Vol. 11 Issue 2

The Talon

December 2017

Volume 11 Number 2

Nation Ford High School

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ecember is Human Rights Month.

During World War II, the main goal of the Allies was to promote human rights to the world.

After WWII ended, the United Nations General Assembly established the 30 articles to protect all aspects of human rights and protect civilians against further dictatorship. Since that December of 1948, the month was declared Human Rights Month.

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1400 A.O. Jones Blvd.

Fort Mill, SC 29715

2 • eDiTorials

Column:

Holidays Difficult For Non-Religious People Pew Rearch: 8 in 10 non-Christians celebrate Christmas In America rly Lye ston Pre By:

Student Council Can Do More

Students Deserve To Have Greater Voice

S

Bethany Houston

tudent Council is the face of our school and the voice for our student body. They represent students’ opinions and work to give them more of a say in what happens around our school. But do they really have enough voice in our school?

Student Council is in charge of Spirit Week. They also help run the school’s annual food drive, NAFO’s Got Talent, and the school pageant.

According to several members of Student Council, Cate Tedford (‘19), Elizabeth Middlesworth (‘18), Mary Werner (‘19), and Josh Causey (‘19), the administration and faculty trusts them and will listen to their opinions on almost anything. Causey even went as far as to say that Principal Jason Johns has never rejected any of the ideas for change that he has brought to the table. The problem, however, is that Student Council is not guaranteed a say in more important topics.

Student Council does get to help plan events and suggest what students should be able to wear for one week out of the school year, but even then a suggestion is only a suggestion. The

group of students voted into office by the student body – the only 25 students in the school who administrators have sanctioned to openly share their opinions to the board – still do not have final say in anything. They do not get a voice in significant issues such as dress code, FLEX and academics.

Student Council is important; they lend a helping hand in creating a bond between the students and administrators, and they encourage students to participate in schoolwide charity and social events. But it would be nice to know that the students in a position of authority at our school are actually influencing decisions that affect the school every day, not just events occuring once a year.

What about FLEX or test retake policies? Our students are the ones in class every day dealing with the way FLEX is administered and the way tests are given. Why is it that we as a student body have little-to-no say in that?

Student Council should be trusted to make important decisions and voice their opinions on all topics.

As students, we should have more say in the way the school is run.

Young people are the future of the world. It is only fair Student Council is given a chance to make real change – not 20 years from now – but today.

The Talon Staff eDiTor-in-chief: Raegan Craddock eDiTors: Gracie Barnett Makayla Brown Kailey Cota Joslyn Ferguson Abigail Knight Julia Lako Preston Lyerly Kristianlyn McClellan arT: Preston Lyerly

sTaff: Carly Cashatt Precious Fisher Cecelia Hilton Bethany Houston Corinne Luksch Alana O’Brien Mia Valentim aD manager: Hannah King

I

Agnostic:

Atheist:

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The Talon Policy The Talon provides students with an opportunity to discuss information related to Nation Ford High School. The paper’s objective is to notify the school community of the news in a timely and informative manner and to entertain them through articles and columns.

The staff encourages letters to the editor. Nation Ford High School students, staff members, and the public can express their opinions and reactions to the articles in The Talon.

Letters should be signed and should not exceed 150 words. Letters submitted may be published in the paper at the discretion of The Talon staff and will be edited for accuracy, length, and grammar, as well as offensive or inappropriate content.

The staff may permanently keep all unpublished letters for reference or guidance for future writing. All submissions should be submitted to Mrs. Swann, room D517, or via email

aDviser: Beth Swann

1400 A.O. Jones Blvd.

Fort Mill, SC 29715

803-835-0000 thetalononline2016@gmail.com

The Talon

pretty calm about it. She knows me well enough to understand am agnostic, not atheist. I that my mind is too open to acbelieve that there is a higher cept just one faith or none at all.

As far as my siblings go, they being but I do not subject could not care less myself to as long as I did not religion. On interfere with trathe other hand, my a person who dition. But there family is Christian. is always going to As you can imagbelieves nothing be at least one perine, the Christmas holidays can be known of the son who cannot accept my beliefs. can be a handful. existence or My family, my “Christmas,” I nature of God; aunts and uncles have heard countdisappointed less times, “is a person who claims are in me for disruptabout the birth neither faith ing our “Christian of Jesus Christ.” family.” My grandMy mother was nor parents are even the first person to disbelief in God. more than disapexplain Christmas pointed for my to me. I was sitting beside her, my brother on her poor religious decisions.xxxxxxxxx When Christmas falls on a Sunother side and little sister in her arms. We were eating cookies and day, they expect me to go to church. watching “Frosty the Snowman.” I have no problem with church “If Christmas is about Jesus, then because I enjoy learning about rewhy do we get presents?” I asked. ligions. But church does cross the I never got a legitimate answer line when I am singled out for not being saved. Much to to that question. the church’s disapIn my eyes, people pointment, I do not saw Christmas as a stray from my beliefs way to make money a person who and inevitably kill and get presents. disbelieves the Christmas vibe I saw it as a time by not accepting Jefor me to be with my or lacks belief sus into my heart. family.

Everyone in the existence My family can be in my family is so difficult to deal with caught up in work, of God or Gods. because of their resports, and school ligious standpoints that we never have sometimes. And I time for each other.

So I changed how I saw Christ- cannot say that I am particularly ofmas into a time for family and peace. fended by that or what anyone else When I told my mom my de- thinks because it is what they becision to be agnostic, she was lieve. Who am I to judge?

Kristainlyn McClellan

to swanne@fortmillschools.org.

Please keep in mind that opinions voiced in the articles and personal columns are not those of the Nation Ford High School newspaper staff or Nation Ford High School’s administration, faculty, or staff; opinions are solely those of the author who submitted the article.

2015 Best Newspaper in South Carolina 2015 Newspaper Palmetto Award ALL STATE Rating for 2015 International 1st Place by Quill and Scroll Society 2015, 2016 December 2017

thetalononline2016@gmail.com

International 1st Place by Quill and Scroll Society 2015, 2016

editorials December 2017

The Talon

•3

Current Administration Puts Prior Review Policy In Place For The Talon

and tables do for anyone? Those who vandalize property may do so simply magine Nation Ford High School because they are bored during class on the very first day it opened. or want an outlet for their creativity.

Clean desks, clean tables, clean But what is wrong with writing on a walls. How long do you think it piece of paper or attending art club? took for those same desks and Is that temporary relief from boredom tables and walls to become vandal- more important than the negative efized with obscene, vulgar words and fect it could have on another student? pictures? Who was the kid who first Students are not the only ones to drew on property that was not his or blame. What about the administration her own? No one knows, but once the who allow tables with ugly words and first, there was a second, then a third. pictures to be put in front of students And here we are today in a school every day? And sure, teachers may not where we are confronted by the hatred be the ones holding the sharpie, but and childish behavior they should check of those who saw the the tables to make “Vandalism has first graffiti not as a sure students are bebecome another problem to be stopped, ing more responsible. but as an open door.

