Granger high school
Tri-Color Times An open forum for student opinion and expression
TRICOLORTIMES.COM
May 2018 LX-IX
Now it’s time for these teachers to kick back By Gabriela Thompson THERE comes a point in one’s life when it is time to move on to greater things in life, whether it is relaxing at home or spending time with loved ones. This want for something more has been infiltrating some of Granger’s teachers. We are sad to say, more than a few of Granger’s teachers are going to make their exit in the next academic school year. These teachers are: Dr. Van Tassell, Ms. Atkins, Mr. Hopkins, and Mr. Babcock. Each of these teachers have made an impact at Granger. Some can be known for their spirit bowl pick up chants and others for their cool lessons in the name of science. In the manner of knowing what to do during their retirement, some are unsure. “I do not know what I will do during retirement. Probably travel, play, sleep in,”
Dr. Van Tassell said. For 25 years, Dr. Van Tassell has been teaching at Granger, and during these years he has taught science—although one year he even taught math—so simply relaxing will be a change to his usual schedule. Mr. Babcock knows that family time is the one thing he wants. “I’m 65 and there are family health reasons I’m needed at home. I’ll fish and carve wood,” said Mr. Babcock. Being a teacher isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. They stay past schools hours correcting papers or stay late for parent teacher conferences. This time at work takes away time from family members and family engagements, so to have plenty of time to spend with family is a definite want and need for teachers like Mr. Babcock. Some of these retirees have plans, such as Ms. Atkins. During her first year of retirement, she’s
going hiking to Havasupai Falls in Arizona. Then in July, she and her granddaughter are going on a train to San Francisco. “The rest of my retirement years I will have to figure out,” Ms. Atkins said. Ms. Woodward is also leaving to continue her retirement from five years ago after teaching for forty-nine years-- forty-three of them at Granger. “I plan to travel, read, index, and enjoy spending time with my nieces and nephews,” Ms. Woodward said. “I retired five years ago, and I have been coming back as an hourly teacher so that we wouldn’t lose Latin at Granger. I’m not returning next year because I would have to recertify to continue teaching. Sadly, when I leave, there will be no more Latin taught at Granger,” Ms. Woodward said. Another thing that Lancers are losing is Mr. Hopkins’s La-La-
La-Lancers hype at spirit bowls and assemblies. In the manner of things that the teachers won’t miss, Ms. Atkins says it all. “I will not miss going to faculty meetings or district training. I will not miss getting up at 5:30 every morning, I will not miss grading endless latework and tests,” Ms. Atkins said. In the end, despite how they are leaving students, they will definitely miss the Granger community. “I have known some spectacular individuals as students and faculty at Granger. I will miss them,” Dr. Van Tassell said. Ms. Woodward will also miss Granger enormously. “Being here has been a joy. It will be strange in August when school starts and I don’t return. Teaching at Granger has been my life, and I have loved it. I will ALWAYS be a Lancer!” Ms. Woodward said.
2018-19 Student Body Officers:
President Danny Rayos
Vice President Luis Ramirez
Secretary Chloe Topacio
Public Relations Zack Christensen
Gene Van Tassell
Susan Atkin
Ken Hopkins
Phil Babcock
Performance-based grading is taking over Granger High By Hayley Rigby AT GRANGER, the teachers and district are trying to implement a new way of grading called performance-based grading. With this, it makes it less about attendance so students actually have to learn something and pass each one of the tests on that objective. “For my classes I give three different ‘tests:’ a multiple choice test, a project, and then an essay. With those three things I broadly look over it and see if the students have learned the subject at hand. If they have mastered it, they get a 4, an understanding of it would be a 3, and then it would just continue down from there. With this type of grading it makes it easier for colleges to see if students have actually learned something,” Mr. Fuller said. Performance-based grading is how the district wants all teach-
ers to assess student achievement in the future. District leaders feel this will be more beneficial and help when it comes to grading the kids on actual learning. With this being so new, though, there are a few things that need to be fixed. “With this type of grading, students that are struggling get an intervention period where they can receive some help. But with this system, that means that students who are succeeding in the class have to do extra work on the same subject and become ‘smarter,’ and I know that some of those students wouldn’t want any extra instructions considering that they already passed, they might think, ‘why do more work?’ ” Fuller said. Students that are already passing a class might not want to put in more effort, but students that need to learn the material really
need extra help, so is this obviously a challenging system to manage for passing and failing students. In the April faculty meeting, some Granger High teachers participating in a PGB pilot program explained how performancebased grading is already working for them and how they like it. “It improves teaching while also improving the student learning kinda simultaneously. With performance based grading has made it extremely easy to grade because I went from have 30 assignments in a quarter to now having 8-10,” Mr. Wiemer said. With fewer assignments, the students won’t have to worry about those classes as much anymore unless they need the extra help. If homework is no longer being mandatory, students will be doing less homework unless they
need practice for the test. “With [PBG], homework no longer counts against a student’s grade because homework is practice. One assessment won’t lower a grade until a student has taken three assessments. Then teachers will take the average of all three tests, and scores would start counting towards grades,” Ms. Funk said. Although this idea seems like something the students would like because it means less work, some students don’t like the whole idea of it. “Many of the students don’t like the idea of this type of grading, and I heard many complaints when I told them how I would be teaching this year. Most of the complaints were just horror stories about past teachers who had tried to implement this teaching strategy,” Fuller said.
Art Director Richard Dinh
Historian Elena Flores
Service Learning Michelle Zarate
Want more Granger High School news? Check articles at tricolortimes.com or add us on twitter.com/tricolortimes.
