The Marquee Volume 32 Issue 1

M T H E

THAT’S THE SPIRIT

M A R Q U E E

VOLUME 32 . ISSUE 1 . OCT. 31, 2017

J

6

“Tipline Bling” PSA wins national award

10

Faculty members share weightloss stories

22

Insight into Goatman’s Bridge

Edward S. Marcus High School • 5707 Morriss Road, Flower Mound, TX 75028

C d

The Marquee Staff EDITOR IN CHIEF Kelly Rowe MANAGING EDITOR Nick Fopiano COPY EDITOR Jackson Bednarczyk DESIGN EDITOR Jolie Mullings PHOTO EDITORS Marcus Cheerleaders Lacie Pearson, Kinsie Spoo, Brittany Elders, Madison Bryan and Taylor Collier cheer on the varsity football team as they compete at the Battle of the Axe. Photo Hannah Klein

NEWS EDITOR Chloe White FEATURE EDITOR

CONTENTS

4

Grace Pecunia & Sarah Newton

Skyler Middleton OPINION EDITOR Kendall Cooper

NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

WARM WELCOME First hotel in Flower Mound opens

Shayla Sistrunk SPORTS EDITOR Morgan Maxwell REPORTERS

8

FEATURE IN THE UNKNOWN Junior reflects on how her family endured Hurricane Maria

Aidann Zuniga, Marc Kidwell, Arantza Azurmendi, Rosalee Rogers DESIGNERS Aeralyn Stinson, Shay Wegele PHOTOGRAPHERS Chase Martin, Hannah Klein, Gillian Overton

20

SPORTS BOWLING CLUB Bowling club members discuss why they enjoy the sport

ENTERTAINMENT BEST DRESSED Students on campus share their fashion secrets and inspirations

24

ADVISER LaJuana Hale PRINCIPAL Gary Shafferman The Marquee newsmagazine is a student-generated publication of Marcus High School. It is produced, edited and maintained through the efforts of the school’s advanced journalism class. The Marquee is designed to serve the school and community as a forum for open discussion and student expression.

The Marquee encourages letters to the editor as part of its mission to educate, inform and provide an open forum for debate. All submissions must be signed.

The staff reserves the right to edit all material. Editorials reflect the opinion of the staff, not necessarily that of the administration. Signed columns or reviews represent only the opinion of the author. Advertising rates are $70 per 1/8 of a page, with discounts available. Patron ads are available for $100. Online advertisements are also available. For more information call 469-713-5196.

The Marquee is a standing member of ILPC, TAJE, ATPI, CSPA, NSPA, JEA and Quill and Scroll.

Schedule change School implements Marauder Time

10 9 8

receiving a study hall every week. Johnson Beginning this school year, students said the counselors and are now attending an advisory period other administrators called Marauder Time most Wednesdays. want students to get During Marauder Time, students will study hall time, but there be taught district provided lessons, how are other things that have to update their eportfolio and given to be done as well. occasional time for study hall.

“We wanted students The period is supervised by a teacher to have time to where if they that students will have for the rest of their needed to catch up on something, high school careers. Each class is made up or if they just needed to sit and chill of students from all grade levels. out for a little bit, that they would have The idea to implement Marauder Time that time,” Johnson said. “But it was never was inspired by similar advisory periods intended to be that every Wednesday.” at other high schools. A committee then On Wednesdays when students don’t created the outline for the concept, and receive study hall, they will be taught it was voted on by 80 percent of faculty district created lessons such as drug members. awareness, social emotional learning The ability to have time taken out of (SEL) and suicide prevention. The the week for specific curriculum was a implementation of the advisory period not concept approved by teachers. Counselor only affects students on the main campus Neena Johnson said the committee has but also those at the career centers.

“I go to the Dale Jackson Center, so when I come back I’m in Marauder I like it because I can do Time, and I’m only in the my homework. And it’s only classroom for about ten minutes,” junior Kayla just for a short time, and the Robledo said. “It’s just class is pretty quick. kind of a waste of time. I’d rather be in my third period -TIFFANY BUCKLEY, 11 class than be in another classroom.”

The advisory period received great feedback. was designed so students could meet kids In years prior, second period teachers from other grade levels, but students like had to take out class time for Marauder sophomore Cade Walker said he would Time tasks, but now they can spend more have preferred to have the class all one time teaching their students. Student grade. opinions are mixed about Marauder Time “The only thing I don’t like about it — some students are upset that they aren’t is that it’s too mixed, you only know one Story Rosalee Rogers

“

Design Nick Fopiano

Oct. 31, 2017

11

7 6

person,” Walker said.

Though some students don’t like the advisory period, others are pleased by the change.

“I like it because I can do my homework, and it’s only just for a short time. And the class is pretty quick,” junior Tiffany Buckley said.

Aquatic Science teacher Tiffany Vancleve said she thinks that Marauder Time has been beneficial for the school.

“It’s not any work being an advisory teacher and sometimes I’m able to get things done as well,” Vancleve said.

Overall, Marauder Time was organized to be a break from the rigor of school. Counselors hope that students bond with their advisory groups and teachers.

“We want to give students a safe place to go where they don’t have to do school work and they have an adult that’s not teaching them, but is there to listen to them,” Johnson said.

News

3

Flower Mound welcomes first hotel Marriot opened in late September The first hotel in Flower Mound, the Courtyard Marriott at Riverwalk opened on Sept. 29.

It features 137 rooms including The Bistro — the signature restaurant of the Marriott Courtyard — an indoor pool, gym, meeting space and a “state of the art” lobby with complimentary wifi.

“If you have a house with two bedrooms, your entire family can’t stay there,” Junior Addy Butler said. “I think having a hotel is good.”

Room rates can fluctuate from $110 to $175, depending on the day of week and time in the month.

“We’re in an interesting spot with competitor rates because we compete with Lewisville and Grapevine,” director

of sales Jennifer Noble said. “If you shop the Grapevine market, their rates are considerably higher.”

The hotel has been in development for at least three years, and was delayed for one year. It was initially scheduled to

After an agreement with the city, the parking garage is now under construction and scheduled to be complete by March 2018.

One of the main features of the hotel is the 6,000 sq. ft. of event and meeting space.

Schools have already inquired about their prom and other “If you have a house with activities taking place in the space. two bedrooms, your entire Marriott anticipates having an family can’t stay there. event every weekend.

I think having a hotel is It features a 5,000 sq. ft. ballroom, something not normally good.” seen in Courtyard hotels.

-Addy Butler, 11 “Usually hotel ballrooms have tall ceilings, but not like this,” Noble said. “This is really unique.” open on Sept. 15 but opened on Sept. 29. The chandeliers, various light fixtures, Construction and financing delays and doors and trim were all custom made for discussion with the town over building a the hotel. parking garage all caused setbacks. “[The meeting space] is designed with

“

4

flexibility in mind, so we can handle a variety of different groups,” Noble said.

“We’re not just in the wedding business — [we do] corporate meetings, association groups, churches, schools — you name it.”

Among other notable features are the fitness center and the Bistro.

Patio

The fitness center includes treadmills equipt with TV screens and radios. Upon entering, guests are offered water bottles, towels and complimentary earbuds, all neatly organized.

The Bistro is a fast casual restaurant with a gourmet touch, open mornings

Couches and firepits are located adjacent to the indoor pool. The Courtyard offers suites with patios that walk out to the outdoor area.

and evenings. Breakfast items range from acai bowls, egg omelets, french toast and avocado toast among other meals. It’s described as “classic comfort with a twist”.

