February 2016 Stinger by The Stinger

TINGE R S THE

Irmo High School 6671 St. Andrews Rd. Columbia, SC 29212

Photo Credit: Abigail Hutchinson

volume 50, issue 2

the student voice of Irmo High School

February 12, 2016

THE

STINGER STAFF editor-in-chief business manager lifestyle editor features editor opinions editor news editor sports editor circulation manager photography editor staff cordinator adviser The goals of The Stinger are to inform the Irmo High School community about issues of interest through fair and accurate reporting, responsible editorials and enlightening features and to provide an advertising medium in the Irmo community. The Stinger is published six times a year (including a spring prom supplement and a yearend senior class supplement) by Journalism IIIV newspaper students at Irmo High School. Staff editorials reflect the views of a majority of The Stinger senior editorial board. Bylined editorials, cartoons and personal columns reflect the opinions of individual writers or artists. Letters to the editor: The Stinger welcomes letters to the editor from readers. Letters must be signed by their authors and include contact information; the authenticity of the writer will be verified before publication. Letters may be delivered INDEX

Abigail Hutchinson Mariah Kennedy Corey Davis Ahanti Bookman Naomi White Mariah Kennedy Josalyn Helrigel Lanece Davidson Josalyn Helrigel Jessica McCrae Brennan Davis to The Stinger office (room 107) or e-mailed to alexalvega@aol. com, rachelmann06@ gmail.com or adviser@ ihsstinger.com. Letters may be edited for offensiveness, libel, grammar, space or style. Requests for anonymity may be considered in cases of sensitive subjects. For advertising information or to request a subscription, please call (803) 476-3071. School District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex, age, disability or handicap in admission to, or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs or activities. Inquires should be directed to the Chief Officer of Human Resource Services (Title IX Coordinator) and the Director of Special Services (504/ ADACoordinator) at P.O. Box 938, Ballentine, SC 29002, (803) 476-8110, www.lex5.k12.sc.us.

Karen Armstrong: Working on a Valentine’s Day themed art piece.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Irmo! In this issue, we will be exploring the idea of love in many of our stories. Check out each article to see how love can take many different forms and types. I wish all of you an unforgettable Valentine’s Day. The Stinger staff appreciates all of your support and we hope that you enjoy this issue! -Abbie

news

Columbia steals hearts in 2016 - 3 Irmo undergoes renovations- 5

lifestyle

Remembering the father of black history month-6 Heartbreak reveals the effects of true love-8

features

February keeps the history of love alive- 10

opinions sports

The three shades of red -16 What’s the point? -17 War and Peace -18 Name brands aren’t Gucci -19

Irmo basketball’s top 8 shoot for success- 20 Students join club teams- 22 THE STINGER

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news

Columbia Steals Hearts in 2016 February has arrived, and with it has come aisles of heart-shaped candies, cute cards with puns, and fluffy stuffed animals with ribbons. Although Valentine’s Day seems to steal the show for the month of February, there are plenty of events happening in Columbia this month. Events such as The Cinderella Project, Midlands Heart Ball, and Cupid’s Chase 5K have been going on for years. Each event is themed around Valentine’s Day and are unique ways to spend this holiday. The Cinderella project is an event in which high school girls are able to try on and select new and gently used prom dresses, shoes and accessories all for the cost of a student ID to enter. The event is open to all high school girls who are unable to spend the money they want to afford their dream prom dress. In charge of the Columbia boutique is Erica Lybrand who has been a part of the project for many years. The boutique for Columbia will be open on February 27 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will be located in the Brooklyn Baptist Church gymnasium. “This is the third year having the event at Brooklyn Baptist, prior to having it there we’ve had it at the law school at USC. Having it at Brooklyn Baptist al-

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lows for more space and secure changing areas for the girls to try on their dresses,” Lybrand said. The Cinderella Project is on its

“We all realized prom is a very special time for people in high school and so the original idea came from the understanding that some people couldn’t afford the prom for financial reasons.” - Erica Lybrand

14th year and has one mission; to allow any girl to have their dream prom dress, not just those who can afford it. “The idea behind the Cinderella Project was to afford everyone the opportunity to attend their high school prom. We all realized prom is a very special time for people in high school and so the original idea came from the understanding that some people couldn’t afford the prom for financial reasons,” said Lybrand. Because The Cinderella Project is happening this close to Valentine’s Day, the environment at the boutique feels that much more special to the girls who attend the event. Another February event happening on Saturday February 20 is the 26th annual Midlands Heart Ball. This event helps raise awareness for the American Heart Association of the midlands. Ivey Hatfield who is the communications director of this event, is one of the many people who make such a large gala possible. The event will take place at the South Carolina State Museum due to its large open space and many artifacts native CUPID’S CHASE LOGO:This is an advertisment for the 5K that is in to the midlands. support of people with disabilities. “The event is February 12, 2016

held at the South Carolina State Museum which is very unique to the midlands, it holds South Carolina history so you get to see part of the museum which is a treat I would definitely say,” Hatfield said. Having the event in February is no coincidence as February is National Heart Month. The two themes pair together in all the right ways to make the event one to remember. People who attend this even often have some kind of connection to the American Heart Association, however, anyone interested in the event is welcome to attend. “I think the people come because they all have a connection to the Heart Association whether it’s a loved one effected by cardiovascular disease or maybe they’re just really passionate about the Heart Association’s mission,” said Hatfield. The Midlands Heart Ball although, well known in the Columbia/Irmo area, is always in need of new supporters of their cause, and what better time to do it than “the heart month.” One more way Columbia is celebrating Valentine’s Day this year is through the Cupids Chase 5K run located at Maxcy Gregg Park in Five Points. The 5K will take place on February 13 just one day before Valentine’s Day. The race was founded by Community Options, inc. however there are many people working in local positions nationwide who help put the 5K together such as Dorothy Goodwin from Community Options, Columbia. The race was originally created to raise awareness for people in local communities with disabilities. “Community Options, Inc. is a private non-profit agency that provides residential and employment supports to persons with intellectual disabilities. The Cupid’s Chase Run began as a way for Community Options, Inc. to host one national fundraiser while making the public aware of who we are and how we support a very special group of citizens NEWS

with intellectual disabilities in South Carolina and in nine other states,” said Goodwin. Those who register for the race will receive a goody bag filled with donations from corporations in support of the event. Participants will also receive a long sleeved shirt that will signify if the runner is single, or taken. This aspect of the race adds a Valentine’s Day twist to keep the event light hearted and fun for the racers.

