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Thursday, Oct. 26 2017, Issue 2

Photo illustration by Scott Lowe and Natalie Craney

Kaylyn Jones Editor

here are some who can but do not and there are others who cannot but do. Understanding that his brain was “hurt” at birth, but determined to show up to every practice and workout, nothing can or ever will hold senior Neal Burch back as he sees no limitations. Neal is a “doer”. “Football has had a very positive effect on Neal the last 6 years,” father Sonny Burch said. “He loves all of his teammates and constantly cheers for them at practice or during the game. It doesn’t matter if they make a good play or make a mistake. He loves them all the same. His team mates can always count on him to be there to lend a pat on the back or a hug.” Peeking an interest in football during the sixth grade when he attended Monrovia Middle School, Neal approached the coaches and was granted permission to play as long as he could pass the physical requirements to play. “We knew he would never play in a regular game like the other boys and we were okay with that. Our concerns were more around the other players being kind to him, accepting him and putting up with his personality,” Sonny said. “It’s funny seeing a huge lineman, who you think is this big tough mean guy, give Neal a hug on the sideline after a big play. It’s hard to turn down Neal’s smile and loving attitude. That’s what we wanted the other boys to see.” His parents’ concerns were put to bed as acceptance came with open arms and six years later, Neal is still building up his cherished football legacy that has not only left its mark on the team, but the student body as well. Although this is Neal’s last season playing football with his teammates because of the Alabama High School Athletic Association

Crowd favorite embodies true team player

regulations, his spirit still ignites fires in everyone he comes in contact with. “Neal brings so much enthusiasm and excitement to every single practice and game. He never fails to put a smile on everyone’s face. He’s a key motivator and inspiration to all of us,” senior punter Grant Whitt said. “I definitely believe he motivates our fans and student section. I’ve never seen anyone pump up a crowd like Neal can. Neal runs over to the side, waves his arms, and the crowd goes crazy. He always keeps the crowd in the game. Everyone just has so much love for him, and it shows every Friday night.” Continuously holding an active lifestyle and setting long term goals for his future, Neal remains positive and working towards the expectations held for himself. Neal plans to play football at the University of Georgia, get married, have kids and even one day coach children. “We believe he will be sad for sure but more from his peers moving on to college and him staying behind. Sure, he will miss football, but he will miss his friends and teammates more. Over the years, Neal has participated in several sports, soccer, MPRA basketball, Miracle League Baseball, Special Olympics Swimming and Special Olympics Track and Field (1 mile run for 2 years). Neal loves to be active; he even loves to “walkie in the woods” (hiking) and camp,” Sonny said. “Neal will continue to participate in Special Olympics. It’s because of being around his football brothers that he thinks he can do all the things they are going to do.”

True team player

Continued on pg. 2

Huntsville ranked in top thirty smartest cities in America Kennan Potts Reporter

hether a person has lived here since the ‘60s or has moved here in the past year, Huntsville has become a city that thousands call home. Home to over 200,000 people, the city continues to grow and has set itself apart and above from other cities in a multitude of way. From a business standpoint, the Huntsville metro area—which includes Madison and Limestone counties—has several manufacturers. Remington firearms in Limestone and ADTRAN in Research Park both add about 4,000 jobs to the Huntsville metro area. “Redstone Arsenal has about 38,000 workers and [Cummings] Research Park has about 26,000. Our metro area in total has about 218,260 people employed across all occupations, so Redstone and CPR make up nearly 20 percent of employment,” Chamber of Commerce vice president of small business and events Pammie Jimmar said.

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A large part of Huntsville’s success comes from science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related jobs and research. In the Huntsville metro area, there are 18,130 people employed in engineering and architecture. “Most of the work conducted in Redstone Arsenal and Research Park is science, technology, engineering and math,” Jimmar said. “STEM also has a higher job multiple rate than manufacturing jobs.” Most of the jobs require a bachelor’s degree or more in a STEM field, and clocking in at number 27 nationally, Alabama is one of the most educated cities in the United States and the smartest city in Alabama, ranked above Nashville, Pittsburgh and Denver. While Huntsville as a whole receives relatively little tourism compared to Birmingham or Montgomery, it is home to a popular tourist attraction, the US Space and Rocket Center—which is home to the Saturn V rocket—is the top tourist

attraction in Alabama and displays the work done on Redstone Arsenal and Research Park. “The US Space and Rocket Center is directly related to the work conducted on Redstone Arsenal and in Research Park,” Jimmar said. “So there is a connection between the education levels and tourism in Huntsville.” Being home to excellent job opportunities for STEM graduates, Huntsville attracts young residents back to the city after they finish college. The city is currently working on upgrading entertainment and living residences to attract teens and young adults. The downtown area has opened new restaurants and housing options, and the city of Madison is currently negotiating for the Mobile Baybears minor league baseball team. “What I love about the area is that it’s still growing and getting many new things like Google fiber and a lot of opportunities for engineers,” senior Eric Nguyen said. “But it’s not too big and congested like Atlanta is.”

Sports pgs. 9-10 News pgs 2-3 A Opinion pgs. 4-6 A&E pgs. 11-12 pgs. 13-15 Look Lifestyles pgs. 7-8 Spread Photo Essay pg. 16 Inside

Oct. 26, 2017

NEWS

Amputee, comedian makes an inspirational visit Veteran Bobby Henline motivates students with his experience Andrew Atchley Editor

o u n d e d veteran and stand-up comedian, Bobby Henline, delivered a motivational speech about not giving up, pursuing dreams and the healing power of comedy to ninth graders as part of the school system’s character education program. In 2007, Henline, three weeks after arriving in Iraq for the fourth time, and the group of four other soldiers in the Humvee were surprised by a roadside bomb planted by the enemy. The four other servicemen were killed instantly, and Henline was on the brink of death. He had sustained severe burns and went into a coma shortly after. He was helped by a soldier who was nearby until help could arrive. The transport from Iraq back to the United States took a staggering 72 hours and Henline would remain in a coma for another two weeks, his life would never be the same. "I had four tours in the Army to Iraq. On my fourth tour, my Humvee got hit by a roadside bomb. It killed

the other four men in the Humvee," Henline said. "I was the only survivor. I was burnt on 38 percent of my body. My head was burnt to the skull. I actually had my left hand for a while, but they could not fix it, so they had to cut it off." Henline was forced to give up his independence and had to undergo surgery after surgery to save his life and as much of his bodily function as possible. He was bedridden, blind and in serious physical and emotional pain. He felt like he would never get better, and that he was just making it impossible for his family to move on with their lives. In order to cope with this, he used comedy and made light of his own situation as well as the situation of the other Veterans. By laughing about life and sharing with others, Henline finds that a hard situation can get a little easier. He never gave up, even when he wanted to give up, even when it was difficult not to. "I spent six months in the hospital. The first year, I had 42 surgeries. I did not think I would walk again, I did not know if I would see again. However, after the surgeries and healing, I was able to again, " Henline said. "It took three years to recover from

everything. For the first year, I would pray to God every night that he would just take me. I did not want to be alive, I did not understand why I was alive. I felt like a burden to my family." Henline's condition slowly improved and he regained his independence. His eyesight is now 20/20 again and he can get around just fine. He started going to his appointments on his own and was able to enjoy life again. Facing a challenge from his Occupational Therapist, Henline performed comedy publicly for the first time at an open mic. He could not get anybody to laugh, but he did not give up on comedy. Instead he doubled-down and practiced extensively. "So I went back to San Antonio where I live now and practiced three times every week. I did comedy over and over. I kept chasing my dreams. I did not give up. Eventually I got good at comedy, they actually paid me $25 one time," Henline said. "If I could go from the brink of death to performing in Las Vegas, laughing about it, imagine what you could do. Henline's style of humor largely revolves around picking fun at himself and his condition. Henline acclimates his audience

Never stand down. Veteran amputee Bobby Henline poses for a selfie before talking to the freshman class . Henline was active in Iraq for the fourth time when his accident happened. He shared his story with the students on Oct. 4. Photo by Bobby Henline staff

to that by forcing them to get comfortable seeing his battle scars and lack of a hand face-to-face. For example, Henline, when asked if he could shower independently, responded by saying "I can shower. I am much stronger now. I do it single-handedly." Henline also joked about the skin grafts he received on his head when he said "They took skin off of my stomach and put it where the skin of my head was burnt off. Now I get a headache whenever I eat too much." Henline

makes people laugh, but he also raises awareness and is able to talk about his condition and experiences while doing so. "I am not like most comedians who come out and pump you up like "Hey guys!" I do not do that. I walk out and just stare at the audience and make them feel uncomfortable, which only takes about five seconds," Henline said. "I whisper into the mic, 'You should have seen me the other day.'" Henline has inspired people across the nation

through his comedy and military sacrifice. His message to follow your dreams and never give up has meaning for everybody. "I am just glad that someone who has been through something can come back and still be like 'I made it this far. I am okay with people seeing my and telling people what I feel.'" senior and JROTC cadet Adrienne Graham said. "I was already planning on enlisting in the military, but if I had any confusions, he guaranteed it."

Survivor describes the feeling of being cancer free, why breast exams are essential Ania Stover Editor

s the month of October approaches, the thought of breast cancer floods the minds of many. Breast cancer is an illness that affects both men and women. According to cancer.net the 5-year survival rate for people with breast cancer rate is 90 percent. To help awareness, people often set up events. Survivor Mwende Mouti is part of an organization that hosts seven different events, such as Worship for a Cause and Strike out Breast Cancer, to commemorate all survivors and those currently battling the disease. "Journey of Faith is a fundraising organization," Mouti said. "It’s main purpose is to raise money to give back to breast cancer patients while they are going through chemotherapy." Mouti was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, meaning that her breast cancer cells tested negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2, in July 2015. She beat it soon after but had medical procedures in April of 2016 to continue treatment. "My initial thought was that I am not going to die but I am going to live," Mouti said.

Breast cancer not only affects the one diagnosed but also the family standing behind them. Medical academy teacher, Angela Holland's mother was 50-years-old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. "We were shocked, saddened and very frightened for her," Holland said. "We were also a little angry at the situation as well." Holland's mother diagnosis caused panic since Holland and her family lived in Birmingham while her mother lived in Huntsville. Holland had to make the executive decision to pack up and move her family to Huntsville for the sake of being closer to her mother. "I felt an urgent need to move back home to help take care of her," Holland said. "The change was very stressful for my family but so was watching my mother go through her surgery and chemotherapy." Breast cancer affects mainly women of older age but it is never too early to get checked. Figuring out the symptoms and getting a diagnosis early on can result in an easier transition and early termination. "It feels great [being cancer free]," Mouti said. "My second chance is a chance for me to live with no regrets."

for the homecoming game. Confident in also being crowned king for the big game, Neal will be leading his teammates victoriously with the smile he never fails to wear. “I like to give all the seniors a chance to be captain With a generous and loving personality, and often before they graduate,” football coach Laron White giving more than he receives, Neal always finds the said. “He’s out there working hard every day and good in people no matter how they may treat him. his passion for football is like nothing I’ve ever seen With his team watching over him and making sure before. Seeing him at the elementary school pephe’s comfortable, Neal’s feeling of being “one of the rallies and getting all the kids pumped up for our crowd” is always ensured and truly believes he can game is by far my most favorite memory with him.” do anything. Regardless of what the “That’s just Neal, he is always scoreboard may look like for “I remember a couple of smiling, loves everyone and games, Neal does not find years back when Neal ran a never has an enemy. Everyone victory in those numbers. touchdown, and the crowd is his friend. Neal is the one Instead, it is in the effort his went wild.” that keeps our spirits up as a teammates put into each and -senior family,” Sonny said. “Neal has every game. No matter the Grant Whitt made many friends over the scores, Neal is always there years at about every school in to cheer on his team he loves Madison City and several in the deeply. Tri-County area. He has gotten “I love Sparkman football very close with Auburn running back, Malik Miller, because we always win,” Neal said. “The pep-rallies Auburn and Michigan State basketball player, Josh and games are my favorite.” Langford, who are both graduates from Madison Although this will be Neal’s last season, he will Academy. Neal sees them often when they are in always be present and will always be supporting town and tries to write them letters on a regular his team no matter if it is running up and down the basis.” sidelines cheering his football brothers on to getting Being named captain for a game rings as a the crowd involved with the game. pretty big deal, and Neal has been named captain “I remember a couple of years back, Neal ran

True team player

Continued from pg. 2

Getting the big head. Students show their love for senior Neal Burch at the first pep rally. They made the traditional fan ‘big head’ of Burch to show their support for him. Burch was also named homecoming king, Friday, Oct. 20. Photo by

Emerald Everheart

in a touchdown, and the crowd went wild. Our whole team ran over to him to celebrate. We gave him plenty of high fives and hugs, and I’ll never forget his face in that moment. Neal always smiles, but that to be the happiest I ever saw him,” Whitt said. “I think it’s going to be different next year for the players on the sideline. However, I know Neal Burch, and I know how much Neal loves Sparkman football. He’ll definitely still be out there supporting for years to come.”