Dessert options include a dark chocolate salted caramel cookies and carrot cake.

They also offer Starbucks drinks.

As for the Riverwalk, Noble says the Marriott will serve as an anchor for the development, and progress on other buildings “should follow suit soon.” The hotel is located adjacent to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.

“It’s helpful for those who are around the hospital,” English teacher, Lauran Popp said. “If your loved one is in the hospital, you could just go over to the hotel.”

A grand opening to the public is scheduled for November with a formal announcement coming in the next few weeks. “[Town residents are] welcome to come and stay. They’re welcome to come and take advantage of the Bistro, the Starbucks,” Noble said. “We look forward to getting to know the residents here and just being part of the community.”

Kitchen

Gym

In the fitness center, exercise balls are provided along with many other fitness related objects.

Front Flowers outside the entrance marquee are among the many colorful landscaping features.

A chef from The Bistro prepares his restaurant for the next day.

The Bistro offers meals ranging from avocado toast to the signature bistro burger.

QR Code Link to our video tour

5

Photo Chase Martin Officer Anderson (left) and Officer Gray (right) communicate and build positive relationships with the student body. This is Officer Anderson’s fourth year as an SRO on campus, and Officer Gray’s second year on campus.

Hotline Bling parody goes viral, SRO’s earn national award Story Marc Kidwell The parody of Drake’s “Hotline Bling” FMPD made to encourage students to call the tipline recently won a national award.

City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA) gave

6

News

the award on Sept. 7 for “Tipline Bling.”

MHS Student Resource Officer (SRO) Mike Anderson and MHS9 Officer Joe Gray teamed up with Flower Mound High School SRO Jason Rachal to create the video.

Rachal came up with the idea for the tipline music video after Flower Mound

MHSMarquee.com

High School students started to call him “Officer Drake,” for his physical resemblance to the rapper.

Embracing his new nickname and drawing inspiration from Drake’s hit song “Hotline Bling”, Rachal asked Flower Mound Media Communications to film a parody of the video.

Design Gillian Overton

The goal of the video was to bring awareness to the tipline, a way for students to reach out to their SROs. Anderson and Gray were put in front of a green screen and told to dance as ridiculous as possible. After four to five hours of filming for two days, “Tipline Bling” was finally finished.

The two officers are passionate about

“We can’t read minds or tell what kind of struggles someone is going through...

We need people to reach out.”

-Officer Gray

the tipline, and believe it makes a huge impact in student’s lives on and off campus. Bullying, sexting and depression are amongst the issues that are reported to the tipline.

“Even though we make announcements and put up posters, you can’t assume everyone knows about [the tipline],” Anderson said. “I think it created awareness.”

Design Gillian Overton

Anderson and Gray shared the video with family and friends. They made fun of the officers for dancing, but thought the tipline was a great outlet for teenagers to get help if needed.

“If me getting embarrassed a little bit creates awareness and has success stories that come from the tipline...then I’m willing to do that all day long,” Anderson said.

The tipline started receiving more calls after the video was shown to the student body last year, but it really took off during the last four months of the school year.

So far, the video has over 2,000 views on the Town of Flower Mound’s Youtube channel.

The officers want students to come to them with any problem and trust that everything said will remain confidential.

Although it was created to help students, some have concerns about the tipline. They’re afraid it is not truly anonymous.

Anderson wants to reassure the students they do receive the student’s numbers but only look them up if the situation is serious.

The officers know that the first time they leak out a student’s information, they might as well shut down the tipline.

Due to the increase of reported tips last year, Anderson and Gray believe they established trust with the student body.

At the end of the day, this is your school. If there is something that’s going on in the school that makes you feel uncomfortable or you don’t like,” Anderson said. “This is your avenue to report it.”

Link to video: http://tinyurl.com/ tiplinebling

Oct. 31, 2017

SRO’s Give Students a Chance to Use Their Voice

Officers Anderson and Gray want to let the students decide what the next music video should be about. Take our survey to cast your vote with the QR code below.

To contact an SRO, you can visit them in room B111 or you can contact the tipline at (214)636-7804

News

7

Caring From A Distance Student’s family affected by Hurricane Maria Story Shayla Sistrunk Contributers Ashley Littlepage & Zachary Hoffman Junior Angelica Suarez opened the door to her cozy house after a long day of school. It was late September, and the humidity made drops of sweat run down her back. Her head hung low as she threw her backpack to the floor. She looked over into the living room, and the television was on. The room was empty until a sudden panic rushed out from around the corner.

It was her mother, and all she could hear through her shaken and distraught voice was “turn it to CNN.” Her hand reached for the remote control, and Angelica froze as she read the bottom of the screen. All her family and childhood friends back in Puerto Rico had just been affected by a natural disaster, Hurricane Maria.

Hurricane Maria hit the island as a category 5 storm. It was the worst recorded natural disaster in Puerto Rican history affecting all of the 3.4 million US citizens that live there, including her aunts, uncles, cousins and grandma Lydia.

“My entire family was pretty scared that they were not going to make it out alive,” Suarez said.

••• Suarez had grown up on the island, but then moved to Flower Mound after her dad received a job offer from a bank and decided to take it. Her father moved to Flower Mound a year before the rest of her family and soon after, the others followed him to Texas.

In Puerto Rico, Suarez said they barely had enough money to eat half of the time.

Starting a new life in a different place was for the best.

Almost a year later the humble island

8

Feature

that Angelica knew was in shambles.

Since the storm hit, communication between her and family back on the island was nonexistent. No one knew where they were or how they were doing. After seeing the damage that had been done to Puerto Rico, she thought her family likely didn’t make it out alive.

“At first I thought that it wouldn’t be a big deal because there has been many hurricanes there before,” Suarez said.

“Nothing could have prepared me for my family’s life to be on the line in a matter of days.”

As more updates poured out from

disaster, Angelica immediately thought of her grandma who she spent the majority of her time with on the island as a child.

Soon she became scared and hopeless with the little information she had on the condition of her loved ones. No longer could she picture the island as a place of comfort, but of displacement and fear.

“My entire family was not okay, we were spending days just trying to figure out what we could do to get them to be fine, to be safe,” Suarez said.

••• The few memories she has of her early life in Puerto Rico are the ones she holds

Photo Submitted Junior Angelica Suarez poses with her parents and two sisters for a family photo. This photo was taken months before the disaster.

Design Aeralyn Stinson & Nick Fopiano

close to her heart.

She remembers a warm summer a little over eight years ago when the Suarez family gathered together for lunch on a Sunday. Laughter was in the air as kids ran around the house chasing each other.

Conversations were overlapping, and Angelica could barely hear the words she was saying to herself.

Her 9-year-old self smiled as the smell of the freshly baked food made its way to the patio where she sat watching the blue sky. After the party was over, she helped her grandmother, Lydia, clean up the house.

She picked up the red solo cups from the floor and crumpled napkins in between the couches.

Angelica never complained when her grandmother asked her for help. In fact, she cherished every single time they were together. She calls her grandmother a sweetheart who cares deeply for the family. Angelica sees her as a kind little lady with a big heart.

Once Maria became serious she immediately thought of her grandmother, who was the only one besides her father she felt comfortable talking to about anything.

••• Angelica knew from the first time

she watched the objects fly around in the forceful rain on TV that she had to do something to help.

What stood in her way however, was over 2,000 miles and a giant ocean. But that didn’t stop her family from sending money and provisions to their loved ones.

