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Quiet a Catch

Crimson Crier Thursday, Sept.17, 2015

Volume XXVI

Senior quarterback discusses influence, legacy

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New festival sparks creativity, starts tradition

Griffin Gonterman Reporter

t started with a dream for English teacher Renee Quaife to hold a Festival of the Arts, and this year, that dream will come true. “The idea is kind of a combination of a fundraiser for my literary magazine and a way to showcase the talented artistic people in our areas,” Quaife said. “It’s an arts festival meets book festival meets music festival meets craft fair meets food trucks. So kind of like Panoply.” This is Quaife’s eleventh year teaching at Sparkman and she is determined to make the best of her chance to hold the festival. There will be plenty of attractions and something for everyone. “We will have about 20 vendors.” Quaife said. “We’ve got artists, authors and musicians. We’ll have a dance company and a martial arts company come perform. We have woodworkers, jewelry makers, card makers, and then we’ll have food trucks. We’ve got the Badd Newz BBQ truck and the Food Fighters truck which is the school bus, and then we have the Tropical Sno truck and then we also have the Cunningham ice cream truck.” She also listed the possibility of hot air balloon rides and a Sparkman Choir performance. There is a ton of pressure

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on Quaife for the outcome and success of the festival. “I’m hoping that it’s just a fun event; that’s my major goal,” Quaife said. “To have a place for the artists in the area have a place to exhibit their work and make some money and make some buzz for what they do, and support that and then of course make some money for the literary magazine. I would love to have 200 people come to just hangout and shop, eat the food and listen to music. There will be about 150 people here working. Between the vendors the dancers, the parents and my staff helping me put it together and things like that and then I’m hoping for about 100 or 150 people come just to hang out. It’s five dollars for admission and that’s per car. It’s a five dollar parking fee that’s it.” Since there is only a five dollar admission fee and a big number of people are projected to attend, students’ and the community’s interest in the arts could increase. “We have several different artists and authors that live in our area that are given a chance to show what they do. Finding a place to sell your wares in the arts community isn’t always available and so this is something that I’m wanting to provide,” Quaife said. Junior Adler Salem is just one of the students signed up to participate. He will sell honey from his beekeeping business and inform others about what he does. “It’ll bring my business more opportunities in the community and hopefully more people will join the arts” Salem said.

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While the festival is aimed at increasing interests of the arts, Salem’s business is growing rapidly. “Since last year I have gotten 15 more hives so I have 28 hives now and this year I’ve gotten a total of 600 lbs. of honey and I’ll harvest again Labor Day,” Salem said. The festival will be held this Saturday from 10 a.m-2 p.m. in the school’s parking lot.

Found Inside

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News pgs. 2-3 Opinion pgs. 4-5 Sports pgs. 6-7 Lifestyles pgs. 8-9 In-Depth pgs. 10-11 A&E pg. 12

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The Crimson Crier

ept.

17, 2015

Shaw looks to unify school logo Hannah Cox Web Editor

ith eleven sports available for students to choose from, the school does its best to live up to the motto: excellence our tradition, diversity our strength. And with every school comes three must haves: school colors, a mascot and a school logo. Sparkman is represented by black, crimson and white along with the Senator mascot. The logo, on the other hand, is a bit of a question mark. Since the opening of the school in 1958, the school’s mascot and colors have remained consistent. The logo, however, has broken off and morphed into several different forms. Is it the fancy S that the baseball team uses? Or the plain S that the swim team utilizes? Our school motto states “excellence our tradition,

diversity our strength.” But does that mean our logo needs to be diverse? This problem is being addressed by principal Chris Shaw. “I think it’s a good idea that we do come up with an ‘S’ and let everyone know this. I want a logo that everyone is happy with,” Shaw said.

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a unified logo. And that’s a process.” Shaw said. “I’m trying to have the ‘S’ where one can see the ‘S’—whether it be on a band uniform or a baseball or a football or a club—where everyone knows that S stands for Sparkman.” Shaw has a plan to make the process of selecting one ‘S’ easier. He intends to have

“We’re a family. We’re a community and we need to look like we’re all on the same page.”

The other schools Shaw lead had unified logos. With a specific logo, the community will be able to immediately recognize what school is involved. “We need to come together with students and teachers and coaches and parents and come up with

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a couple of committees that will allow teachers, students and parents to voice their input. “The goal is to have a logo that everyone can identify with, that people are proud of and that everyone knows that that S stands for Sparkman High School,”

Shaw said. The lack of uniformity is apparent not only to students but teachers and coaches as well. “It makes us look like we’re not all on the same page. It separates the folks who are using the different symbol,” English teacher Monica Davis said. “We’re a family. We’re a community and we need to look like we’re all on the same page.” Shaw is looking to trademark the S if possible when a definite decision is made. However long and difficult the process, Shaw knows it is an important step for consistency and identity of the school. “The wish is that we’ll come up with a logo that’s a home run. That everyone will go ‘that’s it.’ I know that may not be realistic but that’s what you want to do,” Shaw said.

System will undergo accreditation Ania Stover Reporter

Kaylyn Jones Reporter

NEW MAKEUP FOR MAKEUP POLICY CANVAS will provide students a new avenue for making up missed work due to excused and unexcused absences. Photo illustration by Madison Harding

t’s time for the Madison County School system to undergo the five year required review by Advanc-ED. Advanc-ED is a program with set standards used by more than 32 thousand schools and school systems across 70 different countries. Advanc-ED selects a team of educators to go through with these reviews. This team studies what they find and makes recommendations according to their findings.

An accreditation team will visit most schools in the Madison County area. Gaining accreditation proves that a school is legitimate and has the ability to teach a given curriculum. “Most, not all private schools are not accredited. Meaning they don’t meet up to the standards we do.” history teacher Jennifer McKinney said. “This can help recruit students to county schools.” Superintendent, Matt Massey requests that students, parents and

teachers complete a school survey on their school. This school’s survey is posted on the school’s website. “These surveys will provide a wealth of information to better understand areas where our system is performing effectively, as well as areas in which we can improve.” Director of Instruction Tim Solley said. The External Review for Madison County will be Jan. 24-27, 2016. Results will be made public at the board meeting on Jan.27.

Board makes change to make-up Teacher urges students to learn policy, implements CANVAS more about Hispanic culture Parker Boothe Kaylyn Jones Reporter

adison County schools improve makeup policy for district students The Madison County School Board recently altered the makeup policy, giving fair opportunities to all students. Last year’s policy required the absence be excused to make up the assignment(s) the student missed, or they will receive an automatic zero for their grade. The school board decided to address this issue and put a stop to the inequality around the district regarding students being unable to make up the work. “Some students were

given zeroes automatically with no option to make up their work, while other students were allowed to make up their work for full credit,” Superintendent Matt Massey said. The improved makeup policy now allows the missed work to be made up and turned in for full credit regardless if the absence is unexcused. Students are now expected to finish the work in the amount of days the student did not attend school. “With our learning management system, CANVAS, we hope that students will be able to access their assignments sooner and not need two weeks to complete the assignment,” Massey said.

Some students have mixed emotions on the matter. “I think we should be given a week to make up the work because we all have different schedules,” sophomore Francesca Dempsey said. The mission of Madison County Schools is to educate students and prepare them for life after high school. Massey’s decision for creating this new policy for all students in the district stems from this mission. “If a student misses class, we want them to have an opportunity to understand and learn the content from the class they miss, no matter how the absence is coded,” Massey said.

Reporter

eptiembre es el Mes de la Hispanidad y se celebra en los Estados Unidos y México a partir de septiembre 15-octubre 15 . If you do not speak Spanish, it says, “September is National Hispanic Heritage Month and it is celebrated in the United States and Mexico from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.” The month celebrates Hispanic cultured country’s independence. It is celebrated in America by American citizens with Hispanic roots. The celebration previously spanned a week until 1988 when President Ronald Reagan expanded it to cover a 30-day time period. One of our very own Spanish teachers, Carla Terry, was born and raised in Mexico. “You’re gonna see more and more of Hispanics celebrating their traditions because we’re proud of our heritage, so we like to showcase it,” Terry said, “ We don’t like to impose on Americans, but we like to showcase that we’re Hispanics and we’re proud of our heritage.” September 15 is the highest Hispanic oriented day people celebrate. On the 15, the President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, gives a speech. “The president gives a speech. It’s like a pep talk to the mexican people and we just celebrate our independence, our freedom, our heritage. There’s a lot of fireworks and a lot of music and a lot of parties and just a lot of rejoicing because of our independence,” Terry said. Terry and some of her Hispanic cultured friends

CELEBRATION Showing off items showcasing Hispanic culture, junior Haley Haddock participates in a culture lesson in Spanish II. Photo by Madison Harding

tune in on their TV at Terry’s house to watch the president give his speech. “He comes out and talks to the people and expresses the gratitude for all the heroes who sacrificed their lives for us to be independent and at the end, he always closes with ‘Viva México‘ like three times, and all the town, all the people reply, ‘Viva.’ So it’s like a little chant, and we go crazy. You know, do fireworks, egg shells stuffed with confetti, and all kinds of things. That’s what we do in my house. We go outside and scream, ‘Viva,’ and sometimes we do fireworks,” Terry said. Terry finds it important not to just celebrate at home, but to also teach the independence day tradition in her classroom. “For Hispanic Heritage Month, we reenact the independence day. We dress up and the kids make egg shells and we color flags and we study the history of Mexican independence. Then we celebrate by reenacting the ceremony where I’m the president and

the class chants back, ‘Viva México,’ and then we do the egg shells on people’s heads to represent joy and good fortune and then we tie it up with some food,” Terry said. One of Terry’s former students, Senior Luke Kollman, talks about his experience at Terry’s “Cultural Engagement Activities.” “That day, [Sept. 15], everyone brought Spanish foods that we enjoyed. We also did the eggshell thing and it was pretty fun too,” Kollman said. Although Terry loves it here in America, she is still enamored with Mexican culture and the way of life in her place of birth. “[I do miss] the way of life. It looks hectic because of the traffic and pollution and things like that. Actually, people take the time to socialize and to enjoy life more so,” Terry said, “People relax more. People enjoy their weekends a little bit more. And people share more with friends and family.”

