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Take a Stand | Opinions

2007-01-23T19:59:00.000-05:00

Awareness in Youth America

      It seems that while growing up we are secluded in the microcosm that makes up our environment; school, home and our best friend’s room where the majority of our time is spent. But in the past couple of years this has changed in a proactive way that will inevitably alter the way the younger generation is viewed by society. On Jan. 26, 2007 the Young Democrats will be hosting an open forum on the genocide crisis in Darfur, Sudan. This forum signifies the ways in which the global community is attempting to increase awareness of the problems that face our world everyday. It is crucial to the survival of the world that the next generation, present and future, is educated about the secular tribulations going on at any given moment. This is important so that when the time comes for that generation to take the reign and instruct humanity, they will not go in with a blind eye.
      There are several newly established organizations whose main goal is to reach out and get teens involved in global affairs. One of the more publicized and credible organizations, is Think.MTV whose topics of concern range from discrimination to the environment and even to sexual health. It presents documentaries created by students and celebrities alike whose purpose is to raise awareness of youth America.
      Another organization whose motives lie closely to that of upcoming forum is the Rock for Darfur campaign popularized by MySpace.com. Created by Bich Ngoc Cao, a 24 year-old employee of a small company, seeks to do something about the catastrophe in Darfur, Sudan and did so by setting up concerts all over the country for one night of hope.
      Both campaigns are readily available at the click of a button that simply has to be pushed. The wanted result from these outreaches is for the UN to interfere and stop the genocide. We as a global society must never let such murderous behavior happen again; however, it is now up to us, the leaders of tomorrow, to put an end to the destruction.

Take a Stand | Opinions

2007-01-23T19:53:00.000-05:00

Dispelling the Stanton Myth

To most, Stanton College Preparatory School is an educational institution established to prepare students for the rigors of college. This preparation is made so that once students get to college, the academic adjustment will not be as difficult.

Stanton doesn’t get you into college, it prepares you for college.

      Some Stanton students have the misconception that attending this school will automatically grant them admission into the college of their choice. In fact, some have the preconceived notion that just having the name Stanton on their transcript will get them in. This is not true. The fact is, although Stanton is a school well known for its academic excellence, the name does not serve as a magic wand to help get into any college.
      An example of this misconception occurred last year when some seniors in the graduating class of 2006 received letters of rejection from the University of Florida and were shocked they that did not get in. What these seniors, and Stanton students in general often fail to realize is that they need more than the Stanton reputation to get into not only UF, but any college in general. Most institutions look for students who are well- rounded and possess charisma; in essence, they look at more than where he or she attended high school.
      Another concept some Stanton students may fail to realize is that many of the Advanced Placement courses offered here are also offered at many other neighborhood schools. In short, this means colleges see a grade of A in an AP class offered at Stanton as equivalent to an A in an AP class offered at a neighborhood school.
      The simple fact is Stanton does not act as a factor for automatic entrance to aid in getting students into college. It does, however, prepare students for the intense rigor that they will ultimately face in the collegiate world.

Take a Stand | Opinions

2007-01-23T19:33:00.000-05:00

It's Not Easy Being Green

      We hear about it everyday in PSA announcements, on most consumer products and even billboards; the urgency that is placed on us to save our planet. The band Coldplay said it best, “We live in a beautiful world,” but the truth is it will only be as beautiful as we make it.
      The truth is the number of people who recycle is increasing every year. However, according to the Sustainability Club at the University of Dayton, an organization designed to help educate others how they can help improve their environment, “Americans throw away enough aluminum every three months to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet.” There are many simple ways we can avoid the destruction of our environment and although at times they may seem inconvenient, their effect could be substantial.
      One way to help is to get involved with a local organization whose main focus is to help make our world a better place to live. From “The River Returns” to “Clean It Up, Green It Up” there are many different aspects of the environment that benefit from these groups. If someone is not too keen on community involvement, there are also individual ways to decrease their personal effect on the environment. We know it is ‘not easy being green,’ but the truth is the environment cannot fix itself. If we want our great grandchildren to hear the crash of ocean waves against a sandy shore, we as a global community need to take a proactive approach to save our world.

Ways to Improve
Carpool -- to school and to hangout with friends.
Recycle -- (If your family does not have a recycling system set up at home you can always collect items and drop them off at disposal units in back of your local supermarket.)
Lower the Thermostat -- to 68 in the winter and 78 in the summer.
Turn off the Lights -- when leaving a room.
Shower -- try not to take many baths, and make your showers shorter.

ORGANIZATIONS

“The River Returns” helping to preserve the St. Johns River from pollution and other factors.

“Clean It Up, Green It Up” the mission is to help improve the quality of life for people in Jacksonville by enacting and acting upon environmental improvement initiatives

JEA’s “Communitree” A program that is granting 30 to 300 gallons of trees each year for the next three years to JEA’s tree service criteria on website)

Tips for Your Life | Holiday

2007-01-23T19:20:00.000-05:00

Gift Tips
By ABBY WEISS, Script Editor

During the holidays we often receive gifts that seem to puzzle us.

Gifts that make us wonder, “ what he/she was thinking when purchasing this.” For those people who wonder why that tie-dye sweater with the big American flag in the middle didn’t go over so well, when you gave it to your sister last year, here are some tips on purchasing gifts.

1. The nature of a true holiday gift is love, so when selecting your gift you want to make sure it expresses just that. For example, buying your mother an exercise machine is a BAD idea, unless she asks for it. Yes, it shows that you love her, but it is also telling her that you think she is overweight.

2. Gifts should also cause instant happiness. For example, buying your girlfriend a heart necklace brings happiness and shows your love for her; buying your girlfriend your favorite football team jersey may cause instant anger.

3. When purchasing a gift, make sure you are buying it for the receiver and not for yourself. For instance, your best friend loves anything pink; you see these pink heels that just scream her name. Right next to those obnoxious heels, you spot a pair of black and red converses, which make you, smile. You purchase the converses for her, knowing she hates black and red and would love those pink heels that are not your style at all. You wonder why she never wears them and when the holidays come around the next year, she just asks for a pair of socks.

4. Remember if a person does not like the gift they have received from you, don’t get discouraged. Keep in mind that there is always next year.

Family | Features

2007-01-21T18:40:00.000-05:00

Families Who Serve
By GINNY POARCH, Opinions Editor

      Freshman Elizabeth Leach is the only child of a single parent, her mom, Joy Cassie-Leach, an E6 in the U. S. Navy and is currently serving her 18^th year in the service in El Salvador for six months before returning home. While her mother is away Elizabeth’s grandmother moves in to take care of her. Elizabeth is grateful she has her grandmother and cousin to keep her company but misses her mom greatly. Elizabeth and her mom share a close relationship and after Elizabeth’s dad died they were there to comfort each other trying to cope with the loss of a loved one. When Ms. Cassie-Leach is home she and Elizabeth spend a lot of time together.
      “We do everything together,” says Elizabeth. “I don’t mind my mom hanging out with me at all. I love her.”
      This year Elizabeth will be unable to fulfill the tradition of taking her mom out to eat on her birthday, two days before Christmas, and decorating the tree and house together. This year, there will be no birthday dinner before Christmas and she will decorate the tree alone.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The desire to serve, the adventure and lifetime experiences along with much prayer and soul searching led Andrew Yi to the U.S. Marine Corps. He joined the “few and the proud” after graduating from the University of Florida in 2004 and is now a first lieutenant. He is currently deployed in Dijbouti, Africa as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom; he arrived there after spending eight months in Iraq.
      Lt. Yi’s younger brother is football and basketball captain, senior Eric Yi.
      “He’s my role model,” says Eric referring to his brother. “I back him up 100 percent.” This year will be the second year Lt. Yi won’t be home for the holidays.
      “I try not to think about him not being able to be here [for Christmas],” Eric said. As long as he keeps busy and continues to talk to his brother through email Eric says he doesn’t feel so alone.
      We had the privilege of contacting Lt. Yi and he had a message for his family and loved ones back home:
      Merry Christmas to Mom, Dad, and Eric. I know this is my second year being deployed during the holidays and of course I wish I could be home. But thank you for raising me to know that life isn’t about me and that there are things far greater than myself that are worth fighting and dying for Eric, I can’t wait to go home to hang out with my best friend. You taught me how to lead and the importance of setting the example. You make me proud and I’ll be looking forward to see you graduate.
Semper Fi, God Bless, and Merry Christmas, Andy Yi

Cover Story | Features

2007-01-21T18:24:00.000-05:00

Waiting for Daddy
By ALEX MCCAIN, Fashion Editor

Around the holidays people can get caught up in giving and receiving gifts that they forget what the holidays are truly about —— family. Even though this time of the year is intended to be family oriented, many people take spending quality time with their family for granted. But what most people don’t realize is that not everyone has the opportunity to spend the holidays with their loved ones. Sometimes people don’t understand how important family is until they’re gone. It’s Stanton students like freshmen Joceylnn Tyler and Chelsy Coney who’ve come to know what it feels like not to have family members around. For them quality time with loved ones is not something to be taken for granted considering both of their fathers are on active duty in the U.S military and will not be home for the holidays.
Aaron Tyler, Joceylnn’s father, whom she describes as both loving and dedicated, has been in the Navy for almost 25 years. The last time he saw his family was on Sept.14, 2006. Even though he’s currently on deployment as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, it doesn’t keep him from being close with his daughter. Since they can’t see each other face to face, Jocelynn and her dad have found other ways to communicate.

“He’s helping his country and I know it’s something he really wants to do so I support him.” -Jocelynn Tyler, 9^th

      “He emails me once a week, and occasionally he calls once every two months,” she said.
      According to Jocelynn this will not be her dad’s first time being away for the holidays; he’s gone every other year. Despite this, not having him around for Christmas can still be difficult to deal with. When he has to go away for long periods of time Jocelynn is often sad, but her own feelings are put aside,
      “ He’s helping his country and I know it’s something he really wants to do so I support him,” she said.
      In spite of Jocelynn’s sadness, this experience has helped strengthen their relationship as father and daughter. Although Mr. Tyler feels that he has missed out on special times as Jocelynn has grown up, he also feels that they are close and he tries to spend one on one time with her whenever he is home.
      But Jocelynn isn’t the only person in the Tyler family to feel his absence; the rest of her family is affected as well. With her dad not around as much most of the work is left to her step mom, but as a family they still support him in what he does. While Mr. Tyler may be away, Jocelynn and the rest of her family still celebrate Christmas as usual.
      “We do the presents and have dinner, except we tape it all and we save my dad’s gifts so that when he comes home we have a mini Christmas for him,” said Jocelynn.
      Though Mr. Tyler may be miles away, home seems to be where his heart is as he reflects on happier Christmas memories of him and his family.
      “I think my best Christmas memory is when we were in Pennsylvania for the holidays, and Jocelynn and her younger sister still believed in Santa,” said Mr. Tyler in a recent email.
      According to Mr. Tyler, that was the first Christmas he had spent with Jocelynn and her sister in three years.
      Mr. Tyler is scheduled to return home in March of 2007 and although the exact date is not known, Jocelynn and her family plan to do something special for him.
      “We might go to Disney World or Universal Studios to celebrate him coming home,” Jocelynn said.
      But what she is looking most forward to when her dad returns is waiting on the dock until his ship comes back so that she can see him standing on the flight deck.
      No matter how much empathy someone has for a person, it’s not until they go through it themselves that they will really understand how it feels. If there’s anyone who’s able to relate to Jocelynn’s situation it would have to be freshmen Chelsy Coney.
      Charles Robert Coney, Chelsy’s father has been in the National Guard for 17 years. He’s currently stationed in Montgomery, Alabama where he helps recruit people for the military. It’s been nine months since he last came home. For Mr. Coney to come home is a rare occasion considering this will be his third year in a row missing Christmas with his family. Though they may be several miles apart, Chelsy and her dad communicate with one another by phone three times a week.

“We get sad at times but we know he’s honoring his country and he’s helping to keep food on the table for us.” -Chelsey Coney, 9^th

      Despite Mr. Coney’s absence, Chelsy and the rest of her family celebrate Christmas as usual saving her dad’s gifts until the next time they see him. She isn’t the only one who copes with her dad being away; the rest of her family feels sad as well.
      “We get sad at times but we know he’s honoring his country and he’s helping to keep food on the table for us,” Chelsy said.
      She describes her father as being great and although he can’t give her the whole world, he tries his best to give her a nice piece of it. This experience has taught Chelsy about family and to not take things for granted.
      “I would love to have my dad come home everyday,” said Chelsy in response to those who don’t appreciate their loved ones. When she does have a chance to spend time with him it means everything to her. In fact, it has also helped to strengthen their relationship as father and daughter.
      “It’s taught me a lot,” Chelsy said. “For him to be away from his family for so many years to honor his country, I respect him for that.” It is not known when Mr. Coney is scheduled to come home. However Chelsy stated that even though she didn’t have anything special planned for him upon his return, she can’t wait to hug and kiss him.
      Both girls love their fathers and can’t express enough how much they miss them. To them this time of the year isn’t about the commercialism we’re constantly surrounded by, it’s about remembering the little moments with family. Despite the sacrifices, Mr. Tyler expressed family was most important when he said, “I cherish every moment that I get to spend with my family.”

Market | Holiday

2007-01-21T17:47:00.000-05:00

The Mass Marketing of the Holidays
By ABBY WEISS, Script Editor

      The doors are still locked, you are standing next to someone just as eager and tired as you are. After waiting minutes that feel more like hours, the sales associates finally open the doors. You rush into your favorite department store, which has everything 50-75 percent off and you go straight to the clothing section, bumping into everything and everyone, grabbing items, not looking at any of the prices. Minutes into your early morning shopping extravaganza, you hear an announcement over the loud speaker, “The Holiday season has started and our prices are better than ever.” Seconds later, holiday music starts to play all around the store. Looking around you see images of Santa, stockings, colors of red and green, and snowflakes, even the sales associates are dressed up in holiday attire. Your patience has become miniscule and you begin to complain about everything. You start screaming at the sales associate because she doesn’t have the vacuum that Aunt Judy so desperately needs. The sales women replies, “Give me a break it’s the holidays,” you roll your eyes and storm off. It’s now 6:45am, waiting in the checkout line; you start to take out all the coupons you have been collecting for the past week, even though there are at least 30 people in front of you. Finally you get to the register, pay and leave, not even noticing the old man in the front of the store wishing you “Happy Holidays.”
      This image of the holiday season seems horrible. But isn’t this what most Americans enjoy? Waking up early, running all around town, spending the raise you just got yesterday on copious amounts of gifts for the ones you love. People always complain how the mass marketing of the holidays is destroying American society; that the 75 percent off sale at the Gap makes people forget about family, and focus more on that sweater they know they will be receiving as a gift from their best friend. But could you imagine what the months of November and December would be if the mass marketing of the holidays was banned? What would we as Americans live off of? Constanlty spending money on our family and friends is what we do best.
      The mass marketing doesn’t make us forget about family, it’s actually a great reminder. The 25 days leading to Christmas advertised on television and radio gives everyone, everyday reminders that the holidays are just around the corner. The idea of stores staying open extra late, for those hardworking people of America, shows how much we do care about our loved ones. Our hearts our so big, that even after a hard day at work, we Americans still make time to make the ones close to our hearts smile. This is only possible with the mass marketing of the holidays, and the tender loving care of the companies that have an understanding of a typical American’s hectic work schedule.
      Those smiles that we create, when receiving and exchanging gifts, during the most wonderful time of the year would not be the same without those extravagant window displays, snow covered pictures in catalogs, and the abundant amount of coupons you receive in the Sunday newspaper. All the ludicrous things companies do during the holiday season benefit the classic hardworking American family.

Plato's Closet | Fashion

2007-01-21T17:08:00.000-05:00

Ca$h Closet
By GINNY POARCH, Opinions Editor

      As the holiday season approaches, shoppers begin rummaging through the sales racks at the malls searching for the best bargains, hoping to get more than a pair of jeans for eighty dollars. But it seems the mall has become a thing of the past and going ‘thrift’ is the way to shop. According to the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops, the resale business has doubled over the past decade. This growing popularity may largely be due to the opening of Plato’s Closet in 1999 which now has over 165 stores branching across the United States including two locations in Jacksonville.
      Plato’s Closet is a “unique recycling retail store” that has caught the eye of many magazines including Seventeen. But Plato’s Closet isn’t your average resale or consignment shop. Winmark Corporation, which owns the sporting goods store Play it Again Sports as well as Plato’s Closet, creates an atmosphere that doesn’t say “resale” but reminds us of any other store in the mall; clean, organized, and shopper friendly.
      Shoppers can find value priced name brand clothing from Abercrombie and Fitch to Ecko as well a variety of other items such as shoes, jewelry and purses. Customers pay considerably less for items at Plato’s Closet than they would at any other store.
      Plato’s Closet, like the shoppers they attract, are interested in buying good condition secondhand items. When shoppers bring in items the staff carefully inspects them for holes, tears, stains and any other defilements, in short they don’t buy anything they feel they cannot sell. They pick out what they’d like to sell and give the shopper cash on the spot.
      Plato’s Closet not only saves customers money but give shoppers the option of receiving money too. The atmosphere it creates is unlike any other thrift or resale shop; that’s probably why it attracts as many customers as it does.

Style Trends | Fashion

2007-01-21T17:01:00.000-05:00

Kid Backpacks
By RYAN THOMPSON, Online Editor

      Wearing bright multi-colored backpacks brandishing a character from a teenager’s past, and their younger sibling’s present, is the latest style trend for students. When making a commute from class to class it is hard to miss the overall small size of the sack and the – as some call – “cute” nature of these child-like book carriers. What would cause students to obtain such a backpack and why are they becoming a leading trend in student style?
      If these different types of kid backpacks have not been seen, they are easy to spot. First, start by looking for a small sized bag that couldn’t possibly carry the average Stanton student’s books and notebooks. Kid packs usually have a character such as Superman, the Cabbage Patch Kids, or the Disney Princesses imprinted on them. Observers will also notice the usage of eminent colors other than a calm blue, or brown. Some of the more popular colors for these bags are pink, purple, red, white, and blue.
      At Stanton, some students might complain of the obvious large quantities of books and notebooks they are required to carry around everyday. The kid backpack wearers, however, have been able to overcome this in a number of ways.
      “I only get the stuff I need,” says freshman Veronica Wakefield, who sports a pink Cabbage Patch book bag and hopes that no other person at the school has the same kind.
      Susanna Moore, a sophomore, states, “It’s kind of hard, but generally, I don’t have to take that many books to class. I go to my locker all the time.”
      Individuality seems to play a major factor in the reason students wear these backpacks. Students often seem to pick a character they like the most and display it in a way everyone can see.
      “Everyone has the same backpack,” says Susanna. “It’s really unoriginal so I just got one that I liked.” Moore has a red and blue Power Ranger book bag and specifically mentioned she wasn’t trying to follow a certain trend.
      Anyone can get a kid backpack and this might be a reason why students like them so much. The tangibility of this style is high since most are available in stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, and even T J Maxx. The cost also provides a greater opportunity for students to buy these eye-catching book bags; $5 is the average price.
      Originally started as a trend among small children, it is obvious that these backpacks are becoming more popular amongst high school students. Whether it’s the brilliant colors, the favorite characters portrayed, or the five dollar price tag, students at Stanton are showing that kid book bags have become a leading fashion statement.

Style Check | Fashion

2007-01-21T16:36:00.000-05:00

Honeycomb Bling
By KATIE NECHVATAL, Campus Affairs Editor

      People have always made their own clothes, occasionally adding their finishing touches to items bought at the store, but one Stanton student has started making her own jewelry, inspired by the popular Tarantino honeycomb earrings. Jessie Eikill, a junior at Stanton, began making the popular honeycomb earrings about two and half months ago, with help from her mother. To make these earrings, she buys her supplies at local craft stores, such as A.C. Moore and Hobby Lobby. Though it takes her twenty to thirty minutes each to make a set of earrings, she makes numerous sets in one sitting, and has made over forty pairs to date. Jessie sells her honeycomb earrings for five dollars, and insists that making them is just a hobby she is interested in. Although she has no desire to pursue jewelry making as a career, students of all grade levels have been seen wearing Jessie’s honeycomb earrings. Kathy Damato, a junior at Stanton, wears Jessie’s honeycombs, and stated, “I have two pairs and love them. The honeycombs are such a cute fashion trend.” Jessie insists she started making the honeycomb earrings because, “I liked the Tarantino’s, but they were too expensive.”
      Tarina Tarantino, a Los Angeles jewelry designer, is known for making honeycombs, and has been making jewelry since 1995. She not only designs honeycomb earrings, but makes a variety of necklaces and bracelets using the Hello Kitty logo, as well. According to tarinataratino.com, she decided to make jewelry because she wanted to help women accessorize. The Tarantino brand earrings come in 15 different colors ranging from amethyst and black diamond, to siam-siam and olivine, and usually sell for $38.00 online. She has stores located in Los Angeles and various boutiques in Europe, and her earrings have been worn by stars such as Paris Hilton, Cameron Diaz, Mischa Barton, and Alyson Michalka.
      Though some wear the Tarantino honeycombs, Jessie’s version has become a popular style among Stanton students. Since she gets her influence from Tarina Tarantino, her earrings look similar to the Tarantino crystal flower earrings. Jessie’s earring making hobby has been a great success here at Stanton. Whether they are Tarantino or Jessie’s style honeycomb earrings, they have become a growing style trend.

