The Talon newspaper Vol. 15 issue 4

THE TALON Volume 15 Number 4

Nation Ford High School

06

May 2022

1400 A.O. Jones Blvd.

GOODBYE, CLASS OF ‘22!

BEHIND ‘FAILING FALCON’

Founded in 2007 as an Open Forum

Fort Mill, SC 29715

08

2• OP / ED

The period dilemma

Menstrual products should be available in bathrooms, not only nurse’s office

by Gracie McNally When someone starts their period, it’s supposedly the beginning of adulthood.

However, when a teen starts menstruating, it is definitely not glamorous. In fact, society tells young teens that it is inappropriate and disrespectful to talk about their menstrual cycle. This makes them self-conscious about having a period, and that embarrassment is one reason that NFHS should provide menstrual products in the bathrooms.

Some teens are too self-conscious to ask for a tampon or pad from other people or the nurse.

If a dispenser is placed in the bathroom for students to use, it would ease any anxiety about asking for products.

In an emergency when teens couldn’t go to the nurse, the products would already be in the bathrooms ready for use.

Another issue for some teens is that they cannot afford menstrual products.

Buying menstrual products is not cheap.

They can go from $4 a box to even $13, which adds up very quickly as periods are monthly. Not only

students, but it would be great for teens to be able to grab some for later.

WHAT STATES REQUIRE MENSTRUAL Students agree that having menstrual products PRODUCTS IN SCHOOL RESTROOMS? would be helpful for emergencies.

by Addie Rae Allen “It would be very helpful for when I forfreethetampons.org get to pack products into my bag,” Julia NH Wolman (‘24) said. “I would love for it to be available to me.”

Our school has paid for items for all NY students in the past, including hand-sanitizer, school T-shirts, and even ice cream.

IL If our school is able to purchase toilet paper CA VA for our bathrooms then it shouldn’t be a problem to add menstrual products to the list. All over the U.S., schools are supplying products to students. Just recently California decreed that all colleges and public schools must supply free pads and tampons to students.

Emergencies happen, and the issue should be considered and discussed more. Teens shouldn’t be embarrassed or ashamed of something that is a would having products in the bathroom make menpart of life, so schools should step up and see what strual products more accessible to lower-income they can do to help.

End long lines for school lunch Students need more time to eat

S

by Kaitlyn Hammers itting in 80 minute classes for an entire day just to have to spend more time waiting in line to get food is on nobody’s wishlist. We only have 22 minutes to eat lunch, and since the majority of that for some people is just waiting in line, that cuts by half the amount of time students are able to eat.

Testing out how long it would take to get through the lunch line by timing different days I got 15 minutes for one day, 8 and then 12 minutes for another.

Considering that is only timing how long it can take to get through lunch, it isn’t factoring how long it takes to get to the line and sit down and start eating.

Considering that students also like to cut in line to through the line faster, things are a little more difficult. Most people won’t say anything to the people who cut so nothing ever really happens. Also, many people don’t know their password, so that adds on time to waiting in the line.

Even when students go to the cafeteria early or if they go later, they won’t serve lunch. They also run

out of food(s) by the time the end of the day comes around for third lunch, so not everybody is even getting a full lunch.

One of the points of lunch is to eat but also take a break from classes students have been in all day. Not everyone wants to sit through 80 minute classes back to back all day from 8:40-3:40 or standing in line. But that is possible with the short of time students get for lunch.

If students were able to have a longer lunch time, they would be able to take a break from classes and talk with friends. Not many kids can focus with long classes, and giving them only one break time that is one-fourth of the time they are in one class is not enough.

Students are supposed to be learning during class, but how can they learn when they are hungry, or when all they can think about is lunch time. That can take away the whole learning process because students aren’t focusing on classes.

Even adding more lunch lines could help. We only have 4 lunch lines and the majority of them are very long lines. If the school added another line therewouldn’t be as much traffic in the cafeteria. If

section editors: Amaris Arroyave Rian Donahue Ayden Hash Aiden Witkopf art: Adalie Buckle ad manager: Zane Teubner adviser: Beth Swann

staff: Crystia Basnight Adalie Buckle Emily Cacciatore Leonor Carcamo Trey Chandler Gracie McNally Georgia Cox Cristina Flores-Jimenez Kaitlyn Hammers Kaleigh Heffernan Alex Lavender Sanaa Loyd Andrew Maduabuchukwu Lillieann Rabon Jada Small Rachel Studer Makayla Szymczak Zane Teubner Madeleine Thompson Renan Yilmaz

803-835-0000 thetalononline2016@gmail.com

the problem is also that most people favor one line over another, then why not add the popular food to other lines to reduce the traffic for one line? It would mean that one line wouldn’t be taking up the most room and wait time, and more people would be able to get lunch in a shorter amount of time. Having more lines would make lunch longer for some people and students would still get a break from classes.

the talon policy

The Talon Staff editors-in-chief: Addie Rae Allen Miné Karatas

by Addie Rae Allen

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.

All-Southern from SIPA 2022 2015 Newspaper Palmetto Award ALL STATE Rating from SCSPA 2022 International 1st Place by Quill and Scroll Society 2015, 2016

THE TALON

May 2022

OP/ED • 3

Book banning brings bigotry

Prohibitng books interferes with education

by Maddie Thompson Imagine a library without “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Harry Potter,” “Animal Farm,” or “Fahrenheit 51”. Librarians Janet Hamilton and Julie Hooper do their best to contribute reading materials to the school in an environment that has become increasingly wary about equal education on social issues.

But if you start to see a lack of representation in the school library, a lack of independent ideas and educational resources, then look no further than the battle against “Gender Queer: A Memoir”.

Fort Mill and Rock Hill schools have been impacted by investigations into South Carolina school libraries by the state’s Department of Education as directed by Gov. Henry McMaster.

The graphic novel “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by author Maia Kobabe is a tale of growing up and struggling with sexuality and gender identity. The book has been heralded as a gripping reflection of the queer experience, as well as a resource for any of those struggling with questions of sexuality or gender. The memoir’s place in schools has been scrutinized in several other states, including Florida, Texas, and Virigina. The debate has now been brought to South Carolina when Gov. Henry McMaster brought special attention to the subject in his tweet on Nov. 10, 2021 to what he called “...pornographic and obscene materials”. Since being brought to the attention of the Superintendent of Education for South Carolina Molly Spearman, the memoir has been removed from Fort Mill and Rock Hill School libraries (despite being checked out a total of once at only Nation Ford).

In light of upcoming elections, politicians are using the issue to drum up support, which puts them in opposition to the First Amendment and the rights of a student’s access to educational materials. Reading books is not a political issue but an issue of censorship that has been presented to the state and students.

Here are the facts: After the monumental court ruling on the subject of book banning, Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico (1982), the Supreme Court made the decision that “On the principle that the Constitution protects the right to receive information and ideas,” an American public school will not participate against banning books based on any content deemed too ‘controversial’ to be put on school shelves.

