OCTOBER 2013

VOLUME 5 EDITION 2

The Pitchfork1284 HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH

LUGOFF, SC 29078

lugoff-elgin high school

FreeFalling

Staffer of the Month

ENTERTAINMENT

Thank you, Catherine, for all of the hard work and time you put into this month’s issue of The Pitchfork. We could not have done it without you!

Catherine Nunn

The PitchforkStaffEditor-In-Chief

Victoria Phan

Managers/Editors

Leyia Grant | Online Managing Editor

Allison Barnette | Advertisement Manager

Bonnie Mooneyhan | Print Managing Editor

Rachel Droze | Photography Editor

StaffersJarrett Armstrong | Online

Tyler Faulkenberry | Print

Ty Horn | Online

Kensley Jordan | Print

Adviser

Angela Joslin | Online

Angie Morreira | Online

Catherine Nunn | Print

Sean Riddle | Print

Championship

803-463-9086championshipdriving.com

8 hour class6 hours behind the wheel

For more information visit our website

901 White Pond Rd., Elgin

Driving SchoolDriver’s Education

Third Party Testing Now Available

4-5 NEWS

FEATURES6-7

CENTERSPREAD

HEALTH

OPINION

8-9

10-11

12

13

14-15

Breaking dow the Affordable Care Act and effect on students. [8-9]

Marching band implements new captain program this school year. [6]

JV Cheerleading competes for the first time this fall. [11]

Pitchfork staff picks their favorite throwback Halloween movie. [12]

Learn about foods that are healthy for your brain! [13]

SPORTS

Staffer expresses opinion on what being popular really means.

Shannon Team

Meniscus problems galore! Students and principal suffer from meniscal injuries. [4-5]

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.

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be obtained by contacting the ad manager at (803) 438-8015.

The purpose of The Pitchfork is to inform the

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The Pitchfork is an active member of SCSPA, SIPA, and

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Lugoff, SC 29078

Free Falling

Welcome to the second edition of the 2013-2014 The Pitchfork. “Free Falling,” features a variety of topics ranging from progress of various extracurriculars such as band and junior varsity cheerleading to opinion columns about Down’s syndrome and the meaning of popularity. The centerspread features information about The Affordable Care Act and the opinions of several students and teachers regarding the policies implemented with the legislation. The Pitchfork staff agrees that the overall concept of The Affordable Care Act would be more useful if the terms of the policy were changed to benefit more than just those who currently do not have health care. For example, while the staff

agrees that there should be some way to make healthcare more affordable for those who do not have the means to purchase it on their own, we do not think it should be at the expense of the nation. Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance is being made more affordable is by raising the prices for those who have already purchased insurance through a private lender. While the idea of health insurance for all is justifiable, the policies in place to move towards the ultimate goal are flawed. Those who do not currently have health insurance are required to purchase health care from a private lender by Jan. 1, 2014. Those who fail to acquire the insurance will be fined indefinitely until the purchase is made. In turn, this

editorial

would most likely cause private health insurance companies to drive their prices up, making it more difficult for those who need health insurance to purchase it without the aid of the government. The concept of every citizen having insurance is an ideal in its own right, When enacted, it requires more changes in order to benefit as many people as possible. There are still flaws in the policies, and until those flaws are fixed, The Affordable Care Act will not reach its full potential. It will take time, money and effort to implement the majority of the polices offered under the Act. However as of right now, it appears as if the nation is taking a free fall into the unguaranteed chance of complete healthcare reform.

Line Up

Affordable Care Act takes free fall into policy implementation

American citizens line up at the health insurance market to recieve Affordable Care Act benefitseditorial cartoon [VICTORIA PHAN]

04 NEWSOctober 2013

Men-What? He is seen limping through the halls and in the cafeteria. “What happened to T-Glad?” has become a common question around L-E. Thomas Gladden, principal, recently tore his meniscus while exercising. A tear to the meniscus is a common knee injury. There are two menisci in the knee between the thigh bone and the shin bone. The two menisci act as shock absorbers in the knee and spread out the forces transmitted across the joint (orthogate.org). As a person gets older, the risk of getting a meniscal tear increases. The tissue that makes up the menisci becomes weaker making it easier for it to get injured (orthogate.org). “I was jogging on the track and somehow the meniscus in my knee got torn,” Tommy Gladden, principal, said. “It was caught. The doctor does not really know how.” Meniscal tears can be healed by resting or performing physical therapy, but sometimes surgery is required to repair it. “The Moore Clinic did arthroscopic surgery on my knee,” Gladden said. “The recovery is probably going to be 6 weeks total.” During arthroscopic surgery, a small camera is inserted through the knee through a small incision and the camera view is displayed on a monitor so that the surgeon can see inside the knee (nlm.nih.gov). Meniscal tears restrict the amount of walking a person can do, keeping Gladden from doing what he usually does during school. “It has limited the amount of walking I can