ARTistocrats | Arts & Entertainment

2007-01-21T16:28:00.000-05:00

Club Unity
By SHAYLA BIVINS, Business Manager

      For the past several years Stanton’s step team, Club Unity, has been stepping into the hearts of students across the city of Jacksonville.
      In 1991, Anita and Ike Dempsey became the sponsors of this club and have positively affected the lives of past and present students, teaching them how to act respectful at all times and to be responsible. Both seniors Roshanda Dennis and Chris Dalit, presidents of the club, help the Dempsey’s enforce these concepts. They ensure that things are running orderly and that things don’t get out of hand while at the same time having fun. In Club Unity, the students just want to have fun, help the community, and compete.
      To become a member of the club, candidates go through a strenuous, yet exciting one week process. Each day participants dress up in costumes with hopes of convincing both the presidents and Mrs. Dempsey that they want to be a part of the organization. During that process they are also taught a step routine that they are expected to perform by the week’s end. Bridget McMillan, a 12^th grade member who endured this process said, “it’s challenging because of the limited time you have to prove yourself, but it’s rewarding because you feel good after making the team.” Once becoming a member, Mrs. Dempsey says students are expected to come to every practice and are required to keep and maintain a 3.0 grade point average.
      According to Angeli Patel, a 10^th grade member, “participation in all activities is imperative because it shows both dedication and commitment.” In addition, Club Unity also volunteers and performs at various places in and around Stanton’s community. However, the club only helps organizations that invite them to events. Among these organizations that have invited the club in the past are the Kesler mentoring program and Jacksonville Electrical Association’s annual black history program. Club Unity also recently performed for a local missionary society attempting to raise money for a church that burned down.
      Although Club Unity appears to be busy, Mrs. Dempsey says that she rewards the participants for their community service and charity work.
      She rewards the members every year by taking them on a trip to Virginia during Spring Break, and she hosts the annual Senior Banquet; recognizing the seniors and celebrating their hard work.
      Whether it’s stepping in front of crowds of fans, or helping those less fortunate, Club Unity and its advisors are committed to the continuation of both entertaining and helping the community.

She Said... | Features

2007-01-21T16:23:00.000-05:00

Why do girls feels the need to always gossip?
By VALENCIA WITHERSPOON, Contributing Writer

Have you ever noticed that when you tell one girl a secret in the morning, half the school knows your secret by the start of third period? Girls talk. I know, because I’m one of those guilty, gossiping girls. I think that most girls, like myself, gossip unintentionally; not realizing that they’re gossiping. But we must think to define what gossip is. Is telling you’re friend that her boyfriend is cheating on her or someone is spreading a nasty rumor about her, gossiping or being a good friend? I don’t know. But what about those girls who hear rumors and spread them, when in fact, they are not helping a friend out? I don’t know if I can justify it, but I do think it’s related to the mind set of all girls.
Girls are innately curious because for years we have been told that our “sphere of influence” or our role in society is to manage; manage the household; manage the manor; manage the social activities of those around us. Therefore, our curiosity results in our need to see the big picture so we can manage our social lives. Girls need to know what the latest news is, because girls must play the role of diplomats; trying to avoid skating on thin ice or asking someone how a relationship is when they broke up a week ago; again, something I am quite guilty of. We can’t remain ‘out of the loop’ without some person getting mad at us about being there. So we try our hardest to be a part of the loop and make sure our friends are part of it too. Ironically, our constant attempts to avoid confrontation usually result in a bickering ‘she said, he said’ fight. Girl gossiping is a result of societal demands for us to understand the events in the world around us.

He Said... | Features

2007-01-21T16:19:00.000-05:00

What do guys talk about when girls aren't around?
By JAMES ROBINSON, Contributing Writer

      When girls walk off and the guys are left, the two most talked about topics are girls and sports. Both can be pretty controversial, depending on how interested we are. Sports, however, offer a much less emotionally charged situation, unlike girls, which is always a contentious subject.
      Many guys love sports, following their teams and checking out stats. It has even developed into an addiction among some students. There are many fantasy leagues out there and you can barely walk through the halls without hearing, “I got so and so in a trade!” or “I got 25 points last weekend!” Many guys are truly dedicated, something you would expect from hard working Stanton students.
      The second “addiction” of Stanton guys are the girls. The conversations that go on are usually inspiring and helpful. Unfortunately this is not always the case, especially when a conflict over one girl arises. These conflicts are highly tense and can be emotionally harmful. The “brotherhood” that is usually present between buddies is often extinguished over one girl almost instantaneously. This is not to say the bonds between guys are weak, it shows how important the opposite sex is to the conflicting parties.
      High school is a time for new experiences when everything seems to be a competition. Our “guy” conversations are simply just commentary for our struggles.

What Does It Take? | Features

2007-01-21T15:17:00.000-05:00

... to be the Yearbook Editors
By MORGAN HENLEY, Sports Editor

      Every year, each student gets to smile and pose for their yearbook picture. Imagine being in charge of all 1,442 of those pictures, along with defining every school event, activity, and faculty member through pictures and captions. Imagine having to be in charge of something that many students carry with them forever and look back on to remember how they spent their high school years. Or having to create a product that costs anywhere from $60 to $80, to be purchased by both friends and peers. All of these daunting tasks are left up to our experienced and hardworking yearbook editors. So, what does it take to be in charge of our cherished yearbook? Senior Phoenix editors Morgan Farlow and Addie Denman tried to shed light on the work they go through in order to create the yearbook.
      Both Morgan and Addie share the duty of being editor of the Phoenix, a job they agree should not fall on one person’s shoulders. Their positions include grading and correcting the layouts created by other editors, helping the staff with deadlines, and making sure everything in the class is running smoothly. They are also responsible for designing the divider pages, the cover, and the opening and closing spreads. Morgan, the former Student Life editor and Addie, the chief photographer for the past two years, bring their experience to their job. The new staff members, not having any prior training, are required to learn from the experienced staff members. “The experienced help the inexperienced,” explained Denman.
      The staff is responsible for ensuring that students will treasure their yearbooks as a token of their high school years. Addie explains that “all of the photos, copy, and captions are supposed to be timeless,” in an attempt to ensure this enduring memory.
      “We try to make the copy capture what’s going on so you can go back and remember it,” said Morgan.
      The staff also is constantly pressed with deadlines from the Herff-Jones yearbook publishing company. If they don’t meet these pressing and challenging deadlines for each section, the staff is fined by Herff-Jones. Throughout the year, Morgan and Addie personally get to know the representatives at Herff-Jones and the photographers from Bryn-Alan. They must schedule dates for Bryn-Alan to come and take pictures of the school’s various sports teams, events, pep rallies, and clubs.
      Though the book is always revered with expectation and respect, some students often criticize it.
      “It’s good to hear other perspectives; people don’t realize that it’s not our fault, some of its company [the yearbook publishing company, Herff-Jones] errors,” clarifies Addie. “Sometimes people don’t appreciate how much work we put into it.”
      Another problem the staff has to deal with is avoiding bias and not capturing the same students over and over again.
      “Some people are good at being photographed or interviewed,” explains Addie. “No one is supposed to be in there over three times.” The staff is required to balance the students and cannot focus too much on their own friends and themselves.
      Morgan and Addie, along with being in charge of the yearbook, are in charge of the other staff members. According to Morgan, it’s difficult being the “boss” because they are ultimately on the same level with the rest of the staff. The girls are in charge of keeping the staff on task along with criticizing the other editor’s pages, a task that, according to them is far from easy.
      “It’s hard criticizing something that they’ve put effort into,” said Addie.
      Ms. White chose both girls based on their experience and understanding of the “deadlines, chaos, and crazy stuff” they face. “They work well together,” said Ms. White. “They’ve met every deadline so far, which hasn’t been done in a few years.”
      Through all of their long hours, tension, pressure, and stress, their reward is ultimately found on distribution day. “You feel really proud, it’s really rewarding,” commented Addie.

Building Memories | Campus Affairs

2007-01-21T14:57:00.000-05:00

Memory Lane
By SHELBY GREENE, reporter

      Students, faculty, and alumni can now pay $25 to have an engraved brick placed in the courtyard next to the auditorium as a part of a project to beautify Stanton’s campus.
      The courtyard renovation, sponsored by PTSA, will also include replacing and removing many of the benches that sit in the courtyard and relandscaping many of the damaged flower beds near the side of the auditorium. Other plans for the renovation include the addition of tables and new trash cans.
      The construction will be completed by Florida Rock, under the supervision of Mr. Jeff O’Leary, father of Stanton sophomore Samantha O’Leary. Student Activities Director Mrs. Marigene O’Connor, who is also overseeing the project, expects the courtyard renovation to cost approximately $35,000, with about 15,000 bricks needed to pave the courtyard. Stanton has applied for a money grant from Lowe’s Home Improvement to help fund the project.
      According to Mrs. O’Connor, there are many steps that need to be taken before the actual brick paving can take place. “We need an excavation four inches deep, and then a surface grading,” said Mrs. O’Connor. “Sand needs to be laid down and compacted.” She would like construction to begin in the spring, if possible, due to financial issues.

Paver Brick Campaigne Facts:
• Cost: $25
• Two lines of text, with up to 20 characters on each line may be put on the engraved brick.
• You may pick up forms in room 702, from Mrs. O’Connor.
• The 15,000 bricks will be placed in the Auditorium courtyard.

Money, Money, Money, Money | Campus Affairs

2007-01-21T14:36:00.000-05:00

The Money Trail
By SPENCER JOHNSON, reporter

Every year, Stanton receives millions of dollars from various sources, but where does it all go?

      Stanton College Preparatory School spends millions of dollars each year on various school programs and supplies, but students probably couldn’t tell you how the school generates so much money or even how Stanton spends it.
      Dr. Norma Hayward, Vice Principal, stated that every year, Stanton College Preparatory School receives millions of dollars from the state government, based on school enrollment. The more students the school has, the more money it gets. This amount is approximately $3,106 per student. Another way Stanton increases its funding is the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. Though the school “pays” to have the AP and IB programs in place around $80,000 in IB fees alone, it receives money based on test pass rates. Those pass rates are high enough to generate almost 1.5 million dollars in profit that goes to the budget. All of the money the school makes goes to a massive school budget pool.
      So where does all this money go? According to Mrs. Debra Lynch, Stanton Principal, many of the expenses are predetermined by the district, so the school has no input on the amount budgeted for certain expenses. She did say however, that she does have control over many school-based items such as the number of employees needed to comply with the Class Size Reduction Amendment.
      According to Mrs. Lynch there is a fine line between the school’s budget and AP/IB test performance. In fact, she states that approximately 20 teachers would ‘lose their jobs if students did not generate funds through passing both AP and IB tests as well earning the IB diplomas.”
      Other than the state government money, the school has few other ways to generate funding. It is a common misconception that cafeteria money goes to the school, when in fact, the money spent there does not go into the school budget. Aramark, a food distribution company, has a contract that specifies that all profit goes straight back to the company, though sometimes the company will donate supplies if a request is made. For example, a few years ago Aramark donated tables to the Stanton.
      Pepsi issues a commission check of $28.03 per student to the school. That money is then distributed accordingly to a variety of programs and groups. Another company that does business on campus is Herff Jones, an independent vendor that just works on campus and had to bid for a contract with the school. This means the school does not benefit financially from them.
      Ultimately most of Stanton’s funding comes from the state government and from profit generated from its AP and IB programs. Almost all this money is spent on teachers and supplies for the students.

The Rumor Mill | Campus Affairs

2007-01-21T14:13:00.000-05:00

Rumor Control
By SHAINA LEE, Creative Designer

      Rumors are purported to spread like fire, and people are notorious for spreading the wrong information. To quiet these rumors and obtain the truth the Devil’s Advocate consulted Stanton faculty members, Assistant Principal for Student Services Vernon Johnson, Attendance Clerk Ms. Lynda Brown, Principal Debra Lynch, and Student Activities Director Marigene O’Connor.

What is the new tardy policy?
      According to Ms. Brown and Mr. Johnson, Stanton’s new policy states that the student must have their I.D. when they are getting a tardy. If they do not have it, the student will be given a warning and issued a referral, if they don’t have their I.D. a second time.
      Though the first referral will not be recorded on the student’s permanent, Mr. Johnson will issue one day of cafeteria duty to the student.
      On the other hand, repeat offenders will be given multiple days of cafeteria duty. If the problem persists, a phone call will be made to the student’s parents, and detention will be assigned.
      For the record, anytime a student is asked for their I.D. and they don’t have it, the same consequences will result.

It was previously said Homecoming and Prom would be the only dances this year. But now there are rumors of a Valentine’s Day dance. If this rumor is true, what are the specifics?
      According to Mrs. Lynch and Mrs. O’Connor, the administration knows nothing about this dance because no paperwork has been submitted at press time to Mrs. O’Connor seeking the event’s approval.

Poetry | Script

2006-11-08T20:14:00.000-05:00

Ode to the Oak

By SPENCER JOHNSON, staff reporter

O’ elderly behemoth oaken tree,
Alone in a pile of mulch you sit,
Waiting silently and vigilantly
By the heavenly light your soft leaves are lit.

Its long entwining branches coil out,
Like a pack of snakes ALL driven insane
By Samuel L. Jackson’s loud, piercing shout
On Pacific Air Flight 121.
But O’ years reveal glory faded,
Bitter students who to your trunk deface.
And leave your mighty majesty faded,
With “06” spray-painted on your wide base.

So now you stand in the dreaded courtyard,
Your age shows, your magnificence is marred.

Can You? | Script

2006-11-08T20:10:00.000-05:00

So You Think You Can Dance

By SPENCER JOHNSON, staff reporter

      The worldwide gaming phenomenon Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) has earned a spot in the hearts of Americans. Players spend countless hours and cash at home and at arcades perfecting their dance skills. The game’s concept is simple; you have four pads and you step on them corresponding to the pattern of arrows flashing up on the arcane screen or your television set while music plays. Doing this isn’t as simple as it looks however. It takes acute timing, frenetic speed, and a dedication to memorize your favorite songs.
      Not many players are able to take the game to its limits but Isabel “Izzy” Platt is one of those few people that have mastered the game. She’s been playing since the end of her freshman year and although she practices a lot less now, she used to practice up to an hour a day. Izzy’s favorite song is Break Down on DDR Max 2. She likes it because, of “the beat and how the dance goes.” When I asked Izzy how she got so good she attributed her success to the time she spent playing against her cousins. Between them, they have every copy of DDR released in America.
      So how good is Izzy? “On a scale of 1-10 I’m about a 7. I can do any song on Standard and some on Heavy,” said Izzy. That’s good by the way because DDR is not a game for the weak. Sometimes Izzy spins around on the pad for multiple taps or plays backwards at the end of the song. “I try looking cool but I usually end up looking silly.”

How Smart? | Script

2006-11-08T20:04:00.000-05:00

And U Thou_gt We Were Smart...

By RYAN THOMPSON, staff reporter

Shelby Hughey, 9^th
Q: What are the Powerpuff Girls made of ?
A:” Sugar and spice and everything nice.”
Q: What is Congress made of?
A: “ Old people.”

Monya Sharpe, 10^th
Q: How many stripes are on Adidas shoes?
A: “Three”
Q: How many stripes are on the American flag?
A: “50, one for each of the states.”

Shannon Carlin, 11^th
Q: Where are the Gilmore Girl’s from?
A: “Stars Hollow”
Q: Where was the Medici family from?
A: “Who are they?”

Street Beat | Script

2006-11-08T19:57:00.000-05:00

Why does grass smell when it has just been cut, but doesn't smell the rest of the time?

By SHELBY GREENE, staff reporter

“Because grass has a lot of bugs and when the grass is cut, the bug’s guts is what really smells.”
- Sarah Ro, 9^th

“The orbs in the grass are released when it is cut.”
- Tyrell Smith, 10^th

“Because the fibers in the grass release the chlorophyll and it smells.”
- Whitney Haynes, 11^th

“Grass has magical smelling power. When it is cut, it hurts, so it cries out its power.”
- Co’Relous Bryant, 12^th

Point of View | Opinions

2006-11-08T19:54:00.000-05:00

Nine Weeks Down...Four Years to Go

By JAMIE RIXIE, Contributing Writer

Every day my parents and teachers drill into me the idea that “you are at Stanton College Prep, one of the best schools in the nation and you’re going to have to work hard to stay here.” As a freshman it’s already proving to be true. My friends and I are either loaded down with homework, cramming for tests, or worse, both. I’ve heard the work load gets worse, but in the end I feel it will be worth it when I get to college. This upcoming nine weeks I am going to try to do a better job of managing my time so I can relax and have a little more fun. As for transitioning into high school, I look at it as a larger version of middle school with more freedom and less responsibility. But then there’s that minor setback of being at the bottom of the “food chain.” High school is the final stage before college, and I’m realizing that four years isn’t a long time to wait. Starting high school has made me see that sooner than I think, it will be over and I’ll be starting fresh again.

* The opinions expressed in these editorials do not reflect the views of the Devil’s Advocate.

Column | Sports

2006-11-08T19:48:00.000-05:00

Some Breathing Room

By MORGAN HENLEY, Sports Editor

      If you’re on any one of our athletic teams, you have probably faced the agony and pain of practicing on our home practice fields, or even worse, being hauled off to some other place to practice. Earlier this month a typical day after school went something like this: the Varsity and junior varsity football teams were both on the football field. The wrestling team, boys and girls basketball were forced to share the track. The volleyball team was in the gym, at their District championship game. The cheerleaders were in small grassy area between the portables due to being kicked out of the auditorium as it was already occupied by a multi meeting, a girls soccer team meeting, and play practice. This left the boys and girls step teams in the cafeteria, and the dance team in the black box. Not to mention later that night the James Weldon Johnson football team played their homecoming game on our field because this is their home field. Our cross country team, band, swim team, golf team, and crew team are all forced to leave campus for practice due to lack of space and proper setting for practice. As you’ve probably experienced, we’re crammed for space here at our well respected, prestigious school.
      We can’t exactly blame the school or the administration for our lack of room, because it’s given the athletic department all they’ve got. Our administration actually does an amazing job keeping all of this organized. We’ve only got two security guards working after school, and how safe our school is, that’s a pretty big feat. But as you look at our history, you can see that we weren’t built as the prized college prep school we came to be. We were built almost fifty years ago as a vocational school, not as a high school facility that we imagine by today’s standards. We simply just don’t have enough room.
      The Duval County Public School has got to love us. We bring them more glory and fame than any other school in the city through AP scores, IB graduates, FCAT scores, graduation rates, and National Merit Scholars. Not to mention our school has a nationally acclaimed crew team, one of the city’s best band programs, and the city’s best public school volleyball, golf, and swim teams. Don’t you think our beloved school district could helps us buy the foreclosed houses that surround our school?
      It’s not like our school has been given tons of funding for our sports teams. Terry Parker is known for its nice baseball field, Raines gets to hold all of the big track meets due to its well kept track, and Mandarin’s got the best public school pool in town. But what does Stanton have? A decent football field?
      Duval County owes it to us. We’ve broken the “only good at academics” barrier that might have constrained us before. We’ve got a pretty good crop of sports teams, and it’s about time that our school board realized that. Maybe they’re too happy thinking about our #5 national ranking with Newsweek to remember that we’ve got some of the worst athletic facilities in town. If our school board wants our school to keep producing the well rounded student athletes we are, they’re going to have to dig in their pockets and help us out by buying us some of the surrounding room in the area so we can expand and improve upon our athletic facilities.

Point of View | Opinions

2006-11-08T19:40:00.000-05:00

MySpace = Better College Applicants

By MS. CLAIRE CLARK, Contributing Writer

I have a theory: MySpace.com, the social networking website that inspires adult professionals to make public their drunken photos, obnoxious music taste, and circle of sketchy online acquaintances, is going to help get today’s web savvy high school students into college. Why? Because, unlike the clueless young professionals who are getting fired for their inability to responsibly negotiate their ‘real’ professional life and their ‘virtual’ one, teens know how to manage their profile to precisely express the personality and lifestyle of their aspirations. The ability to sum up the self in a single tag line is useful for kids who are expected to tell admissions officers everything about themselves in three adjectives or less. Admissions officers are a lot like Myspace lurkers: they want to get a sense of the individual in under five minutes, without actually meeting them. The standards for evaluating college applicants and Myspace friends may be different—academic caliber rather than coolness quotient, for example- but the process of manufacturing and consuming identity is eerily similar. You fill in the boxes and decide on the songs, movies, quotes, colors, and images that define you, and your personality pops up onscreen. Or, you fill in the boxes with your extracurricular activities, academic experiences, and personal heroes, and put the best presentation of yourself on an admission officer’s desk. Your webpage and your college ‘ap’ are your personal commercials— they’re flashy, slightly fallacious, and utterly convincing.
Hopefully, you know relationships and scholarships depend on truth in advertising.

* The opinions expressed in these editorials do not reflect the views of the Devil’s Advocate.

Q&A | Sports

2006-11-08T19:32:00.000-05:00

The BLOUNT Truth

By SHAYLA BIVINS, staff reporter

Coach Kelly Blount is always on the go, but the Devil’s Advocate sat down with him to discuss the problems and challenges he has faced in his two years as both athletic director and head varsity football coach.

Devil’s Advocate: At a school were academics are stressed, how do you go about promoting sports and athleticism without demoting academics?
Kelly Blount: My job is to promote sports and make them appealing as well as make them fun. I am supposed to create an escape from school. However, I am also expected to make accommodations and allowances for any academics. I promote both sports and academics.

DA: This school receives millions of dollars from both AP and IB tests, why don’t we have a rubberized track?
KB: We submitted a request for a rubber track to the district; because that’s who handles the track. They told us that because of the heavy foot traffic, people walking from the mudlot to the school, they would not do it. They also said that if we create a plan to alleviate the foot traffic, then they could reconsider. We have created a plan, but nothing has happened yet. Besides, it is very expensive.

DA: Since we are a nationally ranked academic power, do our athletes get more recognition from colleges because of their academic achievements?
KB: A lot of schools know of our academic success. They know that the kids who graduate here will be prepared for college and won’t be in danger of not qualifying.

DA: Do a lot of college coaches come out to watch our sports?
KB: For football, I know that they come out to watch practices, games, and jamborees during the spring because this is the recruiting period.

DA: How can we shape our current athletes to become better ones? Is there a way that we could draw more athletes to our sports programs?
KB: The only way to attract athletes is to have a better program. A lot of our sports don’t get good recognition but a swimmer here knows whether or not we a have a good swimming program. We can’t recruit students, so the only way to get them here, is if they get accepted by the lottery.

DA: At other high schools in Jacksonville, coaches “recruit” good athletes to come to their school. Do you support this?
KB: No, I don’t support recruiting because it is illegal. Athletes know what they want and where they want to go. There is no way to get them here other than the lottery.

