February issue

One man’s march to freedom

A look at the struggle for civil rights through the lens of a Selma marcher and photographer Read more on pg

8

rimson C Crier

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The

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015 Issue V

In the Line of Fire

an in-depth look at the deeply rooted culture of guns in the South Hannah Cox Reporter

T

here are more gun sellers in the United States than there are McDonald’s restaurants —at least 14,000 establishments. In America alone there are 270 million gun owners out of 316.1 million people. The prominence of gun ownership coupled with incidents of gun violence, such as the Newtown and Fort Hood shootings, have forced people to consider which side of the great gun debate they stand on.

Alabama Sen. Gerald Allen’s position became clear as he pitched a controversial idea: constituents should be allowed to carry a loaded weapon in their vehicle without a permit. Currently it is only legal to carry a loaded gun in a car with a permit, but Allen’s proposition, critics say, could cause more harm than good.

Even with multiple safety guidelines set in place, many have accidentally harmed themselves and others with firearms — Heather Garner and Veronica Rutledge fall into this category. Twenty-nine-year-old Garner was shot and killed during a dove hunting trip when someone accidentally discharged a gun. Rutledge was shot and killed when her 2-year-old son reached into her purse, where her gun was hidden, and caused fired the gun. Despite the regulations on guns put in place to prevent accidents and murders, Alabama still had the third-highest gun violence rate as of 2013 according to a report by the Center for American Progress.

There are differing opinions regarding the regulation and use of firearms, but some facts remain the same: guns require extreme caution and can be very dangerous if handled improperly.

Some individuals, like Deputy Jeff Graves, have no problem with gun ownership. In his case, Graves carries his mandatory gun while on the job as a school resource officer. Although his job provides the privilege of operating a firearm, he believes gun control is something that people need to be more aware of.

“I think guns are a great tool to use, if used professionally. Guns are designed to shoot things, kill things,” Deputy Jeff Graves said. “[I] am trained that if someone is putting my life in danger, and

someone is coming at me with a gun then I’m not going to use a Taser; I’m going to use a gun.”

Guns have been around for centuries — A.D. 10 to be exact. Soon after the Chinese invented gunpowder, the gun was introduced to the world. The Chinese invented the firearm for two purposes: hunting and war. But now the usage of the weapon has expanded to include fun and self-defense outside of war and hunting.

But with the power that comes from gun ownership is always accompanied by an equal dose of responsibility. “[Guns are] a trending topic in the United States and different people look at gun control in different ways,” Graves said.

“Civilians and citizens that are going to carry guns need to read about gun control, the rules and regulations and realize how easily they can be taken away from you.”

Because junior Andrew Billions received his first gun at five and grew up hunting, his views on gun rights are clear and firm.

“I hunt. That’s me. We go hunting and eat the deer we kill. It’s a way to feed myself and my family,” Billions said. “I am a believer in the Second Amendment.”

Billions goes hunting 40 to 50 times a year and has collected approximately 20 to 30 firearms. They range from shotguns to handguns used for various types of hunting and shooting. He enjoys the use of guns for entertainment purposes and has a strong opinion in regards to the great gun debate due to his years of gun handling.

“Guns do not kill people. People kill people,” Billions said. “Another person has to think in their mind whether to shoot you or not. A gun has nothing to do with it.”

Gun critics say that getting a gun — a device that has the power to kill — should be difficult to acquire. Sadly for the critics that is not the truth. Acquiring this weapon is actually quite simple through a few steps. Any person 18 or older is legally allowed to obtain a gun in Alabama by getting an easily acquirable permit at a local sheriff’s office. After paying the low fee ranging from $7 to $20 for the permit, one has obtained the green light to legally buy a gun. And buying guns is just as simple as acquiring a permit.

One often brought up solution is requiring a background check before the purchase of a firearm. Cringing critics nicknamed one loophole the “gun show loophole” which does not require the majority of the states to have background checks when buying firearms at gun shows.

This loophole is allowed in 31 out of 50 states; therefore in 62 percent of America it becomes easier for convicted felons, rapists, murders and other convicted individuals to get their hands on a firearm through gun shows.

“People need to evaluate their personal affairs and make sure that they’re in order because you don’t want to give a gun to someone that is unstable or that cannot

Guns

cont. pg. 03 Photo illustration by Beryl Kessio

@TheCrimsonCrier The Crimson Crier

crimsoncriernews.com

A Look Inside

News pg. 2-3, 16 Opinion pg. 4-6 Features pg. 7-9 Sports pg. 12-13 Spread pg. 14-15 A&E pg. 10-11

2

News

Feb. 12, 2015

The Crimson Crier

In memory of

Ray Reynolds Teacher leaves mark on colleagues, school Nick Arnold

Layout Editor

Graphic by Mary Kopp

Photo courtesy of Laughlin Funeral Home website

{

O

n Dec. 30, 2014, the community was truly saddened by the news of the death of long time history teacher, Ray Reynolds.

In his 40 plus years in education, Reynolds taught thousands of students, and every one of those students either loved or hated him. For those who loved him, he was a inspiration. This caused some to become the teachers, including history teacher Jennifer McKinney.

“I think it is more about us as teachers being able to share the memories we have of him with one another. I got to see him not only as a teacher, but also as a co-worker, so I go to see a different side of him and he was much more entertaining from and adult standpoint where he could really be himself,” McKinney said.

Reynolds was his own kind of teacher and will be remembered as that. He was a teacher that told jokes as soon as he came up with them and would make the entire class laugh by saying clever one-liners.

“He had a unique humor in the classroom. He was always talking about these two fictitious relatives of his with very weird names — Aunt Pooty May and Uncle Fart. He just had a lot of quick quips and a lot of one-liners and he would say those all the time,” Sparkman Ninth Grade assistant principal Steve Gipson said.

Reynolds was willing to do anything for the school that he devoted his life to

“Ray Reynolds was a long time educator with both the Huntsville City

and Madison County School Systems, ending a dedicated career at Sparkman High School, where he taught history. He was loved by his students as well as fellow educators and will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Schools Foundation, P. O. Box 763, Huntsville, AL 35804. Contributions made in his memory will support the history Department at Sparkman High School.”

-Laughlin Funeral Home Obituary

Schedule changes provide opportunities for 2016 Carla Mack

Photo Editor

T

for so many years and would go to any school activity he could make. Even after he passed, he still supported the school by giving a portion of the money that was to be spent on his funeral to the history department.

“Mr. Reynolds was loyal to Sparkman High. He worked very hard, he put in countless hours, he would be here at 5:30 in the morning and volunteered and worked all after school ball games. He ran the gate for football and basketball games, and when I initially came to Sparkman, he was doing softball and baseball, as well. He was very devoted and gave his time unselfishly to this school,” Gipson said.

Reynolds was respected by all of his students and that respect showed even after his death through the things people wrote about him at his funeral. According to one of his former students, Reynolds was an educator unlike any other because he was such “an enthusiastic booster of both the school and the students.”

“I did the eulogy for him at his service, and I sat down and tried to recall several of the instances that I had shared with him throughout several memories and going back to look at the respect that was shown to him on the guest book at Laughlin Funeral home,” Gipson said.

“Mr. Reynolds was my friend, and I was certainly saddened to hear of his death and I will miss him, I certainly will.”

Any contributions made in memory of Reynolds will be donated to the history department.

he change from the four block semester schedule to the A/B yearly schedule has had students and faculty questioning the decision since the announcement that was made.

However, according to principal Mike Campbell, there are specific reasons for the change, as well as positives benefits that will accompany it.

Campbell explains that changing to the A/B schedule eases the transition for students from other schools in the county to those moving here from other states.

“Roughly 75 percent of schools nationwide are on A/B schedule; so when students transfer in, it can be hard to adjust the current credits they have earned, to the ones they need to receive to graduate according to Alabama State Law,” Campbell said.

Another benefit to the new schedule is the classes being yearlong, which is a primary reason for the change. It benefits AP classes in particular, as they get to have yearlong classes again. And according to Campbell it is a benefit for all students, as having yearlong classes has been known to improve student achievement.

“Students with yearlong classes tend to do better, as there is a prolonged amount time within the class,” Campbell said.

Having eight yearlong classes creates the opportunity for students to take on more classes throughout the year and the possibility for the school to offer more electives. Students have increased chances of getting into the classes they want as well.

“Having more electives would be a definite plus, it gives more opportunities

to take a wider range of classes,” Junior Eunice Simmons.

English teacher Renee Quaife is excited for the switch. She is fond of the advantages to this schedule, having taught this way before.

“We were on A/B schedule for four years before, and I really enjoy teaching that way. It gives students more time to get acclimated to the class as well as to attain information,” Quaife said.

Quaife feels the new schedule provides a change in routine for students, which she thinks they will prefer. She knows that the schedule will prove difficult for some to adjust to, but it is something students will have to get accustomed to.

“I believe after a while the students will enjoy the new schedule, it may be troublesome for students who find it hard to retain information over days,” Quaife said.

}

Feb. 12, 2015

3

The Crimson Crier

Step in

time

Photo Illustration by Savannah Bullard

Nearing its bicentennial, JROTC members uncover the history and tradition behind the military ball Emily Baucum Reporter

O

nce a year, JROTC follows the tradition of throwing a military ball. This year marks the 49th annual military ball.

The military ball is typically held to honor the seniors. They do so by introducing themselves and telling everyone a little bit more about them as a person.

“Every year so far, we have put baby pictures on the screen, and people have to guess who it is. After everyone guesses, their senior picture will then show up on the big screen,” Maj. Olivia Jacobson said.

Service members strut their military pride in

Guns

cont. from pg. 01 function in society,” Graves said. “I believe that if you’ve served time and you’ve been convicted as a felon you shouldn’t carry a weapon.”

Considered the first school massacre and the first public insight to crime in schools, the Columbine shooting has haunted schools and homes since the slaughter occurred in 1999. Eighteen year old Robyn Anderson, the girlfriend of one of the shooters, bought a gun for the killers at a gun show — and it wasn’t difficult either.

“While we were walking around, Eric and Dylan kept asking sellers if they were private or licensed. They wanted to buy their guns from someone who was private – and not licensed – because there would be no paperwork or background check,” Anderson said in her statement. “All I had to do was show my drivers license to show prove I was 18.

either blue or their class A uniforms while their guest compliments them with formal attire. It is a top notch event and they want attendants to treat it like one.

“Military ball isn’t like homecoming or prom. It’s a formal event that helps to improve social skills for the future,” Capt.

Josh Wilson said.

One big tradition that takes place at the military ball is the receiving line. Everyone gets in a single file line to shake hands and introduce their date to the host and their spouse, honored guest and other dignitaries and their guests.

“We invite dignitaries from different schools and people from different organizations to come, like James Clemens, Buckhorn and Bob Jones,” Wilson said.

Another tradition they have occurs once everyone takes their seat after the many introductions. A guest speaker enters the stage and speaks to the crowd. A previous speaker they had was Dr. Harry Hobbs, a former police commissioner who is now in charge of public relations for all the JROTCs in the Southeast zone.

“Dr. Hobbs gave a speech about perseverance. Basically it was about how you need to stick with whatever you do and give your best effort at all times,” Operations

Sgt. Maj. Chris Little said. “Even though 100 percent effort might not be good enough, it doesn’t disqualify you from whatever you want to do.”

A king, queen, princess, prince, duke and duchess are crowned yearly. All the people nominated for these titles are considered to be the Royal Court. If crowned at the military ball, they have to perform a dance, most likely a basic waltz or foxtrot, that they prepare for by going to a practice twice a week for two months.

“It’s a fun and exciting opportunity for me. I’m flattered that I would be nominated for Royal Court. I hope I win,” Sgt. 1st Class Garrick Stenseth said. “The dance practices are only hard if you aren’t flexible. I have been doing pretty well with them.”

Those who are graduating and leaving the program appreciate the efforts made by the JROTC committee to honor them as they finish high school and move on to bigger opportunities.

“I’m happy we keep the traditions alive because it helps to continue the foundations of what JROTC is really about,” Wilson said.

