PROSPECTIVE Bryant High School • 801 N Reynolds Rd. Bryant, Ark. 72022 • Vol. 25, Issue 2 • Oct. 28, 2016
VENDING OPPORTUNITIES New vending marchines in Building 10 have been wildly popular. Alexis Burch writes about who we have to thank for them. pp. 3 DRESS CODE DEBATE The dress code has sparked disagreement between students and admin. Brad Brewer reveals how students feel about the rules. pp. 5
SPEAKING IN SILENCE Colin Kaepernick first sat for the national anthem Aug. 14. Students have since joined him. Sarah Graham writes about why. pp. 8
THE ROAD AHEAD
In 11 days, our nation will elect a new leader, and the course of America will change. How do a Clinton and Trump America compare? pp. 2-3
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FAIRLY LOCAL
“I love cats, and also Harry Styles, and also food.”
JACK SELIG | STAFF WRITER
From guitar to rap, students enter the music scene For an extended version of this story, visit prospectiveonline.com. Strumming guitar strings, singing in front he enjoys. of an audience or spitting rhymes in front “I have been interested in singing for a of a hyped crowd are unusual student long time,” Fuhrman said. “[I have been hobbies, but senior Isaac Helgestad, senior singing] since elementary school. When I Ja’Lin West and junior Michael Fuhrman all was little, I was a [Frank] Sinatra fan and practice different types of music. my grandmother was also obsessed with Senior Isaac Helgestad has played guitar Michael Buble.” since he was four-years-old. Fuhrman believes that confidence is key “I will have played guitar for 14 years in when getting better at singing. April,” Helgestad said. “I started playing “I think the hardest obstacle I ever had guitar when I was four and began by to cross was to be confident in myself,” taking lessons. It is funny, because I don’t Fuhrman said. “The more you perform, the remember a time that I couldn’t more confidence you will gain.” play guitar.” Senior Ja’Lin West performs a different Junior Michael Fuhrman does not need style of music. an instrument to perform the music “I am a rapper,” West said. “I have always
Senior Ja’Lin West sits at a table in the Superstop on Reynolds, the inspiration for one of his most popular songs, “Superstop Shawty.” | Maya Jackson photo
Many religions call contacting the dead “evil” and science calls the Ouija board a hoax, yet millions of people around the world purchase and play the game. The Ouija board has existed for over 100 years, and many players of the game claim to have made contact with ghosts and demons. The spirit board is the link between the known and the unknown, whether it be scientific, paranormal or just for fun. Senior Shaelyn Smith said that although she does believe in ghosts, she does not believe Ouija boards can actually summon the dead. “I [have] never played a Ouija board, but I would, just to prove to everyone that [it is] just a piece of cardboard,” Smith said. Unlike Smith, junior Dax Clatworthy
listened to rap since I was a little kid. I listened to other styles too, but rap was the main one.” West has been practicing his skills for only eight months. “I got bored one day, and I was freestyling,” West said. “It actually sounded good, so I decided to write it down and record it. Now I have a show at Vinos Oct. 28, and I am pumped. This will be my first show.” West believes rappers should be authentic with their lyrics. “Keep it 100,” West said. “Don’t rap about things that you don’t do.”
CALLING N Ouija ALL SPIRITS board controversy
would never play with a Ouija board. “I believe in [spirits],” Clatworthy said. “I think that [it is] really dangerous; I could potentially get possessed if I used a Ouija board.” Freshman River Holland also believes that trying to contact spirits is dangerous. “The stories [my mom] told me about when she played a Ouija board when she was younger kept me from playing, because her stories [scared me],” Holland said. Senior Caitlyn Walter’s mother also warned her about using a Ouija board. “[My mom] thinks that bad spirits come through the Ouija board,” Walters said. Walters believes in the paranormal and says that she would use a Ouija board, although her mother forbids it.
COLE CAMPBELL | STAFF WRITER “Whenever she used the Ouija board, there was a haunting at the house and the spirit wouldn’t go away,” Walters said. “Weird stuff would happen, like doors opening and slamming on their own.” According to the Museum of Talking Boards, there are some important rules to follow for those who believe in contacting the dead. Although following the rules may make believers in the Ouija board feel safer, Clatworthy is still not convinced. “I wouldn’t risk it,” Clatworthy said. “You hear a lot of scary stories, and I don’t want to find out if [they’re] real or not.”
RULES of the BOARD 1. Never play the Ouija board alone. This is to protect the physical and mental health of the player. 2. Never play the Ouija board in your house. The aftermath of contacting a spirit in your house could a haunting. 3. Do not let the planchette move backwards from 0 or Z. This can mean that the contacted entity is trying to break out of the board. 4. Always say goodbye at the end of the game.
2 | SPECIAL COVERAGE | PROSPECTIVE
THE ROAD
In 11 days, the next leader of the United States of America will be elections to date to an end. But as the election ends, the next four
Hillary Rodham Clinton. Former Senator, secretary of state, first lady and lawyer. She has been credited with breaking the political “glass ceiling” by becoming the first woman nominated for the presidency by a major political party; she has been accused called a criminal and liar because of her alleged use of a private email server while she was secretary of state and the subsequent investigation by the FBI. As of Oct. 25, the political forecast website FiveThirtyEight has projected that she is 86 percent likely to be the next President of the United States of America. “If Hillary Clinton [is] elected, I feel like [America] will be more stable, compared to Trump,” sophomore Kristen Boyle said. When asked who she would vote for
if she could vote on Nov. 8, Boyle claimed to be a member of the “Reganatti,” a group supporting the presidential election of sophomore Pre-AP English teacher Shawn Regan. Aside from overall political stability, students felt that the election of Clinton would primarily change social issues. “[Clinton] will definitely change the black community, because we’re obviously having some issues like police brutality,” freshman Keyshaun Scott said. “Hillary Clinton is speaking with black activists.” However, others believe her influence will be more negative, and in some cases, disastrous. “If Hillary gets [the presidency], there’s obviously going to be a civil war,” freshman Chandler Stewart said. “The Democrats and Republicans don’t agree.” Stewart also fears that Clinton will affect Christianity negatively. “Our dollar bills say “In God We Trust” but Clinton does not support anything about that,” Stewart said. “In the Bible it says [marriage is between] ‘one man and one woman.’ It tells us exactly what [marriage] is, she’s not supporting that. [If Clinton is elected] there will definitely be less Christians. There’s going to be an outburst of other religions.”