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Lockers quickly becoming things of past Business Editor

major icon to every high school has now become a waste of space and a piece of the past. School lockers, being the daily asset for each and every generation of pupils are no longer relevant to the average student. “If you are carrying a backpack and you don’t play sports then you don’t need a locker,” student Francesca Dempsey said. Sophomore Makayla Tomaino is on the cross country team and feels her locker is essential for the school day. She says if she

doesn’t have one she’d have to carry 10 pounds all day. “The reason I purchased a locker was for me to be able to put my cross country clothes in it in the morning and before practice I could put my books that I don’t need to take home in it,” Tomaino said. Unlike Tomaino, the majority of students do not use the lockers. Most students use their backpacks to carry all of their necessities. Assistant Principal Maurice Jones said that in years past less than 35 students have purchased a locker. “We have over two thousands lockers here, and we’re only using 25 or 30.

We spend more money repairing them than we do issuing them. The only ones that are issued are upstairs,” Jones said. Since few students use the lockers, the teachers, needing the extra space, are utilizing them for storage. Each department uses the lockers for storage according to Jones. They mainly use them for resources and textbooks they are not currently using. “We used to have a book room but they turned that into a media room. So we had to seek a different route and adopt the lockers as storage facilities. We are held accountable for

Sept. 17, 2015

SGA adds new events to homecoming week Reporter

the textbooks we issue to students so the lockers are the safest solution. It has decluttered the classroom because teachers have that option,” Spanish teacher Carla Terry said. Tomaino, who seeks a locker near her classes on the first floor, does not see why storage comes first before students. “I’m a student who needs a locker first of all because I run cross country and I have a load of clothes and shoes. My shoes weigh five pounds on their own,” Tomaino said. “I’m not able to use a locker because teachers are storing their stuff in them.”

o encourage more student participation, the SGA has added more activities to homecoming. Homecoming week starts Monday. Spirit days will focus on past decades. Monday will be Salad Dressing Day: Seniors will be Caesar (togas and gladiator sandals), Juniors will be Ranch (cowboy attire) and Sophomores will be Thousand Island (Hawaiian shirts and leis). TuesdayThursday will be past decades, including the ‘90s, ‘80s and ‘70s. “This year we just really want the students to have fun and participate, and to raise school spirit,” SGA President Racquel McCrary said . Students can look forward to upcoming events such as lip-sync battles, a door decorating competition and a color war which were all added on the class competition that the sign contest established. “The goal for this year is to have more student participation [and] to bring students together. We really want to try to incorporate class competitions for the students to have fun,” SGA adviser Ashley Johnston said. The homecoming dance will be Saturday, Aug. 26 , from 8-11 p.m. The dance will be a ‘50s sock-hop, but students are not required to dress in that era’s fashion. “The ‘Time of Our Lives’ theme was picked because we felt like we needed a change for the students to have fun and dress up,” McCrary said. Tuesday night will be the annual Powder Puff game. It starts at 6:30 on the football field. Friday will be spirit day and the color war. “This year’s homecoming goal is to allow more students the opportunity to get involved in school activities, and to make this year’s homecoming bigger and better,” Johnston said.

Time of ur Lives

Continued from page 1 “I think the word lockdown itself has such a negative connotation— there’s a lot of reasons why it does. I just think there’s so many things that happen in society now that it’s warranted a negative connotation,” Hodgens said. “Before it was lockdown for safety reasons. When we do lockdown drills, we are teaching our children how to not die. Move quietly or you could die. I think that is frightening.” Now that same fear has seemingly leaked out of the schools and into day to day life. “When the “Dark Knight” movie shooting happened-that was on a Friday night--and [my husband and I] were scheduled to go on a Monday and we went. I was scared the whole time. I had to get up and leave the theater several times and go stand in the bathroom because of the anxiety,” Hodgens said. In the last three decades, there have been at least 71 mass shootings nationwide. Movie theater shootings--at least ones that are being reported-- are adding to that swiftly growing list. Since 2012, when James Holmes entered a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight” and opened fire, the nation has been on high alert. Following Holmes’ murder spree, attacks ensued in theaters located in Lafayette, Louisiana and Nashville, Tennessee. Other public targets include

grocery stores and churches. That same paranoia is shared by students such as junior and color guard member Sarah Bateman, who finds herself feeling the cold grip of fear in places usually deemed “safe.” “After that news shooting happened, we were practicing, it was like pitch black, and this creepy van was just sitting there. It was so scary. We kept waiting for someone to come out and start shooting,” junior Sarah Bateman said. Bateman is describing the shooting of two Virginia journalists, Adam Ward and Alison Parker, on live television. After the attack reached notoriety through social media, the public’s attention was once again turned towards attacks and violence at home. This attack, and others before it leave a bitter taste in our mouths and an eerie feeling that it’s not getting better-- but. perhaps, worse. Over the past decade, life as it was has ceased to exist. The times in which weapons were allowed on campuses or children were assumed immune are gone. For now, it seems, an attack could be lurking around any corner. “With things that are happening in society, I feel that’s what [the paranoia is] doing to us. We are constantly looking: escape route, escape route,” Hodgens said.

Building Boards:

Senior uses project to serve others

01 Salad Dressing Day Seniors: Ceaser Dressing (Greek Attire)

Juniors: Ranch Day (Cowboy attire) Sophomores: Thousand Island (Hawaiian Attire)

90’s Day Dress up like your favorite 90’s character

Mya Harrell Reporter

80’s Day Dress like the 80’s

ost Girl Scouts are carrying around Thin Mints and Shortbread cookies but senior Shelby Dorner is going above and beyond the expectations of an average Girl Scout. Dorner has achieved several Girl Scout awards, including a bronze, journeys, and badges, but she has set out to earn the highest achievement that can be earned by the organization, the Gold Award. Dorner’s project involves building a boardwalk to allow handicapped guests to better enjoy the outdoors at Pine Ridge Day Camp. It will be first of it’s kind. “This Girl Scout Gold Award is designed to be the hardest thing you ever do,” Dorner said. “The project must benefit someone outside of the Girls Scouts community and allow me to interact with people I’ve never met.” To compete for the award, Dorner had to pick a project, plan a timeline and budget her funds. She then

Makayla Tomaino

EXTRA STORAGE Lockers line the hallway, mostly unused by its main target audience. Photo illustration by Aiesha Desarme

Camille Herren

The Crimson Crier

Fringe and TieDye Dress up in tiedye and tacky clothes

05 Spirit Day CARING IN ACTION Senior Shelby Dorner commits her free time to help with projects for the elderly. She spent her Aug. 28 weekend building a ramp to help the handicap and the elderly at a nearby outdoors facility. Photo courtesy of Shelby Dorner

had to submit the project proposal to council to be approved. Once the project was approved, Dorner began fundraising. “I sold slots on the board for the boardwalk. Some boards have multiple donor. I also held a do it yourself carnival at Good Shepherd,” Dorner said. The $4,500 raised

allowed Dorner and her family to construct the boardwalk at Pine Ridge Day Camp in August. They built a 312 foot long ramp. Dorner feels honorable about the success of her project and the benefits it will provide for the handicapped. “People in wheelchairs do not even know what it is like to be in the woods

comfortably. Riding over gravel could make someone get uneasy,” Dorner said. “I want to share the serenity with others,” Dorner said. Dorner has won a Bronze award, multiple journeys and multiple patches. “I hope to inspire others to do their part in bettering the world.”

Seniors: Black Juniors: Red Sophomores: White

06 Saturday, Aug 26

Homecoming Dance 8-11 a.m.

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The Crimson Crier

4 Sept. 17, 2015

Our Our View :

It’s a wait see on new policy R

ecently, a change was made to the make-up policy. Students, whether having an excused or unexcused absence, no longer have 10 days to complete makeup work or take tests after an absence. Instead, they are given the number of days they are absent to complete assignments. Granted teachers may allow longer periods for grandeur tasks. Superintendent Matt Massey told the Crimson Crier the change in the policy was made to put a stop to the inequality

in making up work that sometimes occurred with unexcused absences. The idea is to help encourage students to stay in school, especially those who were receiving zeros for missing assignments. We commend Massey and the Board of Education for looking out for the betterment of the students of Madison County. The modifications made to the policy were reasonable due to the restricted and varying days available to makeup assignments after a student’s return. The new policy requires a set day for

Corner Corner

Murder adds fuel to immigration debate McKenzie Ashmore students and teachers to have an understanding for when assignments should be done. The problem however, comes with the short time span of having to make-up work after more catastrophic situations. For example, according to the policy if a student misses a day to attend a grandparents’ funeral, they must put grieving on hold to immediately make up any work missed while attending the funeral. This may be an extreme example, but situations like this do occur. The question is will the administration and faculty

bend any when it comes to a situation like this? School is stressful and can be even more so when a student returns after an absence. The short time span in the new policy may cause us to stress even more. As we move forward this school year, we will learn more about how this new make-up policy will work. Until then, we hope the administration and faculty are understanding to the reasons why we were absent and work with us to be successful within any time span.

