POOR HU ngry

Homeless Scarce E ducation Impover

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Issue 5

PovertyHow growing

up impoverished effects students

Central CarolinaProviding a way for you to

save money for college

Oscars 2016Why celebrities have

decided to boycott the 2016 Academy Awards

“Mil itary Brats”How children’s l ives are impacted by growing up in mil itary famil ies

PITCHFORKLugoff-Elgin High SchoolTHE

NewsFeaturesTrending

SPortsCenterspread

HealthOddities

EntertainmentReviewsOpinion

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PITCHFORKLugoff-Elgin High SchoolTHE

Issue 5 - February 2016

STAFFER OF THE MONTH

STAFFJAMES MARLOW [ADVISER]

KOURTNEY MCCOY [EDITOR IN CHIEF]CAILYNN MILLER [EDITOR IN CHIEF]NIGEL GRANT [MARKETING EDITOR]

MICHELLE BELTON [STAFFER]ALEXIS CROOKS [STAFFER]KELSEY JOWERS [STAFFER]

BRIANA KIRKLAND [STAFFER]AJ LEGETTE [STAFFER]

JACOB LLOYD [STAFFER]KAYLA REDMON [STAFFER]

KYLE REEDER [STAFFER]ZOE SANDERS [STAFFER]

KAYLA SCHWARTZ [STAFFER]EMILY SEAY [STAFFER]

LIZZY TALBERT [STAFFER]

The Pitchfork is a publication produced at Lugoff-Elgin High School. The magazine is completely

student-generated through the efforts of the newspaper class. The publication material may not always reflect the views of the Kershaw County School District. Content is controlled and edited

by the staff editors. Only legally protected speech adhering to the legal definitions of libel, obscenity, and the invasions of privacy will be published in

The Pitchfork. Seven issues are produced every year and production costs are covered through the sale of ads and fundraisers. Advertising information can be obtained by contacting the ad manager at (803) 438-8015. The purpose of The Pitchfork is to inform the student body, faculty, and community members of news, information, and issues that may affect them. The Pitchfork accepts news releases, guest columns, and sports information releases. The Pitchfork is an active member of SCSPA, SIPA, and Quill & Scroll.

1284 Highway 1 South Lugoff, SC 29078

Emily, thank you so much for helping & getting your work done on time.

First to find this demon somewhere

in the paper and show us in Room

619 gets a free gift card to Domino’s (Buy 1 get 1 free

for a year)

This is not it, It is hidden and it will be

smaller.

TABLE OF CONTENTS2

We all know that one person at school that may not have the best clothes, that never seems to have enough money for lunch, or who we might rank as “poor.” Those who are impoverished have certain stereotypes, such as lower education and high-rate teen preg-nancy, and it may seem difficult to overcome these labels. Yet, rising above the so-called standards is not completely impossible. With success stories like Ben Carson’s and

Jim Carrey’s, we know that it is not impos-sible to overcome adversity and make the best of your tough situation. The accomplish-ments you make in life are not measured by wealth, but instead, are measured by your attitude and willingness to keep moving for-ward. Whether you can afford the latest tech-nology and fashion trends or not, we believe that your money does not define you. Nor should it define your past, present, or future.

Your Money Does Not Define You

Staff Editorial

Poverty Doesn’t Stay At Home

Political Cartoon

cartoon [NIGEL GRANT]

EDITORIAL 3

Are you going to the Oscars?Why some celebrities are choosing to boycott the 2016 Oscars As the 88th year of the Oscars rolls around, you know your eyes will be glued to the television all night long. When the show begins, you realize something is different and you cannot help but notice that a very crucial part of the awards show is missing - the people! The crowd is considerably smaller than normal, and you wonder what all of the absences could be about. Then, you remember the headline on the news earlier that read, “Celebrities to boycott 2016 Oscars.” Recently, Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee, two prominent African American celebrities, made state-ments that they would be boycot-ting the 2016 Academy Awards show. They listed their reasons to be lack of representation for minori-ty groups in the Academy’s list of nominations. “I think that [the boycotters] have a leg to stand on, so to speak, but I do not have a place to say wheth-er the way they are going about this is right or wrong,” Raymond Jennings, CATE teacher at LE,

said. “Hollywood is a multi-billion dollar business, and it is not just the Oscars that may have a problem. I think [the problem] is whether or not minorities have these leading roles.” As said by the LA Times, the Academy has 6,261 voting mem-bers, and nominations are deter-mined through a process of ballot-ing. Ultimately, the Academy’s list of an all-white group of nomina-tions sparked the fire of this debate. As more and more people continue to stand with the boycott, many have now considered the process in which the nominations are chosen, and have started to question wheth-er the actors should be nominated by people’s choice or stay with the traditional Academy members. “I think everyone should [be able to vote] because they are the main ones watching the movies, and it should be based on what everyone else likes,” Jarvis Jenkins, senior, said. “[The actors] should be nominated for their hard work and should be judged by the audience.” With this controversy being brought to light, many people have also been upset over the BET network and its own set of nomina-tions and awards. The BET awards were first established in 2001, by the network of the same name, and

was created solely for the purpose of celebrating minorities, specifi-cally African Americans, and their accomplishments in the entertain-ment industry. Many people also see this as a controversial subject in need of discussion. “I do not feel like [the BET awards] are racially biased because it is an organization meant for Black Entertainment,” Kara Hayes, sophomore, said. “But at the same time, I feel like if we had something that was strictly just white enter-tainment, it would definitely receive backlash. It is pretty much a double standard.” While many people are waiting in anticipation for the Oscars to pre-miere, there are some who are not really concerned with this entire debate. They are instead worried with matters not involved with entertainment. “I do not think there is [a direct problem with the Oscars] and I do not think it is something that the American people are hugely concerned about,” Tracy Hellman, Special Needs teacher at LE, said. “There are a lot of other concerns with worldly matters, like ISIS or our jobs, and I do not think that a lot of people are too [troubled] with whether the actors and actresses are happy [or not.]”

writer [ZOE SANDERS]design [KOURTNEY MCCOY]

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NEWS4

Imagine patting yourself on the back for getting general education classes out of the way for a lot less money than expected. Getting your general education cred-its out of the way for little to no money allows students to have more financial stability. Central Carolina now offers this once in a lifetime chance to stu-dents graduating in the years of 2016 to 2019. Central Carolina College is offering the graduating classes of 2016 to 2019 a free two-year tuition to help get general education classes out of the way. With only a 2.0 GPA, completion of college level tests (ACT or SAT), completion of the free application for Federal Student Aid, and graduation in Kershaw, Sumter, Clarendon, or Lee County, will be eligible for the free tui-tion (not including lab fees, technology fees, and book fees).

