The Talon newspaper v. 13 issue 1 2019-20

Volume 13 Number 1

November 2019

The Talon Nation Ford High School

1400 A.O. Jones Blvd.

Fort Mill, SC 29715

Up In Smoke

America’s Youth Buy Into Vaping, E-cig Epidemic Sickens Students

A

by Grace Asaad

Nation Ford student who had to be placed on life support when his lung collapsed after vaping, is one of more than 1,000 people who have succombed to vaping-related illnesses, according to Resource Officer Dave Prescott.

The fruit flavored pods for Juul e-cigarettes that have come under fire for attracting teen smokers will soon be a thing of the past, the company announced Oct. 17. The decison comes after the Trump administration announced the intent to ban flavored e-cigarettes in the wake of health concerns for teen smokers.

E-cigarettes have caught the attention

of millions of children and teens. The devices were originally produced for adults who want to stop smoking, according to manufacturers. As bad news about the dangers of e-cigarettes has been in the media, Juul Labs posted on their website as of the end of September a statement: “Juul Labs’ mission is to eliminate cigarettes. Juul products are intended for adult smokers who want to switch from combustible cigarettes.”

The site says customers must offer proof they are over the age of 21 to purchase the product and also asks which state in which the shopper resides.

Continued on Page 6

Opinion:

N Hall Needs Safer Windows, Ladders En Guard!

Fencing Offers Fun, Defensive Skills Today

2 • news

3 Exchange Students Become Falcons

Girls from France, Switzerland, Italy Spend Year With Host Families

I

taly, France, Switzerland.

by Khonnie Kounbandith

Anne Weiler

Every year, Nation Ford “I have been in the U.S. before,” said Weiler, an exchange student from

hosts foreign exchange Rennes, France. “But every place is

very different from one another. [In

students from countries around the Fort Mill], it’s a typical American life, and you have a lot of different habits

world. we don’t have in France, so I am learning. I want to go back to France fluent

This year the school welcomes in English and with an American accent.”

Letizia Dallatomasina (‘20) from The capital city of Brittany, Rennes, lies in the northwestern region of

Medesano, Italy, Anne Weiler France and is known for its medieval

half-timbered houses and the Rennes

(‘20) from Rennes, France, and Cathedral. However charming her

Anne Weiler, France

home town, Anne decided to travel on

Rania Belaid (‘20) from Cossonay, a 10-hour flight to immerse herself in a new culture.

In addition to visiting America a few

still very present,” Weiler says. “My

Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria,

me] to see more than France. One day

Croatia before moving to Fort Mill.

At home, she’s a clarinet player, boxer, and a girl scout.

“My school in France is older and private, but private schools in France aren’t as expensive or separated from public schools as they are here,” Weiler

Switzerland. Foreign students “In Europe, the American Dream is times, Weiler has been to Germany, make friends, practice language parents always pushed [my sisters and Spain, Czechoslovakia, Slovenia, and skills, and experience the culture I talked to my dad about my wish [to

study abroad] and he told me he sup-

of a new country. The learning ported me and was going to do everything to help me live this experience. It

experience works both ways -- will open my mind so much, and make Falcons make new friends, too.

me grow and learn more than ever.”

Letizia Dallatomasina

“In Europe, the American Dream is still very present...”

Anne Weiler

“It’s like in the movies with the lockers and changing classes every hour.”

Letizia Dallatomasina

“My first impression of the U.S. was that it is not like what we see on TV or in films.”

Rania Belaid

The Talon

Small in stature with thick, black glasses framing her brown eyes, Dallatomasina is an exchange student from Medesano, Italy. Her straight dark hair falls to her shoulders, and today she’s wearing a red-and-white striped shirt with a camo green jacket. She is reserved, but when she describes her departure from home, she tears up as she talks about leaving her friends and family to live somewhere new.

However, she brightens when talking about what she plans to do in America.

“I want to go to football games, homecoming, and prom,” Dallatomasina says. “Also, meet new people, make new friends, and travel to big cities.”

In contrast to American schools, Italy has a five-hour school day with three to four hours of homework every day (although this may depend on the class).

Unlike America, where students switch classes, Italian students stay in the same classroom, and different teachers rotate each block. For exam-

Letizia Dallatomasina, Italy ple, in one school day, students get instruction in two hours of math, one hour of English, and one hour of science.

She says it is her dream to study in the States, and she enjoys meeting new people of different ages and classes.

“It’s like in the movies with the lockers and changing classes every hour,” she says. “I love going to ball games and learning about a new culture.”

Rania Belaid

“My first impression of the U.S. was that it is not like what we see on TV or in films,” says Rania Belaid (‘20), an exchange student from Cossonay, Switzerland.

Cossonay, a small town 20 minutes away from Lausanne, was formerly known as a Roman military base, but now the town is famous for the Etang du Sépey, a hatchery for 14 of 18 amphibian species in Switzerland.

Other than observing the nature preserve, tourists travel to Cossonay for its rustic scenery, and they can see the Protestant church with a steeple that stands out from the rest of the town.

But Belaid decided to leave her quaint town for a year for a change of pace.

“I wanted to change my routine,”

Rania Belaid, Switzerland

explains. “My school does everything, from 4-years-old to 18- or 19-yearsolds. It’s just in different buildings all in the same place.

“We have classes from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. but don’t work on Wednesday afternoons,” she said. “We don’t have any clubs in schools there, and you do your sport most of the time outside of school in associations.

“We also don’t change classes. For most of them, it’s the teachers who come in the classes. And we are with the same students for almost every subject.”

Weiler, who says she loves to make crepes, is a part of a family of six.

“My mother is called Sarah and my father is Eric,” explains Weiler. “I have two sisters: the older one is Caroline.

She’s 19, and the other one is Emma, and she is 17. My dog is called Nuts because he has brown colored hair like nuts, and he is a Cavalier King Charles and is around 6-years-old.”

While spending her year at Nation Ford, Weiler plans on traveling around the United States and making new friends.

“I am really happy to be here and ready to live some new stuff!” she says.

Every week, she calls her family to tell them about her experience and catch up on what she’s missing at home.

“I have one brother, who is 15, and he is in the national team of an acrobatic gym,” she explains. “My mum is a teacher, and my dad is an electrician.”

At home, when she isn’t in school, Dallatomasina enjoys outside walks, hanging out with her friends, and taking aerial silk classes.

“It’s very different in America,” Dallatomasina explains. “Everything is bigger. You always have to use your car to go everywhere. In Italy, we walk or use public transportation, like buses or cabs.”

Sometimes stereotypes prove untrue, and that is part of the learning for exchange students and their hosts.

“We think every American is fat,” says Dallatomasina. “But that is not true.”

At the end of June 2020, Dallatomasina will go back home to graduate. Before returning, she wants to experience American culture to its fullest.

“I look shy,” she says. “But when you get to know me, I can open up.”

Belaid says. “And see other things in the world, improve my English, learn about myself and become more open-minded.”

In Switzerland, Belaid has a longer commute to school as well as a longer school day. An average school day begins at 8:15 a.m. and could last until 6 p.m.

Belaid stays in the same classroom for three years, and different teachers come into the classroom.

“I have 10 classes, so every day my schedule changes,” Belaid explains.

“During lunch, I have 45 minutes to an hour and a half to eat. Sometimes I go out with my friends to eat as well.”

