Opinion: Thursday is the new black

Aaron Koch
Staff Writer

Thanksgiving is the holiday for all of us to come together. It’s the day where schools and work will give time off so we can gather and be thankful. Many people will get to enjoy the entire four day weekend, but not everyone. The Friday after Thanksgiving is the biggest retail storm of the year and those who work in retail know it’s an important financial day, but now it looks like those same retail workers will not be able to enjoy the holiday, itself. Although, you can’t deny that certain retail workers are getting paid time and a half and should be happy to get the hours, but does the corporate farm need to ruin Thanksgiving?

Opinion: Former UNC football player sues University

Dylan Tastet
Staff Writer

Former NCAA football player Michael McAdoo is suing the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He claims the University broke its promise to provide him “a legitimate education” in exchange for playing football.

McAdoo lost his NCAA eligibility in 2011 when he was accused of receiving too much help from a tutor, who footnoted and created a bibliography for one of his papers. He was also one of the first student-athletes found to be taking part in “paper classes”, or classes for which the only requirement is to write a single paper. McAdoo says that these classes, concentrated mainly in the African-American Studies Department, do not constitute a legitimate education. He also says he was guided toward a major in African-American studies by the UNC football program.

Opinion: Is grieving appropriate for social media?

Dylan Tastet
Staff Writer

It has been a difficult couple of weeks for Wake County students, parents, and staff. First came the death of Panther Creek High student Laura Yost, and very recently Apex High has seen the loss of senior Nathan Pribble. The reaction to these tragedies on its surface has been touching. Many friends and family of the victims have rallied together to console each other and to respect the memories of those students. Some of what has been happening on social media websites, however, is completely distasteful.

An introvert living in an extrovert world

Sarah Ford
Staff Writer

From the moment I started kindergarten, I sensed a difference between myself and many of my peers. As I went through elementary and middle school, I found myself preferring to work on my own and not speaking up in group discussions unless I absolutely had to. School took so much of my energy that when I got home each day, I was so tired that I would plop down on the couch and zone out.

When I got to middle school, my friends were always saying, “Loosen up,” or, “You’re such a party-pooper.” They all assumed that if I just did what they were doing I wouldn't be so apprehensive. I felt like there was something wrong with me for not being more outgoing, so I started trying to change myself. In reality, there wasn't anything inherently wrong with me; my brain was just wired differently. I didn't need to change myself; I just needed to learn about what made me different.

Questioning the morality of medically assisted suicides

Kenison Garratt
Staff Writer

There has been a large amount of controversy over Brittany Maynard, a 29 year old victim of terminal brain cancer residing in Portland, Oregon, choosing to die at the end of the month. Her medically assisted suicide is planned to take place on Saturday, November 1. Many oppose the practice of euthanasia, but on the subject, Maynard says that it is her choice and her right to die with dignity. Maynard is working to have medically assisted suicide legalized in other states, where it is currently against the law. Many organizations, such as the Death with Dignity National Center and the Euthanasia Research and Guidance Organization, promote taking advantage of this option if one is suffering from a physical disability that is just too much or if one has a terminal illness. To be eligible for assisted suicide in the United States, one must have two different physician requests stating the patient will be passing away in under six months, be at least 18 years old, and be a resident of that state. Also, one cannot have a mental disorder; he or she must be a competent adult. “The law does provide safeguards against clinically depressed or mentally incompetent patients getting lethal drugs to end their lives. Four other states have enacted similar laws,” says CNN writer Sandeep Jauhar.

How effective are college essays in the admission process?

Dylan Tastet
Staff Writer

The deadline for early decision college applications was October 15, and most college-bound seniors have turned in a few college applications. Some of these kids would sell their soul to get into the college of their choice, and so they tried their hardest to sound unique to colleges through their essays and teacher recommendations. However, how effective are these as application supplements?

Are college degrees necessary?

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

New research shows that many college graduates are underemployed and that the job demand for college graduates is leveling off.  In fact, the demand for non-college level jobs is increasing at a higher rate than college level jobs.  In a time when many people feel that having a college education after high school is essential to getting a job, this is a surprising trend.