2 | FEATURE | PROSPECTIVE
BETWEEN TWO WORLDS Italian exchange student Lorenzo Gobbi spends year away from home EDITH GARCIA | STAFF WRITER
Senior Lorenzo Gobbi skypes with his mother, who lives in Italy. “We call each other on Skype one time a week. I miss my friends and my family.” Gobbi said. | Julia Nall photo
Homecoming Maid “This will be my third year on the homecoming court. I haven’t always wanted to [be on court], it just happened in tenth grade. I was surprised I got on it. And I just got re-elected every year. I would be very humble and excited [if I won homecoming queen]. It would mean a lot to me and I would be very surprised, [just] at the thought of it.” “Be prepared for all the last minute crazy things that could happen, like your zipper breaking off your dress, or your hair and makeup. Just make sure you’re well prepared for any type of situation that might occur.” “A homecoming queen should love everybody the same and treat everybody like how the homecoming queen wants to be treated. Everybody should have equal opportunities and be respected.” “I don’t think I’m gonna win. Honestly, I will be very surprised if I do win. It’s an honor to be selected as a maid, and I’m so excited that I can represent Bryant High School again.”
Senior Lorenzo Gobbi is 5,338 miles away from home. Gobbi, an Italian foreign exchange student, is one of the three students this year to attend Bryant as part of Education First. “At first it can be a bit weird, because you are living with a new family, but then you become friends,” Gobbi said. Although there are several foreign exchange students who are new to the program, Gobbi and his family were no strangers to the idea of Gobbi experiencing an international education. “[My dad’s] sister did it when she was young, and she said that it’s a really good experience.” Gobbi said. “My family thinks that it’s a really good choice.” Counselor Rachel Stafford believes that international education gives students a better worldly perspective. “[International education] can affect a student by providing them with more options for their future and making broader, lasting connections with people,” Stafford said. “A foreign exchange program allows for a blend in cultures to teach our students more about the world we live in. It helps students see that it is ok to be bold and try new things.” Traveling to a new country and experiencing their culture and language first-hand is something that excited Gobbi. Although he did not fluently understand English at first, Gobbi has grown his English language capability through immersion. “Learning English good enough to understand and speak it was difficult,” Gobbi said. “I could understand, just not as good as
now. Now, I can understand everything.” A well-rounded education is one of the top priorities in America, and Gobbi values this comprehensive approach. “I like the school better in the U.S., because you can learn more,” Gobbi said. “You can do a class on photography or something that you like, and you can’t do it in Italy. In Italy, you have to choose a school, and in a school you can study science, math, or subjects like that, but you can’t study photography. You can’t mix them.” School is an important aspect of the Education First program, but the social aspect of developing and maintaining friendships is one of the top opportunities available to not only the foreign exchange students, but also students in schools that receive those foreign exchange students. Junior Grayson Prince and Gobbi have developed a friendship. “I’ve already talked about going over there for a couple weeks in the summer and staying with his family and stuff,” Prince said. “I think it’s a pretty strong friendship. It hasn’t happened for very long, but he’s one of those guys that you can just sit down and talk to and carry on a conversation with just about anything. He’s probably one of the better people I’ve met this year.” Gobbi’s first-hand experience has changed his perspective. “Everything is pretty different [in America], from the family difference to culture,” Gobbi said. “I thought that the world was all the same, but it’s not like that.”
ELLIE HOOTEN: QUEEN HORNET HANNAH SULLIVAN | STAFF WRITER
Grinning, senior Ellie Hooten hugs 2016 graduate Blakelee Gray after being crowned at homecoming Oct. 21. The Hornets went on to beat the Cabot Panthers 41-20. | Kara Maurer photo
How Many International Students Study In the U.S?
1 2 3 4 5
China 304,040 students
India 132,888 students
South Korea 63,710 students Saudi Arabia 59,945 students Canada 27,240 students
Source: Project Atlas
Homecoming Queen “I’m really shocked that I won. I’m so surprised. It was a lot of fun, and it’s a great honor that I will get to pass down to next year to another deserving girl.” “I love our student body. They’ve been so supportive [of] me over the years. [We] share Hornet pride and always bleed blue. Go Hornets!” “It wasn’t my dream [to win], but when I started to get on Homecoming court over the years, I thought there was a chance I could get it and got excited about that, so it’s quite an honor.” “[The homecoming scholarship] will probably go toward my college tuition, or anything [for] college.” “I want to be an interior designer at Fayetteville [and] play in the Razorback Marching Band, so we’ll see where that takes me.” “Thank you all for voting for me. It’s been a really special night, and I can’t believe it. Thank you guys, and go Hornets!”
10.28.16 | SPECIAL COVERAGE | 3
AHEAD
decided, bringing one of the most devisive years begin. What does that look like to you?
Donald J. Trump. Businessman, former reality television star, pageant director and real estate guru. He has been described as destroying “political barriers” by becoming the first major party nominee to have no formal experience in government; he has been accused of being a sexual predator and racist. As of Oct. 25, the political forecast website FiveThirtyEight has projected that he is 14 percent likely to be the next president of the United States of America. One of Trump’s most recognizable claims is that, as president, he will “build a wall” along the Mexican-American border and “make Mexico pay for it.” “The reason for building the wall is [to] first get the illegals to take the test so that they’re not illegal,” freshman Chandler Stewart said. According to Stewart, a Trump presidency would therefore result in a higher number of documented immigrants while reducing overall immigration flow to America. Additionally, some students are comforted by Trump’s history in business. “I think Donald could help [our debt],” senior Ryan Lynch said. “He does know how to manage money.” However, Lynch states that he would still vote for Clinton. Others have concerns about Trump’s authenticity, especially
when it comes to race relations. “Trump is only saying what white people want him to say,” freshman Keyshaun Scott said. “[He] doesn’t care [about black people].” Some students feel that Trump will affect more than racial relations negatively-they fear that a Trump presidency would be near apocalyptic. “With Trump, I feel like everybody is going to war,” sophomore Twayne Mitchell said.