[They] were able to buy clips and ammunition without me having to show any I.D” Due to the guns being so accessible, 13 people were murdered and 21 people were injured in the Columbine shooting. The lack of enforced restrictions on the purchases of guns allowed Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold to end numerous lives and cause their school’s name to be forever tainted with tragedy. The Senator’s proposition, if made a law, could have horrific repercussion, says Graves.

“I am aware about the proposal but the thing about it is [one has] to be careful, because if someone were to break into the car and take that loaded gun and use it then the gun is going to come back to the original owner,” Graves said.

“You have to be careful about having a loaded gun in a car. I wouldn’t advise [anyone] to just leave a loaded gun in a car.”

The Second Amendment was passed on Sept. 25, 1789

by Congress. Two hundred

and twenty-six years later, the Second Amendment is stronger than ever — especially in the South where guns run rampant.

The right to bear arms is just that: a right. Many feel the freedoms already given to gun holders are too loose, and others feel more freedom should be allowed when owning a weapon. There is a limit. The complexities of the gun debate will never leave either side satisfied, but there is always room for compromise.

“Gun control is a very serious topic and it’s something that we need to be aware of,” Graves said.

Gun violence will never be a fully solvable problem, but Graves believes that educating oneself on the safety precautions of firearms can go a long way in preventing injuries or deaths.

“Take shooting lessons, go to a range and get familiar with your weapon. If that’s going to be your weapon of choice [then] read about it, learn it. [Learn] how to clean it, operate it and care for it. Keep it secure and get a permit for it,” Graves said.

News

Keeping up with

ALL THINGS SHS Tomorrow is the day to pick up your

cookie cakes.

Please go to room 406 to get them.

Tomorrow is a half day! Enjoy getting released after second block for the third

teacher workday.

There will be no school on Monday, Feb. 16. Enjoy your

President’s Day off, Senators!

The ­49th annual

military ball will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Von Braun Civic Center.

The

Hug-a-Cub 5K race

will be at Endeavor Elementary School on Saturday, Feb. 14. Registration is on www.active.com and costs $25.

Happy Valentine’s Day from the Crimson Crier!

Graphics by Noah Lombard

What the

i-Fi?

STEM funding promises advancements in technology, but leaves other core classes in the 20th century

Erin McGraw Copy Editor

I

n schools all over the country, the push for greater and more advanced STEM education is taking over, but other core classes are being left behind in the wake of the push for more technologybased teaching.

As a beneficiary of the National Math and Science Initiative, Alabama created a new A+ division — A+ College Ready — which received $13.2 million that was used to create the Advanced Placement Training and Incentive Program. APTIP provides grants and training to math, science and English teachers to use to better education in their classrooms.

Our school recently benefitted from the College Ready program. The English department received fresh AP training, and two science classrooms have had Wi-Fi installed into them. Human Body Systems teacher Karl Fernandez believes the new Wi-Fi access will enhance his teaching, but only to an extent.

“I utilize the Internet every day, so I think [having WiFi] is going to allow more students to access it without any hiccups because there won’t be an overload of people trying to access the same Wi-Fi system,” Fernandez said.

In the near frantic push to bring funding to these subjects, however, others have gotten left behind. The history department received no benefits from this program — something that happens quite often.

“All of these departments have received funding that

leads to training and technology for teachers to use in their classes,” history teacher Jennifer McKinney said, “but the teachers of the history department have had to become extremely resourceful.”

While McKinney does not mind becoming resourceful and creative in her teaching, she believes that having the access to the same training and technology the other departments do would give her students even more of an advantage in the classroom.

“Just being able to have Wi-Fi so that the kids could use their own devices [would] make history just a little more exciting, because, as we know, history is usually everybody’s least favorite subject at school. We’ve been left in the dark ages,” McKinney said.

4

Opinion

Feb. 12, 2015

The Crimson Crier

Calendar allows for more free time during school year Patrick Rickles Reporter

A

s this year comes to a close, county Board of Education approved the new calendar for the 20152016 school year. We have some major changes coming our way.

The first big change is that school starts on Aug. 3. This will cut off even more of our summer vacation, but the new changes make up for the lost summer days. We are now getting a full week off for Thanksgiving instead of the normal three days, and we also get a full spring break and fall break. The half days that were installed this year as teacher work days have also been moved to Wednesday.

The new schedule is quite possibly the best new thing that MCBOE has done this year besides putting Wi-Fi in school. Moving the

half days to Wednesday is one of the stranger things about the new schedule, but at least we still get those days instead of losing them. The new week-long Thanksgiving break is one of the best things about the schedule. Instead of going to school for two seemingly useless days of the week and sitting around, we can be out of school having fun with our family and friends.

The fact that MCBOE is no longer trying to take away our spring and fall breaks is also nice. Those breaks are our time to spend with family, recuperate from tests and not do anything.

Now students can schedule longer vacations during Thanksgiving, too.

The main concern about the new calendar is the loss of more summer days.

Any time the Board takes away part of our summer, it feels like a little bit of paradise lost. However, the gain of more break time during Thanksgiving is easily worth the tradeoff. I

Do you like the idea of having more breaks during the school year, but a shorter summer?

18%

Web Editor

A

s Feb. 14 rolls around, so too does a cloud of romance and extravagant behavior.

Some of those entwined in a relationship will look down upon us “singles” with pity or superiority.

Little do they know, they are missing out on all the fun.

Valentine’s Day is fantastic for those who are single. No really, it does not have to be that bad.

There is no holiday stress.

There is no having to remember to buy flowers or some sappy card, there is no pressure to try and impress someone. While everyone else is out trying to make sure everything is perfect, the alternative option of sitting back and enjoying whatever the day provides looks pretty enticing. The only person you have to live for is yourself, so why feel left out by all the surrounding romance?

Some people might prefer to sit at home with a bowl of ice cream, but that does not seem to be the most uplifting thing singles can do. As it turns out, doing things usually reserved for couples by one’s self can actually double the fun. Tunnel of love? Someone could kick their feet across both seats and take a nap.

Those little carts can be quite soothing. Romantic dinner for two? Eat both plates and then pay for it all. Be independent. Heck, go to a drive-in movie, sit on top of the car and make howling noises until thrown out. Just have fun with it — try to keep it legal, of course.

For those looking to mope around on the fourteenth, they can go ahead and lock themselves at home and think about how they are alone. However, if one wants to actually enjoy life, I recommend getting out there and doing something. The day only

said

No 100 people polled

would rather have a longer break in the middle of the school year instead of a few more days added

on to my summer break.

This gives us more time to spend with our family and friends during one of the

best times of the year. The Board of Education seems to have gotten something right with this new

Reporter

M

ore than 930 new laws took effect on Jan. 1, 2015. Of the new laws the one that may affects students the most is the truancy law in Nevada that mandates that if a student is habitually skipping school their license may be suspended for up to six months.

Although this law does not affect students outside of Nevada, legislatures have a tendency to adopt successful policies from other states. A law similar to the Nevada truancy law may be adopted by Alabama in the near future. The Alabama Department of Education is currently focusing or tighter truancy policies.

This law punishes students who miss more than 10 percent of the school year without a qualifying excuse exemptions will be made

for students with medical and family emergencies and for those who are chronically ill. This law will put the responsibility of attendance on the student.

Since the students are driving and responsible for their own transportation this law seems very logical.

There is currently no data concerning the effectiveness of this policy as the law has not been in effect for the ten percent of the year required to qualify a student for suspension.

On the first offense the license will be suspended for thirty days, second offense sixty days, and on the third offense the student will have it revoked for three months, after the three month period has passed the student must re obtain their license by completing all the steps to obtain a license including a road test.

Students cannot afford to lose their licenses, making the policy even

schedule, but only time will tell on how the faculty, students and parents react to the new changes.

Kenzie’s Korner

Alabama ranks first in student, teacher sexual relations

Recent article points finger at state’s moral issue McKenzie Ashmore Opinion Editor

T

Cartoon by Mary Kopp

has to be dreadful if it is made that way.

Oh, and let us not forget that candy goes on sale the next day. Get out your

wallet, yell “Hot dang son, look at how much money I just saved” and then buy every single piece of candy in that store.

Student addresses new law, punishments put in place Eric Beshears

Yes

82%

Singles have options on love’s holiday Noah Lombard

said

Photo Illustration by Beryl Kessio

more effective. Some parents are offended that the government is punishing their child, claiming that they do not need the government telling them how to

parent.

Stronger truancy policies will lower truancy rates and deter first time skipping. When students stand to lose money and freedom they will cohere.

he Huffington Post recently published an article announcing Alabama’s newest earned ranking. The article states that more Alabama school employees were sexually involved with their students than any other state in 2014.

The study done by Terry Abbott, the former chief for the U.S. Department of Education, found that 25 teachers were accused or convicted of having sexual relations with students in the state of Alabama.

Thirty-five percent of cases in Alabama involved social media. Abbott went on to say women were more likely to use social media to attract students, but males were involved in double the amount of inapt relations.

The Alabama Act 2010-497 states it is illegal for students under the age of 19 and school employees to have sexual affiliations. Just a look on Al.com shows the number of arrests of teachers and proves there are no intentions of stopping these relationships until caught in the action.

The fact that teachers even think about having a sexual relationship with their students is morally wrong, likewise students that have a relationship with a teacher is equally abhorrent. When students, especially males, have an opportunity to sleep with their ‘hot’ teacher, hormones and lust override rational thinking.

The moral scale plays a large part in the scandals. Student and teacher relationships have the capability to ruin marriages and end careers.

Teachers face jail time when a relationship is formed with a student, yet students have no repercussions because we are considered the victim. Students need to be held accountable for their actions as well.

Sadly, secrets hide behind the concrete walls of our schools and wait to be found. Rules are broken and morals are tested, but this does not mean we cannot decrease the rate of sex abuse between teachers and students. Lust and hormones might have a hold of the reins, but continuing the prosecution process of teachers and informing officials of suspicious interactions between students and teachers can help decrease sex abuse.

Teachers should not have sexual affiliations with students and students should not have relations with a teacher.

Feb. 12, 2015

S

Opinion

5

The Crimson Crier

TAFF EDITORIAL

Cartoon by Mary Kopp

New school will hurt all of Madison County A

fter months of discussion and quarreling over the building of a new Monrovia High School, the big picture has been lost.

The fact of the matter is, Madison County cannot afford to maintain a new high school. Period. The Base Realignment and Closure money is designated for brick and mortar only and will not provide the basic necessities of a school — desks, textbooks, whiteboards, lockers. And borrowing money from the County Commission means the system must pay back these loans — the money is not free. We have always been taught not to spend money we do not have, so why are we considering doing just that?

Class sizes will not shrink as opponents think. In fact, the Sparkman High School and Sparkman 9 staff will be split, not just the student body. We are no mathematicians, but even we journalists know that the same student

to teacher ratio will be present even in a new building.

Many social media posts by proponents of the new school point to property values as a reason for building the new school. The distinct income difference between the Monrovia and Sparkman Middle areas is clear.

This new school would just bring that division to the forefront of these students’ educational opportunities.

Are property values really still important to consider while debating an issue that has a widespread impact on other parts of the county?

If Supt. Matt Massey’s plan is passed by the Board of Education, then it will be a win for all of Madison County. The three largest high schools will receive a performing arts center. Boiler rooms will be updated. Technology will be enhanced. Currently, the Sparkman Theatre Department must rent the

VBC for $38,000 just to perform their productions. Many rooms at SHS have heat and air that unreliably goes in and out. Massey’s goals, compared to those of his opponents, point to one answer.

His plan is superior. Build a new school and there will not be any revenue left over to fix or improve situations in our area that are much more deserving of the capital.

In this fight, opinionated accusations have been spoken. Low shots have been fired. Lies have been told. We, the students, are the ones caught in the middle. If a person is told enough times they are inadequate, they begin to believe it. The negative comments being tossed around by proponents of the new school sting. Being told Madison Academy and Westminster are superior choices for people’s children, stings.