“I think it is good because if you can get two years free of college, you are not in [as much] debt after college,” Caroline Cook, junior, said. “And you can get more scholarships for the other colleges you want to graduate from.” Without the stress of expensive student loans, you can also get into college level classes for credit while still working on a high school diplo-ma. This allows students to get a little ahead in their college career. The general education classes available to students are: Psychology, Public Speak-ing, English 101, Math 110, History, and other general education classes. “I hear they are offered free at Lugoff-Elgin if you take two classes a semester and I think it is an awesome thing,” Rylee Mathis, senior, said. “[Be-cause] it gives a lot of opportunities to deserving people.” Some classes are only available on

certain days. For example there are no central classes on Friday and some classes only occur on specific days. There are multiple campuses which include: Downtown Kershaw County, F.E. DuBose, and Sumter which you can attend after talking with your guidance counselor with your course catalogue. “It sounds like a good thing for students,” Evan Graves, sophomore, said. “[Especially] for honors kids and above.” Central classes are benefictial be-cause students can enroll into them while in high school and free titution is offered to Kershaw County students. The classes themselves give students a headstart on life and with less of a financial burden. “It gives you a jumpstart on college classes so you can get college experi-ence,” Delacy McNeice, student coun-selor, said.

2 Years of Less Debt

writer [KELSEY JOWERS] School board members. The people that make a voice for the community and the people within it. Why is it that the community never sees them or understands what they do? “We are accountable [for] the people of our district, so if the people have questions, it is our job to go to the correct people to get answers,” Mark Sury, School Board Chairman, said. “We are the voice of the community on how the school district is run. We ensure that what the school district is doing is what the community wants done.” Each chairman of the school board represents a certain portion of the Kershaw County district. The number of representatives depends on the population of that certain district.

People may not even see or know the school board members because they may not attend the monthly meetings. At these meetings, the community and board members discuss ideas about how the schools in the district could be improved. The regularly scheduled meetings are what establish a voice to be heard. “There is always going to be a group of people that are the loudest and if you do not have one person [to speak up], then the loudest peo-ple will always get their way,” Mrs. Whisenhunt, Biology teacher said. If a member of the community does not address a certain problem to their school board representa-tive, then the problem will not be acknowledged, and if the problem is not acknowledged, then there is no way of it getting fixed. “A school board member is an advocate for the students, teach-

ers, and all the staff in our schools to ensure that the community has a great education system in place for the children growing up in the community,” Mrs. Howard, Spanish I and II teacher, said. Although, as a school, many of the students hopes for change has not come about. There are nineteen other schools in the district that need help too. Over the course of 2015, there were a lot of meetings held that were open to the community about making schools better and fixing major problems. “[The school board members] tried to get the referendum to help build new schools and fix some problems here at Lugoff-Elgin,” Mrs. Whisenhunt said. “Over last year, [the school board] held lots of meetings with the community, but unfortunately, the community did not come to all of those.”

School Bored

writer [JACOB LLOYD]

How the Central Carolina scholarship is benefiting high schoolers

What are the school board members for?

NEWS 5

design [MICHELLE BELTON]

Our Dream, Their Home

were very small. “[My school] was similar to Amer-ican schools, but it was small,” Rick-wood said. “Sometimes there would be two grades in one class.” People who have lived in the United States would think the transition over to a foreign country would be the hardest, but they are wrong. According to Rickwood, Howard, and Turner, the transition back to The States was harder than leaving the U.S. in the first place. However, there were some upsides to moving back. “I am glad I came back when I did,” Rickwood said. “The cost of living [in Spain] was going up and is very expensive today.” Having an experience in another country can change your whole per-spective in life. You witness a different culture and people who do not look or talk like you. You are exposed to many different customs and situations that you would not be put in other wise. It is recommended that everyone travel to a foreign country sometime in their life. “I highly recommend that everyone finds an opportunity to travel to anoth-er country,” Howard said. “Everyone should travel abroad before college, if possible,” Rickwood added. “It will really change their perspective.”

writer [EMILY SEAY]

Imagine it… Honduras, Chile, Costa Rica, Spain. Some of the countries many Americans can only dream of visiting. To Señora Rickwood, Señora Turner, and Señora Howard, these were places they lived. Our fantasy was, at one point, their reality and that will stick with them forever. Katianne Rickwood, Spanish I and II teacher at Lugoff-Elgin High School, spent the first eight years of her life living in Spanish speaking countries. At eight months, it was Costa Rica. After turning two her family moved to Spain until she was eight years old. “I loved living in Spain,” Rickwood said. “There were lots of cool things there that you do not see in the United States. People stay up later, spend more time with family, and everyone goes home midday for lunch.” A similar experience was made by Heather Turner, Spanish I and cer-tified drama teacher at Lugoff-Elgin High School. With her parents being in the mission field, Turner lived in Honduras for two years. It was the summer before her eighth grade year, when she moved. The following Feb-ruary they would move back due to illness and her parents’ mission being over. “I absolutely loved it,” Turner said.

“Everything was so new and the people were so accepting. [The move] was during my teen [years], so I made instant friends!” Gay Howard, Spanish I teacher at Lugoff-Elgin High School, also spent some of her childhood in a Spanish speaking country. In the sixth grade, Howard and her family moved to Chile. While her parents stayed for almost 30 years, Howard moved back to The States to attend college. “I loved it,” Howard said. “I had a wide variety of experiences with the poor people my parents worked with and the wealthy people I went to school with.” While all three ladies grew up in different countries, they all learned the native language the same way: they picked it up through friends, family, and on the street. Some schools even had “Special Spanish” classes to teach grammar and other things about the language to American kids living in the country. “I took ‘Special Spanish’,” Turner said. “I was able to take Spanish III in the ninth grade.” School systems varied between the countries that the three teachers lived in. Some schools were considered top-notch, and significantly big. Others

The reality of growing up in another country

photo [ZOE SANDERS]

Mrs. Howard, Spanish teacher, hold-ing her diploma from Chile. Mrs. Turner, Spanish teacherMrs. Rickwood, Spanish teacher

photo [KELSEY JOWERS]photo [LIZZY TALBERT]

FEATURES6

Cornell discusses the loss of Scotty Watson

Young people often think that they are, or the people they love, are immune to death, and that only old people pass. However, once a peer passes away, their entire world is shaken to the core and they are confronted with the realities of life. Scotty Watson, a former student of Lugoff-Elgin High School, passed away on January 15, 2016, two weeks shy of his

nineteenth birthday. “He was a really good person and kind to everyone he met,” Autum Cornell, sophomore, said. “He offered to help any-one who needed it, even strangers.” Watson and Cornell had known each other for about four years. They started dating on July 4, 2014. They were insepa-rable and so full of love.

