March edition by crimsoncrier

Hallway Annoyances

Traffic jam? Oncoming wall of harried students? We break down the top burdens in a crowded hallway.

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rimson Crier C Let’s talk about

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The Crimson Crier |

@TheCrimsonCrier

Thursday, March 13, 2014 Issue VI

SEXT a conversation on technology and privacy in today’s world Erin Stender Reporter

Just between us... Approximately 20% of teens have sent nude or semi-nude photos of themselves, while 39% of teens have sent sexual IMs, emails, or text messages.

Send me some pics! 1 in 10 sext senders say that they’ve sent sexts to someone they don’t even know.

Hey, baby. Did you know that 51% of teen girls that have sent sexual messages said that it was because of pressure from a guy?

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Sexting CONT. pg. 13

*names changed to protect privacy

New schedule system decided for 2014-15 Nick Arnold Reporter

A Look The Crimson Crier Inside crimsoncriernews.com @TheCrimsonCrier

News pg. 2-3, Opinion pg. 4-6 Entertainment pg. 7-8 Features pg. 9, 12-13 Sports pg. 14-16 Spread pg. 10-11

2 News

The Crimson Crier

March 13, 2014

Superintendent race begins for four candidates Victoria Lewis Reporter

he Madison County Superintendent race is up and running with four confirmed candidates. Incumbent Dr. David Copeland, Ronnie Blair, Matt Massey and Chad LaQua are all looking to win the Republican Primary on June 3. Each of these candidates have experience and a vision for Madison County Schools. Copeland, named Superintendent after Dr. Terry Davis retired, has 32 years of experience in public education- 11 years as a teacher and coach, 12 years as a high school principal, three years as a director and six years as a superintendent. Under Copeland, there has been improvement in the system wide graduation rate from 76 percent to 86 percent and the drop-out rate had decreased from 10 percent to 4 percent. Copeland wants to continue the things he has started as superintendent. “I decided to run for the position many months ago due to the great things we were doing in Madison County Schools. I want to continue the great work that we have started in all areas including high academic achievement, excellent extra-curricular activities, new construction, partnerships, the B.Y.O.D. initiative and many others,” Copeland said. Copeland, who has approved the building of a new school in the Sparkman district, understands the financial constraints of the system. “We are under many financial constraints, but I believe that nothing is wrong with the system. We have a clear, concise plan for the future found in our 2012-2017 Strategic Plan, our Framework for Excellence guides our beliefs and our wonderful people make great things happen for the students,” Copeland said. Blair has been the principal of Sparkman Middle School since 1997 and is currently in his 31st year as an educator, 26 of those spent as a principal. Blair has experience as an elementary and secondary level principle in four school systems across Alabama. Under Blair’s leadership, Sparkman Middle School

Jacks Hamburgers

was recognized as a Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence in 2012. “For the past 31 years, I have made decisions based on the students – I will continue to keep the children of Madison County first,” Blair said. Blair feels he has the experience and leadership to guide the school system into the future. He feels hard discussions to improve the system needs to be had. “I will implement a capital plan for our schools that includes constructing new schools and/or renovating existing buildings to meet the demands of our growing population. I will cut any wasteful spending and manage our resources to create financial stability and fiscal responsibility. I will put tax payers’ dollars in the classroom, give teachers the resources to teach and make sure every classroom has 21st Century Technology,” Blair said. Massey currently serves as the Math Lead Teacher for the district. He also teaches AP Calculus at Buckhorn High School and manages the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program in the county, serving over 150 teachers and 50,000 students in grades 5 - 12 in the district. Massey also has over 10 years of varsity coaching experience in football and tennis. He was named Madison County Teacher of the year in 2011-2012 and National Math and Science All American Teacher of the Year in 20102011. If named superintendent, Massey pledges to lead a system which operates in an open, honest and transparent manner, seeking input from parents, faculty, staff, administrators, the community and stakeholders in order to operate in a fiscally responsible manner. “My experience working with teachers, students, and administrators all across Alabama and the nation has lead me to one clear conclusion: our district has fallen behind other school systems in our area and in the state. As Superintendent of Madison County Schools, I will provide the vision and leadership that will not only make us competitive with other schools in the area, but propel our district to be a lighthouse for others to emulate,” Massey said. LaQua declined to comment on his campaign for this article. The official date of the election is Nov. 4.

New Businesses Planned for Nearby Locations J. Whitener BoutiqueHighway 72 in Madison

CVS Pharmacy

Taziki’sHighway 72 in Madison

Reporter

he future of the intersection at Highway 53 and Jeff Road will be changed forever, as will the future of Bridge Street. There will be a variety of expansions and constructions to enhance the community as a whole. The Bridge Street Town Centre expansion will include the opening of: Bravo! Cucina Italiana, a two-level Belk department store with a green area in front, a Michael Kors and Pandora. Pandora offers customizable earrings, rings, bracelets, watches, necklaces and pendants. “Both Stores [Michael Kors and Pandora] are exclusive to Bridge Street in the Huntsville Market,” Marketing Director Van Geroux said. Belk will be a 170 thousand- square-foot department store that will introduce an extended assortment of top designer, nationwide brands that will open this fall and will be replacing the Belk store in Madison Square Mall. As for the other new retailers, they are scheduled to open in 2015. “We believe the addition of Belk and several new

What restaurant should come to Highway 53?

Zaxby’s

36%

Taco Bell

10%

retailers and restaurants exclusive to the Huntsville market will substantially increase Bridge Street’s customer traffic,” Geroux said. Bravo! Cucina Italiana will be a 6,700-square-foot restaurant with chic affordable Italian food and Roman ruins décor bringing the restaurant to life. “The subtitle ‘Cucina Italiana’ means Italian kitchen in which all cooking is done in full view of guests, creating the energy of live theater,” Geroux said. The addition of a bigger Belk will also include the addition of new water features, a new surface parking lot in front of the mall and a multi-level parking deck that will have access to Belk’s north entrance. These new features added to the mall will be used to enhance the visual prospect, which will make it easier for not only younger children to love but everyone. “I think it will be good because it would bring in more income and jobs. And people would enjoy more selection throughout Bridge Street,” sophomore Catie Gwin said. Going South of Jeff Road on Highway 53 will be a CVS pharmacy. At the Corner of Jeff Road and Highway 53 will be a Jack’s Hamburgers Restaurant. The construction for Jack’s will end in approximately 14 to 18 weeks, and the construction of CVS will end around the beginning of Oct. 2014. “I believe the public will be very supportive of both [sites] and look forward to more business choices in our local area and not have to drive to Huntsville,” County Commissioner Phil Vandiver said.

Chick-fil-A

36%

Incumbent

Ronnie Blair Principal of Sparkman Middle School since 1997

Matt Massey District Math Lead Teacher and leader of county’s STEM program

Truancy in high school proves to be critical matter for students Carla Mack

New businesses coming in near future

McKenzie Ashmore

Dr. David Copeland

Reporter

Whole Foods MarketCorner of Bob Wallace Avenue and Memorial Parkway in Huntsville (2016)

Bridge Street, Highway 53 to gain new retail, restaurants

Chad LaQua Former teacher at Buckhorn High

Sonic

12%

Popeyes

he teacher calls your name. You are wanted in the attendance office. You reach the attendance office where Mrs. Shumate hands you a letter. You are truant. Attendance clerk Cathy Robinson’s job is to collect all possible excuses to ensure that students are not wrongfully considered truant. “I see who is at the five-and-above point and print the letter for them to sign saying that I have alerted them of this status. I take as many notes as I can from them before their hearing date, in hopes that everything can be all cleared up,” Robinson said. A student is officially considered truant after one unexcused absence. A letter is sent home to alert the parents, and the parent receives a phone call. If the absences continue to go unexcused, the seventh absence is considered breaking an attendance law and a petition may be filed against the parents or student summoning them to appear in truancy court. “The truancy court reviews the case and if serious enough, it may be sent to the District Court for trial. There if found guilty, a parent can face jail time,” Truancy Officer Pam Anderson said. Anderson deals with

parents who do not come in for their truancy meeting. She explains that taking a parent to court is only an attempt to stop the absences from reoccurring if the parent is at fault. The last resort may be to send the parents to jail. “Parents are only sent to jail after all attempts to keep the student in school have been exhausted. It is a last option,” Anderson said. But lack of attendance does not only affect the student, it affects the teacher as well. English teacher Sonya Nave says all those days of absences get both the teacher and student behind. In some cases, students with unexcused absences do not even get to make up their work. “School policy says that if you are absent, I do not have to give you your work. A student can do the work if they would like, but I won’t take a grade for it,” Nave said. Attending school is important for a student’s education. Absences in high school are always more critical,” Anderson explains. “Truancy is a problem at every level, but the impact is always greater in high school. There is a strong correlation between truancy and a high school dropout,” Anderson said.

March 13, 2014

The Crimson Crier

News 3

Senior develops program to support young ladies and promote self-confidence Katlin Gillespie Reporter

t was Oct. 19, 2013, the day that senior Victoria Jones launched her organization GirlNaturale. The organization was a joint idea between her and her mother, Bridget Jones. “The purpose of GirlNaturale is to empower, challenge and support young ladies to be their natural selves. We want to inspire young ladies to practice self love, help them develop an appreciation for life and help bring out the confidence within themselves needed to be effective in any endeavor they chose to embark upon,” Victoria said. The inspiration to create the organization came from Jones and her mother’s discussions of life and the patterns they noticed in today’s female generation and society. “As her mother, I always give advice when needed, but I also support her in the decisions and things she wants to do with GirlNaturale. We both give space to allow our own creativity and individuality to shine through. She is the voice, and I work behind the scenes to bring the vision together,” Bridget said. Currently, there are five board members behind GirlNaturale, including Bridget, who serves as the executive director and Victoria who serves as

active president. Victoria says a few girls from school participate, but she would like to see more students get involved with the activities GirlNaturale offers. “We host library readings, in which we read to younger children within the community, we host biannual events geared towards self-expression and hair cultivation as well as perform our annual Free Teen Clothing Drive,” Victoria said. Last year, Victoria and her sister Olivia Jones created the Free Teen Clothing Drive to impact young girls who needed clothes for the school year or just in general. According to Victoria, it was a huge success and they even had left over clothes. “I think this year is going to be much different because we have a lot more time to plan and think about it. Last year it was like a thought in me and my sister’s mind. We honestly didn’t even think it was going to be that successful,” Victoria said. Victoria will graduate in May and is considering attending college at Tuskegee, Calhoun or UAH in the fall. GirlNaturale will continue to operate and she will continue to act as president promoting young girls to be their natural selves. “I feel GirlNaturale will affect this community by offering a mirror for girls to see that it is okay to be you. You can relax, be your natural, creative, expressive self, and be a positive young force in your community. Our mantra is, ‘We want to mentor and challenge ladies to love the skin they are in, take care of the bodies they have and rock the hair God gave them,’” Bridget said.

