// NEWS // camping to claim pgs. 2&3

// EDITORIAL // selfie control pg. 14

// SPORTS // roll seven pg. 10

homecoming editionPhoto by: Danielle Volpe

news2 THE TORCH | OCTOBER 2013

Classyor

CRASHY?

1. Junior Miranda Serna looks fashionable with her silver BMW.2. Coach Comer stands beside his green Camaro, which his wife picked out.3. Economics teacher Coach Pollack poses next to his Dodge minivan.4. Senior Jake Terry swagging it out on his retro van that fits up to 10 people. 5. Senior Will Cramer, sits on his Ford Explorer also known as “Dora.”6. Senior Shefali Syed smiles with her Mercedes that she’s crashed three times.7. Senior Paulo Otero modeling with his brand new Nissan, or his “Lady in Black.”

Photos by: Saianoop “Snoop” Vatturi

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Undoubtedly, all are aware of just how chaotic the struggle to get a parking spot this year was. The Class of 2014 and Class of 2015 are the largest grades in Seven Lakes, with roughly 1000 students in each class. This year was the first ever to sell out of both reserved and general parking in the first days of selling; usually students could get a parking spot until late November.

Just like the students, the school staff also knows how frenzied the parking rush was this year.

“All in all the parking and the procedures and everything we had in place was a real success,” junior class Assistant Principal Paul Moussavi said. “We completed 544 parking spaces, not reserved, which completely sold out in 3 ½ hours. And 471 reserved sold.”

The longest part of the process was checking all 1000 students’ papers. Both staff and students had to sign and make sure all paper work was complete.

“We had to make sure we had enough employees on

hand to gather the paper work and go over it,” Moussavi said. “Because that’s the longest part of it, going through the drivers licenses, insurance, and all the other documents.”

The senior class officers helped make sure who was in line before the school started handing out tickets. Senior class Vice President Will Van Hoozer came up with the idea for a list.

“Mr. Morris came at like 7:45 A.M. and came and helped us get everyone in the right order, they used the list and made sure everyone was in line and in the right order.” Van Hoozer said.

According to several students, the event was well organized and well planned.

“I was actually surprised at how organized it was. They made a list of people and everyone got in line according to the order of who showed up,” senior Chase Snider said. “We put names to paper.”

Snider also brought enough things for entertainment like an Xbox, and a 30 inch TV. Some serious planning took place to get the connection

running for the entertainment system to work.

“I had five extension cords running from a power outlet a distance from the front of the school,” Snider said. “There are some power outlets by the math hallways and we ran the extension cords from there to the front of the school.”

Around 11:20 P.M., Snider arrived at Seven Lakes and

was the 16th person in

line. “I wanted to get there early and set up so we could have a good time and stuff. Wright Baber brought a bean bag game, and FIFA,” he said.

Around 5 in the morning, 400 students were already lined up waiting for their

chosen spot. “I was number one and

Dakarri [Muhammad] was number two,” Van Hoozer said. “At midnight there was probably already like 20 people, then the numbers just kept getting into the hundreds.”

Students took to Instagram and Twitter to document the eventful night, posting pictures and even beginning a sort of panic. Once word spread that people were camping out early, many students decided that they didn’t want to be last in line or miss a reserved parking

spot.According to Van

Hoozer, his tweet was one that might have caused the havoc.

“We were talking about that and everyone blamed me for tweeting at 10:30,”

he said. “It was all because of the tweet. I would probably take that back if I could.”

All students want a good parking spot and the earlier they went the better chance of having the coveted reserved spot.

“I went early because

someone called me at midnight and there were already like 25 people there,” senior Jack Weber said. “I got there about 1 o’clock, and I was 43 on the list.”

Of course next year, the Class of 2015 will be the largest class at Seven Lakes and students may already be planning to camp out even earlier than 10:30 P.M.

“Next year we have reserved parking and we have a huge class so it’s going to be more chaotic,” junior Maddi Richey said.

