The Lion's Tale - Volume 56 Issue 1

LION’STALE

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • 32765 • SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 • VOLUME 56 • ISSUE 1

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GAY MARRIAGE LEGALIZATION SPARKS DISCUSSION

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STUDENTS ANALYZE THE BENEFITS OF E-PATHWAYS

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SPORTS INJURIES HINDER ATHLETES’ FUTURE PERFORMANCES

2 | THE LION’S TALE | NEWS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

The month in photos

The

Photo’s Of

The Month

Effective eCampus replaces Blackboard WRITTEN BY JESSICA WHITE

eCampus, the virtual platform that allows students to access information such as textbooks, homework and class agendas, is the new replacement for Blackboard.

Some students think eCampus is easy to maneuver, like freshman Marley Sanderfield.

“It is easy to get to stuff that you need for class, I really like it,” Sanderfield said.

Freshmen Christina York and Kaya Bacheller believe it’s difficult to comprehend and hard to work with.

“It had a lot of things, it was confusing….in my opinion I don’t really know how to work it,” York said.

Freshmen Lauren Viola, Elizabeth Foote, and Alexis Mitchell, who have had past experience with Blackboard, have mixed reviews about the change. “[It is] easier to find which classes you are in,” said Mitchell.

Viola and Foote agree.

AP Macroeconomics teacher Bryan Singer was one out of the five teachers invited to be Digital Learning Leaders.

He received the opportunity to teach schools in the county about how to work eCampus last March.

“We all kind of fell in love with it as a group,” Singer said. “We really do believe this is the best choice currently for Seminole county schools, and the fact that eCampus is willing to work with us to customize is incredible.”

Assistant principal Trent Daniel thinks eCampus is a great replacement for Blackboard.

“It’s great because you can go in here and get your homework assignment or the uploaded videos or power points-all the teachers seem to like it,” Daniel said.

eCampus Login Basics 1.

2.

3.

4.

To get to eCampus, type in ePassport.scps Click on the first website Login to Seminole County Public Schools You should see 7 applications on the main page.

Click eCampus (red logo).

5. Teachers will post information and assignments on the portal

PHOTO BY MILES MINER PHOTO BY ALEX BROWNING

WHAT FLOATS YOUR BOAT? Seniors Alana Slone and Macy McCorquodale prepare the homecoming float for Student Government.

Bomb threat follow-up

Library flood aftermath WRITTEN BY JESSICA WHITE

Over the summer, disaster struck at the Oviedo High School library. A flood left no access to the library for the students, causing limited access to books for Accelerated Reading. A pipe broke over the library books, causing an estimate of $44,000 worth of damage.

Media specialist Carol Coulon-Woods stated the cost of the flood.

“I still have 5 carts of books that I have to delete. So it is going to come to over $50,000,” Coulon-Woods said.

While the flood occurred, the air conditioner was not working. As a result, mold grew around the library.

The date of the library’s opening is unknown.

Administration is still waiting on the carpet to be delivered.

Students expressed concern about the incident, as well.

Freshman Jonas Allen was upset that the library was closed because he could not access the books he needed for Accelerated Reader.

“I cannot get the book I need from the library, and I wish that it was open soon,” Allen said.

Administration, teachers, and students all hope that the library will open in the near future.

Until the OHS Media Center reopens, the computer lab in 8-214 will be open at about 6:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

CAUTION-WET BOOKS. The library bookshelves and ceiling lay in ruins after the flooding over the summer.

Insulation from the ceiling covered much of the floor and puddles of water soaked the carpet. Mold also began to grow in the recesses.

WRITTEN BY JESSICA WHITE

A chaotic event sent all students outside for a few hours, causing confusion on August 31. An adult called the school and made a bomb threat.

“Law enforcement is doing an act of investigation,” said dean Jason Maitland. “The caller’s identity is still unknown.”

The bomb squad found an empty backpack in the parking lot, and after they investigated, all they found were school supplies and football pads.

As soon as the administrators were aware, they sounded the alarm.

Freshman Gabriel Garcia thought it was a fire instead of what it really was, a bomb threat.

“I was very confused, nobody told us anything I wish I had more information on what was happening, it was very scary,” Garcia said.

Some students complained because of the lack of information, but most complained because of the heat and the amount of time they had to wait.

Senior Alison Dukstein was in the front of the school on the football field during this event.

“We sat in the bleachers and it was hot. My friend and I were hanging out but it was miserable because of the heat,” Dukstein said.

PHOTO BY DELANEY ROBB CATCHING THE ZENS. Seniors Ryan Masterson and Colin Sherwood stretch out in humanities class.

Challenge Day creates harmony WRITTEN BY STERLING CORUM Challenge Day was held in the old gym on Sept. 15 and 16 as a day to celebrate the diverse lives of students. The event was planned by pre-calculus teacher Lauren Fedi, who took on the responsibilities of a school-wide initiative in order to make sure that her students were appreciated and able to convey their feelings in a safe way.

“I think a lot of people, maybe not everyone, hopefully learned a little about how to communicate their feelings and not feel weird or bad about it,” Fedi said.

According to their website, Challenge Day’s mission is to provide youth with experiences of love and connection through truth and self-expression.

“I think everyone had a day to kind of let go, and get out all of their emotions,” Fedi said. “Kind of deflate that inner balloon that we store all of our emotions in.”

PHOTO BY ALEX BROWNING

LAUNDRY ON THE FIELD. Senior Allison Frye chases after senior Destiny Roiche to pull a flag.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 | THE LION’S TALE | NEWS | 3

Policy Lockdown

New locker rules resonate through student body WRITTEN BY HANNAH GIBILISCO The clock strikes 11:00am, and senior Vanessa Quolke bolts through the doors of building 8. She is eager to get her hands on the perfect locker for her last year at Oviedo High School. Much to her dismay, the myriad of promised lockers were already taken.

The doors opened four hours ahead of the time officially told to seniors.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” Quolke said.

“They set aside 200 senior lockers when there are 700 seniors.”

Seniors were the only grade able to select their lockers. 9th, 10th, and 11th graders were assigned lockers for the first time this school year.

Principal Joe Trybus decided that it was time for change.

“I am a systems-thought person. For example, there are many systems in a high school. Like, how [students] need passes to go to the restroom. It’s what the system for that class is,” Trybus said. “When I first got here, there was no system for lockers at all.”

Trybus replaced Robert Lundquist as principal last year, but he decided to wait to implement his ideas for change.

“I wanted to just experience Oviedo High for a whole year, and then take a look at the

systems in place to see if there’s something I want to change or tweak to try to improve [the school.] I decided to change the system following a year of observation.”

The main reason behind the change, he said, is for the safety of students.

“Say we had to search a locker because we thought something bad was in it. We had no way to know who had what locker,” Trybus explained. “We just had thousands of lockers with no record of who was using them. The change was for safety and security purposes.”

Although the lockers were initially assigned randomly, Trybus said he is open to accommodate the needs of the student body.

“I told Mr. Maitland the whole time that I want to be what I call ‘customer driven.’

Basically, the students are the customers and I want to work with everybody. If it makes sense for you to change your locker that had been randomly assigned to you, I’m totally fine with that,” Trybus said.

Dean Jason Maitland explained the process of assigning the lockers.

“Last year, the administrative team noticed that there was a low number of students reporting which lockers they actually had,” Maitland said. “We decided that we needed a better accountability

system, as far as lockers go.”

Maitland said that the lockers were assigned completely at random by the web app, Skyward.

This led to an outcry by some students.

Junior Nicole Dunn found the policy to be unfair.

“I think choosing our lockers is a privilege we all deserve,” Dunn said. “We’ve always been able to choose our lockers. And, let’s face it, students are going to switch their lockers no matter what. It’s too much trouble to ask for a locker change.”

Maitland addressed the issue of locker changes by pointing out the option of filling out a locker request form.

“I don’t think [assigning lockers] is fair or unfair. That’s why we have request forms for the students,” Maitland said. “We have been able to accommodate every request so far.”

Trybus said he is willing to review student opinion at the end of this year to see if this change is what’s best for the students.

“If something’s not working at Oviedo High School, I want to know about it so we can change it, tweak it, and improve the system to make it better for you guys,” Trybus said.

PHOTO BY DELANEY ROBB

PHOTO BY DELANEY ROBB

4 | THE LION’S TALE | NEWS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

Calculat3d:

FSA validated, Scores to be released, Seminole County proposes solution

WRITTEN BY NIYATI SHAH

Paper and pen in hand, junior Mariam Meshmesh prepares to vocalize her strong opinions about the Florida Standards Assessments [FSA] during a meeting of the independently organized club, Underground Rants.

“I think the FSAs are ridiculous,” said Meshmesh. “Why tell us it is valid and this is the right way to test, when we don’t have the answers back, and know how we did?”

Junior Kameela Noah, the president of the club, agreed.

“As soon as companies see that they can make profit out of standardized testing, they want to test and test and test,” Noah said. “And then there are politicians--if they can gain economic support from the companies, then they will back it. I think the pendulum is going to the extreme, but I don’t know if we have quite reached it yet.”

After Florida adopted the Common Core Standards in 2010, Florida legislators opted out of using two exams created by federally funded companies. Instead, the Florida Department of Education [FLDOE] gave the American Institutes for Research [AIR] the responsibility to create the FSA in 2014.

“The state switched over to Common Core and said they want their teachers to be teaching to these basic standards,” assistant principal Trent Daniel said. “We renamed those the Florida Standards but then we tweaked them a little bit.

We made minor changes at every grade level, especially in math. The FCAT was not going to test those standards. So, we developed a new test, the FSA, that would reflect what students have learned.”

In the spring of the 2014-2015 school year, OHS students took the FSA, a series of tests tailored to Florida’s Common Core-based standards for English Language Arts [ELA], Mathematics, and End-of-Course [EOC] subjects [Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry].

“I think it is ridiculous to expect kids to take EOCs, AP exams, FSAs, the teacher given exams, and then SATs and ACTs,” Noah said. “When you compile the number of hours spent in testing, it is an insane amount.”

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the FSA occupied 31 days of classes for Seminole high schools, which, to some, were valuable to the curriculum and for lesson plans.

In reaction to the amount of time expended and resulting problems, Superintendent of Seminole County, Walt Griffin, formulated the “Sunshine Solution,” which involves replacing the FSA with nationally norm-referenced tests, such as the ACT and SAT, in the 2015-16 school year.

“The Sunshine Solution would reduce greatly the amount of time that we tie the schools up in testing,” Griffin said. “It took about a month to administer the FSA this year and we can give the SAT in about four hours.”

Twelfth and tenth grade English teacher, Kati Hansen, believes the Sunshine Solution is an excellent method to replace the FSA. “I think replacing the FSAs with the SATs and ACTs would be fantastic,” she said. “I think it’s a nationally-normed test that is easily managed, easily maintained, and it is easily understood by all involved. I think it lines up with the Florida Standard and is exactly what we teach and will be beneficial to students.”