Those students who means by which Despite complaints have not done any teens degrade from at least two harm to the school others and harm the do not deserve to be teachers, Nation Ford High School continues forced to sit in class self-confidence of to be home to obscene every day and look at their fellow drawings and words, that kind of language. and the students, staff, This destrucclassmates.” and administrators tive behavior canneed to work harder to stop this be- not be permitted to continue. havior and clean it up. Administration The school needs to get new desks says they were unaware of the problem. or paint over vandalized desks in People cannot even go to the bath- classrooms. We need to start fresh. room anymore without being face to Custodians or teachers should face with hatred at Nation Ford High be more responsible for monitorSchool. According to the custodianal ing the desks to make sure they staff, they have never been instruct- stay clean and free from graffiti. ed by the administrators to clean up Just like the new positive quotes this mess -- or any other vandalism posted in the bathrooms, we need around the school. The school is do- kind words instead of harmful ones. ing nothing to fix the problem, and This task should not be left up to only that means it can only get worse. the teachers. In the future, students Desks, tables, chairs, walls, trash responsible for destroying the schoolcans and bathrooms have become an- property need to give back to the school other means by which teens degrade and repair what they have damaged. others and harm the self-confidence Our school should start fresh of their fellow classmates. Vulgarities, with new rules about vandalabusive words and obscene pictures ism and new ways of monitorshould not be tolerated. It creates a hos- ing and taking care of the problem. tile and negative atmosphere to which If nothing else, it would at least be students should not be subjected. a step in the right direction to improve What good does writing on desks our school – and the world we live in.

t’s Feb. 24, 1969. The doors to the Supreme Court building fly open as students of the Des Moines Community School District spill out of the exit. They have just won the battle (for the second time) for their First Amendment rights of free speech. Not only have they just won the case that protected them from censorship, but they have now guaranteed free speech rights for students at Nation Ford High School. Until now.

The NFHS journalism program is under a prior review policy from administration as of September. After 10 years of open forum publications in which students editors determined the content, Principal Jason Johns put into place a new policy in which administration will review the content and sanction the material before it is published.

Mr. Johns was provided an opportunity to give an explanation regarding censorship of the article about a day in the life of students at rival Fort Mill High, and he said that he felt as though the coverage of the story would disrupt the school day and cause rivarly. The new policy itself was triggered by a complaint recieved concerning the most recent literary magazine’s cover. A parent deemed the cover “disturbing,” while scholastic press associations deemed that same cover as Best in State and fourth in the nation.

Although administration has made it a point to explain that there will be no further censorship – there are aspects of the policy that restrict student’s rights to continue publishing certain topics that The Talon has been covering for years. Some of these topics include those with political controversy, those with biased content (the Op/Ed section of the newspaper is dedicated to expressing opinion), or topics that could “negatively impact the reputation of the school.” If the staff were to write anything along those lines, the policy states “School officials may eliminate content which, in their professional judgement…the [above] items exist.”

This issue of The Talon is the first to have undergone the prior review process. If a reader were to flip through the pages of the newspaper and compare it to the content to be eliminated, they would notice that The Talon has continued to produce the paper per usual. Any articles that contain sensitive or opinionated content have been

reviewed by Assistant Principal Mrs. Debra Miller and some by Principal Jason Johns. Therefore, this “prior review” policy is in fact not a prior review policy at all and can only lead to one question: Why do we have one?

After winning the First Place International Award from Quill and Scroll Honorary Society for two consecutive years, prior review has the potential to alter the creativity and coverage of controversial topics for good.

“The Journalism Education Association…denounces the practice of administrative prior review as serving no legitimate educational purpose. Prior review leads only to censorship by school officials or to self-censorship by students with no improvement in journalistic quality or learning,” according to the Principal’s Guide to Scholastic Journalism. Having prior review, even if administration states it won’t technically “censor,” affects the way student journalists write and what they choose to put in the newspaper.

The Talon newspaper is known by the community to cover school news along with news and controversy in the world outside of high school. The Talon staff covers topics that may be controversial, but are important to inform the school community. The topics are covered sensitively and are intended to be a service to the community.

For all the years that the newspaper has been publishing, it has been led by an adviser who offers instruction and guidance to students when determining if material is appropriate or not appropriate. For all the years the paper has been published, the student staff has not caused any disruption of the school’s learning environment at all. This, again, can only lead to the question: Why do we have prior review?

Although the new prior review policy is not necessarily suffocating the newspaper staff, we do not believe that it serves a purpose. Principal Johns states that the policy is soley to encourage and defend the journalism and arts programs. NFHS was originally established as a Tinker school, the court case in Des Moines that upheld student speech rights. NFHS was established as a school where students enjoyed freedom of the press. Previous administration encouraged students’ free speech. New administration has provided many more restrictions and will limit the creative and critical thinking abilities of the students. -R.C.

scribe massive amounts of information gathered by Google, Snapchat, and other websites about individual search histories, social media information, shopping habits and daily routines. This information is gathered to fine tune advertisements that appear on Facebook, Twitter, and websites that use Google Ads – for a price.

Corporations such as Facebook spend millions of dollars to secretly acquire the personal information of hundreds of thousands of Americans. This is a massive invasion of privacy, and it needs to be stopped.

“Trump would not have won without Facebook.” Political pundits and commentators everywhere from members of the Green Party to President Trump himself have made this claim – and it is not wrong. Trump’s campaign was just one of dozens of political cam-

paigns across the nation taking advantage of big data driven ad targeting.

With this ‘microtargeting’ approach, candidates can influence the votes of thousands of voters without having to do any real campaigning, and it has become absurdly popular.

In 2016 political candidates across the nation spent roughly $1.4 billion on individual history data and microtargeted ads (Slate.com). Congressmen and senators from both sides of the aisle blatantly breached millions of people’s privacy to win their seats.

This abuse of information is why American privacy law has not been substantially changed in 31 years – and is not likely to change as long as this type of data mining is allowed. Despite politicians such as John McCain and Bill Clinton calling for further protections of online privacy, several con-

gresses (largely elected by violating privacy) have been mute on the issue.

The future of America is the internet, cell phones and personal data online; online privacy can not be left in the hands of individuals when every major website people visit collects their information – often without their knowledge.

This data does not stop at someone’s Amazon wishlist or Instagram; it is information that can reveal how much money someone makes, someone’s daily routine, sexual orientation, or countless other sensitive details.