BE YOUR NATURALE SELF. Part of GirlNaturale’s mission is to provide a clothing drive for teen girls to pick out clothes for school. GirlNaturale was developed by Victoria Jones and her mother to promote self-love amongst teenage girls. Photo courtesy of Victoria Jones.

Literary magazine planning game night as fundraiser Erin Stender Reporter

ooking for something to liven up your Friday night? Try Sparkman’s very own Literary Magazine Night of the Gamers. The Lit Mag is aiming to allow students to share their gaming skills in both intense tournament and casual experience. The night will showcase many different formats of games, including console, board and card games. “We’re going to have ‘Super Smash Bros: Brawl’, ‘Just Dance 4’, ‘Wii Sports’, ‘Guitar Hero’, and ‘NASCAR’. We’re going to do tournaments with ‘Just Dance 4’ and ‘Super Smash Bros’ on the stage and there will be prizes for the winners,” Lit Mag sponsor Renee Quaife said. There will also be a table set up for wireless connection on hand-held devices such as Nintendo DS’s, phones, or tablets. The Lit mag is sponsoring

this night in order to raise funds for their state award winning Literary Magazine. After winning the prestigious All-Alabama, the Lit mag is looking to another year of success with the help of funds raised by this event. They hope that the night will not only add to their funds but will also create an entertaining night for kids that sometimes find themselves lost in the crowd. “We just want to offer a sort of get together. These gamers are usually really under represented but we know they like to have fun, so we’re going to find out who the best of the best is,” senior and game night organizer James Kirby said. The Night of the Games will be held on Friday, March 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Sparkman cafeteria. The cost for one ticket will be $10 in advance with two pieces of pizza and a drink. Extra pizza will be sold at $2 a slice and drinks are $2 a can. Advance tickets will be sold from Feb. 21 to March 7. Tickets at the door will be $15. “All and all, I think it’s gonna turn out really well and I’m excited to see how it goes,” Kirby said.

Night of the Gamers Friday, March 14 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sparkman cafeteria Tickets will be sold for $10 from Feb. 21-March 7. Tickets will be sold for $15 at the door.

Diamond dolls give automatic support to baseball players Sarah Jarnagin Photo Editor

t baseball games, the spotlight is naturally on the baseball players and their talent. But working in the background at those games are the Diamond Dolls, a group of girls who sign up to work baseball games and support the baseball team. To become a Diamond Doll, the girls must fill out an application and get two letters of recommendation from teachers. In the applications, Diamond Doll sponsor Bridget Reidy looks for responsibility, respectfulness and punctuality. After she selects the girls, they sign up to work home baseball games and live up to Reidy’s expectations. “[My expectations are] that if they sign up, they’ll show up and that they’re willing to help out if they’re on call. We’re doing something new this year, where they’re gonna be on call like a nurse is on call, and if we don’t have somebody show up, then, if they sign up to be an on call person, if they’re called that they can come [to the game] that day,” Reidy said. The girls work the gates and help out in the concession stands during home baseball games and are encouraged to attend games they are not working to cheer on the baseball team. They also have been

given a new role this year, with each Diamond Doll being assigned a baseball player to give treats –such as Gatorade – to before games. The girls join Diamond Dolls not just for the socializing, but for the fun experiences. “My sister [was a Diamond Doll] and she had a lot of fun with it, so I wanted to it,” Diamond Doll president sophomore Hannah Ford said.

“The Diamond Dolls are there for moral support and they help out with the concessions and gates, which allows the players not to worry about it.” -senior Tanner Burns The baseball players appreciate the Diamond Dolls not just for the food they give them, but for all of the other things they do. “The Diamond Dolls are there for moral support and they help out with the concessions and gates, which allows the players not to worry about it,” senior Tanner Burns said.

Varsity Home Game Schedule Friday, March 14- 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. against Huntsville Saturday, March 15- noon and 3 p.m. against Giles County, TN Friday, March 21- 6 p.m. against Buckhorn Monday, March 31- 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. against Florence Friday, April 4- 6 p.m. against Hazel Green Tuesday, April 8- 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. against Lincoln County Friday, April 11- 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. against Bob Jones

4 Opinion

The Crimson Crier

March 13, 2014

TAFF EDITORIAL

Effects of scheduling shift remain dubious

The changes to the 20142015 class schedule have been talked to death in every classroom, students often asking teachers questions that they themselves may not know the answers to. Having only recently been decided—and almost immediately put into consequential action—the new scheduling is a grand experiment, and one that we can only predict the real implications of. Generally, however, there are mixed feelings regarding the new procedure and the changes that have been broadcast thus far. Prospective AP students are rightfully concerned for their ultimate exams; the new schedule could mean a total of five

months between the end of the course and its resulting credit-earning test. Teachers who traditionally selected students for application-only academics will be faced with a larger applicant pool, and with the changes that have opened the door for electives, packed classes will be the new norm It has been stressed by administration that changes to the existing order are being made, mainly, in order to eliminate the process’s inherent stresses. A noble goal, for sure, but we will have to wait to see if by killing one set of problems we do not breed another. Digital registration could make it easier for students

to select classes, but also easier for bad luck to strike in the form of technological malfunction and user error. The same could be said for the other goals: raising test scores and increasing the number of students enrolled in AP classes. Higher AP course numbers may mean more students that perform less-than-satisfactorily on the exam, for example. We will be watching and waiting, for sure, in anticipation of result from these alterations. Of course, we wish our superiors victory in their goals, and a bettering of the school and the processes that help it to run. But before then, we shall regard this as an experiment, effectiveness yet unknown.

Editorial staff approved this editorial unanimously

Depression, anxiety bring fifty shades of gray Savannah Bullard Reporter

Logan Grant Reporter

espite how c o m m o n depression and anxiety are, the general public seems to lack understanding. These disorders are true issues, even though they are carelessly thrown around by the media. This only makes it harder to overcome the misery that strikes us and 121 million other innocent people worldwide. Anxiety is controlled by brain chemistry, not voluntary thought. Nobody wants to be constantly panicking; feelings are something that is uncontrollable. Understandably, most onlookers do not know what to do when they are the only one in the room who can help. But this is no excuse; not comprehending the true gravity of the situation just leaves minimal understanding and no help given. The inability to find comfort in close friends only worsens the issue. When a panic attack strikes, the severe freakout we can undergo is alarming. Panic attacks cause us to feel our hearts racing and doubt

our ability to survive. These happen to us when we are under great stress or are faced with an overwhelming issue. This being said, a panic attack can strike daily; so when people do not believe panic attacks are a big deal, it makes matters worse. We end up receiving harsh criticisms about the problems we cannot control. However, when these episodes do occur, they are only seen as just that: episodes. When someone sees one of us panicking uncontrollably, the only reaction that comes to mind is the ignorant phrase “calm down.” It is like telling poor people to just get more money. In our cases, the high amounts of stress combined with the lack of empathy from others lead often to depression. With no one to speak to, we are forced to endure the troubles alone. We feel that we would rather spend an entire night trying to comfort ourselves while in tears than face someone who will inevitably upset us and create more embarrassment. The isolation is unbearable; but who is there to help when nobody even cares enough to know what is

going on? The problem with people today is that they perceive depression as just a “fleeting feeling.” Getting a C- on a test does not mean someone is automatically stricken with depression. We do not just feel a little down; depression makes us feel completely worthless. Even though depression is considered a mental disorder, it hurts to be labeled as “crazy.” Blowing the disorder completely out of context makes it seem ultimately insignificant. This is why most passersby think nothing of it. Spotting depression is difficult to do. Contrary to popular belief, we do not have a permanent dark cloud following us. Seriously, this is not an Abilify commercial. Some of the more severely depressed people are seen as the happiest on the outside; and we can be genuinely happy. We are funny, carefree; we can even be a little childish. Holding in the negative feelings is a form of shelter, acting as a way to conceal the embarrassment of having a commonly misunderstood

problem. Furthermore, we are not attention-seekers. It is incredibly sad that people genuinely believe we choose to fake being on such a level of despair as a cry for attention. It is impossible to simply “snap out of it.” If depression were a choice, there would be no depressed people. Honestly, why would we want to be in such pain just for fun? So why do we not just go talk to a shrink? Therapy is not always the best option. Going to a professional is never easy, and the thought of unloading everything to a stranger can trigger even more anxiety. Also, when there is a doctor’s appointment made, we certainly do not want to go and spill our feelings, just for a few daily pills. This goes back to d e pr e s s i on being

over diagnosed and insignificant. Since every little frown shows that someone is depressed, we who actually have a problem are not taken seriously. The good news is that depression and anxiety are highly treatable. We can take Zoloft and Celexa to cope with everyday activities; but if one day is skipped, the repercussions can be worse than ever taking the doses at all. Shelling out medication is helpful, but the problem does not just go away. We do not stop being abnormal, and those who see it still does not understand. Phrases like “just go take your medicine” are just as bad as “just calm down.” It does not help us at all, and the lack of comprehension inevitably

FAST FACTS:

hurts us more. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers, and 80 percent of depressed people are treated for their disorder. If young adults like us are ending their lives over a true issue, why are there not bigger actions to end it? What happens when our methods of coping run out? Will we be thrown away like the 20 percent who are not listened to? To help the issues surrounding those with depression and anxiety, taking the time to learn what causes someone like us to be this way can make the next encounter easier to manage. Do not think of depression as just sadness; understanding and cooperation for the ones who cannot handle their condition can ultimately save a life. Pay closer attention to peers; the smallest silence can be the loudest cry for help.

•Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S •Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only about one-third of those suffering receive treatment.

•According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), depression is most prevalent in the South •Nearly twice as many women (12.0 percent) as men (6.6 percent) are affected by a depressive disorder each year

D epression affects ALL people regardless of age , geographic location , demographic or social position .

Lack of education and medical insurance affect rates of diagnosed depression

Data courtesy of: http://www.depressionperception.com/depression/depression-factsand-statistics.html http://www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/statistics

The Crimson Crier

March 13, 2014

Opinion

Dolphin killings are cruel, inhumane

April Oberman

Entertainment Editor

he hit TV show “Flipper” splashed onto television screens in the mid 1960s. Flipper displayed loving characteristics such as interacting with the Ricks family, helped enforce regulations on the preserve, and assisted with rescues at sea.