The event, although very close to Valentine’s Day, does not compete with the holiday, but rather the two coincide. “Our event actually serves as stress relief. Folks run, walk, and enjoy the company of other runners. The atmosphere is cheerful and entertaining with bands, dancers, music and raffle prizes,” Goodwin said. In the spirit of all that is Valentine’s, these events are just a few of the many ways the Irmo/Columbia community is going outside of the box to celebrate the holiday of love. Other events similar to the ones listed above can be found at www.columbiacvb.com along with more information about The Cinderella Project, Midlands Heart Ball, and the Cupids Chase 5K run. Naomi White, opinions editor naomiwhite@ihsstinger.com Abbie Hutchinson, editor-in-chief abbiehutch@gmail.com

Find the 10 differences Find and circle the 10 differences in the photos below.

NEWS

THE STINGER

Irmo undergoes renovations The beginning of 2016 has brought many changes to the town of Irmo. The city has seen some recent changes that are bringing some new merchants and renovated shops to the area. After several stores have gone out of business in the previous years such as Blockbuster, there is a lot of space for new buildings and new businesses. As the new buildings go up, they bring a new style along with them that offers a fresh landscape. Along with the physical updates of the buildings themselves, an update in the type of businesses has also occurred. New merchants such as Blaze Pizza, Salsarita’s, and Del Taco have recently opened in Irmo. While these businesses have never existed in the Irmo area before 2016, even some places such as Little Caesars that have been around for years are moving to the newly updated parts of town. Many of these renovations have residents of the town of Irmo excited to see their place of living evolve. Jake Faber,

a junior at Irmo High School, enjoys the new upgrades that are occurring in town. “I really like how the new buildings look. It gives character to many of the buildings that didn’t look so good before,” Faber said. He also believes these renovations should continue. “I hope they keep doing more. I’d really like to see the whole town of Irmo looking more like the buildings on Bower Parkway,” Faber said. “They need to take all these little run down places and patch them up to look new.” Liam Kerley, a student at Irmo High School, believes that the renovations are too little too late. “These renovations should have happened a long time ago. With all of these cities getting these urban, artsy buildings and whole foods stores, it’s a given that Irmo should have had this a long time ago. I really hope that this isn’t just a one time thing and that more of these things continue to happen,” Kerley said.

With all of these new buildings getting revamped, the demands for a newer looking town are finally getting fulfilled. Plans for future development in Irmo include a Costco being built on Piney Grove Road, renovations to Irmo Village Shopping Center behind Lizard’s Thicket on St. Andrews Road, as well as new, urban style houses being built in areas such as Nursery Road. Corey Davis, lifestyle editor coreydavis@ihsstinger.com

FUTURE PLANS FOR IRMO: The proposed site fo r the new Costco in Irmo is at 507 Piney Grove Road where it intersects with Fernandina Road. Other future renovation sites include the Irmo Village Shopping Center on St. Andrews Road and a new Del Taco on Harbison Boulevard. February 12, 2016

NEWS

lifestyle

Remembering the Father of

Museum Exhibit: This exhibit at the museum shows slave life on the plantations. This month, there are many things to acknowledge, like Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day for example. When we hear February, we immediately think about Valentine’s Day. One celebration that people tend to forget about is Black History Month. Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by Black Americans and for recognizing the central role of African Americans in United States history. Some don’t know how Black History came to be or why February was chosen as Black History Month. We have African American scholar/historian Carter G. Woodson to thank for that. In all actuality, Woodson originally wanted the time of celebration to be the second week of February. Woodson chose February for the celebration to honor the birth months of Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.He is known as the “Father of Black History.” According to Biography.com, Carter G. Woodson was born in Virginia on December 19, 1875. Woodson was born into poverty, but escaped through education. After being one of the first African Americans to receive a doctorate from Harvard, Woodson devoted his career to studying African American history.

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Throughout his studies, he noticed that African Americans weren’t included or were misinterpreted in the early history books. Ancella Bickley Collection

In 1915, Woodson was a co-founder for an association for studying African American lives and their history. The original name changed over time to the Study of Afro-American Life and History. The goal was placing the historical

contributions of Blacks front and center in the history books. The very next year, he established a series of journals that allowed African Americans to write themselves into history and history books. Woodson also formed the African American owned Associated Publishers’ Press in 1921. Through the years, he published more than a dozen books. One publication was a book of self-empowerment for African Americans. Woodson influenced schools and organizations to participate in a special program to encourage and emphasize the study of Black history. The program began in February of 1926 with Black History Week. Later the program name changed to Black History Month. This month of celebration gives us the opportunity to acknowledge and remember all of the African Americans who have done many things to shape our history. People typically remember Martin Luther King Jr. and his “I Have a Dream” speech, which brought the country one step closer to equality. Rosa Parks is remembered for her Montgomery bus boycott, which eventually gave Blacks the opportunity to sit wherever they wanted. If you’re looking to learn more about specific times in Black History, the South THE STINGER

