MARCUS HIGH SCHOOL | 5707 MORRISS ROAD. FLOWER MOUND, TX 75028

ueethemar

volume 26 | issue 06 | april 5, 2012

The RACE card

(3) State cuts AP funding from students, classrooms

(7) Secular Humanist club struggles to get off ground

(17) Lacrosse player almost loses game, memories forever

table of contents

The Marquee newsmagazine is a student-generated publication of Marcus High School. It is produced, edited and maintained through the efforts of the school’s advanced journalism class. The Marquee is designed to serve the school and community as a forum for open discussion and student expression. The Marquee encourages letters to the editor as part of its mission to educate, inform and provide an open forum for debate. All submissions must be signed. The staff reserves the right to edit all material. Editorials reflect the opinion of the staff, not necessarily that of the administration. Signed columns or reviews represent only the opinion of the author. Advertising rates are $40 per 1/16 of a page, with discounts available. For more information call 469-713-5196. The Marquee is a standing member of ILPC, TAJE, ATPI, CSPA, NSPA, JEA and Quill and Scroll.

table of contents the marquee [newsmagazine]

editor in chiefjasmine sachar

managing editormaria heinonen

photo editorjordan richards

design editormaria heinonen

news editoralex mcginnis

feature editoralex mcginnis

asst. feature editormarisa charpentier

in-depth editormolly spain

entertainment editorjuliana adame

sports editorjasmine sachar

opinion editormolly spain

online editormeghan eurich

business managerjoseph rau

reportersemily aijkens, andrea boyd, kady kohankie,

meghan eurich, marisa charpentier, juliana adame, vallery phillips, ryan mcdearmont

designerssydney sund, courtney clubb,

joseph rau, amanda collen, preston smith

photographerskathryn petrauskas, sarah sauer,

mariah lucy, amanda collen, vallery phillips

adviserlajuana hale

principalgary shafferman

by ryan mcdearmont

entertainment/

sports/

feature/

news/[5] SEEKING REFUGE Influx of Chin refugees from Burma into LISD spurs training and tutoring programs for teachers and students.

[8] DOWN TO CLOWN Senior theater student finds unique job as party entertainer.

[16] STUDENTS GOING WITHOUT The Marquee catches up with students who gave up beloved habits for Lent.

[16] A SECOND CHANCE Marcus referee and father gets life-saving lung transplant.

by meghan eurich

by jasmine sachar

by vallery phillips

cover photo | jordan richardsphoto | jordan richards

pg. 24

Senior Service Officer Nikki Diez salutes the crowd in a tap dance during the Marquette Spring Show on Feb. 29.

the marquee | april 5, 2012 design | jordan richards

news 3

State cuts money towards AP exams, classes Cost of test rises $30, school loses tens of thousands in AP classroom funding

When senior Camila Novoa finished paying for her four AP tests last month, her total rang up to $348. That’s almost twice as much as she would have had to pay last year.

That’s because this year, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) stopped providing subsidies for AP tests to high schools. For years, the state paid for $30 of each AP test, reducing its cost to $57. This year, students had to pay the entire $87 for each test.

“It’s a lot of stress,” Novoa said. “Are they telling us not to take the AP exams? It feels like they’re trying not to help us.”

The cut is just one of the latest in a chain of educational budget downsizing from the state, who slashed $4 billion from schools last year. Associate Superintendent for Learning Dr. Penny Reddell said money has been lost across the board.

“Tragic is the best word I think I have for it,” Dr. Reddell said. “I can’t tell you how my heart aches with anything that negatively impacts our students.”

Last year at Marcus, about 1300 AP exams were taken. School testing director Debbie Rochester said she expects that students will be more cautious now when choosing what exams to take.

“I think students will take it more seriously,” Rochester said. “If they are not doing well in a class, I don’t think they’ll sign up for the AP test whereas in the past students who were very marginal in a class would sign up for the test just in case.”

AP English teacher Wendi Spurgeon said she will have to be more honest when discussing with students whether they should take the test, but that the test price is still worth

the college credit. “In the long run, if the parents can come up with the

money up front, its going to pay off in the end,” Spurgeon said.

The state will still pay the $30 per test for students on free and reduced fee lunches, and Spurgeon said that the school has some money left to help out additional students who might need it.

Novoa said that some of her senior friends have decided to opt out of some AP exams.

“It’s always because of the money issue,” Novoa said. “I don’t think that’s fair for people who have struggled and done well in classes to not take the exam.”

The state also cut money given to schools for high AP test passing rates, from which Marcus benefited from. Schools used to receive $100 for each passing grade on an AP exam. According to Debbie Rochester, head of testing for the school, generally 80 percent of Marcus tests were passing, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars handed to the school. That money was put back into the AP classroom to buy resources.

AP teachers relied on that state money to buy novels, AP test review books, practice packets, lab materials and calculators among other tools. Spurgeon called these resources “invaluable.”

English teachers like Spurgeon relied on that money to buy new novels that were not covered in the traditional

English 4 curriculum. “We get tired of teaching the same thing,” Spurgeon

said. “Sometimes it’s interesting to add a new work. So (if) we want to teach a new piece of literature, we might not be able to do that now.”

Rochester said that teachers will have to now apply for Lewisville Education Foundation (LEF) grants to get more class cash.

“The teacher will have to find ways to work around it,” Rochester said.

Teachers also used the money to visit AP conferences during which they learned about new instruction techniques and updates on course material.

The district and schools will try to provide for this kind of professional development and for resources, Dr. Reddell said, to ensure that AP classrooms do not suffer.

“The best thing that we can do for our students is to have the best trained, the most energetic, up to date teachers we can get,” Dr. Reddell said.

AP classrooms are not the only places in the school that are suffering. The district was shorted $23 million last year, and is trying to make the budget for next year. Already this year, class sizes have increased, retiring teachers have not been replaced and insurance costs for teachers have increased.

“I think it’s going to take a lot of teachers banding together and speaking out of one very large voice,” Spurgeon said. “Something’s going to have to give, because ultimately, it’s the students who pay the price.”

Dollars and sense

story | jasmine sachar

I don’t think that’s fair for people who have struggled and done well in classes to not take the exam.

Camila Novoa, 12

Last Year This Year

$87$57

Low Income

$30TEA pays

$26College Board pays

$8Campus pays

- - - -- $23$87

$30TEA does not pay

Average or above income

-- $87$87

design/graphics | amanda collen

4 news

april 5, 2012 | the marquee

A refugee from the Chin tribe in Burma wears his new backpack. He started his first day of school in America on March 27.

Child refugees Lian and David laugh together on March 26. The refugees have relocated to America due to a dictatorship in Burma.

Their English is broken at best, but it’s better than that of their parents, who speak none. Their schooling, if there was any, has been interrupted by civil war, discrimination and time spent praying for a second chance in refugee camps. Books and reading mean little to them, since they aren’t used to obtaining information from written word. They’ve never even heard of science. Now, these 343 Chin refugee children are struggling to meet the Texas cirriculum standards, the TEKS, in Lewisville ISD.

For four years, there has been a steady influx of Chin refugees into Lewisville, fleeing their East Asian home country of Burma due to ethnic persecution. LISD has established several programs to help the Chin students assimilate into the American school system, said LISD Recent Immigrant Coordinator Cherylholly Baron.

“It really is a culture shock for them,” Baron said. “Many of our students have had traumatic experiences that they’re dealing with. It’s more than just language.”

In their home country of Burma, the Christian Chin, an ethnic minority, were brutalized by the country’s harsh military rule and famine. Many were killed, beaten or forced into labor because of their religion and ethnicity.

The district has been building their programs for the Chin refugees over the past few years. Now, they offer training for teachers, summer school designed specifically for the

Chin students, tutoring at many schools and yearly sensitivity seminars to teach school personnel about the background and culture of the Chin refugees.

“We have to be able to understand our students in order to help them on their road to success,” Baron said. “If they have never been in school, don’t you think the teachers would need to know that? Shame on us for holding them responsible for that without implicitly teaching them.”

Schooling in Burma was not mandatory. Many children didn’t attend and have no comprehension of an organized school system. If they did attend, Burmese schooling was pre-scientific, so science classes are new to the students. The Chin have a long history of oral story telling, so the idea of reading is difficult for them to grasp, said social worker Becky Nelson.

“The biggest problem is you are working with a culture that does not view reading as a primary source of information,” Nelson said. “They don’t have books and it’s not enough to just give them books. They are not accustomed to meaning coming out of books.”

The refugee students are held to the same Texas curriculum standards as English speaking students, the TEKS. This puts a lot of stress on the older students, said Nelson who works at the Basswood apartment complex in Lewisville. This is a relocation site where many Chin families live.

“It is a lot to expect a brain to learn enough English in three or four years to be able to pass TAKS tests,” Nelson said. “The older kids get discouraged very easily.”

According to Baron, formally learning a language can take from five to seven years.

“If you’re 17 starting high school and you have no English and spotty educational background, how successful are you going to be in graduating in a timely manner?” Baron said.

Therefore, Nelson said, when many Chin students reach the age of 16, they drop out of high school to get a job to support the family.

“The Chin culture says the oldest must quit and support the rest of the family, and that has not changed,” Nelson said. “The problem with that is the jobs you can get with just a high school education are still going to be minimum wage jobs which is what their parents are working.”

