PROSPECTIVE Bryant High School • 801 N. Reynolds Rd. Bryant, Ark. 72022 • Vol. 25, Issue 4 • Feb. 10, 2017
MILLAGE RETURNS Bryant is up for yet another millage vote March 14. Julia Nall analyzes the numbers and how this vote is different. pp. 5 BATTLE FOR VALEDICTORIAN Two seniors are locked in a tight match for valedictorian. Abby Hagner breaks the situation down. pp. 2
THE BIG GAME Students reveal their favorite football teams and Super Bowl traditions in Nathan Bush’s story. pp. 8
& E R AC L VE pp. 3
What’s the Buzz? @ us next time
Grace Sams | 9 @grace_sams
want to be featured?
“Me: what is something traumatic that has happened in your family joely: my sister was born”
Hayden Ray | 12 @hayden_ray13 “God has blessed me with the ability to
Tag @ProspectiveAR in your kick, and I can’t wait to take it to UCA! top tweets for a chance to #GoBears” end up in the next paper. Camari Dodds | 11 @CamariDodds
Jade Ma | 10 @jaded_ma
“driving in thick fog makes me feel like i’m in the first 30 seconds of an episode of Supernatural”
Erin Murphree | 12 @erinmikayla11 “play with my hair, not my heart!!!!”
Logan Rich | 11 @logxnsesh
“You done ran out of data, trying to keep up with me”
“I wanna become president just so I can see Area 51 and then I’ll resign”
Will McEntire | 10 @mcentire_will
James Lasley | 12 @TheJamesLasley
“Already ready for spring break”
“The Falcons are the Razorbacks of the NFL”
HISTORY & HERITAGE
Black History Month in modern America
INFLUENTIAL
African-Americans
MONICA MARTINEZ | STAFF WRITER
Since 1926, February has been a month for recognizing the achievements of black Americans and their role in U.S. history. For many, Black History Month is geared toward remembering the civil rights movement and African American suffrage in 1870. With every year that passes, the celebratory month gains new meaning. For sophomore Andrea Thomas, Black History Month is for learning about her family and heritage. “The first thing that comes to mind when I think of [black history] is my family, because not only is [it] in the textbooks, [it is] right at home,” Thomas said. “I talk to my grandmother, and she [always tells] me about my heritage.” Junior Madison Green believes February is about appreciating the accomplishments of African Americans. “[It is] about appreciating [black Americans because] they haven’t been in the past,” Green said. “I usually think of the spokespeople for them, like black female actresses that have the power to
impact and spread the word.” In the past year, the Black Lives Matter movement has received increased publicity after several acts of racial discrimination toward African Americans occurred across the country. Advocates of the movement took part in protests against police brutality in states like Texas, Minnesota, and Louisiana. Thomas believes the movement will serve as a positive influence in the future of black history. “[The movement] was meant to show that we do have an influence on
the world,” Thomas said. “It [was] a positive act toward the better treatment of the African American race.” Junior Dionte Collier, however, does not view the movement as positively. “I think [it will] hinder [the] growth and security of [African Americans] because [they] will lose security in the belief that we are just as much of a person as the majority that runs this country,” Collier said. Even though Black History Month is a national holiday, several students are unaware of when it is and why it is celebrated. Green proposes for the school to get involved. “I [know] the school tries to stay out of anything that can cause a stir, but I think [they] should put [Black History Month] out there more. I don’t think half the school knows [enough about it],” Green said. Regardless of differing opinions, students take pride in the history of the country they live in and its people. “I don’t think there should be a Black History Month,” Collier said. “Why would you [limit black history] to [just] one month?” Senior Natajah Johnson | photo Maya Jackson
Davis is a radical author, activist and former educator. She led the counterculture movement in the 60’s.
ANGELA
DAV I S President Obama served as the first AfricanAmerican president from 2009 to 2017.
BARACK
OBAMA Bates led the Little Rock Nine during the Central High School desegregation crisis, in addition to working as an activist.
D A I S Y
BATES George Zimmerman fatally shot Martin in 2012, sparking a national debate on race relations and gun control.
T R AY V O N
MARTIN
2 | FEATURE | PROSPECTIVE
URBAN EXPLORATION Students explore abandoned buildings
Allison Buford explores an abandoned elementary school in Malvern, Ark. Buford has been to many abandoned places in Malvern, but this school is her favorite. “There’s so much just lying around in this school,” Buford said. “I love looking through all the photos and binders lying on the floor.” | Chase Kincaid photo
Urban exploration, also known as urbex, is exploring manmade ruins typically not seen by the public. In big cities like New York, an example of urbex is climbing to the roof of a skyscraper and enjoying the view. In smaller towns, however, urban exploration can be exploring abandoned buildings or other manmade structures. Junior Allison Buford describes herself as an adrenaline junkie and is an avid explorer. “It’s so exciting going places that I’ve never been to or even heard of,” Buford said. After she moved away from Arkansas to Lacey, Washington in 2015, Buford began to explore parts of her new home that she had never seen. “I guess it started because I was so bored,” Buford said. “I moved to Washington right before sophomore year, and I didn’t know anyone there yet. I would just get in my car and drive until I found something cool and then I would stop and explore it.”
COLE CAMPBELL | STAFF WRITER When Buford moved back to Ark. after sophomore year, she brought her exploring habits with her and even got her friends interested in urbex. “She dragged a group of us to the abandoned asylum in Alexander,” junior Rylee Holland said. “It was dark and none of us wanted to go in, but Allison insisted.” After experiencing the thrill of exploring the Alexander Human Development Center, the group became fascinated with finding other abandoned buildings to check out. They began to research sites around the state and take miniature road trips to them. “We usually have a playlist ready of throwback songs that gets the car excited and singing,” junior Michael Durgach said. “It [is] a great way to loosen up before we go into some creepy building.” The group has been to many buildings around Bryant, as well as sites further away, such as an abandoned zoo in Clinton, Ark. “I loved the zoo, because we were able to talk to the man who had recently bought the property,” Durgach said. “He explained to us that they were transforming one of the buildings into a small home for those with low income who could not afford otherwise.” While they love to rummage through the things in old buildings, the group never vandalizes or destroys what they find. “While it is fun to explore these buildings, it [is] important to treat these places with respect,” junior Amberly Holiman said. “I love going and looking around, but it [is] sad to see these locations destroyed by vandals.”