Black History Month

hibit and what was happening in that period of time. JoAnn Zeise, the curator of history at the South Carolina State Museum, thinks that Black History is important. Zeise has worked at the museum for close to four years and works hard to make the museum fun and educational. Zeise is a 19th century Southern historian, so her areas of focus are Antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction. Slave Life: This shoe was believed to be worn on the “We should be thinking about McIver Plantation in Darlington County in 1860. [Black history] every month, all The shoes were also made by slaves. year,” said Zeise. The museum staff is always Carolina State Museum has a large vaworking to make their artifacts and inriety of incredibly realistic artifacts and formation as accurate as possible and to exhibits. make sure that they tell the stories of There are exhibits on the Civil War, everyone, not just one set of people. The Revolutionary War, and Antebellum peexhibits appeal to all kinds of people and riods. Alongside the exhibits, there is a cultures. place where you can read about the ex“We’re starting to tell those stories

and thanks to new research and new methods of searching for things, we’re trying to put those stories together and make more of a complete picture of everybody who was here,” said Zeise. Throughout his career, Woodson worked hard to make sure that his people’s history was known, written, and documented. He wanted the rich history of African Americans to be featured and understood in history books with accurate information. Carter wanted his people to be remembered all throughout history. Black history is something that should always be on our minds, not just in February. We should also remember the others that have contributed to our society whether known or unknown.

again 17 What’s something people Describe at 17 would be surprisedyourself to know three about you? words? Arrogant, confident, and This is something interesting.

Lanece Davidson, circulation mamager lanecedavidson@gmail.com

Mr. Giovanelli

very

driven. What was your favorite thing to do after school? Play music. What advice will you tell your then 17-year-old self? Relax a little bit, everything is going to be okay. You don’t have to go 100 miles per hour all the time. February 12, 2016

LIFESTYLE

Heartbreak reveals the effects

Photo Credit: Abigail Hutchinson

Love is the emotional phenomenon that has filled the pages of magazines, perplexed the minds of many and always, always kept the month of February extra special. Ever since the start of your angsty teenage years, love is what you have been both told and warned about: the quickening of your heart beat and the flirtatious gestures. During this month, the idea of love is advertised with the giant teddy bears that line the aisles, inside the colorful greeting cards, and on ad after ad on television. For all the hopeless romantics out there who are not only in love with this month and this holiday, but are also in love with love itself, take heart for it is more powerful than preconceived. Stress Cardiomyopathy, commonly referred to as “broken heart syndrome,” is when intense amounts of emotional or physical stress causes the heart muscles to weaken both quickly and dramatically. It often occurs after emotional stressors such as the death of a loved one or grief but has also been found to occur after physical stressors such as a stroke or seizure. The condition is one which affects primarily older aged women. Maybe a broken heart really is as dangerous as the pop songs warn, after all. Agape Senior has been an assisted living facility for the past 15 years and provides patients in South Carolina with

LIFESTYLE

individualized care. Agape Senior is located off I26 and within the Irmo/Columbia community. Within the walls of this facility lay stories of so much love. At Agape, people from many different past experiences and past histories come together and build community, all tremendously impacted and connected by one thing: love. The word Agape, meaning love feast or love by Merriam Webster Definitions, is more than fitting for the home that many find in this assisted living center. Abby Miller, Human Resources representative at Agape Senior, has been with this particular location since May and since then has built many relationships with the residents there. “The couples who have been together for 55 plus years are more likely to die of a broken heart after their spouse passes away,” Miller said. Amanda Bauser, receptionist among many other varying titles at Agape Senior, has the opportunity to observe the effects that love has on the health of the resident through her job. “Their love was so strong , they gave everything to this person, and finally when they do pass it’s beautiful to watch because there is grieving, but they also come back to life again a little bit. At the same time you also have those people where it’s almost like they died of a bro-

ken heart if they’re kind of just not doing quite well,” Bauser said. Helen Price is one of the residents at Agape Senior. Initially moving into Agape Senior as a couple, Price and her husband were married for 64 years. “He was gentle; he was a good man. We never had much of an argument. I’m not going to say we didn’t disagree sometimes, but really we would settle it. He was really just a good man. He wasn’t hard to get along with and if something came up, we would always just sit down and talk about it and settle it together,” Price said. After living in Agape Senior for approximately a year and a half together, her husband passed away. “We dated through writing a lot but we had known each other for quite a while because we were neighbors. We were together for a long time, 64 years, and it was my life. I never had a day of regretting it,” Price said. Price is far from being the only resident who has gone through the loss of a loved one at Agape. Staff members there have noticed a definite relationship between the residents and their love life. “No matter what happens when they pass, there might be different variables when their spouses passes, some people come back to life some people decline but no matter what they are definitely THE STINGER

of true love stronger when they are together,” Miller said. “Even if they come back to life a little bit, a little piece of them has died; they’re just not complete anymore,” Bauser said. Love is a word that is used more and more frequently as we approach February 14. Through the hot pink candy wrappers and plastic decorative hearts, the word love can sometimes become distorted and lose its value. It can become simple, when in it first began so complex that people like Helen Price were able to spend 64 years of marriage discovering the true depth of the word. Each person will build and develop their own idea of

what love is through life’s experiences. But to the you that you are today, what exactly does it mean? Paula White, a Licensed Professional Counselor previously working with Lake Murray Counseling Center, has worked with clients for over seven years. “You have to ask yourself, what is love? So many people really haven’t asked themselves that question but they are searching for something and they don’t know what it is,” White said. Through her experience, she has a developed a personal definition of this love which appears to influence people’s health so significantly.

“I think that to be known by another person and to be accepted even though you are known by them is one of the most powerful, positive things you can ever experience. To be in a relationship when love is real and it’s exhibiting characteristics which are truly love like kindness, gentleness, patience, the things that you typically associate with love, it’s totally empowering,” White said. This Valentine’s Day, do you know what you are truly searching for? Abigail Hutchinson, editor-in-chief abbiehutch@gmail.com

Ask the expert: Q&A with Paula White Paula White has been in the counseling field for over seven years and has worked with patients dealing with heartache, relationship issues, and conflicts with love.

