New March Edition

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The

Crier

Wednesday, March 10, 2021, Issue 3

AL LOTTERY: POSSIBILITY TO BRING IN pg.50 BILLIONS Photo by: Katlyn Dickey

The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

INSIDE

2 | CONTENT

QUESTION

OF THE ISSUE

How has COVID-19 affected your mental health?

CONTENT | 3

2020-2021

Crier Staff Editor-In Chief

Madison Duboise

News Editor Myles Gollop

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“COVID-19 has impacted my health in many different ways, constantly staying in has really made me feel depressed at times.”

Opinion Editor

Emma Headrick

In-Depth Editor

Grace Moore

-junior Kaya Norris

Sports Editor

32

14

Ethan King Brody Wallace

A&E Editor Sarah Chase

Reporters

38

44

“COVID-19 has made me shut myself inside more than I ever have been before. It really can be a sad and lonely time for many, I especially feel this way at times.”

52

-junior Nathaniel Kline

Gabi Alexander Makayla Barchett Matthew Brown Kendall Cope Kyla Davidson Angela Ducote Rileigh Glassman Kameron Glenn Jacob Hiles Laylah Johnson Olivia Lake Anh Nguyen McKynna Stevens Tess Warren Donnell White

Adviser

Erin Coggins, MJE

08 35

News - Eating disorders cause life-long effects

In-Depth - First Amendment freedoms and what they guarantee

14 44

Lifestyles - New coffee shop employs people with disabilities

Sports - Alumnus signs with college after rough end of senior

32

40

Opinion - Capitol invasion proves division

A&E - See what Midcity has to offer

TheCrimsonCrier “COVID-19 has caused so many businesses to shut down and adjust to the guidelines. I am glad we are safe but it is saddening to see how many people have been affected by losing their job.”

-junior Emory Belgrave

sparkmannews thecrimsoncrier thecrimsoncrier Keep up with daily news on TheCrimsonCrier.com

4 | NEWS

NEWS | 5

The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

“Public opinion has continued has continued to shift in a pro-lottery direction.”

-Dr. Jess Brown

Making Bets Alabama Legislature goes for lottery bill, again Grace Moore- Editor

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he idea of having a lottery in Alabama first arose in the 1980s. Rep. Alvin Holmes of Montgomery, who is no longer in the legislature, became aware of the amount of money other states, largely outside the south at that time, were getting. However, he received almost no support from other legislators for the idea. A large percentage of the Alabama Legislature viewed even consideration of a lottery as “radioactive” in a political sense.

As another legislative season in Alabama gets started, once again so does the talk of a lottery bill. Surrounding states, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi have legalized the lottery, so many of the Alabama legislators who were initially elected in 2014 and 2018 seem to have a more moderate or flexible position on the lottery than those prior to them.

“A growing number of citizens and legislators now realize that Alabamians are gambling in other states and, therefore, exporting money from Alabama to surrounding states,” Jess Brown, Professor Emeritus of Athens State University said. “In 1998 Don Siegelman made adoption of an “Education Lottery” the signature issue of his campaign.

He promised to create a lottery program in Alabama with proceeds spent in a manner similar to Georgia. Although he won the governor’s race, and the Legislature subsequently presented a lottery proposal to voters in 1999, it was defeated at the ballot box. Fifty-four percent of those voting said no; 46% said yes to the lottery. So, even 22 years ago, when Alabamians voted on the lottery, it was competitive.”

In 2010 Republicans gained a large majority of the seats in the Alabama Legislature. A key part of the party’s message in winning that year was that the Democrats were the pro-gambling party. Every Democrat candidate for Governor since 1998 has advocated adoption of some form of education lottery. Since then, a few changes have occurred among the Republican Party in Alabama to cause the lottery to receive an implicit endorsement from Alabama’s Governor, Kay Ivey, and cause the Republican controlled legislature to seem poised to give serious consideration to a lottery in 2021.

“Public opinion has continued to shift in a pro-lottery direction, Brown said. “There have been several polls in recent years, including some sponsored by business and Republican-oriented groups, which suggest that almost two-thirds of adult Alabamians support adoption of a lottery. Support or tolerance for even other forms of gambling, such as casinos and pari-mutual wagering, has increased also.”

One thing that lawmakers must take into consideration in the proposal of an Alabama lottery is that the Poarch

Creek Indians have become a powerful lobbying force at the state Capitol in the last 10 years.

During the 2018 election cycle they gave thousands and thousands of dollars to candidates for legislative seats, including some in leadership positions. During the last two decades the Poarch Creek Indians have been authorized to operate quasi-casino operations lawfully in Alabama. Their three, highly profitable casinos are authorized by an act of Congress and may not be regulated, taxed or closed by state or local governments of Alabama. The Poarch Creek tribe is now one of the most profitable in the U.S. But, the state of Alabama cannot mandate by law that the tribe share its proceeds for the benefit of Alabama schools, roads, etc.

“Poarch Creek currently operates casinos on “tribal land” which exempts those casinos from having to pay state taxes,” Alabama Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon said. “However, because of the Alabama Constitution, Poarch Creek may only operate electronic bingo machines at their locations—no other forms of gaming that you may see in a Las Vegas casino. Where Poarch Creek fits into the picture is if the state were to enter into a “state-tribal compact” under the federal Indian Gaming Regulation Act (IGRA). Under Class III gaming of the IGRA, Poarch Creek would be allowed to operate all forms of gaming at their casino locations and would allow Alabama to share in the tribe’s revenues. If this were the case, the state could see revenue generation of nearly $700 million under a state compact allowing full gaming.”

The lottery is poised to bring a significant amount of revenue to the state. The lottery alone is estimated to bring

$200$300 million, gaming alone is estimated at $300-$400 million and sports betting alone is estimated at $10 million, with a grand total of $510-$710 million possible revenue from the bill.

“The pros significantly outweigh the cons,” McCutcheon said. “There is a very small percentage of people that ultimately fall into a gambling addiction and the state will have a framework in place to help those suffering from that problem. The main point is that the increase in revenue could help the state in numerous ways and help improve life for all Alabamians.”

Students have also shown to be invested in the benefits of the lottery and what it can do for them, including junior Matt Brown.

“I personally support an Alabama state lottery.

Lotteries are a good way to help grow and shape states’ local economies. It also offers the state a chance to make money and allow them to pay for more internal improvements,” Brown said. “The only real downsides to the lottery is it encourages gambling among adults and this can really take a toll on low income houses and neighborhoods.”

If a lottery/gambling bill surfaces in 2021, political analysts, including Dr. Brown, believe that there will inevitably be a fight about the distribution of the proceeds.

The legislature is unlikely to earmark a large share of the money for college scholarships, as they did in 1998.

“There will be great pressure to spend some of the new funds for K-12 schooling and for non-education services of state and local governments,” Brown said. “It is always important to remember that the more groups that directly benefit from the proceeds of gambling, the more likely the idea is to get the approval of voters at a referendum. And, always remember, because of a clause in the 1901 Alabama Constitution, the legislature cannot simply adopt a state lottery. It will require a vote/referendum by the state’s electorate.”

McCutcheon says that if a lottery system is implemented there would be costs from governmentsponsored treatment, prevention and education services, displaced tax revenue, as well as economic and judicial costs. The majority of those costs would come from people who have or develop gambling disorders. The initial money for the system will come from the taxation of regulated gambling.

“For the State of Alabama, in addition to providing a level of entertainment value, the benefits of a lottery boil down to economics,” McCutcheon said. “This is in the form of economic development opportunities as well as fiscal in the form of revenue generation. As the state sees more revenue generated from the lottery this provides more opportunities for jobs on top of more businesses looking to establish roots in Alabama.”

In 2019 Gov. Ivey undertook a politically cautious effort to prod some form of action on the issue of legalized gambling in Alabama. Approximately a year ago, Ivey appointed a study commission to assess the issue for her and the Legislature. It issued a large report in December, 2020. The commission did not explicitly recommend or condemn any form of gambling. However, it did emphasize the need for strict regulation of gambling and transparency in record-keeping, and estimated that the state would reap over one-half billion dollars in additional money for public services if both a lottery and casinos were authorized. In her 2021 State of the State Address, Governor Ivey did not give a full-throated endorsement for more legalized gambling, but she did comment positively on the benefits to be derived from it.

“Action by a Governor is critical in a dramatic policy development of this sort. And, Governor Ivey is the first Governor in 22 years to prod the legislature to act on this issue,” Brown said. “The widespread perception in Montgomery and among close observers of legislative politics is that the Poarch Creek Indian tribe has sufficient political leverage to stop a lottery unless the tribe is also given a right under state law to do two things - expand the forms of gambling that they conduct at their current facilities and open a casino in other locations, especially the Tennessee Valley region of the state. In spite of these pro-lottery developments, there is still a segment of voters, largely Republican, who oppose an expansion of gambling in the state. Republican legislators from some of the most rural areas of the state might still find it difficult to vote for a lottery.”

Gov. Kay Ivey’s Study Group on Gambling Policy

70.8 % strongly favor

10.2 %

somewhat favor

25 %

strongly oppose

5.8 %

somewhat oppose

4.2%

refuse to answer 500 people polled

Illustration by Olivia Lake

6 | NEWS

The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

NEWS | 7

COVID can impact teens’ mental health status McKynna Stevens-Reporter

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ith it almost being a year since COVID caused a global lockdown many people have had their mental health affected. Social interaction is something all people crave but with this pandemic it is difficult to come by. COVID has disrupted life in various ways, but schools seem to be a part of life most affected. Many schools around the world are still closed or doing virtual learning.

With all that said, Madison County’s mental health counselor, Portia Hines offers monthly mental health resources. If reaching out to a trusted adult can not happen this resource might help. It includes symptoms, tips, resources and more.

One in six U.S. youths ages 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year and one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year (nami.org). COVID-19 has not made this any easier on anyone.

“COVID has confirmed to me that establishing mental health protective factors will continue to be a daily practice in my life,” Hines said. “By utilizing quality self-care, using healthy coping skills, and developing

school and summer plans. I had begun to make many upperclassmen friends through choir and theatre and I never got to give them a proper goodbye,” junior Danielle Otey said.

The lockdown cut school short and pretty much cancelled summer.

Summer is the time for most people to relax and have fun with their friends. The pandemic caused most of that to not be possible which does not help with mental health. It gave people more time to just sit with their thoughts.

“It ruined soccer season, planned vacations, and also not being able to see my friends and family,” junior Stanley Priego said.

Many people did not get to do things they were looking forward to. People had more time to just sit and think about all of the fun things instead of getting to make those memories.

“I feel like when things get more normal, I will be hesitant to hang out with people again,” Otey said.

COVID-19 has also put an affect on social skills. With little to no social interaction it is hard to keep up with your social skills. This generation already uses technology a lot and this just gave another excuse.

“I am also taking AP classes and the workload is a little more than I am used to. It can be so easy for me to get distracted by little things or go on my phone,” Otey said.

School is not easy online and can have a major impact on grades. It is a difficult adjustment that has caused many people to be more depressed.

It is okay to not be okay. If you find yourself needing help please reach out to family or friends.

“If a student finds themselves of hurting (having thoughts of hurting themselves or someone else) call 911, text SHARE to 741741, or call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK to access help 24/7’” Hines said.

“COVID has confirmed to me that establishing mental health protective factors will continue to be a daily practice in my life.”

-Portia Hines personal emotional intelligence prior to life becoming stressful prepared me to deal with these challenging times.”

Nationally there has been an increase of individuals from all ages seeking mental health services throughout the pandemic. Students report experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety, but not having the skills to deal with those feelings in a healthy way.

“COVID-19 ruined a lot of my

Signs of Distress • Unusual changes in mood.

• Loss of interest previously enjoyed.

• Less interest in schoolwork.

• Problems with concentration and memory.

• Changes in weight and eating patterns.

• Changes in appearance.

• Difficult time falling or staying asleep.

• Thoughts about suicide.

• An increase in risky behaviors.

• Stepping back from personal relationships. www.healthychildren.org

Photo Illustration by Katlyn Dickey

8 | NEWS

The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

NEWS | 9

Eating disorders can have extreme lasting effects, ask for help

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Olivia Lake-Reporter

he COVID lockdown has forced many to remain inside and isolate from the world; with a large increase in social media usage to compensate, body image among citizens has worsened, and with it comes an upsurge of eating disorders.

Eating disorders don’t occur spontaneously; rather, they start as a poor body image and slowly grow into a bigger and bigger problem, until the disordered person’s health is at risk. As the owner of Huntsville Nutrition Collective, a practice specializing in eating disorders, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Chelsea Edwards brings awareness to the signs of a deteriorating body image.

“It starts with awareness around body image, then restrictive behavior to “fix” the body image distress, which then turns into body image distortion, which furthers the ED behaviors,” Edwards said. “The isolation, changes in activity, routine, food, the stigma around ‘COVID weight gain’ have all impacted people.”

While it is normal to have bad body image days, it should not interfere with one’s ability to nourish their body. Regular eating habits can change based on a number of factors such as mood, schedule, and availability, and should take up only a small amount of time. It is important to recognize that while food should be a part of your life, focusing too much on food can be a hallmark of disordered eating and poor body image.

“I often see where people view good body image as a destination, like we achieve good body image and then it stays there,” Edwards said. “It’s more of a spectrum from bad body image to good body image and it is normal to be on the good end, but not always at the highest of that end.”

For an anonymous junior, living with an eating disorder has been a step by step process. It began with the simple act of forcing herself to regurgitate after eating sweets eventually progressing to full-blown bulimia.

“It started so innocently. I was just trying

to shed a few pounds before last year’s homecoming,” she said. “I dropped those few pounds and began to like what I saw. It got out of control and I knew then that I needed help.”