NEWS

The Crimson Crier

Sydney Goggans Editor

s the student body veers past the month of September, we passed one of the most important initiatives of the month—perfect attendance. Even though it is behind us, October delivers attendance initiatives for students. Beginning after fall break, the student body has a chance to participate in the attendance incentive that SGA will sponsor. Assistant principal Marcia McCants will partner with SGA to acknowledge those students who have achieved perfect attendance. “I want SGA to take over, I’m going to be the person that gives out the prizes, gets the percentage rates and tells you who has perfect attendance but [SGA] is going to run the show,” McCants said. The more an individual student attends school, the higher the chance for them to obtain a prize. The district encourages students to attend school through the perfect attendance campaign slide on the school’s TV screens. . “Last year, we had the highest average daily attendance rate in the county,” McCants said. “Our average daily attendance was 95.2 percent so we’re

trying to get higher than that and I think that’s something to be proud of.” States look upon attendance in schools for funding. Those days including regular school days and testing days provide a great observation opportunity on the schools. “It’s a state initiative so there’s a certain period of time where they really look at attendance; it’s called the 20 day attendance period. Those days that count determine how we get our money. It’s like we can’t get funding if students aren’t here,” McCants said. “They’ll take those 20 days and say ‘this is the attendance percentage you have these 20 days’ and they take that and base the number off of how many students were here for those 20 days.” Students are permitted four parent excuses each semester. Yet,unexcused absences can result in legal consequences. “If anybody has 18 absences, excused or unexcused, they are labeled as a chronic absenteeism—that hurts us. Studies show that if students are chronically absent, students are less likely to graduate high school and we don’t want that. When you get three unexcused absences, we have a pre early warning truancy meeting with

www.attendanceworks.org

Attendance matters is message administration is trying to send

myself, parents, and the student. At five they get another letter, at seven the district gets involved and at ten unexcused absences, they can be summoned to court so it’s very important,” McCants said. Being in charge of attendance, McCants strives to instill in students that even when one misses a day it is more than that. She believes that implementing policies like Saturday school and student conductors that send parents notifications about a student’s tardy has helped students realize that timeliness for class is important. To McCants, students that are chronically absent should try to set small goals for themselves. “It’s important for administrators, teachers and parents to know the attendance and if a student is having issues with attendance, they need to set small goals,” McCants said. “Let’s say a student is chronically absent. They should go for this month to not miss a day for two weeks and then celebrate that small goal. I just want to tell them ‘I know that you’ve been here and that’s awesome’. That’s what I would like to

do.” According to McCants, missing school is more than it seems and being constantly late can build a bad habit. She wants students to improve their attendance because she is invested in students’ future so they can be successful.

they cannot graduate. She also says that coming to school every day shows students how to be present and on time when they go to work in the future. “Employers will call back to the school and ask ‘well how was their attendance at school’ and we have to be

“It’s important for administrators, teachers and parents to know the attendance and if a student is having issues with attendance, they need to set small goals,” -Assistant principal Marcia McCants

“Studies track inmates that are in prison and you can track their attendance. And you can do the opposite — you can track someone that’s very successful and look at their school attendance; they were in school most of the time. It’s not something we are just pulling out of the air or our opinion, this is coming from data,” McCants said. McCants says that if a student does not come to school, they cannot learn, make their grades, and therefore

honest. They can be a great kid and have the best grades but if the attendance and tardies are not well we have to tell them that,” McCants said. As hard and tedious it is for a student to achieve perfect attendance, there are students in the school who have accomplished it. Junior Ryan Jones Jr. is one who has been to school all year this current semester. To Jones, it has always been a goal he has tried to attain. “Due to me never

missing a day, I haven’t missed an assignment. I’ve know everything that we’ve done in class so when other students are absent, I can help them out. I take pride in helping other people out,” Jones said. Jones believes like McCants if a student misses a high quantity of school, they can miss important things such as assignments and quizzes. He believes that students should try to come to school every day but he understands that events happen where it could prevent students to do so. “Sometimes you have to miss school for like a funeral, a wedding or something that could be big,” Jones said. “There’s just so many things that happens outside of school — the world is bigger than this”. Jones feels happy that he has worked for the chance to achieve perfect attendance for the year. He views it as something important to him. “I take a lot of pride in my perfect attendance. I feel like I’m achieving something like it would be an honor roll. I’m here every day and I’m putting all my time and effort into school,” Jones said.

Virtual school said to be the new, efficient way of learning for all Jacob Whitlock Editor

s the school year cranks into top gear, students are once again well-acquainted with the daily morning commute and frantic afternoon rush of a typical high schooler. For the majority of the student body, this is just the way it is and will always be. But some students have chosen a different, more modern path. The Madison County Virtual Academy is only in its second year of existence and is already an educational provider for 90 students grades 7-12 in the school system, which is an increase of over 200 percent from year one. “It’s a more comfortable work environment and it allows me to work at the pace that I’m comfortable with, which is usually quicker than in the classroom,” junior Cameron Allen said. “Instead of having a whole day where you do nothing but busy work and sit at school for seven hours a day, you can do it really however you want.” Allen began taking classes online in early September. The main appeal of the program for him was the individuality and unlimited access to the internet. He says he is happier and feels he is receiving a better, more straightforward learning experience, because his overall grades have improved. “It can be intimidating at first, especially if you started late like me,” Allen said. “But once you get a proper schedule going and realize you work as hard as you want whenever you want, it gets easier. I enjoy it more because I’m not surrounded by distractions like people. I know that sounds a little

Veterans Day Assembly Nov. 7 Drama Department’s Zombie Double Feature October 27 7:30-9PM

anti-social but it’s kind of the truth.” The students in the virtual academy use “Edmentum,” which is also used for credit recovery, to complete their coursework. The virtual academy also employs two full time instructors to teach the four core subjects and tutor those in need of help. “Every child comes in here with a unique situation,” math and science teacher Delia Roberts said. “But they are all very self-motivated and driven. It does away with the need for any kind of discipline or management. They are always on task so I can give 100 percent to just teaching individual students what they need.” As mentioned by Roberts, the virtual academy is home to students with a wide variety of circumstances that have led them to online school. Whether it’s wanting to graduate early or just not being a morning person, these students have chosen to expand their high school experience to operate on their own time. “We are here for, and I can’t stress this enough, non-traditional students,” virtual academy administrator Tandy Shumate said. “We have people that work full time, we have young mothers and we have people involved in all kinds of sports or activities. These students can do whatever they want as long as they log in everyday and meet their deadlines.” Though it may seem like a perfect solution to your classroom woes, virtual students often fall victim to the same shortcomings as traditional students. “I had a massive assignment due one Wednesday. It was Tuesday and I had not done a lick of work,” Allen said. “If you’re not careful you can very, very

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easily procrastinate and completely forget what you are doing. You definitely have to know how to manage your time well.” Despite the virtual academy’s rapid success in its infancy, it still has a long way to go to be comparable to similar schools within the state. One problem that may be in the way is the desegregation order with prevents them from accepting out-of-county students. This is contrasted with other virtual schools within the region like Athens Renaissance School, which can accept anyone in the state, even those in the juvenile justice system. That being said, of all the high schools in the county, Sparkman currently contributes the least number of students to the virtual school program. “I think that can be attributed the large amount of choices Sparkman has to offer its students. A lot of students are drawn to our program because their school doesn’t offer a certain class, but Sparkman pretty much has everything,” Shumate said. Overall, the people involved in the virtual academy all believe there is nowhere to go but upward, as students are increasingly informed about its possibilities, as schools across the nation continue to embrace 21st century teaching methods and as colleges begin to take notice of this trend. “If we continue to grow at the rate we did this year, I could see a need to have people representing every subject area,” Roberts said. “I love what I’m doing right now. I love the one-on-one interactions. Everyone gets to work at their peak performance time. I don’t see a downside to this program.”

Opinion

Oct. 26, 2017

Virtual school proves to be wise choice for untraditional students

Camille’s Corner

The Crimson Crier

Students should be excited for right to vote

Volume 1 Issue #2 2616 Jeff Road Harvest, AL 35749 256-837-0331 www.crimsoncriernews.com thecrimsoncrier@gmail.com

Enrollment: 1854 Faculty: 105 Mission Statement

Camille Herren Editor

inally. I am finally 18. I am a legal adult and ready to experience all the new privileges and rights afforded to me. But what does that mean for me as there are still things I am ineligible to do? What is the most important thing that I can have a voice? Yes, of course. Voting. Before I turned 18, I registered to vote, preparing for the general election for the senate seat in December. It was simple and easy to do. And as a registered voter, I can proudly say I am voting on Dec.12. It may sound boring but it is the most important for our future and our generation. The baby boomers do not understand what we want, what we need, what we know. College was less expensive and scholarships paid for more. They do not understand the stress we deal with in high school now nor do they understand our social boundaries as theirs were different. Their issues and ideals were unlike ours because of the time period. Generation X is almost the same except they see what we deal with because of course, they are our parents. Because our older generations do not understand, we have to take initiative ourselves. We are old enough and we should all register to vote if we want an agenda that is favorable to our rising demographic. Yes, our values are a bit different than the current political parties of America. We are more liberal and more open. But parties evolve as the generations do. They will change with us. And we can and should integrate our voices into the political system. It is important for us to register to vote because most groups had to fight to gain that right and it would be a slap in the face to them if we chose not to. I think that it is my generation’s turn to decide what comes next. And it is probably one of the most exciting parts of becoming 18. Using your voice and being a part of the political process is barely looked forward to anymore. But it should be important to us all. If we want a country that represents our ideals as young adults, then we must start acting like adults and less like children.