We are a great school. Great things happen here. We ask that, in this battle

of words, people on both sides think before they speak so that the image of the school will not be tarnished in the process.

We support Massey’s plan — it makes us better; it removes mediocrity and begins to bring us nearer to our true potential. It is what will make Hazel Green, Buckhorn, Madison County and New Hope better. Why allow other systems to pass us by because of childish banter that truly ignores the actual issues?

Stand for Sparkman. It is what is best for all.

Editorial staff approved this editorial unanimously

Generation gap results in judgemental tendencies Katie Liggin Reporter

E

very generation has its own quirks and traits which marks that era apart from others, which come before and after it. With these traits, it is not a surprise that our generation does not always see eye-toeye with our parent’s.

Generation gaps tend to cause problems; misunderstanding newly founded trends has become a common occurrence.

The perceptions behind certain fashion styles have transformed over time.

When Generation X was young, their parents did not understand the hair and hoop earrings and claimed that these styles were a little too scandalous for the youth.

Today, Millennials get tattoos, various piercings, and try different hair colors. Generation X considered these styles as a resemblance of

rebellion but time has passed, styles are just ways to express creativity. The desire to express ourselves has existed for centuries, a gap between ages should not prevent displaying passions.

Within the past few decades, the increasing reliance on technology has been overwhelming. From small children to young adults, most have learned how to use a computer starting from a small age; using the internet and playing electronic games are significant parts of their childhood. People cringe at the idea of small kids having an iPhone and say today’s youth is too consumed with technology. But the easilyaccessible technology is just a way for Millennials to communicate and express their interests.

Of course it does not hurt to sit and point out the stars at night or get up early in the morning to witness a sunrise but the idea of sharing experiences and connecting with Policy

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@TheCrimsonCrier

The Crimson Crier is an open forum for free expression by the Sparkman High School Community. The Crimson Crier is a student-run publication produced in the state of Alabama.

All final design, reporting and content decisions are the responsibility of the student journalists of Sparkman High School under the guidance of their adviser. The views articulated in The Crimson Crier do not necessarily represent the views of the entire staff, Sparkman High School or the Madison County school district. Copies are distributed to the faculty, staff and student body free of charge. The Madison County Record prints 2,000 copies, eight times yearly.

people across the globe takes precedent in the generation’s culture. Some believe that this techinduced age has caused youth to be anti-social but innovation has never caused an anti-social epidemic. People have always chosen to separate themselves from society; innovation has helped bring the world together.

Taking advantage of new inventions and using the internet to interact with the world has become one of the quirks that defines this generation.

Like every generation, people have come to know and love the trends their era has to offer. Not everyone is fond of change and that is why generational gaps exist. But trends change and people begin to view the world differently as time goes on. No matter how different generations are, an open mind and a positive outlook on the future can help prevent one generation from misunderstanding the other.

The Crimson Crier is a member of Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Alabama Scholastic Press Association and Southeastern Interscholastic Press Association, and Quill and Scroll.

The CC is a 2011 Silver Crown winner.

How does older generations looking down on you, make you feel?

”

“

[They] make me feel like a bad person.

- junior Ashley Walker

”

“

I don’t appreciate them looking down on me because it makes me feel like I can’t do anything.

”

- junior Caitlyn Spears

Editor-in-Chief......................Beryl Kessio News Editor.........................Savannah Bullard Opinion Editor.....................McKenzie Ashmore Lifestyles Editor..................Victoria Lewis Sports Editor........................Will Bartel

Letters to the Editor The Crimson Crier will print all letters to the editor as long as space will allow, and may edit letters for grammatical mistakes. All letters to the editor must be signed and include contact information of the writer. Letters can be dropped off at the Sparkman High School newsroom (127) one week after publication.

“

They make me feel like I’m underestimated. Just because I have tattoos and [I am] on my phone [doesn’t] mean I’m not smart.

- junior Abby McAlister

Entertainment Editor............April Oberman

Reporters..........................Jonathan Hatchett,

Zach LeQuieu, Patrick Rickles, Libby Reid, Emily Baucum, Melissa Grant, Aiesha Desarme, Aliyah Thompson, Mary Kopp, Maddie Stanley, Charlotte Stanley, Molly Short, Katie Liggin, Eric Beshears, Bakhari Massey and Hannah Cox Adviser.........................Erin Coggins, MJE

In-Depth Editor........................Erin Stender Copy Editor...........................Erin McGraw Website Editor.......................Noah Lombard Photo Editor..........................Carla Mack Layout Editor.........................Nick Arnold Business Editor......................Caroline Barlow

6

Opinion

Feb. 12, 2015

The Crimson Crier

Terrorism: Charlie Hebdo actions ethical or unethical?

With the Charlie Hebdo shootings last month and the increase in violence by ISIS in the beheading of Japanese citizens, it becomes even more important to keep the first amendment rights at hand.

Pro

Terrorists should not threaten rights in free countries Beryl Kessio, Jonathan Hatchett, Bakhari Massey & Maddie Stanley Editor-in-chief & Reporters

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n Jan. 7, two gunmen entered the headquarters of French satirical newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, with one mission: to obliterate. The aftermath left 12 dead, 11 injured and a world in shock at the act that had occurred.

The incident sparked a debate on freedom of speech, considering that Charlie Hebdo was targeted for publishing cartoons of the prophet Mohammed. Were the journalists to blame for publishing the incendiary cartoons? How could this have been avoided? How far does free speech go? How should we respond?

There have been many questions, but few answers.

The cartoons have sparked anger. The merits of satire have been discussed. However, the controversy of the cartoons is arbitrary at best. No amount of anger merits silencing another’s voice.

In moments of crisis, it is human nature to try making sense of things. Oftentimes, we seek absolute answers, failing to recognize that not everything is black and white. It is impossible to make sense of the Charlie Hebdo attack: the implications of the terrorist attack are far-reaching. Through their violence, the gunmen have forced us to consider how much we value the freedom to express ourselves without fear of reproach.

The attacks were an assault on free speech. The attacks were meant to incite fear. The attacks were meant to force people to hide their feelings behind a veil.

The universal outcry for the slain journalists points to a world that prizes expression over fear. As Voltaire so rightfully said, “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”

Moving on, we must ask ourselves: Will we allow the terrorists to win by staying silent?

Con

Journalists poke the bear with satirical cartoons Victoria Lewis, Savannah Bullard, Charlotte Stanley & Patrick Rickles Lifestyles Editor, News Editor & Reporters

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rench terrorists have attacked the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo for publishing offensive cartoons pertaining to Islam. Although Charlie Hebdo is a satirical magazine, there is always a certain point where fun and games has to cease.

Satirical newspapers and magazines are essentially printed in order to make people angry; thus stirring conversation regarding the issues they print. Charlie, however, went too far with their content and should have realized who they were provoking. Terrorists are known worldwide as machine gun-slinging, radical extremists. And for unarmed French journalists (and police) to toy with people in such a public, widespread manner is simply idiotic.

This is not the first time Charlie has been attacked, either. In 2011 the magazine was right in the middle of poking fun at Islamic terrorists. The radicals retaliated with warfare, including firebombing and hacking.

Now, four years later, Charlie continues to inflame the Muslim community. It is almost as if the first attack wasn’t enough to scare the journalists into backing off.

To continue to publish such abusive, crude content about such a group, Charlie principally gave the terrorists a literary middle finger that was invitation to retaliate again.

However Muslim extremists are not the only groups targeted by Charlie. The magazine has also published hateful cartoons pointed at the Jewish Church, the Catholic Church and the British. And although these groups did not like the contents, they were sane enough to stay civil. Terrorism is never justifiable in any circumstance, but messing with such an extremist group is just not a good idea. And even though Charlie feels safe under the satirical badge on their magazine, their bullying is not admissible either.

Whether a publication is meant to be controversial or not, consistently printing detestable and offensive content towards such a violent group of people does not leave much room for legitimate defense. Charlie Hebdo, while protected under the freedom of the press, should have backed off and learned from their mistakes.

School relieves stress with meditation, no mobile devices Zack LeQuieu Reporter

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isitacion Valley Middle School found a unique way to relive stress during the school day.

Every day for 30 minutes, students quietly sit at their desks with their eyes closed, without using any of their devices, and meditate.

Meditation can bring inner peace to overrule stress. Only 30 minutes of relaxation and being stress free can help students get though the day.

Visitacion Valley students’ grades have

increased and fighting has decreased since the introduction of mediation. Other schools, including ours, could use this to reduce of rampant disrespect to teachers, fighting and poor grades.

I agree with this method — it helps with extreme stress and has been proven,

by Visitacion Valley, to help students get through school. I believe that every school should have daily meditation; America’s students need a healthy way to relieve stress.

I believe that if every school in America set aside 30 minutes to meditate,

teen crimes would go down, academic scores would go up and students would be less likely to fail.

Plus, students could use time away from their phones.

I believe that if Visitacion Valley can use this method to make an impact in the school’s environment, then it can impact other schools as well.

Photo illustration by Noah Lombard

Feb. 12, 2015

The Crimson Crier

Health Corner

7

Lifestyles

Aroma provides therapy for the soul Libby Reid Reporter

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tressed? Anxious? Both of these ills can be relieved with the simple act of smelling.

Aromatherapy, the use of plant-derived, aromatic essential oils to promote physical and psychological well-being, is the newest trend to soothe what ails.

Shannon Thompson has opened up an aromatherapy shop in Downtown Huntsville where she helps locals with different sicknesses and stressful burdens. .

“It’s kind of complex. Let’s say you’re having a bad day or you’re having that low mood. You can use aromas to lift your spirits, to relax, you can change your mood and change the overall way you feel with scents and even flavors,” Thompson said.

Thompson said that she believed the uplifting mood along with the ingredients of aromas help people with their sicknesses.

“You have menthol which clears your sinuses and you’ve got eucalyptus which has healing properties. Lemon and fresh citruses will do the same thing. You can also use it for a lot of different skin conditions,” Thompson said.

Thompson started off her business as a hobby. She used to make different aromatherapy items for her friends before she had the idea of opening her own shop.

“I create the recipes and I make them myself. I try to offer as many organic and all-natural products as possible because I like things to be flavorful and very scent-directed. I use a lot of essential oils, natural butters, coconut oil and mango butters,” Thompson said.

Thompson has been able to help people including herself by creating the products in efforts to lift spirits.

“The best part about aromatherapy is being able to change your mood to whatever you want. See for yourself what it can do for your mood,” Thompson said.

Photo by Beryl Kessio

Cultural club provides community home away from home Student gives first hand account of the value of indulging in one’s culture Mary Kopp Reporter

M

ixed with the savory scent of egg rolls and the clattering of pots in the background, joyouslaughterand foreign chatter easily fill the air.

As each volunteer steps through the doors of the intricately designed Chinese buffet, eager to chow down on their annual appreciation luncheon, they are met with excited greetings of another language. I watch them embrace from the edge of my seat, basking in the love that blossoms before me.

The once fearful expressions these immigrants undoubtedly wore upon first arriving in America, are now replaced with contagious smiles and an unbreakable bond dwelling deep within their hearts.

Originally from the Philippine Islands, these individuals have come to America in the hopes of building a better future. They arrive by the thousands, some from sleepy villages, others from crowded cities, but both, at first, are lost. Lost amongst the chaos of a foreign country, people and language ― they long for any semblance of home.

It is in this instance that their band of brothers and sisters, united in various cultural groups, extend a helping hand.

The Philippine-American Association of Alabama (PAAA) is one such group.

The PAAA was formed to promote and preserve the heritage of the Filipino people.

This is achieved by participating in cultural festivals throughout the community. These events allow the organization to present traditional music and folk dances. The PAAA also helps other Filipinos in their time of need by donating to disaster relief funds, all the while engaging in civil activities in the community.

Gloria Vergara, co-founder of the PAAA, was inspired to form this organization based on her love for other cultures, her longing to meet other Filipinos and her desire to educate the community.