MORE THAN WAR
Students plan their futures in the military
Freshman Amber Billingsley | Nicholas Shea photo
SARAH GRAHAM | PRINT EDITOR Some Americans may associate the military with guns, violence and war. Students preparing to enter the military often battle to break the stereotypes and fight to persuade Americans to think about it differently. Senior Dylan Jenkins claims there is more to the military than combat. “Whenever I tell some people that I’m in the Army, the first thing they tell me is ‘Don’t die,”’ Jenkins said. “Everyone thinks the military is infantry, 11 Bravo, but I am an information technology specialist. I’m going to be in an air conditioned room giving people WiFi, [not] seeing any frontlines or battles.” There are various alternatives to stepping foot in the combat zone. “There are paralegals, health care specialists, dental hygienists, lawyers, veterinarians and you can even join the military band if you want to,” Jenkins said. “There’s countless options within the Army. Not everything’s about guns.” Jenkins wishes to pursue the military for more reasons than battling false stereotypes. “My family heritage is one reason,” Jenkins said. “But I also [want] to join to protect the ideals and people I love and to pay for college. If I only had one reason for joining, at some point I might give up. In order to be successful in the military, or to be successful in anything you do, you need multiple reasons to have that
determination and drive to go forward.” Unline Jenkins, senior Dawson Moore’s decision to join the military is based entirely on his grandfather, a Navy veteran. Moore plans to pursue aircraft engineering to continue his family tradition. “The military is a way for me to actually protect the people I know can’t protect themselves,” Moore said. “Especially seeing [that] my family members aren’t exactly able to do that, they’re either physically disabled or too old. The world is getting more scary by the day, so it’s a way to help.” Despite Moore’s wish to join the Navy and protect his loved ones, he has received negative feedback on his choice of occupation. “What people think of the military is one of my biggest annoyances,” Moore said. “People like to protest against other people’s job choices, and I think that’s wrong. If someone wants to join the military, you should respect that choice.” Being a 5-foot, 95-pound female with dreams of being a police officer in the Navy, freshman Amber Billingsley faces discrimination. “Most people believe you have to be a tall, strong male to succeed in the military, but that’s not the case,” Billingsley said. “I guarantee I could do better in the military than over half of Bryant’s football boys.” Senior Dylan Jenkins | Nicholas Shea photo
B A T T L E F OR VALEDICTORIAN Two seniors are locked head-tohead in competition for the highest GPA
Seniors Carson Molder and Kara Maurer face off for Valedictorian. “[Valedictorian] is something you do for yourself,” Maurer said. | Maya Jackson photo
As graduation approaches, two seniors fight for the worthy title of “Valedictorian.” The contenders for this year are Carson Molder and Kara Maurer. The graduating senior with the top GPA will receive the title. If a tie occurs, all the tied students get to speak, as long as the number is reasonable. In order to prevent students from being penalized for taking a larger number of credit courses, all seniors who have cumulative grade point averages exceeding 4.0 will have their GPA re-figured on the 23 credits required for graduation. Any grade lower than an “A” must be included in the 23 credits, and all Advanced Placement grades will be counted in the 23 credits. This refigured cumulative grade point average will be used to assign class rank to all students above a 4.0, and the top two cumulative grade point averages will speak. Molder and Maurer have each taken 12 AP classes throughout high school. Both students have a 4.0 GPA and strive to have a career in engineering. “I’d like to [have] my own firm and run my own business,” Maurer said. “I’d definitely like to do something in mathematics.” Molder’s secret to academic success is to have fun while accomplishing schoolwork.
“I work hard every day and go to school with this philosophy that I could sit there and do the math and homework,” Molder said. “Call me a nerd or whatever, but I have fun.” Practicing and setting time aside creates a road to successful studying. “A lot of people have a problem with [procrastination], but if you do your work early, you have plenty of time to do whatever you need afterwards, instead of slacking off in class and then panicking to get it all done,” Maurer said. “ For people who struggle with grasping concepts, it takes more time studying. If you don’t procrastinate, you have more time to finish your work.” For Maurer, being valedictorian is something to do for yourself, not for other people. “Valedictorian only matters for 30 seconds of your life,” Maurer said. “It is mostly something you do for yourself. It’s a confidence boost. [The work] was more of a valuable experience than actually being valedictorian.” Molder never considered valedictorian as a battle between himself and Maurer. “Me and Kara are good friends, and honestly if [she] ended up getting it and not me, I’m not going to sweat it,” Molder said. “The title isn’t as important to me as the accomplishment to myself.”
ABBY HAGNER | STAFF WRITER
Race&Love
3 | SPECIAL COVERAGE | 02.10.17
Civil Rights in America: a hotly debated issue that has not relaxed since the discussion first began. From the Emancipation Proclamation to Japanese internment to the lunch counter
sit-in, from the Stonewall Riots to the Women's Liberation Movement to Black Lives Matter. Civil rights, regardless of whether you think Americans are lacking them now or not, are
Ke e l i&KAL E B
AN NYM US An anonymous white student began dating an AfricanAmerican student last spring. His parents, however, were uncomfortable with him dating outside of his race and forced the two to break up. He was forbidden from speaking to her, while her parents were comfortable with them dating. They attempted to maintain a secret relationship but eventually had to break up entirely. Because of the sensitive nature of their interviews, the two decided to remain anonymous.
Junior Keeli Robertson and senior Kaleb Turner have been dating for almost a year. They both claim that, despite their different races, they have not faced any oppression because of their relationship. On Valentine’s Day, [we will have dated We’re two busy people, so we let each
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for] 11 months. He’s my best friend. I’m just really comfortable around him. I know that no matter what I’m going through, he is going to hold my hand through it. At first, I wasn’t really worried about people at school and what they were going to say. I was mostly worried about what my parents were going to say. They’re not racist; they were worried about if I would get things said to me at school that would offend me. Sometimes people will make jokes, but they’re just playing around. No one has ever said anything offensive to me. I think that the people that have something rude to say about it just don’t have anything else better to do with their time. My parents have always told me that size, race, religion and all that stuff doesn’t matter. If you’re happy, it doesn’t matter what the person looks like or what race they are. If you’re happy and you’re making that other person happy, then nothing else really matters.