Without proper safeguards from both the government and private companies, this delicate and sensitive data can be used to manipulate the public.

It is a violation of individual freedom, and in a nation born from freedom, what could be a more basic a crime?

I Vandalism Is Out Of Hand

I

Bethany Houston

Staff Editorial

Big Companies Invade Privacy For Advertisements

T

Preston Lyerly

hose who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety,” Benjamin Franklin said.

Everyday technology intrudes further into our daily lives, from laptops to smartphones to refrigerators that connect to wifi -- American lives are increasingly affected by technology and the internet.

While a whole new world of innovation has been opened for human development, there are dangers to this massive communications revolution.

Beyond online predators, or Nigerian Prince scams, the invasion of individual privacy and the uncontrolled collection of ‘big data’ poses a huge risk.

Big data is a term used to de-

december 2017

the talon

2 news

HUMAN RIGHTS

United Nations Declares Human Rights Day, Encourages Everyone To Get Involved in 2017  Makayla Brown

H

uman rights. Every person is entitled to basic human rights, but they are still an issue for millions -- which is why the United Nations has declared Dec. 10 Human Rights Day. This is the 70th year the day is to be celebrated, and there are plenty of ways to get involved to promote human rights:

• Promote stories on social media about people who’ve stood up for human rights

• Talk about why you believe they matter • If you see anyone being harassed or bullied you can stand up for them or with them • Help others stand up for their rights if their voices are rarely heard

• Challenge dangerous stereotypes • Promote diverse role models such as Malala Yousafzai, Hayley Kiyoko and Frank Ocean • Donate to organizations that support human rights such as Amnesty International USA, Human Rights Watch, and the International Labor Organization (ILO) • Join human rights protests or online events • Promote tolerance and weaken prejudice • Volunteer for a local chapter of a human rights group, and bring friends along The Talon celebrates Human Rights Month with a look at some of the issues and the people involved. See pages 6-8 for more ways to support those who suffer when their basic human right are denied and to see how you and your friends can get involved.

Fort Mill Schools Offer Tutoring To Decrease Dropout Rate Abbie Knight Nation Ford High School and Carolinas Cornerstone Church have partnered for the second year to provide tutoring at a low-income community for students who attend schools in the Fort Mill School District.

In 2015, the majority of NFHS’ dropout population lived in this community, while two years later almost all of the students from this area graduated.

Ms. Catalina Mejia, a physical sci-

ence teacher at NFHS has volunteered at tutoring sessions since last year.

“Most of the time, there is mostly middle school aged kids at tutoring sessions, as they are more familiar with the program,” she says.

“When it’s close to exams or test days there are probably 5 or 6 high school kids, and on a regular day there’s usually 12 or 15 elementary and middle school kids. We’re trying to attract more high schoolers.”

Teachers who participate are not

just volunteering their time – they truly impact their local community and the young minds that shape it.

“Tutoring these kids is not just about the content, but also about building relationships and trust,” Mejia said.

“This has been a very rewarding experience. There are days that I can’t help a student because their homework is something I’ve never seen before, but they are patient and understanding.”

“Those are the times where we teach them life skills and

study skills which will help them with any subject,” she adds.

Mejia, along with other teachers, have benefited from the program as well.

“These kids are so nice, and so sweet,” she said. “They’re grateful for anything that you can do for them. For me, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know some of the middle schoolers, and now some of them are up here as freshman.

It’s nice to see a familiar face, and getting to know some of the kids outside of the school.”

Advancements In Human Rights Important For Justice

A

Sydney Mason

white man walks out of a building from a job interview with no doubt he’d be getting the job. He easily gets hired – that is the reality he lives in. He is allowed to patronize the businesses he chooses, use the bathrooms he wishes, and his kids can go to school happily and freely where they choose. All because of their privilege.

Meanwhile an African American man struggles to find an employer willing to give him work to provide for his family. He is permitted to use only a specific bathroom, and his children must go to an all-colored school (and there aren’t many of those to choose from).

Not even 60 years ago this way of life took place in America. Fortunately, in those 60 years, countless advancements in human rights have been made. Still, racism is a worldwide issue, but it has become a lot less acceptable than it was in the 60s. Laws were passed to be sure blacks and other minorities were given the same rights as white people.

Racism is not the only issue that been deteriorating over the years.

Other major issues such as women’s rights and environmental pro-

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tections have made positive gains.

Human rights – more specifically women’s rights – are different all over the world. Recently in Saudi Arabia, women were finally allowed to drive, and that’s not the only simple thing women haven’t been able to do on that side of the world. In Yemen, women aren’t allowed to leave the house without their husband’s permission. However, another middle eastern country, Kuwait, granted women the right to vote in 2005.

As for environmental issues, one of the biggest one would have to be overpopulation.

This issue has yet to be completely solved, but changes are being made as far as education and encouraging people to have smaller families. Billions of dollars have gone towards trying to create a more sustainable planet, however success is out of reach so far.

Pollution is also a huge environmental issue regarding human rights because it affects the health and quality of life of humans. But this problem has advanced over the years due to the obligation of states to take measures to control the pollution.

Human rights are advancing, however new problems come about each day as well. In the next 60 years, rights could be completely different – for the better or worse.

n Yemen women aren’t allowed to leave the house without their husband’s permission.”

the talon

by Carly Cashatt

October 2017

features• 5

Holiday Blues & Winter Dolrums Tis’ The Season To Be Melancholy Joslyn Ferguson While many people gather around open fires and sing Christmas carols, others aren’t as equipped to feel the joviality of this time of year. In fact, many feel quite the opposite.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) was first discovered in 1985 by Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal. It’s described as a mental disorder in which people with balanced mental health experience a serious depressive state at the same time each year, which happens most commonly during the winter. It currently affects over 16 million people in the U.S. every year, and 4 out of 5 are women, according to the organization Mental Health America.

“I am morose and moody during the winter…,” says Dayna Evans, a blogger for Gawker.com.

“Stuck to my bed and ashamed of the fact, I make promises to friends I can’t keep; I start projects I don’t finish; I make plans just to cancel them just within the timeframe in which it is bad-mannered to cancel them.”

A multitude of circumstances can lead to a case of SAD. As the year comes to a close and the days get shorter, people are getting less and less exposure to light. The reduced

amount of light causes serotonin levels to drop.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that controls a person’s mood. Individuals who have

been diagnoses with SAD have been known to have a higher serotonin loss rate than those without SAD. Another cause of SAD relates to a person’s melatonin

levels. Melatonin is a hormone that affects sleep patterns and mood. When winter begins, the nights are longer, so a person’s melatonin levels increase, causing them to feel more tired.

In a person with SAD, the secretion of melatonin is disrupted, which can cause Insomnia in the individual.