Social media proves citizens lazy, unhelpful

a w a y with three years

Repailey orte Wa tts r

t j u s t t a k e s the click of a button to save someone. That is what is in our minds nowadays, is it not? Last month #blacklivesmatter filled the feeds of Instagram and Twitter, including my own. Protesters filled city streets hosting rallies, making police brutality and black murders a daily topic of conversation all over the country. Yet little has been accomplished in the fight for racial equality. The poignant thing is we are not helping. Power of the people is so strong in this age that we do not need to venture to the helpless; all we need to do to support is share, re-post and like. Does being a “slacktivist” instead of an activist better any cause, or yet, better ourselves in any way? The answer is no. Slacktivism is defined as feelgood measures, in support of an issue or social cause, which have little physical or practical effect. What good does reposting an article do if one does nothing to actively support it? A primary example dates back to 2012 when Joseph Kony was kidnapping children from their homes and forcing them to fight in his Lord’s Resistance Army. Americans would make posters and post about the issue on social media, but would not do anything more. This did raise awareness for the injustice happening in Uganda, but did little more to actually combat the cause. People do not even remember who Joseph Kony is today, let alone care about what he is still getting

later. Slactivism does create an illusion of being “better people” and it makes it seem as if we care. Twenty years ago, if one wanted to help someone or get involved with an actual cause, one would have to drive hours for just a rally or to feed a child. That is the kind of helping we need. Nothing happens if we post a photo craving attention and likes, yet we do nothing for the actual cause. Raising awareness certainly does no harm, but it is called slacktivism for a reason. If we want to compare the two now, I feel certain I would enjoy going out, feeding the homeless and protesting instead of sitting down and thinking I am making a difference. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge went viral on social media everywhere, involving people pouring water on their head to promote awareness for the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and raise money. Sadly again, people took part by pouring water on their head just for giggles and social media. I personally do not know one person who donated money to the actual cause. They raised over $100 million when in reality, they could have raised more. Truthfully, we are just showing off our opinion. Do not think one can make a positive impact on a community or cause with just clicking a button. Get out there and make a change. It is not the president’s job, it is not the girl next door’s job and it is not our parents’ job. It is our job.

System needs to re-evaluate areas of tech policy Patrick Rickles Web Editor

new cellphone policy being implemented in Dekalb County schools leaves students allowed to openly use their cellphones, tablets and laptops in their classes. Dekalb County is also reaching out to the community for donated smartphones and other devices for students who cannot afford them. Madison County could learn a thing or two from Dekalb. Madison County Schools have already made great strides in the path to technological competency. With the new Wi-Fi installations and more freedom with smartphones,

the Madison County Board of Education is making excellent progress. Most teachers do allow students to use their cellphones for school activities, but we could do better. Madison County could lift all restrictions on smartphones and laptops, and make cellphone acceptance mandatory for each teacher. They could also allow moments for students to use their devices to research a topic they might be having difficulty understanding. Technological competency would be an excellent plan for Madison County because the world is becoming more and more technologically savvy and other countries are beginning to overcome the Policy

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@TheCrimsonCrier

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

Kenzie’s

United States in this area. This program could help students become more comfortable and up to date with technology. E d u c a t i o n a l programs everywhere else are becoming more technologically oriented, as we have seen this movement from the ACT lifting the ban on graphing calculators to SMART boards being issued to teachers. The new program would also bring the students closer to the material they are learning on a more fundamental level. Students are far better versed in using their Androids than in reading a book. If the administration will allow students to read unfamiliar works with translations and explanations, the students The Crimson Crier is a member of Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Alabama Scholastic Press Association and Southeastern Interscholastic Press Association, and Quill and Scroll. The CC is a 2011 Silver Crown winner. 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.

may be able to better understand what they are reading. Yes, there will be those who abuse these new found privileges. This is true with every new policy in place. There will be cheaters and procrastinators who will use this technology unwisely. There are always those that will break the rules no matter what policy is in place. However, with the right guidance, this policy can be a success. With technological careers and jobs on the rise, teenagers today need to be more technologically— oriented than ever before. With the implementation of this policy, our school system could be well on its way to catching back up with the rest of the country.

Opinion Editor

liens have stepped into our lives, sparking a debate between presidential candidates — will they stay or

go? In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of aliens, or unauthorized immigrants, entering our country. The fluctuation of illegal immigrants has sparked a debate between presidential candidates. To add to the debate, an illegal alien was recently charged with the rape and murder of a San Francisco woman. Even though Victor Aureliano Martinez was arrested six times for different accounts, he was still able to stay in the country. Leading to his most recent crime: rape and murder. There are illegal aliens that feel they have no obligation to follow our country’s guidelines. The individuals that feel they can disobey our rules and policies are being protected in cities — such as San Francisco, California and Miami, Florida — by unwritten and undocumented sanctuary policies. Normal documents are to be written on paper, set in stone. The sanctuary policies are simply spoken into thin air, expected to be followed by the officials in the city. There are a variety of problems with this. For starters, if an individual cannot follow the law, who is to say they will refrain from committing crimes? As children, if we broke rules, we were sent to time out. We did not have a chance to get out of time out just because our parents felt sorry for us. We did the time. The murder in San Francisco could have been prevented if officials had addressed the issues involving Martinez after his 15 months spent in prison. Considering the recent issue with Martinez as well as immigration influx over the years, the presidential candidate’s beliefs on immigration have been examined. Three candidates have largely varying views. When beginning his campaign, republican presidential candidate Donald Trump claimed that Mexican immigrants were to blame for a large part of the drugs and crime in the U.S. He also references to immigrants as being rapists. According to a CNN article, Trump has toned down this forward stance, now instead taking a more moderate position for his campaign. He went so far as to say that he would support a merit-based system — allowing a minimum of approximately 120,000 foreign born individuals to be granted with a visa per year based on their educational credentials, skills and employment history — for undocumented immigrants. The idea of creating a steady flow of immigrants into the country sounds appealing, but if Trump once had his eyes on building a wall to separate the U.S. and Mexico, then who is to say he will not go through with his initial plan? Potential democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden spoke at the Conference on the Americas in May 2013, saying he supports a pathway to citizenship for those that are undocumented. With his intended reforms, he felt came granting the aliens with the dignity and respect they deserve. Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee stated that he will use all powers of the presidency to deny federal funding to sanctuary cities. He has also said he will secure the U.S. - Mexico border within a year of his presidency-- a bold claim. For Huckabee, the border should be the top focus above any other immigration reform. Biden, Huckabee and Trump all have policies to implement if they gain the presidency. With their opinions comes the truth. Illegal aliens do not deserve to be brutally treated nor should they be denied freedom in our country; they deserve our kindness, acceptance and the chance to have freedom. They are expected to show as much respect to us as we show them, especially when it comes to entering the country legally. In order for the unauthorized individuals not to be deported, rules must be obeyed as well as respect exchanged. As for the illegal immigrants already in the country, those that have not committed a felony should be allowed to gain their citizenship by naturalization — which requires their allegiance to the United States, with promises of protection. Aliens who have committed a crime should be not only deported but reprimanded as well. Nor should they ever be given access to gain their citizenship, unless an officer or supporter of the U.S. distinguishes they are suitable to do so. Immigrants are welcome to have freedom as long as they abide by the rules. Our Founding Fathers did not create this great nation to have it invaded by those who choose not follow simple mandates given to them. If they want to live in our country, then just as U.S. citizens are expected to follow rules and pay their dues, they should be held accountable as well.

Editor-in-Chief......................Erin Stender

Social Media Editor..........................Emily Baucum

News Editor.........................Aiesha Desarme Opinion Editor.....................McKenzie Ashmore

Reporters..........................................Sidney Al-Dijaili, Parker Boothe, Griffin Gonterman, Jacob Gray, Cameron Harbin, Mya Harrell, Tessa Jackson,

Lifestyles Editor..................Victoria Lewis

Jaida Johnson, Kaylyn Jones, Hayleigh Pitts,

Sports Editor........................Aliyah Thompson

Erikka Samuel, Charlotte Stanley, Ania Stover,

A&E Editor.................................Libby Reid

Makayla Tomaino, Jasmine Turner, Hailey Watts, Christian White, Zane White and Jake Wilson

In-Depth Editor........................Savannah Bullard

Freelance Artists...........Kayla Wagner, E.J. Jerez

Copy Editor...........................Jonathan Hatchett

and Dwaist Hughes

Website Editors....Hannah Cox and Patrick Rickles Photo Editor..........................Madison Harding Managing Editor.........................Nick Arnold Business Editor......................Camille Herren

Adviser.........................Erin Coggins, MJE

{opinion}

The Crimson Crier Sept. 17, 2015

Student critiques presidential candidates uces

Zane White Reporter

introd

Donald Trump

onald Trump has lots of hats to wear. These hats might soon include another: President of the United States. Trump is no stranger to success. He has his own line of suits and even a fragrance line with colognes, such as “Empire” and “Success.” It is apparent that Trump has a huge advantage over his other candidates—Trump simply cannot be bought. His father’s real estate empire allowed Trump to get a start as a developer. Trump’s inheritance saved him at one point when he needed a $20 million loan from his siblings in order to stay afloat. This conflicts with Trump’s past statement of being a “selfmade” man. His recent popularity in the polls is due to the issues still facing our country today and Trump’s views and strives to deal with them. However, it seems based on his explanations about how he will handle foreign policy, that Trump will not handle these issues in the best ways. Trump claims that he will not only remove all non-legal immigrants but he will also deny U.S. citizenship to children born in the United States by parents without citizenship. This is in order to keep the, according to Trump, people that have lots of problems such as Mexico’s rapists and crime doers, from entering or staying in the United States. If elected, Trump claims he will build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico and find a way to make Mexico pay for this wall. Trump has not only insulted an entire nationality but has also attacked Fox moderator Megyn Kelly claiming “she had blood coming out of her wherever” when speaking to CNN during August. Trump today cannot lose as a business man but as a possible candidate for the Presidency he falls short. He does not seem to care what people think or say about him which could be worrying if he obtained a position with as much influence as U.S. Commander in Chief. He might prefer to do what he thinks is right or should be done instead of what the general public wants. With Trump and all his beliefs it seems that it will either be Trump’s way or the highway when it comes to many of his policies. “I do whine because I want to win and I’m not happy about not winning and I am a whiner and I keep whining and whining until I win,” Donald Trump said.

