Issuu

Museum of Fine Arts pg. 9

Ren Fest pg. 2

Photo by Gil Sanchez

Stratford High School

THE Volume 41, Issue 4

Photo by Jackie Mask

Just Swim pg. 12

Photo by Gil Sanchez

14555 Fern Drive, Houston TX 77079

RACLE

Friday, November 16, 2012

Changing Seasons

Fall sports come to a successful end

Photo by Caitlin Hilton

Photo Courtesy of Kennedy Meek

Photo by Katherine Kennedy

Photo by Jordan Comparin

Photo by Katherine Kennedy

-(33 :,(:65: >9(7 <7 (1) Junior defensive lineman Jay Harper blocks a Ridgepoint player. The team ended the regular season with a record of 8-2. Playoffs begin Friday, Nov. 16 at Tully against Waltrip. (2) Varsity girls cross country warms up for the Spring Branch Invitational Meet on October 6. Both boys and NPYSZ [LHTZ ÄUPZOLK [OL ZLHZVU HZ KPZ[YPJ[ JOHTWPVUZ (3) Varsity cheerleaders Tay Candelario, Claire Aven, and :HTHU[OH /PJRZ OLSW ÄYL \W [OL JYV^K K\YPUN H -YPKH` UPNO[ MVV[IHSS NHTL (4) Tri Theta members hold up a run-through sign at the start of the second half of the game. The football team runs through a sign at the start of each half. On average, these signs take 15 hours to make. (5) The band performs their annual senior show which is composed by several students in collaboration with the directors. This year’s show featured the popular songs “ Call Me Maybe”, “Never Gonna Give You Up”, and “ Gangnam Style”. (6) Spartacus, senior Camila *HZ[HULKH NP]LZ OPNO Ä]LZ [V M\[\YL :WHY[HUZ (7) Varsity volleyball takes a timeout to hear some advice from their coach, Becky Palermo. Volleyball came in second in district, but lost in the second round of playoffs to Foster High School. (8) Running back Rakeem Boyd splits Ridgepoint’s defense and gets the touchdown. As the only freshman on varsity, Boyd is “excited for playoffs, and [the team] is looking forward to winning state”.

Photo by Katherine Kennedy

NEWS

Friday, November 16, 2012

The Oracle

Renaissance Arrives

The Ren Fest makes improvements to food, entertainment, and activities Samantha Vargas Amy Brajenovich

Men jousting in armor suits, women walking around in corset dresses, and people of all ages speaking in accents are all things guaranteed to be seen and heard at the Texas Renaissance Festival. The 38th annual Texas Renaissance Festival, located in Plantersville, west of Montgomery, is the country’s largest and most acclaimed Renaissance fair where the sights, sounds, tastes and beauty of the 16th Century come alive every Saturday and Sunday for 8 weeks. The festival began in 1974 on the location of an old strip mining site. Now 55 acres of land, 500 costumed performers, seven stages, and 200 shops and food stands are dedicated to entertain the 61,000 visitors per weekend. Nearly a half million guests come to experience the excitement. Over the past few years, employees of the Renaissance Festival have been working

on ways to improve the visitor’s experience by improving the food, entertainment and activities. Among the changes and upgrades this year is a new, historically accurate Globe Theatre and a second floor observation deck has been added to the Barbarian Inn. While many long-time Renaissance visitors consider turkey legs or steak on a stick the meal of choice, festival officials have made a concerted effort to upgrade and expand the dining options. A new Latin cuisine restaurant, Hacienda San Jorge, brings a new menu and Brazilian dancers for entertainment. New menu items include homemade wheat bread and brisket chili from the Queen’s Pantry; Chicken Diablo, with chicken wrapped in bacon, deep fried and served on a stick from the Sour Old Skull & Barbarian Inn; and hummus and Grecian honey puffs served at the Greek Agora

restaurant. The festival is a fun experience for the whole family to enjoy together. Many Texas families visit annually as a tradition. “I go to the Renaissance Festival every year with my family, I love it. I noticed that the restaurants this year had a larger menu with many more items to choose from,” junior Casey Sparks said. Entertainment is abundant by performances from dancers, magicians, musicians, jugglers, and singers. The streets are filled with a variety of independent vendors that sell medieval and Renaissance theme handcrafts, clothing, books, and artwork. Activities have advanced as well. Games include basic skills events such as archery or axe-throwing as well as Drench-a-Wench and Soaka-Bloke, which allows a player with a good aim to hit a target and get a employee wet.

Rides are typically not machine powered, various animal rides and human-powered swings are common. The new games include live animal displays and falconry exhibitions. In addition to the staged performances, a major attraction of Renaissance fairs are the crowds of professional and amateur actors, who play historical figures and roam the fair and interact with visitors. Visitors are encouraged to wear costumes, contributing to the illusion of an actual Renaissance environment. Each weekend, the Renaissance has a different theme that represents different events throughout the 16th century. There is a wide variety of themes, from The Barbarian Invasion to The Highland Fling. The festival exhibits many different activities and adventures so the guest can experience medieval times.

+9,:: ;6 0479,:: One of the best ways to get into spirit is to dress the part. Men jousting in armor suits, actors walking around PU JVZ[\TLZ HUK ]PZP[VYZ KYLZZLK PU [OLTLK V\[Ä[Z PZ ^OH[ [OL ;L_HZ Reniassance Festival is all about. All photos by Gil Sanchez

Friday, November 16, 2012

The Oracle

Giving Thanks

Get into the spirit of volunteering around Houston Samantha Vanston As pumpkins, skeletons, and witch decorations are repacked into a box and thrown in the attic for next year, turkeys, cornucopias, and the smell of pie begins to replace them. Thanksgiving fever begins for everybody in full swing. Along with the traditional feast that the holiday brings, people also take time to count their blessings and to show how grateful they are. The spirit of giving and volunteering their time back to the community fills many people’s hearts. There are many different ways for people to get involved and volunteer their time in their community. Some small ways that gratitude can be shown is by simply volunteering at a local homeless shelter, Salvation Army, or at a retirement home. Spending a couple of hours preparing and serving their Thanksgiving feast gives

everyone a satisfying feeling. If plans are already made on Thanksgiving Day, a way to give back is by hosting a canned food drive. One can go door to door and ask friends and neighbors to donate any spare canned food. Once enough cans are collected, drive over to a local Goodwill store or a church and they will collect them. Another option is to develop an online food drive. People from all corners of the world will be able to donate and feel good that they contributed in some way. The canned food drive can be done before or after Thanksgiving day, allowing time that can be spent with family and friends. Another way to show thanks is by going all out and dedicating your time at an all day event, like the Downtown Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade. Volunteering to be part of a

big, traditional event like the Thanksgiving Parade is time consuming. Even volunteering to work just the begin-

*(55,+ -66+ +90=, Spartans are helping their community by supporting a food drive for Thanksgiving. All the cans collected are going to St. Johnvinney, where people who can’t afford a Thanksgiving dinner can have one. Photo by Ariyan Almassi.

nizations give back to their community in their own special way. “At my job when customers are checking out, we ask if they would like to donate $5. Their $5 would send a pre-packaged bag to a family that can’t afford a Thanksgiving meal,” senior Keara Ledet said. “Every year on Thanksgiving, the majority of Student Council members go downtown and help set up and organize the Downtown Feast. Being part of an event that helps feed and clothe people gives everyone a rewarding feeling. We are home before the rest of my family is even up. I get to volunteer and spend the rest of my day with my family,” senior Christiana Kim said. It comes in many different forms, but volunteering is a great way to get into the Thanksgiving spirit no matter what one chooses to do.