At home, their parents work long hours, night shifts at the Tyson Chicken plant or stocking at Walmart. Nelson said she acts as a liason between the school system and the parents, and must teach the families how to fill out school paperwork, the protocols of mandatory vacciantions and school attendance.

“The kids learn to fill out their own paperwork and they don’t understand what they’re doing half the time,” Nelson said. “We train the parents and work with parents so that they don’t feel the burden.”

Lewisville Education Foundation (LEF) is creating scholarships for the Chin refugees. Some Chin students are choosing to go to college, and then coming back to the community to help, Baron said. LISD has their first Chin student teacher in math this year.

“These are not people who are taking everything America can give and not giving back,” Baron said.

Lewisville Chin senior Emma Thluai, who has been in America almost four years, joined LHS Student Council and helped integrate incoming Chin refugees. She said that the school does a good job with aiding refugees.

“They have ESL and they always have tutoring after

school,” Thluai said. “Last week, we had English TAKS test for juniors, and they went there every day.”

Thluai said she plans on attending NCTC next year, and wants to become an engineer or a nurse.

Baron said that the district has started networking with other school districts and social work agencies to share information and apply it on a campus level.

“I think we have come an incredibly long way from where we were, not knowing anything, without having any heads up that we were having this influx,” Baron said.

story | jasmine sachar

District moves to accomodate refugee students

India

China

Thailand

Burma

Tibet

Nepal Bhutan

Bangladesh

PhilippinesCambodia

Vietnam

Laos

Hundreds of children struggling with limited English, adjusting to American pace of life

Where is Burma?

photos | jordan richards

The refugees sit and play at the Basswood Apartments in Lewisville. Several of the 2000 Chin people live in this complex.

the marquee | april 5, 2012 design| jordan richards

news 5

Where is Burma?

Back to Back

Top Right: Senior Marcus Smart hugs his mom after winning the Texas 5A State Championship. “She inspires me to never take life for granted and always have faith,” Smart said.

Top Left: Senior Nick Banyard shows his excitement after dunking. The State Championship was held at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin.

Bottom Right: Seniors Smart and Jared Hamilton celebrate after claiming the state title. “It was like the Fourth of July; fireworks went off everywhere in my head,” Smart said.

Middle Bottom: The Marauder basketball team holds up their state championship trophy.

Bottom Left: Senior Aj Luckey dribbles the ball against Fort Bend Travis. Luckey said winning was “a feeling you really can not describe; you would not want to be in another place.”

Marauders take home the state 5A basketball championship title, winning for second year in row

photos | jordan richards

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april 5, 2012 | the marquee

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the marquee | april 5, 2012 design | amanda collen april 5, 2012 | the marquee

feature 7

What’s your worst fear?

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve found at the bottom of your backpack?

If you could have any accent which would you choose?

“I want to know how to speak Spanish. I tried and failed (Spanish) I and II.”

“Bees because I’ve never been stung, and I’m trying not to get stung.”

“Old muffins. They were growing a little mold.”

What’s the nastiest thing you’ve ever eaten?

If you could be in any commercial which would it be?

If you could go out to dinner with anybody who would it be?

“An ESPN commercial because I am a sports guy.”

“It would either be Michael Jordan or Cody Apfel because Cody is the man.”

“It was from the cafeteria, and I think it was beef nachos.”

seconds with...6

Zach Richardson,

12compiled | vallery phillips

Sitting in class, sophomore Nicole Ulakovic glances at the clock on the television screen. Phrases like “Come pray with us!” flash above the time along with FCA meeting updates. She begins to think about the religious organizations present at the school and in the community like YMCA, “I Am Second” and Bible studies that take place at school. She then wonders if a club exists for those who are not religious.

Senior Ian Quisenberry has grown up with friends of all different religions. After befriending Sikh and Jewish students as well as agnostics and atheists, Quisenberry understands the diversity of religions present on campus.

Driving down the road, senior John Lenard passes billboards filled with Bible verses. On almost every street corner, he spots some type of church and begins to think, what about those who don’t have a religion? Why isn’t that minority group getting represented?

Over Thanksgiving break, these students, along with two other seniors, decided they were going to change that. After talking to Principal Gary Shafferman and finding a sponsor, the five co-presidents created the Secular Humanist Club. Their goal was to allow students who don’t necessarily have a religion to volunteer in the community and discuss their personal ideas and philosophies.

“You don’t necessarily need a god of any kind to have morals,” Ulakovic said.

As the term “atheist” is often associated with negative connotations, one of the goals of the Secular Humanist Club is to dispel these impressions. From the start, the founders said they knew they would have to be respectful of all religions.

“We had to be really careful because a Secular Humanist Club in this community could very easily sound like an angry-atheist club,” Ulakovic said. “We’ve been trying very hard not to be that.”

To avoid becoming such a club, the group decided to use their organization as a place to discuss religions. At one meeting, the group watched “Jesus Camp,” a documentary about an Evangelical Christian camp in North Dakota.

“We are trying to be educated on both sides of the religious debate, so when students get into a religious argument, they can not only defend their own position but also understand the other side of the argument,” Lenard said.

The formation of the Secular Humanist Club was recently a topic of discussion among the members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, or FCA. FCA faculty advisor Brenda Jacobs said that along with praying for the members of the club, FCA has also examined Christian beliefs as well as the beliefs of the Secular Humanist Club.

New student group aims at volunteering, religious discussion

story | marisa charpentier “I think that everybody has a right to have their own clubs,” Jacobs said. “I don’t love it, but it is something that I think gives us as Christians an opportunity to witness to those people and to love those kids.”

Since January, the Secular Humanist Club has gained over 30 members, some of which are Christians and others who are participants in different religions.

“It’s not anti-religion at all,” Quisenberry said. “It’s just a neutral ground where anyone can participate.”

In addition to discussion, the club also plans to participate in volunteer work. The group has discussed working at a women’s shelter and also volunteering at a school in an underprivileged neighborhood.

“There are a decent amount of people at this campus that don’t really want to affiliate themselves with religion but really want to be active in volunteering,” Quisenberry said.

Walking into a meeting, one may find the students discussing politics and scientific studies or watching religious or social documentaries. The students may also be discussing future volunteer projects or dealing with a feat the co-presidents say they often view as a nightmarish task – paperwork.

When a new service opportunity arrives, the members must fill out forms to participate in the activity. This does not always work out as planned. The members had intended to work at the Genesis Women’s Shelter, but the lack of people turning in the needed paperwork prevented this activity from gaining any progress.

In addition to the paperwork issue, the club recently lost their teacher sponsor. According to Lenard, this happened due to a lack of organization.

“It’s a lot harder than any of us anticipated to get a group volunteering,” Ulakovic said. “This year is a lot of trial and error.”

Because the club no longer has a sponsor, they plan to continue having meetings on the weekends rather than during the week. In doing so, the club will attempt to set up its framework so that the underclassmen can restart it next year. As a sophomore, Ulakovic is the only co-president that is not graduating this year. Despite the fact that Lenard is attending the University of Arkansas next year, he still plans to help out the club in the future.

Aside from providing students with a place to express their ideas and volunteer without any religious affiliation, the Secular Humanist Club also acts as a support group. Some students in the club are atheists while their parents are not.

“That’s a terrible environment to be in at home,” Ulakovic said. “So they can come here and realize, ‘Okay, I’m not the only one.’”

I think it’s good because there are some people who don’t want to be labeled a certain way, but they might still want to help. Even people who aren’t necessarily religious can do good things.

Tyler Gammon, 9 Rachel Hergenrether, 10

I do not think it’s good because the majority of our school, I’m guessing, is of the Christian faith, and I think it would cause conflict. But maybe it’s a good time for change here.

Rob Doyle, Social Studies

I’m in favor of it. If there are enough students here who want a club, then I think it’s great that the school can provide them with the oppurtunity to meet and discuss the ideas that they care about.

Marauder Musings What do you think about having a secular humanist club here at Marcus?

april 5, 2012 | the marquee

8 feature

design | sydney sund

Just clowning around

 Senior Zach Pletcher is not your average teenager in the work force.  He does not make a living at a fast food joint or a clothing store, mindlessly standing in front of a cash register.   He  does  not  show  up  to  work  wearing  a  muted  company uniform.  Instead, he wears extra-large size 12 red and yellow tennis shoes and a bright red clown nose.

It was the summer before Pletcher’s junior year when the owner  of  a  party  planning  company, Cindie Perry,  came  to local  Highland  Village  theater  Studio  B  looking  for  party entertainers.   A group of interested kids,  including Pletcher, went off with Perry for training and classes on how to morph themselves into various characters, magicians, balloon artists and face painters.  

“It  started  off  with  a  lot  of  us,”  Pletcher  said.    “But  it eventually weeded out to me and a few others.”

 Senior Miranda Hamilton, a friend of Pletcher, also got a job as a party entertainer. 

“I love performing and I love children, and it’s just a way to put it all together that is creative and fun,” Hamilton said.  

After spending a  little over a month mastering the art of card  tricks  and memorizing  the  many  intricate  knots  for  a variety of balloon animals, Pletcher was ready to begin.

When  first  starting  out  as  a  junior  party  entertainer, Pletcher performed at as many as four parties a week.  These are  usually  children’s  house  parties  in  the  DFW  area,  but there  have  been  a  few  exceptions,  including  performing  as 

a clown for outside linebacker Demarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys.