Hillary Clinton

ormer Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was born in Chicago, IL and grew up 15 miles northwest of the same city. As a child she lived in the suburb located northwest of downtown Chicago and early on became involved in politics. As a young woman, Clinton was active in young Republican groups and campaigned for Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater in 1964. Hillary was initially inspired to work in public service after hearing a speech in Chicago by Martin Luther King Jr., and soon became a Democrat in 1968. During College, she was still active in politics and was elected senior class president before she graduated from Wellesley College in 1969. Now Clinton has decided again to run for president and has been dominating the democratic candidate polls since she announced her run for the president’s office in early April. Hillary has always been one to stand up for women, children and the poor. Clinton fights for the underdogs and for the families that might not have big enough voice to make a change and she has carried these traits throughout her entire life. After falling short in her run for president in 2008, she has decided to run again, this time she is far ahead of all of her fellow democrats. Hillary has a law background and throughout her slew of offices has helped small business and rural areas across the United States, especially in New York. Clinton supports the LGBT community, race equality, the raising of middle class income. She has however recently dropped in popularity over her emails being stored on her personal server. Clinton claims to have handed over all relevant emails to the FBI and has even recently been making jokes about the situation stating that she loves Snapchat because those messages disappear all by themselves. Clinton has even been pushing for her 55 thousand pages of emails to be published to the public as soon as possible. This is not the only scandal she has been speculated to have been involved in. It has been noticed that when a donation is made to the Clinton foundation that the donator’s weapon deals in most cases, increased. This is concerning; a President that can be bought may not have the people’s interest at mind. However, Hillary is extremely qualified formally holding positions such as Senator of New York, First Lady of the United States, a practicing lawyer and law professor, activist and volunteer. She holds the knowledge and knows how to run things the way they should be. According to the masses, she has the personality and know-how to get things done and do them in the correct way. Clinton has overwhelming support by most democrats and most likely will be the democratic candidate to run for the presidency. “We must stop thinking fter growing up in Brooklyn, New York Bernie Sanders got into politics and of the individual and start thinking about what is best for society.” Hillary Clinton said. soon came into office. In 1981, he was elected as the mayor of Burlington. In his positions of mayor, Sanders helped build up Burlington it the exciting and appealing city it is today. He helped the city make major strides in affordable living, progressive taxation and a quantity of other areas of development. When Sanders joined congress he was still fighting for those same areas as well as working families, where he focused on the growing gap between the rich and everyone else. Unlike most candidates, Sanders is receiving his funding from numerous small businesses and individuals, so far he’s done a good job with that. Raising money this way strongly limits any implied promises to those who have donated. Sanders stands out from most of the left because he is pro-Israel. Unlike other democrats with an all-or-nothing view on how to deal with Israel’s many corrupt values, Bernie believes that he support Israel’s right to exist while retaining the ability to criticize the Israeli government when it is wrong. This has been a strong issue with many JewishAmericans, incentivising many to vote for republicans. Sanders has been labeled as a socialist but only because of one aspect: he embraces it in his condemnations of corporate greed, but this still does concern those who do not do their research or are of the older generation. Although morbid to think about this, but it is possible that Bernie Sanders being 73 years of age could die in office. If elected, the vice president he picks may be just as important as the elected president. Recently in the polls, Sanders has been gaining on Hillary Clinton as his popularity increases. His reputation has helped him well. What he says he will do tends to be what he does and this most likely will be true if he is elected, unlike many other runners whom have lied in the past merely to gain office. Another plus is that Sanders as views that can draw in potential voters on each side. He seems to hate gun control but at the same time he believes that businesses should not be getting higher tax breaks than people and that businesses should not be getting off scott free when they commit crimes. The U.S. is one of the only first-world nations not offering free college to its students and Sanders wishes to change this which could benefit those already in college and those soon to be. Overall it seems that Bernie Sanders has the younger generation’s needs in mind on most of his issues and this appeals to newer voters. As Bernie’s supporters would say, “Feel the Bern!” rom rags to riches, Dr. Ben Carson is another potential candidate for the presidency. He grew up in Detroit with bad grades and a horrible temper, yet he still has become the successful person that we see today. Carson is a non-politician, never having been interested in politics game. He could have decided to retire and spend the rest of his life in luxury, but he believed that it would be irresponsible, considering all the good he could do. Carson shares views of many social conservatives by being opposed to abortion rights and same-sex marriage. He attributes these views to his personal faith as a practicing Christian. This can be concerning to many Americans, but especially to the LGBT community. Progress towards equality that has been made could possibly be hindered or lost entirely. Carson seems to allow his theological thoughts to affect what he opposes. It was said by a current president Barack Obama that gay rights are human rights. If he became President it could possibly lead to the decay of policies the LGBT has worked to make equal. Carson refuses to let the restraints holding other candidates back from affecting him, which is a valued trait among politicians. Carson tells it like it is. He is acquainted with the corporate world and hopefully this will allow him to avoid the lobbyists that are only interested in helping the organizations to which they are affiliated. His best aspect, however, is that he is new to political offices and will hopefully offer a fresh perspective on how present issues should be handled. He has always helped people throughout his lifetime, especially during his practice as a neurosurgeon, working on both adults and children. Carson is truly a great man and only has the interest of what he thinks is good for the people at heart, which should make him a great politician. Unlike others, it seems he will focus on helping instead of benefiting himself. That is the most we can ask from those with power and the greatest thing we as a voter can receive in turn. “I would prefer to just continue to speak about truth and to speak about what makes sense.” Ben Carson said.

Bernie Sanders

Ben Carson

{ sports }

The Crimson Crier

ept.

17, 2015

“Secret Service guy” joins family Erikka Samuel Reporter

tudents may have noticed the “Secret Service” guy in the cafeteria but assistant principal Jason Watts is not here to protect the president. He is the new athletic director. Sports are nothing new to Watts. Born in Birmingham and in Suminton, he played basketball and football. He has even coached a few sports. “So far, I have coached basketball, football, track and field, all boy sports,” Watts said Being so experienced with Photo by Hayleigh Pitts sports already, the position of athletic director is almost a calling. Not just because he was an athlete and coached sports, but also because he has had a position of high authority before. He has been in an administrative postion for three years. Watts has goals that he hopes to achieve with his new position he has no intentions whatsoever of changing Sparkman traditions. He has been in an administrative postion for three years. Watts has goals that he hopes to achieve with his new position he has no SPIKE IT INTO GEAR. Junior Ashley Walker spikes ball to her teammates in preparation for game against Grissom. Photo by Hayleigh Pitts intentions whatsoever of changing Sparkman traditions. “I don’t want to change any of the tradition – just small improvements. One of my many goals is to have winning and successful teams and to develop the athletes to be strong leaders in their school and community,” Watts said. Watts is excited to be a part of the family and loves all of a team. Stanley the enthusiasm. He has several great expectations and plans Charlotte Reporter “Since freshman year, there have always been issues to follow through. with drama and not getting along,” Mayes said. “That is not “I expect students to be individuals of high integrity who senior’s job is to lead their team and with only two an issue this year which has made things great.” challenge themselves with realistic goals,” Watts said. on this year’s volleyball team, everyone has to step Compton is the team’s setter. This position allows her Watts is also keeping up with times; go follow him on up and do their part. to touch the ball more than any other player on the team. twitter @sparkmanad for sports, announcements, school “I expect better leadership and discipline,” Coach Elder believes it is the perfect place for a senior, as it allows information and more. Whitney Elder said. “In the past, it felt like it was the seniors Compton to establish control of the team. and just the rest of the team.” “Libby will be the captain Seniors, Bailey Mayes and on the court. I expect her to Libby Compton have the task of embrace this role and lead setting an example and keeping a with a positive attitude,” Elder positive outlook no matter what said. happens. The team is going into Compton agrees. the season with the high hopes “I get to set the ball up for of achieving the school’s first the hitter who can go in for a volleyball state championship. kill,” Compton said. “This year it seems like they respect the seniors, but they Despite the trials and tribulations, the volleyball team also take their leadership roles and work together well as a has conquered over the past years, they are ready for a unit,” Elder said. change. The number of new players has given the team a Problems with players outside of practice and games can new outlook. The main goal for the team this season is to easily be brought onto the court. This year, everyone feels not settle for average. Photo illustration by Madison Harding like they have an important role on the team and they can all “We don’t want to look back and regret anything this put in work to contribute for a win. The players agree that year,” Mayes said. “We have a lot of potential and we expect this year has some of the best chemistry they’ve ever had as to turn our program around.”

Volleyball looks to make history D A

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We don’t want to look back

regret anything this year.