Even though the wait was lengthy, tiring, and perhaps a little messy, for the most part, things went smoothly and nearly everyone managed to get a parking spot. The entertainment made the situation more bearable. Half the students were sleeping, hanging out while the other half were playing Xbox or entertaining themselves with movies or other games.

“It was fun. It was like a party,” senior Pierson Fowler said. “If you’re gonna be sitting at school, at least have fun.”

OCTOBER 2013 | news | THE TORCH 3

THERE WERE KIDS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS; KIDS FROM CINCO CAME. IT WAS LIKE A PARTY IN THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL.- JACK WEBER12

Parking probation(warning):

6-8 hours of detention3 days ISS/OSS

Loss of parking privilege for 6 weeks:

9-13 hours of detention 4-5 days ISS/OSS

Loss of parking for the remainder of semester: 14-15 hours of detention

6 days ISS/OSS

Loss of parking for the year:

16 or more hours of detention

7 or more days of ISS/OSS

&PARKING

RULESREGULATIONS

Seniors set the new standard for obtaining reserved parking spots

Choosing to park in a reserved spot, parking without a general parking sticker issued to YOU, loitering in the parking lot during school hours,

etc., will result in the following consequences upon consecutive offenses:

CAMPING TO CLAIM beccaRIOS// staff writer

“ “

4 OCTOBER 2013 | news | THE TORCH

OuT OF THIS WORLDNew Earth & Space Science course now available to seniors

As the new school year starts, students are getting acquainted with new teachers, new friends, and a new class. Earth and Space Science, a new course in Katy ISD, has been unveiled for the 2013 - 2014 school year. The class currently has two teachers for the subject, physics teacher Bradley Armstrong and AP environmental science teacher Carlton Colmenares.

“It seems like the students are pretty interested,” Armstrong said. “They’re here for the right reason for the

most part, they seem to be participating like I need them and want them to.”

M a n y students at Seven Lakes signed up for the class when the class was announced in the spring of 2013. Both students and teachers are still learning about the subject, but it has been going well for its first year.

“I signed up because it looked like a fresh, fun class,” senior Preston Poole said. “I wanted to

try something new.” “The teachers are also

going through the learning

process of a new class, not just the students.

“The class has been very enjoyable, engaging, fun, and educational not only for the students, but for me as well,” Armstrong added.

Teachers are also very excited and happy about the new course. They are glad to have it as part of the curriculum available to seniors.

“We offer a science to g r aduat ing seniors that

relates the natural world and its development to their soon-to-be adult lives,” Colmenares said. “Whether they have always had an interest in the cosmos, dinosaurs, minerals, climate or the flow of energy through the planet’s systems, this course will give them a foundational understanding of geology, engineering, marine systems and similar career choices they could pursue in college.”

ethanPHAM// staff writer

SEvEN LAKES HAS MORE STuDENTS ENROLLED IN THIS CLASS THAN AT ANY OTHER KATY ISD HIGH SCHOOL—THAT SHOuLD INDICATE A LOT OF STuDENT INTEREST AMONG THE uPPERCLASSMEN

-CARLTON COLmENARES

“

”

feature5 THE TORCH | OCTOBER 2013

Charity holds 5K to give computers to hospital patients PAYS IT FORWARD

On September 21, the charity organization Keep Kids Connected held a Superhero 5K marathon at the Villagio Town Center.

The organization, founded by senior Caitlyn Mortus, donates computers to children in hospitals with life-threatening illnesses. Keep Kids Connected was established in August of 2010 with the hopes of helping children connect with friends and family while undergoing treatment.

Mortus herself has fought a tedious battle with cancer and was inspired to give back to the community.

“When I was going through my cancer treatments, I was given a laptop,” Mortus said. “I really wanted to pay it forward.” By holding fund-raisers such as the 5K and Caitlyn and Friends, an annual spaghetti dinner, Mortus has been able to help donate over 500 computers to hospitalized children. “I didn’t really think it would get to this point,” Mortus said.