do,” Gladden said. “I can remember never thinking about walking from one end of the school to the other. In fact, I enjoyed being out and about and walking to the annex. I miss being out.” The injury made Gladden feel like he was no longer in control of his body. “It made me feel vulnerable,” Gladden said. “I had never been in a position when I did not have better control. I had always been able to do my own exercises [and] always get out and run. [I was] pretty independent. This changed what I do for a living.” Gladden’s injury was caused by years of

heavy use, but it can also be caused by everyday activity. Kimberly Wodarczyk, junior, tore her meniscus by doing regular activity. “I move my knees in a different way whenever I walk,” Wodarczyk said. “After a long period of time [my knee] had a tear [in my meniscus].” In most situations doctors can tell what a patient will need to do to heal their injury, but this case was different. “I did several months of physical training,”

meniscal injuries affect students, principalstory | LEYIA GRANT

Wodarczyk said. “Whenever that did not work, I had a cortisone shot, and I finally had surgery on it.” Cortisone shots can relieve pain and inflammation in certain body parts (mayoclinic.com). A meniscal tear keeps a person from doing most activities in which they would use their legs. “My injury made me feel like I could not do anything productive,” Wodarczyk said. “After months of physical training I wanted to give up because I was not getting anywhere and I was still in a lot of pain.”

Meniscal injuries are often caused by the knee twisting while the foot is planted on a flat surface (webmd.com). “[I tore my meniscus] being on [the] defensive line playing football, Steven Rose, senior, said. “I got tackled. I had to get an MRI to figure out what was wrong, I had to get surgery to repair it and [had] rehab for several weeks.”

According to Anna Harvley, sports medicine teacher, the best way to avoid a meniscal injury is to be careful while exercising. “Prevention for a meniscus injury would be avoiding overuse [and] strengthening the muscles around the joint,” Harvley said. To avoid complications with the injury, symptoms should be treated as soon as possible. “When you have pain in your knee report the symptoms and properly treat it,” Harvley said.

- Kimberly Wodarczyk [junior]

“After months of physical training, I wanted to give up.”[ [

photo by RACHEL DROZE

Check out a video of Principal Gladden’s surgery with this link! http://tinyurl.com/nkkvmb5

05NEWSthepitchforkonline.com

design | ALLISON BARNETTE

Because injuring a meniscus can be easy to do from any pressure forced on the knee, it may go unrecognized.

The Meniscus is the soft cushion between the leg bones in the knee. It is C-shaped and fits behind the patella (the front bone in the knee).

Bucket Handle- a tear in the inner curve of the meniscusLongitudinal- a tear along the outside that follows the curveFlap- a tear in the curve Torn Horn- either side of the tip of the curve is tornTransverse- the meniscus is torn down the middle

• Stiff leg or hard to bend from the knee.• Swelling in the knee or leg.• Knee feels out of place or shifted.

It has the potential to become a serious injury if not treated with care. Rest; avoid strain on the injured knee. Crutches are an option for less strain while still being mobile.Ice the area for 15 minutes every four hours to reduce swelling. A doctor can prescribe pain medications and treatment if the meniscal injury is serious.

infographic [ALLISON BARNETTE]information compiled by SEAN RIDDLEinformation compiled from www.mayoclinic.com

Inside the Meniscus

Torn Meniscus SymptomsInjury

Healing

Top 5 Most Common Ways to Injure the Meniscus

About

Patella(kneecap)

Femur(thighbone)

Tibia(shinbone)

The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) runs down the outside of the knee. It limits sideways motion.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects the femur to the tibia in the center of the knee. It limits rotation and the forward motion of the tibia.

The meniscus is cartilage that absorbs shock in the joint.

Articular cartilage lines the bones, cushioning the joint.

The medial collateral liagment (MCL) runs down the inside of the knee joint. It connects the femur to the tibia and limits the sideways motion of the knee..

