Volume 38, Issue 2

Golden Golden Fleece Fleece TCTC Roberson High School Roberson High School

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VOLUME 38 | ISSUE 2 Page 11

INSIDE

Asheville, North Carolina Asheville, North Carolina

Here

February 26, 2016

This issue the Golden Fleece takes a look at changes happening in South Asheville including construction, new businesses, and traffic problems.

We

GROW

“NEW” FASHION TRENDS

by WILLIE YANG Features Desk Editor Write to Willie at wyang. communications @gmail.com

Take a look at old fashion trends that are currently making a comeback with a new twist. photo/KAITLYN WELCH/guest correspondant

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South Asheville continues to develop

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WINTER SPORTS COLLAGE Check out a collage of winter season sports and which Roberson athletes have signed.

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GENDER FOCUS This issue’s Flipside Focus discusses the topic of transgender individuals and gender neutrality.

by SYDNEY WOOD Write to Sydney at swood. ome big changes days, it take me 30,” SesStaff Writer communications@gmail.com are happening in soms said. the South AsheAccording to Sesalso expanding as it is the beginning ville area with the addition of new soms, the heavy traffic on Sweeten stages of adding a new shopping businesses that are planning on callCreek not only affects her travel center across from the Southridge ing 28803 home. time, but also it interferes with her Shopping Center, bringing in busiIn the last month, Gerber Village nesses including Starbucks, Culver’s, school work. experienced an expansion with the “I’ll leave at 3:45, which means and Hobby Lobby. opening of three new businesses: getting home from school, hurrying Sipes has noticed an increase in Char Bar No. 7, Great Harvest Bread traffic in not only Town Square, but up and changing for work and then Co., and Whit’s Frozen Custard. going right back out. During that 15 also in the general South Asheville Plans are already in place for the minutes, I could get reading done, area. However, she feels opening of Blaze Pizza and SkyZone but I have to sit on Sweeten that the recent developTrampoline Park in the same develCreek instead,” Sessoms ments are not all bad. opment. Junior Sara Sipes recognizes said.

“I think it’s pretty “More people that the recent growth could be a Plans are currently in the much positive. Overlook- are coming to direct result of an influx of people process for the construction ing that it’s annoying with wanting to live in Asheville. this area, more of two additional apartment just a lot more traffic, it “More people are coming to this complexes off of Sweeten brings up more opportubusinesses Creek, and with the recent area, more businesses open, which nities for businesses,” she open, which addition of three other benefits for everybody,” she said. said.

Plans of Pulliam Properties for complexes, Sessoms feel that benefits Senior Kayla Sessoms expansion are also moving forward, there is too many people lives off of Sweeten Creek everybody.” and some building has already taken Rd. and says that it is one moving to the area. place to bring in retail and office “My friends at church of the most congested space on Long Shoals Rd. near to are real estate agents, and Sara Sipes routes she has to travel on Lake Julian. Starbucks and Salsarita’s during evening rush hour. they said that Asheville is have opened stand-alone units near 99 percent occupied right “Usually Monday the interstate, and Bojangles and now, which is just absolutely through Friday from BMW of Asheville are a few of the crazy.

That’s just so many people, 4p.m. - 6:30p.m., it is so hard to get other businesses moving to the area. out of [my neighborhood]. At any According to a recent WLOS other time of day, it takes me 10 see GROWTH pg 12 report, Airport Rd. in Asheville is minutes to get to work, but those

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STUDENT SUBMISSION The Golden Fleece showcases student art, photography & writings.

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THAI TIME See what we thought of a small local food joint right here in South Asheville and why it is quickly gaining popularity.

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Tablets arrive in Koontz classes

Winter weather causes need for alternate scheduling options

by JESSICA ZUK Write to Jessica at jzuk.

As the months filled with Exec. Editor, Print Media communications@gmail.com overall their influence does not sleet, snow, and freezing impact the decisions. the lack of the waiver could cause weather pass by, Buncombe “Parents do not have an County is forced to decide not only how challenges. influence on the early morning deci“I think having a longer year is the rest of the 2015-16 academic school sion. County workers start at 4 am to year will fulfill the required hours in the harder on teachers and students. By go and check the roads to compile the June, no one really feels like doing classroom, but also next year. safest decisions. It’s a tricky situation anything because we are all wiped out,” As of now, Buncombe County has because Buncombe County is massive,” she said. formulated two calendars: one with said Harris.

On the other end of the spectrum, a wavier and one without. To receive But social media, according to HarDigital Communications Specialist for the waiver, eight days of missed school ris, has been beneficial regarding how Buncombe County, Stacia Harris, who are required in the 2015-16 academic relevant and current information can be consistently reviews Buncombe County updated. school year.

With the waiver, the 2016-17 school School’s social media pages, sees how “Our Twitter and Facebook feeds, responsive members in the community year will start August 24. Without, the we have to be careful about what we have become regarding decisions about year will begin the 29. retweet and like. But we like to see what the weather in the area.

Respectively, the year would end people have to say.

“It’s interesting to go June 7 or 9. through and see all of the Senior Victoria Robb, living outside subtweets and posts people of the Buncombe district, understands make, some of them are first handedly the difficulties snow can pretty comical,” Harris create. said.

Living in the Owen district, Robb Harris claims that has had to miss school due to the inconsistent weather patterns in the two the county’s social media pages are a good way to areas. send and receive informa“Most of the time, Buncombe tion.

County makes the right call just in case “We have lots of ways there is a chance that something could parents can give us feedhappen. But some days, I believe that back, removing perceived we should not have been at school,” barriers between the Robb said.

According to Robb, her teachers are county and parents to let photo/MARY WHITENACK/courtesy them have a voice too. considerate of her missing days due to DOWNHILL SLIDE: “We all tried to fit in one sled, Harris believes that the safety concerns, but the day missed is then my crazy dog started chasing us,” senior Alli county responds to people an unexcused absence. But as far as the Whitenack said, recalling one of the many missed as much as they can, but weather concerns next year, she knows

Inside a classroom at Charles T. Koontz Intermediate school, a class of sixth graders each individually swipe on his/her own Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga touchscreens to show the answer to problem number six to yesterday night’s math homework.

“The resources that these students have opens up their opportunities to be able to do more and be more engage as well as equalize the playing field between them and all these other countries that are moving at a fast pace. So globally, it is really moving us ahead,” Koontz Intermediate Principal Robin Board said.

These electronics are a result of Buncombe County’s One-to-One Digital Learning Initiative, a plan to implement laptops throughout the county within a four year period in order to help students.

“My hope is that the initiative accelerates learning opportunities in ways that we never been able to do before. Ultimately, the goal is for Buncombe County Schools to be the best school district in the state and for students to have the best learning opportunities anywhere right here in Buncombe County,” Barry Pace, Director of Technology for Buncombe County Schools, said.

According to Pace, only 28 schools in Buncombe County have laptops for grades fourth to sixth as a part of Phase One of the learning initiative. However, laptops for grades seventh to ninth plan to come in for the next school year.

Phase Three will be for sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school who can expect to receive their own Lenovo laptops by the 2017-18 school year.

With the first round of laptops being assigned first to younger grades, some Roberson students are feeling confusion as to the reason to start there. .

“I feel like high schoolers need laptops more than younger kids because homework in high school is harder than homework younger kids have to do.

Computers would be a better resource for us,” sophomore Sasha Pearson said.

Pace said that it was a hard decision to make.

“It was not an easy decision. One of our goals here is to engage, grab students’ attention in school to keep them engaged for the rest of their career,” Pace said.

As for the concerns of if students were to act inappropriately on the laptops, Koontz Intermediate is not afraid at all.

“The Buncombe County technology department spent millions of dollars getting the schools upgraded and ready. Kids are smart, and I am sure something will happen, but right now the Z-Scaler and other options available keep that from happening.

Bottom line, the classroom teacher has got to be obser-

school days due to snow. “It was the best.”

see TABLETS pg 12

“Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.” -- George Halas

News

2

GOLDEN FLEECE • February 26, 2016

Escape room attractions continue to grow in Asheville

by Amelia Ramsey Staff Writer

photos/MORGAN BROWN/golden fleece

CTE internships, nursing provide hands-on learning opportunities

by Xenna Smith Write to Xenna at xsmith.

For nine students here “I think it makes Dir. of Audio and Tech communications@gmail.com at school in the current them feel good to semester, the Career and take care of other Technical Education people, if they are students “get their foot in the door” (CTE) internship program and really into that. The students really at prospective job sites.

Fundamentals of Nursing program enjoy the clinical experience that “It gave me a head start on are providing new opportunities they get,” Nursing Fundamentals how a doctor’s office works and for skill growth while providing a teacher Melinda Bryant said. on getting the techniques on how look into perspective careers.

Senior Bethany Knecht is lookeverything goes and what exactly “[This program] is very benefiing forward to earning her CNA you have to do,” Johnson said. cial to students. It saves students before graduation so she can Senior Danielle Garcia a lot of time, and it saves students receive the skills needed to found her internship in the “I think it a lot of money, and they get to get Roberson daycare to be “a makes them have a career as a medical hands-on experience and informamissionary. relief from the dullness” of feel good to tion on a career they are interested “It helps me because when a typical school routine. in,” Career Development Coordi“I like working with kids take care of I graduate, I’ll graduate with nator Tayna Tommey said. a lot. It’s fun to work with other people, my CNA. That way I can work if they are in a hospital over the sumAccording to Tommey, 100 them because they are so percent of the students who have cute and they always make really into mer and get money and that that.” participated in the CTE internship will help me. It will give me your day, too,” Garcia said. program said it was highly benefithe background information The Fundamentals of Melinda Bryant cial and helped solidify their career Nursing is another Career to do whatever medical field path. specifically I choose to do in and Technical EducaFor junior Peyton Johnson, her the future,” Knecht said. tion program offered at internship at Asheville Pediatric The CTE and Nursing FunRoberson that gives participants Associates P.A. has put her ahead the experience needed to become a damentals programs offered at on her journey to a career in the Roberson offer an alternate way to part of the nursing field. Students medical field. She recommends are even able to apply and be tested further your career prospects. participating in the work-based “It really is eye opening and a great in order to become a Certified learning because the flexibility of experience,” Johnson said.

Nursing Assistant (CNA) before scheduling and because it can help graduation.

NURSING FUNdamentals: Students in CTE nursing fundamentals class learn about the art of nursing.

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Being locked into a room for an hour might not seem like a fun game for some. However, when various concepts of solving puzzles to get clues to get out are included, it adds an element of excitement that can only be found in escape rooms.

Escape room businesses are known for creating interactive group events based off video games. The trend has its origins in Japan. Participants are typically given one hour to escape the room they are locked in by finding clues to unlock the door. The clues are found in puzzles and other interactive activities.

One specific escape room in Asheville, A-escape, was founded by Kyle Tharrington after he visited game room in Seoul, South Korea.

“The escape room in Korea worked really well, so I brought it to Asheville. I think it will work well here because of how different it is than other activities Asheville offers and the unknown thrill it provides,” Tharrington said.

Because of the team work environment, groups of two to six enter the room and work together to complete the challenge or getting out. According to Tharrington, teams love it because of the possibility “to be your own hero,” unlike in a movie or a game. Participants are the ones finding clues and unlocking the door and therefore, they get a sense of accomplishment.

“It is an ideal activity for groups to team bond. I also see a lot of couples come and do the escape rooms. It requires a lot of teamwork and working together to complete the challenge in time,” Tharrington said.

A-Escape has two different rooms, House in the Woods and Casino Mob Boss’s Office. According to their website, House in the Woods has “a creepy and eerie vibe” that is rumored to be linked to missing persons, paranormal occurrences, and even murder.

The Casino Mob Boss’s Office has participants are trying to find evidence to put away a boss who is entangled with the mob. In a couple months, the House in the Woods room will be closing and a bunker room will open.

“I don’t want to spoil too much, but the new bunker room will be a very dark room.

It’s going to replace the House in the Woods, so you can expect some scary elements,” Tharrington said.

Freshmen Kennedy Rucker, Amber Gay, and Riley Williamson experienced the Casino Mob Boss’s Office room for themselves.

“It was really hard to find out the first clue, but once we all searched hard, we found some unusual clue that led us to the next couple of clues. Once that happened, it all started to click into place,” Rucker said.

The escape room offered Rucker, Gay, and Williamson an intense team bonding activity. Although the group did not finish in the time given, Rucker said that the overall experience was fun.

“It can get pretty intense between your team members. The clues get harder and harder to find and it can seem like none of it makes sense, but the whole entire thing was a great overall experience,” Rucker said.

A-Escape costs $15 per person, which according to Tharrington, is one of the cheapest in the nation. Reservations can be made online at their website.

Asheville is also home to another escape room, Great Escape, and one more, Breakout, is opening within a few more months.