They sent food and clothes, even with the

he simply sat down and listened to how she felt.

“My dad knew how to keep me calm when I cried for long periods of time,” Suarez said. “He just kept telling me that everything would be fine.”

••• Days after the hurricane hit, grandma Lydia was evacuated to Florida to stay with a nearby relative. She was the only family member that was evacuated.

“Nothing could have Everyone else remains back on the prepared for my family’s island.

Angelica wants those in the lifes to be on the line in a community and Americans alike to take notice of the tragedy in Puerto matter of days.”

Rico. Any aid, whether monetary or otherwise sent to the island will be -Angelica Suarez, beneficial.

Seeing the island destroyed in Junior a few days by Maria made Angelica realize just how much she missed life in Puerto Rico. She misses the risk of the resources never making it to unique cultural cuisine, the people, the their family.

Knowing she had no way of jumping mountains, the beach and of course her onto a plane and making sure they were family. She especially misses having big okay had become a burden she couldn’t family dinners with her cousins, uncles, push away. Angelica felt completely aunts and her grandma. helpless and fell into a dark place she “We are a family and we matter,” struggled to crawl out of. During this Suarez said. “If the country and our time the one person that kept a smile on community would come together and her face was her father. Everything would acknowledge us, we could make a huge seem to go away after a hug, or even when difference.”

“

Effects of Hurricane Maria In Puerto Rico 5% of the country has power 45% don’t have access to drinking water

Supermarkets open:

of

456

16 people Shelters open: 139

14% of cell towers are functional 50% of major roadways cleared

Death toll:

Only 721 of are open

Hospitals open:

1,100 gas stations

292

51 of 69

Source https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/09/30/puerto-rico-by-thenumbers/720731001/

Design Aeralyn Stinson & Nick Fopiano

Feature

9

Losing Weight, Gaining Ground Faculty members change lifestyles, improving health Story Jackson Bednarczyk Photos Sarah Newton He’s the voice of the announcements. The one who leads the pep rallies. The one who enforces “On a lanyard, around your neck.” The one who says, “It’s a great day to be a Marauder.”He’s full of energy. His face is red when he hypes up students. He’s a funny guy.

His job is the same this year as it was last year, assistant principal. The people around

him are the same. But his body is changed. His lifestyle is changed. He is changed.

••• Jason Mullin has always been a bigger kid, and his peers noticed. They picked on Mullin because he was chunky and slow — an easy target. At recess they chased him on the playground.

They threw things at him. They punched him. He was active and involved in sports just like them. He didn’t want to be big, but they bullied him anyway.

Kids pestered him throughout middle school

Above: Jason Mullin was featured in the 2015 yearbook.

Left: Mullin poses for his wedding photos with his wife.

Photos submitted

10

Feature

Bottom left: Mullin is standing with his son on a trip to the zoo.

Design Jolie Mullings & Sarah Newton

and into high school. But he learned to deflect it.

There’s an old stereotype that the fat kid’s the funny one. Mullin owned this niche. He’s always been a smart alec making self-deprecating jokes.

“If I’m making the ‘fat’ joke and I’m the ‘fat’ kid, then they’re going to laugh with me,” Mullin said. “But they’re not going to be calling me fat.”

••• In college, Mullin was still a big guy with broad shoulders and a barrel chest.

He was able to somewhat manage his weight through athletics, but after college, his metabolism dropped, and he continued to eat the same way a teenage boy does. As the years went on, he packed on more and more pounds. He loves sweets. In fact, he loves food in general except veggies. He loves pasta and hated lettuce. He loves pizza but not broccoli.

And he loves burgers, so he ate them meal after meal after meal.

At times he tried to believe his weight wasn’t there. He blocked it out.

Other times he told himself he had a choice. He could lose weight, but he didn’t have to.

Doctors told him he was still healthy, but it would be nice if he lost a couple of pounds. A few times he tried to lose weight and to go on a healthy diet. Then he had one cheat day. Then another. It turned into a cycle. When he woke up early to work out, he decided to sleep in.

When he planned a healthy meal, he later decided to go out to lunch.

••• Years later Mullin noticed he was having trouble reading. He had sharp eyesight his entire life, so it must be an effect of getting older, he thought. He went to the pharmacy to pick up a cheap pair of reading glasses. They helped for a few days until his eyesight became even worse. So he got stronger lenses. And then stronger. And stronger.

In about a week and a half, Mullin went from perfect vision to being almost unable to drive. It seemed like it happened overnight. He also realized he could no longer zip around school like before.

When he finished climbing stairs, he was out of breath. When he walked around the hallways, he had to take breaks.

••• Mullin had learned to hide his weight from others and from himself. It wasn’t

Photos submitted Top: Adam Hovde is cheerleading with a group of peers in high school. Bottom: Hovde’s weight loss shown from last school year to earlier this year.

too hard in the cooler months — just throw on a hoodie or jacket. But now his weight stared him right in the face.

He sat paralyzed thinking about the blood sugar test he’d just taken. The years of eating junk food, of drinking three to four Dr. Peppers a day, of little or no exercise had come to this.

The blood sugar test came back at 375 four times above the normal amount.

He had decided to borrow his friend’s glucometer after telling attendance clerk Trudy York about his loss of eyesight.

She knew exactly what it could mean.

Diabetes. And if his blood sugar had been any higher, Mullin could have fallen into a coma or even died.

Back in his office, he tried to bring some of his usual humor to the situation.

Design Jolie Mullings & Sarah Newton

“Is that high?” Mullin jokingly asked York.

“Only if you don’t want to keep living,” York said.

••• After speaking to his wife, Mullin immediately made an appointment with the family doctor.

“If you don’t fix this, you’re going to have diabetes, and you’re going to have to take insulin every day,” the doctor said.

“You’re going to have medical problems.”

That was Mullin’s first slap in the face from reality.

“I don’t want to die,” Mullin said. “I don’t want to be sick. I don’t want to have to go to the doctor once a month and take medicine and take drugs.”

He thought about his two kids. Both

Feature

11

11-year-old son anymore.

In May 2016, Hovde’s wife had an inverted sleeve surgery, and she lost weight and felt better overall. Hovde wanted that too. A joking and sarcastic guy, Hovde wasn’t the kind to sulk about his weight. But he realized he only had so many years with his son before he headed off to college. If he wanted to be there for his kid, he had to lose weight.

“It took me changing my body and changing my outlook... to where I was able to change most of these things about my life,” Hovde said.

So in July 2016, Hovde decided to take a different path to weight loss. Unlike Mullin, he chose the inverted sleeve surgery that brought his wife so much success. It took many tests, doctors appointments and a three week liquid diet before, Hovde had

“I don’t want to die...I don’t want to be sick. I don’t want to have to go to the doctor once a month and take medicine and take drugs.”

- Jason Mullin, AP

Mullin greets many students as they leave lunch to go to their next class.

teenage boys, 15 and 12, who loved outdoor activities. The past few years he hadn’t been able to be active with them, and if his life continued the way it was, he might miss out on the rest of their childhoods.

So on Nov. 3, 2016 Mullin decided that something must change. He cut all the junk food, sodas and unnecessary things out of his diet. He got back in the gym and played basketball three to four times a week.

••• Environmental science teacher Adam Hovde weighed 314 pounds at 5 ft., 7 in. When he graduated college, he weighed 160. He didn’t exercise, and he ate terribly. Pizza. Pasta.

Bread. Hovde was tired all the time. His blood pressure high.