Fundraising the Playhouse

Info and Shorts:

Emily Fishman

Photo courtesy of Kaylin Kruseman

;,550: :,9=,: 0; <7 For the 24th time in the last 26 years, varsity tennis competed for not only the regional title, but also for a chance to advance to the state championship. Their record earned them a number 3 seed out of 16 for regionals according to varsity coach Rory Frazee. Regionals was held in Katy, TX, so on Oct. 26 and the 27, the varsity tennis team headed out, ready to compete. Advancing to the semiÄUHSZ [OL :WHY[HUZ MHJLK [OL U\TILY ZLLK 4VU[NVTLY` ¸0»]L ILLU JVHJOPUN MVY HU H^M\S SVUN [PTL I\[ this is the team that I honestly feel very privileged to have been able to work with,” Coach Frazee said. VOLLEYBALL GOES TO PLAY6--: With only one returning varsity

player, #7 Lindsey Neumann, the Spartan volleyball team was expected to have a rebuilding year. Surprising all, the team placed 2nd in district; securing a place PU WSH` VMMZ ;OLPY ÄYZ[ WSH` VMM NHTL ^HZ against HISD Austin. Showing no mercy [V [OL 4\Z[HUNZ [OL` ^VU PU [OYLL NHTLZ Next they played Rosenberg Foster, where the Spartans fought hard to the end. The lack of varsity experience caught up to the team, stopping them from the possibility of becoming Area Champion. Overall, the volleyball team had a great season in district and earned the title of Bi-district champions. Their district record was 10-3 and the season record was 20-19.

Photo by Gil Sanchez

ning or after the event is a big way to show your community your thankfulness. Spartan students and orga-

Every year, the theatre department faces the daunting task of raising money to fund their award-winning productions. In total, the Playhouse receives only $1,000 from the district to spend on the shows. This amount does not pay for the rights to do even one show, let alone cover all the costs of all the productions. The difference has to be made up in fundraising. “Theatre students have already raised over $7,000 through three fundraisers this year,” Vice President of Fundraising for the Booster Club Meredith Lamberton said. These funds cover the cost of costumes, lights, sound design, set, and other costs. Students have participated in a fall fundraiser already this year by selling popcorn, pajamas, and Studio Movie Grill tickets. One of the biggest fundraisers that the Playhouse has is the annual Gala. “The gala is a really big kind of auction/fundraiser that we have the Saturday right be-

fore the big show opens. All the students who sign up will be performing while the parents eat and participate in the auction,” sophomore Ashley Karolys said. The Gala will be held Jan. 25. Some would argue that it is too much time and effort to fundraise. However, most theatre students believe differently. “We have to fundraise or we would not be able to do anything,” theatre director Cece Prudhomme said. Theatre students put in a lot of hours of fundraising so that the Playhouse will have the money to put on the spectacular shows it is known for. For those that are fundraising-averse, simply enjoying a Plahouse production will help them out. “The ticket sales are where we pretty much make most of our money back, and also the fundraisers,” said Prudhomme. Come support the Playhouse by seeing Crazy for You Jan. 31, and Feb. 1-2 and 7-9.

NEWS 3

ara’s pace

“This is too hard!” “Can you just drop this quiz grade?” “Do we really have to take this test?” Every high school student has been in a class where students feel they can try to negotiate with the teacher in front of the entire class. As well as being obnoxious, it is also incredibly disrespectful. Students may argue that the teacher’s policy on the matter they’re complaining about may be unfair. However, most of the time it is fair. And if it isn’t, it should be handled one on one with the teacher and not in front of the whole class. Bringing something like that up in front of the class is very unfair for the teacher. They are looking at 30 faces who want the easiest time in their class they can possibly have, and may feel pressured to do something they don’t want to do. There’s only one teacher, and they can’t be everybody’s best friend all the time. The worst is when people do it in an almost joking way, like they know that nothing will come from their complaining. Why would you even waste your time? There is a reason you are the student and the teacher is a teacher. Everything in their lesson plan is there because they feel it is crucial for students to know. Next time you feel like calling out your teacher in front of the class, think again. Is it fair? Will it actually accomplish something or is it just to waste time?

NEWS

Friday, November 16, 2012

Then Versus Now Hannah Bevers

Growing up is, without a doubt, a process that requires much change. As we grow, we change our ideas regarding politics, morals, and, most often, what we want to do when we grow up. We can all remember when, in Kindergarten, the teacher stood up and asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. A firefighter, a princess, or the President of the United States were the common responses. A sparse amount of people, if any at all, have held onto that original idea of what they wanted to be as an adult. Some people still want to be ballerinas and there are definitely a few of us who have plans to run the country. It’s interesting to see the correlation between what we used to want to be and what we’re putting on our college applications now. Unfortunately, there aren’t “successful politician” or “beauty queen” choices for “Chosen Major.” Some studies have shown that decisions we make as children affect what we be-

lieve as adults. The environments we live in, the people with whom we interacted, and the ideas that made up our choices were all important factors that went into making up our current personalities. What kind of life-changing event could be enough to change such a set idea? The logical answer: we grew up and got a taste of the real world. There is not much practicality in saying that you want to become a princess or a magician. It’s cute when you’re a five-year-old, but when an almost-adult says this it makes people uncomfortable. Additionally, the national struggle for young adults, fresh out of college, finding jobs has made most people scramble to change their career ideas. A decade ago, maybe some of us would have a better chance at becoming the President or a teacher. Now, though, the difficulty of finding a job within the first year after college is almost as high as finding a Prince Charming who is actually a

The Oracle

prince. This doesn’t mean, however, that we must all completely give up on our wishes. Sometimes, it just means that we must change our idea of “the perfect job.” Instead of being a princess, maybe a career as a wedding planner or a cosmetologist is more ideal. Anyone can go into politics and be successful, but we can’t all be the President. Law school is a very real possibility. There are alternatives to almost every career. We can’t all become actors, but we can be cinematographers, directors, editors, or graphic designers. We can’t all be magicians, but there is a growing need for engineers. We can’t all be meteorologists, but scientific research concerning the environment is on the rise. The important aspect to choosing a new (better) career is that you choose. The lack of available fairy and body builder positions isn’t something that should make people turn away from the idea of finding an occupation altogether.

Megan Botha, 12

Then: lawyer Now: tax lawyer Why: “It’s the coolest job in the world!”

Cliff Morris, 12

Then: Major League baseball player Now: film director/producer Why: “I quit baseball freshman year.”

Austin May, 12

Then: train conductor Now: construction manager Why: “I grew up.”

Amy Fox, 12

Then: marine biologist Now: biomedical engineer Why: “It’s a more practical career path.”