However, Florida Education Commissioner. Pam Stewart, in a letter responding to Griffin’s proposal, wrote that the nationally normed tests “would not be able to measure our state's specific education benchmarks and expectations appropriately,” on July 17.

Ninth-grade English teacher Courtney Boucher, one of the few Seminole County teachers who attended a conference regarding the FSA, agreed with Stewart about the FSA’s validity.

“I think Pam Stewart believes that this test is a valid test and now that I have seen the test, my opinion has changed,” said Boucher. “I think if more teachers were able to look at what was happening and see the questions, then that would change things.”

Support for FSA is present, but the Sunshine Solution is still in discussion.

“It really is going to require a change in the law,” Griffin said. “What we are doing now is we are working with all our legislators to educate them about the Sunshine Solution. They

would have to propose a change and then, if it were to go through, it would actually be a change in state law. So, it is a very big deal to get it changed.”

The FSA underwent a validity study--a prerequisite for the release of scores to parents, students, and teachers--on Sept.

1st.

“Since it is a new test, and Florida is testing on the new standards as opposed to the Sunshine Standards, they have to do a validity screening. They have to wait for an eleven step process to actually get to the point where ‘here are the scores,’” Boucher said.

The study’s creators, Alpine Testing Solutions, found the test to be “valid” and “consistent” with industry standards, but recommended a “hold-harmless philosophy,” in which “scores should not be used as a sole determinant” in key decisions, such as moving to the next grade and graduation.

“The hold-harmless policy means that we want to use the FSA but only to help kids with promotion to graduation,” said school administration manager Jason McDonald.

“Say you get a test score back from a student and it wasn’t great. You wouldn’t want to hold a child back just from this test score alone. That would be harming the kid, due to maybe a faulty test. But, if the test showed the student passed and you want to promote based on that, that would be good.”

Currently, a combination of teachers, superintendents, and legislators are “standards-setting” to establish a distinguishing line between levels of scores in the FSA. “I sat on a panel to determine the cut scores for FSA,” Boucher said. “We went through the test and we found the point that we thought ‘okay, this is where a level 2 could perform,’ and so on.”

A reactor panel of 30 people, including university officials, superintendents, and business leaders, analyzed the teachers’ recommendations. The recommendations progress until they reach the legislative branches.

“After it goes to the reactor panel, it goes to the community,” Boucher said. “They look at the data that has been recommended now from six committees, and then, the Commissioner of Education looks at everything and sees if she thinks it’s fair. Then, it goes to the legislative branches, and they have 90 days to review it. Once they are done reviewing, they should accept the recommendations.”

The cut scores will be in Seminole County’s hands by January, according to Boucher.

However, teachers and students expressed their disdain at this late expected arrival.

“It has not been validated in the sense of we can’t get quality information from it yet because we don’t know,” said Hansen.

“We are just getting bits and pieces. We haven’t received the validation forms back yet to say ‘yes, this is what works, this is what didn’t, this is how we are going to change it.’”

Noah agreed.

“If the FSA really is so accurate, then why is there a problem with the grading scale?” she said. “Why haven’t we gotten our scores yet?”

McDonald believes the future of testing in Florida remains in question.

“This coming year, the next few years--are we going to do more testing?” McDonald said. “Keep it the same? Are we going to scale it back? What do we actually want students to know? How do we assess that?”

However, McDonald posits that some testing is necessary.

“We want to see what kids know before we graduate them,” McDonald said. “If they need to be successful citizens, we need to have a test to see if they have those skills and knowledge. What that actually looks like we will see moving forward.”

Despite the controversy over the FSA, Griffin sees academic strength in Seminole County.

“I think the most important comment is right before I sent out my letter to the commissioner, Seminole County Public Schools was ranked number one in the state in advanced math and science,” Griffin said. “I think that it is very important that people know we are not afraid of testing, we are just afraid of too much testing.”

Face the Facts 65%

of the English Language Arts Grade 10 test items matched the Florida Standards

~1400 students at OHS took at least 1 FSA in 2014-15 school year VS number of computers at OHS

470

$220 million FLDOE’S cost of contract with AIR test company

Testing Dates Feb. 29 - March 11, 2016: FSA ELA Writing April 11- May 6, 2016: FSA ELA Language Sept. 14 - 25, 2015 Nov. 30 - Dec. 18, 2015 April 18 - May 13, 2016 July 11 - 22, 2016

FSA EOC in Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry

SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 | THE LION’S TALE | NEWS | 5

Establishing Equity Students, faculty respond to same-sex marriage ruling WRITTEN BY CONNOR COMPTON

A monumental decision marked the history of the United States on June 26, 2015. The Supreme Court, by one vote, made same sex marriage legal. There were many opinions to take into consideration, but the overall decision was a yes.

The main sponsor of the Gay Straight Alliance, Calculus teacher Matthew Guglielmello, addressed the ruling with positivity.

“This ruling let the rights that were only extended to some citizens extend to everyone,” Guglielmello said.

“Same-sex couples had many benefits from the ruling.

They can now inherit property from a deceased loved one or make medical decisions for a hospitalized partner.”

Sophomore Mekenzie Pettit advocates for expansion of rights for all citizens.

“They could have addressed all the other things that marriage rights don’t include so that there is full equality, not just in terms of marriage,” said Pettit. “They could have made the law better suited to all same sex couples.”

Guglielmello believes the ruling was impartial.

“I think the ruling was a fair ruling. The court had a lot of points to take in to consideration but the ruling purely had to look at the rights of its citizens,” Guglielmello said.

Pettit agreed.

“It was a big step in the LGBT community. I appreciate the fact that all couples can be united by law,” Pettit said.

Recently, a Kentucky county clerk refused to give marriage licenses, and sophomore Lauren Attwood* thought negatively of this.

“I think that’s unbelievable, honestly, that people feel so strongly about not giving people not like them rights and they don’t view gay people as people,” Attwood said. “It kind of brings me back to an innate form of segregation with blacks, and Jews during holocaust. They’re not viewed as people. They’re seen as not able to have those rights, and I think that is really wrong and an ancient kind of thinking. We’re in the 21st century, and they view people as a sin or objects.”

While advocates champion the new law, some object based on the lens through which it was enacted.

“From a more Christian standpoint, we still love the sinner, but we hate the sin,” said sophomore Emily Lightner. “Therefore, I am not happy that the law passed, but I understand its need in today’s society. I see from an ethical point of view why it was pushed more.”

Attwood feels that there is a balance between the Bible and equality.

“The main problem is people look at what the Bible said as we should hate gays. But I don’t agree with the bullying of gay people,” Attwood said. “I am a Christian, but I’m not going to bash on people who support same sex marriage and who are gay. I don’t agree with it and I don’t think it’s right, but I am not going to hate them for that or show hate toward them.”

Lightner believed the ruling should have been handled differently.

“I felt the matter should have stayed in the state courts, rather than bringing it to the higher courts,” Lightner said.

“It should be their decision on whether or not they [the state courts] allow it. Also, letting the ruling stay in the state courts would let the citizens voice a stronger opinion.”

Senior John Kippling* thought the ruling was unnecessary.

“I feel that the decisions should not have been made,” Kippling said. “I am an out-right Christian and because of my beliefs I don’t feel gay marriage should be practiced in the states.”

Kippling wishes that the court could have handled the whole deal differently.

“There is always a compromise in situations, but if I was the Supreme Court, I would have to set aside my religion to do what’s best,” Kippling said.

Lightner balances her beliefs and ability to see what is best for the country.

“In the end I still love people, and get that you need a good sense of morals to be in the court’s position,” Lightner said. “I just feel it should not have been passed.”

Junior Jessica Wattley agreed.

“I think that if you look at it in terms of every one being equal, we are moving toward brighter futures,” Wattley said. “Then again, that aspect or quality is not for me. Seeing a person as an individual, seeing them as a person and an equal is a big thing. I am Christian and God tells us that we should not have relationships with the same gender but we love everyone, therefore, I hate the aspect but not the person.”

Kippling feels that love is pervasive.

“I don’t fell marriage should be handled by the courts,” Kippling said. “I think that the only legal process should be the license, but the whole fact of this is no one should take away the right of love regardless of religion.” * Name withheld by request

Tidbits of the Topic Fourtheenth Amendment “The Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to licence a marrage between two people of the same sex and to recognise a marrage of two people of the same sex that was lawfuly licesnced and performed out of state.” (supremecourt.gov) National Opinion In 2015, 55% of Americans support same sex marriage and 39% oppose it. (pewforum.org) Doritos bring LGBT spirit Doritos is now sponsoring the LGBT community by sending rainbow chips to people that donate to them. (usatoday.com)

6 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

IN YOUR FACE

TESTING PUSHES STUDENTS TO THEIR

Do you think standardized testing is fair?

Rachel Reichard, 11

“ It’s not a good way to test everyone because everyone learns differently so they should be tested to adhere to their personal strengths.

BREAKING POINT FSA, EOC, SBA - the list of standardized testing now required that students must take keeps growing and growing. Along with all the other daily activities students partake in, standardized testing adds another worrisome activity to the list.

We at the Lion’s Tale believe the new standardized testing does not change the fact that students are overworked and over tested.

According to an article by the Los Angeles Times, the average high school student spends 3.5 hours a night on homework, which equals 17 hours a week.

With students already spending 7 hours a day at school, having to spend an additional 3.5 hours on homework daily, along with extracurricular activities can lead to a student stress overload.

When you add standardized testing to the test equation, we have a dangerous outcome.

Students that are juniors and seniors have even more standardized testing to worry about, the SAT and ACT. Those two tests are vital for a student’s chances

of getting into the college they prefer.

According to an article by Forbes, with the rising amount of students applying to multiple colleges, students scoring highly on their SAT/ACT is vitally important.

With SATs and ACTs being two tests students have to worry about for the last half of their high school carers, along with the ones aforementioned, students have too much on their plate.

Sports, social life, homework, tests, quizzes, Advanced Placement and honors classes - all weekly academic requirements by students. With so much on their plates, adding standardized tests is no help to students.

According to an article on KPBS.com, the number of students taking AP classes has doubled over the last decade. As that data shows, more high school students have more on their plates.

We at the Lion’s Tale believe while standardized testing may be a necessary evil to a certain extent, students are tested in that manner too much with no evident benefit for the student.

Landon Adams*, 12

“No, it’s not fair because it tests students on their ability to memorize things instead of testing them on their skills.”

Stephen Smith*, 12

“No because there’s not standard person, therefore, there shouldn’t be a standard test.

OUR WORD

Sam Picard, 10 “No. The only reason Florida uses standardized testing, in my opinion, is to make us look smarter than we are.” * Withheld real name

PHOTOS BY DELANEY ROBB

PHOTO BY DELANEY ROBB

TECHNOLOGICAL TESTING. The state mandates that all students must take the FSA online.