It was October 2011 at Ware’s 2-year-old son’s birthday party at the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch. Pletcher was dressed in his signature clown outfit: red Converse with bright orange knee socks, a tie dye shirt, and rainbow suspenders. He tied the whole look together with long baggy red shorts, which start at the hip and go all the way down to the middle of his calf. According to Pletcher, they are “the most gangster shorts you will ever find.”

There were monkey shows, professional jugglers, magic shows, face painters and clowns that filled the area of the Pumpkin Patch. Pletcher made balloon animals for the little kids while handing out apple juice and cotton candy with the birthday boy’s face plastered on the wrapper.

Though he is usually dressed as “Spike the Clown” when entertaining at parties, Pletcher has transformed himself into various other characters like superheroes, pirates and even Harry Potter.

“At parties, I usually do a 30 minute magic show, and then some singing and dancing, like the Hokey-Pokey or the Cha Cha Slide,” Pletcher said. “Then I will make balloon animals for the rest of the time.”

Hamilton has taken notice of Pletcher’s enthusiasm for

children and entertaining. “Zach is hilarious,” Hamilton said. “He is great with kids.

If you give him a character, he goes full out on it. He really makes the kids believe that when he is playing a character, he is that character.”

Pletcher was recently promoted from a junior entertainer to a professional party entertainer, which will require more responsibility and more hours.

Through all of the chaos, Pletcher still finds time to participate in theater in school and in the community. As of now, he is preparing for the school’s UIL One-Act Play for advanced theater.

“I’m a theater kid,” Zach said. “Performance is a lifestyle.”

When he is not working at parties or preparing for shows, Pletcher

works on Friday nights as a clown making balloon animals at CiCi’s Pizza from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“It’s fun and I enjoy what I do,” Pletcher said. “I think I’ve become a better entertainer. You have to deal with twenty screaming kids sometimes and keep their attention. You do what you’ve got to do.”

Pletcher says his passion for performing in front of large audiences, including children, has taken him very far.

“You’ve got to be outside your bubble,” Pletcher said. “You have to be able to be different characters, and you can’t be afraid to wear tights.”

Senior earns pocket money with unusual career choicestory | meghan eurich

Zach is hilarious. He is great with kids. If you give him a character, he goes full out on it.

Miranda Hamilton, 12

1 2 3 4

photos | sarah sauer

From magic tricks to making balloon animals, senior Zach Platcher does it all when it comes to entertaining at children’s parties. The Marquee takes a look at how he makes a penguin balloon animal.

Tie the ends of the balloons together. Form the white and black balloons into an oval shape.

Add an orange balloon for the beak of the penguin. Draw on the eyes.

Blow up one white balloon and one black balloon.

How to make a balloon animal

the marquee | april 5, 2012 design | sydney sund

feature 9

Medical issues lead to early teacher retirement

Business teacher Kay Ward only had one month behind the desk this year before her life came to a screeching halt, causing her to say goodbye to her 12-year teaching career at the school.

Over the past year, Ward has had back surgery, thyroid surgery and has been diagnosed with shingles in her right eye, a condition that she had not even heard of until her diagnosis.

Ward said that she is in constant pain due to her shingles. She compares the agony to little snakes crawling around in her forehead.

“They crawl down the right side of my nose and then they just shoot straight into the middle of my eye,” Ward said. “Then they go into the very back of my eyeball and just stay, crawling around in there. It’s enough to drive you crazy.”

Ward’s medical ailments started in September when it was discovered that Ward had degenerative disc disease, meaning that all of the vertebrae discs in her back were drying up and crumbling away. She was scheduled for back surgery in late December.

Before this surgery, Ward had to have blood work done due her high thyroid levels. The endocrinologist discovered a tumor on her thyroid.

Although the tumor was not cancerous, she had surgery to remove it in late October.

Barely two months later, a caudal catheter was put on either side of her spine to fill up each of the vertebrae along her back.

Ward was back in the classroom on Jan. 2. She hadn’t been back to school in three months and said she was greatly relieved to be able to return to her students.

“I had 90 perfect students in the fall, and that doesn’t happen very often,” Ward said. “I didn’t have one single student that was a problem student, and I was so blessed to have that. We had really enjoyed the class and I had grown to love each and every one of them.”

However, during second period the next day, she got a massive headache. The pain was so intense that Ward had to go home. It had barely been 24 hours since she had been back to work.

Ward’s eyesight went in and out as she drove. Once home, her shocked husband immediately took her to the pain management doctor. It was there that Ward was diagnosed with what the doctor called “a raging case of shingles” in her right eye.

“I was in so much pain, I literally prayed to die,” Ward said. “I literally prayed that the Lord would take me. I have never in my life known pain like that.”

Her case is unusual, as shingles generally affects the skin. Because of this, Ward went from doctor to doctor until a contagious disease doctor made the official diagnosis. By this point, her condition was into a stage where it was very difficult to diagnose.

“My first words were, ‘When can I go back to school?’” Ward said. “And [the doctor] looked at me with this look that was just so scary to me and he said, ‘You may not go back to school.’ And it just scared me to death. My heart just dropped right onto the floor.”

There is little that Ward can do to combat her illness. She spends all of her time at home and only leaves the house for doctors’ appointments.

“These are my directions,” Ward explained. “Stay as still as possible, stay as calm as possible, and don’t miss any dosages of the medicine. That’s all I can do.”

Ward must keep her right eye patched almost all the time. She can only uncover it for an hour a day and when she sleeps. During that hour, she generally spends her time

watching the news or checking her email. Sometimes she will read but has taken a liking to audio books.

Ward has since reluctantly retired from her job teaching. She hadn’t planned to do so for at least another two years.

“My whole routine of life is gone as I knew it,” Ward said.

“Teaching is not something that I do, it’s what I am. It’s my whole life.”

There is one thing in particular that Ward will miss the most about her career at Marcus.

“Students. Period. Big, huge exclamation point,” Ward said without hesitation. “I am a teacher who loves her students.”

Her classes have been taken over by two long-term subs since January.

“Bless their hearts, I didn’t get to meet my spring students,” Ward said wistfully. “I had been dreading telling my fall students goodbye. But that was all taken away from me, because I wasn‘t able to be there with them in the end.”

Senior Cassandra Lucio was a part of Ward’s fall class at the time of Ward’s thyroid surgery. This was Lucio’s second time being in one of Ward’s classes.

“I really liked having her as a teacher,” Lucio said. “I learned a lot from her. I had her for BCIS, so I learned about the Internet and computer programs, and I also learned a lot from her Money Matters class, too.”

In an attempt to help her finish out the year, many teachers

have given up some of their local days, which are days that teachers have for family emergencies and personal reasons. Because she had to use her own local days for her thyroid surgery, Ward didn’t have any left. She describes her fellow teachers’ sacrifices as “the greatest gift a teacher can give.”

“I’m so eternally grateful,” Ward said. “I totally stand in awe of their generosity. Our faculty at Marcus is a family. They have wrapped their arms around me and taken shockingly great care of me.”

Many teachers, such as business teacher Janice Shuffield, keep up regular communication with Ward.

“We’ve gotten to know each other at a whole different level,” Shuffield said. “Our friendship has gotten really close. It’s a weird way for that to happen.”

Shuffield is one of several teachers who are habitually visiting Ward. She makes the effort to see Ward every weekend and regularly texts and emails with her. Ward said that she is eternally grateful for such care.

“I don’t think I could make it through without them,” Ward said. “It’s their strength and their friendship and the love for the Marcus family and my faith in the Lord that will see me through.”

She compares her retirement to a game of baseball, her favorite sport.

“In baseball, you have three strikes, and you’re out,” Ward said. “And when I was laying there day after day, week after week, it made me realize that the Lord had flown to my back three times this year, and I think He was trying to tell me something. That it was time to quit. That it was time for me to be home.”

Ward plans to return to Marcus as a substitute teacher once she is able. In addition to traveling to see her family, she also hopes to become more involved with her church, possibly teaching children’s Sunday school.

“She will be really, really missed,” Shuffield said. “She had a way about her teaching and her way of presentation. It was such a sweetness and a unique way. She put a lot of herself in our department and as a leader.”

story | juliana adame

My whole routine of life is gone as I knew it. Teaching is not something that I do, it’s what I am. It’s my whole life.

Kay Ward, former teacher

Business teacher Kay Ward has been diagnosed with a degenerative disc disease in her back, a tumor in her thyroid and shingles in her right eye. Ward is slowly recovering but is retiring due to her health conditions.

photo | kathryn petrauskas

april 5, 2012 | the marquee

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the marquee | april 5, 2012 design | courtney clubb

in-depth 11

Affirmative ActionThe fight over college admissionsThe policy of Affirmative Action has been used for decades in the United States to increase racial and gender diversity in schools and jobs. Now a Supreme Court case might do away with the policy forever.

design/graphics | courtney clubb april 5, 2012 | the marquee

12 in depth

Upcoming Supreme Court decision could change way colleges do admission

Legal breakdown

story | alex mcginnis

The fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin has recently sparked nationwide controversy over race. The Hispanic neighborhood watchman who shot Martin allegedly acted in self-defense, but there is speculation about the shooting being a hate crime.