This decision, written by Justice William J. Brennan, means that the removal of books from the shelves of a public school library intrudes on students’ First Amendment rights, in part because of

“the special characteristics of the school library” (Justice Brennan, 1982). Brennan then concluded that school officials may not exercise their discretion to remove books from a school library based on “narrowly partisan or political” grounds because doing so would amount to an “official suppression of ideas.”

It was also agreed upon by a fellow judge, Justice Harry Blackmun, that while the school library was considered within the district itself and not an independent entity, school officials’ removal of books for “...restricting access to political ideas or social perspectives discussed in them, when that action is motivated simply by the officials’ disapproval of the ideas involved” (Blackmun, 1982) is a violation of the First Amendment.

Now let’s apply this case to what we as students, teachers, and administrators are seeing today. The book in question has already been marked as age-restricted for grades 10 and above by the red dot system, which is a red sticker on the spine of a book indicating it contains more mature or explicit material.

“Gender Queer: A Memoir” is about the queer experience, and is the first time a book has been removed from the Nation Ford Library.

This isn’t just a local occurrence, but instead a nation-wide phenomenon in which school boards are targeting books about people of color, LGBTQ folk, and those with varying religions and expressions.

Tennessee recently passed three bills protecting book banning, most notably an amendment to bill HB 0800, which states that public and state sponsored charter schools are “... prohibited from locally adopting or using in the public schools of this state, textbooks and instructional materials or supplemental instructional materials that promote, normalize, support, or address lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, or transgender (LGBT) issues or lifestyles.”

The Oklahoma state senate filed a bill to address “indoctrination” of students in public schools in December of 2021, stating “SB 1142 prohibits public school districts, public charter schools, and public school libraries from maintaining in their inventory or promoting books that address the study of sex, sexual preferences, sexual activity, sexual perversion, sex-based classifications, sexual identity, gender identity, or books that contain content of a sexual nature that a reasonable parent or legal guardian would want to know about or approve of before their child is exposed to it.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested a criminal investigation in Texas school libraries in regards to the presence of queer books in the library, specifical-

‘Be yourself’

source: bookriot.com

by Georgia Cox

ly “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George Matthew Johnson, a collection of essays regarding his experience as a queer black man in America. Book banning even spreads to Washington State, where Mukilteo School District, a suburb of Seattle, voted to remove “To Kill a Mockingbird” in January 2022.

In the end, the power of education makes us into better people. The censoring of reading material is what drives a toxic environment for bigotry to thrive. Students being represented in the media that they consume is vital. Representation matters. -MT

Authenticity digs deeper

by Rachel Studer When you ask for advice, the immediate answer is often, ‘just be yourself.’ Worried about a presentation? Just be yourself. Starting a new job? Just be yourself! But when it comes down to it, is ‘just be yourself’ really the best advice?

If we’re really being honest, you can never just ‘be yourself’ in everyday life. People are constantly changing their personality and demeanor based on the situation and who they are with. You have to be self aware of your surroundings, and know the environment you’re in; other people have feelings too, and if the only thing you are worried about is ‘being yourself’ then you are totally missing the point.

Instead of ‘being yourself’, instead be authentic.

Seems like a small change, right? Wrong.

According to Stephen Joseph Ph.D. with Psychology Today, “...authentic people know themselves, own themselves, and be themselves.”

Authentic people not only know themselves, but they also take responsibility in their life. They have the balance between standing firm in who they are, but knowing that how they act might have consequences if they do so irrationally.

In an opinion piece from the New York Times by Adam Grant, he talks about author A. J. Jacobs, who tried ‘being yourself’ out for a few weeks. In summation, he ended up telling his editor that he would try to sleep with her if she wasn’t married, his nanny

May 2022

Bad Advice

that he would take her out for a date if he could, and he told a little girl that she was holding a dead beetle, not a sleeping one.

“Deceit makes our world go round,”A. J. Jacobs concludes. “Without lies, marriages would crumble, workers would be fired, egos would be shattered, governments would collapse.”

In our generation, ‘be yourself’ is preached. But in reality, if you make one wrong turn, you’re canceled for that same thing that made you special.

“Nobody wants to see your true self,” Grant said.

“We all have thoughts and feelings that we believe are fundamental to our lives, but that are better left unspoken.”

Instead of worrying about how others may react, focus on what you can control. Focus on authenticity, knowing yourself + owning yourself + being yourself. Then the next time someone tells you to ‘be yourself’, know that authenticity means so much more than that.

THE TALON

4• NEWS

Seniors play assassin

The annual Senior Assassin game’s well under way

by Rian Donahue affiliation with the school and that parEyes wide, 118 seniors ents are aware they were on high alert while are playing. their peers hunted them “[The game] can with water guns as round get too extreme, one of the annual Senior and it can be sneaky Assassin game began on where people are March 17. like, ‘Wait, why is Senior Assassin, the this kid in my yard?’” game where students said Clark. each pay $7 toward the The assassins can cash prize for the first and play on campus, but second place winners in a they are unable to water gun assassination get their target while game each spring. school is in session.

This year, the first place They are given a reward, adds up to a total five-minute grace of $578 and the second period before and afplace is $248. ter the first and final While most students bells ring. enjoy the adrenaline rush It is also against of the game, some stuthe rules for an asdents have taken it too far sassin to shoot their in years past. target during any ex“I’ve seen some downtracurriculars, school right bad kills, people events, or while they getting shot in moving are working. cars, or ambushed at “At that point, work,” said Nation Fords you’re just harassResource Officer Dave ing someone because Prescott. “I’d really like to they’re on the clock, see some more rules put which is affecting in place.” customers and other Recently, SplatRBall guns (full and semi-au- At a lacrosse game at the Nation Ford Stadium, after school on April 20, Naofel employees,” Clark stated. tomatic soft water bead Anakkar (‘23) remains friendly with his victim Owen Mullen (‘23) .Anakkar Seniors are able guns with 400 round remains in the game as of Round 4. Photo by Jackson Sims to stay safe by being magazines), have become popular among high schoolers. Rules said. “So if you don’t get your target granted immunity.

“So let’s just say someone’s comwere added to the game to disqualify within the week round, you’re out. But players who use SplatRBall guns in- if you get your person, and you don’t ing to shoot me, and I turn around stead of the traditional water guns. get shot by your target, you move on to and I shoot him first, I get a six-hour immunity, which means they can “We’ve had some problems with the next round.” the guns on campus until one kid was While some students take the game shoot me for six hours, and I’ll be charged for having one. There hasn’t more seriously than others, most have [still] safe,” Clark said.

Since the game is not associated been a problem since,” Prescott said. developed strategies to move on to the with the school, the competition is The game puts students on their next round. toes. Each week, assassins are assigned “I don’t want to give away my strat- student-run. Organizers are unable one secret target. egy, but you really just have to be dis- to participate, so numerous under“You’re trying to get your target, creet,” said Ava Padgett (‘22). “You classmen participate in organizing to keep the game fair. and you are also trying to stay away can’t tell anyone your target.”

Each round lasts one week, the from the person who has you,” Student In order to play, seniors must sign Council President Hannah Clark (‘22) a waiver stating that the game has no game is expected to last until April.