Q: Do you find that love affects the mental health of your patients? A: In lots of different ways at different points in life. Whether it’s having difficulty with their parents’ relationships, not feeling loved or not feeling appreciated, or even feeling ignored. Especially with teenagers, romantic relationships can really be a roller coaster and they can really experience a lot of anxiety and depression related to that. One thing that I find is that “love” and things related to those most important relationships in our lives definitely have the biggest impact on our mental health. Q:What are some signs of unhealthy relationships? A: Unhealthy relationships tend to go in a couple of different directions. One is it’s always a good question to ask yourself ‘why am I in this relationship?’ When you answer that question, it might be there is a lot of pain in my life right now and I’m going through something hard and I need a distraction, maybe I’m avoiding trying to face something that’s hard for me. When we’re in a relationship because we feel needy or because the other person feels needy that’s unheatlhy, when it’s not because there’s mutual respect and understanding. Q: If you were a teenager again, what did you wish you had known about love? A: I wish that I didn’t have such a magical view of love. I wish I didn’t think that there was that one person out there that was going to be the be all and end all. The reality is that if you know what sort of a person that you want to be, you are in a much better position. Instead of focusing on what kind of person you want to look for, focus on what sort of a person you want to be and be that person. Then the people that are going to be right for you are going to be attracted to that same person. February 12, 2016

LIFESTYLE

features

February keeps the history of February is one of the most unique months out of the year. Even though there are only 28 days in this month or, every four years 29, it still gives us a lot to celebrate, from Black History to Presidents’ Day. The most common thing that people celebrate in this month is Valentine’s Day. Photo Credit: Abigail Hutchinson This is the day that couples get to spend some COUPLE ABOVE: Leah Powell and Issaac Hildalgo holding hands. quality time together and do the ficial mascot of this day as time went on. things that you wouldn’t be able to do When you see Cupid, you usually see throughout the year. They could go on him as a happy little baby that is shootdates to the movies, out to eat, or just ing heart arrows at people to make them curl up on the couch together and have a fall in love. That was not always the case nice, hot cup of hot chocolate and watch though. The ancient Greeks knew him their favorite scary movie. as Eros. He was known as the handAccording to www.theholiday- some immortal that was irresistible to spot.com, Valentine’s Day dates back to both man and gods. Cupid is the God the 5th century. When the Roman Em- of desire, love, attraction, and affection. peror Claudius the 2nd banned marriage That is probably why he was chosen for for young soldiers because he thought it Valentine’s Day. He was the son of Vewould make them weak. Bishop Saint nus, the goddess of love, sex, beauty, and Valentine secretly married the young fertility and Mars, the God of war. couples. He was soon found out and arToday’s Valentine’s Day consists rested and sentenced to execution. Be- of going on dates to restaurants or the fore he was executed, he fell in love with movies, romantic walks in parks, or even his jailor’s blind daughter. The day before staying at home. How did these things his execution, he asked the jailor for a come about? There is really no clear pen and a piece of paper and wrote her explanation why or how these came to a farewell letter and he signed it “from be, but it is really conventient for today. your Valentine…” That is now a popu- People do all kinds of things whether it’s lar phrase that people say to their special traditional or not. Valentine. If you are looking for something According to History.com, we to do with the person that you love this also have the famous character of Cupid Valentine’s Day, there are plenty of exfor Valentine’s Day. He became the of- citing things you could do that are right

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around the corner. There is the romantic sunset at the Lake Murray Dam, a blanket spread in the horseshoe at USC, and then there are the bench swings at Finlay Park. These are just a few things out of the many that you could do that in town. You don’t even have to leave your house to have fun with your special person. You could save money by staying home and doing cool things with your special someone such as making food, watching movies, or for all of the lazy couples out there, you could just fall asleep to an old movie. You could even be like Ilexia Hough, a junior at Irmo High School. She will be celebrating in a traditional way. “I’m going out to eat and going to the movies,” Hough said. Not everyone participates in that traditional celebration. Azaria Williams, junior at Irmo High School, has a nontraditional way of spending her Valentine’s Day. “I’m going on a field trip and singing a love song for people,” Williams stated. People like her just want to make other folks happy on this day. Everyone won’t have a valentine this year, so making those people happy will bring some kind of joy to them. Even if that doens’t bring them joy, you could still say that you tried to make other people happy. THE STINGER

love alive

When it comes to Valentine’s Day gifts, you will usually see the traditional things such as different types of chocolates in a heart shaped container, heart -shaped balloons, and the famous teddy bear. These are the main things that you will see on the shelves of your local grocery store as soon as you walk in. Irmo High School junior Jer’Nasia Coleman doesn’t want much for her Valentine’s Day. “Have him bring me candy. Like my favorite type of candy,” Coleman said. Valentine’s Day is also the time of weddings and anniversaries. You will probably hear about a lot of people getting married on or after Valentine’s Day. You will also see all of the commercials COUPLE ABOVE: Lauren Hilley and Austin Morton em- for engagement rings from various stores. Irmo High brace each other. Photo Credit: Abigail Hutchinson

School English teacher Stephanie Dukes is one of those people. “My anniversary is on the 16th, so it’s really close to Valentine’s Day, so we generally celebrate our anniversary and Valentine’s Day after Valentine’s Day,” Dukes said. Valentine’s Day is celebrated by a lot of people all around the world. It has been around for a very long time and everyone has a different way to celebrate it. No matter what you do or who you are with on this Valentine’s Day, consider trying out a unique, local activity.