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) also connects the femur and tibia. It limits backward motion of the tibia.

06 October 2013FEATURES

AYE, AYE, CAPTAIN story [RACHEL DROZE]

marching band discusses effects of captains system

Hearing the metronome go faster and faster. Listening to the scuffle of feet across the pavement. Feeling the sun beat down on backs. Seeing the perspiration on everyone’s skin. This season, changes including the addition of eighth graders in the band, the purchase of a custom show and the creation of captains were implemented in the marching band. With the creation of the captain system came responsibilities that seniors were re-quired to take on such as loading the equip-ment for competitions, setting up the field for practice and unpacking uniforms. “[The captains have not] affected [the band] as much as they could,” Chris Meserve, assistant director, said. “There are a lot more responsibilities they could take on in helping with the improvement of the band program.” The captain system is new to this generation of band members and, as a result, their official job description is vague.

“The captains are doing their best to lead by example, but I do not see a point for them so far,” Matthew Wells, sophomore, said. While there is no official job description, the captains did what they could to make competitions run more smoothly. “ I did not have to load the equipment truck or do uniforms, and neither did the parents,” Glenn Price, band director, said. The captains as well as the seniors, have worked to make the band more successful in performances, from practices to football games to competitions, by encouraging the band to do what they know they should like being on time and being quiet on the field. “I feel like having the captains helps the band,” Alexis Ledwell, senior, said. “[Captains] represent the band and help motivate [the band] to do better. If people in the band see us doing well, then they will want to strive to do the same thing and that will make every-one want to do better.”

While some of the students like the system, others agree with the directors and think that the captains were not implemented well. “I have seen them make small changes but nothing that has affected the band drasti-cally,” Stephanie Connell, junior, said. “[They changed] how they went about with discipline and how they did instruction and with being prepared. The captains stepped up, took charge, and actually worked and did their part in the band.” The captains system was implemented as trial and error. According to many there is still a lot of work to do to make the system as ef-ficient as possible. “[The captains] motivate the band and make people want to be captains,” Ledwell said. “I think the captains are a wonder-ful idea, and I think we should have done it sooner.”

photos courtesy of LE BAND CLUB

07FEATURESthepitchforkonline.com

Every other night she would read me Harry Potter. Every Monday night was game night. I would go to her with all of my problems. I could talk to her about everything. Now that she was gone, what was I supposed to do? As a sixth grader, Gabriel Medlin, junior, experienced the effects of breast cancer when his mother was diagnosed. “I did not think it was really that serious,” Medlin said, “It went away for about a year then it came back in her bones which was really bad. It was kind of unexpected because it happened really fast. Within a week she just got really sick. I did not focus a lot on my school work so I got really behind. I had to struggle to make good grades that year”. On Jan. 1, 2011, Gabriel’s mother died. Though times were hard on Medlin and his family, their experience brought them closer. “[Before] I was a lot closer to my mom than my dad,” Medlin said. “After, I got closer with my mom and my dad.” Being the oldest sibling of two, Medlin had to do more work around the house and be there for his sister, Rebekah, when his mother could not be. “I had to be kind of like a parent to my little sister for a while,” Medlin said, “I talked to her a

lot more about her problems because she did not like talking with our dad”. As time went on family dynamics changed for Medlin. “It is easier to talk to my dad because [now] I know him a lot better and my sister has become a really close friend to me,” Medlin said. Although Medlin has gained a better relationship with his sister and father, he still misses the memories he could have had with his mother. “I would have liked to talk to her about my future education such as college and where she would have wanted for me to go,” Medlin said. Medlin remembers how much his mother pushed for him to graduate high school and to go to college. “[Through this experience I learned] to always try your best, to better yourself, and to gain as much education as possible,” Medlin said. Despite everything he has experienced, Medlin has learned something that has left a lasting impression. “Do not be discouraged just because you might lose a family member,” Medlin said. “The rest of your family will still love you no matter what”.

junior opens up about losing mother to canceruiastory [BONNIE MOONEYHAN]

Build It UP

information compiled from www.nationalbreastcancer.org, www.webmd.com, www.cancer.gov

One in eight

women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her

lifetime.

Each year it is

estimated over

220,000 women in the

United States will be

diagnosed with breast

cancer and more than

40,000 will die.