Lit mag named best in South

by Addie Rae Allen

Nation Ford High School’s literary magazine was named Best in the South at the annual Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA) Conference in Columbia, SC March 6-8.

Both The Talon newspaper and Voices literary magazine earned All-Southern ratings, and students won 12 individual awards for writing, art, photography and design.

Additionally, Voices lit mag won Best in Show, and The Talon won third in the Best in Show newspaper category.

The conference was the first time in two years that both staff were in attendance due to COVID-19.

SIPA hosts a variety of student media groups, including broadcast, newsprint, yearbook, and literary magazine.

“Voices has given me so many opportunities and a way to interact with the school to share dirverse voices that aren’t heard in a traditional academic setting,” Voices editor-in-chief Jordan Jeffreys said.

Jeffreys won individual awards for writing and layout design.

The Talon editor-in-chief Minè Karatas won an individual award for her cover design as well.

“Journalism has helped me develop many skills in design and writing,” Karatas said. “It has also helped me get leadership skills as editor-in-chief.”

Journalism and Creative Writing teacher Beth Swann advises both publications.

“Student journalism and student voices are crucially important because they have unique insight into their own lives,” Swann said. “I’m proud of how hard my students work in both classes to carefully choose their topics, their words, and sometimes to speak for those who have no voice.”

PROM SPOTLIGHT Prom closet offers low cost gowns

New NFHS prom closet seeks donations for affordable glamour

by Georgia Cox For some people, buying a prom dress or suit is way out of their budget, and it discourages them from being able to experience their Junior or Senior prom. However, a teacher has a solution.

Business teacher, Jennifer Sams,W started the Prom Closet this year, which is seeking donations.

“It’s kind of a way to give everybody the same financial opportunity to go to prom,” Sams said. “A lot of people don’t have the same means, and this way it takes the financial burden away from families to buy a dress or a suit.”

Sams was inspired by students who want to go to prom but aren’t financially stable enough, especially in the past couple years with COVID-19 and inflation.

“I don’t think it’s fair if we only give the opportunity of prom to the students who can afford it,” Sams explained. “I thought if we started this now it’s something we can build on, and hopefully help a lot more students out.”

Prom can be expensive for some students. A dress can cost anywhere between $200 and $600 for some-

THE TALON

thing they likely will only wear once. Combined with the cost of tickets, shoes, transportation, and accessories, the price can be steep, and that cost is more than some students are able to afford.

Teachers or counselors help set up students with the Prom Closet if they are aware of their situation.

“We ask for teacher input, as well as guidance,” Sams said. “We set up appointments and they can go down and look for dresses or anything they need.”

Some people are buying dresses second-hand, as well as donating their old dresses. These donations are important to the Prom Closet.

“We’ve had a couple suits donated, over twenty-five dresses, shoes, purses, and jewelry,” Sams explained.

Other people have similar ideas about prom dresses.

“I think it’s important that not everyone feels like they have to spend hundreds of dollars to feel beautiful,” said the Instagram account @nafoprom22, an account that posts photos of other people’s dresses.

They are also thinking about turning the page into a place where people sell or donate their old dresses.

At Blush Couture in the Carolina Place Mall, Ella Borsum (‘23), shops for a prom dress. (Photo by Georgia Cox).

May 2022

SPORTS • 5

LACROSSE PLAYOFFS

The Varsity Boys Lacrosse Team celebrate after beating Riverside High School for the second round of the Playoffs on April 23 at Nation Ford High School. (Photo by William Nguyen)

Falling short of history

Boys varsity lacrosse team loses in heartbreaker at state finals

by Aiden Witkopf After going 16-0 in the regular season with top scorer Josh Ameo accumulating 42 goals, the boy’s lacrosse team went into the playoffs a first seed against Spartanburg Highschool, but ultimately lost the state championship game to Wando High 21-9.

The team had high hopes, especially after Owen Ameo returned from a season-ending leg injury last season, but despite an exciting winning season, the Falcons’ second trip to the state championship ended in a loss to Wando again.

After beating the Vikings 16-3 the Falcons went into the second round with confidence. Riverside High School being their next opponent the Falcons prepared their game plan with two days of practice.

Come Saturday the Falcons came prepared and sent the Warriors home and took the win 11-7. The game

was a rollercoaster of a game, the game was within 3 all 48 minutes of the game.

After the close game, the Falcons were on their toes heading into the upper state championship against the defending state champions the J.L Mann Patriots. In the first half, the Falcons came out swinging with a 7-0 lead. The Patriots did not take it nicely and came back making it a 1 goal game in the fourth quarter. With a score of 8-7, the Falcons held the patriots, it was a fight all the way to the last second.

“Words can’t even describe how close of a game that was,” Tyler Demarco said.

The Falcons took a trip to the final game, the game that would change their lives–the Class AAAAA Boys Lacrosse State championship. At Irmo high school, right outside of Columbia, S.C. the team battled the Wando Warriors. The Falcons came out in the

first five minutes of the game with two goals right off the bat. The Warriors mirrored and came right back minutes later. Long-stick midfielder Ben Walzack exited the field in an ambulance after a blindside hit seconds after a faceoff.

“It definitely took a little bit out of us,” Coach Cory Turner said. Wando did not stop there putting up nine more points before the end of the half making the score 11-9 Wando. The Falcons didn’t score a single goal in the second half. Wando put on the gas putting up 10 more before the horn ending the game at 21-9. Nation Ford was Devastated, one game away from making history and bringing the program’s first state championship and undefeated season home. “It hurts. It stings. But at the end of the day, we showed up and gave all we had. And that’s all that matters,” Turner said.

New major league soccer team excites Carolina fans

by Aiden Witkopf

Seniors Jahari Dozier, Eli Patrick, Patrick Bramlett, Tyler DeMarco, Maya Cameron and Jackson Sims sign to colleges for athletics on April 21 at Nation Ford High School. Photo by Rob Upton

Six student athletes to play in college next year

S

by Georgia Cox

enior athletes Maya Cameron, Tyler Demarco, Patrick Bramlett, Jahari Dozier, Eli Patrick, and Jackson Sims all signed to colleges of their choice on April 21, committing to play for their sport.

“These seniors are a representation of the success any of our students here at Nation Ford can accomplish,” Athletic Director James Shackleford said in a letter to parents. “Their hard work and dedication is an inspiration to other athletes who want to accomplish the same goals and advance their high school careers on to the next level.”

Maya Cameron signed to the University of North Georgia for Rifle, after accomplishing three years as the Rifle Team captain in JROTC. Tyler DeMarco signed to Lander University for Lacrosse.

“I signed because it is a good opportunity and I really liked the coaches,” Tyler Demarco (‘22) said.

“I thought it was the right fit for me.”

May 2022

Patrick Bramlett signed to Winthrop University for Soccer.

“I feel like it could be a good fit for me educationally,” Patrick Bramlett (‘22) said. “I’m looking forward to the Big South Championship.”

Eli Patrick signed to University of South Carolina-Lancaster for soccer. Jackson Sims, who was the 2021 tri-county defensive player of the year, signed to North Greenville University for football.