This year’s 5K hosted a superhero theme in which participants appeared dressed as their favorite superheroes. Participants ranged from toddlers to the elderly. With the progress her efforts are producing, Mortus anticipates to continue her philanthropic deeds in the future. “My goal is to donate as many computers as I possibly can to the children and I hope to never stop,” Mortus said. Throughout her experiences, Mortus manages to find great rewards for her accomplishments. “When I am actually giving the computers to the children, I know that they are very appreciative and happy,” Mortus said. “It means so much to them.” Keep Kids Connected’s goal is to empower children with “social healing”. An opportunity for social connection helps alleviate the many moments of isolation that hospitals unfortunately demand.

sanjanaMADAKSHIRE // staff writer

CAITLYN MORTuSSENIOR

/// save the date ///ALUmINUm CAN DRIVE: Saturday

November 9, 2013 9:00 Am - 12:00 PmTradition Bank - Pin Oak Location - Drop off

your aluminum beverage cans for recycling!

BINGO FUNDRAISER & ENCHILADA DINNER Saturday march 8, 2014 6:00 Pm Dinner

St. Bartholomew Catholic Church5356 11th St., Katy, TX 77493

Photos by: Saianoop “Snoop” Vatturi

OCTOBER 2013 | feature | THE TORCH 6

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Kylie Dudderar, a junior, moved to Katy four years ago. She is very family-oriented, with a twin sister, Logan, and two older sisters, Shaila and Erica. “I love having a twin sister because you always have someone that is there for you and someone who you can talk to about anything. My role models are my older sisters, Erica and Shaila, because I can look up to them and they always know how to make me smile.” Kylie enjoys visiting her family back in

Ohio, along with swimming. Kylie loves the atmosphere

here at Seven Lakes because, “Everyone is supportive of the school.” Kylie is also part of National Honor Society and Spartans Out Serving. “When I first came to Seven Lakes, I thought that the school was so big and very intimidating.” Kylie lists her journalism class as a favorite because she thinks it might be something that she could pursue as a career and she loves her journalism teacher, Coach Risien.

Kylie also enjoys the movies 21 Jump Street, Ace Ventura, and The Proposal. “I like to think of myself as a happy person,” said Kylie. “If I could give advice to younger students, I would tell them to stay organized, know your schedule, and know what you

have ahead of you.”

kiaraREYES // guest writer

Kevin Robinson, a first year Seven Lakes Pre-AP and Academic English I teacher, loves working with the students here at Seven Lakes. “I love the fact that the students want to be here. I’ve worked at schools that have poor attendance, and it’s so much easier to have fun with students who want to be here and make learning fun. Also, the atmosphere here is super nice and you can tell that the teachers really care about the kids.” Robinson comes from a family of five siblings,

two sisters, and two adopted brothers.

Prior to Seven Lakes, Robinson, a Penn State graduate, lived in Boston. He has lived in Texas for four years. “I threw a dart at a map and it landed near here, so I picked a school district that I liked a lot and decided to teach here,” said Robinson.

He had several mentors who ignited his love for English and reading. “My college professor, Jon Olson was one of the best teachers I have ever had. Also my other

professor, David-Matthew Barnes, who is now an author of several books, got me to like writing even more.”

Outside of teaching, Robinson is fluent in German, enjoys writing, sports, especially hockey, and making remixes of pop songs. He describes himself as a creative, outgoing, and crazy awesome person. He also likes the movie Fight Club, and loves the book Invisible Monsters by Chuck

Palahniuk.

“I would describe myself as outgoing. I always like being happy and I treat people the way I want to be treated. I am a people person,” said security guard, Malinda Jones. Jones enjoys Seven Lakes because she thinks it feels like she has 4,000 kids of her own. “I never want to bully the kids. I want to help them set some goals for life so they can be successful.”