The junior eventually told her parents. By this time, she was severely malnourished and stood at 82 pounds. She wore baggy clothes while at home to keep it hidden, but her parents had suspected something was wrong.

“It felt good to tell someone,” she said. “I wanted to stop. I wanted to be healthy. My parents took me to a counselor who set me up with a dietitian who helped me establish a diet. It is something that I will never fully recover from but I can treat it with the proper diet and proper counseling.”

Dietitians can help to provide tools and educate people about body image revolving around the body’s nourishment. They calculate one’s energy needs, create meal plans, dismantle harmful myths, and aid any physical issues that occur on the recovery journey. All of these steps are vital to helping an eating disordered person regain their health and a positive body image.

“The best way to find the right diet for you is to work with a dietitian,” Edwards said. “We look at all aspects of your health, life and diet to find what works best for you while respecting medical conditions, cultural aspects, activity level and food allergies/ intolerances, as well as food preferences.”

Disordered eating can have serious consequences if left untreated.

Malnourishment can stunt the body’s development, and may cause the body and brain to deteriorate.

“The starved brain is an anxious and depressed brain,” Edwards said. “Body image is not accurate in this state typically, leading to lower body image and self esteem.

This typically resolves around the 12-18 month mark of recovery.”

There are many ways to improve body image. Appreciating what your body can do and forcing a positive—or even just a neutral—attitude about your body can impact how you view yourself, how you eat, and your overall mood drastically.

“There are lots of tools to [improve body image],” Edwards said. “Body positive body scan, neutral language toward body parts, working through a body image workbook, addressing underlying issues in therapy

Photo Illustration by Katlyn Dickey (trauma, family criticism, etc.).”

Recovery from an eating disorder is a hard, but doable process. Getting support is a crucial step; it can take the weight off the shoulders of the affected person, and ease the way for improvement.

“Tell someone,” Edwards said. “Ask for help. This is very hard to do alone. There is no shame in what you’re going through, and you haven’t done anything wrong. You can get better.”

Signs of eating disorders Sleeping Issues-Uncomfortable Eating Habits-Mood Swings Constant Weight Change-Skipping Meals-Fainting

10 | NEWS

The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

NEWS | 11

Dance team moves to smaller division Kendall Cope-Reporter

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Four Brains Working on their cybersecurity competition project, freshman Hudson Goffinett, seniors Hunter Goffinett, Casper Casey and Cole Arsenault use their time to discuss how they want to approach the category. The competition was held virtually so students were able to compete in their own environment. Photo by Kaitlin Longino

Cyberpatriot team makes school history Myles Gollop-Reporter

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tate champions for the first time, the CyberPatriot team capped off their season with a solid victory.

Led by head coach Mrs. Kaitlin Longino, the team defeated Grissom, Huntsville, Homewood, James Clemens and over a dozen more high schools to win 1st place in the state competition.

“CyberPatriot is a national cyber security competition created by the Air Force Association,” Longino said. “Sparkman has had a team for about five years now.”

The team competed in three round of competitions in the All-Service Division and the Army JROTC sub-division. They dominated in each one.

“The fact that we were that close, is just insanity.”

-senior Casper Casey “We finished in the Platinum tier (highest tier) in each competition,” Longino said. “All of our competitions are virtual and we were able to compete here at Sparkman. The third round is used to determine state winners and Nationals qualifiers.

We finished first in the state of Alabama in the All Service Division and third in the Army JROTC Division nationally.”

Seniors Casper Casey and Hunter Goffinett worked hard together the weekend before the competition. The two had to design their images, working on a Saturday for eight hours and still only completed 50%.

“I had to do the Cisco, which is like a networking competition while also doing my own image,” Goffinett said. “I was doing two things at once.”

Winning took motivation, and there was no lack of it during the team’s most consequential competition. Senior Casper Casey was focused, but not confident victory would come because of their lack of experience in the competition.

“We were not confident,” Casey said. “It’s crazy to me that we got first place, because there are schools like Grissom who actually have (official) cybersecurity teams and take classes for this.”

The team was extremely close to qualifying for Nationals in Bethesda, Maryland. It would have been the team’s first trip there.

“We were one place away from going to Bethesda,” Casey said. “The fact that we were that close is just insanity.”

Even though three of the team’s four members will be graduating this spring, the future looks bright for the CyberPatriot program.

“Next season will be a year of learning and rebuilding since our team was primarily seniors this year,” Longino said. “I do hope that this will motivate other students to join and encourage them to learn more about cyber security to lead us to another successful season.”

ometimes bigger is not always better. With cancellations and a loss of many seniors, the dance team will now compete in a smaller division for future dance competitions.

The team has seven girls and are coached by English teacher Katherine Neis. She ultimately decided to compete in a smaller division after realizing that the team’s competition scores could improve.

“A few years ago, after attending nationals in Orlando, and seeing our scores compared to other teams in the larger divisions and in the smaller divisions, we realized that our score in a larger division would have placed us in a higher position in a smaller division,” Neis said. “We decided at that time that we would make the switch from a medium competition team to a small competition team.”

The team is allowed to compete in the smaller division of the competition with 5-10 dancers. Neis hopes that in future years they will get up to 10 dancers.

“I would hope to have at least 10 girls on the team and possibly even have some alternates who can participate in pep rallies, basketball games and competitions. We have had that in the past and it has been wonderful for the girls and the team,” Neis said. “Having alternates gives girls the opportunity to continue to grow and work on their skills while still being a part of the team and getting to perform.”

Flipping Out Leaping with her pom poms, junior Emily Peddycoart executes an aerial. The dance team will head to national competition in April. Photo by Scott Lowe

Like several other events, tryouts looked differently this year for the dance team. They had to have tryouts in the middle of summer and many people were unaware of the tryouts or out of town.

“We have still had more girls on the team, but have only competed in the small division. This year though, I think COVID kept many girls from trying out,” Neis said.

The smaller team has been easier for Neis to manage so far, and she does not believe it is much different for the team.

“I don’t see how it will impact the team at all. If anything, it is making them stronger and closer,” Neis said. After the COVID outbreak, dance competitions were held virtually. The team placed sixth in the nation as well as first in Hip Hop at the NDA championship.

“We still compete at the regional, state, and national level, only now we compete against other small varsity competition teams,” Neis said.

Sydney-Belle Martinez and Emily Peddycoart are dancers on the team.

They both agree that the team now is stronger than ever.

“It is really not any different, it is still a lot of fun. The bond I have with the girls on the team and competing is

my favorite.” Martinez said. “No matter what happens, the team has always got you and is never gonna let you fall,” Peddycoart said.

Peddycoart believes that losing so many good seniors allowed the underclassmen a chance to step up and lead the team.

“Yes, we lost a good many of the seniors who were strong, but so far I think the team we have now is one of the best teams we have had. The girls we have are very strong and determined,” Peddycoart said.

12 | NEWS

The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

NEWS | 13

Pandemic causes challenges for local arcade Jacob Hiles-Reporter

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ocket City Arcade is an Arcade that was started

by Wall Street best selling author Herman Pool and his wife. They had created an arcade with classic arcade cabinets and a store that would sell old games, new games, and all those in between. His arcade was one of the premiere locations for retro gaming. It was the cover magazine of the February 2019 Funworld magazine, a trade journal for the global attractions industry. The person on the cover in March was Dolly Parton. They were looking to expand their business into a 30,000 sq. ft. facility with over 400 arcade cabinets and pinball machines as well as vr, go karts and mini golf.

“RCA was the Past present and future of video games,” said Pool. “It featured not only retro arcades, a shop that allowed you to buy, sell, and trade classic console games, vr, and e sports. We had written and designed our own free roam vr system called hyper portal rv that allowed you to hear, see, feel, smell video games.”

Rocket City Arcade was started by Pool’s wife, Anita. She wanted to start an arcade because games helped her in a hard time in her life.

“She wanted to give people a place to relax and have a good time if they were stressed,” said Pool. “During her second bout of stage four cancer, she found video games helped her recover and relax and wanted to share that with others.”

However, despite their best attempt to remain open, they had to shut down due to the lockdown. They had to work through many factors of the lockdown to remain open. At first, Pool closed their business temporarily to be safe.

“It was difficult to be a small business during the pandemic because it was hard to navigate people’s emotions during it. You are dealing with the people, media, and government all acting different to deal with the unknown. The hardest past was dealing with the government lockdown,” said Pool.

“Walmart was allowed to sell video games but we couldn’t. I went to a Walmart to look for some food and saw people buying video games. That was the last day we were closed.”

Pool received money from the federal government for his business. Even though he

owns a small business, the state of Alabama denied his request for assistance. The money he did receive couldn’t stop what was to come.

“Government handouts don’t fix the problem. We received PPP money but it only lasted us 2 months. After that we were on our own. There is a limit to how much the government can help in a situation like this.

Allowing people to be open would have fixed this situation.”

Pool tried to stay open after that. He couldn’t do that though. The combination of media induced fear and government overreach strangled his business and caused him to have no other choice but close down permanently.

“The media and the government targeted the entertainment industry harder than any other industry. Harder than restaurants, bars, big box stores. Entertainment venues were not allowed to open until weeks after everyone else,” said Pool. “Because of this, we missed our prime months for revenue and as soon as business picked up to pay the bills again, the media started increasing coverage positive cases again and people stopped coming to small businesses, but still continued shopping at Walmart, Loes, Home Depot, Kroger, and other large stores. Oddly, once we announced we were closing, we had our busiest December ever.”

Many bodies such as the WHO have said that lockdowns are a last resort, however many governments force lockdowns as a first resort to avoid criticism from the media- who get to keep their jobs whether they are in an office or at home. According to one study, lockdowns have caused the loss of more years of life due to suicide, drug abuse or another factor than years lost from COVID with no lockdown.

“Several leading international health bodies have said that lockdowns do not help. And the severity of the lockdowns have caused irreparable damage to small businesses mainly,” said Pool. “These are families who lost life savings and many cases their only means of income. Having been homeless myself, I can tell you that owning a small business is the best way to be truly free and escape poverty. These massive small business closers are causing the middle class to shrink.”

Thankfully for Pool and his family Rocket City Arcade is a side business and he has

many other means of income. However, not every small business owner is so lucky. Pool will be working this year and beyond to help other small businesses “I’m going to work with lobbies to help stop government overreach destroying small businesses. I’m the head of a nonprofit association for small business owners and our focus in 2021 will be to help small business owners to repair their business,” said Pool.

Pool has an easy way for the average person to help small businesses, go to them and buy from them over big box stores. Big box stores and tech giants don’t care about the average person or the communities they preside in, however, small businesses are more likely to care about the communities they are in. Supporting small businesses also helps people in your community instead of a massive bureaucracy far away and their billionaire owner.

“We would need people to come out and support us as well as they support Walmart

or Best Buy. The last month we were open was our biggest month. The problem was we couldn’t stay open because we didn’t know if someone in the media would announce something else that would scare people to stay home, said Pool. “It’s easy to support small businesses. Choose to support small businesses over mega corporations.

While an individual Walmart employs more than a small business, a majority of workers work for businesses with less than 20 workers. Supporting your community means supporting people closest to your community.”

Ding The arcade machines stand empty after COVID closed the business. Photo by Jacob Hiles

“Supporting your community means supporting people closest to your community” -Herman Pool

14 | LIFESTYLES

The Crimson Crier || Oct. 27, 2020

LIFESTYLES | 15

New coffee shop provides employment to individuals with disabilities

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Madison Duboise-Editor

n the constantly moving city of Huntsville, coffee is something that keeps its residents going all day long. New coffee shop Charlie Foster’s on Governors Drive has found a way to serve the community its coffee fix while also employing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The idea for Charlie Foster’s came when owners Austin and Hollie Jenkins were inspired by a friend that owns their own coffee shop in Opelika, Alabama. They became interested in starting their own business and decided to attend two coffee schools in Washington and California. Their friend helped them a lot along the way, answering questions and giving advice. Once the couple decided that they wanted to open a coffee shop, they just went for it.

“Our friend was our inspiration and helped us along the way with coffee questions. We also attended two coffee schools in Seattle, Washington and California,” Hollie said. “We first had to go to the bank to see if we could get approved for a small business loan, we did, and that started it all. We bought our equipment, found a location for our shop, then we completed all the legal and business paperwork you have to complete in order to open a business.”

They did know one thing for certain going in, they hoped to use this new business idea to employ individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This was something they both felt a deep desire to do, to help those with disabilities looking for employment find a job they were comfortable and happy with.

There were a number of steps including getting a small business loan and purchasing equipment. Once the couple got the process started things started picking up very quickly until COVID-19 affected the progress.

“The process was very long, mostly due to construction. The developer of the location we are at, Stovehouse was very far behind on construction and put us about a year and a half behind schedule. We have been very excited since the beginning,” Austin said. “We were nervous at first but since construction took so long our nerves calmed and we haven’t been nervous since.”

With many things already in place, the two only needed one finishing touch to continue, a name.

Drip Drip Charlie Foster’s is a multiroastery coffee shop, they are dedicated to leading the community to inclusion while providing high quality coffee. The shops grand opening was January 30. Photo credits Austin and Hollie Jenkins

Group Shot Austin and Hollie own and operate Charlie Foster’s which is open seven days a week.

The couple came up with the idea to start a coffee shop with some inspiration from a close friend, they started working immediately and came up with the idea to provide employment to individuals with disabilities. Photo credits Austin and Hollie Jenkins Austin’s family founded Merrimack Hall, a non-profit that teaches people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the arts. This is where their initial idea for employing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at their coffee shop.