“I remembered calling a travel agency to ask about hotels in Manila, since I was planning a trip there. The lady on the line didn’t even know where Manila was! It was from these experiences that I realized that I wanted to educate the people here about the Philippines. I also wanted to meet other Filipinos, and so I thought forming an organization would be a good way to attract others and do just that,” Vergara said.

There is one substance that the Filipino people will never run out of ― pride.

JUST DANCE. A woman performs a traditional Filipino dance in full garb at an International Society of Huntsville gathering.

Senior Mary Kopp learns much about her culture by participating in the events sponsored by the organization.

Photo courtesty of Mary Kopp.

Not a selfish pride, but one of immense respect for their country and their ancestors who built it. This raw emotion inspires them to spread their culture through various art forms such as dancing. Lillian Pedroso is one of the volunteer folk dancers for the PAAA. Like an enthusiastic author, each dance, beneath its melodic movements, never fails to tell a story. These folk dances were taught to Pedroso, as well as other Filipino students, during elementary school. When they came to America, they brought the dances with them, eager to show off their moves.

“Some dances we perform

are the tinikling, pandanngo sa ilaw, and the bulaklakan. The tinikling actually imitates the tikling bird flying into and out of the bamboo shoots,” Pedroso said.

America is commonly criticized for being ignorant of other countries’ customs.

Instead of passively accepting this ignorance to be a permanent, unchangeable fact, Pedroso saw this opportunity to dance as a way to educate others.

“Many people don’t know about different cultures, so this is one way of showing them at least one culture,” Pedroso said.

Needless to say, the PAAA has gone above and beyond Vergara’s expectations. The organization, now 27 years strong and with around 200 active members, has not only successfully educated the public, but has also created a tight knit family.

“I’ve known of so many Filipino organizations that didn’t last very long. We’ve overcome so much adversity, but we’re still around. It has completely surpassed my expectations. I hope we stick around for much longer,” Vergara said.

Want to explore your culture?

Visit: internationalsocietyof huntsville.org or Like on Facebook.

8

Lifestyles

Feb. 12, 2015

The Crimson Crier

50th Anniversary

The march that shook the nation

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Selma was a the majority meticulously lifestyle they

Aliyah Thompson Reporter

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n March 7, 1965, the world as the residents of Selma knew it changed when a group of over 600 people of various races marched through the streets, heading for Montgomery to demand equal voting rights in memory of Jimmie Lee Jackson, who had been beaten and shot

by Alabama State Troopers nearly a month prior. They were stopped by Sheriff Jim Clark and a group of white men that he had rallied up to oppose any resistance to their demands.

When the marchers refused to separate and return home, the group of men charged toward the marchers with tear gas and billy clubs. As many as 50 of the marchers that did not manage to escape were brutally beaten, requiring many of them to be hospitalized. As live footage of what became known as “Bloody Sunday” was broadcast on television around the world, a harsh light was cast upon Selma. (Beginning paragraph) Undeterred by the failed attempt to march to Montgomery, the leaders of the Southern Christian Leadership

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small, typical Alabama town in the 1960s. It was of little concern to of the world, and its white residents were content to carry on in its constructed but fragile way of life. Little did they know that the had taken extreme measures to maintain, would soon meet its demise.

Conference requested government protection for a second march to Montgomery.

Once the Alabama National Guard was put under government control, Allen Zak, a 27-year-old photographer that had been participating in the fight for civil rights in Los Angeles, packed his bags and headed for Selma.

“I had to confront that a terrible, deeply rooted injustice was taking place, and doing nothing was to be complacent,” Zak said. “I didn’t want to live in a country that allowed such things [as racial discrimination] to happen, and so I felt it was my duty to take part in the effort to end it.”

Zak grew up supporting the civil rights movement, but could never really empathize with the cause. He had only lived in all-white neighborhoods as a child, and, as a result, had little interaction with AfricanAmericans. Although he was sympathetic towards their cause, it seemed to be something separate from his own life. This changed when Zak befriended some of the African-Americans that he shared a darkroom with to develop film and make

prints. He got to know them for who they were — not just as African-Americans, but as individuals. After witnessing multiple incidents where blacks were denied simple things such as a hotel room or higher job position — both in the North and South — simply because their skin was of a darker pigmentation, he could no longer remain an innocent bystander. The struggle for civil rights was no longer like a story told by people from other places; it had become up-close and personal.

“Our relationship was social, not political, but I couldn’t help but get drawn into those questions, at least privately,” Zak said. “Civil rights became less of an abstract matter.”

Zak knew that this march was no small act against the monarchy of Jim Crow law. He believed that this would be the catalyst to create reform in America.

“It gave me confidence that a world of peace, kindness and love was a realistic possibility,” Zak said.

After the march ended and the censuring eye of the world turned its attention elsewhere,

Zak returned and stayed in Selma for another month to aid in voter registration and to observe the behavior of the residents after the National Guard and media had left.

Almost immediately after all the spectators and participants in the march had returned home, Selma morphed into an even more vicious beast than it had been before. Open threats and acts of violence were generously dished out to anyone that had dared to speak out against racial discrimination and fight for civil rights. Zak experienced one of these threats while traveling with five other people to a meeting place.

“We got chased by a guy in a pickup with a gun. We tried to outrun him, but that’s not likely in a VW van,” Zak said.

“Up ahead of us there suddenly appeared a disabled bus parked off the road so we pulled off to its front and stopped, figuring the guy wasn’t going to do anything with a busload of witnesses looking on. He zipped on by, and we were done.”

Zak recently went to see the new movie, “Selma,” that was created in memory of the march that he participated

in 50 years ago. Except for a few historical inaccuracies, he thoroughly enjoyed the actors’ performances and the overall production of the movie.

“Wow, did it bring back memories! It was so accurate as to time and place that I got a series of jolts as I saw places where I had been and felt instantly propelled to 1965 Selma, which on screen looked exactly as I remembered,” Zak said.

For Zak, the Selma to Montgomery march proved that if enough people come together and take a stand against what they believe to be wrong, change can be possible.

“It was a lifetime inoculation against cynicism and despair.

There are no guarantees, we could still all go down in a huge disaster, but at least we have a fighting chance,” Zak said. “It was the ordinary, day-to-day kind of people, baggage and all, who were the backbone of this movement. Dr. King’s leadership, I believe, is still under-appreciated, even by many of those who admired him, but he was elevated by a civil rights movement already under way.”

Photos courtesy of Allen Zak

Walk through history

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The city of Selma is 188 miles from Huntsville, or a three hour drive. The city is rich in civil rights historic sites. Many of these sites can be seen in the new movie “Selma.” If you go, check out the following.

Museum of Slavery and Civil Rights Selma to Montgomery Highway

Edmund Pettus Bridge

National Voting Rights Museum and Institute

Old Depot Museum

Feb. 12, 2015

The Crimson Crier

9

Lifestyles

Former student lands role in popular book to movie adaption Erin Stender

In-Depth Editor

Y

Photo courtesy of Caitlin Carver

ou breathe in. You breathe out, desperate to calm down. You answer the phone. The voice on the other end could, quite possibly, change your life forever.

Whilst working on ABC’s The Fosters, alumna Caitlin Carver found herself in the perfect opportunity for her life to do just that. And that voice on the phone?

It offered her a chance to be part of the popular book turned movie, Paper Towns.

“I was working on The Fosters, so I wasn’t able to make the audition. I sent in a tape instead and got the offer to play [the character] Becca [Arrington] a couple of weeks later,” Carver said.

After high school, Carver moved to LA and didn’t look back.

Carver originally moved out to Hollywood chasing dreams to become a dancer, but quickly fell in love with the art of acting. After landing a role in the ABC family show The Fosters, Carver found herself being cast in roles such as Alexis in the popular TV show Stalker and as Paper Town’s Becca Arrington.

“About 3 years ago, I had the privilege of working on many TV shows as a dancer.

That’s when I found my love for acting,” Carver said. “I’d step back on set and just admire the actors on all of those shows.

There was something about watching them that completely moved me. I felt a huge rush of inspiration and that’s when I knew I wanted to be an actor.”

Throughout her acting career, Carver found herself with more than one slammed door in her face. Carver acknowledges that her time in Hollywood has not been easy, but she wouldn’t change her experiences for the world.

“I just feel like life takes everyone on their own personal journey and eventually we all end up exactly where we are meant

to be,” Carver said. “[Just] never give up.

There is so much rejection in this industry.

Honestly, I get rejected multiples times a week. But if you stay confident, true to yourself and keep training, it’ll happen.”

After the overwhelming success of The Fault in Our Stars movie this past year, fans of best-selling author John Green’s novels having been excitedly anticipating another one of his influential stories being brought to life by Hollywood. As another one of Green’s best sellers, Paper Town’s was a logical choice for a book to film adaptation.

“For those of you who have read the book, you know that Becca moves the story along. It’s partially her behavior that sends Margo off on a mysterious journey. Paper Towns [has] a certain place in my heart, because I have always loved John Green & his books,” Carver said.

For Carver, her role in the movie is a way for her to connect to words on pages and to fans who relate with and love the book just as she does.

“Bringing a story to life that has touched so many people. It’s pretty cool to see people influenced by the book and I have no doubt the movie will do the same,” Carver said. “Also, getting to work with such incredible people. John Green, our brilliant director Jake Schreier and the cast.”

After two months of filming, Paper Towns is quickly making its way to the silver screen. The movie is currently set to release on June 5 2015. Carver feels that filming the Paper Towns was an incredible experience and she only hopes that readers will adore as much as she does.

“I really believe we made a beautiful movie. I hope people will watch it and feel the same way. Honestly, just the fact that I got to be a part of it is really special and that’s something I’ll carry with me forever,” Carver said.

Also seen in: Crave (2012) The Fosters (Occuring Hit the Floor (2013) Southland (2013) Stalker (2015) Impact Earth (2015) Unnamed Warren Beatty Project (2015)

Students support their parent’s decision to participate in band Jonathan Hatchett Reporter

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he music scene would seem different if it was your mom or dad rocking out on stage with hundreds of fans singing along to their lyrics, lighters lifted high, swinging back and forth to the melody.

Parents can be in bands too. This concept is not uncommon and, it seems, is a well-kept secret of a select few in this school.

Junior Victoria Bramhall’s mother, Wendy McGee, plays both the lead alto and tenor saxophones in the Moondust Big Band. They play big band jazz, e.g., swing, bebop, contemporary and Latin jazz — at least half of the members are parents.

“I love it,” McGee said. “All of the musicians in the band are topnotch, and many of them have played in college bands or played professionally.”

Bramhall supports her mother and does not mind all of the time she spends out of the house doing her music. She loves what her mom does and appreciates her creativity.

“She’s really hard working Angel’s Revenge and really enjoys teaching and album, playing music,” Bramhall said.

Recent early graduate Alex “Blood, Sweat, and Holmes, has a father in a heavy Fears” that debuted metal band named Angel’s Revenge. John Holmes, his in 2013, became father, plays the guitar, the bass available world wide and the piano.

“I began playing at 13 Feb.6, 2015. years old on my stepmother’s go to www.

Yamaha acoustic guitar. After playing for a few weeks, I was angelsrevenge.com hooked,” John said. “It’s a very diverse instrument with so for more information many techniques and styles.

You could easily spend multiple lifetimes studying everything it has to offer.”

John sees music as a beautiful thing and holds it to high esteem and Alex is astounded of what his dad and the band can accomplish. Three out of the five members, including John, are parents with full-time jobs.

“What my dad does is really unique,” Alex said. “I like being able to go to his shows and listen to the CD they have.”

Another big supporter of what their parent does is junior Shelby Dorner. Dorner’s dad, Mark Dorner plays the guitar, drums and sings lead in his band Divide By Zero, a bluesy, southern rock band. There are five dads in Divide by Zero, one of which plays the mandolin. One thing that sets them apart from other bands is that they sometimes switch instruments, which means they get to play each one they have a talent for.

“We’ve played lots of different places and events,” Mark said.

“It’s pretty competitive in Huntsville to get a gig, but we’ve managed to play a few festivals, car shows, Madison Gazebo [concerts], Christmas parties and even at a few bars.”