Flipper was loved much by children and was one of the first dolphins to hold a significant place in viewers’ hearts. Dolphins became a symbol of friendship and compassion. But now, dolphins just like Flipper are in grave danger. Three hundred and sixty miles from Tokyo lies a small harbor town named Taiji. Taiji has numerous harbors and wharfs, including a cove in which dolphins are herded and kept overnight. These captive dolphins wake up to large sharp spears poking at their flesh. If one or two stabs do not do the job, dolphin slaughterers continue until the waters turn bright red. Every year, approximately 2,000 dolphins are killed in this cove and sold to meat industries soon to be served on the plates of all Japanese people. So now you might ask, “Why should I care?” Tokyo is planning to be the host of the 2020 Summer Olympics. Tokyo’s media covered up dolphin killing for consumption and it soon will be an imperative issue for Japan’s government as soon as secrets are uncovered. Although dolphin hunts are not illegal, they can seem barbaric to people living in other countries. The Japanese Government and the Japanese Olympic Committee can no longer ignore the censure of their whale and dolphin hunts because the town of

Tokyo will emerge in the media. If the International Olympic Commission (IOC) agrees to let Tokyo host the Olympics, this agreement will symbolize that the people of the world do not care about the dolphins and their way of life. The IOC should choose a city that represents the unity of people throughout the world. Being a concerned citizen of the world and its environment, Tokyo should not be a candidate because of this reason. The Discovery Channel reported that dolphins are comparable to humans. Dolphins’ brains have features correlated with higher brain functions similar to human brains. Research has shown that they comprehend language, which is communicated through certain whistles. Since they are so much like us, think about trading places with one. Think about how herded dolphins will never see their families again. They await their death penalty for the benefit of what they are worth, which is only about 50 to 70 dollars depending on their size. In the United States, it is illegal to kill humans and sell their bodies for money. If Japan stays on this track, scientific experiments with dolphins could be limited. We would no longer have an organism so similar to us, and it will seem alright to kill whatever we want for money. If that is not enough, the Japanese fishermen are breaking their own laws. The fishermen are supposed to destroy the dolphin’s spinal nerve by pushing a metal rod into the spine behind its head. The nerve is encased in the spinal bones so fishermen cannot perform this task correctly. This tortures the dolphin and normally takes about seven to eight stabs with a spear to slaughter. The dolphin hunts in Taiji are just the beginning. If the hunts continue, fishermen will start hunting other sea animals. Soon the hunts will be uncontrollable. Raising awareness of the dolphin hunts is the key point to overcome this madness. Once people know and act on this issue, the dolphins have a greater chance of living. We can change their fate.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED: Visit

www.takepart.com/cove to sign a

petition to help save Japan’s dolphins

Learn

more about dolphins in

captivity and those being killed yearly in Taiji

Tell zoos and aquariums to Stop Aiding the dolphin killings

TESTING THE WATERS. Junior Kaitlin Gillespie races against the clock to bubble in every circle. While it is no doubt standardized examinations are a bane to every student’s existence, the anxiety these tests bring can be alleviated or avoided by proper preparation. Photo by Sarah Jarnagin

Standardized test stress is avoidable Erin Rountree News Editor

t is Friday night. Twitter is alive with fear and anxiety. Students are hitting the books in a last-minute attempt to absorb test-taking tips. Tomorrow is the big day— ACT day. With five test dates throughout the 2013-2014 school year, every other month on the Monday following ACT Saturdays the halls are filled with the buzzing of students dying to see their latest scores and, often, hoping for just one more point. Sophomores and juniors are typically waiting to see a baseline score, and seniors have fingers crossed in a last-ditch effort to make a score jump to increase their chances for college admissions and scholarship opportunities. Although students

want to push thoughts of college and testing to the back burner of their minds, it is important to realize that the sooner one begins the process, the better. The sooner a student starts testing, the sooner he or she can finish stressing about it and get excited for college. A lot of dedication and deliberation of how and when to attack the ACT must be put forth to ensure a more enjoyable and stress-free senior year. The latter years of high school, during which students are preparing for the world beyond school walls, are filled with excitement, anxiety and stress. Much of this emotional experience comes from ACT and SAT testing. There is no greater feeling than receiving the score necessary to move forward with the college process, ending the chapter

of expense, preparation and worry done in the name of testing. Test prep courses can cost anywhere from $75 to $500 and more. Courses frequently last for several weeks and include many sessions, an investment of both time and money. Enrolling in this type of test preparation is not a decision to be made lightly; it must be researched and planned out thoroughly. Contacting local tutors and prep centers, as well as counselors, can help get students on the fast track to acing tests before crunch time arrives. Even without the potentially expensive test prep courses, taking precollege tests is a pricey endeavor. College and career counselor Dr. Sharon Clanton recommends that students take the ACT no more than three times

because scores tend to be unaffected past that point. The test without writing costs $36.50, and the writing test adds an extra $16 per test. Registering late causes the cost of the test to rise by $12. Taking the ACT with writing three times and registering late each time would cost a student $193.50. By planning appropriately and not waiting until the first semester of senior year to start testing, these high costs can be spread out over time and hurt the wallet a little less. Fortunately for this year’s juniors, the school will be administering a free ACT with writing in April. This will be the opportunity many have been waiting for to find out what they are capable of scoring on the test, with the bonus of not having to spend Saturday morning at school.

In Kessio Missed It... State lottery is ticket to better education Beryl Kessio Opinion Editor

ow many of us know people who drive to Tennessee to pick up a lottery ticket with the hopes of winning the kind of money that would mean no bills? Most know they will not win. Just purchasing a ticket buys into (pun totally intended) the excitement, the hopeful anticipation that the numbers they call out on the news will be theirs. But why drive to Tennessee when we could have a lottery of our own? Alabama is one of the few states that do not have a state-wide lottery, joining Mississippi, Nevada, Utah, Alaska and Hawaii. Each state’s reasons for refusing a lottery are dissimilar. Nevada and Mississippi have thriving casino industries and Alaska and Hawaii just do not need lotteries due to their favorable monetary situations. That leaves Alabama and Utah. Two very different states demographically, yet all the while connected. Both are religious states (Utah being a Mormondominated territory). In Mormonism and

Christianity, gambling is widely considered to be a “sin.” In “moralocracies” such as these, anything labeled as sinful is treated with reproach, especially in the political realm, leaving legislation that even slightly counters religious doctrine in the dark. While a lottery would not solve the state’s educational woes, it is a step in the right direction. A state starved of educational funds; this extra pathway of revenue would pump money into the depleted educational The Crimson Crier The Crimson Crier

budget. With additional funds, the state could do more to repair its educational standings. Some might say lotteries incite the penniless who, hoping for an instant ticket out of poverty, spend money on tickets instead of food or other essentials. But other addictive things like alcohol and cigarettes get a free pass, I guess. Since when have the poor been a typical Republican concern anyway? The reality is, the chances of a state-wide

lottery being instituted are slim to none. In Alabama, ideological bias trumps progress, branding the South as a politically and socially regressive part of the nation. Forget about the billions that can be generated for education. Yes, billions. It has been done in other states. Forget about the money that could be put towards public health and safety and making sure the state remains “Alabama the beautiful.” Gambling is sinful.

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Policy The Crimson Crier is an open forum for free expression by the Sparkman High School Community. The Crimson Crier is a student-run publication produced in the state of Alabama. All final design, reporting and content decisions are the responsibility of the student journalists of Sparkman High School under the guidance of their adviser. The views articulated in The Crimson Crier do not necessarily represent the views of the entire staff, Sparkman High School or the Madison County school district. Copies are distributed to the faculty, staff and student body free of charge. The Madison County Record prints 2,000 copies, eight times yearly.

Editor-in-Chief......................Riley Wallace

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Website Editor.......................Bria Calhoun

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

News Editor.........................Erin Rountree Opinion Editor.....................Beryl Kessio Lifestyles Editor..................Savannah Bullard Sports Editor........................Will Bartel Entertainment Editor............April Oberman Spread Editor........................Kasey Stender Copy Editor...........................Steven Byrd Photo Editor..........................Sarah Jarnagin Ad Editor...............................Katlin Gillespie Reporters..........................McKenzie Ashmore, Katlin Gillespie, Caroline Barlow, Lucas Ward, Logan Grant, Brittany Robertson, Carla Mack, Nick Arnold, Erin Stender, Victoria Lewis, Noah Lombard, Ian Keel, Heather Webster Adviser.........................Erin Coggins, MJE

The Crimson Crier

Opinion 6

March 13, 2014

Student recounts homeschooling days, eventual transition to public school top reasons for home schooling Desire to provide religious or moral instruction

38.4%

Concern about the school environment (such as safety, drugs, or negative peer pressure)

21%

Average academic percentile of a home school student

77th

percentile

total # of students being homeschooled 1999

850,000

1.5 million

2007

Noah Lombard Reporter

s a child I attended what could be perceived as the perfect school. I could not be late, pajamas fit dress code and every meal tasted home-cooked. Best of all; The commute was only a staircase away. I went to Rainbow Elementary from the time I was five to the time I was 10. I had a best friend who was practically my brother, and we both had a group of friends with whom we did everything. My mom was a teacher there, so I got to hang out after school and became friends with several of the teachers. Almost everyone knew who I was. Then, my mom decided, after fourth grade that I would be home schooled. I objected at first— it was hard to leave everything behind— but I finally got on board with it. It was a new experience, and it was something unique. Homeschooling got off to a rough start. Since we could start on whatever day we wanted to, my mom decided to start about a week early. I had to get up at a certain time, and have my work done by a certain time. It did not take too long for all of that to become lax, however. The school day would start whenever both of us woke up. I was allowed breaks during the day, which did prolong it, but that did not seem to matter. I found that I had much more freedom in my work. In public school, it felt as though I was confined by the things I said and the things I did. Everything had

to be a certain way. Not so with my mom, though. She knows who I am, and therefore gave me free range of most everything I did. I kept little journals with drawings and stories in them that would count towards English. Even in math, usually things were unrestrained. My mom saw how quickly I was picking things up, and decided to move at an accelerated rate. Under her guidance, I was able to fit two years of math into one. When I went back to public school the next year, I was ahead of everyone else, and it felt good. Although most school days my mom was my teacher, every Friday I went to Life Christian Academy a school consisting of only homeschooled children. It was my favorite part. I had always had an interest in drawing, but in public school no one really ever cared. At LCA, though, they noticed. My teacher praised my work when I turned it in, and then recommended that I enter the art contest. I did so, and won first and third place. That class is what kick-started me in my passion for art. Science class was amazing. There was rarely a dull day, as we were always up and doing handson activities. The teacher also gave several handson projects that we would do at home and bring in to demonstrate. I loved it. They were all puzzles of some sort where we had a task to carry out, whether it was creating a small boat that could hold up to 20 pennies or building a contraption that gets a ping-pong ball from point