The Crimson Crier will report objectively on issues directly and indirectly affecting the student body and the school community. As student journalists, we understand our role in a global society to abide by the ethics of professional journalism in order to ensure a more informed student body. Policy

Illustrated by Storm Jessett

he Madison County Virtual Academy is a new structured school they can decide themselves when method of teaching started two years ago. It they will work, learn and take care of other responappeals to especially non-traditional students such sibilities. This is especially beneficial to students as young mothers, athletes, students seeking early because high schoolers are close to adulthood. We graduation or any kind of unique situation. The virbelieve that students having the opportunity to be tual academy can be useful for credit recovery and it more responsible for their time is a long term perk provides resources such as tutors of virtual school. and teachers. Similar to E-LearnOf course, many find themselves ing days, the virtual school rebetter suited to the usual grind of an quires students to log in everyday eight hour school day surrounded by Editorial staff other students. There are benefits to in order to be counted. As long as this too such as having others to sothey complete their work and log in agreement with this cialize with. But with virtual school in, they are able to do their own point of view comes an option for those who think activities or go to work. their responsibilities and learning abilWe believe that the virtual ity deserve more flexibility. Those inschool provides students with an dividuals can now have that experience. opportunity to gain more from their work with less Everyone deserves a proper education. Some do distractions as well as make due with the circumbetter in the presence of others or with an enforced stances they are in whether it is a time-consuming time structure. Some do better with less distractions sport or a full-time job. They can therefore put forth or flexibility. Either way, the idea that students now more dedication and time to their other commitments. Students will be able to manage their time have that option is an exciting feat we have achieved. to better suit their schedule so unlike with a regular

7-0

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. 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. Staff Editor-in-Chief Natalie Craney

Wi-Fi needs improvement for student success Dylan Brotherton Editor

Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi Fidelity, is a staple of everything done in the world, including school activities. Homework, tests and daily work assignments are done through different types of technology such as computers and tablets. The school provides a Madison County School Secure 0 Network for all students attending to log onto. Though the network is supplied, it does not stand up to its expectations. It is generous to have a network offered for students to log on to and get their school work done on, but there could be some adjustments made to make the Wi-Fi experience better. With around 2,000 students in one school, it is anticipated that a faster working network would be given, especially when most assignments in the classroom require online research. The internet produces an unlimited amount of resources that can be used for educational purposes. Teachers

include the internet into their teaching plans, but most of the time, phones and computers either cannot load the web pages needed, or take five to ten minutes to fully update. The addition of a wireless range extender could advance the distance the WiFi reaches. In some parts of the school, cell phones and other electronics have little or no service making them utterly useless. A wireless range extender picks up the signal from the previously existing router and simply rebroadcasts it a farther distance. This would not only extend the signal farther, but also expand the weak signal to make it stronger. To strengthen the Wi-Fi signal itself, the network and router should be updated frequently as well as checked to see if the highest available gigahertz are being used. While it is thought that blocking certain applications and websites such as, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Gmail and

Y a h o o would make students not get on their phones as often as they do and pay more attention in class, the opposite takes place instead. Students h a v e downloaded VPN’s, or V i r t u a l P r i v a t e Networks, to unblock the applications blocked by the school s y s t e m . All the additional downloading of the VPN applications and having them all initiate the unblocking has started to slow the internet down even more than if the applications and websites were not blocked in the first place. It is understandable that these adjustments may have a high cost, but they would make

In-Depth Editor Griffin Gonterman News Editor Ania Stover Lifestyles Editor Shelby Lopez Sports Editor Jacob Whitlock A&E Editor Sydney Goggans Copy Editor Andrew Atchley Managing Editor Sidney Al-Dijaili Business Editor Saylor Cuzzort Photo Editor Cady Harbin Web Editors Dylan Brotherton Kaylyn Jones Christian White Poll/Infographic Editors Alaura Gordon Jessica Turnage Social Media Editor Jacob Whitlock Reporters Danni Jo Grider Storm Jessett Claudia Martinez Megan McGraw Malik Nerelus Kennan Potts Alle Roper Brianna Stewart Jordan Waldrop Matthew Walker Sharra Wilbanks Melanie Wilkins Bradley Wright

Photo by Cady Harbin

the students high school lives a lot easier by taking away the added stress of waiting for a webpage to load. To obtain the funds for this equipment, a schoolwide fundraiser, as an example a change drive, could be set in place to achieve a swift and effective school Wi-Fi that fulfills the needs of the entire school.

Your View What do you think of the school Wi-Fi and how have you used it in your classes?

Opinion Editor Camille Herren

Adviser Erin Coggins, MJE

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@TheCrimsonCrier Credentials

“The school Wi-Fi tends not to work. When we try and play kahoot we have to all get on a few people’s phones because the Wi-Fi won’t let us get on to play.” --sophomore Carlos Mendoza

“The Wi-Fi does not help me at all because it doesn’t work in most of my classes. For classes we need to get online I have to use my data.” --senior Wesley Sanderson

“It just does not work all around the school. I usually have to use my data at school to get my school work done.” --junior Emily Morgan

Photos by Dylan Brotherton

The Crimson Crier is a member of Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Alabama Scholastic Press Association and Southeastern Interscholastic Press Association and Quill and Scroll. The Crimson Crier is a two-time CSPA Silver Crown winner, a consistent CSPA Gold medalist, NSPA First Class medalist and ASPA AllAlabama rating.

Opinion 5

The Crimson Crier

GUN CONTROL DEBATE RE-SPARKED: In the wake of the recent Las Vegas massacre, should the United States implement more stringent gun laws?

Stricter gun laws would decrease mass shootings Megan McGraw

Reporter

o guns pull their own trigger and kill innocent men, women and children? Of course not. That makes humans the problem. The inability to control the violence in people leads us to have to control public access to weapons that give them the power to take lives. More stringent laws that are heavily enforced could potentially prevent a large quantity of shootings, because many shooters take advantage of the unbelievable amount of loopholes in our current gun control laws. One way to legally obtain a gun without an approved background check is the Charleston loophole. This loophole occurs because of the “default proceed” provision, which is a rule that states that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, paired with the FBI, has three days to process a requested background check. If the agents are unable to provide an answer on whether or not the buyer is legally allowed to purchase a gun within those three days, the seller is allowed to use the default rule and sell the gun despite an unfinished background check. According to FBI data, this Charleston loophole has allowed around 15,000 prohibited people to buy a gun in a five-year period. These people who slipped through a legal crack compounded with the amount of people who buy through private sellers creates an alarming number of people who have guns who should not own guns. The Second Amendment, just like every other amendment, is important and should be respected, however does this amendment protect your right to obtain and or create a weapon that can only be meant to cause harm on a large scale? Bump stocks are currently a legal way to bypass the heavy regulations that one must adhere to in order to legally own a fully automatic rifle. Bump stocks are an unregulated firearm part that, when attached to the barrel of a rifle, allows the user to turn a semi automatic rifle into a gun that functions as a fully automatic rifle without the accuracy of an actual fully automatic rifle. This loss of accuracy,

Armed civilians decreases crime.

According to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, violent crime rates are actually estimated to be 13-15 percent higher 10 years after the implementation of a right-to-carry law.

however wouldn’t bother a shooter who is relentlessly spraying bullets into a large crowd, like in Las Vegas. This loophole allows the “average joe” to turn his completely legal deadly weapon, into an even more deadly weapon that he may not be able to legally obtain, and he can do this for as low as $100 in the U.S. In regards to mental health, federal law only restricts gun access to people who have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution, which is an action most people would not take against loved ones generally, or have been found clinically insane in a court of law during a legal proceeding. Background checks also only search through official mental health files fitting these federal parameters and the state parameters, rather than testing the mental health at the time of purchase. Since these checks focus on official files, as long as a person avoids incidents that would create an official record, they could pass a background check despite existing mental conditions. Therefore, in addition to the current background checks there should also be a required test or interview at the time of purchase that would identify any possibility of mental instability that may not have been caught yet. Australia went through a similar mass shooting in 1996, and their actions as a united front to crack down on gun control saw a major success in lowering gun violence as a whole in the country. They eradicated every hole possible that would allow a dangerous person to obtain a weapon and rigorously enforced the new laws. If the United States government would attempt to take a page out of Australia’s gun control book, then America could very likely see an improvement in public safety which is a goal no one should be against. Photo by: John Spade. www.flickr.com/photos/john-spade. Changes were made to the photo.

Common Gun Violence MYTHS 2

Mental illness is one of the main causes of gun violence in the U.S. Four percent of violence against others is caused by severe mental illness.

A silencer/suppressor silences a gun shot. Silencers muffle gun shots. It is still loud enough to hear but prevents damage to hearing.

Gun violence is the highest that it has ever been. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, gun crime is lower than it was two decades ago. In 1993, the gun homicide rate was 7.0 per 100,000 compared to 3.4 in 2014. Sources:

The Washington Post NPR The Pew Research Center The Huffington Post

Current gun regulations are enough to tackle gun violence issues Andrew Atchley Copy Editor

“There is still gun violence in countries where guns are banned,” is a major pro-gun argument.

big problem with proposing new gun regulations is that we cannot enforce the regulations we have. For instance, the gun that the Las Vegas shooter used to massacre innocent people. At this time, there are conflicting reports that the shooter may have obtained the gun illegally, and current gun laws would have prevented him had they been better enforced. The bump stocks he used to ramp up his gun’s fire rate from a semiautomatic to a fully-automatic, however, should be illegal. A bump stock makes it too easy for a dangerous person to get a dangerous weapon, and defeats the point of regulations making it harder to get a fully-automatic rifle. Current laws already make using a bump stock illegal, but buying, selling or owning a bump stock is completely legal. Bump stocks should be made illegal, but as they can be made in the safety of a would-be shooter’s home, laws banning them would be impossible to enforce. We as a country are getting distracted by the “shark of gun deaths.” Shark attacks, as the media would have you believe, are common cause of death. The media loves to put shark attacks in the public’s face because they are scary and intimidating. Sharks killed only four people in 2016. To put that in perspective, the far less dramatic mosquitoes kill millions of people across the world every year due to disease. Mass shooters and terrorist attacks are the same way, they are very scary and dramatic but they kill far fewer people than other types of gun violence. According to FiveThirtyEight, of the 33,000 people fatally shot each year in the U.S. twothirds are suicides. 11,000 are killed every year by homicides and the majority of people knew personally the person who killed

them. Mass shootings, shootings in which over four people are killed, claimed the lives of only 72 people in 2012, a year that had many more mass shooting deaths compared to the average. Most suicides and murders are done with weapons such as pistols, shotguns or ordinary rifles. Cracking down on highpower semi-automatic weapons such as AR-15s or AK-47s would not stop the homicides occurring in America’s cities and streets every day. Now, any number of deaths is too much, but would we save more lives by trying to save the 72 killed in mass shootings, or the 22,000 that committed suicide and 11,000 that were killed in homicides? Universal background checks, even for the private transfer of guns, would help significantly in fighting gun violence. However, a private seller conducting a background check is unlikely and, for gun hobbyists, the constant background checks for every gun purchase can be a hassle. This problem could be solved by creating a universal gun license that is obtained after conducting a background check and mental evaluation on the recipient. This would streamline the process of buying a gun, while making it harder for a bad person to obtain a gun in private transactions. If we adopt a universal gun license, private sellers could know whether the person they are selling the gun to is a person who should be able to own a gun. It would also make current laws easier to enforce by preventing people who should not have guns from using loopholes to get around current laws. Of course, there is no gun regulation that is a “silver bullet” that can prevent gun violence. A person who would murder innocent civilians would not hesitate to break the law to obtain a weapon. Any action we take to fight gun violence is a noble effort, but some people are simply evil and will try to harm others no matter what tools they have to work with. Terrorists have used trucks, knives, bombs, etc. to slaughter the innocent. We should attempt to fight the mental health problems and glorification of crime that lead people to commit murder. Gun control regulations are sufficient as they are, when enforced. The problem of gun violence is a problem of the heart, not the holster.