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 9
May 2018, page 2 | Student News
Granger’s recent lockdown situation raised minor concerns By Eric A. Antonio DURING prom week, students experienced a ‘lockdown with cover’ incident. During first lunch/third period, a parking lot shooting occurred near McDonald’s. It took place close to both Granger and West Lake Jr. High. The administration took immediate action about the circumstance and declared it a shelter in place situation. A shelter in place situation is declared when a threat is near the school. During this protocol, external doors are to be locked, but classes continue as normal. About 15 minutes later, the intercom declared the situation as a lockdown with cover. Lockdown with cover is the ultimate lockdown, where there is potential threat on school grounds. Quickly, classrooms turned their lights off and some rooms even stacked chairs by the doors. Students did a really good job by acting quickly and finding shelter. The school was quiet, which is excellent because Granger was prepared. A concern with students was substitutes. According to the
Granite School District, substitutes cannot lock doors. The administration has not stated anything about this issue, but it is expected to be taken care of. It should not be a worry though, as fortunately the school is coming up with more detailed plans for future lockdowns. Being a lockdown, it would be expected for everyone to freak out. According to students, everyone seemed to be calm once they got inside a classroom. “It was scary, but I felt safe. The school made me feel safe and calm,” Millynn Bajo (12) said. Of course, there were some kids who were freaking out and that is O.K. No one was hurt which was great, and everything seemed to run smoothly. Michael Aldana (10) had a different experience. “I was at lunch buying a water bottle when someone from a classroom stood up and yelled at everyone to rush into a classroom. That made everyone run to a classroom in a berserk way,” Aldana said. He didn’t think the situation was handled efficiently in the lunch room. “I think we should’ve been
told calmly because we can avoid freaking out. I also think we should do practice drills during assemblies and before and after school. It can happen at any time, so we should at least have an idea of what to do,” Aldana said. It seemed that everyone knew the procedure during the lockdown. The new posters by classroom doors will give students guidance in the future. These posters should be located by the door of every room. These posters show the procedure on what to do during a lockdown depending on the type of lockdown. Before, the school had different procedure handouts. The handouts were created in 2014 and then the district decided to modify them. The posters are more specific and easy to follow. Most students did not know what happened to cause the lockdown to occur. Rumors around the school said someone threatened Granger High on an Instagram post days before, but that was not the case. What happened was that two groups of juveniles fought verbally and physically around 3300
West and 3420 South. One group opened fire on the other group, but fortunately no one was injured. The threat did not extend into the school, and everyone was safe. Most of the juveniles were arrested off campus and held for questioning. Alex Jimenez (9) had a different experience from other Lancers at school. On his way to McDonald’s for lunch, Jimenez was able to see the juveniles running from McDonald’s, the place in which the incident happened. “I saw the kids running across the street on my way to McDonald’s. I was by
By Molirae Afemata SOME STUDENTS are relieved and ready for a summer break, while others are sad because perhaps they’re leaving behind a bunch of memories and experiences that had happened within the school year. Students not only have completed another year, but have made new friends, met favorite teachers, and are already preparing for their next year. It’s a bittersweet moment for every student. “I’m ready for a fresh start, a new chapter in my life,” Patrick Fue (12) said. While most students are wrapping up the year and preparing themselves for their next year of high school, seniors are preparing for their next steps in life. As they draw near the end and closer to graduation, Granger High seniors are not only preparing for graduation, but are also paying off fees, turning in credit recovery packets, making up citizenship, and buying caps and gowns. Some are also registering for college, paying college fees, apply-
ing for jobs, and some are preparing to be missionaries of the LDS church or go into the military. “I decided for myself that I want to serve a mission right after graduation. My goal is to go right after graduation so that I
Baskin Robins with my friend, and I joked to my friend saying they were going to jail. Little did I know, they did end up getting arrested when they reached Carl’s Jr. I did not know what was going on until I arrived at the school. I was in awe, but I was not scared. It was a weird thing to experience though,” Jimenez said. It is very important to feel safe at school. The lockdown was not be a problem because it was handled correctly and efficiently. Most importantly, the police did their job and kept kids safe during the arrests.
Michael recommends drills during assemblies as well as before & after school.
Seniors are ready to wrap it up
Tobeb feels pressure to wrap up her year.
can come back and start college,” Jenny Taula (12) said. Wrapping up the year can be a bittersweet moment for any student. “I’m going to miss my friends. We always make plans before summer vacation, but we
never follow through,” Julia Taula (11) said. School is mostly just about education, but it also gives students a chance to meet new people. “I think that when you’re wrapping up the year you have to move very quick and get things done so that you can be ready for next year,” Tobeb Mochimaru (10) said. Towards the end of the year, most students stop giving their best effort because they’re eager for summer to get here. Aside from summer vacation just being around the corner, there are still things that need to be done such as attending all classes, attending them on time, and making up missing/late work. The end of the year is always the best time of the school year because there are fun and enjoyable activities such as Prom, Senior Ball, the talent show, and the spirit bowl. SBOs do their best to make the end of the school year special so that students can finish the year memorably.
One last night before seniors take flight
By Skye Rouse SENIOR Ball isn’t just a dance, it is a night were the graduating class comes together for one last time before graduation. It is a night for seniors to relax and reflect on their high school lives that are now coming to an end, and for some it is a checkpoint for on how far they have come. “Senior ball is going to be a magical night, I’m looking forward to my date the most, I know he’s going to make the night,” Jordan Lopez (12) said. “I love seeing happiness in people, and I know it’s gonna be in the air at the dance. Just thinking about it
gives me chills, it’s our last hoorah together before the final one,” she said. Some students haven’t even gone to a dance before and are going to senior ball. “I’m expecting to spend a lot of money on senior ball. It is my first dance, and I am looking forward to it. I hope it’ll be as memorable and fun as I expect it to be,” Zachary Cowens (12) said. Senior Ball will be on May 19. So ask around instead of procrastinating. Have everything planned from the day date to the after party, and figure out what to wear. Some students can give
good advice on where to go and how to prep for Senior Ball. “The first advice I would give is to not be shy and don’t be scared to go all out. Also, groups are always a good idea,” Tyler Burton (12) said. “The hardest thing about the dance is that it’s the last one, so everyone is trying to stay motivated because it’s the last dance, and the pressure is on,” Burton said. The theme of the ball is “A Diamond Ball” and the color scheme is royal blue and silver. It will be held in the Gateway’s Union Pacific Grand Hall in downtown Salt Lake City.
May 2018, page 3 | Opinion
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 9
A guide to making summer experiences more enjoyable Opinion by Alexus Gillette SUMMER is a time for students to finally rejoice after a long and stressful school year. But with all the technology and social media we are surrounded by, maybe summer won’t be as great as it once was. Everyone talks about how they want to make the summer count, but how can it count if you aren’t outside enjoying it? I think that by eliminating the attachment to our electronic devices, we will be able to get the most from our summer vacations. If you don’t worry about posting what you’re doing, then you will be able to actually enjoy it. In our generation of teenagers, we don’t take the time to enjoy the actual moment we are in. Instead we record it and take pictures because we want to save it for later.
But if you put your phone down after taking a few pictures, then at least you’ll have the memory in your mind when you see the pictures. To me, the picture isn’t the memory, the memory is what the picture reminds you of. It is better to live your life in the moment and not through the screen of a phone. It is also good to take this new free time and maybe work on improving a skill or working on your favorite hobby. Doing things that are productive in general can help your summer experience. Good ways to spend in social ways would to be to obviously make plans with your friends. Summer is a time where there seems to be less priorities and that makes planning things a lot
more fun. You have more choices now that you don’t have to worry about school the next day. Now, if you want to spend your summer in a way that is both productive and fun-filled, you should consider finding a summer job. Although you will be spending some time working, it’s good because then you’ll be able to have more money to do whatever you want with. Finding something to do in the summer sometimes can be a bother, so of course you’ll have your lazy days. But in all honesty, even those days are enjoyable. Summer is a time for us teenagers to just let go of responsibility and cut loose for a while. For most, it is well-deserved rest after the draining school year. It is important to focus on be-
ing your best self at all times, so taking the time to really make yourself a better person can be very rewarding in the end. There are a lot of things that you can do during the summer time that can fill your time and help you maybe be a better person. Most summer activities are associated with water or doing something to cool down. Swimming is a popular thing for the summer, as all of the pools have finally opened again. Although swimming is a fun activity, it is one that everyone does all the time during the summer. Other fun activities to consider are: hiking, camping, fishing, bonfires, vacations, summer camps, and many other fun-filled activities will leave you feeling like you’ve accomplished a lot.
Pro guns or no guns: the country divided into two pieces
Opinion by Andrew Tippetts GUNS. THIS seems to be the topic on everybody’s mind these days. I think it’s a big mess. Fear crowds everybody in America as families and friends grieve. Preparation is being called upon but is not being recognized enough. As gun laws come into the picture and the topic stays relevant, America divides into two sides: pro guns and no guns. Many people believe that the right to bear arms should be exercised freely without any prosecution or backlash, while others believe that lack of guns could completely eliminate violence. In my family, we all take pride in our guns. We go shooting for fun and is a passion that has always been a big thing for us. I was taught at a young age how to handle guns and the right and wrongs of picking one up, using one, cleaning one, taking one apart and putting it back together, and so much more.