“The first time I met him, as clichè as it sounds, I knew he was the one,” Cornell said. “My heart would not stop racing the entire time I was with Scotty; he made me feel so alive.” No matter what happens in this world,

some memories can never be replaced. There are some things some people refuse to let go because of how happy it made them feel.

“My fondest memory with Scotty has to be when we went to the lake with his niece,” Cornell said. “There was nothing but smiles that day, and it was beautiful outside.” One of the hardest parts about death, for most people, is the funeral. It is so quick and easy to say hello, but, long and painful to say goodbye. However, you get to see how much that person was loved and hear all the nice things people thought about them. “The church had to get more chairs [for the funeral] because of the turnout, it was so full,” Cornell said. “Seven people raised their hands to be saved [at the funeral], it was really moving because the number sev-en in the Bible means perfection.” It may take a really special person to be able to flip your life back around after it has been turned upside down for so long. That person may be able to show you the beauties of life and how to be happy. “Before I met Scotty, my life was a di-saster, I had a lot of family issues,” Cornell said. “He made my life better.”

Cross the Country Exploring new places and new people, military kids go through changes like breaking up relationships and even learning. Schools are different every-where. They have to go through chang-ing ideas of learning. “It was a cool experience. It was dif-ficult sometimes to say goodbye but me and my friends still connect on facebook and email.” Dechant said. Military parents miss graduation, anniversaries, birthdays. About 400,000 troops are away during holidays. (www.incharge.org) “My dad will miss my sixteenth birth-day.” Bailey Douglas, freshman, said. Her dad’s position is an IT Network engineer in the Army. Douglas’s dad will be going to Af-ghanistan in June and will be gone for nine months. “When my dad leaves it is heart break-ing, but when he comes home, we will have a lot of catching up to do.” Douglas

writer [ALEXIS CROOKS]

writer [KAYLA REDMON]

In Loving Memory

Moving from a city or state could be difficult, but moving from one country to another may be more stressful. A family having to pick up their lives and relocate could be tough. Students have to move away from friends, clubs, and relationships. They deal with the never ending feeling of be-ing a new kid. Racheal Dechant recently moved here. Her dad was in the Air Force for 22 years but recently retired in 2014. “Changing schools was tough, but the outgoing students made it easier to adjust.” Rachael Dechant, sophomore. “Students and teachers were nice and welcoming.”

said. A new kid, Tyreke Miller, recently moved here. Tyreke Miller, sophomore, has been to Mexico, Georgia, Washington, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, and New York. He has been traveling but resided in South Carolina since his dad retired from being a Sergeant for the Army. “My favorite place was Alabama.” Mill-er said. “I have been there the longest and I knew people and my way around.” Military kids get to see all the best views, amazing landmarks and beautiful coun-tries. “Okinawa was my favorite because it had beautiful beaches,” said Dechant. Some parents retire and come to South Carolina to reside. People reside here for the warm weather, mild winters, and peaceful towns. “[When my dad retired] it is weird not seeing [him] in uniform [anymore] be-cause I grew up with him in his uniform.” Dechant said.

photo [FEATHERS AND FRECKLES PHOTOGRAPHY]

Students discuss being military kids

Rachael Dechant, sophomore

Autumn Cornell and Scotty Watson

FEATURES 7

“Seven people raised their hands to be saved [at the funeral], it was really mov-ing because the number seven in the bible means

perfection.” - Autumn Cornell [sophomore]

As a lover of many types of music, I have always collected albums by a physical form, such as CDs. I rarely ever bought music online because I always like the idea of actually owning something tangible. So my CD collection grew, leaving little room on my shelf for anymore. I soon stopped buying CDs and just left what I had in my stereo on repeat. But that soon changed when I entered Papa Jazz. Sure they sell a great deal of CDs, but what they re-ally are known for is their vinyl. They have just about

anything you could ask for. From Zeppelin to The Ramones and A$AP Rocky to Wu-Tang Clan. If they do not have it, ask behind the counter and they will order it.

Vinyl can get a little pricey, but I promise it is worth it. That giant black disc can make your dreams come true. Especially when you just bought a new record and are about to play it for the first time. Another thing about owning vinyl is the chance of owning colored records. I myself own two red-orange records and a milk-white album. It is like winning the gold medal at the Olympics. It is rare to own one and you have the chance to brag about it.

Vinyl WonderlandTrue love is man made writer [CAILYNN MILLER]

Flashback Album Review

The album “Death of a Bachelor” was released January 15, 2016. “Death of a Bachelor” album was created by the band Panic! At the Disco. I chose this album because it just came out last month and I have heard a lot of people listening to it and talking about it. Also, it happens to be one of my favorite albums that this band has made. My favorite single from the album is “Victorious.” “Death of a Bachelor” is the fifth studio album by American rock band Panic! At the Disco.

The album “The Works” was released on February 27, 1984. “The Works” album was released by the band Queen, I chose this album to be the flashback album because I wanted to pick one that is rarely heard of anymore. I never hear anyone talk about this band and I have honestly never encountered anyone talking about this album. My favorite single from this album is “I Want to Break Free.” “The Works” is the eleventh studio album by the British rock band Queen.

writer [KAYLA SCHWARTZ]

TRENDING8

While many fishermen are waiting for the spring time to roll around in order to be able to fish, some forget that fishing in February can be just as productive. Crappie, which is a North American type of fish, can be found in the shallow depths of the water early in the morning, but they move deeper as the sun gets higher in the sky. Crappie enthusiasts are already placing claims on their preferred spots, with hopes that they will catch the biggest fish. If some Crappie fishing is on your to-do list, you may want to consider using live minnows as your bait or using small jigs to ensure the best results. Make sure to remember

that where you catch one, many more will be nearby and waiting. If you tend to gravitate towards bass fishing, you should be getting very excited for the upcoming spring. Yet, if you decided to try and fish for a bass now, you find that the bites are still very slow, as the fish are still entering their “pre-spawn” phase. However, this will eventually change because as the days get longer and the temperature rises, the bass will become more and more active and move to shallow water. Until then, you may want to try your hand at catching a nice Crappie.

Relationshipless

writer [KAYLA REDMON] “I am not happy anymore.” You read the text and your heart breaks. Those breakups are the worst. Survey shows, 56 percent ended relationships over text message (according to Daily Mail). Breaking up over text might be awkward as well. You may have to see that person everyday at school. Breaking up close to a holiday is probably the worst feeling. You can practically hear your heart cracking. You sit there thinking I have already picked out the most amazing gift. And now you are thinking about having to return the gift or still give it to that person. Also, your recent ex is being distant from you and acting like you did not spend a year and five months together through thick and thin.

It is awkward to say anything or be near your ex and their friends,

when you can feel their glares and stares. It does not matter if you are a guy or a girl or trans-gender or both genders, it is rude to break up with someone over text and not tell them why. It tears people apart. They sit there wondering what could have been and feeling like trash and thinking, ‘’Why?’’