Oct. 26, 2017

Opinion

ACT VS SAT:

Test preferences differ based on skills, weaknesses Camille Herren Editor

tandardized tests are stressful for students. All we they want is to make the best score they can possibly achieve. Figuring out which test is the right one to take is an important step and students differ on which test is suitable for them. It all depends on preferences. T h e ACT reading test is designed with more questions asking specifically about the text whereas the SAT takes a predominantly inference-based approach. The trade-off for the ACT’s presumably easier questions is the addition of an entire science section. The SAT, while it is structured with a seemingly difficult set of reading questions, there is no science section. Test takers may come across one passage relating to an experiment or scientific study but that is the most the SAT will entail in that subject. So for those who struggle in the ACT’s science section, the SAT may prove more desirable. The SAT’s English section is 44 questions with 35 minutes to complete them. The ACT’s English section is much more daunting with 75 questions and only 45 minutes to finish them. This comparison seems like a no-brainer. If a student struggles with time management or ACT’s English section, the SAT should be Photo by Cady Harbin

considered as an option. For those interested in the essay portion either because their college requires it or they just want to see the outcome, then the ACT is definitely the better of the two. The SAT requires the test-taker to read a passage, and discuss how the author makes an argument to persuade an audience, supporting this explanation with evidence. Those who have taken the course, AP Language and Composition, are probably more equipped for this form of essay as it is not dissimilar from the essays students write in that class. But the easier route seems to be the ACT’s essay section. It usually consists of a general topic that the test-taker has to write about using their own prior knowledge and any information given. The ACT math section includes 60 questions in 60 minutes and only one section to cover. The SAT has two math sections totaling together 58 questions and 80 minutes to complete them. This could be a downside for students who just want to get the math section over with or an upside for students who want fewer questions. An individual student could do better on the SAT than the ACT or vice versa. To find out, it is best for students to take both of the tests and compare the scores. Although the ACT seems the standard and common test for students, it actually is not outlandish to try the SAT. Students should feel encouraged to try both and find which suits their needs and strengths.

Students should love themselves despite harsh words Brianna Stewart Reporter

Roy Moore vs. Doug Jones

uring high school people are pressured to look a certain way, to act a certain way and even talk a certain way. While it is important to stay true to oneself, it is difficult when people are constantly berating people on how one should look and act. We should be able to be ourselves without fear of what others will say. We should be able to love our body without fear of rejection. You should be able to love yourself without fear. Hurtful words can cause a person to give in and eventually break down. Everyone feels the pressure at one point, or another in their lives. It is difficult to overlook others in social situations, but it is what is needed in order to stay true to oneself. As we become older,

Senate Race Update

It is unusual that a poll would reveal a tie between a Democrat and Republican in a deep red state such as Alabama but here it happened. According to a recent Fox News poll among registered voters, Democrat Doug Jones and Republican Roy Moore were tied.

42% 42% 53% Illustrated by Storm Jessett

we are even more affected by adjectives people place on us -fat, worthless, ugly. The repercussions of these words can lead to depression and even suicide. This type of bullying has always existed and the key when someone is poking fun is separating oneself

from bad situations. Become one with the old adage “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never break me.” If for some reason the old adage fails, then reach out for help. Whether it is a close friend, a teacher, a parent or even the

school guidance department, talking about problems is a major help. It is important to remember that others are likely experiencing the same situation. We are not alone in this world. In a society of social media, hurtful words can spread more

rapidly. It is important to stay strong and remain true to oneself. Block out the bad things people may say and remain positive. We should never have to change because someone else does not approve.

Of these voters 46% DOUG JONES

45% Survey:

801 voters margin of error plus or minus 3.5 points completed Oct. 14-16

General Election: Dec. 12

Custodial staff deserves more respect, appreciation from students Dylan Brotherton Editor

he custodial staff, most of the time, go unnoticed and are under appreciated, not only by the public, but sometimes even by themselves. The people of this occupation are of great importance to our school and deserve more recognition than they receive due to their main focus being the upkeep and sanitation of our learning environment, cleaning up some of the most excessive messes. There is no way to know exactly what each custodian goes through every day, but it is assumed that not everything is sparkling clean. A lot of students have little or no respect for the staff that goes behind them and cleans up their disasters. Previously in the year, the bathrooms have been vandalized with foods from the lunchroom and even

human wastes. This year, dough nuts have begun to be flushed down the toilets, clogging them and making them unusable, trash is tossed into the hallways and onto the classroom floors, trays are left in the cafeteria along with food on thrown around and scattered about with students saying nothing but “The janitors will clean it up, it is their job.” The custodians’ jobs are not to take a mess created deliberately by the student body and make it squeaky clean. It is to tidy up things that are naturally unclean, such as the bathrooms or sweeping up the floors of the halls or cafeteria. The custodial staff at our school are not inferior to the student body or the staff and should be treated with equal respect and appreciation. This September, custodian Melvin McCoy was

awarded Support Person of the Month due to his work ethic and how much he does to keep the school spotless. This is not just handed to anyone. To even be considered for the award, the faculty members nominate who they would like to receive it. Most of the teachers, administration and staff have told the custodians they appreciate their hard work and dedication, but a huge part of the student body has been doing the complete opposite. It has been heard that the cafeteria, hallways, bathrooms and classrooms are “dirty and disgusting,” but when the student body themselves do nothing to clean up their own disasters, what is expected? The custodial staff at the school should be receiving 10 times the amount of recognition that they do from the

student body, faculty, other staff members as well as themselves. They clean and sanitize things that no one should be cleaning up in the first place. It is understandable that some things cannot be cleaned by the person responsible, but for most part, the mess is created intentionally or because we are too lazy to clean up our own messes. The custodial staff at the school are hardworking and dedicated. They take pride in how they do things. No one has to go behind them and clean up what they missed, so why should they have to do that for the student body when it is unnecessary. The least we could do is have some respect for the staff, give appreciation and recognize what is done for us even when we do not directly see it happening all the time.

Mopping up. Custodian Melvin McCoy works the afternoon shift where he takes care of bathrooms, classrooms and the gyms. Photo by Cady Harbin

Lifestyles

The Crimson Crier

Students express struggle of home life Melanie Wilkins Reporter

t is often misconceived that if someone is not a victim of physical violence, then they are not truly victims of abuse. This is incorrect. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, nearly half the citizens nationwide have experienced psychological assault by someone of intimate relation within their lifetime. An individual can experience extreme emotional and mental abuse, causing severe, long term effects for the person. Senior Annette Hall* knows what being a victim is all about. She has experienced neglect from her stepfather causing feelings of unworthiness and deliberate denigration of herself. Belittling someone and making them feel unimportant and unable to contribute to society is critical emotional abuse. Hall says people do not know how abuse can erase someone's personality, erode their self-esteem, ruin all their other relationships or cause depression and anxiety. “For the most part the abuse has been mental and emotional. In his eyes, he is the only perfect person in the house. I get called names all the time and get put down, but he has also completely destroyed my mom’s confidence. She won’t even go out of the house anymore,” Hall said. “She won’t put on shorts, it’s always jeans or capris. He won’t let her work and he won’t hire a babysitter so she watches his kid 24/7. She is forced to be a stay at home mom.” Hall feels alone in coping with this type of abuse, but knows that confiding in someone can help with gaining confidence and the will to fight back. “There’s so many problems in this world and one like this one is just really looked down on. So many people are scared of being vulnerable and opening up about the pain they have experienced. It is never going to change if we do not speak up,” Hall said. “I confide in a couple people that really know my situation and how to help me cope.” According to healthychoice.org, in most situations children who are abused or neglected are more inclined to endure emotional damage more than physical. Emotional and psychological abuse de-

* Names were changed for privacy purposes.

nies the child the tools needed to manage stress and to learn life’s lessons. Junior John Jacobs* experienced both physical and emotional abuse from his father. “Growing up I never really saw my father, let alone knew what he was like or how he acted. All I

knew w a s what my mother had told me about him. He was a deadbeat dad who never paid child support,” Jacobs said. “When I was in elementary school, the court ordered for me to start weekly visits at a facility where a social worker would supervise our session as well as one on one counseling. It slowly progressed to where I had to start staying with him every other weekend and that is when the abuse started happening.” Jacob’s father tried to control him into doing things he didn’t want to do and this resulted into physical and psychological abuse. Jacobs

*One in five children experience domestic violence every day. *Almost five children every day die from child abuse. *A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.

Beaten Down. October is domestic violence awareness month. Photo by Cady Harbin. Photo Illustration by Shelby Lopez.

was only 12-years-old when this happened, too young to understand how this could happen. “As every other week passed, my father got more controlling with each visit. He started making me do things I did not want to do, like go outside alone and feed his fully grown German Shepherds that he bred,” said Jacobs. “During one instance,

we were selling a litter on the side of the road. At this time I was being bullied in school and he knew something was wrong with me, but I would not tell him what. He was angered at the fact and took my phone, which he was not allowed to do by court orders, and threw me off of the back of his pickup truck with me landing on my already bro-

ken foot.” In shock, Jacobs did not expect the abuse to progress any further than what had already taken place. Jacobs was surprised that this was not the end of his father’s torture. Jacobs worried this would become a long term issue. “The next morning I was not in the mood for small talk and answered him in a disrespectful way. He responded by putting his hand around my neck and holding me against the wall, hitting my behind with the other,” Jacobs said. “I had to ride all the way to school, while holding the tears in, just to get there and have my grandmother come

Sources: americanspcc. org www.childhelp.org

check me out. I did not have it in me to stay at school that day.” People heal from traumatic abuse in their own ways and at their own pace. It could be days, weeks, months or even years until someone could start feeling like themselves again. Different ways of healing include distancing themselves from society, going to counseling, finding hobbies to distract themselves or even cutting of all contact with their abuser. “After that, I refused to see him even though my mother tried forcibly to make me. He sat outside my house for hours while my mother pulled at me, screaming that I had to go,” said Jacobs. “I was still forced to go to counseling; In the middle of a normal session I was told he was coming. For the remainder of the appointment, I ignored the fact that he was there and did not speak to him once. I have not spoken, seen or communicated with him at all since that day.”

Oct. 26, 2017

Lifestyles

Young women express feelings on ‘locker room talk’ Alaura Gordon Reporter

he saying “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This saying from the Bible is known by many, but seems to be practiced by less and less people as today’s society often shows. “You will hear a lot of comments in passing in the hallway about what you are wearing or how you look in what you have on,” senior Allana Mccullar said. “Even by teachers sometimes there will be comments that just boil down your intelligence to your looks or objectify you for your looks and make women appear as sexual objects.” Rude comments are sometimes made that may seem cool and funny when they are said but can hurt someone in the long run. These comments can sometimes be related to someone’s past mistakes, especially when it comes to guys trying to demean girls. “In my experiences I have felt disrespected when I have heard boys act as though I should want to be with them because of past actions or relationships,” senior Camille Herren said. “People do not expect boys to want every girl just because they have had a relationship with one in particular,so why do we expect that of girls? Also, boys after being rejected will make up lies about a girl to seem cool.” Girls often feel that they are judged more harshly about what they wear than their male counterparts and often by these same males.

Sophomore Anna Littrell is familiar with this type of rude comments, especially when it comes to the latest trend of leggings. “It makes me mad because if girls want to wear leggings, shorts or skirts it is not always to impress a guy it could be because they are confident in themselves and in their body,” sophomore Anna Littrell said. “Guys still make comments that make girls feel and seem like objects and they still say disrespectful things behind their backs or cat call them on the streets. We should feel safe and respected wherever we are.” Herren, an avid political advocate, has closely followed professional football player Cam Newton’s comments to a female reporter. She is concerned that this is not the first time something like this has happened to females in the workplace. “Sexism is prominent in many ways. It seeps into the workforce through sexual harassment, sometimes as a way to keep women who have gained more powerful positions in a lower place. When women accuse rape, whether it is one woman or multiple women, somehow it is still seen as a random lie,” Herren said. “Even when women are opinionated strong, they are pegged as loud and unladylike. It's a part of multiple aspects of our society, sometimes subtle and sometimes shamelessly out in the open.” Teenage girls find it difficult to feel confident and respect themselves when they are

Getting Catcalled. Teenage boys objectify student for choice of clothing. They whistled an catcalled as she walked away feeling degraded. Photo by Cady Harbin.

constantly hearing negative remarks about them. Herren feels to combat these feelings, girls need to start standing up for themselves and not allow guys to make them feel bad. “Standing up for ourselves no matter what is important. Sometimes we might feel intimidated but we have to grow out of that if we want to show that mistreatment is unacceptable,” Herren said. “It's equally important for boys, when they see a girl being mistreated or sexualized, to speak up as well. When others see disrespect no longer normalized, they will stop.” Just like the Cam

Newton incident, Herren feels some comments and allegations that have surfaced from our current president and Hollywood producer Harry Weinstein show that sexism is alive and well and not just in the hallways of a high school. Herren feels these comments labeled by President Donald Trump as “locker room” talk is detrimental to all women, including high school students and helps excuse young men’s behavior. “Women should not have to gain respect from men. Every human being deserves respect and the idea that women have to earn it suggests that they aren't

human or on the same level as men. Women can dress how they want, believe what they want and hold the occupation they want and still be deserving of the same respect,” Herren said. “I expect men to be respectful of my opinion, talents, brains and my body. I think that they should especially stand up for someone when they hear or see a girl being disrespected or harassed and maybe then society will change the way they view and treat woman.” All girls agreed that the first step in fighting sexism is to not let men rule how they feel about themselves. Their new motto is to not let men

have that much power. “You have to respect yourself and you have to love who you are as a woman. Even though we live in 2017 where body shaming is definitely something that happens you still have to love yourself. You can not really be with someone before you truly love yourself, because if they treat you wrong you are going to think nothing about it,” Littrell said. “There is no place for disrespect in this world and if someone was saying something mean to another person, think ‘would you be okay with people saying negative things about you.’”