Women with a family

history of breast

cancer have a higher

chance of getting

breast cancer. In the early

stages, breast

cancer has few

symptoms.

There are 6 types of treatment for patients with breast cancer: surgery, sentinel lymph node biopsy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted

therapy.inforgraphic [ANGELA JOSLIN]

Symptoms like swelling in the arm pit, pain/tenderness on the

breast, or any change in the size, contour, texture or temperature of the breast should be checked by a

doctor.

RAISING AWARENESSknowing facts about breast

cancer leads to early detection

photo courtesy of GABRIEL MEDLIN

photo courtesy of GABRIEL MEDLIN

,

08October 2013CENTERSPREAD

story [VICTORIA PHAN]

2010March 23rd:

President Obama signs the Affordable

Care Act

2011Community health centers expanded

to benefit low-income families and uninsured families.

2013October 1: Open Enrollment in the Health Insurance Market begins

Changes Made Ahead

CAUTION

ACA AT A GLANCEinfographic [VICTORIA PHAN]

People who have health coverage do not have to purchase private insurance.

Insurance companies may not drop coverage because a subscriber becomes ill or if a subscriber makes an honest mistake on the application.

The plan eliminates pre-existing condition and gender discrimination.

Insurance companies may not impose unjustified rate hikes, and subscribers have more rights to appeal their insurance company decisions

Theaffordable care act legislation brings changes in health care coverage

Americans will be required to purchase private healthcare insurance by Jan. 2014 or pay a fee every month they do not have insurance in the year 2014.

Americans can shop for federally regulated and subsidized insurance in State-Based Health Insurance Market Places.

Middle and low-income families will receive tax credits on a large portion of coverage costs, and Medicaid will expand to cover more low-income Americans.

The plan allows young adults stay on their parent’s plan until age 26.

*information compiled from obamacarefacts.com, hhs.gov, and healthcare.gov

,

CENTERSPREADthepitchforkonline.com

design | ALLISON BARNETTE

The history of the Affordable Health Care Act dates back to 1989 when it was initially proposed by the Heritage Foundation as an alternative to single-payer healthcare and has been modified by both the Republican and Democratic parties. The reform, also known as RomneyCar, was first implemented by Governor Mitt Romney in Massachusetts. In the 2008 election, healthcare reform became an important platform of the Democratic Party. On Mar. 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Health Care Act into law after numerous culminations. “ObamaCare is creating a window for people who have gone their entire lives without being able to afford insurance and allowing them to be insured,” Caylin Watson, junior, said. “It is also preventing health insurance companies from discriminating [against] who they want to insure and who they do not want to insure.” Prior to the implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act, health insurance

2014 Jan. 1: Coverage

begins in the Health Insurance

Marketplace

2015Employer Shared

Responsibility Payment

companies were able to reject insurance to anybody due to health history. However, private health insurance companies are now required by law to issue health insurance to anybody who applies. “Personally, I would prefer a single payer system,” Tripp Keeffe, sophomore, said. “But I think this is a better system than what they had before because people did not even have health insurance.” In a single payer system, the government controls health insurance and everybody is required to purchase health insurance from the government-mandated health insurance company. “Private health insurance companies seek to make a profit,” Marc Dyer, history teacher, said. “A government run health insurance would be non-profit. There will not be anybody trying to make money off of sick people. Of course there is a consequence for this legislation. If we have single payer health insurance, run by the government, there would be no need for private health insurance companies

which would cause serious reductions in employment.” In order to obtain the new rights and protections of the Affordable Health Care Act, uninsured Americans will have to buy private health insurance i by 2014 or pay a fee. “[A negative aspect of ObamaCare is] it makes or forces [everyone] to buy private insurance, and, for some people, that is taking away their freedom,” Devin Reeder, sophomore, said. While the Affordable Health Care Act is a work-in-progress, benefits that come with the legislation include allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance until age 26 and the issuing of tax credits that help cover most of the insurance cost for middle and low income families. “I think that the [Affordable Health Care Act] is a good system,” Keeffe said. “It definitely helps more than it hurts.”