Pot at the End of the Rainbow

The Democratic Platform

Kali Venable On Nov. 6, the country reelected President Barack Obama for a second term, yet his victory was not the only monumental event to mark the day. Maine, Maryland, and Washington legalized samesex marriage on the day of the presidential election. These three states are the first in the history of the United States to legalize gay marriage by popular vote of the public. With this new change in legality, many states are predicted to also address the marriage issue and perhaps change their laws as well. Major changes also occurred in Washington and Colorado where they passed a law legalizing recreational use of marajuana. The “Legalize It” movement has been strong standing in both states for a matter of time, and it looks like activist’s hard work has finally paid off. The new law permits a per-

Hannah Bevers After two years of campaigning, four more years have been granted to President Obama. The Democratic Party’s platform has been controversial, especially in Texas, but here are the facts. The Democratic Party’s main focus is to help the economy by creating a growing middle class. They’re interested not in regressing to the foundation that America had before the economic crisis, but it forming a new, different one that “ensures it never happens again.” A hotly debated topic has been Obama’s deficit reduction plans. The Democratic platform says that the plan is to cut out programs that “we can’t afford and asking the wealthiest to again contribute their fair share.” An important part of the Democratic platform is the emphasis on getting people jobs so they can work to be part of the middle class. This includes cutting taxes on workers and businesses and

Changes that America would not consider 10 years ago The facts about our President’s policies and plans son over the age of 21 to possess up to 1 ounce (28.5 grams) for personal usage. The legislature also cracked down on punishment of minors caught processing marijuana or caught under the influence of it. Colorado and Washington plan on selling marijuana similar to the way alcohol or cigarettes are currently sold with a government tax form. Our country is moving at a fast pace towards change, and as citizens it is our job to respect and em-

brace the changes being made. Barack Obama is the first President to openly confirm that he supports gay marriage, and many states are starting to embrace the freedom of equal marriage rights for all citizens. Unlike the legalization of same-sex marriage, the legalization of marijuana in other states is not likely in the near future. However, it is hard to predeict exactly where our nation will be in the years to come considering that only 10 years ago, the changes in congress happening today were seen as impossible

Graphic by Kali Venable

making reforms to the unemployment system. On the subject of tax cuts, the Democratic Party claims that the average family saved $3,600 due to President Obama’s tax cuts during his first term. His policy aims to help families who have children, especially those paying

“

President Obama’s platform is centered around middle class Americans, roughly 35% of the American population. for one or more college education. Health care reforms by the Democratic party include expanding Medicaid to cover more working families because the party believes that “no one should go broke because they get sick.” President Obama is inter-

ested in building an economy that “creates the jobs of the future and makes things the rest of the world buys.” This means that “outsourcing, loopholes, or risky financial deals” are not in his plan. When it comes to jobs, President Obama intends on following through with his American Jobs Act that passed last September. This includes the intention to “fight for measures that would strengthen the recovery and create jobs now.” President Obama’s platform is centered around middle class Americans, roughly 35% of the American population. His policies are aimed to help the lower class reach the middle class within the next four years. The Democratic party’s goal is to be sure that America “never fails to meet the tests of our time.” For more information, visit www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform.

The Oracle

Friday, November 16, 2012

ADS

Forgot your copy of the Oracle? Don’t worry! We’ve got your back with our virtual issues on spartanoracle.blogspot.com!

SPARTANORACLE.BLOGSPOT.COM

PUZZLE PAGE

Graphic by Victoria Shin

Friday, November 16, 2012

The Oracle

Friday, November 16, 2012

The Oracle

USE Photo by Jackie Mask

“Babel”

MUSE 7

5 days until... Thanksgiving

Mumford & Sons new album at a closer glance

Kali Venable

Mumford & Sons is one of the few bands who came to complete fame through their very first album. “Sign No More”, Mumford & Sons very first album, was released in 2009 millions fell in love with the charming lyrical music. Mumford & Sons began to sell out huge concerts all over the world with people traveling far and wide just to see them live. Their immediate stardom brought pressure for success, especially when they released “Babel” on Sept. 12 in a number of European countries and released it on

Sept. 25 in the United States. The same devoted fan base who fought for concert tickets, lined up at stores and made online orders to get their hands on a copy of the group’s new album. The album soared to the top of the charts; it debuted at #1 on the UK album charts and sold over 600,000 U.S. copies in it’s opening week. When I received my very own copy of “Babel” on vinyl in the mail a week ago, I didn’t know what to expect. I had heard mixed reviews from multiple people; some loved the new content while others tossed

it from their music palate almost immediately. “Babel” is both blissfully reassuring and incredibly disappointing at the same time; a combination I still don’t fully understand. On one hand the band has come up with another collection of hit songs that millions can sing and relate to; another combination of music that makes people feel alive. On the other hand, after I finished listening to the album, I felt empty; like the album was missing something crucial. The problem with “Babel” is that the collection of songs sound exactly like

those from their last album. As a band it is good to keep consistency throughout records; however, there needs to be some variance to show growth as artists. No doubt Mumford & Sons are crazy talented, appeal to tons of people, and will be making killer music for many years to come. However, I, just as many other fans, would like to hear them change it up a bit. Mumford & Sons should consider trying out new chords and making their next album stand out from the past twoyet still be just as wonderful.

6 Days until... BLACK FRIDAY

35 DAYS UNTIL.... WINTER BREAK Graphic by Natalie Yoo

Graphic by Natalie Yoo

November/December Concert Schedule

Wiz Khalifa @ Reliant Stadium Nov. 23

Young Mammals @ Fitzgerald’s Nov. 22 FREE ADMISSION

Reverend Horton Heat @ House of Blues Nov. 23 Metalocalypse: Dethklok @ House of Blues Dec. 2

Scorpion Child @ Cactus Music Nov. 17

Peter Case Reading @ Cactus Music Nov. 16

Great White @ House of Blues Nov. 16

The Axiom @ Fitzgerald’s Nov. 23-24

Rush @ Toyota Center Dec. 2

Odd Future @ House of Blues

Races @ Fitzgerald’s Nov. 21

James Fortune @ House of Blues Dec. 5

Generationals @ Fitzgerald’s Nov. 21

Miguel Materos @ House of Blues Nov. 25

Jonathan Coulton @ Fitzgerald’s Dec. 1

Glass the Sky @ Cactus Music Nov. 17

Jason Boland @ House of Blues Dec. 6

Blue October @ House of Blues Nov. 21

Space City Beat Battle IX @ Fitzgerald’s Nov. 25

Old Crow Medicine Show @ House of Blues Nov.

David Choi @ Fitzgerald’s Nov. 17

Wanda Jackson, Jonny Fritz, The Beans @ Fitzgerald’s Nov. 29

Civil Twilight @ Fitzgerald’s Dec. 6

Matisyahu @ House of Blues Nov. 20

Marching Gnomes @ Fitzgerald’s Nov. 25

Richard cheese @ House of Blues Nov. 18 Graham Colton, Jay Nash, Jennifer James @ Fitzgerald’s Nov. 28

Afton @ Fitzgerald’s Nov. 25

Skating Polly @ Fitzgerald’s Nov. 29

The Trimms @ Fitzgerald’s Dec. 7

Lower Life Form, Born From Ruins, Admantium, And Fighting Gemini @ House of Blues Nov. 17