Jahari Dozier (‘22), who signed to Pfeiffer University for soccer, explained why he chose to sign.

“I liked the campus and community. I also like the soccer program there and believe that it’s a great place to develop as a player and continue my academic studies,” Dozier explained.

It’s a big decision for athletes to further a career in their sport since it is a big commitment, but with careful consideration, they signed to colleges to prove their dedication to their sport.

With 74,479 fans in attendance at the first home game on March 5, the Charlotte Football Club packed Bank of America Stadium, breaking the record for most fans to attend an MLS match. Currently the team’s record is three wins, one draw, and six losses.

“There were chants, it was loud and intense,” Jake Schill (‘24) said.

Charlotte is becoming a hotspot for professional sports. The Queen City can now claim four pro sports teams: the Charlotte Hornets, the Carolina Panthers, and the Charlotte Checkers, a hockey team, and the Charlotte Football Club. The Charlotte FC is a professional soccer team participating in Major Soccer League (MLS).

Starting as an expansion team, the Charlotte FC was established on Dec. 17, 2019 by the Carolina Panthers owner David Temper.

Currently 1-4, the top scorer is striker Karol Swiderski with 2 goals.

Soccer in North America hasn’t seen team pride like this before. Soccer in the Carolinas is a big step for the MLS, and it has brought publicity to the league.

“The game was electric. Never experienced anything like it in my life,” Daniel Mahmood (‘24) said.

Eye-popping the team colors of turquoise and black contrast each other and jerseys are being worn all over Queen City, bringing people together and creating a culture.

“It’s like a family,” Mahmood said.

THE TALON

6• CENTERSPREAD

College of

University of SC Columbia

Evan Cox Lindsey Johnson Sarah Wakefield Vidisha Jadeja Madelyn Hurst Isabella Noelle Lexi Blakeman Mia Santore Alex Wanthal

Lauren Allen Naoufel Anakkar Cameron Bence Matthew Bojanowski Kayla Davenport Anthony Goldhammer Morgan Harper Christine Harper Brecken Carrieri Hannah Horsley Vidisha Jadeja Jordan Jeffreys Lindsey Johnson Connor Maclntyre Sreekavya Mekala Wenti Mercado Nathaniel Merritt

Joseph He Samantha Jackie Lee Kamaren Gianna C Kaleigh H

Grant Middlesworth Jason Morgan Justin Perry Joshua Scott Zahria Simmons Farrah Speaks Kendall Swertfager Emily Thomas Sarah Wakefield Alexander Wakefield Brooke Welch Caroline Witzel John Adams Michael Agnew Son Phan Julia Avitabile Luke Marlovits

George Washington Un Anisha Dasari

University

Amber Pesce

UNC Chapel Hill Gwendolyn Fink Jared Renneker

University of Tennessee Knoxville Owen Mullen Olivia Miles Hannah Clark Tyler Miller

University of SC Lancaster Elijah Patrick Thomas Kinsey Zane Teubner Kelvin Vasquez Jonathan Smith

Auburn University Taylor McClung

University of Wisconsin

Trident Technical College

Grace Fragakis

Nitin George

James Madison University Kaiden Bridges

Lander University Joseph Boineau Tyler DeMarco Kaitlyn Walker

Central Piedmont Community College Cayden Benson Michael Hays

V

o

Isabella Ince Riley Cota Julia Laverty Jazmine Sparks Natalie Crosby Jonah Chait Sophia Hernandez Marissa Orlandi Jackson Brown Nick Adams Bryson Todd Samantha Diblosi Alora Cain Austin Viola Lauren Long Sydney Johnson Hannah Horsley

n o B Columbia College

Belmont

Christian DeRenzis

Adeline M

Winthrop University Sydney Reilly Stephen Adair Grace Blumhardt Patrick Bramlett Juan De Castro Madison Hergott Shania Marshall Lilly Sutton Asaru Watson

North Greenville University

Likhan Das

Claflin University Ethan Lewis

The Citadel Rahash Marasini

THE TALON

Milita

Hampton University Jay’vion Stewart

Kylr Orr

Shawn McMichael

Brooks Johnson Aaron Silver Anthony Bishop Ryan Premi

Trine University

Jacksonville State University

Francis Marion University

Coastal Carolina University

Jerrick Foster

Lincoln Tech

Johnathan Ulrich

Braylin

Institute for American Musical Theater

Lilliean

Zayn M

Jade Benton

Brando

University of Alabama Catherine Nixon

American University Jocelyn Ostrosky

Ohio State Shiv Patel

Aveda Cosmetology School

Marlee Mchenry

University of South Florida Patrick Silva May 2022

CENTERSPREAD • 7

f Charleston

University of Kentucky

enry a Tindale e Beats Cespedes Heffernan

Olivia Carter

Savannah College

Coker University Mia Reese

niversity

Cooper Friberg

Hampton University

Butler University

Skyler Guinn

Quinn Lewis

y of Washington Abraham Baldwin College

e g a y

Florida State University

Nicholas Antley

o

e

Furman University Garrett Studer

Wofford College Kylee Maidhof

Mississippi State Megan Andrews

Carter Johnson

Clemson University

York Technical College

Daisy Aquirre Rodriguez Eric Alvarez Villasenor Harrison Barz Sean Castle Faith Sheffield Fiore Farina Devin Taylor Samuel Howington Robert Tennant Brianna Jackson Koji Tran Sophia Vanibibber Chandler Lamb Matthew McCormick Ashley Walts Benjamin Wimbush Shayne Mink Zion Payne Jaelaah Wimbush Miku Pitman Jenna Wisvari Gabriel Rodriguez Savannah Schley

Austin Brenner Olivia Carr Mine Karatas Mary Holt Addie Ruth Matthew Bowman Ainsley Marion Emma Gaunt Thomas Ayers Connor Gouin Madelyn Shiakallis Taran Kavuru Ethan Toole Noah Lloyd Daniel Villa Mora Cameron Nowell Katherine Overman Wade Walter Garrett Andriotis Kailey Reagan Samantha Romenick Blake Knol

Virginia Wesleyan University Gavin Ashe

Greenville Technical College

Abbey College

Ayden Burkett

Mezz

University of South Carolina Upstate

University of Rochester Avril Huang

Patience Wehrmeyer

Duke University Taylor Atkinson

ary Bound Thrower Work Bound

nn Rabon

McGhee

on Simmers

Curtis Rowan Evan Mason Hailee Snyder

Middle Tennessee State Luke Miller

May 2022

Rhodes College Enoch Ibarra

Mission Trip Callan Sobas

Tennessee State University Jacob Kerridge

University of NC Asheville Audrey Kmiecik

THE TALON

8 • FEATURES

Harlen the creator

A look into the life of a creative, artistic, multi-talented student

by Alex Lavender Writer. Filmmaker. Musician. There’s more to this multifaceted student than his iconic, long hair that he’s been growing out since middle school, a feat that has caused lots of students at school to call Harlen Rembert “Jesus” or “Skinny Jesus”.

“I don’t mind it at all,” Rembert says. “I find it humorous and oddly fitting.”