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other know our schedules and work in time for each other. We always trust that we are doing the right things when we’re together and when we’re not. It keeps the relationship balanced. [Keeli] is too good for me. She’s beautiful, encouraging, honest, determined to better herself and others around her, she’s friendly and has high character. She’s everything a guy could want and more. [Our relationship] hasn’t changed [because of our different races]. We’ve adapted to our differences and [how] people look [at] us. I feel like it’s made us stronger as a couple and a person. We’ve learned to take criticism and not worry about it as long as we’re happy. No matter what face you are or how many differences you have with someone, if you’re happy, go for it. Be different. Be the one who changes [the] outlook on things. That’s why [we] excel [in] our relationship. We can go through change.
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[Our relationship was difficult] mainly because of societal pressures. People still shy away from the idea of interracial dating and things like that because it was something that was unknown to them I suppose. [My parents] were completely against it. They never really gave me a reason why they were against it, but they were just venomously against the idea. It was mostly because of the time that they grew up in and their town because they didn’t accept [interracial dating] at all. There was no way we could have worked out because of it.
When our relationship grew, he had gotten into a lot of trouble because his parents did not approve of him dating a black girl. We were limited on where we could hang out, and whenever we wanted to hang out it would have to be in our cars. We had to be really careful about who we told about our relationship because we didn't want to risk him being in even more trouble. Other than that, our races didn't really change how we felt about each other because we didn't see it as a problem. We looked past the color of our skin and only focused on things that we had in common.
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Keeli Robertson, 11
going to continute to be discussed. We talked to students about an issue often overlooked, but still present in the South: interracial dating. Here is what your peers have experienced.
Anonymous boy
Kaleb Turner, 12
Anonymous girl
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historically speaking
Interracial marriages have not always been legal. June 12 of this year will mark the 60th anniversary of the national legalization of interracial marriage. Here's a look back at the court case that made it possible.
55%
1958 Richard and Mildred Loving were married on July 11, 1958. Richard was white and Mildred was African-American with Native American ancestry, which violated Virginia's anti-interracial marriage laws.
of multiracial Americans have been made fun of because of their heritage, according to a 2015 Pew Research Survey
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After hearing arguments in April, the court unanimously ruled in favor of the Lovings on June 12. This struck down all laws banning interracial marriage on a national level. In 2015, the Court referenced the Loving's case as precedent when it ruled in favor of LGBT marriage equality.
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Nominated for a Grammy, this classic love song peaked with the number one position on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
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“Selena is one of those people that are well known no matter the race,” senior Betsy Zavala said. “Most of her songs are recognized once heard, not by the title, but just her name itself brings so much love and joy. Selena was one of those humble famous people that spread love from toddlers to elders.”
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eran She Ed
Along with the song peaking at no. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the rock-love song was featured on the self-titled album that went platinum eight times in the U.S.
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The Lovings sought legal counsel and the ACLU took their case. Lawyers Phil Hirschkop and Bernie Cohen represented them. Appeals to both the district and appellate courts were unsuccessful. The case then went to the Supreme Court.
The couple was arrested five weeks later. The Lovings pled guilty to violating Virginia law and were allowed to flee to Washington, D.C. as opposed to serving jail time.
A year after the 2014 release, Sheeran set a record with “Thinking Out Loud.” It was the first single to spend a full year in the U.K. top 40.
“I like Sam, because he sings about what he knows, country wise, family wise and everything he believes in,” junior Addison Atchley said. “He expresses his feelings through his songs, and it reflects who he is.”
top five love songs according to charts and students
4 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | PROSPECTIVE
MESSAGE MAN
Students discuss Twenty-One Pilots concert coming soon to Verizon HANNAH SULLIVAN | STAFF WRITER Twenty-One Pilots is coming to Verizon Arena in Little Rock Mar. 3 for their Emotional Roadshow tour. Sophomore Kat Richey plans to attend the show. She learned about the band from a friend. “One of my friends, Alex Ball, showed me [the song] ‘Car Radio’ in Yearbook last year,” Richey said. “I absolutely fell in love.” The band does not have a specific genre. They are classified as electropop, indie pop, alternative hip-hop and rock. Sophomore Alex Ball assumes that Twenty-One Pilots is popular because of the wide appeal of their music. “I think that [Twenty-One Pilots] has a wide variety of music and genre, and they pretty much reach each scale,” Ball said. “They reach both sides of the spectrum.” Twenty-One Pilots started as a small high school band from Columbus, Ohio with four members. They self-released two albums before being signed in 2012 but lost two members, Nick Thomas and Chris Salih. Despite their leaving, Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph led the band
into fame, being nominated 46 times and winning 14 awards since 2014 from the Alternative Press, Billboard music awards, Brit awards, Grammy awards, iHeartRadio, Kerrang, LOS40 and Teen Choice Awards among others. “I did not listen to them whenever they had four members, but I still listen to their music [from when they had four members],” Ball said. Many Twenty-One Pilots songs are relatable to teenagers. For example, students who want to go to college can stress over the ACT test, getting college acceptance letters and paying for tuition. Twenty-One Pilots’ popular song ‘Stressed Out’ focuses on how teenagers and young adults sometimes miss being a kid and are pushed into adulthood. “[Twenty-One Pilots music] is really deep,” senior Sydney Wilson said. “I love listening to it when I need it, when I’m feeling down. It’s not really happy music, but knowing they sing [the] kind of stuff [that is] similar to what I’m going through [helps]”. Members of the band were 19 and 20-yearolds when they started. They are known
to get their fans hyped during the concerts. “They are so energetic, so I’m sure the concert will be really good and upbeat the entire time,” senior Erin Murphree said. The members of the band write and compose their own music and lyrics, which makes them more authentic. “[Twenty-One Pilots] is so original,” Ball said. “Whenever you hear something that is just out of the norm, you kinda just have to stop and pause and listen to it. Then you get curious and you just [want to] know more about them, their personalities and just the lyrics they write. It [all] just means a lot to me.” Twenty-One pilots has four albums and 54 songs, with different genres for each album. “I recommend to not listen to the [songs] that are on the radio, [and listen to] their older ones [for] people who are going through hard times,” Wilson said. “It’s really [soothing] in that aspect.”