10.28.16 | FEATURE | 3
VENDING OPPORTUNITIES New vending machines with healthy food options for students installed on campus ALEXIS BURCH | STAFF WRITER At the bottom of the staircase and steps away from the library, students with dollar bills in their hands crowd around one of five vending machines that appeared just days before. Inside are a number of approved healthy snacks, an alternative to going hungry while waiting for lunch to begin. The process for implementing the vending machines started in late October of the 20152016 school year when Lisa Stogsdill took over as Food Service Director. At this time, ESL teacher Vicki Hale had her students working on persuasive essays. The nine students decided to write about the necessity of vending machines, and later gave a presentation to Stogsdill, former Principal Jay Pickering, Director of Human Resources and Legal Affairs Jeremy Lasiter and Superintendent Tom Kimbrell. “When we [researched] the vending machines, our paragraphs were so good that the teacher told us we were going to get the principal and the superintendent,” senior William Barrientos said. “They all came here and they were impressed with the research we did.” Stogsdill was already working on alternative meal plans, but the students’ interest and essays motivated Kimbrell to move the process along. “The [presentation] jumpstarted us to say, ‘You know, this is something we need to go ahead and try to do,’” Kimbrell said. “It made us begin that process and start looking at what our options [were], and how quickly we [could] do this.” Every day, 3,000 students divide into four lunches in two cafeterias. Lunch often is not enough to supplement students’ hunger throughout the seven-and-a-half hour school day, especially for students who are not hungry until after the cafeteria has closed. This was an important issue for sophomore Jesse Galicia, one of the students who presented his ideas. “You can come late and not catch breakfast between class,” Galicia said. “[But now] you have time to go to the vending machine, because the cafeteria isn’t always open.” Despite the benefits, it took a number of departments to approve the idea and allow vending machines on campus. Stogsdill had to write a proposal and submit the student essays to the Department of Education. The idea then went to the Department of Agriculture for national approval. The USDA agreed to the vending machines in May. Stogsdill has been tracking the efforts from the beginning. “I had a stack about this big,” Stogsdill said, separating her index finger and thumb two inches apart.
The hours the vending machines could be open was widely discussed before the idea made it to a national level. “The essays written by the ESL students were a determining factor in [the Department of Education’s] decision to allow us to have [the vending machines] turned on all day,” Stogsdill said. “We are the only school in the whole state who has vending machines that are on all day; nobody else can do it.” The machines can only have options that pass a “smart snack calculator” test. There are limits on calories and fats, and grain items must be 50 percent whole-grain. This is important for one of the presentees, sophomore Jacinto Alvarado. “There’s some healthier options in the vending machine, like what we presented.” Alvarado said. “We could put healthy options and help the student’s health and the school [can] gain a little bit of money.” The school did not have to pay for the vending machines. Healthy Choice Vending installs their machines and stocks them. The Food Service Department will receive 15 percent of the revenue, though the possibility of revenue was not a deciding factor in getting the machines. “It’s not about making money, it’s about providing options,” Kimbrell said. The vending machines are the first step toward providing better meal options for students. “I hate that there’s not a good place for our students to go get a meal,” Kimbrell said. “My hope is that we can build a new cafeteria, and we can start building in about a year from now.” In order to break ground on a new cafeteria, voters must agree to the upcoming millage on March 14, 2017. If not, it could take up to 10 years for the district to save enough money. “All the plans are in place, we just have to have our share of the money to match the state’s share of the money,” Kimbrell said. “We can’t wait that long.” Vending machines are a small step toward more meal options for students, but for junior Damariz Silva, that small step is an incredible achievement. “If you work hard, you’re [going to] get that thing,” Silva said. “We were successful. We see the vending machines [and] everything is getting sold out.”
“I like that they have a large variety of stuff, but it’s kind of hard to open the door on the bottom to get the food out.” -Kaylee Cameron, 9 “There’s nothing in the vending machines that I eat. I try to eat healthy, so there are limited options for me.” -Gracie Kimbrell, 10 “The vending machines are so lit. The best part about them is the cereal bars. I’m pretty sure they’re the only things in there that aren’t that reduced fat crap.” -Connor Matthews, 11 “I haven’t been able to eat from them. I always want to get something, but there’s not enough time for me to grab something.” -Deamonte Terry, 12
4 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | PROSPECTIVE
HALLOWEEN THROUGH THE AGES
Top Ten
The biggest hits of October 2016, according to Billboard
“Closer” The Chainsmokers “Starboy” The Weeknd
A new way to view Halloween costumes COLE CAMPBELL | STAFF WRITER Halloween is a time of fear and fun. It is thought to have originated from an ancient New Year festival, Samhain, where people would light bonfires and dress up in costumes to ward off nearby spirits. The Celts, who lived in what is now Ireland over 2,000 years ago, celebrated Samhain Nov. 1. The day marked the end of the harvest and the start of the death of the crops. The Celts believed this time of year opened up a link between the living and the dead, so they created a festival in order to scare the ghosts away from their crops. Halloween was brought over to the Americas by immigrants, especially Irish ones. Although it had a more sinister and superstitious purpose, it evolved over the years into a more family-friendly holiday. By the 1920s, Halloween was a secular holiday, and many communities celebrated it with festivals and parades. During this time, Halloween costumes were mostly handmade and not too elaborate, women wore pointed hats and skirts to create basic witch costumes and children focused most of their attention on what their mask looked like rather than the other parts of their body. This time period is also when trick or treating became a big deal. The first mass-produced costumes came out in the ‘30s and allowed people to be less unique with their costumes. After Superman comics and The Mark of Zorro were released in the early ‘40s, their costumes were all the rage. During this period, women’s costumes began to become more revealing and less conservative.
The 1960s brought on a time of political, racial and sexual turbulence, and Halloween costumes reflected the changing times. TV characters became very popular and caused costumes such as Catwoman, Aquaman and Wednesday Addams to emerge. Political masks also made their way into stores. With hardly any standards on what was “acceptable” to wear in the ‘80s, the costumes varied more than ever. There were new TV personalities, like Elvira, and iconic music videos, like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” There were more choices than ever because of the number of widely accessible of movies, television shows and cartoons. The 2000s brought back DIY. Teen girls often dressed as the four main characters in the hit film “Mean Girls.” Costumes consisted of everyday clothes rather than elaborate costumes and face paint. This was also the time that the first “Harry Potter” film and “Spiderman” were released, so many younger kids ran around as wizards and Peter Parker. Celebrities also started a fad of dressing as each other for Halloween. Nicole Richie famously dressed as Jennifer Lopez in 2011. With Halloween around the corner, parents are searching for the perfect costume for their children, and teens are searching for their own unique costumes. This year, Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad is very popular among teen girls as a costume idea. Because of the riveting election, many people have purchased Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump masks and suits.
“Heathens” Twenty One Pilots “Let Me Love You” Justin Beiber “24K Magic” Bruno Mars “Broccoli” D.R.A.M “Cold Water” Major Lazer “Treat You Better” Shawn Mendes “Cheap Thrills” Sia “Side to Side” Ariana Grande
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BACK TO BASICS Students reveal school-day essentials DAHLIA BRAY | STAFF WRITER
What item do you hate bringing to school?
What’s your favorite thing in your backpack?
“My binders. They take up too much room and weigh me down going [from] class to class.” -Chase Fox, 12
“My pens are probably my favorite things; they write really well. I have specific pens I use for each class.” -Chase Fox, 12
“I hate bringing pens and pencils, because when you have pencils you’re constantly sharpening, and the ink in my pens always run out. It’s just aggravating.”