Mrs. Jones was born in her grandmother’s back room and grew up picking cotton. She lived in Fulshear and

attended Lamar Consolidated High School in Rosenburg, where she graduated in 1975. She grew up with seven other siblings, four girls and three boys. Now, she has two kids, 32 year old daughter, Zandra, and a 28 year old son, Gailen. She also has a poodle named Oso.

Jones has worked for the district for 23 years, 16 of her years as a custodian, and afterwards, she became a security guard. “I became a security guard because I love working with the kids,” she

said. Prior to SLHS, Jones worked at Cinco Ranch Junior High and Woodcreek Junior High. Jones has worked at Seven Lakes as a security guard for four years now.

Along with being a security guard, Mrs. Jones enjoys dancing, crocheting, figuring out jig saw puzzles, and playing with her grandkids. “I just love working with the kids here at Seven Lakes.”

WHAT’S YOuR STORY?Three Spartans, three stories. What’s yours?

OCTOBER 2013 | feature | THE TORCH 7

HOLE-IN-ONEStudents host charity golf tournament for injured firefighter

When Rachel Hart suggested to Bridget Sillman that they host a charity golf tournament — something neither of them had any experience with-- the two quickly began planning. A mere five weeks and one successful tournament later, the pair had raised over $30,000, all of which went to critically injured Fire Department Captain William Dowling.

Dowling had been injured fighting the fire that consumed a Houston motel and restaurant on May 31 of this year and four firefighters’ lives, marking the deadliest loss for the department in history.

“Captain Dowling was one of my dad’s good friends,” Sillman said. “My dad is in the fire department, and they started together as rookies, so they’re pretty close.”

The decision to host a charity tournament was largely spontaneous, but it tapped into deeper desires that both girls held of more meaningful volunteering.

“I don’t exactly like going to volunteer for something and then just, you know, forgetting about it,” Hart said. “You’re volunteering and helping the community, but you’re not making much of a difference because you don’t put anything into it aside from simply being there. I wanted to personally give to the community and be able to claim that, yes, I did that, that’s because of me.”

After creating a Facebook page and sending media alerts to spread the word, the two started garnering

business donations. But some were taken aback by the fact that the charity event was spearheaded by teenageers.

“Once, when we got to the business place of a sponsor, [the owner] said that he never would have guessed that we were two 17 year olds and even that had he known, he probably wouldn’t have made a donation,” Hart said. “But, after seeing what we had done, he told us he was proud and he completely supported it.”

As word spread about the event, registration for spots quickly dried up. The rapid pace was overwhelming: donations, sponsors, and player registrations were pouring in from all sides.

“When we started we had no idea it was going to be this big. It was supposed to be like 72 players, then it grew to 144, and then it just kept going,” Hart said. “So many people were willing to help, and donate, and play.”

At the event, part of Captain Dowling’s family was present to receive the check for $30,000 from the girls.

“Forest (Dowling’s son) came up to us after the fact, after most people had left, to help us clean up and said, ‘You don’t understand how much this means to me, I could never repay you’ — things along those lines,” Hart said. “And I don’t think what anybody else said could compare to what he said.”

Hart and Sillman say they have an eye on the future, with other events planned and a charity

organization in the works. “My advice to kids who

want to do something like this is, don’t take it too seriously,” Sillman said. “Because it is serious— but if you get wrapped up in the details, it’s just going to be frustrating and you’re not going to get anything done. You have to remember why you’re doing it, and use that to motivate you.”

kamiaRATHORE// editor-in-chief

ABOVE: Seniors Rachel Hart and Bridget Sillman (left and right, respectively) present Captain Dowling’s son, Forrest, with the check for 30,000 dollars at the tournament. RIGHT: The logo for the tournament, designed by Jay Taylor.