A to point B. I loved the homework; I wish I still got assignments like that. Physical education made me forget that I was even exercising. We would do some small stretches, and then together we would all do one activity. This could vary from four square to dodgeball to volleyball to ultimate frisbee and even more than that. The only downside I can think of to being homeschooled was the social restriction it put me on. Only being able to see friends once a week created the opportunity to form a shell around me, and I held on to that thing for dear life. I only talked to my mom; what would I need social skills for? As it would turn out, they would be essential in the sixth grade when I switched to Monrovia Middle School. It was an exciting year, but also a painful one. Ever since then, I have found myself standing alone. I see cliques, posses and other tight-knit groups, and can only wonder what it is like. I have tried to work my way into a group of friends that I felt comfortable with, but it never has worked out. That one year of social confinement set me far back behind everyone else. Almost everyone else went to middle school with the same people they went to elementary school with. I did not even know what to expect on my first day back in public school. I was confused as to when recess was. I found a self-proclaimed “loser table” at lunch and kept my eyes down. Likewise, in the hallways I kept my head down for fear of eye contact with these strange,

new people. I started to let my hair grow out longer and longer so that I no longer had to look down in the hallways— my hair protected my eyes. I honestly do not know if things would have been different had I stayed in public school up until this point. There seems to be no other explanation for my introverted tendencies than that one year at home. Over time, I did become more social, although with each summer seemed to come a new wave of shyness. I do not know what it is that started to make me more comfortable in school. Perhaps I simply adapted to public school through prolonged periods of exposure, though there were a couple of people here and there who saw how quiet I was and made efforts to catalyze my advancing interaction. I am truly grateful to them. Homeschooling had both negative and positive impacts on me. I can complain about some aspects all I want, but in reality it was a privilege. I have a mother who was willing to sit down with me for seven hours a day and teach me various materials. Sometimes I think about what it would be like to go back. I know it would be great with all the stress that comes along with public school— the surrounding drama, the deadlines, the fear of “What classes am I going to take?” — gone. But I also know that I would be leaving friends behind all over again, and I would be deprived of all the interesting students and teachers here. It is too much to give up.

Data courtesy of: https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=91 http://www.statisticbrain.com/home-school-statistics

Educational restraints stifle students’ creativity Logan Grant Reporter

ost states have implemented a system of curriculum standards for their schools to follow. In one sense, standards are productive. They provide a way for everyone to know what is expected. From another point of view, standards can stifle

creativity and hinder genuine learning. A single standard would be great if every student had the same mind and was on the same path in their life, but this is unrealistic. The Advanced Placement and foreign language classes required for graduation at Sparkman are

guaranteed to prepare students to go on to college, but some students do not go on to college. There are other career paths that lead to success, so why are students taught as if they are all the same person? Maybe students forget that there are other options in a society that encourages getting

a college degree. Dr. Sharon Clanton is not Sparkman’s college counselor; she is Sparkman’s college and career counselor. Every student has most likely had more than one class in which the grade was mostly based on performance on mindless activities. These kinds of classes

only teach students how to scan a text to pick out a word and fill in a blank. This creates a classroom full of kids who do not know how to think critically. If the answer is not A, B, C or D, the kids will be lost. This is the largest disservice the school system could give. A school’s job is

to create productive citizens and life-long learners, not robots. The term robot is not an exaggeration if you know the true meaning. It is derived from an old Slavonic word meaning servitude or forced labor. By that definition, we have to ask, are our schools producing learners or slaves?

March 13, 2014

The Crimson Crier

the

Lifestyles 9

game

LIFE of

DOUBLE HITTER. History teacher, assistant baseball, and assistant football coach Ben Stevenson began writing his second book, in which he is creating another analogy for life through football. He hopes to reach a larger audience of readers who prefer— or are more knowledgeable of— football. His first book, “The Game of Life” was originally inspired by a poetry notebook he completed in English teacher Debbie McMicken’s class his senior year. “It sparked the idea in a sense of connecting sports and faith,” Stevenson said. Photo by Sarah Jarnagin.

Assistant baseball coach, history teacher writes book on faith, baseball Caroline Barlow Reporter

aseball, America’s favorite past time, has been known to teach valuable lessons in sportsmanship and athleticism, but history teacher, assistant baseball and assistant football coach Ben Stevenson knows firsthand that the sport teaches more than that. Baseball is an analogy for living life. Stevenson published his first book, “Overcoming the World in 9 Innings,” last year. It took him three months to write the book and at least a year to get it published. “Writing a book is something I have always wanted to do. Before writing it I chose the topic from a talk I gave at my church,” Stevenson said. Before writing the book, Stevenson spoke to a church youth group. The topic Stevenson addressed was living life. And in the midst of the talk, he realized that it had nine points, so he related it to the nine innings of baseball. The book grew from this idea. “I wanted to make people think about the comparison of sports and faith because it has always been easy for me to connect the two,” Stevenson said Relating sports to topics is easy for Stevenson, a life-long athlete. Stevenson has

been involved in sports since he was five years old. Throughout his life he has played, coached and managed sports. “Throughout my childhood and my high school career I played baseball and football. Then when I was in college I was the manager for the baseball team at UNA. When I came to Sparkman I began coaching football and baseball and have been ever since,” Stevenson said. The main purpose of the book is not simply to make money, but to educate and help others through their struggles in life. As of now, over 100 copies of the book have been sold. “I sell the books myself basically ‘out of the trunk of my car.’ If someone says they want one I will just bring it to them. Some of my friends have gotten a few and have helped me sell them. It is also listed on Amazon.com,” Stevenson said. After finishing his first book, Stevenson began on his second. He has hopes that the new book will be published sometime in 2014. “My younger brother— who is currently in college at UNA— and I just finished a book this past Christmas break. Hopefully the book will be ready to be published in 2014. The new book has the same mindset of sports and faith, but it is football related instead of baseball,” Stevenson said.

Discovery Weekend “The Pause” April 25-27 Grace UMC

Sign up at youth.graceumchsv.org Sunday School—9:45am Sun. Night—5:30am, snack supper @ 7 Check out facebook.com/graceumy, twitter @gumy, or youth. graceumchsv.org for info on trips and special events!

The Crimson Crier

March 13, 2014

Entertainment 7

Student reviews “Oz” some annual school production Sarah Jarnagin

From left to right: Dorothy played by junior Shakira Stewart reaches out to the Tin Man, played by junior Travis Davis Middle: The Wicked Witch of the West played by senior Michaela Walton plots to get Dorothy’s ruby slippers. Right: Glinda played by junior Charity Dyer announces to the Munchkins that the Wicked Witch of the East is dead. Left: Dorothy, Scarecrow played by senior Eric Busby, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion played by junior Roderick Sims sing “Courage” before going to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West. Photos by: Megan Tooley

Photo Editor

ur drama department has always been a point of pride for our school. Their unique production of “The Wizard of Oz” was no exception. From Feb. 28 to March 1, the cast and crew of “Oz” practically lived at the Von Braun Center Playhouse, putting on a total of eight shows for audiences of all kinds. Sherri Ryan, the theater teacher and director of “The Wizard of Oz” led her students in their outstanding performance of the beloved, classic tale. The show was full of phenomenal singing, witty comedy and countless other talents, such as acrobatics and dancing. The costumes all throughout the play were colorful and creative. The set was bright and beautifully colored and added to the feel of the performance. The acting, singing and dancing brought the entire show home. The acting highlighted the overflowing talents of the students. The characters were energized and believable and made the audience get invested in the action. The power of the actors’ voices during their songs blew the audience away, and the dancing flowed beautifully. Overall, “Oz” was a job splendidly well done by the entire cast and crew. The production of “The Wizard of Oz” was just another reminder of the overwhelming amount of raw theater talent present in our school.

Staycation can provide plenty of fun during spring break Staying in Huntsville During Spring Break?

Sand-tastic Works of Wonder at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens Spring into Summer Activities Fair at the Davidson Space Exploration Center Treasure Hunt at Burritt on the Mountain

Brittany Robertson Reporter

pring break is coming and there are better thing s to do than sitting around watching reruns of shows. First is Insanity Skate Park, a 38,000 square foot complex for skateboarders and in-line skating. There are concrete courses with ramps and rails, more than 45 ground ramps and much more. A notarized waiver is required to skate. Helmet, elbow pads and knee pads are required.

For more information, go to their website at www. insanitycomplex.com. Next, explore Huntsville’s historic downtown district and see the older half of the Tennessee Valley. Places to explore are the Twickenham homes that have a neat architectural feature to them as well as the Depot Center which is rich with the history of the Civil War era and Alabama’s Constitutional Village. Want to catch the latest movie releases? Monaco

Pictures at Bridgestreet is showing the latest movie releases like “Pompeii” and “300: Rise of an Empire.” And for those who want a cheaper movie date night, the Dollar theater is also a great place to go to see “The Lego Movie.” or other slightly older options. If laser tag is your thing, check out Spectactical Laser Tag, where you and your friends can shoot each other down in the facility’s warehouse war zone, complete with vests, rifles and wooden and mesh structures to duck and cover under. Check them out online at www. spectatical.net for more

information. Paintball is a messy but fun game, and Phoenix Paintball in Athens is the place to start. They have a fully stocked store of supplies and three ranges for the best paintball experience. Environmentalists, we have a paradise for you. Enjoy planet earth at the cities largest park, Big Spring Park across from the Von Braun Center. Pack a picnic with family and friends and enjoy the sun. Let us not forget about Monte Sano State Park with its mountain trails, camping options and picnicking areas. Both

parks are a great way to get outdoors for the weekend. 3H riding trails are great for horse lovers and nature people. There are guided rides and personal instruction for beginners. Call for times and prices, and reservations are suggested. Find them at www.3hstables.com Skating provides great exercise and an opportunity to get out of the house. It’s the coolest place in town so lace up and get ready to skate at the Iceplex. There are plenty of activities to make your staycation busy in Huntsville.

Alternative music uncovered, forgotten albums recognized Lucas Ward Reporter

ome of the best music does not make it on the radio, and is generally forgotten. But I did not forget. I never forget. The Avalanches – Since I Left You (2001) Containing over 900 samples, The Avalanches first and last album is fantastic. Sampling from things like golf commercials to Madonna, “Since I Left You” blends completely different things into an enjoyable and unique album Radiohead – Amnesiac (2001) Released only nine months after “Kid A” (2000), “Amnesiac” did not disappoint. Instead of feeling like a rushed job as expected, Amnesiac featured atmospheric songs with massive buildup to grand sounds. Radiohead made what turned out to be my favorite album in less time than most albums are made.