Guns are a safety measure for my family as well as many others. If somebody was to come into my house uninvited and intending to harm my loved ones, I feel safer with a gun at hand. Many others feel this way as well. Mental illness is a huge factor in a lot of violent crimes. A study done in 2016 showed that 60% of Americans believed that people with schizophrenia were likely to act violently toward somebody else. Another 37% believed the same with major depression. While everybody in America stays divided trying to convince each other whether guns are good or bad, the real problem stems from the people committing the crimes. While the people committing these violent crimes may just do it to get back at others, something might have happened to them at home or at school to make them want to do something like that. Showing people the good
about guns, how to use them correctly, how to lock them up, how to shoot them, how to load them, how to clean them, and how to keep the dangers that come with guns in mind can really help many people not be so scared. Making new laws and potentially taking the ability to buy guns at a young age is completely out of line. Doing so creates more fear throughout the country, making everybody continue to think that guns are the problem. Taking a look back at school shootings in the past, almost every crime was committed because these kids got ahold of a gun that wasn’t theirs. To avoid this, homes and families who support guns and own any kind of gun should practice keeping these weapons safe. A keypad safe for quick and easy unlock for any case you may need it can make a world of difference. Many other ways to keep weapons safe is to lock them up
What would happen if we limited the use of technology in our lives? Opinion by Gwen Loloma TECHNOLOGY has been revolutionized dramatically over the last couple of decades, and I know for sure it’ll continue evolving for quite some time. Technology takes various forms, mostly being efficient devices that range from affordable to very expensive prices-- and people will do anything to get their hands on the latest model. Medically, technology has been enhanced in so many ways, saving many lives and being a major aid to medical professionals all around the world. Educationally, we as students use technology every day in order to turn in assignments and research for homework online. Technology pretty much controls the world. For the most part, I think the most common use of technology is when people just hang out on their phones and scroll through their usual social media apps to satisfy their needs. Some may be familiar with that overwhelming feeling you get when your notifications flow consistently and you try to give your attention to it as fast as you can. But many are unaware of the dangerous situations most people put themselves in, such as being at risk for identity fraud. I read on a
website called SimpleThriftyliving.com that the most common types of identity fraud is financial identity theft, where a criminal steals another person’s credit card information or bank information to make unauthorized purchases. This idea of the most antisocial generation shows up on the byu.edu.com website: 75% of children and teenagers wake up with their eyes fixed on a screen. I’m not going to lie, I am one of those people. But the thought of that scares me a little: I wonder what the future will bring. I have witnessed a number babies crying and throwing tantrums just to get their hands on a phone or an iPad. I find it so intriguing that some babies know how to control technology before they even learn how to walk. Despite all the good and bad things about technology, it’s hard to picture what life would be like without technology. What would the world be if each individual didn’t get the satisfaction their devices bring them. I know for sure that most people have a nervous breakdown when they lose their Wi-Fi connection, lose their phones, or even when the battery dies. That being said, imagine if we had to destroy all forms of technology.
I imagine a world full of books, because that would be our only way to collect our knowledge instead of the fast and accurate information we search for on Google. I imagine more people socializing with each other instead of talking through text messages or Snapchat. On the theoddyessyonline.com website, I read that “the advent of technology has transformed human lives by increasing their quality of life, yet in various ways it drifts us apart when interacting face to face. Some of the members of the most recent generation have not developed the way of conversing with each other that other generations have.” If there were a debate of a group of people deciding whether technology is good or bad, I think most likely the group of positive debaters would win, because to us the usefulness of technology would dominate the negatives and dangers of technology. I personally think that technology is essential in our everyday lives but I hope that people don’t fall into a trap where they no longer witness the beauty of their surroundings and only stare at their screens for the rest of their lives.
in a gun locker. Gun lockers don’t have to be any bigger than the doorway of your closet and can hold a variety of weapons while being locked up to keep them safe. Irresponsible gun owners could be a key factor in why these things happen as often as they do. Guns not being kept safe, keeping guns out and open, and not locking up yours and your children’s guns are some of the ways guns can get into the wrong hands. These are some key factors that have lead to many school shootings in the past. Safety in school is also a huge factor. During an active shooter situation, many people decide
to run for their lives, making as much noise as they possibly can while doing so. While in a classroom it could be quite hard to keep calm and think clearly. To stay safe within the classroom, blocking the door with chairs, desks, computers and whatever else you can block it with could make a huge difference. Keeping quiet and staying low can make a huge difference as well. Students and teachers alike need to stay safe. Many people are scared of guns and we as Americans should be teaching them to not be scared. Practicing safety in school and at home can make a huge difference.
Tri-Color Times Staff Editor in Chief Skye Rouse
Photo+Online Editor Hayley Rigby
News Editor Gabriela Thompson Opinion Editor Taea Edwards Copy Editor Madison McCurdy
Student Lifestyle Editor Natalie Aiono Sports Editor Stephanie Gutierrez Photographer Kaylynn Gonzalez Social Media Calissa Loomis
Reporters Luis Acosta Molirae Afemata Sanah Alkaswan Eric A. Antonio Kalesita Apele Bryon Brinley Edward Carrasco Allen Carrillo Lorena Garcia Alexus Gillette Jr. Heimuli Braxton Henrie
Reporters David Laumatia Gwen Loloma Jonathan Manriquez Ester Manriquez Marcia Victoria Martinez Everestt Masters Douglas R Mayer Tiffany Nguy Eva Saucedo Afatia Tiatia Andrew Tippetts Marleit Vargas
The Tri-Color Times serves as a student forum for student opinion and student expression. The views expressed herein reflect neither the opinions of Adviser John Carlisle and Granger High School, nor those of Granite School District. The Tri-Color Times invites and publishes letters to its editorial board; all letters will be edited for taste, length, and liability.
Granger High School 3580 South 3600 West West Valley, UT 84119 (385) 646-5320
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 9
May 2018, page 4 | Student Life
Juniors graduating early talk about life after graduation By Kaylynn Gonzalez GRADUATION is a day every high school student looks forward to, and for some Granger Lancers, that day is coming sooner than expected. A few hard-working juniors here at Granger High School will be graduating early this year. Hanah Korkut (11) was encouraged to get ahead in school for her future career. ¨I first wanted to go into a harder career with more schooling, so I wanted to get ahead so I could get that done earlier,¨ Korkut said. Korkut is planning to attend college after she has graduated from high school. ¨I want to go to the University of Utah and study nursing,¨ Korkut said. Aside from college, Korkut has also set some goals she hopes to accomplish after high school. ¨I want to do internships, and five years from now, I hope to be working in the university hospital,¨ Korkut said. While Korkut is eager to achieve her goals, she does have some concerns for life after high school. ¨I´m scared it’s going to be too stressful. I’m excited to be out of high school, but I’m worried it’s going to be a lot harder,¨ Korkut said.