Playing in a band is a group effort — each person has a job and their own responsibilities. Teamwork is key, and once that is realized, a little family forms.

“I love music,” John said. “It’s a great feeling getting to share that passion with my band mates.”

PROJECT RUNWAY. Putting the finishing touches on her newest shirt, senior Leah Sneddon utilizes her sewing skills.

Sneddon’s parents didn’t support her career choice at first, but are on board now. Photo courtesty of Leah Sneddon

Senior sews seeds for future career Caroline Barlow Business Editor

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aving a plan for the rest of your life by your senior year of high school might be an incomprehensible subject for most students, but senior Leah Sneddon’s has been planned out since she started sewing her own clothes.

Recently, Sneddon has not only been wearing her designs but now she is modeling the designs of others.

“I was interested in modeling mostly because I really like to sew, and since I am tall everyone always told me I should become a model. After I expressed to my parents that this is something I would like to pursue, we looked online for classes and found a place that offered classes locally,” Sneddon said.

Since Sneddon is new to the modeling scene, she started out locally and hopes to be picked up by a modeling agency.

“I have just done small shoots and shows. I have done a prom dress show, swimsuits, a local Michael Kors show and a sundresses line. Hopefully in March I will go to Atlanta and audition for an agency, and if I get it I will be able to travel and model for larger shoots,” Sneddon said.

Not only has modeling allowed Sneddon to try a new hobby, but it has also taught her new things and given her a higher level of confidence in herself.

“Modeling helps with self esteem, and you learn what colors look the best on you and how your hair looks good and how to do your makeup. It has also taught me how to pose in pictures, so overall it has been very educational,” Sneddon said.

Typically models have a stereotype, but Sneddon has learned that not all models have to be tall and skinny.

“Most people think to be a model you have to be tall and skinny, but as I learned in modeling school they also need plus sized models and short models. Just because a person doesn’t think that they can become a model doesn’t mean that they cannot. There is a place for everyone in the modeling business,” Sneddon said.

Although Sneddon enjoys modeling it is not something she wants to pursue as full time career. Since Sneddon was 5 years old she has had a passion for sewing and designing.

A career in apparel design interested her, so she decided that is what she wanted to do.

“What I really want to do is become a costume designer or a costume designer for Walt Disney World. After Alabama I want to go to graduate school in New York and study couture like wedding dresses and then I would love to work in New York,” Sneddon said.

Designing clothes takes a lot of practice and time but between band and modeling

Sneddon always finds time to create new designs and design her own clothes.

“I make a lot of my own clothes. I can usually make an outfit in about a day but when I first started it took me longer.

I really like making dresses, so that is why I like wedding dresses and fancy stuff. I am already designing the prom dress I am going to wear this year,” Sneddon said.

After designing for so many years, Sneddon has created a process she follows each time she thinks of a new idea for a design.

“First I sketch a drawing, and I usually go through a lot of sketches. Then I decide what I like and try to add colors which helps me decide the fabric.

Then I decide on the patterns and sometimes I will take store bought patterns and then use those to create my own pattern.

Usually as I am sewing I will change my mind about the little things like necklines and other details. My design always starts as one thing and then ends with something else. I truly love being able to wear my own clothes,” Sneddon said.

To Sneddon, choosing what she wanted to do for the rest of her life was not difficult because the most important factor to her was doing something that she loved.

“To me, design is not just a job or a hobby it is an art. It is exactly what I want to do and I absolutely love it,” Sneddon said.

10

A&E

Feb. 12, 2015

The Crimson Crier

Bleaching the big screen

Photo illustration by Beryl Kessio

Hollywood ‘whitewashes’movies, student says Beryl Kessio

Editor in Chief

H

ollywood has an image problem.

It looms overhead — the elephant in the room.

And though we might not be entirely cognizant of its presence, it needs to be discussed now more than ever.

I am talking about “whitewashing.”

It is probably not surprising to learn that early Hollywood’s mainstream films were far from racially, ethnically or culturally sensitive.

Such practices were to be expected in an era of long standing segregation and oppression of minorities,

but even today, Hollywood continues to make questionable casting decisions.

Look no further than M. Night Shyamalan’s film “The Last Airbender.”

The film was based on the first season of the Nickelodeon series “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” It received harsh criticism for its casting of white actors in roles that were widely accepted to be Asian. The casting call specifically sought out white actors for leads, leaving the roles for villains and extras to the minorities. In Ridley Scott’s “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” he attempted to portray historical events based in ancient Africa,

except the only non-white actors were cast as guards, assassins, thieves and servants.

Get the picture?

There are countless examples of “whitewashing.” Each tell the same story: casting characters of color as supports and extras with white actors as leads sends the message that white people are more qualified to represent people of color than people of color themselves. Deeper yet, vilifying the few minorities actually in a film casts a shadow on minorities as a whole.

This belief is countered by those who reject the notion that

systemic whitewashing in Hollywood exists. Those who reject the racial insensitivity often use the term “post-racial” to describe the word we live in. But if we are somehow beyond race as a country, why are people of color still deemed insufficient to tell our own stories?

If race was no longer an issue, then there would not be an outcry over Saturday Night Live hiring a black woman comedian.

If it did not matter, then speculation about Daniel Glover being Spider-Man would not generate hateful comments. If color was no longer relevant, then talk of Idris Elba as James Bond would not cause an outcry

not based on his acting abilities, but of the color of his skin.

This caused us to question the new take on “Annie,” featuring an African-American actress as the leading lady. If race was not an issue as the public claims, the uproar over her being an African-American would be unfounded. Race is still clearly an issue when casting leading roles, and it is time for Hollywood to get with the picture.

But let us not kid ourselves. The number one goal of the entertainment industry, or any industry for that matter, is to turn a profit. It would be naive to expect otherwise.

Therefore, leading roles are given to people who not only act, but can push the film well past its bottom line through marketing. But this profit motive does not excuse Hollywood from its history of “whitewashing.”

The fact of the matter is, if Hollywood is going to catch up to reflect the attitude of a majority of Americans, it has to stop its insensitive treatment of race and culture. The roles written for minority actors need to be broadened past stereotypical roles in order to demonstrate all the possibilities and narratives of these communities.

Production presents traditional fairy tale in a new light Aiesha Desarme Reporter

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here will be unexpected surprises in the theater’s production of “Cinderella” as the cast takes on the classic fairy tale with a few spins. The audience is used to seeing Cinderella more during the show than perhaps the other characters, however in the upcoming play, the stepmother and stepsisters will be the main characters on stage.

Senior Eugenia No, who plays the stepmother, takes on the riveting role, basked in the callousness of the character and participates in building the tower of comedy that will be arising within the play.

“Cinderella is the kind of sit down look pretty

character Ryan likes the that all the angle of the little girls stepmother and love, but the stepsisters as s te p m o t h e r, the spotlight in and the the production. stepfamily “It’s like have that some people humor that love the villain the adults will more than they love and a lot love the hero. of comedy. I Ryan is really read the script playing that and laugh angle with this to myself all p r o d u c t i o n ,” the time. I Stanley said. look forward Despite the to everyone spotlight the PREPPING FOR MIDNIGHT. Music director Ron Simmons conducts the cast of “Cinderella.” The song enjoying the “The Prince is Giving a Ball” features senior Roderick Sims, who plays the Herald, who tells of the step family will humor,” said ball. Photo by Beryl Kessio. have, Cinderella No. is still the main is looking forward to the they thought I was good One of character enough to make a third in the unique surprises of play. the production.

“I was excited. At first I one, I really appreciate it, “Cinderella” will be played the play is new stepsister, Bessie, played by senior didn’t know who she was, and I’m very thankful for by sophomore, Mckenna Maddie Stanley. Stanley because originally there it,” Stanley said.

Barlow. Although she has According to Stanley, participated in two other sees this opportunity as a are two stepsisters in the learning experience and play, but the fact that drama teacher Sherri Sparkman productions,

this is her first lead.

“I was so excited. People would say, ‘Oh you’re just a sophomore, you can’t do it.’ Barlow said, “I looked for the email, then I looked for my name and I screamed and hugged my mom, I lost it.”

Of course where Cinderella is, her Prince Charming is not far away. Sophomore Jacob Daughtery takes the role as the prince in the production.

Daughtery holds a passion for theatre and sees this as a chance for invaluable acting experience.

“I’ll have more respect for actors, and how much they give into the roles they take on stage and behind the curtain,” said Daughtery.

The play will be March 12-14. Tickets are $10.

Feb. 12, 2015

11

The Crimson Crier

Addicting apps can consume lives Molly Short Reporter

R

emember Flappy Bird? What about Temple Run and 2048? According to the Apple App Store’s Top 10 Most Downloaded Games Chart, these games had over three to four million downloads combined.

Now, Trivia Crack is the latest game that has captured our attention. But, what happens a short while after the game comes out? A new, addicting app emerges. Even as new games gain popularity, developers are coming up with more ways to challenge consumers’ minds and keep us hooked to the screen. The vibrant colors, the dynamic gameplay and increased interactivness are there to keep us hooked, that is until the next app fad occurs. From there, its game over. Here are some apps that have had a short shelf life.

A MAGICIAN WITH PAPER. Junior Daniel Cho shows three of his latest creations: a dragon, a star and a hand (top). Cho’s science teacher Jan Whitworth displays all of his work on her desk (bottom). Photos by Beryl Kessio.

Art Highlight: Daniel Cho

Cho folds more than paper planes Melissa Grant Reporter

J

unior Daniel Cho stands apart from the crowd, folding ordinary sheets of paper into unimaginable shapes in his spare time. Cho started

Trivia Crack

This app features endless trivia and it can increase your blood pressure at a fast rate. Once you get your first question wrong, you are likely throw your device across the room.

Flappy Bird

Flappy Bird is an app that had the shortest shelf life of them all. The goal of the game is to fly Flappy Bird through obstacles without hitting the bird.

True anger comes from Flappy Bird addicts.

origami early and has continued the art through the years.

What began as a simple activity in kindergarten to pass the time unfolded into much more. Like any hobby, it began as something new to try and blossomed into a large part of his life later on.

It is impossible to know exactly when and where one will find the hobby that grabs their attention.

Cho began with a tutorial on the Internet and currently uses diagrams and videos to get new ideas.

“My mom showed me

Interested in raiding villages? In this app, you can create and maintain your own village and pillage others. Though, once you are raided 50 times in a row, you may want to quit.

2048

There are tips and tricks to getting to the 2048 tile, but they hardly seem to work.

The goal of 2048 is to add numbered tiles together to achieve the 2048 tile. Good luck, without cheating.

Candy Crush

Since the new Candy Crush Soda app has been created, the original Candy Crush app has been left in the dust. Once you cannot complete a level and you run out of moves, this app can be left on your phone, untouched for long periods of time.

online. She told me how to make something, and I got really interested,” Cho said.

Cho dropped the pastime for several years, but picked it up in middle school once again. Since his return to origami, Cho has mastered the art of paper folding. From dragons to Minecraft creatures, Cho has folded everything imaginable, including a small ball that expands to the size of a poster board.

Cho has even managed to get his teachers and classmates involved.

“I showed my teachers, and they even let me teach origami in their classesmostly in my math classes.

At the end of the semester, they would let me teach origami for one day,” Cho said.

Origami helped Cho

come out of his shell and show others his passion.

“I was pretty shy, but after I made origami and gave it people and showed it to them, they were excited. My shyness has dropped down a lot from middle school,” Cho said.

Cho’s teachers admire his talents and encourage similar hobbies in other students.

“I think everyone needs some kind of a creative outlet. I think that it relieves stress. It can be very peaceful if you find the thing you love to do like knitting, crossstitching. He does origami, some people do yoga,” science teacher Dr. Jane Whitworth said. “You’ve got to find something outside of the world that can give you peace.”

Simple steps will keep pets safe, warm Caroline Barlow and Carla Mack

Clash of Clans

A&E

Business Editor and Photo Editor

P

ETA is known for their crazy antics protesting for the rights of animals. But for once, PETA is using their voice for good.

