The Chronicle: Vol. 18, Issue 2 - November 2010

chronicle the

Stadium construction postponed|03 Westside Bowl history|12 The scar not meant to heal|15

Franklin High School • 900 N. Resler, El Paso TX 79912 • 915.833.2696 • Volume 18, Issue 2 • November 2010 • fhschronicle.com

THEATRE Theatre Troupe presents Moon Over Buffalo Nov. 2, 3, 5, 6, 12, & 13 see page 14

All-American

cover photo by Briana Sanchez

continued online coverage at

fhschronicle.com

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news on the cover Caught in the middle between bickering couple, George and Charlotte Hay, senior Sebastian Orozco portrays the character of Paul, bewildered by his duty as company manager in the comedy Moon Over Buffalo which will open Tuesday Nov. 2. photo by Briana Sanchez district championship Playing against El Dorado during the District Championship game, senior Cassie Smith and junior Sydney Johnson attempt to block a hit.

To read about the girls performance and outcome of the game, turn to pg. 21 photo by Danielle Zaragoza

freedom of the press statement Student publications guard freedom of the press as a right of all people in a free society. It carries with it freedom and responsibility to discuss, question and challenge actions and statements of the student body, administration and other public figures. Student journalists hold the right to speak unpopular opinions and the privilege to agree with the majority. The Chronicle is a public forum of speech that is produced by students of Franklin High School once a month. Bylined columns represent the writer’s opinion while editorials are designed to persuade, warn, criticize, inform or inspire. Letters to the editor must be signed and may be edited. The editorial board reserves the right to refuse any letter or advertisements that are not in the best interests of the school. Views expressed in editorials are not necessarily those of the administration, newspaper staff or journalism advisers.

Further information may be obtained by calling 915.833.2696, 832.6600 or going online to our website www.fhschronicle.com.

the chronicle staff STEPHANIE AVALOS editor-in-chief AMANDA RODRIGUEZ editor-in-chief BRIANA SANCHEZ head photographer IAN BAKER design editor RHIANNA TAPIA features editor NATALIE FELSEN opinions editor SARAH SKIRMONT sports editor MAURICIO CASILLAS sports editor CAMI GONZALEZ entertainment editor MEGAN CAHALAN entertainment editor HAE RIN MA business manager ALEKSEY ZEBROWSKI reporter ALEXIS CAIN reporter BLITHE PARSONS reporter CAMILLE CYR reporter DAVID BROWN reporter FAITH PETTENGILL reporter JENNIFER TELLEZ reporter KATHERINE NIELSON reporter LISA BIBBO reporter NICOLE ROSEN reporter SAHJAR ALIABADI reporter STEPHANIE ASSI reporter OSCAR RUIZ graphic illustrator ALEX MORALES student teacher JAI TANNER adviser CARLA GASWAY principal

about this issue volume 18, issue 2, November 2010

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ecisons, decisions, decisions. It may seem cliché, but we are all forced to make important decisions everyday, decisions that help shape our future. In this issue, we cover the events that affect us and hope that these articles will help you make those important decisions.

As the Westside Bowl approaches, seniors hope to be a part of their first, and last, win against our biggest football rival in the last three years (pg. 12-13). As this football season comes to a close, so do the hopes on the construction of the supposed stadium (pg. 3).

To run through heavy terrain without shoes seems unbearable, but for senior Abby Wilkerson it became a fate she couldn’t escape (pg. 22). Also facing challenges are gubernatorial candidates Bill White and Rick Perry, whose fates will be decided today (pg. 6, pg. 9, pg. 10).

In this issue you will also see why a rising number of students take the initiative to endure hours of pain to display a permanent piece of art on their body (pg. 15).

Our videographers have been at most events recording games, key moments, and of course, reactions. If you have events that deserve coverage, either in print, video or still photography, stop by W100 and share your ideas. You may also email your thoughts to fhschronicle@ gmail.com or call our office at 915.833.2696. —Amanda Rodriguez, Stephanie Avalos, editor-in-chiefs

VIDEO FILES

video files at fhschronicle.com Check out the following videos: (1) A Random Act of Violet; (2) Senior Auction; (3) Volleyball: Franklin vs. El Dorado; (4) Volleyball: Franklin vs. Eastwood; (5) Maldonado Corn Maze; (6) Volleyball: Franklin vs. Montwood; (7) Football: Franklin vs. Eastwood; (8) Volleyball: Franklin vs. Socorro; (9) Volleyball: Franklin vs.

Bel Air. videos created by Stephanie Assi, David Brown, Kat Nielson, Sahjar Aliabadi, Mandy Barraza and Alex Morales

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news

section editor • amanda rodriguez [amandarodriguez2011@gmail.com]

| IAN BAKER | design editor

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Looking over high school and college graduation rates for minorities, seniors Esosa Usen, Michelle Liang, and Roxxi Li are pleased to find that they are members of the subgroups most likely to graduate from college. Usen, who was born in Ghana, is an African immigrant. Liang was born in the U.S. and Li was born in China. photo by Briana Sanchez

African immigrants more likely to finish college than general population | ALEXIS CAIN | reporter

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enior Esosa Usen, like other African citizens living in the U.S., is more likely to earn a college degree than the U.S. population as a whole.

What makes Usen’s case unique is that she is African, and studies show that she is more likely than her American counterparts to receive a college degree in four years.

A 2010 study by the Census Bureau finds that African immigrants in the United States are more likely to be college educated than any other immigrant group, including those from Europe, North America and Asia.

They have also been shown to be more highly educated than any native-born ethnic group including whites and Asian Americans.

“I’m extremely proud of that statistic and even a bit awed by it. It just shows that the African population is taking into consideration what really matters: our future,” Usen said. “And the way to secure it is by completing a good education.”

The article “African Immigration to the United States” says that 48.9% of African immigrants hold a college diploma. According to the article, Harvard University has estimated that two-thirds of their black population is not comprised of traditional black Americans. Brown, Yale, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, Duke and Berkeley share similar statistics.

As a result, the benefits of affirmative action are not efficiently serving traditional multi-generational black Americans who are descendants of American slaves, according to “The New Affirmative Action“ from The New York Times (Sept. 30, 2007).

In the area of college admissions, under the provision of affirmative action, factors such as race, color, national origin and gender are taken into consideration when accepting applicants into a university.

While affirmative action has been in place since

1965, its detractors say that it is no longer needed in bridging the gap between the number of whites and minorities going to college. Counselor Yvonne Winn disagrees.

“I am for affirmative action, because it was actually one of the things that helped me get into college,” Winn said.

Some critics of affirmative action say that it is setting students up for a depressing failure, as students are being accepted due to race or color rather than academic achievement.

Even Winn says that can be true.

“We’re now producing high school graduates who are the at top of their class, but are taking remedial classes in college; getting no credit because they’re not prepared,” Winn said. “As a ‘super power’ country, our drop out rates are ridiculous; undergraduate and graduate students may have a piece of paper saying they’ve passed the requirements, but they aren’t ready.”

According to a new study by the American Council on Education (ACE), America is not on a healthy path to having the highest college graduation rate by 2020 partly because today’s young adults are no better educated than their parents.

See Immigrants in college cont. on p. 4

Black, Hispanic college graduation rates (2009) Average six-year graduation rate at historically black colleges and universities and institutions of high Hispanic enrollment by selectivity category

HBCU’s graduation rate

IHHE’s graduation rate

noncompetitive

37.1%

19.8%

less competitive

34.7%

36.9%

competitive

36.5%

44.3%

information taken from A Project of the American Enterprise Institute

hen the TRE failed, all projects listed in the Plan for Excellence were put on hold including the proposed stadium’s construction.

“The idea of building stadium seating at Franklin came out as part of the Plan for Excellence,” EPISD Athletic Director Kenneth Owen said. “Stadium seating at Franklin along with all the athletic improvements in the Plan for Excellence are on hold until funding can be secured.”

In recent years, new high schools have been constructed without stadiums due to budget concerns.

“Franklin and Chapin are our most recent schools and neither have a stadium,” Owen said.

“There are no funds accrued for [the stadium] to my knowledge.”

Principal Carla Gasway believes that the stadium’s construction has a direct relationship with a future bond election.

“A stadium will have to be a part of a bond election,” Gasway said.

“The cost is probably 1.5 million to do it right (stands, restrooms, concession stand, fencing to control entrance). It would be wonderful for the teams and band to not have to travel for ‘home’ games.”

Owen agrees with Gasway.

“With current school budget concerns the stadium would probably need to be funded by a Bond or another TRE,” Owen said. “To the Franklin community it is important for stadium seating to be built. We have three schools without a home stadium; Franklin, Jefferson, and Chapin, and it would be nice to see all of them able to play their home games in their own stadium.”

Senior varsity football captain Cristian Ortega is disappointed with the lack of a home stadium.

“We were told that [the stadium] would be there by our senior year and it never happened,” Ortega said. “It would be a huge difference if we had our own stadium and didn’t have to play on the blue and yellow field.”

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news

Animal Rescue League saves lives

18,000 dogs, cats killed yearly in El Paso county | DIEGO MENDOZA | J1 reporter

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photo by Jocelyn Rosalina Del Toro

In an effort to reduce the number of dogs and cats euthanized in the city, the council passed a new law that prohibits pet stores from the sale of dogs and cats under eight weeks old.

isitors to the Animal Rescue League on 7256 La Junta in Canutillo, are often greeted by a purring cat rubbing against their legs or the playful bark of a dog jumping around in its cage.

Those animals are the lucky ones.

Each year 18,000 animals are euthanized in El Paso County. And with adoptions at about half of what they used to be, things aren’t looking good for these animals.

“On average, we [used to] do 20 adoptions a week and we’re lucky if we can do 10 now, so I would say adoptions are down about 50 percent now,” Loretta Hyde, owner of the shelter, said.

Hyde said that many of these animals are in bad condition when they arrive at the shelter.

“For half of the animals that come in, I go to animal control and choose the ones that are going to be euthanized, so that they don’t end up at the dump,” Hyde said. “The other half come from dumpsters or from the side of the roads and they’re not in good shape. They usually haven’t had any vaccinations, and what they have been exposed to, so we work very hard to make sure they come in healthy.”

However, animals being dumped is not the only problem. Puppy mills also contribute to the high number of stray dogs in El Paso.

To address this problem, Mayor John Cook has proposed an ordinance trying to put a stop to the puppy mills and those who breed illegally.

“El Paso has several problems, one being that we kill 18,000 animals a year...and our back

No state, but no regrets | JENNIFER TELLEZ | reporter

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ranklin and eight other El Paso 5A bands packed their bags and hopped on charter buses to compete at the UIL Area Marching Contest at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa on Oct 23.

Although the Star of the West band did not make it to finals, three out of nine El Paso bands advanced to the state competition.

“It’s great for El Paso to have three 5A bands (Coronado, Americas, and Hanks) and one 3A band (Mountain View) representing us at that level even if we’re not a part of that,“ band director Daniel Allen said.

Even though the season is over, drum major Caitlin Lambing thinks it was one of the best.