Abigail Hutchinson, editor-in-chief abbiehutch@gmail.com Ashanti Bookman, features editor ashantibookman@ihsstinger.com

ON THE EASEL

with Mathilda Lacharme

How old were you when you started acting? I started when I was eight, then stopped but reconnected at age thirteen. Why did you originally start acting? I thought it was freeing. How will you incorporate acting with your future career? I love acting but my true passion is in writing and directing. I think I’d like to write movie scripts one day. What actors inspire you? Jennifer Lawrence and Meryl Streep. February 12, 2016

FEATURES

10 movies to watch this Valentine’s Day:

Wondering what movie you should watch this Valentine’s Day? Check out some of your fellow all-time favorites... 1. “Wolf of Wall Street” because it shows that you can be rich together and also have free time. -Eric Garcia 2. “Valentine’s Day” because its all about Valentines Day. -Colton Alter 3. “Say Anything” because its very romantic and classic. -Abby Olvera 4. “Baggage Claim” because its about two friends who dont realize they were in love the whole time. -Connie Pollock 5. “Warm Bodies” because it shows how love gives you life. -Brandon Coombes 6. “The Titanic” because it’s the best love story ever! - Imani Johnson 7. “P.S. I Love You” because its cheesy and cute all in the same movie. –Victoria Leatherman 8. “The Proposal because it’s hilarious” - Lauren Watts 9. “Silver Linings Playbook” because Jennifer Lawrence is the best thing that ever happened to this earth. -Brian Keller 10. “Love and Basketball” because it’s about two athletes who fall in love and stick by each other’s side and to me that’s what true love is all about. -D’Arion Johnston

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FEATURES

Looking for a good read? Open up a new book, and open up a new adventure! Check out the Library Media Center at Irmo High School: Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri 7:50-4:00 Wed 9-4

THE STINGER

Valentine’s Day: Do’s & Don’ts

Some of us were born with the instinctive ability to sense what would be good, bad, or just down right awkward on special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, but for those of us who aren’t exactly skilled in that area you may want keep these helpful hints from fellow Irmo High School Yellow Jackets in mind as Valentine’s Day rolls around the corner....

Do’s:

“Plan ahead of what you want to do with your significant other because it will be hard to find a nice place to eat that’s not going to be crowded.” -Joyelle Nichols “Do go on an outside-of-the-box date.” -Cy’ree Clarke “Do dance.” -Aston Moody “Do write a poem.” -Brandon Coombes “Do shower them with compliments.” -Javon Holmes “Do make your fellow partner happy.” -Kaynan Coleman “It’s not about the money you spend, but the time and effort you spend.” -Victoria Jabber “Do buy chocolate and flowers, it’s cliche because it’s tried and true.” -Sara Banyard February 12, 2016

Don’ts:

“Don’t be ungrateful if you didn’t get what you wanted. Be appreciative that he/she went out of their way to make this day special and spend time with you.” -Joyelle Nichols “Don’t break up with me on Valentine’s Day.” -Cy’ree Clarke “Don’t be boring.” -Kaynan Coleman “Don’t give flowers, give those on a random day of the year not Valentine’s Day.” -Aston Moody “Don’t try to be someone you’re not.” -Victoria Jabber “Don’t ask someone out to dinner and not expect to pay for them.” -Javon Holmes

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Z B BUZZ Z U B

THE

The old becomes the new

The Stinger reviews the latest books, movies, television shows and CDs for you! 5 below gets 4 above

“Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens”

Some say that “ Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens” will be the biggest movie of our time, and I think they’re right. If you have seen the original three Star Wars films, or the three spin offs you will be greatly pleased. J.J. Abrams brings us back to the 1970s with the old school nostalgic feeling of the first three original films. Bringing back original characters, plots and back-stories, also throwing in some Hon Solo dry humor that we all missed. There are also plenty of new things to love. The main story follows along new protagonist Rey and Finn. Giving us glimpses into Reys past that we find later on has a big impact on the plot of the plot of the film. Old characters that we love

Hon Solo, and Princess Leia return, forming a dynamic group wit Rey and Finn. Kylo Ren and The First Order. And where is Luke Skywalker in all of this? You’ll have to wait and see. All of these elements with amazing up-to-date special effects make for a good time. Breaking the box-office record with $247,966,675 and still climbing, so almost everyone has seen this movie. If you haven’t, I strongly suggest you do, even if Star Wars isn’t your thing even if you haven’t seen any of the other films I suggest you still go and see it it’s “ the movie of our generation,” so it’s an opportunity no one should pass up. -Mariah

Sweet New Restaurant

FEATURES

If you love cute, cheap, cool stuff, Five Below is the store for you! Five Below is located on Harbison Court, 256 Harbison Blvd, Columbia SC 29212, just to the left of Dollar Tree. They sell a variety of useful items; from laundry baskets to T-shirts. While the store is filled with many handy items, the space is quite small. Aisles are very close together. This factor alone could cause customers to avoid some areas and miss out on many great products. Five Below has a very bright, vibrant atmosphere, which is very appealing to many teenagers like myself. If you’re one who’s more into neutral tones and drab decor then Five Below is not the store for you, go to Dollar General. All of the store’s items are priced

at $5 or under; hence the name, “Five Below.” One thing that is important to pay attention to when shopping is quality. While you can’t expect to have the very best quality for $5, this store definitely meets my quality criteria. Never have I heard anyone complain about their products not working, or they’re in bad condition. Last but not least, one of the best things about this store: customer service. I can say from the heart that Five Below has the best customer service I have ever received. The employees are beyond friendly. I was even able to have a small chat with the manager. Overall, I can say I am very pleased with what this company has to offer. -Jessica

MOVIE STORE

Singing his own epitaph

“Wendy’s 4 for $4”

Wendy’s is one of those places where you can get a lot of food for a low price. They save you a lot of time and a lot of money. They made this even sweeter by adding a deal that you wouldn’t want to pass up. Wendy’s has introduced the awesome deal of the 4 for $4 meal. This meal comes with a four piece nugget, a famous baconator, a small fry, and a small drink. You know the saying “it’s too good to be true”? Usually when you see something as good as this, there is a catch to it. That’s not the case with this deal. The whole meal was really $4 (plus tax). You don’t see authentic deals like this all of the time. If you are looking for something quick and easy for lunch, just get this great deal.

5 Below

“Blackstar”

Burger King is competing with this deal by basically using the same exact deal. The only thing that was different was that they added on a cookie. Is there no creativity in the restaurant business? I can’t complain though. Food is food and people are going to eat it regardless. To be honest, I would rather eat at Wendy’s because they know how to make their customers happy and they do it in style.