While spending her year in Fort Mill and attending Nation Ford High, Belaid wants to explore as much of Fort Mill as possible as well as learn about American culture through her fellow Falcons.

November 2019

news •3

Clothes Closet For Students

Students In Need Find Gently Used, New Outfits

by Colin Hoover Because an estimated 9 percent of the population lives below the poverty line in Fort Mill, Counselor Marla McKenzie and Assistant Administrator Pamela Pittman established Nation Ford a clothing closet at the start of school for students to get clothing, shoes and toiletries.

Some students go hungry, may have to wash without soap and other personal hygiene products, and wear old, dirty clothes because their families aren’t fortunate enough to be able to afford what many people take for granted.

Mrs. McKenzie came up with the idea for the clothes closet. “It’s her brain

CLUB NEWS Mock Trial To Compete In Scrimmage

Mock Trial team will travel to Moss Justice Center for a scrimmage against Fort Mill Middle School on Nov. 2.

Students in the club are given court positions to practice and compete against opposing schools. During 6 p.m. meetings on Thursdays, lawyers teach students with regard to performing in real-life court.

“We are hoping to turn it into a one-stop shop for anyone who needs it.”

– Pam Pittman, administrator

child,” Mrs. Pittman said. “She did it at her other school, and when she told me about it, I decided that I had so much, and I should give some of it back to the community.”

The closet is in C105, which used to be a storage room. Several racks of new or lightly used clothes line up against the left hand wall. Neatly folded clothes cover tables and will be sorted and placed on the racks. To the right of the door, a cupboard holes a dozen pairs of shoes.

“They’re name brand, very name brand,” Mrs. Pittman said.

The clothing closet, however, is just the start of something bigger.

“We are hoping to turn it into a one-stop shop for anyone who needs it,” Mrs. Pittman explains. “Children

w

Arranging clothes donated to the new Nation Ford clothing closet in room C105, Mrs. Marla McKenzie prepares for students in need on Sept. 27. go out for interviews and don’t have formal clothes, so we’re getting formal clothes.”

A clothes rack holds several ties and dress shirts. Although they have a few dresses, there is no formal wear for women yet.

The two hope to also collect school supplies. “We even need coat hangers and paper bags,” Mrs. Pittman said.

The goal of the closet is to provide students with what they need. And one of those needs is being able to take part in the holidays, Mrs. Pittman says.

“At Thanksgiving we hope people will be able to come in and get what they need and later be able to get toys

for Christmas,” she said.

Mrs. McKenzie is currently attempting to reach out to students in need.

“We are in the process of collecting information from student files and parents,” Mrs. McKenzie explains. “Once we have all the information, we will be able to differentiate between the things students need and who needs them.”

Students can find the entrance to the closet through the Robotics lab for a more private entrance, or they just go straight to the C105 door just off the Commons.

Donations are accepted any time.

Anyone who wants to contribute to the closet can drop off clothes to C105.

New Writing Center Opens In D502

National Art Honor Society Makes Gifts For Teachers National Art students start to create Christmas ornaments for teachers on Nov. 6.

The society construct artwork for the school and the Fort Mill community.

New Tabletop Club To Hold Meeting Tabletop Club is holding a meeting on Nov. 7 during FLEX in D513. Students bring non-digital games while relaxing with friends.

The club holds a meeting every Monday FLEX.

by Adrienne Ruffalo

Robotics Club To Compete James F. Byrnes High School

Writers’ Ink, the new school writing center, opened Monday, Oct. 7 under the supervision of English teacher Ms. Lauren Caponigro and the English V Honor students.

The purpose of the writing center is to help students improve their writing skills while providing a safe and non-intimidating environment, Ms. Caponigro said. The center is open during FLEX in room D502.

For her students to become tutors, they needed to get proper training first, so they had to take a grammar

Robotics Club will compete against on Nov. 7.

Club members build robots from VEX supplies. Every month includes a competition around the state.

“Being a part of the Writing Center is a great experience and a great opportunity to help people...”

– Rihanna Graham test to assess skills.

After the test, they studied basic grammar and complex grammar clauses and punctuation for several weeks.

Then, they spent a few weeks of learning how to be a tutor, how to teach, and how to evaluate essays.

Their goal is to guide students towards better writing practices and provide new insight on their work.

Peer tutoring eliminates the uncertainty that students may face when asking others for assistance. By enabling the

November 2019

Working in the new writing center, London Dys (‘20) sits near the door in D502 where students enter to recieve help with their writing assignments. students to interact with others who are near their age who are well-versed in revision, they have access to hospitality and a communal area of introspection and analysis.

“Being a part of the writing center is a great experience and a great opportunity to help people get a good grade or just a better grade than what they currently have in the class,” Rihanna

Graham (‘20) said.

Several of the student tutors in the writing class say they enjoy connecting with other students and helping them with their writing.

The tutors hope the writing center will soon be an essential part of the school, and students struggling with their writing will be able to be more successful with their skills.

Beta Club To Travel To SC Convention Beta Club will travel to Myrtle Beach for State Convention at the Hilton hotel to compete in both academic and artistic events on Feb. 7-8.

Students are recruited by maintaining a 3.8 GPA through sophomore year and volunteer for events around the district.

The Talon

4• sports

Getting To The Point

Sport Of Fencing Makes Comeback

by Colin Hoover “En guard!” The referee shouts. The combatant is not allowed to turn his two opponents get in position, bend- back on an opponent. The main difing their knees and aiming the tips of ference between a duel and the sport their weapons, a sword called an epee of fencing is that no one gets seriously has a v shaped rod for a blade at each injured in a fencing match.

Fencing is one of the most recognisother. “Ready!” The referee shouts again. They tense up, ready to spring able events in the Olympics. Fencing events have been held since the first forward. “Fence!”

Fencing is a sport with a long histo- modern Olympics in Athens, Greece. ry, rooted in duels between Eurpoean More than 30,000 have turned to the nobles over ladies and honor. Often, sport as a source of discipline and these duels ended only when one physical activity.

Most major man was dead or US cities have wounded. Dueling “Before you’re able to be one or more fencwas so frequent in ing academies, the 17th century good at the sport, you need and the nearest that nobles who to Fort Mill is the could afford it to love the sport.”

Charlotte Fencwould hire coaching Academy. es for their sons so ~Brian Toomey, owner “I started they would have of Charlotte Fencing Academy fencing because a better chance at a character in surviving their duthis show I watch els.

The instruction mainly consisted of fenced and I decided it looked cool.” practice duels called “fences” where Charlotte Fencing Academy student, dull blades and protective gear were Sarah Koutsogoulas, explains.”Probaused. By the 19th century, sword duels bly not the best reason but hey-I like had fallen out of favor with nobility, it.”

Although her reasons might be and by the 20th century, dueling was light hearted, others take up the spot banned in most countries.

Even after dueling was outlawed, for more practical reasons.

“I started fencing as my third choice fencing classes continued as a sport.

Most of the rules stayed the same -- a college elective,” Brian Toomey, the touch only counted as a point if the owner of the academy, said. “My other tip of the epee goes in .75 centimeters, two electives were full. I was a martial representing a break in the skin. The artist before,” he explained.