He began playing the clarinet six years ago when he was in fifth grade. In ninth grade, he joined marching band, where he finds people with similar interests.

Rembert auditioned for drum major last year. “I feel that it gave me valuable experience and skills even though I didn’t get the position, ” he said.

“My favorite part of concert band is expanding the amount of music I’ve played.”

Rembert says. “My favorite is marching band.”

The clarinet was his instrument choice because a band teacher said that he would be best at it. It wasn’t easy.

“I’d say the hardest part of learning an instrument is figuring out all of the fingerings Holding a prop rat called ‘Peter Pettigrew,’ Harlen Rembert (‘23) for the notes.” prepares to shoot one of his classic short films at school on May 4.

Reeds are quite important for instruments Photo by Rian Donahue like the saxophone, oboe, bassoon, and the clarinet. These instruments need reeds to fiction. make a sound.

“I enjoy the boundless freedom of fiction the most “Reeds have a very unique taste,” Rembert by far, although I do entertain the idea of making explains. “It tastes the way an old wood house documentaries,” he said. smells.”

He also likes creating short films. As a little kid, When not playing music, Rembert writes. he would make videos by waving toy dinosaurs in “My stories usually include a character that front of a camera. Rembert has recently begun to is simply a fictionalized version of myself,” he pursue more serious filmmaking, encouraged by his said. “By taking this fictional clone of myself and best friend Kyle Nowell, who started making Youthrowing him into some fantastical scenario, I am Tube videos during quarantine in 2020. Rembert and able to express myself in a more concise fashion Nowell are currently looking at combining their efthan I can in reality. forts to make their own small film.

“Writing is not only an outlet by which I exOnce he graduates, Rembert plans to go to college press myself, but it is simply instinctual for me,” to study filmmaking and writing in general. He pracRembert said. “Even if I could not type or write tices photography nearly every day by taking picthem out, I would still have the ideas inside me. tures of the sky and various nature photos.

They are inseparably a part of me.”

Rembert has synesthesia, a condition where someRembert enjoys writing both fiction and non- one can experience a sense from another sense. He

associates each number and letter with a color.

He says it’s a very interesting trait.

“I didn’t even realize I was any different from anyone else until my third grade class read a book called ‘The Name of this Book is Secret.’ The book describes characters who have synesthesia, and it made me realize it wasn’t a characteristic common to everyone.”

Synesthesia also gives Rembert an advantage.“ By associating each number and letter with certain colors, I am able to remember codes somewhat better by thinking of them not only as numbers and/or letters but as a series of colors.”

Rembert also enjoys watching movies and TV shows. His favorite genre is science fiction.

“It’s not necessarily the otherworldly or technical elements that I love most about them, although I certainly enjoy those aspects, but rather the way in which they make us look deeper at ourselves and humanity as a whole.”

His favorite movie is “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind” (1984), and his favorite TV show is “Neon Genesis Evangelion.”

“I have a deep appreciation for how the story can be applied to anyone and everyone, as well as the art style,” Rembert says of “Neon Genesis Evangelion.”

He also admires Revolutionary Girl Utena, FLCL, and The Owl House for similar reasons.

He also enjoys the lighthearted humor of Seinfeld.

The first time creative writing teacher Beth Swann met Rembert was at another student’s quinceanera. Swann had taught her in her Intro to Journalism class.

Swann descibes Rembert as “super nice, super chill, whip-smart, and friendly.

“He writes any genre equally well -- poetry, fiction, nonfiction. He’s the fiction editor for Voices lit mag this year,” she said.

“I’ve not heard him play the clarinet, so writing is how I know him. He’s an astute reader, and his writing is beautifully specific and imaginative.”

“Right now I am working on a musical adaptation of the experiences I’ve had during my junior year, a sequel to one I wrote last year.”

Writer. Filmmaker. Musician. He can do it all.

‘Failing Falcon’ postings put smiles on faces

by Kaleigh Heffernan & Rachel Studer Some names just hold meaning. For Nation Ford, Failing Falcon is one of them. It can be heard in the cafeteria, in the halls, and even in some of the classes. But who is the Failing Falcon?

The self-titled Failing Falcon (‘23) created an Instagram page, aiming to put smiles on student faces one meme at a time.

“I created the ‘Failing Falcon’ account over Thanksgiving Break last year which was when there were a lot of school-related Instagram accounts popping up around that time,” the creator said. “I figured that I might as well take advantage of the popularity of school-related pages so I decided to make the account a meme page as there wasn’t already an active one for our school at the time.”

The page soon started to gain traction after its creation, gaining followers from the other ‘Nafo’ pages. Currently, the account has just over 600 followers.

“My plan at the time was to slowly amass a large following and then sell merchandise to my audience, which has yet to be a reality,’’ the creator said. “However, the main reason that I created this account was to put a smile on people’s faces and help develop positive school culture. I consider myself to have a great sense of humor, so

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I wanted to pass the laughs onto my peers.”

It isn’t always smooth sailing for the Failing Falcon. At times postings receive criticism, sometimes from other ‘Nafo’ accounts.

“The ‘Nafo Sleepers’ Instagram page commented on one of my posts in December with insults and profanities including alleging that I’m a ‘band kid’ and mocking me on their Instagram story for deleting their profanity-laced comments on my post. I thought that the whole ordeal was humorous but I also questioned the morality of our student body.”

It’s often hard to appeal to the entire school’s population, and Failing Falcon has to maintain a balance.

“Other accounts simply get more attention because of “NAFO” in their username while it is a lot harder for me because I chose a username without “NAFO” in it since I want the minimal association with the school if administrators don’t like what I’m doing.”

The creator also has to worry about approval from the followers.

“The hardest part about running the “Failing Falcon” account is trying to create a meme that will appeal to a large majority of the student body while also being entertaining and retainable.”

Failing Falcon also has to consider: when does a joke cross the line?

“Sometimes my jokes may seem to cross the line to some people (very rarely though as I try to create content that I think everyone will enjoy) but I don’t think that it is in the best interest of the account for me to remove a post or comment that a vocal minority does not like. I know that there is a limit but I know that I haven’t crossed it”, Failing Falcon said, ”nor do I plan on crossing it in the future.”

Failing Falcon often sacrifices time to bring these memes to Nafo, and it’s hard to manage the account when running out of ideas.

“I want to make people laugh and ease the stress of those who just need a break from schoolwork. At the end of the day, we’re in high school and most of the things we think are important to us right now won’t matter in the future.”

Though the Failing Falcon is already a junior, the plan is to keep posting until graduation.

“At the end of the day,” Failing Falcon explains,” I continue to keep this page up to make everyone’s day just a bit better. Some days it can be hard to get the creative juices flowing and on others, I question why I do it in the first place. When I realize that keeping the page up means I will always make at least one person laugh or smile every day, keeping this page up is totally worth it.”

May 2022

FEATURES • 9

D

ivine The Bakkers’ troubled legacy perseveres in Fort Mill eceit hosts church services al-

by Addie Rae Allen

For more than a decade, York County and MorningStar Ministries have been caught in a legal battle over the fate of the abandoned 21-story hotel that looms over Fort Mill. MorningStar wishes to repurpose it, while the county insists that its glory days are over.