Design Editor Alex Damis

Advertising Editor Makaila Cowart

News Editor Niyati Shah

Photographers Alex Browning Delaney Robb India Pantin

Opinion Editor Hannah Gibilisco Senior Editor Alex White Junior Editor Nathan Haddad

Features Editor Alexis DiBlanda Entertainment Editor Faiz Uddin Sports Editor Douglas Chiodini

Staff Artist Bria OllivierreWilliams Staff Reporters Krislynn Keeton Declan McCoy Ansley Babcock Yaritza Calvert Connor Compton

Sterling Corum Bryn Garick Megan Ghersi Danielle Griffiths Gillian Landwehr Jesica Litton Skylar McNellis Conner Quinlan Fernand Silva Paige Simpson Anna Tagye Jessica White Faculty Adviser Elise T Carlson

Principal Joseph Trybus Oviedo High School 601 King Street Oviedo, FL 32765 Phone: 407-3204199 Fax: 407-320-4213 Population: 2474 Students 31 Staff members

Admin Adviser Drew Morgan

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 • VOLUME 56 • ISSUE 1

CARTOON BY BRIA OLLIVIERE-WILLIAMS Mission Statement The Lion’s Tale is the student newspaper of Oviedo High School, located in Oviedo, Florida.

Our mission is to provide news, feature stories, editorials and opinions relevant to our readers while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards. The Lion’s Tale follows copy standards outlined in the Associated Press Stylebook, 42nd Edition, published in 2007 by the Associated Press, and is a member of the

CSPA, NSPA, FSPA. Distribution 2500 copies of The Lion’s Tale are distributed free to all students and staff at Oviedo High School.

Subscriber information is available upon request.

Reader Contributions Letters to the Editor are accepted and may be sent by post, e-mail, or dropped off in Room 5-020.

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and reserves the right to edit letters to the Editor.

Full policy is available on request.

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September, 23 2015 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 7

staff writer MEGAN GHERSI

ILLUSTRATION BY DECLAN MCCOY

Columnist finds confederate flag offensive and outdated

opinion editor

HANNAH GIBILISCO I find it ironic how people consider adorning their lawns with the confederate flag an example of harmless nationalism.

When, in reality, a brief educational endeavor into the subject of American history will reveal that the Confederate battle flag symbolizes the polar opposite.

In actuality, the Confederate States seceded from the union out of pure disdain for America.

Modern southerners revere a flag that represents a dreastically different time and one that holds a drastically different meaning.

The Confederate flag is not a symbol of sweet tea, cowboy boots, and lifted trucks.

It symbolizes a gruesome war that ruthlessly took the lives of over half a million soldiers.

It symbolizes a time of dehumanization to enslaved African­Americans.

It symbolizes a confederacy that despised the idea of abolishing slavery so much that it turned its head to its own country.

I couldn’t care less about political correctness, to be frank.

I do not object confederate flag enthusiasts to spare the feelings of those offended.

I object the enthusiasts because their blatant lack of education in the topics of the civil war and racial inequality is personally appalling.

The Civil War symbolism aside, the Confederate flag has acquired an even bigger negative connotation as time has progressed.

The fact that the KKK openly embodied the confederate flag as a representative symbol and people still take pride in it is deeply worrisome.

On June 17th, 2015, a 21 year­old man named Dylann Roof massacred 9 people in a Charleston church in the name of white supremacy, as stated in his racist manifesto.

His motive was symbolized by the confederate flag.

Although the flag didn't pull the trigger, photos of Roof sporting the flag of the confederacy on his racially­fueled website shortly before he pulled the trigger says enough.

An inanimate symbol cannot kill. But

when you see a Swastika, do you think murder? Or do you think German Pride?

After all, it's just a symbol. .

Confederate Flag Fast Facts • On July 10th 2015, South Carolina governor Nikki Haley annonced that the confederate flag would be taken down and no longer be flown in front of the South Carolina state house.

• On July 7th, Marion County (1 hour and 40 minutes from Oviedo High School), voted to re-fly the Confederate Flag on their county’s government complex.

Would you say it’s fair for people to be forced to do something they are not ready for?

Would you say it’s reasonable to make someone do something they have no training for?

Would you say it’s fair to send out a product that is unfinished and expect someone to use it?

Would you say it’s logical for people who know nothing about something to determine the rules for that something?

For writing and Math there was the FCAT, then they had to replace it with the FSA. It is extremely hard for students to adjust to brand new testing without any real buffer period.

Instead of making a completely new test why don’t they fix the test they already had? Why have a completely new system, new program, and new training?

Last year they started the FSA. For whatever reason there were many computer problems and it crashed.

They didn’t even work correctly and they were trying to make it a standard.

What is the logic of using a test that hasn’t been tested?

Then came the SBA’s.

What worried me about this was that the teachers who were actually teaching the class didn’t get to provide very much input. Sure they called in certain teachers to help decide, but it was a disaster.

They didn’t have them ready on time.

We were told we were going to take it later. Then we were told that the teachers were to decide if we took the SBA or not.

They were forcing us to prepare for the tests, then when we were about to take them they cancelled them.

They should never have given us tests that were not prepared.

Not only does it seriously stress students out to deal with new tests, but to deal with tests that have problems they have to figure out on the day of the test?

It messes up their focus and doesn’t allow them to concentrate on the actual test.

If they just had one test that would tell them everything they need to know it would work.

Testing itself is not a problem. It’s the quality of the tests that need fixing.

If testing continues like this it will not only cost students their grades, but their future.

HEAD to HEAD

September, 23 2015 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 9

Should lockers be assigned?

ASSIGNING LOCKERS IS BENEFICIAL FOR ALL WRITTEN BY NATHAN HADDAD I support administration's’ decision to assign lockers to students this year.

While the locker assignments may not appeal to students at first, I feel the benefits of having the lockers assigned far outweigh allowing students to pick their own.

The first, and biggest, reason it is good that lockers were assigned to students this year is safety.

Safety should be the number one concern when administration decides to change school policy, and that is what assigning lockers achieves.

Students come in to school every morning unchecked, which leads to a potential for danger.

Students have the ability to bring anything into the school and store it in their lockers unchecked.

While the vast majority of students will never bring contraband into school, the possibility is there.

The fact that any student can bring any potentially dangerous item into school without administration knowing is scary.

Assigning lockers gives administrations the ability to ensure the safety of students at a low cost, and if harmful items are ever found in a locker, administration can trace it back to the student who placed it there.

Take, for instance, incidents in prior years in which there were reports of guns, drugs, or explosives in lockers.

If the scenario were to occur this school year or in the future, administration would be able to quickly identify whoever brought the item onto campus.

This provides the chance to intervene in a situation more quickly and effectively.

Another benefit of assigning lockers is fairness.

In previous years, when lockers were first come first serve, the system was not fair.

Whichever grade levels had their schedule pick-up first would get their lockers first, which would lead to certain grade levels consistently getting the worst lockers.

With assigned lockers, the system is random, which is the most fair.

Also, students who are not able to attend schedule pick-up got their locker lasts, which left them with the rejects.

The new system of assigning lockers allows administration have better control over one of the most ambiguous things on campus, lockers.

It ensures student safety and allows all students to be assigned lockers fairly.

LIMITING STUDENT CHOICE GOES TOO FAR WRITTEN BY CALEB MINUS This year the administration implemented assigned lockers. In my opinion we don’t need it. Primarily, assigned lockers are inconvenient.

This school is humungous and walking from building five to thirteen is already hard enough in five minutes.

It takes way too long.

Now the question remains, how we are expected to get our textbook from an outplace locker, and still make it to class.

“Location, location, location!” the saying goes.

The added, possibly far, destination in between classes is a problem.

Before assigned lockers you could choose where you wanted your locker, based on the most convenient location foy you.

You could chose on a first-comefirst-serve basis, which was much better.

You could have a locker right outside your second or third period class so you could get what you need during break.

We lost our choice this year. You no

longer can have a locker next to all your friends.

From Monday to Friday we come to school and sometimes, frankly, we don’t want to be here, but at least we get to see our friends, whether before school, during lunch, or at our lockers throughout the day.

Well now many can’t count on having a quick chat with their friend in between class.

With assigned lockers we lose more time to enjoy the breaks in school, but more importantly we lose our chose.

Continually, it’s an inconvenience, which is why we should not have assigned.

The biggest problem with this change is the lockers being “assigned”.

Each student has a locker that is “theirs”, regardless if they use it or not.

This becomes a huge problem for someone like myself that doesn’t use it, or barely use their locker, because if someone steals my locker and has drugs or a stolen phone I get blamed.

Blamed for what? Blamed for someone elses crime.

I worry alot about this and know others that feel the same way; we want our lockers to keep just incase, but also very rarely use them.

I really hope the scool changes back to the old policy.

For effeciency, fairness, freedom, and friends.

Assigned lockers are simply a burden for those students like me.

IT'S ABOUT TIME

10 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

The Lion’s Tale explores students and teachers struggles with stress and how they combat it WRITTEN BY NATHAN HADDAD Junior Reanna Miller taps on her phone, and through glossy eyes sees it’s already 11:00 at night. How many hours has she spent on homework? Two, three, maybe four?

“I am taking four honors classes and one Advanced Placement (AP) class. It’s a lot,” Miller said.

According to an article by U.S. News, students are assigned nearly eighteen hours of homework a week. The article goes on to state the difficulties students have with time management.

“Depending on which classes give me homework, I spend anywhere from 30 minutes to multiple hours a day on homework,” said Junior Alexander Estes.

Junior Eirene Stamos, too, spends a significant amount of time on homework, but has found a balance.

“I spend about 2 hours a day on homework, it’s not difficult for me to manage my time because I’ve found a way to balance it over the past three years,” Stamos said.

Estes said taking a break before getting to work helps.

“When I get home from school, I generally take a fifteen to thirty minute break to have a snack and then work on my homework. Once my homework is finished, I then watch TV or play games,” Estes said.

Both Estes and Miller are also taking an online course, which is time consuming as well.

English 1 and AP Language teacher Kate Kammeraad has noticed the stress levels of students increase.

“Last year in particular, I noticed the stress level almost reach an apex. I had more students having anxiety attacks, debilitating anxiety attacks, and needing to be removed from school for months on end,” Kammeraad said.

“In terms of time management, for the most part I think kids are struggling with time management because they’re overpacked. They’re overscheduled. They have clubs and sports which are invaluable but then people are cheating their way through school,” Kammeraad said. “They do that because they know they need to have downtime and the only thing they can cut out is school,” Kammeraad said.

In order to combat the potential of a time management crisis, students have taken steps to stay organized.

“I manage my time by writing all my assignments down in my planner, and when I get home I just get to work on them by whichever is due the earliest,” Estes said.

Stamos said organization and her daily schedule allow her to manage her time as well.

“I leave school at 12:30 every day so I have plenty of time to get all of my homework done. I write all of my assignments down in my planner so I don’t ever forget to do something,” Stamos said.

Stamos, who is taking an AP class and four other honors classes, said one class in particular is a lot of work.