At Charlotte Fencing Academy, two fencers finish a bout Oct. 9 with a touch to the leg. Photo by Colin Hoover It was not much of a reach for him to move over to fencing. “I get to hit people here, too,” he thought, “so guess I’ll do fencing.”

Although hitting people drew him to the sport, it was the attitude of the participants that made him stay.

“I got hit a lot and you get to hit back, and the fun part is that everyone is extremely nice about it at the very end. There’s very rarely any cases where anyone is feeling hurt by it.”

However, once in a while someone gets injured. “I had a fencer who was competing in four events. In her first pole round, she suffered a concussion by an opponent who came in really hard with a bell guard.”

Toomey himself has one of his feet in a brace from an injured Achilles.

“As a Fencer who has been injured, it’s always the scariest thing an athlete can experience.” he said.

Finally, Toomeys advice for anyone who wants to take part in fencing.

“Just jump into it,” he explains. “Take an intro class, learn the basics. If you find you like it and keep going on. We charge 85 for a five-week intro class, and we have those scheduled up on our website.”

Even though he has been taking part in the sport for over a decade, Toomey still has a passion for the sport, “Before you’re able to be good at the sport, you need to love the sport.”

Girls Basketball Team Starts Season With New Coach

by Adrienne Ruffalo

With a new head coach and a new team, the girls basketball program will take on Catawba Ridge for their first game Nov 25.

As their season approaches, Coach Coretta Richmond and her new and improved team have been working hard in and out of the gym since the end of May, and now they are preparing for the new season. Currently, they workout in the gym Monday-Friday, weight lifting and conditioning.

Returners playing their last year hoping to make it to states, players Adrienne Ruffalo(‘20) , Kelci Adams(‘20), Denandria Greene(‘20) and Keeley Wong (‘20).

Last season’s team was one to remember with five fantastic seniors going off to play college ball --{position} Makayla Blackwell signed with Converse College, Point Guard Ellona Moulds signed to Columbia College , and Amiah Lindsey South Carolina State Former Falcon coach, Kate Edwards took the head coach position at the

new district rival Catawba Ridge. The transition from Nation Ford to Catawba Ridge was smooth, she says.

“I think that because there were familiar faces in the building [at Catawba], it made the change easier,” she said.

The Catawba Copperheads team is very young compared to her previous team at Nation Ford. She likes that she is still coaching some of her previous players who moved to Catawba this year.

“Some of the players attended kids camp at Nafo in years past so it is pretty cool to be a part of their development,” she said.

Coach Edwards has strong feelings for both schools.

“Both schools have awesome kids and caring adults, so I feel blessed to have worked at Nafo and Catawba Ridge, she says. “I still enjoy keeping up with what is going on at Nation Ford. I am also enjoying being a part of establishing another awesome high school in Fort Mill.”

Need Help With Writing Assignments?

Writers’ Ink

Trained peer tutors available at FLEX in D501 The Talon

Running downfield with the ball, Katelyn Carroll (‘23) dodges her opponent Lyana Drafton (‘21) at the Oct. 23 Powder Puff game. Juniors defeated the freshmen 24-0.

Juniors went on to win the tournament, which raised funds for FBLA. Photo by Kaylee

Juniors Win Powder Puff

by Kaylee Battle Marching onto the field for pow- coming activity, just like the traditionderpuff in unison, the juniors show al football game. All four grades ready that they are more than excited for the to take it just as serious as any other deciding game against the seniors. The football game.

The first teams to play were juniors annual powderpuff game occurred on Oct. 23 and it proved to be a good night and freshmen. The freshmen were unfor the juniors, who walked away with able to gain an advantage over their upperclassmen rivals, leading to a juthe trophy and 400 spirit points.

The deeply rooted tradition of Pow- nior victory.

As the juniors left the field to prederpuff Football originated from Eastern State Teachers College in South pare for their next game, seniors and Dakota in 1945. The game was a result sophomores got into position to see of the school canceling all extracurricu- who will make it to the second game. lars and school activities, including the The seniors took the win over the lowhomecoming football game, until the erclassmen, proceeding on to the next round. end of World War II.

The deciding game was a batWhen the war ended, the school decided to celebrate with their annu- tle between the juniors and seniors. al homecoming week, but didn’t have The two upperclassmen teams were a team assembled for the tradition- determined to receive the spirit week al homecoming football game. In its points of winning the game. Scoring place, 23 female students decided to the first points of the game, juniors managed to keep the lead throughout put on a game of their own.

At Nation Ford, the powderpuff the game. game has become an annual home-

November 2019

sports • 5

- Senior Night -

Falcons To Play Chapin At Home

by Kaylee Battle & Emily Willers

Coming off a Homecoming loss against Rockhill 31-7 last Friday, the Falcons are preparing to bring home a win for Senior Night against Chapin High tonight at 7:30 at home.

With a current record of 5-4, Falcons hope to reverse course with a win.

Gabe Huitt (‘21) takes the stage as a new QB1 for the Falcons, and offense is adjusting. Nation Ford served Northwestern High School’s Trojans a major upset during their game on Oct. 18. This game was expected to be a difficult one for the Falcons due to the Trojans coming into the game un- In the Milltown Showdown against the crosstown rival Fort Mill High School, running back Nathan Mahaffey (‘20) defeated. makes a run in attempt to gain a first down at the Fort Mill game on Oct. 11. Photo by Kaylee Battle With three field goals by Quin Castner (‘20), a 65-yard kickoff return by the season. ing. The whole town comes out and we with Indian Land trailing close beJerrick Foster (‘22), and a 45-yard punt Fort Mill’s record thus far is 1-8, Na- get to show who’s the best,” Falcons’ hind them until running back Mahafreturn ran by Petey Tuipulotu (‘20), tion Ford is 5-4. This Milltown Show- star running back Mahaffey said. Ma- fey scored a touchdown in the fourth Nation Ford’s special teams dominat- down game was a good one. Fort Mill haffey is one of the Falcons’ strongest quarter, securing their win. ed the field, keeping a lead on the Tro- got the touchdown but soon Nation offensive players, running a striking 96 Nation Ford’s first loss of the seajans throughout the entire game.

Ford came climbing back to take win yard touchdown against Clover. son was against South Point on Sept. 6, Xavier Diaz (‘20) played a key role over Fort Mill. Nation Ford scored 5 With the opening of Catawba Ridge who kept a secure lead on the Falcons in getting the Trojan’s offense off the touchdowns from High this year, throughout the game. The Falcons field with his interception in the fourth Foster, Montrel both Nation Ford were holding their 6 point lead on Lan“This game is always the quarter. Micah Brown (‘20) managed Goodson (‘22), and Fort Mill lost caster for three quarters until Lancastto get nine tackles, giving the Falcons Huitt, Tuipulotu, most exciting. The whole players, which er’s team scored a touchdown in the a major advantage against the Trojan’s and Nathan Mamade this year fourth, tipping the game in their favor. town comes out and we get to more challengoffense. haffey (‘20). Fort The Falcons walked away from a In the ultimate rivalry game against Mill only scored show who’s the best.” ing for both the strong win at Conway on Aug. 30 with the Fort Mill Yellowjackets on Oct. 11, twice bringing Falcons and the a final score of 34-6. The Falcons scored ~Nathan Mahaffey (‘20) the Falcons won their fifth Milltown the score to 38-14 Yellow Jackets. four touchdowns during the Conway trophy in a row with an outstanding with Falcons winning.