Triglycerides high. Cholesterol high. The sleep apnea he had his entire life was worse.

When he was younger there were so many things he could do that he couldn’t do now. He couldn’t kayak. He couldn’t mountainbike. He couldn’t go out and throw a ball with his

12

Feature

the inverted sleeve surgery in February 2017.

Surgeons reduced his stomach from the size of a football to the size of a banana. After surgery, he removed all junk food and sodas from his diet. He ditched carbs and restricted his meat consumption. He drank a protein shake every morning and had small snacks throughout the day like greek yogurt and nuts.

He went to the gym multiple times a week and even did a ropes course last summer — something he could have never done just a year prior.

••• Both men have seen massive success since beginning their weight loss. In almost 12 months, Mullin has lost 75 pounds, and he feels more alive, more willing to joke and relax — like a bag of bricks was taken off his back.

Design Jolie Mullings & Sarah Newton

“The job hasn’t changed. The family hasn’t changed. But I’ve changed,” Mullin said.

It would be easy for him to blame his old weight on someone or something else, Mullin said. Instead, he chooses to own up to his personal choices.

“I was okay admitting it was my fault, that I did it to myself. It was really cool eating McDonald’s for breakfast, Whataburger for lunch and Chipotle for dinner every day for three weeks straight,” Mullin said. “But really and truly the bottom line is I did that to myself.”

Mullins says that teachers, friends and family members have all complimented him on his weight loss. He’s grateful, but it reminds him of his old body.

“I think I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve been in somebody’s picture in the last five years,” Mullin said.

What haunts him most are his old pictures. When he sees the pictures, he’s grateful that he stuck with the change but regretful and angry that it took him so long. He worries that while he was struggling with his weight, his sons’ childhoods were flying by, and he wasn’t the role model he wanted to be.

“I’m hoping that I did not miss much of my two sons’ teenage years,” Mullin said.

“That’s the bigger thing — hoping I didn’t screw it up and ruin their lives because of how I was handling my life.”

In the last nine months, Hovde has lost 100 pounds. He’s able to live life more fully, but it required a complete 180 degree lifestyle turn.

“

plans to lose 20-25 more pounds, but his health is radically better. For the first time since college, he’s under 200 pounds.

Hovde and Mullin are both open to sharing their experiences with students.

Hovde hopes to inspire overweight kids who’ve given up on trying to lose weight.

“I was in my lifestyle for a very long time, and I was able to change it and get healthier... If I’m able to do that ...I think others can do it too.”

- Adam Hovde, Environmental Science teacher

However, memories of the past have not yet left Hovde either.

“I still see myself as overweight,” Hovde said. “When I look in the mirror I still see that guy with 100 more pounds on him. I still consider myself obesely overweight because that’s the way I’ve been for the last 14 or 15 years. I can’t get away from it now.”

Hovde believes it will take several years to overcome the way he sees his body. He

“I was in my lifestyle for a very long time, and I was able to change it and get healthier,” Hovde said. “If I’m able to do that after 20 years of living a crappy lifestyle, I think others can do it too.”

The best thing Mullin hopes he can teach his sons and others through his experience is humility — humility to admit not everything is okay.

“It’s okay to say I’ve got a problem,” Mullin said. “I was stupid, and I let that get in the way. And I’m glad I fixed it.”

Hovde teaches a physics class, filling in for another teacher.

Design Jolie Mullings & Sarah Newton

Feature

13

“ADS DON’T WORK.” THEY JUST DID.

Mulkey’s flowers & gifts 2300 highland village dr #420 highland village, tx 75077

Over

3,500 people

972-436-4502

THE

will see this ad.

www.mulkeysflowers.com

marquee

If you are interested in advertising or becoming a patron, contact themarcusmarquee@gmail.com.

societal

14

40%

$5.50 Special

BEST PIZZA IN TEXAS 2 YEARS IN A ROW 972-899-9989 Dine In

Carry Out

972-899-4378 Delivery

Catering

900 Parker Square, Suite 990 Flower Mound 75028

1940 FM 407 # 112 Highland Village, TX 75028

BLEED

RED

Photo Aeralyn Stinson

Disconnection in spirit

Graduates look back, compare changes in spirit Story Skyler Middleton Photos Sarah Newton

Cheers engulfed the crowds of students in the stands. It was the beginning of the 2006 school year and everything was just getting started. The room was vibrating, the seats were shaking and their chants grew louder. The teacher standing on the gym floor pointed to one section of the seats, and as she did, the cheers bounced off the walls.

“BOOM BAH.” She quickly turned around and reached her hand in the air towards the other section.

“HEY.” The football team ran into the gym, and the students went crazy. Their cheers roared when The Marquettes sashayed through the double doors.

Immediately forming their lines and falling into a kick routine. The students stood as the girls bowed.

The rest of the sports teams found their spots, as the students settled down.

Soccer player Samuel Garza stood alongside his teammates looking up into the stands. His friends’ smiles looked down from red seats. There was an upcoming game, so the school gathered the student body to show support for the teams.

Teachers, coaches, players and even parents joined in the gym. The players sat on the cold gym floor. Everyone’s eyes were on the cheerleaders. As one petite cheerleader was lifted, tossed into the air and spun, the audience’s eyes were locked, and their hands came together. Garza said that being able to get out of class and celebrate your peers was a great experience. …

Now a teacher, he stands on the stadium floor in front of his soccer players. Clapping along with the cheerleaders’ chant, he smiles, remembering his pep rallies here. That smile doesn’t last long when he looks into the seats above. Frowning faces and crossed arms meet Garza’s gaze. The seats are full of students on their phones.

It’s been ten years since Garza graduated, but he believes that the increase in social media has

16

In-Depth

Freshm an during th cheerleader, Re e home coming ese Grau chee game. rs along side

ection

ent s e stud

Th

sh

MHSMarquee.com

l spirit

choo ows s

g the

durin k out

for pin

her pee

rs

.

game

Design Jolie Mullings

Freshmen cheerleaders keep the fans riled up.

AT SE 3 2

MA VAR RCUS KIC SITY KOF

PM

F

F

@7

:3

E SID ST WE ROW

C

9 AT SE 3 2

US

RC

MA F

SEC

WE

ST S ROW IDE 9 S

MA

RC

US

EAT 23

n as rmatio

Oct. 31, 2017

SEA T 23

MA 0 PM STA RCUS DIU M

o their f y get in ld. it s r a V ie Junior n onto the f ru team

Design Jolie Mullings

TB ROW ALL 9

9

US RC Y MA RSIT FF VA KICKO

:30 US @7 ARC IUM M AD ST

enthusiastic is because they have more going on in their lives.

“Students have different priorities than they did years ago,” Hughes said, “That can contribute to the fact that school spirit is less important to them.”

Garza thinks that this isn’t a problem the school can help. He believes that the only way to really make a change in Marauder spirit is if the students want it.

“At the end of the day, it has to be a personal decision from kids themselves,” Garza said. “You’re in this school, and you’re with your friends and coming out there for a greater good than just yourself.”

SE

disconnected the students. He thinks that as the school grows it becomes harder to socialize with other students.

“We weren’t worried about what other people thought,” Garza said. “If they were going to tweet it.”

Teachers have been pushing for an increase in spirit within students. They introduced Red Nation and have added more clubs. They have attempted to make activities more interactive.

When Garza looks back on his experience here, he remembers the school spirit as high. Every sports team was celebrated and everyone wanted to support their peers.