“In the early 1900’s Merrimack Hall was Merrimack Mill, an old cotton mill, there was a boy at the mill named Charlie Foster that worked at the mill. He was only nine or ten years old and his father falsified his birth certificate so that he could be the legal age to work at the mill. An investigative journalist named Lewis Hein was going around the country taking photos to prove there were underage children working in

America,” Austin said. “He took a photo of Charlie Foster while at Merrimack Mill.

None of the other children looked at the camera for the photograph because they were scared to get fired from the mill. That photo of Charlie Foster was one of many photos that was presented to Congress to help enact child labor laws. We joke at Merrimack Hall and say it is haunted because creepy things sometimes happen there so we say that Charlie Foster is the “ghost” of Merrimack Hall. We employ people with special needs at Charlie Foster’s so we decided that Charlie Foster’s was a great name for our coffee shop.”

The shop sells an array of items besides coffee including tea and food. The mocha is

the shop’s best seller, they even make their mocha sauce in-house. They also sell a large amount of chai teas, cold brew drinks and nitro cold brews.

Since the grand opening, which was extremely busy, the response from customers and the surrounding community has been overwhelming for the couple.

“We are so grateful that so many people have supported us and will hopefully continue to support us,” Hollie said. “It has

been great and very fulfilling. It is a lot of work opening your own business so my husband and I have been very tired these past few weeks but it is getting better every day.”

The couple hopes to stay in the Huntsville community for years to come, providing high quality coffee to the community while employing individuals with special needs.

“We wanted to make a difference in the community and hope to lead the community to inclusion,” Hollie said. ”We

hope to provide even more opportunities of employment to our special workers when we open up other locations. We also hope that other businesses may follow our lead and provide employment to people with special needs one day.”

16 | LIFESTYLES

The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

Teacher featured on news, telling story of WWII war brides Tess Warren-Reporter

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eing featured on the news is the closest thing to fame ordinary people ever experience. Great Wars teacher Erin Coggins, stunned to see her presentation on C-SPAN2, brings awareness to the hardships and influence of war brides in America.

She made her presentation in July for the annual Friends of the National WWII Memorial Teacher Workshop. The theme was the aftermath of WWII, and since WWII war brides are not discussed much, Coggins took it upon herself to share their untold stories in her classroom and now the whole country.

She was unaware of her appearance on C-SPAN3 and only discovered it while watching church services on her computer.

She noticed several emails from people she did not know all titled ‘War Brides’.

“I got curious and opened them up. They were people all over the country commenting on my presentation on war brides that was on C-SPAN2,” Coggins said.

Her presentation reached people all across the nation and sparked a new interest in war brides. Coggins was shocked to see herself on the news and to see how it impacted others who shared a connection with war brides.

“It was really cool to get compliments on my presentation,” Coggins said. “Many offered me websites for me to learn more, told me stories about their mothers who were war brides, and offered to send me newspaper clippings or even books. I even received a handwritten letter.”

With the lack of public resources for war brides, this was a jackpot for Coggins.

These collectibles, books and stories will be treasured in what she calls her WWII room.

“My home office is decorated in World War II artwork. My bookcases are full of WWII books. I keep all of my WWII collectibles in that room as well, including a flag that flew over Guadalcanal that a student gave to me a few years ago,” Coggins said. “The chair is even red, white

and blue. I had it specifically made for that room.”

Along with other historical souvenirs, her WWII room holds the stories of war brides. Between 1942 and 1952, one million American soldiers married a million women from 50 different countries.

“The process to marry a foreign bride was a long one. They had to wait and it had to be approved by the Army before marrying. It required some 15 forms and extensive investigations. It could take up to a year to gain permission or receive a rejection,” Coggins said.

The American government greatly discouraged foreign marriages. The war department required overseas troops to obtain official permission before they were to wed, which did not come easy. If they wed without official permission it could lead to a court-martial.

“The women had to go through staying in Army barracks and being subjected to humiliating tests before being allowed to enter our country,” Coggins said. “There was a holding center and it was called Tidworth Transit Camp in England. It was in a poorly heated dormitory and they were fed by prisoners of war, so it was not a happy reception at all. Some even gave up before they made it to the U.S. “ Although it was advertised as a country club, it was nowhere near one. Several of these exams were degrading and personal in a female nature.

The majority of war brides were raised in a highly sheltered 1940's upbringing. They were simply astonished at how they were being treated.

Although they finally reached a deliverance in 1945 when Congress enacted exceptions to the immigration act of 1924.

“The Queen Mary transported 12,886 war brides and children to the U.S. from Britain.

It was previously used to transport soldiers back and forth to England,” Coggins said. “I know that my husband's grandfather sailed

LIFESTYLES | 17 on such a ship. It was not a pleasant trip. My grandfather-in-law always talked about that.

The worst time he had was sailing on The Queen Mary and being sick.”

War brides coming to America did not begin until after the passage of this bill. The first operation derived from Southampton to New York with 750 brides on it. When the war brides arrived in the U.S., the grand homes several women were promised by their husbands turned out to be nothing but a rickety farmhouse.

“A lot of them had been lied to about what to expect,” Coggins said. “Some of them entered abusive relationships in the

Welcoming War Brides Great Wars teacher Erin Coggins shares the history of war brides with sophomore Kendall Cope. To the right, a war bride lifts her child with a smile on her face. Below, group photo welcomes war bride into American family.

“Imagine leaving your home and family to travel to a new country thousands of miles away for love.”

Photo by Tess Warren and courtesy of The Library of Congress

United States. They were afraid to return home for fear they might lose children. Some of them came into a family that had a discriminatory look at them for being from a different country, so the reality sometimes fell short.”

Leaving their family, their home and their country was the most difficult. They thought they would never see their family again, and in some cases that was the truth.

Although their husbands may have disappointed their expectations, America’s distance from the war and safety did not.

“A lot of their families wanted their daughters to go. They lived in a war-torn area. They wanted them to have that peace and security they felt the United States provided them,” Coggins said.

War brides were torn between retaining their own heritages and conforming to American culture.

They were pressured and ridiculed by their husband’s family, their neighbors and sometimes their own family.

“This really depended on what country they were from. The British tended to keep those

traditions and not be looked down upon as others from other countries,” Coggins said.

“Asian brides were not as welcomed as white brides. These ladies struggled more discrimination from their families in Asia than they did in America. Some couldn’t believe they would leave their culture behind.”

Regardless whether some conformed entirely or just barely, their resilience to continue practicing their culture despite oppressment led to America as we know it today.

“They brought their culture to our country which had an impact on their children and their children’s children. Their culture helped enrich our country in many ways,” Coggins said.

Coggins admires these women because they encountered and overcame so many challenges and left their imprint in American culture.

“They had to endure so much just to join their husbands in the state after the war.

Some of them were promised things that were not true,” Coggins said. “There are happy stories and there are sad stories. What is cool is that these women were so strong.

Imagine leaving your home and family to travel to a new country thousands of miles away for love.”

War brides are great inspiration for taking that leap of faith. They were so brave to trust love, patiently wait and withstand hardship.

“I will leave you with this story. A lady fell in love. Her name was Eleanor. She fell in love with one of our pilots,” Coggins said. “They had been together for about a week. When he was shot down and taken prisoner of war. He made sure that he was able to write to her through the red cross.

They stayed in constant contact through his term. The camp he was in was what Hogan's Heroes television series is based on.

They were able to marry as soon as he was released. The war was over and he was able to get her to the United States and they got married.”

18 | LIFESTYLES

The Crimson Crier || March 10,2021

LIFESTYLES | 19

Teacher finds hobby in wedding planning Quaife looks to plan colleague’s wedding this summer

Quaife believes her communication skills have improved ever since she has begun wedding planning as a teacher.

“Being a teacher is still my career, wedding planning is more of a hobby right now. Actually, I believe that being a teacher helps me be a better wedding planner because teaching requires so much organization, multi-tasking, and communicating,” Quaife said. or some, being an English Weddings are different from what it used teacher and also a wedding to be when Quaife got married. Technology planner would be a challenge advantages have taken away the stress however, Renee Quaife enjoys planning the perfect wedding. what she does and views “Planning weddings today is much helping couples as a privilege and a hobby. easier than it was when I got married Like most wedding planners, Quaife in 2001. It is even easier than my first cares about every couple being happy and wedding as a planner in 2014. The instant making every effort to make it memorable. communication options that technology (i.e.

“On the day of the wedding, when that texts, social media, emails) provides make music starts and the wedding party begins to planning a wedding much more efficient make its way to the down the aisle, my heart and convenient,” Quaife said. “Also, most always flutters a little bit, and I get a little businesses have websites these days, which teary-eyed. It is in that moment that all the means I can do research about a venue or dreams of the couple and all the planning has photographer or florist for a client in the come to fruition,”Quaife said. “It is in that evenings and on the weekends.” moment, and the next twenty-five to thirty The unpredictable and stressful reality of minutes of the ceremony that hold the most the wedding process and family dynamics joy for me. Seeing the bride’s face and the has been the largest challenge for Quaife in groom’s face when they take it all in.” the wedding planning business, weddings Teaching has helped Quaife stay in general is a stressful occupation. Quaife organized and become better at multitasking. always has a Plan B and sometimes Plan C to help her get through the process.

“The most stressful and challenging part of planning a wedding is the uncontrollable thingsweather, illness, conflict.

Weddings are a highstress anyway, and family dynamics sometimes add to that stress. In terms of weather, have a Plan A, Plan B, and sometimes Plan C if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Also, we try to be prepared with the needed supplies ( i.e. umbrellas, tents, and towels ). There comes a point though in the wedding that it must go Quaife takes a selfie with her happy customer and new on.” sister-in-law Rachael Quaife. Photo courtesy of Renee Quaife

Kyla Davidson-Reporter

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Today, the biggest challenge to being a wedding planner is COVID. With social distancing and mask wearing, the normal wedding is no more. Quaife found this out this summer as she was contracted to do a wedding on June 20,2020.

“In March 2020 when everything was shutting down due to COVID and some other events in their lives, my clients decided to move the wedding to the following year.

It is currently planned for June 19, 2021,” Quaife said. “Even though people are getting vaccines, numbers seem to be settling, and we now know more about the Coronavirus.

There will still be changes to ceremony and reception set up and procedures.”

Quaife knows decorating and designing plays a huge part in wedding planning.

Spacing and making sure everyone is safe during the ceremony is what Quaife is concerned about in her upcoming wedding ceremony for her couple. Everything will be prepared professionally and individually sealed desserts will be a safety requirement.

And only a limited number of guests will attend.

“For the wedding I am doing in June, and I imagine many other weddings, couples are going to decide to decrease their guest count. That will allow for better spacing and safety,” Quaife said. “There are many different aspects of a wedding that involve multiple people being in the same place at the same time, doing the same things, touching the same items. Those aspects will have to be tweaked as well. For example, desserts are being pre-packaged in an individual container so that the guests know that it has been professionally prepared and sealed.”

Quaife knows dancing and the recessional, the toast and the tossing of the bride’s bouquet, all are important. That’s why she has guaranteed that it will be creative and still just as cherishable, even with COVID restrictions. Couples will still be able to connect with each other as long as they are wearing masks.

“The wedding party and families of the couple will spend so much time together during the week of the wedding, they will become a part of each other’s COVID pod, which will make the ceremony and reception easier for those individuals.” Quaife said. “ Other guests who choose to dance and mingle will do so in masks with as much space as

Strong Start Rachael and Nick Quaife say their vows in front of family and friends. This was Renee’s second wedding to plan, two for two of successful outdoor weddings. Photo courtesy of Renee Quaife

possible.”

Besides the June 21 wedding, Quaife is also planning fellow English teacher, Katherine Neis’, wedding. Again, she is dedicated to making sure the wedding is as normal as possible.

“The biggest change, in my opinion, will be the presence of masks. We will also have to space people a little differently as they sit to watch the ceremony, but that’s not a complicated task,” Quaife said, “ I think it will still be a

beautiful, dream day for the couple and their family and friends. Weddings are about the couple starting a new life together, not the venue or the flowers or the cake; it’s about the people and memories.”

Quaife herself is excited about Neis’s wedding coming true for her through togetherness and support.

“I love weddings. I love the notions of this being the beginning of a beautiful life of love and togetherness and support,” Quaife said.

In the future years to come, Quaife looks forward to the upcoming wedding events that hold so much meaning. Capturing moments and memories

“I believe that being a teacher helps me be a better wedding planner because teaching requires so much organization, multi-tasking, and communicating”

with photos and videos. Quaife treasures the endless options of venues, attire, and food as well as the interaction with the couple and their personality together. Quaife believes their memories and the couple being happy with each other is more important than tradition.

“Just like everything else in life, weddings are continuously changing. There are new ways to decorate. There are new ways to capture the day with photos and videos. There are new options for venues and attire and food,” Quaife said. “ My favorite change in weddings over the years is that the wedding is more highlighting the interest and personalities of the couple than sticking to tradition. All of that means that I am continuously researching and seeking out updated procedures and plans to create updated ideas to make each wedding unique and special.”

20 | LIFESTYLES

The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

CTC leader discusses importance of CTE program Madison Duboise-Editor

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ollege is not always the end goal for all high school graduates. With a world constantly evolving and relying on technology, the need for college for many students has lessened. The Madison County School System takes pride in the Madison County Career Technical Center, which prepares students for the workforce.

Michael Romine is in over career academics in Madison County as the system administrator over career technical education

and workforce development. Romine has spent over 22 years employed in education after attending The University of North Alabama earning a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and marketing education as well as Alabama A&M University earning a Master’s degree in K-12 educational administration.

Romine has been with Madison County Schools for over 20 years, from 2000-2008 he worked at the Madison County Career Technical Center as a marketing education teacher and the cooperative education

coordinator. He then moved to Hazel Green High School until 2012, He then became the career technical education director of Madison County Schools and the administrator of the Madison County Career Technical Center. In 2020 he became the system administrator of career technical education and workforce development.