A quick visit to PETA’s website, gives readers the tale of Noel, a dog who whose life was spared when he was rescued by a PETA member. Noel, a black and white spaniel, did not have any food, shelter or water available and was tied to a table in negative degree weather.

Noel’s story brings to light an important issue about the care of pets and how pet owners should knowledgeable in the safety of their furry loved ones.

Pet owners need to take certain precautions to prevent injuries related to cold temperatures.

Just because dogs and cats have fur does not mean that they do not get cold and suffer from the frigid weather.

America spends on average $61 million a year on their pets. This includes food, shelter and toys. From purchasing UGG boots for their pets to luxury Gucci sweaters, pet owners around the nation are doing their part to keep their four-legged family members safe from cold temperatures.

If pet owners do not have the dough to spend on these luxurious items, then following simple guidelines will serve as the best way to keep pets warm during the cold temperatures of February.

Don’t allow your pet to be the basis of a PETA article like Noel. Keep them warm and safe.

Do’s:

Don’ts:

• Bring your pet inside from the cold • Buy your pet a sweater • Show love to your pet • Protect the paws if walking them on cold surfaces

• Leave your pet in the car • Let their water bowl freeze over • Start your car before checking the exhaust

Temple Run

Running away from strange disfigured monkeys is not an ideal situation.

An explorer has stolen treasure and you must guide their way through obstacles. Run into a tree, take a wrong turn and you are doomed. No wonder why this app did not last long.

Cartoon by Mary Kopp

Local art venue opens new wing, creates room for more talent Libby Reid

Social Media Editor

H

ere in Huntsville lies America’s largest independent center for arts. Lowe Mill has recently opened a new wing which adds onto their vast collections of unique custom-made creations.

“The new wing opened Dec. 20. I was able to talk to David Nuttal; he’s in charge of our parking

so he was keeping an eye on the cars that came in throughout the day. Over the course of the day, his low estimate was 7,500,” Lowe Mill Historian Sharon Singletary said.

Lowe Mill decided to open the new wing to expand their outreach and to add additional artists.

They have 31 new studios as well as a public gallery and a storage unit for

those artists. Workers in the wing have jobs varying from portrait painters, realists, abstract artists and even architects.

One of the talented creators in the new wing is artist Jonny Scull. Scull is a portrait painter, which means that he focuses on the bodies of his subjects.

“I like the figure. I’m primarily looking to be a portrait artist because

I like the expression and familiarity of the figure,” Scull said.

Scull went on to admit that he usually holds some type of personal value in his paintings due to the way they are perceived.

“I have a need to paint— it’s a part of my identity.

It’s a compulsion. If people look at my work and it gives them satisfaction, not necessarily happiness

but it makes them feel or inspires them in any way then that’s wonderful,” Scull said.

Scull, who has been an artist for 25 years, received his training from an art school in Philadelphia where he worked as a graphic artist and illustrator. He has continued his education at his own expense.

“About two years ago

I went to Italy to study at an academy which was a good experience. I didn’t feel like I had the skills that I needed. Now I think I’m a lot better off than I was, but of course I’ll be learning for the rest of my life,” Scull said.

Lowe Mill is open to the public on Wednesday and Thursday from 12-6 p.m., Friday 12-8 p.m. and Saturday 12-6 p.m..

12

Sports

The Crimson Crier

Feb. 12, 2015

It’s all about the money, money money An underfunded county forces athletic cost to rise, leaving players busting out their wallets and asking questions Savannah Bullard News Editor

I

n a region where football is a religion and some GPAs are measured in correspondence with playing time, sports are held in high regard among high schools. Students use sports for a countless number of ideals, making the sport they play a part of their everyday lives. For some, sports are a lifestyle: people are known by the ball they throw or the team they so loyally root for.

However some athletes must pay a heavy price in order to play the sport of their dreams. And with the lack of funding and growing list of expenses each sports team is responsible for, most players are being thrown dollar signs instead of fastballs.

The Cost There is nearly a $1200 price gap between softball, the most expensive sport, and basketball, the least expensive sport. Junior Marissa Emery says the overwhelming cost to play softball is ultimately worth it, specifically due to the current renovations being done by the fields.

“Our bathrooms were disgusting,” Emery said.

“A bunch of people came out at the booster club meeting and asked who wanted to put their name on a loan and so many parents had their name on it and the softball Booster Club is paying it off.”

Emery, who has been playing softball for the school since she was a freshman, has had to pay nearly $50,000 in fees and dues for her entire high

school athletic career. Yet this was not all done out of pocket; Emery says there are ways to get around paying all of the required monies.

“You literally can fundraise your entire cost. And we do have a lot of opportunities, like working at the Von Braun Center, and you can gain hours and just work it off; that helps out a lot of people,” Emery said.

Booster Club president Lynn Mayes thinks the loan is a good idea, for the outcomes will benefit softball players and supporters for years after the current players graduate.

“The loan was secured by the booster club with approval from the school board. The members voted to secure this loan in order to renovate the bathrooms, as well as provide a locker room for the softball team and storage rooms for track and soccer,” Mayes said. “Repaying the loan is being supported via our fundraising.”

Athletes’ Response Junior Mason Edwards believes the $750 it takes to play football is too much to pay. Edwards says the lack of changes in the program leaves him wondering what the money is being used for.

“In the past years I’ve played, I think [the $800] has been a bit overpriced.

I haven’t really seen any changes in equipment or uniforms or anything like that,” Edwards said. “We haven’t gotten anything new, except for jerseys last year, but that’s it. No one really knows what the money goes towards.”

This raises the question: why does the cost burden of playing sports fall on the parents? The Madison County Board of Education does not provide monies for athletics beyond the coaching supplements and as a result sports teams have to conduct major fundraising and parents have to cough up team fees.

In times of financial issues like Madison County Schools are currently experiencing, coaches and players are burdened with even paying for electricity and toilet paper. As for the baseball team, their fundraising and out-ofpocket money is what funds every aspect of the sport, all down to the very field they play on.

“The money it takes to play baseball covers fertilizer, dirt, uniforms, team bats, helmets, new locker rooms, new lockers, baseballs…it goes towards a bunch of stuff,” senior Will Sipes said. “For the stuff we get and what we do, the cost is pretty fair.”

But what is essentially fair, here? For the softball and baseball teams to be responsible for every single aspect of their craft and the basketball teams only having to fund to keep the gym clean, the heavy gap in annual price looks like too big of a burden to even deal with. Principal Mike Campbell understands the frustration when it comes to paying to play sports and sees the primary issue—and all possible solutions—lying in the hands of the Board of Education.

“Right now, the funding we have is our only option.

I would like to pay for the athletics’ necessities, like lights and toilet paper, but the money just isn’t there,” Campbell said.

The Financial Issue Considering the Board of Education is still pushing to build a new high school, it seems as if the ridiculous price tags on what already exists mean nothing to the leaders of the school system. Many believe the $46 million MCBOE wants to use to build a new school should go towards improving what lacks around here, such as funding parking lot expansion or, of course, funding the athletics programs. The softball team currently holds the state champion title for three years running

and both men and [softball] players can women’s basketball teams participate in to pay their have been to the state fees. All of the money can championship twice in be raised through these the past few years. With fundraisers,” Mayes said. such successful statistics, Bell agrees with Mayes, this leaves both student stating that the cost to play athletes and parents soccer can be significantly asking where MCBOE’s reduced through diligently financial priorities lie. enthusiastic fundraising.

“It’s hard to give an “The board offers opinion regarding the fundraisers that will Board of Education directly offset a player’s because I don’t know how fees. Some players actually much money they have,” pay all of their fees with Campbell said. “But what fundraisers,” Bell said.

Sparkman High School “Both of my sons, Brennan has in the bank is being and Tanner, play [soccer] used in the best way we so I have to come up with have the means for.” $1200 [each year]. I have Some teams like been able to cover almost soccer who do not have three-fourths of that so far a certified teacher as a through the fundraisers.” coach also incur the cost Despite having the of paying a salary for the opportunities to alleviate coaches. Even though the cost to play, some there are extra expenses players are left with that have to tie into the nothing but an empty cost to play, Booster Club wallet and a full desire vice-president Darrell Bell to play. Senior Rashawn says the soccer program tries “In the past years I’ve to locate played, I think [the $800] e v e r y moneyhas been a bit overpriced. s av i n g I haven’t really seen any option each year. changes in equipment or “ A s uniforms or anything like a board, we will that.” always look -Senior Mason Edwards to make the cost of playing for SHS soccer as little as possible. The Green has had teammates board consists of player who have played on the parents and obviously team for little to nothing. we don’t want to pay any It is not a free pass to be more than is absolutely on the team; some people necessary,” Bell said. “We truly need the help. work very hard on our “Basketball has its budget every year, and times when you need [Booster Club secretary] money but you really don’t Denise Berendes spends need much to play, as long countless hours working as you have a gym and a the numbers to see where ball,” Green said. “If we sell we can cut costs.” advertisements, floor seats The Band-Aid and concessions then we The cost to play sports get all that money. That does not have to come money could help people completely out of mom who need a way to play.” and dad’s wallet, either.

This is nothing new, Fundraising is a primary either. The fact that method of payment, with a student cannot be different events offering denied the opportunity an incentive to buyers and to play due to finances is a cheaper cost to players. not commonly known.

“We have had five The funds students and fundraisers this year that parents see on paper seem

to deter them from even trying out.

“Playing volleyball didn’t seem worth it anymore, considering how much we have to spend,” junior Catie Gwin said.

“I would rather play club volleyball and save a few hundred bucks than spend too much money just to have the school’s name on my jersey.”

Green enjoys playing such an inexpensive sport, but feels as if the “outrageous” costs to play other sports are not reasonable for high school students to have to hold that responsibility. “[The differing costs are] good on our part; [other sports] all have so much, like keeping the fields clean,” Green said.

“I think it’s pretty equal based on what you have to pay for each sport but I’m sure there are ways it could be cheaper.

I don’t think it should be that much.”

Despite w h a t athletes and coaches think of the cost to play, the fact of the matter is Madison County Schools do not have the funds to cover the necessary items of high school sports. In fact, coaching supplements in Madison County are lower than Madison City, Decatur City and Morgan County.

“Until Madison County can increase revenue through property tax or even an increase in sales tax, parents are going to continue to have to pay out of pocket and players and coaches are going to continue to have to participate in fundraisers,” head boys’ basketball coach Jamie Coggins said.

“Perhaps one day this can change, but right now it’s basic economics. You can’t supply money that you do not have.”

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Feb. 12, 2015

The Crimson Crier

13

Sports

The professional world. Alumni Adrienne Webb and Jay R. Strowbridge play basketball overseas. The two credit their careers as Senators for developing skills and passion for the game. Photos courtesy of Webb and Strowbridge.

Alumni take hoops overseas, speak of their experiences

Maddie Stanley Reporter

H

ow far are you willing to go to play a sport you love?

While passports are not usually a necessity for basketball players, they are for alumni Adrienne Webb and Jay R. Strowbridge.

Both Webb and Strowbridge were given the opportunity to venture abroad and continue their basketball careers, playing the sport they love. Webb is currently playing professionally in Romania and Strowbridge recently completed a season in Spain.

Both players admit that it takes a big adjustment to the play the game internationally, especially getting used to the time difference.

“While everyone in the U.S. is starting their day, I’m closing mine out so it makes communicating with family and friends a little bit harder, but you adjust,” Webb said.

Webb, who just started her new contract with the CST Alexandria, played her first international stint in Sweden after a successful career at Louisiana State University. While at LSU, she was named to the AllSEC Second Team. But the WNBA did not come calling so she pursued her chances overseas.

“Since a majority of professional women basketball players have a career overseas, I have always envisioned myself playing abroad as well,” Webb said. “I did see several NBA scouts at tournaments during

my tenure at LSU, but I haven’t seen them while playing overseas because they typically just look at video.”