DA: Recently the Devil’s Advocate featured an editorial regarding our student’s lack of school spirit. What is your opinion on this issue?
KB: I think that success breeds attention; but I also think that we don’t have a lack of school spirit; I mean it’s not the best but it’s pretty good. Besides, the attention a sport receives depends on the sport.

DA: The majority of the spectators at our games are parents and family members. How can our athletes expand their fan base beyond family and friends?
KB: Again, winning games draws people out. But, athletes should go to different clubs and challenge other students to come to their games and events. They should also try to make their schedules more visible.

DA: On our sports teams, is there equal participation among boys and girls?
KB: No because last school year, 2005-2006, there were more girls participating in sports.

DA: Why do you think there are more female athletes?
KB: I think it’s because the female population is greater than the male population.

DA: What are the pros and cons of on campus coaches versus off campus coaches?
KB: The pros are that there’s more supervision and control over student athletes. It also helps communication between teachers and coaches, as well as communication between coaches and athletes. As far as off campus coaches, I definitely appreciate them and they do a fine job; however, they usually have other jobs and their attention is split. Communication causes problems too.

DA: How can our students, faculty, and administrators come together and help you and the other sports coaches create a better sports program?
KB: They can volunteer their time and talents.

Point of View | Opinions

2006-11-08T19:27:00.000-05:00

Mental Gum: Chew On It

By JOSH GIBSON, Contributing Writer

      Look back on how much society has changed, moved on and solidified. Has it? When you look at what you do everyday, how much does it really matter? Modern minds often praise the sterility of society the gradual blindness to things of substance. Look around now- your probably sitting in a white cinderblock box. That classroom is where you spend thirteen years of your life, shaping how you bend your time. Maybe today you forgot your homework. Stress envelopes your mind for a bit while your teacher slices your grade. In the end, does it truly matter? Does any of this time truly matter?
      Life does matter, but only if you make it.
      Look around again. I bet you will find one of those little white posters gummed onto a wall, the infamous standards. How can you be sucking in stuff that matters if all you have to do is cap off some standard? Isn’t one of them to learn how to write your name? Big deal you passed a standard. In reality, life isn’t based on them, though.
      Never set a standard. Sip a coffee and really think about it for a while. Standards raise a nice crop of apples, but maybe what the world needs is an orange.

* The opinions expressed in these editorials do not reflect the views of the Devil’s Advocate.

The Devil Goes Down To Stanton | Sports

2006-11-08T19:24:00.000-05:00

Student By Day, Devil By Night

By GINNY POARCH, Opinions Editor

A short glimpse into the life of our cherished mascot.

Who is this mysterious Devil that excites the fans and dances with the cheerleaders? Our mascot is a spirited soul who likes to “get ‘crunk’ and crazy with the 12th Man club.” In order to get hyped up and ready for a game’s worth of cheer our mascot takes a trip to Zaxby’s before the game and loads up on candy, water and Gatorade. There is no time for a break, our Devil is always ready to “pump up the fans and team even when we [the team] are at our worst.” When the Devil feels a little blue about not being able to be in the stands with it’s friends, it waits for the infamous band song “Corner Store” and cheerleader captain Allie Fair’s little skit. The Devil gets some grief from opposing team fans but challenges any of their mascots to a show-down during half time.

Point of View | Opinions

2006-11-08T19:20:00.000-05:00

Political Awareness

By SEJAL SHAH, Contributing Writer

Who are the current Florida candidates for governor and what are their platforms? Despite the fact that Stanton has some of the most intellectually brilliant students in Jacksonville, there seems to be a general lack of knowledge of current events. As we all get caught up in the many activities, both academic and social, we tend to neglect the events occurring in the world around us. A common excuse is, “I can’t vote so what does it matter if I know about the things going on?” However, just because you cannot vote does not mean you cannot stay informed or involved. As more of us come closer to the voting age it is critical that we learn about policies that shape our country in order to be educated and informed citizens. I encourage all of you to get involved in some way to help yourself become more aware of the issues shaping our world. Our school offers numerous outlets where students can go to involve themselves in some cause. This includes clubs such as Young Democrats, Teenage Republicans, Amnesty International and Junior Statesman of America (JSA). It is up to us to shape our tomorrow, and we can only do this by getting involved and staying informed.

* The opinions expressed in these editorials do not reflect the views of the Devil’s Advocate.

The Numbers | Opinions

2006-11-08T19:17:00.000-05:00

Ethics Poll

On a scale from 1-10, (1 being the lowest, 10 being the highest) you were asked how strongly you feel you stick to your ethics.
The majority of you, 42%, gave yourself an 8.

When asked where your ethics are tested most often:
Males: 60% While with friends
Females: 52% School

Saw another student using drugs on campus:
Males:
75% Ignore it
25% Confront the person
0% Notify an Authority
Females:
50% Ignore it
29% Confront the person
21% Notify an Authority

Saw a teacher with/using drugs:
Males:
45% Ignore it
20% Confront the person
35% Notify an Authority
Females:
29% Ignore it
11% Confront the person
57% Notify an Authority

Saw students engaging in promiscuous behavior on campus:
Males:
70% Ignore it
30% Confront the person
0% Notify an Authority
Females:
88% Ignore it
3% Confront the person
9% Notify an Authority

If you were offered answers to a test:
Males:
40% Say No
60% Accept the Answers
0% Notify an Authority
Females:
68% Say No
32% Accept the Answers
0 % Notify an Authority

Saw a teacher and a student romantically off campus:
Males:
45% Ignore it
20% Confront the person
35% Notify an Authority
Females:
39% Ignore it
29% Confront the person
32% Notify an Authority

If you had knowledge of a student having brought illegal contraband on campus (guns, knives, etc.}:
Males:
10% Ignore it
10% Confront the person
80% Notify an Authority
Females:
9% Ignore it
9% Confront the person
82% Notify an Authority

Saw someone vandalizing school property:
Males:
40% Ignore it
30% Confront the person
30% Notify an Authority
Females:
50% Ignore it
11% Confront the person
39% Notify an Authority

The Devil’s Advocate selected a random sample of Stanton students in order to conduct this survey.

Gubernatorial Endorsement | Opinions

2006-11-08T18:55:00.000-05:00

Davis vs. Crist

Jim Davis, Florida native and congressman, is running against Republican Charlie Crist in November’s Gubernatorial election. Representative Davis has been involved in politics for more than 15 years, first as a member of the Florida Legislature working his way up to Congressman. As Governor he plans to keep fighting to protect Florida’s coastline from offshore drilling as well as its public lands and waterways. He would also like to improve Florida school systems by fighting for higher teacher salaries, smaller class sizes, a re-tooled FCAT and an improved curriculum. Davis supports stem cell research as well as increasing health care funding for rural communities and children’s health programs. He hopes to protect families devastated by hurricanes by seeking fair insurance rates, timely claims settlements and by providing the state with a fully funded Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.

* The Devil’s Advocate selected Congressman Davis after conducting a blind survey in which both candidates’ platforms and positions on social, educational, and immigration issues were evaluated.

Diverse America | Opinions

2006-11-08T18:49:00.000-05:00

Promoting Diversity in Our Schools

      If you received this year’s college brochure for the University of Florida the title ‘Strength in Diversity’ would lead you to believe that they are trying to promote well, diversity. Our superintendent, Mr. Joseph Wise, in order to jump on the bandwagon, has come up with his own proposal to promote a diversified public school system.
      Stanton could be considered the melting pot of Duval County Public Schools; we have students from a variety of different ethnic backgrounds many of which fluently speak a language other than English. We as Stanton students are exposed to different customs and cultures by interacting with our peers. Unfortunately not every school is as fortunate as we are in having a diverse student population. Some Duval County schools swing one way or another ethnically. In order to expose schools like these, Superintendent Wise has devised a plan he hopes will “create a climate of appreciation for differences among people.”
      The school board believes the greatest strength as a school district lies in the diversity of its students. Mr. Wise and his staff sent out invitations to all schools and departments this past August in order to see how many schools are willing to participate or are interested in participating in this project. The school board plans on setting up a council consisting of these interested schools in order to retrieve ideas and suggestions on how to further educate Duval County Public School students on the importance of being informed about other cultures. They also hope to enlighten students with knowledge of different cultures, customs and histories.
      We feel that this is a smart idea on Mr. Wise’s part as long as the plan pulls through and enough people participate in the meetings. If reasonable and attainable ideas are presented at the meeting and action is taken in order to enforce them it may lead to a more unified school system. This may also lead to fewer fights between schools and within schools. When students understand and are aware of their peer’s backgrounds they may be less apt to show hate and prejudice.
      Although Superintendent Wise’s proposal is still in the planning stages we feel the best way to educate different schools is by promoting a multi-cultural club, like ours, in which people of all ethnic backgrounds are welcome to attend. The club members would share their opinions, customs, and what makes them especially unique. Another way to share cultural beliefs and behaviors would be to offer classes that are directed toward sharing the ideas of different ethnic backgrounds.

Praise | Opinions

2006-11-08T18:36:00.000-05:00

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

D
Each year class rivalries at Stanton create a division between the students. A result of this rivalry and division is the trend of play-fighting. This unnecessary act wins it a THUMBS DOWN.

C
We all love a cheerful giver and the snacks and drinks that SPEC provides to athletic teams. This act earns a THUMBS UP.
Be sure to say Thank You! -Ed

D
A dollar used to buy a lot of things, for instance a gallon of gas. Aramark jumped on the bandwagon and increased their prices in the cafeteria. This increase wins it a THUMBS DOWN.

Letters | Opinions

2006-11-08T18:29:00.000-05:00

Letters to the Editor

Devil’s Advocate Staff,
Upon receiving a copy of the Devil’s Advocate, I was very excited to see what the staff had in store for their first issue. Unfortunately, I was thoroughly disappointed. When I turned to the “He Said, She Said” article, I expected to find an interesting read. Instead, I saw that the female half of the article was totally and completely irrelevant. Instead of answering the question at hand, she wrote an essay-like commentary on physical intimacy among females vs. contact among males. Although beautifully written, the general idea had absolutely no connection to the original question. I’ve always been a big fan of the Advocate; let’s hope in the future, readers will be able to see the staff producing better connected work (like we know they can).

Respectfully,
Concerned 10^th grader

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Dear Editors,
I was pleased with most of the first issue of the Devil’s Advocate, but there was one thing that caught my attention. In the fashion section, you included what looked like an advertisement for Beyonce’s new clothing line, House of Dereon. House of Dereon uses real fur in many of their designs- fur of animals brutally slaughtered despite many cruelty-free alternatives available. P.E.T.A. has approached Beyonce many times about this issue, but she has yet to remove fur from her collection. I hope in the upcoming issues you chose to highlight designers who have decided against murder for their collections.

Sincerely,
Susanna Moore, 10^th

Taking a Stance | Opinions

2006-11-06T17:15:00.000-05:00

      On Aug. 7, 2006, the Duval County Public School District implemented a new county-wide academic program that radically changed the way in which students take their courses. This concept of semesterization, the splitting of the traditional one credit course into two half-credit semesters, gives students less of an opportunity to slack off, thus forcing them to place more emphasis on their studies in an attempt to earn grades that are sufficient for them to pass. With this change, a problem specifically affecting Stanton has arisen; most classes weigh test grades heavily. Therefore, if a student does not perform well on tests, their grade will most likely suffer. That’s where the grade recovery plan comes into place.
      The school district has implemented this new plan in which students who earn a D or F in a course at the end of a grading period have the opportunity to complete a teacher-issued grade recovery assignment with hopes of improving by one letter grade. We feel that this plan is beneficial to students who do not test well but still earn high grades on quizzes and other various homework assignments. The grade recovery program is a positive system which provides students with a second chance to demonstrate to their teacher their understanding of both the material and standards taught. In addition, this program gives poor test takers an opportunity to redeem themselves by retaking the test or quiz without the result of their grade suffering.
      Some faculty and students are opposed to this new plan. Some students feel as though the grade recovery program gives students who slack off in class a chance to earn a higher grade. An alternative solution: give students the chance to participate in the grade recovery program if they have turned in a certain amount of homework. However, even with this solution in place some people feel the program helps those who are indolent and simply do not do their work.
      The grade recovery plan gives students a second chance to solidify their grade. Simply stated, it ensures that students will pass if they are willing to do what it takes. While some see the program as an easy way out for students who are not diligent workers, we feel it was implemented to help students achieve.

Student Help | Features

2006-11-05T12:14:00.000-05:00

Brick by Brick

By AVITAL MIRSKY, Features Editor

Stanton’s HabiJax club helps a beloved staff member build home.

      When Sejal Shah, Vice President of Stanton’s HabiJax chapter, learned Ms. Lynda Brown, one of the school’s staff members was going to receive a home in March of 2007, she eagerly e-mailed the area coordinator with the hopes of getting the school’s students involved.
      Stanton’s HabiJax members spend one Saturday a month out of their busy schedules helping people build their homes. They do everything from landscaping and installing windows, to putting siding on the exterior of homes. Aside from earning volunteer hours, the simple fact that the students are able to help someone build a home, establish a household, and ultimately affect the lives of a family motivates them. They see it as a more effective reward than money or other accolades. It was this motivation that made Shah write that email.
      “I wanted a big effort from the student body to make Ms. Brown’s home more personal,” said Shah. “Ms. Brown is always helping the students, so we wanted to help her with something meaningful that would truly impact her.”
      The expression “Stanton family” is used quite frequently by students, staff and faculty members. Everyone who works at and attends the school seems to be a part of that “family.” In fact, the home is considered to be the foundation of a family, and many would agree that it is human nature to want to help those who mean the most.
      To Shah and the students of Stanton’s HabiJax chapter, Ms. Brown was the perfect candidate for their help.

“Ms. Brown is always helping the students, so we wanted to help her with something meaningful that would truly impact her.” -Sejal Shah

      Dubbed a “jack of all trades”, Ms. Brown’s official title is the Attendance Clerk; however, she far surpasses her duties of simply administering tardy slips to students who are late to class. Though her job description requires her to contact the parents of students who do not attend first period, she also monitors the students in the safe room to ensure that they are not roaming the halls and getting into trouble.
      With her endless dedication to helping the faculty, staff, and students at Stanton, it was only appropriate that the club return the support.
      Ms. Brown currently resides in a three bedroom apartment on the Westside with her three children, ages 13, 15, and 18. Even though she says the apartment is tight and cramped, she says that it serves the purpose of a home. To her it provides the shelter that one needs, and is a place where her children know they can come to feel safe.
      When asked how she balances the dual roles of single parent and working mother, she said that she “keeps a positive attitude.” Ms. Brown also explained that the balancing is just a part of life.
      “It is very hard, but it’s just something you have to do,” said Ms. Brown, who went on to say that it though it is difficult taking care of her kids, she just thanks God that everything has been all right.
      Ms. Brown found out about HabiJax from Dorothy Evans, a personal friend who mentioned that she was going through the last steps of receiving a HabiJax home.
      “My friend applied for a HabiJax home and brought it to my attention,” said Ms. Brown. “She told me the process and helped me with the steps of going into it.”
      Once Ms. Brown was selected as a candidate for a home, she was informed that she would have to put in three hundred hours of “sweat equity” or physical labor, before she actually received her home. According to Ms. Brown, the first one hundred hours are to be worked on without any help from family members or friends. She feels that the first one hundred hours are used as a “learning process” which will better assist the candidate in knowing what the other two thirds of the hours are all about. The second hundred hours are spent still working on other people’s houses; however, candidates are allowed to bring two or three people to help.
      When Ms. Brown completes all of the paperwork and the two hundred hours assigned to her, the Stanton HabiJax students can assist her in building her house.
      While in the process of putting in her three hundred hours, Ms. Brown is eagerly anticipating the acquisition of her home. This will be the first time that she will be able to lay her head down at night and know she owns her own home. According to Ms. Brown, the house will consist of four bedrooms and will be built somewhere on the Westside of Jacksonville; however, a lot has not been selected for her house at this time.
      Shah comments that “Ms. Brown is always committing her time and dedication toward the students, and we just want to reciprocate that support by helping her in her desire to have a home of her own.”

She Said | Features

2006-11-05T12:09:00.000-05:00

Why are girls so overdramatic?

By ASHLEY LOMBARD, Contributing Writer

ATTENTION! ATTENTION! ATTENTION!.. is one of many reasons for a girl to be overdramatic. Every girl wants some type of attention, no matter who she gets it from. She will stop at nothing to become the center of attention even if she may become annoying, which is usually the case. Take the senior superlatives, for example, which are voted on by students. Some people deserve them, some people think they deserve them, and then there are those who do not deserve them who overreact when they are not nominated. What is supposed to be a simple class vote turns into a popularity contest. If a person deserves a superlative, they will get the votes, it not…DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT! It is not a big deal! Another reason a girl may be overdramatic is the need for excitement in her life. For example, what started out as a simple “window” shopping day at the mall turns into an extravagant shopping “spree”. Big difference, huh? Girls love to spice up their lives by being the center of attention or having a great story to tell. That is just the way we are. So if we have something to say, listen or just acknowledge us the first time we will not have to repeat it.

He Said | Features

2006-11-05T12:05:00.000-05:00

Why do guys act so macho?

By TRITON ONG, Contributing Writer

People assume that guys take the role of the dominating, masculine super-beast to impress women, but we know that’s false because every girl wants something different. So, if not to vie for womanly attention, why do guys act macho? The answer is simple: for women’s attention, because every girl likes a macho man - but it’s the word “macho” that changes. Most people think it means to be assertive and strong to the point of exaggeration, but real machismo can be anything to a girl: chauvinism, a great voice, a man who can dance, listening to her when she needs to talk, doing little things to let her know she’s special like leaving her notes or calling on a Tuesday just because...Guys act macho to get the girl who wants a guy like that, but it all comes down to exactly what “macho” means in any given situation. Most of the time when a guy likes a girl he’ll try to change himself to become what that girl perceives as macho. Think about it, how many guys wouldn’t pick up a football, a baseball, or a weird book for a girl he couldn’t stop thinking about? A girl likes it when a guy is willing to change for her, but that same affection can’t be said about guys who act fake to get her fancy. A friend of mine always says to “just be yourself, no matter what,” and that’s some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten. Don’t act macho, be macho. Don’t be someone you aren’t just to get someone to notice you, just be yourself and people will like you for who you really are.

Making My Own | Fashion

2006-11-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

Student Style

By ALEX MCCAIN, Fashion Editor

Instead of conforming to fashion trends that have already been done, senior McKendree Poston creates her own clothes from scratch that express her personalilty. The DA takes a closer look at what makes this student designer unique.

Devil’s Advocate: What is it that interests you about fashion?
McKendree Poston: The fact that in fashion, you can do your own thing and it’s still cool. Sometimes couture fashion is off the wall and crazy but it’s still accepted.

DA: How did you begin decorating your own clothing?
MP: It was just the fact that I wanted clothes that expressed my own personality. Rather than conforming to clothes that are already made I did things my own way. I made clothes that were for me.

DA: What do you plan on pursuing after you graduate?
MP: I think designing clothes will stay close to me and my relative friends. I don’t really see myself designing fashion, but you never know what could happen.

DA: How would you describe your style?
MP: “La litta” which sort of means little girl. Plus punkish, and edgy type things. I wear a lot of cute dresses that are disjointed and things that are ripped or have gnarly hems.

DA: Who would you consider to be your style icon and why?
MP: Jeffrey Sibillia who won the third season of Project Runway. His clothes were girly and feminine but still edgy. They weren’t too girly and they still pushed the limit.

DA: What advice would you give other students who are trying to develop their own style from scratch?
MP: I would say learn how to sew and develop good skills. Know how to do alterations, and hem things. Once you conquer those things it’ll be easier to execute your ideas.

Careers | Fashion

2006-11-05T11:52:00.000-05:00

Behind the Seams

By ALEX MCCAIN, Fashion Editor

      In the field of fashion, the obvious career to pursue would be a fashion designer. But what most people fail to realize, is that a love for style and originality can be used to pursue other jobs in this creative field. There’s more to fashion than just creating an outfit and becoming the next big designer. Careers don’t end there, other areas to pursue include for example accessory design, production, marketing, and fashion merchandising.
      Sometimes accessories can make a big difference in the appearance of an outfit. And if you’re one of those people who has a knack for putting the perfect pieces together, accessory design would be the field to pursue.
      This career path explores the creation of accessories ranging from jewelry to belts, hats, and high quality handbags. According to Artinstitues.edu, which is an art and design based school with locations all over the US; the accessory industry is worth over $25 billion dollars in the US alone.
      Pursuing a career in production involves taking a design on paper and creating the actual garment so that it can be sold in retail stores. Although it’s similar to fashion designing, production takes things a step further by including the business behind the creativity. Working with manufactures and distributors will be a big part of this line of work. It doesn’t just focus on the designing aspect, but also takes a closer look into developing the business side of the fashion industry.
      Fashion marketing is an area in the trade that allows for designs to move from a designer’s show room to the actual retailer. This is an area to pursue for someone who has strong business and leadership skills, as well as an eye for fashion. It’s all about selling a design to the retailer using creative visual campaigns. This career path is most helpful when getting involved in jobs such as buyers, stylist, merchandisers or special events coordinator.
      To endeavor into the profession of fashion merchandising would mean getting the design not only from the show room to the retailer, but into the hands of everyday consumers. Skills in business, product development, fashion and design will be necessary to be successful. Merchandising is an occupation that allows for a hands on experience of promotional campaigns to appeal to the consumers. Becoming familiar with what goes on behind the scenes of fashion sales is a major part of this occupation. Again this is another area that works with visual campaigns to attract consumers. Exposure to all four areas of the fashion industry which include: business, marketing, fashion and design; are gained through the experience of merchandising.
      Most people assume that in order to have a profitable career in the style industry, one has to be the next Versace or Hilfigure, which is not the case at all. There are plenty of other ways creativity in fashion can be put to use and still be just as successful in the business.