8 THE TORCH | OCTOBER 2013

HH ALLOWAyAre you an

Edward or Jacob fan? Neither; the Vampire Diaries is better than Twilight.Favorite all time show? Duck Dynasty.Craziest thing you did in high school? my friends and I TP’ed [toilet-papered] one of our teachers houses on Halloween. But, only because we knew he would be okay with it!What was your first car? Honda Civic.Favorite song in high school? Tim mcGraw by Taylor Swift.

Favorite book of all time? The Bible, seriously.Where did you go to college? University of Texas at Austin.What was the most embarrassing thing that happened in high school?

Sometimes, my nose would randomly bleed during class.What was your major in college? Spanish Language Teaching.Do you play videogames, if so which ones? Not lately, but I have a Wii and like to play it with my family for fun.

E SCOBARE

Get to know the newest faces of Seven Lakes

What songs do you sing in the car to work?

ESPN Radio -I need my football fix.Are you an Edward or Jacob fan? I’m not a 16 year old girl...Craziest thing you did in high school? I was involved in several pranks that could best be described as legendary.What was the most embarrassing thing that happened in high school?I once forgot to bring a pencil to class - boy did I feel dumb!What was your first car? Sadly, a station wagon.

LEFEVREL

NEW YEARlorieKIESEWETTER // staff writer

NEW TEACHERS

/ / / 8

OCTOBER 2013 | spotlight | THE TORCH 9

What GPA did you have in high school? 4.8 What are your hobbies? Reading, film, skiing.What’s your favorite animal? The bear.Craziest thing you did in high school? I played drums and won a literary contest.Do you play videogames, if so which ones? No, only tennis.

FAURF

Are you an Edward or Jacob fan? Jacob.Favorite show? Golden Girls.What was your favorite song in high school? Gangsta’s Paradise. What was your major in college? Double major in math and psych.What was your favorite class in high school? Geometry and Calculus.

What songs do you listen to in the car to work? Anything new and emerging.Are you an Edward or Jacob fan? Not going to lie, Team Jacob!What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in high school? Too embarrassing to say. That’s between me and my 9th grade art class.What was your first car? PT Loser- I mean Cruiser.What electives were you a part of in high school? Debate, art, and dance (ballet).

OO LLETT

SST. JULIEN

Are you an Edward or Jacob fan? I don’t like wolves or vampires.What is your favorite animal? LigerWhat college did you go to? Southwest Texas State.What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in high school? I don’t embarrass easily, but I’m sure my parents were embarrassed by some things I did.Favorite class in high school? Band.

WALLACEW

/ / / 9

sports10 THE TORCH | OCTOBER 2013

Two games into district play, Seven Lakes sits atop a 5-0 start, and tied for 1st place in district. This historic start puts the Spartans in a good position to turn some heads and become a commanding team heading into the second half of the season.

“It feels amazing to be a part of something so special,” defensive back Junior Henderson said. “The intensity this year compared to last is just mind blowing.”

The Spartans are led by a defense that has only given up a mere 28 points in 5 games, posting two shutouts against Kempner and Clear Brook.

“We’ve been playing lights out defense all year and it’s been really fun to be a part of,” linebacker Tommy Brown said. “The defense has been doing everything that is expected of us and we are beginning to make a name for ourselves.”

Seven Lakes has forced turnovers in five

consecutive games, and Henderson has been a key factor in defensive dominance this last month, integral in forcing big play after big play.

“Going into the season, I set goals for myself to be the best,” Henderson said. “As far as this year’s play I’ve had some good breakout moments, but I’m always working on being consistent.”

Running back Braeden West looks to make his return this week after suffering a broken collarbone in the first few plays against Kempner.

“I feel great and I am happy to be back out at practice,” West said. “It feels good to get in pads and be out there with everyone again.”

West is hoping to bounce back and capitalize on his stellar sophomore year in which he rushed for 1583 yards and 17 touchdowns.

“I think we are all excited for him to get back,” Brown said. “Braeden is one of the

best backs in our district and he’s been dying to get back out there.”