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Features

3

GOLDEN FLEECE • February 26, 2016

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and for a bonus, .. s. g n li b si in f tw er to each pairaoch of their names are? b m u n h c a e h tc Ma hat e do you know wbelow for answers S ee

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Twin siblings seen throughout halls

by JAY TRULL Staff Writer

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According to the CDC, over 137,000 twins were born in 2009. That is accounting for almost one in thirty babies.

That compares to 68,339 twins born in 1980. Back then, just one in 53 babies were born a twin. The number of twins born in the United States has doubled in the last three decades.

“We’re not the same person,” senior Quinn Kaufman said. “[People] always hold you to the same standards. Sometimes it’s really trivial things, like if we don’t bring the same lunch, they ask, ‘Why didn’t you do that?’ Well, maybe because I’m not him,” Quinn, is an identical twin to his brother Harrison. They have the same interests as each other, which according to the Kaufman twins, is helpful. They also have the same schedule this year; so they are around each other almost 24/7.

After all of the years of being twins, Quinn says that he is less interested in being around his brother all of the time. In saying this, he doesn’t mean that he hates his brother.

For identical twin sophomores Anthony and David Romagnuolo, being twins has created the experience of being asked the same few questions over and over again. For them, being asked “are you guys twins?” is a very common question, besides the fact that they are identical.

“You can clearly see that we are twins,” said Anthony.

They have switched places for a class period once before.

Write to Jay at jtrull. communications@gmail.com

It was when they had different schedules. “(We switched places for Mr. Hamlin’s class and Fied’s class.) Fied still doesn’t know,” Harrison and Quinn have the same schedule this year and said that that can help in some ways.

“We mostly have the same homework, so we can do it together. [We] don’t have to call somebody to help [us] with [it],” Kaufman said.

According to Kaufman, it helps to like your twin. Other twins will agree with this statement, but not all twins like each other.

“It’s weird, (being a twin), he’s there all the time. It’s kinda annoying sometimes,” said Anthony.

His identical brother, David, also has the same opinion.

“It’s hard, (being a twin), because the other one’s annoying sometimes,” David said.

The pros and cons of being a twin can be different for each set; however, some twins agree on what the positives and drawbacks are.

“We can confuse people, and that’s fun,” said David. “There aren’t really any pros to having a twin. We don’t even have the same interests,” When it came to friends, Harrison and Quinn Kaufman have the same friend groups.

“All of our friends are mostly the same, so I never really have my own friends. It’s more of ‘our’ friends,” Kaufman said.

Sophomore Jay Downey said, “We do have a lot of the same friends. Our friend groups leaked together.”

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Answers: #1 & #10: Mazie Hughes and Lettie Hughes (10th Grade), #2 & #6: Brooke Baccarella and Maddie Baccarella (10th Grade) ,#3 & #9: Sarah Lewis and Evan Lewis (10th Grade), #4 & #8: David Romagnuolo and Anthony Romagnuolo (10th Grade), #5 & #11: Anthony Mendez and Matthew Mendez (10th Grade), #7 & #12: Harrison Kaufman and Quinn Kaufman (12th Grade)

‘Keencast’ seen as reliable source by students, teachers Science teacher Kevin Keen is every day in the winter with

by SARAH HUNTER Write to Sarah at shunter. known throughout the school for Opinion Desk Editor communications@gmail.com Coach Keen’s prediction on his weather predictions, which has whether we will have school or deemed as the Keencast. not and how many inches of snow Although Keen has been interested in “I have always been fascinated and we will get,” Vaughn said. the weather since a young age, it remains even just kinda crazy about the weather.

She also believes he is very accurate in only a hobby. The students hear from each Even as a little kid, if there was a chance his predictions, and has the facts to prove other, through talk in the halls, about the of snow I couldn’t sleep. Truthfully I’m it. Vaughn compares his predictions with Keencast. still like that,” Keen said.

“It just kinda happened to where people how many inches she received in this Math teacher Cindy Hallman-Morris found out that I had an interest in weather year’s last big snow, and the inches were appreciates Keen’s weather forecasts exceedingly close in numbers. and would ask me, and of course I’d share because he understands what it’s like to “Before this year’s big snow, he prewith the classes and so students would be a teacher, especially when lesson plans dicted 12-14 inches, and my house got talk to other students,” Keen said. could be pushed back due to snow.

13. He is unbelievably accurate. He is just Keen has lived in Asheville since 1997.

“He understands what it means to have “If I were actually a professional foreextremely interested and educated on the a plan for the week and then hear that topic,” Vaughn said. caster, it [would be] very difficult. The there is maybe snow. So, he has a little Hallman Morris says she would supmountains make it difficult, elevation, the more empathy for us as to why we want to latitude, we’re often time on the dividing port a Twitter page for the Keencast. know,” Hallman-Morris said.

“This is my seventeenth year here, and line,” Keen said.

Biomedical Technology teacher Haley he is always the go to for ‘what do you Galimore trusts Keen’s accuracy due to Galimore typically hears the Keencast think’s going to happen,”’ she said. what she has seen from the past winter. throughout the wintry months by word of Though Keen had a double major in “From past experiences, especially mouth. both biology and meteorology, he decided from last year’s winter weather, I would “Typically I keep up with Keencast to not complete his degree in meteorology say he’s pretty accurate most of the time,” through talk in the halls. People will so he could begin his teaching career.

Galimore said. talk about, ‘Have you heard Mr. Keen’s “I became serious about teaching my Junior Ashleigh Vaughn said that she predicting this much rain or it’s going to second year in college and I decided to has been keeping up with Keen’s forecast snow at this day?’ That’s what I’ve heard. since her sister was a student at Roberson. join the education program. Even before So, it’s actually kinda legendary. It’s by that, I probably had an interest because She reminisces on the times when her word of mouth, ” Galimore said. sister would come home with the updated my father was a science teacher. I was Over time this hobby of Keen has around it growing up,” Keen said.

Keencast. became known throughout the school.

“I remember my sister coming home

photo/FILE PHOTO/golden fleece

MAKING THE CALL: Buncombe County schools has in the past have had to make tough calls due to weather cancellations.

Opinion

4

GOLDEN FLEECE • February 26, 2016

Life, Listed

by JESSICA ZUK Exec. Editor, Print For those who are feeling lost, without a decided future, and trying to organize this endless mess called life, I feel you. I’m caught in the ultimate ultimatum: practicality versus the passion of life. And you would think that one decision isn’t the end-all be-all, but in this moment, the next step seems to be the case.

Because these next few months tentatively decide our entire future (specifically referencing all those high school seniors out there), at least that’s how I feel.

Have dreams, they say.

Think big, they tell us. Be who you want to be.

So we think big, set our aspirations to new heights, and reach for the stars. But what is neglected is the fine print.

I can remember as a child, and maybe others do too, that dreams should not be defied by circumstance. So in turn, people work hard to make their futures a reality. But now I have come to realize that all of these passions struggle to mesh with the realistic challenges of life.

College, for example, is one of those oh-so difficult choices. Cost dictates option. Distance alters reality.

And acceptance determines our future. And so much emphasis is placed on this one decision, making the predicament that much more problematic.

Who is to say one option is better than the next? For the people who decide to stay home and find some way of pursuing alternative career options, who’s to say that is not okay? Or go far away for school? Or say that debt is not worth educational opportunities? Or maybe years of loans are worth the hardships?

And that’s the struggle: how is this determinable?

But I know that ultimately, we all need to make a choice, to defend these passions we have worked for and reach these dreams.

But it is equally as important to recognize that the “ideal” goal or dream cannot be a single vision, it must be adaptable. To be able to seek the good in any circumstance, regardless of whether or not it was prioritized in our minds, is essential.

So I don’t know what the future holds for me.

And it’s okay; I have some time. I have to remind myself of that, even if I make a mistake. But I do know this: I hope to find my own truth embedded with a genuine joy from whatever decision I make.

Our dreams have fine print, and sometimes those small, impactful words can alter what was once the original dream. It may seem simple, but do what you love, because this is the time to make those decisions, realities.

The Golden Fleece is printed by BH Media Group in Bristol, TN. Opinions expressed in the columns, cartoons, photo illustrations, and letters that appear in the Golden Fleece are the views of the individual writers and artists.

AP classes create unneeded stress

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nce again, the time of year when the student body collectively begins to worry about their future has arrived. As schedules are sent in, AP contracts are signed, and applications and auditions are held to determine placement into various courses, the numerous flaws in the system are revealed.

Students are stressed, overworked, and apprehensive drives students to learn topics that interest them, to gain exabout the next phases in their lives. As a society, we have perience in areas across the school, to value other aspects of come to expect that attending college is the next step toeducation besides the elements that will get them accepted wards a successful life, and that the only way to get accepted to college. is through taking as many rigorous classes as The system can only be changed if enough people possible to set ourselves apart from our peers. But speak out, and make sacrifices to halt the spread of the level of competition has become unbearable. the AP virus. It won’t work unless we collectively Staff Editorials Freshmen and sophomores are now taking typical decide to slow down and enjoy the numbered days represent the junior and senior level classes, and the idea of of high school while we still can. viewpoints of the “doubling up” to get ahead in science and math is We must find our passions, break out of the Leadership commonplace. Yet what are we sacrificing in the collegiate mindset, and focus on the here and now.

Board of the process?

High school is a time to discover your true self, to Golden Fleece For the students who are stuck in the middle, experiment with your interests, and step out of your Media Group.. they are virtually abandoned. The emphasis is comfort zone. It is a place where you shouldn’t have placed on the top 10 percent of each class who is to sacrifice what you desire to meet the expectations pursuing rigorous colleges, or the lower end of the of others. spectrum, for whom the school is doing all they can to get Roberson prides itself on being a school that is accepting each of them to graduation. For those who dabble in a few of all students, yet the irony lies in the competition -- it beAP courses while simultaneously enrolling in electives, they comes hostile for those wishing to cultivate passion, fueling are lost in the shuffle. When compared to their overachievfear of failure for those wishing to set themselves apart, and ing peers, there is no way to compete. do something they love.

Students are hesitant to take “fun” classes, for fear that Roberson, this is our wake-up call. It’s time to change chorus, band, or advanced weight training won’t boost their the system, to alleviate the stress, to transition back into an GPA as much as an extra AP. The idea of sticking with a environment where students can learn for the sake of learngiven course, be it a language, art, or CTE cluster has being, not to have the highest class rank. It’s time to make our come more and more rare. school a place where we excel not because we need to, but We are sprinting up an endless hill of stress, rigor, and because we want to. competition, at major costs. We have lost the passion that

Colleges should view social media accounts Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat are just a few of the social media sites that allow teenagers to express their feelings and personality. Too many times, we hear our parents or teachers complaining about our generation’s excess use of social media, but maybe for good reason.

One of the many reasons our advisors are so adamant about filtering what we post on the internet is college admissions.

While applications will reveal to the admission staff the type of student they are looking at, their interests and aspirations, how well they performed in school; their online presence will unravel how they present themselves in public and how their projected image will represent the university.

Why would the admission staff not check an applicant’s social media? Their job is to select the best possible personas to attend their school and if it takes scoping the applicants out online so be it.

According to a survey of 381 college admission officers performed by Kaplan in the summer of 2013, 31 percent said they had visited an applicant’s social media page to learn more about them.

Thirty percent of the officers said the information they had discovered online negatively affected a student’s admittance chances. These

Amelia Ramsey Morgan Brown Sydney Wood Iris Howell Asheville, North Carolina

All unsigned editorials reflect the opinions of the Golden Fleece staff.

Golden Fleece

As a public forum for student expression, the students determine the contents of the publication without prior review. To receive TC Roberson High School write the permission for reproduction, please editor. Subscription cost is $20 per year. A single copy is free to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the school. Additional copies are $.25 each.

Write to Mollie at mbrewster. communications@ gmail.com

by MOLLIE BREWSTER Sports Desk Editor

Editorial Board

Social media accounts are for private use

by RAHQUELAH CONYERS Dir. of Photography

statistics not only display Editorials Don’t judge a book by its the usage of social media represent the from colleges, but also the viewpoints cover. It’s an age-old mantra that virtually everyone effect it is having on the of individual application process. authors and knows, yet the world is full The fact of the matnot those of of these judgements. From ter is, colleges want the the Golden mere appearances, to hearFleece Media ing the words of those who students attending their Group or its are speaking on someone’s school to have the best behalf, preconceived notions staff. character possible. Postare made until they are dising pictures or comments sipated by actually meeting involving illegal activity the person. displays a huge flaw in the But what about those special character of a person. circumstances where these notions Colleges not taking into conmatter, and they play a role in sideration an applicant’s online whether or not the encounter ever profile is not occurs? a smart idea College admisbecause teenagsions is a circumers tend to lie stance in particular to get what they that relies heavily want.