Strowbridge’s story is slightly different. He signed with the University of Nebraska out of high school and then transferred to the University of Oregon to finish his college career.

Strowbridge, who was not offered a chance in the NBA, says that NBA scouts are often seen at his practices and games.

“It’s a pretty cool experience to have Pat Riley (Miami Heat) at your games. It lets you know that your hard work is not in vain and to keep making the sacrifices to make your dreams become a reality,” Strowbridge said.

Strowbridge, who played for the Malabo

Kings in Barcelona, Spain until this month, has also played for teams in Germany, Romania, Montenegro and for the NBA D League. He is currently exploring options with his agent to see what his next stint will be.

“I am content wherever I find myself, but it would be a dream come true to be picked up by NBA team, Strowbridge said.

“It is definitely a goal to play in the NBA, but in the meantime I will continue to bloom wherever God plants me and work on becoming a better person.”

Strowbridge enjoys the different cultures he gets to experience while playing internationally. He has added schnitzel and doner kebab to his food list. And

he has interesting stories to tell about the game experience.

“We had to play in a gym where the smoke was so thick you could barely see your teammate. The home team had to throw a flare on the court while we played,” Strowbridge said.

Strowbridge, who is married, said that being away from his wife may be the biggest challenge with his overseas gig.

“It’s tough being away from my wife, but we have found a way to make it work for us,” Strowbridge said. “But with technology they are only a FaceTime call away so that makes the journey easier.

Both players are basketball legends and both believe in giving back to their Alma Mater and can be seen helping young

players improve their skills in the very gym where they worked on their own.

“He helps out in basketball whenever he can, not just at Sparkman, but in the community as well. He is an added bonus to us when he is in town,” boys’ Coach Jamie Coggins said.

Webb had her high school jersey retired last year where it currently hangs in the main gym and she would like to see that same success happen to other Sparkman players.

“Student athletes must be academically eligible in order to play. They will be even better equipped to be successful, whether they are playing the game of professional basketball , or in the game of life,” Webb said.

Rookie players strive to lead boys’ soccer Will Bartel

Sports Editor

T

Setting the Bar. Rob Russell hurls himself to new heights during a competition. He would like to continue to push himself past his previous record of 13.6 feet. Photo courtesy of Senator Track

Senior sets record; qualifies for state pole vaulting Bakhari Massey Reporter

I

t only took one time for senior Robert Russell to realize pole vaulting was for him.

“The first time I didn’t clear anything but after that one time I always did, “Russell said.

Russell, a member of the indoor track team is currently holding the school’s record with a 13.6 jump.

He is currently ranked 10th in the 7A classification.

“Rob is an extraordinary athlete. He did not began vaulting until his sophomore year thus his accomplishments are amazing for an athlete who got such a relatively late start in such a specialized ,skillspecified event,” coach Neekeysha Jones said.

Russell began pole vaulting two years ago .His intentions were to compete in the decathlon events which requires pole vaulting, but the more he tried the sport the more he liked it.

“After that first try, I just trained better and became mentally prepared and basically became a natural at pole vaulting, “Russell said.

Russell came into the season with high expectations.

He has broken his current record with a 13.6 jump and wants to break it again.

“I would like to set the pole vaulting record at record at 14.6 before my career ends,” Russell said.

Russell has qualified for the ASHAA State Indoor 1A7A State Championship. Practicing is key for Russell.

Who practices twice a week at UAH and twice with the team during the week.

“I plan to jump higher by getting stronger and improving my form, “Russell said. “It’s just something I want to accomplish in my high school career.”

he boys’ varsity soccer teams will go into this season with a revamped roster that is short on seniors.

The team has only retained four seniors with varsity experience, but returns multiple players who were underclassmen that played on varsity last year. Head coach Luke Oakley believes that, despite some key departures, this team is even better than last year’s team.

“I like this year’s team.

We have more overall quality than last season from top to bottom. I wouldn’t say we’re loaded

but we are steady across the board,” Oakley said, “Ultimately I’ll have some guys that step up and some that won’t, it happens every year, although I believe they all have the opportunity, but you get out what you put in, and I can want it all I want, parents can want it all they want, but simply it’s down to the players desire, they have got to want it most.”

The team will be moving into the 7A division of high school athletics this year.

This will increase the level of the team’s competition.

Last year the team’s area included only Buckhorn and Hazel Green, but this year it includes new teams Bob Jones and James Clemens, which will make

qualifying for the playoffs much tougher. Oakley is still confident in his team’s ability.

“Our schedule has always been tough; we played 6A and just moved up with most of the teams we already play. For the state tournament you already know who the strong teams are and who’s most likely to qualify from each area,” Oakley said.

The team will need players to step up into leadership positions this season if they hope to go far. This, according to Oakley, is what set apart his Final Four team two years ago with other teams he has coached at Sparkman.

“My first year you had a

few players that were true leaders, Patrick Fitzgerald was one of them, but there were a few. Since the groups graduated no one willingly sought the leadership role.

I do see some leaders in tenth grade but they are a little too young to lead varsity this year,” Oakley said.

Senior Jalin Langjahr is one of the few returning seniors from last season.

He hopes that he can help lead the team to its fullest potential.

“Our goal this year is to win the state championship, and if we play to the best of our ability I think that we can achieve that goal,” Langjahr said.

New assistant coach takes over catching skills Charlotte Stanley

around. He brings a new perspective to our team,” s a new season begins, a sophomore Savannah new coach enters.

Hayes said.

Coach Chris Jennings is new As a player at Lee High to the softball coaching staff.

School, Jennings caught Jennings attended Lee High School for current Atlanta Braves where he played baseball. He then pitcher, Craig Kimbrel. went to Alabama A&M University The two stay in touch and Athens State University. quite frequently. However, Teaching drivers’ education Jennings says that the only and coaching wasn’t always thing Kimbrel left him with Jennings’ dream. was bruises.

“I originally wanted to be a “It’s not big deal. He’s sports agent. But then I realized just one of my oldest friends on. New softball assistant coach Chris Jennings how many law classes you have to Looking in the world,” Jennings observes the team during practice. Jennings will focus do,” Jennings said. “So, I settled on coaching catching for the championship caliber said. “He is nobody special team this season. Photo by Micheala Alexander and went with teaching.” to me.”

He coached baseball at Lee Currently, Jennings is High School before coming to focusing on the catchers.

Sparkman. Coaching a different gender has taught The team has five catchers in the program. According to him that girls’ moods and attitudes are more head coach Dale Palmer, Jennings was hired to improve present than boys. catching.

“I’m still learning everyday. It’s not that bad “I am just going to put them through several drills though, it’s pretty fun,” Jennings said. and stuff like that to get them ready for the season.

The girls have really enjoyed how laid back They are going to learn how to block the ball, throw Jennings can be. His sense of humor has made it and properly catch it,” Jennings said. “We are going things more enjoyable. to continue covering these things throughout the “Coach Jennings is super chill and fun to be season.”

Reporter

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14

In-Depth

Feb. 12, 2015

The Crimson Crier

s ’ e v o L a

game ...

Photo illust

rations by B

eryl Kessio (l

eft) and Ede

n Fletcher (r

ight)

High school sweethearts prove love lasts you see because they have been through so much together.”

Research from the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the Opinion Editor University of Alberta shows that the human brain does not stop developing, even until the 20s. These studies and the maturing age or as long as there has been high school, there has been a may infer that high school relationships are not meant to be, but stigma that high school relationships are bound for failure Curns and Little are determined to make it work.

— doomed to messy breakups and angry tears. “[Statistics] make me want to make [the relationship] work Sophomores Alicia Hauglie and Arthur Lewis are best friends even more and just prove everyone wrong,” Curns said. “We’re that have known each other since freshman year. It was not until both very stubborn so [we are] like ‘well you’re wrong’.”

December and January of freshman year that feelings began to Little intends on attending the United States Military Academy form. They dated, but now they reside in a deep relationship. Even at West Point. Curns hopes to attend the University of Alabama in after the break up — thought to be dramatically messy but was the Huntsville to stay closer to home. They both understand they will complete opposite —they were still best friends and spent time not see each other as often, but they have accepted what the future with each other. might hold.

“I’m a very independent person “I’m of the opinion that if there’s and I just felt like I wanted to be on a will, there’s a way. If something is my own for a while,” Hauglie said. “I meant to workout then it will workout,” was sill hanging out with him, but I Little said. “If it’s intended to happen, was able to hang out with my friends you will find a way to make it happen.” more.”

English teacher Ashley Fitch The search for college can be married her high school sweetheart the heap of struggles, at least for after five and a half years of dating. high school students. The idea of They have been together since she was separation from their other half can 16, almost half of her life. Fitch and her be overwhelming. Hauglie hopes husband married during her college for her and Lewis to both find their years. She decided to attend a college mentally, schools and do what they need to do close to home so she could be with him. for themselves.

She ended up driving from her home or “If he wants to get a certain degree in Taft, Tennessee to the University of and there is a school that has the best Alabama in Huntsville for her classes. financially... for him, then I would want him to go “[Growing together] brought us there and [I will] go where ever is best closer together because we have gone for me,” Hauglie said. through milestones together,” Fitch Juniors Hannah Curns and Chris Little have been dating for said. “We understand each other more because we are familiar and two and a half years. Even in their long relationship they still enjoy we’ve known each other for so long.” what little time they spend together, consisting of 30 minutes for Looking at high school relationships now, Fitch feels the word breakfast or lunch on a Sunday after church. love has lost its context and is used loosely. Located in Midland, Curns feels growing with someone overtime can better the Michigan, H.H. Dow High School’s newspaper, The Update, relationship for the future. Little feels the potential for them released an article claiming individuals say “I love you” back to growing together in the future is credited to shared values, beliefs their significant others, even if they do not completely believe and similar childhood upbringing. Although there are multiple it or do not give it complete thought — it gives them a sense of ways of growing together — whether it be emotionally, spiritually, appreciation and self-worth. The Fitch couple shows that high mentally, physically or financially — they both feel they will end school love can last past the teenage years. Fitch shares her secret up growing together instead of apart. in helping love last.

“You get to grow together more when you do have a high school “A lot of times we confuse strong feelings of happiness with relationship,” Curns said. “A lot of my mom’s friends are high love,” Fitch said. “Make sure you know the person, love that person school sweethearts and they are some of the happiest couples that and want to spend the rest of your life with them.”

McKenzie Ashmore

F

“

There are multiple ways of growing together — whether it be

emotionally, spiritually,

”

physically,

Feb. 12, 2015

The Crimson Crier

15

In-Depth

Wannaplay?

More than three times as many te ens (20%) as pa rents (6%) admit th at parents know litt le or nothing about the tweens’ dating relationships.

Student shares personal experiences, criticizes judgemental peers emotional maturity.

Seeing peers going on weekly or even daily dates with their boyfriend/girlfriend can be dispiriting because dating a hen you first tell someone you are dating a college college student often means long distance. In any long distance student, judgment falls like r a i n . relationship, time together is valuable. Long distance does not just The shocked faces and strangers who are mean living far apart, but also spending periods of time apart. suddenly now interested in your personal It is difficult hearing friends talk about how life flood the area. Puddles of questions upset they are that they have not and conversations form, making you seen their boyfriends in nervous, making you feel like there could two days, when I have be a wrong answer to the judgmental not seen my boyfriend accusations being hurled at you. The in three weeks. problem is that all relationships are Today’s technology not the same. Adults and peers are makes it easier to connect quick to judge a situation they know and communicate from little about. any part of the world.

“Do your parents know?”