In his absence, running backs Brian Moore and Evan McDowell have put up exceptional numbers with 895 yards and 8 touchdowns between the two of them.

Quarterback Rand Turnbull has also done a great job of running the read option in the last couple of weeks, rushing for 82 yards and two touchdowns against Taylor.

“Our running game has really opened up these past few games,” Turnbull said. “Our backs are doing a great job of finding the holes and the offensive line is really dominating the line of scrimmage.”

The Spartans are set to face 5-0 Katy, which sets the stage for an entertaining game between the two teams. The football program at Seven Lakes has never won against Katy, but the team seems up to the task this year.

ROLL SEVEN Photos by: Saianoop “Snoop” Vatturi

trentWEBER // sports writerTied for first in district play, Spartan football players prepare for Katy

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

OCTOBER 2013 | sports | THE TORCH 11

On the Sidelines with...

SPARTAN Sidelines

uPCOMING SPARTAN SPORTING

EvENTS

SWIMMING/DIVING // 10.29.13

SLHS Varsity v. memorial @ SLHS

VARSITY FOOTBALL// 10.18.13

7:00 SLHS v. Katy Tigers @ Rhodes

CROSS COUNTRY// 10.25.13

District 19 - 5A8:00 Am BC Park

/// BOYS & G

IRLS BASKETBA

LL PREVIEW ///

The Boys’ Basketball program is excited to defend their 19-5A District Title this year and is working hard in the pre-season. The first game is at home on Tuesday, November 12th against Hastings and the 2013 Spartan Crazy Shirts will be passed out at the game.

The Spartan Varsity has won over 30 games the past three years and our Sub-Varsity Teams have 26 District Championships. The team is excited about the 2013 Spartan Crazies and having a another winning and fun season!

The Girls’ Basketball program has gone to work this pre-season to defend their 19-5A Undefeated District Title. The program reached new heights in 2012-2013 with their first Regional Tournament appearance, and an impressive overall program record of 96-11.

Many players who made vital contributions to last year’s success, are returning this year poised and ready to win. The girls’ first home game is Tuesday, November 5th against Cy-Ranch. Come out and support this talented team!

ice cream: dream girl: old Nickelodeon show: COOKIES

N’ CREAMANYONE WHO CAN TAKE MY CHILDISH WAYS

SPONGEBOB

TOm FLATTERy

// above //Catching a break from the tiring halftime show, the Color Guard stands front row on the sidelines with the band playing behind them.

// below //Cross Country runners Chandler Rathke (left) and Roderick Bell (right) finish their race strong.

Photos courtesy of Bud Willoughby and 7L Cross Country

life&style12 THE TORCH | OCTOBER 2013

Every once in a while, a film that is both technically spectacular and incredibly insightful comes along to dazzle us all. So far, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Ben-Hur, and Lawrence of Arabia are a few which belong to that short list. They were visually and thematically ambitious; they were films that said something about the human condition, about mortality, about death, about love, about life. Alfonso Cuaron and his son, Jonas, have crafted a film that easily joins them.

Gravity’s opening shot is one drawn-out, breathtaking view of planet Earth and a space shuttle in orbit. We spin along the shuttle without a single cut for the first several minutes, for their spare use emphasizes our role as a real, up-close observer of events, and acquaint ourselves with two members of its crew, Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney). Almost immediately we develop a sense of wonder and marvel that is rare in a world of film where special effects are common. We can’t help but feel Kowalski’s awe at the majesty of our blue world, and we can’t disagree with Stone’s nausea in the dizzying vacuum. Gravity establishes itself as an experience.

Then, the mission goes wrong and the space shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski drifting in space, seemingly without a way home. The situation they face is infinitely paralyzing, unbearably numbing, and Stone slowly loses hope. And we do, too.

Gravity is not just a thriller: it’s a heartfelt look at how we deal with catastrophe.