“We did great. We went past what we wanted to do even if we didn’t make it to state. That last performance made the season better,” Lambing said. “Instead of people coming out crying like we would’ve a few years ago, people came out happy. No matter what the judges said, I think we did amazingly.”

Marching instructor Scott Montoya believes the band has improved immensely this season.

Allen might have the reason why.

“We reconstructed summer band, our rehearsal schedule, our marching technique and how we actually teach the show,” Allen said. “We stressed everything we wanted to stress and it worked really well.”

The program was not only successful because of the directors. Lambing thinks it was also due to having a nearly drama-free season.

“The band was more of a close knit sort of thing this year. There wasn’t as much fighting or drama and we were more focused on just band.

We actually got stuff done,” Lambing said.

Allen is satisfied with the way the band ended the season.

“Making individual performances better and seeing it in the final product is all we ask for.

We’re happy no matter where the judges placed us,” Allen said.

Performing at the SAC for the UIL marching band contest, sophomore Shelby Cole waves her flag at the forefront of the field. The Star of the West Marching Band earned a 1 at this contest, qualifying them to compete at the area competition on Oct. 23. photo by Danielle Zaragoza

yard breeders,” Cook said.

Backyard breeders illegally breed in their backyards and the puppy mills are places where a female has litter after litter until she just dies.

Despite the immense number of stray animals in the El Paso area, there are several organizations working for the animals to decrease the number of euthanizations.

And while these animals at the Rescue League have a safe place to live, there are thousands of other animals on the street with no owner and an uncertain future.

“It’s sad to know that people aren’t responsible for their pets and that they end up dead at the pound, so when I started this place 15 years ago, I wanted something different that they were for people who didn’t want their pets, so that the pets will stay safe until their forever home comes along.”

Holding a puppy that is up for adoption, founder of the Animal Rescue League Loretta Hyde works relentlessly to help cats and dogs find a home. “This puppy was left in a box by the dumpster with her mother. Mama is already been adopted,” Hyde said. photo by Jocelyn Del Toro

Senior takes top two awards for best debater, speaker | NATALIE FELSEN | opinions editor three-year veteran debater, senior Dominique Egger earned six awards, two of them top awards, at the UTEP tournament on Oct. 23-24.

Egger placed first in Congressional Debate, Foreign Extemporaneous Egger speaking and Original Oratory and second in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking.

She also earned the Sweepstakes award as the highest scoring debater at the tournament, as well as the Best Speaker award for scoring highest in the speaking events.

Egger said the experience was surreal.

“This is the best debate I’ve had this year,” Egger said. “It made me very happy. I felt a little obnoxious carrying around so many trophies, but it was a good feeling.”

Debate coach Kim Falco said Egger’s performance was excellent.

“Dominque had an outstanding weekend,” Falco said. “She rocked every single event that she entered; she was a public speaking machine.”

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news

See Immigrants in college cont. on p. 4

As the new principal of The School Age Parent Center, Vera Cancellare says that the school offers services for the girls including additional help with homework, along with information about health and legal issues.

SPC is run by EPISD and located at 1170 Walnut Street. photo by Briana Sanchez

School-Age Parent Center offers options for pregnant teens | ALONSO MUNOZ | J1 reporter

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etting ready for school is no easy task for Alejandrina Prieto.

Prieto, 20, is a mother to two small children and has another on the way.

Somewhere between showering, changing diapers, feeding the baby, and putting on makeup, Prieto prepares for another day at SPC, the School-Aged Parent Center.

“I have two at home, Juan Carlos Prieto, he’s four years old, and Ingrid Maricela Calderon is nine months old,” Prieto said.

Prieto’s other baby is due in January.

“If it’s a boy [I’m naming him] Angel,” she said. “If it’s a girl [her name will be] Angela.”

Isabel Oaxaca, the At-Risk Coordinator on campus, says that EPISD tries to promote abstinence. However, once a girl becomes pregnant in high school, the school tries to help the student decide to keep the baby.

“The school district believes in teaching abstinence, but then when somebody comes in that’s pregnant, we embrace the student having the baby,” Oaxaca said. “We never encourage them to do otherwise.”

Part of that encouragement includes sending the student to the School-Aged Parent Center, located at 1170 Walnut.

SPC provides PLATO, an online classroom, which helps the girls recover credits. Classrooms have fewer students, allowing mothers have the opportunity to leave their children in the school’s day care center.

“It’s easier because each classroom has seven to 15 people and teachers have more time for you,” Prieto said. “We use PLATO, which is easier for credits. We also never get any homework.”

SPC also helps with issues like

obtaining child support, finding a doctor and learning to care for a child.

“They help us a lot with child support cases, and there’s a lady that sells diapers and clothes for the babies,” Prieto said.

For three weeks after a student has given birth, teachers from the Center can visit her home to provide lessons and tutoring so that they won’t get behind.

“We have a home-based program where teachers can provide home-based instruction so they don’t fall behind,” Principal Vera Cancellare said. “After 3 ½ weeks, the girls come back and we have day care services. They have to qualify [for day care] based on their economic needs.”

Cancellare says SPC tries to help girls go back to their home school so they can still live the regular life of a teenager.

“A lot of girls think that it’s a better idea to just stay here. Classes are smaller, and they don’t have to deal with all the hubbub of regular school,” Cancellare said. “But it’s also a very artificial world. I can’t graduate them, and we don’t have a graduation ceremony.”

Girls attending SPC range from middle to high school students.

“They run the gamut from middle school-aged all the way up to high schoolaged. They’re isolated,“ Cancellare said.

“They have a middle school schedule and a middle school curriculum.”

Cancellare, who is new to the school this year, recognizes the need for some extracurricular activities.

“They want to do things that will connect them to the school. They want to have a talent show and they want to see about starting a student council,” Cancellare said. “What’s really exciting to me, is that I am seeing empowerment. The last thing I want to see are these young people throwing in the towel and giving up; they have a lot of life to live still.”

The report also showed that African Americans and Hispanics continue to have the lowest educational attainment levels. According to The Wall Street Journal, 26 percent of African Americans hold more than a high school diploma and 17.5 percent of Hispanics have at least an associate’s degree. Additionally, the press release noted that young Hispanic men lag behind Hispanic women, and the gap is only growing wider.

Some of the obstacles Latinos face within education are lack of a high school diploma, language barriers, placement in low-wage, low-skilled jobs that do not provide incentives for continued education and lack of legal status.

The report was released just days after President Obama signed an executive order to boost Hispanic academic achievement.

Usen, who dreams of going to college at Texas A&M, says that for many, money is a factor that limits students from graduating from college.

“I think what causes the graduation rate for minorities to be so low is the cost of a college education,” Usen said. “College loans and other types of financial aid have strings attached.”

New studies from Newsweek recently ranked several colleges and universities in the nation on diversity; Ivy League University of Pennsylvania came in as number one, along with Brown University, New York University and MIT rounding out the top ten.

President Barack Obama recently led a press conference call with university journalists from all over the country at UT Austin, speaking about the future of young Americans, and pushing to improve the U.S.’s higher educational system in order to create the highest graduation rates of any nation by 2020.

Due to the Affordable Care Act, young adults are now able to stay on their parents’ health plans until the age of 26—a major plus for current and previous college students who are struggling for employment after graduation.

“I definitely support his plan, but who knows if it’ll carry out since it mostly depends on the students, whether they have the ability and work ethic to graduate,” Chinese immigrant and senior Roxxi Li said.

Though she is a minority, Li takes issue with the concept of affirmative action.

“Affirmative action is aimed to improve standards.

Members of minority groups can use the active effort through legislation to support them; however, I don’t believe it is fair if one gets treated [better] just based on that fact that he/she is a minority,” Li said.

“This unjustly undermines the people who are ‘not minorities.’”

New information from the U.S. Census Bureau reinforces the value of a college education: workers 18 and over with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $51,206 a year, while those with a high school diploma earn $27,915. Those without earn an average $18,734, and workers with an advanced degree make an average of $74,602.

A bachelor’s degree has now become a necessity for many occupations and work fields. But for numerous students attending a four-year institution, it now takes five to six years to earn a degree or they may not finish at all.

“The dropout and graduation rates for minorities in the past ten years hasn’t changed much,” Spanish teacher Gilbert Montes said. “The economy plays a major factor in paying for college because [the students] can’t afford the tuition and fees and don’t want to get into debt from loans.”

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news

Gubernatorial candidate White on Perry’s heels, polls say | AMANDA RODRIGUEZ | editor in chief

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oday Texans must make the decision whether to re-elect long-time Governor Perry or opt for former Houston mayor Bill White.

Republican and present governor, Rick Perry, is pursuing what will be his fourth consecutive term if he wins, but White is catching up to him in the polls. According to the Forth Worth Star-Telegram, a recent poll by the University of Texas/Texas Tribune shows that Perry is in the forefront of the gubernatorial race, but only by a 10-point margin.

“The campaign has been going great. We’ve been able to travel all over this great state meeting and listening to the concerns of Texans,” gubernatorial candidate Bill White said.

“People are ready for a governor who will work to ensure an even brighter future for Texas instead of working to simply stay in office.”

White sees Texans being united in what they want out of their governor, no matter whether they are Republican or Democrat.

“At the end of the day, Texans care about having good jobs, educating their children and feeling secure in their neighborhoods,” White said. “I’m not about dividing people into blue teams and red teams. While I was mayor of Houston, I worked with Republicans, Democrats and Independents.”

However, Perry still has strong supporters.

U.S. History teacher Bruce Kilbourne believes Perry should be re-elected due to his strong record in both border issues and issues within the economy. “[Rick Perry] has handled the economy in Texas as well as can be expected given our national recession. He’s very strong on border protection and for those two reasons alone he would make a better candidate,” Kilbourne said. “He brought a lot of jobs to Texas and kept the unemployment figures lower than the average nationwide.”

If White is elected, one of his top priorities will be focusing on education, both in the public school system and the tuition cost of Texan colleges.

“Texas is 49th out of 50 states in the percentage of adults with a high school diploma,” White said. “[We] can and must do better than that. Getting results from public and higher education will be my top priority as governor. In addition, the cost of attending college has skyrocketed under Rick Perry, which is something I will address as governor.”

Even though White was elected for two consecutive terms as

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mayor of Houston, some voters see his political record as inferior to Perry’s.

“All he’s ever been as a politician is the mayor of a major city. He hasn’t really made much of a case for what he has accomplished as mayor of Houston,” Kilbourne said. “Instead, he has chosen to attack Rick Perry’s record rather than say what he has done.

After visiting Coronado High School to answer student’s questions from around El Paso, White feels that it is important that young voters become involved.

“The effects of decisions made today are often not felt until years down the road,” White said. “It is important for young people to get involved early and let their voices be heard, because they are the future of Texas.”

Even though not all students may meet the age requirement to participate in this election, White has a message to all of the youth in Texas.

“Work hard and do what you are passionate about doing. We each have different talents and interests, and it is the combination of those different talents that makes Texas,” White said. “You are the future leaders of this state, and it is the responsibility of people like me to make sure that you are given every chance to succeed. While there is much ahead of you, the chance to take on new responsibilities and make a difference is available right now; don’t wait.”