Guess the Teacher

Guess The Teacher Answer:Mrs. Rickwood

Breaking up over text message and phone

Being a teenager is not fun and games like everyone thinks it is. When you are a teenager you cannot make your own decisions for yourself. You are focused 24/7 on your future even when people think you are not. Par-ents tell you constantly you do noth-ing even when you do. Teachers will get on you and you will get down on yourself and it feels as if you are not doing enough. Teenagers deal with a lot of issues, such as: family, school, relationships, friendships, and even

more. Being a teenager is a lot harder than people think.

writer [KAYLA SCHWARTZ]

100 Word RantBeing a Teenager

Fishing Report Using the right strategy can make all the difference

writer [ZOE SANDERS]

9TRENDING

writer [KAYLA SCHWARTZ]

What’s a LEAPS?

design [KAYLA SCHWARTZ]

Giving back to others can create something amazing. LEAPS helps in a time of need and teaches athletes true leadership. This program puts others needs before their own. This past year, LEAPS (Lugoff-Elgin Athletes Providing Service) has helped people in their community. The program is composed of student-athletes from Lugoff-Elgin High School who helped many people after the flood by giving flood buckets, consisting of food, water, and cleaning supplies. In addition, they helped clean out houses after the flood, but that is not all. They also have been going to elementary schools in the community and reading to the younger students. “I feel this program has made a big accomplishment with the student athletes learning to be more motivated,” Dr. Michael Armstrong, Weight Training teacher, said. “It is not always about them, it is about others as well.” The program just started this year and has already done so much for the community. LEAPS has really had an impact on many student athletes that have participated in the program. “In my opinion, I believe that the program has had a big affect on me and others,” Mathan Mooneyhan, softball player, freshman, said. “I feel that it has made us more appreciative

for things in life.” The student athletes that participate in LEAPS can put the program down as community service when sending out college applications. Also, the program gives out two scholarships to those who plan on attending a four-year college. One will go to a male student and the other will go to a female student. LEAPS has a mission statement for its program and the student athletes who participate. Student athletes will provide servant leadership in a manner that is conducive to academic achievement, and moral development in an ethical and diverse manner. “Before these students can be better at their sport, they need to be better people,” Coach Armstrong said. “They need to grow as individuals and care about one another and their community.” Many of the student athletes at Lugoff-Elgin High School particpate in the LEAPS program. They seem to enjoy the program very much and what they are doing for their community. “It felt so great that I was helping everyone in the community and I would definitely love to see other sports in the school get involved with the program because it is just great,” Hunter Campbell, football player, senior, said. “It always feels good to help others.”

A lot of people are very proud of what the student athletes and coaches are doing for the community. Even the student athletes have become proud of themselves. “Everything we have done has made me feel so good because we all got to help people in need, who did not have anything or anyone to help them,” Mooneyhan, said.

LEAPS program after the flood helping with buckets.

The Program that Helps!

10 SPORTS

LEAPSLugoff-Elgin Althetes

Providing Service“If SERVING is below you,

LEADERSHIP is beyond you.”

LEAPS Motto

writer [NIGEL GRANT]

The Funding Fiasco

A look into the process of the funding for LE sports

Most people would agree that all of the big sports that receive the biggest crowds and produce the most revenue are the ones that receive the most funding from the school districtand have thousands of dollars handed to them for all of their expenses. How-ever, this is a common misconception between and among students. Funding for sports is a bit more diffi-cult than one would probably imagine. There are several factors and rules that have to be followed to get money for each individual sport. Much more goes into it than just how much money is raked in from it. Mathew Campbell, Athletic Direc-tor, oversees everything that happens in the athletic department. Everything that happens regarding a different sport must go through him. “It is revenue driven,” Campbell said. “Obviously there are certain sports that are going to bring in more revenue: football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and wrestling are big reve-nue sports.” The priority is not to give the big-gest, most popular sports everything they ask for. Every sport gets what they need mostly by the work the team puts in.

“We try to ensure that every sport has everything they need for safety and practice.” Campbell said. “We have to either raise money through fundraising or we do it through gate revenues.” Campbell is the head over all the funding for the Lugoff-Elgin athletic department. He is in charge of seeing to it that each sport gets what they need to keep itself alive and growing. “I sit down with coaches and talk to them about what they need [and] what they want,” Campbell said. “We have to figure out the difference between a need and a want, so we talk financially how our athletic program is doing, and then we have to decide whether it is feasible to purchase it.” However, there is much more to it than deciding whether or not to buy a new piece of equipment or new uni-forms. Campbell helps choose means and methods for acquiring funds for each individual sport. Most of the things that require pur-chase by the athletic department are actually paid for through fundraising and through the revenue they receive through their ticket sales to their various events. In all actuality, it is the sports who have very little turnout to their events that get more funding

from the district. “It is the way [things are] dictated through the district,” Campbell said. “Certain sports, that we consider revenue sports do not get any funding from the district whereas what we consider a non-revenue sport, like tennis or golf, get some funding from the district.” While extracurricular activities are a big part of student life, there is a much bigger focus on funding the educa-tion of the students as opposed to their sports. The less funding a sport requires, the easier it is to actually provide for that sport. “There are certain sports that cost more than other sports,” Campbell said. “For instance, boys tennis or girls tennis are not high revenue sports, but [they are] also not high cost sports because you have to maintain the courts, but the kids have their own tennis rackets so really you just have to buy uniforms for them, whereas like baseball [and] softball you have to maintain the fields and there is a lot of equipment involved in that.”

design [KAYLA SCHWARTZ]

11SPORTS

photo [graphicsfactory.com]

Highs and LowsHow Poverty Affects Education

It is your third period, and you are taking a major test that you honestly have not been able to study for because of the more

significant things on your mind. Your mom could not pay the electric bill again, and you are more concerned about whether you will be with or without electricity tonight. As if to make things worse, you are hungrier than you think you have ever been before, and your stomach is growling so loud that people are beginning to laugh. With your teacher’s permission, you head to the restroom, only to take a detour out of the school building, and straight to the parking lot. Beginning your long walk home, you decide

that school is just not worth it anymore. Like thousands of other impoverished kids around the U.S., you have been defeated by your circumstances.