Despite her worries, she is proud of her accomplishments. “It was hard, I did so many extra classes this year, as well as online classes, but it was worth it. I’m ready to move forward with my life and see where it leads me,” Korkut said. For other juniors, the possibility of graduating early came as a surprise. “I didn’t plan on it, my counselor just told me I had enough credits and asked me if I wanted to graduate early. All I had to do was take U.S. Government,” Nayeli Munoz (11) said. “I wanted a break from school so that I could work for a year and save for college.” Munoz is also hoping to decide what career path she wants to pursue while she is out of high school. “I wanted to be a physical therapy assistant, but I’m still undecided. I’m going to start by going to Salt Lake Community College and doing my generals,” she said. Although she is unsure of what career she wants, she is still excited to graduate and make her parents proud. “I am ready to graduate and I’m happy. My parents motivated me to graduate and they’re really proud. My
mom won’t stop talking about it,” Munoz said. For junior Adriana LopezLlanos (11), graduating early was also unplanned. “I was just talking to my counselor this year and she asked me if I planned on graduating early and without even thinking about it I just said yes. I was already taking summer school classes, but not to graduate early,” Lopez-Llanos said. Lopez-Llanos has plans aside from going to college right away. ¨I want to join the National Guard. At first I mainly wanted to join for free college, but now I want to join for the fact that I love helping people,¨ she said. Lopez-Llanos also has things she wants to achieve besides going into the National Guard. ¨I’m doing a medical treatment that I hope to finish, that’s in about a year. I also have family in Canada, and I’m planning to move there,¨ Lopez-Llanos said. Although she is excited to graduate, she does express some worries about entering the real world. “I know it’s going to be pretty hard. I already struggle sometimes, like when I have a problem with my boss at work he treats
me like a kid and tells me I don’t know what the real world is like. I’m afraid I might be too soft,” Lopez-Llanos said. Each junior graduating early has a different motive, different plans for after high school, and
different hopes and fears for life after graduation. However, they all have something in common: they worked hard for their early graduation achievement, and they are proud to be a part of the class of 2018.
Hannah’s headed to the U of U where she’ll have a head start in nursing.
Looking for a summer job? Consider these recommended summer jobs for teens
By Tiffany Nguy SINCE the school year is going to be dismissed soon, summer is a great opportunity to find a job. Many students would love to earn money, and having a part-time job could help them financially. Most employers would rather have a teenager that is 16 and up, although some can be lenient with teens who are 14 or 15 years of age. Many jobs for 16 to 18-yearolds are fast food restaurant cashiers or crew members. Students will be working behind the cash register or in the kitchen, it really depends on the trainer for what they’ll train the worker. Some jobs that are available daily are
Sonic, Wendy’s, Burger King, etc. There aren’t many jobs available for teenagers that are out of the fast food realm. Retail is one option for teens that are 16 and up. There are many stores such as Zumiez, Target, Foot Locker and many more. One thing about working in retail is that it requires one to be able to speak to others. Most retail employees experience a bad customer every once in a while, and sales clerks need to understand how to have a good attitude. Having a good attitude towards someone that doesn’t respect others may be a bit hard for some people, and that’s why most don’t like working in retail or any
job that requires communication with others. A job that is available for 15-year-olds and up is a sweeper at a local school. “I think the best summer job is being a sweeper at a school,” Ja’reese Barber (9) said. Working as a sweeper at a school is easy enough for a summer job. People sometimes keep their summer jobs and have it as a long-term job because they enjoy it or the work isn’t as bad as they thought it would be. Finding a summer job can be very beneficial, because students can find a job and keep the job until they find another one that will be even better for their future. Jobs can be
very good for students because they’ll have at least some sort of training for any other job. Eventually, everyone is going to get a job even if they wouldn’t be too happy to have one. It can be beneficial to have some sort of training for a better job that lies ahead. While students are growing up, most don’t really realize how hard things really are. “You learn to appreciate what people do,” Barber said. There are jobs that don’t require an employer, such as simply working for people around the neighborhood. Adults are usually busy and don’t have time for some things. Some of these jobs include mowing lawns, dog walk-
ing, and baby sitting kids. These types of jobs are great for all ages, but can require one to hold a lot of responsibility and trustworthiness. Others need to have trust in one another, especially when they’re hiring a teenager with short notice. “I’ll work when I’m out of high school because I just want to have fun,” Vivian Fernandez (10) said. Working when over the age of 18 is best because the income will be much better, and there will be better jobs available for many high school students. However, most Lancers wouldn’t really enjoying working during their time away from school and would like to do their own things.
Students must respect their right to protest and share opinions By Douglas R Mayer FREEDOM of speech is one of the most important rights Americans have. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” A peaceful assembly to show grievances towards the government has always made large impacts in history. But keeping the protest peaceful is the most important part. In history, many brave and noble people used a peaceful protest to get their opinion out there. Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr., and many more saw problems in society and demanded change. One of the rising problems a large group of people are facing is their protests getting out of hand and becoming violent. March 14 was the nationwide student walkout. The protest was to demand
stricter gun laws and to remember those who have been lost in mass shootings. However, many students abused this right and decided to go out and just talk with their friends. People that join a protest for the intention of getting what they want instead of what the people want are ruining the protests. Many protests over the years have slowly turned into riots. There is a big problem with this, and that’s why some schools choose to ban the protests or go against them. Granite District allowed students to walk out. Students who walked out were not marked absent, and students who stayed in class were supervised by a teacher. At Granger, however, students were allowed to go out and march. Allowing people to speak is a big reason why the U.S. is a great country. The government can learn and adapt with the help of the people’s voices. A person can tell a protester that their opinion sucks, and a protester can keep protesting. Everyone has an opinion and a voice. Sometimes people having
a voice is a bad thing, though. “Some people don’t really take it serious,” Dayana Morillo (10) said. For example, a large group of college students were furious with a speaker that would be visiting on campus, so they prevented the speaker from coming in by shouting and yelling. Allowing someone to speak instead of protesting is very important. “Sometimes a person’s opinions or values get in the way of learning others’ views,” Meagan Nelson (10) said. Having a discussion about appropriate protesting is a very important way to change people’s minds, but if it gets out of hand it can become a problem. Most protesters don’t feel like they won’t change anything. “People don’t have hope to change things,” Kalia Gallagher (10) said. It’s hard to think that one person can make a change. Some people feel like they are not going to be as powerful as Martin Luther King Jr. or the women’s suffrage movement. This lack of dedication and motivation is what
leads to people not wanting to share their views or participate in what they truly believe in. Some people are afraid of the protest getting out of hand and turning into a riot. Other people feel that getting involved in a protest means they have to agree with what the protest is about. Sometimes a person can agree with what a protest be-
lieves but not be a part of it because of other issues. Some people didn’t walk out because they were pro-gun but watched the video to remember the students. Some people felt judged for not walking out or being a part of the protest. Whether it’s a protestor or not, people still have their freedom of speech and it should never be diminished.
Meagan wants to learn more about freedom of speech and protests.