A baby doll of unknown origins made its way around the school on Oct. 18. The effigy, with eyes blacked out and mouth covered with tape, seemed to take on a life of its own, moving from the upstairs hallways to the stairwell and to downstairs near the locker. photo

by Briana Sanchez

Speaking out in Silence

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ith strips of red tape, often bearing the word ”Life,” students willing taped their mouths on Oct. 18. Throughout the nation, as part of the Pro-Life Silent Day of Solidarity, people chose to give up their voices in order to metaphorically speak out for life and against abortion.

According to the official website of the occasion (silentday.org), the event this year was held in 32 countries, ranging from Australia to the Ukraine. The United States showed the highest amount of schools registered at 3,743.

On campus, Pro-life enthusiast Amy Zavalza helped organize the event. She came to school prepared with a poster for Pro-Life, a plastic thumb-sized fetus, a large roll of red duct tape, and a permanent marker to write LIFE on the tape.

“Everyone did a great job even if they weren’t silent for the whole 24 hours,” Zavalza said. “They still gave up their voice and they know what it was for.”

Not all responses to the activism were positive, however, and some students were surprised at the reactions they received.

“While some people saluted me joining to the cause, some laughed or tried to make me talk for no reason,” senior Miguel Orta said. “I learned who actually respects my beliefs.”

Through the event, Zavalza feels as though many were educated on the process of abortion and the effects it has on women physiologically.

“What I find most amazing is that so many people come to realization about what abortion is,” pro-life sophomore Amy Zavalza said. “I [saw] so many hearts change on this day.”

With red tape covering her mouth, sophomore Sarah Perez is honoring life as she participates in the Pro-Life Silent Day of Solidarity. “[The meaning of the day] stood out to me because before I never realized what it was like to not have a voice. I have so much to say and to contribute with what everyone says,” Perez said. “I did it because I didn’t think it was fair that [aborted babies] don’t have a voice, and it’s not fair that somebody silenced them forever. photo by Briana Sanchez

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08

opinion

section editor • natalie felsen [nataliefelsen2012@gmail.com]

the staff

outlook C

ounselors in charge of the credit by exam should review and revise the system used to notify students of the date they’re assigned to take CBE’s. Due to insufficient notice prior to the tests, many students were bewildered when they were called out of their morning classes and forced to take their test.

When students signed up earlier in the school year, counselors notified them that the exams would be held sometime in October and November; giving them sufficient time to prepare for the CBEs. However, a two-month window is not a concrete date for which students can properly prepare.

Teachers were given pink slips with scheduled test date to distribute to students two weeks prior to the testing day. Although teachers reassured counselors that students did receive the pink slips, some may have forgotten to pass them out or distributed them at a later date. Students could have also been absent on the day of distribution. At any rate, many pink slips went unread.

Students who did not receive notification may have not made an effort to be present on their test date, forcing the counselors to get in contact with the student to notify them that they missed their test. Also, students who were have well prepared for the test may not have met the requirements to receive credit for the course and then forced to pay an additional fee for an alternative online course.

This is the first year that the school has held CBE’s on campus, which adds to the responsibilities of the counselors, who have the responsibility of organizing over 300 students for the proper test, along with their daily obligations. This requires sole reliance on the teachers to notify the students of their test dates.

Due to the confusion caused by the current notification system, the counselors should have dates set before the registration process begins in order for students to be apprised of the test date as they first sign up for the test.

Counselors are bogged down with several duties, and the CBEs don’t help their workload. If they have a test date set in advance, they would have to rely less on teachers, making the process run more smoothly; everyone wins.

Adam, this is the tree of knowledge...knowledge of iPods, iPads, iPhones and iMacs.

Now this is temptation.

Tempted by the apple again

America awakens from recession, with an appetite for Apple products | ALEKSEY ZEBROWSKI | reporter

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n the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve failed to overcome the temptation to eat fruit from the “tree of knowledge.” Thousands of years later, Americans continue to suffer from an insatiable hunger to pluck fruit from the world’s largest tech maker – Apple Inc. Though it’s not a sin to buy an iPod, it has become an obsession.

And, like all obsessions, intervention is needed.

Whereas the economy has been slowly shrinking for the past year few years, Apple has been in its Golden Age. Its stocks have gone from a modest $7 per share to over $290 per share in the past 7 years – not only escaping the recession unscathed, but also becoming more profitable.

Basic economics teaches that in times of economic duress, people will refrain from buying luxury items. However, Apple products seem to be the exception. According to Apple’s Chief Executive, Steve Jobs, Apple has sold a staggering 275 million iPods to date.

Apple products are seen as nice, shiny and scientifically amazing. According to businessweek. com, Apple sold more than 300,000 units of the iPad during its first day on the market. Though appealing aesthetically, the iPad is an impractical laptop or MP3 replacement and not worth the $500 base price.

iPod prices range from $50 to $400 and are really not much better in terms of sound quality than Microsoft’s Zune ($150-280) or Sony’s Walkman ($25-320).The Zune “passes” allow for unlimited music downloads per month at the price of 25 ITunes song downloads as well. However, the Zune has not achieved the cult classic status of the iPod. Forrest Gump once called Apple Inc. a “fruit company.” Though Apple is a tech company, it does serve the similar purpose of curbing a voracious hunger: To a technology-ravenous American, all of Apple’s products look tempting. But with so many other options, it would be wise to refrain from taking a bite out of Apple.

macfacts

•Apple has sold 275 million iPods • Apple sold more than 300,000 iPads on the day of the product’s release • Apple outsources the production of iPods to a number of Asian enterprises • The iPhone makes up half of Apple’s sales • Apple’s revenue exceeds over $20 billion quarterly

your VIEWS on the news

Despite high prices and an economic slump, Apple products are still selling strongly. Why is that? | Ale Muñiz, 12 |

| Patrick Garcia, 11 |

| David Skourup, fac. |

| Ben House, 9 |

I own an iPod nano, and I know that when it comes to iPods, you just have to have one.

I just think apple has enough money to put their product everywhere, so everyone is tempted to buy it. The Zune is more efficient.

They’re probably good products, and they’re made in America, but they’re too expensive. I don’t have any interest in them.

The iPod is pretty sweet. They are a little expensive, but they’re worth it. You can play games, listen to music, and well, they’re iPods.

| Ceci Brookshier, 11 |

I own an iPod nano. But until mine breaks, I’m stuck with it. I was tempted to buy the new one because of the camera, though.

09

opinion

Why White should be Texas’ governor

Bill White has made numerous trips to the Borderland. Most recently, on Oct. 28, he, along with Joe Moody, José Rodriguez and supporters canvassed homes on the Westside of El Paso. photo by Stephanie Avalos

| AMANDA RODRIGUEZ | editor in chief

I

t has been 16 years since Texas has elected a Democratic governor, and it is definitely time for a change. As Republican Rick Perry runs for his third consecutive term in office, Democrat Bill White is catching up to him in the polls. Texas is undoubtedly a red state, so the fact that a Democrat is neck-and-neck with a Republican speaks strongly in favor of White.

White served as mayor of Houston for three terms from 2004 to 2010. During his time as mayor, he started the “Reach Out to Drop-outs” program where he personally visited the homes of students who dropped out in Houston and pleaded with them to go back to school. The program was so successful that it was copied in 24 other school districts, where it was able to get thousands of students back into school. It

is rare that politicians actually make that sort of effort to connect with students, which shows that education is one of White’s main priorities.

One of White’s platforms for this election is sustainable and efficient energy. White served as the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy. Houston, one of the largest cities in the U.S. and one of the biggest electricity users in the Texas region, became the biggest public purchaser of renewable energy in the nation under White’s rule. He was also able to cut the city’s energy use by six percent while it was going through substantial growth.

With so much emphasis in our nation on the importance of increasing the use of renewable energy, White has become a pioneer in expanding the use of alternative energy sources.

During White’s years in Houston, the country went through a major recession, causing enormous job loss nationwide. Houston, meanwhile, added 244,100 jobs and became one of the cities that led the U.S. in employment expansion during that time period. Houston actually ended up being second in the nation for job growth with a growth of 10.6% under White’s leadership.

Although White is giving Perry a run for his money, Perry is the longest-serving governor in Texas history. The citizens of Texas are already used to how Perry works. Since he has been in office for so long, voters may not see the need for a change.

Over the last six years, White has proven in several ways that he can be a good leader. Even if Perry made some beneficial policies during his time in office, his replacement is long overdue.

halltalk Who is Eduardo Saverin?

Cesar Carreon, 11

“The coolest kid in school.”

Victoria Foster, 12

“A Chip & Dale’s dancer.”

Sam Molina, 10

“He’s on the Cartoon Network show Ed, Edd and Eddy.”

O O O Ana Bazar, 12

“The president of India.”

Anthony Esquivel, 10

Tea party guzzles tainted tea

“An Argentinian farmer.”

extremism

“A mystery book writer.”

| NATALIE FELSEN | opinions editor

I

f you are color blind, and you insist that an object is brown when it’s really green, what does that make you? Correct in your deluded mind, certainly, but glaringly out-of-touch with reality as well. Metaphorically, the Tea Party is color-blind in a constitutional sense.

The sacred text of the Tea Party is the Constitution, which Tea Party members venerate as a bastion of states’ rights. However, their view of this document is historically flawed - the Constitution was written as a way to centralize the weakling government constructed under the Articles of Confederation.

After our country gained its independence, the Founding Fathers, with the memory of the dictatorial impositions of King George III seared into their brains, created the Articles of Confederation, a government sorely lacking in central power. The Articles were purposefully designed to preserve the rights of the newly independent states, and as such, the Congress they created was a farce. That Congress had no power to regulate commerce or even to enforce taxes - instead it set tax quotas and

Amber Rose, 09

asked for voluntary contributions. Therefore, it is historically viable to conclude that a nation based on states’ rights - a nation the Tea Party desperately wants to see - cannot operate.

In essence, the Founding Fathers sought to centralize, not disseminate, power. Aristocratic and conservative, they feared rule by the “mobocracy” and subsequently infused their magnum opus with rules designed to restrict the power of many sects of people. Women could not vote, slavery was given ironclad protection, and citizens could directly elect only representatives to Congress.

Indeed, inequalities in size and population between the states meant that the creation of Congress was itself only possible through great compromises— compromises of the sort that Tea Partiers currently deride.

Ultimately, the Tea Party wants to “take our country back” to a nonexistent era of misinterpreted constitutional values. Please, voters, prevent the blind from leading the blind, and take your tea clear and plain without the packets of propaganda.

Madeline Smith, 12

P

“The co-founder of Facebook. ”

Eduardo Saverin, along with Mark Zuckerberg, is the co-founder and former CEO of Facebook.

opinion

Why we should re-elect Rick Perry

| NATALIE FELSEN | opinions editor hough he has been involved in Texas politics for over 25 years, Rick Perry is the ultimate outsider. Though his conservative fiscal policies put him at odds with much of Washington, they helped Texas weather the recession admirably. Rick Perry has experience and strong economic intuition - certainly he is deserving of reelection.