Head-toon the overall repuA lot of Head tation and qualities times there is Pro-Con of a person, which so much presthey formulate sure that exbased upon the treme measures student’s credentials are willing to For-Against and resume. Social be taken. Social Head-Tails media has increasmedia is access ingly become a part to the person of the process of beyond the eslooking at a stusay format. It is dent’s application. a measurement of not only their The problem with this lies in the self but also self honesty when fact that internet information can comparing a student’s social be very misleading and inaccurate, media presence to the person opening the door to misinterpretadescribed in their application. tions that could hinder the chances If you want something private, of being accepted. keep it to yourself. Nobody According to a study conducted ever knows when something as

by Kaplan, in 2014, 35% of admisvast as social media could be sions officers found something that used against you to affect their negatively impacted the applifuture. cant’s chances of getting in. With

Versus

Golden Fleece

Write to Rahquelah at rconyers.communications@ gmail.com

social media sites gaining more attention every day, this percentage has most likely expanded over the last two years.

The contents of the resume speaks volumes of the interests that applicants have and prove how valuable of an asset they may be to their choice of college. What appears on the timeline on someone’s Facebook page does not amount to the endeavors made to own an impressive resume.

Although “there is no formula” for college admission officers to follow, they do look for certain aspects that would fulfill the image of the ideal student.

There are established guidelines that are set for applicants to reach in order to even be considered, so it is concerning that reviewing a Twitter feed is completely left up to interpretation and that there are no regulations in the matter. Admissions officers could choose to consider posts or pictures that are not recent or distort the context of the content, hurting the presence of the applicant.

While social media can actually boost reputation given that it is utilized as a means to boast about accomplishments, it is unethical for colleges to extract perceivably damaging information and allow it to ruin the chances of a student with good credentials.

Editorial Staff

Grace Loizzo Mollie Brewster Jessica Zuk Caroline Bowers Executive Editor, Print Media Willie Yang Ana Engeman Anjali Kumari Molly Horak Executive Editor, Digital Media Executive Editor, Visual Media Sarah Hunter Jamie Cummings Xenna Smith Jay Trull Rahquelah Conyers Director of Audio/Tech Director of Photography Official newspaper of TC Roberson High School, 250 Overlook Rd., Asheville, NC, 28803.

© Copyright 2016 by the Golden Fleece Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

Contact Us GoldenFleeceMedia@ Gmail.com The Golden Fleece is a paying member of MCT Campus and Tribune Media Services.

All images not taken specifically by the Golden Fleece staff members are used with expressed permission by the original owner.

Adviser: Mark Harrison

Opinion

5

GOLDEN FLEECE • February 26, 2016

RAVES & RONGS

Slip n’ Slide...

A quick look at the good and bad things happening now.

by SYDNEY WOOD Staff Writer

Rave Snow Days:

Everyone loves that much needed break after an exhausting one day of school. Gotta catch up on all of that homework and sleep!

Groundhog Day:

Jump for joy because Phil did not see his shadow and that means spring is right around the corner. Goodbye bitter cold and hello sunny and 75!

Puppy Bowl:

Watching puppies chase each other around and “playing football” before the big game — need I say more?

Rong

Senioritis:

With just four months until we get to say, “Adios!” senioritis is in full swing. To all of those seniors putting off that reading assignment or last few problems until the last minute: I’m right there with ya.

Spring Fever:

Now that our furry friend, Phil, has predicted that spring is on its way, everyone is getting antsy to make the cold a thing of the past and break out the t-shirts and Chacos.

Snow Days?

While getting a day off is nice, having to make it up during spring break or in the summer for almost no snow is definitely not.

Newsworthy

by MOLLY HORAK Exec. Editor, Digital Media With the recent primary elections held in South Carolina last weekend, and the North Carolina primaries coming up in a few weeks, it’s nearly impossible to escape the overwhelming presence of politics. From TV ads to cartoon/CAROLINE BOWERS/golden fleece tweet/BO WIGGINS candidates speaking at local rallies and debates held between friends regarding the varying policies, the growing excitement (and in many cases, fear) surrounding the upcoming elections is unavoidable.

As an 18-year-old getting ready to vote for the first time, I am about Write to Caroline at cbowers.

by CAROLINE BOWERS to make one of the most communications@gmail.com News Desk Editor important decisions in my life. I am deciding the fate of our nation, a decision As Americans, we often don’t realize how truly blessed migrants who have become American citizens by legal that should not be taken we are to live in a country where we have so many great means have argued that if they could do it, everyone else lightly. Casting your vote opportunities and freedoms. And as a result, we somecan, too. is a solemn and imperative times don’t understand why others would want to imHowever, these ideas are absurd. Our country should task, yet is often taken for migrate here. support those who live here illegally while they granted.

However, some of the people who want to go through the process of gaining citizenship and In the 2012 presidential Editorials move here don’t have the means to do so lenot deport them on the spot. The assumption election, only 38 percent of represent the gally. Subsequently, a big issue facing us today that they will cause a greater crime rate is shock- citizens 18 to 24 years old viewpoints of is illegal immigrants. We, as a country, struggle ing. How can one judge a whole society based on participated in the elecindividual authors a limited number of people? with this problem because some Americans tion, according to the U.S. believe that we should deport those living here and not those of A great sense of racial prejudice is associCensus. As the generation the Golden Fleece illegally, while others believe that we should ated with this issue. Hispanics in particular see who will bear the brunt of Media Group or its stand up for their right to stay. themselves as singled out. If we give these illegal the reforms, new policies, staff.

Illegal immigrants should not be deported immigrants a chance, they could possibly become and overseas engagements against their will. They should be treated skilled professionals and create a better life for that the future president humanely and should be given an opportunity themselves, instead of being stuck in low-skilled will decide, we are the ones to seek a path to citizenship, specifically those and low paying jobs. who need to speak up and with no criminal record. Immigrants have The steps for an immigrant to acquire citilet our voices be heard. come here for a reason--whether it’s for education, medi- zenship include: a lengthy application, a United States Election commentators cal treatment or a job--and they should be respected. history exam, and an interview process. This exam that have called the upcoming Sometimes, illegal immigrants have to flee their counis required for citizenship application is challenging. For election unprecedented. try in order to stay alive. Many times they are desperate example, one of the questions asks how many voting The multitude of candifor a better life. How can we just send them back mercimembers there are in the House of Representatives. dates and the unpredictlessly when they have no criminal record and have done If I, an American student and citizen, can’t even answer ability surrounding who nothing wrong? this question, how can an immigrant who barely speaks will ultimately receive each Politicians dispute over this issue every day. Some asEnglish be expected to know the answer? I can see why party’s nomination gives sume that these illegal immigrants are costing Americans immigrants don’t want to go through the legalization our role an even greater a fortune through medical care, financial or housing asprocess--it’s very lengthy and difficult. weight. But to me, the sistance, and food stamps. Ideas of building a wall on the I stand with the 72 percent of Americans who support sheer differences in the U.S. and Mexico border have taken over the media in the an alternative to the outright deportation of illegal impolicies and talking points past few months. migrants, and I support a sensible path to citizenship or of the candidates are The major argument to support a wall is a concern for permanent residence. exacerbating the divisions Americans’ safety, saying that these illegal immigrants We need to make a change and stand up for those who developing between party will cause a higher crime rate in our country. Also, imcan’t stand up for themselves. lines, within the government, and within groups of photo/CAROLINE BOWERS/golden fleece my peers.

We are bombarded by the media and the opinions of others, which constantly shape our views.

Candidates such as Trump and Sanders are dominating discussions with their more radical beliefs, and many people are jumping on a candidate’s bandwagon because of his or her popularity, or the fact that their parents or friends like them, without actually knowing the differences in policy between the options.

Our generation has been stereotyped as lazy, as uninformed about the Write to Grace at gloizzo.

by GRACE LOIZZO world, and not willing communications@gmail.com Staff Writer to educate ourselves to become involved. Now is our chance to prove Being 16 is one of the best years of your life. It’s a year that the local community uses for events such as Special them wrong, and to fully of Sweet 16 parties (at least in Disney’s universe) and Olympics and athletic leagues. The second problem is comprehend what each most importantly, a year of freedom by way of a driver’s that every year, the school applies to the capital outlay license. committee, where each school can submit things candidate stands for and the potential consequences After years of begging parents and comprothey want to fix about its campus. The commitof each before we make Editorials mising a clean room for a ride, students can tee gives TC Roberson several thousand dollars represent the finally drive themselves around. each year to fix issues such as new gyms seats and a decision. In a political landscape where bi-parviewpoints of The only problem that seems to come up making new sidewalks. tisan legislation seems to individual authors for a newly-licensed underclassman is the fact Another issue the school runs into is giving be a thing of the past and and not those of the privilege to handle our daily lives such as that parking spots are not offered to them at the Golden Fleece Roberson. There are limited options at the appointments. Upperclassmen with parking spots parties are increasingly polarized, now is the time Funeral Home on Long Shoals Rd., but only a Media Group or its are able to easily leave for doctor’s appointments to focus on understanding. staff. certain number of students ‘deemed worthy’ or to go home when sick. As students who supOpen discussions need can get a spot, and they run out quickly. So, we posedly are old enough to know what we want to be had, followed hand are stuck in same dilemma as before: no spots to do with our lives, the responsibility should in hand with open-mindfor licensed underclassmen. be spread out to where we are also able to drive edness and tolerance of According to Amy Rhoney, Roberson’s ourselves to and from school. differing perspectives. principal, sophomore parking was available at one point, As a student, as well as an athlete, I’ve always appreciThe future of our nation but when the math lot, which used to be the senior lot, ated when teammates are willing to go out of their way to is too important to bypass was relined to house the busses, parking spots for stubring me home when my parents can’t get to the school dents became more limited. from work in time. Carpooling will always be a lifesaver, the opportunity of making an educated choice and A short term solution is providing sophomores with but it’d be nice for all high school students with licenses being part of democracy the unwanted far away spots. On behalf of the driving to become independent as it is an important factor to in action. We can’t become sophomore class, taking the hike to the top of the junior learn before graduating. complacent in our views, parking lot is good enough because we respect seniorTo the few underclassman able to get their license in ity, knowing that when our turn comes we would want time to get a spot, any spot will do. Even the farthest walk or take the easy way out the same thing for the future sophomores. A long term is acceptable if it means 16 year-olds are given the oppor- by picking our “favorite” without a legitimate solution that Mrs. Rhoney explained would be paving tunity to move towards feeling a part of the community reason. On March 15, we the field located next to the car rider lines. Two probat large. need to take a stand, one lems with this solution is that it would take away a field vote at a time.

Deportation not viable solution for illegal immigration, issues

Underclassmen parking would allow additional freedom, independence

Opinion

This week, we are featuring blogs Rummage: Revamp and Repurpose

by Ana Engeman and Take Notes by Morgan Brown. Check out other staff blogs at GoldenFleeceOnline.com!

6

GOLDEN FLEECE • February 26, 2016

The new classic: the evolution of classical music

photo/SYDNEY WOOD/golden fleece

by MORGAN BROWN Entertainment Desk Editor

Revamped Button Necklace

by ANA ENGEMAN Exec. Editor, Visuals After staring at a jar filled with mismatched and seemingly useless buttons for far too long I finally decided to find a project that would put them to good use, instead of simply occupying space on the top of my dresser. I don’t have many big statement pieces in my wardrobe, but the idea of a ‘vintage’ button necklace certainly caught my eye.

All you will need to start this project is as many old buttons as you can scrounge up, some scrap felt (choose a color that complements your buttons), an old necklace chain, and a few dots of superglue. Depending on the type of buttons obtained, you may need to cut the backs off so that they will lay flat. Once you’ve gathered all of your supplies start arranging them on your felt. There is no right or wrong way to do this; the style is completely up to the artist. This is the time to express your creative side!

After the layout has been chosen

Write to Ana at aengeman. communications@gmail.com

you can use the superglue to attach each button to the felt base for the necklace. Next, grab a pair of scissors and start cutting along the outside of your design, keeping it nice and close to the edge. Now that the fun part is out of the way you’ll need to attach the necklace chain to the felt. By adding a second piece of felt you will be able to slide the chain in between the two pieces before supergluing them together to make a beautiful and unique final product.

While spending an afternoon working on this project, I couldn’t help but think of how many things sit unused around my house and in most everyone’s homes. Spending an afternoon or even just a few moments repurposing an item can not only put some life back into said item, but it can also become a helpful hobby and great way to waste time.

Traditionally, when people think of the phrase “classical music,” they think of old, dead, antique music from the 18th Century. But little do they know that classical music is still very much alive today in many new and exciting ways.

As we step into a more modern and technical age, classical music is flourishing and becoming more involved in young lives and entertainment.