Savings on monthly

premiums and out-of-pockets

costsMedicaid expansion

No more yearly limits on

coverageExpanded small business tax credit

March 31: Open enrollment closes

Care altheHtodaoR

09

10 October 2013SPORTS

The pass, the catch, the touchdown. The crowd goes wild. On the visitors’ side. Looking at the scoreboard, the focus is not on the points awarded today but on the rewards yet to come, the rewards that are just being discovered. This year, two local youth pastors, Jason Dorriety, from Spring Valley Baptist Church, and Mitch Prosser, from Harvest Baptist Church, have volunteered as varsity football chaplains. William Jones, head coach, opened the program up to the community. Dorriety and Prosser responded wanting to bring hope back to the team by sharing the gospel with the players. “I wanted to meet a [spiritual] need in schools and encourage the players and coaches and help in any way needed,” Dorriety said. Before each game, the chaplains and their churches provide a meal for the team through their designated “missions” budget, conduct a devotional and lead a pre-game prayer in the locker room. “I like that we get a pre-game meal while listening to the word of God,” Gunnar Catoe, sophomore, said. “I am there with fellow teammates and brothers and that we can share the word of God with each other and people who have not heard the word of God. It makes it special that I can share with them now.” The chaplains’ goal was to impact the team spiritually and emotionally. “I wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of as many students and coaches as possible,” Mitch Prosser, varsity chaplain, said. “[Also to] encourage and share Jesus’ love.” Focusing on the team as a whole, the chaplains wanted the players to grow stronger as a team as well as stronger individually. “[The chaplains have] shown that it is all about the team, not about one person,” Smith said. Dorriety and Prosser tried to not only provide encouragement and support but to show the players that it is possible to live a life for God. “You can tell [that the team is changing] by the kids’ demeanor, their attitudes and the effort they give,” Timothy Davis, varsity football coach, said. “I think that is because the chaplains are here sitting and talking and just being around, not giving up [on the team and giving them] an opportunity to see how they should live according to the Bible.” Working with the team has created a bond between the chaplains and the players. “I know they will be there no matter what happens even if we go 0-10, they will still be part of the team,” Smith said.

varsity football players discuss impact of chaplain programstory [RACHEL DROZE]

EAT. PRAY. PLAY

photo by [SCOTT SMITH]

Jason Dorriety, football chaplain, leads the varsity team in a devotion before a football game. “It really helps because it makes us play harder and makes our mentality want to win,” Aldreacio Wells, sophomore, said.

photo by [RACHEL DROZE]

11SPORTSthepitchforkonline.com

IN THE AIR

design [VICTORIA PHAN]

The junior varsity cheer squad worked since June for two hours a day, three times a week to prepare for their first competition of the season on Oct. 16 at Spring Valley High School. As the competition came closer the squad began practicing four days a week. These months of practice came down to the two-and-one-half minutes they performed at 5:30 p.m. that day. The squad had to meet at 4 p.m. that day in the annex gym, where they helped each other get ready for the competition. Hair was being put up and makeup was being done as they prepared for their big moment. On the bus ride to the competition, the coaches gave the squad a pep talk to get them ready for the competition. When they arrived and exited the bus, their coach, Misty Mathis, gave the girls a drawstring bag monogramed with their initials that was full of drinks, candy and snacks. “I thought that was so cute because it had our names on it,” Xandrea Martin, freshman, said. “It got us like hyped up.” A little bit after 5:30p.m., after some warm ups, the squad was standing in the back room arm in arm, waiting anxiously for their turn on the mat. They walked out and as each person stepped on the mat, their performance began. The music that was thumping in the background was fast and upbeat. The performance went by in a flash.“[The performance] went by really fast,” Amanda Droze, sophomore, said. “Everything was muscle memory, [and] I was relieved that it was over. I thought we did worse than we actually did.”At the end of the routine the squad landed in a pose and then stood up and began doing mock cheers before walking out together. The squad was excited but nervous, and some girls were upset because they did not hit all their stunts. Afterward, they went

and supported other teams that were performing as well as the school’s varsity cheerleaders. “I was not even nervous [before the performance],” Church said. “[During it] my adrenaline was pumping. [After], I cried because we didn’t hit the pyramid.”To get their scores and see how they performed, the different squads were all sitting around on the gym floor where the mat was. The JV squad sat in a circle, hand in hand, and waited for the announcements. When the girls learned that they had scored last place, they were upset and angry. However, they knew that they were going to have to work harder and improve on their performance on the coming up weekend. “[After the competition] I was angry,” Martin said. “A team won and [I didn’t think] they deserved to win.” After awards the squad said goodbye and good job to each other and their coach said that she would see them at practice. The squad went their separate ways and rode home with their parents, knowing they had a long week of practice and improvement ahead of them. “[The squad] realized what we did wrong and fixed it [by] watching old videos [of our performances,]” Martin said. The squad’s true defining moment will come on Nov. 11 as they compete in the Upper State Qualifier at North West High School. This will decide if they will continue on and compete for state on Nov. 23. Martin and well as the coach has hope that the squad will win. “[The squad] competed with the big dogs on [the 19th,] and they held their own,” Mathis said. “If they continue [performing] like they are, they are going to be a powerhouse. I was so proud of them.”