According to the 2011 U.S. Census Bureau, the “poverty line” is a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children under 18) that earns less than $23,021 a year, and in 2011, it was reported that

nearly 46.2 million Americans were living in poverty (dosomething.org). With such high numbers, one would think that the issue of poverty would be the first thing to be dealt with in this country. Instead, the rates of poverty are growing higher and higher, to as high as 14.8% (Census.gov). “I think [poverty] is a big issue because it is growing very largely in this country, and even in our own district,” Shamar

James, junior and LE Student Council member, said. “It is coming to a point where the problem is almost impossible to fix.” With underprivileged children having a dropout likelihood that is seven times greater than that of children from families with higher incomes, it is obvious to see the negative effects that poverty has on education. Children who are living in poverty have a higher number of absenteeism or leave school

design [JACOB LLOYD]writer [ZOE SANDERS]photos [ZOE SANDERS]

46.7 million people were in poverty in 2014, thats 14.8%

of the US, according to feedingamerica.org.

Facts About Education and

Poverty in Americainfograph [JACOB LLOYD]

information [DoSomething.org & nytimes.com]

7xStudents aging 16-24 who

come from low income families are seven times more

likely to drop out.

AbStudents living in poverty

are more likely to be absent from school so they can work or care for family.

CENTERSPREAD12

“It is coming to a point where the

problem is almost impossible to fix,”

-Shamar James

all together because of their responsibilities, such as taking care of their family members (dosomething.org). These children are facing tough times everywhere they go, especially at school. “I think poverty directly affects education,” Hannah Collier, junior, said. “If you are living in an impoverished family, some people might choose to bully you at school, which in turn ruins your self-esteem, which then ruins your desire to learn.” Some underprivileged students are not given the proper life sustaining necessities, such as food and water. When they arrive at school, they are often hungry, and a school lunch may be the only food they ingest for the entire day. “Education is probably the last thing that you are thinking about

During one night in January 2015, 564,708 people were homeless,

according to endhomelessness.org.

40% of children in Amer-ica are not prepared for

primary schooling.

40% 30mOver 30,000,000

children live in poverty.

2 32/3 of low-income college

students leave without a degree.

PLThe “Poverty Line” according to the 2011 U.S. Census Bu-

reau, it is a family of four that earns less than 23,021

CENTERSPREAD 13

when you are hungry,” Coach Von Duncan, Special Education teacher and Head Basketball coach, said. “Some kids come to school just so that they can eat and if they are out of school, they do not know where their next meal will come from.” Lower-class youth commit four times more violent crimes

than middle-class youth, which is one reason why some believe that poverty not only has a negative impact on education, crime too (jacksonfreepress.com). “I believe there

are many factors that correlate with crime, and poverty is a big one,” Coach Eric Cooper, Social Studies teacher and coach at LE, said. “I think it makes people desperate for basic necessities of life. When people do not have what they need, they will tend to look elsewhere in order to get it.” With that being said, it is

not completely impossible to break the “poverty cycle.” Some people believe that, with the right attitude and hard work, anyone can overcome their circumstances. “There are some kids who are a product of their environment, and then there are some that choose to overcome,” Duncan said. “I think some people may decide that they want to use poverty as an excuse for not getting a good education or committing crime, but there are others who choose to do better. You can either repeat the cycle, or break it.”

“There are some kids who are a product

of their environment, and then there are

some that choose to overcome,” -Coach

Von Duncan

Smell RecallThe science of our nose and memories

writer & infograph [KYLE REEDER] design [KAYLA REDMON]

You take a whiff of a familiar smell. Scents such as a perfume cause the recollection of a time spent with your mother, a time spent shopping and just being around each other. You travel back into the past through your memo-ries as the aroma grips you. It is such a strange thing how smell can trigger our memories in such a way. Smells can often bring back memories. But then, how and why does smell work like that for us? In an article provided by Dr. Jo-seph Mercola of Mercola.com, the reason smells can trigger memories for us is due to the way our brain is programmed. When your nose catches a scent, that scent passes through the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb is the part of the brain that analyzes smells and it is located very close to the amygdala and hippocampus, the two parts of the brain that work with memory and emotions. Since this is how our sense of smell works, how come we do not have a smell to go with every mem-ory? The reason behind this is that there are a couple things that will dictate the association of a smell with a memory. The first reason for any association of a memory, be it smell or anything else, is the emotional intensity or emotional attachment of the memories to the person.

The memory itself needs to have some sort of meaning to the per-son. It is very rare and situational for a smell to be with a random and small, singular memory. The second reason is, of course, the presence of a smell or a smell that is often present with the source of the memory, such as a grandmother and baked goodies. So the mystery of smells being attached to memories has been solved, but what of the actual mem-ories? What kinds of memories could be recalled due to a smell? For what kinds of memories are often recalled, the studies done by Dr. Mercola have shown that a person’s most recalled memories were often of their childhood. This could be due to the strong emo-tional nostalgia most people tend to have of their childhood. For most people, the memories are good and happy, usually of spending time with family. “A smell that triggers memories for me is a kind of sweet cherry perfume smell,” Tavis Jenkins, junior, said. “A good memory from that smell was when I was a little boy and my mom and I used to travel out to the country to see my family.” Of course, not every memory is as nice and pleasant as the previous memory. Some people might recall traumatic memories due to a smell. “The antiseptic smell reminds me of the many times I had to go to the

doctors when I was young,” Mrs. Slagle, a Chemistry teacher at LE, said. “I was sick a lot and my doctor believed in shots.” With all of this said, it shows us how strange and powerful our brain is. And now, one final ques-tion comes up. Is there any way to possibly use this ability of our brains practically? There is not much of any way to use this ability willfully, due to how it works. However, the smell of pep-permint has been know to enhance memory and increase alertness, so it is possible to use this while study-ing and during a test. There are other various smells that can help with our brain’s functions, such as the scents used in aromatherapy, but they have very little to do with memory, if any at all.

Doggie breath - can come from meat-eating, but is often due to

liver and digestive problems

Salami/bologna breath - due to constipation or inability to digest

meat and other proteins

Nutty odor - cause from eating a lot of nuts as nuts are hard to

digest

What Your Smell Says About You

HEALTH14

DepressionLost in my mind

writer [MICHELLE BELTON]design [KAYLA REDMON]