An unfortunate loss at Clover High game by running back Mahaffey and score of 38-14.

Every year Nafo and Fort Mill play School on Oct. 4 with a score of 42-27 wide receivers Ty Keaton (‘21), Foster, Fort Mill High School received a and sell out football game in hopes to set the Falcons back on their goal to and Tuipulotu. sudden upset in their season when win the the Milltown Showdown tro- win the region.

The Falcons won their season openquarterback Dylan Helms (‘20) sus- phy that started back in 2013. Nation Their game on Sept. 20 at Indian er against Spartanburg on August 23 tained an ankle injury, taking him Ford has won this trophy for 7 years.

Land added another success to the Fal- with a 14 point lead, starting them off off their offense for the remainder of “This game is always the most excit- con’s record. The Falcons were leading with a positive outcome.

Lady Falcons Set Up For Playoffs

Reigning Volley Champs Prepare To Hold On To Their Title While Having Fun

by Kaiden Bridges On a mission to defend last year’s title, the varsity volleyball team advance into the second round of playoffs at press time after the ladies defeated Riverside in the first round.

The lady Falcons finished first in the Wando Invitational at Wando High School on Oct. 11 and 12. They also finished with another outstanding undefeated regular season.

This year’s team faced new chal-

making our sets and offense fast, and we’re really working on keeping our defense strong and our serve receive,” Taylor said. “So far the season has gone really well. There are always a few improvements we can make, but we’re really bonding and working well as a team.”

The girls strive every day to defend their state title.

“This season we have a very strong group of competitive play-

“Our team is really hard working, and we’re really close knit. We fight hard every match.”

“Our goal is to build off of that and push ourselves and to compete at a higher level.”

~Taylor Atkinson (‘22) lenges due to the graduation of two starting seniors, Gretchen Fischer and Cammy McDonagh.

“One of our main struggles this year is just figuring out who we are,” head coach Carrie Christian said.

“We lost two starting seniors last year so just trying to figure out how to fill those holes best and who we are this year with those new players on the court. Just trying to figure out how we can improve from last year’s

November 2019

~Coach Carrie Christian

Warming up with her teammates before their game against Rock Hill High School, outside hitter Emily Lammers (‘20) prepares to spike on Sept. 19. The Falcons beat the Bearcats 3-0 at home. Photo by Kaiden Bridges season.”

Like last year, the girls plan to give this season their all.

“Our team is really hard working, and we’re really close knit. We fight hard every match,” said Taylor

Atkinson, a sophomore who received a spot on the varsity team her freshman year.

The Falcons are focused on speed and defense this season.

“This year we’re working on

ers on the court. They’re all super fun girls, and they all enjoy each other,” Coach Christian said. ”This year we’re really trying to reinvent ourselves as a team and not just rely on what we did last year to be successful.

“Our goal is to build off of that and push ourselves and to compete at a higher level. We want to try new things to make us stronger as a team.”

The Talon

6• centerspread

Up In Smoke Consequences Of Athlete Vaping Vaping Has Harmful Effects On Health, Career, Scholarships

by Kaiden Bridges

New Studies Show Vaping Effects On Teens Health

by Grace Asaad

Continued from Page 1 disciplines 3 to 4 students a The smoke causes rapid and Until recently, it was diffi- week for using e-cigarettes. shallow breathing and highcult to tie health problems to Serious side effects of juul- er risk of lung disease. It also vaping, but the last couple of ing include irritated lungs, se- can affect the heart by raising months, doctors have been able rious lung damage and even blood pressure and heart rate. to tie negative effects directly to death. Long term effects in- Smoking e-cigarettes can also e-cigarettes. clude elevated blood pressure, affect the immune system by “Preliminary numbers from and it increases suppressing key the National Youth Tobac- the likelihood of “It makes it hard to genes more than co Survey show a continued having a heart atsmoking regular rise in the disturbing rates of tack, according to breathe at times, but cigarettes, acyouth e-cigarette use, especially the physician-remostly I’m fine.” cording to Web through the use of non-tobacco viewed website MD. ~Anonymous flavors that appeal to kids,” the Teens Health.org.

The school U.S. Department of Health and “It makes it nurses know Human Services said in a state- hard to breathe at times, but plenty of teenagers use e-cigament posted on their website mostly I’m fine,” said a junior rettes, although students rarely Sept. 25. The posting goes on to who admits he vapes. He says admit it. Nurses can't assume say, “In particular, the prelimi- he gets his Juul pods from an- all symptoms are due to vaping; nary data show other student red eyes are also a symptom of that more than a at Nation Ford seasonal allergies or contact irHe says he gets quarter of high who is 18. Cur- ritation. Although they typicalhis Juul pods from school students rently, custom- ly check blood pressure, there's were current ers must be only not much the school nurses another student at (past 30 days) to purchase can do for students with mild Nation Ford who is 18 e-cigarette use-cigarettes and symptoms of vaping. ers in 2019 and pods in stores in The Center for Disease Con18. the overwhelming South Carolina. trol continues with state and majority of youth e-cigarette us- Most side effects don't show local health departments to iners cited the use of popular fruit up right away -- they take time vestigate the recent outbreak and menthol or mint flavors.” to develop. Vaping affects al- of lung disease associated with Before prices increased, Of- most all the parts of the body, e-cigarettes. Thirty-six states ficer Prescott caught 6 or 7 stu- doctors say. It affects the brain, and one U.S. territory have redents a day, and after the cost which releases “feel good” ported 380 cases of this lung illrose, he caught 1 or 2 a day. So chemicals, but it also causes ness as of September 2019. In all far this school year, the school dizziness and lightheadedness. the reported cases, subjects had

The Talon

Impaired performance. Lost college scholarships. Disease. Anyone can suffer from the effects of vaping, but student athletes face another level of consequences after hitting their Juul.

“Your breathing is greatly affected after smoking an e-cigarette,” school resource officer and girls JV soccer coach Dave Prescott said. “The oil coats the inside of your lungs, and they become restricted, and you’re unable to breathe.

That’s probably why people are dying of collapsed lungs because of the oil that builds up and layers which causes your lungs to fail and not be able to take in oxygen.”

Without being able to take in oxygen, performance is limited and the health risks are even more severe.

If caught with an e-cigarette on campus, in addition to the obvious medical consequences, the punishments could harm the student as well.

“Several student athletes at this school have been caught with the possession of a e-cigarette,” Officer Prescott said. “Under the age of 18, you’re going to get a ticket for minor possession of tobacco. The school discipline is that you are [assigned] out-of-school suspension for three days.”

Coaches determine the severity of the additional penalties for an athlete.

“The punishment for an athlete regarding the suspension from the team depends on their coach and what they believe would be the best consequence,” said Officer Prescott.

The dreams of athletes across the nation have been crushed by the effects of vaping. One publicized case has been the story of an 18-year-old hockey player, Cade Beauparlant, of Newburyport, Mass. Cade was one of the many victims of e-cigarettes which eventually lead to his role of team captain being stripped and his scholarships disappeared.

Cases like Cade’s occur everyday due to the damaging use of e-cigarettes. What athletes don’t understand about these harmful vapes is that they’re shortening their time both on and off the field.