For those with SAD, life around this time of year may seem like a never ending drag, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

Literally. Treatments have been developed to lessen or even completely do away with the symptoms of SAD.

Light therapy is currently the most effective treatment.Light therapy can be as simple as turning on an extra lamp in the house, but a more impactful way of doing this would be with a light therapy box.

Light boxes produce the full spectrum of bright white light, and they block out ultraviolet rays. Average light boxes are available for $70 and up, but medical grade light boxes are typically $150 and up.

A light box, it should be positioned at eye level and at least two feet away from the eyes. If a person is considering using light therapy, he or she should talk with a doctor about the treatment, especially if they have a history of eye problems or general concerns.

Don’t Take The Digital Bait

Beware of navigating the dangerous waves of the World Wide Web where catfishers lurk Carly Cashatt Identity theft. Cyber-bullying. Catfishing. Social media isn’t all good.

Teens post huge amounts of information on their social media accounts. On Instagram alone, you’d have to provide phone number, name, password, and photo for identification. Hackers know how to obtain and use private information for profit.

InternetSafteyOnline101. org offers common sense safety tips: “...it is vitally important that teens use strict privacy settings and are savvy about the individuals they allow to view their social networking profile.”

What do you need to know to protect yourself from cyber villains? Even if you don’t have a huge bank account, teens need to take precautions.

Catfishing

People, including sexual predators, can fake their identities online. If you end up friending a stranger on Facebook, Instagram or most any december 2017

social app, you might want to do research. Catfishing affects over 54 percent of Americans.

Not only do you have to worry about the creepy strangers, but also you have to worry about who you know.

Fifty-eight percent of people who are catfished know the other person. Most online predators are between ages 11-55, according to the April 25, 2014 issue of Scientific American.

There are five signs to catching a catfisher before you’re in too deep.

One: If your contact refuses to talk on the phone, it’s a sign. Some people don’t like taking calls, but one sure sign you’ve been snagged by a catfisher is he or she won’t answer the phone or video call.

Two: He or she is always on the move. If they “lived” in your town, and as soon as you want to meet, they have moved to a different state or town, that’s fishy.

Three: His or her profile has a lot of errors, isn’t complete, or has very few friends or photos with tagged friends.

In other words, their profile doesn’t look like they’ve had it for a while.

Four: Do not meet people you don’t know. Clue the person is fishing? If they comes up with the craziest excuses to why they didn’t show or can’t

meet you. (Ex: My mother died.) Worse is if they are too calm about the crazy excuse.

Five: He or she asks for money. (Ex: Oh, my car broke down while I was traveling to meet you, and I don’t have the money to fix it.) Just kick him out of your life and be more

A Look Back:

A History Of Ties

C

Preston Lyerly

ross the wider head over the tail in an ‘X’ formation, then fully loop the head around the tail, pull the head underneath the loop then down through the loop to form a knot. It’s the simple, yet effective four-inthe-hand method to tie a tie.

December is National Tie Month; an entire month dedicated to honoring a quintessential staple of formal fashion that has been adopted by cultures around the world.

Ties are a necessity to any man’s wardrobe (or in the off-occasion, woman’s); numerous occasions in life are going to call for a tie: weddings, funerals, Mitzvahs, and often times work. The tie is iconic, but there is so much more to it.

Sashes and scarves have been around since the Mesopotamians, but the earliest direct ancestor of the modern neck tie dates back to the early 1500s – the cravat.

A cravat is a typically white cloth tied around the neck and either tucked into a puff or allowed to hang as a bib at the front of the neck.

Cravats gained popularity in Europe as most fashion did before World War I, through militaries. In the 1630s, King Louis XIII of France imported mercenaries from Croatia who had been wearing cravats for nearly a century, which hadn’t caught on outside of their homeland until they came to France. King Louis himself developed an affection for the look and began to wear a cravat regularly – and once a king does it, everyone does it.

Soon enough Western Eu-

skeptical next time.

Hacking & Theft Other than the creeps you can simply block and forget about, you could get hacked, and they could steal your identity. There are a lot of consequences to putting your information out there, particularly with the apps that auto fill your banking information.

Or you might make the mistake of leaving your credit or debit card at the restaurant where you ate at last night.

There are hackers out there who are more experienced than experts you can pay to keep your identity safe. Take precautions, and get with a company like Lifelock.

Cyberbullying

“Cyberbullying is poised to turn into the biggest online concern, already affecting up to 35 percent of all children,” according to report published on BullyingStatistics.org, an organization who studies the issue.

rope had abandoned the then popular, but highly convoluted, starched neck ruffles in favor of increasingly decorative cravats. It was around this time the cravat began to be worn with shirt collars, often with the collars folded over the portion that wraps around the neck.

Cravats remained the dominant formal neckwear well into the early 19th century. Less popular forms of neckwear came and went, such as the stock tie: a small piece of fabric (usually muslin) tied and pinned in a narrow band, and typically worn by equestrians.

By the 1800s the cravat had become a symbol of class and sophistication, mainly due to the complexity and difficulty in tying them; because of this problem, the first ever book solely dedicated to ties was published in 1818 called the Neckclothitania.

Come the Industrial Revolution and the mass productions of clothing, more and more average people required ties that were easier to wear and quicker to tie.

It was about this time that people began to take a band of cloth and tie it underneath their shirt collar, hence the beginning of the modern tie. These bands of fabric quickly evolved into what would be a tie today.

By the end of World War I, long ties and bow ties had become widespread, and aside from minor changes in fabric and width, have remained the same since.

Ties have a rich history and can make quite the statement – hopefully not choking all of us in the name of fashion.

Cyberbullying can come in many forms, and most cases its people from their school.

“Over 80 percent of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most popular form of technology and a common medium for cyber bullying. About half of young people have experienced some form of cyberbullying, and 10 to 20 percent experience it regularly,” the report says.

You can’t really prevent cyberbullying, but you can bring the problem to the attention of parents and school officials, and then take appropriate steps.

Also, make sure to save and screenshot all evidence you have to show proof. More than 2.5 billion people post and share every day, according to SocialPilot.com, a site that has numerous facts regarding all social media sites.

Social media is useful, but the dangers are everywhere and bad things can happen.

That doesn’t mean you can’t live your life and share while being safe on social media.

The Talon

6 • Centerspread

Some Illegal Immigrants Want Nothing But To Be American

The names have been changed to protect identities of sources in this article.

This is a story of one of the thousands of families who cross the Mexican-American border every year in search of a better life. The Talon recognizes this story in the Human Rights Issue because of the hardship these families go through when feeling forced to cross the border illegally because of the long, grueling process to come here documented. Only 350,000 immigrants are allowed into the U.S. legally per year. Currently, more than 1 million are on the waiting list in Mexico alone, and more than 4 million total. (cis.org) Bianca Yurdock & Amanda Gonzolez

Thirty-nine years ago...