Gubernatorial opponent and former mayor of Houston Bill White has accused Perry of making money at the state’s expense, but this is simply not true. Currently, the total amount of money stored in Texas’s Rainy Day Fund, a savings fund designed to store extra revenue in case of a budget shortfall, totals roughly $8 billion. Perry has proven to be capable regarding financial matters. In 2003, Texas had a $10 billion budget hole, which Perry eliminated through spending cuts, not by raising taxes.

In actuality, Perry lowered taxes, for both homeowners and small businesses. As governor, he reduced income taxes by 33%, about $15.5 billion, and raised the limit for exemption on the state franchise tax from $300,000 to $1 million, saving small business owners nearly $172 million in taxes.

Along the way, Texas gained 153,000 jobs, while the rest of the nation was suffering from high unemployment thanks to the recession.

In contrast, when Bill White’s term as mayor ended in 2009, the city of Houston was in colossal debt - $1.7 billion, to be exact. Disturbingly, as Austin American-Statesman noted, the debt per capita in Houston is greater than the debt per capita of nearly bankrupt California. According to fiscal reports from 2009, Houston’s debt stood at $5,720 per person, while California’s was $2,808 - less than half of Houston’s. Considering Houston’s total revenue from property taxes increased four out of the five years White was in office, the city’s debt should not be that enormous.

Since Perry has made it clear he strongly opposes excessive spending, the nail in White’s coffin will be his ties to President Obama. Remember, Obama masterminded the frighteningly expensive stimulus and health care bills.

Though both may have been necessary evils, both are highly unpopular among Texas’s conservative base. Rick Perry is a maverick, true, but he also sees himself as the embodiment of Texan values. In Perry’s prophetic words, Bill White is simply “Too Liberal for Texas.”

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photo by Briana Sanchez

Perry—with his gun—keeps our border safe | ALEKSEY ZEBROWSKI | reporter

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hile jogging along trails, Texas Governor Rick Perry carries his laser-sighted .380 Ruger. Clearly, Rick Perry is no ordinary Governor; and Texas, sharing a 1200 mile long border with the blood and drug ridden state of Mexico, is even less ordinary. It is, however, relatively safe.

With border crime on the rise, Perry has been crucial in keeping the violence from manifesting itself on the U.S. side. Since June 2006, Perry has sought to allocate state funds successfully in securing the border. According to centerforinvestigativereporting.com, a nonprofit journalism organization in Berkeley, California, whereas crime rates have grown in other areas of the nation, crime has either stayed stagnant or has fallen in many Texas cities. El Paso’s crime rates have remained idle and San Antonio’s have fallen by more than 10%.

In Mexico, gangs like the Zetas and the Sinaloa cartel run rampant. Car bombs, decapitation, control of the press, and kidnapping are all too common. Fernandez de Cevallos, a presidential candidate for Mexico, was even kidnapped from his own ranch in the state of Queretaro.

The situation is so dire, that the Pentagon has concluded that Mexico is at risk of becoming a failed state. Consequently, offshoots of many of such gangs are prodding their way in the US. To protect American citizens from devastation, Perry has raised funds in order to combat rising gang violence in Texas. So far,

he has raised millions of dollars and deployed a thousand National Guards along the TexasMexico border. Gang violence is the root cause of the potentially deadly infection that has mired Mexico, and though the federal government has done little to help, Perry has.

However, other states haven’t been as lucky.

According to The Tucson Citizen, a ranch along the Arizona-Mexico border was ransacked and a cowboy murdered by a group of armed men just a few months ago. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first incident of its kind.

Last month, Perry issued Ranger Recon missions in order to protect civilians living in rural areas from attacks similar to those in AZ. It’s like sending out a bunch of Chuck Norrises to our borders.

Meanwhile, Perry’s opponent, Bill White, has failed to decrease rampant crime in Houston as mayor. According to Crimerates.org, Houston has 57% more violent crime and 47% more property crime per capita than the rest of Texas.

White may be a good person, but he is not the panacea to Texas’ problems.

In dark and difficult days like these, Texas needs the guy who will fearlessly face the cartels and with an iron fist and the tools of law, send the cartels out of our country. So with an election coming to an end on Nov. 2, wisdom calls on the gubernatorial candidate with greater experience and tact in resolving Texas’ problems: Rick Perry.

LETTER to the

EDITOR Americas’ apology to student body

Dear Editor, On Friday Sept. 10, boys on the soccer team at Americas High School made a scene by brandishing a vulgar sign. Students from Franklin were frustrated that actions hadn’t been taken by people from Americas.

However, on Sept. 28, I received a letter from Zach Fields, the Student Body President of Americas. After the event that occurred that evening, it was heartening to receive the apology. I hope that all students will be able to accept and no longer shelter defiant feelings towards Americas High School.

Sincerely,

Senior and Student Council President Becca Brady The note read: “President Becca Brady and Students of Franklin High School, …It was with great regret that we learned of some of the signs that were held up by Americas’ students at the football game a few weeks ago. Though an apology can only go so far in restoring our student body’s image to Franklin, please understand that we are deeply regretful and sorry that the event ever took place. As soon as security was made aware of the signs, they put an end to this horrific display.

At some point, students will act on their own, and they may damage the entire school’s reputation. The Trailblazers are ever supportive of cross-campus activities, District IX events, and sportsmanship on the part of rival schools.

It is with remorse that we look back on the incident, but we hope that as fellow leaders in El Paso, our schools may move forward and once again achieve a level of good faith.

Please accept the sincere apologies of the entire student body of Americas High School.

Respectfully, Zach Fields Student Body President, Americas High School”

11

features

section editor • rhianna tapia [rhiannatapia2011@gmail.com]

[senior auction]

Running out on to the court, group ‘Drew and the Yes’ find themselves performing an encore of their dance at the end of the auction. “At the end of the auction, everyone started asking for an encore,” group member Drew Smith said. “We all got back on stage and when we started, everyone did the ‘Yes Dance’ with us.” • Awaiting a final bid for his group, Beans and Crackers, Jacob Chacon anticipates a final amount. “I was hoping to get at least $100 since all of the great groups of the past have reached that amount [but] we were bought for $180, the biggest amount of the night,” Chacon said. • Trying to get the crowd to raise their bids, Gilbert Bauman tries to show some skin without breaking the dress code. “I wasn’t expecting to get a lot of money but when we got bought for $87, I was stoked,” Bauman said. all photos by Briana Sanchez

Performers bring in over $1000 for senior class | AMANDA RODRIGUEZ | editor in chief | STEPHANIE AVALOS | editor in chief

A

dd a pinch of ‘Beans and Crackers’, a touch of ‘Fresh’-ness and a dash of ‘Feva,’ and there you have it: Senior Auction.

Beans and Crackers, a group made of six football players who showed off their ability to create a human pyramid while blindfolded, was the highest grossing act of the night after being bought by Paige Melendez, Kristina Coster, and Esosa Usen for $180.

“Just look at us, we are beans and crackers.

Andres and I are Mexican and the other four are white,” senior Jacob Chacon said. “The performance came about with us just bouncing random ideas off each other. We did not practice at all. Our inspiration was just us trying to be awesome.”

Senior auction is one of the biggest moneymakers for the senior class each year, but it is one of the hardest to plan. With 17 groups and over 100 students participating this year, coclass sponsor Christy Moss was forced to put the entire show together in a short amount of time.

“We did it in a week. We had a lot to do because we had to get the programs together, get the pictures [and] approve all the acts and

all the clothes,” Moss said. “Between this and Mr. and Ms. Franklin, these are the hardest things to put on for senior year.”

The largest group of the night, Drew and the Yes, became successful after deciding to perform a popular Youtube dance video.

“We were at a loss as to what to perform and I randomly screamed out the “Yes Dance” and [then] we all wanted to do it,” senior Victoria Foster said. “We came up with the name about a day before the auction and since Drew was the only male in the group, we wanted him to feel ‘special’ so we named it Drew and the Yes.” Although Drew and the Yes did not have a financial goal, they ended up being sold for $60 to senior Isaac Lopez.

“We didn’t really have an expectation about [what we would make], we just wanted to have a lot of fun and make sure that the audience had a good time, [but] we did end up making $60” senior Drew Smith said.

The amount of time each group practiced varied per act.

The ‘Divas with Feva,’ composed of senior Fusion members, was one of the groups who put in the most time practicing.

“We practiced almost everyday at lunch starting a week before, and a couple days after school last week,” Muñoz said. “I expected to be bought for between $60 and $100. We got bought for $125.”

The ‘Fresh Crew,’ another dance group made up of five guys, was forced to face many of the common consequences that have become a tradition such as dressing up in ridiculous outfits and taking their buyers to each class.

“We had to wake up at six in the morning, cook [our owner’s] breakfast, wear a dress and booty shorts, carry all their stuff and take them to lunch. It was for a good cause so it was [worth it],” senior Gilbert Bauman said.

Even though the auction raised over $1000, which will go to help fund senior breakfast and the senior gift, it was not the most successful in the school’s history.

“It’s not the most that’s ever been earned at senior auction,” Moss said. “I think a lot of it had to do with the new rules and [because] they started off bidding very low at the beginning so we had to change that. There seemed to be a fewer people in the audience, but not by many..

Overall, I think it was still a success.”

senior standouts Sean McShane wide receiver “McShane’s our biggest playmaker, go-to guy when we need a big play.” • offensive coordinator Patrick Brown 832 receiving yards 11 touchdowns

Pierre Lacerte linebacker “He’s just solid all around. He’s very intense. He runs well, hits hard, and he’s doing a real good job for us this year.” • defensive coordinator Phil Barrios 57 tackles 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 touch down

Rafa Hinojos

“Until Coronado won a few, it wasn’t a very big rivalry, because everybody expected us to win. When I stopped coaching, Coach Grijalva lost the first game, then he won every one after that. Coach Walker lost the first couple, and we’ll see what he can do this year, but it’s a bigger rivalry because Coronado is winning. The defensive coordinator there (Robert Anderson) was the defensive coordinator here when we were playing Coronado. Since he’s moved [to Coronado] and that’s added some fuel to the fire.” • Milton Henry, who coached Franklin from 1993-2001

offensive lineman “I never quit. I’m a good teammate and I support my teammates in whatever they need.” • Rafa Hinojos 27 pancakes 24 dominations

breaking a tackle Escaping a tackle in last year’s Westside Bowl, former quarter back Joshua Valenzuela scrambles for more yards.

Valenzuela was limited to 94 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The Cougars lost the game 41-13. photo by Briana Sanchez

Sean Sterling defensive lineman “You just gotta play mean. Especially when the guys are a foot taller than you and a lot bigger. Use your technique. It will always beat brute strength.” • Sean Sterling 19 tackles, 2 sacks

Cristian Ortega defensive lineman “Not too many people outside the locker room know what it feels like to be a part of the team. I don’t think I’m outstanding. I’m one of the captains, but if we could name everyone captain, everyone would be captain.”