Kowalski is optimistic, relaying colorful stories with easy-going charm to dispel all the sense of doom and gloom, while Stone slowly drains of hope, for Earth holds only tragedy for her - perhaps there is no point for her to return at all. The former views life like a wondrous child, flowing through each moment in a constant state of euphoria, while the latter is imprisoned by the past, unable to see the beauty before her eyes through the darkness surrounding her.

Sandra Bullock is the most engaging presence in the movie. Much of Gravity is her time to shine, and Bullock delivers her best physical and dramatic performance ever. Extreme close-ups of her face sometimes take up the entire screen, and every inch of it is written with fear. The way she moves in space is frustratingly clumsy, conveying the helplessness anyone would feel without a tether in the harsh vacuum, while she gracefully glides through the space station like a dancer leaping endlessly through air. Though Dr. Stone does end up explaining to us what she’s doing several times under the guise of communicating with Houston “in the blind” over radio (this means NASA can hear her, but she can’t hear them), this dialogue isn’t overtly distracting and more helpful for us to understand her thoughts. Her transformation from a lost, aching soul to determined survivor is one of the simplest yet most inspiring character arcs ever filmed.

Through Stone’s plight, Gravity forces us to consider how we would

react when faced against insurmountable odds like all good survival films do. Space is such an effective trap for the characters because the ability to move in it is so limited. The helplessness Stone experiences miles above Earth’s surface really is a metaphor for her emotional stagnation and her inability to move on. When she first gets knocked off of the shuttle, she has no clue how to survive, no clue how to shift things into her favor. It is Kowalski, a person confident in his abilities, who displays the earliest incidences of heroism. As the story progresses and Stone overcomes her fear and apathy, she starts to employ a variety of tools, develops a strategy, and becomes so much like Kowalski that she even repeats one of his first lines. Through Stone, Bullock and Cuaron demonstrate that helplessness is not always a result of the way things are; sometimes, it is a matter of choice.

Yes, Gravity does deliver the thrilling action sequences its trailers promised. The destruction of the space shuttle and the shattering of the space stations occur soundlessly. The only noises we hear during these tense moments are Stone’s panicked breathing and the blaring, ominous score. Cuaron makes phenomenal use of 3-D; in one particular scene, a frightening amount of debris flies right into your face. And to top it all off, many of action scenes are long, seamless sequences that move so fluidly that everything happening onscreen appears so perfectly real - an impressive feat

considering the amount of difficulty the crew faced filming the zero gravity scenes for extended periods.

Gravity is an outstanding achievement in terms of storytelling and technological innovation. Not many films have ever been as engaging on such a deep, primal level; the Cuarons have raised the bar for future special effects spectacles to come.

GRAVITY: THE MOvIE EvENT OF THE YEARDirectors Alfonso and Jonas Cuaron create a breathtaking film charlesLIu

// guest writer

T h e a t r i c a l release poster for Gravity. C o p y r i g h t Warner Bros. Pictures.

UPCOmING RELEASESOCTOBER 18

CarrieThe Fifth Estate

NOvEMBER 1About Time

Ender’s GameNOvEMBER 8

Thor: The Dark WorldNOvEMBER 22

The Hunger Games: Catching FireNOvEMBER 27

Frozen

OCTOBER 2013 | life & style | THE TORCH 13

Nothing Was the Same is the third studio album by record-ing artist Drake.The album was released on September 24, 2013, in North America by OVO Sound. The first single off the album, “Hold On, We’re Going Home” featuring Majid Jordan recently took over the number 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart There has been some controversy over the album, with critics opin-ions ranging from sensational to lack luster. Drake remains true to his sound, and he gives a lot emotionally to the tracks. Some of the early album favor-ites are “Wu- Tang Forever” and “Own It,” these songs are reminiscent of Drake’s previous work. Some critics are saying that previous albums like Take Care and Thank Me Later are his finest work, and Nothing Was the Same is not up to par with those. Despite the critic’s confusion, sales for the album have been solidly rising.