Dawn Eckardt

Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998) Jeff Mangum is not a great singer, but he makes up for it in songwriting and soul. “In The Aeroplane Over the Sea” belches out a WWII-esc world filled with two headed boys and carrot kings, creating an immersive surreal world, in turn making one of the best albums ever.

Lynn Childers

6945 Hwy 72 Suite C Huntsville, Al 35806 (256) 722-3001

$10 off for first time guests

album cover photos by Lucas Ward

8 Entertainment

FOR DUMMIES Bria Calhoun Web Editor

ne of the most popular media sites/apps out now is the female dominated love of Pinterest. Known as the “social scrapbook” pinners use Pinterest to collect ideas for different projects and interests, but what about the person who just wants to look at fashion ideas? They can use this too, by searching for the topic like “plus size fashion”, “crop tops”, “riding boots”, “birthday gifts”, etc. Follow this guide and you can be a pinner before you know it!

Pin- A picture found online and added to Pinterest for pinners to share.

Board- Collection of uploaded pins arranged by category, theme, or title.

Following- Click the “Follow” button next to each board you want to follow so that you view other pinners boards and pins.

Repin- Pinning a pin that another pinner has already pinned.

Like- “Liking” a pin to show thanks of other users’ pins.

Comment- Pinners can leave thoughts on

March 13, 2014

The Crimson Crier

Students build confidence by showcasing vocal talent Victoria Lewis Reporter

housands of people young and old gathered at Nashville’s Music City Center to audition and support loved ones for “The Voice.” Seniors Victoria Jones, Julia Morrison and Megan Robinson individually tried out for “The Voice” Feb.2. All of the girls received support from family, friends and peers throughout the day. Their phones were glowing with text messages and phone calls of love and support. “I had received all kinds of messages throughout that day consisting of prayers and lots of luck. It was very special,” Jones said. After arriving in Nashville, they had to show identification and required paperwork. The line ran smoothly and the girls were quickly placed

WAITING FOR THE DREAM. Prospective contestants for the popular television show The Voice wait to enter into the audition room, where they will ply their musical skill for a chance at being the winner for the 2014 season. The show first aired in the U.S. in 2011 and will begin its sixth season this year. Photo by Victoria Jones

into groups of ten to be adjudicated. “I got through the lines quickly. After we got into the building we were able to practice, however, I didn’t because I was too nervous,” Morrison said. Jones made the initial cut and was told that she was being seriously considered and that if she received a call that night then she would be moving on to the next round. Jones did not receive a call to move to the next round, but she was happy with her performance.

“Surprisingly, I was not nervous at all. My audition was the most confident I had ever felt while singing. If I had to do it all again, I wouldn’t change anything. I learned that I am truly capable of pursuing my dreams,” Jones said. Jones sang “Blackbird” by The Beatles, sharing that the song summed up how she felt while auditioning. Morrison chose to sing “Gonna Get over You” by Sara Bareilles because she feels it was compatible with her voice. “I tried out last year and

decided to try out again this year. I feel like I could have done better. I would definitely like to do this again,” Morrison said. Jones and Morrison were grateful to try out for “The Voice.” Jones believes it is a television show consisting of good integrity, judging the contestants solely on their voice. “I felt like my opportunity to showcase my talent had indeed come and I was so grateful and excited about that,” Jones said.

another pinners pin.

Tag- Pinners can tag images and search for hashtags in the box.

POPULAR PINBOARDS

Music venues in the Valley: Tune into sounds of Huntsville Beryl Kessio

Opinion Editor

THE FLYING MONKEY ARTS THEATRE

Food & Drink

In the heart of Lowe Mill, this place is more than a music venue. A visitor walks through a hall, surrounded on all sides by local artists’ studios and quirky shops. The aura of the Flying Monkey is one that embraces creativity. It is okay to get a little weird here, encouraged even. The place stimulates the imagination with creative displays lining the halls. The food choices within Lowe Mill leave nothing to be desired. The Flying Monkey Arts Theatre offers events several days a week that cater to diverse tastes.

THE FOYER Located near UAH, this charming local hangout is home to many shades of musical talent in the Tennessee Valley. The shop welcomes you with cushy seats and local artwork framing the walls. Ideal for students, the appetizing menu items are studentfriendly as well (if you know what I mean). Open Mic Wednesdays allow anyone to showcase their musicality and to connect with the audience on a more personal level in The Foyer’s cozy environment. Grab a steaming cup of Joe as you relax into crooning vocals here.

EMMA’S TEA ROOM

THE VOODOO LOUNGE

Stop in for a cup of tea and a fresh pasty in this charming Five Points house-turned-restaurant while you listen to equally sweet music. Owner Rebekah Klein makes an effort to know her customers on a personal level, customer service is a main priority. Open mic is on Wednesdays, and Huntsville Songwriter’s Night is bimonthly on Fridays. The tea room vends high quality teas, coffees and light meals in an elegant, yet unpretentious atmosphere. Be sure to make a reservation because seats fill up

This underground bar and grill nestled in Downtown Huntsville features music most Wednesdays through the weekend. Do not let the name scare you, the hidden gem of Huntsville leaves nothing to be feared. What it lacks in size, it makes up for with the energy the performances here bring. The Voodoo Lounge pleases any audiophile with its diverse selection of acts, from blues to punk. Interested in performing yourself? Karaoke is offered several days a week. They even have open DJ night on Mondays.

Geological marvels caught on camera Animals

Apparel/Fashion

3. Coca-Cola Logo Coordinates: lat., long. ; oogle Earth 18.529437°, 70.249677°. is a Google Made from 70,000 empty service that is routinely coke bottles, the structure overlooked. Check out is found on a hillside in these interesting finds Chile standing 50 meters while using Google Earth. tall and 120 meters long. Underneath the Coca-Cola 1. Lake of Blood Logo it says “100 años” Coordinates: 33.396157° N, (meaning 100 years) 44.486926° E. This body of because the structure red water lies just outside celebrated the production of Sadr city in Iraq. There of Coca-Cola’s 100th is no explanation for the anniversary. blood red color of the water. 4. Landlocked Lips Coordinates: 12° 22’ 13.32” 2. KFC Logo N, 23° 19’ 20.18” E. These Coordinates: 37.646163° “luscious lips” are made N, 115.750819° W. The from a hill formation 87,000 square-foot picture found in Gharb, Darfur in of Colonel Sanders in Sudan a remote area just off Extraterrestrial Highway 5. Uffington White Horse in Nevada. This logo is in Coordinates:51.5775° the middle of nowhere N, 1.5667° W . Found in for a concept called Farringdon, Oxfordshire “mapvertising.” It is to in the United Kingdom encourage individuals this horse is made of chalk that stroll through google bedrock and is 374 feet earth images to consume long. It is thought that the product. the horse dates back to

McKenzie Ashmore Reporter

100Bc in the late Bronze Age.

6. Natural pool of Thasos Coordinates: 40° 35’ 10” N, 24° 40’ 43” E. To get to this natural, clear blue saltwater pool on its north side there is a jump of approximately 20 feet and the pool is roughly 9 feet deep with sea urchins covering its floor. 7. Turkish Flag of Cyprus Coordinates: Lat., Long. ; 35.282902°, 33.376891°. This large flag found in the middle of a desert in Cyprus shows how their people love their country.

Landlocked Lips

Natural Pool of Thasos

8. S.S. Heroic Shipwreck Coordinates: Lat., Long. ; 33.836379°, 151.080506°. Built in 1909 in the United Kingdom for Thomas Finwick, a tugboat operator of Sydney, the boat was once a steelhulled steam tugboat weighing 258 tons and 38.1 Turkish Flag of Cyprus meters long.

10 In-depth

The Crimson Crier

March 13, 2014

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Students battle daily with stifling parent prescence Heather Webster Lifestyles Editor

hough it may be common thinking of a teenager to view their parents as overbearing or dictatorial, most teenagers are unknowingly lucky to have parents that understand that there is a fine line between strict and autocratic parenting. Unfortunately, a friend of junior Beryl Kessio has experienced both neglectful and autocratic parenting during different times in his life. As a child, Kessio mentioned, his mother would leave her friend and his younger brother to their own devices while she left the room to play video games. The boys lacked the discipline that only a parent could provide. “His parents used to be together and his mom would neglect them. After they got divorced, because of how He and his brother were raised, his father decided to compensate for it by being extra strict,” Kessio said. After the split, his father would restrict computer access

to a point where the firewall was stronger than the school filters. The father works with computers for a living, allowing him to block nearly every website to the point where it interferes with his son’s chemistry Quest homework. “He hit where it hurts the most, but [my friend] found a way around it. He hacked in to get past it, but his dad caught him, and it only made the restrictions worse. Currently he is able to slip by, just under his father’s radar to accomplish simple things like homework and talking with his friends,” Kessio said. His phone was also recently taken away due to his ability to access the internet and text his friends. “It was another form of technology he could utilize. At one point [when he had his phone] we had to talk in code because the conversation was about his father. When it was taken away, we had to use a Google Voice number just to text me,” Kessio said. According to Kessio, her

friend is a “good kid” and has shown no reason for his father’s lapse in trust. He took him out of Scholar’s Bowl because he believed it to be a waste of time, and he forced him into another AP class to fill its spot in his schedule. “Sometimes he calls it the Nazi Regime. His dad smothers him the most, even though he’s the most responsible. He gets the yoke of it all. I’m surprised he hasn’t cracked yet. I think he might be in the process of cracking,” Kessio said. Research done by the University of New Hampshire on the different methods of parenting, the primary three being authoritative, authoritarian and permissive, suggests that the controlling and demanding nature of authoritarian parents who express “unilateral communication” and expect unequivocal obedience tend to shape their children to be ”discontent, withdrawn and distrustful” of their parents. Another student, senior Pheobe Burns experienced a

similar upbringing, with her mother’s controlling nature leaning more towards reliving her life through her daughter. Since she was little, Burns’ mother has been forming and enacting Burns’ every decision, never leaving room for Burns’ personal opinions or input, from choosing her clothing to speaking in lieu of her at the debutant events that her mother signed her up for. “I used to be very scared to talk to other people because she would butt in and say ‘Oh, you’re not supposed to be talking about this, you’re not supposed to be doing this.’ Other times, it was like if someone were to compliment me, she would thank them as if she were me. But you can’t talk to her [about it] because she will scream ‘Shut up.’ She will scream. It’s really bad. Basically you turn on your music as loud as you can and drown her out,” Burns said. Her only reprieve, admittedly, is when Burns watches movies with her mother. “There’s something about classical movies. We like

watching classical movies together,” Burns said. On Sunday, Feb. 23, Burns took an ounce of control of her life and sliced off her hair to just below her ear and dyed her bangs hot pink in spite of the will of her controlling mother. For the upcoming school year in the fall, Burns wanted to leave the state to attend a university, so she could be far away from her mother. In the end, she decided that the University of Alabama was a tolerable distance from her mom. “If she can call me from college and I can be there in five minutes, I am too close. My uncle lives in Tuscaloosa, right down the street. If I need to do laundry or anything like that, I can just go to my uncle. Though the University of Alabama is around three hours away, Burns would not be shocked if her mother did show up at her doorstep while she attends college. “Just in case, when I’m going somewhere else— no one tell her where I am,” Burns said.