• Cristian Ortega 40 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 blocked field goal

| MAURICIO CASILLAS | sports editor | STEPHANIE ASSI| reporter

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looking back After getting scored on at last year’s Westside Bowl, Shaw Houlihan, (16) Brandon Layne, (11) Cameron Glenewinkel (31) Bernardino Quintanar (85) prepare to recover the kickoff. photo by Briana Sanchez

hroughout the history of the 15year rivalry between Franklin and Coronado, the Cougars have left the Westside bowl victorious 10 times.

However, for the past three years under head coach Daren Walker, the Cougars have been winless against the Thunderbirds.

“We have to play a lot better football than we have the last three years. Our senior leadership and some of our varsity team has done a good job, so I think we’ve improved,” Walker said. “It’s a big game, a rivalry game, so anything can happen.”

This team is Walker’s first true team, as all players have been coached under his leadership.

“This game means my whole senior year,” senior defensive lineman Cristian Ortega said. “We’re the first team that’s had coach since freshmen year, so it’s a really big year

to beat Coronado.”

From 1995-2006, the Cougars won 10 out of 12 Westside bowls.

“Coronado usually doesn’t beat Franklin and to do it three years in a row, that’s never happened before, and last year was [Franklin’s] worst loss in Westside bowl history, so hopefully we do a lot better this year,” senior wide receiver Sean McShane said.

The team hopes to avoid last year’s 41-13 blowout loss, and they say talent is part of the equation.

“We have a lot better team than last year.

We should be able to hack it. We play more as a team and just have better talent,” senior linebacker Emilio Torres said.

Junior quarterback Brandon Layne has stepped up for the Cougars under center, throwing for 16 touchdowns.

“Brandon Layne’s the man. He’s the best player. He’s very strong. If you ever see him during the game, he’s always cool and very

collected,” Ortega said. “We all trust in him. We have a lot of faith in him.”

Former head coach Milton Henry, who coached at Franklin from 1993-2001, acknowledges that the rivalry has grown over the years.

“Since I quit coaching, [Coronado] has won a couple and that makes it a bigger rivalry,” Henry said. “It’s a bigger rivalry also because the defensive coach [Robert Anderson] coached here when we were playing Coronado, and he has moved to Coronado and that has added some fuel to the fire.”

Anderson has won 10 straight Westside Bowl games, seven for Franklin and three for Coronado.

“When I was [at Franklin] I would get those guys to hate Coronado’s guts, and now that I’m over here, I’m going to tell them for one week to hate their guts,” Anderson said. “Even though they’re best friends, they have to be their enemies for

one week.”

The T-birds recognize that they will have to work hard if they are going to get their fourth straight Westside Bowl win.

“We’ll have to play disciplined, make as few mistakes as possible,” Anderson said. “[We] cannot get into the hype of the game, trash talking, and all that. Just play football.”

With the loss of senior all-state running back Sam Brown for the season, due to health reasons, Coronado senior quarterback Cole Freytag has stepped up. “[Sam Brown] has been the biggest loss on our team by far. Now we’re short on running backs, and Sam was All-State last year. You can’t replace him,” Freytag said. “[This game] is huge. Just to make playoffs now, we have to win two of our last three games.”

After Franklin’s 42-18 loss to El Dorado, the Westside Bowl has become a must-win game for the Cougars to make the playoffs.

Westside Bowl cont. on p. 24

14

features

Getting so into character, Charlotte Hay (Casey McCool) and her husband George (Seth Beltran), take their roles into their actual lives. Here Charlotte is Roxanne from Cyrano de Bergerac and George is Cyrano, the French patriot. “Their marriage is complicated,” Beltran said. “Despite the troubles that they bring on themselves, they love each other. “ photo

by Briana Sanchez

For a taste of Irish coffee, drunkenness, violence, infidelity and plenty of laughs

| CAMI GONZALEZ | entertainment editor

A

fter long anticipation, The Theatre Troupe is set to open their first production of the year during the first week of Nov. Moon Over Buffalo takes place in 1953 New York.

The story is centered around George (senior Seth Beltran) and Charlotte (junior Casey McCool) Hay who portray an elderly couple striving to become well-known actors while traveling across America on tour. The production is play-within-a-play, and the Hays are ‘performing ‘two different plays—Cyrano De Bergerac and Private Lives.

Beltran says that the humor in the play is a welcome change.

“A lot of the past performances have been very dramatic plays,” Beltran said. “Moon Over

Buffalo really breaks the tension and, though it has some drama in it, it’s very easy to laugh at.”

Beltran takes a critical eye to his character, George.

“George Hay is so full of himself that it’s ridiculous,” Beltran said. “He is a giant ham on stage. He overacts every scene that he’s in and thinks he’s wonderful. He really wants everything to work out.”

Beltran says he’s not really like George, but some similarities are evident.

“George is really nothing like me, he loves the limelight and thrives off of fame like a leech to blood,” Beltran said. “If asked to connect the dots, I would say it’s safe to assume we are both energetic and ready for the next step, whatever

that step may be.”

Drama teacher John Poteat has been considering this play for a while.

“We had a lot of success with Last Night at Ballyhoo, our comedy last year at the end of the year,” Poteat said. “I have the right mix of kids to do this show and I’ve been looking at this show since I saw it two or three years ago at the state one act play contest.”

Beltran encourages everyone to come and see the show.

“People should really go see the play because it’s a good break from everyday, fast pace, high school life and it’s nice to sit down, watch a good performance and have a nice laugh come out of it,” Beltran said.

In the green room, Grandma Ethel (Stephanie Olivas) meets Rosalind Hay (Jacquelyn Alderete) to deliver the news that she will wed Howard (Patrick Garcia.) • Playing Richard Maynard, Gilbert Bauman-Flores embodies the “lawyer to the stars.” • As a second-year thespian, junior Patrick Garcia plays the role of Howard, the young, very nervous weatherman who will marry Rosalind. • Making a debut with the theatre troupe, senior Fredrik Karlsson portrays an unnamed soldier . photos by Briana Sanchez

15

features

inked

the scar not meant to heal | CAMILLE CYR | reporter nique. It is the word used by tattoo artist Ron Flores of The Twisted Tattoo Parlor, located on 7112 N. Mesa, to describe the art of tattooing.

Tattooing is an epidemic among teens and young adults around the world. It is an infinite scar meant not to heal, and described by many as a “beautiful wound.”

“Your expression, your attitude, everything comes out through the tattoos you get,” Flores said. “You’ve got your body as a painting so you have to decorate it. Just like you put necklaces on, earrings on, and match your shoes, you have to dress up your body.”

Flores has tattoos from the top of his neck down to his legs. He has sleeves of tattoos on his arms and writing on his knuckles, color drowning his entire body.

According to the Pew Research Center, 36% of 18-35 year-olds have at least one tattoo. Reasons vary for getting tattoos, and in many cases, the image has a special meaning.

“I got my tattoo when I turned 18 last September,” senior Rhianna Tapia said. “My mom passed away

U

when I was 13 years old; Mrs. Sterling, my neighbor, told me a story about this blue butterfly that a little girl caught but needed to release into the sky to let live. This butterfly serves as a reminder that though I can’t see my mom, she’s always there.”

Another student, senior Noah Earle, started staining his skin at age 13 and has a total of five tattoos. Earle has his last name on the inside of his lower right arm, two paws on the left and right of his chest, his family crest on his upper center back, and his most recent is a koi fish on his upper shoulder blade that runs down to the midsection of his left arm.

“I’m addicted to getting tattoos,” Earle said. “I don’t think I’ll ever regret my tattoos; they’re a piece of artwork. People always take a religious outlook on it, saying that you shouldn’t mark your skin, but even in a church there are stained glass windows or a form of art. Those are just like tattoos, a work of art.”

However, with the advancement of technology, tattoo removal has made the permanency of

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tattoos less of a threat. In the removal procedure, lasers are used to break up the ink particles that will dry out and eventually shed the skin. However, some believe that once you’re inked, the mark should remain forever.

“Laser removal is dumb,” senior Stephanie Lopez said. Lopez has a tattoo of stars on her lower abdomen.

“You got that tattoo for a reason. Why remove it when you went through all that pain and paid money for it?”

Aside from that, tattoo removal can take a toll on your wallet.

“People don’t realize that for every square inch to get a tattoo removed, it’s over $2,000.00,” Earle said. “It’s just easier to find something that you like that has meaning.”

In addition, there is always the risk of getting diseases by sharing needles.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found hepatitis B or C are commonly found in people who have had or have tattoos. Even so, many people get tattoos to represent their life.

“It’s like chapters of my life,” Flores said. “Everything I have on my body just has a point and time in my life, and that’s what they represent.”

With a total of five tattoos, senior Noah Earle (top left) describes the importance of permanent body art and the significance behind the imprints. “I’m addicted to getting tattoos,” Earle said. “I don’t think I’ll ever regret my tattoos; they’re a piece of artwork with meaning.” Concurring with Earle, senior Rhianna Tapia (top right) got her tattoo in memory of her mother. Under the butterfly reads the word “soulmate” in her mother’s handwriting.

“My mom and I called each other soulmates,” Tapia said. “I feel like she’s really a part of me now.” Her mother passed away from cancer five years ago. photos by Briana Sanchez

16

features

dipping

People tell me I’m nasty and gross, but quite frankly it doesn’t bother me at all. | Steven McDaniels* |

Trying to relax, senior Steven McDaniels* slides a pinch of dip into his mouth for the third time. Dip is shredded or finely ground tobacco that can cause oral cancer as well as receded gums. It also contains fiber glass that is used to cut into the gums and send the tobacco directly into the bloodstream.

However, even with the knowledge of consequences, McDaniels is not phased by the information. “In the future, I plan to stop dipping, but that may not be enough for me to quit,” McDaniels* said. photo

by Briana Sanchez

Breaking the seal may lead to addiction

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Maldonado

Maze

Friday Night, Oct. 30 at the maze costume contest $1.00 OFF Nov. 6-7 De La Royo Art Festival Tribute to American soldiers

| RHIANNA TAPIA | features editor

is shaky hand grabs a hold of a brand new can trying to get a fix for his addiction. His thumb slides around the can, breaking the seal.

He grips the can and begins packing it. With a pop the lid comes off and the pungent odor finds his nose.

Like many times before, he reaches into the can for a hefty pinch; this is the third time today that senior Steven McDaniels* is dipping.

According to the National Cancer Institute, smokeless tobacco, more commonly known as dip, is finely ground or shredded tobacco that can be placed between the cheek and gums. This dip contains 28 cancer-causing agents, and often leads to the development of oral cancer.

Despite the effects, McDaniels continues to dip everyday.

“I first tried [dipping] freshman year. My uncle got me into it because he does it and I wanted to try it,” McDaniels said. “Now I normally do it twice a day. Once after school, then maybe four hours later, I’ll do it again. Depending on how I feel, I’ll dip a third time.”

Tobacco dip contains nicotine as well as fiberglass. The fiberglass cuts into the gums of the user in order to send the nicotine directly into the blood stream, giving the user the buzz they normally feel.