*84 percent of 17 year old girls have been catcalled. *Over 99 percent of American women say they’ve been a victim of street harassment. *82 percent of female respondents said they’ve been a target of vulgar gestures. pashionista.org

Males share thoughts on deserved respect for women Jordan Waldrop Reporter

hile substituting a class last month, choir teacher David Giambrone overheard some male students making degrading comments about girls. He listened until he could not help but intervene in the conversation. His message to these students: women are to be respected. “I believe that it is incredibly important for males to treat females with respect. Lots of guys expect it from women, but don’t show respect to women themselves,” Giambrone said. Giambrone simply pointed out to these young men that they may have a daughter some day and would not appreciate rude comments being made

about them. As a father to a daughter himself, Giambrone knows how he would react if he overheard someone talking about his daughter. “My daughter is only three years old. Even with her being that young, I realize the affect that rude comments have not only on girls, but their parents as well. No dad wants to see their baby girl be hurt or offended by any guy,” Giambrone said. Giambrone said he felt better after having a talk with these boys and hopes that they will think before acting next time. “Once you hurt them, it can reoccur all through life.” Giambrone said, “Sometimes the relationship is hard to mend.” Recent news stories

have shown how prominent it is for men to disrespect women. Professional football player Cam Newton was recently criticized for his comments to a female reporter, the term ‘locker room talk’ was made a talking point during the 2016 election and most recently graphic stories of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment on the news. “I don’t treat my daughter as just my little girl, but as my child. When I hear of things like this, I often think of how I am going to explain these things to her,” Giambrone said. “I will let her know that girls are treated differently. I want her to be independent and strong, but she will need to know that there will be consequences

sometimes when women voice their opinions and act outside of the ‘world’s’ place for women.” Although the incidents mentioned are all the behavior of older men, teenage boys are not immune to making these types of comments or at the least supporting them. Junior Myles Byam said he is guilty of talking about girls in groups of guys. “Yeah, we talk about girls if they are pretty,” Byam said. “If I have a more negative comment, though I keep it to myself.” Senior A.J. Horton said he too is guilty of “locker room” talk, admitting it does not get too out of hand. He said he had never really thought about how this kind of talk would be viewed differently if it

was about his mom. “I would not like anyone to talk about my mom like that,” Horton said. “She raised me to be respectful to women no matter what they may have done to me and if I overheard someone making those comments about her, I would stand up for her.” Most teenage boys participate in this type of talk because of peer pressure. Junior Seth Barnes said participating in this kind of talk plays into the strong characteristic that the world associates with men. Despite the reason, Barnes still sees it as disrespect. “We disrespect ourselves, as well as the women, when we degrade them,” Barnes said. “Guys want to look like the strong or

brave person, but we make ourselves look bad when we disrespect them as well.” The fact is guys do not see random “boys will be boys” talks as sexist or even disrespectful. The guys in this article all said they were taught to respect all women. Most even owned up to opening doors for girls on their date, proving that chivalry is alive and well in 2017. “Men should treat women with their utmost respect and be glad to show them that respect. We should not expect anything in return for it,” junior Josiah McBee said. “Showing them respect on dates is just one way to prove that chivalry is not dead.”

The Crimson Crier

Sports

Transfers hope to prove their worth in upcoming season Shelby Lopez

Editor

hether they tackle 300 pound kids on a football field or twirl flags in the color guard, student athletes take pride and joy in their sports unlike anything else. Two student athletes who transferred from very different schools are now continuing their careers in a new uniform. Junior Taylor Gray is a basketball and volleyball

player who transferred from Deshler High School, a 4A school in the Tuscumbia area. With her new school being more populated to say the least, many differences came to light. “My whole school was about the size of one grade here,” Gray said. With Gray being a multi-sport athlete, she has not been able to experience the basketball program yet as much as she would like. As far as volleyball goes, she has developed a newfound love for the program and her teammates. “I love the volleyball team,” Gray said. “They are like my family, always make me feel welcome, and we’re really starting to come together as a team to compete.” Being in such a small school, high school sports are the heart of the Deshler area. Basketball has thrived over the years there and became a significant part of Gray’s life. “My coach at Deshler won seven state championships and we went to state last year and lost by three points,” Gray said. “Before that year, we won and I have a ring from it. Basketball is definitely huge there for sure.” Gray is no stranger to hard work and is

prepared to give this season her all. “In the summer mornings at Deshler, we had a hour and a half practice for volleyball, an hour and a half for basketball, and an hour of crossfit,” Gray said. One of the main differences that a transfer student has to adjust to is academics. With Gray working off the court to maintain her preferred GPA, she had to develop new study habits. “Here I have to study a lot more than before to get the grade I want,” Gray said. Luckily for Gray, changing schools was a little less daunting than usual. Playing with some of the basketball players already through travel ball helped her feel more comfortable. “I talked to a lot of the players here and played with some of them during AAU so I have friends on the team already even though I haven’t played with them for the school,” Gray said. Facing teams that Gray has normally never played, it is difficult to pick a future game that stands out the most. However, playing one of her former teammates is more than exciting for her. “I’m really excited to play Hazel Green this year because a girl from Deshler transferred there,” Gray said. “She was one of the top players at my old school, but I know

how she plays and how her brain works so I’m excited to play against her.” Gray is not the only transfer student athlete this year. Sophomore Jayshon Ferrill transferred from small private school Maranatha Baptist Academy and is ready to continue his basketball career somewhere new. “Here there is a better skill level in the players than my old school and the talent is better,” Ferrill said. “I’m excited to play at a higher level than I have before.” Ferrill athletically focuses on basketball only which has allowed him to start training and bonding with the team right away. Whether it be at practice or off the court, Ferrill constantly develops his relationship with his team. “Most of the players I try to communicate with so we can build our chemistry and be comfortable with each other,” Ferrill said. “If we’re comfortable, we can have a better season and just play better together overall.” Being a much larger school than what Ferrill is used to, he’s had to work harder in order to keep up on the court. Though some players might view the workouts as difficult, Ferrill embraces it and works to get whatever he can out of it. “His work ethic is out-of-this world. He works extremely hard

and has a great attitude and brings his A game every day,” coach Jamie Coggins said. “He doesn’t take days off and during fourth block workouts he’s going full speed and giving great effort and comes in the morning sometimes to get extra work in.” Coggins sees the extra mile Ferrill goes during practice and watches how it affects his team. “He’s a very tough player that brings that strength that you n e e d on the court. H e ’ l l go for a tough rebound a n d j u m p on the floor, he’ll take a ball away from somebody,” Coggins said. “I think that’s something the guys see and it becomes infectious with them. They see him playing that hard and being that tough and it makes them want to do the same thing.” Ferrill has bonded with his teammates as often as possible and knows it will strengthen their team. With them growing more comfortable with each other, the payoff on the court should be immense.

“There’s a lot of good chemistry on our team right now, which is somewhat a spill over from the summer camp that we went to which created a bond between all three teams,” Coggins said.

Meet the Bowling Team

Jacob Tilly

Freshman year Stat: 162 Sophomore year State: 197 Goals for himself: “To be the best I can and gain more skills.” Goals for the team: “To go to state and win state and hold the title another year.”

Freshman year: Stat 120 Sophomore year Stat: 120 Goals for herself: “To get my score at least in the 200 range.” Goals for the team: “To go to state and win.”

Sophomore year: N/A Junior year Stat: 150 Goals for herself: “To get my technique down and improve my throwing.” Goals for the team: “To go to state and stay undefeated.”

Jackie Beard

Emerald Everheart Photos by Dylan Brotherton and Melanie Wilkins

Former basketball manager passes down legacy to younger brother Griffin Gonterman Editor

eing a basketball team manager requires dedication and a can-do attitude year long. Being manager entails getting to know the players and coaches, hyping up the team before games and best of all learning more about the great sport of basketball on a daily basis. Mitchell Jenkins, a 2017 alumnus, was the team manager for all four years of high school and has now passed on his legacy to his younger brother, freshman Harry. As Mitchell is leaving the team, Harry is picking up right where his brother left off. “I enjoyed spending time with the guys, getting to know them and make some new friends,” Mitchell said. “I also enjoyed learning how a team comes together every day to go into a game. I also loved hanging out with the coaches and getting to know them.”

Multiple tasks were given to Mitchell in which he would encourage players and get them hyped on game days before a game. When he was not learning new plays or talking statistics with the coaches, he was interacting with the team. “My job was just to encourage the guys, always try to be positive but tell them to always push themselves to be better and on game days to get them excited to play,” Mitchell said. “Before the games we all huddled, talked and encouraged one another to get ready. During the game I also tried to cheer them on, even if we might not be winning, I always tried to keep the mood positive.” Last year Harry, expressed an interest in taking over the job. This led to their mother asking coach Jamie Coggins and David Hughes whether they would be okay with it or not. They said yes and

ever since Harry was ecstatic. “My interest started when Mitchell started in ninth grade,” Harry Jenkins said. “I enjoyed attending the games and it was fun to watch them play. I also enjoyed seeing Mitchell relish his job as manager so I thought I would enjoy it as well.” So far this year being a manager has not disappointed for Harry. With his brother’s pointers and encouragement, Harry has learned a lot in such a short time and made the most of his time. “I really enjoy the team, getting to know them, the brotherhood of it all and meeting new people,” Harry Jenkins said. “I really did not know anything about helping a team or what I would be doing but I really enjoy being one of the managers and helping out. I do the team stats, meaning I see how much they can lift, It is actually hilarious how they make a competition.

They make not so much of a competition to beat each other. It is more as a competition to push each other to the max when they are lifting weights.” As Mitchell has essentially passed on the torch to brother, Harry has already made long-term goals for himself and plans to be the basketball manager for all four years in high school. “I plan on being manager all four years,” Harry said. “I have heard you might be able to get scholarships for being a manager, so that could be cool. Also, I see it as an opportunity to help these guys get better in basketball, staying positive, motivating them and learning more about the game from the coaches.” As Harry is opening a new door in his life, Mitchell is closing one. But the lessons and friendships Mitchell experienced through his time as manager will have a great impact on his life after high school.

Passing it on. Mitchell Jenkins advises his younger brother Harry on the ins and outs of being a basketball manager. Photo by Joanna Jenkins

“I will miss talking to coach Hughes about basketball in general, learning rules, plays, stats from all the teams and keeping up with college basketball altogether,” Mitchell said. “I realize there is more to the game

than just dribbling a ball and it is not just a sport these guys just decided to play. They are passionate about basketball and it made me love basketball even more. It was a lot of hard work but in the end it was worth everything.”