Tilly and the Wall, Sphynx @ Fitzgerald’s Nov. 17

Steve Winwood @ Bayou Music Center Nov. 28

Blood in the Alcohol Stream @ Fitzgerald’s Dec. 8

Driver Friendly @ Fitzgerald’s Dec. 13

MUSE

Friday, November 16, 2012

The Oracle

Tweets of the Week

Dance Dance Evolution

Dance culture for the new generation Aldo Martinez

From school to public places, dancing is one way people express themselves. But tricky dance moves have gone down hill since the “shopping cart”. This year’s most controversial dance move is the “twerk”. Twerking, according to Urban Dictionary, is a hip hop dance move for girls, in which they shake and twitch their buttocks in an explicit, provocative manner. Compared to older dance moves such as the “Madison”, a fun dance from the 60’s which required mostly foot movement, twerking is sensual and inappropriate, especially to the eyes of those watching. It also, most likely, brings about the feeling of discomfort from the people around. However, dance moves such as the “shuffle” and “jerk” require more foot work. These dance moves have changed as the evolution of music proceeds. The music made nowadays has a direct effect on the

dance moves that are created. Do moves like the twerk deserve praise? Some do not think so. “Twerking makes the girls doing it look bad and gives the boys watching it the wrong idea,’’ junior Leslie Bustamante said. Although it is an enjoyable dance move, it is important to keep in mind that people around you are watching and make assumptions based on your decisions. “Its fun to think that today’s generation has a creative mind when it comes to choreography,” said freshman Cesar Oviedo. These creative dance moves entertain and surprise us because some of them seem impossible to execute. This just supports the statement that people have a talent and this talent is their hobby. Dancing is a culture and it is beginning to take flight through younger generations; whether people approve or not, it is the how members of

this generation express themselves. Nevertheless, hopefully soon the public will realize that no matter what age or sex, dancing is a fun activity. It’s for whoever enjoys it and those who don’t approve have different thoughts on dancing. Whether you can dance or not, dancing has been around for centuries and will be for centuries to come. Those who come after us will bring about even more provocative dance moves. Still, keep in mind to always dance for the occasion, and to have fun. Dancers need to realize that others may be watching, and think about how they present themseleves. We are the generation that will lead our progeny into “good” or “bad” dance moves. Decide for yourself what is an appropraite move. Setting the example is a big responsibility, whether it is good or bad, we will define future dance cultures.

Jake Soltis @J_Soltis Shout out to my boy @Tha_realJB (Jordan Bernstein) for winning the scholar athlete of the year.

Cameron Barnett @BAM_itsCAM On Wednesdays we wear pink...if not you can’t sit with us. #wearpink Stephanie Montemayor @MONTEcarlo711 I’m wearing a tuxedo shirt today because I’m here and I like to party #classy #talladeganights

Julia Gex @julia_gex I just free handed a perfect circle #nbd

Ariana Lee @arianapiranhaaa Coffee in the library all day every day now. Words can’t describe what a relief this is- no more tardies for Starbucks Graphic by Isabel Deakins and Harrison Vaporciyan Tweets compiled by Jackie Velarde and Sarah Sturgis

The undisclosed trends of the Tumblr community Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you’ve probably at least heard of Tumblr. If you haven’t, just imagine if Instagram and Pinterest had an illegitimate love child and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what we’re talking about here. Essentially, Tumblr has made blogging appeal to people other than unemployed twentysomethings and art majors by adding a Facebook-esque “dashboard”, allowing users to consolidate all the posts from the blogs they follow. The result is a website with staggering variety: depending on which blogs you follow, your dashboard could consist of anything from animated .gifs of TV series, to original works of art, to serious political discussion. It’s this last topic that is often problematic. Since Tumblr’s user base is overwhelmingly liberal and female, most if not all political discourse is centered around bashing Republicans and praising Obama. While there’s nothing inher-

ently wrong with a site having a political bias, the real problem arises from the conflict between this issue and Tumblr’s ostensibly free exchange of information - most conservative-leaning posts are responded to with essay-length refutations and seen by thousands, while the occasional convincingly worded Republican argument is simply ignored and left to languish in obscurity. The result is a site filled mainly with young liberals talking to other young liberals about how awesome liberalism is. The entire thing functions as a kind of feedback loop, reinforcing ideas until they become almost dogma. Another questionable facet of Tumblr is what they refer to as “social justice” and what everyone else refers to as “not being a jerk”. In short, it encompasses social issues like treatment of rape victims and gay rights. The problems begin when you start delving further into the dark recesses of the website and find progressively

seedier groups claiming to be oppressed. For example, while there is a fairly large gay and transsexual community on Tumblr, there are some who claim to adhere to labels like “genderfluid” (gender changes on a daily basis), “demiromantic” (only feel attraction towards people they know), and my personal favorite, “anarchosexual” (no idea). Any attempt to tell these groups how ridiculous they are invariably results in being told to “check your privilege”, which is supposed to encourage others to consider their relatively high place in society but in practice usually translates to “I disagree with you and I’m a minority so you’re wrong”. The deeper in you go, the further these issues become detached from reality. Some groups, like the “Holmies” (a fan club for James Holmes, perpetrator of the Aurora shooting), are just really creepy. Others, like “fictives” (people with fictional characters living inside their head) and “otherkin” (people who believe they’re animals), seem

Concerts make up a large portion of my life. In my experience, I’ve made a few poor choices. To avoid these predicaments, here are some do’s and don’ts of concert etiquette.

Tumbling into Trouble Harrison Vaporciyan

Caitlin Hilton

more indicative of untreated mental disorders. And therein lies the problem. Before the internet, these people would have been told to seek help by their friends and family. Now, they can take their disorder online, find a group of like-minded individuals, and isolate themselves from the outside world. Needless to say, this is not healthy. Not only does this “echo chamber” mentality reinforce existing mental issues, it can also drive people to invent their own disorder. For example, the vast majority of the aforementioned “otherkin”

Graphic by Victoria Shin

seem to be doing it mainly for attention and the opportunity to brag about how “oppressed” they are. Not only does this behavior detract from the legitimate greivances of groups that are actually oppressed, it makes social justice - and by extension, Tumblr as a whole - look ridiculous. That being said, not all of Tumblr is that bad, and judging the entire site and its community by a few bad examples is like hating Wikipedia for its vandalized articles. Most of the site is relatively sane, and its benefits vastly outweigh the downsides. Just don’t be surprised if you meet someone who identifies as a “non-binary neutrois pangender genderpunk autistic aspiequeer queer lithsexual punk anti-kyriarchist anarchist”. And finally, always, always remember to check your privilege.

Do: bring a backpack to carry your belongings Don’t: pawn off your stuff on your friends (yes, that means you two, Jackie and Michelle)

Do: Stay hydrated. Don’t: be the person who faints and has to get pulled out of the crowd.

Do: make friends with the people standing next to you Don’t: add them on Facebook

Do: try to fill the slim space in front of you to be closer to the stage Don’t: be surprised when you get shoved and called rude names

Do: wear appropriate shoes for the occasion Don’t: wear flip flops or heels. No one will care how much pain you’re in when they’re stepping on your foot

Do: be aware of crowd surfers coming in from behind. Don’t: think that standing around a strong group of guys will protect you from a falling human. Chivalry doesn’t exist anymore. They won’t help get the female off your neck, no matter how loud you scream. *All rules of etiquette come from actual experiences

The Oracle

Friday, November 16, 2012

Exhibiting Variety

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has more to offer than priceless works of art Chandler Callahan

The MFAH features perThe Museum of Fine Arts, manent collections from Houston Main Campus Africa, Asia, Mexico and is located in Central and South AmerHouston’s renowned museum district. The Main Campus features the museum’s collections and exhibitions. However, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) also has various other locations which Photo by Jackie Mask accommodate a variety of works. ica, Europe, North AmerThe Cullen Sculpture gar- ica, and the South Pacific. den is located directly across One of the most well from the main campus, and known works at the Museum the Bayou Bend Collec- is The Light Inside by James tion and Gardens features Turrell. If one has ever visdecorative art and paintings. ited the Main Campus they General admission ranges will know which work this is. from five to ten dollars. It is a long hall which lights Along with exhibitions, the up with different fluorescent MFAH also contains perma- colors, giving the optical ilnent collections, which don’t lusion of a never ending halltravel like the exhibitions do. way. James Turrell currently

has an exhibition on display at the museum through Jan. 28. Entitled “James Turrell: A Retrospective”, the exhibit will feature many of the artist’s works never before accessible to the public. The museum’s perm a n e n t c ol l e c t i ons also contain installments from earlier, more wellknown artists such as Vincent Van Gogh. His piece The Rocks is a depiction of the French region Montmajour. The main campus also rotates exhibitions displayed. “American Made: 250 years of American Art” is running through the first of Jan. Another upcoming exhibit is “WAR/PHOTOGRAPHY: Images of Armed Conflict and Its Aftermath.”