“Paper, because you can do everything with paper, no matter the class. It just always comes in handy.” -Alyssa Barnhart, 11
-Alyssa Barnhart, 11 “I hate that I have to bring a lot of binders. I have a different binder for each class. I think it’s unnecessary that we have to have seven instead of just one big binder for everything.” -A’naya Lowden, 10 “My books. I honestly don’t like reading, so I really don’t like carrying them around.” -Jonathan Giron, 9
“My pencil pouch. I’m super attached to it. It makes it easier for me to stay organized with it by my side.” -A’naya Lowden, 10 “My phone charger. I’m constantly in need of a charge because I use my phone a lot for school.” -Jonathan Giron, 9
TALKHOUSE AND THE LICKS Student band performs house show
ALYSSA JONES | STAFF WRITER
Talkhouse and the Licks held their first house show performance in Little Rock Sept. 18 after being together for a little over two weeks. Seniors Johnnyangel Nevares and John Hampton took the stage. “We’re [starting] an indie scene movement [to] make music better for this generation,” Nevares said. “We’re trying to get it out there that it’s not all about money.” Nevares wants people to believe there is more to life than just college. “People say go to college, that’s how you’re going to be successful, when it’s not,” Nevares said. “If you have a talent, if you want to do something, or if you want to show the world what your passion is, then go and do that.” Nevares has his own set of goals when it comes to this band. “We live in a very libertine era,” Nevares said. “People are too obsessed with their appearance, and they care about money, sex,
women and drugs. I don’t want to [tell] my grandchildren that I lived in this era. I’m not going to be proud of that; I want to make something that, I’m going to be proud of. I feel like this is a step.” Hampton was not with the band from the beginning, but he joined as the drummer when the band was searching for someone more versatile. “[We need] to get a set pattern to the songs and start playing shows regularly,” Hampton said. “I know that one of the bands that we played with is trying to start a record label, and if they do, then we could get signed with them.” There were a lot of last minute changes and several moments where Hampton just had to feel out the music. “It’s a good adrenaline rush,” Hampton said. “I usually play the best when I’m performing. Even in jazz band or playing anywhere else, I would kind of suck in
practice, [but] whenever it actually came time to perform, I always do my best.” Nevares was in California when he came up with the name for the band. “ I wasn’t doing anything but listening to cassettes and CDs in the room that I got to stay in,” Nevares said. “I was constantly coming up with lyrics and playing the guitar. I was talking to my dad and grandfather [and said], ‘Check out these licks,’ and I just loved the way that sounded. [It’s] very versatile name and I think it suits us really well.” Senior Faith Young attended the show. She said it had a small community feel and she enjoyed the music. “I liked “Space Cowboys,” that was a good song,” Young said. “I liked seeing everyone be so relaxed outside of school.” Senior Karmen Merritt hopes to see more from the band in the future. “I want to hear [more] lyrics because I know Johnny has lyrics, and they did sing
some of them but not all of them,” Merritt said. “[I also want to hear] more songs, because I know they want to create more, and I know that they could. I think that they underestimate how good they actually are.” After seeing their performance, senior Lauren Fuller hopes the band will be able to get their name out. “I hope that they get the word out that they’re an actual band now and not just a few kids with instruments and that more people start to come to their shows,” Fuller said.
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10.28.16 | NEWS | 5
DRESS CODE DEBATE
Students disagree with administration on policy BRAD BREWER | PRINT EDITOR
Duct tape on jeans and the removal of a decades-long tradition for cheerleaders seems to have created new tension in between the student body and the principals, and both sides are not moving an inch in their arguments. Senior Shaelyn Smith often speaks about the dress code in her classes and on social media. She believes that it is setup to punish females more than males. “I feel like [the rules] are very sexist,” Smith said. “You can get EMD for having holes in your pants, but you don’t get EMD for wearing a hat, even though they are both dress code violations. More girls wear jeans with holes in them, and more guys wear hats than girls. I also see guys walking around campus with holes in their jeans more than four inches above the knee, and I don’t see duct tape on their pants.” Junior Madison Stone is also perplexed by the dress code, and is wary about the possible prejudices the rules create against women. “Guys get to wear their short-shorts and they don’t get in trouble, because there is nothing sexual about that,” Stone said. “If girls wear their short-shorts, [the administrators] think it’s inappropriate, but really nothing about a leg is [inappropriate].” Because last year’s casual enforcement of the dress code, clothes that were previously tolerated by the administration now can cause students to receive detention. This has forced students to purchase new clothes to meet the
on game days, since they do not conform to dress code regulations. The tradition of cheerleaders wearing their uniforms runs deep, and for sophomore Macy Harrison, it is a family tradition that she can no longer continue. “[Cheerleaders] have been wearing the uniforms since my mom was in school, and I think it’s dumb that they don’t want us to wear them to school anymore,” Harrison said. “It’s tradition, and it makes us cheerleaders feel special. We don’t wear our uniforms for just our sake, we wear them for the [football] team’ sake. We just feel like more and more rules are being [imposed] on our team.” While students are frustrated with policies and the way they have been enforced, the administration will continue to enforce the dress code as it is written. “The room for error was granted at the beginning of the school year,” Harris said. “We gave students plenty of time to make the corrections and become more aware of the student dress code. [The administration] is leading the charge to follow the school handbook. The students should follow the student handbook as well.” Harris doesn’t dispute that the dress code could be sexist, but he believes the accusations should not be put on the administration’s shoulders. “Sexist is a strong term,” Harris said. “But if it must be used, I’d say the fashion industry should carry that burden and defend that argument. Many students seem to make it through the day not following the dress code, but once they are caught breaking the rules, they will be disciplined.”