Maria Cruz was born in a beautiful, small town called Oaxaca, Mexico. Twenty-five years later she found herself crossing into the United States of America -- illegally.

In Mexico, the schools were much smaller. In her grade there were a total of 22 students, nearly the average amount of students in one American classroom. Her family ate beans, corn, tomatoes, and more from their garden. Everything was fresh and organic; chickens and other animals were cooked and served the same day from their farm. She spent most of her days playing basketball or swimming in the river that flowed behind her house.

“When you’re a kid living in Mexico, you’re free to do whatever you want, but as you grow up you realize life isn’t easy,” Maria says.

In Mexico, it’s hard to get even the basics a family wants and needs – a house, nice shoes and clothing. She decided that if she wanted to be successful and live a comfortable life with her family, she would have to emigrate elsewhere.

When emigrating, foreigners have to follow regulations to be eligible to live in the United States. To live in the United States legally, a foreigner has to have family or employment relationships, or humanitarian protection such as refugee or asylum status. Maria’s family had no such connections.

“I would see people crossing in

The Talon

real life, but I never imagined I would be doing it myself,” Maria said.

On Nov. 9, 2003, Maria Cruz, her husband Jorge, and her 1-year-old daughter made it their mission to cross the border successfully– no matter what.

They began collecting supplies: canned food, baby food, two gallons of water and warm clothing for the baby.

Maria borrowed cash from her brother and paid the rest to the guide later after arriving. They borrowed $1,800 for each adult and $600 for Rosa.

behind. The responsibility of bringing Rosa terrified her. After hours in the freezing cold desert night, Jorge began to have trouble walking because of the poor quality of his shoes, making him even more exhausted. Their guide warned the group to run and hide to get away from immigration authorities.

While everyone slept, Maria stayed up all night caring for the baby. She didn’t rest until they arrived to the United States.

To help Jorge get away in time,

estamos juntos,” Cruz said. If we die tonight, at least we will all be together.

On the entire journey, the group was only allowed two 5-minute breaks. There were moments when everyone was too tired and wanted to give up. But Maria, kept pushing forward for Rosa’s future.

“I wanted Rosa to have more opportunities than I had growing up as an adult,” Maria said.

After 14 hours of walking, running, and hiding from immigration authorities, everyone was exhausted. Finally, the fatigued group reached California, where they had a safehouse waiting for them.

“Seeing the house gave us motivation to keep pushing and to ignore the pain in our feet. We knew United States in a few minutes we’d be able to Of rest,” Maria said.

America Shortly after, she experienced one of the most terrifying and heartbreaking moments in her life.

Rosa wouldn’t wake up.

“She wouldn’t move,” Maria sobbed.“Her hand was freezing cold.”

Maria was hit with a rush of emotions. She Oaxaca began screaming, kicking, and sobbing uncontrollably.

She thought it was all for nothing.

Because she heard Maria supported him on one side Jorge grabbed the child from that women were often and another woman in the group her arms while Maria tried to calm raped while crossing, Maria cut supported him from the other side. down. Eventually, Rosa woke from her hair short to avoid draw- At times, they barely escaped the a deep sleep – the baby was exing attention to herself. spotlights as Immigration Customs hausted from the long trip.

It was a dark, rainy Sunday Enforcement (I.C.E) closed in. Ev- After resting, they took the nearafternoon when they began their ery time they heard the ‘chop, chop, est flight to Raleigh, NC, where 14-hour journey to the United chop’ of a helicopter overhead, they Jorge had family waiting for them.

States. Maria carried baby Rosa dove to the cold, hard ground, some- “It was worth it because I was able and tried to keep her from crying. times landing in thorny bushes. to offer my children a better lifestyle,” She felt sad for the family she left “Si nos morimos hoy, por los menos she said.

“I would see people crossing in real life, but I never imagined I would be doing it myself...”

December 2017

Centerspread • 7

ighting F F l l i t S e r Women’s rights and or R A s i n ghts a c rape culture have been problems for centuries. i er Americans are doing more to fight for their equality, and create awareness in our society.

SO

T GREA

N

OT

Am

Worldwide Women Suffer From Inequality Kailey Cota “I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation.

Gender equality is your issue too,” said actress Emma Watson in 2014 as she addressed the United Nations in her role as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.

Gender equality has been an unresolved issue spanning time periods and cultures, even until today. The status of each sex differs as it crosses cultural lines, and while men and women have both had their time at the top, no society has achieved total gender equality.

While the call to improve women’s rights has a worldwide presence, every country has different levels of gender equality. To measure the global inequality between sexes, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has established a ranking system called the Gender Inequality Index (GII).

The GII ranks countries by looking at maternal mortality ratio, adolescent birth rate, share of seats in

parliament, and comparing the population with secondary education as well as labour force participation rate between females and males. The lower the rank is, the worse conditions for women are. According to the UNDP, the United States is ranked tenth, meaning nine nations have better gender equality than the U.S. While U.S. citizens live in a nation where legally men and women are equal, women in most countries need help to enable women’s rightslegally and societally- to improve.

Past: Native American Women in Society Not every culture always sees women as less valuable than men.

Cherokee tribes were rare matriarchal hierarchies; before colonization, Cherokee women had autonomy and freedoms beyond that of Cherokee men.

In her book, Cherokee Women in Crisis; Trail of Tears, Civil War, and Allotment, 1838-1907, Carolyn Johnston makes the point that a woman’s association with nature and mother-

hood “served as a basis of their power within the tribe, not as a basis of oppression.” The same female traits that are looked down upon today were the very reason women were vital contributors to the Cherokee society.

Present: Indonesian Women In Society

From a legal standpoint, men and women in Indonesia are equal; Indonesia even had a female president, Megawati Sukarnoputri, from July 2001 until Oct. 2004.

“In Indonesia, every girl can go to school, girls are allowed to go to college, women can work anywhere and receive the same wages as men,” said Amani Islahuddin (‘18), Indonesian foreign exchange student at NFHS. However, in traditional cultural behavior, women answer to men. It is because of this cultural bias that gender inequality in Indonesia is ranked at 113 out of 188 countries by the GII. “It is how people behave,” Islahuddin said. “The husband’s position is higher than the wife’s posi-

tion… Women always say ‘yes’ to their husbands… It is the culture, it is nothing to do with the law.”

What Should I Do? There are many organizations locally, nationally and internationally established for individuals to join and make a difference. One possible organization is the UN Women’s HeForShe solidarity movement. HeForShe provides a “systematic approach and targeted platform where a global audience can engage and become change agents for the achievement of gender equality in our lifetime.”

HeForShe breaks involvement up into six categories: education, health, identity, work, violence and politics.