Body Check:

Forgotten sport leaves Cross country runners give insight on team some students excluded Cameron Harbin Christian White Reporter

o play lacrosse, students are crossing over to the rivals, Bob Jones and James Clemens who currently have teams. Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in America at the high school and college level with participation nearing 772 thousand according to USlacrosse.org. Although rapidly growing in the area, the sport has yet to hit Sparkman, leaving players at the school excluded. “I wish we had a team so that I wouldn’t be supporting another team, like another school,” junior Anna Cunningham said. “If we had a team, I would probably play on it.” Cunningham plays on the James Clemens team and expresses support for the possibility of Sparkman having a team. She is not the only one. “Considering it is a northern sport, I can understand why a lot of schools down here may not have lacrosse, but in time, I think they will all have it. I hope and think the sport will expand,” sophomore Taylor Curns said. Curns is a long time lacrosse player and avid supporter of the expansion of lacrosse. Along with support from students, staff and coaches have also expressed possible interest. Staff indicate that it could be a good opportunity for more students to get involved. “I think we could, and I think that if it’s something we have interest in, we definitely need to look into it,” athletic director Jason Watts said. The growth of the sport is happening so fast in the Huntsville and Birmingham areas that even teams as far as Auburn High School and Signal Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee are coming to play here. However, according to the Alabama Athletic Association, 10 percent of schools in the state have to participate in the sport for it to become school sanctioned. Despite the rule, lacrosse players are still Curns is a long timdedicated to the sport and will continue to go to other schools to play. “Lacrosse is a family, [it’s] different from other sports. To me, it’s a way of life. Live, love, lax,” sophomore Lucas Farmer said.

Reporter

Crimson Crier: How long have you been running? Jake Russell: I have been running since I was 8-years-old. Bailey Herfurth: This is my fifth year. Seth Graham: I’ve been running for four years.

CC: How do you prepare before a meet?

JR: The day before I run a nice, easy four or five miles to get my legs warm for the next day. BH: Mostly, I just hydrate and I’ll eat some carbs, a little bit of noodles and stuff about three hours before the race. SG: I just warm up and stretch really good.

CC: What motivates you to run?

JR: I love winning. BH: My distance coach, Coach Poole and my teammates. SG: I want to earn a scholarship for my running. CC: Do you have any rituals that you do before each meet? JR: I always pray before I run. BH: I wear the same neon green socks. SG: No, I don’t really have any rituals before the meet.

THE THREE AMIGOS. Repeat runners, Jake Russell, Seth Graham and Bailey Herfurth return for the already underway cross country season. Herfurth is confident in his ability to run well this season saying “God gave me the natural ability to run. One day in middle school I was tired of people telling me I wasn’t good at anything, so I decided to use my God-given talent.” In their first meet, the team competed against Grissom, Bob Jones, Huntsville High, Randolph and other schools in the area. Four teams competed, the boys and girls varsity teams and the boys and girls JV team. Both boys teams finished first. In the varsity division, five athletes come in the top 10 - Seth Graham - third, Jake Russell - sixth, Harrison Miller - tenth, Hailey Brown - seventh and Makayla Tomaino - ninth. The JV Girls team finished second. The team ran 40 runners in the first meet and the coach was given the MVP trophy for having the most prepared team. The next meet will be this weekend in the annual Scottsboro Invitational, at the well-known John E. Esslinger Trail of Champions. Photo by Hayleigh Pitts

{ sports }

The Crimson Crier Sept. 17, 2015

Quarterback leaves mark after three years

Photo by Bella Rector

Savannah Bullard In-Depth Editor

an Marino. Joe Montana. Aaron Rodgers. Mason Edwards. All four men eat, sleep and breathe football. They conquered daily training plans and strict diet regimens. They would play for the first game and live for the last. But most importantly, they were not just humans — not just football players. They were quarterbacks. According to head coach Chris Cagle, a quality football player exhibits leadership, drive, loyalty and candor. Cagle says that for senior Mason Edwards, these traits are only a fraction of what he brings to the field. “When you look at the quarterback, you want him to be the leader of the team; especially the leader of your offense,” Cagle said. “When you look at Mason as a quarterback, he does the things we ask him to do. He gets us lined up, he gets people in position to play, he trusts his reads … he’s a very hard worker — a true student of the game.” Although Cagle has coached for only two of Edwards’s three years as a football player, he says Edwards was a firecracker of a player and planned to prove it. “I didn’t know any of [the quarterbacks] so they all started with a clean slate and the fact that Mason had been the quarterback for the 2013 season didn’t really matter,” Cagle said. “But he showed that he was going to be the leader of that group and he was going to perform at a higher level than the others.” Being a student on the field and in the classroom has not been an easy feat, according to Edwards. However, he says the leadership training he has been given has made it easier to dominate a busy schedule with class and authority. “I’ve mostly learned how to take charge, how to step up … I’m taking what I’ve learned about how to be a leader and I am going to keep using those traits when I

go to college,” Edwards said. Edwards plans to attend the University of Alabama in Birmingham in the fall of 2016. Cagle firmly believes that Edwards has a future as a college football player and says he can tackle any position or play he encounters. “The good thing about Mason is that because he is athletic, he can play most positions at the next level,” Cagle said. “We’ve had several colleges come by and talk to me about Mason playing on the defensive side of the ball. He’s a big kid and he’s only going to get bigger when he goes to college and starts training on their plan.” As an aspiring medical student, Edwards plans to not only keep football in the forefront of his future, but also pursue his goals with his best friends by his side. “[Mason and I] are probably going to be roommates in college. We’ll play football with each other and grow up to be really great doctors too,” senior Jesse Beck said. “Sometimes we butt heads, but at the end of the day we’re always friends.” Beck, the varsity wide-receiver, has played football with Edwards since their days as Sparkman Middle Cougars. He has witnessed Edwards turn the team into a true force to be reckoned with and plans to end their senior year on a higher note. “I think this year is going to be a really solid year,” Beck said. “All I have to say is don’t count us out and watch out because we are coming.” And the Senators are more than ready. Senior Keith Perine says he has the utmost confidence in the team because of who has carried them so far. “Mason has come a long way,” Perine said. “He’s had to learn to man up and take care of the team. He has been pretty good and this year is going to be even better.” Edwards’ skill is not credited to just “God-given ability,” however. History teacher Ben Stevenson says Edwards has strengthened his mind more than anything in the past three years.

“He’s a sponge. He likes to soak up a lot of things and I think there are very few who work harder than him. He wants to learn, but the main thing is that he wants to be good,” Stevenson said. Not only is Edwards still learning the tricks and trades of the game, but he is teaching too. Sophomore Devin Kimbrough is predicted to be the “Next Mason” for 2016. He says Edwards has been a significant role model in his training and is ready to lead the team next year. “[Edwards graduating] is going to be a bad thing and a good thing because we are going to be losing someone really good and someone who has pushed the team to work hard, but I am going to step up and fill that spot,” Kimbrough said. “Mason has taught me how to do the things he has done and he is molding me to be the next leader. I’m confident in what I am going to bring when it’s my turn to step up.” The coaches have assured Kimbrough that he is in the best hands for his training. Stevenson says the chemistry between the two players is a great advantage to each other and to the team. “It’s great that [Kimbrough] has Mason here in front of him because Mason is going to push him and make sure that he gets better,” Stevenson said. “He’s one of those who will push Mason and make sure Mason is getting better too. And that’s really good to have that competition; to be able to work hard and make the person beside you better.” Edwards has made it clear that “just making it” will never be good enough. Cagle has noticed that Edwards is a perfectionist in all aspects of his life and says that his qualities provide him with no limits for the future. “As a person, I admire him,” Cagle said. “Some of the things he has overcome, some of the things he has went through … Other people might have had excuses not to play quarterback anymore, or to do something else. But he doesn’t make excuses and he never stops playing.” Play on, Edwards. Play on.

Photo by Bella Rector

Receivers eye the ball in face of adversity, doubtful fans Jake Wilson Reporter

s the Senators football season kicks off, the hopes to catch all opportunities victory thrown their way. On offensive side of the field, year’s spotlight receivers are motivated to see what is in Two receivers that coach, Chris Cagle, will be season are seniors Dezijuan Young. Cagle has set for these players and the capability to achieve “Play hard, play every play and do what the team,” Cagle said.

team o r t h e t h i s excited and f

store. head football depending on this Cade and Oscar high expectations believes they have them. fast, finish is best for

With objectives

On the Receiving End. Senior Oscar Young reaches for the ball, thrown by Senior Mason Edwards. Young will play in the Huntsville- Sparkman game on Sept 18. Photo by Bella Rector

t h e s e in mind,

they begin their preparation. There is no room for playing around as these players prepare for their games. “You can’t slack off, you can’t loaf around, if you see somebody loafing around you have to tell them to pick up the pace, because we’re a fast-paced offense; we have to keep moving.” Young said. Strategies such as listening to music before games often allow these players to get in the right mindset to play. “I put my headphones on and get in my zone,” Cade says. These receivers stress that there is a lot more to being a receiver then what meets the eye; it is not always just about catching passes. “We have to be physical, we have to block; we have to be the best blocking receivers for our running back,” Young said. Behind the sweat and determination, there are motives that drive these players to keep coming back every year. These are the things that inspire these players to give their all on the field. “I plan on being in the NFL one day and I want to be one of the greatest,” Cade said. Cade strives to be the greatest in every assignment on the field. Young is inspired by his cousin, whose lasting impression on him growing up made Young who he is today. Even now that his cousin has passed Young still plans to keep giving his best on the field and try to be the best example to other players who look up on him.