Musicians from Lindsey Stirling to 2CELLOS, and composers such as Missy Mazzoli and Ann Cleare, are giving classical music a new name by adding their own twist onto what they think is the new classical. In doing so they are inspiring people all around the world and showing that it’s okay to break the standard and create something completely original.

Artist such as these have gained their success by incorporating other genres outside of classical music into their pieces and throwing their heart into their playing. They are completely changing the musical landscape of today as we know it and are being heard in ways some wouldn’t even imagine.

Along with new musicians, new creations such as electric instruments have come to create a new way for others to experience classical music. These instruments have put together two genres of music that most would never even think of putting alongside one another: Classical and Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Over time classical music has become more than just playing the instruments, it’s now expanding the potential of what the instruments can do. It’s now about giving the artist new ways to express themselves through a piece in a way that no one has done before.

Write to Morgan at mbrown. communications@gmail.com

So in the end, the high riffs of the violins, the low rumble of the basses and percussion, the shout of the brass section and the call of the choir will touch and tug at the heartstrings of audiences now just as they did hundreds of years ago.

To see Ana’s tutorial video for this project, see GoldenFleeceOnline.com! photo/MORGAN BROWN/golden fleece

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12 7

GOLDEN FLEECE FLEECE •• February February 26, 26, 2016 2016 GOLDEN

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eopleeople are fed see areup with seeaalot lotininmodern modernpolitics. poli- I JamieCUMMINGS Cummings Write Write to to Jamie Jamie at at jcummings. jcummings. feel the current political bybyJAMIE he like is very genuine fed up with tics.like I feel he is very in communications@gmail.com his system, senior Chesconcern for concern the American the” current genuine in his Editor communications@gmail.com SocialSocial MediaMedia Desk Editor ley Krug said. “A lot people, Fine said. “I’m feeling political for the” American people, ” of people don’t Chesley believe what going thesaid.

‘Bern. ’” feeling the ‘Bern.’” system, ” senior Krugissaid.

Fine “I’m speth, said she believes candidates Senior and member of the onlot now working. ” believe what is system.

Fine, who parents “A of ispeople don’t Fine, who saidsaid hishis parents areare like Bernie SandersClub, and Donald Young Progressives Abby Hud more Krug, who is working. a member more conservative than is, feels going on now ” of the conservative than he he is, feels Trump have had success due to their speth, said she believes candidates Young Republicans Club atofRobergood that he is making independent Krug, who is a member the good that he is making independent “radical” like Bernieviews.

Sanders and Donald son, thinks it is timeClub for aatchange. decisions; however, feels some Young Republicans Roberdecisions; however, he he feels some “I think America is ready Trump have had success due tofor a She will joinit many youth are not. son, thinks is timeother for aseniors change.who change, whether youth are not. it be more conserva“radical” views. planwill on join voting in November for the their “I think a lot of people either She many other seniors “I think a lot of people areare either tive or liberal.

[Trump and for Sanders] “I think America is ready a first time in their life. has been spoon-fed their beliefs from their who plan on voting inKrug November spoon-fed their beliefs from their are authentic soconserthat’s why change, whethertoitpeople, be more tuned to time all theincommotion that parents, or social media, said. for thein first their lives. Krug parents, or social media, ” he” he said. they or likeliberal. them,”[Trump Hudspeth said. vative and Sandhas been surrounded season.

“Sometimes it’s kind of like a bandhas tuned inthis to political all the com“Sometimes it’s kind of like a bandSanders won the New Hampshire are authentic to people, so that’s wagon.

According to surrounded social studies teach- ers] wagon. motion that has this ” ” Primary for the Democrats with 60.2 why they like them,” Hudspeth said. er, Josh Lowe, this is a big time for Krug political views political season.

Krug saidsaid herher political views areare percent the votes.

Trump won the Sandersofwon the New Hampshire youth today. Candidates are debating Primary similar to her parents, different.

According to social studies similar to her parents, yetyet different. for Republicans with 35.4 for the Democrats with issues pertaining tothis youth they start same teacher, Josh Lowe, is alives. big The Primary SheShe saidsaid they all all start on on thethe same percent of the votes. percent of the votes. Trump decision of whotoday. they Candidates will vote for will 60.2 Another foundation, branch time for youth foundation, butbut branch off off forfor dif-differmember of the Young won the Primary for Republicans notdebating only affect theirpertaining future, buttothe ent issues. issues. are issues ferent Progressives Club, senior David with 35.4 percent of the votes. future lives. of theThe United States.

“The base comes from your young decision for whom “The base comes from your Fine, said that he thinks the reason Another member of the Young a rally for parents, ” Krug said.

“But I feel theyKrug will recently vote for attended will not only affect parents, ” Krug said.

“But I feel likelike candidates like Trump had Club, seniorhave David Marco Rubiobut and has decided to sup- Progressives coming to school social media their future, the future of the coming to school andand social media such success in the New Hampshire said that he thinks the reason port him as her candidate of choice. Fine, helps you develop what you learned United States. helps you develop what you learned Primarieslike is due to allhave the media candidates Trump had at- at home.

Krug likes Rubio’sattended domestic poliat home.

I see who stray from Krug recently a rally I see kidskids who stray from tention.

According to Fine, Trump is such success in the New Hampshire ciesMarco on theRubio economy his foreign their parents, and kids who are about for and and has decided their parents, and kids who are who is always Primaries is dueon to television. all the media policy.

Shehim also as agrees with his ideas the the same. ” ” to support her candidate of about same.

“I think because he is so loud, and attention. According to Fine, Trump to strengthen the military, because Although students encouraged choice.

Krug likes Rubio’s domestic Although students areare encourandon obnoxious isbombastic, who is always television.and arro- aged she plansononthe attending Naval to to bebe careful when getting informapolicies economythe and his careful when getting gant.

He’s all of these things, and the “I think because he is so loud, Academy in theShe fall. tion from social media, according to foreign policy. also agrees with information from social media, media just eatsand it up, ” Fine said. and bombastic, obnoxious and not the only ones Hudspeth, it is not allitbad. his Seniors ideas toare strengthen the military, according to Hudspeth, is not all Motley agrees that Trump and He’s all of these things, investedshe in this campaign though. because plans on attending the Ju- arrogant. bad. “I think social media is a good Sanders have just had eats suchitsuccess the media up,” Fine nior Mary Laci Motley shared some and way to open you up toismore ideas, Naval Academy in the fall.

“I think social media a good because they are different than the said. of her views thethe ongoing race. but it’s hard to know what is true and Seniors areonnot only ones way to open you up to more ideas, typical Motleypolitician. agrees that Trump and “I really like campaign Donald Trump.

One, is not ” Hudspeth said. invested in this though. butwhat it’s hard to true, know what is true “They aren’t like a robot, so have had such success he’s funding his own campaign.

Earlier thistrue, month, Roberson had Junior Mary Laci Motley shared And Sanders and what is not ” Hudspeth they’rethey saying other politicians because arethings different than the he’s not politician--he been 76 students register to vote. History some of aher views on thehasn’t ongoing said. wouldn’t.

Trump and Sanders are politician. in the system,” Motley said. “I think typical teacherthis Joshmonth, Lowe helped set up race.

Earlier Roberson hadand very honest. just going “They aren’tThey like aare robot, so to 76 promote he “I has a refreshing voice, and he’s the registration process. really like Donald Trump. students register to vote. History tell you like it is, ” Motley said. saying things other politireallyhe’s voicing a lothis of own America’s “This a prime timeset forupstudents One, funding cam- frus- they’re JoshisLowe helped and said that Sanders unique. teacher ciansFine wouldn’t.

Trump and isSanders trationsAnd right to become more engaged in the paign. he’snow. not” a politician--he promote the registration process.

That is one reason he is considering very honest. They are just going Thisbeen “new has been a com- are political and for decide if these hasn’t invoice” the system, ” Motley “This is aprocess, prime time students him togiving tell you likehisit vote. is,” Motley said. mon “I theme the debate issues matter their future, said. thinkthroughout he has a refreshing to become more for engaged in the ” Lowe “I like Bernie’s authenticity.

I Fine said that Sanders is unique. system.

Senior and member theof said. process, and decide if these voice, and he’s really voicing aoflot political think thatreason is a trait you don’t That is one hethat is considering Young Progressives Club, Abby America’s frustrations right now.Hud ” issues matter for their future,” Lowe This “new voice” has been a com- giving him his vote. said.

“I like Bernie’s authenticity. I mon theme throughout the debate think that is a trait that you don’t

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As the North Carolina primary nears we decided to ask the Roberson student body who they would vote for as the next president. After 110 students responded durAs the North Carolina primary nears we decided to ask the Roberson student ing their lunch period on February 19, 2016, Sanders body who they would vote for as the next president. After 110 students was the clear winner although nearly a quarter of the responded during their lunch period on February 19, 2016, Sanders was the clear students were undecided. winner although nearly a quarter of the students were undecided.

Local skating rink Local skating goesfor upsale for sale rink after after3636yrs years

by AMELIA RAMSEY Write to Amelia at aramsey.

by Amelia StaffRamsey Writer communications@gmail.com Write to Amelia at aramsey.

Staff Writer communications@gmail.com When the the name for recreational skating When name Tarwheels is said, numerous Tarwheels is mentioned, increased,on the competistudents might begin to reminisce middle school numerous students tive adult arena hasfriends also days when theymight were hanging out with their beginand to reminisce on the rink expanded. skating around to the latest pop music. middle school days when “There a large portion However, middle schoolers may isnot be able to they were out with of adults travel the createhanging those same memories due towho Tarwheels being their listed friendsonand skating country Beverly-Hanks as for sale.to roller skating around the rink toitthe compete “Hearing waslatclosingevents made and me really sad.against A lot est pop music. each other, ” Anacker said. of my middle school memories were made there, and However, Skating rinks memories have now thatmiddle it’s going away, it feels like those schoolers may not beMadison Brookshire multipurpose missions, are too, ” senior said. able to create those same not just skating.

Brookshire and her friends used to visitBeneficial the skatmemories duealmost to Tarwheels programs byitthe ing rink every weekend and are she offered says that is beingone listed on favorite Beverly-middle Roller Association their schoolSkating memories.

Although Hanksthe asskating for sale.is fun, Brookshire International through said that the otherlocal ac“Hearing it was closing tivities and food was also rinks. what made it a great place. made me“Ireally A lot up with According tofriends, the RSAI, lovedsad. showing my group of of myhopping middle school memskating also out of our friendsmany mom’s car inrinks a huge group ories and wereheading made there, and offer a program called straight to the snack bar. We wouldthe all now that it’s going away, Roller Skating Foundation get pickle pops and itsit at the tables talking and laughfeels like those discourages unsafe ing for thememories first part of ourthat night, ” Brookshire said. are, too,”The senior Madison activities by delivering now-36 year old rink has been a part of the Brookshire said. since 1980. Although alternative rather community theactivities sale of the Brookshire hernecessarily than becoming involved in property and doesn’t mean there won’t be anfriends used to visit the drugs and crime and proother rink in it’s place, the new owners will ultimately skating rink what almost every motes physical fitness. decide ends up in the space. weekendWhile, and sheAsheville says Senior Hales, could possibly Emily be losing it’s skatthat iting is one their favorite alsoDirector a frequent visitor to outlet, Lynette Anacker, of Communicamiddle school memories. theAssociation skating rink in middle tions for the Roller Skating International Although the explained skating is that roller school, described that skat(RSAI), skating has actually seen fun, Brookshire said that ing can be physical fitness. a rise in participants nationally. the other“We’ve activities don’tand notice it marseenand an increase in“You the teen adult food was also what made it in the moment because ket. A lot of it has to do with pop culture and it being a great of how much fun you’re onplace.

TV everywhere,” Anacker said.

“I loved showing up having, but skatingskatcan be Not only has the market for recreational with my of friends, reallyadult tiring, ” Hales ing group increased, the competitive arena hassaid. also hopping out of our friend’s Along with the skating expanded. mom’s car in a huge group aspect, Hales claimed “There is a large portion of adults who travelthat the and heading straight to the one of her favorite country to roller skating events and competeparts against snackeach bar. other, We would all getsaid.was the Saturday Night ” Anacker pickle pops and sit at Sock Hop. On certainnot Skating rinksthe have multipurpose missions, tablesjust talking and Beneficial laugh- programs Saturdayare nights, skating skating. offered by the ing for the first part of our would stop at a certain Roller Skating Association International through night,local ” Brookshire time and it would be the rinks. said.

The now-36 year-old time for skating the sockrinks hop also According to the RSAI, many rink has a part ofcalled the thedance. offerbeen a program Roller Skating Foundacommunity since 1980. unsafe “The sockby hop dance tion that discourages activities delivering According to Samanwas such a fun thing to do alternative activities rather than becoming involved tha Fowler, employee at right after skating.