From an academic perspective, a lawsuit involving the University of Texas at Austin has also raised questions about race and the effectiveness of Affirmative Action in the college admission process. Former applicant Abigail Fisher was rejected from UT Austin in 2008 and filed suit against the university, saying that the policy violated her civil and constitutional rights.

Though Affirmative Action is by definition an encouragement of representation of minorities and women, claims that the system may not be ethical have been brought to the forefront.

Fisher’s argument touches on the idea of reverse discrimination. According to the UT Austin website, the freshman class is 48% white, 21% Hispanic and 5% African American.

School counselor Denine Hammonds said that the system of Affirmative Action has to be looked

at from when it was enacted in order to evaluate its effectiveness today.

“It goes back to why it was established in the first

place, you had people denied several things based on

the color of their skin,” Hammonds said. “Part of

the decision to come up

with Affirmative Action had to do with making right what was wrong, and making sure that it is fair and that they are not denied or turned away because of their race or background.”

Hammonds also said that Fisher’s argument is debatable if she doesn’t have any factual evidence proving that she was rejected for being white, since there are so many other factors evaluated in the admission process.

“You can have students with the same grades, but when they (college admission counselors) go to interview you, they may determine that a student who has a GPA less than yours is a better fit because of their personality,” Hammonds said.

Senior Geoffrey Reiner, who is half Hispanic and will be attending Purdue University next year, said that the only people who seem to oppose Affirmative Action are those who haven’t met the standards necessary to succeed.

“If you think about it, people on top are usually content with being on top and don’t care much about the people trying to better themselves,” Reiner said. “The people who get passed up and fail are the people who yell out that there was some kind of foul play, because they are just not content with where they are.”

Colleges and universities are required consider a variety of factors when making admission decisions, race at times being one of them. Reiner received scholarships despite “average” grades to Purdue, but he said it was not openly specified if his background helped him achieve those awards. Though Affirmative Action may have helped Reiner, and he supports the intention of the system as a means to help minorities, he said he does not think race should be evaluated during the admission process.

“Whether it is ethical to have something be a deciding factor for college admission should depend on the student’s ability to control that certain thing,” Reiner said. “You can control your grades. It’s hard to control your skin color.”

Jason Cook, the Vice President for Marketing & Communications at Texas A&M University, said that Affirmative Action is not applied to their admission process. Cooke said that the university supports the system in the employment process but has found other means of diversifying the campus.

“We have many prospective student centers around the country,” Cooks said. “Aggies reach out to students from diverse backgrounds, and we have made tremendous strides

in enhancing diversity.” According to Cook, one in

three students at A&M are of a minority background.

Hammonds said that the Supreme Court should evaluate the facts from several universities

concerning what percentages of different ethnicities of people are being admitted and if they are admitted fairly.

“We all have our different little idiosyncrasies, so you have to be careful not to judge a person because of the color of their skin,” Hammonds said. “That’s how Affirmative Action was started in the first place.”

She also said that she is uncertain about what would happen to the education system if Affirmative Action were eliminated.

“You have to go back and look and see if there are still discrepancies,” Hammonds said. “If there is a very high percent that there are still inequities, then I think we need to keep it in place.”

You can control your grades. It’s hard to control your skin color. Geoffrey Reiner, 12

Timeline of the Supreme Court action regarding Affirmative Action policy

1996University of Texas at Austin was ordered to remove race from admission decisions.

2005Race is added back into the admission process, along with factors such as test scores, extracurricular activities, talents, and recommendations.

2008Abigail Fisher sues the University of Texas at Austin, arguing she wasn’t admitted because she is white.

2012Supreme Court agrees to hear the case in the fall of 2012, opening up the possibility for affirmative action to be ruled unconstitutional.

compiled | marisa charpentier

Af f rmat ve Act on policy to be reevaluated

in depth 13

the marquee | april 5, 2012 design/graphics | courtney clubb

Affirmative action is a policy that takes race, gender, religion and national origin into account when deciding employment and college admission. This policy was created to give underprivileged minority groups the opportunity to attend college, and it seeks to promote diversity throughout the workplace and universities. Affirmative action is based on one’s identity rather than abilities, but does not affect the Texas top 10 percent rule when determining college admission.

What is Affirmatve Acton? The Marquee sought out academic statistics on two students. Both applied to the prestigious University of Texas at Austin Engineering school. The school accepted Malik, who identifies herself as Indian, and denied Horka.

compiled | molly spain

Top 4% of the classNumber of AP classes taken: 10Number of AP tests to be taken this year: 5Number of AP tests passed: 5Honor societies participated in: National Honor

Society, Spanish Honor Society, Science Honor SocietyExtracurricular activities: Marcus Hockey for 4 years

and JV captain in 11th grade, Habitat for HumanityCommunity Service: CCA SAT: 2050 ACT: Not taken

Austin Horka

Top 18% of the classNumber of AP classes taken: 10Number of AP tests to be taken this year: 3Number of AP tests passed: 3Honor societies participated in: Mu Alpha Theta,

Science Honor SocietyExtracurricular activities: Dance, asst. coach at

Best Gymnastics, officer of Habitat for Humanity, Officer for Fashion Design Club, Robotics

Community Service: helped with the Special Olympics, Teen Court and Habitat for Humanity events

SAT: 2080 ACT: 29

Sanchita Malik

compiled | marisa charpentier

2009

White- 83%

Black- 9%

Asian/Pacific- 2%

Race not reported- 3%

Hispanic- 3%

1976

photos | jordan richards

Race distributon in American colleges

source: http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=98

White- 62%

Black- 14%

Asian/Pacific- 7%

Race not reported- 5%

Hispanic- 12%

14 entertainment

design/graphics | maria heinonen april 5, 2012 | the marquee

Studies have shown that buying honey made locally can reduce allergies. It is more likely that some of the local pollen that causes allergies will end up in the honey, which allows your body to build immunity to it. You can purchase local honey at Sprouts on 2499 and other whole food stores. Additionally, honey is also known to be a natural reliever of sore throats and colds.

Going home for the remedies

The protein in beer adds an extra shine to hair while also repairing damaged ends. Other hair remedies such as adding a teaspoon of baking soda to shampoo removes dirt and grease, leaving your hair soft and shiny. Olive oil can also be used. Heating and applying it to your scalp for 30 minutes, results in a healthier scalp with less flakes.

Aloe vera is a common home remedy for sunburns, but apparently mashed potatoes also come in handy for more than just Thanksgiving. You can blend small pieces of potatoes into a paste and then apply it to the burned areas. Leave the concoction on your sunburn, and rinse with a cool shower for soothing relief.

You can mix a variety of natural ingredients to make one of the many facial scrubs out there. Using brown sugar and honey is as popular as an exfoliate combined with a cleanser. The salicylic acid in aspirin that is crushed and diluted in water is also commonly used as a scrub to treat acne.

According to recent research, you can clean your mouth and your feet with the same product. Mouthwash with alcohol has been shown to prevent athlete’s foot. Dabbing some mouthwash in between your toes and on the bottom of your feet with cotton balls can prevent fungal build up because of the high concentration of alcohol.

Fruits and vegetables undeniably benefit your body, including your teeth. Eating fruits that have textures like those of apples and pears can clean your teeth while you eat them. The natural scrubbing of the fruit on your teeth helps to clean while the malic acid in apples helps to remove stains.

allergies hair sunburns

athlete’s footacne

Who needs expensive store-bought treatments for your everyday problems when you can find a cheaper alternative in your house? The Marquee gives you six suggestions.

compiled | alex mcginnis

teeth whitening

the marquee | april 5, 2012

entertainment 15

M

RCH

PL YLIST

Girl Named Toby

“We Are”“Holding a Hear”

“Far”“Eet”

“Eye to the Telescope”“Another Place to Fall”

“The Shepherd’s Dog”“Boy With a Coin”

“Room for Squares”“Neon”

“Singles”“Sing”

“Robbers & Cowards”“Hospital Beds”

“Narrow Stairs” “Grapevine Fires”

“Yellow - Single” “Yellow”

“Azure Ray”“Sleep”

Azure Ray

Regina Spector

KT Tunstall

Iron and Wine

John Mayer

Tarvis

Cold War Kids

Death Cab for Cutie

Coldplay

Lent is revered by Christians as the 40 day period Jesus spent in the desert. Lent ends on Easter Sunday, the day Chrisitans believe Jesus rose from the dead. During the period, most commit to fasting or giving up certain luxuries as a form of penance. Lent’s first day is known as Ash Wednesday, where ashes are put onto the foreheads of worshippers as a sign of mourning and repentance.

“Lent is when you add or take away something that strengthens your relationship with the Lord,” said senior Tori Thurman. “When you give up something, it reminds you of what you’re doing it for, why you’re doing it, and who you’re doing it for.”

I gave up pizza, pop and chicken wings. Just junk food in general, really. I hope that it’ll help me to be more healthy. Brett Johnson, 11

Last week I gave up Italian food, this week I’m giving up social networks, and next week I’m giving up coffee. I think it’s worth it. I’m giving up things every week because it’s something we do at our church. Tori Thurman, 12

Soda and Gatorade, which we drink like water. I was able to do it because I ate more chips and salsa. Brennan Laporte, 12

I actually didn’t give anything up. I went to the gym every day to get in shape for summer, since I don’t play a sport. Alexa Grover, 10

I decided to give up all sweets. Mostly Girl Scout cookies, which I eat pretty often. It’s not easy, but I can do it by setting a goal for self-improvement.