November 2019

centerspread • 7

Smoke: History Repeats Itself

by Maggie Kell moke wafts around two girls linked to tobacco-related products. Mrs. Hooper says that she alin sitting at a table, each lift- It wasn’t until the late 20th centu- ways went out to Rock Hill to ing a cigarette holder in her ry that successful lawsuits against buy packs of cigarettes to avoid hand. Chatter fills the restaurant. tobacco companies worked their being recognized. Back then, gas The girls’ voices become lost in way through the courts, who held was around 1 dollar, and cigarette the others, but they smile and ad- the manufacturers responsible for packs were only 35 cents. In conmire each other’s dresses. Around tobacco-illnesses, according to the trast, vapes today cost around 20them, men and women light their Cancer Council NSW. 40 dollars not including the vape own Camels or Lucky Strikes -- Mrs. Lisk remembers through- juice. it’s the Golden Age and the crowd out high school that cigarettes “I didn’t think anything about it appears unperturbed by cigarette were highly popular, much like killing me,” she explains. “My fasmoke. vaping today. ther made me go visit his patients In the 1920s, cigarette compa- “When I was in high school, we who were gray from smoking. Vanies began marketing to the newly had a 10-minute break in between ping and smoking are the same liberated women who had finally the third block, and we would thing. It becomes a cool thing and a earned the right to vote, and cig- not go to the bathroom because lot of teenagers are insecure. I quit arettes were on we would come after college after I started coughtheir way to beout smelling like ing up blood. I haven’t smoked in If you went to the coming popular she ex- 40 years.” bathroom you would smoke,” throughout the plains. “Teenag- English teacher Rhonda Hill come out smelling like ers would smoke says that she remembers a time U.S. Most pubin the bathrooms. when cigarettes were a huge trend. smoke. lic places alIf you went to “When I was a child, I remem~Dawn Lisk, lowed smoking the bathroom ber my friends and I used to play History Teacher -restaurants, you would come cigarette tag,” she explains. “You schools, even out smelling like would call out a cigarette brand. hospitals. In the mid-1920s, more smoke.”

“There were candy and bubblethan 40 percent of the American Mrs. Lisk believes that history is gum cigarettes. Everything was adult population smoked ciga- repeating itself. about cigarettes. Movies and telerettes, according to the National “I think vaping is bigger than vision shows made cigarettes look Center for Health Statistics. But the smoking was back in my genera- hip and cool.” apparent dangers eventually led to tion, because while some people Now vaping is the new danger. warnings and bans. smoked because it was ‘cool,’ there New regulations have been estab Fast forward almost 100 years, was also a group of people where lished on vapes in the Trump Adand despite the health risks, it smoking was a stigma,” Lisk said. ministration and states are workseems that history is repeating it- “My group of friends didn’t smoke ing to strengthen restrictions. self with a new epidemic -- the because we didn’t want to smell “Vaping is increasing at such modern e-cigarette and vaping. like cigarette smoke. With vaping a fast alarming rate,” Hill says.

Tobacco use in the U.S. started there is no smell.”

“That’s the scary thing. People at Jamestown, the first established Julie Hooper, a librarian, attend- didn’t immediately get cancer and English colony in the New World. ing Fort Mill High School in 1974, die, but people are vaping today The crop brought prosperity to started to smoke when she was 15. are experiencing lung disease or the Colony of Virginia. However, Her father was a physician, and re- lung damage quickly.” smoking was not a new tradition. members being U.S. health offiSmoking was birthed 2,000 years forced to visare currently “Movies and television cials ago and was used mostly for reli- it her father’s bombarding the gious ceremonies or events. e m p h y s e m a shows made cigarettes Black Market for “Tobacco started [in the U.S.] patients in the vaping products look hip and cool.” because John Roth snuck it out of hospital. which trace back to Cuba and brought it to Jamestown, “I don’t lung-illness among ~Julie Hooper, Va.,” said Mrs. Dawn Lisk, the AP know why I vapers.

Media Specialits US history teacher. “Mostly, peo- started smok “At my former ple smoked it out of pipes at first, ing,” Hooper school, a distribuwhich eventually evolved into the said.

“It was just fun tor [or dealer] distributed bad oil,” cigarette.” and cool. People would smoke be- she says. “The ambulance had to Cigarette companies began tar- fore school in their cars which we come to our school everyday that geting women during the 1920s weren’t supposed to do. We also week to take students.” because the trend gave women a had a smoking section outside [at Tobacco 21 legislation was insense of freedom they had lacked school], and you would go out troduced in 2019 moving the age – after all, the men were smoking there to smoke. My parents would limit from 18 to 21 unless a smokand hanging out in bars. However, ask me if I was smoking, and I er is apart of the military. The age during this period, the first reports would always lie and tell them I limit will begin to take place in Janof lung cancer began to appear and wasn’t.” uary of 2020.

S

“

”

November 2019

Nicotine is as addictive as heroin, cocaine and alcohol.

Nicotine reaches the brain 10-20 seconds after smoke is inhaled.

Of current smokers in the U.S., 46,000 have lung cancer from smoking.

Vaping nicotine can damage your blood vessels.

Source thetruth.com

The Talon

8• Features

As Cost of College Rises Students Need Options

COLLEGE EXPEN E Increase in College Tuition From 2002-2016 30,000

20,000

10,000

16

14

20

12

20

10

20

08

20

06

20

04

20

20

20

02

0 https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=76

75% of students are accepted into their 1st choice college, but only 57% can afford it. https://takelessons.com

College graduates earn on average $21,000 more than people who don't go to college bigfuture.collegeboard.org

South Carolina College Tuitions York Tech

USC

$4,824 $11,454 $29,333

Catawba College

$40,254

Wofford College 0

10,00020,00030,00040,00050,000

Graphic by Ansley Archuleta

S

by Ansley Archuleta “College is becoming a bot- student’s interests, club partudents quickly tom line for everyone - to play ticipation, and want to know learn: college is ex- in the game, you have to pay the individual student. “Speak pensive. The aver- to get in the game,” says Cas- on the things that make you age tuition cost in sidy Matano, an admissions perfectly you,” says Tyus, reSouth Carolina for an counselor at Wofford College. ferring to applications - for in-state school is $12,903 per As a good option to mini- scholarships. year, according to collegecalc. mize debt, students are flockOften times, schools like org. ing to community colleges. Catawba College are willing Post-undergraduate debt Technical colleges such as to help students make college is a big problem that students York Tech offer many oth- more affordable. are facing. The average stu- er benefits as well, including “I work for a smaller private dent debt in 2017 was $26,900 one-on-one learning, a small college in a small but increasfor graduates of public four- classroom environment, the ingly growing town,’’ says Sayear schools and $32,600 for option of staying close to fam- vannah Shaver, an admissions graduates of private nonprofit ily, and a two-year associates counselor at Catawba College. four-year schools. Why does degree.

“Our private institution tries college cost so much?