Everyin drugs and crime and promotes physical fitness.

Tarwheels, the sale of Hales, the also one would take off their Senior Emily a frequent visitor to the property doesn’t necesskates and get on theskating rink skating rink in middle school, described that sarilycan mean won’t be with long slick socks and be there physical fitness. another “You rink in its place. justmoment slide around and of dance don’t notice it in the because how “Itmuch can still to music funremain you’re ahaving but skatinglike canthe becupid really tirskating rink if the new shuffle and the cha cha ing, ” Hales said. owner wants to be.the If not, ” Hales Alongit with skatingslide, aspect, Halessaid. claimed that it canone pretty much be anyThe skating willSock of her favorite parts was the Saturdayrink night thingHop. that needs that much until finalstop sale On certain Saturdayremain nights,open skating would space,atlike a hardware of the property and Fowler a certain time and it would be the time for the sock store,”hop Fowler said. said that there has already dance.

While“The Asheville could been an increase in busisock hop dance was such a fun thing to do possibly beafter losing its skatnesswould over the right skating.

Everyone takepast off weeks. their ing outlet, “I will the skatesLynette and getAnacker, on the rink with longmiss slickseeing socksall and Director Communicakids just of slide around and dance tohappy music and like enjoying the cupid tions shuffle for the and Roller themselves but it has been theSkating cha cha slide, ” Hales said.

Association International the familiar No matter what comesgreat next seeing for the all property, (RSAI), explained that faces of the people whoand Tarwheels has a lot of history in the community rollerholds skating has actually used to come the time memories for a lot of students andallcommunity seen amembers. rise in participants coming back to skate for nationally. one last time,” Fowler said.

“We’ve seen an increase No matter what comes in the teen and adult next for the property, market. A lot of it has to Tarwheels has a lot of hisdo with pop culture and it tory in the community and being on TV everywhere,” holds memories for a lot of Anacker said. students and community Not only has the market members.

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GOLDEN FLEECE •February 26, 2016

g n i l l o R eep

K

Pon’s Thai popular in south area

O

by XENNA SMITH Director of Audio and Tech

n the corner of a busy intersection, right inside the doors of an Exxon gas and convenience store, lies a culinary hidden gem: Pon’s Thai Cuisine.

The restaurant itself is no more than nine feet wide with only a short wooden wall separating diners from a shelf of convenience store snack food.

The walls and counters are adorned with Asian knick-knacks and an aroma of spices fills the air, making you forget you are sitting inside a gas station.

As you walk into the restaurant’s separated area, you are welcomed by the kind-hearted, smiling face of owner, head chef and namesake Pon. Pon, a native to Bangkok, Thailand and opened Pon’s Thai Cuisine to share her recipes and love for authentic Thai food. Even though Pon is a woman of few words, her food speaks stories for her.

When ordering, we requested for Pon to surprise us with something off the menu that she liked, and it ended up being a delicious bowl of green curry with white rice. That happened to be the first bowl of curry I have ever had, so I was very excited to try it, and I was not disappointed.

As soon as it hits your

Write to Xenna at xsmith. communications@gmail.com

tongue, your taste buds are flooded with the creaminess and spicy flavor of the broth. It is a thick, rich curry with a medley of vegetables accompanied by perfectly cooked white rice, the curry and rice pair nicely when ate together.

The next thing we indulged in was vegetable egg rolls with sweet Thai chili dipping sauce. It had a soft inside filled with cooked vegetables that contrasts with the flaky, crisp outside.

Dipping the egg roll in the sweet Thai chili sauce is a perfect way to set off the spices found in the breading.

Finally, we tried Pon’s favorite thing on the menu: Pad Thai. It had a beautiful presentation, garnished with bean sprouts, peanuts, and a lime.

Squeezing the lime juice on the dish is extremely beneficial to the flavor, The acidity of the lime compliments the sweetness of the sauce and savoriness of the noodles. Like the rest of Pon’s recipes, there is a pattern of including well cooked, fresh vegetables and her Pad Thai is no exception.

The buzz about Pon’s Thai Cuisine floating around TC Roberson, from what I have heard, is nothing but positive. Anyone I have talked to who has been there has nothing but good things to say, and I am one of

those people. The close proximity2.2 miles to be exact- makes it an ideal place to stop after school and grab a bite to eat.

The beautiful presentation of the dishes exceeded expectations, as did the food. Every ingredient was fresh, real and wholesome; that, along with the soul Pon puts into her food creates a dining experience that you will keep coming back. The moral of this story: don’t judge a book by its cover.

With Thai food being notoriously spicy, we rated how hot the food was out of five.

Thai Time: Pon, the owner of Pon’s Thai Cusine takes orders on the phone. photo/ANJALI KUMARI/golden fleece

Green Curry

Spring Rolls

Pad Thai

Unchain Asheville addresses local business concerns

photo/ANA ENGEMAN/golden fleece

BREAK THE CHAINS: Signs can be spotted around Asheville supporting the local movement

Store owner

by GRACE LOIZZO Write to Grace at gloizzo.

Rebecca Hecht Staff Writer communications@gmail.com believes that Asheville’s were to be pushed because the group wanted downtown thrives off its out by that, but I think that to avoid being seen as aguniqueness and that small it’s good because it does gressive in the community, businesses continue to feel have diversity . You can the rally tried to portray a threatened as big chains have local people positive message and such as Anthropologie and you can have careful that ‘antisettle in downtown. big companies, as “Supporting was Anthropologie’ wasn’t “Supporting local busilong as you can a part of the rhetoric. local nesses is vital to protectwork together” “Urban Outfitters ing the unique identity of Senior Lauren businesses (a chain that opened downtown and the contriWestmoreland in 2009) opening was is vital to butions that small busisaid. catalyst for the protecting the nesses make to our local As her father Love Asheville/Asheeconomy,” Hecht said. owns two local the unique ville Grown business She is the owner of restaurants; identity of alliance to be creAdorn Salon and started Corner Kitchen ated over 5 years ago,” a movement with a petilocated in Biltdowntown,” Hecht said. tion on Change.org which more Village and the board currently has over 5,000 Chestnut located Rebecca Hecht andThere, members’ goals followers, where any indiin Downtown. are to educate and vidual indignant about the On the day promote downtown problem can join the cause.

Anthropologie opened it’s through things like UN“It’s fine as long as some doors, a rally was schedCHAIN AVL. of the other businesses that uled for all volunteers to According to supports have already been here stay. meet at the Asheville Music of the rally, another reason It would be bad for us if we Hall. According to Hecht,

some businesses are pushing to have their voice heard because when Anthropologie was first announced, store owners downtown were faced with rent rising as much as four times their usual cost. As big chains could afford to pay higher rent, most small businesses would be put under.

According to the Unchain Asheville Website, having chains in Asheville denies the city of wealth and community, where small locals have been building dreams of making it on their own.

“Some people may have a dream to have a local business, and I know it was my dad’s dream to make it, but now he’s really happy that he has because he makes a lot of people happy with it. So I think that it offers something that chains can’t,” Westmoreland said.

Focus

9

GOLDEN FLEECE • February 26, 2016

the

Question of State, school begin to address gender identiy issues “No one has come straight out think the biggest thing is slipping up, even & MOLLY HORAK

by JESSICA ZUK and said ‘I don’t like you,’ but their if it’s just once, that will break their heart for Exec. Editor, Digital Media the rest of the day. People can call me a boy, Exec. Editor, Print Media ignorance to the whole thing is really offensive. It’s like, you don’t and I don’t care. But I never realized Write to Jessica at jzuk.

Write to Molly at mhorak. know anything about this, and that’s how big of a deal pronouns are communications@gmail.com communications@gmail.com troubling. No one really has my back in the transgender community,” out for nearly two hours regarding a dispute at school because they don’t know, and that’s not Flanagan said. over a transgender student using a changing room their fault, but they don’t know what I’m going Both Shell and Flanagan believe misof the opposite gender. The student refused to use through, so they can’t really help,” Kevin* said. interpretation is due to a lack of educaa gender-neutral dressing room that was provided *Name Kevin, a student attending a high school in tion. for gym class, according to kmov.com news. The has been Buncombe County, announced to friends that “Proper education is what is needed student eventually dropped the P.E. class. changed he was transgender at the end of the school to change. People don’t really know The North Carolina High School Athletic Asto protect year. As one of the assumed few trans stuwhat it means to be transgender. Peosociation (NCHSAA) adopted a clarification student’s dents at his school, he said he knows ple are afraid of what they don’t know rule in 2014 which states that “a student’s identity. firsthand of the challenges the which is why education is essential,” gender is denoted by what is listed on the transgender community faces on a Flanagan said. birth certificate.” daily basis.

Rhoney believes that it’s the job of Senior Sean Krueger, a varsity swimmer, the school to treat all students with In 2015, 16.9 million viewers tuned understands the difficulties surrounding into Caitlyn Jenner’s 20/20 segment and respect.

In 2015, transgender students and athletics. several California cities passed laws re“We’ve had transgender students Glamour “I feel like it’s really the opinion of the quiring single-stall bathrooms to be genat this school for as long as I’ve been Magazine participant, like if they want to be on the der neutral. Yet issues surrounding here, and that’s been five years now. My named Caitlyn boy’s team if they really identify with that the transgender community remain philosophy is, ‘we’re not here to judge Jenner its aspect,” Krueger said. “If you have a a part of mainstream discussions. people, we’re here to educate people,’ “Woman of the woman playing a man’s sport, it would According to Principal Amy and even if you don’t agree with that Year” award have to be based on merit. But the Rhoney, she believes that overall, choice, it’s still our job to educate them other way around, it’s difficult beTC Roberson does a great job as a student. And it’s also my job if there cause there is a little bit of an actual are students that don’t agree, to talk to them and According to the welcoming students with a variorganization, more and advantage.” ety of diversities, including say ‘you don’t have to agree, however, you have to Other states have had issues sur- respect them, and that is not negotiable,” Rhoney more universities are transgender students. rounding transgender students par- said. establishing gender“I think that one of the ticipating in school sports. In 2014, neutral bathrooms on things that Roberson is Organizations like Focus on the Family and the the Minnesota Child Protection campus. recognized for is making United Kingdom-based Parakaleo offer resources League ran a full-page ad in the an effort to make students for parents and others addressing the transgender Minneapolis Star Tribune against feel comfortable here. We rarely, if ever, movement and related issues. letting transgender students choose what sports have issues. We have parents that actually Across the nation, over 200 universities have team they wanted to participate on. The advertiserequest that their children come here beestablished gender neutral bathrooms in cause we don’t have these issues,” Rhoney ment prompted around 10,000 emails, residence halls, according to the organizaaccording to the Protection League. said. “We work really hard it resolve it if tion Campus Pride.

Because of the presence of a variety of an issue does come up.”

Here at Roberson, accommodations students at Roberson, at the beginning of On Monday, February 22, Charlotte’s have been made to allow transgender stuthe 2015-16 school year, Spanish teacher city council, with a 7-4 majority, apdents access to single-stall, gender-neutral Jamie Shell held a workshop to educate proved measures to expand protections faculty bathrooms, as well as accommodateachers on ways to handle students who based on sexual identity and gender tions regarding P.E. classes. may identify as transgender. identity, allowing transgender people to Shell personally believes “Our teachers didn’t know use public bathrooms that correspond schools should do more for it was coming, but we felt like with their gender identity, according to the transgender students in the it was time that happened. I Associated Press. future.

NC’s athletic told them every single one of Opposition to the ordinance has “A big next step is making organization already been voiced, including an email these students are sitting in sure students have people who limits a your classrooms. They knew from Governor Pat McCrory, who stated support them. I think transgenOraganizations like student’s we had gay students and lesbian he would work with the North Carolina der ideas are something people TrueTolerance.org seek participation General Assembly to oppose the policy students, but to hear all the other to provide parents and have a hard time understanding,” to the gender on the grounds that it could create “major terminology, and to know that I others information about Shell said. that is could give examples of students public safety issues.”

Flanagan agrees. their rights when it comes indicated on that identified as each, it was eyeIn November of last year, Houston, “Your gender is so much more to schools and what is his/her birth Texas voters rejected a new ordinance by opening,” Rhoney said. to you when you are transgender being taught to their certificate. 61 percent that would have expanded the Shell believes simple things because you had to fight for it,” children. such as pronouns are essential to ability for individuals to use bathroom Flanagan said. make transgender students feel and locker room facilities based on genmore comfortable. der identity.

“I always go around and ask people their names Issues dealing with transgender at the beginning of the year. It’s inclusive of both students have also shown up within transgender and cisgender people, because some school systems across the napeople want to be called something different,” tion. At Hillsboro High Shell said.