Carmen Marxuach, 11

40 days and 40 nights

Chips and unhealthy stuff, and it’s really difficult. I get through it by remembering the cause.

Emma Blair, 10

compiled by | ryan mcdearmont

compiled by | meghan eurich

design/graphics | preston smith

album covers from: itunes

16 entertainment

design/graphics | maria heinonen april 5, 2012 | the marquee

Roanoke goes rad

Babe’sRoanoke is home to the original Babe’s. Located in

a warehouse from 1908, the building is full of mismatched tables and chairs. When ordering, there are only two options -- fried chicken or chicken fried steak. Included sides are mashed potatoes, cream gravy, green salad, Grandma’s corn and homemade biscuits. While waiting on your meal, pick a song from the jukebox or enjoy the various memorabilia hung on the walls and ceiling. Whenever the Chicken Dance is played, all waitresses stop and join in, diners are encouraged to do the same. On Friday and

Saturday nights expect a full house. While waiting to be seated enjoy the summer night, with the help of fans, in brightly colored chairs made of old tractor seats.

With a menu that includes items such as the

Bacon Bomb Burger, Chipotle Guacamole Burger, Frito Bandito, The Big German (aka The Dirk), this restaurant is full of unique combinations you can’t find anywhere else. All of the beef they sell comes from grass fed cows. For $8.99 order the Fried Ride, a basket full of fries, fried pickles, fried green beans, fried onion rings and sweet potato chips that can easily feed four. Try one of their

Cowboy Chow, a sister restaurant to Twisted Root

Burger. Their two most famous dishes are the Mash Tater Parfait with layers of brisket, mashed potatoes, cowboy caviar, cheddar and tortilla strips and the seven-hour baby-back ribs. Anything you order here is sure to be a stomachful. When ordering drinks, don’t forget to ask for their pure cane sugar Mexican Coke, root beer and Sprite. If you’re up early

For a classic Tex-Mex restaurant experience, visit

Mi Familia. The bright orange building is hard to miss. Try a steaming hot plate of fajitas and guacamole, which is made from scratch beside your table. All traditional Tex-Mex dinner plates are available on their menu. For a light meal, try the tortilla soup. If customers are on a budget, try the combo meal. Pick three of twelve options for $9.49.

Twisted Root Burger Cowboy Chow

Mi Familia

rating guidecheck please average tasty mouthwatering masterpiece

rating: rating:

rating:

For typical German food, bratwurst, schnitzel and

sauerkraut go to Gerhards. If you aren’t sure what to order and the German is overwhelming, try the sausage sampler. With the sausage sampler, diners choose four different brats to go along with saurkraut and a soft pretzel. Authentic schnitzel is always safe tasty option. For dessert, traditional Apple Strudel with ice cream is the way to go.

Gerhards

rating:

The growing town of Roanoke is about a 25 minute drive from Flower Mound. Downtown is thriving with several unique eating establishments and hang outs. reviews | emily aijkens

rating:

The Book Carriage is an independent book store.

Although much smaller than the Highland Village Barnes and Noble, it carries more charm. Downstairs the walls are lined with shelves of books. Inside is a full service coffee shop that sells pastries. They are most famous for their handcrafted lattes. Served in a ceramic cup and saucer, your barista may even use mocha sauce to make a design in your latte’s foam. Above the coffee shop on the second level is

The Book Carriage

rating:

a stage. Every Saturday night, patrons enjoy music played by local musicians.

milkshakes, which are one hundred percent genuine, and made from cream, eggs, sugar and natural flavors.

enough, come by for brunch to try Breakfast Tacos.

the marquee | april 5, 2012 design/graphics | preston smith

sports 17

For the past eight years, senior Brian O’Connell has played the game he loves--lacrosse. But due to a series of injuries, he feared that he might have to leave his sport forever.

During the ice storm in February, Brian slipped and fell hitting the side of his head on his car. He wasn’t worried about this fall and kept living like normal. But unknown to Brian and his parents, it is not just the severity of a head injury but the number of concussions a person suffers that can cause brain damage.

On March 6, 2011, Brian was playing defense on the Flower Mound lacrosse team. During the first quarter he was struck with the ball behind his ear. He heard a loud pop. In

an instant, he fell to the ground while hearing a loud ringing in the ear that he hit during his previous fall. His parents were worried but hoped that it was just a minor hit. His mom Robin O’Connell was shocked at the unexpected hit as an onlooker.

“For someone who was on the sidelines, it was a total freak accident,” Ms. O’Connell said.

Running to the field, his dad, Sean O’Connell, asked him a series of questions checking his responses.

“He was checked out by a trainer that was there and his vital signs were good,” Mr. O’Connell said. “But he had delayed responses to basic questions.”

When Mrs. O’Connell tried to ask him how he was doing, Brian pushed her away. He

thought, at the time, his injury was not a big concern.

“She called and she asked to talk to me and I was like ‘go away mom it’s not that big of deal,’” Brian said. Not fully knowing the severity of his son’s condition, Mr. O’Connell made his son sit out for the rest of the game.

Later that night, Brian was taken to the hospital to check out the effects of his hit. Due to the severity, he spent a night in the E. R. at the Children’s Hospital at Legacy, had C.T. scans and had multiple specialist visits and therapy. The doctors said Brian suffered from a brain injury.

“So this injury on its own probably wouldn’t have been this bad,” Mrs. O’Connell said. “But because he may have had a slight concussion to begin with, it made it even worse.”

His biggest consequence was his memory loss, and his recovery process was slow and took patience.

“He had to do a lot of brain rest which meant he slept a lot,” Mrs. O’Connell said.

Brian, at times, would get frustrated due to his loss of memory.

Recovering the past Senior lacrosse player healing from multiple concussions

Senior Brian O’Connell suffered a brain injury last spring during a lacrosse game against Frisco. He has regained most of his memory but says he still struggles to remember his sophomore year at Marcus.

LeftAttack Wing

RightDefenseWing

RightAttack Wing

LeftDefenseWing

Center

Goalie

Point

3rd Man

1st Home

2nd Home

3rd HomeCover

Point

story | andrea boyd

photo | sarah sauer

“He would get angry because he just couldn’t remember things,” Mrs. O’Connell said.

Being out for 12 weeks, Brian said school became really difficult. He had become light sensitive as well as noise sensitive. He was having massive headaches. There was a point when parents thought they would have to pull him out of school and put him in a new school, which could possibly help him with his progress.

“We really became panicked not knowing if he was going to bounce back,” Mrs. O’Connell said. But Brian had help from the teachers and staff, making his return much easier. “Nurse Cathy (Saucedo) was great,” Mrs. O’Connell said. “She was a great ally to work with because she understood everything that was going on.”

Due to Brian’s various absences he had to somehow make it up.

“Now this year he is making up what he lost,” Mrs. O’Connell said. He said his teachers were very understanding of his condition.

“I was in AP psychology and AP U.S. History and they were both super chill about it,” Brian said.

With support from his family, friends, and school, Brian was on his way to recovery.

“My friends were great,” Brian said. “Sometimes we would hang out on the weekends.’’ But after about 20 minutes, Brian would get head pains due to the various conversations, begin to feel sick and would ask to be taken home.

Brian’s sister also kept him company, when he became lonely by talking to him and taking him to movies. He says she was a big help and he loved having her around.

It turns out that Brian will not have to leave the

game forever. Though his injury was serious,

he was able to play in one of the biggest games of the year. He was allowed

to play for six seconds just to say he participated in the

State Championship game. Brian was instructed to run from

the ball if it came to him, and he did just as he was told.

He has begun to play lacrosse again on the Flower Mound

community team and has learned to even joke about his injury.

Brian hopes to pursue lacrosse in college and is proud of the

scholarship he was offered to Southwestern

University. “If accepted, I’ll

be the first NCAA nominee

from Marcus,” Brian said. He says he loves the game of lacrosse too

much to give it all up. “It’s tough not to go back because it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played,” Brian said.La

cros

se fi

eld brea

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design | sydney sund april 5, 2012 | the marquee

18 sports

One last blow of the whistleFormer Marcus referee undergoes lung transplant, hoping to return to career

On Aug. 21, 2010, Marcus referee Ty Mitchell placed his name on the transplant list. After many years of difficulty breathing he needed two new lungs. His wife Sheralyn Mitchell waited patiently near the phone, waiting for the doctors to call to hear that her husband is going to be all right. Exactly one month later, the Mitchells received a call.

They missed it.They waited for the next call. Every time

the phone rang, they hoped for new lungs on the other end. Ty’s daughter, junior Savanna Mitchell grew worried.

“I thought they skipped us,” Savanna said.

Ty now had to wait once again to receive new lungs. The time he had to wait was unknown.

In 1998, Ty was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, which is a genetic disease that affects every system in the body but the brain. The most common symptoms for this disease are problems with the digestive tract and lung disease.

As a child, Ty was misdiagnosed. When he was growing up he had problems with his digestive tract, but not his lungs. Consequently Ty was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, which means he could not eat anything that contained gluten. This caused him to suffer malnutrition until he was 23, when he was correctly diagnosed with CF. Ty had just married his wife Sheralyn.

“It was a relief to finally find out what was wrong with him,” Sheralyn said.

The newlyweds were just settling in when they found that Ty had CF. He was put on enzymes which made him gain weight. He soon started to feel better. Though he found relief, worries suddenly arose. The average life expectancy during that time for people with CF was 15 to 20 years. Ty was 23.