BRAD BREWER | PRINT EDITOR Loyal fans of the “Resident Evil” series have lost faith in their beloved franchise after its departure from true survival horror to generic action. With gamers having every right to be skeptical about the new title “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard,” developers Capcom looked to reclaim the survival horror crown and set their fans at ease with a unique return to the series’ roots. You play as a man named Ethan Winters who receives an email from his wife, Mia, who has been missing and presumed dead for two years. Of course, in the interest of love, Ethan drives down to the fictional Dulvey, Louisiana to save his beloved, only to realize the true horrors she has faced. “Resident Evil 7”’s largest accomplishment by far is the attention to detail. There is a striking contrast from the beauty of the bayou, to the nauseating sights of a disgusting shack,
The biggest hits of February 2017, according to Billboard
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
“Bad and Boujee” Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert
“Shape of You” Ed Sheeran
“Closer” The Chainsmokers
“Bad Things” Machine Gun Kelly
“I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” Zayn ft. Taylor Swift
“Black Beatles” Rae Sremmurd ft. Gucci Mane “Don’t Wanna Know” Maroon 5
“Starboy” The Weeknd
BACK ON TRACK Resident Evil 7 delivers the greatest horror mystery in recent memory
Top Ten
“Fake Love” Drake
Door in a scene of Resident Evil 7
and a colonial house that may seem welcoming at first, but loses its appeal when a crazy cannibal family ties you down and tries to shove part of a human brain down your throat. There is little time to relax, as almost every setting in the game finds a way to keep you on edge. Each room may contain a giant nest of bugs, supernatural tar or dismembered parts of humans. Crazily enough, the most relaxing parts of the game come in the combat. In these scenes, there was little time to be spooked by my surroundings or the grotesque figure I was fighting, because I was too busy firing what seemed like hundreds of bullets into the near-immortal cannibalistic old man chasing me around the room with a chainsaw. I found that the adrenaline experienced during and after these fights shielded me from fear, because I was ready to take on whatever was next with my trusty shotgun.
Honestly, the game became quite annoying during its boss encounters, because you will face the same boss multiple times. The father who cannot decide if he wants to kill you or himself seemingly dies multiple times before he rises up from the dead even more disfigured than before and chases you around before you kill him again. I still don’t even know if he is truly dead. That’s how uncertain the game will make you, for better or for worse. While the villains are well-developed and absolutely terrifying, Ethan disappointed me as the protagonist. During the entire game, Ethan makes witty remarks and jokes and seems virtually unscathed by his situation. While I can understand the reasoning for having an immaculate protagonist, by shining the light of bravery and sarcasm, Ethan creates comic relief at the expense of breaking immersion with the game.
“Scars To Your Beautiful” Alessia Cara
Ethan never seems phased by losing a limb, being attacked by a spider-like woman, and having the love of his life, who at one point is crazy enough to chop Ethan’s hand off, dragged away by a deranged teenager. But I don’t want to detract from the antagonist family in the game, because all of them are uniquely messed up in the head and possess special abilities. Each member of the possessed Baker family faces their own transgressions, whether it is the mother who is insecure about her “children” running away or the son who wants to be a cool kid and party all of the time by playing “Jigsaw” like games with his prisoners. The Bakers turn out to be surprisingly human, but an unknown enemy hiding both in the shadows and in plain sight controls them and amplifies their evil, and it wants to spread to you.
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2.10.17 | NEWS | 5
FIRST DAYS IN OFFICE
President Donald Trump’s policies fuel division ALEXIS BURCH | ONLINE EDITOR
Locked borders. Protesters standing on firm ground.
Pen on paper wrought with controversy. The 45th President has taken office as the divide within the nation continues to grow. Whether it is on trade or immigration, President Donald Trump has worked toward the “repeal and reform” policy he promised in his campaign. Just days after his inauguration, Trump got to work signing executive orders, the first four of which were signed before the end of his first week in office. The orders included the repeal of the ACA, the decision to leave the Trans-Pacific Partnership and to expedite the construction of the North Dakota Oil Pipeline that former President Barack Obama had delayed. Trump’s plans have received some ridicule, but junior Hallie Samuel stands by what he has outlined for the country. “I generally believe he is going to work toward what he has promised, and I specifically support him for his policies,” Samuel said. “If he keeps to what he says and doesn’t abuse his power, I think he will [be a successful president], and I think he has the self-motivation where he feels he has to be.” An executive order passes the typical levels of government. The legislative body cannot overturn the order, they can only cut funding to it, which is a law that the president can veto. However, all orders are subject to judicial review. Executive orders have always been
all-region
TRYOUTS
Students from the Concert, Symphonic and Wind Ensemble bands attended AllRegion tryouts Jan. 14. Tryouts scored players on their musical skill and ability to read music on-sight. Attendees shared their experiences. “It’s a couple hundred woodwind players sitting in an auditorium playing randomly,” senior Timmon King said. “I started practicing in October, and I practiced four hours a week,” senior Allison Mundy said. “My chair position went up two spots this year from last year, maybe just because I’ve matured,” junior Maddie Miller said. “The sight music they gave us was easier than the music I worked on,” sophomore Jordan Sievers said. “I thought the [sight reading] was pretty easy, because I’ve been practicing on my own.” For the full story, visit prospectiveonline.com
controversial, but Samuel views it as Trump keeping the promises of his campaign. “Some people may not agree with what he has done, [but] he has already taken initiatives towards implementing his major campaign policies,” Samuel said. Protesters took to the streets around the nation Jan. 21 as part of the Women’s March on Washington. According to the New York Times, the march stood for equal pay, affordable birth control, full access health care for transgender patients, and racial and economic equality. Though many believe the march was “antiTrump,” senior Rachel Curtis, who participated in the Little Rock event, assures that the marches are part of something much larger. “There’s just so much division in America right now, and this is just a time where women can come together over one thing,” Curtis said. “It’s just about empowerment. I don’t want anyone to think that the march was about hating Trump. It was not an antiTrump march.” Curtis believes that the next four years will have little bearing on the women’s rights movement. “I don’t think [Trump] is going to have any effect whatsoever on women’s rights,” Curtis said. “This movement is [trying] to end rape culture and that’s not something that’s going to stop because one man is elected president.” The following Friday, Jan. 27, Trump signed an
executive order banning entry into the U.S. by citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days and Syrian refugees for 120 days. Senior William Barrientos is an immigrant from Guatemala who believes the orders were unnecessary because of the immigration process that already exists. “When you go through the process of becoming [a] legal resident of the United States, you have to go through background checks and they know everything about you,” Barrientos said. “Everything you do, taxes, everything.” Barrientos does not think Trump is spreading his message in the most effective way, and is instead discriminating against immigrants and refugees. “[Immigrants] want to come to the U.S. because [they] need a better life, but then having a president who pretty much doesn’t like immigrants makes you think, ‘Why am I going there,’” Barrientos said. “The U.S. has been a free country for so many years, this is kind of discriminating against [immigrants and refugees], which does not represent the U.S.” On board with Trump since the beginning, senior Andy Doonan remains hopeful about the presidency, despite the controversy. “I think there is still time where you actually do have to give him a chance,” Doonan said. “You can’t say if he is a good or bad president based on the first few days of being in office. I think he’ll do great things for the country.”