-Ashanti

FOOD

David Bowie succeeds in making his final album great by constructing an experimental piece of performance art. This album may put off a few David Bowie traditionalist as it deviates from the usual type of music you’d associate him with. He uses his old age to a benefit when in some songs his old voice adds a whole layer to the already beautiful instrumentation. The songs that differ in genre make up the best moments on this album. The themes from the lyrics deal a lot with death. In a lot of ways this album is an old man, an old musician, facing death and with death being so palatable the themes of “Blackstar” are relatable. Since this is Bowie’s

last album, it has a huge amount of thought put into every piece of it. For instance, take the way the album’s track list is ordered; it has the longest, most upbeat song first then, with every proceeding track, it gets more and more doleful. The last track intentionally feels unfinished, it feels untimely, yet it ties the whole album together. The thing that makes his album so great is that it’s basically a musical eulogy, almost an ode to his whole career. “Blackstar” is the cherry on top of the ice cream Sunday of Bowie’s musical vocation. The album can be found on iTunes and Google Play for $9.99, it also can be found streamed on Spotify and YouTube. -Corey

MUSIC

THE STINGER

What’s #trending @ Irmo?

#iPHONE6“It’s the most popular phone out right now.” Tayvion Holmes

#TIMBERLANDS “They give me other options as far as shoes; something other than just sneakers.” Jordan Richburg

February 12, 2016

#ADIDAS “It’s my favorite athletic wear brand. I can wear it as sports wear or even just casual.” Kevin Greene

#WINTERSWEATERS“They’re adorable and they’re very festive for the winter.” Phuong Lee

FEATURES

opinions

The three shades of red

Valentine’s Day is a time of heartfelt romance and over-the-top gestures. So I ask what’s a girl/guy to do with all this pressure? Nothing, you don’t have to do anything. Valentine’s Day is a huge deal to some people, however, if you just want to go on with your day like any other then do that. The only person who’ll make you feel weird about it is yourself. If you feel like you’ll be judged if you don’t wear some obscure shade of red,

think about all the times you never wear green on St. Patty’s Day. Sure you may have gotten pinched once or twice, but in the end no one thought any less of you for being dressed normal and not having a stuffed bear that you’ll throw away by May. The next type of person who feels the pressure on Valentine’s Day is the one that I’ve been every year the person who loves love but never has a valentine (other than the cheesy gifts from friends). This type of person might be the most common to see on Valentine’s Day. They’ll have on every shade of red you can imagine and at least two hearts somewhere on their ensemble but, the most important part of the outfit is a lack of any gift. They’ll have no balloons, no plush toys with an “I love you banner,” no candy. And all day long they’ll be “so happy for all the couples” smiling asking everyone about their plans, yet all they probably want is for someone to show up to their class with a gift, or to invite them for a romantic coffee date at Starbucks. Usually none of their wishes come true so they end up buying themselves candy and staying home to watch a romcom or an old slasher movie. The final person you can be on Valentine’s Day who’s got probably the most pressure out of anyone is the most rare

gem of them all. One half of a happy couple for which this is one of the most important dates of their relationship. Saying they’ve got the most pressure would be an understatement. You have to look like you belong on the front of a romance novel, finding the perfect restaurant and making a reservation on time, and last, but most definitely not least, if you’re part of the group three you better have a gift in hand otherwise you look like you don’t care about your significant other. I say all this in hopes that it helps you this holiday to not get caught up in all the pressures. If you want to act normal and go about your day then do it without shame because no one shames you if you don’t celebrate any other holiday, don’t make Valentine’s Day the exception. If you love love but don’t have a valentine then just enjoy a day where you get to wear pink and buy over priced chocolate for yourself. Finally if you’re part of a happy couple on Valentine’s Day keep in mind you can make the day as big or small as you want, just make sure you’re both comfortable and happy. Enjoy this holiday for what it is this year, and happy Valentine’s Day to every kind of person out there celebrating! Naomi White, opinions editor naomi.white998@gmail.com

KIDS HALL IN THE

What is your favorite part about Valentine’s Day?

FRESHMAN SOPHOMORE “‘Candy.” -Julianne Davis

OPINIONS

“‘When people spend time together.” - Joey Palmquist

JUNIOR

“Saving money.” - Noah Shehata

SENIOR “‘Chocolate.” -David Staton

THE STINGER

What’s the point?

Clothes, shoes, and relationships. These three things pretty much sum up what this generation cares about. It seems like people try to compete with each other to see who has the best/most expensive stuff. There is more that you could have in life besides these things. When it comes to relationships, we have something called “relationship goals.” What is that? It’s when people see a couple doing something good and they want that particular thing for themselves. February 12, 2016

For example, if you see a couple that has matching clothes, you would hear someone say “relationship goals.” It could also be something as small as a couple giving each other a kiss. Does that really matter? To be honest, it doesn’t matter. People are so focused on “relationship goals” that they don’t have any real goals to go for. Why is everyone so focused on these “goals” when life is more than relationships? You even see kids that are about 12 and 13 years old trying to get in relationships. They are trying to grow up too fast and no one is really setting an example for them. They don’t need to be focused on that kind of stuff at such a young age. When it comes to clothes and shoes, everyone wants to be the best. From Gucci flip-flops to gold chains, there will always be something that people will compete over. This also goes back to the relationships where couples match their clothes. People are so obsessed with materialistic things and people always want to look better than the next person. In reality, clothes are clothes and no one really cares what brand you wear. Having name brand clothes and/or shoes

does not make you above anyone. To be honest, they are all the same with just a different logo, so it really doesn’t matter what you wear at the end of the day. The sad thing is that people would spend their whole paycheck just to buy the new Jordans. Why? Is a pair of shoes worth more than food or bills? Unfortunately, some people think it is. This generation focuses on the things that might not last. All of that time, money, and effort that people put into these things and it doesn’t even matter in the end. Stop valuing materialistic things and relationships and focus on the important things in life. If you value these things too much, what are you really going to get out of it?