Jermine Tyus, an admis- very hard to accommodate “Jobs are requiring more sions counselor at York Tech, students who really need more education, and more parents says students can get general financial help than others, but want their children to attend education courses with the we also have to be realistic on universities. Because of this, feel of a college atmosphere. whether or not we are setting schools are starting to invest in In addition, students can up the student for success.” themselves more to fulfill the also attend technical colleges For example, Catawba Colgrowing need for educalege offers a merit scholtion,” says Terrell Moore, arship to all students they “Our private institution an admissions counselor accept, as well as a wide at the University of South range of departmental tries very hard to Carolina in Columbia. scholarships, talent-based A college degree can accommodate students who scholarships, scholarship enhance workmanship, competitions, athletic really need more financial and learning ability. scholarships, and partici“Without the investhelp than others, but we also pation scholarships. ment of higher educaAt a glance, the word tion, the world would have to be realistic on whether “private” might be assolack an understanding ciated with “expensive,” or not we are setting up the of culture and diversity,” but there are advantages says Savannah Shaver, to attending a private unistudent for success.” an admissions counselversity. Like tech schools, or at Catawba College. ~ Savannah Shaver private colleges can offer “Being able to commumore one-on-one educanicate in a world that is more for significantly less than a tion by faculty, current stuand more misinformed, unin- university. In comparison, the dents, and alumni. Catawba formed, and lacking gratitude cost per year to attend York College sits in the historic goes a long way when it comes Tech would be $4,824, where town of Sailsbury, N.C. and to the workforce.” the average cost per year to allows students to branch out College can increase a grad- attend the University of South and makes it easier to get inuate’s earning power, but Carolina is $11,454. Going to volved in the community. many students can’t afford York Tech for two years and Even if a student falls in tuition. then transferring into the Uni- love with one college, it’s alAnother big reason for the versity of SC would save a ways a great idea to apply rising cost of tuition is because student $13,260 in comparison for more than just the dream of new construction and ad- to the total cost of going to the school. College advisers say vancements on the campuses. USC for all four years, which it’s a good idea to consider apColleges are trying to compete would be $45,816, not includ- plying for additional schools with other colleges to try to ing room, board, books. where there isn’t such a high become the most innovative Students looking to get level of competition. to provide the best education scholarships, must be comStudents should shop and living quarters for their petitive. Although test scores around for colleges and see students. Every school wants and GPA are important when what they have to offer. to offer the most resources for applying to a college, admistheir students. sions officers also look for a

MTV Producer Shares Experience

by Zaria Drakeford Lights.

Camera.

Action! From living in a small town to a huge city, Tiffany Lea Williams fought her way to the top and is now in New York living her dream as the Senior Vice President for the television network, MTV and is now working with the network as an Executive Producer in a first look development deal Williams had always dreamed of being in the television industry ever since she was 5-years-old. She attended Brookland-Cayce High School in Caye, SC before graduating from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts (T.V. and Film).

“Cayce was one of the best places to grow up,” she said. “It is such a small town, but has an awesome community

The Talon

of people that surround it.”

Williams started off in theater in Columbia, and when she got to college, she landed an internship in New York for the television network VH1.

Previously, as the Senior Vice President for Development and Original Programming, she is responsible for the creative direction of programming including shows like “Teen Mom” franchise, “The Challenge” franchise, “Catfish,” “Are You the One,” and “Ex on the Beach.” Her job included development, production, and current programming oversight. Williams also managed, developed, and reinvented T.V. show ideas and helps with casting, creating format show bibles, shaping story outlines, character development, and post production.

“The most important part of my job is being able to work with all different kinds of people,” she said. “I collabo-

rated with set designers, lighting designers, and so many more, and we all have a common goal - which is to produce great T.V.” Her favorite part of the job is the process of putting together and combining ideas to air on T.V. Although she has the chance to meet all kinds of celebrities and reality stars, she feels the most important thing is to make great television for the public.

Williams says she had to put in hard work every step of the way to get where she is today.

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world,” she says. “It’s been fun and exciting, and it doesn’t even feel like a job because I love what I’m doing. And of course it took some hard work, but it was all worth it in the end.”

Williams has two pieces of advice for young people who have big dreams and aspirations in life but are discour-

Tiffany Lea William aged. “When you get to college try to get a lot of internships in so you know more about the profession that you are majoring in,” she said. “ And second, no matter what stage you’re in, nothing replaces hard work.”

November 2019

Features • 9

Whit’s Custard Hires Teens With Challenges

W

by Maggie Kell

hit’s is a team,” says David Berlin, owner of the small custard shop near Baxter Village. “There's nobody who’s too big for the team and nobody too small.”

Small in stature, David wears a tie-dyed Whit’s shirt with pride, his salt and pepper hair sticking out from a pale yellow cap.

His son Harrison, who is part of the Whit’s team, is on the autism spectrum. Harrison is taller, paler and has darker hair. He wears the same tie-dyed shirt with athletic shorts.

“I work six days a week,” explains Harrison. “On average I work over 10 hours a day. I’m working 65-75 hours a week. On most days, I get here at 7:15 a.m. and I don’t leave till 10 p.m..”

When Harrison finished high school, he tried community college but realized it wasn’t for him. That realization led the family to move to Asheville, NC. “When we moved to Asheville we looked into vocational rehabilitation,” says David. “They paired Harrison up with a job coach who helped him go through the interview process and helped him get a job at [Ingles] grocery store.”

Harrison had tremendous success working at the grocery, which gave the Berlin's the idea of looking for employees beyond the traditional job pool after the move to Fort Mill.

When settling down at Whit’s, the team of two went to vocational rehabilitation for personnel to hire.

“Out of my 14 employees, three employees are on the autistic spectrum,” David said. “Once they get a task down, they’re pretty good at doing it.

For high functioning autistic people, structure is a big thing. If you can create a structure, then they will pick that

“

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

&

Scooping frozen custurd at Whit’s Harrison Berlin fills orders for customers on Sept. 18. Berlin worked his way up to become a manager at the store. up and follow the scents fill the air structure a lot bet“As a parent of someone and blend with the ter than those who whir and buzzing of are not on the spec- with autism, I must have a custard machines. trum. It worked high tolerance Harrison wasn’t out really well for extremely excited for frustration.”

Whit’s.” about working at ~ David Berlin Whit’s custard Whit’s, but explains shop smells sweet he wouldn’t want to chocolate, vanilla, s’mores, key lime be working anywhere else. pie, strawberry shortcake custard “I’m the type of person that if it

were up to me, I wouldn’t be working anywhere,” explains Harrison.

“I could work as hard as I want in some companies, and I can only go so far. Here I can go as far as the success of the business goes.”

Zach Chambers (‘20) says he enjoys working at Whit’s with Harrison. Chambers works there because of the people and the environment.

“There's so many families, and I wanted a family-oriented place where people could come and bring their kids and feel comfortable in this environment,” David explains.

“I didn’t want to be in a place where there was a lot of drinking going on or entertainment that is geared more towards adults.”

He likes working with his own family as well. David admits Harrison has taught him a lot of patience.

“As a parent of someone with autism, I must have a high tolerance for frustration,” he explains. “My son has very little tolerance. We all struggle with it. In a lot of cases, we [those not on the spectrum] have the tools to deal with frustration. We can compartmentalize it. However, I've realized that every problem has a solution.”

David says nobody will meet anyone like his son. He hires a lot of employees from all three high schools in the Fort Mill district.

“Harrison can relate to the employees better as he is the same age as them,” David explains. “He can agree with them on the same maturity level. He finds the common ground.

We must work together as a team. I want everyone to be treated with respect. We all have different levels of abilities.”

David believes in everyone. After becoming a father, he says has learned a lot from Harrison.

“This is not brain surgery,” says Berlin. “It's a custard shop, and we are going to have a good time. We are going to put out a good product.”