Madison County Schools currently operate 36 career technical education programs in six high schools, Romine is over developing and planning instructional

LIFESTYLES | 21 programs that expand workforce development efforts.

The Madison County Career Technical Center is a unique learning environment. It is operated under the Alabama Simulated Workplace model. Teachers at the CTC treat students as employees of a business rather than students in a class. This lends itself to students being treated differently than at a traditional school. Classes are smaller at the CTC a majority of classes are no larger than 20-25 students and therefore students have a greater opportunity to utilize equipment related to the career field for which they are exploring or preparing for.

“The number one thing that the CTC offers students is an opportunity to explore career options in order to discover what they like and what they are good at. One of the CTC’s main points is that students will learn what they want to do as a career or what they don’t want to do as a career. Either way a student has narrowed down a career path,” Romine said.

Romine has spent a majority of his career and even part of his high school life at the Career Technical Center, he attended Bob Jones High School in the early ‘90s. Romine never really excelled in school and questioned constantly of his teachers “where am I ever going to use this”.

As he entered the 11th grade a teacher from the CTC came to Bob Jones and talked about a program called Marketing Education Co-op, you went to school half a day and attended the CTC two days per week and went to work three days per week. To Romine this sounded like a dream come true, he enrolled. He began to find his love for marketing. The CTC opened Romine’s eye to the world of career-based teaching and learning.

“As I went through the class I started to realize that core academic subjects actually had uses in the Business/ Marketing world. English is important because you have to write

love with education and that is what they say is history. I have been working in education ever since I graduated college.”

The CTC shaped Romine’s life in ways he could never imagine as a teenager. This program has put hundreds of thousands of Madison County students not planning to attend college straight into the workforce.

“The CTC gave my life direction,” Romine said. “As an adult working with the CTC and as it’s administrator I continue to see the difference that it makes in students’ lives.”

He knows the importance of giving students an opinion when it comes to posthigh school plans. The CTC is not just a place for students to find a career it also is a place for students to find new interest, explore and even grow experiences.

“Knowledge is power and not all knowledge comes from traditional educational experiences. Sometimes that knowledge comes from experience and that’s one of the main reasons why the CTC is so important,” Romine said. “The CTC is where the “rubber meets the road” and students show mastery of academic skills in the real world. In order to become employed.

Let’s not forget that the final endgame for a student is employment. Students who go to college are learning skills that make them employable when finished and students at the CTC are learning skills that make them employable when finished. It’s just a different route to the same outcome.”

Romine has experienced all the CTC has to offer from being a student to working as administrator of the center to becoming the system administrator of career technical education and workforce development. He now is over all the Madison County programs involved and enjoys assisting in preparing students for the workforce.

“Working at the CTC has shown me that students can be successful if they have skills, determination, and work ethics and that success is not judged by the amount of money you make. It’s judged by the difference you make,” Romine said. “I feel that the CTC and the teacher’s at the school love what they teach and their students. That is evident by the students who return and spend time with the instructors that they have had at the CTC. To this day I still talk to students that I taught many years ago and have enjoyed watching them grow up and become productive members of society.”

“Knowledge is power and not all knowledge comes from educational experiences. Sometimes it comes from experience.”

Michael Romine

Working Away Michael Romine spends a majority of time at the Career Technical Center working with on bettering all career operations in Madison County.

Romine spent years working for the Career Technical Center and loving still being involved with the school. Photos by Erin Coggins

correspondence to clients and colleagues so it better be grammatically correct. Math has real implications for business because profit determines survivability. History is important because you better understand what happened in the past or you will be doomed to repeat it. Science is all about critical thinking and that is the lifeblood of business,” Romine said. “When I graduated high school I decided to get a degree in Marketing and as a favor to my mentor I added the teaching certificate to my degree and when I did my student teaching I fell in

Getting Tech-ed The Madison County Technical Center and CTE program offer a variety of classes, including car mechanics, law enforcement and cosmetology as seen above. Students can also take courses at their local school, including culinary, business, medical, engineering, photography and JROTC. Photos by Erin Coggins

22 | LIFESTYLES

The Crimson Crier || March 10,2021

LIFESTYLES | 23

Student’s brother finishes chemotherapy, St. Jude home for him while battling cancer

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Makayla Barchett-Reporter

ancer is a secret unknown battle that many people will experience or are currently enduring.

Hundreds of people throughout the United States are having to survive the pain and tribulation of this unexpected disease or perhaps watch the effects it has on a close loved one.

Many around the world have had or are having to battle the hardships of this particular disease. Senior Alden Hall experienced a discouraging time in life as his nine-year-old brother, Trey, has had to fight Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia since February of 2018 and has just recently finished his last treatment of chemotherapy.

“When Trey finally finished his treatment, I felt an extraordinary feeling of happiness, excitement, and relief. It was a very long journey and it was awesome to see Trey cross that final finish line in his healing,” Alden

said.

Support can be a significant part of helping an individual successfully conquer any hardship.

As Trey underwent his battle with cancer, he depended on the essential people in his life who truly helped him along the difficult road.

“My mom and dad, brothers, all of my grandparents, my friend Greg, stayed with me when I was at St. Jude and took me to all of my weekly appointments once I came back here, and my church prayed for me. Many of my school friends from Monrovia sent me gifts and cards while I was at St. Jude,” Trey said.

Sometimes change can be good while other times it can affect the person negatively. The cancer had not only affected Trey’s health but limited what he could enjoy.

“I loved being in sports and I had to give up basketball and baseball. I couldn’t go on any vacations because of my low immune system. I couldn’t go to school, and I couldn’t go to many birthday parties with friends,” Trey said.

Many who have been affected in a physical way and decided to put themselves under a medical staff’s care can say it has benefited them in numerous ways. Alden’s parents, Chris and Emily Hall, give an insight into how St. Jude had impacted them very positively.

“St. Jude is such an amazing hospital.

From the moment we walked in their doors, they took care of everything we needed.

All of Trey’s medical expenses, housing for us for 6 months there on the property, and every meal. They are such smart, kind, and compassionate people,” Chris and Emily said.

“Without Danny Thomas having a vision to create this research hospital, so many may not have survived. St. Jude has brought Trey’s type of cancer to a 94% survival rate because of the donations from around the world which have enabled them to research, find cures, and save children. St. Jude will always hold a very special place in our hearts.”

As Alden watched his younger brother move to St. Jude, he continued to grow his faith in God even through the painful moments.

“I had many negative feelings throughout his illness, such as worry, anxiety, sadness, and fear, as any family member would when their loved one is battling something that serious.

However, throughout the whole process, my faith in God grew stronger and stronger,” Alden said. “All of the wins and progress made throughout

his treatment reminded me that we serve a powerful God who is in control of Trey’s life. Some of our routines had to change because my parents and Trey had to up and move to St. Jude in Memphis right after he was diagnosed. I had to take on more responsibilities at a young age to help keep things running smoothly here.”

As Trey continues his recovery, he gives some advice that could help not only

children but adults as they battle cancer.

“Just keep fighting, be brave, and it goes by quicker than you think when you’re just getting started with treatment,” Trey said.

Alden relied on his faith to remain strong as he continued to stand by his brother through his battle with cancer. He makes a point of how important his faith is to every aspect of his life and why he does not lose hope in situations he can not control.

“Grow in your relationship with God throughout the entire process. That is the most important thing that you can do. While going through a difficult time, growing in your faith and trusting completely in God is so important. Also, be an encouragement to your sibling. While Trey was going through treatment, it was very rewarding to find things that we could do together,” Alden said.

Finally Home Trey was able to leave St. Jude after finishing chemotherapy in January of this year. Hall’s family kept their faith in God to motivate and uplift Trey throughout his time at St. Jude. Photos by Alden Hall

24 | IN-DEPTH

The Crimson Crier || Oct. 27, 2020

IN-DEPTH | 25

Alumna pursues fashion education at FIT Madison Duboise-Editor

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he fashion world is constantly changing, from bringing back fashion trends from the ‘90s to Instagram ads of the newest styles it can be hard for teenagers and adults alike to keep up to date on trends.

Fresh new shoes or a plaid skirt can make or break a look or even your style in general, it is who you are and what you represent, many in the fashion industry pride themselves in always looking sharp, no matter the occasion.

For alumna Ryan Jacobs, this feeling of excitement reliant upon a new pair of jeans was something she felt everyday. Clothes have always been a huge part of her life since she was little and her love for fashion has been one that has not stopped growing since.

“My favorite part about going to school everyday was picking out my outfit the night before or the morning of. That is what I looked forward to, fashion is what excites me,” Jacobs said.

This love for fashion grew as she found the world of thrifting. In middle school she would go to the thrift store once a month and D.I.Y clothing items. It became something she fell in love with and had a huge influence on her style and knowledge of the fashion world.

During high school she decided she wanted to gain some retail experience before she went off to college. She decided to apply to work at a thrift school and ended up working there throughout the entirety of her senior year. Her love for passion grew seeing the items that went through the store each day. This love for fashion blossomed and she found herself thinking about what she could do with this passion besides just style.

“In high school, I pretty much wore whatever made me happy. I did not care if people thought it was ‘different’ or ‘weird’. I wore what made me feel confident,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs knew fashion was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, she decided she wanted to go to college for fashion. Number one on her top choices was FIT, Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, where designers like Calvin Klein and Michael Kors attended. It was her dream.

Jacobs’ parents wanted her to go to school close by, she considered attending Belmont University and even SCAD because of their fashion programs.

“FIT was my #1 choice because of the connections and the experience I would be getting from this college,” Jacobs said. “I explained to my parents everything FIT has to offer, and how I know I would not be truly

happy at those other schools, FIT was where I wanted to be.

The application process at FIT is different than most colleges, not based solely on academics. Jacobs had to write an essay explaining why she would be a perfect candidate for FIT. “The essay was my only shot in getting in. I had to sell myself and tell them why I deserve to go to my dream school in only 500 words,” Jacobs said. “ The wait time was the hardest part. I applied in October and acceptance letters did not go out until the end of March.”

Jacobs watched as her friends opened acceptance letter after acceptance letter, she was still waiting to hear back from FIT. Her friends all knew where they were going to school around December, Jacobs was still waiting.

“When I received the acceptance letter via email I was jumping up and down and running around my house. It felt great to get accepted into fashion school, my dreams had become real, Jacobs said. “My parents began to understand and encouraged me to pick FIT, all of my friends told me to pick FIT because they thought it would be a great experience for me and that I would thrive at FIT.” This past fall Jacobs started online at FIT, majoring in Fashion Business Management.

“So far, my experience has been great, being online makes it harder for team projects and meetings, but it has still been great so far,” Jacobs said. “I like how we start off with our major and do not have to take courses that do not benefit what we want to do later on in life.”

While this is only the middle of her freshman year, Jacobs believes FIT is going to be something that will benefit her in many more ways than just giving her a degree.

“I think getting a degree will benefit me a lot after college but also the connections and help I get from the school,” Jacobs said.

“I believe FIT prepares its students by giving us the inside scoop and reality of the fashion world, many people can romanticize going to fashion school in New York and forget how cut throat the fashion industry really is. The professors do a great job of informing us on issues and topics going on in the industry.”

Right now the fashion world is still one of endless possibilities for Jacobs. She is open to any job opportunities that come her way.

She is focusing on the college experiences and hopes to spend the next three years making connections growing as a student. ”I would love to someday create a dogwear and accessories line for plus size dogs as it is hard to find clothes and accessories for plus size dogs that fit. It is a niche market

and people love their dogs and it would be a great business to invest in, in the future,” Jacobs said. “As of now I'm open to literally anything in the fashion world. Whatever job opportunity makes me happy and catches my eye. I could see myself as a fashion buyer, editor, stylist or really anything right now.”

Always Stylish Senior Ryan Jacobs love for clothes and fashion is apparent in her everyday outfits. Every time she left the house you could find her in her favorite newest styles. Photo credits Ryan Jacobs

26 | OPINION

The Crimson Crier || Oct. 27, 2020

IN-DEPTH | 27

BEING A BRAND

Junior spends time as clothing ambassador

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Gabi Alexander-Reporter

unior Josie Shallbetter, was given the opportunity to be a brand ambassador for Leaf in Creek, a shop at Parkway Place Mall.

Josie started the process of becoming an ambassador in August of 2020 and officially became part of the company in September. She heard about the opportunity from her sister, Bette.

“My sister was an ambassador way before I started, so I was used to helping her with the clothes and pictures. Since I was so used to it, I decided that it would be a good experience if I also joined. Bette

contacted the owner so we could talk over the phone.

After that I met up with one of the managers, talked about the position, then signed a contract,” Shallbetter said.

While being an ambassador, there are many things Josie has to do. This includes her having to do to the store to pick up anything that is needed.

“We have a schedule that gets put out that tells us the days when certain people come into the store to pick up the clothes. When I am scheduled, I head to the store and they hand me a bag with the clothes that they picked out for me. I then have either my sister or mom take pictures of me in the clothes in various locations.

After I am finished with all the pictures, I return them to the store and share my pictures,” Shallbetter said.

Josie has always been attracted to the store because of the wide variety of boutique/outdoor clothes, shoes, and outdoor supplies for camping, canoeing, etc. By being an ambassador for the company, Josie gets the opportunity to wear cute clothing, and then is allowed to purchase the items. Josie always looks forward to being able to show off the amazing clothes that Leaf in Creek sells.

“Leaf in Creek is a store where you can make great adventures possible! It is an outdoor store that sells some of the best clothing and great brands such as Chaco, Patagonia, Emo, Hydro Flask and so much more,” Shallbetter said.

