulch or fixing trails or doing stuff like that. I think, is also really beneficial because it’s not just like from the textbook, because some students are not good, like textbook learners. So that’s not how they learn is in a classroom like that. So they need that outdoor environment.
EE: What’s one of your favorite memories that you have teaching?
KD: Ooh. You know, I think it’s probably some of these recent jobs of me being here, and I think seeing the excitement on students’
faces, who maybe have been told throughout their schooling, like, you’re not good at math or you’re not good at school in general, and they kind of like depressed about school and don’t like it. And so some of these kids who I have in my practicum, especially, seeing how good they are at identifying bird species or identifying plants and seeing the joy on their face of like, I feel like it’s, like, super rewarding as a teacher to see that, like, we’re not all good in textbook things. And so it’s fun that some students excel with all that.
EE: What is something that you enjoyed during your school experience?
KD: Okay, then I’ll go with college. I took a geology class where I learned about a bunch of gemstones and rocks, which, again, probably sounds boring to a lot of people, but I loved it, and we learned how to , like facet a quartz gemstone, like a diamond , like what you’d have in a diamond, but it was quartz and so we had the whole machine and you learned how to like face it and it was super fun. That was our final for that class. EE: Is there, like, a specific species that you would want to have in the classroom?I’ve secretly wanted a tarantula for a while, but I have not gotten into the arachnids yet; but I do have two ball pythons. Alfredo is a special morph ball python, so he’s bred to be completely white with blue eyes, so he’s not albino. That’s just how he’s been specially bred, kind of like how they breed dogs. For different qualities. And then honey is my red tail boa, and she’s like seven feet long, so that’s kind of a cool snake to have. But I’m pretty sure I would get divorced if I had any more animals. My husband doesn’t like snakes, and he definitely doesn’t like spiders, but I do secretly want a tarantula. Whenever the first time that a student walks in, how do you see they react when they see the snakes? Usually, they’re pretty shocked.
Andrew Ramierez
COach Saxe Leaves Akins
Coach Saxe shares his final thoughts before he leaves
In the 15 years Coach Saxe has been here at Akins, hes had a huge impact on our students, teachers, and community. So many students and staff expressed sadness when he announced that he accepted a position in Corpus Christi. We interviewed him for the last time about his time here and his new beginnings.
EE: You’ve been the heart of Akins football for 15 years. As you look back, how has the program evolved from your first day to now?
Coach Saxe: When I first got to Akins, they had been on a 38-game losing streak, and everyone kind of told me, “Why are you taking this job?” I’m the type of person that’s gonna do it, and that’s what I instill in our kids, from first day to now, it really was just the belief in the kids, when I first got here, Akins was kind of a revolving door of coaches. Coaches just weren’t here to stay. It was you were here one year and then you left, and so the kids didn’t have a lot of buy-in. I told myself, they needed more consistency in their life. Being able to bring in coaches who have been here day in and day out with these kids. Especially football has really helped just shape the culture that we have because the kids just know that you’re there for the right reasons, and when you can be that to them, and they know how much you care, then they care about what you know.
EE: Beyond football, what is the single most important lesson you helped your players carry with them?
Coach Saxe: When we talk about wings up, the three fingers that are up, it’s just love,
learning, and leading. That circle just stands that they continue with proof or something that you do forever. The brotherhood that we have for one another, the love for your school, the love of the process of just trying to do things the right way. To be lifelong learners, we never know enough about both characters, academics, football knowledge, or whatever sport you play. Then you gotta learn your community too and see where we have the opportunity for that last one to lead. Our kids lead both on and off the field, and you have to teach them how to do that, as you’re continuously always do that, you’ll always soar, you always fly high, so when we say wings up, you know, I just I hope they always remember truly what that means, and that’s to love, learn, lead, and forever.
EE: What’s next for you, both personally and professionally?
Coach Saxe: I’ve accepted the assistant director of athletics position for Corpus Christi ISD. I’ll start there on October 1st. Becoming an athletic director is a a lifelong dream of mine and it’s something that I went to school for, something that, for the last 15 years, building up to that moment because ultimately I want to become an executive director of athletics for a large school district, and just coach coaches and make sure we’re putting the systems in place to make every campus to be the best version of themselves. I’m just very, very fortunate for this. These jobs and opportunities don’t come open very often, so being offered the opportunity, it’s just life-changing for me and my family. I always tell our kids to reach for their goals and their dreams and dream big, and this was always one for me.
To reach it, it’s definitely a very bittersweet experience because of my time here, pouring into this community. I know it’s going to open up just a better future for my son, my wife, myself. We love the beach and when you can do what you love in an area that you love, we love central Texas and we’ve been here 20 plus years and we wouldn’t trade any of that for anything. Just getting down there and enjoying the coastal life and fishing, and beach. It’s just something I’m very excited about.