UP

story [CATHERINE NUNN] junior varsity competes for the first time

12 October 2013HEALTH

Watch Your Concerts, dances, and football season all have one thing in common: crowds. Here are some tips to stay healthy and safe in a crowd.

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com

1. Carry hand sanitizerA lot of people = a lot of germs. Use it before and after eating, touching a sweaty guy’s back on accidentally, and after a trip to the bathroom/port-a-potty.

2. Have a pair of earplugs Sometimes you get stuck next to the speakers or

the event just gets too loud. Put the plugs in your ears for a quick fix!

3. Find the emergency exits If anything goes wrong or you want to leave the venue early, this will be useful.

4. Arrange a meeting place This is good for concerts, as you can get

separated from your family/friends. Ideally, have one inside and outside.

5. In a stampede, move sideways Keep moving until you can press against a wall and then wait until the crowd thins out. Number 3 is also useful for this, as you can keep moving until you make it to one of the exits.

6. Pack your own lunch If you absolutely cannot do this, check the

vendor and make sure his cart is clean and he is using gloves. Food poisoning at an event with

only porta-potties would not be fortunate.

7. Put water bottles in the freezer the night before They will keep you hydrated and cool and are useful at outdoor events.

8. Leave earlyYou will miss the crowd and the traffic and the stress of both

BlueberriesThey protect the brain from stress and reduce the effects of age-related conditions like Alzheimer ’s and dementia and help improve short term memory loss.

Wild salmonDeep water fish are rich in essential fatty acids, which the brain needs and the body does not naturally produce. They also act as an anti-

inflammatory.

Nuts & seedsWalnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and flax seeds are all a good source of Vitamin E, which helps keep

cognitive skills fresh.

AvocadosAvocados contribute to a healthy blood flow and low blood pressure, which helps with hypertension, a risk factor for declining cognitive abilities. Be warned: avocados are also high

in calories.

Whole grainsOatmeal, whole-grain breads, and brown rice can reduce your risk for heart disease, promoting

cardiovascular health.

Pumpkin seedsUseful after Halloween, a handful of these is enough to get a daily dose of zinc, which improves memory and thinking skills.

Broccoli This green vegetable is full of vitamin K, which helps cognitive function and improves brainpower.

Back

EMERGENCY EXIT

Meet me @ 3:00

HandSanitizer

Healthy Body infographic [CATHERINE NUNN]

pictures by KENSLEY JORDAN Healthy Mind infographic [CATHERINE NUNN]

13ENTERTAINMENTthepitchforkonline.com

design | JARRET ARMSTRONG & ALLISON BARNETTE

Throwback

Book Bag of Bones by Stephen King

Although the movie struggles to work the complicated story line, some key acting makes this movie a worthwhile to watch. Pierce Brosnan, (Mike) a well known actor for movies like, Mamma Mia, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and Remember Me, is known for playing characters who are caring, sensitive and strong. Kyra’s actor, Caitlin Carmichael, balances innocence and fear while not overacting. The director Mick Garris focuses

on horror elements, adding unexpected scenes, (when with good graphics. Mick tones down the connection you might get with a character ’s personality, you might find in the book, to give watchers a more gripping scare. Bag of Bones is shocking and dramatic. It unearths the knowledge about how the past can come back and how sins or misdeeds, if not settled, have consequences. At the end you will have imprinted in your mind that you can not bury the truth, literally.

Mike Noonan has a deep fear of his old summer home where his wife mysteriously died. He is tormented by dream after dream until he gathers the strength to confront his fears. As he arrives at the home, he meets some new people who will eventually help him, but not without sacrifice. The longer he stays in the area the more he gets involved with a struggle that will challenge him to change himself. A dark, haunting story written by

Steven King, Bag of Bones will have your bones shaking. It is a gripping horror-drama in which family members get caught up in a custody battle, and dark secrets come alive. This book had me on the edge of my seat trying to find out more about the characters’ pasts, and how everything would somehow turn out right. Steven King has achieved in making another soul catching tale. If you love Steve King, this story will not disappoint you.