TACOS 4 LIFE
Popular charitable restaurant set to open JAKE ROEDEL | STAFF WRITER
Over the past year, there have been a plethora of stores built on Alcoa Road. Some of these stores include Kroger, Academy Sports & Outdoors, as well as restaurants such as Slim Chickens and Pie Five Pizza Co. Tacos 4 Life, a restaurant that currently has locations in Conway and Fayetteville, is adding locations in Little Rock on Shackleford Road in early 2017 and in Benton on Alcoa Road in the spring. For every meal sold, Tacos 4 Life donates the funds required to purchase a meal for a child in need to Feed My Starving Children, an organization that has consistently received the highest grades awarded by Charity Navigator for accountability and transparency. Junior Ricky Barrientos says that the food served does not seem to be traditional Mexican cuisine after looking at the menu. “I don’t think it’s authentic Mexican food, but it looks fancy,” Barrientos said. “It looks like it will attract a lot of customers.” Though Barrientos notices the lack of authenticity in the food, he still anticipates giving it a chance because of its close proximity to his house. “I will definitely try it out because it’s close to where I live,” Barrientos said. “If I’m on my way to Academy or something, I can stop and get something to eat.” Sophomore Blake Mitchell follows a strict vegetarian diet. He finds it difficult at times to eat at certain restaurants that do not cater to his dietary preferences. “Some restaurants don’t have any good vegetarian
MILLAGE RETURNS
options,” Mitchell said. “That makes it hard sometimes when I’m going out to eat at certain places with friends or family.” Mitchell is glad to see that Tacos 4 Life has many vegetarian and vegan options on their menu. “It’s really great that they make food that is in line with my diet,” Mitchell said. “The food looks like it’s going to be very fresh and tasty.” Senior Casey Blankinship, who has been to the location in Conway, has been impressed by the staff because of their quick service and friendliness. “The staff is very friendly, and since the location is near UCA, they talked to me about the college,” Blankinship said. “The service is pretty quick too. It didn’t take more than 15 minutes for me to get my food.” Blankinship also appreciates the charity aspect of Tacos 4 Life, and will happily pay a slightly higher price to help hungry children. She says that the restaurant makes sure every customer is aware that they are helping feed children in need. “It’s a bit more expensive, but it’s for a good cause,” Blankinship said. “[The charity] is displayed everywhere.” Along with others who enjoy tacos, Blankinship is eagerly waiting for the new restaurant to arrive. “It will be a great place to hang out and eat with friends,” Blankinship said. “It will also be a great addition to the growing community.”
JULIA NALL| PRINT EDITOR
Two years after last failure, Bryant attempts passage again March. 10, 2015: The date of the last vote to raise the Bryant millage, a property tax that funds public schools. If voted into effect, the millage would have raised by 4.9 mil. The district would have used the funding to renovate campus’s oldest buildings, such as the south campus cafeteria and Love Auditorium. Talks about building a new elementary and middle school were ongoing. The average homeowner would have seen an approximate $142 increase in property taxes per year. It was announced the night polls closed that the millage increase had failed by exactly eight votes. The failure was the second in less than a one-year span, following the Feb. 2014 defeat of a proposed 4.7 mil raise. The millage referendum will be revisited March 14 of this year, this time as a 3.6 mil increase. The day after the 2015 vote-down, Human Anatomy teacher Janet Watson sat quietly in her room. Human Anatomy is not one of the 38 classes required to be taught in Arkansas public high schools, and Watson had voiced concern that her class would be cut, forcing her to teach Biology or find a new job altogether. “Right now, it’s hard for me to be anything but just sad,” Watson said in an unpublished interview the day after the vote. “It wasn’t just about getting a new
cafeteria. Yeah, we’d get a new cafeteria, but then the old one could be converted into classrooms. The old gym could be converted into classrooms. The extracurricular activities can be cut now. I just think it’s sad.” Watson’s class was not cut. However, she did experience effects of the rollbacks. Watson sponsors Swarm, a student spirit organization that is in charge of pep rally planning. One of the effects of the 2015 millage failure was a shift from A/B block scheduling, where classes were an hour and a half, to a seven-period day. The number of pep rallies allowed per year was consequentially reduced to avoid missing class time that would now be more vital than ever. It is unclear what would be cut this year if the March millage fails, but members of the community are making a strong push for passage. A group of 10 seniors will lead tours around campus, which will include areas in need of in need of renovation, such as Building 8 and both cafeterias, that are not directly visible from Reynolds Road. The Young Democrats and Young Republicans are sponsoring another voter registration drive. The slim margin of the failure of the 2015 vote has created a sense of urgency
current millage rate:
37.2 mils
the average Bryant homeowner currently pays about $1,116 in millage taxes.