He feels that the mentality has changed. For some students, not liking your school is cool, not participating is fun and picking on the ones that have spirit is a part of the high school culture now.

MHS9 English teacher, Kailey Hughes, doesn’t believe that the school spirit here is that different since she graduated. Hughes believes that on the new ninth grade campus there is a more prominent expression of spirit and thinks the only reason upperclassmen aren’t as

FOO

LL BA OT FO ROW

C F

SE

SEC F

otball

the fo

In-Depth

17

Impact of school spirit

Organizations on campus aim to boost enthusiasm

environment, but I knew it started with my cheerleaders.”

Students on campus also have ideas on how to increase spirit levels.

Sophomore Lani Kochler said she would increase spirit by having the administration give rewards for participating in spirit activities. Last year gift cards were given to the most spiritedly dressed students at some of the pep rallies.

“I think [school spirit] is important because it gets people excited and proud, and will maybe help them work harder,” junior Emily Johanan said. “I just don’t participate in school spirit. I’m not really sure.”

Junior Jennifer Garcia shows her school spirit by dressing up for most spirit days.

“I think that school spirit is important because it supports our school and supports all of our teams,” Garcia said. “It just shows that we care about our school and that we’re here to win.”

hard at what they do, you want to support them,” Essex said.

She said she has seen spirit improve in the four years she’s been on campus. “[Being a cheerleader] definitely made me a lot more spirited,” Essex said. “I love going to all the events and cheering for everyone.”

The content of the pep rallies has changed due to cheerleading coach Britanee Brown trying to reach out to a wider range of groups on campus to participate. Those who responded include drum line, Empire club and Fusion.

“I started asking students ‘what do you want to see?’ at the pep rallies because the way I planned it may not be the way you want them to be,” Brown said.

When she first started working on campus three years ago, Brown noticed a culture with a “dry sense of spirit” and low spirit levels among the cheerleaders.

“I knew that [school spirit] was something that I had a desire to build,” Brown said. “I didn’t really know how to change the spirit in such a large

Story Kendall Cooper Recently, school spirit has been a prevalent topic of discussion among students and staff. A lack of enthusiasm at pep rallies in previous years inspired a new push for school spirit on campus.

This year Red Nation, an organization on campus with the goal of boosting school spirit, was created by English teacher Emily Strauss. One way the organization tries to increase spirit is by putting up spirit posters around campus.

“I think that [the posters] are really working,” student body president Gabrielle Gutwein said. “We’ve still got a long ways to go, but it’s not too bad anymore.”

Student council and the cheerleaders also play a role in encouraging school spirit. Student council decides what the homecoming spirit days will be each year, but the cheerleaders decide all of the other spirit day themes.

Senior varsity cheerleader Alana Essex said that school spirit is important to her.

“When you see other people working

1-5

Students’ opinions vary on school spirit SEC F

9

- 5, 1 m o r scale f a n chool O s f 1) o y t quali e h t e t a r rcus. a M t a spirit

LL BA OT FO ROW

C F

SE

FOO TB ROW ALL 9

AT SE 3 2

US RC Y MA RSIT FF VA KICKO

A ST

PM :30 US @7 ARC IUM M D

F

E SID ST WE ROW

C SE

9 AT SE 3 2

US

RC

MA F

SEC

MA VAR RCUS SIT KOF Y

KIC

:3

WE ST S ROW IDE 9 S

MA

RC

US

EAT 23

1

3 2 1 5.3%

18

In-Depth

12.7%

28.7%

32%

5%

21.3%

2 8.3%

Compiled Jackson Bednarczyk Polled out of 300 students MHSMarquee.com

best

2) Rate h ow impor tan you believ e school s t pirit is.

F

@7

MA 0 PM STA RCUS DIU M

5 4

worst

SEA T 23

3 18.7%

4 25%

5 43%

Design Jolie Mullings

eel f u yo w o te h rallies. a R 3) pep t u abo 4 3 2 1 9.3%

16.3%

23%

5

22%

29.3%

Photo Aalayah Woodley Sophomores Abby Welke, Ellie Conley, and Isabella Fortino take part in Twin Day for Battle of the Mound.

4) Rate how much school sp irit you h ave.

1

2

12.7%

3

11.7%

25.7%

4

5

28.7%

21.3%

Photo Submitted The English department dressed up as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. From left to right, Michelle Schwolert, Wendi Spurgeon, Jennifer Forthun, Jason Poe, Stefanie Napolitan, Miriam McLeod, Ashley Gandy, Debbie Brininstool, and Mindy Sample.

st way to e b e h t is 5) What l spirit? o o h c s e s increa More pep rallies!

6) If there is a lack of school spirit at Marcus, what’s the cause of it?

20.6%

It’s cool to be against school spirit.

More spirit days! 16% Less restrictions on student expression.

11.7%

Upperclassmen don’t demonstrate strong school spirit.

44.3%

More recognition of smaller 19% clubs and sports teams.

We don’t have enough outlets for school spirit.

Other

OCT 31, 2017

27.3% 25.3% 35.7%

Team members John Mackie, Josh Godwin, Kyle Peacock and others listen to Coach Nance’s pre-practice speech.

Pinned to the Sport

Bowling club members speak on love of sport Story Arantza Azurmendi Photos Chase Martin The crash of bowling pins fills the room of the AMF bowling lanes along with the upbeat music where the bowling team practices every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Teammates clap and cheer for their friends when they bowl a strike.

Players may have some things on their mind when they are going to release the ball in order the achieve a good score.

When junior Jacob Kohankie is up on the floor with the ball in his hand, Kohankie thinks about throwing it at the right angle and about the momentum of the ball. On the other hand, some bowlers are more relaxed when they release the

ball from their grasp and watch it make its way down the lane.

“Usually nothing is on my mind. You’re supposed to be cool, calm and collected

“

20

Sports

“The real meaning of it is to just have fun.”

-Ivy Forbey, 11

and not think about anything,” junior Ivy Forbey said. “You’re just trying to get the ball down the lane.”

Junior Jana Ghanem focuses on the pins and how to release the ball, all while eyes are on her.

Although bowling may be a competitive sport, many members, like Forbey, have made friends while on the team. That wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for Allen Nance. He’s been the bowling coach since the beginning.

Nance grew up bowling with his brother and father on the weekends. He enjoyed the sport and just played as a hobby. Then Nance played in a league for many years.

Nance later began teaching on campus and heard that students were trying to

“

MHSMarquee.com

Design Staff

assemble a bowling club. The group of students decided to help create the bowling club. The second year of the club, Nance coached the sport.

Nance and other students agree they like bowling because it’s a sport that anybody can learn and enjoy. He thinks it takes 50 percent knowledge and 50 percent skill.

The regular season starts Nov. 1 and continues through February. Playoffs begin in March. Then, in the first and second weeks of April, the all district tournament takes place.

••• Ghanem started bowling her freshman year. She joined the team because her friends told her to join it for fun. Then as she started going to the practices, she met new people and found herself enjoying the sport.

“It’s something different, and you get to be part of a team,” Ghanem said. “The teams are small so it kind of feels like a little family.”

A couple of members have found that since joining, not only has their skill improved, but their self confidence and image has too.

Although it can be stressful at times because of tournaments, the young bowlers, like Forbey, truly love this sport because it’s something that anyone can do no matter your age.

Junior Jayden Nunn trying to beat his final game score.

Junior Kayta Roehlk needs this strike to achieve the pefect score.

Junior Jacob Kohankie walks up to land a spare to finish his turn.