“Keeping up with the reading in AP Psychology is the toughest thing for me to manage my time with,” Stamos said.

Kevin Wainscott, AP and Honors World History teacher, said AP courses are particularly difficult for students, “For AP classes, the rigor and amount of time that has to be spent reading can cause stress for the student,” Wainscott said.

Wainscott also has an opinion about the number of classes (seven) students have to take a day, “I think seven classes is too many. Six classes would be great,” Wainscott said.

I think by the end of the day, the kids are done. Seventh period is hard no matter what you teach, who you teach or how you teach it.”

He doesn’t think seven periods straight is beneficial,

“Sitting in a classroom for seven different classes I don’t think is the best choice for the students. The idea of having a period off in the middle of the day like a study hall, would be something good to break the day up. I see some kids that go seven classes all academic and I don’t think that’s advantageous,” Wainscott said.

Kammeraad agrees with Wainscott.

“Yes, I do think seven classes is too many. Most teachers, when it went to a vote many years ago, did not want it,” Kammeraad said.

“It was billed to us that it would help to support elective classes, which we all want and that it would also help the reading students, who at that time, were required to have a two hour block.”

However the results were different, “Those kids who were in the two hour reading block still lost an elective so it didn’t help them,” Kammeraad said.

“We’re teaching 180 plus students and it’s a lot.”

Kammeraad has taken steps to help students with their time management by adjusting her homework load.

“This year I adjusted some of my homework assignments because of what I noticed was happening in my classroom,” Kammeraad said. “Students were able to complete the assignments, but it was not reflecting their true ability. I could tell that they were just skating by, which then is not valuable.”

Now she uses a new method, “I’ve adjusted my homework assignments a little bit this year by thinking ‘Is this going to enhance their experience?’ If the answer is yes, then I give it. If not then I don’t give it. I follow the idea that less is more as long as the student actually does the assignment,” Kammeraad said.

Kammeraad discussed the most stressful time of the year for her, “The most stressful times as a teacher, for me, is before school starts. It’s always stressful because we have to lesson plan. To be honest, the whole school year is stressful,” Kammeraad said.

“The paperwork, the extra classes we need to take, the extra lesson planning, the extra conferences, email takes an hour a day sometimes, so it’s just a lot of outside the classroom work that students don’t see,” Kammeraad said.

She goes on to describe her opinion on why stress levels have gone up so much.

“It’s more than the normal teenage angst; it’s the stress of EOC’s, SBA’s, and FSA,” Kammeraad said.

“It’s not what’s happening in the classroom, it’s not necessarily their homework for the classroom, but it’s the pressures of the end assessments,” Kammeraad said.

“The school board itself I don’t necessarily believe that they understand the impact stress and time management

has on students. I think they’re aware that it’s happening but I don’t think they understand,” said Kammeraad.

Kammeraad knows some educational leaders do understand, “The people at the county office, though, are aware and they are trying,” Kammeraad said. “Our superintendent has tried to lessen the burden for students but the people who are in charge, who are making the actual decisions, they don’t get it,” Kammeraad said.

Battling OCD

Teen combats serious disorder WRITTEN BY DANIELLE GRIFFITHS

A blue cotton shirt hangs nicely in line with every other blue shirt in the closet, and each is color organized perfectly. This would be a very calming sight for senior *Annalese Summers.

Summers said that she first realized she had Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder when she had to color coordinate her closet; otherwise, everything out of place would make her feel mad and upset.

“OCD means that I want and need everything perfect,” Summers said. “And if I can’t get it that way, most of the time, me, personally, I will have a panic attack.”

A panic attack is a moment of uncontrollable anxiety. During a panic attack, one experiences lightheadedness, and a sudden lose of breath. OCD is characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears that lead those diagnosed to do repetitive behaviors.

“My life is affected just because the littlest things have the possibility of setting me off,” Summers said. “Sometimes some people might not get that what they are doing is actually frustrating me a lot, and then I snap and yell at a close friend of mine.”

It annoys Summers that many people don’t understand OCD and don’t take it very seriously.

“It upsets me when others use ‘OCD’ as a way to get out of, or get extra time on a project; it is probably one of my main pet peeves because they don’t know what it is like to actually live with the disorder,” Summers said.

Sophomore Danny Sanchez views OCD as an extreme need to be organized.

“OCD is like a person who is really anal about something, they want everything in a specific way, or if they see something out of

order or something that’s not right then they go ballistic,” Sanchez said.

Sophomore Skye Amosson also shared her view of OCD. “OCD is when you are obsessed with having to organize everything and have it nice and neat, or else you can’t focus on anything else you need to do,” Amosson said.

Summers addresses these common misconceptions.

“The most common stereotype is when they see someone super organized, like beyond normal, and they’re like ‘Oh, they must have OCD,’” Summers said. “But just because we have it doesn’t mean we can be super organized. It just means we feel the need to be.”

One thing everyone needs to know about OCD, according to Summers, is that it can be serious for certain people, and it’s not just a disorder in which someone is compelled to have everything perfect.

“For us, sometimes, we can’t get things that perfect way, so it can get frustrating and it sometimes tries to get the best of me,” Summers said. “Honestly, I feel like I try not to let it get the best of me.”

Summers holds onto the hope that she can learn to be at peace with herself and others, which helps her get through having to deal with her situation.

“Sometimes I see it as unfair, but I have never seen it as unlucky.” Summers said.

“It’s just the cards dealt to me by God.” Whenever times are tough, Summers will visit with her therapist to talk about things.

She is learning calming techniques, so that she can try to be calm when things are complete chaos.

“I just hope for the best in which I can find a solution to my problem,” Summers said. *Names withheld upon request

Stress doesn’t cause OCD, although symptoms sometimes begin after a severe trauma.

Childhood illnesses do not cause OCD, although there is growing evidence that severe bacterial or viral infections may trigger the sudden onset of symptoms in children who are gentically predisposed to OCD. There is no evidence that the way parents guide or disipline their children cause OCD; however, children might learn obsessions and compulsions from their parents.

Families may unintentionally have an impact on the maintance of OCD symptoms. Family members may actually be enabling the individual with OCD, and symptoms worsen rather than improve.

Information courtesy: visual.ly/what-ocd

SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 11

12 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

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Students analyze the benefits of mea WRITTEN BY ALEX WHITE

To a committed carnivore, adopting a vegetarian diet - no meat or fish - and a vegan diet - no meat, fish, dairy or eggs - sounds like a dramatic step.

In an article by Therawfoodworld.com, one percent of the US population reported eating vegetarian or vegan in 2009. Now, five percent of the United States has adopted one of these diets.

Interested in living a healthier and more environmentally friendly lifestyle, Junior Hayden Cannon became vegan Jan. of his freshmen year.

“It’s not moral to kill a defenseless animal,” Cannon said. “Being vegan has made me more energized and empathetic towards other people and animals. I feel like I’m coexisting with them. The only way I see eating animals as appropriate is if they’ve lived out their full life and died from natural causes.

For people to kill them and inject them with hormones, eat them, and throw away the leftovers is poor usage of our environment.”

People remain oblivious about what exactly they allow in their bodies, Cannon said.

“Many like to be told comforting lies about food.

People would rather be comforted with a lie than told

a confrontational truth,” Cannon said. “A lot of foods so it may force companies to put less hormones and that most people eat are enhanced with fatty acids and chemicals into their products.” carbohydrates.”

Remaining committed to a vegan diet can sometimes “Thats why people say they don’t like vegetables, its be difficult for Cannon. because their bodies are so in tune with eating foods “I know a couple of vegans, including myself, that filled with greasy and sugary components,” Cannon feel there’s not many options for food in the area,” said. “When I occasionally have cheat days and eat Cannon said. “You’re almost forced to be a vegetarian cheese, I appreciate it more. You sit back and realize because there’s not many accommodations for vegans how special and valuable it is.” in the community restaurants. If you’re hanging out with Sophomore Melanie Clark, a vegetarian, also feels friends and they’re ordering a pizza, you don’t want to eating meat harms be that friend that says ‘I can’t eat that the environment. because I’m a vegan’. I miss times when I think humans need to respect “A large portion I could just go to the mall and get Chicknature more than we have been. of nature has been Fil’-A or Sarku. It’s too bad, but there’s diminished with literally nothing on the menu I can eat.”

Sophomore Melanie Clark deforestation, along Cannon thinks there are many with other things, and misconceptions about switching to a I think humans need to respect nature more than we vegan diet. have been,” Clark said. “Animal populations are dying “People think that going vegan means you’re crazy out and we need to leave them alone and let nature and aren’t getting enough protein,” Cannon said. “But in regenerate instead of acting like animals were put on reality, I get tons of protein, if not more than I did before this earth for us to kill.”

I was vegan. If you know how to eat right, your body Since giving up meat, Senior Chloe Millich finds will get proteins from the good foods you’re eating. And herself more knowledgeable about what she puts in her with this, your metabolism’s also faster and works more body. in favor of your body.”

“Being a vegetarian means to live a healthy lifestyle, To achieve her desired amount of protein, Millich to know whats going in your body, to choose what foods makes protein smoothies filled with kale, spinach, will fuel you, and it also gives you more energy on a daily bananas, peanut butter, protein powder, and almond basis,” Millich said. “If more people can take on this milk. lifestyle it’ll lessen the need and want for meat products, In an effort to be more self-sufficient, junior Delaney

THE MEAT OF THE PROBLEM : HOW MEAT PRODUCTION AFFEC WATER

GREENHOUSE GASES IF ONE PERSON EXCHANGES EATING MEAT FOR A VEGAN DIET,

THEY’LL REDUCE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS BY 1.5 TONS PER YEAR.

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 13

7.3 MILLION VEGETARIANS

IN THE

at-free diets

Sanders and her family adopted ways to grow food at their own home.

Aquaponics, one mechanism Sanders uses for growing food, is the marriage of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (the soil-less growing of plants) that grows fish and plants together in one integrated system. Sanders and her father built their aquaponic system together in their backyard greenhouse.

“It’s all organic so my family eats the fish and I eat the plants. We grow all kinds of vegetables, but mostly tomatoes and basil,” Sanders said.

Not only did a vegan diet make Sanders feel healthier, but it altered her in ways she never expected.

“I had bad depression at one point, and once I started not eating fatty foods, drank tea instead of coffee, and ate veggies instead of meat, I could feel a switch go off that just made me feel better on the inside and out,” Sanders said. “You can also feel your skin get healthier.

I don’t know if that’s just happened to me, but my diet swap changed who I am.”

Peer judgment hinders people from becoming vegan and vegetarian, according to Cannon.

“People generalize that if you’re a guy that doesn’t eat meat, then that makes you a coward,” Cannon said.

“I don’t think it’s manly to kill a defenseless animal and eat it. Its more manly to give something like that up.

Some people wouldn’t want to deal with the judgment.

But when you’re vegan, your body just forgives you more.”

UNITED STATES.