The Crimson Crier

March 13, 2014

In-depth 11

Helicoptering can cause anxiety on both ends Riley Wallace Editor-in-Chief

y tradition, high school is the ground zero of American development. Between the walls of our classrooms and our workplaces and our churches, by some means of exposure and education, it is here, during these venerable years, that we challenge ourselves to make leaps towards adulthood. Between 15 and 19 years of age, the average adolescent develops emotionally, physically, intellectually, morally and politically, forming opinions and habits that will follow us the rest of our lives. We accrue the privilege to drive, to vote, to fight for our country, to be gainfully employed, to leave our homes. We make landmark decisions—which college we will spend the rest of our lives paying for, what standards of behavior we will uphold for ourselves and others and, in some cases, with whom we will spend the rest of our lives.

This is not new information; once, we were our parents, our grandparents, our great grandparents. Once, they were us. Having raised us for so long, loved us through so much, invested such effort into us, they, however, may find difficulty in our transition. They want to keep us safe, to be actively invested in our lives, to be sure that we are ready for those challenges that lie ahead. They want better for us than what they had, in the semblance of that same American dream that has driven this country forward since its inception: “to secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.” But, occasionally, the means of keeping us safely on the straight-and-narrow can be damaging to the goals we are striving for. According to several comprehensive studies, “helicopter parenting,” or seeking to be as involved and in control of a child’s life as possible, can actually be detrimental to the psychological health of both child and guardian. One study in particular,

done by researchers at the University of Mary Washington and reported by PsychCentral in early 2013, suggests that one key to the emotional development of an adolescent is a feeling of independence, of empowerment, of being able to accomplish tasks under their own power. Parents that seek to offer extreme aide in times of hardship, consequentially, can be obstructive to that aspect of growth, leading their children to question their own competence and problemsolving abilities. In the most severe cases, this can lead to depressive tendencies, which, paradoxically, the child then feels they are unable to deal with. Meanwhile, Iowa State University professor of psychology Carolyn Cutrona tackles the other side, believing that the need for parents to have so much control over their children is a reflection of internal desire to be present and always necessary, even as their children try to claim their independence. A willingness to help, a need to be included

in their child’s life and an urge to push their child toward success can result in a feeling of rejection when their child does not accept aide or falls short of established expectations. This constant effort can result in powerful anxiety, stress that could further cause adults to seek solace in their child’s affairs. Living in such a mutually uneasy loop does not foster the healthiest mental state or make it any emotionally easier to live on either end of the relationship, the perceptions of “helicoptering” feeling sometimes like a series of personal jabs. Constant involvement can be interpreted as a lack of trust, as a parent saying “the more I am involved, the less the possibility of failure.” Though this control is based in love, in trying to keep us safe, sometimes it can limit our exposure to a world that we need practice dealing with. At any time, we may feel that we have failed them with the mere thought of acting contrary to their standards, and when we do fail, it can be a crushing

blow. Thus, we begin to doubt ourselves. Of course we love them, and of course we appreciate the work that they have put into us, the lengths they go to keep us safe, the dreams they have for us, the motives behind their attentions. We want to involve them in our lives as much as possible, show them the people we are in all our Technicolor abilities and desires to succeed. But, no matter the parenting style, this relationship of growth should not lead us to lose faith in ourselves, or our parents to suffer from anxiety induced by our activities or peers or lives. Love should not require the sacrifice of confidence or health or happiness, but foster those in a setting that keeps us close but allows room to grow. And as we move forward, all of us on that path toward college or career or what-haveyou, we must implore this from them—our parents, our grandparents, our guardians of any sort— when we can: that they have taught us to fly and now they must let us try.

Are you a helicopter parent? Use these questions to see if you or your parent is hovering To what extent do you agree with these statements? 1-Strongly disagree

2-Disagree

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Graphics by Kasey Stender and Noah Lombard.

The Crimson Crier

12 Lifestyles

March 13, 2014

Top 8most

annoying hallway personalities

Katlin Gillespie

Reporter

alking through the halls can be quite an adventure when running into these annoyances on a daily basis:

2 3 5 7

The Brake Check—

Prepare to put your brakes on when stuck behind someone who clearly does not acknowledge traffic in the hall. It is beyond irritating when you are trying to walk to class and this person feels the need to stop and almost trip half the people behind them.

The Statue—

This person can be found standing in the middle of the hallway for a number of pointless reasons. Usually it is to stop to talk to a friend or send a text message. The hallway is for people to walk, not to stand around like zombies. You are asking to be road kill.

The Group—

We all have been a part of the group whether it was back in middle school or to this day. No one else matters as long as you are talking to your “clique” and catching up on daily gossip. Just imagine when the tables turn and you are stuck behind a horde of human sloths.

The Slow Poke—

It is like walking behind a turtle: the person is slugging along and you are stuck behind them thinking the entire time “Move, like seriously can you go any slower?” You put one foot in front of the other; it is not cool to walk slower than your grandparents.

The Couple—

Ah yes, everyone has encountered high school lovebirds in the hall before. The boy is often walking the girl to her next class as they hold hands and stare into one another’s eyes. Not caring about anyone else, just imagine if they were showing more affection. You would not make it to class on time that day.

The Pusher—

We were all taught in middle school to keep our hands to ourselves, but not every student wants to abide by the rules. You have that one kid that gets so frustrated that he decides he is going to push you out of the way or shove your backpack. I get that everyone gets frustrated in the halls, but that does not mean you should turn into Chuck Norris.

6 8

The Loud Mouth—

One of the most common annoyances is when you are walking and all of a sudden you hear yelling in your ear. That one ignorant person who just has to yell to his buddy about something irrelevant. Come on now, go be loud in the gym or cafeteria.

The Contrary Commuter— Unless you are the new kid you should not be walking on the wrong side of the hallway. At all. Please do not be that person, ever. But if you want to attract attention and look ignorant, then be my guest. It really is common sense to just follow the crowd.

Illustrations by Riley Wallace

The Crimson Crier

March 13, 2014

Lifestyles 13

SEXTING cont. from page1

“If they’re under a certain age, it is considered child pornography. It’s exploiting another person and what you’re doing is you’re sending images of someone else that you don’t have permission to send. It’s guilt by association. You can be charged even third party,” Graves said. Repercussions of sexting cannot only involve the legal system, they can be emotionally damaging. Teens do not think about how these images shared online could affect them. Only later, after the bad break up or in the wake of a vindictive friendship, do teens begin to fear in whose hands these images might be. Nothing ever goes away. “[Sometimes] I’m afraid that it could [affect my future] but it was my decision so it’ll be my consequences,” East said. “It was through the internet so it’s always gonna be there.” Along with the emotional scarring, East had to gain back the trust of those she most loved. Friends and family were shocked to discover the truth about East’s online exploits. With an angry and disappointed family, it took East a long time to

67% 48%

rebuild the trust she valued so dearly. “I lost their trust and had to gain it back again. I lost friends and gained the wrong sort of friends,” East said. The delete button can be pushed, but the images are still out there, hidden in the depths of old files and documents, just waiting to be revealed at the most inopportune moment. The exposure can be the first push of the domino line, beginning a cascade of life-ruining events that all tie back to the one decision. “It won’t be me.” “Enjoy being young. Just because everyone else is doing it, doesn’t mean that you should do it because there are consequences to your actions. Things come back and you are to going have to face that,” East said, “Just because people expect you to do something doesn’t mean you have to do it. You’re your own person.” *Names have been changed to protect the identity of those interviewed.

46%

of polled students had sent a sext before.

43%

said they would send a sext if a significant other asked.

knew the legal ramifications of sexting.

knew the legal teens nation of ramifications wide have sexting. received a sext.

Delivered 178 students polled

internetsafety101.com

Juniors obtain SCUBA certification, explore world underneath waves Noah Lombard

Reporter

t is a beautiful sight to see the sun set over the ocean. The red light dances off the waves as they swirl in harmonic motion on the never-ending horizon. Better yet? Its beauty is not only skin deep. There is an entire world below the waves, one that juniors Leslie Hammonds and Lizzie Pettit are quite familiar with. Hammonds and Pettit both share an interest in scuba diving, each having got into scuba diving through their fathers. Hammonds said her interest stemmed from her father’s encouragement once she started to take a liking to marine biology. Marine biology is the study of underwater life, so if Hammonds was to study what was in the water, she had to find a way to get there. She decided the best way to do that was to follow in her father’s footsteps. “My dad had gotten into scuba diving a couple of years before…” Hammonds said. Before they could scuba dive, the girls had to become certified. Certification requires hands-on training classes and passing a written test. Once these things are accomplished, the girls were moved to an open body of water for training. Hammonds and Pettit were certified at the Southeastern Diving, Inc.(SDI). The training came in handy the first time Hammonds hit the water. “First, I was really nervous because I wasn’t entirely sure my guide had gotten everything set up right… and then, I just

jumped in the water— I was the first one to jump in. When you take the first breath it’s kind of scary… but then once you realize that you can breathe you just kind of look around,” Hammonds said. Despite her professional interest, Hammonds has put her scuba skills to work multiple times in Florida and while on a cruise to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands and Honduras. Both girls enjoy the scenery and the adventure that scuba brings. “I’ve actually gone lobster hunting. That was fun, because it was scuba diving with a purpose. I wasn’t just swimming around— I was looking for something we’d have for dinner that night,” Hammonds said. Pettit recalls her fondest memory under the deep blue sea where she played with fish. “One time a fish bit my toe because it thought it was a sausage,” Pettit said. “And one time a fish bit my belly. That was scary.” Although the two are close friends, they have not had the opportunity to scuba dive together. They have tried to set it up in the past, but something has always interrupted their plans. “…[I’m going] nowhere that’s realistic in the near future, but hopefully the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia, someday,” Hammonds said. Until they can arrange a scuba outing, Hammonds plans to keep hitting the deep water. “There are a lot of things to worry about, but if you are just swimming around there is really nothing to worry about,” Hammonds said.