Design Staff

Oct. 31, 2017

Sports

21

Goatman’s Bridge

Photo Chase Martin

The Old Alton bridge just above the river that runs through the forest, pictured above.

The legend of Oscar Washburn Story Aidann Zuniga

Old Alton Bridge, which has been called haunted

“Goatman’s Bridge,” attracts many brave and curious adventurers every year. It’s supernatural atmosphere is too strong to resist, especially during the Halloween season.

Because of this, many stories, paranormal or not, spread like wildfire. No one can be too sure if they’re just rumors, or if the legend lingers for real.

One legend is from the year 1938. An African-American entrepreneur named Oscar Washburn and his family owned a goat farm, known for their meat, milk and cheese. One night, Washburn decided to put up a sign on Old Alton advertising his farm. This was the last straw for the local Klan, and they began to plot their vengeance.

Not too long after, a mob went out for Washburn. They dragged him to the bridge, where a noose was set for him.

His screams echoed through the forest, begging to be spared.

But his cries for help were ignored as they tightened the rope

22

Entertainment

around his neck before tossing him over the bridge.

Celebrating their victory, the Klan headed down the bridge to see their success. Once they got to the bottom, their faces turned whiter than their cloaks. The noose hung undisturbed with Washburn nowhere in sight.

To this day, no one has any idea where he went. Some say his irate spirit lurks through the forest, presenting himself as a satyr — a man with the head of a goat.

Is this really Oscar Washburn? Or is this creature behind the disappearance of Washburn? Or is it a myth? The story has been passed around so many times that no one knows Oscar’s true fate.

Other popular stories surrounding Old Alton are the mysterious noises that only occur at night. Some claim to hear horses running through the forest, someone drowning in the river underneath the bridge and ominous growling behind bushes and trees. No solid answer has been given for these anomalies, only leaving more questions to be left unanswered.

MHSMarquee.com

Design Shay Wegele

Haunted encounter at Old Alton Bridge It was late on a dark and cold night about a week away from

Halloween. Pranksters and brave souls alike were scattered throughout the forest, including Junior Carolyn Locke. She and two friends began their journey two years ago just like everyone else — on the bridge.

“We were walking just past the bridge,” Locke said. “On the side … there was someone standing there in a clown mask.”

The masked man stood there in silence, eyeing down the girls as they passed by with caution. His gaze seemed to follow their trail until he was out of sight. Who knows how long he stood there, spooking other guests as they trekked into the forest.

Perhaps he’s always been there, stuck in the realm of the woods waiting for thrill seekers of all kinds to pass by — patiently keeping his post until someone crept too close or wandered too far from their friends. No one can be too certain about anything around Goatman’s Bridge.

After successfully passing through, they found their way onto a trail that leads through the forest. Batting away spiders and suspicious looking plants, they strolled through peacefully.

Suddenly, their light conversation stopped as the quiet night air was pierced with a distant scream. The girls slowed

their pace, looking around for a sign of where the sound might have come from. A second scream, then a third one.

After some speculation, Locke and her friends realized they weren’t hearing screams, but howling.

“It wasn’t animal,” Locke said. “It was like people howling.

There was a difference.”

The howls went on throughout the night as they continued their journey. Keeping close to their trail as they went deeper into the forest, the darkness began to get to them. Trees seemed to turn into people. Every sound of clothes shuffling seemed to be louder than usual, and innocent bugs whizzing past ears and faces appeared to be bats. Eyes wide open and ears to the ground, the girls were determined to not let anything spook them.

One of Carolyn’s friends, a skeptic of the supernatural, shrieked as they heard rustling in bushes behind them. They whirled around, expecting around to see friend half way up a tree, but no one was there. They searched the area for a suspect.

“I’m hoping it was an animal,” Lock said. “It sounded like footsteps, like someone running but no one was there.”

The culprit behind the rustling was never found, seeming to have disappeared into the night just as it came. Have they disturbed an unstable spirit? Trespassed into the territory of the Goatman? Whatever it may have been, it was not happy the girls were there. Next time, it might not be so willing to let people pass unscathed.

Photo Hannah Klein One of two signs just outside of the bridge, giving a light descriptions of Old Alton’s history.

Entertainment

23

Steal Their Look m arcus Edition

Story Chloe White Photos Hannah Klein

Senior Kevin Poyer does most of his shopping at either Thrift City or Goodwill. He’s inspired by Humans of New York, a blog that features photos and interviews of people from the streets of New York City. “[I choose my outfits based on] how I’m feeling for the day,” Poyer said. “If I feel more energetic I’ll dress up more, but if I’m feeling tired I’ll just dress lazy.”

Junior Alexis Nyland finds most of her clothes either from thrifting or Etsy, coming up with outfit ideas from Pinterest, and drawing inspiration from 90s fashion.

24

“You can tell a lot about a person by what they wear,” Nyland said.

“When you see someone with a good outfit you want to talk to them.”

Entertainment

Some students just care about wearing a clean shirt or jeans — but not these students. They’re the ones that catch your attention as they walk through the hallways, making you wonder how they make it look so effortless. The secret’s out: now YOU can find out where some of the most fashionable students get their clothes and fashion inspiration.

Freshman Abby Grace Collinsworth finds her outfits at either American Eagle or Buckle, along with similar stores. She chooses her outfit based on her shoes — her favorite fashion choices are tall boots and layering.

“I just like to present myself in a good way and look nice,” Collinsworth said.

Freshmen Adam Hotei gets fashion inspiration from Kanye West, who he looks up to for his “casual, but stylish” look.

He finds his outfits from Zumiez and stores in the mall, looking for clothes that he can fit with the most other clothes. He usually wears chinos, since they go with most other clothes easily.

“The way you dress can influence how people view you,” Hotei said. “If you don’t dress that well people usually view you as low self esteem.”

Design Shay Wegele

Oct. 31, 2017

Entertainment

25

Halloween Candy Story & Photos Shayla Sistrunk

Every year for Halloween, children and teens wander around their neighborhoods looking for sweet treats. Instead of settling for the classic Snickers or even a snack size licorice, trying something new could bring some more excitement to this spooky holiday. Here are a couple of recipes that are tasty enough to scare your friends and family to death.

Googling Eye Bars

Prep time: 45 minutes Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray the bottom and sides of a large pan with cooking spray.

2. Mix the cookie mix, oil, water and eggs until soft dough forms.

Stir in 1/2 cup of the Reese’s Pieces peanut butter candy and the peanut butter chips. Press the dough in the bottom of pan and sprinkle it with the remaining 1/4 cup of the Reese’s Pieces.

Ingredients:

•Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix •2 eggs •¾ cup Reese’s Pieces •¾ cup Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips •1 tbsp. candy eyeballs

3. Place the already made candy eyeballs randomly over top the top of the bars and press slightly into dough.

4. Bake the bars for 16-20 minutes or until they are a light golden brown.

Let the bars cool for about 1 hour.

Cut them into six rows by four rows and store in a glass airtight container.

26

Entertainment

MHSMarquee.com

Design Aeralyn Stinson

Spooky Severed Fingers Prep time: 1 Hour Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line two baking sheets with or parchment paper. Place food coloring in a shallow bowl. Take the almonds and crack wholes into halves. Toss them into the bowl and mix in the coloring. Leave them until the color is dark.