Thankfully, my relationship This is the most common does not have to operate question, as if in order to date overseas, but due to the chase someone in college it must be a of an excellent education that secret, and that there would be my significant other pursues, no way any parent would ever it has set us 218 miles apart. allow it. If parents thought more Only seeing your significant logically, they would realize other every three weeks may that a boyfriend who lives four seem hard, but it is manageable. hours away still allows a high After dating for a year, one of the school student to function day biggest realities is getting used by day like they did before to the dynamic of a long distance the relationship started. relationship. After so long, it feels My parents appreciate the like normalcy to be apart from your fact that dating someone long boyfriend/girlfriend. distance allows me to focus on school and Relationships often fall victim Photo stay dedicated to extracurricular activities. to distance but finding a balance illustr ation

by Syd When someone first hears that a 17-year-old is dating a 19between your everyday lives and ney H awes year-old, they assume the worst. However, age does not indicate p u t t i n g aside time to talk and build your maturity. “Psychology Today” confirms that girls mature faster relationship is the best way to keep your connection than boys in cognitive and emotional ways. With this in mind, above water. Having a firm foundation for your relationship will it should not be uncommon for a high school girl to date a male allow you to castoff any negative allegations towards you and your college student because of the similar levels of cognitive and significant other.

Victoria Lewis

Lifestyles Editor

W

Kissing Camo Military impacts relationships, brings couples closer April Oberman A&E Editor

A

lmost every teen romance film produced in the 1980s has a variation of the “high school relationship.”

In these movies, the couples usually suffer through subjective difficulties. But, in the end, all of the negative forces are pushed away: the guy wins the girl. Elizabeth Coons and her husband Aaron Coons, 2014 graduates, agree that the challenges of high school relationships do not end at graduation.

“When I was a freshman, I pictured my life being like this, and I hoped it would.

Aaron always wanted to join the military and I always had a feeling we were going to get married. Everyone kept telling us how we’d never be together forever,” Elizabeth said.

They began their life together as 14-year-old freshmen. In a span of four years, they have conquered the trials high school has thrown at them, such as doubt, uncertainty and skepticism; The Coons’ have been married for almost a year and have a child of their own, Abigail.

“She’s a daddy’s girl and so full of personality,” Elizabeth said.

The next step for the family was to find a source of income.

Aaron’s interest in the military took the Coons to Charleston,

S. C., where he joined the Navy and works on a nuclear reactor.

Elizabeth had a troublesome time adjusting in the beginning stages of the move.

“It was very hard to move away. The only place I’d ever lived was Alabama. I had to leave my family and

friends and my entire support system behind in order for my husband to do the job of his dreams. Now, we have awesome healthcare, job security and pretty decent pay. Adjusting to being all alone in a new place was really scary, but now I love it here,” Elizabeth said.

While Aaron works,

Elizabeth and Abigail spend long hours with each other.

Elizabeth explained that she and Aaron try to do what is best for their daughter, even if times can be tough for Elizabeth.

“I’m 10 hours away from my family, so I can’t just jump in

But, when he can, Elizabeth and Abigail will move back to Harvest for a time until he returns.

The Coons family is a small family, but they soon hope to be a larger one. Elizabeth does not regret any decision she has made in the past; she would not be in the place if not for her choices. Elizabeth sees her family in five years with a positive outlook.

“I think my husband will probably still be in the Navy.

I hope we live in Hawaii, but the Navy could send us anywhere. We’ll definitely have more kids,” Elizabeth said.

Junior Eunice QueenSimmons has spent over a year communicating with her Army boyfriend Stephen Simon II in a long distance relationship.

“I don’t get to talk to him as much as I’d like; we talk before and after school. The only really hard problem is not being able to see each other when we want,” QueenSimmons said.

Simon is stationed at Ft. Huachuca, Ariz. presently.

Simmons yl Kessio Photo illustration by Ber hopes to maintain a the car and go see them strong relationship, even if that whenever I want. My husband means cranking up her phone works really long hours, so I’m bill. alone the majority of the time.

“When I graduate, he will I haven’t made any friends here be at Marion Institute and I yet, so it gets pretty lonely will most likely be at Spellman sometimes,” Elizabeth said.

College.

After that, maybe Since Aaron is in the Navy, we will get married and I will the family must be prepared follow him wherever he gets for his deployment. Right now, stationed,” Queen-Simmons Aaron cannot be deployed. said.

e in Nearly thre 72%) four teens ( nd/ say boyfrie girlfriend s usually relationship e 14 or begin at ag younger.

More than on e in three 11-12 ye ar olds (37%) say they have bee n in a boyfriend/g irlfriend relationship.

e in More than on ort three teens rep tners that their par w where wanted to kno %) they were (36 were and who they ll the with (37%) a time.

One in four teens (24%) reported feeling pressure to date; and 14% said they would do almost anything to keep a boyfriend o r girlfriend.

Twice as many teens report having “hooked up” with a partner as parents reported of their own 11-14 year old child.

Facts via http://www.caepv.org/

Feb. 12, 2015

16

The Crimson Crier

News

The great school debate As the conversation heats up, the community takes a side on what is best for the students of Madison County

Beryl Kessio and Savannah Bullard Editor-in-chief and News Editor

Y

ou would have to be living under a rock to have missed the controversy over the proposed Monrovia High School.

Here is the low down: After receiving $56 million in BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) money for school improvements and renovations, the district moved ahead with plans to build a new high school, slated to be built across from Legacy Elementary, by purchasing land this August.

However, Supt. Matt Massey has spoken out against the high school since his first days as a campaigner and has instead proposed to focus $23 million on Sparkman renovations— which include a performing arts center— and other school improvements around the county. In a January address, Massey cited the financial burden a new school would have on the county.

“This is an opportunity to put our schools on par with the best in the state. With a new school, we will lose academic programs,” Massey said. “With a new school, we will have increased operational costs.”

School board president Jeff Anderson affirmed his belief in a new high school, stating that it would bring about more opportunities for students. Jeff then said Massey’s plans would drive parents out of the school.

“I don’t have a crystal ball. But I can guarantee that this will drive families out of this school,” Jeff said. “All I can say is, buy stock in Madison Academy and Westminster Christian [Academy].”

Board member David Vess cited safety concerns as a primary reason to build a new high school. With rumors of overcrowding and violent activity hitting newsstands over the past month, community members are unsure of what to accurately expect from the school.

“I don’t see where we can put in an arts center before we see about the safety of our kids,” Vess said. “We have to think of safety first.”

The commissioners were obviously less than pleased, according to al.com’s article regarding the Jan. 28 address.

“You’re swimming upstream,” Phil Riddick of District 5 said. “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em.”

The commissioners countered nearly every point of Massey’s plan and Monrovia parents later expressed their concerns on a Facebook page entitled “Monrovia High School Now.” The public group, with 389 members as of Feb. 3, is mostly a feed of shared news articles and debates regarding what they think is best for the community.

The majority of the posts are from concerned parents who are pushing to get the new school built as quickly as possible.

“The purpose of this site is to share information and opinions about the proposed Monrovia High School in Madison County, Alabama. Discussions and debates are encouraged,” the group’s description reads.

Overcrowding is often cited as a reason to build a new high school, and is one of the most popular topics in the group.

“Some people may say, well our school sizes are nothing compared to Texas or other states around the US. However, let us look at our academic performance as a state, particularly our county on test scores and then try to hold a solid stance in support of large schools in other states,” a Jan. 29 post reads. “Smaller class sizes would absolutely benefit our students and friends within our community.”

Massey believes the overcrowding concerns are a myth, as the school is actually seeing decreased enrollment each year. He added, in an address to the County Commission, that “Monrovia Middle School has its smallest enrollment in 10 years and Sparkman Above infographic by Savannah Bullard

Food. Music. Jesus.

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Adam McNeil Director of Youth Ministry 256-430-0003 x 805 admanmcneil@graceumchsv.org

Middle has its lowest enrollment in nine years.”

Proponents of the new school also see it as an opportunity to increase property values and attract new businesses. Some are concerned that the current school will not accommodate for the community’s growth.

And with companies such as Remington Outdoor Co. and Polaris Off-Road Vehicle Co. making an entrance to Huntsville, new employees are expected to flock to Madison County.

“The number of students attending Sparkman will certainly increase and Matt Massey has no plan for this inevitable growth,” parent Gabrielle Pace commented on the counter petition on change.org, titled “Continue with the existing Capital Plan and build a new high school in the Sparkman High School District. “Our children will not go to an overcrowded Sparkman, just because it has a new performing arts center. Performing art centers clearly do not fix overcrowding problems in schools.”

Parent David Weis takes a different stance, stating that if the new high school is built, the dozens of programs offered at Sparkman will inevitably take a turn for the worse. As the Monrovia Middle School and Sparkman Middle School kids split in half, the diversity and communal unity will take a downhill turn to mediocrity.

“I don’t believe that both schools will be able to sustain the level of award-winning programs we have today,” Weis said. “People say that a smaller high school offers greater opportunity but if you look at the band as only one example, you see that is not going to the be the case.”

With a 245 member band, the students have brought home countless awards and titles over the past decade.

Splitting the band in half will drastically reduce the amount of musicians going to competitions and consequently, reduce the amount of recognition given to a group who thrives on strength in numbers.

Senior class president Kyle Anderson believes the new high school would divert much needed resources from the current school. Kyle stands by the idea that a new high school will not help the community.

“If we invest in Sparkman instead of a new building, we have the potential of having the best high school in the state rather than two mediocre ones and an even more underfunded county system,” Kyle said.

Kyle has kept a vested interest in the development of the new school as the conversation has evolved. Once Massey was elected into office, Kyle contacted him about speaking on behalf of the new school protesters. After addressing the Board at the Jan. 15 MCBOE Board meeting, Kyle began to generate a deeper reflection on his school.

“I feel that many of Sparkman’s opponents have a misguided view of Sparkman itself. The [Jan. 28] fight was a prime example of that,” Kyle said. “The media blasted Sparkman, and those on the outside don’t realize what actually happened because they don’t attend Sparkman.”

The Wednesday morning fight did attract media attention. News vans came and went all morning and the online stories that followed only hours after the fight ensued angered students, teachers and parents alike. This event is only one stepping stone that fueled the growing fire.

“I think that if many of Sparkman’s opponents spent any considerable amount of time in Sparkman that they would reconsider their views,” Kyle said.

Weis affirms his beliefs about Sparkman, stating that the school is “no different from any other school in the US and is “a terrific school.”

“I am proud of the students at Sparkman, and I am saddened that the good name of Sparkman has been tarnished in this entire matter,” Weis said. “Sparkman has, and will always stand for excellence, and I would encourage the students to keep their heads held high, and rise above the fray that is ongoing.”

Alumnus Patrick Fitzgerald created an organizational battle cry three years ago titled “Stand for Sparkman.” And now as the new school debate heats up, Kyle and Buckhorn High School senior Grayson Everett have awakened the cause.

“Our hope is to give supporters of Sparkman a microphone to share their opinions,” Kyle said.

“Ultimately, we hope that by rallying enough support the Board members will decide against building the new high school. If nothing else, we hope to unite Sparkman and show the world that it is a great school to attend and a great area to live in.”

Everett stands on the same side as Kyle, generally seeing that an entire new high school will be detrimental to Sparkman and surrounding communities.

“In essence, the decision makers who affirm the potential new school’s argumentative validity are saying ‘because we’ve had this not-so-good idea in the works for a while, we should progress it simply because it’s already happening,’” Everett said. “A bad idea, manifested over time, does not turn it into a serviceable one, and especially not a good one. Other than flimsy anecdotal and emotional appeals, I have heard no justifiable claims for the new school − even from the highest reaches of our county governance.”

The community has taken to social media with the hashtag #StandForSparkman to voice their opposition to a new school. A petition was created by a student in order to bring light to the strengths of a more united school. “The voices of the community have been ignored as the plans to build the new high school have been pushed forward,” the petition reads. Everett has diligently retweeted, shared and posted the movement, leaking #StandforSparkman to the Buckhorn High and Hazel Green High communities. Signal-boosting has fanned the flames of the growing Stand for Sparkman movement, and it has received considerable feedback and support.

“Personally, as well as organizationally, I’m going to continue to amplify the voices across the county that want a strong Sparkman, and a strong Madison County,” Everett said. “It’s been incredibly heartening over the course of our work so far to be able to hear from students, parents, and teachers in every single area that stand for Sparkman; they’re the majority of residents who want their leaders accountable, their schools thriving and Sparkman unified.”