The exhibit will open on Veterans Day and will display “war through the eyes of the photographer,” says the Museum of Fine Arts’ website. Photographs from the Mexican-American war all the way through present day conflicts are pictured in this riveting exposition. Throughout Nov., the museum will be hosting The Houston Cinema Arts Festival. The festival will spotlight films such as “Love, Marilyn,” “A Suitcase Full of Chocolate,” “A Simple Life,” and “Silver Linings P l a y b o o k .” “The Silver Linings Pl ay b o ok” is based off of Matthew Quick’s novel of the same name. The film’s cast is comprised of seasoned actors such as Bradley Cooper and

MUSE 9

Robert De Niro and newcomers such as Jennifer Lawrence from the The Hunger Games. Along with the obvious exhibits and collections featured at the main campus, the museum also hosts art classes for children ages three to 18. The Glassel Junior School hosts countless classes and workshops to help budding artists develop their creative talents.

complete and submit an application. Most volunteer opportunities are offered to adults, but the are also volunteering positions available for teens. Thirteen to 17 year olds must fill out the application and get a waiver signed by their parents in order to participate. The world renowned and internationally acclaimed Museum of Fine Arts, Houston features breathtaking permanent collections and exquisite exhibitions. Films and movies are shown through out the week, and the museum is the host of the Houston Cinema Arts FesPhoto by Jackie Mask tival. The festival took place Museum-goers can become Nov. 7 thru 11. even more involved by volBest of all, admission is unteering for the MFAH. free every Thursday, courIn order to do so, one must tesy of Shell Oil Company.

SPORTS Football Team Putting In Overtime 10

Friday, November 16, 2012

Friday is a culmination of a week long effort of preparation

Alex Newton My Saturday morning routine is a simple one. Wake up at 8:45, get a small cup of coffee with milk and sugar complemented with fried eggs and bacon. I then sit down and watch Krik, Chris, Lee, and Desmond poetically speak of all the happenings of college football on their show “College Gameday.” The football team’s Saturday routine is a bit different. Saturday begins with a morning-long film session going over the happenings of the previous night’s game along with some rigorous weight lifting. Saturday is followed by Sunday, the team’s only day off. On Monday, the preparation process begins for another opponent and doesn’t end until the final whistle on Friday night. Practice takes place in the midst of the Houston heat from four to six in the afternoon. The players must somehow

find time for practice and school work and whatever else one does after school. It comes easy for some and for others its not so easy. Late in the academic calender the “no pass, no play” rule often comes into effect. “To be on the football team is a big commitment. We prepare all week for our opponents and all the preparations take up the majority of my time but gameday makes it all worth it,” said senior Grant Brann. Even when the season ends, the hard work continues. The off season is comprised of drills such as “county fair” in which players are working to increase stamina and toughness for the upcoming season. The summer ends for these players at the beginning of Aug. as practice begins well before their first game is played. In the height of the summer, the temperature often reaches 100 degrees. Once a day is not enough in

August as the players come out to the fields to practice twice, known as “two-a-days.” The product we all see on the field Friday night for two hours is the result of many hours of hard work put out by the football team. Whatever the team is doing it’s working as they are 8-2 and headed for a top playoff seed. Last year marked the first time in several years that the team had gone into the second round of the playoffs and this team looks to be in good position to go even further. The first game will be against Waltrip who will come into Tully with a 5-4 record. “The playoffs are what we have been working for all year and hopefully we can go far this year,” said senior Alex Eggert. Book your tickets now for Cowboy stadium on Dec. 22, the site of the state championship game. This Spartan squad is primed and ready for their championship run.

The Oracle

Touchdown Club

Schedule GIRLS BASKETBALL 12/04 Langham Creek 7:00 p.m. 12/14 Tomball Memorial 6:30 p.m. 12/21 Northbrook 3:30 p.m. BOYS BASKETBALL

MAKING THE GRADES (5+ ;/, 73(@: (Above) On Wednesday, Nov. 7, senior cornerback #27 Jordan Bernstein attended the Touchdown Club luncheon at the J.W. Marriot in the Galleria. During the luncheon, he was presented with the Scholar Athlete of the Year award which recognized the fact that he is a valedictorian as well as a starting member of the football team, making an PTWHJ[ IV[O VU [OL ÄLSK HUK in the classroom. Congratulations, Jordan! Photo courtesy of Christopher Juntti

11/19 Cy-Ridge 7:00 p.m. 11/20 Memorial @ DCC 7:00 p.m. 11/27 Seven Lakes 7:00 p.m. SWIMMING AND DIVING 11/30-12/1 South Zone TISCA @ Josh Davis Nat. TBA 12/4 Cino Ranch/Katy Taylor @ Cinco Ranch 6:00 p.m. 12/7 SBISD Diving Meet @ SBISD Nat. 9:30 a.m.

Friday, November 16, 2012

The Oracle

A New Look at College Sports

SPORTS

Students consider athletic presence in their future schools Elaine Parizot

As juniors and seniors begin looking at different colleges to attend, many take collegiate sports into consideration. They don’t necessarily want to play a sport at the collegiate level, but having a strong athletic presence in a campus’ atmosphere is important to many students . However, the typical sports lover will just look at the football and forget about the fact that the sports atmosphere will be different wherever they go. Just because someone loves sports doesn’t mean they should limit themselves to universities with football teams ranked in the top 25 of Division I football. Of the thousands of colleges in the country, there are dozens of schools that have top tier athletic programs in sports other than football. While football is a huge focus in the sports world, there

are tons of other sports that are a big part of college life in other parts of the country. In different areas of the country, the focus on certain sports will be a lot different than it is in Texas. The Boston area boasts a plethora of universities and is often called the largest college town in the country, but the biggest sports teams in the city are probably thought of as the Red Sox and the Celtics. In the south, hockey is not usually considered a big deal for obvious reasons, but in the New England the weather changes everything. Of the top 20 men’s hockey teams in the country, nearly a quarter of them are located

in Boston. Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, and Northeastern University have some of the best hockey teams in the country, and all have extremely d e voted

top ranked tennis teams are located in California. University of S out he r n California, University of California in Los Angles, Pepperdine, and Stanford hockey followa r e all ranked in the ing student populations top 10 college tenthat would nis teams in the provide a great country. atmosphere Lacrosse is a for any sports sport on the lover. rise in many A student high schools and headed west for colleges across the college will country. Maryhave a difland, Virginia, ferent and parts of sports the MidGraphic by Natalie Yoo a t west are lam o - sphere, too. Many crosse hubs so students

moving to this area for school should plan to attend lacrosse games along with football. For the student who will always be loyal to the football crowd, there are definitely plenty of great schools to look at that have excellent tailgating scenes and loyal fans. University of Wisconsin, University of Georgia, and University of Texas were ranked the top 3 college sports towns by College Xpress. While all of these schools usually have well regarded football teams, that’s not what makes the experience fun. The sports experience is in the fans and excitement, not in the skills of the players.