Sneaker Pimps | Fashion

2006-11-05T11:43:00.000-05:00

Creative Footwear

By SHELBY GREENE, staff reporter

      They have graffiti artists and fashion designers, hip-hop groups and performers juggling fire. They’ve got giveaways, skateboard demos and an ice sculptor on site. Even with all of these wild attractions, the hundreds of spectators are here to see something entirely different: a massive collection of shoes. Together, these elements form Sneaker Pimps.
      Sneaker Pimps is currently the largest touring sneaker and street based art show in the world. The Sneaker Pimp shows feature over 1,000 pairs of rare, autographed, vintage, and limited edition sneakers, with custom designs features by artists such as Futura 2000, Stash, Tkid, Dr. Romanelli and James Jarvis.
      Peter Fahey came up with the idea for Sneaker Pimps in 1999 while vacationing in California. Three weeks later, he hosted the first Sneaker Pimps show in his hometown of Sydney, Australia. Although the first show only displayed around 200 pairs of rare and limited edition sneakers, Fahey soon realized that the tour would be a success.
      Sneaker Pimps has now toured in 62 cities in the U.S., as well as countries like New Zealand, Japan, Belgium, Canada, and the Philippines. Fahey believes that the human desire for uniqueness is the reason why Sneaker Pimps has been so globally accepted. “It gives you recognition and individuality-and it seems [that] people crave to be individual, hence the popularity of the sneaker in such a way that it stands out more than t-shirts, jeans, caps, ect.,” said Fahey in an interview available on the Sneaker Pimp’s Myspace page.
      Fahey believes that a “sneaker culture” is alive and thriving in our world today, a culture that originated in the 80’s and remains rooted in hip-hop. He also believes that sneaker collecting allows an individual to stand out and be themselves, as well as allowing a person to show off his or her status and style while expressing their unique personality.
      With all of the variety and creativity involved in Sneaker Pimps and the art of sneaker-collecting, it shouldn’t be a surprise that this is one hobby that will continue to grow in popularity.

Style Check | Fashion

2006-11-04T19:39:00.000-05:00

Class T-Shirt Critique

By SPENCER JOHNSON, staff reporter

SENIOR YEERE
The seniors chose a t-shirt that screams “redneck.” It’s a play on the ever popular John Deere logo which for no apparent reason has been being thrown on clothing recently. I suppose that tractors and popular clothing have something in common that only “popular” people understand. But seriously…this shirt is inane and unoriginal. Another problem is that some people may not catch onto the “clever” wordplay on “Senior Yeere” and might just laugh at it. The final problem is that the freshman on the shirt doesn’t look like he’s running fast. He actually looks like he’s dancing. Rumor has it that the original plan was to have a senior on a tractor chasing down a freshman but that idea was axed by the administration. This shirt would have been ten times better if they had used that idea.

(j)
What did the reigning champions of the spirit stick have to offer for a shirt this year? Not much. But with all the amazing creative possibilities that the “superhero” theme offered them they did nothing cool with them. They have no specially designed capes (though some people wore them to the pep rally), they have no masks, they don’t have a theme song, they don’t have a picture of a cool superhero on the back of their shirt, they don’t have a super vehicle to have a class mascot ride in on during pep rallies.The champs should be ashamed of themselves for having such a terrible shirt.

SCP
The sophomores honestly have the only original design this year. They managed to avoid all the trite and overused “themes” that go with their class color, of black, like FBI and MIB, so for that they earn my respect. However, the real issue is that their original design is terrible. It has no flair to it at all! It’s just the big number “09” with little devil horns and a devil tail thrown on the ends. The only cool thing about the shirt is the checkerboard design on the sleeves. I think the Class of ‘09 needs some more creative thinkers on their secret T-shirt design committee next year, because this design is very boring.

Freshmen
The freshman class t-shirt like most of the others used a popular logo as the basis of their theme. The front of the shirt looks like the Coca Cola logo. The freshman made sufficient use of their theme and it still seems like a unique idea. Although it’s a “popular” theme, it’s not an overused and banal one. The strongest point to be made about their shirt is its back. The ingredients idea is clever. It IS a little bit cheesy, but I don’t fault the freshman for that because this is the best class shirt this year by far.

"Look Neat, Dress Sweet" | Fashion

2006-11-04T19:33:00.000-05:00

Dressing for Success: The Story of Tie Day Friday

By ALEX MCCAIN, Fashion Editor

      Tie Day Friday originally began before junior Shivalik Bihani arrived at Stanton. While doing the morning announcements in
8^th grade at James Weldon Johnson, he laughed while trying to pronounce a student’s name.
      “I thought I should apologize, and my teacher suggested that I look nice. The day I apologized happened to be a Friday and after that I started doing it more often,” explained Bihani.
At first he was the only one and hadn’t intended on others following this idea.
      It wasn’t until his freshmen year at Stanton that he actually wanted more people to start doing it with him. Tie Day Friday started off being known as “look sweet, dress neat.” Other than the fact that he apologized on a Friday, this day wasn’t picked for any particular reason. At first not many people went along with the idea. However, it was during Bihani’s sophomore year that he met Evan Dodd, who was then a freshmen. Bihani introduced Dodd to Tie Day Friday and it became something that just the two of them did.
      “We tried to get more people, but no one really wanted to,” said Dodd who is now a sophomore. Recently, many students seem to have caught on to this trend. According to Dodd the idea that more students are taking part in Tie Day Friday “comes as a sweet surprise.”
      Both Bihani and Dodd feel the student body has been affected by this latest craze.
      “People are more aware of what they wear and how they coordinate their ties, with their shirts and shoes on Friday,” said Dodd. Bihani on the other hand feels that, “It’s nice to see students wearing nice clothes for a change.”
      Tie Day Friday fashion can be described as “stylish and classy,” said Dodd. While Dodd prefers to wear a dress shirt, slacks and a tie, Bihani on the other hand is more flexible. “It’s a cool style because you can wear your tie with dress pants or just jeans and a dress shirt,” he said.
      Within just a short amount of time, something as simple as a tie has incidentally become a style staple for students every Friday. Most might consider Friday as a day to dress down, but for Bihani, Dodd and other students, it is known as Tie Day Friday.

Listen In | Arts & Entertainment

2006-11-04T19:26:00.000-05:00

The Listening Post

Nottin' But Stringz
By AVITAL MIRSKY, Featurs Editor

When I saw my fifty year old dad bobbing his head to the CD Struggle From the Subway to the Charts by Nuttin’ But Stringz, I knew it was something unique. I mean, how often do you see your parents actually enjoying music that you’re listening to? Teenage brothers Damien and Tourie Escobar are two Julliard trained violinists who bring a hybrid of violin playing mixed with a hip hop flare. Their abilities are absolutely astounding and reflect the artists’ technique and passion for the instrument. The Escobars spice up what some music listeners would consider insipid classical music and give it more of an R & B/Hip Hop feel. The beats and combinations of the tracks such as “Thunder” and “Broken Sorrow” truly capture the unique sound of an atypical violin song. However, the introductions to the songs “Egyptian in the Night” and “Beauty from Afar” sever the fluidity of the pieces. Also, while the singing is soothing and flows with some of the slower, calmer violin ballads, the overbearing rap verses dominate over the upbeat, capricious notes of the violins. On track 3, entitled “Thunder,” the artists introduce the song by saying, “I want every genre to stand up and bump to this”, and it is true, their work has a little bit of classical, rock, hip-hop, and R& B flavor. While the CD has a few factors that break the cohesiveness going from track to track, it does possess a unique quality of focusing more on the instrument and less on the artist, allowing the listener to gain a greater appreciation for the versatility of an often overlooked instrument; the violin.

Sean Lennon
By RICKY MALDONADO, Contributing Writer

Sean Lennon's first album, Into the Sun, was barely noticed when it was released in 1998. Eight years later, Lennon’s second album, Friendly Fire, is receiving well deserved attention. Son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, the focus of Lennon’s life has always been music. Throughout the album, his voice has a familiar sound, reminiscent of his father’s wispy tone. Every song is accompanied by guitar and the eerie sounds of an orchestra in the background. The album was inspired by a romantic relationship that turned to tragedy after Lennon’s girlfriend had an affair with his best friend, who subsequently passed away before Lennon could reconcile with him. Adding a visual element to the album, each song is accompanied by a short film created by Lennon. Sean Lennon has already performed the album’s first single “Dead Meat” on The Late Show with David Letterman and has plans to tour Europe and America. Friendly Fire is out now and is one of 2006’s great albums.

What Does it Take? | Arts & Entertainment

2006-11-04T19:20:00.000-05:00

...to be the prop master

By MORGAN HENLEY, Sports Editor

      Stanton is well known for their talented and highly respected drama department. As it stands as a school tradition, many of our students are deeply drawn to the allure and excitement of the school play. But while the lead actors and actresses normally get all the glory and acclamation of performing in a successful play, many of the behind the scenes workers of the production get no credit for their hard work. Without the applause and exhilaration of the audience, what would drive a thespian to go behind the scenes and do all the grunt work for little of the glory? How much work does it take to be one of the behind the scenes crew members? This month the Devil’s Advocate is asking junior Elise Keister, the head prop master of Stanton’s production A Lesson before Dying, what it takes to be head prop master of the school play.
      “The prop master is in charge of getting everything that the actors hold, which sometimes includes costumes. It can be in the script or [someone can say] ‘hey this can add a lot to the overall feeling [of the play],” said Keister when defining the job description of the prop master.
      A Lesson before Dying is set in Louisiana during the 1940’s and creating a good representation of the time period is a pivotal part of the production as it creates the feeling that is needed to understand the sentiment of the play. As one can imagine, creating this time period is not an easy task. Keister has spent around 25 hours in the past month going to rehearsals, reading the play to figure out what props were needed, and then going out and finding the actual props. With such a specific time period, finding these props has been tough. “I’ve had to look all over the city for antiques,” said Keister.
      The most difficult prop to find were the leg chains, which were borrowed from an outside benefactor. Keister has had to recreate everything from a murder transcript to a shopping bag from Edwin’s, a fictitious store in the play. All of the props together have cost at least $150, as four antique glass Coke bottles were over $30. The drama department will reimburse
Keister for all the money she has personally spent on the props, so she has to keep all of the receipts and get everything on separate tickets. Many people would have turned away from a job that required both personal time and money, but not Keister.
      Although she prefers the acting to the role of prop master because she sees it as more fun, she says, “its fun to be backstage and watch.” It’s been a demanding job as Keister has her work has been needed from the very beginning of the play where as the costumes can be brought in later. “It’s definitely not as crazy as stage manager, there’s not as much work.,” says Keister. “It’s somewhere between the light and costume crew and the job of stage manager.”

Higher Reading | Arts & Entertainment

2006-11-04T19:13:00.000-05:00

Top Five Booklist

By MELISSA BEAUDRY, Arts & Entertainment Editor

1
Angels and Demons
By Dan Brown
The prequel that surpasses the vastly publicized The Da Vinci Code.

2
Beach Road
By James Patterson
An amalgamation of murder, mystery and deception that you will not want to put down.

3
The Pride of Baghad
By Brian K. Vaughan
This graphic novel, based on true events, is an allegorical tale that poses the question: What is freedom?

4
Tuesdays With Morrie
By Mitch Albom
An inspirational book, filled with emotion and insight into a bond so deep and compelling you feel apart of it.

5
Black
By Ted Dekker
The first of the long-awaited, highly controversial trilogy: Black, Red, and White.

ARTistocrats | Arts & Entertainment

2006-11-04T19:06:00.000-05:00

Stanton's Classical Musicians

By SPENCER JOHNSON, staff reporter

      David Fung is a thin, short, Asian male with glasses. His long black hair has been dyed at the tips and he wears a shirt with a computer on it. This image seems like it would be pretty common for any member of the tech crew but David has more than just technological knowledge to brag about. He is arguably the best classical pianist at Stanton College Preparatory School.
      David, a senior, has been playing for practically his whole life; he began at age three and a half. During most of his childhood David practiced an hour every day, but recently he’s been practicing a lot less. David said, “I like playing but I hate practicing. Its work and nobody likes work. But I still do it anyway because you have to put in hard work to achieve something.” School and other hobbies get in the way. But he still practices every chance he has.
      David isn’t your average pianist; he is a member of the Jacksonville Youth Symphony Orchestra. David also participated in a contest last spring where three members of the youth orchestra got to play with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and he was one of those prestigious winners. He played Tchaikovsky Concerto Number 1, a 20 minute long piece. This was a major life experience for David and he was naturally nervous before he performance. “I was breaking down with nervousness” said David, “When I got up there I felt cold but after a few minutes I relaxed a little.” David also went to a national music competition for piano sponsored by Music Teacher’s National Association. After winning the Southeast regional competition he proceeded to nationals in Austin, Texas, but did not place.
      Of course, even though David is incredibly talented at piano he probably won’t make it his profession. When asked about his future he said, “I wanna be an electric, mechanical, or computer engineer.”

      Cecilia Miyares was working in the dark recesses of the black box theatre with the other few members of her Musical Theatre class at the start of the interview. It was a small class, but that’s only to be expected with higher level drama. She is an average sized, brown haired white girl and didn’t seem like the typical “drama” student.
      The subject of the interview was in fact not related to theatre though. It was concerning her ability to play the violin. Cecilia, a senior, has been playing for twelve years and still loves to play. She initially started because both her sisters play violin as well and took classes shortly before she began. When asked how talented she is Cecilia did admit, “I don’t practice as much as I should. Violin as become more of a hobby to me.” These days she practices about an hour a week.
      Cecilia used to play with the Jacksonville Youth Symphony Orchestra as well. She quit however to be more involved with drama and the production of Urinetown last year. It would seem that drama has become a bigger part in her life. She played the major role of Titania in Mid Summer’s Night’s Dream recently and will play the lead role of Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie which can be seen this April.
      Though she has broadened her artistic horizons and found other interests she will always love the violin. “Violin is a part of me,” said Cecilia.

Student Artisty | Arts & Entertainment

2006-11-04T18:51:00.000-05:00

Serendipity

      The Devil’s Advocate, in collaboration with Stanton’s creative writing magazine, Serendipity, is here to provide you with a collection of original poems and photography. If you are interested in submitting your work, contact Mr. L’Ecuyer, Ms. Migues or Mr. Knight.

Ephemeral Effeminate
I spent the day in the city
Reaching out to butterflies
Chasing them through traffic
In hopes to take their freedom
For myself, and fly, fly away. Freedom,
Always to flutter through the fingers
Gone.
Palm open, as empty as it ever was,
Hopes as high as they ever will be,
As when I grasped the grains of sand
Or held the river in my hands
Or held the air in my lungs
In hopes of holding some sense of permanence
The long walk back to the office,
To leave my mark as a name on the payroll.
-Raymond Lane

Ghost in the Machine
What are these pistons behind my chest
That shake my heart into baited breath
What oscillator do you control
To move vibrations in my soul
What alchemist timing chains you use
To lure maidens’ senses to diffuse
Whatever lever arms in your full lips
Grind red-hot clock wheels in my wit
What gadget oils caress your eyes
To sooth the chinks my system guised
What coal, what gas, what fuse can rule
Over flame your angel voice does fuel
-Camille Thomas

a dark age to be in charge
i can’t survive
on parties with chaotic wines
and clouds of oriental smoke
that obstructs my mind from the reality of constant war.
-map

Jolly Ranchers
Parked in the Walgreen’s parking lot,
We sat listening to some random 80s songs.
The windows were down and the breeze flying through
Had a faint scent of Bar-BQ attached to it.
We had just bought a bag of jolly ranchers and the
Plastic wrappers slowly collected on the floor of your truck.
The fact I only like the flavors of cherry and watermelon
And you strictly adored green-apple and blue-raspberry,
Confirmed the suspicion that we were meant to be together.
My tongue was bright pink
And yours was a vivid teal,
Finding amusement in the color change,
We stuck them out and snapped photographs together.
      …It is simple memories like that
      which make life worth living
-Kelly Knight

Teacher Philanthropy | Campus Affairs

2006-11-04T18:43:00.000-05:00

E.J. McKnight: Resident Philanthropist

By IZZY PLATT, Contributing Writer

      With blue eyes blazing, Mr. E.J. McKnight, English teacher and resident philanthropist, sat in a school desk amongst the pandemonium of 20 seniors at Stanton College Preparatory School and reflected on his adventures in the Philippines.
       For years Mr. McKnight has been traveling to the Philippines doing a range of services; from business trips conducting seminars about personal motivation or the art of public speaking, to personal projects contributing all aspects of his physical and mental being to the building of schools, churches or raising of funds for surgeries of those less fortunate, and even on occasion preaching sermons to try and uplift the people he loves. He recalls a time when he preached in a Muslim community in the Philippines, he articulates the topic of that particular sermon humorously. It was “I am Not an Infidel”.
       In addition to being an active member in his church, Mr. McKnight recently completed his annual book drive, in which he collects donated books with the hopes of transporting them to a little village in the Philippines that he has come to adopt. Mr. McKnight plans to visit the small community sometime in the coming months.
       His first trip to the Philippines was in 1997 with a group of high school and college missionaries. When asked why this initial trip sparked such a fever of interest Mr. McKnight said, “I met some people there and I’ve been going by myself ever since. I just love the people.”
       Next month he will take his 25th trip to the Philippines, and the way he lights up with just the thought of visiting the country he considers his family, it is evident that it won’t be the last.
       The Philippines haven’t been the only thing affected by his visits; Mr. McKnight discloses the personal changes he experienced as a result of the voyages.
       “I get humbled by it,” said McKnight referring to the feelings he encounters during his stay in one of many hotels in the Philippines. Through the many contributions that he has made to many an individual he expresses a mannerism that displays his deep emotional movement by all the occurrences.
       “It makes me realize how judgmental and narrow-minded a human being can be,” said Mr. McKnight in an attempt to describe how amazing of an effect the people of the Philippines have on him.
       His family doesn’t share the same enthusiasm over his somewhat frequent travels half way around the world though. According to Mr. McKnight his travels have created a conflict because his family is influenced by the news that comes from that area of the world. With the terrorism and tsunamis, their lack of enthusiasm is recognizably out of fear. Mr. McKnight actually laughs at the idea of an adversary, in whatever forms it may come. In fact, when it comes to the terrorism and the fear his family has over the abduction of missionaries he adjusts his shoulders and states, “I am not afraid to go anywhere. I go where I want to go. I do what I want to do. No one is going to scare me away.”
       In his most confident, yet relaxed pose,
Mr. McKnight sits leisurely against the blue cabinets in the Sunshine hallway looking straight forward as he speaks. He discusses the impact that he has made on the Philippines.
       “E.J. McKnight does not have it in him
to fix a country,” said Mr. McKnight, “Each of us is compelled to make a difference. Every individual, even the hard core ones, the ones that try to make us think they don’t care, everyone wants us to think that their life mattered. That they made a difference.”
       Letting his hands fall to his lap with that infamous and yet warm smile that everyone at Stanton College Prep has come to love, Mr. McKnight sat and reminisced for a moment looking at nothing in particular. There was no doubt that his mind was going a million miles a minute and that when the corners of his mouth rise he was probably anticipating his next trip to his beloved Philippines.

Govenor Visit | Campus Affairs

2006-11-04T18:26:00.000-05:00

Florida Governor Visits Stanton, Recognizes Student

By KATIE NECHVATAL, Campus Affairs Editor

      Junior Rewa Choudharry was not the only excited Stanton student on Oct. 11, when Governor Jeb Bush, Superintendent Joseph Wise, and Duval County School Board member Brenda Priestly-Jackson were present to recognize her Hispanic Heritage Month essay entry and the state’s diversity in front of an audience of over 100 students, teachers, and reporters.
      Rewa was surprised to discover that her essay entitled “Spanish People in La Florida” had earned her a computer and a full four year scholarship to any Florida college. She heard about the essay contest at the beginning of her junior year, in Ms. Lisa Koehler’s AP U.S. History class. She advised Rewa to make the essay more personal after she gave it to here as a first draft. Rewa’s parents attended the ceremony where they later joined her to take pictures with the Governor.
      During the ceremony, Governor Bush, Superintendent Wise, and School Board Member Priestly-Jackson led an open forum discussion concerning diversity in Florida.
      Bush commented jokingly, “I like Florida because we have thirty three flavors,” referring to the large amount of diversity within the state. With October being Hispanic Heritage Month, both Wise and Bush brought up varying points about diversity.
      “There is a certain amount of diversity within the Hispanic ethnic group, which makes it very unique,” said Bush on the subject of the influence and uniqueness of Florida’s Hispanic population.
      Winning an essay contest sponsored by the governor was definitely news-worthy as Channels 4, 12, and 30, the Florida Times-Union, and Stanton’s Channel 5 news team were on hand to cover Choudharry’s receipt of the scholarship. Rewa’s parents attended the ceremony where they later joined her to take pictures with the Governor who commented to the press after the ceremony about the suspected link between the dangers in school and the amount of diversity. “I don’t believe the dangers in the school environment are based on race or the issue of diversity,” said Bush. He referred to the several school shootings that took place in recent weeks.
      As student onlookers tried to get a glimpse of the press conference, Governor Bush answered varying questions from the news teams involving diversity, the upcoming election, and how he feels about Jacksonville. Elizabeth Lowe, of Stanton’s Channel 5 news team, asked Bush what he was proud of. He stated, “I’m proud of the Jaguars. I love the Jaguars!” He also insisted, “There is no other community that prepares students for school and higher education than Jacksonville.”
      After the ceremony, Superintendent Wise outlined his expectations for the newly established diversity initiative.
      “I have started the diversity council to understand the issues going on in the city,” said Wise. “I don’t want to hold the students back with this program, but I want to bring about a new era of diversity. I want kids to exceed beyond their full potential.” Mrs. Debra Lynch, Stanton Principal, also commented on the diversity initiative that will soon affect Stanton and other schools in Jacksonville.
      “I think it will make our school stronger,” said Lynch. “We already have a really diverse school, from kids coming to Stanton from all over Jacksonville.”
      The benefits of the Diversity Initiative, claimed Wise, will give students more of an equal access opportunity, so we have made diversity a requirement. Yang Ge, a junior who attended the ceremony, commented, “I think we should recognize culture, instead of discriminating against different cultures that we may not accept.” Wise admired the comment and said that that was what he was trying to accomplish with his diversity program. Mrs. Priestly-Jackson ended the discussion with the lasting analogy on America’s diverse population.
      “Are we a vegetable soup, or a melting pot?” said Priestly-Jackson. She was referring to the fact that she wants everyone to retain their individual cultural qualities, but still come together for the common good and unite with every other culture; wiping out segregation in the school environment in the process.
      While Florida and the rest of the nation celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Bush and Wise pledged to promote the topic of diversity in their plans for state-wide and county-wide diversity initiatives that incorporate inclusion and unity in schools.