in campaigning. A handful of ballots could alter the entire vote. “Even though I’m leaving this year, I want to see the school improved,” senior Rachel Curtis, a millage tour leader, said. However, that same urgency has carried over into anti-millage sentiments. A “Vote Against the 14th 2017 Bryant Millage Tax Increase” Facebook page sprung up not long after the millage was announced. Facebook is a platform where many community members and parents discuss the upcoming vote (along with local and federal politics in general). An administrator of the page claims they are “a group dedicated to defeating yet another special election tax scheduled to minimize voter turnout.” The school district cites its rapid growth as the leading factor in needing a millage increase. According to the district website, the student population is expected to grow by 3,200 students in the next eight years. This calls for additions of facilities and improvements to already existing ones.
read the rest of the story on prospectiveonline.com
by the numbers
3.6 mils
(proposed increase)
new millage rate:
40.8 mils
the average Bryant homeowner will pay an additional $108 a year, or $0.30 a day.
6 | OPINION | PROSPECTIVE
The Beauty of Color
PROSPECTIVE Bryant High School
801 N. Reynolds Rd Bryant, Ark. 72022
STAFF | EDITORIAL
866.707.5600 toll free 501.653.5328 journalism room 501.847.5605 office 501.653.5550 fax prospectiveonline.com
We need to talk about racism. Race can be an uncomfortable subject. In history classes, when the textbooks begin to creep into slavery in America, the classroom tired, your becomes stiff, dreading the next chapter. The teacher takes a poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of Adviser big gulp and informs the class of the gruesome acts of whites your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost Lisa Stine to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your towards blacks. Slouching at our desks, some of us may feel Print Editors poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of as if we should stand up and announce our apologies for Brad Brewer, Sarah Graham, Julia Nall your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe our ancestors’ wrongdoings, but instead we cross our Online Editors free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift Alexis Burch, Emma Goad legs and keep our guilt silent. This is just the start of my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to Photo Editor breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift regression. Maya Jackson my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe Forcing the concept of slavery out of our News Editor free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift my lamp beside Alexis Burch the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse heads is not ending racism. Pretending AfricanFeature Editor of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your Edith Garcia Americans have always had rights since the dawn tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, Sports Editor the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, of time is not ending racism. Being a “colorblind” Brad Brewer yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift my lamp society is not ending racism. beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse Opinion Editor of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, Sarah Graham Without knowing context, the idea of being your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, Video Editors “colorblind” to race seems as if it could be good. tempest tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe Andrew James, Jake Partain free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden The concept plays on the idea of Martin Luther Artist door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Taylor Hicks King’s belief in judging a person by their character, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,lift my Ad Manager not their skin color. Despite the deceivingly lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, The wretched Chase Kincaid nice ring to the word, “colorblindness” is not refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Give me Circulation Manager your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send Chase Kincaid an acceptable solution to the problem of racism. these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your Columnists huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, Forcing people of color to swallow their stories and Natalie Burgess, Sebastian Diaz, Alyssa tempest tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, conceal their culture is not healing those bruised Photographers yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to Sydney Boswell, Maya Jackson, Chase me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to from racism, but only harming them more. Kincaid, Jaiden Kubena, breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift Some white Americans tend to use colorblindness my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to Page Designers breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost as a defense mechanism. By choosing to not “see” Brad Brewer, Alexis Burch, Natalie to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled Burgess, Edith Garcia, the issue of racism, and pretending it doesn’t exist, masses, yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send Staff Writers these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door. they exclude themselves from unwittingly being racist. Dahlia Bray, Brad Brewer, Alexis Burch, Give me your tired, your poor, YouYour huddled masses, yearning to Colorblindness suggests there is something “awry” with Natalie Burgess, Nathan Bush, Cole breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,I lift yeaof your Campbell, Sebastian Diaz, Edith Garcia, color. Something so sinful and wrong that it should teeming shore, Send these Emma Goad, Sarah Graham, Abby Hagner, be invisible to the eye. Color is not the problem. Prospective is a monthly pubViewing the world through a miniscule lens that lication produced, edited and portrays colorful, unique individuals as grey blobs is the maintained by Newspaper Journalism II, III and IV students at problem. Bryant High School. Prospective is a Choosing to simply not acknowledge race blinds us member of the Arkansas Scholastic Press from countless traditions and cultures around the world. Association, Quill and Scroll, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and National Whether the past is alluring or uncomfortable, we need to Ad space may be purchased through the ad first be educated to achieve equality for all. Viewing awkward manager. Prospective does not accept parts of history as “invisible” doesn’t mean they didn’t happen. advertising that is illegal for minors. The editorial board accepts letters; however, letters must be addressed to student interests and may not violate the student publication policy. Letters can be submitted by delivery to 10-319.
tough love SEBASTIAN DIAZ | COLUMNIST
**This article is not meant to be taken seriously. It is satire. Look it up. ATLANTA, GA- In response to the massive turnout of females during the worldwide Women’s March Jan. 21, single men by the thousands took the opportunity to find themselves a “hot date” and “a soulmate” during the historic protest movement. “This is honestly much better than Tinder,” 33-year-old bartender Ryan Douglass said. Area men gathered around the Capitol at 4:30 in the afternoon, sources reported. Several signs reading “Men of Character Want You” and “I’m a single hubby” were prominent throughout the crowd. “We’re just a couple of men looking for some love, man,” Douglass said. “The dating scene isn’t the same as what it was a couple years ago. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do nowadays.” The march involved thousands of participants, yet the partner-seeking men stood out from the crowd to several women. Some were flattered; others were shaken. “I think those guys have good taste in women if they’re
coming here to find a date,” elementary school teacher Anna Heaton said. “[The] Women’s March really does have the best women around.” Heaton added, “I have several sisters here who would be willing to take up a partner. I would, but I don’t think my wife would appreciate that a whole lot.” Though the protest movement preached inclusiveness and equality for all, some marchers were quick to degrade some of the single men. “We are not objects for them to just order and consume at their will,” attorney Laura Berrings said. “I don’t know about you, but using a march to pick up women is disgusting. Why can’t they ask girls out like normal people? We are here marching because of men like that. Gosh, you would think men still had decency to some degree. I guess not. Until then, I’m just going to focus on me, and me only. We need to empower women. I don’t need a man.” Tough times call for desperate measures. Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and for some, the Women’s March was an opportunity to avoid being lonely on
Cupid’s holiday. Drew Tresher, a single man of 29 and graduate from the University of Georgia, expressed his disappointment that he might have to spend Valentine’s Day alone. “I was really committed to this girl for a long time, like six months, but she didn’t have the same passion as me,” said Tresher. “There were times where I felt ‘Man, she’s the one.’ But then one night, that dream just fell apart, brother. You can just imagine the amount of heartbreak I was going through. It costs a lot to feel more with your heart than think with your mind.” Tresher continued to add desire in finding someone “real” and “genuine”. “I love the emotion, man,” said Tresher. “The Women’s March, I know, has several women with plenty of passion and cause. They have a sense of direction. I have a sense of direction, so it makes sense that I could find a suitable mate here, right? This has to be one of the best things to ever happen to men like me. Maybe my head is too high up in the clouds, but that doesn’t matter. A guy can dream, can’t he?”