Trapped. Alone. Many times I feel as though no one understands and no one cares about me. It is me against the world and I feel stuck. Stuck with the feelings that I am not good enough and I have lost all motivation for everything. It takes so much convincing for me to even get out of bed. I am lost. “Some days are good and some days are bad,” Sonya Cary, junior, said. “You do not want to get out of bed and you [go] through the day sad and gloomy.” Depression is a serious medical condition in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, and unimport-ant. According to ineedalighthouse.org, 20 percent of teens will experi-ence depression before adulthood. Also depressed teens are more likely to struggle in school, at work, and with relationships. “[Students] are so sad they cannot focus on their homework,” Mariah Bowen, social work intern, said. “[Students] could feel like not hanging out with their friends anymore, and lose friendships that way.” According to speakupforkids.org, 17.1 million young people have or have had a diagnosable psychiatric disorder. Some people think they have depression, but do not get

treated for it. “I knew I had depression at the end of seventh grade, that was when I was diagnosed,” Cary said. “I was [depressed] because I was getting bullied and I lost [many] friends.” Depression not only affects you mentally and emotionally, it af-fects you physically. According to webmd.com, depression can cause decreased appetite, chronic fatigue, weight gain or loss, lack of sleep or oversleeping. “You cannot really sleep because your mind is racing with so many thoughts,” Cary said. “I [get] flash-backs [of] things that have hap-pened and I start thinking about it.” All of the schools in Kershaw County are offering a program called Student Emotional and Edu-cational Development, also known as SEED. It is designed to help stu-dents develop coping skills for their anxiety or depressive symptoms. “When a student is feeling unmoti-vated, we go through certain skills to target how they can change that un-motivational behavior,” Ms. Bowen, said. The program lasts 4 to 12 weeks, depending on how the stu-dent improves mentally and emo-tionally. If the student has mod-

erate symptoms, then the program usually lasts around 4 weeks. The 12 weeks track depends on how the stu-dents feels, it could last less or more than 12 weeks. “[Sometimes] we get to the 8 week mark and the student feels a lot bet-ter,” Ms. Bowen said. Students do many different things to pick themselves up and make themselves happy. Some listen to music, eat, exercise, watch television, and hang out with friends. Some students even talk to a therapist, or go through the SEED program. “To make myself happy I play the guitar or piano,” Cary said. “I will write or listen to music to calm me down.”

HEALTH 15

photo [KAYLA REDMON]

photo [KAYLA REDMON]

triangle has been sym-bolic of life since ancient Egyptian times and dis-rupting the symbol was believed to be tempting fate. There is an alter-native source of the superstition. Until the late 1800s, ‘short drop’ gallows were used to execute prisoners. Pris-oners then were hung from a cart or told to step off the ladder, which usually resulted in death by strangulation (Black Cats & Evil Eyes).

Walking Under Ladders

Walking under ladders is probably one of the better known superstitions that brings on bad luck. Howev-er, not many people un-derstand why or how this curse came about. Or that the Christian church is the center of this idea. Many superstitions we know today hold their roots in religion, even when the church itself condemned

them as sinful (Black Cats & Evil Eyes). However, the practice

of walking under ladders is said to persevere some-thing the Bible itself holds sacred. The Holy Trinity (Black Cats & Evil Eyes). A ladder placed on level ground or leaning against a wall is said to form a triangle, representing the Holy Trinity of the Fa-ther, Son, and the Holy spirit. Walking through the ladder was believed to break the Holy Trinity and violate God (Black Cats & Evil Eyes). In fact, the

But when drop gal-lows were introduced, prisoners were able to climb a ladder and wait for it to be pushed out from underneath them, breaking their neck It was believed that the souls e prisoners loi-tered under the ladder, since their crimes made them unfit for heaven, an invited misfortune of the worse kind to walk underneath one.

writer [CAILYNN MILLER]

February 19- March 20 Pisces are gentle and caring people. They often put other’s needs in front of their own. They do not like conflict. If there is a problem they will be quick to try to resolve it to keep the peace. Pisces are funny and easy to get along with. They will not hesitate to express their feelings. They are blunt and will get straight to the point Element: Water Symbol: Fishwriter [ALEXIS CROOKS]

Weird Laws1. In South Carolina a person must be 18 years-old to play a pinball machine2. Horses may not be kept in bath-tubs in South Carolina3. A railroad may not remove itself from a town of more than five hun-dred people in SC4. It’s perfectly legal to beat your wife on the court house steps on

Sunday in South Carolina5. Eating watermelons in the Mangnolia Street cemetery in Columbia, SC is forbidden6. In South Caroina every adult must bring a rifle to church on Sunday in order to ward of Indi-an attacks7. First cousions may marry in Utah but only after there 65-years old.8. In Michigan it is against the law to tie a crocodile to a fire

Superstition

hydrant9. In Kalispell, Montana chil-dren must have a doctor note if they want to buy a lolipop.10. In Arizona a man may le-gally beat his wife once a month but no more.

writer [BRIANA KIRKLAND]info [SCSTATEHOUSE.GOV]

design [BRIANA KIRKLAND]

ODDITIES 16

This Months Astrological SignPisces

Unsolved MysteryThe Axemandesign [CAILYNN MILLER]

In May of 1918, baffled police tried desperatley to piece together a crime that was rapidly racking up victims. No distinct pattern to the assassin’s wickedness left investigators questioning everyone in the French Quarter of New Orleans. And today, the case remains unsolved. For a year and a half, entire families were slaughtered in their homes between Lafayette Louisiana and San Antonio, Texas (crimemuseum.org). Victims were decapitated and dismembered with what investigators believed to be an axe (crimemuseum.org). “It is pretty bad if you are killing innocent children and families,” Charity Strickland, junior, said. There was little to no to evidence, which left police with nothing to go on. Police recited different theories, such as the killer could be a midget because the panels of the doors

were not large enough for a “full-grown man” (crimemuseum.org). Or that supernatural forces committed the murders because the suspect was able to evaded the police and enter the homes through spaces that only a child could fit (crimemusem.org). In some cases, where the victims survived, reports of eyewitnesses described a “shadowy or phantom-like figure” fleeing the scene (crimemusem.org). “Back then, [people] left [their] doors unlocked, Tyshiem Taylor, senior, said. “He probably went to a really nice neighborhood, and nice neighborhoods back then [did not have a reason] to lock [their doors].” Then on March 14, 1919, the editor of the New Orleans Times-Picayune received a letter from the killer (crimemusem.org). It stated that the police were wise to have avoided him because he was not an earthly spirit and that anyone to bide by his proposition would be spared. It read: “I am very fond of jazz music, and I swear by all the devils in the nether regions

that every person shall be spared in whose home a jazz band is in full swing at the time I have just mentioned [12:15 a.m.] (crimemuseum.org). This led to a theory that the Axeman was a Jazz enthusiast that was trying to promote his favorite music (KnowlegeNuts.com). “I think he was sick,” Stickland said. “[There is] something wrong with someone’s head to [kill] people you especially do not know and [without a real] reason.” The city followed the Axeman’s instructions (crimemusem.org). No murders were recorded that night, but on August 3, 1919, the carnage began again. The following year, Joseph Mumfre, who was suspected of being the Axemen, was shot and killed by Ester

Albano, a widow of one of the killer’s victims (crimemusem.org and KnowlegeNuts.com). Mumfre led a ring of blackmailers in New Orleans’ Mafia and was arrested in 1911 at the end of the first set of murders, then released in 1918 shortly before the next (crimemusem.org). Even though Mumfre was never convicted with the murders, the Axeman never returned the New Orleans.“I do not think [the case has been solved],” Taylor said. “There was not enough hard evidence behind [the murders and the police] were going off of suspicions.”