May 2018, page 5 | Student Life
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 9
Get yours: JostensYearbooks.com How Lancers made mistakes and their advice to overcome them By Natalie Aiono IN HIGH school, everyone has their regrets. Many teens have something they wish they had done in their four years. It’s not always easy committing to certain goals for the school year. No matter the grade, students every age have passed up on opportunities they wish they hadn’t. It is important to learn from others, especially in this long journey called high school. Interacting and putting yourself out there is a great start. “I regret not getting more out there, to be honest. Joining clubs, meeting more people, doing more things. I regret that because who doesn’t like to meet more people? It’s great to meet more people and get more experience. You should do things that get you out of your comfort zone. It’s very important. It’s important because everyone should have a friend. Make sure you always get out of your comfort zone because the best things in life are usually placed out of fear,” Marshall Trujillo (11) said. Social events are great opportunities for many things. “I regret not coming to all of the activities, like the football games. I didn’t go to as many as I wish I did. I wish I had went to be more social and meet more peo-
ple. You should meet more people because it’s like networking. You might need help with something one day, and because you met all those people, one is going to be bound to be able to help you. My advice is go to social events and take classes that challenge you because it will pay off in the future,” Mariana Bueno (12) said. Jessica Gonzalez (12) regrets not going to school more. “I regret skipping school all the time and failing. It sucked because I had to make it all up. I had to work so hard to get back on track. I’m ahead now but it wasn’t worth skipping all that time. I did summer school and took extra classes. Don’t skip class. No matter what your friends say, do not skip. Follow the good influences you have,” Gonzalez said. While some Lancers goof off a lot, it’s not always bad at certain times. “The biggest regret I’ve had freshman and sophomore year was taking things way too seriously. I seemed rude and came off with a condescending tone. It wasn’t until I met my best friend when I started to change. She taught me to be kinder and to relax,” Noel Munguia-Moreno (11) said. “I was super uptight and nervous about everything. She
showed me how to be myself and do things that you enjoy. I took up drawing, writing, and a bunch of other stuff. Going through high school, don’t take things too seriously. Do your work, be the best student you can. Don’t just be here for the attendance. Take care of yourself and realize that you are only human. And sleep. Get plenty of sleep,” Moreno said. Granger is a wonderful place to form bonds and make friends.
“I regret not making more friends. I’m still working on it. Every day you have the opportunity to meet these wonderful unique people, and there is thousands in Granger. I have a few close friends, and I know they are going to be lifelong friends. I just wish I had more. You should get out more, socialize more. Use social media as an advantage and connect with your peers. The best thing you can do it surround
yourself with great friends and positive energy. It all starts with yourself,” said Evelyn Reyes (10) said. After all is said and done, fellow Lancers can only acknowledge the mistakes of their peers and work to not make those same mistakes. In a school of thousands, don’t waste these opportunities. Get out there, meet everyone, and make a mark. There’s lots to learn.
“You should do things that get you out of your comfort zone,” Marshall Trujillo said.
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 9
May 2018, page 6 | Sports
Athletes explain why coaches are good role models By Afatia Tiatia GRANGER’S coaches are more than a simple necessity for the team. Rebecca Moleni (11) is a volleyball player at Granger who explained how important her coach really is. “There are many things that make my coach a role model not only to me but also to my team,” Moleni said. When a coach is a role model to the athletes, it is a really good thing because it shows that the players can trust and have a bond between the coach and among themselves. “One thing that makes my coach a role model to me is he doesn’t like to yell at us during practice or during a game,” Moleni said. When a coach is not always constantly yelling at the players for every wrong move that the athletes do, it helps the athletes. Most athletes concentrate more when the coach is just talking about what they need to work on instead of shouting at them. “Another reason that makes
my coach a role model is he understands us. He understands that there are going to be some days that we don’t really don’t feel good or something has happened to where we will not be able to make to that practice,” Moleni said. There are going to be times when a coach will understand what you are going through, but there will also be times like when there is a game coming up that the coach has to start pushing their athletes to do better than the last practice. Michelle Cansino (12) is on the track and field team at Granger High. “I have many reasons why my coach can be a role model. One reasoning is they get how we can be sometimes. They know that yelling at us is something that can make us lose courage at a track meet,” Cansino said. Sometimes when in a sport there may be one specific coach that you will have positive opinions about. “That coach for me would be Jefferies. Jefferies is a
role model because he takes time to help others and put them first instead of thinking about himself,” Cansino said. When having a coach as a role model, sometimes they hold the philosophy of letting the athletes explore what they feel is right for them that gets their team a win. “With having a coach, most of the time their options for my teammates and I are to explore how we feel how we can make this team better,” Cansino said. Coaches play a big part when it comes to sports. One big part that the coaches play is not giving up on the athletes. “With my coach something that I admire is them putting their time in to help us, and a big thing is they won’t give up on us. They put all their time and energy to help us accomplish something we want to improve on,” Cansino said. One of the biggest things that athletes like to see their coaches can be is a hard working coach. Christopher Freestone (11) plays for Granger High School’s
baseball team. “If there is one thing I know that makes my coach a role model is him being a hard working coach. For me a hard working coach is a wonderful thing. It shows not only me but also my teammates how much our coach cares to help us,” Freestone said. Some other things that you would want to see in a coach is the coaches taking leadership in what they are doing. “Taking leadership as a coach is something that every coach has even if
they are beginner coaches,” Freestone said. Sometimes the way the coaches bond with the players on and off the court or the field plays a large part. “When I’m getting to know my coaches, one thing that instantly pops in my head is much of a bonding time I will have with my coach. My coach is someone that I can trust with anything and on another note our bonding as a team and individually with our coach will last forever,” Freestone said.
Coach Jaramillo brings a sense of humor to the dugout.
NFL prospects prepare for next chapter in their football careers By Edward Carrasco THE NFL draft is more than just hearing college players’ names being called. I want to provide a deeper explanation on how the NFL draft works. In the NFL, there are a total of 32 teams and 7 rounds in the draft. So in total, there will be 253 players selected. In one round there are a total of 32 selections. Draft spots depends on the win-loss record the team had that season. So the teams with the worst season get the early picks, while the teams who had a better record receive the later picks in the round. Although teams’ picks depends on win-loss ratio, it goes differently for the teams who made the playoffs. Picks 20-32 are teams who made the playoffs, and order depends on how far they made it on the playoffs.
The team which lost first in the playoffs makes the first pick. For example, the Kansas City Chiefs were the first team to lose in the playoffs, so they will receive the 20th pick in the draft round. The Los Angeles Rams were the 2nd team to lose in the playoffs, so they will receive the 21st pick. Since the Philadelphia Eagles won the super bowl this year, they will receive the 32nd pick in the draft round. Teams are able to trade draft spots if they choose to do so. They are able to trade spots for players or other draft spots. It all depends on what the teams can come to an agreement on. The NFL draft is for acquiring new, young talent that can improve the team. For the Cleveland Browns, they are in rebuilding mode, hoping to improve from their disappointing 0-16 season.
For the Philadelphia Eagles, they are looking to reload and hoping to go back to the SuperBowl for the 2nd consecutive season. When selecting players in the draft, teams have a certain time limits to make their pick. In the first round, teams have 10 minutes to make their selection. In the 2nd round, teams have 7 minutes to make their selection. In rounds 3-6, teams have 5 minutes and the 4 minutes for the 7th round. In the amount of time given, teams are able to decide what players they would like to select or to see if they would like to make a trade with another team. If a team does not make a selection within the given time frame, the next team can make a selection. The team that missed its turn can submit their selection after their time is up.