Rumor Mill | Campus Affairs

2006-11-04T18:19:00.000-05:00

Rumor Control

By SHAINA LEE, staff reporter

      Rumors are purported to spread like fire, and people are notorious for spreading the wrong information. To quiet these rumors and obtain the truth the Devil’s Advocate consulted Stanton faculty members. Principal Debra Lynch, Vice Principal Norma Hayward, and Vice Principal of Curriculum Jeff Dryden were able to give the answers.

Why are there no off-campus lunches?
      According to Dr. Hayward, there are no suitable restaurants in this area that will allow students enough time to eat and return to school in forty minutes. This decision was made last year, but students still hope there is a chance to have this privilege.

What is the Grade Recovery Program?
      According to Mrs. Lynch and Mr. Dryden, the Grade Recovery Program allows students who have earned a D or F in a class the opportunity to earn one letter grade higher. A student is not eligible for Grade Recovery if he or she has earned an Integrity Referral during the grading period the student received a D or F.
      Students can pick up application forms in the main office and this must be filled out and presented to the teacher in which the student wants to attempt Grade Recovery. The application must be completed no later than two days after report cards have been distributed. The teacher will then decide what work/assignment the student is to complete and write it in the appropriate section on the application form. According to Mrs. Lynch and Mr. Dryden, each department’s course of action will vary.
      The completed form needs another parent signature and the student’s signature. Once the student has completed the specified requirements he or she is eligible to earn a letter grade higher. As a note to all students, completion of the process does not guarantee a grade change.

Movie Review | Arts & Entertainment

2006-10-09T09:44:00.000-05:00

Katrina Documentary

By SHAYLA BIVINS, staff reporter

      On Aug. 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina violently swept through the Gulf States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama; damaging millions of homes and businesses as well as killing more than one thousand people. Now, one year later, director Spike Lee has filmed a documentary about America’s greatest natural disaster. When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts gives viewers a chance to see what actually happened during last year’s storm. Originally airing on HBO on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22, the first night was the showing of the first two acts, and the second night featured the remainder of the film.
      The film includes various people’s perspectives on who they think is responsible for the tragedy and their personal observations during that time. The opinions of various prominent people were included as well; Mayor Ray Nagin, Rev. Al Sharpton, and CNN journalist Soledad O’Brien commented on health, political, social, economic, and racial issues regarding Hurricane Katrina.
      In the film, Lee brilliantly explains how local and state officials planned for the category five hurricane. He also includes a synopsis of how and why the levees broke through interviews with New Orleans residents who experienced the disaster first-hand. In addition, Lee includes the comments of lawyers, local political leaders, and educators who spoke about post-Katrina New Orleans. This segment allows the viewers to see what programs have been implemented by the government with hope of returning New Orleans back to the lively city it once was. Furthermore, Lee appeals to a variety of human emotions. At times the film was funny; but at other times it became very hard to hold back tears as well as anger.
      Although the film is an outstanding mix of information and emotion, it is extremely lengthy; some four hours and fifteen minutes long. The film mostly speaks of New Orleans and its problems, with the exception of a thirty-minute spotlight featuring a white male who lives in Mississippi. The documentary also fails to incorporate the stories of victims who resided in Alabama. There was also a gruesome slideshow of those killed by the storm. The scene is not for the faint of heart; however, it is necessary to give the audience a sense of reality.
      When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts informs people of the causes and effects of Hurricane Katrina. Although it contains some mild language and is only aired on HBO, it is still a film that everyone should take the time to see.

Can You Do This? | Script

2006-10-08T16:25:00.000-05:00

Just Cube It
By ABBY WEISS, Script Editor

The Rubik’s Cube is one of the most popular puzzle toys in history. 1/8 of the world’s population has laid their hands on this toy. The creator Erno Rubik, hence the name of the toy, said "We turn the Cube and it twists us." The Rubik’s Cube has 1 correct answer and 43 quintillion wrong ones, which leaves people all over the world busy for hours maybe even days before they finally figure out the secret of the Cube. The Rubik’s Cube has twenty-six individual little cube which make up the big Cube. Each layer of nine cubes can twist and the layers can overlap. Any three squares in a row, except diagonally, can join a new layer. In Jan. 2006 20 year old Leyan Lo, solved the Rubik’s Cube in 11.13 seconds, beating the world record time set by “Macky” Makisumi, a 15-year-old from Japan. (12.11 sec) Our very own Asof Reich can not complete the Cube in 11.13 seconds, but still amuses Stanton students and staff everyday with his time of 1 minuite and 75 seconds. I sat down with Mr. Reich and asked him a few questions about his Cubing ability.

Devil’s Advocate: When did you get your first Rubik’s Cube?
ASOF REICH: About the 18^th of August this year.
DA: How many Cubes do you own?
AR: Just one
DA: What time do you hope to achieve in the feature?
AR: I would like to get to 1 minute and 30 seconds.
DA: Do you have a name for your Rubik’s cube?
AR: Her name is Vicky.

-In one hour Asof could complete the Rubik’s cube 34 times with his average of 2 minutes and 15 seconds.
-In one year he could complete the Rubik’s cube 287,232

Spontaneously | Script

2006-10-08T16:21:00.000-05:00

Street Beat
By ABBY WEISS, Script Editor

How do feel about Pluto not being a planet anymore?

It will be something to tell the grandchildren.
-- Jeff Katz, 11^th

It's tragic.
-- Ryan Brust, 10^th

If Pluto isn’t a planet than Canada isn’t a country.
-- Alex Geer, 10^th

How Smart? | Script

2006-10-08T16:13:00.000-05:00

And U Thou_ght We Were Smart...
By ABBY WEISS, Script Editor

Chris Cox, 11^th
Q: How many times has Britney Spears been married?
A: Twice.
Q: How many times was Henry VIII married?
A: Three.

Chelsea Rosenbauer, 11^th
Q: Who wrote the song Ice Ice Baby?
A: Vanilla Ice.
Q: Who wrote America’s National Anthem?
A: Wasn’t it written in a war or something.

Emily Albert, 11^th
Q: When does a new episode of Laguna Beach come on?
A: Wednesday, at 10.
Q: When does a new governor of Florida become elected?
A: This month…?

What Does it Take? | Sports

2006-10-01T17:39:00.000-05:00

...To be the Varsity Football Team Kicker?
By MORGAN HENLEY, Sports Editor

      With the excitement from the cheering crowd, the gleaming red and blue uniforms of the band, and the bright field lights, it would be pretty easy to crack under pressure. Not many Stanton students appreciate the hard work that the football team goes through every Friday night, from practice to game time. After the offense strives to get the ball down the field, the duties are then handed over to an often overlooked player on the team, the kicker. So this brings up a question; what does it actually take to be the kicker for the football team? Senior Zack Brust, Stanton’s varsity kicker, allowed me to shadow him in my venture for an answer.
      “The problem is that many teams try to turn football players into kickers instead of turning kickers into football players,” said Brust in explanation of what makes him suitable for a position on the team, considering he has had no prior experience. He started playing football merely three weeks ago.
      “Once you learn how to kick stuff, you don’t really forget how,” Brust comments as he has had thirteen years of soccer experience to guide him in his football endeavor.
      Brust’s duties and responsibilities may seem light comparatively, but his position requires him to hold on to the black block, which is one of his most challenging requirements. The black block is the small block on which the football is placed before being kicked. It’s used when the team scores, where Brust then has to put the block down and kick the ball to try to get an extra point.
      For Brust the week before the big game, Brust spends time with his teammates, this process for him normally includes eating sunflower seeds with the other special team members (special teams being the members who are not on the offense or defensive teams), staying hydrated by taking many frequent trips to the water fountain, giving the quarterback advice on how to play his position, and getting in a few practice kicks.
      As it might appear, the kicker doesn’t face as challenging a role as many of the other players, and although he does not have to face the constant fear of being tackled, dropping the ball, or not running fast enough, he still has a demanding position. “We kick. We hit the bench. Anyone can tackle, anyone can throw the ball, but not everyone can kick, especially like us,” argues punter Jeff Katz, another member of the “special teams unit.”

Without him, the game would never start. -- Katz, Varsity Punter

      But as anyone can imagine, there is an intense amount of pressure placed on this one pivotal player. Unlike the offense or defense that has four chances to make a first down, there’s only once chance for the kicker.
      “It’s a lot of pressure because they bust their butt for those points, all week in practice, and all I do is kick the ball and try to get extra points or a field goal, which can win or lose game,” says Brust.
      With a kicking range of 52-53 yards, Brust has been “very valuable because if [the offense] can get the ball inside the other teams 40 yard line, there’s potential to score,” boasts assistant football coach, Matt McCullough. With a team record like Stanton’s, those 52-53 yards can help a lot.
      Game day is spent by most of the football players getting mentally psyched. Keep in mind, when school gets out there’s still a four hour span before opening kick off. Most of the players find this time somewhat nerve wracking. “With a lot of time on your hands, there’s a lot of time to get nervous,” said McCullough.
      While many of the other players are reviewing plays and doing tackle drills, Brust can just simply wait around to courageously walk out with his back to the team and their game’s fate on his shoulders on to the field and make the game defining kick off.

Weekday Walkers | Sports

2006-10-01T17:34:00.000-05:00

Staff-letes
By RYAN THOMPSON, staff reporter

      Students may notice that certain teachers and faculty members like to walk around the school’s track daily for both social and physical purposes. Ms. Darlene Melvin, the Main Office secretary, Ms. Lynda Brown, the Attendance Room attendee, and Mrs. Martha Gardner from the Media Center are three of these individuals.
      This is a relatively new activity because these three ladies did not start until the end of the second semester. The cause for their daily walks range from wanting to get more exercise during the work hours to simply wanting to become healthier.
      Ms. Brown’s family has a history of diabetes, which put her at risk, so for her, the time was right. For Mrs. Gardner and Ms. Melvin however, their reasons were simply to stay physically fit. As the ladies walk, they engage in continuous conversation about life, people, religious activities, vacations, and family. For them, it’s a way to bond while staying physically fit. In fact, they find that socializing and exercising go hand in hand.
      The staff members often find themselves walking either four or five times a week, with four laps in the morning or four laps during school hours. This brings them to two miles per day which can be eight or ten total miles a week.
      As autumn approaches, the ladies tend to walk outside more often since Ms. Melvin prefers to go out when the weather is not so hot. During the summer working hours, however, they usually walk inside the building as a way to keep healthy year round.
      There are also other staff members who like to talk around the school and track. Their similar goals in exercising have caused them to come together and walk.

Where Are They? | Sports

2006-10-01T17:28:00.000-05:00

What About Us?
By ALEX MCCLAIN, Fashion Editor

      If there’s ever anything Stanton doesn’t get credit for, it
would have to be sports. Sure our football team hasn’t always been the best, but we can’t let our loses in one popular sport be the reason we overlook the wins of the least popular sports. Believe it or not, we usually do best in the sports that students often overlook.
      Last year our swimming record for both boys and girls was 8-1. Not to mention, last year our volleyball team had a 20-10 season. Our girls cross country team placed 2nd in the conference while the boys were 5th. The girls golf team has yet to be defeated by a public school. And even though the varsity baseball team had a 16-10 record last year, we didn’t get credit for it. Although these sports aren’t always the most popular, it doesn’t mean these wins don’t count.
      Some might like to base our sports credentials on just popular sports like football and basketball, instead of looking at all the sports teams here at Stanton. Just because one team might not always do well, doesn’t mean that all our sports teams do just as bad. Students get so caught up in criticizing the sports that don’t do so well that they don’t even realize that the sports they’ve overlooked, are the ones we tend to do well in.
      Credit should be given where credit is due. If our golf team does really well, then I think people should take notice. Their wins should count just as much as a win in a more popular sport. A lot of student athletes take pride in the sport they play and it’s not fair to overlook their skills just because it might not always be as exciting as other sports. If Stanton is as “diverse” as our students claim it to be, then we should be open minded about supporting all our sports teams, not just some. They all work just as hard.

What the #@$*! | Opinions

2006-10-01T16:57:00.000-05:00

Is there EVER a Justified Reason for Using Profanity?
      We hear them on the radio, in the movies, on street corners, and in our schools. Some people believe using profanity is a good way to express themselves, others believe it is unnecessary. Find out what your peers think.

      Cussing in society has become almost second nature. School is where I hear it most because people think its “cool” to use profanity. But it’s become a habit for a lot of people to cuss. I notice when I hang out with friends that they only cuss in school, outside of school they don’t use profanity. Cuss words are designed to be used when someone is mad. When you are mad I think using profanity is a good way to express yourself because you get your point across. -- DANIEL B, 10^th

      Profanity is unnecessary and shows just how small a vocabulary a person has. -- KRISTIN V, 11th

      I have no problem with profanity, unless it is used to demean someone or if it is a racial slur. -- ALEX G, 10^th

      I don’t consider profanity that bad of a thing. It usually starts in or around 7th grade. I believe it is not needed but is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a way to express feelings. It’s alright to use it between friends but not to your parents, although my parents curse all the time. If teachers curse I just laugh because I don’t care that they did it. -- ANONYMOUS, 9^th

      Profanity is just another way of expressing oneself. The problem with profanity is that it is less accepted by society today. It is not the correct way to talk because we live to higher standards and we are supposed to carry ourselves the “correct way.” At the end of the day they are just words, not actions. And like we have always been taught, actions speak louder than words. -- MARIA R, 10^th

      You should not use profanity when speaking to authority figures, but just saying it around with your friends is fine. I really could care less who uses it, even if it is a teacher who curses, I just laugh. -- CARLOS M, 9^th

      Profane language can be a valid means of expression in particular circumstances. Profanity can only possess the value society attributes to it, thus, when curse words are used to express pain shock, disappointment, etc. they should not be considered inappropriate. While society is slowly becoming more accommodated to profane words its widespread use remains taboo in public settings (including school). With profanity, society is gradually arriving at a middle ground. The overuse of curse words is tacky, while moderate use is becoming accepted. -- ADAM P, 12^th

      I think it depends on how profanity is used. I think crude curse words should not be used because they may hurt someone’s feelings or offend someone. The curse words that aren’t as serious are ok. If you really don’t like someone you shouldn’t use profanity against them, they have feelings too. -- ANONYMOUS, 9^th

      I think profanity is okay if used in the correct situation; perhaps under stress or in extreme situations. Otherwise, using profanity shows stupidity, because when you use a curse word it shows you have no other word to use. -- HEATHER M. 9^th

      I think profanity is totally unnecessary when used in a nonserious way. I think that cursing at people can offend someone and can hurt people’s feelings. At football games people use profanity a lot. Though profanity may be used, it may not be the best choice for venting anger or making a point. -- KAITLIN M, 11^th

How Much Spirit? | Opinions

2006-10-01T16:42:00.000-05:00

Save it for the Game

      As our first pep rally of this school year came to an end on Aug. 25, most students leaving the gym noticed that a human wall of blue shouting “08!” instead of our beloved Blue Devil football players had formed along both sides of the breezeway. This human wall, seemingly caught up in the victory celebration of its recent win of the ‘spirit stick’ seemed to be possessed by anything but school spirit. This scene and the random spontaneity of class brawls seem to represent the presence of a disturbing reoccurring trend. This trend is leading us further and further away from school unity and spirit and more toward class conflicts.
      At the beginning of the football season many freshmen look forward to being a part of a much anticipated high school tradition, the pep rally. What many do not realize is that Stanton pep rallies are quite different from the kind we have been exposed to through both television and stories our parents have shared with us. The purpose of a pep rally is to “pump up” a sports team, in many cases the football team, in order to get them excited and ready to play hard and possibly beat their opponent that evening. But Stanton pep rallies only dedicate a small portion of the time to the athletic teams; most of the time is dedicated to winning the coveted ‘spirit stick’. We paint ourselves, wear our class colors and scream our heads off, to win a stick. Where is this same enthusiasm at the football games, or any other sporting event for that matter?
      During the pep rally many students were quite disappointed to see that when the football team was huddled in the middle of the gym a few of the players weren’t even wearing their jerseys but sporting their “class color.” When asked about this incident senior football player Eric Yi commented that either the players weren’t at practice the day before to receive their jerseys or some of our football players don’t have the passion and pride in our team as they should. To those of you who weren’t wearing your jerseys, we suggest you set an example. Have faith in the team you are a part of, win or lose! If you don’t believe in yourself how are we supposed to cheer you on?
      It is not just the football players that need to have faith; it’s us, the fans too. Some students do not feel they need to dedicate their time and energy to a team they feel cannot win. But as of Sept. 9, 2006 the excuse of ‘we can’t win’ is no longer valid because our fighting Blue Devil football team defeated the Ribault Trojans in what The Florida Times Union called a “nail biter”. But most students, unfortunately, were unaware of such a momentous occasion because they either didn’t attend the game or didn’t care.
      If we continue to focus all of our energy towards winning the ‘spirit stick’, more and more class divisions and conflicts will arise. Fights between the different classes will become more frequent and Stanton will no longer be a high school but a group of different graduation classes.
      Next pep rally we can identify ourselves as super heroes, perfect tens, farmers, or race car drivers but like it or not we are Blue Devils and from now on we should show our school spirit. Learn the fight song and the alma matter and put in an effort to come to at least one football game.

Security Cameras | Opinions

2006-10-01T16:36:00.000-05:00

For Our Safety

      This year our school is being outfitted with sixteen new security cameras positioned in key locations to ensure safety.
      Some students would think such security cameras would be invasive, revealing too much of our private lives, thus serving no practical purpose. After all, Stanton students don’t get into fights, sell drugs, or deface school property, right?
      Cameras do serve some positive purposes every student can agree on. For example, most of us curse the soda machines daily for being broken and for only accepting “specific” types of currency. This is the result of the damage caused by constant break in attempts, made by would-be neighborhood thieves. Security cameras could be a useful tool in catching the perpetrators on tape.
      The cameras could also end car theft and vandalism in the mud-lot, and keep robbers from breaking the Cafeteria windows, which has already happened this year. Dr. Norma Hayward, Vice Principal, said a teacher even had his car stolen several years ago, and it took three weeks to get the car back. This could happen to anyone, teachers and students alike. However, if security cameras are strategically placed around the campus, they could be a useful tool in preventing such acts from taking place. They could allow those monitoring the cameras to ‘rush to the scene’.
      Another problem that could be remedied by the placement of cameras, are the number of unauthorized visitors on the campus. According to Dr. Hayward, there have been several instances in which ‘neighborhood’ kids have vandalized our school property. For example, a group of children were caught throwing paint on the floor in one of the art rooms. They also managed to get to one of the lawn mowers and ride it around the school premises. The oldest in this group of children was nine. Though these children were caught and penalized, it is safe to say that had there been security cameras around the school, this vandalism could have been prevented. The cameras would have served as an obvious deterrent, thus scaring the children from performing such an act.
      The sixteen cameras have already been installed and are
soon to begin videotaping activity around campus. So, whether or not students are against it, these cameras are a safety measure that will benefit everyone in the long run. If we Stanton students truly don’t have anything to hide, then security cameras shouldn’t bother us.

Trading Industries | Fashion

2006-10-01T16:27:00.000-05:00

The Cross Over
By SPENCER JOHNSON, staff reporter

      There has been a recent significant increase in the number of music stars wanting to create their own name brands of clothing, suits, sportswear, and other fashion products. These stars are using their names as powerful marketing tools.

SEAN JOHN
      In 1998 Sean “Diddy” Combs started his clothing line of men’s t-shirts and jeans called Sean John. Over the last few years this line of clothing has become a mainstay in men’s fashion shows. His line also includes a Mens Collection of suits and shoe, as well as his traditional line. Combs has even put out a women’s clothing line. All can be found at www.seanjohn.com

WILLIAM RAST
      Justin Timberlake and close friend Trace Ayala released a line of T-shirts and jeans in November 2005 called William Rast. This line is named after both Timberlake’s and Ayala’s grandfathers. Prices vary from $23 - $200. Timberlake says the line is “sort of country, but it’s also got a little edge and a little chic to it.” All can be found at www.williamrast.com

HOUSE OF DEREON
      In October 2005 Beyonce Knowles of the group Destiny’s Child, and mother Tina Knowles released their fashion line “The House of Dereon” which is named after their grandmother Agnes Dereon. It features clothing that is both stylish and classy. This line can be found at www.houseofdereon.com and the prices range from $140 - $150

Style Check | Fashion

2006-10-01T16:20:00.000-05:00

Nice Legs!
Leggings are fall's latest fashion trend
By KATIE NECHVATAL, Campus Affairs Editor

      For the last 20 years women around the world have worn leggings as a unique and sometimes colorful addition to their ensemble. This ever-popular accessory has been featured in fashion magazines such as Cosmogirl, Elle, and Teen Vogue where they have been seen alongside other hot fashionable fall items.
      Though leggings can’t be considered a new style, its recent re-appearance on the fashion scene and its variety has sparked some renewed interest. Initially, leggings were worn with short skirts, but lately teenage girls have been wearing them with longer shirts that can double as a dress. This attempt to add their own flare to an old trend, seems to have sparked renewed interest in the 1980’s fashion era.
      For example, the traditional black leggings have an “old school” feeling that presently seems to be in style. Seventeen magazine’s October 2006 issue featured leggings as, “the best back-to-school fashion trend for fall.”
      While most of the fashion industry seems to be buzzing about this little throwback accessory, one Stanton student expressed her opinion regarding the trend.
      “I think the leggings style is really cute,” said Junior Tawnee Wisdom. “It’s really realistic to wear leggings with a jean skirt in the fall.”
      To her, and other students, wearing a skirt over leggings is a modern way of wearing a skirt in the fall and winter months when it is cold. The essence of fall fashion is dark, warm-toned clothing, and leggings fit perfectly with dark colors such as black, brown, and gray, which are popular at the moment. So it is safe to say that this little accessory is perfect for those people who cannot leave
behind the summer skirts, but long for the warm feeling during the winter months.
      Most feel that the style is only for specific age groups, but according to www.cantonrep.com, this is, “one trend that can bridge the gap between young and old.” In short, teens may not be the only ones wearing this latest trend; they may in fact finding themselves having to share their pair with their mothers.
      Though fashion trends may quickly come and go, leggings seem to have a firm grip on the fashion world and the hearts of consumers.