Ingredients:

*2 tbsp. red food coloring *30 blanched almonds * 2 large eggs * 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract * 1/2 cup butter at room temperature * 1/2 cup powdered sugar * 5 tbsp. granulated sugar * 1 pinch salt * 1 2/3 cups all purpose flour

2. Separate one egg then set aside the white part. In a small bowl, whisk together the yolk, remaining egg, and vanilla. With an electric mixer, combine butter, confectioners’ sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. Add egg mixture, and mix for about 2 minutes.

Add the flour and mix on low speed just until it reaches a thick consistency.

Wrap the dough in plastic and chill it until firm for 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Divide the dough in half. Work with one piece at a time keeping the remaining dough covered with plastic wrap and chilled. Divide the first half into fifteen pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece back and forth with palms into finger shapes, 3 to 4 inches long. Pinch dough in two places to form knuckles.

Score each knuckle lightly with the back of a small knife. Transfer fingers to prepared baking sheets.

4. When all fingers are formed, brush lightly with egg white. Position the almonds as nails and push them into dough to attach. Bake until lightly browned for about 12 minutes.

Design Aeralyn Stinson

Oct. 31, 2017

Entertainment

27

A different type of normal Morgan Maxwell

For months I woke up in the morning and expected the same old thing, more clumps of my hair to continue falling out from my anxiety. I prepared myself for another day of feeling less in control than the last. I looked in the mirror one last time and noticed my shaky hands. It was going to be a rough day.

For so long I was an optimistic person.

I didn’t let the small things in life get to me. But as I got older and the reality of life set in more and more, it got harder to fight off the feeling of not being enough or messing something up.

I was on edge, and I always hid away in my room. Away from things that could flip my mood in a matter of seconds like my mom asking me to do my laundry or clean the dishes. My anxiety wasn’t a feeling I could control. I was helpless by myself.

My mom and I decided to ask for

@morganmaxwell_ medical help, so we called our pediatrician.

It almost seemed weird to me that I was calling a kid’s doctor for what always seemed to be an adult battle. When I got to the doctor’s office with my dad the doctor asked my dad to step out of the room as she asked me a list of questions.

After I finished the yes and no portion, she called my dad back into the room. She crossed her legs and said, “Well what we are going to do is put you on some medication to take care of your depression and anxiety.” She smiled at me.

What was there to smile about putting a 15-year-old on medication that I might have to take for the rest of my life? I put my head down. I felt embarrassed for being different and needing help.

I feared being an outcast from my siblings for the battle I had started fighting alone. Since my older brother was a big time football player and my little sister was great at archery, I felt like the fool of the family. My friends and family told me I really didn’t have a reason to be depressed because I was always such a happy girl.

Many mornings I woke up sick because of my medicine. I felt like I couldn’t go to school. Some days I woke up happy and at peace with myself, but other days I just wanted to go back to bed and hide in my room forever. I didn’t want to be the girl who looked happy on the outside but felt lost on the inside. I was lonely.

My parents watched for signs of my depression getting worse. I didn’t want to make it more noticeable than it already was.

The whole situation was already like an elephant in the room when I was with my family. No one wanted to say something that would set me off.

Everyone danced around it and treated me like a fragile doll. But I just wanted to be treated normally.

For seven months I was getting better, and I was able to get my anxiety under control. It seemed like a miracle to me.

My family and friends finally stopped treating me so differently, and we went back to our old ways of joking around every chance we had.

But when the stresses of teenage life overwhelmed me, my hair started falling out again, and my mood swings were off the charts. It was time to go back to the doctor.

A year later, I’m still on my medicine.

Sometimes I’m embarrassed when people tell me I have no reason to be depressed or anxious because they think I’m always happy.

The feeling of not being good enough for anyone still lingers, but I’m starting the process of learning to see myself for who I am. Through all of my struggles, I realized I’m perfectly fine the way God made me, and I need to see myself in the way He sees me.

Boom Bahs — Things we like Atriums

Cafes

Getting a daily dose of fresh air and enjoying the beautifully arranged flowers makes every lunch period a peaceful one. With all the running around and stressing over next period’s test, the atrium is a great on campus spot to relax.

Before first period, it’s always nice to grab a fresh cup of coffee or a quick breakfast, especially if you slept in.

With a variety of muffins, chips and sandwiches, there’s an endless list of things you can mix and match to provide a perfect meal.

28

Opinion

MHSMarquee.com

Upstairs Seating Area The new chairs and tables upstairs make the whole area look brand new.

The ability to spread out and hang out upstairs before, during and after school, playing card games or reading a library book, gives you something to look forward to in the middle of the week.

Design Jolie Mullings

The person I am today @_skylerw23

Skyler Middleton

The clicks of my 5 in. heels echoed as we hiked the stairs looking for our row. The cold stadium seats brought goosebumps down my arms, and the anticipation grew in the air. My grandpa’s Old Spice cologne was on my right while my uncles excitement radiated from my left.

My mom was graduating from TWU with a bachelor’s degree in social work.

She left high school early with her GED and went straight to working. It wasn’t until I was in middle school that she decided to go back to college to start a career for herself.

Smiles spread across the stadium as my eyes darted around the floor looking for my mom.

Her dark curled hair, the black cap with silver writing and her golden sash with matching cords. My eyes couldn’t seem to focus on her because there was

sea of people dressed almost identically.

The graduating class of 2015 was lined up on the floor when I locked eyes with her.

She was dramatically waving her arms to get our attention and had her body turned all the way around to look up at her family. My grandpa and my uncles were there because they were excited and proud. I was there because she was always there for me, no matter what.

We’ve been alone since I was three months old. As a single mom, she had to fill the role of both parents. My mom had no time for herself. She had to work full time to support us and then come home and be a mother. We moved around a lot trying to find a perfect fit. From Spur to Lubbock to Frisco to Shallow Water and now Flower Mound. Moving was always hard, but no matter what town, what house or what school, all we needed was each other. Without her I wouldn’t be who I am today.

The only constant thing in my life was my mom, and I will forever be grateful for her.

We were best friends before I even understood those words. We are always finding new shows to binge watch together, and neither of us can pass up a Sunday morning filled with coffee and Say Yes to the Dress. But trust me, we would both much rather sleep in. And as I grow older, I realize she is the best mom

Heys — Things we don’t like Piercing Policy Over the years, times have changed and so has the stigma behind piercings. These days most of the people you meet have one type of piercing or another. We should be able to have other types of piercings besides ear piercings and a nose stud at school because it’s important for students to express themselves.

Design Jolie Mullings

PDA

anyone could ever ask for.

When she told me she was going back to school, I was shocked. My mom was going to go get her bachelor’s degree so she could do what she’s been dreaming of for so long — social work. She changed her degree multiple times, but I always supported whichever path she wanted to take. Those four years didn’t pass so smoothly though. There were times when she wanted to give up.

There were days where all she wanted to do was sit on the couch and watch TV with me, but her dedication to get that diploma was greater. She spent weekends editing essays and studying. Some days I was almost jealous of her computer, but I was too proud of her to say anything.

So as I watched them call her name, a single tear found its way onto my cheek, followed by a bright smile on my face.

Watching her walk across that stage and get her diploma I saw the thousands of cups of coffee, the candy pumpkins and the Friends reruns—I saw the woman that raised me.

My mom found her seat as I lowered into mine. The tear stained my cheek as she turned to look at me. Our smiles matched as we realized she finally did it.

After everything we’ve been through, she is an inspiration to me, and I have learned so much from her. She taught me that hard work pays off as long as your heart’s in it.