The way teams evaluate prospect is by watching film on the players to dissect their skills on the field. About 300+ players are invited to the NFL combine in Indianapolis in the football stadium of the Indianapolis Colts. The players are put through workouts to further evaluate their skill and athletic level. The workouts every player goes through (unless they opt out of them) are the 40 yard dash, bench press, broad jump, vertical jump, and 3-cone drill. The 40 yard dash is mainly to see how fast a player can run 40 yards. The bench press is to test strength and see how many repetitions the players can do. The broad jump is to see how far players can jump. The vertical jump is to evaluate how high the player can jump, and the 3-cone drill to see how
fast the player can change direction. Players also do other workouts based on the position they play on the field. After the NFL combine, players get a scheduled pro day. A pro day is basically the combine again, but it is performed at the football stadium from which the college they are from. Players’ draft stock can drastically rise or fall based on their performance at the combine and their pro days. After the pro days and the combine, players are able to meet with teams to have private workouts and interviews. This is the time where teams can have one on one interaction with the players to further evaluate them. The NFL draft is where legends and future Hall of Famers will be drafted and be able to make their mark in NFL history.
By Bryon Brinley GRANGER’S different sport teams take pride in their programs, the reason being that those players worked hard to be part of their respective programs. That leaves the rest of Granger’s students as spectators, but we only see what goes on during the same. However, players and coaches see the programs in a whole different light. “We see ourselves more as brothers, and this is our second family. Before every game we come together and just remind each other to have fun. Obviously the goal is to win, but we also have to be like in this brotherhood. We go play to forget whatever is happening personally, and we focus on the game,” Maximus Gutierrez (9) said of his experience with the soccer team. Some players have the experience of playing for many years under their belt. They have also seen the program change drastically with changes of staff and those coaches’ new styles of practice and playing. Either way, the importance of staying close and staying focused remains the same.
“There’s much more to soccer than just working hard on the field. It’s also creating chemistry with the team outside of the field. We don’t just play soccer either, we have to be role models at school by working hard in class and getting good grades. I do my part but soccer is a team game so it falls on all of us to work hard. For anyone wanting to be a part of this program they have to always bring that A-game, and as Bewar says, ‘stay hungry,’ ” Jair Pena (12) said. Many are led to believe that if coaches win, they get more money and more influence at the school. The coaches here would say that those rumors are completely wrong, and that they coach for something much more pure than money and fame. “I don’t have incentives from the administration. The only incentives I have are the goals that the team and I put together each year to accomplish. Of course I have my personal pride. I want to win and make a successful program, but I also care about the personal growth of the players on and off the field. We have
good one on one time and I do care about what these students do on and off the field and I am glad that they care about each other personally as well,” Coach Jaramillo said. As years pass with the same coach in charge of a program, that coach begins to build a reputation around the school. This phenomenon has already begun with the likes of Coach Bewar, with students saying he has an aggressive style of coaching. These statements don’t seem to bother Coach Bewar, as he pushes to get the best out of his players. “The goal is to make a great program. Coaches can be awarded for the work they do with a program by other organizations, but really we do it for the pride of the school and to have that silverware. If I notice that a player is struggling, I advise them on the options they could take to work it out, but most of the help comes from the players helping each other for sure. I use all the tools I have to also help these kids on their future and see them playing at a higher level. I want these kids to bring that winning culture
to Granger and see how good it feels,” Coach Bewar said. When the term ‘team’ is heard, most would be right to assume that it is referring to sports. But a team here at Granger that possibly deserves as much recognition as any other sport team is the student government. From staying late to being the face of the school, the student government can be intimidating to join but for Natalia Acevedo (10) this is just part of the great team.
“I think that managing your time between homework, when to stay after, and personal things is the hard part to do. I spend a lot of time with the others outside of the school and that really helps us get to know each other, so when we need help we can depend on each other. We share a lot of the work so one person isn’t really stressed. The best part is getting to know each other especially at the summer camp, that is where we truly bond.
Granger’s different teams run deeper than the game
Coach Bewar encourages his players to succeed at a high level.
May 2018, page 7 | Sports
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 9
With kicks and turns, preparation is more than simplicity By Stephanie Perez THE ANXIETY every player gets before the big game can be overwhelming. At Granger High, we have a lot of different sports to choose from. Giving an insider insight on how our athletes prepare for game may give students more than just the chills. Many would say that hard work pays off. Fans may know who’s on the team and the scores they get, however, they don’t know what goes on behind the curtains. As track students prepare for the
upcoming pain of shin splints, Daniel Flores (12) makes sure to have a daily routine. “Something I do is make sure I get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, and do an easy workout before,” Flores said. As for other athletes, it can be something such as listening to music or simply receiving motivational speeches from others on the team. This can be a way to gain the correct motivation that everyone needs in order to be hyped throughout the game. “I have to be mentally pre-
Athletes have to push themselves to their limits in order to succeed.
pared, just having in mind that it can be a game that changes our lives,” Ubaldo Moreno (12) said. Always having a positive mindset is something that most Granger High athletes would agree on. All sports have more to them than just throwing a ball or running a certain distance. “I give myself a huge confidence boost and tell myself that I am capable of doing anything as long as I put my mind to it, in case I ever get nervous,” Violeta Gonzalez (10) said. Making sure that an athlete has a good mindset is very important. A player cannot go into a game with the mindset that they will lose, or else thier game might not turn out the way they want it to. Therefore, knowing how to prepare for a big game is important. For baseball player Kaleb Breeze (9), this means never being nervous when entering a game. “I get hyped before the game, and it stays like that the whole time,” Breeze said. Getting pumped up and not losing the
adrenaline rush is something we all wish for. However, that may not the case for all athletes. “Out of all the years I have been at Granger, I never wanted to join a sports team. But joining track is something I wouldn’t take back. The amazing feeling you get before the big meet is what makes it all worth it to me,” Flores said. Having to run miles on the daily or needing to do the correct exercises in order to be physically prepared is what kills most athletes. Hearing complaints that they’re always sore from the hard practice they had before may make other students lose interest. For Gonzalez, getting those daily pains are what inspire her to push harder. “I’ve felt like giving up all just because I had the worst pain, but my parents always told me that you have to push yourself in order to get where you want to be,” he said. Many athletes have talked about changing their routines whenever they are getting used
to it. This is because they believe they aren’t pushing their bodies to the fullest, and when they’re on the field they know what they are capable of not doing and doing. “In the first 10 minutes of the game we as a team should already know the weaknesses, best players, and what game plan they are using. Then for the rest of the game, we just push ourselves already knowing about the other team,” Moreno said. Athletes push one another to do better than they were the day before. “If I see myself falling behind, I replay everything my parents have told me and I make sure that the other team eats dirt,” Gonzalez said. Though having great sportsmanship may be important, for Gonzalez having her mind towards victory is what comes into play while on the field. “The pain is only temporary so if I tell myself that tomorrow will be a better day, then I will push myself past my limits in order to reach the goals I have set for myself,” Gonzalez said.