School in Missouri, over Junior Katie Flanagan believes it is important to 150 students organized make transgender peers feel secure. a walk“Pronouns and name-changes are difficult. I

The Game of Life is one of the best-selling games of all time and was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame in 2010. Originally created in 1860 as The Checkered Game of Life, it still uses the pink and blue color designations for boys and girls today.

According to National Center for Transgender Equality, in the U.S, 0.3% of the adult population identifies as transgender.

Focus

10

GOLDEN FLEECE • February 26, 2016

P

A

E N

L

Students discuss variety of gender topics

Each month, the Golden Fleece hosts a panel discussion on the topic at hand. Present for this discussion (in no particular order) were: Ashley Teague, Zabrina Lang, Garrett Croft, Michael Cummings, Kaleigh Fleming, and Bentley Cook.

What are your thoughts on the idea of transgender people, and the conversations that are now becoming more mainstream?

Panel Member 2: It’s difficult when you talk about the bathroom because you want to make everyone feel comfortable.

I feel like we should have options for both people; we should have options for a girls-only, a guys-only, and a genderneutral.

Panel Member 4: I feel like if you had those in schools it’s not really a good idea, because then something could happen.

Panel Member 1: Restaurant bathrooms are private, and school bathrooms are public so they have to accommodate the population of that school.

Panel Member 5: Obviously there are a lot of things that you don’t think about, like you know what you want but you don’t know all of the things that come along with it. And it hasn’t been until recently that I’ve noticed that younger kids are making that transition.

Panel Member 6: I think you should be older, more well-off. If you blow $15,000 to do that and you’re planning on going to a four-year university, you’re absolutely screwed because that costs a lot of money.

PM 2: Transitioning started happening in my grade probably around seventh

grade. There are a few people who we can really see, whose transition seems real, but there are a few others where it seems like it wasn’t really thought through, and it seems like more of something to do to fit in the right friend group.

PM 3: It’s also not just a social thing, but it’s also a thing where you’re born and your brain doesn’t register with your physical gender.

PM 2: But it’s kind of odd when they transition, because you used to know them as a different name, and a lot of people feel odd about that, especially if it is called on roll as a different name. Since we don’t have set things that we follow, it makes things awkward for everybody.

PM 4: For other people, it makes them feel uncomfortable because they haven’t really been shown this, and it’s something new to them and they don’t really know how to act around it.

PM 6: The way I act personally with my friend group, we’re pretty stupid and do pretty weird things. If someone transitioned from my friend group, they would probably be out of a group of friends.

Under the current NCHSSA guidelines, you are only allowed to play on the sports team of the gender you were assigned at birth. Thoughts?

PM 3: I think they should be allowed to try out, because if they have an overly good talent for that sport, they should be able to do what they like to do. They shouldn’t be stopped just because of gender. Let’s say we have a boy that’s really good at volleyball; he shouldn’t be stopped from playing just because he’s a guy.

PM 5: I don’t know, I think it would be really awkward. I play volleyball, and knowing how we act in the locker room and stuff, that would be way too much.

Do you think the people are talking about this issue around school?

PM 5: I know a lot of times I might not say something because I don’t know someone’s religion, stuff like that, and then they come back at you.

PM 4: Some people don’t think that they can share their opinions or feelings with each other, because they don’t think they’ll be respected or they’re scared.

How does the media shape the way that people see issues like this?

PM 5: The media is crazy, I swear they brainwash people into thinking a certain way.

PM 1: They blow things out of proportion that don’t need to be blown out of proportion. And the things that do need

attention, they just ignore it.

PM 3: If you’re really young and you constantly see the media, it changes the way you think. People are more and more shaped by it as they grow up.

What, if anything, are the biggest challenges transgender people are facing today?

PM 3: Bathrooms PM 2: Not being accepted by their peers PM 5: Questioning themselves after, like thinking ‘what if I wouldn’t have transitioned.’

PM 4: People might go home and really think about it, like if they made the right decision and if it was worth all they are going through.

How much of a role do you think the parents should play in the decision?

PM 2: When you’re under 18, they kind of need to play a role.

PM 1: They need to sign off on anything you do. But I think they need to support their child in their decision, no matter what they decide.

PM 4: I feel like you need to sit down with your kid, find out what they feel and what’s actually going on, if it’s just a phase or something they really want to do.

On Transgender Issues

On Athletics & Gender

On Gender Specific Toys

On Athletics & Gender

On Transgender Issues

On GenderNeutral Bathrooms

If that is who you want to be then that is who you are. You are not what other people tell you who you want to be.

Naturally boys are stronger so it wouldn’t be fair to the girls who have to compete against the person who used to be a boy.

I don’t think it’s fair that certain toys and colors should be restricted to one type of person.

Like football: If a girl wants to play football, I don’t think that’s a problem.

I can see why people could be uncomfortable with it because it’s unnatural. Transgender people, you don’t come across everyday.

I don’t think it’s a good idea because I think a lot of people don’t take that very seriously.

Oscar Rodriguez Sophomore

Joey Swann Senior

Emma Hubbard Freshman

Anna Newnam Sophomore

Betsy Black Junior

Barshia Young Sophomore

11

Entertainment

Trends through the Ages

GOLDEN FLEECE • February 26, 2016

In this piece the Golden Fleece investigates the familiar styles that have seemed to make a comeback from the 90’s, 80’s, 70’s, and even as far back as the 60’s.

source/atticpaper.com

source/converse.com

source/urbanoutfitters.com

John Lennon made round sunglasses iconic in the 1960’s, but they have made a comeback as a retro look. Rounder sunglasses were also featured in the movie Great Gatsby, which encouraged young people to start rocking this chic look.

Past fashion trends resurface among modern teens

ven though style and clothing trends have progressed through the years, various trends from past decades are making a comeback for 2016.

Students walking through the halls on any given day would find trends from the 90s, 80s, 70s, and even the 60s, proving that vintage fashions have resurfaced and are making their way back into modern style.

Junior Tedi Rollins is one of many students who choose to express herself by wearing vintage clothing.

“I like to wear things that not everyone else is wearing. Not exactly to try and be different, just because it’s fun to be unique,” Rollins said.

Despite the fact that the 2000s are a combination of fashion trends past and new, each decade seems to have its own distinct style

by IRIS HOWELL Staff Writer and characteristics.

“The nineties are definitely my favorite. I grew up watching Full House and Friends, and so I always steal inspiration from those shows,” Rollins said.

English teacher Tristan Plemmons , who attended high school in the late 80s and early 90s, mentions what trends were popular during when she was a teenager.

“When I was in high school, style was in its transcending period.

Gold was the hot jewelry, and fossil watches in wild colors. Swatches were big.

You were cool if you had a Swatch,” Plemmons said.

Sophomore Beth Scott favors retro styles of the past over modern looks.

“I think culture in the past was just so much more interesting, so people

Turtle necks are turning into a fashion statement as they become more fitting and modern. This versatile piece of clothing is great for any occasion and can be found at stores such as Urban Outfitters.

L.L. Bean duck boots continue to be held on backorder, due to the increased popularity of the vintage boots.

source/forever21.com

Scrunchies are making a comeback as a fashionable hair accessory. Originally popular in the 90’s, they now are available in stores ranging from TopShop to Walmart.

clothing is retro, meaning that it is new made to look old, or vintage, an item that is actually from the like to go back to that. One past, an item or vintage, thing that I think is pretty throwback fashion trends cool is that people are are definitely and back starting to bring here to stay. back trends Apparel from parts of the teacher Mary 70s, like circle “I think Smith shares has sunglasses,” she an open-minded culture in said. philosophy about the past Like Rollins modern style. and Scott, Junior was just so “I do think it’s Sierra Ackerimportant that much more people are alman embraces vintage styles interesting” lowed to express and explains her their personality appreciation for through what they Beth Scott the 1960s. wear. And one “I do love thing I like about the era of the TC is that there 60s. I like the are so many peace movement. Because different people here, evof that, the 60s and emeryone seems to be pretty bracing their culture have open and accepting as really become a big part of to letting kids express my life. I love the colors, themselves based on the tie die. I really dig it,” what they look like, Ackerman said. which is nice,” Smith Regardless of whether said.

Write to Iris at ihowell. communications@gmail.com

source/llbean.com

E

Big glasses around 2012 made a comeback look. The th as a geek and retro ic are still pop k frames were and ular am hipsters out ong all the there.

source/eyebuydirect.com

Instead of boys’ basketball shoes, converse have transformed into a basic fashion necessity for modern day Americans. White converse are especially popular nowadays among teens.

High waisted jeans and crop tops were popular in the 80’s, but these two pieces of clothing have taken over closets and drawers in the past couple years. “Mom jeans”, or relaxed and higher waisted jeans have started to appeal to a younger audience because they are flattering as well as comfortable.

Talk of movie for local author still rumor despite new sequel due soon Local author Robert Beatty’s novel, “Serafina and the

by CAROLINE BOWERS Write to Caroline at cbowers.

Black Cloak,” hit book shelves last July, but rumors of a News Desk Editor communications@gmail.com full length movie that would be filmed at the Biltmore Estate have surfaced in the past few months. was filmed entirely on the Biltmore Estate grounds.

“Serafina and the Black Cloak” takes place at the Beatty’s daughter Genevieve played the main role of Seragrand mansion of the Biltmore Estate in the early 1900’s. fina, while he served as the creative director, and his wife The main character, Serafina, who has peculiar cat-like made some of the costumes. features, secretly lives with her father in the Local video production company Bonesteel basement of the estate. Throughout the story, Films worked with Beatty to produce the trailer. she tries to discover who the man in the black Biltmore curator and Roberson mom Lori Garst cloak is and why he is kidnapping children from said that there are always some positives and “With proper the estate. while filming on the Biltmore grounds. planning...I negatives The author, Beatty, lives in Asheville and was She said the main complication is making sure inspired by his daughters to begin writing novam always that the process does not interfere with the els aimed at a younger audience. experience. glad to see a guests’ Barnes and Noble suggests Beatty’s book, Overall, the trailer has brought more attention which was published by Disney Hyperion, movie inside to the Estate, according to Senior Public Relashould be read by middle school students ages 9 Biltmore” tions Manager and TC alumna LeeAnn Donnelly. to 12. It has been classified as a mystery thriller “Any film shot at Biltmore brings attention to and has been rated the #1 Middle Grade Book the estate. The amount of that exposure deof 2015 on Goodreads.com. pends on how the film is distributed, whether Lori Garst The local Barnes and Noble store in Biltmore it’s through the various theater chains, on TV, Park has hosted several book signings, the most or online. The trailer for “Serafina and the Black recently taking place in December, and has a Cloak” was no different,” Donnelly said. display featuring Beatty’s book. Even though the book is As this local Ashevillian author gains prestige for his designed for younger ages, the book signings have been book, several Roberson graduates have also been successsuccessful “across the board” in terms of turnout based on ful in publishing their own works. On April 21, Media age, according to a Barnes and Noble representative.

Coordinator Mary Stewart said these Roberson alumni “We have been a place that he (Beatty) can host book authors will have a presentation in the auditorium for the signings, and he himself has done publicizing through his 1st and 2nd period English classes. different campaigns and through Facebook. We do have a Writers such as William Murdock will discuss their display that he personally has brought into the store that inspirations for publishing their own books, including is playing the trailer,” a local Barnes and Noble manager other writers and past teachers. An open time during said. smart period will also serve as an opportunity for students The trailer, which was aimed at promoting the book,

to chat with the authors and ask them questions.

While the trailer for “Serafina and the Black Cloak” stirred up excitement in fans of the book, an official announcement of a full length movie based on the novel has not been made.

Beatty’s website states that the dramatic rights for his novel are still up for grabs.

Lydia Carrington of Brucemont Communications said that Robert Beatty has no plans of creating a movie version of Serafina right now, but that could change in the future.

Beatty has been working on a new sequel to the Serafina book series, which is called “Serafina and the Twisted Staff.” He plans to release the book on July 12th, but plans of an early release midnight party at the Asheville Mall Barnes and Noble store are in the process.

Speculation of a movie version of Serafina continues to increase as more of Beatty’s books are published. If “Serafina and the Black Cloak” is filmed as a full length movie on location at the Estate, Garst is excited to see the whole process take place.

“Even though it can be a tremendous amount of work for our staff, with the proper planning and procedures in place, I am always glad to see a movie inside Biltmore,” Garst said.

News

12

GFin/Wave review

by XENNA SMITH Director of Audio and Tech

Write to Xenna at xsmith. communications@gmail.com

GOLDEN FLEECE • February 26, 2016

Look online for stories updated daily.