REVIEWS

‘Joker’ Critics Shoot Down Good Film

by Connor Brandenburg

W

inning the prestigious Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival, Todd Philips’ film “Joker” centers around the origin of the most notorious Batman villain and has received an onslaught of criticism. In particular, the criticism targeted how irresponsible the production team was in making a film about such a violent character.

The demographic that critics were worried about were “incels.” Incels, or “involuntary celibates” are people who can’t find a sexual partner and are generally social outcasts, and because of this, they blame society as a whole for their shortcomings. “Joker” reveals the backstory of an outcast with debilitating mental health issues, and as the film progresses, he attempts to deliver vengeance on society -the parallels between the film

November 2019

and incels is apparent.

A murderous and mentally ill protagonist might seem to be reckless if audiences are expected to empathize to a degree that violent actions are justifiable, so media analysts and critics wrote articles on the dangers of releasing “Joker” – but without having first seen the film.

When analyzing the morality of a film, the execution of the film making is paramount.

For example, films like Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” present the main character as a mentally unwell individual.

But the audience understands his vile actions are reprehensible. The visuals, the editing, the musical score – every facet of film making contributes to a film’s core interpretation. In “Joker,” the character Arthur Fleck hooks his fingers around his lips to craft a forced smile in the opening shot, illustrating that he’s mentally unwell.

Arthur tries to help himself by visiting his therapist throughout the film, and in his first

visit, it’s revealed that he is on eight different medications.

His therapist asks why he’s on such a shocking amount of drugs, and he replies, “I just don’t want to feel bad anymore.” The therapist failing to help Arthur stands for the institution of mental health care today and the fact that more care and energy needs to be fueled into such an important practice. Arthur’s story is a cautionary tale on the failure of the institution of mental health care on a day-to-day basis. Such an interpretation is only possible through watching the entire film, and critics labeling “Joker” as a dangerous film before its release strips the film of any political importance.

“Joker” is an untamed, memorable film about how society fails people and crafts violent, reprehensible monsters – and ironically, inflammatory articles might have had the effect of inciting mass shootings in theaters across the world. In claiming that the character of

Joker could inspire violence, the critics themselves introduced ideas and concepts to the very people they were

scared about, and ultimately, the film lost both its credibility and its potent social criticism.

The Talon

10• opinion

NFHS Punishments Unrealistic, Overly Severe

by Kaylee Battle & Alyssa Martin

leave school property will receive two

It’s obvious that the faculty and days of In School Suspension. administration take discipline serious- All tardies to second, third, and ly. Out of a total 1,556 office referrals fourth block and on the fourth tardy during the 2018-2019 school year, the to first block, students have to report most frequent infractions adminis- to the ISS room, where they will spend tration dealt with was the use of cell- the rest of the class, missing instrucphones, tardiness, and dress code. This tion. It is more than ironic that the conyear, those infractions are still the most sequence for missing a small amount common. With so many infractions, of instructional time then leads to data points to an unrealistic and overly missing even more instructional time.

The penalty of removing the stusevere discipline system.

Out of all the infractions that receive dent from class is depriving students office referrals, cell-phone violations of an educational opportunity. It can are the most frequent at 27 percent. be frustrating for students who arrive Cell-phones are allowed before and five minutes late to lose an entire class, especially after school, when tardiand during It can be frustrating for students ness is due to the students' lunch. If seen who arrive five minutes late to circumstances beyond at any othlose an entire class, especially their control. er time, the In such situphone will be when tardiness is due to ations, stuconfiscated circumstances beyond dents should under current not have to go rules. While their control. to ISS/holdusing phones during class time can be a distraction, ing and miss important information incorporating them into the classroom which could include notes, quizzes, labs, projects, and tests. can also be productive.

It is beneficial for students to use Finally, dress code is a highly dephones for educational purposes. Us- bated issue among Fort Mill School ing phones in classrooms for assign- District students and parents. Some ments gives students the tools to do so parents in the district are so upset they at home as well. Phones are not going are signing petitions for a new dress away, and technology will only con- code to be enforced. These petitions tinue to evolve. Changing the problem have led the school district to release rather than the punishment would a statement that it is reevaluating the work better, giving students the ability dress codes. to learn how to use technology to their When teachers tell students that educational advantage rather than tak- their choice of clothing is “too distracting,” their learning is disrupted, ing it away.

The second most common infraction and they experience embarrassment at 23 percent is skipping class and tar- in front of their peers. If a student has diness, and punishments vary depend- nothing to cover up with, they’re sent ing on the students’ location. If they out of a class. Teachers and adminisare on campus, they receive a Saturday trators are more likely to dresscode detention hall. However, students who a female over a male. Girls wearing

THE TALON ASKS:

Are penalties fair for infractions?

Samin Yasir ‘22

The Talon Staff Editor-In-Chief: Julia Lako

Staff:

Section Editors: Kaiden Bridges Zaria Drakeford Maggie Kell Khonnie Kounbandith

Grace Asaad

ad manager: Emily Willers

Ryan Nquyen

Adviser: Elizabeth Swann

Ansley Archuletta

Kaylee Battle Colin Hoover Alyssa Martin

Adrienne Ruffalo

Nation Ford High School 803-835-0000 1400 A.O. Jones Blvd.

Fort Mill, SC 29715

“I really think the dress code regulations are a little hard.

I think they should just give us a warning the first time.”

You’re two minutes late!

Report to ISS and spend the next 85 minutes there!

I have to miss over an hour because I missed the Pledge of Allegiance?

Cartoon by Kaylee Battle what they find comfortable are told their clothing is not appropriate due to unrealistic and outdated rules. The root of the problem begins with sexist societal issues and Nation Ford High School is an accomplice. Restricting the length of a sleeve or how much knee can be seen only bolstres the idea that girls can be sexualized- though they might simply want to be comfortable.

The answer to a rule-breaking that is not disruptive should never include a student losing time in class. Whether it be for tardiness or dress code violations, students sent to in-school suspension will get behind in academics and have less incentive to try in class.

Some students may even go to holding intentionally to miss class and get out of assignments, but they need to be in a class. Assigning a mandatory study

Johnny Chase ‘21

“As far as tardiness, I don’t think it’s fair because people have things going on or get held up in traffic.”

hall at FLEX would certainly serve students better than forcing them to sit in ISS as they lose essential instruction.

Some schools are beginning to experiment with restorative discipline.

Enacted by the Institute for Restorative Justice, restorative discipline encourages a reduction in suspensions and office referrals to establish positive relationships and attitudes between students and staff. This practice is a way of including students in the discussion of their action, rather than simply punishing them, and it lifts up the idea of mutual respect, allowing the students to feel heard.

Essentially, the school is prioritizing “incarceration” over education.

Administration should enact alternative punitive measures that don’t take the learning away from students.

“Regarding dress code, I do think it’s fair for students to get in trouble for it.”

Chloe Madoxx ‘22

The Talon Policy The Talon provides students with an opportunity to research and write informative articles related to Nation Ford High School or topics students find interesting. 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 D111, or via email 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.