Lorde. Get used to that name because you will be hearing it a lot more from now on. The 16 year old singer from New Zealand, (Yes, 16!), made her music debut releasing her first single in the US, “Royals.” “Royals” recently overtook Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus to snag the number 1 spot on the Billboard chart, making Lorde the youngest artist to do so in 26 years! Lorde’s unique and alternative style separates her from the “bubble gum” cliché pop sound we are so accustomed to hearing from female pop artists. Critics are praising this 16 year old and her mature voice. If you liked her song “Royals” then you should check out her debut album

Pure Heroine, which is out now.

The Pure Gold Baby

Nothing Was the Same Drake Pure Heroine

Lorde

The Pure Gold Baby by Margaret Drabble was re leased October 1st .

The book is set in the 1960s and fo l lows a young woman named Jess ica Speight . Jess ica becomes pregnant as a result o f a re lat ionship she has with her univers i ty anthropology professor. Jess ica ’s baby, Anna, ends up being developmental ly impaired and wi l l need spec ia l care throughout her l i fe . The novel revolves around Jess ica ’s journey through the struggles o f nurtur ing her baby as a s ingle mother, as wel l as her determinat ion to becomes an “anthropologist o f the inter ior world . ”

nabaSIDDIQ// guest writer

Upcoming Concerts

OCTOBER 18Kid Cudi

Reliant Arena

NOvEMBER 27

SPARTAN Reviews

Macklemore & Ryan LewisReliant Arena

J. Cole: What Dreams May Come True

Reliant Arena OCTOBER 15

/ / / / / /

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Margaret Drabble

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editorial14 THE TORCH | OCTOBER 2013

It’s simple. Flip the view on your phone and hold it straight across. Position your thumb over the button, give it your non-cliché look, and click. Put the filter on it, and #SS or “selfiezz for dayzz”, now you’re set.

The perfected practice of taking a selfie has become an art form over the last few years. We’re all too guilty of carrying around a few unattractive, fuzzy pictures in our pockets. Yet, we can’t seem to stop ourselves from taking the photos.

Celebrities have added to the popularity of our digital generation’s addiction: Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and Kim Kardashian are all perpetual selfie posters, as you’ve likely noticed. Even NASA went as far as giving the Mars rover the technology to capture pictures of itself.

Houston, we might have a problem.

It’s a concerning concept that we live in a time where our fingers constantly move to communicate without ever looking up from our hand-held computer to make eye contact. Selfies allow us to communicate from behind a screen, no strings attached. We live under the impression that if we put the best filter, white space, and uplifting quote on our selfies, that the amount we choose to post online can be filed under endless.

Wrong. Let’s be real, the most common selfie is

the one where you look cute, and you post it partially because it’s a quick way to get positive comments about your appearance.

Sure, showing off a new outfit or your new Oakley glasses is fun, but it can be a slippery slope.

However cute you may look, this only gives

you a falsified sense of confidence. The number of model-y pictures you post has absolutely nothing to do with your value or self-worth. Don’t let your self-esteem become tied to the likes you get when you post a perfect selfie - the likes aren’t based on who you are – they’re based on what you look like.

Overall, opinions vary on whether our society’s selfie culture is lame or legit, which means it’s up to you to shape the future of the habit. Take the time to ask yourself: Are my selfies for fun, or do I need the stress of negative comments that might hurt myself or another person in the process? If you have to plead the fifth about your number of Instagram selfies, consider scaling back on the hashtags and posts every Sunday. Bottom line? Everything you post on social media reveals something about you, and you are the one in control.

daniWARDINSKY // editor-in-chief

The good, the bad,and the

ugly “look at me

now”mindset of

today

selfieCONTROL

Photo by: Saianoop “Snoop” Vatturi

OCTOBER 2013 | advertisements | THE TORCH 15

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