“I now realized he has this disease that is life threatening,” Sheralyn said.

Ty said he always thought he was going to live a long life. The thought of dying tomorrow or next week was never a concern. When he turned 30, the Mitchells moved to Texas in 1998.

This was when the lung problems began to surface.

As mucus built up in his lungs it became harder to breathe. Almost every three weeks he was taken to the hospital to help cure the infection taking over his lungs. There is no cure for CF, but Ty takes antibiotics to help thin the

mucus and help heal the infections. “I felt miserable,” said Ty. “My breathing

kept getting worse and worse.”Ty began to take lung function tests. These

tests accounted for the percentage of the lung that was actually working. When he was diagnosed, he was at a high percentage. Each year that percentage fell five to 10 percent.

“It was like breathing through a straw,” Ty said. “A very tiny straw.”

A normal walk to the mailbox felt to him like walking up a steep hill. For about 10 years the Mitchells discussed a transplant. They knew at some point it would have to happen, but they were leaving the decision of when to put his name on the transplant list completely

up to the doctor. Ty knew that the transplant lungs would not last forever, he knew he had to keep his original lungs

for as long as possible.“These lungs have a timeline,” Ty said.

“They aren’t going to last me 50 years. They may only last 10.”

For the past couple of years his lung function ranged between 20 to 25 percent. Ty and his doctor finally decided it was time to be put on the list. By the time he signed up for a transplant, his lung function was down to 18 percent. Even though the doctor said Ty should receive a transplant soon, Sheralyn was still worried. Statistics say that there is only a 70 percent chance of survival after a transplant or his body could reject the lungs.

“Seventy percent isn’t that great,” Sheralyn said. “There are a lot of risks.”

On a late November afternoon, Ty finally received a call he’d been waiting for. He immediately left work for the hospital. After taking lots of blood and double checking everything, they gave Tythe all clear and wheeled him into surgery.

He was receiving a new pair of lungs. “I used to question whether he would be

there at my wedding or if my kids were going to be able to know their grandpa,” Savanna said. “Then when he went into get his transplant, I thought maybe they will.”

Patiently waiting, Sheralyn and Savanna sat together at the hospital. Watching a TV screen that explained Ty’s surgical process helped Savanna stay calm. After about 1 a.m. Savanna fell fast asleep on the pull out chair in the waiting room. Sheralyn could not sleep. The thought of her husband being in surgery kept her awake, she said. Finally after six hours at 4 a.m. he was done. The doctors put him in ICU,

where he stayed for four days. Fully sedated Ty did not come to until the morning after the surgery.

“I was completely helpless,” Ty said. For the next 24 hours after the surgery he

was supplied a breathing tube to help his new lungs. Once the tube was taken out, he was able to breathe on his own without any problems. In his chest were four tubes that helped the lungs as well. On Monday the doctors moved him into a regular hospital room. With four tubes in his chest, an IV and new lungs, Ty struggled walking.

“I had no idea how painful this would be, or how long the pain would last,” Ty said.

After two weeks of being in the hospital Ty was finally released to go home. The tubes were taken out and he was free to live his life again, though he did not completely go back to normal. He was not allowed to return to work for three months after the surgery, and he could not do anything on his own. He became completely dependent on his children and wife.

“My wife and kids are my biggest support system,” Ty said.

Not even a month after his surgery, he had to return to the hospital. On Thanksgiving Day Ty was taken to the hospital because of nausea. The medication he was taking began to make him sick. Then a month later he was taken again because of pain.

“It was really touch and go, he would be sick

story | vallery phillips

photos | submittedTop: Ty Mitchell sits in the referee locker room at Cowboy Stadium during a playoff game in November 2009. Bottom: Junior Savanna Mitchell and her father, Ty Mitchell, wait at the hospital before his surgery in November 2011. Ty was undergoing a double lung transplant.

It was like breathing through a straw, a very tiny straw.

Ty Mitchell, former Marcus referee

one day and fine the next,” Sheralyn said.Though the road has not been easy, Ty hopes

to return to refereeing this fall. He loves the game of football, Sheralyn said. Though he has not worked his regular referee schedule since ‘09, Ty hopes to regain everything he lost when his lungs began to worsen.

“I knew everything would work out,” Sheralyn said.

april 5, 2012 | the marquee the marquee | april 5, 2012 design | sydney sund

sports 19

SPORTS UPDATE

It’s the ninth inning and the Lady Maruaders are ahead, 7-6 against Hebron. The cheers of an overly-peppy mother can be heard in the crowd. The team is quiet, anxiously watching the game. Head Coach Christy Tumilty stands in the red dirt by the dugout, amidst the many imprints of her shoes. Her arms are crossed and she is staring at the scoreboard, analyzing the game. She watches as sophomore pitcher Madison Greenwell hurls the ball towards home plate. Tumilty’s face remains emotionless as the Hebron batter sends the ball flying over the fence. A white and blue jersey crosses home plate. Tumilty’s pacing must continue for another inning.

***Last year, varsity placed second in district as well as making it

all the way to the state qualifying rounds. They ended their season one win away from state playoffs. After losing seven seniors, this year’s varsity team is mostly made up of underclassmen.

“We have combined half of last year’s JV with the remainder of varsity,” sophomore Whitney Wolkow said.

The team has also lost several players to injuries. Wolkow was benched for a month’s worth of games due to a bruised bone in her elbow and multiple hairline fractures in her ribs. Another sophomore broke her back in pre-season accident and hasn’t been able to participate in any games or practices.

Despite the challenges of new team dynamics and overcoming injuries, the coaches and players have high expectations for the

The baseball team started off the season strong with an overall record of 14-6 at presstime, ranking fifth in district 8-5A. When compared to last year’s season, this season is completely “night and day,” according to Head Coach Dustin Sycora.

Last year, Sykora was the team’s third head coach in the past four years.

“It’s been very tough on them because it has been consistently changing on them all the time,” Sykora said.

According to Sykora, this year, the team has great senior leadership and work ethic, and an overall better attitude.

“I feel that we talk to each other more than we did last year and we are more of a family now,” senior left hand pitcher Colin Poche said. “We had the tragedy of losing one of our former teammates, and that really brought everyone closer as a whole.”

Despite the struggles, the team has been able to pull through and maintain a close bond.

“Our definite strengths are our pitching staff,” Sykora said. “We have also been playing pretty good defense.”

As of now, the team is 4-3 in district play. “We struggle sometimes making the routine plays,” Poche

said. We have had a couple of errors that have changed the outcomes of some of our games. We just have to work hard to make all of the easy plays.”

The ultimate frisbee team is vying to keep their title of state champions that they earned last year.

“We have great veteran leadership on our team this year. We are a smart team who can run a lot of defenses and offenses,” ultimate frisbee Coach Rob Doyle said.

“The team has amazing flow as a team from building friendships over the years,” senior Captain Doug Fenderson said.

The team has been practicing year round, and with their season record of 7-1, has already secured their spot in the State Tournament. They are expected to finish in the top four in the semi-finals.

“Our biggest weakness is that we might not be as athletic and big as some of the teams that we are going up against,” Doyle said.

For the state championship, the biggest rival is McCallum High School in Austin. The Marauders lost to McCallum in a very close game last fall.

“I think that we are playing really good ultimate frisbee right now and my team has exceeded my expectations,” Doyle said. “I think that if we can avoid injuries, and if we continue to progress in the next month then we could potentially repeat as state champions.”

The state championship will be held May 5 and 6 just north of Austin in Round Rock, TX.

The

Lady Marauders aiming for playoffs

Baseball team in district play

story | meghan eurich

story | sydney sund

Ultimate hopes to make state repeat

story | meghan eurich

Junior Max McNiel leaps for the disk during a tournament in Oak Point at the Prestonwood Polo Club. The team is currently 7-1.

photo | amanda collen

The softball team gathers together between innings in their game against Lewisville on March 23. The Lady Marauders have a district record of 3-5 at presstime.

photo | amanda collen

new season. “We’re looking forward to being successful and getting the

opportunity to play our hardest at every game,” senior Captain Kendall Bagley said.

Tumilty said she hopes to reach at least second place or higher in the district championship, as well as making it to the state playoffs again this year.

“There’s a lot of new [players], but we still expect [the teams] to place in the top spots of districts so we can make it to playoffs,” Tumilty said.

In preparation for the new season, the girls have trained non-stop. Even outside of school, the players work hard on softball in their free time. Both Bagley and Wolkow have weekly trips to the hitting cages and regular batting lessons. In general, the girls spend 10 to 12 hours a week on softball including after school practices and weekend tournaments.

Despite all the challenges the new season brings, all the girls say that they are determined to make it to state.

“We have a great team with three strong pitchers and a strong offense at the plate. As long as we hit well and our defense is strong, I think we will make it to state this year,” Wolkow said.

***It’s the end of the 10th inning and the scoreboard clock begins

to counts down, three, two, one, and then zero. The Hebron girls being to scream and cheer, and attack their coaches with hugs and high-fives. From across the field, the Marauders clutch the chain-link dugout fence, staring and glaring with sad eyes at the opposing team. They stand in silence, until the tears start rolling. One sobs because of her poor performance, convinced she was the reason they lost. The cheers of the winning team begin to die down, and the Marauders start hauling their gear back to the bus. Tumilty glances one last time at the score with reserved silence. Their tournament would end early this weekend.