Ashanti Bookman, features editor bookmanashanti@gmail.com

OPINIONS

War and Peace

“Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson What comes to mind when you think of our world today? Unfortunately, we live in a world where violence is all too common. We hear stories about terrorism, bombings, murders, robberies, and more on the news constantly. Aren’t you tired of it? People tend to ask me why I don’t watch the news. My response is always the same: “too much violence.” There’s hardly ever anything positive on the news. I mean everything isn’t going to be great all the time, but it’s the same types of things repeating themselves. No one wants to hear about death and devastation every day. Some people aren’t even shocked anymore; it’s gotten that bad. Terrorism, one of our biggest issues, has been very common lately. The terrorist attack in Paris, France this past year left at least 130 people dead. The attack left the French community devastated and scared. Just this past summer, an Afghanistan military base attack in the Afghan capital killed a U.S. service member and eight Afghan contractors. Back in June 1987, Basque separatists parked a car full of explosives under a Hipercor supermarket in Barcelona Spain. The group called and warned the local media and waited 30 minutes before setting them off. The blast left 15 people dead. Days after, the death toll rose to 21 with 45 people injured. Have you ever wondered why anyone

OPINIONS

would shoot someone in cold blood or hurt them for no apparent reason? One thing this generation lacks is respect for one another. Personally, I just don’t think we care about each other that much anymore. People speak to one another any kind of way and do disrespectful and hurtful things. We don’t value other people’s lives. We fight and we kill each other over and over, but don’t think about what that person is to somebody else. That person could’ve been married with kids and in the blink of an eye that family has to go without a parent and a spouse. Hearing about these horrible acts of violence makes us sad and emotional. After constantly seeing these things in our daily life and on the news we ask ourselves “why”? We try to wrap our heads around the fact that people would do these things with no remorse whatsoever. For example, with the Charleston shooting, a young man entered a church, and then opened fire. In the end, he killed nine of the church members. Some have argued that if the members were armed, they could’ve protected themselves. Who would be armed in a church? A church or any other kind of religious meeting place is a place where you’re supposed to feel safe and secure, not scared for your life. Attaining peace about something or someone is never an effortless or quick process. Doing so requires time, patience, and consistency. Our leaders are so quick to send our troops to war to participate in violence in a foreign place, but then they contradict it when it happens close to them or in their place of authority. War has done nothing but raise death rates and make the issue worse, so what’s the point of it if it’s not doing anything for anyone? It would be better for everyone if our leaders actually sat down, discussed their issues and solved them instead of resorting to violence. Too many lives have been cut short due to violence and wars. Everyone deserves to live a full life and feel safe while doing so. We should have more appreciation and respect for each other and other people’s lives. We may not receive peace immediately, but if we work hard enough, we will get it.

Maia Lawson

Why did you start doing track? I just wanted to be active.

How long have you been doing track? I just started.

What’s your favorite memory so far doing track? Drills and really running.

Inside the

HUDDLE Jake Winslow How long have you been playing baseball? Since I was nine.

How has playing baseball impacted you as a person? I learned how to work well with my teammates and others.

What’s your favorite part of playing? Catching pop flys.

Lanece Davidson, circulation manager lanecedavidson@gmail.com THE STINGER

Brand names aren’t Gucci

It seems that nowadays, people buy clothes only to disregard the appearance, and glorify the label. Not to say that people will buy anything regardless of how it looks, but they spend an arm and a leg on something only to produce a produce a positive reaction from others. The new generations of the world are centering their lives around expense. You can’t even scroll through Facebook or Instagram without a feed full of people explicitly flaunting their designer shoes, hats, and watches. Even the popularity of Apple has convinced kids that it’s iPhone or nothing. It’s never ending. Kids at school get teased every day for not being up to par with the latest fashions. If it’s not Nike, Adidas, or North Face, it’s not “acceptable.” I can’t speak for everyone, but I shop and dress myself based on what I like, without giving much thought of what other people might think. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to dress nice and striving to receive compliments from people. I can honestly say that I get the slightest satisFebruary 12, 2016

faction from splurging on Adidas hoodie or a Michael Kors watch and being able to go to school or out in public to show it off. Though the wrong in the situation, is making others feel bad for not possessing those things, or only purchasing those things because it’s considered “cool.” If you like the vintage trends at Goodwill then so be it. Who’s to say you’re wrong? Not one person has the authority to decide what brands are “not cool” or “cheap.” Not only should we encourage everyone to be unique to boost their self-confidence and help people express boring seeing a bunch of kids at school wearing the same Adidas skinny sweatpants or the same white Converse. If the World we live in persuades people that you must conform to society’s physical standards to live a happy life then I am not proud to live in it. At the end of the day, a white t-shirt is still a white t-shirt no matter the brand. Hopefully in the future, enough people will get tired of this situation and do something about it. Not necessarily boycotting the companies or looking at them in a negative way, but by branching out and not only buying the things they see most people wearing.

thumbs up -To Valentine’s Day: because it’s so nice to not have to buy your own chocolate for once. - To cheesy gifts: I may not be 4 years old anymore but a teddy bear twice my size is actually so exciting. - To E! Network: thanks for playing good movies to occupy my time while I don’t go out on dates. - To Valentine’s Day: because I don’t need a man to buy me chocolate. - To heart-shaped chocolates: why did I need to pay more for less chocolate? Rude. - To greedy significant others: sorry, if I can’t afford a 4 for $4, you’re not getting an MK watch for a madeup Holiday.

thumbs down Josalyn Helrigel, sports editor JosalynHelrigel@ihsstinger.com

Featuring former Stinger staff member Camille Doloughty! OPINIONS

sports

Irmo basketball’s top eight Tony Brice

Drevon Sweat

Stats: REB: 4.4 AST: 0.9 TO: 1.3 PTS: 5.3

Stats: REB: 4.1 AST: 1.7 TO: 1 PTS: 14.9 Photo Credit- Drevon Sweat

Photo Credit- Tony Brice

Q- Why did you first start playing basketball?