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14 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

The Highschool and College Experience Dual enrolling Oviedo seniors explain the differences between the highschool and college classroom.

STUDYING UNDER THE SUN.

Senior Elliot Nasby studies for his upcoming nueroanatomy coarse in the UCF courtyard. (left)

C AT- WA L K

TO CLASS.

PHOTO FROM ELIOT NASBY WRITTEN BY ALEXIS DIBLANDA

Senior Serena McGann rushes across the gigantic UCF campus in the blazing August sun, trying to find her way from the parking garage to day two of her Spanish Oral Communication Dual Enrollment class, but she’s late anyway.

McGann plans something to say to an upset professor, but his reaction catches her by surprise.

“I was nervous about it and he was like ‘Don’t worry about it just sit down. We are doing a dialogue and I am just going to fix it in the roster,’” McGann said.

The many differences between high school and dual enrollment, a program that allows high school students to take classes at local colleges, go beyond the more lenient atmosphere.

“College classes don’t have as many homework assignments and if they do they don’t count it as a grade,” said senior Livia Mucciolo, another Dual Enrollment student at UCF. “Only the tests count, or projects and quizzes. You have to study a lot because those are the only grades that’ll count. For example I’m only going to have, for my statistics class, three tests the whole semester.”

Dual Enrollment classes require students to take full responsibility for their education; even showing up to class is entirely on the student.

“Here [in high school] there are bells; you know when you need to be in class,” McGann said. “I have a 1:30 pm class I’m coming from home. If I’m walking around

Sernior Livia Mucciolo struts to her calculus 3 class at UCF. (right)

campus at 1:30 pm there’s nobody to tell me ‘get to class.’ It’s up to you whether you want to go and if you don’t go you face the consequences and suffer with your grade.”

The student-instructor dynamic also changes from teachers being firmly in charge of high school classrooms to a more peer like relationship between professors and students who are more mature.

“In an AP or honors class you always want to be there on time always be very respectful towards the teacher,” McGann said. “My [dual enrollment] Spanish teacher asked us to call him by his first name.”

Although Mucciolo and McGann attend class with college students, they have had no trouble adjusting. Because Mucciolo fell a year behind in school due to studying abroad in Germany between tenth and eleventh grade, she is actually the same age as the first year students in her classes.

“You can’t really tell what year they are in college and it’s really not emphasized as much as it is in high school,” McGann said. “When we did introductions we did say what year we were but it’s really not segregated or emphasized like it is here at a high school. Nobody even knew I was a dual enrollment student until I told the teacher I was.”

Senior Eliot Nasby, however, benefits from having a couple of high school friends in his college neurobiology class.

“It’s a positive, especially for that class which has probably close to 100 students,”

PHOTO BY ALEX BROWNING Nasby said “It helps to know someone so you don’t feel alone in it. I can always talk to Sam about something I don’t understand or we can have study groups, so that helps when the content gets too complex.”

Mucciolo believes that AP and Dual Enrollment classes, though very different, both have positives and negatives.

“I like that with AP classes you’re with people that you know and it’s a much more collaborative environment, whereas with dual enrollment you’re kind of on your own unless you know the people in your class,” Mucciolo said. “It’s a much more independent atmosphere, whereas with AP you are somewhere familiar.”

Leaving OHS after fourth period for Dual Enrollment causes Mucciolo to miss out on parts of her senior year experience, but she is still glad she signed up for college classes.

“I don’t participate as much in the high school experience,” Mucciolo said. “For example I have classes on Fridays, which are pep rally days, so I can’t be here for pep rallies and I don’t have lunch here, so I don’t eat lunch with my friends.”

Dual enrollment also impacted Nasby’s senior year.

“It also helps me value my high school experience more because I know what I am going to have after high school,” Nasby said. “I know what college will be like. I get to see both sides of it before I go to college.

That helps me value and not take for granted what I have now in high school.”

PHOTO FROM SAM GOLSTEIN

COOKIN’

KITCHEN.

IN

THE

COLLEGE

Senior Sam Goldstein purifies an organic compund with a rotary evaporator alongside UF faculty research science teams. Mixed with grad student mentors and professors, he learns to apply organic chemistry in theory and practicemnat the University of Florida lab.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 15 CAMPUS HERO

CAMPUS HERO

CAMPUS HERO

Living a double life WRITTEN BY KRISLYNN KEETON Cassidy Muller is a typical junior, playing tennis after school and working hard to keep her grades up, but she also does something on the side that not many people know about.

“It’s kind of like being Hannah Montana,” Muller said. “By day, I’m a normal junior, but after school and during pep rallies, I put on the lion suit and nobody knows it’s me. It’s pretty cool.”

Muller is featured in pep rallies and home games, and she loves it.

“I originally didn’t think of being the mascot at all,” Muller said. But a friend mentioned to me how much fun being the mascot was, and since I’m pretty good at pumping crowds up, I thought maybe I should try it.”

Her love for lifting the spirits of the people around her really shows while she’s the mascot.

“I really love the school, and by being the mascot, it’s like my own little way of showing my school spirit,” Muller said. “I can be as crazy as I want and nobody knows that it’s me doing it. I get to go to football games for free, too, which is a plus.”

“I consider myself the mascot inside and outside the suit, if that makes sense,” Muller said. “Like I pump people up in the suit, but also when I’m normal Cassidy I like to lift

CLUB FEATURE

people’s spirits. I can make things exciting and fun. It’s a nice feeling.”

According to Muller, while being the mascot is fun and rewarding, there are some downfalls to it.

“It’s pretty hard to dance around and jump around when the costume is so hot and heavy, and it smells a bit, too,” Muller said. “It’s nothing too serious or something I can’t handle, but it’s still really hard sometimes when you’re supposed to remain peppy the whole time while you’re in the costume while drowning in sweat.”

“The costume itself, also, causes difficulties, which is why you have someone there to help you. Like at times, it’s really hard to see, or a piece of the costume will start to slip off, but the person there with you will fix those things for you,” Muller said.

Despite the heat and malfunctioning costume, Muller said she would definitely continue to be the mascot next year.

“I would definitely sign up to do it again,” Muller said. “It’s my unique way of showing my school spirit. I know a lot of people think school spirit is lame, but eventually high school ends, and you might as well have fun while you can.”

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CAMPUS HERO

CAMPUS HERO

Do You Have What It Takes to be a Mascot?

1. Do you have school spirit? yes no 2. Do you have what it takes to entertain a crowd? yes no 3. Can you stand the heat for several hours? yes no 4. Are you energetic?

yes

no

5. Do you have passion for your team/event?

yes no

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Officers reinvent Bioscience Club with new year, new activities WRITTEN BY FERNAND SILVA

PHOTO BY ALEX BROWNING EXAMINING BLOOD CELLS Megan Hopkins is observing white blood sells during Bioscience club.

Upcoming Meeting Information •

Meetings are in Ms. Demins’ room right after school on Mondays for members and Thursdays for officers.

•

AP Biology teacher William Furiosi is speaking on October 2.

•

A movie will be shown one meeting a month.

•

The club will be attending STEM Expo on the 24 of October.

Bioscience Club is based on Oviedo high school’s Program of emphisis, Bioscience.

It is even advised by the bioscience teachers, Amy Demins, and Cathy Savage. The main goal of Bioscience club is to raise public awareness of bioscience by, showing off the classes’ main points, while also educating the community about what the Bioscience Program really is. The entire feel of the club is quite exciting, yet open. According to members, the general environment of the club is quite friendly.

The environment was said to be “lively,” and “fun,” but also “diligent.” Everyone easily bounces ideas back and forth, and no idea is never blatantly shot down. The officers definitely enjoyed themselves, as seen when everyone would enjoy a good laugh.The Club almost didn’t happen this year, according to both Savage and Demins.

“It was hard to get people to participate last year, and it was very stressful for me, when I would commit students to things, and they wouldn’t show up.” Said Demins.

“Also, the officers are the one who were supposed to be leading the club, but they didn’t do their job.” Though they have changed their minds on supervising the club, both teachers still want a major focus on the communication between everyone, especially between the officers and the

members.

Already, both advisors are taken back at how diligently the newest officers started to work. “I love the new officers, they are already making great decisions for the club, and I’m happy they are around,” Savage said.

The officers have done much in the few days given to them. They repurposed the board in the science building as a nice looking notification board, having things like meeting dates, planned events, and anything else the officers deem important enough to make a notification about. As well work beginning on the official club shirts, with a top design being selected next thursday.

Fundraisers have been mentioned, but not yet fully discussed. Demins has given the idea of volunteering at 5K runs to fund a majority of the money for bioscience, but a few other things were pitched as well, such as valentine cards, and special science related candy.

A few ideas for member goodies were pitched out. The few things pitched were things like field trips to places, such as aquariums, and the bioluminescent kayak tour. The officers also plan to host guest speakers, who will come in and talk to the members about specific fields within the scope of bioscience, with forensics being a prime example.

16 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

J.K. Rowling turned down a Michael Jacksonproduced musical of Harry Potter.

Grasping the Reins

Though solid at room temperature, gallium will liquefy in your hand.

sports ) /////////// ( DIDYOUKNOW?

Key West has the highest recorded average temperature in the U.S.

Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print is different!

Elvis Presley was a natural blonde. His black hair was a the product of dye, beginning in high school.

English was once a language for “commoners,” while the British elites spoke French.

Prior to the 1960s tobacco companies ran physicianendorsed ads that suggested smoking had health benefits.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a huge Star Trek fan.

PHOTO BY FEATURED SUBJECT

Teen finds a solace in raising horses WRITTEN BY NIYATI SHAH Riding forty miles an hour on a horse while weaving around a series of barrels is not atypical in junior Jessica Holzer’s routine.

“Barrel racing is a speed event where you are on a horse and the only thing you are racing is a timer,” said Holzer. “There are three barrels set up in a clover leaf and you have to go around the barrels as fast as possible.

It is super exciting.”

Holzer’s life and family revolves around horses.

“I train horses. People give them to me for free and I will resell them,” she said. “Or, I will train them to barrel race.

We’ve always had horses--when my dad proposed to my mom, instead of a ring, he gave her a horse.”

Her experiences also include rescuing horses from dire conditions.

“A couple years ago, there was this ‘horse breeding farm.’ All of their horses were skin and bones and Animal Control wasn’t doing anything about it because they [horses] had shelter, food, and water. But, it wasn’t enough. So, we just took the skinniest horse they had.”

Annie, the horse Holzer rescued, struggled to adapt to her new life. “ She was so skinny, she could barely walk. If she went faster than a walk, or if she took a turn too sharp, she would just collapse,” said Holzer.

ILLUSTRATION BY BRIA OLLIVERRE-WILLIAMS

Annie recovered with Holzer’s help.

“She was the sweetest little horse.

You couldn’t tell she had been abused her whole life. She was the most forgiving little horse ever. Right now, she is owned by my neighbor’s seven-yearold granddaughter and she gets treated like a princess,” she said.