Many of the greatest football universities are very large, so students looking at smaller schools often believe their football scene will be full of crushing losses and disappointment. The Football Championship Subdivision is a part of the NCAA that allows smaller schools to participate in fair football competition against each other. Texas schools in the FCS include Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, and Texas Southern. Since these teams aren’t at the same level as the University of Alabama and Louisiana State University, it seems like the teams may lack a substantial fan base. But truthfully, many small schools have a relatively large football following too. While their team might not win the Rose Bowl, they might win the FCS Championship which could be just as exciting.

THE RUNDOWN J O R D A N

J E S S I E H A L L Best Event: Doubles Favorite Racquet Brand: Head Favorite Store: Urban Outfitters Favorite Movie: Titanic Favorite Snack: Tostitos & Salsa Favorite Court Texture: Concrete Favorite Quote: “I want to do something splendid...I don’t know what, but I’m on the watch for it and mean to astonish you all someday.” -Louisa May Alcott in Little Women Photo courtesy of Jessie Hall

H A Y N E S

Position: Point Guard Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Jackson Best Point Average: 8 Favorite Song: “Bands a Maker Her Dance”- Juicy J Favorite Restaurant: Carrabba’s Favorite College Team: Texas Longhorns Favorite Quote: “Aim for the moon, and if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” -Unknown Photo by Jordan Comparin

SPORTS

Friday, November 16, 2012

The Oracle

Swim Team Starts Season Off Right

After winning 4A state championship title last year, swim team lives up to hype

1 -3@05Â» )@Â‹ (Picture 1) Freshman Zach Dexter comes up for a breath while swimming Fly. The menâ€™s swimming and diving team has been very successful so far this season. They had a clean sweep at the 2PUN^VVK 7HYR TLL[ NP]PUN \W VUS` VUL Ã„YZ[ WSHJL Ã„UPZO 0U THU` L]LU[Z [OL` [VVR OVTL Ã„YZ[ ZLJVUK HUK third place. The menâ€™s swim team also beat their second opponent Clements. When asked if he thinks the [LHT ^PSS NV [V Z[H[L HNHPU [OPZ `LHY ZLUPVY (SLJ >PSSYVK[ ZHPK Â¸@LZ TVZ[ KLÃ„UP[LS` Â¹ .30+05. (365.Â‹ 7PJ[\YL :LUPVY (UKYL^ 4J*SLHY` JVTLZ \W MVY H IYLH[O K\YPUN OPZ IYLHZ[Z[YVRL YHJL 4J*SLHY` WSHJLK ZLJVUK PU [OL `HYK HUK `HYK MYLLZ[`SL YHJLZ HNHPUZ[ >LZ[ZPKL HUK 4H`KL *YLLR VU 6J[ +0=05. 05Â‹ 7PJ[\YL )LNPUUPUN OPZ KP]L VM [OL TL[LY ZWYPUN IVHYK PZ Q\UPVY 4PJOHLS .HSSLY` .HSSLY` OHZ WSHJLK Ã„YZ[ PU L]LY` TLL[ [OPZ `LHY ZV MHY ILH[PUN [OL 2PUN^VVK 7HYR HUK *SLTL[Â»Z KP]LYZ -3@ -3@ -3@Â‹ 7PJ[\YL :^PTTPUN I\[[LYÃ…` PZ ZVWOVTVYL ,TT` +LTLYPZ ;OL ^VTLUÂ»Z Z^PT [LHT HSZV OHK H JSLHU Z^LLW HNHPUZ[ 2PUN^VVK 7HYR Ã„UPZOPUN Ã„YZ[ PU L]LY` ZPUNSL L]LU[ [OL` Z^HT ;OL` OHK H JSVZL SVZZ HNHPUZ[ ( *SLTLU[Z -307705. 65 05Â‹ 7PJ[\YL -YLZOTHU 1VYKHU 9HUZVT Ã…PWZ [OYV\NO [OL HPY HM[LY KP]PUN VMM [OL TL[LY ZWYPUN IVHYK (SS WOV[VZ I` .PS :HUJOLa

The Oracle

THE

ORACLE

Newspaper Staff Editors-in-Chief Sara Boyle Caitlin Hilton Samantha Hicks News Editors Samantha Vargas Samantha Vanston Hannah Bevers Muse Editors Chandler Callahan Layla Shahosseini Kali Venable Sports Editors Alex Newton Elaine Parizot Elyse Stieber Opinions Editors Michelle Evans Lydia Sweet Esther Jeon Reporters Andres Acosta Dua Mazhar Aldo Martinez Photo Editors Katie Gregory Stephen Martinez Katherine Kennedy Photographers Gil Sanchez Emily Copeland Sarah Sturgis Will Klussman Maggie Vickers Harper Jones Bonnie Slattery

Ads Editor Mary Margaret Weaver Ads Staff Emily Brown Jacob Cribbs Kendall Marbach Jacob Pennington Katherine Mavergeorge Allison Rice Design Staff Claire Galbraith Caroline Suchman Harrison Vaporciyan Ben Fairchild Staff Artists Molly Richter Claire Pena Natalie Yoo Victoria Shin

Online Staff Online Editors Janelle Blackwood Isabel Deakins Samantha Stazo Online Photography Editors Jackie Mask Ariyan Almassi Online Photographers Mark Coffman Michael Martin Claire Pena Rebecca Williams Online Reporters Jackie Velarde Faith Figueroa Building Principal Christopher Juntti Advisor Janice Cummons

The Oracle is a newspaper published every three weeks by the Journalism Department of Stratford High School, 14555 Fern, Houston, Texas 77079, 713-251-3454. The newspaper is a member of Columbia Scholastic Journalism Association, National Scholastic Journalism Association, Texas Association of Journalism Educators, and Interscholastic League Press Conference. The Oracle is open to any and all contributions submitted by the readers. Any material can be submitted by e-mail to thestratfordoracle@gmail.com, brought in person to Room 120, or placed in Janice Cummons’ mailbox. The editorial board reserves the right to determine whether the submitted material will be published depending on the available space. The submitted material may also be edited to remove libelous or defamatory statements. Any material that is submitted must be typewritten and accompanied with the writer’s full name and grade. The opinions expressed are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, the staff, the administration, or the school district. The Oracle staff strives to produce a newspaper that covers the entire Stratford community. They welcome freelance submissions and are eager to hear from their readers regarding story and photo opportunities. The Oracle is also online at spartanoracle.blogspot.com.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Age is but a Number

OPINIONS 13

In society teenagers have an undeserved poor reputation

Layla Shahosseini When a stranger comes up to you and asks where the nearest gas station is located, you would most likely give them directions. But for some reason, there is a difference between a sixteen year old and a thirty-five year old asking for said directions. Let’s say a teenager got lost and didn’t know their way out of the neighborhood that he or she was in. If that teen asked someone for directions, he or she would be surprised with the reaction: most people would scoff and look away, trying to ignore you. This is ridiculous; why are teenagers being treated this way? Have we done anything in particular to receive the negative reactions we receive from the general public? Usually teenagers are stereotyped by adults as immature and unrealistic, but it’s not as though we have a walnut for a brain. For an elementary school girl, of course people will be nice to her and happy to tell her where to find her way out of a park.