Why we need to vote

Henry McKeand

Staff Writer

According to The Economist Intelligence Unit's 2013 report on democracy throughout the world, only 15% of countries have full democracy and 33% of countries are controlled by authoritarian governments.  So why are citizens of the United States, one of the most democratic nations in the entire world, not voting?  In the 2012 U.S. presidential election, only 57.5% of eligible citizens voted.  The percentage is even lower for local elections, which is unfortunate since the results of local elections have a more direct impact.  For example, only 15% of Wake County voters turned out for the 2013 mayoral elections.  Compare this number to the 74.6% of Wake County voters in the presidential election in 2012.  These are disturbing statistics, especially during a time when many people are fighting for their right for representation.

New brain injury study drops bombshell on NFL

Adam Mancini
Sports Editor

Columnist Adam Mancini

Football is nearly a religion in American culture. Approximately 111.5 million people tuned in to watch the Seattle Seahawks dismantle the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. That’s over a third of the United States. But are we simply avidly rooting for our favorite teams in the great American sport each weekend, or are we witnessing the destruction of the bodies and minds of hundreds of young men?

In a ground shaking report from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs brain repository, 76 of the 79 former players’ brains studied showed evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a degenerative brain disease associated with impulse control problems, memory loss, and progressive dementia. The brain bank, one of the nation’s largest, would go on to study the brains of 128 deceased football players and find that a whopping 96.2 percent of the former NFL players in the study suffered from the disease.

Opinion: Growing domestic abuse problem in NFL

Dylan Tastet
Staff Writer

Anybody who watches the news has undoubtedly heard about Ray Rice’s domestic abuse scandal. While in an elevator in an Atlantic City casino, NFL running back Ray Rice punched his fiancée in the head, knocking her unconscious, and then proceeded to drag her limp body out of the elevator. Rice initially received a two-game suspension after admitting to the act, and was later suspended indefinitely after a video from the elevator’s camera was released.   It’s easy to believe that the NFL practiced good policy by suspending Rice indefinitely. Taking a closer look, however, it is apparent the NFL does little to enforce moral behavior among its players.

Opinion: Ferguson protests stress necessity for change

Nicholas Chupka
News Editor

Perhaps the most disturbing memory many of us have from this past summer is that of riot police barricading the small Missouri town of Ferguson and the violent scene that unfolded afterward, all spawning from the shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson. The police reaction was anything but civil, turning a small Midwestern suburb into a modern day police state so many have come to fear. St. Louis County police appeared in Ferguson sporting full riot gear and military style weapons. In many cases police refused to identify themselves and removed their own badges from their uniforms. One journalist, Ryan J. Reilly, recorded footage of a police officer in riot gear arresting him for not leaving a local McDonald’s quickly enough after police told him to leave. Reilly took his feelings to Facebook after his release, saying, “A Saint Louis County police officer in full riot gear, who refused to identify himself despite my repeated requests, purposefully banged my head against the window on the way out and sarcastically apologized.” Wesley Lowry, another journalist arrested in the same McDonald’s claims officers announced, “We cannot guarantee your safety. We will not be answering 911 calls.”

Women are ready to fight

Marley Shattuck
Staff Writer

The Pentagon revealed its plans to fully integrate women into front-line and special combat roles in the military, including the elite Army Rangers and Navy SEALs. Beginning in early 2016, the ban on women in combat will finally be lifted. The previous 1994 rule had banned women from earning higher positions in combat due to the preposterous idea that women could not handle such responsibility and challenge in war. Because women now make up roughly 15% of today’s military and have faced the reality of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, leaders believe that it is time to broaden their opportunities by lifting the ban.

Online presence comes with a price

Nicholas Chupka
Staff Writer

Teenagers are lucky to be living in an era where they have access to nearly every imaginable piece of information ever recorded. Every day after school, I hook up to my MacBook Pro and sail through the virtual wonder world that is the Internet. However, as much as I love the Internet, there is a significant risk involved with using it, though it is one I am willing to take. When someone creates a Facebook profile, a Twitter account, a blog on Tumblr, he or she compromises his or her personal information to the entire population of the Internet. With social media, we literally record our lives for the Internet. This online record of our personal history is known as a lifestream or a digital footprint.

Behind the filter

Marley Shattuck
Staff Writer

Many people would argue that appearance counts in life, whether you’re looking for a job or even auditioning for a play. For many years young girls have worried about their hair, make-up, and/or weight daily. Statistics even show that 90% of women want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance. Within the last few years, social media has now made body image a 24/7 issue.