The website has information for each issue, detailing ways for individuals to make an impact and places where improvements have been made.

Fighting gender inequality is a necessary step to creating a safer, more peaceful world. Individuals must get involved; small efforts make big differences.

taken regarding a reported rape does not guarantee justice for the wrongly accused. Her course of action certainly does not protect rape survivors who are actively trying to seek justice.

“Why would he even think that he could do that?” said Lucy, a rape victim and student of Nation Ford High.

She was raped by her best friend.

She was raped on the brink of age 15, and she was raped at a time of her life where she never expected it. Along with other rape victims attending public educational facilities, Lucy may be impacted by the change in policy, making those who have had assistance from their schools especially vulnerable.

One in 5 women and 1 in 71 men will be a victim of sexual assault during their lifetime, according to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN).

Women are not the only ones that are at risk, men can also be assaulted.

“We were friends for a year and a half. Two years maybe,” Lucy says about her rapist. RAINN estimates that approximately two thirds of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows.

“I was at a party at his house, and

he and his friend drugged me, took me into his room, and he raped me,” she says. “I was really out of it. I remember some of it, but I didn’t know that I was drugged when it was happening.”

Lucy trusted her rapist, but when she decided to go to his party, that was not automatic consent to have sex.

A 1971 study conducted by Menachem Amir found that 71 percent of rapes are premeditated. Male sexual predators cannot blame rape on “uncontrollable desire,” as seeing rape this way excuses the rapists and puts blame on the victim. This cycle is known as victim-blaming and is part of something bigger, known as rape culture. ape culture is perpetuated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety, according to Southern Connecticut State University.

Rape jokes, sexual slurs, and slut shaming are all-too common examples of rape culture. These are not isolated incidents, and normalizing them leads to the excuse of sexual violence, and the

continuation of the rape culture cycle.

A study by Terry C. Davis Ph.D was conducted to determine the prevalence of forced sex among high school students and to assess student attitudes towards it.

The first survey, given before a presentation about rape, elicited information and attitudes about forced sex in 11 scenarios; the second, given after the program, asked if the student had ever been in a situation involving forced sex and, if so, whether he or she had told anyone.

The findings of this study directly and fully prove that rape culture exists.

Although one out of five students (20 percent) reported they had experienced forced sex, only half had answered the survey about the experience.

A majority of boys (60 percent) found it acceptable in one or more situations for a boy to force sex on a girl.

“But making women responsible for men’s sexuality isn’t just about excusing rape and sexual harassment. It’s a cultural rule that enforces the idea that this is a man’s world—women just live in it,” said Jessica Valenti, criminal justice reporter for The Nation.

Rape Culture Extends To Educational Settings The names have been changed to protect identities of victims in this article.

W

Abbie Knight

ith a recent push by Secretary Betsy Devos, the educational system is changing the way rape is handled at not only universities, but also at all public educational facilities. This includes all public high schools. The Obama-era policy, known as the “Dear Colleague Letter,” has included the procedure for schools and colleges in handling sexual harassment since 2011. On Sept. 22, the policy was officially removed and a new set of procedures were enacted.

“If a school knows or reasonably should know about student-on-student harassment that creates a hostile environment, Title IX requires the school to take immediate action to eliminate the harassment, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects,” the old policy said.

Devos’ main concern with the former policy was that while it helped rape victims obtain justice, it didn’t protect the accused.

“If everything is harassment, then nothing is,” she says.

Minimizing the course of action

December 2017

R

The Talon

8 • centerspread Polaris Project

A leader in the global fight to eradicate slavery, Polaris works helping survivors restore their freedom, preventing more victims, and leveraging data & tech to pursue traffickers where they operate.

Amnesty International A global movement of more than 7 million people who take injustice personally.

We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.

Conservation International

The group Conservation International has worked to protect nature for the benefits it provides to all of us: food, fresh water, livelihoods and a stable climate.

National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC) The NCAC models, promotes, and delivers excellence in child abuse response and prevention through service, education, and leadership.

NFHS Students Participate In Walk For Freedom Precious Fisher Names have been changed to protect identities of sources in this article.

“Okay so I’m going to need everyone to stand in a single filed line as we walk without making a single noise,” said Ashley Griffin, leader of A21 as the crowd prepared to walk down Main Street, Fort Mill for 1.99 miles to support innocent people who have been taken from or sold by their families into modern day slavery.

The Youth for Abolition Club of Nation Ford High School participated in the Walk for Freedom 2017 on Oct. 14. Men, women, and young children walked in silence down Tom Hall Street with their mouths covered with yellow bandanas, each with the name of survivor.

The sponsor of the Walk for Freedom event, A21, is a 501 non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to fight human trafficking: sexual exploitation & trafficking, forced slave labor, bonded labor, involuntary domestic servitude, and child soldiery.

A21 planned the event to call attention to the issue of human trafficking because it is a serious issue in all communities.

In South Carolina, a three-day operation Oct. 12-15 focused on undercover stings in Myrtle Beach and Columbia. Eighty-four children were rescued — including one as young as 3 months old — and 120 human traffickers were arrested in a nationwide undercover operation that involved a Myrtle Beach hotel.

Three women who abducted the children were also arrested and charged with prostitution last week in a joint FBI-Myrtle Beach Police Department operation at the Hilton Garden Inn near Coastal Grand Mall.

The Youth for Abolition Club made up a large contingent of the demonstrators who showed up to walk in silence.

“I like how we came together as a group who was united,” said Christina Atkins, supporter of the A21 walk.

Every 30 seconds, another person becomes a victim of human trafficking but only 1-2 percent of victims are ever rescued. Amy, Ivan, and Eve were lucky. They got out.

Human Rights Campaign: Advocating For LGBTQ Equality (HRC) HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are ensured basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. december 2017

Nation Ford High School’s Youth For Abolition Club walks Tom Hall Street in silence among A21 and community members on Oct. 14 to raise awareness about Human Trafficking.

Survivor Stories Survivor Stories From A21: From A21: Amy: American Girl, 17 She fell in love with a man who cared for her in a way she had never experienced at home. But after dating for a few months, he began to change.

He started physically abusing her and demanding that she do what he told her. He made her get a tattoo to show that she was his. He introduced her to drugs again and again until she became addicted.

Amy was treated like his property– owned and used against her will to perform sexual acts, for years.

Eve: Girl, 7 She was born in a poor community in Thailand to a desperate family. When she was just 3-years-old, her own family sold her to pay for their rent and food.

She was forced to work on streets filled with brothels. She was given drugs so that she could be exploited in the evenings. By the time she was 4, she was supporting her family.

By 7, her body was constantly being abused. Her life was never her own and she would spend it for the sake of her family.