Josie has been positively impacted by her experience as an ambassador. With her sister already being an ambassador, Josie found it easy to make friendships with all the nice people that the store is connected with, which makes it an enjoyable experience for her. Josie recommends that other students try to be an ambassador. You can become an ambassador by calling the store, or going in person to inquire about the opportunity.

“There has not been one moment that I haven’t enjoyed being a Leaf in Creek ambassador. All the girls that I do this with are so amazing,” Shallbetter said.

Picture Perfect Junior Josie Shallbetter strikes a pose in Leaf In Creek clothing as an ambassador. Photos courtesy of Josie Shallbetter

“There has not been one moment that I haven’t enjoyed being a Leaf in Creek ambassador.”

28 | EDITORIAL

The Crimson Crier ||March 10, 2021

Increase in minimum wage will lead to better life for many

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Staff Editorial O

ne dollar scratch offs, right across the state-line, the lottery is something taboo but it seems most that wish to in North Alabama manage to do it. The surrounding states have legalized the lottery and are reaping the benefits. Alabama is one of six the last states to legalize gambling.

Tennessee alone has brought in a total of 1.84 billion dollars in revenue from the lottery in 2020. While most against the lottery may argue that the gambling addiction rates would increase with the legalization of the lottery, while this is true, the increase would be slight. Studies in Quebec and Montreal did not find a positive link between proximity and the rate of probable pathological or problem gambling.

An estimated $450 to $670 million dollars will be brought in total between the Alabama lottery, gaming and sports betting if the lottery legislation is passed. The improvements from this revenue could have large impacts on education.

Sen. Del Marsh is the bill’s sponsor, the

bill would establish the Alabama Education Lottery. The revenue would be used for college scholarships and would go towards community college programs that match the demands for jobs in the state. The lottery would include multi-state games like Powerball and Mega Millions, as well as instant tickets.

This bill is not the first to enter Alabama legislature but it is already being delayed.

Officials against the bill have no clear evidence or opinion on why the legalization of gambling should not be allowed in the state while all other states are benefiting from the lottery revenue. While anyone under 19 would not be able to gamble, children across the state would be experiencing the positive effects legalizing gambling would bring.

The sacrifices a few may make to overall better our country is something that we believe is completely worth it. The fact Alabama has yet to legalize it and is one of the last six left and it needs to change.

What You Said “I think the minimum wage should be $15 because of the rising prices of living and the taxes on everything increasing.” junior Joseph Collier

OPINION | 29

“The minimum wage should be around $20 in my opinion.” junior Millie Brown

“I think the minimum wage should be $8.50, if it goes any higher then that means price inflation could cause an economic depression.” junior Christopher Phillips

inimum wage was first introduced in 1938 as a direct result of the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933, an act put into place by President Roosevelt in an effort to protect the average worker from exploitation.

The minimum wage worker earned 25 cents an hour and often worked longer hours in an effort to bring home more money, a trend that we still see to this day. However, these efforts often proved futile. You see, 25 cents in 1938 is the equivalent to $4.54 in 2021.

Minimum wage was implemented to protect workers from exploitation and yet people struggle all across the country to pay their bills on it. After taking in all of this information, one can only draw one conclusion: people are suffering and there

taxes have been taken out. This may seem like a completely livable wage to the naked eye. But when one looks at the average cost of living, it becomes an outrageous notion to pay such a low salary. The median rent in Alabama is $998 alone, leaving only $210 to cover things such as utilities, groceries, etc, making it virtually impossible to survive.

Our current minimum wage was set in the wake of the 2008 economic crisis that left millions of Americans struggling to keep themselves afloat.

Even then, minimum wage should have been set much higher. When inflation and productivity are taken into account, it can be concluded that the national minimum wage should actually be closer to $24 an hour, leaving workers with a monthly salary of about $4,320. This would allow workers to be completely financially independent and live a comfortable life without relying on social programs such as food stamps.

So why haven’t we raised the minimum wage to a much more liveable one? Why do we continue to let people suffer under a program that is meant to help them?

It is obviously much more logical to raise minimum wage. Not only would this help millions of people who are currently struggling to get by but it would also allow for tax dollars to be rerouted from social programs to other important, more pressing issues.

People are suffering under minimum wage and it is time to do something about it.

“In order to truly understand why our current minimum wage is so ineffective and problematic, one must first look at how much a minimum wage worker earns in a month’s time.” is no logical reason to let it continue.

In order to truly understand why our current minimum wage is so ineffective and problematic, one must first look at how much a minimum wage worker earns in a month’s time. On average, minimum wage workers work about 40 to 50 hours a week for $7.25 an hour, leaving them with about $1,208 per month after

Emma Headrick-Editor

Fact 1

Adjusted for inflation, the minimum wage peaked in 1968.

Fact 2

The restaurant/food service industry is the single-biggest employer of nearminimum wage workers.

Fact 3

Twenty-nine states, plus D.C. and nearly two dozen cities and counties, have set their own higher minimums.

Stats from PewResearch.com

30 | OPINION

AMERICANS ESTIMATE THAT 36% OF THE NEWS THEY SEE ON TV OR READ IN THE NEWSPAPERS OR HEAR ON THE RADIO IS MISINFORMATION. THEY VIEW 65% OF NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS MISINFORMATION.

The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021 ESTIMATED PERCENTAGE OF NEWS ON TV, RADIO AND NEWSPAPERS THAT IS MISINFORMATION PER EDUCATION Estimated % of misinformation High School or Less

43

Some College

39

College Degree Only

35

Postgraduate

29

ESTIMATED PERCENTAGE OF NEWS ON TV, RADIO AND NEWSPAPERS THAT IS MISINFORMATION PER POLITICAL PARTY AND IDEALOGY Estimated % of misinformation

23

Democrats

42

Independents

51

Republicans

24

Liberals

36

Moderates

54

Conservatives

PERCEPTIONS OF MAJOR INTERNET COMPANIES’ MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES IN REGARDS TO MISINFORMATION

52 Identifying misinformation that appears on their websites or apps.

47 Identifying new stories that contain inaccurate information

2019 Gallup/Knight Survey

30 Identifying news stories that are biased.

OPINION | 31

Misinformation leads to ruination of country

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acebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even Reddit have been hotspots for false information. This false intel floating around for anyone looking for an excuse has caused a division in America that will only take national understanding of the truth to end. The more fake information someone sees, the deeper they dig themselves into a hole of lies. The only thing that could save them is the truth, but with so much information and so many takes on situations, how does one decide what and what not to believe. How does someone know what and what not is credible when they trust no one, but the people that feed them what they want to hear. If American society does not agree on truth, there will be no functioning society at all.

With all disrespect, disinformation skyrocketed when the last administration took office. So much to a point there was an insurrection on our Capitol based on claims that provided no credible evidence. Disinformation has also put senators in office who have claimed that Parkland, Sandy Hook, and 9/11 were faked. Credible news sources with an abundance of facts have been called “fake news” because the truth does not line up with a personal agenda and if there is a lack of trust in the media, the people who are here to “serve the governed not the governors” as stated by Judge Hugo Black deciding in favor with the press, then who does the governed trust?

As technology grew, so did the ways of finding news. Social media has provided a place to connect and inform, but it also does the exact opposite. Pew Research Center found that 93%of Americans receive their news online.

Thirty-five percent of that receive it from social media, which is only one percent lower than Americans who say they receive it from a news website or app. That one percent has made a big difference because according to Brooking.edu, “a solid majority of the country believes major news organizations routinely produce false information.” That belief only leaves one option to get what they believe is real news: social media apps.

Receiving news from apps that are not policed efficiently will only cause lies to spread faster and reach more people who are dying to find a reason for what they believe is correct. At that point the “news” someone receives from social media becomes less of news and more of an agenda post. MIT Sloan professor Sinan Aral and Deb Roy and Soroush Vosoughi of the MIT Media Lab conducted a study that found that falsehoods are 70 % more likely to be retweeted than the truth. That falsehood would also reach the first 1,500 people six times faster. Those stats are found to be in effect more to political news than any category. Politics affects the rights of every American, especially the ones who suffer from oppression, so that means that America needs to start agreeing on facts and less on views and agenda in order to really progress as a society.

If Americans continue to let falsehoods slide, there will possibly be no truth to fact if citizens continue to believe that everyone is lying to them. Credible sources are not just credited because someone thinks it is correct.

They are credited because of how and where they get their information. Facts are not facts because someone wants to believe it is true.

Facts are based on studies and data. Until America agrees on that, it will forever be a nation building its issues on conspiracies and lies. It will forever be an America divided because it is too ignorant to come to a national understanding of what is true.

Emma Headrick-Editor

“Facts are not facts because someone wants to believe it is true. Facts are based on studies and data.”

76% OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT MAJOR INTERNET COMPANIES HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ALERT USERS WHEN THEY ARE CERTAIN A STORY IS MISINFORMATION.

32 |OPINION

The Crimson Crier || Oct. 27, 2020

OPINION | 33

Highlighting our fragility Breaking down our democratic system how it was put in jeopardy

Laylah Johnson- Reporter

The Polls Speak:

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he United States of America is still a very young country with a lot of growth ahead of it. The U.S. Constitution is known as the first formal blueprint for modern democracy.

However, true American democracy came later than the founding of this nation with the declaration of independence; Later than when George Washington took Office in 1789. The symbolic birth of modern democracy was when George Washington wrote his farewell address and stepped down as president of the United States in 1796. This was the first peaceful transition of power in the U.S.A. and it made it clear that Americans have the right to choose.

The power to choose is what’s supposed to make this country democratic. But who was choosing for the black population until 1964 or the women of the United States until 1920? Did the Native Americans have a say when outsiders first stripped them of their land?

Hearing slave owners preach about ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ in The Declaration of Independence seems chronically hypocritical in contexts like this.

The Constitution itself is a fragile document. It’s extremely outdated and hasn’t been changed since 1992. It’s obvious the Constitution was written in the vision of white aristocratic males with only their demographic in mind. The fact that our founding document was never meant for citizens in the minority is disheartening.

And even when it changed in the minority’s favor, The work was never finished. After the Thirteenth Amendment passed and the slaves of the United States were set free, they were not yet full citizens. The Fourteenth Amendment passed and declared everyone born on U.S. soil to be granted all the

62% OVERALL

27%

REPUBLICANS

privileges and immunities of a United States citizen.

The domestic terrorist attack at the U.S. Capitol, following Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally, highlighted the fragility of our country. It was a violent day resulting in the loss of two officers and the Confederate flag flew for the first time in the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. It didn’t even make it inside the Capitol during the Civil War. The lead up to the attack was clearer than some would like to admit. There has been a steady chain of events approaching the insurrection. We saw his signs early on: His explicitly racist speech, him asking a foreign leader to meddle in a presidential election, his lack of knowledge of working class Americans, him refusing to accept the outcome of a democratic election, etc.

People disagree all the time. That’s why we have a democratic system.

But when a piece of the system fails or a political leader undermines the integrity of it, the entire thing is at jeopardy. John Adams wrote “a division of the republic into two great parties … is to be dreaded as the great political evil.”

Our two party system has made it to where our politicians primarily vote with their own party, not with the interest of Americans. They don’t try to choose the right thing to do; There are no real independent thinkers in government at the moment.

That’s a problem.

Donald J. Trump is the first United States president in history to be impeached twice. He’s also the first to be tried after leaving office. His second

impeachment started one week before his term limit was over. It may seem like overkill to people on the outside but the U.S. Senate made that decision to protect the

presidential office and the United States public from the type of conspiracies and leadership that led to what many called an insurrection on democracy. The United States Senate Republicans acquitting Trump even after the events at the Capitol underlined the stronghold he had over the Republican party.

Trump’s win came after a flimsy defense; It’s apparent that our political leaders care more about a single man’s approval than the well-being of American people.

93% 55%

DEMOCRATS

INDEPENDENTS

SHOULD THESE ACTIONS BE CONSIDERED A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY? Illustration by Kameron Glenn

34| OPINION

The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

OPINION| 35

Photo Illustration by Kameron Glenn

Women deserve their dedicated history month

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Photo Illustration by Rileigh Glassman

Hollywood tricks with portrayal of high school

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Rileigh Glassman- Reporter

veryone thinks they know what high school will be like, but no one expects it to be nothing like the movies.

Coming into high school, we all have expectations, some realistic some not.

Growing up, this generation had movies such as “Mean Girls”, “High School Musical” and “Teen Spirit” that gave us these unrealistic expectations.

Unlike the movies there are no mean girls who walk in slowmo. In high school people who you do not know rarely pay attention to you. People tend to keep to themselves and their friend groups. There is not a lot of time in between classes for these big movie moments that happen per Hollywood’s portrayal.

Students do not have as much free time as the movies make it seem--so long lunches, picnics in the courtyard and classes where without work are unrealistic. People do not normally stand at their lockers for a long time, let alone even purchase lockers, so drama in the hallways rarely happens. High school is a lot less exciting than Hollywood wants us to think and there is a lot more homework.

Although there is a large amount of homework, teachers do not put as much pressure on you as your middle school teachers led you to believe -or at least not the same kind of pressure. You are expected to be a lot more independent and that can really help or hurt. The goal for high school is to prepare students for college, so teachers are more worried about students becoming independent and will not chase you down for just one assignment.

When I started high school, I expected to break into songs and choreographed dances, but that doesn’t happen. Movies and books glorify high school. Yes, of course it can be fun but it is not all that it is made out to be.

I can not lie to you, there are plenty of things I enjoy about high school. I love the independence that comes with being in high school. I have the opportunity to explore my interests with the classes that are offered.

People are not what they seem like in the movies but I do enjoy meeting and making friends. Although high school was not what Hollywood advertised, I plan on making the most of the rest of my time here.

merican High Schoolers are used to learning predominantly about men in history class. Particularly white men and what they contributed to American history. The exception is Black History Month where pupils tend to learn about the same three historical black figures. And women’s history month in March, which most people don’t know about or acknowledge seriously.