Defenitions | Fashion

2006-10-01T16:09:00.000-05:00

Defining Fashion
By ALEX MCCLAIN, Fashion Editor

      To our current generation of consumers defining something as fashionable can range from a couture gown to a simple pair of leggings and a mini skirt.
      However, because fashion has so many styles to choose from, the idea of what’s fashionable can become vague.
      What exactly qualifies something as being fashionable? Some might say it’s how the person color coordinates their outfit, while others might say the accessories are what make an outfit fashionable. The truth, is there are no specific qualifications for being fashionable. The key to what makes an outfit fashionable is based on personal style and preference. While one person might like to wear collared t-shirts and slacks, someone else might like to wear vintage t-shirts and ripped jeans, but both outfits can be considered fashionable.
      When it comes to being fashionable it’s not something that can be defined. It’s an idea that comes from within and is expressed physically through a person’s own style. Because of this, it’s more about what a person can bring to an outfit that helps make something fashionable. An outfit doesn’t become fashionable just because Elle magazine said it was. It becomes fashionable when a person takes that outfit and makes it their own by adding something that shows their own style and personality.
      People often think what’s seen in fashion magazines like Vogue and W Magazine can be considered fashionable, but a fashion magazine isn’t needed to be fashionable. The idea is to be unique and eccentric, not just copy what has been done already. Although it may seem as if it has all been done, people should dare to be different. Everyone will not always have the same taste in clothing, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not stylish. It’s all about expressing personality and sometimes taking a risk to be different. Because fashionable doesn’t exactly have a definition, when someone decides to be different, it gives others a chance to get a different perspective on it other than their own. The idea of what’s fashionable gets expanded because people get to see something different, not just what Elle magazine might think is chic.
      People tend to think that being fashionable means that you have to start the next big trend, but that isn’t the case at all. When an attempt is made to be fashionable, it shouldn’t be for that purpose. Again, it’s an idea that involves personal creativity and individuality. Don’t wear an outfit you hate just because Seventeen said it was “in” and all you wanted to do was fit in with your friends. Be different and create your own style. The thought behind being stylish is not to waste time looking like everyone else. If we all looked the same, then fashion really would have a specified definition.

Student Artistry | Arts and Entertainment

2006-10-01T16:00:00.000-05:00

Serendipity

The Devil’s Advocate, in collaboration with Stanton’s creative writing magazine, Serendipity, is here to provide you with a collection of original poems, photography and short stories. If you are interested in submitting your work, contact Mr. Rick L’Ecuyer, Ms. Erika Migues or Mr. Larry Knight.

Terracottastrophe.
By RAYMOND LANE, 12^th

Skies ablaze, in-burning haze
Where will they find us?
Searching out, the spiral bank
Where can they hide us?
The lost ones that reach out
To the skies, we’re weak now.
Footsteps, but a whisper.
The fallen sun is closing in,
“There’s no escape”
Written into the sky.
And they wish upon the falling moon.
Not for life, or death, or redemption…
But just for time.

Autumn Ash Left to Inhale
By RAYMOND LANE, 12^th

Autumn ash left to inhale,
Trees abandon leaves
To fall to the ground, to cover
To dry and blow away
Autumn as the memory,
Sepia stained photography,
Pictures far from perfect,
Left to burn for the smell,
To ash and wish away.
Autumn as the mausoleum,
Monument to all lacking life
But not yet injured.
All autumn ash to inhale.

October
By ALICIA MORENCY, 12^th

I miss October
When everything felt so right,
I miss hesitant slow kisses
And lying under swings,
Feeling so safe and happy,
I miss the sweet confusion
Of falling in love
Which was only replaced
With the pain of continuing to love that I lost-
I miss October
Before I fell apart,
Before I’d reached the peak
Of damage to my friendships,
I miss the full moon
That glowed on me as
I nearly burst from
Holding in love, out of fear.

Irony
By CAMILLE THOMAS, 11^th

Irony is a cardiograph
Where death is a flatline
Peaceful in tone
Regardless of the song
And life is a curvesome course
With blissful highs
Like mountain peaks

Two Kisses
By SAM BOBLENZ, 10^th

I was given two kisses today
As prize for mental skill.

One was scratchy.
It was gruff, but full of laugther,
As if he’d done this before,
Like he hadn’t minded
And it had meant nothing.

I was given two kisses today
Before a watching crowd.

One was wet.
It was soft but full of tears
Because I knew she was watching
And she had wanted this caress.
Yet it had been my skin under his mouth.

I was given two kisses today
Buit carries a secret in my heart.

For you hadn’t known that,
As you stood in the back, I thought,
Why wasn’t it you?
Why weren’t you the one
Pressing your lips to my cheek?

I was given two kisses today
And wanted neither one.

Vacation Updates | Campus Affairs

2006-10-01T15:57:00.000-05:00

SPRING BREEEAAK!!!!!!
By AVITAL MIRSKY, Features Editor

Last year, several spring break trips to foreign countries were planned for the spring break of March 2007.While Mr. Todd Hughes and Mr. Scott Swan, two history teachers previously planned to visit West Africa, Mr. Hughes states that is “not going to happen”. When asked if the two teachers will plan another trip to West Africa, Mr. Hughes said, “Maybe, it is a possibility for the future.” Mr. Hughes is planning on taking four students to China, that will last nine days at a cost of $3000 per person. Other faculty members attending this trip are Mr. Swan, Ms. Darlene Melvin, Ms. Amanda Hamilton and Mrs. Kathy Feierstein. Cities that will be toured during the trip include Shanghai, Xian, and Bejing.
While Mr. Hughes and Ms. Swan are exploring China, two other Stanton teachers will travel to Europe. Mrs. Ana Shepard and Mrs. Nicole Gilbert will take thirty students on a ten-day trip to Greece and Italy. Students are still able to register, but Mrs. Shepard says if “you register early, you will receive a better rate.” The trip costs approximately $3000, and is inclusively open to juniors and seniors.

ARTistocrats | Arts & Entertainment

2006-10-01T15:47:00.000-05:00

Stanton's Film Club
By MORGAN HENLEY, Sports Editor

Every month the Devil’s Advocate profiles our often over looked art department. This month we have decided to feature the newly established film department spear-headed by teacher Ms. Claire Clarke. The September edition of “Artistocrats” selected Interscholastic Film Union students and club members, LJ Frezza and Jessica Kopp as its subjects.

Devil’s Advocate: So what’s been the history of the film department here at Stanton?
LJ Frezza: It started in the 2004-2005 school year, and the club was started late into the year.
DA: What happened with the movie the club created last year?
LJ: Well I made it, we screened it at the San Marco Theatre. Recently I’ve been trying to make DVD’s of the film. All of the money went back into the film club, and we’re going to try to use it towards the next movie but I may not have time with colleges and so forth. Any future movie would take longer to shoot. The last one was only 35 minutes, but it was 35 minutes of heaven.
DA: Where’s the film department going this year?
LJ: We’re hoping to find someone to carry it on, younger under classman, someone who will continue it when we [the current film seniors]leave, someone who will continue to try making movies.
DA: What does it take to be a good director?
LJ: Needs to be good at expressing themselves, that’s really what film is, an expression. The ability to work with other people, in a technical sense the director is the most unnecessary, they do the least, their job is to make everything fit together into one vision.
DA: Who’s film style did you try to emulate?
LJ: This movie was based a lot on Rob Reiner, but it just happened because of the mocumentary form we used.

Devil’s Advocate: What’s been your history of involvement with the film department?
Jessica Kopp: I started IFU at the end of 2004-2005 year, I was in the movie, and I took film I last year. Now I’m the “scribe”, secretary, for IFU.
DA: What got you motivated to join the film department?
JK: They were giving out candy to join the club one day at lunch, so I actually signed up. Then I went to an IFU meeting.
DA: What was your involvement in the movie?
JK: I played “Radiant Heat Girl” aka Shannon Balker, and I did some of the costumes.
DA: Is there too much sex and violence in today’s movies?
JK: The amount of sex and violence for the most part is just used in the story, so it’s really just depending on the plot.
DA: How do you feel about censorship in movies? Does it hinder a movie’s creativity?
JK: It can hinder the movie because the director can’t fully pursue his artistic vision.
DA: Are the best movies R rated?
JK: Not necessarily, it depends more on story than how it’s portrayed.
DA: What makes a good movie?
JK: A clear point of view, chemistry between the actors is very important.
DA: Where do you see film in your future?
JK: Maybe a costume designer for films, I’d like to work on future sets. I’m going to school for fashion design/visual arts.

Theatre Preview | Arts & Entertainment

2006-10-01T15:34:00.000-05:00

A Lesson Before Dying
By RYAN THOMPSON, staff reporter

      Stanton’s Drama Department is inviting everyone to see A Lesson Before Dying this fall. The play, written by Romulus Linney, is an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Ernest J. Gaines. Performed in the Stanton Auditorium on Oct. 19 – 21 at 7:30 PM, the cost for the play will be $7.
      Seniors Valencia Witherspoon, Bryce McClure, Jalessa Howie, Co’Relous Bryant, Travis Williams, and Michael Ross will be portraying the characters of Emma Glenn, Sam Guidry, Vivian Baptiste, Grant Wiggins, Jefferson, and Rev. Moses Ambrose, respectively. Junior Mark Stater has been cast for the role of Paul Bonin.
      Set in the 1940s, the story line features the unfair conviction of Jefferson(Williams), for the murder of a Louisiana citizen. In spite of Grant Wiggins' (Bryant)pessimistic ways, he attempts to help Jefferson at the request of his religiously passionate godmother (Witherspoon).
      The plot deepens when accusations are made that conspiracies are occurring. With romantic and spiritual relationships evolving throughout the story, A Lesson Before Dying will be a must-see for October.

Listen In | Arts & Entertainment

2006-10-01T15:23:00.000-05:00

The Listenting Post:
Rob Roy
By MELISSA BEAUDRY, Arts and Entertainment Editor

Rob Roy has been around music for much of his life. In fact, his love for music could be traced back to the second grade. However, his dream has become a reality for about the past six years. For most of that time he was a member of a band called CKY but now he is a solo artist with a self-released CD entitled “a dollar out of 15 cents”. Roy’s blend of Hip-Hop roots and electronic pop lyrics makes the sound as unique as the artist himself.

Devil’s Advocate: How would you describe your music?
Rob Roy: Its Hip-Hop based but I would call it more of an amalgamation of sounds. It has evolved into a more electro pop; however, it is still very much influenced by Hip-Hop.
DA: How has your family supported your passion for music?
RR: My parents absolutely hate my music. They wanted me to be a doctor, and they are still waiting for me to get a “grown-up job.”
DA: How do people judge your talent based on your ethnicity?
RR: Well, I am half French and half Philipino so I do not think people really know what to expect. In a way, it is helpful but sometimes when people are unable to classify something its harder for them to grasp its concept.
DA: Has your background influenced who you are as an artist?
RR: The way I was raised defiantly influences my music. If I were of any different ethnic background, I would not be the person that I am today. Being biracial gives me more freedom in a way to expand my surroundings and experience different ways of life.
DA: What is your favorite performance venue?
RR: Freebird definitely, it is a very professional club and it has great sound and lighting and a great stage. I just love being on stage and Freebird is the best place for that.
DA: What do you see in your future for your music career?
RR: Making it big the music industry is something that I would love to see happen; however, you simply never know. I think you know when you are meant to do something and that something for me is music. I know that ill always do something in the field of creative arts, whether it will always be music, I do not know. I strongly believe that you need to trust your instinct. If something inside is telling you that this is the right thing to be doing, than do it.

Unforgettable Moments | Features

2006-10-01T14:51:00.000-05:00

Oops...That was Embarrassing!
By ALEX MCCLAIN, Fashion Editor

Think you’re the only one who has ever experienced an embarrassing moment? Well you are not alone. We asked a few Stanton students and staff members to recollect their embarrassing moments. We then rated them from most to least embarrassing. Enjoy!

Everyday or every other day, a group of young men in the cafeteria are always playing cards and I have to take them from them. So the other day I saw them and I went to take the cards away but instead of them having playing cards, they were playing an educational game with study cards.
-Mr. Johnson *

My heel got caught in the crack of the sidewalk and I got yanked back.
-Danisha Love, 11^th*

I walked in a class full of seniors and they asked me if I was lost?
-Alexandra Kennedy, 9^th**

Okay, so I got to cut my own hair (which I normally always do)and I realized half way through that the buzz guard wasn’t on it. So the whole side of my head had a huge patch and I tried to even it out, but now I look like Vanilla Ice.
-Kevin Khosrowzadeh, 11^th**

Right after school on Sadie Hawkins Day I ran into my girlfriend’s mom.
-Alex Garmendia, 12^th**

One day we’d had a really bad day in the front office and I came running in and asked, ‘what else could go wrong?’ and then someone told me my zipper was undone.
-Ms. Epps ***

I had just bought my lunch and hadn’t even started eating, when a roach flew out of the tree and landed on my shoulder. I didn’t notice until my friend pointed it out to me. I jumped off the bench, threw my tray across the sidewalk and ran around trying to get the roach off. When it finally came off my lunch was on the ground, ranch dressing was on my friend’s backpack and I looked like a fool.
-Whitney Anderson, 10^th****

In the Know | Features

2006-10-01T14:33:00.000-05:00

Five Things You Should Know About...STANTON
By AVITAL MIRSKY, Features Editor

1Stanton was name in honor of Edwin McMasters Stanton, who was President Abraham Lincoln's secretary of war. Stanton worked hard at promoting human rights and believed in free education for African American children.
2Stanton was the first school for black children in the state of Florida and was the first school for black children in Jacksonville
and the city’s surrounding areas.
3Stanton’s first two schools were burned down by fires. The first occurrence happened in 1882, and the second in 1901. In
1917, the “old” Stanton, which exists on Ashley, Beaver, Broad, and Clay Streets was completed.
4Stanton began as an elementary school, but through the years, it expanded its grade levels all the way through the twelfth
grade. In 1938, the school became an exclusive high school.
5In 1981, Stanton was initialized as a magnet school for gifted students throughout Jacksonville. New Stanton High School,
which was its name before, now became Stanton College Preparatory School, whose first principal was Carol Walker.

Source: www.stantoncollegeprep.org

Connections to One Another | Features

2006-10-01T14:11:00.000-05:00

6°
By AVITAL MIRSKY, Features Editor

Love them or hate them, everyone is intrigued by the world of celebrities. We see them on MTV, in movies, and in magazines, but how connected are we to them? 6° seeks to find out.

1Tyler Ross, a Stanton senior, who is actively involved in the school’s drama program made an appearance in the 2004 ABC Family movie “Searching for David’s Heart,” which starred actors Ricky Ullman and Danielle Panabaker.

2Ricky Ullman, star of the Disney television show “Phil of the Future” also starred in the movie “Searching for David’s Heart” and knows Tyler Ross.Ullman played Christopher Knight in the 2000 movie “Growing up Brady.”

3Christopher Knight played Peter Brady on the hit TV show “The Brady Bunch” during the 1970’s. Knight also portrayed a high school teacher in the Click Five’s music video “Just the Girl.”

4The Click Five, is a poprock group who has collaborated with artists such as Kiss, The Fountains of Wayne, and the Cars. Last year, WAPE (95.1 FM) sponsored a Click Five concert for Orange Park High School, which was named the Jacksonville high school with the most school spirit in 2005.

5WAPE (95.1 FM) is a radio station based in Jacksonville that plays today’s hit music. Last year, the Blue Devil Cheerleaders appeared on DJ Jay Styles’ radio show which airs on the station.

6Jennifer Horner is co-captain of the Blue Devil
Cheerleaders. She is enrolled in TV production with Tyler Ross.

She Said | Features

2006-10-01T14:01:00.000-05:00

Why do girls show so much physical affection towards each other?
By JAMIE RIXIE, contributing writer

      A teenage boy leaps into the air to catch a football. A second after it is in his hands, he is tackled to the ground by another player. Sports like football and wrestling are about the only times boys can be seen in physical contact with each other. Girls, on the other hand, tend to be much more physically affectionate toward one another. Sisters might squeeze hands while riding a roller coaster. Two friends will hug after a long time apart. A girl will put a comforting arm around a friend who just broke up with her boyfriend.
      Stereotypes are one reason girls show more physical affection than guys. Guys are generally expected to be tough and “suck it up.” Hugging or holding hands is hardly viewed as tough, and some guys think of it as weak, girly, or maybe even gay. That leads to another issue: security. Many boys probably hesitate to show each other affection because they are afraid to be called homosexual. Most of the time, girls do not worry about this because affection between females is not usually thought of as such.
      The way an individual is reared may also help determine how affectionate he or she is. In traditional views of a family, the father figure is often the strong provider, while the mother takes care of and nurtures the children. As boys grow older, the father teaches them to resemble him; they grow up without voicing their emotions or comforting each other. The women, however,learn to be nurturing and comforting, since most likely they will eventually rear children while the men provide for the family.
      The roles of family members today have significantly changed from the traditional view. There is no longer such a thing as a “typical family”, since some children have only a mother or only a father, or maybe have neither and are raised by a sibling or grandparent. Even in today’s society, though, girls are often raised to share their feelings, and boys are raised to be tough. For instance, a little girl plays with a baby doll, pretending she is the mom and taking care of her daughter, whereas a little boy plays with army men who blow each other up.
      Along with the idea of tradition, a more concrete reason girls show each other so much physical affection is their motherly instinct. Naturally, women are nurturers. Guys lack the instincts girls have to physically comfort a friend who is suffering, or physically express their happiness by hugging, particularly when the friend is of the same sex.
      That is not to say boys are not affectionate. Both women and men can be loving individuals, but for several reasons, women tend to express their love physically. Men may have just as much affection for their family and friends, but are not as comfortable showing it, whereas most girls are not afraid to show their emotionally sensitive side. Stereotypes, parenting, society and other motives can help explain why girls are more physically affectionate toward one another, but for the most part, it is simply in their nature to show their affection toward not just each other, but everyone they love.

He Said | Features

2006-10-01T13:54:00.000-05:00

Is it okay to go against tradition and have the girl ask the guy out?
By RICK HAYES, contributing writer

      I think it’s alright for a girl to ask a guy out, depending on ever-changing personal circumstances. On a broader scale, I wouldn’t necessarily advise it, nor would I oppose it. Too many factors come into play, such as the nature in which she asked him out, among other things. If she went about asking it somewhat submissively, as if his acceptance of her determined her self-worth, there is no doubt that the guy will take advantage of her on some level during the course of their relationship. If she goes about it too strongly, however, then the guy might feel his masculinity is being compromised, and he could eventually ask himself, “Who wears the pants in this relationship?”
      When you really think about it, where’s the fun in having a girl ask a guy out anyway? If she saunters over to him, and asks the question, all he has to do is approve. Approval isn’t fun. All approval does is swell our collective male ego. Imagine you’re a guy (if you aren’t one already), and you’re sitting at a table with all your friends. If a girl walks up to you, and says, “Hey, I like you a lot, will you go out with me?” what do you do? You smile, say OK, or maybe make someone move over so she can sit next to you. When the bell rings, and it’s just you and the guys again, they’re all going to make comments like, “Whoa, dude, you’ve really got her whipped,” or, “Yeah, man, you’re a P-I-M-P!” You would think that, as a guy, I’d really like that notion, but in all truthfulness, I don’t. I find it rude and chauvinistic. It almost seems like the girl is unknowingly giving up her share of dominance in the relationship, right off the bat, and that will definitely lead to some serious problems down the road.
      For some people, it doesn’t really matter to them who asks who out, and they forget the whole matter after some time anyway. Great, that’s the way it should be. The more you look at the fact that a girl asked a guy out, the more you see what’s not there. Like I said before, it depends on the circumstances and the people involved. Some people, especially guys, are going to get uneasy about the fact that a girl asked them out, while others may embrace the idea as a novel change in tradition, and some people just won’t take it for anything more than what it is. It’s really a trivial issue in the first place, with no real consequences, unless you make some out of it. If you both share a true connection, a reciprocal, loving relationship, then it should not be a matter of a girl asking a guy out, but rather a matter of one person beating the other person to the punch.

Class of 2010 Elections | Campus Affairs

2006-10-01T13:47:00.000-05:00

Stanton's Newest Leader's
By KATIE NECHVATAL, Campus Affairs Editor

The new freshmen class officers, for the class of 2010, were announced on Sept. 13, 2006, and Andrew Hanna won the class President title. This 14 year-old; perhaps the first Egyptian president; was ecstatic to win the election, and looks forward to getting to know the freshmen class. “I ran for freshmen president because I wanted to lead the class to great opportunities,” commented Hanna, when asked why he ran for president. He helped plan the Pizza Party that was held on Sept. 19, and has many plans for the freshmen class this year; being careful not reveal too much, “I have ideas, but they are in the making.”
Hanna is looking forward to a fun year with a great, energetic class, who have already put up a competition against the junior class of 2008 at the recent pep rally on Aug. 25. As a previous Darnell-Cookman student, he knows many people already at Stanton, which is what it takes to be a great president. Some of the difficulties faced by Hanna have been the occasional umbrella stealers at lunch, and the common adjustment to high school, and Stanton, that almost every student faces. Along with president Andrew Hanna, the vice president is Jamie Stehlin; the treasurer is Steph Stiles, the secretary is Alicia Rathi, and the historian is Chloe Herring, who will represent the Class of 2010.

Open Studio | Campus Affairs

2006-10-01T13:44:00.000-05:00

It's Like the Cummer..
By ALEX MCCLAIN, Fashion Editor

The first three Tuesdays of every month from 3:30pm to 5:30pm Open Studio will be held in room 609 for students who are either currently enrolled in art or have had an art class in the past. Hosted by Mrs. Hosker, Open Studio gives students extra time to work on any art projects and the more advanced art students are given an opportunity to work on print making. Senior Rachel Shultz, who attends regularly find open studio helpful because, “it gives me a chance to finish anything I didn’t finish during class and I get one on one time with Mrs. Hosker.”