Holzer supports animal rights passionately.

“When horses are abused, it upsets me a lot. They’re horses. They don’t understand us. What I am doing gives them a new life,” she said.

Editor’s Note

One by One features a selected student, whose story is told in only 300 words.

There are more bacteria in your body than the number of cells in your body.

An average person has about 100 thousand hairs on their scalp.

In our dreams we only see faces that we already know.

One inch of rain is equal to 10 inches of snow.

In ancient Egypt, servants were smeared with honey in order to attract flies away from the pharaoh.

Before the mid-19th century dentures were commonly made with teeth pulled from the mouths of dead soldiers.

////Reviewed

////

SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 | ENTERTAINMENT | THE LION’S TALE | 17

QUICK REVIEWS

Everest

Drama film/ Thriller Moive

SUPERLATIVE

Until Dawn

ADMIRABLE

ADEQUATE

ACTION & HORROR PlayStation 4

ATROCIOUS

By Sony Computer Entertainment

REVIEWED BY GILLIAN LANDWEHR Writers Simon Beaufoy, William Nicholson, Mark Medoff, Lem Dobbs and Justin Isbell have created a thrill-seeking adventure and drama --based on a true story-- called Everest.

A group of mountain climbers called the Adventure Consultants set out on a mission to climb the seven summit of Everest in seven months.

Towards the end of the expedition, an unexpected storm hit, killing eight members of the team.

The camera angles and cinematography were stunning, all of the colors popped out and were equally balanced throughout the film. At one point in the movie, the crew walks across a bridge and the camera pans down to the gap between the bridge and the ground. It felt as if you were actually there staring down from the bridge.

One of my favorite parts of the film was an epilogue that provided the facts behind the movie. It really helped me understand the characters and what happened to them after the expedition.

One complaint I have about the film is that it was in 3D. Personally, I am not a fan of 3D movies because I get headaches and irritated eyes. But I thought that Everest looked amazing in 3D, so it does better than other 3D movies.

REVIEWED BY FERNAND SILVA Released on August 25 of this year, as an exclusive for Playstaion 4 (PS4), Until Dawn is one of the newest in the line of survival horror.

The main twist of the game is the fixed camera points, “hundreds of endings,” with different character deaths and relationships between each ending, as stated by developers, Supermassive Games, as well as the beautiful storytelling, and tension build-up.

Until Dawn follows a group of eight friends, who set out on a vacation at the top of a mysterious mountain, only to find that they are not alone. The group of friends must fight the supernatural, the unknown, and each other.

You, the player, will decide how each of the eight characters react to situations. You will also decide if these characters will live or die.

The story is greatly written, taking horror cliches and twisting them to fit the story. The concept of the game is a mix Silent Hill, a popular horror game series using a similar camera system, and Cabin in the Woods, a movie set in a small cabin within the woods, with horrific monsters.

The story keeps players on their toes, and can easily shift directions. With multiple,

smaller “mysteries” that tie back into the main story, you can easily get lost in the amount of backstory that this game gives you.

Until Dawn focuses on the “Butterfly Effect.” The butterfly effect is a mechanic that one small change could drastically affect the events of the future.

The game uses the butterfly effect to create a plethora of endings, allowing for the player to play the game over and over with ever-changing endings.

The game allows the player to easily jump in and replay chapters, making different decisions than they originally made.

This is a very interesting mechanic that many players haven’t seen in many games.

This practically original mechanic is a very nice touch, and a needed change within the gaming community.

Until Dawn also uses fixed camera angles. Fixed cameras are stuck to one place in the environment, and follow the characters’ movement through a scene. This easily allows for dramatic irony, moments where the player knows more than the characters.

Also with the use of fixed camera angles, the game makes a large point on how great looking it can be by using lighting to set the eerie atmosphere within the game.

The animation within the game is also superb. With a focus on the character’s movement and facial expressions, you can instantly tell their emotions at any time, whether it be based on body language or their actual expression.

The game has faults. Some can be addressed, and others can not be. The game has a a motion detection feature, which uses the Playstation’s controller to detect wherever you point.

While very well-done by the game, it can be annoying for some players. This feature can be turned off easily.

The biggest issue of the game would be the somewhat movie-like presentation and the frame rate.

At times, the game seems too much like a movie. With tons and tons of cutscenes, and divided sections of interactions, it can get a bit boring at times. The smaller problem of the game is the frame rate. It can drop horribly at times. In good news, the game easily fixes itself within a few seconds.

Overall, the game is great, with a new, innovative mechanic, as well as great visuals and unique characters. This game was definitely a surprise hit. My rating for the game is a 4/4.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAMESTOP.COM

Reviewer enjoys Townhouse REVIEWED BY CONNER QUINLAN I have gone to our very own, The Townhouse, a classic diner-style restaurant, with many options in food from Fried chicken to Greek pastries.

The Townhouse, with its signature yellow color is home to the Oviedo chickens, which roam free. It has

created a unique experience for the downtown community.

The Townhouse is moving, but only down the street, and yes, it will still be yellow.

The restaurant staff says it should be done by October.

The service is excellent. Staff treats you like a king, almost to the point of pampering you with free soda and ice tea refills to bringing the check when you finish your meal.

The environment of the restaurant is a classic American diner, almost what a truck stop diner would look like (with pieces of our towns history) and almost matching the food.

Their menu consists of classic American foods, fried chicken, pork chops, carrot cake, eggs, biscuits, and steak.

I had the Chicken Fried Steak, (for those of you who don’t know, it’s a steak deep fried like fried chicken), and mashed potatoes all smothered in brown gravy and a side of mac n’ cheese.

Overall, the meal tasted delicious, as the mac n’ cheese was watery on bottom, and dry on top, but was extremely cheesy, and the chicken fried steak drowned in a sea of brown, thick gold (gravy).

Except for one slight detail, that the meal came out a bit fast for a fresh chicken fried steak, as it must have been pre made, though it did not affect the flavor too much.

A chicken fried steak usually takes more than five minutes to make, with the battering, and frying takes much longer. The main flaw was a lack of freshness.

Over all, I give The Townhouse a 4/5. The price of the food was very reasonable for the quality (about $5-8 on average), and is good for a breakfast meal, as it is fresher at that moment.

18 | THE LION’S TALE | ENTERTAINMENT | SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Scream MTV

TV Horror

The adventure begins REVIEWED BY FAIZ UDDIN

PHOTO COURTESY OF RAMASCREEN.COM

Reviewer declares The Visit movie of month REVIEWED BY FAIZ UDDIN I was intoxicated with delight to see the premier because I have wanted to see this movie for a while.

The Visit rated PG-13, so I thought it was not going to be that scary--but that was just a dream, just too far away.

The Visit stars Olivia DeJonge (Becca), Ed Oxenbould (Tyler, by far my favorite character in the movie), Deanna Dunagan (Nana), Peter McRobbie (Pop Pop), Kathryn Hahn (mom) and Benjamin Kanes (Dad).

The two grandkids (Becca and Tyler) are to visit their grandparents, whom they haven’t seen, ever.

Their mother got in a fight with her parents and ran away from home when she was 19 years old to be with her

boyfriend (the father of the two kids).

Now, the grandparents want to meet the grandchildren, so they invite the kids over for the week.

As each night passes, the kids grow more worried about their grandparents’ behavior. So they contact their mother, but find that her help was not helpful.

The movie reminded me of Unfriended because, just like in that movie, the director used handheld cameras within the movie to film most of the movie, which I did not like because it ruins the effect of the movie when it is used all the time throughout the whole movie.

Tyler, a devious little eight-year-old, made my experience at the movies

slightly better with his hysterical comments and retorts.

The movie was “scary” but hilarious at the same time, with some images I personally wish I hadn’t seen.

There was once an intense scene where, once and only once, did I ever scream. Other times I was just shifting around in my seat because of the anticipation of the unexpected.

Overall “The Visit” was good: the plot is very interesting and gives audiences a surprise. The movie is worth a three out of five.

Anything can happen in the movie, and there was a lot that you can predict while still feeling anxious about events that were yet to unfold.

The story itsself is a realistic fiction type of book.

The main character faces a lot of struggles that teens today may face.

The many character, Craig, is a high school student who studies hard to get into an academy that he’s been trying to get into since the day he found out about it.

Craig does get accepted into the academy but he then faces a lot of struggles with himself, like the loss of interest in the school the loss of appetites and the loss of interest in his friends.

Craig then suffers from depression and finds himself stuck between committing suicide and getting help. He finally decides to get help and ends up going to an adult mental hospital.

While there, his best friend Aaron finds out and kind of makes fun of him for being there, and is upset that his girlfriend found out before he did.

In the hospital Craig finds his true crush and a true friend. And he finds his true self, which loves art.

He loves drawing his maps. Later on in the story he changes his mind about going

New Horror: Scream Queen Horror Comedy Series Exactly two decades after Wallace University was rocked by a mysterious death, another murder takes place and all hell breaks loose.

It’s Kind Of A Funny Story Book: Fiction

By Ned Vizzini REVIEWED BY YARITZA CALVERT “It’s kind of funny story” by Ned Vinzinni is by far the most outstanding book I have read. It’s so outstanding because the different characters the author creates makes it feel more and more real.

The new television series The Scream aired during summer break on MTV. The new slasher show is a major hit with a shocking season finale.

Many people know and love the movie The Scream, where a masked murderer is out for blood. MTV turned it into a television series, and if you like blood, gore and all the other good killing stuff, then this show is for you.

When I heard of this I got thinking, “how they can make scream a murderer show when people are going to die right off the bat?” Well, they made it into a slasher/mystery show.

It’s just like Pretty Little Liars (PLL) but with a lot more gory action. The writers have included some concepts that were in PLL, like a mystery stalker, wired phone calls and texts.

The plot is based around a girl named Emma. An unknown murderer, who takes on the face of Brandon James, a dead murderer, is harassing her.

After killing his first victim by slitting her throat, the killer sends the town into a panic.

With mysterious phone calls and blocked text, the masked assailant tortures Emma and her friends. One by one, each friend goes down in a tragic and horrific demise.

Emma and the rest of her friends who aren’t dead, must uncover the truth about the past and her family.

Every episode has its twists, turns, and thrills. Watching this show every Tuesday nights gives me goosebumps.

Having the season end was quite disappointing, but it did left a lot of questions unanswered.

Unfortunately, I have to wait until next summer break to get back in the action; fortunately the show continues with an all-new series airing in 2016.

to the academy and decides he wants to go to an all art school.

On Craig’s last days in the mental hospital he says goodbye to all his friends and gives them gifts. When he is finally released Craig learns that all he should do, and all he can do, is live.

“Its Kinda a Funny Story” is a four and a half star. It has a slow beginning but you become more and more attached to the book as you read.

You start to feel more and more like you’re in the book. Ned Vinzinni did a really amazing job on this book and I recommend it to everyone.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 | THE LION’S TALE | ENTERTAINMENT | 19

One Page Low-down Happy Wheels WRITTEN BY SKYLAR MCNELLIS

The hit online browser game, Happy Wheels has just come to mobile devices! This game includes surprising obstacles, hilarious gore, and satisfying triumphs.