For many locals, the building’s “glory days” are a mystery. However, with the legal case progressing and new publicity due to the award-winning movie “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (2021), a certain scandalous chapter in Fort Mill history is gaining attention.

Televangelist Jim Bakker surely had a way with words—words that would put Fort Mill on the map as the home of “Christian Disneyland,” better known as Heritage USA. In 1978, people were buzzing about The Bakker’s new Christain-themed park. By this time, the two were American household names due to their success as hosts of “The 700 Club” on the Christain Broadcasting Network, as well as on their own show called “The PTL Club” on the PTL (Praise the Lord) Satellite Network. Since audiences became infatuated with the evangelical couple, the park was on many families’ vacation lists it, including local minister Lisa Beam’s.

“It really was ‘all that,’” Lisa said.

Despite Heritage USA’s reported financial success and soaring attendance, the park closed down in shame.

The Bakkers played a happy couple on The PTL Club, but that’s all it was: make-believe. News about Jim Bakker’s casual infidelity and possible sexual assault of former-PTL-secretary and now-model-and-actress Jessica Hahn–who was paid over $200,00 in hush money–swamped the headlines

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1978

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most every day as well as weddings on Fridays.

The most notable remnants of the former PTL theme park is, of course, the abandoned 21-story hotel, sometimes called “Heritage tower.” Originally intended to house Heritage USA attendees, the haunting PTL artifact never accomplished its goal after the park closed due to both the destruction caused by Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Jim Bakker’s financial and sexual scandals.

Not only are the Heritage USA properties causing problems, but also original leadership.

Jim Bakker began a new televangelical show in 2003, titled “The Jim Bakker Show,” with his new wife, Lori Bakker. Jim preaches “prophetic” news of “end times” and uses fear as a business tactic. With the PTL empire in dust, Jim Bakker is trying to expand another: Doomsday food.

Doomsday food–or survival food –is now Bakker’s monetary focus. He said on his show that with the second coming of Christ rapidly approaching, “...there could be days that are filled with food and water shortages. Making preparations now is essential for survival.”

Back in Fort Mill, MorningStar Ministries continues to work to open the hotel as an active-adult community center. Since Aug. 2021 York County has barred them from doing so on the grounds that the building is not structurally sound and is aesthetically an eye-sore. The most recent meeting between MorningStar and York took place on Mar. 16.

As the legality of past PTL property is debated and Jim Bakker still preaches on TV, an eerie case of déjà vu hangs over Fort Mill.

2022

2004

and destroyed Jim’s Christian image, as For some, she became more of a carwell as Heritage USA’s reputation. icature due to her iconic, heavy eyeAccording to Lisa’s husband Hal shadow and lipstick.

Beam, a friend of Jim Bakker said that “How can people judge her when Bakker definitely loved God, he just lost they have never walked in her shoes?” the fear of Him. Lisa Beam asked. “I think she felt the Incarcerated in 1989 for pocketing need to wear all that makeup to hide PTL money, what was reJim’s public “But when you come to Heritage USA, ally going image crumon.” remember to bring your Bible and bled. HowAfter felyour VISA card – because the ever, Tammy low televanFaye’s was gelist Jerry Bible is the Holy Truth, and God only boosted.

Falwell briefly doesn’t take American Express.”

Many betook over the -Jim Bakker gan to symPTL empire pathize with her as the wife of a philan- in 1987 and MorningStar Ministries derer and praised her resilience. Known bought the property in 2004, memories for her singing performances, Tammy of Heritage USA have started to fade.

Faye was able to continue displaying However, some whispers still echo. her own talent -- though this time with The Upper Room, which was deless recognition as the infamous Jim and signed as a replica of where Jesus hostTammy Faye Bakker duo was no more. ed the Last Supper, was once the minisTammy Faye remarried in 1993, the try hub of the PTL. It reopened in 2010 year before Jim Bakker was released with a new name: the Upper Room from prison, but she died 14 years lat- Chapel. According to the Upper Room er in 2007 from cancer. Despite it being Chapel website, it presently serves “to more than a decade since she was last fulfill its original purpose, ‘a place of seen, Tammy Faye is still remembered. prayer and worship.’” The Chapel now

Local guitar prodigy

Murphy’s passion echoes in the halls

by Trey Chandler

Passion. That’s what drives Josh Murphy’s guitar playing, and he’s been at it since was around six-years-old.

It’s rare to see someone master an instrument while they are still young, but every so often, it’s hard to find someone talented who can play an instrument with such natural ease.

“My stepdad had guitars lying around, and I just picked up after him,” Murphy said, now in his sophomore year.

He was inspired to pick up the guitar after learning about famous solo artist Jason Richardson. “He’s got crazy fast alternate picking licks, note choosing, playing style and tone,” Murphy said.

He was also inspired to learn more difficult songs and techniques by famous guitarists like Eddie Van Halen (RIP), Eric Johnson, and Micheal Angelo Batio. But as it is for most guitar players, it was no breeze to get to the playing

May 2022

level he’s at now. He is mostly self-taught.

“I basically sat in a room playing seven hours a day constantly practicing stuff that I can’t play,” he confessed. “But the more I played it, the more I got it down and mastered it.

After figuring out those songs, it helped figure out more of the fretboard and helped me improvise,” He eventually found out what he likes to play best.

“Then I got into metal and the crazy solos that mostly consist of alternate picking, making me practice new techniques I never used,” he said.

Josh also enjoys fishing, or playing the piano and drums but says playing the guitar will always be his favorite thing to do.

His favorite guitar is his Sterling by Music Man Jason Richardson Signature 7-string.

He’s had it for about a year and plays it almost every day.

“It has really good humbuckers, coil switch, volume

Playing on his Sterling Cutlass Jason Richardson Signature guitar, Joshua Murphy ‘24 practices in the hall between classes April 21. Photo by Trey Chandler boost, good neck, really good tone, does all genres, has an amazing clean tone and one of the best metal tones” he says.

This year, Josh takes the Guitar 1 course.

“Josh Murphy is exceptionally gifted and has spent countless hours honing his

innate talent.” said guitar teacher Micheal Ramsey. “I don’t think I’ve seen any k-12 student that has the same ability he has, and I’ve only seen two or three since I’ve been at Nation Ford that could be considered to perform at a similar level.”

Even though Josh is still trying to learn everything he possibly can with the instruments he plays, he doesn’t know what he wants to do in the future. He may start a few bands, but he still hasn’t decided.

“I guess I’ll see.”

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10 • ColumnS & REVIEWS

ADVICE COLUMN

You’re not alone

by Emily Cacciatore In an age of social media, it’s very hard to love how you look. From Instagram to TikTok to many more online platforms, most of the bodies portrayed are “perfect” not “too skinny” not “too fat.” In reality, everybody is in the body they are supposed to be in. Not everything is about what activities you do or what you eat. Almost everything about how you look is genetics.