Snowden makes headlines once again

Nicholas Chupka
Editor-in-Chief

Twenty-eight year-old self proclaimed “computer wizard” Edward Snowden made national headlines earlier this summer after leaking thousands of classified documents containing evidence linking the National Security Agency, also known as the NSA, to the illegal collection of private information of United States citizens. To avoid being taken into custody, he fled to Moscow, Russia where he was granted temporary amnesty. In editorials published last week, both the Guardian and New York Times pleaded for President Obama to drop charges against Snowden and to allow him to return to the U.S. with the New York Times saying, “Mr. Snowden deserves better than a life of permanent exile, fear and flight. He may have committed a crime to do so, but he has done his country a great service.”  A sentiment that I and many other Americans would agree with. Snowden risked the only life he’d known to inform the American public of the crimes being committed against them.

End bullying now

Shauna Hines
News and Features Editor

Cyberbullying, indirect bullying, verbal and physical abuse, and intimidation appear to be on the rise. Did you know that over 3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year, 56% of students have witnessed bullying at school, and one out of ten students drop out of school because of repeated bullying?

The film industry relies on bullies for some of their best movies, whether comedies, romantics, or dramas. In fact, there is a made-for-TV movie called “Cyberbully” that takes the mean-girl drama into the virtual world.  Gordon Ramsay and Simon Cowell are two of the most brutally honest and downright mean stars on reality television. These types of movies and television shows usually work out for everyone in the end, but this is not always the case in real life.

Government shutdown could come with big consequences

Nicholas Chupka
Editor-in-Chief

Nicholas Chupka

The Affordable Care Act, frequently referred to as Obamacare, is a health care plan signed into law by President Obama three years ago in an attempt to provide affordable healthcare to all Americans. Since its conception, the Affordable Care Act has been a controversial issue among Republicans, who oppose it due to the fact that it imposes new taxes for the upper class and in recent weeks, many members of the House have shown their disdain for Obamacare, even going so far as threatening to shutdown the government if it is not defunded, an event that occurred at midnight on Tuesday. The fact that the House GOP managed to shut down the government because they couldn’t get what they wanted just shows what childish and irresponsible levels they are willing to submit to, all at the expense of the American people.

Department of the Month: Foreign Language

Natalia Ghan

Staff Writer

Most students need a foreign language to be accepted into a university, but simply pulling one out of a hat isn’t the best choice. So, how should an Apex High student choose the right option? Because not everyone is interested in the same field of study, a student would be wise to consider his/her future goals before signing up.

The first path one could go down is the sensible road of Spanish class.  Kate Lasher, an Apex High Spanish teacher, describes her subject as a “useful skill in today’s global community.” It is widely spoken in the United States and dominates South and Central America as well as a slice of Western Europe, and may increase one’s likelihood of finding a job in travel, communication, business, medicine, or even accounting.  This language would not only be useful to people frequently working with the public, but would also be the most helpful in everyday communication, as 13 percent of the American population is Spanish speaking. There is also a wide variety of Spanish classes offered at Apex High. The seventh level is AP Spanish Literature, taught by Elizabeth Mata; it can be described as an active, creative class where students will gain a deeper understanding of the language. 

Should the U.S. Boycott the 2014 Olympics?

Adam Mancini
Staff Writer

The 2014 Winter Olympics are slated to be held in Sochi, Russia, but many United States citizens are calling for a boycott of the games. On June 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a human-rights-crushing bill banning “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations,” in the presence of minors. This “propaganda” includes marching in a gay pride parade, holding a rainbow colored flag, or even just holding hands with someone of the same sex. Offenders are subject to a hefty fine of up to $150 for citizens (up to $31,000 for organizations) and can serve as many as two weeks in jail. The law is the culmination of a massive crackdown on Russia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens. Before the vote, which was of 436 in favor, zero against, a group of LGBT Russians staged a kiss-in to protest the bill. Meanwhile, a few hundred angry citizens threw eggs and other objects at the protestors, as well chanted Russian Orthodox songs and beat them. Thankfully, the police showed up and calmed the riot by somehow finding the logic to arrest the LGBT protestors, who were in the process of being beat on and harassed.

Punk makes a comeback for fall fashion

Sarah Kebea 
Staff Writer

It’s that time of year again and all eyes are on the new fall fashion trends.  Even though the cold temperatures haven’t come yet, learn how to transition key summer pieces into autumn with fall’s punk-inspired must haves listed below.