Q- How has basketball influenced your life?

A- I’ve always liked basketball, I liked watching it. My dad used to play street ball, and he’s been telling me he wanted to play basketball.

A-Being a team person, not just thinking about yourself . You’re more team oriented. Q- Why did you continue playing basketball?

Q- How has basketball influenced your life? A- I’ve been able to become closer to my friends.

A- I fell in love with it, so I’ve just got to play now.

RJ Gunn

Tavonne Bond

Photo Credit- OK3 Digital Photography

Stats:

REB: 4.8 AST: 1.9 TO: 2.1 PTS: 14.6

REB: 2.8 AST: 2.6 TO: 2.8 PTS: 10.7

Q- What makes you love basketball ? A- It’s a fast game. When you do something right you get more energy. Q- Do you plan on pursuing basketball after high school? A-Yes, because I want to go to college for free.

20 SPORTS

Photo Credit- OK3 Digital Photography

Q-Why do you play Basketball? A-It’s the first sport I fell in love with, and the first sport I played . I just fell in love with it. Q- What’s your favorite part about basketball? A- The relationships that you build. THE STINGER

shoot for successs Courtney Evans Photo Credit- Goflashwin.com

Stats: 2pt- 47% ASST- 7 REB- 112 PTS- 138

Q- What’s your favorite part about basketball? A- Winning is my favorite part, like when we work on something and then we win. Q- What makes you love it? A- The competetion makes me love it, playing against one another. And our staff is good.

Sam Fant

Stats: 2pt- 28% ASST- 9 REB- 86 PTS- 161

Photo Credit- Goflashwin.com

Q-Why did you continue playing basketball?

A- It’s fun, it’s always been fun for me. I used to play it outside or at the gym.

Q- Do you plan on pursuing basketball after highschool? A- Yes, hopefully!

Taiylar DeMoss Photo CreditGoflashwin.com

Shakira Carter Stats: 2pt- 21% ASST- 38 REB- 77 PTS- 121

Stats: 2pt- 41% ASST- 8 REB- 96 PTS- 117 Photo Credit- Shakira Carter

Q- Why did you first start playing basketball?

A- I think I started playing because my brother started playing.

Q- How has basketball influenced your life so far? A- It keeps my grades up, because you can’t play sports unless your grades are good. You get inspiration from people to do better.

February 12, 2016

Q- What’s your favorite thing about basketball? A- Getting along with my teammates, just meeting new people, playing different people at different schools. It’s just good; it’s just fun. Q- What makes you love it? A- Everything! Mariah Kennedey, news editor mariahkennedey@ihsstinger.com SPORTS

“

Students join club teams

Club sports are year-round sports that for club sports could be a challenge for what I base it off of,” Bernard said. AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) bashelp high school students become bet- some people because you need a team ter players and enhance their technique. that will help improve your skills and ketball is also considered a club sport. A lot techniques to make you a AAU are teams outside of high school. Shyheem Edwards, junior at Irmo High of high better player. I became a more school “It depends on the School, plays AAU Basketball. Edwards aggressive and more students coaches, I like more ag- has been playing AAU basketball since driven than what I was also play gressive coaches rather the 7th grade. before. “I started playing because my cousin c l u b than some coach that are - Jessica Bernard sports laid back, that doesn’t re- started playing basketball. I looked up to in hopes ally challenge me so that’s him and he motivated me to play basketball,” Edof them wards said. being marketable to college College coaches/scouts. Jessica Ber- IRMO VS NORTH AUGUSTA : Edwards dribbling the ball down the court during a region game agains North Augusta High School. scouting nard, senior at Irmo High is imporSchool, plays club volleyball tant to some for High Velocity. people who “I’ve been playing club play club and volleyball for about 2 years,” AAU because Bernard stated. while it helps When playing club sports, sharpen their some student athletes have technique it limited time for a social life can get them to hang out with friends bescholarships cause their sports take up so to college if much of their time. they’re good “I don’t really have a soenough. cial life, the only time I really Some club socialize with people is in athletes also school because I don’t have play for enthe time outside of school,” joyment and Bernard said. even start Picking a team to play on playing in college. “It’s a lot, but you have to put a lot of time into it. You don’t get to do as much as you want to with your personal life,” Edwards said. Having your body physically prepared before games can be a top priority for many athletes. “I do a lot of stretching and just staying loose and getting my body warmed up,” Edwards said. Edwards and Bernard both dedicate their time to becoming better athletes by playing club sports to advance their technique. Edwards also has the intention of pursuing college basketball while Bernard is still unsure of her decision to continue volleyball.

“

Photo Credit: David Van Ryn

SERVING IT UP: Bernard serves the ball, hopeful for an ace.

22 SPORTS

Jessica McCrae, Staff Coordinator christiana07@icloud.com

THE STINGER

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mad lib Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and I am beyond _________. My _________ said they have a surprise for me. I can’t stop thinking about it. Last year, they got me a _________. V-day is my favorite time of year. Everybody is so _________ and _________. Most importantly, I have an excuse to eat ________ and watch ________ and not feel weird. I love walking into ________ and seeing all the hearts, __________, balloons, and bears. Everyone at school will literally be carrying _________ extra pounds of v-day stuff all day. Lucky for me, I get my gifts after school so I don’t have to hold in my _________. I love seeing the _______ on people’s faces when they get gifts from that one special person. That sight is truly _________.

February 12, 2016

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Valentine’s Day <3

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4 5 Girl’s JV Basketball 5:30 pm Lexington HS 11

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13 Boys Varsity Lacross 3pm Dorman HS

Alive @25 4-8pm 25 Girls Varsity Softball 7pm Barnwell

27 Boys Varsity Lacross 7pm River Bluff HS

Boys Varsity Basketball 6pm Richland HS

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