New Faces | Campus Affairs

2006-10-01T13:11:00.000-05:00

New Arrivals at Stanton
By SHELBY GREENE, staff reporter

Here at Stanton, there are some new faces, not only freshmen, but teachers. They have been seen around campus and are fitting right in.

Jyoti Ironwood
AP Psychology/World History

Devil’s Advocate: How long have you lived in Jacksonville?
Jyoti Ironwood: I moved here from Arizona a few months after the school year started in 2005.
DA: How do you like Stanton so far?
JI: I love Stanton. It’s a great place with wonderful students and I enjoy teaching my classes.

Clay Peterson
Geometry/Algebra II

Devil’s Advocate: How long have you lived in Jacksonville?
Clay Peterson: On and off for 15 years.
DA: How do you like Stanton so far?
CP: It’s the best place I could possibly hope to work in. I graduated from Stanton in 1994, and being back here brings back many fond memories.

Jenn Miller
Physical Education

Devil’s Advocate: How long have you lived in Jacksonville?
Jenn Miller: I’ve lived in St. Augustine for 6 years. I attended Florida State University.
DA: How do you like Stanton so far?
JM: I love it. It’s great.

Mary Garrison
English I Honors/Keystone/Applied Communications

Devil’s Advocate: How long have you lived in Jacksonville?
Mary Garrison: 2 months
DA: How do you like Stanton so far?
MG: It’s most excellent! A note to students - don’t all rush to sign up for my classes at once!

Lisa Spaulding
Psychology/Sociology

Devil’s Advocate: How long have
you lived in Jacksonville?
Lisa Spaulding: I have lived in Jacksonville on and off in the last five years.
DA: How do you like Stanton so far?
LS: I love it! The staff and the students are great. I really enjoy teaching here, and working with groups like the 12^th Man, JSA, and Ultimate Frisbee. Everyone should join!

Diana Overby
Gifted

Devil’s Advocate: How long have you lived in Jacksonville?
Diana Overby : I moved to Jax in 2nd grade, and I attended Terry Parker.
DA: How do you like Stanton so far?
DO: I love it! I like its eccentricities.

Jessica Cumber
Biology/Chemistry

Devil’s Advocate: How long have you lived in Jacksonville?
Jessica Cumber: 4 years.
DA: What schools have you worked at prior to Stanton?
JC: I worked at Sandalwood for 3 years.
DA: How do you like Stanton so far?
JC: The students, faculty and staff have made me feel right at home. I am having a wonderful year!

Amy Johns
English

Devil’s Advocate: How long have you lived in Jacksonville?
Amy Johns: I’ve lived here 6 months - I lived nearly all my life in Gainesville, FL.
DA: How do you like Stanton so far?
AJ: I love it! The kids are clever and the faculty is friendly and helpful.

Melissa Goller
Student Services

Devil’s Advocate: How long have you lived in Jacksonville?
Melissa Goller: I have lived here on and off since 1980.
DA: How do you like Stanton so far?
MG: I love Stanton and I am very excited to be working here.

Nancy Murrey
Media Specialist

Devil’s Advocate: How long have lived in Jacksonville?
Nancy Murrey: I was born and raised here, and then spent 20 years in
Chicago, Tampa, and Rochester, New York.
DA: How do you like Stanton so far?
NM: I love it so far.

Amanda Hamilton
AP Gov/AP Microeconomics/American Gov. Honors/Economics Honors

Devil’s Advocate: How long have you lived in Jacksonville?
Amanda Hamilton: I lived here 18 years, and then I moved to Washington D.C. I’ve been back here since May 2006.
DA: How do you like Stanton so far?
AH: I have enjoyed working here. It seems like most students are genuinely interested in learning.

The Rumor Mill | Campus Affairs

2006-10-01T12:28:00.000-05:00

Rumor Control
By SHAINA LEE, staff reporter

Rumors are purported to spread like fire, and people are notorious for spreading the wrong information. To quiet these rumors and obtain the truth, the Devil’s Advocate consulted with certain Stanton faculty members. Student Activities Director Mrs. Marigene O’Connor and Guidance Counselor Mr. Bob Turba gave answers to the following rumors.

Rumor #1: On Aug. 25, before the first pep rally, an announcement was made saying that there would be more pep rallies if students behaved at the first one. The behavior seemed acceptable at the first pep rally, so how many are there going to be this year?
The Truth: According to Mrs. O’Connor, there will definitely be a second pep rally on Oct. 26, for the Homecoming game. There is a tentative pep rally set for Jan. 11 to showcase the spring sports, and will only take place if students behave at the first and second pep rallies.

Rumor #2: It was said there would be more dances this
year, besides the obligatory Homecoming and Prom. Also, what are the specifics on Homecoming?
The Truth: According to Mrs. O’Connor, Stanton will only
hold Homecoming and Prom. The Homecoming Dance will be held the night of Oct. 27 at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. The theme this year is Mardi Gras, and the tickets cost $15.00.

Rumor #3: Last year there were one-credit courses, and now
there is a new half-credit system. What is this all about?
The Truth: According to Mr. Turba, there are no more one-credit courses. All one-credit courses have been divided into two half-credit courses. Session courses are already a half-credit and will not be affected, but term courses, and A/B courses will be affected. One-credit term courses that meet for a semester (ninety days) have been split into two parts, each worth a half-credit. All A day/B day courses that meet every other day for the whole year have been divided into two parts as well. A student’s final grade in a course will depend on two grades and the final exam grade.

Rumor #4: Students still think there are four quarterly grades in the year. Since there is a new grading system, what are the changes?
The Truth: According to Mr. Turba, instead of four quarterly grades, there are only two quarterly grades this year. That means students will have less time to earn their grades, and less time to pass a course.

The Devil’s Advocate encourages all students to submit their rumors and allow the newspaper to investigate whether or not the rumor is truthful.

Low Rise Health Hazard?

2005-10-31T19:52:00.000-05:00

photo from file

Low Rise Jeans: Fashion or Faux Pas?
By QUAY MORRIS, Fashion Editor

JACKSONVILLE-In today’s fashion-obsessed world, low-rise jeans have become a staple in almost every American teenager’s wardrobe. The low-slung pants are seen everywhere, from the girls’ tight low-riders to the guys’ sagging pants. If you take a walk around Stanton and observe the students, a majority of them are wearing jeans that barely cover their pelvic areas.

The “rise”, or waist-to-crotch measurement, of jeans has dipped tremendously over the years. The standard rise is typically between 10 to 12 inches. These jeans hit somewhere around the belly button or higher. Low-rise, however, can drop down to anywhere from 7 to 3 inches below the waist. With the rises getting lower and the jeans getting tighter, many have begun to complain about the “side effects” of the low-rise. For instance, many girls who wear low-rise jeans run into a problem when they sit down. Their jeans drop down, giving the world a flash of their butt or underwear. While the wearer may see nothing wrong with this, the person sitting behind them may be offended by the mound of flesh staring back at them. The low-rise problem doesn’t affect only females, though. Guys are notorious for wearing their pants inches below their hips, showing off their boxers as a fashion statement.

Even though a belt may be strung through the loops of their jeans, many still make sure that their pants droop way below their waistline and hips.

While teenagers may consider low-rise jeans a declaration of youthful fashion, a number of adults are taking offense to the trend and are fighting back against it. Lawmakers in Virginia and Louisiana were among the first to attempt to pass laws regulating how low a person jeans may drop. In 2005, the bill in Virginia made it all the way to the Senate before being voted down. Within the bill, the state would have had the right to fine an individual up to $50 for wearing jeans that showed the underwear. In 2004 Louisiana tried their luck with the House Bill 1626 that, if passed, would have given police the right to fine anyone wearing low-rise jeans $500, six months in jail, or both.

A few schools have considered putting restrictions against super low-rise jeans into effect. In March of 2003 Academy School District 20 in Colorado Springs, Colorado banned the wearing of any item of clothing that “reveals all or part of the stomach, buttocks or chest, or is backless, or reveals underwear, or is inappropriately sheer, short, tight or low-cut.” There are debates between experts nationwide on whether the low-rise jeans issue is something to be worried about or just another fad in teen fashion. A problem that is often run into is knowing where to draw the line. Lawmakers aren’t sure of whether they should attempt to ban low-rise jeans completely or only punish those who wear them distastefully. If the latter is chosen, another predicament encountered is how to define distasteful. Solving one issue only leads to another, creating uncertainty and leaving lawmakers with no obvious solution.

What if Stanton tried to set limits on its students clothing? “I’m against banning low-rise jeans,” responds Jannah, a junior at Stanton. “It’s just clothes and it’s their body.”

The action being taken against low-rise jean wearers is not considered a big threat. Many believe that constitutional implications as well as lack of importance will keep laws banning low-rise jeans from ever going through. Mrs. Matilda Bagby, a tenth grade English teacher at Stanton, disagrees with making legislation regulating clothing. She offers a different solution.

“If the people wearing the pants could see themselves, the problem would fix itself,” said Mrs. Bagby.

The Virginia Senate was the first to question the constitutionality of the bill, but was embarrassed by the international attention it was receiving. Republican Sen. Thomas K. Norment, Jr. stated in the Washington Post on Feb. 11, 2005 that if not for the international exposure the bill was being given, “I would find this bill humorous or tolerable. That this is what is being associated with ... Virginia is unacceptable.”

Living Above One's Means...

2005-10-31T19:23:00.000-05:00

photo from file

The Gold Collar Group
By MORGAN HENLEY, Interim News Editor

Chanel sunglasses. Tiffany necklaces. Juicy Couture Jacket. Latest Razor cell phone. 2005 Ford Expedition. Lives at home with mom and dad.

This is the new “Gold Collar Group” that can characteristically be defined as 18-25 year olds in working-class jobs that spend their income on luxury items. The people in this group typically have no college education and an interest in a career that does not go beyond retail or any other service industry. They spend their money on high-class goods with a working class income and more often than not live at home with their parents, making an average of $729 a month.

They buy high-end designer brands to give them the appearance that they are wealthy when in reality they are just the average working class employee. The main driving force behind this desire to appear wealthy comes in part from the average American’s obsession with celebrity culture. Luxury sales in the United States are up to $523 billion in 2005, whereas in 2003 it was $450 billion.

This Gold Collar group has a larger disposable income than the average college student because they aren’t paying for school and books. Most college students are preparing for the future, creating job security and putting their income into savings or spending it on school expenses. Many college students are also depending on their parents for money. In a recent study by Harris Interactive's "360 College Explorer Outlook Study", only 20% of college students get their money from their parents on a regular basis.

With over half of the 18-25 year olds in the working class, that makes 17 million young people with no education past their high school diploma. Those in the Gold Collar group are creating no job security and possibly putting most of themselves into debt with high credit card bills. The credit card debt of the average American youth is $8000. The average income in 2004 of a male with only a high school diploma or GED is $35,487 and for females $30,903. Where as the average income of a male with a Bachelor’s degree or higher was $48,955 for males and $40,201 for females. When only half of the youth has an education that will hopefully lead to an occupation that will be able to pay off this debt, the economy could be facing problems in the near future.

The Gold Collar group buys what they want and when they want, but at the expense of their future. It’s difficult to secure a job because employers can look at credit reports as part of the hiring process.

Youth today should not be thrown credit card applications everywhere they turn. Credit Card companies love targeting young people because they are inexperienced with finances and can often rack up large debts meaning high interest rates. There should be education in high school about finances, the dangers of credit cards, and how to create job security, not a new Visa card in the mail everyday.

For many, the newest Louis Vuitton handbag with a $1,280 price tag in addition to the potential debt isn’t worth being able to look like Paris Hilton.

Now Available!!!

2005-10-31T19:13:00.000-05:00

For an extra copy of the award-winning Devil's Advocate newsmagazine please stop by Room 204.

Comment Question #4

2005-10-17T21:21:00.000-05:00

Please respond to the following questions in a short comment reponse:

Should the rhetoric distributed by terrorist organiztions and racist/hate groups in America be allowed to use the 1st Ammendment (...right to free speech) as a means of defense?

Please make your comments brief (no more than 25-50 words). Any comments that are offensive and/or derogatory will be deleted.

Chalk (Advertisement)

2005-10-02T12:27:00.000-05:00

Comment Question #3

2005-09-26T22:06:00.000-05:00

Please respond to the following questions in a short comment reponse:

Should video security cameras be used on school property (i.e. classrooms, hallways, restrooms, cafeteria, gym, etc.) in an effort to curb school violence?

Please make your comments brief (no more than 25-50 words). Any comments that are offensive and/or derogatory will be deleted.

Stanton Principals...Past and Present

2005-09-26T22:00:00.000-05:00

photo from file

(from l to r) Mr. Jim Jaxon, former principal; Mrs. Debra Lynch, current principal; Dr. Jim Williams, former principal and current principal of Paxon School for Advanced Studies.

Comment Question #2

2005-09-19T09:46:00.000-05:00

Please respond to the following questions in a short comment reponse:

Should there be random, mandatory drug testing of all high school students in Duval County Public Schools? If so, what should happen to those who refuse and those who are found to be using drugs?

Please make your comments brief (no more than 25-50 words). Any comments that are offensive and/or derogatory will be deleted.

The Listening Post: Twentysomething [CD REVIEW]

2005-09-18T12:28:00.000-05:00

Cullum's Debut Is A Winner
By ERIC DAY, Staff Reporter

So I was driving in my friend’s car and he pops in a CD and says, “Hey, check this guy out.” Little did I know, my life was going to change. Out of his 1994 Honda Accord’s stereo speakers came English singer/songwriter/pianist Jamie Cullum. The fusion of jazz and pop from this young artist is captivating. His virtuosity is demonstrated with his blend of raw talent and catchy hooks that keep you singing his songs well after the album is over.

His major label debut Twentysomething has sold one million records making the twenty-three year old prodigy’s first major installment in the music industry double platinum. He appeared number fifteen on a poll, for album sales, taken by UK-based Soundgenerator.com, beating such bands as Maroon 5 and Westlife. The man, or should I say young adult, deserves every bit of it.

His album is a breath of fresh air in a world of plastic and computer generated sounds. Energy pours out of songs like, “I Could Have Danced All Night,” and his sensitivity and emotional depth is displayed in, “Lover You Should Have Come Over.”

My favorite song off the record would have to be the first single that was released off Twentysomething, “All at Sea.” The song is an anthem for wanting to escape the trials and tribulations of everyday life, and wanting to be alone with your thoughts and not distracted by materialistic objects. “If you don’t need it every day/ But sometimes don’t you just crave/ To disappear within your mind/ You never know what you might find.” Lyrics like this prove that the pianist is as versatile as he is talented.

Cullum’s repertoire also includes renditions of songs from Jimi Hendrix to Radiohead. In fact, on the album, Cullum reproduces the Jimi Hendrix classic, “The Wind Cries Mary" which is as beautiful as it is smooth.

So if you are in the mood for something amazing but yet not too imposing then Jamie Cullum is the artist for you.

The Listening Post: House Of Fatty Koo [CD REVIEW]

2005-09-18T12:19:00.000-05:00

Fatty Koo: Odd Name, Blazing CD
By AVITAL MIRSKY, Features Editor

When you first hear the name Fatty Koo, you might find it a little unusual. However, this group consisting of three males and three females is an extremely talented bunch. They are a very eclectic group incorporating all types of music, from R&B to Opera to Latin music. Each track of their debut release House Of Fatty Koo relates to a mood that any listener may be feeling, from relationships, to lust, to songs that you can just get up and dance to. The first two songs “Shake and “Bounce” are two club joints that really make you want to “bounce”. The up beat tempo makes you want to grab a partner and get on the dance floor. The sultry voice of Marya Barrios, an eighteen year old Venezuelan songstress and cellist, brings a Latin sexiness to the two tracks.

The lyrics on track three, “Fatty Koo”, with such phrases as “let me get a taste of your sweet potato pie” and “I wanna see you shake your fatty” are geared toward an older audience but are still able to reach the younger teens with its rhythmic flow. There are also such songs, which are related to love and the effects of it. The track “Chills” is a soulful song about the feelings one gets when their lover looks at them. With such similes as “cold as the winter breeze making my heart freeze” and “got me dizzy like chardonnay”, this heartfelt song literally causes goose bumps and makes you feel the love between two people. “Drive Myself Crazy” is about someone falling in love and how their whole world revolves around this one person. The contrast of Gabrielle Travis’s soft voice to Kianna “Valure” Allison’s strong powerful voice goes hand in hand to complete the soulful song.

Other songs on the track including “Lust” and “Move On” deal with such issues as staying with the one who you are not involved with and moving on. With the ballads and conversation between two people the songs seem very realistic. With the combination of the ballads and the variety of the singers’ tones, these songs pull you in and make you feel like you are in these trying situations yourself.

The combination of such instruments as the cello and saxophone bring a soothing sound to the slower songs such as “Drive Myself Crazy” and “Chills”. The harmonious melodies relax you get and you into the mood of the song. The mix of the saxophone, cello, and guitar create a sound of synchronization that fits for the faster songs.

If this talented group of young musicians continues to create their bold eclectic music, they will be around for a long time.

So You Want To Go To College? [ARTICLE]

2005-09-15T21:38:00.000-05:00

Making the Right Choice
By BRITTNEY SPURGEON, Interim News Editor/Staff Reporter

JACKSONVILLE - Most Stanton students have the same common goal, to be accepted and to succeed at a well-respected university. In order for a student to make a well informed decision about their future it would be a good idea to do research on which college he or she plans to attend before he or she begin to apply.

Where a student decides to go to college is one of the most important decisions he or she can make. When applying to college a website for a student to checkout is http://www.collegeboard.com/. This website suggests seven factors that a student should keep in mind when applying to colleges: location, campus life, activities and sports, cost and financial aid, and admission deadlines.

Stanton guidance counselor Bob Turba is available to answer a student’s questions about colleges once they begin the application process. When asked about what students should look for when applying to college, Mr.Turba said, “a major program of study should be your #1 priority, [your] second priority is location as well as what you and your parents can afford.”

Most Stanton students have their priorities straight when thinking about what college to apply to, for example junior Avery says, “One thing that is important to me is the reputation of the school, meaning its academic reputation.”

Some students have known what university they want to go to even before it came time to apply including junior Adam who says, “I have aspired to go to University of Florida for a while because it has a great campus and because the football team rocks.”

The College Board website also suggests that students should begin thinking about colleges by their junior year of high school if not sooner.

Once a student has narrowed down their list of schools Mr.Turba suggests that they should visit the campus to make sure that they will be able to adapt.

“I myself have never visited a college, but I have heard great things about them [from people who have visited them], " said Mr. Turba.

Stanton students work hard throughout their high school years in order to be accepted into a well-respected university. Of the 2005 graduating class at Stanton 99% of students moved onto college in the fall of 2005. Of these students 90% moved onto a 4-year college, while 10% went to a 2-year college. In essence, according to Mr. Turba, the best way to choose the college that best fits your requirements, is to do plenty of research.

The Great Math Debate [ARTICLE]

2005-09-15T21:18:00.000-05:00

New Teaching Method Comes Under Student Scrutiny
By ALEX MCCLAIN, Assistant Features Editor

JACKSONVILLE - These days it seems like there’s always an easier or cheaper way to do things. Instead of buying a CD, it’s cheaper to download it off the internet. Instead of having to rewind video tapes, DVDs have scene selections. Cell phones have made it easier to access the internet and snap a picture with just the touch of a button and the idea of trying to make things easier can even be applied to 10th grade geometry here at Stanton.

For the 2005-2006 school year, geometry teachers have found themselves using a new method to teach the subject. The new method “focuses on getting students to develop a higher level of thinking skills by first getting them to discover concepts instead of having them told to them,” said geometry teacher Robert Copeland.

Teachers are no longer lecturing concepts; rather students have new books this year that guide them step by step as they discover the new material. With this method, students are learning to teach themselves, which turns out to be more beneficial because, “the math they [students] learn in class cease to be memorized and is truly understood. Students can do a lot more with math they learn, than math they have memorized,” said Mr. Copeland.

This new which requires students to use their textbooks as guides, leaving teachers to do less lecturing could make this school year easier for teachers. But the new method isn’t about the teachers. It’s more about the students’ opinions and their ability to adapt to the new method.

Since the students are affected the most, current geometry students voiced their opinions on the new method. “So far, it’s okay. It’s a basic review of what we already learned in math,” said Sophomore Crystal.

This year students are even learning to depend more on each other as they work together in groups using technique. “I think it’s good that we get to learn in groups. This way we can explain things to each other and not be complex,” said Stephanie who is also a sophomore.

Given that past geometry students were taught differently last year, a few were asked what they thought of the improved method and how it compares to last year.

“It’s better this year because, when I had Mr. Fuller we used notes the whole year and I didn’t understand it,” said junior Josh.

Because students are using their textbooks as a guide and teachers are doing less work and only guiding students when needed, some may feel apprehensive about the change.

“I don’t like the new method because teachers are here to teach, not tell us to read and teach ourselves. Students need examples from teachers to learn,” said junior Sarah.

The question still remains, will this method be helpful to Stanton students? “The method is helpful because I get to discover my own concepts and the teacher is there when I need him,” said Crystal.

The geometry method textbooks make learning concepts easier for students to understand without having to trouble understanding teachers who make concepts seem more complex than they really are.

“It’s harder to understand when teachers use big words and now there’s an easier way to do things,” said Stephanie.

So far, current geometry students seem to be adapting well to the new technique and the improved method seems here to stay.

“If students really want to learn and prepare for their future, this is the way they’d want to learn math. You really want to understand, not just know your math,” said Mr. Copeland, “There’s a difference between knowing and understanding.”

The goal of this whole method is to get students to understand math so that it will be more useful if needed in their future. With most courses students take, after the school year is over they seem to forget about what they’ve learned. But with this method, students get a chance to take a little bit more from the class because they have discovered their concepts on their own. This allows them to apply what they have learned to situations where needed making the information more valuable to students.