Ivan: Ukrainian Man, 35 In search of a better way to provide for his family, Ivan left his home and his country in pursuit of a better life– a life of new opportunities in the US. When he arrived, he was forced to work long hours in terrible conditions and his boss withheld wages from him until he met unattainable demands.

He was beaten repeatedly and endured daily threats towards his family and his own life. He felt like he was a nobody, in the middle of nowhere, with no way out.

National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People (NAACP)

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)

National Organization For Women (NOW)

NAACP works to ensure a society in which all have equal rights without discrimination based on race.

RAINN carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure prepetrators are brought to justice.

NOW’s purpose is to take action through international activism to achieve and protect the equal rights of all women and girls in all aspects of societal, political and economic life.

the talon

ENTERTAINMENT • 9

UPCOMING CONCERTS DEC 3 - LIL PUMP @ 8 p.m.

FILLMORE CHARLOTTE

G

Gracie Barnett & Makayla Brown

azzy Garcia, also known as Lil Pump, was born and raised in Miami Gardens, Fla. Lil Pump claimed his rise to fame with singles, “Gucci Gang” and “D Rose,” which have now generated into top singles on Apple Music. The 17-year-old rapper released his first album, “Lil Pump” on Oct. 13, months after he allegedly dropped out of Harvard to “save the rap game.”

“Lil Pump” is a 15 track mixtapes with collaborations from Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, Smokepurpp, Lil Yachty, and Chief Keef.

Over the past year, Lil Pump burst into the rap scene and will surely continue to expand his success on his upcoming tour.

“Lil Pump is the most up and coming young rapper on the charts,” Hannah King (‘18) said. “His style is all about what the rap genre embodies right now… his concert is going to be insane.”

As Lil Pump works on his second album, we can expect to see more collaborations and especially more fire tracks.

7

8

DECEMBER

DECEMBER

Trans Siberian Orchestra

Luke Combs

7:30 p.m.

11p.m.

Spectrum Center

Cayote Jones (Sold Out)

17

10

DECEMBER

DECEMBER

All Time Low

The Revivalists

8 p.m.

8 p.m.

Fillmore Charlotte

Fillmore Charlotte

30

30

JANUARY

JANUARY

NF - Perception Tour

Lana Del Ray

8 p.m.

8 p.m.

Fillmore Charlotte

Spectrum Center

The Front Bottoms Sell Out Filmore

Headliner, Opening Bands Basement & Bad Bad Hats Blow Away Excited Audience Raegan Craddock “It was probably one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen,” said Genevieve Bowman, owner of one of the 2,000 tickets that The Front Bottoms headlined, to sell out the Filmore in Charlotte on Nov. 21. Basement and Bad Bad Hats came on first to hype up the crowd for them. The theater was filled to the brim of ecstatic fans, most in the crowd knowing every lyric.

With only a little over 89,000 monthly listeners, Bad Bad Hats performed wonderfully and had the attention of a strong majority of the crowd. The lead singer Kerry Alexander was personal and took time to speak to the crowd The Talon

and explain what the songs were about, making everyone laugh a little on the way. Although the band is not widely known, their music allowed the crowd to begin to move in unison and become comfortable with each other, setting everyone up for a great night. Basement, a band slightly more popular than Bad Bad Hats put on an amazing performance and had the whole crowd moving. They put on a high energy performance and played many of their fan favorited songs including two of their hits “Pine” and “Covet.” Their sound

quality was pristine and sounded strikingly similar to their, a quality of live performance that many artists seem to lack.

Closing the concert, The Front Bottoms opened with a song off their new album “Going Grey,” which came out earlier in November. Although their new album strayed away from the bands’ original acoustic-punk sound, they also played a lot of well-known songs from previous albums. TFB put on a favorable performance and made their time on stage personal by asking fans which songs they wanted

to hear as opposed to using a set list.

As a fan of four years, I was unhappy with the release of the new album.

It took on a more modern pop sound which is disappointing from a band known for having original sounds.

Despite the pop sound of the new album, I went to this concert without high hopes and came out astonished.

The Front Bottoms and Basement both played everything the fans wanted to hear, and Bad Bad Hats definitely made a name for themselves at that concert.

The crowd was high energy throughout the show, and every fan left the sold-out theater with no voice, sweat on the collars of their shirts, and a smile on their faces.

December 2017

10 • sports

Tom Risser has been skateboarding since he was 13.

Now the welding artist designs skateparks.

Even after suffering a major heart attack, today Tom still skates and creates metal sculptures.

NC Artist Designs Skate Parks For A Living

B

Hannah Barnes

anked powerslides. Frontside slash grinds.

Long 50/50 grinds. Skateboarder, artist, business owner and book writer Tom Risser speeds around on his skateboard.

Risser started skateboarding in 1976 when he was 13-years-old. He blossomed as an artist at 34-- creating amazing sculptures of welded metal.

“He is devoted to skateboarding, art and life!” said Jason Barnes, a skateboarder who has been coming to Risser’s skate parks and bowls for 25 years.

Risser’s style of skateboarding and positive outlook on life have made him a hero and legend for many locals.

“He’s very positive, here on Earth to live life to its fullest,” said family friend and fellow skateboarder Chuck Powell.lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll And that’s exactly what Risser does-- starting with his skateboarding. While it wasn’t something that came easily to him, he didn’t let that stop him.

“It felt good--which made you want to keep practicing… which led to improvement,” Risser said. “It has never been easy-- I used to take weeks to get a trick, but it still feels natural to stand on a board. More natural than running.”

So is his art. As soon as he cut into his first piece of metal, Risser found out that welding was for him. “ My first big stand-alone sculpture was a six-foot tall guy on a skateboard that is in front of a skatepark in Wilmington, NC,” Tom said.

Risser’s art can now be found almost all over North Carolina, not only in the form of welded metal sculptures, but as actual skateparks.

“His skateparks are extremely abstract but in the coolest way possible. It’s what life’s all about as far as expression goes-- constant ups and downs,” said Barnes.

the talon

Above: Riding a skateboard at his home in Waxaw, NC, Tom Risser catches air in his personal bowl last year. Below: In his garage studio, Tom welds a coyote head for a outdoor creation on Oct. 7. Metal art is just one of his passions.

Powell agrees.lkjlkjlkjlkjlkjlkjlkjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj “[The skateparks] are like an outdoor art museum,” he said.kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkklllll A skate-able art exhibit turns out to be Risser’s full intention. He felt that sculptures that are ignored fail at being art when in a public space.

“My best combination is art that you can skate,” Risser said. “If I am bringing a skatepark to the world, then I am not doing what everyone else is already doing. Be different. Be original. Change the experience from the cookie-cutter approach.”