Playing on a sports team at Granger is harder than some may think By Braxton Henrie TO PLAY a sport at Granger takes a lot of determination and heart. Daniel Tippets (10) joined the football team just this year to feel like he is a part of something greater than himself. “I joined football to feel like I am a part of a team, but it later became less a team and more a band of brothers, who share blood, sweat, and tears on the field,” Tippets said. “I look forward to playing football for the rest of my years at Granger or as long as I can while maintaining good grades,” Tippets said. A runner who gives his all on the track is Dillon Tuiatua (9), who also plays football and joined track to keep him in shape during the offseason, because nothing is worse then returning to a sport out of shape. “Playing for Granger has been really fun to get to meet new people and compete,” Tuiatua said. “It’s hard being a student athlete getting done with practice late and having little to no time to do your homework,” Tuiatua said. For him, being a student comes
first because good grades are re- This year, he looks forward to than the other. “For me being a quired to play sports. His friends walking on the field or track with student-athlete is just words, you and family support him by both the people that he calls family. just can’t put one ahead of the motivating him and coming to “Playing for Granger has some other it’s more of an in-between all of his games. “When joining benefits, especially making new type of a thing for me,” Mai said. track, I just wanted to His friends supdo what they do and port him by joining be a part of what they the sport or just joinare a part of,” Tuiatua ing in activities to said. show support for him. The thing that His parents help pay pumps him up is for the fees and gear seeing the opposing to be able to play the team and wanting to sport and encourage beat them. He would him as much as poslove to play in college sible. “I didn’t choose because it would give tennis, tennis chose him a possibly bright me because I was future. “Football has encouraged to join,” become a big part Mai said. His friends of my life being on and teammates motithat field surrounded vate him as he motiby my brothers is all vates them. He would the motivation in the Dillon Tuiatua runs for the win no matter if it’s practice or a game. love to play in college world,” Tuiatua said. because it would be a “The thing that pumps us up friends on the team and meet- fun experience for him. is just saying we got each other’s ing players from other schools,” He is often encouraged and backs, and if we lose we lose as a Calvin Mai (11) said. He likes to draws inspiration from profesteam, and just next week we bring balance sports and school by not sional players and looks forward it all in practice getting ready for just going with the flow. Instead to making new memories with his this week’s game,” Tuiatua said. he tries not to focus on one more teammates.
“Playing for Granger is a privilege that I don’t take lightly and it feels good having my brothers all around me,” Anthony Chacon (9) said. “Being a student is awesome because I stay on top of my grades and perform better on the field,” Chacon said. Being a student always comes first to him, and it’s impossible to have one without the other. His friends support him by joining the sport or coming to his games, his family supports him in anything that he sets his mind to and will always be there for him. “I chose football, basketball and baseball because I have been playing them all of my life and I would do more if high school would allow it,” Chacon said. He gets pumped up by warming up and listening to music before a game. He would love to play in college, and his main goal is to get at least a scholarship for one of those sports. “My motivation is my family, mostly my brother, so I can be a better role model for him and so he can go farther in life than me,” he said.
Tips and tricks on how to make yourself a better athlete By Everestt Masters THERE are many many things that can make some athletes better than the others. It has always and will always be the things they do while they’re outside of the sport, whether it’s running a mile each day, or doing 20 extra pushups a day. For example, in track and field, if you are a sprinter and you want to be faster than the other schools’ athletes, you have to run on your own outside of practice/meets. If you are a thrower and want to throw longer and farther, then you have to lift and practice outside of after school practice. Going to a park just to do your thing really helps. The gym plays a big part in many sports, because most sports include strength. If you can’t stay in front of the competition, then eventually they will want to be better than you.
Athletes progress on their own, whether it’s football, track and field, baseball, basketball, soccer, or even tennis, everyone still can only control themselves. You can guide people and help them, but at the end of the day you only help yourself. “As starting QB/CB I learned that you have to outsmart your opponent, get into their head and play with them,” Lei Laita (11) said. A big factor that plays a role in everything is mindset. If you have the mindset that you’re going to lose, you will lose. If you have a winning mindset, then you might win. “To be the best athlete, you have to work harder than everyone, and push yourself beyond your limits because only you know your limits,” Laita said. Mindset is one of the biggest things when it comes to sports. If you walk into a track and field
competition thinking you’re better than everyone else, it is better than walking in like everyone else is faster than you. The best way to be the best athlete is to be humble, recognize your skills, use your skills to your advantage, and keep to yourself about your skills. “I go to track meets with a mindset of I’m going to win, but I stay humble and eye out my real competition while I warm up. I do that because I want to underestimate myself, because the feeling of overcoming victory is a feeling you only get to feel in the moment,” Isis Oro (12) said. Another huge role in the best athlete theme has got to be integrity. “If you have have principles and you’re always holding yourself accountable to them, then you will always have the same attitude,” Millenn Madsen (12) said. “Morals are a big thing, too,
because the experiences you see and learn in life are unforgettable even good or bad. Integrity shows a lot of character, and character is another huge part of being the best athlete,” Madsen said. You have to live life the same way on and off the field. “Because if someone tries to call your bluff how are you gonna react? Are you gonna give up and let them win, or are you gonna get better, get up and beat them? It’s all about how you hold yourself, and what you tell yourself,” Madsen said. “Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities. Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy,” Madsen said. Your mentality as an athlete is just as big as being physical. You can be strong & fast but if you’re doubting your abilities then there is something
is holding you back from you full potential. You have to have the whole package and more. If you’re constantly holding back and never test your full abilities, you may never know what your body can physically and mentally do. When it comes to late night tournaments/game when you’re tired of playing and ready to go home, and all of the sudden your coach calls you off the bench expects you give your best, what are you going to do? It’s about how you react in every moment. “When you don’t have any time to react, that’s when the reaction is the best because it’s the ‘true-est’ ” Fane Ma’afu (11) said. Another simple way to be a better athlete is to just grind. There’s always gonna be someone better. Just grind.
May 2018, page 8 | Reviews
Tri-Color Times VOL. LX Issue 9
Dragon Ball Super ends; movie approaches Review by Jonathan Manriquez IN JANUARY of 2018, news came out that Dragon Ball Super was going to have its last episode air at the end of March. When that came out, the Dragon Ball community was broken, because everyone was happy that the Dragon Ball franchise had come back. If the show went on until the July 5, it would been running for three years, but since it is ended in March, the show only lasted two years and eight months. It is the end for the Japanese dub with any language subtitles. But for dubbed version, Funimation released its English version January 7, 2017. On Saturday, March 17, it was on episode 55, meaning there are still episodes to watch until episode 131. After a couple of weeks, Akira said that a new series is to come out after the English dub catches up. A month later, Akira confirmed that Super will continue after their new movie that comes out in December. The new movie they are making is supposed to come out December 14, 2018. The movie is going to go deeper in the understanding of the Saiyans and Frieza. The movie is to be the continuation from where Super left off with the final battle between universe 7’s Goku, Frieza, and Android 17 and Jiren from universe 11. However, the movie is going to have different animation from Super and Dragon Ball Z. I think they are going back to Dragon Ball animation, with there being not too much detail in the muscles or shadowing on the characters. I favor the new animation they are going to use. Others don’t like it though, because they say it’s not detailed enough. I don’t care what they think, I like the animation either way. The continuation or a new series was confirmed by Akira Toriyama. Many are hoping that Super will continue, because everything that could have happened in the series might happen if it continues. If a new series comes out, they are going to have to make a whole new story plot and transformation or technique for the story. Super had to come out with four transformations and one technique. The four transformation were Super Saiyan God, Super
Starcraft returns to finish what it started
Saiyan God Super Saiyan or Super Saiyan Blue, Super Saiyan Rosè, and Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Evolution. The one technique they came out with that many fans are debating on is whether it’s a transformation or technique is Ultra Instinct. I feel that it is a technique because anybody can get to it with a lot of training or meditation. A transformation is when only one type of race can only access that form because it is in their blood. For the Saiyans, they had to have enough S-Cells for them to turn Super Saiyan. This was confirmed by Akira in an interview in December of last year. That’s why many Saiyans, even Vegeta, had a hard time turning into Super Saiyan. Many didn’t have any or barely had enough SCells to do it. Goku had more than enough to turn Super Saiyan when he was fighting Frieza and saw his friend Krillin die by Frieza. At first, Akira said that to acquire Super Saiyan you had to be purehearted. Then he said that they needed S-Cells, so Gohan, Go-
ten, and Trunks (the kids of Goku and Vegeta) inherited more than enough to turn Super Saiyan. That’s why the remaining Saiyans have that ability to turn Super Saiyan. With all these transformations and techniques, facts that they used to explain many things all came for Super. It’s difficult not to wonder what will they do if they come out with a new series. Goku already went to a technique that even the Gods of Destruction have a hard time getting to. I wonder what new transformation can they do that makes Mastered Ultra Instinct seem like nothing, of it will make it seem lesser. Whatever they do, there will either be a continuation or new series. Either way, it’s going to continue the Dragon Ball Franchise. I hope they continue with Super because they were doing so well with it and they had a lot of ideas for it. One way or another, something is going to happen after their new movie comes out in December of this year. I hope the movie becomes big enough that it’s dubbed for other languages.