“My cousin he played receiver; I always looked up to him when we were growing up. I thought it was something I wanted to do so I played receiver. He just recently died, so I’m going to keep playing and grinding for him,” Young said. Goals and scoring touchdowns are both key to winning games. These players have set some personal goals to help them as they go through the season. “My goals are first of all to get the win, to have a good reception season, a good receiving touchdown season and to have an all-around good season,” Young said. Young feels he has the motivation and capability of achieving the goals he has set for this season. He dedicates time and hard work to bring success to the Senators. “My main goals as a receiver this year are to get over a thousand rushing yards, catch everything that comes my way, and be trusted enough that they can throw me the ball when the game is on the line,” Cade said. Cade plans to push himself this season not only to be the greatest, but also to be dependable. Cagle is proud of these players and their sacrifices on the field and is interested to see what this season brings. “Every member is a building block to put together a team, everybody has a role. From the guys who do play a lot to the guys who don’t play a lot,” Cagle said. “They understand their role and contribute well to the offensive side of the ball.”

The Crimson Crier

8 Sept. 17, 2015

{lifestyles}

School nurse glances through lens of his past

Aliyah Thompson

Sports Editor

t is Thanksgiving in 1989. But this Thanksgiving is far from the typical day full of feasting and thankfulness for all of life's blessings. This time, the holiday is being spent elsewhere — the Temple Mount in the old city of Jerusalem. All around are ancient buildings and the most majestic of all is the Dome of the Rock. The gold-capped dome with blue Persian tile splashed across its surface sits high up on the mount, overlooking the city. How could anyone not be thankful in a place like this? School nurse Richard Rickart has been in awe of the art of photography since he was a child. When he would look through magazines like LIFE and National Geographic, the pictures were always the best part. From then on, his fascination with photography would continue to grow. "A buddy of mine's dad had a really good camera, and we used to go to concerts and take pictures. This was back in the old days when you didn't have to have assigned seating so you could go up to the front if you wanted to," Rickart said. "When I went away to Birmingham Southern, I put these pictures that I took at these concerts in my dorm room and the school newspaper editor saw them ... he asked me if I wanted to be the school photographer. The newspaper at Birmingham Southern's called The Hilltop News; so I became The Hilltop News photographer my senior year at Birmingham Southern." In Rickart's senior year of college, there was also a presidential election underway. As a result, a large amount of the candidates visited Birmingham to try to win the hearts —and votes—of the people. And because he was the only photographer for his school newspaper, he had the chance to take pictures of the candidates, fueling the flame that had been ignited in him from a young age. "There [were] a bunch of presidential candidates [who] were coming through Birmingham and they [the school newspaper] would always send me to take pictures of them for The Hilltop News," Rickart said. "It kind of got in my blood; I really found out that I liked doing that." A f t e r college, Rickart saved his money and when he had enough, moved to New York City to attend The School of Visual Arts. Unfortunately, the grant that he had been promised did not follow through and he was forced to find work. So he went to Ken Hansen Photography where a large group of prominent photographers hung-out and bought their equipment. At first, he would end up working for a photographer named Michael Melford as a photography assistant. The working relationship between Rickart and Melford was not great, so when Rickart was set up to have a meeting with Ira Block, he jumped at the opportunity and got the job. Block worked for National Geographic and his assignments would take himself and Rickart around the globe for the next three years.

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"You have to be focused on what [the photographer is] doing. If they need a lens, you need to be able to give them that lens pretty quickly. You have got to know all the different kinds of film they may want to use. You have to be able to reload the cameras really quickly. If they use strobe lights, which most of these guys do, you have got to be able to understand how to set up the strobe lights, rearrange the strobe lights [and] check the light meters to make sure the light’s balanced. You have to be responsible [and] you have to keep up with all the gear," Rickart said. "A lot of [the] time you're working with famous people ... You have to be cool. You can't be acting like you've never been out of town before." Although his job allowed him to travel far and wide to places such as Mexico, Scotland and France, Rickart found himself longing to be home. His heart was not aching for his home in New York City, but to go back to his roots, where he was born and raised. The place that carried his fondest memories. "I was born in Columbia, South Carolina. I'd lived in the South all [of] my life. I was a Southern guy," Rickart said. "The hardest part was missing all the things about the South that you really enjoy. Living in New York City is very different from living in the South. New York is a really cool city ... I loved living there, but you couldn't hear the crickets .... It's just different." A moment that Rickart will never forget was when he and Block went to Nova Scotia, Canada. They were on an assignment to photograph inventor Alexander Graham Bell's house which sat on a cliff near a lake. "We were flying in a helicopter — at dawn when the sun was coming up — with the doors off of it and I was trying to get a good picture of the house with the sun hitting it," Rickart said. "There was all this mist coming up from the lake and there was probably 25 or 30 bald eagles just soaring around all over the cliffs ... It was incredible." The most frightening situation occurred when Rickart had arrived at an airport in Israel. As a photography assistant, one of the things he was responsible for was keeping track of and carrying the lenses, which were locked inside a silver case. When the flight landed, Block exited the plane and Rickart followed suit. He took in his surroundings as he stepped off of the plane. Airport security, Israeli soldiers and police. Military vehicles armed with guns. On the rooftop, more soldiers with guns. Once he was off the plane, two soldiers with automatic weapons and guns and a security guard pulled him away from the crowd of passengers and asked him what was in his case. After a few minutes of questioning, they asked him to open his case. He reached into his pocket only to find ... nothing. Ira had

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“I really felt like photography is a great way to, through people, capture what a moment means,” -Richard Rickart

Photo by Hayleigh Pitts

forgotten to give him the key before they left for their flight. More soldiers and security guards were called over and after several moments of discussion in Hebrew, they asked him where Block was and Rickart told them that he was ahead of him and was most likely at customs. They called customs and several minutes later Block came out of the airport, opened the case and they were free to go. "You go to a foreign country [and] you're a long way from home. There are no American flags flying ... There's somebody else's flag flying; it's not America anymore," Rickart said. After three years with Block, Rickart moved back to the south and took a job as a newspaper photographer for a medium-sized paper in Florence, where he mainly shot sports pictures. Three to four years later, he was diagnosed with cancer and beat it. He had been looking to do something different and was inspired by the nurses who had taken care of him while he was in the hospital. So he went back to school, got a nursing degree and decided to become a school nurse after experiencing the life of a hospital nurse. "I really don't care much for hospitals. I'm really a people person," Rickart said. "Not that you can't be a people person in a hospital, but I just like being a little more casual and friendly than you sometimes can be in a hospital setting." Even though photography is no longer a central aspect of Rickart's life, it will always be special and carry a deep meaning to him. "I really felt like photography is a great way to, through people, capture what a moment means," Rickart said. "That can be happiness, that can be a tragic moment, that can be the jubilation of a victory in a sporting event, through the faces and the emotions of the people that are celebrating, or in the dejection and the sadness of the people that didn't win. You can really touch people, because everybody can relate to what it feels like to be sad. Everybody can relate to what it feels like to be happy ... And if you can capture in a photograph that feeling, it really connects with people. You can touch somebody's life when you do that. For me, it's being able to share that vision."

Student finds home, happiness in equestrian training Aiesha Desarme News Editor

he majestic nature of the beautiful creature framed by a long silky mane and strong stance has never ceased to receive anything less than complete adoration from junior, Jena Hudgins. Hudgins has developed a ferocious love for horses since her first interaction with them at the Pine Ridge State Camp when she was in fifth grade. Within this haven, Hudgins was directed to a division of the camp known as Appaloosa — this was where Hudgins met the beautiful horse, Corsair, who she nurtured and cared for during her remaining days of camp. These experiences lead to her infinite affection for the creatures. “Corsair was so gentle, so wonderful I fell in love with him; absolutely fell in love with him. I thought my love was just with that one horse, but it turned out to be all horses,” Hudgins said. Hudgins passion for horses only grew and led her to obtain a talent with the creature she held so dear. “I started riding when I was ten. I did so well with my instructor that within three to four months I was riding like a professional. My instructor decided to have me teaching some of the lessons that came up for her,” Hudgins said. “So I started working with little kids about four or five year old, and then from there my lesson groups grew—soon I had

teenagers coming in asking to learn to ride horses,” In the world of horseback riding, there is also potential danger lurking for those in the equine world. “Be prepared for anything — anything can happen. Just because you have been on that horse once does not mean that you can stay on all the time. A horse can spook, a horse can get crazed, and you can get sprung off — anything can happen,” Hudgins said. “You can get hurt at any time. You have to prepare yourself for that never expect to come off of a horse on your own accord.” These dangers however scary have not waved Hudgins attachment to the animals. Hudgins riding abilities have now guided her in a wonderful position of leadership as an instructor herself at Starangby Farms for nearly six years, and into a future where she hopes to care for animals full time. “Currently, I would like to become an equineveterinarian, which is a vet for horses. I work really well with animals.” Hudgins abilities and talents with horses have spoken to those around her in her leadership position. Sophomore Sara Jentry finds herself very inspired by Hudgins passion. “I think what she’s doing is really impressive,”Jentry said. “I think it’s great that she’s doing something that she really TAKING THE REINS. Junior Jena Hudgins rides RC as she poses for a picture. Photo courtesy of Jena Hudgins. loves.” Through her experience with horses, Hudgins has learned some valuable life lessons from creature that also no matter what you’re going through it can be so bad-from abuse, starvation, even to the point of death- they can learn struggles in a struggling world. “The biggest thing that horses have taught me is that to love again and so can we,” Hudgins said.