photo [www.theriverdelavan.com]

ODDITES 17

The Reboot Eradesign [KELSEY JOWERS] writer [BRIANA KIRKLAND]

Hollywood is running out of ideas

Do you feel deja vu when watching a new movie? To some degree, it makes sense to return to movies that have become a part of a generation. However, not all re-makes are attempts to ex-ploit an established title. For example, most are simply updated for the present-day viewing au-dience. Old characters are given new life and plots are given new twists, rein-vigorating the movie and delivering a new chapter to many fan favorite titles. “Not all the reboots are as good as the origi-nal because some do not seem to have all the little details that really matter, Hailey Bracy, freshmen,”-saidLike all other topics, there are two side of the

story and some think the reboots are not as good as the original. Then there are those who think that the reboots are better. “It feels as if the reboots are a lot better because of the graphics and they have more details, Alex Bouie, Sophomore, said,“It seems as if they put more time on making the remakes more modern and appealing to the mod-ern audience.” One thing that both sides agreed on was that they are getting tired of the same old thing. “I am getting tired of the remakes only because you get tired of seeing the same story and plot line over and over again, it would be more interest-ing if they would change more than just the charac-ters and were they travel

on their adventures,” said Bracy.“The Lion King remake is one of my favorites be-cause I felt as if I was left hanging by the original. In the remakes they filled in some of the empty spaces,” said Bouie. Hollywood might be running out of ideas be-cause the modern audi-ence is limited to a couple different types of movies structures. It is safe to say that not all reboots and remakes are created equal, but Hollywood is betting their money on the fact that you and your family wIll go and see the next “Batman” movie, or the next dystopia with the same plot structure.

ENTERTAINMENT 18

1. Silence of the Lambs2. Top Gun3. Jaws (1 and 2)4. Steel Magnolias 5. The Breakfast Club6. The Karate Kid 7. Back to the Future8. Star Wars9. Grease 10. Rocky

Celebrity Deaths -David Bowie died of cancer January 10, 2016, at age 69. He was a singer and songwriter best known for songs like Heroes - 1977, Space Oddi-ty- 1969, and Let’s Dance- 1983. “The truth is, of course, that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time,” Bowie said. -Alan Rickman died of cancer January 14, 2016, at age 69. Best known for his role as Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films. He was also in films like Die Hard -1988, and Love Actually- 2003. “If only life could be a little more tender and art a little more robust,”Rickman said. -Glen Frey died of pneumonia January 18, 2016, at age 67. He is best known as a founding member of the band the Eagles.Some popular songs include Hotel California - 1976, Take it Easy - 1972, and Lyin Eyes - 1975 “I think musicians and artists are the most philanthropic people I know. Their charity record of the music business would hold up to the work of anybody,” Frey said. -Wes Craven died of cancer on August 30, 2015, at age 76. He is best know for the movies A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream, and The Hills Have Eyes. “Horror films do not create fear. They release it,” Craven said.

-Maurice White died of parkinson’s disease on Feb. 3, 2016, at age 74. Best known for being in the band Earth, Wind and Fire. “In the 70s, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic and Earth Wind & Fire, we were very serious about our music,” White said.

infograph [ELIZABETH TALBERT]

The Lion Guard -This remake is mainly focused on the son of Simba-Also focused on Kion and his team of friends ‘The Lion Guard” trying to keep the peace in their homeland-Focused on new characters-A big part of the movie would be trying to save the kingdom from evil-Finding manhood

VS.

The Lion King -This remake is mainly focused on Sim-ba’s journey after his father’s deathfocused on Simba-A big part of the movie would be trying to save the kingdom from evil-Finding manhood -Focused on the love of Simba’s parents and Simba and his mate

ENTERTAINMENT 19

Top Ten Movies

Before You Were Born

infograph & photo edit [KELSEY JOWERS]

infograph [BRIANA KIRKLAND]

American Crime

A Modern Day Dramadesign [EMILY SEAY]writer [MICHELLE BELTON]photo edit [EMILY SEAY]

Racial tension. Accusa-tions. Rape. Murder. Just a few words to describe American Crime. American Crime is an anthropology series, which means each season has a different story. In the first season, a home invasion leaves a war veteran dead and his wife brutally injured. The question is who attacked them and what was their motive? Was it the heroin addicted couple? The “thug” latino? The 15-year-old boy who had never done anything wrong before? This season centers around the lives of the victim’s and suspects’ parents and loved ones. It also follows the racial tensions brought by the legal system. Season two starts with pictures going around of a drunken male high school student, Taylor. Later we find out he was sexually assaulted at the party by someone on the

Music to Express Your Innerself

8 Trackswriter [ELIZABETH TALBERT]photo edit [EMILY SEAY]basketball team at the elite

high school they attend. The case gets even more controversial and com-plicated whenever Taylor names his victims as the two captains Kevin and Eric. This season focuses around sexual orientation and socioeconomic dispar-ity along with the racial tensions of today’s society. American Crime is a phenomenal show because it deals with problems that are relevant in today’s society. It focuses around prejudices views of differ-ent races, the fear of being rejected because of who you are, and the percep-tion of an unfair justice system. It captures your attention in the first epi-sode because you want to know which out of the four suspects killed the beloved war veteran who we soon find out was a drug dealer. With twists and turns all throughout the season you cannot look away. American Crime airs on ABC Wednesday nights at 10 PM.

Over the years, the music app 8tracks has been a go-to source for many music lovers to express a unique music taste that is important to the listener. You can use this app to share, upload, and like mu-sic you enjoy without many boundaries. How does it work? You find the word, or words, that describes what you want to listen to, and type it into the search bar. Once you click the “go” button you can choose from over 1000 playlists created by people just like you, with the same music. With this you can expand your music variety in a unique, and strategic way. The 8tracks app has ex-panded and changed dras-tically over the years. The app’s new design looks great, but its flaws may turn away new users. Not to discourage anyone from using the app but minor problems have yet to be fixed. Sometimes the app closes or will not let you

skip songs when your phone is locked. Besides those mi-nor things, overall, it is great. Many other apps tend to make it hard to find music you can enjoy without a high price. 8tracks does every-thing for free, unless you get the upgraded membership. You only get minor upgrades, like the removal of ads and a shiny sticker on your icon telling other members that you are a premium customer. When the app first came out, it had Soundcloud linked to each account. You could find songs from there then put them in your playlist. Recently they stopped their relationship with Sound-cloud, which definitely hurt my feelings. However I still find the app, and its contents, worth listening to. If you have never heard of 8tracks, or never used it, I suggest you give it a go. Although the issues with it could be fixed, it is definitely a four star app.