now-enforced standards. “I had already bought all of my school clothes before school started,” Stone said. “I only have one pair of jeans that don’t have holes in them, so that’s super annoying that I have to go back out and spend more of my money to buy new jeans.” Junior Emily Walker has witnessed the alleged sexism of the dress code in her weightlifting class. “In Weightlifting, all of the guys are allowed to take off their shirts when it gets really hot,” Walker said. “One day, we were on the field doing core [exercises] and running laps, and a bunch of guys took off their shirts. One girl got tired of it, so she wore spandex, and my coach got really angry at her and nearly wrote her up.” Senior Ryan Lynch agrees that the dress code could be sexist, but feels like the enforcement should focus on girls more than boys. “Maybe the dress code is sexist,” Lynch said. “I don’t want to sound like a jerk or a sexist, but maybe for girls it should be more [enforced]. For guys there is not much to worry about because the worst we can do is wear tank tops. But I’m not a girl, so I don’t know what it’s like to be constantly monitored over something as simple as what I’m wearing.” The cheerleaders are being forced to change as well, as their outfits are now deemed inappropriate. As of last Friday’s Homecoming football game, cheerleaders are no longer allowed to wear their complete uniforms to school
BY THE BOOK
Diocese stance on sexuality raises questions of discrimination JULIA NALL | PRINT EDITOR
The Catholic Diocese of Little Rock is facing disapproval for a policy introduced this summer that some have deemed anti-LGBT. The policy, a student handbook addendum that will be enforced in Catholic high schools across Arkansas, reads that students cannot advocate for or advertise sexualities “in such a way as to cause confusion or distraction in the context of Catholic school classes, activities, or events,” and that students “are expected to conduct themselves at school in a manner consistent with their biological sex,” which includes pronoun and bathroom use at school and the pronouns used on official school documents. The addendum states that punishment will ensue if a student’s “expression of gender, sexual identity, or sexuality should mislead others, or cause scandal, or have the potential to cause scandal.” The resulting consequences are communication with parents and then possible expulsion. LGBT activist sites such as The New Civil Rights Movement and ThinkProgress have sharply criticized the diocese and Bishop Anthony Taylor for the new ruling. However, the Catholic schools of Little Rock are familiar with such criticisms. Three years ago, an English teacher at Mount St. Mary Academy was fired less than an hour after she married her same-sex partner in New Mexico. The teacher, Tippi McCullough, became the focus of a Human Rights Campaign protest that gained national attention. McCullough is now president of the Stonewall Democrats, the party’s LGBT constituency caucus. “I continue to worry about the messages sent to the LGBT students at both schools,” McCullough said. When approached about the policy, the Diocese maintained that the addendum is not discriminatory and is not meant to target homosexual students. The policy itself does not point out specific sexualities; rather, it focuses on public displays of affection and other actions that could be interpreted as sexual and is applicable to straight students as well. “I do believe the policy was meant to be discriminatory,” a Catholic High School student who chose to remain anonymous said. “The policy is purposely worded ambiguously so that the diocese avoids coming across as discriminating. If it wasn’t meant to be discriminatory, then a policy regarding PDA would have been perfectly sufficient for most of the queer students. As far as [transgender] issues go, I don’t see the Church or diocese respecting trans students’ gender identities anytime soon.”
In regard to transgender issues, the addendum requires students to act in accordance with their biological sex and not their preferred gender. This means the sex of a student must align with their sports teams, locker rooms, pronouns and bathrooms (unless deemed otherwise by an administrator). Though some students at Catholic High School have started protesting the policy by wearing purple and yellow equality bracelets, some feel that the backlash is an overreaction. “The student body has mixed feelings,” the anonymous student said. “I’ve heard several comments that the LGBT community at Catholic is just trying to ‘stir things up’ by protesting the new policy.” The addendum includes “Reasons for a Policy on Human Sexuality”, a page-and-a-half prelude to the actual rules of the policy. The reasons cite the Catechism of the Catholic Church (essentially, a publication of Catholic beliefs) and Pope Francis, calling for “a proper understanding of our sexuality.” “All [Catholic] teachings about sexuality have at their root that God created sexuality for unity,” Father Erik Pohlmeier, director of the Diocese of Little Rock’s Faith Formation Office, said. “It comes from this commitment to give everything [to your spouse]. That’s what we believe marriage is. Therefore, sex becomes living up to that promise. We see God’s design for unity and for procreation… samesex [intercourse] does not have the possibility of creating life. That’s why we would say that expression of same-sex attraction cannot follow the design God has.” Catholicism as a whole is oriented toward unity. According to the Pew Research Center, there were approximately 1.1 billion Catholics in the world in 2010, which means Catholics make up about half of the worldwide Christian population. However, in theory, each Catholic church teaches the same theology. This is achieved throughout a hierarchical structure with the pope at the top as the primary teacher; therefore, what the pope says is what the church believes. While this does not mean that all Catholics believe the same way, it does mean that there is a much smaller margin of difference in teachings across the board than in other Christian denominations. Catholicism (and, consequently popes) have historically never approved of homosexuality. Pope Francis, the current pope and one of the most progressive that the church has seen in recent years, called for Christians to apologize for
their general treatment of the LGBT population. “It’s hard to find people in the LGBT community who are fine with Christians because of how bad [discrimination has] gotten with certain groups of Christians,” Bryant senior and SAGA vice president Karmen Merritt said. “It’s hard to find queer people who are Christian or okay with being Christian.” Merritt both supports the LGBT community and is Christian, a place in her life that she has struggled to reach. “I had a bunch of internalized homophobia in middle school,” Merritt said. “It took me until the end of 10th grade to figure out who I [am]. I don’t think that [LGBT people are] sinning. Why would they be this way if they weren’t supposed to? They didn’t choose this life. You are who you are. Repressing that identity is going to hurt you in the long run.” McCullough has concerns that the younger generation of LGBT people will suffer because of mentalities like those reflected in the new policy. “I hope that Pope Francis will put some of his words into action before we let another generation of young people be discriminated against,” McCullough said. “This is especially dangerous to a young person’s mental health. The suicide rate for LGBT teens is extremely high.” Pope Francis is well-known for stating “Who am I to judge?”, a statement that many feel largely reflects his style as pope. Pohlmeier feels that this notion of “judgment,” especially in a religious context, is often misunderstood. “We judge things constantly,” Pohlmeier said. “You have to make judgments. If people around you are doing something that you don’t want to be a part of, you judge, ‘I need to stay away from that.’ You’re not wrong to do that. When we have in the gospel teaching that you shouldn’t judge, it doesn’t mean ‘Don’t judge, period.’ You have to judge the actions of what someone does. But you can’t then translate that into an eternal judgment about a person. When it comes to somebody’s very salvation, God is making that judgment. That can be a hard balance to understand.” Not everybody feels like the diocese has been maintaining that balance, however. Despite the pushbacks from the media and LGBT community, the diocese as not revealed any intention to change or remove the policy. “On a personal level, it has been heartbreaking,” the anonymous Catholic student said. “If the Church truly wanted to save souls, they wouldn’t play politics in a way that discriminates against high school students.”
CANNABIS CURE?