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The Crimson Crier

lifestyles

Sept. 17, 2015

Three years, one beat Drum major looks to direct success in his third year Nick Arnold Layout Editor

tep by step you make your way up the ladder. All eyes shift toward you as you stand above an enormous crowd. You throw your arms up, striving to wipe away the sweat, but you are halted by the repeated tics of the metronome and almost instantly you slam your hands back down… Often people believe that being on top of a totem pole means a person holds all the power, but for the drum majors, it just equates to more responsibility. Drum majors are tasked with doing the jobs that the band director does not have time to do. “It is not all prestige, which is what some people see when they see a drum major. They do an awful lot of work behind the scenes,” band director David Raney said. “Whether it is running the metronome, just running with music and getting that prepared for the students or they are in front of the band conducting. There is no limit to what their job duties entail.” Senior Jordan Ceasar, one of the three drum majors, has spent the entirety of his high school career devoting time and effort to the band program. A f t e r starting off his first year

Photo by Legh Ann Whitten

as a saxophone player, he climbed through the ranks to become a drum major in his sophomore year and managed to hold his position throughout the rest of high school. “Jordan is a very good conductor, so what he does with his hands, the appearance that he has, he has good leadership skills and he is just really into it. He enjoys what he does,” Raney said. “He went to several summer camps to get ready for his position, and he was very committed to it. That is basically why he has been there for three years.” When someone finds that one thing that they just fall in love with, it brings out a new person in them. It can make a person more confident and give them the guts to do things they would not normally have the courage to do. “I started to feel better about myself once I found out that I had been chosen as a drum major. [I started to gain more] confidence,” Ceasar said. “When I became a drum major, I was in a little stage of depression, so it kind of got me out of there. That stepping stone that I just accomplished will give me enough confidence to do the next thing that I want to achieve.” Ceasar was able to connect with band so easily through his love of music. It gave him an outlet that he could go to no matter what he was feeling. “I think that music is like my girlfriend. I can go to music if I am sad, I can go to music if I am mad and I can go to music if I kind of feel something that I can’t describe. I can go to music to help me,” Ceasar said. Over his three years in band, Ceasar’s capabilities have expanded and have blossomed before his band mates eyes. “I thought he was a pretty good leader; he learned a lot from the people who were above him before. Now that he is a senior, he exhibits those skills,” senior Andrew Weis said. Through his time with band, he was able to figure out a career choice. While finding his passion for leadership, Ceasar made the decision to pursue a career in the army, which got him accepted into the Marion Military Institute. “I want to be an officer in the military in two years. Then they would transfer me to University of Alabama at Birmingham to get my nursing degree and also study anesthesiology, so I will go into that. Then the military will take me after college,” Ceasar said. Before Ceasar makes his exit, he has a few words of advice to give to the rising drum majors filling his shoes. His advice is simple. “Don’t be serious, don’t overstep your boundaries. Stay in your lane, and always have fun, enjoy. And make sure the pit sees you,” Ceasar said.

ISLAND VIBE. Posing together at a Jimmy Buffet concert in Atlanta, teachers David Hughes, his wife Barbara, Erin Coggins and Jamie Coggins show their island spirit. Hughes’ dedication for Buffet shows in the naming of his dog, Buffett. The Coggins’ named their dog, Chesney. Photo courtesy of Erin Coggins

Music gives teachers an outlet for island life Sidney Al-Dijaili Reporter

edication is a drastic understatement when it comes to three faculty members and their love of music. Teachers David Hughes and Erin and Jamie Coggins all share one thing in common, an intense love of music. Though Hughes listens to Jimmy Buffett and the Coggins’ jam out to Kenny Chesney, they are both equally dedicated to their artists. Some music-lovers consider themselves extremely dedicated because they have attended a concert or two of their favorite performers. This is nothing compared to the number of concerts these faculty members have attended. “I have seen Kenny Chesney 23 times,” Erin said. “We often make vacations around Kenny concerts.” She and Jamie have gone as far as Las Vegas, Nevada to see Chesney perform. Hughes on the other hand has seen Buffett perform 75 times, attending only one of those concerts in Alabama. He has gone as far as Hawaii to see a concert. Hughes has listened to Buffett’s music for 24 years since attending his first concert in 1991.The Coggin’s have listened to Chesney for more than 15 years. These musiclovers show that consistency is key. “I remember when I first really noticed Kenny,” Erin said. “A student of mine called a TV show he was on to make a request. We got put at the end where this student told Kenny on TV that we would be at a concert soon. Chesney’s response of “you and your teacher?” made me laugh.” These three faculty members do not just like their artist’s because they are popular, they love their artists because the music means something to them. Both Buffett and Chesney sing about the beaches and islands, which resonates with all three faculty members. The Coggins’ vacation annually in St. John Island, in the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Chesney owns an estate in St. John and where visits there often and has an album titled “Be As You Are”, which is about the island. The Coggins really connect with Chesney and his music because St. John is a place of great importance for them. “It is really the lifestyle we like,” Erin said. “Hearing those places he sings about and knowing that we have been there, or knowing who that song is about really resonates and you think man, I am back in that scene, sitting on the beach, no worries; no shoes, no shirt no problems.” For Jamie, watching Kenny perform or going to St. John, helps to slow down the hustle and bustle of life. “It is kind of a non-stop, like you are living life [at] one hundred miles per hour. When we go see Kenny, or when we go to St. John on our vacation, it is like we can unwind and we can be free.” Jamie said. Buffett’s music means something similar to Hughes. He enjoys cruising in the Caribbean with his wife Barbara, who he married on the beach. Buffett’s music takes him back to this time. “[Buffett’s music] is an escape from reality,” Hughes said. These three have been dedicated to their artists for years and will continue to be for a long time from now. “I will keep seeing Kenny as long as he performs,” Jamie said. “When I am on the road, and am listening to Kenny, I forget about work and forget about life.”

Mark Rovere - GMB, CGP, CAPS Diane Rovere - (256) 527-8683 www.ActionBuildersInc.com ActionBuilders@knology.net

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The Crimson Crier

10 N

ov.

20, 2014

In this

Barbie world... Jaida Johnson

is correct about the precautions that come along with being overweight but she is not helping by pointing out all the flaws. Honestly, she cannot judge others by their physical appearances because it is not right to judge a book by its cover, no matter how many words it contains.

Reporter

s a society we do not like our differences. We do not like the quirks and kinks that break the image of perfection around which we try to build ourselves. This distorted view of perfection has filtered beauty and has taught girls that being a “size zero girl” with perfectly clear skin is the right way to look. It is no surprise that the majority of photographs of women we see in media are the result of not only clever makeup and lighting, but digital manipulation. The photos we see are so processed that the “real” women previewed in magazines and ads look nothing like the actual women pictured. This is the reason girls go to the extreme to alter their physical appearance — to achieve that fantasy airbrushed look. Society does not care about the beauty within trends; society cares about the money that can be found in the trends. Society and social media shames not only those whose are not the “perfect” build but those who are “too thin” , “overweight” or “obese”. Famous YouTube comedian, Nicole Arbour, made a video called “Dear Fat People” and it was directed specifically towards those who are overweight and obese. Arbour tries to make her fat-shaming video seem honest when it is “honestly” a version of bullying, just indirect. The responses to the video have ranged from positive to negative. TLC star, Whitney Way Thore, made a response video confronting the allegations that Arbour made in the video and she also explains that being fat can sometimes be controlled. The fat-shaming video does not talk about the issues that come along with being “fat”, only how it affects others. There is nothing wrong with being fat. Yes, Arbour

If girls crave that fabricated and “photoshopped” body, then what can be considered beautiful? Honestly, no one can specifically define beauty because it is ever-changing, therefore it is not achievable. Magazines such as “Vogue” and “Ebony” pageant flawless women within society’s representation of elegance. A model generically exhibits features such as a tiny waist and smooth hair. In a different spotlight, “People” magazine preview beautiful women that contain diversity in size and shape; such as the voluptuous size 22 supermodel Tess Holliday and the stunning size two model Taylor Hill. On the runway, the audience sees thin women modeling the clothes. Although the crowd would love to see plus size models, the thinner model is altogether an easier canvas on which to design. Former Vogue editor Kirstie Clements once made the statement that “there are no hips to mess with the perfect measurements and less fabric is used; making the task easier, faster and cheaper.” On the other hand, beauty has to be seen in other aspects beside a physical one. That does not mean that beauty is not physical, but it is also spiritual and psychological. What is on the inside has to be taken into consideration as well— character, intelligence and morality should not be given the cold shoulder. What these magazines and advertisements should display is a realistic build of the average woman, not an unachievable figure. Beauty is a combination of qualities such as shape, color, form and also how one defines herself. Instead of limiting ourselves to a particular filter, it is time that we, as human beings, open our eyes to the truth of the matter: beauty belongs to no size.

For theLOVE

of...

Why men should (and do) care more about what is on the inside than out Johnathan Hatchett Copy Editor

ontrary to popular belief, men do not always look for a certain physique when finding a companion. Sure they might have a body type that is loosely based on celebrities they would like to be with or other fantastical diagrams of the human body. But that is not everything, not in the least. One thing is for sure: the “girl of their dreams” is going to have a good heart. A good heart has been number one on men’s lists ever since polls were conducted on the subject. Guys might

joke around and say things like—and I am going to approach this in the most gentlemanly way possible, so bear with me— “By golly! Look at that young woman’s derriere.” or “that young lady there was an absolute gem to look at; a dime if I do say so myself.” Why would they do so if they know they are looking for a heart, not hair or hips? First of all, some men, sadly, are serious. Second of all, guys, the answer is not “you can’t cat-call a heart, bruh.” The answer is that some guys simply do not know — until they find the right one — that the underlying causes of them falling in love with a person are the things that define a good heart.

What defines a good heart, you ask? Dictionary. com defines good-hearted as “kind or generous; considerate; benevolent”—but everyone is different. What is true for everyone is that it just takes a moment where one’s own heart feels complete that they can really tell a woman has a good heart. In the end, women have nothing to worry about. Although men usually name physical features when they are asked about what makes their heart race, what they really care about is what is on the inside. Whether it is deep down or right on their sleeve, every man knows that all paths lead to the heart.