Oct. 26, 2017

Sports

The Running Walker Why the win over James Clemens was the biggest for football in over a decade Matthew Walker Reporter

rguably, defeating James Clemens in the Madison City Stadium was the single biggest victory for Sparkman football since 2006, the last time the football team made the playoffs. The Senators have gotten off to a sizzling start. The squad defeated Athens and regional opponent Buckhorn to start a quick 2-0. According to TalismanRed, they suffered a close defeat on the road at Madison City stadium to the ninth ranked team in the state as of Oct. 20, but bounced back with an impressive win—thanks to a stifling defense— against regional rival James Clemens. After this keystone victory the Big Red eked out close wins at Hazel Green and at home against Huntsville. The defense has led the team to most of these victories only allowing six point to James Clemenson the road, and forcing four turnovers in their lone loss against Bob Jones. In fact, the defense did not allow more than 14 points through the first four weeks of the season. Ethan Casselberry has been a huge part of that, displaying dominance from his safety position. There are 32 7A high school football programs in Alabama. Those 32 teams are divided into four regions, with each region having eight teams. In order to make the playoffs a team must win four games. Sparkman shares a region with three teams that are performing very well through the first part of the 2017 season—Hewitt Trussville, Bob Jones and Gadsden City—and all of these teams have been ranked ranked in the top 10 in the state at some point this season. Also in our region there are three teams that are struggling—Buckhorn, Huntsville and Grissom—and all of these teams are currently ranked twentieth or worse in the state. Through the first part of the season it was clear that as long as both Sparkman and James Clemens took care of business versus the bottom three teams in the region they would be battling for the final spot in the playoffs. This showdown came early in the year, in week four. Sparkman prevailed, defensively dominating the game. They were able to notch an impressive road win, and later followed this victory up with the all-important third regional win over Huntsville. Sparkman now only needs one more win to lock up a spot in the playoffs, and they have two more chances to secure the win, including a game against the 30th-ranked team in the state - Grissom. Sparkman even has an opportunity to secure the third seed from the region after Gadsden City got upset by Huntsville, when they play them on our homecoming night. If Sparkman can win their final two region games over Gadsden City and Grissom, they guarantee themselves no worse than the third seed from the region. Making the playoffs would be a monumental achievement for the senators and first year head coach Laron White. Coach White has built an impressive, winning program in less than a year. He has carried over his winning ways from his previous gig as Tanner’s head coach where he won two 2A state titles. Coach White was an excellent hire; it looks like he is the right man for the job. Sparkman already boasts one of the loudest student sections in North Alabama, and this energetic fan base has been looking for a winning program to get behind. This community is hungry for a playoff team. This area has not been able to enjoy the bragging rights of a winning program in over a decade. A winning team has finally arrived, and they are one step away from accomplishing something that has not been achieved in a long time. The hype is real; it is time for the Sparkman fan base to do whatever they can to push the Senators deep into the playoffs

Capitol chaos. When the team hits the court on Nov. 7 in a game against Columbia, they will show off the new floor and name. This name was chosen to support the student section currently called ‘Capitol Chaos’. Photo by Tina Reid

Refurbished floor officially names court ‘The Capitol’ Megan McGraw Reporter

he school has seen various photogenic improvements in the past three years, including new signs, murals and a revamped library. Being added to this list, is a new gym floor with a brand new look in gym one. This new addition is expected to brighten up the gym and add to student’s pride in their school The obvious difference between the old floor and the new one is the design. Front and center on the floor is the official “double-S” logo that is present on most of the new signs. However, the more present image is the grand building spreading across most of the floor, with the words “The Capitol” underneath. This image is not present anywhere else in the school, so some students may be confused. The answer lies in coach Ben Stevenson’s announcing at basketball games. “When [Stevenson] would announce our games, he would say things like ‘welcome to the capital’. He started this five or six years ago and so I think the idea was inspired by him,” coach Jamie Coggins said. The improvements, were not, however only superficial. According to athletic director Jason Watts, every year both gym floors are refinished, in order to maintain the quality from wear and tear. However, this time, the improvements were made at the base level of the wood, rather than at the surface layer of the clear varnish. This process is more in depth and eliminates the bumps and divots

Monday- Saturday 11am-10pm

in the floor, rather than making them less severe. “What they did with the floor was they went all the way down to the wood and they sanded it which smooths out the wood and takes care of the imperfections in the floor, so that makes it more smooth,” Coggins said. With the more prevalent image of the capitol, it begs the question, will that be integrating into the school’s environment more, or exclusively to sporting events. Currently, on the sports scene the student section at basketball games is known as “Capitol Chaos”, but that is the only place “the capitol is officially used. “I know that right now with basketball the student section is called Capital Chaos and it’s a thing that will probably stick around. I think it’s a thing we will sort of hang on to [because] it just ties into the theme of the Senators,” Watts said. With the new floor comes more school pride according to Coggins. The buzz of a fresh new gym environment can put a new pressure on the girls and boys basketball teams. However, this new pressure has not stopped them from anxiously waiting for a fresh floor to play on and defend. This floor may also act as a spark to increase the popularity of basketball and volleyball among the student body. “Our guys [and girls] are beaming from ear to ear, and can not wait to practice and a play game on the new floor. It inspires them to protect our home turf and to win every home game, and get chaos capital going crazy to inspire them even more.” Coggins said.

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The Crimson Crier

T h e H O T Spot Christian White Editor

ith Fall and football in full swing, a list of game day favorite purveyors is a must. Wings have been a game day tradition for years and are a specialty in which Huntsville has no shortage. What football fan in Huntsville would not love a list of the greatest wings it has to offer?

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Student reveals the best wing spots in Huntsville Buffalo Wings To Cricket’s Baumhower’s Wild Wings Burgers n’ American Go Eatery Wings W P T W ings to Go Offers possibly the fastest service of the wing joints in Huntsville. They have great customer service and the wings come out crispy and fresh. They also offer a wide variety of sauces. The restaurant excels in their game day catering, meeting most party needs. However, many people think that Wings to Go could have more eat-in room and consider the restaurant cramped. Wings to Go earns four out of five stars.

erhaps the most famous wing restaurant in the United States may have been undermined in Huntsville. While Buffalo Wild Wings offers an inviting game day atmosphere with all the sporting events imaginable displayed on televisions throughout the restaurant, a wide variety of sauces and spice levels and game day catering, It severely lacks in customer service and wing quality. The wings often come out undercooked and/or soggy. Buffalo Wild Wings gets three out of five stars.

he small-town, family owned Cricket’s meets all expectations. Their customer service is exceptional, the food is prepared with considerable speed for a sit-down restaurant and the wings and fries are cooked to perfection. They make you feel like you are part of the family. They know how to relate to the community. It is the perfect place for high school football fans with jerseys from the local high schools along with cheerleader uniforms and portraits of the teams displayed throughout the restaurant. If you need a place to eat on a fall Friday night before your team’s big game, Cricket’s is the place to go. Cricket’s earns five out of five stars.

ith a game day atmosphere not even closely rivaled by Buffalo Wild Wings, Wings the size of a child’s fist and some of the best cheese fries in the world, there was no other choice for the top of this list. The mostly unknown Baumhower’s offers an old-school sports theme with memorabilia from as early as the 1950s in its interior that attracts fans of all kinds. All employees are dressed the part and make you feel like you are in what a sports bar should be while providing great customer service. The customers, not much different. Most importantly, their wings are tasty and come with a diverse group of sauces. Baumhower’s Earns five out of five stars.

= Rating Points

Photos by Christian White

Huntsville adds new arcade filled with fun for friends, family Ania Stover Editor

u n t s v i l l e is adding something new to the city. Stars and Strikes, a place for family, fun and food has recently opened. Stars and Strikes incorporates the scenery of a bowling alley and a full arcade in one. There is also a chance to play bumper cars and laser tag inside the building. Stars and Strikes has become Huntsville's own mini Dave N' Busters here in town. While it is the popular spot lately, the prices

are as reasonable as they can get. Judging by the crowds, locals find the cost of spending an evening at this entertainment venue agreeable. Stars and Strikes sets the tone of the average arcade with the flashing lights and games but differs with the prizes one could win. Walking in, the first thing one would notice is the various prizes the place has to offer. Starting at candy, to speakers and Razor scooters there is a vast amount of prizes to win based on the amount of tickets

collected from each game. The entertainment center offers VIP lanes for bowling and rooms and packages to host birthday parties. To add to the fun, the location has an escape room where up to eight players can work together to find clues and solve problems. The staff, mainly school students, are welcoming and always ready to help. They make sure that you are aware of any price changes or deals the arcade might be offering.

Not only is Stars and Strikes an amazing place for one to hangout with their friends on a Friday night but it is welcoming of all ages. There is a bar for those over 21 as well as several small games for children under five. A full service restaurant is also on site, making the place a one stop place for entertainment. Stars and Strikes has become a great addition to Huntsville for friends, or even family to enjoy a night out together.

Get the Deals: Wednesdays games are 99 cents. Tuesdays offer unlimited play for $9.99 Laser tag matches are $7

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Festive and Frightening Owner reveals designing popular haunted house takes months Storm Jessett Reporter

aunted houses are a fun way to spend your weekend in October. Creating a haunted house and maintaining it can be a difficult task, but one that is most certainly worth it. Brian Knipper is the owner of the Haunted House of Horror in historic Courtland, Alabama. Having had Halloween as his favorite holiday since his childhood, it comes as no surprise that Knipper found he had taken a liking to haunted houses. “Six or seven years ago, I started going to haunted houses. I had never really been to them, so I went in a few and [had] decided that was something I really liked and something that I could do that falls down my alley. I worked at Southwire for 20 years [in the] maintenance

department, so a lot of these controllers, props, things of that nature — I was looking at them and I thought oh, I can do that,” Knipper said. Knipper started off with a corn maze in Green Hill for the first few years. There, he did a zombie air shoot in the woods. After losing his property, he contacted his current partner and she informed him that she had been thinking about selling the property of the old Courtland High School. After checking it out, Knipper decided to partner with her on this endeavor. “When it was built in 2011, [my partner] and her husband actually built the haunted house. Everyone expected it to be an old high school, that the whole haunted house would be themed on a school. They wanted to change that and put anything they could think of in [the haunted house],” Knipper said. “She told

me sometimes they would stay up at night and just sit there and think ‘the next room, what am I going to do for the next room?’ They would come up with an idea and do it.” Typically, there are around 60 or more people on staff working at the Haunted House of Horror. Most of them are actors who also help build things in preparation of the season. Despite the number of staff, Knipper and his partner, Stephanie do most of the work. “Since November of last year, [my partner and I] have been out here just about everyday that I’m off work and we work on the haunted house from front to back,” Knipper said. [We’re] out here at least two to three times a week. We’ve been here every week since last October. We’ve been here changing and getting broken things fixed.”

This year, Knipper and his crew decided that they wanted to do a doll theme for the haunted house. He says Stephanie built the entire playhouse and both worked on making the necessary changes to the entrance room. “We looked at going in and thinking ‘well the first room probably needs to look like [the customers] are walking through a house.’ We would have two actors in the back that would be the two little girls [who] would set the scene for the entire haunted house. So when you go through the first room that’s my dad—that’s the crazy guy. [Then] you go to the asylum, that’s my aunt trying to get out of the asylum. When you go into the electrical room, that could be my uncle, [who] is the crazy electrician.” Knipper said. The haunted house business is generally

difficult, thus Knipper does not do it for money. He says the idea is to make enough money each year to reopen for the next one. “We would have people help sometimes—we really can’t afford to hire people to help. We actually try to do everything ourselves. A lot of times, my family will come—my brother, my son—sometimes [my partner’s] family will come out and help,” Knipper said. The Haunted House of Horrors will be open every Friday and Saturday of October. Tickets are sold between 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. “If people are still coming in then we’ll stay open until everyone gets through because a lot of people come here from Huntsville and some overnight from Guntersville,” Knipper said. “I definitely wouldn’t want someone to pull up and us saying

that we’re closing up, so we try to make sure that parking lot is clear before we ever think about closing it up.” Almost immediately after closing, Knipper and the crew will begin to think up new ideas and guessing what upcoming trends will be for the next year. “I can’t help it, I love it and [my partner] is the same,” Knipper said. “We’ll come and be here until three o’clock in the morning [or] four o’clock in the morning just trying to get something done. It’s worth it.” Knipper truly enjoys working on the haunted house, and it shows through the hard work put into every room. “It’s a lot of work [and] really stressful. [By the] third weekend, we’ll be wishing that it was over with, and then the second week after we close we’ll be wishing we were back,” Knipper said.