Until the 1970’s, Women’s history was generally unknown in the K-12 curriculum.

In recognition of the problem the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women initiated a “Women’s History Week’’ in 1978. It was not until 1987 Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month formally. It highlights Women’s contributions American History, culture and society.

Celebrating women is still as important today as it was 50 years ago. Some men wonder why one gender needs an entire month of praise to themselves. But when that gender has been discriminated against and disenfranchised since before the beginning of modern society, it’s entirely justified and more than necessary. Men and women worked together to build up this nation so why should we only learn about half of them.

So, they’ve taken a month at minimum to highlight their accomplishments.

While being struck down and only deemed worthy of ‘simpler’ career paths; being told what we can’t do, women have made it known that they are more than housewives and teachers. Some women you’ve probably never heard of include: Cecilia Payne who discovered the physical makeup of stars in the 1920’s. Ida B. Wells was who was an antiracist activist and investigative journalist in the 19th century. In her time, Wells published

“Southern Horrors,” a research pamphlet that speaks about how the alarming amount of lynching that takes place in the south are “an excuse to get rid of Negroes who were acquiring wealth and property and thus keep the race terrorized.” And Katherine Johnson, an American mathematician. Her calculations were critical to the first U.S. crewed space flights.

In World War II, women were used as spies working for the SOE (Special Operations Executive). This incredibly dangerous work had traditionally been for men so women were more inconspicuous as spies.

They would use stereotypes of helplessness and fragility as weapons and played an essential part in the War. These women, however, did not get the same treatment as their male counterparts. They wouldn’t get insurance like the men they worked with, so if they died their families wouldn’t be taken care of. They were executed more often than men.

We barely get to learn about incredible women like these in class. They are not names most people think about when it comes to American History. These are extremely valuable feats by women that commonly go unnoticed of forgotten. Without them America wouldn’t be where they are today. Women deserve recognition for what they contribute to society.

For little girls, knowing that a woman can achieve more than what they think is possible builds respect, appreciativeness, and self esteem. Knowing you have a place in modern society kills the notion “I can’t”.

Laylah Johnson- Reporter

“Women have made it known that they are more than housewives and teachers.”

36 | IN-DEPTH

The Crimson Crier || March 11, 2021

The First Amendment:

The five freedoms and what they guarantee

IN-DEPTH | 37

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of RELIGION, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of SPEECH, or of the PRESS; or the right of the people peaceably to ASSEMBLE, and to PETITION the Government for a redress of grievances.

38 | IN-DEPTH

The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

IN-DEPTH | 39

Organization fights for students’ freedom of speech “Being a part of New Voices Alabama has given me a platform to fight for my own first amendment rights as well as the rights of my fellow student journalists.”

-senior Madison Duboise

Sarah Chase- Editor

C

ensorship is the action that gives authority the right to cut out or silence communication. The people who tend to suffer from censorship are those a part of school publications, but the Student Press Law Center is working to pass New Voices legislation in every state. The goal is to give students the freedom to report on important issues that would otherwise go unreported.

SPLC was founded in 1974 and is a nonpartisan, independent organization that is filled with professional educators, journalists, lawyers, and others who care about the freedom of student press.

Hillary Davis works closely with students who are working to pass New Voices legislation, but each state’s work looks different.

“In general [they are] creating and growing statewide coalitions of students, advisers, supportive organizations and other advocates who believe in the free student press, working with legislators to write and introduce legislation, testifying before state legislature, organizing public events to get others involved, and combating myths about the student press and why the legislation matters,” Davis said. “Then, once the New Voices bill becomes a law, we work with communities to educate them about the law

POLL:

New Voices All the chapters of the New Voices have a meeting over Zoom. Photo by Madison Duboise

and the rights and responsibilities that come with it for students, advisers and school officials.”

Censorship became permissible in schools after a Supreme Court decision in the Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier case. The students at Hazelwood East High School wrote a story on peers’ experiences with teen pregnancy. The principal of the school deleted the pages without the students knowing and the Supreme court voted five-three that the principle did not violate their First Amendment rights. That case was

more than thirty years ago and Davis believes that laws like New Voices will protect students from the “subjective and overzealous censorship” that happened in that case.

“Right now, the rules are very vague about when school officials can and cannot censor student press. As a result, two different school officials may make very different judgements about censoring student journalists. Right now, this leaves many student journalists asking themselves not if a story is newsworthy or important or well-reported, but if it's going to be popular with school administrators,” Davis said. “New Voices laws make the rules clear, so student journalists can focus on truthfully reporting on things that matter to their communities. New Voices laws also protect advisers who refuse to infringe on their students' rights. Often, teachers have been asked to choose between defending their students or keeping their jobs - some award-winning teachers have been fired or reassigned because they supported their

students. New Voices laws protect those advisers and help keep student media programs strong and supported.”

Two challenges that New Voices advocates face are convincing those who are not in the journalism field of the legitimacy of student media and what it takes to craft student media as well as breaking the stereotypes that adult decision makers and legislators may have about student journalists.

“New Voices advocates work hard to overcome these by talking openly about their experiences with censorship and revealing the stories they have been prevented from telling, either because of overt censorship or self-censorship. These are ongoing challenges that advocates deal with until bills pass,” Davis said.

Fourteen states have been able to pass New Voices legislation while two have adapted administrative codes protecting press freedom and seven states have introduced bills. Right now, coalitions in several other states are working with themselves and advisors to get laws passed, but there are also student leaders who are taking control of each fight.

“We are working to ensure that New Voices places students at the forefront. We are a student-driven movement but have not always been a student-led one. This year we have our first group of New Voices Student Leaders, who are working hard to connect with other students and help them get more involved in New Voices. We are also working to check in on states that have passed New Voices laws to make sure those laws are being followed and enforced, and that students throughout those states know their rights and what to do if those rights are infringed,” Davis said.

Every role for New Voices looks different, but every part works together. Based on each state and what has been passed, students

get involved in the progress they have made. Involvement includes anything from connectivity to working with those in power.

“Some students get involved in outreach, meaning they connect with other groups or individuals to build our coalition and get them involved,” Davis said. “Some are involved in legislative strategy, which involves drafting bills and working to find good sponsors and cosponsors. Many choose to testify before the legislature in person, or to write or call their state legislators and ask for their support on the bill. Until a bill is signed by the Governor, there is always new work to be done.”

To get involved, Davis recommends messaging her directly or going to the SPLC website. She welcomes talking to anyone through the process in their state or even starting the chapter on their own. The students she works with are the ones that really make her passionate about making a difference and invite anyone who wants to do the same.

“Every day, I hear from student journalists who just want to tell the stories that matter to themselves and their communities, and for so long have been stymied because the adults in their lives get nervous about how other people - usually other adults, like parents - will react,” Davis said. “This does nothing to protect student journalists or any other student on campus from the truth, it just sends everyone to social media to share rumor and conjecture and keeps everyone less informed. New Voices advocates are often nervous about telling their stories, intimidated by the legislative process and worried about fighting back against censorship. But every one of them believes it is worth the risk, and I have never met a New Voices advocate who does not believe they and their communities are better for them having done so.”

What does freedom of religion mean to you?

“Being able to live your life based on your belief system. It means that The government definitely shouldn’t have a large effect in how you behave based on your beliefs. And that you should be able to practice the religion that you believe based on yourself and not any factors,” -Junior Elsie Bradshaw

“Getting to believing in what you believe in and practicing it without judgement.”

-Senior Shayma Arradi

40 | IN-DEPTH

The Crimson Crier || Oct. 27, 2020

IN-DEPTH | 41

Press making strong comeback after constant attacks Madison Duboise- Editor

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ake News. The press has it been under attack for years now. Dealing with harsh comments for the alleged spread of misinformation and outright deception. The media over the past century has shaped with monumental events such as WaterGate and the recent capital siege. Despite every hardship faced, journalists across the world wake up and continue on.

Freedom of the press is the right to report news or circulate opinion without censorship from the government. This, however, has not stopped the murder, harassment and attacks on journalists across our country. Previous leadership constantly discredited and bashed the media, whether it was through social media attacks or through violent comments.

Dr. Dianne Bragg at the University of Alabama has watched the freedom of the press change with court cases and events throughout history. From Tinker vs. Des Moines which shaped the meaning of freedom of the press for student journalists, all the way to the ruling of Hazelwood vs.

Kuhlmeier, which destroyed student media for many.

The First Amendment and all the promises to the people under it have shaped our country, we can freely live and speak with only a few exceptions without censorship. This however was not fully true throughout much of the middle of the 20th century up until right after WWII many Americans were still jailed for speaking out against the government. This prosecution for

sharing your opinions is something that is normal in other countries.

“The First Amendment is important to all of us, it is the one thing that sets us apart from so many other countries, it gives us the ability to criticize our government,” Bragg said. “There is a theory called the checking value theory that essentially says that the

press is the watchdog of the government.

If the press is not watching what the government is doing and paying attention to what is going on at all times then we would have no way of knowing.”

The First Amendment and its meaning to the people has developed and broadened over the years, everyone is using these rights

even lately with protesting and the increase of petitioning. We have seen the press louder than ever regarding Trump, the coverage of the BLM movement and Biden’s win in the election. This however has not stopped the accusations from citizens that their First Amendment Rights have been infringed upon, especially regarding Trump’s ban from many social media platforms.

“We always have to remember the true meaning of the First Amendment, we see so many actors and musicians fired from shows or agencies due to things that have happened but we have to remember the First Amendment protects us from government censorship, not censorship or restraint from individuals, groups or companies,” Bragg said.

The freedom of the press includes online media companies sharing news across platforms like news media companies as well as social media, print and broadcast programs. The media shapes a country, bias in the media is apparent but it is up to the people to do their own additional resources

to form opinions and ideas before making statements.

Thomas Jefferon said he believed you can not have a democracy without newspapers, without the press. He then went on to complain about the press after they gave him a hard time when he was president.

This could also be compared to president Trump’s relationship with the press including conservative platforms.

“You can see that about people, they seem to love the press when they are getting good press, when that changes they begin to dislike them,” Bragg said.

Watchdogs of society is a term used to define the press and the things they do for citizens in regards to covering the government and politicians.

“All of us can not go out to local and state public meetings, even more so on a national level, we all work, go to school and have lives, without the press we would never know what is truly going on at larger levels other than hearsay,” Bragg said. “Without the press we could not understand or even begin to bring change throughout the government, I honestly believe that our democracy would not function or exist with our press.”

Dr Dianne Bragg The University of Alabama

“The First Amendment protects us from government censorship, not censorship or restraint from individuals, groups or companies. ” -Dr. Dianne Bragg

5 OF MOST INFLUENTIAL STORIES IN US HISTORY October 1787-April 1788

August 31, 1946

Federalist Papers, by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, Independent Journal, New York Packet, and The Daily Advertiser.

“Hiroshima,” by John Hershey, The New Yorker

The Federalist Papers. Essays Written by Founding Fathers Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay defending the United States Constitution. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.

Ida Tarbell. American journalist, lecturer, and chronicler of American industry best known for her classic The History of the Standard Oil Company. Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons.

September 8, 2002

The Watergate Complex. The Watergate Scandal was one of the biggest reveals in American History. Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons.

November 1902

June 19, 1972

“The History of the Standard Oil Company,” by Ida M. Tarbell, McClure’s Magazine, Vol. XX, №1.

“GOP Security Aide Among Those Arrested,” by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Washington Post.

A hundred thousand people were killed by the atomic bomb. Survivors wonder why they lived when so many others died.Photograph from Rolls Press / Popperfoto / Getty.

“US Says Hussein Intensifies Quest for A-Bomb Parts,” by Michael Gordon and Judith Miller, The New York Times.

Hollywood Exposed. Harvey Weinstein, a powerful Hollywood mogul, has been accused by dozens of women of rape, sexual assault, abuse and harrassment during his three-decade reign of power in the film industry.. Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons.

October 23, 2017 Threats and responses. This story ended up playing a critical role in the Bush administration’s justification to launch the war. Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons.

“From Aggressive Overtures to Sexual Assault: Harvey Weinstein’s Accusers Tell Their Stories,” by Ronan Farrow.

42 | IN-DEPTH

The Crimson Crier || March 11, 2021

IN-DEPTH | 43

Opinion: Now, more than ever, freedom to peacefully protest is important Grace Moore- Editor

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he United States has a long history of protest and activism. Young people have often been at the center of those protests. Protestors have advocated and demanded change for child labor laws, workers’ rights, voting rights, civil rights, anti-war, school desegregation, immigrant and refugee rights, LGBTQ equity, climate change, Confederate monuments, racial justice, gun violence and more.

In addition to the current protests about systemic racism, the largest protests in U.S. history include The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in1963, Anti-Vietnam War protest in 1969, The Anti-Nuclear March in 1982, The March on Washington for Gay, Lesbian and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation in 1993, The Million Man March in 1995, The People’s Climate March in 2014, The Women’s March in 2017 and The March for Our Lives (student-led) in 2018.

When the landmark case for student’s freedom of speech, Tinker V Des Moines broke in 1969, it was also a breakthrough for student protest. When 13-year-old Mary Beth Tinker and a group of other students decided to wear black armbands to school in 1965 to protest the Vietnam War, they had no idea it would lead to a Supreme Court Case that would be taught in schools almost 55 years later.

Protests are one of the most important things to American Democracy. The “silent majority” (a phrase coined by Richard Nixon in 1969 in response to Vietnam War protests) refers to the supposed wedge that exists between protestors in the street and the voters at home. As protests grow in America, every facet of the electoral process is touched by this loud minority.