By the gender, The CC asked 180 students: if you could,

16%

28%

Nose Height

31%

Weight

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The Crimson Crier

in-depth

Sept. 17, 2015

...where are the the Barbie girls? Emily Baucum Social Media Editor

rom such a young age peer pressure is forced on kids to cave into the ideal beauty image. Senior Carla Mack has experienced this first hand. When she was 11 years old, Mack caught a staph infection that caused boils to break out all over her body. During the healing process, the tissue of one boil on her face died, which resulted in a scar. “When the scar first developed it was just a really large bump, and it looked like a ginormous pimple,” Mack said. Since Mack was only in sixth grade, her fellow students were not as understanding about the scar on her face as older students may be. They just thought it was a peculiar mark that made her an easy target to tease. “When other kids regarded it as ugly or asked what it was, it made me very self-conscious and I started to consider my scar a flaw as well,” Mack said. When Mack came to the conclusion that she did not want to put up with the comments and uncomfortable glances anymore, she and her parents made their next decision -- one that would give Mack the ability to feel a bit more content living in her own skin. “I had surgery in which it was cut off and removed but after my stitches were taken out, it developed again,” Mack said. “This time [it healed] in a flatter, more stretched out form, which I prefer.” However, this procedure was not accompanied with total relief. Mack’s procedure was not cheap, and she was guaranteed that the scar was not going to come back, so when the scar reappeared she felt the money for the surgery was a waste. “I wasn’t necessarily looking for another surgery, but for some other way to get it removed. After a while, I honestly became very accepting of it,” Mack said. “I figured surgery didn’t work because it wasn’t intended to, and my scar was a part of me.” Nurse Practitioner Joann Ikard from MD Dermatology gives surgically removing [imperfections] a different point of view. “Changing your appearance is not the best answer in most cases. Surgically repairing a serious defect is a completely different issue than having surgery in hopes that the procedure will make a person happier about their appearance, especially in a teenager,” Ikard said. Ikard makes it easier to understand by relating a real life scenario. “A famous example would be Michael Jackson. He had multiple procedures to change his appearance. Most people will say that he looked his best before his surgery and not after.” According to Mack, trying to get her “flaw” removed was a good life lesson. It gave her a newfound sense of self-confidence and she hopes it might do the same for other students who have been put in a relatable situation. “It’s just another story to tell. Don’t look at an [abnormality] as a flaw, but just another attribute to what makes you who you are,” Mack said. Ikard has seen a myriad of people walk through her clinic’s doors. She says that no matter what age someone is, beauty should begin on the inside. “Beauty really does come from within. You have to love yourself and be happy with who you are,” Ikard said. “I see people that are absolutely beautiful and they are constantly trying to find ways to improve their looks. They will obsess over any tiny flaw because they don’t see themselves as beautiful. This problem comes from an unhappiness inside that needs help.”

% the numbers# by

what would you want to change about yourself?

21%

Body

12%

Eyes

24%

31%

Nothing

{arts & entertainment }

The Crimson Crier

12 Sept. 17, 2015

Exploring Huntsville through a local’s eyes Victoria Lewis Lifestyles Editor

ften times the most valuable things are right in front of you, where you least expect them to be. Throughout Huntsville are many unrecognized stores and eateries that add something special to the city. These are the stories of some of those

Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro Blue Plate Café The atmosphere of the café can only be described with one word—

o Ph tos rin :E by e nd Ste r

Home. The warm welcomes and quick service reminds you of your grandmother’s kitchen. Owner Jerry Sparks opened the Governors Drive location in Sept. 2003 at a vacant AutoZone store. Since then, another location has opened up on Memorial Parkway. The menu selections are what bring this warm eatery together. On the breakfast menu you can find pancakes, omelets, French toast and biscuits topped with their signature chocolate gravy. On the lunch and dinner menu, there is an array of southern sandwiches, salads and the popular Blue Plate Special that holds something new on each day of the week. Offered deserts are different every day, and they always offer pies—whole and sliced— daily.

The owners, Ashley and Taylor Ramirez, transitioned to gluten free when Ashley was diagnosed with Celiac disease in her senior year of college. After finishing her Ph.D. in chemistry from Duke University, the couple moved to Huntsville in early 2013. When they opened their doors in August of 2013, Mason Dixon became Alabama’s first dedicated gluten free bakery and bistro. Their desire for spreading Celiac and gluten intolerance awareness is detectible in everything they do. Their gluten free deserts are scrumptious, mouthwatering a n d comparable to their gluten filled counter parts in taste. The bakery and bistro reside in an longstanding house on a corner, now functioning as their gluten free haven. The bakery sells bread mixes, pie crusts and premade cinnamon rolls.

Harrison Brothers Hardware When you open the creaking green door of the hardware store, the rich scent of the original old wood floor welcomes you. Brothers Robert and Daniel Harrison opened up shop in 1879, and the store has stayed in operation ever since. Today the store strives to honor the original Harrison Brothers tradition of “American made” merchandise. After the Harrison brothers died in the 1950s, Robert’s son, John took over the store and ran it for over 30 years. When John died in 1983, the Historic Huntsville Foundation assumed the store and has ensured that the legacy of the Harrison Brothers, and their hardware store, will live on.

Photo by: Libby Reid

Behind the scenes Staff prepares to create book for all students

Yearboo k

in the m

aking

Jasmine Turner

Weekend ROAD TRIP You are who you travel with Libby Reid

Reporter

A&E Editor

Crimson Crier: What preparations are you making for yearbook this year? Yearbook Advisor Erin Coggins: We have determined the theme —From Here to Where— which is going to address that what we do here ,leads to where we are going in the future. This is the first step. Of course, we are also determining what to cover. CC: Are you hoping to incorporate anything new in the yearbook? If so, what will you include? EC: Yes, we are expanding video coverage and focusing on getting more students in the book. We also plan to answer the wishes of seniors and get their quotes in the book some how. CC: How long do you think the yearbook will be this year? EC: The book will be 324 pages with a spring supplement of around 48 pages. CC: How do you choose what goes in the book? EC: We did a survey to see what students want and we are focusing on those wishes. They want to see more photos, more students and more clubs and organizations. CC: Before high school, yearbooks were not considered expensive. Students are wondering why our yearbooks are highly priced. Can you explain why they are more costly? EC: The total cost of the book is around $53,000. The staff uses the money to cover the cost. It’s actually a cheaper book, especially since it is full color and large. I want students to see the value of having a book of memories. It will be worth it in the long run. CC: What are your expectations for yearbook this year? EC: Our theme is really cool and ambitious so we are going to have to work overtime to make it work. We want to produce a high-quality book that is relevant to the student body. They are going to love it.

YEARBOOK IN ACTION. Top: Sophomore Heather Boaz and senior Dontrel Crayton work on perfecting yearbook captions. Middle: Teaching a lesson on captionwriting, co-editor Cassie Chapman leads the staff in an exercise. Bottom: Testing out her camera skills, sophomore Heather Boaz takes a look at a photo she just took on a staff assigned photo scavenger hunt.

YEARBOOKS ARE ON SALE NOW. GET YOURS TODAY. $80-www..myschoolfees.com (SHS website)

rowing up, you will hear the common and cliché quote, “it’s about the journey, not the destination,” which holds quite a bit of truth. Road trips can be some of the best life experiences you will ever have, but only if you have the mindset to make them so. This month’s road trip was short, sweet and spontaneous as juniors Sophia Capps, Alysiah Price and I headed out to Somerville, Alabama. The beginning of every school year brings about new clubs and organizations. This year I decided to apply for National Honor Society, which is why the trip transpired. I had to go and visit my boss from Pine Ridge Day Camp, Brad Romine, so that he could sign off on my application. Every good trip must start with a gourmet meal fit for the ultimate traveler, so we went to Taco Bell. We knew that we could be home in an hour and a half, but we decided to give ourselves exploration time. We hit the road around 6 pm and headed straight down County Line Road towards the interstate. Price sat shotgun and worked navigation, Capps stuck her feet out the window and I ran music. We jammed to classic rock like the Eagles and indie pop such as Two Door Cinema Club the entire way down. Thirty minutes into the drive, we saw the Priceville exit sign, so we made our way out of the fast lane and turned off. Once we got off the exit, we drove down the highway about half a mile and turned

left at a Dollar General. To get to Somerville, you have to drive 15 minutes down the backroads of Priceville. At the first stop light we approached, there was a small gas station and convenience store called “Chaz’s Place.” It looked rough from the outside with its cracked pavement and unmaintained exterior but that only added to the uniqueness. We pulled into their parking lot and ran inside to get some drinks. I grabbed myself a glass bottled Sun Drop and headed to the register. Capps and Price followed me, an assortment of candies in hand. We checked out and went back to my car. Eventually, I realized I had not considered how I would open my bottle capped drink but, luckily enough, Capps had a bottle opener on her keychain. She opened my drink as we rolled down the windows and continued on our journey into Somerville. Our turn came up on the left after about four songs. We headed down the road and kept going until we passed the old Pine Hill Drive sign. At that point, we slowed down and pulled into the camp property. As I went inside and talked to Romine, Capps and Price made their way over to the goat pens to attempt feeding them. After a few minutes I came back out and we left for the ride home. Despite our trip being short-lived, it was extremely eventful. From cracking jokes, singing at the top of our lungs, stopping at rundown country stores and still managing to get home by curfew, I learned that you are who you travel with and I could not have picked better candidates.