“Dipping relaxes me and calms me down,” McDaniels said. “It feels good and I just like doing it. People tell me I’m nasty and gross, but quite frankly, it doesn’t bother me at all.”

According to Alumbo.com, a website that provides facts about the addiction that dip can cause, 9.3% of students in grades 9-12 use smokeless tobacco. This number correlates to approximately one out of every five students.

“I’ve been dipping for about a year on and off, but I decided to stop,” senior Darren Gonzalez* said. “Then I started it again, and it was mostly due to peer pressure.”

Though she has quit, senior Melina Arias says she used smokeless tobacco as an alternative to smoking.

“I wanted to try something new besides cigarettes, so I went into dipping and ended up liking the flavor,” Arias said. “I remember going through about three cans in one week.”

The constant use of dipping can lead to habit and addiction.

“I dip twice everyday, so I don’t get a feeling from it anymore, it’s just kind of like a habit now,” Gonzalez said. “My parents even know and it doesn’t really bother them that much. They just think it’s kind of a manly thing to do. Just boys being boys.”

However, for senior Jeffrey Jones,* the effects of dipping have greater consequences.

“I wouldn’t say I’m done, but I have a cousin whose been doing it for years and he has receded gums and says it’s quite painful. So, I keep that in mind every time I dip,” Jones said. “It takes one bad experience to have a whole turn around.”

Though the fear of oral cancer sits in the back of his mind, McDaniels questions whether the addiction will allow him to quit or not.

“My friend wants to have a tobacco intervention with me to cure my addiction,” McDaniels said. “In the future I hope to stop dipping, but that may not be enough for me to quit. I don’t see the end of the road.” *Because they are under 18, sources’ names have been withheld

entertainment

section editors • camille gonzalez [camigonzalez2011@gmail.com] & megan cahalan [megancahalan2012@gmail.com]

17

Anticipation increases for Deathly Hallows, Part 1 | MEGAN CAHALAN | entertainment editor

T Every year, upper valley resident Casey Carpenter opens his home to would-be trick-ortreaters. Though there is no cost to tour his “Creep House,” he does take donations and donates the proceeds to charity. photo by Lisa Bibbo

A beastly, frightful night: Thrill-seekers can ‘get scared’ and do a good deed at the same time | NICOLE ROSEN | reporter

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ast year, local scare master Casey Carpenter delivered a check to the Animal Rescue League for well over $1,000. Half of that amount came directly from Carpenter’s own pocket. This year, with the help of donors, Carpenter hopes to do the same.

Carpenter, an upper valley resident, is no stranger when it comes to scaring people. He’s been in the scaring business for 14 years, using the yard right outside his home.

Every Halloween, Carpenter creates the spooky setting and hosts a haunted house known as “Creep House” where people anticipate a full acre of hair-raising surprises and eerie creatures at every turn.

Years ago, Carpenter never anticipated starting a haunted house, but once he moved in to his current home on Emory St., things began to fall into place.

“My friend, Mark Driscoll, and I started right here at my front steps with a bowl of dry ice and a little radio playing the Walt Disney soundtrack of the Ghosts of Halloween. Now every year, we’ve added something to it.”

In addition to this free show, all donations made are contributed to the Animal Rescue League of El Paso.

“Last year was the first year we did it for charity. We collected over a thousand dollars for the Animal Rescue Mission in Canutillo,” Carpenter said. “We do this for fun, but we also do it for the animals.”

Aside from the fund raising, visitors to the “Creep House” find the thrill of the haunt to be the main attraction.

“Two years ago was our busiest year,” Carpenter said. “We thought we were going to get about 500 people, we estimated the count to be 2,600 people in one night. It was crazy.”

When considering themes and possibilities for next year’s house, Carpenter always has something in mind.

“The sky’s the limit for as far as what you can do. I personally like the old ghosts and skeletons. A lot of the newer haunted houses are going to gore because of the teenage movies, like Saw. A little bit is okay if you can do it with good taste,” Carpenter said. “It can be overdone and there’s a lot of sexual stuff going in haunted houses now, but to me that destroys the whole purpose of doing it. I do it because the kids get a kick out if it.”

Carpenter’s “House” has been appealing to a variety of people through out its entire duration.

“The people in the audience range from two year olds to eighty year olds. Everybody-- rich people, poor people--everybody likes to get scared,” Carpenter said. “It makes old people feel like they’re a kid again though some people just don’t like it, but I’d say about 85 to 90 percent of people actually love this.”

Despite “Creep House’s” enormous success with people of all ages, Carpenter receives the occasional criticism from parents for being too “scary.”

“We’re not trying to convert kids to the Dark Side,” Carpenter said. “I’m not Darth Vader. It’s just fun.”

To read stories about real-life hauntings, including Austin High School and Concordia Cemetery, go to fhschronicle.com.

he world-renowned wizards Harry, Ron and Hermione return for their seventh and final venture in the Harry Potter phenomenon. Divided into two films, the first installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is set to release Nov 19.

The trio opts out of attending Hogwart’s for their final year and decide to complete the late Professor Dumbledore’s hazardous mission: locating and destroying all the Horcruxes, the key objects to Lord Voldemort’s mortality. Without supervision, the wizards must travel on their own, battling numerous Dark Forces. But along the way, they uncover the legend of the Deathly Hallows, a tale whose legitimacy ultimately decides Harry’s fate.

As the story’s dangerous and suspenseful events unfold, they lead up to the long-awaited final confrontation with Voldemort.

Anticipation builds as the young wizards set out to embark on another treacherous mission and quite possibly, their most dangerous adventure yet.

photo courtesy of ramascreen.com

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Barbara T. Rosen Teachers, Staff and Administrator Discount with the mention of this ad GO COUGARS!

18

entertainment

Kings of Leon show southern roots in Come Around Sundown

| NICOLE ROSEN | reporter ome Around Sundown, the latest and fifth release

by Kings of Leon is truly a medley of melody. Part indie, part country, with a hint of gospel and punk, Sundown offers a flavor of flawless fusion that stems from their Tennessee roots.

But if listeners are expecting an updated version of 2008’s Only by the Night, they will be surprised. Once they get past the change, however, they can discover all of the incredible details incorporated into every song.

Soulful and energetic guitars burst at the seams, while bass undertones keep everything grounded. The drums pull us

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Football player Finn prays to a grilled cheese sandwich that bears the likeness of Jesus. photo courtesy of Fox television

Grilled cheese or tasty television treat?

New season of Glee satisfies | IAN BAKER | design editor onight, before you go to bed, think about praying to a grilled cheese sandwich in thanks for the second season of Glee. With new characters, troubles and the familiar slushie-ing of shallow singers, Ryan Murphy (creator, writer, and director) brings back the genuine, hilarious William McKinley High that captured out attention last year.

When the new season premiered, we met the masculine yet sensitive Coach Beiste (it’s French), who quickly gets off on the wrong foot with the scarier Sue Sylvester, head coach of the Cheerios. Despite the tough demeanor, Beiste finds a way into the viewers’ hearts by the end of the first episode, showcasing her down-to-earth, relatable personality. Along with Beiste, we meet Sunshine, a foreign exchange student from the Philippines who sings her way straight through New Directions and on to Vocal Adrenaline, magnifying Rachel’s selfishness, acknowledged in the “Duets” episode. Sam, the newest addition to the football team and New Directions finds himself juggling popularity, Quinn, Kurt and lemon juice.

Although there are new faces and situations, the overall vibe of Glee remains the same. Every Tuesday, millions of television sets tune in to an hour of a feel good, funny look at the high school show choir that keeps us smiling. Overall, Murphy’s second season of Glee has proved to be nothing short of entertaining and leaves us wanting more vocal showstoppers, clever dialogue and new directions.

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in with an almost inexplicable gravity.

The raspiness of Caleb Followill’s voice draws the unique sounds together.

Tambourine and fiddle embellish here and there, making the album a melting pot of diverse sound.

Keeping in touch with their alternative/indie rock sound of Only by the Night, which catapulted them into the mainstream, the band, comprised of three brothers and close cousin, brings forth the country sounds of their youth.

The beauty of this album is that it incorporates aspects of the four previous releases. If you’ve loved Kings of Leon before, you will fall in love all over again. But this time, you will find a deeper, more sincere, yet experimental version of the band that keeps us listening.

Members of Kings of Leon Jared, Matthew, Caleb, and Nathan Followill have matured since their first two albums, Youth and Young Manhood and Aha Shake Heartbreak. Their current album Come Around Sundown is #1 on the UK Billboard chart and #2 on the U.S. chart. photos courtesy of Kings of Leon.com

Hereafter should be left in the afterlife | MEGAN CAHALAN | entertainment editor

E

xploring a debatable issue, the film Hereafter, directed by Clint Eastwood, attempts to answer the cryptic, but commonly asked question, “What happens when we die?” Unfortunately, it doesn’t go into specifics about the proposed “Hereafter,” the world of the afterlife.

Instead, it follows a disorganized plot as it shifts between three different people on opposite sides of the world and their experiences with death.

Matt Damon does an excellent job of portraying George Lonegan, the lonely psychic who believes his ability to interact with the dead is a curse, not a gift. His cast mates follow in his footsteps as Frankie McLaren captures the audience as Marcus, the lost, and

slightly awkward, London schoolboy who loses the person closest to him.

Cecile De France is excellent in the role of Marie, a curious French journalist whose world turns upside down after a near death experience.

However, superb acting isn’t enough to save this movie. Hereafter falls short of the intended drama and may have mustered up a few tears if it weren’t for the long, and unnecessarily drawn out scenes accompanied with unbearably cheesy music. What could have potentially been an original plot line was, in fact, an extremely dull, and pointless twohour production.

While the abrupt ending may have confused viewers, it also offered

Matt Damon and Cécile De France pose in the afterlife for the film, Hearafter. photo courtesy of screencave.com

relief from the tedious plot line.

The film provides no insight or theories as to what technically happens to us when we reach death. In the end, it’s clear the

only thing Eastwood achieved with the production of Hereafter was the satisfaction of putting his audience to sleep.

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entertainment

Classic Horror: a haven for any film lover | CAMI GONZALEZ | entertainment editor

Due Date Nov. 5

Megamind Nov. 5

The Next Three Days Nov. 19

Tangled Nov. 24

upcoming november movie releases

H

orror enthusiasts and scary movies go together like macaroni and cheese. Movie makers manipulate fear to create an unparalleled experience for the audience.

Teacher Carl Black educates his Visual Media students on the classic elements of terror and how it is intertwined into the plot lines of motion pictures to create a whole new momentum.

“Camera angles, lighting, and sound are probably the best elements to be familiar with. Watch for the ‘predatory’ camera angles and ‘Point of View’ (POV) shots that are common in horror films,” Black said. “Many directors try to ‘trick’ audiences by using the common techniques but going a different way with them to catch the viewers off guard.”

Moviegoers don’t essentially need to know the history of films or a specific genre to enjoy the cinema experience.

“Many people are movie buffs and they do know a lot about film history. Of course, there are self-proclaimed experts on each genre, typically horror,” Black said.