Movies provide spooky ambiance to the thrill of Halloween Danni Jo Grider Reporter

Nightmare on Elm Street

The Birds

1963

1973

1984

The Exorcist “The Birds” is a classic Alfred Hitchcock movie, that centers around a girl who visits a small town where the birds have been acting weird and attacking people. This movie is scary because it is somewhat realistic — birds being weird can actually happen. What makes the movie even more spooky, is the town does not figure out why the birds are acting that way.

1996

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

It (2017)- Based on Stephen King’s hit book “IT”, the new movie brings to life the inhuman clown, Pennywise, that petrifies young children prior to eating them. The story follows a group of curious kids who banded together to save their cursed town. The movie brilliantly horrifies the audience with a complex plot line and vivid graphics.

2003

Scream

“Nightmare on Elm Street” follows Freddy Krueger and his rampant killing of kids in their dreams thus dying in reality. This is one of the most classic slasher films to date, leading the way for all of the Halloween movies yet to be made. This movie has an exciting plot line that keeps you intrigued until the very end.

2017

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)- “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is centered around a group of friends who pick up a hitchhiker and is then terrorized by deformed chainsaw wielding killer and his maniacal family. This movie has a good balance of scary scenes and an interesting plot line and back story.

For easy costume ideas go to crimsoncriernews.com

Best horror films throughout the decades

“Scream” tells the story of a teenage girl whose mother was murdered the year before, and is now being tormented by a new killer who has an ironic way of carrying out his murders. This movie takes a unique approach to a classic theme in many horror movies and features interesting comedic relief.

“The Exorcist” is about the demon possession of a young girl and the exercising of that demon from her body. This fact that this movie is based on a true is what makes this scary. This movie is only the beginning in a long line of movies about possession and it set the bar that all of those movies have to live up to.

The Crimson Crier

Indepth

Year of the Hurricanes

Photo courtesy of Saint John News/Aol.com (Photo illustration by Griffin Gonterman)

Matthew Walker Reporter

The month of September was brutal for those living on coastlines and islands. Hurricane Harvey caused incalculable damage to Texas, especially the coast and city of Houston. Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria raked through the Caribbean and Florida causing widespread devastation. Most recently, Hurricane Nate hit the Gulf Coast causing flooding.

hotos of the devastation posted on social media sites held the attention of the American public. Nightly news anchors have debated the response time and those living in the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, both U.S. territories, have wondered if they have been forgotten. Harvey, Irma and Maria set records. Harvey brought 60 inches of rain to the Houston area. Irma hit the USVI and the BVI as a Category 5 with winds over 200 mph, blowing out window made to sustain 220 mph winds. Maria, also a Category 5 storm, is brought winds recorded at 120 mph. To have a storm like this once in a decade or two is unheard of, but to have three in one month is almost unbelievable. The state of Alabama geared up for tropical weather as Irma headed up the Florida coastline. In fact, Madison County

schools closed for two days as we expected high winds and heavy rains. We were lucky. These never came. Alabama was in the path of danger again with Hurricane Nate, but fortunately only minimal flooding occurred. Like all natural disasters, the story of heroes circulated the news cycle. In Harvey, the Cajun Navy immediately went to work after the landfall of the storm to rescue those from flooded homes. Country singer Kenny Chesney, a part-time resident of St. John, USVI, set up a the Love for Love City foundation to raise funds to supply the islands with medical supplies, food, pet supplies, generators and other supplies to clear roads. Chesney also provided his plane to fly islanders back to the states for recovery, including two teenage boys who were told

an anonymous person was taking care of their flight home. In Puerto Rico, Anthony Gonzalez ventured into the hardest hit portions of the islands to record messages for families in the states so they could verify that their family members were alive and well. Of course, bad stories have surfaced as well. Looting in Texas and the USVI were reported. The numbers of people from Puerto Rico who are still doing without water and food seems to make the nightly news daily. Supermarket and other stores in Texas were called out for raising the prices on gas and water in the aftermath of Harvey. Despite the good and the bad, the fact is one month after these horrendous storms, people are still suffering. North Alabama knows all too well how a natural disaster can hurt. We can remember

the tears shed on April 27, 2011 as an EF5 tornado ripped through our area leaving a trail of downed trees, torn roofs and homes scattered across the valley. We

This is why it is important for us to do our part in helping these areas rebuild stronger and better. The SGA in conjunction

can also remember how the community and even those around the country came to our rescue to help us get back on our feet.

with librarian Crys Hodgens sent boxes of school supplies to schools in Houston last week. Hodgens knew a teacher in

the area and said she wanted to help on a personal basis. The journalism program plans to collect school supplies for the Gifft School in St. John, a private school who recently opened its doors to all students on the island despite their ability to pay. The public school has yet to open. What can we do for Puerto Rico? It will be months before electricity is restored in the Caribbean. Texas students are still displaced in homes and in their schools. What we cannot do is forget these people and their condition. The news cycle eventually will. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. We must continue to give to charities that support them, send supplies or just send up daily prayers. We just must.

InDepth

Oct. 26, 2017

St. John residents see their dreams submerged right in front of them

generator, we had TV, Wi-Fi and cell service so rammed in their once again we did not stone shower, worry.” Continuing to wait covered with nothing but couch cushions and for Irma’s effects to holding only a small unfold, Liz and Steve abundance of cash and began watching The legal papers, was how Weather Channel. Here St. John residents Liz they watched reports and Steve Horner spent of Floridians preparing Sept. 7 while Hurricane for Irma, but little did Irma ripped through the they know Hurricane Irma lingered only 25 island they call home. After six years of minutes away from vacationing on the their beloved island. island, Liz and Steve At 12:59 p.m., they lost decided it was time to complete connectivity make their paradise a from everyone except that would permanent home. In those December 2015, the two survive on the island. “When we heard purchased The Barefoot Cowboy in hopes to metal tearing from make their thriving what we believed to be the roof, water dripping dream a reality. “We had always in several places in Torn apart. The Horners are still waiting on whether or not Barefoot Cowboy will be condemned. Photo by St. John News had the desire to live the ceiling and the wind was taking the ensure their survival, for evacuation boats there, but realized wind speed starting to way of life. metal from the roof, Liz and Steve got to with a hope to evacuate that we would need increase we decided it “We were very Liz and Steve retreated work clearing the by Friday, giving them more income to do so,” was time, Liz said. moved by the help we back to the bathroom. driveway. They spent time to arrange flights The wind blew with Liz said. “Steve has received,” Liz said. Gazing out the small all day with chainsaws and shipping for their always wanted to cook vengeance as Liz and “These smiling faces bathroom window the and machetes in hand dogs. They were told it barbecue for people Steve made their way made all the difference two held each other clearing debris. was too far in advance other than family to the center bathroom in our lives.” closely while they The second day to sign up and to and friends and I had and climbed in the The future of watched everything held more heartbreak return on the day they always wanted a bar stone built shower Barefoot Cowboy, the around them be turned when Liz and Steve wished to leave. Come and grill. We figured we room off the back. They Horners’ lives in St. John upside down. What discovered their Friday morning the two could combine both our clung tight to cushions and the island’s fate they initial thought was beloved business in returned to the dock to wishes and we bought from the couch, their is unclear. As for their a roof sliding toward complete destruction. be turned away and told dogs and a dry bag with the business.” business it all depends them, soon became After wading through to return tomorrow. papers, money and on the landlord’s The Hurricane an entire house that four to five inches “On Tuesday we their phones for an hour decision on whether or The two settled had been blown off its of water to collect had the mentality of while Irma made itself not they will reconstruct down in a house on foundation. documents inside The wanting to give time known and just the the building. In terms Fish Bay in March “We were very Barefoot Cowboy, to those whose need outside walls keeping of the St. John, the 2016, a house that they scared that the house they drove carefully was greater than ours them alive. process will be slow as will never look at the that had stalled above into town to try and to evacuate first,” Liz “It is still hard to talk everything has to come same after the events our retaining wall, get cellphone service. said. “We had stood in about what happened in by boats. On top of they survived, under and was held only by Because cell service the rain with our bags because the emotions Irma, Hurricane Maria its wooden roof last a single tree would was only available in and our dogs for all that attached are so very sunk two car barges month. collapse onto us,” Liz one spot and was very time Friday, only to be raw,” Liz said. “Sitting making recovery even “You are warned said. “It felt like forever difficult to obtain it turned away. It was in the bathroom we more difficult. to not stay in wooden that the wind screamed took a while before they very disheartening.” could see wind striping “Leaves were constructed buildings and screamed.” could get a call out. the trees of their leaves already starting to The Evacuation during a hurricane,” The wind was scary. “We finally managed and rain falling.” come back on trees so In high hopes they Liz said. “However, we The scene of devastation to get a text out to our After a stressful hour the foliage will come,” returned to the National have faith in the house outside left the two family,” Liz said. “We of sitting and waiting, Liz said. “But it will Park Dock at 8:30 speechless as they let them know we the wind be a long time before a.m. Saturday. They observed the extensive were safe and to use came to a the island is anywhere boarded a catamaran damage. There was not our “tree” that we had stop and close to where it was.” at around 11:30 am. a leaf on a tree. Trunks set up to disseminate they made For yearly tourists This volunteer boat were snapped and torn information.” their way of eight years and that had been bringing in half with broken It was a couple of back to friends of the Horners, supplies in and taking limbs reaching for the days of discussion and the main teachers Jamie and Erin personnel back since the sky. Houses without wondering what the h o u s e . Coggins, the urge for following days after the rooftops. Houses best course forward Walking wanting to help has storm. The exhausting without top floors. was. They had donated into the never been greater. humid journey lasted Beautiful landscapes all the food from the kitchen With many friends about three hours gone. business to two local brought the and acquaintances in eventually landing the “It looked as if a restaurants that were realization their favorite travel two in Fajardo. They nuclear bomb had gone cooking for everyone, of damage destination, they felt showed their passports off,” Liz said. together with all the throughout a connection to those to Customs and beer and liquor and t h e i r The Aftermath going through this Border Patrol as they their business’ t-shirts house. For After they came to tragedy. The Coggins disembarked. went to the shelter. After insurance their senses they began family began their “It was very hot and surveying the damages purposes, surveying the damage donations to the Kenny felt like a long journey of their dream, the thing Liz began done to their house. Chesney Love for Love ,the dogs were in their that made living in St. snapping The faith in their house foundation following crates and not happy.” John possible, they had pictures was rewarded for the with the adoption of a Liz said. “The people in to make a devastating of the roof was still in tact. The family in St. Thomas. Fajardo were extremely decision. damage in noises they heard were “My students and Good friends. The Coggins’ visit the friendly and helpful. “At this point the kitchen Horners over fall break. The Horners are the gutting being ripped I are trying to arrange They let us back on the realized that with the that was now living in New Mexico after Irma off rather than what a school supply drive boat to get the dogs out business gone, and no devastated the island of St. John. Photo by primarily they had originally for the Gifft School of their crates and then Liz Horner way to communicate c a u s e d suspected. The pieces of in St. John that just back on later for the with the outside world,” when the metal roof seen through recently reopened,” crates.” Liz said. “Although we wind broke off the the bathroom window Coggins said. “We are Volunteers lined the as it had a concrete had enough supplies for shutters and boards were blown from two trying to donate to ports with sandwiches, basement and its probably a month, we placed over the houses across the road. foundations we know water, snacks, person position in relation to needed to be stateside windows. Soon after “The hardest day so our contributions hygiene pacts and the landscape.” to try and deal with the pictures were taken, was the day after the will be sent directly smiles. With defined hope, our landlord and other Irma began to show its storm,” Liz said. “There to the islands, a place These volunteers Liz and Steve prepared factors around our other side. was no cell service that desperately needs arranged their transport without worry of lively hood.” “We no longer had and no house phones help.” to the hotel that their what Hurricane Irma The couple came to drips, but we could as all the power lines, The greatest need is daughter in law had might mean for their the decision to head hear metal after metal telephone lines and infrastructure, without managed to book livelihood. While sitting back to the states to away,” Liz said. “The fiber optics had been power there is no water. stateside. Although the in their living room formulate their plan sound was like a freight torn down.” Liz hopes that the process was slow they with the hurricane of what to do next. On train and you had to Without being Federal Government were just grateful to shutters closed and Tuesday they made shout to each other just able to contact their will become involved be in PR. At this point sliding glass door their way to the National to be heard.” families and friends to and assist the U.S. patience had become a boarded up, Irma made Park Dock to sign up Convinced that the Virgin Islands in its first showing around gaining power. Without 11 a.m. when it stole Federal Funds and the island’s electricity. Virgin Island residents are U.S. citizens too a recovery plan, the With the simple flip of a island will continue to switch, Steve turned on suffer. the generator. The people of St. “Initially we were John are very resilient not too concerned, we and I feel that being such come from West Texas a small island where where we get with a 50 A 2012 census showed The territory consists of people know each to 60 mph gusting in the The estimated GDP for USVI in their population was three islands: St. Croix, St. other it will survive,” spring,” Liz said. “Once 2015 was $4.580 billion. 109,666. Liz said. “Stronger and John and St. Thomas. Steve turned on the better than before.” Saylor Cuzzort Editor