HalloweenMovies

Review [Sean Riddle]VS.Movie

Two sisters separated at birth are never told about their identical twin sister. They unite on their twenty-first birthday to find out they have a magical past and defeat the darkness. Starring Tia and Tamara Towry.

Marnie, Dylan, and Sophie Piper, recieve a visit from their grandmother on halloween. The grandmother wants to start witch training before Marnie’s 13th birthday or she will lose her powers forever. They travel into Halloween town and help defeat darkness

Three scientists get fired from their job at a New York University. They decide to make their home in an old firehouse while they capture ghosts for pay.

The pumpkin king of Halloween Town is bored with the same thing every year. He stumbles upon a Christmas Town and tries to get all the people in Halloween Town to help him put on Christmas instead of Halloween.

14 OPINIONOctober 2013

Special Education. Those two words used to mean a person was special or a little different. Today’s society has corrupted the meaning and changed it to define people as lesser and unequal. People who look different or learn differently. People who can’t be compared to the “greater,” more “normal” society. But what society doesn’t realize is that those people they qualify as “lesser” are so much more than a problem to be hidden away and ignored. My cousin, Katie, has Down’s syndrome. She was born with it and will die with it. She looks different from “regular” people and learns at a much slower pace than other children her age, but she has one of the best personalities I have ever seen. When I was younger, I hated babysitting her because I couldn’t understand her words, and I didn’t want to deal with her always wanting to play a game or watch cartoons. I wanted to be “normal” and do normal things. Not watch a kid who belonged in special ed. As I got older, I discovered Katie wasn’t a burden. She was fun to be around. Katie

Don’t Judge a Bookburned with passion for everything she did. She fought with her siblings and loved her dog. She played sports and went to church and school just like any other 12-year old. But her appearance and her “disability” held her back from being treated like a normal part of society. Down’s syndrome occurs in 1 out of every 800 live births (www.onhealth.com). It affects learning, appearance, social interaction, and physical ability. The people affected by Down’s are often treated as misfits in society, being denied jobs and avoided in social functions. But there is more to a person with Down’s syndrome than just the way he or she look or speaks. October was Down’s syndrome awareness month. Around the nation, the National Down’s Syndrome Society hosted their annual Buddy Walk to raise awareness of Down’s. On Oct. 6, 2013, I walked in the Buddy Walk on Daniel Island. as a part of Team Katie. Throughout the mile walk, led by a local marching band, there were signs stating myths about Down’s, including the myth that people affected by

the syndrome are unable to lead normal lives, have jobs, and raise families.I was surrounded by children, teens, and adults who “suffer” from Down’s syndrome. They are happy. Truly happy. They burn with a light that doesn’t exist in “normal” society: a passion for life. In our society, life is taken for granted, but in the world of Down’s, every day is precious, and the ones affected by the disability live every day to its fullest. Today’s society has deemed people who are different as “less than.” But if you actually get to know a person who’s “special,” you might learn a lesson or two about how special he or she really is.

staffer talks about cousin’s impact on societyopinion [RACHEL DROZE]

School policy requires students to have “a written statement from a parent/guardian, physician, dentist, or other recognized practitioner/legal officer stating the date(s), and reason(s) for the absence, telephone

number of the parent/guardian, and the required signature. The statement must be presented to attendance no later than five days after the student

Lawful v. Unlawfulwhy should schools require a doctor’s excuse?

returns to school.” An unlawful absence, which can count towards your five day limit and lead to validation, is an absence that your parents are either knowledgeable or not knowledgeable about either with cause or willfully. “A note from a parent/guardian does not classify a student’s absence as excused.” (LEHS student handbook) As long as the school has confirmation that parents know about an absence, either with a parent note or e-mail, I don’t see why students should need a doctor ’s excuse to make an absence lawful.

opinion [CATHERINE NUNN]

Some parents can’t afford to take their kids to the doctor every time they catch the stomach virus or get a really bad head cold. Half the time, our parents don’t need to. As young adults, our parents have been dealing with our sicknesses for quite some time and already know how to treat us. My mother can even tell a person’s temperature by simply laying her hand on their forehead and cheeks. No one wants to come to school if they feel ill and, really, no one will appreciate you being at school if you are interrupting class by coughing or blowing your nose every five