Based on the designs of Whipsnake, near Liberty Hill SC, and Waxhaw S8, on Caldwell St

“Life is JOY. Create joy.

”

NC, Risser definitely hit that original approach.

“I worked with the landscape to allow the drainage to flow as it did before the park was added into the same place,” he said. “It flows with the environment rather than battles against it. But I still didn’t get it the way I wanted… so I am constantly tweaking it.”

It was while he was at one of his skateparks-- on New Year’s Day to be exact, that “it” happened. “It” being a heart attack.llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll “I had a quintuple bypass heart surgery...which is just crazy to wrap my brain around...bad genes I guess,” Risser said.lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll A complicated procedure that treats severely blocked arteries that feed the heart, bypass surgery is serious.lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll “We had a party to say thanks to everyone who supported myself and my family through it all,” said Risser, “My surgeon and ICU nurse came, along with the amazing skate community to celebrate life.”

The hospital created a short film about him because of his amazing positive attitude through it all.

“One of the keys is to draw energy from those who support you-- such as family and friends,” Risser said.

It was that positive attitude and great physical condition from skateboarding that brought him through the recovery process so well. He ended up back on his board six weeks later.

“Life throws curves at you, but there is always someone who has it worse-- so suck it up and keep pounding...heart and mind,” said Risser.

After it all, it took him about nine months to rebuild his stamina. Still, he has to watch for dehydration and deal with dizziness.

“I still can’t do much with that side of my arm/ shoulder...but just because I can’t do a handplant this month [isn’t] an excuse,” Risser said. “I still ride every weekend and love every chance to flow around on the best four-wheel transportation device I own.”

Everything about skateboarding makes Tom Risser feel alive and free. At once, he feels like he is a part of the surface below and around him, he says.

“Life is JOY. Create joy.” december 2017

SPORTS• 11

Wrestling Season To New Girls Soccer Coach Start Tomorrow With Indian Land Invitational Mia Valentim

Q: What in-

terested you in coaching at Nation Ford High School?

Alana O’Brien The varsity wrestling team hits the mats in their first competition of the season tomorrow at Indian Land High School. They will be competing against multiple teams at the Indian Land Invitational.

After nine years of experience, Coach Daniel Snell is preparing the team for victory this year. Wrestlers Joshua Paxtor (‘18) and Dylan Tindall (‘19) are getting ready for their season by building cardio capacity and strength as well as leadership skills.

“I’m excited because it’s my senior year, and I kind of want to be that leadership role for my peers,” Paxtor said.llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Although he admits to having a young team, Coach Snell admires those on his team who are working hard.

“We have some freshmen and first year wrestlers who could come up big for us,” Snell said.

Last year, the wrestling team graduated five seniors. Of the five, two of them finished No. 1 and No. 2 in their division.llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll During practices, the team works not only on their physical strength, but also on their mental strength.

“Mentally, we will work on toughness by focusing on details like giving max effort, pushing through mental walls via long runs or extended holds, and following through with standard operating procedures,” Coach Snell said.

Team members admit that some matches will be

A: One of the

Kris McClellan

Practicing their wrestling moves on Oct. 9, Nathan Lay (‘21) takes down his opponent Max Deal (‘21) to prepare for the upcoming wrestling season. more difficult than others, such as upper state teams.

“Rock Hill will probably be our toughest competitor.

They’re athletic and have a full team.” said Tindall (‘19).

The Invitational will give our boys a chance to feel out their competition and discover where improvement is needed.

Bball Falcons To Battle Boiling Springs Alana O’Brien The undefeated varsity girls’ and varsity boys’ basketball teams will be going head to head against Boiling Springs at home on Dec. 5. Kathleen Edwards, the varsity girls’ head coach, is excited and ready to work hard for a successful season.

Her two returning seniors are Sami Tuipilotu and Alexis Clement. llllllllllllllllllllllllllll llllllllllllllllCoach Edwards has been coaching for nine years and uses her personal experience as a player to encourage and train her team.llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll “Our main focus is to get better at the little things,” she says.l The team is preparing for their hardest games. “[We’re] getting as much time as we can in the gym to work on fundamentals and conditioning,” said

post Alexis Clement (‘18).

The Falcons know who the fiercest competition will be this season.lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll “Rock Hill and Clover are always tough games,” Coach Edwards admits.llllllllllllllllllll The girls are supportive of each other and are ready to play as a team.llllllllllllllllllllllll “I believe everyone on the team makes contributions to make our team strong,” said Clement (‘18).lllllllllllllllllllllllllll The boys’ head coach, Mr. Jared Adamson, is also pumped for the home game this Tuesday. With 10 years of experience, two of them at Nation Ford, Coach Adamson is ready to lead his team to victory.

“Fall practice consisted of skill work, playing fast, and scramble defense, “Coach Adamson said.lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

A: Going into a new season being a first

year coach is very exciting for both myself and hopefully the players. I think getting the chance to work with a new group of girls is one of the great things about coming in.

Q: What are some goals you have for the team this season?

A: This year will be an opportunity to create

a winning culture, on and off the field. The goals are to ensure the girls are working hard on the field and in the classroom, and holding themselves and their teammates to a very high standard.

A: One thing I really try not to do is to look

back at last season’s successes and failures. A new season brings a new opportunity to learn and develop as players and as a group. Obviously the hope is to go one step further than last year on the field, but every season brings its new set of challenges which I’m really looking forward to.

Ashley Garcia

Dribbling the ball to score, postition Zeb Graham (‘19), last season at home against Lancaster. The Falcons won 49-33.

Using the team’s strategies to their advantage, they’re counting on a win.

______________________

DECEMBER 2017

upcoming season?

last year?

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Q: What are you most excited about for this

Q: What do you want to improve from

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things that interested me in the position was the opportunity to give back into the local community of Fort Mill. I’ve been fortunate to work in the local soccer Aaron Weldon community for a number of years now, and this will be another great chance to work and help continue the growth of soccer within this area.

Q: Do you have a specific coaching style?

What is it like?

A: My coaching style is very hands on, and

will be very detail orientated. With the high school regular season being so short, we all need to buy into a style that will hopefully see us playing in the later weeks of the season. The demands will be very high and the standards set will test each player within the group.

Q: What do you enjoy most about coaching?

A: The ability to share my love and passion

for the game is one of the reasons I enjoy coaching. I was fortunate enough to be around some very influential coaches during my time playing, and hope that the girls’ experience at Nation Ford will lead them onto a path to become great soccer players and great people later on.

Q: Do you have a coaching philosophy?

What would it be?

A:My philosophy coaching the game is a very simple one. Our team will be a very organized and very hard to break down with direct and entertaining attacking play. This team will be a group of girls that other teams hate to come up against, that’s for sure!

The Talon

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