Below are some of the stories that don’t show up in this issue of the paper. You can read these by scanning the QR code with your smartphone or by visiting GoldenFleeceOnline.com

Album:“Four Pink Walls” Song: “Wild Things” Making a splash into the music scene, Alessia Cara’s debut album “Four Pink Walls” blew away listeners with her R&B meets pop vibe and a voice that is reminiscent of famous diva, Amy Winehouse. The song “Wild Things” may not be very popular compared to her Top 50 hit “Here” but it deserves just enough recognition. “Wild Things” is the perfect song to play on a road trip with your best friends, driving with the windows down. It encompasses a message that is unapologetically youthful, and simultaneously calming. come here because of how beautiful the scenery is,” Sessoms said.

The Roberson district is also feeling the effects from the growth of the South Asheville area.

TIMS Specialist for the Buncombe County Department of Transportation (DOT), Donna Banks, says that the recent growth is affecting the entire area of districts in southern Buncombe County, causing the department to make changes in the districts to better accommodate the influx of people.

“We have noticed a

from TABLETS pg 1 vant,” Board said.

Koontz Intermediate Media Specialist Conni Mulligan says the thing she was most excited for when the students received the laptops were mostly media related.

“All of the students now have access to electronic and audio books, so before they could not do it unless

major growth. Last year, we had to change part of the district line towards the south end of Sweeten Creek Rd., moving part of the Estes Elementary area over to the Glen Arden area,” Banks said.

According to Banks, the Buncombe County Schools Department of Education is constantly working to improve and balance attendance within the schools. With the large amounts of families moving to South Asheville, bus routes have had to change to be more accommodating.

they were at home. Now, they can have audio books right at their fingertips. I been teaching the fifth graders this week how to do that, and they are ecstatic to be able to just sit and listen to a book,” Mulligan said.

Despite the fact that it will take a couple of years until all of the grades receive their Thinkpads, Buncombe

Roberson’s Official News Site

www.goldenfleeceonline.com

Album: “Strange Desire” Song: “I Wanna Get Better” Jack Antonoff ’s solo side-project, the band Bleachers, made its claim to fame with their optimistic, angst filled anthem “I Wanna Get Better” that reached Billboard’s Top 20 in no time. Often described as “therapy-rock”, Antonoff ’s music makes listeners feel connected to the lyrics as if they were venting their feelings to a good-friend. The hit “I Wanna Get Better” is filled with snazzy hooks and over-the-top, deep feelings making you want to scream the lyrics at the top of your lungs.

from GROWTH pg 1 especially for Sweeten Creek,” Sessoms said.

With the proposal for the construction of multiple strip malls on both Long Shoals Rd. and Airport Rd. comes the removal of some of the landscape that some argue makes Asheville a prime tourist location.

“I understand so many people want to live here, but I hate how busy Asheville has gotten. I just think that there is way too many people, and a lot

gf•ONLINE

The GF Wave, Roberson’s audio broadcast, has played the following songs. Here is a quick review of those songs you may have heard on the weekly GF Wave! To hear these songs or for more visit goldenfleeceonline.com

BAKER WINS TEACHER OF THE MONTH

Photo gallery, audio coverage available online

“We have had to move some buses around, and have had to take roads off of specific bus routes and give them to other buses to accommodate the count,” Banks said.

The Roberson district alone is assigned about 15 percent of the buses in Buncombe County, and to keep up with the expansion, many of the buses have had to add more routes to their schedule.

“We want to make sure the safety of the kids is our priority,” Banks said.

STAFF BLOGS Staff Blogs this year include topics on photography, travel, Christian athletes, dogs, fashion, and much more!

SPORTS COVERAGE

County has to decided to take things slow and let the process take its course.

“We know that this is a process and we don’t want to rush it. We want to get it right. We have done a pretty good job to this point. There are going to be mistakes along the way, but you know we want to do our best,” Pace said.

Check back daily for sports updates, including Athlete of the Week and signings coverage.

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OLIVER PORTER: This photo, of an iconic spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway, was taken for a photography I project focusing on the use of lines.

Submissions

13

GOLDEN FLEECE • February 26, 2016

Studio Art VICTORIA ROBB: One of her AP Art breadth pieces, “I painted a picture of a lake because I enjoyed capturing the reflection of the moon on the water.”

photo/JESSICA ZUK/golden fleece

TEACHING TRIUMPH: Chorus teacher Aleisa Baker was suprised on February 23rd as the Mix 96.5 Teacher of the Month after student Daniel Lowman submitted her nominations.

CALAE KOPOCS: “My concentration is on exploring the relationship between the artist and the artistic process. I decided to depict it through monochrome and colorful patterns too.”

Writing Cain Family Reunion Foster Dalmas

JORDAN JOHNSON: “Owls are my favorite animal, so I decided to start my concentration focusing on them.”

WHITNEY HAKES: “I chose to paint this piece as part of my concentration because I really liked the ambiguity of it.”

ARIEL SHEFSKY: “I did my concentration on reactions to oppression. I really like working with faces, showing people’s expression and portraying how they feel.”

CALEIGH SEWELL: “My AP concentration is environmental degredation. My focus is to bring awareness to what humansare doing to deteriorate the natural world, whether they are doing it consciously or not.”

Poetry

Using a cane, she hobbled forward. Every step she took she breathed in and out of her whistle shaped nose. She wore no shoes; her feet stained black like soil and bore open cuts. She lacked a few and the ones she had seemed infested with gangrene. Shrouded in pieces of discarded fabric, her only good eye scanned our faces over and back. She smiled with the snaggletooth she had left and stood at the head of the table, popping the joints in her wrinkly hands before speaking.

“Welcome, to all of you. I’m happy to see old faces…”

She beckoned to the left of her, where a man wide as a bus sweated profusely, which caused his toupee to slip. He dressed in a business suit that looked above anything I could afford. His beady eyes shifted back and forth as if waiting for someone to recognize him; I did actually from TV interviews. “…and new members…”

She stared to the right of her, where a girl sat who was even younger than I was. Despite this being a formal event she wore a sweatshirt with as just plain pants and I wondered if she even had any fancy clothing. Her face bore no emotion.

The old woman looked behind the girl however, to a little boy, a toddler. He was far removed from us, playing with figures in his hands under the table. I now noticed how the toddler’s hair was the same dark brown as the young girl. The young girl turned to the boy and looked at him with either sympathy or contempt. “…But no matter how you are, I am honored to welcome you to my table, to our family. Let us feast.”

Everyone nodded. The crone took her seat at the end of the table in a throne shaped chair. I sat towards the opposite end, where a larger, black throne was situated for the head of the table. But not one sat in it.

Under silver trays we found our meals. We feasted on meat pies, cold soups, liver mush, cheap pastries and the main dish of raw lamb. We sunk our nails into the carcass, tearing out chunks and even whole limbs, dirtying our fingers in

blood before we licked the bones clean. Then we drank it down with old and fine wines made in Rome.

Everyone buzzed around like flies. I saw the preacher from the church downtown, the big one that raised enough money for a projector screen to enhance his sermons. A cop and a convict shared a bottle; I heard someone say the convict was new but the cop had been here plenty of times. I was surprised by how many celebrities I saw. The table extended far out, as though it was endless.

All of sudden, the room went quiet. The guests grew still, except for the child who paid us no mind, and our eyes turned to the doorway; A silhouette of a man stood in the shadows.

“He is here,” the crone wept. “It is our father, our lover, our origin and our future! It is the head of the family…”

No one noticed it for the rest of the night, but at that moment the old woman had a heart and attack and died.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. The man walked in and he was…a plain, ordinary man. The only thing remarkable about him was how the light crossed him in a peculiar way.

“You started without me?” he asked.

No one spoke or dared look him in the eye. Then he let out a hearty laugh and cheer rang out as we continued our feast and he took his seat at head of the table.

I stared at him and he smiled at me. He leaned over to my and whispered, “Look. Look at them all.”

I looked at the table, looked out at this family, and it seemed as though everyone bleed together.

“It warms my heart,” the head of the family whispered, “to see us here. To see so many different people joined together, not by blood, but by something stronger, by the nature of humanity itself, by sin. Here in our sin is every man and woman equal, is family.”

I looked at everyone sitting at the table and I was inclined to agree.

GRACIE THAYER: For her concentration Thayer is featuring skeletion drawings, “It is like incorporating life and death into one.”

Photography

This is Your Telephone Kayla Sessoms

This is your telephone. You download applications to the device that enables you to read other people’s gossip and drama that does not pertain to you. Then, you spend all day on it. You are supposed to scroll through your social media feed, even when you’ve seen everything already. Do this especially when a teacher is talking to you. Hold on to that phone while you drive. Keep it low, and tell yourself you’ll only use it at stop lights. Message your friend about the new gossip while you tell your parents you are doing homework. Look at inappropriate pictures on it, and slander others. Keep it in your hand when you go out to eat, pretend like you are listening to the other person at the table while you type away on the device under the table. Put the telephone on your desk at school, just in case someone messages you. Scrutinize the picture of a poor girl’s post, and see if the rumors are true that she’s pregnant. Make fun of a picture that you and your friends don’t consider “cute”. This is your telephone. This is how you use it.

SARAH SHEARER: For her photography I exam Shearer decided to focus on the beauty of sunsets.

HANA RAY: “Faceless” This photo was taken for a photography I project, where the focus was on portraits.

Sculpture

ALEISHA KNAUER: For these Art III 3D projects, a geometric slab structure (left) and organic coil jug (right) where crafted by Knauer with clay.

ELLIE STEWARD: “The theme of my personal project is to ‘Stop and Enjoy the Moment’. It is of great significance that we slow our lives down and stop to admire life.”

SARAH WADINGTON: For Wadington’s Photography I Exam, she features photos of cupcakes in unique and interesting settings

Sports

14

GOLDEN FLEECE • February 26, 2016

Here’s a snapshot at the winter sport season as wrestling, basketball, swimming, cheerleading, and indoor track teams battled the frigid cold, icy winds, and stiff competition.

Check out GoldenFleeceOnline.com for more galleries.

Special thanks to Katherine Grainger and Golden Fleece staff members for photo usage.

Student Signings NORTH CAROLINA

Tarheels

ABBY HUDSPETH • ROWING

Congratulations to the following students who have already committed to participate in their sport at the next level.

east tennesse

Buccaneers

CAMERON PARKER • FOOTBALL

ERKSINE

NORTH CAROLINA

Flying Fleet Tarheels SAM SCHMIDT • SOFTBALL

CALEIGH SEWELL • ROWING

Sports

15

GOLDEN FLEECE • February 26, 2016

New lights change start times for varsity softball

Sports

Shorts

A quick look at what the Rams are looking forward to for Spring.

Baseball player Aaron McKeithan shares, “The first baseball scrimmage was last Friday, and I was super excited to get out there with my teammates and see how much all of us have grown over the off season.”

Jake Blum shares, “Our first match is away at North Buncombe. I have very good feelings that this year will be the best out of my three so far.”

Nicole Broeffle, “Our first track meet is March 8th, and I’m super nervous but excited to be a part of the team, our school has a lot of really fast runners and I hope I can keep up. I’m going to work hard and try to improve all season.”

“The first game is March 1st against Owen. It will be a somewhat emotional game because our old assistant coach Padgett now works at Owen and is planning on being at the game. I’m pumped to see how our new team will do,” said softball player Nicole Quesinberry.

Lauren Croft shares, “Our first official game is next Monday against North Henderson. We have a lot of talent on the field this year, and some amazing underclassmen stepping up. I really think it’s going to be a good game, and a great way to start off the season.”

by MOLLY HORAK Write to Molly at mhorak.

The upcom“Last year, JV didn’t Exec. Editor, Digital Media communications@gmail.com ing season is get to finish a lot of their going to be very games because it got too different for the Lady Rams softball team. The recent dark. When that happens, if it’s a tie then they’ll try addition of new outdoor lights at the stadium will and finish the game, but if one team is winning then, now allow the team to play night games. they’ll just call them the winners,” junior Erica-Allyn Senior Peyton Bell is very excited to play under the Rhoney, who played on the team last year, said. new lights.

With the addition of the lights, JV teams in the “[The lights] are what we’re most excited about future will play first, with games starting at 4:00 pm. this year, because we’ll be playing later games this Varsity will follow after, and will have more time to year. Last year, we played a few later games, and that’s warm up and play. Klinger feels that the later start when we played our best. So we’re really will be beneficial for students and parents. excited how that will turn out this year,” “I think it will allow parents who work Bell said. the opportunity to come and not feel rushed.

According to varsity softball coach “Last year, JV And I think the athletes prefer to play at night Ryan Klinger, the process to install the ” Klinger said. didn’t get to anyway, lights has been relatively long.

In addition to the new lights, Klinger hopes “It’s been a few years, but now they are finish a lot of to further expand renovations to the softball installing the lights across the county, for their games facilities. baseball and softball,” Klinger said.