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seconds. As a female I also have to vouch for those going through menstruation. The intensity of cramps varies from person to person, and for me it always feels like a dull knife is being twisted in my lower abdomen. As a teenager my sister had to be excused from school because she could not get out of bed- her cramps were that bad. While a doctor could help with this, it might be a one-day thing or your menstruation might just be really rough for that month. Sometimes sickness is not physical but emotional. To put this simply: we are teenagers. Have you ever felt so emotionally exhausted that you just could not drag yourself out of bed? I know I have. A doctor cannot heal a broken heart. If a student’s parents understand, then why doesn’t the school? Why should this be added to your tally of days bringing you closer to validation? It should not. I understand that requiring a doctor ’s excuse prevents students from giving forged

notes or fraudulent e-mails and getting away with it. I totally understand that teachers and the administration are responsible for the safety of students during school hours, but I don’t think the school should have that responsibility in the first place. If a student skips school, it is the student’s own will or how they are being parented. It is the school’s responsibility to teach the student, not raise them. This is high school, and students should know better. I know that the school calls my home phone to inform my parent of the classes I missed; if a student does skip school, then the parents are going to find out through this system. The fact is: when I miss a day of school I miss a day of learning that I can never fully replace. If a student has no good reason to miss school, he or she should be at schoIf students do miss days, they are the ones suffering. If a student and parent are both aware of an unlawful absence and the parent

covers for that student then the parent is setting up the student for failure later in life. For example: missing more than three days in college can lead to automatic failure. If the student works, he or she cannot simply skip out because of a cold. I believe that with a parent’s confirmation, a student’s absence should be excused. If the student skips school without a parent’s consent it should immediately be brought to the parent’s attention and dealt with there. If the parent and student know about an unreasonable absence and the parent doesn’t care, then I hope that student has a nice life as a slackard. This system would rule out unexcused absences and validation entirely, and I think that it is for the best.

The Imperfect Fit Cussing. Drinking and smoking. Hundreds of followers you may or may not know on Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget about being attractive. Short shorts and tight shirts get you one step closer. How about the latest pair of Nikes? The newest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy is a must as well. The road to popularity seems significantly different than I once imagined it. I always thought being popular meant having friends who support you and like you for who you are. Maybe I was wrong, though. I think cussing is disrespectful. Drinking and smoking harm the body. My teeth seem to be a big target because they aren’t perfect. I wear the same shorts and shirts I bought sophomore year. My Nikes were new at one point… a couple of years ago. And my phone is often referred to as a “dinosaur” because it doesn’t have internet capabilities. I must be a loser, right? Maybe in the eyes of the cool kids. Regardless of all my “flaws” I still have the best friends I could ever ask for. We are a family. It is amazing to know I always have someone right behind me to catch me when I fall. I know they’re there, and I would be a fool to take advantage of them. I don’t

pressure them into doing things that would make them uncomfortable, and I expect the same from them. They don’t need all the evils of the world in their lives to make them cool with me. Maybe being popular isn’t bad, now that I think about it. Maybe it is the temptations that seem to come with being popular. I hear people talking about drinking, smoking and having sex all the time, and I know it isn’t all talk. I have seen students in the parking lot smoking, I know of the weekend parties. Don’t get me started on what goes on in the bathroom. Most people see doing bad stuff as a gateway to fitting in. I’m not totally sure why people think it is cool to make bad choices. But fitting in is something I can relate to. I do not have the best speaking skills and I used to not like talking to people at all. I only had a few very close friends that I actually enjoyed talking to. When I got into middle school, people began excluding me from their groups because I was weird. I was weird because I would rather stay with my “uncool” friends than join the other groups. I actually had a girl last

year ask me straight up, “Why do you hang out with these people?” gesturing to my friends, “I thought you were cooler than that.” I can’t even imagine what was going through her head when she asked that. There are plenty of people who think being popular really matters. Maybe those people can explain why they think that. To be honest, I don’t care. I don’t want to put myself over a group of people. It would not be right to say I am better than them. However, I do know that the friends I have now will always be my lifelong friends. I wish them the best of luck throughout life. To the bunch that has popularity as a high priority, I hope they see what really matters.

popularity does not amount to being a role model anymoreopinion [TYLER FAULKENBERRY]