The Crimson Crier

InDepth

Students struggle to connect with family living in Puerto Rico Camille Herren Editor

ince Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, families have struggled not only in the U.S. territory but also in the states. Puerto Rico’s destruction is the deepest concern in the hearts of three students as their families search for a way to communicate with loved ones on the island. Senior Emanuel Jerez has plenty he holds dear in Puerto Rico. Before the hurricane devastated the island, Jerez’s family did their best to prepare for the dire circumstances. “I have some uncles, aunts and cousins on my dad’s side of the family there. At first we weren’t able to get in contact with them, but we eventually did after some time passed,” Jerez said. “They didn’t contact us before, but they prepared the best they could. They boarded windows and bought canned foods, bottled water, and other stuff like that.” Jerez says his family found severe damage to their homes and vehicles. And although they have received aid, they are still among those without power.

“Two of my uncles and their families completely lost their homes. Their houses were absolutely demolished and plan to move back to Florida,” Jerez said. “Most of them down there are going to Miami to live with other family, while the rest are still debating whether to move or reconstruct. I can tell that their spirits were really down.” Jerez was relieved to hear from some of his family but still has more family to contact in the future. He is hoping for the best. “We’re hoping that everything is well and that the damage isn’t too bad,” Jerez said. Senior Tiana Valle and her sister Nya Santiago Perez came to the states with their mother for a better education. The rest of their family resides in Puerto Rico, which the sisters see as their own home. “It was beautiful. The beach everyday. The water was clear. People were kind. It’s a wonderful place to be. At the moment, [this] is the downfall of it,” Valle said. Before Hurricane Maria hit, Valle and Perez’s grandmother

flew to the states to stay with them. The rest of the family stayed behind. “It was a struggle getting her a flight. The airports were busy. Everybody was trying to get out in time before anything bad ever happened,” Valle said. “I’m worried. I’m very worried. With most of my family being over there and not knowing if they are doing good day to day is nerve-wracking. [I] obviously want to know how they are doing. All I keep hearing is it’s very bad over there. It’s getting worse. That’s not helping at all.” Because the sisters lived in and visited Puerto Rico for a time, they experienced hurricanes but did not anticipate Hurricane Maria’s power or destruction. Perez says that her home did not endure as much as other parts of Puerto Rico, but her family still faces challenges. “It is pretty scary but the houses in Puerto Rico are concrete. So I don’t think they are going to have a problem with damage. They

don’t have any electricity or running water. I know that is a struggle. My grandpa usually goes to the church every single day and it is giving out food and clean water,” Perez said. “They’re staying to hold it down and get it together. In Puerto Rico, we have animals in the backyard like chickens and bunnies. I know my grandpa has to take care of all of the animals and the house for sure.” Puerto Rico has seen minimal recovery from the destruction thus far as power and water are barely restored. Families in the states have trouble connecting with loved ones affected by Maria and when they can, the calls are few. “I still haven’t been able to contact my grandpa at all. I got to contact one of my aunts that was over there and she said that some of the power is still out. It is absolutely horrible. There is no way of getting around,” Valle said. “The Red Cross was helping [my family] but they were limiting people to calls. Everyone wants to get in contact with a family member just to let them know they are okay. It took us about half a week after it happened to even be able to see if it’s okay.”

How do you think Hurricane Maria’s destruction in Puerto Rico has been handled? “I think that the first responders and emergency services have done a great job with the circumstances they had. I’m sure more aid could’ve been provided and that more focus could have been on Puerto Rico instead of some other situations, but I am in no way ungrateful or disappointed.” -senior EJ Jerez “I think they handled it well and they still are. They have no water, no electricity and are still making music and still celebrating with each other and we are a big family in Puerto Rico.” -sophomore Naya Santiago

Perez finds hope in light of the hurricane. She believes that Puerto Rico is strong, as the island has handled hurricanes before and that the damage will give her family better. “I’m definitely lucky that none of my family members’ lives were lost. I’m very blessed for that. I think that it’s not that much of

a bad thing because it keeps us in better communication. We are so worried,” Perez said. “We are trying to call every single day just to make sure they are okay. It’s sad that they have to go through that struggle but at the same time it shows me how strong of a family connection we have.”

2017 Hurricane Season Aug. 17 Harvey

Aug. 30 Irma

Sept. 5 Jose

Sept. 16 Maria

Oct. 4 Nate

Texas students share their hardships from Harvey’s destruction Sidney Al-Dijaili Editor Alle Roper Reporter

ood and bricks formally known as home lay broken, demolished by his winds. Shattered glass lines the streets that many once walked. A doll floats in the water, swept away by his waves. The doll’s owner has yet to be found. Hurricane Harvey devastated everything he touched — leaving destruction and ruin in his wake. As the winds and waters of Hurricane Harvey tore through southern Texas, very few were left untouched by the destitution that was left after his arrival. Among those victims were Cinco Ranch High School students Jordyn Guzman and Angelina Arinze, were left heartbroken by the damage to their communities. “The aftermath was an eerie sight; trash and dirt was strewn throughout the complex, cars were parked haphazardly over curbs and sidewalks in a failed attempt to save their vehicles in the rising water,” Arinze said. “Most unsettling of all was the almost complete, unnerving silence of life throughout the

apartment except for the several car alarms that could be heard in the distance.” For many, this silence rang as they surveyed what was left of their homes; the places many where many were raised, where everything they owned was — gone, leaving their owners to wonder how to begin to rebuild. “With our neighborhood Covering everyones needs. Members of the community help out being so close at Cinco Ranch High School. Printed with permission by the Houston to one of the two Chronicle reservoirs that were supplies that were so our food and water having water released necessary, families supply with them never to control flooding,our evacuated in hopes of diminished.” house got completely avoiding the disaster After the storm left destroyed as well as that would soon southern Texas in ruins, every other house ensue with Harvey’s the victims of Harvey and the elementary arrival. returned to reconstruct school close to us,” “It was not until what was left of their Guzman said. “We the last minute that we battered and torn have to redo the entire decided to evacuate. communities. Because house. The only way We had to climb the rebuilding period is I could describe the over our back fences a long process, people feeling of seeing it was with ladders that around the country have just weird, as well as our neighbors let us put in time and money to heartbreaking. The borrow [and go] to a make sure that no victim place where I had been family friend that was has to pick themselves so safe and comfortable waiting for us on the up alone. Government a week ago was now other side,” Guzman programs, such as gone.” said. “We went to FEMA, who still have Though the damage the store several days 2,600 worker in Texas, that Harvey brought before landfall to are working consistently was massive, it was stock up and prepare to help those struggling foreseen, giving those to be confined in the to rebuild. Along with living in area time to house for many days. these programs, victims evacuate before the When we evacuated, are receiving help from worst of the storm we were with friends close to home —some of arrived. Taking the

the volunteers being victims themselves. “It was amazing, seeing all the helicopters, boats, and people trying to help everybody in any way they can. Even people who had flooded home and vehicles dropped everything just to rescue others from their homes,” Arinze said. “Just to see the selfless compassion and their unwavering willingness to do everything in their power to help really touched my heart.” Students across southern Texas had to regather themselves and their composure to return to school. Because of the lengthy amount of time the students missed, they were met with stressful amounts of schoolwork. “The weeks that we finally returned were some of the most stressful weeks of my life. We had nothing but a few changes of clothes so we had to go and buy all new stuff,” Guzman said. “The teachers were just piling stacks upon stacks of homework, tests, and quizzes on us to make up for lost time. It was extremely overwhelming.”

The return to school was emotional for students. To see their classmates they have known for years left with nothing was like experiencing the storm again. “There was definitely a period of adjustment, but it varied widely among students; some experienced flooding while others experienced everything and lost everything. Though everyone’s experience varied, everyone was impacted to some degree, whether it was a friend, family member, or themselves dealing with the loss,” Arinze said. Those affected by the storm have been through mental and emotional turmoil, but at the same time, they also learned from their experiences. The victims of this tragedy stress the importance of keeping safe in all severe weather conditions, advising that everyone always keep in mind the importance of safety. “ W h e n e v e r something catastrophic like this occurs, you need to stay vigilant and pay attention to the news and the weather apps. We watched the news continuously,” Guzman said. “If someone tells you to evacuate, do it as soon as possible.”

Oct. 26, 2017

Photo Story

Throwing Like A Girl As part of homecoming week, the sophomores, juniors and seniors took to the field to battle it out in the annual powder puff football game. The juniors came out victorious with an 18-12 win over the seniors.

Up and away. Jumping over the head of senior Carrington Simpson, senior Kaliq Green puts on a show as a senior cheerleader. Greenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wig fell to the ground after he landed, causing the crowd to laugh. Photo by Jayla Stewart

No touching. Grabbing junior Deyana Dodd by the shirt, senior Jala Watkins tries to make a stop. Tensions flew during the game as the heated rivalry between the juniors and seniors played out. Photo by Jessica Turnage

Back talk. Showing off their jerseys, seniors Kaitlyn Gilliam and Yvonne Ellison make a statement. The sophomores wore white, the juniors neon and the seniors pink. Photo by Jayla

Stewart

We ready. Showing off her football gloves, senior Marcha Coney gets ready for the game. Coney bought the gloves specifically to play wide receiver. Photo by Jessica Turnage

One-nine. Posing for a photo, the junior class captures their 2017 powderpuff win. The team beat the sophomores and seniors to take the championship. Photo by Jayla Stewart First down. Heading for the first down, sophomore Amani Blair rushes past junior defenders. The sophomores lost in the opening game, 36-6. Photo by Jessica Turnage

Senior pride. Never giving up a moment to show that they are seniors, Abby Wallace, Emma Richards and Kiera McDaniel hold up their vibe sign. The game came on the first cold day of the fall. Photo by Jayla Stewart

Painted hands. Showing off her key to winning, senior Sydney King displays her painted hands. King played on the offensive side of the ball. Photo by Jayla Stewart Listen up. Senior Hunter Gibson gives his team a last minute rundown of the plays and positions. Gibson, a football player, knew how to motivate his team. Photo by Jayla Stewart