Review by Allen Carrillo STARCRAFT II is the sequel to the hit ‘90s PC RTS (Real Time Strategy) game Starcraft, which takes us to the future of humanity where we have starships and advanced medical/military technology. The game brings back old protagonists like Jim Raynor, Zeratul, Matt Horner, Sarah Carrigan, and many others. The game also brings back the old faction of the alien threat known as the Zerg, which were thought to be eradicated in the first game. Those of us who have played the first game will get a new kick out of the controls and the major graphical upgrade compared to what they had back in the first one. Those who are new to the game will get a bit of a challenge, especially if they have never played an RTS before. Do not worry though, it is really easy to get the hang of and requires some thinking. So if you do not like to think much, then do not play it. The game itself is pretty straightforward. You have a base, you can collect resources, build an army, defeat the enemy, and win while completing bonus objectives to give you more money for unit upgrades and to earn achievements for bragging rights. Sounds simple enough. However, you have to consider unit types and their counters like how air beats vehicle, vehicle beats infantry, and infantry beats air. It’s like rock, paper, scissors. With the rock, paper, scissors format in mind, it makes you plan accordingly on what kind of units you will be needing when you are building your army or defending it from the enemy. That does not really guarantee a victory or a defeat in a game, though. That is where strategy comes in. If you know how to move your troops to where they are needed and time the attacks effectively, you will have a better chance at winning. That means that you should probably start with the campaign so that you can practice, since in multiplayer you will get wrecked. The campaign has some challenging missions, obviously, that force you to try new strategies that you
may have never thought of before. The story itself is amazing due to the fact that you are trying to liberate the colonies from the dictator, Arcturus Mengsk, who you actually helped get into power in the first Starcraft because he lied to you. As you are trying to free the colonies from the grasp from the dictator, the Zerg also launch their assault on humanity. This is led by Jim’s lover, Sarah Kerrigan, who was turned into the “Queen of Blades” after the Overlord was destroyed in the last Starcraft. As you play through, you can see how stressed Jim gets as you reach the final battle in where he has to choose whether to try to save her, his love, or to eliminate her for the sake of humanity but live with guilt. Once you decide on what choice is the right one, the campaign ends with different cutaways depending on the choice you made. After that you can hop on to multiplayer or go back and hunt for achievements. Multiplayer is pretty fun because you can choose which faction to play as. You can be human, Zerg, or Protos–an alien race that inspired the creation of the Covenant in the Halo series. You have to go through another annoying tutorial though. Keep in mind that the upgrades that you purchase in the campaign are not transferred over to multiplayer because it’s multiplayer, it already has everything you need. You can choose to play a simple 1v1 up to a total war of 3v3 with you and two friends or two randoms if you like playing like that. The community is not really as toxic like those of COD, Halo, and League, because most of the players are people who enjoy to play for fun and not to compete. However, there are times that you will encounter a toxic player but that is because they got wrecked in their last game or the game finishes faster than they thought it would. That’s all there is to know about the multiplayer. If you want to know more about the game you are going to have to play it or watch gameplay.
The community for DND players is so much larger than people assume Review By Taea Edwards DUNGEONS and Dragons; the game that everyone has heard about, but nobody actually plays. Or so you thought. Personally, I knew absolutely nothing about Dungeons and Dragons up until a few months ago. I didn’t know anyone who played, I didn’t ever hear about it, and I honestly forgot that it was even a thing. As I said, this changed a few months ago. As I began making more friends this year, I started hearing about it more and more. The experience has been like when you discover something new that previously you knew nothing about, but all of a sudden now, you see it everywhere. I decided, after hearing a rant about it and hearing how popular it was, to give it a go. The first
time I played, it was completely new to me, and apparently it wasn’t a set campaign, so it was hard to determine whether I was a fan or not. I then decided to join some of my friends in a game on the bus during my choir tour. This time we had a very experienced DM (Dungeon Master), a set campaign, and quite a few players. Some of them, like me, had never played before, while others were more experienced. It was pretty hard playing on the bus, and a few people dropped from exhaustion, but what we did play was still enough to reel me in. There are so many interesting aspects of this game. It’s not online generally, though you can play online if you prefer. It uses a series of seven different dice,
each with a different purpose, and your roles and decisions alter the path of the game. One thing that I found very interesting was the character selection. I’m used to basic online games like Halo, COD, and Skyrim (the latter being my favorite), so the character use was a very cool part in the game. I needed to make a background, pick a race (gnome), appearance (literal lawn gnome), alignment, and many different things that also swayed the storyline. As far as the storytelling went, I thought it was super cool. I never really thought of a game working like that, despite the fact that basically every game has a storyline. I suppose I just never thought of it being like that, where there was almost a planned spontaneity as the game went on.
It was a pretty new experience, but I liked being able to see how little things affected the storyline. Along those same lines ran the actual playing of the game. You had to make decisions and choices, and from them the story was altered. The battles were changed based on how you reacted, and whatever happened next was changed as well, according to what the DM chose to change or keep the same. The drawn maps that we got to use during the gameplay were a really nice addition, and it helped me visualize what was happening and how I could connect it to what choices I had to make. It eliminated any sort of confusion someone might have about what was happening, especially during battles. Though it was strange start-
ing out, eventually we all fell into the swing of things. The more we played, the more fun it got, despite it being a fairly small game. By far my favorite thing about the game was the logic that you use in order to play it. One wrong decision can end with you dead, and good decisions can help you gain XP and other bonuses to your stats. Just the entirety of how this game runs is such an interesting concept that makes it more entertaining to play. This game has so many indepth things and there are so many different aspect that it has, not to mention the depth and variety of it. It is a very fun game to play and as I said before, the game’s overall community is so much bigger than I thought, and now I’m not very surprised as to why.