The Marquee brings you brief, up to date info about Marauder athletic teams.

?design | joe rau april 5, 2012 | the marquee

20 opinion

Respect my authoritahJuliana Adame

BOO

MBA

S[th

ings w

e like

]Tall, dark and handsome

Joseph Rau

Odd and quirky, but lovable

“I think it is bad because it costs too much money for the AP students.”

“I understand why they are making the cuts. People usually don’t care about the amount. They just want to get the college credit out of the way.”

Dylan Cooney, 9 Patrick Mixon, 10

compiled | meghan eurichphotos | vallery phillips

How do you

Hypothetically Flawless

I’m a bit of a strange cookie. According to my Facebook, I am currently employed by Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, Scranton branch of course, and I studied musical theatre at Hogwarts. Some of my closest friends are the ink and paper creations of J.K. Rowling, who can’t talk back to me if I disagree with their decision making. My idea of an all-nighter generally involves creating dream houses for my Sims to the ambience of whatever I’m watching on Netflix. Needless to say, I’m basically the world’s most offbeat teenage girl.

At a very young age, I vowed to never settle for ordinary. In fact, I wanted to be anything but ordinary, which may or may not have something to do with my pre-teen obsession with Avril Lavigne, but that’s beside the point. Many may dismiss me as just another anti-social, nerdy, hipster wannabe, and I can’t say I blame them. But it’s not like I go around purposely waving my freak flag in people’s faces. I generally keep my social commentary to myself. For example, I like to drive around singing along to the “Weeds” theme song. For those unfamiliar with that little diddy, it depicts a picturesque society where everything is pretty, perfect, and uniform. With that being said, come fall, I’ll be leaving the sweaty glass of social stigma for good.

It seems that I’m just a smidge too contrary for some. I vividly remember doing a college project during my sophomore English class. We were being taught how to use an online college search engine and told that we could research whichever colleges we liked. Obviously, I missed something. My friend Zach and I were comparing different college theatre programs when I heard a gasp from behind me. By the pitch of this sudden sharp intake of oxygen, I thought someone’s grandmother had just been round-kicked. Instead, I turned to find the teacher who had been monitoring us gaping at my computer.

“You’re not applying to any schools in Texas?” she asked, completely flabbergasted.

“Um… I wasn’t planning on it… maybe UT?” I replied, my heart rate steadily returning to normal.

“Hm. Okay,” she said in a tone that suggested that she knew better.

I purposely perused New York’s finest liberal arts colleges for the rest of the period. In the end, I did end up applying to UT. About a month or so later, I got rejected. Meanwhile, I’ve been accepted to both of the New York schools to which I had applied, not to mention, been chosen for audition for the University of Michigan’s theatre department after my video submission. In about six months or so, I’ll be taking a stroll through Central Park, while a sizable chunk of my peers remain, forever bound to small town/suburban Texas. Haters gonna hate.

I’m not saying that my lifestyle of choice is for everyone, but it’s the one that works for me. My future self looks a lot like Tina Fey’s character Liz Lemon, give or take a few additional feline friends. It’s true I won’t grow up to be a doctor, a lawyer or a business executive, but I think that perhaps Kristen Wiig could use an apprentice… So, I will leave you with the wise words of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore: nitwit, oddment, blubber, tweak, thank you.

When I have kids, they better be extremely intelligent and athletic. I refuse to pay for their college educations.

Here’s my plan:At the age of one, Princeton, who will be born a boy not out

of pure luck but because I insist upon it, will begin intensive SAT prep while simultaneously learning to walk, talk, drink from a sippy cup, and defecate in a toilet. Scratch that, 1 is way too old to learn all that. I better start at three months.

At the same time, I will introduce him to a variety of sports, to gauge which sport he will excel in the most. Instead of play dates with his peers, Princeton will learn to converse with my friends, learn the art of a firm handshake, as well as to fully develop a stance on all the pressing political issues.

Parenting is all about being strict. Parents who give their children any morsel of freedom soon understand the mistake they have made when they catch their children binge drinking, on chocolate milk, since you know high schoolers don’t drink alcohol.

Ultimately, Princeton will make it into the one of the most prestigious preschools in the country, as a stepping stone to gain admittance into an Ivy League.

In high school, I will show Princeton the way of the GPA game he needs to know to become number one academically, and win the senior superlative for most humorous boy.

Princeton will take as many AP courses as possible, and if he receives anything less than a 5 on the test, his nearly non-existent social life will be completely eradicated. The truth is, Princeton won’t need a social life because people will naturally be swooning over his good looks and charming humor.

By the time Princeton has to plan which university he would like to attend, he will have many options, due to his valedictorian status and coupled with his recognition as a tennis prodigy. Personal liberties such as dessert and birthday parties should be earned, not expected.

At the Ivy League chosen for him by me, Princeton will expend every waking second to his studies and all his other moments to practicing with his team. There will be no time to enjoy a typical “Thirsty Thursday” college life.

My hopes are that my tiger parent antics will be imprinted on his brain. By the time he is ready to procreate, and we will continue the cycle of perfection.

Ideally, Princeton will be able to provide for me when I retire at the age of 50. And when I say ideally, I know it will of course go according to plan, starting with the fact that he will have blonde hair, blue eyes, and a nearly fatless body, modeled directly after his father. He will be the culmination of a super nerd with a super stud.

Princeton will pay me back for the hundreds of thousands of dollars that I invested into his studies and sport, not to mention the tons of five-star meals that I provided for him. When he thinks he’s finally gained financial freedom, I’ll slap him with the bill for 18 years of living expenses.

Overall, producing the perfect child is quite simple. The degree of perfection of any certain child is directly correlated to the deprivation of a social life as well as the over attention to that child’s academics and sports. Any freedom or trust given to the child simply leads to a complete failure.

Well, now that I think about it, this whole having kids thing sounds like a hassle. I think I’m just going to get a dog.

Taking a standBullying is a problem in every school. But the “anti-bullying” posters Marcus students put in elementary schools serve as inspiration for younger kids. It’s great that students are promoting a good cause.

In MemoriamThough the school has suffered through some tough times with the passing of students and alumni, it’s comforting to know that the school can come together to suppport one another.

Teams on topBasketball has receieved a lot of deserved attention, but other teams should be congratulated as well. Bowling, DECA, swim, ACDEC and wrestling are entitled to their own recognition.

A P f u n d i n g state cutting

the marquee | april 5, 2012 design | joe rau

opinion 21

HEYS

[thing

s we d

on’t l

ike]

MARQUEE REMARKS

Eyes open to materialism

Road Rage

Meghan Eurich

The fortune cookieMarisa Charpentier

Friendship found in felines

“I disagree with it. I find it sad that the Texas government is making the economy a higher priority than education, which is the future of the economy.”

“I feel very strongly that they never should have done that. They don’t want to invest in our best kids’ futures and it’s a disappointment.”

“I think it is unfair to (the AP students) because they are the ones who work the hardest in the school, yet they are the ones who are being punished.”

Morgan Edgerton, 12

Kaitlyn Abraham, 11 Jennifer Forthun, English

Patrick Mixon, 10

I don’t understand people who don’t like cats. How can someone blatantly come out and say that they despise such a sophisticated, intelligent and innocent animal? I have found that most of the time, the people who hate cats so much have never actually owned one.

Sure they are not “man’s best friends”, and they won’t continually chase after a ball for hours and hours, but do cat haters really think that a pet needs these qualifications in order to be capable of your affection?

I, and the rest of the self-described cat enthusiasts out there, think not.

There are two types of cat lovers in the world. The first are the few who actually have cats. The other are the people who sport t-shirts from Forever 21 with the cats wearing grandpa glasses and bow ties. They are the ones with the Pinterest boards dedicated to their cat obsession, but sadly they do not actually own one. While the latter type of cat lovers are common, I think that in order to truly appreciate cats, you have to experience the joy they bring first hand.

His name was Pumpkin and I can truly say that he was the best cat I ever had. Pumpkin fit his name well. He had fiery

orange hair and when curling his massive twenty-pound body into a tight ball, he truly resembled the Halloween decoration after which my 7-year-old self named him.

Not only was Pumpkin the first pet that I was ever responsible for, but he was my friend. He didn’t mind being used as my pillow, and on restless nights, his constant heart-beat-like purr instantly allowed me to drift off to sleep.

Pumpkin died unexpectedly when I was fourteen, on Dec. 7 from cancer in his intestines. He was only 6. I don’t think there is anything harder than saying goodbye to a pet, because after being in your life for so long, they seem so much more than just an animal. I can still remember how he would sit in my bathroom sink every morning before school and watched me while I put on my makeup. Or the time I got so mad at him when he fell asleep on my Barbie Dream House, and it broke due to stress from his weight.

My mom and I waited a whole year after he died until finally deciding to bring a new cat into our home. While flipping through the classified ads in the local paper, we saw an advertisement from a woman looking to give away her kittens. My mom immediately called the woman to see if we could come see them, and once she gave us the OK, we were on our way.

After driving on country road to what felt like the middle of nowhere, we pulled up to a great big white house. We walked through the tall wooden front doors then we were led to the laundry room of the house. There he was. A little six-week-old orange fluff-ball snuggled next to seven other kittens in the middle of a purple wicker basket. He was perfect. We named him Toby.