When I play Happy Wheels, I know I’m in for something insane. The main objective of each race is to get to the finish.

I think the game in general is just great!

Just the fun of the simple controls and the problematic obstacles make this game a 3.8 out of 4. The only thing I would change to this amazing app is the limited number of levels available. I think that if there wasn’t chaos to this game, than it wouldn’t be as enjoyable. Overall, this app makes me laugh and smile, and I think it would make you feel good, too!

Beauty Behind the Madness WRITTEN BY BRYN GARICK

Someone who is hyped up to be the next “King of Pop” by the New York Times should be writing music inspirational to fans and teenagers, but that’s not what “The Weeknd” is doing. Abel Tesfaye better known as “The Weeknd.” Canadian singer and songwriter recently released his second album, named “Beauty Behind The Madness.” This album features top selling singles such as, “I Can’t Feel My Face,” “The Hills,” “Often” and the “Fifty Shades of Grey” song “Earned It.”

“Beauty Behind The Madness” has a pop rhythm to it along with a subtle R&B feel and. But it lacks any sort of depth. Lyrics on the album were written by Abel and other various artists, most of whom are unknown hip-hop songwriters. The album has few inspirational lyrics; the majority of the explicit songs are centered on addiction and sex.

“Shameless” is completely demeaning to women, as are the majority of the other songs.

As for the actual music, most songs on the album have several instruments, including guitar, drums, keyboard, a drum machine and other computer generated sounds. Two songs feature other very popular artists: Ed Sheeran and Lana Del Rey. Throughout these songs, ‘The Weeknd’ and the featured artists take turns singing the verses and choruses, Abel’s high tenor voice matching well with those of his featured artists.

Many songs are good party songs because of their fast beats, but the lyrics are mostly sexist and offensive. This album will no doubt be played on the radio and will probably win awards at upcoming award shows because of its pop sound and well-known singles. However, “Beauty Behind The Madness” lacks meaning and is objectifying to women while music in today’s society should promote equality because it is the voice of many teenagers around the world.

SUDOKU

Haiku Reviews

WHAT GRINDS MY GEARS

Game of Thrones

WRITTEN BY FAIZ UDDIN

WRITTEN BY KRISLYNN KEETON Wearing makeup is an art form and your face is the canvas. You can paint your face to be whatever you want and if that isn’t art, I don’t know what is.

I’ve seen posts on social media showing a girl without makeup versus the same girl with makeup on with captions like “false advertisement,” and other comments like “this is why you take a girl swimming on the first date,” etc.

Let’s address the “false advertising” concept. Girls who wear makeup are not advertising. This is because people aren’t products.

What exactly are they advertising?

Themselves? They’re literally just existing.

People do not exist to please other people or to “advertise.”

They exist to make something of themselves, to light the world on fire with their talents and passions. Who said you can’t do that and have gold eyelids and a perfected contour?

Makeup is worn because it’s pretty and makes the person wearing it feel good about themselves. It’s a form of self-expression and helps people maintain a certain sense of individuality that makes them happy.

What I think people should really understand more is that it’s okay to have preferences, but it’s not okay to shame people for not being your preference. If you like girls with little to no makeup on, that’s completely fine, but don’t go around telling girls who wear makeup that it’s ugly.

Here’s a tip on how to not shame people for the way they look with and/ or without makeup on: don’t! I don’t care about your preference, so do me and everyone your judging a favor and keep it to yourself.

407.971.1001 1020 Lockwood Blvd Oviedo, FL 32765

The White Walkers live Dragons raining hell’s fire War within the South

Short Stories WRITTEN BY YARITZA CALVERT There was this girl and being alone was her biggest fear. She couldn’t stand the presence of herself she was afraid of what her mind might create out of the loneliness in her life.

She had many friends, friends she trusted with her life. When she finally became who she really was, her friends weren’t okay with it. They all betrayed her humiliated her, tormented her, she became a human made of fear. She was afraid to become friends with people she was afraid to be alone and she was afraid to get help. This girl had lived like this for far too long.

She eventually made more friends and these friends were loyal to her but every time she began to get their trust they left.

Every time, they just left her. She was sick of searching for friends so she started to search for herself, and what she came clear with is that friends will always come and go, but you, you will be there forever.

She started finding herself and became quite distant with others, but being alone wasn’t so bad for her. She wasn’t stressed or scared or lost or had mindful of monstrous creations that her mind would make in the showdowns of her loneliness.

She was her and she loved it. When she finally became clear and became herself, friends starting popping up in her life and she was finally happy. The girl who was afraid of loneliness and losing friends is now okay being alone and only having family by her side.

Since 1998 FisherEyeAssociates.com

We want to help you achieve and maintain clear vision for years to come!

GUYS’ GUIDE TO MENINISM WRITTEN BY K.KEETON

A disturbing trend has taken place on Twitter under the name of “meninism,” a concept that was strictly created to harass feminists and attempt to denounce feminism. This twitter account has over 1.01 million followers. They have merchandise that both girls and boys can purchase and wear in order to support the cause.

But, boys, do you really know what your supporting?

Even if you think meninism is satire, satire can reinforce perpetual stereotypes that are harmful to others.

Besides tweeting things such as “I was at a restaurant and I noticed my waitress had a black eye… So I ordered really slow because she obviously doesn’t listen” and “Rape should be legalized.

Women were put on this earth to please men.. They are no more than sexual objects,” the owners of this account create fake rape statistics in an attempt to discredit factual rape statistics that can possibly make a lot of men look bad.

So, boys, let’s acknowledge the reasons you would want to support meninism. Is it because you think feminism doesn’t do enough for men?

Because feminism supports male rape victims, rationalizes the idea of “feminine” and “masculine” men, protects sexualities in all men, and works on fixing legal things like false rape claims and child custody laws.

Now what does meninism do for men, besides attack women and make sexist discriminations labeled as “jokes”? That’s what I thought.

Nobody is asking you to be a feminist. But please, please, please, don’t actually support meminism in any way.

20 | THE LION’S TALE

| SPORTS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

Sporting Superstition

Football, baseball adhere to traditions WRITTEN BY STERLING CORUM The varsity football team observes many different team traditions during game weeks, ranging from pep rallies and Polynesian war dances to team breakfasts.

“We’re definitely superstitious: we’re not allowed to change our order at the Townhouse when we go in the mornings, that’s a big deal,” said senior Colton Emerson.

The team goes to the Town House each Friday at 6 a.m. to bond and have breakfast on game days.

This school year is the first time that Oviedo High School has held morning peprallies, which allow students to cheer on the football team every Friday, whether or not the activity schedule permits it.

“The more spirit that the student section and the fans bring, the more energy we get for the game, and throughout the day,” Emerson said.

After weeks of practices and team meals, the team has become a very closeknit group.

“We get a lot closer, we do everything together,” Emerson said. “Whenever I’m hanging out with someone it’s always one of the guys.”

Before games, the team has a few new rituals as well, including a Polynesian war dance to threaten opponents. Senior Mason Vaivai performs this dance.

“It basically says ‘We’re going to go out

there and kill you and your ancestors, and eat you when we’re done,’” said Vaivai.

The team gathers in the locker room before games to discuss their objectives and have a final moment to sit together as they prepare for Friday nights.

The baseball team also practices their own customs, some of which are just at practice every day. The team believes that when they do everything as a team they play better.

“We all get to the fields, wait to get dressed and go outside, we hit together, we just do everything as a team,” said junior Ben Thompson.

According to Thompson, practicing and warming up as a team improves their performance in games because they get along so well.

Everything the baseball team does involves every player, no matter what their age. The team passes down their superstitions from seniors to underclassmen annually.

“Our traditions get passed down each year so every class has the same opportunities as the one before it,” Thompson said. “We have a few superstitions--make sure not to step on the line when we walk onto the field, and during the national anthem we all do a thing with our legs at the same time.”

Since winning state last year, the team hasn’t created any new superstitions.

PHOTOS BY MORGAN WAGNER

ON THE LINE. The Oviedo offensive line faces Hagerty’s defense during the hometown showdown.

A dangerous game SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 | THE LION’S TALE | SPORTS | 21

Athletes learn to cope with hindering injuries WRITTEN BY PAIGE SIMPSON About two million high school athletes suffer from sport injuries per year. The most common injuries that occur include: fractures, sprains, abrasions, and concussions.

After nine years of playing soccer, sophomore Ashlyn Register has encountered many injuries.

She competed on the Maitland Soccer Club and played for St. Luke’s Lutheran School as a student. Soccer had always been an important part of Register’s life.

“Soccer is my passion, because when I am out on the field it’s just me and the ball,” Register said “when I am playing nothing else bothers me in my life it all just goes away and that’s why I love it.”

Then, in Feb. 2014, while practicing with the boys team, Register’s soccer game came to a sudden halt. She tore her right ACL. An ACL tear, which stands for anterior cruciate ligament, is located in the middle of the knee.

The overstretching of the ligament causes injury. The ACL tear is a common but serious injury, and is most commonly torn by women.

For Register, this was no common injury, this was a devastating blow.

“It affected me mentally and emotionally,” Register said “I’m afraid I’m going to tear it again, and you can’t do that, because if you tear it again, then you’re done.”

Register knew it would be a

constant battle with her injury.

Like Register, junior Reilly Fennel She had to deal with the surgery, also had a soccer-related injury. daily pain, immense recovery time, In one of her JV games last year, physical therapy, deprival of the Fennel got her third concussion by sports she loves, and the fight to colliding with a girl from the opposite stay positive. team. A concussion is traumatic “It was really hard because you brain damage, which is caused by a want to stay positive, but you can’t sudden hit to the head. because you feel like you can’t do Understanding the risk and effects anything,” Register said. of multiple concussions, Fennel After 11 long months, Register decided to quit soccer, even though focused herself back to the sport she she loved soccer and had played loved and tried out for the Florida most of her life.

Kraze Krush, or FKK, U15 White “At first it was really shocking, team in Feb. 2015. because it had always been such a She was finally back to doing what large part of my life, but now that she loved, but it’s not in my It was really hard because you life I’m enjoying little did she want to stay positive, but you can’t things know what was I was becasue you feel like you can’t do never able to do to come. During anything. the tryout for before,” Fennel FKK, Register said “I feel like tore her other it affected me Sophmore Ashlyn Register ACL in her left in a positive knee. way because “When I tore my second one, I it opened doors to many other basically bawled for like three days opportunities.” because I knew I had to go through Because concussions are it again,” Register said. damaging to the brain, the person Since she had previous experience could potentially have long-term with the injury, Register decided to brain damage. Injured athletes can power through and keep a strong also experience sudden symptoms mindset. Register said a big factor from a concussion. in her recovery was the support and “I did notice slight differences with comfort of her family and friends. my memory, and I do get headaches “I knew the outcome, and I knew more often,” Fennel said.