relationship goals ALYSSA JONES | COLUMNIST
Relationships are constantly thrown into our faces, whether from movies or social media accounts with usernames like “relationship goals.” Young girls are looking for a Romeo while young boys are often looking for a momentary girl. The word “love” is thrown around without meaning. Instead of people saying goodnight with ‘I like you,’ they have to say “love” even if they do not mean it. People no longer take relationships seriously. Dating was once a way to decide if two people wanted to be together for marriage, but now, people view dating as a way to let loose and have fun. Spending time with and getting to know a person has become devalued. There are always exceptions, such as people who date for years and stay loyal all throughout high school. Not every teenager is looking for a short-
term relationship. People are more obsessed with posting cute dates and Snapchat stories with a person than sitting down and getting to know them. They will flaunt all day long that they are “relationship goals,” but struggle to list any in-depth reason why they love that person. People view love as a convenience. It is easier to develop a relationship behind a computer screen than to invite that person to get coffee. There is a lack of romantic acts that are genuinely for that person rather than for social media to see five minutes later. We are obsessed with the idea of love instead of experiencing it for ourselves. People do not want to go through the trouble of learning and growing with another individual; they would prefer to spend time creating a relationship just like the ones they see on social media. How is that love?
Being young and in love can be a beautiful thing if it becomes more than a cute post on Instagram.The focus should be on that person and that relationship. The only opinion on a relationship that matters should be the person they are with, not social media followers. Even going beyond a love relationship, the bonds we share with others should not be modeled after television or social media. Our society is dependent on the keyboard to type out the perfect words our voices are too afraid to say. We need to develop face-to-face relationships. We need to learn about people through more than their online bios. People need to quit being obsessed with this idea of other people’s “goals” for how they should model themselves. Model yourself after what you want for yourself and what you find important, not a web page.
from
YOUR PROSPECTIVE What qualities do you look for in a romantic partner?
Natasha Arendt | 9
Savion Freeman | 10
Precious McGinister | 11
“They have to be nice. They can’t be a total butthole. They have to respect other people, but be humorous too.”
“[I’m looking for] a real relationship, something that I could cherish. [I want] something that can continue for a long time. They probably have to be loyal and funny too.”
“Honesty is number one, because if you don’t have honesty, then you don’t have a good foundation. And someone who isn’t afraid to be open about themselves, to open up to me and tell me about them and be best friends with before I call them my boyfriend.”
Jackson Hill | 12 “Me. I know that sounds kind of narcissistic, but [I would] like a reflection of all my interests in them so we have as much in common as possible.”
7 | PHOTO ESSAY | PROSPECTIVE
LECTURES AND LABS
Students participate in interative learning activities As she argues her point in a socratic seminar for “Wuthering Heights,” senior Shelby Jones debates with her fellow classmates. Jones tried to lead with questions that made her classmates contemplate the true meaning of the novel. “I think a lot of the ideas in the Socratic Seminar were good,” Jones said, “They were just reused, so overall the ideas were there, it just wasn’t particularly adding up.” During drama rehearsals for “James and the Giant Peach,” juniors Hollan Pfautz and Julia Kovarovic do warmups. The girls enjoyed preparing in rehearsals. “We did pumpy warmups to get us ready for a big, exciting, exhilarating show,” Kovarovic said. Concentrating, junior Logan Rich works on an assignment for Kim Cruse’s Pre-AP Chemistry class. Rich said that labs make the class fun. “You get to learn how certain things react and it helps you understand nature,” Rich said.
Sitting in the hallway, junior AP Language students Leah Sikes and Kalyn Caddy complete their essays. Caddy and Sikes are in Tim Sisk’s class. “I’m not very good at writing, so that’s the most stressful part,” Caddy said. As he adds the finishing touches to his clay, sophomore Jakolby Jackson works in 3D Design. The class is taught by Stacie Hart. “You learn a lot in that class about clay and how to use it,” Jackson said. “If you like art and making sculptures, you’ll enjoy it.”
In Foods class, senior Kasey Ward helps her classmate prepare bacon for potato soup. The students were graded on how well the soup turned out. “I like the hands-on aspect of the class,” Ward said. “It better [prepares] me for the future and my family, because it allowed me the opportunity to learn how to provide for them.” In AV Tech class, junior Jhorman Cruz and senior Edgar Aranda film a movie about a student being bullied. The idea was inspired by the new “Assassin’s Creed” movie. “We’re thinking about making a sequel,” Aranda said. Listening, senior Ansley McDonald participates in the socratic seminar about “Wuthering Heights.” McDonald thought the book was challenging but enjoyable. “One of the main things we get from the socratic seminar is the theme of the book, and it helps with writing essays,” McDonald said.