I feel like Pumpkin’s spirit came back to me in Toby. They look just the same, act just the same and both have a strange love for purple grapes and cantaloupe. Though no one can replace Pumpkin, Toby comes pretty close.

I guess you could say that I have a special place for cats in my heart. I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and that 60 percent of Americans are dog lovers, but unless you have a legitimate reason for hating cats, don’t tell me. Because I love mine too much to be swayed by your misinformed opinions.

When I envision an ideal life, the word simplistic comes to mind. While some may imagine fancy cars and endless cash, I can’t help but picture an existence where I’m not attached to any one material object. A life where cell phones and designer clothes don’t matter. A life where merely living is enough.

Being young was easy. I didn’t know any better than to think that toys and television were normal, or even essential, parts of life. What’s always confused me, though, is how we came to want so many things. For me, I guess it began the Christmas my older sister Alexa got a life-size Barbie doll, and I did not. Silly, I know, but to a 4-year-old, it was a pretty big deal.

Clad in my white tights and holiday dress, I strolled through my grandparent’s family room. Presents were strewn across the floor, gift wrapped with red and green bows and signed to each of the grandchildren. I was not interested in those gifts. Something else had caught my eye. Standing against the wall stood a doll about the same height as myself, adorned with flowing blonde hair and a wide smile. Instantly, I wanted her to be mine.

I soon found out, however, that the doll did not belong to me but Alexa instead. Teardrops slid down my cheeks, and I purposely frowned at the camera as my mom tried to take a picture of my sister and me together.

After growing out of the “doll phase,” I began to want bigger things. A camera, a laptop, a cell phone, fancier clothes. I don’t recall outwardly expressing these wants to my parents, but after viewing endless amounts of commercials on television and seeing others flash around their new cell phones, I couldn’t help but yearn for what others had and I did not.

What scares me, though, is that I know I wasn’t the only one. Today, we see shows on television displaying children begging their parents for the newest toy craze. Walking through the halls of our school, I see teenagers obsessing over the brand of clothes they’re wearing or what type of car they drive. Sometimes I feel like we’re living in a real life “Suburgatory.” Does it truly matter what kind of expensive Miss Me jeans we’re sporting or the type of designer boots we walk the halls in? I know I’ve cared about these things before, but after taking a second to look around at the materialistic lives we’re living in, I’ve realized material objects are not what’s important.

In a world where having the most advanced technology and in-style clothes seems to be the main focus of our thoughts, it’s hard to imagine a material-free world ever existed, let alone will come again. I’m not saying we should drop everything and go join an Amish village, but maybe if we just turn off the TV and shut our laptops for a few hours a day, we wouldn’t be so consumed by the material objects that seem to control our lives.

So, I guess if the world can’t go back to a time where a simple, unmaterialistic life was possible, we must come to a compromise. We spend so much time focusing on the stuff we want. If all this time and energy was put towards the people around us instead, who knows what we could accomplish? A new pair of shoes may bring joy for only an hour, but people and the relationships we build will last a lifetime. So, maybe it’s not so important that the Barbie doll you wanted when you were 4 made an appearance in your life, but that your little sister came along instead.

Cutting the funIf we have to take time out of class to practice TAKS questions, it would be a lot more fun if there was some background music on the TV like in previous years. Make TAKS practice more interesting for the students.

Mr. Marcus diversityAt Marcus, 21 percent of males are minorities. It would be nice next year to adequately represent our student body in the pageant with at least one or two of the eleven participants being of a different race.

Turn down the tunesWhen students have music cranked up, it bothers people around them. Turn it down and be courteous to peers and teachers. Also, turning down the volume reduces the risk of bursting an eardrum.

april 5, 2012 | the marquee

22 editorials

design | joe rau

State spending on students in Texas public schools has dropped sharply from previous years. Texas spends about $3,000 less than the national average on each student. Additionally, the state legislature cut funding for schools by $5.4 billion for the 2012-13 school year.

Due to recent budget cuts, state funding for Advanced Placement exams was eliminated, whereas before, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) provided a $30 subsidy for each student per AP exam. Now, Texas students must pay the full College Board cost of $87 per exam. AP exams are a major college accelerant for high school students, and funding for exams should be restored.

Some students take between two and five tests in one school year, and a lot of seniors take even more, so paying the full price is an immediate financial burden. Though the TEA still provides the $30 subsidy to students on the free or reduced lunch programs, some students are paying up to $435 or more to take these tests. While this is great for students in need, the rest of the student body who does not qualify for these reductions are expected to pay for this high cost.

AP classes and AP exams set a higher academic standard for students and promote hard work. Students in AP classes are sometimes working double the challenge, double the homework and dealing with double the stress. They shouldn’t have to pay $87 to take a test that they spend hours upon hours studying for and months preparing. Their hard work should be rewarded with a $30 subsidy. Students should not be punished

by the state for their excellence in academics with a $90 charge. It discourages kids from trying to enrich their academic careers.

It is the responsibility of the school to challenge students academically and push students to strive to higher academic levels in classrooms to churn out distinguished scholars that represent the school well. The higher prices of AP exams will inevitably lead to students taking fewer tests. The AP classes and exams represent more than just

Affirmative action has negative effect on admissionsAffirmative action has been brought into the spotlight after

Abigail Fisher, a white senior at Louisiana State University, sued the University of Texas Austin saying she had been discriminated against during the admission process. In Texas, if a student graduates in the top 8 percent of their class, they receive automatic admission into UT and any other Texas public school. This process accounts for 75 percent of admitted freshmen into UT, and does not discriminate against race. Howevever, it is the other 25 percent of students getting admitted into UT that is the cause of debate. Students are accepted based on GPA, difficulty of classes, extracurricular activities, and race. UT follows a policy of affirmative action, a system where ethnic minorities are given preference in admissions. Although affirmative action was originally introduced as a positive action to increase the representation of races that are discriminated against, today its use is questionable. Affirmative action should not be used in college admissions because it keeps more qualified students from

being accepted.Affirmative action sometimes causes students with better

resumes not to get in. For example, white and Asian students are kept out of many schools because they make up the majority of college applicants. To keep the campus racially diverse, students who may not do as well academically in high school are being accepted over the students who had better qualifications. Students that have worked hard to get accepted into prestigious schools are not being accepted.

Students who are only one-half or one-fourth of a minority are getting special privilege over majority race students. To truly get a diverse campus, schools should look at a complete person. In poor and developing neighborhoods people of all races are struggling. Students of all races, who attend less privileged and underfunded schools, have to struggle to compete with schools who offer better learning programs. Teenagers across America struggle with family hardships. These obstacles affect all races. Where a person has come

from, obstacles that someone has overcome, these are factors that truly shape a person. Colleges should strive for a diversity of backgrounds, not just a diversity of race.

There is no doubt that having a diverse campus benefits the college experience. Having people with different backgrounds and life experiences mimics life in the real world, but it seems college acceptance is now focused too much on skin color. To get further in a career someone has to prove that they are capable and hardworking. Receiving special treatment merely because of one’s race does not mimic the real world. A truly diverse campus is one where people who have had different experiences and new outlooks can come together and learn from each other.

If two students with the exact same application apply to a college or university, then yes, it is understandable to favor the minority. However, schools should not consider race as a main factor. We will have true equality only when we have equal standards.

Students should not have pay full cost for AP exams

AP Studen

tsNon- APStudents

What’s next on the chopping block?

The State

potential college credit for students. The opportunity of AP exams symbolizes the goal of education. The exams demand students to work and study more, which in turn, rewards the school. Cutting state subsidies of AP exams contradicts the goal of education.

Budget cuts are understandable due to the condition of the economy. However, it is possible to make budget cuts in other areas. Budget cuts can be made in areas such as unnecessary technology for the school. In a

time where parents are pinching pennies in preparation for rising college tuition, they shouldn’t have to pay for expensive exams in high school. It is not fair to take away $30 from each AP student in districts who continually score passing grades of a 3, 4 or 5 on exams.

Contact a local representative or the TEA and let the opinions of students and schools be heard. It should not be this expensive for students to further their education.

SS

the marquee | april 5, 2012april 5, 2012 | the marquee

sponsors 23

Don’t forget to order the 2012 Marcus High School Yearbook!!

$80The price will increase later in the year.

Order now at Balfour.com. Select yearbook and Marcus High

School.

24 spotlight

design | maria heinonen april 5, 2012 | the marquee

Top Right: Various Marquettes strike a pose in a hip-hop number in the Marquette Spring Show. This dance recognized everyday heroes in the community, such as firemen.

Middle Right: Juniors Aloria Prince and Kiara Mitchell begin Captain Robin Richardson’s officer dance. Her performance highlighted the ups and downs in life.

Bottom Right: Various team members participate in junior Rebecca Reed’s officer dance. The Spring Show was held at the Larry Sigler Auditorium.

Middle: Senior Nikki Diez and Robin Richardson kneel in the Senior Dance of the show. This was the concluding number in the Marquette Spring Show.

Top Right: Senior Lieutenant Katelyn Warner leaps in her final solo performance in the Marquette Spring Show.

Bottom Left: The JV dance team, the Silver Stars, danced in the Marquette Spring Show on Feb. 29. The Silver Stars were featured four times in the show.

Heroic feetsMarquette dance team puts on annual spring show with theme of “Heroes”