Up until his death, Martin Luther King Jr.

was adamant in his opposition to the Vietnam War. In his speech “Beyond Vietnam,” delivered in the heart of New York City at Riverside Church, he encouraged fellow racial minorities to push back against the war. He implored young college recruits seeking military service and ministers of draft age to become conscientious objectors, which meant they would refuse to serve in the armed forces due to a sincerely held moral or ethical belief that war is wrong. In referring to Vietnam, King, in 1967, stated that “these are the times for real choices and not false ones.

We are at the moment when our lives must be placed on the line if our nation is to survive its own folly. Every man of humane convictions must decide on the protest that best suits his convictions, but we must all protest.” Dr. King was of course, one of the strongest faces of true democracy that America has ever had, and this was only one of the times he encouraged the use of American’s freedom to assemble.

In spite of years worth of victories that resulted from protests in America, many lawmakers still insist upon pushing that voting, and not protesting, is the real solution to things such as systemic racism, and that slogans like “defund the police” hurt the ultimate goal of the protests. While voting for a candidate that will fight for the issues that you care about is important and a huge step in the right direction, it is not enough on its own. And as for harsher slogans like “defund

the police”, there are some things that we must truly press the deeper issue at hand for people to understand what this really means.

The attack on protesting by these figures is nothing new. During Barack Obama’s first campaign for president in 2008, he ran on the phrase “Don’t boo, Vote.” While the former president (who himself was an organizer of protests), was not directly diminishing on the act of protesting, he signaled that there was a priority. Prioritizing voting over protesting is a non-subtle way of devaluing marginalized groups. Voting is only one way people can exercise their constitutional rights to create the change they want to see, but protesting is another, and it is just as important.

It was the demand of massive, nationwide protests that caused the arrest of Derek Chauvin- the murderer of George Floyd.

Those same protests caused the Minneappolis City Council to vote to eliminate their police department and establish a ‘holistic’ approach to public safety. It was protests that caused some of the biggest worldwide companies such as Nike and Apple to invest billions into fighting racism and inequality.

In short, protests work. Sometimes they have a goal so big that they require generations upon generations to stand up for what they believe in, but they do work. Protests have inspired real change in the U.S., but the work is far from over. It is more important now than ever to make sure that everyone, especially youth of America, is fighting for what they believe is right.

Peace not War. Mary Beth Tinker and others wore black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War. Photos printed with permission by Creative Commons

Engaging In Protest

16% of black students said they expect to participate in student protests and demonstrations during college

40% of students said that becoming a community leader is a “very important” or “essential” life objective for them.

7.1% of white students reporting that there was a very good chance they would participate in student demonstrations.

40% of 2020 student activism has been focused on racial justice.

Source: EAB.com

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The Crimson Crier || March 11, 2021

Opinion: Students should use their freedom to petition, but responsibly

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Jacob Hiles-Reporter

f the five freedoms in the First Amendment, those being no establishment of a religion by the government and the freedom of speech, press, assembly and petition, petition is the least talked about. The right to petition means the ability to make requests of the government without punishment. This right can also apply to the school level.

While you are not petitioning the government, you would be petitioning an arm of the state if it is a public school.

Students do not lose their First Amendment rights when they enter the school building.

This was decided in the Supreme Court case Tinker vs. Des Moines (1969) when some students were suspended for wearing an armband in protest of the Vietnam war.

Many students have petitioned their schools to make changes. One school system was considering moving the start of the school day from 7:58 a.m. to 7:20 a.m. One student decided to attempt to get signatures from her fellow classmates to get the school board to stop the change.

She also started a social media campaign and got support from other students, but also teachers and parents. She presented her petition to the school board and not only got them to stop the change, but pushed back the start time until 8:55 a.m.

More recently, a school system, after pushing back the date to allow students to learn and interact with people outside their family due to COVID, extended the time that students would have to be working on their school work.

The student claimed that increased screen time would damage their eyes and that it was not a welcoming environment to learn;

however, this did not work out for many reasons. First of all, the reason for the petition could be reduced to a student simply wanting to get out of doing school work. There is also the fact that the petition was done on change.com. This website was a good idea, but now that anyone can create a petition and reach thousands of people from all over the country, online petitions have lost their pull and do not mean much anymore. A petition works better on paper and distributed in person. This may be more work and it may not reach as many people, but it will mean more to the people being petitioned if it is on a local level.

Locally, seniors at Buckhorn High School last year were faced with having to graduate in two groups because of COVID guidelines.

This news came after the senior class losing their prom, spring sport season and everything else one expects to do their senior year. The seniors petitioned the Central Office to make their graduation a single event. The result was a combined graduation ceremony. A few years ago at our own school, some of the marching band members started a petition to allow males to practice without their shirts. This petition was not successful, but at least students took a chance on trying to make change.

Success or failure, under the First Amendment, students have the right to petition the school entity in order to make changes. The key for students who wish to do so is to be smart about the way you approach the petition as well as asking for a reasonable change. These two things will lead to a more successful attempt.

Artwork by Leo Duboise.

SPORTS | 45

Ready, Set Match

5 Questions with Boys’ Tennis #1 Seed Ethan King-Editor What has been your biggest win of the season?

My biggest win of the season was against Grissom in doubles. Me and my partner, Josh Comer, were not playing well and got down 1-6. We pushed through and finally won 11-9. He and I have played together since freshman year. We work well together, using his height at 6’6 as an advantage.

What are your goals for this tennis season?

My goals for this season is to make an impact at section and hopefully make it the finals.

How have your worked on your game during the off-season?

Throughout the off season I took private lessons with a tennis group in Huntsville. I also focused on the fitness aspects as well

What do you feel is your biggest advantage on the court?

I think my quickness and my athleticism allow me an advantage on the court

What motivates you to bring your A-game to every game?

I like winning and hate losing, I’ll take a loss here and there but it only motivates me more to play harder.

Waiting on the Ball Watching the ball closely, junior Ethan Cuzzort waits on his chance to return the serve of a James Clemens’ player.

Cuzzort defeated his opponent in singles at this match. Photos by Erin Coggins

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The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

SPORTS | 47

Alumnus signs with college after tough senior year

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Ethan King-Editor

lmost every aspiring athlete dreams to dominate their high school scene and sign to play for the college of their choice however, for former Senator Darius Love-Roston this path became slightly different.

After having to reclassify to the class of 2021 due to missing credentials, it looked like his academic and athletic career was going to end before it could begin. Instead of sitting idly by however, Love-Roston took initiative by re-enrolling into a virtual academy and signing to Hutchinson Community College after graduating.

“I had to reclassify to the class of 2021 after the school I was looking at fell through,” Love-Roston said. “I came back to school to finish my education and got the opportunity to play college ball.”

LoveRoston brought positivity and a passionate drive to the field whether in practice or in a game.

Love-Roston’s former high school coach, Laron White, recalled the impact he brought to the program during his time with the school.

“He was really wonderful on the field, whether in practice or on game day.”

White said. “He was the type to always give you good energy and never had a bad day, he was a leader for us.”

Love-Roston’s drive

and outlook on his situation played a crucial role in his ability to get where he is today.

Through hard work and dedication he was able to overcome his situation and was named one of the top ranked JUCO players in the state of Alabama.

“I had to battle with the limitations set by COVID-19 which really hindered my ability to get out there,” Love-Roston said. “Back home I was working 12 hours a day at work to make money to pay for school while continuing to train for where I’m at.”

Not only did Love-Roston’s drive on the field get him to where he’s at today but it also helped motivate a number of his underclassmen teammates to make them better players. Former quarterback Nick Sawyer saw first hand how Love-Roston’s attitude impacted him as a player and pushed him in high pressure games.

“Darius and I played on opposite sides of the ball but whenever the defense would make a big stop and I would go out on the field he always gave me the pep talk I needed to keep the momentum going,” Sawyer said. “He really cared about each game, none of us like losing but Darius took them especially hard, he always strived to be better than whoever he matched up against.”

Love-Roston gave his all to the sport and without the support of his team and his family there might not have been a next game for him. Defying all odds, even when it seemed an impossible task, a true love and passion for something can just never seem to fizzle out easily.

“I definitely had my doubts but I promised my mom I would never stop working until there was nowhere else for me to go,” LoveRoston said. “It was a tough road to get here and I know the path ahead is going to be even tougher but I didn’t work this hard to quit now and I believe I’m ready to tackle any obstacle in my path.”

Signing Day Alumnus Darius Love-Roasten committed to Hutchinson Community College almost a year after his senior season ended. LoveRosten signed this winter with three other of his teammates.

Photo credits Kate Irving

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The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

SPORTS | 49

Female wrestlers perform well in first season

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Rileigh Glassman- Reporter y the third period, she could tell that her opponent was tired. It was her advantage and she knew within two minutes that she was going to get the pin. The opponent fought back, trying to peel her hand off the hold, but she sank her elbow down to get a better grip.

Then the ref blew the whistle and slapped the mat.

Pin. She just placed third in the state.

Freshman Reagan Grant had just made history in the state’s first Alabama High School Athletic Association’s all-female wrestling state championship.

During the 2020-2021 high school wrestling season, Grant along with sophomore Akerah Atris and junior Kameron Glenn competed against both girls and boys as well as participated in the first Alabama High School Athletic Association’s

all-girls state competition.

Atris finished second in the competition and Glenn finished fifth place in the state championship.

“After we wrestled for first and second place, Olympic wrestler Hannah Gladden, handed out our medals and placed them around our necks,” Artis said.

All three girls have similar stories of how they got involved in the sport. Both Glenn and Grant had brothers in the sport so they had always attended meets for support and understood the sport well. However, Artis’ journey is a little different. During seventh grade orientation, a coach stopped Artis’ mom and suggested her daughter try the sport.

“I didn’t even know there was a team or that wrestling was even a thing at the high school,” Artis said. “The wrestling team had a recruiting booth set up, there was a coach and some wrestlers who stopped my mom and told her I would be a really good wrestler. I get a lot of parents saying props to me because they wouldn’t even imagine doing this when they were in high school or middle school.”

Wrestling comes with a price. That price is having to control one’s weight in order to stay in a certain weight class for competition.

This could mean having to lose weight before a meet or even having to gain weight. “ For me, it’s not very hard to maintain my weight,” Grant said. “I usually am so far underweight to where I could eat everything in sight and still be fine when it came to whether or not I would break weight. I am blessed with my body because I am strong and I can do things that a lot of people can’t do so I am grateful, but I also understand that beauty comes from within.”

Although most people see wrestling as a male sport, the girls actually believe their bodies were made for the sport more than their male counterparts. “ One difference that I do know is how we wrestle,” Artis said. “The guys tend to use their arm strength more and do moves involving their strength. As far as us girls,, we use our hips more and we do certain moves we know we can do well, for us to win” Since this was the first official wrestling season, the girls were excited to get on the

mat. Glenn wrestled in nine matches, but her first match stands out in her mind more than the others.

“Right when the whistle was called for us to start wrestling I began the match by rushing my opponent and immediately executed a head and arm throw, I took my opponent off guard and was able to throw them right as we got to the ground,” Glenn said. “That was my first match as well as my first win and it felt amazing.”

Artis has a similar love for her first match.

“My favorite match was my very first match. I won my first year wrestling,” Artis said. “I was at the fourth tournament of the READY, SET, MATCH Preparing to start the match, junior Kameron Glenn eyes her opponent. Glenn wrestled in 15 matches this season; all against female opponents. Photos

by Scott Lowe

year and I was losing back to back. Then finally my last match of the day it was like six at night I was going up against a guy from Huntsville and I pinned him.”

Some look to these girls as trendsetters, blazing a trail for future female high school wrestlers. These girls do not hesitate on being trendsetters, saying that there is no reason for anyone to be saying no to girls participating in the sport.

“I love it. I firmly believe that you can do whatever you want as long as you’re willing to put in the effort of a girl or boy.” Glenn said. “And I’m willing to prove it.”

The girls would like other girls to know

that if they are interested in female wrestling and you want to do it, then do it, but do it to the best of your ability. They are actually starting their own all girls wrestling team.

They are looking for more people who are interested in the sport to join.

“I think you should do it because you won’t know if you like it or don’t like it until you do it. Even if you do not like it you can still say you have done something that other girls would not even think about doing by just coming to a practice,” Artis said. “If you do like it you can stick with it. You gain a lot by just wrestling from friends and great mentors to confidence and bravery.”

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The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

SPORTS | 51

Crossing T’s & Throwing K’s Brody Wallace-Editor

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arly in an athlete’s career, dreams are formed to motivate them. Dreams are meant to motivate, sometimes one may shoot for the stars and land on the moon. Yet, one athlete has managed to get closer to reaching the highest level, signing to play baseball at the collegiate level.

Senior Garrett Telaga gets an opportunity to play the game he loves at Jacksonville State.

“I have always wanted to play college baseball, now I get to do that at the highest level. Getting the chance to play D1 means everything to me,” Telaga said.

Telaga said the facilites at JSU are great and he feels the coaching staff does a great job. Telaga will play with teammate AJ Causey who also signed with the Gamecocks.

“We have played baseball together since we were 8-years-old,” Telaga said.

“We did not make our decision together, but it will be fun playing with him.”

However, the process is much more than just signing a paper. Working to that point requires sacrifices unimaginable, days that make getting out of bed difficult.

Using many different ways of training, athletes train the best they can to win events to get put on radars. Coaches make this process as painless as possible, attempting to keep their athletes motivated and engaged.

“We have high standards for our guys and they have risen to that standard equally, he has grown both athletically and matured as a person in the process,” College Bound After transferring to Sparkman last year from Hazel Green, senior Garrett Telaga continues his high school pitching career. Telaga will play for the Jacksonville Gamecocks next season. Photos

by Scott Lowe

head coach Jason Brewer said. Mainly that I am proud of them for the men they have become, are becoming and will continue to grow into. We have a great group of young adults in our program, and they are a shining example of that.”