International 1st Place by Quill and Scroll Society 2015, 2016. 2019

Cover art by Taylor Cobb

The Talon

November 2019

opinion • 11

N Hall, Upstairs Lack Safety Features Classrooms Lack Emergency Windows, Tools To Break Glass For Quick, Safe Exits

Staff Opinion School safety, particularly in response to a fire or shooting, is a concern for school officials who plan drills so that students can practice their response to an event. However, the N-hall in the school building was not built with safety in mind. Unlike other classrooms in the school, N-hallway does not offer emergency window exits in the event of an emergency – and that needs to be corrected.

N-hallway has three escape exits, two located on each end of the hallway and one underneath the stairwell. But should a fire, smoke, or a shooter prevent the students in N-hall classrooms from fleeing into the hallway, the school could have a recipe for disaster.

In the event of an explosion where debris could block a hall, such as in the 1971 bombing of Ayden-Grifton High School in Ayden, N.C. or the unsuccessful bombing planned by the Columbine High shooters, one exit may not be enough.

“In today’s climate and after recent events, I find it uneasy that the N-hall classrooms do not have an escape window or anything to use to break the windows,” said an N-hall teacher who wished to remain anonymous. “There have been too many incidents in the U.S. in regards to mass shootings to not have another option to flee from the building.”

Built without the emergency exit windows found on the other halls, none of the windows in the N-hallway classrooms open, and teachers have not been given any tools to break the glass, should that be necessary.

The International Fire Code states

“If only we had two emergency exits!”

by Julia Lako

Cartoon by Kaylee Battle that for 1,500 occupants, two exits must most likely, only the first pane would be available, however, according State break. All classrooms should be supFire Marshall Donald Cooke, sprinkler plied with a hammer to break glass. systems and possible rated construc- It would take time for students to tion may mitigate the need for window break the glass, time that might allow a exits in case of fire. But if shooter walks threat to reach to the students. the N-hall or if a bomb goes off, sprin- Furthermore, all upstairs classklers and rated walls won’t help. es should have a rope ladder so stu “The opening of windows is not dents would not need to jump in an a requirement, so while the original emergency. Nation Ford has fire drills building has windows that open, there once a month, but in any emergency, was a decision students may not “I find it uneasy that the file out in an orderthat we weren’t going to put [es- N-hall classrooms do not ly manner – human cape windows] is to run have an escape window instinct in the new wing,” away from danger. or anything to use to says Joe RomeThe lack of escape nick, Executive break the windows, ...” through windows Director of Operare huge problem. ations. “There is no safety requirement Even if students could break the as far as having open windows.” glass and climb out the second floor But there should be. All the class- window of an N-hall classroom, it es have double glass window panes would require teamwork to navigate a which take a lot of force to break, ac- ladder due to a ledge on that hall. cording to the manufacturer Rational, N-hallway should be redesigned Windows and Doors. It would take a to match the rest of the building. All heavy object (preferably a specialized classrooms should be equipped with hammer) to break the double panes. some emergency exits, and second Even if a teacher or student were to floors classrooms should be supplied throw a heavy object (i.e. a brick), then with escape ladders.

FDA Should Ban E-Cigarette Flavors Now

by Julia Lako Following the announcement of the intention to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarette products by New York, Michigan, and then the federal government, Juul Labs, Inc. annouWARNING: This prodcut contains nicotine. inced it will no longer sell flavored pods in the U.S. -- as well they should. Other manufacturers ought to follow suit.

In fact, the flavors should never have been approved by the FDA, who wanted to ban flavors four years ago, but top Obama officials rejected the plan after pressure from tobacco industry lobbyists, according to a report by the L.A. Times.

Last month in the largest coordinated enforcement effort in the history of the Food and Drug Administration, the agency issued more than 1,300 warning letters and fines to retailers who illegally sold Juul and other e-cigarette products to minors during a nationwide undercover sting on online stores this summer. E-cigarette use among youth has become an epidemic – FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., says the agency will now take significant steps to address the problem According to the FDA, 3.62 million

November 2019

New Intercom System Successful

middle and high school students were users of e-cigarettes in 2018. Manufacturers claim the purpose of e-cigarettes is to get adult smokers off of cigarettes and onto a “safer and healthier” alternative. But now it’s too late -- teens have picked up the addictive habit of vaping.

“I believe certain flavors are one of the principal drivers of the youth appeal of these products,” Dr. Gottlieb, stated in a news release posted on

The epidemic of teen vaping has gotten out of hand and should’ve been dealt with from the beginning. the FDA website. “While we remain committed to advancing policies that promote the potential of e-cigarettes to help adult smokers move away from combustible cigarettes, that work can’t come at the expense of kids. We cannot allow a whole new generation to become addicted to nicotine.”

The FDA believes that companies are creating juice flavors that are targeting teens – specifically sweeter flavors such as candy, cereals, and cus-

tards. The FDA needs to place a ban on all flavored juices, not including mint or tobacco flavors, to stop the epidemic of teen vaping.

E-cigarettes original purpose was to provide a cleaner alternative; this takes out the tobacco but provides the user with addictive nicotine they still crave.

But clearly, vaping itself can cause devasting disease. As ov Oct. 22, the Center for Disease Control says there are 1,604 cases of lung disease and and 4 deaths in the U.S. If the FDA does put a ban on e-cigarette flavors, this action will help with the epidemic of teen vaping. The FDA believes that some e-cigarette companies have been advertising their products to teens, specifically Juul Labs, Inc., who has now agreed to stop all advertising.

The epidemic of teen vaping has gotten out of hand and should’ve been dealt with from the beginning. Now teens have been hospitalized with collapsed lungs because of the effects of vaping. The FDA knew the statistics on teens involved in vaping, and politicions should’ve allowed them to place a ban earlier before it became a serious health issue.

The FDA should immediately place a ban on all e-cigarette flavors other than mint or mentholto help to put an end to the epidemic of teen vaping.

The Fort Mill School District replaced classroom telephones this summer with a new intercom system at Nation Ford. The new system had previously been installed in Springfield Elementary, Springfield Middle, and Fort Mill High School, and it’s a good idea.

The intercoms are a much more efficient way for the school to communicate with the front office, particularly in the case of an emergency.

Although the intercom eliminates the option of keeping conversations between a teacher and the office confidential because there is no private line, there are more benefits to the new intercom system.

First, the old system was unreliable. “The old intercom system broke almost every single week,'' said Mr.Jason Johns, principal.

This new system now allows for fewer repairs, which ultimately saves the school money that can be used elsewhere.

Many of the old phones also did not work, which brought

Overall, the new intercom system is an improvement, especially to use in the case of an emergency. about a problem if there ever was an emergency in theclassroom.

“We had less than 20 but more than 15 phones that did not work in any of the classrooms,” said Mr. Johns. “If we’ve got 15 or 20 classrooms that we know don’t work then that is a danger in and of itself.”

The new intercom system is much easier to use. The old phone system worked required he caller to use an extension. If a substitute or a student needed to call for help, getting in contact with someone was difficult.

Whether a student is having a seizure or broken glass needs to be cleaned in a lab, with the new intercom system, help is just one press of a button away.

“You just have to push a button and immediately it rings at the front office, and Mrs. [Michele] Martin answers it. With the old [system], you had to pick up the phone and dial the office,” Mr. Johns said.

The new intercom system also allows the front office to make announcements to specific areas of the school, and therefore does not have to interrupt the entire school.

Overall, the new intercom system an improvement, especially to use in the case of an emergency.

All Fort Mill District schools should adopt the safer and more

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