DANGERS DIVING of

1 out of every 211,864 dives ends in a fatality.

The primary reasons for diving fatalities are due to 1. pre-existing disease or pathology in the diver 2. p o o r b u o y a n c y c o n t r o l

rapid ascent/violent water movement/the bends

about half of all fatalities involved divers with 20 or fewer dives Information provided by (DAN Diving Fatalities Workshop Report)

March 13, 2014

Sports 14

The Crimson Crier

Coach Discussion. Junior Famechia Starks discusses the upcoming match with coach Ethan Richardson. Richardson is the head coach for all four tennis teams. His teams have made progress since he began coaching five years ago, including getting wins over typical “country club” schools. Photo by Megan Tooley

Coach enjoys every minute on the court Caroline Barlow Reporter

ennis is a sport that is commonly disregarded or forgotten during high school. Most people do not realize that competitive tennis is not easy to coach or play, but Ethan Richardson took that challenge of coaching the sport he loves. Richardson has been involved in tennis since his high school days. He played tennis for three years in high school and he began coaching after beginning his teaching career. “When I began teaching at Sparkman, I asked Mr. Wallace if there were any coaching positions and he told me that tennis was available. Since I played tennis for three years in high school it worked out,” Richardson said. Richardson said tennis is a personal sport that requires a coach that can help each player individually. He strives to be in touch and have a strong relationship with each of his players. “ My favorite part of being a tennis coach is working individually with the kids and getting to know them well. It is important to have a strong relationship with each of the kids because they will be on the team for four to five years since they playing in the middle school, “ Richardson said. Richardson knows that tennis can be an intense sport

that moves at a fast pace. With an individual being the center of the game, players can sometimes stress out. “My main coaching philosophy is to work hard and to have fun playing the sport they love,” Richardson said. The season has already proved to be a successful one, but Richardson and the team are striving to do better. Both the girls and boys teams have dominated in their recent matches and the majority of the season is still ahead. “I think that we will be very successful this season. We have most of our starters returning and we have already beat teams this year that we have not beaten in the past,” Richardson said. The girls grabbed a big win over James Clemens, 6-3 and the boys beat powerhouse Decatur, 5-4. Richardson’s coaching style is favored by the players, but sophomore Anna Fiorucci particularly enjoys how easy going yet helpful his coaching is. “Coach Richardson is very laid back, but he knows when to be stern and serious and when to allow us to do our own thing. He also has the ability to calm the team down when we are losing, and he knows how to motivate us when encouragement is needed,” Fiorucci said. Fiorucci is ranked number one in the region and she is the top player on the girls’ team. Throughout the years that she has been on the tennis team, Fiorucci has

2014 Tennis Competition Calendar

03/14: Decatur @ home 03/18 Austin @ home 03/20: James Clemens @away 3/21: Bob Jones @ home 04/01- 04/05: Madison County Tourney @ home 04/08: Decatur Heritage @ away 04/10: James Clemens @ home 04/15: Girls Section @ away 04/16: Boys Section @ away

become a better player from Richardson. “During my three years on the team, Richardson has pushed me to my limits and he has always believed in me. When I get discouraged he is always there to lift me up and to boost my confidence. I think he is a great coach,” Fiorucci said.

Athletes debunk popular sports stereotypes Savannah Bullard Reporter

hen a sport has been showcased internationally since the Dark Ages, stereotypes can be made. Based on assumption and bloated media, critics end up placing a particular athlete into one group of characteristics. By seeing both sides of the spectrum, sports stereotypes can finally come full circle and show the truth behind the game. THE MEATHEAD Movies seem to always portray football players as large, dumb jocks. They only date cheerleaders and when not on the field, football players are stuffing their faces with burgers and using their math homework as a napkin. The Truth Mason EdwardsFootball. We actually do have common sense. I’m ashamed to think that we are seen as that awful. It’s a disgrace. WHERE AM I? According to the media,

soccer is only played in Spain and Brazil. If not, the American soccer players are just rich white kids who happen to place their foot on a ball that looks like a panda bear. The Truth Lindsey Rogers-Soccer. It takes a lot of mental awareness to play the game right. Plus David Beckham is British. THE HARLOT The dance team has a reputation for being provocative and generally trashy in their performances (if they can even be called performers at all). The dancers are only limited to twerking and gyrating, which makes their audiences think that this is the only lifestyle they can have. The Truth Haley Matthews-Dance Team. Dancers do all styles, not just hip hop. The dance team could do more than gyrating, though. They could broaden their horizons and do what real dancers actually do, which is all styles.

THE MID-LIFE CRISIS According to movies, everyone’s father golfs on Tuesdays. Golfing is generally boring and only played by old men who wish to be young again. The Truth Zach Fortenberry-Golf. Golf is definitely not just for old people. It can be purposeful for all ages and is a lot of fun. There are tons of technicalities that go into golf, and it isn’t as easy as you think. THE HIGH CLASS BABY It is smeared into movies all the time: girls go crazy over the tall white boys in heavenly pants. The only thing a baseball player knows (besides baseball) is the best chewing tobacco to buy and their mother’s debit card PIN. The Truth: Jacob MachnicaBaseball. Usually the professional baseball players are the rich and flashy ones. High school baseball players are more humble due to the fact that we’re constantly fighting for a starting job. We don’t

have time to be jerks like that. THE STREET RAT Basketball is seen as one of the most “ragsto-riches” sports of the modern media. All basketball players are black, poor and tall. They only got their money from the games they played; because it is the only thing these men do best. The Truth Brandon Miller-Basketball. White people can play basketball really well, but I think they don’t try out for the team because they think they will be the only white person on the team. There are really great white players like Larry Bird. He played for the Celtics in the 1970s and 1980s and was amazing. THE REGINA GEORGE Cheerleaders are the same in every movie. Blonde bombshells take over the football field and flash their short skirts to the “adoring fans”. According to stereotypical media, cheerleaders are not capable of having a GPA

Illustration by Noah Lombard

above their shoe size and carry more makeup products than school supplies. The Truth Morgan WrzeszczCheer. Not all cheerleaders are dumb blondes. I am a brunette and I read books every time I’m not cheering. We devote a lot of time to our school work and are smart for being able to do so. THE MAN’S SPORT Showing up to prom in sweatpants and a flannel shirt is what the media thinks about softball players. Stereotypical softball players do not understand the concept of

the color pink and rub dirt on their bodies as a form of perfume. In addition, the only language softball players speak is grunting and curse words to the opposing team’s coaching staff. The Truth Demarie CorleySoftball. Strength and conditioning is our power; we need to have a bigger stature to play what is considered a man’s sport. There are some girls who do rush to wipe the dirt off of them after a game, though. There is such thing as a girly girl who plays softball.

15 Sports

The Crimson Crier

March 13, 2014

Practice gives golfers confidence going into season Riley Wallace Editor -in-chief

yes on the green of the course, the players prepare themselves mentally for the challenge ahead. A minor change in the wind, a slight slip of their confidence, a single lesson forgotten could sour even the best match day. But with their teammates on all sides, they go down swinging, and they do not meet again until they have tasted victory. The boys’ and girls’ golf teams have been training since early January for the spring golf season, which officially began on March 5. The team includes several returning players on its 14-student roster, some of whom have more than ten years of experience with the game. Despite featuring such knowledgeable players, however, the 2014 season as a whole remains an ambiguous future for which Gibson maintains high hopes, thanks in part to the ever-present possibility of tumultuous weather patterns and little preview of this year’s competition. “We play all the Huntsville, Madison County teams and then usually some teams from Florence or Birmingham areas will play in tournaments. Golf is hard to predict, but if our players play with confidence I think we have a great shot of playing in the post season,” Gibson

said. Three or more hours of practice per day at Richland Golf Center and Colonial Golf Course have prepared them to face other local high school teams, honing their skills and drilling them in the details of the game. “We work on various parts of golf gamemechanics of driving, iron play, chipping, putting. Each player knows that their score will effect how well the team competes. We constantly help each other during practice from course management to swing mechanics,” coach Kevin Gibson said. According to sophomore Hayley Jarnagin, practice focuses most on developing individual technique from a standard of beginning golf lessons, better fostered in the team setting by the presence of varying experience levels and multiple different styles. “You have to learn the basics of what makes up a golf swing and then build on that and learn how to make it your own, learning that what works for someone else’s swing might not work for yours. So you take bits and pieces of what you’ve learned and seen and put it all together to make your swing what you want it to be. So it takes a lot of time,” Jarnagin said. Athletic prowess, however, is not the only valuable asset on

the course, in the eyes of Jarnagin and senior teammate Alex Guerrero, who cites honesty as one of the key characteristics of a well-rounded golf player, and a key protection from the moral struggle that results from individual play on the green. “It’s very easy to cheat in golf, especially when there’s no one watching you. You could lie about your score; you could easily move your ball when there’s no one looking. There’s just so many ways you can cheat in golf and really, it’s the only sport that I know of that you can call a penalty on yourself, if you’re honest,” Guerrero said. While such behavioral discrepancies are highly discouraged to promote fairness and good sportsmanship, they do not exist solely in scholastic golf competitions; major sports icons have also been known to disregard the rules to improve their scores, and their resulting reputations. “It actually happens in many high school matches and tournaments because it’s so easy to get away with and will also make people think you played well when you didn’t. But golf professionals also have been caught cheating,” Guerrero said. “Most widely known was when Tiger Woods cheated in the 2013 Masters’. He took an illegal drop and

Setting up the putt. Preparing to swing, sophomore Stephanie Whitman focuses on the ball. The girls’ and boys’ golf teams have begun their season. Both teams are coached by Kevin Gibson after coach Gina Glass resigned. The teams play home matches at Colonial Golf Course in Meridianville. Photo by Kevin Gibson

that inadvertently caused him to sign an incorrect score card. There has also been controversy when he ‘accidentally’ moved his ball and didn’t call a penalty on himself, so it’s difficult to be honest in golf.” While individual scores affect the team’s progress and practices are held in a group, players swing alone on the course, and it therefore may become necessary for students’ goals to both benefit the team and their personal records. “This year, I really want to get stronger in our golf game as a team, and, as for me, I am aiming to qualify for state this year and win Sparkman a big trophy,” senior Alex Guerrero said. Although Jarnagin cannot personally play this

season due to injuries to her meniscus and ACL, she still has high hopes for the team, and will be there as much as possible in order to cheer them on. “Well, even though I can’t play, I would still love to see the girls win county again, and qualify for substate like last year, and ultimately make it to state,” Jarnagin said. The boys lost to Grissom in the first match by four strokes. Both Varsity teams came in second at their first competition on March 5. The varsity boys’ golf team will compete again on March 13 against Madison County High School, while varsity girls and junior varsity boys will compete on March 17 and 18 against Hazel Green High School.