Although the goal of college ball Telaga set for himself may have been broken.

Dreaming and working doesn’t stop. Telaga only sees his goals complete when he has none left to set.

“I tell myself: ‘I have to keep grinding and working. I’m one step closer to getting into the MLB, I can’t give up now,” Telaga said. “I push myself to lift more weight, run faster, hit harder and throw further, I have to push myself past what I thought was impossible before.”

Telaga credits his sigining with a D1 school with putting the work in the offseason.

“I sacrificed a lot of free time to be where I am now with my hitting, throwing and weightlifting,” Telaga said.

Strength and Conditioning coach Ben Stevenson commends his athletes, including Telaga for working through their rigorous training.

“We set the bar high and it can be a bit rough on them for a long amount of time. Our workouts are difficult for a reason though.

We need our group to be highly conditioned and motivated,” Stevenson said. “Telaga has a great work ethic in the weight room and is a shining example of what we want in our locker room. He works hard and, deservedly so, earned his scholarship through blood, sweat and tears.”

Pitch Perfect Pitching in a recent game, senior Garrett Telaga shows his skills on the mound.

The team’s current record has started play for the 2021 season and is currently 4-3 on the season. Photos by Scott Lowe

“Telaga has great work ethic in the weight room and is a shining example of what we want in our locker room.”

-Coach Ben Stevenson

Telaga’s Honors • All-American by Perfect Game • Ranked among the top 500 players according to Perfect Game • Alabama High School Athletic Association’s North-South All-Star game • AL.com All-State High School Baseball ‘Terrific 20’

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The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

SPORTS | 53

Bowling teams strike up wins at the state Brody Wallace-Editor

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fter seasons of close calls, the women’s and men’s bowling programs swept the state tournament.

The girls brought their second title and the guys nabbed the first title in program history. After rule changes, new techniques and a world pandemic to get around, the bowling program found success and hardware to take home.

“This season was challenging, but in a good way,” junior Joey Collier said.

“Even with the threat of losing half of our team at any point in time, we found ways to keep things light-hearted.”

In 2016, the women’s team took home their first state championship. For all five years after, though, they lost to Southside in the finals. Seniors Emily Lindsey and Daylin Tolgo started bowling during this streak and only wanted one thing.

“We seemed to have developed a losing mind-set once we’d get to the finals.

We would see were up against them and we’d lose mentally,” Lindsey said.

In the finals of the state tournament, the women’s team made it into the finals against Southside for the sixth year in a row. Yet, things were different this time around as the ladies were out bowling their opponents by at least 200 points. Looking to snap their streak, the finals ended with a score of 1429 to 1292, finally taking the hardware they wanted for so long.

“We got the best possible outcome

you could ask for in any sport, we won the championship. All of us had been working for this for so long, especially the seniors,” Tolgo said. “We kept our spirits high and practiced hard to get to this point. The dedication we gave spoke for itself once we got to the finals.”

Coach Lisa Ivey was not surprised that her two teams bowled state championships.

The girls finished the season undefeated, 17-0 and the boys only had one loss in their 17 games.

“The boys lost to Grissom so it kept them from being undefeated,” Ivey said.

“However, they did bowl a 1710 which is one heck of a game.”

The men’s team followed in the same direction as their counterparts, practicing hard and keeping competitions light-hearted and fun. Cruising through the regular season, regionals came and went with a win and the first seed.

State came just as quickly as the season

went by and started with a match against Auburn in the first round. The men’s program went by with a 1,550 to 1,134 final score. In the semifinals, Hewitt-Trussville sought to end the men’s run. However, the men’s team won with a 1,526 to 1,411 score, ending Hewitt’s run.

“As a group, we worked on our consistency. Picking up spares especially, we can bowl strikes all-day, but picking up those few extra pins boosted us up to a point where we could out bowl a lot of teams,” Collier said.

Once the finals arrived, so did Hoover High came to take the trophy with them. The match went back and forth between the two championship contenders. Finally, the men’s team prevailed with a 29 point lead, bringing their first title ever, home.

“When the game ended we didn’t know we won. It was so close, so we stood and waited, biting our fingernails,” Collier said.

“As soon as they announced that we won,

Champions Making team history, the girls and boys brought home the coveted blue map trophy. Photos by Isabel Pollard and Lisa Ivey

“When the game ended we didn’t know we won. It was so close, so we stood and waited, biting our fingernails. As soon as they announced that we won, it got so loud as we were cheering and celebrating” Collier said.

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The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

coffee trail Heats up Huntsville Kendall Cope-Reporter

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STIRRING IT UP Huntsville is quickly becoming a coffee mecca with the addition of new coffee shops downtown. Many shops took advantage of Huntsville’s nickname and included coffee and cookie names paying homage to rockets. Photos by Kendall Cope

untsville is a haven for coffee-lovers, having more than 10 local coffee shops. Naturally, Rocket City had to find a way to share the love of coffee. The Huntsville Craft Coffee Trail was organized to bring the coffee community together for a fun experience.

The coffee trail guide includes Canadian Bakin, Honest Coffee Roasters, Offbeat Coffee Studio, Piper and Leaf at Constitution Park, Olde Towne Coffee, The Moon Bakeshop, Pizzelle’s Confections, Dark Side Coffee, Charlie’s Fosters and Gold Sprint Coffee.

To participate in the Huntsville Coffee Trail, one simply obtains a card from any of the listed coffee shops and has the coffee “passport” stamped after each order. After one visits each of the coffee shops and gets his/her card stamped, they will receive a Downtown Craft Coffee mug at no expense.

The trail can be completed at any time, whether that be a day, week, month or year.

It is a fun way to drink coffee and spend time with friends, family or even yourself.

I had the opportunity to visit five of these coffee shops and get my passport stamped.

All of the coffee shops provide a unique experience for the customers. I tried to order an iced chai tea latte at each of the shops, so that they would be easily comparable. This drink is perfect for anyone craving a sweet treat.

I visited Olde Towne Coffee first, located in the Five Points area. I have to say that Olde Towne knocked me away with this drink and took the award of best iced chai tea latte in town in my opinion. This shop was one of the smallest on the trail, but it was full of flavor.

Next, I went to Canadian Bakin where I ordered lunch and an iced chai tea latte.

This latte was more milky for those that enjoy a more creamy drink. The environment featured lots of bread decorations, since their motto is “Eat More Bread.” The shop had a retro vibe and featured a black and white TV where one could watch movies such as “Avengers: Endgame.”

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Craft Coffee Trail shops Canadian Bakin Gold Sprint Charlie's Fosters Honest Coffee Roaster's Offbeat Coffee Studio

I also visited the Moon Bakeshop, where I ordered a rocket cookie. The cookie was probably the most beautiful treat I have ever had the opportunity to try. The coffee shop itself was remarkable and would be perfect for photo-ops once they open seating inside again. It featured a couch with two fun chairs as well as many different backgrounds and aesthetic light fixtures.

Gold Sprint had my favorite atmosphere and was perfect for studying or meeting friends. The iced chai tea latte was alright and definitely the creamiest out of all of the drinks I tried. Overall, I would say that Gold Sprint had the best environment and decorations for those looking for a fun experience and distinctive coffee shop.

Offbeat Coffee Studio was located in

Northside Coffee Old Town Coffee Shoppe Pizzelle's Confections The Moon Bakeshop Piper & Leaf

Campus 805, which is a cool area all by itself.

The iced chai tea latte was okay, but the environment was everything but that.

It featured a record station area and allowed customers to flip through records to see what all they had.

You cannot go wrong with visiting any of these coffee shops. The Huntsville Coffee Trail gives you the opportunity to explore Huntsville and all of the coffee it has to offer. Now, go get your mug!

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The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

Connecting with the characters

A&E | 57

Mya Lister

Jonathan Lee

“I think what really drew me to Mrs. Potts is her optimism. Even though she has been turned into an object and is stuck that way, she always has a positive attitude and doesn’t lose hope.”

“I like to challenge myself with playing characters that are unlike myself, so Cogsworth was a perfect role for me to portray. I will make sure to include big movements as well as his personality from the movie.”

Destiny Cade

Leads of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ share their favorite traits about their character Kendall Cope-Reporter

Karadyn Lewis

Hannah Perry

Matthew Brown

“Gaston’s villainous nature drew me to his character. I think that he still has a good heart, but he is misguided in how he wants to go. I want to pay homage to the character from the movie and take certain characteristics that I will use when I perform.”

Michael Nelson

“I admire Belle’s confidence and bravery, and I am honored to get to play her on stage. I feel that confidence is a key element to what makes Belle, Belle, and I would really like the audience to understand while I am performing.”

“Her confidence, kindness and open-mindedness really drew me to audition for Belle. I’m definitely putting parts of my own personality into my portrayal of Belle. I relate to her in a lot of ways. We are both very outspoken and I definitely plan on using my own experiences to influence my portrayal.”

Brady Hauglie

Garrett Stinnett

“I love how bubbly and caring Mrs. Potts is, and I think that we are really similar. When portraying her, I will do my best to be patient, sincere, kind and lead with love to show all of her characteristics.”

Blake Westmoreland

Timmy Bradshaw

“I really enjoyed how different the Beast is. He is a dark character and I usually play light-hearted characters, so I really believe this difference drew me to his character. I am going to portray the dramatic change where he opens up to Belle since he has never opened up to anyone before and that needs to be shown.”

“For a while I thought that I would love to be Gaston but as I looked at both Gaston and Beast I realized that I could both enjoy acting and act better as the Beast. As the Beast, I hope to be able to show both his sides as an angry and hurt youth and as someone trying to be better and learn to love.”

“Lumiere has always been a dream part for me ever since I watched Beauty and the Beast as a child. I will try to make him like my actual self and portray all of his energy as well as his big movements since he is such an ecstatic character.”

“I like to challenge myself with playing characters that are unlike myself, so Cogsworth was a perfect role for me to portray. I will make sure to include big movements as well as his personality from the movie.”

“The arrogance and personality of Gaston drew me to his character.

When I perform, I will add a little bit of pizzazz and make sure that I use his confidence.”

Illustrations by Olivia Lake

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The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

Make way for Midcity

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Topgolf Topgolf made its way to Huntsville in 2017 and has provided residents with food and entertainment. The golfing arena is three stories high, but if golfing does sound appetizing they have an arcade at the lowest level.

Sarah Chase- A&E Editor

DAVE & BUSTER’S Dave and Busters truly have it all. It is the place to watch sports, have events and parties, play games and of course eat and drink. The place opened in 2019 and their hours depend on the days. They even have specials such as providing half off the game prices every Wednesday and providing a 10 percent discount to the military and first responders.

High Point is rock climbing galore. They have a place for kids, hold fitness and yoga classes as well as 45 ft. climbing walls. They even host rock climbing competitions and teams throughout the year. They also provide memberships which allow unlimited climbing, training and classes, event rental discounts, community nights, gear demo and discounts and discounts on personal training.

Highpoint climbing & Fitness

Kung fu tea Kung Fu Tea is the largest bubble tea brand in America.

They serve milk teas, iced teas, smoothies, and lattes.

The popular bubble tea shop opened in February of last year and has been growing ever since. It is an excellent addition to the Midcity

District.

Photos by Sarah Chase

Look Out for What’s Coming Huntsville Amphitheater Public Art Aloft Hotel

Hotel Indigo Trader Joe’s Color Me Mine

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The Crimson Crier || March 10, 2021

‘Bridgerton’ spills the tea for Americans Emma Hendrick-Reporter

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ritish pop culture has always been appealing to young Americans. This has been prevalent since the ‘‘60s when the Beatles made their debut and Queen first formed their band. The country that once held our country under its thumb now holds it once more.

Only this time, they have our full and undivided attention.

In recent years, TV shows like the “Derry Girls” and “Skins” have captured the attention of the American population. There is just something about European accents that seem so alluring and so mystical. Almost as if the words of a long dead monarch are being spoken directly to you through your television screen.

Among these television shows, one show in particular has made its debut on Netflix and the United States just cannot get enough of it. “Bridgerton,” based off of the best selling book franchise written by Julia Quinn, follows the life of a noble family in regency-era London during the social season of 1813. Our main character, Daphne, is in search of a husband and her efforts prove fruitful when she is presented to the Queen and deemed the “diamond of the first water,” a title not given lightly.

From here, eligible suitors flock to her doorstep, begging for her hand in marriage. But, in an effort to protect her honor, Daphne’s older brother, Anthony,

refuses all of her potential matches, causing most of the men in London, England, to quickly lose interest in our young debutante. Most men except one: Nigel Berbrooke, an unfaithful lord with a temper. Anthony accepts immediately, much to Daphne’s dismay, who immediately rejects any prospect of marrying Berbrooke.

As she finally manages to shake the advances of her betrothed, Daphne meets the Duke of Hastings, an eligible bachelor with absolutely no intention of ever marrying. The pair instantly hit it off and strike up a plan. If they can convince the entire city that they are courting one another, suitors will flock to Daphne once more and the Duke can go back to walking around without being chased down by desperate mamas and even more desperate debutantes. This leads to one long, tedious adventure full of love, mystery and, of course, a little bit of murder.

“Bridgerton” is by far the best show of 2021. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and just when I thought I knew what happened next, another plot twist would occur and I would be right back where I started.

It so perfectly captures the feeling of being a young person in love. A young person in love who so tragically cannot be with their beloved for one reason or another.

The outfits and music may not be historically accurate but the storyline is a timeless masterpiece. “Bridgerton” is likely to be sitting at the forefront of the United States’s and the world’s mind for a long time. Because of this, it comes as no surprise that it has already been renewed for a second season.