“Knowing about film history helps people identify trends and common elements across different films. That is why in film classes, you study the history of the genre.”

Nosferatu was released in 1922 and is one of the oldest existing horror movies and the first vampire story to be pictured in celluloid. Most modern day movies still look to the elements in Nosferatu as inspiration for their own fear filled films.

Horror movies were reborn in the 1930s when the addition of sound, and screams, came into play. During this era, Universal Studios took over and released Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Mummy.

Ayanna G., entertainment contributor for associatedcontent.com, commented on the dramatic subplots used in modern-day horror movies.

“We all expect the requisite jumps, scares, and gore; there are many more details that must go into a horror movie,” Ayanna said. “In order to develop a connection with the characters, a subplot must be introduced.”

Horror was first put into play through literary classics, which have helped construct the origins of terror. As long as there have been narratives and myths, the concept of “speculative fiction” has existed. One of the most exalted horror classics, Frankenstein, was written in 1818 by Mary Shelly. She was followed by some of the greatest names in pulp fiction, such as Edger Allan Poe, Bram Stoker and H. G. Wells.

As an AP English III teacher, Black lectures his juniors on the relation between literature and film adaptations of classics novels.

“Literature and film are very closely intertwined. The difference is obviously that in literature, you are reading the descriptions and in film you are seeing them,” Black said. “Many elements of foreshadowing, characterization, symbolism, and archetypes are evident in film as well as literature.”

Fair Game Nov. 5

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Nov. 19

Unstoppable Nov. 22

Faster Nov. 24

Jon Stewart delivers nonstop humanistic comedy in Earth: The Book

Jon Stewart sits with the world behind him humoring outsiders in space. photo courtesy of Barnes and Noble

| LISA BIBBO | reporter

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s a fan of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, I could hardly wait for the release of his newest book Earth. The book is written in an encyclopedia type format for aliens to use as a travel guide when visiting our galaxy. Earth is filled with religion, science, geography, entertainment, culture and politics, all with a twist of snarky humor and amusing irony.

The Daily Show must be well aware of the world ending so they made sure to include what we look like and our achievements in society, all in 244 pages, which are filled up with vivid pictures and comical charts. Nothing is off limits in the book, whether you’re King Henry VIII, Benjamin Franklin or Benito Mussolini. The book gives well-humored details on different political associations from WWII to current day society and even has several FAQ (future alien questions) and scavenger hunts sprinkled throughout the novel.

The book is filled with plenty of hot topic issues going on at the moment and they are not afraid to poke fun at sensitive material. This witty encyclopedia provides chapters about war and explains to outsiders the successes and failures of mankind.

I enjoy Jon Stewart’s contemporary humor in terms of current events and world news, and this book is no exception. If you haven’t read Earth yet then I highly recommend you go and pick up a copy as soon as possible.

This book is a must have and you will probably learn a few things that you didn’t even know about yourself.

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entertainment

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Jimmy Eat World redesigns pop-punk in newest record | MEGAN CAHALAN | entertainment editor

I

nvented, the seventh consecutive fulllength album by Jimmy Eat World, could not be more perfectly named.

As Jimmy Eat World practically invented the pop-punk genre, they are again reinventing themselves and their sound.

In an album that explodes expectations, the band feeds musical delight to their appreciative listeners.

The release represents an allaround solid pop punk album, guitars adequately mingling with lead singer Jim Adkin’s tender voice, drums hitting every beat effectively. The guest vocals of singersongwriter, Courtney Marie Andrews, harmonize perfectly with Adkins, creating a sound that gets stuck in your head and won’t leave. And that’s a good thing.

Guitarist Tim Linton captures lead vocals for the track “Action Needs an Audience,” forcing long-time fans back to the earlier years of Jimmy Eat World. The lyrics are what you’d expect from the band, some awfully blunt, while others deep and meaningful, leaving the interpretation open.

The title track, perhaps the most moving of the album, introduces a whole different world entirely. Over seven minutes long, the ballad starts off with sim-

Weezer “Death to all Metal” Nov. 1

Ne-Yo “Libra scale” Nov. 23

ple acoustics, gradually blending into a compilation of dynamic guitars and heart-wrenching vocals. This leads into the last, and almost equally impressive, track, “Mixtape,” marking an exceptional end to the album.

Following the same outline of a classic Jimmy Eat World record, catchy fastpaced tunes ending with the general powerful slow melodies, Invented adds to the band’s collection of ground breaking music. While the album contains elements from past releases, Jimmy Eat World continues spicing up and evolving the ambience of pop-punk they created nearly sixteen years ago.

photo courtesy of bestfan.com

Nelly “5.0” Nov. 16

Keith Urban “Get closer” Nov. 16

upcoming

november CD releases Pitbull “Armando” Nov. 2

Lil’ Wayne “Prison Break 2.0” Nov. 11

Rihanna “Loud” Nov. 16

James Blunt “Some Kind of Trouble” Nov. 1

My Chemical Romance “Danger Days: the true lives of the fabulous killjoys” Nov. 22

Rascal Flatts “Nothing like this” Nov. 16

sports

section editors • sarah skirmont [sarahskirmont2011@gmail.com] & mauricio casillas [mauriciocasillas2011@gmail.com]

21

Boys’ swimming takes second, girls take third at SAC invitational | SARAH SKIRMONT | sports editor fter satisfying finishes of third place and second place for boys and girls, Coaches Polly Perry and Carmen Rubio will travel with 24 other swimmers to the San Angelo Invitational, where they will expect to see a much more prepared team.

While watching the season’s first invitational, Perry realized the team’s potential along with the needed improvements.

“We have already many personal best times this year,” Perry said. “We usually don’t have an invitational so early in the season, but I think it was good. It showed that we have great potential, but we have some areas, that we need to continue to work on. “ One of the particular factors that could be affecting the team is the boy’s lack of experience.

“Inexperience will hurt us on the boys’ side. Out of 29 [swimmers], 20 are freshmen and sophomores,” Perry said. “I expect them to improve and to challenge Eastwood and Cathedral more than we ever have.”

Although these factors might hurt any other team, senior Ana Bazar, who swam and improved in the Elite Eight Relay Meet and the recent invitational at the student activities center, believes it will benefit the team.

“I expect a really good year ahead of us. We are the underdogs right now but with practice and hard work, we will [go] into it strong and open minded,” Bazar said.

Senior Fernie Espinosa agrees.

“I expect the team to do even better than last year because I see the upper classmen motivating the inexperienced swimmers,” Espinosa said. “They learn that to survive you have to work hard.”

Although Bazar believes the team is currently under the radar, Perry believes the team’s past accomplishments have earned them recognition.

“Other coaches consider us one of the top programs in the region,” Perry said. “At the same time, we always surprise them at the end of the season with how well we did. We have people that no one knows about who impact our team and surprise everyone.”

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After nailing a spike against Montwood, junior Naili Woelper celebrates with teammates Victoria Foster, Nivia Grajeda, libero Carisia Gutierrez, Arielle Bond and Monica Claxton. The girls first defeated Montwood on Sept 14 (3-2) and again on Oct. 15 (3-0). photo by Danielle Zaragoza

| CAMILLE CYR | reporter astwood proved to be the nemesis of varsity volleyball. The girls lost only two games throughout the season, and both losses were to the Troopers.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

For the first time since Franklin joined District 1-5A, Eastwood won the district title.

“What happened this year was lack of heart from the first year [without winning the district title] and just really bad timing,” senior middle blocker Cassie Smith said. “We just accepted staying with 11 district titles because of Margaret [Hussmann] so maybe that’s what happened this year.”

In 2009, Hussmann, a volleyball player, passed away her sophomore year from Wilms Tumor, a form of cancer.

Though Franklin held the district title for 11 consecutive years, it slipped away from the girls last year in the district finale against Coronado.

“I personally think Coronado had a better team last year, and we just didn’t play our

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game,” Smith said. “”Coronado was stacked with seven seniors who had been together since they were little, but both years we should’ve beaten either team; we just didn’t play our game.”

However, the girls are bouncing back, as they will advance into playoffs. But for now, the girls are concentrating on one thing: beating Coronado on Friday, Oct. 29.

“Friday is a big game for us we are going to give all we have on the court,” junior libero Carisia Gutierrez said. “Everyone is pumped up to play and we are going to leave it all on the court.”

Beating the T-birds won’t assure playoffs because that’s already in the bag. But it does mean one thing: bragging rights against the team that took the district crown away from them last year.

“I’m really excited for playoffs because this is where all the hard work we have put in since August comes through,” senior outside hitter Victoria Foster said. “It means showing everyone who really owns the west side.”

EXAS STORE Est. 1918

At an invitational meet held at the SAC, seniors Jackie McMahon and Alex Wilts prepare to dive into the water for the 500 freestyle. Wilts improved by four seconds from preliminary race the night before. photo by Taylor Cardon

306 E. Overland 915-532-5688

22

sports

Junior golfer wins local tourney |BLITHE PARSONS | reporter

I More than a week after the cross country meet at the Chamizal, Abby Wilkerson’s feet still bear the marks, bruises and cuts from having run the two-mile course barefoot. photo by Briana Sanchez

A runner’s feat Without shoes, Wilkerson comes in at top third of the pack | ALEKSEY ZEBROWSKI | reporter

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rass, dirt, pavement and stones push into the soles of senior varsity runner Abby Wilkerson’s feet. Wilkerson, unlike her 145 competitors, is running barefoot.

It wasn’t as if she planned it this way.

With the race on Oct. 16 at Chamizal Park starting about 10 minutes early, Wilkerson had just sat down to put her shoes on when she heard the gun go off, signaling the beginning of the race.

Wilkerson was forced to abandon her shoes at the starting line and run the twomile course barefoot.

“I just wasn’t prepared,” Wilkerson said. “Usually, the last thing I do is put my shoes on, but the guy who shot the gun started pretty fast.”

Varsity runner Samantha Wilhelm witnessed the spectacle first hand.

Though she tried to warn Wilkerson of the eminent race, her caveat came too late.

“She first came up to the line and I saw she wasn’t wearing her shoes or socks,” Wilhelm said. “Right when I was telling her that the gun was going to blow, the race started and she took off in front of me shoeless.”

Already on the go, Wilkerson confronted the situation with little worry.

“I thought, ‘Oh darn, I’m going to have to run this without my shoes,’” Wilkerson said.

Sophomore varsity runner Brian Barraza, who was cheering the girls on, witnessed the event.

“I was thinking it was a pretty crazy thing to do and that she was going to get disqualified,” Barraza said. “But she didn’t.”

Usually, whenever a runner runs

without shoes, they not only suffer physical consequences, but they are also disqualified. Wilkerson, however, was not.

“I didn’t notice until the end of the first mile,” assistant head coach Daniel Rosales said. “I don’t think the officials even knew she ran without her shoes.”

Rosales was both upset and worried about Wilkerson.

“The first thing I did was get upset because she should have been ready earlier,” Rosales said. “My second thought, though, was more concern for her; because we were at a park and you don’t know what’s on the grass. She could have stepped on a nail or glass and hurt herself.”