“We hope to have indoor batting, and because it cover our outdoor cages, do some more work “Overall, it’s been a pretty simple process. We’ve had good support from the got too dark.” in the bull pens, and eventually add a press athletic director here to help us out with box. And we’re trying to build a locker room that.” at the field too,” Klinger said.

Erica-Allyn The athletic programs at Roberson are The Roberson tennis courts were also Rhoney typically funded by athletics and the Rams refurbished earlier in the year, under a similar Club, yet the county is funding the instalcounty initiative and funding as the softball lation of the new lights in a push to equip lights. Senior Abhishek Das is excited to start all county softball and baseball fields at the upcoming season playing on brand-new both the middle and high school levels. facilities.

According to Athletic Director Laura Beatty, funds “They put in new courts because our courts were are not as plentiful as one might think. pretty degenerated over the last few years, and we “Athletics only gets money from gate receipts, and really needed the new courts. It will be better for us gate receipts, you would think that it’s a lot of money, this season in terms of injuries, because the old courts but we have to pay ticket takers, referees, extra coach- were pretty bad. It will just feel better when we play,” es, police, scorekeepers, all of the above. Plus, we pay Das said. for the Greensboro Coaching Clinic, so we’re lucky to Beatty believes that proper venues are essential to break even with athletics. Fortunately, we have a very Roberson athletics. strong booster club that supports all athletics here,” “We want the best athletic facilities in the county, Beatty said. and the softball field was lacking. Projects for the In the past, the varsity softball team would play the 2017-18 school year include a new track and new turf first game after school, followed by JV. However, if it for the football field,” Beatty said. got too dark, the JV game would often get cut short.

STADIUM CHANGES: .After county funded renovations, new lights were installed on the softball field allowing for night games to be held.

Fletcher Himan “Our first match is the 6th of Marth, and personally I am extremely excited because I have a feeling that our golf team will be one for the ages.”

Chul Yeun Park, “This is my first time doing track, and so far it has been quite enjoyable, but physically hard at the same time. Because it is my first year, I’m very nervous about how I will perform during meets.”

from REALIGN pg 16 division with swimming makes the whole process a bit more difficult.

“Being 4A, the time cuts are significantly harder. I know that specific to swimming but it makes qualifying for regionals and states harder to do then if we were 3A because they base that on, 4A schools are bigger, they should have faster swimmers. Which, makes sense but sometimes makes it harder,” Stanek said.

from PANTHERS pg 16 Thomas Davis, a Carolina Panther’s linebacker, was named NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2015 for all the good works he has done. Additionally, the Keep Pounding Fund raised $1.4 million to go toward cancer research.

The Keep Pounding Fund was founded after former Panther linebacker and attendant coach Sam Mills, who was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. Before passing from the ailment, Mills gave a famous speech which is now the motto of the Carolina Panthers football teams.

“When I found out I had cancer, there were two things I could do:

Swimming has won their conference meet 15 years in a row. Stanek shares his feelings as state approached. As for the time after state, there are initiatives that must take place before moving on to future seasons, some of which will turn into competing within the 3A division. Mitchell shares one of the more prominent initiative for the future.

“On the guys side, we had two seniors on our A relay. Replacing them is going to be something we need to be able to do next year.

We’re going to have to develop some

younger talent. We’ll just continue to train hard and look forward to next season,” Mitchell said.

As for Beatty, she hopes to expand her coaching staff, especially those already on campus for the school day.

“I think that the 3A classification will help us a lot. If we could hire more on-staff coaches, that are teachers opposed to non-faculty and increase coaching supplement for head and assistant coaches, to attract those more qualified coaches,” Beatty said.

quit or keep pounding. I’m a fighter, I kept pounding--you’re fighters too, keep pounding,” Mills told the team in his speech.

According to David Newton’s story on ESPN, before every home game, a pounding of a drum by fans or players who have struggled through their own adversities signifies pounding through the hard times. The motto is literally sewn into the player’s jerseys.

Greg Olsen, tight end for the Carolina Panthers, began the HEARTest Yard Fund after finding out his son would be born with a major heart defect. The fund is meant to financially assist families with children who have similar heart complications, according to ESPN.

“So there’s a lot of players for the Panthers who do a lot of really good things away from the field,” Dixon said.

For this 2016 season Dixon had season tickets and she was able to even attend the playoff games. She predicted a Super Bowl score of 2720, Panthers.

“It’s our hometown team, but I feel a connection to the players,” Dixon said.

Unlike bandwagon fans who have appeared this year with the Panther’s 15-1 regular season record, Dixon has been a fan since the beginning.

“When I bought these season tickets I had no idea that this would happen. I’ve been a fan since they started,” Dixon said.

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The varsity girls’ basketball team played Madison earlier in the season, one of the first significant wins for the Rams.

Sports

16

GOLDEN FLEECE • February 26, 2016

Dinwiddie takes over varsity football program

Carolina Panthers reach out to others

by RAHQUELAH CONYERS Director of Photography

by JAMIE CUMMINGS Social Media Desk Editor Write to Jamie at jcummings.communications @gmail.com

Write to Rahquelah at rconyers.communications @gmail.com

Although football is a fall sport, preparations for the upcoming 2016 -17 seasons are already being made, including the accommodation of new head Varsity football coach Jason Dinwiddie.

Former coach Chris Deal was unable to continue coaching at Roberson due to his required medical leave as a result of back surgery, according to Citizen Times.

Dinwiddie previously coached at North Henderson for four years before deciding to transition to Roberson. According to Dinwiddie, leaving his former school was hard, but the change was best for his interests and his family.

“They were upset. Some were mad, some were sad, some were indifferent. You know at the end of the day, I think they understood that I had to do what was best for myself and my family,” said Dinwiddie.

“There are a lot of things I’ll miss about North Henderson, I valued my time there, but I’m looking forward to becoming a part of this family and doing some really good and positive things for TC Roberson.”

Roberson’s reputation of distinction was an incentive that motivated Dinwiddie to make the school his new home. With a record of 3-9, the football program struggled but, according to Dinwiddie, he has plans to facilitate the team. “(Roberson is) a community that has a lot of tradition and high expectations. I feel like TC’s probably underachieved in football for the last few years,” Dinwiddie said. “I viewed it as a challenge to hopefully build the program up and bring back the tradition of excellence, and make football something the whole community can be proud of.”

The prospective players for the new season can expect not only athletic training from Dinwiddie, but also discipline in overall aspects of life. According to Dinwiddie, this is as necessary to the success of the team as adequate training.

“Anytime you start something like this, you gotta first change the culture, the level of expectations. I don’t know what the past standards have been but I carry very high standards, not just professionally, but personally,” said Dinwiddie. “We want our young men to do the same, and we want to represent TC Roberson in a lot of fashions.”

@acthshuddle Roberson swimmers set 10 school records at 4-A state swim meet

School to move back to 3A in next realignment In school years so 3A we’re too big

by SARAH HUNTER Write to Sarah at shunter.

2017-2021, TC will to fit obviously but Opinion Desk Editor communications@gmail.com make changes to in 4A we’re still and junior their division. The 4A really small. We can varsity teams with over 500 status will move back down to compete with them but it takes the 3A division. Athletic Director students participating in athletics away chances for going to state. . With TC being in the 4A diviLaura Beatty thinks this change In cross country, that’s the reason will be a good step for the school. sion and a potential to go back we didn’t get to go,” Lewis said. to being 3A there are varying “I’m very excited because Lewis shares how we stand opinions. our (average daily membership) out as a school in our athletics.

“The 4A division is harder numbers reflect the 3A classifiLike Richardson, she believes the because there’s not as many cation. It also reestablishes the coaches have a lot to do with the rivalries that we have locally here schools that compete in it so the athletics here at Roberson. ones that are bigger usually have with all the 3A schools. I’m very “I think the coaches do a lot more people that come in from excited about it,” Beatty said. to prepare us and they take it as their teams so they have a larger Beatty explained that being serious as the students do. It’s classified as a 4A was difficult due variety of skill on kinda like a big deal and their team,” Richardto the fact that the school was not only do the students son said. one of the smallest in that diviunderstand that, the “I think that As Richardson sion. In fact, TC is closer to the coaches push them to do reminisces about her we are going that,” Lewis said.

1A division than the top of the to come previous state compe4A division.

As for the future, TC tition, she has hope in back and I Roberson will be going “We are within three or four hope that we her face for her team hundred students of a 3A school. back to a 3A school. This on February 27th, the can finish off would mean competing But 4A, they’re twice our size-the legacy upcoming and her with 1,500 more students than with different teams. that our last state competition us. We’re actually closer to 1A “We’re going to a 3A alumni have as a TC Roberson schools then we are to the top of school again. I’m excited created for but yet I still want to be cheerleader.

4A schools,” Beatty said.

“I think we’re us,” Senior cheerleader Montana able to compete against going to be ready for Richardson shares what she larger schools but because Montana this state since we had thinks it’s been like competing in we’re going to be a 3A, I Richardson think it’ll be easier to gage such a let down on a 4A versus competing in a 3A the last one. I think school. Previously TC was in the where we really are against that we are going to 3A division, and in 2017, it will other fellow schools, like come back and I hope that we adjust back to being 3A school.

Reynolds. In soccer last year can finish off the legacy that our Specifically to cheer, one comthey won state, congratulations alumni have created for us, my peting difference is whether the to them and all, but I mean I feel last state as a TC cheerleader,” team is co-ed or not. like it’s hard to know, could TC Richardson said.

“The co-ed division is always go as far as they could, but it’s Sophomore and track rungoing to be harder than the all hard to know being a 4A,” Lewis ner, Sarah Lewis, explains her girl teams because you don’t said. thoughts on the difference know how many boys are going Recently, TC Roberson Swimbetween TC being a 4A versus a to be on your competition team. mers went to compete in state.

3A school.

We only have two, some of them Sophomore, Mitchell Stanek is a “When I run cross country, in have eight. So, it scares me but it swimmer for TC Roberson. For makes me want to work harder so 4A there’s such a wide gap, such him, being in the 4A a large variety of schools that that we can have a bigger accomcan fit into 4A, where like 3A, in plishment,” Richardson said. either one we’re kinda an outlier, TC Roberson has 32 varsity see REALIGN on pg 15

@Vittoriaduque2 Good luck to all my girlies at indoor states today!! Y’all are going to kill it!

@fhiman23 Shout out to the bro @Himanll_95 for getting his first varsity win! 1st of many! Love you man!

@amahoney4 @ladyyramssbball gonna miss the incredible people on this team next year! Some of my absolutely favorite people

#RAMNATION

Each month, we will feature your posts about our sports. Just use #RamNation

@RamFam2016 couldnt be more proud of our Rams for defeating Enka after an intense game into double OT. Thanks to our amazing fans for their support!

Comments about the Carolina Panthers are plastered on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook-everywhere posting about a sports team is socially acceptable. The motto “Keep Pounding” is still ringing in the ears of Carolinians.

“I grew up watching the Carolina Panthers, and I’ve watched them evolve and transform into the best team,” junior Jake Blum said.

Blum attended Super Bowl 50 this year. The Denver Broncos won the game against the Carolina Panthers, 24-10. Before going, Blum predicted the Carolina Panthers would come home with a win and a score of 38-10.

However, talk about the Carolina Panthers is not all positive. Especially when discussing the controversies of a “somewhat arrogant” Panther’s quarterback, Cam Newton, according to the Denver Broncos fan, senior Alyx Fisk.

“I’m not a really big fan of him (Newton). I know it’s because he is young, but I think he is cocky,” Alyx Fisk said.

Between the multiple stories on ESPN and other sports broadcasting networks Newton tends to receive negative press. Even math teacher and Carolina Panther fanatic, Pamela Dixon said Newton can be a little “showy.”

“At first I didn’t like Cam, and I must admit if I pulled for anybody else, I would probably hate him, too. But watching him in person at the games -- he is so fun,” Dixon said. “I think he has grown up a lot and really matured.”

A Seahawks fan, one fed up Andrew Tilton, started a petition to ban Newton from Century Link Field in Seattle, Washington after a game versus the Panthers.

2,380 people signed the appeal.

“People either love him or hate him, there’s not a lot of middle ground,” Dixon said.

According to Fisk, even though fans of other teams often dislike Newton, it might just be because he is good. After all, he was awarded the NFL’s Most Valuable Player.

“You can’t really be irritated with Cam Newton if you let him score,” Fisk said. “I think he’s a really good quarterback, just young. He’ll grow up.”

Blum defended Newton by saying he made him want to watch the games just to see what he will do next.

Blum said people are too hard on him.

“No one likes to see the good in people... they only like to point out their ‘flaws’,” Blum said.

Dixon also said the media gives Newton a bad reputation.

“I think it makes better press to find bad things. It makes for a better story,” Dixon said.

see PANTHERS on pg 15