REVIEWS 20

Going Back to Your

Childhood Sec

writer [KAYLA REDMON]photo edit [EMILY SEAY]

For this game review, my choice of game was the indie title, Undertale. From the beginning of the game, I was soon captured by its charm. I loved just about everything about it: from its music to its various quirky characters, to its di-alogue and interaction with everything within its dig-ital world. I always found myself with a small smile while playing it. I especial-

ly enjoy the battle format that it presents. It plays out like a typical RPG style, but it has a couple of ways at adding its own twist. To start out with, it is possible to complete every battle without having to fight the opponent. After you have attacked, you then are pre-sented with a space where you must dodge projectiles and the monsters. At that point, you are able to fully

avoid any damage from their attacks. Later, as you fight what can be consid-ered bosses, they each seem to add their own twist to the fight in avoidance of their attacks. Overall, I would rate this game 4.5 stars as I have no real issues with it other than a few personal ticks and I would recom-mend this as a fun and cheap game to buy.

Kill ing Not Needed

A Pacifist Game

writer [KYLE REEDER]photo edit [EMILY SEAY]

Crossing game to me. This game should have been a downloadable copy because I do not think the game is strong enough to stand alone. It is just designing and building. I loved the idea of the game. However, I do not love the idea that it is a full forty dollar game. I would recommend this game to future house designers and architects. I give this game a 3 out of 5 stars.

and the cards. There are new items like new furniture, new characters, and new food items. There are also new lo-cations and new house designs. In addition, you pick the season you want your client to live in. Sadly, this game has many flaws. To get new lessons unlocked you have to use play coins and this is very time consuming. You cannot collect bells, insects, or fish. You can only do one thing then you have to save after that to get to the next day. It does not go by real time and that is not a real Animal

Happy Home Designer is a new game from Animal Crossing that recently came out last September. The game’s features are more free range than any other Animal Crossing game. The game’s camera angle is much better. The camera angle is 360 and it gives a nice overall experi-ence of the angle in the game. The game offers something new called Amiibo cards. Amiibo are character figures or cards that can be transferred into the game. The idea is amazing, but you get repeated characters in the game

A Review for Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer

REVIEWS 21

Android vs. Apple

opinion [JACOB LLOYD]

design [ZOE SANDERS]

have 1,600,000 while the App Store had only 1,500,000 apps, accord-ing to statistica.com.A variety of apps is something I need es-pecially when it comes to my smartphone be-cause there are times when I get bored and need something to do. Something that is also important to having a good smartphone is the camera because it is usually the only porta-ble option for taking de-cent pictures. Android’s layout of the camera app is much more or-ganized and in general better looking showing more of the picture. Even though Apple has the extra crop shades and features like time-lapse, Android does not need a special app from the app store that could cost money to make a photo look better when

android already has a decent photo editor. Since Samsung would be considered the An-droid brand, I would like to say how you can change the font of basi-cally your entire phone without jailbreaking it. Once again the custom-ization has more variety on Androids than iP-hones. Even though Android is my personal favorite, it really depends on the person using the phone because some people prefer the iPhone over Android. iPhone has a less appealing home screen, but it has a sim-plistic and efficient way of organizing apps. Also some people like the crops that Apple adds. Therefore, I believe that both of the smartphones have their own special way for certain people.

Jacob Lloyd sides with Android

Smartphones. We see them everywhere being used by both adults and teenagers alike. Teenag-ers in particular mostly know the differenc-es between Apple and Android, and usually choose one or the other based on their personal preferences. In my opin-ion, I choose Android because of the variety of options to make it a personal device with-out making it look like simple blocks on every page. Making a smartphone your own is an import-ant thing to me and many other teenagers because of the amount of time we spend on them. No one likes to leave the settings the same on the smartphone if they know how to change it because it makes their phone unique to them.Setting the background,

changing the sounds it makes for notifications, downloading games, and tools to help you out are only a few of the person-alization options on any smartphone.Something that always seemed interesting was the fact Android and Apple have very similar options, such as folders for apps, abbreviation shortcuts for texting, and the ability to arrange apps. However, Android is better for apps because it allows you to put more important apps on the home screen while keep-ing the others in the app menu (CNN.com). I love this feature because it makes my phone more organized and less clut-tered. Another thing about Androids is that Goo-gle Play has much more apps. Google Play in 2015 was estimated to

22 OPINION

The truth about Technologyopinion [ZOE SANDERS]

I went to Zaxby’s the other day with my sister, and as I was waiting for my order I found my eyes being gravitated to the table in front of mine. Sit-ting in the booth was a family of four, includ-ing, who I assumed was, a mother, father, and their two children, who could not have been older than 10. They seemed like a perfectly nice family, but as I watched them, their behavior began to bother me. Each person had some sort of technol-ogy in their hands, to which they were paying more attention to than each other! Am I the only one that hates to see this and finds it absolutely ludicrous? In today’s society, it is pretty obvious to see just how much we rely on technology. Just about everything we have uses or is enabled by technology; our computers, phones, cars, schools, heck, even our refrigerators use it! Our society re-volves around technol-

ogy and I am starting to think that if we did happen to have some huge shortage of pow-er, many people would not know what to do with themselves. Another thing that I have noticed is that many parents use technology as distrac-tions for their children. When their kid starts to pester them, they stick an iPhone in their hand and, just like magic, the child is silenced. This practice angers me, and you certainly will not see me giving my two-year-old an iPad. We have replaced dolls and toy trucks with iPods and tablets and kids of this day and age do not know what it is like to play outside. Instead, they are staying inside to play on their phones. I did not get my first phone until the middle of my freshman year, and that is because my parents wanted to teach me discipline and patience to wait for those sorts of things. Sure, it was annoying when everyone else got brand new iPhones for Christmas every year and I did not, but now I realize exactly what my parents were trying

to teach me and I plan on implementing the exact same rules when I become a mother. Everyone always loves to talk about how teenagers are addicted to technology, which plenty of us are, but that is not my point. When it comes to an addiction of a cell phone, adults are just as guilty as the children. Now, I am cer-tainly not calling for a “technology boycott,” because at the end of the day, the technolo-gy we have is great. I think it has allowed our society to grow further and has gotten many of us where we are today. The technology we have truly is not a bad thing, but I think we rely on it entirely too much. Furthermore, if you find that your entire life revolves around the hunk of metal in your hand, then you need to change. Now, I love my phone, but I certainly do not love it to the extent to where I am obsessed, just saying. It is time for us to stop looking down at our screens, and time to start paying attention to the people around us.

5 ways to avoid a technology

addiction (Courtesy of

Reader’s Digest)

infograph [ZOE SANDERS]

Why we are obsessed with technology

Choose an outdoor activity

Rearrange the furniture in your house

Limit your social media use

Set aside a time for reading

Create different projects for yourself

23 OPINION

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