Similar ballot issues seek medical legalization LAUREN WILSON | STAFF WRITER
As long ago as 2900 B.C., cannabis was used across
China to heal. Today, 25 states in America have legalized medical marijuana. In 2012, the attempt in Arkansas to legalize medical marijuana failed. However, this November there will be two issues regarding medical marijuana on the ballot. While similar, the issues differ over the “grow-your-own” provision and the placement and management of cannabis facilities. “In 2014, we sat down and did a lot of rewrites, put in a lot more fail-safes,” issue seven director Melissa Fults said. “In 2016, we went even farther, where we wrote in that the medicine has to be tested.” Despite the stigma surrounding the use of cannabis, there is some scientific evidence that it helps ease symptoms of diseases like Alzheimer’s and arthritis. “You can go to the McDonald’s and get a Big Mac and you can get diabetes from that,” junior Chris Brimhall said. “Everything we do can cause [harm].” While cannabis can be used to help, patients can also abuse it. Sophomore Chelsey Alarcon sees the positives, but also thinks it is addictive. “I don’t think it’s worth it. Some people don’t really need it, but they’ll do anything just to have marijuana,” Alarcon said. Issue six sponsor David Couch believes one of the main
reasons the 2012 act did not pass was the “grow-your-own” provision. It would allow patients with a license to grow their cannabis at home to be used for medical purposes. Concerns also arose from the system of cannabis dispensaries. “In my proposal, a dispensary has to be 1,500 feet from a church, school or daycare,” Couch said. “That is 500 feet further than a liquor store has to be. In comparison, the other act allows a dispensary to be next to a church or daycare.” Issue six states that only patients living farther than 20 miles from a dispensary would be allowed to apply for a “grow-your-own” license. By contrast, in issue 7, any patients prescribed it would have the ability to grow their own cannabis. “Every single patient that qualified for cannabis whose doctor decided it was the right treatment would have access and would be able to afford it,” Fults said. Supporters of both issues have a group of volunteers. Issue seven, with a list of 1600 volunteers with around 500 regularly active, promote the fact that most volunteers were possible patients. “They believe enough in this issue they are out volunteering and educating the people in Arkansas literally 24 hours before they pass away,” Fults said.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
BY THE NUMBERS
40
states sell medicinal marijuana. Fifteen states only allow for the use of cannabis oil. California was the first state to legalze in 1966.
In 2012,
49%
were in favor of the “Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act” while
51% opposed the act.
Sources: ballotpedia.org, ncls.org
3
states have a medical marijuana ballot initiative in 2016: Arkansas, Florida and North Dakota.
6 | OP-ED | PROSPECTIVE
American Idiot
PROSPECTIVE Bryant High School
STAFF | EDITORIAL
801 N. Reynolds Rd Bryant, Ark. 72022
Every time we look at a screen, we see an American tragedy unfolding. Two of the most
hated people in America are now in a prime position to lead the people who detest them, and the alternatives have been all but disqualified from the Oval Office. Everywhere we look, it seems as if there is no hope for us and our land of the free. But what if it does not matter if the “orange-skinned troll” or “the liar of the century” takes the highest office in the country? For months, we have helplessly consumed what the media has been feeding us. Fox News, CNN, politicians; they all say that they have the cure, but all they are doing is ailing us. The true cure lies with us. We are more than a single vote or a percentage on the latest poll. We are more than a quote taken out of context. We are more than Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. And the only reason we have not realized this is because we are now divided. Kneeling during the national anthem will not fix this, nor will attacking our brothers and sisters who protest the unrighteous deaths of so many minorities across the country. Why is it that whoever has a different opinion deserves to be ridiculed? When did we become so obsessed with what we believe that our political positions decide who we love or respect? We complain about the career politicians in Washington as they sit idle and watch the country they serve crumble, but they are not the only ones to blame. Separation of left and right has become more vivid than the separation of church and state as we have romanticized immaturity and hate in politics. Those who call for guns to be stripped from all bodies should realize it is the weapon they fear that could possibly save their lives. But those who have a glock on their belt should understand that the worried stares that come their way might be justified. Those who support Planned Parenthood should realize that abortion is a difficult moral issue. However, opponents of Planned Parenthood should acknowledge that 97 percent of their services are not abortions. Planned Parenthood provides affordable birth control, STD prevention and healthcare to both men and women, often in communities where those services are scarce. We will disagree with each other, but let us prove that we can keep America diverse, not divided. We can make a change, but it will not be through lighting businesses on fire or starting a flame war on Twitter. If we reach across the aisle and open our ears and minds to what others have to say, then maybe we can find a way to come together and block out the ignorance and hate. It all comes down to us.
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letter to my best friend
MAYA JACKSON | COLUMNIST
January 7, 2016. Five pounds, six ounces, two dimples, eight drug addictions, and us. The night I met you, you were two days old. You came into our home at ten at night while the rain left over from the day dripped off the trees in our front yard. I was 16. A tall, older stranger brought you in a too-big carseat and took a plush pink blanket off you to expose your tiny frame. Your eyes were squeezed shut, in obvious unrest, and your hands were balled up in tiny fists. The stranger was in a rush and kept trying to tell us about this or that, and I missed all of it. Your tiny face contorted as you experienced frequent tremors because of your mother’s poor habits. You weren’t born into a fair world; you weren’t born
into a fair chance. You were born into a world where a mother decides her own choices are more important than the life of her baby girl. You were born into a world where you had a tiny chance of stumbling into a family that wasn’t fostering for glory or money, but for good. You and I spend hours playing on floors and teaching each other new lessons. We learn together, but you’re growing much faster than I am. I think you’re still the most fun even when you’re crying because you wish your bedtime was as late as mine. We never text or call; our only hours spent together are in person, and I do all the talking. You listen a lot and repeat what I say. I never thought I would fall so much in love with a little girl who can’t even speak my language.
You have changed me in your very short life. I’m much more dedicated to patience, compassion and finding the beauty in everyone, because I can’t imagine someone thinking my best friend is not the perfect image of beauty and strength. I can’t imagine the person I’d be right now if you hadn’t entered my life when you did, or even in the way you did. You may never officially be my sister, but you will always be my best friend, and because of that, part of my family. So, if we never do get to adopt you, this is to every baseball game, lazy day, argument, inside joke, nostalgic moment, car ride, borrowed dollar, awkward question, and kept promise, because you deserve a family, even when we don’t deserve you. I love you.
lost innocence ALYSSA JONES | COLUMNIST
His little hands find their way to YouTube on his tablet. He types along the search bar to find the song that suits his mood. I anticipate what his choice will be, wondering if it might be a tune that has played on “Spongebob” or “Paw Patrol.” The music begins playing from the speaker, and he starts throwing his hands around, dancing to the latest rap song. Anger instantly rises up as I watch my seven-year-old brother sing lyrics about sex and drugs. The most astonishing thing is that he is completely unaware of what he is saying. He speaks words that hold explicit meaning while his eyes still hold the innocence of a child. I observe other children on my bus with the same pure look in their eyes as they lift their middle fingers and call their “friends” various names. Negative influences of the world are affecting children. Provocative language is filling
these young minds. They do not always understand what is appropriate and what is inappropriate. All they know is that the beat of the song is great or their friends seem cool when they say it. They are ignorant to the strength and vulgarity their words can hold. Young children have a special innocence that does not carry through their older years. As people age, they become more aware of the world around them. They begin to understand what they are witnessing and their minds become exposed, causing the innocence that once shielded their eyes to slip away. The loss of innocence can be gradual. Slowly, people grow more aware. This is not necessarily negative; it is part of growing up. It becomes an issue when children are saying or doing things they do not understand.