During the race, several of Wilkerson’s teammates offered her shoes. Regardless, Wilkerson didn’t stop to put them on.

“I was racing, so I wasn’t just going to stop and put on shoes,” Wilkerson said.

“I wanted to keep going and improve my time.”

Though the park was made up mostly of grass, the runners encountered a field of dirt and rocks.

“There were rocks ahead of us and [Wilkerson] was barefoot,” Wilhelm said.

“But she pulled through and finished the race.”

Wilkerson pulled through the race and finished 48 out of 146.

“I ran better without my shoes,” Wilkerson said. “I wasn’t really focused on the race that much so I wasn’t as nervous.”

Ultimately, Rosales was proud of Wilkerson’s feat.

“I was proud of her for finishing the race and [doing] really well,” Rosales said. “However, I’m going to make sure there won’t be a next time.”

t wasn’t just a routine tournament. And when Alex De Lyon won first place, the trophy wasn’t just a trophy, but rather a personal memento.

At the Matt Hicks tournament held Oct. 9, there was a different feel in the air due to the ties De Lyon once shared with the boy for whom it was named.

“I felt really honored to win his tournament,” De Lyon said.

As a sophomore, Matt Hicks passed away in December 2008 due to terminal illness. He had been a golfer, and in his honor, a county-wide tournament was named in remembrance of him. De Lyon knew him through Hicks’ brother, Luke Hicks.

“His brother [Luke] is one of my really good friends,” De Lyon said.

Out of the many high schools at the tournament, De Lyon estimates that only a handful of them personally knew Hicks.

“A lot of people [at the tournament] were like, ‘Who’s Matt Hicks?” De Lyon said. “Probably only 10 people knew who he was.”

Throughout the tournament, De Lyon focused on playing his best. When he was announced the champion, the feelings that came were those of both shock and awe.

“It felt a whole lot different to win,” De Lyon said. “It’s a lot different to win a tournament that’s named after somebody.”

Golf coach Tom Hadersbeck was satisfied with the win.

“Handing the first place trophy to your own player is rewarding,” Hadersbeck said. “Alex now knows that he can play with the top players in our region.”

De Lyon felt as though Hicks were watching over him throughout the game, and felt even more so after the win.

Hicks’ mother felt the same, and approached De Lyon after the game to tell him.

“When I won, his mom came up to me and said, ‘Matt was watching,’” De Lyon said.

The Matt Hicks Tournament was the first school tournament won by de Lyon. His father taught him how to golf, and was his mentor throughout his adolescence.

“He basically got me started,” said de Lyon. “He’s not the best golfer in the world, but he knows what he’s talking about.”

De Lyon will continue to play golf throughout the rest of high school, and hopes future wins will come his way.

Junior Alex De Lyon takes first place at the Matt Hicks golf tournament. photo by Briana Sanchez

23

sports

Freshmen, JV near end-of-season with winning seasons

Make a break away Freshman receiver Jacob Riggin (5) breaks away, headed for a touchdown, as Eastwood attempts to catch him at the Troopers’ field. The game ended with a score of 36-8, with Franklin taking the game. photo

by Jen Chaides Under the spotlight After scoring a touchdown against Montwood, Jackson Glenewinkel (2) Jaime Herrera (41), Troy Belcher (8),Kevin Nguyen (88) take a moment to regroup before the next play. The boys wore pink gloves and shoestrings to raise awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Franklin beat Montwood 14-8. photo by Amber Rose

Sprinting down the home football field, jv sophomore quarterback Joshua Arrellano (7) scrambles to get yards on El Dorado with Benjamin Gutierrez (21) at his back, keeping up with the play, Jose Gomez (65) finishes a block. The game ended in 7-7 tie. While ties are not allowed in a varsity game, they are permitted in junior varsity and freshman games. photo by Octavio Lopez

With 6-2-1 record, JV looks to finish 2nd in district | MAURICIO CASILLAS | sports editor

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s the junior varsity team heads into their final game of the season against Coronado on Nov. 6, they hold a 6-2-1 overall record.

The team started off their season with a 13-6 loss to Oñate before winning four straight games.

“Our team has improved a huge amount,” junior defensive lineman Kevin Nguyen said. “We became more familiar with each other and we saw who could step up and who couldn’t.”

After the four straight wins, the team fell to Bel Air 14-0 in their first district loss.

The Cougars, however, answered with two big district wins against Montwood and Eastwood.

“It was important to win against Montwood, because it helped us regroup,” Nguyen said. “It showed many teams how good we are.”

After a 7-7 tie against El Dorado, the Cougars removed themselves from the district championship picture.

“We’ve started off pretty well in most games, but it seems that we’ve struggled

freshman scores: 7-2

W W L W W W W W L

• • • • • • • • •

to finish,” head coach Jaime Arias said.

“Last year, it was the other way around. We would have a rough start, but we would finish strong.”

Arias believes that although this is not the most athletic team he has coached, the players’ hard work has led them to success.

“The major difference between this team and others I’ve had in the past is that on this team we don’t have much speed on either side of the ball,” Arias said. “We have quite a handful of them that really work hard and listen to their coaches.”

Junior wide receiver Michael Navarrette believes that it is the team’s defense that has kept them in games this season.

“Our defense is really outstanding; they always have good games,” Navarrette said.

“They pretty much can stop anyone.”

The Cougars still have a chance to finish second in district with a win over the T-birds.

“We have to put some points on the board, and keep them to a minimum amount of points,” Navarrette said. “We won last year, so we’ll get them this year.”

40-0 38-6 6-7 A 24-0 44-0 42-0 13-8 36-8 12-13

Oñate Las Cruces Chapin Americas Hanks Socorro Bel Air Montwood Eastwood El Dorado

Looking for the open man Scanning the field for an open receiver, freshman quarter back Tyler Evans (16) draws back to pass the ball. The Cougars won the game, shutting out the Socorro Bulldogs 44-0. photo by Danielle Zaragoza

junior varsity scores: 6-2-1

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• • • • • • • • •

6-13 12-6 7-6 24-0 44-0 0-14 14-8 47-0 7-7

Oñate Las Cruces Chapin Americas Hanks Socorro Bel Air Montwood Eastwood El Dorado

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sports

Westside

Bowl cont. on p. 24 Preparing to kick the extra point, senior Tom Hetzel attempts his first kick as varsity kicker.

Hetzel has an accuracy rate of 75%, missing only two field goals throughout the season and making all of his extra points. photo by Briana Sanchez

TOM TIME

Soccer captain turns field goal kicker

| MAURICIO CASILLAS | sports editor

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ith 13 years of experience as a midfielder, senior Tom Hetzel has made the transition from scoring goals to making field goals, after accepting the position of kicker on the varsity football team.

When the opportunity arose, Hetzel seized it.

“During the summer, a few football coaches expressed the need for a kicker,” Hetzel said.

“They came to the soccer team, and I volunteered.”

Hetzel, captain for the varsity soccer team, notes that kicking a football is a greater challenge than kicking a soccer ball.

“Kicking a football is similar to kicking a soccer ball, but is considerably more difficult,” Hetzel said. “Unlike a soccer ball, a football has one sweet spot. If you want a good kick, you have to hit it dead on.”

Hetzel’s first field goal attempt hit off of the left upright against Americas. But he was able to hit a crucial field goal in the team’s 2413 win against Hanks.

“I’m not going to lie, I was pretty nervous before my first game,” Hetzel said. “Overall I think I did fairly well, considering it was my first time playing in an actual game in my life.”

For the game against Hanks, seniors Sydney Jaramillo and Kristina Coster showed their support for Hetzel by making up a chant for every time he kicked.

“Our chant goes, ‘Tom Time!

Tom Time!’ and it’s before he kicks a field goal or extra points,” Jaramillo said. “He’s new and he wasn’t used to kicking a football, so we were trying to pump him, and even though he can’t hear us, it’s the thought that counts.”

The particular sign that the girls a critical 27-yard field goal before brandish at the game reads, “Tom the half against Socorro.

Time,” with a touch of blond hair “The first few games, I was over the ‘O.’ nervous but I’m getting used to “[Tom] and I are Calculus the game situations and it’s easier buddies, and it was a gradual thing now,” Hetzel said. “The hardest with our friends. The hair [drawn thing to adjust to is the intensity on the sign] was important,” Coster of the crowd. At soccer games, we said. “He’s doing well out there,” don’t have huge crowds, and it’s a “He was new and we didn’t think different atmosphere to adjust to.” he was well known but that’s Special teams coordinator changed now. Now everybody’s Christopher Taylor believes that cheering ‘Tom Time.’”

Hetzel has been an excellent However, Jaramillo and Coster addition to the team. are not the only fans to show “All soccer players have a very their support visibly. With a strong leg. It’s not a matter of liberal amount of purple paint, whether or not their leg is strong junior Adrian Gonzalez, along enough, it’s a matter of getting with Francisco Rodriguez, David Brown and Jorge Contreras, went all out to support their soccer teammate.

“We painted our bodies with his name, and we took off our shirts every time he kicked a field goal, because he’s a fellow Holding up a sign that reads ‘Tom Time” seniors Sydney soccer teammate,” Jaramillo and Ale Muñiz show their support for new kicker, Gonzalez said. Tom Hetzel. photo by Briana Sanchez “He’s doing really well, better than last year’s kicker.

As a soccer player, Gonzalez knows the secret to being a good kicker.”

“A soccer player’s skill with their feet is what lets them be good kickers. I believe he’s going to do beautifully the rest of the season and he’s going to keep making those field goals,” Gonzalez said.

“He is showing that soccer players are versatile.”

As support for Hetzel grows, so does his confidence, as he hit

them used to kicking a football and being able to place the ball exactly where we want to place it,” Taylor said.” “He’s done a great job, the guys love him. He’s a good team guy, and he’s kicking the ball very well right now.”

Overall, Hetzel has hit 75 percent of his field goal attempts, only missing two and has made all of his extra points.

“He’s a great kid, he’s got great grades and a great work ethic, and if he puts his mind to it he could kick after high school,” Taylor said.

“From here on out, it’s all playoff based games. We have the mindset [as] if we’re in the playoffs, so every game is do or die right now,” Ortega said. “We put ourselves in a good position to where we control our own destiny.”

Coronado head coach Don Brooks, who has been at the school since 1977, believes that the rivalry is unique because of the proximity of the schools and the relationships between the players.

“Many of [them] go to middle schools together, know each other, then they split after middle school. Some friends go one way and some friends go another way,” Brooks said.

Because of the interest in the game and the high attendance, the game was moved to the Sun Bowl in Nov. 1997.

Approximately 5000 fans attend each year.

“This is a tradition that both schools have been a part of, so [the rivalry] is something that can build a good foundation for memories and good lasting traditions,” Coronado principal Maria Eloisa Morales said.

Morales admits she favors Coronado, but doesn’t dare predict the outcome of the game.

“I never predict. Franklin has a very good team. I’m also partial to my team, and it’s a rivalry between two good teams. It will probably come down to who has the ball last. That’s how good they are,” Morales said.

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