This world would be insanely boring if we all looked the same, and someday there will be someone–a friend, a stranger, or a partner– that will love everything you hate about yourself. The bump on your nose that you push down in the mirror hoping it will disappear will be someone’s favorite part of you. The stretch marks on your body will be treasured like gold. You’re not the only one who picks apart the way you look–everyone else is too busy being insecure about themselves. Just know you’re not alone.

According to NYMetroParents, “During this last year of pandemic living, body image issues have exploded, and from 2020-2021, there was a 41-percent increase in people seeking help for eating disorders. Plus, COVID led to more time on social media, which only adds to the problem.”

When you look at yourself in the mirror, don’t pinch and poke at your skin. Hold yourself lovingly, look at yourself up and down, and pick out what you do like, if you find things you do like the rest will follow. Individualism also helps you love yourself more if you can try to change something. Change your hair, clothing style, or get a piercing. Another way to help with loving how you look is associating yourself with the right people, not people who constantly critique how other people look. that judgment can reflect on how you view yourself. Hang out with people who love themselves enough to pull other people down for how they look. Try to improve your confidence in other areas of your life. Find a hobby that you are good at or focus on a class that you do well in. Every morning try doing positive affirmations, not just about your appearance but your overall being. My last piece of advice is if you get a compliment, take it.

People aren’t just saying them to trick you, you deserve it so say thank you and hold it close to your heart, put it in your pocket, and pull it out when you need a reminder of how amazing you are.

It’s not just a pencil

Ergonomic Blackwing 602 offers artistic perfection

by Renan Yilmaz Mechanical, calligraphic, wooden. While some of these pointed pencils are more common than others, there are many specialty pencils within the pencil verse. One such pencil is the Blackwing 602; this wooden pencil features a lightweight, custom design that allows the user to fully take the limited concept of the pencil to its truest height.

At a cost of $27 for 12 pencils, when I first purchased the Blackwing 602 pencil, I thought it was simply a novelty item.

The odd, rectangular eraser and slightly longer-than-normal length made the pencil stand out within my packet of pencils. When I first got my hands on it, the sheer weightlessness of the pencil was disorienting.

Compared to my normal standards of a mechanical pencil, it was very lightweight when I first held it.

The wood itself that encased the semi-hard graphite of the pencil was fairly soft and smooth, allowing it to be sharpened without an issue.

Seeing this oddly-shaped pencil made me ponder. class was as smooth as butter once I used the powerSurely, this pencil couldn’t be better than what I al- ful Blackwing 602.

Once I became accustomed to it, the pencil allowed ready have. Surely, I would be better off putting this me to improve the size of my letters, offering a perwork of art in a glass case. fect letter-size range from the smallest of microbes Too soon did I doubt this pencil. I soon realized to the largest letters found on posters. The precise how I willingly compromised one of my sacred tip of the sharpened pencil held up for a good while, codes of science, the scientific method, which is a guaranteeing me promised precision of letter placehorrible sin that has always led to trouble in the hisment for hours on end. The sharp tip also improves tory books. the visibility of what I create, saving time needed for I then decided to pack the pencil into my backfi xing critical mistakes in my letpack and give it a chance.

“Its strength was extreme, ter-building within milliseconds.

Just a week into the fray...

Eventually, even the mistakes In the first week, I grew giving me a competitive themselves became few and accustomed to the weight of advantage when it came to far in between while using the the pencil. The low weight of pencil.

In just two short weeks, the construction allowed me shaving time off infinitely-long I have managed to accomplish to effortlessly glide the lead multiple choice tests.” many achievements while using throughout scores of notebook the Blackwing 602. paper without even the slightest fatigue.

Ultimately, all good things must come to an end.

The ease of sharpening also allowed the pencil to On a fraught morning at the crack of dawn, the shed the spent parts of itself, slowly becoming powlast inch of the Blackwing finally came undone. All erful in its lack of weight. Its strength was extreme, the time and effort constructing the perfect pencil giving me a competitive advantage when it came to was whittled down in just two short weeks. shaving time off infinitely-long multiple choice tests.

While the body of the pencil may be gone, the With pensive thought, I ultimately intiated a secheart and soul of the story that the pencil created still ond trial of the pencil for another week. lives on in my hands.

In the time I have spent learning the ways of Overall, I rate the experience of the Blackwing 602 the Blackwing 602 pencil, I have learned to detach pencil with a rating of 4 out of 5. While the pencil the eraser for more ergonomic handling and lower was majestic, the eraser holder snapped easily after weight.

I realized that it, unlike the pencil, was not made for With one hand I created, and the other, I erased. speed.

The pencil slowly became consumed with mythiAlso, the pencils were quite expensive. My pockcal abilities, giving me the ability to perfect my handets were not too happy. writing, which was once an eyesore to read. The penNevertheless, I will be ordering another. A pack of cil assisted with many of the tasks that I had once 12, even.

I hope you do too as well. The real question found tedious and difficult with my archaic mechanis, can you handle the power of the Blackwing 602? ical pencil; drawing constructions in my Geometry

Narratives of memories, relationships

Amanda Lovelace’s poems offer a dark look at love, hope for healing This book is perfect if you are the type of person

by Lillieann Rabon In Amanda Lovelace’s confessional book of po- that enjoys reading angsty poems; you will enjoy this etry “To Make Monsters Out Of Girls” she explores dark book of verse. the memories of a past relationship. She opens about Readers should be aware that this poetry book things readers fear to reveal themselves and in the mentions self-harm,sexual-assault, depression, anxprocess finds self-healing, and readers may as well. iety, abuse, blood, and gore. She uses some strong Amanda Lovelace is the author of many bestsell- language and comes with a “trigger warning.” But ing poetry books including her of course, the dark subject matter “You Are Your Own Fairy Tale” “The expresses not only a lot doesn’t mean that poems are not trilogy, but also her bestselling beautiful. They truly are, and if “Women Are Some Kind Of of angst but personal growth, you have been through a lot, like Magic.” such as becoming yourself myself, then you have a specific “What happens when the taste for it. man of your dreams turns out to after a damaging and or toxic She expresses not only a lot be a nightmare with sharp teeth of angst but personal growth, relationship.” and claws?” she says when desuch as becoming yourself after scribing her book. a damaging and or toxic relationIn the first part of “Things that h(a)unt duology” ship. she not only brings light but imagery to her memThis book comes in paperback, hardcover, and ories as well. Readers learn that it’s not the fault of Kindle. The digital listing price for this book is only the victim in an abusive relationship. I can definitely $9.99, while the kindle price is $8.49. agree when she says, “...there’s no such thing as de“To Make Monsters Out Of Girls” is an unforgetserving abuse” and “...darling, you are worthy.” table book.

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May 2022

REVIEWS • 11

“Sling”: hard hitting indie-folk Clario’s most recent ablum touches all walks of life

by Georgia Cox

Blue Bar sets the bar for bbq

by Ayden Hash

Twenty-three-year-old singer-songwriter Claire Cottrill, who performs music under the name Clairo, released her second studio album Sling in the summer of 2021, and it has already become a staple of indie-folk music since its release.