It is different when someone knows the impact of what they are saying rather than when a young child blindly speaks it. There may not even be a solution to children being exposed to uncensored content at such a young age. It may just be the modern way of society for kids to sing along to the latest song on the radio, no matter what the lyrics mean. There may be no way to stop kids from cursing to simply seem cool. Our society does not hide anything. We are constantly being exposed to explicit content. At a young age, eyes are losing their shield of innocence, open to whatever the world feels like showing them. Children possess innocence within their eyes and laugh as their mouths speak the uncensored attitude of the world.
from
YOUR PROSPECTIVE If you could pick anyone to be president, who would it be and why?
Josseline |9 Matias-Gomez
Jared King | 10
Reese Graham| 11
Natalie Pierce| 12
“Myself. I would make people treat each other as they would want to be treated. I would give them a taste of their own medicine.”
“I would pick Harrison Ford. He’s my favorite actor, and I could see him behind the desk of the Oval Office.”
“I’d say Coach Regan. I was in his class last year, and he was always talking about running for president. I don’t know if it was a joke or not, but I like his ideas and he would do as president.”
“Ellen DeGeneres. She’s honest, she’s funny and she’s a good leader.”
7 | PHOTO ESSAY | PROSPECTIVE
HORNET HAPPENINGS Clubs and classes provide opportunities for learning and service
As they prepare for an upcoming Quiz Bowl competition, sophomores Vatsal Patel and Kevin Weng work out problems. The club practices every Wednesday and has its first competition in December. “We’ll get a lot better by [competition],” Weng said. “We just need to practice more and find what we specialize in.” | Mika Boyle photo
At See You at the Pole, senior Aaron Eley holds a sign asking for students to pray for soldiers, the government, and those in poverty. Students gathered in the courtyard and worshipped before school. “I was really just blocking out everything around me and talking passionately to God,” Eley said. “I was glad to get to pray for our country, because everyone can agree we are in a mess right now, and I was just praying that we all trust the Lord with the direction of our nation.” | Maya Jackson photo Senior Sydney Young gives blood at the Red Cross blood drive, sponsored by FCCLA Sept. 28. FCCLA puts on the drive each year. “I was nervous about donating my blood, because they had to switch my arm,” Young said. “I was going to donate from the left, but complications came when they couldn’t find a vein. I was excited that I was saving three people’s lives.” | Tehya Hinkson photo
Children cheer and chant as senior football player Tyler Woods greets them at Hill Farm Elementary. Woods is a running back for the Hornets. “Really, it was motivational,” Woods said. “The kids look up to us like superheroes and real NFL stars. For them to be looking up at us, it was heartwarming.” | Hannah Martin photo During Film Production, junior Matthew Pool and sophomore Jacob Cowell film a video. Teacher James Paul told the class to create a video about fall, so the boys chose a Halloween theme. “We were filming about Jason and a clown,” Cowell said. | Hannah Martin photo Practicing for an upcoming football game, junior C/Capt. Caitlin Lott carries a rifle. Before each game, the JROTC Honor Guard carries the colors during the national anthem. “The people in JROTC become family,” Lott said. | Nicholas Shea photo
Senior Anna Wolff works through lab questions in Suzanne Johnson’s AP Biology class. The class, which enrolls less than 40 students total, involves many in-class labs. “We spend about 75% of our class time doing labs, and I wish we could spend more time going over notes,” Wolff said. “[Labs are fun] with the people I’m with. Mrs. Johnson is really entertaining and has a great dry sense of humor.” | Kara Maurer photo Senior Alejandra Blake begins working on Karen McManus’s Art I project. In Art I, students learn the basics of all art forms. “We learn about different ways of how to color and shade and tint and all of what goes into making and creating art,” Blake said. “I know [Art I] sounds very basic, but it’s really hard for a person who’s not artistic at all.” | David Fulton photo As they labeled parts of a leader, Student Senate member junior Austin Burgess helps a group of Collegeville Elementary 5th graders. The students visited to meet with Student Senate to learn more about leadership. “When I saw the 5th graders thinking of what makes a leader, I saw kids wanting to become the figures they drew, I saw leaders in the making, I saw opportunity for good influences to have life-changing effects in the next generation,” Burgess said. | Emily Culbreath photo
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8 | SPORTS | PROSPECTIVE
THROUGH THE PAIN Football players relive their injuries
NATHAN BUSH | STAFF WRITER
Landon Smith, 12 “I was trying to make a tackle. I was pursuing the ball, and I was blindsided [and] hit in the ribs. It wasn’t the hit that got me a concussion. I landed on my head.”
Reid Mobley, 11 “It was a two-point conversion, the defenders got through, and I rolled out to the left. My ankle was kicked out from under me. It [gave] me a high ankle sprain. It’s sucked not being able to play.”
Zae Jackson, 10
“It was the practice before the Salt Bowl. I was blocking, and someone from behind me got hit, and they both just fell on my ankle. I’m out for two to three months. I’ve tried to be a better teammate since I’ve gotten injured.”