EE: What message would you like to share with your past and present players to students in the entire Akins High School community? Coach Saxe: Just so grateful for all the time spent with this community, this school, they took me in, and I was a student teacher, and I didn’t want to be anywhere else. It was never about chasing titles because I coached so many different sports. I always wanted every kid to be successful in what they did and learn the character piece as well. I just hope they learned it much for me and I learned from them. You know, they challenged me, they made me better. We won a lot of games together. We were on the other end of it a lot of times together, but we always fought through it together. I just hope they know how much I love them and I’m always here for them, even from afar. Anything I can ever do for them in their future. They just have to reach out to them. I’m a phone call away. I’m a text away. I’m always here to. As I go into a district executive position, I won’t be on the sidelines anymore, and I’m okay with that because some of my best memories on the sidelines were with these guys. I love you all and thank you for everything.
MADISON STAMAN
PHOTO AND EIC
Lillian Crider
From setback to comeback
Dylan Cagle, Ava Ybarra, and Deyjah Horton share their stories
ANDREW COPELAND + AVA YBARRA STAFF WRITER
They faced the dreaded injury that sidelines even the strongest athletes—the ACL tear. Fortunately, this year, football and volleyball players Dylan Cagle, Ava Ybarra, and Deyjah Horton didn’t just return; they came back stronger, faster, and even more determined than ever. For many different athletes, tearing an ACL can feel like the end of the road. With months of rehab, uncertainty, and the fear of never playing the same again. Our eagles have shattered those doubts this season and have come back stronger than ever.
Dylan Cagle shares his experience and how he came back from it:
EE: How does it feel to be back on the field with your teammates again?
DC: It feels amazing. I miss my boys a lot, so it’s a really great feeling to have again, being with them.
EE: What was the most challenging part of your physical rehab process?
DC: I think just staying my mind focused and my heart going, and just trying to get through everything that I had to go through.
EE: What was your motivation during your recovery process?
DC: My two biggest things were my family and college ball. They gave me the support that I need-
ed and pushed me through everything that I knew I could get through, and my trying to make it out and make it big for this school definitely gave me a lot of motivation.
EE: What did you learn about yourself as an athlete while you were away from the field?
DC: I think the biggest thing I took out of it was that football can’t be your identity. It can be what people know you as, but not who you should be. I think you have to realize that you’re not just an athlete, that you’re also a human, and there’s a lot more to life than just a ball.
Since Dylan has returned, our football team has come back from the losses of last year, leading his team to victory in four consecutive games in a row. Even our very own Coach Saxe spoke about Dylan Cagle and the impact he had on the team, and how he felt about Dylan’s injury.
EE: What were your thoughts when Dylan went out last season?
Saxe: Anytime any of your players go out, it’s heartbreaking, especially with a season-ending injury. Dylan, in particular, when it happened against Northeast last year, he kind of came off wobbling, and he said, I felt something pop. Having had an ACL injury myself, my heart went out to him because I knew he was going to be done for the year, and just seeing how hard he worked in the off-season.
EE: What impact does Dylan have on the team as a player and a teammate?
Saxe: As a player, he’s going to get you your yards after contact. He’s going to help you alleviate that plus one by breaking that tackle; he holds them accountable, and the offensive line, the quarterback, even the coaches, he brings that presence to practice. As a teammate, he’s leading in the locker room. He’s helping lead some of the off-field stuff. Whether that’s his faith and bringing people towards that, or just in the
hallways, in the classrooms, and making sure you guys are just doing right at all times.
Two volleyball players, Ava Ybarra and Deyjah Horton, also tore their ACLs in 2024, and they were benched for the rest of the season. This year, they came back, helping lead their team to victory this season. Ava Ybarra shares her personal experience with her injury.
AY: I am not alone. November 2024 I tore my ACL during our first basketball game of the season. I knew it right away but tried denying it. After receiving the MRI results, my heart sank. I felt devastated, angry, and confused. Athletes pour so much into their sport, and injuries like these don’t always get the attention they deserve. I was told my recovery would take until December, but I pushed myself to shorten that timeline. It wasn’t easy, but the dedication was worth it. Through the process, I leaned on my team, family, and faith. Staying positive was key. My teammates kept me motivated, and I held on to the belief that God had a plan. Without their support, the recovery would have been even harder. Injuries also bring perspective. They remind us that athletic ability can be taken in an
instant.
Last summer, my teammate Deyjah Horton faced the same battle when she tore her ACL during the AISD tournament.
Her personal experience is something a lot of athletes go through, and she was able to share her story to show that you can overcome these injuries and come back stronger than ever. This is what
it means to be an athlete. Deyjah Horton shared about her experience and how it affected her as an athlete.
EE: What was the most challenging aspect of your recovery, and how did you overcome it?
DH: “One of the challenges was definitely sitting out for so long, for a year, and I had to watch my team play the sport that I wanted to play so badly; that was the hardest part. How did I overcome it? I just worked really hard with my PT to come back to where I am right now.”
EE: How did you stay motivated and positive throughout the recovery process?
DH: “I definitely stayed positive through my team. My team really helped me, like stay positive, and my mom and dad helped me stay positive, and definitely my coaches.”
Their journeys weren’t easy, filled with pain, doubt, and months of rehab and hard work, but these athletes proved that their ACL injury did not define them. As they continue to shine and help lead their team to victory, these athletes show us that with beliefs, hard work, setbacks can lead to inspiring comebacks.