Will Bartel

Sports Editor

March 13 March 18 March 19 March 20 April 1 Varsity Girls’ Competitions

March 17 March 19 March 20 April 1

addness s M et ch r f a

Sweeping the field with Quidditch

Varsity Boys’ Competitions

wo weeks t t ex

NCAA the s tournament looms over college basketball, many teams struggle to get off of the bubble and into the NCAA tournament. Teens and adults alike will complete brackets in hopes of picking the national champion. Here is my advice on how to do so. Many of these teams that sneak into the tournament are over looked time and time again by bracketologists Brooms await. Brooms await a Quidditch match on a college campus in Vermont. Colleges across America, including the University of Alabama, have started Quidditch teams. Harry Potter fans at the high school predicting games. I will level hope Quidditch makes an appearance on their campuses. Photo courtesy of HSNE focus on some teams that can fly in under the radar to make a tournament run and some teams that Kasey Stender and a Snitch (usually fast goalie. He or she protects will disappoint in the Spread Editor a person decked out in the team’s rings and tries tournament. Louisville and defeating yellow). to prevent the other team UConn both at home and on Busters Bracket veryone knows •The quaffle is the from getting the quaffle Tennessee - This is a the road, bracketologists Harry Potter. I mean scoring ball and hence goes through one. They are team that has been up are only seeding SMU as an he did defeat the Dark through one of the rings to immune from bludgers if and down all year. They 8 seed. SMU, despite only Lord and all. He was also be counted as 10 points. they are a few feet from have a win over the ACC scoring 72 points per game a great Quidditch player •The bludgers are the rings. regular season champs is eighth in the nation in in his years at Hogwarts thrown at other players. •The Chasers these Virginia, but they also field goal percentage. They School of Witchcraft and •The Snitch is 150 are the players that go have losses to the likes also have an elite defense Wizardry. points in the wizarding after the quaffle and try to of Texas A&M, Vanderbilt that only allows 61 points. Here is a quick guide world but for us muggles, score. and NC State. Tennessee This is a team that people for anyone who wants it is only worth 30. The •The Beaters they try to has been inconsistent in will overlook, but SMU is to become the next team that gets the Snitch peg members of the other games all year. Despite capable of being an Elite great player. And do not tends to be the winner of team with the bludgers. If inconsistencies, they have Eight or Final Four team. worry; there are muggle the match. These balls are hit, a player has to drop the Baylor- Baylor has a legitimate scorer off the Quidditch teams in colleges placed in the middle of the quaffle if they are handling bounce with Jordan McRae been a strange team this participating all over the field while the players are one or pause and sit by as well as a great post year. At the season’s world. at either end waiting to their rings for 10 seconds. threat and rebounder in beginning Baylor seemed The basic rules: race to them. 5. Play the game: It Jarnell Stokes. If Tennessee like a safe pick to make 1. Have a broom. 4. Now for the would be best to have makes the tournament I the tournament, but a 2. First you have to players. There are seven the referee and the score would not be surprised if midseason slide left them find a nice, wide area to people on each Quidditch keeper be separate people they were able to pull an on the outside looking in. play. At each end of your team. One Seeker, one so everything is kept upset or two to get into Despite winning six out of team’s space have some keeper, three chasers and caught up. Let the match their last seven games the the Sweet 16. hula hoops on top of sticks two beaters. begin. SMU - Despite breaking bears are still on the edge shoved in the ground to •The Seeker this For more rules and into the top 25 this season, of the bubble. Currently serve as the scoring rings. player’s primary job is to information, visit: http:// the Mustangs are not projected as an 11 seed, 3. Have bludgers search for and chase the iqaquidditch.com/ getting much love from the Baylor will still be a tough (dodgeballs) and a quaffle Snitch. bracketologists. Despite out in the tournament. (another, smaller ball) •The Keeper this is the wins over Cincinatti and They have a lights out

Coming Up

three-point shooter in Brady Heslip and a second legitimate Scorer in Cory Jefferson.

Pretenders

Kentucky- Think twice about putting the Wildcats far into your brackets. Kentucky has struggled mightily over the past few weeks of the season. Despite having great inside play with Julius Randle, the Kentucky guards have been in disarray the past few weeks. I wouldn’t put them past the round of 32. San Diego State- Despite what Xavier Thames has done this season, I dont see San Diego State as a team that can go far in the tournament. The Aztecs have a great defense but the offense is painful to watch at times. I see them as a round of 32 team at the most.

March 13, 2014

The Crimson Crier

Senior Toni Brewer, senior Maiya Rumph, senior Alexis Jennings, junior Chelsea Robinson, junior Wynter Sales and Brewer Photos by Greg Machen

16 Sports

THE ROAD TO Girls come home with red trophy

BIRMINGHAM Savannah Bullard

Reporter

ne of the most recognized sports in our school is the basketball teams. This year the Lady Senators took their team and hard-cheering fans all the way Savannah Bullard to Birmingham, Ala. for the Reporter State Championship. he Crimson Crier: How was the road to Birmingham, and what pride have you accumulated from this The winning season Hazel Green season? concluded with 32 wins and Jan. 24, 2014 2014 Chelsea Robinson: The road was great this year. Last year we went undefeated until the regional championship 3 losses; however due to all game. This year we had a bit more adversity and we overcame a lot of individual obstacles like confidence. We also 53-45 45-53 good things coming to an end, worked on team bonding; we became closer and now we’re like sisters. We’ll always have each other’s back. the final state championship CC: Did you think that the girls were capable of going all the way to the state championship this year? game brought home a loss for CR: Yes I did. I still think were the 6A state champions. We don’t need a ring to tell us that; I feel that we were the Lady Senators. James James Clemens Clemens the best team and we still are. Even though were losing most of our strong players, we have a lot to overcome Senior Toni Brewer has been but we can make it again like we did this year. Feb. 14, 2014 working tirelessly alongside her Feb. 14, 2014 CC: What was going through your mind after the defeat to Shades Valley? 59-24 59-24 girls to become fit for victory. CR: It hurt a lot because we were really wanting to win. We have worked so hard; coming to morning She comes out of the 2014 workouts and staying after school and training with Coach Turnbough. A lot of stuff was built up to that season with more pride than and to lose the way we lost, it didn’t feel good. agony of defeat. CC: There is high talk of the referees playing a big part in your loss. How do you feel about “I was very excited and that? we were very fortunate. We CR: We were kind of playing against the referees and the other team. It wasn’t entirely worked really hard all year to get fair. to Birmingham and I wouldn’t CC: Since you are a junior on the team, you will be a leader of the girls next year. change anything about it. The What are your thoughts about what is to come in 2015? outcome of this season was all CR: We will always remember the hurt of losing the state championship. well-deserved and we all had a very But next year we’ll be ready. We will definitely want to make another good time. I enjoyed every second appearance in Birmingham. with my teammates,” Brewer said. CC: Were there any highlights of this season that you will keep To heighten the hype even with you? more, three ladies on the team were CR: After Christmas break, the tournament in individually recognized in their last Montgomery was really good, to me. The girls and I two games. Alexis Jennings was named stayed in a hotel and learned a lot about each other MVP at Wallace State; Jennings, Brewer those few days we were constantly together. and senior Maiya Rumph were awarded And we also played really well against those all-tournament at the final championship teams. Also when we were playing against in Birmingham. Jennings, who has signed Blackman High School, we knew we to play at The University of Kentucky, were facing a tough team. I think expresses the pride she felt for gaining more we played our best game when than a win with her teammates. we played them, though. We “Everything started with hard work. Hard knew that we had to use work met talent and talent met results; and for me everybody; and even to win MVP and All-Tournament, I feel like I worked though we lost we hard to earn it,” Jennings said. came together as a Coach Patrick Delay also generated more pride than team. disappointment for his girls, and knows that playing the best possible is where a true victory comes from. “The kids individually and team-wise got everything that they deserved. We did want to win the whole thing but those kids worked hard for the individual awards and they deserved all the recognition they got,” Delay said. Even after a successful season, the ladies did suffer a hard defeat at the Feb. 28 game against Shades Valley. Rumors of bias among the referees had fans and players angry alike; the girls lost 63-49 by the Birmingham-native team. As this was her last championship game for her high school career, Brewer was not happy with what seemed to be a manipulated outcome. “With that game on Friday, we were fighting against the referees. They didn’t call fair at all and it ended up feeling like we weren’t even playing Shades Valley. There is no reason for me to be upset because there was nothing we could change about what went down,” Brewer said. **What was your reaction to the way the referees called the game? Even though five seniors are leaving for college next year, Delay plans “They were extremely unfair! I could have thrown my shoe at them.” to offer new mind-sets to his new team and hope to capture their goals for a second time in a row. “Losing will haunt us for a while. I told the kids down in Birmingham that “They were just doing their jobs.” [the championship] is an experience they need to savor and take in,” Delay said. “It is always our goal to make it to the final four; but you just can’t always hit all your goals. We will be off for Spring Break; then after that we’ll start back **Do you plan on attending more games next year, now that you have up and getting geared for next year.” seen how well the Senators play? Moving on is the next step for Jennings’ life; however if there was one thing she could leave with her team, it would be the importance of dedication and “Oh yeah! GO SPARKMAN!” passion for the game. “I might go to the home games. It’s not worth the gas.” “Always keep your head up,” Jennings said. “Keep working and never stop working hard. It is never over.”

Junior reflects on winning season T

Hoover Hoover Feb. 18, 18, 2014 2014 Feb. 57-40 57-40

Austin Feb. 21, 2014 63-36

Blount Feb. 26, 2014 56-45

Shades Valley Feb. 28, 2014 49-63

POST-SEASON POLLS 72%

28%

State runner-up trophy, student section at Wallace State, Coach Delay with AHSSA representatives, and sophomore cheerleaders Andreka Barrifee and Jasmine Halbert

64%

36%

**Did you think the Senators were going to make it to Birmingham next year? “Absolutely. We are a basketball-driven school.” “Anything is possible.”

33%

Out of 250 polled

67%