SPORTS SCHEDULE HOME Nov. 4
Football
vs. Conway
Nov. 8
Basketball
Tipoff Night
Nov. 19
Basketball
Preseason Benefit
Dec. 6
Wrestling
vs. Hot Springs
Dec. 8
Wrestling
vs. Greenbrier
AWAY Oct. 28
Football vs. N.L.R Nov. 1
Cross Country @ Cabot Nov. 12
Cross Country
@ Hot Springs
PLAYOFFS Nov. 10
Football
1st Round
Nov. 17
Football
Nov. 24
2nd Round
Football
3rd Round Dec. 2
Football
State Championship
SPEAKING IN SILENCE
Protests over racial injustice divide students SARAH GRAHAM | PRINT EDITOR America has stumbled upon yet another issue that splits the nation in two. Some Americans choose to voice their opinion and defend America and its flag, while others speak without words by sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem. 49ers’ quarterback Colin Kaepernick received both loud boos and encouraging cheers after he refused to stand for the playing of the national anthem. Kaepernick’s protest against racial inequality played a role in a debate that has trickled down to high schools across the nation. Some of the media have called Kaepernick anti-American and disrespectful to veterans. Videos have surfaced of NFL players burning his jersey. Sophomore Wyatt Holt believes celebrities should express opinions, but not during the national anthem. “[Those who sit for the national anthem and Pledge of Allegiance] are the people we see in magazines and hear on TV,” Holt said. “Maybe when they’re giving one of their interviews or their speeches they could say something about it then. They kind of use their popularity in ways that shouldn’t be done. It’s disrespectful.” Senior Hannah Harris feels that the everyone from the rich and famous to the youngest
Senior Caylin Allen kneels in protest of the treatment of minorities in America. | Maya Jackson photo
children should sing along to the national anthem. “An American is someone who is not disrespectful during the national anthem,” Harris said. “I think it’s also disrespectful when people talk during the national anthem and Pledge of Allegiance at our pep rallies; that happens a lot. If you’re an American citizen, you should [participate in] the national anthem and Pledge of Allegiance.” The nation cannot agree on the definition of the word American. To some, an American is someone who fights for their country and repeats the words to the national anthem and Pledge of Allegiance with respect. To junior Diante Woodson, an American is someone who fights for their rights. “Even living in a great community like Bryant, I’ve still experienced racism just in my everyday life,” Woodson said. “I’ve [been] stared down [by] police, had racial remarks said to me and even been accused of stealing from a store when I haven’t done anything. I figured if I’m not going to be respected in a country that I live in, then why should I stand for a country that says everyone is born equal?” Woodson protests racial injustice by not standing for the national anthem.
FIELD OF DREAMS
Teachers and students test their knowledge of professional football JAKE ROEDEL | STAFF WRITER Starting at noon on Sundays during the fall months, one of the most widely watched and discussed events in America takes place: NFL Football. Just as the athletes run out of the tunnel onto the field, fantasy football players sit down in their recliners and open up laptops, ready to enjoy a day full of competition. Fantasy football has been popular in America since the late ‘90s, after CBS launched their first fantasy football website. Today, an estimated 19 million people participate in the game nationally. Fantasy football is a friendly competition that football fans of all ages can participate in. Junior Chantry Gillespie plays in a league with his friends. The league has been going for three years, and with a $60 prize pool, it can get fairly competitive. Gillespie enjoys fantasy football because it is a great test of his football knowledge. “I know a good amount about football,” Gillespie said. “It feels good to be able to use that knowledge for something.” Sophomore Caroline Moore has played fantasy football for about three years, since she was 14. Rather than joining a league with friends, she joins a random league with people she does not know. “I open my laptop, go to fantasy football, and watch as many games as I can,” Moore said. Moore enjoys displaying her knowledge of football to her friends, and she also enjoys seeing how that knowledge translates into victories. “As a girl, normally you’re not looked at as being able to relate to football,” Moore said. “I just started playing it just for fun to see if I could beat my guy friends, and I just kind of fell in love with it from there.” AP World History teacher Will Heatherly has played fantasy football for sixteen years with old friends from high school. “I have people in this league that stretch from Colorado to South Carolina, and from Texas to Chicago,” Heatherly said. Heatherly’s league no longer has a cash prize. Instead, the league opted to have a small trophy made to award the champion each year. “We competed for money the first few years, and what we realized was that we were just handing each other’s money back and forth,” Heatherly said. “We weren’t playing for enough money that it mattered to any of us, so we just dropped it.” Fantasy football can be rewarding, but it can also be heartbreaking. The fate of a fantasy team can quickly change with an important injury or a bad performance from a key player. “I’ve lost the Super Bowl a lot,” Heatherly said. “I’ve had a lot of quarterbacks that got hurt right before the championship.” Through all of the competition, trash talk and heartbreak, the reward of playing fantasy football is enjoying the game with friends. “The most important thing about fantasy football is that you’re making contact with your friends and doing things that you enjoy,” Heatherly said. “It’s a nice way to keep in touch.”
“It’s going to take more than just me doing it,” Woodson said. “It’s a combined effort. People with authority have to see we can’t just sit quiet about this.” Senior Caylin Allen refuses to place his hand over his heart during the national anthem and will to continue to refuse until he feels America has changed the way African Americans are treated. “Standing for the national anthem is a tradition thing,” Allen said. “Now people are going against tradition, so people want to get mad about it.” Junior Stratton Stillwell supports those who choose to voice their opinion by sitting for the Pledge of Allegiance or national anthem. “Even when I was little, I thought the Pledge of Allegiance was a strange thing,” Stillwell said. “They force it upon you at such a young age, and we had no idea what it meant. I’m honestly proud of those [who] sit down. They are making a change. This is a really big step.”
HORNET FROM HOME
Senior Eathan Devine learns at home, runs at school ABBY HAGNER | STAFF WRITER Accomplishment is what senior Eathan Devine feels when he crosses the finish line after a difficult race. Homeschooled all his life, Devine joined other homeschool sports teams in the past, but joined Bryant’s cross country team this year for a new challenge. “It’s pretty exhilarating to finish a race knowing you were one of the top runners on your team contributing to the team score,” Devine said. “Every race, I try to get a better and better overall place.” Devine’s parents choose to homeschool to provide a personalized and biblical education. “My program is a lot of curriculum and learning that is independent, so I do a lot on my own,” Devine said. “I learn with books and [on the] computer.” Boys’ cross-country coach Steve Oury looks forward to seeing athletes like Devine continue to improve as they move closer to the conferences and state meet. “Eathan is one of our top five runners, which in cross-country is very important, as each team’s top five runners are used for scoring purposes,” Oury said. “He has steadily improved throughout his career and is now one of our most reliable runners.” Devine set a new personal record for the 5k (3.1 miles) distance at the Bryant Invitational Oct. 8, despite having been sick for several days before the meet. “Eathan fits right in like any other student, and from a coach’s perspective he has been a wonderful young man to coach,” Oury said. “He has a tremendous work ethic and has set a great example for our younger athletes.” To kick-start Devine’s day, he reads his Bible, then he works on schoolwork until cross-country practice at 2:30 p.m. “This year my classes include calculus, physics, college English class, speech class, an economics class and an American government class,” Devine said. “I also play the piano and work some nights.” Senior Andy Doonan also runs for the boys cross-country team. Devine challenges him to run faster with him during practice. “He brings a lot to the team,” Doonan said. “He was one of those guys who was the first one to help me make more friends in cross-country. This is probably due to him knowing how it feels being the [new guy] because he is homeschooled.” To Devine, running is more than a good exercise, and he enjoys doing it with others who love running too. “There is something very satisfying about finishing a hard workout with the team I’ve made some good friends [on],” Devine said.