I would get better,” Register said Even without soccer, Fennel “the only way I could do that was to remains hopeful. work hard and if I wasn’t positive the “You can move on from anything result wouldn’t come.” with the right mindset,” Fennel said.

MOST COMMON SPORTS-RELATED

Face 7%

INJURIES

Sophomore William Przystup’s keeps his own philosophy, “I can never give up on my goals.”

“To do my best and help my teammates do their best so that the Oviedo Lions can bring home a state championship, and to never stop having fun while playing this great game,” Prystup said.

Przystup plays football and basketball. During a basketball tournament, Przystup twisted his ankle.

“I went for a rebound and this guy right next to me bumped me, and my foot landed on his foot, and when I came down I rolled it out of place,” Przystup said.

His injury forced him to sit out of the rest of the tournament. Luckily four weeks later Przystup was able to go back to playing.

After rest and some physical therapy, Przystup strived to get back on the court.

“It made me work harder afterwards,” Prystup said “it took me a while to get back into it, but it just made me progress a little bit.”

“Sometimes I get scared that if I land on it wrong it›s going to come back out of place,” said Przystup.

Though injuries are dangerous sometimes entailing lifelong pain, many athletes believe they’ve been become stronger because of their injury.

“I felt I am mentally stronger and emotionally stronger because I’ve been through this,” Register said.

Head 14%

Finger 12%

Concussion Symptoms • physical, emotional change • sleep distruption • body pain Ankle 15% • light sensitivity • mood changes

Knee 9%

INFOCOURTESTYOFcustominfographics.org

22 | THE LION’S TALE

| SPORTS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

ALL ABOUT THE MONEY sports editor DOUG CHIODINI

Pointless Pre-season NFL focuses on money over player safety

The NFL cares more about money than the health of their star players.

For all those who disagree with me, then why is the NFL preseason comprised of four games that mean absolutely nothing while giving players a perfectly good chance to get injured? From Sam Bradford in 2014 to Julius Thomas and Jordy Nelson in 2015, NFL stars annually get injured in the preseason.

I feel that, even financially speaking, there is no viable reason for the preseason to be four games. Although the NFL makes a lot money off the preseason, they could make that money and more by expanding the regular season from 16 to 18 games while decreasing the preseason from four to two. This would make all the currently pointless player injuries not completely in vain.

The NFL also doesn’t pay the players per game played in the preseason (Mike Florio, NBC Sports). While the players do get paid from the standpoint of receiving a percentage of the revenue gained, there is no financial punishment for skipping a game. On the other hand, Tebow-Mania came back for a few months, so it may not be all that bad.

Costing an average of $81 in 2013 (Brad Tuttle, Time.com), preseason tickets are ridiculously overpriced, especially considering games are irrelevant. In comparison, with $81 I could put a down payment on a class ring, which is almost as much of a waste of money as preseason tickets are.

The NFL needs to fix the preseason for the fans and players both.

THE BLITZ Tom Brady conquered the entire NFL in court when his suspension was lifted by judge Richard M. Berton. The only thing deflated now is Roger Goodell’s ego. ...

With quarterback Justin Holman injured and an 0-3 start, UCF’s football team looks like it would get blown out by the lethargic Philadelphia Eagles...

Blake Bortles, who threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 23-20 win over the Miami Dolphins, proved he can slice through defenses like a knife through butter. With Bortles excelling under center since a shaky week one performance, Jags fans can show their faces in public and have high hopes for the OHS graduate.

Money, pride wagered on fantasy football ILLUSTRATION BY BRIA-OLLIVIERRE WILLIAMS From being a way to show off your knowledge of the sport you love to pooling It’s football season and fantasy in some cash with friends, fantasy sports football is sweeping the nation. provide a gateway between the observer According to the Fantasy Sports Trade and the league, allowing the fantasy Association, 33 owner to make million people play If you didn’t have a really compet- the decisions to fantasy football guide itive league where people are always hopefully each year, and team to over at each other’s house on Sunday their about 6.4 million success. watching the game, getting in fights… of those people F a n t a s y it wouldn’t be fun. are women. football initially Senior James Kissinger Based on the got Junior Sean premise of picking Green interested players you think in the sport. will do well and getting points for their on“I used to never watch football,” field accomplishments, fantasy football, Green said. “Playing fantasy football and along with other fantasy sports, has watching football… It can definitely help latched on as a test of one’s sporting people who don’t know much about it knowledge and has become increasingly learn.” popular nationwide.

Freshman Brandon Blake is one of

WRITTEN BY DOUG CHIODINI

many who have used fantasy football as an introduction to football. “[I played for] the fun of the game and getting to know football,” said freshman Brandon Blake. “I learned… a little bit about plays and what players are good and not good.”

Sophomore Tyler Dodson uses money, not learning, as his reason for playing and succeeding at fantasy.

“When we play for money I’ll take the draft more seriously,” Dodson said. “I’ll do my research and my homework, but when we play for free usually I wont be upset if I lose.”

Dodson plays in a league with his basketball friends. Along with money, supreme bragging rights are also up for grabs when they play.

Although Dodson sees money as motivation, Green plays fantasy to “get into the spirit of the NFL and play with… friends”.

No matter the reason for playing fantasy, a competitive spirit is a vital part to having a successful league.

“It would be fun to gamble if your league wasn’t really competitive,” said senior James Kissinger. “If you didn’t have a really competitive league where people are always over at each other’s house on Sunday watching the game, getting in fights… it wouldn’t be fun.”

According to Green, another reason some people have against gambling is that it can make participants too involved in the game, forcing them to put in too much time and effort to win money.

While gambling can easily be seen as a negative, Kissinger admits that if a league wasn’t already competitive, a little money could spice things up.

Dodson believes that putting money on a league is more about exhibiting selftrust than just being a risk like other forms of gambling are.

“With fantasy football, I feel that I can contribute more to what I’m gambling for,” said Dodson. “I picked the players; In poker you hope you get lucky with the cards you’re dealt.”

Kissinger and Green both allow bias to dictate their draft decisions.

“I don’t [avoid bias]. That’s the thing; I’m very biased,” Kissinger said. “I’ve got Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, I got my guys. I don’t let my bias go. I want to pick all my favorite team’s players.

Even though he puts money on his league and knows bias can be bad, Dodson still allows bias to infiltrate his strategy.

“If there’s a better player available I’ll still start my Saints player,” Dodson said.

For Green, his overall fandom goes as far as sacrificing his fantasy performance for the betterment of his New England Patriots. He said he would sacrifice a fantasy win for a Patriots win any day of the week.

No matter the reason for playing, fantasy football has given players of all varieties a chance to enjoy football in a new and unique way.

ROAR BOARD

September 23, 2015 | THE LION’S TALE | SPORTS | 23

The voice of OHS sports STAR ATHLETE: Nicholas Carbone

Q-How did you prepare yourself for this season?

A-I started working out hard in the off-season, speed training, throwing, getting timing routes all good and mentally preparing myself.

Q-What would you say is your biggest improvement since last year?

A-Reading defenses. As you continue to work for the same offense and get the routes down, you learn how to read them and throw to the right guy.

Q-How do you feel about this being your senior year?

A-Well, I don’t want to stop playing. I want to get as many games down as possible because you only have a certain amount of high school football games you can play in.

Q-What are your expectations for this season?

A-We are looking at winning districts, making the playoffs and making a playoff run.

Q-What as your best memory at OHS? A-Beating Hagerty all 4 years that I played them.

I’ll always remember that.

PHOTO BY DELANEY ROBB

GAME, SET, MATCH. Senior Emily Destaffino sets the ball for freshman Bridgette Holland on September 10 against Winter Springs in the RWL Gym.

Fearless Freshmen Varsity girls volleyball gains new team members

WRITTEN BY STERLING CORUM

This year on varsity volleyball, five freshmen have joined the squad.

With an overall winning season so far, the girls are enjoying the perks of being on a well-developed team and having friends who are seniors.

“It was nerve-racking at first, but eventually it became fun because we got to make a lot of upperclassmen friends our first year of high school, which not a lot of people get to do,” freshman Megan Darnley said.

The upperclassmen are welcoming to their new freshman teammates “I’ve adjusted pretty well, everyone’s nice. All the seniors and juniors really include us in everything.” freshman Madison Cook said.

Being a freshman on the varsity team comes with it’s benefits and difficulties.

“Well in the beginning it was intimidating being a freshman on varsity and knowing every one above you is so good,” Cook said.

“But then you eventually come together and realize you’re just like everyone else.”

The girls are expecting to play well together this year with their new additions.

Swinging for States

Women’s golf team overcomes INSTAGRAM OF THE MONTH: adversity to chase champion-

PHOTO BY ALEX BROWNING

TWEET OF THE MONTH:

WRITTEN BY DOUG CHIODINI

Trying to defend their district title, the women’s golf team is having to overcome every obstacle mother nature can throw their way. Fending off constant rain, the team is doing whatever they can to get their practice in.

“Because it rains a lot, a lot of times we get rained out of practices,” junior Erin Barbery said. “We just get out whenever we can. A lot of us practice outside of practice 4 days a week or stay after, trying to wait through the rain.”

This drive to succeed shows why they are defending a title, and can explain their lofty expectations. “[We] definitely [want] to be undefeated, and last year we won districts, so I would love to win districts again,” Barbery said. “I’m hoping we can make it to states.”

The team is well on their way to those milestones, as they currently boast an undefeated record.

With only the upcoming matches against Lake Howell on Sept. 29 and Lake Mary on Oct. 1, both of which are at Twin Rivers, between them and the SAC tournament, their goals are in sight.

themickeykennedy

Aug. 29

“Congratulations to senior setter Emily DeStaffino on committing to play at Daytona State next season! Go Falcons!”

14 RETWEETS 29 FAVORITES

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ROARing Success Varsity Football (1-2) Women’s Volleyball (7-5) Women’s Golf (5-0) Women’s Bowling (7-0) Men’s Bowling (6-1)

PHOTO BY ALEX BROWNING

PHOTO BY MORGAN WAGNER

EVERY DAY’S LEG DAY. Sophomore Tyson Harper leads the cross country team in practice on the OHS campus.

DROP THE BEAT. The OHS dance team performs during halftime of the Hagerty game on Sept. 11 at John Courier Field.

FLINGING FULL FORCE. Senior Morgan Greco warms up her arm at slow-pitch softball practice.

DANCE

SLOWPITCH SOFTBALL

CROSS COUNTRY

Oviedo Volleyball @oviedovball

PHOTO BY INDIA PANTIN

Junior Varsity Football (0-3) Woman’s Volleyball (9-1) *Allrecords records as as of 8 22 *All ofDec. Sept. **Info Courtesy of Maxpreps.com

PHOTO BY MORGAN WAGNER TOOTING THEIR HORNS. The OHS marching band and dance team perform in the amphitheater at a morning pep-rally.

BAND