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8 | SPORTS | PROSPECTIVE
SPORTS SCHEDULE HOME Feb. 14
Feb. 21
Basketball vs. FS Southside
Basketball vs. N.L.R
Feb. 23
Feb. 23
Softball vs. Sylvan Hills
Baseball vs. Lake Hamilton Feb. 25
Soccer Feb. 27 vs. Bryant Baseball Alumni vs. Arkadelphia Feb. 28
Soccer vs. Benton Mar. 2
Baseball vs. White Hall Mar. 6
Baseball vs. Pine Bluff Mar. 7
Soccer vs. FS Southside Mar. 14
Track Meet @ Hornet Stadium Mar. 14
Softball vs. FS Northside
AWAY Feb. 10
Basketball vs. LR Central Feb. 17
Basketball vs. Cabot
Mar. 2
Feb. 24
Basketball vs. Conway
Soccer vs. LR Christian Mar. 3
Softball vs. White Hall Mar. 4
Softball vs. Sheridan Mar. 9
Baseball vs. Midway Mar. 10
Softball vs. Benton Mar. 13
Baseball vs. FS Northside
HITTING THEIR MARK
Archery looks ahead to state tournament
JACK SELIG | STAFF WRITER While History teacher Jason Scoggins never fathomed sponsoring Archery Club before this year, the club will compete next month in a contest that could qualify them for the state Archery tournament in Hot Springs. “I was approached by some ninth graders from Bethel who had an Archery Club there,” Scoggins said. “I felt compelled to sponsor the club and coach as well.” Scoggins coaches the fishing team as well as the archery team. “I like Coach Scoggins,” junior Reid Mobley said. “I know he wants us to be very focused and to qualify for the state tournament.” The club, which has sixteen members, meets after school on Mondays and Thursdays. Practices include shooting for one to two hours and discussing details for future tournaments. “Last Saturday we had a competition that involved nine different schools,” junior Faith Kotsch said. “This last competition we placed fourth out of nine teams, and I was proud of that.” A sound performance at the regional tournament at Bethel Middle school next month could earn the team a place at the state contest in Hot Springs. “I think we will be able to qualify for state,” Mobley said. “We are at the level where we are able to compete against other teams, and I think we will show that.”
THE BIG GAME
28
Students celebrate the Super Bowl
NATHAN BUSH | STAFF WRITER For many fans, the best part of watching the Super Bowl is the chance to watch it with the people they love. Whether it be a Super Bowl party at church or just a simple family gathering, the Super Bowl has the ability to bring people together. Junior Luke Welch is excited about his Super Bowl plans. “At my church, we have small groups of about ten kids or so and we go to the host’s homes and all have separate parties,” Welch said. “We’re [going to] have some queso and pizza and just the typical Super Bowl party food.” As Welch has gotten older, his Super Bowl experience has matured as well. “Me and my family used to go as a group, but now that I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to do more of my own thing,” Welch said. Since Welch’s team did not make it all the way to the Super Bowl, he has decided to root for New England this year. “I’ll be going for the Patriots, because when my team is out, I basically jump on the bandwagon,” Welch said. “It’s fun to watch them, because Tom Brady is one of the best ever. That being said, the Falcons definitely have a chance with Matt Ryan, so I’m gonna go with 31-24 Patriots.” Senior Haley Raschke’s Super Bowl will be a tad painful, as she is a die-hard Cowboys fan, and she resents her team’s inability to get past the second round of the playoffs. “When [the Cowboys] played against Green Bay, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Raschke said. “It wasn’t [a] team I had watched all season. I’m definitely rooting for Atlanta now, though.” Raschke’s plans for the Super Bowl are still in the air, but she is eager for the matchup. “I haven’t made plans yet, but I’ll probably sit down and watch it with my friends and family,” Raschke said. “I think it is going to be a good game. I think Atlanta will win 43-26.” Sophomore Peyton Smith is living the dream, as his favorite team has made it to the final game. Smith has been a fan of the Falcons for almost ten years, and he could not be happier with what his team has put together. “I’m really excited,” Smith said. “It’s cool to have Matt Ryan and Julio Jones playing good together after the past few years. It’s gonna be a great night spent with my friends just chilling at my house.” Smith is very confident in his team’s chances of winning it all. “Matt Ryan is [going to] go off and Devonta Freeman is [going to] be the super bowl MVP,” Smith said. “We are definitely going to win.”
34 FINAL (OT)
Junior Nathan Bush supported the New England Patriots in this year’s Super Bowl, though his favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers. | Chase Kincaid photo
DIETING FOR SUCCESS Athletes eat right to stay in shape
DAHLIA BRAY| STAFF WRITER Many diet to get their bikini body ready, others diet for personal health benefits. Athletes, however, diet to stay in shape to keep up with the physical demands of their sport. Junior Dax Clatworthy is dedicated to his diet for wrestling, though he suffers the consequences of pushing his diet too hard. “All I eat is meat and vegetables, no carbs at all,” Clatworthy said. “Right now, I am dealing with the repercussions of cutting weight, I kind of stopped with my strict diet and didn’t start back fast enough, so I was losing a lot of weight too quickly and I got sick.” Constant physical activity puts a strain on the body, creating the need for a larger calorie intake. Senior Phillip Isom-Green works out every day and has an intensive diet to keep up with his strenuous activity. “I get about 5000 calories per day,” Isom-Green said. “I don’t recommend this diet for someone who doesn’t have strenuous workouts daily.” While most athletes make the personal decision to eat lean and clean diets, not all of them feel that they have to diet to keep up with their sport. Sophomore Cavion Crosby enjoys sweets and junk-food and does not see it affect his cheerleading. “Before every competition, I have to have sour straws and maybe a pretzel,” Crosby said. “My diet differs drastically from the other cheerleaders on my team, because many of them eat healthy foods and cut junk out of their lives while I do the exact opposite.” Though the diets are not enforced by coaches, student athletes take it upon themselves to stay in shape and eat cleanly. Junior Gabbie Bonvillain’s performance in softball relies greatly on her diet. “My diet is not at all encouraged by the coaches, but they expect us to be in shape and be able to do our workouts,” Bonvillain said. “I hold myself accountable, because the food I eat has such a big impact on how I perform. We eat right so we can perform our best at every game.”
Senior Lowell Washington balances a dumbbell with an apple. Washington plays forward, occasionally starting for the varsity basketball team. | Maya Jackson photo