Survey Question #1

2005-09-15T21:10:00.000-05:00

Please respond to the following questions in a simple YES or NO response:

Do you feel that President Bush's speech to the nation last night clearly outlined the plan for Hurricane Katrina recovery?

Please respond by saying either YES or NO. No subjective comments please. Any comments that are offensive and/or derogatory will be deleted.

Nobody Tames The Shrew [REVIEW]

2005-09-14T13:42:00.000-05:00

Stanton's Newest Shakepearean Production is a Hit
By ALYSSA ROUSIS, Editor-in-Chief

JACKSONVILLE - School plays are always entertaining because they allow you to see the “other side” of your peers. The quiet boy who sits next to you in math class might transform into an outgoing, talented actor on the stage. The recent production of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, put on by the Stanton drama students under the direction of drama teacher Matt Hemphill, was one such showcasing of rising stars.

The play began with unusual promptness: 7:00 pm on the dot. The set was simple, a brick wall that jutted out onto either side of the stage with five archways, yet still established the atmosphere of an old Italian town. The play begins with the entrance of the characters Lucentio (played by senior Travus) and his servant Tranio (played by junior Co’Relous). They happen upon an old, rich gentleman Baptista (played by senior Kendrick) and his two daughters, the angelic younger daughter Bianca (played junior Cecilia) and the older “shrew” Katherina (played by senior Caroline). While eavesdropping, Lucentio falls in love with Bianca and resolves to marry her. But, Baptista has stated that no one can marry Bianca until Katherina has wed.

Thus the plot thickens. Lucentio learns that Bianca has two other suitors besides himself: the old, creepy Gremio (played by senior Geoff) and the young Hortensio (played by senior Teddy). Both Gremio and Hortensio are in cahoots, trying to find a man who is willing to marry Katherina so Bianca will be available. Pertruchio (played by senior Alex) is one such man brave enough to weather Katherina’s storm, and so he weds her. Now Bianca is open game. The remaining Acts reveal which suitor ends up winning Bianca’s heart, and how Pertruchio succeeds in the taming of his shrew.

Alex’s Pertruchio and Caroline’s Katherina set off visible sparks. The chemistry between the two stole the spotlight from Bianca’s and Lucentio’s plight. When they first meet on stage, the dialogue is sharp, cutting, and witty. But their conversational banter doesn’t even compare to their “fight scene,” which ends as Alex places a forceful, not to mention, convincing kiss on Caroline's lips.

I have to mention junior Tyler, who played Pertruchio’s servant. His character provided the “comedic relief,” and he was reveling in the laughter on stage. Tyler's exaggerated mannerisms and facial expressions attracted my attention, even when he wasn’t delivering his lines.

Geoff, who played the old Gremio, did a wonderful job at maintaining a stooped position and a cracked voice. I barely recognized him, his make-up was so convincing.

The costumes were the best I’ve seen in a student Shakespearean production. Rich and colorful, they gave the actors a professional, authentic look. I was very impressed with the solid performances of the Stanton students, the costumes, and the set. The rest of the audience (which was a full house of four hundred) heartily agreed with me.

World Cup Soccer Preview [ARTICLE]

2005-09-14T13:37:00.000-05:00

Gooooooaaaaaaallllllll!
By GREG ROUSIS, Photography Editor

As the date for the 2006 World Cup quickly approaches, many national teams still have yet to qualify for the tournament. The rise of less-respected teams to the top of the soccer rankings could mean big changes in the outlook of the soccer world.

Perennial favorites in the tournament such as Brazil, France, Italy, and England, while still dominant, seem to be losing the supremacy they once celebrated. A prime example of this is Greece’s recent victory in the 2004 European Cup, which no one in the soccer community could have predicted. Greece’s 1-0 victory over Portugal would have been a shock in itself, but for that game to be the finals of Euro 2004 after the Greeks made an improbable run through the tournament was astounding; it defied all of the odds and resulted in a semi-upheaval of the soccer world. The Greeks will be hard pressed to prove that their tournament victory was not simply a fluke.

Another team that would like to prove they are not merely a one-hit wonder is the United States. With an eight-place finish in the 2002 World Cup, the Americans will be looking to repeat the same strong showing in 2006. The U.S. has sealed its place in the World Cup with a 2-0 win over Mexico on Saturday Sept. 3. The Americans have a good chance at repeating its strong showing because of the relative youth of the team. Landon Donovan, one of the poster boys for American soccer, and DaMarcus Beasley, a young midfielder with unparalleled speed look to lead the Americans to a good finish. Another key for the Americans is the depth and strength of their goalkeepers. With two seasoned international veterans in Kasey Keller and Brad Freidel, and a young keeper with English Premier League experience in Tim Howard, the U.S. team has one of the deepest and strongest keeper cores in the world.

The most dominant team of the last World Cup, Brazil, will return. How close they are to the near-perfect samba soccer they played in 2002 remains to be seen. Ronaldo, their star forward, has said he will retire after this World Cup, and Roberto Carlos, Cafu, and Ronaldhino are not getting any younger. Still, Ronaldhino is one of the top midfielders in the game, and Roberto Carlos has not lost his quickness or his legendary free kick. Young players, such as Robinho have been stepping into leadership positions for Brazil, and if the Brazilians keep churning out international stars at this rate, they will have no problem in filling the void left by Ronaldo in the years to come.

Argentina, a country still full of pride after their team triumphed at the U-19 World Championships, will look to challenge Brazil as the king of South America. They could, and if they do, the soccer world will once again be turned upside down in a year in which upsets are becoming the norm rather than the exception.

Religious Diversity of a Different Sort [EDITORIAL]

2005-09-14T13:19:00.000-05:00

Wiccans Are People Too
By SPENCER JOHNSON, Staff Reporter

JACKSONVILLE - Although their identities are a mystery, followers of the Wiccan religion roam the halls of Stanton.

Wicca is a modern mystery religion based on the worship of nature, the all-powerful Earth Goddess, and the Great Horned Demon. The followers, also known as witches, honor eight seasonal festivals and Sabbats. On these days they perform rituals, which can serve any purpose, but are primarily used for spiritual empowerment. Spells, otherwise known as concentrated prayers, serve a wide use of purposes, like helping the caster attain wealth or love.

Anonymous students practicing Wiccan at Stanton say the Wiccan population at the school is approximately, “15-20 students” and stated “most are girls.” In fact, according to these students the school is "crawling with Wiccans". This statement is hardly far from the truth, in fact, although only 15-20 Wiccans doesn’t seem like much, that number compared to practicing Muslims and other non-Christian religions isn’t so small.

Wiccans have many different meeting groups and organizations spread all across America promoting and celebrating their practices. In Jacksonville for example, The Jacksonville Pagan Correllian Tradition Study Group holds meetings for all the seasonal festivals. Another major meeting is Pagan Pride Day, which was held at the Volusia County Fair Grounds on Sept. 17.

So what effect does this have on Stanton as a whole? None whatsoever. The 15-20 Wiccans mentioned are supposed to remain anonymous, and other Wiccans can’t give out their names. Even in-depth descriptions of rituals are prohibited. Besides, due to the negative connotation associated with the word “witch” it’s no wonder practicing Wiccans would be so secretive and not hold meetings.

When asked what she associated with the word ‘witch’ senior Joia said, “Sorcery, evil, and the devil.” This is one of the many stereotypes about witches, whom have been seen as evil since the days of the Salem Witch Trials. But once you meet these clandestine students, one will quickly realize that witches don’t wear pointy hats, nor do they resemble the girls on television shows such as Charmed. Anyone looking for a specific “look” is wrong. They are just “normal” people as the one of the Wiccans stated.

So, taken as a whole, this small religion only goes to serve one purpose at Stanton; to display the extent of religious diversity among the student population, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Teens and Smoking [ARTICLE]

2005-09-14T13:01:00.000-05:00

Teens, Smoking, and Cancer
By Kristin Vassar, Staff Reporter

JACKSONVILLE - On Aug. 7, ABCNEWS reporter Peter Jennings died after losing his battle with lung cancer. Jennings had been smoking since the age of thirteen and continued throughout most of his adult life, and it seems that the alarming trend of teenage smoking and the contraction of cancer is prevelent today. According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the number one cancer killer among both men and women in the U.S. , but it seems more and more people continue smoking and most of these smokers are under age teens.

Nearly 20 percent of 12th graders, 12 percent of 10th graders, and 5.5 percent of 8th graders smoke cigarettes daily, according to a poll taken by www.lungusa.org. Teens who smoke increase their chances of contracting lung cancer, heart disease and having strokes. In fact, on average, someone that smokes a pack of cigarettes or more daily lives seven years less than someone who has never smoked, and teens who smoke increase their heart rate but reduce their lung growth.

Everyone runs the risk of having lung cancer but smokers increase their risk greatly. Peter Jennings isn’t the only celebrity figure to have died from a smoking related disease. Famous reggae artist Bob Marley died at age thirty-six, and Lorraine Hansberry author of “A Raisin in the Sun” died at age thirty-four.

There are two different types of lung cancer. There is non- small cell lung cancer which is the most common type, and grows more slowly. There are three different types of non-small lung cancer that are named for where the cancer develops. Squamous cell carcinoma, which is located in the bronchial tube. Aden carcinoma, which is found in the mucus gland, and large cell carcinoma, which is found near the surface. The other type of lung cancer is small cell lung cancer which is less common and spreads throughout the body more quickly.

The only way to keep the risk of contracting lung cancer at the lowest point, according to the American Cancer Society, is to not smoke. If you continue to smoke then at least get regular physicals and check-ups. If you experience any of the symptoms of lung cancer such as a chronic cough, worsening breathlessness, weight loss, excessive fatigue, or pain in the chest then get a diagnosis test right away.

In mourning the death of Peter Jennings many people have vowed to stop smoking. One fan wrote on the ABCNEWS message board, “At 9:00 I smoked my last cigarette out of the pack… I never went to get more cigarettes and I won’t today either. If Mr. Jennings wanted to impact people and make a difference about smoking and people stopping, he did with me.”

Though smoking is not uncommon in the teen community many teens vow to never smoke despite peer pressure. 10th grader Kiara says, “Smoking just isn’t the thing to do. I have so much I want to do with my life and smoking will only prevent that.”

Though studies show that teen and adult smoking is on the decline it is still very prevalent and causing harmful diseases to the people of our country.

Teens and Driving [ARTICLE]

2005-09-13T16:43:00.000-05:00

A Matter of Life and Death
By SHAINA LEE, Assistant Buisness Manager/Staff Reporter

JACKSONVILLE - In the last two years, West Nassau High School has lost a total of seven students and graduates due to fatal car accidents.

Most recently, Kyle Cash and Austin Abernathy were involved in a car accident on U.S. 301 South at Brooks Road. The two boys, one a senior and the other a graduate from this past spring, were exceeding the speed limit, lost control of vehicle, and collided with several trees. They both died instantly.

Their deaths question whether or not teenagers, in general, have the judgment and skills needed for driving on the road. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) statistics from 2004 state, the risk of car accidents is higher among sixteen to nineteen year olds than any other age group, and is also four times more likely than older drivers to crash.

Cash was driving home, with Abernathy, around two in the morning, a violation of his licensing, which graduated licensing is designed to prevent. Since Cash is a seventeen-year-old driver, time restraints are placed on his driving. Seventeen year olds are not allowed to drive between one and five in the morning, unless supervised by a licensed driver over the age of twenty-one. Therefore, Cash was in violation of Florida State driving laws and this car accident could have been prevented if he had been following them.

Graduated licensing, first started in New Zealand in 1987, was designed to delay a beginner’s full licensure while still allowing them to drive, but under lower risk conditions. The program is set up in three stages. First, with a supervised learner's period, then an intermediate license, which limits unsupervised driving in high-risk situations, and finally a full-privilege driver's license available after completion of the first two stages.

In Florida, graduated licensing was instituted in 1995, and since then has lowered the rate of teenage car accidents. Teenagers can obtain a learner’s license at fifteen, and at sixteen they can obtain their license, with some restrictions. Teenagers are required to keep their learner’s license for a year and have a parent or guardian confirm the teenager has driven the required fifty hours of driving (ten of them are to be at night, and all fifty hours are to be supervised). Once the teenager has acquired their license, restrictions are put in place so a teenager under the age of seventeen cannot drive between eleven at night and six in the morning. If they are seventeen, as previously mentioned, they are not allowed to drive from the hours of one in the morning to five in the morning. When the teenager turns eighteen, the restrictions on their license end.

Driver education is a course intended to help drivers develop the skills needed to be a safe driver. But formal evaluations of U.S. high school driver education programs indicate little or no effect in reducing crashes per licensed driver, and offering driver education in schools has a negative effect on crash involvement by encouraging early licensure. Yet Mr. Vinnie Ferreira, a driver education instructor since 1969, believes “it’s the students not taking the courses that have a negative effect on statistics.”

He also says, he has witnessed many good drivers come out of Stanton’s driver education program.

The deaths at West Nassau are tragic occurrences, yet teenagers still feel they are ready for the road. Abernathy wrote in a friend’s yearbook saying although they had “only one more year together,” they “still have many more fun times to come!” However his life was snatched away from him because of a car accident, due to a teenager’s lack of judgment and skills needed to drive. According to Ferreira, taking the time to prepare for the situations on the road will better teenagers driving abilities and lessen those teenage car accident statistics posted every year.

The New Fix [ARTICLE]

2005-09-13T16:30:00.000-05:00

Strangulation Fad Sweeping the Nation
By NIRAJ ROY, Photography Editor

In today’s world, marijuana is no longer parent’s worst fear, in fact, its something quite different. Rising Sun, Passout, Blackout, Knockout, Gasp, Funky Chicken, Space Monkey, Space Cowboy, Flatliner, Tingling, Suffocation Roulette are all terms used to describe the new way young teens are attempting to get a high. It's a new technique, and often fatal game, in which kids strangle themselves to cut off the air and blood to their brain, eventually leading to a build up and release of pressure which causes the blood to rush into the brain, thus creating the high they crave.

“Younger kids don't know that they can die from this, that it's a very dangerous activity,” said Dr. Lawrence Shapiro, Connecticut-based child psychologist.

This activity is indeed fatal and the death tolls have risen over the past few months. Over the past four months, two children from Idaho were found dead. In July ten year old Dalton Eby was found hanging from a tree in Island Park, Idaho and just three months before in Boise, Idaho a 13 year old girl, Chelsea Dunn was found hung in her closet.

"When they strangle themselves and release the pressure, it creates a tingling sensation in their upper body, especially their arms and head; they think that’s cool," said Sheriff Ralph Davis of Fremont County, Idaho.

Initially, in the case of Chelsea Dunn the police ruled her death a suicide. It wasn’t until Dunn’s school notified them of the recent suspensions of several girls that were choking each other in the hallways, that the choking game was believed to be involved. In previous years, similar deaths of children throughout the U.S, Canada, Ireland, and even India were classified suicides. But now, as they are reexamined, pediatricians such as Thomas Andrew of New Hampshire realize they are just young kids trying to catch a high.

“These cases are not abundantly clear-cut,” says Andrew, noting many medical examiners don’t have the resources to gather the requisite evidence.

Comment Question (#1)

2005-09-12T13:57:00.000-05:00

Please respond to the following questions in a short comment reponse:

Now that we have marked the passage of the fourth anniversary of September 11, do you feel that America is safer than it was on that fateful day four years ago? Are we safe from external, as well as, internal threats? Has enough money been spent on homeland security and protection?

Please make your comments brief (no more than 25-50 words). Any comments that are offensive and/or derogatory will be deleted.

Things To Do Downtown [ARTICLE]

2005-09-12T13:50:00.000-05:00

Downtown Provides Teens With New Fun Options
By MORGAN HENLEY, Interim News Editor/Staff Reporter

JACKSONVILLE - Many teens in Jacksonville regard downtown as a place only good for Jaguar’s games and concerts at the Veterans Memorial Arena. In the past, that might have been true but with recent additions to the downtown area, there are more and more options for teens.

Teens often do not take advantage of the many resources Downtown has to offer. With a new library in the works and free events almost every week, downtown is becoming more and more welcoming to teens.

“Downtown Vision” is non-profit organization that is trying to build a better downtown community that is an exciting place to live, work, play, and visit. By adding events such as the First Wednesday Art Walk and “Take Me to the River” City Market, they are simply trying to get more people to come to the once forgotten part of town.

Downtown Vision also has the Ambassador program which is called “the Jacksonville’s Downtown hospitality and information team”.

Victorino Antinio Rodriguez Alvian, an ambassador, suggests that if teens want to help make a difference in the downtown expansion then they need to, “get involved with civil activities, read to younger kids, and vote.”

The First Wednesday Art Walk held every first Wednesday of the month brings together local Downtown businesses and local artists. More than just paintings, the Art Walk includes performances, vendors, and live music and is a unique opportunity to check out some of what downtown has to offer.

A big factor prohibiting teens from going downtown is the issue of safety. Downtown has one of the lowest crime rates in the city, but many worry about the homelessness issue around area. Downtown Vision suggests the following safety tips, “Never give panhandlers money. Seek a police officer, a building security officer or Downtown Ambassador if you are uncomfortable or need assistance”.

The lack of parking space is another problem teens have with going downtown. There are over 10,000 available public parking spaces and convenient mass transit options, and the Downtown Ambassadors often suggest taking advantage of our public transportation system the Skyway and Downtown Trolley System are the most suggested ways of getting around downtown. In coming years the city plans to spend $100 million on the Skyway under the Better Jacksonville Plan.

Alvian hopes that by expanding downtown we can, “create an image. Downtown needs some assistance and fine tuning. We just need to get people to work together.”

New Coffee Hangout [ARTICLE]

2005-09-12T13:44:00.000-05:00

Shelby's Gives Patrons More Than Coffee
By NGOZI CHUKU, Business Manager/Staff Reporter

JACKSONVILLE - If you’re looking for an inexpensive place to chat with friends over a tasty cup of coffee visit Shelby’s Coffee Shoppe in Neptune Beach. This quaint little café is located off of First Street and is open between the hours of 7am –9pm (Sunday- Thursday) and 7am-11pm (Friday and Saturday.)

Shelby’s has an array of coffee beverages to chose from as well as café-style dishes and it’s cozy family-style atmosphere can be considered a welcomed change of scenery from other popular coffee shops. Shelby’s décor resembles that the Cracker Barrel Restaurant with an added touch of vibrancy.

The most requested drink is the Mocha, which has a smooth flavor, with just enough coffee zest, but doesn’t leave a strong after taste. The Vanilla Ice Latte is filled with lots of flavor but not enough to make the drinker get tired of the drink. Stanton Senior Cicely says, “It’s full of flavor of flavor and is comparable to Starbuck’s Vanilla Latte.” Shelby’s also has a selection of food items that include salads, sandwiches, and ice cream. The most popular ice cream dish is Shelby’s homemade fudge used as a topping.

Shelby’s Coffee Shoppe also hosts live entertainment every Friday night that ranges from classical rock, blues, jazz, and a few “jam” bands. The genre of music changes weekly to be more inclusive of audience members and customers. Employee Travis Church explains “ There is a strong possibility that Shelby’s will begin hosting spoken word nights in the near future.” Many of the performances are held in the courtyard directly adjacent to the building or in the outside café area.

Shelby’s employees are friendly and accommodating to customers of all ages. Church says, “Many of the café’s ‘regulars’ are teens who visit at night, while families tend to stop by during the day. If you’re out at the beach, come get something. We’re ‘homey’ and comfortable, we’re all about the atmosphere”, says Church who’s been an employee for the past 11 months. Cicely agrees saying, “I have definitely found a new coffee shop for Sunday night study session and a place to hang-out during a nice date.”

The Great Movie Decline [ARTICLE]

2005-09-12T13:38:00.000-05:00

Flicks Hurt Summer Box Office Numbers
By ALEX MCCLAIN, Assistant Features Editor

JACKSONVILLE - This summer marked the longest running box office slump in history since the 17 week slump in 1985. Ticket sales have been down 7% for 19 consecutive weeks. Even though this summer saw the release of many anticipated films, not enough money was grossed at the box office to help increase the current slump. Films like, Star Wars: Episode3 Revenge of the Sith grossed a total of $337 million and still was unable to help boost the ticket sales.

There were many movies that were expected to do well but instead turned out to be disappointments. These movies included Stealth ($16.3 million), Mr. and Mrs. Smith ($16.75 million), and Herbie Fully Loaded ($12.77 million) just to mention a few. None of these did much to improve the current box office condition, and it seems as if the audiences aren’t attending movies as much as they use to.

There have been many speculations as to why there has been a decline in box office sales, as well as audience attendance. Audience levels have been down by 10% and have been steadily declining since 2002. Some say that audiences just simply aren’t interested in the selection of movies this summer, while others may blame the quick sales of DVD’s and piracy. DVD levels are hitting record levels and doing better than the release did in the theaters. Or could it be that remakes just aren’t selling this year; seeing as many of the summer movie releases were mainly remakes or TV homages? (i.e. The Honeymooners, The Dukes of Hazards, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory).

Stanton students have their own opinions as to what they thought was the reason for the decline. Sophomore Kevin, “Movie theaters keep raising their prices and I hear that some movies are bad from other people who saw it already.”

Another student had a different opinion. “Technology makes getting things off the internet easier, and if people can find an easier and cheaper way to do things they will,” said Britni who is also a sophomore. There isn’t a definite answer but these factors could contribute to the decline. Ticket prices have increased by 6% to an average of $6.40 a ticket while audience levels are ironically declining. Many of the summer remakes don’t seem to be living up to their original predecessors. This is reflected in unoriginal plots and disappointing ticket sales such as Bewitched which only sold $20.2 million, House of Wax which grossed $32.05 and Batman Begins who only grossed $26.8 million.

Although these figures are disappointing, big major studios don’t seem to be as concerned. The loss comes more at the expense of independent film companies who account for more than half the films released in the United States. In an article found on msn.com, the six major studios ---- Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Disney, Universal and Sony--- actually took in more money from movies they put out earlier this year than in the same time period last year. According to msn.com, these studios earned $3.2 billion at the box office (Jan.1-June 30) compared to $2.7 billion in previous years.

If there continues to be a steady decline, there’s no telling where the future of the box offices may lie.