Wonky WiFi

We get that high school is the number one place to find love at this age, but not everyone wants to know about it. During school hours, most people just want to get through the day, finish homework and get to class on time. We don’t want to wait for the couple in the hallway to stop sucking face.

Oct. 31, 2017

For a technology based school, the wifi is not exactly ideal. You can practically forget about using the internet during Marauder Time when the entire school works on Eportfolios. It would be a lot less grief if different grades were scheduled on separate days to work on a school wide project.

Opinion

29

Bond stronger than state lines Morgan Maxwell Kendall Cooper

I confidently walked into the second grade classroom in Little Rock, Arkansas that radiated new possibilities. In the back of the room, the class lima bean plants were in little plastic cups. A large window behind them allowed sunlight to stream in. My hair was wild, and I had a goofy smile. I was ready for change.

My all too eager classmates swarmed me when my teacher explained that I was a new student who had just moved from Texas.

I took my seat next to a Nepali girl named Nistha, who wore dorky glasses and loved pink. I could tell she was smarter than everyone in the room just by looking at her. She read every book she could get her hands on. In fact, she had a race with another girl to see who could read the entire Harry Potter series faster.

Needless to say, Nistha won as she always does.

Little did we know that sitting by each other that first day in class would leave a profound impact on both of our lives.

We immediately granted each other

@kcooper2929 best friend status. After elementary school, she was there for me through all of my middle school phases, awkward boy drama and general craziness.

Everything was great — until the middle of my freshman year. My parents sat me down in our kitchen and told me we were moving back to Texas.

A sense of fear rippled through my body as I realized that my life as I knew it was about to completely change. The fear of the unknown is what scared me the most.

Nistha was the first person I told about the move. In a quiet voice, all she said was “what?” I think she was just as shocked as I was.

For awhile I had known that moving again was a possibility, but after living in the same place for seven years, I grew attached and comfortable. I had become close friends with the same people since I was young because I went to a private prep school with extremely small classes.

…

On my first day at Marcus, I hesitantly walked into my freshman English class that seemed to amplify my anxiousness.

Paperback copies of Animal Farm were in small stacks on each table. I had put effort into my hair, and I didn’t smile. I wasn’t ready for change.

During my first passing period, I remember having the stark realization that I was going to be trampled to death. The unfamiliar people everywhere completely overwhelmed me in ways I

Overheard “I don’t know if I’ve passed my goth phase yet.”

(Newsroom) “This is what I get for being straight.”

30

“If you want to pull staples out of my face you can.”

at “I will turn my social media empire into a monopoly.”

MHS

(Commons)

(Choir Hall)

(Downstairs C Hall)

Opinion

didn’t know were possible.

After I got home from my first day, I called Nistha and cried. She reassured me of my self worth and told me it would just take time for me to be happy again. I missed the security of my old school and old friends so much that my chest felt heavy, and my hands trembled.

At the time, I was terrified of gradually losing her to the mileage between us and then ending up truly alone. Now, I know that even though we live separate lives, we’ll always be close.

I eventually began pushing myself to break my shyness bubble. It was incredibly difficult at first, but I eventually learned to be relatively outgoing.

Now, Nistha and I are in really good places. We still call almost every day, and she’s still the first person I tell when something big happens, like when I had my first wreck and when I almost moved again. She’s most likely going to an Ivy League school, and I’m planning to follow my dream of going to University of Florida. I’ve made amazing friends in Texas, and I’m truly happy. We alternate visits between Arkansas and Texas. When we do finally see each other, it’s like absolutely nothing has changed since we keep each other so up to date on our lives.

Living far away from someone you’re close to is difficult and sometimes emotionally demanding. But, if you truly have a deep bond with someone, distance shouldn’t keep you apart because true friendship knows no boundaries.

“These enchiladas are cold and upsetting.”

(Cafeteria)

Compiled Marc Kidwell

“Coconut head is my dream boyfriend.”

(Choir Hall)

Journalism is essential to our freedom Staff Editorial

THE MARQUEE

Anger flows through the raised fists of those who walk and block the streets in assembly. Crowds of people from all different races, genders and religions gather and use their voices or stoic faces to exercise their rights and speak out against injustices.

The unseen eyes of the storm — individuals wielding cameras, recorders and even their phones report what they see and capture moments in history.

Journalists are our eyes to the events that have shaped our nation. We must protect our right to free press, because without a way to hold those in power accountable, a democracy can become a dictatorship.

Therefore, journalism is essential to the freedom of our country.

In North Korea, the government controls all media its citizens see. Meaning they can alter it to make them believe whatever the government publishes as truth. They’ve manipulated their citizens, and have forced them to live in ignorance.

Russia and China also persuade people into devoted patriotism and push hatred

m

towards enemy countries like the US. Instead of taking advantage of the unrecognized beauty of free reporting, these countries censor media outlets to benefit the government, not the people.

Without the ability to report events truly and without bias, the public would be left completely in the dark. We would have no control over what is happening inside our government, even though we are promised a right to speak up for what we believe is best.

For example, the coverage in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria’s devestation was an important aid in understanding just how affected the island had become. Without the reporters and photojournalists, Puerto Rico would be left to drown. We would have no information on what resources or help they needed.

This type of journalism not only saves the lives of those in emergency situations, but also ensures that those accountable for fixing the problem at hand actually follow through with their promised aid.

If we don’t have free press, then we

may never see media like this. Although they may not be flattering towards those in power, they are necessary to our involvement in our country.

If journalism is censored, the masses could become incredibly ignorant and easily manipulated.

News outlets are the gatekeepers of information. And while they bridge the gap between government and their people, they can still be controversial and biased from time to time.

Fake news does exist, but it’s not as prevelant as it is commonly thought to be.

Just because an article like a column or editorial holds an opinion, doesn’t mean it’s fake news.

Opinion pieces have a space inside journalism, because they can give voice to the voiceless, like those stranded in Puerto Rico.

If we want to keep all of our freedoms, if we want to keep our country accountable and transparent, we must protect our right to free press with the same pride and dignity we do for freedom of religion, speech and assembly.

How does having school spirit impact your high school experience?

Compiled Arantza Azurmendi

“If you don’t have a lot of school spirit, then you can’t motivate the other kids around you. If you show spirit, then it rubs off on other people to help give yourself more positivity.”

-Brady Jones, 9

REMARKS

“I think that having school spirit impacts high school, that you want to be here, you look forward to things, and you show up to things.”

-Emily Strauss, English

Design Kelly Rowe

“It’s good, the blackout pep rally we had, everyone was motivated, and everybody was coming together, and that’s what I like to see.

Everybody coming together and supporting one another.”

-Chris Amonson, 11 “More school spirit you have, the more motivated I am to do better in school. If I didn’t have school spirit, I feel like I wouldn’t have good grades or anything like that.”

-Zander Olson, 12 Opinion

31

BOYS OF FALL

Design Jackson Bednarczyk Photos Hannah Klein, Angelina Amilibia, Shayla Sistrunk, Morgan Maxwell

Senior Garrett Dickson celebrates a touchdown in the Battle of the Axe victory. The Marauders are 4-3 so far on the season.

Junior Justin Dinka sheds tackles in 31-14 win at Mansfield.

Seniors Trey Loera, Josh Dunham, Collin Johnson and junior Gus Sralla gather around Coach Atkinson after the 29-7 victory at L.D. Bell.

Crew member Logan Cavalier hypes up the crowd during a Battle of the Axe.

Seniors Xavier Maxwell, Tom Collins and Brendan Griner take a knee for an injured player at L.D. Bell.