The album includes topics about growing up and the loss of time, over-sexualization, motherhood, love, heartbreak, and friendship, all while staying reminiscent of seventies folk and nineties acoustic inspired by the likes of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Elliot Smith.

The album strays from the songs she first released back in 2017, which were more bedroom-pop indie than acoustic-folk. Still, Clairo continues to sing quietly in a raspy voice that, while beautiful, can sometimes make her music a little boring.

Sling starts with the song “Bambi’’, a song about her fear of time passing, of feeling like she’s running out of time despite her young age because of the industry she’s in. ery woman in music. “If touch can “Rushing so I can beat the make them hear, then touch me line,” she sings, expressing how now,” she sings. She’s willing to fast she feels she has to work. “But give in to it just to be listened to, what if all I want is conversation just to be validated. and time?”

“It’s funny now, I’m just use“Bambi” is a song that reflects less and whore,” she sings. Clairo her loneliness represents all and fears, ac- “It feels very personal, almost of the young companied women who like reading Clairo’s diary by a jazzy have been trumpet and hardened and while she plays guitar. The piano. bittered by The standharsh, abusive out song on album is a mix of melancholy, men who sexSling has to ualize them. joy, and anger.” be “Blouse”.

The album “Why do I ends with tell you how I feel,” she sings in “Management”, a song about her her signature quiet voice, “when views on the industry and the way you’re just looking down the that critics perceive her. “She’s blouse?” She feels she isn’t being only twenty-two,” she says, reheard– Instead she’s being seen flecting on the kinds of things critas a sex symbol, something that ics say about her music when they frequently happens to almost ev- don’t take her and her work seri-

ously.

While Sling may not be the most original album stylistically, it tells the story of women in the music industry, mixing acoustic guitar with piano and trumpet, giving it a jazz feel.

It feels very personal, almost like reading Clairo’s diary while she plays guitar. The album is a mix of melancholy, joy, and anger. It perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being a young woman.

Most of the songs on the album are slow, music that you would listen to when studying. Critics use this fact to claim her music is boring and soporific.

Sling, however, is quite the opposite. It is peaceful and calming.

The lyrics and music combined are very interesting and profound.

I absolutely recommend this album with four out of five stars.

Good BBQ is hard to find. From home cooking to chain restaurants, it’s all done differently.

The big thing that sticks out with BBQ places is the price. Among the competitors, Blue Bar and Smokehouse sticks out to me (you can find Blue Bar at 1500 Fort Mill Pkwy #11).

They have vast options from brisket burgers and nachos to smoked wings. They also have family and party platters for bigger groups.

Their cheapest option is a family meal that feeds 4-6 people and costs. They also have a more expensive option that feeds 30-40 people for $395.

Depending on if you get take-out or decide to dine in, I’ve found the quality of the food to be great. When dining in, you’re greeted by a very open environment as well as a glimpse into the room where the meat is smoked. I went with my family, and we ordered “The Cabinet,” their $55 family plater. It comes with one pound of brisket, one pound of pork, two pints of sides, and your choice of buns or toast. For the two sides, we chose their cornbread casserole and baked beans. Along with that, my family ordered a side of fried pickles.

It wasn’t very busy at all, so the food came out quickly. It was all enjoyable. The brisket was smoked and had a great charred outside, and the pulled pork was amazing. The baked beans were different, they included different types of beans as well as brisket burnt ends, definitely adding to the flavor. The cornbread casserole was amazing, it wasn’t too sweet and it also had pieces of corn in it. The fried pickles were not heavily breaded and the sauce that went with it had a bit of a kick.

They serve five signature sauces at the table. They have a classic BBQ sauce, a Smoky Chipotle, Firebox Red Hot, Honey Peach, and a house mustard sauce. Whether it’s spicy or sweet there’s something for everyone.

Is it worth the price? I think it is, although, only if you’re going with your family or friends because the prices for individual meals are somewhat expensive.

But overall it’s good food. They have a great atmosphere they play classic rock and similar music that fits the vibe of the restaurant, as well as have a lot of seating that can fit everyone, and there’s enough seating for everyone. It’s worth checking it out with a group of friends or with your family.

COLUMN

Bishopville Lizard-Man: Mythical monster fact or fiction?

by Maddie Thompson

In the dark and desolate forest of the Pacific Northwest mountains, he stands. Fearless and terrifying, he looms over you, with a heavy breath that blows into your face like that leafblower your dad thinks is a toy. You look up at him and are greeted with yellowed and sharp teeth, the perfect length for cutting through flesh. He is 8 feet tall and covered in matted hair, and as you look down to embrace your inevitable death at the hands of this monster, you find a pair of ginormous and thumping feet. It dawns on you that you are going to die at the hands of Bigfoot.

Well, South Carolina doesn’t have Bigfoot, but in true SC fashion, a small town makes an annual profit on Bigfoot’s cheap cousin – the fearsome Bishopville Lizard-Man. Because what else would it be?

At 7 feet tall, and accompanied with scales, a tail, and glowing red eyes, the Lizard-Man has been terrorizing Lee County since 1988 by doing absolutley nothing of notability, except supposedly being real.

The first sighting of the famed beast was on the humid night of June 29, 1988, when a 17-year-old boy returned home at 2 a.m. with scratches on his car – of course, he blamed on the creature. He reported this

May 2022

to authorities and an investigation began (because I’m sure the only reason a teenage boy would return home at 2 a.m. on the weekend, with a scratched car, is because of a monster attack).

The boy described a terrifying creature, and even drew a sketch of it upon request. Dear readers, I encourage you to be wary because the terror this image presents is not something to blow off. Look at the attached picture, if you dare, and curate your own opinion of the cryptid.

Lizard-mania took Bishopville by storm. People were going out on the town in tin-foil suits after someone started a a rumor that the Lizard-Man likes chrome, and some were covering their cars in ducttape to prevent lizard-induced damage. Memorabilia sold on interstate stops attracted those driving to go watch Clemson games. More reports of the Lizard-Man’s rampage filed in, day-by-day and became enough of a concern that local officials contacted the FBI to warn them of the attacks. Surprisingly, the FBI did not respond.

Now, after decades of the search for the Lee County Lizard-Man, with the only modern reports of his

existence being iphone 3 quality videos, filmed by the same guy that takes videos of school fights, there has finally been a break in the case.

While walking out of church, a Sumter woman was shocked to see the Lizard-Man out and walking throughout the town with a joyous little stroll, like he was a clown going to a kid’s birthday party. “My hand to God, I am not making this up,” she said to local news, which is obviously a sure sign that she was not making this up.

With the Lizard-Man re-emerging once again, and being in such a close range to our little town of Fort Mill, I beg all readers to stay vigilant. You never know if that mysterious scratch on your car came from the Lizard-Man (and not just the average driver in the Nation Ford parking lot).

I would advise you to keep a Lizard-Man preparedness kit in your primary mode of transport.

This kit should include a camera, a stick of cheese to lure the lizard, duct-tape, and a medical kit–you never know when the three-fingered reptilian could scratch you with his acrylic nails.

Stay safe Nation Ford. Beware the Lizardman.

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ADS • 12

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May 2022

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