When it comes to us teenagers, we should always “know better” about the bigger problems in the world. And it’s truewe should know better as young adults, but elders

lems. The expected respect level from teens to adults is 100%, but from adults to teens it is 20% due to the incompetence of adults judging teens. A requirement to be in the running for president of the United States is to be at least the age of 35. But

what if a 26 year-old has a greater purpose than the 54 year-old candidate? Wouldn’t that defeat the whole purpose of the reasoning that people are wiser when they’re older? Another stereotype that has been imposed on teens is that we think we are always right. We recognize when we’re right and when we’re wrong, and adults should recognize when they’re right and when they’re wrong in judging us based on our age. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t respect our elders, because we should. I’m saying that elders should give us a little bit more respect than what we are currently receiving. The logic that “age comes with respect” is for the most part true, but adults are only selectively using that logic. We teenagers are older, but we still haven’t received most of the respect that we deserve. Teens shouldn’t be Graphic By: Natalie Yoo judged so harshly on the premises of their young age.

s h ou l d n’t stereotype us as being ignorant about real world prob-

Disrespect in Restaurants

When does bad service pass into the realm of disrespect Jackie Mask Everyone has experienced bad service at a restaurant -from your drink not arriving on time, or your food missing some major ingredient. Before taking it out on your server and the restaurant manager, take a moment to look around. How many tables has your waiter or waitress visited? How busy is the restaurant itself? Although the restaurant industry is indeed a service industry, where is the line for judging good or bad service? Take Waiter X for example, a server at three different restaurants across the city. Working from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. most days. Yet, he still manages to work hard and maintain a good reputation among his regular customers. Sometimes he genuinely messes up on an order or a table, but he apologizes and has to cross his fingers that the table won’t tip horribly so he can pay his bills at the end of the month.

“Sometimes I get really bad service at a restaurant, and it’s just because the server is rude and sassy to me. I’m the customer, I should always be right.” said senior Emily Nguyen. “That’s the deciding factor for me if they get a good tip or not. I can understand if my food is late or I don’t get the right drink. People make mistakes, but people can control how nice they are to people.” People that haven’t worked behind the restaurant curtain have a harder time understanding how difficult being a server or hostess can be. When a restaurant is busy, people take out frustrations on innocent people, like t h e manager or the host-

ess, people that can’t help that all of the tables are full and the cooks are working as hard as they can to pump out food to satisfy the customers already seated. A former hostess at Candelari’s Pizzeria had to face the brunt of an angry customer for something that was not her fault. Apparently a pizza was not out on time, and the customer became furious at the hostess, calling her names and threatening her. This left the hostess in tears over something that she could not control. Ignoring the fact that this goes against every moral of a decent human being, what should the customer have done instead of taking his anger out on an innocent hostess?

The man should have accounted for the fact that the restaurant was short three waiters of their usual Friday night staff, the man should have thought about how the kitchen staff hardly spoke English, and had countless other orders to understand and make, before the man took his enormous ego to the front of the restaurant to break down a powerless teenage girl, busy with seating other tables and trying not to give a waiter two tables in twenty minutes, he could have simply talked to the waiter who was just finishing his second shift of the day and had to take care of seven other tables. So how much is enough to leave a bad tip at a restaurant? Should a customer have to deal with terrible service, when the person who is serving them is in fact, a human being and makes simple mistakes? How much “bad service” is too much to tolerate and tip poorly? Graphic by Jackie Mask

OPINIONS

The Oracle

Friday, November 16, 2012

Fourteen Year Old Hero

¢¶Á¶Á¶ ®ÄÊÈ¶»¶Ï¾ ÈÉ¾ÇÈ ¶¸É¾ÄÃ ¾Ã É½º Ĳ¼½É »ÄÇ ÊÃ¾ËºÇÈ¶Á º¹Ê¸¶É¾ÄÃ Kali Venable

The war that has been raging between the Taliban and the Pakistani army has stolen the lives of many innocent people. Hundreds of schools have been destroyed and millions of girls have been forced to stay home, kissing their education good-bye. It is hard for us to fathom what it would be like to get up in the morning and be terrified to go to school. It is hard for us to fathom what it would be like to walk outside among the rubbish and remains of blasted buildings, to travel through streets where headless and mangled bodies lay on display for all to see. It is hard for us to fathom what it would be like to live in a society where we are not valued, where we are not heard, where we are virtually non-existent. However, for Malala Yousafzai, a 14 year old girl living in Pakistan, such a hor-

rific nightmare is every day life. Such a terrible act of hate is reality. Malala has spent the last few years of her short life speaking out for female education rights in Pakistan. Encouraged by her father, Malala has put immense effort into voicing her opinions and standing up for the rights that she deserves. In 2009, at 11 years old, Malala began blogging her life under the Taliban in an online diary for BBC. Malala’s statements revealed horrifying truths about life under the Taliban for young Muslim girls. In 2011, Malala received the Nobel Peace Prize in Pakistan for the courage she has put forth to help save her country. However, on Oct. 9, tragedy struck; the Taliban attacked Malala on a school bus in the Svat Valley of Pakistan. Malala was shot in the head and flown to a hospital in England to receive treatment. In critical condition, Malala

is recovering and has been reunited with her beloved family. In Pakistan, the Taliban banned girls from attending school because they view educating girls as an “obscenity.” However, in many other countries, different excuses have been made to keep girls from learning inside a classroom. In Bangladesh, thousands of girls are taken from school at 10 years old to become brides without their consent. In multiple countries throughout Africa, girls are forced into child labor or child armies, no longer able to have any chance at education. The population of children attending school decreases every year. The attack on Malala is a warning to us all; it is a plea for help for something to be done. Malala represents something much bigger than herself. She represents the girls of Pakistan, the girls of Af-

ghanistan, the 32 million girls across the globe who are denied the right to attend school every day. We can no longer turn our cheek to the corrupt decisions of ignorant people who are unjustly depriving children of their education. The fact of the matter is that kids are the future- the way our world raises children today determines the world of tomorrow. A world without education is a world that has stopped; a world that has no hope to move forward. On Nov. 10, President Zardari of Pakistan received a petition signed by a million plus activists, including myself. The petition demands education for all children in Pakistan. This petition is just one of the many actions being taken towards the restoration of child education everywhere.

We cannot rewind time and prevent what happened to Malala. However, we can and must stand beside her to fight for the young generations of today in order to insure n o

other precious child is harmed. To join in Malala’s fight for education or find out more information about the movement, please visit iammalala.org. Graphic by: Natalie Yoo

Message From the Principal

¥Ç¾Ã¸¾Å¶Á ½Ç¾È ÊÃÉÉ¾ ¶¹¹ÇºÈÈºÈ É½º ¸ÄÂÂÊÃ¾ÉÎ Çº¼¶Ç¹¾Ã¼ Çº¸ºÃÉ ¸Î·ºÇ·ÊÁÁÎ¾Ã¼ ¶É È¸½ÄÄÁ Chris Juntti

Technology. That one word can be a wonderful boon to productivity and keep us in touch with people on the other side of the world with a push of the button. It can make our job easier and make an entire company more productive. Like most things, it has a dark side. When a teacher plans a lesson using technology and the “network goes down” or something else occurs that renders a piece of technology useless, it can be a cause for lots of frustration. Who hasn’t uttered the words “it was working fine just a few minutes ago?” Like it or not, technology is here to stay and there is no turning back. For those of us that are parents of current teenagers, they have grown up in a world in which there have ALWAYS been computers. They view technology differently than those of us that have watched

the technology evolve from its infancy. Remember the first time you sent an email? Now our kids use email only when they want to communicate with those of us who are not up to speed in how they communicate using technology. This brings me to my point. Our kids communicate differently. In an effort to understand how they do this, I started a Twitter account. Many SHS students are “followers” of my tweets and they like it when I take pictures and then post them. Again, as with most things in technology, there can be a dark side. It is so easy to put something mean, hateful and untrue out there using all the new means to communicate. Recently, I had students come to me upset that someone had set up a twitter account and some of the posts were downright cruel and used student names. I responded

and let the anonymous person who set it up know that I was onto them and if it did not get taken down I would work at identifying them and pursue cyber bullying charges against them. They took it down. Later the same day another popped up. This is the heart of the problem. It is pretty much impossible for me to police these areas as new ones can pop up so quickly. Kids say mean things about each other and technology makes this easier than it has ever been. There have been well-documented cases of this type of harassment that have been so mean that students have committed suicide. Schools have been given much more lattitude in pursuing students who take part in cyber bullying. We can’t do this alone. I allow my sophomore son to have Twitter account, but I am one of his followers and read every

tweet he writes. We have had a couple of conversations that started like this “son, do you really think it was a good idea to tweet .....” Raising kids today is pretty exhausting, but our responsibility to give them guidance and the wisdom of our experience never changes. I have said it many times - being a bad parent is easy, you just take the path of least resistance on every issue. In the end you reap what you sow. To be a great parent takes lots of hard work and the conscious effort to not only choose our battles, but let them know there are certain things that are absolutly nonnegotiable. I visited with some kids this week - one had profanity in their twitter name and some questionable pictures on their account. Another showed me some things on twitter that I did not know how to do, but she taught me. I love our stu-

dents and we have great talks - although I think I am going to be forced to kiss a pig tonight and I am not thrilled about that prospect. My point, and there really is one, is that if you put your head in the sand regarding what your child does using technology to communicate, you may not like where it leads and it could turn out really badly for your child. We are in an age where colleges and prospective employers (including SBISD) check social media of their applicants. If that alone is not a good reason to monitor your students use, I don’t know what would be. I am committed to my son going to college, getting a job and living on his own, not with his mother and me. Time for some true homework. Talk to your kids about their use of technology to communicate. Look at what they do. Have them teach

you how they communicate if you don’t know. That knowledge will be powerful and your child might even appreciate your taking an interest (it could happen ....). Please know that we will do everything we can to keep your child safe and free from harassment, but as in most things - we are really in this together and our goal is to create a young adult who is kind and smart and ready to be successsful at whatever they do. I will be curious to know how these conversations go and would love for you to share with me. We can communicate the old fashioned way - email me.

Check out the staff º¹¾ÉÄÇ¾¶Á ¶·ÄÊÉ ÄÃÁ¾Ãº ·ÊÁÁÎ¾Ã¼ ¶É ÌÌÌ ÈÅ¶ÇÉ¶ÃÄÇ¶¸Áº ·ÁÄ¼ÈÅÄÉ ¸ÄÂ

The Oracle

Friday, November 16, 2012

Multiple Valedictorians More than one gives everyone a fair chance Dua Mazhar The tradition of having one valedictorian is not the fairest choice. Although most high schools across Texas only have one valedictorian just for the sake of tradition, Stratford likes to keep it fair by giving their hard working students the reward they deserve and name multiple valedictorians. For four years, students work their hardest in order to earn this honor. At other schools students may stay up into the wee hours of the night doing extra credit and search for every opportunity to do some volunteer work, but in the end they learn that everything they did went into the trash. Some students work hard for this honor in order to get into an Ivy League university, some have pressure from their parents, but they all deserve the reward of being named a

valedictorian. Two years ago the class of 2011 named 32 valedictorians; each student got a fair share. In the race to the top, students not only have to give up their time, they have to give up their sleep, a proper diet, and lose some hair along the way. Their ultimate motivation is the glory; they believe that they will not only make their parents proud, but have a brighter future as well. The Latin root of valedictorian, vale dicere, means to say a farewell. The honor is rewarded to the individual who will make a speech at the graduation ceremony saying a final goodbye to his or her classmates. So by naming only one valedictorian, some Texas high schools single out one person for their hard work even though the runner-ups almost have the same GPA that is only off by a few decimal points.

Yes, people don’t have all the time in the world to listen to 20 or so speeches from every single valedictorian. It makes sense to name only one person who is truly deserving of the honor. But at the same time, the runner ups shouldn’t be tossed aside. They worked just as hard from the moment they took their first steps as freshman to the moment they lift off their graduation caps. The prestige and honor isn’t just a chance at a brighter future; it’s a feeling of self-worth and accomplishment. In the real world, you won’t be carrying a degree around with you; no one is going to ask or even care about how you were the valedictorian. But it will matter; to you. Not only were you and your classmates recognized for the hard work, but also rewarded. Its not just about one person being extradordinary. Aren’t we all?

OPINIONS 15

Valedictorian as in One Multiple winners defeat the purpose Claire Galbraith The definition of valedictorian is a student typically having the highest academic achievements of the class who delivers the graduation speech. A student- singular. This does not mean 14, which was the number of valedictorians Stratford had last year. Having 14 people in the position where only one person is required corrodes the meaning of the word valedictorian. Many people could say that having numerous valedictorians increases the chances of intelligent students being accepted into well-regarded colleges. There are two things wrong with this assertion. Colleges across the nation are already aware of this new tradition of honoring more than one person the title of valedictorian. But they know that only one person actually deserves it, so coming from a school with multiple valedictorians will not increase anyone’s chances; valedictorians

will not be as special as they could’ve been if there had been only one. Also, grades do speak for themselves and the merit of excellent grades wouldn’t change just because someone wasn’t given a title. Being a valedictorian gives a person the recognition of receiving the highest grades in the class, but this does not invalidate the good grades other students have worked for. The simple fact is this: in the real world, all students will be ranked once they graduate high school. And saying every student with a good GPA is the best doesn’t make it true. Not everyone can be a winner, and sometimes life isn’t fair. Having multiple valedictorians isn’t even fair when in fact only one person really deserves it. In job interviews, they are going to pick the best person for the position, not the top three. Is this unfair or is this just the way life is? Schools should be preparing their students for the world

and not protecting their feelings from getting hurt. High school students aren’t kids and need to be treated as mature young adults. In addition, there is a disturbing issue with the valedictory speech, which is supposed to be a honor bestowed upon the valedictorian where they deliver the farewell address to the class during graduation. The way the speech is done now is that a student may audition for this privilege. What does valedictorian mean when a person, who may or may not be a valedictorian, gives the speech because they auditioned for it? It means nothing. There’s no point of having a valedictorian if this school disregards the actual definition. In the end this question must be asked: how can a school honor the student with the highest GPA when there are 13 other valedictorians claiming to be equal to the real one, when in reality, they’re not?

Should Stratford have multiple valedictorians or one?

Monica Castillo, 12

John McGowan, 9

“We should have multiple. If a lot of people have good grades, it’s not fair to only reward some of them.”

“Multiple. All the contenders worked hard to get their GPA, so they all deserve it equally.”

Alex Bugerenko, 12

“Multiple. One person isn’t necessarily better than everyone else, and all of us are created equal.”

MULTIPLE!

Taylor Friedman, 12

¸4\S[PWSL KLÄnitely. If a bunch of people have the same GPA, then they deserve the same award.”

Reilly Lawrence, 9

“One. There’s always one ‘best’ person, so there will always be one person that deserves the recognition more than others.”

Donathan Daniels, 11

“We should just have one. If there’s a bunch of valedictorians, then it’s not as special.”

ONE!

ADS

Friday, November 16, 2012

The Oracle